I did love the food, so you won't hear me complaining about that. In fact the food was fantastic. Like most top quality chefs, Charlie Trotter's kitchen knows what they are doing. I love the fact... More

I did love the food, so you won't hear me complaining about that. In fact the food was fantastic. Like most top quality chefs, Charlie Trotter's kitchen knows what they are doing. I love the fact that the meal is decided for you, and appreciated that the waiter checked to ensure that no food allergies would affect your enjoyment. I also liked being able to go online and look at the menu ahead of the evening's repast. The dining room is subdued so that you can concentrate on your dining experience. However, they do not get a 5-star rating from me because when I went, the waiter poured wine from our table's bottle into the glasses of the table next to ours, and then replaced the missing wine with a glass of wine from the bar. I have to say, I am glad that I had the Charlie Trotter experience, but for my money, Grant Atchez has it all over Charlie. I loved Trio and now Alinea.
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What amazes me is how many people continue to be enthralled with something over priced and over rated. The food is not the problem because it's good, and the owner and staff are fine people. But... More

What amazes me is how many people continue to be enthralled with something over priced and over rated. The food is not the problem because it's good, and the owner and staff are fine people. But when a chef friend of mine took me here, all I could think about was she didn't need to impress me with spending her month's rent on a frickin' meal! Give me a break. This place is mostly for the rich and those who love them. Regular folks that work hard for their cash will feel much better spending their money at a reasonably priced local diner that appreciates the business rather than continuing to make Mr. Trotter a multi millionaire. I have had five star dining experiences in Chicago for a fraction of the cost. This is mostly a yuppie paradise, so if you're into that, go for it.
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Pretty much everything has already been written elsewhere about Charlie Trotter's famous restaurant in Chicago. A meal there is as close to perfect as one can get I think. It's also one of the... More

Pretty much everything has already been written elsewhere about Charlie Trotter's famous restaurant in Chicago. A meal there is as close to perfect as one can get I think. It's also one of the priciest dining experiences around. The menu is prix fixe and the winelist offers the only choices you'll need to make for the evening. I've been there once (to celebrate a graduation and dad was paying!) If you live in Chicago or are planning a trip through the Windy City, I recommend making a reservation at Charlie Trotter's and celebrating something special. Just make sure you call months in advance otherwise you're probably out of luck.
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Charlie Trotter's has a reputation as being one of the nicest restaurants in the country for a reason. They have two fixed-price eight-course menus, one for meat lovers and one for veggie lovers. ... More

Charlie Trotter's has a reputation as being one of the nicest restaurants in the country for a reason. They have two fixed-price eight-course menus, one for meat lovers and one for veggie lovers. If you don't like an item on the menu they will make something else for you in its place. I would definitely recommend getting the wine pairing. If you finish your glass before you finish the matching course, they will refill your glass. It's a way better deal than buying a couple of bottles (it's a three hour event). The waiters are very attentive and are not stuffy. They even serve you Figi water. They food was great. When you call to make your reservation, they ask if you are celebrating anything. If you are, they will put "Happy Birthday" or "Happy Anniversary" on your menus which are yours to take home. I had a wonderful time at Charlie Trotters. Definitely a place for that special night out.
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