Red Light

After reading the good reviews we decided to give this place a try but the food was pretty bad and the chef is terrible. We ordered the shrimp curry which was ok and the prix fix. We choose the noodle entree for the prix fix which was supposed to be a shrimp with noodle in pesto sauce. It was so spicy I had tears in my eyes and the dish wasn't supposed to be spicy. Our server took care of us and was amazing. Could have been a mistake. the chef was informed and looked more defensive then sympathetic. What we also noticed was that the chef didn't cook at all just was there to sign off on the dishes as they left the kitchen. Realized that a lot of chefs do this but you'd think she would at least be more involved. We also saw the dishes other tables ordered and the most shocking thing was the greenbeans the ends were not peeled off which I think is cooking 101. more

Red light is an excellent restaurant with wonderful service and cuisine. I have been there several times, and it has been an extraordinary experience every time. It may be a bit pricey, but it is well worth it. If you want to try them out on a budget try to go in the afternoon during the week when they feature several lunch specials. My must haves from Red light are the sweet potato fries with dipping sauce appetizer, and the chocolate bag desert.. Pros: Awesome food and service Cons: Sometimes gets a little crowded more

We had dinner at Red Light Saturday night. The service was good and the atmosphere was great. We were seated promptly and the service was timed in a comfortable manner. What makes Red Light miss a 4 or 5 star rating is primarily price. Everything is just a bit more expensive than it should be. Further, while the menu is very interesting, the print is way too small for such a dark atmosphere. Portion sizes are not consistent. We ordered 2 appetizers both of which were small. One of our main courses was average and the other was huge. We ordered a side of green beans and were stunned! There were enough green beans for a table of 6 or more people. (It would have been nice if our server had mentioned the massive amount of green beans when we ordered.) We had a nice evening and enjoyed the food. The food was very good. While we might return to Red Light in the future, it won't be often or soon. For the same price we have had better dining experiences. Pros: Ambience, Food Cons: Price more

This place serves the best pan-Asian food in Chicago.They have a good number of vegetarian options (I love the eggplant dumplings.)The atmosphere is great,our waitress was very warm and friendly .Its quite relaxed,no need to dress up.Though everything was marvelous once we sat down,things weren't quite nice until that point.\r \r The Valet service is 'Atrocious' .It was pathetic and the guys were pompous,if you dont drive a BMW ,they dont look at you.We waited for ever and ever and had to scream to get noticed. The guy asked us if we are ok to him parking in front and giving us the keys (for $10),parked our car came in and threw the keys on our table.It kind of spoilt the start for us,that and being seated next to the front door on a chillly night.I know someone has to sit there,but still...\r \r So...'d def go back (will take a cab this time) without expecting anything until iam at my table.\r more

I've never been to a Pan-Asian restaurant before but I placed an 8:30pm reservation at Red Light (on a Tuesday) after glossing over the reviews.\r \r My date and I were instantly seated at a small, intimate table near the door. If you're looking for ambiance this place is a must-- all the chairs, lighting fixtures, etc. have a curved serpentine bend to them and as the name implies, there are red lights EVERYWHERE which coexist along with huge potted plants (fake? I'm not sure...) and large busts of Buddha (I think...). If you need to freshen up or use the restrooms, the individual ""water closets"" are kind of interesting as well.\r \r Our waitress (and the other server guy) were very attentive, constantly checking up and refilling our water glasses (or dusting crumbs off the table) but not often enough that I would consider it an annoyance. Everything was spot-on, the food was great, I had hanger steak with wasabi butter and polished it off with a jaded dragon green tea martini and a chocolate mousse cake for dessert.\r \r I have two marginal complaints. The vegetarian spring rolls (an appetizer) I had a hard time consuming (although my date enjoyed them)--I thought they were very bland (however in Red Light's defense, I never eat vegetarian food...)\r \r Secondly, sitting near the door we were constantly freezing (I'm not sure if this is because the front door is revolving or not...) but it does get a little drafty...dress warm.\r \r Overall I would consider this a triumph. We even stayed a half hour after closing and the staff was incredibly chatty and informative--they didn't seem intent on booting us out the door.\r \r Two thumbs up! Pros: Ambience, service, food, etc. Cons: None. more

I did not like Opera so I wasn?t expecting very much (they are owned by the same people). But the food was great!!!! They have a large array of things to choose from. I?m a vegetarian and was pleased to see a vegetarian menu and the food was really great?The staff is a little strange?our waiter seemed like he wanted to care but at the end of the day he just didn?t he was just very fake and plastic. If you make reservation don?t expect them to keep it, I made my RSVP for 8:30 we did not get seated until close to 9:00?why bother making reservation if we had to wait anyway? If you are going for food say yes to Red Light if you are looking for good service you would get better service at McDonalds (sad but true). Pros: Tasty Vegetarian menu. Cons: strange plasticy waitstaff...and unfriendly hostesses. more

I thought the restaurant was really cool inside, but I was there for a great culinary experience. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. It was very expensive and the flavors werepretty bland, and flat tasting. The scallops were cooked perfectly, but everything else was lackluster. I went here once, and wouldn't return. I go to Argyle St. for authentic Vietnamese,. Pros: Cool looking restaurant Cons: EXPENSIVE, OVERRATED more

When I first got there I felt like a celebrity! My boyfriend and I were a little rattled at the menu, but the staff was amazing and walked us through everything we needed to know. Trust me, if they recommend something, it is because it is EXCELLENT! more

Went to Red Light Friday night with some friends and we're all still raving about this place. We had the Chef's tasting, which included about 8 courses of the Chef's choice shared around the table. At $70 per person, it's a bit pricey, but definitely worth it. My only complaint is that the food was so good, that I completely overate! We started with the first course of a very tender and flavorful seared ahi tuna with a sweet soy and wasabi sauce, followed by steamed dumplings, and then a course of different rolls. The mango lobster roll was awesome! Just when we were starting to get full, the shrimp course came - complete with traditional pad thai and black tie sesame shrimp. The next course included the Peking Duck with orange ginger cranberry sauce. This dish was incredible and I'm not usually a huge fan of duck. It was actually very lean and the orange ginger cranberry sauce was the perfect compliment. I honestly thought that I could not eat anymore, but then came the 3 pound crispy Shanghai whole catfish, the stir-fry beef tenderloin and the wrinkled green beans. All entrees were exceptional, and I am now a big fan of the wrinkled green beans with roasted garlic and soy caramel. Last - but certainly not least was the dessert course of Jackie's chocolate bag with white chocolate mousse, coconut banana cream pie and a berry tart with lavendar ice cream. The perfect ending to a wonderful evening. \r \r The staff is very friendly and Executive chef Jackie Shen even brought out some of our dishes to explain where they were from and how it was prepared. The atmosphere is fun and exotic. Great for a party or a romantic evening out. I recommend making reservations, especially on the weekends, as it can get pretty crowded. Pros: Cuisine, Atmosphere, Service Cons: A Bit Pricey more

The food was very good but overpriced for what you received. The service was short and a bit rude. We felt like we were being pushed out the door right from the beginning. This was a week night and there is no excuse for rude service at these prices. Pros: trendy location, quality food Cons: hasty rushed feel, rude wait staff, expensive more

Not impressed by place. Got best seat in house but didn't get a chance to enjoy it. Within minutes of being seated, waiter was there to take our order. Got the lobster/mango spring rolls that tasted like neither lobster or mango - not impressive. For dinner, we ordered peking duck in a raspberry sauce that was good however the duck was literally swimming sauce. Also had beef special that was very mediocre - flavorful but extremely fatty. Rice seemed to be leftovers from the night before - dry and crunchy (how hard is it to cook rice?) Had the chocolate bag for dessert - easily the best part with great originality. Overall, restaurant was decent but bill was way too high for the food. Most disturbing part was in the kitchen there was a text book of recipes. Is this a restaurant or a cooking school diner? Pros: valet Cons: expensive, rushed service more

I had a $50 gift cert. for Red Light and after reviewing their menu and prices online, was unsure that I could afford to have a complete ""dining experience"". Let me just say, if you have the cash, Red Light offers up fantastic food, attentive service and an unpretentious, inviting atmosphere. We started with the Seared Tuna, a wonderful Chicken Satay w/ cold noodle salad and the fried artichoke special. My dinner date and I both had the Miso Salmon, it was flavorful and juicy, the noodles still firm and the urdu lending a dash of color. The portions are just right, none of this American-style over-indulgence. For dessert, the creme brulee, which, I admit to having a weakness for anyway, was delicious. I highly recommend Red Light, for (1) the food, (2) the attention to service and (3) the unpretentious atmosphere. Pros: Attentive service, Great food, Not rushed Cons: Expensive more

Went with a friend a few weeks ago and we LOVED the food. The ribeye and green beans were unbelievable. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Am planning a return trip to Chicago and will make reservations for dinner before hotel. Only downside was the slightly cramped tables and mediocre drink list. Not cheap but worth it! Pros: FOOD, FOOD, FOOD Cons: , mediocre drink list more

This is an extremely trendy restaurant in Chicago's financial district (all the restaurants in this particular stretch looked very cool). Fabulous decor, excellent service, and good food make this a great place for a night out. It's not cheap but it's not bad enough to break the bank. The only problem is, the portions are so huge, you get tired of eating the same thing. But that's just a personal opinion. Lots of vegetarian options are an added plus (they need to redo the menu b/c the vegetarain options were presented on a peice of paper and not in the menu). The desserts are highly recommended. Pros: great atmosphere, desserts Cons: a little pricey more

Very cool place! Make sure to make reservations, though, the place was VERY busy the night i was there. The atmosphere was awsome, and although it took a long time for the food to come, (due to it being packed), we never felt forgotten about, the staff was always bringing us little freebies once in a while, and the service overall was fantastic. Not too pricy, it was about $35 each, although neither of us drank. Food was GREAT, huge portions, reccomend the duck! Pros: Great Food, Energetic, Good service Cons: Possible long wait, Loud more

A wonderful restaurant for the hip. Try the Mango Martini - you won't be dissapointed. Excellent seafood entrees were served from the open kitchen. The pan-asian cuisine was young and flavorful. We had the whole catfish - I'm still trying to determine how they keep it so crisp as it sits in that delicious broth. Also, I enjoyed the five-spice ribs. I was not a fan of the duck. But overall the meal was excellent. I'm sure the combination of Chef Arun and Chef Paul will make Red Light shine. more

Great food with wonderful flavor.....some of the best dishes in the area Pros: great food Cons: uncomfortable chairs more

I loved the atmosphere of Red Light. Great space for people watching.The room is set like a stage and one can view the various areas and scenarios from the bar area. As for the food.....I know we had appetisers and drinks before going to Marche (just across the street), but I was too wrapped up with the scene to remember. Very fun place with congenial staff. more

Good for a group of two or twenty, Red Light did not disappoint. The menu had so many intriguing items we could hardly choose. All of our meals were fabulous and the waiter was pleasant and helpful. I would go back again for sure. Pros: Good Value, Valet Parking more

I can't remember the last time I had a meal better than this. It was my girlfriends birthday this past Saturday and I decided to take her to Red Light after a number of recommendations from friends. From the moment we sat down to the time they had to roll us out of the front door we couldn't have expected better food, service or quality. The restaurant is set up in a way that makes having a conversation comfortable without having to worry about the table next to you listening in. The service was phenominal and the Atlantic Salmon was of the highest quality. For the service that we received the price was not of concern. Pros: Food, Wine, Service more