Best Restaurants for Anniversaries in Belmont Central / Cragin

Wow! Chicago has many great steakhouses, and this one is every bit as good as the old guard with small tweaks that make it incredible. The skillet filet and the full fat old fashioned are perfected classics. The skillet filet is smothered in bone marrow caramelized onions which may be the best onions I’ve ever had. The saltiness from marrow and the sweetness from onions added so much decadence to a really great cut of meat. The full fat old fashioned at $20 has a lot to live up to, and some how it does and then some! The brown butter element gives it almost a butterscotch flavor but not overly sweet. It’s so balanced, I would challenge even non-whiskey drinkers to try it. Mashed potatoes and gravy were really good, Mac and cheese was high quality but nothing revolutionary. -1 star on ambiance because our table was reallly close to our neighbors but the vibe was exactly what you want in a steak house, and even the coat check/check in desk gives a very upscale experience.

My wife and I were excited to dine at Chicago’s oldest steak house but that feeling quickly left. The staff and ambiance were amazing but the food was lackluster. Our Ribeyes ($97) were cooked perfectly but not seasoned well. They were also on the chewy side. The Brussel sprouts were not charred and firm…more mushy and pasty. The other sides were good but not worth the price. I won’t be headed back anytime soon.

The service was excellent from the moment we walked in until we left. The RL Burger was one of the best burgers I have ever had.The atmosphere was very appealing. We look forward to a return visit in the near future.

I was so happy we were able to get in last minute. We looked at reservations for tonight around 11 am, the only thing available was 9:15. Maybe 45 minutes later a 6:45 pops up and we were able to snag it. We had the short rib humus, whipped feta, hamachi, pork belly, steak & frites, fried halloumi and two kabobs. Perfect for all 4 of us hungry eaters. 100% will be back- if you can get in I highly recommend trying anything and everything on the menu. Service was impeccable. Food was courses perfectly and everything came out hot right out of the oven. If you have been to Bavel in LA you will love this “sister” in Chicago

An incredible experience from beginning to end. The food was innovative yet familiar, and each dish was incredible. Our server was outstanding and her enthusiasm when describing the courses and our wine pairings elevated the entire experience. Service overall was comparable to 3+ Michelin starred restaurants. We didn’t expect it to be *this* great, but they’re definitely overachieving at North Pond. Can’t wait for a return visit!