Best Restaurants for People Watching in Gold Coast / Streeterville

The food at RL Restaurant was absolutely amazing—every dish was perfectly prepared and bursting with flavor. The ambiance was also beautiful, creating a lovely atmosphere for dining. However, I think it would benefit more if it were just reservations-only. It’s a small space, and it was overly crowded and quite loud, which took away from the otherwise great experience. With fewer walk-ins, it could be even more enjoyable for guests.

Gibsons is one of my favorite restaurants in the city! My recent visit was nothing short of exceptional. I started with an Old Fashioned, which was perfectly crafted. My wife and I shared a loaded wedge salad, a New York Strip, and a double baked potato – all of which were delicious and cooked to perfection. For dessert, we indulged in a cookie with ice cream, paired with a glass of 20-year Tawny. The evening was made even more special by the fantastic piano player, who added a wonderful ambiance to our dining experience. Highly recommend!

I was on a first date and let the maître de know upon my arrival. My date was waiting at the bar and the maître de knew that and walked me toward him which was very sweet as I was nervous. They gave a choice of tables so we picked a quiet out of the way option so we could talk. We were not rushed to order which was great. We enjoyed a leisurely evening getting to know each other while ordering small burger sliders, truffle tater tots, red wine, beet salad and meatballs. The food was excellent. The service was top notch. This restaurant is right in my neighborhood so it will likely be my new "go-to". I highly recommend!! If I could give them six stars I would. : ) Thank you, Rosebud.

I always have great food at Jake Melnick’s! The wait time for a table was extremely long for people who didn’t have a reservation, we did and we were seated right away. Who goes to a restaurant in Chicago on a Saturday night without reservations?! The service was outstanding. We always swing through Jake Melnick’s when we are in town, they have AMAZING wings.

Excellent experience for 7 friends. Food and service were perfect.