Chelsea Grill

I hadn’t seen the lights on for a while now, so I guess it was only a matter of time…

American Comfort Food at its Best!
Fantastic Steak, Pot Roast and more!
The best part??? The prices!

Simply had to take this out of five star category. Chelsea – why are you closed all the time? I pass by you every day on my way home, and your lights are almost always off. I have considered stopping by multiple times but it’s either closed, or I assume it’s closed.
Sometimes you have signs like «plumbing emergency» (which doesn’t sound appealing) or «closing early» ?? what is the deal? All the other restaurants are open! And once I stopped in to get take out and they told me the kitchen was closed. It was like 9 PM and the cooks were all still there.
Also, my beloved fried calamari is not the same. I ordered it recently and the pieces were big long ovals, not crunchy succulent little circles. And the batter was totally different. Won’t order that again.
sad.
I loved you the first time I came here, and I hope it gets back to that!

I’m a big fan of Chelsea and I hope the do okay long term in Lincoln Square. The atmosphere reminds me of going to a smaller restaurant in New York (I assumed that’s what the Chelsea was in reference to), the service has always been good and they’re accomodating with our kids the few times we’ve taken them there.
Pork tenderlion is excellent and so is the warm goat cheese appitizer. I’m a bit boring most of the time we’ve been there and order a burger which has also been excellent every time we go. Mac and Chesse is also really solid. As someone else said — it’s a great place to take the parents if they’re in town. The food mixed with the atmosphere is a winner.

I’m from Schaumburg.
There, I said it.
Schaumburg. Schaumpton (it sounds like we have street cred that way). The Schaump. Home to Ikea, Woodfield, Medieval Times, at least three Olive Gardens, and a lot of houses that all look the same.
So when my parents come in to visit me (and my dog. mostly my dog.), they get all hyped up about going out to eat because I make a point to take them somewhere new every time. And luckily, I live in an adorable damn neighborhood where I have a ton of options, so this is not a big deal or a difficulty because my mom is totally charmed by the whole «The windows in this place are open while people are in there eating!» deal and my dad is… a guy… so if there are burgers or weird vintage things somewhere within his line of sight, he’s set.
I’d passed by Chelsea Grill about a million times and had never gone, so I figured it’d made a good dinner spot, the last time my parents came out to play in Chicago Proper.
Aaaaand it was. They refer to their menu selections as «comfortable food» and oh… oh it was. It really really was.
(I feel like talking about the PLACE and talking about the FOOD are like, two separate things for me… and I always get awkward when I start listing off the food because no one CARES who ate what so long as it was delicious. Right? RIGHT?
Anyway, pretend like the food listings aren’t awkward, okay?)
I started with this outstanding white bean and chicken soup, which had just the right amount of pepper and this enormous chunk of toasted bread with Parmesan cheese acting as a croûton.
I also had THE best turkey meatloaf of my life. It was light, while also managing to be savory, with this outstanding sauce, and was served with garlic spinach and this AMAZING sweet potato gratin, which I’ve been trying to replicate ever since because it more or less changed my life.
My mom, who is an aspiring foodie (She is, it’s really cute. When I tell her I ate something awesome or went to some fantastic restaurant, her whole face lights up and she says, «That sounds SO GOOD.»), grabbed a grilled chicken club sammich with home fries. And oh man, those fries were SO so so good.
My dad is decidedly less food-​adventurous than my mom, so he went with pork tenderloin, served with a really nice polenta and the same garlic spinach that came with my turkey meatloaf. He commented that the portion was a little small, but inhaled everything that was on his plate.
Would I go back? Fucking right, I would. And I’d get TWO orders of that damn meat loaf — one to eat there, and one to take home because… DAYUM.

Get the white bean soup!!! OMG it was the BEST white bean soup I have ever had in my life! It’s has this wonderfully sweet peppery taste – I could have eaten five bowls. And they put a nicely toasted and buttered slice of bread in the bowl (I think it was sourdough) – heavenly!
I also had the halibut which came with artichokes and potatoes in a balsamic glaze which was very well done. My friend ordered the homemade potato chips – a yummy appetizer for under $ 2! We also split the crème brûlée which wasn’t anything out of this world, but was good nonetheless.
Our server was very attentive and helpful and offered a lot of good suggestions. I will definitely be going back – for that white bean soup!

Oh hello yum!!! I came here on a rainy cold Thursday (yes, in August. not January) and it was cozy and nice in the restaurant. I share the goat cheese/​red pepper sandwich and the summer vegetable lasagna. Both had similar tastes and both were quite good!
I like how the red pepper and eggplant in the sandwich were diced up nicely as opposed to big strips. I hate when there are big strips and you look like an idiot eating them. The flavors were really good and the bread was nice and toasted. The lasagna was yummy too, the noodles cooked perfectly, with lots of layers but it was not too heavy which was nice. The lasagna also came with a huge piece of garlic bread and a little asiago toast on top. The little toast was so yummy but since I was sharing, I tried not to eat it all. The other couple we went with had a burger, which looked good and the meatloaf, which was a huge portion and looked really yummy as well!
The service was quick and nice and our waitress was sweet.
I would like to go back and try other dishes here, maybe some of the appetizers and other entrees. There was a beet salad that looked good. Basically, they used a lot of ingredients that I use-​goat cheese, eggplant, red pepper, beets, bread… The prices were pretty reasonable as well.
The ambiance was cozy and nice, it was a little chilly in there as they probably had the air on but it was still a really enjoyable evening!
p. s. the women’s bathroom door is really hard to open. dont worry, you arent walking in on someone (my biggest fear) just push through. also it is hard to open from the inside (another fear, ha) but again, just give it a big yank!

I liked this place so much that I came back here for brunch in the same weekend!
The service was top-​notch. Our waiter was friendly and helpful with the dishes. I ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes and they were light and fluffy and delicious. My friend got the chilaquiles (sp??) and that was also wonderful!
This place is great for both brunch and dinner!

The top 3 reasons why I love this place
1. Jambalaya
2. Jambalaya
3. Jambalaya
Did I say Jambalaya ?
I had it the first time I was there, and I have gone back twice more since then just for that.
It is perfectly seasoned, meat and the shrimp is cooked just right and for $ 11.95 it is a recession proof as well.
Yes I did try other dishes, Roasted corn soup was amazing, the Greek Salad was just right and the Salmon was cooked to perfection.
Love the little room, great comfort food menu, decent wine selection, attentive staff, great service and very affordable prices.
Great place, highly recommend it for a nice date, or dinner before a show at Old Town School of Folk music.
Looking forward to going back !!!

Comfortable food??? Try comfortable prices! (Everything under $ 20, most under $ 15) …At least during their Sunday brunch. Chelsea Grill is a chic-​looking (without the pretentiousness), quaint restaurant fitting comfortably 13 tables and a three-​seat mini bar. The dark stained wood with natural colored wood reside perfectly together in unison. Perfectly «American» yet up a step from an average mom’s cookin’ are brunch dishes like sweet potato hash with organic chicken, whopping skirt steak breakfast burrito, (not an) egg benedict, lemon ricotta pancakes… all are delectable in their own way. Don’t miss out on their potato sides like french fries and hashbrowns. This is probably one of my favorite brunch places within the Lincoln Square area and everyone can find something they like. I can’t speak for the dinner menu, but the brunch is spectacular.

Two stars for: friendly service and good atmosphere. The rest is utterly disappointing. It’s switch from Erba brought another mediocre-​at-​best American style restaurant into the neighborhood.
Dinner menu is bland and unmemorable. Brunch menu sounds promising (e.g. asparagus, goat cheese & red pepper scramble) but is underwhelming… that is, if the order isn’t mixed up.
Yesterday’s brunch for my group consisted of an undercooked burger, above-​mentioned scramble — missing the goat cheese & red pepper, and greasy breakfast burrito.
Great location, but no more chances.

I have stopped by this spot twice now and have been very impressed with the food on both occasions. In total, I have sampled:
goat cheese and tomato appetizer (very yummy)
some type of tasty tart appetizer (ingredients escape me at the moment)
short ribs pot roast
mac n’ cheese with sun-​dried tomatoes (what can I say, it says comfort food on the door and i went right for the most comfiest of foods)
roasted red pepper and lots of yummy stuff sandwich
spaghetti and meatballs (good. certainly not the best ever)
all in all I will definitely be back… and soon. The place never seems to be very packed when we get there, so I hope it picks up some business, it’s a nice spot and very easy on the wallet!

We were hoping to find a nice place one night to celebrate a grad school class completion. we walked by chelsea and the menu looked tasty.
We had the fried goat cheese, turkey meatloaf and jambalaya.
Everything was tasty and I thought the portions were perfect. We were both full with no leftovers and with the entrees pretty much all under 15 $, the price was right.
Cute space, service was fine.
We’d go back when we want a place just about casual.

«LOTS OF POTENTIAL, BUT NEEDS TO APPLY HIMSELF»
That’s what I got on more than a few report cards and it’s the same feedback I have for Chelsea Grill. This place has a lot of potential.
The location is good, the space is warm and inviting, and it’s relatively easy on the wallet with most dishes priced around $ 15.
The short ribs are moist and tender, but the portion could be more generous. The pork tenderloin was cooked well, but wasn’t as juicy as I would have liked (perhaps a brine would help?). Also, the waitstaff is friendly, but the wait for our food was a bit long.
If they can make some minor modifications to the food and get the kitchen to move faster, I think this place could go from good to great.

What a great place. We made reservations for 7:30pm on a Friday, and we showed up late, so our outdoor table was not available. We ended up eating inside the restuarant which was just fine.
My wife thought the restaurant smelled a little musty. I told her that I thought it was because of the age of the building — it’s a rather old building and just has a «library» smell to it. Nothing that was overbearing. We did find the temperature inside a little on the chilly side though.
For appetizers we ordered the fried calamari, which was excellent. For our main course, I ordered the Chelsea Cheeseburger with a small change, and they were able to accomodate me. My mother-​in-​law panko crusted chicken, and my wife ordered the grilled chicken club. Both said they enjoyed it a lot. Since my wife was trying to eat healthy, she gave me her bacon, which I found a little greasy, so I only ate one of two. (It’s hard for me to say no to bacon)
Excellent service and our waitress was able to give my MIL some advice on her meal. (If she should order a side or not, which she chose not to). We will return.

Having noticed the Chelsea Grill’s new face on Lincoln Ave. a couple of months ago, I had been anticipating trying out dinner there.
The space is pretty cool – minimalist, wood, bright – and the service is friendly and laid back. Their menu isn’t particularly extensive, but you can find all your fave comfort foods in one form or another for a pretty decent price. I chose the burger with pepperjack (I think?), avocado and chipotle mayo… mmm. Delicious! It’s no Kuma burger, but for nine bucks? A steal.
I’d definitely try the mac ‘n cheese next time…

Trying to kill time before checking out a movie at the Davis, I walked down Lincoln and didn’t want to hit my usual spots. I eyed the Chelsea Grill menu and walked in. The menu features American favorites (Meatloaf, Burgers) as well as other options that seemed lighter and different from the bars and Italian restaurants that line Lincoln Square. The prices were competitive as well.
The restaurant is casual and nicely lit. Probably seats around 30 people at the most. It is a great place for a nice dinner.
I sat at the «bar» area since I was alone. First thing I noticed was the counter was rather sticky. Being the kind of woman that has everything in her purse, I wiped it down with some wet wipes. Ain’t no thang.
I ordered the Oatmeal Stout (highly recommended), the Soup of the Day (Broccoli Soup) and the Eggplant and Goat Cheese sandwich with salad. The Broccoli Soup featured a cheese crisp in the center that was a bit difficult to eat even after soaking in the soup for a few minutes. The soup was really fantastic compared to «Cream of Broccoli» type soups. It was very rich and seemed to be made of a pureed broccoli base. I was given a teaspoon to eat the soup which was strange but at least it was a spoon!
The Eggplant & Goat Cheese Sandwich was disappointing, sadly. The eggplant, roasted red pepper and zucchini had been cooked for too long. They had lost a lot of their flavor. I love goat cheese but because of the veggies not tasting like much of anything, the goat cheese was overpowering. It was on toasted white bread. The salad was very plain — it was a mixed baby greens salad tossed in vinaigrette. Good but not great.
For the soup, two beers and the sandwich, I paid around $ 30 with gratuity.
I am willing to give this place another try. I really want to like them because of their menu in that neighborhood. I’d say give it a shot and order something like the Meatloaf or Salmon.
Street parking is available. Bring your quarters!!!

I think elevated comfort food is a smart concept for Lincoln Square. I have seen too many people try to compete with Pizza DOC and with Bocca della Verita, only to shut down soon enough. It’s always a great thing when a new concept arrives here.
I had the burger with the option of cheddar, bacon, and a fried egg. Now, this is not as good as Kuma’s version of this (nobody is ever going to top that), but I pay less here, I don’t have to wait forever, and I don’t have to get in the car and drive. Still, it was a very good burger, and the price is definitely right. My wife really enjoyed her veggie lasagna, also. When it is colder outside, I will try their pot roast, as I keep hearing good things about it.
They have two pinot noir selections, one from Oregon, and another from Santa Maria CA which costs an extra $ 2 a glass. I asked the waitress which one was better. She offered to let me try them both, which always scores points in my book. I was glad to find out that I preferred the cheaper one from Oregon after my little blind test.
Nothing really jumped out on the dessert menu, but that’s probably because I was pretty full after my meal.
All in all, this place is very unpretentious and we’ll hopefully walk on over a few times this summer.

I am a huge fan of Chelsea Grill. I live in the neighborhood, and I can honestly say that I’m not a huge fan of most of the restaurants in the area. Chelsea Grill is my new favorite. It’s in the old Erba spot– which always felt cramped, but the small space works perfectly with the comfort food concept.
The food is delicious: my boyfriend gets the pot roast every time. I’ve tried the roasted chicken, which was tender and well seasoned. The salads are also great, and even basics, like hamburgers are great.
It’s really reasonably priced, the service is great, and I love the cozy ambiance. It’s perfect for a winter night. They have a good beer and wine selection too!
So, if you are in the neighborhood, you should definitely give this place a try.

Pretend that says 3 & ½ Stars…
So my husband made reservations here for Saturday night, and I was super excited for the mere fact that my husband actually made plans! but also because I had wanted to try this place.
Prices were very reasonable… everything under $ 20. We had fried goat cheese as an appetizer, I had the pot roast, he had the cuban pork tenderloin, and we shared apple pie for dessert.
Food was good… I’m not going to go as far and say GREAT but definitely good. Wine selection was good… dessert could have been better because the apple pie al mode was cold. :(Should’ve at least zapped it in the microwave.
So I really like the atmosphere (good music) but again, I can only give 3 ½ stars because I wanted the food to be REALLY GOOD but it was only good.