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Latest Menu Offerings - Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails, Chicago, IL

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

4.4
4.4
586 Reviews
$50 and over
Steakhouse

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 14 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for business meals
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Lively
Kindling boasts a live fire show kitchen, wood-fired plates, and tasty cocktails in the heart of downtown Chicago. Chef Partner is James Beard Award-winning Jonathon Sawyer, who brings a worldly perspective and decades of wood-fired cooking to Kindling's internationally inspired menu. Located within Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams, Kindling welcomes guests for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, with happy hour specials offered on weekdays from 3pm-5:30pm.

Follow us on social @kindlingchicago & @chefsawyer!

CLOSED: 11/28, 12/24-12/26, 1/1
Open for dinner only 12/27-12/28
Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, American, Grill
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00–15:45 Happy Hour Mon–Fri 15:00–17:30 Dinner Mon–Thu 16:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 16:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    (312) 789-5992
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Jonathon Sawyer
  • Private party facilities
    Situated within Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams, Kindling boasts a live fire show kitchen, wood-fired plates, and tasty cocktails in the heart of the city. At the helm of the kitchen is James Beard Award-winning Chef Jonathon Sawyer, who brings a worldly perspective and decades of w
  • Private party contact
    Abbey Arp: (319) 360-2169
  • Area
    River North (Chicago)
  • Cross Street
    Inside Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    CTA: - Quincy (Brown/Orange/Pink/Purple Lines)- Jackson (Blue/Red Lines)- Bus Stops: 126 / 151 / 56Metra: - Union Station
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Pre-Theater Dinner

    US$59.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    Located just a short walk from Chicago's theater district, Kindling's convenient location provides for the perfect place to enjoy dinner before your show. Highlighting some of our menu's top hits, this three-course dining experience is a great way for you and your guests to gather for a meal without stressing about making it to the show on-time. By purchasing this experience, we will ensure your party enjoys their meal in under and hour, with plenty of time to head to your show. Commute Times (walking) Lyric Opera House: 8 min Cadillac Palace: 10 min The Goodman: 14 min Nederlander: 14 min
    Pre-Theater Dinner photo
  • Three-Course Business Lunch

    US$39.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    Whether you're looking to host a client or have a team lunch, this three-course express menu offers some of Kindling's top hits in a convenient and efficient format. It makes the decision-making process simpler and allows you more time to get down to business and back to the office. By pre-booking this experience, you also skip the hassle of having to pay your bill at the end of your meal, as all items are purchased in advance.
    Three-Course Business Lunch photo
  • New Year's Eve Pre-Fixe Dinner Menu

    US$115.00 per person

    Prepaid

    31 Dec 2024 only
    Ring in the new year in the heart of Chicago with a four-course menu that showcases our signature live-fire cuisine by Chef Jonathon Sawyer and Chef Jairo Chavez. This limited menu is the perfect way for you and your guests to enjoy a truly memorable evening. Enhance your dining experience by pairing your four-course meal with a wine or cocktail pairing that has been curated to complement each course. In addition to the pre-fixe menu, the winter menu will also be available for a la carte purchases. Round out your experience with a curated a wine pairing that has been specifically curated to accompany each course.
    New Year's Eve Pre-Fixe Dinner Menu photo

What 586 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails offers an exceptional dining experience with "fantastic food" and "outstanding service." The warm ambiance is complemented by a diverse menu featuring standout dishes like the "grilled seafood salad" and "oxtail gnocchi." Guests appreciate the creative cuisine and the engaging atmosphere, making it a must-visit.

586 Reviews
  1. Keri

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and service haven’t let us down yet. We have never felt rushed. The staff is all very helpful and friendly. The food is delicious and dynamic. I adore Kindling.

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  2. Brian

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely outstanding meal! We sat at the hearth and got to see the kitchen staff cooking everything up, while soaking in all of that great wood fired smell! Reanna our waitress was top notch, and always checking in on us to make sure we were well taken care of. The head chef Mike was nice enough to take some time and talk us through the menu, describe some of the cooking processes and his recommendations were spot on! We can’t wait to get back and try more options on their menu!

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  3. Jade

    Portland

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Overpriced, not great value for the portion size, food was a bit too rich for our palette. Waitress messed up our order but gave us a complimentary dessert to make up for it. Decor was nice but overall, we probably won’t be back.

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  4. Jeffrey

    Chicago

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 December 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Booked hearth seats on Open Table but were seated in the main dining room instead. No explanation provided. After four visits, food can be interesting but the product on the plate always feels metered and teased out—drained of its soul by culinary efficiency consultants. And yes, you pay for the privilege of experiencing this dispiriting paucity.

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  5. Robin

    VIP

    Chicago

    9 reviews

    2.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on 18 December 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Requested a different dressing and wanted it on the side. The salad came with the wrong dressing in the salad . Waiter never came to check until it was time for the check. I told him what happened and no response. Will not return

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  6. Chuck

    VIP

    Austin

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 17 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall experience was good. They were out salmon which is what I was really looking forward to but all other food items were great!

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  7. Sandra

    Chicago

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 17 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    While I generally LOVE Kindling and have been there several times, this time the food was a little disappointing. The seafood salad was a whole lot of lettuce and dressing and very little seafood. I’m not saying Kindle isn’t a great place to go because it is. Just a little less likely to order a salad.

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  8. Caleb

    Minneapolis

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 14 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    There wasn't much that we didn't like. We came here for dinner before a broadway show because we have watched Jonathan Sawyer on the food network quite a bit. Nothing about our experience disappointed. Food was fantastic, we had the Brussel sprouts, Scallops, and River Trout. Absolutely delicious, highly recommend.

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  9. Alycia

    Chicago

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 14 December 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was cold every single time we received it and sent it back. The resolve to the situation was poorly addressed by one of the managers. Service was dreadfully slow. Lauren, one of the better managers, made the overall experience somewhat better. We will never return to this restaurant again. Remind you, my husband and I went a year and 1/2 ago, had a great time. It has gone down hill drastically. Also, this poor experience was during a bday celebration for myself and my brother, so we had the whole family there (party 8) to experience this poor dining experience!

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  10. Jonathan

    E. Tennessee

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 14 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent experience. Server (Amber) and Chef (Michael) took great care of us. Both very patient very helpful in deciding what to try, in addition to spending extra time with us, chatting and making the experience very personal. The food was sensational. The wings are a must, the African prawns may have been the single best food item I've had in the last several years. My steak was perfect and my son's was as well (with cheese quesadilla to accompany). Old-fashioned was great, glass of wine was delicious (Amber brought me samples of two different wines). S'mores dessert and Mint Frango Chocolate Cake desserts delicious as well. Finally, I strongly recommend sitting at one of the bar seats in front of the grill. Great show and friendly chefs (incl Michael) added to the experience.

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FAQs

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails is rated 4.4 stars by 586 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 14 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

202 S Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Inside Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams
  • Area
    River North (Chicago)
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00–15:45 Happy Hour Mon–Fri 15:00–17:30 Dinner Mon–Thu 16:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 16:00–22:00
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, American, Grill
  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    CTA: - Quincy (Brown/Orange/Pink/Purple Lines)- Jackson (Blue/Red Lines)- Bus Stops: 126 / 151 / 56Metra: - Union Station
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Jonathon Sawyer
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (312) 789-5992
  • Private party facilities
    Situated within Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams, Kindling boasts a live fire show kitchen, wood-fired plates, and tasty cocktails in the heart of the city. At the helm of the kitchen is James Beard Award-winning Chef Jonathon Sawyer, who brings a worldly perspective and decades of w
  • Private party contact
    Abbey Arp: (319) 360-2169
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