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

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

4.5
4.5
629 Reviews
$50 and over
Steakhouse

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 17 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for business meals
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
Located in Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams, Kindling offers a captivating steakhouse dining
experience. Chef Partner is James Beard Award-winning Jonathon Sawyer, who brings a worldly
perspective and decades of wood-fired cooking. With our live-fire show kitchen, prime steaks, fresh seafood
and handcrafted cocktails, Kindling brings the warmth of the hearth to the heart of the city. It's the ideal
setting for pre-theatre dinner, a large group business lunch, and after-work happy hour at the bar.

Follow us on social @kindlingchicago & @chefsawyer!
Private dining

Private dining

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • 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
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Jonathon Sawyer

Experiences

  • 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
  • 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

What 629 people are saying

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails offers a "beautiful atmosphere" and "excellent service," highlighted by dishes like the Oxtail Gnocchi and Wood-fired Seafood Salad. With a "unique wood-fired twist" and "fantastic" cocktails, it's a standout spot in Chicago. Guests appreciate the "friendly staff" and "delicious food," making it a top recommendation.

629 Reviews
  1. Sue

    Chicago11 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We had dinner before the opera. Space is lovely, service was excellent. Food was very good (we had the tuna tartare and steak frites).

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  2. Amanda VIP

    Puerto Vallarta22 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Survive was excellent, food was okay. Good place to go with group of people.

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  3. Alexis

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My second time going! I LOVES THIS RESTAURANT. Great food, great staff, beautiful place.

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  4. Emily VIP

    San Francisco16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    A bit pricey for the portion and food. Even for downtown Chicago.

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  5. Andy VIP

    Chicago26 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 9 March 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    A little bit of a let down. The steak frites were bland and the cheeseburger was average. The Mac n cheese was pretty good and the dessert was excellent. Overall was disappointed. Was excited to try - maybe my expectations were too high. It’s is a very cool looking place and I may go back to try their happy hour.

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  6. Melissa

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 8 March 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server was the best! Food was great and all the staff were very friendly and went above and beyond to make our visit memorable.

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  7. Sheronda VIP

    Washington DC31 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 6 March 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic team — very kind, very attentive, very professional. Easy location. Nice ambiance with a good mix of open and semi-private space. I’m not wowed by the food. It’s fine, not great. Still, Kindling is a solid lunchtime option. Particularly for 1:1 or team meetings.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Columbus1 review

    2.0

    Dined on 1 March 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Steak was overpriced and did not include sides. Steak was prepared well but was nothing you couldn't get at a Texas Roadhouse for 1/4 the price. The sauce on the Mrs O'Leary filet tasted could've fooled me for A1 from the bottle

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago1 review

    4.0

    Dined on 27 February 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was outstanding, highlight was definitely the food and ambiance. Server was just ok, sadly. I was out for an exciting girls date and our server was very low energy and didn’t really seem to care.

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  10. Matt VIP

    Chicago8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 27 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I recently had the pleasure of dining at Kindling, located in the iconic Willis Tower in Chicago. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm hospitality and a welcoming atmosphere. The service throughout my visit was exceptional; the staff were both friendly and attentive, ensuring that every need was promptly met. The highlight of my meal was undoubtedly the Italian beef. While it is on the pricier side, it is worth every penny. The beef was tender, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned, making it the standout item on the menu. It did not disappoint and lived up to its reputation as the best dish offered. Overall, my experience at Kindling was delightful. The combination of excellent service and outstanding food makes it a must-visit for anyone in the area. I highly recommend trying the Italian beef if you find yourself at Kindling in the Willis Tower.

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FAQs

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails is rated 4.5 stars by 629 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 17 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

202 S Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • 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
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Jonathon Sawyer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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