Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

4.5

629 Reviews

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Make a booking

2 people

17 Mar 2025

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

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

Location
202 S Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone number
(312) 789-5992
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.
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

Popular dishes

Oysters Maplefeller styleUS$5.00
Maytag Blue Cheese, Confit Tomato, Maple Bacon, Calabrian Chili Crumb
HillBilly Riviera StyleUS$5.00
saltines, crystal's hot sauce butter
Oyster Royale StyleUS$7.00
golden kaluga caviar, potato cream
skull island prawnUS$24.00
lobster butter, charred lemon, chili crunch, herbs
mediterranean octopusUS$24.00
wood fired octopus, charred eggplant, yukon potato pancake, salsa verde
Seafood TowerUS$175.00
jumbo tomahawk prawns, seasonal oysters and cold water lobster tail, salsa matcha butter and burnt lemon

STEAKS & CHOPS

well marbled Top with: Sautéed Maytag Bleu Cheese $5 Truffe Butter $4 Red Wine Demi Glace $4

FiletUS$59.00
8oz
Filet "Mrs O'Leary"US$61.00
8 oz. Red wine demi-glace, fried shallots
Steak FritesUS$38.00
10oz Salsa verde
USDA Prime NY StripUS$68.00
16 oz
Prime "Downtown" Ribeye*US$71.00
16oz
Pork Secreto Steak FritesUS$37.00
10oz - annato onion sweet chile
Colorado Lamb Chops US$65.00
18 oz
Bone-In, Dry-Aged Rib Chop*US$115.00
24oz

ROTISSERIE

limited availability

Brine + Herb-Marinated Amish Farm ChickenUS$28.50
Half dressed. Mashed yukon gold potatoes, crispy skin, endless gravy

MAINS

Rigatoni Alla VodkaUS$22.00
luxurious classic sauce, parmigiano reggiano, basil ADD wood-grilled lobster 5oz _ 21
Cedar Grilled SalmonUS$35.00
Maple miso glaze, ponzu, charred lime
seared sea scallopsUS$35.00
thyme roasted carrots, shallot confit, brown butter crumble, parsnip purée
Not a Smash BurgerUS$24.00
brisket blend, bibb lettuce, onion, pickles, secret sauce, american cheese, martin's potato bun, french fries Additional $5 with Nueske bacon

SIDES

wood fired wild mushroomsUS$15.00
roasted red onion, herbs
French Fries Julia Child StyleUS$11.00
Beef suet, "gardinieraioli", heinz 57 ketchup
Mashed PotatoesUS$12.00
Brown butter gravy
Twice Cooked Sweet PotatoUS$11.00
Lillie's Q BBQ butter, burnt orange
EloteUS$14.00
corn off the cob, parmigiano reggiano, tajin
mac 'n cheeseUS$13.00
housemade pasta, blend of aged cheddar and american cheeses

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

Noise • Moderate

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

S
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).
Is this helpful?
A
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.
Is this helpful?
A
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.
Is this helpful?
E
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.
Is this helpful?
A
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.
Is this helpful?
M
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.
Is this helpful?
S
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.
Is this helpful?
OT
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
Is this helpful?
OT
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.
Is this helpful?
M
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.
Is this helpful?

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

17 Mar 2025

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
(312) 789-5992
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

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

Make a booking

About this restaurant

Private dining

Dining areas

Additional information

Three-Course Business Lunch

Pre-Theater Dinner

Mashed Potatoes

Beef Tenderloin

Lobster & Spaghetti

FIRST COURSE

Crispy Brussels SproutsUS$12.00

Beets & BurrataUS$19.00

World Famous Confit Chicken WingsUS$16.00

SOUP & SALAD

Lobster BisqueUS$17.00

CaesarUS$17.00

Blue Chip ChopUS$35.00

RAW BAR

Hamachi CrudoUS$18.00

Tuna TartareUS$17.00

Oysters On the Half ShellUS$4.50

WOOD FIRED SEAFOOD

Oysters Maplefeller styleUS$5.00

HillBilly Riviera StyleUS$5.00

Oyster Royale StyleUS$7.00

skull island prawnUS$24.00

mediterranean octopusUS$24.00

Seafood TowerUS$175.00

STEAKS & CHOPS

FiletUS$59.00

Filet "Mrs O'Leary"US$61.00

Steak FritesUS$38.00

USDA Prime NY StripUS$68.00

Prime "Downtown" Ribeye*US$71.00

Pork Secreto Steak FritesUS$37.00

Colorado Lamb Chops US$65.00

Bone-In, Dry-Aged Rib Chop*US$115.00

ROTISSERIE

Brine + Herb-Marinated Amish Farm ChickenUS$28.50

MAINS

Rigatoni Alla VodkaUS$22.00

Cedar Grilled SalmonUS$35.00

seared sea scallopsUS$35.00

Not a Smash BurgerUS$24.00

SIDES

wood fired wild mushroomsUS$15.00

French Fries Julia Child StyleUS$11.00

Mashed PotatoesUS$12.00

Twice Cooked Sweet PotatoUS$11.00

EloteUS$14.00

mac 'n cheeseUS$13.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

How is Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails restaurant rated?

Is Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Dining areas

Additional information