Charlie Trotter's
3.7
from - Neighborhood: Sheffield/De Paul
- 816 W. Armitage Ave.
- Chicago, IL 60614
- 773-248-6228
- Price range: $$$$ ($26-$30)
Regarded by many as the pinnacle of American cooking, Charlie Trotter's enjoys as much international renown as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Bulls basketball team. The chef's aim is to synthesize European traditionalism with Asian minimalism and American ingenuity. Trotter--named 1999 James Beard Foundation Chef of the Year--expresses this most effectively in his degustation menus. Degustation menus range from $125-$200 per person, excluding tax and service charge. These showcase tasting-portions of a multitude of foods, playing up seasonal freshness and dizzying variety. The farm-raised meats, line-caught fish, organic vegetables and herbs combine with Trotter's own creativity for truly memorable dining. The elegant dining room is in a Lincoln Park brownstone built circa 1900 and renovated in the Viennese Biedermeier style--clean lines, crisp angles and understated colors. Adjacent to the restaurant is a 1,500-square-foot test kitchen where Trotter's PBS television program, "The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter," is filmed, and where Trotter conducts occasional cooking classes.
Getting There
- Cross Streets:
- Halsted St. and Armitage Ave.
- Parking:
- Street Parking Difficult and Valet
- Public Transportation:
- CTA Bus: 8-Halsted, 73-Armitage. Brown Line Train: Armitage.
- Wheelchair Access:
- Yes. Entrance and first floor accessible, as are the restrooms.
The Basics
- Hours:
-
First seating: 6-6:30 p.m.; Second seating: 9-9:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday
First seating 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Second seating: 8:30-9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday
Closed Sunday and Monday.
- Cuisine:
- American Contemporary
- Meals Served:
- Dinner
- Price Range:
- $$$$ ($26-$30)
- Reservations:
- Accepted. Required, with confirmation.
- Dress Code:
- Not black tie; jackets are required and tie is optional.
- Alcohol:
-
Beer and Wine.
Wine cellar earned the Wine Spectator's Grand Award and James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Wine Service Award; note display of wine on second floor wall; wine is served in Riedel crystal glasses
Limited beer, aperitif and digestif selection.
- Smoking:
- No
- Audience:
- Families
Features
- Carryout:
- Yes. Through Trotter's To Go and Trotter's Express only.
- ATM:
- Bridgeview National Bank on Armitage Ave. and Halsted St.
- Live Music:
- No
- Features:
- Catering and On-site Merchandise. Through Trotter's To Go only. No dancing. Trotter is the author of several cookbooks, all for sale at the restaurant. His latest limited edition cookbook Spa Cuisine, which was released in the fall of 2006, is now available at the restaurant. No children's menu. Event planning, menu planning, flower selection services. No buffet. Trotter hosts occasional cooking classes.
- Facilities:
-
Private Party and Banquet Facilities.
Capacity: 20
The kitchen table seats 4-6 and offers offers 12-14 courses for a fixed price.
- Worth Noting:
- Critic's choice. 4-star. Chicago classic. Chicago's choice winner. Recommended.
- Specialties:
- The "Grand Degustation," a seven-course meal featuring seasonal offerings.
- Payment Methods:
- American Express, Diners Club, Discover Card, Mastercard, and Visa
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Seating :
-
First floor dining room seats 32, second floor
balcony area seats 36, second floor salon and dining area seat 36
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Rate Charlie Trotter's
"Best Place To Dine"
By cupcake310 from Somewhere Over The Rainbow, August 7, 2009
i have been to charlie trotter's twice and both times were exquisite. the food may be small, but it's delicious melt in your mouth goodness. the fi...
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"The Emperor's New Clothes"
By twc3 from Oak Park, June 14, 2009
My wife has wanted to dine at Trotter's for years and on the occasion of her promotion, we decided to try something new. It was a profound disappoi...
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"Too stuffy for my taste"
By Jo from Gold Coast, February 24, 2009
We recently ate at Trotters with a group of 12+ people. We called months in advance to make the reservation but they could not assure us that we w...
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