Charlie Trotter's: User Reviews

Best Place To Dine
By cupcake310 from Somewhere Over The Rainbow, August 7, 2009

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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 fish is exquisite and so is the service. the waiter (Francisco) was the nicest person that i have ever seen. he made sure my family and i were happy with our meals and our water glasses filled. he attended to our every need. desert was excellent as well and the ambiance is very classy and neat. this is not only a place to dine, but a place in which the staff is like your family :)

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The Emperor's New Clothes
By twc3 from Oak Park, June 14, 2009

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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 disappointment. While the service was polite and professional, the staff seemed passionless and disengaged. Their delivery was more by rote than a proud discourse on the achievements of the chef. As it turns out, this was perhaps a bellwether because the food was mediocre. The salmon was too salty, the foams were a cliche, the desserts were nothing special and the serving sizes were a travesty. I doubt there was even a quarter pound of meat protein among all the dishes. If it weren't for all the bread they ply you with, you would leave starving; as it is, you just leave hungry. Trotter's doesn't hold a candle to Alinea or Les Nomade in terms of quantity or quality. Although they are also expensive, I am willing to "pay the freight" to experience their delightful and high quality culinary feats, attention to detail and regard for their diners. That Trotter's is more expensive is all the more disappointing. He is resting on his laurels. Caveat emptor...

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Too stuffy for my taste
By Jo from Gold Coast, February 24, 2009

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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 would all be at one table or even all in one room. Instead they kept trying to sell us the private dining room for $1000. I have eaten at Trotters now about 4 times.. The food truly is excellent but I find the service obnoxious. We brought wine in and were told we could only open 2 bottles per table - this was not mentioned when we called and we were willing to pay the corkage fee. The wait staff act like they are royalty waiting on peasants - they are entirely humorless and need to lighten up a little. I feel that if I am willing to pay their prices they should be willing to seat large parties together and not act so high and mighty when they serve you.

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Left hungry - most over-rated restaurant ever
By Foodiepatootie from Wrigleyville, August 5, 2008

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My husband and I have dined in some of the best restaurants around the world so naturally we had to try Charlie Trotter's in our home town. We were given two tasting menu options - vegetarian, and carnivore filled with what can only be described as glorified rodents. I chose the vegetarian, figuring if vegetarian is ever going to be great it's here. My husband chose the rodents. Both of us were very disappointed, left hungry, and I'm not kidding, stopped at a fast food place on the way home just to stem the hunger. I'm not one for giant portions, but I would like courses that I actually enjoy. The food was bland, the atmosphere pompous. There are SOO many excellent restaurants in Chicago. Please don't waste your time and money on this one. It's true, the emperor has no clothes.

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Oh what a food experience
By foodlady from lake view, March 14, 2008

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Every foodie in the world needs to experience this!
A wonderful experience overall.

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The Best of the Best
By Foodie from Westmont, December 28, 2007

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My wife and I have been to some of the best restaurant's in the country. From St. Martin to Toronto, from New York to San Francisco. There is no need to get into details regarding our Trotter's experience. Everything was perfect. Everything. Expensive? Yes. That's expected. There should be no surprise there. This is the best restaurant I have ever dined at. And I've been to a few.

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worst meal of my life
By nanyac from gold coast, November 9, 2007

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My husband and I just had one of the worst meals ever. What makes Charlie Trotter's so popular is beyond me. We eat out alot and I have never been so outraged that I've felt the need to write a review. We had the vegetable tasting which was bland, brown and boring. Too many onions, vinegar, foam.... what's with the foam already... so yesterday. The wine tasting was good but at $250 a person I expected more than an ounce or two per pour! The service was OK but not impeccable. Champagne glasses sat at the table as we sipped the next glass. And gratuity was added on... to boot!!! What an insult. Green Zebra, Spring and Les Nomades blows this place out of the water. Wish I had my $900 back.

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Food mix ups
By eva from LIncoln Park, October 21, 2007

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For those who understand the complexity of the dishes, I do not doubt this is a good restaurant. Personally, I found the dishes over salted. I had made two requests through out the meal. I had a food allergy, but they served me the food which I just didn't eat. What was the irritating is that I asked for decaffeinated coffee at the end of the meal and they brought me caffeinated coffee resulting a sleepless night

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Simply stated: On August 11,...
By Patrick Fox from Fort Lauderdale, Fl, August 15, 2007

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Simply stated: On August 11, 2007, I consumed the best meal of my life at Charlie Trotter's.

Simplicity in this review is intentional.

I digested a symphony, and a canvas.

Things I loved: We were greeted...
By Mick from Orland Park, IL, February 18, 2007

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Things I loved:
We were greeted at the curb and escorted to a table after checking coats. The wine list is good with an "under $75 list". Especially delightful foods included a poached egg, bison tenderloin, a pumpernickel toast so thin you could see through it, and delicious carmel and chocolate bites

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The tables were too short. Cheap catering/rental type equipment with beat up metal legs. Chairs weren't comfortable. The sole was bland. The chicken cold. Every dish had a watery foamy emulsion poured as if somebody tipped their latte on my plate. When I'm not finishing one ounce portions, you know there's something wrong.

Ironically we decided to stop for a bite to eat on the way home!! How sad is that?

If you're hungry or prefer traditional dining this isn't the place for you.