David Burke's Primehouse: User Reviews

I was taken to David Burkes for my birthday. We waited abut 10 minutes before anyone approached the table. Sorry this always annoys me. Tables were covered with greasy red leather. Disco bass was pounding through the walls behind us. Large pillar directly in front of us that the service people had to weave around. I imagined myself at a Bulls game constantly trying to peak around a column to see what was going on! (where my server was). We ordered caesar salad, 55 day aged ribeye, filet and bone in sirloin. Server returned in 10 min to tell us that 55 day not available. Changed to 40 day. 10 min later caesar salad boy appeared with cart. Salad was excellent. Steaks came 5-10 min after we finished with salads. Bus help was efficient, helpful friendly - but not allowed to take drink/coffee orders. Why not? Steaks were average. Tenderness not noticeably better because of extended aging. Not noticeably better flavor because of selection of special beef..Bone in Rib Eye was cut from the furthest most chuck end so had excessive veins of fat. I did not eat more than about 1/4 of the Rib eye. Bone in sirloin was enjoyed and completely eaten. Waiter did not comment about steaks not being eaten. Red velvet cake (pre-order 45 minutes ahead) was very good that night. Service was very business-like ..on the chilly side. VERY pricey. From my personal experience, I didnt understand why Chicago Magazine gave it such a good review, Overall average to below average. There are much better choices out there for that kind of money.

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Valet service is a joke, slow, slow, slow, and one of the attendants did not even know how to drive a stick shift. 40 min wait after our meal. Also $2 higher than across the street. Restaurant: You expect most good steaks to be in the $20 to $30+ range, but $52 for a steak (40 day aged ribeyed) that isn't noticeably better than a $30 steak is a disappointment. Short Answer: Melon gazpacho ($8): good, Foie Gras ($15): good but very small portion: Kobe Sashimi ($15): pricey but good flavor and presentation on a salt brick, 40 day aged bone-in ribeye ($52): cooked properly but not exceptional flavor, Hashbrowns ($8): flavorful and generous portion, Garlic Spinach ($8): tasty but small portion, 1 glass wine ($13): good flavor. Server: knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. Total bill: $135, plus $14 for valet parking. Notice this is for one steak, 2 sides, and three appetizers, 1 glass of wine and no dessert. My son and I split the steak, enough food for two, but avg $75 per person with parking and only one steak? Not a value, and not enough unique flavor to justify the additional cost.

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Went with two friends on a early Saturday evening (5:00 p.m.). We have been to most of the top rated steakhouses in town including Gibson's, Morton's, Keefer's, Ruth's Chris, and Magnum's (R.I.P.) as well as many in Vegas.

Pros:
- Some of the best steaks we have ever tasted. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. Go for the reserve steaks if you can - a little pricey but worth it. We tried the 40 day ribeye and the NY strip.
- Casual environment, but still classy. We went on a hot day and were wearing shorts w/ collared shirts. No stuffiness here.
- We were seated in a window booth overlooking the the restaurant. Nice views.
- Server was polite and attentive without being over-anxious. Good wait staff.

Cons:
- Some of the reserve steaks (including their signature 55 day aged ribeye) were not available. Call ahead if you want to ensure availability.
- Seafood selection was limited. Standard salmon, tuna steaks available. Lobster tail was very small and not anything special.
- Sides were a little disappointing. I give them credit for attempting something different, but they didn't really work for us. Tempura green beans had a nice curry flavor, but were a little greasy. The angry lobster fried rice is served cold and the spiciness overwhelms the flavor. The portions are also not your standard steakhouse size - they are portioned for 1 - 1 1/2 people.
- Desert is again not a standard steakhouse type menu. Portions are small and more what you would find at a fine dining establishment (not that this isn't).

Overall, the steaks are what we came for, and DB Primehouse has some of the best. We will definitely be back with a little better knowledge of the menu. If you are looking for a classic steakhouse, this may not be your best choice, but if you are willing to try something different, it is worth the trip.

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The internet menu showed an "affordable" price. We had seen mixed reviews before going but went to save money. No deal. The prices at the restaurant were around $15 higher than the internet prices. The wine list is average but there were a couple of good wines to choose from. We chose a porterhouse -- probably the worst steak of our life: dry and mealy. They allowed us to cancel and sent out a filet which was good but not great. Dessert was a let down as well. Will not go back.

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Myself and my wife tried Primehouse for the second time recently. Our first experience there was sub-par. We were slightly rushed because we had to make it to a show. This past Valentine's day we decided to give it a second shot, this time with plenty of time to experience the place. We felt the service was very good, but the steaks did not match up to top steakhouses such as Gibson's. The appetizers were just okay, the bread was burnt, the steaks (award winning 55-day dry aged Ribeye) was not worth the price. The decor was okay, the people were nice, but not the same vibe as other steakhouses. I tab cam out to be 200 with wine, steaks, apps. Definitely skip this place, don't believe the hype!!

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The south side is their bone in filet. I have been here a few times and I have gotten the aged ribeye and the bone in filet. The bone in filet, the "South Side", is one awesome piece of meat. I love steak, and David Burke's is one of best places I've gotten a steak. It can be a little loud, and can get a little pricey, but overall I love this place!

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My friend and I recently went for the lunch special (buy an entree and get a free appetizer and dessert for free). The popovers they served were bland (would have rather had some bread and butter). The lobster dumpling appetizer was really good but didn't like the short rib dumpling that was served with it (tasted like meatloaf). We both ordered an aged 20 oz rib eye steak which was yummy. The steaks were great but a tad too salty. If they decreased the salt, my steak would have been perfect. Speaking of salt, all the sides were on the salty side and don't expect any big side portion (the side portions that came with the entree were your palm size, if smaller). The chocolate mousse cake was average but the apple pie with cheese was good. The restaurant's music was a tad too loud. Overall, the steaks were good but found the overall experience at the restaurant too trendy. Not sure if I would go back (although the steak was great) and still looking for the overall great steak place. Not worth dinner prices though. Lunch prices were decent, especially the lunch special.

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My husband and I wanted to celebrate a big occasion this past Saturday, so we decided to go to Primehouse. We had an 8:30pm reservation. By 9:15pm, we still were not seated and the hostess did not have any idea on how long it was going to be, so we left. It is ridiculous for any restaurant to expect you to wait for 45 mins+ when you have a reservation. We have eaten here once before and they had lost our reservation, but got us in with not quite as much of a wait as this more recent experience. The food is good, the service-once seated-was good, but with a city full of great steakhouses, I will not return to one who treated us so poorly.

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Loved the service, the space, the martinis, the foie gras and the caesar salad. But the steaks were not the best? Go figure.

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On my recent second visit to David Burke's my friends & I experienced very slow service, a very loud atmosphere and very over-priced poor quality steaks. I probably wouldn't recommend or visit again, there's too many better options in Chicago.

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