Powerhouse Restaurant and Bar: User Reviews

Fantastic
By MRFINEDINING from nearnorthside, July 15, 2008

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This is the third time we have dined at the Powerhouse, it has always been great, but tonight we noticed that the menu was better. My wife who is a vegetarian had a wonderful lasagna dish. I had the lamb chops with the eggplant parmesan, they were great. What wonderful flavors. Compliments to the new chef.

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What happened to this place?
By bebefoodie from west loop, July 15, 2008

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I remember dining at Powerhouse in the Winter and it was fabulous -- NOW the place is empty, the service disinterested( there was noone at the door when we arrived!) JUNIOR! and the bar is now overrun with holdouts from the last Rod Stewart tour -- whenever that was! Whatever is going on in this restaurant I doubt it will be open by Fall -- I will definitely NOT return - BAD

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Great meal, Atmosphere
By CWR from gold coast, July 11, 2008

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Yesterday I dined at Powerhouse for lunch. Aside from the place looking so chic, the meal was delicious. The new chef is incredible. We had the risotto of the day, the crab "salad" and (the best, very "juicy") swordfish with quinoa. I had only been in the bar, which is very large, and loved dining in the main room; the booths and ambience are really nice. I would definietly recommend Powerhouse for drinks, lunch/dinner or parties (they have nice private rooms).

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New Chicken Out Of This World
By lovetoeat! from uptown, July 1, 2008

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We had the most amazing dinner at the powerhouse we had dinner today and I had to run home and write about it jeje!! First things first the building wonderful and once you get the tour by the owner Jimmy Alexander you learn to love it even more. Next the service is wonderful 5 stars the server was very nice and took very good care of us. Finally the food WOW for apps I had the braised pork cheeks so so so yummy next I had the watermelon soup and that was very tasty as well, the flavors in the soup are out of this world and finally I had the new chicken which is so wonderful and by far the best tasting chicken I have ever had in my whole life. My husband order the Veggie Lasagna and that as well has to be one of the best Lasagna I have ever had. I will tell every single person I know that this is the place to have a wonderful and enjoyable dinner. Can't wait to go back

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Great food and ambiance
By Helena from Gold Coast, June 17, 2008

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The food, the service, and the ambaince were fantastic. I will surely return as I would like to have everything on the menu at least once.

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Powerhouse is Weak
By cjm from Near North, June 11, 2008

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This restaurant is awful. First, the dinner menu choices are too few. Second, it is completely inflexible. The staff wouldn't even show us the bar menu. Third, the service was terrible. We waited over an hour to get our main course, and this on a Monday night when the restaurant was virtually empty. Many waiters and managers standing around and acting completely disinterested. We had to ask twice whether we ever were going to be served our meal before it showed up. It simply wasn't worth the wait. Plus, the cost was way out of line with the product. Finally, the inside decor looks like a Holiday Inn in Decatur I was stayed in in 1974. THey certainly missed an opportunity to make the inside of the restaurant match the splendid exterior. A total disappointment.

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Wonderful Restaurant
By cosmic from streeterville, June 4, 2008

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The Powerhouse is a wonderful restaurant. We enjoyed the lamb, the pike, and of course the romaine salad with the Famous Alexander Dressing. Our white wine was served cold, and there weren't any short ribs on the menu. Just wanted to mention due to a review posted, claiming that they were fatty, and that the white wine was served warm. Our server was Steve, he was very good. We look forward to going back.

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I wouldnt go back
By youngest from gold coast, May 30, 2008

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The restaurant was noisy...when I requested a different table i was turned down even thought the restaurant was half empty. We ordered a nice bottle of white wine...which the server told us had to be chilled because they dont keep their white wines cold. He too thought it was strange. Anyway....i think he forgot...finaly about 20 minutes later we got the wine but it still wasnt very cold. We told him to chill down another one because we knew we would want one. Naturally he forgot and we went through the same thing again. The waiter raved about the braised short ribs...one of our party asked if the dish was greasy (because it normally is)...and he went on about the preparation and that it was not heavy and greasy...but it was.

I have read some other readers reviews and it should be noted that there is a more casual restaurant with TV's burger bar etc when you walk in and head to the right. We ate at the more formal restaurant on the left...and it just wasnt memorable. One other thing...if you have a decent appetite you will be disappointed by the portions...and perhaps the casual spot is a better place to go.

I wouldnt bother going back. Too many other spots.

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Powerhouse: Two great options for dining
By Love good food from Uptown, May 26, 2008

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We were looking for a casual place to dine after seeing the Indiana Jones movie. Our friend lives a few blocks from Powerhouse and suggested we dine in the bar. We were a little taken back at how classy the place looked and couldn't imagine this would be a place for a good burger. Boy, we were wrong.

Powerhouse doesn't offer much of facade on the street since it's in an old City Powerhouse, hence its name, but once you step into the restaurant, you can see what loving care went into the place. Wonderful old photos on the walls set the stage of what it once was.

The bar was sleek and long. Tables along the wall and back. Comfy bar stools and two flat screen TVs at both ends. We ordered a glass of wine and both the white and red we choose were very good, plus the pour was very generous.

The bar menu gives you a range of choices from mussel appetizers, to hummus. The bar entrees ranged from a burger smothered in grilled onions, cheese and the most amazing bacon chips I've ever tasted.

My husband had the burger and it was one big burger. I took a bite and if you want a burger that doesn't ooze juice, this is not the burger for you. It was delicious! My turkey club was equally tasty. Real turkey, avocado, that mysteriously good bacon and a toasted faccacio bun. Our friend had a steak that was done to perfection.

Jimmy, the owner, brought us a sampling of the family's secret Ceasar salad and I have to say it was the best Caesar salad I've ever had. He said the recipe was created 25 years ago and they haven't changed a thing.

They're opening a pation soon and for those who live in the Clinton, Halsted, Fulton neighborhood, you have a new neighborhood gem!

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