Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Chicago / Illinois
  4. Chicago
  5. River North (Chicago)
Latest Menu Offerings - Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails, Chicago, IL

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

4.5
4.5
625 Reviews
$50 and over
Steakhouse

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 69 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for business meals
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
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

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, American, Grill
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–3:45 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–5:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Chef Jonathon Sawyer

Experiences

  • Pre-Theater Dinner

    $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
    Pre-Theater Dinner Photo
  • Three-Course Business Lunch

    $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.
    Three-Course Business Lunch Photo

What 625 people are saying

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

NoiseModerate

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.

625 Reviews
  1. Andy VIP

    Chicago26 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    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?

  2. Melissa

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    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?

  3. Sheronda VIP

    Washington DC31 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    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?

  4. OpenTable Diner

    Columbus1 review

    2.0

    Dined on March 1, 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?

  5. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago1 review

    4.0

    Dined on February 27, 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?

  6. Matt VIP

    Chicago8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 27, 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?

  7. Matthew

    Chicago2 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food just was not good, it was bland, Brussel sprouts were not crispy, and wings were okay.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Gavin

    Seattle14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was amazing and so was our service can’t wait to go back

    Is this helpful?

  9. Anna VIP

    Chicago5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    exceptional service. great food. went above and beyond for my daughter’s birthday. can’t wait to come back!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Cambren

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food! Great ambiance! Nice date night spot!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails is rated 4.5 stars by 625 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 69 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
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, American, Grill
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–3:45 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–5:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Chef Jonathon Sawyer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo