Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

4.5

625 Reviews

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 11, 2025

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

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Dining areas

Additional information

Location
202 S Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone number
(312) 789-5992
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
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.

Popular dishes

Oysters Maplefeller style$5.00
Maytag Blue Cheese, Confit Tomato, Maple Bacon, Calabrian Chili Crumb
HillBilly Riviera Style$5.00
saltines, crystal's hot sauce butter
Oyster Royale Style$7.00
golden kaluga caviar, potato cream
skull island prawn$24.00
lobster butter, charred lemon, chili crunch, herbs
mediterranean octopus$24.00
wood fired octopus, charred eggplant, yukon potato pancake, salsa verde
Seafood Tower$175.00
jumbo tomahawk prawns, seasonal oysters and cold water lobster tail, salsa matcha butter and burnt lemon

STEAKS & CHOPS

well marbled Top with: Sautéed Maytag Bleu Cheese $5 Truffe Butter $4 Red Wine Demi Glace $4

Filet$59.00
8oz
Filet "Mrs O'Leary"$61.00
8 oz. Red wine demi-glace, fried shallots
Steak Frites$38.00
10oz Salsa verde
USDA Prime NY Strip$68.00
16 oz
Prime "Downtown" Ribeye*$71.00
16oz
Pork Secreto Steak Frites$37.00
10oz - annato onion sweet chile
Colorado Lamb Chops $65.00
18 oz
Bone-In, Dry-Aged Rib Chop*$115.00
24oz

ROTISSERIE

limited availability

Brine + Herb-Marinated Amish Farm Chicken$28.50
Half dressed. Mashed yukon gold potatoes, crispy skin, endless gravy

MAINS

Rigatoni Alla Vodka$22.00
luxurious classic sauce, parmigiano reggiano, basil ADD wood-grilled lobster 5oz _ 21
Cedar Grilled Salmon$35.00
Maple miso glaze, ponzu, charred lime
seared sea scallops$35.00
thyme roasted carrots, shallot confit, brown butter crumble, parsnip purée
Not a Smash Burger$24.00
brisket blend, bibb lettuce, onion, pickles, secret sauce, american cheese, martin's potato bun, french fries Additional $5 with Nueske bacon

SIDES

wood fired wild mushrooms$15.00
roasted red onion, herbs
French Fries Julia Child Style$11.00
Beef suet, "gardinieraioli", heinz 57 ketchup
Mashed Potatoes$12.00
Brown butter gravy
Twice Cooked Sweet Potato$11.00
Lillie's Q BBQ butter, burnt orange
Elote$14.00
corn off the cob, parmigiano reggiano, tajin
mac 'n cheese$13.00
housemade pasta, blend of aged cheddar and american cheeses

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

Noise • Moderate

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

A
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.
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M
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.
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S
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?
OT
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
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OT
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.
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M
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.
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M
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.
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G
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
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A
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!
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C
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!
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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

Mar 11, 2025

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
(312) 789-5992
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

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

Make a reservation

Private dining

Dining areas

Additional information

Pre-Theater Dinner

Three-Course Business Lunch

Mashed Potatoes

Beef Tenderloin

Lobster & Spaghetti

FIRST COURSE

Crispy Brussels Sprouts$12.00

Beets & Burrata$19.00

World Famous Confit Chicken Wings$16.00

SOUP & SALAD

Lobster Bisque$17.00

Caesar$17.00

Blue Chip Chop$35.00

RAW BAR

Hamachi Crudo$18.00

Tuna Tartare$17.00

Oysters On the Half Shell$4.50

WOOD FIRED SEAFOOD

Oysters Maplefeller style$5.00

HillBilly Riviera Style$5.00

Oyster Royale Style$7.00

skull island prawn$24.00

mediterranean octopus$24.00

Seafood Tower$175.00

STEAKS & CHOPS

Filet$59.00

Filet "Mrs O'Leary"$61.00

Steak Frites$38.00

USDA Prime NY Strip$68.00

Prime "Downtown" Ribeye*$71.00

Pork Secreto Steak Frites$37.00

Colorado Lamb Chops $65.00

Bone-In, Dry-Aged Rib Chop*$115.00

ROTISSERIE

Brine + Herb-Marinated Amish Farm Chicken$28.50

MAINS

Rigatoni Alla Vodka$22.00

Cedar Grilled Salmon$35.00

seared sea scallops$35.00

Not a Smash Burger$24.00

SIDES

wood fired wild mushrooms$15.00

French Fries Julia Child Style$11.00

Mashed Potatoes$12.00

Twice Cooked Sweet Potato$11.00

Elote$14.00

mac 'n cheese$13.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

How is Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails restaurant rated?

Is Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information