CSN Reviews The Classy Lakeshore East Steakhouse
Some of the Corporate Suites Network staff were recently inspired to try out III Forks after reading Time Out Chicago’s hot list of where to enjoy drinks on a rooftop. III Forks is a stylish, modern steakhouse with seven locations throughout the states. The Chicago spot sits in the Lakeshore East neighborhood overlooking a scenic park surrounded by downtown liveliness.
From the moment we walked in the door, we were greeted with warm friendly smiles. The restaurant felt very formal right away, though business casual attire was definitely appropriate. The floors glistened like black onyx and crisp, white linen tablecloths dressed each table.
It was just after 5pm, and the restaurant felt bare. We requested to be seated on the rooftop. As soon as we made it upstairs, we felt comfortable and relaxed. The rooftop had a more laidback vibe and seemed the place to be. This is where the life was! The patio was larger than we expected, boasting patio-style wicker furniture with cushioned seats and an expansive bar stretching 15 feet. Sitting at one of the cabana-like tables, we enjoyed a gorgeous view of lush green trees and downtown buildings.
Our waitress was very patient; we told her it was our first time. She gave us the delicious wine recommendation, the 7 Daughters Moscato. For the appetizers, we took a risk and decided to try something that usually wouldn’t have tempted us: the Tobiko deviled eggs, topped with Tobiko caviar, dill, and spice. We also had the completely unique and upscale duck and waffles. It was perfectly seared duck resting on bite-size waffles similar to wafers.
The main courses we tried were the filet mignon with fresh asparagus and the French dip sandwich. To our surprise, the thick-layered steak on the sandwich was very tender and had a nice horseradish sauce kick. The filet was just as tender, requiring little effort to cut. And during our meal, the manager even stopped by our table to ensure we were enjoying ourselves. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience. We picked the perfect evening with a summer breeze and partly sunny skies. III Forks Chicago has the CSN Best Local stamp of approval. We will definitely be back—but next time we’ll save room for dessert.
III Forks Chicago is located at 333 E Benton Pl., just a 5-minute walk from Columbus Plaza, a 13-minute bus ride on the 124 Bus from 400 N LaSalle, and less than 20 minutes on the 65 Bus from Kingsbury Plaza.