Not too long ago, I had the pleasure to visit The Palm Restaurant here in Chicago to check out their new Modern 1 Hour Power Lunch menu. It was a great opportunity to visit because a couple years ago, I used to live within walking distance to the restaurant when I lived in a downtown highrise just behind the Swissotel where The Palm Restaurant is. But even better was my company. Joining me for lunch was my dear friend, Howard. It was an extra special lunch because it was also Howard’s birthday. Given that a good celebration lunch was in order, The Palm certainly didn’t disappoint.
We started off with the Lobster Bisque, which was full of fresh lobster meat, cream and a touch of brandy. The presentation of the bisque was beautiful, where we were presented with a bowl of chilled lobster meat. Our server then poured the creamy bisque over the lobster and finished our bowl off with freshly cracked pepper. I loved that it wasn’t too thick or too runny – it was the perfect consistency.
Next, we enjoyed the Iceberg Lettuce Wedge. A crisp wedge of Iceberg lettuce was adorned with halved cherry tomatoes, smoky bacon, toasted walnuts, snips of fresh chives, Danish blue cheese and a healthy portion of french fried onions. Howard claimed it was one of the best lettuce wedge salads he’s ever had. I thought the ratio of all the ingredients was perfect. I could have easily enjoyed just the salad as a meal!
For our entrees, Howard and I chose two different items and shared them. One entree was the Nova Scotia Lobster BLT Sandwich. This was a hearty sandwich filled with tender chunks of lobster, crispy bacon, baby arugula, oven dried tomatoes and Goddess dressing. I thought this upgraded version of the traditional BLT was wonderful and everything really paired together nicely.
The other entree was the Prime New York Strip Steak. This was one serious, 14 ounce steak! It was cooked perfectly at a medium rare and it needed nothing else… just like a good steak should be. Howard was especially pleased and enjoyed every bite!
Lastly, to end on a sweet note and to celebrate with cake {what’s a birthday without cake?!}, Howard and I shared the Big Chocolate Layer Cake. This was not your little regular cake… but rather, 7 layers of dark chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache. It helped having coffee along with this cake to really savor each bite.
As we reflected on the amazing meal we experienced, we have to mention our server, Andrew. He was not only attentive, but so knowledgeable and accommodating. We appreciated the various wine pairings he provided for each course and he did so while educating us about the wines in the process. Thank you Andrew for making our lunch so memorable!
Overall, the lunch was wonderful from the atmosphere, ambiance, food and service. If what we experienced for lunch is a mere indication of what a typical dinner service would be like, I have no hesitation coming back or recommending The Palm to others. For lunch, I definitely suggest taking advantage of their new Modern 1 Hour Power Lunch menu with a variety of menu options for everyone. And if dinner is more your style, you can’t beat the special detail to their steaks! Thank you to the folks of The Palm Restaurant for the meal and opportunity to dine in your fine establishment!
I've wanted to eat at The Palm since reading Garlic and Sapphires. Of course, we have one in San Diego, but I still haven't been!