N9NE Steakhouse

The hostesses were nice but seemed shy which is strange for a position that is supposed to greet guests.
We were waiting for a friend so we sat at the bar for a drink. I asked the bartender for a Scotch list but he said they didn’t have one and suggested a couple — strangely the cheap blended varieties. I just went with the Cadillac Margarita. Our friend joined us so we sat for dinner.
Our waiter was super nice and friendly. The décor is unique for a steakhouse — instead of all the wood fixtures etc. They’ve got the sleek surfaces and purple lights but those lights seemed outdated.
The wine list is not huge like most steakhouses, which is fine, but it needs to be updated. We ordered a 2009 Tempranillo and were given a 2010. I caught that and asked the waiter before he opened it. He said that’s all they had. No worries.
I did find the prices to be very expensive for a restaurant that was 40% full on a Friday night (word is that business has been going down over the past few years). $ 59 for a bone-​in ribeye which you can get at Gibson’s for $ 49; Del Frisco’s for $ 53; Joe’s for $ 50.
I got the lamb chops which tasted wonderful but were a bit too fatty. I tried my friend’s roasted chicken which I enjoyed.
We didn’t order desert but looked at the menu, and voila! That’s where the Scotch list was.

The experience here wasn’t particularly bad, wasn’t good, just really strange. The only table available was in the later part of the evening, and confusing as the place was practically empty.
After you go inside and ask around for valet service and pre-​pay (?), you’ll have a couple of confused waiters take your order repeatedly, and seem a little befuddled as to what you’re ordering. Maybe they need to put numbers on the menu like chinese food joints.
You’ll get your drinks, but only after the server offers the other table’s drinks to you first. Remember, there were three tables total in the restaurant. The server will also not know what you ordered, playing the role of a drink auctioneer that not only has no clue which of the two drinks go where, but what the drinks are. You will not understand anything your server says to you. Just smile and nod, and hope you end up with something you enjoy.
Next you’ll order appetizers, and you’ll get them, but only after the server offers the other table’s appetizers to you first. You’re an old pro at this routine by now and will soon know more about the menu than the staff.
You’ll order mains. You will have to describe what you want repeatedly, because in addition to not knowing what drinks he’s carrying, your server will not know what’s on the menu. You’ll also feel bad for the woman at the host stand whose boredom and lack of a stool has sent her into catwalk strut fits between the door and the mirror where she touches up her hair and adjusts herself.
Mains will arrive, and will be set down in the wrong places and generally auctioned off, Applebee’s-style. The food is quite good. Steaks cooked perfectly, burgers with tons of flavor, sides (mashed, garlic and lobster) plenty to share and enjoy.
Desserts are a letdown. You can taste that they’ve been pre-​staged and have sat in the cooler for a bit. The cotton candy is great, but the smores are poorly executed.
You’ll eventually notice staff going home. One by one, the bartender leaves, the kitchen packs up, the hostess stand goes unattended, and you start to feel like a mafia don at his Italian «restaurant» — it’s all yours, only, it’s not and it’s creepy.
Mercifully, the server will stop by with your check. Likely the only thing not misdelivered, as well as some keys. He’ll ask what kind of car you have, and hand you your keys accordingly. The valet went home, too.
Checking Unilocal,I realized that the place closes at 10PM on a Thursday (really?) and it was 10:08. Even the staff can’t wait to get the hell out of there.

Went here for restaurant week = awesome deal.
I had a steak for the main dish and it was extremely tender and flavorful, my brother in low absolutely loved it, but I thought it was great, but not the most amazing meat. Cooked exactly how I asked it to be.
You must try the cottoncandy drink, it is not only very tasty but it is also eye candy. They pour the liquor over the cotton candy in a martini glass, very cool!
The service was impecable. The restaurant is beautiful. The lighting dim, the décor and colors seductive. Dress very nice here, men can go as far as a suit.
If you would like to impress a date, I would defenitely recommend N9NE.

This place is really a 3.5 star establishment, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt and rounded up b/​c the service was good. I enjoyed my steak, the appetizer, and the drinks. But I wasn’t pleased with the sides (the corn and mash potatoes weren’t the best.) Also the place was completely dead; and roughly 5 years ago this restaurant was filled to the brim with people. The energy and music were great. Now it seems like they’ve come down to Earth a bit… but they’ve kept the price tag high.
I’ll be back at some point in the future.

A steakhouse in Chicago should have three things.
1. A great Wine List
2. A great piece of red meat
3. A sexy backdrop to serve more of #s 1 and 2
I took a client to N9NE recently for lunch and everything was spot on. From the oysters to the blue cheese wedge to the Surf and Turf… to the bottle of Shafer «Relentless» (Wine Spectator’s wine of the year)…the meal was worthy of a special occasion. The landscape is crowded for Steakhouses in Chicago… and you have to be GREAT to be in the team picture. N9Ne is certainly doing a lot of things right… and deserves consideration when you are craving some prime beef.

N9NE for Thurs night b’day celebration, my first visit as well. Everyone talks of the Rock Shrimp, and its deserved (nice lil barstool treat) but the reason you are here is the Wet-​Aged MEAT. The Bone-​In Ribeye was delicious and made me feel less of a 6’4″ 250# man because I could not finish it! Then I realized it was because of the Rock Shrip, Calamari, Steamed Brocc., Lobster Mashed, as solidly poured Malbec that I’d had.
Tim came by a few times to make sure the meal and atmos was that it could be.
It was.
And the eclectic music mix made the time pass like drifting in and out of a nightclub, every now-​and-​again saying «oh, wait, I remember that song!»
Wanna get out of the River North/D’town chaos? Stop by N9NE on your way to the Kennedy; like the old commercial used to say «Its worth the trip!»
Oh yeah, BTW, wore my brand new Red Velvet Dinner Jacket; Tim and the wait staff independently complimented me on it. I am such a clothes-​whore…

We love coming here. The service is great. The atmosphere is a little clubby but not over-​the-​top. You can come here in a suit, dolled up or business casual and feel ok. The first time I was here was on an expense account which in looking around are what most people are doing if you’re here early on a week night.
I think they make a great sazerac and the wine list is great.
The bread is always fresh and warm and delicious.
This last time we tried the rock shrimp which are really good and plentiful. I also tried the lobster bisque which is good but Joe’s does it better. We also had the Caesar salad which was over dressed and just eh. Also the avocado and tomato salad which was great.
All of the steaks are great according to my boyfriend. They no longer have a porterhouse on the menu so if they have it as a special the def consider it. This time I had the whitefish which was well cooked but super garlicky. I also like the sea bass and scallops. Also get the lobster mashed potatoes.

I have been here before and liked It then and still like it a lot. A bit on the pricier side, but a different type of experience from your standard Chicago steakhouse. N9NE had a great atmosphere, awesome décor and the server we had knew about everything on the menu, even the wine to pair our steaks with.
We started with a drink, she had the Berry Smash with the recommendation from our server, I had a standard Scotch old fashioned, a little smaller than I am used to, but still they knew how to make it correctly. We had the special Ahi tuna Shashimi followed by steaks. We both got our steaks Medium rare, which they came out perfect, not to easy to do with mine being a Porterhouse. We followed dinner up with the chocolate bread pudding.
I recommend this place if you are looking to get away from your standard, loud steakhouse.
Unfortunately, I did remember this place having a club upstairs which would of been great for a night cap, but as the server mentioned, the upstairs lounge/​nightclub Ghost Bar was closed and only used mostly these days for corporate events.

I have been to this place several times and am never disappointed! The service is tremendous, they are the perfect amount of attentive. On my last visit we decided to start out and split both the lobster bisque and the wedge salad. Both were excellent. We each received our own portions and didnt have to deal with the mess of splitting them up ourselves. The lobster bisque had the perfect amount of lobster in the bottom and the soup was creamy, but not heavy. I love a wedge and this one did not disappoint with the bacon and creamy dressing. YUM! For my entrée I had the Scallops and it was out of this world. I thought my portion would be much smaller and it turned out I had a hard time finishing it. The truffle oil with the chunks of lobster were excellent paired with the scallops, which were perfectly cooked. My date had the halibut and loved it. I sometimes forget all about this place on the west side, but I will make a mental note the next time we want to go somewhere fancy because they didnt miss a mark!
Also, if you want something fun, be sure to order up the Cotton Candy! It will take you back to your childhood…

First time at N9NE for lunch. Great atmosphere & bar area looks very trendy. Nice big comfy booth tables. Service was great, waiter was very attentive.
Both drinks and food were great. HUGE drink menu! :)
Get the steak salad — it doesn’t disappoint!
Def will be back for lunch. Dinner might be a bit on the pricey side…

Went in spontaneously, was of no problems though they talk about a dresscode on their homepage. Atmosphere is nice and relaxed (but not warm…), good service!
I had a 8oz filet mignon with fries which was perfectly proportionated. We had the garlic fries as sides together and it was by far enough! Even if you are starving, share those fries…
Recommended!

Came here for restaurant week and have the same feelings that some recent reviewers did. It was just ok. I couldn’t believe the normal prices on the menu, seemed pretty absurd for good, but not outstanding, food. Had the caesar salad which was good, but nothing too special. I did have a bite of my bf’s ravioli which were awesome. My salmon with shitake mushrooms was great. The sauce had some wasabi in it which really added to the flavor. Others in my group liked their steak but weren’t incredibly impressed. The waiter had claimed they had the «best steak in Chicago» and i don’t buy it. I enjoyed the lobster risotto, but wished that it had a stronger flavor. There wasn’t a ton of flavor. I did enjoy my chocolate dessert!
Our waiter was attentive at the beginning of the meal, but seemed to go missing… even though the restaurant was barely occupied. The timing wasn’t great, we ordered another round of drinks and they weren’t ready until mid-​way through our main course. The drinks are another story. They just weren’t good. I’m by no means a drink snob, seriously. But the Ginger-​er drink that I ordered really tasted like Fresca. I wish I could have seen how little gin was actually poured in there. Kind of disheartening when you’re paying $ 12 a drink. The atmosphere at N9NE is a little odd. Chicago is not Vegas. The glittery poles in the center of the room didn’t really fit, they didn’t achieve the flashy feel they were going for with the décor. Whole thing was just alright, not planning to head back anytime soon.

Tough call. Went for the first time last night, for restaurant week, and was unimpressed. I’m not saying the food was bad, just uninspiring. I did not catch the buzz that surronds N9NE. The service was excellent.
I would probably want to go back for normal service on the weekend to get a better sense.

I have been here several times for lunch and a couple of dinners. While they have been around for a few years, they don’t appear to have grown stale and continue to provide consistent food and service.
I always start with the lobster bisque which I still feel is one of better ones in the city. My entrees always vary from some form of seafood or a steak. As mentioned there are better steakhouses in the city but I really haven’t been disappointed with this place in the past.

I fall in love with N9NE Steakhouse everytime I go there!
I’ve been there several times with my family and hubby, but the hubby and I recently took my Mother and Father-​in Law to N9NE to celebrate my MIL’s 60^th birthday!
Cons.none
Pros:
1. $ 11 Valet. Ummmm yes please!!!
2. Amazing service– honestly, they are on top of their game from the time you enter to the time you leave!
3. Food is AMAZING! For an appetizer, we order the Rock Shrimp… yowza! So good and what ever the red dipping sauce was, it was GOOD! I ordered the Salmon, delish! My hubby ordered the Short Ribs, I dont like beef, but it was tender and good! my FIL ordered scallops, which were tasty, as well as my MIL’s chicken!
4. Drinks– the drinks are pricey (its the city… what do you expect!), but very tasty! I liked the Bonzai martini!
N9NE is definately pricey, but worth it for sure! My MIL got a delicious trio of sorbet for our birthday dessert (the mango was o-​so-​good!). We usually go here on special occassions, and have never been disappointed!

I’m going to have to bump N9NE up a star based solely on their seared jumbo scallops and lobster risotto. Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, and completely impressed. Again, here I am reviewing a steakhouse based on their seafood, but I can handle your critical side-​eyes…
Also, they do provide a great backroom for private events, complete with AV, podium, microphone, etc for business lunches, rehearsal dinners, etc etc. We recently had a business lunch in the space and it was a perfect space with very attentive service.

The space is huge and cold. Reminded me of a place that should be in Vegas with it’s glittering mirrored tiled columns and the contemporary glass and steel bar in the center of the dining room.
We first sat at the bar, but the bartender there was so obnoxious that eating there was never going to be an option. This guy spent more time on the phone at the end of the bar than getting us drinks. And when my second drink came with tonic instead of soda? Well let’s just say his «displeasure» at me returning it was written all over his face.
So it was over to a table we went.
Again a bit of a misstep as the place was empty– we asked for a booth and were being directed to a table when the friend I was with interceded and said ««Booth», yet again. The hostess, who couldn’t make a decision if her life depended on it– left us standing in the middle of the restaurant to go «see if she could do that». Really? There were only about 4 tables occupied in the entire place.
Once we were finally seated (in a booth, I might add) things began to look up. Our server, Alex, was quite helpful and turned what could have been horrible night into one that was okay. He suggested his favorites on the menu and was personable and apologetic (I had asked for a black napkin thinking a place of this caliber would have one– but one could not be found!)
We started with a couple of the appetizers– the rock shrimp which was a Chinese take out box full of lightly battered and fried shrimp and the two cones filled with ahi tuna and a lobster mix. All were quite good.
As for entrees– I went with the New York strip with a side of the broccoli au gratin and my friend had the hangar steak. Everything was fine– but the broccoli was not good. Tasted like it came out of a can as it had the consistency of a canned vegetable. The steak was good but charging $ 3 for Bearnaise sauce felt a little nickel and dimey when you are paying $ 45 or more for a steak.
Valet parking is available for $ 11 and know if you go close to the writing of this– with both Randolph and Wacker under construction, the valet drop off is over on Canal Street just north of Randolph although they do bring your car to the front door when you leave.
Pricey for what you get. I know this place used to be the «see and be seen» place but it sure wasn’t that on this night. And the infamous «Ghost Bar» on the 2^nd level is now only open for private parties.
A-​OK pretty much sums up the evening with the save by our server. But there are plenty of other steak places in town that I prefer. And that’s where you’ll find me.

I am always afraid too admit that I like this place, but the truth is I do! Yes it’s cheesy and the servers wear those awful white blazers. A little over the top in my opinion, but I’m sure some people like it. More often than not the service is actually wonderful. Although on occasion when it’s been busy they forgot to bring me another glass of wine, etc.
The lobster Bisque is a great way too start. The Cesar salad was good according to others at my table. Only one person has ever ordered the Salmon with me. She said it was good. The steaks are the way too go I think. I love the Hanger steak with the blue cheese butter.
Dessert is a whole experience here (at least for me). I love the Cloud 9. It’s a huge serving of cotton candy with little miniature Ice cream cones in it. The last time I ordered it the chocolate covered pretzel was missing. I didn’t make a fuss… It’s huge enough! But it was a minor disappointment.
I see people on date’s here. But too me it makes much more sense too have a fun girl’s night out here. That’s just my take on the atmosphere. We always have a blast when we come!

wow –Beth’s review makes me sad
N9NE has never disappointed and we dine here often
Most recently went before a show and chose the crab-​topped halibut which I thought was perfect — the fish was awesome and there was tons of crab, which is surprising — not sure what the problem is …
always go for the rock shrimp and lobster bisque to start — this place is consistent
I have to say I’m still undecided as to whether I like the menu change-​up. Didn’t really care for the tuna tartare — personally I have had tartare with more flavor but that’s just me — my sister and mom liked it just fine.
Mango margarita was awesome as well — but all the drinks are pretty tasty.
I have never had steak here so can’t comment on that but those seafood towers are pretty fantastic as well.
Always a great time and the interior is chic and the staff very attentive.
Thanks Bruno! :-)

Trendy inside, just how I like it. A bit too much white for my taste but will let that pass. Spacious, you don’t feel like everyone else is almost eating next to you. You get at least 2 servers per table (David was one of ours — 5 stras for him too), so you’re sure to get everything you ordered, as ordered and fast. All very attentive and helpful. They know their menu, are happy to make recommendations and are great at recommending wines.
We started with Rock Shrimp and the Crustacea (Grand shellfish platter served on shaved ice). Amazing!!!
You all have to try this, specially the Rock Shrimp.
I ordered the Jumbo Scallops (seared, with Lobster Rissotto, Lobster) sad to say the scallops were salty and the Risotto undercooked but still really good taste so not taking points off for that.
They ordered several desserts for the table — they all looked delicious. Unfortunately I was too full to try them all but, was fed (yes, you read it right) a bit of the carrot cake and have to say it’s one of the best I’ve had so far. You have to try it!!!
Ended dinner with a latte and a big smile on our faces. We were all very happy with our dinner and our experience there.