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Latest Menu Offerings - Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails, Chicago, IL

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

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Visa Dining Collection

4.5
4.5
641 Reviews
$50 and over
Steakhouse
202 S Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 52 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for business meals
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for happy hour
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!

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • 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
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Chef Jonathon Sawyer
  • Private party facilities
    Situated within Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams, Kindling boasts a live fire show kitchen, wood-fired plates, and tasty cocktails in the heart of the city. At the helm of the kitchen is James Beard Award-winning Chef Jonathon Sawyer, who brings a worldly perspective and decades of w
  • Private party contact
    Abbey Arp: (319) 360-2169
  • Neighborhood
    River North (Chicago)
  • Cross street
    Inside Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    CTA: - Quincy (Brown/Orange/Pink/Purple Lines)- Jackson (Blue/Red Lines)- Bus Stops: 126 / 151 / 56Metra: - Union Station
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Mother's Day Brunch at Kindling

    $45.00 - $95.00 per person

    May 11, 2025 only
    Treat Mom to the ultimate Mother's Day experience on Sunday, May 11th. Kindling's signature brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The meal will be served buffet style and include traditional breakfast items (eggs, bacon, sausage, hot cakes, seasonal fruit, yogurt parfait, chilaquiles, biscuits and gravy) as well as traditional lunch items (caesar salad, shrimp cocktail tower, prime rib carving station) and a pastry and dessert station provide by West Town Bakery. Soda, coffee, tea are included in the purchase of your ticket, all other beverages will be available for purchase. A mimosa bar is will also be available as an additional beverage option. All mom's will receive a signature welcome gift, there will be a professional photographer available to capture a family photo, as well as a card making station for the kids. Adults $95 Kids Ages 5-12 $45 Kids under 5 eat free
    Mother's Day Brunch at Kindling Photo
  • Chef's Table Series: Angel's Envy Bourbon

    $130.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Apr 18, 2025 only
    7:00 PM
    From Kentucky to Kindling: Curated by Chef Jonathon Sawyer, dine with us for an exclusive night around the fire highlighted by a four-course dinner, paired with hand-crafted bourbon cocktails presented by Angel's Envy.
    Chef's Table Series: Angel's Envy Bourbon Photo
  • 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. For the month of April we will be featuring The Parisian, an exclusive Moulin Rouge inspired cocktail. Any theater-goer who presents their Moulin Rouge ticket or playbill to their server will receive this complimentary cocktail. Must be paired with the purchase of this experience and must be 21 years of age to redeem. Commute Times (walking) Lyric Opera House: 8 min Cadillac Palace: 10 min The Goodman: 14 min Nederlander: 14 min
    Pre-Theater Dinner Photo

Private dining

What 641 people are saying

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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 delivers a "delightful dining experience" with "outstanding food and exceptional service." Guests rave about the "wood fired oysters," "Italian beef," and "s'mores dessert." The "fun atmosphere" and "beautiful ambiance" make it a "must-visit" spot in the iconic Willis Tower.

641 Reviews
  1. Nick VIP

    Chicago2 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Theater Menu had really meager portions. The entree was just a piece of salmon. No side at all. It was a bit misleading.

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  2. William VIP

    Chicago27 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 4, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Nice place. Prices too high for what you get. Food was good as was the service
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 3 days ago
    Appreciate you stopping by and glad the food and service hit the mark for ya. Hear you on the pricing – it's something we're always looking at to make sure it feels right. Hope to see you back in the kitchen sometime! Cheers, ChefSawyer

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  3. Greg

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love wood fired food. This is the best I’ve ever had. The burger is in a category all its own. The chicken and potatoes were perfect. Brussel sprouts to die for. I’ll be back soon.
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 3 days ago
    Hey Greg Killer to hear you dug the wood fire – it's what we live for.So stoked you felt the burger was next level and that the chicken, spuds, and sprouts were hitting all the right notes. Can't wait to have you back in the house! Best, Chef Sawyer

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  4. sam VIP

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 31, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    From the beginning of the meal to the end it could not have been better. Jenna was our server and did a wonderful job explaining the menu. Drinks were top notch and with the happy hour prices an extra special treat. The Isla Dorada is a rum drink with a delicious coconut cream foam float on top, a must order along with the Whistler’s milk maid and the bourbon blues cocktails. Wood fired oysters were on point with the Maplefeller being our favorite. The Hamachi de Tigre is a must order it exploded with flavor. Best ny strip I ever ate and huge raves on the salmon and scallops with risotto. The manager Alisa (I think) was great helping us out with a minor check problem but all in all I give the restaurant a 10 out of 10 and can’t wait to go back.
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 3 days ago
    Thanks Sam Wow, reading your review absolutely made my day. It's what we pour our hearts into, from the drinks to the wood-fired grill, so knowing you enjoyed it all so thoroughly means the world. Huge shoutout to Jenna for taking such great care of you and guiding you through the menu. Glad those cocktails hit the spot, especially during happy hour – that Isla Dorada sounds pretty tempting myself. So stoked the oysters and Hamachi de Tigre were on point for you. And hearing that about the NY Strip? That's what we aim for. Thrilled the salmon and scallops with risotto were also a hit. Glad Alisa was able to smooth things out with the check. We really appreciate the perfect 10 out of 10 and can't wait to welcome you back for another round. Cheers, Chef Sawyer

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  5. Shazia VIP

    Chicago1 review

    3.0

    Dined on March 30, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Unfortunately, I expected more from a James Beard award winning chef. Some items were over salted (pasta, bisque) others not seasoned enough (tuna tartar). We ordered the lobster pasta which arrived without lobster, they made it right of course, but we didn’t get the remade dish until we were done with all our other food. Lovely space, good service. Don’t sleep on the Amish chicken - it was the best dish of the night.
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 3 days ago
    Dear Shazia, Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate you mentioning the ambiance, service, and especially the Amish chicken. I'm sorry to hear about the seasoning inconsistencies and the issue with your lobster pasta. I understand your disappointment with how that was handled. We're always working to ensure consistent quality, and your comments are important. I hope you might consider visiting us again in the future. Sincerely, Chef Sawyer

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  6. Linda VIP

    Chicago194 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service. Salmon was moist and delicious just wished it was a bigger amount. Elote was well seasoned? Delicious. Fun place to people watch.
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 3 days ago
    Hey Linda, Thanks for the great feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the service, the salmon, and the elote. It's awesome you had a good time people-watching too! We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Cheers, Chef Sawyer

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  7. John VIP

    Chicago11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Kindling was a great dining experience. The appetizers were tasty, the entrees were also incredible. The stacked desert is a must. When it comes to your table you will be blown away by it. Lexi was our server and was great!
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 3 days ago
    Hey John, It sounds like you had a great experience at Kindling! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the appetizers, entrees, and that "must-have" stacked dessert. It's fantastic to know Lexi provided great service. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your positive feedback. Cheers, Chef Sawyer

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  8. MatthewT VIP

    Chicago4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great views! Fun atmosphere! We will be back for brunch!
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 3 days ago
    Dear MatthewT, thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the views and the atmosphere. We look forward to welcoming you back for brunch and providing another enjoyable experience. Warmly, ChefSawyer

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  9. MarkT

    Chicago3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was good and service was fast. When we arrived we were seated immediately and drinks were offered. A good first experience.
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 3 days ago
    hey MarkT That's wonderful to hear about your first experience! We're so glad you enjoyed the food and the quick service right from the start. We hope to see you again soon. Best, ChefSawyer

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  10. Joe VIP

    Philadelphia20 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service, food and drinks. They gave us a great table in a private room to welcome a new team member.
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 3 days ago
    Hey Joe that's fantastic to hear! We're so glad you enjoyed the service, food, and drinks, and we love the birch room. It sounds like it was a great occasion, and we were happy to be a part of it. Best, ChefSawyer

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FAQs

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails is rated 4.5 stars by 641 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Chicago / Illinois
  4. Chicago
  5. River North (Chicago)

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 52 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

202 S Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Inside Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams
  • Neighborhood
    River North (Chicago)
  • 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
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, American, Grill
  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    CTA: - Quincy (Brown/Orange/Pink/Purple Lines)- Jackson (Blue/Red Lines)- Bus Stops: 126 / 151 / 56Metra: - Union Station
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Chef Jonathon Sawyer
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Private party facilities
    Situated within Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams, Kindling boasts a live fire show kitchen, wood-fired plates, and tasty cocktails in the heart of the city. At the helm of the kitchen is James Beard Award-winning Chef Jonathon Sawyer, who brings a worldly perspective and decades of w
  • Private party contact
    Abbey Arp: (319) 360-2169
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