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Weber Grill Restaurant
Master Critic Reviews (3 Lists)
Weber Grill Restaurant
8.5
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Comfort Food Classics
Business Lunch Power Players
Weber Grill Restaurant is a long-running River North fixture built around charcoal-grilled steaks, slow-smoked barbecue plates, and a large, crowd-friendly dining room. Locals lean on it for reliable ribs, brisket, and beer can chicken before shows, shopping, or downtown events.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beer Can Chicken, BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Prime Beef Brisket
Scores:
Value: 7.3
Service: 8.5
Consistency: 9.5
Food Quality: 8.9
Atmosphere: 7.6
Cultural Relevance: 8.8
What makes it special: Charcoal-kettle grilling and a big menu of classic BBQ plates in a centrally located, always-busy room.
Who should go: Families, groups, and convention-goers wanting classic grilled BBQ.
When to visit: Evenings and weekends before or after downtown events.
What to order: BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Beer Can Chicken, Prime Beef Brisket.
Insider tip: If you’re with a group, share ribs and a brisket plate to sample more of the smoker section in one visit.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Primarily paid garages in the surrounding River North blocks; metered street parking is limited and fills quickly during peak event times. Valet availability can vary by night, so it’s best to confirm ahead if you’re relying on it.
Dress code: Casual to smart casual — jeans and polos are common, but business-casual is typical during convention and business lunch hours.
Noise level: Moderate to loud during peak dinner and weekends; conversational at most weekday lunches.
Weekend wait: 30–60 minutes without a reservation (longer on convention or theater nights).
Weekday lunch: Usually little to no wait, though larger groups may benefit from reservations.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Limited but workable — salads, sides, and a few non-BBQ mains can be built into a meal.
Vegan options: Very limited — most items are grilled or smoked with animal products; expect 1–2 improvise-able options.
Gluten-free options: Several BBQ meats and sides can be prepared gluten-free on request, but cross-contact is possible — ask your server to flag the order.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Better for casual dates than intimate ones — the room is lively and group-oriented, so it works if you want relaxed comfort-food energy rather than a quiet, romantic setting.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Often yes, especially at off-peak times — but expect a wait on weekends and event nights. Walk-ins are easiest for smaller parties; groups should reserve when possible.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes — large booths, a spacious dining room, familiar BBQ dishes, and flexible pacing make it suitable for families. Early evenings are the most comfortable with younger kids.
Best For
Better for: Reliable, crowd-pleasing BBQ and charcoal-grilled classics in a big, central downtown dining room — especially convenient for pre-event meals, business lunches, and family groups.
Skip if: You’re seeking chef-driven regional barbecue, a quiet date-night environment, or specialty dietary menus — in those cases, smaller smokehouse or contemporary barbecue spots may be a better fit.
Weber Grill Restaurant
8.5
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Comfort Food Classics
Business Lunch Power Players
Weber’s flagship restaurant leans steakhouse and BBQ, but its burgers benefit from the same live-fire grilling and proprietary beef blends. With a long track record downtown and huge multi-platform review volume, it’s a reliable choice for classic, heavily topped burgers in a family- and group-friendly setting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic Burger, BBQ Bacon Burger with crispy onion curls, Steakhouse Burger with blue cheese and peppercorn mayo
Scores:
Value: 7.5
Service: 8
Consistency: 9
Food Quality: 8.6
Atmosphere: 7
Cultural Relevance: 8.7
What makes it special: A long-running downtown grill house where live-fire technique carries over to a deep burger lineup.
Who should go: Families and groups wanting burgers plus broader grill classics.
When to visit: Lunch for easier walk-ins or early dinner with families.
What to order: BBQ Bacon Burger, Classic Burger, Steakhouse Burger.
Insider tip: Pair a burger with grilled veggie or skewer add-ons instead of another entrée.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Primarily nearby garages and paid street parking — street spots are limited during peak dining hours
Dress code: Casual to smart casual — jeans and polos are common, business-casual works at lunch
Noise level: Moderate — conversational at lunch, louder during peak family and group dinners
Weekend wait: 30–60 minutes without a reservation during peak hours
Weekday lunch: Usually little to no wait, especially for smaller parties
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — salads, veggie sides, and at least one non-meat entree/sandwich option
Vegan options: Limited — possible with modifications (hold cheese/sauces), but not a dedicated vegan menu
Gluten-free options: Yes — gluten-free bun available on request and several grill plates can be prepared without bread
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Better for casual or activity-style dates than romantic ones — the atmosphere leans lively, with big portions and a classic grill-house feel.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Often yes — walk-ins are common at lunch and early dinner, but weekend peak hours are safest with a reservation for groups.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes — family-friendly with booth seating, a broad menu, and staff accustomed to accommodating children; best for elementary-age and up during early dinner hours.
Best For
Better for: Consistently executed, classic live-fire burgers in a spacious, group-friendly setting with a broader grill menu than most burger-focused spots.
Skip if: You’re seeking a chef-driven or trend-leaning burger experience, a quiet date-night environment, or extensive vegan options.
Weber Grill Restaurant
8.6
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Business Lunch Power Players
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
Weber Grill’s downtown flagship has been charcoal-grilling baby back ribs and brisket on actual Weber kettles since the early 2000s, drawing thousands of reviews over the years. Guests lean on the BBQ Baby Back Ribs and prime rib alongside steaks, making it a high-volume, family-and-business friendly choice for classic, sauce-lacquered ribs in 60654.
Must-Try Dishes:
BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Spicy Sticky Ribs, Prime Beef Brisket
Scores:
Value: 6.8
Service: 7.8
Consistency: 9
Food Quality: 8.7
Atmosphere: 7.5
Cultural Relevance: 8.6
What makes it special: A long-running charcoal-grill restaurant where baby back ribs and brisket come off real Weber kettles in a polished, high-volume setting.
Who should go: Rib lovers wanting reliable, charcoal-grilled plates with groups.
When to visit: Weeknight dinners or business-lunch hours to avoid weekend waits.
What to order: Full-slab BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Spicy Sticky Ribs starter, Prime Beef Brisket.
Insider tip: Ask to add a one-third rack of ribs to another entrée if you want to sample the barbecue without committing your whole order.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Validated garage parking nearby; limited metered street parking in the area, especially after 6pm
Dress code: Casual to smart casual — jeans and polos fine; business guests often lean slightly dressy
Noise level: Moderate-to-lively — conversation is possible at most tables, busier near the bar and large groups
Weekend wait: 30–60 minutes without a reservation during peak hours
Weekday lunch: Typically little to no wait, especially for smaller parties
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Some options — salads, veggie sides, and a few non-BBQ entrées
Vegan options: Limited — best for sides and salads with modifications
Gluten-free options: Several BBQ items and proteins can be made gluten-friendly on request; confirm sauces and sides with the server
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Decent for a casual or comfort-food first date, especially if you’re sharing ribs or platters — the vibe is lively and relaxed rather than intimate.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Often yes — walk-ins are common, but expect waits at peak weekend dinner times; larger groups should reserve ahead.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes — broad menu, booths, and familiar sides make it a strong fit for families; earlier seatings are best for younger kids.
Best For
Better for: Classic, charcoal-grilled baby back ribs in a polished, high-capacity dining room that works equally well for business meals and family dinners
Skip if: You want boutique craft barbecue, smoke-forward regional styles, or a quieter, chef-driven dining experience