R J Grunt's - Chicago

I went to brunch at this restaurant. I was happy that we had made reservations because it was very crowded when we left.

Server was super cheerful and nice, but seemed overwhelmed and forgetful (waited for water for 15 minutes, and appetizer and dinner order came at same time). The fish and chips entree was unedible. When we mentioned it to the server, she apologized and shrugged. She did not offer to swap out the order for something else or remove the entree from our bill. When we mentioned it to the host/manager, she also apologized and shrugged. R J Grunt’s salad bar has been removed and replaced by a “digital” menu option, basically filling out a card with your salad selection. Not so digital, and not to our liking. We’ve been LEYE customers for 40+ years, and R J Grunt’s has been one of our favorite, albeit throwback, places to dine. The service and food was sadly not up to past/expected LEYE levels of quality. Based on our recent experience, we’ll be scratching R J Grunt’s off our list.

We were seated promptly at 6 pm with our reservation. Our waitress was friendly and professional. We started with the delicious BBQ wings, which were hot, flavorful, and smothered in tasty BBQ sauce. Both my son and I ordered the Buffalo chicken wrap, and even on my second time trying it, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. My husband went with the hamburger, which had a nice sized patty and looked delicious. He was very satisfied with his choice. The atmosphere was just right for a Saturday night out. RJ Grunt remains a top favorite for our family.

I didn't think the price was justified. The restaurant was extremely noisy. The food was just average.

It was fine good serviceable tavern food but nothing that I found wowed me. History is cool, and has nice vibe. If you’re in the neighborhood it’s is absolutely worth a visit but not necessarily something I would solely plan a trip for.