Pierce Baron "Mr. Hospitality"

 

Overall Experience:  4/5

• Good Steak, but the key here was the additions to it! With this being the second CSM dinner, it was another chance for us to share in a special meal and evening at a fellow members steak joint of choice. This time is was Billy's turn and he had plenty of options, and the selection of Harry Caray's was an experience for the group, and a first for many of us! While it may have taken us awhile to schedule this dinner from our inaugural, it was great to be around one another before the Holiday and looking forward to our next dinner in the new year as we continue our venture on sharing the best steakhouses in all of Chicago!

 

Food:  4/5

• With a group of 7 masters, many items will be ordered for us to try and hence review. We started with a large amount of appetizers for the table . The Arancini and toasted ravioli were both very good in their taste and full of flavor . The bruschetta was also very well received by the group, due to the freshness of the the tomatoes. Now , to the moment all the readers have been waiting for.... the steak! Not too hard of a decision that I seem to make anytime I see it on a menu: Filet and additional add-ons with toppings for the filet! I ordered the 12 oz. filet cooked medium , with truffle butter topping and an additional three grilled colossal shrimp. The filet itself was okay, not the best or worst I have ever had , but needed a bit more char to it. What made up for the filet was the truffle butter topping and the shrimp were grilled to perfection! These additional items really made it for me and as well, the key lime pie for dessert was demolished by myself and Christian. It was so cool and refreshing after a big meal for dinner.

 

Bar/Wine List:  2/5

• The bar was really interesting to try to comprehend. It had the vibe of a sports bar, yet the restaurant tries to have a separate dining area for the dinner that is much nicer. It was long , narrow, and had tables in it that caused much congestion. For the masters, we sat at one end of the bar and seemed to have long gaps between service visits from our waitress, Virah. The bar chips were great, but my Old Fashioned's were very inconsistent in their taste and alcohol level. The best part of the bar was having a table to chat, because it we did not it would be a group of guys there to watch a sporting event without any talking. The bar menu was pretty lengthy and room just seems like an old dining hall. 

 

Service:  3/5

• The service was just okay for the evening. Virah was very engaged in the bar at first but It must have been very hard to check back in when it is so loud, so many people, and many tables it seemed she was handling. In the main dining area our server was Manny. He was very informative with all the different cuts as evidenced by showing us the plate and talking to each one . The one problem was that it was very loud in this room too and he was a small voiced talker. He was helpful in picking the appetizers for the table and was helpful with the dessert options as well!

 

Ambiance:  4/5

• The overall feel of the restaurant by way of looks was something that I really cannot describe. There was vast differences between the bar which was a bit worn and the restaurant which was decorated for the holidays . The one area that was very neat was all the sports memorabilia in the walk in entrance and the pictures of Harry Caray. It is a staple of Chicago as he was beloved to all Cub Fans. For someone to be that influential, and have his restaurant draw so many is a pretty cool thing to be apart of. 

 

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Billy Allen "Captain"

 

Overall Experience:  4/5

• Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse is one of my favorite spots to visit in the River North area. Since I work across the street, I frequent very often for lunch and happy hours. This was my first opportunity to sit in the main dining area of the restaurant. As always, it is great getting together with friends for a nice meal and drinks. Service was great for most of the evening and the bar staff was very friendly and help make us conformable.

 

Food:  5/5

• I think the hit the ball out of the park with not only the steak, but the appetizers as well. We started off with a variety of classic Italian appetizers such as Truffled Arancini, Toasted Ravioli, Tomato Bruschetta and Harry’s Calamari. All the appetizers were outstanding and met the high expectations that our server put on them. Our server, Manny, brought out all the steaks they were offering that night to the table and went through each in great detail. I had already made my mind up on the Dry Aged New York Strip before his presentation. Again, Manny was confident that I would enjoy my cut and he was right. It was cooked really well and had some great flavor. The chef did great by letting the cut of meat and perfect cooking temperature do the work and allowed for a very satisfying meal. We ordered a variety of appetizers for the table, however I didn’t partake in many. I was full from the apps and my steak.

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Bar:  5/5

• The bar at Harry Caray’s is famous for their cocktails and wine lists. They have an extensive wine and bar menu. We spent the cocktail hour in the bar watching the college football conference championship games enjoying drinks ranging from margaritas to Manhattans straight up. For dinner we went through a Markham Cab that was quite delicious and flavorful. Being a wine novice, the extensive list was overwhelming and I went with a bottle I had enjoyed in the past. It was great value for the quality of the bottle.

 

Service:  4/5

• With the bar being super crowded for the championship football games, we were able to get a table that fit us all in the back. This was a great bonus and allowed us to relax and catch up with one another. It was crowded and our server did her best to get us drinks and chips as quick as possible, so I don’t fault her for slower than normal service. Since I have been there many times, she did keep an eye out for our table which was helpful. Our waiter started out great with recommendations and bringing out the cuts of meat for the night, however as the meal progressed we saw less and less of him. It was crowded in the dining room as well, but I think with his initial recommendations and service it warranted a 4 out of 5 rating.

 

Ambiance:  4/5

• With the holiday season upon us, it was good seeing all the Christmas lights and decorations. However, I feel as though it made both the bar and dining room seem smaller. Being this was my first time in the dining room, I was not super impressed. I expected more of a classic feel to the dining hall. However, I really enjoyed the bar setting. Most of the members had rooting interests in the games so it was nice to have a table to talk with one another, but also have a great atmosphere for a sporting event.

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Kurt Akers "The CEO"

 

Overall Experience:  4/5

• Another wonderful time with the masters on an above average December winter night in Chicago.  My wet aged New York Strip was out of the ball park - One of the best steaks I've ever had! My favorite side dish was the mashed potatoes and I was not a huge fan of the bar environment for a steakhouse.

 

Food:  5/5

• In this delightful steak meal, I ordered the wet aged 14oz New York Strip at a medium temperature.  It was cooked to perfection and extremely tasty. To my surprise, it was one of the best steaks I have every enjoyed.  I highly recommend this selection and will be ordering it again. Our sides consisted of mac & cheese, mushrooms, mashed potatoes and a 5th green dish that I didn’t try.  My favorite side dishes were the mashed potatoes and mushrooms.  The toasted raviolis were quite tasty as an appetizer, but the highlight for me was my steak!

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Bar:  2/5

• In having a steakhouse I highly believe in having an environment to represent its establishment as the total package.  The bar and dinner environments did not match up together. The bar here is exactly like a sports bar with TV's everywhere, no formal attire, noisy and a bit chaotic.  They do have fantastic chips that are seasoned and highly recommend chowing down on them! For my Ginger Ale (since I do not drink) rating I give them a rating of 2/5 as well. It was flat and had little taste to it.

 

Service:  3/5

• For our cocktail setting at the bar we had Virah as our server.  She was nice and pleasant, provided a refill on the regular, but was bogged down a lot because of the environment and having to serve multiple crowded tables. At dinner our server was a man named Manny. At first I was very impressed with him, he greeted us wonderfully, gave great recommendations and showed us our cuts before we could choose. He set expectations very high and I loved it! However, as dinner progressed he was nowhere to be found and non-existent. I was very surprised since he was hitting it out of the park with us the first 10 minutes we sat down.

 

Ambiance:  3/5

• The bar had a sports bar feeling to it and was pretty standard for one. Obviously I understand why its like this since its Harry Caray’s (Chicago Cubs famous announcer). The ambiance of the dinning room was cozy and close together. Mirrors lined the walls, square tiles on the floor and some Christmas decorations where up since it’s the Holidays Season. Tables were a bit together and to me resembled more of an Italian dinner environment than a traditional steakhouse feel. I had a great time with the fellas and already missing my steak.

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Vince Volpe "Cousin Vinny"

 

Overall Experience:  3/5

• Food, drinks and service were all executed adequately. The semi formal atmosphere was scattered with historic Cubbie memorabilia.  The bar was very crowded and had a tavern like feel with all of the tap beer and sports on large TVs. Overall, we had a great night on the Northside of the river.

 

Food:  4/5

• We started off dinner with exceptionally cooked calamari and some of the best aranchinis I have ever had.  Following that I ordered a dry aged bone in rib eye cooked medium rare. This was accompanied by sautéed mushrooms, truffle mac and garlic mash potatoes. For dessert we ordered a few different items but the chocolate moose cake was the standout dish that I focused most of my time on.

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Bar:  3/5

• For cocktail hour, the bar was very crowded and standing room only at one point. We were lucky enough to snag a table towards at the end of the bar surrounded by college football in every direction. The vodka sodas I ordered were a bit on the smaller side and were consumed at a rapid pace.  At the dinner table we drank a nice full bodied Cabernet from Markham Vineyards that paired very well with the rib eye I ordered. The only thing that stops this portion of the review from receiving a 5 was the amount of space we had and the small cocktails that they served.

 

Service:  4/5

• Our service at the cocktail hour was adequate and was accompanied by good suggestions from the waitress. In the hour we were there she came by 5 or 6 times to see if we needed drinks which I think was more than enough attention in the very crowded atmosphere. At dinner our server Manny was speedy and very accommodating when it came to explaining the menu and the different cuts of meat. He provided great recommendations for appetizers and desserts. He was fast and very diligent. 

 

Ambiance:  4/5

• The dress code was pretty casual as we were the most dressed up group in the restaurant. The dinning room was very well LIT which was complete opposite to the last location we had for the previous steak masters dinner (Benny's Chophouse). The dining room was large and very crowded as it was a Saturday night. The Cubs memorabilia alone made this portion of the review an automatic 4 out of 5. 

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Christian DiVito "Prince Charming"

 

Overall Experience:  4/5

• Although “Steakhouse” is in the name of Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse, I have never really thought of it as a place to grab a good steak.  I could not have been more incorrect; this place can cook a mean steak with the perfect amount of flavor and juiciness.  When I think of Harry Caray’s I typically think of going to watch the Chicago Cubs and grabbing a burger and some beer.  However, this restaurant had another side to it that I have never seen and now I know why the word “Steakhouse” is in its name.  It was a couple months since our first dinner so I was very anxious to get together and enjoy some good food and good company.  Overall, I had a great night as always and will definitely be going back to the side of Harry Caray’s that I have never seen.

 

Food:  4/5

• If I was just reviewing the steak it would be 5 out of 5 without a doubt.  Although, we did start with some appetizers that weren’t as good as the main course.  The fried calamari was nothing to brag about, typically when I go to Harry Caray’s I order the calamari as finger food along with the chips so the calamari does not jump out at me like it should.  The arincini was another appetizer we ordered but it did not have that much flavor.  The bruschetta is worth mentioning though because it was very rich in flavor and the perfect size for an appetizer.  Now moving on to the steak, I was very very impressed with the bone-in rib eye.  I ordered the dry aged bone-in rib eye cooked medium and it was cooked perfectly.  I was very surprised by how well it was prepared and the amount juiciness and flavor pouring out with every bite.

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Bar:  4/5

• The bar is definitely more of a sports bar, which is fine, but I felt a little overdressed.  I felt like I should have been drinking a beer but I had to go with the Maker’s Mark Manhattan, straight up.  Obviously I had their signature chips, but not too much because I wanted to make sure I had room for the steak.  I enjoyed the causal sports bar feel and being able to watch college football while enjoying the chips and drinks.

 

Service:  4/5

• The service was great, I really enjoyed how our server presented the different cuts of meat to us and thoroughly explained the different options.  The service was not overwhelming and he was always there when we needed him, no complaints about the service. 

 

Ambiance:  3/5

• The ambiance was a little different than most steakhouses I have been to. There were two different feels to the restaurant, the casual bar on one side and the steakhouse on the other side.  Like I previously mentioned, I felt overdressed in the bar but I still felt a little overdressed in the steakhouse as well. I felt like we were crammed around the table, which was nice for conversation, but I would have preferred a little more breathing room.  My back was up against the wall so to add on top of the tight corridors, there was a plant decoration behind my head that was resting on top of my head the whole dinner.  This caused me to always be leaning forward so I was pretty uncomfortable.  The ambiance was definitely the downside to this dinner. 

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Mario Carbonaro "Michigan Man"

 

Overall Experience:  3/5

• As a restaurant I think Harry Caray’s had all the makings of a solid steakhouse. I believe the deductions I made were due to the amount of people in the establishment which to a point is a positive because it proves that people actually wanted to eat there but the crowded dining room and cluttered walls created an off-putting experience that distracted from the otherwise above average meal.

 

Food:  4/5

• I was admittedly skeptical about the idea of Harry Caray’s as a fine dining establishment going into our second Chicago Steak Master’s dinner but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. We sampled several appetizers at the recommendation of our knowledgeable server, Manny. The arancini and calamari were delightful and came out very quickly. When it became time for main courses Manny brought out each cut on the menu wrapped in cellophane, which was informative but somehow off-putting as they looked slimy and shiny. After observing Manny eloquently describe the cuts It was time to discern between the dry or wet aged preparation. I ultimately ended up choosing the dry aged New York strip done medium-rare. My meal was executed extremely well, all of our steaks came out together which is not always the case with larger parties. The New York strip was flavorful, seasoned simply and the temperature was done nearly to perfection, but perhaps overcooked slightly. The side dishes were plentiful and among them the mashed potatoes and spinach stood out as fantastic accompaniments with my steak.

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Bar:  3/5

• The bar was the nucleus of the tourist trap and it was difficult getting in and out. The major shining point of the Harry Caray’s bar are the kettle chips and it took several requests to get a refill. The drinks themselves were a bit on the weaker side and featured a bit too much ice for my liking.

 

Service:  4/5

• As I mentioned, the service at the bar was lackluster. I unfortunately don’t even think our waitress at the bar introduced herself to the latter three master’s to walk in. Manny on the other hand was splendid. He was informative, quick-witted, and knew the menu backwards and forwards. His recommendations for steak based on preference as well as the side and wine pairing were all above board.

 

Ambiance:  3/5

• Harry Caray’s, located in the heart of River North is located amongst the many hotels, tourist attractions and activities that Chicago has to offer. This became apparent as we walked in and the place was jammed with folks in the bar area. Carrying the namesake of the voice of the World Champion Chicago Cubs, we were surrounded by people in Cub gear as well as innumerable amounts of memorabilia and photos of famed patrons and Chicago sports luminaries. This wasn’t necessarily a negative thing, as we are all big sports fans but perhaps a little out of place for a steak house. 

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Michael Dotson "Man Dime"

 

Overall Experience:  3/5

• As we all met for the second of many steak masters dinners, there was a lot to live up to after our first event. Harry Carry’s has maintained a long-standing tradition within the city of Chicago. In light of the Chicago Cubs winning the 2016 World Series. We couldn’t have picked a better place to celebrate our second steak masters dinner and also the end of a 108 year drought.

 

Food:  4/5

• Continuing with tradition I couldn’t resists the 18oz dry-aged bone in rib eye, it’s hard to deviate from such a classic cut. From my experience is more renowned for it’s experience and less for its steak but I will say I was pleasantly surprised.  The medium-rare, cooked to perfection, with a hint of char was exactly the steak I was hoping for. However, it is hard to compete with some of the big name steak houses that build their reputation on delivering the highest quality, best tasting steaks on the planet. That being said my steak was very good but in a city full of countless other steak options I will continue to side with the experts.

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Bar:  3/5

• I already had an idea of what we were walking into when the masters set foot in bar on a Saturday evening at a location growing in popularity in one of Chicago’s most popular neighborhoods. The bar was packed from wall to wall with sports enthusiasts and anxious patrons awaiting a memorable experience.  We were able to find seating in the corner of the bar that allowed us to relax and converse before our table was ready.

 

Service:  4/5

• Our waiter, Manny, was very well educated on the menu options and I thought did a great job making suggestions based on everyone’s questioning. The restaurant was very busy but Manny still an excellent job of making sure we were well sought after.

 

Ambiance:  3/5

• The ubiquitous theme of Chicago sports is what gives this old-world Italian style restaurant its unique feeling. The walls are covered with endless photos of celebrities who have enjoyed a meal at Harry Carry’s and amongst the photos is countless sports memorabilia of every Chicago great you can think of. While Harry Carry’s does not fit the quintessential steakhouse décor, it does bare such a rich historical theme within the city of Chicago and to all those who visit. The dining room was well lit and tables were packed fairly close together. For a steak house, one would expect comfortable seating and a larger area to occupy. We however we.re backed up against the wall and this did not make for the most enjoyable experience. Aside from the overcrowding in the bar, the ambiance is the only other aspect of the meal that was really lacking.