The Thomas Club at Symphony Center

“The space and views are really nice. The experience of it was fun and the service was very relaxed yet attentive. Its $75/ 3 courses. The cream of mushroom soup was some of the best I have ever had. The entrée was a bit of a let down. I got the shrimp and grits at the recommendation of the server. It was supposed to be blackend shrimp and it definitely was not. It was underseasoned and overcooked. The grits were okay flavor wise, but were too thick. My spouse got the short rib special and everything on the plate was underseasoned. The texture of the meat was delicious though. The dessert was just okay too. It was very relaxing though and I would likely go again. I just wish the main courses were more solid. If I could give it a 3.5 instead of a 4, I would.”

“The Thomas Club is favored because of the ease and convenience to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It's located on the 9th floor of Symphony Center. It's pretty nice (in the winter especially) to just park once and have all your fun stuff in one place. The room is also lovely. Especially at this time of year when there is a fire blazing and the large window look out on the wintery park. The food is just okay. I wouldn't say it is as bland as previous reviewers noted. There has been a recent (this season) change in management. The seasonal menu was solid. Not write home about it, but not bad. The fennel salad was very tasty and the pumpkin pie was really good. My salmon Wellington was okay. Taking a read at our table: my husband's mahi-mahi was fine, and our vegetarian friends were happy with their risotto. It's a prix fixe menu. You are ordering three courses for about $75 each. So know that. Also for the big CSO concerts it can be difficult to get a reservation. Know that too. Advance planning helps.”

“We chose the Thomas Club for dinner before the CSO concert with pianist Yunchan Lim and conductor Klaus Mäkelä, which was an absolute dream! With its classy-sounding name, we expected the dining experience to be comparable to the one at the Roof Terrace Restaurant at the Kennedy Center, which was fabulous. While the server was kind and attentive and the room was inviting and exclusive-looking with its Christmas decorations, the view of the Art Institute, and the cozy fireplace, the prix fixe dinner was a letdown. Both the salmon bisque and the salmon Wellington were bland and tasted as if it were reheated. I love apple pie, but the Thomas Club apple pie was deplorable with its soggy crust and filling tasting as if it came from a can. (Even McDonald’s apple pie is better—at least, it is warm.) Not even the decent vanilla gelato could save it. The fantastic lavender mint Rishi tea was the highlight of the dinner. We were hoping to catch the 6:15pm preconcert talk after the dinner, but even with the earliest possible reservation (5pm) slow service made us miss it completely. Before the next CSO concert, we will definitely eat somewhere else. Not worth the $$$.”

“This is somewhat of an easier dinner place choice if you are catching a performance at the Symphony Orchestra. But please please go somewhere else. You are on the Michigan Ave and there are many choices for dinner close by. The food at the Thomas Club is bland, conference like and quite expensive for what they serve you. The dining room itself is interesting but the food is sad, very sad.”

“Similar to another reviewer, I made a reservation because I had tickets to a show and wanted the convenience. There weren't many reviews, so that's why I'm here .The food was incredibly disappointing. Bland and flavorless. Stale bread. Basic. Uninspired. Somehow all three of my courses had walnuts in them? Worst of all... SO expensive considering what you get. I've paid MUCH less for much better pre fixe meals in Chicago. The service was great, the view from our table was incredible (can't say the same for other guests), but I honestly felt ripped off by the quality of the food followed by an unreasonable check. Go anywhere else to eat before a show.”