Rosebud

I've only been to the original Rosebud on Taylor. I had no idea there were so many. Any of them worth going to more than the others?

I eat at rosebud prime frequently as it's just a block from my office. Honestly, I go because it's close and my service is always good, but the food's expensive and nothing to write home about.

We recently "discovered" the Rosebud on E Walton (next to the Drake). We have just sat at the bar there, but it's a great bar--the bartender makes you feel like he's known you forever (and really likes you) and makes a really excellent vodka martini. The burgers are among the best I've had, and the sides I've tried have been uniformly delicious.

Rosebud Steakhouse
192 E. Walton St., Chicago
Tel: (312) 397-1000
Fax: (312) 255-9929

debo wrote:the bartender makes you feel like he's known you forever (and really likes you) and makes a really excellent vodka martini.

He does make a really good martini.

My feeling about all the Rosebuds is that they're fine, perfectly adequate, but nothing to write home about. (Rosebud Steakhouse is a bit of a different animal, being steak-focused [no pun intended].) I've had decent meals at Rosebud on Rush, but for me, the major bonus of that place is that it's one of the few places in the Mag Mile that is open in the dead period between lunch and dinner (2-5 pm). (A problem I've written about before - be forewarned if you plan to do any shopping there.) I'm not sure that you'll find much value to going out of your way to seek out the other Rosebuds (except the Steakhouse, which has an excellent burger).

We had a very good experience at Rosebud Steakhouse a couple of weeks ago as well. I was prepared to not like it but wound up enjoying my steak more than recent Gibson's offerings. And the service from greeting to coatcheck to waiter to bussers was warm and non-rushed. Someting that Gibson's should learn from. I often feel like I'm in a "factory" at Gibson's or Hugo's and have to ask them to slow the pace a bit. Didn't need to do that here.

debo wrote:We recently "discovered" the Rosebud on E Walton (next to the Drake). We have just sat at the bar there, but it's a great bar--the bartender makes you feel like he's known you forever (and really likes you) and makes a really excellent vodka martini. The burgers are among the best I've had, and the sides I've tried have been uniformly delicious.

The gents from Chicago Burger Project are quite keen on Rosebud Steakhouse's burger

Rosebud (at least the one on Taylor) used to offer something called the Sinatra Festa, which was an enormous platter of chicken vesuvio, sausages, pasta, etc. We used to love to go with a group and order it. When I was there last time, they didn't have it. Does anybody know what happened to it?

G Wiv wrote:The gents from Chicago Burger Project are quite keen on Rosebud Steakhouse's burger

And rightly so, nicely charred to med-rare, with big beefy flavor served on a pretzel bun, same bun as Kuma's, crisp kosher style pickle, a trio of condiments and crisp french frite style fries, even the out of season tomato was tasty.

Rosebud Steakhouse


While Rosebud Steakhouse's burger was top-notch, the rest of the meal was mediocre with service issues to boot, though the house removed from the bill, without our asking, the mismanaged cheese laden excuse for tomato bisque and Steve Z's over done* Swiss burger.

Will I go back, most definitely, I'm guessing the service fumbles were an anomaly and the City of Big Shoulders brute of a burger has jumped into my top five favorite Chicago burgers.

Enjoy,
Gary

*Both Mike G's and my burger were properly cooked

Rosebud Steakhouse
192 E. Walton St
Chicago, IL
312-397-1000

As Gary said, our visit to Rosebud Steakhouse was mixed. I started off with Tomato Basil Bisque which was completely inedible. Next up was a very pedestrian Caesar salad that was assembled tableside from basic ingredients. The dressing is made elsewhere and shipped in. The anchovies were an afterthought and were served separate from the salad and not a crouton was to be seen. It didn't really matter, since before we had a chance to even taste the salad, the burgers showed up. Very poor pacing from a restaurant that should know better.

My swiss cheese burger with lightly grilled onions (mis-described as caramelized) arrived looking more tarted up than Dolly Parton on a Saturday night and overcooked to boot.

Rosebud Steakhouse Swiss Cheese Burger


I was not happy with my meal at all. In fairness, Gary's non-cheese version of the burger was both cooked correctly and very good tasting. They do use very high quality meat for the burgers. If I ever go back here for a burger, the tasty non-cheese version is what I would order. Also, the house, realizing my dissatisfaction, comped both my soup and my burger without even having to ask.

Would I go back? Sure, if someone else really wanted to go, but it wouldn't be my first choice or even my suggestion. In a city full of good burgers, I see no need to seek this one out.

stevez wrote:My swiss cheese burger with lightly grilled onions (mis-described as caramelized) arrived looking more tarted up than Dolly Parton on a Saturday night and overcooked to boot.

Interesting...I went there with two other people about a month ago, and we all ordered burgers, medium. Two of them (including mine) were completely rare , one was slightly overdone. The other person with a rare burger sent it back, only to receive a hockey puck in return. I was not favorably impressed. A steakhouse that can't (or won't) cook a (very expensive) burger to the customer's specifications? I'd rather go somewhere else

I have been happy with my experiences over the years at both Rosebud on Taylor and Rosebud on Rush. I throroughly enjoyed my burger at Rosebud Steakhouse when my husband and I ventured there to try it last summer. So, I was pleased when my Highland Park dwelling family decided to celebrate my step-dad's birthday at the Highand Park outpost of Rosebud on Saturday night.
It was AWFUL. They crammed 8 of us at a round table more suited for 6 that was shoved up against the wall. My friend's dress got soaked because she sat on a chair that the staff had brought in after the storm and neglected to wipe down. The service was terrible. He tried to take our drink orders within seconds of our butts hitting the chairs, but neglected to have a wine list and then acted put-out when I asked for one. Our empty glasses were never cleared from our table. Our water was only refilled when we asked for it, repeatedly. We had to ASK the waiter to refill our wine glasses because the table was so cramped that it was difficult to lift your arms in a graceful enough manner to avoid bashing your neighbor or knocking down glasses. We were not offered dessert menus. He wanted to rush us through our ordering process to get us in and out---mind you we only ended up being there for 90 minutes so we weren't hogging a table all night or anything.
It was so loud in there we were literally shouting at each other.
The food was fine. The fried calamari, chopped salad and stuffed mushrooms were good. I really liked the meatballs and the homemade pappardalle with marinara.
The "carbonara" was actually alfredo with mushrooms and peas. My friend had it and I thought it was awful. My mom had the lasagna which had a ridiuclous amount of cheese melted on it. She literally had to search for the noodles. It looked like a salad bowl filled with melted cheese. Really unappealling.
I would have expected better food, atmosphere and service. It was an embarrassment to Rosebud. I think the service and experience would likely have been better at Olive Garden.
All in all a lousy experience. I would never reccomend this location, but the place was packed to the brim.

We dined at Rosebud on Rush on Saturday night. I will not return. We went here for sentimental reasons, my sister was engaged here.

In short

The good:

Caesar salad, very traditional and nicely done
Bruschetta, fresh and flavorful with sharp italian cheese on top
Fried Calamari - Excellent rendition (Am I the only one though that feels marinara is not really quite the dipping sauce I want with calamari? Just something about it is not right to me)

The bad:

Chicken Vesuvio - I had been expecting a decent version here and I was very disappointed. First the garlic was bitter, overcooked on the chicken, the sauce wasnt savory and the flavor wasnt pleasing and the white meat was somewhat dry. The potatoes had been obviously precooked and the middle of the potatoes were still cold.

Veal Parmesan - the marinara sauce was cold on top. The veal was pounded so thin it was dry and the ends of the veal were extremely chewy as to be almost inedible.


The service was great as was the atmosphere. In the end the entrees would cause me not to return.

Hi.

According to Chuck Wenk's column in the Highland Park News, Rosebud is leaving Highland Park for Deerfield. They were unhappy with the lack of customers at lunch.

Deerfield is adjacent to Highland Park to the west. The only difference I can think of is some corporate parks are closer to downtown Deerfield than Highland Park.

Subject: Openings, Closings, Comings & Goings, January - March 2010

pizzafan wrote:rosebud in highland park is supposedly closing on feb 14th...and then moving to the old baker's square location on waukegan ave just south of downtown deerfield.....word is the rent was too high even though they got a lot of customers in to eat their mediocre food because the moving picture theatre was adjacent

That is a good high traffic location with great parking.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:According to Chuck Wenk's column in the Highland Park News, Rosebud is leaving Highland Park for Deerfield.

Rosebud did a lot of pre and post movie business in HP. I dont think this will follow them to the new location. I am sure the rent is considerably cheaper in the deerfield spot then at their current location and this is probably the real reason why they are moving. For whatever reason, i have heard that the rents in HP have not comedown despite the horrible economy and that is the reason why we are losing business. Word is that the Borders on Central is going to be the next big retailer to vacate HP. I am secretly happy about this turn of events as I am hopeful my wife will stop suggesting rosebud whenever we carry out.

Rosebud taking over former Tavern at the Park space on Randolph, overlooking Millennium Park

https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/ ... story.html