Cite -- How Bad Can it Be?

I live within walking distance of Cite, but have never gone. I have heard from multiple sources that although the views are great, the food and service are average at best and the prices are extremely high.

Since we live in the area, we received a coupon in the mail for a buy one get one free entree there. Given the reduced bill, I am tempted to try it.

Has anyone been there? It is a complete waste, or is it worth a visit?

192 people have read this. No replies.
That is not a good sign.

Still, I might take one for the team on this. Who know -- Maybe the the food and service have improved.

I'm guessing that it's a prime example of Mike G's rule, but given the deal, I'd say you're just the one to find out and report back!

Mike G wrote:I'm guessing that it's a prime example of Mike G's rule, but given the deal, I'd say you're just the one to find out and report back!

I second the vote that DML go and find out, given the deal. And I understand the idea behind your rule, Mike - sort of the same rule that applies to the Blackhawks, and, dare I say it, the Cubs. If you can make lots of money without going to the effort to put out a great product, why bother?

But I also have had some beautiful meals in beautiful locations, and I guess I remain committed to proving Mike G's rule wrong as often as possible.

So I hope Cite now has its act together and is wonderful, though given what I have heard, I rather doubt it.

There are four exceptions in the world to that rule:

1. Spiaggia;
2. Everest; and
3. Ferraro's [Four Seasons, Maui];
4. Nearly any restaurant on St. Bart.

Other than that, the rule looks like a good one to me.

I am curious whether DML - or anyone else for that matter - decided to try Cite to see whether it is a worthwhile destination. If anyone has any experiences to share - good or bad - I would love to read them.

Thanks!

It's been a few years now-wild view, old hat sorta "continental" grub. I would have to say don't bother. But as far as any recent developments-I have no idea. I guess I assumed it was gone.

OK, OK, OK.
I will take one for the team (but only since it is within walking distance, and only because this forum has provided some amazing cooking advice to me -- I feel that I owe you people).
I have reservations for one night within the next two weeks or so.
The menu doesn't look that bad. Not creative, but if they can do classics well it should be a good meal.

Any new thoughts on this? Today's groupon is 30 for 60 there.

bjacks - read the discussion about the "deal" on the Groupon site. Hilarious!

The deal seems pretty routine. What's up?
For what it is worth -- I still live about a block away, I still haven't gone, and I passed on this deal.
Even with $30 off, it still seems over-priced.

It was the discussion of the deal that was interesting.

Thanks. I never knew that Groupon had a discussion area. Here's the link to a lot of people who confirmed I made the right choice in not wandering over there.

http://www.groupon.com/community/discus ... 709&page=1

This is the dumbest thread of all time. 4 years, resurrected more than once. No one has ever been there. No hint of food criticism anywhere to be found. The OP has returned twice to say "I still haven't been." I tried reading the thread backwards to see if there was a coded message, and found none. I had the thread examined by forensic specialists, and they found no evidence of criminal intent. I printed it out to see if the thread itself was edible. Nope.

This is the Taj Mahal of dumb threads, growing beyond all dreams, boundaries and sense. It's the Parthian Empire of dumb threads. It may even be the Sears Tower of all threads. Or the Hancock at least. At this point, it's a glorious thread, in need of more postings. Please, come, people and give us more of your lack of impressions of Cite.

ryanwc wrote:This is the dumbest thread of all time. 4 years, resurrected more than once. No one has ever been there. No hint of food criticism anywhere to be found. The OP has returned twice to say "I still haven't been." I tried reading the thread backwards to see if there was a coded message, and found none. I had the thread examined by forensic specialists, and they found no evidence of criminal intent. I printed it out to see if the thread itself was edible. Nope.

This is the Taj Mahal of dumb threads, growing beyond all dreams, boundaries and sense. It's the Parthian Empire of dumb threads. It may even be the Sears Tower of all threads. Or the Hancock at least. At this point, it's a glorious thread, in need of more postings. Please, come, people and give us more of your lack of impressions of Cite.

Looks like somebody didn't have his/her coffee yet.
Thanks for your kind and polite post. What class.
The secret message is that apparently nobody wants to go there.
But it is hidden. You have to search hard for it.
Or be really smart.

Bravo, Ryanwc. Though my image would be a 747 that's been sitting on the tarmac without taking off for four years. At least now we know where there is an actual discussion of Cite going on.

Bravo for being rude?
Odd choice of term.

I thought it was funny. Your mileage may vary. It's the internet, a little snark is often healthy, healthier than everybody taking offense all the time, anyway.

We used a Groupon here on Friday night and, as others have noted here an in other fora, you pay for the view and not for the food.

I was here years ago, when the cuisine was classic French (or, more accurately, an attempt at classic French) with very heavy sauces, generous use of butter, etc. Now it is "contemporary American".

The place appears to be a bit "dog-eared", e.g. the upholstery behind some of the banquettes was obviously frayed. The clientele this evening was a mixture of older folks and tourists.

My wife ordered the steak tartare. Some bites were so salty that she sent it back and received some rather odd lobster bisque in return (the soup was thin for a bisque and had an odd, un-lobsterlike taste). My appetizer was so unmemorable that I can't recall what I ordered.

For entrees, my wife had the diver scallops, which were tasty. I had the port trio of rillettes, roast tenderloin and some other preparation with a gravy/sauce - the rillettes were good, the tenderloin was a tad tough and the other pork preparation was fine.

The meyer lemon tart with meringue was the best part of the meal.

Service was unobtrusive, but the waiter had to go back three times in order to straighten out the Groupon situation.

In summary, the food was as good as you'll get at a lot of Chicago restaurants but at prices befitting a much better establishment - the view is worth it, however, as long as you go with your "eyes open".

THANK YOU ld111134, for your timely and informative post. A couple people in my office are gunning for Cité for our holiday party...one because she lives 2 blocks away from it, and one because she's obsessed with the idea of having our party somewhere with a nice view.

I'm going to share your post with them and see if it'll dissuade them at all.

There's another Groupon today that no one can order.

Where is this place that I'm not going to go to?

It's not in Lake Point Tower.

Armed with another Groupon we returned to Cite last night. Overall the food has improved, although there are still problems with the front of the house.

The menu has changed from the prior focus on "contemporary American" dishes to typical steakhouse fare: steaks (a filet mignon, a boneless ribeye and "regular" and Wagyu iterations of a New York strip), straightforward seafood (butter-poached lobster, diver scallops, a catch-of-the-day, etc.) and other typical steakhouse fare (a pork chop, a roast chicken, etc.). I asked the waiter about the changes and he attributed the new focus to seasonality, although it it really appears to be a wholesale reconcepting of the restaurant. In fact, the restaurant's website now bills Cite as "Steak * Seafood * Lounge". Here is the new menu: http://www.citechicago.com/admin/wp-con ... erMenu.pdf

We started with the crab souffle with sabayon and frisée. The name of this dish is a misnomer - it was really a crabcake. It was OK, but nevertheless a bit gof a disappointment because we were expecting a an airy souffle and what we actually got was a tad gummy crabcake.

My wife had the butter-poached lobster, which was good if not great. I enjoyed my boneless ribeye, although I would have preferred a bone-in chop. The meat was flavorful and very well-marbled - on par with Chicago Prime in Schaumberg and Gibson's, better than III Forks, Chicago Chop House and Gene & Georgetti's, but not on par with the truly wonderful cuts at Chicago Cut and David Burke's Primehouse. The ginger sorbet amuse was so good, I received a second one, courtesy of one of the busboys. The entrees were priced $8 to $10 more than comparable fare elsewhere in Chicago. You do pay for the spectacular views.

We both loved the chocolate macchiatto dessert.

The service was iffy. My wife had to make three separate requests for a black napkin, and she had to ask two times for salt. However the busboy who got me the additional ginger sorbet was both friendly and helpful (I wish I could say the same about our server). My wife observed that regular patrons appeared to receive noticeably better service.

All in all, we went here to use the Groupon and, as my wife commented, we don't need to go back.

Pie Lady wrote:It's not in Lake Point Tower.

Actually, it is: http://www.citechicago.com

ld111134 wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:It's not in Lake Point Tower.

Actually, it is: http://www.citechicago.com

The post to which you are replying was a humorous riff on the two posts directly above it...