South Loop- Brasserie, by LM ?

Happened to walk by this place located in the Essex Hotel at 800 S Michigan Ave (south of Congress). This is not a boutique hotel by any means. The hotel lobby is basic-retro but not on purpose. You must pass through the lobby to get to the restaurant. Complete with chalk board food offerings (which appear do not change) and a chalk board with wine and beer options it did not have that brasserie vibe. I asked the waiter who the chef was (thinking that this could be a place for a new talented chef - as the prices were really low for the neighborhood-overlooking Grant Park complete with outdoor seating) but the waiter could not tell me the name. He said the owner's name was "Stefan" (sp?). "Food over decor" is my motto so eating in a no frills place is fine (afterall, LTH is this forum's namesake). As I could not stay to eat I wondered if anyone has tried this place.

800 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 431-1788

They've opened and closed places all over town. I ate at their first place, where Gather is now in Lincoln Square, and at another spot they opened briefly on Montrose. Pretty sure they were also the ones who took over the restaurant at In Fine Spirits briefly and then left again in a blink of an eye. Nothing to write home (or on LTH) about for me but a few others did and the Lincoln Square LM thread is here.

I actually had the rehearsal dinner for my wedding at this place less than two weeks ago. Probably not an indication of what a normal dinner would be like there, but they put together a great buffet for sixty people and the service was excellent.

I ate there maybe several months ago. I was surprised by the lack of ambience but as I recall, the food was excellent. I had eaten at other LM places over the years -- and one thing I've found at each one was excellent food.

I remember that the French Onion Soup was very good -- sometimes it's too sweet and this was spot on and had great, lovely, melty, strings of gruyere. I don't recall what I ate for a main -- but we a really nice rice pudding for dessert -- or tergoule.

The service was less successful. While it was prime lunch time -- the place was pretty empty and yet there seemed to be a lack of understanding about what waiting on a table was, really. We asked for things that never came -- we waited and waited and I believe at one point, I got up to go fetch someone for something.

While the food was good -- the service did not work for someone who only has a finite time for lunch. I might go back again if I'm down in the south loop -- but not if I had a time crunch.

Anyhow -- that's my two cents and please remember that it was several months ago. Service problems may have been solved by now.

This place has been open for a couple of years now - at least since 2013 if not earlier. I was just saying to my SO the other day, if they made their food and service more consistent they would be the best mid-range place in the South Loop (not that there's much competition). I go fairly often for drinks or a meal as I work nearby. They do pretty well with basics like burgers and brunch dishes, but there are just weird inconsistencies, like was there the other day and the fries seemed to have some kind of light dusting of -- IDK -- cheese or something? Potato starch? If you're going to be a brasserie you've got to get your fries down. That said, they have some fun beer or wine dinners every so often, and you can always get a seat. Wish they would hire a solid executive chef to make things consistent.

Brasserie by LM, 800 S. Michigan Ave., will close close on March 20 to make way for at least two years worth of renovations.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/2016030 ... enovations