The Whale

📍 Leather bars in Chicago

9.6

The Whale in Chicago offers a welcoming atmosphere that blends comfort and liveliness, making it ideal for various occasions. The menu features a mix of comfort food and creative dishes, with generous portions and well-executed flavors. The service is attentive and friendly, enhancing the overall dining experience. Notable items include perfectly seasoned lobster and waffles, and a unique selection of cocktails that add a fun twist.

While some dishes may vary in quality, standout options like the honey ricotta spread and the tube of cocktails for large groups ensure a memorable visit. The ambiance is inviting, and the staff's enthusiasm contributes to a pleasant stay. Overall, The Whale is a great spot for a delightful meal and a good time with friends or family.

Features and services of The Whale

Service options

  • Outdoor seating
  • Delivery
  • On-site services
  • Takeaway
  • Dine-in

Highlights

  • Fast service
  • Great beer selection
  • Great cocktails
  • Great dessert
  • Great wine list
  • Live music
  • Serves local specialty

Popular for

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Solo dining

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair-accessible seating
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet

Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Coffee
  • Comfort food
  • Happy-hour drinks
  • Happy-hour food
  • Late-night food
  • Organic dishes
  • Small plates
  • Spirits
  • Vegan options
  • Vegetarian options
  • Wine

Dining options

  • Breakfast
  • Brunch
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Catering
  • Counter service
  • Dessert
  • Seating
  • Table service

Amenities

  • Bar on site
  • Toilet

Atmosphere

  • Casual
  • Trendy
  • Upmarket

Crowd

  • Family friendly
  • Groups
  • LGBTQ+ friendly
  • Tourists
  • Transgender safe space

Planning

  • Brunch reservations recommended
  • Lunch reservations recommended
  • Reservations required
  • Dinner reservations recommended
  • Accepts reservations

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments

Children

  • Good for kids
  • High chairs
  • Kids' menu

Parking

  • Free of charge street parking
  • Free parking lot
  • Paid street parking
  • Valet parking

Pets

  • Dogs allowed outside

The Whale is in position 1 out of 57 in leather bars in Chicago

Customer Reviews

★★★★★
★★★★★

The Whale has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 based on over 4689 reviews on Google

Farah Ali

Went here for brunch and had a great experience. Made reservations on the restaurants website. When we got there we were immediately seated. They a nice selection of brunch items. We enjoyed trying everything we ordered. The food was freshly prepared and tasted amazing. Our server was attentive and made good recommendations. The overall vibe is very family friendly and inviting. I would definitely visit this place again.

Farah Ali ☆ 5/5
Faizayl Calloway

Such a cool spot with a great vibe. The atmosphere is relaxed but still lively, making it perfect for hanging out with friends or enjoying a casual night out. The food and drinks were solid, everything came out fresh and well-made. What really stood out was how comfortable the place felt-not rushed, not too loud, just right. I’d definitely go back.

Faizayl Calloway ☆ 5/5
Marquita Harris

Our experience at The Whale in Chicago was absolutely amazing! The lobster and waffles were seasoned to pure perfection! Every bite was full of flavor and cooked just right. The owner Justin went above and beyond to make sure our visit was nothing short of exceptional, and you can truly feel the care that goes into every detail here. The cooks did an outstanding job, and our waitress was so enthusiastic and genuinely happy to serve us . Definitely visiting there again!

Marquita Harris ☆ 5/5
Jasti Babu

Nice ambiance but the food was not good at all. The "Spread" was most probably the best among our orders. Good bread and the honey ricotta spread was delicious. One spread was super salty. The wings were huge but didn’t excite my taste buds. The Mac and cheese was not great and the buffalo fried cauliflower had no Buffalo sauce and they were huge chunks of cauliflower with no flavor. Lots of blue cheese though . The Whale G&T cocktail was suspicious - not sure why a butterfly pea flower gin + fever tree elderflower tonic will have a red color. Valet was 15 (20 with tip). What a wasted weekend.

Jasti Babu ☆ 2/5
Matthew Stone

This spot has a lively atmosphere with a menu that mixes comfort food and creative dishes. The portions are generous, and the flavors are on point whether you’re there for brunch, dinner, or just drinks. The cocktails are a highlight, and the staff keeps things friendly and relaxed. It’s a fun place to meet up with friends for a good meal and a good time.

Matthew Stone ☆ 5/5
Heather French

It’s pricy, but if you are with a big party, order the tube of cocktails! We were a party of six and it was $110 but it made one large gin and tonic for each of us. It was served with sparklers as well. So fun! Such a blast that we didn’t expect. The food- I didn’t take pictures of the food because we ate it all and it was so good I forgot. But we got the happy hour burger, steak sandwich, fish sandwich, blackened trout, all delicious. Mostly American fare and done very well. Our experience was great and I’d go back.

Heather French ☆ 5/5
Alii Love

The food was delicious!! I had chicken and mac and cheese. It was two thighs and one wing cut in half. The mac and cheese was different for me but still good. I can't wait to go back to try their steak, eggs and potatoes

Alii Love ☆ 5/5
View all reviews

Information about The Whale

Address

The Whale is located at 2427 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

Phone

The phone number of The Whale is +1 773-825-2900

Website

The website of The Whale is: thewhalechicago.com

Business Hours

Monday: 17:00–23:00
Tuesday: 17:00–23:00
Wednesday: 17:00–23:00
Thursday: 17:00–23:00
Friday: 15:00–00:00
Saturday: 10:00–00:00
Sunday: 10:00–23:00

Contact The Whale

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