Restaurant Review: River North’s Tortoise Supper Club features an authentic experience in dining and entertainment
What Makes the Supper Club Experience?
“It’s sophisticated, but not stuffy. It’s fancy, but not formal. It’s where you’re treated like an old friend, and like a VIP. It’s when you feel relaxed, and at the center of everything.”
Tortoise Supper Club
Traditionally, supper clubs were considered a “destination” where patrons would spend the whole evening, from cocktail hour to nightclub-style entertainment after dinner, according to Wikipedia sources.
Typically found in the Midwest, they feature a casual and relaxed atmosphere, and specialize in prime rib, steaks, and fresh seafood. And for River North’s Tortoise Supper Club, entertainment comes in a swanky atmosphere with live jazz on Fridays and Saturdays in the heart of downtown Chicago.
Start with their appetizers, which are true supper club royalty. Options include a half dozen Oysters on the Half Shell, utilizing Nonesuch oysters from Maine, served with Bloody Mary sauce. Steak Tartare has pickled chilis and basil chimichurri. Oyster St. Charles pairscrispy fried oysters with creamed spinach and honey mustard aoli. Or, try the Tortoise Signature Bread Boule stuffed with mascarpone and gorgonzola cheeses, and drizzled with garlic butter.
Soups and salads are winners, with choices like fresh Lobster Bisque, a Classic Caesar Salad with spicy caesar dressing, white anchovies, parmesan cheese, parmesan crouton, and fried chestnuts, and a Hydro Boston Bibb Salad, with ranch vinaigrette and parmesan frico.
No supper club is complete without a traditional Relish Tray, served in true supper club fashion on a spinning lazy Susan, with marinated olives, white balsamic, mushrooms, pimento cheese and pretzel Tltoast, bread and butter pickles, golden beets, and house-made mixed nuts.
Their 40-day, wet-aged prime steaks from Allen Brothers of Chicago, include a 10 oz. Prime Skirt Steak with bourbon barrel worcestershire, grilled onions, and buttery mashed potatoes. 10 oz. Prime Filet Mignon isbathed in Maitre d’Hotel butter.
Seafood entrees include Skuna Bay Salmon with sweet corn relish and mint chimichurri, Pan Seared Sea Scallops are paired with green pea risotto, asparagus, and artichokes. Chilean Sea Bass has sautéed watercress and ginger, coconut rice, and a tasty shrimp ragout.
Do not miss their Friday and Saturday night special…Prime Rib Cut. As their website notes, “Chef Pablo seasons the Prime Rib with Lawry’s Seasoning, then, peels back the cap, seasons it again with Lawry’s and chopped rosemary, then slow cooks the beef for 12 hours and serves it with buttery mashed potatoes, horseradish cream, and rosemary jus.”
As we always say when appropriate, save room for dessert! It’s a tough choice between Homemade Cherry Pie, with Michigan tart cherries, almond essence, and served with Madagascar vanilla ice cream, or Peanut Butter Pie, with a chocolate covered pretzel crust, chocolate Crème Anglaise, and peanut brittle. Tortoise Pie has chocolate, candied walnuts, bourbon-caramel sauce, and whipped cream. The Grasshopper is an adult milkshake with brandy, Créme de Menthe, Créme de Cacao, a grasshopper cookie, chocolate straws, whipped cream, and fresh mint.
After dinner, stay for their live jazz in their Lounge on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Don’t just take my word for it. Google reviewers enjoyed the Tortoise Supper Club as well:
“My boyfriend and I came here for dinner before seeing the Cursed Child and had a phenomenal time! Our server, Chime, went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and made fantastic recommendations. The short rib is to die for; I’d also recommend the Dover sole. The dining room is stunning with soft lighting and hand painted illustrations (that I thought were wallpaper) spanning the room. This place is special. We will definitely be back!”
“As a group of five, this was our splurge dinner on a recent vacation. So glad we picked Tortoise! The staff was so friendly and helpful. We had four different entrees and each was spectacular! Our drinks and desserts were also top-notch. The vibe of the restaurant and the music was great. Definitely a highlight of our vacation!”
Tortoise Supper Club is located at 350 N. State Street. They are open Tuesday-Thursday 5pm-9pm, and Friday and Saturday, 5pm-10pm. They are closed Sunday and Monday. For reservations, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
