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Charlie Trotter's, Chicago, IL
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Charlie Trotter's

$50 and over
Contemporary American
816 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Innovative
  • Good for business meals
  • Charming
Behind an elegant Lincoln Park façade lies one of the most storied addresses in American gastronomy. Charlie Trotter’s defined an era—not just through visionary cuisine, but through its relentless pursuit of excellence and hospitality. Revered as the birthplace of the vegetarian tasting menu and the pioneering kitchen table, Trotter’s was never just a restaurant—it was a philosophy. Now, the spirit of 816 W Armitage quietly returns. Led by Dylan Trotter, the Guest Chef Dinner Series invites acclaimed chefs to interpret the legacy in their own voice. Each evening is singular. Each menu ephemeral. Every detail, intentional. For those who remember, it’s a return. For those who never knew, an invitation. Welcome to Charlie Trotter’s—once again.

Why they're an Icon

From the OpenTable editors: When chefs hear the name Charlie Trotter, the awe and respect is immediate. The late culinary legend was known for flawless hospitality and pioneering practices like the in-kitchen chef's table—in addition to award-winning food, of course. Now, with the return of the Lincoln Park restaurant from his son Dylan Trotter, diners can once more experience the perfection of a Charlie Trotter meal, as intepreted through big-name chefs such as Grant Achatz and John Shields during a series of once-in-a-lifetime pop-up dinners.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner: Tuesday - Thursday: 6:00pm - 9:30pm, Friday & Saturday: 5:30pm - 9:30pm
  • Phone number
    (312) 725-0643
  • Website
    http://www.charlie-trotters.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Jacket Preferred
  • Location
    816 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614
  • Neighborhood
    Lincoln Park
  • Cross street
    Halsted
  • Parking details
    Valet parking is available directly in front of the restaurant for $10.
  • Public transit
    Located two blocks east of the CTA Brown Line Armitage Avenue stop.
  • Additional
    Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Trotter x Chef Art Smith: Cinco de Mayo Party

    $120.00 per person

    Prepaid

    May 5, 2025 only
    5:00 PM
    Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in legendary style! Join Dylan Trotter and Chef Art Smith for a once-in-a-lifetime Cinco de Mayo cocktail party inside the iconic Charlie Trotter's. This exclusive evening on Monday, May 5 from 5 to 8PM features 8 incredible food stations from some of Chicago's most exciting chefs, including Chef Héctor Guerrero (Art Smith's Reunion), Chef Diana Dávila (Mi Tocaya), Chef D'Andre Carter (Soul & Smoke), Chef John Hagedorn (Nightshade), Chef Carlos Julian, and more. Sip custom cocktails from 3 lively drink stations curated by Spritzology. Tickets are $120 per person + tax. Capacity is extremely limited. Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable night of flavor, community, and celebration.
    Trotter x Chef Art Smith: Cinco de Mayo Party Photo

Menu

At present, we do not have menu information for this restaurant. Please see their website or wait to visit the restaurant to learn more.

What 937 people are saying

Charlie Trotter's reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on all time ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.2Ambience

Noise • Quiet

937 Reviews

  1. Brian VIP

    Chicago44 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 15, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    I have never dined at this legendary restaurant prior to it closing. So, when I heard they were returning, I jumped on the opportunity to secure a reservation for me and my friend. The food and ambiance were great. However, we suspected that there were some miscommunications with the service. For instance, the couple next to us that arrived after us finished their meal way earlier than us and we noticed a considerable amount of time had lapsed between some of our dishes. Also, there was a miscommunication when we received said couple’s 2nd dessert before we even got our 1st dessert course. Price wise, my friend and I agree if was a little steep for just 8 courses. But, I understand they’re still trying to get back in to the groove of things. So, I can only see them improving. I’ll definitely be back though to try their other themed nights.

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  2. Elizabeth VIP

    Chicago130 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 14, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Oh, what a night! The food, the wine, the service, the chefs! It was amazing from start to finish. Hopefully Dylan Trotter will continue the pop up dinners because the one we just had with Chef's flown in from all over the US was spectacular. Do NOT miss the chance to dine there once again.

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  3. Linda VIP

    Chicago5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 31, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Dylan and the team are absolutely amazing and living up to the legacy of Charlie Trotter in service and with exclusive, 5 star guest chefs.Truly a magical experience complete with wine pairing expertise and phenomenal service.

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  4. luv2

    Chicago81 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on August 30, 2012

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Once again, a fantastic meal. We are glad to have been able to dine here one more time before its closing. We will miss the exquisite dining experience that Charlie Trotters has always provided.

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  5. Cutter70 VIP

    Chicago47 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on August 30, 2012

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Glad I made it back before the restaurant called it quits. Good stuff though the upstairs room got very warm. Godspeed Charlie Trotter's

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  6. Chrisc

    Seattle71 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on August 30, 2012

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Way overpriced, bad service, very average food.

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  7. Lynne

    Chicago22 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on August 29, 2012

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    The food was amazing--even better than I remember from a visit 4 years ago. The service was a mess. I don't know I'd the waiters even knew what they were serving. Guess that's what you get 2 days before shut-down. Glad I got to enjoy one last meal at Trotter's.

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  8. Cyrusf

    Chicago54 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on August 29, 2012

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Charlie left at the top of his game. Still the best in Chicago. He will be missed.

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  9. DavidT

    Chicago22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on August 28, 2012

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Another fantastic experience at Chef Trotter's. Sad that this is the last week of a gem for Chicago. After 6 dining experiences here over the past decade, I'll miss Chef Trotter's front of house greeting/razing, as well as the fantastic service, dining and wine.

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  10. luvourlife

    Milwaukee16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on August 25, 2012

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Top 3 places we've ever eaten. Easily the most interesting and well paired meal I've ever eaten. Heavy european influence in the food, with the exceptional american service. Most of the attention to Charlie Trotters is focused on the menu. A satisfying meal without the heavy over indulgence so many establishments aim for. We ate and drank for 3 hours without feeling like calling it an early night. The single best service we've ever received. The resident wine snob was anything but. He was young, yet clearly educated. He offered enough with each of the 7 pours to accompany dinner, without overwhelming and was ready to answer any question or elaborate when asked. The wait staff was attentive, without impacting our dinner. Fabulous!

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FAQs

Charlie Trotter's is rated 4.4 stars by 937 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Chicago / Illinois
  4. Chicago
  5. Lincoln Park

Make a reservation

Experiences are available.
Google Map for Charlie Trotter's

816 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Halsted
  • Neighborhood
    Lincoln Park
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner: Tuesday - Thursday: 6:00pm - 9:30pm, Friday & Saturday: 5:30pm - 9:30pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Jacket Preferred
  • Parking details
    Valet parking is available directly in front of the restaurant for $10.
  • Public transit
    Located two blocks east of the CTA Brown Line Armitage Avenue stop.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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