Porter Kitchen & Deck

I had a fantastic time at Porter Kitchen and Deck! I couldn't resist ordering their crispy brick chicken - it comes with arugula and potatoes and is bursting with delicious Southern comfort flavors. The dish is priced at $25, and although the portion was a bit on the small side, the stunning view more than makes up for it. The best part? You can dress casually or go all out to match the great atmosphere!

Porter is tucked away in the LL level of William Blair, so be prepared for a bit of searching. Once you find it, though, you'll be treated to gorgeous river views, especially enjoyable if you opt for the patio seating.The service was a bit hit-or-miss during my visit; it seemed they were understaffed as things were a tad slow. However, the staff was friendly despite the challenges.Now, onto the food - the burger was fantastic, and I highly recommend splurging on the truffle fries; they're absolutely worth it. The addition of bacon was a standout, adding that extra savory kick to the meal.One thing that caught me off guard was the payment process, which was done through a QR code. It would have been helpful if this was mentioned upfront to save some waiting time.Inside, Porter is charmingly modern with a pleasing aesthetic that complements its riverside location. Overall, despite some service hiccups, Porter delivers where it counts: delicious food and a lovely atmosphere.

Had a reservation for an event. Service was great it did take a little but I wasn't surprised as there was 12 people in our group. Drinks were good, I got a non alcoholic mule and it had great flavors. Appetizer we got the caesar salad, the dressing was good and the croutons all of it went well. Perfect to share with two or even three people. The salad was chopped up into fine pieces which was kind of annoying to eat. Entree wise I got the steak frites. I made a mistake ordering medium well instead of medium rare. I didn't check was steak was being used and seemed to be flank. It was very tough it hurt my jaw chewing it. It was too late to ask for a different piece and just didn't want to make a scene. Flavors were there though but wow it was super tough. Fries on the plate were as hard as a rock. 85% we're and the rest you had to find soft ones. Also ordered the ribeye, flavoring was good and it was cooked well. No complaints. Overall I'd come back during the summer to sit outside and maybe try another dish

My wife and I took a river cruise in Chicago and she wanted to dine at one of the restaurants along the river afterward. She looked on yelp for one that we might be able to afford and judging by yelp's dollar signs, this restaurant was one of the few. We walked quite a ways to get here, but it was worth it. We sat outside because the moon was full and the weather was perfect. We were seated immediately along the river. The views were amazing, even at night.We were given water and menus. Our waiters were extremely friendly and thoughtful. My wife requested sliders and a shrimp appetizer. We also requested some drinks. My drink of choice was an amaretto sour, which was just okay. I think it was a little unbalanced as I didn't taste much amaretto. It was still yummy, however.A little while later, the sliders arrived. They had filet mignon on them and they were delicious. The shrimp appetizer was delicious and bold tasting at first, but I found myself getting tired of the flavor by the time we were done eating it. Overall, our visit was excellent. Great food, great service, great views, and decent prices.

Had a work dinner here Tuesday night with about 40 people. We had the private room off the entrance which was quite nice. Our waiter was attentive, funny and charming. Food was great. Pita (!!!) and hummus was the best I ever had. Ravioli and cheesecake were amazing. The only complaint I had is that it took quite awhile for the food to come out in between courses. Would probably have dinner here again, though. Everything was delicious!

Beautiful atmosphere, river seating, gorgeous looking interior. Great staff, great bartender and server. Food is mediocre. The deviled eggs were over cooked which made them rubbery, the asparagus was an interesting choice but had no flavor, and the whole dish was underwhelming. The whipped burrata was delicious, great choice in dressed greens, vinegar bit through the sweetness of the honey and cheese and the bread was a nice crisp without hurting your mouth. The sliders were the best thing we ate, perfectly cooked and seasoned, great bun choice, and the texture wasn't chewy. The fries were good but when you use pecorino as it's not a very good melting cheese it just clumped on-top of the fries in the hot window and dried out and was not good. The turkey club was great, healthy portions but proper ratios of everything, and love a pickle on the side..the soup was disappointing, seemed homemade in the description but the flavor tastes like the sauce in spaghetti Os with parsley in it. Did not eat the rest of it after a few bites..would not recommend

Planned a surprise party for a friend and truly could not have picked a better restaurant. A hidden and underrated gem in Chicago. If you need a place for a birthday that has good food and impeccable service look no further than this restaurant. Has an amazing view of the river and downtown area. Our server was Rayshawn (not sure if I spelled that correctly) he was a dream. So attentive and helpful. Everyone at this restaurant is very good. They really helped us pull off a great birthday surprise. We could not have asked for a better experience. Food and service were top tier. I can't wait to go back. I'd come back for the pita and hummus alone-best I've ever tasted. Only downside was I forgot my left over steak and it was too late to go back to get it.

The review is for Gavin our waiter and Gavin alone! In the city or chicago I have never had better service than here at Porter Kitchen! Gavin was attentive, kind, HILARIOUS, and everything in between! I chose to celebrate my birthday here and Gavin made it one I will never forget!!!! He needs a promotion!! The ambiance is gorgeous, right by the water and the food came out hot and delicious! We got a few of the appetizers. I would come back to dine at Gavin's table any day

As others have noted, the deck atmosphere was terrific. Food was very good and fairly-priced (not cheap, but you're paying for the view over the river). My only complaints were the 3% "surcharge" that they continue to tack onto the bill as part of the COVID response (it's now just another way to nickel-and-dime you and makes me think less of the restaurant) as well as the fact that the service--which was pleasant enough--was too focused on turning over tables even though the place was not full. The couple next to us was finishing and got the bill as we arrived. The waitress probably passed by every 3-5 minutes to ask if they'd like anything else. We thought it was a bit unseemly as they were just trying to enjoy and evening out. We got a similar treatment--my wife was still finishing her entree when the waitress asked if we were thinking about dessert (we said "not at the moment"). We actually would have had dessert but that turned us off and when my wife finished we were quickly brought the bill we paid and promptly left.Another quick (and minor point) was that when we made the reservation they asked if it was a special occasion. I said it was my wife's birthday. When the confirmation of reservation came earlier that day it asked you to check if it was a special occasion--I checked "birthday." There was no acknowledgement of her birthday--not even the waitress saying "happy birthday" (I'm sure she would have had she known). That's fine, but why do they ask?

I tried Porter new burrata and I don't like it, the texture of the cheese is not pleasant. I think the previous one was better. The drink and another food is very delicious!! Strawberry Basil Smash is always a good choice!!