Summer House Santa Monica

Fun place to eat for a girls night before seeing a movie.

We loved Summer House. The food was fantastic & the setting is beautiful. We will be back!

I cannot recommend Summer House enough. The food is always amazing, but what really makes Summer House so awesome is the atmosphere and atrium ceiling. Feeling the winter blues? Book a reso at Summer House. It's somehow sunny in there even on the most dreary, dull day. I love going to Summer House for brunch with a group of girl friends. I recommend starting off with the calamari and/or tuna tostadas. Entree-wise, I can never seem to not get the Santa Monica egg white omelet. It's so simple, but SO good--my favorite. You cannot leave without stopping at the pastry and coffee bar--the salted chocolate chunk and the rice krispy treats are my go tos.

Great food - got savory and sweets. French toast, short rib hash - everything was phenomenal.

I came for the biscuits but they don't have them on the menu anymore. \nWe still enjoyed our meal and the experience but I usually go for dinner because of the biscuits.

Summer House is a nice place to eat - if you have reservations. The Decor is nice and easy and the glass ceiling in the main dining area adds a really nice touch. The food options are interesting and seems like there is something for every palette. The only thing I would suggest they do is take out a table or two in the general seating area since they have stuffed too many into that room!

The food this time around for me was a little disappointing. The Cauliflower wasn't as good as the last time and the burger was over cooked - ordered rare. Attention to detail was not as it should have been - lacking. Also, no more biscuits- that was very disappointing as well. Overall it was just OK, not great.

Summer House was phenomenal everything from the sushi to the magi-mahi tacos, to the drinks and dessert.

I love this restaurant. Had an amazing avocado toast. Also, don't miss the bakery counter.

A good value in Lincoln Park. Trendy, bright, & great service. Food is good, and the upbeat attitude will bring you back.

Had a wonderful brunch with my husband this morning. I tried the veggie hash and it was outstanding! My husband had the blueberry pancakes, which were also amazing. We will be back soon

Came for dinner the other night and really enjoyed! Everything was fresh and delicious and the vibe is modern and bright. Recommend it!

Summer House is my go to place for a great meal with my gal pals!! The food is fantastic and the severs are always so sweet and fun. I can't wait till next time I come and try something new !!

The food is always just ok and for the price should be better. Bright and airy and wonderful service, but have never really enjoyed the food there.

Location a bit loud. But food very good.

It was great. Usually fantastic service when i go here but this time our waitress was never anywhere to be found.

Felt like California in Chicago in February! Reserve in advance, as this is a popular place. You won't regret your experience.

At first they sat us outside away from any of the heaters so it was very cold but they were nice about moving us inside....All the food was very tasty but I would not recommend the sushi, it was rolled very loosely and was a very small roll so each piece fell apart. Otherwise every other food we ordered was very tasty and I would order again including the fried chicken and calamari.

The food here is great (I would give it 4.5 stars actually), and the atmosphere really memorable -- you almost feel like you're in California. It's very bright and airy inside, with tall ceilings and soft lighting and glass roof. I would really recommend the tuna tostadas. Don't forget to try the cookies for dessert!

Food and service were excellent; the place was crowded and we didn't want for anything. Reservations are a must and we had them and were seated right away. Great place.

Disastrous meal this evening. I'm still in a bad mood from it. Ordered Butternut Squash soup for Mom, Sushi roll for me. Mom's soup out first. \nMy roll arrives later with no Wasabi or Ginger. I have to wait for that. Mom done with soup.\nWe shared Fried chicken and asked for all white meat, no mashed potatoes. No problem, substituted fries and small upcharge for all white meat. Came out with Mashed potatoes and what I was sure was a thigh. They took the Mashed potatoes, but argued I did have a breast. Manager came over to insist it was a breast. I told her about everything else that went wrong, and please bring me a new breast.\nFull transparency our waitress was lovely, and they took the chicken off the bill. But it was a terrible meal overall for such a nice place.\nThey also didn't give me my frequent diner points as of this review.

Open and airy/cool atmosphere. Fresh ingredients. Would recommend to friends for dining.

Amazing! Summer House gives you a taste of Summer on any day and great salad.

The Summer House has the best atmosphere, food, and service. Definitely one of my favorites each time I visit Chicago!! Can't wait for my next visit!

Our server was the best. We ordered an eclectic combination of the kale salad, tuna tostadas and the fresh crab sushi roll. Great for a later dinner. Always like this place!

Valentine's Day

Great staff, good food, lively atmosphere, good disability access

Great atmosphere and service!

Great place, would highly recommend. Great environment, good food

Brunch was great. Our waitress was wonderful. She made a few spot on recommendations.

This is one of my favorite places! First, the atmosphere is really like Santa Monica, its bright and feels like a beach house. They have a great cocktail menu and huge selection of wine and other liquor. Plus all the food is great, with options for vegetarians, seafood lovers, sushi, and meat, and make all of them well. Its different from the typical Chicago restaurant with rly good quality drink and food

We loved it!!\nWent to California the next week, ate twice in Santa Monica and Summwrhouse was even better\n\nWe had a blast!!

Love everything from service (Louis at the bar!!!) to the food!! Avocado Toast is amazing! Roasted Cauliflower appetizer is a must start to any meal!

This place was great! The food was superb and our server was so friendly. I would highly recommend this place.

had the fish tacos - excellent. the guacamole starter is great to share. \n\nMUST order the cookies (so so so good) \n\nbeen many times - love it, menu is very organized and offers something for everyone.

Disappointed in service. Had to ask other servers or managers to find our server and/or order us another cocktail.

Mahi Mahi was overcooked

We had such a wonderful server!!

Love the light atmosphere and food is great

An Asian, a Greek and 2 African-Americans walk in to a bar...ok so in this case it's Summer House Santa Monica 😁 Brunchin' it up on a Saturday morning and the place was packed!! Great sign that it's great food!!! Reading the menu I was not very impressed BUT when our meals hit the table it looked and smelled amazing!!! AND the taste was amazing as well. Top off great food with great service and you have a perfect place to brunch with your besties!! It took us about an hour to get there and I must say it was worth the drive!! will be back with another group soon!!

We all ordered something with chicken. All the dishes came out with cold. Two orders of tacos, cold. One chicken sandwich, cold chicken. And one Cesar salad with cold chicken that was supposed to be grilled. I think they pre-cook their chicken, throw it back on the grill to try to reheat it, then chuck lukewarm chicken in what is supposed to be a hot dish. Gross.

Very cute ambience for a girls' night out

Went on for Sunday Brunch. First time for my husband and I but my daughter and boyfriend had been there for dinner and highly recommended. We were seated right away. Friendly service. We were in the atrium room which was great for a sunny day. Chicken tostadas were delicious, husband had short rib hash and loved it. We shared a breakfast 'appetizer' of the cinnamon rolls - divine - highly recommend. Fresh orange juice was so good. Fun spot, noisy and bustling but very enjoyable.

Our waiter was too busy. Some of the food came out over cooked, there was a sauce missing from one dish and it took like 15 minutes to get mustard from the waiter. When it finally came, the mustard was dry and crusted over, obviously having sat there for hours. The final straw was that I ordered a beer when they first set our food down and I was done eating by the time it finally came. I sent it back and it was cheerfully taken off our bill, but they didn't seem to even recognize that it was lacking service.\n\nI have no idea why this place is so popular, a real head scratcher.

I went on a Sunday afternoon with my boyfriend to get brunch. The place is absolutely lovely and I will for sure bring all my girlfriends here. The service was fantastic. Our service was very polite and attended out needs. The food was also good. I got the special menu of cinnamon pancakes, might be the best tasting pancake I've ever had. My boyfriend got the Enchiladas and cinnamon buns and according to him, it was too fulfilling. I admire the ambiance a lot. If you are looking to escape the winter vibe go here and you will feel like you're in the West Coast.

We were seated at a half booth for 5 people. 3 men two woman. We were sqeezed in. Not how we like to spend a dining experience. It put a damper on the evening.

Celebrated friends getting together for two 40th-birthdays! Food and place were GREAT - and Connor gave us the BEST service ever! She was wonderful!!!

Beautiful space but I thought the food was uninspired and too much money for the small quantity and subpar quality. Look at Mexique or Monteverde. Similar price point, similar portion sizes- Much better in quality. Calimari wad good, salads, taco and pasta Bleah

we tried several small plates and all were good- not great but good. our waitress was fantastic and so were everyone else who serviced our table- courteous, informative and helpful. this place has a fun buzz and a really great location. we will definitely come again

Date brunch - had a great waitress (funny and friendly), food was very tasty. Good variety on the menu

Our server was lovely and she allowed us to catch up with old friends.

Went with the family and had a wonderful experience! Service was great, food was great! Had something for everyone, my picky daughter had the Amish chicken which was delicious. My vegetarian son had sushi as did I and my husband had the prime rib sandwich. Everything was delicious and we definitely will be coming back!

Always impressed by every part of this establishment

One of my favorite restaurants. I've been here several times and have never had a disappointing meal.

Waited 45 minutes for our table even though we had a reservation

Fantastic atmosphere, great food and cocktails.\n\nOur server Allison was exceptional and made an excellent wine suggestion.

Came with family to celebrate a birthday. Seated in a booth in main room - Great to watch all the activity. Entrees priced right. Nice ambiance. Noise level is high. We were offered a birthday treat on the house. Got some bakery items to go at lobby - not so in love.

Great for brunch

Beautiful restaurant. \nDelicious tuna appetizer. \nTacos were fine , nothing special.\nThe tortillas were hard, actually couldn't chew them. ( too much time sitting in a warmer I would guess)\nHad to send them back twice before getting warm and soft tortillas. By then our food was cold. \nDisappointing, overpriced for what it is. \nNot to usual Lettuce standards.

We were disappointed. The service was good but the food was over-salted -- roasted cauliflower was nearly inedible, grilled salmon had large salt crystals on top, and the mahi mahi taco platter included salty black beans and salty guacamole. Someone in the kitchen has a heavy hand or a dull palate. Our server was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable.

Such a cute atmosphere!! Excited to go back, good food and adorable restaurant!

Took about 10 minutes for our server to even greet us. Didn't even ask if we wanted anything to drink besides water and rarely stopped by the table to check on us. Tried the Restaurant Week Menu for $22/person. The salad was just okay...nothing special. Pulled Pork sandwich had good flavors but dry to the point the pork and bread was sticking to the roof of my mouth. Friend had chicken tacos that weren't that great either. Chicken was definitely sitting under a heat lamp all day as they were hard and dry. Best part of the meal was probably the dessert you got to choose from the dessert bar. Lol

Nice neighborhood setting. Crowd mostly neighborhood yuppies. Good food. Try the salmon and calamari. Good wine pairings. Nice for couples, friends and people on a first date.

If you like avocado, this is your place. I swear it was in just about every option here, which is wonderful if you like avocado. If you don't, you might want to re-think your options here. I think they are trying to capture a summer-y, Hamptons vibe and it shows in the decor and cuisine. Came here for New Year's Day brunch, and the place was packed, but not overly crowded. Noise level wasn't too loud, considering how many people were there.

We've walked by Summer House a few times on our travels and noted its decor and how busy it usually is. So, when we saw it on the list for Restaurant Week, it seemed a good time to try it out. First off, the ambiance is great. Seated in the atrium room, you would have never known it was a cloudy winter afternoon. Lots of light and a laid back decor, we really felt comfortable. Our server, Lindsay, was another bright spot...very friendly, knowledgeable, and seemed to know just when we needed something. Her excellent service made up for a couple of over eager bus persons. They were sometimes a little too quick in trying to clear the table. If I pick up my sandwich to take a bite, don't try to take the empty plate. It makes the customer feel that you can't wait for them to leave. (There were empty tables and no one waiting, so no need to rush us.)\nFor lunch, we each choose the squash soup, split chicken tacos and a turkey burger, and finished off with a couple of the house baked cookies. The squash soup was good, although a little sweet. The chicken tacos came to the table stone cold. The turkey burger was okay, perhaps too much sauce, but nothing special. Good fries with the burger, and the rice and black beans with the tacos were also good. Both cookies were okay, really enjoyed the ginger snap.\nPerhaps the kitchen was having a bad day...it happens. With the crowds we've seen, I would think their food is usually better than what we experienced. Based on our experience, we won't rush back to Summer House, but may go sometime to enjoy the ambiance and have a cocktail.

Never have something bad to say about Summer House. Always a great time, this was the first occasion I felt a bit disappointed, whether it was just the time (brunch) or a miscommunication. When we arrived we let the host and server know it was my moms birthday. Service was good,food was great as always but around the end of the meal our server kind of disappeared for 20 minutes and when he finally came back into eyeshot he walked over and dropped the check. No dessert, which is ok because it was lunch time maybe it wasn't on his mind, however we had mentioned it prior to sitting. When we said we'll do dessert for her birthday he said sure and walked to get the menus. Dessert came out no candle and as he placed it down another server walked by with chicken and waffles with a candle in it for another table....kind of crappy. Aside from that summer house usually never disappoints.

The restaurant did not meet our expectations. We began with two dirty wine glasses. Our handful of appetizers were adequate but nothing special. When our meals were presented one was incorrect and had to be fixed. Despite these problems the server was not very apologetic about these problems. Once we spoke to a manager we were treated appropriately and the dish that was incorrect was not charged for. The main courses and dessert were fine, but not memorable. We all concluded that we would not be in a hurry to return.

Great restaurant and great food! Enjoy myself every time I eat there.

Fun place to have brunch on the weekend. Diverse menu and excellent choices. There is also a brunch buffet but we ordered off the menu.

This place was recommended to me by multiple people, and for good reason! My friends and I went for Sunday brunch. We did have to make a reservation due to high demand. Food was delicious and the service was excellent. Manager noticed my friends hash browns were too crispy looking and brought her new hash browns without even asking! The vibe is very casual and California like. Our waitress was great and overall a great experience I would go back in a heartbeat!

Decent food. \nGood service\nGrowded seating area \nSmall waiting area. \nNot a CA style resultant by any stretch of the imagination. Was hoping for more.

This is one of my new favorite restaurants! It's atmosphere is so cool and perfect for a lunch date!

Summer House Santa Monica is one of our favorite 'treat yourself' spots. The food is always spectacular and the vibe of the restaurant makes you feel like you're taking a little vacation. It's so sunny and bright, and the food matches the vibes. Our server was kind and helpful and willing to go out of his way to help us. We were here for restaurant week and it was a spectacular menu. The only complaint was that there wasn't a vegetarian option for the restaurant week lunch menu and they were unable to substitute.

Been here a couple times. Once for dinner but this time for brunch. The atmosphere and service was good. The selection of food for brunch was not that great. I found a dish I was happy with but other than that the selection was limited. I'd probably have to get the same thing each time. The place is overpriced in my opinion for the quality of food. Also, the restaurant week menu was a joke. You can get the same items a la carte for much less money. They didn't even try to make a reasonable attempt at making it worthwhile.

Awesome space. Vibrant and bright for a January dinner in Chicago. Eclectic menu. Great scene.

Always great for an everyday meal or special occasions - great neighborhood spot. Reserve ahead

Had the prime rib sandwich and side salad. You could save about $15 on the sandwich by going to Arby's. And the dressing on the salad had absolutely no flavor... like an oil-and-vinegar dressing without the vinegar. Barrata cheese starter was delicious, though.

Busy place, probably due to Restaurant Week. Soup was excellent but turkey burger, not very good as whatever condiment they used on it didn't taste very good and the bun was cold. Fries and cookie for dessert were good.

We waited on the waitress to take a drink order for 20min. I had to waive another waiter down to let them know that no one has approached us and he went to look for the waitress that was supposed to be serving us. Food was ok - not particularly great but since the service was awful it made the whole experience not so great.

Visitors in town

Always great food and terrific service. Staff is well trained and knows their stuff. Very kid friendly also.

Met a friend for lunch and we were seated immediately. Server was attentive without hovering. Food was perfect. We were not rushed so we could visit too.

Beautiful inside and festive, the food was pretty average. Undercooked chicken tacos and vegetables, the best thing was the guacamole and chips and dessert - pretty mediocre food but nice ambiance

Mother daughter date night :)

Staff was great. Food was great.

👍🏼 casual, comfortable place to meet clients. Servers could have been a little more educated on proper etiquette and serving manners but it didn't hinder the experience

Ye who knows the secret list of great restos in Chicago wins the prize if high on the list is, 'The Summer House.' My husband and I went on a real date, without kids or puppies to Sunday brunch. The spinach and kale omelet, to the egg sandwich, to the melt in your mouth blueberry pancakes were perfectly made. It was a wild, crazy zoo in there with many waiting and watching for a table, but handled well by all. Make reservations a head of time as up to an hour wait. We will return probably on a different day or evening as ...oh la la!!!

Great guacamole and house made chips. The wood fired chicken and salmon were so good! Service was great, friendly and very helpful.

Had a reservation but still had to wait 20 minutes. Server wasn't as attentive as we would've liked. Had to wait for him many times. Got my order wrong.

Always great food and service. Worth the drive from the suburbs

Had a great birthday brunch with the family. This was our second time here and is was equally fantastic this time as well. Our server Emmett was outstanding. Excellent job all around!

Thanks for bringing the brown butter trout/mashed potatoes back. Wow--amazing!

Summer House Santa Monica is a great restaurant. I met a friend here after work on Tuesday for dinner, and the menu is always delicious and reliable. The wine list is great too!

Great place and great ambiance ! Went to a boozy brunch with friends - try their cocktails!

The food here is mediocre at best. My friends black bean soup was just a dish of puréed black beans. It looked like black mortar. I had the summer house salad. The blue cheese so strong it burned my tongue, the tomatoes old and tasteless. Our waiter was fine and the ambience is very nice if a bit noisy. We complained about the bean soup and the waiter took it off the bill, but really the whole meal was not good.

This place hit on every major component of a positive dining experience. The service was friendly and attentive, the food was plentiful, paced properly and they were very accommodating with special requests. I also thought there was definite value for the prices that you pay. Cant wait to go back

Great staff from our Server to the cookie recommendations from the baker's. Look forward to trying the rest of the menu.

Made a reservation for 1:30 and we were not seated until 45 minutes later. We were told it's the restaurants policy not to ask prior diners to leave (they had been sitting at the table for 30 minutes after the bill was paid). If that's the case, they shouldn't take reservations or should hold additional tables open in case this happens.

Service was excellent as usual. We try new dishes every time. This visit we ordered the French Dip on our server's recommendation and it did not disappoint. We were sad to see the removal of the turkey burger, but the French Dip was a suitable alternative.

Our family had a wonderful time dining here! Our waitress was patient, friendly, and very knowledgeable in regards to the menu! The food was outstanding (our favorite was the ahi & watermelon tostadas) and the restaurant decor was fresh and bright! The place was neat and clean and so were the restrooms. \nWe would love to bring new friends here sometime again real soon!

I was very disappointed in this restaurant. Summer House is one of my favorite restaurants and a unique place that I like to bring newcomers, if I have friends or family visiting. I had made reservations at 8 AM for a group of 5 for 9:30 PM. We arrived at the restaurant at 9:25 PM and were told that the table we were waiting for paid, and we would be seated soon. We waited over a half an hour, and were not seated until 10:10 PM. This was unacceptable to me, as I had a reservation, and it looked terrible to the people I was hosting. I raved about this restaurant, and the first experience they had was terrible. I have been to plenty of restaurants where the wait staff politely mentioned to us that they had another reservation coming in, so we finished our drinks and headed out, simple as that. I do not believe that restaurants should have reservations available if they do not keep them. No one had apologized for our wait or even touched on the fact that we were upset. The rest of the evening seemed to go downhill, as we expected everything would come late to the table and we would be forgotten.

First time there and will definitely be returning. While the food will by no means blow your socks off good, they have amazing people working there that make the service and attention amazing. Great for drinks, dessert, and catching up with friends.

Just mediocre in my opinion. Had fish tacos and salad in our group. Nothing THAT tasty, just average. Not a bad place, just soso

We were given a $100 gift certificate for Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group and this seemed like the best solution out of the list. The server was great and very attentive. The decor was very dated and was not too sure the style the designer was going for ... fake ferns hung too high on the ceiling ... and what was with those cloth wrapped lighting fixtures? Keep it simple people. A white washed room should be austere, light and clean. Please update your interior to reflect the designs on the time.\nKale salad was great. Black rice bowl was good. Fish tacos were way over priced ... make them cu better and more flavorful at home. \nThe service was the most outstanding benefit going for Summer House.\nWould recommend it maybe for brunch ... dinner menu was all over the place and not really a cohesive theme.

Food was excellent! The service was very slow and they were very inattentive.

Excellent food and service, great ambiance Can't wait to go again

First time visit to Summer House. We had theatre tickets and wanted to have dinner nearby. Our server was exceptional in helping us keep to our time constraint and at the same time very attentive to our dining experience. Nice open dining room with a great view of the open kitchen. The warm chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream was a great way to end a wonderful meal.

New menu is more expensive with fewer options.

I have eaten at Summerhouse several times. I enjoy the atmosphere and close proximity in my neighborhood. Usually the service is decent and food is pretty good. Lots of good choices.

Good food and lively atmosphere! We will go back again very soon.

Summer House is consistently amazing! The staff go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. The food and drinks are so good, and the decor is the cutest!

We've been to Summer House a couple of times now and while I enjoy the lighter food the service is always awful. This last time we had a 2:00 reservation and didn't get seated until almost 3:00pm. When we did get seated it was at a table too small for our party and we had to move. They did comp some appetizers, but even after we got seated the service was terribly slow.

The service was phenomenal! Great place to escape the cold Chicago weather. The food was excellent! I highly recommend.

It took 15 minutes to get water & a table greet. The start of service was terrible & took way too long. Particularly since there was plenty of available staff on hand, some just standing around doing nothing.

Fun atmosphere. Classic American Fare ranging from the healthy to the indulgent. Highly recommend the guacamole to start. Various members of our group really enjoyed the Mahi tacos, the kale salad and the fried chicken. Great all ages and all tastes destination.

Fun. Good food. Nice bright atmosphere. Although we dined on a Winter day It lived up to its name.

Menu was smaller than I expected, but our food was very good. We had an 8:00 reservation, but were not seated until almost 8:30. But we did enjoy our evening there.

It took a half hour from when we walked into the restaurant for any food to be served. The waitress was unable to answer a straightforward question about a specific menu selection saying she hadn't worked since Wednesday. That said, once the food arrived it was excellent. Whole grain bread was outstanding as was the squash soup. The butternut squash steak was lovely....served with arugula salad with pomegranate seeds and hazelnuts so the dish had a good variety of textures.

Went there with some friends for my 16th birthday and it was beautiful! Food was so good and service was great. My favorite part is the openness and light of the space.

Great food & very relaxing! We stayed and enjoyed talking after dinner and did not feel rushed. Hannah was our server and was super helpful with dinner suggestions and was always there when we needed something. So happy we went!!

the food is very expensive, the staff is great, very friendly. The food was good

Love the sunny Vitamin D room. the natural light, skylight and ferns make me happy. so perfect for Chicago in winter.

I love the decor of this place. During the day you do feel like you're in Santa Monica (sans the wharf). While the evening lighting is nice, I think I prefer this place during the day. The menu is virtually the same for both times, so I don't feel that I miss anything if I don't go at night. The waitstaff is friendly and pretty fast. The bar could be a little faster, but given the fancy drinks on the menu it probably takes a while to make them. The Emerald Salad and the Chicken Tacos were awesome. We had the cauliflower and the beets side dishes and they were ok, but nothing to write home about.

Never disappointed at the Summer House. Highly recommend for brunch or dinner. Great food. Great drinks. Great service.

I really enjoyed Summer House. My meal was good, the coffee (iced hazelnut almond milk) was great, and the decor felt like I was in California. I just wish they had more vegetarian sandwich options.

Has a beach feel and the food was great! I am looking forward to trying it in the summer when the wall is open to outside seating.

The food and service were both superb. They also were very hospitable!

Last night was my friends birthday, she picked out this cute place based on the pictures. The food was very delicious. I got the lobster pasta with peas and bacon, and I was very pleased with my choice. The drinks were very good as well pretty much all of their special cocktails were on the table and yummy! The service was a little shotty, the guy was kind and very honest which I appreciated but he forgot about us. He admitted he did which really didn't settle well with the girls at the table. He took a little while to collect our payment and such but he did have a couple other tables. Other than that his service was pretty average. The food came out super fast and was great as previously mentioned

We had terrible service all night. The server forgot to take our order, food came out unfinished, the server never came out to ask how things were and apologize for the mistakes. Will never go back again.

Great first visit & look forward to coming back

As usual, had a fun evening with friends for new year! Thank you!

Very great atmosphere. Food was good. Service was slow but I would definitely go back for the ambiance!

Dined here early on New Year's Eve. Excellent food and service. The vegetable dishes were outstanding especially the cauliflower and beets.The restaurant is bright, open and airy. Good location for before and after theater dining.

Summer House is great food and great atmosphere. Menu has variety of interesting offerings. Staff just average - not very friendly and not very helpful. Despite staff, Summer House atmosphere is excellent and it is one of my go to places when going out with friends. Dine out often and is One of my current favorites!

Excellent Service Excellent Customer Service and Excellent food!\nLove going here, the food is always fresh & hot!

Half chicken was excellent and with an interesting sweet orangish twist. Definitely recommended. Kale Salad was actually exciting for a non-salad eater, we topped it with chicken to give it some protein. \nIt was late afternoon when we got there and place was quite empty but then filled up quickly. Server, who did not give us her name, was thoughtfully attentive. She allowed us to linger as these two old friends hadn't seen each other since World Series game 4. Had a lot to discuss and laugh about.\n\nRecommend it for a casual fun lively spot.

Food was overall pretty good. The Curry and Black Quinoa Bowl was overwhelming to say the least. In concept the plate should have tasted wonderful, however there was too much curry sauce that overtook the whole plate. On top of that the selection of vegetables did nothing to compliment the plate, there are only so many radishes one can eat during a meal. Also to note, the spicy tuna roll is good, but nothing special. \n\nWe did have the Mahi Mahi Tacos, the King Crab Orecchiette, and the Brussel Sprouts were wonderful. \n\nDespite the issue we had with the meal, our waitress informed the front of house manager about our feedback on the Quinoa Bowl and the manager made a point to speak with us. She was wonderful and wanted to hear our feedback to ensure the quality they are expecting to provide is met.

Food here is always pretty good. We came specifically to meet Santa (who was a total grouch, by the way). Friend and I split the turkey burger, which was yummy and the avocado toast. We generally get a side of cauliflower, but they changed the recipe from sweet date to a corn and jalapeño dish. The price is exactly what you'd expect- moderate. Always a solid lunch!

Great NYE dinner. Thank you !!

Great food! Love the decor!

Open and spacious room. Great ambiance, very comfortable feeling for family oriented guests.\nWe will definitely go back .

First time to visit I like what I ordered, the serving is more than enough, you can split it with a friend

Everything was delicious and well done.

The food was not worth the price. My pasta wasn't cooked properly and the flavoring was off. Overall the atmosphere is good and the drinks were delicious, just disappointed in the food.

Always great service! They are great with adults only parties as well as with our kids. Thank you for making us happy to be there every time!

The food was outstanding. I ordered the fish tacos and they were definitely worth the value. I got a very large portion of fish and it was very good. I would definitely recommend sharing the chips and guac for an appetizer!

Love love love the place, though the day after Christmas a few things were off. About 15 minutes from the time we were seated to the time we were greeted by our server. Drinks were delicious as always. But poached eggs and tacos were cold by the time they arrived at our table. Maybe an off day for the place!

Great place on Christmas Eve! Food always consistently good!

Delicious meal!

Food was outstanding. Atmosphere was energetic with a stylish yet casual feel. Our server, Matt, was fantastic.

It was overall good. Had a reservation and was told to we could grab a drink at the bar until table was ready. Went to inquire after some time and was told our table was given away b/c I did not respond to the text telling me the table was ready. This is not a good way to inform guests b/c if talking like I was to my friends and not checking my phone continuously ( which is distracting and rude) you will miss the call. found this off putting to wait 30 min until another table was ready. Beyond that it was a great experience.

We were not seated until 30 minutes after our reservation time, and then sat at our table for 15 minutes without being greeted. We left. No one even cared to say goodbye even though there were multiple staff members at the host stand. Very disappointing.

Joanne our server was great.

Absolutely loved our night at this restaurant, and love that they have a great kids menu as well. The restaurant is beautiful and food is delicious, we will definitely be back!

Food was excellent as was the service. I would def recommend this restaurant

We loved the California atmosphere in this lovely space. The pure glass skylights let in all of the winter sunshine and made us feel we were much further west on a cold day in Chicago. The menu was very creative and we enjoyed the Cauliflower Jalapeño Pesto appetizer and the Emerald Kale Salad. What a lovely light vinegarette on the salad. I can't wait to come back to see their dinner menu.

Went for lunch. It was a lively room filled with Strollers. I was disappointed in the service which took over 2 hours for 2 salads and an appetizer. We had a couple glasses of sparkling wine, each delivery taking 15/20 minutes to arrive. We had an espresso(served ice cold and tasted rancid) and shared a dessert. Inexperienced staff and somewhat huffy when I asked if there was an issue.\nServer had no recommendations other than popular dishes. My bill was insane at over $135! I am NOT rushing back...

Everything was great and we love this place! But, the fried chicken was bland. Very crispy, and everything else was great with the dish, but you need to season the coating to make it a top-notch dish.

first time there....great food, good service and the ricky bobby was a refreshing drink on a cold snowy night!! reminded me that there were a lot days til summer! will be back!!!

Amazing atmosphere, great service. If you haven't been it's a place you definitely should visit for brunch

This is one of my top 5 favorite city restaurants. Great service every time.

Everything was fine with the exception of the restaurant in door temperature on 12/14....it was freezing you - you could see the hanging fixtures moving. The staff could less about the complaint

The space was cold with a breeze which was not great. No one came to take our order for a long time. \nFood was good.

We arrived for our 8pm reservation very slightly ahead of time and w're told that we would need to wait a few minutes as they were waiting for several paid tables to leave. Not five minutes later we were told that our table was ready and we were seated at the first table by the entrance closest to the big garage doors. Before we even sat down and took off our coats, it was very apparent that the area around the table was very cold and I asked the host if we could be seated in the main dining room where it is warmer and more comfortable. He was extremely curt and told us that he had no idea how long we would have to wait if we wanted to move as he had several paid tables who had still not left. He gave no indication that he cared about our comfort nor wanted to be accommodating so we accepted what he told us and took our seats. Since we had a good view of the door and host stand we saw within a very few minutes of our accepting our seats we were able to see several parties leaving and at least two other parties of four being seated. I ate my meal with my coat wrapped around me and we all complained throughout the meal about how cold we all were. The cold made our mark thoroughly unenjoyable. I do understand that tonight was the coldest night of the winter so far and that your hosts have no control over the weather, but we are regular customers of Summer House and this is the first time we have had a genuinely unpleasant experience. I hope in the future your hosts can be more understanding and will try to accommodate your diners needs and requests, otherwise unfortunately, we as a family will be much less likely to choose your restaurant.

The atmosphere and food was great besides the fact there was a hair in my coffee and hair in my breakfast plate. and on top of that the food wasn't comped after finding two hairs in one sitting.

Food was so-so, mostly dry from being under heat lamps. My husbands fried chicken had too much breading so it was tough to get to the meat. I left with two Brown butter rice krispy treats that made up for the average dining experience.

Nice light, breezy atmosphere. The service was very good although a little lacking in water filling after we were served our food.\n\nThe guacamole and house made chips were very fresh, nothing spectacular though. The beach bum ceviche was a little too fishy for my liking.\n\nThe prime rib sandwich was overpriced for what was served. $20 for a prime rib sandwich should have been larger and had better beef.\n\nThe green salad with kale, watercress and Parmesan slivers was amazing – it had a ton of cheese and a very flavorful Caesar like tasting vinaigrette.\n\nThe asparagus Lyonnais however was a complete and utter failure. There was little to no dressing with little flavor, it needed salt, and the garlic toasted breadcrumbs were stale and had no flavor. \n\nThe spinach fettuccine carbonara also lacked flavor, the only saving entrée was the roasted salmon with pesto which was perfectly cooked and had good flavor.\n\nThe bacon chocolate chip cookie with ice cream offered as a freebie for checking in on yelp was the bomb.

Fantastic spot for a girl's night. Such good food. Especially great for gluten free. The GF chocolate cookie is the best in the city!

Always a great visit at Summer House. The Salmon is my go to and is amazing every time.

I visited Summer House for breakfast with a business associate and we sat at a high top in the bar area. Overall, the server was very friendly, the food was simple and fresh yet full of flavor, and the ambiance was laid back but polished which is exactly what I was hoping for. The ambiance lives up to its name and I can see it being just as comfortable for dinner or drinks as it was for breakfast. I'm looking forward to a return visit.

Second time there and loved it, so did my girlfriend. One small issue, She requested her salmon be cooked more to the rare....she got it w/ big grill marks and well done. Loved how it was all put together w/ greens/pesto...but was not cooked to order.

The restaurant offers some unique dishes that are well prepared and tasty. Prices are moderate and service is attentive.

I had some sort of kale salad and it was amazing. I love the ambiance here. Makes me feel like in Santa Monica! ;)

Always a good meal. no surprises, just good quality food.

Our waiter was terrific. The restaurant is beautiful. The salad options could be a little better. The vegetable sides are the best especially the cauliflower. \n\nThe best part about this place is the cookies. Ask them to warm up the chocolate chip with sea salt. So worth it!

The tempura calamari was the best calamari I have had anywhere! It was a generous portion for two and we ended up just having that and a beverage for a light lunch! Can't wait to return!

CUTEST BRUNCH SPOT EVER! Came to Summer House for my birthday and was so impressed. The ambiance inside made it feel like we were on the coast and the food & cocktails fit perfectly with the atmosphere. Blueberry strussel muffin & chicken and waffles are a MUST!

Have enjoyed many meals with friends at Summer House and generally the experiences\nhave been really great. And I have brought a great many friends there to share the ambience\nand the fun menu. With the exception of this last experience, it's always been most worthwhile.\nHowever, this time, the Guacamole appetizer was not as tasty and the salads my friends ordered\nboth had to be sent back too- overloaded with vinegar. Of course, although we didn't want to\nappear perturbed, the staff was on top of the situation ...brought other items for my friends\nand absorbed the cost, with their apologies. That I think is one of the reasons that this Lettuce\nEntertain You restaurant will continue to be a favorite place. Customer care is high on their list.\nAnd heaven knows, my friends bought a dozen each of their fabulous cookies to take with,\nwhich are another reason to stop in, even if it's just for a snack.

Nice bit of west coast in Chicago

By far my favorite restaurant in Lincoln Park. Fantastic food, great ambience and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Big fan. HUGE!

The mushroom barely soup was great. The spaghetti was a joke. 18$ for a kids menu portion and taste of a dish. Extremely disappointing!! The prices aren't cheap and that food was far from amazing.

Love!!!....LOVE!! This place!!...in love the ambiance of the place...I love how it makes you feel like you're either in California or in the Hamptons.... especially in the summer when you can sit by the patio...plus the food is great!!....& the fact that they also have gluten free items....and a great wine list....LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE!!

What a beautiful spot!! I was transported out of Chicago and to a beach town. Drinks and food were great, bakery items were amazing, if I lived in Chicago I would brunch here every Sunday

This restaurant is truly excellent. The room is beautiful. The staff is well trained and provides first class service. The food delivers. It's a great venue for lunch on a sunny day or a variety of dinner occasions. It's a LEYE but it feel like an independently run restaurant.

Great Sunday Brunch! Really enjoyed the Candied Bacon Bloody Mary!

I was anxious to try Summer House , brought my sister-in-law there for a birthday lunch.\nThe grilled cauliflower starter was delicious but all else was just so-so. I had the battered fish sandwich, it would have been much better grilled , and served on a whole grain type bun, that would be keeping in the 'California Style'. The servers were very pleasant, and attentive. The Bar atmosphere was lovely, but the dining room seemed a bit tired. I would suggest losing the circa 1980 hanging ferns, and replace them with oversized floor planters of palms or banana trees, for a Summer-House feel, also the dated mini-blinds in the front windows should be done-away with !\nDoesn't quite hit the mark, but not bad.

Bright, sunny, airy even in the dead of Chicago winter. Food is dependably good. I'm hooked on tuna tartare tostadas to start, Santa Monica club salad for lunch or dinner main course. Excellent service always.

A cute, chic place where you feel like you're in California. Good food, great drinks, friendly staff. Great place for a girls' night!

Summer House is a lovely restaurant with lots of light and open air. The scene is vibrant. The menu looks very interesting but the food is not as good as it should be. Sushi was too big and rather bland. Mahi taco platter was good but not outstanding. Childrens' options were good and varied. The 'special' (small) crab cake was poor value for $17. The 'special' wine by the glass for $22 was not good value either. But the wine list is overpriced at every LEYE restaurant, which I have been saying for 20 years. So overall, pretty restaurant, annoying upsells.

Great place! Love the food and decor. Will be back for sure!

Still love the décor and server was wonderful and super nice. Probably time to add in some new menu items but overall - we still enjoyed it. Highly recommend.

This is our 3rd and likely last visit to Summer House. The restaurant is absolutely stunning however the service seems to have deteriorated since our last visit. Our waitress was somewhat attentive however we had 3 different people attempt to bring the wrong food to our table which was very annoying. My husband was never asked if he wanted a cocktail and when we did eventually order it, it took far too long for it to arrive. \nThe kids menu is weak and the spaghetti was WAY undercooked which is the polar opposite of what you'd expect for a 'kids meal'. Our entrees were just ok - nothing 'wowed' us enough to deem another visit. There are way too many options in Chicago to justify returning for a mediocre experience.

Great spot!

Great place for brunch!

Fun spot. Truly a summer oasis. Loved the kale salad

Connor was an awesome server!

Great afternoon brunch spot, their was a minor delay preparing our food but the server made up for it by giving us free dessert. Many options on the menu will make us come back soon!

Food here is great! It's a bit pricey but definitely worth it. Hard to recommend anything specific- it's all delicious!

Love!! And kid friendly!

We sat in the main dinning area, it was so bright it almost felt like you were sitting outside (but without the cool Chicago chill). Really like the décor/feel of the space, the food was good but it was just brunch so feel I need to go back for lunch to be able to review the food fairly. The service was okay, however slow, also at the time our food was dropped we were asked if we needed anything else, but then the server never came back to see if along the way we realized we needed something (like another drink, refills, additional condiment/food, etc.), the next time we saw her was after we finished our meal and the busser picked up our dishes, when she dropped the check.

Great food and excellent interior design. I would highly recommend!

I really like the atmosphere at this restaurant and the food is really solid. I highly recommend it.

Always a favorite of mine! Avocado toast always

My new favorite brunch spot in Chicago! The breakfast tostadas were outstanding.

Great food, good view, fantastic service. Loved going

The space is gorgeous and the staff was great, I ordered what seems to be their most popular item on the menu which was the avocado toast (we were there for brunch). When I received my dish the poached egg was overcooked! This was quite disappointing since I would assume if the dish is consistently being ordered then there would be no problems. It took a few minutes before we could track down the waiter and I politely asked if they could redo the eggs. The brought the dish back out for me and it was right the second time around. I did not think a restaurant of this popularity would have issues with a poached egg but I was wrong. I don't think I will return, the food was good but nothing that wow'd me. It also would have been a nice gesture to offer something complimentary after the mistake but that also did not happen.

Great resto, great location! Have dined here previously and never been disappointed. Wasn't this time either! The two appetizers we had (roasted cauliflower and Ahi tuna tostadas) were excellent. Entrees included the chicken taco platter and also the wild mushroom enchiladas. Both were perfectly prepared and delicious. For dessert, we shared the chocolate treat. YUM!!!!! The drinks were also great. Recommend this for casual dining with friends/family, or a casual date. You won't be disappointed!

Fathers Day breakfast with our newborn was simply perfect here!! It's a breezy atmosphere with tons of natural sunlight and the most attentive and kind staff! From the looks of it this place is the place to be with children but not like how you'd think.. Very calm and cool collected parents with children to match ;) we heard from three different people at surrounding tables they've been bringing their babies here since the first week home, because of the atmosphere. Fits for both parents who wanna chill and have great food (granola yogurt fruit plate is one of my faves) and for children to relax and feel just as importantly tended to. Great spot!

Loved the vibe and ambiance. Slow to sit us down, but made up for it with complimentary burrata for the table.

Open & airy room, delightful menu; avocado toast is delicious. Neighborhood gem.

We really love it here and the atmosphere is very welcoming and warm... we are noticing though that it's a little on the pricey side to have a few dishes and two drinks for brunch...

Always love it here but was less than really impressed with the food tonight 🤔 the cauliflower hummus app was soggy and strange.. The tuna tostadas were good per usual.. The curry black bean quinoa bowl was good but nothing spectacular. I dunno just wasn't a huge hit for me. Il always love the ambiance though.

Two friends recommended Summer House before our trip to Chicago. We were not disappointed. Service was friendly, we were seated immediately even though we were early for our reservation. The food was SO good. We ordered the biscuits and could have made a meal out of those! Delicious!! We ordered the Brussels sprouts and that was the only disappointment. They were barely cooked and so hard we could barely cut them. We each had fish - my husband the salmon and I had the white fish. Very tasty. For dessert we 'took a hike' and got a cookie to go - ate it while we walked to the Steppenwolf Theater.

The ahi tuna hand roll seemed quite small for the price. The salmon was excellent!! Cauliflower also delicious but tiny portion for the price.

This was an awesome dining experience. Recommended by a friend who lives in Lincoln Park. It was a pre-dinner before going to the Apollo to see Million Dollar Quartet. The food and drinks were great! Highly recommend. Don't forget the cookies on the way out!

This place just puts you in a good mood and lifts your spirits with its sunny center and calming colors! We really felt like we were in a beach town restaurant but one with class and style! ;) the beers are outstanding and I could eat them all day.. The Cobb salad as well, and the tuna chips app. The Brussel sprouts were not for me, but others at the table liked them. We shared all these items and it was perfect. Don't miss the cookie counter on your way out! The blondie, oatmeal butterscotch and seas alt chocolate chip were savored in the car after! Yum!!

Horrible service. I have been to Summerhouse probably a dozen+ times and it has always been great. This time it was pretty horrendous. Our waiter was slow, did not properly handle the wine or the distribution of it properly. He poured nearly a half a glass of water on the table missing my glass, didn't say anything and didn't offer to clean it up. The food took twice as long as ever before. It was just bad all around and when I told a manager got more of an excuse then an apology. Gonna be a while before I return.

They accommodated our request for a booth for our birthday celebration. Great service and fantastic salmon

Service! Shelby is the best. The salmon was amazing so are the cookies

Beautiful setting, great food, wonderful service!! Fun place.

We love this place for brunch on the weekends! Grab a table outside if you can. I'm pregnant so I had the watermelon smash drink which was divine! Refreshing and cool and perfection! The beets are my fave and the Cobb salad is enough for two to share.

It's difficult to find places with excellent, delicious food with decadent and also healthy options. SummerHouse fits the bill. A very modern field with vibrant lighting, young and upbeat ambiance and very friendly service makes for a very enjoyable experience. It is a default spot that I take out-of-town visitors who have already done and seen all the tourist spots. This locale is better than the original one in Santa Monica. Five stars!

It was our first time here. We will return. Loved the ambiance and the fact that we could hear one another. The server was great and made awesome recommendations. We had the fire-roasted beets, ahi tostadas, pan-fried trout and skirt steak. Oh, and the fudge cake was yummy, not to mention they brought out a chocolate chip cookie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for my husband's birthday. All the food was fresh and delicious.

This would be our second time at Summer House and as always, the food and the atmosphere were amazing. This time, my friends and I came here for our big Memorial Day weekend get together and celebrate my birthday. However, the service was a complete 180 from the previous time we ate here. It took a good 5-10 minutes for our server to even come over and introduce himself and he seemed to be oblivious to that. He continued to basically ignore us and not really attend to us at all. I get it--its a restaurant but aren't waiters trained to attend to each of their tables equally? It's not like he had a ton. I was really disappointed with the D-minus waiter we had. It made me feel like all the great things I had said about SHSM weren't true; and was a little disappointing for my birthday service wise. Not sure if we'll come back; may have to try something or some place different where the service may be better.

We became really sick after eating, food poising possibly

Had a great time at Summer House for brunch. Our waiter Chris was amazing! I enjoyed the coffee and the pancakes and bacon were delicious! While the others i my group didn't enjoy their dishes I really loved mine and will def be coming back again for brunch :). I would also like to try their lunch/dinner menu

Love how bright and warm it feels in here no matter what the weather is like outside. Always have friendly service and delicious food. Second time here for brunch and I would definitely come back! Love dinner here, as well.

The service was good but after waiting weeks for a reservation I don't understand the hype. They forgot the avocado in my salad. The drinks were fine but not great. Ahi was good but not easy to eat. \nThe chocolate cake was delicious. I don't think I will wait for six weeks to get a Rez at this place again

I have been to Summer House Santa Monica at least a dozen times. Love the ambiance. However, I was super put off by host team this last visit. I had reservations and included preferred seating in the bar area (to avoid the kids play pen in the main room). I was treated like a 'walk in' and was told I would have to wait for my table despite many empty ones throughout the restaurant. When I asked why I needed to wait, I was told there were parties ahead of me. Ok. Then, I reminded them of my 2 months in advance reservation with preferred bar table. They said I would have to wait even longer for a table there. Ok. Finally we get a text saying table is ready and hostess brings us to a table NOT in the bar area. I stated there are several tables in the bar area open, can we please sit there instead? She was somewhat annoyed but ultimately allowed us to sit in the adults section. What the heck?

The restaurant is beautiful and the food was excellent! Service was outstanding. Light and airy decor. Nice that they also have a bar next door for drinks while you are waiting that works cooperatively with the restaurant.

Great food, incredible atmosphere and fantastic service!

I have been wanting to try summer house for a while. Although I tried it in the fall, this would be a great spot for the summer. It has a beach restaurant feel, as it should given the name! My friend and I shared a few appetizers and they were all delicious. Especially loved the shaved salad and tuna tartare. \n\nIt was filled with groups of girls and I would agree it would be a great place for girls night out. However, a date would be great as well. It's pretty light in there so if you are looking for a dimmed lighting, this is not your place. They had some amazing drinks and I recommend the old fashioned!

I love that I could make reservations online. That was uber convenient when planning a date. The food was pretty tasty and I love that the waitress made recommendations. The wine selection was decent, if not a little pricey (at least for lunch). I love that you could choose from either the brunch or lunch menu on the weekend. The bread was delicious!!! We had it w/ the burrata and tomato appetizer. I loved my shaved salad w/ seared ahi tuna. I sorta wish the plates was staggered from app to entree. (I just got back from Europe, and the timing for the courses was IMPECCABLE. AND, fresh silverware was brought for each course.) Overall great experience from the well oiled machine of LEY.

This is a great place that transports you to sunny places regardless of the weather in Chicago! Food was good as was the service and the ambiance is perfect.

The ahi tuna tostadas are to die for. And the fish sandwich was amazing. I've been here multiple times and have never been disappointed.

The environment is just perfect and refreshing, especially for summer, with all the windows and open doors. Food was good. Service wasn't anything exceptional, just average.

Noise level of the music was insane. Difficult to talk.

I have been to Summer House for lunch and dinner before. I met some friends for a Sunday brunch. The restaurant is always crowded and I fortunately made a reservation. Once seated, it took 10 minutes just to get water glasses filled, and only sporadically saw our server. Coffee cup was never refilled. The kale and spinach omelet was tasteless, and no butter offered for the bread. A lovely structure but over-priced and overcrowded for what is received.

Lively atmosphere in a relaxed environment and great service.

I've been really excited to try Summer House for a while now. My fiance and I went on a Saturday night after making a reservation several weeks ago. We were greeted by friendly host staff who did tell us it would be a few minute (but we were early). We only sat a few minutes after our reservation time which to me is not a big deal. Our server however, was fairly disappointing. She wasn't a terrible server but she just seemed to have no enthusiasm or care about helping us at all. She brought me a different glass of wine than what I ordered (without asking) since they did not have the one I ordered and I didn't particularly like it but they never offered to take it off the bill. We also mentioned that we had not been here before but she offered no insight or recommendations into the menu. \n\nOverall, the food was good. I can't say that anything was phenomenal. We ordered the oysters which were very good. The beach bum ceviche was just strange. It was in a bowl that was half filled with some sort of liquid from the ceviche which was just strange and made the chips soggy when you dipped them in to get some. I would not order again.\n\nThe burrata was my favorite thing by far. It is made fresh daily and served with grilled bread and a yummy tomato salad. We also had the squid ink pasta which was good and I appreciated that they split it up for us in two separate dishes.\n\nSo overall I would say if you are going to Summer House for the atmosphere, crowd, or drinks it is a great option, but if you are expecting a 5-star meal, head elsewhere (even if it is next door for pizza at Stella Barra)

Good food. Took a little while to come out but good scenery while we waited. Was way too cold for a summer day where it felt like we were on a patio. Had jeans on and I was so cold it had a negative impact on my meal. Would go back just not sit on roof covered patio

Always love summer House. The food is consistent and the ambiance is wonderful. I always run into friends, associates and neighbors when I am there. Love this place. I was there 3 times this week!!

Fit for carnivores and vegetarians, this menu is great for everyone. Even my 19-month-old son loved brunch and dinner here. It's gorgeous inside and out. The service is amazing! And buy some desserts to dine-in or take home (or both!).

I have been to Summerhouse several times, and it is consistently good. I love the feel of being in California.

Summer House is our 'go to' for casual dining with delicious food. The AHI Tuna poke and Ahi Tuna on crispy rice is our favorite. The service is great and it is a wonderful place.

Overall, we were pleased with our first visit for dinner. We came early because we had tickets for Steppenwolfe at 7:30. There were so many kids, I had no idea that this was an uber kid spot and was a bit taken aback. Oh well, I know that there is nothing that can be done, however, if I do come back I will be certain to request a table way in the back in a booth away from the youngsters!\nOur server was very nice and competent. But, I asked for a 'little' piece of bread with my salmon and he brought a plate with about 5 large toasts and then had the nerve to charge $2, Really? We spent over a $100 for entres, wine, and coffee and then to see a charge for the bread was ridiculous. I only wanted a little bread for me because my partner is on a diet. Seems really petty to me. And, that turned us off from returning any time soon, I'm afraid. I sure do hope that practice does not continue?\nThank you\nCathie

Summer House is one of my favorite brunch spots in Chicago so I ALWAYS make a reservation so I can wow my out of town guests! \n\nThe food was great and I love their fresh squeezed juice selection. I had the beef short rib hash and my friend had the eggs Benedict. Both items were delicious! Our waitress was attentive and offered nice recommendations.

It is one of my first choices for lunch, and not just because it offers valet parking (but that is a big plus). I love the skylights, which is truly more of a glass ceiling, which makes you feel like you are dining al fresco. The tables are nicely spaced so your 'al fresco' dining feels more like California than Paris. A nice selection of salads, sandwiches, and baked goods makes you walk out feeling like you really escaped the office.

Beautiful space and fun, energetic atmosphere. Food was very average in all cases and in one case ordered a burger cooked medium and it arrived partially raw....not medium rare but actually raw. They didn't check back with us on a timely basis service wise so by the time they were made aware and offered to refire or replace it was too late. They were apologetic and didn't charge for this - so they handled it well enough but it was quite shocking that a professional kitchen let this escape - it was so undercooked that foodborne illness could have easily been a byproduct.

Summer House has a delicious brunch menu that is unique and affordable. I've been for brunch several times and never been disappointed. \n\nI love the 'Vitamin D Room' b/c the lighting is such that it always feels like a bright summer day. The atmosphere is relaxed so you can have fine dinning and not feel stuffy. \n\nThe hardest part is deciding what to order b/c everything looks, smells and tastes great. The bloody mary is huge and the mimosas can be done with fresh squeezed orange or grapefruit juice.

Always a great spot to meet with friends -- food is typically very good, I had the Oreccheitte & King Crab which was delicious. My friend's grouper was a little bland but overall the mains were great. The rose cart was a nice touch and as always the dessert was the best part. Rice Krispie Treat cookie is heavenly.

Our small plates (Beets with goat cheese, Roasted cauliflower) were generous portions and absolutely delicious. Our entrees Black Grouper with coconut green curry sauce and 1/2 Roasted chicken were beautifully presented. Both entrees were generous portions and provided an incredible blend of textures and flavors. We went for Sunday night dinner and the place was busy. We opted for a table on the patio where it was quieter and cooler but all the diners, including many well behaved young children, seemed to be enjoying themselves. There for a girls' night out we didn't mind the leisurely service but could see where it would be frustrating if you were trying to make a theater curtain or had a problem with part of your meal and were trying to attract the attention of a server. We had a delightful evening and will definitely be back!

Every time I go there I have a great time! Great food, great service and great drinks!

Made a reservation a week in advance for a surprise celebration dinner. 7:30 pm was the original time and they made us wait until almost 8:00pm for a table. What's the whole point of a reservation then? Also, on top of everything they didn't even offer us to sit by the bar or anything. Extremely disappointed with the experience

Fun and creative atmosphere with delicious dining options, from small plates to entrees. We enjoyed the variety and the cocktails. As the sign says: Yes!

The decor did make you feel as if you were at a summer cottage and the service was the right amount of attentive. However, the grilled mahi-mahi tacos were average and I found the noise level too high until the restaurant emptied out a bit. Can't say I would go back on my own, but my daughter likes the place so I will.

Love walking in to see the sweet treats like cookies, blondies, brownies, rustic bread and sour dough English muffins prominently displayed in a bakery case. We ate inside, but with the garage type door opening on a warm November day we could imagine it was summer. The beach inspired interior was bright, casual and comfortable. We enjoyed the Burrata with the fabulous toasted bread. The ahi tuna tostadas were small but very flavorful. Our entrees were Baja Tacos accompanied by rice and beans and Bucatinini pasta with sausage. Both were very delicious. Our server brought us fabulous warmed blondie brownies topped with vanilla ice cream to die for. I also suggest trying the non-alcoholic drinks both refreshing and creative.

Terrible, rude, arrogant host. Waited 2 and a half hours after being told it would be an hour wait. He did not seem to care one bit that we had waited an extra hour and a half. Eventually just left. I do not mind waiting if the estimated time is somewhat accurate. But an hour and a half extra wait is a little ridiculous. I know summer house is busy, and my small complaint will most likely mean nothing to the restaurant, but the way the host handled his job was just simply rude and unprofessional.

Everything was great! We had brushetta and salads and they were amazing. Very light and refreshing. The ambiance was beautiful and bright. Will definitely be back! Our waitress was so nice and attentive.

Went for my birthday brunch with a few friends. Great menu, everything was delicious. I wish the wine selection was a little more extensive but for brunch I can't complain. Make sure you stop at the bakery on your way out! We will definitely be back.

Wine list over priced

Nice, outdoor feel ! Light, bright ambiance.

We had excellent service, very prompt without being intrusive. The menu has a variety of sweet and savory. The avocado toast was delicious with the poached egg on it perfectly done. The bacon is thick cut and lean.

Every time I come for brunch at Summer House, I notice someone around me getting the avocado toast, and I finally decided to get it. It was delicious. The service was great!

We went to summer house for a Saturday brunch. First of all I had to change our reservation last minute and the staff was super accommodating! When we got there we got a great table outside. The service was wonderful. Our cocktails came quickly and tasted great. The food was delicious! It was an overall great experience!

Great place for Breakfast and lunch. Have not had dinner here yet but sure it is great.

Great atmosphere and service. Love this place!

overall great time! I went there on a date with my boyfriend from out of state and he thought it was great as well

One of the best dining experiences we've had in Chicago. The food was so well done. The service was perfect. And, the interior was super cool/comfortable.

Horrible customer service at the restaurant. I get it there is a game going on, but you are working so pay attention to your customers not the TV.\n\nIt took 5 minutes for my waitress to great herself after I was seated. She didn't even give her name. She was more interested in her Cubs game than attending me. It felt like I was an inconvince her. I had to ask for her twice. Once to ask for a diet coke after my food serve. Lastly, she was no where to be found once I was ready to pay for check. The food was the only thing that will make me come back.

Fun evening, good food, and great service--as usual!

Absolutely LOVE going to Summer House and feeling like I am not even in Chicago anymore- gorgeous atmosphere. \n\nService was a bit slow. My sister's drink took 15 minutes to get to our table, and all she ordered was a glass of orange juice.\n\nThis has been my fifth time coming to Summer House, and I of course look forward to coming back.

I just want to say thank you and your staff for a great time the other night. This was to be our last meal in the City of Chicago for some time. We have relocated to Los Angeles. The food was even more amazing than usual. The service was top notch, the drinks were delicious. I could go on but you get the picture.

This was out third visit to Summer House. Food is average not outstanding. The servers are always the same, not very happy to be waiting on your table and just waiting for you to leave. Don't think we'll ever go back. Not horrible, just average.

Had a birthday dinner for my friend. She was very happy with the service. Food was decent as well.

Excellent food and service. Reservation was on time. Kept our water glasses full. Fun, energetic atmosphere. The entire menu sounded delicious.

That was another good experience. Good food, nice service.

We ordered several appetizers to share. They were very flavorful and everything paired well with our wine. It wasn't until our main course came (I shared with my date) that we were disappointed. We ordered the spice rubbed bigeye tuna taco's without beans. We received bland tuna WITH beans. We stressed several times to the waitress while placing our order that we didn't want beans, but they magically showed up anyway. The tortillas were cold and the tuna was flavorless. There was no flavor or spice rub as the description promised. We really didn't want to make a big deal of it because we were enjoying each others company and full anyway from the apps. My outspoken friend joined our party later and tasted our uneaten meal and agreed with our assessment about the flavorless tuna. The waitress came back and she mentioned it to her. The waitress was obviously perturbed rolled her eyes and walked away. We were a bit astonished but continued on drinking our wine and enjoying our evening. Some time later a manager stopped by with our bill and apologized about the dish. We were thankful and he obviously removed the tuna from our meal. That was a kind gesture, which we appreciated but it's curious that we never saw our waitress again. I'll probably go back but will avoid the taco's altogether.

I was really impressed that the food match the atmosphere. It was delicious and recommend getting appetizers since entree's a little on the small side and you will still have room for desert!

Delicious Kale Salad and French Fries bought a sea salt chocolate chip cookie on the way out that was awesome.

I've been wanting to try Summer House since I moved to Chicago. It was great for a casual late afternoon brunch with friends. Although, the service was a little slow and our waiter seemed to be a little out of it. The cocktails were very good and the avocado toast was good as well.

Everything was good, but I made a 1:30 reservation and did not get seated until 1:55. A 10 minute wait is fine, 15 is pushing it, but 25 mins is a bit too long.

The brunch at Summer House is worth the wait. Avocado Toast and Scrambled Egg Breakfast Sandwich are two must-haves. Don't miss the handcrafted espresso beverages and bakery items at the front.

The wine options was wonderful and they have some wine set up in front to see. Must have came during shift change because it took at least 45 mins before anyone came to us after we've been seated. We had to flag down someone to even bring over water then an additional 20 mins before anyone asked if we have been helped. The waitress felt bad and gave us a free appetizer as an apology for waiting for so long.

Great atmosphere. Service was great!

This was a delightful choice on a rainy day -- to sit in the daylight room made the day, warm :)\nGreat place for a spontaneous business lunch!

Summer House is a must if you are spending any amount of time in the Lakeview area. The indoor/outdoor ambiance and the friendly staff are just a couple of the reasons why I frequent this brunching hot spot. Be sure to make a reservation as this place is always busy! (And for good reason!)

The food was good in general. Great variety. The sushi was underwhelming, while still tasty just doesn't stand up to a sushi joint. The atmosphere was fun and fresh.

Lauren is the best waitress! Usually front section ;)

The wine was great, excellent suggestion of the Rose from the server. Loved the Ahi Tuna sandwich special, the tuna was fresh and so were the veggies! We sat outside in the sun and enjoyed a great lunch!

Big and varied priced menu. Well trained staff and good services Costly cocktails and wines

We enjoyed great food and wonderful evening with our family!

Wanted to love it....burgers were unremarkable....2 different types.....sure there is something special there....just not sure what it is.....cookies 'to go' were outstanding.....

Calamari starter was amazing! Quinoa and curry vegetable dish was so bland it was barely worth eating though! Very disappointing! Service was a bit slow and the waiter had no opinion on what we should order. The air blowing straight at our table got cold half way through the evening and wasn't adjusted even after we complained.

The staff is usually snooty but this time they were fine. The food and drinks are ok but the ambiance is great.

Great for brunch with kids!!

I thought it was overpriced for the food and quality, seemed very touristy...

Meh food. Meh service. Good cookies on check out and pretty atmosphere. Would not recommend for dinner.

Reservations are a must unless one wants a ridiculous wait. As there were no reservations available for a decent time on Saturday night for weeks, we went on a Sunday for dinner and it was still quite crowded. This place exudes a Southern California feel which is a great break from the long winter and non-existent spring in Chicago. The menu is ok, not extremely extensive but with enough variety that most people can find something. As other's have said in reviews the cost is on the high side for what it is, especially for the starters, sandwiches, and single glasses of wine. The service was friendly, much better than most said on the reviews, but pretty slow on the entrees. Seems to be a bit of a place to see and be seen, atmosphere was fun.

Restaurant is excellent! Food is spectacular! Service is awesome! Our waiter - Will - was great! I will recommend that place other people! Summer House, thank u so much for that dinner!!

We had a great time out for dinner for my birthday celebration! Brought friends from out of town from East Coast. They loved it! Our server Will was amazing! Truly a great experience.

Place looked really cool. Service was good once we sat down. As good as the service was, it didn't make up for the underwhelming food. Way overpriced for what we had. We had the tuna tostadas and clam chowder for appetizers. Very little tuna and flavor with the tostadas. Clam chowder was already starting to congeal and had to keep stirring it to keep it from separating. Dinner was meh. I had the fried chicken which was good, but Cole slaw had very little flavor. My wife had the fish special and again just not much flavor. Underwhelming. Hopefully better if we come back again.

Been to Summer House a few times and this one was definitely not the norm-- fire alarms going off (no one on staff said anything to anyone), a waitress who did not know the first thing about service or wine to the food coming out lukewarm and wrong meals brought to the table. I had brought people from out of town and touted it as a great, authentic type of place you don't see that often in Chicago and was pretty disappointed this go-around. Hoping it was a one-time thing as I have usually had only good experiences here. To be clear, I would come back but if the problems don't go away..

Terrible service but food was pretty good. However it came out lukeworm.

Went for a birthday lunch with husband. Sat in Vitamin D room which had a gentle breeze coming through the room. Liked the decor. Lively atmosphere. Food was good. Definitely order the shrimp tostada (waitress top recommendation). It was fresh and delicious. English muffin burger was good, cheese was a little salty. Homemade pasta was hearty and satisfying. Service was great. Waitress was attentive but not overbearing. Would recommend and return.

Came here for brunch with my parents for my first visit and later for lunch with another group-- now I`ll need to try dinner! The ambiance was fantastic, the staff was very friendly (accommodating when we called to say we were running a few minutes behind our reservation & also once we arrived). Now, onto what I was able to try.\n\nBreakfast Burrito- DELICIOUS. Sometimes I worry that a breakfast burrito will be way too much food (and they're not the best things to reheat later) but this one was not massive, it was just the right size!\n\nBlueberry Pancake- Just the right amount of fruit to pancake ratio + deliciously airy. \n\nBreakfast Potatoes- Good, but not amazing. I`d get them again but I could also live without.\n\nShaved Vegetable Salad - Added Chicken & it was a good amount of food and delicious, all of the veggies were very fresh.\n\nThis has become my go-to when people are in from out of town!

Exceptional service and atmosphere

Great service with reliable recommendations.

Some tables are too close together, putting strangers next to each other. Menu woefully lacks variety and adequate choices. 2 of 4 people in our party said they would not return because of the lack of menu variety and choices. Prices are high relative to competitors, but portions were adequate. Food was tasty and well-presented, but overall not special. Decor and lighting is warm and inviting, with a skylight proving natural light until dark. Would go back if others suggested a desire to go there, but would not independently return for dinner given the great number of metropolitan choices, particularly others in the overall terrific Lettuce Entertain You chain. Might try lunch or brunch.

Great atmosphere, had the old fog drink. Highly recommended to anyone for basically any occasion. Saw families, bachelorette parties, group of friends, and dates happening.

Food was just OK. Excellent service and atmosphere.

Sunday menu had breakfast items but plenty of sandwiches and main courses otherwise. Beautiful open air skylights with California décor made for a wonderful Sunday afternoon dining experience. Felt like you were outdoors but actually indoors. Probably need to make reservations as it was a packed house even at 2pm.\nService was pleasant and pretty quick. Show kitchen added some attraction and the cocktail menu was creative for some good brunch complimentary drinks. Will be happy to go back.

The name is completely accurate - it's a warm, inviting space flooded with natural light. The entire ceiling is glass. It has a casual California vibe, and the menu is light and inviting. We had local barrata to start, followed by ahi tuna tostada. Both were excellent. I had the pan seared trout for my main and my wife had chicken tacos. The trout was excellent, my wife said the chicken was a bit bland. The wines by the glass were impressive and they have a great Pinot Noir selection, staying with the light cuisine theme. They were also EXTREMELY accommodating for my wife's gluten allergy, offering a full gluten free menu. Truly appreciated. I'd recommend it, and we'll definitely be back.

We were really looking forward to our reservation at Summer house. The staff was very nice and the service was good. A few things just weren't up to par.\n\n1-Summer House dates their menus, we received a menu dated for Mid June as well as one for 8/16.\n2-When we ordered a bottle of wine from the correct 8/16 menu it wasn't available (They did offer a more expensive bottle at the same price, which was appreciated).\n3-We ordered caramelized brussel sprouts which came out burnt.\n4-The Steak frits, both the steak was over cooked and the fries were burnt\n5-The Halibut my wife ordered was burnt and bland. \n\nThe Cookies we got to good were very good. \n\nOverall the experience was underwhelming. Based on all the good I have heard about Summer House I was expecting much more.

Recommendations: \nVodka Cucumber Cooler\nCalamari\nMahi Mahi Tacos\nGrilled Salmon\n\n\nGreat ambiance with a lively crowd. A bit pricey. Consistently good service.

Great atmosphere - very bright and authentic Santa Monica feel.\nAverage food - fried chicken had too much dark meat. Burger was over cooked. Menu is limited. Calamari is very good.\nService was average. Not over attentive or friendly, but not terrible.\nCookies are very good, but I miss the toffee date cake.

Summer House is one of my favorite spots. The beautiful venue and attentive staff keep me coming back for more. I'm in love with their turkey burger and the palm fizz. Definitely my go-to date spot.

Great ambience and food. Service was a little slow and not the best but will definitely return

I've been to Summerhouse several times and never had a worse experience. The host was incredibly rude and threw a chair in the direction of our table when we needed an extra as opposed to placing it at the table.\n\nWe arrived on-time for our 8am reservation, NO ONE was in the entire restaurant (literally not one table) but he could not seat us because our complete party was not here. Ok, fine, restaurant policy. We stood and waited politely at the entrance at which point we were rudely requested to move further from the entrance until everyone was here (by the pizza restaurant) - not ONE other table was in their seated or waiting to be seated. \n\nWe then had 8 instead of 6, although potentially frustrating / inconvenient for a restaurant it was 8am and we purposely came early (again, we have been to the restaurant several times and know that they typically get full around 9 and we were planning to be out by then). He said no unless we took a high - top because their only table of 8 was reserved. We said we could not as we had elderly people with us and requested if we could sit on the bench with two tables of 4 next to each other (we did NOT even request them to be pushed together). He huffed away, sat 8 of us at a table for 6. He realized we didn't have 8 chairs, literally threw them across the floor to the table and refused to give us 8 menus. So we shared menus and stayed because it's hard to move elderly people.\n\nI will not be back, the rudeness when the restaurant was empty was incredible and completely unnecessary and throwing a chair angrily whether it hit someone or not, is borderline assault. This host should be fired and potentially sued.\n\nOn a positive note, while not overly accommodating, our waitress was nice and our order correct.

Went for brunch. Bloody Mary was delish. As far as food, it was okay - 3 out of 6 enjoyed their meal. Classic eggs bene and tasted turkey eggs bene were bland, caramelized French toast is too sweet. Breakfast burrito, Acapulco omelet and breakfast tostadas were a hit, so maybe Latin flavors are more in their wheel house? Ambiance is great, and service was fantastic.

Terrible service. Typical menu. Tourist stop.

The ambiance was lovely - it was open and bright with plants everywhere. The ambiance almost made up for the fact that the food was just so-so. Not bad, but absolutely not worth the money paid. My breakfast sandwich was bland and the 'crispy candied turkey bacon' was rather flavorless and not at all crispy. I'd love for the quality to improve because it's such a prett restaurant, but I likely will not be back.

The food at Summer House never disappoints. We order the handmade burrata every time we go. The cocktails are also always great. Summer House is always very busy but staff are always pleasant and helpful. It is a beautiful place to sit outside in the summer and a great place to feel like you aren't in Chicago during the winter.

The food was nothing special but the venue is lovely. Salmon eggs benedict was good but the potato hash was cold, and there were no sides whatsoever - a bit of salad or fruit is somewhat expected, otherwise the server should have mentioned it and recommended getting an additional side. The food also arrived alarmingly quickly which makes one wonder if the food is made fresh to order. Also $7 for a small glass of juice is a bit much.

A Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. But don't let that stop you from going. It's a gorgeous restaurant and great American cuisine. Went on a weekend afternoon. Very crowded and loud but great food and service! And very family friendly.

We have been there for dinner and had a better experience. The sandwiches were average and the service was indifferent. Not up to 'Lettuce' standards.