Chef Art Smith's Reunion

Everything I tried was amazing, from the pork belly, the chicken and waffles, and the drinks. The service is kind and fast. Definitely would recommend

My daughter and I were visiting Chicago for the weekend and decided to try Reunion for dinner one night. The food was great and our waitress was wonderful, I wish I remembered her name. We would definitely come back again if in Chicago for an evening.

Everything was absolutely delicious!!! From the drinks to the appetizers to our entrees. We enjoyed every bite. It was a plus knowing we were at one of my favorite Foodnetwork Chefs! It was an honor tasting first hand your works!!!!

We have never been here before, but had visited their sister spot at Disney Springs and liked it. This visit was great. We fined early and it was very relaxing. The service was attentive and the 1940 (?) salad was great!

This is not my first time at Reunion on Navy Pier! I love this restaurant! I was invited to a private party where Chef Art Smith was introducing his catering services. It was fantastic 👏 The food choice, aside from the staff walking around with samplers, included beef, mashed potatoes, veggies galore, mac and cheese made by Chef Ishmael in the cheese wheel (great presentation), lamb, and be sure to check out the cupcake table I photographed! Beautiful presentation on everything but incredible food!! No one went home hungry, as there seemed to be something for everyone!!! As a person who suffers from food allergies, I did ask ahead about any issues but was assured all will be safe for me. The food was so good, that I would definitely consider Reunion if I had catering needs! Thank you to Chef Art Smith, Kiki,and the rest of the crew for a wonderful evening and looking forward to coming by again very soon!!

Very nice restaurant at the beginning of the Navy Pier with lots of outdoor seating as well as indoor restaurant. I had to try the famous fries chicken, which was excellent, crispy, juicy and very flavorful. The portion size shocked me though, that much for one person, I barely managed one chicken piece 😀 it was sad to leave the plate almost full but it was definitely a delicious meal.

Great spot for lunch or dinner on Navy Pier. Drink prices are a little on the expensive side but everything is delicious. Great location to stop before continuing on the sightseeing of Navy Pier

Solid restaurant! My friends and I enjoyed our visit here during our visit to the Navy Pier. Service was great. I really enjoyed the Rumshine Rum Punch, crab cakes, and fried gulf shrimp basket. A great and fun environment and the DJ was having a great time. Definitely recommend!

The cheese grits were the best grits I have ever consumed! I definitely loved adding the BBQ on top. It tasted phenomenal! The Moonshine Boat Flight was great as well! The wings were okay. Just a bit salty and they weren’t as well done as I liked. The portions are a great size though!

The presentation of the appetizers was so cute - the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel. Our server was from Ireland. He was so attentive, fun, and personable. The temperature inside was perfect, and the atmosphere was current and welcoming. The outside looked cute, too. We originally booked outside, but it was too cold. They accommodated us immediately inside. The food was well prepared, not salty, but flavorful and creative. Five stars on the drinks!

Sumptuous dinner! The Fried Green Tomatoes were perfectly crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. Too often, they are served soggy and moist. These were not, and the dressing added a richness. The Deviled Eggs were creamy but not runny and mustardy but not overwhelmingly so. One of the diners in our party had the Catfish, and said that it was among the best they've ever had. Several diners had the mashed potatoes and touted how much they reminded them of something one might have had at Grandma's table. Three of us had the fried chicken sandwich, and it was one of the best pieces of fried chicken I've ever had. The skin was crisp, and yet the chicken was extremely moist. I opted for the pimento cheese grits, something I have never had, but something that I will crave until I can have it again. The highlight of the night seems to be something I missed out on, the hush puppy. This was no lump of dough dropped in a deep fryer. Everyone at the table who had a bite said it was absolutely the star of the entire dinner. Our server was superb! The decor was homey and a bit kitsy, but apropos for the comfort food menu. The only drawback to the atmosphere is that it is a bit echoey, and can get a bit loud when crowded.

Had excellent service from the inside bar. It was busy and we satin bar area. I had spicy chicken sandwich. Also fried green tomatoes appetizer. My wife had fried chicken brussel sprouts salad. All excellent. The salad was a surprise and generous with chicken. Great atmosphere too. Also had pineapple banana cake and it was great too.

First time dining at Chef Art Smith's Reunion Restaurant at Navy Pier in Chicago. The entire atmosphere is a complete vibe. From the music ... to the decor ... to the service ... to the complimentary Lemonade ... to the FOOD ... I was totally pleased! I enjoyed my meal of Pan Seared Salmon with Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, Lemon Vinaigrette, along with a side of Braised Southern Greens of Kale & Collard plus Goat Cheese Buttermilk Drop Biscuits. YUMMY YUMMY 😋! In case the name Cher Art Smith doesn't ring a bell _ know that he was Oprah's personal chef for 10 years. ________________________________________ On June 30, 2024 I had the pleasure of dining at Chef Art Smith's Reunion Restaurant again. I could not pass up on eating the Goat Cheese Buttermilk Drop Biscuits (because they are that good), so we ordered to share with the table. I wanted to try something different this time for my main dish. Therefore, I ordered the Half Fried Chicken with Mash Potatoes. Ooo wee this chicken was so crispy and crunchy in every bite. The flavor was not salty or peppery. It was just right!

Came here for a friend's birthday. We came in the afternoon and were seated right away. The staff came right away with a sample of some really great lemonade. The food was amazing, and we started with the fried green tomatoes. We also had the Biscuits. My friend had the catfish, which he said was delicious, and I had the fried chicken, which was some of the best. The staff from beginning to end were very helpful and friendly. I would return to try other items. I would also like to say I see reviews in which some were not happy because they didn't have a kids menu to that I say not all restaurants are meant for children so read the reviews and find another place.

Chef Art Smith's The Reunion is a must try! Comfort food at its finest 😋 👌🏽! Indoor or outdoor seating is very nice but if you aren't an outdoors person I suggest you sit inside. The bar offers non-alcoholic cocktails. Every time I've gone there the service has been A1. If comfort food isn't your thing there's an array of choices on the menu such as salads &sandwiches. Last but not least the food is just plain ol GOOD!! Located inside of Navy Pier at the the front entrance.

Spontaneously stopped in after strolling through Navy pier for a cold beer, and they happened to announce they were having Bingo night. We stayed the whole time and had an amazing time with Jojo who hosted the event. The crowd and staff was super energetic and the view was phenomenal. The prizes were very generous with $100 gift cards to the Reunion restaurant and then 2 rounds of $100 in cash money. Jojo and staff were also very generous with providing giveaways , like visors and fanny packs and cupcakes sold at the restaurant. Our 8 year old has never played Bingo before and thoroughly enjoyed it. This was a perfect impromptu stop and would highly recommend it for bingo night on Tuesdays. We didn’t order any food, but everything looked delicious and very reasonably priced.

Amazing food and service right on the water at Navy Pier! We had a large party for lunch and no reservation. The staff put a table together quickly and came together to ensure a great experience. All three appetizers were delicious. Deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, and hush puppies with pimento cheese. My European friends had never had Southern US food and loved it all! Salads and sandwiches were perfect and a UK resident declared his catfish sandwich the best fish sandwich he’s had! David was our attentive server and the manager gave us the story about the new restaurant and brought goat cheese and chive biscuits so we could all taste this yummy side. The interior and outdoor decor is gorgeous, plantings especially. Go there - you won’t be disappointed

Chef Art Smith's Reunion Restaurant is an absolute treasure! From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with a warm, welcoming ambiance that feels both cozy and refined. The Southern-inspired décor perfectly complements the hearty, comforting dishes that await.I had the fried catfish dinner, and it was nothing short of spectacular. The catfish was cooked to perfection – crispy on the outside with a delicate, flaky interior. The seasoning was spot on, enhancing the natural flavors of the fish without overpowering it. Each bite was a delightful blend of texture and taste, making it one of the best catfish dishes I've ever had.My date opted for the fried chicken dinner, and it was equally incredible. The chicken was wonderfully crispy on the outside, with a tender, juicy interior that was bursting with flavor. The seasoning was perfect, striking a delicious balance between savory and spicy.The sides that accompanied our meals were just as impressive. The collard greens were perfectly seasoned and cooked to tender perfection, adding a wonderful touch of Southern authenticity to our meal.The service at Reunion was outstanding. The staff was friendly, attentive, and genuinely passionate about the food they serve. They made us feel right at home and ensured that our dining experience was nothing short of perfect.Chef Art Smith's Reunion Restaurant is a culinary delight that should not be missed. Whether you're a fan of Southern cuisine or just looking for an exceptional dining experience, this restaurant delivers in every way. Highly recommended!

Busy tourist spot, we sat at the bar snd the artender was kind and helpful and fun, the spices chicken sandwich was delicious but gave us both a stomach ache afterwards. I would avoid this spot unless you are really needing some calories to keep going on the tourism adventure that is chicago, thatw as our issue, not planning meals this day or bringing snacks. The flyover in navy pier was alot of fun tho. Drinks were decent, food was tasty but low quality, ambiance basic and loud... staff super helpful!

Came for dinner, stayed for the unexpected life coaching. One of the servers somehow helped me find inner peace while explaining the menu and refilling my water. Not sure how it happened, but the food was incredible, the vibes were on point, and I left emotionally lighter and full. 10/10 would be subtly mentored again.

Chef Art Smith’s Reunion is a fantastic spot with incredible food, outstanding service, and a great location. The deviled eggs are a MUST TRY - absolutely delicious and perfectly done. Everything felt welcoming and thoughtfully prepared. Highly recommend!

Amazing food. Top service and chill atmosphere. We did the French dip and fried chicken. The biscuit app is a must. Delicious food and reasonably priced for feb of 2026. Cant belive I've never been here before. We'll definitely be returning. 6 stars!

Reunion was incredible from start to finish. The atmosphere is warm, the service flawless, and the food truly unforgettable. The steak was perfectly cooked, the grilled chicken and shrimp salad was full of flavor, and the caviar-topped deviled eggs were a standout. Chef Art Smith’s passion shows in every bite—comfort food elevated to perfection. With a great wine list and beautiful Navy Pier views, it’s easily a must-visit in Chicago. Can’t wait to return.

Absolutely wonderful experience at Chef Art Smith’s! The service was top notch. Our glasses were never empty, and we didn’t even have to ask for refills. The staff was warm, attentive, and made us feel right at home. Delicious food, friendly smiles, and smooth service all around. A perfect 5-star visit!

Found this place by chance and was happy to stumble upon it. Their happy hour is a bit of a gimmick and I wouldn't go there for this reason as it is wordsmithing at its worst BUT if you can look away from that and get in a cocktail or 3, you would be happy with what you imbibe. The goat cheese biscuits are great. Chicken wings flavor is good, but look beyond that and get the shrimp and grits. Nice way to spend an afternoon with a friend on the pier. Mind the fruit flies you see along the windows.

Chef Art was Oprah’s Chef earlier in his career. He’d opened a restaurant in Chicago before that I visited and was amazing. Now he has a few restaurants in Chicago again and they have really good food. It’s hardy soul food. Really large portions. The restaurant is really cute. We were a party of 14 so we did a prefixed menu. They did a really good job with our large party. The food came out fresh and hot - except the biscuits- I have to say I was really disappointed that the biscuits seemed oldish and were not warm. The fried chicken was really good, the skirt steak was good the Mac and cheese just needed some salt. Overall a really good meal, clean restaurant, really good waitstaff. Also oddly it always seem like flies are inside when I visit- lol shew fly away from my food! I recommend to visit. This is definitely one of the better restaurants options on Navy Pier. Bathrooms are clean. Make a reservation!

Hey, we are Vicky 🇵🇪 and Malte 🇩🇪 from the travel blog Traveling Is Our Passion. For our full Chicago food guide, check out our blog! We stumbled upon Chef Art Smith’s Reunion while exploring Navy Pier, and it quickly became a highlight. Their happy hour deals are unbeatable—chicken wings starting at 1.00 USD, domestic beers for 3.00 USD, and cocktails for 6.00 USD. Even with slight price increases, it’s still a fantastic bargain in Chicago. The wings were tasty, the drinks refreshing, and the friendly staff made the experience even better. A perfect spot to enjoy great food, drinks, and meet locals!

Reunion is solid well executed southern comfort food. We came in for Brunch on a Saturday and had a reservation so we were sat with no issue. The space is large enough for everybody to have their privacy to enjoy themselves while still feeling involved in the atmosphere. There was live music which was a really nice touch since the artist was interacting with the audience and taking requests. They have good cocktails and even better mocktails, plus they offer a canned thc drink that I didn’t try this time but am very interested for my next visit. I go into more detail in my video review on my Instagram page @everythingbea_ if you’d like to check it out or ask me questions before your visit

Nice spot for Brunch with friends. Kale salad is good. Fried chicken kw. Was ok not better than I cook.

First I’d like to start off by saying our server Ronan was an absolute love. Extremely attentive and pleasant. Their crispy calamari is super yummy (forgot to snap a picture before we devoured it). The made in house lemonade is superb and so is their Blackberry French which is shown in the second picture with chef arts chopped salad which was excellent however there was a massive amount of dates and not so much of everything else. The pan seared salmon was pretty mediocre and there was a small portion that looked almost a lil undercooked. we subbed the sweet potatoes with mashed potatoes and they honestly almost tasted like boxed mash potatoes. Would absolutely go back for the wonderful service chill atmosphere and to give some of their other food and drink items a try!

Our server was very nice and answered all my questions. The food came out hot and fresh within a reasonable time. I had the fried catfish and did expect more flavor in the grits but overall, satisfying! It's a nice and convenient place to dine if you're at Navy Pier.

The outdoor seating at this restaurant on a bright sunny day with live music gives you beautiful relaxing holiday vibe. The food is very tasty and I’d say the hush puppies is a must have

Nice spot on the pier with both indoor and outdoor seating and a relaxed vibe. The staff were super friendly and attentive. I had the sausage grit bowl. It was really tasty, hearty, and filling. Great place to enjoy a solid meal with a view.

The goat cheese drop biscuits were phenomenal. The decor was beautiful, nice heavy silverware and pretty plates. I chose the Arts Fried chicken, the amount of grease left at the bottom of the plate was horrendous. Totally a turn off. The chicken was not drained, they seemingly took it from the grease and directly on the plate. We used the napkins to drain the chicken before eating. As I was paying the bill, the waitress offered to have the chef refry the piece I had left but I was done eating. I also had the cucumber and dill salad, no dill taste whatsoever. The amount of dill was scarce, onions seemed old and dried out. My daughter had fish and grits, grits were great, fish, meh. Too much batter. Greens, unplesant because of the sweetness but not inedible, just very different. They discription was braised greens, they should've mentioned braised with molasses or sugar. I believe in 2nd Chances so will be going back and trying other items on the menu, the Goat Cheese drop biscuits definitely saved the day.

Comfort food, deep fried foods, sandwiches, and a convenient location to the Navy Pier. The mashed potato’s and the lemonade were my favorite part of the meal. Good spot to swing by if you are looking for something to eat after walking around the Pier. Food I got the Famous Fried Chicken and thought it was just alright. The chicken was kind of dry and the batter on the outside was crispy but not the crispiest that I’ve had. Decent seasoning of the chicken. The mashed potato’s were super good though and buttery and thick. I ended up eating some of my friends. The crispy calamari was pretty good and the house sauce it came with was good as well. Atmosphere Very relaxed and the booth seats on the inside are very interesting! They were made out of blue jeans and you could even tell the pockets were real. The noise level was not too bad indoors. There is an outdoor as well. Pricing I found the fried chicken to be overpriced and not worth it. The pieces of chicken are large but it’s not worth $30. I would have paid $15 at most for the entire meal. Service Service was good and the food came out fast. Other

I really wanted to love this place , it’s in a great location with a nice atmosphere. The food was delicious, which makes it even more disappointing that the service fell short. Our server seemed a bit awkward (maybe still in training) and wasn’t very attentive, even though the restaurant was almost empty. We had to wait a long time just to ask for another drink or napkins. Hopefully, with some improvement in service, this spot could truly shine.

I had a fairly decent experience. We arrived about an hour before closing and the main dining area was full. After a bit of confusion by the hostess, we were seated at a table in the bar area. We also had to wait awhile for our order to be taken, but our waitress was pleasant and did the best she could. The fried chicken was really good! It deserves the rave reviews its earned. I was happy the greens did not include pork and were actually vegetarian. My husband really liked the goat cheese buttermilk biscuits. While it's not a restaurant I plan to frequent, I would take family visiting from out of town looking for a touristy experience.

We had high hopes for this place but our server got us off to a rough start. The place was not busy at all, but or server kept saying she'd be back and never got us going with water until about 15 minutes into the meal. The menu options are pretty limited, really. Kids meals were mediocre, at least the burger was tasty. Salmon and Brussels with sweet potatos were bland. Wife got a salad which was tasty...but not much meat. I'd go back but only to order the pimento hush puppies.

I’ve seen many good reviews about the Disney Springs restaurant and just found out that there’s a Chef Art Smith restaurant at the Navy Pier so I placed a pickup order the very same day. No one was at the front when I arrived. I stepped inside near the “please wait to be seated” sign and tried to get a staff member’s attention, but several employees ignored me and walked away before I could even finish speaking. Eventually, I had to grab my order from the front myself. The service was ridiculous. Even people who arrived after me, walked right in and were immediately seated. I was only there to pick up my order and assumed I needed to notify a staff member first, but no one could be bothered. The food wasn’t great either and I’m actually glad, because I never want to be back again. I was planning to go to the Disney Springs restaurant if this was good. Extremely disappointing and unwelcoming. Looks like other reviewers have had the same experience.

For a southern inspired restaurant, this place is FAR from it. They don’t even serve sweet tea! We were left saddened by the food. We ordered a “hot chicken sandwich” and it was not hot, spicy or temperature! The piece of chicken not only still cold, it seemed to have been a previously cooked, frozen breaded chicken from the grocery store. Chick fil a could have provided us a better meal. Do not recommend this place for a “southern” anything. We were offered dessert before we left. But we couldn’t trust anything from here after a cold piece of breaded chicken.