Parrot Cage

As much as I love the Parrot Cage for the opportunity to experience foods created by students who are learning their careers I’ve experienced them at better times, I guess. I visited them yesterday (Sunday, 3÷20÷16) for brunch when they have a simple buffet.
The foods on the buffet were dried out (specifically the salmon over vegetables) and the desert selection was missing the red-​velvet cupcakes my wife and I had become accustomed to. Their service was slow and unorganized (from the host to the omelet /​waffle maker) and I still paid $ 50 for this sub, sub-​par experience.
Again, this is a school so I still advocate your patronage but I hope the washborne (sp) culinary institute’s director sees this post and corrects his students because I’d hate to see this community treasure go to waste as so many of our community gems have…

We have dined at The Parrot Cage a number of times in the past and have even used it as an interesting venue for entertaining clients and colleages. However, our experience this past Saturday evening was such a profound disappointment on so many levels that we shall never return. The menu has been dumbed down to cafeteria-​grade entrees bearing no resemblance to the menu posted online; the atmosphere has also been degraded to that of a cafeteria with bright lighting and excessively loud music; and the service was completeky untrained. The Parrot Cage is but a shadow of its former self. It no longer represents a palletable culinary experience much less a good value. The proof is in the pudding – the dining room was nearly empty. There were only three other tables seated. That speaks volumes.

Nostalgic. Dinner their with friends and family and forgotten how cool a venue and view SSCC had.
The staff was friendly but needed some prompting. Food was surprisingly well prepared and tasty (a bit heavy handed in the salt) but overall a good start to a great evening. The venue is in need of a good scrub (bathrooms not well maintained) and building needed a power wash. South Shore Cultural Center is a Southside jewel. I hope to go more often.

Sunday was my first time at the Parrot Cage, although I had it on my list as a place to go. Four of us enjoyed the excellent selections, the lovely décor and the reasonable price for a Sunday buffet. I was called the night before and advised that they did not yet have their liquor license, but would serve wine if we brought it. I brought Proseco and the waitress was lovely to bring out the champagne glasses and pour our orange juice to mix our mimosas!
We were able to tour the ballrooms. It is a beautiful location and the space is beautiful. The old South Shore Country Club which is now owned by the Chicago Park District. Seeing the building itself (at the end of the lake shore bike trail) is great fun, and the restaurant is just the icing on the cake. I am looking forward to an evening dinner.

Pricey but one of the best breakfast buffets on the south side. Ample «free» parking is a plus and the eating area is quaint and airy. Wait staff was very friendly as well and they catered 2 special requests.

Parrot Cage February 13, 2015
Valentine’s Disappointment – Still a B+ for the Students
WOW! What a difference a year makes.
In my February 13, 2014 review I wrote: «Six of us went to dinner at the Parrot Cage for a GREAT night out. … An adequate wine list that was reasonably priced. Culinary students run this place? Really? Bön Appetite!» What an ABOUT FACE for my experience on February 13, 2015. My experience last night warrants an overall grade B+ (down from the A+ I issued in 2011): Our Waiter Alex gets an A+++; the Hostess a D; the Manager a C+; and the Chef a B. Allow me to explain why the adults in the front of the house hurt the students’ grade, and why our experience was somewhat disappointing.
First and foremost, our 2014 experience lead to exceedingly high expectations for 2015. They recently remodeled and I was concerned they might not open in time for our dinner. Despite speaking to the hostess/​manager/​staff three times in the six weeks prior to this dining experience, including on the day of our dinner, not once did they bother to mention the major development of no longer having a valid liquor license – it’s BYOB now. Literally 10 minutes before my 5 guest arrived I had to drive to 71^st & Jeffery — in the hood — to purchase three bottles of the most average wine imaginable. I probably should not have been surprised when the hostess had an attitude with me because I politely expressed my displeasure with not having been told of this development. Her «bad behavior» was consistent with my previous experience there. In a review of Parrot Cage that I wrote on June 5, 2011, I stated: «A relatively rude manager/​hostess, and a pedestrian wine list, did not overshadow the otherwise outstanding front-​of-​the house service from these culinary students, and an exceptional very diverse menu with exceedingly well-​prepared food by the back of the house.»
With regard to the food, my comments are generally the same as in my 2011 and 2014 reviews, although I had to send my steak back. I ordered medium rare, they delivered well-​done. The second version was medium-​well, but as everyone else had eaten, I ate the center of the steak and we moved on to the decadent dessert course. Our waiter Alex, and the other servers were the BEST aspect of the evening, other than the exceptional company of my guests.
The most disappointing aspect of the evening was how much the ambience of this establishment has changed since it was remodeled last month. By removing the carpet (now tiled floors), drapes (no window treatments at all), and wallpaper (it was due to be changed), and adding bright lighting, they not only eviscerated the quaint and almost romantic aspect of the room, but the place is now loud. That does not excuse the rude old man who conned his way into a free meal, from interrupting our dinner to tell us to «quiet down.» Next year he won’t have to worry about our group – we’ll be at La Petite Folie where we started to go this year! Let me close by saying that if you chose to dine there, and I plan to, it’s best for couples only. Large groups will resonate too loudly.
By the way, did I mention that I’d give Alex an A+++

A beautiful little dining room in the clubhouse of the old South Shore Country Club that offers a Supper Club menu of meat and fish.
Being a training ground for cooking school students the food was well prepared and hit the appropriate notes. The Caesar was a simple presentation of dressing, croutons, and parmesan laid over a bed of smoky grilled romaine. The Tilapia Entrée consisted of a large filet laid over a bed of fresh green beans and drizzled with lobster sauce and tiny bits of tomato. The beans were firm without tasting raw and paired well with the sauce. The filet was pan seared to melt in your mouth perfection. A large piece of Tres Leche Chocolate Cake had just the right amount of milky goodness and ordered with Vanilla Ice Cream that was presented in a chocolate cup with a thick bottom, a decadent treat! The coffee was delicious as well.
The servers were in training as well, very friendly and mostly on top of their duties. The salad arriving before our drinks was the only misstep. The dinner roll server came by twice and the host checked in to see how we were doing, a nice touch.
The bill arrived with a scholarship charge of 5 percent added. This is more of a contribution to the students tuition fund than a gratuity so a regular tip is necessary, if not required. The additional gratuity must be paid in cash.
Overall a pleasant dining experience in a historic setting. You will leave satisfied and feel good about helping the students on their path to success.

The Parrot Cage is a hidden gem in the South Shore community inside of the historic South Shore Cultural Center. This restaurant is ran by the Washburn Culinary School (Kennedy King College). The students provide a 5 star dining experience on a dime. The ambiance is breathtaking and is the perfect place for alfresco dining with the view of Lake Michigan in the background. This is a perfect date spot and best of all, they offer BYOB for a small corking fee. Please note that seating is by reservations only.

Let me preface this review by saying that on another occasion, I had a most delightful experience at The Parrot Cage… such was NOT the case yesterday, and unfortunately it was Mother’s Day!
The Brunch Buffet was HORRIBLE… and that’s putting it mildly! Had it not been for the wonderful atmosphere and the company we were with, it would have been a COMPLETE disaster.
From no plates, to cold food, to NO food, to JAMES BROWN serenading us after the Jazz Quartet packed up BEFORE the last guest departed, the EXPERIENCE was definitely memorable, but in the WRONG way. Perhaps the students need to stick to fine dining, because they flunked at buffet.
As I mentioned before, my previous experience at The Parrot Cage was wonderful, but that was fine dining and not buffet. Perhaps they should stick to fine dining until the buffet is better tuned for the public!

Always good, well presented food.
Excellent service from wait staff.
We also enjoy the low background music and the décor.

I went to The Parrot Cage for the second time yesterday for Sunday brunch. They have changed their brunch offerings since I was there last. Much improved! The setting is just beautiful. If you haven’t been to the historic South Shore Cultural Center I’d highly recommend going. The restaurant itself is decorated in a very charming way with, as you can imagine, lots of parrot related decorations. Our server was very attentive, refilling our glasses before they were even empty. They had made to order omlettes and waffles. They also had a a beautiful turkey breast cut to order. They also had the usual offerings of bacon, sausages, salads, fried chicken. It looked like that there is an outdoor dining area just outside for warm weather dining. I’ll be back in summer!
After brunch we sat in the lobby looking out the windows at the lakefront and took out our I Pad and Googled images of the South Shore Country Club and looked at dozens of old pictures of the space when it used to be a fancy members only country club. The Park District has done a very good job restoring it. We walked outside around the grounds after brunch. This place is truly amazing. Definitely worth the drive down Lake Shore Drive.

I loved, loved, loved this place! I love the fact that it is housed in the beautiful and historically rich South Shore Cultural Center for starters. As others have mentioned, this is truly a hidden gem on the South Side. I also loved that the place is run by the Washburne (sp?) students. I think it’s an excellent concept and you get to witness first-​hand these students developing their craft.
As for the food, excellent. I went on a Wednesday with the prix fixe menu, which was a steal. I had the grilled caesar salad that was done just right and the lamb for my entrée, which was so tender it almost fell off of the bone! My dining partners also enjoyed their meals. One of them had the pork chop that was so huge it was almost unreal. And, despite its size, she also said that it was done to perfection!
It’s a classy place and the dining room was packed with a diverse crowd, with multiple people who found the place pleasurable enough to celebrate their birthdays there that night. I will definitely be back to try their brunch buffet. I highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys a fine dining experience!

Wanted to love this to support the culinary institute students.
Great parts: the food was delicious at the Sunday brunch. Lots of meat. Some of the best sliced turkey breast I’ve ever had.
Not-​so-​great parts: the servers were not good. After being seated by the hostess, no one came to say «hi» or bring water until about 15 minutes later. Once she came over, she was nice but had little tableside manner. She took my son’s plate mid-​bite (with several bites left.) She poured my coffee into the wrong cup. She reached over us instead of serving at our right, etc. I wouldn’t worry about this, but she’s supposedly learning how to serve in a fine restaurant, as well as how to work in the kitchen. Actually, our server told us she’d graduated and had gotten a real job there. Maybe she was just having a bad day.
I’m not a complaining customer, but there were so many issues (gnats b/​c patio doors were open) that they gave us one brunch gratis. That was really nice.
We will go back, because, again, we want the students to succeed. And the free brunch helped. But they need to refine the service a bit.

A beautiful nostalgic restaurant where the Washburne Culinary Institute students prepare the meals. The star of the experience is the restaurant and the location being right on Lake Michigan; while dining my mind wondered what really went on here during the country club years. The food was delicious, and the service was polite. I would recommend this place to anyone who is looking for something different or romantic and after the meal why not take a walk around the grounds if you visit on the weekend you will most likely see a wedding or a reception taking place. Like Corinne G. said this place really is a hidden gem!

Hidden gem!
I would never have heard of the Parrot Cage if not for searching for Wednesday prix fixe specials on Unilocal.The restaurant definitely suffers from a lack of marketing… We couldn’t even find any signs on the outside of the South Shore Cultural Center telling visitors that the Parrot Cage was inside, so we weren’t positive we were in the right place until we walked in. I had never heard of the place before seeing it on Unilocal.The South Shore Cultural Center is a gem itself! I found out that it’s where President Barack Obama and Michelle held their wedding reception, and it is listed on the historic register. The marble stairs, chandeliers, and architectural details are stunning!
Upon entering, we were sure glad we found the Parrot Cage! We were there for about an hour and a half, and the entire time, there was only one other table of two diners there. With the quality of the food and the beauty of the atmosphere, it should be filled. There are very few restaurants with a view of the lakefront, and the food holds it own as well. The goat-​cheese flan alone is worth the trip! My husband also raved about his jambalaya. He finished the etouffée entrée in short order, pronouncing it «very good,» and I also enjoyed my crab-​encrusted catfish. For dessert, my husband said the peach cobbler was among the best he’d had, and my banana bread pudding was good as well, although just a bit on the dry side. Maybe more sauce would have helped? We also enjoyed a couple of the signature cocktails, the Parrot Martini and the Pineapple Martini.
Overall, I would give the food and service and solid 4 stars, while the beauty of the location rates a 5. We will make an effort to return… the Wednesday prix fixe is a great value!

Went here with hubby for the 87.7FM Sunday Brunch. I thought the food was pretty good, my favorite was the Jambalaya, my least favorite was the dressing aka Stuffing. I loved the ambiance, and the building which has an old southern charm to it, not to mention our family used to visit the park in general for the 80’s committee picnics when I was a youngin. I would recommend Parrot Cage to others because it helps support the culinary school, and it’s students which did an awesome job at cooking. The service was great. The «Noteworthy Band» was wonderful. If you’re ever in the area, I would recommend you give this place a try.

I’d give Parrot Cage one star because it’s quite lovely in décor, and comfortable with good jazz in the background. That being said, the food was disappointing considering it is run by the Washburn Culinary Institute. The prices are reasonable, and we tried the prix fixe menu for $ 30. The house martini was way too sweet & Grey Goose couldn’t be tasted, crab appetizer used snow crab, but menu said jumbo lump crab meat, and was bland, the fritto de mare had slightly tough calamari, the salmon entrée was overcooked with dry edges & sorely lacking in Moroccan spices, the lamb chops were ok. My frustration peaked when dessert arrived with peach cobbler from canned peaches! Wait staff seemed unconcerned… My dinner companion packed her dessert to go only to arrive home and find a fly in it! Not planning a return, and such a shame!

I chose this restaurant because of its name (The Parrot Cage … ridiculous and awesome?) and because it’s part of a culinary school, which usually leads to good and cheaper results. Also BYOB. ($ 5 corkage fee)
The setting is amazing. It’s in the South Shore Cultural Center, which is right on Lake Michigan and a beautiful old building. It’s a bit of a hike from the North side, but worth it.
The service is a little slow (as is the crowd in general, lots of older people), but the food is great and the staff is so friendly and nice. And it’s always fun to support students.
They start with this delicious seed-​bread? I’m not great with tastes (or memory — it’s been almost three years since I’ve been there), but it was bread with some seeds in it or something. Whatever, it was great. Since I’m boring, I always ordered the salmon, but that was GREAT and obviously I liked it enough that I continued to return there and order it.
It’s also a fun date place.

Not a huge reviewer, but had to comment on this place. First of all, I’ve been going to the South Shore Cultural Center since I was a little boy. I spent many a year in their summer camp program. I though it was an awesome place then, and I think the facility is an awesome place now. The views (when it’s not pouring rain, like last night) are wonderful and the overall atmosphere is just great.
With that said, the Parrot Cage received 4 stars from me. The food was excellent (I had the Pan Seared Tilapia), our server was nice and attentive and even apologetic when my Aunt’s fish was a little too spicy for her tastes and couldn’t be redone for her. She even went the extra mile to not charge my Aunt for the drink that she had.
My biggest complaint however, is that it took what felt like 5 years for us to get our food after we ordered. I never knew it took that long to cook what was a majority of fish dishes. However, the plating of each dish in my opinion was really nice.
I’ve read a few harsh reviews about the restaurant here and the only think I can think of is that because they are students, maybe they rotate out and you don’t have the same people there every year, because everyone was pleasant from the moment we walked into the door to the minute we walked out.

What a unique and interesting dining experience!
The Parrot Cage restaurant is the kitchen and stomping grounds of a culinary school, but you hardly notice and the food and service are wonderful! The restaurant is located in the gorgeous South Shore Cultural center/​country club that I now want to research.
We were seated at a table with a lovely view of the lake and our server greeted us quickly. The wine list is small, but all of the glasses are offered for $ 6 and the bottles are all $ 24. The menu includes a wide variety of items and you can choose anything you want for the prix fixe menu, which is $ 30 (we lucked out and got it for $ 19 because there was a special promotion).
We started with the shrimp and grits and the crawfish soup. The soup was hearty and spicy and the grits were TO DIE FOR. If this place was not so hard for us to get to than I would return often for these. For our entrees we had the salmon and the steak. The salmon was nicely prepared, however the steak had a lot of fat on it. For dessert we had the banana bread pudding and the cookie sundae. The cookie was impressive as it was freshly baked in a hot skillet, however it did not taste quite as good as it looked.
Overall, I would give the food three stars, however I bumped it up to four as the venue was just so impressive.
The check is a little strange here are they charge an automatic 10% gratuity. I added an additional 10% on top of this (to make it 20%) but then when I asked my server about it, she said that the 10% gratuity was actually for a scholarship and did not go to her so I am not sure if you are supposed to add 20% on top of the 10% already included…
THE FACTS:
Prix-​fixe is $ 30 on Wednesday and Thursday night (anything on the menu)
Corkage is $ 5
There is a 10% gratuity/​scholarship added to your bill