The Solo Scale:

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Recently, on a trip to Chicago, I was doing my usual search for great restaurants to visit. In the process, I learned about Cindy’s, which had great reviews for not only their food, but because of their location. The location is high above Millennium Park with great views of the Bean, downtown, and the shore.

Despite us finding out about the restaurant only a few days in advance, our group of three was still able to snag some very early lunch reservations. However, that wound up being a positive. It meant that we had the viewing balcony to ourselves before the restaurant got super crowded with the lunch rush. It also helped that the restaurant’s emptiness led to a lot of attention from the waitstaff.

The restaurant wouldn’t stay empty for long, however. Cindy’s Rooftop is a very hot ticket in Chicago and we were lucky to get reservations. It’s very easy to see why it’s popular. The decor is chic and open and the skylight and massive windows facing the lake make this one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve dined in. That’s even before you consider the great views.

The question then becomes — does the food’s quality match the amazing ambiance?

Given that it was lunch, I opted for a lighter bite. I was with work colleagues, so splitting an appetizer seemed the way to go. We opted for the Four Star Mushroom Toast. This was plated on a sourdough toast and while the mushroom was extremely rich from the fondue, there was a nice balance of acid to cut through it and freshness from the herbs. Even though we only got the one slice to split among three people, the richness of the cheese made it easy to split. You do still need another plate to make it filling.

For my main, I opted for a grilled cheese served alongside tomato soup. The soup was quite substantial for a lunch portion. Given that some of the dishes can start running up the costs, this was technically on the appetizer menu, but was genuinely a full meal.

The grilled cheese was primarily fontina, which made it extremely cheesy and rich. Unfortunately, on its own, it’s okay. It really shines however when dipped into the tomato soup (which had a little basil oil and fresh herb). The soup itself was fantastic, filling, and delicious, and would have been a star on its own. I can’t say the same for the sandwich. It needed the tomato soup to dip into, otherwise it wouldn’t have been satisfying. Luckily, though, the soup was there for it.

Other than the food, the big draw for Cindy’s is the view. Here at the restaurant’s patio area, you get an incredible view of the shoreline, the parks below, and Chicago’s iconic Bean. It’s also very windy up here without any breakers from the water, so prepare for that. There are also fire pits to keep you warm once the temperature starts dipping. Still, it’s an unencumbered view of Chicago that can’t be beat. Add a good meal onto it and Cindy’s Rooftop is a genuinely great stop if you’re in Chicago.

Want one of the best views and a great meal? Check out Cindy’s Rooftop and see if their menu has something you want to try and get your reservation booked quickly!

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