The Kitchen
César Murillo learned fine dining in two of Chicago’s hardest kitchens — Rick Bayless’s Frontera Grill and the late, three-Michelin-starred Grace — before taking over North Pond in 2020. The room he inherited is a 1912 Arts and Crafts pavilion that began life as a warming house for ice skaters and now sits, candlelit, on its namesake pond in Lincoln Park, with the downtown skyline stacked above the trees across the water. It is the most quietly romantic dining room in Chicago, and Murillo cooks to match it rather than to upstage it.
He cooks seasonal American food with a Latin-and-Asian accent, and most of the vegetables come off the restaurant’s own rooftop garden, which feeds a composting loop out back. The format is a tasting menu, no à la carte, that opens light and builds: tuna tartare with chicharrón for crunch, agnolotti bound in a maple-sunflower cream, then a wagyu main grilled and finished with buttermilk cream and a shiso sauce that pulls the whole plate east. The kitchen holds a Michelin Plate in the 2024 Guide rather than a star, and Murillo spent part of 2025 on Bravo’s Top Chef; the food is more accomplished than the room’s reputation as a pretty view would suggest.
In the Room
The pavilion is the reason most people book: dark Arts and Crafts woodwork, floor-to-ceiling windows onto the pond, and at sunset the candles come up just as the skyline lights do across the water. It is hushed and low-lit, the tables are well spaced, and a jacket suits the room even though it is not demanded. I have eaten in plenty of glass-box rooms with skyline views, from Hong Kong to Manhattan; almost none of them feel like this one, because the view here is parkland and water rather than other towers.
Best For a Proposal
Book North Pond to propose for three reasons: the walk in through Lincoln Park is a prelude, the pond-and-skyline window is the backdrop, and the team will quietly stage the moment without turning it into theatre. Ask when you reserve and they will seat you at the glass. This is romance built from architecture and setting rather than a sommelier’s flourish, which is why it lands even if your table never says a word about it.
Not For
Not for a diner chasing Michelin stars: North Pond holds a Plate, not a star, and the kitchen is very good rather than groundbreaking. Come for the room, not for a ranking.
Frequently Asked
Is North Pond worth it?
Yes, if you want the setting as much as the food. North Pond is one of Chicago’s most beautiful dining rooms, a 1912 pavilion on a Lincoln Park pond, and César Murillo’s seasonal-American tasting menu is accomplished and holds a Michelin Plate. Go for an anniversary or a proposal rather than to tick off a starred kitchen.
How hard is it to book North Pond?
Moderately hard. North Pond serves dinner Wednesday to Sunday with a Sunday brunch, so the week is short and weekend tables and the window seats go first. Book two to three weeks ahead for a Friday or Saturday, reserve through OpenTable, and ask for a pond-facing table when you do.
What is the dress code at North Pond?
Smart, with a jacket suggested rather than required. The pavilion is a special-occasion room, so most diners dress up, but you will not be turned away in a sharp open collar. Aim for the upper end of smart-casual and you will read correctly against the candlelight.
What should I order at North Pond?
Take the seasonal tasting menu and let Murillo lead. Watch for the tuna tartare with chicharrón, the agnolotti in maple-sunflower cream, and the wagyu finished with buttermilk cream and shiso. The wine list runs deep on Burgundy and Midwestern producers, so a pairing is the easy call.
Where is North Pond and what does it cost?
North Pond sits at 2610 N. Cannon Drive, tucked inside Lincoln Park beside its namesake pond, a short walk from the zoo. The prix fixe starts at $134 a head before wine; expect $$$$ once pairings and service are in. There is no parking lot, so allow time for the park walk.