The British Steakhouse Hawksmoor Opens in Chicago

One of the best steakhouses in the world has finally arrived in the Windy City.

Hawksmoor, whose first London location opened back in 2006, launched its Chicago outpost on Thursday. The restaurant expanded to the United States in 2021 with a New York spot, and it’s become well known for its high-quality meat and cocktail program.

“Hawksmoor’s menu has always been about honoring great produce and people,” Will Beckett, a cofounder of Hawksmoor, said in a statement. “In the U.S., as we’ve done in the U.K. and Ireland, our team has spent many years traveling the country to meet incredibly passionate suppliers who can provide our guests the best in consciously raised ingredients—which, along with being the ethical choice, we know is also the most delicious. We’re incredibly excited to officially open doors and bring our celebration of American beef and produce to Chicago.”

The Windy City location will serve a number of Hawksmoor classics alongside dishes that the team dreamt up exclusively for Chicago. The new plates include starters like shrimp cocktail and lobster Louis, mains such as charcoal-grilled wild halibut, and sides including roasted peppers and Italian sausage. The restaurant is also paying homage to its new hometown: The Beefsteak 1894 add-on sees three charcoal-roasted bone-marrow oysters and bone-marrow gravy top a steak. The 19th-century Chicago restaurateur H. M. Kinsley had a similar recipe in his 1894 cookbook. (Of course, the restaurant’s outstanding beef program takes center stage, with daily availability on a chalkboard that looms over the dining room.)

The drinks menu has some similar nods to Chicago faves—and some not-so favs. The Jumpman—a mix of mezcal, strawberry soju, Aperol, and lime juice—honors Michael Jordan, who used to have a restaurant in the building that Hawksmoor has taken over. The Malört Martinez, meanwhile, takes that most-maligned of Chicago liqueurs and balances it out in a mash-up of a Martini and a Negroni.

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With the new opening, Hawksmoor is entering a crowded market when it comes to steakhouses. The Windy City has historically been one of the greatest towns for meat, potatoes, and Martinis. In fact, there’s already about a dozen other spots we would recommend. Will Hawksmoor be able to withstand the competition? Given its reputation, it may be poised to put up a good fight.  

Click here to see all the images of Hawksmoor Chicago.