We’ve dined at Swift & Sons Steakhouse in Chicago on multiple occasions, and it’s about time I posted a review of the place based on all of our experiences. Listed at number 73 on the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants list, Swift genuinely delivers an authentic Chicago steakhouse experience, without blending in with the rest of the crowd.

The restaurant is located in the bustling West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, and occupies a massive corner space. It’s been open now for just about 11 years, and still feels clean, fresh, open and inviting when you walk in. You are immediately greeted by the gorgeous bar space, before you’re whisked upstairs to the more formal dining area. Every time we’ve eaten here, we’ve been seated in one of the large, half-round, ultra-comfortable booths, giving plenty of space for all the food you’re about to order, but also remaining intimate. I love the mid-century leanings with the decor and lighting, which gives it a mix of old-school authenticity without being too stuffy.

It’s loud here, but that’s what a steakhouse is supposed to be. The vibe is always bustling and energetic, and even on a random Monday evening at 5:30pm, the restaurant was quite full. That said, service never suffers here, and apart from one snafu (on New Years Eve) regarding the doneness of our steak (which ended up being comped), service has always been totally perfect. You don’t have to worry about pacing when you order all your food at once, as everything will be well spaced out, erring on the side of a little bit too quick. The wine and beverage service is also nice, offering to decant when appropriate, and their wine list is absolutely superb. We rarely (read: never) opt for a cab at steakhouses, preferring to explore other old-world grapes like tempranillo, grenache, or nebbiolo, and Swift’s wine list delivers a great variety of wine beyond California Cabs.

It’s virtually impossible to decide what to order here, because everything sounds amazing, and also tastes amazing. The crispy rock shrimp appetizer is not to be missed, and we order it every single time we come. It’s a massive portion of shrimp that remains crispy even when tossed in a lively sweet and sour sauce.

In addition, their lobster bisque is quite perfect, and I definitely enjoy their (still complimentary) bread service with their delicious focaccia and onion rolls accompanied with yummy salty butter.

The steaks at Swift & Sons are excellent, and always come with a bunch of sauces to smother them in. While I can’t say that it’s my favorite steak in Chicago (it could use a little more seasoning), it’s still very well prepared, and doesn’t disappoint.

The sides are also always top notch, with one of the best mac and cheese sides in the city. This time, it was served with ham and black truffle, and it’s never mushy. There is enough panko to keep it crunchy and the mac is as al dente as possible. The mushrooms are also always a solid choice and we’ve ordered them almost every time. Nice umami flavor, not too earthy, with just the right amount of delicious porcini glaze cream to make it extra special.

You absolutely must save room for dessert at Swift, and I promise, many of them are not too huge to make you feel like you’re wasting anything. This time, I had to try the (somewhat illegal) Tonka Bean Gelato which was rich, and super flavorful – like vanilla on steroids. Brian ordered the always amazing deep dish cookie, which is a super rich chocolate chip cookie baked in a small pastry dish, covered with delicious malted cookie dough ice cream. Don’t skimp on their dessert drinks either – their espresso martini is one of the best in the city, but I also like to switch it up with a spicier carajillo cocktail too.

Swift & Sons offers up one of the most solid and reliable steakhouse experiences in Chicago. With really good steak, incredible appetizers (seriously just come and order a ton of apps and you won’t be disappointed!), some of the best mac and cheese, and a comprehensive wine list, this place is the real deal. Top all of that off with spectacular service, and you’ve got a restaurant worthy of its international accolades.