A call that most questioned, no one regretted and set the bar for future steak nights.

Tone (and hook) Set
Walking past the iconic Marina City towers, Smith and Wollensky is a prominent fixture that has been on the river for years. Those guys better watch out: just north, down a slight slope away from the river, is a lurking Tortoise. Two flickering gas lamps adorn the front steps and foreshadow the beautiful, warm and welcoming interior.

Preface

The greeting from the hostess and maître d’ were pleasant; they took my coat and luggage without a flinch and whisked me into the bustling bar where I was welcomed  by Mr. Brad Ray, a lively crowd and a 3 piece jazz band.  Low ceilings, wood paneling and soft lighting complemented all of the above perfectly.  The cocktail menu offers a variety of options – I thoroughly enjoyed their interpretation of the Old Fashioned (one of Mom’s favorites) and Manhattan; both were well balanced.  Brad and I were soon joined by Mr. Rick Ray and Mr. John Crenshaw who confirmed not only the quality of the space, but also the young women sharing it with us.  Mr. Jon Glick, Esq., joined us for a drink before settling the bar tab.

The Main Event

Grace is something that comes easily to the Tortoise Club.  The oriental rugs, fine leather upholstered chairs, wood and fabric paneled walls and lighting are reminiscent of the classic old boys clubs in the area such as The Racquet Club and The Casino.  The staff led us to a booth in the back corner that The Godfather would have appreciated.  Waiting for us at each place setting was a menu, developed by head chef Gray McNally, that made my heart skip a beat.

The rest of the evening was good ole boys club style.  The wine recommended and served by the staff complemented every course well.  A couple of the fellas chose to go with an alternate salad (big mistake, the wedge was incredible).  My Cowboy steak was cooked to perfection and included a dollop of bone marrow on top.  Beware, the bone marrow was incredibly rich but, when applied sparingly, was an incredible complement to an already delicious steak.  All of the sides came as advertised and did not disappoint.  Black truffle potato gratin and foie gras poutine were better than I could have imagined.  The TC Coffee Cake was worth the extra effort, too.

All in, it was a sensational night with the Steak Night crew; Christmas had come early.  Gray came out to thanks us for coming and the night was complete.  Thank you for having us, Tortoise Club.  Very auspicious beginnings for what has already become a Chicago classic.

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