OK, so, disclaimer: Oak Brook is not actually Chicago. Oak Brook is a western suburb about 20 miles from downtown Chicago, but Oak Brook Center is one of my favorite places to go at any time of year. It is an upscale, outdoor mall, offering a ton of great shopping, and also a very cool and luxe atmosphere. I have always loved coming here, even if I wasn’t buying anything, just for the beautiful surroundings. I get it – you don’t typically think of a mall as beautiful or cool or even inviting, maybe; but they are constantly changing the plants and flowers around the place, the seasonal decor is top-notch, and there are lots of new fountains and other water features around the mall that make it extra special.

RH has had a store here at Oak Brook for as long as I can remember, but they recently opened a stand-alone gallery on the outskirts of the mall. I have been to the RH Gallery downtown on the near north side, which also has a very charming restaurant called the 3 Arts Club Cafe, but this is my review of the RH Rooftop Restaurant in Oak Brook. The menus are identical at each restaurant. This was my second time eating here in Oak Brook, and it didn’t disappoint.

First, the “rooftop” part of the restaurant is a bit deceiving because it’s not actually outside. It is in a large, glass atrium on the third floor of the gallery. If you go on a sunny day, consider bringing your sunglasses, though, because it can be very bright in there. There are faux trees and boxwoods throughout the space and they give a nice outdoor vibe, even if you aren’t actually outside. The room gets so much sun that they probably could’ve put in real trees and shrubs, but I am assuming they are going for low-to-no maintenance. There is also a very large fountain in the middle of the restaurant, as well as two golden lion statues sleepily greeting you at the front of the space. There are gorgeous glass chandeliers hanging throughout the space which is the most “RH” thing about this restaurant. The chandeliers seem very retro with a 1920s look, but the tables are all marble, and the seating is all very cushy black chairs and banquettes which adds an uber-modern feel to the place. The juxtaposition of the two styles goes well here, as the overall look and atmosphere remains very clean and fancy. There is a gorgeous bar here, but you can’t sit at it, which is a real shame, because it really is a beauty, and I would love to cozy up to it and have a cocktail before, perhaps, having dinner at the restaurant.

Our service was excellent. Not rushed, not pushy, but also not slow. Our server was perfectly attentive, and gave some great suggestions for dessert (for next time).

My husband and I both ordered iced teas, which was legit, fresh brewed iced tea. No sweetener or other junk added. I ordered the truffled grilled cheese with french fries and my husband got a half chicken with pureed potatoes. The food here is very expensive ($20 just for the grilled cheese – the fries were extra) but very well prepared. My husband loved the chicken and it looked really tender and juicy and the potatoes soaked it all up very nicely. The regular french fries (they also offer truffle fries) were crispy and served with ketchup and a garlic aioli. My grilled cheese could’ve been a little more well done, and could definitely have had more cheese, especially for the $20 price tag, but there was a lot of black truffle (I believe dehydrated, it was definitely not fresh truffle) sprinkled all over it – something that was missing the last time I was here. We were pretty full after our meal and decided to skip dessert, but our server recommended getting the chocolate chip cookie with the salted caramel gelato next time.

While the food is excellent, I don’t think it really justifies the high price tag. You are definitely paying for the atmosphere and experience here, not to mention the RH name. The menu is not very inspired, is exactly the same as in the city, it doesn’t change much, if ever, and there is nothing super unusual that you can get here that you cannot get elsewhere nearby. The food, though, is solid, and the service and overall experience lovely. I look forward to going back and checking them out for dinner or a special occasion!