Review: Crain’s Chicago Business

“Gibsons and Wildfire steakhouses may have gotten there first, but Houston-based Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille is outclassing them both in west suburban Oakbrook Center, where it recently opened its first out-of-state venture.

The trend is usually the reverse: Open first in Chicago and expand to the burbs. But owner Chris Perry and his team saw opportunity in Oak Brook’s affluent customer base, abundant office buildings and hotels, and the need for a steakhouse more polished and sophisticated than the competition.

The lively crowds prove them right. Not long after opening in early November, the 250 seats are brimming with a polished clientele at ease with semiformal surroundings and triple-digit tabs. That includes McDonald’s Corp. CEO Don Thompson, who has been spotted in the dining room (his office is nearby).

The steak is prime and wet-aged, the wine cellar flows with American and European vintages, and the tableside preparations provide impressive pyrotechnics and a bit of knifemanship.”