Don't Back Down

While its name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, this dining room offers two distinct benefits. One is the view. From the 95th floor of the John Hancock Center in Chicago, there isn't much you can't see.

Two is the fact that by dining lunch here you get to take advantage of that view without having to pay for a ticket to the observatory, which is actually located one floor below the dining room.

The cost of the observatory ticket on our visit was $9, while the lunch buffet price at $18 includes not only the aforementioned elevator trip included, but a buffet to go along with the trip. Since you might be likely to spend a minimum of $9 each if you eat on the ground, at worst you're just paying for the trip and the meal at once. At best, you're getting the ride for free.

As to the food itself, it was okay. I'm not sure I'd recommend going to the buffet if it weren't for the included view. There is, however, a lounge on the 96th floor (you can walk up to the lounge from the restaurant) where you can order drinks and appetizers. This naturally offers one more floor up the building, and perhaps allows you to escape with an even lower bill.

Still, it was a nice experience, but not an awe-inspiring one. Mostly it was good because you didn't have to stand in the line of people waiting for the regular observatory elevators. I'm glad we did it, and if you haven't been there before, and think you'd like to do that sort of thing anyway, I'd probably recommend it. If you're not going, I'd probably say hang onto your money for something else.