
The Duck Inn is a neighborhood gastro-tavern and dining room, located at Loomis Street and the Chicago River, on the border of Chicago’s booming Pilsen and Bridgeport neighborhoods. It’s housed in a pre-Prohibition era tavern with a cozy retro design aesthetic that feels like home. The Duck Inn’s signature dish is a simple yet elegantly-prepared whole rotisserie duck. The legs and thighs are slow-roasted for three hours and the breasts are pan-roasted medium-rare to order. The carved duck is served over greens tossed with duck fat dripping potatoes and seasonal fruits. The final component is a duck jus reduction served at the table.
Retro-inspired place with creative duck dishes & other American eats plus cocktails & local beers.
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Reservations: resy.comtripleseat.com
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Reviews
For restaurant week we started with the umami beet tartare which surprised me because it’s a cold dish with unique flavors. The second dish was the wild mushroom and creamy toasted barley was rich, comforting, and full of flavor. If you like risotto types of food you’ll like this dish. The third dish was absolutely the star of the night – the confit duck – wow SO good! Perfectly cooked, flavorful, and easily the best dish on the menu. Finished with the bananas foster baked Alaska, which was a fun and delicious ending.
They were very accommodating with my food allergies, which I really appreciated. I also tried the brussels sprouts and loved them, and my friend got the duck wings and couldn’t stop talking about how good they were. For the price, the portions, and the quality, this is absolutely worth trying!
Unfortunately, I personally did not have a great time while dining here. I had a reservation for 6:30, but my partner and I arrived a bit early and wanted to see if we could be seated, and we did — right in the corner of the room next to where dishes were being bussed while half of the room was still empty.
We were then told that the restaurant was “celebrating Lunar New Year” by having Asian-American inspired specials on the menu. As a Chinese-American woman, I was very interested in trying them out, and the chili crisp rotisserie duck was great.
However, our server would ONLY address my (white) partner. He ignored me while explaining the menu. He only addressed my partner when taking our orders. He would only refill my partner’s water glass. He refused to even make eye contact with me. When I raised my hand to flag his attention regarding a potential allergy issue, he ignored our table until my partner raised his hand. After I put my card down for the check, the server returned and placed it on my partner’s side of the table (even when the server literally watched me take out my card to pay.)
If you’re going to decorate your restaurant with Chinese lanterns and put Asian-American specials on your menu, the least you can do is respect your Asian-American diners.
Starters: Duck wings were flavorful but way too salty. Brussels sprouts were crispy and delicious. The Duck Inn Dog (Chicago-style with duck fat) was a big, tasty portion—solid highlight.
The whole duck, though? Disappointing after a 40-minute wait. Breast came undercooked in places, under-seasoned (sauce didn’t help; we added tons of salt), and the fat was chewy and inedible. Legs were better, but overall, it didn’t live up to the hype or price.
We started with cocktails at the bar, where the relaxed vintage vibe instantly set the tone. It feels like the kind of place where time moves a little slower and everyone looks better under the lighting. When our table was ready, we were led to the garden, a charming, tucked-away space that feels like stepping into someone’s secret backyard retreat.
From there, we tried a range of dishes, and every single one hit the mark. Thoughtful, flavorful, and executed with confidence.
Come for the Duck Inn Dog, stay for everything else. Whether you stick to the signature or explore the broader menu, you won’t regret the visit.
The roasted duck was the highlight, tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly with a crispy skin that added just the right texture. It’s definitely a must-try and lives up to the restaurant’s reputation.
The Brussels sprouts were another pleasant surprise. They were roasted nicely with a caramelized exterior, and the seasoning balanced savory and slightly sweet notes really well. A great side dish that didn’t feel like an afterthought.
The cheese curds were fun and indulgent, crispy on the outside, warm and melty inside. They made for an excellent starter, especially if you’re sharing.
Overall, The Duck Inn delivered a memorable meal with well-executed dishes and rich flavors. I’d happily go back, especially for that duck.
The bartender was very kind and attentive. Great service, phenomenal bites, and it’s on the southwest side!