CHICAGO, IL – The business of Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan continues to grow. Just a few weeks after opening a new restaurant in Chicago, the reviews are mixed on MJ's latest business adventure.
The Chicago Tribune gave high praise to Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse located on the second floor of the InterContinental Chicago hotel on the popular Magnificent Mile. It’s the third of his brand of steakhouses, which opened two weeks ago on Michigan Avenue.
“No matter how many steakhouses a city might have, there will always be room for a great one,” said Chicago Tribune food critic Phil Vettel. “And Michael Jordan's is going to be a great one."
But culture website TimeOutChicago.com said the restaurant was "not exactly a slam dunk."
"[L]ike so many other dishes here, the crab left me wanting," said author David Tamarkin. "'Good, not great,' is how my companion described it (with a shrug, no less)."
Among the items on the menu is a boneless rib eye that is dry-aged for 45 days, the jersey number Jordan wore as a minor league baseball player. For dessert, diners can take a bite out of a chocolate cake with—you guessed it—23 different layers. Even the chopped salad includes 23 ingredients.
The executive chef is James O’Donnell, who the Tribune believes will help make the restaurant popular.
“Michael's supernova star power will bring the customers in, no doubt. But it will be O'Donnell who'll bring them back.”
But Tamarkin disagrees, even about that chocolate cake.
"The cake is huge but also hugely one-note. Doesn’t matter what number is slapped on the thing—this dish isn’t winning."
