The Hallmark Reviews
What’s the day-to-day lifestyle really like? How is the food? Will my loved one feel at home and get the care they need?
Hear directly from residents and their families through personal reviews. We’re grateful for everyone who takes the time to share their thoughts.
Reviews
The staff is very thoughtful and friendly. They go out of their way to make us feel welcome and at home. The meals are amazing. Lots of choices including vegetarian, seafood and meat. We love avocado 🥑 and it’s available upon request for breakfast lunch and dinner in the dining room. We have cloth napkins and glasses and silverware soup and salad starters and I could go on and on about how we love the food! We are in independent living and we have pendants that can track us throughout the building so if we need help, we push the button and they can come to our rescue no matter where we are in the building and around the perimeter of the building outside our independent living also includes all utilities, including cable, Wi-Fi and we have a small storage unit also. There are lots of activities. There is a shuttle bus that can take you within 3 mile radius of the building upon request. Of course you have to schedule an advance but we love love love this place! There’s a large Jewish community so for Jewish holidays they have special menus that accommodate the Jewish Jewish community and for Juneteenth they had a Soul Food dinner option. The location is amazing! We are literally right across the street from the bike path, and there is a station for divvy bikes that we can rent literally steps from our door, And a five minute walk to the lake.
On the first day I visited The Hallmark in E Lakeview I was welcomed like a longtime resident, though only my son and his wife had been there before me. By the end of the first day I was greeted by first name. The entire staff, from maintenance to management is trained to make you feel at home immediately. Everything about the transition from Florida back to Chicago was smooth and effortless and every possible hiccup was resolved without issue. I moved in within weeks and I found that this welcoming attitude with the residents as well, and after four months I still have all the positive things to say. Everything here is as promised, and the Lincoln Park amenities and this prime location are the cherry on top. Maxine Horowitz 8/1/26
The staff has been courteous, knowledgeable, and efficient, which has helped mom to feel at home and me to feel she is in good hands.
The Hallmark on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago is a fabulous assisted living facility. The staff is professional and caring. The building is well maintained and beautiful with an outdoor terrace and many community rooms. Lots of activities and services for the elderly. I am very comforted to have this facility take care of my family members who live here !
Loved the service at the Skyline Room. The view is beautiful. Hospitality was top notch by William and Maria. They took us around the world with the cuisine. Best food in town!
My relatives recently moved here. The highlights of the Hallmark: Food! The quality and quantity and most of all the variety is beyond all expectations. It keeps getting better with the recent Bistro addition.
Our server greeted us at breakfast this morning with a cheerful, “Good morning, lovelies!” That same upbeat attitude can be found in every corner of the Hallmark. Everything flows through the concierge staff, which means things are handled promptly and always with genuine care. It may sound like a cliché, but after being here for more than seven months, I can honestly say this is beginning to feel like home. It’s a true luxury to have a maintenance team that addresses mechanical issues quickly and efficiently. And the food is simply wonderful—I look forward to every meal.
I just think you guys are doing a wonderful job and you’re making our part of this easy and we’re meeting new people and it’s just been very nice much nicer than we ever expected and the staff are extremely good helpful smart and it’s a makes life easy for us.
Monique is kind considerate and very knowledgeable. I probably rented an apartment at Hallmark because of her she is exceptional and you are very lucky to have her on the staff.
Outstanding Care and Support I am truly grateful for the exceptional kindness and support I’ve received during my time here. After becoming seriously ill in my second week, the staff provided compassionate assistance that helped me recover and adjust. They also went above and beyond in helping me navigate challenges with my long-term care insurance. Mealtimes have been a highlight, offering not only delicious food but also the opportunity to connect with fellow residents and build meaningful relationships. Overall, my experience has been extremely positive. Today marks my three-month anniversary, and I’m looking forward to continuing this wonderful living experience.
Lucky me❣️The Hallmark is living up to its new name with a great new look! And they are keeping everything else in place that is already as good as it gets. I have lived here on Lake Shore Drive for almost eight years now. A handsome building, at a desirable location with a fabulous view! Management has always been highly qualified, kind and caring. Our new Grace Management's team focus is for all of our residents to enjoy the true essence of gracious living. Our lives have already been enhanced in many wonderful ways. This great location seems to attract residents who are well educated, well traveled, and interesting. And those of us who aren't that fortunate - are treated as equals. And I couldn't ask for a nicer environment. It never feels lonely. It's a wonderful life❣️
This is such a lovely community! I come several times a year and play for them, and it is always so much fun. The people I play for are engaged and engaging, and really just the perfect audience. I play favorites that they know, but they are always open to new things!
Cannot say enough good things about this facility and its employees. We moved our Dad into independent living 6 months ago, and he is thriving in this community minded environment. People are active, friendly, educated and welcoming. There is a plethora of activities for anyone to join. Monique in hospitality has made the transition so seamless, coordinating with all our family members in order to give our dad the best experience possible. I am so grateful to Monique and the staff at Brookdale.
I would rate Brookdale Lakeshore drive as the best independent living in Chicago and give it a 5. The reasons for this rating are as follows Brookdale Lakeshore drive Operational plan is excellent. It is a rental unit plan with only a minimum initial payment for renovating the apartment. If you're unhappy with your life at Brookdale you can leave with 60 days with notice. Also, for independent living you get two meals for every day of the year and three meals for assisted living for every day of the year. Other senior independent living and assisted living places require excessive funds for entry like buying an expensed condo. Their meal plans do not cover meals for every day of the year due to market pricing on food consumed which is deducted from your fixed meal plan of about $700.00 per person. Brookdale Lakeshore Dr. location is outstanding with its location on the lake, only 3 blocks in park to the sea wall. Great facility and apartments with wonderful views of the city and the lake. Very friendly and outstanding staff always there to help those that need it Outstanding number menu choices for very good food and with great service. At times we may have to wait due no reservation and a significant variation in the number of residents coming for their meals at a particular time. A great pool of wonderful residents that are very interesting and very friendly to share yours and their experiences.
We have been here 4 months and are still amazed at how lucky we are to be here. From the first we were greeted with smiles and hello from wonderful staff and residents. The location is great and there are so many things to do. We are in the center of the city and all we see out the windows is park and lake. The people including the staff are warm and full of diverse backgrounds and have such interesting stories.
I had the pleasure of spending two days and two nights at Brookdale, N. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago while visiting a family member. When we arrived we were greeted by the two extremely kind and friendly members of the staff. We were given a key to a room we were staying in right there. The room ended up to be an apartment identical to one of the units their residents stay in. It was spacious, clean and comfortable. We did eat one dinner in the dining room. The wait staff was very helpful and very kind. I noticed they were always available to help some of the residents into and out of seats. The menu is quite varied with options for soups, salads, lots of vegetables, fruits, pasta, meat, chicken and fish. Our meal was delivered at a nice leisurely pace so we could talk and visit and never felt rushed. The overall facility is extremely clean and well-maintained. The staff has gone well above and beyond assisting my own family member with various personal issues that have arisen over the past months. They respond with a happy and helpful tone no matter what you ask them. It is truly a remarkable place and one where I feel confident about the care of my own loved one.
I was considering independent living and decided to look at Brookdale N Lake Shore Drive. When I walked into the lobby for the first time I was surprised at how warm and inviting it was. A beautiful vase of flowers sat on a table in the lobby, and as I looked around the lobby I saw rooms with people enjoying themselves and enjoying each other. People in the library were deeply engrossed in the latest books, across the hall others were doing puzzles or having a snack. I then met Monique. In her position as director of residence life the tour I had with her made me feel right at home. She showed me various apartments that were all bright, clean, modern and lovely. The facility is clean and well maintained. We spent at least an hour enjoying a lovely luncheon with many food options. Several residents stopped by our table to thank Monique for her assistance with various issues. I soon decided that Brookdale was the best option for me. It is so much more than anything I could have imagined. I would not hesitate to recommend Brookdale to anyone looking for a supportive and friendly senior living environment.
My father moved in a few weeks ago. The staff has been amazingly helpful across the board. Moving at 88 years old can be stressful and disruptive but everyone we have encountered there has gone out of their way to make his transition a smooth one. They check in on him, respond to phone calls (his and mine!) and just generally make sure he is learning to take advantage of the amenities. In the short time he has been there he has already taken advantage of the on-site nurse, the concierge desk, the movie night and more. And we love that he has 2 meals a day covered. Plus he is starting to make friends and find community which was severely lacking when he lived alone. Highly recommend Brookdale LSD.
Brookdale Lake Shore Drive's sense of community among residents is priceless, as is the cleanliness of the building and the friendliness of the staff, from managers to associates. Its location, across the street from Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan, and its view of the Chicago skyline, are stunning bonuses.
Traffic sometimes busy sometimes not
We've been residents for about three months, and have found the facility to be excellent. The staff is super friendly and helpful. We've been really impressed with how flexible they are in accommodating our needs and requests and they've been very quick responding. The other residents have been very friendly and welcoming, the facility is clean and nice, and the food is excellent. We're very happy with our decision to move into Brookdale Lakeshore--and the surrounding area is great!!
Brookdale offers a wonderful environment for senior living! Everyone on the staff is warm, inviting, kind, and understanding.
My mother recently moved to Brookdale, and I am truly impressed with the facility, the care, and the staff. While not an easy decision to make the move, we have not regretted it for a moment. My mother is happy and continuing her social life there. There is a wonderful sense of community.
I want to compliment Lissy on being such a lovely staff member! She has “saved my life” so many times! Always kind, always in a great mood, always groomed beautifully! We all love her sooo much!!
Barbara is a hard worker and loves the residents
Lissy is a fabulous waitress. Helpful, efficient and upbeat!
Barbara is a very good server very fast and friendly
Lissy Wakefield is a wonderful server at Brookdale
I want to compliment one of my servers here at Brookdale Senior Living. Her name is Lissy Wakefield and she makes every dining experience a pleasant one. She is cheerful, friendly and efficient. We need more like her. Well done Lissy.
I just got done assisting a wonderful client into Brookdale. Carolina (along with all of the other staff) is just awesome to work with. The apartment my client rented was well maintained and perfectly cleaned by the staff; all of the common areas were beautiful and in great shape, and they went above and beyond to make my client really feel welcome and supported during her transition. I was impressed and all expectations were exceeded.
Grace Wagner who serves on the programs committee at Brookdale LakeShore Drive is the most helpful, kind, knowledgeable person . The reason I say that is because whenever I call her and ask for some computer help she comes immediately. She doesn't make me feel terrible for what I do not know. That is a rare quality.
There’s so much going on here and all the staff goes out of their way to help you. There are so many activities scheduled every day that you feel like you’re on a college campus. Like having to rush to make a class. It’s like if you go out for some hours, you’re bound to miss something. For those of us at an advanced stage of life, it’s a great place to make new friends and share new experiences. And when one needs special help, your new friends and the Brookdale staff are here to help. And unlike my 3 story townhouse that I no longer can live in - there are no stairs here!
Servers are wonderful. Barbara, who is frequently our server is always pleasant, helpful, professional, and amazing.
The servers at Brookdale are terrific! We especially like Barbara!
Barbara is one of the best servers in Brookdale always has all orders right
Barbara was my server tonight in the main dining room and was prompt and friendly. She checked back throughout the evening to make sure I had what I needed…always with a smile. Barbara is attentive and makes everyone feel at home.
My father lives here and he loves it! My dad just had a wonderful housewarming that Carolina helped set up on the top floor overlooking the lake.. and it was so amazing❤️ the staff has been above and beyond regarding all his needs. They are super dog friendly (I have a service dog) and just friendly in general. I’m so happy my dad chose to live here as the staff is amazing and they clearly care about every resident, and that’s what matters to me most 🥰
My mother has thrived at Brookdale. The food is really wonderful, everyone is super friendly, the staff, classes, all amazing! People seem to be there wanting to live the best life that they can, which we found is not always the case in retirement communities. Glad we found Brookdale!
I love this community.. the staff genuinely cares for the residents and the connections we make daily help to optimize each seniors life. I recommend this community to everyone, it’s a great place to be!
Our Mom lived at Brookdale for over 7 years...and loved every minute of it. The food service, the amenities, the classes, the building, the location...all fabulous!! But most of all, the employees were just terrific...what a pleasure!! My Mom passed away peacefully at age 96, and the support we got could not have been more genuine and heartwarming. I could not think of a better place for her to be, and we are eternally grateful for everything. Thank you, Brookdale!!!