We were staying at the hotel and decided on the last night to eat at the restaurant. I can't believe we didn't eat here sooner. We had a great experience and the food was fantastic. Several of us had the ALk burger. This was one of the tastiest burgers I've ever eaten. The garlic aioli and provolone accented the well seasoned patty perfectly. We had the crispy brussel sprouts as an appetizer, which we had tried at several area restaurants during the week, and they were hands down the best here. I also had their mac and cheese, which was very flavorful. A perfect blend of cheeses in a creamy sauce that had just the right amount of bite to it. Overall, I would definitely recommend trying it out. Plus if you're staying at the hotel, you get a discount. read more

Fine for breakfast. We were staying at the hotel for a few days and it was nice to have a decent restaurant on site. Prices are reasonable and the food is fine, service was quick and friendly (though the restaurant was pretty empty each time we were there). We did not have lunch/dinner so I can't speak to those. read more

We came here for breakfast at about 9am on a weekday. Service was good, we were seated right away. Although they brought the wrong meal for one of us, they kept our coffee cups full and checked on us often. This restaurant is in the Arlo hotel, the decor is cool, books in monochromatic colors, etc. We had drinks in the bar the night before. It was quiet, and the drinks were well made. The avocado toast was so-so, and it was extra to add eggs. We didn't get a chance to try the dinners. I think if you stay here it is worth trying, as it is very convenient. . read more

About Last Knife - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Yesterday, we visited About Last Knife (ALK) at the Arlo Hotel for their "Lucky Hour." They have a fun special called the "Chicago Happy Meal"--an Old Fashioned, fries, and fortune cookies--for just $15. Since none of the other Lucky Hour cocktails are whiskey or bourbon-based, I opted for the Happy Meal so I could enjoy a classic Old Fashioned. Cocktail: Bold, boozy, and perfectly balanced. I didn't catch the bourbon brand, but the drink was strong, flavorful, and expertly made. Fries: Think elevated McDonald's fries--crispy, piping hot, perfectly salted, and delicious even after they cooled a bit. You can enjoy them with or without ketchup, and either way, they hit the spot. Fortune Cookies: Arlo writes the fortunes themselves, which is a fun and unique twist. A few of us got duplicate fortunes, which was a bit less special, but the idea was still super cute. Service: Our server was friendly, attentive, and checked in throughout the evening. Ambiance: The space was quaint, quiet, and charming. We were seated immediately since it wasn't crowded. I also loved seeing the open kitchen and noticing a Black female cook at work--it was a beautiful and inspiring touch. Overall, ALK's Lucky Hour is a fun experience. Highly recommend the Chicago Happy Meal if you love a good Old Fashioned with some playful, elevated snacks! #ImNotAFoodie #ImJustAGirlWhoLovesFood #YelpEliteSquad read more

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We were looking for a good breakfast. The photos on Yelp looked promising. When we walked in, the charm of this place was overwhelming. Rustic mural, whimsical lighting, shinny clean tables. I was convinced I made the right choice. You sit yourself and the wait staff came over promptly. The food came out very fast. The espresso was very good. The bagel with salmon was rich, with a flavorful cheese, perfectly done. Highly recommend this place! read more

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Definitely just a place to satisfy hunger. We were seated immediately. The atmosphere is really nice but the food just doesn't match. I ordered a mimosa and the steak and eggs. My friend ordered a cappuccino, French toast and the alk breakfast. The food was so bland. As you can see in the video, my steak had a good amount of fat on it. Why not trim the steak before you cook it? I was surprised it was sent out like that. I expect eggs to be bland. The onion and peppers with the potatoes. Under cooked. Why? I've included the bill. This was our first restaurant we tried in Chicago and we won't be back. read more

About Last Knife - Far left on steak - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We first visited About Last Knife shortly after moving back to Chicago because it was on Resy, and at the time it was delicious and genuinely impressive. Based on that experience, we were excited to return about a year later and support a local spot we had enjoyed. Unfortunately, the second visit was a very different experience. The menu was fairly limited, which we initially viewed as a positive, assuming the focus would be on quality. The ambiance itself is nice, laid back, and well appointed. We visited on a Saturday around 10:30 AM, and the restaurant was very quiet with about four tables seated, roughly ten people total. Our server was courteous and working hard but clearly stretched too thin. We waited quite a while and eventually had to ask for a drink refill because he was juggling most of the dining room. Another staff member appeared to be a server but focused almost entirely on one table, leaving the rest of the room understaffed. Meanwhile, someone who appeared to be a manager sat at the far end of the bar focused on a laptop, with her back to the dining room and little awareness of what was happening on the floor. We watched my husband's club sandwich and fries sit at the pass for over five minutes while my chicken sandwich was being prepared. When the food arrived, both my sandwich and the fries were only warm at best. Given that the food had just been made, this suggested a clear lack of timing and quality control, especially when the restaurant was nearly empty. The pricing makes the experience even harder to justify. The ALK burger with fries is $25, regardless of whether it is lunch, brunch, or dinner. The chicken sandwich is $18 at lunch and $19 at brunch and not available at dinner. The turkey club with fries is $15 at lunch and $17 at brunch. These prices feel driven by the hotel location rather than the quality or execution delivered, particularly when brunch pricing increases without an improved product. Chicago has far too many excellent restaurants offering better food, better service, and better value at these price points. Unfortunately, About Last Knife no longer stands out in that landscape. This was our second and last visit. read more

10/6/2023 - To say we liked this restaurant is an understatement because we came here 2 times during our weekend for the Chicago Marathon. The service was good. Our actual lady server had a bit of an attitude, she just looked upset. But the rest of the staff was amazing. We loved the food so much! We came for brunch both times. The food was fresh and absolutely delicious! 5 stars on the food. Great location especially if you're there for Marathon weekend. I'm still dreaming of that egg fritatta. read more

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My husband and randomly stumbled upon this place our first night in Chicago. It's inside or what appears to be the lobby of a boutique hotel. The ambiance is very dim and I suppose romantic, most appropriate for a date in my opinion but we did see some groups. We had a cheese plate for appetizer which was decent, Brie; fruit and pita. For entrees, we had the grilled octopus which was as way too chewy for me and extremely spicy. Yes, octopus is a tougher seafood to chew but it took more effort than enjoyable. My husband had the pork chop that he said was okay. Overall, we didn't have a horrible experience, but the food nor service was extremely memorable. They do a great job at plating here, just wish we had a better taste experience with the dishes. read more

About Last Knife - Grilled octopus - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had a recent staycation at the Arlo Hotel on Michigan Ave not too long ago. I checked in around 4 and saw this nice quaint bar as I walked to the reception desk. They have whats called Lucky Hour from 3-7pm Mon-Fri so I had to take advantage of that. The Lucky Hour extends from the bar to the actual seating area that surrounds it. Bar scene was good for people/couple watching and wasnt too packed when I sat but that would change a little later. I was up for a snack so I decided to go for the $8 brussels and the $5 fries...both were decent. Washed it all down with a Woodford Manhattan and a Bodem beer on draft ($6). Victor the bartender was a cool dude. Cool spot and nice to hitup if you're staying at the hotel or just walking down Mich Ave and want a quick bite and drink. read more

Fries come out cold and the "manager" was way too busy on her lap top counter "tables empty" than actually helping the server. Then another lady comes in and she looks like she was pissed at the world. read more

This is a nice quaint place. Was there for lunch only and the food at all tables looked great. I had Chicken Cesar salad. Bar seem to have lots of options. read more

About Last Knife - Dining area and bar - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My Partner and I went to "ALK," located inside Hotel Julien on Mag. Mile, for the Restaurant Week menu. I was little embarrassed to just produce a review because this overall experience was quite subpar. Hence, it took me a minute to render my thoughts, but I had to share in the hope of seeing the management and the corporation improve in the future. This menu was consisted of four (4) courses. I would list them one by one and talked about it in details. - Olives and Taro: the olives were extremely salty and sour. As a pregnant woman, I definitely was able to tolerate better than most individuals out there. The taro chips, on the other hand, were decent yet the texture was too crispy to be used for dipping the olive mixture. In the ends, the chips were out before I finished the olives, and these olives weren't fit to be consumed alone due to the extreme acidic taste. - French Onion Soup: this one didn't meet the standard. Perhaps my memory of this dish was influenced too much by all the food shows I saw on YouTube. The flavor was acceptable, yet I felt there was no coherence whatsoever. The beef stock, the onion slices, the cheese, and the croutons didn't work together at all!. I managed to finish this because this was better than the first course and I needed this to clean my palate. - Beef Wellington: I had no words....Nevertheless, I gotta continue with my review. First of all, there was no other garnishes other than the tiny slice and the sauce. Similar to some other reviews that were mentioned, it came straight from some sort of reheating process and I had to agree with it. At least it wasn't frozen when it came out. Now, what else would you want me to say? I was speechless when I saw this sad plate...smh... -Strawberry creme brulee: I was slightly more excited to see the size of dish (at least it appeared to be plenty). Well, I would take my words back. This dessert had an identical problem with the French Onion Soup. Nothing came together as it should. The pudding underneath the strawberries were runny. There was some caramelization done but just not enough. The service was very rushed! We finished everything in 45 minutes. I would say thank you for being considerate of my time. I had nowhere else to go for the night though. Speaking of the service charge, an automatic 20% was added and it was listed on the fine print on the actual menu and the digial form. Since it was communicated, we didn't have much problem. Was the service worth this much percentage? The answer was negative. I saw many patrons go for the drinks. It made sense because I wouldn't recommend to dine here based on what we had. read more

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A local Chicagoan here popped into the bar for a drink with two friends. The bartender was great, but the drinks were expensive for the pour. $19 for a vodka martini in a coupe glass (I believe that is what this is called). Skimpy pour. And $16 for a glass of mediocre wine. Two drinks each and one diet Pepsi with a service fee of 3.5% and tip was over $100. I asked the bartender to remove the service fee (restaurants will remove if you ask them to) which he stated that management does not allow them to remove. This is 2025 and most people are not into being gauged for a couple drinks out with the girls. What is the service fee for? You just add it to the bill as a line item. There are so many amazing places to choose in Chicago for drinks and this is not one of them. As I said, the bartender was great! Drinks Meh! bartender read more

Located inside Hotel Julian, this restaurant is wonderful! I ate here several times during my stay at the hotel and Ian provided amazing service multiple days in a row. Cool ambiance and lighting. I loved the decor and atmosphere. Impressive wine list and delicious cocktails. I appreciated the full bar. I loved the "No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn" cocktail, which arrived smoking and aromatically fabulous, and contained one of my favorite whiskeys, Uncle Nearest. The "midnight red moon" drink was tasty too, blood orange, passionfruit, and pomegranate flavors. I also really enjoyed a glass of their Tempranillo from their red wine list. This is a lovely, quiet, intimate place to grab a drink. I would be a regular here. I want to try their entire wine list. Delicious and fresh food. They do it all: breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks. I enjoyed their spicy tuna roll and salmon avocado roll. I enjoyed the slices of lemon on top of the salmon avocado roll. That was a nice detail. The French fries are yummy too, and well seasoned. I also tried the Impossible sliders and avocado toast. If you are looking for a relaxing place to unwind with excellent food and beverages, I definitely recommend coming here. read more

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This was great! I ordered the shrimp scampi and it was delicious. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and the noodles were nicely seasoned. The garlic was also a delicious touch. My friend and I arrived at 6pm on a Monday evening and were seated immediately. The place was pretty quiet. We ordered drinks and our meals and the food came out relatively quickly. Service was good although I wish she had come with our check a little earlier. My friend ordered the ALK burger and absolutely loved it. Good menu. Good drinks. Good environment! read more

About Last Knife - Shrimp Scampi - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

On our first day in Chicago, we needed to kill some time before checking into our hotel, which is when we found About Last Knife. The location is pretty convenient located about halfway between the park where Cloudgate is and the Riverwalk area of downtown. It was late afternoon and we figured it would be a good spot to grab a drink and relax at their outdoor seating. We were quickly seated and given their drink menu to glance at quickly. I will say they had some really good sounding drinks that a few people in our group were excited to try along with a few beers. Unfortunately, when it was time to order, we found out they were actually out of most of the beers and the bartender would not be in for another 15 minutes. We told them it would be no big deal and just ordered water until that time and we could order then. After a little wait it was time to order and we placed our orders and waited for our drinks. After a short wait we were informed that they did not have the ingredients to make most of their cocktails on the menu so we just wound up getting bottled beers and moving on to another location. It could be a nice little spot to sit and watch the people, but for the prices, and especially for it being an afternoon on a Friday, they really need to work on their menu or at least give some warning of what they do and don't have. I will give them some credit as the waitress did at least apologize a lot saying the hated having to keep coming over to let us know stuff we could not have off the menu. read more

About Last Knife - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This restaurant bar is located the lobby of the Arlo Hotel. It is nicely decorated and matches the esthetic of the hotel and its interior design concept. When we walked in the place was empty and we we're quickly greeted by a gentleman at the host stand who also happened to be our bartender. We sat at the beautiful white marble bar and had a really good cocktail and a really expensive glass of Pelegríno. It's all good, he jazzed it up with fresh lime juice and bitters so it made my $15 bottle of water easier to swallow. We didn't order food but, checked out the menu which looked moderately priced for a hotel bar/restaurant. Go here! read more

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Nice spot for bite and service with a smile. Definitely a fan of fresh squeezed orange juice. The pancakes were good with a flavor profile of vanilla and maybe bourbon. Potatoes were perfect, Could not eat the eggs and my steak was swimming in oil. Had to request paper napkins to absorb it. When I spoke with staff concerning it, I was told it was because of the chimichurri sauce. I have had and enjoy eating that sauce but have NEVER had it served that way before. I was offered something else but did not have time. read more

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Great spot for after work drinks. I ordered a lemon drop (not too sweet) martini and it was delicious!! Great service and bartender! read more

About Last Knife - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This review is just for the bar area. We were lucky to have a good bar in our hotel. We have been stopping by after dinner because I love my cocktail so much. Also, all of our visits have been great. The only bar that I've been to where the bartender was personable but direct and looked out for their customers. For example, telling a customer that he needs to leave or stop bothering the female customer since he was getting drunk. Anyway, I had a fantastic cocktail called 'Feeling (Gin)vincible,' a sparkling yet fruity cocktail that wasn't overly sweet, yet strong despite its pretty appearance. And as we had our last drink before heading home, our lovely bartender gave us a generous sample of her sangria that she was testing out. read more

We stumbled into this place today and found it to be very pleasant. Our waiter Dontrell was extremely helpful in helping us with vegan choices. Chicago was the place for date night after our daughter's graduation. Stop by when you're here. Say hi to Dontrell. He take the best pics read more

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All in all, solid 4 stars. I probably wouldn't get the meat and cheese plate again. It wasn't bad. It wasn't good. It was lack luster. The lamb was good. I initially came in just to have a few beverages. I decided to have some food before dinner. Only reason I knocked off a star was a part of the experience. The staff was friendly. But they just. Kept. Coming. Over. It was noticeable. Not sure if it was a nudge to order food or leave the establishment. I'm thinking it's the former. Still, it's ok to come around a couple times once drinks are low. But not when they are over half filled. Still. Not a massive deal. I would return for drinks for sure. Great place to stop in read more

About Last Knife - Lamb - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Nosy patrons sitting next to us at the bar completely ruined my night. Service took a while, and some employee was yapping to another guy flirting with him inappropriately. The drinks were ok and the hotel was great though read more

This is my 5th time coming into ALK--a long day of work and relaxing to a good old fashion with food. Nadia is my server of choice due to its exemplary customer service, personality, and attention to detail. Let me not forget the managers are great people and give good attention to their guests. Overall a good place to come and enjoy a good relaxing time. read more

About Last Knife - Amazing Old Fashions - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First impression: a steak bar that only has three steaks to order? Ordered: knob creak old fashioned, poblano Mac and cheese add chicken Dessert: three different flavors of gelato. The old fashioned was top three. Carefully and skillfully mixed and attention to detail was impeccable. The Mac and cheese was delightful. A delicate and not overbearing poblano flavor was artfully mixed with a solid cheese sauce and perfectly cooked elbow macaroni. Over all the best meal I've had over my week stay in Chicago. The gelato was what impressed me the most. I ordered a scoop of chocolate, pistachio, and lemon. When the dish was served, the lemon arrived in a separate plate. It is this attention to detail that will drive me back to try their steak. Highly recommend as the food, staff, and attention to the customer is the best I've received to date in Chicago. read more

Very nice ambiance. Food was good but nothing out of the ordinary. Service was excellent. Returning soon.

We came here for the restaurant week as I saw Beef Wellington being one of their options on the restaurant week menu, and the dinner was only $36 per person, which seemed to be a great deal. Sadly, when we arrived, I realized that Beef Wellington was not on the restaurant week menu, so we decided to go with the regular menu. Mushroom Soup and French Onion Soup were really tasty. Plus, I just got my wisdom teeth removed several days ago, so the soup was perfect as it was very "friendly" to me. Of course, we ordered Beef Wellington as the main entree. Also, we ordered the Roasted Half Chicken. The presentation of Beef Wellington was boring; however, I'd say $20 for such a big piece was quite a deal. The flavor was also good. If I come back, I'd definitely order this again. However, the Half Chicken was over priced. Not saying the taste was bad, it's just not good enough to justify myself paying $30 for half a chicken again. We picked Bread Pudding as our dessert since the waiter highly recommended it. Unfortunately, the bread pudding was very dry and almost tasted like a french toast. read more

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If you're into super high class over priced foods.. this is your place to go. Conveniently in the middle of downtown off Michigan Ave. I went here for lunch with a coworker who had a BOGO entree. She ordered the beef Wellington and a side of Brussels sprouts and I ordered a cheese burger. I can't even really call it a burger because it didn't come with lettuce and tomatoes. They don't even have sliced tomatoes! The burger was fairly huge and juicy but lacked hella flavor. The Brussels sprouts were tangy and salty to me yet incredibly tender and oily. The beef Wellington was quite superb and a decent size. Together with the coupon and no drinks we paid $16.00! Not bad for lunch. Tip: the lunch menu is basically a brunch menu. Super limited and no room to alter your meal to your liking. You get what you see. Nothing more. Nothing less. read more

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About Last Knife - Such a clever name! I really wanted to like this restaurant. While in Chicago for business, I decided to visit this place based on its name and the Restaurant Week menu. Who can pass up Beef Wellington? I was so excited and then.... read more

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I was intrigued by ALK when I passed by a couple of weeks ago and saw the windows still papered over in advance of opening day. Last night I had the opportunity to pop in for a cocktail after attending a reading/book signing by author Sara Paretsky at the American Writers Museum which happens to be just up the street. Both the hotel and restaurant are in a restored building that had been in disrepair for decades. The bar is cozy and the interior is sleek, featuring clean lines and a mainly neutral palette. I could definitely see cozying up to the bar with a single malt scotch on a brisk winter evening. The service was superior with both the bartender (unfortunately I didn't catch his name) and the beverage manager, Johnny, going out of their way to welcome guests. The cocktail menu features a number of creative concoctions. Since I had just attended a reading by a mystery author, I couldn't resist the Murder She Wrote cocktail, featuring a Werther's reduction (and garnished with an actual Werther's soft chew), Johnnie Walker Black, and Jim Beam. I enjoyed sipping this drink and appreciated that the layered profile changed as the ice melted down. I anticipate that the small yet well-edited scotch selection here will be a draw, especially as winter's icy grip tightens. This spot offers generous hours, as befitting a hotel bar/restaurant. I look forward to returning here next time I am attending a cultural event around this area. read more

About Last Knife - Murder She Wrote: Jim Beam, Johnnie Walker, and a Werther's garnish - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Decided to go on a whim and called to make sure we would be able to get reservations. Host was very friendly, asked if there was an occasion, and if there were any dietary needs to advise the chef about ahead of our arrival. How great is that? On arrival we were promptly taken to a table near the back, which was in view of the kitchen window and away from some of the larger dinner parties. Gotta love a restaurant that spaces guests out and doesn't look to cram everyone into one area! When we arrived, our waiter let us know there was about 45 minutes left of happy hour which included $5 pours of Wine, Sparkling Wine and draft Beer. So we went ahead and asked for a glass each now and one more each before the time expired. Simply Perfecto!! Yelp tip: Happy Hours are 4-7 pm Monday - Friday! Make no mistake, ALK is for MEATLOVERS!! We started with sliders to share, then ordered our main meals. The Beef Wellington is an absolute MUST order and if you enjoy a twist on a Beef Au Jus Foccacia Sandwich that's worth trying as well. We were also given a complimentary hummus dip that the chef was testing and not yet on the menu. Only thing that could have been better is our waiter disappeared (perhaps he took a break) right around the time our main meals were brought out so we had to wait a bit for condiments and new silverware since it was taken after the appetizers. Overall everything was flavorful, well portioned, and reasonably priced. The vibe was upscale yet not stuffy and seemed to be a mix of locals who know a good thing when they eat it and tourists since it is adjacent to Millenium Park. Definitely will be back!! read more

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Convenient for guests staying at Hotel Julian, About Last Knife is a cool trendy spot for cocktails. As far as food, it was ok. They did not see a lot of options for individuals with diet restrictions. I understand it's a steakhouse but for its location and the vibe/area it would have been nice to see more vegetarian/vegan options. I ordered the veggie rolls and impossible burger and fries. The veggie rolls were good. The impossible burger tasted like many other impossible burgers at your standard restaurant. The prices were affordable. It's a good place to grab a quick bite but there are many other places nearby if you are a foodie. read more

Food was beautifully prepared, with interesting flavor combinations. Good size portions. My friend and I shared the octopus & pork chop. Enjoyed them both. Service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. Casual, pleasant decor read more

Service is spotty based up employees working that day I guess. I was apparently there on a not so good day. Definitely not a welcoming atmosphere based upon the actions of the young lady behind the bar. Will not return. read more

I've tried most steak restaurants in Chicago and the atmosphere in this place was by far my favorite! Tucked inside the Hotel Julian, the restaurant doesn't feel like a hotel restaurant. It's dim lighting brings a coziness to the traditional steak restaurant. The decor is simple with white marble top tables, modern brushed gold accents in the chandelier, and open bar shelving with the shiny bottles of whiskey, gin and vodka. It's quaint, cozy and perfect for date night! Side note, they do have happy hour menu. We were there for restaurant week and the menu was phenomenal! The restaurant offers 4 courses for dinner, attached are the menu items I chose. I started with the soup. A cream curry cauliflower soup. It was served with a ribbon of olive oil and sprigs of baby greens. The curry flavor wasn't over powering or spicy. It was warm and the olive oil brought a fruitiness to the dish. Second course was the brandad brûlée. The cod wasn't fishy at all in this dish. It tasted like a potato au gratin. And the handmade potato chips was the perfect vessel to carry the brûlée. Third course was the main entree. Steak frites. Since I had so many chips, I couldn't eat the fries but I definitely finished my 7oz Bavette!!! Simple seasoning and great charring on the outside. I always ask for medium rare but you do you. Lastly, the dessert. The Delice de Bourgogne Triple Creme Cheese was served with a drizzle of honey and some pickled blueberries. Similar to Brie but less of a bite. It was like having a very dense cheesecake but not as heavy. A lot of my friends had made comments about this place so I had to try it myself. Now that I have, I agree with their sentiments. read more

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Nice spot for a drink with a friend! I grabbed a drink here one night with a friend, while staying at Hotel Julian. We didn't have anything to eat... just sat on a couch to chat while enjoying a nice glass of wine. Their wine menu and prices were good, as was the service! read more

Good happy hour deals- cute place and can't beat the price for a draft beer. Also had the fries during happy hour and were good. read more

About Last Knife - Gastropubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went before a Beyoncé concert and sat right down. Food and drinks were great, nice ambiance & our server was lovely!

Had a great meal here. Pleasant, diligent service. Fantastic Brie cheese appetizer. Upscale but not uptight atmosphere. On Michigan Avenue. read more