Let me start by saying, I will be creating a standing every other month reservation here. I absolutely loved the atmosphere inside. So airy, yet intimate and comfortable. We did come late, which had to do with scheduling conflicts so our server seemed standoffish to begin with, but completely understandable. I'd be the same way. After a few minutes, she warmed up and her personality came out, very sweet! Our round of drinks were: Lychee Love, Apple Cider Margarita, & Campire Biscotti. All exceptional. For our first appetizers, we ordered Short Rib Hummus and Lamb Meatballs. These were great starters, and built anticipation. For my entree, I ordered the Wagyu Cheddar Burger and then, my auntie said the magic words "I think we should try the focaccia bread." If I would have known the Foccacia Bread (with whipped butter and honey) was going to be that superb, cocktails and 6 orders would have been all I needed. Don't get me wrong, the Wagyu Cheddar Burger was scrumptious, but the Foccacia Bread was outstanding. The kitchen was closing and I HAD to ask for more--mind you, I hate doing that. It was THAT good. Will be back on Wednesdays for the $10 cocktails. Overall 9.5/10 read more

Came here a few weeks ago for restaurant week as I had heard of Bar David but didnt know anyone who had been. Located in the David Rubenstein Forum on the UofC campus in Hyde Park, I feel this is a universal untapped gem for those of us outside of the Hyde Park & Woodlawn community. Came by mid week so it wasnt crowded. We were lucky enough to get the very cool Omar as our server...nice guy and very helpful. Love the decor of the place as it makes for a nice date night with the fireplace in the back and the semi-intimate lighting. Started out with the very smooth old fashioned...so good, I had 2 of them. 1st course was the Salmon Tartare which was a nice intro. 2nd course was the Arctic Char which I selected on Omar's recommendation and it was delicious. A really nice piece of fish in harissa tomato broth. 3rd course was the Butterscotch Pudding...the poached pear and gingersnap cookie crumble definitely set that joint off...yum!!! Had a nice wine paring to go with the meal. They have jazz on certain nights in which i would like to return for. Will be back soon. Very much slept on joint here! read more

See all

Bar David provides a clean and modern experience. This is located right next the university of Chicago. I ordered the burger special, which comes with a cheeseburger, fries, and beer. Solid meal, but not feeling too heavy afterwards. I also had some bread appetizer, which was hitting the spot after a work meeting. Overall, this is a bit on the pricier side, but the experience is consistent with what you pay for. read more

Stopped at Bar David for solo dining while waiting for my family to drive from Brooklyn to Chicago. Nice that they were able accommodate me for a late dinner after I enjoyed a delightful 90 minute meditation session at the Bond Chapel. Bar David is a very beautiful restaurant located in the David Rubenstein Forum. It offers seasonal Mediterranean inspired cuisine. I opted for an ahi tuna bowl. Tuna, edamame, wakame, cucumber, avocado, red onions and red cabbage served on a bed of rice. A perfect meal to just reflect on the simple pleasures in life after being welcomed into the meditation class. Service was fabulous. The manager, Jason, was so gracious. Imani made me feel like family. So nice chatting with her. She was so kind. Interesting to also read more about David Rubenstein who is a philanthropist, lawyer and businessman. He is one of the initial forty members of the Giving Pledge, a pledge to donate at least half of their immense wealth to philanthropic causes or charities. His focus is on preservation of American history and historic sites. Traveling throughout the country, you can enjoy many museums, sporting teams and universities that have benefited from his generosity. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, The National Zoo, the Lincoln Center, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and Mulberry Row at Monticello are just a few of the recipients of his philanthropy. The Rubenstein Scholars Program at the University of Chicago provides full-tuition scholarships for about 10 percent of the university's law students. Want to see a privately owned copy of Magna Carta? Rubenstein bought it at auction and lent it to the National Archives in Washington. He purchased a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by Abraham Lincoln, and loaned that as well as a rare copy of the Thirteenth Amendment, also signed by Lincoln, to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. A special thanks to Jason, Imani and Angela for a very memorable dinner at Bar David. I hope to be back again one day to enjoy the wonderful hospitality. read more

See all

This is a nice clean modern space with indoor and outdoor seating located along the midway plaisance. What I like about the outdoor seating is you're not going to be in direct sunlight and you're back far enough from the street with ample greenery in between. Although we arrive at around 6:15 PM on Thursday, we were able to be seated immediately The subtext through the restaurant is that it is Mediterranean, but they also have a great Wagyu beef hamburger and fries. It is usually double patty, which is a great value in its own right. This night, however, they were running a beer and burger special so instead of two patties, you got one and a complimentary beer. That night they happened to be sampling pilsner from Moor's Beer (a black owned brewery) that is up-and-coming. Great pairing! They will ask you if you want sparkling or still water, but you can always ask for fine Chicago tap water and they will bring it with a smile. I will be returning ! read more

Bar David - Wagyu beef burger and fries Pilsner and porter in background - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fabulous spot. Not only is Bar David a beautiful space, but also offers marvelous service and gorgeous, flavorful dishes. We're from Boston and were only in Chicago for the day but would dine here regularly if we could. Loved it! read more

Excellent food, service, atmosphere. Beautiful space... airy and New York vibe. Solid menu, perfect portion size and not overly fussy. Hosts and servers couldn't have been nicer, cooler, or more helpful. read more

Vegetarian Review Went with my spouse during Chicago restaurant week and to celebrate our 15yr anniversary. Both of us ordered the vegetarian dinner items from the restaurant week menu. Food: Note: all portions are very small. I'm usually full on half a burger or two slices of pizza...I was still hungry and ate again 30min after leaving. Note: we were starving when we arrived (usually means we'll like the food even if it's not great). This was not the case here. During every course I verbally said to my spouse "I don't want to eat this, but I'm so hungry." Started with Local Lettuces - it's supposed to come with grapefruit which is the star of the dish. Mine had zero grapefruit. My spouse had to give me a piece from theirs just so I could taste it. Overall 2 stars, grapefruit alone 5 stars. 2nd course: I ordered the morel gnocchi and spouse ordered celery root shawarma. We received two gnocchis. When we asked about the Shwarma, the waitress said she'd have to check if they can even make it! She told us to wait while she checked...5 minutes later no one checked on us so we ate both gnocchi's bc we were so hungry. The texture was good, but the flavors just didn't land and we had to eat it cold bc of the wait. And the portion was about 3 spoons. We also had to flag down more silverware bc they removed it after the 1st course but forgot to provide more. More than 15min later the shwarma arrived, smaller than a street taco. At least we had it while it was warm - good texture, but again the flavors were meh. Would choose this over the gnocchi if forced. 3rd course: Vegetable Pastitsio. Overly complex macaroni is how I would describe this. The sauce was the only good thing here. Neither of us could finish. We at half each which was 3 bites. We don't like to waste, so we had it boxed up to give away. Dessert: Dubai chocolate bar - this was the main reason we came here. This was so incredibly disappointing. We just had the chocolate kanaffe in Dubai and we're so excited about this. It fell beyond flat. The pistachio was okay, just needed a deeper flavor and to be slightly sweeter to balance the chocolate. The chocolate was brutally thick, over compensating for the rest of the dish I guess. The filling in the chocolate shell was better but not nearly enough to have a balanced bite with that crazy thick chocolate. Brushing gold leaf decor on the chocolate was laughable at this point in the meal. Service: Really?!?! This type of restaurant charging so much for food and their service was unacceptable! We had 4 servers at different points during the meal. Three of them were always in a rush with literally dropping both dishes on the table, hitting both our drink glasses with the dishes, forgetting silverware, and telling us to wait on an incorrect order but not checking on us at all for 15 min while our food got cold. Poor communication from the staff and kitchen. The fourth server was very nice, but also just not the best communicator. Ambiance : 3.5 stars, they've done a great job with the decor. Unfortunately, I can't eat that. The temperature is warm on a cold Chicago evening, but the feeling from the hostess and most of the servers is that it's an inconvenience that we chose to dine there. The menu we chose was $60/ea (not including tax, gratuity). However, for two people, we received a bill for just $60. We thought the server noticed how upset were and comped half. After my credit card was charged and final receipt was provided, they did end up charging for both...again, without any communication, just dropped it and walked. Would never go back. Would not recommend to anyone. Would love to get a 50% refund like the original receipt suggested (I have pictures of both receipts provided). This was the wrong choice for dinner and for celebrating our 15yr anniversary. read more

Bar David is a go-to spot on UChicago's campus for a work lunch. It's modern and upscale, with a range of shareable Mediterranean dishes. The restaurant is right off 60th near the law school and you can usually find free street parking or easily walk from campus. The restaurant is not very big, so it's worth making a reservation to secure a table in case you happen to go on a busy day. There is also a small patio space but I think the indoor space was cuter. They also have a free coat check! Bar David has a full bar but also has coffee and tea. They have a lot of vegetarian dishes, a couple of vegan dishes, and some gluten free dishes. We ordered the roasted broccoli, tuna crudo, burrata flatbread, and the eggplant and squash tagine. Everything came out quickly and was great. It was filling yet the food still felt light and healthy. The broccoli is surprisingly good and worth a try - it's seasoned so well! The tuna was incredibly tender, and the tagine was warm and full of different textures and flavors. The flatbread might have been the star of the show with the generous heapings of burrata and pesto. The only issue was how small the table was compared to how many dishes we had! But we made it work. read more

See all

Food, service and atmosphere are great. It's nice to sit outside, weather permitting. Just wish it were open on weekends. read more

Came to this kind of new bar and grill in Hyde Park convenient for anyone to get to if around the University of Chicago. It has a pretty classy yet casual atmosphere, whether it be at breakfast or later. Bar David has healthier options than a typical bar, and it's certainly not a typical one as it's also open at breakfast. Get some juices and toast early. Then go again later and get some cocktails and sandwiches or whatever. Breakfast was what they served the first time I came here. It was a bit before one of the museums opened and we were eating something before going to it. This was a nearby option. Healthy choices abound on the menu. This isn't like a normal bar, but more like a restaurant. Bottled juices are $7 and you can get stuff to go. The Trim And Tasty is apples, carrots, and grapefruit, having a sweetness and tartness. As for the food it has plenty at breakfast. We got the Avocado Toast. It's $11, which is the only bad thing about it. This has nice presentation with cherry tomatoes, herbs, and radish. Good but kind of expensive. It's one of the classier places around here but it still has a pretty casual feel. This is located close to UC buildings so it's kind of hard to find but it's okay for breakfast or lunch though. read more

Bar David - Trim And Tasty Juice With Avocado Toast - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had drinks and light bites at Bar David a few weeks back and it was a wonderful experience. The ambiance is beautiful; nicely decorated and appropriately so giving its in an academic space. The entrance is a bit weird as you have to come in through the main building. I was seated at the bar and the bartenders were personable and friendly. They were very prompt and made really good cocktails. I also ordered a few of the small bites : whipped feta, hummus and a red pepper hummus whose official name is escaping me in this moment. I also had dessert; I had the carrot cake which was really good and very cinnamon forward but I liked it a lot. My friend had a chocolate bar type of dessert and that was good as well. I'll definitely be returning. read more

First off I was drawn to Bar David while walking to breakfast. The decor caught my eyes as we walked by. We decided to go in after being out for the day. A little pre-gaming before a concert if you will. The bartender...I don't remember her name...was welcoming, engaging, and knowledgeable. I mentioned I like Manhattans and she made a suggestion that was spot on. The decor was clean and inviting. We had the hummus and pita and I had a DELICIOUS cocktail. All just right to get our evening started. To think the decor is what drew us in but the food and drinks were just as AMAZING! read more

See all

I'd been wanting to visit Bar David for a while and was happy to finally get a chance to do so on a summer weekday afternoon. The interior decor is lush but minimalist; the property itself is an ultra modern slice of a neighborly, historic campus. (The bathrooms are really nice and sleek.) I dined inside and was warmly greeted. In advance of my server arriving, the hostess offered me still or sparkling water. I chose sparkling (and was charged $6 for a 20-something oz bottle of Perrier). When my server appeared, I ordered a cocktail and the burger. She told me they were out of burgers, unfortunately, but would go check with the kitchen. She came back and said the burgers had come in. (...) Not long after that, she brought my burger. Still no drink though. When I reminded her about the drink, she remembered what I ordered (The Glasswing) but had apparently failed to put the order in at the bar. She also forgot to ever bring me the wifi code I requested that she said she would bring me "on a card." The burger came out too quickly, which made me think it wasn't fresh. The bun was freshly grilled, soft and warm; the burger consisted of two thin patties, a layer of melted cheese, caramelized onions, extra mayo (that I didn't ask for), and a handful of arugula. The fries were well seasoned and tasty. But I couldn't help thinking that this $21 burger wasn't fresh off the grill. Everything seemed, perhaps, pre-cooked, and reheated. My drink finally came. It was purple. And unremarkable. Kind of like pre-made, spiked Kool-Aid. ($15) My bill was $46 (one entree + one cocktail + one sparkling water) without tip. The setting is sleek and beautiful. The service was pleasant (if slow), but not on par with the setting or with what one expects from finer establishments. The servers seemed unpolished and struggled with pacing, which was surprising because it was not busy when I went. They were also dressed as if they worked at any campus eatery--dusty black polos, sneakers, etc; it would make more sense for the OPTICS of the establishment if they wore white shirts and black bottoms. Overall, it's a good addition to Hyde Park because we still need every type of restaurant, but it was unremarkable. Might be a pretty place to meet friends or colleagues, or to go on a first date (the music was upbeat, soft hip-hop). But I would keep expectations low and plan to spend $$$. read more

Came in during a semi busy lunch. Pretty empty, food took way too long to come. For salads / ahi bowls. Service was good. Ambiance was tranquil. read more

Waygu burger...... I asked to speak to the chef but he was too busy making more of these. One of the best burgers I've ever had . Top 5 Focaccia bread with whipped feta- read more

I had a lovely dinner here the other night! Bar David is a brand new chic and sophisticated spot in Hyde Park. The decor is absolutely beautiful. Currently, it's open Tues- Fri from 7am to 8pm. There is ample parking on the street if you decide to drive here. For dinner we tried an assortment of items, the whipped cod brandade dip, charcuterie & cheese, and steak frites were delicious. By the time we were done eating we were just too full for dessert but we did look at the dessert menu and the options sounded delightful. I am looking forward to going back there very soon. Check it out if you want a lovely dining experience! read more

See all

The food was excellent as were the drinks . The service was a bit uneven. . Excellent location for our event.

This is a new place on campus on 60th street in the Rubenstein Forum. The environment is super elegant and nice and the service is really good as well. We ordered the burrata flatbread to start, which was so so so good!!! The mix of tomato, cheese and pesto flavors go so well together. Definitely order this! I ordered the grilled chicken as a main which was alright, the chicken was a little dry and the flavors were okay as well. I would recommend getting the salmon instead, as my friends enjoyed it. We ended with the berry parfait, which was really sweet and the mix of flavors was very interesting. read more

See all

The food was delicious. Many dishes can be made vegan. The warm lighting sets an intimate and inviting mood. The hostess and wait staff were very attentive. Special mention for Raeshawn who was wonderful and attentive making suggestions based on my dietary restrictions. I am definitely going back. read more

Bar David is a nice place with an upscale feeling ambiance. I had a caramel latte there at first and it was delicious! Later in the day I had a pepperoni flatbread. The pepperoni was good as was the sauce, albeit it was a tad bit too saucy for my liking. I washed it down with a plum brandy with bourbon drink - a nice semi-sweet compliment to my meal. read more

Food is mediocre but service is nice Great ambience The steak taste really bad too fatty and cannot cut using the knife read more

Bar David - Ahi tuna bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have a friend who likes to hang out here; I agreed to meet her for an afternoon drink. I was extremely late and was sure she'd have gotten there before me, but as it turned out she was even later. Confident of finding her, I had walked through the place, looking around; I returned to the front desk area (of the restaurant, not the building) and explained that I was meeting a friend who didn't appear to be there. With all the graciousness of a middle school hall monitor, someone told me I should have checked with the hostess, who could have informed me that no one was waiting for me, but that I had looked like I knew what I was doing. I asked blankly who the hostess was; she said she was. I said I'd wait in the lobby and sort it out. If I'm paying these absurd prices (for weak, overly sweet drinks and boring food; the chief flavor in the mezzes seemed to be salt), I'd prefer not to have to deal with this kind of aggro. I'm done with this place; next time I'm looking for hospitality on Woodlawn Avenue I will take myself to Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap. This is the second time in six months that the social relations at a pretentious Hyde Park restaurant have reminded me that the only places you can be sure of a friendly reception are Jimmy's, the Falcon Inn (especially on Tanya's watch), and the Cove, all of which are our beloved local dive bars. I do have to say that the servers themselves were lovely--attentive, friendly, willing to check if they didn't know the answer to something. read more

As a first time customer; I was very happy with this place. From the time I walked in, was greeted and seated; my experience was pleasant. My server, Victoria, was exceptional. She was knowledgeable, sweet, professional, and efficient. The mushroom flatbread she suggested was just delectable! Kudos to the chef and Victoria for her recommendation. I just fell completely in love with this restaurant. The aesthetics were complimentary to the restaurant's location. A hidden gem in the heart of the university. A nice touch to the area I will be back! read more

This is my third time here because I love the food and drinks. I've tried a couple of dishes and appetizer and the food is beyond fresh. The only problem in this place is the service. Today's service was horrible! The waitress never came around to ask if we needed anything. She handed me my check assuming that we were done. I asked for another drink that took 25 minutes to come. She charged me for the entire check before bringing our drinks. We were literally just sitting there. I could understand if the restaurant was busy but it wasn't. I would say that the restaurant at 20% full. read more

Good spot, very pinky-upish. Food is good, ambience is spacious. Good place to discuss business over lunch, but intimate enough for personal meet-ups. More classy than sporty. I will definitely be back sometime soon. read more

An incredible wine bar in restraunt tucked neatly away on the campus of the University of Chicago. This definitely a more up scale restaurant but definitely reasonable for the great food and attention to details when it comes to cocktails. My wife and I spent around $100 on dinner and 2 rounds of drinks. We like to split an appetizer or 2 and an entree when we go out so it might be more expensive for other couples The streak frites was incredible. Would highly recommend this place if your looking for a wonderful experience in a beautiful restaurant. read more

Nestled in the David Rubenstein Forum, BarDAVID is a sophisticated cafe that offers mediterranean-influenced food. The Forum is located in the heart of the University of Chicago's beautiful campus in Hyde Park, IL, which is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Chicago. I joined a colleague for lunch there recently and was not only impressed with the restaurant's sheer elegant ambiance, but the food quality and service were outstanding! I ordered the roasted salmon over grain salad, roasted broccoli, harissa miso glaze kataifi and Perrier with a lime twist. I enjoyed the food so much that I forgot to take a photo of it for Yelp! The fish was flaky and cooked to perfection. I am not a fan of grains like quinoa but somehow it worked surprisingly well in this dish. After lunch, I enjoyed a cup of strong, fresh coffee and finished my meeting. If you're ever in the neighborhood, make a reservation and stop by for a healthy meal in a first-class and relaxing atmosphere. read more

See all

Delicious well curated dining and a lovely restaurant setting. We snuck over to BarDavid for delicious food and had exceptional service. you must try the yellowtail Crudo. The buratta flatbread was very tasty as was the salmon entrée. read more

Bar David - Roasted Salmon - with wild rice and asparagus - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am faculty at the University of Chicago, have been to the Rubenstein Forum but never ate at Bar David. So when we had a work event, we decided to give it a try. Upon check-in, I was the first of a reservation of 8 - the manager told me I could sit at the bar (one seat available), or sit outside - never offered to seat me at the table, even though the restaurant was not crowded (about 30% occupied and no one waiting). I sat at the bar and ordered a drink and within 5 minutes, the remainder of the party arrived. ehtAs it turns out, 9 people came instead of 8 - we were seated at a long table (4 individual tables lined up), one side seated on a bench and 4 seats on the other side. We asked the waitstaff to bring another seat, to which the manager told the busboy to return seat that he brought from another table. When I asked the manager why we couldn't have another seat, she said "your reservation is for 8, I can't give you another seat because other tables will need them - you can break your party into two tables" - literally there were 6 empty tables around us with 14 seats that were not being used - for the entire evening, no one sat in those seats or used those tables. It was insulting and obvious that the manager did not even rethink her position. I doubt that I will ever return, given the rude behavior and a host of lesser issues. read more

Highly impressed by this stylish new place in Hyde Park! I had expected it might be a standard boring "business dinner" sort of place, so I was really wowed by some of the flavors and innovative ideas we experienced. Because of some small things, I may give this a 4.5 but I am rounding up for the fantastic atmosphere, and to support this new business. In terms of what we ate: - Spiced harvest cocktail - one of the best cocktails I have ever had. So delicious and creamy with the egg and oat milk. The flavor of caramelized bananas really shines through and adds a cozy winter feeling. The star of the show is the lack of an ice cube - but instead a frozen block of a delicious sweet potato puree for which the waiter will give you a spoon to eat. - Rabbit tales - an incredibly cute cocktail, with a recreated carrot as a garnish. You can really taste the cream cheese even in spite of the clarification process - yum! - Chicken croquettes - melt in your mouth, delicious, and creamy. I could eat ten of these. - Roasted chicken - this was the one part of the meal that fell short for me. It had a great crispy exterior, but the meat was much too dry. I loved the squash and greens, though. - Steak frites - my husband really loved this steak, especially the butter upon it. - Phyllo mille feuille - a good autumnal dessert - a tiny bit tart for my tastes, but loved how delicate it was. I would definitely come back here again, even if just for these amazing cocktails. Can't wait to see how the menus change with the seasons! read more

See all

Amazing people! Drinks are made well, and the few times I've tried the food it was prepared perfectly. I'm extremely happy with this new addition to the neighborhood. read more

Bar David - Old Fashioned - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Awesome service!! ordered the French onion soup and got a soup presentation. everything was high and very delicious.

This place has gone downhill. It's unfortunate. We have been going here since they opened, both for bfast and dinner. However, after a couple visits this last week, we probably will not be going back. The service, especially in the morning, is so ridiculously slow, 20+ mins for yogurt and eggs?? And the server does not come talk to you at all, they just leave you sitting there, waiting for eternity for your food. Then, there was something bad/wrong with the food, and the server did nothing about it. The server was like "thanks for letting us know," and that was it. No follow-up, nothing. And then we still got charged for the item, even though we didn't eat it. Shocking really, for a "high-end" place, it is low quality service and the food quality has gone to the birds. We used to love this place, not anymore (unfortunately). read more

Yummy food & amazing customer service! Came to have girl time for my birthday and Natasha & Andrea were memorable. Definitely returning with the family to try their lunch menu... #Encore read more

The food here is outstanding! Went to dinner with my Dad and we loved every bite. The place is very nice with an upscale feel, and was not busy. The service was courteous and the severs had a very friendly vibe. We'll be back! read more

First time in BarDavid and YOU have got to go! The service we received was amazing starting with the Welcome from Adriana to the ambiance of this location. Kevin our bartender and Natasha made us feel welcome and promised a wonderful experience. / We loved the contemporary decor, comfortable seating, floor to ceiling windows and view of the park was grand. The Mediterranean food selection was both healthy and delicious. Plan to go back next week Vince and Annette read more

Bar David 5 stars because everything was on point, from the time i entered, until I left. The service was excellent the food was great, and the ambiance was not only relaxing but a great place for a date if you choose. I will definitely come back, and see what else Is on the menu. read more

Our first time at Bar David was wonderful. We choose to sit outside but the décor inside is very contemporary and aesthetically pleasing. Natasha was very welcoming and cared about our comfort outdoors as the weather was starting to turn. Yeonjae was prompt with the drink and desert orders. We went for a drink, appetizer and desert. The presentation of everything was 10/10 from the sangria to the chickpea fries and the pistachio tartlet. I was impressed with the chickpea fries. They were unlike anything I've tried and I would have them again. They were crisp on the outside yet gooey on the inside. The sauce paired lovely with them. The pistachio tartlet had complementary flavors and was not overly sweet. I appreciated the attention to detail and the level of care that was put into the whole experience. The price was comparable to the quality of food, drink and service we received. I look forward to returning. read more

Their steak made me throw up... I'm a grown adult. I don't just throw up unless I have too much alcohol. For such an expensive place you'd think they know how to make sure you don't upchuck $40. read more