We stumbled upon Henrietta after our original happy hour spot was closed for a private event. It is…read moretucked away inside the hotel, so it can be tricky to find, but that does make it nice and quiet. The restaurant itself is very pretty with a nice ambiance. The whole place, including the bathrooms, is clean. Service is also wonderful. The hostess was very friendly and our server was awesome. He gave a lot of good recommendations too! The biggest downside to eating here is that there are no happy hour specials, which is unusual for a place in the Loop. This is probably what would stop me from coming back here often. The food was pretty good. My friend and I split a pizza and dessert. The drinks were also tasty, but not worth the price, in my opinion. If Henrietta had a happy hour menu, I'd come back here often. But since it doesn't, I'll probably skip it for other Loop options.

While new, it's still a hotel restaurant, so I guess we shouldn't have been expecting too much. We…read moresat at the bar had some of the happy hour wines but weren't impressed with any of them. They tasted flat, as if the bottles had been open a long time. Perhaps they just weren't good wines. My chicken piccata wasn't like I was expecting. No capers, and it was more like a fettuccine sauce than anything you'd expect with a piccata. Chicken itself wasn't that great. Overall temp was too cool, and pasta was undercooked as well. My friend asked for a Caesar salad that apparently wasn't available because they were missing an ingredient needed to make it. He pivoted to a different one, adding shrimp as a protein. He got both, separately. Odd they didn't add the shrimp to the salad. Easy enough for him to do. Maybe things get better the longer they're open? I stay here often, so maybe I'll give them another shot down the road.

The vibes were nice. Lighting wasn't too bright, a dressier atmosphere, and definitely felt like a…read moregood spot for drinks and dinner. Service was fine. Our server was nice and water refills came at the right times. The burger was honestly pretty mid. It tasted fine, but our server said it was one of the best burgers in Chicago and I definitely wouldn't agree. 5/10. The salmon was tender and had a really interesting crust. It wasn't charred like I expected, almost had a rubbery texture, but I actually enjoyed it. The lemony miso sauce was delicious, the pickled cucumbers added a nice crunch. 7.5/10. The prime bone-in ribeye was fine. Good flavor, but nothing really stood out about it. 6.5/10. Dessert was the highlight of the meal. The chocolate crunch dessert was sooo good. Loved the marshmallow pieces and all the different textures from the crunchy mousse. 8/10. The salted caramel gelato had a great texture, but it was way too sweet for me. It tasted more like straight sugar than salted caramel. 6/10. Overall, a solid last-minute date night spot with good vibes, but the chocolate crunch dessert was definitely the standout.

Instagram sent me, not via an influencer, but a very alluring ad. If I were to book a reservation…read morethen and there, I could get an Old Fashioned made with Colonel E.H. Taylor for a lower price. Sold! I made a reservation and stopped in that week (if not that very day). The Old Fashioned was fantastic! It had strong whiskey notes without hitting you with a wall of spirit the way a Manhattan, for example, does. The other additions of bitters and syrup did a perfect job rounding the cocktail out, adding sweet and savory notes. As much as I love variety, I loved it so much, I ordered two! I can't lie and say this wasn't at least in part due to the reduced price, that notwithstanding, me ordering two of the same is some of the highest, non-verbal praise one could get from me. For a main, I had the opportunity to try the burger, a special only available 5:00 - 6:30, and mind you I eked in by the skin of my teeth. Before I attempt to break this down, though, I need to take a slight tangent: Do any of you remember the quote from The Menu where Anya Taylor-Joy says: "A real cheeseburger. Not some fancy, deconstructed, affluent b***s***, a *real* cheeseburger."? I am pleased to report the burger here was somewhere between Chef Slowik's "very traditional cheeseburger" and the one Taylor Joy describes! In other words, just fancy enough to feel like I am getting a unique, creative, well thought out dish, but without all the pomp and circumstance! There's just one little problem: as soon as I bit into it, the juices erupting from within soaked the bottom bun, and turned it into a fork and knife affair with an unseen level of precision and speed. Very regrettably, this was the burger's undoing. That first, heavenly bite that had angels singing showed what the burger was really made of (and I mean this figuratively and literally). The beef was of the highest quality, well-seasoned, cooked medium and juicy, with a perfect sear that would have Louis Camille Maillard crying tears of joy. Two types of cheese (one being crisp and airy, the other thoroughly gooey and savory), the perfect amount of bacon, moisture and flavor from a tempura tomato, and divine sauces! One of them was a little sweet, which elevated the flavor like no one's business. Together, all these flavors were a symphony that could give Beethoven a run for his money. However, that unfortunate fact that the thing fell apart so quickly meant that symphony was limited to one bite, the rest being encountered piecemeal. I would rather skip fries than skip dessert (which I did), and ordered the Mango cheesecake. Such velvety perfection! Neither the sweetness nor the mango notes were overpowering, and while it didn't have the crust of a traditional cheesecake, the more gentle variant here absolutely works. I also appreciated the tart sorbet to offer some contrast in flavor, temperature, and texture. Now, let me talk about the service. Given that the restaurant was at capacity, the bar service and speed to get my items was reasonable. Could it hypothetically have been just a touch faster/more attentive? Yes, but in practice, when you have a full house, this is as good as it can get before robots take over. Finally, there is the matter of prices. There is no doubt in my mind that the quality is up there, at the same time, the reason I skipped the side of fries was it would have set me back $11. I suppose the real question is whether or not the quality equals the price, and after some reflection, I think the answer is yes, but one must be prepared for the sticker shock ahead of time. That said, the final verdict: The Franklin Room absolutely delivers on an all-around fantastic meal. I think whatever you order will be in the 90th percentile, at worst! However, this comes at a cost. Therefore, I would love to return to the Franklin Room, but it would likely be more a very occasional treat than a place where I'd be a regular.

Fantastic service and great selection of snacks. I got the fried mushrooms and they were so good…read more It's super pretty and I love the color scheme of the place. Great place for cocktails either way a more upscale feel but not too fancy

Came in today with a group of eight friends over an hour after cocktail lounge opened (slower…read morehours). I'll begin by mentioning the drinks tasted great & the ambiance/overall esthetic and setup of this space is really wonderful. Unfortunately, my low review is because of the obvious distastefulness of some staff who are serving & bartending here. My guests visiting from out of state wanted a stiff drink in the afternoon & from the website photos + reviews, Vol 39 seemed like an awesome place that could accommodate our party with the large sofa seating. I even called ahead to ask about walk-ins of our size to be extra considerate. We received shocking dagger glares from a few staff members which made all eight of us immediately uncomfortable before even being sat. Like we were committing a major crime for thinking we could step foot in here. Empty stack of glasses slammed on the table with a water pitcher placed beside them; "I'll be right back." In a sharp tone. Ok. But not if we're paying $20 per person per cocktail. We were rushed and this attitude persisted, it is lazy.. especially given it was extremely slow.. super surprising for such an elevated establishment. Then, after a long while, we were all asked what we wanted to drink, like a fast casual burger joint. No, "any questions about our selections" or, "may I give some suggestions?" Never came by to check on us once despite the three other two tops inside. We wrapped it up fast since we definitely could choose another location with more attentiveness & basic kindness. We paid, a hefty gratuity in small print on the check which.. you guessed it.. was automatically included but no mention of this tidbit by the server. Maybe this is why we revived all this mean girl energy from the jump? Because they'll still get paid really well regardless? All eight of us have been a part of the service industry and this one stuck out extra frustrating & annoying. Never leave a low review, I'm writing today to management because they will ruin your repeat clientele, seriously. People can find another fabulous cocktail with way better service & vibes in the city. Overall, it was a shame my friends experienced this gross behavior today in the fabulous city of Chicago. Hope the staff does better in the future and works on improving their outlook.

Cool covered rooftop. They sometimes have live music which was nice. Got pretty busy and loud…read more.. could barely hear the server. Everything we tried was good but not great. I think it is a bit overpriced overall. The lomo saltado was my least favorite. Heavier on the soy sauce taste than typical lomo saltado. The guacamole needed a little more salt/flavor. For dessert we got the mango cake. It was meh. Would not order it again. Everything was just forgettable.

Happy hour on a Saturday? Sign me up!…read more We landed on Boleo as our option for early dinner for four of us before a tango concert and performance because it's South American, and we love a theme. We never expected happy hour to be relevant for us, but our wonderful server pointed it out. Since none of us had tasted pisco before she brought us a pisco sample to try. Three of the four of us ordered pisco cocktails, and they were great! The chilcano is a pisco variation on a Moscow mule. I'm not a big fan of mules, but I liked the chilcano a lot. Whenever I'm back, I'll probably go for the pisco sour, which one of our party had and also really enjoyed. The arroz chaufa was a nice satisfying dinner that wasn't too heavy for the early hour. The loma saltado and vegetable saltado were both very much enjoyed as well. Flan was just okay. The orange was a wonderful touch that probably saved something much too custardy for me to think of as flan. Service was absolutely great. Everyone we interacted with was super professional and easy going. We didn't know what to expect for the space, and when we arrived before sunset, it felt weird how bright it was in there. After sunset, the whole space felt a lot more swanky. Prices are a good value, even apart from the happy hour offerings. This is a great option for pre-show dining in the loop.

We originally came to Ghost Donkey as paranormal investigators, after being hired to locate the…read moremissing ghost donkey belonging to a local agave farmer. The case had gone cold--or perhaps mezcal-hot--until we received a clue pointing us toward River North. Ghost Donkey is spacious, colorful, and full of energy, with plenty of bar seating and tables. The music can get loud, but it fits the atmosphere perfectly. The bartenders were constantly interacting with guests, swinging the lights, encouraging the crowd, and turning the entire room into a neon-lit fiesta. They do have a food menu featuring items such as tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and guacamole, but we mostly came for the drinks. Many of the cocktails are tequila- or mezcal-based, which is exactly what we enjoy. The menu is creative, the drinks are strong, and the bar does an excellent job making agave spirits approachable--even for guests who may not consider themselves mezcal experts. After two drinks and an argument with a decorative donkey, we finally found the missing spirit hiding behind the bar. He was translucent, smelled faintly of roasted agave, and appeared to be carrying a tiny map. We followed him through a glowing hallway, down a staircase, and into a secret chamber where he revealed the legendary piñata of Quetzalcoatl, the ancient feathered serpent god. Naturally, we attempted to break it open. Instead of candy, it released a cloud of mystical dust, three lime wedges, and a receipt for nachos. The ghost donkey brayed with laughter, the lights began swinging, and the entire bar erupted in applause. The bartender handed us another drink and told us this happened all the time. Ghost Donkey is a fantastic place to hang out, pregame, and enjoy inventive tequila and mezcal cocktails in a lively setting. Just be warned: you may arrive looking for a ghost donkey and leave having helped recover an ancient Mexican god's piñata. That's simply the sort of evening this place encourages.

The three stars are for the HH, vibes, and chicken tinga tacos. Other than that, I don't really get…read morethe hype and I've been here several times. The happy hour prices are decent, but I just really don't like the drinks. I feel like the options are limited and just not that good tbh. Reservations are encouraged, but you can also chill at the bar if there's room. This is a spot I'd go to after the main event, not one that I'd specifically leave my house for. Everyone else in my group always seems to enjoy, so maybe it's just me!

We were there for the last portion of Friday Happy Hour and it was very lively! Despite the crowd…read moreand DJ, we were still able to talk and enjoyed the atmosphere. Renee offer excellent service throughout our visit and we enjoyed every one of our drinks and plates. Will certainly recommend and plan to visit again!

My SISTER wants tickets to the Micheal Chicago Bulls watch party which was taking place here at the…read moreroof of the witch hotel. Eres such a Beautiful, Space Location, right across the street from the Chicago theater. Since it was sponsored by Micheal Otra, we got many drinks for free, and the food was free, which was absolutely divine. We got merchandise for free. There's lots of contacts which I want one T-shirt.. The view up and the rooftop is stunning. The Services bond, Amazing

My first stop on a sunny day in Chi-City. Rooftops bars are plentiful in L.A., but I really wanted…read moreto experience the different cityscape. Beverages: 4/5. Black Manhattan. Solid, without being too sweet. Vanilla bitters and Amaro add a sweet balance, but they don't overpower the bite of the Bourbon. Service: 5/5. Friendly and attentive. Ambiance: 5/5. This isn't a super high rooftop, but it's the cool variant with all the tall buildings looking down at you. Mellow and unpretentious, but it was a Sunday afternoon. Buen provecho.

For some reasons, I assumed this would be rooftop at the top of the building, but it's actually…read morelobby level (5th floor maybe?). This is the main bar for the hotel and has some outdoor seating, though we were seated inside since it was raining. You can walk in or for a bigger group like we did, make reservations on OpenTable. Drinks: - La Familia es Todo: expensive at $29, but I guess it was that Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia extra-añejo tequila! It was well balanced, and I ended up getting another of the same Food: - Truffle fries: skinny fried, well seasoned, good for sharing - Burrata: with beets and buttered country loaf - Brussels sprouts: good flavor and texture - Bourbon Brownie: served warm; it comes with whipped cream, but I wish it were ice cream - Spiced tiramisu: a spin on the traditional version, though I think I prefer the original - Brown butter chocolate chip cookies: served warm, a large portion - definitely the winner of the desserts It was nice to have food to snack on with our drinks. It was a busy night, but service was a bit lacking - we had to repeatedly ask for various things like water, more drinks, utensils, plates. If you're staying at the Gwen or nearby, it's a solid place for drinks and bar food.

Z Bar is the lounge at the Peninsula. There's a terrace if the weather is nice or huge windows if…read moreit's not. Getting there was a bit complicated - you take elevators up/down depending on where you come in. I chose to sit at the bar, but there are nice loungy spots too. Expect well curated and well crafted cocktails, along with a nice menu of snacks. I Enjoyed some very nice champagne (Perrier Jouet) and mini samosas. The samosas were really nice and an absolutely huge portion. Yeah, it's expensive but it's the Peninsula and you're worth it.

Elevated cozy bar/lounge experience within the city. Seats may be limited but if you can grab one,…read moreit's worth the wait. Great drinks, good service definitely worth coming back for a nightcap. -Mr.