As a former restaurant/craft cocktail owner in Lincoln Park, I'm shocked Oskar's only has 2 reviews…read moreas it's got a lot going for it. The cocktail menu caters to many tastes, they make their own bitters, shrubs and syrups, they have a diverse collection of small batch producers and clearly a staff who know what they're doing! As a mixologist who now only plies his trade at home, I was extremely impressed!! Not that the lack of reviews seem to be hurting their business - the 3 attempts I made to visit, only one was successful (they were too busy the other times). I stumbled upon Oskars by chance - but man, am I ecstatic that I did!!! This is a gem that would easily do well in Chicago's trendiest hoods. Its interior is extremely cozy and inviting/welcoming - it reminded me of a cocktail establishment in London's brick lane neighborhood. I'm looking forward to coming back with friends as this is a cocktail bar that will impress Chicagoans and out of towners alike - and more importantly, I don't have to venture south to have a great cocktail anymore!!

Many unique cocktail options, each well thought out and balanced. Presentation and temperature were…read morewell attended to. The indoor area was quite small, but that didn't lose any issues to our experience. This place is more conducive to couples rather than groups. The outdoor area provides tables that could fit up to 4 people.

I was here last week for a special event (this time one I didn't organize and just got to attend as…read morea guest), and it was great as always. The food is delicious (the event I was at had a taco bar, chips and guac, and a few desserts), the drink list is amazing (including a few great mocktails), and the space works really well for either private parties or just hanging out with friends. Five and Dime never disappoints. And for those who do have to plan events for stuff, F&D is great. I had happy hours here for new students in 2018, 2019, and 2022 (post-pandemic), and it was a smooth and enjoyable process each time.

Five & Dime, Lulu's, Taco Diablo, and Blue Horse Tavern have become my go-to spots for everything…read morefrom casual dinners to hosting out-of-town guests. The food is consistently delicious, and there's always something that hits the spot no matter what I'm craving. A few standouts I keep coming back to: Bang Bang Shrimp Ribs Salmon with Delallo pepper drops French Dip Enchiladas Verdes Whether I dine in or order on Uber Eats, it always arrives fresh and well-made (rare these days!). And in good weather, nothing beats Five & Dime's rooftop -- easily one of the best places in Evanston to enjoy a relaxed, fun meal outdoors. Friendly service, great variety, and reliably fantastic food!

Each barista makes your experience special. 5 stars to every one of them. I return for the…read morefriendliness and professionalism of the baristas. I miss the old pastries though.

About a 1-1.5: Evanston Pour is a popular coffee spot in the Evanston 'hood - we came here to get…read morea caffeine fix, and ordered: +the Cookie Butter Latte - prepared with cookie butter syrup and milk; I did request this to be extra hot, but it was served lukewarm +a Latte with almond milk - also served lukewarm +an Almond Croissant +and, a Scone The coffee was just not strong, and the fact that it was served lukewarm was a total no. The pastries were just okay, but could have been more fresh and/or warmed up. Staff was friendly, and the place also offers cocktails/other alcoholic beverages. Seating is available, but somewhat uncomfortable; not much of a place where you can do work or study. Metered street parking can be found in the area. +lukewarm, weak coffee +metered street parking

In honor of Women's History Month I would like to update my review of Nobody's Darling to state…read morethat the lovely owners of this fine establishment are still doing their thing. Nobody's Darling is not just to have a chat and cocktail, they offer quite a few events for folks to attend. Below are a few examples of the swinging times you can have there. In 2026 I am so happy that they are still in business and thriving. The vibe is still cool, the menu for the cocktails is still exciting and the crowd is eclectic. Wine Down Wednesday Unwind midweek with Happy Hour 5-7pm $7 glasses of wine $20 bottles Thursday: Pitch Your Peeps Help your friend find love (or vibes). Pitch them to the room - all relationship styles welcome. Feel Good Fridayz w/ DJ All The Way Kay Start the weekend right! Happy Hour 5-7pm DJ Kay live 8-11pm Sunday Karaoke All Day Happy Hour starting at 2pm Karaoke 5pm-8pm Sip.Sing. Repeat. Empanadas by De Luna Empanada 7pm-10pm DJ Gloria on the decks Cocktails flowing all night Friday, March 20 DJ Set 8-11PM

The drinks are always strong and creative. The people are stylish yet down to earth and friendly. I…read morelove going.

A clean, well lighted space, they have live music play on weekend nights (and perhaps weekday?)…read more We stopped in one Friday night to listen to jazz and drink cocktails. The cocktails are good, especially the Oat Fashioned and the Toranto.

Take Flight Spirits is such a fun and unique spot with truly delicious drink options. I personally…read morelove the Dirty Hippie (a dirty chai with rum) or the Hibiscus Daiquiri. Both drinks are fantastic, depending on your mood. They offer some snacks for purchase, but one of the best parts is that you're welcome to bring your own food, making it a great place to hang out without feeling limited. It's the perfect place to meet up with friends, catch a live performance, enjoy trivia night, or check out one of their many other events. Their website has an updated list of what's coming up, which makes planning easy. Adding to the ambience, you'll find a few tables that are actually chalk board tables so you can draw or play games on the chalkboard tables if you want. It's so fun! The staff has always been kind, welcoming, and great at crafting drinks. Take Flight Spirits is definitely one of my favorite local spots!

The recent buildout here is impressive, adding a large lobby & bar, a patio behind it, and modern,…read morefully accessible bathrooms. The main music room remains unchanged with its stage and its bar. They do have Woodford Reserve, a nice touch for my fancy Noble Bourbon Boozers. With the new setup, you can start one tab and its accessible from both bars, and from waitstaff, if the show is seated and they are present. Its a small room, great to see a show. Its also very ADA friendly, with a reserved space right up front for GA shows, and designated seats during seated space shows. Email the box office a couple days in advance with any questions.

My favorite concert venue on the North Shore of Chicago. It seats around 150 and most shows have an…read moreoption of table or general admission. The sound quality is fantastic and the staff is very friendly. It also gives off an intimate concert vibe because you feel like the artists are right there (they actually are!).

Enjoyed my drinks here. Very complex & sophisticated cocktails albeit a neighborhood bar feel to…read moreit. I briefly discussed the bartenders "r&d" stuff currently in development why also challenging him to go off script for a custom cocktail that was delicious. Small but mighty & the price point for these types of cocktails is unheard of these days. I'll be returning asap to delve further into the menu but as of now this is a high priority for cocktail aficionados such as myself.

So... I'd parked my scooter on my way to Elixir, and couldn't help but notice The Nook as I was…read morewalking towards the entrance. After my drink next door, I would be remiss if I didn't stop in. What I got was one of the more unique and interesting cocktails I'd tried! It was the Sick Day, and while I don't command the English language or my palate enough to do it justice, I can tell you that it was definitely a great sipper. The absinthe mist, despite being just that, has a way of doing that. I want to give some credit to the service. While the bar was shorthanded at the time, the barman on duty did his very best as a one-man show. Can't fault them too much, someone calls out sick last minute, and that's that. However, if there is something I can hold against them it's the heat! I'm not sure why, but the upon coming in, the place was HOT! After settling in, it became more bearable, but this is the kind of thing that sometimes persuades me to leave before I order anything.

Still love this place. We come here for trivia almost every time they have it. Vibes are always…read moreimmaculate. We always run into the owner and his family, and he's super nice. The patio is incredible. Last night we lost (after winning the previous time, but it's good to be humbled on occasion lol). But, I thoroughly enjoyed my free grilled cheese sandwich that I won as our previous trivia night prize. Sandwiches really are their specialty. Perfectly greasy, and the caramlized onions and spinach really elevated it. Another person in our group had the turkey on a pretzel bun and said it was amazing. Also, a great range of drink options. Always a good time, and I'm excited to come to one of their mahjong gatherings, since I recently learned how to play.

I got to attend a graduation party at The Fat Shallot and it was really nice. The catered food made…read moreby the restaurant was good. I had the fries and chicken tenders. All were very tasty. There were also burgers I didn't have one but everyone that had a burger or chicken sandwich said they were good and tasty. The open bar was nice the Tito's was smooth and I had a good time. There was a DJ and enough room on the bar floor for dancing and there was a television with sports on for the sports watchers. I also saw patio outdoors seating out back. They had two restrooms and they appeared clean for patrons. The waitstaff and bartender were all friendly and just very nice.