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    Cafe Brauer

    3.6 (125 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Cafe Brauer Photos

    CAFE BRAUER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Brauer

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    Exterior
    Jacqueline B.

    We came here for Portugal wine tastings. The event was marked half off, probably bc of the perfect storm of the Eclipse and the NCAA finals, but it was packed anyway. We registered downstairs and headed upstairs. The rooms and tables were spaced nicely apart, and the warm weather made looking out at the pond especially nice. They provided a water dispenser between tastings, and passed hors oeuvres. This is a good space for events, classy events too, but I have never eaten there. The restrooms were large and clean, which is very important. I do not know if they had any upstairs, which would have been convenient. I wish they had a few more places to sit, but wine tasting is meant for movement, so we circulated.

    Cucumber Garden Party And Falafel Burger
    Steve A.

    Getting something to eat in Lincoln Park is never better than from here. It may cost a bit but it's worth it mostly. Cafe Brauer is located next to the zoo, which doesn't have anything good to eat, so coming here is one choice. Open seasonally so check ahead if they're open before going. The prices aren't that bad for this truthfully. After going to the zoo the last time, we came here. It's usually open daily in the spring and summer. The food has a pretty good variety. Lots to choose from that's either fried or healthy. Prices are the worst thing, but these aren't that bad for the area though. It's about $12 for a cocktail. Those are the cheapest ones. A good one was the Cucumber Garden Party, which happened to be the cheapest. This was made Fever Tree Light Cucumber Tonic and Gray Whale gin. I got the Falafel Burger. It's $14 and comes with a side. This had cucumber, lettuce, red onions, tahini, and tomatoes. Kind of like a falafel pita but with a burger bun. The falafel was crispy without being burnt, but a little dry though the tahini helped that. She got some kind of salad which was okay looking but liked it. The prices were kind of high but of course because the location. Come here for lunch or host events. It's popular as a public venue and there's a lot of people who like to rent it. The menu is good for meat eaters and vegetarians.

    Patio Breakfast
    Robert E.

    We were seated really quick and Tim (our server) was extremely polite and helpful. Food arrived rather quickly and it tasted good. Excellent portion sizes. Location was perfect for a couples brunch or family.

    Covered patio seating
    Sara B.

    First off, the views from this patio are beautiful. We loved everything about sitting on the patio looking at the water in the park. The food was OK. We ordered three burgers with fries. They asked what temperature we wanted the burgers cooked, we asked for two to be medium and one to be well done. All three were well done. Only one came with the requested cheese. The servers were pretty slow to get around to us, so we often felt like an afterthought. So the reason for three stars is so-so service, okay food, excellent location and view.

    a plate of meat, corn, and coleslaw
    Karim J.

    Avoid this place if you can. My family stopped here because we didn't really have a choice and we were very much hungry/thirsty while at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Generally when you go to a food vendor inside of a park of any kind you can't get your expectations up (and I did not). It has nice seating, but it is entirely outdoors because the inside is reserved only for staff and kitchen to churn out food. I was kind of disappointed in that because we were really hot and wanted to get inside somewhere with air conditioning. Our server was very nice and probably the only good thing about this experience. They told me the special that particular day was short ribs, which is a beef dish. I came to find that when they brought me my meal it was pork spare ribs. For personal reasons I do not eat pork, so I pretty much lost my appetite. I did however notice it was very dry and rubbery when I cut it open so I can't imagine it was going to be delicious. I tried my wife's carne asada tacos and they were just average at best. I think our son's chicken nuggets and fries were probably the only worthy option between everything we ordered. Naturally they didn't charge me for the ribs as I didn't eat it, but even after removing that charge the meal was still too expensive given how poor it was.

    Cafe Bruaer view
    Ernie H.

    You're paying for the ambiance. Their outdoor seating has the view of the north Chicago skyline painted in a canvas of the water pond in front of you. In warmer weather with potted flowers right next to your seat. What more can you ask for? Yes they have a menu and the service is excellent the multiple time I've been here. But the food really is secondary to me in this venue. Just live the moment and don't be too be to nit picky.

    Jane V.

    Went here for an event which was on the second floor in the Grand Ballroom. It's a beautiful historic building from the 1900's in the prairie style and is an official landmark. It is located just south of the main Zoo grounds and offers a spectacular view of the nature boardwalk at the Lincoln Park Zoo, as well as the wonderful Chicago skyline. They rent the building itself for private events and weddings. You can check their website for more information. There is a restaurant on the first floor which is called The Patio Cafe. They offer seasonal lunch and dinner as well as weekend brunch. Check the website for times and dates that they're open, they are currently closed. They also have an ice cream shop where you can just walk up for a delicious treat on a hot summer day.

    Venue
    Marina S.

    I had my wedding here and regret it. The venue itself is so beautiful, but the air conditioning was broken on the day of my wedding and we pretty much melted. No one even wanted to dance because it was so hot in there. It was a very important day for me and they should have been checking and maintaining there HVAC systems on the regular as we paid a lot of money for this place.

    Lindsay C.

    Might be a little high priced, but you can't beat the views from their patio deck. Staff is also super friendly, and food is good, so WIN :)

    Mahsa T.

    Didn't get to see this place as an event venue, but did enjoy a hot dog and a beer on a break from strolling around at the zoo. Good Chicago dog but not too many good choices when it comes to beer. Great outdoor patio with a view of the pond. Friendly service.

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    11 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Convenient if you're at the zoo and want to sit down to eat. Food is okay but pricey. You pay for the view.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great venue for a wedding! Recommended. Good service. Valet parking. I'd go back. Check it out.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Absolutely gorgeous wedding venue! Staff was great and the food was exceptional! Highly recommend

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    6 years ago

    Nice location with a nice view and fresh air. Parking might be a problem however . Food is nothing special but is OK.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Cafe Brauer

    Review Highlights - Cafe Brauer

    It overlooks the pond for the Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk and is a hop, skip, and a jump away from one of the entrances to Lincoln Park Zoo.

    Mentioned in 15 reviews

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4(9.5k reviews)
    2.5 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$

    After what felt like 5 years to try this place, I FINALLY got to try the famous burger here! Spark…read morenotes: this place is definitely worth the wait! My friend and I dedicated a day where we would just put our name down and however long it took we would wait haha. We drove into the city which took and hour and we put our name down and waited an hour before we were called. The weather was great so we just walked around the west loop area. We started with a half size of the green salad and a half size of the roasted bone marrow. The house salad is super refreshing. A lot of vinegar in the dressing which I personally really like. Also tasted some fennel which was an interesting flavor. The roasted bone marrow is the winner of the night. I would come back to Au Cheval for this alone. It was paired with a thick slice of Texas toast and a beef cheek marmalade and it is seriously the PERFECT balance of flavors. Fatty. Sweet. Buttery. Literally insane and this is a must order! Then came the famous burger. My friend and I each ordered a single cheeseburger with the egg and bacon added. Something to note is that the single cheeseburger actually has 2 patties and the double cheeseburger has 3 patties (3/4lbs of beef). The presentation itself is beautiful and makes you just not want to eat it haha. The burger itself is so decadent and hefty with the burger patties, cheese, egg and bacon. I'll be honest, I needed some more pickles or just something to cut all the fattiness of the burger. There were pickles in the burger and it is served with a huge pickle spear. But I still was itching for some more bitterness/acid to balance the flavors. It was so decadent, I couldn't finish it all. All in all, I would definitely come back and order the burger again and would recommend it to anyone! We ordered a side of fries which came with their garlic aioli. The fries were cooked to perfection. Super crunchy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside and piping hot! The garlic aioli is perfect and have no notes for it. We also were treated to a vanilla scoop with chocolate sauce which was the perfect cap to our meal! Our waitress was so friendly and my friend and I loved her! She was so sweet and genuine. Hog Salt restaurants never fail with their service!

    Au Cheval is likely the most coveted restaurant destination for out-of-towners…read more "Best Burger" "it's so delicious with the egg" "I'm glad you're ending your trip with Au Cheval". I'd like to throw in my own quote into the gauntlet: "it's ok". It sounds harsh but Our burger patty was noticeably dry. The bread... was also dry. The egg and bacon add-ons were good but as a whole, the burger was missing the core aspect. The bread being dry I can justify by knowing that Au Cheval makes it a point to make everything gluten-free (or so someone told me). I think that's cool but not necessarily what I came looking for. I actually noticed prior to our trip from photos that the buns looked noticeably arid but I gave them no heed because of all of the praise. And I can give them the benefit of the doubt that we were there on a Sunday night, so potentially not the most quality inventory (although I personally don't think that's a great excuse). The service and the ambiance were on point! If you're wondering if there's a required attire (no shorts or flip flops) I wouldn't fret, the atmosphere is a lot more casual despite self-describing as an "intimate" setting. It's definitely more intimate than a normal burger restaurant, with dim lighting and isolated booths but what you're wearing isn't going to dictate how other guests and staff feel. I would cover up anyways just cause there was ac running. I told my friend who moved from Nyc to Chicago and he said he felt the same. And one of our couple friends were surprised to hear the patty being dry, so... off day?

    Photos
    Au Cheval - The cooks were very attentive!

    The cooks were very attentive!

    Au Cheval - Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash

    Au Cheval - Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

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    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

    Bar Siena - mini tavern burgers. april 2026.

    Bar Siena

    4.2(2.4k reviews)
    2.5 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$

    Last night, after a genuinely frustrating experience elsewhere, I walked into Bar Siena not…read moreexpecting much (if anything), just hoping for a reset. When I asked about the wait time, the host joked that it was two hours. Under normal circumstances, I would have laughed and played along. Given what had just happened minutes earlier, it did not quite land... but to their credit, the moment I explained the situation, everything shifted. They sat me promptly and turned what could have been a lingering bad night into a completely different experience. Julio, my server, set the tone immediately. Julio was professional, attentive, and generous. He brought out meatballs on the house, which were excellent. I ordered calamari, rigatoni alla vodka with shrimp, and what I believe was a chocolate torte for dessert (also on the house, which I was not expecting). Everything was spot on. The rigatoni in particular stood out. It was made in house and had the kind of texture and quality you notice right away. The Manager (Lance) also stopped by, having been present when I explained what had happened earlier. That kind of awareness and follow-through matters more than people realize. It what separates a place that serves food from a place that understands hospitality. By the time I was finishing dessert, I found myself watching pizzas go out to nearby tables and immediately reconsidering my menu choices for the evening. That's usually a good sign. The host who initially joked about the wait time also came by at the end of my meal. She was polite, thoughtful, and clearly intentional about making sure the experience landed well. I appreciated this gesture. When the bill came, I asked what the total would have been without the discounts and complimentary items. Once I had that number, I tipped Julio the difference. It felt like the only appropriate way to reflect the level of service and generosity I received. I'll be back (for the pizza). Overall: Food (yes) Service (yes) Ambiance (yes)

    (Kari's Rating 8/10)…read more TLDR: -Attentive Staff -Smaller portion sizes -Dark atmosphere Came here on a weekday with a friend and had a reservation for Monday at 7:30pm. We had to wait a little bit for a table so we sat at the bar because my friend and I aren't drinkers. We just had glasses of water while we waited for our table. Once we got seated, our server took our order relatively quickly and we ordered the House made for Kasha with a goat cheese and honey topping, the grilled octopus appetizer, and because we were enjoying our conversation so much we ended up just skipping Wright to dessert and ordering the gooey butter cake. For a light meal, this was relatively satisfactory. Our server said they come to the octopus because we waited so long, so it was nice that the staff was acknowledging that we waited a little bit for our table and we're willing to compensate us. As someone who lives in the river north area, I have actually been here, probably a dozen times, and it's always a good little spot but a little bit pricey for what you're getting. I would still probably come back with some friends, but I wouldn't go on my way to come here if I was bringing people off from out of town.

    Photos
    Bar Siena - Industrial bar

    Industrial bar

    Bar Siena - Parmesan Potato Skins appetizer

    Parmesan Potato Skins appetizer

    Bar Siena - This  N 24 was so delicious! I love mezcal so much  and it was the perfect birthday drink

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    This N 24 was so delicious! I love mezcal so much and it was the perfect birthday drink

    HIDE+SEEK

    HIDE+SEEK

    4.0(383 reviews)
    2.5 miWest Loop, Near West Side

    Great night! John sat us at a great table on the main level. We were 7 people, but sat in curved…read morebooth which was perfect because the conversation was great. Gigi was an our server and she was attentive and informative. For food we ordered a variety, cucumber salad, the burrata, fried artichoke, French onion bread, octopus, hamachi, rib eye, filet and ravioli. Everything was amazing!!!! It is a small menu, but so many amazing options, you can't go wrong. We then went to the night club. Gina was our server and she was amazing also. Everyone had a blast Venue is beautiful, food is great, staff and vibe made the whole night!

    I would come back here, but it isn't high on my list. The food was overall good, and the menu is…read morevery creative and diverse! Even so, it wasn't enough to necessitate the price tag, which all of my friends and I were surprised by when we paid at the end. The cocktails were outstanding - we all enjoyed our choices. For some of us, they were enjoyable enough where we got the same one more than once 0:) Our server was not very friendly - she does not need to act like our BFF or anything like that, but she was cold and seemed annoyed by our questions and such. She also had no idea about the wine, so my friend just rolled the dice on what she wanted without knowing much about it. She wound up liking it - but more clarity would've been helpful (or even seeking out someone else working there for more info!). Minor environment note: The largest artwork there is a triptych of photographs - three famous women: Princess Diana, Sharon Tate (I think?), and Marilyn Monroe. There is a horizontal band going across where their eyes all line up, and the band replaces their eyes with cartoon eyes, likely of Disney princesses. It is supposed to be quirky but I found it creepy, especially since it featured three famous women who met untimely ends.

    Photos
    HIDE+SEEK
    HIDE+SEEK
    HIDE+SEEK - The Dutchess

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    The Dutchess

    Girl & The Goat

    Girl & The Goat

    4.4(10.7k reviews)
    2.5 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    I had a splendid dinner at Girl & The Goat. Was seated promptly when I arrived for my dinner…read morereservation and my seat had a view of the kitchen. It was so fun to chat with the chefs and watch them prepare dishes. I ordered the roasted "pig face" potatoes and the famous sautéed green beans. While waiting for my food, the chef surprised me with complimentary chickpea fritters to try. All of the dishes tasted incredibly delicious and this was the best restaurant I ate at during my trip. The atmosphere was cozy and romantic. I would definitely dine here again the next time I am in Chicago.

    After so many incredible lunches and dinners while visiting Chicago, dinner at Girl & The Goat…read morestole the entire show. Every single dish was so good, cocktails were incredible, our waiter was a delight... this review is about to be a rave if you couldn't already tell. We were searching frantically for a patio we could have dinner on because the weather was too perfect to be inside and somehow, Girl & The Goat had space available last minute. After a quick wait, we were seated with menus in no time. We started off with the tropic like it's hot cocktail which was the most refreshing and delicious cocktail I've ever had. Dangerously delicious but also weirdly felt like I was drinking a healthy green juice. For dinner, two of us split a bunch of different plates like the roasted asparagus, salmon poke, shrimp salad, and kohlrabi salad. Each dish they brought out was more incredible than the last, and those four dishes were plenty of food. We left perfectly full but the food was so fresh and light, we didn't feel too weighed down. From the list, I honestly can't even say what my favorites were, but our server recommended all of them so we have him to thank. The salmon poke was delicious and so fresh and honestly such a solid choice. If you only get one thing (don't. get like 2 plates per person prob) that is the one. Only thing to note is that the patio is on a kind of busy street and if you go on a weekend night it can get crazy loud when those weird quad bikes drive past blasting music at an absurd volume. Go here, you will love it. Get all of the amazing food and at least one cocktail bc they are delicious.

    Photos
    Girl & The Goat
    Girl & The Goat
    Girl & The Goat

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    The Oakville Grill & Cellar - The Oakville Cinnamon Roll Exceptional!

    The Oakville Grill & Cellar

    4.1(261 reviews)
    2.5 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    I have never written a Yelp review before today, but I had to leave my first one because of how…read morepleasant my experience was here. I came here over the weekend with my family to celebrate my graduation, and the server named Cat was AMAZING! She made me feel so special at my graduation brunch through her hospitality, witty remarks, easy-going humor, and attentiveness to her clients. If I were her manager, I would give Cat a raise because of how much she elevated the experience and excels at what she does. Additionally, the food was fantastic! The pull-apart bread was so delicious and something I would 100% come back for, as well as the short rib hash, which was flavorful and tender. The ambiance was perfect for a sunny day with a mild temperature, making it the perfect brunch spot. Once again, I cannot emphasize enough how much Cat made our time at Oakville so special. Thank you, Cat, for being so wonderful at your job and going above and beyond to make my special day even more special. 10/10 would definitely come back!!!

    I actually come to Oakville pretty often and every time it's amazing!…read more For this visit, we just did a few apps: fries, tostadas, and spinach dip. All were good but i will say that the dip was missing a little extra flavor (we added the lemon to elevate which helped). The truffle fries dipping sauce is next level & in my opinion a must try for all. The staff is always super welcoming and kind! Plus now that the patio there's not a bad choice for seating inside or out. Additionally, I attached a photo of the tuna poke bowl from a lunch visit. Easily my favorite lunch menu item they offer.

    Photos
    The Oakville Grill & Cellar - The entrance. She's GORGEOUS.

    The entrance. She's GORGEOUS.

    The Oakville Grill & Cellar - Dry Aged Steakburger

    Dry Aged Steakburger

    The Oakville Grill & Cellar - Bar from above

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    Bar from above

    Cafe Brauer - venues - Updated June 2026

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