Stumbled upon this gem on Valentine's Day and I lovedddddd every bit of my experience!…read more For starters, they had cute valentines themed drinks and they were so tasty! They also decorated for Valentine's Day and it was soooooo aesthetically pleasing, great picture props! The music was also a viiiiibe -- whoever was DJing understood the assignment that day! Our server's name was Alon, and she was amazing! Very attentive, sweet, and informative. I told her I needed her name so that people would know who to look for when they visited next lol. She maintained great service, even when it got busy and she had to help others! Now, let's get to the part that matters most: the food! My best friend and I both had their burgers -- so fillingggggggggg and the house made aioli chefs kiss! We already decided we'll be back to try the tacos bc Alon said they're fye and I trust her judgement! The drinkssssssss -- honey listen, the champagne drink was a cute starter bc that margarita definitely didn't come to play! Also -- we didn't have reservations and still were seated in a timely manner with timely service! I'll be revisiting them for sure!

Amazing service and the food was delicious! I'm so glad they offer a breakfast board filled with a…read morevariety of brunch foods because that was perfect for me and my friends to share. I love how they bring out shots in a cute airplane as well & offer mimosa towers as well. It looks small from the outside but Chalet is actually very spacious and has upstairs seating as well.

We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

(Kari's Rating 8.75/10)…read more Came with a friend late on a Friday night after dinner time We were able to be seated almost immediately at a nice little private Cove table. We ordered a flight of whiskey sours, which contained whiskeys from Japan, Vietnam, and Wisconsin. I also was able to order an amaretto sour, which they made with freshly hand beaten egg whites, which was a nice cherry on the top. As far as the whiskey flights go, I think the best one was the Vietnam flight because it had a slightly lemongrass twang and was a little bit lighter than the other two. The heaviest one was the Wisconsin which came with a little bit of a bite at the end, but it still wasn't bad if you're trying to blackout on a $15 budget. I would definitely come back with a larger group this seems like a great place, but is a little bit loud- so if you be prepared to yell or wear earplugs. The bathroom took my a second to find, which should have been intuitive considering it was on the opposite end of where you come in. I blame the lighting as things are already pretty hard to find in the dark, but eventually I made it there-Pat myself on the back.

My god the food is delicious here! Highly recommend!!! The salmon and the chicken were just…read moreunbelievable. Very tasty! Thank you to the chef and the staff for such an amazing dinner!

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.

Really loved this little bar! Great food! We didn't realize we were there for Happy Hour or we…read morewould've honestly ordered way more. I loved the cider I ordered and I would go back just for that. We loved the other people we talked to there. The ambiance was incredible. The only outlier was the bartender seemed to be having an off night, she just wasn't super attentive with guests. But it wasn't so terrible that it tainted an otherwise great experience. I would definitely return to this place!

We stopped in for a night cap and a snack on a Friday evening! We sat at the bar and I liked how…read morebig and comfy the chairs are. We also had front row seats to watch March madness, and more importantly the beer filling mechanism that fills glasses from the bottom! Kinda fun to watch. The bar also has purse hooks, which I am always grateful for. The food came out pretty quickly and was super fresh and delicious. The bartender was sooo sweet, very attentive and quick, and made sure my soda was always topped off. I loved the vibe and the moody lighting! The menu is definitely River North prices -- nothing terribly surprising bht on par for the neighborhood. At the time of our visit, cocktails were $15+ and the fry basket was $10. Again, not terrible but definitely paying to be in River North. If you're in the neighborhood, definitely worth it!

My partner booked a table so we could unwind and enjoy a nice dinner before heading to a Broadway…read moreshow. We arrived early and spotted an open bar table, so we grabbed it. Perfect timing because it gave us a great view of a FIFA match while we informed the hotess and settle in. We ordered the hamachi collars, the Midwest salad, and the Amish curry chicken. We forgot to snap a picture of the hamachi collars, but they were a huge, delicious portion. The sauce leaned a bit sweet, but thankfully it wasn't poured directly over the fish. The standout dish was definitely the Amish curry chicken. It smelled incredible and tasted even better. Kudos to the managers for making the whole experience genuinely pleasant

A memorable meal! We…read morehad long conversations with two two different staff members about cocktail ingredients and tasted three different spirits. The room is large and comfortable. It is also across the street from The Goodman Theater. After the server greated us and asked us if we had show tickets to know what time we had to leave. The cocktails were creative. The Fish & Chips were delicious.

Wow, those fish tacos were incredible! Absolutely packed with flavor and easily the highlight of…read morethe meal. The atmosphere was fun, welcoming, and relaxed, making it a great place to sit down and enjoy a meal. The location is also very convenient, especially if you're visiting the nearby hospital. I would definitely recommend this spot and will be back again.

Saturday brunch here is packed. It was super loud, but I liked all the plants hanging from the…read moreceiling. 7/10. Service was fine. Nothing standout, but I appreciated our server warning us the café was backed up on drinks. Both the food and drinks took a while to come out. 7/10. The Iced Banana Joe (1/10) was way too bitter for me and needed a lot more sweetness (I think it's made of cold brew). I couldn't even finish it. The Iced Dulce de Leche Latte (4/10) had a unique flavor, but it just wasn't my type of latte. The Bacon, Egg & Cheddar Sandwich (7/10) was solid, just nothing memorable. The Hot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwich (7/10) had great flavor, but the chicken was soggy. The fries were surprisingly good, especially since I'm usually not a fries person. The Golden Hash Brown (4/10) was also disappointing. It was bland, didn't have much of a crispy crust, and completely fell apart after the first few bites. Overall, I'd still come back... just for the avocado toast.

The portion size were good and the food itself was ok. Mediocre at best. The service was…read moreacceptable. The workers were nice. The ambiance and the decor is maybe the only redeeming factor. It has some nice touches, but again nothing crazy.

I celebrate my birthday with my family at Ema every year, and at this point it's become one of my…read morefavorite traditions. Ema is, hands down, my favorite restaurant in Chicago. From the food and ambiance to the consistently outstanding service, everything is truly top-tier. This visit was just as exceptional as every one before it. We shared the Sweet Corn Hummus, Spicy Whipped Feta, Brussels Sprouts, Crispy Wild Mushrooms, Crispy Potatoes, Grilled Chicken, and the Lamb & Beef Kefta. Every single dish was outstanding. I wish I had taken more photos, but we were too busy enjoying the food as it arrived at the table! For drinks, my sister loved the Strawberry Rose Paloma, and I enjoyed a glass of Kir-Yianni Sparkling Rosé, which paired beautifully with the meal. The warm, seasoned pita deserves its own recognition. It's soft, pillowy, and absolutely addictive. Honestly, it's hard not to fill up on the pita and spreads before the rest of the meal even arrives. Our server struck the perfect balance between friendly and attentive, without ever feeling intrusive. We usually make room for dessert, but we were completely stuffed this time. In the past, though, I've loved both the Warm Sticky Date Cake and the Frozen Greek Yogurt, and I'd recommend either without hesitation. I was secretly hoping for a tiny scoop of frozen yogurt as a birthday surprise, but my server didn't mention it and I didn't remind him of the celebration (and honestly, we were way too full anyway ). As a huge Top Chef fan, it's always special dining at Chef CJ Jacobson's restaurant. I had the opportunity to meet him during my very first visit to Ema, and he was incredibly gracious. His creativity and attention to flavor are evident in every dish. Ema continues to set the standard for what a great dining experience should be. It's the restaurant I recommend most often when people ask me where to eat in Chicago, and it remains my go-to place for special celebrations. I can't wait to come back again soon! #ImNotAFoodie #ImJustAGirlWhoLovesFood #YelpEliteSquad PS: the hotel next door no longer provides parking validation.

An amazing experience! Highly recommend!…read more We experienced the tiniest goat, which you get to sit in front of the kitchen, all the action. You need reservations, paid a flat rate per person, only include a drink, absolutely worth it. The menu is set by the chef. The waiter is super knowledgeable and friendly. A disclosure is that the chef doesn't make your food in front of you, the show is to see all the kitchen staff in action, you have front row seats to where the magic happens. A unique experience, the food was super delicious with a mix of flavors from around the world. I left with an amazing experience in terms of food and flavors, but my greatest lesson was how hard the kitchen staff works and the passion: the orchestrated action to keep with the orders, the constant heat from the kitchen, the attention to details, and the love for flavor perfection. Plus, one of the best old fashioned I have ever had!

This restaurant is popular and super packed. It's a bit loud but the ambiance is nice and…read moreupscale-ish with the dim lighting, open kitchen concept, and interior decor. Service was a bit slow. It took 45 mins to get our first dish, which was the halibut. First, just want to comment that the portion size is quite small relative to the price of the dishes. The halibut. This was very delicious. Somehow the blueberry nuoc cham works? The fish was tender and flaky. The sauce was salty and full of umami with a hint of blueberry sweetness. This fish dish made me crave for a bowl of steaming hot bfluffy white rice. The string beans. Unless you are allergic to nuts, this is a must get dish. Perfectly cooked string beans (still crispy but not raw) sautéed with fish sauce vinaigrette was an absolute delight. It's also on the salty side which made me crave rice but it's such a flavor bomb. The cashews provided a contrast in texture but yet complemented the seemingly simple dish. I wish the portions were bigger. The galbi. It's was good but compared to the first 2 dishes, didn't really wow me. The meat was one rib strip (4 rib bones) cut into 4 pieces so it's a rather small portion for the price. The stone fruit slices was a nice pairing in that it provided a sweet and tart contrast to the heavier meat flavor. After trying this dish, I felt I personally prefer the LA galbi marinade flavor and preparation for short ribs. Overall, I'm glad I got to try this place. Would come back for the string beans on a splurge day .