This is one of the best spots in the city. Came here last week on a date and it was basically…read moreperfect -- has a cool ambiance, relaxed vibe, good music and at the right volume, excellent wine and small plate selection, and the staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. I didn't get a chance to go to the patio outside, but I will definitely try it out next time. Special shoutout to the staff who recommended some amazing wines I would have otherwise never heard of.

Stopped into this wine bar on a rainy Sunday right when they opened with five of my friends. They…read morewere able to seat us immediately in the spacious corner booth. The ambiance is really nice without feeling too "stuffy". Bar was gorgeous and service was friendly and helpful, allowing my boyfriend to sample some wines before going in on some bottles. Prices were what you'd expect for a trendy natural wine bar. The complimentary corn nuts in the antique dish were a cute touch. The charcuterie board with mixed meat and cheese was really small though. Only three pieces of cheese for five people... it made it feel like an awkward fight over who'd get to try some. The gluten free crackers were appreciated though. We ended up ordering more food including the "party tray" which I would describe more as charcuterie nachos. We didn't really know what to expect with this one so we got the canned mussels but it really would've tasted better with the prosciutto instead. It included a whipped cheese, olives, and cornichons piled onto potato chips. Less of a tray and more of a nacho-style dish. If we return next time we're in town, I'd skip the food and focus more on the wine. Beyond that, it was a fun time!

Food is delicious And the wine selection even better, if wine isn't your think they do have bottled…read morebeer and on draft. It's a great place to for a nice semi fancy dinner or just a casual hang. when weather permits there's a patio. service and staff is always friendly. Every time i go i forget to take pictures of the food i do have these of the speciality pizza Fig and prosciutto it's so good i get it evertime i can. proscuitto, figs, goat cheese, garlic confit oil, arugula, mozzarella, pecorino-romano cheese, balsamic glaze, like come on that sounds good. the crab cakes are also good and the charcuterie is a great starter. believe you won't regret eating anything from their menu.

Honestly, I love this place. The Wednesday half price wine nights with life jazzy music is so…read morelovely. Tonight, we had the Al Passo Toscana wine (half price), tomato bruschetta, Caesar salad, cacio e Pepe (with bucatini noodles), and carbonara (w/bucatini). Everything was delicious! Gigi is the best sommelier, Axel is a warm bartender/waiter. I don't know why I haven't parked here at the bar more often. Sharing photos from past meals here...why not?!

I had the pleasure to dine at Penumbra on a Thursday evening. We were celebrating a graduation and…read morethe staff were very welcoming when we arrived. I was visiting from out of town and was not familiar with the parking around the area. I asked one of the staff members and immediately they reassured me that the side street would raking was totally fine to park just so long as it wasn't the front of the building where you have to pay. The food started with a complementary potato soup which was flavorful and lovely. We got a round of drinks and one of our party didn't care for her drink and it was replaced no question. We had the flat iron steak, the chicken, and the salmon and each entree was wonderful. The proteins were all very tender and juicy. I was also very pleased with the salad that came first which was lightly dressed and very seasonal. We finished our dining experience with a slice of cheesecake. It was a nice cap to the end of a wonderful meal. I would recommend this restaurant for any occasion - I would love to come back and try some of the other items on their menu.

**Hidden gem!!!**…read more Penumbra is SUPER sexy and low-key elite. This is one of those spots that will make you look like a total restaurant pro if you take someone there or recommend it. The ambiance is intimate, romantic, and just feels exclusive without trying too hard. I took my girl there for her birthday and she absolutely loved it -- which is always the real test. We had the ribeye and the Rotini Bianco, and both were excellent. The ribeye was cooked perfectly, tender and flavorful. The Rotini Bianco was rich, creamy, and done just right. Every dish felt intentional and well executed. Don't hesitate to book. If you're trying to impress or celebrate something special, this is the move.

Overall: 4.7/5 Food:…read more4.5/5 - we went in for the burger special which is only available Tuesdays/Wednesdays through April. The burger was very good - extremely flavorful and despite not being a smashburger it had great texture because they have these crispy potato matchsticks in the burger itself. The sauce was also very flavorful - the bun was extremely fluffy and lightly sweet - almost Hawaiian roll esque. No notes on the burger but the fries could have been crispier - but the sauce they came with was also very yummy. We also got the salad and it was quite nice but requires some effort because they leave some of the lettuce in large chunks - the bacon on the salad is stellar but I think overall it could have used something with more acidity or brightness. I would definitely get the burger again :) Service: 5/5 fantastic - our server was super knowledgeable about the wines and equally helpful to our seasoned wine drinkers and the novices. Ambiance: 5/5 cute, great furnishings - we actually did comment that the chairs in the back dining area where we sat were very cozy. When it's not super busy you can easily select a table so I like this back area better.

I was honestly very disappointed by my experience with the owner. I had previously been very fond…read moreof this establishment and had always enjoyed coming here. However, after a very uncomfortable and disrespectful encounter with the owner, I no longer feel welcome. The interaction came across as extremely racist and made me feel targeted because of the color of my skin. I believe everyone deserves to be treated with respect, and I cannot support a business where I feel that people of my race are treated differently. Because of this experience, I will not be returning. It is unfortunate because I genuinely liked this place before this encounter.

Went on a saturday around 4 for some mid day drinks with my friends. The sparkling orange drink is…read moredelicious but a bit pricey. The bartender was awesome. I love how much space there is but it's better at night because when we got there it was super bright inside and no music was playing so the ambiance was a little off. Overall it was a great spot to chat and catch up while enjoying some drinks.

Such a fun spot! Great vibes and a funky, playful interior. They have a solid happy hour and great…read moredeals on wine bottles, which makes it an easy place to hang out. They currently have a Motorshucker popup. We ordered the charcuterie board, which was solid, and the disco chips, which were a little too greasy for our liking. The crab roll was refreshing and really tasty. Definitely worth checking out!

If you like cute and trendy wine bars, you have to go to Outside Voices. This was my first spot on…read moremy Chicago trip visiting my best friend. We met up here. I walked from the Blue Line and felt extremely safe. It's in such a pretty part of town. There are plenty of seating spaces both inside and outside. When you arrive, you find a table you like and then go up to the counter to order. They have QR codes everywhere so you can see the menu online. If you like natural wines this is the place for you. The people who work here are absolutely incredible. I came straight from the airport so had my suitcase and one of the bartenders offered to take my bag to the back which I adored. My friend also took a really long time to get there from work so I just hung out for a while and they didn't make me feel too weird about it. One of them even gave me a generous pour of the wine I got. I also ordered us a meat and cheese board which was simple, but nice. Do know that the prices are a bit high here. If you want to get a full bottle of wine the average price is about $60 for a bottle. The aesthetics of this bar are A+. It is really loud inside. The name says it all, you will be using outside voices. While we adored this place, the music was a bit loud so it was a little hard to catch up. That being said, we made the most of it. It also was the spot that I asked her to be my bridesmaid so it'll forever have a special place in my heart. If you're looking for a cute and trendy place, with fun music blasting, and a great vibe, this is it. I highly recommend Outside Voices.

Went for happy hour on a Friday and it was very cute! The place was a bit dead when we got there…read moreinitially but soon enough pretty much all tables were taken. They have plenty of board games and a disco diner vibe going on. Would recommend for a girls night out. Fav on the menu - dry rosé cider, fries with garlic aioli

I ordered their classic smashburger (double) and a Shirley temple. It was a good burger and…read morereasonably priced. Would skip the Shirley temple next time - it was grenadine heavy. There is limited seating inside. They have covered patio seating in the back. I came on a rainy Sunday and was able to enjoy the patio. They have two TVs in the patio area. You order and pay at the bar. Note: there is a credit card surcharge fee. Parking is free but can be a bit difficult to find.

I heard this charming little neighborhood bar serves up some pretty good smashburgers. My husband…read moreswears by it so he brought me to try! Upon arriving, the guy at the front door was super nice. It is very tight inside and seating is first come first serve. Patio seating is also available but its also not that big. Be prepared to possibly share a table with strangers on the patio cause seating is communal. Patio is also heated which was nice. We ordered The Pleaser burger with fries and cheese curds to share. I got a double cheeseburger and that thing was hefty (for me). Pretty darn good might I say! Seems like a chill place to eat and grab drinks with some friends!!

This is a nice restaurant with great upscale decor, service, drinks, and food without feeling…read morefancy. Prices are very reasonable too, especially during happy hour (every day!). We came on a Saturday and sat at the bar to enjoy a variety of menu items. I first got a mezcal drink to start, which was refreshing with the appetizers we got. We had the papaya salad, dan dan noodles, and mushroom butter dumplings off the happy hour menu. We also had the short rib dumplings - both dumplings were so delicious, the mushroom butter dumplings were more creamy/buttery whereas the short rib dumplings had more of a bbq savory taste. The dan dan noodles were saucy and delicious, and the papaya salad was light and refreshing. The poached prawns were also tasty and refreshing, and the bulgogi steak was definitely our favorite dish with excellent korean flavors and tender juicy pieces of steak. The potato pave was a nice tasty side to it as well. I'm so glad I finally got to try this cute spot and had an excellent meal!

Still great and the same as I remember! Service, food, drinks are all great!…read more We ordered an appetizer, a dumpling dish, noodles, fish, and a dessert.