Grwat little spot for Happy Hour, the prices and especially the food were terrible We live dually in our condo downtown on Oak Street and in our home in Chicagoland so this was supposed to be a treat for us We shall never return read more

My boyfriend and I were visiting from Hawaii and chose Eight Bar to celebrate his 30th birthday with his siblings. We spent around $500 on dinner and drinks, and while the food was genuinely excellent, the service completely overshadowed what should have been a special night. When I made the reservation a week in advance, I noted that we were celebrating my boyfriend's 30th birthday and asked if the restaurant could help make it special. I had seen reviews mentioning personalized birthday touches, such as the printed menus with the guest's name on it, so I was a little disappointed when nothing was acknowledged. Not a huge deal, though I understood those things aren't guaranteed. Throughout the evening, our server was difficult to find. At one point, my boyfriend ordered another glass of wine and waited so long that we had to flag down another employee to help us. We frequently found ourselves looking around for our server whenever we needed something. The biggest issue came at the end of the night. Since it was my boyfriend's birthday, he and I ordered significantly more than his siblings, so we politely asked if the bill could be split into two checks. The server's attitude changed immediately. What had started as friendly service became noticeably cold and irritated. Near the end of the meal, the server brought over a tray with birthday shots and a candle. Since there hadn't been any other birthday acknowledgment, I thought it was a nice gesture. Later, I realized we had actually been charged for the shots, which made it feel much less like a birthday treat and more like an upsell. When the bill arrived, it stated that gratuity was included. Because of that wording, we believed the tip had already been added. We wanted to clarify, but once again our server was nowhere to be found. We eventually paid and left. What happened next was honestly shocking. The server followed us outside the restaurant and loudly told us that gratuity was not included. I immediately apologized for the misunderstanding and handed him $60 in cash. Instead of simply accepting it, he turned to my boyfriend's sister and said, "Oh, so you're not going to tip?" in a very rude and confrontational tone. She was literally reaching for her wallet to tip and then stormed off before she could even tip. The entire interaction was incredibly unprofessional and embarrassing. No customer should be chased outside a restaurant over a misunderstanding, especially after spending hundreds of dollars and attempting to correct the situation as soon as it was brought to our attention. Not to mention while we were waiting for valet another group left with a printed out birthday sign and was taking photos of it infront of the business. The food was fantastic, which is why this review is one star. However, the service was some of the worst I've experienced, and it completely took away from what should have been a memorable birthday celebration. read more

Cool spot to stop in for a drink in the Gols Coast! Inventive cocktails, friendly staff, and delicious bites. Pro Tip: nice spot for an elevated brunch read more

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Great experience here but felt kinda rushed by one of the managers( didn't get his name) great Hh mini martinis for $8 each and handrolls for $8 each also. Cute cute spot. First time I sat inside bc it was so cold. It was a little chilly this time but warm/cool enough to sit outside on their maple street patio. Me and my friend opted for 3 handrolls each and 2 martinis each. read more

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Eight Bar was enjoyable and worth dropping back in if I were already in the neighborhood, though I wouldn't make a special trip. The atmosphere is the standout here-it has a "little bit sexy," moody vibe that makes it a great place for a casual date or a drink. Service was fine and attentive enough throughout the meal. As for the food, the burger is definitely above average. The patties were nice and tender, and while I found the bun could have been a bit softer, it was very tasty overall. I also tried the King Crab sushi hand roll from the happy hour menu. It was solid, but I was slightly disappointed by the pacing of the kitchen; the burger actually arrived before the sushi. It would have made much more sense for the hand roll to come out as a starter rather than following the heavy main. Overall, it's a good spot with a cool vibe, just a few minor hiccups in the experience. Rounding up, but 3.53 stars. read more

Eight Bar - Downstairs Burger - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I stopped by this restaurant for a glass of sparkling rose prior to another reservation. The ambiance on the porch was relaxing on a beautiful day. I accompanied the rose' with the Miyazaki Wagyu Nigiri, topped with caviar and sweet soy. The waygu melted in my mouth. It was prepared to perfection. I recommend this restaurant for a special occasion, brunch or for an upscale night out. read more

Eight Bar - Miyazaki Wagyu Nigiri with caviar and sweet soy - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Have been to Maple and Ash a few times, until we discovered the bar downstairs has the sushi. And the kindest bartenders and servers. We've now switched preferences and have eaten down here the past 3 or 4 times. Excited to visit this weekend with our 2 daughters...feeling a little guilty bringing them but are totally prepared to bail and pack our meal if need be. Vibe is very cool and intimate with lavish booths and excellent service. Excited to return! read more

This place is so nice. It truly has such a great vibe to it, perfect for a date night or hanging out with friends. The service was good and there's also seating outside in a heated area especially during the winter. The handrolls were really good. I really liked the king crab truffle which you definitely can taste the crab. We also tried their salmon miso which the daemon tasted so fresh. Also their Hamachi jalapeño was really good as well. The martini we was was the mini version and we got their expresso martini and the dirty martini. Will definitely be back to try other thing son their menu. read more

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We walked inside and it's so nice. There was Christmas decoration and it really makes the place really nice. We came for their happy hour and I got the expressotini which was mini but good. We also got their handrolls which was filled with rice and by the second one I was already filled. We got their salmon miso and hamachi jalapeño hand rolls, but the king crab and truffle was really good. You can definitely taste the king crab. I would say this happy hour is worth it. Being located in the Gold Coast, we came for my birthday happy hour crawl and it was really nice. Will be coming back soon. They also has seating outside in a little heated area with fur seats which would have been nice if I would have known. read more

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Amazing, so good! $$$ but worth it! Cocktails were balanced and refreshing, had the lamb lollies, my favorite of the night. Sexy cozy atmosphere read more

We recently visited Eight Bar underneath Maple & Ash and had a pretty good experience. The happy hour is solid, and the drinks feel elevated--definitely a step above your average bar cocktails. The outdoor seating was nice, though we did wish we could've sat indoors though the heater was nice. The food service was good, the sushi happy hour and tiny tinis. Overall, a decent spot for drinks and a casual bite, but a few small things could be improved. read more

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Small with limited seating so definitely recommend a reservation. The tuna crispy rice comes with one piece at a time and it was tasty. I got the steak frites which was good but didn't blow my mind. The burger is very reasonably priced and I would recommend that! It's like an up scale Big Mac which I loved. The fries are delicious as well. One thing of note was that I wrote that there was a birthday and our server didn't ask or mention anything for that. That was pretty disappointing because at a restaurant like that, you would expect them to take note. read more

Eight Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went here on a Wednesday with two friends around 4:30pm for happy hour. We got lucky to be seated right away with no reservations. It's a cute space but is small so would recommend making reservations. I ordered the salmon miso and spicy tuna hand rolls. The hand rolls were fine but a little pricy. My friend ordered the dirty martini and it was good. It's on the briny side since it's more olive juice than vodka - if that's what you're looking for, order that. read more

I want to first start with saying that if you come to visit Chicago, and do not come to Eight Bar, that you are 100 percent missing out on the absolute best experiences in the city. This is an absolute must. The sushi service at the bar is second to absolute none. Chef Hari his assistant Susie and their recipes are magnificent in taste, matched by wonderful service / experience. This place is absolutely lucky to have them both. Huge shout out to chef Hari. Ivan and Cassandra at the bar are simply magnificent. They connect and make the experience so organic and comfortable! The level of care and joy they bring to your experience is what really makes this place special. Amazing amazing job!!! read more

A good spot for a business lunch or a low key date. Lower-key compared to other gold coast options, but not cheap by any means. The menu has some M&A items, but far easier to get a reservation. Good cocktails with a small selection of n/a options. Nice atmosphere whether inside or on the patio. Great service. We were in a bit of a rush and the staff got us in and out pretty quickly which was appreciated. Had the best salmon I've had in a while. I snatched some of my lunch companion's fries and they were perfect. The tuna roll was kinda meh, but everything else I really liked. A really solid choice for lunch, but for dinner I'd personally rather eat upstairs at Maple & Ash. Pricing is comparable and for that kind of cash, I'd rather have more of an experience. read more

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Food was OK. Drinks were pretty good love their outdoor patio service was a little slow, especially considering how empty it was. Was a little disappointed came here specifically for the photo finish to end out our Chicago trip however they are out of film. Good place in terms of atmosphere other aspects were lacking. read more

This place is so loud you literally have to yell at the person sitting with you . Other than that the food and especially the service are excellent . Our waiter was very friendly and he was spot on with his recommendations . He recommended us to get the oyster to finish our dinner and they were the best thing we had that night . Prices are on the high side but totally worth it . read more

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Coctails were pricey but that's the norm now. Food was good except for the shrimp tempura which was BAD unfortunately. Nice big prawns so such a waste. They were panko breaded/everything bagel seasoning, not tempura in any way shape or form. Good service/good vibe. Feta dip was good. My daughter liked the sushi. read more

This is THE SPOT! Absolutely incredible ambiance, staff, and vibe. There are so many amazing dishes to choose from, and the Eight Bar Burger is the best burger in town. Highly recommend adding this to your Chicago must do list! read more

Eight Bar - Eight Bar Burger - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Eight Bar is Maple and Ash's newly renovated, more casual establishment. It's basically in the same location, but the entrance is off to the left and it's a darker, more intimate space on the inside. There is a huge bar and a couple tables inside, but most of the seating I noticed was outside on the patio. The menu is different in terms of its more casual and quick bites, but you can still find a lot of maple and ashes menu items on this menu as well. The service here was wonderful and the staff had great recommendations when we asked for their preferences on certain items. They even brought my mother over the new drink because she wasn't enthused about the drink recommendation the waiter gave her. He was super nice about it and even though she didn't want a replacement, he brought her one anyways!! The tuna bites are to die for. They are quite expensive but it literally melts in your mouth and is so aesthetically pleasing with the gold flakes on top. The octopus was also fantastic. We also got a crab roll, which was delicious and you could tell it was very fresh. I will definitely return here, especially to sit outside on the patio on a beautiful Chicago day. It is expensive, but well worth it and quite the scene. I really want to check this place out for brunch as well read more

Eight Bar - Octopus - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cute happy hour martinis and snacks. Romantic and fun atmosphere! Make a reservation if you can to ensure a spot. Love this spot!! read more

Eight Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Love Eight Bar - the king crab roll, burger, caviar mozzarella stick, cocktails. Happy hour with everything $8. Late night - has it all.

Aperol Happy Hour. The spritz is $15 dollars which isn't really much of any deal but you do get $9 tune and king crab hand rolls which I did indulge in but didn't snap a pic of. The patio is delectable. The service really good. According to Emily the salad was really good, especially with the warm bacon. I at this point I've been to 3 different Maple and Ash/Eight Bar happy hours: 9-11pm happy hour, tower hour and now aperol spritz. read more

Eight Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Trying to think of a special place to have our small celebratory engagement dinner, I couldn't think of any other place that has raved reviews after raved reviews. I didn't realize the patio was a completely different menu, but we weren't disappointed either way. Roberto was our waiter and the staff was on point at all times. Some of the best service in Chicago, in my opinion. We got a custom menu to celebrate our engagement and Roberto was kind enough to treat us all to a glass of champagne for a toast. It was such a delightful touch. He also recommended a great bottle of wine that got us perfectly toasty for the cold night we visited on. The patio is completely covered and warm inside - warm enough to take your coat off just FYI. The food is really good and pricey - so be prepared. We absolutely loved everything we got (which I'll list below), but I think next time, we'll opt out of getting the steak. We'll never learn our lesson that steaks are just better cooked at home. But hey, that's just our opinion. Chopped salad (maple & ash wedge) - refreshing, light, flavorful, and crispy. The dressing isn't overpowering. It's big enough to share with 2-3. Dry aged Meatballs - a must! So good, cheesy, and flavorful. Comes with a side of bread and four meatballs. Topped with sauce, perfect for dipping. Don't skip! 28oz bone-in Ribeye - I absolutely love fat. This one was perfectly medium rare and came on the bone. There was a little too much grizzle that made a few parts tough to chew. Like I said, I really like the fat so I was bummed to not get much out of this. Mashed potatoes - do not skip! I repeat, do not skip. This is also a just. A side large enough to split with 2-3 but honestly, you won't want to. It's a 50/50 mashed potatoes I believe. At least that's how it tasted. Completely smooth and creamy. Next time I'll be getting this and trying the Mac and cheese. Coconut cream pie - highly recommend, even if you're a chocolate lover. So light and refreshing. It was the first to go at a table full of chocolate lovers. Chocolate cake - it had a hazelnut topping that was crunchy and a the perfect texture complement. The rest was a little too dense for me. That doesn't mean it wasn't great. I just preferred the coconut cream pie. Next time I'll try the bone marrow and a few other items. I wasn't with the most explorative group of people that eat absolutely anything like myself haha. read more

Eight Bar - Chopped salad, custom menu, and great company - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Made a reservation at 12 exactly when they open, pretty chill vibe has a big bar and wide selections of cocktails, food is pretty well priced, customer service is A1. Really friendly and answered all my questions about the menue I ordered half oysters and king nigiri, came out pretty quickly and man the fish and oyster were soo fresh! The nigiri was 8pcs, Parking street parking if you can find it or $20 valley parking. read more

Eight Bar - Half oysters - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great service and excellent food. The patio at maple and ash is a more casual version of the inside area. The menu is also a little different but it still offers all the goods. I love their ricotta agnolotti and the octopus appetizer. I'm not a huge fan of the New York strip cut just in general so I would love to come back and sit in the formal dining area to try a filet. Would definitely recommend Maple & Ash for any celebration or fun occasion. They even give you customized menus! read more

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Super fun place! Service is amazing and food is great however a little pricey. I love coming here for celebrations however it is a small space so book ahead! read more

The "Patio" dining is the bar area dining, while the main restaurant was upstairs I believe. Very busy for a weekday. We started off with the meatballs which were delicious but on the borderline of being too salty with the sauce. Our main entrée which took slightly longer to come out, was the steak frites and the steak dip sandwich. Again the sandwich was great, but with the dip, it made it too salty. The steak was cooked well and seasoned beautifully. Our waiter was decent for the most part. read more

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I took my lady here for her birthday. I had no idea that the patio was separate from the inside dining room. But the patio was heated and comfortable. There's about as much space in the patio as there is inside. The only difference is that the dining room menu has a few more options. I got the steak frites. I haven't had the best experiences with Chicago steak houses but this one is near the top. Great quality steak prepared perfectly. Our host Brayan was awesome with helping us make our selections. For Steak house recommendations, this should be a top 5 option. read more

Eight Bar - Classic Steak Frites - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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While attending a conference in Chicago, we enjoyed dinner at this restaurant. The food was exceptional, and the staff provided outstanding service. Our experience from the moment we arrived was fantastic, and I'm very eager to return. I highly recommend trying the truffle pasta! read more

8 Bar is the perfect accessory to a fine dining steakhouse. If you would like a nice glass of wine or an incredible burger without all that goes with a reservation and planning of a hotspot steakhouse, you can pop into 8 Bar on the first floor of Maple & Ash for a relaxing and wonderful experience. I love visiting 8 Bar on a whim, on my way home from work or when I have a little free time. Sometimes I get a bite to eat and others just a cocktail. Everyone all dolled up, going to Maple & Ash walk through 8 Bar to go upstairs so it's fantastic for people watching. The room is small with a large bar flanking one side and seating along the other. Dimly lit, casual elegance and a relaxing atmosphere makes this a perfect neighborhood spot. Service is always friendly. Gordon the Maitre d' is incredible! Although he is in charge of the full service restaurant upstairs, he can be seen coming through 8 Bar checking on everything. He always stops to say hello. I always feel welcome and appreciated. I highly recommend 8 Bar. Gold Coast neighbors, other locals and tourists will enjoy themselves for sure! read more

Eight Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mid lol. I've eaten upstairs and down; ordered Sashimi Ponzu and the Caviar Cheesestick. Cuts of fish were tough. The cheesestick could've been served warmer. Unappealing. I just want to eat my food and say "Yum" afterwards lol. read more

Had the best time at the bar here. Service was outstanding, wine was flowing and food was yummy. Loved the vibe, especially if you're wearing something a bit more casual than upstairs attire. Would definitely go back and get more of the sushi! read more

We went to Maple & Ash to celebrate a birthday dinner. The dining room reservations are usually booked far in advance. We were lucky to get patio seating which was warm and cozy. The service was great. I loved the downstairs burger and the mac & cheese. Definitely recommend both! I'm not a huge fan of french onion soup but my husband said it was really good! read more

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Nice, lowkey spot situated on the floor below Maple & Ash. There's patio seating out front that fills up quickly, especially on a beautiful summer, weekend. There are over-sized booths inside, facing the bar. I came here to unwind on a Friday, for a quick drink and appetizer. The bartender accommodated my request for a French 75, though it was not listed on the menu. The crab legs were to die for! They were delicious, perhaps with slightly too much butter, but it wasn't a deal breaker. The baseball game and a tennis match played on either tv. It was great to get away from the Maple and Ash crowd and relax with fewer people. read more

Eight Bar - Drink menu - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

it was beautiful night in summer . Food was good but overall ambiance so nice . Service great

Amazing food. Had a great server, Donte. The king crab hand roll- will be dreaming about this combination of flavors for the rest of my life. Great atmosphere, highly recommend. 10/10 no notes. read more

I would say it's a must visit when in the CHI. We chose an early afternoon resi for 4:45pm on a sunny day which was a good idea. Be careful with the bees around but it wasn't too bad. We were celebrating a new job on my behalf so it was a good reason to get dressed and go to a cute girls dinner. Drinks were good ! My sushi was amazing. And we shared the Mac and cheese. They even customized the menu to match the occasion. Highly recommend if you want a reason to get dressed up and be fine while you dine :-) read more

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She fancy!!! This may be a patio but let's be serious it's still Maple and Ash. The white table clothed patio is situated right on Maple and is an A+ people watching spot. You will spot the restaurant easily because 9 times out of 10 there will be a Lambo, Ferrari or Bentley parked in front. This is also the spot to wear your fav IG outfit. Dress is smart/dressy to cocktail One of my favorite dishes to get is the lunch lobster roll but you have to get there before 3 to get it. Since I missed the window this past visit my server let me know I could get the 1/2 Maine lobster and it was that same lobster they serve on the roll. I took her suggestion and added the Mac and cheese to replace my carbs from the roll - those are equal right ? We also added the dry aged meatballs for a lunchtime surf and turf. Service was fast and on point through lunch and our cocktails remained full. I tried the Spanish secrets and Admired from afar cocktails both were very balanced but wow, Admired from afar wins prettiest cocktail! If you want to take it to the next level they also have a cocktail cart that offers table side concoctions. It was tequila the day that I went not sure if it's always tequila but who doesn't love a table side cocktail? Don't forget to check your metal cocktail straw for a sassy message!!! While the prices are at the higher end I wouldn't recommend this for just a casual lunch but it's a nice spot for a special occasion, date or celebration. Many people around us were there were some type of celebration and they do offer personalized menus which is also a nice touch. read more

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It was a beautiful day so we decided to do some shopping in the area with the intention of eating at another restaurant. However when we walked past 8 Bar, the patio area just looked too nice to pass up. We weren't all that hungry so we decided to order a few appetizers instead of full entrees. We got the French onion soup, burrata, shrimp cocktail and oysters. I was a big fan of the burrata! The baguette was so nicely toasted and the tomatoes went perfectly with the cheese. The shrimp cocktail surprised me- I initially thought it would be regular sized shrimp in higher quantity, but instead they came out with 4 ginormous shrimp. It came with standard cocktail sauce, butter and garlic aioli, of which the butter was definitely my favorite. The oysters were a little small for 3 dollars a piece but I get it, it's not exactly oyster season. They tasted pretty fresh though and sweet which I like (not a huge fan of salty oysters). Not a huge fan of French onion soup so I can't say much about that but my fiancé seemed to enjoy it. The top is covered with cheese though so be careful taking the first bite! read more

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