we got really lucky and was able to get a reservation same day. this place had a really nice vibe…read moreto it, it was really loud but love the open kitchen concept. the servers attention was a 10/10 it felt like a really good team. our water cups never got below half full and they clear plates and replace silverware like a high end restaurant. we started off with the salmon poke which we were skeptical of because of the price but omg we were blown away by the flavors. didn't think chili crunch and strawberry and salmon went together but it all tasted so good like a harmony in your mouth. the quality of salmon was good too. the goat empanadas were really tasty too, was a good dish nothing to stand out about them. it didn't really taste like goat which is good to me. and the pork shank was a huge portion. we were worried with the first two dishes we didn't order enough for two people but it was such a big portion it was the perfect amount of food for two people. we loved the different sides and sauces that came with it. the meat by itself was good but when you combine it with the greens pickled onion the sauce the pita it was soooo good. everything just worked really well together. we left the plate with no crumbs. really good meal. no complaints :)

Background on me- I've worked in the food industry at low and high levels, eaten in many countries…read more Started from the bottom type of person- anyway I don't leave reviews. My experience went exactly like this. Imagine going to a movie, one of the better movies you've ever seen. You paid a premium to see this film ahead of time. 30 min in they begin to fast forward, skip scenes, turn the lights on and begin clean up. What I mean is on my engagement night, after a long long day I took my foodie wife to be out for a $300 "experience" which is really just sitting in front of the dessert station next to the expo area. So the food was ok- for all the knowledge ZERO cuts of quality meat. A little goat on a stick and a little tuna poke- the rest veggies which whatever is fine I'm just saying. I spent another $75 on drinks. OpenTable allowed me to book this at 1030pm the restaurant closes at 11pm I was upset and management would not come over and say hi or comp a drink. What restaurant would you be able to call and book a 6 course dinner experience 30min before close? Because it's an app you can hide behind the fact I should be looking at when you close to not book it? Managers profited $300 off me can't comp a drink on our engagement? I had a lovely time, the food wasn't bad, some interesting, service was ok, chefs stoners waiting to get off work. I get it. It's probably worth it but do not hit the last time or they act like you are keeping them late- which we did. I'd never book an experience 30min before close if I put it together. A cheap way for an app and restaurant to squeeze hard earned money out of peoples pockets is what I saw. Cheers

New favorite! Came downtown from the 'burbs for a show - my sweetie called ahead and we got a GREAT…read moretable just inside the door, perfect for people watching. Tasty drinks - the grapefruit pilsner was a perfect choice for a warm spring evening, and our server was funny and sweet. Sticky ribs appetizer was spot on, with just enough heat to keep it interesting. We shared the fish and chips - perfectly cooked, crunch and sweet, great fries! House made slaw and tartar sauce was out of this world! Gotta make one comment on something we didn't have. The next table over, two middle aged women order cheeseburgers. When they came out I almost regretted ordering the fish. They were huge, juicy, and looked incredible. This two ladies, drinking their Chardonnays polished them off, that's how good they were. Next time... Dessert? Why not? Sticky toffee cake please. Perfect with a cup of black coffee. Out the door and on our way - we'll be back! Thanks!

My brother wanted to try the infamous fish and chips here! The servers were quick and helpful. The…read morerestaurant was slightly upscale inside. 8.5/10 fish and chips: light and crispy! 6/10 Parker house rolls: nothing special to it 6/10 hot honey pizza: mainly honey missing the hot 7/10 burger: solid burger

"We stopped at The Purple Pig for lunch and we were pleasantly surprised at how great everything…read morewas. From the impeccable service to the great food, ambience and extensive wine list, we couldn't have been more pleased with our dining experience.

Just an amazing experience all around!! The tuna tartare was exceptional as well as the sorbet with…read moreBailey's. A little tight on seating but no complaints!!

The service was mind blowing. I've never had such thoughtful and attentive servers like them…read more The food was highly innovative and their creativity shines through each dish. You CANNOT go wrong with any dish you order, and I believe the menu rotates which adds to the charm of the restaurant.

Boka is consistently good food over the years and service is decent as well - definitely make a…read morereservation Bread 4/5 Carrots 5/5 Pasta 5/5 Chocolate dessert 4/5

Beautiful, grand old school lobby that takes you back in time. Rooftop restaurant and bar just as…read morespecial with a great view of the park and lake. Great vibe and ambiance. Service was to be as expected, top notch. Small menu but enough to appeal to all tastes and needs. Decided to go light for dinner and I chose the caesars salad with salmon. Great flavors and toppings on the salad. Salmon was just ok. Coworkers had tuna tartare (excellent) and the beet salad also with salmon (really good). Split the roasted carrots which were delicious, especially the sauce.

My friend and I were in Chicago recently and stayed at the Chicago Athletic Association. Our…read morereservation was made using The Hotel Collection, and it came with a credit, which we used in part for a late night snack and drinks at Cindy's Rooftop. While I wasn't a big fan of the taste of my drink and dessert, my friend enjoyed both of theirs. Rather, the service was excellent and the views were amazing. My friend ordered The Rocher for dessert, which includes hazelnut cake, mascarpone chantilly, and smoked maldon salt. I ordered a Baked Alaska, consisting of citrus cake, lemon cream, toasted meringue, and salted white chocolate crunch. We both also ordered cocktails. I cannot recall the name of the drinks. I asked for my drink to be fruity and sweet, but it wasn't enough of either for me. The Baked Alaska was fine but too much of various flavors. I wouldn't fault the restaurant for the drink or dessert taste as I know others really enjoyed theirs. Our server was most attentive and very helpful. We found that making a reservation on Open Table only offered a certain number of time slots, and all of them involved having dinner and not just drinks or a dessert. Reservations can also be made on their website though we chose to speak to the front desk about a reservation. Going up to the bar is first come, first serve though. We ended up making an Open Table reservation and were told it was okay to only order drinks and desserts. Cindy's is named in honor of Marian "Cindy" Pritzker, a beloved Chicago philanthropist. It sits on top of the 13th floor of the hotel under a glass atrium and offers views of Millennium Park, Lake Michigan, and beyond. Cindy's Rooftop is open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 11 PM, Friday from 11 AM to 12 Midnight, Saturday from 10 AM to 12 Midnight, and Sunday from 10 AM to 11 PM. Go to https://cindysrooftop.com to see a live terrace view, menus, private dining information, and more. If you're staying at or in the area of the Chicago Athletic Association, definitely go up to Cindy's Rooftop for the experience.

so glad we tried this place! we actually only waited about 15 mins to get seated at the bar on a…read morewednesday night around 7pm. we came here for my boyfriends birthday and we were so happy we chose to celebrate here. the two people that helped us was antonio and issa and they made the experience 10x better. they were very attentive and friendly and just easy to talk to. gave us good recommendations and good vibes. we both really liked our drinks and were happy with the spread the food came out. we got to eat the bone marrow first which also came with this really good sauce it was almost like a meat jam but was so good on the bread and then put some of the bone marrow on for the perfect bite. now the burger, you just have to try it because it really is that good. the sauce in it was so good and it just had a really good flavor. it was just an elevated burger. we got fries as well and we shared the burger so it we were really full after. the server brought out ice cream with a candle and some sort of chocolate sauce too which just made the overall experience. we were really happy with the service and food and it just made my bfs bday that much more special and memorable.

I have tried a lot of burgers but nothing has topped Au Cheval. I can never quite finish one but…read moreevery single bite is packed with flavor. It seriously hits every taste bud. Adding the pork belly and egg takes it to another level. The space is cozy and intimate but be prepared to wait. It can be anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Your best bet is to put your name in and wait for the text alert. Thankfully Small Cheval spots are around when I need a quicker fix. As for parking it is a bit tight with valet street parking and nearby lots as your options.

My friends and I have started a burger crawl throughout the city, and we had to have Gretel on the…read morelist! First time here for all of us, but definitely will not be our last! We started with a bunch of cocktails (I wish I remember the names.. but they were all so good!). Food to start, we ordered the Charcuterie, and the House Made Pretzel. We were obsessed with both! The charcuterie did not skimp out like some cheese/meat plates do.. it was a satisfying amount that we kept going back for more. The pretzel was outstanding, twisted and hot, perfectly soft and salty. To eat, I split the Gretel Griddle Burger and the Fried Chicken Sandwich with my friend because although we were there for the burger, I kept reading about the chicken sandwich being fantastic. Booyy they were not wrong!! As much as I loved the burger, the chicken sandwich was my favorite! Perfectly crispy, with this sweet and spicy glaze and the crunchy Asian pear slaw... OMG. I'm still dreaming about this! One thing we were excited about were the Elote Riblettes.. but I wouldn't order these again. I accidentally bit the whole thing and didn't realize they kept the core in, and I had to spit it out. And even after eating it properly it didn't feel like I got enough of it from those little bites. Loved the fries though! We didn't see a dessert menu but we would have definitely been interested in that. After all the drinks apps and the chicken sandwich I was feeling so full so I couldn't finish the burger so I got it wrapped to go. But let me tell you even when I reheated that burger the next day.. it was fantastic!! Overall we may have been the loudest and most obnoxious group (we get a bit excited haha) our waiter and the vibe were all matched! Genuinely loved this place, and looking forward to coming back soon.

I don't know, maybe I'm just a hater, but I've given Gretel a shot twice now and left disappointed…read moreboth times. It was mainly about the service. Disclaimer that both times we sat at the bar. So this has nothing to do with servers at the tables. It just felt cold and not at the level I would expect for the prices and reputation. For example, we ordered the smoked trout caesar salad once at the recommendation of a friend, and didn't love it. It was very, very fishy. Like not just the smoked trout itself, the dressing also tasted way heavier on the anchovies or something than we're used to. And we love caesars! We didn't say anything about it because it's literally in the name that it may be fishy. The issue was that it was so obvious we only took one bite that the bartender commented on it when he was clearing our plates. "Too fishy?" We confirmed. And then he took the full plate of food away that he himself had just agreed with wasn't great, and returned with our bill that still charged us $20 for a salad. I mean, it's fine. But it's just an example of the kind of service you get there. We were barely checked on, even when drinks were empty. Even when making eye contact. Even when we were obviously done eating for several minutes and the bartenders were staring at our plates.Even after asking for a check and watching conversations happen leisurely behind the bar while we sat there. I know sitting at the bar is a different style of service, but it ventured more into inattentive than spacious. The space is cool. The food is fine. It just doesn't make up for feeling like a burden when I'm paying $100+ for lunch for two.

Bavette's definitely deserves more than 5 stars. You can never go wrong with anything you order and…read morethe service is phenomenal. I think of Bavette's ALL the time, ever since I tried it, I feel like I can't find another restaurant like it. Reservations are definitely hard to book, but it is worth the trouble. We went here for my partner's birthday and everything about it was perfect. The steak, the sides, and even the dessert were lovely. The restaurant is beautifully lit with intimate seating. We definitely feel very special for this very special occasion. The server (forgot his name) was so kind, he made sure we understood the menu and gave us his personal recommendations. Would love to come here again, perhaps for another special occasion. I will always think of Bavette's P.S. The food was so good that I forgot to take photos of the other dishes we had. Bavette's had the best mashed potatoes ever

The restaurant had a comfortable, intimate atmosphere with soft, low lighting…read more The service was seamless, explained the menu well, help made decisions and suggestions. Everything ordered was given its proper time to enjoy. Started off with the small portion of the sourdough bread. Fresh and hot! Next was the mixed greens and apple salad. Simple, fresh lite dressing and crispy. This was also shared. Next was the short rib stroganoff, the short rib was very tender, perfectly cooked. Great flavor. Finished the dinner with 6 oz filet mignon. Medium, cooked perfectly , tender meat. Highly recommend. Along with the brussel sprouts and the sweet potatoes. Both had great flavors and are easy shareable. The thick cut bacon was mouthwatering . The desserts were good. The chocolate pie and the crème brûlée. If you were to skip on dessert you wouldn't be missing out. The cocktails were delicious. I recommend the bees knees and the Lillet Rosé.

Awesome neighborhood spot! I live in the area and I love coming here. The food is always awesome…read moreand the service is stellar. The birria egg rolls are incredible and I love the fried chicken sandwich. The grouper sandwich was perfectly seasoned and flavorful. The chicken strips were more like patties and so crispy! Definitely worth a side order of them! All the drinks were very nice including the sangria's. The sliders were the most tender steak I've ever had. The servers are always very personable and attentive. The happy hour is a killer deal definitely check it out if you get a chance and don't pass on those egg rolls! Great lively spot for a date night, meal with some friends, or a late night drink. Very chill atmosphere. They have random and dope selection of high end wines offered by the half or full glass! Can't wait to come back.

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!

I've come here with my boyfriend a handful of times and we love it. We like to try different…read morecocktails every time. The mimosa on a nice summer day on the patio is my happy place. The entrees are amazing too. The rice with the chicken skewer is my favorite so far and my boyfriend loves the beef and lamb skewer. The service has always been great as well. We've had the same server a couple times now and she's friendly and gets the job done. (Wish I could remember her name!) The ambience is great. With natural light coming in and the soft lamps, it's calming. Truly a beautiful restaurant.

So disappointed. I…read morecame about 5 years ago and loved my meal, especially the sticky date cake, which lingered in my memory as my favorite all time dessert. This year I was so excited to bring my family and Ema was the only restaurant in Chicago I couldn't wait for them to try. I booked it as our final meal in Chicago and lay awake at 4am being so disappointed in my choice. Our server's greeting was monotone and emotionless, which I realize now, would be foreshadowing the meal to come. Ordered the following 1) Smoky eggplant- arrived appearing as an unappetizing curdled purple grey mush. This was the worst tasting baba ghanouj I have ever eaten. It was acidic and had the texture of cottage cheese. The only redeeming thing about this appetizer was the warm naan. 2) house made stratciatella with side of green falafels- The stratciatella was bland and stringy. I would not order this dish expecting the creamy interior of typical burrata. However, if you like string cheese mixed with heavy cream- you may enjoy this dish. The tomatoes and basil were good. 3) chicken kefta- kefta was bland, rice even blander . 4) short rib with polenta- bland and the meat and polenta had the same texture, which seems impossible but somehow the plating was over complicated by the addition of mushy dates and grapes. 5) buttered noodles- my 8 year old ordered this. It was decent with a good amount of Parmesan and cooked perfectly al dente. By the end of the meal, I was so shocked by how terrible the food was I didn't even want to order the sticky date cake that was my main purpose for returning to this restaurant. Ema, what happened to you?!