Came in for brunch when we normally only come for dinner. Scott and Julie were our serves and they…read moredid an amazing job, very attentive. Weather was nice so we opted for their outdoor patio seating. I will say the host seemed like she was sad and having a rough day, however she still wished us a good day on our way out with a smile, hope the poor girl is okay. The restaurants ambience is great and the food is spectacular as always. Me and my wife recommend the French toast as well as the sausage crostada!

Mockingbird has been an East Dundee fixture for a few years now, and it's now better than ever. It…read moreused to be a tight squeeze, with very limited indoor space, but they've now more than doubled their space and increased some of their food menu. I've been there many times, pre-renovation, and now twice since renovation. One of the things I like most is that the owner so clearly loves what she's doing and is almost always there, interacting with customers and bringing cheer and warmth. The place feels--especially in the summer time--like sitting on a European street. The food is always tasty (the deviled eggs especially), the drinks are creative. I could use a slightly wider cocktail list that incorporates varying base spirits and experiments a bit more, but what they serve up is good.

The suburbs don't usually inspire much confidence when someone tells you they're taking you out for…read morepizza. More often than not, you're looking at another tavern-cut pie, a dozen televisions screaming sports highlights, and a menu designed by committee. Safe. Predictable. Forgettable. Then there's Woodfire. I ended up here with my family celebrating my son's second birthday and was immediately reminded that every now and then, hidden among the endless strip malls and chain restaurants of the Chicago suburbs, you'll stumble across a place that actually gives a damn. The Vodka Pizza arrived looking almost too good to touch. Almost. Hot Calabrian vodka sauce. Fresh mozzarella. Shallot. Pepperoni. Ricotta. Basil. A combination that sounds familiar enough until that first bite lands and the heat punches through. Not the fake, watered-down, suburban version of spicy that restaurants use to avoid frightening anyone. This pizza has conviction. It has backbone. The Calabrian peppers make their presence known immediately and refuse to apologize for it. Good. Food should have an opinion. The crust, charred, blistered, beautifully imperfect, comes from house-made dough cooked in a wood-fired oven that sits like the beating heart of the restaurant. Every pie carries those little marks of fire that remind you an actual human being made it. Not a conveyor belt. Not a timer. Fire. Flour. Skill. And speaking of things that deserve respect, let's talk about the bar. Kevin has become something of a local legend in Dundee. The kind of bartender whose name gets mentioned before the cocktail list. The kind of guy who understands that making drinks isn't about pouring alcohol into a glass. It's hospitality, theater, craftsmanship, and just enough mischief to keep things interesting. Still chasing the heat from the pizza, I ordered the Spicy Flamingo. A dangerous drink. Sweet enough to invite you in. Spicy enough to keep you paying attention. The kind of cocktail that disappears faster than you intended and leaves you contemplating a second before the first one is gone. Around us, bussers moved through the dining room like a pit crew at Daytona. Tables were cleaned before they looked dirty. Empty glasses vanished. New guests were seated. The machine never stopped moving. Then there's Chef Mason. It's obvious someone in that kitchen understands the difference between cooking food and feeding people. There's technique here. Knowledge. Discipline. But thankfully none of the self-important nonsense that infects so many restaurants once they start believing their own press. Woodfire isn't trying to change your life. It's not trying to educate you. It's not trying to be the coolest restaurant in the room. Like Ferris Bueller, it understands that life moves pretty fast. So instead of chasing trends, it focuses on making exceptional handmade pizza, memorable pasta, serious cocktails, and creating a place where people actually want to spend an evening. In a world full of restaurants desperately trying to be something, Woodfire succeeds by simply being exactly what it is. And that's a hell of a lot rarer than it should be.

Woodfire fits naturally into the heart of Dundee -- relaxed, welcoming, and easy to enjoy. The…read morepizza is the highlight, bringing a fun, flavorful approach that works well for both casual nights out and group dinners. The pasta and appetizers are solid across the board, and the drinks round out the experience nicely. It's the kind of neighborhood spot that may not try to overreach, but consistently delivers a good time and a satisfying meal.

I am SO grateful this establishment is here in our town of Algonquin! The gals are personable,…read moreattentive, and knowledgeable about their vast selection of whiskey, wine, and trivia! My partner and I (early 30's) have been regulars for over a year. We look forward to trivia every Tuesday (and a few spontaneous nights between). You cannot beat the rotating wine tastings weekly and the charcuterie is killer! Made fresh to order every time!! Whether it's a special date night or a quick stop in, you are bound to have a fantastic drink (highly recommend the whisky sour) and some cheeky conversations with the lovely women work here! Kristi is truly dedicated to the business and has created a great space for the community to come together. We HIGHLY recommend you check out W&W!

Whiskey & Wine does exactly what its name promises -- and to its credit, it does those two things…read morevery well. The selection is deep, especially for whiskey, and it's a fun place to try bottles you're unlikely to run into elsewhere. There's a simplicity to the concept that works, though it comes with limits. No full bar and no food menu keep the experience fairly narrow, but if you come for a pour, a conversation, and a little exploration, it delivers exactly what it sets out to be.

We went for the Mother's Day brunch. And everything tasted so good. I was so happy they had the…read moreTiramisu its my favorite and they have one of the best ones. I also loved their nutella cheesecake. The prime rib was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The ham looked dry but i did have it and it wasnt dry so looks can be deceiving lol. The Garlic roasted chicken was also a fav, the chicken was juicy and tasty. Service was great and they had a Valet service specificalky for this occasion. Definitely coming back because i still want to try their grilled octopus. Happy Eating!

We met here with a work group. All of us in town for a meeting. The food took so long and it got so…read morelate I had to go because I hadn't planned on eating so late. The table server was kind and polite but could not cover for the slow cook. I left my coworkers who opted to wait it out. The slow food service kept the others another 30 minutes before they got their orders served. Could have been an anomaly but I'd call this a failure. I hope for their sake they find a chef.

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant is always a solid dinner choice for me, but only recently did I…read moretry their brunch! The salted caramel donuts and the Cooper's Hawk steak and eggs were some of the best items I've had from there. Let's start with the salted caramel donuts because...wow. They come out warm, soft, and perfectly golden with just the right amount of sweetness. The outside has that light crisp, the inside is fluffy, and paired with the salted caramel flavor, they're dangerously easy to keep reaching for. Definitely a must-order for the table. The Cooper's Hawk steak and eggs were just as impressive. The steak was cooked exactly how I wanted, tender, flavorful, and not overdone. The eggs were perfectly done, and the potatoes were crispy on the outside but soft inside, which really pulled the whole dish together. It's one of those meals that feels indulgent but still balanced enough for brunch. Between the cozy atmosphere, great service, and food that actually delivers, this is one of those spots I'll keep coming back to--especially for those donuts alone.

My wife and I stopped in with some friends for a quick bite after a road trip. We planned ahead…read morewith a reservation and after 5 minute wait sat in the bar area (or favorite) but also pretty loud so be prepared. Or server was bright, thoughtful and attentive. She had great energy and seemed to really liked what she does. Keep that up! While most us ordered smash burger, chicken sandwich and flatbread, my wife ordered Country Rigatoni. She doesn't get any protein but adds a few things like spinach. Looked so good and she raves about it. We had some wine tastings for the month which we're exporting, so we converted into a couple glasses of wine and used one of our two $25 rewards. So, made it an easy affordable choice. See you next time!

Stopped by this past Sunday to do what we often do, order something to drink and quick bite while…read moresitting at the bar. It's one of our favorite spots, second to the outdoor patio. Conversations with the staff and occasionally the customers seems to just flow naturally. Has a Cheers feel where familiar faces meets welcoming atmosphere. Sydney, server and bartender, recently introduced a new set of cocktails. Adventurous as I am, I had to try the Campfire (I think that's what it's called). Made with Scotch and a hand toasted marshmallow (see pic), it was smooth and smoky (though no smoke is involved), capturing the essence of a campfire and S'mores. Easily a new favorite. Awesome Sydney!!!!!! My wife wasn't too hungry, but I ordered the Chicago Chopped Cheese from the specials menu (see pic). Surprisingly good and didn't expected the style. Chef Mark is on a role lately, as I have tried all but one of the specials. Keep it going. Be back soon!

The girls still love to have our girls night out dinner at Village Vintner. We have been back a…read morecouple times since my first review. Service is still great. The last time we went, it was pretty early and it was quiet. Food is always very good; I still don't drink wine, so I still cannot comment on it, but the iced tea was lovely the last time I was there.

The Saddle Room has a way of making a night out feel a little more special. The food is…read moreconsistently good, the drinks are fun without trying too hard, and the atmosphere strikes that rare balance between polished and relaxed. What really makes it stand out is the ambiance -- warm, inviting, and tailor-made for date night. It's the kind of place that may not shout for attention, but quietly delivers a very enjoyable experience.

Went there in a party of 3 last night for a special occasion celebration. It should be noted they…read morewere not busy, we only had one other table in our area that was occupied. The waiter was fine, just not overly helpful when asking about dishes and drink options. We ordered calamari as an app, which was a joke because it came with 5 pieces of calamari and the rest of the dish was filled with nonsense fried lemons and olives. We asked for bread, never got it. I ordered the seared ahi tuna and it was terrible, just a pile of sloppy rice with large chunks of egg and the tuna thrown on top. The waiter only came back once because someone else brought the food out, so where we likely would have ordered more drinks we did not. In all fairness my partner said the pork shank was incredible. Probably won't go back because at that price point we would expect better service and quality. The ambiance is beautiful and the restaurant is dark and lovely. It's a shame the quality and experience isn't the same as it once was.