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Decided to try Gilt Bar after enjoying a great meal at its sister restaurant Cici Mio's (next door) a few months ago. The prime rib French dip had excellent reviews so I decided to have that for my entree. The sandwich was cut into four pieces with made it easier to dip and eat which was nice. The flavor was very good and the au jus brought that flavor up to another level. It came with fries which were served hot and crisp but needed more salt to make their flavor pop. Overall it was a very solid French dip albeit slightly overpriced at $30. For that price point, I would expect freshly sliced medium rare/medium beef off of a prime rib roast. Now for the carrot cake. This was a show stopper when it came to freshness and flavor. Toasted coconut flakes provided an unexpected textural contrast and the icing was (I believe) a brown butter cream cheese that was slight spiced. This was not your mom's carrot cake. This was elevated carrot cake and although pricey at $14, it was amazing! If this restaurant ever paired Cici Mio's toasted almond cookie gelato with Gilt's carrot cake, it would be lights out!
Gilt Bar has been a Chicago favorite since 2010, and after my first visit I understand why. The space is dark, energetic, and packed with personality. This is not the place for a quiet conversation. It may be one of the loudest restaurants I've visited in quite some time, and a nearby birthday celebration only added to the energy. That said, the atmosphere is part of the appeal. If you're looking for a fun, celebratory evening with friends or family, Gilt Bar delivers. I can't imagine choosing it for a business dinner. We started with the Tenderloin Steak Tartare and onion rings. Both were excellent. My daughter was craving the Bolognese, while I ordered the vodka rigatoni. The portions were generous, and both dishes were flavorful and satisfying. The truffle mafaldine appears to be the menu's most celebrated pasta and receives plenty of attention on Yelp, but we were very happy with our selections. Service was spot on throughout the evening. Food arrived with good pacing, drinks were refreshed promptly, and our server struck the right balance between attentive and intrusive. For dessert, we shared the gooey skillet cookie. Be warned: this thing arrives at the table with nuclear-level heat. The vanilla ice cream isn't just there for flavor, it's there for protection. One unusual observation: the floors seemed surprisingly slippery throughout the restaurant, something we noticed more than once. Our bill came to $159 before tip, which felt reasonable given the quality of the food, service, and overall experience. Between the lively atmosphere, strong food, excellent service, and vibrant bar scene, it's easy to understand why Gilt Bar has remained popular for more than 15 years
(Kari's Rating 710) Although I've been here many times before, guilt bar rarely disappoints. It is extremely dark when you're inside almost like a dining room parlor so if you have bad eyes, bring a flashlight. It's relatively loud and the servers are very attentive, refilling water, and checking in on your needs. We started with a round of drinks, including an espresso martini, as well as a Hugo spritz. The espresso martini was nice because it was made for cold brew, which made it actually creamer, which was really great. It's good I mean we also proceed to order the Bronzino as well as the French dip with the side brussels sprouts. The brussels sprouts were tangy and sweet with a vinaigrette finish, but they were delightfully, smoky as well. The Bronzino was delicious and very filling, however, I did end up getting a decent amount of tiny bones in the first half which kind of made me slow down in the second half. The French tip was also very large, with four pieces as well as a warm au jus. However, the ratio of meat to bread was slightly off with a little extra, toasted bread, being a little too much. Overall, it was a pretty great dinner, I would definitely come back in a group, but I'm not sure if I would come back alone.
My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary, and we had an amazing experience here. Our server was kind and attentive, she recommended great options. The ambiance was everything I wanted and more. Food was amazing, everything tasted homemade. Loved the Photo Booth in the downstairs area!
Ambiance is on point, sexy, swanky, moody, vibey. Intimate little tables, big space. Long wait time, we waited about an hour and half to be seated. But the food was well worth it. We shared bone marrow and it was the best bone marrow I've had as well as the best portions! Delicious!! We also got the truffle pasta and Brussel sprouts- absolutely amazing. For the drink I forget the name but it was good, nice presentation but I would probably try a different one next time. They also had a Photo Booth downstairs on the way to the bathroom -that was a hoot. I guess they have a speakeasy downstairs as well called the library bar- but they had a private event so we couldn't check it out. Good times!
We came for their happy hour and it was good. The mussels was small but flavors were so good. The bone marrow and jam in the side was really good with the bread that came with it. We also got their stuff mushroom which was so crunchy. We got seated outside and it was so nice. The little sliders were enough for two and it was really good. Definitely will be back to try other things on the menu.
We live right around the corner from gilt bar and absolutely love it. It's always a fun ambiance and the drinks are delicious. They also have a GREAT happy hour (even on Saturdays!!!) and the food is fantastic. The mussels are mine and my husbands favorite, and we've tried mussels at lots of places. And if you want a little change of scenery, you can go to the speakeasy downstairs! There's also a fun Photo Booth right by the speakeasy. Only con is that there can be a wait later in the night.
The ambiance is very moody - dark and bougie, which is fun to go with friends! We ordered the mussels and onion rings as starters, and then the wagyu cheeseburger and spicy orrichette (spelling?). The mussels with garlic bread is amazing and the wagyu cheeseburger was delicious. It's owned by the same ppl who run Au Cheval so their burger game is great. We also got a tequila sour and the daquiri, which were good too. Also, the place is super gluten free friendly - most of the menu could be subbed for gluten free alternatives.
Came here on a recommendation from a local friend. Was warned that this place could have a long wait as they took some reservations but also allowed for walk ins as well. When I came in there was a fair amount of people who who are waiting and I put my name on the list that was number 30. The list did go down fairly quickly, however we opted to sit at the bar and had a few drinks there instead. There were three bartenders working on the bar which felt like a good amount for the size of the bar was. The bar felt fairly bespoke. And their menu seemed to be pretty good as far as the drinks. After looking over the menu I decided to get a Gold Rush and it was good enough to get more than one. We had two different bartenders make our drinks and they were slightly different. One leaning slightly more lemon heavy but both versions are pretty good. Apparently there is also a downstairs library bar that was highly recommended but when we went there was a private event. So keep that in mind if you're planning on coming to go ahead to see if anyone has booked the space. All in all nice bar. I would come here again if I was in the area.
**4.5 Stars** We've been to Gilt Bar a few times in the past year and have always had an excellent meal and great service. Gilt Bar serves as a bit of a greatest hits of all the Hogsalt restaurants. As the easiest spot to get a reservation or even a walk in, this is great, and always a wonderful stop for a nice night out. The truffle mozzarella sticks are some of the best I've had, and the brussels sprouts actually very much might be. They're excellent. Other standouts we've had are the vodka rigatoni, truffle mafaldine, and the brown butter gnocchi, seared on one side and cooked to pillowy perfection. The desserts are excellent as well. And as much as we love the sticky date cake and flourless molten lava cake at Armitage and Trivoli (key lime pie too), my hot take is that the desserts here may be the best selection of any Hogsalt spot. The carrot cake is perhaps the best I've had, and the chocolate layer cake is about as good as it gets as well. The chocolate cream pie is excellent too, you really can't go wrong. This last visit, we finally got an opportunity to dine in The Library, a pseudo speakeasy vibe in the basement. This is the way to do Gilt Bar - you get the same excellent food with an even better dining experience and even more impressive service. Our server, Lilliana, was great, and really made us feel special throughout the evening, including tossing in a complimentary ice cream and champagne. If you're lucky enough to snag a reservation, I highly recommend it - it's like having an Armitage Alehouse in the basement. Why not 5 stars? Well, compared to the other Hogsalt spots, it's a bit like really great JV to the others' varsity. This is tailored a bit more to a younger crowd, from the busy and quite cramped upstairs dining and bar area, to the insane photo booth traffic jam in the hallway to the bathroom. It's like moving through an obstacle course just to use the bathroom. I've even seen hosts grouse on their to the Library with people in line not even bothering to get out of the way. It gets old quickly. That said, if you can get past that (and you can). you're in for a great meal with excellent service.
I really enjoyed the ambiance at Gilt bar. They allow you to get drinks at the bar and so we did that for happy hour! It's super crowded always so make sure you grab a spot early. We tried the old fashioned and it was well made. Servers were sweet and offered some customizations to our drinks too.
We thoroughly enjoyed Gilt Bar! It was super busy when we arrived, but they moved people through the restaurant so efficiently that we were seated surprisingly quickly. We absolutely loved the aesthetic and vibe throughout the restaurant as well. For dinner, we had the vodka pasta with meatballs, and it was the perfect creamy consistency with incredible flavor. We also ordered the hamachi crudo, which was super fresh and definitely something we'd order again. Not pictured: we wrapped up the meal with the skillet cookie, and oh my gosh... I can't recommend it enough. read more
I've been back a few times now and do find myself liking it more over time. They have one of my all time favorite cocktails - the 100 year-old cigar. It's smoky, rich, boozy but not overpoweringly so, really well balanced sweetness from the rum. Love it. My wife and I got the ricotta gnocchi which was great, very cheesy. Surprising how much cheese they got in there. The steak tartare was also great. Super flavor, though probably didn't need the sriracha sauce. The wagyu burger was great but not worth the $30 price. That's a lot and not as good as other Chicago great burgers. The skillet cookie was a great way to wrap up the meal. Fantastic flavor from the brown sugar cookie and tons of chocolate. Definitely save room for dessert. read more
29 days ago
This was my second time coming here. I was waiting on the Art on the mart display and had a little time to kill, & I was craving their cucumber martini. I waited at the bar until a stool opened up. I ordered my drink and it was decent, but the bartender under poured my drink a bit. The drink was refreshing as per usual and I could've gone for a second. I snuck downstairs to go to the restroom and decided to take photos in the booth. I left one there like all the other patrons & kept one as a souvenir. When I'm in town, I'll make sure to stop by my favorite bar. read more
Decided to try Gilt Bar after enjoying a great meal at its sister restaurant Cici Mio's (next door) a few months ago. The prime rib French dip had excellent reviews so I decided to have that for my entree. The sandwich was cut into four pieces with made it easier to dip and eat which was nice. The flavor was very good and the au jus brought that flavor up to another level. It came with fries which were served hot and crisp but needed more salt to make their flavor pop. Overall it was a very solid French dip albeit slightly overpriced at $30. For that price point, I would expect freshly sliced medium rare/medium beef off of a prime rib roast. Now for the carrot cake. This was a show stopper when it came to freshness and flavor. Toasted coconut flakes provided an unexpected textural contrast and the icing was (I believe) a brown butter cream cheese that was slight spiced. This was not your mom's carrot cake. This was elevated carrot cake and although pricey at $14, it was amazing! If this restaurant ever paired Cici Mio's toasted almond cookie gelato with Gilt's carrot cake, it would be lights out! read more
5 days ago
Sat on the patio and had a great experience. Service was fantastic - waiter was attentive and very friendly. All the food was delicious from the appetizers to main course and cookie skillet to wrap it up. read more
Gilt Bar has been a Chicago favorite since 2010, and after my first visit I understand why. The space is dark, energetic, and packed with personality. This is not the place for a quiet conversation. It may be one of the loudest restaurants I've visited in quite some time, and a nearby birthday celebration only added to the energy. That said, the atmosphere is part of the appeal. If you're looking for a fun, celebratory evening with friends or family, Gilt Bar delivers. I can't imagine choosing it for a business dinner. We started with the Tenderloin Steak Tartare and onion rings. Both were excellent. My daughter was craving the Bolognese, while I ordered the vodka rigatoni. The portions were generous, and both dishes were flavorful and satisfying. The truffle mafaldine appears to be the menu's most celebrated pasta and receives plenty of attention on Yelp, but we were very happy with our selections. Service was spot on throughout the evening. Food arrived with good pacing, drinks were refreshed promptly, and our server struck the right balance between attentive and intrusive. For dessert, we shared the gooey skillet cookie. Be warned: this thing arrives at the table with nuclear-level heat. The vanilla ice cream isn't just there for flavor, it's there for protection. One unusual observation: the floors seemed surprisingly slippery throughout the restaurant, something we noticed more than once. Our bill came to $159 before tip, which felt reasonable given the quality of the food, service, and overall experience. Between the lively atmosphere, strong food, excellent service, and vibrant bar scene, it's easy to understand why Gilt Bar has remained popular for more than 15 years read more
3 days ago
3 days ago
Gilt Bar has such a good hh if you're in River north. The cheese sticks are a must try and honestly one of my favorite things to order. The drinks are great, the atmosphere is always a vibe, and they have the best black and white photo booth in the city. read more
(Kari's Rating 710) Although I've been here many times before, guilt bar rarely disappoints. It is extremely dark when you're inside almost like a dining room parlor so if you have bad eyes, bring a flashlight. It's relatively loud and the servers are very attentive, refilling water, and checking in on your needs. We started with a round of drinks, including an espresso martini, as well as a Hugo spritz. The espresso martini was nice because it was made for cold brew, which made it actually creamer, which was really great. It's good I mean we also proceed to order the Bronzino as well as the French dip with the side brussels sprouts. The brussels sprouts were tangy and sweet with a vinaigrette finish, but they were delightfully, smoky as well. The Bronzino was delicious and very filling, however, I did end up getting a decent amount of tiny bones in the first half which kind of made me slow down in the second half. The French tip was also very large, with four pieces as well as a warm au jus. However, the ratio of meat to bread was slightly off with a little extra, toasted bread, being a little too much. Overall, it was a pretty great dinner, I would definitely come back in a group, but I'm not sure if I would come back alone. read more
4 days ago
My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary, and we had an amazing experience here. Our server was kind and attentive, she recommended great options. The ambiance was everything I wanted and more. Food was amazing, everything tasted homemade. Loved the Photo Booth in the downstairs area! read more
Ambiance is on point, sexy, swanky, moody, vibey. Intimate little tables, big space. Long wait time, we waited about an hour and half to be seated. But the food was well worth it. We shared bone marrow and it was the best bone marrow I've had as well as the best portions! Delicious!! We also got the truffle pasta and Brussel sprouts- absolutely amazing. For the drink I forget the name but it was good, nice presentation but I would probably try a different one next time. They also had a Photo Booth downstairs on the way to the bathroom -that was a hoot. I guess they have a speakeasy downstairs as well called the library bar- but they had a private event so we couldn't check it out. Good times! read more
We came for their happy hour and it was good. The mussels was small but flavors were so good. The bone marrow and jam in the side was really good with the bread that came with it. We also got their stuff mushroom which was so crunchy. We got seated outside and it was so nice. The little sliders were enough for two and it was really good. Definitely will be back to try other things on the menu. read more
We live right around the corner from gilt bar and absolutely love it. It's always a fun ambiance and the drinks are delicious. They also have a GREAT happy hour (even on Saturdays!!!) and the food is fantastic. The mussels are mine and my husbands favorite, and we've tried mussels at lots of places. And if you want a little change of scenery, you can go to the speakeasy downstairs! There's also a fun Photo Booth right by the speakeasy. Only con is that there can be a wait later in the night. read more
The ambiance is very moody - dark and bougie, which is fun to go with friends! We ordered the mussels and onion rings as starters, and then the wagyu cheeseburger and spicy orrichette (spelling?). The mussels with garlic bread is amazing and the wagyu cheeseburger was delicious. It's owned by the same ppl who run Au Cheval so their burger game is great. We also got a tequila sour and the daquiri, which were good too. Also, the place is super gluten free friendly - most of the menu could be subbed for gluten free alternatives. read more
Came here on a recommendation from a local friend. Was warned that this place could have a long wait as they took some reservations but also allowed for walk ins as well. When I came in there was a fair amount of people who who are waiting and I put my name on the list that was number 30. The list did go down fairly quickly, however we opted to sit at the bar and had a few drinks there instead. There were three bartenders working on the bar which felt like a good amount for the size of the bar was. The bar felt fairly bespoke. And their menu seemed to be pretty good as far as the drinks. After looking over the menu I decided to get a Gold Rush and it was good enough to get more than one. We had two different bartenders make our drinks and they were slightly different. One leaning slightly more lemon heavy but both versions are pretty good. Apparently there is also a downstairs library bar that was highly recommended but when we went there was a private event. So keep that in mind if you're planning on coming to go ahead to see if anyone has booked the space. All in all nice bar. I would come here again if I was in the area. read more
**4.5 Stars** We've been to Gilt Bar a few times in the past year and have always had an excellent meal and great service. Gilt Bar serves as a bit of a greatest hits of all the Hogsalt restaurants. As the easiest spot to get a reservation or even a walk in, this is great, and always a wonderful stop for a nice night out. The truffle mozzarella sticks are some of the best I've had, and the brussels sprouts actually very much might be. They're excellent. Other standouts we've had are the vodka rigatoni, truffle mafaldine, and the brown butter gnocchi, seared on one side and cooked to pillowy perfection. The desserts are excellent as well. And as much as we love the sticky date cake and flourless molten lava cake at Armitage and Trivoli (key lime pie too), my hot take is that the desserts here may be the best selection of any Hogsalt spot. The carrot cake is perhaps the best I've had, and the chocolate layer cake is about as good as it gets as well. The chocolate cream pie is excellent too, you really can't go wrong. This last visit, we finally got an opportunity to dine in The Library, a pseudo speakeasy vibe in the basement. This is the way to do Gilt Bar - you get the same excellent food with an even better dining experience and even more impressive service. Our server, Lilliana, was great, and really made us feel special throughout the evening, including tossing in a complimentary ice cream and champagne. If you're lucky enough to snag a reservation, I highly recommend it - it's like having an Armitage Alehouse in the basement. Why not 5 stars? Well, compared to the other Hogsalt spots, it's a bit like really great JV to the others' varsity. This is tailored a bit more to a younger crowd, from the busy and quite cramped upstairs dining and bar area, to the insane photo booth traffic jam in the hallway to the bathroom. It's like moving through an obstacle course just to use the bathroom. I've even seen hosts grouse on their to the Library with people in line not even bothering to get out of the way. It gets old quickly. That said, if you can get past that (and you can). you're in for a great meal with excellent service. read more
I really enjoyed the ambiance at Gilt bar. They allow you to get drinks at the bar and so we did that for happy hour! It's super crowded always so make sure you grab a spot early. We tried the old fashioned and it was well made. Servers were sweet and offered some customizations to our drinks too. read more
I loved everything about Gilt Bar. For starters, the ambiance and decor are such a vibe. Moody, intimate, floral and with a unique artistic eye, it really set the tone for a great evening. You will definitely need a reservation, but they also offer some bar seating. Our server was friendly and all serving staff was highly attentive. The menu is about half handmade pasta dishes and half seafood and entrees with sides. For two of us we split a starter, salad, and 2 pastas. We finished it all but we were STUFFED so you could definitely do less. The portions are average size, not too large. Starting with the Tenderloin Steak Tartare, this really set the tone for a great meal. I'm a huge fan of this dish and their version was one of the best I've had. Next came the House Salad and while it's simple, the dressing just takes it to a high level. The Vodka Rigatoni is a must. The sauce is so creamy and delectably coats each handmade noodle. The Pesto Bucatini, while also tasty and a nice complement as it was lighter, just didn't pack the same flavor and wow as the other dishes. I appreciated the variety of martinis on the menu but I kept it simple with a classic Dirty Martini to go with all of the delicious food. Everyone who goes to Chicago should definitely try Gilt Bar. read more
The vibe and atmosphere alone make it worth a visit--dim lighting, vintage touches, and that signature Hog Salt energy that somehow feels both elevated and comfortable. The food was outstanding across the board. The steak tartare was super fresh and perfectly seasoned - my personal recommendation as the dish of the night. The Hog Salt-style burger delivered that classic smash burger they are known for. The ribeye was cooked to absolute perfection--perfect crust, tender center, and packed with flavor. And I have to call out the Brussels sprouts, which were incredible. The balsamic glaze gave them the perfect sweet-savory balance and made them one of the surprise standouts of the night. If you're looking for a spot that delivers atmosphere and unforgettable food, Gilt Bar is an easy recommendation. The only negative was despite having a reservation we still had to wait over 20min past our reservation time. They told us to wait by the bar which was packed and a little overwhelming. read more
Amazing dinner at Gilt Bar! For appetizers we ordered the tartare, crudo, and the truffle mozzarella sticks. The mozzarella sticks are a must order!! I had pasta for my main and leftovers for the next day. After dinner we went downstairs to use the photo booth of course! I also had a dirty martini for dinner with blue cheese olives that was very good. Service here is standard and the ambiance is amazing. Great spot for a girls night or romantic date! read more
Gilt bar was probably one of my favorite memories from my Chicago trip. Not only were the drinks fantastic, mozarella sticks delicious, but the conversation was flowing so seemingly throughout the night to the point where we were one the last people there. I got the espresso martini and absolutely loved it, my partner got the 100 Year Old Cigar which was so unique and lovely. The mozarella sticks were super super delicious and we actually preferred it without the marinara sauce only because it overpowers the truffle taste. 5/5 would go back again. Our server also surprised us with ice cream at the end of the night to celebrate my graduation! P.S. don't skip the photobooth! It's $5 per strip and such a cute way to commemorate the night :) read more
Great spot to impress your visitors! I've decided that most hogsalt restaurants are fairly similar (atleast this one is to Trivoli) but at the same time they never miss. First of all, this was one of the best dirty martinis I've had. We are got the vodka rigatoni and split the Brussels sprouts. I absolutely LOVED the Brussels sprouts. The pasta is good, but I think the way to do a hogsalt restaurant is to get a variety of dishes and share. Noting that for myself for next time. Ambiance and service are always great, and love that they have a photobooth here! $5 and you get 2 copies. read more
Gilt Bar is an anomaly in the best way possible. Its facade will have you believe it's an upscale, suit-and-tie attire restaurant, and the quality of food will definitely affirm those assumptions. But, this place does not conform to the stereotypes of a five star restaurant, aside from the lack of reservation availability. They cater to all experiences--from a date night with a significant other, to a dinner with coworkers you are trying to impress, and to the reason I was here: happy hour. Every dish we ordered surpassed any preconceived notion of a happy hour menu. The mussels were accompanied by a delicious garlic and lemon broth and superb garlic bread. The stuffed mushrooms were also great, but my favorite dish was the onion rings. They were perfectly breaded and fried and served with a delectable Calabrian chili aioli. The service was excellent, too! Gilt Bar has one of the best happy hours in Chicago, and I'll definitely be back to try more of the food! read more
14 days ago
Such a cute restaurant and spot downtown. Ambiance was amazing, was lucky to get a table downstairs in the speakeasy section. Service was good. Slightly pricey for smaller serving sizes, but the vodka rigatoni was great. Would come again and loved the experience of this restaurant in addition to the food. read more
Came in on a Monday evening for dinner. The space is very dark, which gives it a speakeasy vibe. I liked it, but my friends found it a little too much. We started with the mozzarella sticks, which were actually the best part of the meal. Unfortunately, a busser tried to clear the plate while there was still one left. For mains we had the vodka rigatoni, creamy ricotta penne, and a side of Brussels sprouts. The sprouts were excellent, but the pasta tasted pretty average, more like what you'd find at a chain not an expensive restaurant. Only a few minutes after the food came out, a busser asked if they could take our plates, even though they were still full. Later another busser cleared our dishes while there were still sprouts left and we were still eating, even put his finger into the bowl while grabbing it. The bussers were overly eager to clear the table, while the server didn't seem to be rushing us and the restaurant was far from busy. Overall, I expected a lot more, especially compared to other Hogsalt restaurants. read more
5 months ago
Dinner at Gilt Bar felt like stepping into one of Gatsby's favorite haunts. The interior is stunning , moody, golden, and effortlessly glamorous. The cocktails were beautifully crafted and worth the visit alone. The food was good, but not necessarily the star of the night. What really stood out was the atmosphere and the service, both absolutely incredible. One of those places you go for the vibe as much as the meal. read more
7 months ago
Absolutely loved this speakeasy style restaurant. I had the pleasure of dining in the library--a stunning, cozy, gorgeous space. All of the food was incredible. My Hemingway drink was fabulous! I loved the meatballs, wedge salad, mozzarella sticks, chicken, pasta, gnocchi, and Brussels sprouts. Dessert was also amazing! The strawberries and cream were perfection, as was the chocolate cream pie. A gem! read more
Gilt Bar easily sits in my top 3 favorite places for dinner in Chicago! A dimly lit brick interior leads you to an array of seating types where you'll enjoy an incredible dinner... great for a group of friends or a date night! Our menu favorites are the tenderloin steak tartare (generous portion served with the best sourdough) and the vodka rigatoni (bursting with flavor, perfectly cooked, with just a tinge of spice and basil). We'd eat them every day of the week. Don't skip dessert... if you're a chocolate lover their chocolate cream pie and chocolate layer cake are insanely good, as well as their salted caramel ice cream. Their drink selection is pretty classic, but done really well every time.. we usually go for the espresso martini and old fashioned. I know getting a reservation can be tough, but it's WELL worth it. You'll be planning the next time you can return as soon as you leave. read more
Everything was so delicious! Every bite of each dish was such a flavorful experience. The truffle mozzarella sticks were an elevated chili's triple dipper. Insane cheese pulls and make sure to eat it while it's hot! The Caesar salad was so fresh and pairs really well with the smoked salmon. The spicy orecchiette sauce was divine. Definitely the star of the show was the brown butter ice cream! Every bite was heavenly~ need to come back again to try their vodka pasta ! Also, fun fact~ there's a photobooth downstairs and it prints two copies for $5. Such a good deal especially for photobooths in Chicago! read more
Heard so many great things about this place as I looked up places to go in Chicago. Great vibe; dark, moody, and very atmospheric. Food was extremely tasty and service was exceptional. However, I felt that the price on some of the items was a bit pricier than I would have liked. There is a photo booth that you can take pictures.. great keepsake memories. All I can do is rave about this place. I really had a great time. read more
6 months ago
Very vibrant happy hour with great drink and appetizers to start! We really enjoyed the Mussels, Onion Rings, Bone Marrow, Fried Chicken Slider, and the American Slider. Catrina was a wonderful server and we will definitely be back. Low lights and circular booths make for a great experience with friends and family. Highly recommended reservations because the wait can be very long almost any night of the week. Be sure to visit the Photo Booth! read more
After grabbing dinner down the street, we popped in for a few drinks. The place was packed, but we managed to snag two stools by the window. We ordered a vodka seltzer and a Baileys with coffee--which, surprisingly, came from a French press. We only stayed for one round; the bar is tiny, and people were constantly bumping into us. Overall, it's a nice spot with a solid vibe. read more
1 year ago
The vibes here are the epitome of old timey Chicago. Dark and moody inside a brick wall interior. It was packed on a Thursday night at 9pm. The bar on the right was full with a younger crowd having a grand time. Our server Danilo was super nice and friendly. Reservations can be made online about 20 days ahead of time. Hate the stupid ~$2.50 transaction fee per person for doing online reservation. They should do the standard $25 credit card hold that applies to your final bill. Food/Drinks: - Coal Fired Ribeye - MUST GET FLAVORFUL - Brussels Sprouts - had a horseradish flavor - Truffle Mafaldine - the first bites were delicious until I had a bite of the ribeye and now I regret not getting the Vodka Rigatoni instead for more flavor and oomph cuz it was bland now - Hugo Spritz Cocktail - light and refreshing read more
We walked in around 9pm on Thursday and were put in a wait list / the restaurant doesn't give time estimates just number in line which made it a little difficult / but we ended up killing the time at an Irish bar down the street. Once we got seated - wow vibes inside were so cool and the server was awesome. As a celiac, I was so impressed by their organic gluten free pasta. The Penne Ricotta dish was fantastic, the I think I could eat the Brussel Sprouts every day. Be sure to check out the Photo Booth down stairs and add your photos to the hallway!! read more
1 year ago
I rave about Gilt Bar ALL THE TIME but for good reason! They have a great happy hour special that runs everyday of the week & that's hard to find, but the food is spectacular as well! I always order the mussels, bone marrow, and a teeny espresso martini (the best combo if I do say so myself). This time around I ordered the stuffed mushrooms and omg this is now added as a new staple. We also ordered the pesto pasta and it was so fresh and delicious! The service is great! Our server was very attentive and made sure we had everything we wanted. The inside is beautiful but my favorite part is the Photo Booth downstairs! read more
Top Notch. Outstanding. I just left and crave my next visit. What a beautiful, cherished evening. We walked from our hotel along the river and moseyed down kinzie street to find this gem. We walked in and we immediately enshrouded in the mystique of this little speakeasy. After a very short wait, we were seated without a reservation! It was a Wednesday "Wine Night" - 50% off bottles! We opted for cocktails since that's just who we are, but that's good to know. Our hostess Lilianna was a consummate host and helped us navigate the menu. We had prompt service the entire night and every bite was competing for best with the previous and the next. What a delight. I highly recommend the tartare and the meatballs. Both can be made gluten free! It's astounding how much flavor comes from these. Literally, any of the pastas are fabulously flavored, but we enjoyed the truffle mafaldine and the spicy pork - unbelievable. So good. The desserts - what a charming way to end the night. The merengue and the caramel gelato - what a dream. And then we topped the evening off with a fabulous little core memory: a photobooth in the basement. Please, just go. read more
We didn't have a reservation, but luckily we got on the waitlist and were seated in just 15 minutes -- not bad for a Friday night. While waiting, we explored the place a bit and really liked the vibe. The dimmed lighting and alcohol-themed decor gave it a cozy, stylish atmosphere that felt both laid-back and trendy. Once seated, we ordered espresso martinis, but unfortunately, they were a bit of a letdown. They tasted more bitter than expected and were missing that classic foam on top, which made them feel a little off. On the bright side, the mozzarella sticks we had as an appetizer were fantastic -- super cheesy and paired perfectly with the marinara sauce. The cheese practically melted apart, in the best way. Before you leave, head downstairs -- there's a hallway lined with photo booth pictures that's definitely worth checking out. A fun little touch to end the night! read more
Absolutely spectacular dinner at Gilt Bar, definitely a more of a special occasion sort of restaurant. Interior has solid speakeasy vibes, similar to other Hogsalt restaurants. Make sure that reservation is made far in advanced as they get completely booked on the weekend outside of a few walk-ins right when they open. Great service, even better food and drinks, and wonderful ambiance. Such a terrific way to celebrate a special occasion. Food: Truffle mozzarella sticks (4/5): Fancy comfort food with great notes of truffle Mushroom carbonara (5/5): Even those who aren't complete lovers of mushrooms will obsess over this side. Must have as an order. Vodka Rigatoni (5/5): Light, flavorful, wonderful Prime Rib French Dip (5/5): Delicious au jus and plentiful amount of sandwich with fries Chocolate Cream Pie (4/5): I loved the giant whipped cream thing on it, great for chocolate lovers Drinks: French Martini (5/5): Yes, just yes it's delicious Dirty Martini (5/5): The dirtiest, olive lovers will rejoice Hugo Spritz (5/5): Refreshing and light 100 Year Old Cigar (5/5): Husband described this as, "The perfect drink," and immediately was looking up how to recreate this at home read more
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More info about Gilt Bar
230 W Kinzie
Chicago, IL 60654
River North, Near North Side
Directions
(312) 464-9544
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https://www.giltbarchicago.com
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Ask the Community - Gilt Bar
Where can I make a reservation for the Library?
Is the gilt bar or library still byob?
Hi Lori, Thank you for the inquiry! Guests are permitted to bring 1 standard size bottle (750ml) of…
I was checking out the menu- does anyone know if the wine prices are per bottle?
The wine menu is by the bottle. If you want to see glass options you should look at the dinner and cocktail menu
Is there a specific dress code?
No but you wanna look sharp in a place where you feel like it's the 1920/30's. We opted to dress up but casual is acceptable as well
Which seating is better? Dining table or high top table?
Personally I recommend the comfy couch/banquet seating. I was fortunate enough to get an armchair but it looked like that was the only table with that option.
Is there parking available?
There is metered parking right around the corner from the entrance on both sides of the street.
I follow a gluten-free, vegetarian diet. Any recommendations for dinner? Thank you.
They have a full vegetarian menu, just ask your server. We tried vodka sauce pasta and plum tomato sauce pasta, liked vodka sauce one a lot!
Is there a dress code?
No. While most were sharply dressed, there were people in jeans and golf shirts. A few in coats & ties. You might feel uncomfortable in shorts. Very dark interior and unless you are at the bar looking to meet people, I would not worry about it.
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153 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Gilt Bar - newamerican - Updated August 2026
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