I stopped by the Gilt Bar on a Sunday night, hoping to get into The Library (their speakeasy) downstairs. There was a bit of a wait, but I sat at the main bar, and decided to stick it out. Overall great experience. I loved the aesthetics of the bar, and the people working behind it helped make my visit exceptional. I felt like everyone went above and beyond for me- which is honestly rare nowadays. The drinks were well mixed, and the general vibes were positive. I would recommend Gilt Bar/The Library to anyone in Chicago wanting a positive, upscale evening out. I didn't order any food, so I can't speak to that, but it smelled delicious! Special mention to both the female bartender upstairs (didn't catch her name), who went above and beyond for me, and Cruz downstairs, who was a master multitasker, and still managed to make me feel welcome. read more

It's been years since I've been to Gilt Bar. Family style is the way to go way - order a variety and share! We had a mix of apps and entrees. The carbonara was good, not great. I look forward to trying more of the menu next time. The chocolate silk cream pie is a solid choice for dessert. Service was solid and I definitely will come back - but not wait years to do so! read more

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We visited Gilt Bar for the first time and, while there were a few highlights, the overall experience didn't justify the value. Happy hour was the best part: the drinks had good pours and felt like a solid deal, and the onion rings were very good. The sliders on the happy hour menu, though, felt overpriced for what you get--mostly bread with a small piece of chicken or burger. For the main courses, two of the four pasta dishes came out cold. We were seated outside, and it seemed like the plates may have been held while other entrees finished, so they were barely edible by the time they reached us. Service was decent, but it didn't really make up for the misses in pacing and food quality. We also expected a patio, but it was more like curbside seating at a busy intersection, with cars and traffic noise right on top of us. It was distracting and made it hard to have a conversation. Given the overall value and experience, we won't be returning. read more

Stopped in last night and sat at the bar, was fortunate to get a spot and so pumped to eat here. Great happy hour menu, I had two of the HH mastitis (7 bucks each) and then I also ordered the steak tar tar for an app. Holy shit this was incredible, would go back just for this again... sooo good! I had what I thought was the best tar tar of all time in French restaurant inside the aria in Vegas but this is right up there with that, maybe better. For dinner I had the pork dish, was really good probably would get a pasta or the chicken next time. Service was very friendly! The dimly lit restaurant has such a cool atmosphere, I see why this place is so highly regarded m! Definitely recommend! read more

Gilt Bar - Steak tar tar - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wednesday date night at Gilt Bar was a complete success. For starters the decor is old school classy with a speakeasy feel. Pretty dim lighting which heightens the romantic mood. Service was spectacular. We started off with the truffle mozzarella sticks which were super tasty, the cheese pull was legit and the truffle elevated the taste of a classic. For our entrees we ordered the coal half chicken with mashed potatoes/asparagus and the double wagyu cheeseburger. The chicken with the sides was very good and we had plenty of leftovers, however the burger was definitely the star of the show. So tasty, if you're in doubt please get it! We were so full we didn't have the chance to try dessert but we will return to check it out. We also tried to take pictures in their popular Photo Booth but apparently it's a big hit because the line was outrageous so we just skipped it, maybe next time! read more

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Gilt bar always hits and this time I got to eat in the library which I didn't even know existed but is kind of like a speakeasy downstairs with vibes closer to Armitage Alehouse. I got a lot of the same dishes as previously with the mushroom carbonara remaining one of my favorites as well as the ricotta gnocchi. The hogsalt burger is always a great option and they kindly cut it into fourths for us - and that aioli! The house salad was also still a great salad option. I still thought the mafaldine was a little too peppery/truffley. The steam tartare was a new stand out fav for the group. Tartare can be pretty hit or miss but this one was delicious and had egg and sauces to keep it extra interesting. We also really liked the truffle mozzarella sticks which were 5 big sticks and not too truffley at all. I didn't have too much of the orecchiette but I did think it was pretty good - second favorite pasta dish for sure. The ribeye cooked medium rare was also a really good steak option! read more

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We got the Tenderloin Steak Tartare for appetizer and Vodka Rigatoni & Roasted Chicken Frites as entrees. These portions are huge! The food is amazing and flavorful. I highly recommend the steak tartare and the vodka rigatoni. The chicken was good as well, but the main highlight was the garlic aioli sauce that came with the entree. It is a big portion and I recommend sharing. What stood out the most was service. Luckily we were able to do walk-in bar seating for the Library area on a Wednesday evening. Bartender was very attentive, got us new plates after we finished appetizers, and they boxed up our leftovers for us. The Library area was definitely more quiet than the main seating area. It is downstairs. It has a dark and moody atmosphere. If you have trouble reading in the dark, it might be hard to read the menu in the dark lighting though. There is also a photo booth tucked in the side of the hallways downstairs before you enter the Library area. $5 for 2 prints. A cute souvenir for your experience dining at Gilt Bar. Price wise: look to be spending $20-$30 average per each item on the menu. But worth the price for the food, service, and atmosphere you are getting. Definitely worth the visit. read more

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We came here for happy hour and I really enjoyed everything. The server was friendly and it was a nice day so we sat outside. The food was all very delicious and I definitely will come back. read more

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We came here for happy hour and it was great. Perfect for sitting outside during the summertime. Loved the variety of food options and the bone marrow was good. Their drink options are good and the service was great! Our waiter came out and checked up on us a couple of times. Absolutely loved how the view was sitting outside. read more

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Oh how I love the sultry vibes at Gilt. It is every bit speakeasy but way better food. Yes it's almost always busy... but there is a secret: from the time they first open until 5pm for bar seating and a happy hour menu of some of their top appetizers is worth checking out. Yelp tip: leave room for dessert. They have this hot butter ice cream that is an experience all of it's own. I know it sounds odd but you just have to try it and thank me later. Service is also stellar, I cannot say enough about how professional and kind everyone is. They never make you feel rushed and are very good about checking to see if you need anything more. read more

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Wow. By far the best ever restaurant experience I've ever had. The service is unlike anything - there are waitstaff dedicated to taking your order and molding your overall experience, waitstaff dedicated to cleaning the table as your meal progresses, and other staff keeping an eye on tables to ensure each group has the best experience. The food was also some of the best pasta I've had in my life! The meatball appetizer was incredible - tender meatballs with a simple savory tomato sauce. For pasta, I ordered the truffle mafaldine. The salty, truffle umami was so delicious and the noodles were perfectly al dente. After briefly mentioning we were at Gilt to celebrate a special event, the waiter shortly brought out gelato on the house. We got the mango gelato and it was so refreshing!! This meal was worth every cent and more. Cannot recommend Gilt enough. read more

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We joined the waitlist around 5:40 on Saturday and got seated within an hour. We ended up at a table near the entrance, so the atmosphere wasn't quite as nice as the dining room. 7/10. Service was top tier. 9.5/10. They genuinely cared about making things right when something went wrong. Our server even covered the forgotten Espresso Martini. The Chocolate Martini (9.5/10) tasted creamy and chocolatey and was dangerously easy to drink. The French Martini (9/10) was fruity and smooth. The Espresso Martini (7/10) was better than a lot I've tried but could've been sweeter and foamier. The Prosecco (9/10) was fantastic. The Fried Chicken Sliders (8/10) were crispy, juicy, and perfectly coated in Nashville hot sauce without being overly spicy or drenched in sauce. The bread was a little firm, which reminded me of Parker house rolls from Trivoli. The Onion Rings (7/10) were crispy and oily with a nice spicy mayo. The Truffle Mafaldine (8/10) was unfortunately room temp, but the al dente pasta, creamy sauce, and truffle bits were heavenly. The Steak & Ale Pot Pie (9/10) was fantastic. Tender brisket, flaky crispy puff pastry, and creamy mash underneath made it feel like short ribs and mash in pie form. The Prime Rib French Dip (8.5/10) had tender, flavorful meat, but the bread was pretty plain and needed more crunch. The Chocolate Layer Cake (6/10) was a little dry and not quite chocolatey enough at first, but it got much better drenched in the hot fudge and paired with the vanilla gelato. Interestingly, when I had the leftover cake straight from the fridge the next morning, it was perfectly moist and much more chocolatey. Overall, great time with amazing cocktails, top-tier service, and solid food. Definitely coming back with a reservation to experience the dining room or library. read more

Gilt Bar - Espresso martini - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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There is nothing I can say more than this is one of the best restaurants that I have ever been to hands down. Every single aspect is a 5/5. The customer service was perfect and fast. The food came out quickly and tasted fantastic. The ambiance and space inside was also amazing. There is just so much attention to detail and so much coordination happening behind the scenes to make your meal and experience as perfect as possible. If you haven't already, I highly urge you to make a reservation here as soon as possible. read more

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Kari's Rating 8.75/10 TLDR -Dark like dads shining a flashlight on the menu dark -Upstairs parlor and underground library drink parlor -$5 Photo Booth downstairs Came with a friend around 5:15 and honestly, this was the perfect time to come here. I know this place is super busy, but 5:15 was the perfect time to come in and grab the waiters attention, sit down and relax before it started getting overwhelmingly busy and also to have the freshest food. read more

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i was blown away by the quality of food, ambiance and service here! it was our first night in chicago and gilt bar was an amazing first impression of the chicago dining scene. we started off with a cocktail and hugo spritz and our bartender was very attentive and made the drinks fast. our appetizer was so good, the tartare is served with toasted bread that was so fluffy and a perfect amount of char that complimented the beef. our entrees was also amazing the pasta had really good flavor and the sauce coated each pasta noodle perfectly we definitely made good use of the extra sauce to dip our fries in. the chicken frites was amazing as well, the chicken was juicy and the skin was slightly crispy but had so much flavor. we did a walk in on a wednesday and it was busy but we had secured the last table. i would definitely come back here! read more

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Ordered the Caesar salad with salmon and it was really good! A solid Caesar salad with LOTS of Parmesan cheese without me even having to ask for cheese! Amazing. The salmon was also really delicious with a crispy outside with a really decadent and tender inside. I also got a cider and it was pretty good too. Our waitress was super super nice and really down to earth! We ate outside and it was nice during a summer day but inside also looked really cool with a dark moody ambiance. read more

Gilt Bar - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Overall: Now one of my favorite spots downtown! The good: The food is absolutely amazing. We splurged on the decadent truffly mozz sticks, which were as amazing as they sound and a meal themselves in terms of portion sizes. The house made pasta was all fantastic, as was the dim-lit speakeasy atmosphere. Plenty of drink options and the service was friendly and attentive. The not-so-good: Can get quite busy and hard to get a table. The prices are pretty high ($20+ for aforementioned mozz sticks), though it's elevated food and atmosphere. Food/drink: 9/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Service: 9/10 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

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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

Gilt Bar - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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

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We came here for a late night dessert and it did not disappoint. The chocolate cake was probably the best I have ever had. The ambience was so wonderful and such a Chicago vibe! Go downstairs for the $5 Photo Booth as well. It was so fun! read more

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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

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Amazing pasta | Best waitress in Chicago | Cool atmosphere Came for a late dinner and had a great time. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, the atmosphere is fun, and the cocktails are solid. I had the espresso martini and the 100 Year Old Cigar. Both were good, although I think Gilt Bar's sister restaurants have the stronger cocktail game. My Tinder matches: Onion Rings: Immediate super-like. Gorgeous, exciting, and I'd absolutely swipe right again. French Fries: Matched, chatted for a bit, then realized there was no chemistry. Unmatched. Truffle Mafaldine: Very attractive, great personality, and definitely getting my number. Strong long-term potential. Cookie: Cute. We went on a casual date, I had a couple bites, and I'm open to seeing where things go. But honestly, our waitress was the real reason this went so well. She was personable, attentive, and somehow managed to make the whole experience feel effortless. When one of us mentioned not eating dairy, she even brought us a free gelato. Overall: Would swipe right. Would exchange numbers. Would see again. Definitely recommend. read more

I want to book a trip to Chicago just to go back here. It was such a treat, I wish I got a picture of the amazing dessert. The drinks were amazing and the vibe and exquisite service was so perfect. read more

Gilt Bar - Double Wagyu Cheeseburger - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Always love going here for dinner. Went with some family and friends and we had a nice meal. Drinks were great - a little pricy for what it is but that's Chicago. The meatballs were great as an appetizer, the tomato sauce was seasoned well and there was enough for each meatball (came with 5). The burger was phenomenal- super juicy and cooked to perfection, and very large. The spicy vodka rigatoni was great - spiced just right and not overly spicy (coming from someone that has a very low spice tolerance). The salmon was to die for- super juicy and tender piece of fish and it flaked right on the fork. We also got the carbonara which was good, but could have used a little more salt / seasoning as it was a little bland. The Brussel sprouts were a stand out - super flavorful, cooked just right and were tender but not mushy. We fought over these!! Service was attentive and we felt taken care of! Will be dining here again as it's a hit every time with the food, and the ambiance is so fun and lively! Definitely recommend for dinner for a date night or special event!! read more

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We had a great experience. We had a reservation for 4pm and was seated promptly. The ambiance was great and was very intimate. Our waitress was so sweet and gave us recommendations. The food was delicious and drinks were amazing. We had the most divine skillet cookie. We will be back. read more

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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

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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

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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

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Love Gilt Bar for their happy hour! Such great deals and tasty food. Ambiance is also very moody and perfect for a post work drink or date night out! read more

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Amazing vibes and ambiance. This place holds a special place in my heart because my bf took me here for a special occasion:) I also love the underground bar where you can also find a photobooth! read more

Gilt Bar - mushroom - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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! read more

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We loved everything about this place. The inside had a warm, cozy, dimly lit vibe. The staff was very friendly and made great suggestions. We had the truffle mozzarella sticks, the vodka pasta and the Waygu Cheeseburger. All were fantastic. We finished off the meal with the skillet cookie with ice cream. Probably the best skillet cookie I've ever had. We didn't even make it to the bar down stairs. We definitely need to go back to check it out. The photo booth downstairs is great too. This place is a vibe. 100% recommend. 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

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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

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Great food and ambiance. Tried a bit of things, vodka rigatoni, carbonara, Brussel sprouts, meatballs, truffle mozzarella sticks, steak tartare, burger, and cookie. The rigatoni, meatballs, Brussel sprouts and steak tartare were favorites. Service was good, I do think they kinda are scummy with service. We asked for one app and waiter to pick and she picked one and then brought a singular truffle mozzarella stick and charged us when we didn't ask for it. They also will let you know they have a birthday dessert for you and later put menu in front and tell you to pick one and it's actually not the birthday dessert so you will also get charged for that. Overall would absolutely still go again and definitely get the cookie! read more

Gilt Bar - Slow Roasted Meatballs - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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

Gilt Bar - Gold Rush - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here earlier this month for a bday dinner. Service was great and I loved the ambiance but the food was a bit disappointing. Our steak was undercooked as well 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

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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

Gilt Bar - Cucumber martini - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois