I haven't been to a barcade where most of the games were free, so that was a really nice surprise…read more We originally just went to kick off a bar crawl, but they had trivia/Jeopardy going on, it was freezing outside (low 20s), and we ended up staying way longer than planned. It was actually a really fun time, and I'll definitely be back. The pizza looked really good too, but I didn't even see a kitchen so I'm very curious how they're making it.

The Doctor was at an auction at Tamarkin Camera and me and The Queen and BFF #1 were looking for a…read moreplace to hang out to have a drink while waiting on him to wrap up. Unfortunately Machine was not open, which is downstairs from this place, so we went here. Usually there is a bouncer outside, covering both places, but no one was at the door so me and The Queen walked upstairs. The bouncer was upstairs and saw us come in, so he asked for ID. He explained that everyone gets card before they come in, which is not a issue for me. The overall vibe, for me, was definitely a frat hangout vibe. There are arcade games all over the place and cutesy names for beers and cocktails, like the Froot Loops (vodka, coriander honey, oat milk, shochu, saline, milk carton, and froot loops). Man I do not do cocktails and this is the reason why. There is too much going on in that glass for me to deal with. Prices for cocktails range from $14-$15. BFF #1 got a vodka soda for $13, but looking at the size of the glass, it was on the small side. BFF #1 said it was on the weak side. I was happy to hear that there was prosecco, so I got that. The Doctor showed up and got a beer. The selection of beers was limited from what I could see on the wall, maybe there was a list someone else behind the bar. The bartender was a really sweet, she was all smiles and kept calling me baby, which was so funny to me. I tipped her well because she was great on them pours of prosecco. We did not do food as we were heading to Club Lago for dinner and I didn't realize that they had food until I checked into Yelp and saw the online menu. The Queen actually went to a DJ set here with Roosevelt, I believe, and said it was a good event. Not a place I would normally hang out in, but I can see the appeal for folks in their 20s as I would definitely say outside of The Queen, the three of us were the oldest folks in there. Lots of people taking Instagram photos and posing or making short videos with those ring lights. I imagine it can get super loud when it is busy, but that is a vibe for some folks. I would say if that is your thing, this is the place for you.

I visited Chalet for their new Brunch After Dark experience and really enjoyed it. The atmosphere…read moreis perfect for a night out -- dim lighting, fun neon signs, great music, a beautiful bar, and plenty of cute photo opportunities throughout the restaurant. The food was also a hit. The fried chicken nachos were easily one of my favorites and something I would order again. We also tried the huge brunch board, which came loaded with pancakes, waffles, chicken, eggs, potatoes, bacon, fruit and more. It says it feeds up to three people, but the portions were VERY generous and could easily be shared with a group. We also had the smothered potatoes and several cocktails, and everything we tried was good. The drinks were well made and fit the whole Brunch After Dark vibe perfectly. Overall, I love the idea of being able to have a full brunch experience without having to squeeze it into Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

Came here for the girl dinner and we luckily had the early reservation because it ended up getting…read morepacked in there. The serving sizes were smaller than what I imagined but still was enough and I cleaned my plate. The garlic parm wings were really good just wish it was 6 vs 4. The drinks were also tasty and glad it was 2 cocktails. Service wasn't really there for me. I've been to this location a couple times to eat and for nightlife and overall it's an okay spot.

We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

(Kari's Rating 8.75/10)…read more Came with a friend late on a Friday night after dinner time We were able to be seated almost immediately at a nice little private Cove table. We ordered a flight of whiskey sours, which contained whiskeys from Japan, Vietnam, and Wisconsin. I also was able to order an amaretto sour, which they made with freshly hand beaten egg whites, which was a nice cherry on the top. As far as the whiskey flights go, I think the best one was the Vietnam flight because it had a slightly lemongrass twang and was a little bit lighter than the other two. The heaviest one was the Wisconsin which came with a little bit of a bite at the end, but it still wasn't bad if you're trying to blackout on a $15 budget. I would definitely come back with a larger group this seems like a great place, but is a little bit loud- so if you be prepared to yell or wear earplugs. The bathroom took my a second to find, which should have been intuitive considering it was on the opposite end of where you come in. I blame the lighting as things are already pretty hard to find in the dark, but eventually I made it there-Pat myself on the back.

Really enjoyed our dinner at The Franklin Room! The downstairs setting gives the restaurant such a…read morecozy, intimate atmosphere, and I loved how the menu pulls inspiration from different cuisines. The lamb chops and chicken roulade with masala butter sauce were standouts for me, and the Summer Wanderer cocktail completely surprised me......I wasn't sure how I felt about carrot in a cocktail, but it was delicious! The whiskey bottle keep is also such a cool touch. Service was great throughout the evening, and we finished with the mango and coconut tart. Definitely a unique River North dinner spot that's easy to walk right past if you don't know it's there.

We had such a great dinner at The Franklin Room! The space has a cozy, moody atmosphere that makes…read moreit perfect for a date night or dinner and drinks in River North. We started with the Healthy Habit and Lychee Martini, and for food we tried the Wagyu burger, coconut-marinated steak, and charred broccolini. Everything was delicious, but the burger was definitely one of our favorites. We finished with the Opera Cake for dessert, which was the perfect way to end the meal. Such a great spot if you're looking for somewhere that feels a little tucked away from the busier parts of River North. We'd definitely come back!

Been a couple times and it's a nice bar in the area. Drinks are pricey but strong, service is…read morefriendly and I hear the food is fantastic but have yet to have any. I'd come back for sure. I'll update when I try the food.

If you're coming here for drinks, it's probably a great vibe, but if you're coming for food, I…read morewould recommend elsewhere. I want to preface my review with the positives, Londyn was our server & was truly so kind, thorough, and friendly. The restaurant itself is clean & all tables have clear views of the TVs on game days. Now for the room for improvement- the food was very underwhelming. Being from the Chicago area previously, I regularly advocate for the Chicago food scene, and this unfortunately did not meet those standards. We ordered the Brussels sprouts, buffalo cauliflower, wings, and sesame ginger salad: -Brussel sprouts: tasted like they weren't seasoned just air fried and drenched in balsamic dressing -Buffalo cauliflower: soggy, unseasoned, runny buffalo sauce -Wings: PERFECTLY CRISPY, but no flavor (we ordered lemon pepper & buffalo) -Sesame ginger salad: sloppy mix of vegetables tossed in an overly sweet sauce with no sesame or ginger flavor in sight If you're not going to eat, this is probably a great spot, but from a food standpoint, there is room for improvement.

This was my second visit to The Dearborn, and the food and service were both on point. We ordered…read morethe salmon tataki, fish and chips, Wellington burger, and Midwest fried chicken. Everything was well prepared, but the fried chicken was the standout, especially with the hot sauce adding another level of flavor. The staff stayed attentive throughout dinner and even replaced our plates between rounds, which was a level of service I wasn't expecting. I also respected seeing the owner personally making the rounds, stopping at every table to check on the guests and the food. Calm atmosphere, solid hospitality, and a kitchen that delivers.

OMG! Walk, run, sprint here to get the FISH N CHIPS THAT ACTUALLY BEAT BOBBY FLAY. The executive…read morechef and now chef partner, Aaron Cuschieri, is absolutely amazingly talented. I am used to really good fish and chips... I've never had better fish and chips than Tom Douglas's Mr. Fish in Seattle, UNTIL NOW!!!! Wow, wow wow wow! Do not pass GO, do not read the menu, just order the darn fish and chips! It might be a whole heart attack on a plate... But it doesn't matter... You can walk all of Chicago and burn it off. I decided to work out before I came here for this big splurge and I'm so glad I did. I can see that this is the theater district... And you could come here before a show fish and chips and have the best night of your entire life! I can't wait to try more of this chef's food! I'm BEYOND INSPIRED! ps great beers here toooooi!

I went to Beatrix on a first date recently, and it ended up being one of the best I've ever had…read more The atmosphere was great, the food was splendid and reasonably priced. But what really won me over was the service and how the people there took care of me. I made two big mistakes that could've tanked my evening, but the staff came through for me. I got there a little bit before my date arrived, only to realize that I'd forgotten to reserve a table. I felt like a total idiot. Thankfully, the hosts managed to get me a table for two, which couldn't have been easy on such short notice. Then the bigger problem came at the end of the night. Obviously, I wanted to make a good impression on my date by taking care of the bill, since I was the one who had asked her out, but there was a problem with my debit card for some inexplicable reason. I tried to get ahold of my bank to see if I could figure out what went wrong, but it was after hours and I couldn't get them on the phone. I tried to vail how much I was panicking on the inside, it was such an embarrassing moment at the end of what had otherwise been a great first date. The server who'd brought the bill was very kind the whole time, and she went to get the manager to see if there was a way we could sort out this situation. I don't think I've had a better experience with a manager at any institution than the one I had with the manager at Beatrix. He was so empathetic to my situation, and said he'd been in situations not unlike the found myself in. He had such a calming presence, which was exactly what I needed in that moment. He had very simple solution for me. I got ahold of a family member, and they sent him a link so that he could pay the bill remotely. I as able to reimburse them the next day after I'd sorted out the issue with my bank (it turned out to be a very stupid problem that took all of 5 minutes to fix). I'm never gonna forget the night I went on a date at Beatrix. It's clear that the people there truly care about their customers, and they do a great job at taking care of them. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for a good night out. Just make sure you get a reservation beforehand!

Beatrix is such a great spot in Chicago! The atmosphere is bright, modern, and welcoming, and it's…read morethe perfect place for brunch, lunch, or a casual dinner. The food is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented, with plenty of options to choose from. The service was friendly and attentive, and the whole experience felt relaxed and enjoyable. Whether you're meeting friends, having a family meal, or just looking for a great place to eat in Chicago, Beatrix is definitely worth a visit. I'd happily come back again!

I LOVED my meal here! Ēma (Ay-mah) brings some glamour and glitz to the Mediterranean dining scene,…read morewith an airy, elevated hotel-lobby feel that still doesn't demand a dress code. Dresscode: Smart Casual / Casual Noise Level: Medium (it gets buzzy after 5:30pm) Thursday night Happy Hour was lively, so it took about 10-15 minutes for someone to come around, but service was attentive once we got going. The food is where Ēma really shines. From the Happy Hour menu, the Charred Eggplant Hummus and Crispy Potatoes were generously portioned and great for sharing. On the main menu, the Indian-Mediterranean fusion Bhel Hummus was a party for my taste buds, while the Hot Honey Halloumi and Chicken Kefta rounded out the table nicely. The halloumi is more of a side than a main, but that sweet-and-salty hot honey combo was chef's kiss. For our finisher, the Chocolate Torte knocked us out. Decadent, delicious and chocolate with lots of depth. Overall, Ēma is an excellent spot to order a bunch of dishes for the table and get an elevated meal without feeling stuffy, and delicious without taking itself too seriously. DO's: - Make a reservation ahead, especially for happy hour 4-6pm - Treat apps like small plates, order 2-3 to sample - Entertain their wine list, they have a lot! - Bring vegetarians here, there are plenty of options DON'Ts: - Dismiss the desert menu. It's fantastic and shareable! - Forget to ask for extra pita with the hummus! - Miss out on the LettuceEats loyalty points (check-in with your server before paying your check)

Ema has a great atmosphere and a lot of really good bites. I have celiac disease and appreciated…read morethat most of the menu is gluten free (they have a dedicated GF fryer and knowledgeable staff). The lamb and beef kefta was tasty but very dry. The tune and watermelon salad and hummus were awesome. We were disappointed with the level of service. We were seated 30 minutes after our reservation time and waited even longer to be greeted by a waitress. Our wine took a while to come out and we had to request our check twice.

Spectacularly delicious meal. Really cool vibes inside and the wait staff is amazing. Constantly…read morecleaning the table and refilling water that's already in the table. Pork shack was so good. Highly recommend it, but u did hate the sauces that came with it. The carnation please dessert I would skip the next time I go, but the pork shank and bread is perfect.

Tasty spot for shareable, tapas-style food with unique and creative flavor combinations! The…read moreatmosphere was super lively, and the server was very friendly (though a bit hard to hear/understand at times). The lighting creates a moody vibe, though it gets almost too dark to read the menu or see the food clearly. Still, a fun spot to visit with a group!

Our waiter was excellent, professional and attentive. We…read moreliked the chicken ..we tried 4 different ways. Sliders, jumbolia, fried and rotisserie. All yummy. The restaurant is beautifully done. We especially liked the chairs at the ground floor tables for comfort.

Dropped into Yardbird in Chicago for their happy hour, and it proved to be a great choice. The…read moreatmosphere was lively, but what really elevated the night was the exceptional service. Our server, Miguel, was phenomenal. She was attentive, fast, and gave us some spot-on recommendations. Per her advice, we ordered the deviled eggs with jalapeño, hands down the highlight of the table. The deviled eggs with paired with that subtle jalapeño kick was absolutely perfect. For the mains, the chicken and waffles were good, carrying that solid comfort food flavor you expect. The waffles were a bit soft for my taste. To drink, the sidecar was mixed perfectly, well-balanced, crisp, and hit the exact right note. Giving it 4 stars only because while the mains were good, the starters and the outstanding service from Miguel were what truly stole the show. I'll definitely be back to hang out at the bar again nest time I am in town!