Really glad I tried it. I tried stopping by one day when they'd been opened fewer than two hours I…read morethink but was out of luck; they were sold out. So I came by one Sunday before opening and was surprised that there were only about five people ahead of me in line shortly before they opened. They threw the doors wide open precisely at noon. Asa, the proprietor, clearly has a passion for the work she does. She's a bit of a cross between a poet and a pastry chef--check out the descriptions she writes of her pies if you don't believe me! Each slice is unlike any pie I've ever tasted. She had a pie with fig, and that was the closest to a conventional pie she had (if you can call it that--as I said, I find it hard to describe her offerings). All were creamy, decadent, and unique in the true sense of the word. Her crusts were amazing. Also unique is the way she runs her business. She is based out of a little counter in the Poke San that's on the corner of Wells & Huron. The hours she keeps are minimal. And it's a total of two people--her father, who takes payment, and her. Her passion comes out in the care that she takes with each slice: She bakes the pies, of course, but then she adorns them upon ordering. You will wait several minutes once you've ordered your slice, and if you are in line you will be waiting for a while depending upon your place (being 5th or 6th in line, I was finished about 15-20 minutes after the shop opened). It's clear she sees this as artistic expression, and honestly that is plain to see in how she finishes each slice: A brûlée'd top on this one (caramelized whilst you watch), decorating that one with local--real--flowers. It's an experience and if you like to try new things, or just taste something that is fairly unlike other local offerings, you should consider giving it a try before she moves on to new ventures.

The slice of pie was incredible and this is my new favorite dessert spot. It is quite pricey ($14…read morefor a singular slice), but a more special occasion type of pastry treat. Got the second one which is creamy cinnamon flavor with a brûléed top. There's some poured rice and cinnamon crème fraiche on the top. It wasn't overly sweet (huge compliment), and the crust was very flaky. How it works: -you can order at the window and there's little menus that are handwritten with the four pie options -the base pie is already done, and she will finish and add the decorations and toppings after you order Packaging is beautiful and very high end. Service was very fast (no one in line on a Sunday afternoon). Definitely will be back!

Such a cute pop up in Wrigleyville where there are other Christmas pop up. It's pretty busy but…read moreyou're be able to find a seat. They have a display of the drinks and it's pretty cool. Really liked how they decorated everything and it really makes it feel good. Overall the workers are pretty nice even when they're busy. I like the Christmas ornaments in the back and there's a lot of tv around for you to enjoy watching your favorite team play.

Came here for a Mommy&Daughter date before Christmas, I've been here before and it is better than I…read moreremember! I had 2 drinks which were so good, and my burger was fantastic! My daughter had a tomato soup & grilled cheese which was also delicious! I love that they play Christmas music and the Elf movie on one of the TVs. The staff was tentative and welcoming. If you are a Buddy the Elf fan you'll definitely love it here!

Oh you need some delicious bar snacks while imbibing? Umamicue is the juice for you…read more I absolutely love a pop up inside a bar. Umamicue is fire. Brisket egg rolls and lions mane mushrooms were the choices for me. Let's start with the egg rolls: superb. The egg roll itself was thin, and super crispy. I love when they flake with every bite. Then, the salty brisket was smoky and fatty. So amazing. You must dip it in their vinegar based barbeque sauce. It is sweet, tangy, and super acidic. I loved it. The mushrooms were insane. Super crispy with the panko. You need to dip them in the mushroom aioli. It's thick, rich, and adds even more umami. The mushrooms were cooked to savory perfection. Please, do yourself a favor and get you some umamicue. They have a little window for you to order from where a server takes your order and another cooks up the juice. It was prepared quickly and was an amazing starter for my evening!

Umamicue has a nice patio seating set up for summer! I usually don't like eating outdoors but they…read moreset it up to be a pretty comfortable experience! Tables had umbrellas for shade and there was a big fence to minimize wind blowing things everywhere. To get here just walk into spilt milk tavern and go straight down to the patio area. There's a menu on the wall with all the offerings. They ran out of pork belly when we went on a Wednesday night. However there were still plenty of tables open so no need to wait for a seat. The brisket banh mi was delicious, solid banh mi experience. The highlights for me were the lion's mane mushroom nuggets and potato salad. The mushroom nuggets had the crisp and texture of an actual chicken nugget and came with a nice mushroom aioli. The potato salad had a delicious nuoc cham dressing (like a vinaigrette made with fish sauce) and fresh crispy onions on top! You can really taste the fresh herbs! The sauce that came with the egg rolls was also really good. The server was attentive and there is a self serve water station. This is just a short walk from the blue line stop. Definitely will be back. I heard they're opening up another location in wicker park at Little Victories, date to be announced.

This is out of The Zombie Club, a new pop up kitchen. I'm a huge breakfast person so I tried the…read morebiscuits and gravy and they were so good. I went and got seconds to go, added with bacon and egg. The best new spot on the square by far.

I am not much of a late night adventurer any longer, but for a burger or b&g (or both so I have…read moreyummy breakfast!) I make the exception. Wonderful customer service and you can have a quick drink, or just a glass of water while you wait. They have a limited menu but have constant new specials. Dying to try the poutine...

We always love the pop-ups at Stolen Saddle (formerly known as Bamboo Club) but this one is SO fun…read more There's a walk-through Haunted House type experience that you go through, eventually spitting you out on the rooftop where they have the Halloween bar going. There are a bunch more photo ops and displays for you to explore on the rooftop as well. Your admission gets you x-amount of drink tickets based on your package, but all include a welcome jello shot syringe and a bonus drink downstairs. Your main drink tickets get you any of the Halloween-themed special beverages. They're soooo super cute and very in-theme. They even gave us a souvenir cup from the Bamboo Club days to take home as a little extra haha. The vibe up there was really fun and the bartender was amazing. She was super friendly, a good amount of chatty, knowledgeable about the drinks, and just vibing and having a good time. There was a good amount of people in our time slot, not too crowded and just about everyone could find a table to stand at. But there was also enough of a crowd to make the vibe. I would recommend going in the evening for a full spooky experience, though! The one and only problem we had was that it was unclear where to go after the escalators and we went the wrong way. But the bartender was great at redirecting us and making sure we got the full experience! Definitely recommend if you get a chance to go for Halloween!!

Went to Bamboo Club (originally Deuces) after a Cubs game and was invited to try the haunted house…read moreat no cost. It was the first day and the actors hadn't arrived yet but it was scarier than anticipated - in a good way! Also super convenient to get some food and drinks downstairs after.

This is a Christmas pop-up that opens during the holiday season. I have been to a couple of these,…read moreand this one was really good. The place has two levels. You can buy a ticket online, or choose a package that includes drinks. It was very nicely decorated for Christmas, which made the vibe fun and festive. There were also performances going on, which made the experience more entertaining. There was enough seating as well, so it was comfortable to sit and enjoy the show. People could also get on the stage and dance. Overall, it was a great pop-up and a fun place to visit during Christmas time.

There's holiday cheer in every drink, our favorites were the Nutcracker Shot and Christmas Cookie!…read more It's decorated from floor to ceiling and be sure to check out the second level. That's where Santa hangs out! Open thru 12/30, come and enjoy the holiday spirit!

Treehouse is an absolute must-visit during the holidays! From the moment we walked in, the…read moreChristmas pop-up atmosphere was magical--festive, cozy, and so much fun. Dougie, the owner, treated us incredibly well and made the entire experience feel welcoming and personal. You can really tell how much care goes into this place. The drinks were delicious--creative, perfectly balanced, and very on-theme for the season. The food was just as impressive and complemented everything perfectly. We enjoyed every single bite and sip. This is one of those places you leave already planning your next visit, and we will absolutely be back. If you're looking for a festive spot with amazing food, fantastic drinks, and top-tier hospitality, Treehouse is it!

Came here for the Emerald City pop up and happy hour…read more Honestly, I might just be too old for the Sunday night/weekend crowd. I felt like it was too loud and the music was not my jam. For an event pop up, I thought maybe they would play some wicked music (even remixed) but it sort of felt like it was an afterthought. Even the "decorated" side of the bar was empty and not being served at that bar. I walked over to take pictures of that side but I wasn't sure I was supposed to lol. When we got there, we had to ask about the happy hour because it wasn't mentioned. When we got the okay, we ordered drinks and pizza. Only after I got back to my hotel did I noticed that the pizza rang in full price. The drinks were creative and fun but I wasn't sure ready to leave after a few loud minutes.

This was my first time at a pop-up bar and it was such a fun experience! We made reservations a few…read moreweeks ahead of time online for a late Sunday afternoon. Before checking in for our reservation, there were a few photo opportunities outside. Once we checked in at the hostess stand, we were seated immediately at a table. The server explained the concept of the bar and left us be to read the menu. Santa Baby Bar is a multi level restaurant with bars and photo opportunities. If you're at a table, you get a 90 minute time limit. You can explore and order drinks & food, but the table is yours for that time period. Food and drinks come out when they're ready. The inside & outside of this place was decked out in holiday decorations! My family and I decided to order a bunch of food to share. Everything ended up being so good too! The giant (emphasis on giant) holiday pretzel is a must order! It came with 3 dipping sauces: cinnamon toffee sauce, queso, and cranberry mustard. My favorite was the toffee one. The Santa's Sampler was another great appetizer to order because it had a little bit of everything: mozzarella sticks, fried mac 'n' cheese, chicken fingers, chicken wings, mini corn dogs, and sweet potato fries. My husband and I ended up also splitting some dessert - Santa's Sundae. This was vanilla soft serve ice cream with a ton of candy in it and it even came out with a giant sparkler. While we waited to digest in between courses, my husband and I walked around to the different floors to see all the decorations and photo ops. The place was crowded, but did not feel overwhelming. Although the place was buzzing, I could not hear other conversations when we were back at our table area. Service was A+ too. The server was a pro taking care of us and all her other tables. She was also extremely nice. Santa Baby is only around for the holiday season and turns into a normal bar in the off season (Stolen Saddle). The service and food were so good that I definitely would recommend it anytime during the year.

Great decor...they really go out on the Christmas theme…read more Be prepared to pay $5 cover, which I think was worth it considering how much effort they put in the decorations. The drinks are way overpriced. My friend payed $19 for a wine glass. Highway robbery. You won't get a table unless you have a reservation. I thought considering we are paying the cover, we should be able to sit at a table...

cannot say enough good things about Cash's Kitchen! If you are looking for a top-tier smash burger,…read morelook no further. They nailed it, perfectly crispy edges, juicy meat, and incredible flavor. It is hands down the best burger I've had in a long time. What really sets this place apart, though, is the service. Travis, the owner, is an absolute legend. He is so friendly and makes you feel right at home the second you walk up. It is rare to find that level of genuine hospitality these days. Great food and even better people, I will definitely be coming back!

This is a really cool concept and I liked their burger but I felt like the burger was a tad too…read moresalty. There is chunky salt on the burger and you can definitely chew on the crystals. This is definitely a cool concept. Service was really quick and they brought the burger to where I was sitting.