Stopped here after dinner for some drinks in their downstairs lounge. I've never gone downstairs and when I entered it gave speakeasy vibes, I loved it. I had one of the best espresso martinis here and enjoyed sitting on their cozy couches while chatting to my friends. The atmosphere downstairs was really calm and relaxing. Service was quick and our server was very polite. read more

Came for the burger, but stayed for the drinks. Maybe I chose a bad night, but I thought the burger was disappointing based on its hype and Gretel's reputation. Hands down, the saltiest burger I ever had in Chicago. At least, they were generous with the fries. Laidback vibes and cool space, I would come back to try the other cocktails on the menu with friends. read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friends and I have started a burger crawl throughout the city, and we had to have Gretel on the list! First time here for all of us, but definitely will not be our last! We started with a bunch of cocktails (I wish I remember the names.. but they were all so good!). Food to start, we ordered the Charcuterie, and the House Made Pretzel. We were obsessed with both! The charcuterie did not skimp out like some cheese/meat plates do.. it was a satisfying amount that we kept going back for more. The pretzel was outstanding, twisted and hot, perfectly soft and salty. To eat, I split the Gretel Griddle Burger and the Fried Chicken Sandwich with my friend because although we were there for the burger, I kept reading about the chicken sandwich being fantastic. Booyy they were not wrong!! As much as I loved the burger, the chicken sandwich was my favorite! Perfectly crispy, with this sweet and spicy glaze and the crunchy Asian pear slaw... OMG. I'm still dreaming about this! One thing we were excited about were the Elote Riblettes.. but I wouldn't order these again. I accidentally bit the whole thing and didn't realize they kept the core in, and I had to spit it out. And even after eating it properly it didn't feel like I got enough of it from those little bites. Loved the fries though! We didn't see a dessert menu but we would have definitely been interested in that. After all the drinks apps and the chicken sandwich I was feeling so full so I couldn't finish the burger so I got it wrapped to go. But let me tell you even when I reheated that burger the next day.. it was fantastic!! Overall we may have been the loudest and most obnoxious group (we get a bit excited haha) our waiter and the vibe were all matched! Genuinely loved this place, and looking forward to coming back soon. read more

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Loved the burger sticky ribs were good pot stickers didn't taste fresh . Indifferent about the nachos . So cute inside. No signage , I'm glad I had Google Maps . It's on armitage and t-bones with Mozart read more

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Cozy atmosphere good drinks and food. Burger was amazing and the server was attentive! 10/10 will be back read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cocktails were fabulous and really enjoyed the menu and atmosphere. Definitely would go back .

Neighborhood favorite of mine. The burger is a solid deal load it with all the trimmings or keep it simple, either way you'll be satisfied. Fries are always crispy and the drinks are consistent, definitely grab one. Appetizers are solid too, the gyoza is good. Service is consistent and the ambiance is casual and laid back perfect for a casual pregame or a night out. -Mr. read more

Gretel - Gretel Griddle Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We are from out of state, and when we travel, we like to find hole in the wall places to eat. We came across this spot, with no outdoor signage, parking on the street integrate ambience. We arrived in the evening in search of a lobster roll. We are glad we stopped here because the lobster roll was delicious. We paired it with two "who sent 'cha" named cocktails. The cocktails were delicious, and this one closely resembled a margarita. They have a full bar with plenty of indoor seating. The waitress and hostess were friendly. A kids menu is available. Our child tried the spaghetti, which I also tried, and it was very flavorful. My daughter ordered the miso soup, thinking it was a little bit of miso in a broth. The miso soup was actually a full Ramen bowl. She enjoyed it. read more

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This place is hoping on a Friday night and for good reasons. Cool vibes and excellent service. The burger is the star here but we tried the Lobster roll and the prime rib sando. And all were just delicious and tasty. They don't take reservations so the wait ca be long on weekends. read more

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I came here on a Saturday around 2pm and was able to get sat at a communal table to eat. I ordered the chicken sandwich, which was so delicious. The crunch on the chicken was perfect and it had a nice kick with the sauce. The fries were also very good. The staff was attentive and very nice. read more

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Finally tried the infamous burger from here! Came on a Thursday evening with a group of 5 and thankfully there was no wait. They do not take reservations as stated on their website. Let's start with the vibes. This gastropub is cozy and dark inside. The bar is awesome! Even though I didn't drink during my visit. They have a HUGE wall full of a wide selection of alcohol. There is even a small ladder for staff to reach bottles on top. Loved it! The star of the show was of course the burger. They can cut your entrees in 1/2 so its better for sharing! It's simple yet soo good! The burger means business. The meat was cooked perfectly! They are not stingy with the fries either. I also got the lobster roll to share which was delish too! Cannot forget - their apps and sides deserve all the love as well! read more

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The burger was very good with the right amount of greasiness to it but just doesn't live up to Izakaya in the Chicago burger rankings to me. I also love pickle but it had a surprisingly strong amount of pickle. The fries were actually a lot better than I expected them to be and I could have eaten another order, very good. Service was incredibly fast and I love the atmosphere. read more

Gretel - Gretel Griddle Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such an amazing meal. Everything was done so incredibly well. We had the east coast oysters, Brussels sprouts, bone marrow, and prime rib, and everything was excellent. No notes. Staff were super friendly and accommodating, and just like Little Bad Wolf the ambiance was cozy and inviting. Amazing date night spot. Note: cocktails were also amazing. However, if you like your dirty martinis DIRTY, be sure to ask for it extra dirty. read more

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YES, go, eat, and drink!!!! We came here for an early dinner before an event and we loved this place! The bourbon selection for old fashioned was grand and that's because the bar looks like a library. The bartenders actually use a sliding ladder to pull the requested varieties of liquors. Both our lobster roll and steak sandwiches left no crumbs on our plates! There is a speakeasy downstairs that we will definitely check out next time. Unless missed, we did not find where you can make a reservation so be prepared to possibly wait as this place can get packed especially at the bar. read more

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I have been called tough, ruthless, and probably some more colorful terms. At the same time, most would agree I am fair. I was able to try the Lobster Bisque and the Pork Gyoza in their entirety. I was also able to try the Steak Frites, but sent this one back--a rarity for me. I absolutely, 100% give them credit for offering to make things right by remaking, changing, or asking management what we could do if I decided to keep it. Thus, I won't ding them too much, but it did dampen the experience. The Lobster Bisque is a tough one to critique. On one hand, the texture was rich and creamy, and the use of cream and oils on top was tasteful, adding lovely whispers of additional flavor layers. On the other hand, I felt the flavors were muffled. I would say it falls somewhere between "okay" and "good." I'm not sure if it needed more salt, fat, lobster, or even sugar, but I found myself preferring the stuff in the refrigerator section at Trader Joe's. Especially at $18.95, this needs improvement. The Pork Gyoza had the makings of something good. It was pan-fried the perfect amount to give just the right crispness without greasiness. The filling was tasty with just the right amount of sweetness and spice (read: spices, not heat). This dish's undoing, however, was their heavy-handed use of soy sauce. In moderation, it adds delectable salty and umami notes, but the heavy-handed use in this dish overpowered everything. Then... the fated Steak Frites. First, both the steak and the fries were barely lukewarm. I understand a steak needs to rest a little after cooking, but this one looked like it was left to rest and forgotten about for 10-15 minutes. Ditto for the fries; these were past their prime, limp, and barely warm. Where seasoning comes in, other than a overly heavy use of rosemary, the steak needed more S&P. Fries? You guessed it: under-seasoned. The final nail in the coffin: I requested the steak medium-rare, and it was cooked very inconsistently. Some parts were cooked to a medium-well, others were rare. I hate to say it, but I've had better steaks at Texas Roadhouse (not hating, they are just more 'entry-level,' shall we say). I do like the vibe at Gretel. Upstairs, the bar area is open and modern, with high ceilings, tasteful black and brown wood notes, good use of art and color, and a MASSIVE wall of liquor! Downstairs, the area is cozy and quirky in the best way. Being seated downstairs, the music was initially too loud, but became more reasonable as more people entered the space. While I appreciate that they likely have one volume switch for both floors (and the upstairs was decidedly busier), additional volume controls would make it less intrusive. I'd also like to give props to the server. She was all-around amazing! She was friendly, kind, and attentive. Something that happened which wasn't her fault was timing. I'd ordered the lobster bisque as something that should have come out quickly while the steak was being prepared (quoted at ~20 minutes). Yet, the soup was delayed so much that the steak hit the table before the last spoon of soup hit my mouth. Not the server's fault, and credit to her for checking in with the kitchen to make sure it wasn't forgotten about. I made the hour-long trek to Gretel because another restaurant under the same umbrella, Little Bad Wolf, is one of my favorites. Especially in light of this, I left Gretel with a profound disappointment. On one hand, I know sometimes a kitchen can have an off-day, and I want to give them another shot. On the other, when an experience leaves such a void in one's heart, it's difficult to justify another long Uber ride that leaves one nearly car-sick because of how lovely Chicago roads are. read more

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We waited almost 2 hours, but I have to say it was worth it. One of the best burgers in the city (I'm not a pickle person though so next time would ask for without). I LOVED the sesame bun. The double patties were the right amount of filling and it was saucy and cheesy. The Mac and cheese and Brussels sprouts sides were also both REALLY good. The Mac was big and heavy and verrrrry cheesy. The Brussels were extra dressed but in a good way. The carrots were just fine. The waiter warned us about the spice of the harissa so we got it on the side and thank god because it was way too spicy for me. read more

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I'm sad about this review because I had pretty high hopes for this restaurant during my trip. There was also no sign outside (at least I didn't see one), so I couldn't find it for like 5 mins haha. Shoutout to whoever posted a pic of the doors. Unfortunately, while the food was good, it was just ok. I ordered the popular burger and fries. I also ordered a side of brussels sprouts which were pretty tasty. However, they were drenched in a sweet sauce which kind of overpowered the dish. I also came before it got hype, so I can't speak to the vibes as it was pretty chill while I was there. Not sure if I'd come back though, I do want to try the pretzel, but I'm glad I got to visit! read more

The motherland of the Wolf paradise! This place is just solid all around. Everything is refined with that signature umami depth and hearty flavors. This was definitely the best French Onion Soup I've ever had. The burger is a must try for Chicago. Loved the decorations and plants and our server was great! Highly recommend for the area! read more

Gretel - Gretel Griddle Burger w/ bacon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Such a hip and cool spot. Love the decor, the vibe is very chill and cool. Great customer service, place is small. The bar is nice, but limited seating but worth the wait. Food was so good, very modern and not simple or basic. A lot of flavor & lots going on. I definitely loved everything! Would totally come back. read more

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Such a large place - when you enter, you don't expect tall ceilings and a massive liquor wall. Awesome selection of bourbons and whiskeys for your tasting. I appreciate the size of the menu. It's not over whelming and many of the items pair well with a drink if that interests you. When I chosen to visit this establishment, it was warm enough to sit outside but I chosen the inside. I ordered the burger and requested one patty alongside some veggies. One patty was just enough but on a good day I would've eaten both. It was cooked well and not dry. I like my burgers a bit more charred but I'll give grace as I don't mention that. I also ordered an old fashion and that wasn't the best. The liquors and bitters didn't mesh well together. Tasted like rubbing alcohol. I requested additional simple syrup to appease me. It did the job nonetheless. I'd for sure return here for a late night dinner. read more

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Finally made my way to Gretel and it was a great experience! We had a party of 5 plus a baby (high chair) and the staff was able to accommodate us in a busy Thursday night. Our server was friendly and on it during our time there which made the experience special. I had to get their famous burger as that is what everyone I know talks about when going here. I liked it a lot! To compare it to Au Cheval... hmm. I think it was just a tad step below Au Cheval if I had to rate burgers, but the burgers themselves were also different in presentation and feel too. I really did love the burger here though and I'd come back and order it again. The fries were good, however I didn't love their specific aioli sauce that they give here. Besides that, drinks were decent and the ambiance here is more upscale feeling even though you can be perfectly casual here. read more

Gretel - Pork Belly Nachos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Loveeee Gretel. The vibe is so cutie great for a gno or a date night. The burger was to die for and so was the dirty martini. Everything about this place was great. This is a top spot in Logan for me read more

Burger is crazy good! We didn't have time to sit inside but ordered carry out! WILL BE BACK! read more

Gretel - Gretel Griddle Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was amazing. Walked in really late on a Saturday night and was seated almost immediately service was fast and pleasant. The burger was really good cooked perfectly as I asked, and the aïoli garlic was amazing just the right amount of pickles and onions and good old American cheese. The fries were addictive. We just kept eating and we couldn't stop. It was the perfect type of cut and I would say the star of the night was definitely the butter chicken and the paratha that it came with on the side. The butter chicken was amazing so creamy the perfect amount of spice. I was just so surprised on the variety of different dishes that they have available at this restaurant and still not needing to take a step back just outstanding. read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friends and I met for drinks here, and it was a great experience. Fast and friendly service, good drink, selection, and gorgeous, sexy atmosphere. We didn't eat, but next time we'll definitely have to try the food too. read more

Gretel - Zombie Dust - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Beyond average food, but they were nominated for a James Beard so we had to try it. It's a traditional pub food place, with what some people say is the "Best Burger in Chicago". Not sure about that, actually pretty sure I do not agree. We started with the oysters, and got the French onion soup. The oysters were average not too slimy, but pretty heavy on the salt water flavor, maybe not cleaned too well but they didn't have shells in the oyster bed which was good. The French onion soup was a little on the sweet side. It was good because of the bread, otherwise it was average. I got the burger, because people say it's the best. It was a burger, nothing too special about it. I did ask for it to be medium, it was a little over cooked. They also cut it and plated it cut, which definitely dries the burger out and is an odd way to serve a burger. The fries were good. Unfortunately the service wasn't great because I had to wait 15 ish minutes for hot sauce. My partner got the fried chicken, it was definitely a shareable dish, not a solo endeavor. It had at least 5 pieces of chicken. He said it was good not great. He got Mac and cheese too and said it was good. The drinks are strong, and overall good. This place, like I said above, is extremely average. read more

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Review by: Avila.Eats on TikTok, insta, and YouTube Service: our waiter was incredible friendly and talkative. Anthony made for a pleasant experience and was so kind. Ambiance/Atmosphere: a beautiful decorated old tavern look. The bar was stacked with all kinds of wine and alcoholic beverages. Inside was spacious and comfortable with an open kitchen concept. Food: 1. French dip is tender with a beautiful seasoning and flavor. The aju is nice a meaty with a salty peppery tone. The horse radish sauce is cream and balanced. The baguette is really good and crispy while remaining soft enough to soak the AJU. I'd recommend. 2. Mac n cheese is gooey with a nice subtle cheesy flavor. The bacon adds a nice chew and the chive are a nice fresh ingredient. I'd highly recommend. 3. Brussels sprouts are crunchy and soft. The cherry reduction is delicious adding a sweet tone. I'd highly recommend. 4. Burger has a really nice sesame bun with black and white sesames. The burger is juicy and well seasoned. The sauce pairing add a creamy richness. The pickles are fresh. I'd recommend read more

We had an incredible lunch at Gretel during our stay in Chicago! We've heard amazing things about their burger, so we shared one along with an order of their Mac and cheese which was also delicious. Service was helpful and friendly, and food was fantastic and fresh. Solid beer and whiskey list too. Definitely understand the hype! read more

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It was a Saturday evening around 7:00 pm the place was packed with a 45 min to an hour wait for food. The Gretel Burger was mouth watering delicious. It came with two patties, cheese, garlic aïoli sauce and pickles - 10 out of 10 with a perfect temperature cook! The fried chicken sandwich was OK but nothing to scream about. What was disappointing was the fried chicken to me? It looked like it had been cooked too long and they hadn't changed the grease and it lacked flavor. The butter chicken soup had chucks of chicken and was spicy and full of flavor! I would rate it 10 out of 10! The bar was popping, lots of different types of mixed drinks to choose from and on tap a wide variety of beers. Service was outstanding. Despite the fact that they were crowded, our wait staff was absolutely amazing. They took care of our every need. Also the vibes from everyone eating there was amazing! This was my second time eating at Gretel and I would highly recommend that you come on a day when it's not so crowded so you can experience the food. I think they do a better job at preparing and cooking the food when they're not so crowded. read more

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We came on a Friday evening for dinner and there was a 45-60 min wait. This place does not take reservations. We waiting downstairs in the lounge and enjoyed a drink. The Hang 11 cocktail was delicious. We were seated fairly quickly. Maybe only waited about 20 minutes in the end. The sticky ribs were delicious and fell off the bone, the gyoza was good too, and the ribeye was also a hit. The mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were great as well. Great music, low lighting, great for a night out with friends or a date. read more

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This is not a steakhouse but meat eaters should be very happy here. My date had the steak frites and a very rich french onion soup. The heap of fries was highly seasoned so I had a vegetable instead with my sandwich. The people sitting at a table near us ordered what looked like a tomahawk steak. Stupendous drink list. Service was attentive. Ambiance is cozy. read more

The gretel burger is as good as everyone says it is. The service was pretty terrible. The ambiance was cool. We got the bone marrow (decent, flavorful, bread was cold), hot dog (portillos is better), oyster Rockefeller (also cold with barely any oysters, more spinach than anything), French onion soup (Cheesecake Factory is better), and beef tartar with rock hard toast that could chip a tooth (Bavettes is better) There was no hostess, so I went to the bar to ask for a table and the bartender seemed annoyed she had to do someone else's job? I get it. Table service was actually horrible. Server seemed pissed the entire time. I understand bad days and someone being upset at be beginning of service because something might have happened previous to us, but the entire time is wild. She said she was busy, which I also understand but there were 4 other tables? So I don't know, I notice people get anxious and moody by the smallest things and I think she was one of those people. I was with family and meeting my sisters new boyfriend so this was seriously a downer. My sister and her boyfriend said they were really uncomfortable and taken back by it. We considered leaving, but we stayed for the burgers. Had to ask for dessert, wasn't offered. Decided against it. The ambiance was lovely, very dark and moody, candlelight, dark wood, cottage-like, cozy seating. I would want to go on a date here if I was sure the service wouldn't be horrible. It's kind of surprising. I feel like you can make a lot of money working here because the items are priced accordingly, but the attitude doesn't seem to match? You can easily rack up a tab that is over $100 for two people and make $20 on that but it seemed like she didn't want to make money? Lol ok I just don't want to recommend this place to anyone. Maybe burger at the bar read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Oh my goodness! I am raving about Gretel! I had large party of 6 people. From the minute I walked in, the customer service exceeded my expectations. Every staff I encountered was kind, attentive and friendly. Thankfully our wait time wasn't long. On to the food. The menu at Gretel feels like a page from a dream. There is something on it for everyone. The star of the show for me was between the Sticky Ribs, which fell right off the bone, and the Oyster Rockefeller. The oysters were busting at the seams with flavor. I had the Gretel Griddle Burger as my entree and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed every bite. The fries were a little salty, but still very good. The interior is beautiful. Each choice made with the design from the pictures, to the lighting and the art on the wall told an accurate story about Gretel. What's the story? That Gretel is the place to be! I can't wait to go back. read more

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I don't know, maybe I'm just a hater, but I've given Gretel a shot twice now and left disappointed both times. It was mainly about the service. Disclaimer that both times we sat at the bar. So this has nothing to do with servers at the tables. It just felt cold and not at the level I would expect for the prices and reputation. For example, we ordered the smoked trout caesar salad once at the recommendation of a friend, and didn't love it. It was very, very fishy. Like not just the smoked trout itself, the dressing also tasted way heavier on the anchovies or something than we're used to. And we love caesars! We didn't say anything about it because it's literally in the name that it may be fishy. The issue was that it was so obvious we only took one bite that the bartender commented on it when he was clearing our plates. "Too fishy?" We confirmed. And then he took the full plate of food away that he himself had just agreed with wasn't great, and returned with our bill that still charged us $20 for a salad. I mean, it's fine. But it's just an example of the kind of service you get there. We were barely checked on, even when drinks were empty. Even when making eye contact. Even when we were obviously done eating for several minutes and the bartenders were staring at our plates.Even after asking for a check and watching conversations happen leisurely behind the bar while we sat there. I know sitting at the bar is a different style of service, but it ventured more into inattentive than spacious. The space is cool. The food is fine. It just doesn't make up for feeling like a burden when I'm paying $100+ for lunch for two. read more

This was the best surprise in a while.. We had never been here and luckily Au Cheval was temporarily closed which is how we stumbled upon this gem. We ordered the burger with fries and another with mac n cheese. It was amazing honestly. Truly. The burger was salty but just the perfect amount, I added bacon and a fried egg to my burger and it was just too good. The side of mac n cheese was okay to me but my husband thought it was great. The bar is phenomenally stocked, I snoozed and ordered wine but definitely need to try their cocktails next time. The staff were polite and friendly and we were taken care of right away. I couldn't believe how fast our food came out, there wasn't many people to begin but some restaurants still take their sweet time but they did not and it was MUCH appreciated because we were starving. The ambiance is the perfect vibe, I would describe it as a little more upscale without being pretentious. Casual enough to drop by in sweats but also fancy enough to dress up for. I don't know but this place really surprised me and I will be coming again. read more

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Went on a Thursday and apparently it's the 3rd busiest night at Gretel! My friend and I waited for around 15 minutes and were promptly seated. She tried the Gretel burger and I tried the vegan pastrami sandwich and a cider. The handhelds were both delicious and both came with a good amount of fries. The vegan sandwich was good and the bread toasted perfectly. Our server was friendly and good at answering my questions - service lagged a bit at times but it was most likely due to how busy the evening was. I enjoyed my time at Gretel and would like to try some of the other things on the menu some other time! read more

Gretel - Pastrami Carrot Sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came back again and nachos were also great! Definitely reccomend. Everything else was good as well. read more

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Burger lived up to the hype! Wine list could use some work, but food was great! I had the fried chicken sandwich, had a little kick which was expected per menu description, but is was super delish! Ordered a side salad instead of fries...came drenched in dressing. Will remember to order it on the side next time. My husband had the burger and he said it was perfectly cooked (ordered medium). We were sat downstairs, which is super cute and looked like an Anthropologie showroom. Service was pleasant and efficient - not blown away, but he did his job well. read more

Gretel - Crispy chicken sandwich, drenched side salad. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A great spot with a kitchen closing at 12:30am, at least on the Friday night we went. And they served proper food, not just the usual bar food and it was still pretty busy when we arrived 1 hour before closing. We even had to wait 20mins to be seated but it was worth it. I loved the inside, how it was lighted and I loved the small waiting tables in between the bar and dining seats, for those who want to grab a drink and wait to be seated. I had the cod plate and my husband had the chicken sandwich and they were both delicious! The only negative, and nothing with the food, was that there was no sign on the outside saying it was Gretel. I could be wrong since it was dark but we walked past it twice looking for it and when we entered we weren't sure if we were in the right spot. We just saw people which signaled they were still open and stayed. read more

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Was really disappointed with the meal and the service last night. Maybe it was my fault for ordering their prime rib. But they ruined it by overcooking it. Prime Rib shouldn't be in a menu if you can't cook it perfectly. I made a poor assumption. It was over cooked and dry and over salted. And it came with some sort of soufle side dish which wasn't cooked and I hat to send back. I also ordered their brussel sprouts. They were in way too salty for my taste. I'm a person that loves salt, so for me to say that is a big deal. They also told us we could sit in the basement if we wanted but it was sort of under construction. We said ok, it was empty, but they said it would take 20 minutes or so and they took our number to call us when it was ready. So we walked around and never got a call. I popped back in to ask if it was ready and the woman just grabbed some menus and said sure. Really bizzare. Don't sit downstairs. The seats against the wall are very uncomfortable. Not sure I'll go back anytime soon. read more