I don't know how this place can only have a 4.0 when it well exceeds a 5 and then some!!!!! The food- absolutely delish and not overly done with flavors that literally burst with flavor and freshness! The shishito peppers were so sweet and tangy in the bacon jelly and cheese and oozed with goodness! The steak and chicken were such a great combo to share between my husband and I with both being such different profiles of taste and actually complimented one another. The steak itself was absolutely perfect and the bread under soaked up all those juices so you didn't have to lick the plate after (great ingenuity when dining out :)) The desserts were fantastic but the star of the show was def the raspberry blondie. It was everything I imagined and more. The perfect sweet and tart mixed in a bowl with spoons ... thank you for not plating this - I felt like I was at home about to sit on the couch and indulge in something I created. Perfect experience, perfect presentation and to top it off their restaurant is surrounded by their farm. Tomatoes, jalapeños, peaches, peppers, micro greens, greens, herbs..... with everything going on today in this world and every thing being recalled this is a place I can stand behind doing it the right way! Service the phenomenal, food was perfection and atmosphere was next to none.... Thank you so much for such an amazing dinner out! read more

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Everything was fine, I didn't love this place like some others did. Medium charcuterie board was very good & had plenty for 2 to snack on. Wife had the Teras major steak with a portobello mushroom. Steak was good mushroom hardly had any mushroom in it & was tasteless. I had the fish & chip & fish was good, tartar was meh & potatoes were mushy Sangria was fine but small Bill was $135 B4 tip for 2 dinners an app & 1 alcoholic beverage. We won't be going back. *we were there on a chilly night, if we would've sat outside on their beautiful patio our experience may have been better read more

Too much of a good thing? Very cool place and nice thought behind the sustainable farming/sourcing and such. My meal was good, not great. Wagyu flat iron with rice and teriyaki sauce. Unfortunately did not come with any sides or veggies. The steak was medium rare, but a bit stringy. No big deal. Our server was professional but so very quiet. I'd like to come back and try something that includes their products grown in-house. Lastly, the dry Irish nitro stout was one of the better I've had! They brew well and I'd like to come back. read more

Went to Hardware in North Aurora and came away with mixed feelings. The good: ambiance is great and the drinks were on point. Had the Marilyn saison and a solid dark beer. Bar program is strong. The short rib pot pie was a straight up winner. Rich, comforting, and not trying to be anything other than good food done right. The bone marrow lost me. Cooked well, but buried under too many microgreens and then oddly topped with tortilla chip strips. No smokiness either. It felt more confused than cohesive. Where it really started to miss was the overall approach. A lot of "the chef intends this..." type explanations. It ends up feeling like the food insists upon itself instead of just letting you enjoy it. That's the bigger issue. This place exists in a space where I don't think most people want to meet it. Not casual enough to relax, not refined enough to justify the performance. Bottom line: good drinks, great pot pie, but the experience tries a little too hard. read more

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The service was a little slow but our server was very polite l. Whiskey sour was sort of flavorless. The beet salad was also disappointing. I expected more flavor but the texture was good. The baked goat cheese was excellent! As was the old fashioned. This place just has great whiskey. Their summer wind cocktail is good too. The ambiance is fabulous. This place puts a lot of thought into their menu, ingredients, etc. read more

Visited Hardware in North Aurora on Valentine's Day. We chose it because of the strong Google ratings. Reservations were definitely required that evening, but it was not a paid reservation, which was convenient. The location feels a bit tucked away and slightly dim from the outside, but once you enter, there's plenty of parking and the space is large and lively. The ambiance inside is warm and vibrant -- perfect for a special occasion like Valentine's Day. The food was fresh and flavorful. Since it was a busy holiday evening, there were a few small service hiccups. For example, when I requested a side of rice, the waitress initially said it wasn't possible, but after checking, they were able to accommodate it. There were also minor things like missing cutlery that we had to ask for, likely due to how busy it was. The bar menu is extensive -- especially if you enjoy cocktails or hard liquor, this is a great place. Mocktail options were limited, but I still found something I liked. We also asked the waitress to take a few Valentine's photos for us, and she kindly suggested some nice spots around the restaurant, which we appreciated. Overall, it was a lovely Valentine's evening with great ambiance, fresh food, and a lively vibe. read more

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It was definitely a fun time with my colleagues and the patio and weather made it even better! The spicy sticky chicken thighs were scrumptious and the French martini was so yummy and smooth. The main courses are top notch but they need to work on their desserts. My friend and I shared the Ho-Ho and it fell flat for me....not bad but just not worth the calories nor having it. I wonder if they could create a fabulous apple pie with all those garden items. Service is friendly and the restaurant is really well designed. I'm sharing plenty of pictures. Oh and there more than enough parking. read more

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Amazing dinner!! I had the goat curry which was new to the menu. My table mates had skirt steak, chicken roulade and seafood stew. Everyone loved their meals! You must try this restaurant! read more

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Excellent experience. Cookery was top notch. Quality and freshness of ingredients was superb. Service was friendly and attentive. Extensive beverage program and their beers were solid too. The dining rooms and bars are a vibe. The menu is wide ranging with some interesting flavor combos; truly something for any eater without any pretension. read more

Got some great beers and food from this brewery in North Aurora. Hardware is known for a lot more than drinking, and there's plenty of visitors who simply are eating. It for certain isn't a surprise things get pricy. A crap ton of things to choose from. There's a lot of burgers and meaty items, but also salads. Checked out the menu and picked out a few items but we had to look over everything first. It's got tons of beers obviously. There's also crap tons of whiskeys. A lot going on in here. The beers are what we came for though. It's about $8 a pint. That's kind of a lot but not that bad for a microbrewery it seems. Best one of these we had was the Wild Bill Double IPA. This is made with cascade and chinook hops, and has a slightly sweet citrus finish when you mix it all together. It's about $12 or more for the salad entrees. We each got the Quinoa Salad. Certainly a lot came on it. Plenty to have for meals. This has avocados, Brussels sprouts, green chickpeas, onions, strawberries, and walnuts. Meaty for the rest of the food items. There's charcuterie along with fish and other things. Has plenty of great beers or other cocktails along with some great food and eats. It's closed Mondays. This is located on Orchard across from Woodman's. read more

Hardware - Wild Bill Double IPA And Quinoa Salad - Gastropubs Near Me - North Aurora, Illinois

This place is nice and has a lot of space. The food was good, but I think it was a bit overpriced for the quantity of food. Kids loved their mini burgers. My husband and I shared the Brisket and it was only two pieces of meat. Thought it was going to be more than that. The dinner rolls were pretty bland. Dessert was just ok, we got the hoho's. Bathrooms were weird, lady said it was all the doors when only one had the sign on it and they were very small. Our server was great. read more

Visited today for a weekday lunch for the first time and will be doing it again. The menu changed up a little. More sandwiches. My husband had the jammin grilled cheese, and I had the DELICIOUS gyro. This is not your typical Chicago fast food gyro - well seasoned with both lamb and sausage. Freshly made pita. Yum! read more

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The food is consistently good here. I recommend the pork, it's always been very well done and the salad it comes with compliments it very well. I've tried the brisket and found it underwhelming. The baked goat cheese was delicious, but the grilled ciabatta that came with it was oily and burnt. The staff is very attentive, but some are inexperienced. One made a wine recommendation simply based on the price. My biggest complaint is that the music indoors is too loud. It drives the volume of conversation to be too loud as well. Reducing the noise level is a must when the place is busy. read more

Our party of 6 had lunch at Hardware today. It was agreed by all that the lunch offerings were a bit heavy and one note. There should be lighter options, especially for summer. Our server, Amanda, was not very attentive, rarely checking on us. My husband had to ask her three times for a coffee refill. We told her we were celebrating a birthday and pointed out who it was. Just 2 guests ordered dessert. The birthday girl was one of them. Amanda brought the dessert with candles on it to the other guest and not the birthday girl. Amanda's overall manner was not very friendly. For what we paid today, I think we should have gotten much better service. read more

This is my second time visiting Hardware. Food was amazing. Great service. Loved the house made linguini. Must try restaurant. read more

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My wife and I stopped by this place to have a drink while we waited for our takeout food. Megan the bartender was completely awesome. Megan talked up one of her favorite bourbons from Kentucky which I thought was incredible. read more

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We've had several wonderful meals at Hardware. They have menus that are frequently updated with lots of specials based on sustainability and what is in season. We've enjoyed several cocktails including the Tennesee Flyover, the barrel aged Manhattan, and a seasonal cocktail for the holidays. I love a good charcuterie board- and their's is delicious. Lots of outdoor seating when the weather is nice, but also great atmosphere indoors. The service has been excellent every time we've been- and I would highly recommend reservations as it can get busy. We will absolutely be back- and they have other restaurants we want to try as well! read more

For those who don't know - Hardware is a sustainable pub. They grow so much on their property and use that in all their dishes. You can definitely tell, too. Stopped here for lunch earlier this week and got to enjoy sitting outside in their large patio. Highly recommend the patio for everyone. For entrees - we got the BLT and the Brisket Sandwich. I really enjoyed my BLT and brought half home - it is that large. Most of the ingredients (if not all) were made in house and you can really tell. The side salad with it was delicious - with a mustard vinaigrette. My husband was less impressed with his brisket but still brought half home for leftovers. He did love the smashed potatoes that came with it as a side. He felt the brisket sandwich (at $30) was quite pricy for lunch. I would recommend the place - as I thought the options were substantial and I liked the freshness of the ingredients. read more

How have I never reviewed before? This was probably my 10th visit. Katie made our experience absolutely wonderful. It was a beautiful night and we were early for our reservation so we opted for first available. We were seated inside and the volume, temperature, ambience were 10/10. The food absolutely blew us away (like always), the cocktails were fantastic, and save room for the Ho Hos. read more

LOVE Hardware! This Gastropub is also a farm to table dining spot. Their specialties are smoked meats as well as having a good whiskey selection. So large it fills up two walls worth! My fiancé and I stopped in for Sunday Brunch. Most people sat outside in either the screened in porch or shaded patio. We decided to dine inside to take in all the cool design elements. Our waiter, Donnie, was great at making recommendations and telling us a bit about the decor. All wood was hand charred to be on theme. We started with the house-made cinnamon roll which had fresh dough cooked when ordered. It tasted more like a sticky bun but I was not mad. For entrees, I got the Avocado & Burrata Toast. This had all fresh ingredients that played off each other in a surprising way. My fiancé had the skillet which he loved!! Pricing was fair to portion sizes, quality, and taste. So happy to have been passing through the area to visit an old favorite of mine! read more

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In an unusual Yelper move, I did NOT do preliminary research on Hardware before dining here. I went in cold to a surprise post engagement dinner for my cousin's fiancee. I was not disappointed at my cousin's choice. When I arrived, I was warmly greeted and seated in a private room - perfect for the size of the party (25 people). I loved the decor. - lots of repurposed materials - which is right up my eco-friendly alley. There were high tables which I like, but slightly challenging for the elderly peeps in my group. Jason, our server, was awesome. He immediately gave my boyfriend and I the rundown on drinks. I started with a smokey old fashioned with Basil Hadyn, which also had a cinnamon stick in it. Highly recommend! The menu had a lot of options. I kept changing my mind! Jason was helpful in giving us some recommendations and telling us about his faves. We settled on the appetizer of Teriyaki bacon served on top of watermelon. It was thick cut and was very tasty. It reminded me a little bit of a Spanish/Filipino cured pork shoulder called Tocino. I ordered the Brisket - delicious, tender, and smoked to perfection. Paired with buttery mashed potatoes, how could you go wrong? My boyfriend had the Fish and Chip. I had a bite of the fish - it tasted fresh and had the perfect amount of breading. At the end, I had a coffee - just a little weak for me - but I am a serious coffee drinker... Overall, I enjoyed my experience. I like the vibe of this place and their mission. If I am ever in this area again, I will definitely put this place on my itinerary! read more

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First time there and we loved it!!! A bit pricey but it's ok with a good experience!! Great job! read more

Hardware - The burrata plate! - Gastropubs Near Me - North Aurora, Illinois

Hardware is definitely a place I would go back to. The meat and cheese platter was exceptional. We tried sheep's cheese and it's one of my top 5 cheeses to date. The whiskey selection is top tier! They had whiskey from every region imaginable. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and the Chefs recommendation was an experience. I love when a Chef directs you how to eat your meal! A must try! read more

Food and service Food was delicious and the service was great. Very attentive to my needs since was in a wheelchair. Great martini read more

First time ever at Hardware, and boy what a treat! Great night so we decided to have dinner on the patio. Charming spot, very clean. Service is impeccable from the host to the servers! Food was unbelievable. Extra fresh (farm to table is amazing), so flavorful and delightful. I had one of the mocktails and it was very refreshing! We shared a charcuterie board as an appetizer (they smoke the meats in house), then my friend had the fish and chips (one of the best I've ever tried) and I got the Bison burger (so good, and cooked perfectly)! Both dishes served with small fried potatoes. Just wow! We were just too full to try dessert. Maybe another time! read more

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My wife and I celebrated our anniversary here last night after making reservations on OpenTable. We were warmly greeted by the host who acknowledged our event and seated us in the back overlooking the brew room, very nice. It was my first visit to your restaurant though my wife has been here before with friends. Chad was our server. He pleasantly explained the drink and dining menus and took good care of us all evening. My bride had her favorite drink, The French Martini, and you guys nailed it for her! I was very happy with the 2025 Pils. Dinner was amazing, Skirt steak for her, brisket for me with Yukon potatoes following salads for both of us. The quality and taste of the food was great and makes us want to come back and sample other dishes. We received great service and a nice complimentary glass of champagne (with Ho-Ho's) to finish our celebration. At the end of the evening we received a big surprise when Chad came over with news that we had no bill to pay as my wife's daughter and her husband had secretly called to pay the tab! So thoughtful of them to treat us and to top off a memorable meal and milestone in our lives. read more

Someone has to tell you about this place because there is absolutely no way you stumble upon it. Ample parking. There is a stop sign at Deerpath and Tanner. I strongly suggest you exit this way or risk an accident. Since most ingredients are grown on the property can you offer a salad with tomatoes? cucumbers? peppers? radishes? carrots? Something other than just lettuce. The tacos were delicious. The pineapple pico was something new for me and I totally enjoyed it. Choice of tortilla type would be nice. Is it still a taco if you remove the ingredients from the tortilla? I had the brisket as my entree. So tender, no knife required. Mashed potatoes ~ yummy. When I commented on the corn relish to our server, he responded that no one likes it. So why not change it? We enjoyed being seated on the patio. We were told they enclose it over winter ~ but I would think it would still be rather uncomfortable. I can't enjoy my meal if I am cold. Highly recommend. read more

Ambiance is nice, service is great and the food is very good. Nice place They have hundreds of bourbon brands and they make there own beer. They have charcuterie boards of all kinds you can mix and match Fun place to drink and dine! read more

5 stars for the great service. Our server was excellent. We sat in the outside, basically, tent. Soooooo cold. You really shouldn't have to keep your coat on while eating dinner. We were with friends, so stayed put. We were a couple of tables away from the fireplace, so we survived. Another couple at a different table asked to be moved because they were freezing. I won't do that again. Seeing the fireplace gave me false security. I asked the server for a recommendation between the Steak & Egg Salad and the Chicken Roulade. She said if it was summer, she would get the salad when all the greens were grown there. She recommended the chicken. The Chicken Roulade is described as: Rolled Chicken breast stuffed with smoked chicken chorizo, sweet & savory cornbread stuffing, honey butter, corn relish, chicken gravy, garden pepper escabeche, micro cilantro . It was okay. I think it was too sweet and, unfortunately, my chicken was dry. Thank goodness I had a drink to wash it down. My husband got the brisket. Which he said was not good. He said he smokes a better brisket than that. Bummer. Our plain starter Green House Salad was good though. The topper was the Spiced Sticky Pudding. Here is the description: Spiced gluten free date cake, Molasses caramel sauce, Rum raisins, Coconut ice cream. I took one bite and was hit with the most bitter, unappealing taste. It was the worst dessert I have had in decades. I assume that they did something bad with the Rum raisins. I had my friend try it and the response was "Eww'. The waitress was kind enough to remove it from our bill. I wanted to like it here. If someone wants to go, I will try it again, but it won't be my choice. read more

First visit was excellent all around. We dined outside. Second visit they seemed low on personnel - we also dined outside. Service on this visit was friendly but spotty. Food was good both times. Will try again. read more

This is a one of a king great local establishment. The drinks were outstanding, the appetizer was amazing. Service was excellent, only down side was the tenderloin was significantly overcooked. The atmosphere is great for couple or social event read more

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What a hidden gem! We were doing a long road trip and came across this restaurant on our way, and this was such a surprisingly amazing find! The food is gastropub vibe, service was 8/10 but I'd say overall experience is a 4.5/5 (-0.5 only because of service). Perfect for small or big groups. Not too noisy. Highly recommend the octopus!! read more

Hardware - Fish and chips Brisket taco - Gastropubs Near Me - North Aurora, Illinois

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Another great dinner with my Person. We order Le Pig Mac Smoked pork shoulder, hardware sauce, greens, white american cheese, pickles, shaved onions on a brioche bun And short rib pot pie. Both excellent choices read more

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Friends recommended Hardware. The concept was appealing, and the reviews were mostly radiant, so we invited another couple, old friends who were visiting from Arizona. They enjoy gastropubs, so it seemed a good fit, and it was. We had a delightful experience. Great, friendly, efficient, and helpful server, many satisfying drink choices, and a diverse menu with something for everyone earned my five stars. I was excited to see a sazerac listed under cocktails since this is rarely the case. My short rib pot pie was one of the best I've had -- plenty of meat, tender but not mushy vegetables, and a well-seasoned cream sauce underneath a decent, crisp crust appealed to me on this somewhat coolish summer luncheon. The pie was also steamy hot, always a plus in my book. The two diners who ordered salads raved about the variety of greens which clearly came from the restaurant's vast gardens. Two of us sampled the beers and found them resplendent with a nice, hoppy tang. We will return. Thank you for keeping a small carbon footprint. read more

Hardware - Gastropubs Near Me - North Aurora, Illinois

Hardware is incredible! I was so happy to find this place while doing a work visit, and my work guest who lives in the area was going to recommend it, as he and his wife are regulars. Met for lunch on the patio and it's gorgeously shaded, with herb gardens all around, some shaded by strings of hops. My bison burger with five year cheddar was great! I'm a craft beer drinker but was on work travel, so no drinking for me. I love their hop garden and sustainable vibe. I can't wait to return for dinner and to try their beer menu, as well! read more

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Love the great ambiance. I very much enjoyed their charcuterie board and smoke gouda tart salad. My kids absolutely love their BBQ pork sliders. The server made us feel like we were their only customers even though it was busy. We never had to ask for anything else, and they always kept an eye on us. I had a very happy experience and will definitely be back soon. read more

Celebrated my friend's birthday at Hardware tonight, it's one of her favorites and I can most definitely see why! Staff is so warming and welcoming, the ambiance has such a soft glow! I can't wait to celebrate my birthday there this summer! Delicious all the way around!!!! This place needs to be talked about more!!!!!!! read more

I went to Hardware for my first time this evening and was honestly blown away! The food was fantastic, the atmosphere was great, and the service was also very good as well. We started off our meal with the Baked Goat Cheese and Fried Brussel Sprouts which both were very tasty. I also could not write this review without mentioning the butter that is served with the bread is some of the best butter I've ever consumed in my life so make sure to grab some. For my main dish, I ordered the House Made Ravioli which I very much enjoyed. For dessert, we ordered the Ho Ho's and the Strawberry Shortcake and WOW! Very happy I did not pass up on dessert because both were some of the best desserts I've had. Overall, I am so pleased with my first experience at Hardware and can't wait to come back again! read more

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First time here. (I've been to The Turf room). Started at the bar with a cocktail. My brother, sister-in-law & I shared 6 appetizers and each had 2 drinks food was amazing! My "Figgin Awesome" cocktail was one of the best cocktails I've ever had. Service was average and outside dining was lovely. read more

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Friendly service and what a great place I found by chance while charging my car. Delicious food with everything pretty much being homemade and grown on site. read more