SUCH a cool little "hidden" spot!…read more Nightshade is a small little cocktail bar under Moonflower, and it's INCREDIBLE. The drinks were so fun- I had one rimmed with crushed tortilla chip. Absolutely worth the stop!

A bar within a bar inception…read more Nightshade is the basement bar of Moonflower. We came to the opening weekend to check out the vibe. There was a healthy amount of folks coming through, but not too crowded. It's dark, closed off with a smaller bar and also additional washrooms below. Vibe is sparse - at the moment, it's simple with the centerpiece of the red glowing bar, side bench seating, a few lamps off to the side, painted in a dark green/black floor to ceiling color. I think the reason to have this secondary space is the potential to do more fun, experimental drinks. Though space is cozier, it's nice to see seating was designed to accommodate groups too. I think it would have been easy to talk to other table groups if the music was just a tad softer. Son of a Gun - it's a tortilla chip in drink form. It's savory with a hint of cilantro. Sneaking Suspicion - nice apparent flavor of chamomile balanced out with a slight, creamy sweet flavor of yogurt. If you're into exploring unusual flavors and forms, Nightshade is a place to check out, and of course Moonflower offers another menu so you can do 2 in 1. Kitchen closes at 10pm.

Been there a few times. Squid pasta is my fav, apps are very good, good prices on wine. Service…read moreneeds to be a little faster and more officiant. But, that could be me. 5 stars anyway. Good ambience, could be a lot of fun.

The drinks are great and during the week it's half off 3-5pm. The service is so friendly and the…read morevibe is very cozy that you'll think you were at a lounge in the city. I'm adding this to spot to frequent in Elmwood park. Thank you for the chill vibes.

Moonflower, located on Milwaukee Avenue just south of Montrose, is a cool bar that always seems to…read moredraw a good-sized crowd. My lovely wife and I have been here a handful of times, but recently we enjoyed the Happy Hour deals. Yes they have Happy Hour specials until 6PM every day. $6 gets you drinks such as an Old Fashioned, Lemon Drop or Margarita. You can also fill up on a New Moon Burger with fries (one griddled meat patty) or a pair of Moondogs with fries for $12. Everything was tasty - the burger, the corn dogs, and the crisp seasoned fries. Come to Moonflower and enjoy the drinks, food and the soundtrack too.

We came here to visit the speakeasy (nightshade) downstairs, though we liked the ambiance and vibe…read moreof the main restaurant better so we sat at the bar and enjoyed some drinks and bites. My orange wine was delicious, as was the kiss and tell cocktail. We also tried the mystery grilled cheese as it was only $5 and so intriguing - it was tasty and the mystery was some prosciutto. The party fries were also huge and tasty, piled high with giardianara and delicious kimchi ranch. The bartenders were great - we enjoyed our nightcap here!

Service is great. Food is also delicious and staff go out of their way to welcome you.read more

not sure if the waitress was the only one working there... but she smiled at my partner and i, knew…read morewe were there (first time coming in, i always pass by) yet never gave us a menu. made eye contact with her and we stayed in there for like 10 minutes and she never came to the table yet continued to take other peoples order. we decided to walk out. def won't be coming back. i don't know if they were busy, or just don't like brown people !

This is one of the best spot in chicago to hang out and have fun. Pool table, dart game board,…read morekaraoke and plenty more. Not to mention the bartenders are great(shout out to Lily) and the owner Renny is a great guy. It's a great neighborhood bar.

From the owner: Pioneer Lounge specialty is making everyone feel welcome Whether its a sporting event, playing…read morepool, or even grilling some burgers, our customers are our family. Come by for a visit and ask for Rey. You will have a great time

THIS is a hidden gem. I wish they'd update the tiki aspect of the decor, but it's still an…read moreexcellent and fun place to hang out. Margaret the bartender is incredibly sweet and generous, and the jukebox has nearly any song you can imagine. Finding this place was one of my favorite things of 2022!

The Banana Spider is a wonderful summer drink that tastes just like liquid Hawaii…read more An invention of Paradise Club's current proprietor, you have to go to the city's premier Polish Tiki lounge to get it. When you get your Banana Spider (or the Scorpion, or whatever other tropical mixed drink you prefer) it will come in a beautiful ceramic tiki mug. You might as well drink it with your eyes closed, not because it's that good (though it is) but also because it's too dark to see a thing in this fading 60-year dive which is thrifty with electricity. There are only three lightbulbs going at all times, two of which illuminate the fishtanks. A gloriously garlanded plastic Buddha basks under a third as if it were the Hawaiian sun. If you ask for help finding the restroom the bartender will briefly turn on one more light, the "Kings" light above the men's room or the "Queens" light above the women's room. Not to say this place is stingy... if you're a bar snack afficionado, this place ranks tops with complimentary bowls of mixed pretzel sticks, potato chips, and bugles- which must have been cryogenically preserved because I thought they stopped making them in the '70s. Though this lounge features prominently on the specialty niche business review site CriTiki, it has somehow eluded Yelp all these years, which is a shame. These days it's pretty quiet, and if you go on a weeknight you'd need to bring your own Tiki party to take the place of the young and the Polish who have fled the neighborhood for lower taxes in the west suburbs. Still worth a visit.

Oh my god. It's always a pleasure eating at eris- lovely staff, great vibes, and that blueberry…read morecider with mosaic hops is LET ME TELL YOU. I got the vegan handheld sausage, and I am having a full on "Harry met Sally" moment with my leftovers right now. That was so good my hands are tingling. I immediately want three more, and I am not generally a very hungry person. Also what are those potato chips? Those are the best potato chips I've ever had. 10/10, will devour again.

When visiting Eris, it's important to manage your expectations, as it wasn't what I expected. This…read moreisn't a bad thing--it's just a statement of fact. I thought it would be more like a brewery where one could spend some time hanging out and unwinding, a "third-place" kind of spot. When I showed up, I found that while there was a patio, it was the kind where you had to be seated by a host. Thus, unless you are at the bar, spontaneous conversations with strangers are less likely. With that said, Eris is a large brewpub with a full bar, including liquor and cocktails, as well as a robust food menu. Wanting only to try some ciders, I took a seat at the bar. I had the opportunity to try a 5-ounce pour each of the E-Phoria and the Van Van Mojo. Both were tasty. The E-Phoria was on the sweeter side, while the Van Van Mojo was less sweet (though not entirely dry) and unique with the addition of blueberries. Neither was mind-blowing, but both were enjoyable in their own right. The bar service was A-OK, especially considering it was a very quiet night. It was friendly and somewhat attentive. I appreciate that there are some closing-related duties that have to be done, and watching the two patrons at the bar like a hawk might make them nervous. Final Verdict: I think the trick with Eris is not to treat it as a "let me get a beverage and hang out" place, but rather a place for a sit-down meal and drinks. With that, I am hoping to return at some point with an empty stomach. However, to be 100% fair, I am not itching to break down the door and come back.