Went in on a bears/packers game day as a packers fan. This is a bears friendly establishment…read more Had a great time. The staff and patrons were all very good sports. I'll definitely come back because the food and drinks matched the energy.

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.

I stopped by the Gilt Bar on a Sunday night, hoping to get into The Library (their speakeasy)…read moredownstairs. There was a bit of a wait, but I sat at the main bar, and decided to stick it out. Overall great experience. I loved the aesthetics of the bar, and the people working behind it helped make my visit exceptional. I felt like everyone went above and beyond for me- which is honestly rare nowadays. The drinks were well mixed, and the general vibes were positive. I would recommend Gilt Bar/The Library to anyone in Chicago wanting a positive, upscale evening out. I didn't order any food, so I can't speak to that, but it smelled delicious! Special mention to both the female bartender upstairs (didn't catch her name), who went above and beyond for me, and Cruz downstairs, who was a master multitasker, and still managed to make me feel welcome.

It's been years since I've been to Gilt Bar. Family style is the way to go way - order a variety…read moreand share! We had a mix of apps and entrees. The carbonara was good, not great. I look forward to trying more of the menu next time. The chocolate silk cream pie is a solid choice for dessert. Service was solid and I definitely will come back - but not wait years to do so!

We ducked in here for a drink and were very pleased with our experience. The bar staff were…read morefriendly and very attentive. Great selection of wines here - and a natural wine is really something to be tried if you have never had it. The look and the feel of the place reminds you of something you would find overseas. They also offer beer and cocktails, but their wines are the highlight. Highly recommend.

The wine was great and the service was excellent. Be aware that the small bites are very small. The…read moresquash toast we got to share was probably not worth sharing. We got a seat at the bar and the bartenders were pretty chill. It was a meet up after work and so it was good for having a convo and a good glass of wine.

If I were to pick one bar to go to every time I'm in Chicago it would be Arbella! Drinks were…read moreabsolutely phenomenal. Everyone enjoyed their drinks and they had a fun menu by the chef and we ordered off of both menus. Drinks were reasonably priced. Bartenders were great and explained what was going on. They were chill and the booths were comfortable. They had music on but not too loud so we could converse comfortably. Best bar I've been to in the city! Also wish I had taken picture of all the drinks.

October 1, 2026 TL;DR: Arbella was this close to a five-star…read moredate-night experience. The atmosphere was fantastic, our server struck the perfect balance between attentive and giving us space, and both cocktails I tried were creative and delicious. The truffle fries were pretty mediocre, but even that wouldn't have stopped me from giving Arbella five stars. What did? Discovering afterward that a 5% "service charge" had been added to the bill. I really dislike this growing practice of restaurants and bars adding percentage-based fees rather than simply pricing their menu accordingly, and it was enough to cost an otherwise excellent experience two stars. Ambiance: 5/5 Arbella absolutely nails the atmosphere. I came here on a date, and it was a great choice for that. The music was good, the lighting and decor created a really intimate vibe, and our booth was comfortable enough that we could settle in and actually enjoy the evening. There was energy in the room without it being so loud or overwhelming that we couldn't have a conversation. Even the menu design and presentation fit the experience. If you're looking for somewhere that feels elevated, interesting, and still comfortable for a date, Arbella definitely checks those boxes. Service: 5/5 Our server was fantastic. This was one of those rare occasions where someone found exactly the right balance between being attentive and not constantly interrupting our date. We never felt forgotten about, but we also had plenty of space to enjoy ourselves and talk. I especially appreciated the recommendations. Whenever we had a question or wanted guidance on what to order, our server was knowledgeable and genuinely helpful rather than simply pushing something on the menu. Excellent service from beginning to end. Drinks & Food: 4/5 The cocktails were easily the highlight. I tried the First You Take The Graham and the Trankilo Melon, and both were really good while also being different enough from what I would normally order to make the experience more memorable. This is exactly what I want from a cocktail bar: drinks that make me curious enough to try something new and then actually deliver. The truffle fries, however, were mid at best. They weren't terrible, but compared with how impressive everything else felt, they were forgettable. I'd absolutely come back for the cocktails, but I'd choose something different to eat next time. About That 5% Service Charge... This is unfortunately where Arbella lost me, and ultimately why I cannot give the experience five stars. I didn't notice until reviewing my bill afterward that a 5% service charge had been added. I strongly dislike this increasingly common practice of restaurants and bars adding percentage-based fees to the bill. If operating costs have increased, I would much rather an establishment incorporate those costs transparently into its menu prices so I know what I'm agreeing to pay when I order. Calling it a "service charge" also creates unnecessary confusion, particularly when customers are still expected to decide what to tip their server. At a cocktail-focused establishment, where you may be ordering multiple drinks throughout an evening rather than paying attention to every line of the check, I think fees like this need to be extremely clear and prominent before ordering, not something a customer discovers afterward. For me, it feels like an extra charge for simply using the establishment in exactly the way it was intended to be used. Overall: 4/5 The frustrating part is that without the service charge, this probably would have been a five-star review. Arbella gave us a genuinely great date night: beautiful atmosphere, excellent service, creative cocktails, and a space I otherwise would have happily recommended and returned to. Instead, that 5% fee left a sour final impression on what had been an excellent evening. It may seem small, but transparency around pricing matters to me. Arbella did so much right that I want to come back, but the service charge is significant enough that I would think twice before doing so.

Was gifted the wine tasting and tour for my birthday which was a very fun experience. Great deal to…read morebuy wine after. I preferred the whites and was disappointed by the reds. We had the date package and ate at the restaurant after. I recommend the pork schnitzel and pierogis. We ordered four shareables but weren't blown away by the butternut squash fondue and gougeres. Loved our hostess for the wine tasting, but wish there was more guidance on tasting notes and wine terminology. I'd recommend though to any wine lovers, I still learned a lot!

I stopped by Chicago Winery on a Wednesday early evening solo and was able to sit at the bar…read morewithout reservation. I was blown away by the ambiance and decor. Chicago Winery prioritizes upscale and intimacy but their service is personable and friendly allowing you to feel right at home. On Wednesday they offer a Happy Hour special, $5 off a tasting and $10 wine by the glass. The server as extremely kind, and was able to offer me some suggestions based on my personal palate and wine interests. I landed on the Winemaker's Tasting, which included 4, one ounce pours, including Blancs de Blancs, Albarino, Barbera and Merlot. I paired the tasting with the a BYOB board. From their menu I picked the olives, Afterglow, and the Tempesta Guanciale. The server was educated on the wines was able to walk me through the tasting and pairings but gave me independence and autonomy to enjoy at my own leisure and pace. I highly enjoyed my visit and absolutely will be returning to dine in, as well as to get a winery tour!

The ambiance is simple yet welcoming, I went for lunch and the sun speckled corner booth was…read moreperfect for a fall afternoon. I only tried the French onion soup and shrimp cocktail, but would definitely come back for dinner. The shrimp cocktail was generous, and they were accommodating to add extra horseradish to the sauce for me. The French onion soup is very rich and beefy... it's definitely one of the better ones I've tried in Chicago so far, but I would've loved to have a little less bread and more soup and onion although I'm sure I'm the minority. The cheese was perfect. But beyond how good the food was, the amazing wait staff and how they treated me was even better. I walked in with two service dogs (one still in training) and sometimes I get turned away at the door because of my disabilities at restaurants or businesses. Not only was everyone very welcoming, they didn't treat me any differently and were very nice to my dogs. They also gave me a booth with plenty of room to sit, even though I didn't ask for one and made sure it wasn't in the way of other servers walking around so my dogs wouldn't get tripped over. Service was timely and attentive, but not overbearing or too talkative. 5/5 would recommend to anyone who likes French bistro style cuisine.

Service was great! Our server gave us awesome recommendations for our first visit. The vibes were…read moreclassy brunch spot, and noise was average once the space filled up. The pistachio croissant was crispy, but the shell was sticky and there was too much cream inside. Luckily, the cream itself wasn't overly sweet or heavy 6/10. The duck confit & cherry danish was SO crunchy, with duck that had a dry pulled-pork-like texture. Loved how the savory duck balanced with the sweet cherry jam and pickled cherries 8.5/10. The fish sandwich had perfectly crispy batter and soft, tender fish, all in a nicely toasted, soft sesame brioche bun. The mayo-based sauce gribiche left a heavy aftertaste but still a solid sandwich 7/10. The crêpe homard elotes was refreshing, bright, and light. Loved the lobster and mushrooms inside, plus the citrus, mushrooms, and potatoes served around it 8.5/10. The banana bread French toast had a good banana bread base, but it was drenched in caramel sauce and became soggy. The bananas were overly sweet, while the salty mascarpone topping pushed the sweet-and-salty contrast a little too far in both directions 6.5/10. Overall, great service and vibes and solid food! Can't wait to come back to try the dinner.

This cute Italian restaurant serves delicious food at reasonable prices! We really enjoyed our…read moredining experience here. The Limoncello Spritz was refreshing and delicious, and the spaghetti with meatballs was one of our favorites. Pro tip: Ask for some chili paste to add to the sauce if you like a little extra kick! Our waitress was wonderful--very attentive, accommodating, and helpful throughout our entire meal. Since we needed vegan and dairy-free options, she took the time to explain the menu and suggest alternatives. It seems that most of the sauces contain dairy, but the frutti di mare (seafood stew), similar to a cioppino, was an option without dairy. She even offered to add a side of pasta to make it more like a seafood pasta dish. We really appreciated her thoughtfulness and willingness to accommodate our dietary needs. To finish off the meal, we enjoyed the delicious pistachio ice cream mixed with cherry. It was a lovely way to end our dinner! Overall, we had a very enjoyable experience, with tasty food, reasonable prices, and excellent service. We highly recommend this restaurant if you're looking for a charming Italian spot with flavorful food and attentive service!

We absolutely loved the atmosphere here. The low lighting and music created such a great vibe, and…read moreeven though the restaurant was packed, it never felt overly loud. My wife and I really enjoyed this place during our trip to Chicago. The fresh-baked garlic bread was so good, and I loved the meatballs and Gnocchi alla Vodka. My wife really enjoyed her Rigatoni alla Vodka as well. Everything we ordered was delicious! On top of the food, the service was great, the cocktails were excellent, and they had a fantastic wine selection. There's also a beautiful bar that we didn't get a chance to sit at this time, but next time we're in Chicago, we'll definitely be grabbing seats there. Great food, great drinks, great service, and an awesome atmosphere. Definitely a place we'd come back to!

We were there for a wedding celebration and it was a perfect venue, amazing food, service and…read morelocation (and weather) all with a spectacular open air view of the city! Thank you!

We had an amazing experience at Bar Avec this past Friday Oct 9 for small plates and cocktails…read more The ambiance and views are just stunning; nice touch that with a cool fall breeze the heat lamps were on. We ordered from the "snacks" options (pick three)...they were delicious. The true favorites (for me at least in my party if 5) were the falafel seasoned french fries and the mortadella tartine. The true star of this dining experience was our server, Deja. One person in our party had a number of food allergies; Deja had a detailed conversation with her to make sure our order would not pose any problems. Deja also had excellent recommendations on wine and cocktails. Her description of the Assyrtiko white wine was spot on; and when my husband described his ideal mezcal cocktail profile she had the perfect answer and I truly believe this will end up being my husband's go to order in the future. She was friendly, attentive, and fun! For me the dining experience is based on the big three: ambiance, food, and service. And Bar Avec hit on all three, especially the service.

Amazing experience- Lauren was our fabulous wine consultant and very knowledgeable. Loved all of…read morethe wines ... the Riesling was my absolute favorite. While the concept of the membership is nice - wishing they allowed members to come in for drinks/wine tasting for happy hours (members happy to pay for drinks/wine tasting - Winestyr should sell their bottles of wine there as well)! Charming wine bar - great happy hr place!

Much too expensive. Prices are way out of range of anywhere else of similar quality. The staff are…read morevery helpful and nice but the prices they charge are ridiculous

This is such a great spot for anyone who genuinely enjoys wine. The selection is extremely well…read morecurated, with unique and interesting bottles from all over the world, not just the same producers and labels you tend to see everywhere else. What really stands out, though, is the knowledge behind the selection. Whether you already know a lot about wine or are just looking for something new to try, you can tell there's a lot of experience and thought behind every recommendation. It's a great place to discover wines you probably wouldn't come across on your own. I also love that it's both a wine shop and a lounge, so you can pick out a bottle and actually sit down and enjoy it. Another huge plus is that you can bring in your own food. There are plenty of restaurants nearby, and one of my favorites is Pizza Amici, just make sure to order ahead because they can get busy. Great wine, a relaxed atmosphere, and a really unique concept. Definitely a place worth checking out if you enjoy discovering good wine.

Grand Cru has quickly become my favorite wine shop in Chicago. A place to hang out with friends,…read moretake classes, try new wines at happy hour, grab a favorite bottle for a night in, or get a food pairing recommendation for BYOB. Matt is very knowledgeable and has curated a great selection at any price point.