I'm so glad I finally went here! This has been on my list for forever and I planned it for my…read morebirthday dinner. The service was outstanding and they were very attentive. They were also really good with allergies in my family has a lot so that was really helpful and made us feel good with the kitchen. We tried a lot of different dishes! We got the tater tots, the focaccia, the arugula salad, the market salad, and the carrots to share. Then I tried the burger and the chicken. Finally, we had the strawberry shortcake and the cookies with malted milk and they also gave me some confetti cookies with a candle! Tater tots were fine, but in my opinion, nothing crazy although I did love the carrots and all of the salads are extremely fresh since everything is farm to table and locally sourced. They even have a greenhouse on campus that you can tour during the day. The burger was amazing- very unique flavors and again tasted so fresh! I also loved the chicken. The cookies and malted milk was insane. The only miss was the strawberry shortcake- really big basil flavor and just was too much. It's kind of in a random location so I would have to really plan to go here, but I love that they changed their menu constantly and I definitely want to try brunch! They also gave me a birthday menu for my birthday and I thought that was a great touch! Just a super relaxing place and my whole family loved it. Cocktails were great too and again used all natural flowers & herbs!

What an amazing place! We were a party of six celebrating a few birthdays and everyone enjoyed…read moretheir meals. They were very sensitive to my gluten-free needs. Some people had brunch and some enjoyed lunch. I had the green coconut curry, and it was amazingly delicious. Just the right amount of heat. The fruit salad side dish had a very good variety of different fruits. Everyone loved the potatoes. When I asked if they were gluten-free, they informed they were not but they'd see what they could do. They came out later with a huge bowl of gluten-free potatoes. So delicious and they really went the extra mile. Other things I love about this restaurant is that they use local produce and I believe they have their own garden as well. They also had a meal that day that you could order and would benefit a local nonprofit. Highly recommend this place! Not only was the ambience great but they have several rooms, two of which you can reserve for a private party, and they also do weddings in a larger area on the property. Leslie, if you go to the back where they have one of their bathrooms, they have several small gift items available.

Happy hour from 5-7 PM daily!! Such an underrated spot. The HH is mainly at the bar indoors or the…read morefront patio. We had no trouble getting a seat at 5:15 PM on a Friday with no reservation. Amazing service and great food as well. What we ordered: Slagel Farms Burger (HH menu) Potato Latkes (HH menu) Beef Cheek Croquettes (Reg menu)

The food is fantastic but while the venue is kitschy, it's also just somewhat low-quality. The…read morevenue does not match the food. Peaches & Grilled Corn - quite good, the peaches especially were unique, flavorful and creative. Split Pea Dip - surprisingly good, almost like a hummus, but a very smooth and somewhat subtle and tasty flavor Alpine Sausage - don't know, they messed up the order and gave us two split pea dips unfortunately pork schnitzel - huge piece of pork, very thinly smashed, and definitely a little elevated relative to standard schnitzel options elsewhere Ricotta Gnocchi - one of the best dishes, on the buttery side, but very good The thing is, there's no insulation in the back as it's just windows/doors that might not fully shut so it was rather humid and buggy. And the little garden out back just looks kinda dirty, and again buggy. I get it's selling a little bit of a "hipster" or "kitschy" vibe, but for the quality of the food, I'd hope for a nice venue.

A friend and I popped in here while looking for some Italian food in Wicker Park and this place did…read morenot disappoint. The entrance was a little hard to find. It was a back door off of the side of the front part of the business which is an Italian gourmet grocery store. The atmosphere felt like walking into and having dinner as someone's home. The food was delicious and the portion sizes were large. We split the calamari app which had a nice light batter. My friend got the Rigatoni alla Casalinga and I got the linguine alla pescatora. We didnt know it was BYOB but next time I come back I will definitely bring a bottle of wine.

Lucia's is awesome. I've had both their sit down in the back of the restaurant and picked up from…read morethe sandwich counter. The sam's sandwich is delicious. I will say the italian food is good, but nothing was crazy memorable. I'd highly recommend ordering any of their sandwiches and their pasta salad is also tasty

There aren't too many spots in Chicago that are serving up polish street food, so after entirely…read moretoo long of a delay, I was excited to finally make it over to this spot! We stopped by around 1pm on a Saturday, and it was not at all too busy. The inside was sort of modern-rustic and they had a beautiful patio that made for a perfect spot to soak up the sunlight. The staff was super nice and patient- you could tell that they took pride in the restaurant. We opted for the polish platter and prosciutto zapi. The baguette was perfectly crispy on the latter and the sweet fig jam, creamy cheese, and savory prosciutto were balanced perfectly. Surprisingly, it was not too filling and perfect for sharing. I came on a mission for the polish platter and it was everything I'd hoped for! The kielbasa had a perfect crispy char that was rounded out nicely with a generous serving of sauerkraut and stone ground mustard. The sauerkraut and pickled veggies had a hint of sweetness and were actually not too tangy. The pierogi were pillowy, soft, and delightfully cheesy. However, the potato pancake really stole the show for me- the potato was shredded super finely which kept it moist in the middle, with an outside that was as crispy as a potato chip. The portions were generous and the prices were very reasonable. Overall, a fantastic experience. I will definitely return soon and encourage all to pay a visit!

They still have the same excellent ribs and tips as when the place was Lillie's Barbecue. On my…read moremost recent visit I ordered the Polish platter, which offers a little of everything. It was all very good and I'd get it again. I do have to echo what some have said about the service. Everything started off fine, but then after I had my food, my server just disappeared. Another walked past twice and said nothing despite my clean plate clearly indicating I was finished. I finally had to ask for my check. If they can get their service issues sorted out I'd bump them up to 5 stars.

We came here because a friend recommended it. We stopped on a Sunday for brunch. I'm giving it a…read morefive. The only minor negative was the lack of signage outside. We didn't know if we were going to the right place. That being said. The hostess was kind. We chose to sit at the bar. The bartender was great. There were a few back there and all kind, knowledgeable and helpful. The food was outstanding. I had the Turkish eggs and we shared the potatoes. They looked like big tater tots. But 100000% better. And my hubbs got the smash burger. Just so impressed. I truly. Loved every bite. And to make a big deal about the food we had.......i am because it was that great. Coffee was great and so were the other bevy's we had. We will def be back and try the dinner menu(great tip from the bartenders--)

Bottom Line: Though overall very decent, not a place I'd make a special return trip to but it is a…read morepub-upscaled option (pricey one) if you're in the neighborhood and will provide at least a quality experience. Call and up your credit limit though. I can't help but feel there is somewhat of a mismatch here. A mismatch between the talent in the kitchen and an ordinary corner pub--a nice corner pub in the historic Logan Square neighborhood but nothing that makes it necessarily standout for a City pub--and that's ok for a pub. It's a pub. It presents with lots of warm, woody tones making you want to settle in with a nice Maraska and stay a while with good conversation. Overall the libation selection is varied and sophisticated. I do love that they offer good Sherry, Port, and Madeira which is very rare. Most places you'll get a blank stare if you ask for Madeira. The wine selections are internationally representative but highly overpriced and under poured. The brew selection is the least impressive of the libation lineup and is IPA, golden lageresque heavy with an obligatory stout and a couple of seasonal Oktobers (It seems modern American palettes demand their beer to be only golden and hop-forward.) The dinner/dining environment is split in two with bar area tables and a back dining area. The place has a long history as some type of bar typically found on almost every corner back in the day. The spaces are intimate and dimly but warmly candle-lit. Where this place really excels though is in its gastroness. We ate tapas style (everything is shared). They offer quite an array of original, chef-level creations that, though a bit pretentious, are quite enjoyable--just don't look at the price--just enjoy. Actually read the ingredients though so you know what you're getting not just thinking you know what you're getting. Ask questions. Nevertheless bravo for the originality and creativeness. I'm just not sure this (Michelin) two-star level food experience belongs paired with a nice but regular ole' pub (and that's ok) versus its own venue, but hey, they're the ones taking the risk. I would have been supremely happy with a (Michelin) two-star, pub burger (non-smashed), superbly made, medium rare, walked through the garden, with Comté (cheese), a slab of Canadian bacon, a sunny side up (chicken) egg on top with hand cut pommes frites (fries), salade de chou (coleslaw), and a nice Porter (Porter). I still would've given four stars, potentially even five. I will say that the opportunity to rent a room upstairs is evocative of euro-style boutique or old school road houses and adds an another level of interest. I'm just not sure I'd want to stay there but I feel that's separate and aside from the gastropub discussion. Nevertheless, I don't think you will likely go wrong here unless you got really bad service, just hate the sophisticated take on pub food, or are just insulted by the prices. If you're nearby give it a try to form your own opinion.

A nostalgic trip down memory lane capped off with the perfect French repas!…read more After a morning annual doctor visit and purchasing new shoes (several!  lol), I sought out a savory, romantically tantalizing culinary escape to cap off the beautiful day and enjoy the extraordinary weather.  La Crêperie was the absolute perfect choice. I have frequented this beloved space since I was 16 years old, and stepping inside always brings back the most wonderfully endearing and captivating memories.  Being an empath, I naturally and deeply feel people, their energies, and the layers of memories attached to a place.  These romantic, lovely emotions are drawn to me repeatedly as I encounter these historic spaces and the familiar people within. This historic Lincoln Park/Lakeview border gem has such a quaint, enchanting, and delicate French bistro atmosphere that remains beautifully unchanged.  Sitting down to take in the vintage Parisian charm with the front bifold windows open, letting in the gentle evening breeze, was pure bliss. The food was absolutely sensational.  We started with the classic Escargots (snails prepared in a rich garlic butter sauce), the Assiette de Pates (a wonderful sampling of three distinct pates served traditionally with cornichons and dijon mustard), two Salade Maison plates (crisp romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, and crunchy croutons all tossed in their delicious house vinaigrette maison), and a bowl of their rich French onion soup. For our main courses, I had the exquisite Fruits de Mer crêpe (a luscious, delicious, and creamy crêpe packed with scallops and shrimp in a béchamel sauce) while my companion thoroughly enjoyed the Boeuf Bourguignon crêpe (tender beef braised with burgundy, mushrooms, carrots, and celery). We then finished the evening by splitting two sweet crêpes for dessert.  We ordered one customized crêpe filled half with strawberries and half with bananas (a simple, perfect classic combo with whipped cream on top that I have been getting for years), alongside La Pomme (delicious apples sautéed in butter and cinnamon).  Everything was beautifully prepared and exactly the kind of comforting yet tantalizing culinary experience I was craving to celebrate a successful day. Our incredibly sweet server, Anastasiia, accidentally brought two bowls of soup, but despite my repeated insistence to pay, she firmly and graciously comped the extra one. Between the excellent dishes, Anastasiia's stellar service, the vintage charm, and the spectacular weather, it was the ultimate way to top off my afternoon.  It truly provided a gentle, delicate, and beautifully feminine cap to my day, balancing the romantically sensual energy of this beloved space. I highly recommend stopping by for an authentic taste of Parisian charm right here in the city!

Super cute restaurant. Feels very cozy. Got the chicken curry crepe and it was salty! If I wasn't…read morewith people, I might have complained but it was borderline fine. So...not sure the food is good. I just happen to think the attitude is a little worse. Came with a group and someone in our party ordered the French Onion Soup and then a Croque Monsieur. No one else in our group ordered a starter. What's weird is for some reason they decided to course the soup with everyone's mains. Normal restaurants, including like....your local suburban Chile's, know not to do that but this place thought that was normal. So already, my friend is a course behind everyone because they didn't serve his starter first. What's worse is when he finishes his soup...he doesn't get his main. We actually FINISH our mains and he still hasn't gotten his. He makes a comment VERY NICELY to our waitress like hey! Just wanted to check on my meal! She responds, "all our meals are timed perfectly." What!! My buddy goes, "Okay...I've just been waiting for 15/20 minutes so I think I'm ready for my sandwich." She responds, "okay....let me alert the kitchen." Wait? You didn't even tell them he needed his meal?? We wait another 15 minutes. We flag the waitress again and ask where his meal is and she responds "everything is made to order so the kitchen needs some time." Okay. This is a Croque Monsieur. Are you....rising bread right now? What is happening? So I get frustrated and jump into this and say, "Ya but we've been waiting over 30 minutes for his main. We've all finished so now you're asking my friend to eat alone." She responds, "everything is served hot so what is the problem??" !! I get annoyed because up until this moment, we've been pretty nice. But this waitress not acknowledging any issue or trying to make it better and talking back to us like this is weird. So I just say, "Bring a manager over." Well...it didn't matter. This lady learned her attitude from somewhere and it was probably from the manager. The manager immediately is on the offense like, "you ordered a soup and we wanted you to have the soup hot. And we want your next meal to be hot. We make everything fresh and we clean our dishes in between." The heck? All we want is for my friend to be able to eat his main. So I say, now rudely, "just bring the food. We have waited 30 minutes now. Everyone is done with their meal. If you haven't made it, cancel the order and we'll go somewhere else." She responds, "we usually serve the starter first. If you didn't like that, then don't order a starter." SERIOUSLY!? What is happening!? I think about telling her that USUALLY even if only 1 person has ordered a starter, that gets served first before EVERYONE gets their mains TOGETHER. Instead I say, "listen, cancel the order or give us the food but we aren't waiting any longer." And she goes, "we can't cancel it. The kitchen has been working on it." So I say "this better be home baked bread because they've been working on it for 45 minutes by now." IT STILL takes another 5 minutes to get this meal. It is cold. It is an average Croque Monsieur. And they probably all spit in it. At the very end, the waitress comes over and says, "I see what you mean and there were coursing issues but we take pride in our food and we weren't going to degrade that so we could serve you faster." This place literally lives up to a Parisian stereotype, I guess.

I hadn't been here in a few years. It's better than I remembered. Such a cool vibe. Great decor. We…read morecome on a Sunday & it was crowded, but we were seated right away at the counter. Friendly staff. Our bartender/server had the best energy. She was amazing. I ordered the ube latte with oat milk. Delicious. I had the roasted red pepper Benedict with house potatoes. The sauce was perfect. My husband got the ube pancakes. He was nice enough to share. They were so yummy & adorable. Can't wait to come back.

The Bongo Room is a solid spot for breakfast/brunch. No reservations, be prepared to wait a little…read moreon the weekend. Automatic great for tables of 6 or more. Knocking a star because we were charged for a $8 pancake that we didn't order. Didn't notice until after I paid the bill unfortunately! Chorizo Benedict: 3.8/5 Ube pancakes: 4.3/5

Love the cozy inside but also love the back all season room. The outside patio is cute too, but I…read morehave not sat there yet. The half price pizza days are a great deal and they even have the "girl's nite out" dinner with a little bit of pasta, a little bit of salad and a little bit of tots!! Served with a delicious drink choice. Staff and lovely and attentive. Great hang out site for me and the gals.

Perfect neighborhood bar and restaurant. I tried the Brussel sprouts and fried chicken sandwhich…read moreand enjoyed both.