I haven't been to a barcade where most of the games were free, so that was a really nice surprise…read more We originally just went to kick off a bar crawl, but they had trivia/Jeopardy going on, it was freezing outside (low 20s), and we ended up staying way longer than planned. It was actually a really fun time, and I'll definitely be back. The pizza looked really good too, but I didn't even see a kitchen so I'm very curious how they're making it.

The Doctor was at an auction at Tamarkin Camera and me and The Queen and BFF #1 were looking for a…read moreplace to hang out to have a drink while waiting on him to wrap up. Unfortunately Machine was not open, which is downstairs from this place, so we went here. Usually there is a bouncer outside, covering both places, but no one was at the door so me and The Queen walked upstairs. The bouncer was upstairs and saw us come in, so he asked for ID. He explained that everyone gets card before they come in, which is not a issue for me. The overall vibe, for me, was definitely a frat hangout vibe. There are arcade games all over the place and cutesy names for beers and cocktails, like the Froot Loops (vodka, coriander honey, oat milk, shochu, saline, milk carton, and froot loops). Man I do not do cocktails and this is the reason why. There is too much going on in that glass for me to deal with. Prices for cocktails range from $14-$15. BFF #1 got a vodka soda for $13, but looking at the size of the glass, it was on the small side. BFF #1 said it was on the weak side. I was happy to hear that there was prosecco, so I got that. The Doctor showed up and got a beer. The selection of beers was limited from what I could see on the wall, maybe there was a list someone else behind the bar. The bartender was a really sweet, she was all smiles and kept calling me baby, which was so funny to me. I tipped her well because she was great on them pours of prosecco. We did not do food as we were heading to Club Lago for dinner and I didn't realize that they had food until I checked into Yelp and saw the online menu. The Queen actually went to a DJ set here with Roosevelt, I believe, and said it was a good event. Not a place I would normally hang out in, but I can see the appeal for folks in their 20s as I would definitely say outside of The Queen, the three of us were the oldest folks in there. Lots of people taking Instagram photos and posing or making short videos with those ring lights. I imagine it can get super loud when it is busy, but that is a vibe for some folks. I would say if that is your thing, this is the place for you.

Stumbled upon this gem on Valentine's Day and I lovedddddd every bit of my experience!…read more For starters, they had cute valentines themed drinks and they were so tasty! They also decorated for Valentine's Day and it was soooooo aesthetically pleasing, great picture props! The music was also a viiiiibe -- whoever was DJing understood the assignment that day! Our server's name was Alon, and she was amazing! Very attentive, sweet, and informative. I told her I needed her name so that people would know who to look for when they visited next lol. She maintained great service, even when it got busy and she had to help others! Now, let's get to the part that matters most: the food! My best friend and I both had their burgers -- so fillingggggggggg and the house made aioli chefs kiss! We already decided we'll be back to try the tacos bc Alon said they're fye and I trust her judgement! The drinkssssssss -- honey listen, the champagne drink was a cute starter bc that margarita definitely didn't come to play! Also -- we didn't have reservations and still were seated in a timely manner with timely service! I'll be revisiting them for sure!

Server/Bartender Scotti is the GOAT! My friend's truffle fries were missing truffle and parm but…read moreMiss Scotti got 'em together in the kitchen. Fun positive energy and a poppin playlist make this happy hour venue a true delight! My friend and I enjoyed 4 cocktails, chicken wings with fries, and fried chicken tacos. Then green tea shots with the birthday girls (someone and I). The porn star cocktail was thee best! The caramel apple french 75 was good too, and the peaches & cream cocktail was also yummy. My friend needed caffeine so she started with an espresso martini which she says was also good. Yummy foods, good prices! Thank youu!!

We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

Months after visiting, Arbella still ranks among the best cocktail bars in the city for me!…read more One thing that really makes Arbella unique is their globally inspired old fashioned menu- whether you're an old-fashioned fan or not, these are a must! They've upped their happy hour game by including a rotating global cocktail with previous menu drinks and a daily kitchen special. This time, I ordered the oldest old fashioned and the Oaxaca old fashioned to drink. I thought the first was the best old fashioned I had ever had, but the second was even better! I loved the subtle yet not overpowering smokiness of the mezcal in the Oaxaca. Neither were too sweet and you could really taste the high quality bourbon. We ordered the Korean fried chicken and coconut shrimp to eat from the happy hour menu. The shrimp was super crispy with a delicious ginger-orange compote and rice vinegar pickled onions. Highly recommend! I did think the chicken was a bit tough, but the flavor was good. Another great experience of many to come! If you haven't stopped by Arbella yet, add this to your bucket list asap!

My god the food is delicious here! Highly recommend!!! The salmon and the chicken were just…read moreunbelievable. Very tasty! Thank you to the chef and the staff for such an amazing dinner!

food: steak was good, wish there was more portions but the flavors are there, mango cheesecake was…read moreperfect balance of sweetness and tartness with the sherbert service: super nice staff, gave my friend a free dessert for birthday ambiance: good atmosphere, definitely gets busy so can be hard to hear at times

Awesome neighborhood spot! I live in the area and I love coming here. The food is always awesome…read moreand the service is stellar. The birria egg rolls are incredible and I love the fried chicken sandwich. The grouper sandwich was perfectly seasoned and flavorful. The chicken strips were more like patties and so crispy! Definitely worth a side order of them! All the drinks were very nice including the sangria's. The sliders were the most tender steak I've ever had. The servers are always very personable and attentive. The happy hour is a killer deal definitely check it out if you get a chance and don't pass on those egg rolls! Great lively spot for a date night, meal with some friends, or a late night drink. Very chill atmosphere. They have random and dope selection of high end wines offered by the half or full glass! Can't wait to come back.

We stopped in for a night cap and a snack on a Friday evening! We sat at the bar and I liked how…read morebig and comfy the chairs are. We also had front row seats to watch March madness, and more importantly the beer filling mechanism that fills glasses from the bottom! Kinda fun to watch. The bar also has purse hooks, which I am always grateful for. The food came out pretty quickly and was super fresh and delicious. The bartender was sooo sweet, very attentive and quick, and made sure my soda was always topped off. I loved the vibe and the moody lighting! The menu is definitely River North prices -- nothing terribly surprising bht on par for the neighborhood. At the time of our visit, cocktails were $15+ and the fry basket was $10. Again, not terrible but definitely paying to be in River North. If you're in the neighborhood, definitely worth it!

New favorite! Came downtown from the 'burbs for a show - my sweetie called ahead and we got a GREAT…read moretable just inside the door, perfect for people watching. Tasty drinks - the grapefruit pilsner was a perfect choice for a warm spring evening, and our server was funny and sweet. Sticky ribs appetizer was spot on, with just enough heat to keep it interesting. We shared the fish and chips - perfectly cooked, crunch and sweet, great fries! House made slaw and tartar sauce was out of this world! Gotta make one comment on something we didn't have. The next table over, two middle aged women order cheeseburgers. When they came out I almost regretted ordering the fish. They were huge, juicy, and looked incredible. This two ladies, drinking their Chardonnays polished them off, that's how good they were. Next time... Dessert? Why not? Sticky toffee cake please. Perfect with a cup of black coffee. Out the door and on our way - we'll be back! Thanks!

My brother wanted to try the infamous fish and chips here! The servers were quick and helpful. The…read morerestaurant was slightly upscale inside. 8.5/10 fish and chips: light and crispy! 6/10 Parker house rolls: nothing special to it 6/10 hot honey pizza: mainly honey missing the hot 7/10 burger: solid burger

While staying in town nearby I came here for breakfast... I chose this place because the reviews I…read moresaw were all great and once I got there, I understood why! Service was very helpful, friendly, a nice! The menu for breakfast is very good and they have a very popular and amazing coffee bar with lots of pastry options too. I chose their Bacon, Egg, & Cheddar Sandwich and asked for hash browns with it and for those to be extra crispy. Starting with their regular coffee - it was great! Then the food came out relatively quickly and looked amazing! The egg was PERFECTLY (ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY!) cooked! The sandwich came together and tasted amazing... I especially loved the bites of freshly sliced jalapeño and the arugula in the sandwich too!! The has browns were made the way I asked and tasted sooo good! Overall, I would definitely recommend giving them a try and I can see why the reviews were so good! My visit was very nice.

Overall, it's a pleasant place to meet with friends or coworkers after work. The music isn't too…read moreloud and doesn't interfere with conversation. As for the food: I understand that this is very subjective, but neither my husband nor I enjoyed the appetizers. That said, my husband did like the kebab. I had the whitefish - overall, it was pretty good. If it weren't for the lemon, the dish would have felt like it was missing some brightness in flavor. The service was very polite - no complaints at all.

I've come here with my boyfriend a handful of times and we love it. We like to try different…read morecocktails every time. The mimosa on a nice summer day on the patio is my happy place. The entrees are amazing too. The rice with the chicken skewer is my favorite so far and my boyfriend loves the beef and lamb skewer. The service has always been great as well. We've had the same server a couple times now and she's friendly and gets the job done. (Wish I could remember her name!) The ambience is great. With natural light coming in and the soft lamps, it's calming. Truly a beautiful restaurant.

So disappointed. I…read morecame about 5 years ago and loved my meal, especially the sticky date cake, which lingered in my memory as my favorite all time dessert. This year I was so excited to bring my family and Ema was the only restaurant in Chicago I couldn't wait for them to try. I booked it as our final meal in Chicago and lay awake at 4am being so disappointed in my choice. Our server's greeting was monotone and emotionless, which I realize now, would be foreshadowing the meal to come. Ordered the following 1) Smoky eggplant- arrived appearing as an unappetizing curdled purple grey mush. This was the worst tasting baba ghanouj I have ever eaten. It was acidic and had the texture of cottage cheese. The only redeeming thing about this appetizer was the warm naan. 2) house made stratciatella with side of green falafels- The stratciatella was bland and stringy. I would not order this dish expecting the creamy interior of typical burrata. However, if you like string cheese mixed with heavy cream- you may enjoy this dish. The tomatoes and basil were good. 3) chicken kefta- kefta was bland, rice even blander . 4) short rib with polenta- bland and the meat and polenta had the same texture, which seems impossible but somehow the plating was over complicated by the addition of mushy dates and grapes. 5) buttered noodles- my 8 year old ordered this. It was decent with a good amount of Parmesan and cooked perfectly al dente. By the end of the meal, I was so shocked by how terrible the food was I didn't even want to order the sticky date cake that was my main purpose for returning to this restaurant. Ema, what happened to you?!

Excellent food, fun atmosphere, and worth the wait! Get the pig's face!!!…read more We loved all the common favorites typically mentioned: pig's face, green beans, goat empanadas, and the shrimp salad. Tara the bartender was amazing. While we were waiting for a table she explained the menu and some of the highlights. She was so friendly and accommodating. It was a great night out!

we got really lucky and was able to get a reservation same day. this place had a really nice vibe…read moreto it, it was really loud but love the open kitchen concept. the servers attention was a 10/10 it felt like a really good team. our water cups never got below half full and they clear plates and replace silverware like a high end restaurant. we started off with the salmon poke which we were skeptical of because of the price but omg we were blown away by the flavors. didn't think chili crunch and strawberry and salmon went together but it all tasted so good like a harmony in your mouth. the quality of salmon was good too. the goat empanadas were really tasty too, was a good dish nothing to stand out about them. it didn't really taste like goat which is good to me. and the pork shank was a huge portion. we were worried with the first two dishes we didn't order enough for two people but it was such a big portion it was the perfect amount of food for two people. we loved the different sides and sauces that came with it. the meat by itself was good but when you combine it with the greens pickled onion the sauce the pita it was soooo good. everything just worked really well together. we left the plate with no crumbs. really good meal. no complaints :)

Exceptional service Great ambiance…read more Exquisite food The most delicious burger as well as tortilla soup and corn bread. Highly recommended

This wasn't our original plan but glad we came here for dinner…read more Service was great! Rory was our waitress and she was nice at recommending items, and checking on us every throughout the night without rushing us! The shrimp jambalaya pasta was so good and flavorful. The lemon drops were a fav of course too.. For apps we got the Texas Twinkie and the Popcorn shrimp. Let's say all of the food was good. Nice restaurant/ bar to go to with friends for good food and drinks and vibes.