Stopped in last night and sat at the bar, was fortunate to get a spot and so pumped to eat here…read more Great happy hour menu, I had two of the HH mastitis (7 bucks each) and then I also ordered the steak tar tar for an app. Holy shit this was incredible, would go back just for this again... sooo good! I had what I thought was the best tar tar of all time in French restaurant inside the aria in Vegas but this is right up there with that, maybe better. For dinner I had the pork dish, was really good probably would get a pasta or the chicken next time. Service was very friendly! The dimly lit restaurant has such a cool atmosphere, I see why this place is so highly regarded m! Definitely recommend!

We visited Gilt Bar for the first time and, while there were a few highlights, the overall…read moreexperience didn't justify the value. Happy hour was the best part: the drinks had good pours and felt like a solid deal, and the onion rings were very good. The sliders on the happy hour menu, though, felt overpriced for what you get--mostly bread with a small piece of chicken or burger. For the main courses, two of the four pasta dishes came out cold. We were seated outside, and it seemed like the plates may have been held while other entrees finished, so they were barely edible by the time they reached us. Service was decent, but it didn't really make up for the misses in pacing and food quality. We also expected a patio, but it was more like curbside seating at a busy intersection, with cars and traffic noise right on top of us. It was distracting and made it hard to have a conversation. Given the overall value and experience, we won't be returning.

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.

Good Funk was the kind of unexpected gem that completely transforms an ordinary night--exactly what…read moreI needed while on a business trip in Chicago, the night before my birthday. I wanted nothing more than to ring in year 45 with a great glass of natural wine... and I walked out having had a 7-glass flight and one of the most memorable evenings of the trip. The bartenders deserve their own star. They weren't just knowledgeable--they were genuinely fun to talk to, the kind of people who make you feel like you've been coming there for years. We went from discussing funky wine profiles to diving deep into '80s horror films, which is absolutely my idea of a perfect tangent. Their enthusiasm and curiosity made the whole experience feel personal and spontaneous. As for the wine: unique, surprising, and delicious, even the pours I didn't expect to enjoy. Good Funk leans into exploration in the best way--nothing feels generic or predictable. Every glass had its own personality, and the flight felt like a curated adventure rather than a lineup. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, stylish without being pretentious, and perfect for either a solo wind-down or a lively night out. It's the kind of place that encourages you to linger, taste one more thing, have one more conversation. Good Funk turned what could've been a quiet, forgettable evening into an unforgettable birthday-eve celebration. If you're in Chicago and love natural wine--or just love a spot with genuine heart--don't miss this place.

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.

Excellent dining experience. We were able to squeeze into a last minute late dinner reservation…read more The service was excellent, our waitress was helpful with the menu and was kind enough to bring us a little extra treat since we were celebrating. The food was all so good. While some of it didn't sound like something we'd jump to order, we were glad we gave everything a chance! Would certainly go back here!

The food was absolutely fantastic. The service was quick and our server was really sweet. My only…read moregripe was just how loud the room was. I could barely hear my date, we basically had to shout to hear each other and we were at the edge of the room.

First dinner in Chicago after happy hour. Came on a Thursday evening without a reservation but the…read morewait was still only 30 minutes and was able to order a drink from the bar while waiting. Food wise everything was really good. The calamari was fried perfectly and loved the aioli sauce. For the lasagna, I could not stop eating it that I was so full by the time I was done.

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.

Really enjoyed our dinner at The Franklin Room! The downstairs setting gives the restaurant such a…read morecozy, intimate atmosphere, and I loved how the menu pulls inspiration from different cuisines. The lamb chops and chicken roulade with masala butter sauce were standouts for me, and the Summer Wanderer cocktail completely surprised me......I wasn't sure how I felt about carrot in a cocktail, but it was delicious! The whiskey bottle keep is also such a cool touch. Service was great throughout the evening, and we finished with the mango and coconut tart. Definitely a unique River North dinner spot that's easy to walk right past if you don't know it's there.

We had such a great dinner at The Franklin Room! The space has a cozy, moody atmosphere that makes…read moreit perfect for a date night or dinner and drinks in River North. We started with the Healthy Habit and Lychee Martini, and for food we tried the Wagyu burger, coconut-marinated steak, and charred broccolini. Everything was delicious, but the burger was definitely one of our favorites. We finished with the Opera Cake for dessert, which was the perfect way to end the meal. Such a great spot if you're looking for somewhere that feels a little tucked away from the busier parts of River North. We'd definitely come back!