Ward Eight was a place we frequently visited when we lived nearby many years ago. We were in the…read morearea recently and decided to stop by...we discovered this gem from our past has only gotten better! High quality and innovative cocktails, reasonable prices, and a chic/classy ambiance make Ward Eight must-visit! I tried two cocktails when I was at Ward 8: Remember the Main and Vieux Carre. Both were decadent, delicious, and boozy. Triple threats! I loved them both, but the "Remember the Main" was different from drinks I've had before, so that was my favorite. My husband had a local beer. They have beer, wine, and NA options for folks who aren't into cocktails. They also have food which looks scrumptious, ranging from high-end appetizers to full meals. We did not come prepared to eat, so we'll have to come back again to try food in the future! The staff were welcoming and professional. The space was clean and Gatsby-style chic. There is plenty of seating and an outdoor space for when it is warmer. It is a fancier places, so prices are higher. But you pay for the higher quality ingredients and innovative recipes. If you enjoy cocktails and cozy cocktail bars, Ward Eight is definitely the spot for you!

Note: this is *barely* three stars…read more The first time I wanted to check out Ward Eight, I found a sign on the door that they were closed. It was written in Sharpie, stating they were closed for fall recess, and will return on X date. There was no notice on the website or otherwise. Such boorishness must be earned, I thought, and this place should be phenomenal! Unfortunately, the experience was overall lackluster. I ordered The Ward Eight House Shot, Rabbit Tale [sic], and the Classic Smash Burger from the Ben & Jake's supper club menu. The Ward Eight House Shot was interesting. This one was the most Angostura I'd had in one go outside of Best Intentions (Logan Square bar). A respectable shot and a good way to start or end an evening, however, $10 feels a little steep. As for the Rabbit Tale, the undoing of this one was the menu. This drink was described as "Zesty, Spicy, and Smokey [sic]". While not bland, it felt as though the volume on all of these was turned down to the level of a whisper. These hadn't just 'quiet quit,' they are halfway through week two of a two-week notice. To its credit, the drink was smooth, and while it didn't taste spirit-forward, the alcohol did hit me as one would hope for on a Friday night, thus no complaints about strength. Then there was the matter of food. The smashburger I ordered ended up being thoroughly unremarkable. The patty was not the greatest thing in the world, lacking those crisp edges that make an excellent smashburger, but otherwise passable. That was, untquietil I added the LTO served on the side (for some reason). After adding these in, the burger quickly fell apart, becoming a dégustation on the plate. Other than the house shot, and a small $15 burger without fries, I felt as though their prices were reasonable. Mixed drinks near the city, and not in a divey 'old-man bar' for $15 are relatively hard to find. When it comes to the service, I regretfully have to ding them a bit. Considering how quiet the bar was at the time, it took longer to get my drink than I would have expected. In a similar vein, the service felt a little disorganized, where the bar staff wasn't quite working as a team. Case in point: one bartender excused herself to step away, and the other did not step in to take my order for those five to ten minutes. Final verdict: I do appreciate reasonably priced cocktails, but the menu descriptions need to be taken with a grain of salt. As for food, I am willing to write off disappointment to the popup, and am not against trying something from their menu. All this said, I'd love to give them another chance, but I am also not in a rush to return.

About a 1-1.5: Evanston Pour is a popular coffee spot in the Evanston 'hood - we came here to get…read morea caffeine fix, and ordered: +the Cookie Butter Latte - prepared with cookie butter syrup and milk; I did request this to be extra hot, but it was served lukewarm +a Latte with almond milk - also served lukewarm +an Almond Croissant +and, a Scone The coffee was just not strong, and the fact that it was served lukewarm was a total no. The pastries were just okay, but could have been more fresh and/or warmed up. Staff was friendly, and the place also offers cocktails/other alcoholic beverages. Seating is available, but somewhat uncomfortable; not much of a place where you can do work or study. Metered street parking can be found in the area. +lukewarm, weak coffee +metered street parking

I've been here several times since my first review and it just hasn't been the same. I believe they…read moremake their own syrups in house but they're not potent in flavor. In the fall I had the pumpkin latte and I had to ask for more pumpkin because I couldnt taste it. Today I tried their new cookie butter latte and it doesn't taste like anything. How can the pumpkin latte and cookie butter latte taste the same? They also charge $1 more to make the drinks with oat milk. Why are they punishing customers for dietary restrictions? The prices are also high compared to other places. My husband ordered a slice of their blueberry almond loaf and it cost $7!

Perfect Sinatra Winter vibes. I had no idea this place existed, and apparently nobody else does, as…read moreby the sounds of it and the waiters questions, only hotel guests seem to go there. And it's about right- it gives 'fancy restaurant in a fancy hotel' for sure. It was dead on a Thursday, and luckily our waiter was very kind and attentive. I've read issues with staffing, but we were lucky in our staff were very nice and accommodating. I could definitely see how easy it would be to get slow service though. The food was overall decent! Again, 'fancy hotel' vibes- not the best you'd have, but definitely far from the worst. The fish was absolutely excellent, and the steak was cooked very well! I would say their soup or the day had needed more seasoning, and the portions were smaller for the prices. We didn't get drinks, which probably saved us from a heftier bill. Overall it's a decent enough spot to feel a little fancy in Evanston, but if you're looking to cut costs, I'd just split an appetizer.

Very cute place. Went after my bday dinner. Would love to comeback for full meal!…read more Interesting cocktail menu! What's a gem of a place. Service was meh

The recent buildout here is impressive, adding a large lobby & bar, a patio behind it, and modern,…read morefully accessible bathrooms. The main music room remains unchanged with its stage and its bar. They do have Woodford Reserve, a nice touch for my fancy Noble Bourbon Boozers. With the new setup, you can start one tab and its accessible from both bars, and from waitstaff, if the show is seated and they are present. Its a small room, great to see a show. Its also very ADA friendly, with a reserved space right up front for GA shows, and designated seats during seated space shows. Email the box office a couple days in advance with any questions.

My favorite concert venue on the North Shore of Chicago. It seats around 150 and most shows have an…read moreoption of table or general admission. The sound quality is fantastic and the staff is very friendly. It also gives off an intimate concert vibe because you feel like the artists are right there (they actually are!).

I have been living in Evanston for around 20 years and I never thought I will live in a hotel but I…read morestayed at the the Hyatt house for over 100 days. It was the best days ever from the minute I walked in. Arturo, a front desk worker, welcomed me warmly which was when I knew that it was gonna be very comfortable stay for me and my family. He's is the best. Everyone in the hotel were super nice and the manager (Michelle) was always smiling and checked in on us a lot to see if we were comfortable there. Then I met Summer. She was really super super nice like Arturo. Everyone at the reception was really super nice and even for the house keeper are really nice. Selvia and Claudia was really nice. Even if I didn't need cleaning they always just checked in on us. Victor and his coworkers who did maintained for the room were very kind and checked in a lot. I really felt sad to leave the hotel. I felt like I was in my house because of everyone's kindness. I just wanna say thank you to the company for having great staff in Evanston location they are the best. No one would regret staying at The Hyatt house. Best of luck and wishes for everyone who work at the Hyatt house. Thank you Ashjan,

We made a last minute reservation here after losing power for a few days. Staff were all great and…read moresuper friendly. The rooms were spotless and beds were comfortable. Free breakfast was also a plus, especially the omelettes. Do wish they had waffles though. Also, free parking was super convenient. Definitely the best I've stayed at in Evanston and miles better than the Hilton.

I like this place so much it has something for everyone and also has deals for different days of…read morethe week. Food and drinks/bar are great except the crispy sandwich not so good. Pizza is good and toasty! My 8 year old kid likes going here to play the arcade and machine slots it's kid friendly, but after a certain timing no kids allowed. They have a parking lot which is a plus as well. The staff are great. I will continue visiting this place.

this place is very family, friendly, has video games for pretty much all ages, a really nice area…read morereserved for private bookings, and also caters to the adults with two bars. There's Apple space to move around and very bright and lightly. The food choices are pizza, chicken tenders, cheeseburger, sliders, fries, cookies, and drinks. The service is bar none where they're so helpful and inviting.

I was here last week for a special event (this time one I didn't organize and just got to attend as…read morea guest), and it was great as always. The food is delicious (the event I was at had a taco bar, chips and guac, and a few desserts), the drink list is amazing (including a few great mocktails), and the space works really well for either private parties or just hanging out with friends. Five and Dime never disappoints. And for those who do have to plan events for stuff, F&D is great. I had happy hours here for new students in 2018, 2019, and 2022 (post-pandemic), and it was a smooth and enjoyable process each time.

Five & Dime, Lulu's, Taco Diablo, and Blue Horse Tavern have become my go-to spots for everything…read morefrom casual dinners to hosting out-of-town guests. The food is consistently delicious, and there's always something that hits the spot no matter what I'm craving. A few standouts I keep coming back to: Bang Bang Shrimp Ribs Salmon with Delallo pepper drops French Dip Enchiladas Verdes Whether I dine in or order on Uber Eats, it always arrives fresh and well-made (rare these days!). And in good weather, nothing beats Five & Dime's rooftop -- easily one of the best places in Evanston to enjoy a relaxed, fun meal outdoors. Friendly service, great variety, and reliably fantastic food!

Having a shot with Malört and coconut was an interesting way to begin the night. The live music was…read morefantastic, the beer tasted like champagne, and the patio was a beautiful spot for a superb Monday night out. Corgis inside were so cute!

I Had A Very Disappointing Experience At Rogers Park Social. I Am Currently Dealing With Back…read moreIssues And Was Unable To Sit Comfortably In The High-Top Chair At Our Table. I Politely Asked The Waitress Whether I Could Switch One Chair So I Could Sit Comfortably. Rather Than Offering A Simple Solution, She Abruptly Told Me That She Could Not Accommodate The Request. We Then Respectfully Asked The Guests At The Nearby Table Whether They Were Using The Chair, And They Kindly Confirmed That They Were Not. We Moved It To Our Table Without Disrupting Anyone, And The Waitress Did Not Raise Any Concern Afterward. That Made The Initial Refusal Especially Frustrating. This Was A Small, Reasonable Request That Would Have Had No Impact On Other Guests Or The Staff. Instead, I Was Made To Feel Like An Inconvenience. It Was Also A Sunday Evening When The Venue Was Not Crowded At All. After The Initial Interaction, Our Server Never Came Back To Check On Our Table Or Ask Whether We Wanted To Order Additional Drinks. The Bartender Eventually Had To Come Out From Behind The Bar To See If We Needed Anything. For A Group Of Five, That Level Of Attentiveness Was Disappointing. A Venue That Promotes Itself As Welcoming And Accommodating Should Be Prepared To Make Basic Seating Adjustments For Guests With Mobility, Injury, Or Back-Related Concerns And Should Provide Consistent Service Throughout The Visit. Based On Our Experience, We Will Not Be Returning.

Went for oyster and some cocktails We were tired from…read moreshopping Wish they had more bar bites We weren't hungry so went for oyster Super great quality!

Stopped in for happy hour bites and drinks. Ordered a dirty martini at happy price of $9 (regular…read moreprice $17). It was delicious BUT it was only about 3 oz (not sure, but I believe regular size is like 5-6 oz). So BASICALLY smaller price BUT significantly less martini, making it no HAPPY HOUR deal! Will not do that again! Rip off! We also ordered happy hour bite for $9 which was delicious. We ordered guacamole & chips which were so yummy! On top of the Guac they had feta cheese, cilantro and corn. Not huge in size, plenty for two people, and Very delicious. FYI, they automatically add an 18% service charge on your bill for a tip to the server. Then they give you recommended additional tip amounts at bottom of receipt showing a 3%, 5% and 7% additional tip amount.

This has been the week of unbelievable finds mostly due to total chance and a bit of luck and…read moremystery. I found myself in Rogers Park for two days for my daughter's freshman orientation at Loyola. Of course, my number one concern after the first day of seminars was to find somewhere awesome to eat that evening. After extensive searching throughout the day, I believed I had settled on somewhere to go... that is until the front desk attendant of my hotel handed me a sheet of recommended places to check out in the area. Normally, I will just explore and research on my own to figure out somewhere to go. Despite the many exciting choices nearby, of which I almost settled on Ethiopian or Cambodian, I stumbled on Le Piano; and my oh my, I couldn't be happier that I did. Looking at the listed provided by the hotel, Le Piano was in a small section titled "music, food, bar" and specifically labeled as jazz. Taking a minute to hit up their website, I found that night that Gerry Hundt, a blues artist I didn't know was going to be playing. My interest already now piqued, I rushed over to the menu, which is awash in wonderful sounding continental and French classics made local and fit for a jazz bar. The cocktail menu also matches, but is also incredibly extensive and has a very interesting Victorian flair. It was at this point I was sold, and booked a seat immediately to head out that evening. Arriving, I found this to be one of the coolest spaces I have ever been to for music. Styled perfectly with a dark Victorian-yet-jazzy flair, and intimate, my assigned seat was allowed to be changed to an amazingly worn leather loveseat, like something out of a noir film, with a single taper lighting my table. The bartender and my server made a point of giving me their names, which I believe were Chris and Steven, but I can't remember because my memory is Swiss cheese, but they were both amazing, talking with me and being completely engaged with me as a Chicago newbie. This doesn't even include the perfect sazerac and jasmine that Chris made to round out the artichoke fritters I ordered. The fritters were outstanding. Barely breaded and flash fried to perfection and one of the best fried dishes I've had in years, as I don't prefer that type of thing. Steven's recommendation was seriously on point. If a spot like this existed near me, I would be there weekly. If I lived in Chicago, Le Piano wouldn't be able to get rid of me. Don't pass on this place and get there now! Enjoy some wonderful music, legendary drinks, and outstanding food!

Love this venue! Wonderful decor, great lighting, super cool space…read more Came for the sunday night latin jazz, which was a great show. Small/medium crowd, easy to find seats. Had the cava brut rosé which was yummy and refreshing. Loved the ambiance and performance. One thing is that the website and menu made it seem like there was no cover on sundays, but it was actually $15. Not the end of the world but would've appreciated if that was more clear upfront, instead of getting charged on the bill at the end. Overall loved the venue and the performance, would totally come back!