We had a free night in the Chicago area and found this ridiculously AWESOME tiki bar, Kahala Koa…read moreTiki Bar. The selection of drinks is downright encyclopedic, and the drinks were outstanding. In addition, we ordered a plate of bacon-covered water chestnuts, and they were so effing delicious!! I mean, they were a serious revelation!! So we ordered another plate. The atmosphere is amazing. The family that owns this wonderful tiki bars has put some serious work into adorning the place with amazing tiki decor. And this has to have taken YEARS to do. The outside of the building does not say, "Hey!! I'm an awesome tiki bars!!" But step inside and you are transported to tiki land extraordinaire. And then there is the staff there. They are so friendly, attentive, and helpful, and just very authentic and genuine. I CANNOT WAIT to return to Kahala Koa Tiki Bar the next time I'm in the Chicago area. The place totally rocks!!

If you really know tiki drinks this is the bar for you. Authentic drinks, great bartenders and…read moreperfect atmosphere. Enjoy.

I went to The Greggory for my first time on Saturday and it was absolutely phenomenal. I started…read moreoff with the Sakura to drink which was very refreshing and tasty - as someone who typically likes Lemon Drops, I really enjoyed it. We ordered the Pop Over Rolls to start off our meal and they were some of the best rolls I've ever had. I really liked that they had a hint of cheese and the butter was also delightful. To eat, I ordered the Summer Corn Ravioli and it was one of my favorite pasta dishes I've probably ever had. I did get it without the mushrooms as I typically am not a fan of mushrooms but the ravioli was perfectly cooked and the flavors were simply divine. My party also ordered various meat dishes that they all raved about as well. We did order the brussel sprouts and asparagus to share - I enjoyed the asparagus but did not try the brussel sprouts given they had bacon in them. We didn't order dessert BUT did get a fantastic vanilla cake with raspberry sauce for dessert that our server brought given it was my mom's birthday dinner. The cake was SO delicious and I was very happy we got it! To top it off, our service was amazing throughout and it was an overall wonderful experience. Thank you, The Greggory team, for a great first experience! We cannot wait to be back!

Highly recommend this place. Their steaks and chops are phenomenal. Had the lamb with Israeli…read moreRisotto: absolutely phenomenal. Wife had the Dover Sole. Absolutely amazing, and they debone right at your table. Also had the crab pasta and had a good taste of our friends market Wagyu steak. It was like butter. Keep in mind. This is not going to be cheap though. If you're gonna go to this place, expect not only excellent service but not your McDonald's prices. Saw a couple of the next table come in and order a hamburger and fries. Seriously? You come to this place for a burger and fries? (Lol). I'm sure the burger and fries was excellent, but this place is not known to be a burger joint, even though it's on the menu but again, to each his or her own. I wouldn't come here just to have a burger. There are many other places that do that. Step it up a little. Come here for a higher tier of food caliber. That being said: Our server was excellent. The manager along with the chef / the wine "professor"- (he was excellent as well- extremely knowledgeable, and paired our bottle of wine perfectly with all our meals) along with everyone else who came by to check on us. But our server was absolutely attentive and great. He wasn't pushy and he was very easy-going but very astute and had all the attention to detail. So hopefully we made his night when we came to the tip. (we weren't slouches, nope.). I wish I remembered his name, it wasn't a typical name, but he was outstanding. That being said, make sure that you pack away a couple "bones" when you see the check- also make sure that you tip your waiter for the outstanding job that they do. So don't skimp on that either. So again: It isn't cheap, but a place like this shouldn't be. We had a great experience overall- Also, this isn't your T-shirt and shorts type of place. You have to dress up. No schleps.. Capeesh?!!? leave your sandals at home. Which it should be. This is an experience, not your local In-N-Out Burger joint. Excellent and tasteful decor- excellent service highly highly highly recommend.

Madcats is an unassuming lively music venue in Downtown Palatine. Every weekend, various types of…read morebands play with drinks served. If you want a table while watching your favorite band, come early and grab a seat! It fills up quickly. Good is served and service is fast! Delicious options and great drinks at a decent cost. You won't be paying high prices for drinks. It's a lively place, sound quality is also great, and the staff is friendly! We like coming here when we want to hear great music. Madcats is a great addition to Palatine!

Madcats opened in 2021 and has had many live events…read more We recently went to see a Fleetwood Mac cover band that did really well. The place is small and was full. I could tell that people truly enjoyed. There's even a small dancing area up front. The food and drink are decent. The servers work hard when it's busy - yet manage to keep friendly. The only downside is that there is a section where you can't really see the stage (about 1/4 of the inside area).

Barista Tara is a rockstar!! I visited CoCo & Blu the other day and inquired about latte art. I was…read moretold that the amazing artist who'd once made my drink had moved out of state, but that everyone else there could make hearts and flowers. Enter Tara, who said she'd try her best to make something special. She delivered an adorable bear on my drink! She said she might be able to do better, but I loved her effort and enthusiasm. My friend and I headed outside to enjoy our drinks on the patio. Several minutes later, Tara came outside carrying another latte. She had PERFECTED the latte bear and gave it to us for free! She made my entire day. Thank you to Tara for the amazing art and for going above and beyond in your customer service!! I can't wait to go back for my next coffee and hope she's working when I do.

Came here for the first time on a Saturday. Was fortunate enough to walk into town and walk in…read morehere. On a Saturday morning at not even 9 AM. Expect a line as there was a long line when we arrive. Unfortunately there's only one person at the cashier register and I think there's only one register and there's only that one person who's taking the orders. While I understand that this is a small run shop I will say that standing in line and waiting on a Saturday morning really is discouraging. The food however, a super delicious and came out very timely. So absolutely no complaints for me and they also have a water station set up so you can help yourself to water which is fantastic. After sitting around for about an hour to an hour and a half this place got super packed with families's children and strollers which made it even harder to move around. The ambience is fantastic so definitely worth it for your social media. I would come back here again, however I'm not really someone to order alcohol here at this time but for breakfast I think it's great.

Definitely love this bar, I'll be your bartender here at H…read moreBar. I'm excited and ready to serve you, come and join me for some specialty cocktails

Hyatt really hits it out of the ballpark with their bartending staff. From New York to Bloomington…read moreto Chicagoland, we've had the pleasure of spending wonderful evenings learning from people incredibly passionate about their craft, and Don is no exception. The enthusiasm he has for what he does can't be manufactured. He's a rare gem that no bar should be without. Forget about dogs and Dolly--is cloning people a thing yet?

Too noisy. Menu suggests a fine-dining experience but, the noisy vibe and disinterested staff…read moresuggest sports bar vibe. Food was just so-so. The Moroccan Tagine was overly salted. The Tuna Poke was heavy on the wasabi (even though it was requested to go easy).

We went to the new glenview location and it was awesome!!! Sasha was the best server, highly…read morerecommend this place and him!

I'm a big fan of this concept with comfortable seating in a spacious restaurant, plenty of parking,…read moregreat presentation, friendly service, and attractive decor. Compared to similar restaurants in this space, I prefer to go here with friends for its generally quieter atmosphere and overall vibe. Maybe the biggest complaint here is that the food preparation can be a bit inconsistent between dishes, and between different meat types. That is, that the output can range from delicious to somewhat average (and sometimes overcooked), depending on what you order. For example the birria was super flavorful and served with very crisp tacos and a delicious consomme, but the cilantro-lime rice and refried beans felt like an afterthought. The smoked pork belly quesadillas had a great flavor and just about the right amount of fattiness that was short of perfection due to the pork being overcooked. The tres leches cake also had a great creaminess and flavor to it, but parts of the cake weren't really soaked in the milk at all, which created an inconsistent experience - depending on where I took the bite. On everything I tried though, the presentation was excellent and there were enough great things about each dish to overcome some of the shortfalls. Overall though, I feel with improved execution on ensuring that all elements of the dishes are equally good in terms of texture and flavor -- there's a lot to love about Ancho & Agave. But even in its current state, it's still an enjoyable spot to take a group of friends for tasty food in an impressive looking spot.

We had the absolute RUDEST experience with someone checking us in for a lunch reservation. We had a…read more12:30 reservation- walked in around 12:32. When we told our name for our reservation we were told it was going to be about 10 more minutes- even though the restaurant was half full. I was super confused because the entire bar was open and there were at least 10-12 open tables. The person checking us in goes "what you've never had that happen before?" - referring to having to wait for a table - SO incredibly off-putting and condescending. I told her she was being rude and she got defensive and giving us all these excuses- that the kitchen was backed up, etc. We immediately walked out. We were fine with the waiting but the way this employee handled things was insane. The way this should have been handled, and how it's handled in hundreds of other restaurants we've been to is: offer to sit us at the bar or ask if we want to get seated and then tell us there's a back up. or even say "I'm so sorry" Like at least show SOME hospitality. I emailed the location to say all of the above, and they did offer to send us something in the mail, but I will not be accepting. There are so many businesses in this area, go somewhere else that appreciates you as a customer.

A surprise find. Walked in expecting nothing. Mallory was working and was great. Friendly, full of…read moreknowledge, and a musician. She made our experience Great. Solid gins and bourbons. The small batch was exceptional. Very cool back room.

We came in for the tour on a Sunday and it turned out to be a private tour with Amanda. The tour…read morewas more of a conversation and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Amanda's energy and passion was outstanding. The tour was about 45 minutes and includes a tasting flight. Since I do not drink bourbon, they allowed my to substitute a drink. There were so many options that I was interested in trying, but after discussing what I like with Amanda, she suggested the Lavender Haze. The lavender syrup is made in house and was sweet, with a floral taste . The drink was excellent. They have open mic nights and live music. They are expanding into the adjacent space in the next few months. It was interesting to hear all of the logistics involved in moving equipment into the new space. We will be back !

I found corked to be a reasonable mix between casual and upscale, with a bit of everything for…read moreeveryone. There is indoor and outdoor seating to fit people's preferences -- everything from tables to swings to sit on. The vibe made this more approachable than some other similar spots that I've seen in the suburbs. I also liked that the food options were fairly reasonable in terms of pricing, with some more expensive options available as well. I liked everything i tried, in particular that burrata was very fresh and flavorful with a generous sized portion. The charcuterie board also had high quality meats and cheeses and wasn't too pricey for something that's made to order in a restaurant. The hummus was colorful, though a bit olive heavy for my liking but good for anyone looking for that type of preparation. The veggies were quite fresh and the pita was served hot. Overall, a nice spot to enjoy wine and bites on a visit to Long Grove.

This is a charming little restaurant and wine bar in downtown Long Grove, Illinois with a beautiful…read morefront lawn seating area and a charming patio. The service is excellent and the food is delicious. I would highly recommend a stop here if you're in the downtown Long Grove area for some light shopping and fun. Sean was an excellent and attentive server with great recommendations!

My hubby and I were looking for a place with good drinks and decided to try this place. We parked…read moreand almost passed by the place because its like a small little bar with very little signage. It was before 6pm so we were able to find a seat. I think they have seats for only 25 people so prepare to stand when it gets busy. Our bartender was Edward and he was really nice. I ordered a Tiramisu Martini and then a Porn Star Martini. They were both good, but I preferred the Porn Star one. We also ordered a Smash Burger, which was actually from Holt's, connected to this bar. That burger was tasty - brioche bun & onions = yum. The chips it came with were crunchy. The Bacon popcorn was good but way too salty for me. Im glad we found this little bar and plan on coming back in the future.

We went out with Park Ridge friends last weekend and they took us to this charming bar. I read a…read morefew reviews that said that Pines Room has a small town vibe. I disagree--I am a Chicago boy and it has a big city hidden gem quality about it. In fact, they promote themselves as a speakeasy. Of course you can get any cocktail you want, but my husband and I both opted for a special strawberry cocktail made with Hendrick's gin. It was refreshing, not too sweet, and garnished with a dehydrated lemon slice. Perfect! Our friends both ordered old fashioned cocktails that looked equally as good. It was a Saturday night and this tiny bar was jam-packed. We had to stand, but it was okay because we had only stopped in for one drink before heading to another restaurant for dinner. The bartenders were friendly and efficient. Prices are not inexpensive, but average to what you'd find in a downtown Chicago restaurant. If you''re looking for a cool place to hang in Park Ridge with a craft cocktail and have a small bite (they have a limited food menu, too), Pines Room is the place.