Food and service always the best! We love their Margarita Pizza and great appetizers...read more

This place delivers on food, ambiance, and service. Downtown…read morecity vibes and the food was delicious. Great menu with broad options. Friendly staff.

We had our wedding at Moonflower, and it was amazing! We…read moreoriginally found Moonflower on Zola. Although we are from the area, we had never visited before, and the photos immediately caught our attention. The bar fit our vibe perfectly, and after visiting a few times, we knew it was the right place for us. We rented both spaces: the main bar upstairs and Nightshade, the speakeasy downstairs. Moonflower has a small stage in the main bar, which we used for our ceremony. The space already has so much character that it needed very little decorating. We brought small flower vases and an altar piece that the bride and her now mother in law made together. After the ceremony, we held cocktail hour and served food buffet style in the main bar. Later, everyone moved downstairs to Nightshade. Its lounge atmosphere and dance floor were perfect for our 50 to 60 guests. Some people relaxed around the cocktail tables while others danced, so everyone could enjoy the night in their own way. Moonflower's event organizer, Morgan, was wonderful. She made the entire planning process feel easy and was a joy to work with. She helped turn our ideas into reality, assisting with day of logistics, décor, beverage packages, and every question that came up. She was always responsive and available. Morgan also helped us think through details that had not occurred to us, including coffee for our guests, explaining the parking situation, contacting nearby businesses about using their lots, and recommending DJs. We ultimately hired one of the DJs she suggested. Her extra support was incredibly helpful and took a great deal of stress out of planning. If you have not tried Moonflower's drinks, you are missing out. Their regular cocktail menu is fantastic, and our experience was even more special because of a custom cocktail session with Zach. He created signature drink options for each of us based on our tastes and favorite cocktails. Every option was spectacular, and the final drinks felt personal and special. We chose Funeral Potatoes for the food. Since they already handle the food at Moonflower, we were able to try many dishes beforehand. Our guests raved about everything. We especially recommend the brussels sprouts, deviled eggs, and caprese sandwiches. Alexis, who heads up Funeral Potatoes, was also extremely helpful with selecting the menu. The only outside food we brought in was our wedding cake. The entire staff was phenomenal. Everyone treated the occasion with the perfect balance of care, professionalism, and fun. The night went off without a hitch and was truly one of the best nights of our lives. Moonflower was also extremely reasonable compared with other venues we considered in the city, especially with an open bar and food available on site. Street parking was plentiful, and none of our guests had trouble finding a spot. For anyone looking for a relaxed wedding for 50 to 60 people with a memorable lounge atmosphere, fantastic staff, buffet style food, and exceptional cocktails, Moonflower should be at the top of your list.

Super cute date night spot!…read more That being said, I went to meet a date and the staff was incredibly kind while I waited nearly 40 minutes for my date to show up late. (Insane of me to wait at all at that point, I know) I didn't end up eating the food here, but the beer selection was lovely, and the ambiance was a vibe. Will come back, definitely with someone else.

SUCH a cool little "hidden" spot!…read more Nightshade is a small little cocktail bar under Moonflower, and it's INCREDIBLE. The drinks were so fun- I had one rimmed with crushed tortilla chip. Absolutely worth the stop!

A bar within a bar inception…read more Nightshade is the basement bar of Moonflower. We came to the opening weekend to check out the vibe. There was a healthy amount of folks coming through, but not too crowded. It's dark, closed off with a smaller bar and also additional washrooms below. Vibe is sparse - at the moment, it's simple with the centerpiece of the red glowing bar, side bench seating, a few lamps off to the side, painted in a dark green/black floor to ceiling color. I think the reason to have this secondary space is the potential to do more fun, experimental drinks. Though space is cozier, it's nice to see seating was designed to accommodate groups too. I think it would have been easy to talk to other table groups if the music was just a tad softer. Son of a Gun - it's a tortilla chip in drink form. It's savory with a hint of cilantro. Sneaking Suspicion - nice apparent flavor of chamomile balanced out with a slight, creamy sweet flavor of yogurt. If you're into exploring unusual flavors and forms, Nightshade is a place to check out, and of course Moonflower offers another menu so you can do 2 in 1. Kitchen closes at 10pm.

You gotta try this joint with amazing Greek food, drinks and outstanding service. We ate inside but…read morethey also have seating outside in front in the summer. Fantastic experience!

Second time here, love this place! Drinks and food are great. Jen has been our bartender, she's…read moreawesome. They took out the golf simulator and added more tables. More tables and room now!!

5/5! Had a wonderful experience here. Came here with family including 3 toddlers. You can imagine…read morethe chaos it could be. But, it was a good overall time. Food- Delicious! Had the burratta & fig, porkbelly brushetta, and a flatbread as apps. Loved it all. porkbelly was so tender, the burratta & fig was a good balance of sweet and savory. Needless to say, the flatbread was a hit with the kids as well. Other notable dishes were the beef shwarma and the crispy duck. Ambiance- LOVE it! It can be fancy if you want, it can be more casual if you want. Enjoyed the church vibes mixed with modern touch. Very well decorated. The outdoor area is so cute, esp overlooking the lake. We sat indoors but still a wonderful ambiance. Bonus: they have a changing table in the women's bathroom. Sorry, could not confirm in the men's. Service- this was definitely impressive. You don't always get service especially at some of these well known restaurants bc why would you have to have good service? We had made reservations online and it was initially indoor. They were so awesome about switching it to outdoor with out much trouble even if we were 10 minutes late. But the air quality was so bad so once we were about to get settled we requested for indoor again. There was only smiles and a happy to help attitude and got us settled. I want to highlight our waitress, Ciara (Sierra?). With a party of 9, she was so thoughtful of our orders esp for the kids. I mean, when we ordered lemonade for them she even asked if she wants us to water it down and as parents we were like YES! They do not need that much sugar LOL! She was just overall so warm and communicative. She checked in and made sure we were comfortable. Her smile and pleasant attitude made it easier when we had three little ones wanting to walk around after eating and trying to keep them entertained at a table.

My husband and I chose Foxtail on the Lake for our five-year wedding anniversary because we wanted…read morewhat we hoped would be one of the most memorable and romantic dining experiences in the area. We intentionally made this our "no budget" celebration, expecting exceptional food, service, and hospitality. Instead, it turned into one of the most disappointing restaurant experiences we've ever had. Our reservation was for 7:00 p.m. on July 2, and despite having a reservation, we waited more than 20 minutes to be seated. During that time, we watched people walk in, greet someone they appeared to know, and be seated immediately at the bar while we continued to wait. My husband had gone out of his way to ensure our anniversary would be acknowledged. He noted on the reservation that it was our five-year anniversary, called ahead before our dinner to confirm the restaurant was aware, and even checked with the host stand when we arrived. We weren't asking for anything extravagant--just the kind of small acknowledgment that many restaurants happily provide for guests celebrating a milestone. Nothing happened. There was no congratulations, no acknowledgment from our server, no candle with dessert, no handwritten note, nothing. We even ordered dessert ourselves, and it arrived exactly as if it were any ordinary Tuesday night. The service only added to the disappointment. Our server was curt, rarely checked on us despite our ordering two appetizers, two entrées, dessert, and several rounds of drinks, and never made us feel welcomed or cared for. For a restaurant positioning itself as a destination for special occasions, the level of hospitality simply wasn't there. Unfortunately, the food didn't make up for it. Considering the price point, we expected much more. Most dishes were surprisingly bland and underseasoned, and nothing we ordered stood out as memorable. At the end of the evening, my husband politely mentioned everything to the host stand. The response was essentially that our anniversary "must have gotten lost in communication," followed by an offer of a dessert to take home. By that point, the moment had already passed. A boxed dessert cannot replace a once-in-a-lifetime celebration that was overlooked from start to finish. No manager came over to speak with us, no one took ownership of the experience, and there was no meaningful attempt to make things right. This wasn't just dinner--it was our fifth wedding anniversary, a milestone we'll never get to celebrate again. We chose Foxtail because we trusted it would deliver an exceptional experience worthy of the occasion. Instead, we left feeling ignored, disappointed, and wondering why we spent so much money on an evening that felt like an afterthought. If you're looking for a restaurant to celebrate an anniversary, proposal, birthday, or other meaningful milestone, I cannot recommend Foxtail on the Lake based on our experience. There are too many restaurants that understand hospitality and know how to make guests feel special. Sadly, this wasn't one of them.

12/28/24 - While we loved going to Bourbon & Brass. This is a cool speakeasy on the second floor…read moreof the Des Plaines Theater. When I was a kid I use to go to the Des Plaines Theater & watch movies for 60 cents (ahhh nostalgia trip down memory lane), but I digress The speakeasy inside the Des Plaines Theater is an awesome idea. The show was awesome but the one MAJOR MAJOR issue I have is the bartender who continued to serve my sister's friend. He was obviously very very drunk to a point where he could barely walk wo/stumbling. He was slurring his words. Both my sister & I asked the bartender not to serve him anymore alcohol but she kept serving him drinks even after we asked. She continued to serve him even after we asked her not to. When he and my sister left she told me he tried to put the key in the ignition 14X's before she convinced him to let her drive. Your bartender's need to be aware of a persons level of intoxication. Both my sister & I asked her not to serve him anymore drinks but she continued to serve him. Thank God my sister was able to convince him to let her drive home otherwise what was an excellent evening could have ended tragically. Please have your bartenders be more conscious of a persons level of intoxication. While I gave Bourbon & Brass a 5 star review I need to down grade that for over serving someone alcohol even after both my sister & I asked her to stop serving him

I heard there was a speakeasy at this theater, so we had to stop by to check it out. Free parking…read moreat the lot behind or ramp. There was a show that evening, when we entered the theater, the usher asked to see our tickets. I asked how to get to the speakeasy and the usher pointed to the elevator, take it to the second floor. Once we got to the second floor, more ushers greeted us and informed us there's a jazz band performing and small cover charge. As soon as we paid and entered through the bookshelf, the room was beautifully arranged as a lounge with fancy and vintage sofas and couches. Kind of reminds me of someone grandma's house. The bar had snacks available, otherwise more drink options. The band played good songs too. Definitely recommend if you're in the area and jazz fan.

A clean, well lighted space, they have live music play on weekend nights (and perhaps weekday?)…read more We stopped in one Friday night to listen to jazz and drink cocktails. The cocktails are good, especially the Oat Fashioned and the Toranto.

Take Flight Spirits is such a fun and unique spot with truly delicious drink options. I personally…read morelove the Dirty Hippie (a dirty chai with rum) or the Hibiscus Daiquiri. Both drinks are fantastic, depending on your mood. They offer some snacks for purchase, but one of the best parts is that you're welcome to bring your own food, making it a great place to hang out without feeling limited. It's the perfect place to meet up with friends, catch a live performance, enjoy trivia night, or check out one of their many other events. Their website has an updated list of what's coming up, which makes planning easy. Adding to the ambience, you'll find a few tables that are actually chalk board tables so you can draw or play games on the chalkboard tables if you want. It's so fun! The staff has always been kind, welcoming, and great at crafting drinks. Take Flight Spirits is definitely one of my favorite local spots!

First time here; sent here with a gift card. Amazing outdoor dining and wonderful food.read more

Quite crowded on a Friday night! Huge menu, and despite it being an Irish pub it's not all typical…read morepub fare (tacos, anyone?) Trying to get the check was a challenge because staff was just running all over the place.