Wow! If you're looking for a restaurant that can satisfy a group with different tastes, Patina Wine…read moreBar is an excellent choice. Their thoughtfully curated menu may be compact, but it offers a great variety--from fresh salads and wood-fired pizzas to steaks, seafood, and chicken dishes--so there's truly something for everyone. The drink menu is just as fun, with creative cocktails named after iconic songs and music titles, adding a unique touch to the experience. We started with oysters (special), pear arugula salad then ordered main course- I walleye (special) and shrimp risotto. Everything was excellent. It's worth mentioning that the portions are generous enough to leave you satisfied without being overwhelming, making it easy to enjoy an appetizer, entrée, or dessert without feeling overstuffed.

We've heard very good things about Patina and we're excited to try it tonight. As soon as we…read morewalked in the staff was very kind and attentive. We love the ambiance of the restaurant. It's very peaceful, romantic and a calm atmosphere. All of the food was delicious. The plating is so attractive! The dishes have great flavor but are healthier options. The portion sizes were perfect for what we desired. I'm not exaggerating when I say this was the best branzino I've ever had. The skin was crunchy and delicious. But the fish was not dry at all! There's nothing better than a juicy branzino fish and chef Jose nailed it! Matching with the sauce and beans was so much better than any other veggies or starch. The octopus was also cooked to perfection. The flavor and temperature was just right. Not too hot and such a great texture. We don't always order desserts but we had to see every course of the menu. We decided to go with a lava cake and it did not disappoint. It had that perfect contrast of hot and cold but it's served with gelato which gives it a nice touch of texture compared to standard ice cream. Chef Jose came out and introduced himself. We came in because we were enticed by a beef tartare that was on their menu in the past. We're hoping he brings it back on a special sometime soon. He said to give him a call and he'll try to accommodate whenever possible to make his customers happy. What an amazing restaurant. We cannot wait to come back and see what's new. Thank you for an amazing dinner and night!

My friend picked Fire + Wine for her birthday and we had a fantastic experience…read more The food is fantastic and is delicious. I ordered the short rib with polenta and the food was super tender and decadent. We all ordered drinks which was really good too. I tried some of my friends pizza and they make perfectly crispy in their oven. Service was attentive. My one complaint is that it's hard to find parking- there is a lot below with spaces but if you get there early you could probably find something on the top level!

Have been a three or four times a month regular at Fire & wine since they opened, but my last visit…read moreon Sunday was exceptional. I've always avoided anything "blackened" but after ordering their blackened whitefish, it's my new favorite entrée. And my new favorite waiter, Jeremy was a great addition to our pleasant dining experience. Went back the next day for "half price Pasta Monday". Excellent Bolognese sauce but unfortunately no Jeremy. Great place for all your parties and group dining.

Very cute and cozy place!! They do a few events here as well. The food is rather limited but they…read moredo ironically have funeral potatoes which are very seasoned. I love!!! I love the bartender, very speedy service!!! Mac and cheese (not pictured) comes out in a cute little stainless steel frying pan. They also have happy hour!!!!!

Im so mad I haven't been to this place earlier cause its not far from where I live and it was so…read moregood!! Definitely a hidden gem in Portage Park! Street parking was easy to find which is a plus. Its walk-ins only but my party of 6 were able to get a table no problem on a Friday night. To drink, I started with the Oolong Martinez. It was good but way too strong for me so I just gave it to my husband lol. I opted for the Kiss & Tell instead except I asked for no mezcal. Much lighter and refreshing! I believe they have a downstairs lounge called "Nightshade" which serves their own special menu. My goal is to go downstairs next time! Their food is GAS!!! Everything I ate was a 5/5 for me - especially the party fries and the moon burger. We got the deviled eggs and funeral potatoes for the table and I was blown away (both of these menu items rotate flavors monthly). Also FYI - They have a photobooth!!!! I love photobooths!

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.

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!

Amazing food, great service and music! Love this place! Everything is made with love.read more

The food and service at Mazi were fantastic. Best calamari I ever had. Drinks were great. I will…read moredefinitely go back.

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!

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!

These folks know how to run a restaurant! Nice greeting,…read moreattentive, professional, friendly service all the way. Menu has so many great items that we have returned several times. Parking was no hassle. ..and who doesn't love leftovers?

First time trying the Harp and Fiddle. Overall it was a decent place. The service wasn't great but…read morethe cocktails were. Everything was pretty standard minus the Sheppard pie. Which honestly was a little surprising considering. I'd most likely return since it's close to home for drinks only next time.

Food is always good. Drinks are perfection…read more Service is outstanding. Prices are not out of line. All in all, always a good experience,

We had a dinner planned for 8 friends and I put a lot of effort into researching a spot where we…read morecould enjoy being outside during Chicago summer. I booked a spot on the rooftop and received a confirmation back that we'd be seated there. Upon arrival on a beautiful night, we were informed there was an event being held on the rooftop - it felt really dishonest to me that we were confirmed and then moved without a call to advise of the change, since the rooftop was the reason we booked and events are usually planned well in advance. Food was solid as was the service, and we had a great night, but I was disappointed in the lack of transparency on rooftop availability, especially after telling everyone in our group that we would be dining on the rooftop. Seems to be a trend in looking at other reviews which is disappointing.