A Geneva gem. They have added outdoor seating and that is a bonus. The food at Preservation is always spot on!

My favorite outdoor bar and restaurant in Geneva!!! Wonderful casual outdoor bar with open mic on Mondays and other nights of excellent musicians. Unique, curated small plates and the best Rueben in town! The owner, Lawerence, is so dedicated and kind, as well as Tess! So sincere, so talented, so awesome! read more

A nice spot to grab a drink on a nice weather day - the outdoor patio is fantastic! The fellas and I grabbed a round of brews here while roaming around downtown Geneva and we had zero complaints. It was really nice out so, naturally, we were at the outdoor bar/patio. What a delightful space: open, airy, ample seating, great staff. The biggest bummer is navigating inside for the bathroom but everything else is top notch. We're fans and will return again! read more

Food was so good! Crispy duck salad and Korean tacos were favorites. Fun ambience inside and outside. read more

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Had an event in downtown Geneva later in the evening and needed someplace for dinner. Tons of options available and this was a new choice for us. Didn't need reservations. Got seated in the enclosed patio though looked like some were seated outdoors. I assume it was heated as it was a little chilly. Had Non Alcoholic options on the menu which is always nice to see. Mostly small plates for sharing but when we got the lamb the server told us it had three skewers but she could add a fourth so we could each have one. I'd never been offered that option at a restaurant before - a very nice touch. The lamb was amazing. Gnocchi was considered a large plate and defiantly enough for a meal. Nice atmosphere. Friendly service. read more

Preservation - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

Awesome, fun atmosphere and friendly servers. We were here in August for some drinks at the bar. The patio is very cool and inviting. Contrasting colored plants in planters and neat patio furniture. We ordered the European cheese plate appetizer and some drinks as we were just there for snacks before having dinner elsewhere. The plate came out with several toasted pieces of crusty bread, walnuts, mango spread and of course the variety of cheeses mmmm! Small portion but a nice snack. It's a great outdoor bar and a large area. We enjoyed it here. read more

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Best patio in Geneva. It's all covered and quite large. The bar has a few TVs. We tend to go here for lunch as it's very pleasant in the shade. Food is good although the menu is pretty small. They always have some beer on tap from local brewpubs. Service is always great. read more

Preservation - Spinach and Artichoke Bread Pudding. Comfort in a bowl! - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

I'd love to share my full experience at Preservation but alas, there isn't much in the way of food or drink I can report on. The service however, is a different story. My friend and I arrived around 7:15pm this evening, Tuesday night, a weekday. We were greeted by a hostess in a full winter jacket and completely empty front room. She gave us the option to sit in said empty room or to follow her back to a "cozy heated area." We couldn't decide so we asked her to choose, and she led us down a long, narrow hallway to the back. There were three parties total in the indoor patio--us, another table of 2 and a large party of 8. Their outdoor patio was open, and with a view of it from the cozy room. The outdoor patio was festive with holiday lights, heaters and perhaps 3 people sitting at the bar. Many employees bustled back and forth through the door linking our two spaces. Our waitress brought us two glasses of water and food menus, pointed out the QR code menu on our table and walked away. That was our ONLY interaction with her. We proceeded to then sit for 15 minutes, watching our waitress, along with 3 other employees walk back and forth, attentively serving the large party, cleaning up a recently vacated back booth, chatting with one another and even saw another employee take a moment to vape inside near the POS system. We were ignored. No eye contact, no smile, no acknowledgment. It's as if we were not even there. For a slow Tuesday night, with ample staff, this was unacceptable. It grew so uncomfortable that we gathered our jackets and began to walk out. As we made our way back down the long hallway, the hostess, carrying a tray of waters, thanked us for coming in. Clearly there is a lack of awareness--or attention to detail. In what world would we have been able to order drinks, eat and pay our bill in less than 30 minutes since you seated us? But Finally! Someone noticed us. Too bad it was too little too late. We walked a block down to a different restaurant, and had an amazing time, spending more time & money than originally anticipated at that establishment, as a direct result of the poor hospitality and lack of service received at Preservation. Their loss was the Alchemist's gain. read more

This was my first visit to Preservation. I do enjoy visiting Geneva as it's such a quaint town along the river. After visiting Presentation has stood out from other restaurants. Let's talk outdoors! There's a large outdoor bar seating area that's set up beautifully with lights strung on trellises above. I was told that during inclement weather that they are able to cover the garden area along the top of the roof and the sides of the eating area. But first in order to reach the garden you walk down a short walk which seems like a pathway and as you continue, you will see the hostess. To the left, you will see Atlas chicken. Which is also own by the same restaurant owner. I saw families eating the night that I was there and their children had chicken which was ordered from Atlas to match their dining choices. And the parents could eat their adult food. I would not recommend Preservations menu for children unless they have a highly developed palate. As you continue walking past the bar, there is still more garden seating! It looked like a relaxing oasis. We were fortunate enough to be there to see live music and although it's a small area for performers that was set up wonderfully with tables all around the musicians. Not a bad seat in the house! I noticed several heaters that were located in the garden area. Those would be very helpful during a chilly night. There is another seating area that is just outside of the building. And then you can walk into a smaller dining room area. There are two unisex bathrooms along that same hallway. And if you continue, you will walk into the front lounge. I was told by the bartender that the front lounge is newly updated and just a really awesome spot to relax. Now let's get to the food! The menu is set up as a tapas style dining experience. There are several larger entrées that you could order as well. We started with small bites with a Spanish olive Mix which was perfect to start our evening. Everything that we tasted was delightful! We ordered the brussels sprouts which were unique in their presentation. The brussels sprouts had romesco sauce, similar to the sauce used on patatas bravas and freshly shredded Parmesan cheese. This dish was phenomenal! Well many of us will want brussels sprouts as an appetizer when dining, you will never want plain brussels sprouts again after tasting them here. For our savory bites we had the Grilled Spanish Shrimp. Grilled to perfection with and also with a nice presentation! We were served two shrimp for three skewers. It was actually four shrimp per skewer as they had placed two shrimp together to make a circle. We also had the steak skewers. They were incredibly tasty with blue cheese crumbles. We also had the fried tofu tacos. These were so tasty! These are definitely not the type of tacos you need salsa and sour cream for! We are not beer drinkers so we either had wine or mixed drinks. Our server Emily was amazing! She was kind, helpful and patient with our table. There were lots of questions and requests and she gave us service with a smile the whole night. It was busy the night we visited. Recommend reservations. Highly recommend! read more

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Two stars for the Ambiance. I wanted to like this place, during the Christmas walk we stopped in to see the vendors and I loved the outdoor bar with heaters so I came back on a Tuesday night with a friend for a glass of wine and some small bites. We got neither. The hostess sat us inside next to a larger party inside, maybe two other tables we also occupied. Someone brought us water right after we sat down and told us the drink menu was on the QR code but then we sat for about 20 minutes waiting for someone to acknowledge us or take our order. The table directly behind us finished up and left, someone came to bus the table and actively avoided making eye contact, a different server brought food to the large table but also avoided making any contact with us. After staring at the menu for so long we decided the wine and cocktails were not that exciting to continue to wait so we got up and left. The hostess was nice enough to yell after us "thanks for coming in, have a great night!" We walked down the street to another restaurant and had a lovely meal and a few glasses of wine instead. read more

I love this restaurant! You can also sit there and order from The Chicken Shack- the Sister restaurant if you so desire. They have outdoor heaters and the patio is open most days. The food is outstanding and the prices are fair. My dog Deanie loves it there as well. She loves bites from the cheese platter. They have live entertainment and I just love to sit at the bar and watch them make drinks. Their bartenders are very skilled and make it look easy. Highly recommend This restaurant. read more

Birthday lunch at Preservation was a wonderful gift from my husband. First time here. My tastebuds were exploding with happiness at each byte of the ASPARAGUS AND LEMON WHIPPED RICOTTA ON APPLE SLICES. Each bite of the WILD MUSHROOM TART was exquisite. SHRIMP & CHEESE GRITS classic Southern and delicious. Preservation has become one of my favorites in the western burbs. Oh, and the old fashion was a good balance between sweetness, bourbon, and bitters, good mixology. read more

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Atmosphere in lounge was great....went for Tuesday night "Fondue" for two. Great for a date night, or girls night out. Preservation is considered a "small plates" restaurant and for sharing. Cheese fondue was delicious...but served over a tea light candle with huge fans hovering above, didn't quite hit the mark. Cheese was plentiful, but other than broccoli and "lightly" steamed cauliflower, I think 4 pieces of rolled salami and some bread cubes really was a "small plate".... Had to ask for more cheese because there was too much bread and veggies left and we were still hungry. Maybe even if the salami was cubed instead of rolled would have made a difference. Felt like all we got was two pieces of meat each! Actually my friend donated her second piece of salami to me, because it was too fatty for her. Chocolate dessert fondue was a great ending but again, served with apple slices and strawberry's were delish! But tiny pretzels and OREO cookies being the other two items was off-putting.... Some nice pound or angel food cake would have been far more desirable than Oreos. JMO.. read more

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What a fun place. Live music, plenty of patio space and great food! Can't go wrong with that. We ordered several dishes to share amongst the group and not a single dish was disliked. We sat on the patio at a long table with our large group. The drinks flowed and the food was plenty! The service was great- they ensured we received everything and were satisfied with all things. We would definitely come back when back in town. read more

The atlas chicken shack and preservation immediately intrigued you when you walk by! The smells, the set up and the amount of people heading in tell you it's time to go in! My wife and I stopped in for a glass of wine and some apps and we LOVED it! Smiles on every server, friendly! The service was fast and always pleasant! The quinoa and watermelon dish as unbelievably light and tasteful ! Balanced with a heavier well cooked steak skewer dish it was perfect! The wine excellent! All in all a great place, next time in Geneva make this a must! Great experience! Five stars ! read more

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The food and service were exceptional!! Great welcoming from the beginning and delicious food. We had the steak skewers and the white bean hummus had so much flavor! Can't wait to try more on the menu. read more

Had lunch yesterday and it was great. Sat outside since the weather was delightful. Our server was Iris and she was very attentive. The food was so good! The Arancini balls were a big hit. I highly recommend everything...even the iced tea was good. read more

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Was excited to try this place out! I made a reservation for eight people for my sister's bachelorette party, and with a lot of the people in the group enjoying wine, I figured they would love it. We got sat on a Saturday night in the closed off patio area. Very cute decor, a little crowded but overall not a big issue. The issue started when are server came over and dropped off waters. We mentioned we had eaten dinner prior to are 8pm reservation and we would like to do just wine and cocktails, and pretty quickly we felt her attitude change towards us. She immediately asks if she can take all the plates and the silverware off the table. As she was already reaching over to start grabbing at the plates and silverware, I asked if it would be okay if we shared a little cake that I brought for the bride and bridesmaids, and she says "Just so you know, we would charge everybody (by person) a charge for bringing a dessert in." Which is totally understandable, I figured I would just ask anyways considering we planned on staying for a while and having quite a few drinks. I think it was the annoyed way she said it that was really off putting, and I could tell my party felt the same way. We ended up just having one drink and paying are tabs. Overall, the wine was great! There are many great winery's in the area with much better service in my opinion. Me and my party ended up heading somewhere else to enjoy the rest of are night. Would I try it again? Probably not. read more

Not too bad! Have tried Preservation twice since it's close to work. Have tried the chicken pot pie which was made out of real chicken, flaky. Tried the meat skewers which were pretty tender. On separate occasion tried the hot turkey sandwich with a charcuterie board. Fresh and tasty. Pricing is reasonable for the area. Parking is on the street and generally easy to find. The ambience inside is a bit dark, outside on the patio it's pretty nice particularly on a warm day. They also have events and fondue on certain things I believe which would be nice to try. Would recommend. read more

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Gorgeous day brought everyone out from everywhere. My friend and I got the first table for two by the entrance.Unfortunately, we got to see the dog show. A constant flow of people with at least two dogs. If we had a table where all of these dogs were going,we would have left. Server was okay, but wrote nothing down. My shrimp and soup came with no utensils. Her sandwich never came. Other people asked,she came back and said,left the dressing,forgot the cheese. By this time my shrimp was ice cold. Her sandwich was pathetic and I couldn't eat mine. Went inside to the black dungeon to find the bathroom.Very unfortunate location near kitchen and service pass. Wanted dessert, but there was no way that we were ordering it. So we sat,and sat watching many people turned away while there was no attempt to give us the bill. Final called over to a girl doing nothing..."Excuse me miss.... "Yeah ?!" It was so unexpected and rude, I started to laugh. Yes, we could blame the great weather and crowds, but there are much bigger problems at this business. Wouldn't come again and I don't recommend. read more

Preservation was a fun place to chill and listen to music outside. We enjoyed that very much, but where it falls short is the food. We ordered a few appetizers, the Brussels sprouts and a flat bread pizza, neither of which was I writing home about. The Brussels sprouts were ok, but not nearly as great as they could have been. The flat bread did have a nice thin crust but the cheese and toppings were pretty sparse. The coffee torte dessert was delicious but the rest of the menu didn't excite. read more

All the hype turned into disappointment. It took about 15 minutes for a server to take our drink order. None of our entrees came out at the same time, there was a 25 minute difference between the first and the fourth entree being delivered to the table. The butter salad leaves were bolted and very bitter, so basically poor quality produce. The pork tacos were oily. It took 20 minutes for someone to bring our check, and another 15 minutes for them to bring change. I typically would not complain, because I know how hard servers work, but truly the establishment is understaffed and the quality of food has changed significantly in the last year or two. We sat outdoors so I cannot speak for an inside experience, but the outdoor chairs are metal and not very comfortable. We just had a very different experience compared to the reputation that Preservation has stived to build over the years. I'm hoping this was a one-off situation, and I will try it again and update my review as deserved. read more

Popped in w my family (husband and 3 and 6 yr olds) for the first time, . Outdoor space is charming, live music, food (pork belly tacos and onion soup were great!) and drinks (Bloody Mary and great beer selection) are so good. Will definitely be back. The owner L introduced himself and staff is friendly. read more

Great food and great service. Very lively spot. Sometimes there's live music outside (even in the winter!!). Make sure you have a reservation; it can get very busy. We had the charcuterie and Spanish olives to start. We shared the lamb skewers and the shrimp for our entree. All was amazing. The waitress was friendly and attentive. The only negative comment was my cocktail. ALL ICE. I would be surprised if there was even two ounces of actual cocktail. My guest ordered the hot toddy which she loved (no ice in a hot toddy!!) Dessert was adequate. Tasted great, nothing fancy. Overall, I highly recommend Preservation. read more

Every item I've had has been delicious. Love sitting outside and easy parking in the garage.

One of the best patios in downtown Geneva but sadly the food is not good anymore. The service is also not great. If you go, just enjoy a drink outside. read more

Great Trivia night! I won a $10 gift certificate! Will return!Great great great great. Great Salads and music

Fun times..... I'll start my review by stating that I went to Preservation for the Chriskindl Market during the day on a Saturday in December for the holidays. We were in an outside area that felt like an alley but it had a covered area and an outdoor bar. They were serving warm alcohol drinks that tasted festive. They had a little seating area around a fire with free s'mores. Just grab a stick, some marshmallows, the graham crackers, and some chocolate. It was a little cold that day but I felt warm and cozy with my drink, the fire, and s'mores. They also had several vendors selling jewelry and other small items. Overall fun place and fun time. I didn't go inside if they have an inside area, so I guess my review is just the outside area. read more

Preservation participated in Geneva's restaurant week and I ordered the 9-taste special. The food was good (though nothing special) and for 9 tastes, I was stuffed at the end. The service was also good even though we felt rushed to pay while the restaurant was 3/4 empty. The atmosphere was stark, dark and less than appealing. Four walls, tables and chairs. That about covers it. They appear to have quite the outdoor bar area and it's likely they attract large crowds in the summer, but I don't think I'd be back for dinner. read more

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Absolutely loved the beer-garden's relaxed vibe. Everyone was very nice and the service was great. I love that it is per friendly. We came for drinks but ended up ordering the Heirloom Tomato salad from the small plate section and it was beyond delicious. A good amount for two people as an appetizer. read more

Preservation - Heirloom Tomato Salad - small plate - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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We visited the restaurant in winter, but it looks like They have an awesome patio for the winter. The indoor restaurant is quite small, so I'd recommend making a reservation. We got the bacon jam baguette, falafel, and pork belly tacos. Our favorite was the tacos. The falafel was pretty bland. Overall, seems like a good place to get wine and have some small plates. read more

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My husband and I stopped at a restaurant last Sunday that I've been wanting to try for so long. It did not disappoint and surpassed my expectations. Preservation is a wine bar with shareables and also large plates. It has a small front area with more seating in the back and has an outdoor patio as well. Our server was Iris, who was engaging and friendly and on top of everything. I never needed to ask for a water refill. My husband and I each had a glass of wine while perusing the menu. The first thing we ordered to share was the bacon jam baguette...oh my gosh. Beyond good! Then we shared the grilled prawns. I loved the presentation and the flavor. Next, my husband and I had soup. He had tomato bacon and I had butternut squash. Creamy goodness. The photo of my butternut squash soup doesn't do it justice because I had to take the seeds off the top so it's not as pretty of a presentation. Lastly, my husband and I shared the lamb sliders. Tender lamb on focaccia with cucumber and tzatziki. Another great dish! Everything was absolutely delicious and there's so much more I want to explore on the menu. The head chef Blane makes creative, visually appealing, and delicious food. If you're near Geneva IL, you've got to check Preservation out! read more

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I had the lamb sliders & the Gin cocktail (Dginn juice) & everything was delicious! read more

Preservation - Lamb sliders and "DJINN & JUICE" cocktail. Delicious. - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

We went in the evening on Friday and got seated inside. The server did not know the drink special, which is running for the entire month. She was not very helpful in providing input on the taste of the drink either. For vegetarians, there are options, but not to my taste. Flat pizza is very thin. Although falafel and mushroom tart are good. In the past, I liked the cheese dishes, too. But it was not very filling. read more

Preservation - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

Found myself in Geneva Illinois around lunchtime on a Saturday. Got lucky and parked right across the street and decided to give Preservation a try! I'm so glad we did! We were seated in a lovely outdoor space. The waitress appeared instantly and offered drinks. We ordered sandwich shareables. The lamb and feta was a perfect combo. The turkey had the correct amount of smoke to enhance the sandwich without being overpowering. The onion soup at $2.50 as an accompaniment to a sandwich was a steal. Drinks were good and fairly priced. We couldn't resist the blueberry lemon bread pudding. We were glad we did! Highly recommended. read more

Preservation - Blueberry lemon bread pudding. - Wine Bars Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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Can't say enough about how great Preservation is to enjoy food, drinks and music. With an amazing outside bar, the staff take excellent care of all its patrons while the kitchen excites all your taste buds. If we lived closer, we would come every day. read more

Very solid dining and drinking spot. Loved the cocktails and the Just Looking was amazing! Accommodating staff and great and well heated outdoor patio on a crisp October night. read more

Perfect place to sit outside, share some bites, sip some cocktails and enjoy nice weather. I love how the menu is meant for sharing. We started with the European Cheese Plate, so good! We devoured it so fast I didn't even manage to get a pic. Enjoyed the Smoked Turkey Sandwich and Steak Skewers. Everything was cooked perfectly and the cocktails were delicious. Service was fast and friendly. I will definitely be returning read more

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Came here for drinks and a snack before my birthday dinner. We ordered: The Prez Charcuterie board and the Bread Pudding Cocktails - Always Sunny, Secret Garden, Aye Papi We enjoyed the food but the cocktails were below average. A little on the sweet/syrupy side although the flavors were unique. Overall don't think I would recommend the cocktails but the food was good. read more

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I've been here before and had a good time, but tonight the bartender with the tattoo that says "cocktails" and "dreams" with a shot glass teetering between the two (lol)--was straight up mean to me. I ordered a drink off the menu, and he told me "we don't make that cocktail" as if I was the stupid one. Then he served my husband a "cucumber limeade" which tasted like pickles. He swore up and down that he invented that drink, and there's nothing pickle about it. And hey--maybe he's right! Maybe cucumbers and pickles are completely unrelated. Who's to say. Anyway, fly came with my MIL drink and he was rude to her about that. Sticky bar. If you see that tattoo request someone else or leave. read more