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    Prime Bar - Chicago

    4.3 (24 reviews)

    Prime Bar - Chicago Photos

    PRIME BAR - CHICAGO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Prime Bar - Chicago

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    Prosciutto & Ricotta  Oysters
    Anna T.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]What a great spot! Came here for happy hour and loved it! Stunning interior, and service was great![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I started with dealers choice drink and it was a daiquiri which was very refreshing. We then got oysters. These had a bunch of pieces of shells in them, I wouldn't recommend. The prosciutto caviar bite was amazing. The ricotta was sooo good. The gin and tonic cheese curds were my favorite. They tasted like Wisconsin cheese curds and had a mustard sauce under them. A must try! I need to come back to nisos for dinner!

    Samantha P.

    Food 8/10. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Vibes 10/10.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My girl and I went out for happy hour and shared 2 dozen east coast oysters (they are $1 at all hours), the waygu smash burger and the truffle fries. In addition to each having an old fashion (strong but good). [[HIGHLIGHT]]The vibes make you feel like you're on vacation and I would definitely go back.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We left satisfied and full and paid $50 per person (with 20% tip included). Service was great as well.

    Prosciutto & Ricotta
    Sandeep C.

    So much effort and window dressing that yielded in sub par food and experience. Another trendy Mediterranean place?? Sign me up! Although Chicago has several flavors of this lately including Lyra and Aba, I am still here for it. Especially since this was really three places in one. Part lounge, bar and classic dining. So be sure to confirm exactly where you are making a reservation. The main difference in Nisos seemed to be their beef forward menu. I would essentially describe it as a Greek Steakhouse. However, the service was akin to your local strip mall chain and the food was average. Maybe they are still having growing pains? The staff seemed unprepared or untrained. We waited 30 mins after we had finished our appetizers. The steak frites just tasted off. The Wagyu burger could be beat by shake shack. However the shareable plates of arancini and prosciutto were really good. Not worth it and not sure I would want to come back to try Nisos Prime.

    Bar
    Linda Y.

    I finally tried the Happy Hour at Prime Bar! I already love Prime Bar itself so I'm glad that there's a happy hour. [[HIGHLIGHT]]During the warmer months, their patio alongside Randolph is great![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff here are always kind and welcoming. One of the biggest highlights of the HH menu are the $1 oysters. On the day we went, the oysters were huge and not bad. It's also important to note that there is a minimum order of 4. We also got the crab beignets and these were incredible - lots of crab and topped with salmon roe which I loved! We also were given the gin and tonic cheese curds on accident, but our waiter let us keep them to try. They were super crispy and delicious but I felt like there wasn't any cheese involved in this one - I was eating more batter than actual cheese curds. For drinks I decided on Dealer's Choice which is whatever the mixologist decides to make. I ended up with a very yummy tequila cocktail with lots of citrus. I enjoyed it! Overall, a solid spot for HH and it isn't ever too difficult to get a seat even as a walk-in during HH

    Birthday dessert
    Ambra R.

    I visited this restaurant over the weekend to celebrate my birthday with my partner. Upon arrival, the areas was busy but valet was quick, efficient, and affordable. We checked in about five minutes after our set reservation. We waited about 45 mins for our table and were given complimentary sparkling wine and lots of apologies. Once we were seated, we started off with the Wood Grilled Prawns and Crab Beignets. Phenomenal. The prawns were served with a warm butter drizzle and both appetizers were full of flavor. For dinner we enjoyed the Roasted Half Chicken and the Braised Short Ribs. The skin on the chicken could've been a tad more crispy. The short ribs were perfectly tender and the polenta was creamy. Both entrees were delightful. We finished dinner with the provided birthday dessert which was a chocolate cake. The cake was good and the entire presentation was beautiful. The management team accommodated us for the wait for the table and were very apologetic and friendly. Overrall, we enjoyed our experience and will be back.

    Sacchettoni
    Zoe G.

    Fantastic happy hour! $1 oysters, how can you beat that?! Everyday from 4-6pm. Their truffle fries are also amazing. $7 wines and $9 spritz and dealers choice cocktail. Ashley our waitress was amazing and attentive, as well as the other food runners.

    Lemon Tart
    Ellie K.

    I've been meaning to try prime bar for a while and recently went. I think this revamped nisos is much better than the previous version and I was impressed. The first floor is prime bar and the menu was diverse and seemed interesting. We didn't go intending to get the restaurant week menu but the restaurant week menu was actually very well put together. So we gave it a try and it was great (we got Horiatiki, arancini, steak frites, lemon tart and panna cota- all good)! In terms of options, quality, and value, I think it's one of the best options for restaurant week. Service was overall good but there were some gaps. We wanted to box up our entree so we waited to get approached but no one came to our table for 30+ minutes. Also, I put in a note in my reservation that it's for a bday celebration and in the beginning the restaurant staff acknowledged it, but we didn't even get a little candle at the end of the night. A sad part was that a couple in the table next to us was also celebrating bday and they got a free ice cream with a little candle! We ordered dessert (as part of the restaurant week course) so we didn't want the free ice cream but I felt that putting a small candle on a dessert we ordered would've been a nice gesture- especially since they have it. Some places don't do such thing at all and that's totally fine but it was a bummer to see the table next to us get a candle but we don't )':

    Menu with happy hour
    Jasmine S.

    Went to enjoy a drink during happy hour Minday - Friday 4pm -6pm. While we did not have a reservation, we were sat promptly and brought water. The Smashberry cocktail for $9 was refreshing, but could be a little on the sweet side. They inside decor was beautiful. The lights were dim and soft music was playing. Perfect level to be able to have a conversation.

    Wood Grilled Prawns
    Tiffany K.

    Prime Bar is the first floor restaurant of Nisos Prime, the new multi-modal Mediterranean project sandwiched between West Loop giants Au Cheval and Lone Wolf. Nisos Prime is the rebirth of Nisos which opened in this Randolph location in 2022, but after what appeared to be difficulty in nailing their concept and the departure of the Greek chef of their founding team, the restaurant closed with plans to renew their efforts. Nisos Prime has 3 parts: Prime Bar (the 1st floor restaurant and bar), Nisos Prime (2nd floor steakhouse and dining room), and the Lounge (2nd floor speakeasy). Today we sat at Prime Bar which opened just this month with a revamped menu and something to prove. The space is absolutely gorgeous, giant wicker shades, wavy textured walls, warm romantic lighting, an alcove formed from twisting branches and twigs, smooth and rounded cement surfaces making up curves of seats and walls - it's truly bohemian, romantic, Mediterranean styling putting on it's best West Loop energy. The service is swift, professional, and dressed to impress, shout-out to our wonderful server Shane, who guided us through our choices, paced our meal well, and was always sure to check in on me and the gorls. I have the honor of being first on yelp to review Prime Bar so I'm going all in! Dinner: Kombu cured Hamachi Crudo - 3/5, could use more acidity, tomato was nice touch Wood Grilled Prawns - 5/5, prawns sliced in half so easy to eat, delicious, doused in calabrian chilli and garlic butter at the table, beautiful Nisos Prime Signature Cut Wood Grilled 22 oz Bone-in Ribeye - 5/5, temp on the meat was perfect, juicy, thick, perfectly complemented by roasted garlic, but expensive tbh and I want more meat than 22 oz Parppardelle Alla Portofino - 5/5, it hits! Love a very wide noodle Dessert: Lemon Tart - 4/5, presentation was fun, the phyllo pastry fried to this big fan, but then the scrunched up pastry was stiff and tough to break up to eat Crema Catalana - 4/5, almond orange creme brulee, yummy and in a cute mini crock that I would totally have taken home if I could, not really a wow Drinks: Out of Office - gin-based Fool's Gold - gin-based Pearachute - so happy to see non-alcoholic cocktail options!!!

    Andre M.

    Went for mother day brunch. Brunch menu looked okay but the regular menu is pretty good. Had the wagyu smash burger which was rich and buttery and overall delicious. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is very instagram worthy, but food and cocktails make it worth your time.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Prices are very reasonable for the location. Service was a bit slow but not a deal breaker. One of my favorite spots in the west loop

    Sacchettoni
    Gabe R.

    Amazing happy hour here! Everyday 4-6pm. $1 oysters is such a great deal. The drinks are reasonably priced and the sacchettoni was really yummy as well. Would absolutely come back for happy hour here. Couldn't recommend it more!

    Truffle arancini
    Armani H.

    Came during happy hour and they have $9 select spirits and entrees. Inside ambiance is very hip and nice. Staff was very friendly and welcoming. Drinks are really good and flavorful.

    Eggs in purgatory
    Honey L.

    My daughter and I took my mom and two of her friends her for a birthday brunch. I was excited about them having a brunch option on Friday. The food and drinks were delicious. The staff was so helpful. I will definitely return. I didn't get the manager and hostess name but these ladies went above and beyond. Our server and Porter both were named Luis. They were really good. This restaurant is good for an intimate dinner or a night out with friends.

    Lemon Tart

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    3 years ago

    Honestly, not impressed. Steak was overly seared, it had an okay flavor. Just nothing special at all unfortunately.

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    Geja's Cafe

    Geja's Cafe

    3.9
    (1.7k reviews)
    2.4 mi
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    Step off the streets of Chicago into a beautifully dimly lit fondue experience is so cozy inside…read morewith the music of a live Spanish guitar that really create a private magical experience. All the premier dinners come with salad, cheese, fondue, and the chocolate fondue - You are just choosing what protein you would like. The Prince Geja combination has a little bit of everything. However, we most liked the seafood which includes lobster and the scallops were to die for! Also the beef also cooks well. Favorite dipping sauce included the pimento mayo, chimichurri, and garlic butter. The cheese fondue is quite rich and the bread is quite filling so maybe get as much cheese as you can on each piece of bread. The chocolate fondue, I think is actually the best course as the Belgium chocolate melts so well and has a decadent but not overly sweet flavor. It pairs well with all that is provided for dipping, which includes poundcake, rice Krispies, strawberries. They also have some liquor that they light on fire at first so you can roast the marshmallows. It is such a well thought out experience. Service flows very well from two waiters who take your order set up your fondue pots for each course, but be prepared to spend at least 2 hours on this experience. Check out the Groupon but also I read a review that they just tack on the extra $50 so it's not really too much of a savings. Not sure if this is true.

    Had a fantastic evening at this classic spot!…read more Food was super tasty and fresh! The seafood was probably my favorite! The full dinner with chocolate and cheese was perfect! Also appreciated that they were accommodating for the vegetarian in our party. Everything except the cheese course can be made vegan friendly as well. The service was top notch! Appreciated that they called me ahead of time to confirm our reservation and ask about food allergies. All the staff was incredibly helpful and attentive. They were quick to refill items and answer any questions we had. The location is classic fondue restaurant, cozy and romantic. However, also perfect for catching up with a friend. I love the history in this place and really enjoyed the mood lighting. Pricing was fantastic for the quality of service, food, and drinks! Look forward to many happy returns!

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    Gemini

    Gemini

    4.0
    (770 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    As a Gemini celebrating my birthday season with other Geminis, it only felt right to celebrate at…read moreGemini! When we arrived, I was a bit concerned because we hadn't received our menus. And that's because the menus were being printed with a personalized birthday message! Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and struck the perfect balance of checking in without being overbearing. The mussels (provençal-style) were delicious and enough to share among three people. The truffle-parmesan fries: We couldn't tell if they were too salty or just salty enough, but somehow we couldn't stop eating them! I ordered the baby wedge salad with chicken, and while the chicken looked small at first, it ended up being a large enough portion to last the salad. We were also surprised with complimentary desserts: the Chocolate Chunk Cookie Skillet and Buck Russell's Cake. Though I'm not a sweet person, my dining companions thoroughly enjoyed them.

    **4.5 Stars** Hard…read moreto believe this was our first visit to Gemini, but definitely won't be the last. We were glad to get a seat out on the patio on a lovely Tuesday evening after having spent time at the Zoo just a short walk away. The patio is lovely, two servers handling the large space extremely well. There were some things we had that were standouts, and others that were just fine. The half chicken was excellent, cooked perfectly and rubbed with delicious warming spices, the potatoes and pickled veggies the perfect counterbalance. Similar idea to the dish at Armitage Alehouse, but better seasoned and a lot lighter. The steamed mussels rivaled those of Armitage as well at a fraction of the cost. Very different broth, but the mussels themselves were excellent. We were also really impressed with the tuna tartare, an excellent blend of flavors and textures we could have had seconds on. The crispy shrimp rolls were a slight miss, largely because the shrimp were finely chopped, rather than sliced chunks. You ended up getting more the essence of shrimp than shrimp itself. We also felt the skillet cookie was just fun, no better or worse than we've had at places like Crosby Kitchen. Overall, a really good meal that scrapes being really great at times, and does it at affordable prices with friendly, attentive service.

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    Nice view inside restaurant
    Nice view inside restaurant
    Avocado Toast + Lincoln Park Turkey Club
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    Esme

    Esme

    4.0
    (154 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$$$
    Fine dining
    Private events

    My rating of a 3 is specifically for the Restaurant Week menu though I'll say it definitely didn't…read moreinspire me to come back. I really wanted to like it; this was a nine-year anniversary dinner. Service was really attentive and friendly and I did appreciate that they brought out specific utensils for me as a left-handed person, never saw that before! The restaurant felt a bit bare and sterile, I think I was maybe expecting a little more decor on the table for a Michelin star restaurant. To echo several of the reviews below, the salad was awkward to share and scanty, the soup was good but the bread served with it felt like an afterthought, the sturgeon wasn't anything special though the sauce was quite good, and we are pretty sure the cut of beef was not wagyu or if it was it was not cooked the right way. The beef was the most disappointing part, I couldn't even chew through all of it. The add-ons were the best part - pasta was great and our dessert was delicious. But the rest of the meal was unfortunately mediocre. Hoping that others have a different experience with the regular menu!

    This review is for Restaurant Week!…read more I really like Esmes vibe overall. It's chic and minimalist. I love that the tables are widely spaced out so you don't feel like you're on top of another party. I loved the bowls everything was served in, and the silverware was unique. And the service was great. I appreciate when they left everyone finish before they clear the table. While I thought all the food was good, I think it overwhelming fell flat flavor wise. I don't think anything blew me away like I was expecting which was disappointing. We had the caviar supplement, which they accidentally gave us two of (amazing), which was good but also didn't blow me away. I wasn't the biggest fan of the flavors of the soup but that's probably a personal problem. The sturgeon and wagyu were alright. I wish I left being amazed but I left thinking I wouldn't come back, not even for RW again. I think my favorite bite of the night was the sticky date cake. I think it was the most flavorful but it wasn't the best dessert I've ever had. It lacked SOMETHING but I couldn't tell you what.

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    Esme
    Esme
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    Willow Room

    Willow Room

    4.2
    (431 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Loved everything. Delicious really great foods. Group of four, zero complaints. The service was on…read morepoint. Nice wine pour. Bright fun atmosphere. I thought for the quality and portions and fair prices this is a really great choice. Looking forward to returning.

    Chicago Restaurant week. I reviewed various dining options in search of a good place for dinner…read more Reddit gave me some ideas. I'd never been to Willow Room and liked that they had a four course dinner menu, with items I liked. I was able to make a reservation for a Saturday night at 8:15pm. PARKING Parking on Halsted on a Saturday night can be a nightmare, and it did take a minute to find street parking. North of the 1800 block is busier because there are several restaurants within a two block radius. Side streets are permit parking after 6pm. Meters on Halsted are $2.50/hr. ATMOSPHERE Willow Room was pretty packed. We had a reservation for 8:15pm and my party of two was seated right away. The restaurant features a full bar, dim lighting and is nice and roomy. They have banquette seating around the perimeter, in addition to tables in the middle. SERVICE Our server, who was very nice and accommodating during our dining experience, came by and gave us our menu's. I had already decided on the RW menu and after review, my friend was interested in the Beef Wellington (not on RW menu). Our server informed us that normally the whole table had to order off of the RW menu if one person does, but said she would check with the kitchen since this was the last day of RW. Luckily, we were able to proceed with ordering from different menu's. FOOD I ordered a raspberry Cosmopolitan. I'm a Riesling/Moscato girlie, but I tasted the Riesling and didn't like it. RW dinner was priced at $60. I ordered: First Course: Caesar Salad (Typical salad, was good) Second Course: Mussels (Tasted fine, came with a baguette) Third Course: Short Rib (Could've been slightly more tender and better seasoned. I've definitely had better. Wouldn't order again.) Fourth Course: Orange Ricotta Donuts (Donuts were very good. Three were served, a few more would have been more filling.) My friend ordered a glass of Pinot Noir and: Truffle Fries (Fries were very tasty. I would order again if I went back.) Beef Wellington (The breading was buttery and very good. The beef could've been more seasoned. I wouldn't order.) Key Lime Pie (Was not sweet and had no taste. When our server came back and saw it was uneaten, she offered to take it off the bill. It should be removed from the menu altogether.) The busboys and server were very attentive. Our water glasses were always filled. OVERALL The atmosphere was nice, our server was great. Of all the food we ordered, I would order the truffle fries and Cosmopolitan again. I did leave full and did take my leftover Short Rib to go. Main dishes needed more seasoning. I would dine here again and try a different menu (brunch/lunch), or Happy Hour if they offer it.

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    Dearly Beloved

    Dearly Beloved

    4.3
    (132 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$$

    Genesis was our server and she was absolutely amazing and attentive. She offered great suggestions…read morewhich we adhered to. Smash burger was . Caesar salad+ shrimp was a hit too. Fried chicken was crunchy and good. A touch sweet for my liking but very good. Truffle fries were a big hit. Also had warm crab dip wish had quite a few shells/cartilage but flavor was good. The drinks were all very good too. Music was nice. You good hear it a vibe to it but it was too loud. We didn't have to yell or talk loudly. We were were celebrating all 4 of our upcoming June/July birthdays and she treats us like rock stars. Great job Genesis

    I'm not quite sure why this place has pretty good reviews. Overall, it's pretty average. We came…read morefor happy hour and sat outside. While the table was on the sidewalk it was slightly set off and not on a busy street, so that was nice. While I only went inside to use the restroom, the vibes are interesting... I had their aperol spritz and it was okay. It was strong which was good. Then a pornstar martini. I thought the pornstar martini was really good and the best item of the evening. We shared oysters, the crab dip, and tuna tartare. The oysters were alright. The crab dip was funky. It was a bit fishy and maybe too heavy on the dill? I'm not sure but something was a bit off. The tuna tartare tasted fresh and was a good combination of flavors. It would be the only food item I'd reorder from the happy hour menu.

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    Life of the party

    Prime Bar - Chicago - cocktailbars - Updated August 2026

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