This was a spur-of-the-moment choice but ended up being very fun for drinks and dinner!…read more I LOVE tiki bars and my husband noticed this one in the area near where we happened to be on Google maps, so off we went! We had about a 15 minute wait for a table but it gave us time to peruse the menu in the car. They offer many classic tiki cocktails, a page full of seasonal drinks, a page of "Designated Driver" mocktails (nice to have an option for something other than just a Shirley Temple!), Polynesian appetizers and entrees, and then Lola's Pizza. For drinks, I got the seasonal Gingerbread Painkiller and my husband got a Green Flash mocktail. (Pro tip on the seasonal drinks: check the regular cocktail menu to see how many skull and crossbones are listed under the regular version of your drink, if applicable, to see if it's a super strong one!) Mine was creamy and spicy but quite powerful. Props to our waitress, Makayla, who checked if anyone at the table was epileptic, because normally the "flash" part of my husband's drink is a strobing LED ice cube; I actually am photosensitive, so it came in the drink in non-strobe mode and just glowed an alien green. She said this was the first time it had actually paid off to ask, but I'm glad she did! The food was tasty: I ordered rumaki, an old-school appetizer of bacon-wrapped water chestnuts that you don't see very often these days, and he got loaded fries. We also got a small Lola's Pizza, which was very good, with a crisp but also chewy crust. The atmosphere here is pure tiki, with a fountain, swag lamps, bamboo, and Hawaiian-influenced Christmas music playing for the season. Lots of big groups here; everyone seemed to be having as good a time as we were! What a laid-back gem in Arlington Heights! We'll be back. Mahalo!

Discovered this place 10 mins from me! The decor is a little too much in my opinion but great…read moredrinks and vibes. Parking is a little tight too but I parked across the street at Mugs pizza and walked over. The service and staff were great! Big menu as well, next time will try the food. The restrooms are a little small too.

The minute you enter, it's beautiful and wonderfully designed. You will hear staff speaking in the…read morenative language of Kyrgyzstan and also Russian. Vegetarians be ware. Not much to eat and if you order a vegetarian meal it's not good bc they specialize in meat dishes. Food is good if it's not vegetarian. Beef tongue w salad and dressing was good. The beef dumplings were big and juicy ($5 per dumpling if you calculate it). The best part of the dinner was pistachio cake ... one of the best desserts I've had ($14)...lots of filling, I hate bread and cake fillers and little filling, nice sauce, and pistachios. Free parking and plenty of it. A bit overpriced but bc it's such a pretty place, clean, and excellent wait staff, it's a nice experience.

Very nice place, beautifully decorated . Good for dinner or…read morelunch . Slightly overpriced : very small soups and appetizers ( one cheburek is 12$

Social Inn has been on my to-try list for some time.  My husband and I finally had a chance to…read morecheck it out on a Monday evening recently.  I made a reservation via Tock that I already had an account for years, so that was simple. On a weekday evening, as expected, the restaurant was not busy.  We were promptly seated at a 4-top table (2 × 2-top) against the right wall, with some other 2-tops on both sides.  Like many reviewers had mentioned, the venue was beautiful, modern and chic. There were 7 tables occupied, including us.  The music that they had was not too loud, just that customers' conversations were amplified by the box shape open dining area.  If we focused enough, we could hear every conversation if we wanted to.  This was obvious when a table of about 6 women got seated at a table near the front door, some of them laughed and talked very loudly.  My husband and I just found it funny and didn't let that bother us.  However, when the restaurant is filled on busier days, it might be a different story. Our server, Patrick, was very nice and attentive.  Since they did not list drinks on their menu except those with alcohol, I asked him about non-alcoholic drinks.  After a brief "discussion", he asked me to leave it to him to make me a drink with mango.  He came up with a beautiful drink that was good and refreshing, with some mango flavor.  It was Virgin Paloma on our receipt for $8, which was reasonable.  He was very polite and checked in on us several times at appropriate times during our dinner.  The pace of the dinner was good, we spent a total of an hour and 15 minutes in the restaurant. Patrick might be the only waiter serving all the tables that evening, though. I also ordered Grilled Octopus ($22) which was very good, tender and flavorful, but was a little too salty to my taste.  The small pita bread wedges were warm and fluffy with some crispy edges, the beet hummus was creamy, and everything was delicious and tasted fresh.  I generously shared 2 little bites of octopus with my husband and I finished the entire plate, it was so good!  My husband really liked his Spiked White Fish ($29) and I shared a bite of that too.  He also had a House Salad for $6, that was a very good value.  He enjoyed a glass of Sauvignon Blanc Crossing ($12) too.  We also shared an order of Crème Brulee ($8), that was creamy and cooked perfectly.  We ordered a takeout order of Rigatoni with Sausage ($23), that was a good portion, and was still delicious and al dente the next day after being microwaved. I am so happy that we found Social Inn - a hidden gem in Plaza del Prado, it's not far from home, with comfortable and beautiful ambiance, excellent service (from Patrick), an attractive menu with enticing food (fresh ingredients and appealing plating), and reasonable prices, we will definitely be back!

It's been a while since I went to Social Inn. They used to be open for lunch as well as dinner, and…read morethat was easier for me to get to. We were in the area late in the day and remembered Social Inn was open, so we went. We ordered a variety of items. I had the Social Burger (at least 1/2 pound), we also ordered their chicken dinner salad and the beet hummus. Everything was delicious. I did order my burger medium and it was delivered well done, but it was still good. They also have one of the best gluten-free buns I've ever had. I do wish they were open at lunch time still, but I understand they need to be open for their busiest hours. Social Inn is a great option when you are in the Glenview area.

Went there for lunch first time with friends. We had the weekend lunch menu 1/2 sandwich with a…read moresalad. The 1/2 sandwich was large!!! Highly recommend this place with fresh food made daily.

Bar Salotto is a hip, family-owned spot in the middle of Arlington Heights. The staff are very…read morefriendly, it was busy at 9 p.m., and with all the positive reviews, we came in pretty excited. We started with the crispy eggplant stack (4/5). It hits all the caprese notes on top of perfectly crisp eggplant: cracked pepper and salt, light balsamic on arugula, tomato, and mozzarella. A slightly more acidic tomato than beefsteak would have cut the richness a bit more, but the eggplant itself is the star. The spicy vodka rigatoni (3.5/5) was a solid pasta with a nicely spiced sauce. We added the meatball and that is the topping to get. Well seasoned, with just the right density, and it would pair well with any pasta. I only wish it were larger for the add-on price. Similarly, for the price of the pasta alone, I had hoped for a higher quality noodle. The rigatoni had that bouncy, boxed-pasta texture rather than the firmer bite you get from fresh or good bronze-cut dried pasta. The hearts of palm salad (3/5) was decent. Fresh tomatoes, firm hearts of palm, and perfectly cooked shrimp. The hearts of palm seem preserved, so the citric acid and the generous dressing make the dish much more acidic than it needs to be, overpowering the other ingredients like the richness of the avocado. Overall, the food is good with a few highlights, the base and add-ons feel a bit pricey, and service, while always kind, can be a little inconsistent. Overall mixed review on this, but maybe should have gone with other dishes.

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.

I came right when they opened to grab a latte and a breakfast sandwich. The food took about 5-10…read moreminutes to come out, and my latte was ready first. I tried the Lavender Blu, which was a unique flavor combination--interesting, but I would probably try a different coffee next time. The breakfast sandwich was really good and flavorful, and I was happy with the quality overall. The staff was friendly, and the interior had a really nice aesthetic. It is on the pricier side--I paid $24 for my order--but overall, it was a pleasant experience.

Very cute little trendy place in downtown Northbrook. It is labelled as 'lounge" only you dont see…read morethe actual words 'Next Door" so its a little confusing from that aspect. Its actually the 'Next Door' to Eataco. The drinks are insta-friendly, very cute for pics. I had the lychee drink which was really good with real fruit inside of it. Was at here for a a private party and the good from Eataco was provided, Ive had Eataco before and it's usually really good but a couple of items (elote and quesadilla) were a little bit strong on the salt. The rest of the dishes were good especially if you're a fan of onions!

Stopped by for a visit, and honestly, Next Door Lounge wasn't what I expected after finding it…read moreonline. The space felt really tight, and the atmosphere didn't quite match the vibe I was hoping for. It seemed a bit unkempt, with worn furniture and a general sense of neglect. Definitely not the most comfortable spot to relax--felt cramped and not very inviting. I was not too fond of the service. And to top it all off, the menu prices were pretty steep - $16 for a cocktail. But since I'd already made the trip, I figured I might as well try one anyway. I ordered the ROSE-LY, which was OK. It's made of ketel one rose, fresh lychees and syrup, grapefruit, and Josh rose wine. Honestly, I cannot say it was worth the price.

Old Munich Tavern is a solid go-to for late-night food. The menu is mostly pub food and sandwiches,…read morebut it's a step above average bar fare. Everything we tried was good, satisfying, and exactly what you want late at night. The turkey club stood out--real turkey, not processed deli meat, which feels surprisingly rare these days. Overall, we liked the food and would especially recommend ordering takeout if you're craving dependable, higher-quality pub food after hours. Unfortunately, not having been in person, there is not much that we can say about the ambiance or staff, though they do accommodate substitutions on takeout, which is an indicator of good service.

Context is key here. Is it a fixture of Lake County from decades ago…read more I'm going to write this based on what it is which is a relic dive bar/unique establishment. Service is friendly if not sparse. Prices are reasonable. Food is great. They have a fantastic selection of what I think are to be the best beers. The atmosphere is friendly and serviceable. There is no pretentiousness here.. Definitely worth a visit with a few friends and stay for a few beers and try the food. Not a place to dress up and go to, but don't miss this place.

Michelle was the best assistant GM ever. Her commitment to making the customer experience a 10/10…read moreis forever lasting. Michelle rocks!

I attended their Wine Club dinner this past Sunday and it was an amazing experience! The manager,…read moreEric, is a fantastic host and he went above and beyond to celebrate with each table. The servers were fantastic as well, Liz, Sofia and Lisa, our table never had any empty glasses or dirty plates for long! Chef Jose and his team did a great job with the dishes as well. Everything was ready in a timely fashion and the presentation looked wonderful. Thanks for a great night Wheeling!

I was here for a private event and everything from start to finish was absolutely 5 stars. Our…read morelarge group had the entire restaurant to ourselves from 5pm - 11pm and it was everything a private event should be. Service throughout was consistent and of great quality. Staff members were on top of their game, taking care of 50+ people who were ready to drink/eat and have a great time. Whenever I had an empty plate it was quickly removed to make room for another. This casual yet elevated bar offers delicious drinks and food. I did not have any alcohol but from what I was told the drinks were strong and tasty. The food hit the spot for me. We were provided with a TON of food, to the point where to go boxes were put out since there was plenty to bring home. My favorites were the Buffalo Mac n cheese, cheese curds, and chicken tenders. They also had veggie options which I appreciated since this was a carb heavy event. For dessert there were cookies which was the perfect way to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth.

Up to last review. Still delish!…read more I had the pot roast French dip with a side salad. It was delicious. One of my friends also had the pot roast with fries and the third person in our party ordered a quinoa salad, which looked delicious. my friend ordered coffee and they made a fresh pot for her. How many other places at dinner would do something like that? Service was very good atmosphere wonderful and I have enough left for lunch tomorrow!

Corked is an interesting wine bar and restaurant. My manager made a reservation here for our team…read moreto end out the year after a two day regional meeting. As this was just down the street from our office in the Kemper Business District, she thought this would be a cool place to hang out to recap the year for our department and she was right. The place itself is a cute house with what looks like a cool outdoor space, when the weather is nicer. Inside is a small bar when you first walk through the front door. We we seated in a small room off from the main bar, next to a lovely fireplace. We started out with charcuterie boards. Prices range from 4 pieces for $30, 6 pieces for $46 and 8 pieces for $58. The selection of meats and cheeses and were very nice, but the prices seemed steep. The cheeses and meats were as follows: Wooley Rind (Green Dirt Farm) - soft ripened sheep's milk MontAmore (Sartori) - semi firm Italian style Cheddar Goat Gouda (Central Coast Creamery) - crumbly aged goat cheese "Creamy Sexy Blue" - German triple cream cow's milk with blue veining Jamon Serrano, aged 24 months Stagberry - Elk Salami with dried blueberries Finocchiona - Tuscan style salami with fennel seed Pig & Fig Terrine - Country style pork pate with dried figs, cinnamon, ginger All were very good and had a lovely flavor. Due to the number of people nibbling, I asked for extra bread and was treated with toasted sourdough, which was very nice. For dinner, I got the Chicken Tinga Panini (Tomato-Chipotle Chicken, Queso Oaxaca, Arugula, served with Salsa Verde & Guacamole). This was a very good sandwich. I loved the idea of Chicken Tinga in a sandwich format, and it worked. I had saved half of it to take home to have for breakfast the next day, but got wrapped up in good-byes and walked out and left it. Man I was mad! My manager ordered the Roasted Beets (with whipped Feta cheese, toasted pistachios, red onion, dill and a red wine vinaigrette). The serving was huge! She loves beets and said that the dish was very good A few people got the Broccoli Cheddar soup and said it was very good. I wanted to try the oysters as I love East Coast ones, but at $20 for 6, couldn't wrap my mind around that. The wine list was pretty good and on this particular night, we got bottles for a crazy low price. My manager got a bottle of red (can't remember the name) that was $75, but she got it for half price. Same for me for a lovely bottle of sparkling rose. The hostess had a list of wines on her tablet that she showed us as well that were 50% off. The location is quite a drive from Chicago, but the times I have to go to Lake Zurich for team meetings, I may just stop in to camp out for eats and drinks while waiting for my Uber and rush hour traffic to die out.

Loved this place! Everything was so good. Service was incredibly personable and efficient. They…read morehave many wine, cocktail, liquor & beer options. Their food is also super good too. The place is super comfortable and inviting. I love the fire place they have!!