Great lunch here recently! They have a lunch combo that gives you the option of a starter (salad,…read moresoup) and an entree (salmon, burger, chicken sandwich). That's what we chose, and it was so good! Caesar salad was solid, but the French onion soup was amazing! Salmon was delicious, placed on creamed potatoes. The burger was really good too. Cool decor and a friendly vibe. Service was spot on.

Kari's Rating 8.5/10…read more TLDR: -They're famous burger comes with American cheese already -Mostly high top seating -Instagrammable Place Came in with a friend around 6:30 on Friday night and the place was just starting to get packed. While I waited for my friend, I joked with the manager, and he had a very good sense of humor and put me immediately at ease. Once my friend got here, we were escorted to a high top table next to the bar. I couldn't stop looking at the beautiful faux flower decor along the ceiling and by the bar. We ordered the Sauvignon Blanc that was poured into our stemless glasses. The waitress suggested the lobster roll as well as their famous "The Royal Burger," where the burger came on top of a large plate of Gruyère cheese fondue. Both the lobster roll and the burger came with fries or coleslaw. We decided to split the difference and get a little bit of each. The fries weren't super crispy, but they were overall okay-but realistically more of like a filler so there were definitely fries left when we got up to go. I personally didn't think they were worth heating back up as they were so thin you wouldn't have anything to heat up. The burger was absolutely delicious, but I personally didn't think they needed to add American cheese on the burger as well as it was plenty cheesy. The burgers were juicy and cooked to perfection on top of their crispy buttery brioche bun. I really like the pickle being sliced thinly because you just got enough of it without it being soggy. The lobster roll was as fantastic as the waitress was hyping up. The juicy piece of lobster her complemented, the perfect ratio of mayo on a beautifully buttered piece of roll. It was also the perfect portion size. My only critique was that when we got it to our table, I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be served hot or cold as it was kind of room temperature. The lobster roll also came with a side of coleslaw, which I was confused about because it looked more like a salad as it didn't have a very heavy mayo dressing and actually tasted more like a spring citrus salad very lightly doused with lemon. I wasn't mad about it because I don't like very mayo heavy coleslaw's-but I also didn't realize this was the coleslaw as I thought it was a side salad. Overall, it was in a very hip and popping place and I probably would come back with friends. I do wish the waitress had introduced herself with her name and the individual bussing our tables had name tags on-I personally think it makes the meal a little more intimate. Overall, I left full and happy. The price was perfect for what we ate and drank. I thought it was a nice place in West Loop and I look forward to coming back!

I did not know food could do that. I do now…read more El Ideas was my first Michelin star experience and I walked out genuinely changed. That is not hyperbole. That is just what happened. The space sets the tone immediately. Small, intimate, covered in art and graffiti, good music humming through the room, open kitchen front and center. The concept is a dinner party in someone's very talented home and they commit to that vision completely. White tablecloths and stunning dinnerware sit comfortably alongside the laid back energy. It is BYOB including non alcoholic, which is an inclusive and thoughtful touch that more restaurants should take note of. Ten courses. Every single one intentional, innovative, and surprising. The first dish arrives with one instruction: lick the plate. No hands, no silverware. It is a perfect opening statement. Fine dining does not have to be stuffy or precious, it can be joyful and a little unhinged, and the food can still make you emotional. Mine did. Three dishes I will think about for a long time. A chicken marsala interpretation so layered with flavor that I genuinely felt something eating it. A Korean BBQ duck that was lean and bold, paired with mushroom to deliver the fatty richness the duck alone could not carry. And a banana rice pudding with a pandan marshmallow element on top that somehow coaxed out distinct and separate banana flavors I did not know existed. Every dish played with texture, hit multiple senses, and offered something genuinely new in each bite. The chefs are also your servers. They bring each course out themselves, deliver a little speech about what you are eating, engage with you throughout the meal, and pull you into the kitchen conversation naturally. It felt homey and accessible in a way that fine dining rarely achieves. Go in knowing little. Trust the kitchen completely. Walk out a different person. Worth every penny and then some.

This was an amazing experience!! The vibe was casual fancy if that makes sense. The team was super…read morenice and professional. The food was out of this world. They change their menus frequently so I can't wait to go back! We celebrated our anniversary here and they gave us a signed menu with well wishes. Highly recommend!

I had the pleasure to dine at Penumbra on a Thursday evening. We were celebrating a graduation and…read morethe staff were very welcoming when we arrived. I was visiting from out of town and was not familiar with the parking around the area. I asked one of the staff members and immediately they reassured me that the side street would raking was totally fine to park just so long as it wasn't the front of the building where you have to pay. The food started with a complementary potato soup which was flavorful and lovely. We got a round of drinks and one of our party didn't care for her drink and it was replaced no question. We had the flat iron steak, the chicken, and the salmon and each entree was wonderful. The proteins were all very tender and juicy. I was also very pleased with the salad that came first which was lightly dressed and very seasonal. We finished our dining experience with a slice of cheesecake. It was a nice cap to the end of a wonderful meal. I would recommend this restaurant for any occasion - I would love to come back and try some of the other items on their menu.

**Hidden gem!!!**…read more Penumbra is SUPER sexy and low-key elite. This is one of those spots that will make you look like a total restaurant pro if you take someone there or recommend it. The ambiance is intimate, romantic, and just feels exclusive without trying too hard. I took my girl there for her birthday and she absolutely loved it -- which is always the real test. We had the ribeye and the Rotini Bianco, and both were excellent. The ribeye was cooked perfectly, tender and flavorful. The Rotini Bianco was rich, creamy, and done just right. Every dish felt intentional and well executed. Don't hesitate to book. If you're trying to impress or celebrate something special, this is the move.

I've been to Lyra twice now and have been absolutely blown away each time with their service, and…read moretheir food. As for service each time I have visited their service has been extremely attentive, and knowledgeable. I appreciate this attention to detail and overall care to ensure of a nice and hospitable dining experience. PS i do recommend a reservation as it does get pretty busy. Their food is absolutely incredible. Fresh and quality food and ingredients, great flavors, and decent portions. My highlights include their spicy feta (trust me on that one) Their Lamb Kebob served over crispy potatoes (nice tender lamb, and the potatoes are truly amazing) and their Branzino was GREAT light, flavorful, and they even do table side scaling/deboning. They have an intimate dining room with modern decorations or a nice airy patio if you prefer outdoors like I do. It's the perfect date night, dinner with friends, or a solo night out. I also must shout out their golden hour (their version of happy hour) It's until 6:30p on weekdays and all day Sunday they offer discounted bites and drinks and a perfect way to get an intro to their menu, get some tasty bites or just catch up with drinks without breaking the bank. I love it here and cannot wait to get back!

Excellent food - good service and great vibe…read more Minus one star because difficult to grab a waiter when sitting outside. The dips we got were so good - loved the whipped feta. The pita bread is excellent here. The dirty LÝRA martini is awesome. Did not try dessert but would definitely go back.

Sunda is a great date night spot! The space feels energetic and it gets pretty loud once dinner…read moregets going. You may have to lean in a little to hear each other but it adds to the atmosphere. Service was helpful and attentive. We got the massaman scallops, the Red Dragon roll, longevity crab noodles, and the unagi foie. The Red Dragon roll was one of my favorites. There is a lot packed into it with the unagi, shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, jalapeño, avocado, and tempura crisp. Every bite had richness, a little heat, and plenty of crunch. Easily one of the best things we had that night. The longevity crab noodles were just as good. Buttery, garlicky, and full of toasted garlic and crab. The kind of dish I kept going back to even after I was already getting full. I would order these again without hesitation. The massaman scallops were good and cooked nicely. The curry was rich and slightly sweet but the sushi roll and noodles were simply more memorable. The unagi foie was also worth trying. Definitely the most unique dish we ordered. The crispy unagi, rich foie gras, and citrus marmalade made for a really interesting sweet and savory combo. The Red Dragon roll and longevity crab noodles were definitely the dishes that made the meal for me. Between the food, the energetic atmosphere, and the great service, Sunda is an easy choice for a fun date night in Fulton Market.

Hopefully the worthless algorithm on yelp doesn't put my review to the bottom like I've noticed it…read morehas lately to positive reviews. I was visiting Chicago on some business while deciding to go back to Sunda after not being in the state for a year, somehow had a better experience than the first time. Chef Fernando should be owning that spot because every single thing I ordered literally melted in my mouth. The rolls has so much umami I could have fell backwards out of my chair on first bite. The ambiance was absolutely, breathtakily, mouth wateringly amazing. The attention to detail is still as amazing as it was the last time I visited. When you go, please try the Tiger Shrimp Tempura and the Lemongrass Beef Lolipops, thank me later! The v I'm actually not sure what to recommend between the lumpia, crispy rice spicy tuna, yuzu jalapeño, not to mention the Kamayan feast.

What remarkable place hidden on N. wells. The food is adventurous with a French twist and seafood…read moreforward. The wines are interesting and we tried a couple by the glass. We particularly liked the Domaine Taillandier. We started with a half dozen of Chesapeake oysters which were perfectly shucked. The Pain au Fromage is a must which is a baguette stuffed with cheese, sumac, and pomegranates. The pomegranates cut thru the richness of the cheese. This is almost its own meal. The ocean trout was smoked and in a delicious sauce. The Turbot en Brioche was also a star! We saved room for dessert and shared the chocolate Granache with salt and olive oil. The service is outstanding and helpful particularly our server Cpooh. The menu draws us back to try other treats!

Attended the pour off event on Sunday 7/26. The vibe was excellent! What a fun event!…read more Live music with the windows open to the street was so great to enjoy on a Sunday. The pour off was a fun little competition for two bartenders to compete for the win of best cocktail. Such a cool concept and friendly competition! Here's what I didn't like: The passed food - there was literally just 3 things served: 1) was prosciutto on cantaloupe, 2) chilled prawns and 3) deviled eggs stuffed with salmon I liked the eggs but how many eggs can you snack on? Would have liked to have the opportunity to order from their menu. That would have totally driven business sales if they had appetizers that we could have purchased too. I didn't like how inconsistent the drink pours were. We literally got half a cup per cocktail and noticed some people had full cups. I'm not sure why they were so small but for $15 per ticket per drink this was not cool. See photo of my drink and 2 friend's drinks after they were first served. That was wild. The new manager there was great, she came around and mingled and checked on everyone. The head manager or owner was excellent as well! He was working so hard! I would come back for food although when the menu finally opened up at the end of the event at 3, the menu was very unappealing. Feedback would be to let us buy more foods. Make a more consistent pour. Better advertisement! This was a great idea. The vibe was so chill. I would return!

The restaurant is absolutely beautiful, with a warm, elegant atmosphere that makes you feel…read morecomfortable the moment you walk in. So much attention to detail in the decor! Loved looking at the outside patio and the greenery, too. The food was exceptional. Loved the Shrimp Scampi as an appetizer. For the main course I had the Chilean Sea Bass with Thai Curry and Fresno Chilies, and it was perfectly cooked--light, flavorful, and so tender! My husband had the City Filet and it was perfectly cooked, tender and delicious! The service was attentive and genuinely welcoming, making the entire experience even more enjoyable.

Adalina Prime was such a great dinner spot! We had the salmon with chimichurri, white wine, steak…read morefrites, and of course the biscuits with the special butter. Everything was so flavorful and delicious. The biscuits with the butter were definitely a favorite! The atmosphere was beautiful and the service was great. Check it out if you're in west loop!

The food was good, but not sure if it was really worth the price. While they try to be inventive…read morewith their dishes and drinks, I don't think it's worth the prices they charge. Service was good but it got annoying at one point when 3 different people in less than 5 minutes asked to take some dishes away while we were still working on them. The ambience was very nice. It was very warm, inviting and nicely furnished, decorated. Worth coming if you want to have a nice dinner for a date, or business dinner, if you don't mind spending the money.

Le colonial was a fun experience. We were a big party and had a prior reservation. The ambience is…read morevery beachy and tropical. Felt like summer was back when we walked in. Overall, the menu isn't super vegetarian friendly but we were able to adjust. We ordered the crispy vegetable rolls multiple times cz they were our fav. We also ordered chicken dumplings, spicy beef salad, spicy chicken stir fry, noodle stir fry, and finished strong with warm chocolate cake. It was fun to watch the flambé melt the cake at the table. Overall the food is decent for vegetarian but really good for meat eaters. For cocktails we got a bunch of different cocktails, they were decent but very strong. This place is very pricy so be careful of that!