There's just something about a burger that actually lives up to the hype--and Little Bad Wolf does…read moreexactly that. Stacked unapologetically high, this burger is everything you want and more: juicy, perfectly seared patties layered with melty cheese, crispy bacon, and those golden, crunchy fried onions that take it completely over the top. Every bite is rich, savory, and just messy enough to remind you you're eating something seriously good. The toasted bun somehow holds it all together (barely), soaking up every bit of flavor without getting lost in the chaos. And then... the shoestring fries. Thin, crispy, golden perfection--light but addictive, with that ideal crunch that makes it impossible to stop at just one (or ten). They're the kind of fries you keep reaching for without even realizing it, especially dipped in that creamy, tangy sauce on the side. And let's not forget the drinks--just as good as the food. Refreshing, perfectly balanced, and the kind you sip slow while taking it all in (but somehow they disappear way too fast). It's not just a burger--it's one of Chicago's most iconic bites for a reason. Bold, indulgent, and absolutely worth every single napkin you'll need after. The ambiance inside is GORGEOUS!

My husband and I walked in on a Sunday evening for dinner and were able to be seated right away…read more The atmosphere is dark and moody, and it made sense once I realized it was the same owners as Gretel. Loved the 90s female R&B playlist they had going! Little Bad Wolf has been on my list FOR YEARS to try the burger! My husband got the burger with fried onions and I got some Bao because those also looked delicious and were a popular menu item. Honestly the 3 stars are only that high because of the service. Our server was friendly and attentive + the food came out hot and quick. Unfortunately, the food was pretty disappointing. The burger was swimming in a puddle of grease and just picking it up made your hands greasy + was dripping grease. The fries that came with it were floppy, soggy, and sad...but at least warm? I personally wouldn't order this again. The Bao were better, but small for the price and honestly were just okay? It was nice they gave you sauces you could add, but I found the Bao's to already have enough sauce so I didn't need them. Overall I left feeling confused and disappointed. I don't feel the need to come back here - Little Bad Will was a one and done experience for me.

If you've been in Edgewater, you've likely driven by the condo-building where La Pharmacie is…read morelocated. Who knew it would be in a residential building? It took a hot minute, but I finally made it in. I cannot say the experience was bad, but at the same time I don't find myself itching to stop back in. I had the opportunity to try the Ancestral and a Mint to Be. With the Ancestral, this one didn't do it for me. I am very familiar with Mellow Corn whiskey, and expected something more spirit forward with a little heat from the Chipotle-Adobo Syrup. As much as I hate to say it, I felt that this cocktail both was and fell flat. Not wanting to leave disappointed, and because I didn't want to look for a second bar that night, I ordered a Mint to Be. Now, when a friend orders mint-anything, I joke that they're ordering toothpaste-flavored-that-thing. That said, I am pleased to report that this one was decidedly not toothpaste flavored. Both the use of sweetness and mint was mild and pleasant. I also liked that this one was more spirit forward. At the same time, I wouldn't go as far as to say this is something I would order again. For lack of better terms, I felt it was a little plain. When it comes to the service, this too left a bit to be desired. It felt a little slow and inattentive, especially given that it wasn't very busy at the time. The best thing about the experience? Believe it or not, the Bar Mix. It was like a bougie-ish chex mix and pretty inexpensive at that. Not a bad way to get something in your stomach to slow down alcohol absorption. In terms of their vibe, it's unique in that it used to be a pharmacy (hence the name!). I do wish there was a little more memorabilia, but I suppose some is better than none. Final verdict: La Pharmacie had some good ideas, but in execution, I'm afraid they fall short across the board. This has to do with the service, vibe, and the drinks themselves.

This place is a hidden gem I think partly bc you can't tell if it exists. The cocktails range from…read moreclassic to inventive. The bartenders were super friendly and didn't hesitate in chatting us up. It's got a speakeasy vibe that also borders on spooky if you can imagine that!

Had the chance to stop by again recently and B&B is every bit as good as I remembered! The staff is…read morealways kind and the vibe is a total pick-me-up. I doubt anyone leaves feeling less jolly than they did going in. On this visit, I started with the After Word to drink. It was light-bodied, not at all too sweet, and possibly went down *too* easily. We split the short rib poutine and I can't think of a better dish to get you through the winter. The meat absolutely melted in the mouth and the cheese was abundant and rich. Would order again in a heartbeat! We also tried the alligator bites as a seasonal special. I'd not had alligator before, but they were super crispy and spicy with an addictive gochujang sauce. It really does taste like chicken. If you've ever wanted to try alligator, this is the place to do it. For the main event, I opted for the red beans and rice hand pie. It came with a light, citrus salad and delicious hand cut fries with 3 dipping sauces, which were very fun to try. I loved the buttery pie crust but the filling tasty very tomato forward- I was missing the heat of a traditional red beans & rice and wished there was more seasoning. Still good. As usual, the portions were generous for the price and we left with leftovers. Absolutely recommend making the trek over here to give B&B a try, and will be back soon!

This is one of my "little treat" spots, as whenever I get paid or somehow find $20 in my wallet, I…read morelike to come here. Then I forget for a few months, find another $20, end up stumbling across this place again and going "why don't I come here more?" This has happened three times. The most important part though- it's real tasty. Always. I'd say all of it, but I'm still working my way through the menu, but the burgers and Mac never let me down. The servers are always really laid back, and nothing feels rushed. I think it's part of the charm; somewhere to go and relax and take your time to enjoy the vibe. And you know what would help the vibe even more? Including the bread pudding on the menu full time. Keeping that bad boy stocked for me at all times. (This time was my first time seeing it on the specials menu and listen, it WAS special. So special that you should upgrade it to mainstay is all.)

I watched a Bears game here! The staff seemed tired but did a great job of managing the crowd and…read moretaking care of us. We had insane truffle fries and even ended with dessert. I'm surprised how good the food was. Overall, this is solid bar with good energy, clean tables, and a great food! I would definitely go back. -AD

My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025!…read moreRestaurant: 55/50 Month tried: September Favorite dish: Blackened Salad Fireside really surprised us! Walking in, the place is shabby, lowkey kinda dirty, and there were bugs crawling all around the windows. We were veryyyy skeptical. Our server was great and gave good recommendations about the menu. I ended up with the blackened salad and the portion was large, and the seasoning on the chicken was super flavorful! My husband got crispy cod tacos and they were bombbb, really unexpectedly good. We had a friend with us that has a lot of allergies, and they were accommodating to that as well and happily brought him another option when the first thing he ordered didn't work out. So the rating would have been lower on ambiance alone - they could definitely use a deep clean of all the walls and windows inside. But it was saved so much by the food that I want to go back!

Everything was very good: Service, pacing of our meal and the staff…read more The atmosphere was good, not too loud, but you could tell that the people around us were enjoying themselves.

The chocolate chip cookie skillet was so good oh my goodness!!!! My overall rating of this spot is…read more4 stars, but I rate the skillet 5 stars

Pubs are all over the place and most are not that memorable. On an odd stretch of Broadway is a…read morecorner pub called Burke's. The interior is not that remarkable. What I was impressed with was the server who was welcoming, and efficient. The menu is accessible with a good cross section of draft and canned/bottled beers and cocktails. The food menu is what you would expect. We ordered the fish and chips and a hamburger. Both were nicely played and were tasty. Overall Burkes is a solid pub slightly above par. Next time you are on this lonely stretch, give it a try.

Ever since starting to watch The Bear, I have been craving an Italian Beef sandwich, so what better…read moreplace to try that out than in the city that inspired the show, right? Could have gone to the actual restaurant its based on but Burke's Public House did the trick just fine. Super hearty helping of beef on a pretty solid sandwich at a decent enough price. Wish there were more fries that came with, but beggars can't be choosers. Service was reliable, and the dive-y ambiance made this a solid neighborhood spot to check out for a quick catch up with an old friend.

Nice little neighborhood beer bar. Good selection of beer and liquors. I was in the hood and…read moreneeded a place to watch the Bulls game. This popped up and it hit the spot. Chill crowd, friendly bartender, clean bathroom. I wouldn't seek this place out, but if I'm in the area I'm happy to stop by. No food that I can. Maybe the biggest downside.

Very chilled little bar in a weird location on Peterson, about a block west of Clark Street…read more Barrelman is located on the short stretch of Peterson that is between Clark and Ridge. If you are like me, trying to make that light, you will never see this place, but it is there and it is super cute. There is a lot of dark wood that just gives the space a cozy feel. There are also two garage doors that I assume can be opened when the weather is good. For you folks with dogs, beer drinkers who drink beyond the basic beers, bubble drinkers (like me) and those that want to bring in their own food...this is your place. We went there to meet some friends and to watch some football. For such a small place, they do have plenty of TVs with multiple games going. It was great to be able to have pizza delivered, with the bartender providing paper plates, and napkins for us to use. The bartender was also very cool about bringing our drinks over or picking up empties as we were sitting a a table away from the bar. I didn't get his name, but he was cool. There is street parking but not on Peterson itself. I would say, depending on the day, it might be hard to find a spot as you have to park on Ridge or some of the side streets. There is a new Metra station down the street that is about 2 blocks from the bar. Not sure if there is public parking available, but worth checking out. I could see myself coming here just because I can bring my own food and still get bubbles. While they do not carry bubbles by the bottle, the stuff they had in the can was good. I would love to go there when the weather is nicer and they have the garage doors open. And it is a happy compromise to hanging out with friends who have dogs that they just can't live without who also like to drink. This is a place we can definitely hang out with them and have a good time.

Hopleaf Bar is hands down one of our favorite spots for dinner and drink in all of Chicago!…read more One key to a successful dinning experience at Hopleaf is knowing the three different spaces to engage. When you first walk in, you have to show your ID since this is an adults-only bar establishment. (1) You can then choose to sit in the front bar area, if you want a full menu, but use the bar for ordering service. (2) If you keep walking through the front bar area, you reach the host stand at the top of the ramp. This is where you can put your name in to sit in the main dining room, upstairs, or outside. (3) However, you can also walk through to the left of the host stand to another bar area that has full menus, but bar service for ordering. This is our preferred spot because we can often find a seat and order with the bar. Do note that, during busy times, part of this bar area is managed by the host stand and will be labeled as such. The extensive beer menu is our favorite. We have our favorite food items, so all our decision making revolves around which beer we will get. They always have a bit of everything style-wise, from all over the world, but with a local-brewery focus. Seasonal emphasis is also taken into consideration when they curate the beer list. It is always rotating and we love it! Beers are served in the recommended glasses from the breweries. It's a great drinking experience from start to finish! Our food orders are eternally set: I get the Nueske Ham sandwich with fries and aioli. My husband gets the Reuben sandwich with fries and aioli. This meal is so perfect we'll probably never get anything different, despite the menu being delicious across the board. The wildest we get is sometimes splitting the two sandwiches. No reason to mess with a good thing! Other notable great things about Hopleaf: (1) Kind, knowledgeable, and professional staff. (2) Reasonable prices for high quality and great variety products. (3) Clean Belgian Bar decor/vibe with lots of space for folks to enjoy their time. (4) They are open late and serve food late. Thank you for being an amazing local spot, Hopleaf! We'll see you soon!

Simply, all around excellent!…read more This was one of those cases where I stopped in, started a review, and then it sat in my drafts collecting dust. Thus, a return visit was a must! Primarily because I genuinely enjoyed it, and secondarily because I enjoy writing. Hopleaf boasts a tremendous and awesome beer list! It's truly hard to do it justice in a review. I will say they offer a wide variety of different kinds, origins, styles, bottle versus draft, and so on. For those who aren't beer lovers, there are cocktails, ciders, and more! For food, I was able to try both the Pork Belly and the Slagel Burger. The pork belly was much better than I expected! The exterior was delightfully roasted, and the interior was soft and savory with a good balance between meaty and fatty bits. The pork was well-sauced, and the accompanying accoutrements were similarly fantastic, helping to round out the pork, and adding freshness. On my first visit, my main memory of the burger was a very high salt level. However, this appears to have been addressed on my second visit. Now, is it the best burger in the city? No. However, it is excellent in its own right. The smashed patties have good flavor and a proper char around the edges. The vegetables are present but not so overwhelming that it becomes a hard-to-eat salad, and finally, it is delightfully cheesy! Where service is concerned, the bar staff were friendly and welcoming. They took great care of me and other patrons approaching the bar. Food came out in a reasonable timeframe, especially for items cooked to order. In terms of their vibe, I feel as though the best way I can describe it is to say it's a larger, elevated dive bar. It isn't cramped or dark, and there's plenty of space. At the same time, it isn't at all uppity and preserves that neighborhood establishment feel (though I would certainly go across town to visit on occasion). Finally, regarding value, when the bill came, I felt the amount due was more than reasonable considering the quality of food, beers, and service I received. Thus, while I am generally not a big beer drinker (I'm more of a spirits/cocktails person), I'm not totally against printing out their beer menu and crossing out items as I try them. That is to say, I look forward to coming back again and again.

Came here on a Friday night to check out the local bar food spot in Jarvis Square. It seemed busy…read morewith almost all tables and bar full. I was surprised by the space & the designated pizza oven area. Definitely felt like a nicer bar food spot than I thought from the outside. All the food was fine but didn't blow me away. We tried a chicken hot honey pizza and the burger of the week that was bacon, Jamaican dry run, cooked onions, and pepper jack cheese. Then for dessert we had chocolate covered cream puffs. All different kind of food flavors I wasn't expecting for this bar food spot which was fun but again food is not perfected just a wide variety. Also good portions to share between two. I wouldn't say it's a top bar food choice but a great local spot to have near jarvis square. I appreciated the friendly staff and a view into what the community is like in this area.

We sat outside since it was a beautiful day, so my pictures have a red tint from the umbrellas and…read moredidn't get to show off how good it really was. Our waitress was very sweet and patient with us as we ordered. I got the pierogi bowl of goodness which was delish. It is definitely a heavy dish so consider that, but I enjoyed it. The giant biscuit with honey butter is also a must order. It may not look that crazy, but you just have to taste it!

The vibes of Patio Beef was so chill. We went here for a work day lunch visit and everything was…read moreawesome! The og vibes of the staff and the location itself was great. Classic table tops and eating areas, as well as classic signs and decor. Staff was great with answering our questions about the food and combos. Lastly, for the price and taste? 5/5! It was way more food than I thought and it all tasted great! Italian combo was fire! Had it dipped and not gonna lie, I didn't know what the combo was but the sausage in there with the dipped Italian beef was so good! Also, the Chicago dogs plus fries combo was a classic eat! Can't wait to come back!

Patio Beef... a place that works in a pinch, or one of those cases when you open your fridge and…read moresee cobwebs. However, outside of this, it is by no means a destination. I've ordered a chicago-style hot dog on one occasion, and an Italian Beef with cheese (I know, bite me!) The Chicago dog was just fine. One of those things that is remarkably average. There is nothing bad I can say, but at the same time, it didn't have anything to make me as much as raise an eyebrow. When it comes to the Italian Beef, the meat was tender and had light use of salt. I am not sure whether or not they were used, but I didn't detect any prominent use of herbs or spices. The vibe inside is old school, from the menu board to the tables. The service is polite and efficient, as can be expected from a place like this. Final verdict: When I have friends from out of town visit, it's guaranteed that I will try to introduce them to a Chicago dog and an Italian beef. Even though I live in the area, this is not the place I would take them to. However, that isn't to say something is wrong. Patio Beef is absolutely no-frills and delivers a solid, yet unremarkable product.