I'll have another, sir. Can I come back here every day, please? I was so damn impressed by this place and I think that means a lot since I gave the Aviary 3 stars. The Aviary is where you go to try to be cool and The Office is where you hang when you actually are cool and don't need to flaunt it. I know that sounds so freaking lame, but that's how it feels. The Office is as my date would say, "like Grandpa's basement but upscale". It literally is in the basement which makes for a dark, cool and intimate vibe. You do need a key to get in and out which I understand b/c it is located near the bathrooms so they want to limit random people from walking in but it also requires you to remember the damn key on your way back. We sat at the bar and chatted with Jason, the bartender and obvious creator of the amazing drinks served there. I felt fortunate that my date knew Jason and frequents a lot b/c he made us specialty drinks not on the menu. He simply asked what type of liquor you want, if you dislike specific flavors or herbs and then creates the most delicious cocktail. Ahhh, heaven! There is also a cabinet featuring rare liquor you can't just get anywhere. We had the Chartreuse which is a french liqueur. I had never heard of it and found the story of its origin interesting. Jason knows a lot about alcohol and tells a great story aka he doesn't make you feel like an idiot for not knowing. Every employee I met there was extremely professional including Jeremiah (great name, btw) who we chatted with for a bit. I think this place may be hard to get into but I can understand why. Try to go here. It is worth it! Really great for a date or a small group of people. read more

Ambiance: Imagine stepping into your rich uncle's library/den in his yacht. That is what it feels like in The Office. Dark, woodsy, with a slight nautical feel. The place probably seats 20 at max capactiy - 4 at the bar, and 3 other spaces that seat 4-6. It's intimate, but you will have privacy within your group. Food: Get the Ice Cream Sundae if you come here. It's over the top - we had a party of 6 and were able to share the entire thing. You will get your own chalice to make your own sundae. Also, if you like Oysters, those are really tasty here too - they come with Tinctures to flavor the oyster! Those two are probably the best valued items to order if you get to do The Office. Drinks: I had the Tequila cocktail which had some grapefruit and smokiness. Really phenomanal. And strong. Their cocktail list is loaded with spirits. If you like a particular spirit, have the waitress order a Dealer's Choice drink and the Bartender will mix you something special. I ordered a Champagne cocktail and it was delightful. Price: $20 cocktails, you'll get a handwritten receipt. The quality, service, and nostalgia of the place are worth the price. read more

This place is cool, secretive and sexy. The entire concept was well thought out and creates an unforgettable experience. First of all, reservations were made via text message, never speaking to a person, which was rather mysterious. The office is actually in the basement of the Aviary. We checked in at the Aviary and a host then took us behind closed doors and down a staircase to the locked room which was The Office. We entered a beautiful warm speakeasy style bar that only seated a handful of patrons at the bar and in nice couch seating. There was tasteful music playing. Loud enough to muffle conversations from other tables, but we could still hear each other. The drink menu is expansive which liquor found from all over the world. You have the option to order off the menu or to have the mixologist create a drink based on flavor preferences. We were asked a handful of questions and our drinks were custom created. Watching the mixologist work was like watching a science experiment take place. Our drinks were phenomenal and work the price tag. I definitely recommend The Office, the experience is second to none. read more

The Office - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Finally got a chance to check this place out this past Saturday. I was so intrigued by the exclusivity of it, and got really lucky when I found a number online to text for a reservation. The bar is really nice and chill, not stuffy at all (which is what I imagined it to be). The drink menu is freakin endless. They have a cocktail list but the waitress encouraged us to have a conversation and have custom drinks made. The drinks were soooooo good and STRONG. It's not a cheap place, but obviously the price point shouldn't really be a surprise. My husband and I had 4 drinks and our tab, which included gratuity, was $123. In my opinion it was money well spent. I will definitely go back. The service was great, music was awesome, atmosphere was intimate, and drinks were phenomenal! read more

The Office - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There's not much I disagree with most of the yelpers who already been here and reviewed it positively. Its definitely a place you should come and try. Its a bit flaky to get into here, you have to have text a phone number, and the conversation will be very business like. You ask if there is any availability and if there is, you will get a text back. A friend of mine took care of this and was telling us how it seemed a bit "shady," in a way that we would show up and they would have no idea why we were there. Glad to say it worked. We got down there (by the way, this is actually just the basement of the Aviary, which itself is a superb cocktail lounge). The usher had to use his key to let us inside The Office (which could also be called The Basement), its usually a locked door so no one can just walk in. Once inside, its a very cozy atmosphere. Small of course. Few couches, some chairs and some stools at the bar. All decor is done exceedingly tasteful. Once you get situated, the bartender will come and ask what you feel like. At this point, I say be creative. Don't be shy and tell alcohols you prefer. Instead, tell the bartender the mood you would like to be with the cocktail. You can say you like certain alcohols more than others, but if you give atmospheres and descriptives flavors, you will be surprised at the results. Here's what I said I wanted - something peet-y, something that invokes camping and fires with a summer evening flower scent. The bartender went to make it and I will say that it was hands down the best cocktail I've ever had (and I've been to the Aviary upstairs, along with the other fancy speakeasies in Chicago, NYC, SFO, Boston and San Diego, so I'm saying quite a bit how good my drink was compared to the places in other cities). If you enjoy finely crafted cocktails, can be creative, don't care too much of how its presented, AND like to be part of the mixing process, then find a way to come to the Office. Otherwise, if you rather just have really good cocktails, presented in a way reminiscing of theatre production, then go upstairs to Aviary. The menu is set already with very interesting and well made cocktails, coming out in a very spectacular way, that you won't see anywhere else. Also, its easier to get tickets to Aviary then it is sometimes to get a seat at The Office. read more

Be prepared to name drop and empty your wallet though to get your foot in the door. I honestly don't understand how we even got here. With that said, this is THE place to be if you want the best drinks in the city and a very exclusive atmosphere. I won't go into too much detail, but the experience is everything you can imagine minus the unicorn tears and unobtanium. To get in, you typically text their number for availability. Include your name, party size, and flexibility. I've always received a prompt reply whether it is a rejection or confirmation. read more

It's like drinking in your grandpa's library (except you have to pay for the booze). Getting a reso actually isn't too hard; I'm sure someone you know has the number to text or you can test your skills on google. The cocktails themselves are very complex in flavor and they use giant ice-picked chunks of ice so your drink won't get diluted as quickly. It's quiet enough to have a real conversation and the background music playlist is great. From my party, we order one drink off the menu, one by giving the bartender preferred flavors, and one non-alcoholic drink and all three were fantastic. The bill will set you back a bit, but it's good to treat yourself to a relaxed, intimate evening with a great drink in hand once in a while. read more

The hype lives up. Everything we had was good. I really am crafting a plan to somehow make that basement my permanent residence, without the staff knowing. I'll be like a human-size Borrower (remember that movie? god, i'm old). End your night with their sundae! read more

We came here for drinks after a celebratory dinner. Definitely a cool private space and great if you're a real cocktail fan. I really enjoyed both cocktails I ordered and they were very unique and inventive. The vibe was a little sleepy and quiet, so it would be great for a date. Very speak easy esque. Our wait time despite our reservation was long. They were extremely apologetic and nice about it and I understand they can't make someone get up, but it kind of threw a kink in our celebration evening, so that's why I am only giving 4 stars. I really did enjoy the drinks and would recommend this place. read more

We had a good but not amazing experience at The Office last weekend. The bartender asked us what kind of drinks we wanted and we kind of thought we were going to be getting something off-menu like many other Yelpers have reported, but he ended up just choosing drinks from the cocktail menu that he thought would suit our tastes. Still, the drinks were really good and I had no complaints! I can't remember what I had, but it has rum and mustard in it and it WORKED. Next, I tried a There Gose the Neighborhood from their beer menu and thought it was fantastic. My husband had another of their special beers and was very impressed by it. For our third and final round, Ia sked the bartender to make me something "Christmas-y" and then I finally got something "unique." I was pretty pleased and wished I had just asked for what I wanted from the start! I think that would be my advice to future Office visitors- the staff are very helpful and knowledgeable, so don't be afraid to ask questions or ask for advice and if you tell them what you want, you'll be sure to get it. Overall, a really cool experience but I think I ultimately prefer Aviary. read more

What a delight, and a culinary counterpoint to The Aviary upstairs! We booked The Office Menu and enjoyed a leisurely dinner with fine cocktails. The drinks aren't as elaborate as upstairs but by no means are they boring; twists of classic recipe styles bring in flavors of mango or passionfruit or... other embellishments on traditional drinks. The food is a perfect match -- mostly classic bistro dishes well-prepared, and generously portioned. The staff are all cordial and well-informed. We did not try any of the historic spirits library and some are eye-wateringly priced, but if you're looking for a 100-year-old shot then they'll have it for you. I can't imagine they move quickly, but they'll be there when you're looking to celebrate. Overall, a unique experience that successfully delivered all around. I'm glad Chicago offers an environment where ideas like this are possible. read more

If Aviary is sleek and modern, then The Office is a man cave (along the line of Don Draper or James Bond) that radiates with opulence. The leather sofa we sat in was probably the most comfortable I've ever experienced. In my review of Aviary I wrote about how it was crazy that they had made drinks that were continuously changing as you were drinking them (for the most part, some are just fun, like the Horchata with its wonderful styrofoam cup presentation). At The Office, they take traditional cocktails and present them to you with a fresh take that speaks to why those cocktails became classics in the first place. The Old Fashioned variant and classic Manhattan I had were indisputably the finest cocktails I've ever had. We also got the ice cream sundae (definitely enough for 4 people!) - amazing (though it does take a long time to be prepared). I still can't believe how much of it we ate! We were celebrating my 30th birthday at Aviary/Office (getting the reservation was a crazy fluke, definitely don't have the sway to get a return one for The Office =P). Getting old has many downsides, but one of the upsides is being able to go to establishments like this without worrying about the tab. If you enjoy cocktails, I would go so far as to say that The Office is a bargain for the experience you get. read more

I'm a huge fan of crafted cocktails ... but $20 for a crafted cocktail? meh, great crafted cocktails are everywhere in Chicago now and this ain't worth the price. I do like the atmosphere though service isn't as friendly as other mixology bars. The drinks are excellent but not worth the $20. I kinda get the prices at Aviary with the crazy experimental presentations but the Office is more traditional. Considering you can get, great $10 cocktails can be had at places like watershed or $12 at Violet hour (the Chicago Standard). I can't justify a $20 cocktail here regularly. Overrated read more

HOLY SHIT. This place is amazing. I never felt classier in my life than at the Office. I had been looking for the phone number for months and finally got it through a friend. I texted the number asking if they had a table available for tonight and they did. We got to the bar and were led through the downstairs into a secret locked room with a couple leather couches and tables. It only fits about 14 people, so it's extremely exclusive. This is a cozy little speakeasy hidden in the basement of the Aviary bar. I would imagine Al Capone and some of his friends coming here to discuss things and smoke cigars. I felt like I should have been smoking a cigar and discussing leather bound books by the fire. Another reviewer said you feel like you're in Ron Burgandy's basement. That's exactly true. It's expensive so be prepared to spend some money. They write your bill in calligraphy though. It's amazing. Service was great. They even had cabs waiting for us after we were done. I will be back. read more

If you're looking at this Yelp listing, chances are you've already heard about the Office and are looking to go here. You might also wonder how it compares to The Aviary. Well, truth be told they're quite different. The upstairs Aviary is very modern and trendy with a sleek vibe. You'll see a mixture of businessmen, people on dates, and girls on a night out at The Aviary. The Office is a different vibe altogether. It's the kind of place where you could imagine Churchill and his friends discussing strategy. Chill, cozy, and classic. The elegance here is not tacky or stuffy in the slightest and the small (up to 14 person) atmosphere is sublime. I've been here on a date and with a group of my housemates... both times the ambiance worked well. Now, for the drinks. Upstairs the drinks involve super intense liquid nitrogen and rotovap stunts with exotic fruit syrups. Novel, but nothing marvelous. The drinks at the Office, however, are spectacular. I waited until my second visit to write this review just to gauge consistency. Conclusion: best cocktails in the city, perhaps rivaling the best cocktails in NYC. Why? They're very classic: you'll see bourbon, tequila, brandy, etc. as the main drink base and they will be enhanced by infusing notes like pepper, radish, apple, and cigar smoke. The liquors they use in the well drinks easily rival top shelf products elsewhere, and they are very strong. Hand carved ice-balls add an additional element of style and novelty to the refined classic experience inside. All cocktails are $20, but given the quality of the ingredients and the novelty it's easily worth it. Their beer and straight liquor list is also spectacular, but come here for the cocktails. Trust me, they're amazing. The level of service also demands recognition. If none of the drinks on the cocktail menu interest you, the bartender will whip something custom up for you. In fact, it won't necessarily be more expensive than the drinks themselves. Depending on how you got in (i.e. you were invited in from The Aviary vs. you have VIP reservation privileges) there are nice perks involved including being able to get a table on the spot upstairs if you'd like a change of scenery. Sometimes you can even get same day seating at Next (though it's getting harder nowadays). How do you get in? Being a repeat customer at Next or Alinea helps. Perhaps they notice you're a huge foodie when you talk about the drinks at The Aviary. You need an invitation. read more

We were treated to a craft cocktail-of-the-gods evening by a friend in the beverage industry. We started at the Violet Hour, which was extremely cool and I loved the vibe (if not the noise level). We ended the evening at the Aviary, which was mind-blowing, but our middle stop was The Office. The Office will haunt my boozy dreams. I had a barrel-aged cocktail called Mind Over Matter that was simply the best drink I have ever had. It was dark, complex and ridiculously delicious. Good thing it was $26, otherwise I might have been tempted to have, like, three of them. One of the cocktail chefs stopped by to chat with us and our friend. Seriously, it was like taking a master class in mixology. The creativity in The Office and The Aviary is astounding. So is the service. This is an experience, not a cocktail bar. Now that I've experienced The Office, every cocktail bar is going to seem sad in comparison. read more

Wow. Tickets aren't cheap but are 100000% worth it. If you like cocktails, get dealer's choice - they will make something based on all your likes and dislikes. The more you tell them, the better the drink. They are creative, balanced, and unlike anything you have ever had - guaranteed. We had the mussels and they were generous and incredibly delicious. It may be pricey but the experience is incredible. read more

The Office - Potions on the bar. They distill down a single flavor. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very cool concept, no drink menus, but themes instead like "what is old is new again.". Tell the serverswhat you like and let them take you on a journey. It was cool to have the best bartender in the world slinging drinks right behind me. Quality of the drinks was awesome, even if there were a couple misses for my personal taste. Of 14 cocktails, 11 were stellar. The list of liquor available is mind numbing, stare at an 1895 cognac or 1936 Chartreuse. Strong beer list as well, not sure what else you can expect. If you like the flair or gastro food, stick to the Aviary. If you're looking for that here you will be disappointed. Come here if you want just great drinks, quiet space, and a fun room to hang out in. read more

My wife and I booked the office hour for desserts and drinks. Make sure you book far enough in advance because slots fill up quickly. The drinks were delicious and unique and the desserts were the same. We had a fun time and enjoyed the speak-easy-like atmosphere. Just entering was an experience as we were walked from the front through the aviary to a locked door behind which was the stairs that led us down to the office. We sat on a couch and were delighted with tasty surprises over the course of an hour. Highly recommend for a really nice quiet date spot. read more

It's small, cozy, and exclusive, as others have said. You feel like hot shit just for knowing about it and for needing a key to get back in should you need to use the restroom. It's all very knowing-smile-and-wink with the other lucky few who happen to be sharing the space with you. I think I prefer the cocktail menu upstairs at the Aviary. But maybe that's because I'm usually further into my drinking once I'm at the Office and have lost my edge. I want to say a few things about the food. There are some awesome things. The vegetable bourguignon is one of the best tasting things I've ever, ever had. Don't be confused by the word "vegetable" -- the overwhelming flavor here is butter and possibly some kind of animal fat. I'm pretty sure this is not vegetarian. But it's amazingly, indescribably delicious. Melt-in-your-mouth, close-your-eyes delicious. Also, the ham thing. I will call it The Ham Volcano. If you order it, you'll understand why. It's $65 but really, once in your life, you should order it. I have also tried the oysters. $25 for 6 Island Creeks is steep, but you get these crazy eyedroppers with different flavors so you can make each one taste unique. Lemon, smoke, ginger, curry, green peppercorn, and fennel were the flavors, I believe. A little too high concept perhaps (I secretly just wanted some mignonette and cocktail sauce), but interesting. I am docking a star because the bartender didn't announce any last call, even though we sitting at the bar and right in front of him. When I tried to order a drink at 1:45, he told me it was too late. I was bummed. They do hustle you out right at 2am. read more

Paid a $200 deposit for a 9:30pm reservation on Sunday, and last call was at 10:30pm, so we were rushed out of there even though closing time is officially midnight. read more

This speakeasy is definitely one of the nicest I've ever been to. The couches are comfy, the bar and the decor are so stylishly lavish. We got drinks that were incredibly well-crafted. Plus, what other speakeasy do you know that has delicious mussels. Just mussels. Don't know about the other food, just get the mussels. Get them. (am i doing subliminal messaging?) read more

Been coming here since this part opened. Never ceases to amaze. Have went through a few leaders of the bar, but is consistently one of the best places in town to get rare spirits and the best inventive cocktails in the country. Must go if you come to town. read more

Yeah. Going to The Office puts you on baller status. With that said, I'm pretty baller. Actually, it wasn't as difficult as people say. My friends and I concluded our dining experience at Next, we happened to ask our wonderful server if it was possible to get a tour of the kitchen....and a drink at The Office. Needless to say, we got both of our wishes. We walked around the kitchen, met a lot of the staff [including Chef Beran] then were escorted down the stairs to an unmarked door... ya know...that special unmarked door that leads to another world. The Office. Simply wonderful. We were the last group to be invited down. Our party of four sat cozily in lounge-y couches and arm chairs. Candles lit the room very lightly, setting up a very intimate setting. The drinks? Well, let's just say they pack a punch like Iron Mike in his prime [pre-ear biting]. Strong. Tasty. Old-fashion. Oh, and pricey. But hey, when in Rome. Gotta do it when you have the chance. read more

==Julia is a freakin mindreader (or incredibly perceptive, you be the judge)== If you don't know The Office yet, it's because the invite system is designed to stay mum. But if you are lucky enough to catch an invite here, cancel all your plans and find a babysitter, because you just needle-in-a-haystack'd your way into one of the most exclusive and 5-star deserving bars that I've ever had the pleasure of drinking in. There's a nice booklet for a menu here with one page for bites. While you might be inclined to order a drink off the pages, people seldom do that. It's all about trusting the bartender with your cocktail. On our Valentine's Day visit, this was accomplished with a simple personality questionnaire. I supposed the bolder individuals would get bolder drinks, but there was also friendly chatting involved to get a whisky confession outta me. Julia was the sole bartender in the entire establishment with dedicated barback from "The Boss" Anastasio and 1 or 2 others. A busy girl Julia was, but even sitting there and watching her concoct drinks was a tremendous experience from shake shake shake to burn burn burn burn to look-the-bar's-on-fire. -=-Smokey Glass Whiskey-=- The cocktails here are customized and no-named so I can only roughly describe them. I've had a smoked glass whiskey before at 1886 and loved it. As Julia described it: it was a treat for your nose as well. IMHO whisky is best old-fashioned, so ding ding on that also. Let me say that the whole bar smelt incensed-ly fabulous for a shortwhile. -=-Foie Gras-=- We were embattled between the foie or the truffle. With my addiction to foie that was the must, but we can all agree that truffle is also delicious. The foie was prepared as a mousse covered by a hardened salted butter layer over toast. There's also jam, but it didn't seem to pair well for my palate. -=-Truffle Whiskey-=- Julia overheard our food struggle and my love for truffles. As a treat, my second cocktail would be infused with truffle flavoring. Pure surprise. Same strong whiskey base, and when the truffle flavoring started getting killed by the whiskey, she would add more truffle drops to keep the pizzazz. -=-Aviary Only Drink - In the Rocks-=- This is probably one of the most unique of drinks anywhere. The Vieux Carré base gives you that absinthe tingle, but aside from the excellent cocktail, the gimmick is also spectacular. This drink is served as just a round block of ice in a glass with all the liquid encased within. With help from a slingshot tool, that ice block bursts open and the Vieux Carré cocktail inside spills into the glass. Probably the most creative drink in the world. Forewarned that this drink is only available at the Aviary upstairs. read more

Came here after getting a few crazy drinks and some little bites at Aviary. I don't know how you normally get in here, since it's absolutely hidden and super tiny, but we got invited down because I think they needed our table at Aviary for someone else. This place is AWESOME. Feels like a little secret speakeasy. Like everyone else says in their reviews, the cocktails are obscenely good. The bartender/mixologist/whatever he calls himself is a meticulous crafter of delicious beverages. I didn't want any of the drinks on the menu, so he asked me what foods I like and don't like and made me a custom cocktail. Fantastic! We also had some of the iberico ham which comes on a ceramic heated volcano thing, with marcona almonds and some cheese, which was so so good. Like everyone says, it's not cheaper, but the experience and the quality of food/drink is totally worth it. read more

Welp! Here goes my first ever negative Yelp review. My boyfriend has been coming to The Office for years, moved out of state and was ecstatic to take me for my first time last night. He knew something was off right away. They kept us standing awkwardly in the doorway for over 10 minutes and seated 3 parties before us. I understand our table wasn't ready yet but why weren't we let into the waiting "gallery" to stand instead of being crammed in the doorway when people without reservations were being sat. Well, whatever. We're finally taken downstairs to our table and I'm excited. We're given waters right away then wait over TEN minutes for our server to greet us. I work in the restaurant industry and this was so off putting. We order our food before we even get to order drinks and it comes out before the drinks. Okay. That's fine, as a bartender I get that drinks can take a while, especially since we ordered custom ones (a concept that my boyfriend had to explain to me since our waitress failed to do so). Drinks and food were amazing! No issue with the pricing on that. We ordered a full dozen oysters (our server scoffed when we did this, we asked if there was a problem and she said she didn't know if there were any left...okay...) and two of the truffle explosions which are small ravioli like pods that come one to an order. She asked how our drinks were and we said great, but were confused when she never explained what spirits or flavors were used since they were custom made based on our preferences. We ordered another set of truffle explosions that she rolled her eyes at (sorry for making our check exponentially higher??) then never saw her again. We sat there, empty drinks and watched her take a shot behind the bar then just disappear. Mind you this restaurant seats 14. She had 2 other tables of 7 people to worry about and she wasn't even in the room. We tried to alert a busser than we would like more drinks and she still didn't come. Our $200 bill would have easily been doubled if she had been bothered to do her job. When she finally did show up I asked for the check because we wanted to drink upstairs, where the service would hopefully be better. She didn't apologize and said "happens to the best of us". As a bartender in a high volume bar and a former server in wrigleyville where I would have to stack trays to ensure my 15 tables never had an empty glass on their table I can say this does NOT happen to the best of us. I was still going to tip 20% but she took it upon herself to add gratuity for our party of two. Only saving grace was the bartender Eric who apologized when she did not. He was really cool and spent time talking to us and was attentive. We tipped him separately in cash and he got us a table upstairs where the service was 300x better. If you're looking for a fun place in the west loop...stick to the aviary or go somewhere else. Not worth the hype at all and I will NEVER return considering that was the worst service I've had in my life. You can get a better waitress at a Buffalo Wild Wings read more

My boyfriend and I came here several times for special occasions and this place never disappoints us. Great ambience and a variety of selection of drinks - would highly recommend describing your favorite kind of drink to the hostess so that they could customize / tailor the drink to your tastebud!! Also, we loved to order the vanilla ice cream with all the toppings (gummy bears, marshmallows, chocolates, etc). read more

The Office - Vanilla ice cream & its toppings - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My boyfriend and I were lucky enough to get to go to The Office after dining at Next. While this underground invitation (which he got earlier in the week) only speakeasy has been advertised as serving pre-prohibition drinks and old-school eats (shrimp cocktail, caviar by the ounce, beef tartare, and even an ice cream sundae), Achatz has definitely put his own twist onto the menu. For snacks, we ordered the iberico ham ($65) and sundae ($25). The iberico ham was served in a special dish that allows a candle to keep the meat at the perfect temperature. And, the sundae was to our surprise two dishes of homemade vanilla ice cream served with hot fudge and a silver and crystal serving tray filled with gummy bears, peanuts, chocolate toffee, oreos, maraschino cherries, whip cream, and banana slices. It was probably one of the most incredible things. It definitely made me feel like a kid again. The drinks were expensive but worth every penny. I liked all of the drinks I ordered especially the gin, honeydew, loyage, lime, chartreuse, and tonic drink. We sat at the bar, and the mixologist was so friendly and nice. He explained everything he was making behind the bar as well as taught us a few tricks when making drinks at home (for instance, a tackle box is a great way to make long ice cubes). I would love to go here again. I absolutely love Aviary, but The Office is a nice alternative to have especially when you want to lounge in a less trendy establishment with large leather couches and more traditional cocktails (with a subtle Achatz twist). read more

What an experience...O...M...G Allow me to lay out the scene.. First..., it was WAY dark when we got in. That's awesome Then.., we were seated in office chairs...leather. Totally cool and kick back After that..., we ordered drinks..whiskey and shots and what not...Super amazing and classy To top it all off...the famous $25 sundae..soo ice creamy and delish. Wow..Thanks so much for letting me imbide and discover and explore and have a totally awesome time in this totally magic kingdom. I will never forget it and its awesome and cool. read more

If you get the chance, GO (unless you're sloppy. this is not a place for drunken obnoxiousness). I first tried a whisky drink with cigar bitters. This drink was STRONG but tasty. And it has ignited the flame in my whisky-appreciation burner. Then I had the gin drink with huckleberry and egg white. This drink was super fruity and sweet in comparison to the whisky drink, but not overbearingly so. Another amazing drink. And finally, the sundae. Do it. Great service, perfect atmosphere, no pretension. read more

Yep, this place lives up to the hype. We recently went to The Office for a 30th birthday celebration. There was a group of 7 of us and I don't think anyone had any gripes. The drink menu is fantastic. I tried something from the menu for my first drink, and for subsequent drinks I simply told the server the flavor profile I was looking for and the bartender delivered a delicious concoction. A few others took the same approach and loved their drinks as well. We had some appetizers and the ice cream sundae, too. If there's anything at all negative about this place, the apps were quite expensive. I can't remember the exact prices (cocktails are $20), but I do remember having sticker shock upon seeing them. That said, they were delicious. We ordered oysters and they brought several different liquid flavors (fennel, curry, ginger, etc.) to experiment with by placing small drops on top of the oysters. We also had the beef tartar, which was perfectly seasoned. Finally, we ended with the ice cream sundaes which included an assortment of no less than 7 toppings. I highly recommend taking a trip to The Office and experiencing it for yourself. read more

We showed up early for our 7:30 reservation was told we needed to wait due to the room being full. Fortunately they set us around one of the tables by the kitchen in the Aviary, and comped us a round of drinks. I very much so appreciate good service and in exchange they were tipped well. About a half hour later we were led to the secret room next to the restrooms. So the downstairs is a very different vibe than the Aviary. I felt like I should have been wearing a smoking jacket and a monocle. I like it. They offer you complimentary sparkling water, yay. After intently studying the menu, I saw "Homemade Milk Punch" under Cordials. This peaked my interest and I found out this was a liquor infused with herbs and milk. The milk curdles, but they strain the curdles away, and you're left with a very thick, syrupy liquor -- thicker and sweeter than a Moscato, and whatever herbs they infuse it with make it taste like you're also smoking a cigar. Not my cup of tea, but maybe it's yours. I ended up getting the gin cocktail -- passion fruit and frothy egg white is what I remember. It was supposed to have cocoa nib but I barely tasted that. My palette must not be fancy enough. I still enjoyed my drink but I don't know if it was worth $20. We also shared the ice cream sundae. Four of us sharing a serving for two was plenty. There was a nice selection of toppings on top of a fancy lazy susan. Since we had just gorged ourselves at dinner, I think we all felt the need to eat "healthy" and polish off the banana slices first. Our waitress exclaimed that she's never seen that happen before. I think we were a disappointment. Iberico ham and $50 tartare also graced the menu. That's for next time. read more

While the location is shared with The Aviary, the two are quite different. The Aviary left me wanting more, planning my next visit and what to explore next. The Office, let me wanting to go to bed. I can appreciate the service, it was what you'd expect from the best of the best. The exclusivity. there are only a few places to sit there. There were only 6 parties there total. My guess is this place sits roughly 18 people, max. There is no socializing with other parties. You sit with and only talk with the people you came with. There is no mix and mingling. For a date, this is a 5 star place hands down. The leather couches, the darkness, the privacy and all that goes with it, makes it a great place for a couple. This is the type of place you'd want to get engaged at. For a night out with the girls, stay upstairs. We dressed up, as you should when going here, and felt that our outfits were wasted on each other. The drinks are different than upstairs, less creative, still delicious. Larger food menu. Prices are not listed on the menu, expect to pay $20/drink. read more

This is an amazing place to relax with friends and it's definitely worth the price! It's like an elegant basement in someone's house complete with the bartenders of your dreams. There's only seating for 20 and the ambience is very cozy. Look around and you can see a treasure trove of liquor bottles all around the room. Let the bartender know what you're feeling for the night and they will whip up some of the most delicious drinks you've ever had. The only sad point of the night was when we learned they had discontinued the ice cream sundae that is so famous on its yelp page. For this year they have the peanut chiffon - whipped peanut creme with pretzel brittles on the bottom. Still delicious, but it's not ice cream. I can't wait to come back and see what they make for me to drink next time. Props to the amazing staff! read more

The Office - Peanut chiffon - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Picked up on a strange smell walking down the steps to "the office"... over shadowed the evening. We were not impressed with the appetizers offered or the drinks. The selection was huge, but the presentation of what we ordered was not in line with the high prices. Apparently the price was based on the atmosphere, which we didn't care for because it was too difficult to talk to each other. Service was great! read more

Just to get it out of the way, I'm not a big drinker nor do I really know how to appreciate a good drink. I did have a drink here and it was something that I've never had before. The food here.....is expensive...very expensive. My GF and I ordered the Fois Gras and the Ice Cream. Let me warn you here now. This is a lot of food for 2 people. Don't do it.....it's just too much of a good thing. At first I thought that it was crazy to get a $25 ice cream, but it turned out to be the creamiest ice cream I've ever had. I wouldn't come here just on a random night, but I would take my friend here if they're from out of town. Overall, I rather spend the money on real food then on drink, but that's just me. Newbs read more

I forgot about the existence of this place for months until a friend mentioned she had been looking for the number. Luckily, another friend had it and since it was a Tuesday night -- we were able to finish our dinner and walk over, with a table reserved, within 15 minutes. This place is "exclusive" but obviously the number circulates -- as we entered, a girl and her companion tried to push their way in but were promptly told they needed to leave by the man who opened the door. I had a bit of a laugh at that. Cocktails are all 20 dollars, then there are lists of beers and other liquors. I had a cocktail made with apple brandy which was strong and quite tasty. After that I tried a strange homemade milk liqueur made with rum and whiskey and burnt milk -- it was actually pretty amazing. Bar snacks are on the more expensive side, but that is to be expected here. This is the perfect place to go after dinner to feel special, get a fancy drink, or impress someone on a first date. read more

Dim lighting, amazing drink, quiet and very small. I was very lucky that our first night at the Aviary our server offered to take us to the Office at the end of our night. The bartender invented a new drink for me based on my preference. The name "Never Again". The staff in the Office had a great attitude and not at all pretentious as I expected, we lounged at the bar while only 2 other groups were with us, in total the place could probably only fit 4 groups total and 16 people. The drinks were fabulous, the price tag less so, but definitely worth it for a once in a lifetime experience. It's super exclusive, and they know it, and sadly many of the patrons know it and are more impressed to be down there than the artful master they have behind the bar. I will never make him make me a drink from scratch again, but I hope to have another of his concoctions in the future! Just go, at least once, and don't turn down an invitation if you can get it! read more

I'm a sucker for exclusivity. If I can snag booth one at best restaurant in town, I'm happy. I'm not bordering on Patrick Bateman, but I do have my moments. And I'm also a sucker for a cocktail that's made with painstaking attention given to each ingredient as it is lovingly added and mixed, shaken, or stirred. So when I heard about The Office and knew I would be in Chicago, I knew I had to be there. And I wasn't disappointed. Dave knows his way around a bar: a riff on a Manhattan using amaro, followed by a sazerac using mezcal. Oh, and oysters. With tinctures of flavors to mix for a variation of flavor. And the bill is hand-written and wax-sealed? Perfect. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. It's the ultimate speakeasy, where nobody knows you're there except you. Patrick Bateman would be jealous. And that's all that matters. read more