I'm old enough that I still remember doing the world-class happy hour at Dos Urban Cantina at the…read moresame address now home to Bar Parisette, a newer space from the Table, Donkey & Stick folks in Logan. I hadn't been back to check out the other restaurants in this space since Dos closed a few years ago, so I don't have the history on how this space has turned over a bit in the time since. I DO know this much: Bar Parisette is a strange ride. That's because I'm not really sure what it is going for, based on a dinner I had at the space last weekend. Bar Parisette, for a lot of reasons, gave me the sense it was going for French bistropub. The steak frites, the burger, the snacks, the drinks...all of that felt like it was right at home, but none of it was as strong as the food I've had at TDS. I went with the burger specifically because the burger at TDS is so good, but it just...wasn't, here. The meat was a little plain, the fries were fine, the bun was solid; the pieces were there, but as a package, it wasn't humming. The almonds were an interesting choice, but not one I would run out to make again; the trout dip was a winner with a couple of the folks in our party, but I skipped it since trout dip is not really my thing. I think the vibe was more a turnoff than the food and drink, though. Pardon my French, but it just wasn't sexy in here, and even though it was a Saturday night, it wasn't really hopping inside the space. If there was music playing, I didn't hear it or don't remember it, and the layout at Bar Parisette is functional but doesn't allow for the sorts of people-watching I like at other places in Chicago. (This became especially pointed when we left and walked next door to Gretel, which was jam-packed.) Service wasn't pushy, but it was certainly aggressive; our server came over three times in the first 10 minutes to check on our need to order, despite the fact that we were clearly a group that had not caught up in a while and had not spent much time with the menus. (European, this was not, at least in terms of speed.) But then we DID order, and it took 20 minutes to get our drinks and 30 minutes to get appetizers...then another 30 to get dinner. I didn't notice this as much because I had a late lunch, but my wife was showing signs of "hanger" that got more belligerent as the night went along. "Hurry up and wait" was never more apparent than this, and the staff acknowledged that it took too long for our food to come out, especially in a space that was almost completely empty by the time our mains came out. For $300 (this did include an $80 bottle of wine, note), my expectations are a little higher. Dos, this is not, and it's hard to imagine a scenario where I would come back to experience Bar Parisette a second time.

I think this place is getting lost amongst all the other great spots anything 50 yds of it and…read morethat's a shame. If you're in the area, especially during happy hour (extended to all day on Mondays, closed Tuesdays), stop in. All the areas are lovely and comfortable (bistro, dining room, bar, kitchen counter) and service is friendly and knowledgeable. Absolutely great wine list (and keep an eye out for special event Wine Dinners), including value priced House Wines during HH. Very decent burger and fries, small snacks and full sized plates abound at very good prices. Like its relative restaurant Table, Donkey & Stick, good food, good drinks and good times are sure to be had.

The cutest patio for summer!!! We had the best time. Delish food, inexpensive bevs, and you can…read morebook a little private cabana too. 100% will be back

I wish that I had discovered Volo earlier because it is such a dreamy spot. The patio is totally…read morehidden from the street view and completely takes you out of the busy city feel. We sat in a cabana which was super fun. It was snowing outside and we were perfectly comfortable temperature wise without our jackets on in the patio area. This would be the PERFECT spot for a small wedding or engagement party. I had heard great things about their happy hour and it lived up to all of my expectations. We had a dozen of their $1oysters as well as some $7 spritzes. The food here was also really great! We enjoyed the whipped ricotta toast and steak tartare especially. The staff here are lovely and super knowledgeable on wine. They have over 30+ wines by the glass at any time!

A meal full of bangers. Guacamole and esquites were both great and on the happy hour menu. Fish and…read moreal pastor tacos slapped. The tortillas are all homemade, thin and soft. Mango tres leches had delicious biscoff dust covering half. The standouts were the tuna crudo (will be dreaming of that aji amarillo sauce), crispy potatoes, and cilantro ice cream. The happy hour margarita was good, but we had a margarita made with Tapatio Anejo that might have been the best marg these Texans have found in Chicago. Service was friendly and attentive. Vibes were warm and got livelier as the lights got lower in the evening. All in all, almost nothing negative to speak of. This is such a cool addition to our stretch of Milwaukee Ave.

We stopped at La Lunita for a quick bite before a scheduled tour, but it was anything but quick…read more When we first got there, the place was packed, so we assumed it must be good and wanted to give it a try. We didn't wait more than 10 minutes to get a table, and once we sat down we ordered pretty quickly: chilaquiles with steak cooked medium, three fish tacos, and an order of potatoes. After we ordered, the restaurant went from full to about a third occupied, yet we still waited at least 45 minutes for those three items. There was a group of eight next to us whose whole party wasn't even there yet, but somehow they were getting their food in a timely fashion. Another table that came after us also got their food before we did. We were able to get the attention of someone at the bar to see if they could check what the delay was for. When our food finally arrived, the steak wasn't even hot, the chilaquiles were already soggy as if they had been sitting there, and the potatoes were not hot in temperature either. It was not a good experience at all. There is no reason to wait 45 minutes for three items when the restaurant is only a third full. I really thought Chicago had a great food scene, and this was a disappointment. The food was just okay.

Enchanting experience. Stepping into Sharpies was like entering another dimension. Our waiter…read moreNorman was outstandingly attentive, and sensitive to our many needs. Will definitely be back.

Excellent service. Bar seating…read moreTable seating. 3 TV where they show sports. They showrd world cup games. Monday - $1 chicken wings. The wings are double fried but the meat stays moist. Big bang buffalo- standard buffalo. Can't go wrong. Hot honey- pretty good, honey flavor, some sweetness Garlic galaxy glaze- this is really good if you like garlic flavor. I would get this again. Bayou in the sky- super super good. I would get this again. Hint of spice, hint of sweet. Carolina bbq- tasted like straight deli mustard. I would pass. The pizza, even though they advertise Detroit Style pizza, their take is more like Focaccia style pizza. They provide nice crunch, not enough sauce. Pretty airy dough. Drooling mushroom- they offer lots of mushrooms on top but the rest of the pizza was not too great. Next time, I would get Ham Radio- pepperoni, bacon, sausage, got and sweet pepper.

Popped in here today for a late lunch with a friend and we really enjoyed our experience!…read more The patio is so pleasant and was very breezy today which was lovely. We shared a few items, including the BLT salad which was super delicious. We also really enjoyed the curly fries and the broccolini. Service was solid, attentive but not overbearing. The space is very cute and I'd love to try their cocktail menu sometime in the future (the NA drink I had was fine, nothing notable). A great addition to the neighborhood and so nice to be able to just pop in off the 606.

Stopped by for a coffee, perfect location right off the 606. Quick service, plenty of outdoor…read moreseating with umbrellas, great people watching! Pro Tip: Wolf is actually a restaurant as well, fantastic interior vibes

Came by for happy hour on the patio and enjoyed it! The patio is very spacious and wasn't crowded…read moreat all, plenty of room to park strollers and set up high chairs. Tried their mezcal cocktail, green salad with steak and sliders. The cocktail was really good and a steal at $10 compared to other restaurants. It's normally priced at $11 though so not really a great HH deal, oh well! The HH green salad was a good size for 1 person and I added on steak. Steak was sliced pretty thin, would have preferred larger pieces, but seasoned well and tender. The sliders were awesome though- that onion jam so so good - highly recommend. Our server was friendly. It took a little longer for her to come around as she seemed to be working most of the patio, but we weren't in a rush. Appreciated the ability to scan a QR code pay at the end instead of waiting on credit cards. Will be back for their HH!

I would only recommend coming here for drinks. The food is not good at all -- what they call…read more"herbed focaccia" is toasted white bread. The ambiance is a bit odd and the service is awkward. In a sea of amazing spots in Chicago, this was one of the worst I've been to in a while. The patio area is a great space, it's a shame the rest doesn't work in its favor. I definitely won't be returning.

Came to this place for a happy hour event that was supposed to be from 7:30p-10p on 12/18. For…read morewhatever reason when we arrived to the event we found out that the restaurant was no longer doing the happy hr. This was very odd & unprofessional given that the happy hour menu was up on their site around 3p the day of the event. When I checked the site again while I waa at the place around 8:15p, it was no longer there. Given that the event was advertised as a happy hour the menu shouldve been honored regardless of whatever else was going on. I am looking forward to speaking with their team to find out what occurred b/c this is bad business. In addition to this the service was extremely slow. There was 1 server for the entire restaurant & 1 bartender. I got there at about 8:15pm, no one came to take an order until about 9:30p and when they did they only asked if we wanted a round of drinks. Never offered water or anything. I understand this is a newer business but they won't be in business long if this is how they operate, very disappointing.

I signed up for one of those 'dinner with strangers' events, and a surprise location was Botanero…read more Me being me, I looked up the menu beforehand, and I was very excited. I even briefly considered going beforehand so I could try without having a big group around me. Alas, the experience fell short of expectations. Thinking to the experience before the bill came, I felt as though I won't be itching to return. After the bill? I'd spent $80 after tax & tip, and felt ripped off. Points for their vibe, where 'chic' is a good word to describe it. Red and warm-white lights. The music also added to the atmosphere, however, while the volume was fine when it got busier, it was loud for my taste while business was slow. I had the opportunity to try: - Tuna Toastadita - Empanadas (both chicken and spinach/cheese - Panna Cotta - Cute Bear (cocktail) Tuna Toastadita: As someone who adored tuna tartares in their various interpretations, you *know* I'd be ordering this one! While the ideas were good, the execution was lackluster. No complaints about the tostada, this seemed to made in house, was sturdy and tasty, and it shows. The tuna was a miss - the guajillo sauce seemed to affect the tuna's texture and overpowered not only its flavor, but the avocado mousse as well. Further, while the toastaditas had an ample amount of fish and looked pretty, the presentation was at the cost of messiness. It would take a talented person to eat one of these finger foods without a bunch of tuna falling to the plate. Empanadas: These were underwhelming to the point where the garnishes were the best thing on the plate. The empanadas were okay through and through - the flavors of both crust and filling seemed muted and uninspired. Thank goodness for garnishes offering some contrast, I guess? Note: it is not possible to mix & match, a 'stranger' next to me got one kind, I got another, and we exchanged. Panna Cotta: This was the highlight of the night, and perhaps the only thing I would order again if I [somehow] find myself here again. Yet, it still had some items that need work. For the good: the cream was perfect in texture, sweetness, and creaminess. Caramel corn? Hard to go wrong there. Blackberries? Love the contrast in terms of texture, however, given the overall sweetness, raspberries might have been a better fit to contrast the sweetness (more my opinion than a criticism). However, the macaron is not saved from my wrath - rather than having some softness and give, this thing was so spectacularly crunchy it has no business being called a macaron. Cure Bear: This reminds me of what my mom made me when I was sick as a child, only less acidic, and four times as sweet. With that, this is misplaced in the menu under the "boozy and bitter" section. It did have enough alcohol to go to my head, but no bitterness or booziness to be tasted - just sweetness and honey. Maybe it is misplaced, or maybe there was an error in its creation, but whatever the cause, it too left me disappointed. Where it comes to the service, I have no complaints. Considering the size of the group, and that there were event-related activities ongoing, it was appropriately attentive and fast (given everyone got their items at the same time). Finally, we come to the prices. Two tapas, one drink, and one dessert cost $81.41 after tax, tip, and 3.5% "Hospitality" charge. If the experience was next level, I wouldn't complain. However, when pretty much everything I had was "just okay," this is borderline highway robbery. Thus, unless Botanero looks a good look at what they're doing and makes revisions to (for example) make their empanadas at least at the level of Lito's at Sterling Food Hall (formally Revival), I do not see myself coming back.

(Kari's Rating 6/10)…read more The first round of restaurant week were the dumplings. They were really good, the dumplings were supposed to be pork and shrimp, but I don't think there's shrimp in it-so they be lying. The second course was the cucumber salad. As a fellow Asian, it was relatively spicy. The feta did cut it, but as far as Asian fusion, it was still spicy. I did mistakenly eat all of it as the last round was a seasonal hash. It was such a huge portion. The potatoes were, spicy and delicious. The eggs were soft boiled but was that weird spot in between where they weren't ramen boiled but not quite American runny. Funny texture. It was kind of a lot of food for $30. Will definitely have left overs! I probably wouldn't come out all the way from River North.

Ambiance - casual, modern, 2nd floor has a really nice rooftop, super cute interior…read more Service - exceptional, our server was super attentive Food - loveeeee the gochugaru fries (we had to get another order), curry had a really good kick & chicken was tender