This was another fortunate find randomly while walking around downtown Chicago. Seems to be a super…read morepopular place based on the number of reviews this place has. It was hard to find, but we discovered the entrance is in a back alley and bar is located downstairs. We loved the Tikki Bar theme. Drinks were good but a little watered down which was disappointing. Overall, it was a unique experience in the city.

We stop here every time we visit Chicago. If you love tiki cocktails, this is the place to go!…read moreCan't recommend enough. It's a speakeasy, so it feels like a hidden escape from reality. We've been to many tiki bars in the US and this is by far the best! Love that you can now buy a mug (with a cocktail) for cheaper than the shop... It's a great deal to get a mug this way! The only slight disappointment was the updated food menu.. loved the Spicy Thai Chicken, Veggie rolls, and coconut shrimp in years past.. sad to see them go.

Genuinely the best bar I've ever been to. Sitting at the bar is an absolute must. Bartender was…read moreextremely friendly and knowledgeable. The welcome cocktail was one they could easily add to the menu and it would hold its own. Would've tried the entire menu if I had the bankroll for it. Has become the topic of conversation regularly and I will return any time I am in Chicago.

We come here every year for the restaurant show and each time the cocktail are new and exciting…read more The bartender even remembered us from last year. !! We had a great time sitting at the bar. Tried 3 cocktails and the bartender was gracious enough to let me sample a new rum he loved. The clarified cocktails are delish and a def labor of love. The Saturn frappe was so good and their selection is unmatched. It's a great place to have a tropical cocktail and enjoy.

I was really disappointed by my experience with Selma at Broken Shaker. Throughout my visit, she…read moreloudly talked about how much she hated her job, hated dealing with people, and couldn't stand being there--all within earshot of guests. Hearing that as a customer made the experience feel uncomfortable and unwelcoming. Everyone has difficult days, but when you work in hospitality, professionalism matters. If you're unhappy, it shouldn't become part of your guests' experience. The drinks were fine, but the attitude overshadowed them. Considering you've only been bartending for about five months, I hope you recognize that many people would appreciate the opportunity to work in a position where great service can also lead to great tips. A positive attitude goes a long way in this industry, and treating guests with respect is a big part of the job.

So I came to this bar and hung out with friends, since I was staying at the hotel upstairs (The…read moreFreehand). I didn't actually have a drink so can't comment on those but I can on the ambiance. The interior of this bar is really cozy and nice. I would definitely enjoy hanging out here had it not been for the VERY loud club music on the Saturday night that I came. In fact, the sheer number of people all crowded in here gave it a very clubby vibe, which I actually don't care for at all. The music was so loud it was hard to hear my friends talking and I was concerned it would be loud in my room, but I was up on the 14th floor so thankfully it was far enough that I could barely hear the music with the windows closed and it did not keep me up. Overall -- on nights when it isn't so loud and clubby I would enjoy it here, but that one experience I had was enough that I wouldn't seek to hang out in this spot again since it was a little over stimulating. The location within the hotel is really nice if you're staying there, though.

Right before starting writing this one, I wrote a review for Kibbitznest, another phenomenal…read moreChicago bar with a totally different theme and vibe. That is to say: I am not throwing words of praise like "one of a kind" and "phenomenal" around lightly. Both are different and still amazing. Sparrow has a vibe straight out of the 1920s. The decor, signage, use of color, and absence of screens or TV's all contribute to the theme. The music is also appropriate and plays at the perfect volume to be pleasant without forcing one to raise their voice. I tried the Green Daisy and a House Old Fashioned. The Green Daisy was boozy and had some herbaceous notes. A little tartness and a little sweetness helped balance the drink out and make for a phenomenal sipper. I loved the creativity with this one! The House Old Fashioned was also well done, assembled with quality ingredients in balance with one another. Nothing wrong with a well-executed classic. The prices are more or less reasonable considering the location and overall market, with bevies costing around $16. The bar staff is excellent! Very friendly and welcoming! Final verdict: A spot where I can say come for the drinks and stay for the vibe. It's the kind of place where walking in you are transported a century into the past. Everything about the experience, including the atmosphere, drinks, service, and prices, is calling me to return and bring some people with me.

This might be my favorite rum bar in the country. If you want intimate spaces, moody lighting,…read moreextensive rum selections, and drink specials come here. Monday nights are my favorite because they offer a different specialty rum in special. It's a great way to try different kinds. They also serve beer, wine, and every other spirit you can imagine. Cocktails are on point. Seating options are varied: bar seats, small tables in back, bench seating with tiny tables up front. Quiet and comfortable.

korynna was the best bartender! Half a minute for a beer! Even helped us find the right boat!read more

korynna was an excellent server! it started raining during out meal (we weren't under cover) and…read moreshe quickly moved us to a covered table. she was also super attentive and even guided us in some hot dog and deep dish pizza places since we aren't from Chicago (from NJ). thanks Korynna!!

We're so happy we came here after not wanting to wait over an hour for tables elsewhere because the…read morefood and drinks here were so good. At 9pm there was no wait for a table or bar seating. This was our second time here after over a year but we didn't really get food the last time. It's a speakeasy located down an alleyway behind Frontera Grill and Xoco, or you can walk through Frontera Grill and get to the entrance through there. They'll give you a massive "bible" and it's basically a dictionary of all the liquors they have. Every one of them comes from Mexico. We sat at the bar and our bartender was really friendly. To drink, we chose two off the featured cocktail menu. They were doing a tomatillo theme. We ordered the Roasted Tomatillo Jam Sour and Tomatillo-Serrano Herbal Margarita. My favorite was the margarita because it was a little savory. I also got the milk punch which was so good! Probably one of the best I've had. To eat, we ordered the fire fried chicken, late night smash burger, and side of yucca fries. Everything was delicious. The burger is definitely a hidden gem! It was amazing. And the chicken was fried perfectly crispy. For dessert, we got both options: the chocolate strawberry sundae and the coconut tres leches. Both were great and I had difficultly choosing my favorite!

We absolutely loved trying this place. It felt incredibly exclusive, almost like a hidden gem…read moretucked away from everything else. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, the service was exceptional, attentive, welcoming, and seamless. The drinks were amazing, and every dish we had was truly exquisite. Calling it Michelin-star quality almost feels like an understatement. Everything was crafted with such care and precision. To top it all off, we even got to see the chef, who took a moment to say hello.. it made the experience feel even more special and personal. We'll definitely be back.

Amazing food. Arrived around 3pm and table was ready In 30 minutes…read more Server was attentive and checked on us throughout our meal. The cheeseburger is delicious!!! Hashbrowns were crispy and tasty. They had a nice outdoor seating area as well.

We'd made a lunch reservation at Au Cheval in advance, which wasn't too hard for a Monday. The…read moreinterior was smaller than I'd expected but so classic and stylish. We were seated at a comfortable booth near the window. For drinks, I chose the Citrus Ritual mocktail, which I loved - so well-made and refreshing. I also got a Single Cheeseburger with the added egg and an order of French Fries to share with my coworker. I was a bit confused because it turns out a single cheeseburger at Au Cheval is actually a double because it comes with two beef patties. Personally, I would've just preferred one. Otherwise, it was a very nice burger, but I can't say it changed my brain chemistry. The French Fries were also tasty. Service was incredibly professional, attentive, and quick. Worth the visit!

This review is mainly related to the bar area and offeringa. Even though my colleague ordered food…read morefor late night eats. With respect to the cocktail offerings, they were predominantly centered around a beachy feel vibe. If you are not familiar with Goa, it is a beach city in India that used to be one of the prime destinations for Indians to visit. This is a prime reason for the beach vibes in their cocktails. I learned from the bartender, who was on her first day at the job BUT have bartended at the sister restaurants owned by the same owners, that there are similar drinks between the establishments with minor variances. all in all, the service was attentive quick, and always there to provide recommendations based off of particular taste.

This was our first time here and it was decent. It was empty on a Monday night so we were promptly…read moresit. The inside feels like you're at a beach club. It's fun, but since there was no one else the music was a bit loud for us. The food was fine, but likely won't return.

This is an amazing Asian fusion restaurant. Very classy without being unapproachable…read more Service was impeccable - knowledgeable and friendly without being overbearing.

Took one of my friends here for her birthday & it was really an enjoyable experience! It's a nice…read morelocation as well. We decided to do the chef's table for dinner. It was a quiet night, but we were not rushed at all. The staff were really nice & attentive. The menu for chef's table was a Vietnamese fusion inspired menu. You can tell that each dish was carefully thought out & creative. There were dishes were created with a little twist to it. Some of the dishes, however, we thought were more on the saltier side. I would want to come back again and try some items on the regular menu. A lot of things sounded delicious & would be enjoyable.

We originally came to Ghost Donkey as paranormal investigators, after being hired to locate the…read moremissing ghost donkey belonging to a local agave farmer. The case had gone cold--or perhaps mezcal-hot--until we received a clue pointing us toward River North. Ghost Donkey is spacious, colorful, and full of energy, with plenty of bar seating and tables. The music can get loud, but it fits the atmosphere perfectly. The bartenders were constantly interacting with guests, swinging the lights, encouraging the crowd, and turning the entire room into a neon-lit fiesta. They do have a food menu featuring items such as tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and guacamole, but we mostly came for the drinks. Many of the cocktails are tequila- or mezcal-based, which is exactly what we enjoy. The menu is creative, the drinks are strong, and the bar does an excellent job making agave spirits approachable--even for guests who may not consider themselves mezcal experts. After two drinks and an argument with a decorative donkey, we finally found the missing spirit hiding behind the bar. He was translucent, smelled faintly of roasted agave, and appeared to be carrying a tiny map. We followed him through a glowing hallway, down a staircase, and into a secret chamber where he revealed the legendary piñata of Quetzalcoatl, the ancient feathered serpent god. Naturally, we attempted to break it open. Instead of candy, it released a cloud of mystical dust, three lime wedges, and a receipt for nachos. The ghost donkey brayed with laughter, the lights began swinging, and the entire bar erupted in applause. The bartender handed us another drink and told us this happened all the time. Ghost Donkey is a fantastic place to hang out, pregame, and enjoy inventive tequila and mezcal cocktails in a lively setting. Just be warned: you may arrive looking for a ghost donkey and leave having helped recover an ancient Mexican god's piñata. That's simply the sort of evening this place encourages.

Food: ok -- we got a carne asada quesadilla to share and we were glad we were able to customize it…read morea bit to meet allergens/preferences Drinks: not for me AT ALL -- the paloma was okay at best, the chispa was AWFUL (worst drink I have EVER had, had two sips and left it there), and the spicy drink was also not our cup of tea Service / Ambiance: i loved the LED lights, and staff was friendly. The music was good but kind of all over the place in terms of genre, vibe, and order The best thing about Ghost Donkey in my opinion is that it has a cute photobooth