This medieval themed bar is very fun! They have huge dripping candles, a throne, and even tarot…read morereadings!! While the space isn't huge, after about 10 minutes two seats opened up so if you're patient, you can probably find a seat. The cocktails were very good and had a lot of variety. For all the ones with a fire next to them, they literally light them on fire! And not just a little either. It's very fun!

My friends and I did not want our night to end, so we went to King of Cups. This was my first time…read morehere, personally. Upon opening the door, the bar was crowded and seemed daunting. We were able to get a table outside, which was perfect. The dark vibes inside are personally not my favorite, but I appreciate the intimacy of the space. We did not order food, and just had some white wine. It was the perfect spot to end our fun night filled with good times, good wine, and laughs while I was visiting Chicago.

Step off the streets of Chicago into a beautifully dimly lit fondue experience is so cozy inside…read morewith the music of a live Spanish guitar that really create a private magical experience. All the premier dinners come with salad, cheese, fondue, and the chocolate fondue - You are just choosing what protein you would like. The Prince Geja combination has a little bit of everything. However, we most liked the seafood which includes lobster and the scallops were to die for! Also the beef also cooks well. Favorite dipping sauce included the pimento mayo, chimichurri, and garlic butter. The cheese fondue is quite rich and the bread is quite filling so maybe get as much cheese as you can on each piece of bread. The chocolate fondue, I think is actually the best course as the Belgium chocolate melts so well and has a decadent but not overly sweet flavor. It pairs well with all that is provided for dipping, which includes poundcake, rice Krispies, strawberries. They also have some liquor that they light on fire at first so you can roast the marshmallows. It is such a well thought out experience. Service flows very well from two waiters who take your order set up your fondue pots for each course, but be prepared to spend at least 2 hours on this experience. Check out the Groupon but also I read a review that they just tack on the extra $50 so it's not really too much of a savings. Not sure if this is true.

Had a fantastic evening at this classic spot!…read more Food was super tasty and fresh! The seafood was probably my favorite! The full dinner with chocolate and cheese was perfect! Also appreciated that they were accommodating for the vegetarian in our party. Everything except the cheese course can be made vegan friendly as well. The service was top notch! Appreciated that they called me ahead of time to confirm our reservation and ask about food allergies. All the staff was incredibly helpful and attentive. They were quick to refill items and answer any questions we had. The location is classic fondue restaurant, cozy and romantic. However, also perfect for catching up with a friend. I love the history in this place and really enjoyed the mood lighting. Pricing was fantastic for the quality of service, food, and drinks! Look forward to many happy returns!

As a Gemini celebrating my birthday season with other Geminis, it only felt right to celebrate at…read moreGemini! When we arrived, I was a bit concerned because we hadn't received our menus. And that's because the menus were being printed with a personalized birthday message! Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and struck the perfect balance of checking in without being overbearing. The mussels (provençal-style) were delicious and enough to share among three people. The truffle-parmesan fries: We couldn't tell if they were too salty or just salty enough, but somehow we couldn't stop eating them! I ordered the baby wedge salad with chicken, and while the chicken looked small at first, it ended up being a large enough portion to last the salad. We were also surprised with complimentary desserts: the Chocolate Chunk Cookie Skillet and Buck Russell's Cake. Though I'm not a sweet person, my dining companions thoroughly enjoyed them.

**4.5 Stars** Hard…read moreto believe this was our first visit to Gemini, but definitely won't be the last. We were glad to get a seat out on the patio on a lovely Tuesday evening after having spent time at the Zoo just a short walk away. The patio is lovely, two servers handling the large space extremely well. There were some things we had that were standouts, and others that were just fine. The half chicken was excellent, cooked perfectly and rubbed with delicious warming spices, the potatoes and pickled veggies the perfect counterbalance. Similar idea to the dish at Armitage Alehouse, but better seasoned and a lot lighter. The steamed mussels rivaled those of Armitage as well at a fraction of the cost. Very different broth, but the mussels themselves were excellent. We were also really impressed with the tuna tartare, an excellent blend of flavors and textures we could have had seconds on. The crispy shrimp rolls were a slight miss, largely because the shrimp were finely chopped, rather than sliced chunks. You ended up getting more the essence of shrimp than shrimp itself. We also felt the skillet cookie was just fun, no better or worse than we've had at places like Crosby Kitchen. Overall, a really good meal that scrapes being really great at times, and does it at affordable prices with friendly, attentive service.

The service is just incredible. That's what stands out the most. We came after having a superb…read moredinner at S.K.Y. and out waitress transferred us to Le Mistral for dessert as we were hoping to end the night with another cocktail. The transition was seamless, the walk through the kitchen was very cool, everyone was very friendly and excited to see guests. Our dessert came quickly to Le Mistral instead of S.K.Y. and was superb. Our waiter at Le Mistral was very friendly, gave some good advice on the cocktails, and was consistently attentive. My cocktail was just OK - sherry-based martini. I don't normally like a martini but all the ingredients actually seemed very much up my alley - the sherry, benedictine, rose vermouth. But the olive just overpowered. And definitely not worth the price of $24... Would definitely return and try the food next time as well.

We popped in on a Monday night for a nightcap after finishing up at Mon Ami Gabi across the lobby…read more Our experience was meh. I don't know if every Monday is Metal night, but it was that Monday - Black Sabbath, Nu-Metal, everything but the live goldfish. Perhaps they should advertise "Monday Metal at Mistral" if that is to be a regular thing. It does flow off the tongue. To be fair, there was a full house and the other patrons did not seem to mind. We were not looking to feel the noize, however, and so stayed for just one cocktail. Mine was a Sazerac adjacent mix, and it was very high quality. The decor is very low light, but the vibe is pretty basic - more Paint Your Dorm Room black than Parisian Opium Den black. A bit of a missed opportunity for romance.

Service was a joke-- "superiority" vibes from the tenders. Who wants to spend money to be ignored…read morein an empty bar and be made to feel like a "that drink is so last year" when you order it... spend your money in a place where people care and don't have their noses in the phones doom scrolling on the clock

Great drinks that aren't too expensive, especially for theatre prices. The bartenders are…read morehilarious, friendly and efficient.

My rating of a 3 is specifically for the Restaurant Week menu though I'll say it definitely didn't…read moreinspire me to come back. I really wanted to like it; this was a nine-year anniversary dinner. Service was really attentive and friendly and I did appreciate that they brought out specific utensils for me as a left-handed person, never saw that before! The restaurant felt a bit bare and sterile, I think I was maybe expecting a little more decor on the table for a Michelin star restaurant. To echo several of the reviews below, the salad was awkward to share and scanty, the soup was good but the bread served with it felt like an afterthought, the sturgeon wasn't anything special though the sauce was quite good, and we are pretty sure the cut of beef was not wagyu or if it was it was not cooked the right way. The beef was the most disappointing part, I couldn't even chew through all of it. The add-ons were the best part - pasta was great and our dessert was delicious. But the rest of the meal was unfortunately mediocre. Hoping that others have a different experience with the regular menu!

Esme was the only restaurant I made it to for Chicago Restaurant Week this year. It was a nice,…read moreupscale experience, and I appreciate that we were able to try this Michelin-starred restaurant at a reduced cost. There was no problem with a vegetarian accommodation, but the menu we were handed does not include the details for the vegetarian courses - disappointing that I couldn't reference this to see the details of each course. All of the food was presented tastefully with meticulous attention to detail. The salad is brought out as a shared dish, which is potentially a bit awkward. Not a problem since I was dining with my husband, but I would have preferred my own salad if I was with a less familiar party. The silverware and dishes were works of art in and of themselves, but our table was scratched up considerably. My dessert was presented very creatively - although my husband's was much more straightforward. Dessert was an optional add-in, so a separate bill was brought out for this at the end. My husband carelessly left a tip on top of the hefty service charge they apply by default, but I didn't realize until after the fact since I'd gone to the restroom.

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.

Elegant, Refined, a spot well worth the wait…read more Sparrow's ambiance, customer service, and drink menu could have been better in my eyes even if they purchased all of my personal data from Meta and Google and tailored it. I would venture to say it is the best cocktail bar in Gold Coast, or at least my personal favorite. Great for a slightly more upscale, special evening out. Lots of food options near by.

Chicago Restaurant week. I reviewed various dining options in search of a good place for dinner…read more Reddit gave me some ideas. I'd never been to Willow Room and liked that they had a four course dinner menu, with items I liked. I was able to make a reservation for a Saturday night at 8:15pm. PARKING Parking on Halsted on a Saturday night can be a nightmare, and it did take a minute to find street parking. North of the 1800 block is busier because there are several restaurants within a two block radius. Side streets are permit parking after 6pm. Meters on Halsted are $2.50/hr. ATMOSPHERE Willow Room was pretty packed. We had a reservation for 8:15pm and my party of two was seated right away. The restaurant features a full bar, dim lighting and is nice and roomy. They have banquette seating around the perimeter, in addition to tables in the middle. SERVICE Our server, who was very nice and accommodating during our dining experience, came by and gave us our menu's. I had already decided on the RW menu and after review, my friend was interested in the Beef Wellington (not on RW menu). Our server informed us that normally the whole table had to order off of the RW menu if one person does, but said she would check with the kitchen since this was the last day of RW. Luckily, we were able to proceed with ordering from different menu's. FOOD I ordered a raspberry Cosmopolitan. I'm a Riesling/Moscato girlie, but I tasted the Riesling and didn't like it. RW dinner was priced at $60. I ordered: First Course: Caesar Salad (Typical salad, was good) Second Course: Mussels (Tasted fine, came with a baguette) Third Course: Short Rib (Could've been slightly more tender and better seasoned. I've definitely had better. Wouldn't order again.) Fourth Course: Orange Ricotta Donuts (Donuts were very good. Three were served, a few more would have been more filling.) My friend ordered a glass of Pinot Noir and: Truffle Fries (Fries were very tasty. I would order again if I went back.) Beef Wellington (The breading was buttery and very good. The beef could've been more seasoned. I wouldn't order.) Key Lime Pie (Was not sweet and had no taste. When our server came back and saw it was uneaten, she offered to take it off the bill. It should be removed from the menu altogether.) The busboys and server were very attentive. Our water glasses were always filled. OVERALL The atmosphere was nice, our server was great. Of all the food we ordered, I would order the truffle fries and Cosmopolitan again. I did leave full and did take my leftover Short Rib to go. Main dishes needed more seasoning. I would dine here again and try a different menu (brunch/lunch), or Happy Hour if they offer it.

Loved everything. Delicious really great foods. Group of four, zero complaints. The service was on…read morepoint. Nice wine pour. Bright fun atmosphere. I thought for the quality and portions and fair prices this is a really great choice. Looking forward to returning.

Genesis was our server and she was absolutely amazing and attentive. She offered great suggestions…read morewhich we adhered to. Smash burger was . Caesar salad+ shrimp was a hit too. Fried chicken was crunchy and good. A touch sweet for my liking but very good. Truffle fries were a big hit. Also had warm crab dip wish had quite a few shells/cartilage but flavor was good. The drinks were all very good too. Music was nice. You good hear it a vibe to it but it was too loud. We didn't have to yell or talk loudly. We were were celebrating all 4 of our upcoming June/July birthdays and she treats us like rock stars. Great job Genesis

I'm not quite sure why this place has pretty good reviews. Overall, it's pretty average. We came…read morefor happy hour and sat outside. While the table was on the sidewalk it was slightly set off and not on a busy street, so that was nice. While I only went inside to use the restroom, the vibes are interesting... I had their aperol spritz and it was okay. It was strong which was good. Then a pornstar martini. I thought the pornstar martini was really good and the best item of the evening. We shared oysters, the crab dip, and tuna tartare. The oysters were alright. The crab dip was funky. It was a bit fishy and maybe too heavy on the dill? I'm not sure but something was a bit off. The tuna tartare tasted fresh and was a good combination of flavors. It would be the only food item I'd reorder from the happy hour menu.

Such a fun dive bar. They're pet friendly! Love coming here for the darts. They have board games &…read moreduring the summer the patio is open.

Reilly pup, & I Also like this dog friendly bar.. I hadn't been here since 1993 ish, and started…read morecoming back in 2025 with Reilly.. We both Love , Heather, who works there. Great service, friendly & good beer & cider..