Warlord was my new favorite restaurant - and while still up there, it has fallen from it's #1 spot on my top Chgo restaurant list. My top-line summary would be... the first two visits were fantastic in every single way (5 STARS) ... wonderful atmosphere, great cocktails, super soundtrack, amazing dishes... and the last visit frankly was a huge disappointment (2 STARS)... in fact, it felt like we walked into a completely different restaurant. Praying this last visit was simply a fluke or an off night for them. Will take a break from Warlord before heading back... and hopefully, when we do return.. it will be the place we loved so much in the first two visits. A few hints... the menu and music change nightly - and as we learned, when it's good... it's AMAZING and when it's not... it's not. The burger & fries is a staple.. and typically very, very tasty. Sharing below more details on each of our visits in case interested: First visit was an incredible experience all around! We sat at the Chef's table, the soundtrack was "old country" - (e.g. Johnny Cash, etc)...and the menu was magical! My friend & I shared all dishes so that we could experience as much of the menu as possible! We started with the foie gras ganache served with port wine plums & their honey hearth bread. This dish was amazing with an incredible flavor & texture and left us wanting to return for it again & again! We also had the heirloom tomato dish - which was a bit lack luster & we decided we wouldn't order again. For our entrees, we shared the Orange King salmon, served with gooseberries & brown butter plus the dry aded burger & fries. The salmon dish was simply amazing... so delicious. The burger (which is a standing menu item) did not disappoint - it was so tasty. In fact, we each brought part of the burger home & it was even incredible reheated the next day! This visit left us putting Warlord at the top of our restaurant list & looking forward to our next visit. Second visit.. sat at Chef's table... was very reminiscent of the first... great music, great location, some of the same menu items (e.g. the foie gras & bread and the burger & fries) and this time we also had ... smoked octopus which was fantastic. Amazing all around once again... Third (& most recent) visit was very disappointing. We took a friend for her birthday and it was a huge let down. Frankly it felt like we were at a different restaurant than the one that was so amazing in our first two visits. The soundtrack was a mix of punk & heavy metal and was unbearably loud. We ordered some of our favorites (fois gras & bread service, burger & fries) but neither hit the mark this night. The bread was burnt making the fois gras/cheese taste a bit off, the burger was over seasoned and he fries were brought as an appetizer, which we found weird since we didn't ask for them to come as an appetizer. We would have preferred them with our burger. Other dishes we ordered included a inedible mushroom appetizer which had an awful texture & taste and scallops that were just ok. As we notified the restaurant we were celebrating a birthday, we expected they would bring out something sweet to celebrate the occasion, but they didn't. We ultimately ordered a piece of cake (they did provide a candle), which was good but not memorable. All & all, this was a very disappointing experience. read more

We dined at Warlord on the 26th night of service and loved it! Much of the food is cooked over the embers of open wood fire and is an absolute treat. The room is friendly, casual, the sound track is filled with early Bowie, Stones, Fleetwood Mack and is loud enough to groove to (yes, I am a boomer) and still support conversation. On the Saturday we visited, the restaurant did not take reservations. I hope in the future they will take limited reservations, but that takes more manpower- perhaps a future service. We arrived at 5:45 for a 6:00 service. We were third in line and were seated as they opened. We sat at the counter to view the chefs' work first hand. If you get a chance to sit there, we recommend it. We really enjoyed the cheese plate with cultured cream, freshly toasted honey hearth bread, local honey, yummy coppinger cheese and homemade pickled root veg. The hokkaido scallops cooked over embers and topped with a perfect hollandaise and leeks were the BEST scallops I've ever had. My husband ordered the 21 day aged, Slagle Farm hamburger with charred onion and homemade mayo. He loved it! The only dish I didn't love, though my husband liked it a lot, was the steak tartare. I found the olives overwhelmed the steak. My husband liked the balance. We both enjoyed the giant sweet potato cracker in this course. The cocktails were also delicious. If the Blackberry Old Fashioned is available try it. I also enjoyed the Fynbos South African gin, lime, apple mint and sweet woodruff G&T. Warlord is a gem, we'll be back soon. read more

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When everyone says come here before it gets popular, they mean it!!! Because this place is phenomenal all around. We stopped by for a late dinner around 10pm and sat at the "chef's table" which is the counter where the chefs prepare the food. Most of the dishes are cooked on an open fire and that just adds to the overall ambiance. We ordered the steak, monkfish, olives, spinach, agnolotti, and strawberries and cream. All delicious and great quality. My boyfriend got the espresso martini drink they offer and really enjoyed it as well. Everyone was super friendly. Just a super cool place that is worth the trip. read more

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Someone get this place a Michelin star or three. Better get here before word spreads. Local ingredients are aged and crafted into mouthwatering combinations of flavors that make you want to order one of everything on the rotating menu. This is a hidden gem in Avondale and shines above all others in the area. It almost seems out of place as it can surely hold its own and even best many of the great Fulton Market restaurants. Our host coursed out the meal expertly and the whole team pitched in to make sure it was executed to perfection. The ramp pasta was refreshingly reminiscent of cacio e pepe. The burger will melt in your mouth between the grilled yet still fluffy bun. The chefs deserve extra praise for having to cook while tending the ever burning fire which creates a warm cozy ambiance. Even the blue cheese atop the dry aged ribeye was fanned to impart fiery melty goodness. They don't take reservations so make sure to plan accordingly but it will surely be worth any wait! read more

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My new favorite restaurant in Chicago. I've lost count of the amount of times I've been there. It's such a vibe. The chill grungy music, the low lighting, the chic wallpaper, the faint flicker of the kitchen flame off my friend's glasses. But nothing compares to the food at Warlord. The menu is always a little different and *always* magical. I love the rotating cheese plate. The bread that comes with it topped with their honey butter is straight from paradise. The burger is 10/10. Hands down glorious. The dry aged salmon is out of this world. You seriously can't go wrong with anything from this gem. Expect a wait any day they're open unless you go after 11pm. And even then you might not get seated right away. But it's worth the wait. Any seat in the restaurant is lovely. Don't go if you're in a rush. Go to soak in the entire experience. The staff are all so friendly and genuine and welcoming and knowledgeable. Warlord is truly a wonderful addition to Avondale and worth the trek from far and wide! read more

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Not worth the hype. Food was good, but nothing unique or exceptional. Service was very good with the exception of the bus person who kept trying to take our dishes away before we were finished. Dark and loud. Not worth waiting in line for. read more

Some really amazing people cooking some really great food. Service was unintrusive and the cocktails we're fantastic. Go here.

Waited 3 hours until they texted saying that the table was ready. That's fine as we knew we'd have to wait but we waited another 45 minutes in a crammed lobby after we received the text which was frustrating. Food unfortunately didn't live up the the hype. The burger was bland and on the burnt side. We also got the octopus which was extremely charred and our table was not a fan of. read more

Liked the theme and decor. All workers were so nice. Our party of 3 got there 15 mins before open at 6 and there was a line already. We were able to get seated in the patio around 6:20 or so where we could only order drinks and appetizers. We were told our table inside would be ready around 7/7:30. We did all agree that the drinks were so good but it took an hour for our appetizers to come. We ordered the bread and Brie with 2 oysters. We specifically asked if the bread and cheese would be enough for the 3 of us, which the waiter said yes. I kid you not it was 2 slices of bread and a small caramelized apple and the cheese. By the time it was almost 8 we were starving and still haven't been seated inside. We gave up, paid the bill, and went to the Mexican restaurant down Belmont. This is another one of those places with small portions and a large price. We will not be returning. read more

Good food, good vibes. Menu changes every week and the proteins are always amazing. Sit at the counter if you can! read more

The food was fantastic and interior design really fit the vibe and ambience. Drinks were good too, but leaned on the strong side, which I enjoyed. While the flavors were excellent, everything on the menu is on the heavier/fattier side. I wish they took that into account and had a dish with pickles, fruits, or something that could serve as a palate cleanser. I still look forward to coming back here the next time I'm in Chicago! read more

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If you arrive right when they open, be ready to stand in a line. You can put your name in if you don't get seated right away and then walk down to Sleeping Village for a drink or two while you wait. Their food is great and love their grunge vibe! read more

Ate here last night with a friend and we had such an awesome meal! We shared every plate and the portion sizes were reasonable, meaning they were okay to split but also enough for one person. We started with the grilled oysters, two each. They were so good we got a second order. Next we had the beef tartare with a crispy cracker and everything was seasoned perfectly and the textures balanced out well. Following the tartare we had the scallops with sea lettuce which were delicious. The ramp pasta was next and the sauce was creamy with just the right amount of pepper. I was still hungry so I asked my friend if she would split the burger and she agreed. Get the burger. It was cooked perfectly medium rare with their house-made sauce and caramelized onions and the most perfect fluffy bun. Our server told us the menu changes regularly, with some of the items changing daily. Part of the reason for this is they source their ingredients locally, and the Chef explained to us that the beef and the cream used in some of the dishes were from a farm that was about an hour and a half outside the city. I love to support places like this because they do things the right way with integrity and respect for the food. The artistic touches from the decor to the dish ware take everything to a different level. I cannot wait to be back to try more. Vibes were relaxed and comfortable. Really great spot for a date night or with friends. Definitely check it out if you're in the neighborhood! read more

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Place was loud which was to be expected. A bit too warm for my taste. Service was consistent. The fois gras appetizer and chocolate desert were great. The ribeye was good but not great. I'm glad I went but wouldn't recommend. read more

What takes longer - a Scorsese movie or eating 3 courses at Warlord? New place, obviously has some serious ambition and potential. Will try it again some time I'm sure. But man.. we went on a Monday, which is guess is the end of their weekend.. I do appreciate spots that open on Mondays so that's a plus. Seated right away which was good, and the place filled up as the night went on. And I gotta say.. they night went on. For a long long while. We ordered about 6 dishes. First bites (marinated olives, nothing crazy) arrived almost an hour after sitting. I mean... They have a tiny cooking surface, over wood fire, apart from a 4 or 6 burner stove.. probably 3 or 4 proteins at a time, max. Cool concept and the imparted flavor was nice.. but um... There are like 40 or 50 seats in here. All in all the food was good not great. The wine selection was on point. I was ready to leave after sitting on the counter stool for so long. read more

Everything was exceptional. From the staff to the decor to the ambience to the spectacular dining experience provided by the chefs. Everything was immaculate. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Warlord - Scallops - Specialty Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Warlord is HOT. Literally and figuratively. The food is great. Get the burger and the steaks. Cocktails are solid and I love a spot that keeps a $4 swill on the menu. The ambiance is cool. Sitting at the chefs table is awesome. But seriously, the servers are nice and knowledgeable but get overwhelmed when the restaurant is full which is literally 5 minutes after opening. I've been 3 times since opening weekend. The last two times I stopped by it's taken like 20 minutes for a high life. Food runners were bringing food to the wrong tables. The table next to us was asked explicitly what they we're waiting on still by a front of house member. We had planned on getting the dessert but after never receiving our second round of ordered drinks just asked for the check. I say this giving zero blame to the front of house staff which is clearly not staffed appropriately. This restaurant could be epic and I really really really want it to be successful. This place would be a 5 if they get there service to the level their menu is clearly striving to be. I'm rooting for you guys and hoping you will get the kinks out soon. Pro-tip: Get there at 5:45 otherwise it seems like it's a 90 minute wait. read more

Went to see what the hype was about. Arrived at 5:30 and made it in the first seating. We tried the entire menu and everything was fine (except for the wine which was awful - our choice and mistake). The highlights were the fish dishes. The steak was very fatty (even for a ribeye), the burger was under salted and the rest was not memorable. To be clear the food was not bad and the service was solid, but I'd never wait or go out of my way to eat here. Maybe we had an off night, but I just don't get the hype. The burger isn't in my top 15 for Chicago. read more

Food was stellar and unique Service was friendly and fun Ambiance was chic and cool Excited to see how they grow! read more

a superior experience. very small menu so we ordered almost everything. tuna was delicious but i wish it had more of the xo sauce. pasta was perfectly al dente and a delight to enjoy. steak was very flavorful but a tad rare in the center for me. hamburger was divine! i would definitely come back especially since their menu rotates. ambiance and decor was beautiful. however if you're taking a date here do not sit at the chef's table bc it was so so hot and we were sweating the entire meal. sid, the server was so funny and we had the best time with her; would come back just to see her read more

Warlord - open kitchen - Specialty Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food is great. Menu changes frequently, so it's always great to come to dinner and just be surprised by what's being offered. Just a warning, some orders take longer than others. We had to wait nearly two hours for our duck and fish. The restaurant is also very dark. You will have a hard time seeing your food. read more

Warlord has a good burger and we all liked the duck. However, had an unfortunate situation with one of the cooks. Someone in our party slipped on the step and dislocated his shoulder, but he came back because he was very excited about the food and wanted to be sure to eat even though he was in extreme pain (dedication). He came back in after about 15 mins and Our waiter and another waiter were kind enough to ask if he was okay and even got him some pain medicine. We weren't really thinking much of the fall since he just slipped due to his shoes, but at the end of the dinner, one of the cooks came up to our table and started joking about the fall and kept reiterating how this was the first time that it has ever happened and how "the guy" was so clearly playing with his phone he "jumped" off the step and hurt himself. He even said "I mean yea it's so obvious we are not liable I mean we have the whole thing on tape, we can send it to you guys for the holidays". "The guy" who he kept saying was also sitting right there but the cook was not acknowledging him and kept saying "the guy". Now we were never thinking warlord was liable at all but his comments definitely rubbed everyone the wrong way especially the one who fell and dislocated his shoulder as he did not just jump off the step nor was he just dillydallying on his phone. The other waiter who gave us the medicine heard everything the cook said and came back to our table and immediately apologized and said to "not mind the cook as it seemed like he was just trying to save his ass". Appreciated this waiter and the other waiter for helping out but definitely did not like how the cook was talking to us and describing the whole incident in a way to save his ass and reiterate he is not accountable. Not a way to run a place in my opinion. Next time atleast acknowledge if someone's okay before getting to the point of saying you are not liable (when we never said you were or thought that at any point) or don't come up to the table at all. read more

Unreal food service and ambiance. This is a must go place if you love restaurants that push boundaries and take risks

My husband and I arrived for the line up at 5:45. We were sat by 6:16 at the bar, which suited us perfectly. The place is dark, sexy, and moody. The service is wonderful. We ordered 70% of the items on the menu and was not disappointed. The wine list is small but hits all the important points when selecting something to pair with their menu. We'll be back. read more

I will start off with the good - the food was incredible. The burger was as amazing as everyone makes it out to be. Additionally, the ambiance and overall atmosphere is cozy and cool, with dark accents and candlelit tables. However, the service leaves room for improvement. Everything took... forever. We were a larger group so I do cut some slack but if they couldn't accommodate us, I wish they would have just been upfront about that. We decided to get cocktails in the garden while we waited "1-1.5 hours" for our table. However, our cocktails took nearly an hour to arrive and 30 minutes for the check thereafter. As our table wasn't ready, we went to a nearby bar for an hour. We went back to warlord after an hour because we didn't want to miss the opportunity for our table and waited another hour in the foyer. Again, I understand we were a large group, I would just like an upfront communication that they would not be able to accommodate us as we would have identified other dinner plans. read more

Great atmosphere with an amazing staff. The burger was fabulous. So good that we ordered a second for the table!

Overhyped and overpriced. I sense that this place must have had standout food when it started out, then got a reputation for being cool and uses the no reservations shtick to create long lines and make itself seem like it's special. And has settled into good quality food but keeps the cool reputation. Although the food was tasty, it wasn't anything earth-shattering or truly special, and doesn't seem worth all the hype at all. The menu is limited, and since I am gluten and dairy free it was even more limited. My husband and I got the hamachi and french fries to start, then the fois gras, hamburger and salmon. All were well-executed using high quality ingredients and tasted good but none were earthshattering. I don't get to eat fries out often but they assured me there was no cross-contamination, so I was psyched to have fries as a treat; unfortunately they were pretty ordinary fries. We were still hungry but the only other thing on the menu was a $60 steak, which I balked at as we had already racked up a $200 bill (we had 4 drinks between us in addition to the above items). The loud music (they played a full Rage in the Machine album during our meal, at full volume) makes it difficult to have a conversation and I was glad to get out. Also it's so dark that it is hard to see your food; I spend most of my time in Tokyo and believe that the visual of what you eat is important. Again, it feels like they are emphasizing coolness over anything else. We had appetizers in the back patio and I would have preferred to have my whole meal out there as it was much more pleasant. read more

Fantastic service! Cocktails were mid. Had the fries, burger, and ribeye. Ribeye was fine. Fries were great. To date this was the best burger I've ever had. read more

Great people doing great things!!! Food drinks and ambience are the rule here. Get in early and enjoy.

Wanted to like this restaurant and concept but not much good to say. Waited almost 2 hrs for table, which we were prepared for given they don't take reservations. What not prepared for was disgusting garbage smell on patio while waiting. Go to bowling alley a few doors down and have a beer rather than sit in their patio. Food was honestly MEH except for fries, over-priced ribeye and cheese app. Food also came out 40 min after ordering. Wine selection quite good so kudos for that. We came with party of 6 and they tried to shove us in a booth that barely held 5 and then looked at us like we had two heads when we asked for a chair to have space for a 6th. Salmon tartare entrre was barely 4 oz plus a big cracker. Skate wing was good but funky and had no sides except underseasoned tomatoes. Burger comes with 2 limp pickles and nothing else. Left $750 in on the check and still hungry. Just tried Smoque Steak, also open only a few weeks, and it was fabulous, pricey but a great value for the quality of food, and service was impeccable. Plus, we didn't have to have our face in napkins to avoid the garbage smell while waiting. read more

One of the best (and simplest) burgers I've ever had. Some things are a bit pricey and the thunderous music is a bit much, but overall, nice vibe, great food and service. read more

This place has a great vibe and spectacular food. The staff all seem to be seasoned and savvy. It was a totally great experience. Lines form early. read more

Food was exceptional. You can experience petit Michelin started with a la cart menu. However, there is problem with standardizing wine pour ounces. The server I had apparently didn't know how to measure, so I barely had 3 oz poor wine for the full glass of wine. Also, timing the entrees is slightly off. My buddy didn't get his food at all until I completely finished my food. read more

Great atmosphere. Great music vibes. Great staff. That's about it. Hamburger was good, but not even close to a top 10 on my list. I don't mind overpaying for food if it's something you don't normally see on a menu, but everything I had was overly salty. Maybe tonight's menu just wasn't my jam? I I don't pretend to be an oyster connoisseur, and I've had plenty of them from all over the U.S. I'm also well aware that oysters have a natural salty brine, but these just tasted like seawater and nothing better that you might get from an upscale chain seafood restaurant. The pate was like a salty butter schmear without the liver flavor. I wouldn't have known it was pate if we didn't order it. The duck was fine, but nothing remarkable. Kind of shocking, especially seeing the ducks hanging above the grill as we walked to our table. This was my biggest disappointment, as I love duck, and those birds dangling above the shooting flames ensured that it was going on our table. I'm always skeptical when it comes to burger reviews, but due to word of mouth, I came in with high expectations. I'm well aware of how people prefer their burgers (smash, grilled, thick, simply garnished, sauced, etc.) can effect their reviews, and I'm not saying it was bad...but it just didn't hit. It was definitely beefy-flavored, but nowhere near a 2 hour wait time if that's why you are going. It's not even close to Little Cheval good. I don't want to sound mean, this is a super cool space, with an attentive, helpful and friendly staff, but in my opinion, the burger doesn't come anywhere close to living up to the hype, My biggest issue, and great for Warlord ,is that the wait. I just can't justify it. Again, maybe it was just tonight's particular menu, but nothing I experienced was worth coming at 5:30, waiting in line until 6:00 to put a name on the list,, and then told it would be 2 hours to get a table. I went there knowing that reality, it just didn't live up to that inconvenience. Also, in that immediate area, there's nowhere close to go and wait. Without trying to sound like I'm shitting on everything, and god knows I love me some dive bars, but I have zero interest in hanging out early-evening at Edelweiss for two hours. Warlord does have an outdoor patio that you can wait serving apps and drinks, but we decided not to hang there because we wanted to go in hungry and the drink tab would've been 1/2 of the bill. I do want to give this place another chance, just because I really liked the atmosphere, and really appreciated the customer service. For Warlord's sake, I hope that they continue to have that type of business success. For me, without sounding like a broken record, the price/wait time doesn't match up to the overall dining experiencing. I wanted to go there and be blown away, and maybe I'm judging Warlord based on the hype and expected too much, but I need to leave almost euphoric if I'm waiting that long. read more

staff was rude. didnt seat us. gave us a free cocktail while we waited for a nonexistent Table....so that gives them an extra star?