We stopped in for a night cap and a snack on a Friday evening! We sat at the bar and I liked how…read morebig and comfy the chairs are. We also had front row seats to watch March madness, and more importantly the beer filling mechanism that fills glasses from the bottom! Kinda fun to watch. The bar also has purse hooks, which I am always grateful for. The food came out pretty quickly and was super fresh and delicious. The bartender was sooo sweet, very attentive and quick, and made sure my soda was always topped off. I loved the vibe and the moody lighting! The menu is definitely River North prices -- nothing terribly surprising bht on par for the neighborhood. At the time of our visit, cocktails were $15+ and the fry basket was $10. Again, not terrible but definitely paying to be in River North. If you're in the neighborhood, definitely worth it!

Was craving a burger and a drink, and found no vacancy which did have vacancy on a Saturday night…read more We were greeted and sat at the bar immediately. I ordered the picture me drink, and a burger. The cocktail was sweet and refreshing. Great bartender. The burger came out shortly after and it was huge. It was perfectly cooked and super juicy as well. Fries were hot and crispy too. Overall, pretty good spot for some solid food and drinks. The vibes are dark and quite loud, but to be expected for a dive bar.

exactly as I expected, gilt bar was phenomenal - the beef…read moretartare was the best I've ever had, it was so filled with flavor, every bite tasted like a beef salad. the egg was jammy and delicious adding a new layer of richness to the meal. the bread it came with was FRESH, hard crispy crust surrounding thick cuts of spongey bread - the truffle malfadine was perfectly cooked long chewy noodles with the perfect amount of a truffle pepper sauce over them. certain bites had full peppercorns, breaking through the slight creaminess. - I had high hopes for the burger and was picturing a bougie restaurant thick cut juicy burger. it was fascinating because it had the same juicy soft flavor, but it was more of a Smashburger style so you had a little bit of crisp on the outside and instead of a thick singular patty, it was two on top of each other. the fries were solid (not very salty which was divisive) but the aioli elevated the fries and burger to a new level, huge points - Guinness here is so cheap. my dirty martini was dirty as all hell and delicious. the service was so kind and attentive and brought out extra ice cream with hot fudge for my birthday. the carrot cake was incredibly moist and tasted like real carrots, nuts, and spices, not enough frosting for me tho hehe - this is literally such a stunning restaurant with a photo booth and a downstairs sultry bar, and an open standing space around the bar upstairs. I get why it is always booked. If I was to come back, I would do it all again except ...maybe instead of the burger... try something else hmm

Dinner at Gilt Bar felt like stepping into one of Gatsby's favorite haunts. The interior is…read morestunning , moody, golden, and effortlessly glamorous. The cocktails were beautifully crafted and worth the visit alone. The food was good, but not necessarily the star of the night. What really stood out was the atmosphere and the service, both absolutely incredible. One of those places you go for the vibe as much as the meal.

We tried pre opera drinks and bites at Good Funk on Wacker and overall it was a blah experience…read more The wine selection was interesting, the food was average, at best. We didn't especially enjoy the atmosphere (sadly we were seated at the bar next to some douche dude bros) or the service. I doubt we will return.

My friend rented this out a few weeks ago to celebrate her 45th. It was the perfect spot for about…read more30 women to mingle, drink cocktails and eat delicious food (compliments of Beaknik). I helped her choose the menu using both Yelp and some help from my bestie chatgpt and came up with the following: 7 Passed Apps: * Mini Truffle Beef Wellington (black truffle aioli) * Short Rib & Brie Slider (Aleppo BBQ, arugula, tomato jam) * Chicken Kebab (harissa-marinated chicken, tahini labneh) * Salmon Taco (avocado, mojo rojo, cilantro) * Mushroom Croquette (black truffle aioli) * Halloumi Skewer (tomato & quince jam, za'atar) * Mini Crab Cake (lemon aioli, herb salad) 1 Stationary Grazing Item: * Mezze Trio (tahini hummus, beet tahini w/ goat cheese, tzatziki, grilled pita & crudité) ---- It ended up being the perfect amount of food- heavy enough to fill us for dinner, but also light enough that we didn't get too full and could stay out late and dance (at the request of the bday gal). They passed the appetizers, but once they passed them around a few times they put them on the bar which became one big grazing station. The drinks were great as well and they even did a signature cocktail in honor of my friend, which was quite strong (hello tequila). The bartender and other staff were super friendly and knew many of us by name after a few hours. It was the perfect cozy spot for this amount of people and I'd love to look into using it again for a similar type of party...or just stopping in for a cocktail!

We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

Months after visiting, Arbella still ranks among the best cocktail bars in the city for me!…read more One thing that really makes Arbella unique is their globally inspired old fashioned menu- whether you're an old-fashioned fan or not, these are a must! They've upped their happy hour game by including a rotating global cocktail with previous menu drinks and a daily kitchen special. This time, I ordered the oldest old fashioned and the Oaxaca old fashioned to drink. I thought the first was the best old fashioned I had ever had, but the second was even better! I loved the subtle yet not overpowering smokiness of the mezcal in the Oaxaca. Neither were too sweet and you could really taste the high quality bourbon. We ordered the Korean fried chicken and coconut shrimp to eat from the happy hour menu. The shrimp was super crispy with a delicious ginger-orange compote and rice vinegar pickled onions. Highly recommend! I did think the chicken was a bit tough, but the flavor was good. Another great experience of many to come! If you haven't stopped by Arbella yet, add this to your bucket list asap!

I stopped by Chicago Winery on a Wednesday early evening solo and was able to sit at the bar…read morewithout reservation. I was blown away by the ambiance and decor. Chicago Winery prioritizes upscale and intimacy but their service is personable and friendly allowing you to feel right at home. On Wednesday they offer a Happy Hour special, $5 off a tasting and $10 wine by the glass. The server as extremely kind, and was able to offer me some suggestions based on my personal palate and wine interests. I landed on the Winemaker's Tasting, which included 4, one ounce pours, including Blancs de Blancs, Albarino, Barbera and Merlot. I paired the tasting with the a BYOB board. From their menu I picked the olives, Afterglow, and the Tempesta Guanciale. The server was educated on the wines was able to walk me through the tasting and pairings but gave me independence and autonomy to enjoy at my own leisure and pace. I highly enjoyed my visit and absolutely will be returning to dine in, as well as to get a winery tour!

Was gifted the wine tasting and tour for my birthday which was a very fun experience. Great deal to…read morebuy wine after. I preferred the whites and was disappointed by the reds. We had the date package and ate at the restaurant after. I recommend the pork schnitzel and pierogis. We ordered four shareables but weren't blown away by the butternut squash fondue and gougeres. Loved our hostess for the wine tasting, but wish there was more guidance on tasting notes and wine terminology. I'd recommend though to any wine lovers, I still learned a lot!

We shared: 1. Salade Lyonnaise "Canard" - frisee, escarole,…read moreduck confit, duck egg, duck-fat croutons 2. Poulet Roti - Harrison's Farm Chicken Breast, Potato Pave, Tomato Farcie, Tuscan Kale, Sauce Obelix 3. Souffle - spiced molasses, date toffee sauce, vanilla ice cream 4. Cote De Boeuf - 14 oz USDA prime ribeye, French fries, sauce au poivre 5. Roasted Mushrooms 6. Black Truffle Gougere - choux pastry, comte, truffle Mornay, perigord truffle 7. Huitre Chaude - belle du jour oyster, tarragon-horseradish rouille, lemon Not gonna break down everything we ordered but to simplify, will name my favorites and only dish that disappointed. The duck salad and roast chicken are perfectly executed, shareable, and must-gets. The only disappointment, the Prime ribeye, sad to say, altho clearly medium rare in my photos, was a little tough and chewy. Fries were also dry. Service was professional and competent. Regularly checked on us, updated us on food arrival, and cleaned our table. Ambience was classy and relaxing.

We visited Obelix for the first time on a recent weeknight. Highlights were an interesting menu and…read morecustomer focused staff. VIBE: The dining room had a cozy country brasserie feel, with medium wood tones prevailing. It was not full, so conversational noise was only moderate. SERVICE: The host noted my reservation request for a seating accommodation and honored it - bonus points for that. Our server was attentive and comp'd us for a dessert that did not delight us. Food came at a leisurely pace, which suited us. FOOD: The menu had contemporary takes on French standards. We're not foie gras fans, but there were witty dishes for those who are. A Basque octopus appetizer was clever and flavorful, if a bit salty. Roast chicken was also notably salty, and it lacked the roasty character we expect from this bistro standard. Poached monkfish was tender and tangy, but also a bit salty. The couple of wines we had were interesting, especially an excellent dry sparkling rose, which was quite dry and refreshing. For dessert, a souffle was just meh. The ambiance and hospitality were notable. The food was inventive and generally OK (except for the saltiness). We're not sure we'll return.

We really liked this place! It was very busy. The Caesar and calamari were outstanding. My wife…read morereally liked her pappardelle noodles. I also thought the lasagna was good, but not quite worth the hype. We really appreciates the free dessert for our anniversary as well as the server noticing I don't drink alcohol and bringing over a non alcoholic beverage to celebrate. The inside is super cute and not too loud. Very photo worthy. Overall we are glad we stopped by.

There are so many Italian restraurants in Chicago and I can see why this place gets such good…read morereviews. Caesar salad: 4/5. Well balanced dressing and fresh greens. The sliced celery was a nice addition. Just the right amount of anchovy. Burrata lasagne: 4.5-5. A top tier lasagne. Loved the sauce and cheese in the many layers of pasta and the burrata was a nice way to top it. One bad note: the app the restaurant uses to pay the bill with a QR code incorrectly calculates the recommended tip (apparently including the tax).

Love this place for the vibes and large groups. Everything is shareable and the drinks are very…read moregood. The space feels warm and inviting with a lively energy that works well for a night out with friends or a casual date. Service was friendly and attentive and the staff did a nice job guiding us through the menu and pacing the meal. The vibe is definitely a big part of the experience and makes the visit feel special. Overall, it is a place I would happily return to especially to explore more of the menu and enjoy the atmosphere again.

Came here for drinks with an old coworker and it was so lovely!! The views of the city are so…read morebeautiful, and we were able to sit right next to the ledge to take it all in. We each got a drink and split a couple of apps. We got the Caesar salad and the cheeseburger. Both were pretty good and I would recommend. I also got the lust for life and my friend got the livin la vinho verde. I didn't try my friends, but I really liked mine and thought it was fresh. The servers seemed a little hectic as there was a corporate event happening on the other end of the patio. Overall though we didn't have to wait too long for our drinks or food and had a great time! I'll be back!

Grand Cru has quickly become my favorite wine shop in Chicago. A place to hang out with friends,…read moretake classes, try new wines at happy hour, grab a favorite bottle for a night in, or get a food pairing recommendation for BYOB. Matt is very knowledgeable and has curated a great selection at any price point.

I've been so looking forward to this wine bar opening in the neighborhood!…read moreWe went as soon as I noticed they were up and running to check out the selection- very impressed! Great curated selection and prices are reasonable for the quality on offer. We hung out in the store to try a flight of 3 for each of us. A great deal that will probably be their main selling point. My husband discovered Pet Nat varietal and took a bottle home for himself! It's great to have a place to grab a good unique bottle of wine, welcome to the neighborhood!

food: steak was good, wish there was more portions but the flavors are there, mango cheesecake was…read moreperfect balance of sweetness and tartness with the sherbert service: super nice staff, gave my friend a free dessert for birthday ambiance: good atmosphere, definitely gets busy so can be hard to hear at times

Instagram sent me, not via an influencer, but a very alluring ad. If I were to book a reservation…read morethen and there, I could get an Old Fashioned made with Colonel E.H. Taylor for a lower price. Sold! I made a reservation and stopped in that week (if not that very day). The Old Fashioned was fantastic! It had strong whiskey notes without hitting you with a wall of spirit the way a Manhattan, for example, does. The other additions of bitters and syrup did a perfect job rounding the cocktail out, adding sweet and savory notes. As much as I love variety, I loved it so much, I ordered two! I can't lie and say this wasn't at least in part due to the reduced price, that notwithstanding, me ordering two of the same is some of the highest, non-verbal praise one could get from me. For a main, I had the opportunity to try the burger, a special only available 5:00 - 6:30, and mind you I eked in by the skin of my teeth. Before I attempt to break this down, though, I need to take a slight tangent: Do any of you remember the quote from The Menu where Anya Taylor-Joy says: "A real cheeseburger. Not some fancy, deconstructed, affluent b***s***, a *real* cheeseburger."? I am pleased to report the burger here was somewhere between Chef Slowik's "very traditional cheeseburger" and the one Taylor Joy describes! In other words, just fancy enough to feel like I am getting a unique, creative, well thought out dish, but without all the pomp and circumstance! There's just one little problem: as soon as I bit into it, the juices erupting from within soaked the bottom bun, and turned it into a fork and knife affair with an unseen level of precision and speed. Very regrettably, this was the burger's undoing. That first, heavenly bite that had angels singing showed what the burger was really made of (and I mean this figuratively and literally). The beef was of the highest quality, well-seasoned, cooked medium and juicy, with a perfect sear that would have Louis Camille Maillard crying tears of joy. Two types of cheese (one being crisp and airy, the other thoroughly gooey and savory), the perfect amount of bacon, moisture and flavor from a tempura tomato, and divine sauces! One of them was a little sweet, which elevated the flavor like no one's business. Together, all these flavors were a symphony that could give Beethoven a run for his money. However, that unfortunate fact that the thing fell apart so quickly meant that symphony was limited to one bite, the rest being encountered piecemeal. I would rather skip fries than skip dessert (which I did), and ordered the Mango cheesecake. Such velvety perfection! Neither the sweetness nor the mango notes were overpowering, and while it didn't have the crust of a traditional cheesecake, the more gentle variant here absolutely works. I also appreciated the tart sorbet to offer some contrast in flavor, temperature, and texture. Now, let me talk about the service. Given that the restaurant was at capacity, the bar service and speed to get my items was reasonable. Could it hypothetically have been just a touch faster/more attentive? Yes, but in practice, when you have a full house, this is as good as it can get before robots take over. Finally, there is the matter of prices. There is no doubt in my mind that the quality is up there, at the same time, the reason I skipped the side of fries was it would have set me back $11. I suppose the real question is whether or not the quality equals the price, and after some reflection, I think the answer is yes, but one must be prepared for the sticker shock ahead of time. That said, the final verdict: The Franklin Room absolutely delivers on an all-around fantastic meal. I think whatever you order will be in the 90th percentile, at worst! However, this comes at a cost. Therefore, I would love to return to the Franklin Room, but it would likely be more a very occasional treat than a place where I'd be a regular.