Kari O.

Kari's Rating 8.5/10 TLDR: -They're famous burger comes with American cheese already -Mostly high top seating -Instagrammable Place Came in with a friend around 6:30 on Friday night and the place was just starting to get packed. While I waited for my friend, I joked with the manager, and he had a very good sense of humor and put me immediately at ease. Once my friend got here, we were escorted to a high top table next to the bar. I couldn't stop looking at the beautiful faux flower decor along the ceiling and by the bar. We ordered the Sauvignon Blanc that was poured into our stemless glasses. The waitress suggested the lobster roll as well as their famous "The Royal Burger," where the burger came on top of a large plate of Gruyère cheese fondue. Both the lobster roll and the burger came with fries or coleslaw. We decided to split the difference and get a little bit of each. The fries weren't super crispy, but they were overall okay-but realistically more of like a filler so there were definitely fries left when we got up to go. I personally didn't think they were worth heating back up as they were so thin you wouldn't have anything to heat up. The burger was absolutely delicious, but I personally didn't think they needed to add American cheese on the burger as well as it was plenty cheesy. The burgers were juicy and cooked to perfection on top of their crispy buttery brioche bun. I really like the pickle being sliced thinly because you just got enough of it without it being soggy. The lobster roll was as fantastic as the waitress was hyping up. The juicy piece of lobster her complemented, the perfect ratio of mayo on a beautifully buttered piece of roll. It was also the perfect portion size. My only critique was that when we got it to our table, I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be served hot or cold as it was kind of room temperature. The lobster roll also came with a side of coleslaw, which I was confused about because it looked more like a salad as it didn't have a very heavy mayo dressing and actually tasted more like a spring citrus salad very lightly doused with lemon. I wasn't mad about it because I don't like very mayo heavy coleslaw's-but I also didn't realize this was the coleslaw as I thought it was a side salad. Overall, it was in a very hip and popping place and I probably would come back with friends. I do wish the waitress had introduced herself with her name and the individual bussing our tables had name tags on-I personally think it makes the meal a little more intimate. Overall, I left full and happy. The price was perfect for what we ate and drank. I thought it was a nice place in West Loop and I look forward to coming back!

Jenn W.

Great lunch here recently! They have a lunch combo that gives you the option of a starter (salad, soup) and an entree (salmon, burger, chicken sandwich). That's what we chose, and it was so good! Caesar salad was solid, but the French onion soup was amazing! Salmon was delicious, placed on creamed potatoes. The burger was really good too. Cool decor and a friendly vibe. Service was spot on.

Tigui D.

Went here today for girls brunch about 7 of us. The inside is picturesque and inviting. Food took a long time to come out but when it did come out it was well made and delicious. I ordered the steak frites- the steak was so good and fries were addicting! The rest of the girls really like their food and drinks. I ordered a mocktail and it so good! Our issue: we were told when we are ready to pay we can scan the QR code at the table. We scan the code then we notice they already added a 18% gratuity per check and on top of that at 3.5% surcharge. We barely saw our waitress, we saw the busboy way more (refilling our drinks, clearing the table etc). What the heck is a surcharge for? Service was mediocre and we know why. She already knew she was getting paid anyhow so why bother trying. I really hope the busboy gets most of that tip, he deserves it. This is why I'm giving the low review. I feel like we were being deceived. I would of preferred being told about the involuntary gratuity and additional surcharge. I'm always happy to tip on my own terms especially when it's deserved. And the surcharge is b.s

Kawone H.

Bar La Rue -- Worth the Return Trip What started as a frustrating 25-minute wait with zero service could have derailed the entire evening. It didn't, and that's largely thanks to Christina, who stepped in and made sure the rest of the night was everything it should have been. The Vibe- Walking in, the decor immediately sets a mood -- light, airy, and reminiscent of a fresh summer afternoon. Fans of New York-style dining will feel right at home. Better yet, the layout gives you options: al fresco, patio, bar, or the quaint indoor dining area. Whatever your preference, there's a seat for it. The Food- Start with the chicken wings...full stop. Crispy, flavorful, and carrying just the right amount of heat (we're talking very mild, not a challenge), they were the highlight of the meal. We ordered three during happy hour and had zero regrets. The lobster roll made an equally strong impression. A member of our group enjoyed the happy hour version so much that she upgraded to the full entrée. That says plenty. The chicken sandwich looked the part and, notably, drew zero complaints from the other half of our table which, in my experience, is as close to a glowing endorsement as it gets. On the flip side, the French dip happy hour bites missed the mark entirely. Dry, chewy, and flat on flavor. Skip them. The NY Strip was my personal misstep. Cooked to a correct medium, but under-seasoned and tougher than it should have been at that price point. My instinct says it was a select-grade cut, and no sauce is going to fix that. I'd steer clear. The Drinks- The classic old fashioned had good flavor but skewed a little sweet, and the crushed ice left something to be desired. An old fashioned deserves a proper large cube. That said, the happy hour pricing softens the critique considerably. The group also enjoyed the cosmopolitan and the martini! The Verdict- Bar La Rue is worth coming back to, especially now knowing what to order and what to leave alone. The highs are genuinely high, and with a little navigation, it's a solid evening out.

Brittany H.

They have a great happy hour but the service can sometimes be a bit slow. The oysters are always fresh and I love the mini lobster roll!

Jose C.

We came here for an early Sunday brunch. The place wasn't full yet but pretty much got full by the time we finished our meal. I started off with a Bloody Mary. I usually don't order alcoholic beverages for breakfast/brunch. I have to be in the mood for it and when I looked at the menu, their Bloody Mary sounded pretty good. It was supposed to come with candied bacon lardon and a Gruyère skewer but what I ended up getting was a plain ol Bloody Mary with an olive and a lemon & lime skewer. I immediately noticed it and had to back to some previous pictures. I then asked our server about the missing cheese and bacon and she apologized and said they had run out. I did send it back but did kind of ruin the rest of our day. My wife ordered their breakfast sandwich and I ordered their Royal with Cheese Provence style. Pretty much their double smash burger with American cheese, dijonaise and the cut in half with bit cut side ends facing down on their Gruyère cheese fondue. Definitely a lot of cheese but it's really delicious. The burger itself was really good but I would argue that it's an actual smash burger as the patties didn't look smashed and they were both perfectly the same size. Still a good burger though and I can see myself returning for it again.

Emily G.

Very cute ambiance. Ordered the chicken caesar salad wrap and it was delicious. The fries came with a very tasty aioli as well.

Paula B.

Visited over the weekend for lunch and can confidently say this place makes a damn good burger. We ordered the Royale with Cheese (regular) and the Provence Style, and both were phenomenal. If you're a big fan of Gruyère and don't mind a more cheese-forward burger, go with the Provence Style. Otherwise, my vote would be for the regular version. The espresso martini was excellent, and the ambiance was super cute and very camera-friendly. The bar area was absolutely gorgeous and made the whole space feel elevated and inviting.

Faheem A.

What a cute vibe. The aesthetics were in point. The service was really good and the drinks matched. Unfortunately, I did not order any food this time around but I'd definitely be back to try the food.

Julie T.

Moms night out/girls night/Galentine this is that spot Aesthetically pleasing but quite loud and we couldn't hear one another. We came for restaurant week but ended up just ordering off the regular menu because we felt like the cost was about the same and the cost to value just didn't make sense $45 for a 2 course meal meh & no dessert included Located in west loop you'll sure have a difficult time looking for parking as we circled around 3x to finally snag a spot but even so we had to walk 3 blocks out from Haymarket Food just alright. Honestly, kinda overly priced but expected due to location. FOOD Tuna Tartare - Just ok, not much of a wow factor. The only wow is that we didn't get to finish an the busser prematurely took away our plate RIP Crispy Chicken Wings - Star of the night tbh but $20 for wings is madness. The glaze on that wing was chef kiss though Steak Frites (5 oz flat iron) - Nothing quite worth mentioned beside it costing $37 and a little flavorless Royale with cheese + Provence Style - Yes, we paid $7 extra for our burger to sit on top of cheese but kinda had to live a little cause it's their speciality. Actually we made use of the cheese and dip our steak in it DESSERT Brûlée French Toast - I wasn't feeling the mushy consistency that came with the French toast Warm Apple Bread Pudding - Was the better dish of the two but also similar in consistency DRINKS Bonne Vivant - I wish I got this! Took a sip of my girlfriend's & it was delish Strawberry Spritz - Too light and just tasted like a punch Overall just an ok experience esp if you wanna splurge. Totally bill $500

Their chicken Cesar wrap is soo good. I'd come back for that alone. They provided aioli sauce with their fries as well. I'm a fan.

Joshua G.

I overall had an amazing time dining with La Rue! We were instantly greeted with a friendly smile from the hostess which is a good sign. And quickly brought to the best seats on their indoor patio. The restaurant had a beautiful atmosphere, lighting, and friendly staff. I ordered the cheese fondue with grilled chicken on the side, and it was to die for! The drinks were pricy but I guess it's worth the experience, right?!

Elgin B.

1/2 - Great Vibe, Great Service, Perfect Spot for a Celebration We were out celebrating my brother-in-law's 50th birthday. He wasn't really interested in doing anything big, so we surprised him with dinner at Bar La Rue, located at 820 W. Fulton St. right in the heart of Fulton Market. Bar La Rue is a trendy, upscale Italian sports bar with a twist. The interior is filled with greenery, elegant white flowers, and gold-trimmed décor. Most of the seating near the bar is booth-style, and the dining area is elevated, giving you a nice view of Fulton Market through the windows. Our server was excellent--very knowledgeable, extremely accommodating, and checked in often to make sure we had everything we needed. He also did a great job advocating for the restaurant and their partner locations. When I arrived, my sister and brother-in-law were already enjoying the bottomless fries from the happy hour menu. My brother-in-law also ordered the French onion soup, which he loved. My sister had a salad, which she also enjoyed. For entrées, my sister ordered the salmon with mashed potatoes and found it delightful. My brother-in-law couldn't resist trying the Royale with Cheese, which is basically two mini burgers skewered together and served in a pool of melted cheese. He thought it was just okay. I ordered the Steak Frites. They offer three different cuts, and I chose the New York strip, priced around $79. It normally comes with fries, but I swapped them for mashed potatoes, which I think was the better call. The only thing missing was a vegetable, which would have rounded out the dish nicely. I ordered it medium-well, but next time I'd probably go with medium or let the chef cook it to their standard temp. Overall, it was good--not incredible--but solid. The star drink of the night was the French Kiss, made with Creyente mezcal, Luxardo Del Santo, lime, mango, and serrano pepper, priced at $16. It was delicious and definitely the table favorite. My sister started with a martini she wasn't impressed with, but once she tried the French Kiss, our waiter quickly made the switch. Since it was my brother-in-law's birthday, they surprised us with streamers and a tasty, chocolatey treat, which was a really nice touch. Overall, we had a great time. If you're looking for an elevated bar experience with good food, strong drinks, and great service, Bar La Rue is a solid choice. I'd definitely recommend it for a date night, and I'll be back to try their brunch. Solid 4.5 out of 5.