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    Bar Sótano

    4.0 (173 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Bar Sótano Photos

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    BAR SÓTANO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Bar Sótano

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    Lamb taco

    What a delight to find this speakeasy under Frontera Grill. Bar Sotano restaurant was a hit. The host sat us at the bar and Aaron made our night exceptional. From the top level service, Creative, authentic Mexican cuisine, flavors that lingered and made such an impression. The albacore ceviche was a top choice, along with the dry age, sashimi salmon, and the lamb taco. Chef Jackie has out done herself with spice, and a twist on traditional Oaxaca Mexican cuisine. She She was not there the night we had dinner, but Chef Christian greeted our table and was very friendly. This is a must try in Chicago River North. Price was just right for 2 for dinner when u compare to pub food prices!

    Hot fried chicken
    Jackie Z.

    Stopped in on a Friday night and so happy we did! This place is hidden in the back through Frontera grill, down some stairs, but what a great find. We were lucky to come for happy hour and enjoyed every food option on the menu short list (yum croquettes, chicken and the chefs special taco!) as well as a strawberry margarita and Mezcal old fashioned. Flavors were fantastic and the margarita was not too sweet. Finished off with pulpo (what a fun, tender yet crunchy take!), bone marrow (so decadent and relatively large portion with crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside bread), and ceviche (I think it had sesame oil? What a delight). Not a surprise, since I've always loved chef Rick Bayless, and chef Jackie is great as well. Came with two kiddos and they were very accommodating with kids menu and coloring options.

    Pibil fritters
    Rhett R.

    I love Rick Bayless and was fortunate to try two of his restaurants while in Chicago. The food here was absolutely delicious and packed with flavor -- exactly what you'd expect from him! The atmosphere had a cool speakeasy vibe, since the bar is tucked underneath his Frontera Grill. Service was good overall, though it could've been just a bit more attentive. Be prepared -- it can get very loud when the place is busy, so if you're not into that kind of energy, this might not be your spot. That said, the flavors, ambiance, and overall experience made it worth it. I'd definitely go back next time I'm in Chicago!

    Victoria M.

    Don't worry if you cannot find the bar immediately. The entrance is in the alley behind the other Rick Bayless restaurants. It is down one flight of stairs in the basement (sótano) of the building. The atmosphere includes light music in Spanish, leather bound menus, booth and bar seating. The lights are dimmed, but not as dark as you'd expect for bars. I appreciated the lighting as I often find cocktail bars too dark and cannot even see my way to the bathroom. I came here at 5pm on a Wednesday and did not need a reservation but was seated at the bar area. I tried the bar's happy hour which featured alcoholic beverages and appetizers.

    Lana T.

    The ambiance here was good, just a little dark and the noise level can get a little loud at some times. The tables are close to each other. The food was great we had the bone marrow and the shrimp taco. The oyster was good but we waited over half an hour for it as our server forgot about it. The drinks I can tell you is pretty strong. Overall it's great for happy hour. We went on a Wednesday which is happy hour all day. Didn't even realize it but it's a hidden gem as it's right next to three dots and dash and I didn't even realize it. It does get pretty crowded even on weekdays.

    Vanessa S.

    Great ambiance, music a tad loud where you can't hear the person across from you without talking loudly. They give you a Mezcal Bible with insights on the different mezcals they serve, plus cocktail specials of the day and thankfully the food menu isn't extensive. We ordered the croquettes, (don't expect the Cuban-style) which were delicious and the Mexican paella (with chicken & shrimp) which it large enough for 3-4 people (great for us because we were able to split the leftovers! Our Server was great and very well informed, have wonderful recommendations, we made the mistake of having an appetizer and cocktail before arriving, now we know for next time. However, be aware that the 20% gratuity is automatically added to your check (we were a table of 2). Money will spent.

    Tres Leche
    Mike D.

    I thought this was a great dining experience. First off, the ambiance is great. Small, welcoming, but not too loud. Great service. Pollo Rostizado was very flavorful. Ceviche was fresh and satisfying. And the Tres leche was perfect finish.

    Sabrina R.

    Read that this place has happy hour all day Wed so my friends and I popped in after we landed and got settled in. Tried a few food options on the happy hour menu and my fave was the Jackie taco...without the spicy sauce. Most of the food from the happy hour items we ordered were spicy. If you're into spice, then this place is for you! If not, I'd let them know and I'm sure they can make accommodations. We also ordered drinks. I ordered an, off the menu, espresso martini. It came made with a mezcal and was blended perfectly. My friends loved their drinks as well.

    Jasmine C.

    I really love the fact that they have $1 all day oysters and $8 all day mezcal/tequila happy hours on Wednesdays. But not a huge fan of the crowd and the automatic 20% tip... hmmm the happy hour dishes were tiny compared to the regular size . I have mixed feelings about this place. No surcharge though!

    Outside área
    Melissa L.

    Delicious Food, Thoughtful Service, and a Great Vibe Bar Sótano completely impressed me! From start to finish, this was a memorable dining experience. We started with the aguachiles -- fresh, tangy, and full of flavor. For my main, I had the quesa birria tacos, which I was surprised (in a good way) to find were made with goat instead of the typical beef. The meat was tender, rich, and incredibly well-seasoned -- definitely a standout! We also ordered the paella, which took a bit longer than expected, but the kitchen made up for it in the best way -- the chef sent over complimentary shots to our table as a gesture. It was such a thoughtful touch that showed how much they care about the guest experience. When the paella finally arrived, it was totally worth the wait -- bursting with flavor, perfectly cooked, and beautifully presented. The food was amazing across the board, and the service was warm and attentive without being overbearing. Bar Sótano is the kind of place where you can tell the staff and kitchen take real pride in what they do. Can't wait to come back and explore more of the menu!

    Divya V.

    I recently tried Bar Sótano with my friends on a Friday night and it what a great experience! I never noticed this bar until a friend recently recommended. It is located right next to Three Dots and a Dash! The checkin process was easy and the overall process was pretty smooth. We ordered a Oaxacan drinking snacks platter to share along with our drinks. My friends and I tried Mezcal Martini, Mango Chamoy and 3 Chile Bourbon. Mango Chamoy was our favorite and it is usually served in a small cute bag! They have a limited vegan/ vegetarian menu but the hostess mentioned that a lot of their dishes can be customized. I tried Memelas le tinga tacos as I love mushrooms and it was really good! My friend ordered one dish from their happy hour menu which is Squash Blossom Tlayudita. It was pretyy good as well. Overall, I'm pretty impressed with this cute speakeasy bar and I'll definitely recommend it to people to try authentic Oaxacan dishes and drinks!

    Miss A.

    It's been on my list for a while to check out and finally did last night. The entrance is actually in the back alley and down a flight of stairs. When I arrived, there was nobody at the door so I just took my chance going down a dark little stairwell not knowing if this was truly the right place to enter despite signage overhead. Turns out it was and the vibe felt like a well hidden speakeasy with dim lighting, low ceiling height, brick walls and minimalist modern design. I was promptly greeted by a tall slender guy with a man bun who offered me a seat at the chef's counter or the regular bar. I always love watching professional cooks prep and plate all the food so the Chef's counter was the logical choice for me. They have an extensive list of cocktails and top shelf tequilas. I took a full pass but asked for a refreshing mocktail which they gladly whipped up (they're not listed in the menu but obviously they have this ability if asked) then the host proceeded to highlight the popular food items on the menu. I should probably mention this is right below River North's popular Topalabompo and Fronterra Grill, also affiliated with Rick Bayless restaurants. The chef's counter gave me a nice preview to everything on the menu and I could tell portion size was pretty small, like tapas. A lot of attention to detail was paid to make each dish look artful. I ordered the daily Chef Jackie's MP special which was a shrimp and steak taco ($11) and quesoburrias ($17). Basically three little 3" street tacos filled up. For most people, this would not be much food but this was just going to hold me over for meeting a group out a bit later. Overall I'd say the quality and presentation was nice, but a bit overpriced for what it was, especially since there are other taco spots on literally every corner of Clark street. I think you are paying for the "Rick Bayless" branding. IMHO the quesoburrias were super salty and should have been more full of meat. The MP taco was my favorite of what I ordered. The service kinda fell flat once my order was in unfortunately. Had they been more attentive I may have ordered another item. The chef's didn't really interact with anyone at the counter which was a bummer! I've been places where they do and it's a blast. The ceviche looked very fresh and in hindsight I should have ordered it instead of the quesoburrias. Plates went out with a crispy chicken that seemed popular but I just wasn't feeling like anything fried at the moment. The flank steak on a cutting board and seafood paella platters I watched get prepared were more sizable but definitely meant for sharing. When the check came, a preset 20% gratuity was automatically added. Not a fan of that. Shouid be only applied to larger groups. I still believe tips should be earned not forced on guests dining in. Ambiance: 9/10 Service: 6/10 Value: 5/10

    Wow. Pei oyster. With ceviche. 12.16.23
    Will S.

    Chicago has a dearth of great restaurants. Here's one, a new one opened by a Chicago restaurant maven, Bar Sótano (by Rick Bayless). But when I walked downstairs to the restaurant, I was curious as to who the chef that is cooking because Rick Bayless was at the counter dining with his wife. If the owner is dining in his own restaurant, it must be because the food is good, he doesn't need to make money. He's already very successful with his three other restaurants. Lol. I found out the chef's name is, Jackie Hernandez chef at Sótano has worked for Rick Bayless for over 6 years. And now she is on her own here with Rick as her patron. And Oh man!, you are really good Jackie. The mole was a cut above, not anything I've had in california it had layers of mushrooms and peloncillo. The oysters were covered in delicious ceviche. The duck was out of this world (not pictured, I had 4 margaritas LOL). Our plates here reminded me of a famous modern resto in Mexico City with a touch of home flavors. Service was attentive but mixed. I got the sense the wait staff need more practice listening to guests. But not worried , it was still a very good experience. In love with Bar Sótano and will come back. EOY!

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    Ask the Community - Bar Sótano

    Is this restaurant kid friendly?

    I don't know the official policy, but Bar Sotano is definitely more of a speakeasy style bar that also happens to have some very good food but I wouldn't personally call it "kid friendly". I would suggest Frontera Grill as a much better option with… 

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    Geja's Cafe

    Geja's Cafe

    3.9(1.7k reviews)
    1.9 miLincoln Park
    $$$

    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!

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    Geja's Cafe
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    Gemini - Crispy Shrimp Spring Rolls

    Gemini

    4.0(771 reviews)
    2.1 miLincoln Park
    $$

    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.

    Over all this place was okay, and when I say okay it was mediocre…read more How ever I would like to point out that the staff and I repeat the staff was very friendly not to mention very welcoming. I came here with three others and we all ordered different things from the brunch menu along with a few drinks. The atmosphere here is open, modern, and pretty eye catching, we all heard a few negative comments about brunch here and rather than just taking words of advice we came anyways. To be honest we should've went elsewhere, the only thing about the food that actually seemed to have any flavor was the fries and even they were a little salty like my wallet when we left LOL The Jumbo (not so much) Lump Crab Benedict at $25 was honestly boring lacking any flavor also it didn't even come with potatoes I ended up sharing my Lincoln Park Turkey Club that was good but even it was pretty basic at $21, the Burger at $21 literally looked like something off the kids menu the bun was bigger than the patty LOL and the Blackened Chicken Caesar at $19 was more like an appetizer size and the chicken at least it was juicy not dry. Other reviews about brunch here seem to be about the same and honestly I think it's funny they don't even try to elevate their food when so many say about the same things. I think the only reason why people come to this place is 1. It's located in Lincoln Park and 2. that makes it a trendy spot to eat. So why bother fixing anything when it's just trendy and flavorless Their brunch is mediocre but apparently dinner is where it's at. However after the experience with brunch I'm not even sure I would even go back. Come here for the staff eat at your own expense maybe your food will have flavor or not but honestly do what you want and keep it trendy

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    Gemini - Nice view inside restaurant

    Nice view inside restaurant

    Gemini - Avocado Toast + Lincoln Park Turkey Club

    Avocado Toast + Lincoln Park Turkey Club

    Gemini - Burrata crostini

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    Esme

    Esme

    4.0(154 reviews)
    2.2 miLincoln Park
    $$$$
    Fine dining
    Private events

    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!

    This review is for Restaurant Week!…read more I really like Esmes vibe overall. It's chic and minimalist. I love that the tables are widely spaced out so you don't feel like you're on top of another party. I loved the bowls everything was served in, and the silverware was unique. And the service was great. I appreciate when they left everyone finish before they clear the table. While I thought all the food was good, I think it overwhelming fell flat flavor wise. I don't think anything blew me away like I was expecting which was disappointing. We had the caviar supplement, which they accidentally gave us two of (amazing), which was good but also didn't blow me away. I wasn't the biggest fan of the flavors of the soup but that's probably a personal problem. The sturgeon and wagyu were alright. I wish I left being amazed but I left thinking I wouldn't come back, not even for RW again. I think my favorite bite of the night was the sticky date cake. I think it was the most flavorful but it wasn't the best dessert I've ever had. It lacked SOMETHING but I couldn't tell you what.

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    Esme
    Esme
    Esme

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    Dearly Beloved - A SHEEP IN WOLF'S CLOTHING - the miracle berry pixi stick transforms sour into sweet.

    Dearly Beloved

    4.3(133 reviews)
    0.7 miNear North Side
    $$$

    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.

    Photos
    Dearly Beloved - Interior

    Interior

    Dearly Beloved - Bubbles

    Bubbles

    Dearly Beloved - Life of the party

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    Life of the party

    Bar Sótano - newmexican - Updated August 2026

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