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    Benchmark Chicago

    3.8 (641 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

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    BENCHMARK CHICAGO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    DJ
    Trendy
    Loud
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Benchmark Chicago

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    Reviews With Photos

    Ceaser Crispy Chicken Tendie Caesar Wrap
    Kenna G.

    Great Brunch at Benchmark! I love how light the space is. We had good service at the bar. The breakfast crunch wrap was huge and very filling. Side of queso was great. Highly recommend!

    Lychee Martini
    LaTanya G.

    Love this place! I haven't been back for a visit since before the pandemic. Went here for happy hour after work with a few coworkers. We're so glad we did, it definitely didn't disappoint. We went on a Tuesday, and luckily, made it in time before happy hour ended. Ordered drinks and half-off appetizers. I had the Lychee Martini, which was delicious. A perfect combination of sweet, bitters, and alcoholic. Then we shared appetizers, the shrimp, broccoli, and fries were all delicious. Very good 10 out of 10. Highly recommend coming here for happy hour, dinner, or brunch. It was a pleasant atmosphere. Additionally, there was a trivia game night, with prizes being given away, and the music was good. We had the best server. She was very attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and made sure she delivered excellent customer service.

    Kay P.

    Loved the drinks we tried here! Overall a fun place for a group of friends - especially for their happy hour. The lychee martini was great and the service is quick and friendly. Would definitely go back to try the food!

    Sabrina C.

    As the North Wells Street/Old Town area of Chicago is reestablishing itself on the food scene, benchmark has stepped out to the front. With a redesigned space and new menus, they're definitely a place to check out for happy hour, dinner or when you can grab their lunch. Also to be noted-they have space for private parties AND have some pretty fun events for the holiday season. I'm all about space and comfort and there is lots of room here and it's decorated so cute The upstairs area looking down over the entire space is pretty cool and there's a bar up there! I have to give honorable mention to the Thai Chicken Wings - those flavors were hitting and my guest loved The Benchmark Burger; it has a house ground brisket, short rib and chuck patty blend and my girl loved it! Other new menu items include their Boom Pow Shrimp , Greek Salad, Hummus and more! It is definitely a cool spot to grab lunch, have happy hour after a loooonnnggggg day at work or to catch dinner and a game with friends. Check them out and tell em that Bri from Planes and Plates sent you! Enjoy!

    Peanut butter banana espresso martini
    Leland L.

    Updated review for benchmark 2.0!! I used to come here a lot before they upgraded and changed their menu, so it was fun to come back and try it! The space feels very similar to me but slightly cleaner and nicer, some updated / modern touches to it. Peanut butter banana espresso martini - I love all things pb banana so I needed this, it was really good! Didn't get much banana but the peanut butter was definitely bc they put screwball in it. Really good ratio of foam and a quality espresso martini, but I wouldn't say it was anything crazy different than a really good classic espresso martini. Definitely well made and worth a try. Trio of dips - first of all the presentation of this was PHENOMENAL (reference the photo). I liked the variety of dips and veggies which were all super fresh and had some unique additions such as radishes and broccolini. Not your average veggie tray. Good seeded crackers too! Chicken shawarma - kinda like a salad but in a giant pita, would have appreciated the pita heated up. This was good but nothing crazy special. The sweet potato waffle fries though!! These are the same as they had before, but they added a caramelized onion dip for them which was probably my favorite part of the entire meal. Benchmark is not your average bar food and has really good prices! Great casual spot.

    Crispy Chicken Tendie Caesar Wrap (Featured)
    Carling L.

    One of the best chicken Caesar wraps I have ever had. Sweet potato fries were delicious too. Our serve was so sweet and the atmosphere for college game day was unbeatable. Highly recommend

    Menu

    Benchmark's menu said HANDHELDS come with a side, but none was served. Manager Ang blamed a menu error and wouldn't honor it without charging. Awful service. Julia, our server, was amazing ... SHE DESERVES A RAISE!!

    Loaded Chicken Nachos (Featured)
    Jane B.

    Nachos were 10/10 and espresso martinis were yummy. The bar service was good, it wasn't too busy when we went. The remodel is great!

    Mediterranean Mezze Board and Charcuterie Board
    Soneya S.

    We came in on a Friday night for happy hour which is from 5pm-8pm. For people driving in the from the burbs good place to catch some drinks, and half priced salads. It was my first time and it's a very spacious restaurant, big bar, huge TVs, and a rooftop (that was closed for the season). We started with high noons (part of happy hour), charcuterie board and the mezza board (half off). The mezze board was so good and def a good portion to share or good for one. Overall, it was a great experience and a great happy hour to catch! Our bartender could use help, the bar got packed real fast closer to 6pm.

    Cocktails
    Danielle M.

    The atmosphere; upstairs was cool; the rooftop was spacious, modern and very cute. Music was good, pretty sure I saw a DJ behind the tunes. Drinks were solid. I had the chicken sandwich which was tasty and juicy, love the aioli sauce. The Man was not fond of the buffalo rolls, a little too salty. Unfortunately the service was trash. We waited probably an additional hour in total for our waitress every step of the way, from the moment we sat down until waiting on her to bring the check then receipt back. It was awful and we still played nice but knew we wouldn't be back. The same "DJ" we saw, or maybe she was just controlling the playlist, idk but I hoped she wasn't in management because she walked past us numerous times as we waited for water, drinks, food... etc. Good Luck

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    5 months ago

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    Thank you so much for your positive feedback Cammi!

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    3 months ago

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    7 days ago

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    5 months ago

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    Thank you Kenna! Hope to see you at brunch again soon!

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    6 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    Thanks Katie! See you next Tuesday for trivia, cheers!

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    5 months ago

    Carolynn is amazing. And the food and ambiance is great! Thank you for a fun football day!

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    Thank you Katherine! Carolynn is the best! Hope to see you again soon!

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

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    Thank you Sophia!

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    I had the best Sunday with my bartender Julia she was so funny and so awesome. I love benchmark. This place is the coolest!

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    Hell yea Kyle, Julia is the best! See you next Sunday Funday, thanks!

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    6 months ago

    Victoria was so helpful! Didn't have any food, but drinks were great! Very fun time, Victoria very nice!

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    Thank you Paige!! Victoria is the best!

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    3 years ago

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    Cheers Pilar, see you at trivia!

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Thanks Jasmine, we hope to see you again at happy hour, cheers!

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Bears lost, Packers suck, food is awesome, bartenders are fan-f**kingtastic, get the hot sopresatta melt!!!

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    Cheers Trevor, see you next Sunday to watch the Bears lose again ha!

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    1 year ago

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    Thank you Jeremiah, we got you covered any game, any time, cheers!

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    1 year ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Page 1 of 17

    Ask the Community - Benchmark Chicago

    How far in advance can I make a reservation?

    1 month in advance.

    What kind of music do they play?

    It's pop and rap but very current music! Stuff that you hear on on main stream radio

    Is there a live DJ plying during brunch on the weekends?

    No, but there is music playing

    Hey everyone, I just wanted to know, if for the brunch on Sundays, after the two hour table limit,…

    Hello, yes you can stay and enjoy the package until brunch ends.

    Hey! I'm thinking about having my 25th celebrated here on a Saturday night with a wristband deal from 9-12, can anyone tell me if this is a good location for 20somethings, big group, and to dance? Is there a DJ?

    You can definitely set up a wristband deal. There is plenty of room as there are 2 floors and every weekend there is a live DJ playing music.

    Is it weird to bring kids here for the brunch?

    It is more of an adult atmosphere but there are wristbands that include unlimited mimosas and just the brunch. I'm sure the kids would enjoy the make-your-own omelet station, there are mini waffles that you can combine with chicken, and there is a… Read more

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    Theory

    Theory

    4.1(984 reviews)
    1.4 miNear North Side
    $$

    Went here to watch football playoff games and the experience was amazing. They have TVs everywhere…read moreand during commercial breaks, they pay really good, upbeat music instead of having to listen to commercials. The food and drinks were also incredible. Would highly recommend the skirt steak nachos. All kinds of beer on tap and the service was amazing. Multiple people coming to check on you, including the manager who checks in on guests as well. If you're watching a game or want a cool sports bar to go to, I would highly recommend this place.

    Our line of business hosted the holiday party here at "Theory." We had the entire second level to…read moreourselves. In additions, we had the access to the bar, appetizers, and dance floor (with music DJ'ed by one of our talented colleagues). My favorite appetizer was the miniature grilled cheese and tomato soup in a shot cup. The tomato soup was more like tomato sauce in terms of the texture. The presentation was super cute and it definitely added sophistication to this simple classic comfort food. Other appetizers that were brought to the party were sliders and boneless nuggets with various dipping sauces. The bartender who served me was nice to accommodate me with zero percent Guinness since I don't really drink. I have always been curious about this place. I would say "Theory" is a sports bar, serving the typical and creative bar food according to a plethora of pictures posted on Yelp. If I ever poke around this area with friends, I will keep this establishment in mind. Thank you for the staff members who helped make our holiday party a successful one!

    Photos
    Theory - Having a good time!

    Having a good time!

    Theory - Crab Rangoon, Mac & Cheese Pizza, Southwest Salad

    Crab Rangoon, Mac & Cheese Pizza, Southwest Salad

    Theory

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    The Scout - Chicken Caesar salad

    The Scout

    4.5(19 reviews)
    0.1 miOld Town, Near North Side

    My daughter and I went in today to try The Scout Waterhouse + Kitchen, as the bar that used to be…read morein this space was my favorite spot in the entire city of Chicago. If you've been to the old spot I'm talking about, you'll notice immediately that The Scout still has the beautiful, soaring ceilings, but they've also remodeled a chunk of the restaurant, which is great! We sat down pretty immediately at a table in the back of the restaurant - not too far from the (new) DJ booth, and our waitress was extremely kind and gave us prompt service. We were just hanging out, listening to the music, when the NFL Divisional playoff game that was on tonight came back on, and let me tell you, it was the loudest game audio I have ever heard in a bar, ever. I've been going to sports bars for most of my adult life, and I get that folks can get excited and loud and that's not what I'm talking about. The audio of just the announcers and players from the telecast were almost exceeding 100 dBA, slow, without the bar cheering. I've been an audio engineer for over 20 years, and that isn't too far off from the base level of what you'll experience at concerts at the United Center (102-110 dBA, slow). We asked twice if the zone that encompassed our area of the restaurant could be turned down - but nothing changed, so we took our food to go and left. It wasn't just "can't have a conversation" loud, it was "I can't think" loud. This place needs to do some system tuning (the example I'll give - if you go to a Yard House the environment is loud and lively but you can still hold a conversation at your table because the audio system is extremely well tuned). The food that we ate when we got home (Kids mac n cheese and buffalo wings) were exceptional, so that's why I'm not leaving a single star. I don't know if we'll be back, I was incredibly disappointed tonight.

    We are so excited The Scout is back! We loved it when it was in the South Loop and mourned when it…read moreclosed. The Scout in Old Town captures the look of the OG but in a new fresh way - perfect for present-day. We were instantly and warmly welcomed upon arrival. Lexi was our server and honestly five stars don't do her justice. She deserves 5,000 stars! The menu features some of the same menu items that were at the South Loop location along with some newbies. Lexi let us know what was what and made excellent recommendations based on our preferences. I loved my salad, and my husband loved The Wolf (said it was just like he remembered - his favorite!!!). Definitely check The Scout out - but warning, you will be spoiled by their fantastic food and service so much you will never want to go anywhere else other than there. We highly recommend!

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    The Scout
    The Scout - The Grilled Cheese! This is the best thing I've ever had. I got the plain one

    The Grilled Cheese! This is the best thing I've ever had. I got the plain one

    The Scout

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    Benchmark Chicago - sportsbars - Updated May 2026

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