The portion size were good and the food itself was ok. Mediocre at best. The service was…read moreacceptable. The workers were nice. The ambiance and the decor is maybe the only redeeming factor. It has some nice touches, but again nothing crazy.

Amazing food, great ambiance and even can be kid friendly -- this place has it all. They even have…read morea kids menu with butter noodles that the kids will lick their plates. Whipped feta is a must, salads are super fresh and tasty, branzino was excellent, great mushrooms -- everything was fabulous. I compare it to Bavel in LA but a bit more casual. Services is so nice and the wait staff is incredibly attentive. Highly recommend on all fronts.

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.

(Kari's Rating 8.75/10)…read more Came with a friend late on a Friday night after dinner time We were able to be seated almost immediately at a nice little private Cove table. We ordered a flight of whiskey sours, which contained whiskeys from Japan, Vietnam, and Wisconsin. I also was able to order an amaretto sour, which they made with freshly hand beaten egg whites, which was a nice cherry on the top. As far as the whiskey flights go, I think the best one was the Vietnam flight because it had a slightly lemongrass twang and was a little bit lighter than the other two. The heaviest one was the Wisconsin which came with a little bit of a bite at the end, but it still wasn't bad if you're trying to blackout on a $15 budget. I would definitely come back with a larger group this seems like a great place, but is a little bit loud- so if you be prepared to yell or wear earplugs. The bathroom took my a second to find, which should have been intuitive considering it was on the opposite end of where you come in. I blame the lighting as things are already pretty hard to find in the dark, but eventually I made it there-Pat myself on the back.

Stylish Fulton Market Brunch with Great Food and Service…read more Booked brunch for two on OpenTable at Aba in Fulton Market, and it's easy to see why this spot is so popular. The space is beautiful--open, bright, full of natural light, and stylish without feeling overdone. We ordered the Short Rib Shakshuka, which was flavorful with just a hint of spice and a generous portion size. The warm, soft pita served alongside was perfect for dipping. The Steak and Eggs was also excellent--the steak and eggs were cooked perfectly, and the fried potatoes were a standout: crispy on the outside while still moist and tender inside. Portion sizes were just right. We also tried both of the recommended brunch cocktails, and they were strong, flavorful, and well balanced. Service from Mike was great--friendly, efficient, and attentive throughout the meal. Overall, Aba delivered a polished and enjoyable brunch experience. Highly recommend, and based on what we tasted, I'd absolutely come back to try dinner.

It was our first time dining here, stopping in on a Saturday for lunch. We managed to snag seats at…read morethe bar, but if you plan to visit, I'd definitely recommend reserving a table. We ordered the grilled chicken kebab along with the tuna and watermelon. The chicken was moist and well-cooked, but the tuna and watermelon dish was disappointing. There was no watermelon at all, and the seasoning was overwhelmingly salty. The cucumber and mint spritz was refreshing, but the bartender was new and not very attentive. Overall, the experience fell short of expectations.

Love this place especially during the summer. Nothing like walking around outside in the heat and…read morecoming in here and getting a nice sangria. Also really good for happy hour! Staff is attentive. The place is small and a little crowded so keep that in mind when planning your visit.

Lil Ba Ba Reeba was such a good time! I've heard about this spot forever, so I was really happy to…read morefinally try it, and it definitely lived up to the hype. We sat outside, which was really nice, so we didn't really get to experience the atmosphere inside. Service was super helpful and attentive. We got the garlic shrimp, roasted dates wrapped in bacon, patatas bravas, and the lamb brocheta. The roasted dates wrapped in bacon were sooo good. Sweet, salty, and warm. Just one of those bites that makes you immediately want another. Those were delicious. The lamb brocheta was probably my favorite. Super juicy, super flavorful, and just really satisfying. That's definitely the dish I'd go back for. The patatas bravas were good too, though I do think they could've used a little more salt. The garlic shrimp weren't my favorite, but they came with this amazing oil that was really good for dipping bread in. I love tapas so I'm really glad I came here, and I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu!

A thousand percent YES Worth the wait…read more Worth the cost. Service, ambience and food delicious. Can't wait to come back and try more Whatever wine I had was SO good and so bad I can't remember the name because I want to go back to order it again

The first bite in Chicago... and what a delicious welcome!…read more My culinary adventure began at The Purple Pig, a Mediterranean spot in the heart of Chicago's Magnificent Mile. A James Beard Award-winning restaurant and Michelin Bib Gourmand honoree. The star of the meal? The divinely delicious Spanish Octopus. Cooked to perfection, so meaty and tender. And paired with marbled potatoes, sambuca, chimichurri, and Spanish chorizo. Every bite was beautifully balanced and flavorful. This octopus dish will be remembered. Service at the bar was attentive. And the restaurant was nice.

In an area packed with casual food spots, Figo is spicing things up! It's upscale but not…read morepretentious- perfect for meeting up with friends when you want to feel a little fancy without going through hoops getting ready. The staff was super attentive and kind, checking on us frequently. My friend and I stopped by for happy hour, and this should absolutely make it onto the list of the best in town. They have delicious wine, cocktails, and bites for nearly half of the regular price. I opted for the happy hour prosecco to drink, which was light-bodied and not too sweet. We split the meatballs and dates for bites and both were outstanding. I was super impressed with how tender the meatballs were, and they did not skimp on the flavorful marinara and cheese! The dates, which were topped with a white wine cheese sauce, were mouth-wateringly delicious and a must order. There was also complimentary focaccia with olive oil, which was greatly appreciated. With sea salt on top and a crispy exterior, I could easily have eaten a whole loaf. The only note I have is that the portions are small, so if you don't come during happy hour the prices are a bit steep for what you get. Will 100% be back soon to try more of the menu and highly recommend making the trek over here!

everything we had here was f-ing delicious. a perfect spot for dinner before a show at the vic. I…read morewill definitely be returning!

This restaurant presents as fast casual …read more It' was my first time trying chengdu Chinese street food .Food was decent over all albeit a little too oily for my liking . All things we ordered were dripping in a chile oil which I guess I'm just not used to . We enjoyed the spicy root noodles and the peanut noodles as well as the beef hotpot . The chicken as served cold ( by design) and we didn't care for it . Service was efficient . Ambiance super casual. Loved the water they served which had fresh lemon and cucumber in it. Overall, it was a fun culinary adventure. Likely won't be back , but worth a try if you like chengdu style street food . Pricing was fair . Easy metered parking in front of the restaurant

As I am preparing to study abroad in Beijing and Taipai this summer, I have decided to try as many…read moreAsian inspired dishes that I can. I found this little spot while visiting campus. As I walked in, I noticed how quiet and clean the restaurant is. There was only one set of customers in the building so it was quiet. I was immediately seated (of course) and taken to a table in a comfy corner. The menu is a QR code hidden in a little box on the table. I thought this was cool and a good way to decrease wasted paper. The entire ordering process is digital and immediate. I knew exactly when they received my order. I ordered the traditional chicken noodle soup and was a bit surprised upon seeing the bowl. It had about 6 pieces of shredded chicken, but the presentation was nice. The taste of the chicken noodle was disappointing. I immediately ordered something different. The tomato infused noodle soup was amazing!!! I wished I had a Jamaican dumpling to dip in the broth! It was fantastic!! I loved the broth so much that I put my dumplings in the broth as well . The dumplings were delicious by themselves! Lastly, when the manager saw that I ordered another soup, he asked "was this one too plain for you?" I stated yes. He did not take it off of my tab....that was a huge no no. I purchased another soup, so removing this one should have been a no brainer. I didn't make a fuss and paid my tab, but I will not go back anytime soon.

Recently, my husband and I celebrated the anniversary of the day we met. We don't always mark the…read moreoccasion, but this year it was a milestone worth celebrating. We chose to dine at Girl & the Goat in Chicago, a restaurant we had never visited before. The acclaimed restaurant by renowned chef Stephanie Izard truly lived up to its stellar reputation! One of the first things we appreciated was the convenience of the restaurant's valet parking, located right by the front patio. At $22 for up to four hours and $26 for four to eight hours, the rates were quite reasonable for the area. As soon as the three of us stepped inside Girl & the Goat (we had made a reservation for 6:30 pm on a Friday), we were warmly greeted by one of the two friendly hostesses, and were promptly led to a comfortable four-top table with a banquette and two chairs along the wall. We felt fortunate to have one of the better tables in the dining room, as some of the others were positioned very close together. The nearby two-top tables, in particular, were quite small and placed only a short distance from ours. The restaurant's rustic-industrial décor was dark but trendy and stylish, the lively and vibrant vibe was warm and welcoming. However, I have to mention that it was really loud in the dining room, as guests seemed to be enjoying themselves and talked loudly.  It was hard to hear our server and the staff who delivered and explained the dishes to us.  Our server, Yazmin, was extremely friendly and attentive.  It was very sweet of her to wish us a happy anniversary both in the beginning  and at the end of the meal.  She also checked in on us several times during the evening.  Now, on to the food and drinks. I started with a glass of the NA Sparkling Rosé ($17), which was light, crisp, and quite refreshing. My husband ordered a glass of Le Colture Prosecco ($18), while our daughter chose the Sun Kid ($18). She enjoyed her drink, although she felt the portion was a bit small, as the glass was filled with a lot of ice that took up much of the space. Since the restaurant offers small to medium plates which are shareable, Yazmin advised us to get 5 to 6 dishes for 3 people to share.  We decided to get 5 savory dishes and 3 desserts to share: Savory dishes: - Chickpea Fritters ($20), goat yogurt, green chutney, sev spice crunch, pickled rhubarb. - Pan Roasted Halibut ($37), miso-Marcona almond butter, spring onion blueberry nuoc cham. - Roasted Pig Face ($28), sunny side egg, tamarind, cilantro, red wine-maple, potato stix. - Goat Empanadas ($24), smoked tomato-corn salsa, roasted poblano crema queso fresco. - Confit Goat Belly ($38), strawberry goat braise, smoked yogurt drizzle, pickled strawberries. Desserts: - Vacation, Please! ($16), toasted coconut crunch, lemon passion fruit sorbet, rum-soaked pineapple cake. - Berry Yummy Par-tea ($16), earl grey soaked sponge cake, yuzu curd, spiced blackberries. - Chocolate Basil Brownie Bash ($16), olive oil semifreddo, chocolate fennel crunch, basil granita. The meal was just phenomenal!  All the savory dishes were cooked perfectly with bold flavors; the meats were tender and full of flavors.  There were dishes that we normally would not have ordered if we saw them on menus of other restaurants.  Here, we tried them and were delighted that we did!  Our consensus is that Roasted Pig Face is our most favorite! It is everything we love in a comfort dish -- crispy on the outside, meltingly tender inside, and packed with rich, balanced flavor.  We will definitely order this again!  The Confit Goat Belly is a close second, with buttery, fall-apart meat and just the right balance of richness, acidity, and crunch. For dessert, "Vacation, Please!" is the one that we will always come back for. The toasted coconut crunch adds texture, the lemon passion fruit sorbet brings a refreshing tang, and the rum-soaked pineapple cake ties it all together with just the right amount of sweetness.  The other two desserts that we ordered were also very good.  The staff even brought out a scoop of Chocolate Ice Cream on the house, with two lit candles to celebrate our anniversary - a thoughtful touch that made the evening even more memorable.  This dessert spread was the perfect ending to an incredible meal. I'd like to mention that the restaurant added a 4% surcharge to the bill, which the customer may request to have the surcharge remove if you choose.  We let them keep it. We spent about two hours at the restaurant. The savory dishes came out very quickly, the pace probably was even a tad too fast, but the desserts made up for it by taking a longer time.  We did not mind as we were still full, and had time to enjoy the ambiance more.  I would say it is a restaurant great for group gathering and celebratory functions, but not so much for intimate romantic date night.  All in all, it was a wonderful dinner, we look forward to returning again.

I was there the other week (I've been here at least five times before), and a busser--not our…read morewaiter--started clearing both of our plates before we were finished eating. We each only had a couple of bites left, but it definitely gave off an "okay, you're done now" vibe. Then he went to take the green beans (arguably the cult classic on the menu), and we still had more than half of them left. I had to stop him and say, "Yeah, we're not done with those. We paid for them. Can you put them in a to-go box instead?" For context, it was about 20 minutes before closing, but we ordered with plenty of time and were already eating with a "get in, eat, and get out" mindset. I've just never had someone at a restaurant start clearing plates while we were still actively eating--without asking, "Are you finished?" "Can I clear this?" or "Would you like a to-go box?" It was just... "You're done, these are leaving now." We were there for less than 45 minutes, left about 15 minutes before closing, and spent over $200 (not including the tip). With so many options in Chicago, I don't see myself coming back here.