Came to this place for a happy hour event that was supposed to be from 7:30p-10p on 12/18. For whatever reason when we arrived to the event we found out that the restaurant was no longer doing the happy hr. This was very odd & unprofessional given that the happy hour menu was up on their site around 3p the day of the event. When I checked the site again while I waa at the place around 8:15p, it was no longer there. Given that the event was advertised as a happy hour the menu shouldve been honored regardless of whatever else was going on. I am looking forward to speaking with their team to find out what occurred b/c this is bad business. In addition to this the service was extremely slow. There was 1 server for the entire restaurant & 1 bartender. I got there at about 8:15pm, no one came to take an order until about 9:30p and when they did they only asked if we wanted a round of drinks. Never offered water or anything. I understand this is a newer business but they won't be in business long if this is how they operate, very disappointing. read more

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I signed up for one of those 'dinner with strangers' events, and a surprise location was Botanero. Me being me, I looked up the menu beforehand, and I was very excited. I even briefly considered going beforehand so I could try without having a big group around me. Alas, the experience fell short of expectations. Thinking to the experience before the bill came, I felt as though I won't be itching to return. After the bill? I'd spent $80 after tax & tip, and felt ripped off. Points for their vibe, where 'chic' is a good word to describe it. Red and warm-white lights. The music also added to the atmosphere, however, while the volume was fine when it got busier, it was loud for my taste while business was slow. I had the opportunity to try: - Tuna Toastadita - Empanadas (both chicken and spinach/cheese - Panna Cotta - Cute Bear (cocktail) Tuna Toastadita: As someone who adored tuna tartares in their various interpretations, you *know* I'd be ordering this one! While the ideas were good, the execution was lackluster. No complaints about the tostada, this seemed to made in house, was sturdy and tasty, and it shows. The tuna was a miss - the guajillo sauce seemed to affect the tuna's texture and overpowered not only its flavor, but the avocado mousse as well. Further, while the toastaditas had an ample amount of fish and looked pretty, the presentation was at the cost of messiness. It would take a talented person to eat one of these finger foods without a bunch of tuna falling to the plate. Empanadas: These were underwhelming to the point where the garnishes were the best thing on the plate. The empanadas were okay through and through - the flavors of both crust and filling seemed muted and uninspired. Thank goodness for garnishes offering some contrast, I guess? Note: it is not possible to mix & match, a 'stranger' next to me got one kind, I got another, and we exchanged. Panna Cotta: This was the highlight of the night, and perhaps the only thing I would order again if I [somehow] find myself here again. Yet, it still had some items that need work. For the good: the cream was perfect in texture, sweetness, and creaminess. Caramel corn? Hard to go wrong there. Blackberries? Love the contrast in terms of texture, however, given the overall sweetness, raspberries might have been a better fit to contrast the sweetness (more my opinion than a criticism). However, the macaron is not saved from my wrath - rather than having some softness and give, this thing was so spectacularly crunchy it has no business being called a macaron. Cure Bear: This reminds me of what my mom made me when I was sick as a child, only less acidic, and four times as sweet. With that, this is misplaced in the menu under the "boozy and bitter" section. It did have enough alcohol to go to my head, but no bitterness or booziness to be tasted - just sweetness and honey. Maybe it is misplaced, or maybe there was an error in its creation, but whatever the cause, it too left me disappointed. Where it comes to the service, I have no complaints. Considering the size of the group, and that there were event-related activities ongoing, it was appropriately attentive and fast (given everyone got their items at the same time). Finally, we come to the prices. Two tapas, one drink, and one dessert cost $81.41 after tax, tip, and 3.5% "Hospitality" charge. If the experience was next level, I wouldn't complain. However, when pretty much everything I had was "just okay," this is borderline highway robbery. Thus, unless Botanero looks a good look at what they're doing and makes revisions to (for example) make their empanadas at least at the level of Lito's at Sterling Food Hall (formally Revival), I do not see myself coming back. read more

Botanero - Cute Bear - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tucked away in a warm, cozy setting a garden apartment basically, Botanero offers an approachable Mexican dining experience that transforms seamlessly from restaurant to vibrant nightspot as the evening progresses. This moderately-priced gem delivers authentic flavors with a contemporary twist that will satisfy both casual diners and culinary enthusiasts alike. The menu features several standout dishes worth exploring. The Tuna tostaditos present a perfect balance of freshness and flavor in a light, precisely executed bite. For something playfully innovative, the Elote costillas reimagine traditional Mexican street corn in a delightfully unexpected way. The Chicken pozole tacos round out the experience with comforting, familiar flavors elevated through thoughtful preparation. The bar programs brings a variety of delicious drinks. What sets Botanero apart is its beautiful interior design and dual personality--a warm, inviting restaurant by day that evolves into an energetic space with a dance floor as night falls. The knowledgeable and attentive staff enhance every aspect of the experience, guiding guests through both the menu and the evening's progression with equal expertise. Perfect for both intimate date nights and celebratory group gatherings (especially birthdays), Botanero creates an atmosphere where memorable meals naturally flow into memorable nights. For the complete Botanero experience, book a later dinner reservation and stay as the restaurant transforms into a lively dance spot. Earlier diners can typically walk in without reservations, but the evening experience is worth planning ahead for.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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Botanero really exceeded my expectations! Maybe it's just me but whenever I go to a higher end cocktail bar with expensive cocktails/food, I anticipate most of the cost goes to the ambiance. Botanero, however, has delicious food and cocktails in addition to the ambiance! It's an incredible unassuming spot for a date night. Each of the he cocktails were unique. I love that the chef personally came out herself to provide a corn chowder to start, and brought some other dishes out too to describe the flavors and best way to eat the dishes. The most memorable was the flautas, it's reminiscent of a Vietnamese egg roll since the wrapper is the same texture and you wrap it up in lettuce, mint and basil. However the inside is a warm creamy potato filling! It comes with sour cream, cotija cheese, and Salsa Verde. It was so delicious and I loved the crispy texture with the soft warm potato filling and fresh greens. The corn ribs were super flavorful with a great dipping sauce. The $20 taco I actually would recommend, the bone marrow makes it super rich and fatty. For cocktails I had the senor sotol, which was similar to a margarita. Super flavorful. I also had the la Pina, which comes with an LED coaster to give it a glow-in-the-dark look. Really tasty and not too sweet. The esquites cocktail is very liquor forward, and it's actually quite nice eating the corn rib that comes in the drink after it's finished. The ambiance was a dim red moody lighting, but not so dim that you can't see in front of you. Overall this experience was definitely worth the money! We both left feeling full and each dish was like an adventure for our taste buds. read more

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Amazing dining experience, if I could give a sixth star I would. The interior is chic but cozy; dimly lit so perfect for date night but definitely lively enough for a group of friends. Service was awesome, the chef even came to the table. Now to the delicious food and beverages, which were perfectly executed. Margaritas were tasty, potent, and clearly made with fresh ingredients and homemade syrups. The food was so good I forgot to get photos, but everything we tried was awesome. Highly recommend the sharable dips. This isn't your typical chips & salsa. All of the items had a special little creative twist to them, I don't want to play spoiler so I will just say check them out yourself! read more

Botanero - Grand margarita. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Botanero has become one of my absolute favorite restaurants in the city. I've been here five times in the last three months, and every visit has been incredible. Whether it was a date night with my fiancé, a birthday dinner for my brother, or a night out with friends, Botanero consistently delivers amazing food, cocktails, and atmosphere. The owner Richard brings so much energy to the space and always finds ways to make guests feel welcome. The vibe here is perfect for any occasion: burlesque shows on certain Thursdays, DJs on weekends, and an overall lively yet classy atmosphere that works for both an intimate dinner and a fun party night. The food is the highlight. I've tried everything on the menu and it's all outstanding. Every dish is packed with flavor and beautifully presented. After living in Chicago for over 10 years and dining at countless restaurants, I can confidently say Botanero's flavor profiles stand out among the best in the city. The cocktails are also a must-try. Huge thanks to Marco, who creates some of the most well-balanced and creative drinks I've had in Chicago. They're complex, flavorful, and clearly designed with care. If you're looking for a top Chicago restaurant for date night, birthdays, girls' night out, or weekend nightlife, Botanero should be at the top of your list. Between the amazing food, world-class cocktails, and unforgettable atmosphere, it's a place I recommend to everyone. read more

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What an undiscovered gem! -unique, great cocktails -delicious food -friendly service -cool ambiance We sat on the patio area out front because it was so nice out, but the inside had great ambiance. The cocktails are organized by profile, and my friend had the watermelon and blackberry margaritas whole I had the Esquites cocktail (smoky and delicious! Black with red chili oil on top, but not spicy) and the piña, which was electric yellow and had an ice cube with the restaurant name etched into it. We split a few items: -the corn costillas, which if you can't tell, are grilled corn ribs. They were amazing. I'm trying to figure out if I can imitate them at home! I would say that the sauce they came with was delicious but... grey. And that isn't an appetizing color, so we just didn't look at it while we ate it, lol -the tuna tostada, super yummy and the only spicy thing we tried -the al pastor negro, which was two flavorful small tacos -the guac, which was good but not great -the panna cotta with carmalized popcorn and blackberries, which was great but could be smoother Overall, super unique, welcoming, and delicious, just a free things to finesse on the food. Highly recommend!! read more

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Can't say enough about how dang good this food was. Mexican fusion at the highest level and not fussy and precious about it. Please check this place out and spread the word! read more

We were looking for a tasty spot to celebrate a quiet and intimate birthday dinner and had a wonderful time at this hidden gem. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, food and drinks were incredible and the vibes were super chill. We will definitely be back! read more

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Drinks were fantastic and the vibes were phenomenal. Our server, Alexis, was helpful with the menu and drinks. Will be coming back for sure! The Dj also played some great music through the night. read more

Botanero - Drinks - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've gotta say - this was an unexpected discovery. There's nothing I love more as a foodie, to experience food through the lens of chef and understand their take on a dish. Botanero provided me a wholesome experience and immersion of flavors that captivated my palette. Served tapas style by hand of chef, this dining experience far exceeded any expectations and the food was so well balanced in aromatics and flavor. I was highly impressed with this place and would surely recommend it further read more

Botanero - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Where do I start., this is definitely a vibe! Girls night, date night, guys night friends etc... The service was on point and the music was so good. Honestly I cannot wait to come back here! Thank you !!!! read more

Botanero - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Everything we ordered was EXCELLENT. Homemade tortillas were delicious. Quality food at great happy hour prices. I'm sad this wasn't here when I used to live in the neighborhood! read more

So happy we chose this new spot for a date night! Unique dishes, drinks, and flavors + our server was incredibly attentive and made great suggestions. Favorite dishes were the shared dips (especially the sikil p'ak and carrot hummus) + flautas This would make a great date/first date spot. We truly have zero negatives to say, and can't wait to come back and try brunch! read more

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We live around the corner from this spot and were so excited to try it out. It did not disappoint! New favorite neighborhood spot. We've visited twice now and haven't tried a single cocktail that wasnt unique and delicious. The staff is incredibly kind and fun! The food is equally phenomenal -- the trio of dips and the short rib curry was amazinggggg. Really looking forward to trying their brunch. read more

Botanero - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent Mexican dishes, portions OK, delicious and filling. The Mijitis were outstanding, make sure you've got water, the 'hot' dishes are spicy! read more

I recently visited Botanero and tried its three course tasting menu with cocktail pairings. I can highly recommend this restaurant. First, the food was creative, delicious and inventive. The first course was elote costillas that was paired the la piña. It's a play on the traditional Mexican street corn. The corn was left in the Cobb, but the Cobb was cut so twisted in spirals. The second course, and my favorite, was the barbacoa. It came with a few tortillas so you can make tacos if you want. The meat was super tender, pull a part and delicious. This course was pared with the PPP. For third and dessert course, I got the caramelized popcorn panna cotta paired with gold carajillo, a play on an espresso martini with eatable good flakes. If you like sweet desserts, this is the one for you. Not only was it beautiful, but the panna cotta was yummy and flavorful. Second, the vibes and ambiance are amazing. The restaurant is small, and intimate, but not noisy. The low light with red accents gives it a playful, but relaxing atmosphere. Third, the service was excellent. My waiter was friendly and very knowledgeable about the dishes and drinks. Also the courses came out at with perfect timing. In sum, Botanero is a must visit spot. read more

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Disappointing Experience - Poor Food Quality I had high hopes for the restaurant since it was highly recommend by a friend who was having his birthday party there. But, unfortunately, my experience was underwhelming. The food quality was far below expectations. I ordered the "grilled octopus, tamale" it was a very soupy, not grilled octopus. My husband ordered the New York strip and ended up getting a totally different piece of meat that our waiter confirmed and apologized for. The touch of the chef coming out and engaging with the customers and serving you each individual dish is a great touch. She was very kind and very attentive . The owner is a great guy very friendly and I wish him the very best. I just hope that moving forward they improve their menu descriptions. The ambience is quiet and elegant. With very little lighting. You cannot see your food. We had to pull out our phones so we could see what we were eating. read more

Stopped into Botanero without a reservation and they were very accommodating. The restaurant is in a beautiful space, has delicious & creative cocktails & delicious food. Service was excellent. Will definitely be back. read more

Botanero - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I just went here for happy hour and wow!! The best margaritas we have had in a long time and we got elote, papas bravas and agua chile and all were so good. I recommend this place. The vibe is also so cool, bartender and owner were so nice. Thanks for having us! read more

I was an early customer at Boatnero, when it first opened, the food was really good, it was different than most Mexican places I've been to. There was a quality about it that I don't see anymore. I came back to Boatnero recently and was disappointed that they had removed a lot of the items I had before. So I tried some of the items on the current menu. I don't know what happened to this place in just 6 months but it's not worth the money. I felt like I could just go to Chipotle and get better food. Our waitress had a nice smile, and wow, what a wagon! read more

Drinks. Vibes. Staff. Excellent! Well done Botanero, I'll definitely be back. I highly recommend the PPP. Gracias!.

We live in the neighborhood and finally made it over to try the new spot on the block. We were SO pleasantly surprised! Cocktails were elevated and not overly sweet. However the food was what really shined. We had a few tacos, most notably the bone marrow taco which my fiance inhaled in approximately .5 seconds. We then had the shrimp dish and the barbacoa dish. Both were exceptional! The sauces, flavors, and preparation exceeded expectations. read more

Great ambience the second you walk in. You feel like you're transported to somewhere outside of Chicago. Music's great and the food is even better. The complimentary soup in the beginning is phenomenal - still dreaming about it. Everything else was delicious - the sikil p ' ak dip, elote, and flautas. Can't forget the margaritas, they make them how they're supposed to be and without all the sugary bs. Will be back! read more

The food, service, and ambiance was all great! I got the barbacoa and it was absolutely delicious. So was the goat cheese cheesecake! The chef brought out all our food and was so nice! The drinks were fun and delicious as well. Highly recommend. We will be back! read more

Been here twice now with my lady. We absolutely love this place. The cocktails are amazing and the food was spectacular. The Tuna Tostadita is the best we've ever had. I will order it every time we go. The shrimp tacos were fire. We also got the steak and the papas bravas. Honestly everything was so good and had bold flavors. I want to try every drink on the menu lol. The inside has a cool vibe and they always play great music. Highly recommend this place! We always sit at the bar and this place is our new favorite. Can't wait to go back read more

We had a great experience at Botanero! The staff was so thoughtful -- they gave us a little soup as a complimentary amuse bouche. All the food was fantastic. We shared the dip platter as an appetizer, which was delicious, though if you're sharing between two people, it is filling, so you may want to box some of it so you can save room for entrees. I had the barbacoa, which was amazing -- perfectly cooked, perfect flavors. And the drinks were fab! Everything was presented beautifully. Will definitely return. read more

Botanero - Cocktail (I think it was called La Piña) - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

awesome spot; vibes were super chill - Jorge is the best bartender to get serve by, he's super friendly and accommodating and attentive! definitely would recommend swinging by for a drink or dinner, food is absolutely amazing! read more

Botanero - La Piña Cocktail - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had the best vegan enchilada!! Literally so good. Brunch bottomless margs were unreal!!!

Fantastic place!! Perfect service and cocktails with chill vibe! I will definitely recommend this bar to everyone read more

Botanero - Fantastic place!! Perfect service and cocktails with pleasant vibe. I will definitely recommend this bar to everyone - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Truly a terrible restaurant. Very rude staff that felt shocking how poorly they could treat a dinner guest. Be wary booking reservations here. read more

Wowwowow stumbled in here last night after not being able to get a seat at Mott St and I am so glad I came here instead! My friend and I sat at the bar and only had drinks but I will definitely be back for food. Our bartender was so sweet and knowledgable and the cocktails were delicious. Also, really love the vibes and energy of the space. I can't wait to go back and try the food! read more