Such a treat to return to beloved Monk's to find it still the perfect pub tavern resisting Chicago…read morerestaurant modernity! In the 90's this was the spot for us young lawyers to have top 5 burger and beers to unwind after court. My return 30 years later and burgers still tops for a true beef monster, not some wimpy Small Cheval garbage but a man's burger, lol. The ONLY beef I have is no more peanuts. We'd hang for hours eating peanuts, shells on the floor. I have to be this old Gen X guy and also say they have TOO many beers now. There was a great simple charm to have the darks and lights they had and now that the microbrew boom is over and people are drinking less - this old dawg attorney wants you to bring back peanuts and pair down that beer list to 10. Otherwise such a gem and grateful the owner resisted and fought selling and modernizing!!

Our first stop on a weekend full of Chicago fun. Monk's is lively, great taps, helluva house-made…read moreveggie burger, outstanding pickle fries, friendly and hardworking waiters. Also love the cozy decor - perfect "pub" experience.

excellent service, considering there seemed to be one person serving all the tables. prompt refills…read morewhen asked. prices are what I would expect. a little loud, but that's OK

A small, dive-style bar with a lot of personality. Just had a beer, but the experience was spot on…read moreengaging staff who were happy to chat and share local tips, and regulars who were friendly and easy to talk to. Unpretentious, welcoming, and exactly what you want from a great neighborhood dive.

My friend (shoutout to Hunter) has been grilling me to check this place out, and now I totally get…read morethe hype. The service was genuinely friendly, and the ambiance gives off such a welcoming, cozy vibe. There's even a fireplace you can sit by during cold Chicago winters, which is a really nice touch. I sat at the bar, and the bartenders -- honestly, the entire staff -- were super personable. You can crack jokes and they'll play right along with you, which makes the whole experience feel relaxed and fun. I ordered the pulled pork skillet and it did not miss. They make your eggs however you want (within reason), and everything came out perfectly. While not the cheapest in town, the value is absolutely there given the quality of the beers and food -- prices feel totally reasonable for River North. Shoutout to Tessa, Tony, and the whole crew -- they really make you feel like a regular. As Tessa would say: Go Birds!

Bavarian Pretzel was incredible. Happy Hour beers are a bit of a sham. They have $6 pints, but out…read moreof the ~50 beers on the menu, only 3 of them are pints.... the rest are odd sizes that you'd need to pay full price for. Great ambience for some bar food and an evening of trying unique beers. They have a great hosting space upstairs too for grad parties, work events, etc. Main reason for my lower rating was our waitress was insanely slow for a light Thursday crowd. Waited 20 minutes before seeing anyone after being sat, waited 30 minutes for the check, waited another 20 minutes for her to run the check so we could leave. I've never experience service quite that bad... would recommend sitting at the bar if you have a small party.

As a Chicago resident of over a decade, this was my first time visiting Crushed By Giants! After…read moresome shopping with my future in laws, my partner wanted to give this place a try! He picked it based off the beer and "the sports bar feel". It is very much not a sports bar and there were no tvs! Haha Anyway, he gets an A for effort! All of our food was amazing! The wings were so good we got a second order! The fries are natural cut and pair well with their garlic aoli! Classic burger was a hit! Kind of reminded me of In and Out! So delicious!! Now let's talk about the SPICY chicken sandwich, ITS SPCIY!!! Ha My partner and I split the burger and chicken sandwich! The sandwich is delicious and I was barely able to finished my half, my poor lips were on fire!! I would definitely get again! Our server was great! Made amazing beer suggestions and never let our water glasses go empty!! Looking forward to our next visit!

Had their flight all of their beers were excellent. I really liked all of the Pilsner that they did…read moregreat atmosphere perfect spot. Go try to find it. It's right across the street from the Marriott. Maryland friendly staff as well!!

We visited Bar Sotto during Chicago Restaurant Week and had a really enjoyable overall experience…read more The space has a cozy, dimly lit, intimate vibe perfect for a date night or a relaxed dinner with friends. It feels upscale but still comfortable. Service was attentive and paced well, especially considering it was Restaurant Week and fairly busy. The Restaurant Week menu offered a great variety. We started with the crispy arancini, which were perfectly golden on the outside and creamy inside with a rich glaze that added a nice depth of flavor. The wild mushroom risotto had great earthy flavor and was very rich, definitely a heavier dish but satisfying if you are in the mood for something indulgent. The gnocchi were soft and pillowy with fresh basil and roasted tomatoes that brightened the dish nicely. For entrées, the filet mignon was cooked beautifully, tender and medium rare with a flavorful sauce that complemented it well. The chicken parmesan had a solid crisp and good seasoning, though it leaned more classic than standout. Portions overall felt fair for the prix fixe price. Dessert was a sweet finish. The tiramisu was light, creamy, and not overly heavy, which we appreciated. Overall, 4 stars. Great ambiance and solid execution across the board. While nothing completely blew us away, it was a well done Restaurant Week experience and I would definitely come back to try more from their regular menu.

It's a really cool place as you walk in. The ambiance is dark and sultry. We were only stopping…read morein for a few drinks so we sat at the bar. The bartenders were friendly. Why a lower rating? We ordered a cocktail off of their menu and asked for it without one ingredient (simple syrup). They said they might be able to do it, but they would have to make it from scratch. Wait, does this mean their cocktails are all premade sitting in a jar under the bar? If I'm ordering a cocktail from a bar downtown & paying downtown prices, I'd like to think they're all going to be made from scratch by my bartender. The drink turned out pretty weak. We also had a smoked bourbon cocktail that was really nice, smoked in the glass at the bar with you.

LOVED this spot in downtown Chicago, right in the heart of the financial district. It's beautiful…read moreand easy to spot on the outside, no parking available but that's to be expected in a city like this. The staff was so kind, we had a reservation and were promptly seated. Our server was extremely hospitable and told us her favorite menu items. Inside the building is a very classy environment, clean and modern looking. POKE PROTEIN BOWL: this was absolutely fantastic! The tuna was marinated in a delicious ginger soy sauce, and the pickled onions were are fantastic flavor addition. The jasmine rice was sticky and fluffy!! So yummy. Also loved the chili oil sauce, really complimented the bowl's aioli well. SANTA FE CHICKEN WRAP: refreshing and crunchy! All the veggies were so fresh, the wrap itself was fresh and so refreshing to eat. Drew said it is in his "top 3 wraps of all time" !! Will be going back for sure!

Food: Standard Americana, had a decent menu list with plenty of options yet not overwhelming; had…read moretheir burrata and it was tasty with crunchies; had their Cobb and it had all the fixins Service: Friendly, attentive, quick Ambiance: standard grille place, clean

Great atmosphere! Friendly people, excellent service, chill vibes, and fantastic food!!…read more I love their Caesar salad and I add shrimp to it. Their hummus with fresh veggies is phenomenal! I've also enjoyed the Chicago beef sandwich, chicken wings, fried pickle chips, churro bites and more. They have a fabulous beer selection and offer pairing suggestions in the menu. Spacious interior and lovely outdoor patio. It's a great place to relax, enjoy a nice meal, and watch sports.

Good ole fashion bar with slightly elevated food. Bartender was super nice and helped out pick in…read morebeers out. No frills spot. would go back

One of a kind beer, tried during my visit and their service is great, highly recommended.read more

The place was almost empty at lunch time on a Sunday. Service was a little slow getting us started…read morebut very attentive after that. Good craft beers with a diverse selection (I loved the Dunkl!), good food, nice clean, quiet setting. The food comes from the iconic Berghoff kitchen (it's really the same place, Adams Street Brewery is the bar side and Berghoff is the restaurant side. So, if you love all the German favorites, you'll find them on this menu.

Had my first date with my wife here 25 years ago. At least this was part one of my three part…read moredating strategy then. Went here for the beer flights, it allowed for conversation and each person had an easy exit after finishing the five little beer tastes. Off to sushi was part 2 because while Clark St. showed we could click talking I was looking for someone non vanilla food wise. Then at the time we finished at the 3rd coast wine bar down the street on rush street(gone now). This was while Daley was in charge and 9/11 had hit and the city was beautiful, almost no gatherings of homeless, just the regulars. The viagra triangle was in full steam. Maggie had beautified the city with plants and flowers. It was such a good first date I left her a message afterwards telling her so, so she could get it when she got home.

Really nice combination of dive bar and haut beer destination. There's dirty hipsters and vested…read morefinance bros in the same place, and the best part is they seem fine enjoying each others company. Right on. Actually the best part is the beer selection. There are some very choice finds that all the untappd and beer advocate faithful are seeking out. I was pleased and then some, even getting some nice recs from the bartender based on some newer brewery offerings and my taste profile. The place was easy to get in and find a good spot on a Tuesday night at prime time. Easy to order, easy to settle up. Did I say it was easy?! Some Tool was playing when I drank my stout. Appropriate. Other 90s nu metal and grunge followed. The free popcorn wasn't bad either. Prices are appropriate depending upon the beer you get. I shall return!

We had Sunday brunch and were seated quickly. The…read moreatmosphere was warm, staff were quite busy but attentive. We split 2 meals between 4 of us because we k ew portion sizes would be just the right amount.

I went to lunch here solo & was very underwhelmed by the food & experience. I got the…read morePeruvian-Style Ceviche & the Fish & Chips. The ceviche was bland to me & didn't taste that great to be honest. The fish & chips which comes with fries actually surprised me at the giant size of the serving and the fries were hot, fresh, and delicious. The fish itself although hot and fresh had no flavor at all. Very filling, but tasteless. Overhyped & I could not recommend. I also originally ordered a root beer which the waitress confirmed upon repeating my order back to me, but I never recieved. It seemed as though service since I was dining solo was also very slow as well as I watched my waitress go to other tables and not mine when I kept looking to ask where was my drink. Overall, food severely lacked flavor and there's too many other places that can you dine at for better of taste/service.