Ward Eight was a place we frequently visited when we lived nearby many years ago. We were in the…read morearea recently and decided to stop by...we discovered this gem from our past has only gotten better! High quality and innovative cocktails, reasonable prices, and a chic/classy ambiance make Ward Eight must-visit! I tried two cocktails when I was at Ward 8: Remember the Main and Vieux Carre. Both were decadent, delicious, and boozy. Triple threats! I loved them both, but the "Remember the Main" was different from drinks I've had before, so that was my favorite. My husband had a local beer. They have beer, wine, and NA options for folks who aren't into cocktails. They also have food which looks scrumptious, ranging from high-end appetizers to full meals. We did not come prepared to eat, so we'll have to come back again to try food in the future! The staff were welcoming and professional. The space was clean and Gatsby-style chic. There is plenty of seating and an outdoor space for when it is warmer. It is a fancier places, so prices are higher. But you pay for the higher quality ingredients and innovative recipes. If you enjoy cocktails and cozy cocktail bars, Ward Eight is definitely the spot for you!

Cocktail was neither worst nor the best rendition of a Vieux carre that I've had. I've said it…read moreseveral times that many things that originate in New Orleans are hard to replicate outside New f the big easy. I got the feeling that the staff were putting some effort into their craft. The place was crowded & there was even a live band performing. The bar had some above average bottles such as Hibiki & Bookers. I was pressed for time but there were at least three more menu items I would've tried.

OsKar is a whiskey-focus cocktail bar in Evanston, and they have seasonally rotating menus on class…read moreand modern twists on drinks. We came here to check out a popup from Chef Ben Janasiak, the Hatchet Burger - the menu offers the Smashburger, the Chimkin Patty, the Chicken Caesar Wrap, and Tater Tots. We ordered the following: +the Smashburger came with 2 patties, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, pickles, and burger sauce +the Chimkin Patty was prepared with a seasonal vegetable fritter, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and remoulade +and, the Tater Tots, which came with a side of spicy ranch Make sure you go between 4:30 PM and 9 PM to get your burger fix! Staff were friendly, and the place was cute - loved the wooden bar area. Metered street parking can be found in the area. +Hatch Burger pop-up +friendly staff +metered street parking in the area

As a former restaurant/craft cocktail owner in Lincoln Park, I'm shocked Oskar's only has 2 reviews…read moreas it's got a lot going for it. The cocktail menu caters to many tastes, they make their own bitters, shrubs and syrups, they have a diverse collection of small batch producers and clearly a staff who know what they're doing! As a mixologist who now only plies his trade at home, I was extremely impressed!! Not that the lack of reviews seem to be hurting their business - the 3 attempts I made to visit, only one was successful (they were too busy the other times). I stumbled upon Oskars by chance - but man, am I ecstatic that I did!!! This is a gem that would easily do well in Chicago's trendiest hoods. Its interior is extremely cozy and inviting/welcoming - it reminded me of a cocktail establishment in London's brick lane neighborhood. I'm looking forward to coming back with friends as this is a cocktail bar that will impress Chicagoans and out of towners alike - and more importantly, I don't have to venture south to have a great cocktail anymore!!

Five & Dime, Lulu's, Taco Diablo, and Blue Horse Tavern have become my go-to spots for everything…read morefrom casual dinners to hosting out-of-town guests. The food is consistently delicious, and there's always something that hits the spot no matter what I'm craving. A few standouts I keep coming back to: Bang Bang Shrimp Ribs Salmon with Delallo pepper drops French Dip Enchiladas Verdes Whether I dine in or order on Uber Eats, it always arrives fresh and well-made (rare these days!). And in good weather, nothing beats Five & Dime's rooftop -- easily one of the best places in Evanston to enjoy a relaxed, fun meal outdoors. Friendly service, great variety, and reliably fantastic food!

I was here last week for a special event (this time one I didn't organize and just got to attend as…read morea guest), and it was great as always. The food is delicious (the event I was at had a taco bar, chips and guac, and a few desserts), the drink list is amazing (including a few great mocktails), and the space works really well for either private parties or just hanging out with friends. Five and Dime never disappoints. And for those who do have to plan events for stuff, F&D is great. I had happy hours here for new students in 2018, 2019, and 2022 (post-pandemic), and it was a smooth and enjoyable process each time.

About a 1-1.5: Evanston Pour is a popular coffee spot in the Evanston 'hood - we came here to get…read morea caffeine fix, and ordered: +the Cookie Butter Latte - prepared with cookie butter syrup and milk; I did request this to be extra hot, but it was served lukewarm +a Latte with almond milk - also served lukewarm +an Almond Croissant +and, a Scone The coffee was just not strong, and the fact that it was served lukewarm was a total no. The pastries were just okay, but could have been more fresh and/or warmed up. Staff was friendly, and the place also offers cocktails/other alcoholic beverages. Seating is available, but somewhat uncomfortable; not much of a place where you can do work or study. Metered street parking can be found in the area. +lukewarm, weak coffee +metered street parking

I've been here several times since my first review and it just hasn't been the same. I believe they…read moremake their own syrups in house but they're not potent in flavor. In the fall I had the pumpkin latte and I had to ask for more pumpkin because I couldnt taste it. Today I tried their new cookie butter latte and it doesn't taste like anything. How can the pumpkin latte and cookie butter latte taste the same? They also charge $1 more to make the drinks with oat milk. Why are they punishing customers for dietary restrictions? The prices are also high compared to other places. My husband ordered a slice of their blueberry almond loaf and it cost $7!

In honor of Women's History Month I would like to update my review of Nobody's Darling to state…read morethat the lovely owners of this fine establishment are still doing their thing. Nobody's Darling is not just to have a chat and cocktail, they offer quite a few events for folks to attend. Below are a few examples of the swinging times you can have there. In 2026 I am so happy that they are still in business and thriving. The vibe is still cool, the menu for the cocktails is still exciting and the crowd is eclectic. Wine Down Wednesday Unwind midweek with Happy Hour 5-7pm $7 glasses of wine $20 bottles Thursday: Pitch Your Peeps Help your friend find love (or vibes). Pitch them to the room - all relationship styles welcome. Feel Good Fridayz w/ DJ All The Way Kay Start the weekend right! Happy Hour 5-7pm DJ Kay live 8-11pm Sunday Karaoke All Day Happy Hour starting at 2pm Karaoke 5pm-8pm Sip.Sing. Repeat. Empanadas by De Luna Empanada 7pm-10pm DJ Gloria on the decks Cocktails flowing all night Friday, March 20 DJ Set 8-11PM

Great drinks and no douchy "bro" energy to be found anywhere. I love this bar. The staff is so…read morefriendly and the vibe of the entire experience was very appealing. It's thought of as a gay bar and clearly that's a lot of the clientele, but all are welcome. Cocktails are delicious and run about $15 each. Pretty standard pricing. They have a good selection of n/a drinks and a menu for lower alcohol cocktails as well. Great neighborhood bar

A clean, well lighted space, they have live music play on weekend nights (and perhaps weekday?)…read more We stopped in one Friday night to listen to jazz and drink cocktails. The cocktails are good, especially the Oat Fashioned and the Toranto.

Take Flight Spirits is such a fun and unique spot with truly delicious drink options. I personally…read morelove the Dirty Hippie (a dirty chai with rum) or the Hibiscus Daiquiri. Both drinks are fantastic, depending on your mood. They offer some snacks for purchase, but one of the best parts is that you're welcome to bring your own food, making it a great place to hang out without feeling limited. It's the perfect place to meet up with friends, catch a live performance, enjoy trivia night, or check out one of their many other events. Their website has an updated list of what's coming up, which makes planning easy. Adding to the ambience, you'll find a few tables that are actually chalk board tables so you can draw or play games on the chalkboard tables if you want. It's so fun! The staff has always been kind, welcoming, and great at crafting drinks. Take Flight Spirits is definitely one of my favorite local spots!

My favorite concert venue on the North Shore of Chicago. It seats around 150 and most shows have an…read moreoption of table or general admission. The sound quality is fantastic and the staff is very friendly. It also gives off an intimate concert vibe because you feel like the artists are right there (they actually are!).

This was a really cool venue. No food but good drinks. The entertainment for the night was top…read morenotch. It was a Prince tribute band. When I tell you it was a time to be had. The service upon entry was nice. I would definitely visit again

New favorite cocktail bar in the city!!…read more It's the perfect spot for a winter night-- the bar has moody lighting, an outdoor fireplace, and phenomenal cocktails. We tried a couple of drinks and our favorites were the espresso martini and the n/a garden smash. The espresso martini is a must order! It's clear and made with chocolate and a coffee foam. We got to speak with the beverage manager Alex and he told us all about how they make all of their syrups and juices in house, the drinks do not contain any major allergens, and many of them have no added sugar. You can tell that eveyone here is very proud of what they do!

Enjoyed my drinks here. Very complex & sophisticated cocktails albeit a neighborhood bar feel to…read moreit. I briefly discussed the bartenders "r&d" stuff currently in development why also challenging him to go off script for a custom cocktail that was delicious. Small but mighty & the price point for these types of cocktails is unheard of these days. I'll be returning asap to delve further into the menu but as of now this is a high priority for cocktail aficionados such as myself.

Still love this place. We come here for trivia almost every time they have it. Vibes are always…read moreimmaculate. We always run into the owner and his family, and he's super nice. The patio is incredible. Last night we lost (after winning the previous time, but it's good to be humbled on occasion lol). But, I thoroughly enjoyed my free grilled cheese sandwich that I won as our previous trivia night prize. Sandwiches really are their specialty. Perfectly greasy, and the caramlized onions and spinach really elevated it. Another person in our group had the turkey on a pretzel bun and said it was amazing. Also, a great range of drink options. Always a good time, and I'm excited to come to one of their mahjong gatherings, since I recently learned how to play.

I got to attend a graduation party at The Fat Shallot and it was really nice. The catered food made…read moreby the restaurant was good. I had the fries and chicken tenders. All were very tasty. There were also burgers I didn't have one but everyone that had a burger or chicken sandwich said they were good and tasty. The open bar was nice the Tito's was smooth and I had a good time. There was a DJ and enough room on the bar floor for dancing and there was a television with sports on for the sports watchers. I also saw patio outdoors seating out back. They had two restrooms and they appeared clean for patrons. The waitstaff and bartender were all friendly and just very nice.

Great food, atmosphere and service. First time there. Loved it! The chips and the tacos are awesome!read more

Upscale Spanish restaurant in the heart of Evanston to impress any foodie! Ambiance was beautiful…read moreinside with modern feel from the decor to the decorative plates on the table. We came on a rainy weekend with our parents and it was relatively quiet, in contrast to the other reviews we got lucky in that regard as it wasn't crowded. Street parking was easy to locate with minimal issues. Service was exceptional from the friendly staff to the beautiful playing of each dish, you can tell they take attention to detail seriously. Food and drinks definitely appeased us on the quality of the ingredients and the well seasoned protein dishes. I had their fish tacos and was perfectly satisfied with it as well as the caipirinha that was well crafted by the bartender. For dessert, we opted for the tres leches cake which was not setup how it is traditionally made but we enjoyed the experience.