This was my second time at Dolly's, and my first visit was already great, so I came in with pretty high expectations. Somehow, this time was even better. The food was excellent all around. I got the steak tacos and they were seriously amazing. I also tried a couple of smaller sides like the rice and beans, and everything was really well seasoned. You can tell they put care into the details. The drinks were just as good. I tried one of the agave tequilas they recommended and it was super smooth and definitely top shelf. Service was friendly and attentive without feeling overdone, which I really appreciated. What stood out most this time was the atmosphere. They had live music going, and it really added to the whole experience. It is not something you see everywhere around here, and it made the night feel a little more special. Definitely a place I will be coming back to. read more

A week or two ago, my boyfriend and I sat at the bar for over 15 minutes while it wasn't busy, with about 2-3 other groups of just two people. Several bartenders walked by us, and we tried to get their attention. Nothing. We eventually got up and left. We were excited to try their drinks, and it looked really cool inside, but it just left a bad taste in my mouth. read more

This is another Grand Opening review. In addition to natural wines and cocktails (a page of house and a page of classics), they have a variety of whiskeys, agave, and even sake, in addition to a small nonalcoholic selection in the back of the menu. As the owners run the art and estate jewelry shop next door, I'm assuming all the fabulous art on the walls is absolutely real. There's no big painting of a naked lady above the bar, but there is a large one of several naked ladies and some swans off to the side. I had the Don't Rub Me the Wrong Way (pineapple /rum /rhubarb / sfumato) and a virgin Scarlet Serpent, which features hibiscus and a fancy foam top. Both were delightful and visually striking. There were a couple of other drinks I'll have to try next time. The Catalan tomato focaccia appeared to be essentially thin focaccia someone had squeezed a tomato onto with maybe a little garlic; it was surprisingly successful. They also offer charcuterie boards, or you could even get a burger or a veggie burger if you wanted. Service was friendly; I can't judge efficiency as the opening was very successful and the place was packed, which kept 4 or 5 people behind the bar hopping. The bar features velvet seats and purse hooks (a thoughtful touch), and you must check out the bathroom - fixtures are all black and it too is packed with fabulous art, including at least one Erte'. I'm not much of a wine drinker, but it is nice having a fancy cocktail place in town, particularly with such posh surroundings; I'll certainly be back. read more

Grand Opening Review! Dolly's Lounge has officially opened in Wheaton! They bring an offering of Natural Wines, Cocktails, Beer, Shareable Bites, and Seafood Plates. The inside feels like an European speakeasy with old world artwork, large feature bar, comfortable banquet seating, and some tables near the front windows that open up to the sidewalk. I visited with a larger group and tried a variety of their cocktails. I ordered the Velvet Blossom & Golden Forager. The Velvet Blossom was floral, bright, and had a good lemon curd tasting finish to it. The Golden Forager was sweeter, bright, and I loved the mascarpone cream. My friends also tried the Rub Me the Wrong Way, Crimson Serpent, Dolly's Martinez, and The Walnut & Apple. My favorite of these was the Dolly's Martinez which came with a caviar bite! I'm normally not the biggest gin fan but all drinks were well balanced. The owners were making rounds to all guests to check in how their experience was going, if we liked what we ordered, and gave some backstory behind Dolly's inspiration for them. They were extremely kind and you could see their pride in opening within the Wheaton area. Highly recommend coming out to check out this new spot! read more

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The interior is furnished in incredible vintage decor and we loved the overall atmosphere. We each tried 2 cocktails - they were fabulous - and had several small plates. Everything was delicious but we especially loved the tinned fish preparation! Highly recommend and will definitely return! read more

Cool spot for cocktails and swanky vibes. Love the velvet banquettes and crystal chandeliers. We stuck with the traditional Old Fashions and had the sautéed shrimp and sliders which were both very good with sophisticated flavors. It's really nice that they keep the windows open on nice days. I would go back! read more

Great vibe! Still a work in progress and under staffed a little for a shockingly busy Monday night. Drinks and bites were delicious. read more

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We went on a Saturday night and it was fairly busy. However, we found two seats right in the middle of the bar. Ten minutes went by before any of the three bartenders even acknowledged us. Then it was difficult to order because the music was so loud it was deafening. Turn down the music!!!! We will not be back. read more

I really liked this place the first time I went. We did experience a very long cocktail wait time despite it not being busy, and we found a hair in the oysters, but I wrote it off as acceptable growing pains because the place is new, they addressed the oysters, and the cocktails were really good and maybe just take time to concoct. The lemon cocktail was awesome as well as one of the olive dishes, and we liked our server. The venue was quaint and cozy at the time, and I left rooting for it and wanting to return and even wanted to leave a positive review... I noticed these two cool tables in the back that I looked forward to revisiting. However, this second time was extraordinarily unforgivable, and I took a few hours to think on it if I wanted to call it out. I stand by the below: I tried to take some friends the second time this evening, and I was really excited to show off what I thought was becoming one of my new favorite spots in Wheaton. But, no. The live music was way too loud and they were pandering to something other than the french cafe vibe I was fond of the first time. I can understand a vibe change on a Saturday night, but this was a bit much for any place. Worse yet, two out of four of the employees seemed intoxicated: I even mistook one of them for an aggressive, intoxicated patron who literally walked two inches from my face with his seemingly glassy eyes and slurred speech and kept saying to me, "I advise you to sit up front. Yeah, you really want to sit up front." I literally thought he was part of this group claiming his territory against my smaller party by the two back tables. mind you someone just told us we could sit at the open table in the back as the only other table was messy and the bar and other tables were taken. He didn't say we couldn't sit there he was just "advising" we sit up front. If he didn't seem so intoxicated and explained that we "can't" sit there instead of just saying he advises we sit up front as well as saying hello or being welcoming or saying he actually works there, maybe I wouldn't be writing this review. To make matters worse, here comes another guy who has glasses, is bald, and wore a skeleton black and white shirt came and he said something similar, and I asked if it was ok if we just stay back here as the other table upfront was still messy and i couldn't hear by the speaker. I asked what's wrong with this table? This guy then went on to lean closer in toward me while I was sitting and yelled, "I don't give a shit where you sit!" and he stormed off. How am I supposed to do business with someone who just did that? A third guy with glasses, closer cropped facial hair, and spiked hair comes up and also asks if we "want" to sit up front. he was nice and said it was no problem if we sit back here when I asked if we could sit at the table we were already sitting at... This place needs more people like him.. calm and friendly and accommodating... Not once did anyone say they worked there, gave off an impression they worked there. Mind you, this all happened in a span of a very chaotic minute or two with way too many interactions from people I have no idea who they are because they didn't extend a welcome , identify themselves or come off as friendly. I only realized they worked there because I saw them bussing dishes after. Then, this lady with wine in her hand who I think is maybe the owner or the manager comes and is trying to scramble to get these very dirty tables cleaned upfront, and it's literally right next to a speaker that is going to make me deaf. I finally looked at my friends and just pointed to the door and demanded we leave. We found a much better, friendlier place. I've never been sworn at in a restaurant before or felt so unwelcome by a staff member anywhere.. I was shocked. I don't think I'll be going back any time soon, if at all. I can understand pressure and being busy in the restaurant business, but swearing at me when I did nothing or said nothing to warrant that is completely unacceptable out of the one guy, and the other "advisor" seemed so drunk and so hostile as well, and the other lady is literally clearing a table while she's sipping wine. I can live with the probable intoxicated "advisor" and the wine sipping manager (maybe owner?), but I hope the person who swore at me gets found out sooner rather later and the business reevaluates their decision on that particular individual. I felt for the guy with the spiked hair and glasses: he seemed to be the only one effective in his role tonight. I still have no idea why half of the staff seemed to be guarding that table with their life. There was another one just like it right in front of us with people sitting and standing. Again, half the staff seemed like they had no problem with us sitting in this nice little table... very disparate treatment. very puzzling. Very chaotic. read more

Decor was great. Party of 6, only 1 drink that rose to 'ok' was the Manhattan. Drinks were very low quality, shot glass in size and expensive. Service/bartenders were slow. Left after 1 round. Disappointing.... read more