I came here for an early dinner. This place is down the street from me and I've been dying to check it out. I came solo so I sat at the bar. The setup is not; not super big but that tables are spaced out so you don't feel cramped. The bartender was attentive and make great drink recommendations. I started with a whiskey sour and for the main course I went with their burger. The sour was solid, and that burger was real good. It was packed with meat and several toppings, so I recommend eating it there (instead of takeout) so the bun doesn't get too soggy I washed this down with an espresso martini, but here's the thing: it's the first time I've had one made with whiskey. When I ordered it after my wishes sour, the bartender suggested that since I started with whiskey. I'm glad I went with his recommendation because that sucker was FIRE. Highly recommend this place read more

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A friend and I dined today at Etc and unfortunately, my experience didn't live up to expectations. I originally came in excited to try the oxtails and grits I saw featured on TikTok, along with their signature drinks. However, I was told they were sold out for the night. I then asked about the whole red snapper, which also wasn't available. At that point, the menu felt very limited, with only a few options left. My friend ordered an espresso martini, and it was very underwhelming--both in taste and presentation. It lacked the richness you expect and didn't even have a basic garnish. We both ordered pasta (I added chicken). While the seasoning was actually good, the food itself was not hot. It was barely warm. When we sent it back, it seemed like it was just placed under a heat lamp rather than properly reheated, and it came back the same way. Service was also lacking. Our waitress didn't check in on us throughout the meal, and overall there was little attention to the table. I was really looking forward to this experience, so it was disappointing on multiple levels. Between the unavailable menu items, lukewarm food, and lack of service, I don't see myself returning. read more

Etc - Cajun pasta - Bucatini, Mushroom, Creole Cream Sauce - add chicken thigh - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I attended a happy hour hosted here, and unfortunately after my visit, I don't think I'll be returning. This has nothing to do with the happy hour curator--that part was a great time and the music was on point. As for the service and specials, not so much. They opened at 4 PM, and by 5 PM when I ordered BBQ wings, I was told they were already out of BBQ sauce...interesting. We also ordered drinks around the same time, but didn't receive them until after we had finished our food--and only after asking the server for an update. It turns out there was only one bartender and one server from about 4-7, which led to very slow service, forgotten items, poorly made drinks, and long wait times overall. I ordered a lemon drop, and it was served in a regular glass because they were "out of martini glasses at the moment." Again...interesting. There were just too many mishaps for an event that happens weekly and for specials that are regularly promoted. The manager did come by to check in and sent over shots, which I appreciated, but there's only so much that can be done when the place is clearly understaffed. I really enjoyed the hosted event, and the ambiance is nice, but overall, the establishment did a poor job executing on the service side, in my opinion. read more

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Great attentive bartenders with great recommendations. I enjoyed just sitting at the bar for happy hour. The drink of the day was sangria. It was super refreshing! read more

Etc - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We enjoyed our visit at ETC overall. The service was a little slow at times, it seemed as if our waiter was also our bartender so drinks took a bit longer, but they were boozy and delicious. The food was good. We enjoyed the chicken, deviled eggs and pasta, it was spicy and full of flavor! The best part was the music, I love good jams although it was soooooo loud lol read more

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Five stars for the brunch menu. The food was excellent! Went for brunch Sunday. It was a little later in the afternoon so it wasn't too busy. The waitress came to our table abruptly. It was sort of weird. She was new I was told. She didn't say hi, didn't offer any specials. I mean nothing but "can I get you guys something to drink?" We laughed because it was the way she approached the table. Anyways, She came back and we gave her our food orders and drinks. When I tell you I didn't see her again at our table until check time? I'm not kidding. We were flagging random staff down to get things like condiments and a dropped fork replaced. The place has a weird echo to it and no music. Like nothing soaking up that extra space in sound. They need a rug or two, music or TVs. The echo was loud and made the ambience boring and weird. The decor is beautiful however. Love the art. I called for the manager because they add gratuity to the check. Ok. Can you add better service? It's a black owned restaurant so I didn't ask that it be removed from my check but I wanted the manager to know about the bad service i received. I have been back for private parties and I would return for dinner to give it another try. We tried the lemon ricotta pancakes. Excellent. Chicken and waffles. Delicious. Mimosas. read more

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I stopped by here during a Friday happy hour. I ordered the Deviled Eggs, Arugula Salad (not pictured), Truffle Hot & Dry Rub Wings, and the ETC Burger & Fries. The Deviled Eggs were delicious. The Arugula Salad was surprisingly refreshing and the vinaigrette was sharp and flavorful. Unfortunately, the wings left a bit to be desired. The Truffle Hot had a bit of a muted spice (and I LOVE SPICY FOOD). The Dry Rub was pretty good. Lastly, the ETC Burger was solid. The Bacon Jam and bun were the stars of the show for me. The service was timely, attentive, and very nice (always appreciated). The restaurant had good music and lowered "sexy" lighting. I enjoyed how spacious the place was, which can be misleading from outside. Ultimately, I think etc. is worth the Happy Hour and parts of the full menu. If you prefer bar food, then you may want to try the full menu options (Oxtails, Red Snapper, Salmon) read more

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This is a beautiful upscale modern restaurant. The service was phenomenal because our waiter took the time to answer all our questions and make recommendations. He checked in on us frequently and made us feel like queens! The food from appetizer, to dinner to dessert was a 9 out of 10! This is a great place to have a date night or impress your boss. read more

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My mom and I were on our annual girls' trip, and for her birthday, I wanted to treat her to a special dinner so I chose etc. I was immediately drawn to the restaurant because of the chef's reputation, and from the moment we arrived, the experience exceeded my expectations. We were warmly greeted at the door by a wonderful gentleman who recognized us right away and wished my mom a happy birthday, it was such a thoughtful touch. Our reservation was honored promptly, and we were seated without any wait. Our server, whose name unfortunately escapes me; was incredibly kind, patient, and welcoming. He had a genuinely positive energy and made us feel truly cared for. To celebrate my mom's birthday, they even offered her a complimentary glass of champagne, which added a lovely, elevated touch to the evening. What we ordered: Steak Frites - 14 oz Porcini-Crusted C.A.B. New York Strip with Mashed Potatoes ($54) ETCpresso Martini - Mezcal, Demerara, Espresso ($19) I ended up updating my order since the in-person menu differed slightly from the one online, but everything worked out perfectly. My mom and I shared the steak, and it was absolutely delicious. I even convinced her to try it cooked medium--and she loved it! The restaurant itself is beautifully maintained, and even the restrooms were spotless, which speaks to the overall care put into the space. Honestly, I'm surprised this place isn't packed every night; it's a hidden gem. Delicious food, outstanding service, and a great atmosphere. We will definitely recommend it to friends visiting Chicago. read more

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Where do I start? 10s across the board. This place was a whole vibe. From the moment we walked in, we were instantly greeted. First impression beautiful, spacious, and chic decor. We were seated right away, which was a plus. Our waitress was super sweet and helped us decide on drinks and food. The espresso martini was absolutely delicious. I'm very picky about my pancakes, but no complaints here. They were perfect even with nothing on them. I also had the steak and eggs with a salad, and the portions were more than enough. The DJ was jamming and I honestly didn't want to leave. I will definitely be back soon. Plus, they are part of the inKind rewards program. Highly recommend. read more

Etc -- Experience Taste Cocktails. Went the first time for Happy Hour as we often do to scope out a new spot. Full menu had some interesting offerings so we were cautiously optimistic. Hoping for some interesting Southern Food. Beautiful room and bar. Club music pounding. Fine but at 4pm?!?! Welcoming reception, friendly if not pushy service. Started with a couple of delicious featured drinks-- Hugo Spritz, Cognac Old Fashioned, Fried green tomatoes with burrata, smoked catfish dip with crackers, shrimp cebiche (their spelling). All were fine but not noteworthy. And that's why we didn't order more. Two menu items that looked interesting were the chicken suya and oxtail and grits, the latter of which seemed too heavy for this weather, the former too pricey. The rest of the menu items were typical of many American restaurants : Ora Salmon, burger, steak frites, pasta (tempting bucatini!), fish. See how all over the place ? All seemed too pricey to take a chance on. Saw someone on the sidewalk patio with the burger and it looked ok -- I'm just not a fan of all the rich toppings it came with. Chef /owner seems to have a point of view but isn't pulling the trigger on it which is a shame. When you want to be all things to all people, ya just basic. And there's no reason for ETC to be that. read more

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Wow wow wow. I can't wait to return to Etc! I'm a sucker for a good fried green tomato and theirs is incredibly good. The star of the show for me was their chicken curry - it was full of flavor, I highly recommend it. And make sure you get those collard greens too! read more

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Yesterday me, my best friend and her friends all visited Etc after an aerial fitness class. Nothing beats grabbing brunch with a group of women after a fitness class. One of the friends made reservations beforehand. We were a bit earlier to our reservation, but the waiter had no problem sitting us down and taking our coats which is thoughtful considering we all had our winter coats on. We took in the space and one of the friends took to the mirror in the corner for selfies. I liked the giant wall of white roses. I was definitely feeling the vibe inside. We looked over the menu and started brunch the right way with pineapple and grapefruit mimosas. We ordered the biscuit as an appetizer. It came with butter and jelly. Since one of the friends loves biscuits she was raving about how good it was and was contemplating about getting another, but thankfully one of the friends decided to give their portion up so she can enjoy it. For our entrees we ordered the breakfast sandwich, avocado toast, and the breakfast burrito. My best friend orders the breakfast sandwich. On the menu it said it came with beef bacon, but it wasn't on the entree when it came. My best friend alerted our waitress and our waitress said they made changes to the menu. They did bring out a plate of beef bacon for her to put it on her breakfast sandwich. I had the breakfast burrito and it was so good. The great thing about Etc is they have turkey and beef bacon which I really appreciate. There's not many opportunities for me to enjoy beef bacon at a restaurant so I think it's great they have it as an option. We were all raving about the potatoes and how nicely seasoned they were. My friends saw the aioli dripping from my burrito and thought it looked so good! And WAS! Everyone else enjoyed their entree and had enough to take home. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the other half of my breakfast burrito as I'm typing the review. I've had Etc on my list to visit for dinner so I hope to be following up my brunch review with a dinner review soon. read more

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Visited for the 1st time to try the happy hr menu before a bulls game. 1 thing I would like to point out is that this place is very spacious and the setup is well laid out. While we only at the bar I noticed that the tablea & chairs throughout the restaurant were nicely spaces out. I've found that alot of establishments will squeeze alot of tables & chairs into a space which makes it feel clutter & uncomfortable. The apps we tried were 11/10. We had the catfish dip & tomotoes. The housemade crackers that come with the dip needed to be its own item...11/10! Drinks were pretty good. Service was welcoming. The hostess even came back & asked how we enjoyed things. The bartistas were friendly too. I'll be returning to try both the brunch & regular menus! read more

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Came for Sunday brunch, as I'm eating my way through the chicken and waffles of Chicago. Restaurant is in a bit of an odd location, but is very spacious. Didn't have an insane brunch crowd, which was nice! Service was attentive without being too much. Brunch menu is on the small side, but the serving portion of food was LARGE. The chicken in the chicken and waffles was perfect--super crunchy-crackly with moist meat. I would come back just for the chicken! The waffles were flavorful and chewy textured, which is not my preference but it does seem to be the case in most places in the area, and they were still delicious. Ratio of chicken and waffles was just right for me (lot of chicken and smaller waffle). I'm going to be back to try the oxtail at dinner at some point! read more

I was excited to try this new spot. The food was decent and the ambiance was even better. I appreciated the personalized menu for my special day. I wanted to try the catfish spread but it wasn't an option on the menu that day. The menu changes. The service was great, the young lady was attentive and helpful. read more

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I was really excited to try ETC.--especially for their biscuits, and they definitely delivered on that front! The biscuits hit the spot and satisfied my craving. The service was good, and the décor and ambiance had a nice upscale-casual vibe. As for the rest of the food, it was just alright. Nothing was bad, but nothing wowed me either. I did really enjoy the crispy potatoes--definitely a standout! However, I didn't leave feeling like I needed to rush back anytime soon. Overall, it's a solid spot with good service and a nice atmosphere, but it didn't quite hit that "must-return-ASAP" level for me. Would I go back? Maybe. Would I recommend trying it at least once? Sure read more

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The atmosphere is great, and the food is delicious! I especially love the artichoke dip with pita chips, ETC burger, and the wedge salad. Plus, the music is perfect since I'm a R&B fan. I'm definitely will be to returning! read more

Very chic and elegant dining experience. Interior was perfectly done. Had a beautifully done very large white rose mural on one side which was eye catching and memorable, looks 3D. They also have live music which gave it a romantic vibe. Tried only a couple of things as we weren't very hungry and for the most part was good. The deviled egg appetizer was superb especially topped with caviar....yummmm. Also ordered the CAB Filet Au Poivre which is a 45 day dry aged filet (medium rare) served with side of garlic potato cake (looked like hash browns but with a garlicky flavor which hit the spot) and green beans. Honestly the meat was cooked to my liking but felt it was a bit salty side. They were out of the whole fish so guess will have to travel to try it another day. Also have to try their dessert next time for sure. Banana pudding is calling my name read more

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I went here for Sunday brunch. The food and service is amazing. They had Dj Radio Champ spinning all of my favorite 90's R&B hits. I highly recommend. I want to come back for dinner. read more

Etc - Lemon blueberry pancakes are delicious. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Let me tell you -- I absolutely LOVED my happy hour experience here. The service alone was amazing, the bartenders and bar manager were great and gave such amazing service as well as knowledge about the restaurant, food, and drinks. The ambiance is sooooooo nice and the aesthetic is amazing! It is the perfect place to rent out and host a dinner party for sure! The drinks were amazing -- my cousin and I had the pineapple daiquiri (which WAS NOT frozen) and man was that drink refreshing! For food, I had the burger and she had the wings with truffle hot sauce and we shared the collard green artichoke dip and some biscuits! Everything was delicious! I'm talking so savory and full of flavor. I absolutely love this place and am thinking of trying out their brunch! Lamar knew what he was doing when he opened this establishment! read more

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Nope. Just go somewhere else. Didn't even order food because I ordered an old fashioned and they gave me whiskey and cranberry juice.

Went there for brunch and was amazed I found on street parking as we know how downtown Chicago can be in the Summer. The ambiance and decor is very nice. Staff were super friendly. For me, I wanted more on the menu. I had the pancakes and chicken sausages. If I were to come for brunch again I would have the same thing. My friend tried the Impossible Biscuits and Gravy...wasn't bad but I don't have to have it again. I want to go back for dinner...We shall see. For the both of us, drinks included, the bill came out to $100. read more

Etc - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We just had Sunday brunch at Etc. We made a reservation but it was pretty empty when we arrived- they had just opened. It was very nice inside and the staff were very friendly. We got a few things for the 4 of us to share. We started with the seafood croquettes, which were very good. The shrimp and grits were also solid. The grits were purple! I'm glad the server had told us beforehand, otherwise we would have been very surprised. I've never had purple grits before. The impossible biscuits and gravy were fine, but I wouldn't get them again. The biscuits had a cake/bread-like consistency, which I did not enjoy. The blueberry pancakes were everyone's favorite and those are definitely worth going back for! Overall, it was a solid brunch and we'd go back again for the pancakes! read more

Etc - Blueberry pancakes - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Six stars! It starts with Joey, the host with the most. Warm, charming, fun & funny, he greeted us like we were dear friends. Hard to believe this restaurant opened only 5 weeks and two days ago! It's impressive, not to mention beautifully designed. It's glamorous and inviting, and makes you feel beautiful to be in the space. Marvelous mixology served in gorgeous etched coupes. The Vesper is perfection. Obligatory Vodka Cocktail did not disappoint! Homemade biscuits with house made jam and pimiento cheese are addictive. My daughter commented, "I could eat 900 of these." Same, girl, same. Fried Green Tomatoes with burrata? Yes, please! Burger was savory and sweet and fries are crave worthy. Precious took excellent care of us. Thank you, new friend! We were sad to leave and cannot wait to return. Round of applause! read more

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This place is seriously unprofessional. 1. They charged us more for a drink than it was listed on the menu. 2. The kitchen all of a sudden closed right in the middle of the event. 3. We stood at the bar for 20 mins and watched the bartender serve multiple other guests who arrived after us. Then he had the nerve to mock us when we asked why it took so long. 4. The manager was dismissive when we talked to her about the over charge. We came to enjoy an event, but the service really detracted from the event. The DJ and the crowd created nice ambiance. It was just the service that was not good. read more

We came here for a late birthday celebration, and the food was amazing for the most part. Additionally, I got two drinks, and they were very tasty as well. The smoked Mississippi catfish dip and the duck ravioli were my favorite small plates! The brussel sprout salad was good as well. For my main meal I got the burger and truffle fries. The burger was juicy and the fries were super crunchy and well seasoned. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the strawberry crunch cake dessert. It was so dry, but the ice cream on the side was good! The ambiance is beautiful. The space is very well decorated. Our waitress was great as well. read more

Interesting place. I'm officially old because I have to say, it was SO LOUD- the acoustics are terrible with high, industrial ceilings. We had green tomato appetizer which was delicious- well seasoned balance of real tomatoes, fried green, and burrata. Mushroom tartare was interesting- cool concept and texture, also nicely flavored. I had salmon for dinner that was great- cooked well and succotash and corn mix was tasty. This issue was they were out of beef dishes. Service was very slow. Host was excellent. But our server was apparently managing and serving which meant she forgot about us but no other servers helped us either. Food was good, but the city is full of good food- I want the whole experience to be great and unfortunately it was not. read more

New fancy pants soulfood with American twist cuisine. We booked a resy and dined in on a Sunday evening. The ambiance was beautiful. Live music, chatty diners. We ordered a variety of items. Fried green tomatoes, catfish dip, oxtails and grits, and the bone in ribeye. Everything came out really quickly. The apps were "different". Lol I'd give a 2.5 on those. The STEAK, 5 STARS!!!! Seasoned to death! Perfect temp, they ordered med well, which is too done for me, I preferred rare and the steak was still BOMB!!!! The grits were a 4 star show. Our drinks were good. Can tweak some things there., but they were good. For 2 diners it was $300. So, pretty darn pricey! 20% gratuity is automatically fine. The service for sure warranted the tip. The servers all were very accommodating. I would return! read more

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Excellent happy hour! They have a good menu and drinks offering for their daily happy hour, but the best deal is their $12 burger that comes with a beer or a shot! The burger alone is $10. Their brussel sprouts are also good. Service is good but it can get crowded, so don't expect to be ordering every 10 minutes. read more

Etc - Happy hour drinks menu - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My review is a few months late so the menu may have changed but on my visit I had a Chicken type pasta and a drink called Who the **** is Tommy. I also had Deviled Eggs to start with. The pasta was just ok and the deviled eggs were good. It was actually my first time trying Caviar and I enjoyed it. The drink was alright. Service: The service was great. Everyone was pleasant. Overall: For my visit at the time, nothing wowed me. Everything was just ok. I said then I didn't have to return and have yet to. If the opportunity presents itself and I return with a better food experience, I will definitely update this review! read more

Etc - Not sure if this is still on the menu or not but it was called Who the **** is Tommy - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

9 out of 10. they were out of wings but everything else we ordered was good food and drink wise. we had Sye as our waitress and she was on point!!! I'd definitely recommend and plan to come back for another happy hour! read more

TLDR: nice aesthetic, not good for large parties. My cousin had a birthday reservation for about 24 at 1:30. Unbeknownst to us, their kitchen closed a 2pm. The owner or manager (i'm not sure), said he'll accommodate us and the waitress took our orders. There was a miscommunication about tables as well. We all ordered mimosas and a meal. The mimosas took about 40 mins to touch the table. We received mismatched glasses and none of them were champagne glasses. We weren't even given a wine cooler like everyone else, just the bottle. After another 20 mins, we canceled our food order and left. read more

The food is absolutely delicious! The service however, deplorable.. additionally why does it cost $25 for the kitchen to cut a birthday cake? #MoneyGrab. I am black and an HBCU graduate (Morehouse)--I love supporting black owned businesses. However, reasons like the one listed above is why I'd hardly consider returning. Hoping you guys make some changes soon, because if not I don't expect you to be open that long. Cheers! read more

This place was so cute! I'd heard about it and finally got the chance to visit. The food was delicious. The server was personable and put up with us in the best way. I will be back. read more

Etc - Shrimp and grits Blueberry pancakes Chicken and waffles Biscuit Whiskey sour and egg white - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

ETC. Restaurant in Chicago brings a modern and elevated touch to Southern cuisine. We ordered: The perfectly plated Deviled Eggs with Caviar that were a fantastic way to start--creamy, tangy, and topped with a briny burst of osetra caviar that added just the right amount of luxury. The Greens were fine--not bad, but nothing particularly memorable. They had a decent flavor but being a Southern girl, these were Vegan, so they lacked the smokiness of smoked turkey or neck bones that elevates the taste I'm used to. If you are looking for a well seasoned and tasty Vegan dish, you will love these. The Mac & Cheese was pure comfort food bliss. Rich, creamy, and packed with cheesy goodness, it was everything you'd want in a classic dish. The Oxtails & Grits, unfortunately, didn't quite live up to expectations. The grits were creamy and well-seasoned, but the oxtail itself was sparse, leaving the dish feeling incomplete. With a more generous portion of meat, this dish could be a real standout. Finally, the Key Lime Pie was just the right level of sweetness, and was the perfect refreshing dessert to close out the experience. The graham cracker crust was buttery and crisp, complementing the smooth, citrusy filling beautifully. Service was attentive and welcoming, and while not every dish was a knockout, the highlights--especially the deviled eggs, mac and cheese, and key lime pie--make ETC. worth a visit. Food 4/5 Service 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 read more

This place is beautiful so esthetically pleasing! I love the sexy swany vibe. They stole my heart with the vast happy hour offering! My hubby and order 2 drinks a piece and we're very pleased. My original pick had gin as the spirit of choice but agree to sub it out for vodka. My hubby choice the Manhatten's. The happy hour menu was great weekend had the brussels sprouts that included a sprinkle of nuts throughout really amazing. We also had the sponge dip with accompanying baguette. I did have a problem with them being overtosed, but they promptly took them away and bought more. My favorite ad of all the appetitesers had to be the lamb sliders.If this was offered as a main dish, I would definitely pick that! My entree, which was the salmon, was my least favorite, I did ask for not to be undercooked but lead it to be overcooked and lacked seasoning in my opinion. I was disappointed my hubby got the lamp steak which was word play and were mini chops placed to strategically together. The table next to me did rave about the catfish dip, which we cannot partake in and also the oxtails with grits. I definitely will revisit for the happy hour, the drinks were amazing The customer service was top-notch. I I like that they, uh, let me sub out my drink. Also, to be noted, Im not sure if it's on the website, but there is add a gratuity to your bill. This place definitely has a sexy vibe that date night. Or girls night will definitely suffice. I will be back. read more

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There's so much to like about this place! It has an upscale vibe with friendly casual atmosphere. You can dress up and you won't feel silly or you can wear jeans and be just fine. You will see people on dates in very dressy clothes, groups of friends in jeans and sweaters, and random people sitting alone wearing casual business attire, I would think you'd be able to enjoy this place in anything except swimwear. The food is very good and this is my first time being able to say this about a restaurant in a long time but it's... original. There are items on the menu that you won't find anywhere else. Take the deviled eggs with caviar--apologies in advance, but I posted four photos of them because I was absolutely in love. Then there's the catfish dip--yum! And the lamb and lentils? The lamb is super tender, and the lentils are incredibly flavorful. There's so much more I could say about the food, but I'll let you enjoy discovering it for yourself. There's only one dish.... the fried green tomatoes. The batter was a little too thick, so when I tried to bite into them, the coating separated from the tomato, leaving me to eat the green tomato on its own. Maybe I was eating it wrong--I did try cutting it with a knife after my initial attempt. It wasn't bad, but nothing beats Creole-style fried green tomatoes. That said, I'd still give their version another try. The salmon and beans are simply fantastic! The texture - so juicy! Now, the drinks--they've recruited top bartenders from a popular bar - restaurants, and they make all the mixes from scratch. Hearing that alone was a delight! The juices are freshly squeezed, and everything is made in-house, so you're not getting all those unnecessary sugars and additives. The drinks were phenomenal. I have allergies so I care about what goes into my drink, even if I'm drinking alcohol. I had a great time sitting at the bar, watching the drinks being crafted, and chatting with my neighbors. It's definitely a good spot to meet new people. Lastly, the decor is lovely. The colors, tables, and artwork perfectly match the trendy, upscale, yet friendly vibe of the place. Two thumbs up and five stars! read more

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****This review is for you if you love the details and the full run down of the menu *** Okay brunch besties, let me spill the mimosa on this adorbs little gem of a spot that served up a whole vibe and a whole lotta deliciousness! First things first--can we talk about the vibe?! The staff was so sweet, and I was lowkey obsessed with their aprons. Like, where can I buy one?! They really set the tone--cute, cozy, and casually classy. Service was as warm as the cinnamon roll (more on that in a sec ). Sippity sip! The pineapple mimosa was an absolute brunch MVP. The balance? Chef's kiss. Not too juicy, not too bubbly--it let that champagne shine through like the star she is. Now for the food (get ready to drool): The cinnamon roll came out warm and cozy like a morning hug. The frosting was dreamy, though I wished it gave a little more love to the whole roll (spread the sweetness, ya know?). Shrimp & grits? YES PLEASE. The shrimp were plump little flavor bombs, and the grits? Creamy heaven with the kind of texture that says "I know what I'm doing." And they were purple have you had purple grits before? I haven't lol Chicken & waffles brought the crunch and the comfort. That waffle? Light, flaky, and had a hint of vanilla that made me swoon. The chicken was piping hot (like, fresh out the fryer hot), and the skin was a flavor party! The white meat was juicy and I am not a white meat girly but was totally delish. Avocado toast had me feeling like a wellness queen . The avo was fresh and luscious, and those chili flakes on top? A spicy little wink. And last but ABSOLUTELY not least... The STAR TO ME- THE PANCAKES. OMG. Fluffy. Buttery. Blueberry-studded bliss. The texture was dreamy, and the whipped butter was just the right kind of sweet--like a cozy cloud. 10/10 would order again and again. Total brunch icon status! I thought about theses pancakes all day! This place is officially on my brunch with the girls list! Cute vibes, great service, and a menu that hits allll the right notes. Grab your brunch crew and GO!!!! read more

Etc - Chicken and Waffles - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had been recommended this spot by a fellow foodie, so we were really looking forward to trying out the food. We came in on a Sunday and upon walking in you definitely get a high end feel. That's kinda where the "vibes" ended. We were sat and the waiter explained that 4 of the 7 entrees were unavailable. If they hadn't had entree that we wanted we probably would have left. We started with the biscuits and fried green tomatoes. The biscuits were good but didnt hold up and way too crumbly. I'm also not a huge fan of pimento cheese. The fried green tomatoes dish was solid. For entrees we ordered the oxtail, which we had come for and a pasta dish. The pasta was good. I enjoyed the crisp on the oxtail meat and the purple grits were unique. Overall the experience was fine. We were disappointed that so many items were out of stock early on a Sunday evening. The prices were also up there. I would have gladly paid these prices at Virtue, but this was not that. I'm not sure if it's the location or tariffs that are requiring such a high overhead, but I think having this spot in either Bronzeville or North Lawndale could really do wonders for them. read more

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