I stopped by Lazy Bird on a Wednesday night after dinner, and it ended up being such a great…read morechoice. We made a reservation ahead of time, which I'd definitely recommend, but it wasn't overly packed and we were seated without any issues. The vibe in there is top tier. Dim lighting, live music energy, and just the right mix of chill and upscale. It's the kind of place where you can actually enjoy the atmosphere without feeling rushed. This was my second time here and I remember it being just as good back in 2022. The drinks were immaculate. I had two mocktails that were both well-balanced (not overly sweet, which I appreciate), and he ordered an old fashioned. You can tell they take their bar program seriously and can go beyond a gin & tonic. Overall, it was a really good time. It can give you a great midweek outing or a laid-back night with a little something.

Very cool cocktail spot in the basement of the Hoxton. Great vibes and service!!…read more They have a large cocktail menu with lots of classic drinks and also a fun rotating menu. It was zodiac themed while we were there. I didn't order a special drink though-- just a dirty martini. It was great and they have delicious blue cheese olives.

Came here with two of my girlfriends before heading to a show at City Winery. We've been to the Old…read moreTown location plenty of times before but never to this west loop spot. We got starry eyed at the Girl Dinner option which was $25 for shrimp cocktail, caesar salad, parmesan fries and a dirty martini. I unfortunately don't eat shrimp and was in the mood for an espresso martini, so two of us ordered our own version of girl dinner! We got an espresso martini, a side caesar salad, and a side of parmesan fries. We also got oysters since they were a happy hour special. We loved everything that came! One of our friends got the girl dinner and it was presented SO cute- we were a little jealous not going to lie!! Overall we were super happy with the Vig's new location. Will definitely be back for more girl dinner : )

We were scrambling to find a good spot that wasn't packed during Mother's Day, so we gave the VIG a…read moretry. It definitely did not disappoint! I got the chopped salad with fried chicken, and it was HUMONGOUS. The chicken was crispy and all the veggies tasted so fresh. We also got the shoestring zucchini, and it was very tasty but slightly salty. Additionally, we tried their mini tacos, and they tasted so fresh! The service was great since they were able to seat us on a busy holiday, and they brought out the food pretty quick. They even wrote what food was in the to-go containers and the date it got packed: so thoughtful! The ambiance was very pretty, and it had a very nice theme going on. It's a great place to go on a date or bring your family!

The Chicago food tour commences... First stop, drinks at Bisous! This cocktail bar was listed no…read more 39 on the top 50 bars in North America for 2025. It was no wonder when we arrived that there was a line out the door. We waited around 45 minutes, and the bouncer was a really nice fellow who kept track of the numbers and people at the door. Upon entering, we were immersed in a dimly lit retro-style lounge. It was quite loud inside and packed as we walked to our seats. The server was great at taking our orders and offering suggestions. I opted for the French 75, which featured sparkling wine and mixed gin, brandies, and citrus. The drink was delicious, but STRONG. I don't know what they put in the cocktails in America, but I am always finished after one drink. Needless to say, we were all struggling to finish our own drinks. My favourite touch was the coasters, I ended up keeping all of them so that I can reuse them at my galentines event next year. The 'bisous' with the kiss on the other side is a perfect touch! I think the drinks are fairly priced for USD. I would love to return someday to try other drinks and bar bites, and also try their sister bar, Sparrow.

My boyfriend and I were visiting Chicago (from Las Vegas) 2 weeks ago, and were very excited to…read morecheck out Bisous, as it looked nice inside and had good reviews. Imagine my shock when we didn't even make it past the bouncer because he was so rude, AS OTHER RECENT REVIEWS HAVE MENTIONED AS WELL! We had dinner nearby and walked to Bisous after, and saw there was a line of 5 or 6 people outside. We expected this as we knew Bisous is a first come, first serve bar. We were curious what the wait time would look like, so we approached the front door to ask a host or employee inside (we assumed there'd be a desk with an employee working it who could give us a wait time). We had no problem waiting, just wanted to see how long they estimated it would be! Before we could even fully open the door, the bouncer swung the door open from the other side and hit me with the door. I stumbled back a few steps and he looked at us and said, and I quote, "What do you want?". I laughed at first because I thought he was joking and putting on a tough guy act. He was not. We quickly explained we just wanted to see what the wait time was, and he said "don't you see there's a line outside?" We said yes, and explained we just wanted to know a rough estimated wait time. He just blankly stared at us while ushering us out. Both my boyfriend and I have worked in customer-service roles for a very, very long time. This encounter was not only extremely rude and unprofessional, but he also hit me hard enough with the door to send me stumbling back, and then said nothing about it and continued to address us in a tone that was nothing less than annoyed and irritated. We didn't end up going inside because that encounter left such a bad taste in our mouths. I don't believe in spending my money at establishments that don't treat their customers with the bare minimum respect they deserve! Bummed we didn't get to experience it, as I'm sure it was lovely inside and I can only hope the rest of the employees were much more kind and accommodating, or at least able to answer a simple question. Fire your "bouncer" (??) and hire someone with some basic customer service and communication skills!!

5 Resounding stars for excellent craft cocktails, an intimate setting, the best staff, and…read moreinventive bites. I got reservations here for my birthday as I've been to Aviary, but never had a chance to go to the speakeasy-style concept downstairs. Haley took care of us while we were sat at a prime spot on the small bar. She was truly such a breath of fresh air and didn't intimidate like some highly skilled mixologists can sometimes do. We got to try a few drinks, but I have to call out the Martini with mango (great, balanced martini with a twist!) and the Leche de Tigre (you know this peruana had to try it!). The leche de Tigre (think ceviche in a glass) was savory, tangy, and something I would order again and again. To snack, we got the pepperoni flavored popcorn (they have a vegetarian version) and it blew me away. I would never have guessed it was vegetarian if we hadn't requested that specifically. And you know the presentation was on point. Overall, a new favorite spot in the city!

This spot inside the aviary came highly recommended considering it is part of the Alinea group…read more Service was quick and we were told we could request for a bartenders choice cocktail if we provided some general guidelines. My first drink was average and full of ice - disappointing. I did talk to them and swap it out for a mezcal sour which turned out to be much better. They were understanding and accommodative and offered up an alternative drink as well. Overall service was good and cocktails were decent. The fanfare to book this spot and the very rigid booking policies made this seem like a much more exclusive and sought after spot. The drinks were good but not spectacular. A good spot for pre dinner drinks in that neighborhood.

Speakeasy on the second floor of recently renovated Niso. Very warm vibe with a Greek decor except…read morefor a misplaced disco ball . I went for a night cap after dinner at Komo last night and the 'mixologist' was a lot of fun to chat with. They also have a 'secret menu' but I'll leave the rest of the details on this for you to go experience it. I asked for a scotch sprit forward drink with some smoke to it and was presented an Ardbeg laced with some green chartreuse and it was excellent. The chartreuse was a substitute to using absinthe which I don't enjoy. Overall a great experience and a cool spot to hang out.

Located in Nisos, The Lounge is one of 3 spaces and this one is their cocktail lounge! What a…read morebeautiful spot! However, come here only for the vibes and your IG pics because that's all there is to this place. The ambiance is very moody and sexy which I love however, I felt like I was sitting in seating meant for toddlers! It seemed like all the seats were super low to the ground and i'm pretty short so not sure how the taller folks feel. It felt super awkward to sit in the space. Our drinks tasted like pure perfume so it was disappointing considering they were almost $20. I'll be skipping out on the lounge and will only enjoy the restaurant spaces in the future. Prime Bar's bar on the first floor is 100x better if you're looking for a good drink and aren't too invested in vibes.

An extraordinary cocktail experience that's absolutely worth it for a fun date night or a group…read moreouting. The bird-themed cocktail menu brings both creativity and drama, with presentations that feel almost theatrical. What really elevates the experience is how the hosts narrate the inspiration behind each drink, making it feel more like a storytelling session than just a night out. The mixologists deserve serious credit for their thoughtful experimentation with global flavors--balancing complementary and contrasting notes, surprising textures, and sensory touches that feel nostalgic and adventurous at the same time. The food holds its own too. Don't miss the giant onion ring or the Chip n Dip--both are as fun as they are delicious. Yes, it's on the pricier side, but the cocktail tasting experience makes it worthwhile. A perfect late-night spot for great conversations and drinks that ooze personality.

I'll start by saying I've been a huge fan of The Aviary for years. In the early days of the…read morepandemic, I got all their cocktail books, and my friends and I bought some of the equipment (vacpot, porthole) and started making Aviary drinks. So when I went to Chicago to visit friends recently, this was my first reservation. We were kindly greeted and seated toward the rear of the dining room. Collectively, we ordered more than half the beverages on the menu. I won't go into tons of detail on them, since some drinks are seasonal, but I will say that it was a blast experiencing craft cocktails and mocktails at their finest. I love the menu concept of the birds that fly farther along the page to indicate how alcohol-forward the drink is. That's a really fun idea! One friend ordered both the spirited and the non-alcoholic Porthole to compare the flavors. And we all liked the N/A version better! Our server kindly came over and mentioned that he heard I was inspired by The Aviary and they took us on a private tour with the bar team and then down to the ice making room, which I LOVED because I was obsessed with the intricate ice making process from the original cocktail books. What a fantastic experience, and the tour put a cherry on top. Long live The Aviary!

Moneygun was a great experience. No cover, great music (I think it was mostly EDM), might be a…read morelittle loud for some people, but I really enjoyed it; place had a great vibe. Lots of people (Sat night starting @ 10p), seats a little hard to come by. Drinks were very good, strong but not nuts. Prices were average for Chicago. Bartenders were very cool. The main guy stayed in the center of the bar all night and he had a great attitude; smiled all the time and was cool all night! Would go back any night and recommend to all looking for a fantastic bar.

I've been to MoneyGun twice now, and I keep going back for one reason...the buffalo taquitos. My…read moregoodness...they are so delicious. You only get two per order, but they're so good you won't mind ordering another round. They do have other flavors, but at this point, the buffalo ones are a must every time. The drinks are also really good and a little different from most places. They put thought into their cocktails, sometimes using things like pure cane sugar and unique combinations that still taste great. Definitely recommend Brandon as a bartender...he did his thing. The vibe is dark and moody, which I love, and they even ring a little bell at the bar. Right next door is Sunnygun, their brighter, brunch style spot, which makes for a cool night to day contrast, even though I haven't tried it yet. I've always sat at the bar, and service has been great. MoneyGun has become one of our go to bars, and we'll definitely be back.

exactly as I expected, gilt bar was phenomenal - the beef…read moretartare was the best I've ever had, it was so filled with flavor, every bite tasted like a beef salad. the egg was jammy and delicious adding a new layer of richness to the meal. the bread it came with was FRESH, hard crispy crust surrounding thick cuts of spongey bread - the truffle malfadine was perfectly cooked long chewy noodles with the perfect amount of a truffle pepper sauce over them. certain bites had full peppercorns, breaking through the slight creaminess. - I had high hopes for the burger and was picturing a bougie restaurant thick cut juicy burger. it was fascinating because it had the same juicy soft flavor, but it was more of a Smashburger style so you had a little bit of crisp on the outside and instead of a thick singular patty, it was two on top of each other. the fries were solid (not very salty which was divisive) but the aioli elevated the fries and burger to a new level, huge points - Guinness here is so cheap. my dirty martini was dirty as all hell and delicious. the service was so kind and attentive and brought out extra ice cream with hot fudge for my birthday. the carrot cake was incredibly moist and tasted like real carrots, nuts, and spices, not enough frosting for me tho hehe - this is literally such a stunning restaurant with a photo booth and a downstairs sultry bar, and an open standing space around the bar upstairs. I get why it is always booked. If I was to come back, I would do it all again except ...maybe instead of the burger... try something else hmm

(Kari's Rating 710)…read more Although I've been here many times before, guilt bar rarely disappoints. It is extremely dark when you're inside almost like a dining room parlor so if you have bad eyes, bring a flashlight. It's relatively loud and the servers are very attentive, refilling water, and checking in on your needs. We started with a round of drinks, including an espresso martini, as well as a Hugo spritz. The espresso martini was nice because it was made for cold brew, which made it actually creamer, which was really great. It's good I mean we also proceed to order the Bronzino as well as the French dip with the side brussels sprouts. The brussels sprouts were tangy and sweet with a vinaigrette finish, but they were delightfully, smoky as well. The Bronzino was delicious and very filling, however, I did end up getting a decent amount of tiny bones in the first half which kind of made me slow down in the second half. The French tip was also very large, with four pieces as well as a warm au jus. However, the ratio of meat to bread was slightly off with a little extra, toasted bread, being a little too much. Overall, it was a pretty great dinner, I would definitely come back in a group, but I'm not sure if I would come back alone.

The Fam and I are always looking for new places to indulge one of our favorite food groups, which…read moreis brunch with bottomless mimosas. After doing a search on Yelp, I decided we should check out HIDE+SEEK. Ding ding ding! We have a winner folks. We decided to go with the Brunch Party. First let me start off saying that Brunch Party is one plate, one side, and endless mimosas. The entire table participation is required and there is a strict 1.5 hour time limit. That said, Angelique (was our server) was on point during that time period. Our glasses never got pass the half-way mark and a good time was had by all! HIDE+SEEK has a pretty chilled vibe and the décor was cool, a very nice bar area, booths on the east side of the restaurant and tables in the front. I think there was a back area, but can't for sure as I didn't explore as we were seated immediately in our booth. Angelique was very cool. She welcomed us and asked if it was our first time there (it was) and began to explain the menu, focusing on Brunch Party and that everyone at the table had to participate, which we did. For my entrée I got the Short Rib Hash (Sunny side up egg, piquillo pepper, red wine jus, rosemary mornay) and my side was Eggs Your Way (over easy). I got an order of the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (honey-whipped ricotta, blueberry compote, maple syrup) for the table. Both dishes were very nice. I am a sucker for anything with short rib meat in it and this hit well with me. The pancakes were good, nice and fluffy, and the compote was very good. They weren't as lemony as I have had at other restaurants. The flavor was there, but in a subtle way, almost like an afterthought, but still nice. The pancakes themselves were nice and fluffy, just they way I like them. The Doctor got the cheeseburger and fries, which looked nice. He cleaned his plate so I have to assume it was good. The Queen got the Steak and Eggs. I had a bite of the steak and it was tender and had a nice flavor to it. Overall we had a great time and while it was only an hour and a half, it seemed longer. I will totally come back here again for brunch, but want to check out their happy hour and dinner as well. The menus looks interesting.

I would come back here, but it isn't high on my list. The food was overall good, and the menu is…read morevery creative and diverse! Even so, it wasn't enough to necessitate the price tag, which all of my friends and I were surprised by when we paid at the end. The cocktails were outstanding - we all enjoyed our choices. For some of us, they were enjoyable enough where we got the same one more than once 0:) Our server was not very friendly - she does not need to act like our BFF or anything like that, but she was cold and seemed annoyed by our questions and such. She also had no idea about the wine, so my friend just rolled the dice on what she wanted without knowing much about it. She wound up liking it - but more clarity would've been helpful (or even seeking out someone else working there for more info!). Minor environment note: The largest artwork there is a triptych of photographs - three famous women: Princess Diana, Sharon Tate (I think?), and Marilyn Monroe. There is a horizontal band going across where their eyes all line up, and the band replaces their eyes with cartoon eyes, likely of Disney princesses. It is supposed to be quirky but I found it creepy, especially since it featured three famous women who met untimely ends.

Recently went to Prime Bar to celebrate Galentine's Day with my girls. This spot had been on my…read morelist for a while! We decided to dine at the bar so we could take advantage of the everyday happy hour and use our InKind app. The espresso martini was a HIT. Our favorites were the chips and dips, cheeseburger, chicken taco pita, truffle fries, and oysters. The wings were just okay and I did not love the herb aioli. Our bartender server, I believe her name was Delia, sorry if I spelled it wrong, was super nice. She got slammed but still gave great service the whole time. The ambience is gorgeous and the music really set the vibe. Would definitely come back!

This place is insanely beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. They did an amazing job decorating the…read moreinterior and using the space. Even the area they kept water for easy access was well thought out. I started with a dozen oysters and ended with the wagyu smash burger, as it was a must order. The oysters are $1 during happy hour, which is 4pm - 6pm everyday. The oysters were fresh and the perfect size, not too big or too small. It came with two sauces, lemons, and mini Tabascos. The wagyu smash burger was pretty good and filling. I'm not the biggest fan of burgers but this one is definitely worth trying! My waiter was attentive and chill. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and can't wait to come back!