A great locally owned bottle shop. Makes for a wonderful place to hang out and make new friends…read more They held a BBQ, Bourbon and Beer pairing dinner that featured Wyler BBQ, J. Henry and Sons Bourbon and Goose Island Brewing. The owners and staff provided a great experience that was very enjoyable. Pricing was very reasonable. Thanks to all the staff for a solid start to the St Patrick's Day weekend.

I absolutely love this place! This place has been on my bucket list for quite some time actually…read more What I came here for the most was the hard Cider options because alot of the local places don't carry much. This place has the largest selection and best options too. If I see something that I like, they will sell me an individual can instead of getting stuck buying a 4/6/12 pack. Staff here is knowledgeable and friendly of their products. Clean restrooms! This place even sells hard to find meads as well! Not to mention this place doubles as a brewery too! Definitely recommend!

Overall dissatisfaction with everything. I walked in made a latte order and a regular coffee my…read morelatte was perfect. The coffee, that was meant to be extra hot- came out cold. I also ordered a pastry, that was fine. When I returned to tell the cashier the extra hot coffee was cold she walked to the kitchen and asked if she could give me a free hot coffee. Just wow. This was my first time here and my last. I took the coffee she fixed and my pastry and walked out. The overall ambience it's a nice coffee shop. But I am not sure who owns it they just need to do better overall with attentiveness to your clients.

This one stop shop for specialty coffee and wine bar is nestled into downtown Oswego. Parking was a…read morebut difficult as there is only a lot in the back of the building but the extra effort is very much worth it. Oak + Bean source their own coffee beans to create a wide variety of coffee types and flavors. Browsing the list, there were plenty of offerings that intrigued me to come back more than once. They also offer teas, snacks, baked goods, and other soft drinks. If those aren't enough, they double as an evening wine bar offering all wine types, mimosas, and some beers. I loved the murals all over inside and elevated design otherwise. They have monthly events to engage the community. Loved stopping by Oak + Bean and would certainly come back when passing through the area. Tip: Wine Happy Hour is M-F, 4-6pm!

Each time we come to Le Cochen we love it. This time we came for happy hour (1/2 price glasses of…read morewine and discounted appetizers). We sat on the patio, they have shaded or sun and lots of tables. I had the Chardonnay and it was really good! We had the smoked salmon appetizer and the potato skewers. I'm not a fan of salmon, but with the sauce they provide, it was doable. The potatoes were so good, crispy on the outside, but they explode into creaminess when you bite them. We didn't have them this time, but the calamari appetizer is my favorite! We were having such a good time, we decided to stay for dinner. I had the Coq au vin and loved it. I usually get the Beef bourguignon because that is also really good. My husband had that and it did not disappoint. Service was great, as always! One of the best restaurants in Geneva.

Time was (in the not-too-distant past) you had to go downtown to have an upscale or…read moreoff-the-beaten-path dinner. You know, when parking was less than a car payment? It took a number of years but enterprising restauranteurs laid claim to appropriate buildings and neighborhoods opening places where you could actually get something interesting to eat. Hell, even BERWYN has a fine-dining joint (or 2)! The "3rd Street" corridor in Batavia is prima facie evidence this crusade is thriving, as there are a BUNCH of great places on that Rue to stuff your face in style, (and drink accordingly.) We've been working our way down the street; as I have been in the mood for French, Le Cochon was high on the list. It was late afternoon when I and a foodie pal of mine visited. The rooms were at once light, open and airy, yet personal. The bar was adjacent and it looked heroically stocked. The waiter was personable and pleasant. The menu shouted "Bistro", and actually was sort of irritating, 'cos even after poring over it online before, everything looked so good I couldn't make up my mind! But rules are rules, and I have mine. When I go into a place for the first time, I always try to get the specialty of the house. As this is a "bistro" I finally swung with the Escargot and Steak Frites. Cliche'd, I know, but c'est le cuisine. My pal bucked tradition and went with a Burger. I should say here the house is known for a Pork Belly dish, but Belly of Pork (unless it's cured into Bacon) is a protein I will not eat. There's not much I won't stuff down my gullet, but Pork Belly is one. I just don't like that much fat. The good news? More for YOU! But I digress... The 'Scargots were classic in prep and top-notch in quality. As expected there was a lagniappe course in sopping pieces of the excellent baguette provided from the bread service in the garlicky butter remaining after munching the snails. It was a Hanger Steak wot arrived on my plate replete with an herb-y compound butter. I ordered the steak "Rare-Bleu", and it was the perfect temp, even with serious char marking. The steak was chunk-cut when served. I blessed the chef for seasoning the steak deftly. The Frites came with ketchup and aioli, they were great. There was nothing out of the ordinary about my pals burger, but he IS a knowledgeable foodie and reported it was delicious. Burgers are pretty easy to do, but to get one of championship quality takes skill. Notable were the two rashers of excellent, thick Bacon hanging over the sides of the sandwich. The chef here hit the mark! The Predominantly French WineList is dizzying expensive for bottles. My pal is an experienced oenophile and says the list shows care, but Oy! the prices! He's a very successful businessman, and even HE thought the prices were high. In contrast, the "per glass" prices were normal. LeCochon IS in a posh neighborhood, after all. I had a glass of Rhône blend which was hand-in-glove with my steak. Flavors outasite! Fine coffee and a classic Crème Brûlée for afters. I know somewhere behind the bar they prolly had a Calvados, which would have topped the meal off with a gold ribbon, but I was driving, and there are many miles between LeCochon and Stately Breakwind Manor. A wonderful feed, and a surprisingly good value considering the high quality. I'll bet that "light and airy" vibe turns quite romantic after dark; but know the tables are actually quite cozy together. There are a few booths available-try to snarf one of those if you're on a date. Throwing 5 for this super boîte. Eat here soon!

THE MALBECKONING…read more SixtyFour Wine Bar is a winning concept in downtown Naperville. Much like what Tapville Social does for beer, SixtyFour follows the concept of guests having the freedom to pour their own drinks. This place is on Water St in Naperville, near Vasili's and Blue Sushi Sake. Street parking isn't plentiful so the garage is your best bet, especially in the evening. You can build your own charcuterie, but use caution: everything is a la carte and without much effort that cute cheese platter can swell upwards of $40. This happened to us on our 1st visit, I thought "yeah sure, add a $4 honeycomb and seasonal jams, why not" to go with the $9 prosciutto, $7 manchego, and $5 cornichons. More recently, I got the restaurant week pre-fixe ($49) which included a starter, entrée, dessert, and glass of champagne. Each course separately would've added up to $55 (not counting the bubbly), so this option saved a few bucks. Both my wife and I got a pour-your-own wine card, that set us back about $20pp. The wifey got a mix of a dozen west coast & east coast oysters ($36) that came with cocktail sauce and a zippy pomegranate mignonette. The goat cheese bruschetta ($13) was incredible: goat cheese spread on several large pieces of grilled sourdough with roasted tomato and balsamic. We loved this and would get it again in a heartbeat. 5/5 The dates ($13) were a different story, however, as they came with cranberry goat cheese, orange honey, and crushed walnuts. I've been so used to savory dates (wrapped in bacon with a tomato sauce) that this much sweeter iteration caught me off guard. They weren't objectively bad, I just wouldn't order them again. 3/5 For my main course, I chose the short rib ($31) as I've done several times now: tender beef with mashed potatoes, braised carrots, crispy onions, and a red wine jus. This is a delicious entrée that I find myself steering towards every time I'm here, as it pairs perfectly with a Malbec or red blend. 5/5 The gnocchi ($33) were fairly pricey which I attribute to big chunks of lobster in a white sauce. But what SixtyFour did felt like a "bastardization" of gnocchi (my wife's words, not mine) by turning it into a homemade mac 'n' cheese of sorts, cooking it in a mini cast iron skillet topped with toasted breadcrumbs. Say what?! "Breadcrumbs" and "gnocchi" should never be used in the same sentence, unless it's "hey honey I did that grocery shopping, and I got beer, eggs, wine, gnocchi, ice cream, laundry detergent, kitty litter, AAA batteries and a box of breadcrumbs". It tasted fine, but there was absolutely no need to innovate here. 1.5/5 We reached a split decision on the dirty chai crème brûlée ($11). My wife thought it was different but lovely, whereas I found it strayed too far from vanilla custard and the flavor was overpowering, as if I just snorted tea leaves. It was REALLY strong, y'all! 3/5 Bread = 3.5 Circuses = 4.5 Our server Melissa was attentive and let us know about the wine tasting inside near the hostess' stand. We had a couple small pours (1-2oz) which equated to a free half glass, no complaints there. Restrooms were clean and the outside patio has a relaxing ambiance. The vibes are classy, romantic even. * TL;DR * It's fun sampling bold reds, sweet whites, and even rosé in 1oz, 3oz, and 6oz pours. I pity the fool who grabs a glass, sticks it underneath the first tap they see up front and presses 'POUR' without realizing they just selected a 2014 Chateau Haut-Brion ...... which retails for $500 a bottle! A half glass is nearly $75! I'll stick with a $7 Shiraz, thanks. As for the food, it's been mostly great with only a few exceptions. The gnocchi was whack, and the chai crème brûlée was polarizing. Due to the presence of delicate wine glasses literally everywhere, I would keep kids away from here. Leave the little ones at home and come here for date night. SixtyFour lists themselves as a wine bar first and kitchen second, which I agree with. If what you're seeking is a kitchen *and* wine bar, hit up a Coopers Hawk. Both places have solid wine selections, but being able to enjoy wine on-demand is a big plus. I'd happily recommend SixtyFour to friends and family.

My cousin and I chose Sixty Four for our birthday celebration lunch. We sat outside along the river…read moresince it was a beautiful day. Chris was our server and provided great service and went above and beyond. My cousin and I decided to share the grilled oysters and the charcuterie. Chris noted my reservation said no nuts and seeds and he said that the charcuterie came with seeded lavish. He went through the lavish and only chose the ones without the seeds. Now that's service! The grilled oysters were amazing! Only four came on the plate and I wanted to eat all of them and not share. I will definitely get those again - and all to myself. The charcuterie was your typical charcuterie. You can choose your own cheeses and meats on the board which is nice. The only disappointing thing is no complimentary dessert for our birthdays. Lots of restaurants do that, but I guess not at this one. Get those grilled oysters, you won't be sorry.

Owner was nice. Talkative and gave good information. Explained how he created his wine. Would go…read morehere again. Thanks!!!

The "owner's wife" presented a very negative attitude...she certainly made it clear that she did…read morenot want to be there. And she was rude to the performer in front of customers. We enjoyed the entertainment and he filled the place with the number of people he brought in. Our table spent $200 alone! Come to find out the winery didn't even pay the entertainer or at least offer him a beverage! Shameful. We won't be back.

Everything went well. Absolutely love this place the staff and Eddie stopping by…read more Started with a new appetizer/salad cantaloupe with feta, bacon crumbles with a sweet dressing, tempura green beans. The cantaloupe salad was nothing what we expected but so much more. Joe wasn't as hungry so he ordered the sweet crispy spare ribs and the beef tallow fries. I got the bone in corn meal crusted pork chop with a wonderfully fresh sautéed corn maque choux. Save room for the peach shortcake if it's on the menu. Next time we're talking about grabbing a cozy seat at the bar so we can fully enjoy the historic bar and the comfortable room.

Tried Rooted in Minooka for the first time for Sunday brunch, and it definitely won't be our last…read morevisit! The Farmer's Breakfast was really good hearty, fresh, and exactly what you want to start your day. But the real star of the table was the shaved Brussels sprout Caesar bruschetta. It was unique, flavorful, and absolutely delicious... the kind of dish you keep thinking about long after you leave. And the brunch cocktails were just as great perfectly mixed and the ideal complement to the meal. Great food, great drinks, and a spot we'll absolutely be back to!

Best Buffalo Chicken Pizza I have tried yet! Service was good as well. Drinks were reasonably…read morepriced and waitress very nice We will have be back.

Found out about this pizza place in Yorkville that has been around awhile. It actually is one of…read morethe nicer places around it. Parma Pizza Bar has lots of Italian classics as well as modern types of stuff. A busy place when there's some party going on. The place isn't that big so it always seems crowded even with a few people. Coming here it was already crowded. It's usually open for only dinner weekdays so it has limited hours. There's longer hours on weekends. A lot of menu items are common. There's a lot more than just pizza. Also has pasta to choose from. It's about $20 to get a pizza. A ripoff even though it's pretty great. There's plenty of meaty toppings but we got the Spinach Primavera. Also there's a few side items to choose. They have salads if eating healthier. Even these are pretty expensive. There's crazy prices and the portions are crappy to be honest. Great idea to call ahead. It's closed Mondays. They have a lot more than just pizza so check out the other things.

I was really excited to check this place out after seeing their cocktail menu online, and in some…read moreways it definitely lived up to the hype. The drinks were excellent--well-balanced, creative, and clearly made with skill. There was also a live musician performing during my visit who was amazing and added a great atmosphere and really elevated the overall vibe. Service, however, was a mixed experience. One of the bartenders (a newer female bartender) was very friendly, attentive, and showed a lot of potential--she made a great impression despite seeming a bit new. Unfortunately, the other bartender completely brought the experience down. He came across as rude, disengaged, and honestly like he didn't want to be there at all. I understand it was a busy night, but there was very little sense of urgency from him, and wait times felt longer than they should have been--even factoring in the crowd. That said, I do understand everyone can have an off night, and given how good the drinks and atmosphere were (plus the positive reviews I've seen elsewhere), I'd likely be willing to give it another shot. Overall, great cocktails and ambiance, but inconsistent service keeps it from being a top-tier experience--for now. I will be happy to update following a repeat visit.

Nate is the best! My boyfriend and I stopped here on a family trip and had the best time :) Nate is…read moresuper knowledgeable and sociable. Highly highly recommend the cocktail "children of the corn". Perfect drinks and perfect vibe!!

A cute little place for a drink or a date night…read more Service is awesome. The snackies are great. We had the brisket deviled eggs and a charcuterie board. They have a lot of curated cocktails that we didn't try. We are defiantly coming back to try more.

We have just had another amazing dinner experience at Montage in Morris, Il…read more In addition to being an excellent wine/cocktail bar, this nicely appointed location offers some of the finest little dinners that you could ever ask for! Here, you can enjoy an appetizer of deviled eggs topped with juicy beef brisket! You can sip excellent California wines with charcuterie, slowly savor a smoked salmon tower, or be tempted by duck with apples. There are beef dishes, also...and desserts! Seating is at and around the long, inviting bar, or off to the side. There is an area for parties and events, and entertainment is offered seasonally. They also cater events! Parking can be tight and is both on street and in a lot behind the business. This is a gem of a bar/restaurant where you feel comfortable and catered to. One of our favorite places!

Nice place. Had nice live music when we were there, nice bar, pretty nicely displayed antiques…read more Very friendly employees. Definitely be going back

Great service!!! Both Gordy and Cara were very knowledgeable about the wines and very friendly.read more