Good food, good drinks, great service from Lilly - they don't take reservations but Lilly helped to find us a spot at the bar, we enjoyed oysters on the half shell, delicious smoked trout Caesar salad (large portion) prime rib French dip and the lobster roll. read more

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From the outside it seems almost nondescript other than a pretty cool front door. But as soon as we walked in I loved the vibe! The staff was very welcoming and the music gave it a bit of a punk rock feel. Also the bar! I am a huge sucker for a glorious wall of alcohol. The food was good, my favorites being the mac and cheese (perfect amount of cheese to noodle ratio) and the pork belly nachos (every bite was amazing!). The burger, to which we added charred onion (definitely recommend), was really good but a lot of places have really good burgers. I think my next visit I will try one of their other delicious looking sandwiches. My drink (the High Road) was super yummy. With a scotch base it was a good balance of being ever so slightly smoky and sweet. And of course staring at the wonderful wall of bottles we had to try at least one we had never tried before, so we settled on Smoke Wagon bourbon. Very good! read more

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Gretel is a great non-pretentious restaurant to dine-in at. All the staff were very helpful and down to earth people. We came here because of the wide selection of whiskeys, and were even offered to have a little taste of a whiskey before purchasing a shot. Gretel also offers a nice selection of cocktails and beers. I tried the Hellion cocktail which was a mezcal forward drink. I also tried the Cinnamon Bun brown ale, a bit too much on the sweet side. The food: The pork belly nachos were perfect, we devoured the entire plate. The pork belly was nicely cubed and dispersed throughout the nachos, I hate it when the meat is in one tiny spot. Also the nacho sauce had a rich flavor to it, not your typical nacho cheese sauce. The Griddle burger sounded promising but for my liking disappointing, to me it was a little too far on the pink side and needed a little more seasoning. I heard this burger rivals as the best burger in town, but in my opinion falls short. I would suggest ordering the charred onions as well as bacon, this would give it more flavor. The Mac and Cheese: this was a favorite. It had a nice quantity of cheese and bits of bacon and scallions throughout. read more

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So, this is about my third time at Gretel and as much as I'd love to talk about the amazing quality of the food, I think this is more suited for the staff. Every time we are here, we get amazing service. Specifically , we've had the pleasure of having April and she always takes great care of us. Like everyone at Gretel, she is extremely kind, attentive and overall just a nice person to be around. She even remembered us from the last time we were in, and it made us feel special being here. It's a no brainer to come here, the food speaks for itself and then you're surrounded by a beautiful bar/dining area with wonderful staff. Thank you April for your great service and amazing attitude, we look forward to making it back a 4th time! Much love, Will/Iris :) read more

Location very cute! Burger was amazing, chicken sandwich and prime rib dip sandwiches were good, but aside from the fries the sides were not great - an example the elote corn ribs were definitely non traditional (which we were excited about but the flavor not good and had a bitterness in the odd seasoning. read more

Takeout only - I wish this spot took reservations, it's what keeps this from being a 5 for me. The food was delicious and traveled really well. It's been hyped as one of the best burgers in Chicago and I feel that is well deserved. Very delicious. The cheese was so creamy it was quite unique in that regard, not try at all, perfectly cooked. The friend chicken sandwich also rocked! The pear slaw adds a really nice sweet counterbalance. Now ti one of my favorite things - the mac and cheese. So creamy. So Rich. So cheesy. The bacon is not too overpowering, nor the breadcrumbs. My mom had the lobster roll and raved about it. Lots of large chunks of lobster. All in all so amazing. read more

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Yummy food great French onion soup and beef tar!!! Awesome service and great dark ambiance

This is hands down the best burger I have ever had. It melts in your melt in the first bite. With two different type of cheeses, garlic aioli and onions I could not get enough. The macaroni was amazing as well. It was soo cheesy and rich. The place has moody lighting and could be a good intimate dining experience for anyone. Service was attentive and on point. Will be making a trip back here asap. read more

Gretel - Gretel Griddle Burger and Mac & Cheese - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

GRETEL, fancy but not an intimidating ambiance. I am already past my second visit and Gretel is growing on me. Oysters were fresh with a selection from EAST/WEST coast. I've tried both the smoked trout Cesar and the little gem. Two simple salads packed with flavor. The bisque was warming not too heavy. My girlfriend and I shared the bone-in ribeye for two. The steak was cooked to our perfection(medium rare). We got a side of Mac n cheese and shishito peppers. Both sides were amazing. Now to one of my favorites was the lobster roll(served hot) with a side of butter and fries. Overall was great. Well impressed. The drinks were amazing as well. The old fashioned was not too sweet just right. And some cucumber drink was refreshing. And of course the service was great. Our server was attentive and not pushy at all. read more

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The burger at Gretel is a strong contender for best burger in the city - definitely top 3. The meat was perfectly charred on the edges, well seasoned, juicy and full of flavor. Bonus: the pickles weren't thin and flimsy, they were the perfect thickness without being overpowering. We also ordered the fried chicken sandwich and it was one of the best I've ever had. It was huge. The batter was perfect, chicken was tender and juicy, and it had a bit of a kick that was cut by the carrot slaw which added some sweetness. The fries were thin and oh so crispy and came with a sweet and spicy house aioli that's not to be missed! The service was great, drinks were flowing and very cool atmosphere with an impressive bar. read more

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Came in during a Sunday lunch. They have specials! So don't forget to ask, this Sunday they had chicken wings. We got the following Rocks fellas oysters: these were small and more breaded. I barely tasted the oyster. Chicken sandwich with a lettuce with a side of roasted cauliflower this was good. The cauliflower was amazing! Lobster roll (warm) : this tasted great! Not loaded with lobster but still tasted good. Got this with a side of peppers (forgot the name). This tasted great! We would definitely order this meal again! read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stepped in the other day and will definitely be returning. Great cocktails and really good food to boot. Started with a high road cocktail, which read as this super smokey scotch-based cocktail but came out as this incredibly light and smooth scotch-based cocktail. I really enjoyed it and my wife, who doesn't like a smokey scotch actually preferred my cocktail to her old fashioned. We started with the french onion soup which was incredible. An excellent french onion soup with a ton of cheese and a deliciously rich broth. It was baked and quite sizable - great for sharing. We then both got the burger as we'd heard great things. It was a good burger and worth ordering again, but I would not put it up with the upper echelon of Chicago burgers like Mott St, Au/Small Cheval, or Kuma's. But a pretty classic rendition that packed a ton of flavor. Looking forward to returning. read more

Gretel, wow! This place truly lived up to the hype. Gorgeous interior and everything we got on the menu was delicious. I highly recommend the french onion soup and prime rib dip sandwich. Also the burger is a MUST! Friendly & nice staff, I can't wait to come back. read more

Gretel - trout caesar salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cool place. Froie gras was delish and drinks too. Downstairs adorable and much quieter for drinks and food. Would go back easily. read more

Great ambiance. One of the best charcuterie boards I've ever had. Amazing, tender and flavorful prime rib. 10/10 all day. I only had 1 drink- it was perfect. read more

The service at the bar was great, and the cocktails were very well balanced. The ambiance was top notch, but honestly, the food was forgettable. Went with a friend and ordered the mushroom pasta, and it was only so-so. My friend had a similarly adequate burger. No complaints, but on yelp, that means 3 stars. It was a pretty good experience overall, and is a great date spot, but if you're looking for great food (like I am), there are better places in the area. read more

Follow the breadcrumbs to this awesomely moody pub and be wowed by their friendly staff, drink selection and one of the best burgers in Chicagoland. The service was very attentive. I had a unique rose petal cider which was not overly sweet and it was refreshing. The double patty burger came with two kinds of cheese, pickles, garlic aioli and a basket of thin cut fries with a yummy dipping sauce. For a gluten free option they will serve it wrapped in crispy iceberg lettuce. They don't accept reservations so we arrived before 5 pm on a Sunday and were seated quickly. read more

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Surprise find! We were out exploring Logan Square and saw this little gem across the street with beautiful green fronds framed by the glass window. I don't see any particular sign out, so we decided to get a closer look. Gretel was the name. The identity of the place seems to be a bit all over. It's got an extensive bar, yet they call themselves a whiskey bar. Beer list, impressive, and there's wine and of course the mixed drink. It has a kitchen that serves your burgers and sandwiches, BUT they also have ramen. There's lots of seating, booth, standing tables and bars from both the booze and food section. It's masculine, dark, moody and mysterious and guess what... they executed on both wonderful drinks and food!! I ordered a chicken sandwich and it was one of the most amazing, lightly crispy and succulent chicken I've ever had. It was glorious! The side of fries was generous, but for $2 you can order up from the any of the "Sides" menu. Totally worth it. I'm no mac and cheese person, but it looked really good. My friend upgraded her side to shishito peppers which came dressed in kewpie mayo and garlic. I'm very intrigued by this place, it's a place I want to come back and check out again. read more

Gretel - Chicken sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The cocktails are unique, exciting, and fun! The bartenders and serves extremely knowledgeable and attentive.

The burger! The ambiance! The drinks! Always a great experience! I will definitely be back to this neighborhood gem again! read more

Gretel - Burger! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The epitome of fine. Cool ambiance especially the bar. COLD cold cold in there killed the vibe. Came for the burger which was fine but not worth traveling for. Chicken sandwich didn't have much flavors. Fries were floppy. read more

10/10! So good! Originally planned to go for Greek food, they were slammed. Walked in and was a wait for a table, but we could sit at a community table. Sold! Lol! Got our food very quickly - servers were super sweet, and on top of their game/ busboys were prompt on cleanup. We ordered the burger and the hot lobster roll - both delicious! Their fries are delish, the homemade chips are also really good too! Also ordered the shrimp cocktail appetizer- 5 large shrimp- not bad! Also a massive wall with a ladder behind the bar stocked with bottles. I'd say they have pretty much you could ever look for, but we are on week 2 of Dry January.. soooo I'm not sure. I would however "pass on their mocktail" asked for something refreshing and for $9 I got a drink that tasted as sour as a warhead. My first mocktail! Not a fan... lol! I'm sure it's not their specialty, but we all had some good laughs from it. Highly recommend and will absolutely go back next time we are in Logan Square! Ambience is super cute- loved the place! Also, street parking wasn't bad for a Friday night. Cheers! read more

Love the decor. So cool and romantic. Food was delicious and can't wait to come back to try the lobster roll. Their old fashioned was solid and learned from bartender that paper plane was the drink to try. Next time for sure! read more

Try this place out in Logan Square for the first time today. It lived up to its reputation online. Decor was very trendy, but not overly fussy. Dining room was a bit cramped and we got seated in the basement, even though there was room upstairs. Servers were nice. Had the lobster roll, as well as sides of Shishito peppers, carrots, elote riblets. Also had pork gyoza as a starter. All in all very very good food, reasonably priced at good service. Had two cocktails that were also quite decent. Can't wait to bring my gorgeous wife here on a date soon. read more

Didn't make my Top 5 burger list but I really enjoyed my lunch today. Came here with a friends for lunch and were seated right away. We ordered the fried shrimp which was delicious and ribs for an appetizer. I wasn't a fan of the ribs the flavor was missing something and they were a smidge tough. For entrees we all got the burgers. Very good but not blown away. I though the top of the burger was overly greasy/buttery and had to wipe my hands more then I preferred. I also wish the fries were a bit more crispy less limpy. Also, area of improvement- there needs to be a different plate for the burger. The cold metal plate cooled down the bottom bun so it wasn't overly warm. More like Luke warm. My husband subbed out the fries for Mac and cheese and it was delicious! read more

Always love burger but had delivery order last night and they left out an item. Restaurant apparently told Ubereats it was in order and refused to refund the item. What happened to customer is always right? My wife only getting half her meal and restaurant taking no accountability is enough for me to say I won't be going back. Too bad! And the lobster roll for $40 was all of three bites. read more

I'm ready to call it. Best burger in Chicago amongst some very stiff competition. It just doesn't try to do too much. Not too salty, not too cheesy, meat not too heavy or greasy. Just high quality meat blend with a little extra kick. Bun is perfectly chewy and sauce and crunchy pickles bring it all together. Expensive but worth it. Will be back many times. read more

Just tried their burger for the first time I've heard many great things about it. I got it for delivery through uber eats, seeing I live not even 7 mins away I didn't think it would affect the quality of the burger. The burger was fresh but extremely overcooked and that just overpowered the taste of the whole burger. Didn't even finish it. Kinda bummed and definitely not impressed read more

Gretel is one of the few restaurants where i want to try every single thing on the menu. If you're coming on the weekend, make sure to get there early before the dinner rush arrives. I've been here a couple times now and every meal I've had has been spectacular. The service is quick and kind. The ambiance is one of a kind, a gem in Chicago. The wall of alcohol is such a cool touch. Here are the things I ordered: Sticky Ribs: 8/10 A subtle soy flavor, tender but still with a bite. The scallions are a nice fresh touch. The ribs were also a decent size, not too small. I really enjoyed these but I think the Pork Belly Nachos are my appetizer of choice. Gretel Burger with Mac & Cheese: 9.5/10 This is what they're known for. A deliciously tender and cheesy burger. The sesame seeds on the bun is what really makes this stand out. The Mac & cheese is some of the best I've ever had. The shape of the noodles, the bacon and breadcrumbs and the cheesy roasted top. You can't go wrong with ordering the Mac & Cheese, I think it's better than the fries! Fried Chicken Sandwich with Fries: 9.5/10 I am obsessed with chicken sandwiches and Gretel's interpretation is a unique one. I didn't think I would like the chicken sandwich over the burger but the taste and texture is what really stands out! First of all , the piece of chicken is huge! The bun is the same as for the burger, perfectly topped with seeds. The pear slaw on top is so refreshing and adds the perfect amount of texture! I've had many chicken sandwiches but nothing like this. Gretel truly thought outside the box. I would recommend Gretel to anyone! Thank you for the meal :) read more

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Food was amazing. Fries were amazing with the spicy sauce. Get the sauce! The burger and Mac n cheese were also amazing. Also the steak was sooo goood! Drinks were really strong. The only problem was the 2 hour wait which is insane to me considering they get the food out so fast. Only positive to the wait was chilling downstairs and making some new friends! read more

Gretel - Waygu steak frites - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We found our new hang out! We've been looking for the perfect vibe and bar near where we live and this place ticks all the boxes. The atmosphere is gorgeous and the bar has a whole wall of liquor from basic to top shelf (they need a ladder, folks). Service was excellent. We sat at the bar and the bartender was super nice as well as a skilled mixologist. We received our food quickly and it was so tasty. Recommend the gyoza and sea bass. If you order the Little Gem salad, spoiler alert, it is NOT little. It would feed at least 3 people so just know that. Cocktails were excellent. My new go to is the Hellion. I'm a sucker for Aquafaba. We'll be back for sure! read more

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Visited gretel for lunch today. Great ambiance and a fantastic spot for whiskey enthusiast. Definitely agree they have one of Chicago's best burgers here. We had the burger, fried chicken sandwich, shishito peppers, and a few different beers to try. The fried chicken breading was both light and very crispy. The food and beers were all fantastic. Service was kind and attentive but not pushy at all. I would highly recommend paying a visit to Gretel. I certainly plan to return again for whiskey & burger. read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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this was my 2nd trip to Gretel and I had a lovely evening! it was my friend's 30th and she wanted to check out Gretel for burgers. Zach took fantastic care of us and made it a night to remember! he was so friendly and truly made the dinner special, whipping up cocktails for us to drink and regaling us with stories about his time aboard a ship... read more

I've heard great things so of course had to check out their burger and it was 8/10! The gyoza was great too! The ambiance was awesome too. Will def come back. Our waitress was also on top of everything. Highly recommended. read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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That damn burger is great! I had pretty bad service but I'd come back for the burger. Ambiance was great the night I went but, my server was shit. Not around, slightly rude (when we did talk to her), and someone had to remind her to check on us. The chicken sandwich was also very good. Mac and cheese was the star of the show for me. Will be back next time I'm in the city. read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I ordered: Gretel Griddle Burger - two patties, white and yellow American cheese, red onion, garlic aioli, pickles. Added bacon. Burger was good size and great flavors. Bun was not dry. Fries balanced between crispy and soft and lightly seasoned. Spicy aoli for the fries was really good. Waitress was very nice. I liked the open space but would prefer brighter lighting. At least there wasn't loud music. I'm not crazy about seeing ramen and gyoza on an American bar restaurant menu. The burger was good enough that I would come back and possibly try the ramen out of curiosity. read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything I've tried here so far has been delicious. I've had the nicoise salad, the pasta, veg ramen, and a variety of appetizers. The portions are pretty generous for most things, too. All the staff have been helpful and friendly every time I've been there, food comes out pretty fast, so great service. read more

Gretel - Hellion cocktail. It's hard for me to order other things on the menu because this one is unreasonably delicious - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice whiskey selection, Great food! This can easily be a go to place for me in that area

Interesting decor to say the least, but fantastic burger. I've order it several times through Uber Eats. Decent drinks. read more

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food and ambiance was great! got the chicken sandwich and it was crispy and moist with delicious toppings. service was quick, attentive, and friendly read more

Gretel - chicken sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois