Great food and service. Open late which is a treat. Highly recommend the Mac and cheese! read more

Since I've moved to Chicago some 3 years ago, I have been on a Cheeseburger Mission and have polished off some really fantastic "Burgers"! Yeah, I have my favs and out of the 25 or so Burger Joints I've eaten at (here in Chicago) I've only had 2 or 3 "Bummers". I thing that's a pretty good record. With only a joints left to visit, I was in the neighborhood of Gretel. I put Gretel in my GPS and started my drive over to their spot. I drove by their location 3 or 4 times and couldn't find them? So, I parked my car and started walking; may I add, in 5° weather and I froze my asthma off. Well with no marque and no sign and no address on their building, I ended up walking into four establishments and the forth was Gretel! So after walking all of this time, my cheeseburger fetish flew the coop and I ended up having French Onion soup and hot tea; and I never order hot tea???? First and foremost, Gretel's bar was the single biggest bar I've ever seen. I will not exaggerate the number of bottles of spirits they had on their shelves, but it was puishing 1,000 (see pix). As for their onion soup, it really hit the spot on this frozen Ex-L.A. boy who never ventured out in this king of weather. It was a tad too salty for me, but it did warm the cockles of my soul. Now that I know where Gretel is, I am definitely coming back for their famous cheeseburger, sans salt. read more

Gretel - This soup really warmed me up - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had the burger at Gretel. Everything was 10/10- burgers, fries, aioli! I had the Who Sencha drink- amazing! Went on an off night, a Monday & it was still busy. Chill vibes, will definitely be back! read more

I love Gretel. I feel like it's one of the best restaurants in Chicago. However, I was unaware of how delicious the smoked trout. Caesar salad is. I am obsessed. It is one of the best things I put in my mouth in Chicago (lol). It is even better that the drinks are always artfully crafted and the service is always friendly and quick. read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So we came here per reports that the burger was good. I wasn't feeling a burger and decided to try the butter chicken. We also had brussel sprouts and the fried shrimp. The menu also included ramen? Rather random assortment of items but something for everyone which is cool in theory. Made me nervous to see if they could do a good job making such different items. The good - burger was solid: It was a classic burger, juicy, flavorful, with good pickles. Cooked nicely. Fried shrimp were large, golden brown, but a little bland. The best brussel sprouts I've had in literal years - if you like them crispy outside and tender inside these hit the spot. The not so good - butter chicken should either be removed from the menu or have "chicken" removed from description. It had only a few tiny pea sized cubes of chicken floating inside. While the waiter warned it wasn't entree sized I didn't think it to mean it barely had any chicken and was just a cream soup. I guess I was supposed to soak up an entire bowl of it with the flatbread it came with? I don't know if this was an error or just how the dish is supposed to be but I didn't enjoy it because I felt tricked into ordering a soup. That food hiccup aside service and ambiance were good. Decor looked dark yet inviting and the staff were all very nice. Cocktails were good. read more

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Rounding out our burger crawl, Gretel had a TWO HOUR WAIT, so we ran around to our order spots as we waited for our place in line. We arrived and immediately went downstairs and the environment presented a spark easy feel, the only thing missing was a Jazz singer in the corner, but anyway, I digress.... Unless you require an intimate setting, we both agreed the first floor is best for a night out. So, let's jump to the food and drink experience. We ordered the burger fully dress dressed, (we confirmed Gretel and Little Wolf are owned by the same people, but they have something different in their version of the burger) along with cocktails - the Hang is a FANTASTIC hibiscus cocktail that I'd highly recommend - and the burger is complimented by one side which we did fries. Fries are exactly the same as Like Wolf, but THAT BURGER was noticeably different. It. Was. BANGING!!!!!!!!! Talking about flavorful! We were asked how we'd like our patties cooked and went with medium, and it was perfectly done. The bun was sesame seeded adding a touch of flavor, and the cheeses seemed different. We both agreed, this burger was better than little wolf, but honestly it was slight. I'd travel in either direction for both experiences as they are worth it. You want to get in right away, do Little Wolf, but if you don't mind the wait, then GRETEL IT is! read more

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We specifically came here to try the pretzel! This was a great pretzel- well seasoned, crispy, and a generous amount of cheese! Overall would highly recommend their pretzel! They have a nice patio and vibey indoor area. Service was fast as well! read more

Gretel - Pretzel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Place is really nice love the vibes , service was great , the food was good I'm not gonna lie , the only problem was that it was beyond salty , and this is coming from a person who always adds more salt to their food other than that the food really has potential my guess is maybe it was just a one day thing some one went a little overboard with the seasonings and salt . read more

This place has loads of plants in the windows and a wall of booze. Good for a small group or date for sure. Enjoyed the little gem salad and lobster roll with old bay chips. The Hellion cocktail was super pretty and tasty. Enjoyed the friendly and attentive service. My table mates raved about the tartare and said it was fantastic. The bread certainly was. read more

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Went with a group of friends for my first visit to Gretel. We all ended up sharing everything so we could try different dishes. Definitely recommend this route. My faves were the beef tartare, pretzel, and the brussel sprouts were amazing too! Our waiter was polite and not overbearing. Checked on us occasionally. Will absolutely be back! read more

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The burger is so good!! It's a double stack burger that's packed with flavor and comes with a side of perfectly salted fries. I was paying attention to what other people were getting throughout the night and basically everyone in the house was getting the burger. Highly rec! Got a side of Elote Riblets which was nice - good flavor and a good addition to keeping the meal finger-food friendly. The interior is beautiful, dimly lit, and has a very impressive liquor wall where the staff has a sliding ladder to access all the liquor. Service was fast and friendly! Would recommend getting here before the dinner rush, as they don't take reservations. I got here at 5pm and the entire downstairs was empty, but by the time we left around 6:45pm or so, both the upstairs and downstairs were packed. read more

Gretel - Elote Riblets - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food was so good, I forgot to take a picture before I started eating.... From the moment we walked in to leaving the restaurant, we were in awe of the decoration style and the calm yet busy atmosphere. We walked in on a Thursday night and it was the best decision we made. The food was amazing and burger was perfectly seasoned and the drinks were beautifully mixed. I'd come by back here for photo ops, an amazing burger or just unwind after a long day. It's the perfect place to go for a date, or a night out by yourself. Also major bonus, I'm assuming pets are allowed because I was blessed by the company of an adorable golden doodle named Bruce. It's pet friendly, drinks are great, and the servers were on it. The only thing to note is you should make a reservation, it was busy when we went and it was just a random day during the week too. Also a side note to my side note, on instagram this restaurant was placed at no. 17 for having the best burgers in Chicago. Personally I think the rating could be higher but that's just me. read more

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

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We chose Gretel to celebrate our anniversary last month. The food and ambiance are worth the five-star review because all around, there was hardly anything that we felt was a let down. It's a bar but it's a swanky one at that serving food where you can have a nice dinner with family or friends for celebrations. The bar wall is impressive with hundreds of spirits on display. We made a reservation a few weeks in advance and were seated in the basement lounge of the restaurant. The entire space, whether you are on the main floor or downstairs, is chic and private. Our server was awesome and the food was spot on. Every dish ordered was solid and our absolute favorites were the: *Gretel burger *The king-sized prime rib with horseradish, au jus with Yorkshire pudding *Wagyu beef tartare *Mac and Cheese We also ordered the blistered shishito peppers as an appetizer versus a side however it would've been better had they halved the current portion size because there was plenty left over afterwards. In fact, we found the pepper portion size was too much. The cocktails are amazing. You really can't go wrong with any of them. Service was superb and our server was prompt, timing everything just right. Parking is metered and street side only. We were able to find a spot about a block and a half away. read more

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Went for dinner with friends as a party of four. Seated w/o waiting at a table that just opened up. Hostess and Server were great. The bar wall looks so cool when the bar tender gets bottles from the top shelf. Ambiance made this young 40 year feel as if we were the oldest people in the room but older couples walked in. Food...the French onion soup is beyond awesome! Ordered steak that melted in my mouth. So good. I thought the sauce or gravy that it came on the side was so-so but I would order it again. My friends ordered a burger and lobster rolls. They loved it all and no one had left overs. As the group DD they all loved the drinks too. read more

Gretel - Steak - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I come to Gretel pretty often, but my last visit was so underwhelming and sad. Our waitress seemed like she didn't want to be there, so it felt like us being there was annoying her. We had the nachos, which we had before, and wow this was bad. It was basically a dish of beans with nachos on the side. We thought we could just scoop the beans but it got to be too much. We had the steak frites, also mid. Honestly shocking because last time we had that there it was delicious! Not sure if we went on a bad day but I hope this changes. read more

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This is a good place! I wish it was in my neighborhood so I could stop in often! Steak Tartare, marrow bones, old-fashioneds, mashed potatoes - how can you go wrong? My wife enjoyed the fried chicken and corn cob chunks. Execution is creditable if not stellar. We sat at the bar. Service was good; the hostess was nice. The wall of beverages was duly impressive. read more

I am a gastropub connoisseur so when planning my Chi trip Gretel stood out big time. Dimly lit, bustling, elevated grub, and a solid cocktail program. I rolled in solo about 7:30 on a Friday, and the place was absolutely jumping. I snagged a standing spot as I grabbed an old fashioned and waited about 30 minutes for a bar seat to open up. I rolled with the french dip and some macaroni. Wow, absolutely blown away. The macaroni was top notch. Charred cheese overflows the mini skillet it is served in. Chopped onions and bacon add a bit of crunch in every bite. The cheese is rich, velvety, and savory. Superb. The french dip is in elite class also. The prime rib melts in your mouth. The baguette is so soft and absorbs the au jus with ease. This is a no frills french dip. Simple and elegant. Prime rib, bread, and horseradish spread. No cheese, no onions, no mushrooms. It doesn't need anything extra, she is perfect the way she is. The fries are shoe strings... my favorites. They were not as crispy as I'd like but still a real solid fry. They were served with a spicy and tangy sauce that was immaculate. If I wasn't in public I would have licked the ramekin clean. It's simple: go to Gretel, and if the wait is 2 hours? Wait. Well worth it! read more

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The vibe is dark and moody, much like the wait staff behind the bar. We sat down for an early dinner, linner as my girl likes to call it. We had the French Onion soup which was delicious, a little heavy, but the flies did hit. We also ordered a Chopped Salad which again hit the spot. The portion was sizable which we appreciated since my girl and I split most meals. Overall the food was good, the service was far from what we expected from a neighborhood spot. read more

My quest for Chicago's best burger has brought me to Gretel. This place very much fits the Logan/Avondale aesthetic with a dark mysterious interior with limited (or no) exterior signage. We ordered to go because the whether had already provided enough darkness for my liking. I will definitely return to grab a drink though because the liquor selection was impressive. The hostess that greeted me was nice and let me know that my food was almost ready. Here's what we ordered in no particular order: - salad - burger - fries - lobster roll The burger was legit and definitely cracks my top 10 list at this point. It was reminiscent of the burger at Longman and Eagle. The star of the night those was the lobster roll! Holy hell was it delicious! People need to be talking about it more. Unfortunately the fries and sauce were a let down and the salad was a salad. Nothing special. Overall pretty solid experience. read more

Gretel - Gretel Griddle Burger with Fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Gretel is a fun place. I really like the ambiance and it has a great bar. The burger was great. We will be back.

Delicious burger- definitely lives up to the hype. Went on a Wednesday at 8pm and had no trouble getting a seat for 3 people. The cocktail I had- Hang 11- was good. read more

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

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The food was excellent! Went there for lunch having heard some great reviews on it and how good the burger was. It definitely did not disappoint. The Gretel burger was juicy but not messy. The menu is small but well diversified that you don't feel like you're missing out or don't have options. Ambiance is relaxed with easy listening alternative music which fits the space perfectly. It's not stuffy but also not dicey so it's a great chill space. Service was top notch and easy going and attentive. read more

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

Gretel is my husband and I go to place. I love the atmosphere the food and the customer service. This place tends to get pretty packed especially during dinner time. My husband and I usually go once it opens up. We have tried mostly everything on the menu. Their Gretel burger is amazing! It's like a small Che al burger on steroids! The oysters are amazing and their steak tartare! Those three are my favorite plates there! read more

Gretel in Logan Square is the perfect date night spot! It's a gastropub with elevated bar food and fantastic cocktails. They don't take reservations, so you'll show up and probably need to wait a bit for a table. They're right across from a super cool thrift store called Flying High though, the perfect place to kill time while you wait! I started off the hellion cocktail. It had mezcal, persimmon, aquafaba, and red absinthe. That combo made the drink so smooth and tasty! For food we started off with the beer tartare. It was pretty good! The star of the show here was definitely the bread. It was so flavorful and perfectly toasted. For our mains we spit the gretel griddle burger and the smoked trout caesar salad. The burger was super dense, but really good. The salad was fantastic, the smoked trout was cut up super small and mixed in with the dressing, which I loved. Suprisingly, the part to remember here was definitely the fries and sweet/spicy aioli that came with the burger. Definitely ordering that next time I go!! We ordered a second round of drinks after our food and I got the espresso martini. It was really good! Definitely would get again. read more

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Ok wow this is one of my new favorite spots! Great food, drinks, vibes. The burger was AMAZING and really surprised me! So good, cheesy, melts in your mouth. They don't do reservations which worked out for us - we were able to get in without a wait ~6pm on a Saturday. read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My boyfriend and I have always loved Gretel. We went there for Valentines Day this year and it was amazing! Miranda out server was so attentive and went the extra mile to find us wine we would like. Mo was very warm and welcoming. The food was incredible. We got the ribeye dinner for two with Brussel sprouts and fries. One of my favorite spots for drinks and dinner!! read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

solid burger, great pretzel, and lovely caesar! fun vibes and great ambiance here. this is a bar so expect that first and foremost. prices are a touch steep. read more

You'll definitely enjoy the food at Gretel. Some of the dishes we've tried were phenomenal, and others were still above average. Service is always friendly, but sometimes it's been difficult to get our specific server's attention. The good news is, you can pretty much flag any of the staff as they're nearby, and they'll either help you directly or (usually what I ask:) they will notify your server. It may sound boring, but they make a great burger. I'm not into cheese or aioli, but most of the people who order that when I go love that. Even "my" way, they use the right blend of meat. When their fries come out hot, they're excellent. (If they're not hot, just ask for them to bring out a hot batch.) There's so much more inventiveness on the menu, so I encourage you to read it all and try some of the creativity. We were impressed with almost everything. We did not feel we could recommend the vegan pastrami sandwich, though it wasn't bad. If I were vegan, I'd probably be very glad they offer it. Lots of very interesting cocktails as well as craft beers. This is a great restaurant to go with a couple friends. read more

We went for lunch on a weekday, and it was the perfect time to go. Quiet, in crowded, and fast. The cocktails were excellent, especially the glow torch. The chicken liver mousse was SO good and smooth. The house pickled cut the richness. We also tried the burger (!!!), Mac and cheese (!!!), fries, and fried chicken sandwich. All was great, but I'd rate the chicken liver mousse and the burger at the top. read more

Gretel - Chicken liver mousse - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fucking raw pork in the tonkatsu. Enough said. Wolf and co is awesome but there seems to be a problem with gretel these days.if I could give minus 10 stars I would. I've been throwing up all day. read more

One of the best casual restaurants in the city. Best french dip in the city. The absolute best caesar salad in the city. Bourbon & whiskey selection is awesome & priced nicely. read more

Sauve, man, you are are so f-ing suave! Here's to Ben! That's the vibe you get here at Gretel, all dark woods, sexy decor, rows upon rows upon rows of bourbon bottles. It is indeed the Ben of all restaurants; a lovely place, one you want to come home to and call your own. And the substance matches the aesthetics - the drinks are flawless, the wine list exotic, and the food delicious. The French dip is particularly good, as is the mac and cheese. Sadly, our server was not well versed with the wine list but I went with my gut and ordered the Lebanese wine - Massaya Le Colombier - and was not disappointed. It was earthy, chewy, fantastique! There were other similarly exotic options I would like to return to sample. Service was otherwise friendly and the vibe was super chill with an excellent soundtrack. We will definitely be back. read more

This restaurant/whiskey bar has been on my list since last year. Glad we were able to get in quickly for my hubbys b-day dinner. No reservations but the wait seem like on a busy weekend was about 45 min. That's reasonable,lucky we waits 10secs lol. The greater burger was amazing and the rest of the the food we ordered was amazing. Definitely coming back. read more

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Everyone lauds the burger which absolutely deserves its respect, but I want to highlight a few other items which were top notch- 1. The smoked trout Caesar, clever and expertly seasoned/dressed 2. The bone marrow- finally a restaurant that serves both thiccc marrow filled bones AND doesn't hammer the hell out of them. 3. The expansive and tremendously valued beverage list. All in all, great meal and worth a repeat visit. read more

Gretel - Smoked trout Caesar salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Chill, beautiful space. Service was great even with our bigger party. The food was delicious. I loved that the Caesar salad. Yum yum. Tried the ramen A+! Homemade pretzel was the best I've ever had. Fries were cooked perfectly. Definitely was a great choice since we were in town for a short visit. I also loved all the zz plants in the window. read more

Oh how the might have fallen. I am a huge fan of burgers, love to go around the city and try their best. Well move over others Che**la and McDonald's of Chicago ... Gretel in my opinion has one of the best, top 3 for sure in Chicago. I absolutely loved their Gretel burger, not overtly messy, great beef flavor, rich but not too over decadent. The pickles and red onion cut through the cheese and beef in a well balanced bite. Will definitely come back. The service was great, big open room inside, we sat outside. read more

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

It's an unassuming storefront with no signage that will scream GRETEL to you but nice you find it you'll definitely be back. We ordered oysters, the pretzel, the gretel burger, and the tonkotsu ramen and the ramen was stellar. Seriously better than what I've had at some ramen places in the city, the broth was rich without being heavy and the pork was perfect. The pretzel was worth reordering too. The burger was a burger according to my partner who ordered it (but he also picks off all the fun stuff so take that for what you will). Service was prompt and helpful. Once dry January is over I can't wait to go back and try a recommendation from their massive wall of whiskeys. There's a handful of high top standing tables in addition to standard seating so this could be a fun spot to grab apps and drinks before continuing your night. read more

Gretel - Tonkotsu ramen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This could become our new go-to bar. The food we tried was very good, oysters and burgers, the service was friendly and efficient. The atmosphere was comfortable and inviting; all in all a very good experience. read more

Hands down in my opinion; one of the best gourmet burger in Chicago. I dream of this burger that's how yummy it is! Lol. If you have never been here, please go. The wait can be insane but worth it so make sure you arrive with 2hrs or more before you're actually starving and seated. We come here specifically only for the burger, Mac and cheese and Brussels sprouts. I can't wait to come back and continue to explore the rest of the menu. But definitely worth it! And the ambiance is so chill and chic. I love it! read more

Gretel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We ordered take out, so I can't speak to service or ambiance but I feel it is probably as phenomenal as the food was! We ordered the elote ribetes, and the burger with fries- The ribetes were delicious, perfectly cooked and the mezcal salsa verde was such a lovely touch! The burgers were INSANE!!!! Cooked perfectly, with crunchy pickles and delicious garlic aioli on a nice soft bun. I had been craving a burger all week and this burger satisfied my need. The fries were delicious, they are thin cut and nicely salted; they were a bit softer than I like (but that's just a personal preference). All in all it was just what we needed and better than we could have anticipated! read more