Hopleaf Bar is hands down one of our favorite spots for dinner and drink in all of Chicago!…read more One key to a successful dinning experience at Hopleaf is knowing the three different spaces to engage. When you first walk in, you have to show your ID since this is an adults-only bar establishment. (1) You can then choose to sit in the front bar area, if you want a full menu, but use the bar for ordering service. (2) If you keep walking through the front bar area, you reach the host stand at the top of the ramp. This is where you can put your name in to sit in the main dining room, upstairs, or outside. (3) However, you can also walk through to the left of the host stand to another bar area that has full menus, but bar service for ordering. This is our preferred spot because we can often find a seat and order with the bar. Do note that, during busy times, part of this bar area is managed by the host stand and will be labeled as such. The extensive beer menu is our favorite. We have our favorite food items, so all our decision making revolves around which beer we will get. They always have a bit of everything style-wise, from all over the world, but with a local-brewery focus. Seasonal emphasis is also taken into consideration when they curate the beer list. It is always rotating and we love it! Beers are served in the recommended glasses from the breweries. It's a great drinking experience from start to finish! Our food orders are eternally set: I get the Nueske Ham sandwich with fries and aioli. My husband gets the Reuben sandwich with fries and aioli. This meal is so perfect we'll probably never get anything different, despite the menu being delicious across the board. The wildest we get is sometimes splitting the two sandwiches. No reason to mess with a good thing! Other notable great things about Hopleaf: (1) Kind, knowledgeable, and professional staff. (2) Reasonable prices for high quality and great variety products. (3) Clean Belgian Bar decor/vibe with lots of space for folks to enjoy their time. (4) They are open late and serve food late. Thank you for being an amazing local spot, Hopleaf! We'll see you soon!

Simply, all around excellent!…read more This was one of those cases where I stopped in, started a review, and then it sat in my drafts collecting dust. Thus, a return visit was a must! Primarily because I genuinely enjoyed it, and secondarily because I enjoy writing. Hopleaf boasts a tremendous and awesome beer list! It's truly hard to do it justice in a review. I will say they offer a wide variety of different kinds, origins, styles, bottle versus draft, and so on. For those who aren't beer lovers, there are cocktails, ciders, and more! For food, I was able to try both the Pork Belly and the Slagel Burger. The pork belly was much better than I expected! The exterior was delightfully roasted, and the interior was soft and savory with a good balance between meaty and fatty bits. The pork was well-sauced, and the accompanying accoutrements were similarly fantastic, helping to round out the pork, and adding freshness. On my first visit, my main memory of the burger was a very high salt level. However, this appears to have been addressed on my second visit. Now, is it the best burger in the city? No. However, it is excellent in its own right. The smashed patties have good flavor and a proper char around the edges. The vegetables are present but not so overwhelming that it becomes a hard-to-eat salad, and finally, it is delightfully cheesy! Where service is concerned, the bar staff were friendly and welcoming. They took great care of me and other patrons approaching the bar. Food came out in a reasonable timeframe, especially for items cooked to order. In terms of their vibe, I feel as though the best way I can describe it is to say it's a larger, elevated dive bar. It isn't cramped or dark, and there's plenty of space. At the same time, it isn't at all uppity and preserves that neighborhood establishment feel (though I would certainly go across town to visit on occasion). Finally, regarding value, when the bill came, I felt the amount due was more than reasonable considering the quality of food, beers, and service I received. Thus, while I am generally not a big beer drinker (I'm more of a spirits/cocktails person), I'm not totally against printing out their beer menu and crossing out items as I try them. That is to say, I look forward to coming back again and again.

We found Is Was Brewing after recommendation from another brewery in the area! We were drawn to the…read moreartwork and the proximity, as it was raining! The space itself is quite large, with spots to gather with different sized groups and even some ski ball and other arcade features to entertain. The server was quite friendly and provided us a brief history of the brand, as we were the only ones in the space on a rainy Thursday right when they opened. The beer selection leans toward various types of Saisons. It's definitely an acquired taste and not for everyone, but the ones we had were delicious! I'd recommend the Rustic Brown, as it had a bit of smoke and wasn't as funky as some of the other ones I tasted.

I was last at this location when it was Urban Brew Labs. The decor inside looks very similar…read more They specialize in saisons. Service was decent. Signs also say they have bingo and other events.

There's just something about a burger that actually lives up to the hype--and Little Bad Wolf does…read moreexactly that. Stacked unapologetically high, this burger is everything you want and more: juicy, perfectly seared patties layered with melty cheese, crispy bacon, and those golden, crunchy fried onions that take it completely over the top. Every bite is rich, savory, and just messy enough to remind you you're eating something seriously good. The toasted bun somehow holds it all together (barely), soaking up every bit of flavor without getting lost in the chaos. And then... the shoestring fries. Thin, crispy, golden perfection--light but addictive, with that ideal crunch that makes it impossible to stop at just one (or ten). They're the kind of fries you keep reaching for without even realizing it, especially dipped in that creamy, tangy sauce on the side. And let's not forget the drinks--just as good as the food. Refreshing, perfectly balanced, and the kind you sip slow while taking it all in (but somehow they disappear way too fast). It's not just a burger--it's one of Chicago's most iconic bites for a reason. Bold, indulgent, and absolutely worth every single napkin you'll need after. The ambiance inside is GORGEOUS!

My husband and I walked in on a Sunday evening for dinner and were able to be seated right away…read more The atmosphere is dark and moody, and it made sense once I realized it was the same owners as Gretel. Loved the 90s female R&B playlist they had going! Little Bad Wolf has been on my list FOR YEARS to try the burger! My husband got the burger with fried onions and I got some Bao because those also looked delicious and were a popular menu item. Honestly the 3 stars are only that high because of the service. Our server was friendly and attentive + the food came out hot and quick. Unfortunately, the food was pretty disappointing. The burger was swimming in a puddle of grease and just picking it up made your hands greasy + was dripping grease. The fries that came with it were floppy, soggy, and sad...but at least warm? I personally wouldn't order this again. The Bao were better, but small for the price and honestly were just okay? It was nice they gave you sauces you could add, but I found the Bao's to already have enough sauce so I didn't need them. Overall I left feeling confused and disappointed. I don't feel the need to come back here - Little Bad Will was a one and done experience for me.

Such a friendly place! Bartenders moved from Huttenbar in Lincoln Square after it closed, and it…read morewas so great to see them again! Beer was cold, vibes were great. The Bishop, a bulldog, greeted us and then laid right in the middle of the floor. We've been before and we'll be back!

Have never met a bartender so mean…read more The Temu Ed Harris made sure we knew we weren't welcome. Go for the stale Schlitz on draft, stay to be glared and sneered at. Oh, and don't be paranoid and think it's just you. He hates all of us.

Cool, it rhymes, always worth a few stars when you rhyme the name of your business. Drink And Ink…read moreis a place, which as you can guess, is a bar and tattoo parlor. It's not like they're actually tattooing people while they're doing shots. Honestly it's like two separate businesses run by the same owner, with just a little separation between each. They maintain standards like not tattooing those who are intoxicated. As for the bar side of the business, it has some pretty good drinks. It's really not that expensive for around here. They could charge a lot more. It's about $8 for one of their seasonal cocktails. Last time in here I got the Cider House Mule. Besides the clever name, it was also a pretty strong and tasty cocktail. This was apple infused Four Roses with cinnamon, with a soaked apple slice. Good shit for autumn. The apple slice was all loaded and had quite a kick. Get a drink, and get ink. It has both, just not both at once. The bar has a security camera where you can watch the customers get tattooed, oh yes voyeuristic fun is a treat.

As bizarre as it is, my friend and I went into Drink and Ink just to sit and talk at a bar! We…read moredidn't order any alcohol but our barista was kind enough to offer us alternative options to drink (this amazing sparkling water and pineapple juice) it was great! It can get pretty rowdy but not too overwhelming, this bar is amazing! I will have to come back.

I can't believe this is my first visit. Vibes are immaculate. Pool table, darts, TouchTunes. What…read moremore can you ask for! Owners are awesome and welcoming. Will absolutely be back.

I love a good dive and this place is pretty perfect. Not flashy, just cheap and laid back with…read moregreat service. A great place to spend an evening without spending all your money because this is not a $16 cocktail economy.

Breakfast is amazing. Lunch is amazing when you can eat outside. And dinner and nightlife is really…read morea hidden gem of the area. The mezcal Negroni and mezcal Bloody Mary are my favorites. A real cocktail lovers bar. Killer murals and art too. Good vibes

If you're looking for a cozy sociable, great drinks great eats big chicks. Monday through Sunday is…read morethe place to be. I am never disappointed.. I want to shout out Shannon. She is the most coolest, friendly, sweet cashier waitress that I have ever met in a very long time every single time I come, she is always pleasant and never disappoints. I highly recommend this place.

I've been anticipating coming here for whiskey Wednesday-of course I'm a whiskey girl haha. I love…read morea good old-fashioned. for $7 That's practically free. From 4pm until 7pm Wednesday only !! highly recommend giving fat cat a chance So far so good. No complaints

Not a great experience here. Started with the watermelon sangria which their menu says has fresh…read morewatermelon, lime juice, J Bavet brandy, and pinot grigio. I saw the bartender make it - they poured a mix from the tap, then add soda water and ice, and that was it. Not sure how the other mixed drinks are made, but that was more pouring than bartending. The drink also lacked flavor and color, and neither I nor my company tasted the liquor. The deviled eggs had a horseradish bite which should really be mentioned on the menu. The wings were decent, though.

Had the chance to stop by again recently and B&B is every bit as good as I remembered! The staff is…read morealways kind and the vibe is a total pick-me-up. I doubt anyone leaves feeling less jolly than they did going in. On this visit, I started with the After Word to drink. It was light-bodied, not at all too sweet, and possibly went down *too* easily. We split the short rib poutine and I can't think of a better dish to get you through the winter. The meat absolutely melted in the mouth and the cheese was abundant and rich. Would order again in a heartbeat! We also tried the alligator bites as a seasonal special. I'd not had alligator before, but they were super crispy and spicy with an addictive gochujang sauce. It really does taste like chicken. If you've ever wanted to try alligator, this is the place to do it. For the main event, I opted for the red beans and rice hand pie. It came with a light, citrus salad and delicious hand cut fries with 3 dipping sauces, which were very fun to try. I loved the buttery pie crust but the filling tasty very tomato forward- I was missing the heat of a traditional red beans & rice and wished there was more seasoning. Still good. As usual, the portions were generous for the price and we left with leftovers. Absolutely recommend making the trek over here to give B&B a try, and will be back soon!

This is one of my "little treat" spots, as whenever I get paid or somehow find $20 in my wallet, I…read morelike to come here. Then I forget for a few months, find another $20, end up stumbling across this place again and going "why don't I come here more?" This has happened three times. The most important part though- it's real tasty. Always. I'd say all of it, but I'm still working my way through the menu, but the burgers and Mac never let me down. The servers are always really laid back, and nothing feels rushed. I think it's part of the charm; somewhere to go and relax and take your time to enjoy the vibe. And you know what would help the vibe even more? Including the bread pudding on the menu full time. Keeping that bad boy stocked for me at all times. (This time was my first time seeing it on the specials menu and listen, it WAS special. So special that you should upgrade it to mainstay is all.)

We've been longtime fans of Cultivate-- the food, drinks, and ambiance are always amazing. We…read morerecently hosted our engagement party at Cultivate in their private taproom, and we could not be more happy with how everything went! Brian, Logan, and Nico made the entire process incredibly easy from start to finish. Coordinating the menu was super straightforward, communication was excellent, and pricing and logistics were all very clear and organized. We heard from so many of our 60 guests about how impressed they were with the drinks, bar snacks, and beautiful space. We're so grateful to the Cultivate team and would highly recommend them for private events!

Overall, our party felt that Cultivate was an okay experience. The food itself was hit or miss. The…read moreduck confit with dumplings had a nutty taste that overpowered the dish. The cheese plate was yummy, but we were surprised by the size of it. We like the mushroom pasta. It took a long time to get or check and initial orders in. It was a convenient location, but would likely go elsewhere in the future.