Wowza - come here... Award winning bar menu... food was on-point…read more I started with Peach Whisky Sour - shaken properly with egg whites. I thought this might be a tad on the sweet side, but it was not... it was wonderful and very refreshing. I went with the Szechuan Ginger Beef Dip, which came with these great fries. The sandwich itself was decadent. I was literally the 1st person through the door on a Monday night. I sat at the bar and was able to chat with the owner who recently won a couple of big industry cocktail awards. The bartender was super friendly and provided great service. One doesn't necessarily think of Rockford as a culinary destination, but this is a local joint run by a born in raised young woman... Crave is a worthy destination dining spot. But if you're driving by on the interstate it's also worth the stop. The hours are great. The dining room and bar are well appointed and there are even some outside tables. When you're on the road, seek out those local joints. I'm really glad I did.

I'm stingy with my 5 stars but Crave really deserves it…read more I made reservations at 7pm and we were seated shortly there after. The booth was very comfortable for two. The vibe was fun and energetic. It was upscale without being pretentious. Our server Alyssa was so very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu which I really appreciated. She recommended the sourdough focaccia and ahi poke for appetizers and they did not disappoint! For our entrees we ordered the filet. We ordered it medium but it came out medium rare but I didn't mind. Butter soft. The Thai cod was very flavorful; the heat was perfect, not overbearing. The cocktails were some of the best we have tasted. We ordered the bourbon drink and the psyche. Wow! No wonder the bartender won a prestigious award. The cost for two starters, 4 cocktails and 2 entrees was rather hefty but worth the money IMHO... our celebration was perfect... so thanks, Crave!

Let's get social!…read more Vibey space teetering the line of eclectic hipster hangout spot and elevated modern dining with grace. The service is warm, welcoming. The lights are moody. And the food is cranked all the way up to 11. I do not know much about rockford, but I can only assume this is one of the best cocktail programs in the City. A good balance of familiar favorites riffed, and creative concoctions adorn the menu. The food? Absolutely absurd. The chicken is jumping with flavor. Pork tacos are some of the best. A lovely charcuterie board should be mandatory for all guests. This place is full of fun, flavor, and love!

If you want to start a love affair with vintage spirits -- this is the spot. Luxury Cocktails…read more--&--premium ingredients are perfect in this sultry restaurant. The back-drop has such a sense of time & place. The graceful mixologist did not condescend to my curiosity. I tried the 43 problems at his suggestion and it was delicious ! I'll try the entrees next time and of course another new cocktail.

Beloit, WI is a little town, 90 minutes from Chicago - O'Hare. There are less than 40,000 people…read moreand a river runs through the city. If you're ever in Beloit, be sure to visit 5BAR. This little joint is hands down the coolest bar I have ever been to. It is unassuming on the outside, but you step in and it is a technicolor wonderland of nostalgic pieces and new art. There is an extensive craft drink list, and the two I had were expertly made. Even better...both were sub $10!! It is super clean, and you can tell that they take pride in their blue heaven. Walk past the genderless bathrooms and there is a separate room (with its own music) where karaoke is held on Saturday nights. There are coloring sheets and even a merch section made from the lost and found. Craft drinks, great decor, good music, and a DOG! Congrats to Levi (owner) and Lady (Corgi) for creating the vibes. It is nothing short of epic.

Fun bar with a great staff. There's always something going on. Make sure to check out 5bar.co on…read moreinstagram to see pictures and events. This place is one of a kind.

First visit, now one of our favorite tiki bars anywhere - along with Max's (Grand Rapids) and…read moreInferno Room (Indianapolis). Immersive experience with a chill vibe, including tiki appropriate music. We arrived at the 4:30 opening and stayed for four hours. Drinks and food were excellent. The cocktail menu is extensive, including tiki classics and Kohala Koa exclusives.

We had a free night in the Chicago area and found this ridiculously AWESOME tiki bar, Kahala Koa…read moreTiki Bar. The selection of drinks is downright encyclopedic, and the drinks were outstanding. In addition, we ordered a plate of bacon-covered water chestnuts, and they were so effing delicious!! I mean, they were a serious revelation!! So we ordered another plate. The atmosphere is amazing. The family that owns this wonderful tiki bars has put some serious work into adorning the place with amazing tiki decor. And this has to have taken YEARS to do. The outside of the building does not say, "Hey!! I'm an awesome tiki bars!!" But step inside and you are transported to tiki land extraordinaire. And then there is the staff there. They are so friendly, attentive, and helpful, and just very authentic and genuine. I CANNOT WAIT to return to Kahala Koa Tiki Bar the next time I'm in the Chicago area. The place totally rocks!!

Such an amazing experience…read more Starting off with the restaurant itself, such a beautifully curated spot that is unlike anything rockford has to offer. Every detail a work of art. We really enjoy the bar area and its ambiance but hope to also experience the dining room as well. We started off with the Dip of the day which was a Miso Ranch dip served with fresh made tortilla chips. This was phenomenal and my only complaint is there wasn't more! We also both ordered a drink off of their happy hour menu. I ordered the old Fashioned and my wife ordered their margarita. Both were excellent. I also ordered the VIEUX CARRÉ based on our Server's recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed that. Such knowledgeable staff makes a big difference. For our main course, I got their Mushroom Pot Pie and my wife ordered the Ora King Salmon. Both dishes blew us away. Neither of us expected to be so full after our meals, their serving sizes were very generous! I wanted to highlight the mushroom pot pie, as a vegetarian, Fine dining usually does not cater to vegetarians. So having options at a place this nice was such a welcomed surprise. The greens included with the Pot Pie really stole the show, The most perfectly cooked and seasoned greens I have ever had. Chef Nick Risseeuw came over and checked on how we were doing and after hearing me rave about his pot pie offered two of his desserts on the house. We got a pistachio orange dessert and a Malt ball ice cream that was his interpretation of whopper candy as an ice cream. Both were DIVINE! Thank you again Nick for your generosity, it was a perfect way to end a perfect meal. I also wanted to highlight the staff as they played an essential role in our unbelievable experience. Everyone was so friendly, attentive, and prompt. We will definitely return soon and cannot wait to see what is in store for their upcoming menu

OMG we loved this place! It was our 1st visit to Salt Rockford and they SHINEDMy husband and I had…read morethe most lovely and delicious dinner!!! And thee cocktails are so good too we are going to attempt to recreate them at home. It ambience is clean and classy with a comfortable atmosphere. My favorite kind of dining experience! We will be back!

On our way back to Chicago from Wisconsin, we stopped by Jazz Rabbit Fizz, a small cocktail bar…read moreknown for its unique vibe. We wanted to try the famous Spotted Cow beer, which is only available in Wisconsin. The place had cool wall art and Halloween decorations that gave it a quirky feel. We spent about 30 minutes there around midnight, and the laid-back style made it a fun stop. Our bartender was friendly, and service was quick. Even the restroom had cute decorations, including a lady mannequin lamp, and it was super clean. Overall, this place is an experience you must try!

The Jack Rabbit Fizz has and outstanding vibe. Exceptional cocktails and customer service. Great…read moreplace and will stop in again!

I LOVE Hampshire Social. I aim to support local businesses first, when possible. The coffee here is…read moreso much better than "Starbies", it kinda ruined all the others for me. A good problem to have!

Great coffee, drinks, food and friendly service. Can't beat that combo! A bit small and sometimes…read moregets crowded due to the above, but well worth it.

Hot Daddies... Great service... and I don't mean from the business. ;-)…read more Would definitely recommend.

From the owner: Silver Fox Tavern is a small-town bar & grill on Main Street in Ashton, IL, serving up great food,…read morecold drinks, live music, karaoke, and a fun hometown atmosphere. Known for our Friday Fish Fry, smashburgers, Rum Buckets, and patio vibes, the Fox is your go-to spot for good times with friends and family.