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    Jilly's Cafe

    3.6 (182 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    JILLY'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Quiet

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    Karen S.

    The price point brought us here, but the food brings us back. My son and I go for his birthday every year. The food is sublime. This time we has a spinach salad with a delicious vinaigrette. Followed by the oh so decadent fois gras. The short rib was so tender and the red wine demi glaze was outstanding. The venison with the cherry demi glaze was delicious. The desserts were out of this world. The creme brulee did not disappoint and the baked Alaska was just, wow and omg. We will be back again and again. PS. We would have shown more pictures but they are of half eaten food. We just had to did in!

    Moulés appetizer
    Astrid B.

    Ida the owner is a very nice lady, who's hands on receiving and going around greeting her customers. She's a fantastic owner and host. Their crème Brûlée is delicious and the wine selection extremely good !! The food is good. Ida is constantly checking for quality control which is outstanding from an owner. This Bistro has a huge potential the menu is very impressive. Perhaps they need to refine a little more the French taste on the bouillabaisse and thé moule but as I always say less is more. The real French cuisine is made of good and fresh ingredients and a simple but exquisite taste that's all.

    dining room with chandelier
    Rhonda F.

    Wow! Amazing! Incredible! I like to try new restaurants that I've never gone to before. I also like to find places tucked away in areas off the beaten path. So while planning dinner with a friend who lives in downtown Evanston, I researched and chose Jilly's Cafe. Parking can be tricky but I was told to park next door at the auto repair shop. It was right next to the front door of the restaurant and made things much easier. The outside is charming with it's storefront windows and red awning. Once inside, the ambiance continued. Quaint and cozy, in size and decor, lounge-y music softly played. White tablecloths, chandeliers and varnished wood was the perfect backdrop for a quiet dinner. We were able to chat and enjoy a leisurely meal. There is a tiny little bar at the back of the restaurant. We both tried the French Martini to get into the Parisian mood. It was very tasty. My friend loved her spring roll for her appetizer that looked very interesting and smelled great. She said her homemade gnocchi was incredible. I loved my fresh salad with a bright red wine vinaigrette. My salmon entree was perfect. Sitting on a bed of couscous with a light cream mustard sauce, my salmon was highlighted by the addition of brussels sprouts. We shared the profiteroles for dessert that were very nicely done. Service was attentive, professional yet warm. Our server was a very kind gentleman who took great care of us from beginning to end. Jilly's Cafe is the perfect spot for a nice meal, special occasion dinner or date night. I cannot wait to return!

    ESCARGOT A LA BOURIGNONNE (APPETIZER)
    Serge G.

    out. Started off with some amazing escargot sizzling in butter, the mussels in a white wine sauce was satisfactory. all of the appetizers were so delicious, especially the foie gras which was so good we got a second order. For the mains, we had their lobster risotto special, and the duck breast with a confit leg was fantastic, the sauce didn't take away any of the flavor from the duck surprisingly. It was my first time having venison steak, the meat was firm and juicy. Don't snooze on their desserts with everything being homemade, and my favorite was the creme brûlée being very creamy. Amazing spot to check out.

    Sangria with champagne - delicious!!

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Food is excellent and very flavorful. Very good for takeout. Worth the price. Highly recommend!

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    Patina Wine Bar - Lava cake dessert.  Was perfect

    Patina Wine Bar

    4.7(44 reviews)
    7.8 mi

    Wow! If you're looking for a restaurant that can satisfy a group with different tastes, Patina Wine…read moreBar is an excellent choice. Their thoughtfully curated menu may be compact, but it offers a great variety--from fresh salads and wood-fired pizzas to steaks, seafood, and chicken dishes--so there's truly something for everyone. The drink menu is just as fun, with creative cocktails named after iconic songs and music titles, adding a unique touch to the experience. We started with oysters (special), pear arugula salad then ordered main course- I walleye (special) and shrimp risotto. Everything was excellent. It's worth mentioning that the portions are generous enough to leave you satisfied without being overwhelming, making it easy to enjoy an appetizer, entrée, or dessert without feeling overstuffed.

    We've heard very good things about Patina and we're excited to try it tonight. As soon as we…read morewalked in the staff was very kind and attentive. We love the ambiance of the restaurant. It's very peaceful, romantic and a calm atmosphere. All of the food was delicious. The plating is so attractive! The dishes have great flavor but are healthier options. The portion sizes were perfect for what we desired. I'm not exaggerating when I say this was the best branzino I've ever had. The skin was crunchy and delicious. But the fish was not dry at all! There's nothing better than a juicy branzino fish and chef Jose nailed it! Matching with the sauce and beans was so much better than any other veggies or starch. The octopus was also cooked to perfection. The flavor and temperature was just right. Not too hot and such a great texture. We don't always order desserts but we had to see every course of the menu. We decided to go with a lava cake and it did not disappoint. It had that perfect contrast of hot and cold but it's served with gelato which gives it a nice touch of texture compared to standard ice cream. Chef Jose came out and introduced himself. We came in because we were enticed by a beef tartare that was on their menu in the past. We're hoping he brings it back on a special sometime soon. He said to give him a call and he'll try to accommodate whenever possible to make his customers happy. What an amazing restaurant. We cannot wait to come back and see what's new. Thank you for an amazing dinner and night!

    Photos
    Patina Wine Bar - Nice wine bar with many options

    Nice wine bar with many options

    Patina Wine Bar - Beat salad! Great flavor mild sweetness!

    Beat salad! Great flavor mild sweetness!

    Patina Wine Bar - Unassuming front of a magical place

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    Unassuming front of a magical place

    Pomeroy - Creme Brulee

    Pomeroy

    4.4(287 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$$

    I absolutely love Pomeroy!  I know I have said it many times.  This past Mother's Day we went to…read morePomeroy again.  It has become our go-to restaurant for celebrations.  I always consider Mother's Day the ultimate test for any restaurant, and Pomeroy passes with flying colors year after year! As expected, the restaurant was packed, both inside and in the beautiful courtyard. Families filled the dining room, with children of all ages at about 90% of the tables. The team at Pomeroy has been so consistent and professional, that all of our dishes were delivered at a perfect and steady pace, and qualities remained high. Although we got a different server each time we went, they were all very welcoming, friendly, and attentive.  This time, Carlisle did such a wonderful job even though she was super busy, and she wished me a happy Mother's Day several times to make sure that my day was special.  I must mention that the friendly hostess greeted me with well wishes too, and said happy Mother's day again when we left. We had noticed that they had replaced the couch in front of the courtyard fireplace with more tables.  Who could blame them when they had so many patrons to seat.  However, the courtyard still looked gorgeous. Now on to the food and drinks.  I had a mocktail Bleu 75 ($13) that's my favorite, my husband had a glass of chardonnay ($17), our daughter had a Le Spritz Strawberry ($16).  We shared an order of Sea Scallops ($23) and a Warm Tomato Tarte ($19).  I had my go-to dish which was the Mediterranean Sea Bass ($38), I loved the seared skin that was crispy on the edges. Husband and Daughter each ordered a Spring Halibut ($92 for 2) from the Mother's Day menu.  We ordered 2 Strawberry Crème Brulee ($28 for 2), and I shared 1 with my husband.  I also had a cappuccino ($6). The check came up to $283.05 before tips (they add a 3% surcharge to each guest check, which may be removed upon request, we didn't).  As always, our dinner was very enjoyable and it's worth the money.  I had a very happy Mother's Day dinner, and it ended a wonderful weekend with high notes!  We will keep returning!

    Still a very nice Bistro ambiance, but they lost a star on this visit. We made reservations while…read moreon our way to the Chicago Botanical Garden ... close by and very handy. When we got to Pomeroy for dinner, we were seated in the farthest back room, one that was open-air ... the staff never asked us, they just put us there. The room was nice as was the weather, but the open-air room had gnats all over the place. Now we realize that gnats or fruit flies oftentimes come with wine servings ... and the Pomeroy has a bunch of nice wines, but the gnats flying around your face all through dinner was not pleasant. We ordered drinks to start, and found it hit-or-miss. The Watermelon Margarita seemed tempting, so we tried one. It came with a big smear of Tajin powder on the rim, and was not appealing. Once again, we thought they should mention this kind of thing before it appears. They replaced the drink, but it kept us off on the wrong foot. All in all, they still put our good food. Our complaint was the seating, the gnats, and the Tajin powder ... all they had to do was ask for our preferences and these could have been avoided. But alas, they drop to four stars.

    Photos
    Pomeroy - Bar area

    Bar area

    Pomeroy - Creme Brulee

    Creme Brulee

    Pomeroy - Tomato tart

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    Tomato tart

    Carlos And Carlos - Black Pasta

    Carlos And Carlos

    4.5(130 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Disclaimer: I'm a New Yorker who's moved to Chicagoland so maybe I'm a bit snooty but the regular…read moreYelpers in the Midwest should always be viewed with a star and a 1/2 less than what is expected normally. Can't remember the last time we were here but the wife remembered us enjoying their food. Went back last night and was again, a great experience. Fresh pasta, well-seasoned proteins, generous cocktail portion, and 2 bussers whom I felt like, were there to solely cater to our table only; I love restaurants when you don't have to ask, they just know. I would highly recommend this place if you're in the area for an NU event. If you're a local, get your butt over there tonight!

    I was looking for a place to have dinner with a former co-worker who lives up near the border of…read moreWisconsin. I was trying to find a place at least midway between us and discovered Carlos and Carlos on Yelp. Carlos and Carlos is old school from the perspective you actually have to call the restaurant to make a reservation. The space itself is located in what I think is a condo building. The space itself is compact, with tables relatively close together. We ended up sitting at table next to the kitchen door, which for me turned out not to be too bad as we were not sitting on top of other folks. The restaurant and bar were packed as it was a Saturday. Based on the size of the space and number of tables, I would strongly suggest making a reservation if you go there. We started out with fresh bread and one of their specials for the night: flash fried calamari served w/fresh tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, shaved garlic, black olives, capers & garlic butter. This was a first for me as I have never had calamari served this way and it was great. Definitely a dish I would drive back to get. The bread was wonderful and hot. I could see through the kitchen as fresh bread was being pulled out of either a warmer or oven, not sure. It was served with some sort of olive oil and pesto, I think. It made for a lovely spread on the bread. For dinner I ordered a dish called "Meatballs" and it was just that, a whole lotta meatballs with some spaghetti thrown in as a side...HAHAHA! Not complaining, just staying a fact. The meatballs and pasta were good, but I would say there was a fair amount of garlic in the dish. I had my dish as a leftover and as I was warming it up, The Doctor commented that he could smell the garlic. The Doctor had the Pollo Vesuvio, which also came with pasta. I had a small piece and it was pretty nice. Again there was more meat than pasta, but again we were not complaining. The chicken was nice and tender and had a lovely flavor to it. My GF got the Risotto Al Fungi (Arborio served with wild mushrooms & goat cheese). Prior to sampling her dish, I would have absolutely stated that this was a dish I would not order in a restaurant as I wouldn't have any interest in it. I tried a spoonful of my GF's and was amazed at how good it was! The broth that the risotto was cooked in was chicken and I think beef. That with the goat cheese made this a very nice dish and the second reason I would drive here to do a repeat visit for dinner. Portion sizes were nice as The Doctor and I had plenty to eat and enough for light snack the next day. My GF had no leftovers, she became a member of the clean plate club. For dessert we shared a slice of the chocolate mousse cake, which was really nice. It had a lovely dark flavor to it and was creamy in texture. Service was nice and everyone was friendly. There is plenty of street parking within walking distance as well. While this is a bit of a drive for us to get to since it is outside of the city, I could see coming back here. I think I want to try a serving of that risotto on my own instead of a taste.

    Photos
    Carlos And Carlos
    Carlos And Carlos - Tiramisu

    Tiramisu

    Carlos And Carlos - Chocolate Mousse Cake, very good

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    Chocolate Mousse Cake, very good

    Ward Eight - Taylor Small Batch whiskey

    Ward Eight

    4.7(246 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    Ward Eight was a place we frequently visited when we lived nearby many years ago. We were in the…read morearea recently and decided to stop by...we discovered this gem from our past has only gotten better! High quality and innovative cocktails, reasonable prices, and a chic/classy ambiance make Ward Eight must-visit! I tried two cocktails when I was at Ward 8: Remember the Main and Vieux Carre. Both were decadent, delicious, and boozy. Triple threats! I loved them both, but the "Remember the Main" was different from drinks I've had before, so that was my favorite. My husband had a local beer. They have beer, wine, and NA options for folks who aren't into cocktails. They also have food which looks scrumptious, ranging from high-end appetizers to full meals. We did not come prepared to eat, so we'll have to come back again to try food in the future! The staff were welcoming and professional. The space was clean and Gatsby-style chic. There is plenty of seating and an outdoor space for when it is warmer. It is a fancier places, so prices are higher. But you pay for the higher quality ingredients and innovative recipes. If you enjoy cocktails and cozy cocktail bars, Ward Eight is definitely the spot for you!

    Note: this is *barely* three stars…read more The first time I wanted to check out Ward Eight, I found a sign on the door that they were closed. It was written in Sharpie, stating they were closed for fall recess, and will return on X date. There was no notice on the website or otherwise. Such boorishness must be earned, I thought, and this place should be phenomenal! Unfortunately, the experience was overall lackluster. I ordered The Ward Eight House Shot, Rabbit Tale [sic], and the Classic Smash Burger from the Ben & Jake's supper club menu. The Ward Eight House Shot was interesting. This one was the most Angostura I'd had in one go outside of Best Intentions (Logan Square bar). A respectable shot and a good way to start or end an evening, however, $10 feels a little steep. As for the Rabbit Tale, the undoing of this one was the menu. This drink was described as "Zesty, Spicy, and Smokey [sic]". While not bland, it felt as though the volume on all of these was turned down to the level of a whisper. These hadn't just 'quiet quit,' they are halfway through week two of a two-week notice. To its credit, the drink was smooth, and while it didn't taste spirit-forward, the alcohol did hit me as one would hope for on a Friday night, thus no complaints about strength. Then there was the matter of food. The smashburger I ordered ended up being thoroughly unremarkable. The patty was not the greatest thing in the world, lacking those crisp edges that make an excellent smashburger, but otherwise passable. That was, untquietil I added the LTO served on the side (for some reason). After adding these in, the burger quickly fell apart, becoming a dégustation on the plate. Other than the house shot, and a small $15 burger without fries, I felt as though their prices were reasonable. Mixed drinks near the city, and not in a divey 'old-man bar' for $15 are relatively hard to find. When it comes to the service, I regretfully have to ding them a bit. Considering how quiet the bar was at the time, it took longer to get my drink than I would have expected. In a similar vein, the service felt a little disorganized, where the bar staff wasn't quite working as a team. Case in point: one bartender excused herself to step away, and the other did not step in to take my order for those five to ten minutes. Final verdict: I do appreciate reasonably priced cocktails, but the menu descriptions need to be taken with a grain of salt. As for food, I am willing to write off disappointment to the popup, and am not against trying something from their menu. All this said, I'd love to give them another chance, but I am also not in a rush to return.

    Photos
    Ward Eight
    Ward Eight
    Ward Eight - Specials board (2/24/24)

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    Specials board (2/24/24)

    Metekhi - Ojakhuri with lamb

    Metekhi

    4.3(51 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    What a great meal! This was the first time that our family…read moreenjoyed Georgian food, and we really loved it. We found this restaurant through the yelp reviews, and, as usual, the yelp wisdom of crowds was correct. The meal was absolutely delicious. Sorry, I can't remember the Georgian names of the dishes but the eggplant rolls filled with walnut paste, the bread with melted cheese and egg yolk and the lamb and potato stew were all great choices. The food tasted home-made, as if a grandmother had cooked for us with love in every bite. Lots of garlic - we love that. Washed down with a glass or dry red Georgian wine, a perfect pairing. We were fully satisfied with our main dishes so were not able to try dessert. Next time. The atmosphere was nice - tablecloths on the table, friendly service, not noisy. We will definitely come back next time we are in the Evanston area.

    3.5 stars because all the meat was dry…read more Very cute interior. Lots of space and they have a stage for entertainment. Service was so kind. They dont rush you at all. Large $16 or Small $9 Nigvziani Badrijani (Stuffed eggplant with walnut garlic paste) - liked this a lot! $24 Chkmeruli (Traditional Georgian - style oven backed chicken soaked in garlic creamy sauce served in a clay pan) - sauce was thinner than expected. Tasted really yummy! Yes garlicky but not overpowering. I love garlic so I wouldn't have been unhappy if it was more garlic forward. Chicken didn't soak the flavor as much as I expected so it needed sauce to get the flavor. Chicken a little dry. $25 Khinkali (Traditional Georgian dumplings with a twisted top, generously filled with your choice of spiced meat, cheese, or mushrooms, 5 Pieces) - loved these! My favorite dish. Expensive for 5 though, even though they are big. Meat was tender and flavorful. $25 Chakhokhbili (Traditional Georgian family style chicken dish with red peppers onions & herbs) - chicken was a little dry again. Flavors were mild, I was hoping for bold flavors. It was good just not what I expected. Perfect if you're looking for something more mild in flavor without any spice. $25 chicken Ojakhuri (Juicy marinated kabob pieces baked with potatoes and onions, seasoned with traditional Georgian spices and served sizzling in a rustic clay pan) - chicken a little dry again. Potato's were the winner here, garlicky and flavorful! Barely any onions. Price - expensive Portion - good portion, also keeping in mind price is high so it's good the portion is reasonable Service - great! Didn't check on us much though

    Photos
    Metekhi - Dining area

    Dining area

    Metekhi - Nigvziani Badrijani

    Nigvziani Badrijani

    Metekhi - Entertainment stage

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    Entertainment stage

    Jilly's Cafe - french - Updated September 2026

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