I'm not sure that I've ever had a bad experience at Spirit Elephant. The handcrafted cocktails and…read moremocktails are always refreshing and flavorful and the presentation of the drinks, as well as the food is always photo-worthy. I always look forward to the seasonal rotation of menu items, as I know the ingredients will be fresh and in season, and I love looking forward to new dishes. I absolutely adore Spirit Elephant and have loved making this my go-to spot in Winnetka. I have had Meet Up events, girls brunches and date nights here, and always enjoy the experience. I've honestly been here more times than I can count. My omnivore friends are always pleasantly surprised once they've been officially introduced to the magic of Spirit Elephant. I've loved watching all of the small changes over the years, and have appreciated that the quality of the food and handcrafted cocktails has never changed. I have raved of the patio in the past, but they've since done two major upgrades, and I love spending weekend afternoons with a group of friends during the warmer months on their patio even more. The staff is phenomenal, and I appreciate that I always know my server will have an excellent recommendation whenever I stop in (I mean, you truly cannot go wrong with anything that you order).

Always a treat! Finally made it to happy hour just tinder the wire. We tried the bao buns and poke…read morenachos - both were amazing. The tofu in the bao buns was so crispy and delicious that my carnivore friend said tasted just like pork belly. Having never had pork belly, I was happy that to me it tasted like tofu since I love tofu. The poke nachos were a bit spicy for me but flavorful and delicious. Again, my friend thought it really tasted like tuna. My friend wanted to split the steak which I thought wasn't their strongest dish because it tasted more processed and not like lovely tofu nor like meat. But for those who enjoy vegan steaks, it was quite flavorful and moist. The potatoes were so fluffy and crispy. But not my fav of their dishes. As always the manager, Jordan, comes by and makes us feel like VIPs, laughing and treating us like old friends. And the whole team works together smoothly. Being surrounded by plants with perfect warm lighting makes the ambiance just as wonderful as the food itself.

Bar is nice and the bartender was very friendly loved my experience for a great value meal and…read moretasted amazing

sat at a bar high top for two right across from the bar. Tuesday at 6:30 - not busy. The bartender…read moreand our server paid no attention to us. he had a conversation with someone, made a drink or two, but never even looked our way. when a young lady came in and sat at the bar, he immediately waited on her. that's when we left.

Great pizza! Amazing ambience! Frito misto cannot be missed!…read more I actually loved everything we ordered! Such a gem of a place ! Can't wait to go back

The outdoor patio was beautiful. Food was pretty good, nothing special but still solid. Service was…read moregreat. Everything was on time and server was warm-hearted.

We were out and about and stopped in for a quick lunch on the outside patio at 501…read more Our waitress was Brooke and she was both very pleasant and attentive. We split the Angus burger and the Ceasar side salad. The burger came with an ample amount of nicely seasoned fries so it was a near perfect lunch split for two. The patio is noteworthy - it's lovely and has plenty of greenery and space. All in all a great lunch option in downtown Winnetka.

I came in solo to 501 Local on a Monday in July. I had a couple of menu questions, but…read moreunfortunately, the server's response left me feeling a bit inadequate and unsure about my choices. While the service wasn't terrible, it didn't create the most welcoming vibe, especially for a solo diner. I was unaware that it was half-price burger night--this related to my open ended question to the server. The food was decent, but nothing to write home about. I can see 501 Local being a great spot for locals but as an out-of-towner, I'm not sure I'd prioritize it. The atmosphere didn't leave me eager to return. The half-price burger night idea is nice, but its 20 bucks. Overall, I'd come back only if a companion's preferences lined up with what 501 Local offers. It's a spot for locals, but not for travelers passing through.

I wanted to try a new Mexican place as opposed to some of the usual places I've tried and stuck…read morewith very often. This place delivered in flavor and would definitely try again. I started with the guacamole, which I got spicy, and the shrimp soup. The guacamole had good balance and texture, but I didn't get a lot of spice from the flavor that I requested. The shrimp soup had a nice, spicy broth with well cooked shrimp. However, I would have liked the shrimp to be more abundant and chopped up. Also would've liked to see some more substance in the soup such as avocado or maybe some corn. The entrees is where it really stood out. The steak burrito was flavorful and the steak was tender and the ratio of steak, cheese, beans, and other fixings were perfectly executed. The enchiladas were delicious as well with the mole sauce having an exceptional flavor and spice. Beans and rice that came with the enchiladas and burritos were both good and cooked well. The tres leches cake was outstanding! The balance of sweetness and the tart berries layered in the cake gave great texture as most tres leches cakes can sometimes be one dimensional. The cake is a MUST if you come here. Delicious Mexican food here, a nice change for me to try, and I will be back.

6:30 reservation but they were completely overbooked and overwhelmed. Multiple other parties…read morewaiting as well with no manager in sight. Poor kid at the front didn't know what to do and decided it was better to just go back to the kitchen and hide. Put me down for GuanaNOTo!

Specifically made a reservation, and upon arrival our table was not ready for 10 mins. Not sure why…read morethis happened. Forced to wait in bar area which was high traffic and we were shuffled around. Not fond of our server's humor/attitude - felt a little uncomfortable. My medium rare steak was rare and I asked for it to be cooked me more. He kept asking are u sure in a condescending way, to which I replied yes, this is raw according to the high end steak houses I've been to. Yummy food though. Sucks hospitality is lacking here. Prob won't be back. Heard the bartenders are lovely people though.

4 stars overall, but the food/drink is probably 3.5 - beautifully presented but composition is…read moreinconsistent . Nice ambiance that's casual enough to feel comfortable bringing my kids, but upscale enough for the evening to feel like a nice night out. Loved the appies - we got the cauliflower hummus and deviled eggs - highly recommend both. As for entrees, chicken sandwich was perfectly fried crispy with not too much breading, on a biscuit. Fries were just ok. They were unfortunately out of the schnitzel I wanted to try so I had the halibut special instead. The fish was perfectly cooked, but the composition of the fish was rather confusing - the lobster bisque-like sauce was fantastic on its own, but overpowered the delicate halibut. The crispy yuca strips went perfectly with the fish, but the dish was finished off with lots of shishito peppers - again, way too overpowering. I would have preferred a much subtler vegetable. Kids Mac and cheese was fantastic, with a hint of what I think was thyme. The drink list was heavily spirit -forward. I ended up getting a sangria which was good, but my husband thought the old fashioned was terrible. The balance of spirit vs bitters was completely off, plus it was served over tiny ice instead of a large cube. To top it all off, the cherry was muddled.

OK place...Easy parking...Totally old school, which has its charm. Very nice wait staff. Food…read moreserved on styrofoam plates. Wine is mediocre. Hostess was grouchy/ a bit aggressive.

Truly a sundown town type of bar. Terrible service. Mediocre food. Hard pass on my end.read more

I went to Guildhall for brunch on a Sunday. We ordered the cinnamon roll, shakshuka with a side of…read moresausage, and the omelette. Everything tasted fresh and delicious! The cinnamon roll was surprisingly moist (we were skeptical due to its appearance) and sweet! The restaurant is bright and the service was very friendly. There was a nice mix of customers and there was even a party going on while we were there. I don't remember when I was last in Glencoe. It's charming! I'd love to come back for dinner or happy hour.

The inside of this restaurant is beautiful! You can also order sushi and Japanese food. There are…read moretwo restaurants that share the kitchen. I really liked the mushroom toast. Lots of unique mushroom and the creamy white sauce was delicious! The spinach ravioli was also delicious! each ravioli was stuffed. The service was attentive. We waited around 25 min for our food on a Saturday night. It's nearby the botanical gardens.

Great service and fantastic prices Very knowledgeable owner…read moreand very helpful Recommended

Whether you are a wine expert or not, this place is excellent! The staff is extremely knowledgable…read moreof the nuances of various wines. The selection is vast, and while there are expensive, aged wines, there are also many great selections under $40. The store is also very well organized, so if you are looking for a certain type of red wine, country of origin, etc., you will quickly be able to find what you need. If not, the staff quickly point you in the right direction. Love this place!

Fun neighborhood bar atmosphere. Plenty of TVs. They had my favorite beer, Yuengling Lager, on…read moretap. Our waiter was extremely attentive. Husband had the prime rib sandwich and I had the half Rueben and clam chowder. The prime rib sandwich was cooked exactly to his liking, medium rare. The bread held up nicely against the juicy meat. The chowder was delicious!! Clearly made from scratch with a perfect amount of cracked black pepper. I have to admit that I am a bit of a Rueben snob but this place did not disappoint! Finally a cook who is not afraid of adding sauerkraut to a Rueben!! We will be back!

Hit or miss whether you get amazing service or subpar. Reasonably priced food/drinks, but take that…read moreprice with a grain of salt. Ton of food options. Always pretty packed on a weekend. Cc surcharge added to bill. One of those places you just have to keep returning to!