This is a very nice companion piece to the (also wonderful) Little Bad Wolf next door. The Good…read moreWolf allows reservations, the Bad one doesn't; the Good Wolf feels more relaxed and restaurant-y, while the Bad one is like a boisterous bar with great food. The place feels spacious, yet subdued, with very quick and responsive service. The food is quality, but not ostentatious - sandwiches, pasta, fish and chips, etc. I started with the delightful Charred Boulevardier (bourbon and orange), while my friend got a tasty THC drink. My friend said the pasta carbonara was amazing, and I went for the fish and chips (which is one of my favorite things to order and compare). The fish was done perfectly with an incredibly crispy batter, and the chips matched the amazing fries they have at Little Bad Wolf - crispy, slightly charred, and soft in the middle. Both the fish and chips were aggressively seasoned (which I like, but some may find it salty). The "tarter sauce" appeared to be a tarragon cream of some kind. Nice, but not really tarter sauce. And the small serving of cabbage/apple coleslaw was inoffensive and better than most places. I'll definitely be back.

Stopped in to The Good Wolf during Happy Hour and surprisingly there weren't many people!…read more That being said our service was very quick and the staff were lovely. I ordered the But a Dream cocktail and Steak Tartare. The cocktail was very refreshing and had a good level of sweetness to it. You could definitely taste the citrus flavors in it which I enjoyed. The steak tartare was also delicious and had a tasty lemon kind of sauce or marinade to balance out the flavors. I would love to come back to try out their full menu!

Very fun shotgun bar next to Lonesome Rose that was rocking 70s and 80s dance tracks on a Recent…read moreSaturday night. Excellent cocktails and complementary taxidermy

If I'd just stopped in for a drink or two, we would be fine. My rating would be a three or a four,…read moreand 'have a nice day.' Alas, my catchphrase being "I eat and I know things" means ordering food is a given. That was a mistake, but not as bad as whoever made the decisions behind the Heartbreaker Burger. Let me start with the good. I started with the M&M shot, a simple yet tasty, and not face-melting combo of mescal and Montenegro. I drink spirits neat, so YMMV, but something I wouldn't mind ordering again. Next, I tried the Vieux Carre: a solidly executed classic with balanced flavors and spirit-forward without going overboard. While the bevvies are not mind-blowing, the prices are low - In the year of our Lord 2026, $12-13 for a cocktail in Chicago is almost unheard of outside of happy hour. The vibe is old-timey and retro. Loads of wood, exposed brick, and wallpaper that your great aunt probably had. There are a few game-heads on the walls, for I guess great uncle likes to hunt. There is also a piece of art on the walls that, feels almost like it can go in a museum, but not quite. Let's say this: gentlemen, I would advise against brining a date here, lest you be tempted to look a little too long. Alas, we've now arrived at the abomination that is the, perhaps aptly named, Heartbreaker burger. To start, it was wrapped in foil and tasted through and through as though it's been sitting under a heater for at least an hour. The lettuce within had time to wilt due to the heat, making it go from a positive addition, past neutral, and into negative. The patty missed the mark: In this case, Smasburger applies to the thinness, and not at all to a roasty, crispy, Maillard-y consistency. Between the thin piece of strongly favored meat, and bun a little too large and dense, all other ingredients lost their presence. Further, If felt the burger was so bready, I removed the top bun and turned it into a fork and knife affair. I'm all for burgers getting wider, rather than only so tall one can't open their jaw so far, but not like this. Hardly worth mentioning are the sides of Tater Tots and Queso. Both weren't heartbreaking, but at the same time, wholly unremarkable. Felt as though I could easily beat these with a quick stop at Aldi. I've no complaints about the service. Since I came right around opening, it was very quiet. Still, I was well-taken care of, and things came out relatively quickly. Final verdict: Sweethearts Bar makes inexpensive, solid classic cocktails in a mostly retro vibe. However, the alleged-smashburger left a bad taste in my mouth, literally and figuratively, spoiling the experience. Would return?: Probably not. There was nothing on the menu that I couldn't easily and cheaply recreate myself. Would recommend?: Also probably not. If you're looking to catch up with a group in a space without a TV, Sweethearts and its cheap drinks aren't a bad deal. For all other cases, I would not recommend.

In honor of Women's History Month I would like to update my review of Nobody's Darling to state…read morethat the lovely owners of this fine establishment are still doing their thing. Nobody's Darling is not just to have a chat and cocktail, they offer quite a few events for folks to attend. Below are a few examples of the swinging times you can have there. In 2026 I am so happy that they are still in business and thriving. The vibe is still cool, the menu for the cocktails is still exciting and the crowd is eclectic. Wine Down Wednesday Unwind midweek with Happy Hour 5-7pm $7 glasses of wine $20 bottles Thursday: Pitch Your Peeps Help your friend find love (or vibes). Pitch them to the room - all relationship styles welcome. Feel Good Fridayz w/ DJ All The Way Kay Start the weekend right! Happy Hour 5-7pm DJ Kay live 8-11pm Sunday Karaoke All Day Happy Hour starting at 2pm Karaoke 5pm-8pm Sip.Sing. Repeat. Empanadas by De Luna Empanada 7pm-10pm DJ Gloria on the decks Cocktails flowing all night Friday, March 20 DJ Set 8-11PM

The drinks are always strong and creative. The people are stylish yet down to earth and friendly. I…read morelove going.

Enjoyed my drinks here. Very complex & sophisticated cocktails albeit a neighborhood bar feel to…read moreit. I briefly discussed the bartenders "r&d" stuff currently in development why also challenging him to go off script for a custom cocktail that was delicious. Small but mighty & the price point for these types of cocktails is unheard of these days. I'll be returning asap to delve further into the menu but as of now this is a high priority for cocktail aficionados such as myself.

So... I'd parked my scooter on my way to Elixir, and couldn't help but notice The Nook as I was…read morewalking towards the entrance. After my drink next door, I would be remiss if I didn't stop in. What I got was one of the more unique and interesting cocktails I'd tried! It was the Sick Day, and while I don't command the English language or my palate enough to do it justice, I can tell you that it was definitely a great sipper. The absinthe mist, despite being just that, has a way of doing that. I want to give some credit to the service. While the bar was shorthanded at the time, the barman on duty did his very best as a one-man show. Can't fault them too much, someone calls out sick last minute, and that's that. However, if there is something I can hold against them it's the heat! I'm not sure why, but the upon coming in, the place was HOT! After settling in, it became more bearable, but this is the kind of thing that sometimes persuades me to leave before I order anything.

Delicious cocktails, romantic and cozy environment…read more Great first or second date spot. Live music and all kinds of age groups and vibes. It's my go-to spot.

What a cool place! We visited this former pharmacy turned bar for an after dinner drink. I wasn't…read moreexpecting all that much but the inside is so cool, service was great, and the drinks were fantastic! They even had a live jazz band playing this particular night which was a really nice surprise. We sat ourselves at one of the tables since the bar was all full. The bartender was nice enough to come round to us to take our orders instead of us having to go up to the bar. I ordered one of the seasonal specialty drinks called "Stache". It was cachaca, pistachio orgeat, lemon, meletti, and cherry bark vanilla bitters. I love pistachio and I love amaro so it seemed like a good direction for me to go in. The presentation wasn't much but I was really pleased with the flavor! It was one of those drinks I had to force myself not to chug because it was that drinkable. All my friends seemed to like their drinks too. We were only here for an hour or so but I'd definitely return the next time I'm in Chicago.

We came here for a wine tasting and it was crazy how good everything was. They really do have a…read morebroad and unusual selection. Unfortunately I didn't eat nearly enough but I got some oysters and they were great. There's a nice outdoor seating area and the inside is very cozy and dimly lit.

Brining my review down a star. Here is why - I've had slow service here every time since my first…read morevisit. The wait staff has good personality, but that doesn't make up for the amount of time it takes to get a glass of wine or a loaf of bread around here. I don't love the summer menu choices and at my last visit many of the menu options that I tried to order were sold out. This was mid dinner service on a week day when it wasn't even busy. The wine I had on my first visit hasn't been available, and they don't always have a comparable sparkling Red available. Uvae is great, just not a 5 star experience.

Gorgeous curved wooden bar, excellent cocktails. Cool staff, laid back vibes. Decent music,…read moreyou'll hear Bowie if you're lucky. Mostly high tops, but some lounge furniture in the back. Wheelchair accessible bathroom.

The Getaway is a bona fide gem if ever I've seen one! With fantastic drinks at great prices, this…read moreis a spot you don't want to miss. It's pretty unassuming on the outside and easy to miss if you're not looking for it. The vibe kind of sits somewhere in between a dive bar and cocktail lounge. Definitely unique and a great lowkey spot to unwind either with friends or solo. They have a fantastic happy hour on weekdays with half off all drinks. The menu is a quality over quantity situation, featuring a pretty small but super interesting and unique selection. On this visit, I tried the cocorococonut cocktail, which had a very interesting blend of coconut, lemongrass, and lychee. It was super refreshing, not at all too sweet, and aesthetically very pretty. I wish I could've tried more of the menu, but I'll just say that the pours are generous! Overall, I had a great experience and highly recommend paying a stop!

Mao bar definitely lives up to its name!…read more Mao in Thai means drunk...but don't worry if you aren't looking to get smashed you can most definitely still have a fab time in the neighborhood! This is located inside Immm Rice & Beyond. It use to be BYOB but since they've received their liquor license they have pumped up their drink options. I love the fun cocktails with the unique housemade infusions. My fave is the "Cool Water" with a smoky and spicy kick that leaves a slight tingle to your lips! They also have a really tasty mocktail called Pinky in Love with lovely fruit notes- as well as a CBD cocktail and a variety of fun southeast Asian fruit drinks like Longan. On Friday and Saturday the bar stays open later with a limited kitchen menu. Great spot to meet up with friends and chat the night away. Service is attentive and friendly. Street parking is available.

The ambiance at Mao Bar was very cute and welcoming. Bartender Leow was pretty fantastic , the…read moredrinks were very delicious and balanced. The sticky rice, the rice tasted like jasmine and it was mushier than regular sticky rice would be, I would've preferred extra coconut sauce on the side to pour over my dessert but I could've asked. Either way just had drinks and dessert, it was a nice experience.