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.

Many unique cocktail options, each well thought out and balanced. Presentation and temperature were…read morewell attended to. The indoor area was quite small, but that didn't lose any issues to our experience. This place is more conducive to couples rather than groups. The outdoor area provides tables that could fit up to 4 people.

Very intriguing cocktails. This is definitely what a $30 drink should be & taste like. I was…read moredisappointed that "pie for breakfast" was out of stock because breakfast cereal bourbon just sounds awesome. Best drinks I've had by far in or near Evanston. I'll definitely be back. Where they shine is balanced ingredients. No single item can be detected. I think they're capable of even more & id like to see more experimental things.

I was here last week for a special event (this time one I didn't organize and just got to attend as…read morea guest), and it was great as always. The food is delicious (the event I was at had a taco bar, chips and guac, and a few desserts), the drink list is amazing (including a few great mocktails), and the space works really well for either private parties or just hanging out with friends. Five and Dime never disappoints. And for those who do have to plan events for stuff, F&D is great. I had happy hours here for new students in 2018, 2019, and 2022 (post-pandemic), and it was a smooth and enjoyable process each time.

Five & Dime, Lulu's, Taco Diablo, and Blue Horse Tavern have become my go-to spots for everything…read morefrom casual dinners to hosting out-of-town guests. The food is consistently delicious, and there's always something that hits the spot no matter what I'm craving. A few standouts I keep coming back to: Bang Bang Shrimp Ribs Salmon with Delallo pepper drops French Dip Enchiladas Verdes Whether I dine in or order on Uber Eats, it always arrives fresh and well-made (rare these days!). And in good weather, nothing beats Five & Dime's rooftop -- easily one of the best places in Evanston to enjoy a relaxed, fun meal outdoors. Friendly service, great variety, and reliably fantastic food!

Each barista makes your experience special. 5 stars to every one of them. I return for the…read morefriendliness and professionalism of the baristas. I miss the old pastries though.

About a 1-1.5: Evanston Pour is a popular coffee spot in the Evanston 'hood - we came here to get…read morea caffeine fix, and ordered: +the Cookie Butter Latte - prepared with cookie butter syrup and milk; I did request this to be extra hot, but it was served lukewarm +a Latte with almond milk - also served lukewarm +an Almond Croissant +and, a Scone The coffee was just not strong, and the fact that it was served lukewarm was a total no. The pastries were just okay, but could have been more fresh and/or warmed up. Staff was friendly, and the place also offers cocktails/other alcoholic beverages. Seating is available, but somewhat uncomfortable; not much of a place where you can do work or study. Metered street parking can be found in the area. +lukewarm, weak coffee +metered street parking

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

Great drinks and no douchy "bro" energy to be found anywhere. I love this bar. The staff is so…read morefriendly and the vibe of the entire experience was very appealing. It's thought of as a gay bar and clearly that's a lot of the clientele, but all are welcome. Cocktails are delicious and run about $15 each. Pretty standard pricing. They have a good selection of n/a drinks and a menu for lower alcohol cocktails as well. Great neighborhood bar

A clean, well lighted space, they have live music play on weekend nights (and perhaps weekday?)…read more We stopped in one Friday night to listen to jazz and drink cocktails. The cocktails are good, especially the Oat Fashioned and the Toranto.

Take Flight Spirits is such a fun and unique spot with truly delicious drink options. I personally…read morelove the Dirty Hippie (a dirty chai with rum) or the Hibiscus Daiquiri. Both drinks are fantastic, depending on your mood. They offer some snacks for purchase, but one of the best parts is that you're welcome to bring your own food, making it a great place to hang out without feeling limited. It's the perfect place to meet up with friends, catch a live performance, enjoy trivia night, or check out one of their many other events. Their website has an updated list of what's coming up, which makes planning easy. Adding to the ambience, you'll find a few tables that are actually chalk board tables so you can draw or play games on the chalkboard tables if you want. It's so fun! The staff has always been kind, welcoming, and great at crafting drinks. Take Flight Spirits is definitely one of my favorite local spots!

The recent buildout here is impressive, adding a large lobby & bar, a patio behind it, and modern,…read morefully accessible bathrooms. The main music room remains unchanged with its stage and its bar. They do have Woodford Reserve, a nice touch for my fancy Noble Bourbon Boozers. With the new setup, you can start one tab and its accessible from both bars, and from waitstaff, if the show is seated and they are present. Its a small room, great to see a show. Its also very ADA friendly, with a reserved space right up front for GA shows, and designated seats during seated space shows. Email the box office a couple days in advance with any questions.

My favorite concert venue on the North Shore of Chicago. It seats around 150 and most shows have an…read moreoption of table or general admission. The sound quality is fantastic and the staff is very friendly. It also gives off an intimate concert vibe because you feel like the artists are right there (they actually are!).

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.

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.

Still love this place. We come here for trivia almost every time they have it. Vibes are always…read moreimmaculate. We always run into the owner and his family, and he's super nice. The patio is incredible. Last night we lost (after winning the previous time, but it's good to be humbled on occasion lol). But, I thoroughly enjoyed my free grilled cheese sandwich that I won as our previous trivia night prize. Sandwiches really are their specialty. Perfectly greasy, and the caramlized onions and spinach really elevated it. Another person in our group had the turkey on a pretzel bun and said it was amazing. Also, a great range of drink options. Always a good time, and I'm excited to come to one of their mahjong gatherings, since I recently learned how to play.

We stopped by the Fat Shallot on a whim. I had the turkey sandwich, which came on a very fresh,…read moresoft pretzel roll bun with lots of greens. The fish tacos were very good too and had two large pieces of fish! Worth trying if you're debating between options. The staff at the counter gave great recommendations. We went on a weekday afternoon and there were few people there. It's a good spot to hang out and relax without feeling rushed. The decor is fun and cutesy, with dried flowers at the tables. Would definitely go back if I'm in the area again.

Upscale Spanish restaurant in the heart of Evanston to impress any foodie! Ambiance was beautiful…read moreinside with modern feel from the decor to the decorative plates on the table. We came on a rainy weekend with our parents and it was relatively quiet, in contrast to the other reviews we got lucky in that regard as it wasn't crowded. Street parking was easy to locate with minimal issues. Service was exceptional from the friendly staff to the beautiful playing of each dish, you can tell they take attention to detail seriously. Food and drinks definitely appeased us on the quality of the ingredients and the well seasoned protein dishes. I had their fish tacos and was perfectly satisfied with it as well as the caipirinha that was well crafted by the bartender. For dessert, we opted for the tres leches cake which was not setup how it is traditionally made but we enjoyed the experience.

The food was mediocre! Chicken was tasteless and had the texture of rubber. Service was very slow…read more Chips were greasy.