How anyone could rank this amazing preserved piece of Chicago history below 4 or 5 stars is beyond…read moreme. Seriously ... this was the best thing I did while visiting Chicago. It took 20 minutes and $25 each way to Uber there from my hotel in downtown Chicago, as it is 6 miles away. However, totally worth it. Yes ... it's cash only. That's a bit of a bummer. I'd rather pay a surcharge than trust the sketchy little ATM in the bar. Yes ... It's 'lived in'. I wouldn't call it dirty as much as it is worn. To me, this was part of the charm. It's been around since the 1920's and probably looks very similar to how it did in the 1940's. Dark, dingy and fun. Most of the mafia in Chicago didn't hang out downtown. This area is where their HQ was and where most of them congregated in the same way NY's mafia hung out in Bensonhurst instead of Manhattan. The area has a lot of vintage architecture and history, despite being a little more run down and 'authentic' than the more touristy downtown. I went on a Friday around 3:30 p.m. Already, the back seating area was full of people, however there were a few bar seats left in the front. An hour later, it was packed. They start charging a $20 (cash only) cover at 7 p.m. for the live band. Before that was a jazz organist, who was pretty good and a master at working the crowd. They have draft beer ($6 - $10) ... bottled beer ... and booze. My Old Fashioned was made with muddled orange and cherries and only cost $12. A gin and tonic was $9. It can be tough to get a drink because the one bartender works the entire bar. Nice guy though. Don't come here expecting anything other than a dive bar ... there is nothing modern about this place. However, it has one of the best vintage vibes I've honestly ever encountered in a jazz bar. Don't miss out on seeing this bar and hearing some music, even if it means having to Uber or drive. It will be worth the trip. There aren't many places around like this anymore.

Ever since I came back from a trip to NOLA a couple years ago (and subsequently moved to Chicago),…read moreI've been looking for a place like Green Mill. A spot where someone could walk in, maybe order a drink, and listen to some music without first opening Ticketmaster and shelling out half your paycheck to their junk fees. Some of their performances are free, and some have a reasonable cover of $10-20. There are also performances every night, sometimes even in the afternoon. The vibe inside is dimly lit and very old-timey. Even the bathroom had a bar of soap! I haven't seen a bar outside of a private residence! For sure, the vibe fits the history. Green Mill used to be a spot visited by Big Al himself. Yes, there are still connected tunnels used by the mob, no, you cannot see them. In terms of the bar, do not expect anything special. Their menu is limited to the beers, wines, and champagnes they have. They have spirits, but no cocktail menu - while they *might* be able to mix something simple like a Manhattan, be prepared for basic drinks along the lines of a gin & tonic. The service was fine, but a little abrupt. Not the best welcoming or inviting, but gruff and surly in a way that is probably cute to regulars, but less so to newcomers like myself. Final verdict: Green Mill is a place one comes for the music and the vibe and to get away from life for a little bit. It appears to be a third place for many regulars. It's worth giving a shot, as long as one is ready for an experience that's a little rough around the edges, arguably by design.

This is a nice, dimly lit lounge tucked in Andersonville with great drinks and food! We tried their…read moreseasonal Peachy Green and RHU-mance drinks, and they were really good. The Peachy Green reminded me of a green tea shot in drink form, perfect for spring and summer. I got my favorite mac and cheese with crispy chicken, and my friend got Brussels for her appetizer, which were delicious. For our entrees, we had the teriyaki burger and shrimp tacos. They were pretty good, just get a side of teriyaki if you love sauce like I do. We ended the night with a cookie skillet and brownie, perfect! Chris was an amazing server, can't wait to return.

Another fantastic cocktail bar! The drinks here are unique, interesting, and nuanced…read more I'd ordered the Sage Society, and it took slowing down, but I did detect the light whisper of Ancho Reyes. It was also approachable, lightly herbaceous, with a little sweetness and acid. Between us, was this among my favorites? No. However, this is more a matter of personal taste than something technically or otherwise wrong. I prefer cocktails that are bolder and more spirit forward. My advice is to talk to your bartender and find something you will enjoy most. To help not drink on an empty stomach, I ordered the Crispy Shrimp Tacos. As far as bar (gastropub?) food, these were extremely respectable. The shrimp was cooked very well, and the use of greens and onions helped offer a balance and freshness. As a note, the space inside is small and intimate, and I've no complaints about the service. Final verdict: If you're looking for a unique cocktail, in a small and intimate space, the Elixir Lounge fits the bill. The menu has a couple food options too, so you won't be drinking on an empty stomach.

I love visiting this place with friends that come from out of town and because our friend Barbie…read moreworks there and is always so good to us when we visit. So we went this past Friday night with our group of friends visiting from Texas. Lizzie and her parents enjoyed the 9:30pm performance, and our friend David and Lisa joined us too. As always, the performance and experience performers were very intertwining. This is definitely a great place to celebrate birthdays, bachelor's, and Bachelorette parties. I was happy to say hello to the owner and our friend Barbie. Please come one night for the food and drinks and most of all for the show you won't be disappointed at all. Parking is a little hard, so plan ahead because there are other theaters nearby. We Uber here so that we can drink and be responsible and safe.

A friend and I went here last night…read more I wouldn't recommend it at all. The performers overall were just meh. It was entirely over-priced for what it is. $15 cover charge per person plus there's a 2 drink minimum ($12-15 per drink for weak rail drinks) with an 18% automatic gratuity. You're also expected to tip every single time a new performer comes around for each song. If it was top notch performers, I'd have no problem at all with this but overall, they were ok to meh to just not good. The worst thing about this place though and what really even prompted me to leave a review at all was our server. She was horrible and flat out rude! She came around after about 35 minutes and asked if we would like another drink. We replied "We're good for now. Thank you." And she snapped back, "You need to buy two drinks each. There's a 2 drink minimum." We were like, "Umm, ok. When we finish these drinks we'll order another one." And after she walked away my friend and I both looked at each other and were like, "WTF was her problem?" ZERO customer service skills. Uhh, maybe inform us of that fact without being a complete female dog? I have no problem with a two drink minimum and we planned on getting another drink anyway, but when we're not quite ready for our next drink, don't treat us like a misbehaved child and scold us. She could have simply stated, "Just to let you know, there is a two drink minimum per person. Just let me know when you're ready for your next round," or something similar that didn't scold or reprimand us. Her bad attitude just really pissed me off. When ordering our second round of drinks, I had ordered a long island iced tea. She brought me the wrong drink. So in addition to her attitude, her attention to detail also sucked. I said nothing and just drank it as it was a screwdriver, which I ordered the first round. But to be rude and bad at your job? Truly check yourself, lady. We're customers who did nothing wrong. Can you maybe put forth a single ounce of effort to not be such a See You Next Tuesday? The second star is for the effort that 4/5 of the queens at least put forth. Overall, save your money and go somewhere else or just stay home and use the money to order take out.

Aside from RPS being a 5 minute walk from us it's the cutest little neighborhood bar around. The…read moredrinks rotate with the season and the bartenders are knowledgable and really friendly. They offer outdoor covered patio seating and indoors is a little dark but it fits with the general vibe. Drinks are 10/10! Definitely stop by if you're in the neighborhood!

I Had A Very Disappointing Experience At Rogers Park Social. I Am Currently Dealing With Back…read moreIssues And Was Unable To Sit Comfortably In The High-Top Chair At Our Table. I Politely Asked The Waitress Whether I Could Switch One Chair So I Could Sit Comfortably. Rather Than Offering A Simple Solution, She Abruptly Told Me That She Could Not Accommodate The Request. We Then Respectfully Asked The Guests At The Nearby Table Whether They Were Using The Chair, And They Kindly Confirmed That They Were Not. We Moved It To Our Table Without Disrupting Anyone, And The Waitress Did Not Raise Any Concern Afterward. That Made The Initial Refusal Especially Frustrating. This Was A Small, Reasonable Request That Would Have Had No Impact On Other Guests Or The Staff. Instead, I Was Made To Feel Like An Inconvenience. It Was Also A Sunday Evening When The Venue Was Not Crowded At All. After The Initial Interaction, Our Server Never Came Back To Check On Our Table Or Ask Whether We Wanted To Order Additional Drinks. The Bartender Eventually Had To Come Out From Behind The Bar To See If We Needed Anything. For A Group Of Five, That Level Of Attentiveness Was Disappointing. A Venue That Promotes Itself As Welcoming And Accommodating Should Be Prepared To Make Basic Seating Adjustments For Guests With Mobility, Injury, Or Back-Related Concerns And Should Provide Consistent Service Throughout The Visit. Based On Our Experience, We Will Not Be Returning.

We have been to Elixir a few times and it is always a great choice for unique and delicious…read morecocktails! It is a cozy little bar with dim lighting perfect for a date night drink. The bartenders are always very friendly and check in often which is always appreciated. You're always immediately given little pretzels to snack on which I love as a unique touch. This time we both chose a more standard cocktail, but they also always have very unique and delicious seasonal cocktails which are always amazing! I would definitely recommend Elixir to anyone looking for a spot to grab a quick and delicious cocktail!

On our first night in Boystown, Jamie W and I were pretty overwhelmed by the crowds at Sidetrack…read moreand Roscoe's, so we ended up coming here to make Jamie's virginal gay bar debut. It was the right move because it had the kind of chill vibe we were seeking after a long flight from SFO. Fortunately there were two seats at the bar with our names on them. Figuratively speaking. They had quite a signature cocktail list on hand, and we felt it was our obligation to try as many as we could. At least that was what we said to ourselves as the evening wore on. Each cocktail was $14. We started with a couple of familiar libations. Jamie ordered the Mint Julep, a delightfully Deep South mix of bourbon, simple syrup, and fresh mint (photo: https://yelp.to/u-td8LdPLj). I went further south with the Pineapple Margarita which was emboldened by a tropically potent mix of pineapple infused tequila, lime juice, and agave (photo: https://yelp.to/V-Sf6Q_2qK). We got a bit bolder with our second round and found mixed results. Jamie had the Not Your Mom's Daiquiri which amped up the margarita by blending pineapple-infused tequila with Bacardi 8-year rum. Along with fresh lime and simple syrup, this one definitely had more of a kick (photo: https://yelp.to/1ZijDf6wMV). However, my order, the Pontiac Pony, was a spicy miss for me. It was a rather oddball mix of apple-cinnamon infused vodka, pear liqueur, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and ginger beer (photo: https://yelp.to/5dQoFdzG98). There was just a harshness that didn't sit well on my tongue. Oh well, the mellow vibe was cool. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...three out of four cocktails were aces, just one clinker AMBIANCE - 4 stars...very chill, fairly quiet for Boystown SERVICE - 4 stars...cool bartenders TOTAL - 4 stars...check it out when you take a break from your Boystown cruising RELATED - Exploring Chicago? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/44c4CZO

I lived in Miami for 6 years and these are the best empanadas I've ever had. Really nice service…read moreand great vibe

The spot for incredible argentinean baked good sandwhichitos and empanadas. Fun vibrant atmosphere…read moreand the most authentic place to watch an Argentina Game. Vamos vamos seleccion!!!

Got to visit Guild Row and their new LTO ("LIMITED TIME ONLY") which is a patio bar and restaurant…read more LTO features Po'Boy, Wine, Live Music and soft serve ice cream. This restaurant is only available for a limited time through the summer months of 2024. We were fortunate to attend an After Party Popup sponsored by Motorshucker with complimentary food samples and wine from Regalis & Cream. We were able to divulge in some yummy caviar (Regalis Ostera Noir) and oysters. In addition to some lite bites of salami, meats, cheeses and peppers. These all came from Regalis and were delicious. I would definitely like to try their full size charcuterie board this summer. I may even try to order some charcuterie meats and cheeses from Regalis. They were premium quality. LTO also had for purchase their full menu. We ordered the Catfish Po Boy and Kettle Chips. Very impressed with this sandwich. They did a good job of frying the fish and the hoagie bread was perfect. The kettle chips compliment the sandwich. The Raventos i Blanc was the favorite wine tasted on this occasion. Guild Row itself is very cute co-working space. Lots of tables, couches and comfy areas to work. This space serves also as a social club. I could see how combining the two are a perfect pair. The members only lounge had a full service bar: liquor, wine, and beer. Our evening was awesome. We enjoyed the sounds of the live music, the divine smells coming from the fire pit. Would definitely consider a membership as a person that WFH and will be on the look out for more opportunities to visit LTO (no membership needed).

I wish more people knew about how amazing Guild Row is! My husband and I sort of stumbled upon it…read moreone afternoon. They have a huge outdoor patio, and we decided to eat lunch there. What a calming space - both indoors and outdoors. There are plenty of tables to sit and do work. There are numerous outlets outside so that your devices will never die on you! The bar opens at 3pm. We were there earlier so we grabbed an espresso and enjoyed the sunshine. The patio is dog-friendly! I can't wait to go back this week and get some work done!

Ginger martinis are excellent. As are most the other cocktails. Fries are crack. Burger is delish…read more Great music, great service, great quality. You will pay though! Worth it!

Nice cocktail bar with food and fast service. We sat on the patio and got drinks within 5 minutes…read more The cocktails are great. This is a more upscale experience and the price reflects it. Bumpin music and lively crowd. In my fiancé's words, he calls wangs "Zany, robust, timeless" Ps the scent of crab rangoons from other tables will make you order some too.