I loved everything about this. I'll save you a long read. Get the chicken and pearl waffle. I can't even explain how good this was. I had low expectations and was blown away. It was the perfect size too. Service was great. I came for brunch and it was a bit slow for a Sunday at 11 but it was good. Definitely a nice spot to have a casual brunch. The interior is also super gorgeous. Please head on over! read more

Cute & classy! Messler definitely falls within the "grown & sexy" genre of bars. It's located in Hyde Park, a personal fave Chicago neighborhood, and it fits the vube perfectly. The menu is generous, though there aren't many options for vegetarians, so be aware of that. The cocktail menu has some creative takes on the classics, and you can't go wrong with the house margaritas. If you're looking for a good date night spot, I'd definitely recommend a visit. read more

The service was very good! The people are nice even while waiting. I will say the ambiance is very calming and classy !! The music was really great and I love that it wasn't too loud or too low! The food was pretty tasty, I had the shrimp and grits! I want to return outside of brunch hours so I can try more things on the menu! read more

Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge - Shrimp 'N Grits - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been to Mesler a number of times and the food is always good. The ambiance is relaxed with nice lighting. The appetizers are a bit expensive in my opinion, but the $18 for the crispy cauliflower is definitely worth it. We ordered two appetizers and two entrees and the tab was over $90. Service is good, location is easy to find. Overall a good experience. read more

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Fancy hotel bar in Hyde park. Very elegant. Drinks are a little expensive but they are mixed really well. Definitely a high class place that you would hang out with good friends or to go out on a date. The chicken salad was good. The chicken is juicy and tender. The salad itself isn't bad but not exceptional as I have tried at other fine dining places. But overall it was a pleasant experience. I give it 5 stars. read more

Had a flirty Friday at Mesler! Alejandro made sure our glasses were always full. I started the first week of Dry January with a sweet & spirited non-alcoholic drink - a nice start to the night that got even better when the lights dimmed. Opted for the 5th Ward burger, & oh, that brioche bun was soft, buttery, & slightly toasted. Swapped fries for a house salad, a bit oily but hey, we love a little extra flavor. Pro tip: The bathroom art is a whole vibe for cute pics, so dress to impress & snap a few selfies with your bestie. Enjoy! read more

Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge - 5th Ward Burger with House Salad - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great ambiance, great service, great experience. I would go back when I visit Chicago again.

Came here for a birthday. The food was okay wasn't the best. Looks nice in the inside very clean also has a hotel connected i believe. read more

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Taking a star off for service we were seated for 12 entire minutes without water or anything but honestly it wasn't their fault! It seemed like they were short staffed. Now that being said the food was incredible!! Everything came out warm, flavorful and quickly! The ambiance of the place is great as it's in a super stunning hotel lobby! Have gone back twice now! The Cesar salad is the best I've ever had and the burger is within the top 5, also the pancakes are EVERYTH read more

Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am in Hyde Park 2day and decided to try this spot b4 I start my day. Upon entering the host greeted me, kinda friendly and then sat me down plus my guest. The carpet under the table was very dirty. The decor was vibrant, decent. I knew what I wanted already so I was ready to order. The host stated the server would be with me shortly. Hmmmm what's shortly? The server was laughing loudly with the other servers for 8 minutes and only came to the table afterwards when I decided I was going to patronize another establishment. She asked me guest if we were leaving.... read more

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The service at this place has really declined. In the first few years after they opened, everything-- from the service to the food--was excellent. However, during my last three visits in the past couple of months, I've been disappointed each time. The short bartender, a Black woman, had a bad attitude and barely paid attention to us. Additionally, our other waiter was very forgetful and didn't realize we were waiting to order drinks for 40 minutes. The Mesler has also introduced an automatic 18% gratuity on the bill, which I believe may discourage staff from putting in effort for better service. They've removed the crab cake from the menu and significantly increased the price of the cauliflower, which feels like they are taking advantage of customers. Overall, I don't feel the need to return. I would much rather go to Virtue for drinks and great food. On a positive note, Alan the bartender is always a pleasure! read more

So disappointed I am in the food AND service from this past Friday night's visit to Mesler in Hyde Park. The menu prices increased from those confirmed at the time we ordered, with an $8 item + crispy cauliflower at $18 resulting in a $46 bill ( ! ), and no manager available to address the issue. Service was extremely slow, with two additions of extra time to our parking meter resulting, and we had to go before the bill issue could be resolved. read more

Nice bar, inside and out. Especially outside because it sit off the main seat and there was plenty of seating. However, would recommend trying it on a week day ... haven't been on the weekend but wonder if it gets crowded. Lowkey elegant with a more sophisticated vibe. read more

This is my spot! Came here Friday afternoon. It's the kind of place where you see casually beautiful people but without the ostentatious displays I typically associate with Miami or Los Angeles. We were seated in the shaded courtyard and service was on point. Good drinks too! read more

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Came here for a lunch meeting with my team. It is a lovely upscale restaurant that has wonderful service, ambiance, and cleanliness. Our shared appetizers were: chicken wings, crispy cauliflower, and blue crab cakes. I have to admit that I wasn't sure if I'd like the crispy cauliflower, but my taste buds were pleasantly surprised at how tasty they were! For my entree, I ordered the bucatini pasta. It was just as delicious and had the right amount of spice. For dessert, I ordered the green apple and basil sorbet. The pieces of mango were both hard and soft and a nice compliment to the flavors of the sorbet. My team and I plan on coming here again, but this time, for dinner and drinks. read more

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I've been a Hyde Park resident and visitor all my life. I've seen many businesses on 53rd come and go. I was ecstatic to see that the Sophy Hotel and Mesler Kitchen opened up on 53rd for more food options. Unfortunately, I wish I had positive things to say about the service at this establishment. With a James Beard awarded restaurant right down the street (Virtue), it's obvious the subpar service you receive at this restaurant. I've gone to this establishment numerous of times, and I always seem to have a problem with the service. Two months ago when I came to this establishment with my friend, it took about 30 minutes to be seated with a reservation and another 20 minutes to be greeted by a waiter and it seems as if the waiters aren't trained properly. I had to ask for silverware and water, and my food came before my cocktails. I had to wait 30 minutes for the sauce that came with my fries and by the time I received the sauce, the fries were cold. My friend knew the manager, so through her, I was able to get another order of fries. About a month ago I made a reservation for brunch only to still have to wait 25 minutes to be seated. What was unfortunate was that we were seated 25 minutes after my reservation and still had to wait another 20 minutes for our waitress to come over and greet us. When she finally came over, she told us that brunch ended in five minutes. I was shocked, considering we made reservations for brunch and were just about to miss it. I was also shocked to see a party of individuals who were walk-ins be sat and get their food order placed before my party, who made a reservation. Enjoy the food, but the service makes it difficult to want to return to this establishment. Since I now understood that the service here is subpar, a week ago I decided to do carry out. Unfortunately, there was a problem with my carry out as well. When I placed my order over the phone, I asked for extra aïoli sauce only to find that there was not extra aïoli sauce when I came to pick up my order then I had to wait another 15 minutes for them to make "fresh" sauce. I also asked for my chicken sandwich to not have blue cheese and substituted for cheddar only to still find there was blue cheese on my sandwich. So, I spent $20 on a meal that I was unable to eat. As a person who has worked in the food industry, it's very disheartening to see so many of the staff be uninterested and unequipped to do their job effectively. I really wanted a better for this establishment and it took me a very long time to write this negative review. I hope that someone from management reads this and genuinely tries to figure out how to train their staff better so that patrons have a better experience. read more

Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wow, some of the worst service with auto gratuity to make it worse. I came in alone for dinner, and found a seat at their 8 chair bar. Wasn't greeted for 10 minutes and watched while the bartender joked and laughed with his friends. Finally got a water in a dirty glass, and was asked what I wanted. I hadn't even been given a menu, and finally got one at that point. 20 minutes into my visit, I decided on their $25 old fashioned, which one would expect to be great quality. It was sloppily made with too much sugar and way too much bitters. Sent it back and got a glass of wine instead while I waited for another restaurant to open so I could try my luck somewhere else. read more

I'm sorry to have to leave this review, because the food here is great. However: they take a reservation deposit of $20.00 per person through Resy. Last Saturday, I kept my reservation and had a very pleasant meal. I was then shocked to receive an email from Resy informing me that my credit card had been charged $40.00 for reservation cancellation. After two attempts to reach a manager and being placed on hold for over 20 minutes each time, I have attempted to leave messages, only to find that their voicemail box is full. Even if they eventually get around to righting this situation, it's been a huge waste of time. Beware. Won't be going back read more

Mesler is always a vibe. The customer service is impeccable. The inside is warm and welcoming. The drinks are they are the top tier, they're really growing and sexy. The food is amazing. I enjoy the vibes so much I usually forget to take pictures. I have never had a bad experience. read more

Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge - FRESH MADE BUCATI PASTA - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The inconsistency with which they seat people at Mesler is questionable at best. It's unfortunate and this will be a last for me. Perhaps this is a training issue but Management should figure it out and ensure better service. Drinks are hit or miss and food is nothing to rave about maybe with exception of the soup options in the fall. Disappointed! read more

I ordered for a small pork dish it was decent. However, it was extremely expensive. There are several decent restaurants within a few steps, please feel free to explore if you care for your money. read more

The Mesler is a vibe. Beautiful artwork and ambience. Really cool place to wind down and grab a drink. It's part of the Sophy Hotel so if you know, you know. . Breakfast was fantastic and plentiful. We had pancakes, the Denver omelet, bacon, potatoes, and the omelet comes with a salad. All the food was delicious. The service seemed like they were just inexperienced young people. They lacked the little touches that scream excellent service. Like greeting the table and introducing yourself, checking on guests and refilling drinks and it wasn't even that busy. I also had the late night menu and it was typical bar food. Nothing to brag about. We had the lobster roll, turkey burger, wings and fries. The food was plentiful but definitely overpriced for bar food. I probably wouldn't have the bar food again unless I was really hungry. read more

One of my favorite places to grab food! The environment is very chill. The bar area typically has sports available. I've been for brunch, happy hour, and dinner. The chicken and waffles for brunch are delicious! They have other popular brunch favorites as well. For happy hour, the menu is limited but they offer a small discount on a few items. The drinks are good too. I'll be back. read more

Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge - Chicken & Pearl Sugar Waffles - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went for a work event. It's a nice vibe with a backed lounge and sports on the screen. Tried the mushroom risotto, the halibut. Food was delicious. Would be going back. read more

Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This waiter was sloppy in his appearance, service and attitude. Very uncouth. I went there today with 3 friends after an event. There was no seating inside so the host sat us on the patio. The chairs were filthy. I had on a white dress so, I placed a cloth napkin on the chair to sit on. This unkept waiter who was short and Hispanic told me he would need to throw the napkin away because I sat on it. My friends and I left. Being professional and polite is a must; and this restaurant is not that. The tables were dirty and the chairs were nasty. Cloth chairs. You would think that the restaurant would wash the covers on the seats after they were soiled. If the chairs and service is dismal, I can imagine the food reflects that. The server needs to be trained on class and etiquette...very uncouth. read more

I've been here many times - and the bartender Twyla Is the reason I came back ... the same day! read more

Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge - Twyla the bartender and a good ole drink - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was good, small serving for price. Nice atmosphere, but not sure the price matches the quality and quantity of food

My visit this Saturday evening was great! It was night and day from my last visit. We were seated immediately. Everything from the newly updated menu to seeing the head chef greeting patrons to our server Jaahlah was well worth the visit. And boy were those sidecars HITTING! Lol! The outside patio was open and full. It wasn't crowded at all inside. They still don't offer barbecue sauce, but their house sauce more than makes up for it. The entire group of the 5 of us loved our visit and I'm happy to update my review to 5 stars! Can't wait to go back! read more

Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge - Remy sidecar - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tip is obligatory, effort is optional... apparently. We were ignored for so long and couldn't eat our food without the silverware we asked 30mins prior. We sat there plucking at our food with our hands to enjoy it while it was hot. Finally had to ask hostess for silverware as we assumed wrongly that our waiter was busy. He was actually chit chatting with one table all night and taking other tables orders while we wait. Needless to say he also seemed irritated with our presence... everyone but him brought drinks (had to get up and ask),food (had to get up and ask), silverware and napkins (had to get up and ask for that too). We went on 08/09, a weekend evening. I've had better service at Waffle House at 2am on a Friday read more

Great atmosphere and a beautiful interior. This is a great spot to celebrate a special occasion. I got the 5th Ward Burger and was very happy with the serving size and taste. My friends got the Rigatoni and Campanella Pasta and were satisfied but there could have been more salt. My favorite part was their drinks! I got the Raspberry Julep and highly recommend it because it was super light tasting and fruity. The service was excellent and very helpful. I had a great time but would likely only come once unless I wanted to try their brunch/midday menus. read more

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They have a lot of rules. Size of your party, restrictions on when you can and what you can eat. When I first started eating there the food was great. Don't try to go on Sunday. It is their most popular day. No parking available for people who are eating there. read more

Great bar at the bottom of a hotel. The outdoor patio has a couple of fire pits and it is a good place to socialize but not eat. The food was good and the drinks were nice. Chicken & Waffles tasted great. This place is more for socializing and getting a taste. read more

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Went to watch the NBA playoff game and sat at the bar. I've ate in the restaurant previously and I enjoyed the food and the service. I had the chicken sandwich and fries. This is such a cool and intimate spot. It is attached to hotel Sophy in Hyde Park. I was lucky to find a parking spot right in front. read more

Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge - Spicy Chicken Sandwich - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

As you as you walk in you are greeted by a very rude hostess. She was dismissive and looked unfit for the job to be honest. She made us feel inconvenient for walking in. There isn't variety in the menu. It was a lot of burgers. It's be okay if they were good burgers but alas. I got the fried chicken burger with fries. The chicken burger was drenched in baffalo sauce. It was truly just not good. The fries were unseasoned. My side of pancakes was good but it tasted liked boxed pancakes. The food was a 6. The place has a lot of potential but did not live up to it. A case of bad service and bad food is a recipe for disaster, aka, Mesler. read more

Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge - Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a lovely choice for brunch! After a tour of the nearby University of Chicago, we walked over to Mesler Kitchen to fuel up for the rest of the day. The outdoor seating looked lovely, but we were a bit hot from the walk so chose to sit indoors. The decor was beautiful - interesting art and plenty of comfy seating. We ordered a variety of breakfast favorites including a delicious vegetarian omelet (large enough to share), fresh berries, a bagel and waffles. I liked that the omelet came with a fresh salad on the side instead of the typical potatoes. The waffles were infused with sugar and so didn't even need syrup to be tasty. I also enjoyed a peach mimosa - a wonderful treat and nice change of pace from a traditional mimosa. I will definitely return next time I'm in the area. read more

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Mesler was good, but nothing amazing. We ordered the crab cake Benedict and the Fifth Ward Burger. The burger was very flavorful with a side of crispy fries. The benedict had plenty of crab, but lacked a diversified flavor profile. The salad it came with was just leaves so nothing special there at all. Nothing worth the price. Great decor and ambiance. read more

Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge - Fifth 5th Ward Burger - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Just doing a quick review of Mesler, as I walked past earlier and noticed some of the signs on the outside of the restaurant. For starters, I love Mesler and it's such a great neighborhood spot! Perfect for date nights, brunch, lunch or dinner. Anyway, I was walking around today and saw that you can now get cocktails to go, food delivery with Doordash or Grub Hub, and the patio is open. I also noticed they had one of those cool snow globe things to sit in. So fun and festive! I took a few photos so you all can see the restaurant hours and delivery options etc. I can't wait for the indoor restaurant to open back up as it's absolutely beautiful inside! Enjoy ! read more

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This visit was for cocktails only and they delivered! Tasty and strong cocktails. Nice atmosphere, good people, Hyde park vibe at its best. The lounge area is spacious and beautiful. I've had food in the past and was not disappointed; I enjoyed the lobster roll very much. I'll have to try more food items soon. read more

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I can't get enough of this place. I come for every meal. I'm so happy that they started serving breakfast everyday and not just on weekends. The service and atmosphere are consistently on point. read more

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While visiting in Chicago, we were treated to a wonderful dining experience at the Mesler Kitchen Bar Lounge located in the trendy Hyde Park area of Chicago. The Mesler is located on the first floor of the Sophy Hotel. Be aware that parking might be an issue. The restaurant includes several dining rooms, a bar area and an outdoor area. It is modern and tastefully designed with abstract paintings, even near the bathroom areas. We were there mid-week around brunch time, so not sure whether this is typical, but the restaurant was not crowded and we didn't have to wait for anything, although I was told that reservations are recommended for evening dinners. The waitstaff were friendly, attentive, entertaining yet courteous with a spirit of teamwork. For example, when our server was busy with another table, another server was happy to assist, making sure that our culinary needs were met. So, getting to the important stuff - the food was great. Ours was a party of 7, each of us ordering different foods (strawberry buttermilk pancakes, shrimp and grits, Denver omelette, Vegetarian Omelette, French toast, Steak & Eggs and the 5th Ward Hamburger). The food was warm, fresh and delicious. We all complimented the taste and presentation of our food. Additional seating areas were available in the outside bar lounge area - the perfect place to dine, have a romantic drink, take pictures or just relax. This was a delicious, relaxed, hip, dining experience! I look forward to dining at Mesler's, the next time that I am in Chicago. read more

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