One of my favorite restaurants in the west loop. They always have fun items on the menu, wonderful…read moredrinks, and the service is great. We sat outside on the patio last night and it was lovely. The patio had a moody romantic vibe to it and was well maintained and taken care of. Chairs were comfortable and tables spaced apart nicely. Plus, being on the patio is great for people watching. I would highly recommend reccomend the tropic like it's hot and sun boy cocktails. Both full of flavor and make sure to try the chickpea fritters and splurge on the pork shank. Well worth it and portion was perfect to share. The only negative comment I have to mention being interrupted 3 separate times by children trying to sell flowers at our table. I would be nice if the staff did a better job of keeping the soliciting out of the dinner area.

Big space inside. Make reservation for weekend. Service was fast…read more Review for vegetarian food out of 5 Pita and dip - 5- Good taste Tomato stone - 3 - was expecting tofu cubes, quiona crunch was good but its on sweet side for me Roasted corn - 2 - do not like caramelized sweet on top Chipped fritter - 4 - like the twist on the indoan dish but little dry for my taste Mushroom salad - 2 - Mushroom and pita are good but do not like sweet taste on everything Corn bread - 4

One of the best burgers I've ever had. The bone marrow was really tasty too, I've never had it…read morebefore

Au mother Fugging Cheval -- A Burger That Actually Lives Up to the Hype…read more The Spot itself has major aura and swagger. Hard to describe but you just know you're at a very important place but that doesn't take itself too seriously. There are burgers that are good, burgers that are great, and then there's Au Cheval. I went in with pretty ridiculous expectations considering this place has been called one of the best burger spots in the world...and somehow, the burger still delivered. That's rare. The patties were insanely juicy and perfectly cooked, with that beautiful crispy, caramelized edge you want from a great griddle burger. The combination of the melted cheese, creamy sauce, onions, pickles and that ridiculously buttery brioche bun was borderline unfair. Rich, messy, salty, savory and completely indulgent in the best possible way. And that bun deserves its own mention. Soft enough to absorb all that glorious burger juice without completely falling apart. The whole thing is constructed like someone actually understands what makes a burger great. Is it the best burger I've ever had? I DONT FUCKING KNOW. but I completely understand why people put Au Cheval in the conversation for best burger in America, if not the world. The hype is real. This is a fucking burger. 9.7/10

Good food, eclectic environment but too small to be comfortable. A lot of patrons jammed in to a…read morerelatively small dining area. Usually long lines and some wait time.

This was such a life changing experience from a flavor perspective! We were in town for the…read moreweekend and stopped by because we'd heard amazing things about what The Purple Pig does with pork and we were not disappointed! We started off with the bone marrow; it was incredibly flavorful, paired nicely with a nut jam and some greens and bread. We also got the Agnolotti pasta, and this was our favorite bite of the evening by far. The beef short rib, paired with more marrow and the butter sauce were absolutely incredible and we will be thinking about them for a long time to come. We ended with the pork tenderloin and it was a lovely ending dish. The pork was cooked to perfection and paired with sautéed oyster mushrooms and corn. Service was exceptional and quick! We will come back with a bigger group the next time we are in the city!

food & views are great. l love the vibe of this restaurant-fun spot to take out of town guests.read more

They are reservation based and found a table on OpenTable and had limited availability but managed…read moreto snag a table in the afternoon. 5/5 ambiance - indoors has an open air seating with a rooftop patio view. You can grab a drink and go outside for pics which tons of ol ppl were doing. 4/5 Wiener Circle spicy - like a spicy margarita with Mezcal. Strong but well flavored. 5/5 mushroom toast - flavorful, cheese was perfect and flavor was amazing. 5/5 crème brûlée was delicious! The sugar was light and the custard was perfect. Menu is limited but everything was very well prepared. We had a bday noted in the reservation and they brought a free bday dessert with a candle which was a nice touch.

Look, great doesn't mean best, but this place was really good. Inside is a really charming…read moreold-world place with only 11 tables. It's a pretty small place. The reservation we got was for the patio, but when we arrived, they didn't have a table for us. We waited probably an extra 15 mins and then the lady was able to arrange an inside table for us. She had been getting a bit of lip from folks coming in just before us, and so she definitely seemed to be dishing out some lip herself. I think that should have been a better experience. I will acknowledge that we did appreciate a table inside eventually when the one just outside wasn't there. Our server once seated was like, amazing. To me she made up for the passive aggressive comments from before. She was so patient and well-spoken and all. Seemed like she was from a Michelin-star place. So to start, the Caesar salad was ok. What was nice in there, it had these crispy chips of some kind in the salad. Overall, the dressing could've been a bit more caesar-y. Then we also had these truffle oil mozzarella sticks and those were pretty amazing. Served with marinara sauce, which was pretty good. But the sticks themselves were like so cheesy and gooey and freshly made, it was great. Then for the mains, we had a vodka pasta and one other one. Both were vegetarian pasta options, which is great. Both had really nice flavored sauces and the pastas were also done right. I forgot to ask for crushed red pepper as some spice boost would've made things even better. Also, one of the pastas was a gluten free - and it was really good - in the sense that I never would've guessed that it was gf. It's a corn-based pasta, in case anyone wants to know. I really wish they had an eggplant parm, but unfortunately they had only chicken and veal parms, only. Lastly, and to top everything else off, we had a soft-serve almond-caramel (not the exact name) gelato. Wow, that was SO good. Nutty flavor and creamy rich. Probably the best course of the night. Just outstanding. I chose it based on ChatGPT recommendation and it was just spot ON. Definitely a place I'll come back to.

Ciccio Mio was the final stop of our seven-restaurant Sunday food tour, and it could not have been…read morea more perfect ending. The restaurant is intimate, warm and moody in the best way - exactly the kind of place you want to settle into for a late dinner. We started with the truffle mozzarella sticks and burrata, followed by the rigatoni vodka and chicken parmesan. That chicken parm was easily one of the standout dishes of my entire Chicago trip. For dessert we had the citrus olive oil cake, and then they surprised us by gifting the table their soft serve. We absolutely did not need another bite of food at that point... and yet somehow that soft serve disappeared. It was amazing. And the service? Top notch. From beginning to end, the hospitality matched the food and atmosphere. Seven stops, a ridiculous amount of food, and Ciccio Mio managed to be the perfect finale.

First dinner in Chicago after happy hour. Came on a Thursday evening without a reservation but the…read morewait was still only 30 minutes and was able to order a drink from the bar while waiting. Food wise everything was really good. The calamari was fried perfectly and loved the aioli sauce. For the lasagna, I could not stop eating it that I was so full by the time I was done.

This was my second time visiting Il Porcellino in River North, and it has officially become one of…read moremy Chicago spots! Every time I'm on that side of town, I try to make it a point to stop in. The customer service is always top-tier, but one of my favorite things about Il Porcellino is the ambiance. It has such a warm, inviting atmosphere that works perfectly for a date night, dinner with friends, or even a family get-together. It just has that classic Chicago feel that makes the entire dining experience even better. And the drinks? So good! I highly recommend the Old Fashioned -- definitely one of my favorites. I always order the fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp. The first time I had it, the sauce was a little thicker, creamier, and richer, which I personally preferred. This visit, it was still very good, just a little lighter than I remembered. Either way, I enjoyed my meal and would absolutely order it again. Overall, another great experience. Great service, beautiful ambiance, delicious drinks, and good food. I'll definitely be back because Il Porcellino has become one of those places I look forward to visiting whenever I'm in the area. 10/10 -- highly recommend!

Amazing ambiance. Great service. Great food. We sat inside and will definitely be back on a nice…read moreday to sit outside.

This restaurant space is beautifully done inside and you can also sit out on their balcony patio,…read morewhich is such a nice option as well. They have the decor down to the details. We got the smoky garlic hummus, whipped feta, brussel sprouts, and lemon meringue bar for dessert, and honestly everything was amazing. The harissa honey on the brussel sprouts was so good, and the lemon meringue bar with the citrus crema and graham cracker crust was the perfect sweet item to round out the meal. They bring complementary pita with your hummus and dips and the bread with za'atar itself was delicious. They recommend 2-3 share plates per person, but we ordered 3 plus dessert for two people and still had leftovers. So I'd say it definitely depends on how hungry you are! We went for lunch/brunch and were pretty much the first people there, so service was super fast. Our server was lovely and incredibly attentive with topping off water and clearing plates. Definitely would come back to try some of their larger plate options.

This was my second visit to The Dearborn, and the food and service were both on point. We ordered…read morethe salmon tataki, fish and chips, Wellington burger, and Midwest fried chicken. Everything was well prepared, but the fried chicken was the standout, especially with the hot sauce adding another level of flavor. The staff stayed attentive throughout dinner and even replaced our plates between rounds, which was a level of service I wasn't expecting. I also respected seeing the owner personally making the rounds, stopping at every table to check on the guests and the food. Calm atmosphere, solid hospitality, and a kitchen that delivers.

Had a reservation with two friends from out of town and had the pleasure of being with Vivian…read more Amazing service, so sweet and funny, very thoughtful. and we got free cookies! we got sat in a little private booth in the back, so quiet. will def come back again and again :)

The soup dumplings were each cooked absolutely perfect and were very tasty! Servers were fast and…read morefriendly and the waitlist helped us get seated in a timely manner.

So good, everything that they have is really good! Would recommend the pork and cabbageread more

I LOVED my meal here! Ēma (Ay-mah) brings some glamour and glitz to the Mediterranean dining scene,…read morewith an airy, elevated hotel-lobby feel that still doesn't demand a dress code. Dresscode: Smart Casual / Casual Noise Level: Medium (it gets buzzy after 5:30pm) Thursday night Happy Hour was lively, so it took about 10-15 minutes for someone to come around, but service was attentive once we got going. The food is where Ēma really shines. From the Happy Hour menu, the Charred Eggplant Hummus and Crispy Potatoes were generously portioned and great for sharing. On the main menu, the Indian-Mediterranean fusion Bhel Hummus was a party for my taste buds, while the Hot Honey Halloumi and Chicken Kefta rounded out the table nicely. The halloumi is more of a side than a main, but that sweet-and-salty hot honey combo was chef's kiss. For our finisher, the Chocolate Torte knocked us out. Decadent, delicious and chocolate with lots of depth. Overall, Ēma is an excellent spot to order a bunch of dishes for the table and get an elevated meal without feeling stuffy, and delicious without taking itself too seriously. DO's: - Make a reservation ahead, especially for happy hour 4-6pm - Treat apps like small plates, order 2-3 to sample - Entertain their wine list, they have a lot! - Bring vegetarians here, there are plenty of options DON'Ts: - Dismiss the desert menu. It's fantastic and shareable! - Forget to ask for extra pita with the hummus! - Miss out on the LettuceEats loyalty points (check-in with your server before paying your check)

Came for a late lunch. Split a meal: *Whipped spicy feta -…read moreVery tasty. The pita was warm with lots of za'atar. Enough to share with 2-3 people *Braised short rib sandwich - In a pita stuffed with cabbage. The beef was extremely tender. Unfortunately there was several large pieces of cabbage core vs shredded. The fries were crispy and seasoned with za'atar. The au jus provided, tasted it had a bit of red wine vinegar. That was a winner! Would order both items again. The decor is beautiful. Sat at the bar and the bartender wasn't in the best mood. Minus one star for the combination of the large pieces of cabbage core and sat at the bar for about 15 minutes - no one was there to serve us.