This was our 1st night out just the 2 of us since we had a baby. Our server asked us right away if we were celebrating anything, so we told him. He brought us sparkling white wine on the house. I wish I remembered his name because was fabulous. Our food, drinks, service, & whole experience couldn't have been better. read more

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Very small portions, way overpriced and they don't even serve you bread before dinner :( very disappointing. Food was ok, but honestly I had tastier and cheaper. I gave a star for an enormous collection of beer they have. Beer was so original and good. If you are beer lover go on a Wednesday they have 50% off of beer. read more

Returning to Niche, I was looking forward to a reliable meal with good service, but what I experienced was both surprising and interesting. On a cold Tuesday night, the restaurant was holding a media evening; several well-known food critics were present. The result was a noticeable dialing up of both service and food quality. We took advantage of the 5 course chef's menu with wine pairing. The Shrimp and Grits was an extraordinarily light dish. Grits with creamy and tasty artisinal goat's cheese, a tomato coulis layered with 4 different spices, including cayenne paprika and tobacco which provided surprising depth. The pleasant arugula salad was not overpowered by the capers and acted as a palate cleanser. The Winter Cassoulet was presented as a deconstructed pot pie, the result being an unctuous dish layered with flavor, as opposed to a classic Toulousian dish with big chunks of meat. It was excellent. Humbolt Fog was pleasantly presented with freshly baked crackers and accompaniments. The white chocolate cheesecake was so light, and perfectly matched with both a chocolate and berry sauce. Service was spot on from our enthusiastic, young waitress Liz, who provided just the right balance on conviviality and service. The chef, Serena, walked around and was happy to take questions and explain her sources. Wine pairings were well chosen, if not 'top drawer,' but for $25 a person it was very acceptable, although the pours were just a wee bit short of generous .. I very rarely give 5 stars, as the meal really has to be both a memorable and faultless experience for me, but Niche earned it, and if they can maintain this level of cooking and service it would be both wonderful and hard work. I look forward to returning and seeing this standard being maintained read more

I must say the first time I went to Niche was great. I was looking forward to going again. Unfortunately I was disappointed. The ambiance and professionalism of the staff was great. The gnocchi appetizer was great and the drink and wine selection was respectable. However, the new choices on the menu were an overall disappointment. The ahi tuna was overlooked and had a poor texture and the cavatelli was awful. The description of smoky flavor is better described as pork and beams sauce over noddles. Recommendation. I am fortunate to travel the world and experience a range of fine cuisine. I love restaurants that take risks and challenges patrons pallets. However, I recommend toning it down a bit, you're trying to be too much. Best of luck! read more

I sometimes travel to the West Chicago area on business and was very happy to discover Niche, a wonderful restaurant in downtown Geneva. Vince, the owner/bartender, sets a very welcoming tone in the bar area. He is very friendly and loves to talk about bourbon, baseball, and music. A great combination, in my view! He has all sorts of bourbons and other whiskeys behind the bar, when I ask him to come up with something interesting, he always does. If you like Manhattans (I do), try his Pappy Van Winkle Manhattan for a real treat. The food has never disappointed me. Give this restaurant a try, you won't be disappointed! read more

I Ordered the ribeye special. My wife ordered the salmon. She enjoyed her dish very much. The service was excellent. Our waitress went above and beyond to make our experience an enjoyable one. But then there was the ribeye... about half of my dish was fat and gristle. Not what I would expected considering the $56 price tag. I mentioned this to the waitress and she agreed it looked to be more fatty then normal. She brought it back to the kitchen and the answer I receive was it is supposed to be that way. Disappointing they didn't try to do something to compensate for a bad piece of meat. But I'll say what I was able to eat was flavorful. read more

Ambiance - upscale on the relaxed side, I guess. Drinks - The beverage program is very competitive with today demands. There is a cocktail with Elderflower and sparkling wine, what?! Get it Food - Awesome!!! You wouldn't believe you would get a killer fried chicken here! Well, you do and you better get it! read more

Tried Niche again on Geneva Christmas Walk night Dec 7, 2018. Made reservations and walked in and our table was waiting for us. The restaurant was packed and the staff were sporting their best ugly sweaters and Canned Heat "On the Road Again" and Neil Young "Harvest Moon" tunes played in the background. Two of us shared the octopus, fried chicken and steamed buns small plates and that was plenty for a meal for the two of us. Two specialty drinks, two wines and the three small plates totaled $88 which was reasonable for a Friday night dinner. read more

This restaurant was amazing!! We tried the muscles and soft shell crab apps. I don't eat muscles, but my family loved them. I have never eaten soft shell crab before, but it was amazing!! Two of us had the steak frites and two had the burger. Both were delicious. The burger is the perfect size - not so huge you cannot bite it or eat it all. I thought it would be dry because it was not dressed with a sauce; rather, it was covered with carmelized onion -- OMGosh it was fantastic. Service was also excellent. Would definitely go back. read more

Can't believe I have missed this place for so many years. Great food, great service, great drinks. As a beer continuer, I was blown away by the draft beer menu as well as the bottle menu (over 20 sour beers!!!!). The menu was diverse, but covered every taste in our group. Pork shoulder was good, venison was fantastic. Could not have asked for more, will be back very soon. read more

Niche Restaurant - New American Near Me - Geneva, Illinois

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I'm not impressed. Modern good looking place and that's the best I can say about this place. They were very unorganized. We waited about 15 minutes to be seated even though there were empty tables be cause they were waiting to be bused. There were three of us. We quickly ordered. The waitress seemed to forget my boyfriiends iced tea because after about 10 minutes she looked at him and said oh iced tea and then went to get it. We waited about 25 minutes for our food and they only bright out two of our orders. They totally forgot my son's salad so I had to give my son half of my wrap while they made his salad. My son didn't even want his salad by the time they brought it out so we took it to go. My wrap was average my boyfriend's burger was ok. Food wasn't impressive at all. I gave them one star only because they didn't charge us for the salad. read more

Vinny and Rachel do a great job running the show over there when I'm in every Wednesday. The tap list and whiskey shelves(!) are top notch. The fried chicken and grits are heavenly, a must have. Also, it's always a surprise to see what kind of steamed buns they have as the menu rotates with what's in season. This is easily the best restaurant in the area and a must visit if you've never been. read more

The best restaurant I've been at in a long time. Nice presentation. Thuvi was our server and she was delightful. Atmosphere was pleasant and the food was Absolutely delicious. I was very happy and will definitely be back. read more

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Five YUMS for Niche! Nicest food since France, home cooking excepted. A great place to go when you want to spend 3 hours savoring every smell, taste and sip of wine. So many local foods and much love go into every meal. read more

My wife and I ventured here for our anniversary and to make use of a very generous gift certificate given to me by a good friend. After being presented with a champagne toast from the staff, we started with cocktails. I had a Kettle One martini and my wife had a blueberry mule. Both were well made and tasted good. We shared the smoke trout appetizer. It was then we knew that we were at an outstanding establishment. It was delicious. We ordered a bottle of Pinot noir that was reasonably priced and tasted great. Dinner consisted of Bison Steak for me and Swordfish for my wife. I can't even verbalized how good it was. The flavors just exploded in your mouth. We also shared a side of caramelized Brussel sprouts; a vegetable we never eat. They to were awesome. We finished with port wine, peanut butter cheese cake, a "Niche" coffee and the whiskey cake. These were excellent! The service was very good and the prices are reasonable for food of quality. The Chef is a true artist! I highly recommend. read more

This is the much vaunted replacement for the now defunct 302 West (best restaurant in the West 'burbs? Yes, when it was open.), with much of the staff present. I suspect that this place will only get better and better as the staff grows into the new space, which is wonderful, since the experience is really already a five-star one. I don't really get to eat like this very often, but when I do, I really could just be going back here over and over again. I don't really feel like I can highlight specific menu items, since this menu will change almost weekly, and I don't want to excite you about the wonderful tuna entree that two people at my table had, or brag about my delicious pork shoulder, because you might go and those things won't be on the menu. Suffice it to say that preparations are inventive (and often sound like they might be strange and disgusting, but end up being the height of delicious), and the food is fresh and filling. The staff is wonderful, and the space is pretty. I hope it has the chops to stick around, like 302 did. read more

I had a delightful dinner at this excellent restaurant. Loved the ambience and the general vibe of the restaurant. The service was attentive and the waiter seemed very knowledgeable. We got the cod entry which very well balanced with capers and presented beautifully. Dessert was their take on a peach cobbler instead of peach, it was pineapple. I liked it. I would describe the experience as upscale. The added perk is that it is located in downtown geneva, one of my favorite suburbs in chicago, after dinner, take a lazy stroll around the downtown area and stop by some of the neighborhood coffee shops read more

Elegant yet unpretentious, cozy and quaint, Niche is an exquisite farm to table restaurant located in Geneva, Illinois. An hour from Chicago via Metra's Pacific West line, Niche is more than worth the trek. Their cocktails are exquisite, namely the House Old Fashioned with delicious bourbon soaked cherries. Gluten-free menu items are clearly pointed out on the menu and the chef is very well-educated and absolutely respectful of customers with dietary restrictions and doesn't look down upon customers who suffer from the painful and virus-resistant autoimmune disease. They also offer warm, delicious gluten-free buns, fresh from the oven! Every experience I've had there has been wonderful. Their farm fresh ingredients are incredible and they have the most amazing cuts of meat in existence. Be sure to try the Niche coffee and whatever dessert items they offer! read more

We went here on a week day with another couple. We tried the ribeye, broccoli, Brussels, fries, shrimp n grits, beet salad, kale salad and soup. Oh and cheese plate. We also tried their ice cream sandwiches & earl gray scone with plum sorbet. Stars for the cheese plate and the ribeye was the best my guests had ever had. The broccoli was top notch!Everything else was delicious- soup a little bland . The ice cream sandwich was very very salty. The other dessert unique and really good! The whiskey was great (huge whiskey bar) and some nice cocktails. I wish they offered more vegetarian options. All in all a very nice place. read more

Niche the food was good. The restaurant looks old and needs a update. Desserts were expensive. Limited menu. We will try again.

I'm going to be overly picky here, and I apologize in advance... I think this place is very good -- but a let me give you a couple pros and a couple cons... Pros Food is very fresh, presentation is very nice, service is very proficient. Sommelier is a gem and very helpful. Dig those crazy twisy knives Good breads Cons Prices are a little high for this area. 50 cents extra for ice in my mixed drink? Room feels very busy when its full (although the acoustics are great for a crowd this close together -- couldn't hear much if any other conversation) Steak was not the choicest Not enough waiting room for the number of people waiting - it feels like they're all staring at you With the competition in this area -- Atwater's, Isabella's -- you've got to be competitive in all areas. We looked at the dessert menu, but nothing struck us as special -- we'll go back at least once more... read more

Absolutely amazing meal. The kale salad was delish and the black bass even better. Great service and nice ambiance. Highly recommend.

It is always hard to get a fair sense of a restaurant when you are with a large group - the logistics of service for 14 alone can mess things up when a dinner for 2 might be perfect. Keeping that in mind, I have to say that the food was wonderful, but the service not so much. I had the mussel appetizer which is served on what appears to be homemade pasta - absolutelt fabulous and only two instances of some sand, which is totally fine (I am not expecting every piece to be taken out, just as long as every bite is not full of it!) For a main course, I had the duck and thought it was not greasy at all, well seasoned and maybe only slightly undercooked (more medium-rare than medium here). Drink service for one half of the table was better than the other (I never got asked if I wanted a drink after I finished the one I brought from the bar to the table). Dessert selections are pretty boring when compared to the main menu. I would have expected something a little more exciting or different than chocolate cake and creme brulee or peanut butter cheesecake. It took about 2 1/2 hours to get through dinner, which is a lifetime unless you are having 5 or 6 courses, so I would have liked the speed picked up a bit. And I agree with Steve that the food is totally over-priced. Keeping in mind that I had an appetizer and main course with no drink on my tab at all, my personal total was $60 without tip. read more

Best food and bar in Geneva, hands down... Well managed and the kitchen is spot on. Bar is awesome and the whiskey pure. Nuff said...

This is truly a fine dining experience. I agree with Ang R. that I could go back to Niche again and again, especially because the menu (even the salad served with every entre) changes each week. The wait staff was attentive and friendly, and the sommelier, Jody, offered great advice on her collection of North American wines to pair with the North American cuisine. Our table enjoyed the assorted cheese plate (accompanied by some of the best whole toasted almonds I've had) and a small crab cake as appetizers. We also feasted on lamb chops, pork shoulder, and beef tenderloin, which were each cooked to perfection and served with delectable sides. My only disappointment was our after dinner selection of assorted chocolate deserts. Although my dinner companions and myself were dressed up for this fancy experience, others (especially those dining in the bar area) were more casual. I love when a great restaurant is classy without being overly stuffy. I just have to share that our very sweet waitress added some comic relief to our wonderful meal when she referred to the wine steward as our sole meunier (one of my favorite fish dishes) instead of sommelier! I would highly recommend Niche if you are looking for amazing food in the western suburbs. read more

Last night my wife and I had one of the best meals in our life. Not only was the food outstanding, the service was attentive without being bothersome. Add to that , a fabulous bar that is equal or better than the finest in downtown Chicago... all topped off with an outstanding "voodoo lady" desert of cheesecake, fabulous cherries and much more. We had to buy a few pints of their ice cream to take home. We will return often. read more

I had the pleasure of dining here last evening at the farm to table dinner with Foxtrot Organic farm. The pre-fixe menu had my mouth watering and it did not disappoint. The chef transformed already amazing ingredients into delicious works of art. Hats off to the chef and Foxtrot organics for creating a memorable affordable meal. read more

4.5, high end, great service, good food, intimate setting, specialized menu, wide range of alcohol. Overall experience was above average, wasn't a fan of the sticky bun beef, but all else in the group of 6 was delicious. read more

I love this place. What Ang R. said! What the two principals have done here is remarkable for their relative youth. I have eaten here numerous times and always enjoy the food. Jeremy is an incredible chef and Jody is a great sommelier (just ask her). All kidding aside, this restaurant is the real deal. One minor beef...I find the chairs too tall for my small frame...I'm 5'8". read more

We visited Niche all excited because we saw the show "Check please" and it looked great based on their guests' recommendations. It was about an hour drive for us. However, after we arrived there it took an hour and 20 minutes for us to get our meals. The meatballs appetizer was tasty. The asparagus soup on the other hand had almost no taste. Very bland. The kale salad was extremely sour. The fried chickpeas in it were delicious but that's about it for this overhyped salad. I had the cod fish which was also tasteless! My husband's escolar dish was much better in flavor but very little in quantity. My son's fried chicken meal was good but how can you mess that dish; it's fried chicken after all with some garnish. My other son had the burger which was nothing spectacular. The dishes looked more appealing to the eye but as far as flavor mostly I was dissapointed. This is mostly a place for drinks. They have a great selection of whiskeys and other drinks. I was not impressed by their expensive food though. The selections in their menu are also very limited. We spent over $200 and the experience was rather forgettable. I will definitely not be driving that far to Niche again for their food. read more

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We've been here four or five times over the past two years. The restaurant is very good. We go for celebrations, but the prices keep it from being more regular. The food is creative and well done. The atmosphere is classic with a modern twist. Above all, by far and away, my favorite part of Niche, and the part that I wosh we got to more often, is the bar. The appetizers are phenomenal. We've, several times, made a meal of these. Early or late, it's a great place to sit and enjoy great food and outstanding service. I also hear the beer selection is really amazing. With bottles of beer that approach the price of very good wines, it must be. read more

A group of 8 of us dined at Niche for my husband's 40th birthday. When I made the reservations, I let them know it was for this occasion. We were pleasantly surprised with complementary champagne to toast the night. Our server Jeffrey was wonderfully attentive to all of our questions and dealt well with our boisterous group. We started with the meat and cheese platter which probably was not enough for 8- but everything on it was very good. A few of us had the soup- a wonderful butternut squash- and salad. After that it was a VERY long wait for our entrees. I would have rated this 5 stars if it were not for the generally slow service. With that said, everyone enjoyed their entrees. Special mention goes to the brussels sprouts (which even my non-veggie-eating husband enjoyed) and the venison. Dessert started with wonderful columns of cotton candy. This was a definitely a crowd pleaser. We ordered a small dessert sampler as well which they adorned with candles for the birthday- much appreciated! And they gave us bags of cotton candy to take home! We had 7:30 reservations and they did run out of one entree and one dessert. On a Saturday night it may be a better idea to dine earlier. Also note that their bar is not very large. We had planned to have drinks there before dinner, but decide to go elsewhere since there was not room for our group. The restaurant was noisy so it was difficult to hear conversation from the other end of the long table they put us at. It would be great if they had rounds for big groups! Overall, we would dine there again and probably ask for Jeffrey! read more

Average food for the price. The appetizers are much better than then entrees. Was very excited to go here for a date night, then very disappointed at the food. It's not cheap either so I had certain expectations. Server was not helpful regarding the food or wine list. read more

Nice wine selection, amazing food. My filet was like biting into butter. Perfection. Worth every penny.

Elegant and beautiful and fun and upscale and wonderful and creative and super spectacular in every way.

I would highly recommend this restaurant for a nice meal. Definitely a nice place to take visitors for a dinner out. I had stayed away from this restaurant for years. I am vegetarian, and their menu is pretty small and mostly meat/seafood offerings. We decided to take a chance and go last week. I was so happy we gave it a try. They were VERY accommodating in helping me change a dish to be vegetarian, I got the pork belly dish with risotto but with roasted brussel sprouts instead of the pork. We also shared a soup, a salad and my husband go the pork chop dish. And we had the pot de crème for dessert. Every item was wonderfully delicious. The one downside for me is that you are pretty crammed in there. Though this is to be expected in a smaller restaurant such as this. But, this was more than made up for by the service. On a scale of 1-10, the service was a 15, truly. We will be adding this to our list of places to go for dinner. read more

Extremely overpriced for the quality and quantity! $105 for 1 entree,1 appetizer, 1 salad and 2 drinks read more

To start off, if you are thinking of going, just go! From the outside, this place seems like it's closed but as you're walked in, you are kindly greeted by a nice burst of warm are and a superb hostess. She takes your coat and sits you very timely too. Then you are accommodated with a nice glass of cold water, butter, a plate and a very cool-looking knife. The server comes by to greet and introduce. You are then greeted by the Busser (Bread and Water Boy) and he gives you a choice of multi-grain, a buttery roll, and a sourdough roll. I have tried them all, and they are amazing. My Wife and I both had four courses from their very tasty menu: App., Salad/Soup, Entree, and Dessert. I had the Crab Cake, Pecan Salad, Ribye, and Niche Gift. And i must say, for the money, the food was amazing!!! By far some of the best food I've had in my life! The Ribye was extraordinary, and hit every taste bud in my mouth; savory, salty, crunchy, chewy, juicy, smooth, etc. We were then offered coffee, and got the Niche Coffee, which was again amazing. We also got Pink Cotton Candy! How fun!? And throughout the Whole night, the bus boy was very nice, quiet, and helped out a lot. He was very easy to talk to, and a very polite young man. We also gave him a little $10 tip on the way out, and his face just lit up! We hope to be back soon for some more great times. Overall, here's what my wife and i experienced: Pros: Atmosphere Wine Bread Food Service Greeting Portions Cons: None read more

Fantastic restaurant! Starting from appetizers and all the way to desserts. Presentation, flavors, service atmosphere- Thank you for making my wife's Birthday memorable! read more

We had been planning to make a trip to Geneva to visit family friends for the last few years. We finally made it to Geneva and to the Niche for an amazing meal. Each entree, appetizer and dessert not only was outstanding, but each was presented so artfully. An apt description I read is that The Niche is "casually, elegant". It was so pleasant, welcoming and had a very modern vibe. We were treated to outstanding service from the moment we were greeted by Vince and taken care of equally well throughout the evening. We'll be back! read more