I think this is what people mean when they say something is a hidden gem. Apéro has an incredible…read morewine and vermouth selection, tasty small bites, and great cocktails. Above all, the staff here is fantastic! They're super friendly and also knowledgeable about everything on offer. I love this place but get here early as it gets packed.

Intimate wine bar with the friendliest staff. Super helpful with choosing a wine based on our…read morepreferences and I believe they rotate through bottles fairly quick as I was also here maybe a month or two before so definitely a variety. Winery rep from Michigan happened to be there and it was a good time trying various wines. The snacks offered were also a treat, really enjoyed the chimi potatoes. Perfect spot to end the night.

Are they the best tacos or cocktails in the neighborhood? Absolutely not…read more But it's a lovely rooftop deck and on a pretty afternoon with a nice breeze its still worth a stop.

Don't go...yet. Arriba needs time to figure itself out…read more Truthfully, we wanted to love Arriba so badly because we really like Farm Bar downstairs, so even when we saw that all the reviews were awful, we still wanted to make the call for ourselves. It has so much potential with a breezy look and feel and great service, but the drinks just miss the mark on everything from taste to presentation and value. My husband and I stopped by on a Saturday evening (there are no reservations, just first come first serve) and were seated right away. We ordered a raspberry margarita and the drunken cafe de olla. Both drinks tasted unbalanced, and I couldn't finish mine. We decided not to order food because we were feeling skeptical at that point and the drinks were quite expensive for the quality. I hope that Arriba will take the time to reimagine and their drinks menu and bites that are offered - otherwise Arriba is on the skip list, which is unfortunate.

Sometimes I forget how much I like wine…read more Three of us went to Uvae for restaurant week and loved everything. For an extra $15, it made sense to order the prix fixe menu with the wine pairings. A cocktail likely would have cost more. The soup and salad were delicious and paired perfectly with great wines. We all loved our entrees, although I suspect I loved my short rib wellington a little harder. I'm not a huge desert person but I can't stop thinking about that Nutella creme brulee. Also paired with a great dessert wine-- possibly the only dessert wine I have ever really liked! Yes the portions are a little smaller for restaurant week, but with four courses I was happy to not feel like a glutton at the end. Incredibly thoughtful and knowledgeable service made this a great choice for dinner. The space is well laid out too. We didn't feel like we were sitting on top of people, and it was easy to have a conversation even when the room was pretty full.

Such an amazing dining experience. Located in Andersonville is this unassuming restaurant . The…read morespace is divided between a cozy, warm , tastefully decorated wine bar restaurant and a tasting room. We were fortunate to be seated in the restaurant portion. Staff were so kind and willingly shared recommendations and explanations to us. They have a happy hour on the weekend. We ordered small plates - shrimp cocktail, deviled eggs, pimento cheese with homemade chips and flatbread. It was more than enough food , but I would like to return to try their cheeses, and larger portions. I am not a fan of most chips, but these were so good, and the pimento cheese was savory , spreadable and very good. The prosciutto flatbread was a mixture of sweet cream and savory. The salt from the prosciutto and the sweetness from the figs was perfect. Our waiter overheard us mentioning an upcoming special occasion and treated us to a slice of cheesecake topped with berry sauce. The cheesecake was so fluffy and the chevre cheese was creamy and had a touch of goat flavor. Uvae lived up to my expectations and we will return.

Service is consistently top-notch and friendly/approachable. Food is Michelin worthy, no question…read more The menu changes frequently, so expect some stand-outs and a few "works in process". Innovation is what helps make the place interesting. The beverage program is also a stand-out. Atelier does a great job with below the radar wines that are excellent pairings for the plates. Their N/A beverage program is also refreshing given it's actually interesting and not a "weak tea afterthought" like so many other places. For my dollar this place is a good value in the one star space. I'm also a fan of the new casual "by the plate" option at the front bar v. full tasting menu in the back room. Sometimes a Wed or Thursday merits a small splurge but not a few multi-course tasting menu. It's clearly the kind of place where the staff (and regulars) care about the place. Be sure to check out the murals in the bathroom and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Our main hobby is dining out. We've been to every Michelin-starred restaurant in Chicago, many of…read morethem multiple times, and we regularly travel specifically to eat at great restaurants around the world. We're not casual diners, and we understand that even excellent restaurants can have an off night. Unfortunately, Atelier was a major miss for us. For more context, we dined at the original Atelier in March 2024 and absolutely loved it, so we came in genuinely excited. First, the positives. The service team was wonderful. Truly lovely people. Delightful, attentive, cheerful, professional, and clearly trying very hard to deliver a great experience. No complaints whatsoever there. The reserve wine pairing was also excellent. Some genuinely unique finds. One rosé in particular made us skeptical when first presented, but it ended up being fascinating and paired beautifully with the dish. In fact, each wine pairing was thoughtfully selected and worked extremely well. Now, the food... and unfortunately, this is where the experience fell apart. The opening four amuse-bouches were flat, boring, and uninspired. The oyster was completely overpowered by fried onion. The "jambalaya" was essentially a bowl of mildly spiced rice. Then a salty muffaletta bite and some pickled vegetables. None of these felt Michelin-worthy, nor did they generate any excitement. The next course, beets, was another miss. They were oddly hard, and again, there was nothing particularly special or memorable about the dish. The kanpachi was very good. But let's be honest, raw fish is hard to screw up. The sauce was nicely done and elevated the dish, but it still didn't feel like a standout moment. The tortellini was fine. Perfectly competent. A salty broth, decent execution... but again, no wow factor. Nothing that made you pause. The walleye itself was excellent. Beautifully cooked. But everything accompanying it felt like it was actively sabotaging the fish. The beans were bizarre. . . some soft, some hard, some crunchy, but none particularly enjoyable. We were told there was cornbread and fermented elements in the dish, but those flavors were completely lost. The smoked duck was very good. No notes. Then came a duck wonton-style preparation, which was also tasty, but structurally this made no sense in the progression of the meal. That should be an appetizer or an earlier supporting course, not the crescendo of the protein sequence. In this style of tasting menu, you expect the protein finale to be something bold and memorable. . . A5 wagyu, quail, lamb, something deeply savory that leaves an impression. Ending that arc with what amounts to a fried wonton felt like going out with a whimper instead of a roar. Desserts didn't recover things. The first was a dry cake. The second, a version of king cake, was slightly better but still entirely forgettable. Then the ambiance. We tend to gravitate toward food-first restaurants with real energy... places like EL Ideas, Schwa, and even the original Atelier. Open kitchens, a sense of movement, a little grit, authenticity, personality. Places where you feel like you're somewhere interesting. This space just felt . . .blah. Wood paneling that gave off a tired 1970s feel, overly understated to the point of feeling generic. Now, sometimes that works if the food absolutely delivers and becomes the focal point. But when the food is average, the room starts feeling average too, and the whole experience just falls flatter. The theme of this menu was: The Crescent City/New Orleans. Maybe other menus here are significantly stronger, and maybe we simply came at the wrong time during an off concept. But based on this experience, this was a big disappointment for us, especially given how much we loved the original Atelier.

Went here for NYE. I was really disappointed by the food. It has good reviews and a friend had been…read moreand liked it. I got the pre fixe menu. The pickled deviled eggs were tasty. It was not an "Amuse bouche" which is a single bite item, it was much more but I'm not complaining about that! The appetizer was grilled octopus over sweet potato mash. I learned that day that sweet and grilled octopus is not a good mix. It was nearly gross. I picked the octopus up and tried to brush off as much of the sweet potatoes and possible. The octopus tasted good but was over cooked. My main was the branzino. It was charred to a crisp and full of bones. It did not taste good and was extremely difficult to eat. I did not taste the German chocolate cake for dessert but was told it was dry and people barely touched it. My husband and others are our table got short rib goulash, which was served like a steak with gravy. It wasn't tender like short rib should be. He said the flavor was good at least. Someone got the fish and chips and said it was flavorless. Someone else got the burger and said it was also charred and over cooked. Over all, pretty disappointed. Cute place with decent service. Hopefully this was just an off night.

Third time at cobblestone and this time was for Valentine's Day. We wanted someplace cozy and cute…read moreand Cobblestone set the bar high with a candlelit dinner. They had a terrific Valentine's Day dinner $95 for two people which included a small amuse-bouche each, an appetizer to share, individual entrees, and a dessert to share. We loved the crispy broccolini and were fighting over it. The entrees were huge portions and packed with flavor. I consider myself a scallop connoisseur and in all the restaurants we've ever been in, these scallops were cooked beautifully. They had a perfect sear to them on the outside but cooked perfectly on the inside as well, 10/10 no notes this is the scallop I will compare all future scallops to. And the duck confit, oh my...we also fought over this dish which paired incredibly well with beans to our surprise. Chocolate cake had a beautiful strawberry sauce on the bottom. Everything was incredible including the service. Cobblestone remains our favorite in the area and is loved by all the locals. Thank you for a perfect Valentine's Day dinner.

In an area packed with casual food spots, Figo is spicing things up! It's upscale but not…read morepretentious- perfect for meeting up with friends when you want to feel a little fancy without going through hoops getting ready. The staff was super attentive and kind, checking on us frequently. My friend and I stopped by for happy hour, and this should absolutely make it onto the list of the best in town. They have delicious wine, cocktails, and bites for nearly half of the regular price. I opted for the happy hour prosecco to drink, which was light-bodied and not too sweet. We split the meatballs and dates for bites and both were outstanding. I was super impressed with how tender the meatballs were, and they did not skimp on the flavorful marinara and cheese! The dates, which were topped with a white wine cheese sauce, were mouth-wateringly delicious and a must order. There was also complimentary focaccia with olive oil, which was greatly appreciated. With sea salt on top and a crispy exterior, I could easily have eaten a whole loaf. The only note I have is that the portions are small, so if you don't come during happy hour the prices are a bit steep for what you get. Will 100% be back soon to try more of the menu and highly recommend making the trek over here!

Very cute spot right off the Belmont stop. We were able to take advantage of happy hour deals and…read moresat right at the bar. However, the bartender was not very nice, and we saw her stick her hand in someone's glass to get something out before serving it... Other than that though the hh glass of red, complementary bread with olive oil, and hh Brussels were all great!

Intimate room with a bar and tables and couches. Interesting list of cocktails and variety of…read morewines. Was a little surprised when I asked the bartenders for wine recommendations; had expected wine bar folks to be a little more knowledgeable. Was also a little disappointed when I asked for a cab on the menu and was offered a different one ... menu wine wasn't available....guess that happens, though. Cheese board was good and ample but not huge size. More crackers than cheese... Generally nice spot, reasonably priced, cool and cozy room ...but still needs a little work.

I've now been to Barrel Wine and Cheese twice. The first time was such a bad experience I swore I'd…read morenever go back, but I was invited out the other week so I did try again. My first experience the place was empty and we asked the waiter for a wine recommendation saying that we liked XYZ. He suggested a bottle and we looked at the menu (there was only one bottle available in this varietal so we assumed it was the one on the menu) and it was around a price we were willing to pay. Later when we got the check we learned he suggested a different bottle that we did not see on the menu and was twice the price. It was weird and made me leave annoyed. My experience the other night was good tho. It was crowded. I don't think it blew me away but the glass I ordered was what I expected so that's good.

My husband and I come to Chicago every year for our daughter's birthday. I was surprised to find…read moreElla Elli nearby our daughter's place while searching for restaurants on Yelp. We liked their menu which was a little different than what we normally see in other restaurants. Everything we ordered was delicious. I don't drink but my husband and my daughter enjoyed their cocktails. Excellent service and nice atmosphere. We love to return the next time we come to Chicago.

I'm so grateful I found this place when researching great Lakeview dinner spots. Everything about…read moreit - vibe, lighting, food, service - was phenomenal. I lived in Chicago from 2000-2008 but now live in Indy. Whenever I get back to the city I like to try new neighborhood places. This little gem is tucked along the Southport corridor on Cornelia. My partner, best friend, and I ordered the following: - Focaccia with whipped honey ricotta - Beet salad - Cured meats and pickles - Grilled artichoke - Ricotta gnocchi with truffle and roasted mushrooms - Ahi tuna crudo - Bistro steak - Confit potatoes Needless to say, there was no room for dessert! Our waitress was fantastic - kind, knowledgeable, checking in on us from time to time, but not overbearing. The manager or owner brought the meat plate over and later checked in with us as well. All in all, a total delight! Strongly recommend.

Met up with a friend and thoroughly enjoyed the drinks and space. I was pleasantly surprised that…read moreDeep Red carries my favorite NA brand, NON. The barista was friendly and let me try a few new flavors in addition to recommending a pear cider that was absolutely jammy, pear forward, and lovely. Great space that allowed for intimate convo and the barista swung by our table a few times to top off our water and check in on us.

Great little spot to try and/or buy some nice wines. My only reasons for not giving it 5 stars are…read more1) It's a quaint place great for a date, except the music is too loud. With such a small number of tables we shouldn't have to be leaning across the table for casual conversation, and 2) The owner (I think he was the owner anyway), doesn't seem very pleasant or friendly. He's knowledgeable about his wines, and will discuss them with you whether buying glasses or bottles, but doesn't make you feel particularly warm or welcome at his establishment. Bring down the music just one notch, and be more friendly and outgoing, and this place would be awesome.

Attended a private party in the back of the bar! Enjoyed the cozy vibe with the twinkly lights and…read morecomfy seating! The drinks were really tasty with a nice variety. I ordered the Honey Bee & my husband had the getaway. We found parking across the street in a paid lot for $10. I also luved the 80s music playing in the background. Definitely will be back @ this Lincoln square neighborhood place!!!

The Getaway is my favorite cocktail bar in city! The staff are always kind and the ambiance is…read moretop-tier, with great decor and seating. I also love the events they host. It, simply put, has my favorite vibe and whoever is on aux is doing the Lord's work. The drinks are always yummy and they have a wide selection. Great spot to catch up with friends and spend a late night out.