TLDR vibe: your rich "cultured" friends you kind of hate just got back from France and youre like-…read moreoh I know a place. Or youre dating someone who likes Anthony Bourdain and you've convinced her you're a foodie. I rarely if ever give a place 5 stars but I have to for this place. At a high level heres what made it stand out to me from other often mentioned places in chicago: the portions felt decent for the prices, the food was actually good, and the vibe truly did feel like a busy French bistro vs the well spaced large rooms of most other restaurants. It's not great if youre someone overstimulated easily, hard of hearing, or need elbow room. Or if youre looking for this uber luxe quiet formal vibe. But if you want to go somewhere where you feel like youre in a (extremely well known) hole in the wall this is it. Even though it was crowded one of my favorite parts was that the chefs or at least culinary dressed not front of house vibe dressed staff- were walking around as well so it was like you were really in the back of the kitchen secret table vibes. I also appreciated that a couple got engaged and they called attention to it without making us all cheer incredibly loudly. Me and the table next to me were like- who? what? They have good N/A champagne which I appreciated. And the bay leaf ice cream tasted like some legit herbs - which as someone whose goal is to really taste plants and the flavors of the earth - I appreciated.

Le Bouchon is an excellent example of the idea one *can* have too much of a good thing. Alas, there…read morewere more things that went a little south with the experience. I ordered the Escargot and the French Onion Soup. There was also free baguette included at the start of the meal. I loved that the baguette had a substantial crust, for it was an absolute delight to butter it up (though not the best butter in the world), and dip it into the herbaceous escargot butter. However, the inside, despite its temperature, was still gooey/doughy. Too much crust or some other technical issue? I'll let those with baking experience sound off. Whatever the case, the last thing I want to do with fresh baguette is ripping out the innards and rolling it into a ball of silly putty. Now, for the escargot... ah snails, an old favorite, for I don't really love fast food (ha!) These were mostly good, save for two things: First, the texture was still just a little slimy, reminiscent of an oyster. 30 seconds more cook time is all they needed, a minute would be too much! Second, the sauce didn't do them any favors. I've had escargot in a rich, buttery, garlicky, slightly herbed sauce that was beyond divine. This dish went triple-overboard, if not more, on the greens - making it resemble a chimichurri rather than something turning snails into decadence. Now, we arrive at the French Onion Soup. The sheer amount of cheese was so excessive that I recoiled even though I have a line item in my budget for cheese. I fished what remained out, and consumed it only out of spite. Now, while I appreciate the use of crusty bread that didn't turn into soggy croutons, the size of the pieces was too large. I'm one who orders prepared food with the understanding that it is prepared and should require minimal additional work. Steaks that need slicing are exempt, soup is not. Unfortunately, there was one more undoing: while I can understand a less sweet soup may be normal variation in the recipe, one of the spoonfuls had something very sour, as if it was a large wad of sour cream (though none was present). This made were otherwise rich and flavorful broth less than enjoyable. When it comes to the service, this had some good and bad. It was friendly, attentive, and the food came out fast. However, an item of note is that finished plates were not cleared in due course. This applies not only to myself but also the stranger sitting next to me. Final verdict: I wanted to love Le Bouchon, really I did. I was even hoping, at first, to try more of the menu on a return visit. However, the poor execution across the board does not provide the confidence needed for a return visit.

This is Chicago's newest staple and a very must try!…read moreAtmosphere is welcoming, attentive staff that treat you like an old friend. So much thought and detail has gone into this place. Dood is amazing and Drinks are on point. What more can you ask for. If time you want a more quaint and quieter dinner please Take a Walk upstairs to Bull Moose. You will not be disappointed. How you doin' ????

Beaumont's is here to stay. An homage to the original dive bar, I think John & Paul have this place…read morein good hands renovated, sleek, and modern with nice woodwork and a bar that invites everyone to come sit down for a drink or a meal. Started with the escargot and every bite was savory, the fresh lemon juice on top elevated it and I wish I had taken the extra bread they offered because there was plenty of butter left to be consumed. For the main I went with the steak frites the 10oz flatiron cooked to perfection. Tender, flavorful and the butter kicked it up a notch enhancing every bite, easily one of my favorites in the city. The fries held up too, not a soggy bite in sight and the ketchup and garlic aioli made for great dipping. Closed out with the sticky toffee pudding warm, soft, and fluffy in the middle with dulce de leche gelato that brought it all together for a sweet, cool finish. Good in every way. Service was the standout though. My bartender Ryan and barback Mike were on point from the moment I sat down, never let my drink run dry and stayed consistent throughout. Got the pleasure of meeting the owners on the way out as well. Excited for what's coming with the steakhouse upstairs will definitely be back. -Mr.

Came during restaurant week and the vibes were honestly amazing. Super intimate and cozy, perfect…read morefor a quiet night out. Atmosphere was easily a 9.5/10 and the service was great too. The first course really impressed me. The Brussels were chopped up (which I'd never had before) and so flavorful with the caramelized onions. The French pumpkin soup was thick, cozy, and delicious with pumpkin seeds and great texture. The second course was more mid. The carrots had nice presentation and an interesting flavor, but didn't wow me. The salad tasted pretty normal. For mains, the chicken breast surprised me. Crispy on the outside, soft inside, and the tomatoes added a nice sweetness. The salmon was cooked well but had a slightly bitter taste. Dessert cookies were alright, nothing crazy. I've never seen cocktails priced so high and thought I've had better cocktails for better prices. We ended up paying around $340 total due to the add ons. Still, the ambiance and service made it a nice dining experience.

Amazing ambiance and very friendly host that greeted us…read more The waiter was ... alright. Not sure about the experience of others but the waiter came off as a bit pretentious. Sort of ruined the atmosphere and a bit cold/unwelcoming with a masked smile. The food came out quite at a decent pace. The Appetizer Chilled Royale of Foie Gras and Cider Noir Gelee: 5/5 absolutely amazing. Easily one of the best choices for an appetizer.the sweetness of the glee complements the savory Foie Gras and gets balanced by their pastry. Perfection. The Entrees: "Half Pound" Classic Grilled French Prime Sirloin "EntrecôTe" Steak "Frites" and Crisp Oignons: 3/5 It was alright. The meat was cooked perfectly and seasoned well but that was it. Veggies were over salted. Considering the price and that this is a high end fine dining restaurant it was lackluster. Early Winter Farm Plate of Moulard Duck Breast, Roasted Quail, Lacqured Pork Belly, and Foie Gras: 5/5 This was a great showcase of various dishes from the restaurant. Each component was cooked exceptionally. An elevated hearty meal. Delicious and a must try. Pumpkin Tartine Pecan and Caramel Ice Cream Rum Allspice Citrus Confit: 4/5 The flavor profile turned this into an unexpected refreshing dessert and a perfect way to finish off the meal. It cleanses the plate well. Overall: 3/5 The atmosphere was great. The service could be better. The food overall 4/5. Also there was an automatic 20 some odd percent tip for a group of two. This is an expected average dinner tip percentage so in ways it's fine. However, unsure if this was standard practice at this establishment. Maybe I missed it but would be courteous to their customers if they were upfront about it.

Checked out the new Saturday coffee and pastries at north pond!! There wasn't a ton of info online…read moreabout this new feature of theirs so was excited to check it out. They open at 10, there was a small line but nothing crazy the whole time we were there. Vibes are great, you can sit outside at the umbrella tables with a great view of the pond! So good on a nice day. Service was excellent, as expected for a Michelin place serving coffee. Super kind man at the counter and coffees were made quickly. Pastries took a little longer but not too bad! I got an iced latte which was solid! My friends got the cold brew and just by the look of it I could tell it looked weak and super watered down. Espresso was good though, and prices are surprisingly standard if not inexpensive for the coffee ($6 ish) Pastries are small but unique and fun and made with quality! We tried just about everything and split them. Each one is about $9 which is a little steep for some of the sizes but made sense for the artistry. I think my favorites were the samosas, savory focaccia, and zucchini bread (the lemon and blueberries were a nice unique touch). Overall would come back mainly because the vibes were nice! Not like the best new bakery by any means but totally worth checking out on a nice day!

Ambiance - intimate spot, great for dates & celebrations…read more Service - exceptional, our server was polite and checked on us often Food - offers tasting menu only & glad we got to choose our main course option, everything was cooked to perfection, loved that they made some parts of the dinner interactive

Excellent, unique cuisine. Great drinks…read more Stunning interior design. Love the ambiance. Kind and knowledgeable staff. More people should know about this place! It's under the radar right now!

Came here for happy hour. Beautiful restaurant. Great location. Happy hour selection of food and…read moredrinks was food however there was no taste of anything Asian in the Mediterrasian cuisine. I had the Caesar bites, hummus, and kafta. The kafta was the best-- definitely worth it. The other two were not memorable. The hummus had peas which was weird. Skip that. I'd come back here for the vibes and the BRB cocktail, but not for dinner.

It's a bit hidden I love the way it feels when you come in. You walk into a stanch, give them your…read morename and they escort you to your table. Love the Wall Street 80s theme along with the 80s music. Each dish was presented very well by all the different servers. The food was beautifully prepared and tasted incredible. Really enjoyed it.

On our anniversary trip to Chicago the first nights meal was at Next. The Michelin Starred…read morerestaurant that's part of the Alinea group. Next changes up menus several times a year, and our menu was 1987 Manhattan. Bottom line - 5 star review - From ambiance, to service and most of all to the quality of the food. That differentiated this meal from the one we had at Alinea in 2018 was that there were no molecular gastronomy, just good quality cooking, some of it reimagined in innovative ways (Shrimp Cocktail & Oysters Rockefeller for example). It was a great progression. We didn't get the actual menu until the end but it was very thought out. Everything was very good, not a single miss in the 10 courses. My wife and I both agreed that the Pasta Primavera course was the best of the bunch. Beautiful plating, a fresh respit from the previous rich dish - the Oyster Rockefeller, and just very flavorful. My second favorite dish was most likely the Turbot. The Chorizo-Mussel Veloute served with it was intensely flavorful. Both animal proteins - Chicken and Wagyu were perfectly cooked and moist. The Chicken was a play on Chicken Kiev and had its sauce on the inside that poured out when the chicken was cut. The dessert was flamed with some sort of alcohol, sort of like a baked Alaska, but there was no ice cream in it. It tasted like a strawberry and cream dessert to me. This is the only thing that my wife had criticism for. She said hers tasted like some of the alcohol had not burnt off, maybe with a little petroleum aftertaste. She was also very full by then. Next did really well with the pairings. I have to admit that I love wine, but am not a deep expert. My wife and I enjoy all varietals. When we dine a la carte we often order things we haven't had before rather than old faithfuls. So my comment on the pairings is that I enjoyed each of them. I'm very glad the traditional gin martini was included with the shrimp. And it was a good variety of wines. If you didn't tell me I wouldn't have known if they were higher end wines or ones that are more affordable. One thing that our palates aren't really built for is the older aged reds. Just not our thing. I think you need to drink more of those kinds of wine to really appreciate them. The pairings did enhance the meal however. All in all in all if we lived in Chicago, next would be on our agenda each time they changed their menu. But, since we don't live there, I'm happy we got to experience their 1987 Manattan Menu!!

Good food. Good service. Hidden Fees…read more I came to SIFR for a business dinner and it's definitely a place I would return to. We ordered a variety of dips to start (they were all absolutely amazing but the braised rib eye humus was delicious! My main was the lamb kebab with a side of rice, both were very good. If I were to come back I'd probably either do the prix fixe menu or order family style to get more variety of entrees. The service was friendly, accommodating and reasonably quick. One star was lost for me with the hidden fees. They charged a 4% service charge automatically. Our boss from UK almost mistook this for auto-gratuity and then we had to explain the technical accounting involved in Chicago tipping- awkward. Restaurants really need to end these hidden fees, just raise your prices. Overall I would definitely come back and recommend it as a solid option

Upon arrival, our party of three was greeted professionally and warmly and led upstairs to the…read moreopen-air patio. After another friendly greeting, we were seated and given a quick explanation of the options for our meal and for drinks, as well. One of us ordered the #7 cocktail, sa'baa, which we considered to be medium-sweet, as far as gin-based, fruit-forward cocktails are concerned. Perfectly balanced, in the opinion of the primary drinker. (Me!) My favorite gin cocktail in a while. (#7 SA'BAA COCKTAIL, 5/5) Another member of our party of 3 ordered the #0 N/A SIFR cocktail, which I felt was perhaps the only underwhelming flavor of the evening. However, the order-er of this cocktail thought it was good. (#0 N/A SIFR COCKTAIL 3.5/5) We debated the merits of a la carte versus tasting menu, and went with the tasting menu for all three of us, given our level of late-Friday hunger. Prepare the have ample left over if you opt for the tasting menu without an appetite to match. TASTING MENU OPENING COURSE: Hummus, 4.5/5 For the opening course, we were served the hummus and pita. If you prefer a sturdy amount of pita with every spoonful of hummus, do yourself a favor and order an extra pita per person. The hummus is beautifully seasoned, with just enough oil to provide a sumptuously-smooth texture that delivers the pepper and other flavors with perfect balance. Delicious. (HUMMUS w/ PITA, 4.5/5) TASTING MENU SMALL PLATES COURSE: Scallops (5/5), lamb kebab (4.5/5), maitaki roasted mushroom (5/5) The server and kitchen collaborated nicely to delivery each course perfectly-cooked and perfectly-timed. Despite our late seating, we never felt rushed. All three diners at our table, myself enthusiastically included, felt that this second course was the strongest out of the four courses offered with the tasting menu. Scallops are delightfully and delicately seasoned and briefly flame-kissed, served on top of a luscious, peppery orange sauce. Good lord, what a bite. We wanted five hundred of these. (SCALLOPS, 5/5) The lamb kebab can really only be faulted for how little we were given. I'd hope for a bigger portion. If you know you'll love it, which you will, just order a bonus order of this. (LAMB KEBAB, 4.5/5) Maitaki mushroom. Whew! Just getting started and hitting it out of the park with this one. I strongly felt that this was the strongest bite of the entire meal, though my companions landed firmly on the scallop for this title. A mushroom of this quality cooked with this skill is genuinely difficult to find in all but a few high-end spots, so consider this a rare opportunity and treat. ORDER THE MAITAKI! I will have words for this restaurant if this particular preparation of this particular mushroom ever departs their menu. (MAITAKI, 5/5) TASTING MENU ENTREE COURSE: Ravioli-type Manti-and-morel-mushroom thing (4.5/5), branzino (5/5), lamb shank (4/5) Not as much to say about this course. Obviously delicious, but the branzino was a standout. Maybe if we came again we'd order JUST the branzino from this list, especially if we weren't as hungry. It's so good. Not overly-salty like many fish dishes prepared in this manner. Wow. TASTING MENU DESSERT COURSE, toasted strawberries and cream (4.5/5) This is served cold. It is better that it is. It is very good. Quality berries and quality cream were used. SERVICE WAS SO GOOD! Whoever from the restaurant sees this, if anyone does, ought to track down whoever it was that was serving Nidhi, party of three, on Friday, 06/19 and give them a medal or something. Service like this is a class above what I'd even expect of a restaurant at this price point.

Excellent experience from the minute we stepped foot inside the restaurant…read more The food was great with multiple standout courses. The salmon was phenomenal. As was the scallop course. The service was absolutely impeccable. Exceptional attention to detail. The space is boldly minimalistic and I loved it. The only thing I didn't love was the wine pairing. But that is on me bc I am hard to please with white wine (I hate it on average). 10/10 would recommend.

I had a new life event and wanted to celebrate. I have never tried a 2* Michelin restaurant…read more My expectation was to experience new flavors and open up my perspective on food. Ever exceeded that on food, service, and ambiance levels. Courses ticked my boxes on new flavors as every dish had dynamic flavors that changed as you chewed. What really wowed me was the textures experienced in the food. I had never been someone who values the ambiance of a restaurant. Ever truly made wowed me. Don't want spoil the experience for anyone else by giving too much detail. Sight, smell, hearing were all new experiences for me. Service was top notch and the staff struck the perfect balance between giving our group space to talk and the restaurant experience. My one complaint was that the last/main savory dish: Golden chicken did not impress me. Otherwise I dream of experiencing the other 7/8 dishes again I highly recommend Ever and it will be #1 on my list to compare other dining experiences. I hope to experience Ever or something even better in the future!