Wow! If you're looking for a restaurant that can satisfy a group with different tastes, Patina Wine…read moreBar is an excellent choice. Their thoughtfully curated menu may be compact, but it offers a great variety--from fresh salads and wood-fired pizzas to steaks, seafood, and chicken dishes--so there's truly something for everyone. The drink menu is just as fun, with creative cocktails named after iconic songs and music titles, adding a unique touch to the experience. We started with oysters (special), pear arugula salad then ordered main course- I walleye (special) and shrimp risotto. Everything was excellent. It's worth mentioning that the portions are generous enough to leave you satisfied without being overwhelming, making it easy to enjoy an appetizer, entrée, or dessert without feeling overstuffed.

We've heard very good things about Patina and we're excited to try it tonight. As soon as we…read morewalked in the staff was very kind and attentive. We love the ambiance of the restaurant. It's very peaceful, romantic and a calm atmosphere. All of the food was delicious. The plating is so attractive! The dishes have great flavor but are healthier options. The portion sizes were perfect for what we desired. I'm not exaggerating when I say this was the best branzino I've ever had. The skin was crunchy and delicious. But the fish was not dry at all! There's nothing better than a juicy branzino fish and chef Jose nailed it! Matching with the sauce and beans was so much better than any other veggies or starch. The octopus was also cooked to perfection. The flavor and temperature was just right. Not too hot and such a great texture. We don't always order desserts but we had to see every course of the menu. We decided to go with a lava cake and it did not disappoint. It had that perfect contrast of hot and cold but it's served with gelato which gives it a nice touch of texture compared to standard ice cream. Chef Jose came out and introduced himself. We came in because we were enticed by a beef tartare that was on their menu in the past. We're hoping he brings it back on a special sometime soon. He said to give him a call and he'll try to accommodate whenever possible to make his customers happy. What an amazing restaurant. We cannot wait to come back and see what's new. Thank you for an amazing dinner and night!

This place delivers on food, ambiance, and service. Downtown…read morecity vibes and the food was delicious. Great menu with broad options. Friendly staff.

This was our first time here, and we came to celebrate a birthday. We had noted it in the…read morereservation and also had a conversation about it with our server. We were a little surprised when nothing was done for it, which isn't a big deal, but I'll be honest it was disappointing since we did come specifically to celebrate and had talked about it w our server. 3/5 Arancini - Very salty. None of us really enjoyed them because of that. They also came out lukewarm instead of hot. Would have been excellent if it was less salty and came out hot and crispy. 5/5 Fig & Mushroom (subbed for prosciutto) - The menu doesn't specify how the fig is served. Turned out to be fig jam rather than fresh fig, which wasn't what we expected. A little too sweet for me but overall still very much enjoyed it. Their pizza was cooked perfectly with enough toppings and cheese. Very good pizza! 5/5 Braised Short Rib + Polenta - so good! The short rib was excellent, just slightly salty. The polenta was perfect, and it came with a generous portion of wild mushrooms. 2/5 White Wine Cake (recommended as "unique") by our server - This was the most disappointing meal item. Our waitress told us it was special, but it was very bland and didn't match the description or image on their website. Their website showed a cake with a large scoop of ice cream on top, fair amount of whipped cream and raspberry sauce. Ours came with maybe a quarter of the size of that ice cream scoop, a little teaspoon dollop of whipped cream that you eat in one bite and the raspberry sauce was a tiny smear on bottom for decor but there wasn't enough to actually eat it. The cake itself was moist but lacked flavor. It took a really long time to come out, we thought perhaps they forgot, then forgetting we were celebrating a birthday on top of that was disappointing. Atmosphere - Beautiful space, very well done. The only issue is how close the tables are, you can't pull your chair back without hitting someone, and getting to the bathroom requires asking others to move because of how tight the layout is. Overall, we really enjoyed it and would return. While there were a few dishes we wouldn't order again, and others we would. Would love to try the wild mushroom pizza next time! The only thing was that since we had come to celebrate a birthday and didn't end up doing that, the night felt a little less special than we had expected--but still a nice experience overall.

We had our wedding at Moonflower, and it was amazing! We…read moreoriginally found Moonflower on Zola. Although we are from the area, we had never visited before, and the photos immediately caught our attention. The bar fit our vibe perfectly, and after visiting a few times, we knew it was the right place for us. We rented both spaces: the main bar upstairs and Nightshade, the speakeasy downstairs. Moonflower has a small stage in the main bar, which we used for our ceremony. The space already has so much character that it needed very little decorating. We brought small flower vases and an altar piece that the bride and her now mother in law made together. After the ceremony, we held cocktail hour and served food buffet style in the main bar. Later, everyone moved downstairs to Nightshade. Its lounge atmosphere and dance floor were perfect for our 50 to 60 guests. Some people relaxed around the cocktail tables while others danced, so everyone could enjoy the night in their own way. Moonflower's event organizer, Morgan, was wonderful. She made the entire planning process feel easy and was a joy to work with. She helped turn our ideas into reality, assisting with day of logistics, décor, beverage packages, and every question that came up. She was always responsive and available. Morgan also helped us think through details that had not occurred to us, including coffee for our guests, explaining the parking situation, contacting nearby businesses about using their lots, and recommending DJs. We ultimately hired one of the DJs she suggested. Her extra support was incredibly helpful and took a great deal of stress out of planning. If you have not tried Moonflower's drinks, you are missing out. Their regular cocktail menu is fantastic, and our experience was even more special because of a custom cocktail session with Zach. He created signature drink options for each of us based on our tastes and favorite cocktails. Every option was spectacular, and the final drinks felt personal and special. We chose Funeral Potatoes for the food. Since they already handle the food at Moonflower, we were able to try many dishes beforehand. Our guests raved about everything. We especially recommend the brussels sprouts, deviled eggs, and caprese sandwiches. Alexis, who heads up Funeral Potatoes, was also extremely helpful with selecting the menu. The only outside food we brought in was our wedding cake. The entire staff was phenomenal. Everyone treated the occasion with the perfect balance of care, professionalism, and fun. The night went off without a hitch and was truly one of the best nights of our lives. Moonflower was also extremely reasonable compared with other venues we considered in the city, especially with an open bar and food available on site. Street parking was plentiful, and none of our guests had trouble finding a spot. For anyone looking for a relaxed wedding for 50 to 60 people with a memorable lounge atmosphere, fantastic staff, buffet style food, and exceptional cocktails, Moonflower should be at the top of your list.

Very cute and cozy place!! They do a few events here as well. The food is rather limited but they…read moredo ironically have funeral potatoes which are very seasoned. I love!!! I love the bartender, very speedy service!!! Mac and cheese (not pictured) comes out in a cute little stainless steel frying pan. They also have happy hour!!!!!

A bar within a bar inception…read more Nightshade is the basement bar of Moonflower. We came to the opening weekend to check out the vibe. There was a healthy amount of folks coming through, but not too crowded. It's dark, closed off with a smaller bar and also additional washrooms below. Vibe is sparse - at the moment, it's simple with the centerpiece of the red glowing bar, side bench seating, a few lamps off to the side, painted in a dark green/black floor to ceiling color. I think the reason to have this secondary space is the potential to do more fun, experimental drinks. Though space is cozier, it's nice to see seating was designed to accommodate groups too. I think it would have been easy to talk to other table groups if the music was just a tad softer. Son of a Gun - it's a tortilla chip in drink form. It's savory with a hint of cilantro. Sneaking Suspicion - nice apparent flavor of chamomile balanced out with a slight, creamy sweet flavor of yogurt. If you're into exploring unusual flavors and forms, Nightshade is a place to check out, and of course Moonflower offers another menu so you can do 2 in 1. Kitchen closes at 10pm.

SUCH a cool little "hidden" spot!…read more Nightshade is a small little cocktail bar under Moonflower, and it's INCREDIBLE. The drinks were so fun- I had one rimmed with crushed tortilla chip. Absolutely worth the stop!

The food was decent but nothing special. For an area with so many Greek options I just wasn't blown…read moreaway. The prices were high, I got the souvlakia for $24 assuming it would be 2 meals for me (I'm a small girl) and I was able to easily finish the plate. I think it would've been a fair price if it came with 2 sides instead of 1. The server was nice when we got there, but that changed when my husband walked to the counter service part of the restaurant (Mully's) to order a burger. We thought the Social 18 menu was table service and the Mully's menu was counter service. When the waitress realized he had gone over himself to place his burger order she got very aggressive, saying it "takes away from front of house money" (aka her tip). It was uncomfortable and weird and totally turned me off to the business. The lady working the Mully's counter was the person that brought all our food out and she was very nice. Overall I'd say 4 stars for taste, 3 stars for price, 2 stars for service. I definitely don't want to see this place fail, I just hope there can be some adjustments to make it a better place to visit. I personally won't be back.

You gotta try this joint with amazing Greek food, drinks and outstanding service. We ate inside but…read morethey also have seating outside in front in the summer. Fantastic experience!

View, food and service. Check, check and check! Come check it out, you won't regret it.read more

We celebrated our anniversary at this establishment, a place I've been hearing about for quite some…read moretime. Since it was a special occasion, we finally had the opportunity to dine here, and I made our reservation through the Resy app. When we arrived, we were seated quickly. The first thing that really caught my attention was the atmosphere. The restaurant was converted from a church, and I absolutely love how they preserved the original character of the space. The high ceilings make the restaurant feel open and spacious, while the beautiful stained-glass windows add so much charm and personality. For appetizers, we started with the Shrimp Saganaki and Lobster Maki Roll. Of the two, the Shrimp Saganaki was our favorite. We enjoyed the presentation, flavor, and texture, which were all right up our alley. The Lobster Maki Roll was good, but in my opinion, the lobster-to-rice ratio was a little too heavy on the rice. For my entrée, I ordered the Brick Chicken, which was served as a chicken quarter leg. It was cooked perfectly--the skin was crispy, the meat was tender and juicy, and the garlic sauce complemented the chicken beautifully. For dessert, we ordered the Banana Sticky Toffee Pudding served with vanilla gelato. It was phenomenal and the perfect way to finish our dining experience. I also have to mention the service. Our server was welcoming, attentive, and made us feel comfortable throughout our first visit. The restaurant went above and beyond to make our anniversary even more memorable by surprising us with complimentary champagne and dessert with a sparkling candle. That thoughtful gesture truly made the evening special. Overall, the atmosphere, service, and food were all a hit for us. We had a wonderful anniversary dinner and left with a great experience. They've definitely gained another loyal customer!

12/28/24 - While we loved going to Bourbon & Brass. This is a cool speakeasy on the second floor…read moreof the Des Plaines Theater. When I was a kid I use to go to the Des Plaines Theater & watch movies for 60 cents (ahhh nostalgia trip down memory lane), but I digress The speakeasy inside the Des Plaines Theater is an awesome idea. The show was awesome but the one MAJOR MAJOR issue I have is the bartender who continued to serve my sister's friend. He was obviously very very drunk to a point where he could barely walk wo/stumbling. He was slurring his words. Both my sister & I asked the bartender not to serve him anymore alcohol but she kept serving him drinks even after we asked. She continued to serve him even after we asked her not to. When he and my sister left she told me he tried to put the key in the ignition 14X's before she convinced him to let her drive. Your bartender's need to be aware of a persons level of intoxication. Both my sister & I asked her not to serve him anymore drinks but she continued to serve him. Thank God my sister was able to convince him to let her drive home otherwise what was an excellent evening could have ended tragically. Please have your bartenders be more conscious of a persons level of intoxication. While I gave Bourbon & Brass a 5 star review I need to down grade that for over serving someone alcohol even after both my sister & I asked her to stop serving him

I heard there was a speakeasy at this theater, so we had to stop by to check it out. Free parking…read moreat the lot behind or ramp. There was a show that evening, when we entered the theater, the usher asked to see our tickets. I asked how to get to the speakeasy and the usher pointed to the elevator, take it to the second floor. Once we got to the second floor, more ushers greeted us and informed us there's a jazz band performing and small cover charge. As soon as we paid and entered through the bookshelf, the room was beautifully arranged as a lounge with fancy and vintage sofas and couches. Kind of reminds me of someone grandma's house. The bar had snacks available, otherwise more drink options. The band played good songs too. Definitely recommend if you're in the area and jazz fan.

A clean, well lighted space, they have live music play on weekend nights (and perhaps weekday?)…read more We stopped in one Friday night to listen to jazz and drink cocktails. The cocktails are good, especially the Oat Fashioned and the Toranto.

Take Flight Spirits is such a fun and unique spot with truly delicious drink options. I personally…read morelove the Dirty Hippie (a dirty chai with rum) or the Hibiscus Daiquiri. Both drinks are fantastic, depending on your mood. They offer some snacks for purchase, but one of the best parts is that you're welcome to bring your own food, making it a great place to hang out without feeling limited. It's the perfect place to meet up with friends, catch a live performance, enjoy trivia night, or check out one of their many other events. Their website has an updated list of what's coming up, which makes planning easy. Adding to the ambience, you'll find a few tables that are actually chalk board tables so you can draw or play games on the chalkboard tables if you want. It's so fun! The staff has always been kind, welcoming, and great at crafting drinks. Take Flight Spirits is definitely one of my favorite local spots!

These folks know how to run a restaurant! Nice greeting,…read moreattentive, professional, friendly service all the way. Menu has so many great items that we have returned several times. Parking was no hassle. ..and who doesn't love leftovers?

First time trying the Harp and Fiddle. Overall it was a decent place. The service wasn't great but…read morethe cocktails were. Everything was pretty standard minus the Sheppard pie. Which honestly was a little surprising considering. I'd most likely return since it's close to home for drinks only next time.

Always a treat to stop in…read more Have you been ? We'll get there Stopped in and had the chicken Caesar wrap. Fresh and tasty Service was excellent and price was good. The dining area was nice and cozy. Will be back

We had a dinner planned for 8 friends and I put a lot of effort into researching a spot where we…read morecould enjoy being outside during Chicago summer. I booked a spot on the rooftop and received a confirmation back that we'd be seated there. Upon arrival on a beautiful night, we were informed there was an event being held on the rooftop - it felt really dishonest to me that we were confirmed and then moved without a call to advise of the change, since the rooftop was the reason we booked and events are usually planned well in advance. Food was solid as was the service, and we had a great night, but I was disappointed in the lack of transparency on rooftop availability, especially after telling everyone in our group that we would be dining on the rooftop. Seems to be a trend in looking at other reviews which is disappointing.