We thoroughly enjoyed Gilt Bar! It was super busy when we arrived, but they moved people through…read morethe restaurant so efficiently that we were seated surprisingly quickly. We absolutely loved the aesthetic and vibe throughout the restaurant as well. For dinner, we had the vodka pasta with meatballs, and it was the perfect creamy consistency with incredible flavor. We also ordered the hamachi crudo, which was super fresh and definitely something we'd order again. Not pictured: we wrapped up the meal with the skillet cookie, and oh my gosh... I can't recommend it enough.

Kari's Rating 8.75/10…read more TLDR -Dark like dads shining a flashlight on the menu dark -Upstairs parlor and underground library drink parlor -$5 Photo Booth downstairs Came with a friend around 5:15 and honestly, this was the perfect time to come here. I know this place is super busy, but 5:15 was the perfect time to come in and grab the waiters attention, sit down and relax before it started getting overwhelmingly busy and also to have the freshest food.

We tried pre opera drinks and bites at Good Funk on Wacker and overall it was a blah experience…read more The wine selection was interesting, the food was average, at best. We didn't especially enjoy the atmosphere (sadly we were seated at the bar next to some douche dude bros) or the service. I doubt we will return.

Good Funk was the kind of unexpected gem that completely transforms an ordinary night--exactly what…read moreI needed while on a business trip in Chicago, the night before my birthday. I wanted nothing more than to ring in year 45 with a great glass of natural wine... and I walked out having had a 7-glass flight and one of the most memorable evenings of the trip. The bartenders deserve their own star. They weren't just knowledgeable--they were genuinely fun to talk to, the kind of people who make you feel like you've been coming there for years. We went from discussing funky wine profiles to diving deep into '80s horror films, which is absolutely my idea of a perfect tangent. Their enthusiasm and curiosity made the whole experience feel personal and spontaneous. As for the wine: unique, surprising, and delicious, even the pours I didn't expect to enjoy. Good Funk leans into exploration in the best way--nothing feels generic or predictable. Every glass had its own personality, and the flight felt like a curated adventure rather than a lineup. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, stylish without being pretentious, and perfect for either a solo wind-down or a lively night out. It's the kind of place that encourages you to linger, taste one more thing, have one more conversation. Good Funk turned what could've been a quiet, forgettable evening into an unforgettable birthday-eve celebration. If you're in Chicago and love natural wine--or just love a spot with genuine heart--don't miss this place.

We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

(Kari's Rating 8.75/10)…read more Came with a friend late on a Friday night after dinner time We were able to be seated almost immediately at a nice little private Cove table. We ordered a flight of whiskey sours, which contained whiskeys from Japan, Vietnam, and Wisconsin. I also was able to order an amaretto sour, which they made with freshly hand beaten egg whites, which was a nice cherry on the top. As far as the whiskey flights go, I think the best one was the Vietnam flight because it had a slightly lemongrass twang and was a little bit lighter than the other two. The heaviest one was the Wisconsin which came with a little bit of a bite at the end, but it still wasn't bad if you're trying to blackout on a $15 budget. I would definitely come back with a larger group this seems like a great place, but is a little bit loud- so if you be prepared to yell or wear earplugs. The bathroom took my a second to find, which should have been intuitive considering it was on the opposite end of where you come in. I blame the lighting as things are already pretty hard to find in the dark, but eventually I made it there-Pat myself on the back.

I stopped by Chicago Winery on a Wednesday early evening solo and was able to sit at the bar…read morewithout reservation. I was blown away by the ambiance and decor. Chicago Winery prioritizes upscale and intimacy but their service is personable and friendly allowing you to feel right at home. On Wednesday they offer a Happy Hour special, $5 off a tasting and $10 wine by the glass. The server as extremely kind, and was able to offer me some suggestions based on my personal palate and wine interests. I landed on the Winemaker's Tasting, which included 4, one ounce pours, including Blancs de Blancs, Albarino, Barbera and Merlot. I paired the tasting with the a BYOB board. From their menu I picked the olives, Afterglow, and the Tempesta Guanciale. The server was educated on the wines was able to walk me through the tasting and pairings but gave me independence and autonomy to enjoy at my own leisure and pace. I highly enjoyed my visit and absolutely will be returning to dine in, as well as to get a winery tour!

Was gifted the wine tasting and tour for my birthday which was a very fun experience. Great deal to…read morebuy wine after. I preferred the whites and was disappointed by the reds. We had the date package and ate at the restaurant after. I recommend the pork schnitzel and pierogis. We ordered four shareables but weren't blown away by the butternut squash fondue and gougeres. Loved our hostess for the wine tasting, but wish there was more guidance on tasting notes and wine terminology. I'd recommend though to any wine lovers, I still learned a lot!

Took my wife here for her birthday and had an excellent experience. A great bistro style French…read morerestaurant tucked into River North. We started with the gem salad which was super fresh, full of flavor and a great dressing to match. Very shareable for 2 people. I went with the Corn Dog as my main and it was gimmick. The full flavor of the foie gras came through and mixed perfectly with the cherry compote. My wife had the duck breast that she absolutely loved. Service was excellent and our waiter made great recommendations. Loved the FPA beer he suggested with my dinner.

Obelix is a delicious French bistro with a twist. It's been my regular spot for a leisurely…read moremid-week lunch, special occasions with mom, and weekend fun brunches with friends. The starters and entrees rotate seasonally, and they have an amazing patisserie team if you've grown tired of profiteroles with ice cream and creme brulee (*yawn*) being your only options. The service is beyond exceptional--I cannot say enough.

Fried Calamari, 3.5/5: I like how there were pepper and jalapeño pieces in there! Nothing crazy,…read moreit's good but nothing mind blowing. Some pieces were little salty. Wish it was crispier! Boneless Chicken Vesavio, 4/5: My only complaint it the butt ends of the chicken was dry and tough. Otherwise, the sauce is very good, it's savory almost like porridge. The peas surprisingly added nice flavor to it. Wish all the potatoes were crispy tho! Burrata Lasagna, 3.9/5: Good but wouldn't get it again. TBD tastes similar to frozen lasagna. The sauce was nice thick and it had structural integrity to it. Birthday Gelato, 10/10 : Genuinely one of the best things I ate in Chicago. I wish I knew what flavors we got, it was 3 diff kinda. I'm pretty sure it was cherry chocolate for one, and the chocolate pieces were so perfect. We don't even like cherry and my sister doesn't even like chocolate but it ate it clean. Service is amazing and the ambience is really nice. It's very busy in there but the tables are far apart enough to have intimate convo. It is somewhat loud tho.

I'd been wanting to try this happy hour for some time, and once we did, I was beyond pleased. The…read more$8 Negronis (house Negroni and Negroni of the month) are a great deal and so yummy. Every shared food item we purchased from the happy hour menu was savory and memorable. We had the mushroom arancini, rib sliders, prime beef meatballs and whipped ricotta. The happy hour pricing is attractive. Service was top-tier, and the inside is quite inviting. Everyone seemed happy to be there and took care with every step of the ordering and serving process. The bar was full when we arrived, but the host told us that spots at the bar open up rather quickly. This proved to be true, so I am so glad we waited for a few minutes. However, I wouldn't recommend this happy hour for a group of more than 2 because offerings are available at the bar only, and I suspect it would be hard to get four seats together.

My best friend was dying to show me this trendy and cute rooftop bar. I'm so happy we checked it…read moreout. It was exactly what we were craving for a summer outing. This would've been a 5 star for me, however, I couldn't help like we were being rushed. I would've understood if it was busy, but there were a lot of empty seats around us. Ignoring that, we had a great time. We were seated at hightops with lovely views of the city. Since it is a rooftop, you are greeted by a host downstairs that calls an elevator for you and then by a host upstairs. It's mainly outdoor seating. They offer some food, but if you want something more substantial, Avec downstairs is your best best. Our server was fun and guessed what drinks we would like most based on our vibes. I was happy when he said mine because I was already between two drinks and he picked one of those! I loved the Side to Side cocktail. My bestie wanted more from her Golden Oldie. It's a pretty spot.

The vibes here are immaculate. You walk into a building and check in and they send you up in an…read moreelevator to the roof. It's so iconic. Every server was kind, but we lucked out with Ingrid who was extra special! Quick and the drinks were very good. The food was just amazing. We got so many things I didn't get pics of. These dates wrapped in bacon were a highlight. Honestly you couldn't go wrong with anything you try here!

Much too expensive. Prices are way out of range of anywhere else of similar quality. The staff are…read morevery helpful and nice but the prices they charge are ridiculous

The experience there was great! The atmosphere was very nice and elegant. The presenter was very…read moreknowledgeable about the different wines we had during the tasting. There was outshines to join tHw wine club although suggested if we wanted to. This was an experience I would do again. It was a good pre birthday event.