Enjoyed a wine flight and charcuterie plate. Service was great, plenty of wine options, and good snack food.

My thoughts are much like Nicole M's. We also had a little trouble finding the place, and were escorted into the office building that led to it feeling like we were spies, being led to a very secret place. At first I thought that boded well, that it was some wonderful hidden treasure. Meh. Maybe they didn't treat us attentively because we had a TravelZoo voucher, but aside from the guy who sat us, I felt pretty ignored. We had a server come over to kick it off, but before he came back, another guy came to take our order. And then the first guy came back, and seemed mad at US that someone else had stolen his table. Our wine flights came out and then our meat and cheese plate came out easily 30 minutes later, if not longer. So we didn't really get to enjoy it all together. When the flights arrived, the waiter just read the names on the menu, but didn't really go into depth explaining anything about them, which I think is one of my favorite things about a wine bar. read more

This rating is for their lunchtime takeout counter inside of the building (just to the left of the entrance as you face it). So, for a tiny grab and go place in a work building, the food is PHENOMINAL. The turkey sandwich is literally the best turkey sandwich I've ever had. Of course, at $8, it better be! Also of note, the Sopa Verde soup - it's a rich, creamy, vegan soup. It's also quite spicy, be forewarned. minus one star because it is $$$, but the food is really, really good. read more

Our company had an event here as we were attending a conference in Chicago. I agree with a number of the reviews here that the service could be improved. Although the waiter was very knowledgeable about wines and made excellent suggestions, we felt he was not as welcoming as we would have liked. He appeared to rush us through our orders, but I guess feeding 20-plus people at the same time is a challenge. The food overall was very good, but one person's filet was definitely way undercooked and she had to order salmon instead. Overall, an average place, but Chicago has so many great restaurants to choose from that this would not be on my list of recommendations. read more

Came here for a bday lunch for a coworker. Cool, cavernous atmosphere, lots of wooden tables, etc. I had the beef sandwich with a cup of the pasta fagiole and it wS delicious. The au jus came on the side, was nice and salty, very tasty. The beef was fresh and juicy. The service was quick. Everyone else's food looked amazing too, and the crime brûlée dessert was great too! Perfect spot in the loop for a nice lunch, and if makes me wanna come back after work for some vino! read more

We looked for somewhere to eat before a theater show and my wife found a 'Living Social' coupon for this place. After walking into the 10 S Wacker building and being directed to the correct entrance, we found a very busy place with most people drinking outside by the river. We were seated at a table inside that had two drawbacks - first the music was very loud and second, as the evening progressed, the sun in the west came in the window more and more so that eventually I was blinded. Luckily by then our meal was about over. I had a Scotch egg and the jamon flatbread while my wife had beet salad and the duck flatbread. The Scotch egg was fine but the beet salad could have done with a more flavorsome dressing. Both flatbreads were pretty good but we preferred mine. Wines by the glass were expensive ( I could only see one under $10) so we just shared a Riesling flight between us. Service was good but not overly friendly. read more

If you know where Rivers is located, they carved out a space on the north side and made it into this wine bar. Wine list is extensive. The tasting bar concept, which i haven't tried, looked interesting. The wine flights are also a good idea if you can't make up your mind, or just want to sample. The food is pretty institutional, but good overall. The dishes were definitely more thought of and a notch above other places along this stretch of Wacker Dr. The duck confit salad was pretty inventive. The flatbreads had a very doughy crust. The star is definitely the salumi. A lot of options from salumerias around the country. Why 3 stars? A notch more upscale version of after work watering holes in this part of downtown. Great extensive wine list. Good food, and super fast. Perfect for when you have that Metra schedule to dash off to, or close to curtain time at the Opera. read more

3.5 stars This review is for the service and drinks. I've never eaten here, but I use this place as my "networking" spot. I work in the building and it's very convenience to meet up with co workers and potential co workers, lol, here. The atmosphere is more lively during the evening but if you go during the day or moreso when I go around 10am it's quiet, dark, and a great place to have an informal interview or network. The service is great and although there known for there wine I recommend on a cold winter day to get the hot chocolate!! I got this last week and it warmed me right up :) One day I'll have to sit down and try the food. read more

Had a work event here was a great experience. Event space was large enough to accommodate around 60 people. Service was great - bartenders were prompt and kept us happy. Good food! read more

Got the calamari and pork belly for starters. Both good. Liked the smoky grilled flavor of the calamari and the capers definitely added a layer of interest. While the pork belly was definitely tender and I really liked it, I reckon some folks will find it a little sweet. We both had lamb chops for the entree and it was a solid dish. The highlight for me was the mascarpone polenta. I still much prefer the lamb chop at The Pump Room though. We had the 2007 Palmina Nebbiolo to pair the meal and it worked really well. I would have given the place a full five stars if I wasn't initially turned off by our server's attitude. We initially wanted a different bottle of wine (2008 Tarras Pinot). The server came back and somewhat crossly said they don't have the bottle without any apologies nor an alternative recommendation. His overall attitude improved as our meal went on but I definitely was put off by his initial demeanor. read more

Went to this hidden gem because the bar we planned on going to was too packed. Staff and serves were supper friendly. There's a bubbles flight! Food is delicious. Atmosphere is perfect, especially during these cold winter months. It's a bit tucked away but worth the search. read more

They have quite a bit of good wines by the glass. I've been there twice and both times sat outside. It's literally next to Rivers, same view and all that. The first time I went I had a server who was extremely knowledgeable and great. The second time my colleagues and I had to finally go inside and ask someone to help us even after I had asked a staff member where if we could sit in a specific vacant table, to which he said we could. Then we sat there for ten minutes until I went inside. Then they were definitely confused because two different servers kept coming around. Also was mad the second time because they had a rose that was supposed to be a sparkling and it wasn't sparkling. It was like a white zin. Based on the two experiences I'll settle on a 3! read more

Great wine flights! great experience been here twice and have used groupons both times or it could be a little pricey they were nice to substitute extra cheeses for the meat. Service could have been a little better but the wine and cheese selection made up for it. The outside patio seating is a must! read more

Looks like Rivers Restaurant got partition and Rittergut Wine Bar came out of it... or it seems that way. I've never noticed this place before, I guess. Staff is friendly and place is somewhat small. Probably seats about 50 people. Super dark, which is good and bad, I suppose. They do have a lot of drinks on their menu. Our server was OK, but things got a little bit busy so we saw him less frequently. Another option to have when you're in downtown and planning a happy hour. read more

I came here only for happy hour so didn't eat, but I loved it! Great spot right on the river. It was super nice and we sat outside. The inside is cool as well. I loved all the wine flights they had. I loved that they had one from Michigan as well, kinda cool and local. Our service was pretty good. Great wines and beers as well. I would love to try and food sometime! read more

Nice hidden gem in the area, dim lights and cozy atmosphere, perfect on a cold winter week night. They have a great selection of imported cheeses and meats. I give only 3 stars because I only had their charcuterie and wine. So would like to try more items off their menu and/or come a couple of more times, before formulating an opinion. I could definitely see this place as good option for an after work hangout place. read more

Pro: The environment is nice to bring client for lunch or wine after work. Con: The food was okay. read more

This is a very nice,quite and intimate place,glad I went early with my son,but I'll be back with the chicas and maybe even a male friend. My only wish is that we were told of the construction and detour,we're told within walking distance from hotel and it was until you walked into the detour on Monroe. Once we arrivd it was worth the detour. My waiter was very knew his stuff,my son loved his lamb burger and I had the sampler,paired with 2 wine flights. Loved it! read more

Went on living social with 3 other couples. Checked ahead of time and the bar said ok to sit together. Guess it was not ok with our waiter. He was having a bad night. Otherwise, wine flights were nice. Cheese and meat boards had some really nice selections. Smoked boar was excellent. View of the river is nice. Keep in mind that tour boats pass within 20 feet of outdoor patio and can be noisy. Did not bother us but this is a loop restaurant with loop noise. Overall, glad we came. read more

I was really, really excited about dining at Rittergut. I had read good things about the charcuterie -- one of my passions -- so when a buisiness associate asked to take me to lunch there, I jumped at the chance. I was disappointed. Having seen photos on the interwebs of the cheese and cured meat tray, I ordered it and a cup of soup as my lunch, expecting a hearty portion of meats and cheeses. What came was easily one third or less of what I had seen. The meats - though paltry - were truly wonderful,, but the cheeses were a) refrigerator cold, and b) very, very similar -- a cheese tray should offer a variety of flavors and textures, and this did not. I ordered a cup of "Spicy Moroccan Chicken Soup". Not only wasn't it spicy, it wasn't even well seasoned. An addition of salt and pepper made it palateable, but certainly not spicy. I just got an e-mail for a Rittergut Groupon and, I am sad to say, I passed. read more

This is one fine establishment!! The service is great. They have great suggestions on the food and wine at Ritter gut, and the staff were all friendly to me and absolutely professional. The interior is astonishing and classy. My taste! Elegance at its finest. The food and wine are just incredible. Whether its cheese flights, a lamb burger or a tasty glass of wine. Two thumbs up for the food and wine, I must say. I've read yelp reviews on this restaurant; people saying its hard-to-find. Ritter gut is to the left of rivers restaurant , on Wacker. Keep that in mind. read more

My first yelp review ever! I had the best experience at Rittergut tonight. I am currently out on maternity leave and was meeting up for drinks with coworkers. I had to bring along my 3 month old and Rittergut more than accommodated us. They don't have a changing table in the bathroom, but when the manager saw me heading to the bathroom with the baby, he let me into a separate room that had surfaces I could change her on. Later when he saw me heading to the bathroom to warm a bottle under the sink, he let me warm it under a non-bathroom sink which was much faster. These were both things he didn't have to do, but was more than happy to. The service I received at Rittergut (both for baby and at the table) was outstanding and will keep me coming back (with or without baby!). Outside of baby accommodations, our service at the table was amazing, recommendations on food and wine were great and overall we all had an amazing time. read more

I was in Chicago for a week long work thing and was looking for a place close to my hotel for dinner. Rittergut came up on Yelp and I had to check it out. I sat at the bar and the ambiance was perfect, a little romantic but fun for a group too. I looked over the menu and decided to pick my dinner before asking the bartender what wine would pair. I am not a wine connoisseur by any means and did not want to look like a novice ordering the wrong wine at a wine bar. He was very helpful at explaining the differences in the two options he gave me and even explained why one would pair better than the other based on the ingredients of the Rissoto I was eating. And he was so right! The cherries in the wine really helped bring out the dried cherry flavor in the risotto... trust me, the cherries in the mushroom risotto were unexpected, but oh so perfect with the garlic sauce! The staff was friendly and even let me try sip of a new cocktail mix they were trying to perfect! read more

We went there last night for a couple of red wine flights and moved inside for dinner afterwards. It was a bit cool and breezy on the patio but really nice watching the water taxis and racing shells go by. The wine selections were great and the cheeses were especially good. The service was great and super friendly. They were very knowledgeable on both the wines and the cheese selections. Overall well worth the stop! read more

I was at Rittergut Wine Bar last Friday for a friend's birthday gathering. It is located inside the 30 S Wacker building and due to the crazy construction on Wacker this bar can be hard to find. Once we got to the bar it was cute. Exactly what you would expect. A dark, swanky feel with a pretty good selection of wine and craft beer. I feel the prices we pretty expensive for wine...even more than I would normally expect for wine by the glass. We had a few appetizers all that were good - however nothing AMAZING. The service here is very good! Our group was about 10 - 12 people and our server handle everything great. He was prompt without being annoying. Over all - it was a good evening. read more

I only went once, but the vibe was great, and the wine was superb. It does get a bit crowded, though.

Manager named Aaron was a f*cker and a smart ass, what a turd. Most of the other staff were nice, but this guy must of had it out for us and had an eye on my date. He over charged me on multiple beers I drank, was openly rude/condescending about the questions I asked, and I felt like he was making a fool for asking where in france was napa.. I mean, I dont know a ton about wine but its cool to get some insight on what we are drinking, everyone knows napa is in france and he seriously made me sound like a idiot in front of what might soon to be my future ex wife. Now maybe I sounded like an ass and my date knew it, was that whats I was catching? Match.com didnt look out for me that night for sure. Either way, the point is, this guy I felt was overly rude to me and my date, there is no need to c**k block, douche obviously gets plenty of his own. I would of tipped a full 5% if he wasnt so RUDE! The cheese and meats were good. Wine did its job but tasted like an oaky after-birth. I had a crafty beer to start that was delicious. I wont be back. Great music though, but I wonder if she who she went home with that night.. I have my guesses though. P.S. if you take this review seriously in any way, please kill yourself now. read more

The service: I bought a groupon to this place and I made reservations two days in advanced and the day over about 3 hours before I get a call saying that we will not be open after 7. So why would you wait so late to go through your reservation list? that part really annoyed me and my party of 4 because we were really excited. So to fast forward a friend and I decided to go on a whim after work (I still have to use the silly groupon right?) so I get there and we are seated and the hostess was very nice....lets just say our server was not overly personable. she put down the meat and cheese board, blurted something out and walked away (rude much). I don't eat pork so I really wanted to know what meat was which and after getting her attention to come back to the table she had a significant 'tude about me asking her what kind it was. Continuing on into the evening she didn't check on us or clear and the bartender eventually came from behind the bar and did it (he could probably see the frustration on my face). when she finally did come back we did order more drinks from her and me being the person I am wanted Bourbon on such a cold night.....so we order she comes back and is like are you sure that you want it it cost $$ and my guest and I just looked at each other and replied yes that is fine....she come back and says "we are all out" (highly suspicious) OK! so we go through the same thing again with another bourbon except she asks us twice and it made me feel as if she was asking us could we afford it, and i don't like that one bit...... Ambiance: The two stars are for the venue. I loved the overall feel of the place and the dim lighting, curtains on the wall exposed brick. It has a cozy kind of romantic feel to it. I think that is a great place to take a date or maybe have a girls night before you go someplace better to have some fun. read more

I purchased a Travelzoo deal for this place a month ago. The place is new I think from what I read, and at the time of purchase, their website was still under construction. Later on, when I was reading my voucher details again, and went to the new done site, I realized the voucher was for a cheese and meat plate, aside from 2 wine flights. The site also had a photo of a dead hanging pig. I'm saying this, because I'm a vegetarian, so just an fyi for all of those who want to be aware. It is my own fault for not reading it clearly, but at the same time, I mainly purchased the deal, because they have outdoor seating right in front of the river. I mean, what else can be better right? I finally came here after work yesterday (TGIF) with a friend. For those of you who are not aware, this is right in the financial district of the Loop, and this is def a great spot for fancy happy hour and little plates, cheese and/or meat pairings with wine. So, if you are looking for a nice heavy dinner, this would not be the first place to go. Our deal had 2 wine pairings with choice of red and sparkling or white. We chose red and white, which was 6 glasses total, each different. The server was very nice, explaining the diff wines, suggesting drinking from lightest to heaviest. Our cheese and meat plate came, the cheese paired great with the wine. I also ordered the Whipped Ricotta & Exotic Mushrooms Crostini as a small plate, which was delicious. We were the only people sitting outside, because everyone else is too weak to sit in 50 degree weather. I am a polar bear though, and made for the cold, so I love chilly cold weather. I was enjoying seeing kayaks rowing by, as well as tour boats going by as well with tourists and Chicagoans with their cams out taking pics of our beautiful city. We felt a little bad for the server, because we learned shortly after being seated that, he used the revolving door to go in out to us to the building, rather than the restaurant door itself. Oh well, the host told us it was ok to sit outside. We just tipped the server extra. Great spot to have small eats and drinks with beautiful scenery of our city. read more

Couldn't tell you how the food/wine was ,as the rude greeting sent us running out the door before we even sat down!!!! Are they trying to be the worst rated dining establishment for customer service in the Loop? Today's experience makes me think so. Arrived around 11:30 a and though there were about five employees milling around the bar, no one acknowledged us even though we were the only customers in the place. Even when we walked up to the hostess stand, we had to ask if they were open before either of the young women looked up at us. After being led to an undesirable table, we asked if we could move to a table along the wall as we were planning to be there for a long leisurely lunch. The hostess gave us a vague reply as to why she had to seat that table first and that she could not accommodate our request. At that point, no matter how good the menu looked (lobster Mac and cheese) or the wines sounded, we were so soured on the place that the only option was to leave. Too bad for them as my lunch date is famed for over-tipping... read more

Went for lunch today. Service was quick, drinks and food came out only a few minutes after ordering. The waitress highly recommended the brisket sandwich which tasted good, but the brisket was cut WITH the grain instead of against the grain. As a result, all six of us had stringy, tough meat that we couldn't bite through. The flavor was good, but this mistake ruined the sandwich for the entire table. If you're going to recommend brisket, PLEASE teach your chef how to cut it properly. This should help: http://www.thekitchn.com/heres-exactly-how-to-slice-meat-against-the-grain-and-why-you-should-be-doing-it-meat-basics-215798 read more

I've been searching for a new wine bar since Bin36 closed/relocated-- the new location just doesn't do it for me any longer. Rittergut was a great find. The location, at first, is a bit odd-- it's on the main level of an office skyscraper and a bit hard to find. The security at the front desk are polite and will show you the way-- don't hesitate to ask. Once you pass through the door, it feels like you've entered a cave-- with an awesome bar. They seem to specialize in smaller, boutique wineries which is right up my alley. They serve flights which are at a decent price. They also do a great job with crafted cocktails and have an amazing craft beer selection. If you are in the West Loop area-- or anywhere downtown and looking for a wine bar, definitely stop here. read more

Sweet place. Good service. Well crafted menu and nice flights for you. Tucked away inside the Merc.

Our first visit to Rittergut was in Oct '13. We opted to sit outside & take advantage of the fabulous autumn weather. We were using a Groupon which included a wine flight & charcuterie. We noticed everyone seated had small cards over each of their glasses. Our server did not advise us or assist us when our unprotected glasses became infested with tiny water flies. She also did not offer us replacement wine without my suggestion. Only then did she place covers over our wine. There are many comments about the negative experience & ours was no better. We brought it to the attention of the manager who apologized all over the place. He offered us $50 gift certificate & insisted we give them another try. Unfortunately last nights experience was no better. We actually had the same server as our previous visit (with no improvement). Our group of three combined the $50 gift certificate with a $30 Living Social voucher. We ordered a two wine flights, a single glass of wine, flat bread, spiced shrimp, mushroom crostini & calamari. I must say the shrimp was the best of everything ordered. The calamari was the least. The other two made little to know impression either way. When I mentioned to our server the calamari wasn't very good, they agreed without apology! We received our check adding in the additional to make up what wasn't covered leaving disappointed to catch our train. Not the way we had wanted to end a wonderful day in the loop. We won't be back! Two negative experiences doesn't get a third visit in my book. I work to hard for my money & look forward to a pleasant experience. This was not! On both visits the bathrooms really needed to be cleaned, makes me wonder what the kitchen looks like. read more

Covered outdoor seating where you can wait out the rain on the commute to Union Station. Great choice of wine flights and sharing plates. Attentive staff keeps food and drink coming until your ready for the check. read more

Great wine bar - perfect for after work wind down. Great selection of wines that changes seasonally.

My first and only visit this evening. I had a Travelzoo voucher for wine flights for two and a 3 meat/3 cheese appetizer tray and invited a friend to help me check out this newer place. Wine flights were priced ok. More like tasting size than pours. Meat and cheese tray very skimpy for the stated value of $27 but truly delicious. My issue lies completely with the service. We had 5:15 reservations and were promptly seated. No issues there. Warmly greeted. After our voucher fare, at 5:50 pm I ordered another glass of wine ($14ish) and a small caprese flatbread ($11 I think). At 6:30 I finally got the attention of our waiter who stated "I'll take care of it." At 6:45 I said we have to leave soon, and he responded again verbatim "I'll check on it and take care of it." We laughed to ourselves at this point...he forgot. At 7:00 pm I said we must leave to catch our train and on the spot he handed me our printed bill he has been carrying around already. The flatbread probably was never ordered. 1 hour and 10 minutes and it was MIA. Water was refilled numerous times by another gentleman. Plates and glasses taken away by him promptly. Kudos to the bussers! Atmosphere: very nice looking, the river view is really a street view from inside, and the Nirvana music was WAY too loud, especially for a Loop wine bar. Surrounding tables without vouchers received VERY prompt attention. Very noticeable!!! The server, as I stood up and pulled out my wallet to pay for my glass of wine and tip, rushed (no exaggeration) to give me a hand scratched card good for two complementary small plates "to make up for the kitchen. I don't know what's going on tonight. I checked on your order and even had someone else check also." (Yeah, right.) Trying to save the tip. I still tipped very well due to lack of small bills and a train to catch, but found the attitude of the waiter noticeably snotty upon presentation of the voucher, and it continued to be poor and noticeable. I will not be back, nor will my company party, nor will my colleagues and I, nor my mutual fund manager friend with his clients. Big mistake! You never know who you are serving, even if they have a gift voucher. PS: please forget the two free appetizer offer. You can keep the two $4 sides of olives. read more

We went back to Rittergut and had a fantastic time again. The bacon wrapped scallops with sweet pea grits, sage brown butter were amazing. Great service, also. read more

Celebratings a friend's new job yesterday after work and loved Rittergut! Great wine, service, location and this is MUCH better than Rivers. Very nice furniture and decor - I will be returning here A LOT! I think I've just found my new favorite... read more

The service wasn't very good, but the food and wine saved the overall experience. We had a Travelzoo voucher, and I don't think I would return unless I had another one. I wouldn't pay full price for the service we received. The place was LOUD and PACKED. We were seated at the bar, and waited quite a while as the bartender walked past us a million times before she stopped to greet us with a curt "Do you know what you want?" Nice. What is this, a diner? It's definitely not a typical wine bar where you can mull over your choices and discuss your preferences or ask for suggestions. You better be ready with your order, or you might miss your chance and have to wait another 15 minutes. We each ordered a flight, and our cheese/meat selections. When I did try to ask a question about the cheese she responded with a "why don't I let the kitchen select your meats and cheeses for you" and tried to bolt before we could disagree. I said NO, thank you, so she said she'd come back once we decided, which wasn't the issue. I had been trying to ask a question about the cheese before deciding. Whatever. We ended up taking a gamble. We ordered a flatbread and a crostini too and everything was delivered at once, though the bartender couldn't remember which meats/cheeses we'd ordered and therefore couldn't point them out to us on the board. The flatbread and crostini were good, the cheese was ok, and the wines we had were decent. I do have to say that the flight pours were pretty generous for tasting portions. One thing I thought was a little tacky was the way the bartender tried to "remind" us that we had a voucher when she handed us the bill (even though we'd presented it when we sat down). It sort of felt like she was trying to remind us to tip her on the full value of the bill. Meh. read more