The drinks are great and during the week it's half off 3-5pm. The service is so friendly and the…read morevibe is very cozy that you'll think you were at a lounge in the city. I'm adding this to spot to frequent in Elmwood park. Thank you for the chill vibes.

Very delicious food, The restaurant was very clean and let's not talk about customer service was…read moreamazing . 100% satisfied.

Checked out this pretty casual looking bar. District House is one of the few in the immediate area…read moreon Higgins. It may get overlooked by some of the other places in Jefferson Park. Have to say it's not much to look at. The drinks are the main thing. Basic looking bar in a mostly residential area. It's the second home for a lot of regulars who live around here. That makes sense. Not a whole lot else is around. Of course they won't ever have to worry about parking. It's about $7 for a basic cocktail. Whiskey and mixed with whatever. Basic. There's free popcorn. Good prices compared to other bars. It's located on Higgins at Major. The closest transportation center is the Jefferson Park station.

On this night... Who am I kidding... on frequent nights we visited District House, one of our…read morefavorite watering holes. The reason we love this place is because the place is nice and modern with a nice comfy decor, they have an EXCELLENT whiskey and bourbon selection amongst all other spirits, but mostly because of the SERVICE! The staff, from the owner to each of the bartenders, they treat you like a long time friend. The drinks pack a punch and the ambiance is always upbeat. They strive to provide different events weekly and even nightly. They have a back patio for private parties or you can host your event inside. This place is just great, but Uber since parking is street parking and common sense dictates you should. See you there, and let's enjoy a drink!

Really enjoyed our dinner at The Franklin Room! The downstairs setting gives the restaurant such a…read morecozy, intimate atmosphere, and I loved how the menu pulls inspiration from different cuisines. The lamb chops and chicken roulade with masala butter sauce were standouts for me, and the Summer Wanderer cocktail completely surprised me......I wasn't sure how I felt about carrot in a cocktail, but it was delicious! The whiskey bottle keep is also such a cool touch. Service was great throughout the evening, and we finished with the mango and coconut tart. Definitely a unique River North dinner spot that's easy to walk right past if you don't know it's there.

We had such a great dinner at The Franklin Room! The space has a cozy, moody atmosphere that makes…read moreit perfect for a date night or dinner and drinks in River North. We started with the Healthy Habit and Lychee Martini, and for food we tried the Wagyu burger, coconut-marinated steak, and charred broccolini. Everything was delicious, but the burger was definitely one of our favorites. We finished with the Opera Cake for dessert, which was the perfect way to end the meal. Such a great spot if you're looking for somewhere that feels a little tucked away from the busier parts of River North. We'd definitely come back!

Many unique cocktail options, each well thought out and balanced. Presentation and temperature were…read morewell attended to. The indoor area was quite small, but that didn't lose any issues to our experience. This place is more conducive to couples rather than groups. The outdoor area provides tables that could fit up to 4 people.

Very intriguing cocktails. This is definitely what a $30 drink should be & taste like. I was…read moredisappointed that "pie for breakfast" was out of stock because breakfast cereal bourbon just sounds awesome. Best drinks I've had by far in or near Evanston. I'll definitely be back. Where they shine is balanced ingredients. No single item can be detected. I think they're capable of even more & id like to see more experimental things.

The ambience is welcoming. There is a bar in middle with lots of seating. There is also an outside…read moresmall seating area. The waitress was very attentive We ordered the fried pickles. They were good. Too much batter surround a small slice of pickle. Maybe thicker cut of pickle would be better. The wings were good. They were tasty and had a nice bbq sauce. The quesadillas were really good. The platter of quesadillas was so fancy. I recommend this place if you like bar food, drinks to catch up and hang out with friends.

For me, a pleasant surprise as I was expecting fairly standard bar food and instead experienced…read morewell-executed versions of American favorites served up with friendly service in a surprisingly large dining room with value prices. One thing I really like about the menu here is that it covers a wide variety of different cravings from tacos to sandwiches to salads to pizzas. However, within these options are slightly different options that you might not see everywhere, like a chicken pita kebab, polish style chicken cutlet, Greek fries, Bacon brussel sprouts, etc. So even if you're looking for something familiar, you have the option of enjoying the standard favorites or something familiar yet just a little different. For me, the food was quite good -- something I was worried about with such a diversified menu. One of the real standout items for me was the burger, with a nice slightly crisp bun and perfectly cooked patty. The Mac & Cheese skillet was nice comfort food, with a good bold fravor from the BBQ pork. Fried items like the curly fries and sweet potato fries were nice and crisp as expected. The churros ice cream is huge and can definitely be shared amongst multiple people. Overall, definitely worth a visit as an above average bar experience. Even without drinks, the food makes this a good restaurant experience and having a lively crowd with plenty of TVs is a plus.

What a wonderful meal! I went here as a party of 4 on a Friday night at 11:30. Who knew I could…read moreget amazing food this late at night? The pretzel, bone marrow, calf's liver, and chicken (with Miller High Life gel!!!) were wonderful. The drinks were well crafted and delicious. I will go back in an instant!

It's been a "longman" standing joke with our family that we haven't been here yet, although we live…read more3 blocks away. For one, we are 2/3 vegetarian, and they had a reputation of being a bone eating, not vegetarian restaurant. Secondly, I use to frequent this location when it was "Winds" , a live music bar, and I'm a musician and advocate of live music. I even came here when it was "Smoke" dive bar previous to that. Thirdly, L&E also had a reputation of being a hipster hangout. I was pleasantly surprised how fantastic the NICHOLS FARM SUMMER SQUASH (V) Grilled & Shaved Baby Squash, Hari Chutney Vinaigrette, Coconut Curry Sauce, Zucchini Fritter, Garlic Labneh, with Spiced Pepitas was! Exceptional presentation and superbly delicious! My wife throughly enjoyed her smash burger, and I was pleased the fries were not fried in animal fat. Our dining neighbor that evening swore that they make the best vegetarian burger in the city. Prices were reasonable. Our server was very friendly, and Informative. He informed us the new chef, "she is more plant based." Nice beer menu selection of craft drafts and bottles, and local options, including up the street Hopewell brewery. Great ginger beer. We've always been interested in eating al fresco on Schubert, as we've passed it hundreds of times. We've finally broken the ice, and we will be back soon, and I can't wait to try the vegetarian Smashburger!

I have been wanting to try The Little Gem since Thursday night out when I tried their Wagu Sliders…read moreand Fish & Chips. We visited to celebrate a birthday on a Saturday night with a reservation and were seated by the window to our delight. The ambiance in the restaurant is so cozy and rustic, a wonderful vibe. We were first brought Garlic Pesto Bread that was still warm and delicious. Later we ordered drinks and appetizers. Both the Honey Whipped Goat Cheese and Beet Salad were phenomenal and so unique. For entrees we ordered the Beef Tartare, Caesar Salad with Blackened Salmon (an added request), Italian Sausage Orecchiette, and Braised Beef Short Ribs. Absolutely nothing disappointed and everything our waitress Lauren recommended was spot on. She is a rockstar! For dessert we ordered two chocolate mousses, and Crème Brûlée to share. The perfect way to end our night. This is a great upscale date spot or place to celebrate as it is on the pricier side, but we could not have been happier with our food, service, and overall experience.

Ok experience. We were seated in the bar area and there was a funky musty smell that was borderline…read moreunpleasant. The server didn't know the menu as we would have expected and attempted to remove plates when we were clearly still eating. Not the best services Food was ok but for shrimp risotto that wasn't awesome, a shared house salad and 2 glasses of wine for $80 before tip? There are so many other amazing restaurants for same price or even less. I won't be rushing to return.

Rebel & Rye is your standard run of the mill neighborhood bar, which isn't a compliant considering…read morethe area. Sometimes you're in the mood for a cold beer while watching the game. Some of the friendliest bartenders I met in the city. I haven't been here on the weekend, but I imagine it gets packed especially with the patio. Also, who can say no to free popcorn?

The food came from the restaurant next door and after you order it when you need a to go tray the…read moreservers and waiters think it is a joke to say we don't have to go tray yet they serve food. The rudiest bunch of people who don't deserve a visit. As a person who enjoys visiting new spots. Which this spot has been 5 different places since my initial visit and partying scene. Ambiance is half cute but low key mildew is growing in the background while acting bougie. I will never return because the concent and care was absent.....horrible service consideration especially since you order off a QR code. I'm never going back after one encounter. Security was nice.

Ward Eight was a place we frequently visited when we lived nearby many years ago. We were in the…read morearea recently and decided to stop by...we discovered this gem from our past has only gotten better! High quality and innovative cocktails, reasonable prices, and a chic/classy ambiance make Ward Eight must-visit! I tried two cocktails when I was at Ward 8: Remember the Main and Vieux Carre. Both were decadent, delicious, and boozy. Triple threats! I loved them both, but the "Remember the Main" was different from drinks I've had before, so that was my favorite. My husband had a local beer. They have beer, wine, and NA options for folks who aren't into cocktails. They also have food which looks scrumptious, ranging from high-end appetizers to full meals. We did not come prepared to eat, so we'll have to come back again to try food in the future! The staff were welcoming and professional. The space was clean and Gatsby-style chic. There is plenty of seating and an outdoor space for when it is warmer. It is a fancier places, so prices are higher. But you pay for the higher quality ingredients and innovative recipes. If you enjoy cocktails and cozy cocktail bars, Ward Eight is definitely the spot for you!

Note: this is *barely* three stars…read more The first time I wanted to check out Ward Eight, I found a sign on the door that they were closed. It was written in Sharpie, stating they were closed for fall recess, and will return on X date. There was no notice on the website or otherwise. Such boorishness must be earned, I thought, and this place should be phenomenal! Unfortunately, the experience was overall lackluster. I ordered The Ward Eight House Shot, Rabbit Tale [sic], and the Classic Smash Burger from the Ben & Jake's supper club menu. The Ward Eight House Shot was interesting. This one was the most Angostura I'd had in one go outside of Best Intentions (Logan Square bar). A respectable shot and a good way to start or end an evening, however, $10 feels a little steep. As for the Rabbit Tale, the undoing of this one was the menu. This drink was described as "Zesty, Spicy, and Smokey [sic]". While not bland, it felt as though the volume on all of these was turned down to the level of a whisper. These hadn't just 'quiet quit,' they are halfway through week two of a two-week notice. To its credit, the drink was smooth, and while it didn't taste spirit-forward, the alcohol did hit me as one would hope for on a Friday night, thus no complaints about strength. Then there was the matter of food. The smashburger I ordered ended up being thoroughly unremarkable. The patty was not the greatest thing in the world, lacking those crisp edges that make an excellent smashburger, but otherwise passable. That was, untquietil I added the LTO served on the side (for some reason). After adding these in, the burger quickly fell apart, becoming a dégustation on the plate. Other than the house shot, and a small $15 burger without fries, I felt as though their prices were reasonable. Mixed drinks near the city, and not in a divey 'old-man bar' for $15 are relatively hard to find. When it comes to the service, I regretfully have to ding them a bit. Considering how quiet the bar was at the time, it took longer to get my drink than I would have expected. In a similar vein, the service felt a little disorganized, where the bar staff wasn't quite working as a team. Case in point: one bartender excused herself to step away, and the other did not step in to take my order for those five to ten minutes. Final verdict: I do appreciate reasonably priced cocktails, but the menu descriptions need to be taken with a grain of salt. As for food, I am willing to write off disappointment to the popup, and am not against trying something from their menu. All this said, I'd love to give them another chance, but I am also not in a rush to return.

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!!!!!

Im so mad I haven't been to this place earlier cause its not far from where I live and it was so…read moregood!! Definitely a hidden gem in Portage Park! Street parking was easy to find which is a plus. Its walk-ins only but my party of 6 were able to get a table no problem on a Friday night. To drink, I started with the Oolong Martinez. It was good but way too strong for me so I just gave it to my husband lol. I opted for the Kiss & Tell instead except I asked for no mezcal. Much lighter and refreshing! I believe they have a downstairs lounge called "Nightshade" which serves their own special menu. My goal is to go downstairs next time! Their food is GAS!!! Everything I ate was a 5/5 for me - especially the party fries and the moon burger. We got the deviled eggs and funeral potatoes for the table and I was blown away (both of these menu items rotate flavors monthly). Also FYI - They have a photobooth!!!! I love photobooths!