The food was exceptional! The short rib was everything you hope for--fork-tender, incredibly…read moreflavorful, and served atop a bed of creamy spinach and garlic mashed potatoes, all finished with a rich, savory gravy. We started with the fried green tomatoes topped with a shrimp roulade, and from that first bite, we knew we were in for a wonderful dining experience. The Tilefish was fried perfectly. The service was impeccable. I don't think I've ever had my water poured with such elegance--it felt like I was being served a fine glass of champagne. The Uncle Honey was delectable. A well balanced elixir that Leone floaty and aligned with the flow of the evening. From the hostess to the server, every member of the staff was a true professional, delivering top-tier hospitality from beginning to end. The key lime pie was the perfect ending to an outstanding meal. And the music? Absolutely flawless. The playlist flowed seamlessly from one great song to the next, creating an atmosphere that had me wanting to sing along and celebrate the entire time. This is a place you simply must visit when you're in Chicago.

Definitely a special restaurant. Super busy even on a week night. We had made a reservation a few…read moreweeks in advance but it still took about 20 minutes to get seated. Loved the plating of the foods. What we ordered: Blackened catfish: Carolina gold rice, barbecue carrots Mac & Cheese: as it should be Short rib: served with creamed spinach, potatoes, and caramelized onion gravy Biscuits: served with pimento cheese & honey (probably my favorite thing we had) Millie's puddin': Banana pudding, Nilla wafers, cool whip

Salmon burger is delicious . The sandwich is huge I could really split and eat. The jerk bowl is…read moregood as well but spicy .

I got the jerk chicken nachos and it was pretty good, I don't have complaints. The portion size is…read moregreat as well, I had some food to take home! The service was amazing and pretty quick even though we came at a pretty busy time! There is limited seating but I would definitely come back again!

Wow!!! Hands down the best vegan food I've had since I've been in Chicago! After leaving the Obama…read moreCenter we were hungry. It's a place in Hyde Park I'd been looking to try another spot but of course it was closed. Back to searching and we found this spot and what a gem! Sammy, greeted us and she was absolutely lovely! It's a local spot in Hyde Park and the decor is amazing! I had a special, jerk mushroom taco plate with beans, rice, plantains and pico de gallo. Hubby had the Mediterranean plate with oyster mushrooms. Amazing! We were given complimentary lemonade in celebration of Juneteenth, thank you so much! They have vegan cookies and we enjoyed a lemon blueberry cookie and it was delicious! We truly enjoyed our meal and the chance to trying out a new spot! Support local businesses!

The service was great and the food was delicious. I enjoyed the Ambiance as I walked inside the…read morerestaurant.

At first I was annoyed by the server who greeted and seated us but when we asked for a moment to…read moreread the menu ignored us and wouldn't make eye contact when we were ready to order. OTOH, he came to my rescue immediately when my cane fell over. The other server took our order and seemed much more engaged with the customers overall. The food. OMG. Gorgeous presentation, ample portions, amazing flavor blending. Flawless. Spouse had grilled broccoli appetizer and I sampled one. I need to try to make this. I had the crab cake appetizer; beautiful plate and so yummy I nearly inhaled it. I'm writing this as it happens, so my mood is better now that I'm not hangry. Entree: Salmon, asparagus, kale. I never liked kale until I had this crunchy grilled or maybe broiled curly leaf. He had a massive pork chop with a bell pepper and lemon sauce and about a quart of mashed potatoes. And promises he has room for dessert. I want an espresso and maybe cake, because I am 74 today. Chocolate cake. Even if I have to put it in my second stomach. Nice birthday lupper (lunch/supper).

This is the part where I wax poetic about how ill-designed dining is for solo diners, and how this…read moreis doubly if not quadruply true in Italian restaurants. I want to have the pasta, but this is meant to be shared amongst the table, not devoured by one person, but I digress. I walked in during what ended up being brunch, and while the regular menu was not technically available, the bar-server offered to ask the kitchen if I wanted something specific. That something was the Tuna Tartare, which the kitchen obliged (thank you very much). While a simple dish, it was executed supremely well. The olive oil was of such quality and robust flavor I asked the kitchen what brand they use, the avocado was at the peak of ripeness, and the house-made chips were oozing with homemade perfection. The fish was of high quality, and the ginger-orange gelatine added a subtle flavor and texture which was very unique, both as a flavor, but more so in execution! Now, to be fair, while this was not my favorite iteration of this dish, it doesn't take away from the quality and precision of execution. As my main, I ordered the Basil Pesto Brunch Gnocchi. The sauce was, true to form, very earthy, creamy, and basil-y without being overpowering. The gnocchi themselves were soft and pillowy, some of the best I'd had! The accoutrements of egg, sun-dried tomatoes, and mushrooms helped add new dimensions to the dish, adding those lightly meaty, acidic, and generally umami notes. The pork belly, meanwhile, was lost on me. Coming back to this review, I was frankly surprised they were included! Maybe this is me showing why I can't hack it as a professional, paid, restaurant critic, or maybe they were in fact, omitted. An area where Ascione Bistro shines is the service. The bar-server was friendly and attentive, and the food came out reasonably fast, especially since I could see into their kitchen, the pace of which reminds me of The Bear (don't worry, no yelling or profanity could be heard). Final verdict: Ascione appears to be a very busy spot, and for good reason. They have well executed, unique, and flavorful dishes, complemented by great service. If we pretend me not picking up on the pork belly is a 'me' issue, then the experience was flawless... except that I should have found more people to come with me, as the gnocchi loaded me with carbs, and I ended up taking half-ish home.

Stopped by here because we were waiting for a show to begin. It adjacent to the Medici Deli so I…read morewent through the wrong door initially. This place has a lot of personality: old wood finishes, "graffiti" on every reachable wall and sill. I wanted to follow the other reviews and get the calamari and the chili. The calamari was very good, but has a short shelf life. The chili was nice, but a little toothless. Also had the cubano which was rich in pickles which is always a plus. I guess, since it's claiming a deli in-residence, I'd try the deli sandwich specialities. I don't know when I can get out here next, but it looks like the pizza is supposed to be the next thing we try.

After many irritating visits to Medici with the most basic or lack for customer service care, and…read morethe most ridiculous wait times for basic bevy and dessert orders, this is the cherry on top! $3.25 to "make it a chocolate Sunday" on a $5 bowl of vanilla ice cream, only to get bowl of vanilla ice cream with pecans instead of peanuts and the lightest drizzle of chocolate I've ever seen. Why is this most basic ask so difficult to deliver on?

We celebrated our friend's 60th birthday with Sunday brunch at Truth Be Told, located on the…read moreUniversity of Chicago campus and connected to The Study at University of Chicago. The restaurant has a warm tavern-style aesthetic--inviting, comfortable, and perfect for a relaxed celebration. Our waitress was very friendly, attentive, and genuinely personable, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The brunch menu blends English and American influences, offering something for everyone. We tried the Scotch pancakes, which were quite good, and overall everyone at the table enjoyed their meals. The atmosphere was pleasant and unhurried--we never felt rushed, allowing us to truly enjoy the food, conversation, and celebration. A great spot for brunch gatherings .

Truth Be Told: Come for the Apps, Stay for the Tequila…read more Tucked away in Hyde Park, Truth Be Told has that cozy, inviting vibe that makes a rainy day feel almost charming. The decor alone had me sold before the food arrived. We went all in on appetizers: fried cheese curds, crab gratin, and beer battered squid. Combined, the portions were enough for five. For entrees, we tried the house burger, lamb shepherd's pie, steak and ale, and fish and chips. The food was perfectly fine, just not the kind that sticks with you. I wouldn't call it bad, but I also wouldn't call it back next week. The real star was the Fizz Sam's Buzz mocktail, which I happily upgraded with a shot of tequila. It was so good I ordered a second without hesitation. The automatic gratuity caught me off guard, mostly because our server seemed to have other tables to tend to more urgently than ours. I love leaving a generous tip when I feel the love, but this time it felt a little preemptively assumed, like a kiss on a first date! Would I return? Absolutely for drinks and appetizers in that cozy space. For a full dinner? Probably not, but that's just my palate. You might disagree, and honestly, I hope you do. Go try it and let me know what you think.

One of the best breakfasts I've ever had...hands down…read more It's simple. It's pretty. It's vibey. It's good, like really good. Best omelette I've ever had. Facts. It's an omelette I wouldn't have normally chosen for myself but I got it and it was amazing. Someone knows technique and flavors back in the kitchen. So Good. The warm welcome when we walked in was a very nice start to it all. So glad we walked in. Go. Look at the menu beforehand. Yes the cinnamon rolls are amazing. The sourdough was some of best I've had. The house made jam was delicious. It's all very good. Such a vibey, cool spot. Absolutely 10/10 recommend

This place is pretty universally liked, so it's an easy place to come eat with other people…read more There's a nice outdoor patio, and it's a big open bright open space inside. It's kinda pricey, but it is good and fresh. I like to get the classic breakfast. It is a good amount of food, it's 2 eggs, bacon or sausage, breakfast potatoes, and toast. I don't eat meat, but they substitute avocado slices for bacon or sausage. I pay $2 more to get a biscuit because their biscuits are delicious.

very goood no complaints! food good . service good i ordered this online so im not sure how the…read moreambiance is but im sure its good . food handled with care definitely safe to doordash or uber eats!

This is my first time having roti. I'm usually not a fan of Mediterranean food but this place…read morechanged it all for me. I got the skirt steak and brussels sprouts bowl. They ran out of the steamed brussels sprouts so they substituted it for the crispy brussels sprouts. It was a great choice! I substituted the white sauce for the green sauce. It added a whole different flavor to this meal. I'm sure it would've been better the other way too. The rice was cooked perfectly. The tomatoes complimented the skirt steak very well. The steak was nice juicy tender flavorful. The falafel was delicious as well. That was my first time having it. The flavor blew my mind. It tasted like a chicken tender. The service was good, very nice lady that took care of us. This establishment was very clean on the inside. Great area to walk to to get a quick bite to eat. I will definitely be coming back!