Social Inn has been on my to-try list for some time.  My husband and I finally had a chance to…read morecheck it out on a Monday evening recently.  I made a reservation via Tock that I already had an account for years, so that was simple. On a weekday evening, as expected, the restaurant was not busy.  We were promptly seated at a 4-top table (2 × 2-top) against the right wall, with some other 2-tops on both sides.  Like many reviewers had mentioned, the venue was beautiful, modern and chic. There were 7 tables occupied, including us.  The music that they had was not too loud, just that customers' conversations were amplified by the box shape open dining area.  If we focused enough, we could hear every conversation if we wanted to.  This was obvious when a table of about 6 women got seated at a table near the front door, some of them laughed and talked very loudly.  My husband and I just found it funny and didn't let that bother us.  However, when the restaurant is filled on busier days, it might be a different story. Our server, Patrick, was very nice and attentive.  Since they did not list drinks on their menu except those with alcohol, I asked him about non-alcoholic drinks.  After a brief "discussion", he asked me to leave it to him to make me a drink with mango.  He came up with a beautiful drink that was good and refreshing, with some mango flavor.  It was Virgin Paloma on our receipt for $8, which was reasonable.  He was very polite and checked in on us several times at appropriate times during our dinner.  The pace of the dinner was good, we spent a total of an hour and 15 minutes in the restaurant. Patrick might be the only waiter serving all the tables that evening, though. I also ordered Grilled Octopus ($22) which was very good, tender and flavorful, but was a little too salty to my taste.  The small pita bread wedges were warm and fluffy with some crispy edges, the beet hummus was creamy, and everything was delicious and tasted fresh.  I generously shared 2 little bites of octopus with my husband and I finished the entire plate, it was so good!  My husband really liked his Spiked White Fish ($29) and I shared a bite of that too.  He also had a House Salad for $6, that was a very good value.  He enjoyed a glass of Sauvignon Blanc Crossing ($12) too.  We also shared an order of Crème Brulee ($8), that was creamy and cooked perfectly.  We ordered a takeout order of Rigatoni with Sausage ($23), that was a good portion, and was still delicious and al dente the next day after being microwaved. I am so happy that we found Social Inn - a hidden gem in Plaza del Prado, it's not far from home, with comfortable and beautiful ambiance, excellent service (from Patrick), an attractive menu with enticing food (fresh ingredients and appealing plating), and reasonable prices, we will definitely be back!

It's been a while since I went to Social Inn. They used to be open for lunch as well as dinner, and…read morethat was easier for me to get to. We were in the area late in the day and remembered Social Inn was open, so we went. We ordered a variety of items. I had the Social Burger (at least 1/2 pound), we also ordered their chicken dinner salad and the beet hummus. Everything was delicious. I did order my burger medium and it was delivered well done, but it was still good. They also have one of the best gluten-free buns I've ever had. I do wish they were open at lunch time still, but I understand they need to be open for their busiest hours. Social Inn is a great option when you are in the Glenview area.

We went out with Park Ridge friends last weekend and they took us to this charming bar. I read a…read morefew reviews that said that Pines Room has a small town vibe. I disagree--I am a Chicago boy and it has a big city hidden gem quality about it. In fact, they promote themselves as a speakeasy. Of course you can get any cocktail you want, but my husband and I both opted for a special strawberry cocktail made with Hendrick's gin. It was refreshing, not too sweet, and garnished with a dehydrated lemon slice. Perfect! Our friends both ordered old fashioned cocktails that looked equally as good. It was a Saturday night and this tiny bar was jam-packed. We had to stand, but it was okay because we had only stopped in for one drink before heading to another restaurant for dinner. The bartenders were friendly and efficient. Prices are not inexpensive, but average to what you'd find in a downtown Chicago restaurant. If you''re looking for a cool place to hang in Park Ridge with a craft cocktail and have a small bite (they have a limited food menu, too), Pines Room is the place.

Finally got to visit on a day they were actually open! Me and a couple friends had some delicious…read morecocktails, and the bartender was super helpful and friendly. Definitely you do over.

As I expected, with the proliferation of new restaurants in Glenview, Jackman and Company has…read moreupdated and simplified its menu in an apparent attempt to make it a little bit more accessible. Surprised and a little disappointed that my two favorite dishes are now gone... Nonetheless, had a very nice experience and dinner at the bar this evening. My wife had a salad, and I had the short rib with roti. Guessing that is meant to replace the unfortunate loss of the duck confit tacos!

I sat at the corner of the bar for my first visit to Jackman & Co. and had the pleasure of meeting…read morethe bartender, Matt. Matt was attentive and made an effort to make the right drink, based on my description of things I like and then paired my dinner with the right wine. I ordered the Belgian Style Mussels for an appetizer and they were spot-on delicious. Probably the best I've ever had. The flavors were perfect. For my main course I had the Alaskan Halibut and I must say that it was cooked perfectly. The bar was the perfect place to sit in relative silence and just enjoy a dinner out by myself. The staff was attentive but not bothersome and everyone was truly very kind and it was a pleasant place to hangout. I definitely recommend Jackman & Co if you're in the Chicago area. It's a MUST VISIT.

Very cute little trendy place in downtown Northbrook. It is labelled as 'lounge" only you dont see…read morethe actual words 'Next Door" so its a little confusing from that aspect. Its actually the 'Next Door' to Eataco. The drinks are insta-friendly, very cute for pics. I had the lychee drink which was really good with real fruit inside of it. Was at here for a a private party and the good from Eataco was provided, Ive had Eataco before and it's usually really good but a couple of items (elote and quesadilla) were a little bit strong on the salt. The rest of the dishes were good especially if you're a fan of onions!

Stopped by for a visit, and honestly, Next Door Lounge wasn't what I expected after finding it…read moreonline. The space felt really tight, and the atmosphere didn't quite match the vibe I was hoping for. It seemed a bit unkempt, with worn furniture and a general sense of neglect. Definitely not the most comfortable spot to relax--felt cramped and not very inviting. I was not too fond of the service. And to top it all off, the menu prices were pretty steep - $16 for a cocktail. But since I'd already made the trip, I figured I might as well try one anyway. I ordered the ROSE-LY, which was OK. It's made of ketel one rose, fresh lychees and syrup, grapefruit, and Josh rose wine. Honestly, I cannot say it was worth the price.

Food was very tasty.Service great! Love the rustic ambiance.There was a full house and noise level…read morewas perfect.

Our group of 8 had an excellent dining experience @ Oak at the Glen. Brussels Sprouts for an…read moreappetizer, delicious wine spirits, chicken, burgers , the short rib all very good. A special shout out to Sylvia who was a server with energy, attentiveness, care , and a glowing personality! It may have been the first time for some of our group, but it will not be our last. Rich, keep on doing what you're doing, you got the formula for success! L. Feldman Vernon Hills, IL.

This was a spur-of-the-moment choice but ended up being very fun for drinks and dinner!…read more I LOVE tiki bars and my husband noticed this one in the area near where we happened to be on Google maps, so off we went! We had about a 15 minute wait for a table but it gave us time to peruse the menu in the car. They offer many classic tiki cocktails, a page full of seasonal drinks, a page of "Designated Driver" mocktails (nice to have an option for something other than just a Shirley Temple!), Polynesian appetizers and entrees, and then Lola's Pizza. For drinks, I got the seasonal Gingerbread Painkiller and my husband got a Green Flash mocktail. (Pro tip on the seasonal drinks: check the regular cocktail menu to see how many skull and crossbones are listed under the regular version of your drink, if applicable, to see if it's a super strong one!) Mine was creamy and spicy but quite powerful. Props to our waitress, Makayla, who checked if anyone at the table was epileptic, because normally the "flash" part of my husband's drink is a strobing LED ice cube; I actually am photosensitive, so it came in the drink in non-strobe mode and just glowed an alien green. She said this was the first time it had actually paid off to ask, but I'm glad she did! The food was tasty: I ordered rumaki, an old-school appetizer of bacon-wrapped water chestnuts that you don't see very often these days, and he got loaded fries. We also got a small Lola's Pizza, which was very good, with a crisp but also chewy crust. The atmosphere here is pure tiki, with a fountain, swag lamps, bamboo, and Hawaiian-influenced Christmas music playing for the season. Lots of big groups here; everyone seemed to be having as good a time as we were! What a laid-back gem in Arlington Heights! We'll be back. Mahalo!

Discovered this place 10 mins from me! The decor is a little too much in my opinion but great…read moredrinks and vibes. Parking is a little tight too but I parked across the street at Mugs pizza and walked over. The service and staff were great! Big menu as well, next time will try the food. The restrooms are a little small too.

Yana's has a really cool vibe. When you get there you'll ring a bell and a "special " door opens…read moreinto the restaurant. The ambiance, from the lighting, music and decor is very seductive! We had caviar and drinks that were served in fun glasses and were topped with pretty little flowers. The whole experience really blew us away! I could've stayed all night but it was a stretch on the pocketbook. I truly recommend Yana's especially if you want to impress your friends. Great experience all around!

We recently made our way to Yana's for an after dinner cocktail on Valentine's…read more They take reservations which is nice for a cocktail spot! We had reservations for 9pm and were able to be seated straight away. We arrived to find the address brought us to a barber shop. Fortunately, my husband had done some research and knew the drill--we made our way to a organ against a brick looking wall. On top of the organ was a bell--we rang the bell and shortly after the brick wall swung open and a woman came out to greet us. She had us play a tune on the organ and then brought us back into the speakeasy. The vibes are pitch perfect. Dimly lit with candles on tables and artful films playing on screens. We loved it. We were greeted straight away and brought water. You can also get a full meal here which we did not know but noted for our next visit. They had a special Valentine's menu as well as their regular cocktail menu. For my first cocktail, I got the paper plane which was light, lemony, and lovely with the adorable touch of a small paper plane pinned to the cocktail with a clothespin. For my second, I got one of their Valentine's specials which was essentially a Boulevardier made with a small float of mezcal on top. What an amazing addition to this classic cocktail! Truly, gave it added dimension, depth, and smoky flavor. I loved it. We also enjoyed their Valentine's dessert special, which was princess cake. It was a lovely blend of tart raspberry and warm almond--we loved it! The service was lovely throughout our experience. Get to it!

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!

On a couple visits, I can tell you this place is ALWAYS busy - and with good reason. The building…read morewhich was previously a church is huge and has some very interesting touches, plus there is a lot of outdoor seating overlooking a lake and also O'Hare airport in the distance. Book ahead to be outside though, otherwise you won't get a table there. And know that despite a clientele often including many families it can be a bit loud when busy and tries to be on the hip side with the music getting pumped in from speakers throughout the dining room. Wine list and cocktails are about as good as you'll find by the glass, while food has been pretty good on visits for both brunch and dinner. You can trust the seafood here, and while the crab cake didn't blow me away it was good. This is one place that I trust the crudo and poke bowls which are excellent on the raw fish options, though I wouldn't personally recommend the filet poke bowl which was a salt/umami bomb and on a recent visit there were also some issues with my wife's pork chop which had good flavor but was overcooked (she was okay with that, but if you say it's recommended medium - which I prefer - please serve it closer to medium rather than well done). Desserts are generally good, and a lot of people appear to come here for special occasions - birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc. where they bring out a free dessert with a large sparkler thing which gets attention but honestly doesn't seem entirely safe to me. Yes, that means I'm getting old but I'm not wrong... Service is excellent, ambience is very nice, and for a high volume kitchen like this they do a pretty good job with excellent ingredients at their disposal. I'll round up from 4.5 stars, in this area it's about as good as you'll find and definitely worth a visit.

Went here for a birthday dinner and was pleasantly delighted with the food, interior, and service…read more I really enjoyed the Crispy Duck Risotto. It was delicious and had deep flavors coming from the cherry bordelaise. The Chicken Shawarma Rolls were also tasty with an explosion of flavor within each bite. We had to order an additional roll though as the original serving only had 3 rolls. Our server was kind and gave great recommendations. There was nothing that I didn't like, and it was very satisfying.

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!

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.