About a 1-1.5: Evanston Pour is a popular coffee spot in the Evanston 'hood - we came here to get…read morea caffeine fix, and ordered: +the Cookie Butter Latte - prepared with cookie butter syrup and milk; I did request this to be extra hot, but it was served lukewarm +a Latte with almond milk - also served lukewarm +an Almond Croissant +and, a Scone The coffee was just not strong, and the fact that it was served lukewarm was a total no. The pastries were just okay, but could have been more fresh and/or warmed up. Staff was friendly, and the place also offers cocktails/other alcoholic beverages. Seating is available, but somewhat uncomfortable; not much of a place where you can do work or study. Metered street parking can be found in the area. +lukewarm, weak coffee +metered street parking

I've been here several times since my first review and it just hasn't been the same. I believe they…read moremake their own syrups in house but they're not potent in flavor. In the fall I had the pumpkin latte and I had to ask for more pumpkin because I couldnt taste it. Today I tried their new cookie butter latte and it doesn't taste like anything. How can the pumpkin latte and cookie butter latte taste the same? They also charge $1 more to make the drinks with oat milk. Why are they punishing customers for dietary restrictions? The prices are also high compared to other places. My husband ordered a slice of their blueberry almond loaf and it cost $7!

Highly recommend! Quaint, great food, service and atmosphere! So happy I found it while visiting…read moremy daughter.

Specifically made a reservation, and upon arrival our table was not ready for 10 mins. Not sure why…read morethis happened. Forced to wait in bar area which was high traffic and we were shuffled around. Not fond of our server's humor/attitude - felt a little uncomfortable. My medium rare steak was rare and I asked for it to be cooked me more. He kept asking are u sure in a condescending way, to which I replied yes, this is raw according to the high end steak houses I've been to. Yummy food though. Sucks hospitality is lacking here. Prob won't be back. Heard the bartenders are lovely people though.

I really enjoyed the couple of hours I sat here waiting for my car maintenance to be finished. The…read morestaff was super friendly and helpful in guiding me to a wine (or two) I would like. The truffle popcorn was really yummy and definitely big enough to share. The variety is not what you'd find at some standard spot. This wine list is curated and it shows. Inside is cozy and inviting. Looking forward to trying more wine there again soon!

Best store of any kind in the whole world...Truffle popcorn? Delicious!! Da staff? Da BEST!!!…read moreAmbiance? So cool and comfy...and, oh! These wonderful folks sell fabulous beverages!

I had the pleasure of celebrating New Years Eve at Aboyer and it was nothing short of…read moreextraordinary. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt warm, elegant and genuinely welcoming- the kind of hospitality that makes you instantly relax and settle in. We enjoyed their special three course New Year's Eve dinner and every dish was executed with precision, creativity and care. The flavors were beautifully balanced, the presentation was stunning, and the pacing of the meal was perfect. You could feel thoughtfulness behind each course. The service was equally impressive. The staff was attentive and genuinely enthusiastic about making the evening special. Whether you're celebrating a social occasion or simply looking for an unforgettable dining experience, Aboyer is a true gem! We left already talking about when we'd be back. Highly highly recommend!!

Amazing service, and very friendly staff! Our waiter was so so kind! The mocktails are delicious!!…read moreThe restaurant is roomy, and elegant! The smoked salmon was a work of art in my mouth! The sirloin and short rib were incredible and the portion was perfect. Every bite was flawless!! There is only one thing about this restaurant that I would change, and that is that we waited a long time between courses. The gateau breton was also delicious! The texture really got me! I highly recommend this place and will be coming back!

We've heard very good things about Patina and we're excited to try it tonight. As soon as we…read morewalked in the staff was very kind and attentive. We love the ambiance of the restaurant. It's very peaceful, romantic and a calm atmosphere. All of the food was delicious. The plating is so attractive! The dishes have great flavor but are healthier options. The portion sizes were perfect for what we desired. I'm not exaggerating when I say this was the best branzino I've ever had. The skin was crunchy and delicious. But the fish was not dry at all! There's nothing better than a juicy branzino fish and chef Jose nailed it! Matching with the sauce and beans was so much better than any other veggies or starch. The octopus was also cooked to perfection. The flavor and temperature was just right. Not too hot and such a great texture. We don't always order desserts but we had to see every course of the menu. We decided to go with a lava cake and it did not disappoint. It had that perfect contrast of hot and cold but it's served with gelato which gives it a nice touch of texture compared to standard ice cream. Chef Jose came out and introduced himself. We came in because we were enticed by a beef tartare that was on their menu in the past. We're hoping he brings it back on a special sometime soon. He said to give him a call and he'll try to accommodate whenever possible to make his customers happy. What an amazing restaurant. We cannot wait to come back and see what's new. Thank you for an amazing dinner and night!

Revisited after the full kitchen moved here from their other location. A superb experience! Our…read moreserver was incredibly attentive and friendly. The vibe here definitely meets a park ridge niche that nothing else does - intimate but elevated, a great date night place. Excellent cocktails and decent portions. Tuna tower was a fun app and we ordered lamb chops and a pasta for our mains. My only wish is that they had a slightly larger menu. I hope they add to it or do seasonal offerings because the selection is not too large and we pretty much maxed out what we'd be interested in trying in one visit. But they did it well and we enjoyed the Valentine's Day touched around the restaurant!

We went with a small group for my wife's birthday, and Pomeroy made it very special. The hostess…read moretreated us at checkin with a heartfelt "Happy Birthday", the menus were all customized with Happy Birthday printed on them, and we got a complimentary dessert with a sparkler to cap off the meal. Great service, delicious food, a cozy atmosphere, and we thought it was very good value. we'll be back!

We went for brunch just to try the place, no special occasion. The atmosphere in the main dining…read moreroom was nice, the decor is chic but not over the top. The service was also very good, quick and attentive without being too frequent. The main issue was the food, which in my opinion was lacking. Each person in our group tried a different dish, and no one was particularly impressed. Would be open to returning if we heard of a significant improvement, but there are much better places out there.

I must have passed Carlos and Carlos hundreds of times on Green Bay Road, always wondered if it was…read morea Mexican restaurant. Found out it's Italian, so based on positive reviews, my wife and I went there early last night. To start they bring out a warm mini-loaf of crusty bread with a small serving of garlicky olive tapenade -- we knew right away we were gonna enjoy this place. The Bella salad had a huge amount of arugula, pear, figs and goat cheese, enough for two. My wife had a special: spinach stuffed ravioli, with a paper thin dough -- very light and buttery. I had the tasty vermicelli amatriciana -- a huge serving, the leftovers was my lunch today. What's interesting was the waitstaff tag-teamed us: Everyone could do everything from take our orders to bus dishes -- you could see they were pros, had worked together for a long time. The only negative (which I will not deduct a star for): There were two huge TV's playing with their sound off -- this did not add anything, were rather distracting. But the food and service won us over -- we will be back.

I was looking for a place to have dinner with a former co-worker who lives up near the border of…read moreWisconsin. I was trying to find a place at least midway between us and discovered Carlos and Carlos on Yelp. Carlos and Carlos is old school from the perspective you actually have to call the restaurant to make a reservation. The space itself is located in what I think is a condo building. The space itself is compact, with tables relatively close together. We ended up sitting at table next to the kitchen door, which for me turned out not to be too bad as we were not sitting on top of other folks. The restaurant and bar were packed as it was a Saturday. Based on the size of the space and number of tables, I would strongly suggest making a reservation if you go there. We started out with fresh bread and one of their specials for the night: flash fried calamari served w/fresh tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, shaved garlic, black olives, capers & garlic butter. This was a first for me as I have never had calamari served this way and it was great. Definitely a dish I would drive back to get. The bread was wonderful and hot. I could see through the kitchen as fresh bread was being pulled out of either a warmer or oven, not sure. It was served with some sort of olive oil and pesto, I think. It made for a lovely spread on the bread. For dinner I ordered a dish called "Meatballs" and it was just that, a whole lotta meatballs with some spaghetti thrown in as a side...HAHAHA! Not complaining, just staying a fact. The meatballs and pasta were good, but I would say there was a fair amount of garlic in the dish. I had my dish as a leftover and as I was warming it up, The Doctor commented that he could smell the garlic. The Doctor had the Pollo Vesuvio, which also came with pasta. I had a small piece and it was pretty nice. Again there was more meat than pasta, but again we were not complaining. The chicken was nice and tender and had a lovely flavor to it. My GF got the Risotto Al Fungi (Arborio served with wild mushrooms & goat cheese). Prior to sampling her dish, I would have absolutely stated that this was a dish I would not order in a restaurant as I wouldn't have any interest in it. I tried a spoonful of my GF's and was amazed at how good it was! The broth that the risotto was cooked in was chicken and I think beef. That with the goat cheese made this a very nice dish and the second reason I would drive here to do a repeat visit for dinner. Portion sizes were nice as The Doctor and I had plenty to eat and enough for light snack the next day. My GF had no leftovers, she became a member of the clean plate club. For dessert we shared a slice of the chocolate mousse cake, which was really nice. It had a lovely dark flavor to it and was creamy in texture. Service was nice and everyone was friendly. There is plenty of street parking within walking distance as well. While this is a bit of a drive for us to get to since it is outside of the city, I could see coming back here. I think I want to try a serving of that risotto on my own instead of a taste.

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!

Cocktail was neither worst nor the best rendition of a Vieux carre that I've had. I've said it…read moreseveral times that many things that originate in New Orleans are hard to replicate outside New f the big easy. I got the feeling that the staff were putting some effort into their craft. The place was crowded & there was even a live band performing. The bar had some above average bottles such as Hibiki & Bookers. I was pressed for time but there were at least three more menu items I would've tried.

I cook a lot, grew up with a mother who was known in her circles as a great homecook, and I often…read moreenjoy foods from around the world. I've had Georgian food once before, in Los Angeles. I went with two friends to Metekhi. We focused on the vegetarian dishes this time (though we eat everything), and got the cold appetizer combo along with a tomato/cucumber salad; another cold appetizer with eggplant; a hot bean stew and another hot main course with mushrooms, potatoes and a little tomato sauce. The food was wonderful, and these days where you often get ripped off for really mediocre food, I was pleasantly surprised. Each dish was prepared with a lot of love and care, well seasoned, NOT overusing oil, butter or salt, and also beautifully presented. The herbal seasonings were unusual to me, but delicious. They have a lot of vegetarian/vegan options, which is really cool because I expected a menu with cuisine from this part of the world to be very heavy on meat and starches (I'm half-Polish, have been to Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic, and have tried other Eastern European and Central Asian cuisines). The decor is also really cozy and nicely decorated to convey the vibes of Georgia. Amazing how the inside of these strip malls can be transformed. Come and support this new gem in Skokie/Skevanston. I really want them to succeed, because sometimes I shake my head at what places fill crowds and get great ratings in this area. Metekhi is genuinely good. It's not cheap, but as bagel joints can charge nearly $15 for a sandwich today, it's seems to be the sad times we're in, so you want a memorable experience incl. food/service/ambience. Metekhi delivers on all three. Sharing a few dishes here with friends is a good idea.

This is a great spot for a special occasion. If you're a fan of Georgian food, you really should…read morecheck this place out. The ajaruli khachapuri is truly excellent. We didn't love the pkhlovana version as much, but it was still very good (just a lot of onion flavor when we ordered). While super basic, their fried potatoes are insanely good. I'd also recommend any stew on the menu. They have a great selection of Georgian wines as well, which I highly recommend. For those who don't drink alcohol, they offer a wide variety of compotes as well. The decor/ambiance is very Eastern European. There is a coat check at the entrance which is very handy. Service is very friendly, but they have seemed understaffed the times we've gone. It did take some time to get the waitress' attention, but it also seemed that she was the only one taking orders from several tables. Definitely a slower service, but it's good for large groups to talk over a great meal.

My son is a member and we had a great meal on Mother's Day! Food was excellent and so is the…read moreatmosphere. Service excellent too.

I went for a college alumni event. The valet and staff were very friendly. The facility is very…read morewarm and cozy inside and reminded me of my college. The view of the lake is amazing as well!