Hot spot in Chicago that's for sure!!!! You can reserve a high top of the weekend for $100 per chair. Or wait it out and keep an eye on em and it's all first come first serve. No need to reserve in my opinion. Had a killer negroni off menu and enjoyed the great view. Uploading a current menu shot since I didn't see a current one in the photos. read more

The J Parker - 8/17 menu shot - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Rooftop restaurant with 360 views of Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan! Gorgeous day for watching the farmers market, the pretty people and yachts on the lake...oh great view of the various Rooftop swimming pools (none had shade umbrellas).... The waitstaff are young, eager, energetic and love compliments. Good menu that is not overly pricey. Meals can be shared. read more

I have never experienced so much pretentiousness and potential racism than from this place. Not a single hello, smile or welcome from any of the bartenders, waitressing staff or the blonde girl at the front near the elevator. I left after 10 minutes. Don't judge a book by its cover -- I make a lot of money and am a very generous tipper if the service is great. The views are nice but horrible staff. They need to "check themselves". read more

Great spot to chill with friends. Rooftop bar with aesthetic environment, good music, and beautiful view of the city. Great service and friendly staff. Not a very wide variety of dishes on the menu but I ordered the grilled cheese sandwich which was probably the best grilled cheese I've ever had ! read more

The J Parker - Open rooftop view - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This rooftop bar has an amazing view and ambiance, and is a first come first serve basis which is great on a spur of the moment vacation. The food was delectable, between the three of us, we had the lumpia, Brussel sprouts, ginger chicken wings, elote hush puppies, and the Cesar salad. The drinks were, well, O.K. and the service initially was subpar. The way this place really shined was in their recovery--when my friend went to the bar to ask to have her drink remade, the manager, Luke, was quick to step up and take over for our service and fix the drinks. He was courteous and professional and had a great attitude the entire time he attended to us. Honestly, he made the experience 100% better. Thanks Luke for managing up and making our experience impressive at the J. Parker. read more

This is my favorite (and only) Lincoln Park rooftop bar. I've been here for late night drinks, dinner, brunch, and of course day drinking when weather permits. Drinks are good, though not necessarily amazing. The place obviously is best for its vantage point overlooking downtown, Lincoln Park, and all the way to uptown. If you're coming on a weekend, definitely come early to snag a table. read more

The J Parker - Drinks all around - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

You pay for the view, not the food. Still, the wings were solid and I'd order them again. Burger was fairly standard but did the trick after a big night out. read more

Don't go here. The bartenders will overcharge you. Terrible service. Ordered a $9 glass of wine and the bartender charged me an extra $3 for "tax". You mean for your pocket, right? I would've refused to pay it if he hadn't already put my money in the register. The music and view are ok. Far better rooftops in this city with far better service and a less obnoxious crowd. Save yourself the time and money. read more

The staff here is very rude. I called in advance to ask if the rooftop bar is open. The person on the phone told me seating is first come first serve. I asked her then how long the wait time would be for the rooftop bar. She wasn't sure. But she failed to tell me the rooftop bar was closed for a private event at the time. So I took the time to get to the bar and pay for an Uber. When I got there a hostess told me the rooftop bar is closed. I told her I just talked to their staff 15 min ago an they didn't tell me that. Instead of apologizing for a mistake on their part I got a very snarky and rude response. The rooftop may be nice, but their staff could use some manners to keep their customers happy. Not sure if their rooftop bar is going to be my number 1 choice anymore. read more

This is me and my fiancée spot to go to we love it until last night!! I was celebrating my birthday and the waitress was soo rude and ignorant she served everyone but us she brought everyone water but us. She made us put a credit card down before we even ordered. Absolutely disappointed and have no words don't know if I will be back. read more

Super disappointed. I was so excited to come here, with the location and view of Lake Michigan, and it being my first time in Chicago, I was really looking forward to coming here. A manager (seemed like the day time manager at the end of his shift) greeted me without a "hi" or "hello" and just quickly asked if I had a reservation, which I said no but I'd happily just sit at the bar if that was ok. 2pm and plenty of open tables (almost every table in there was open,) he said I could sit at the bar but seemed annoyed with me, or maybe just annoyed with life in general. The back door was propped open, leading out to the walk in coolers and trash, it smelled like trash so bad. So bad that it made me nauseous and I couldn't order anything to eat. I've worked in plenty of restaurants, the bar area I was sitting in smelled like the back dock of a restaurant where deliveries come in and trash is thrown out at the end of the night. Everything was really dirty, there were spills and stains all over and the bar just looked so cluttered and messy. I can't speak about the food since I didn't order anything, and the drink menu was minimal so I just got a normal mixed vodka drink. Just kinda bummed about the experience as a whole since I was so excited to check it out. I was ready to drink and eat but left after 1 beverage. read more

The J. Parker is a fun, well managed spot... but if you're going on a warm weekend afternoon, expect to have to get competitive. I don't blame the bar. The J. Parker is mostly open air, swanky rooftop bar with great views and/of beautiful people. It's to their credit that the space is often crowded beyond the ability to sit down. The cocktail selections are quite pleasant and the drinks are well done. Conversation is easily had and the clientele is not the douchey, rambunctious type. I would come back on a Tuesday evening, just to take it in when things are calmer. On the first warm Spring day of 2017, I staked out a table that was ready to leave, only to be shouted down by my competition, also vying for claim of this coveted space. Before my rivals could seat themselves, Hosts from the J. Parker ushered them off, indicating that table had been reserved from that time on. These are fun times. read more

The view is amazing ! Valet prepaid parking ? Ummm never had that experience . Front desk was too busy talking amongst them self instead catering to us beside saying welcome only . (Oct. 1st @ 2pm ). Got to the roof top , we wonder off before a host finally came to us . Service food took a long . We constantly have to ask for something. Sorry we are not primitive or Neanderthal people. We need utensils . We had to walk by the bar and ask . Really ? I notice the difference catering to white vs. Asian/ black group of bday celebration. Then we had late arrival companies, place an second order . Burger was medium rare and burnt grilled cheese . Did I mention our cups and drinks keep spilling because it's too windy . And we had to wipe out table ourselves constantly. Jparker employees you are the face of this hotel . I suggest bring your best when your attending the guest. I know you want make your money but be attentive to details . Over all not a great a Experience. Fries and views of the Hotel is terrific that is the only one I can that is positive . Ps one my guest had told me that our waiter said to her " you didn't leave enough tips" ! How about you cater or render to us . Where is etiquette? You got nerve !!!! It's such a dissatisfaction, disappointment, and disgusted! Now I know what to expect for Lincoln park hotel. Smaller hotels have better customer service than you guys . read more

The J Parker - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Terrible service from staff looking for a fight. We came the J. Parker today to celebrate a union of love. What we encountered we disgruntled staff who's failed attempts at lying lead to confusion and unnecessary heartache for the newly weds. We arrived in groups of 3-5 people eventually totaling less than 15 from an outdoor ceremony. We kept the groups to household member only due to the city mandate in indoor dining. According to the hostess, we were not able to be seated because she assumed we were a single party. She retrieved the manager Jacqueline who began twisting her stories around. 1. Jacqueline stated that because previous groups have attempted to break city mandates before that we could not be seated separately simply because we knew each other. We explained that it was not our desire to be literally together at this location. We wanted to pick a single location for organizational purposes. They could have sat us in each corner of the establishment. Distancing would not have been an issue. After acknowledging that the city mandate does allow for groups of 6 or less people at a single table and verifying each separate group of 3-5 people, Jacqueline still persisted that we did not have the ability to be honest and law abiding. Jacqueline then stated that they can use their discretion as they see fit in not seating parties. I agreed and stated that her discretion still did not abide by the city mandate. She retrieved the assistant GM Lucas. 2. Initially, Lucas sided with Jacqueline. Again, we explained to Lucas that they could seat us separately in any parts of the establishment of their choosing. We are also law abiding citizens. No one should be trying to get service industries penalized especially give current events. Lucas then agreed to seat us separately based on the logic that we are all adults who understand law and order. Unfortunately, the newly weds had been so put off by the interaction that they no longer wished to patronize the J. Parker. 3. Once the decision was made to leave, I requested Lucas' contact information so that I may express my concerns and dismay about how the entire situation unraveled. At that moment, Jacqueline provided her information on a post-it note. Again, I requested Lucas' contact information. It was at that moment he began raising his voice and parroting the false city mandate that allegedly prevents restaurants from seating individual groups of less than 6 persons each at a single table. Additionally, he continuously spewed, "I AM THE ASSISTANT GM! THE CITY HAS A MANDATE! THE CITY HAS A MANDATE!". I find it interesting that he was about to seat us before it was expressed that we no longer wished to be berated about other individuals who have violated their establishments rules in the past. If you are looking for a fun place to grab drinks and is run by management that can perform simple division and logistical dining, try literally any other place in Chicago! To Jacqueline and Lucas: There was no need to become belligerent the way you did at ANY point during this interaction. Especially due to the fact that you were already preparing to make arrangements to have us to patronize your establishment. This is not elementary school. The person who shouts the loudest is not the victor. I hope your day improves and that you can utilize improved discernment. read more

I was charged an extra $1 for the drink without being told why. The menu said $13 per drink but the bartender charged $28 for 2 drinks. Sorry, but tips shouldn't be added on without asking. read more

Great for the view. Surely can get a nice snap of downtown Chicago. Drinks are alright and food was pretty decent. However, patio service is sparse. Also, be sure to check your bill thoroughly. Charged over $20 extra as the waitress charged the happy hour special incorrectly. Tried to call the bar, but they do not answer their phone. A frustrating end to what was a nice evening. :/ 2 stars for the view solely. read more

The J Parker - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The atmosphere is great but that's about all that is good about this place. I ordered an espresso martini and it was the worst one I've ever had and it was expensive. My friend ordered a Lemon drop and it was so tart and acidic it was undrinkable. Also would like to note as our server was serving us drinks he accidentally spilled my sisters drink on the table and simply said "oops" and walked away and charged her full price. He didn't even attempt to wipe up the spillage from the table. Come For for the view but no for the drinks. read more

We tried to come based on the hours on their website. They had a private event but they told us to come back at 5:30. We come back then and the entire lobby is packed. Doors don't open until 6:15 and meanwhile the staff is screaming at the patrons to form a line. While I understood the fact that the lobby can't be crowded, this seemed like something a hotel steeped in event management knowledge could anticipate and plan for. The bad communication, hostility from staff and being unable to get to the rooftop after 45 minutes of waiting left a strong bad taste in my mouth. My husband and I abandoned our place in the line and do not plan on returning. read more

Best thing about this location is the rooftop view, best view of Chicago. I am not a fan of the loud music always blasting when wanting to go up to enjoy a drink and company. read more

Alex and Abe were AMAZING! So fun and accommodating - a visit to remember! Will definitely be back.

Love this place! Best view, in my opinion, of the city & Lake. Usually it is always packed and hard to get a good seat but if you are wiling to wait about 15 mins, a spot usually opens up. My boyfriend took me here on one of our first dates, very beautiful. Now we always come back, it is pretty nostalgic for us! Drinks are delicious and a good selection of beers. Monkey business & The Three Guarantees are my favs! Great options for small plates as well. We got the Tuna Tartar when I first visit, not sure if they still have it. Ultimately, one of my favorite spots in the city! read more

Come for the views, not necessarily for the drinks. My boyfriend and I were excited for The J Parker. He particularly has this weird asphyxiation with how many stories roof top bars are on, so The J Parker being one of the only roof top bars higher than 10 stories in Chicago got him super pumped to go. We went on a random Wednesday at 5pm and had no problem finding a great table with a view that lived up to his high expectations. We just came for cocktails, which were on par with other gimmicky cocktail lounges in Chicago. I ordered the Three Guarantees, which is much like any other spicy margarita I've had, except served out of a plastic glass. My boyfriend loves whiskey so he started with the Emerald Mountain and then got the After Dark. The Emerald Mountain was a sweeter whiskey drink with a bourbon after taste, but the plastic glass it came in was "girly" as he describes it. He was hoping the After Dark would be a comparable to a classic Old Fashion, but the menthe flavor was a little overwhelming. My second cocktail was El Fuego, a mezcal cocktail described with flavors of "green onion and beef infused creyen cocktail." I was apprehensive of the description, but the cocktail just tasted like a regular mezcal margarita and falls a little flat in terms of other flavors. Overall, service was great and the view is beautiful, probably the best bar view in Chicago. A must-do for the experience, but don't get your hopes up on the drinks. read more

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Go up to the top of the rooftop bar, i didnt come here for the food but came for the views and to grab a drink i wasn't disappointed gorgeous views a nice strong drink $14 and i was on my way. Will come back here again. read more

Poor wait staff. Very confusing seating concept. Part of it seat yourself and the other part you have to put your name in. They do not explain that well and were extremely rude. read more

This place is horrendous. Took 10 mins for the waitress to take orders. Drink menu is very limited and overpriced. Music is too loud. Can't say a single good thing about this experience. read more

I loved the place was so nice but The drinks were REALLY SMALL for the price! First time drinking a small piña colada they charged me for an extra shot cause my piña colada was almost plain. I didn't feel The alcohol on it. To bad. The server was nice but the food took so long to get to the table. Sorry guys but you need to change a couple of things there! Was my first time and not the best experience. read more

Tried The J. Parker after work on a Wednesday. I've heard, in spite of amble patio space, that seating can be hard to come by. However, we arrived around 5;30 to find plenty of selection, though space in the sunlight was scarce. I started with the "Life On Mars?" (nod to the late David Bowie) which was an excellent take on an Old Fashioned. We placed a food order for their Asparagus Salad and a side of fries (I'm a red-blooded American after all), which arrived promptly. Both were delicious. I switched to "Space Oddity" which I found to be overwhelmingly sweet, but the waitress was kind enough to replace it for me, on the house. Overall, excellent experience - would highly recommend a weekday visit to avoid the crowds read more

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Don't rely on reservations at J Parker! I planned on proposing to my girlfriend by the lake and then celebrating our engagement with family at the J Parker immediately after, family was flying in from out of town and staying at the Hotel Lincoln. I made the reservation weeks out, and even confirmed in person the week before. The J Parker knew this was for an engagement celebration. Just 24 hours before the reservation I received an email that my reservation had been cancelled, without an apology or alternative. They don't answer their phone so I had to go in person to ask what happened, and the manager was very unhelpful and said there was nothing he could do. He claimed that since they came under ownership of their new parent company, Crescent Hotels & Resorts, their reservations have been a mess and they are pushed to keep reservations even if the space was booked for a private event just in case the private event cancels. Luckily The Wit kindly squeezed us in, but our engagement plan was nearly ruined due to the unorganized and unprofessional staff at the J Parker. Don't rely on them for any important plans! read more

The J. Parker was so much fun! We were looking for a rooftop after a bachelorette brunch. The view is incredible, drinks were great and the service was up to par as well considering we went while the Air and Water Show was going on. It was busy! Had a great time nonetheless. read more

Great rooftop bar with an incredible view and really good service. However, can they please change the saying on the back of their tee shirts---Making History One Shot at a Time? Offensive in a city where shots (guns) kill 100s every year. read more

Poor service, cold food, ambience is 2017 nightclub. I need more words for this to be considered a review

Great cocktails and food. Loved my bartender Alex she gave great tips for my visit to Chicago.

Grabbed some drinks here after brunch. Good energy, BEAUTIFUL view. Mixed crowd - mostly younger but still some older folks peppered throughout. Double-edged sword as the weather warms up though - you go to the rooftop to get some sun, but it gets oppressively hot without umbrellas, so it was hard to stay for a prolonged period of time. Not a place I could spend all day, but certainly will be back for a drink or two throughout the summer! read more

This place is pretty cool to hangout with your friends and have a few cocktails while enjoy a beautiful view. Service is pretty good. Perfect spot for a date also read more

The J Parker - Girls night out - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Beautiful view of the city. Nice location. Got there early like other reviewers suggested and got up with not much of a wait. But it got really crowded really fast. I mean REALLY crowded. It was hard to find a spot to set your drink down. But the drinks were really good so the cups were empty most of the time. The crowd is somewhat dressy but kind of bro-y which I fit into really well. Great place great view great drinks. But get there early and expect to not really be able to move around. read more

I'm very conflicted writing this review. Wavering between 2 and 3 stars. I say this because the view was beautiful! First nice day of the year where I didn't need a coat, so this was the clear choice to enjoy the weather. However, the crowd was kind of douche-y and the drinks were overpriced and meh. It was crowded, but I was okay with that as it was to be expected on such a nice day! We waited about 15 mins to go up, and maybe 5-10 just looking for a place to sit. All of this just contributed to my questioning if it was really worth it. They have these pre-mixed cocktails served in plastic glasses, kind of like a club or something. That would be ok, except they charge upwards of $13 for them. This is where the real disappointment happened. The specific drink I ordered was called "Water of Life" and it's description read "ketel one, benedictine, st george spiced pear, thyme, lime". I went to the bar to order, and watched him pour two unlabeled bottles into the glass and then hand it to me. One was clear and the other was greenish. Then my friend ordered "The Rapture", which was described as "pelegroso blanco, Rosemary, PV Apple shrub, ginger, lime, red wine". This time he poured the same clear liquid into a glass and added a splash of red wine. Not sure what the different bottles were filled with, but it was surprising after reading the elaborate descriptions of the cocktails. Needless to say, I felt a little cheated. The drinks tasted fine. The beer list was decent but slightly more expensive than other places. Same for the wine. We didn't have any food. Overall I would go back for the view but maybe not expect much of the drinks. read more

My favorite rooftop in Chicago. Great music, great ambiance, and awesome service. The staff was very accommodating to everyone. I definitely recommend... good for finding parking, decent prices for drinks, and good for small bites :) read more

Sure the bar has a great perch on top of the Lincoln Hotel overlooking the park and lake. But don't bother stopping in unannounced on any random early evening or afternoon. All the tables, lounge chairs and seating areas are 'reserved'. So if you didn't call ahead (who calls ahead to have a drink at a bar??), then feel free to wait your turn for one of the 4 stools that are 'first come first serve". This neighborhood bar feels 'elitist' in this way. And on my way out after just one drink, the door dude kindly offered me a card to call next time I come so i can reserve a table. No thanks man. There are many other bars in the city where i'm welcomed in without reserving my personal space. read more

I have mixed feelings about J Parker and I dont know that 3 stars is fair but I feel that 2 stars would be too harsh. I have visited the place a handful of times and my experience here has been all over the place. Sometimes is awesome, and sometimes is meh. Things to point out about JP. The view is great, the vibe is cool, the drinks are awesome, the patrons wear sperries and the menu is tiny and way too overpriced. I have tried the food but there are only 5 choices on the menu so it's hard to judge. The food is not bad but it's way too overpriced for what you get. A slider shouldn't cost nearly 10 bucks because it's a slider for gods sake. It costs less then a dollar to make. What a rip off??? So in my opinion, the menu doesn't have to be humongous but there should be more choices and they shouldn't hurt your pocket. I will visit the place again but I am in no rush to get there any time soon. read more

J. Parker was apparently President Lincoln's bodyguard. Rumor has it, he was out for a drink while Lincoln was assassinated. Hence the name of the rooftop bar in the Hotel Lincoln. Funny, huh? The J. Parker opened earlier this summer but for some silly reason I didn't make it over there until this fall. The thing is, beside the outdoor rooftop on the 12th floor overlooking the city, there's a charming little indoor bar up there, too. That means we can get all of Chef Paul Virant's tasty bites all year long. And trust me, both the snacks and the drinks are delicious and worth the trip. The menus is broken down into a couple of sections. The first section allows you to build your own plate by choosing a base, like charred beets or walleye pike toast, and adding a second component, like lemony pea shoots or house made creme fraiche with chives. This is total heaven for a person like me. For those who think this is hell (you know who you are), the second section of the menu contains completed plates, so fret not. Here's an example of a build-your-own: Walleye pike toast with preserved hot pepper & tomato vinaigrette. The beet pickled deviled egg with creme fraiche come as is. They're deliciously creamy and tangy with a little crunch. I'm usually a fan of anything rillette (cooked, pulled meat mixed back in with it's melted, cooled fat) and Chef Virant's rabbit version with pickled ramps is no exception. You know he's the pickling master, right? He has rooms full of pickled and preserved produce that he and his team make all summer to use through out the year. It's pretty impressive. For me, the sweet potato beignets with candied pumpkin seeds and maple, sherry gastrique should have been on the dessert list. Don't get me wrong, they're tasty... but seriously sweet! The seared scallops with olives and arugula are as good as they look... and were perfectly cooked. Charred roasted beets are tossed in a raspberry vinegar... from column B they're topped with farm fresh cheese. My favorite item on the menu (yes, I tasted the entire menu) may be the charred romaine with creamy smelt (salt cured in-house, of course) dressing, parm and a poached egg. Like the best caesar salad ever. A nice veg option is the delicata squash with cider braised onions and mushrooms with pickled garlic. Yum! And talk about flavorful, the ham and potato pierogis are wonderful on their own but try them with the creme fraiche for extra richness and zip. We are in Chicago, after all, so it's no surprise that there's also a full size burger on the menu. Smoked cheddar and a soft, buttery, toasted bun make it fabulous. It's served with "pickles" (we got pickled green beans) and a spicy carrot "ketchup" which is actually more like a puree as the tomato component was nearly undetectable. Interesting and delicious. Oh dessert... How about a plate of cookies? Or butterscotch or bittersweet chocolate pudding? (Let me tell you: The chocolate is TO DIE FOR!) There's alwo toasted gingerbread with buttered rum apples for the hardcore sugar lover. I suggest you get there early if you're going this winter since the indoor area is quite cozy and quaint. And if you haven't been when it's nice out, you'll want to do that as soon as it happens again, too! Don't pass up the cocktails, either! Mixologist Erin Hayes does wonders with market fresh ingredients, house made bitters & syrups and interesting spirits. Like Chef Paul's dishes, the drinks do not disappoint! read more