Small, dark bistro in the basement level of the building. Service was great, cocktails good but food was way overpriced, even for the West Loop. We ordered a few things including a farfalle pasta dish which was $27. It was literally 6 pieces of farfalle (bow tie/butterfly) pasta in sauce with bits of sausage. My husband and I counted the noodles, because we couldn't believe it. So for the tiny portion size, would not recommend eating here. read more

Came here for happy hour!!!! Ordered their dollar oysters and a cocktail for 8$. The service was great and the room itself was dark and cozy. A great place to cool off since it was a hot when we went. I would definitely come back here. Plus they were nice enough for me to use one of their sockets to charge. read more

The Press Room - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We got the king trumpet mushrooms, doppio ravioli, scallops, short rib, and a blondie for dessert. Overall the food was really good: the mushrooms were super flavorful and the wheatberries in it added a really good textural juxtaposition. The doppio ravioli was good but not super memorable. The scallops had a great flavor but were just a bit underdone for me (much preferred to overdone though), and we were honestly so full by the short rib that I didn't get to eat much of it but it was so tender it was falling off the rib. I would say I was surprisingly disappointed with the drinks-- the cocktails were just kind of boring/basic and the wine didn't blow me away but if you like classics this might be for you! Overall 4.5/5, definitely would come back there are lots of other dishes on the menu I want to try! read more

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The nice cozy space is tucked into a basement with the perfect lighting for a date night. The service was fantastic. We mostly came to try the wine selection which is broad but they do have plenty to offer when it comes to liquor options and a list of good looking drinks. We only tried the charcuterie which had a really wide selection for the board at a decent price for the amount given. Overall this is a great spot for chill vibe with great food and drinks. read more

The Press Room - Charcuterie - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for restaurant week because I was so excited about the menu! I got: 1- Scallop Crudo: This is a very nice-sized portion for an appetizer and also for scallops. They are chopped into bite-sized pieces, so no cutting is required, which I appreciated because I love to eat my food in small bites. The scallops were accompanied by kettle chips. However, the sauce on the scallops was very pungent and a bit overwhelming. It was very fishy (I know, raw fish, duh), but it tasted more like fish sauce when I was looking forward to saffron aioli. 2- Sourdough Cavatelli: all of my dinner companions ordered this second plate as well. These were more the size, shape, texture, and density of gnocchi (very chewy). The taste of sourdough was not present. The cacio and the pepe were both course. My friends and I all discussed "Is black pepper spicy? Because this dish is..." The pepper was overwhelming and spicy. The cheese was course and not so much a creme sauce. I'm more of a pasta purist, so this experimental take on cacio e pepe just didn't do it for me, but I appreciate TPR's interpretation. 3- Black Bass with beans and miso. Holy miso. At this point, I'm 3/3 for overwhelmingly flavored entrees. The miso was so blatant and overpowered the dish. Not to mention, the fish was not cooked to firm. It was soft cooked (though had a crispy crust) as if the hot (temperature) beans were supposed to finish cooking the flesh of it. I could not even finish this dish, and that was depressing because I love being a pescatarian. This dish was removed from me and I had only eaten about 50%. 4- Arroz Con Leche with almond butter, dried figs, and cinnamon. This was probably my favorite item of the night. It was sweet but subtle. I could've had more of this. Overall, my top 2 dishes were Arroz Con Leche and the Scallop Crudo from the restaurant week menu. The restaurant was very cute and mysterious, though very dark and very loud. They even have a beautiful private dining space for an intimate small group gathering. Our service was fantastic and they accommodated my pregnant friends extremely well. One of my friends is a regular here and highly recommends it, so I'm going to guess that the restaurant week menu/service just didn't live up to my expectations. read more

Came here for happy hour and i loved! I got their oysters which honestly weren't that great. I think reason being so I disliked the sauce for it - i wish i had cocktail sauce. I did try the bartenders choice of drink and it surprisingly blew me away! I wish I could get that drink again read more

The Press Room - Oysters - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place gave sexy, sultry vibes and I am not mad at all. The happy hour was perfect for a date or small group. I ordered some delicious European wine and oysters. I also enjoyed the dirtiest of martinis. Can't wait to go back and try an entree soon. read more

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Great decor and menu. Seasonally sourced produce, always a highlight. I like to get a few plates to share and I'm never disappointed. They have a great wine list and cocktails. The staff is willing to make recommendations and are always a pleasure. Nice spot for a date or catching up with a friend. read more

We came for their Valentine's Day pre-fixe menu. My bf usually cooks a special meal for the day, but he found this deal and thought it was worth the try. It was a great choice, and the restaurant was super cozy, yet intimate. To start, seafood tower. Then, heart shaped beet ravioli, lamb merguez, duck, and panna cotta for dessert. Each course was tasty and decent portions. The lamb dish was different (I did not try), and my bf didn't eat much of it. I left full and would love to venture back to try their regular menu! (Sorry, images are poor because it's dark inside) read more

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We went to The Press Room twice this past weekend, which has officially become our favorite spot in the West Loop. This is a wine bar with amazing food and cocktails. Basementy, moody interior vibes. Incredible service. So far we've tried the: - roasted broccoli (some of the best broccoli I've ever had, which is saying something because I eat a lot of broccoli) - Burrata (my 6 year old devoured this before we had a chance, so it seemed like it must have been pretty amazing) - tagliatelle - brownie + ice cream (really unusual flavor profile, and super good) - El Diablo cocktail - Jungle Bird cocktail - a mock tail the bartender made up that our kid was obsessed with That jungle bird cocktail is a must order by the way. Incredible. The food, music, and service are all top notch, wether you're at the bar or a table. But if you're lucky, you'll get the server we had at our table on Friday night. Super attentive to allergies, super friendly to kids, and had the most amazing reaction when our daughter lost a tooth(!!!) during dinner. Absolute class act. We will be back infinity times over. read more

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A dark and ornate basement that indulges my other half that constantly reminisces of my days in the service industry. The press room has quickly risen to one of my favorite bars in Chicago. Has it blends delicious cocktails with unsuspectingly delicious to table eats. Sit down at the bar and chatted up with any of the friendly and incredibly talented bar staff. Enjoy a quick bite, such as the delicious burrata or some oysters while you sip a tantalizing cocktail. We certainly recommend the violet, sour or birth of the cool. As previously mentioned, this bar takes me back to my days bartending. A friendly atmosphere, fantastic music, playing throughout and periodically drowned out by the sounds of great conversation around you. Everyone with a drink hand or a delicious yet simple bite on the table. Will continue to find myself finding my way back down those stairs and enjoying bite after sip after bite after sip. Cheers to the press room read more

This is definitely a worthy speakeasy to visit, the food, the ambiance, the staff are top notch! read more

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Best cocktails in the area hands down. I almost want to gatekeep this cocktail bar so it doesn't become too crowded! This hidden gem of a bar offers more than just beverages and amazing food, but also an incredible moody vibe. The staff is extremely friendly and service was attentive, the staff actually recognizes us when we go in and it feels like a homey, local atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

I ordered an extra filthy dirty martini and received a martini with no olive juice and a lemon. Me and the bartender argued for a bit about what a dirty martini is but he offered to fix it. he just added some olive juice to my straight up martini with lemon and I'm just not going to come back after that lmao a dirty martini means olive brine and olives right no lemon pls correct me if I am crazy??? The olives were also sweet and weird once I got some read more

I came in for a happy hour with some friends-- we had a reservation at 4pm when they opened for a table of 4. Another friend came to join after work and so the total would now be 5 people-- the bar was completely empty aside from us and one other table with 4-5 people. They were apprehensive to add a chair but ultimately accommodated our request. We're seated and a friend of mine is a vegetarian. We asked if there was a way to ensure meat didn't touch the other items (cheese / nuts) on the charcuterie board-- they said no bc it was prepacked. And yea, it was-- the ham tasted like the dollar slices from the deli (Hormel). Whatever, we were enjoying ourselves so no problem. Again, there were only 2 tables in here and it wasn't until we got our second drink (of wine) the hostess asked us to keep it down... He said he could turn on the music louder but asked us to keep it down before he did that bc there wasn't that many people in the bar. My friend asked "oh like did that other table ask us to keep it down?" And he said "no, I wanted you guys too but it's ok just enjoy but quieter." My friend was like do you want us to abandon our happy hour??? I mentioned to them one of our friends is extremely hard of hearing and we'll try to keep it down... and then he kept coming back to our table and was like "I wasn't trying to offend" and I'm like no-- for an empty establishment with 5 people looking to contribute to your small business it would've been nicer to eat non-fishy oysters (ever been to an oyster happy hour where people leave 2 behind?! lol no), prepackaged ham, and told to be quieter IN A BAR. We told the story to the next establishment we went to and they laughed bc press room is unnecessarily pretentious, rude, and not up to the hype. You'll find better quality food, service, and FUN elsewhere. If you're not fun and like stuffy little places, then it's for you! read more

This place is so fun! I love the cocktails and the charcuterie board. The ambiance is really cool and love their playlist. Highly recommend getting a reservation before going. read more

The Press Room - Sign to press room - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Seriously... love this place. Recommend for date night with someone you really love and/or love conversing with. Also great for a low key fun night with a close set of friends. The lighting is very dark and intimate which is why I only got one pic... and I refuse to post it because it just doesn't do the place justice. None of that new school, rachet music here... think Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra.. yes, really smooth listening music. The service is wonderful as well. They have a menu of food items as well so you can stop in for dinner or a pregame and post-game spot to get light snacks and/or drinks. Either way, this place is a win. read more

More of a bar than a restaurant.. not sure if I could recommend this place for the food. Good place to go to if you're looking for a dark bar with loud music and an elegant aesthetic. read more

The Press Room - Rigatoni Carbonara - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were staying at the B&B above this place, and after a full day of walking/site seeing and not wanting to pay for one more over priced Uber, I made a reservation for dinner here. When I say their menu is small, I mean it. Our options were very limited and went with the only things we could eat that was more than just salad (she's vegetarian and I'm gluten free). I had the NY strip (half of it was meat the other half fat so if this is your thing you're in luck) and my daughter had pasta (gnocchette). I ate as much of my steak that I could (good flavor) but I'm not into eating fat). My daughters pasta was horrible. She tried, I'll give her that. The gnocchette was hard (tougher than al dente) and the sauce was bitter. Luckily the server took her meal off the bill and because I hate complaining I didn't bother to ask for the 10% discount we should have received for staying at the b&b that's in the building. read more

The Press Room - Front of the restaurant - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came for happy hour and staff suddenly forgot how to run a restaurant. Place was packed and bartender says they have ONE cook for a packed dinning room. What a joke. I waited 52 minutes for 12 oysters. They never came, so I left. Never coming back. read more

Portions were quite small and felt like a poor value. Bang bang noodles were disappointing and the tagliatelle bolognese didn't have much meat in it. Don't come if you're hungry. read more

Wow, SAD!! We have loved this place for so long (for 4+ years) - had always been a solid spot off the beaten path for great cocktails and unique food. We were stoked to get a reservation during restaurant week and on a Friday - but maybe we know why.... This was the worst dining experience we've had, maybe ever. It took 20 mins for us to get waters at our table, another 20 to have drink orders fulfilled, and 40 mins between courses of the pre fix menu. The food also was really not good - "cucumber salad" being a sad house salad with premature ingredients, my burger was rare and actually bleeding into the plate, and my dates chicken sandwich was cold and turkey... we also had to ask for the check 3 times before receiving it. Total time in restaurant was 2.5 hours and not by choice. Wanted to warn people walking in while we were leaving... disappointed!! read more

Surprisingly impressive meal here! Came here sat night for dinner as my wife and I were going to a show around the corner at City Winery & we hate their food so we never eat there. Stopped in here based on that first photo I saw of that burger. Since I didn't see it on the menu, I asked our waiter about it and was told it's only for happy hour Monday thru Thursday. So I was a little disappointed about that but still found delight in what I ordered. We started with duck salami as an appetizer. The salami itself was very good, the bread was soft and the pickled peppers complemented it well. For entrees, I got the rotisserie chicken and my wife got the crab cakes. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the gravy and mushrooms it sat in was amazing. The crab cakes were also amazing, seasoned to perfection, with a beautifully complementing sauce underneath. For dessert, my wife got the creme brulee and I got the chocolate brownie (I forgot the exact name of it). The creme brulee was good, nice consistent creaminess with a balanced sweetness. Mine was simply mind blowing, the brownies themselves were amazing, complemented by some soft crunchy morsels (no clue what they were, tasted like crushed oreos) that made it a blissful experience in my mouth. All in all, great experience, both of us enjoyed it and walked out surprisingly stuffed despite the small portions. My only word of caution, be careful how much you order because it can get pricey really quick. We spent about $95 (including tax & tip) for just the 2 of us and only had water to drink. read more

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I'm not sure if we came on a bad night, but I was wildly underwhelmed. They have a small menu, which is totally fine, but they were out of three of the things we tried to order. I left hungry. The service was odd - drinks took forever but food came out in minutes. Will not be back. read more

Great ambiance and love their pop ups. Service is always great and will definitely go back to check out their rotating menu!

the vibe is worth the money I think- it's just the classiness you'd want for the money you're dropping ($$$) but comfortable. It feels like you walked into the living room of a very rich academic that has a mansion but likes to hang out in their small house by the lake. Like dim lights and warm wood but not so dim you cant read. GET THE TRUMPET MUSHROOMS OH MY GOD. LITERALLY THE BEST THING I'VE EATEN OF 2022. The cocktails are nice. read more

This speakeasy type bar really surprised me. They have a very small menu but the food was delicious. I was unable to go during happy hour for the $1 oysters but got them anyway, they did not disappoint. Service was amazing. Definitely try the espresso martini if you go. Dim lit spot with a cute vibe. Will be going back :) read more

The Press Room was able to take 10 of us on New Years' Eve on short notice The food, drinks and service were all exceptional. We all loved it and had a great times especially with the cocktails they craft!! We even had a slight miscommunication with the payments afterwards, but the staff and support were super helpful in getting it straightened out. I would recommend a place like this that is responsive and helpful to their patrons. Thanks again for a great start to 2024. read more

I wouldn't return. The atmosphere is great, but as others have pointed out, the service is a letdown. When employees are standing behind the bar cursing, drinking on the job, and have cigarettes tucked behind their ears, it's a dealbreaker for me. read more

This is definitely a cute little place tucked away in the basement of an older building, so it does hold a lot of character. We didn't realize that the menu is more small plates/meant to be shared. The meal was quite good, but definitely expensive for what we got (roasted squash, steak tartare. chicken, and scallops). The atmosphere was quaint, but pretty tight seating. Additionally it felt very loud for the environment (the music seemed to be somewhat overpowering and definitely took away from the vibe). On top of that service seemed fairly slow, although the dishes were beautifully presented and definitely delicious. A lot of people there seemed to be getting the charcuterie boards - something this place is more well known for. I think if I came back I'd definitely go this route, and maybe stop here for a happy hour and some sacks instead of a fully planned dinner. Overall we had a good time, but not great. read more

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Loved this place! Came here on Friday night with some girlfriends for some drinks and dinner. We had reservations so we had no problem getting right in. As lots have other people have mentioned it definitely has a speak-easy, cozy vibe. It is pretty dark, but there are a lot of candles and some light on the walls that give it a very cozy vibe. The atmosphere was really great, and there was low music and the white noise of tables around you, but you can very easily hear each other at your table. Drinks were great, my two friends got wine, and I had the Bourbon Renewal and all were really good. Food was also delicious - the three of us split the Burrata, Fried Brussel Sprouts, Cocoa Caramelle and Sourdough Cavatelli. Portions were a little on the small side, but we all had enough to eat and split easily, just weren't stuffed by the end of the meal. All the food was really good, I loved the cheese in the brussels, and the marinated tomatoes with the burrata. The pasta's were also both very tasty. Pricing was actually pretty fair even considering the smaller portions. The three of us had 2 drinks each, the 4 food items and it came out to right around $50 each (before tip), so it was not bad at all! Definitely would come back for a date night or another girls night! read more

Wow wow wow!! This place is fantastic. It is tucked away on a side street off Randolph a couple blocks down from all the action. It is in the basement / sub level of a building which creates an intimate and cozy vibe. The place was packed when we walking in at 8pm on a Friday so I highly suggest making reservations. We were seated after waiting about 10 minutes for our table to be cleared off. We started with a glass of wine but they have an expansive cocktail menu as well. We ordered the buratta, carrots, scallops and Cauliflower. For 2 girls this was enough food but I would suggest 2-3 plates per person here. - buratta - 10/10. So delicious! It had a olive oil garlic finish that was to die for. The bread was perfectly toasted and paired so well with the creamy cheese - carrots - 7/10 - these grew on me and I loved the sweetness of the carrots with the salty feta and sweet honey but they were a little softer than I like my carrots. - scallops - 8/10 - very small portion for $18 but really delicious and perfectly cooked. Came came with a light cream sauce with some dehydrated corn. - cauliflower - 10/10 - best thing I had! So delicious and really complex flavors. Moroccan glazed and cooked to perfection. All in all our bill came to $100 which was a little pricey for the portion sizes but I would eat here again in a heart beat!! Great date spot and wonderful ambiance. Service was slow but we didn't mind as we really enjoyed our meal and company. read more

The Press Room - Buratta appetizer. Absolutely fantastic ($16) - Wine Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The space is cozy and chic . Ambiance to spare. All the aforementioned is 5 star. Lovely wine list and delicious munchies..

It's not just a great cozy place with the Great Gatsby atmosphere-- it's a staff, Noah and Petros were absolutely wonderful. Noah made the world best range dressing and gladly shared his recipe and Petros was quick, friendly and accommodating all night :) We loved Brussels Spouts, Squid Ink Pasta with chunks of crab meat, NY Strip and their awesome cocktails! read more

Great find in the west loop. The downstairs bar is a very dark speaker easy, outdoor patio perfect for nice days. Inventive, thoughtful cocktails, great food accompaniments, and knowledgeable staff to guide your choices. My favorite cocktail so far is the press room gin and tonic... and I'm not even a gin and tonic girl. It is crisp, refreshing and the additions of the cucumber, mint, and lemon tonic are the perfect example of how press room elevates tried and true classics (gin and tonic). Finally, I must recommend the king trumpet mushrooms. Huge in size and served on a bed of wheat berries, spinach, and egg, all drizzled with a miso vinaigarette... well seasoned, thoughtfully choreographed accompaniments... I had this during my first visit and have ordered it every time since. This is a new favorite place in West Loop to meet with friends after work. read more

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Great happy hour if you like $1 oysters! $20 meat. Cheese, caperberries, cracker &honey/mustard boards! Great environment, dark lighting good music (in lower level). Amazing service! Did not have to wait at all on a Tuesday when they opened. Would definetly come back again. Oysters are on the smaller side. They come with a delicious spicy sauce. read more

Good place to hangout after a day of work with best friend or boyfriend. Good service . read more

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Terrible spot. We waited 2o min for a drink order then the server forgot to put the order in. After about another 30 min, he came back to tell us he forgot our order. There are so many better options within a short walk. Don't waste your time on this one. read more

It is my first time to dine here. Food items are unique. They are in small portion but look interesting. The place is more suitable for a group of people to hang out for a drink. Customers here are happy, high and loud. Waiters are polite and attentive. The location might be different to find. It is in a basement. read more

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I was maybe a little too excited to have dinner here last night...because this was a pretty sincere miss, in terms of the food. As a place to drink? Fantastic, although it is crazy loud on weekend nights given what we saw at 7:30 PM last night. But as a place for dinner? Whoa boy. We didn't try the cheese and charcuterie boards--and that might have been a mistake--so we did the burrata, cauliflower, sprouts and the short rib entree. While our order was not particularly inventive, the flavors were not particularly inspiring. All of the dishes were just fine, but bland. The short rib was the worst offender...it was so devoid of flavor that I left some steak on the plate (when I pay for expensive food I never leave soldiers behind!!). The meat was cooked just right but it badly needed a glaze or a sauce due to the lack of flavors from the meat. A big plus to the elevated 'hood bar feel and the artwork inside. And our server accommodated our need to move through the meal quickly because we had to get to WNDR by 9 PM. But again--no need to eat dinner here. Stick to cocktails with friends (our Old Fashioned and Vieux Carre were tasty) and you'll be in good shape! read more