Great service, food, and ambiance. The library bar is amazing! Definitely recommend the vodka…read morerigatoni.

Gilt Bar has been a Chicago favorite since 2010, and after my first visit I understand why…read more The space is dark, energetic, and packed with personality. This is not the place for a quiet conversation. It may be one of the loudest restaurants I've visited in quite some time, and a nearby birthday celebration only added to the energy. That said, the atmosphere is part of the appeal. If you're looking for a fun, celebratory evening with friends or family, Gilt Bar delivers. I can't imagine choosing it for a business dinner. We started with the Tenderloin Steak Tartare and onion rings. Both were excellent. My daughter was craving the Bolognese, while I ordered the vodka rigatoni. The portions were generous, and both dishes were flavorful and satisfying. The truffle mafaldine appears to be the menu's most celebrated pasta and receives plenty of attention on Yelp, but we were very happy with our selections. Service was spot on throughout the evening. Food arrived with good pacing, drinks were refreshed promptly, and our server struck the right balance between attentive and intrusive. For dessert, we shared the gooey skillet cookie. Be warned: this thing arrives at the table with nuclear-level heat. The vanilla ice cream isn't just there for flavor, it's there for protection. One unusual observation: the floors seemed surprisingly slippery throughout the restaurant, something we noticed more than once. Our bill came to $159 before tip, which felt reasonable given the quality of the food, service, and overall experience. Between the lively atmosphere, strong food, excellent service, and vibrant bar scene, it's easy to understand why Gilt Bar has remained popular for more than 15 years

We tried pre opera drinks and bites at Good Funk on Wacker and overall it was a blah experience…read more The wine selection was interesting, the food was average, at best. We didn't especially enjoy the atmosphere (sadly we were seated at the bar next to some douche dude bros) or the service. I doubt we will return.

My friend rented this out a few weeks ago to celebrate her 45th. It was the perfect spot for about…read more30 women to mingle, drink cocktails and eat delicious food (compliments of Beaknik). I helped her choose the menu using both Yelp and some help from my bestie chatgpt and came up with the following: 7 Passed Apps: * Mini Truffle Beef Wellington (black truffle aioli) * Short Rib & Brie Slider (Aleppo BBQ, arugula, tomato jam) * Chicken Kebab (harissa-marinated chicken, tahini labneh) * Salmon Taco (avocado, mojo rojo, cilantro) * Mushroom Croquette (black truffle aioli) * Halloumi Skewer (tomato & quince jam, za'atar) * Mini Crab Cake (lemon aioli, herb salad) 1 Stationary Grazing Item: * Mezze Trio (tahini hummus, beet tahini w/ goat cheese, tzatziki, grilled pita & crudité) ---- It ended up being the perfect amount of food- heavy enough to fill us for dinner, but also light enough that we didn't get too full and could stay out late and dance (at the request of the bday gal). They passed the appetizers, but once they passed them around a few times they put them on the bar which became one big grazing station. The drinks were great as well and they even did a signature cocktail in honor of my friend, which was quite strong (hello tequila). The bartender and other staff were super friendly and knew many of us by name after a few hours. It was the perfect cozy spot for this amount of people and I'd love to look into using it again for a similar type of party...or just stopping in for a cocktail!

We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

(Kari's Rating 8.75/10)…read more Came with a friend late on a Friday night after dinner time We were able to be seated almost immediately at a nice little private Cove table. We ordered a flight of whiskey sours, which contained whiskeys from Japan, Vietnam, and Wisconsin. I also was able to order an amaretto sour, which they made with freshly hand beaten egg whites, which was a nice cherry on the top. As far as the whiskey flights go, I think the best one was the Vietnam flight because it had a slightly lemongrass twang and was a little bit lighter than the other two. The heaviest one was the Wisconsin which came with a little bit of a bite at the end, but it still wasn't bad if you're trying to blackout on a $15 budget. I would definitely come back with a larger group this seems like a great place, but is a little bit loud- so if you be prepared to yell or wear earplugs. The bathroom took my a second to find, which should have been intuitive considering it was on the opposite end of where you come in. I blame the lighting as things are already pretty hard to find in the dark, but eventually I made it there-Pat myself on the back.

I stopped by Chicago Winery on a Wednesday early evening solo and was able to sit at the bar…read morewithout reservation. I was blown away by the ambiance and decor. Chicago Winery prioritizes upscale and intimacy but their service is personable and friendly allowing you to feel right at home. On Wednesday they offer a Happy Hour special, $5 off a tasting and $10 wine by the glass. The server as extremely kind, and was able to offer me some suggestions based on my personal palate and wine interests. I landed on the Winemaker's Tasting, which included 4, one ounce pours, including Blancs de Blancs, Albarino, Barbera and Merlot. I paired the tasting with the a BYOB board. From their menu I picked the olives, Afterglow, and the Tempesta Guanciale. The server was educated on the wines was able to walk me through the tasting and pairings but gave me independence and autonomy to enjoy at my own leisure and pace. I highly enjoyed my visit and absolutely will be returning to dine in, as well as to get a winery tour!

Was gifted the wine tasting and tour for my birthday which was a very fun experience. Great deal to…read morebuy wine after. I preferred the whites and was disappointed by the reds. We had the date package and ate at the restaurant after. I recommend the pork schnitzel and pierogis. We ordered four shareables but weren't blown away by the butternut squash fondue and gougeres. Loved our hostess for the wine tasting, but wish there was more guidance on tasting notes and wine terminology. I'd recommend though to any wine lovers, I still learned a lot!

Took my wife here for her birthday and had an excellent experience. A great bistro style French…read morerestaurant tucked into River North. We started with the gem salad which was super fresh, full of flavor and a great dressing to match. Very shareable for 2 people. I went with the Corn Dog as my main and it was gimmick. The full flavor of the foie gras came through and mixed perfectly with the cherry compote. My wife had the duck breast that she absolutely loved. Service was excellent and our waiter made great recommendations. Loved the FPA beer he suggested with my dinner.

Obelix is a delicious French bistro with a twist. It's been my regular spot for a leisurely…read moremid-week lunch, special occasions with mom, and weekend fun brunches with friends. The starters and entrees rotate seasonally, and they have an amazing patisserie team if you've grown tired of profiteroles with ice cream and creme brulee (*yawn*) being your only options. The service is beyond exceptional--I cannot say enough.

Every time we make a trip to Chicago, Il Porcellino is a mandatory stop. We've eaten at a lot of…read moreItalian restaurants over the years, and this one keeps us coming back again and again. It's one of those places that you find yourself talking about long after the meal is over. The garlic bread alone is worth the visit. They pour what feels like a gallon of garlic butter over it, and somehow it's still never enough. It's rich, indulgent, and absolutely delicious. We order it every single time and would probably be disappointed if we didn't. The real star of the show, though, is the lasagna. Between the two of us, we've had lasagna at countless restaurants, and nothing has come close to this one. It's hands down the best lasagna we've ever had. Perfect layers, incredible flavor, and the kind of comfort food that makes you want to savor every bite. Their Grey Goose espresso martini is also unmatched. We've tried espresso martinis all over Chicago, and this one is still our favorite. It's smooth, perfectly balanced, and the ideal way to start or end the meal. The atmosphere is another reason we love coming here. The restaurant is gorgeous inside, with a dark, moody vibe that makes it feel special without being stuffy. It's the perfect date night spot whether you're celebrating something or just looking for a great night out together. If you're visiting Chicago and love Italian food, Il Porcellino is a must. Great food, amazing drinks, beautiful ambiance, and a meal you'll be thinking about long after you've left. We make a point to visit every time we're in town, and it never disappoints.

First time visiting the Windy City, we came to the city for the great eats! I'll Porcellino…read morecertainly did not disappoint! For appetizers, we ordered the While Garlic Loaf Focaccia and the Stuffed mushrooms. I wished I took a video when the focaccia arrived. The waiter, holding a plate with a round and fluffy focaccia and proceeded to pour the garlic et al on top of the bread! Very freshly-made and fabulous! The stuffed mushrooms were also cute delicious! This is a rare time where the stuffing had spinach below the stuffing - excellent! I remember seeing (and enjoying) this while I visited Italy. Delightful! The main courses we ordered were the Gnocchi Bolognese, the Baked Burrata Lasagna and the Barolo Braised Short Rib. The Gnocchi meat sauce was the standout here, being very flavorful, but not as heavy as some other restaurants. The Gnocchi were dense - not fluffy as I had expected. But the sauce flavor was vivid. The Baked Burrata Lasagna was oh, so perfect! Many layers of al dente pasta separates with a tasty meat sauce. Many times I have had lasagna that was either over-baked, or had limp pasta. Here, the lasagna shined! So large of a serving that my wife could not finish it, much to her dismay . . . I had the Barolo Braised Short Rib - oh my living god! - so tender, so complete a dish, with the fork tender meat that melts in your mouth, complimented by a light polenta (I must emphasize the lightness here, as many restaurants serve polenta that is heavy and too rich. This did not compete with the short rib, rather it seamlessly became the foundation on which the richness of the meat was enhanced. I was blown away! But, the most amazing, and probably the most delectable part of the evening was finishing off with a luscious Chocolate Cake! OH, WOW!!! The cake was certainly moist and smooth. Yes, smooth! I could not tell there was cake at all, so smooth it was! And surprisingly (not surprising given the quality of this establishment) it wasn't too sweet, rather just enough to bring out the chocolatey goodness! I only wished that I ordered some hot coffee - the cake would have gone well with a great cup of coffee! Overall, I was very impressed with this restaurant! The old-town decor, the dim lights, the fantastic food (just like of the Italy of old!)- all contributing to a wonderful experience! Highly recommended!

The vibes here are immaculate. You walk into a building and check in and they send you up in an…read moreelevator to the roof. It's so iconic. Every server was kind, but we lucked out with Ingrid who was extra special! Quick and the drinks were very good. The food was just amazing. We got so many things I didn't get pics of. These dates wrapped in bacon were a highlight. Honestly you couldn't go wrong with anything you try here!

Great rooftop bar with plenty of reservations. Located on the sixth floor, you get a fantastic view…read moreof River North. I can see this place being a popular spot during the summer. We went here for drinks and light bites before we went to dinner. It is a little disappointing that they do not have a happy hour menu. We ordered the falafel fries, kale Caesar salad, and Vinho Verde & Ibisco d'Amorita. The drinks were refreshing and well made. The fries were good, as was the salad. The Caesar could've used a hint of lemon, but the seeded crackers were a nice substitute for croutons.

Much too expensive. Prices are way out of range of anywhere else of similar quality. The staff are…read morevery helpful and nice but the prices they charge are ridiculous

The experience there was great! The atmosphere was very nice and elegant. The presenter was very…read moreknowledgeable about the different wines we had during the tasting. There was outshines to join tHw wine club although suggested if we wanted to. This was an experience I would do again. It was a good pre birthday event.