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    Willow Room

    4.2 (429 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

    Willow Room Photos

    WILLOW ROOM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Willow Room

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lisa S.

    The Willow Room is in a great location and has plenty of indoor seating for large and small groups alike. Service is always quick and friendly and the portion sizes here are perfect (not oversized or underwhelming). The drink menu is a little limited and expensive but you're paying for the nice atmosphere. There are a few seats outdoors but there isn't much of a view so it's actually preferable indoors here.

    Outside last few days and 10/1
    N S.

    Ambiance and service were wonderful. Ok nice during the summer and seemed busy so great place for local walk. I wish we had more of a memorable food selection. This would come back sooner. But again great outdoor especially w dogs.

    Wine cellar
    Brittney W.

    We sat downstairs in the wine cellar and I looked the darker vibe there. We sat at a table, but there were plenty of people sitting at the bar too. For drinks, I ordered the Willow which was a little too sweet for me, but still very light and fresh. We then did a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc which was great. For food, the octopus was pretty standard, but I loved the addition of the seaweed salad. The arancini was good too. Loved the sauces it came with, but wish they were a little bigger. The star of the show was the truffle gnocchi. I would lick the bowl if I wasn't in public. The sauce was unreal and the pasta tasted fresh. We also ordered broccolini and I loved the garlicky oil that came with it. All in all a solid meal and vibe. Great for girls nights, date nights, birthdays, etc.

    Breakfast Burrito
    Anirudh J.

    I love brunch. It's the most important meal of the day, truly. While I couldn't drink because of work, I love the ambiance and light atmosphere of the restaurant! The waitresses and servers were always visible. We didn't have a reservation, but they did their best to accommodate us and I truly appreciate the effort and understanding! The burrito was not a Tex-Mex burrito that I usually prefer, but the chorizo had the flavor I needed in a burrito. I did choose to substitute the breakfast potatoes for some fruit because #health. The fruit was chilled, which I love especially when eating outdoors on a gorgeous, sunny day. Back to the burrito, the salsa verde needs some spice. The sauce tasted like pure green tomato juice. The pico de gallo was a refreshing touch, but I wish it was incorporated into the burrito. It was hard to "dip" the burrito into the pico de gallo. I had to take a fork to put it on the burrito, which is my first world problem. If the pico de gallo was more saucy, it'd be easier to drizzle it onto the burrito.

    Salmon cake sandwich Steak sandwich
    Jacqueline J.

    Willow Room was amazing!! We stepped in on Saturday and got a quick bite at the bar. I ordered the salmon cake sandwich and in doing so learned that it had just been added to their menu. It was so so so good. If they keep adding new additions like this there won't be room for walk ins on a Saturday lunch service! My boyfriend got the steak sandwich and also really loved it. He did agree with me that my order was the better choice. Overall, we loved it and we'll be back!

    Camille R.

    The Willow room restaurant is a place that cannot be missed. It's located in Lincoln Park so parking is tight. You can park on the street. The restaurant is located right on the corner and as you walk up to the door, you can view the inside and just see the beautiful ambience of the restaurant. We have agreed right away upon entry and seated very quickly. The hostess was very pleasant as well as our waitress. The waitress was able to share information about specials for the day as well as more information about some of the items on the menu as a relates to is it filling is a popular And basically her opinion about the food items. There is a good mixed drink selection and we chose the drink of the restaurant which is called the Willow as well as another party had a guava drink that was very refreshing to taste. Our food was was pleasantly prepared on the plate was warm and very scrumptious. The crust on the beef Wellington was amazing if you go for nothing else at this restaurant definitely go for the beef. Wellington the short rib meal with mashed potatoes was quite delicious everything we had was very well prepared and very good. I will be back. The bathrooms are a bit of a speakeasy vibe as they are concealed, but or very clean and well decorated. The restaurant also offers a downstairs bar which we were told is a lively atmosphere for Friday and Saturday nights. There is a full bar and plenty of seating. If you're in the area or even if you're not in the area, this place is not to be missed.

    Beet Salad
    Alex Anne M.

    On a cold day, it is hard to stay warm anywhere. The Willow Room can be a bit of a challenge as the door enters straight into the restaurant, but I didn't feel the need to keep my coat on while dining. We both thought the prices were very fair and the mood of Willow Room was very romantic but also with the availability to see every table in the room. In case you want to make up narratives for the people eating around you. The Carpaccio had these capers to add some bite to the mix on top with sprouts and the horseradish cream added some zest to the dish. We were trying to figure out where the truffle flavor was in the Truffle Gnocchi. I now see, it is in the cream sauce, however, I still strongly recommend this dish as the gnocchi crisped up with some time on a skillet. Service was very professional constantly checking in with water and keeping an eye on tables. It actually gave me The Bear vibes with staff changing out silverware after every dish.

    Rebecca W.

    So, I really wanted to love The Willow Room. The vibe inside is super cool, but sadly, the food and experience just didn't hit. The mussels? Meh. The baguette was rock hard, and there wasn't nearly enough broth to dip into--which, let's be real, is the best part of ordering mussels. The burger was forgettable, the fries were borderline raw, and the schnitzel was way overcooked. Even the broccolini--normally one of my faves--was a letdown. To top it off, we were sat right by the door and window. It was freezing, and when we asked to move, they said no. I get it, but still... not ideal. All in all, cool space, but the food and overall vibe? Not worth the hype. 2/5.

    Arancini
    Olivia B.

    This place is super underrated! It's such a cute little spot off the ever-so-popular Halsted strip. A friend and I went here for dinner before a show at Joe's on Weed and enjoyed splitting a bunch of dishes. Some of the highlights were the burrata - which was served kind of deconstructed, making it fun to build your own, pick and choose what you want and you can spread it all in bread or eat it all separate. It came with cherry tomatoes, prosciutto, and balsamic. Another delish dish was the arancini - it crispier than expected (maybe they use panko?) and we loved it! The flavors really pop, there was some spice, some tang, and a very creamy texture inside paired so well with crispy outside. We enjoyed some cocktails with our dinner and service was prompt. The inside is so cute -- this would be a great date night spot!

    Salmon - Parmesan cream risotto, bacon, corn, basil
    Al M.

    Whew! Visited on a whim before a nearby concert and was pleasantly surprised! Sat at the downstairs bar and Robert did a great job of taking care of us. Low lights, good music, warm and cozy! Cocktails were smooth but strong, short rib was tender, but the salmon....the salmon was cooked perfectly, and the risotto supplemented it so well. The large pieces of corn felt random and kind of out of place, but the dish was a solid 9/10. Also extremely filling portion sizes! Cannot wait to return!

    Arugula salad over avocado toast with poached eggs.
    Peg P.

    This review is for a Saturday brunch. Or as I like to call it: breakfast. We got there upon opening on a cold, cold morning and were seated more or less directly in front of the door. I don't know if they were mad at us for getting there so early or what. Coffee drinks were okay. Breakfast burrito and eggs Benedict were excellent and generous portions. (Really, you can take half that burrito home.) Avocado toast was fine. It was 80% arugula salad. I like arugula a lot, but I can do that at home. Poached eggs with it were somewhat underdone but not inedible. This will not be the best avocado toast you've ever had. But you've probably had worse, and it is the closest thing to healthy on the menu. Service was not as attentive as you'd hope, given that we were the only people there for the first half hour, but it wasn't awful. The space is really nice and probably even better in the evening. Bathrooms directly across from the bar counter are awkward, but there are more discrete bathrooms downstairs if you don't want a group of people listening to you pee. We'll visit again for dinner service to make the most of the cozy dining room. We will decline the table in front of the door, though.

    Mi Carino

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    5 months ago

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    3 days ago

    Solid New American place south of Armitage. Dishes are a delight to the eye and the palate. Friendly service in a warm, urban setting.

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    4 months ago

    The burgers are awesome but don't leave without having their old fashion. It is probably one of the best I've ever had.

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    9 months ago

    Very good food, just wish they had a happy hour deal. The beat salad was the best thing we ate.

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - Willow Room

    Do you allow dogs outside?

    Yes

    Does Willow Room have gluten-free options?

    Limited.

    Best parking suggestions?

    Street

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    Gilt Bar

    4.3(2.4k reviews)
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    Dinner at Gilt Bar felt like stepping into one of Gatsby's favorite haunts. The interior is…read morestunning , moody, golden, and effortlessly glamorous. The cocktails were beautifully crafted and worth the visit alone. The food was good, but not necessarily the star of the night. What really stood out was the atmosphere and the service, both absolutely incredible. One of those places you go for the vibe as much as the meal.

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    GoodFunk - Behind the bar

    GoodFunk

    3.8(40 reviews)
    2.1 miThe Loop

    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!

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    $$

    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.

    Months after visiting, Arbella still ranks among the best cocktail bars in the city for me!…read more One thing that really makes Arbella unique is their globally inspired old fashioned menu- whether you're an old-fashioned fan or not, these are a must! They've upped their happy hour game by including a rotating global cocktail with previous menu drinks and a daily kitchen special. This time, I ordered the oldest old fashioned and the Oaxaca old fashioned to drink. I thought the first was the best old fashioned I had ever had, but the second was even better! I loved the subtle yet not overpowering smokiness of the mezcal in the Oaxaca. Neither were too sweet and you could really taste the high quality bourbon. We ordered the Korean fried chicken and coconut shrimp to eat from the happy hour menu. The shrimp was super crispy with a delicious ginger-orange compote and rice vinegar pickled onions. Highly recommend! I did think the chicken was a bit tough, but the flavor was good. Another great experience of many to come! If you haven't stopped by Arbella yet, add this to your bucket list asap!

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    DJ Adam Pecho bringing down the house

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    Chicago Winery - Enjoy a wine & cheese plate in our restaurant, LIVA

    Chicago Winery

    4.3(65 reviews)
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    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!

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    LIVA Private Dining Room

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    Willow Room - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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