The Most Flavorful New American in Chicago

Girl & The Goat

★★★★☆ 4.4 (10207) • $$$

"We luckily scored a last minute reservation few hours before the reservation time. There is indoor and outdoor seating available. If you're going at daytime, I highly recommend the outdoor seating to enjoy the summer weather. The staff were super friendly and service was great. The menu is small, portions are small, and prices are on the higher end for what you get. Each dish is unique and creative - taking the traditional dishes and adding an interesting twist. For two people, we ordered the chili crab noodles, chicken skewers, and crispy short ribs. Everything was absolutely delicious. * Surprisingly, the grilled chicken skewers were my favorite. They were very well cooked and tender, combined with the cashew butter, savory mushroom oil, and crispy sunchokes. It was a burst of flavors and textures in each bite! Easily 5 out of 5* The short ribs were crispy on the outside yet tender on the inside, and so well marinated. The japchae served with the short ribs also had bits of pineapple, which added an unexpected sweetness to the dish. This dish was a bigger amount of food compared to the other two we ordered. * The chili crab noodles were great, but my least favorite. It was more of a crab dish as there was a very small amount of noodles in the dish. There were strawberries with the chili sauce, which was an interesting combination. It was a light and refreshing dish. I highly recommend checking out Girl & the Goat! The food is sooooo good, but be prepared for the small portions."

The Purple Pig

★★★★☆ 4.3 (8610) • $$$

"What an absolutely delightful experience! So glad my cousins introduced us here and made a reservation two weeks in advance! It is definitely a popular spot, so it's recommended to make reservations if you intend to visit. Lines start to form throughout lunch and dinner service well into the lobby area. I ordered a non-alcoholic called the psych which was delicious. Bit of a fizzy and fruity drink, which was lovely to sip throughout the meal.We ordered a small chunk of cheese (humbolt fog) which I thought was quite nice. it reminds me a bit of the funk from blue cheese. They served it with a peach type marmalade and olives mix and some bread. Flavours complimented the cheese quite well and I enjoyed having a taster.We ordered grilled broccoli starter and the mushrooms 3 ways - highly recommend both. Lovely taste and texture. For mains we tried out the halibut, turkey leg, and lamb shank. We also tried a pasta which I believe was orecchetti. It was a cheesy one and it sort of reminded me of the thick nacho cheese you'd get at the theatre. Quite a comfort food. The halibut was very well cooked and I loved the sauce it was in. The lamb shank was very rich and heavy. Meat eaters at the table were huge fans. I loved the bed of sweet potatoes it sat in. The Turkey Leg was probably my favourite. Lovely caramelization on the leg and the bed of veggies soaked up the sauce. It was sweet and tangy from the vinegar used to create the sauce. Beautifully balanced. I wish I could eat it again!Definitely recommend checking this place out. And it's all meant to be shared which always makes for a lovely meal time with friends and family. Service was also quite fast!"

The Gage

★★★★☆ 4.2 (3471) • $$

"I would come here again in a heartbeat - it was really good. I will have to say as someone who is celiac, they did not have as many gluten-free options as I wanted, but I ended up getting something that was gluten-free and it was absolutely fantastic. The staff were cool and the place was packed. They offered us the option of sitting at the bar or outside when it felt like 100° so we had sat outside and it was fine. They kept the water flowing. Someone just told me to point out they had nice bathrooms, but it will be a cold day when I take a picture inside a bathroom. Ha. Great restaurant"

The Publican

★★★★☆ 4 (3459) • $$$

"Surprised by how much I loved it here. Came for a team business dinner and enjoyed the experience. The inside of the restaurant features a large, open dining hall with high ceilings and tall chairs set up at large tables. I tried the Publican sandwiches for lunch earlier in the week and thought they were great.Charcuterie Plate - Decent charcuteries but not memorable or worth the price. (3/5)Publican Bread Plate - Perfectly baked and fresh made rye and sourdough. (5/5)Asparagus - A lighter vegetable option to balance out a meat-heavy meal. The avocado, sesame seeds, and tahini vinaigrette were nice components. (4/5)Barbecued Carrots - Perfectly cooked and flavorful carrots. The creamy herb dressing and pecans added a nice balance of savoriness and texture to the dish. A great vegetable option. (5/5)Porchetta - So so good. Perfectly cooked. The meat was delicious and tender. I will have dreams about this dish. (5/5)Sirloin - Delicious, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. No notes. (5/5)Ham Chop in Hay - Nice and comforting pork chop. Good but not as amazing or memorable as the other meat entrees I tried. (4/5)Chicken - The half chicken was cooked well but the plate was mostly filled with French fries. Felt that it was overpriced. (3/5)"

Alinea

★★★★☆ 4.4 (2643) • $$$$

"Where do I even begin to describe my ultimate dining experience at Alinea? From the moment we stepped through the doors of this iconic three-star Michelin restaurant, it was clear that we were in for something truly extraordinary. Booking our reservation a month and a half in advance, we eagerly anticipated the arrival of our friends from Miami to join us for this special occasion. To make the evening even more memorable, I reached out to the Alinea group and asked if we could meet the culinary genius himself, Chef Grant Achatz, and have our menus signed. While there were no guarantees, we were overjoyed to find ourselves seated with a direct view into the kitchen, where Chef Achatz was tirelessly working his magic. Despite our star-struck awe, he graciously took a photo with me, signed our menus, and even autographed copies of the Alinea cookbook and Aviary Cocktail book that I purchased while we were there!From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed and our coats were taken care of. Then, we were led to the ultimate dining experience: a table set up just for us in the kitchen, where we could witness the culinary performance unfold before our eyes. Adding a wine package only enhanced the experience, with our knowledgeable and entertaining host, Kellen, and sommelier, Branson, guiding us through each course.Every dish we encountered was a masterpiece of creativity and execution. The presentation, the flavors, and the way we were meant to enjoy each dish were all meticulously planned. Each course was a journey in itself, with the ambiance changing seamlessly from one dish to the next. I would review each course we savored which were too many to recount, but that would ruin it for anyone thinking of experiencing Alinea because you must try this for yourself at least once in your lifetime! And the menus change as new items get introduced so why review each and every dish. There were so many courses that left you in awe and so I'm thankful we got the menu to remember what we ate! One standout moment was the French onion soup, where we felt like dancing as the soup was prepared right at our table on a communal-style copper fire stove, accompanied by the perfect soundtrack of 'Fire' by the Ohio Players. But the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the Paint Dessert, a mesmerizing performance by Chef Grant Achatz himself, along with another talented chef. It was a breathtaking finale to an unforgettable evening that will forever be etched in our memories.The experience was worth every penny! Yes we spent a lot but we left Alinea feeling not only satisfied but also deeply fulfilled, and our hearts and bellies full of gratitude. Thank you, Alinea, for exceeding our every expectation and making our evening so special. Thank you for making a special reservation afterwards to your speakeasy, The Office. What a nice touch that Alinea provided us complimentary transportation to The Office. They even offered to comp the valet fees but we didn't use the valet. Words cannot express how much we enjoyed every moment, and we can't wait to return for another remarkable culinary adventure."

Beatrix

★★★★☆ 4.2 (2534) • $$

"Service was great and the bar seating was beautiful with news playing on the tv, the location was perfect walking distance from the places I was visiting. I didn't order food"

The Violet Hour

★★★★☆ 4.2 (2377) • $$$

"Very discrete and hidden entrance. If you didn't know that it was there you would easily walk by without even realizing it was a business. Very dim lit and moody inside which was awesome! The seating was unique with very large chairs so even though the tables are relatively close it feels very intimate at your own table.The cocktails were both very delicious and very spirit heavy which I personally enjoy! We decided to snack on a little dessert and got a cookie which was a nice little treat!I can't wait go back and try some more cocktails in the future!"

Siena Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.2 (2320) • $$$

"Have you ever had a dish so good you want to eat it quickly but you decide to take it slow and savor it? That was my lasagna at Siena, with a good Super Tuscan wine to complement.Service was good, as was ambience . I am coming back for more."

Boka

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1784) • $$$$

"Boka was such a wonderful fine dining experience! Touted with 1 Michelin star, we were very excited to try their tasting menu with wine pairing. My hubby and I came here to celebrate the good things that were happening in our life and to explore all that the Chicago food scene had to offer. I will say that our first course came out about an hour after we were seated because there was a party of 20 that was there before us who were also having the tasting menu. So, we just enjoyed a pre-dinner appertif and some bread. But aside from that, we enjoyed every course along with their wine pairings and our waiter did a wonderful job taking care of us. Everything was delicious and they even personalized our tasting menu as a gift for us, along with little blueberry loaf cakes which were so tasty the next day. Beautiful sultry and moody atmosphere with modern decor. We will definitely be back the next time we are in Chicago. Hats off to the chef and his team."

3 Arts Club Cafe at RH Chicago

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1592) • $$$

"This place is all about the ambiance with slightly above average food. The price is justified for the ambiance as you feel like you're in a private greenhouse oasis complete with a large fountain and a huge sunroof. Great place to meet up for a fancy date with friends or family and take in the beautiful furniture in the rest of the building after the cafe. Reservations are a must but pretty easy to get with some planning ahead, especially on weekdays. Their building is accessible which is nice for those with mobility challenges, but the walkways inside the cafe are a bit narrow, so definitely make a note to them when making your reservation!"

Tweet

★★★★☆ 4.2 (1745) • $$

The Bongo Room

★★★★☆ 4 (1701) • $$

"The vibe for this location is cozy and it's easy to get to from the blue line! Great food, especially the Ube pancakes (tasted like the latte) and their juices. The service was good, we were able to put our name down and they were very accommodating when some of my party was running late and I could sit at the bar as well. Surrounding the restaurant are so many stores in wicker so you can easily kill time while waiting for your table."

Beatrix - Streeterville

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1324) • $$

"I swear all the Beatrix locations are the same - mid food with spacy service. Some ingredients weren't listed in the menu (namely a VERY garlicky condiment) and my sandwich wasn't warm at all. Our server had to be asked several times for simple things.If you're at Northwestern, the food here is better than hospital - but not by much. Pass."

The Hampton Social - River North

★★★★☆ 3.9 (1446) • $$

"Love Hampton social! There was a time when almost all of my friends would have their birthday dinners at Hampton social. I find this very funny. The ambience is very fresh and maybe a bit too sailor themed? Lol, no complaints there though. Definitely makes you feel like you are in the Hamptons. The service is fast and the servers have almost always been nice. Love the food here too. The avocado corn pizza is sooo yummy. The creamed street corn is my absolute favorite. The crispy coconut taco is very delicious too. Oh, and my favorite part? The Rose All Day sign. :p"

etta - Bucktown

★★★★☆ 4.3 (1084) • $$$

"After a couple of years, some friends wanted to try this spot back in December and I was in the mood for pasta so we came back for lunch and I was much more impressed this time. It was a weekday lunch so a little more quiet and our server was still attentive and friendly. Booth seating and decor is very nice. Gin drink - would skip, could only taste the gin and even then it was slightly watered down. Ricotta Pillows - delicious, ricotta was soft and the sauce was sooo good. I liked the spiced black walnuts on top and fresh rosemary. Farm Greens Salad - refreshing salad, the apples were really crisp and vinegrette was lightChitarra Cacio e pepe - perfect creaminess and the shaved parmesan on top was. shaved so light so it melted in which was really nice. Pappardelle alla bolognese - was decent but I wouldn't feel inclined to order again DIavola Pizza - absolutely delicious. The pizza is thin, the meat has a kick and the calabrian chile honey was perfect. What I loved even more was the sauce and spice pairings! The giardiniera pepper was amazing - could buy a jar of that home and spread it over everything.Personally, I'd skip the brunch and go to lunch!"

Rosebud on Rush

★★★★☆ 3.9 (1168) • $$

"This has a cute Italian outdoor seating area where you can see the bustling Chicago streets around you. A good variety on the menu, but the brunch menu is more limited compared to their menu after 2 pm.I was hoping to try their gnocchi, but it was unavailable. Instead, I got the Italian Beef Sandwich. This was not bad! The au jus was definitely the best part, but since the sandwich was so big, there wasn't enough! I couldn't finish it since it was too dry without the au jus. The fries are also really well made here!!"

The Whale Chicago

★★★★☆ 4.2 (973) • $$

RL Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (962) • $$

"I had been wanting to try this place for quite some time; however I was really underwhelmed by the ambiance. The decor was beautiful, but it was very brightly lit and loud inside to give off touristy vibes. People were clearly stopping in from out of town and shopping along Michigan ave, so I guess I should have expected this vs a more romantic atmosphere. Service was still great though.We had a couple of drinks, including some delicious glasses of wine with our seafood tower. The seafood was very fresh and excellent quality, which I would expect for the price. Because of the atmosphere though we decided to have our entree elsewhere. Next time I'll have to see if the patio is better for my taste!"

Yolk Marina City

★★★★☆ 4.2 (927) • $$

"This yolk location slaps. Quick service, consistent quality, and the yolk menu items we know and love. We came on a Friday morning after the 4th of July and we didn't have to wait. The seasonal items we got (bourbon caramel cold brew and Key lime pie pancakes) were both amazing. We will definitely be back'"

Untitled Supper Club

★★★★☆ 3.6 (1243) • $$$

"We had a large party reservation for this restaurant, but we wanted to come early to grab a cocktail and chat before. The inside of this place was unreal. It's underground so it's a bit dark, but the decor and lighting was matched perfectly. Because we had such a large party, we had a prix fix menu. It consisted of a Caesar salad, steak or fish with potatoes and vegetables and a nice dessert. The food was good, but not piping hot unfortunately. During dinner a band started to setup to play some amazing music and we were in awe of the entertaining in the stage. He had an amazing voice and got the whole crowd energized. We all had an amazing time and I will give all the credit to this entertainer."

Pick Me Up Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (1094)

"I was in the neighborhood and looking for someplace with free wi-fi. This place was nice enough. The light is very low, and it can be a bit noisy, depending on the crowd. This is one of those places where the booth seats are low compared to the tables, or maybe the tables are high compared to the seats. The food was okay. I thought it was maybe a tad overpriced. I just had a snack, and didn't really explore the menu fully. I'd go back. I'd like to see how it is on a different day at a different time, and maybe try something else. I just got cheese fries because I wanted something to nibble on, and they were okay. They use actual melted cheddar instead of sauce, which was good."

3rd Coast Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (848) • $$

"What a great breakfast. White glove service at standard diner prices. Portions were huge and the space, a half-basement in a historic-looking apartment building is really charming. We loved everything about our breakfast here."

Uncommon Ground

★★★★☆ 3.5 (1229) • $$

"My husband came here with his dad before a Cubs game about a month ago, so when we went to a Cubs game a couple of weeks ago, this was the place my husband suggested to go beforehand. Therefore, he thought it was solid enough to bring me here for the first time!We made a reservation because we all know the Wrigleyville area can be crazy with people, and it was smart of us to make it because the restaurant was pretty busy when we got there. When we arrived, the host sat us at a cute 2-person table next to the bar area. Despite us being here on the rainiest day, the restaurant was brightly lit because of the large windows in the dining room. My husband informed me that there were more rooms in the restaurant that we couldn't see and that the room we were seated in was a bit different than the one he previously sat in. I LOVED the aesthetic of the room, and I loved that we were in the brightly lit one where we could see the bar, front door, and the street. We ended up staying at the restaurant later than planned because we watched the pouring rain outside.Service-wise, our waiter was extremely nice and friendly. He asked if we had been there before, and he then gave some drink suggestions. He checked on us throughout our visit and was accommodating. The food was amazing! On Saturdays and Sundays, they have a brunch menu that you order from, and I ordered the Biscuits and Gravy ($15). I am not exaggerating when I say this, but it was AMAZING and the best biscuits and gravy I have ever had. The gravy with the sausage was so flavorful and had a bit of spice. It was the PERFECT balance of a creamy texture. My husband ordered the Farmer's Market Scramble ($18), which has cheddar cheese, kale, asparagus, and red peppers. He got the side salad and a side of sausage links ($6). He LOVED his food and said that he could taste how fresh all of the ingredients were. The last time he came here, he ordered the Avocado Toast ($17) and loved that, as well, which is why he wanted to come back here and try something new. The drinks I ordered were great, as well! I ordered the Beermosa ($11) and also a Cubbie-Rita ($14). However, the waiter said that the machine that makes the Cubbie-Rita was broken at the time, so they made mine by hand, so honestly, mine might have been better than the machine one anyway! HahaOverall, I will ABSOLUTELY be back here, especially before any Cubs game we come to. The dining room is gorgeous, the food is delicious, and the service is friendly."

Parson's Chicken & Fish - Logan Square

★★★★☆ 3.6 (1152) • $$

"Visited this local establishment before a theater evening. I sat at the bar and was promptly helped. I wavered between fish or chicken. I once had the chicken sandwich delivered to a houseparty. Anyhoo, I remember that being good but can't tell you much more about that selection. The bartender recommended I try the fish sandwich. I was good with that selection. In addition to the sandwich which came out within 10 minutes, I grabbed some fries and $3 cheap beer. Sandwich was hearty and fresh. Fries were hot and plentiful. I enjoyed both. I had leftover fries that my theater mate ate on the way to the play. I was fan of this sandwich but on my next go around, will request additional pickles and sauce on the side. All in all meal was good but things sure are getting expensive. Cost me $27 with tip for fish sandwich, fries and beer. Tip: fries come with aioli but charged for ketchup so ask for swap if aioli is not your thing."

City Winery

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (1275) • $$$

"Wow. It's been a long time since we went to City Winery and have they steeped up their game. We bought tickets to an early show to see The Squirrel Nut Zippers. The performance was outrageous. But the food and the service are far better than our earlier experience.When we entered we had a tasting of their Petit Syrah. We were seated next to the stage. Our seats (which we chose) had an obstructed view of the stage. Hiring the performance we mainly saw the back of their pianist.The food was great. We shared an American Waygu Hanger Steak - cooked perfectly, with fingerling potatoes in a wonderful sauce. The Waygu was seared perfectly. I can't even describe the potato's. We also ordered the chickpeas and spinach. Another great choice - delicious with some spiciness to it.The acoustics were great. Even with the location of our seats, it sounded like we were in the front center. Next time, we'll spend a bit more for better seats so we could see as well as enjoy the show."

Kinzie Chophouse

★★★★☆ 3.9 (929) • $$$$

"We came to Kinzie Chophouse for a celebration, making sure that we had made reservations in advance for dinner.Our group was seated promptly when we arrived, which was great.We started off with the following apps to share:+Fruit de Mer - this included crab claws, lobster tail, oysters, and poached shrimp, served with mignonette, lemon-herbed olive oil, soy sauce, and horseradish+King Scallops - the scallops were sauteed and came with crab tartare prosciutto chips, apple trilogy, and lime mole sauce+Octopus on the Grill - with fish roe cream and black-eyed bean saladFor our entrees and sides, we ordered:+the A5 Takamori "Drunken Wagyu' - note that there is a minimum of 4 oz per order+a Delmonico - this was 16 oz; had this horseradish-crusted+a Dry-Aged Tomahawk - this was 36 oz; had this with bleu cheese crumbles+Truffled Whipped Potatoes+Fried Mushrooms - with a creamy gorgonzola sauce+Asparagus - dressed in a lemon butter sauce and fleur de sel+Four Cheese Mac & Cheese - topped with bacon and toasted breadcrumbsService was friendly, welcoming, and attentive.The place is cute and intimate, with the white tablecloths and the nice framed pictures that decorated the walls.Kinzie used to offer valet years ago, but no longer; however, there's limited metered street parking and garage parking available in the area.+different steak-styles available+friendly service+limited metered street & garage parking available +reservations recommended"

Copper Fox Gastropub

★★★★☆ 4.2 (786) • $$

"Unassuming little pub tucked away in a Marriott along the mag mile. Clean, open, not overly crowded. They have breakfast, lunch, and dinner.Breakfast is the typical fare--biscuits, eggs, meat, frittatas. Lunch is sandwiches (burgers, steak, clubs etc) and salads. Dinner is similar to lunch.I had the burger and fries. The burger was juicy and cooked medium as I asked. The fries hot and crispy. I had a mule, their signature drink. It was fine, but a little sweet for a mule. I also had foxy n' famous, a pineapple and mezcal concoction. It wasn't bad, but didn't wow me.The bartender was the only server at the time I visited, but she made sure I always had what I needed.Not a destination restaurant, but I was super hungry in the middle of a touristy museum binge and this was the perfect pit stop!"

Lady Gregory's

★★★★☆ 3.7 (1012) • $$

"My coworkers and I (group of 10) arrived around noon and were promptly sat for our reservation. The vibes are super cozy but still bright, which is a great balance. Drink orders were taken and came out quickly! Our appetizers/meals were paced perfectly. The artichoke dip was my first ever that had potatoes in it and I must say I have no complaints. My coworker and I split the fish & chips (not pictured) and the salmon. Both were absolutely delightful. The salmon with the lemon sauce was bright yet filling. Fish and chips were probably the best I've had, cooked to perfection and the dipping sauce was almost drinkable. Would 100% recommend. I plan on returning once I'm no longer pregnant and can enjoy a nice pint with the food!"

Next

★★★★☆ 4 (822) • $$$$

"I made a long-awaited return to Chicago a couple of months ago and had the pleasure of dining at Next to try their Julia Child menu. I've been a big fan of Grant Achatz ever since I visited Alinea over a decade ago and he did not disappoint. I won't bother going into too much detail regarding each menu item since the menu changes relatively frequently, but everything was delicious. We also added the Ossetra Caviar and Canard a l'Orange as supplemental courses. Service was excellent as expected, and the ambiance is intimate - great for a special occasion or date."

Giant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (689) • $$$

"Wow, was I absolutely floored on my most recent trip to Giant. I'd like to think of myself as a retired Yelp reviewer, but I'm coming out of retirement to talk about just how impressed I was on my most recent trip to Giant was. I've been several times now and the food has always been excellent, but today I'm here to talk about the service.My boyfriend and I went to Giant last night to celebrate our anniversary, and due to a backup in the kitchen, we were seated just under 30 minutes later than our reservation time. This didn't really bother us because it was a beautiful night and the neighborhood was lovely to walk around, however, Giant took this very seriously. They went way way WAY above and beyond to show us how sorry they were for the delay by gifting us champagne, several dishes, and a dessert, all completely on the house. We were so appreciative of the initiative, and it only deepened our love of this restaurant. Giant is a prime example of a restaurant that values hospitality to the same degree that they value the quality of their food, which is something that you don't see all that often. Giant is easily one of my top 3 all-time favorite places to eat in Chicago based on their food alone, and the service-first experience we had last night just reaffirmed my opinion that Giant is one of the best restaurants Chicago has to offer. Bravo, Giant, keep up the excellent work."

Bistronomic

★★★★☆ 4 (793) • $$

"This was a treat for me during restaurant week. I'd never had escargot before and got to try it here. DELECTABLE! I started with a delicious cup of decaf coffee, and then moved on to the French Spritzer which was delicious! I also had the Mussels Marinieres & Frites, both of which were great. And that Chocolate Hazelnut Bar for dessert was FANTASTIC! The service was perfect and the ambiance was very nice. I enjoyed this decadent meal very much. It was overall, a lovely meal and time with friends."

Machine Engineered Dining & Drink

★★★★☆ 4 (762) • $$

"This joint was recommended to me by my Yelp sis Latrice A. We went here for brunch meeting to catch up and I am glad we did. Machine is a great addition to my brunch outing.The space itself is adorable. Latrice and I sat at a two top table under a gorgeous fall tree. The wall behind us was lined with while flowers and lights, while there was marble all over the place. The space is divided into a dining area and a separate dining and bar area. There is also outside dining that looks great, but too cold right now to experience it. There was a woman walking around with a flower cart. At the time I did not know what this was about, but discovered that this was a regular part of the experience. They have certified Florists who will make a floral arrangement for you at your table. Back to brunch. For my entrée, I got the Glazed Pork and Potato Hash (Korean glaze, caramelized kimchi, sautéed spinach, garlic aioli, and sunny side up eggs) and the Strawberry Shortcake French Toast (Brown Sugar Strawberries, Amaretti Crusted Honey Custard Brioche, Coriander-Cardamom Cream Cheese Frosting, Strawberry Syrup and Orange Zest). Both of these dishes were very good and warmed up nicely the next day as leftovers. To wash it all down, I got a Rose Prosecco called Tullia from Veneto, Italy. That was very nice and I definitely would (and did!) do it again.I had such a good time there that I took The Doctor and The Queen there for their Happy Hour. Machine only does Happy hour on Fridays from 4-6 pm. The menu is limited in terms of food choices: three choices of a Tofu Volcano, Mediterranean Bowl and Cacio Pepe (Bucatini Pasta, Hook's Parmesan and a Pepper Blend). You can get protein added to any of these dishes. We went with the pasta dish and it was good. The pasta is $10 on its own, with an extra charge for the protein of your choice.Machine also has a selection of Communal Cocktails that serves 2-4. Prices are on the high side if you are thinking of just one person getting a drink, but since you can share them, the cost goes down. For Happy Hour, the prices are cut in half. I am not much of a cocktail person, but I did have this Breakfast at Tiffany's (tenjaku gin, watermelon, berry and lemon) and I absolutely loved that! The presentation was lovely, with the drink being served in this lovely cut glass decanter with a flower in the neck of the decanter.Nice thing about Happy Hour is you can make a reservation to sit in the dining room and still order from the happy hour menu for eats and get the half off price drinks. A lot of places require you to sit in the bar area for these deals, but here you don't have to worry about rushing to get a space to enjoy.Service was good. Both times there, the servers were very nice and attentive. For the second visit, The Queen got a small bouquet made. Flowers are on the pricey side but they did look beautiful and lasted for several days when we got home. The Florist was nice and helpful in making recommendations and getting everything wrapped up to take home.All in all, we had a great time at Machine and definitely will be back again."

The Marq

★★★★☆ 4.1 (703) • $$

"We made reservations at this restaurant for about 30 people. It was awesome because we were able to enjoy a great meal, each other's company, and had no problems splitting the bill. They were able to split the bill between us all and processed all of our credit cards individually (Google wallet tap and apple pay too). The appetizers alone were amazing and we ate every bite. We were so full by the time the main entree came that I had to take most of it home. Here's what we got and my thoughts on them. Appetizers:*Carnitas nachos - the chips were amazing. I think they were made in house they were crispy and delicious with the most delicious nacho cheese. *Hummus - the bread alone was so delicious and you add that hummus and it was *chef kiss. * babaganoush - it was better than I thought it would be. I actually ate some. Not my favorite appetizer but I still thought it was pretty good.Entrees:*Marq burger - didn't get to try but my friend enjoyed it.* fish N chips - didn't get to try but half our group got it and they seemed to enjoy it.* carnitas tacos - I didn't enjoy it as much as the nachos because it had no cheese, but it was pretty good. It came with pickled red onions and jalapenos. *southwest salad with pulled chicken - delicious. My friend gave me some and I ate it all. Refreshing and has these little chips in there. Desert: *Cannoli - wasn't my thing. It wasn't sweet and it had pistachios on it.* chocolate mousse shooters - it was pretty good. Soft and gooey when you use the spoon it came with but not soft enough to use a straw with (yes, we tried). If you like chocolate you will like this. We found out the best way to eat it is to mix and then down it like a real shot.Overall, the place was cozy with nice servers and good food. Would definitely come back. Thanks!"

BLVD Steakhouse

★★★★☆ 3.9 (753) • $$$$

"The ambiance and service were both noteworthy. It's stunning inside. -Perfect for a date. I loved our server. He was helpful without being overbearing. The food was good. Don't get me wrong. But for a $300 meal, not sure it was quite worth that. We ordered the steak tartare to start. Loved the grilled sourdough bread it came with. The wagyu strip steak was good but not a slam dunk. I did really enjoy the blackened salmon with grits, but the baked potato with creme fraîche and caviar needed more caviar and it wasn't presented in a very appetizing way. I'd have gladly paid more for more caviar on it. I load it up when I make it at home. It was an enjoyable experience and a nice change-up from your typical steakhouse, but I'd consider this a "one and done" restaurant."

The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (778) • $$$

"My friend and I walked in on a Tuesday evening to a packed restaurant. Little did i expect our neighborhood steakhouse will be so packed on a Tuesday evening. We snagged the last unreserved table and were quite lucky. Matty our server was polite and attentive, we had coffee, tea , lobster bisque , firecracker shrimpAnd salmon. Everything was good except the lobster bisque was a little underwhelming. Glad to see the steady flow of people @ the restaurant. Will be back for sure!"