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Cocktail Craze
This new cocktail craze has hit me hard, and in all the right places!
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11 Orte
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Courtneys 4-Sterne-Beitrag: I'm not entirely sure why it has taken me so long to write a review of this place. I live down the street and anxiously awaited the opening like a kid for the first day of summer (or in my case, the first day of school). While this place has some grub, it's known for its cocktails and mixologists. We tried to go to Clarks for $1 beer night, what a disaster that was one summer night so I suggested we mosey on down to BF and try our luck there. We had to wait about 5 minutes to get in (we were the only ones in line) as they were at capacity and we needed to wait for at least two people to leave. No worries, 5 minutes outside on a beautiful summer evening won't kill me. When we got inside it, it's a bit dark and mysterious and the seating arrangements are a bit wacky and a seat anywhere is hard to come by. We gave up on getting a table or a spot at the bar and stole a menu from a nearby table. The cocktail list is quite impressive, I enjoyed reading all of the names and had the hardest time choosing. In the end, I went with the Lone Wolf. It was smoky, I never knew a drink could have such a flavor and damn was it strong. I felt like I was floating on the walk home and I'm no lightweight. The service here is average, although the people that work the door are pretty hillarious and aren't pretentious. The mixologists can be pretty snotty though, depending on how seriously they are taking themselves and what night of the week it is. I don't know how often I'll be heading on over but it is a treat and I'll definitely bring guests from out of town. I want to try the back room out, it's supposed to be a lot more intimate (and maybe we'll get a table and try some food). At around $12 per cocktail, it's on par with other cocktail specialists in the city. -
Courtneys 4-Sterne-Beitrag: This place is swanky!!! After our anniversary dinner (and dessert) I suggested that we go check this place out. My boyfriend was on board so we walked down by Big Star and couldn't find anything! Well after crossing the street we noticed that people were entering a mural (yes, a mural). The doorman was wearing all black and we had to stand in a hallway with a velvet curtain with another couple while they found space for us. The house rules are hilarious, you can't use your cell phone inside. You must have proper attire, no flip flops please! The last one is definitely the best; don't bring anyone that you wouldn't bring to your mother's house for Sunday dinner. I haven't seen them enforce any of these rules, but everyone was generally well behaved on a Thursday night. We waited about 5 minutes and then were escorted to a table with two giant (tall) green leather chairs with a tiny circular table. The chairs are set up to be private (so for just the two of us) but there are little pods and all of the chairs are connected. They also have a bar area to sit at as well as booths for parties of more than two. The chairs aren't all that comfortable and it is dark and dim in the place, but that goes with the whole speakeasy feel. It's loud inside. People are chatting, couples are romancing, and the indie music is blaring. Everything in this place screams "trying too hard" but it wasn't as if I didn't enjoy the extravagance. I asked for something "fruity and light" and our server made the perfect suggestion, the Vodka Cobbler. I could drink this drink all night and my buzz snuck up on me fast. My boyfriend ordered something with root beer liquor. I am not a fan on root beer so I passed but he raved and raved. The service is a bit slow and expect to wait 10-15 minutes or more for your drink to come after you have ordered, especially on a busy night. Since the drinks are so involved (and there are a ton of options) it takes awhile to get your drink. We didn't have any food but the menu was short and to the point. My boyfriend and I both agreed that we LOVE this place and now we just need some classy friends to bring! -
Courtneys 5-Sterne-Beitrag: My boyfriend took me here to celebrate my birthday and man was I impressed! We had been looking for a new sushi joint since we kind of had a bad breakup with Macku. The sushi was actually decently priced, so if you stick with some amazing rolls, you can't go wrong and you can even stay within budget. We had a reservation for a Friday night and we got to sit up at the sushi bar. I kind of wanted a table but the bar was actually way more fun. Our server Dan S. was great, we'll request to be in his section next time we come in. I started off with the Skinny Geisha which was amazing, I normally love fruity drinks but all of their drinks were outstanding. The Skinny Geisha had Hum, House Infused Citrus Vodka, Fresca, Yuzu and clocks in at 99 calories. My boyfriend had two Marjorie Kings (he absolutely loved it!). The Marjorie King has Olmeca Altos Reposado Tequila, Maple Syrup, Lime, Combier, Egg White, Rosemary Tincture. The cocktails are all $10, which is pretty decent considering a lot of places charge more and these drinks were phenomenal and all different. I also had a Surprise and Delight with my dinner (Effen Cucumber, Pimm's No.1, Lemon, Simple Syrup, Muddled Lemongrass, Muddled Strawberry, Seltzer) which was also amazing. Now for the food! We started with the Truffled Tuna (truffle oil, avocado, parmesan, chili fresco + wonton chips ) which should absolutely not be missed! I'll be ordering this every time I come in! We also had alligator from the robata grill (garlic-soy + Kirin Ligh). I eat alligator all of the time at home in Florida and I was so excited to see this exotic option on the menu. We also went with the Prosciutto-Wrapped Scallop (wasabi-avocado purée, sweet plum sauce, fried ginger) which was also out of this world. Now for my favorite part, the sushi. I love sushi and I've been eating it for over 10 years and I can honestly say I've never had it done like this. After a bad breakup with Macku, I needed a good hip place to try. I had half of a Chesapeake Bay (fried oyster, black rice, red tobiko, green onion, avocado, garlic aoli+ wrapped in collard green) with black rice. The black rice is something that I had never tried before and is one of the reasons why I will be returning soon. I loved this role, oysters? Sign me up! It's also pretty awesome that they allow you to order half of a roll, they way you can try more things. We also had the River North ( eel, gobo, red onion, pickle chili, black pepper sauce + wrapped in collard green) which was also out of this world. The Clifton #4 (fried calamari, masago, green onion, grilled asparagus, cilantro, marble nori + garlic mayo) was also excellent. The Old City Market (spicy tuna, seared salmon, spicy ponzu, cilantro, green onion, fried okra + wrapped in collard green) was my boyfriend's favorite and he was raving about it to everyone we know (even those people who hate sushi!). Last but not least, we ordered the Spicy Tuna Roll with black rice (spicy chili oil, masago, tempura flake + mayo) which I also loved and I don't generally like spicy tuna. For dessert we ordered the Ice Cream Sundae Flight which included green tea, red bean, and vanilla ice cream. I loved the green tea and vanilla and my boyfriend couldn't stop praising the red bean. I had a wonderful birthday dinner here and I can't wait to come back soon! -
Courtneys 4-Sterne-Beitrag: When I moved to the city, I was determined to find some amazing Cuban food. Since I relocated from South Florida I've had the hardest time adjusting to the weather and my stomach has had a hard time adjusting to the local cuisine. My bf being the amazing person that he is stumbled upon this place. It's cute, that was my first impression. It's really trying to transport you away from the 28 degree weather and over to some country where they speak Spanish and take siestas. That being said, I'm not sure what country they are trying to transport me to but I really didn't care. The drinks are strong and oh so tasty. A mojito was right up my alley and although it was very different from what I would get a home, I enjoyed the variation. This place is perfect for a date night. The lights are low, the candles make anyone look good, and the servers are present but they don't linger. The chicken negro modelo is first rate in my book and they have plantains! AHHH I love plantains! I know I should have gone with the Cubano sandwich but I just wasn't ready. They recently ran a Groupon and I'm kicking myself over the fact that I didn't buy it! Do yourself a favor and make a reservation there today. I did deduct one star over the fact that if you don't have a reservation, they kind of make a big deal out of it. I work in the industry so I know that walk ins can be a little annoying but when you have the space for them, it helps to treat them just like any other customer because they kind of are like any other customer. -
Courtneys 4-Sterne-Beitrag: The bf and I kept driving by this place and when I finally looked it up I found out that it was a dessert bar! How perfect for this sweet tooth addict. We stopped in one night after a huge sushi dinner and we were the only ones in the place. The bartender and the only employee working at the time was so nice and helpful. I had the winter special, it was a small chocolate mousse tart and a glass of raspberry wine. The bf shared my dessert and ordered a peanut butter cup martini. His martini was absolutely wonderful and the chocolate mousse was decadent and the perfect size. My raspberry wine wasn't the greatest but then again, I knew I should have ordered a martini from the start. It is a little expensive though, most martinis will run you $12-14 and the desserts are between $8-10. It looks pretty charming inside with bar seating, which is where we sat and other cute tables and booths. I could see this spot being super romantic or the perfect place to unwind with some girlfriends. It's a little expensive and they have some kinks to work out but I feel that this place could be quite popular very soon. -
Courtneys 4-Sterne-Beitrag: I am so in love with this place and I didn't even eat dinner here. After dining down the street for my birthday I wanted to come here for dessert and drinks. Upon walking in the hostess was so cheery and bubbly and sat us at the bar. However, the bartender told us they only serve dessert in the 3rd floor dining room (which is reservation only). However, they made an exception and we ordered the Sugar Pie and a drink each. I went with the Muscat and the bf got one of their cocktails made with rye whiskey. He was IN LOVE with his drink. My Muscat was typical, a fine brand. The sugar pie had sauteed pears on top with pecans. When they brought it out the bartender told us to hold on a minute and ran in the back to get a candle. I was touched, they really listened even though they were super busy and were already bending over backwards for us. The sugar pie was scrumptious and just enough for this sweet tooth. The atmosphere is stunning. The overhead wine glasses are beautiful and unique. I cannot wait to come back here with a reservation to eat dinner. The service, food, and ambiance are all stunning. Alpana sure knows what she's doing! -
Courtneys 2-Sterne-Beitrag: I had high hopes for this place. What could be better than a rooftop bar in Lincoln Park with a view of downtown, the lake, and the park? We arrived on a Friday night without a reservation. At the door we gave our name and how many people were in our party (4 total). They quoted us an hour wait time and took my number to text us when our table was ready. We went into the coffee shop in the lobby of the hotel where they were selling red or white wine or Tecate beer (cash only). An hour and a half later we were still waiting in the lobby and there was a long line even to check in. I eventually went up to the girl again and she told us to wait 10 minutes and someone would take us up. Ten minutes later we were getting on the elevator. Now, when they say it will be an hour for a table one would assume that there would be an actual table. No, that was definitely not the case. We could barely get off of the elevator, there were so many people and it was very dark so I was tripping over chairs and other people's feet. It was impossible to get drink at either bar and half of the upstairs was reserved for special parties. We were utterly unimpressed and we haven't been back since. There are plenty of spots in the city with amazing views that cater more to their guests. If I had known I was waiting an hour and a half for the chance to stand in the dark pressed up against people I couldn't see I would have just given up and headed to River North. -
Courtneys 4-Sterne-Beitrag: I fell in love with this place months ago when it first opened by simply reading about it. We finally made it in on an ice cold Tuesday night. The entrance is in the alley behind Bub City, don't try to go to Bub City and look for stairs down to the basement, the poor staff members will be confused and you'll look like a dope. The entryway is cool but a little congested, maybe it's because you MUST stop and look at the skulls on the wall and at the private space off to the side, it's pretty spectacular. The host asked if we had reservations which they do accept since they also serve food but we did not. We were able to snag some awesome seats at the corner of the bar so that we could see everything. The drink menu is cute (I folded one up and stashed in my purse, sorry!). The drinks are split into three categories: traditional, modern, and group drinks. They also have some beer and wine but why would you do that?! Since it was just the two of us, we skipped the group drinks but they did look pretty awesome. I ordered the Bunny's Banana Daiquiri and it was frozen but fabulous, they used an entire banana and it was blended to order. My bf got the Painkiller number 3 and it was also fabulous, with strong pineapple flavor. The gimmick here is that every drink has its own particular glass and design which you can purchase. I do not believe that the drinks are worth $13 each but you are paying for the ambiance and the location at best they are worth $10-11. This place is super cute and reminded me of a few places I visited in Hawaii last year and it was warm! I'll definitely be back although the service was a little slow (it takes quite a while to make each of these drinks by hand) and the bartender told us it can get crazy on the weekends. I do want to try the food. The food and drinks aren't on the same menu so we weren't able to scope out the menu. The entire story behind three dots is also printed on the back of the menu and is worth a read. Cute, gimmicky, and fun are the three words I would use to describe 3 dots. Although it won't be my weekly go to spot I've already told all of my friends and family about it. -
Courtneys 2-Sterne-Beitrag: After a friend suggested that we go here last Saturday night, I couldn't stop telling everyone about the excellent things I had heard. Well, then I looked like a jerk. We arrived and were told we would have to wait upstairs in the lounge, the bar was full. Ok, no problem it's Saturday and we didn't have reservations. The bar and the rest of the hotel just don't fit together, the lounge was like a college rec room with tartan carpets, a little weird but also a little retro. We waited for 45 minutes and then we said we were going to try something place else and they somehow found a table. When we walked in, there were several empty tables and the bar was not at all crowded, why are there 50 people upstairs in your lounge waiting area? Our server was attentive and made some suggestions for those of us who weren't quite sure. I went with the dealer's choice: vodka, sweet, and julep glass. For $14 I expected a lot more. The server came back with a blueberry lemonade vodka drink. It was good but not $14 good and not all the creative/inventive but hey, that's why they call it dealer's choice. My main complaint is that they are trying to be a Violet Hour but without all the fixings. Upon asking where the restroom was, they directed me out of the bar and down the stairs. This is where the gym for the hotel is and there are two unisex bathroom stalls. I think a bar that charges $14 for drinks should have its own bathroom or at least something better than a bathroom stall in the basement of a hostel (I don't know if the Acme is a hostel but it sure looked like the few hostels that I've been inside of). They also have a rope that they have to unlatch to let you in and out, I thought that was super pretentious and unnecessary. No one was trying to rush the hostess. I think this place needs to figure out what it really wants to be. It either has to adopt a more welcoming feel or go full upscale and be exclusive but with the perks of getting into a more exclusive place. My friends and I had one drinks and were out of there. Overall, I wasn't impressed but the hype is still driving people here, they need to figure out how to capitalize -
Courtneys 3-Sterne-Beitrag: I have a love hate relationship with this place. I have tried to drink here multiple times but this last Saturday I was able to get in. They ask if you want a table and then tell you it will be a while, well yeah I figured. One time they put us at a table directly in front of the bathroom, we left. This last Saturday we were able to stand by the bar and despite the crowd, we received prompt service. They have a list of wines by the glass, the bottle, and cocktails made with Champagne. My friends and I tried a bunch of different ones. They were pretty good but the champagne wasn't the highest quality, I still had a headache the next day. The beer list is impressive for a wine spot. Cocktails range from $10-13 and beers were $6-8 so prices are pretty much equal to other spots in the area. The decor is lovely and the music is just loud enough. On any given weekend you will find this place PACKED with people dressed to impress. I don't know/care much for fashion but I know I was staring. The place is a mix of tables/high tops/bar seats and some pretty awesome looking lounges for big groups. I tried to book a party of 8-10 here once just for drinks and they wanted a deposit and to guarantee a minimum so I passed on that plan. This place is perfect for winos (specifically the champagne obsessed) and for special occasions. I cannot see myself coming here every weekend as a regular though. -
Courtneys 2-Sterne-Beitrag: This place is so not worth the wait. It's new on the scene and you can tell. We waited at the door at around 11 which is totally normal for the area. The door people were extremely rude, ruder than normal for Hubbard. They kept assuring us it would be less than 5 minutes in order to keep anyone from walking away. The bar had 3 bartenders and they were slow moving. I wasn't impressed by the menu or the beer selection (other than the fact that they have Three Floyd's on tap). The exclusive "upstairs" is just the area where the tables are for dinner but they made it sound like the VIP. I was thinking about making this the second stop for my birthday party next month but now I am definitely reconsidering. For $12 there are plenty of other spots on Hubbard to grab a cocktail.
