Uncommon Ground

(773) 929-3680

1214 W Grace, Chicago, IL | Directions   60613

41.951034 -87.659588 View Website

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Neighborhoods:
Lakeview, North Side

Categories:
Restaurants, Catering, Certified Green Restaurant(R)
Cuisine:
New American, Californian, Health Food, Vegetarian

Price:
$$

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Restaurant Special Features:
Brunch, Date Spot, Fireplace, Group Dining, Live Music, Local Favorite, Lunch Spot, Outdoor Dining, Private Rooms
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
General Info:
Open 7 Days

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At a Glance ?
90% ambiance
“Cool atmosphere, staff in need of an attitude adjustment!”
100% dessert
“spicy, rich chocolate flavor with just enough sweetness.”
100% drinks
“The coffee is good and so are the breakfast potatoes.”
81% food quality
“Both entrees were absolutely delicious.”
100% overall
“Overall a very great dining experience in a down to earth cozy neighborhood restaurant.”
43% service
“By the way, the breakfast staff is much more attentive and courteous, especially compared to dinner staff in the music room.”
16% value
“Getting a bit pricey UG, used to be $12.”

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Uncommon Ground

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What Our Expert Scouts Say

January 30, 2013

Fantastic brunch spot - try the lemon pancakes or chilaquiles.

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Tips for Uncommon Ground

January 17, 2013

Diverse, delicious, devine entertainment...Uncommon for sure

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5.0
January 19, 2011

Uncommon Ground offers an Uncommonly Good Experience. I used to go here a lot, but after moving to the suburbs, I haven't gone in more than two years. But this past weekend I met a friend there, and the food and service were just as I remembered -- outstanding!

Our server was friendly and attentive. The only negative I can think of, which isn't the fault of the establishment, is parking is a real bear! Even so, it's worth the parking hassle for a special treat!

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5.0
August 26, 2010

CRYSTAL BOWERSOX&FRANKIE MAYw MICHAEL FRANTI&SPEARHEAD 9/11. CRYSTAL BOWERSOX & FRANKIE MAY open for MICAHEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD on 9/11 POWER to the PEACEFUL in SF GOLEN GATE PARK!‏

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2.0
April 04, 2009

Not good. Is it really Organic? Hmmmm

How about paying $9! for one double soy latte and 2 shots over ice. No kidding! To take away too.

4;30/Friday afternoon. Place empty. More staff than customers .All hanging out socializing.

One off duty staffer enters , sits at back bar , served wine , no charge. No wonder prices are so high there.

Use restroom-OVERFLOWING hand towel gabage can so bad a new pile was one foot high on the floor next to the can. Shrieks poor management that so many staff doing nothing wouldn't fix this. INSULTING to customers.Not a clean smell in restaurant either?? Such a lovely space too.

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2.0
November 19, 2008

Cool atmosphere, staff in need of an attitude adjustment!. I've been going to my beloved Uncommon Ground since the early 90's. I have a love/hate relationship with them. About every other time I have a decent/good experience depending on who's working and how the food turns out that day. Last night, had a BAD experience.

Let me just start with the host who was rude and condescending to me. He's trying way too hard to resurrect the 80's Duran Duran look. You need to lighten up on the heavy handed eye liner you're wearing, get rid of the skinny jeans and most importantly stop being stuck up to customers. Since my visit got off on the wrong foot, he told his friend who ended up serving me, and she was about as unpleasant as anyone. I couldn't have made her smile if I told her she won the lotto . She was unfriendly, slow, and unresponsive. My bad start to the night got translated in the kitchen as well. All I ordered was a chopped salad folks. The only somewhat tasty part was the grilled chicken. Otherwise I was served the crappy part of the head lettuce with big dry chuncks of it and hardly any dressing. And the chopped salad is now $15! Getting a bit pricey UG, used to be $12. Then I ordered coffee and was served lukewarm dishwater. It was flavorless and not hot. That said I still gave the gal 20% plus tip because I know how hard it is to work in the service industry. I work in it too, and no matter what kind of day I'm having, I treat my customers very well at all times. Some UG employees need a lesson .

Why am I such a glutton for punishment and keep returning over the last 15 years? It's the artist and music thang. I LOVE the artwork and I LOVE coming by to hear the talented singer/songwriters. Before the smoking ban, it was a rare place that was non-smoking. And for the times when I've been served and treated nicely. The food is VERY unpredictable though. BUT, UG, your prices are getting higher, your servers are not consistently reliably good and freindly anymore. Clean up your act!

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3.0
June 17, 2008

just ok. our server was a bit wacky, but it was really the food that was really disappointing. it's not terrible, but it's definitely not great. the calamari was interesting in concept, but ended up tasting like general tso's chicken.

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3.0
February 09, 2008

Great ingredients, poor execution. I love the concept of this restaurant! Great natural, local, organic ingredients. Cozy and comfortable atmosphere. Art, music, and a changing menu. The menu descriptions for both the food and the drinks are tantalizing. The only problem is, the taste of the dish or drink that sounded so good in writing never lives up to the expectation. I've been here four times now. Twice for dinner and music and twice for breakfast, always trying something different. Each time, I was so excited to taste what I had ordered but without fail, when the dish/drink arrived, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. If I go again, it will be for breakfast. The coffee is good and so are the breakfast potatoes. Everything else could use a little tweaking. By the way, the breakfast staff is much more attentive and courteous, especially compared to dinner staff in the music room.

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3.0
November 18, 2006

Best Fall Menu this year!. When uncommon ground expanded, we were concerned that it would lose it's cozy neighborhood charm. Well, no need to worry. With the addition of another fireplace in the front dining room and some really cool lamps over the bar (they change them for each season) This is definitely the coziest restaurant in wrigleyville. My wife and I visited uncommon ground last night and had an amazing meal. They just recently changed to a new Fall menu and the small plate selection is fantastic and very reasonably priced. We started our meal with the chorizo stuffed dates and an order of sweet potato fries, yum. Our waiter suggested a fabulous bottle of shiraz that went perfect with both. We split a brown sugar and bourbon glazed pork chop from a local organic farm and the pumpkin ravioli. Both entrees were absolutely delicious.

We finished our meal with a bumbleberry pie and a pumpkin cheesecake and one of the gourmet sipping chocolates that they just started offering. Can I just say, wow! spicy, rich chocolate flavor with just enough sweetness. I'm glad it came in an espresso cup because it was so rich. When we received our bill, we couldn't believe what a bargain it was. We will definitely go back and tell all of our friends. One criticism is that if you want a quiet table, ask for the second dining room. If you want to be seen and definitely heard sit in the front room. Lots of action even for a week night. We heard some music coming from the back dining room that sounded pretty good but we couldn't get in to see it. It had been reserved up for dinner. Overall a very great dining experience in a down to earth cozy neighborhood restaurant.

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4.0
November 17, 2006

Good restaurant for vegetarians. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Local artists display their work and musicians play during open mike times. The bar in front is hip and relaxing, and the restaurant has a lot of great food. It's great place to sip a hot beverage when it's cold outside. My only complaint is that it's a little expensive for what you get.

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1.0
April 07, 2006

This place has gone DOWNHILL. I use to frequent this place before the addition and the food/service was excellent. Now that they have expanded, it has really gone downhill. I have not been pleased with the food or service. I rarely step foot in here anymore because of the poor food - too bad b/c i think the space is cool. I miss the old Uncommon Ground.

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Won for:
Fireside Dining (2009)