Halsted's Bar & Grill

Recommends

sakeittome33

Joined 7 years ago

Chic, refined dining without the snobbery. I went for my birthday dinner and ended up having one of the best meals of my life. Our server was warm, knowledgable about the food and wines, and walked us through the menu without making us feel like rubes. My boyfriend is allergic to most fish, so we skipped the seafood, but the other entrees were exceptional-- the lamb and the short ribs with the X/O signature sauce in particular. Although we ended up ordering one less dish than was recommended by our server, we left wonderfully full. I also thought that the timing of the courses was perfect-- plenty of time to enjoy our food and converse without either feeling rushed through the meal or wondering where the rest of our food had gotten to. The drinks were also impressive-- they have a collection of creative signature cocktails and a wonderful sommalier.

Altogether, a wonderful fine dining experience. Not somewhere I would be able to go often, but I would definitely recommend for a special occasion.

Recommends

britcrit

Joined 10 years ago

Another Chicago letdown. Keep looking for someting interseting. Food over cooked Fois Gras, Chicken in confused lobster sauce. Mussels chewy. Salad rasberry sauce - og come on it asint the 80's. Too muh going on on most plates. Service ususal Chicago pleasantries, nice waiter, no real knowledge. Wine flights pretty decent but not great. Customers in foul mid west idea of matching..forget in fashion. Being in a gay area if this was west village NYC it wouldn't last a month just on the standard of food..

Recommends

hc27609

Joined 7 years ago

Excellent food, drink, service & atmosphere!. We enjoyed a great dinner monday night at Chicago gem. This small restaurant is just a few blocks from Wrigley field and easy to find. The wife and I have eaten all over the country and this is, by far, one of the best meals we've ever had. We HIGHLY recommend the ribeye and the scallops. The scallops were served with pumpkin dumplings that were incredible. Make sure to save room for dessert. Their pastry chef is talented and not afraid to experiment.

Recommends

jkrysty

Joined 7 years ago

Awesome Experience. I really loved the food. I was very impressed with how each dish was explained to me in detail. The menu was extremely creative. I would highly reconmend this restaurant to anyone.

Doesn't Recommend

carlson_b

Joined 8 years ago

User review by carlson_b. I have heard good things about this restaurant and went on a Thursday night (a few months ago) around 9:00pm and was promptly seated. The problem is that for 10-15 minutes we were complete ignored - no menu, no wait service, no anything. When I tried to make eye contact with some of the passing servers to subtly get their attention they almost appeared to be avoiding us so after approximately 15 minutes we walked out. The hostess seemed a bit embarrased on our way out but nobody ever apologized for the lack of service.

I have actually heard very good things about the food and the atmosphere seemed nice except that the tables were extremely close together. I have heard that the food is fairly inventive and utilizes strong flavor combinations but at this point I prefer to frequent establishments that actually want my money and my business.

Recommends

vesuvius

Joined 8 years ago

One of the best. This is my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Yes, there might be a wait, but that's because it's such a wonderful place to dine. Yes, the plates are small, but that is the theme of the restaurant, and they readily admit this. The food is fabulous (the scallops with pumpkin dumplings are a little taste of heaven!). The desserts are even more delicious. Excellent wine list, friendly bartenders and servers, sexy atmosphere.

Doesn't Recommend

gohome

Joined 8 years ago

Dine here for bad customer service!!!. X/O Resturant was one of the worst customer service dinning expereince I've ever encountered. Our table that was pointed out to us by the hostess was giving away to a larger group that came in after us.

I can not believe that this establishment believes that it is okay, to treat clientele in such a manner. And if all of the above were not bad enough, upon our departure the hostess said, Oh, if you should decide to come back, just tell them when you call to book, that we werent able to get you in before and we will treat you so much better.

Doesn't Recommend

eat_out_king

Joined 8 years ago

Rethink X/O. Is the X/O definition of value = to small portions that are expensive? If so, then they have succeeded. My group of 4 averaged $55 per person and left hungry and unsatisfied. The location and decor have great potential but the small portions and high cost are barriers to diners happiness.

Recommends

Robyn Galbos

Joined 10 years ago

Small plates shine in a sexy lounge setting at this upscale Boys Town eatery.. The Scene
Textures dominate the decor of this multiroom restaurant with a lounge-y vibe: Wild grasses encased in glass cast linear shadows on the dining room ceiling; wood detailing, glazed floors and lush fabrics add warmth. Clubby music plays at conversation-friendly levels.

The Food
Attentive servers help navigate the small-plates menu; sommelier Amy Lewis offers wine suggestions. The internationally inspired menu, divided into three sections, moves from lighter to heavier fare. Delectable first courses include raw oysters served with refreshing cucumber and horseradish-tomato sorbets. Silky foie gras with tangy apple cider reduction and slightly sweet cherry coulis is a second-course highlight. Delicately flavored panko-crusted black cod is a light-tasting main course option; pan-roasted duck breast with spaghetti squash and spicy jus is a deliciously rich alternative. Dessert lovers fall for the Chocolate Orgasm with irresistible bites that include puffy chocolate beignets and flourless chocolate cake.

Recommends

chendo

Joined 10 years ago

AWESOME. Wonderful & interesting food--some of the best in Lakeview. Great wine list & sommelier. Very attentive & polite service (not at all snobby). Let's hope they can keep up the high quality & great service for their official grand opening next week & in the future! We'll be back.