(773) 327-3868

3868 N Lincoln Ave (Byron Street)
Chicago, IL 60613 41.95193 -67.73

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Neighborhoods: North Center, North Side

SOLA-RESTAURANT.COM

Hours:

Daily 5:30pm-10pm

Price:

$$

Last updated 4.13.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Brunch, People Watching, Lunch Spot, Online Reservations, Date Spot, Group Dining, Fireplace

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Traditional American, Asian

Smoking Permitted:

No

What People Are Saying About Sola

Featured Review

Valerie Moloney

Contributor

The Scene – Mimicking sand and surf, this North Center restaurant oozes amber hues with hanging cylindrical lamps complemented by a palette of beige, orange and cornflower that pops in every corner. A room divider featuring a built-in fireplace warms windowside diners, while bamboo place mats and putty-colored seats keep an earthy vibe. A curved banquette loops the main dining room, leading up to a second-floor loft with more tables. Servers pace meals just right--even if initial seating waits are long. – – The Food – Seafood stars on this New American menu reflecting…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
The physical address is listed as Lincoln Avenue, but the entrance is on Byron.
When to Go:
While the restaurant welcomes children at all times, Saturday and Sunday brunches are more family-friendly. Brunch is served from 10am to 2pm.
Parking:
Valet your car for $7.
Where to Sit:
Warm up on a blustery night next to the fireplace or people watch from the curved banquette at the back of the dining room.
Save Time:
The restaurant offers curbside carryout service for customers who don't feel like leaving their cars to pick up their orders.
ambiance
96.96999549865723% positive
  1. We were really pleased with the beautiful, soothing decor and found the food to be outstanding.
  2. I'm sure it won't last, and with any hope, something will come in and make use of the great location.
  3. like it for its terrific and seasonal (yet Hawaiian-Asian inspired) menu, nice and attentive service, a beautiful and reserved atmosphere, decadent dessert offerings, and a gracious and accommodating management.
  4. fantastic date place that has fun with the food-- yes, we had the best potato chip ever (a potato crisp with a dollop of creme freche, something I can't pronounce and a microgreen.
  5. There is a lovely fireplace that makes your dinning experience very cozy
  6. really enjoyed the simple and sophisticated atmosphere as well as presentation.
  7. The ambiance was comfortable and the service was excellent.
  8. The atmosphere was romantic and the staff was genuine.
  9. The ambiance is superb and the service is attentive, with well-informed and helpful wait staff.
  10. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere and ambiance was chic yet welcoming.
  11. Excellent food, good atmosphere, although open dining room causes lots of noise when the place is full, sometimes hard to hear the rest of y.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. shared some dishes with a friend - the onion tartlet and crab cakes, and the sea scallops and the grouper - and everything was very tasty!
  2. For dessert we had the s'mores, highly recommend this!
  3. i've been going to sola for a few years and have very much enjoyed their offerings, but last night was a big disappointment -- skimpy wine servings, lukewarm and thick soup, grisley n.y. steak strips, dry and ordinary dessert.
  4. like it for its terrific and seasonal (yet Hawaiian-Asian inspired) menu, nice and attentive service, a beautiful and reserved atmosphere, decadent dessert offerings, and a gracious and accommodating management.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. The wine list was pleasently filled with reasonable and good wines.
  2. i've been going to sola for a few years and have very much enjoyed their offerings, but last night was a big disappointment -- skimpy wine servings, lukewarm and thick soup, grisley n.y. steak strips, dry and ordinary dessert.
food quality
92.36000061035156% positive
  1. The food was so affordable and high quality!
  2. Excellent food, good atmosphere, although open dining room causes lots of noise when the place is full, sometimes hard to hear the rest of y.
  3. fantastic date place that has fun with the food-- yes, we had the best potato chip ever (a potato crisp with a dollop of creme freche, something I can't pronounce and a microgreen.
  4. Duck was chewy, undercooked and tasteless, with cold fried shaved potatoes on top; japanese sweet potatoes were pretty good.
  5. shared some dishes with a friend - the onion tartlet and crab cakes, and the sea scallops and the grouper - and everything was very tasty!
  6. We were really pleased with the beautiful, soothing decor and found the food to be outstanding.
  7. We decided then that this was truly the best meal we've had since in Chicago (and we eat out a lot).
  8. For starters, we had the blue cheese fritters and the crispy mushroom salad.
  9. My wife and I recently relocated from NY and this is the best, most unique meal we have had since we moved.
  10. Love it- Incredible, vibrant appetizers (the Tuna TarTar Trio is amazing) and delicious seafood entree's keep us going back to Sola.
  11. Despite portion was small for a normal guy, food was delicious and everobody on my 14 guess table agreed on this.
  12. The artichokes fritters were awesome, the tuna was cooked to perfection and the cod was the best piece of fish I've had in a long time.
  13. The food is consistently good.
  14. Terrible Managment , great food
  15. i've been going to sola for a few years and have very much enjoyed their offerings, but last night was a big disappointment -- skimpy wine servings, lukewarm and thick soup, grisley n.y. steak strips, dry and ordinary dessert.
  16. For our entrees, my husband had the bleu cheese stuffed lamb chops, which he said was really good but there were only 3 chops and it cost about $25.
  17. The bread basket was excellent, and the amuse-bouche was a nice touch.
  18. While the food is ok, it will be difficult for us to recommend this place after having been treated so rudely.
  19. The short ribs are my all-time favorite dinner dish.
  20. The food was amazing!
  21. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the food.
  22. The food here is great--the lamb was especially memorable.
  23. don't think I've had such a great meal in Chicago recently.
  24. highly recommend this restaurant and if ever back in Chicago, I pray it is still in existence because another meal there will be an absolute must!
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. like it for its terrific and seasonal (yet Hawaiian-Asian inspired) menu, nice and attentive service, a beautiful and reserved atmosphere, decadent dessert offerings, and a gracious and accommodating management.
overall
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. Excellent food, good atmosphere, although open dining room causes lots of noise when the place is full, sometimes hard to hear the rest of y.
  2. Sola has quickly become my favorite restaurant since it's opening last winter.
  3. This is a great place
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. but, given this experience, and with so many good restaurants in chicago, i won't return to sola.
service
100.0% positive
  1. The restaurant was crowded, definitely get a reservation, but the service was still excellent.
  2. just gave 3 stars because waiter was good and chef exceptional.
  3. Overall great experience, excellent service.
  4. The ambiance is superb and the service is attentive, with well-informed and helpful wait staff.
  5. The ambiance was comfortable and the service was excellent.
  6. The atmosphere was romantic and the staff was genuine.
  7. The service was otherwise really good.
  8. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the food.
  9. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere and ambiance was chic yet welcoming.
  10. The staff is super friendly and professional
  11. like it for its terrific and seasonal (yet Hawaiian-Asian inspired) menu, nice and attentive service, a beautiful and reserved atmosphere, decadent dessert offerings, and a gracious and accommodating management.
value
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. However, the overpriced entrees were lackluster.
  2. There was a nice buzz to the room and the price was right.
  3. The food was so affordable and high quality!
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. The artichokes fritters were awesome, the tuna was cooked to perfection and the cod was the best piece of fish I've had in a long time.
1 Star Rating: Poor

10/04/10

Eeeewwwww!!!!!!

by Bob Lardin at Citysearch

I heard good things, but I have no idea why!!!!! The food was EXTREMELY bland and was not even remotely enjoyable. The beet salad did not taste like anything! And for some reason, a creepy chef with a mole kept coming out from the kitchen and staring at all the guests. It kind of freaked me out!!!

The only good thing was the drinks, which were nice.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/04/10

Thoughtful menus with a Hawaiian vibe

by Amber Gibson at Citysearch

Take a look at the single-ingredient based prix-fixe menu and try it if it at all intrigues you.

With dishes like Unagi-Banana Timbale and Ocean Trout with lobster-sweet potato hash, you are sure to find something you've never seen before on the menu. The best part is all of these seemingly strange combinations are perfectly executed and taste great.

I have never been disappointed here and there are still many more dishes on the menu that I would love to try. With the rotating seasonal specials, there is always something new and exciting to try. Wallack is always experimenting and inventing original and thoughtful menus.

  • Pros: Really creative ever-changing menu, Great service
2 Star Rating: Below Average

06/24/09

what a disappointment!

by kimsdinner at Citysearch

i've been going to sola for a few years and have very much enjoyed their offerings, but last night was a big disappointment -- skimpy wine servings, lukewarm and thick soup, grisley n.y. steak strips, dry and ordinary dessert. the server was terrific, even bringing us an extra dessert after our complaint about the entree. but, given this experience, and with so many good restaurants in chicago, i won't return to sola.

  • Pros: service
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/04/08

Loved it!

by zoe242 at Citysearch

I went to Sola recently to celebrate my sisters birthday. The food was amazing! We started off with the truffle parmesan fries, soooo good. I had the wasabi tuna and was so smooth and very flavorful. My sister had the salmon, also amazing. For dessert we had the s'mores, highly recommend this! Overall great experience, excellent service.

  • Pros: Location, nice space, good service and food
  • Cons: a little pricey
3 Star Rating: Average

02/14/08

Average Food, Teeny Portions

by pjs2780 at Citysearch

My husband and I dined at Sola for the first time last night. After reading so many positive reviews on this website and Yelp, I was sure we would love it. But, honestly, I think it was overhyped and overpriced. The bread basket was excellent, and the amuse-bouche was a nice touch. For starters, we had the blue cheese fritters and the crispy mushroom salad. Both were great, but the 4 fritters were each about the size of a 25 cent bouncy ball, and the salad was also really little. For our entrees, my husband had the bleu cheese stuffed lamb chops, which he said was really good but there were only 3 chops and it cost about $25. I had the scallops and lobster risotto; 4 scallops and a couple of tablespoons of risotto cost $27, not to mention that the scallops were overcooked and somewhat rubbery. For dessert, we had the s'mores and the yuzu tart; I think they forgot to carmelize the sugar on the top of my tart but it was still pretty tasty, though I wasn't given a knife to cut the tart shell with, which was awkward. The service was otherwise really good. I doubt we'll be back; we can spend as much and have a better meal at someplace like Oceanique or Green Zebra.

The Details on Sola

Place Categories:

  • attentive service
  • great food
  • highly recommend sola restaurant
  • recommend place
  • beautiful atmosphere
  • seasonal decadent dessert offerings
  • best unique meal
  • very tasty everything
  • seasonal management
  • comfortable ambiance
  • eccletic dining
  • very cozy dinning experience
  • very friendly server
  • good wines
  • seasonal menu
  • beautiful soothing decor
  • especially memorable lamb
  • overpriced entrees
  • really good lamb chops
  • great taste
  • super friendly staff
  • delicious seafood
  • not great meal
  • great macadamia
  • like truffles
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