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What a charming little wine bar this is!
I cabbed it over to D.O.C., considering it's location in a happening area (Clark & Wrightwood). We got there at 7:45 on a Saturday night. I got a seat up at the bar right away and my friend who arrived later had to wait about 30 minutes for seat.
The bar exudes a warm and inviting feeling, with fireplaces and comfy leather seating. The patrons were girls with a girlfriend, guys with their guy friend, or dates and double dates. It seemed to be a winner in all situations.
The bartender has a reputation of really knowing his wine, having worked at Charlie Trotter's and Alinea. We asked him to pick out a wine for us; our only request was- a white wine....nothing too oaky. He poured us a Chardonnay from Argentina, with notes of pineapple and coconut... just perfect.
I was surprised how much we drank for how little money. Judging by how I felt this morning, I'd say I definitely got my money's worth there last night.
I'll be back to D.O.C. again in the near future, whether it be with a friend or a date. Next time I'll try some cheese and appetizers.
There are few failures with wine and a cozy bar combined. But when the server is MIA and I don't have any wine to drink for my first 25 minutes at a wine bar, I tend to get cranky.
We came on a Tuesday night to check out the private room as a possible venue for my friends' engagement party. We didn't tell anyone we were here to check it out. We wanted to get an objective experience of the space, service, and food and wine.
At first glance, it is a cute space with comfy seating but definitely not as cute as the rest of the restaurant. Besides being off in an inferior space of the restaurant, we were basically ignored. After about 15 minutes of waiting, I finally went to the bar to request menus. After getting menus, we probably waited another 10 minutes before we spoke to a waitress.
We enjoyed our food and wine, but service continued to be spotty throughout the evening. Overall, it was not a good trial run for my friends' party and left all of us concerned that we would have equally bad service the night of the event. What their final decision will be on this place...we will have to see..
I cannot say I won't return. Bad service happens from time to time, but if I do return I won't be hanging out in the back room, that is for sure.
I'm a big fan of Dunlay's, but I had never been to the wine bar before last week. This area had comfy, oversized chairs, incredibly small tables, and lots of overpriced options to choose from on the menu.
After carefully choosing our wine, my friends and I spent the evening waiting and waiting. The place was busy, but it certainly wasn't crowded; I'm not sure what the issue was.
My main complaint was how the bill was handled. We all knew the names of what we ordered, but there were quite a few glasses of wine that we definitely did not order on our tab. When we asked our waitress, she said she'd check. When she came back, she said, "Well, it's not a system error. I brought out that kind of wine, and someone drank it, so..." Um, what?? You enter and bring out the wrong order and it's OUR fault? Unacceptable.
Love love love the D.O.C. : ) Came here after work for a few bites and a nice bottle of wine. Great date place, and place to chill with pals. The service is great and wine selection is nice. We came after 11pm...I'm not sure how it is before during dinner pre or post drinks but this place is charming and fun. Check out their specials and their cheeses and appetizers are just lovely with a nice bottle of wine...mmm yummy...
This place was a definite pleasant surprise.
The atmosphere is very chill and there are two fireplaces where you can sit back and relax while you enjoy a flight of some excellent wine.
Suggestion: Let the bartender pick a nice platter of cheese and meats to go with the wine. You can't go wrong. They are all very knowledgeable.
Prices are good and the quality is superb.
You've just been yelped in.
This place is a neighborhood gem! The food is excellent - my friend and I had the risotto balls and Caponata pizza. The wine is really good quality - very smooth. I think this is also a great 3rd or 4th date place - nice, candlelit, romantic atmoshphere!
Great Date Spot! The Staff Is Top Notch...
Once upon a time I was supposed to meet a date at D.O.C. Wine Bar but he never showed up.
While I sat at the bar and enjoyed a glass of syrah, the bartender could tell that something was amiss. I told him that I had been stood up, and he said "Well, I guess that means I'll just have to get you drunk." Um, yes please.
Six glasses of wine and a bill of $0 later, I couldn't even remember the name of the poor guy who could have been lucky enough to spend a Friday evening with me. And this is when I figured out that should just date myself. Or a bartender.
My girlfriend and I love wine. She knows a bit more about it than I do, and I am willing to learn so she took me over to D.O.C. for a little education.
The bartender, Greg, knows his stuff and had some really lovely recommendations for us. I wanted a spicy red and settled on a Malbec (I wish I could remember the name, thank God for my friend who whipped out her trusty IPhone and wrote it down for me). This wine was brilliant. The nose started out with vanilla and caramel, also a bit of spice. As the wine opened up it turned into a full on chocolate sundae. So good!
We wanted to nosh a bit and went with some bruschetta and cheese. We chose 4 different kinds of bruschetta and 4 different cheeses. I think I could die happy with this set-up..great wine, lovely bites to nosh on in a dark, swanky, romantic little joint!
I have not been entirely impressed with the attached Dunlay's so this was truly a nice surprise. Although, it may be dangerous to my wallet that this place is so close to work. I think it may become a regular spot for my wine-loving friend and me.
I love the atmosphere in this wine bar. It's so chill yet lively. The lighting creates a great mood for either a girls night out or a couple setting.
The wines were great. and the food, I tried the Belgian fries were amazing!
I will go back!
i love this place. the bartenders were awesome and very helpful. great romantic atmosphere for dates and anniversaries, and if you're a good customer it seems something free will come your way.
didn't eat there, but have only heard good things. I will definitely be back!!
This is a great wine bar in the heart of Lincoln Park. It's right next door to Dunlay's (which I've already reviewed), and I stopped in here after a full day afternoon of drinking beer and hanging out with friends at one of Chitown's many summer street festivals (Wells Street Art Festival).
Anywho, this place is dark, sexy and sleek. I was surprised that finding a table wasn't difficult on a Saturday evening around 11pm. Given that this place was a wine bar, I didn't feel like consuming another pint of beer, and opted for something different, cold, and bubbly. The drink selection had beers, a vast selection of wines (whites, reds, and sparking). As soon as I saw the bubbly, I knew that Prosecco was calling my name. It was perfect and not super dry, and yet fruity and most definitely refreshing. Sara, my drinking partner, enjoyed a nice glass of Chardonnay,
Prices are decent and not astronomical, and the service isn't bad. The wine bar is well maintained, with the tables being bussed and cleaned with frequency. The bathrooms are clean, too! The crowd seems pretty chill, as there were a few couples on dates, groups of friends celebrating birthdays, and some cute dudes just getting their drink on--Hey now!! I totally dig DOCs ambiance, and would go back in a heartbeat.
I would give DOC a higher rating, but was turned off by this really obnoxious dude who was yelling at his girlfriend. Since we were sitting at a table across from where he was at the bar, we saw everything going down. He was arrogant and totally belittled his GF. Things eventually simmered down, and later on, I happened to stand next to him at the bar as I was closing out my tab. Mind you, I wasn't hovering or anything like that, but he said that I owed him as he helped me get the bartender's attention. Umm, 'excuse me.' Sometimes you just gotta pick and choose your battles, and chose not to strike up a convo with this loser who was yelling at his GF earlier. I politely smiled and said "Thanks," and ignored him as I quickly paid and headed on my merry way!
I struggle to give this place 5 stars because I don't want any one else to find out about this hidden treasure.
If you are looking for laid back but not a dump hole-in-the wall bar, this is the place. It's dark, secluded, classy and intimate. It's an ideal place to take a date after dinner.
Luckily, our friends know the best bartender here. He lent his expertise in picking the most perfect wine for each of our individual tastes.
Despite an annoying duo of intoxicated gents who walked in & proceeded to slime their way in-between us girls (they quickly left), we had a splendid time.
Will go back.
Have been here a few times & left very satisfied each time. This past weekend, I was craving a… Read more »
DOC has become a bit of a regular spot as of late. Their wine flights offer some interesting options (and a great way to impress a date even if you don't know much about wine), the service is decent and the wait staff are knowledgeable.
On selected Fridays, they do Millionaires Flights, where you get to try wines that aren't otherwise offered. Last night's Burgundy flight was great, and there is a Pinot Noir one in a few weeks that looks good.
This is a great date spot amidst a stretch of loud and crowded bars in East Lincoln Park.
"all i want is a glass, or three, of red wine..."
"hmmmm wine bars... well there's that place over on southport but its kinda dark in there and the pool tables are weird and really we are not close to that at all... OH! let's go try that DOC place down on clark! never been there but it looks cool?"
"sold."
walking in, rather late for a saturday, we spotted three seats at the bar with our name on them. after getting cozy, the boys behind the bar were immediately offering help or to answer questions (but not in an annoying 'i totally know everything about wine and you dont' kinda way).
collectively, we each started with red flights. i'm always a big fan of sampling my options before committing. i found one i loved and stuck with it all night.
later on (prob after midnight) the crowd definitely picked up - but yet, it never felt too crowded. very laid back and very reminiscent of my days spent in wine country.
ahhhhh...perhaps its time to check southwest and get another trip on the calendar?
Overpriced and snippy...but a good experience once you get past that. The wine selection is incredible and the food is very good. The problem is that the service was pithy and unfriendly. Not like I need our server to be our best friend. I may just need a smile from somebody on the staff.
After living up here for almost 2 years, I had never gone here til now, and I'm glad I finally did.
Their outdoor seating rocks, and there's quite a lot of it, plus it ensures massive people watching--which is always a good thing!
They have a great appetizer selection, a little different spin on some classic dishes. We got the buffalo shrimp, so good and hot!
Their burgers looked pretty delish, but I had the Wrightwood salad which was awesome and the perfect portion size. They did NOT skimp on the goat cheese, and this girl loooves me some goat cheese!
Not sure when she starts, but there is a small live band that went til about 1, Sue Hughey. She was awesome and inside is such a serene setting.
They have a good selections of decently priced wines and beer.
This place is a MUST for summer dinner/drinks
I've got to agree with a couple other reviewers on here--while the ambiance here is great, there are much better places if you really want to experience and learn about wines (Fion and Toro). I had gone to DOC prior to Fion's opening but realized how much I was missing as no one seems to want to serve up menus or info on the wines at DOC. On our last DOC visit, we got in and got a seat by the fireplace but had to wait a good 10 mins to get a menu and then another 15 to flag down a server to order flights. No explanations just one liners on the menu and while ambiance is nice it can't make up for great wine and service.
I love the atmosphere, the wine flights are affordable, the crowd is mellow.
I have but one complaint: I was oohing and aahing over having finally found a place that serves "Belgian fries" with dipping sauces, and when I ordered it, I was so let down: they're just the fries that come with everything else at Dunlay's! I like Dunlay's fires, so I wouldn't have been that disappointed except that they tasted like they'd been fried about 3 hours before they served them to me.
Cold, soggy...ugh. The sauces were really good, and it would've been great to dip fresh, crisp, just-fried fries into them.
Also, I tried to chat with the bartender about the wine I liked best from my flight, and he just shrugged and said, "Eh...we've had it on the menu for awhile. I'm kinda over it."
What?!? A decent-looking chick is striking up a conversation with you at the bar. Make me feel like I said something intelligent!!
I'd go back, but I'd order differently. And not sit at the bar.
DOC Wine bar is a cute, romantic place in Lincoln Park. It was really dark and cozy inside and is a nice place for a date. I couldn't help but notice the decor in there... it is a very open space with exposed wood beams and some wood detailing... which is cool. But then they have these circular porthole-like windows, which I thought looked odd. For some reason, that bothered me quite a bit. I think it was because I thought it could have been so much nicer had it been different. To me, it is not as cool inside as the Tasting Room (my first choice but it was closed that night.) but still decent. The service that night was pretty slow which was a bit annoying but I still had a good time. I will definitely go back there as it is in one of my 'hoods.
DOC benefits from the fact that Toro is down the street. The only reason my friends and I ever come here is to wait it out for a seat at Toro.
There is, as you would hope from a wine bar, and extensive wine list, but the servers never seem to want to actually serve any of it to you, let alone explain anything about the wines. It can sometimes take up to 10 minutes for someone to hand you a menu, even when you are the only people in the restaurant and sitting right at the bar. And forget it if you're at a table or in the back room -- then your wait time to get anyone to even talk to you doubles.
If you're looking for a place to have a nice glass of wine while you're waiting for Toro to call, this place does alright. If you are looking to go to a wine bar in this area, you are MUCH better off going to Fion on Diversey (near Sheridan), where the service is friendly and knowledgeable, and the selection is just as great.
Guys, you won't go wrong taking a girl out on a date to D.O.C. Wine Bar...Especially if she appreciates good wine and cheese. Best date I've been on in a while. I looked around the dimly lit restaurant and noticed everyone was having a great time.
The food, wine and service were all fantastic. Will definitely come back.
Hey Lance Romance !! Yah, you. So you are thinking to yourself, I'm not going to no stinking wine bar. Wine bars are for chicks!
Um yeah....and that's bad because why??? As Willie Sutton famously answered, when asked why he robbed banks? "Because that's where the money is."
Call me crazy, but a bar that seriously knows its wines and offers me a plethora of different flights of wine, all while I'm surrounded by beautiful women? Not a bad thing for this straight man.
And it will help you work on your answer to the question, why go to a wine bar? "Because that's where the women are."
Every other Wednesday they have been doing Girls Night Out events from 7-10. Show up and in the back room there are free manis and massages that you can get (just sign up for a time).
A group of about 10 of us came last week and they accomodated us wonderfully. We ordered a meat and cheese plate to munch on in between getting our services.
Under same ownership as Frasca. You can tell. For whatever that's worth.
For the lovers.
I'm convinced the people who work here must think I'm some mega-ho (though they've never acted like it) because anytime a guy lets me choose a place for a date. I always choose DOC. So Tiffany + about 4 different guys + DOC = great set up for a date
Why?
The lighting... anyone could look sexy in there. Seriously, Gollum could bring a date in here and should wouldn't bat an eye. It's dark, candle lit, and very very sexy.
The wine... I love me some white wine, and they have the best selection! I love their wine flights, because they really cater to anyone who doesn't know a lot about wine, but wants to know more. The selections are intuitive and switched out regularly.
Staff... Every bartender or waitress I've had here has been EXTREMELY knowledgeable, very laid back, super nice, and just all and all in awesome.
The food is also good, and I generally would recommend DOC to anyone in the mood to impress.
This place can be hit or miss but they do have one of the better wine selections in the neighborhood. I typically get their flights of Riesling which is okay. Their cheese selection is super and they are generous on the bread, fruit, and nuts.
If you're looking for more to munch on, you can also order from the Dunlay's next door. They have a yummy steak florentine dish and a bbq chicken dish. which are worth trying.
The reason they are hit or miss is their customer service. Most of the time the servers are pretty nice. Also, during my last visit, I wanted the bbq chicken and they ran out which I thought was ridiculous.
A little ditty 'bout Jess and Trish...two little girls who grew up in wine land...
Yeah, so we went here, decided to go out on a limb, and pay top dollar for the wine we coveted oh-so-very-much; Silver Oak Cab, Napa, 2000.
We got what we paid for...amazingly beautiful wine...OMG, sooooo good.
So why stop at one? Of course, we had a second. Duh.
The wine was impeccable, clearly. The service? Not so much. Not only were we ignored for the first 15 minutes, but when we ordered, we were treated as if we weren't worthy of the beauty that was about to pass our lips. The bartender was rude, and had absolutely no faith in our patronage. Well, even though he was rude, didn't present the wine in proper fashion, and also did NOT continue to pour our wine, we still tipped him beyond 20 percent. Why? The Silver Oak got the best of us. That shit will put anyone in a great mood. Props to their sickly amazing wine selection; thumbs down for service.
I like this place a lot. It has a real laid back European type vibe. There are lounge chairs and couches to sit on. They have an AMAZING wine selection. The flights are especially nice if you aren't totally sure what to order. The charcuterie board is also really really good, as are the fries. A bit expensive. $90 for 2 wine flights, 2 glasses of wine, 1 order of fries and 1 charcuterie board (8 choices).
I'm in love with a bar. Is that possible? Most people would consider this place for a date or some intimate conversation. I go either by myself and sit by the fire, or with my friend Sarah who is my faithful sidekick when it comes to dining out.
I love wine and I LOVE the selection D.O.C. has. I'm a white wine person and I've tried just about every by-the-glass selection they have...and they don't scrimp on the portions either. The bartenders are always very helpful in describing the tastes of the wine and they haven't been wrong yet in picking out one to my liking.
As for the servers though, most of the time I find myself trying to hunt them down...BUT...the servers are always very sweet. I don't know how much they actually know..or care for that matter about the wine and they don't come around very much. For some reason I throw my "service madness" out the window for this place. I think the bartenders make up for what the servers lack!
The space is small, but i like it that way. Right when you walk in the door, there are some cozy chairs to your right along with the bar. The setup is very appealing. There is this shiny aluminum covering the wall behind the bar which really adds to the ambiance of the place. There are more couches and chairs to the right and also over by the fireplace near the back.
Just a side note. D.O.C. and Dunlay's next door are owned by the same people and you can order off of either menu. I'm not into the small plate options at D.O.C. so I usually just order off the Dunlay's menu.
So far, everything I've tried has been really good. The Grilled Artichoke wiith remoulade dipping sauce is phenomenal and good to share with a couple of peeps. Their cheeseburgers are very juicy and cooked to perfection and the seasonings are right on. I love me a good burger. This joint also owns Smoke Daddy's which is up on Division and they have AMAZING BBQ sauce so naturally their BBQ Chicken Breast is pretty sweeeeeeet. The Pork Tenderloin doesn't disappoint either, sometimes pork can be too dry, but this was just perfect.
Did I mention the music is freaking awesome?? Half the time I keep thinking to myself...I wish I knew who this was so I could go download it!! Props to them for the tuneage.
So if you want to chill out, maybe read a book in the corner with a glass of wine, bring a date, a friend or whoever while having some fantastic wine and food..come here. It will become your new neighborhood favorite.
The D.O.C. wine bar is everything a great wine bar should be - it has an extensive wine list that is likely to please any wine aficionado & a calm relaxed atmosphere with dim lighting to allow you to sip your vino peace. Also, if you are a chocoholic as well as alcoholic, you can order dessert from Dunley's (the restaurant adjoining the wine bar) while drinking your wine. I highly recommend ordering the chocolate chip cookie in a skillet with creamy vanilla ice cream on top. Merlot has a strange way of bringing out the essence that is a chocolate chip cookie skillet.
With all that being said... I have two problems with the D.O.C wine bar. 1) On the weekend nights, it is nearly impossible to find a seat. 2) In the winter, the door opens really wide and a cold gust of air is likely to smack you in the face if you are standing anywhere near the door.
Go on a week night when you can get a seat, order a glass of merlot, and you MUST order the chocolate chip cookie skillet., trust me you will not be disappointed! :) It is a real treat!
This is what I might call a PERFECT place to have a first date in Chicago , especially on a school night.
It's dimly lit, romantic - great wine selection and great cheese plates. Music during the week isn't too loud - so it's a great place for conversation.
Head to the back of the room for the best spots. Good solid service.
On to rehearsal dinner contender number two. After being disappointed by another wine bar on Southport, and having another horrible day at work, it was time for DOC. I immediately ordered an expensive (okay, it was reasonably priced but I am cheap as hell) glass of white wine for myself and you better believe that did the trick.
Well, that and the steak florentine...I cleaned my plate. I don't eat food if I don't like it, and I LOVED it. Perfectly cooked and seasoned, potatoes were garlicky and creamy and oh boy. And the skillet cookie was a proper cookie cooked in the skillet...not just a hot cookie. Thats cheating.
I had a very forgettable meal here...however, I must disclose that I don't know whether I can't… Read more »
This place hits a perfect sweet spot: It's upscale but relaxed & comfortable.
The wine list has so many pages it seems like homework to get through it all, so I usually just order, "Surprise me & explain it later," and I'm always pleasantly surprised by what they bring.
WHAT? A wine bar in Lincoln Park that I like? (Webster's is on the fringe of Bucktown, a more appropriate zip code, if you ask me!) WOW! Great selection, ambiance etc. And the food - only had the pizzas, (um, all of them - but not at once!) but what else so you need in life?
Awesome wine. Nice quiet, dark, date-like atmosphere.
Had a couple good dates and a couple of bad dates here.
The bad date was bad because the guy was adament that we were not eating and all I wanted was my beloved 3-way bruschetta.
Never spoke to him again, but love going back to D.O.C. to enjoy the sweet white wine flight w/ my bruschetta. Yum!
Went here for a first date...assume he yielded to the advice of esteemed Yelpers.
First take: This is an ideal date spot. Cozy, but not overly so. Slightly subdued lighting, so as to make an aging woman look good. Nice wine list, not overwhelming, but a fairly good variety. While not a broad selection, a good selection of snicky snacks to fill the tummy.
Low key without being boring. Quiet enough to allow for conversation.
Second take: If this is an example of his 'taste', I think I am looking forward to the seconde date!
wine is my friend. sometimes my best friend. so when i learned the rehearsal dinner for our great friends' wedding was being held at D.O.C., to say i was excited would be an understatement.
D.O.C. was a sleek and sexy place. closed to the public during the rehearsal dinner, they outfitted the space to accommodate the decently-sized party and still managed to maintain their sexy character. the staff was uber-attentive and friendly - i never saw the bottom of my wine glass. plus, they rocked atmosphere throughout the night. wine + atmosphere = a fully-satisfied gina.
the pre-dinner fare was good: beer cheese and chips and mushroom risotto fritters (of which i was particularly fond). for dinner, we had a choice from a bbq chicken sandwich, a cheeseburger (appropriately named The Cheese Burger), or the wrightwood salad. i went with the salad and was pleased: goat cheese, avocado, craisins and almonds all sound about right to me. they tasted right, too. though i forgot to ask for dressing on the side, they didn't drown the ingredients.
the meal was paired with family-style bowls of delicious, shoe-string french fries. extra thin. extra crispy. extra delicious. wash it down with an ice-cream-topped iron-skillet cookie and you've got yourself a meal. the seven(ish?)-inch cookie warmed my stomach but [when there for a pre-planned event], be sure you're comfortable crossing spoons with your neighbor - they bring out a skillet or two per table with several spoons for communal dining.
all in all, i enjoyed D.O.C. and would definitely revisit for night out and/or consider them for a private event.
I have never had a bad time at D.O.C. Wine Bar. Every time we want to go to a "not so crazy place," this place comes to mind.
I like the atmosphere. There is no pretentiousness here. The space is cozy, dimly lit, and I wish I could nab a spot next to the fireplace, but those are popular seats. It feels a bit like I'm in a boat, with the circular windows and the wood panels over the bar area. The crowd is laid back and music not so loud that you can't carry on a conversation.
The flights are a great way to try various types of wine, and each flight adds up to a glass and a half total. I also like to order the muscat every once in a while. Sometimes the whites aren't chilled very well, though. We don't usually get food here, but I remember having the margherita pizza one time, and I remember it being good. Service has always been pretty solid, and our empty glasses are always cleared off quickly. The last time I was there, we did have problems finding someone to come refill our water, though.
I love the atmosphere here - it has a modern log cabin feel. The Euchre Club of Chicago held their annual holiday tournament at D.O.C. this year and it was fantastic! There were at least 60 players and the staff behind the bar never missed an empty glass. The service really was phenomenal. The Club had the entire side bar area and it was the perfect space for a holiday party.
If you're thinking of a holiday party for next year - think D.O.C. Wine Bar! They have TWO fire places for warm tidings.
5 for 6 'til 7
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Weekly Specials
Neighborhood: Uptown
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: DePaul
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: West Loop
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Near Southside
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
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