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Categories: American (Traditional), American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near North SideMerchandise Mart (Purple Express, Brown)
Clark/Lake (Pink, Brown, Green, Blue, Purple Express, Orange)
Grand (Red)
Mon-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
"wowza. i love this place. ive eaten here twice and ordered the same thing - center cut filet with mashed potatoes and spinach with a nice…" read more »
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I ALWAYS pick Flatwater as my meeting spot when returning from San Francisco. I was here last month for work and used my Groupon voucher. I've repeatedly had a good experiences here, except for once when we came here for late night drinks and the place was overcrowded and it took some time to get our drinks - but that was my sole bad experience.
The ambiance doesn't really need much description. Chicago Skyscrapers. By the river. Outdoor Miami-style seating. It's beautiful.
As for the waitstaff, being from San Francisco I have a penchant for waiters with a quick wit and "fun service". Without fail, I've had great service every time I've gone here (although some are more fun to banter with than others - but overall the they have been professional and quick).
As a vegetarian, I've really enjoyed the options here. I always appreciate when a restaurant has more to offer me than some boring pasta dish or a plate of sauteed vegetables. I had the mini pumpkin pot pie (which i think may be seasonal) which was amazing. They have tons of other stuff to choose from but this was the last thing I remember.
I'm coming back to Chicago next month and can't wait to come here again! Undoubtedly one of the best dining experiences in Chicago.
I came to Flatwater on Saturday to celebrate a friend's birthday. Even though the place was packed, we were seated in the best possible table. Our server was thoroughly knowledgable. I ended up ordering the scallops accompanied by a glass of chardonnay- YUMMY! The sauce was perfectly balanced and the wine was paired to a tee. The manager of the restaurant was overseeing the place like a symphony conductor, making it all work- KUDOS! We'll all be back again!
A friend and I used my $50 groupon here the other night.
It was nothing short of a fabulous experience.
I absolutely adore the atmosphere here. Lights glimmer on the Chicago river water. The dark wood, fireplace, and candles inside set the mood for clever conversation or romantic glances.
Sparkling wine.
Pumpkin mushroom pot pie... served in a mini pumpkin. Holy... wow.
And.... scallops with polenta and bacon candy. We were speechless. Literally. We stopped our important conversation and took a few minutes to take this dish in. WOW.
Our server was really wonderful. Attentive, engaging, efficient, and pleasant.
I'll be back!
I had plenty of doubts walking into this place: I just wanted pancakes, and though pancakes were indeed listed on the menu, they had a silly name like "buttermilk sliders" or some such. Begrudgingly, I ordered them anyway.
I'm so glad I did: they were absolutely perfect: fluffy with just the right amount of tang and a perfect crust, sandwiching a layer of whipped cream tinged with Bailey's but not enough to be cloying. Easily some of the best pancakes I've ever had, and the side of bacon I ordered was equally amazing. My wife ordered the french toast and immediately declared them the best she'd ever had, and she doesn't sling compliments like that around lightly. We absolutely could not have been happier with the food. Highly recommended.
why is this place reviewed so low? this is blasphemy...this place has such a great atmosphere, one of the best spots to have a calm drink next to the river and take in the city, especially in the pm. they play some pretty neutral music from what i recall, and keep it classy. kind of yuppie, but sometimes you want that...drinks arent cheap here, but u'd be in the wrong place if u came here for cheap drinks. i want to bring all my friends by this bar
hugely successful restaurant....
oh boy http://Yelp.com does it again.....
I can't take yelp seriously when I see their rating for this place...
spies must be writing bad reviews...sinister.
This place rocks the house1
Cool place for drinks.
I visited Flatwater after a not so wonderful dinner over at Fulton's on the River. My friend and I figured we'd do cocktails and dessert since we had just eaten. The energy at Flatwater was popping from the moment we entered the door. We were seated promptly outside on the patio with the water right beneath us. Their was a DJ spinning that night and the music was all good! The crowd was diverse, mature and out for a good time. Although I didn't have any of their entrees, I gave the menu a once over and the selections seems very appetizing. We closed the restaurant, danced and mouthed the lyrics to many classics that night. The next time in Chicago, I will definitely pop in again.
I see the other reviews aren't uniformly positive, but my friends and I found Flatwater very pleasant for after-work drinks last Friday. As opposed to other spots nearby, this place was quiet and cozy -- no big crowds, no fighting to get tables. Looks like the cocktail list was good, although I got wine. Definitely a good option for after-work if you're in the north loop.
10/21/2007.
After celebrating my birthday here I wanted update my thoughts and rating about Flatwater giving it 5 stars.
This is probably the most perfect celebration I have had so far and having it at Flatwater made it effortless.
The view of the river and the city from our little cabana was breathtaking. Thousands of lights from the surrounding buildings illuminated the river making the night magical.
Our waitress was very sweet and professional. She made sure all my friends had a drink in their hand all night, even the very last one who showed up just an hour before they closed.
The rest of the staff, from the manager to security went out of their way to make room for our more than expected guest count . All my friends were very impressed by everything in at Flatwater and I know not only we would return, we would also recommend it to our friends as well.
Since my last visit they have worked very hard to improve the quality of their service and judging from my experience last night it is PERFECT
This is my top recommendation for a romantic evening ( just imagine the moonlit river) or a nice evening with your friend.
I am really looking forward to my next visit.
First review 9/22/07 4 stars
I went here for a friends birthday on a Saturday night and I had an amazing time. This has become one of my top places when it comes to view of our beautiful city .
We sat outside on seats that look like day beds over looking the city. I think just the feeling of being next to the water made the experience so much better.
The interior takes a minimalist approach, open and uncluttered. The staff is nice, bartenders try hard. Could be a bit more organized and warmer in their approach I think.
I was with my own group of diverse friends, but the rest of the crowed was the typical gold coast club goers, pretty but no so friendly sort.
So I highly recommend this place, just bring your own friends:-) and you'll have fun.
Flatwater , I agree its a hit or miss with the service it can be flat at times. I usually go after work for drinks with co-workers or grab a bite with my buds from out of town. Food is good for the most part. Great view of the Chicago River and the city of course.
I went to Flatwater back in October and after reading some of the negative comments I felt compelled to leave my own review.
I went to Flatwater on 9/9/09 while surprising my girlfriend in Chicago. We had JUST gotten engaged and were walking around Chicago looking for a random 'nice" place to eat.
We walked along the river and saw Flatwater in the distance and decided why not!
The place seemed to be crowded with an after work drinks scene but we were still seated with in 5 minute. Again, no reservation.
The waitress, whose name is escaping me right now was absolutely great. She was so patient with us, described the menu, wine and even stood there and waited as my fiance was receiving congratulatory phone calls about our engagement. In face, the waitress was so nice she brought over a bottle of champagne on the house.
I ate the short ribs, cant remember what she ate. But I know we left with smiles on out faces and will definitely be going back when we visit Chicago again.
Just to finish, Flatwater was awesome. Had a great time.
I came here for dinner and the food was very good and the views were spectacular. I love the atmosphere of looking out onto the river. I can't wait to come back when it's nice out and you can sit outside. I must mention the gelato dessert because the menu doesn't explain the pure excellence that it was. It came with three scoops of different gelato. I think they give you whatever they have....I had espresso, chocolate and creme caramel I believe. They topped it with a huge piece of caramelized pineapple, tons of fresh berries and chocolate sauce. It was sooo delicious and highly recommended. I'll come back here for sure.
We went to this place for brunch and it was rather great, we love the view, and the food was in large portion and taste good ( I loved their muffins and pancakes ) , plus, the price is rather fair considering the river view
I ll be back there for sure
I'm not really sure to start with this review. first off... i recently had brunch at Flatwater thanks to my groupon! i bought two and can't wait for dinner! don't worry I'll write a review after.
we got there on Sunday and decided we'd like to try to be outside. there were plenty of open tables but we were informed there were also a bunch of reservations. OK, i know I've been out of the restaurant industry for a while, but when you have a reservation that means a table is reserved for you... right? meaning they won't just seat somebody that walks in off of the street at your table... it's reserved... hence the term reservation. maybe people like "Victoria L." aren't familiar with this concept.
yes the manager was helping out his servers and doing whatever it took to make peoples dining experience a positive one. kudos to him! i wish my managers had helped in the same way. we got to speak to him when he refilled our coffee... he apologized for the slow service and lack of music stating that no one had planned on or expected the weather to break the way that it did. he went on to explain that the music is mainly in the summer when the patio is always open and that on such short notice, due to the weather, they weren't able to book entertainment. OK... valid point... that seems rational and totally acceptable and OK. am i going to bitch and moan and complain because the sign out front or the website said it would be happening? no! (Dawn B.)
as for being busy... nobody... NOBODY figured it would be as gorgeous as it was! sure we had to wait a minute to be sat but guess what... that's what you have to do when a restaurant is busy! we watched others wait and a lot of people waited a couple of minutes but nobody... NOBODY waited 30minutes!!! really Victoria l. c'mon! then you waited another 30minutes before anybody came to your table? ummm excuse me... reality calling.... NO you didn't wait 30 minutes for either! think about it... you could've sat at your table or stood at the host stand long enough to watch entire t.v. show? really? no wait.... really? groupon or not NO ONE in their right mind would legitimately wait 30 minutes for anything at a restaurant without leaving or flagging someone down.
as for the food. my wife and i had eggs benedict, coffee and oj. the coffee was nothing too bad... not amazing but not crap like some breakfast places. the oj was fresh squeezed and yummy! i had the crab cake benedict and my wife had the traditional. no complaints! everything was very tasty and served hot and in a timely fashion. yes did the food take a minute or two longer than maybe it should have? yes... but the restaurant was CRAZY busy and the staff was working as hard and as fast as they could to make everything right. dealing with people like Victoria and dawn I'm sure this was difficult! lol if a restaurant is busy and i have to wait a minute or two to get my coffee refilled but everyone is running around like chickens with their heads cut off... fine. its when the staff is not busy and people are just standing around that waiting for the basics becomes unacceptable. again that seems like a pretty reasonable concept doesn't it? if I'm wrong PLEASE let me know! back to the food. the hollandaise sauce was perfect... not too tart but not too bland. i didn't need any extra salt or pepper. the eggs were cooked correctly and the english muffin wasn't soaked with sauce (which is sign that your food sat around in the window for awhile before it was served.)
overall i have no complaints and can't wait for dinner! i will make a reservation so my table is sitting open, ready and waiting for me!
can't wait!
p.s.- people relax and think about what you are writing before you make your post! leave out the exaggerations and snap judgements. peoples income might be based on reviews and saying you sat at a table for 30minutes is simply not true, a gross over exaggeration bordering on melodramatic. think and be a little more realistic in the future.
Looking for jumbo scallops? Flatwater has one of the best seared scallops in town! A girly of mine was celebrating her birthday at Flatwater and gave us a reason to doll ourselves up and look pretty. None of us were really expecting much in terms of food since it was rated 3 stars overall and usually nice restaurants in a scenic location like by the Chicago River are just for show and not so much for their amazing dishes. We were pleasantly impressed. I had the lamb, others in the group had the grilled pork chop and pastas. All excellent choices. I do not recommend the soup though. It tasted very bland not even sure how to best describe it - just don't order it.
After dinner, Flatwater transforms their dining area into a lounge with live music so it's also great if you're looking for a nice place just to hang out and relax. The strawberry mojito isn't too bad although I heard the blueberry is better but they ran out of blueberries. The place is a bit pricey although you can sometimes catch some good deals. We happened to get a groupon deal ($20 for a $50 value - 2 groupons good for tables of 4 or more) so we were pretty lucky since we were a group of 9.
Before I start, just want to say this is a BRUNCH review.
I bought my first Groupon ever and it was for Flatwater ($5 for a $20 gift card for brunch only). My fiance and I kept putting off going to this restaurant and finally we got around to it. Unfortunately, it was a little chilly to sit outside bc I believe that's one of the main draws to this restaurant (which is A LOT smaller than I thought it would be, esp since the outdoor area was closed).
The restaurant ambiance is very nice. I like the decor and lots of natural lighting. Kind of feels like you're on a cruise, but in a small private dining room or something. Our waiter came up to us and at first seemed like he was pretty rude. Overall, he wasn't very personable but he ended up warming up to us. The food came promptly so overall I'd say the service was fine (nothing to complain about). I did ask for a recommendation, even though the menu isn't huge and he gave me a good one...
I ordered the huevos rancheros and a bloody mary for brunch. Let me just say this... I had never had huevos rancheros but the waiter told me I should get it and that he eats it once a weekend. Well, if I worked there, I would order it twice a weekend. It was so good! The corn tortillas were crispy, the chorizo was spicy (even for a chorizo, it was hotter than normal) and the sunny side up eggs were cooked perfectly. There was a small dollop of pico de gallo and sour cream on top. The plate had a greenish salsa all around the dish. All I can say was that I was sad when I finished the dish. It was amazing and I would go back just for that.
My fiance had an omelet which looked like an omelet you'd get anywhere. She is not picky though. The potatoes she got as a side were excellent.
Bloody Mary was one of the best ones I've ever had.
Go here for brunch sometime, but check the menu first because it is fairly limited. Get the Huevos Rancheros but be prepared for a spicy breakfast.
I would've given this place all 5 stars but our waiter wasn't great... I'd really give it 5 stars for food, 3 for service, and 4 for atmosphere.
Went here for BRUNCH yesterday and loved it - the food, atmosphere, service everything!
Their portions are very big so keep that in mind! We had the brioche french toast - excellent and topped up with lots of fresh mixed berries!
The freshly baked muffins were very good indeed, especially with the jam!
The guac was a little less perfect and sort of on the bland side.
Went here for dinner last night with a group of other people. The table and place was nice, but our… Read more »
It's hard to resist a place like this in Chicago. Brunch, live Bossa Nova music, riverfront views of skyscrapers, good food. What could be wrong?
Well, there is some kinda funky smell when you sit outside. Loss of a star for that.
Other than that, I loved my food and would recommend this to any Chicagoan, or any tourist looking to get tasty food in a scenic spot.
Great for lunch and happy hour - especially on a day with great weather!! Will definitely be back.
Went for a birthday party - super cute ambiance with great food. The salad was pretty good but I didn't think the super candied walnuts paired well with the vinaigrette dressing and goat cheese. I was surprised by this b/c all of those ingredients I normally love on a field green salad. Maybe it was off that day.
The chicken piccata was tasty and well seasoned. The best dish was the pork tenderloin. The had a carving station for this and it was so juicy and tender. YUM!
I kept going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars for this place, but I've decided that its not just the location and the riverside seating that makes it 4 stars. It's also got amazing interior deco and really quality food. The only downsides is that their food isn't... special. Just well-crafted, quality standards with average service. But on a beautiful, warm Chicago day I'm really not sure that a great meal on the river with a beautiful presentation and a live Bossa Nova band can be beat.
I think the staff there in general is a little, confused? But kudos to our server who was sweating his balls off. It was like 70% humidity but he was hustlin'.
Like the last few reviewers I found this place because of the Groupon. I think Flatwater was a little cheap with the groupon because we still went over the $20 by almost another $20 and we didnt even get drinks!
Aside from that, which isnt the end of the world, the brunch was great. I had the huevos rancheros. I've had huevos rancheros all over as it's my favorite breakfast food and I will tell ya that this was one of the best! The portion was huge and I was given a choice of how I wanted my eggs done. The BF got the french toast which he said rivals the french toast at Milk and Honey. I gave it a try and mmmmmm yum! I didnt even need the syrup, the berries served with it were enough to provide that extra sweetness.
It was a great day to sit along the river and watch the kayakers and the boat tourists go by while listening to the live band in the corner. Our waitress was super attentive clearing the table quickly and refilling the iced tea before the glass was half empty. But strangely as soon as the bill was paid, the iced tea stopped. What's up with that.
So I bought a groupon (thank you groupon for saving me money and making me poorer all at the same time!!!!) for this place after reading a few reviews here. It seems that this place can be streaky, but luckily I am happy to review to rate this place well.
We did come earlylish on Sunday after deciding brunching in my neighborhood spots was passe. Reservations were made in advance (about an hour before arriving) and we were accomodated perfectly. It seems like this may be a key to getting a table that you want.
I had the steak and eggs with a bloody mary while my counterpart got the crabcake eggs benedict with an orange juice. Also, got the calamari as an appetizer.
The calamari was good with it's two dipping sauces. One was like a thai sweet chili sauce and the other was a spicy mayo. No complaints for this dish at all. My steak had hollandaise sauce on it which was really good combined together. I don't think the quality of meat was up there, but it's definitely better than other brunch places. The potatos with the steak were fine, but nothing to rave about. The crabcake benedict was really good I thought. Usually, I don't go for eggs benedict, but I did try some and was impressed. We also saw the normal eggs benedict on another table and the ham slices were really HUGE!! Made me want to of gotten that instead it looked so good!
Drinks were good.. OJ was fresh as it should be and Bloody Mary was good. It was nice to know that they make the mix for the Bloody Mary everyday and that they use sriracha in it...let's face it.. sriracha can go on anything! well almost..
Okay, so the food was good... now the location/decor... it's really nice. It's located right by the Chicago river and that by itself puts it up there for me.. The place itself was laid out nicely. Only sat outside and I did like how they had it set up.
So why is this place 4 stars and not 5? Well, I did like the food, but I could go without it.. It was the service that swayed me more towards the 4.. Our server was excellent... very friendly and helpful. He even split my potatoes before they came out so that they could be shared because only my dish came with potatoes.. Totally great service on his part. However, the hostess did seem snooty as although we did like the table right next to the river we decided to sit in the shade one table over. Our waiter asked for us, but we were told that this couldn't be done because others had reservations for those. Too bad that no one else sat in that seat by the time we were done with our whole meal. Our waiter even asked for us again, but ah well..
If only we could of had a little shade on that really sunny day you would of garnered 5 stars.. too bad..
I've been going to Flatwater for work lunches for a few years now-- I kept coming back simply for the great location and outdoor seating. You'd be hard pressed to find a better place to sit outside and enjoy "a" glass of wine on a Friday lunch break! I'm writing this, though, because I was very pleasantly surprised by the new menu-- I thought previous summer's menus were a little lackluster --and a little overpriced-- but the new menu is much, much better! (No more flat breads, no more soup/tiny sandwich combo--at least if my memory serves me correctly.)
I had the shredded pork tacos with pineapple-- they were just the right amount of spicy and sweet and the portion (3) was very generous; I couldn't even eat them all. I think the price was $13. My friend had the turkey burger and loved hers as well; she was the one that actually pointed out how different the new menu is.
I haven't been there for any other meals like brunch or dinner, but I I do strongly urge reservations--they are good about getting the lunch crowd in and out, but you don't want to have to worry about waiting for a table!
You know your server is cheerful when
- one half of the 8-person party arrives 20 minutes before the other half, and he doesn't give you a hard time
- the sprinkler system in the kitchen malfunctions and suddenly all of the staff are tearing out of the kitchen soaking wet and he reassures you that there's no need to rush with your meal
- firetrucks are racing to the scene to turn off the water while gallons of it are pouring out of the kitchen and your server is laughing with you about the situation while simultaneously lugging furniture out of harm's way
- he finds out that the restaurant is going to be closed for at least 3 days during which he's not sure if he'll get paid, and he cheerfully announces that your meals are free because they can't get to the credit card machines.
Needless to say, we left our very lovely waiter a giant tip. In addition to that, the brunch dishes that we had were very good (oh, how I love an omelette with avocado in it, and I could certainly have nibbled off more of my friend's brioche french toast with berries). And of course, the view right on the river was spectacular. A lovely place to spend a Sunday morning, listening to the wonderful live bossa nova musicians and admiring the skyscrapers on the other bank. And the very friendly service more than makes up for some flooding and loud sirens :)
I haven't been back. But, I want to balance out my bad review until I give them another shot. I've been informed they had a fire (or something) the day of my review. Could have the person who told me they were closed been nicer? Sure. Had she probably already had crap for a day? Probably. So, alas, I will go back and try it, and update again.
So...I didn't actually eat here. But, it was how I turned away that gives the place one star.
I'm…
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I have to say after reading the reviews of Flatwater I was scared I was in for a disaster, but it was very much the contrary.
We sat indoors because it was getting a little chilly out, but we were pressed against glass doors looking out over the river as the sun was setting. I'd have to say probably the best location for a Chicago restaurant I've ever experienced.
We started with some drinks- for me a dirty martini that came in a very generous cocktail glass and was shook perfectly. Everyone seemed pleased with their drinks.
I got the caesar salad to start- it was good not great, others got the Pancetta salad which they liked a lot and looked really tasty. For my main course I got the Braised short Rib that was very strong. It wasn't quite as good as Carnivale, but very good nonetheless. It was served over mushrooms and potato pancake. I thought the mushrooms were good, but I didn't feel like the pancake added as much as it could have if my mom had made them!
I also was fortunate to be sitting next to my girlfriend who only eats a little bit of her meal. That gave me a great sampling of the halibut over ratatouille that was delicious. Fish was cooked perfectly! Others got the pork chop and tuna and everyone seemed very pleased with their entrees.
My one complaint would be the portions on the braised short rib and halibut are very small. The porkchops and tuna were of better quantity. While I left still a little hungry I was impressed with the overall experience, and flavors of Flatwater. I would encourage those that have previously had a bad experience to give it another go!
service was good, selection not too many but the food was very good. we wanted to sit on the patio but it rained that day... but you can still go outside and see the river. prices were reasonable too. no complaints :)
The only reason I'm giving this such a high review was that I was there for an even that had free food and free booze (my fiance's line of work has parties and junk like that)
So lots of scotch, tuna tartar, coconut shrimp, and a nice view equals pretty sweet.
I had an unexpectedly wonderful dinner this past weekend at Flatwater! My sister and I ended up there basically just because it was a place with available reservations on a busy Saturday night. When we walked in at 6:00 the place was close to empty, but by the time we left there was a nice crowd. I really liked the decor and lighting in the restaurant, and it also gets big bonus points for the river view. We went on to have some really fantastic food here. I ordered 2 apps - the foie gras and the duck confit. Both were phenomenal and so beautifully served. I'm even debating clicking the fifth star right now as I remember how great our waiter Chris was too. He was very helpful with recommendations, especially for pairing my food with the right wine, and he really made the whole experience all the more wonderful.
The patio and views really make this spot a great summer hangout. Gets pretty crowed on weekend nights and really hard to order a drink.
Flatwater is perfect for brunch. For starters, it has a wonderful view of the Chicago River and the Clark Street bridge. There's plenty of seating indoors, at the bar, and on the tented deck, good for gatherings. (Friends and I sat outside, and, unsurprisingly, it got windy at times.) For entertainment, we listened to a combo of low-key music, and a live singer and bossa nova band.
For an appetizer, we shared an order of insalata caprese ($8 for a small; $11 for a large), handmade mozzarella with vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh basil leaves, lightly seasoned with a balsamic and basil-infused extra-virgin olive oil. It was fresh, and went great with a freshly-squeezed orange juice.
My entree, an Indonesian salad with chimichurri flank steak ($17), with Napa cabbage, snow peas, seedless cucumber, shredded carrots, red bell peppers, and chow mein noodles, tossed in cilantro-soy-ginger vinaigrette. The dressing would have been better on the side, but the generous serving size - for the price, I'm glad it was! - offset that. (NOTE: Also tried my friends's BLT sammiches - those were definitely delish.)
Service was spot on. Our server (Kevin) got us everything we needed. Sam, the bartender, made me the best damn shot - it was the tastiest, GREENEST dirty girl scout shot ever.
A calming setting, delicious drink, and light fare all add up to a quality experience. Worth a try.
A picaresque place to eat. I had the opportunity to eat brunch here with some friends. Brunch also had a nice jazz quartet/singer, which really added to the experience. Service was nice, friendly, and accomodating. We brought two little kids and they set us up nicely. I can't say how much I enjoyed having a nice brunch along the river, along with the music, a good breeze and boats floating by, it was quite relaxing and pleasant. Food was average priced for a downtown restaurant, but my portions (especially the bacon) were big and generous. I had the quiche, it was vegetarian, but pretty good. The food got good reviews all around the table as well.
Loved the outside patio overlooking the river...but hated that I had to take a 5 minute walk downstairs to the bathroom. Great, great atmosphere but I hear it's hit or miss when the place turns into a club at 10.
Went Saturday night with no reservation so we were seated inside but it was great. Nice view of the water and the vibe was good for the first 1.5hr. Then the Euro set moved in and the was that annoying Euro house. Fortunately we just finished chowing on delicious shrimp pasta, ahi tuna / avocado app and spicy wilted salad. The Mojitos were decent. The service was excellent. All in all a pretty sexy place.
Went here on a Friday night....the view alone is 5 stars!!! I'm surprised there's so many negative reviews, but i've only been in Chicagoland for 4 weeks and this was incredible!! Again....SUPERB View!! it's on the water!!
I liked the setup, but there isn't much flow inside- they definetely need to keep the patio open as long as the place is open.
oh AND if you have a boat you just dock right next to the restaurant ...one day ... :P
The drinks aren't as expensive as I thought they would be and the DJ played a great set :))
THis would be a beautiful place for a romantic date!!!
You know, call me lazy, but I'm becocming a big fan of Flatwater for a "nice lunch." Really I have only tried a very few things on their menu, but to be able to eat a good lunch outside, at nice seating on the river, for $10 (again the salad/half sandwich combo)? I'll take it! The service seems to have picked up over the last year too. I also don't remember why I was complaining this time last year about the bread on the sandwich, I certainly don't have complaints now. Weird. I still agree that the selection is odd and limited, but take it for what it is I guess, there's enough that you should be able to find something to eat
Here's a tip- if you're one of the few who doesn't enjoy eating outside in the summer, you'll probably be able to walk right in here on a nice day and get seating inside with no reservations- this afternoon it was completely deserted inside and packed on the patio
oh and might as well use http://opentable.com for reservations and score yourself the points (although I have yet to figure out what points are actually good for)
Just had to be fair and reevaluate them after I've been a few times now!
This place is very average and a bit overpriced (otherwise it might get an additional star)
The food…
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I came here on opening weekend a few years ago and they had fish bowls on the bar with guppies in them. I was dared to eat one of those guppies for $100.00 dollars by this guy who thought he was a baller and thought I was a lady who wouldn't do it. I ordered up a shot of southern comfort and took that guppy down. While he and the bartender looked on in horror. I grabbed the hundo out of his hand and stalked off to go buy me and my lady a friend a few martinis. There's a point to this story, since I did that, I decided it may be best to wait awhile to come back to this place. I visited on Friday while me and my friend did a bar crawl this past Friday. The first thing I noticed was there were no fish bowls on the bars anymore and I couldn't imagine why. The next thing I noticed was that this is a very nice place to have a drink on warm summer night. Great view, location and scenery. The men aren't much too look at, but neither am I after predrinking for three hours and putting my makeup on in the dark. We only stayed for one drink, but it appears to me that it would be a nice first date place for sure. I don't think on a Friday night though. It was very busy.
Let's be clear about the 4-stars: location and space! The great weather, riverside location / setting, and gorgeous backdrop of the Chicago skyline and lights made Flatwater the perfect venue for a summer party I hosted in late July. The food is acceptable. The waitstaff and service are not and need to be thoroughly retrained. It's a shame because while the potential is obviously there, the execution is severely lacking.
3 Course Thanksgiving Meal!
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Six Bucks Before Six
Neighborhood: South Loop
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Nightlife
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Sandwiches
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