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Categories: American (New), Sports Bars
Neighborhoods: West Loop, Near West Side"I've been here about 20 times; it hasn't even been opened year; and I am still not tired of the food. We came here last night for a burger,…" read more »
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I really like the idea of an upscale sports bar. It's vibrant and upbeat, yet it has a chill, no pressure quality to it-despite the extra loud music with overbearing bass.
I adored the food presentation; everything was quirky and unique looking...haute bar food for sure. Prices were extremely reasonable and the portions are pretty generous. The nachos.-omigosh! Wow! And there's cotton candy! It looked amazing. My inner child is going crazy. I didn't realized they had it until after we paid our bill. Boo. Definitely planning on getting it on the next visit. There's a spacious outside area as well, but ALAS! It's too cold for that right now. I can't wait till warm weather comes around again so I can go back and partake in some alfresco dining.
Have since gotten back for dinner and their fancy cocktails...
The food was good, the drinks were typical. Nothing really stood out about this place. I mean, outdoor seating in the summer is a perk, as are the views, and I appreciated the TV's outside to watch the game as well. I'll probably come back here, but I'm not going to be jonesing for it anytime soon.
Went here for some casual drinks the other night. It was hard to get a good read on this place, as… Read more »
I can overlook the fact that the crowd was a weird mix of 20-somethings (all trying to look like Banana Republic models) and late 40-somethings (all trying to blend in with 'cool' 20-somethings).
What I can't understand is how my friend and I could try 5 different cocktails and have all 5 be undrinkable. Not just 'eh', but downright nasty. We kept trying new ones, but all of them we so terribly poured that we couldn't drink them. Believe me, I'm not a picky drinker, but I will never go back to this place based on this experience.
Some of the best "bar-food" in the entire city. I went the first weekend it opened (no liquor license yet) and was floored at how terrible the service was. Knowing that this is common with new spots, I went back a couple weeks later. It was even worse. "The Bull" keeps me going back and I can say I've honestly been here more than a dozen times and haven't been pleased with the service even once. The waiters seem confused and bothered to take your order. The appetizers almost ALWAYS come out with the entrees, and if you're in a group of more than 4 expect everybody's food to be cold when it comes out. The pizzas are surprisingly pretty good and like I said before the "Bull" cheeseburger is on a another level (merkts chedder is the bomb). My friend swears the "Bodybuilder" is the best sandwhich in the city, and its healthy!
I visited Market this weekend and look forward to heading back to try it again.
The presentation is AMAZING! Every dish seems to have it's own special presentation and it does not disappoint. Plan on having the truffle fries! (Truffles make the world a better place) Also, make sure to get the cotton candy, yes I said cotton candy! It was yummy, yummy, yummy!!!
The crowd in the bar was a bit much for a little over an hour, but once the super busy time ended it was much more enjoyable.
We went here after a very boozy fundraiser...by that point, anything solid would taste pretty decent.
Basically, it's elevated bar food with a creative twist on presentation. My pasta came with a nifty attached stand hovering above the bowl that held a generous portion of parmigan cheese and a mini grater. Fun!
The service was abrupt but decent. The crowd is very much West Loop/Loop, and the music was fun but loud. The outdoor seating looks fun (it was a little too chilly that evening).
So....if you're in the West Loop and want beer and straighforward grub, I'd say Market could meet your needs.
People thought this was:
I'm sorry, but a bathroom attendant at 7 PM on a Wednesday night?? Seriously?? (I hate bathroom attendants)
Now that that's out of my system...went to Market last night with a group of 6. We sat outside - not in the patio area but at a table set up on the sidewalk out front. Not ideal. We had planned on eating there and then going up to the roof for a drink (no food on the roof) but the roof was closed for a private event. Oh well.
Food was ok. Nothing special, though the presentation was nice. We got 2 pizzas (very sugary tomato sauce), wings and popcorn shrimp. The popcorn shrimp was the best of the bunch taste-wise but there was barely any of it. Almost the entire container was filled with popcorn and there were just a few little (seriously little) shrimpies scattered on top. Deceiving and not worth the money.
Biggest issue was the service. I realize we weren't exactly sitting in the center of a high traffic area, but it was impossible to find our server. And when we did find him and finally ordered, he was super slow bringing our drinks out. And it's not like we all got highly complicated drinks - 3 beers, 2 standard mixed drinks (not off their drink menu) and a coke. Strangely, the coke took the longest. Water was never re-filled (which is a huge issue for me - I drink a lot of water!). Food also took forever, but I don't know that it was the server's fault.
I did like the look and feel of the place. I wish we had gotten to go up to the roof, as I've heard good things. And all things considered, it didn't feel terribly overpriced. My draft beers (Goose Island) were $5 a piece, which is certainly in line with most other bars in Chicago. But overall, I just wasn't that impressed and I don't think I'll be rushing back to Market any time soon.
People thought this was:
I'm seeing lots of reviews from people who had a bad experience there or think it is too expensive. I went yesterday for the first time and had a great experience. Really enjoyed the atmosphere, wine & food. Our waitress was very accommodating to our specific requests. I will agree that the hostess was very rude, as I came in before my friend and she didn't acknowledge me initially and would not seat me until I had my entire party there (for two people I think that's extreme -- Rockit also does this and it drives me insane - ESPECIALLY when the dining area is nearly empty).
The best part, though, was when the waitress informed us of their Monday promotion: 50% off everything on the menu, including drinks & wine! So, if you like the food but don't think the prices are reasonable, why not go on Mondays?
Also, it does have TV's for those of us who are sports fans, which I appreciated.
I giggle as I sit here and read Markets Reviews once again. Obviously management gave some incentive to the un-intelligent waitstaff to put postings on Yelp.
Step One Market Employees:
Correctly spell if not one sentence, maybe two.
Step Two:
Spell out things such as "4" ie: F-O-U-R, or for. How ever you choose to use it.
Step Three:
To seem like a "real" customer, maybe make more than one yelp review...it seems quite odd that so many of the good reviews are by a person with no pic and no other history with yelp.
Step Four:
You aren't fooling us.
People thought this was:
Shit Shit Shit.
When you first spot market, you think this was a good choice. Super cute outdoor…
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More of a Disco than a restaurant. Possibly a trendy sports bar.
Mostly preppy college crowd.
Ordered lamb ribs as an apetizer. They had to be frozen. Took way too little time to serve them, arrived partially cold and well done. Ordered their American Kobe burger and had to wait about 15 minutes after the apetizer cleared my table.
Burger was decent but not worth the 14$
The waiting staff is mostly college kids with very little knowledge of the menu.
My waitress kept telling me that she usually works upstairs on the rooftop where they do not serve any food..
Overall expensive, mediocre food, waiting staff very slow and unprepared
People thought this was:
This place is totally not my scene. Girls with dresses shorter than my t-shirt and boys with suit jackets, ed hardy t-shirts underneath, and ripped jeans. Um, no thanks. I ended up here because Ryan's friend was playing music on the roof, which was pretty cool I admit.
The bar was pretty bare with reserved booths. I have no idea who they were reserved for, but it must have been important people because they were huge & empty & even though my heels were killing me I couldn't sit down. The waitresses were SUPER nice & very good about checking on our drinks. One guy in our group was smoking & the waitress seemed to simply look the other way. If he wasn't in my group I would have hated this, but appreciated it that night.
I do have to say the drinks were expensive & if I would have known they were giving me grey goose instead of their well liquor I wouldn't have had so many. Clever, but sneaky!
People thought this was:
As I look through the other reviews of Market it appears either you have a normal to great bar experience or your time there is akin to the four horsemen of the apocalypse flying down while you try to enjoy your drink/meal and sh!tting right on your plate.
Maybe my fiance and I have just been lucky but Market is a go to spot for us. We live in the neighborhood so it's definitely convenient to walk over and stop in for a drink. We go during the day, haven't check out the "night" scene. We usually sit out at one of the tables along the sidewalk since most times the dog is with us. The wait staff and hostesses have always been extremely friendly and helpful. They even bring out a bowl of water for the dog if we don't have something with us.
I don't find the drinks more expensive than any other bar in Chicago. I stick with beer or a glass of wine so again, maybe if I was having a mixed drink I'd have something to complain about. I've had a few things to eat there. The pizzas are pretty good (thin crust, good sauce and toppings) and the burger was tasty. I know we'll be back. Hopefully whatever inconsistencies in service others have experienced will eventually work themselves out.
People thought this was:
Had dinner and drinks with friends at Market last night and came away impressed on all accounts. The building/aesthetics are beautiful and you can tell that alot of effort was put in to make this place look unique.
I had a Billy Goat's Curse salad (spinach based) and have to say it was one of the best salads I have ever eaten! Goat cheese truffles, marinated onions, little bits of bacon...delicious. After that I had their South Side burger. What's not to like about a burger made from Angus beef that has a fried egg on top? Nothing!
The service was quick and attentive, tons of TVs playing Monday Night Football, and even though the outdoor seating (rooftop included) were closed b/c it was so cold, security staff took my group up to the roof just to check out the view. I was very impressed and would definetly come back!
Oh, and the Mac 'n Cheese Muffins were fantastic too!
What is the big hype with this place? My girlfriends made reservations a month in advance to make sure that we had a table to dine at last weekend. I guess it might be the "scene" factor. Personally, this place just didn't do it for me.
I met the ladies up at the bar and once the whole table had arrived, we were seated. The booth wegot was pretty nice becuase it was slightly raised, set in a little nook in the back of the dining area and allowed us to people watch quite nicely. Our server on the other hand completely sucked. He was mentally somewhere else and could give a shit about serving us. Or at least that is what he conveyed.
We got an appetizer of the sliders, which was either short ribs and gardinara on a brioche bun or BBQ pulled pork with pickles on a brioche bun. They were good and I do reccomend. I ordered the turkey burger which was rather dry and didn't come with any special aoli or anything like that. The server did allow me to swap out the fried for grilled asparagus which was better than the actual burger itself. The rest of the table ordered the nachos (which are served on a tiered platter with different toppings on different tiers...nice presentation.) and a pizza. I tasted a little corner of the pizza with no cheese on it and it was good. Thin crispy crust and good sauce. Everything was presented nicely.
After dinner we took the elavator up to the rooftop deck where we seated ourselves on some wicker loungers. There was a Dj and the lights kept flickering to beat of the music. That was weird. They have a nice space up there and with the nice weather, I really enjoyed. Soon enough it was time to go to the ladies room and that was just odd. You have to go back through the servers quarters where they stock all their stuff, down the stairs to the next floor and then into an area with a mens and womens washroom. There was no attendant, but there was a table with refreshments and towels outside the actual restrooms for the men and women to share. Strange.
All in all, food was American fare and descent, roof top lounge was lovely, and this place is just not my scene anymore.
People thought this was:
This will never be one of my favorite bars- but at least on my last visit I didn't leave there mad.
Stopped in on a weeknight to give Market another try. This time- the bouncer was actually friendly, holding the door open for me and welcoming me. Certainly better than my last visit.
My friend had grabbed a couple of seats at the bar which was also nice. And the bartender poured a good drink.
And that free street parking is still there and better than the $8 the valet wanted to charge me.
Market won't go on any recommendation list of mine- but at least it got itself off of my "wouldn't step foot in the place if you paid me" list.
People thought this was:
When available parking is about the only nice thing you can say about a place- you know that… Read more »
Market is definitely sceney and if you're not down with the new West Loop trendsetters with sport coats, Affliction tees, and maxidresses, maybe this is not the place for you.
I stopped here with some friends during the Taste of Randolph and enjoyed their outdoor patio. Not only is it great for people watching, it's a nice opportunity to sit outside away from a busy street, and they have TVs if you want to watch a game or two.
The food is pricey but good: We had the popcorn shrimp which literally came with popcorn mixed in and was seasoned with garlic, parmesan, and truffle oil. I also had the Herky turkey burger and truffle fries, and both were perfect. The burger was juicy with thick slices of bacon on a fresh buttery bun. Hey, no one said the food at Market was healthy, but it sure is delicious. They have a list of specialty drinks at specialty prices, but they're good if you're willing to shell out a few extra dollars.
I've never checked out the rooftop, but it's been the talk of the town lately, and based on my first experience at Market it is definitely on my list of things to do before it gets too cold.
People thought this was:
Visited Market for a friend's birthday party and it was great. The rooftop is by far my favorite part about the bar, so if you can score a spot up top, do. Inside they do a good job of combining the qualities of a sports bar with modern dining.
Dessert was fun! Our cotton candy came in a cute little shopping cart we could all grab from. I'd definitely go back for dinner or, since they offer an array of cocktails, just drinks.
A couple of friends and I went there for drinks and an early dinner on a Thursday evening and I was pleasantly surprised with the friendly service, the architecture and ambiance, and the food.
It was a low-key girls' night out and I was in the mood for some comfort food. I ended up getting the chicken soup and grilled cheese sandwich for $6 (yes, $6!!!!). Where can you get something (somewhat) healthy and filling for that inexpensive? And it was absolutely YUMMY!
One of my friends ordered a salad (can't remember what it was called) that had spinach, walnuts, mini-cheeseballs, that looked wonderful! She kept on expressing how much she was enjoying her food. I wanted to try it but I didn't think either of us really wanted to share :)
Since we were there at 6pm, street parking a block or two away was pretty easy to find. However, when we left, it looked pretty crowded.
People thought this was:
Great place to eat and watch a game. Good is good and service is spot on.
I had a really poor experience here on the weekend. It was too cold to sit outside so I sat inside with my gf unfortunately it was even more cold inside. We were seated in a comfortable booth but the air con was blowing out a lot of cold air. Thankfully two other tables were experiencing the same problem so the manager turned the air con off.
Our server seemed to be new to being a waiter but he was funny even when he was trying not to be. At one point he started taking our drink order than half way through he just stopped writing, took something out of his pocket and walked away quickly without finishing taking the order. It was funny but I'm not sure if other people would appreciate this.
Food is poor and they have some very strange items on their menu. They have New Zealand lamb lollipops which are small lamb cutlets covered in a gloppy sauce that is trying to mask the poor frozen and out of season lamb. Their is a lot of fennel on the plate which really over powers the lamb. One of the worst starters I have ever had and it sounded really promising. The popcorn shrimp is very good and presented well so thankfully I shared that with the gf.
Our interesting waiter didn't ring though our order correctly as our main courses came out 3 minutes after our starters had been served. Not a big deal for the gf as she had ordered a salad but I had ordered their "The Answer" steak sandwich which was getting cold while I was making an effort to eat the bad lamb. Gf's salad was fine and basic, "The Answer" steak sandwich was average and I've had better if dingy places up north that charge a fraction of the price.
There were fruit flys hanging around our table for the duration of our time their which i know can happen in clean places but it doesnt make it any less annoying.
Nice decor and a lovely rooftop bar but its a place with little atmosphere and a lot of food and service issues
People thought this was:
Well the poor ratings on here are all pretty much right. The staff has a unwelcoming attitude, the service is awful, and the food doesn't make up for it.
We came here on a Thursday around 8pm, we had reservations for 8:30. When we asked if we could be seated outside, the hostess said we would have to go and see the hostess outside. WTF? They couldn't of told us that when we made the reservations? Like its some separate entity!
The only reason they get two stars is because after seeing the outside hostess we did get sat reasonably quick. But only to be neglected by our suck ass waitress for the rest of the evening.
I'll tell you what we ate and then I'll give you the low down on the service. I had the glazed salmon, it was pretty good... nothing fantastic. Cyrus had a caesar salad, (we had the deep dish pizza earlier and it was still hurting us). The rest of the table had a burger, pizza, and dumplings. Everything was good, but nothing was spectacular.
Our waitress was sooo daft! We saw her standing by the hostess stand chatting it up while we were all waiting to order a drink. Then she comes by, picks up our glasses and doesn't even ask if we want another drink!? So we flag down someone else who promptly gets us taken care of. When our waitress finally returns we told her we had wanted to order a drink, and she said, "Well I asked if anybody wanted anything but you guys didn't hear me." HOLY HELL! Who says that? And actually she was full of shit, cause we were waiting to order drinks before she ran off.
Long story short... this place is kind of cute but there are wayyyy better places to go in this area. Don't waste your time.
People thought this was:
The rooftop is an ideal place to get drinks. It sort of looks like the inside of a suana. And with the heaters it can feel like one as well. For as busy as they were, I was impressed with the waitress who was attentive.
Has a loungy feel and a more or less relaxed feel.
Chicago Blackhawks Ice Crew loves Market! We go there after every game for a drink and food. We order a different dish every time as we love them all. Their martinis are fantastic (Bubbletini my fav!). Great atmosphere and service. You can seat at a different spot every time you go (dinning room, bar, beer garden, rooftop) and have a different experience every time. Best of all. You can take the Market Bus to/from the united center. Go Market. Go Hawks!
People thought this was:
Market still sucks, and anyone who says otherwise probably works there.
Oh gee, I wonder why Market's been getting FABULOUS 5-star reviews over the past two days?? Could it be because, maybe, the staff members and managers were encouraged to SPAM THEIR OWN PAGE with good reviews? Is this what the marketing team does? Or did dozens of people REALLY just join Yelp to post one review about how awesome Market is?
Way to go, guys. Maybe instead you should concentrate on improving your food and the behavior of all your servers and bouncers. And lowering your ridiculously overpriced drinks and dishes.
People thought this was:
If I could give it half a star, I would.
This is the most worthless and overpriced restaurant/bar…
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Listen, restaurant owner. No one is going to like your restaurant less if you are humble.
The good news is that the food is really interesting, decent, and not scary expensive for the quality, presentation, and ambiance.
The bad news is that everyone that works there seems to have a chip on their shoulder about how Market is so hot and there's no time to serve the little people. I work right down the street and there was 4 of us lovely ladies coming here for lunch. The outdoor patio was literally half empty, and the hostess told us, with her nose in the air, that there was a 20 minute wait. We said fine but we'll go wait at one of those tables that are empty. Outside. In the Sunshine. Then the hostess gave us some attitude about how no one will serve us while we are waiting.
Which they did. As soon as we sat down. I don't know why you need to give the illusion that there's a wait when there isn't one? It's lunch time near the meat market part of town, not a night club on the lower East side. Give me a break.
Our server also had a too-good-for-thou air about her, and dining with all the crazy yuppies for lunch on a weekday just made me wish I was on my yacht instead of heading back to work. Wait, what?
People thought this was:
i was at Market for my birthday; the decor is very well put together but the prices.....oh yeah: prepare for some serious cash showdown.
The food is good but as I said, I am not quite sure i would go and shell out some $22+tax+ tip for chicken. Did I say chicken??
But maybe was free range, hormone free, Amish farm raised chicken...
Do not bother making a reservation at this place!!! I even had a hook up and the guy pretended they had no idea who we were, it was terrible. I read reviews that they didn't adhere to their reservations, but I thought it was a fluke, it was not.
There is a line out the door and the people inside are not worth going in for. On top of that, they escorted us to the roof top, where we were supposed to have a cabana. Now I am not a fresh 21 year old, I am a seasoned veteran and I have never been treated so disrespectfully by a door manager in my life. He was rude, inconsiderate and spoke to me like a child. There were a million people in this place so you couldn't move around or even get a drink. They pissed off our entire party so much that everyone just left.
If I were you I would ignore the fact that they have a roof top because you won't be able to get up there. They will make you fee like a jerk in front of your friends and make them come all the way upstairs just to send you back down feelind like an idiot.
I have worked in the entertainment industry before, I know how this all works but they left a really sour taste in my mouth and left my BACHELORETTE party feeling stupid.
STAY AWAY!
People thought this was:
If you have a load of cash you want to spend I highly suggest you DO NOT come here. If you want to be treated like a loser when you come to the door, this the place to be.
Not only was the Napoleonesque doorman (aka shorty) rude, he plain pretended like he didn't know who his promoter was. SHADEY. This isn't Studio 54, your place is not glamorous and Market is anything but special. I'm pretty positive that being doorman will be the highlight of this poor loser's life. Some people have highschool, this guy has doorman.
The spot was alright, but I rather be on someone's apt rooftop and be treated kindly than be treated like some peon at a crappy bar with an identity crisis. We had reservations, were ready to buy a butt load of bottles, got half our party upstairs, to meet Mike, aka Napoleon. Who refused to let a party of 8 hot chicks drink their booze and spend the money we had to burn.
You couldn't pay me enough to ever come back here again.
People thought this was:
It was a Saturday night when I first attempted to go to Market. When I found out they required a reservation to even set foot on the rooftop, and noticed the huge contingent of rich old men and cougars, I bolted, vowing to never return. That vow was broken when, on a recent Tuesday night, I was coerced back. The only thing that got me in the door was the promise of a stellar sunset view. And how bad could a Tuesday night crowd be?
I've gotta say, I was pleasantly surprised. My Tuesday night drinking companion and I easily scored a primo corner table - in fact, there were a number of open spots. The crowd was pretty laid back, likely people still lingering from happy hour. The view lived up to my high expectations and the sunset totally delivered. Okay, so maybe I was wrong.
Service was friendly enough, if infrequent. I ordered the Spa Cooler and loved it. It tasted similar to a mojito, only somehow more refreshing. So naturally I ordered a second. Totally inconsistent pours meant this one was way too strong and lacked the lovely minty, cucumber-y zing of the first. When they're charging $12 a pop, I expect them to get that right.
When drink two was history, I again surveyed the scene. A new crowd - similar to the one that had scared me off that Saturday I first visited Market - was filtering in. Definitely time for my exit.
I'll leave you with this: Come here for the rooftop view. Come on a weeknight unless you're looking for a Gold Coast-like scene. Get an overpriced drink if you feel like taking a gamble since it could go way wrong - otherwise, stick to beer. Take off by 9 p.m. unless you want to hang with a navel-gazing (I just learned that term and have been dying to use it) crowd.
People thought this was:
I figured I'd hate this place. Or at least feel uncomfortable because I heard it was a scene-ster spot with some bad attitudes.
I was pleasantly surprised! I've actually been here twice and had great experiences overall. I love that there are several different seating areas (rooftop, downstairs outdoor, bar area, restaurant area). Sometimes you're in the mood for one type over the other.
Our servers were cheerful and made some good suggestions. Food I've tried:
Mac & Cheese Muffins - Great! Heavier on the mac and cheese and pretty much no muffin. It just looks like a muffin. Comes with a tangy sauce.
Sliders - Delicious. My favorite thing I've had there.
Billy Goat's Curse Salad with Chicken - Tasty but they pre-dressed it and it was a little soggy. The small balls of goat cheese were delightful.
Yoga Master Pizza - Average taste but a good price for the size of the pizza.
I also had the lemonade/vodka drink which was a bit too sweet. In terms of value, you definitely get what you pay for. I think their menus have a neat design. I don't care for their napkins. Just kind of weird.
I just liked the vibe in this place. Good looking people, tasty food, trendy decor. Thank you for joining my neighborhood Market!
People thought this was:
Never ate there! Never had a drink there! Will never go back!!!! Tried to have lunch there on Saturday, but was not let in. The reason given by the scared hostess was they were reserving seats for "young college kids!" And although she asked the manager to make an exception for us, seeing as though there were plenty of open tables and other families there with their kids, the manager never came out to speak to us in person! You would think that with our current economy, they would welcome our patronage, but apparently they don't care if they have return customers! Too bad! We were excited to try a new bar in our neighborhood, and after that experience we will try elsewhere! Good luck staying open when you don't welcome new customers in the door!!
People thought this was:
Unnecessary is the best way I can describe this place.
The menu mainly consists of "upscale" bar food, or as the website calls it, "traditional American classics served with an aesthetic flair." *yawn*
At least the website wasn't lying, since EVERYTHING has an "aesthetic flair." Our nachos were served on a 3 tier platter with the sour cream, guacamole, and pico each taking their own spot on one of the tiers. Popcorn chicken is served in a plastic popcorn tub. The chili rubbed chicken was served on an obtrusively large carving platter with a chalkboard chicken (here is a photo of a chalkboard chicken to refresh your memory: http://bit.ly/Xvd7v). Our cotton candy was served in a mini shopping cart with popcorn inside. And so on and so forth...
I can talk about Market's ludicrous presentations all day (it basically looks like somebody went crazy in Target's clearance section of tacky kitchenware), but presentation means nothing if the food is bad, right?
Right!
And let me tell you, the food at the Market is severely underwhelming. The nachos are just a bunch of chips with a thin layer of melted cheddar with some black beans and a few cubes of chicken. The cheese covers all of 10 chips, so the 30 other chips are left stranded and wondering why Papa Cheese abandoned them so early in the meal.
My "Strip Club" was decent enough, but I substituted fries for their whipped potatoes. What came to the table were 4 smaller whole potatoes. Are you expected to whip them yourself? I thought that maybe I was given a different side, but the only other potato item on the menu is a double-baked potato, and I certainly didn't receive that either. Either way, I wish I stuck with fries, because the potato was undercooked and completely flavorless.
I tried my girlfriend's chili rubbed chicken, which was dry, and the apple slaw, which was, well, apple slaw. Certainly not worth the price.
After a meal with completely unnecessary presentations of overpriced food, it was off to the rooftop! The view was nice, the drinks were expensive, and the bouncer made for one of the more surprising moments of the night.
While he was coming around to tell every table not to smoke, I jokingly and maybe a bit sarcastically said, "Can we use cell phones?" since I was holding my phone at the time. I am fresh off a trip to cellphone-less Violet Hour, so it's not unheard of for places to have cellphone rules. Anyways, the bouncer looked at me and said something like, "Yes you can use your cellphone, don't be a fucking asshole." Now, he started off sounding very serious, but it seemed as he was calling me a "fucking asshole," he realized that he was at work, so his tone quickly changed to a joking one. He then awkwardly winked at me and then patted me on the back. Weird. Regardless, I'm not used to being called a "fucking asshole" by a restaurant's staff, even jokingly, so I was a bit shocked. I guess you can also file this moment under "unnecessary."
In conclusion, if you want overpriced and sub-par bar food with highly unnecessary presentations, expensive drinks, and a chance to be called a "fucking asshole" by the staff, then by all means, give Market a try! As for me, I would have been much more satisfied with a meal at Boston Market.
People thought this was:
wow...our server was kinda bitchy too. We thought it was just us.
It was a Saturday and the place was empty but it took more than ten minutes for her to come and greet us. When I asked for suggestions she was pretty snarky. She went and got our drinks and came back a lot nicer and more chatty. Maybe she had a shot at the bar.
Anyway, the mac n cheese muffins are delightful. Get them.
People thought this was:
#$@% this place. When I first heard about Market, it sounded real cool, I was excited to check it out. I turned to the advice of fellow yelpers who overwhelmingly hated it, so I decided to take a pass. Then there was a surprise party for some friends of mine there so I went to check it out, figured it couldn't be too bad. Well I was definitely wrong, it was awful.
When I first showed up I was with about 5 guys. There was hardly a line. I was first and they pretty much let me right in. Then they made my friends wait in the rain even though the bar was not even close to crowded and we had our own room reserved. The drink deal we had, although it was not much of a deal, was supposed to end at 12, but they turned on the lights and made us leave to the main bar, were we didn't have a drink deal, at 11:45.
The bouncers there were such ass holes. There's no other way to put it. For some reason they think there really cool and act like hot shot ass holes for no reason.
The people there fit right in with the bouncers. If your not wearing a skin tight super trendy Euro graphic tee with tight jeans, greasy spiked hair and a sleazy girl with too much makeup hanging on your arm, you'll feel out of place here.
The only reason I gave this bar 2 stars instead of one is because the outdoor spaces. Enough ranting and raving for one night, I'm goin to booze.
People thought this was:
Wow, I am very surprised by the ratings given by some of you. I am new to Chicago and Yelp and trust the reviews on this site. I will definitely have to experience Chicago's hot spots on my own.
I have gone here half a dozen times since a month after they opened (I think the waitress said May 1). Every time I go, the service, drinks and food are improving. Market is a blend of a sports bar and above average restaurant. The outdoor patio is great for a lunch and I hope to enjoy a few Bears games there too! The rooftop deck is phenomenal and boasts one of the best views of the city. Do your best to get there early as it does fill up. Recently, they have added live music up there too.
When I go out to eat, I look for food quality, service and presentation. I must say that I have been fortunate to sample about 1/3 of Market's extensive menu...pleasantly surprised! My staple is the Karlton pizza-sausage, onions and giardiniera. The mac n cheese muffins, bench warmer (lamb "lollipops") and ribs are top notch. The presentation has been quite different from any other experience I have had. The cotton candy dessert comes out in a mini shopping cart! I will say that the service has improved tremendously since I first went. I have had no issues with drinks, but I do not order off a drink menu either.
Oh, did I mention the eye candy is pretty nice too. The staff and customers alike.
For all of you that are haters...give it some time and come back. The first few months are always tough on new places. Market Bar has a great foundation in an up n coming area. The food, staff attitude and atmosphere is what Market is all about. From the improvements I have seen lately, I expect this place to be rockin for quite a while.
People thought this was:
Two stars solely for the food.
I ordered the ribs, which were very tasty. My girlfriend ordered soup which came with a grilled cheese sandwich (one of her favorites).
First the bread came out.
Then her soup.
Then my ribs.
Then....
Then....
Then....
We did happen to go in the first week it was open, but there were maybe four other people in the restaurant, and three or four wait staff available. No one came to check on us, and 10 minutes after I got my ribs, came this itsy-bitsy finger sandwich they called grilled cheese.
as much as I wanted to like this place, it took itself too seriously with the fake pleasantries and smiles - if a restaurant is committed to making their patrons happy, they get the food out on the table.
Who goes to market?
Those looking to try a new and trendy looking restaurant, with ok food.
Who avoids market?
People who want to get a meal, and then get out, not spend 2.5 hours from sit-down to get-up
People thought this was:
This is a great place for drinks and appetizers with a group of friends, but I would not recommend it for dinner.
I've been here several times before I decided to write a review. It seems like it doesn't matter what day you are there, they are ALWAYS packed and super busy. Some of the staff I've meet are great, accommodating, and nice and some are not. I think it's a hit or miss just depending upon who you get as your server.
The hostess stand on the other hand may need an attitude change (just like many of the trendy bars/restaurants in Chicago). They are rude and very unaccommodating. If you are expecting to be here with a group of people, reservations are highly recommendated.
Some of their drinks are unique and quite tasty such as the Bubble-tini and Cool-Aid. The food is also a hit or miss - just depending on what you get. I've tried several things on their menu and can honestly say the only thing I've liked is the mac and cheese muffins with side of cheese sauce (the only thing that makes the whole plate). Even the food is quite mediocre, however I do give them an A- for presentation. The popcorn shrimp served in a cute old-fashioned popcorn container and the cotton candy is served in a little shopping cart. It definitely is true that you eat with your eyes first, so if it's served in a cute presentation, it's supposed to taste better, right??? Or maybe not...
If you are looking for a trendy bar in the West Loop, enjoy a few drinks, and take advantage of the outside patio or rooftop, then this is the place for you.
People thought this was:
I've been to Market a few times since it opened (my BFF works there), and the best part about the place is the people watching and maybe the rooftop. I enjoy outdoors drinking like the next chick, but it's different on the rooftop. Maybe the altitude causes people to get WAY too pretentious and full of themselves. IDK. Anyways, the drinks are fine depending on who makes them, and the service is whatever.
The people watching is the best part of the evening. Whether you enjoy the characters or not, you will definitely leave with some good stories (and maybe a nice buzz). If you go, definitely sit outside...it makes the experience nicer.
People thought this was:
I did my research via Yelp before going, and I saw all bad the reviews. I anticipated a hostess looking down at me and giving me the stink eye and waiting 20 minutes to be seated when there are clearly free tables.
Maybe it's because my expectations were low, but I actually liked it and had a pleasant experience. Hopefully the management is reading the reviews and actually trying to make improvements.
I went on a Monday night around 8:30, so that might have been why it was ok. I've passed Market on a Saturday night and it was packed and there was a huge line. Even still, there were a good amount of people for a Monday night.
The hostess was perfectly pleasant, no snobbishness. Maybe the bad hostess wasn't working that night or hopefully, she got let go. Our waitress was also nice, prompt, and generally professional.
I ordered their Bubble-tini, and boy was it strong. That one drink alone was enough to give me a really nice buzz.
Food:
My friend got the turkey burger and she liked it. I tried her fries. They tasted like they were once pretty yummy, like 30 minutes ago. Lukewarm and old.
I got a pizza with sausage, onions, and that one pepper mix... I can't remember what it's called. I thought it was really good. Huge, definitely too big for one person to finish. I would share this, because while it tasted good, after a few pieces it was really starting to get too salty. It would have been better to pair it with a light salad.
I'd come back again, most likely on weeknight. Parking is plentiful, but I'm too scared to brave this place on a Saturday night. I'm not crazy about waiting in lines and that one was a doozy.
People thought this was:
The West Loop douche bag invasion continues! Picking up where other epic failures left off (see Reserve, Chromium, Victor Hotel and soon, Bon V), Market provides many a fat forty-somethings with balding-heads-yet-still-growing-pony-tails a place where they can dust off their Z-Cavaricci pants and pretend to be important while lip-syncing to the current king of music douchbaggery - Asher Roth.
The broads that frequent this farce are 50% cougars with extensive stretch markings, 40% broads that are into douche bags, and 10% broads that hang out with cougars or broads that are into douche bags. The latter being easy to identify as they are the only good looking ones there and they hang out on the sidewalk hoping that the nightmare will end soon.
This place is for people that were not let into Bon V- a vile little shit hole known for hosting foreign douche bags.
People thought this was:
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