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Categories: Wine Bars, Music Venues, American (New)
Neighborhood: Near North SideGrand (Red)
Merchandise Mart (Purple Express, Brown)
Mon-Fri. 3:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sun. 3:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.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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If you are downtown and want a nicer place to enjoy some bubbly, Pops is the place to go. I don't know if I would really make the extra trek there, though, unless I really wanted some really good champagne.
We just went here for a some drinks and appetizers. We sat at the bar, which was actually quite enjoyable. I ordered a champagne cocktail, which I can't remember the name now, but I did like it. For food, we ordered the fries, oysters and the mushroom flatbread. The oysters were the only thing that was good and those were raw! The fries were not to my liking b/c they were thicker than the kind a like, but they were still edible. But the flatbread was almost inedible. The bread was not crisp or good or anything.
I would recommend just going there for drinks or maybe for the music downstairs, as there is a jazz club down there. I really miss the outdoor patio of the old location in Lincoln Park, but what can you do? One thing to note, if you do go there, be prepared to spend some dough... it is a pretty pricey night out.
This is a combination of a 1* review and a 5* review.
I came here this past Sunday and had a horrible experience that left me not wanting to return. My friends and I bought groupons and per my request, we waited until I was nearly done with school to use them. We were somewhere between 45 minutes to an hour when we overheard a manager tell some customers that had just walked in that they were closing "right this minute". We asked, confused, and were informed that there was a private event and we had to go. No one had informed us when we walked in. No one informed us when we sat down. There was no sign on the door. Nothing. Now, we wouldn't have been upset had someone told us this before we sat down as we could have had a drink and planned to come back another night.
The manager on duty that night was very rude. After my friend tries to explain that we have groupons and if there was anything she could do, she snapped back that "they have expiration dates for a reason". Yes, we're fully aware, but to be fair, this was one of the shortest I've ever seen on a groupon (3 months). She ended up giving my friend a $40 gift card (after handing us some little "buy one get one" card) and almost redeemed herself until she told my friend that "tell your friend he never has to come back here". That "friend" of hers is actually her husband and whether or not you care if someone comes back, it's incredibly rude to say that as you're apparently trying to salvage us as customers.
My friend and I decide we'll come back that Monday after my class but change our minds to coming on Wednesday instead. I get out of class early, take a nice walk down State street and meet my friend shortly after 8. I was surprised that the bar was quite crowded, but it turns out there were many people using their Groupons at the last minute, like us! We walk around looking for a seat when I notice employees setting up something in another room, so I immediately start to worry that we're going to have to leave.
The manager of the night (I'm assuming) walks by and we ask him and he assures us that they're not closing early and apologizes about what happened on Sunday. He offers to take us downstairs with no cover to view the show going on. We tell him we'll think about it after we grab a seat and have some food and drinks.
Our bartender (also Greg) was great! He gave us a sample of a wine (2006 Ferrari, I believe) while we waited for our bottle of Mawby (very nice, by the way!) that was in the other room that he could not get into. This night was a MUCH better experience and one that will have me returning. They took care of the food we ordered (chocolate fondue and frites, both were delicious) as well as a drink. When I asked about the Rose I was trying (I'm a fan of a good Rose, but this one just wasn't doing it for me) the Greg in charge gave me a taste of another one that was MUCH better.
I still haven't gotten to try a red from here, but now that I've determined I'll be returning, I look forward to finally getting a red. Their cocktails (sparkling mixed drinks?) were all very good, at least the ones we tasted which I know included the High Sage, Jinjitsu, Corcovado, Quebecois and something else (I know I probably butchered all of those names). The Mawby was decided on from seeing other Yelpers mention it and honestly was very good. Definitely recommend splitting a bottle with a friend and some frites. Not sure about the cheese as my friends ordered some on Sunday but didn't get what they ordered (it was supposed to be a triple creme but the cheeses had the consistency of a manchego, ossau iraty and something else).
I might be young and don't appreciate wine like I do beer (love some good beer!), but I bought this Groupon to go to a place where I could try different wines. After the first night I was planning on never returning aside from using my Groupon, however, after Wednesday, I will definitely be back! Perhaps next week after I finish my first class of the quarter?
Thank you Greg (and Greg) for changing my opinion of Pops!
Two girls + bottle of bubbly (Mawby, yum) = happiness. Oh yeah, and tipsiness.
My tip to you: Go when you can share a bottle and sit at the bar. Our glasses were constantly being refilled (one with bubbles, the other with water) and we were given free rein for girl talk. Per glass, it's expensive, but $40 for a bottle of Mawby is fantastic.
The ambiance is OK, but I'd prefer a slightly cozier setting for imbibing. What can I say, I like homey things. Homey, not homely. Big difference. Pops is fine, but a bit cold. Warm it up, peeps. Make the ladies feel all warm on the outside the way your pours make us feel warm on the inside.
Can't speak to the food, cuz I didn't try any. But yeah, if you're in the mood for bubbles, BYOG (bring your own girl)...or boy...and enjoy. Bubbles should never be served alone.
Pops for Champagne is a wonderful place for a celebratory drink. I'm not a huge champagne drinker, but I really enjoyed the Bellini Coupette (white peach foam, sparkling rose, and raspberry).
They also serve beer and wine, so there's something for everyone. We were there on a Sunday celebrating our accomplishment of running the Chicago Marathon. I really liked the atmosphere, and there was a small jazz band playing.
Unfortunately the service wasn't very good, but perhaps they were short staffed. We had a hard time finding someone to take or order.
Other than that, Pops was the perfect place to share a toast with good friends.
Pops for Champagne is a cool place to stop by- if you're looking for a place to chill with some friends, definitely stop in.
I stopped in with a few friends... however, unfortunately, totally forgot the jazz club downstairs. We stayed on the main floor and perused the extensive list of celebratory drinks they had on the menu.
My friends all chose a light wine- Gianni Doglia Moscato d'Asti- a sweet light wine. I should have gotten that, as although my drink was REALLY good, it was pretty strong.
As purple is my favorite color, I chose the "Start Wearing Purple" cocktail- brut champagne, stoli vanilla, and "Rothman & Winter Crème de Violette." It came out.. in a glass smaller than I had expected.. but I took one sip and was blown away. It was REALLY GOOD.
The setting itself was alright. It was kind of strange to see tv screens in such a nice place, but perhaps it helps with business in the day. We sat on a nice comfortable couch and chatted and looked out the large windows. Didn't have to yell or anything. Service was great.
Pops for Champagne isn't the place to meet other single individuals, but if you want to just hang out with your friends and just have a nice drink, this is a great place to go. The crowd was a mix of young mixed with older OLDER peoples... so yes, definitely not the place to go looking for other singles. Nonetheless, great drinks and just a fun place to go.
Ok, so perhaps it took me just a smidge over 2 years to finally make good on that giggly promise to return to Pops. Ooops. Oversight.
Their bubbly by the glass is OK, but selection is sparse for an establishment specializing in...champagne. I've seen more extensive lists in restaurants, and would've hoped for a bit more variety. The upside is that there are several (very) expensive options, and you can just get a "taste" with a 3oz pour for under $20. The downside: If you really just want an average to above average glass, eh...you are still paying quite a bit for the luxury of not buying an entire bottle.
So, of course...the logical solution here: BUY A BOTTLE. For $40 we selected a Mawby (Go Leelanau County!) Blan de Blancs. MMMM, love it. Perfect to get two "after work" girls straight up tipsy for the entirety of the evening...and at a practical price point. Northern Michigan sparkling wine, for the win. Betcha didn't know, huh? Now you do, try it.
Service was just fine up at the bar.
Things I wouldn't go here for:
1. The scene. But, I never go anywhere for the scene, so...whatevs? An odd mix.
2. The food. So many options in this 'hood, Pops menu just does not do it for me. Perhaps for a light bite, but as with the "by-the-glass" options, you'll pay for the nose for a taste. Best to start here then venture elsewhere to please your tummy.
3. The ambience. It's sterile. Champagne makes me feel all fuzzy and warm and happy...the interior here makes me want to grab a some stainless steel polish cleaner and go to work. (Not that its dirty, its actually impeccable, but its so.....cold).
What I would go for:
*champagne.
Enough said. It is what it is, but $40 bottle of Mawby...and you'll be good to go for awhile. That's my recommendation. :)
Had the pleasure of meeting/interviewing the famous Andy F. 5 stars in itself!
The place is so…
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This place was way too stuffy for me, but I guess it's to be expected of a champagne lounge. I will admit that my review may be a little unfair as I am not an enthusiast of champagne or sparkling wine.
The service was slow and the appetizers are meager (if you plan to share) so I don't recommend coming here on an empty stomach. I tried the frites, olives, and a couple of the flatbreads, but none left me hungering for more. I also wasn't a huge fan of the champagnes that I sampled, but again, not really big on the bubbly.
I would recommend Swirl Wine Bar or The Tasting Room for a more laid-back experience with better drinks and great food to boot.
A 5-star experience WITH the groupon, but probably a 4-star one without.
The two of us got all dolled up on a Tuesday evening for our awesome girl date, and while we were a little bit disappointed that all of the tables by the window were taken (there weren't that many tables to begin with), we were immediately greeted by our friendly bartender after we decided to sit at the bar.
The food menu was sparse, but the list of bubblies was definitely NOT. I was super confused so thank God for my more knowledgeable girl date, who picked out a delish bottle of Mumm! We shared some oysters, the hamachi, and duck rillette. All were good but I'd especially recommend the duck, which came with blueberry marmalade, mushrooms, and some delightfully toasted bread.. yum yum yum!
Bonus for the decor.. I found the bubble theme perfect for a ladies' night out :)
Champagne cocktail? Yes, please. I'll take two.
Two lovlies and I arrived about 7:30PM on a weekday. I had been a bit worried about encountering an after-work crowd. No such thing. The place was nearly empty. We grabbed 3 seats at the bar. We like to be up close and personal with the action... er, I mean... closer to the alcohol.
Service was a tad slow. We had to flag down the bartender a few times to place a food order or ask for another drink. Don't leave my bubbly empty!
The crowd moved in at about 8:30. We encountered a few single businessmen looking for a good time. They were pretty harmless, but sometimes you just want to enjoy conversation with two friends.
The Black 75 was divinely delish. A little Effen Black Cherry and some Cava make for one HAPPY girl. The food was OK. We shared some cheese and a few small plates. Nothing that I was really overly impressed with.
I didn't NOT like Pops, but I didn't love it either. It won't be my first choice when scheduling another rendezvous with the gals.
Although... I wouldn't mind going back to check out the live jazz in the lower level.
Surely unbeatable in the champagne department in the entire city.
About a dozen options by the glass, and a galore of bubbly bottles......up to $1500!!!
(if you are planning on splurging on that 1996 one - please give me a call beforehand. I can be there in minutes)
One of the only places that does offer Kumamoto oysters on their regular menu........if you have ever had the chance to taste them, you know what a treat that is. Oyster-gasm assured.
But guys. Please.
I mean. Seriously.
You are good enough to put Epoisses on your cheese menu, and even better for not letting it sit in the fridge.
So why offending my delicate French palate with crackers?!?!? Such beauty is not meant to be eaten with dry little pieces of dough but with fresh, moist and crunchy bread.
Just a thought......
Free Pops for me!!!
That's what I got for being the drinking friend of an exhausted fellow…
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I got the wrong one - this is the crowded meat market with expensive drinks and no atmosphere.
When I move back to Chicago, I'll be celebrating with a glass (bottle) of Bubbly here. One of my… Read more »
Location of the best Tuesday night ever! (Yesterday)
Taking advantage of our two Groupons, we indulged in a bottle of sparkling from our home turf of Napa Valley, along with scrumptious small plates. Hamachi comes with a ginger-flavored jelly, a unique combo of flavor and texture. The duck was deliciously savory but amazing when paired with the blueberry. And the oysters were awesome, of course. Swoon!
Definitely a fun place for a girls' night out, and a winner for guys taking their ladies out.
I really like the vibe in this place. Great place to take your date, wife, girlfriend, lover, etc. Excellent choice before dinner after dinner or without dinner. May I suggest a champagne dinner. Ouch, you will feel that the next day.
The appetizer menu is okay but the the champagne selection is awesome. The staff is really helpful directing you to great tasting selections and pointing out the best values.
Great location and great place. Price/value all depends on what you choose to drink.
So, I don't know a whole lot about champagne but no biggie because our lovely waitress recommended a few options based on our groups like and dislikes. We ended up with a "fruity" champagne and it must have treated us well the first time around because we ordered another bottle. Again, the lovely waitress was on top of topping off our glasses which made it seamless for us to feel the bubbles go to our head. Also, I don't know a whole lot about cheese...but I know I love cheese. We put our waitress to work to pick out 6 cheeses and ALL were delicious. She earned her tip. Skip the regular appetizer menu and just go for the cheese.
All in all, a great experience though a little pricey. But, I don't pop bottles of champagne every night so it was a treat for me. I definately want to go back...perhaps a good spot to start off a date :)
I'd choose this spot to try new wines/champagnes with just one or two other persons. They do have an extensive menu (a fairly large selection of rose & sparkling & dessert wines which is great) and a handful of overpriced nibble-foods. I think it's worth it - for the attentive service and ambience.
The live jazz bar downstairs would be a nice gathering place for larger, 'older' groups . The bathroom down there is nicer/more discreet than the one that's right there in front of everyone and everything upstairs...
Just don't come with a idiotic cheap date like I did last time I came here. He's tall, fair, has a well paying job, comes from a good family, uh smells nice- I wondered why the heck he was single. I guess i asked for it when he refused to order anything more in this "ridiculously expensive" place when I finished my 3 ounce glass of Moscato....
I wasn't impressed. The concept and idea of this place is great, I mean who doesn't like sparkling bubbly? However, I felt like the execution wasn't there and to be honest the ambiance was just ok for me. The staff is very knowledgeable on their champagne, but otherwise the service was slow.
The location is right in the heart of tourist central, so aside from the after work yuppies M - Th, you're more likely to get a random crowd - which is what I felt the night that we were here.
Like I said, great concept, but don't think I'll be returning any time soon.
Wow...where to begin?
I was in Chicago with girlfriends for the weekend (Labor Day weekend) and looking forward to to starting the night off with a glass of champagne. I had previously read a few reviews for this place, and our hotel concierge also recommended it. I thought it was worth a try. (Sorry Tiffany and Kathy!)
We walked inside (this is a Sunday evening) around 8:30pm and waited a couple of minutes to be seated by the hostess. First of all, the air conditioning must have been broken, because is was very hot inside. As we were seated, the hostess/server gave us menus and as we were reviewing them, came back to our table to see if we were ready to order. Literally, we had about two minutes to review the menu. We explained that we were not ready, and needed a couple of more minutes.
Approximately 30 seconds later, we were approached by an older man in a bow tie, who asked us (again) if we were ready to order. I explained we were in fact, not ready to order yet. He then got in my face and rudely demanded to know how much more time we needed, and commented that he was short on tables and we needed to "hurry up". Really? There were several empty tables, and not a single person in line. The original server never asked us if we had any questions about the menu, or offfered any suggestions or recommendations.
Obviously, we left. This place was so-so as far as atmosphere goes, nothing special....I've seen much nicer. The app menu was blah, and the service--or lack thereof--was incredibly ridiculous. I honestly have never been treated this way in a restaurant, bar, etc. Unbelievable....
As we walked out, the old man in the bow tie shouted some additional rude comments about why we were not staying... Hmm....
A little pretentious, but what else would you expect from a champagne bar? Only one choice if you're a beer drinker, Miller High Life in pony bottles...get it, the champagne of beers.
Their mixed drinks, though a bit pricey, are strong enough & your friends that do drink wines/champagne will be impressed.
Pops for CHAMPAGNE. Not food. I tried a few apps and honestly would never go back for food again! The flat bread was great but other than that it was horrible! I would go back for drinks, the Jujitsu was amazing!!
Recommended for drinks. Great atmosphere. Not for food!!
The host and hostess were not the most welcoming folks, which does tend to get a customer off on the wrong foot. It's a champagne bar and those who know me, know that I have strong thirst for the good stuff...
Strangely I was here twice in one night with two separate groups.
#1: We didn't order food, just downed a bottle of champagne and our waitress was good. Ambiance was a little cheesy and the crowd was cougar (and mougar)-friendly.
#2: Ordered food. Flat bread was okay, but simple and small. The oysters were decent. Also had two glasses of champagne, damage was $78. We were also stuck in the windowless back room, although there was a "reserved" table in the front of the house that they wouldn't give us.
I will give them 5 stars for ambiance and decor. It is a cute little, yes little, place that would be perfect for a cocktail after dinner with a date.
Our service was on the extremely weak side, minus 2 stars.. yes, that bad. Pretty sure our server was hammered, he couldn't remember to put in our drink order, it was a sunday evening and the place was dead and he said it was "extremely busy, the busiest he's ever seen it." Not impressed. Cocktails were good, expensive, but tasty.
They were playing vintage fashion shows on the TV's, which were excellent to watch. I'll probably be back, but it won't be first on my list.
Stopped in on a whim on a weekday afternoon while on vacation. Had serious reservations about the whole idea after some of the reviews found here. Thankfully, my wife and I were rewarded with a lovely experience. The place was nearly empty when we got there, but started to fill up by the time we left. The whole feel was really subdued and just kind of low-key which is exactly what I like in a wine (champagne) bar.
A word of advice would be to seriously consider just getting a bottle. Glass prices are astronomical. I realize that sparkling/champagne doesn't really keep once opened so I'm sure they have to account for a fair amount of waste. However, when I can get a nice bottle for the price of two glasses the choice seems pretty clear.
Being that we stopped in late afternoonish, we did have some light fare. A flatbread of some kind that was really quite good, and sweet potato fries that were probably heavier than I really needed, but certainly hit the spot (I think that we might have actually ordered these twice).
Service was a bit slow. I think they had one server for the whole place plus the guy behind the bar, so having our own bottle to pour was nice. Again, seriously consider just getting a bottle. You'll be glad you did on so many levels.
As expected the list of champagnes and sparklings was extensive, but I know just enough about bubbly to get myself in trouble and not much else, so I couldn't really say whether or not the selection was particularly good.
Overall, just a really nice relaxing afternoon respite that flowed beautifully into an evening at TRU.
Pop's is a unique experience and can make anyone a champagne lover. They have the best bartenders in Chicago and come up with the most creative specialty drinks (if you're not the biggest champagne fan). The vibe is always energetic and has a very French feel. The music is always great, if you pause to notice it. The Brazillian Girls and champagne go PERFECT together! Oh, and try their food! It's is too good.
Look at all those beautiful people! Look at that HUGE bottle of champagne! Look at how happy they are. Look at their fancy clothes & sparkly jewelry. They're all just so beautiful! Oh, if I only could be one of them...
Well, ladies & gentleman, last night I finally was! Mister manfriend & I noticed the 37% off food from 3-7 pm sign last weekend & decided to treat ourselves to some fine dining. Have I been on a kick or what? And just a warning to all before diving into my review, I ate a lot. I mean a lot a lot, so please brace yourself.
We entered Pops & were warmly greeted by this adorable older gentleman who continued to call Ryan & I "dolls" for the rest of the evening. In love? Check! We started out with the truffle guoda cheese & crackers. Oh..my..God. Sex in my mouth. The cheese was very mild, but the aftertaste was to die for. The truffle oil definitely lingered. We then ordered the frites, which were pretty good. They come with a mayo based dipping sauce, so I was not a fan. They had garlic & celery salt on them, but were just a bit too heavy for me. Of course we finished them, but at the end of the meal I said I could have done without. We then decided we wanted more.
We also ordered a garlic & herb soft cheese & crackers. Well, Mr. Doll must have liked us because we sure got a friendly helping of cheese alongside crackers, roasted red pepper jam, and hazelnuts. This was also very, very delicious yet the truffle gouda was just a tad better. Okay I'm lying, it was almost my favorite part of the evening. We were still hungry & decided on the steamed mussels in a Champagne, Leek, and Fennel broth & a pulled pork sandwich to finish off our divine date.
The mussels were delicious. I couldn't get enough of the broth & they gave us a good amount of mussels. I think I had about 5, while Ryan had 6 or 7 God bless him. The mussels also came with some sort of garlic/pepper bread, which was too hard for my delicate (ha!) mouth to handle so I gave it to Ryan. This I could have also done without. The bread, not the mussels! The pulled pork sammie came out & what a site it was. It seemed more like a Cuban due to the pulled pork, slice of ham, swiss cheese, HOMEMADE pickles (omg, good!), mustard, and a bit of spicy mayo. I ate my half before Ryan had even picked his up. Embarrassing. It was so good though. I'm still thinking about it the next day. I might even go to Pops just for that sammie.
2 Pilseners accompanied this meal & I couldn't have asked for more. I was full, but not too too full. I was so happy that I almost didn't want to leave, but knew the 3-7 deal was over & didn't feel like hiking our bill up anymore. The waiter came with our check and as I hesitantly looked over I saw that everything, including 6 beers (Ryan had 4) was $66.00 in total. Yeah....$66.00, I couldn't believe it either!
This place will become one of my favorites & after work regulars if the deal keeps up. I mean how much happier can a girl be? Champagne, food, and people watching? Just an fyi, the menu changes seasonally so if you're craving that pulled pork sammie like me you better scoot your little oh so fabulous butt over there stat!
Not much for the ambiance unfortunately. I was sorta hoping for a similar vibe to Bubble Lounge in SF with no luck.
Not to worry, we still had a terrific time.
A girlfriend from the office and I felt it was absolutely necessary for us to share a bottle of bubbly after 2 very long days of meetings in a no-window conference room. Pops hit the spot.
We grabbed a window-side tall table and the ever flirtatious and sweet (gay) waiter quickly showered us with compliments and eagerly brought us our bottle of champagne along with a cheese platter.
Bubbly + Cheese = Love (or at the very least strong Like) ... ;)
Exploring Chicago's downtown can be fun. You go to the park, check out the "Bean", the video fountains, and the odd sculptures. You walk Michigan Avenue, State Street, check out all the designer stores that you don't normally see in any place but a big, sophisticated city. You even see smaller stores, places you found on the internet and had no idea they had a store in this town (Alessi, really cool, should check it out). After all that walking around, you want to sit down, relax, and have a cocktail before having to go to O'Hare to pick up the last of your family party. This led us to Pop.
The decor is beautiful, simple, and classic. The bar is impressive and sleek looking. The waiters were very nice and gave good suggestions when we asked about the oysters and which should be chosen. I'm a huge fan of bubbly in many forms so I was glad to find a glass of Prosecco waiting for me. It was a very pleasant experience, relaxed and comfortable. I wish there was a place like this in Boston, I think I'd go there every week.
I see several reviews complaining about how expensive this place is. Pops for Champagne is not the cheapest bar in the city. The champagnes by the glass are pricey, I don't think they have anything under $10 for a full glass. But they have some bottles that are not too expensive, along with some that are over the top. You can spend as much as you care to, for a bottle at Pops.
The food is priced reasonably, considering the quality and presentation. I had the marinated grapes with goat butter(!) and seared scallops. The grapes were very good, but the scallops were amazing. Thoroughly enjoyable!
Mike at the bar was very friendly, took time to explain the wines and give recommendations based on price range. He said he has been working at Pops for 13 years, so you know he (and Pops) have to be doing something right. I was more than satisfied with the service.
Overall, it was a fun evening at Pops... I will be back soon!
Stopped in for a drink after work at Pops thinking...man I could use a nice glass of bubbly. As I paged through the wine list, I felt conflicted. The wine selection was amazing (especially the sparkling wines of course), which are aptly displayed in stainless steel refrigerators on the back wall, but I could help but gasp at the outrageous prices they were charging for some (but not all) of the wines. Overall it was though to find any kind of value whatsoever. You seriously need to spend at least $60 - $90 minimum to get a decent bottle of champagne. Some okay whites could be had for less, but the pickings are slim.
Refusing to throw down $100 on our visit, we instead ordered 2 beers (they have three available on tap). We did get some really delicious scallops on happy hour (all food except caviar is 37% off from 3 to 7 pm on Monday through Friday).
Unfortunately the service was inconsistent at best. Our bartender was cool when he was actually paying attention, but he spent most of his time courting herd after herd of cougars who seemed to have migrated to The Windy City from faraway places such as Arizona and Missouri and Texas. These alluring, yet dangerous beasts seemed to be swarming at Pops.
Long story short, I will not be back anytime soon, unless things with my wife don't work out and i need some cougar lovin'. Raaar!
I was debating between 3 and 4 stars - 3 for the upstairs, 4 for the jazz club downstairs. So 4 it is, mostly because the service we had in the jazz club was great.
The atmosphere was quite swanky downstairs and I really enjoyed the band, especially the singer, and also really enjoyed my glass of champagne. (Although I did not enjoy my French martini or the bartenders upstairs, but I guess that's why it's called Pops...for champagne, and not Pops for French martinis.)
This seems a cool place for a special occasion and I'll definitely be going back.
My go-to wine and champagne place in River North for sure. This place is very visually stimulating and there's nothing better than getting glam and heading out with some girlfriends for some cocktails @ Pop's.
The layout is smaller, but don't worry about that, just grab a spot at the bar and find yourself mesmerized by the skillful bartenders while they create their fun cocktails.
They've got a pretty ample wine list. If you like Riesling, try out their Hugel 2005 Alsace, which is offered in by-the-glass option for only $10. I was kind of let down by the fact they didn't offer a Pino Gris by glass, but what can you do eh? I might as well have just bought the bottle for myself, at only $36.
The cool thing is that Pop's offers over 125 different champagne and sparkling wine options that change over the season.
They also offer small plate options and pair them with different wines for you. They have very interesting options including Rabbit Rilette with a shallot marmalade, red grapes and vanilla, and also the Poached Lobster Skewers which were very good actually, made with lobster froth, lemon and minced herbs.
I sure do love my cheese and pairing it with wine is even more fun. Pop's doesn't scrimp on the selection either with six choices to pair with Classic Brut, five to pair with Blanc de Blancs and three to pair with Red Wine or Port.
Dessert is always something to look forward so you should try out the Chocolate Fondue. It's served with grapes, strawberries, red apple and pretzels. They also have a fabulous Pear Strudel.
As soon as you're done with the food portion, head downstairs to the swanky Pop's Jazz Lounge and great ready for some of the best jazz entertainment you've heard in awhile. Keep in mind that the Jazz Club is only open Thurs-Sat from 8pm-2am. Music usually starts around 9pm. The music isn't free though, it's $8/per person on Thursdays and $15/per person on Fridays & Saturdays. It's worth it though
One of my favs.
I was visiting Chicago a few weeks ago and we were looking for some cheap drafts and ice cold tequila shots, when my friend dragged us to Pops.
One star immediately for ambiance. The place tries to be cool, and it succeeds fairly well. Add another star for getting a table for 4 with no wait on a Friday night around 11:30 PM. But after looking at the menu, we all felt about a big as the size of our wallets. So we ordered a round of Stellas. Yep beer at a champagne lounge, I think the waitress gave us a death glare. Minus one star for the waitress.
Then it happened. Vince Vaughn walked in with a small entourage and grabbed a booth across from us. I'm not a huge celebrity stalker nor a die hard Vaughn fan, but this is exciting stuff. Plus two stars for giving me a good story to tell.
Now we had to look cool so we ordered a bottle of champagne. At $37 bones it was probably the cheapest on the menu. And even though it didn't exactly compliment the Stella I was still trying to finish, it was pretty tasty and the combination kept my buzz going.
Doing private events at Pops is so easy thanks to Jen! She is really easy to work with and very fair in negotiations. If you're looking for a great spot with a cash bar then you should certainly give her a call.
Jen, if you read this, keep up the good work!
Stopped in here on a whim for a pre-drink. Although the hostess was pretentious, we sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly and made some tasty champagne cocktails. My friend and I joked that this would be a hidden gem for single guys; the bar seemed full of single women. I imagine that this could be a great date spot, too, because the atmosphere is cozy and intimate. Kinda pricey, but typical of downtown.... Hoping to come back for the jazz club.
My friends and I had fun at Pop's on a busy Friday night. The staff seated us only after a short wait, and the waiter (we thought he might be the owner, too) was very consistent about checking on us. I loved my Framboise champagne cocktail, and I recommend the Unibroue beer as well.
The crowd made for interesting people-watching, and the music was good, too.
yaaay!!! champagne!! Sparking wine!!! Rose!!! Hooray for a large selection of dessert wines, great beers, but most of all a majorly varied selection of sparkling wine and champagne! yum city!
We secured the back room for an after rehearsal dinner gathering for a wedding and it was perfect. The space had 3-4 high top tables and opened up right into the main bar room. The service was awesome, prices were high but worth it, and the cocktails were stupendous! The bellini was overflowing with sparkling rose and fresh peach puree...deeeeelish and PERFECT for a celebration.
I would ABSOLUTELY come back here for a date, a girls night out, etc etc.
I love this place! It is quite pricey for bottles...or half bottles...or even glasses....which, really, makes it just expensive....but I gotta say, I still come monthly on a special occasion.
If you're going to go all out, I would say split a bottle of champagne on a date or with friends. You're likely to spend more than $25 by ordering single glasses if you stay for more than 30 minutes or have more than 1 glass.
The staff has always been superb and the atmosphere is very homey and seems exclusive.
Last year during the holiday season, I blogged about Pops for Champagne and included it within the Kitten Lounge's holiday gift guide at http://kittenlounge.on.... This weekend, I had the chance to actually visit this spot! What a great place to go to have an amazing selection of champagne with friends whether you're ending, beginning or just having a night there. My two friends and I enjoyed an AMAZING bottle of wine and also had a lamb flatbread that was seasoned well! I loved the fact that it had apples, lamb on a flaky bread.
Not only can you enjoy great conversation, but you can catch a game but between Thurs and Sun, the jazz club which is located downstairs has live shows! This is such a great way to enjoy an evening and one that I hope to do the next time I'm in Chicago. The staff is knowledgeable and whether you know a lot or a little about champagne, you'll have a greta time.
OMG! The mother ship has called me home!
Was on a business trip a few weeks ago and stumbled in to Pops. All I wanted to do was order a bottle and curl up on one of their cushy chairs.
I loved that this place has different little sections. They have the Pub-ish look in one corner, a Library feel in another, the great bar in the center, and then there is the "Ice Bar" area.
I would give it a 5th star, but like any place that serves great bubbles, it's a bit pricey.
Love it love it love it!
It's a cute place with a huge selection of champagne. They also have a full bar and appetizery, fingery foods. We had a huge party and didn't reserve a table and the mgr (I think it was him) came over to offer a private section for us. That was nice of him. Our server was very helpful in helping us select champagne and was very accommodating to our group. I would definitely come back for a relaxing night with some gfs or a small group. Expect an expensive bill afterwards.
One star for great ambiance (especially for people watching!), one star for location (in my hood), and another star for creative drinks. What this place does lack however, is SERVICE.
A group of 8 of us came here on a Friday night, and even though it was packed, we managed to find a empty table after lingering around for a bit. The waitress dropped off a menu for us and....35 minutes later, came to take our drink orders. Another 30 minutes later, our drinks finally arrived. By then, our group was restless and ready to move on to the next joint, since waiting around for an hour for drinks isn't our idea of fun on a Friday night. To save you my rant, I'll cut to the chase - our waitress never visited us again during the evening and we had to run her down to get the bill. The place was packed and obviously understaffed. HIRE MORE PEOPLE!!
American Table Menu
Neighborhood: West Loop
Weekend Brunch
Neighborhood: The Loop
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Jazz & Blues
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: Jazz & Blues
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Bars
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