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Salute Wine Bar - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
46 E Superior St(between Wabash Ave & Rush St)
Chicago, IL 60611
Neighborhood: Near North Side
(312) 664-0100
- Nearest Transit:
-
Chicago-red (Red Line)
Grand-red (Red Line)
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
63 reviews for Salute Wine Bar
Review Highlights
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"My friends had the spinach and artichoke dip, adult grilled..." In 4 reviews -
"Very cozy and charming wine bar." In 4 reviews -
"Love the cute fireplace; makes it cozy." In 8 reviews
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63 reviews in English
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Review from Alvina C.
2/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went for brunch Sunday during restaurant week with a few girlfriends. Very homey and cozy with the decor and the fireplace. Had a blast. $22 (3 course and unlimited bellinis) The bellinis were yummy and they were good about keeping them coming when the glasses started to get low. The fruit cup for the first course was nice with the different chunks of fruit and whipped cream on top. The potato and truffle soup was delicious, not too thick, not too thin. I had the potato hash with the bacon and eggs. You can't go wrong with anything with bacon in it :)
The service was mostly attentive, but I felt like they could have used an extra person in front to help out with the tables. There were some times that we were just sitting there wondering when the next course would come. The breaks did have a positive though--we were able to look around and see what other people were ordering---the descriptions just don't do much. The frittatas looked like little can shaped rounds--not very appealing and the serving size looked kinda skimpy. One of my girlfriends had the grilled cheese with fontina cheese and apples, it came with a small side salad, she enjoyed it.
This would definitely be a great place for happy hour. Meet up with a few friends and get a drink before hitting the town. Since I checked in with my yelp app--will be back with my special. Woo hoo! -
Review from Char Y.
Chicago, IL
2/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
We originally made reservation for the tuesday before the blizzard, and of course we were trapped at home due to the weather. We went instead the week after and was pleasantly surprised that it is in the basement. The atmosphere was pleasant and cozy, but the restaurant was on the cold side. We ordered
oysters - very fresh and tasty.
wild mushroom pizza - very good and loved the mushrooms!
pork chop - well marinated, tender and juicy. Well worth it.
champagne flight with cheese and fruit - yum...
Great place to hang out and enjoy the food. -
Review from Leanne A.
12/30/2010
Atmosphere is the key seller here. Ridiculously cozy in winter time. And though I haven't been in summer, I imagine it would be adorably cozy in summertime, too!
The cheesy risotto was delicious, and most of the food choices were priced quite well.
Wine--yeah it's a wine bar. Obvs, you get lots of choices of great wine.
I hear they have live music sometimes, too, which is awesome. I'd like to sing here.
I'd love to come back on a snowy dark night.Listed in: Posh, Cozy cozy nooks
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Review from Ashley C.
Chicago, IL
11/23/2010
2 stars... but it has potential. It has a cute decor that is very intimate and could be a great wine and appetizer place, but the execution was off.
Most of the food isn't very expensive, but my baked penne formaggio pasta was just average as well. However, my friend's baked fettuccini was on the mark. My favorite was the spinach and artichoke dip which had a very nice flavor. My friend and I also split the smores dessert which was very tasty but also very sweet (aka definitely a plate to share). With a wine bar, the focus is more on the wine. I had two nice glasses of white wine that I had never had before and loved it. I like being able to try different wines and they have a wide selection by the bottle.
Service was VERY slow. There were a few times where we wanted to order or needed something, and yet, our waiter just disappeared. That is almost hard to do since the place is very small. We weren't in a rush by any means, but it still would have been nice to have a more attentive waiter. We also would have probably ordered more. Our waiter also could have been more knowledgeable about the wines, but I got the "I'm-recommending-this-because-it's-the-most-expen sive" vibe. Mostly for this, it got bumped from 3 to 2 stars.
I went in with a deal and would try this place again with another deal. With a few tweaks, this place has the potential to be a very nice place (particularly in the summer with their patio). -
Review from Vittoria I.
Chicago, IL
2/25/2011
Service was abysmal at best. Our waiter was eh, ( there was only 1 other table when they seated us) but the other waiter walked by our table 15 times and saw empty dishes and didn't remove them. So empty dishes sat in front of us for nearly 30 minutes. Okay, i get it- we aren't your table, but you do work at this restaurant and you only have 1 other table, so maybe you should help out. He also looked on as we tried to call our waiter over and did nothing. This is my experience at Salute- waiting for service. We would have ordered dessert, but it took them so long to come over...
Also- there are much better Italian restaurants in the area and anywhere else has better service. -
Review from Gary C.
West Loop, Chicago, IL
3/12/2011 1 photo
A near dinning disaster last night at Salute Cucina & Wine Bar...10 pretty girls all in their 20's setting up a bridal shower party right next to us, luckily we escaped before the squealing and game playing commenced and the pink boa's started flying.
I order a pizza which was just OK; the thin crust was soggy in the middle and shared an order of mussels which were good. I notice someone posted a pic of the menu, that's not the menu we had last night. Last nights menu was very limited, too limited.
The espresso machine was not working and they don't carry any bottled Italian waters. I can understand a wine bar not having these items but if you're serving a dinner menu the espresso machine should be functioning.
I would go back but only for a glass of wine and maybe an appetizer, for my tastes this place would not be a "lets go have dinner".
Just as we were getting ready to leave 2 separate couples came in for dinner, also seated near the bridal shower which was about ready to kick
off, I saw the frightened look in their faces...
I'm wondering how other Yelper's feel about these baby/bridal showers especially when held in a small confined dining area such as Salute. I understand things are tough but restaurant owners need to take into consideration the other 80% of customers who came in for a glass of wine and a bite to eat and won't be getting a pink boa. -
Review from Stephanie L.
Chicago, IL
11/23/2010
Went here to check it out...cute, little quaint wine bar...liked the vibe. There was a little fireplace, lots of little tables with candles....ambiance
CHECK
It was a Monday night...half price wine night...price is RIGHT! We took it as a two for one deal :)
CHECK!
We ordered the antipasto...meh, nothing exciting (no check)
Spinach and artichoke dip...made there....AH-MAZ-ING! Loved it...so fresh
Pumpkin Bisque....I think we almost licked the bowl....not too sweet, just right
Insalate Tri...something....perfect mix of cheese, salami, dressing, salad....YUMMY
Mushroom, onion, etc Pizza....again, so freaking good!!!!
CHECK!!
Service....ok...it wasnt that packed and our server was A-OK. There was room for improvement :) Also, as the night went on, our salad and pizza took forever to come out....or maybe it was the second bottle of wine and girl talk that was kicking in. -
Review from Colleen C.
Chicago, IL
4/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
Mondays: Half-priced wine bottles!
So, of course my gal pal and I shared a lovely bottle of pinot noir...or, errr...two at Salute to kick off the week in true style. Bonus points for allowing the use of a Groupon in combination with such a stellar promotion. Of course, I asked...and in disbelief, carried on with the ordering! Wine for us, please!
Many thanks to the illustrious Dennis S for pouring Salute into my wine bar radar. Honestly, I hadn't heard of it, and now I have a nice little option in the Gold Coast for a quick glass of wine, lovely dinner or a stopover before/after dinner elsewhere. As an aside, if you haven't checked out D's reviews, I highly suggest it...
A nifty little nook on Superior, in a sunken ground floor....nice situation with tables, some more private spaces, and a comfortable section in the front with cushy furniture. Perfect for a casual date downtown...
The salad was crisp, well dressed and flavorful, and the pizza was thicker than I would have expected, full of toppings, and piping hot. Service was sweet as pie, and the wine flowed like...well, wine. And, at half price...it flows a lot. Relatively reasonable option in this neighborhood for dinner, as well.
Dinner, drinks, coupon or not...Salute, I salute you. Indeed. I'll be back.Listed in: Patio Drinkin'
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Review from Dennis S.
Updated - 10/15/2009
Something is not right when I can tell the Queen of Chicago Yelping, Colleen C, about a fabulous little wine bar on the Near North Side and she's not heard of it. It's been open for five months now, on E. Superior just off of Wabash. But Salute only has nine Yelp reviews, only one of which was written in the last three months, and Colleen doesn't know of it! How can that be? Is it being confused with Salud Tequila Bar on North Milwaukee? Is it undiscovered because of the narrow downstairs access? I don't understand.
This is a great little place, both for wine and food. The wines are all Italian, about 100 of them, and the wait staff is happy to provide guidance. A decent number are now available by the glass. The food is mostly small plate choices. It's a long list of interesting, tasty alternatives, so you want to order more than one. We always start with a dish of tasty olives to nibble on. The Tuscan white bean & roasted red pepper bruschetta on herb goat cheese crostini bread is delicious. Get the idea - really interesting foods. We discovered bresaola here, an air-dried Italian beef sausage. Awesome with a glass of wine and slice of bread. Forget about a real dinner. Or try their toasted sandwiches. Or even their desserts (which we have not tried - yet).
The décor is interesting, comfortable, and eclectic. The service is absolutely outstanding - not for its speed but for its dedication. I'm not sure which are the owners and which are the worker bees, but everyone is hustling and helping. Management is clearly involved on a daily basis. Even I become patient when it's obvious that everyone is working hard to make it a good experience for the patrons.
I give this place an unrestrained endorsement - and I don't even know who owns it or runs it. It been half full when we've gone (three times now), but it should be completely full. Of Yelpers!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/15/2009 First to Review
Maybe 4 stars is generous, but they pulled off an excellent Grand Opening.
Only Italian wines. Only… Read more »
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Review from Erika G.
8/3/2010
Perfectly great place for a couple of chicks to dish over a bottle of wine. The wine was fantastic. The pizza was good, but it could have had a little crispier crust. Our server was friendly and pleasant. Outdoor seating a plus.
All in all, perfectly adequate. Not exceptional, but I'd probably come back if I'm in the area.Listed in: Wine and Cheese!
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Review from Jessica Y.
Chicago, IL
5/16/2009
I think three stars is a pretty generous rating considering there are a lot of service kinks the team at Salute needs to work out. We were seated promptly at arrival, but since the place was pretty busy, 3 of us were seated at a 2 person table. This made bathroom trips a circus act as we had to balance plates and dodge butts coming out of the booth seats next to us. Not to mention the acoustics in the place are not great, and we often had to scream to hear eachother over the other diners. However, there is a cute little outdoor patio which we would have tried if it was a warmer night.
I swear the servers had miked the booths or something cause everytime I complained about not having menus, or no one clearing our plates after they had been sitting untouched for 5-10 minutes, a server would pull his head out of his bum and get to doing his job. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't an issue of understaffing, I think it was just a lot of chickens running around with their heads cut off.
I thought we were continuing the bad start when they were out of pinot nero... I mean, seriously, how much of that particular wine could you have gone through since your opening night was JUST YESTERDAY. Luckily, out server was quick with the alternate recommendations (not too hard since there are few wines served by the glass) and we were happy with the choices.
The saving grace of this place was the food. I was skeptical when the spinach artichoke dip arrived cold, but it was so delicious. The only downside was the resulting garlic breath. The caprese salad was close to tasting like it did in Italy, as the mozzerella was fresh and the basil was generous. I could have done without the four cheese panini, but if I wasn't sharing, I probably would have picked the panini with the fig compote.
After dinner, we waited a while for plates to be cleared and dessert offers. The coffee was great, but to our disappointment, the tiramisu we had seen on the website vanished from the dessert menu we were presented with. This was quite a tragedy as we then left without dessert....not a very authentic Italian way to end a meal. Overall, I may stop back sometime...but only if there's tiramisu on the dessert menu!!! -
Review from Meagan L.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2009
I have to commend head chef Dao for some of the best homemade soup I've ever had. Making decent soup from scratch seems to be a lost art in most restaurants and with the winter now in full force I'm so happy to have found a place to warm up in with a bowl of delicious soup by the fire (yes they have a functioning fireplace, how cozy!).
Other food selections are mostly small plate Italian tapas style, but my favorites included meatballs, heirloom tomato caprese salad and a selection of meats and cheeses.
They also have a great selection of Italian wines to chose from and a helpful staff to make suggestions on the wine list. We had a bottle of their Nitadari Ad Astra, a super Tuscan blend which was simply to die for. So incredibly smooth!
Salute is such a cozy spot with a window seat and couches by the fire along with normal tables. Will defiantly be back for another winter warm up soon. -
Review from Gwendolyn H.
Chicago, IL
5/27/2009
I hope to come back in a few months and make my 3 star review a 4 or 5 star review... but I'm feeling pretty generous giving them 3 right now.
I came here with a friend on Saturday night looking for a chill place to hangout and catch up before going out. We wanted wine but also something to eat. As we walked in the door about 9 waiters and waitresses all turned and looked at us as 3 of them tried to seat us at the same time... a little awkward?! I think so.
We decided to stay since they were having a half-off all bottles night. And their menu had a few substantial options (so we thought).
The atmosphere was exactly what we wanted - cool people, good background music, dark leather booths and cool cushy couches. We picked out our wine - a cheaper Chianti.
When it came to ordering food it was a bit of a problem. They didn't have most of the salads because they didn't have the right tomatoes or lettuce. I ended up getting a bruschetta platter and my friend got the carpaccio. Both were pretty meager. I definitely recommend the tomato & artichoke bruschetta over the white bean & roasted red pepper as the beans were made into a paste and totally overwhelmed the rest of the dish.
Overall, we got a small bite of food, some great (discounted) wine, and a few hours of conversation without being pushed out too quickly, but I think their service and food options need to improve. -
Review from Deanna C.
Chicago, IL
11/5/2009
I didn't really care for Salute when I came here for dinner on a Thursday night.
This place was pretty much completely empty, so it felt weird having the entire waitstaff basically staring right at you, while you ate; so distracting in fact, that I didn't really get a chance to take a good look around at the decor. From what I remember, it was dimly lit, small and seemed fairly cozy.
My friend and I thought it would be a cute date night idea as Salute shows Italian movies on Thursdays. We seemed to choose a bad night though...
The movie of choice: The Italian Job
The problem: No sound... just subtitles!
How can you watch The Italian Job with subtitles???? Laaame. Even though there were no other patrons at the time, they still wouldn't turn on the sound for us! Laaaame x 2!
Foodwise, we chose to get the beet-hummus and the goat-cheese bruschetta which were tasty.
It seems like everyone else had a better experience, and I really want to like this place, so mayyybe I'll give it another try some day (when it's nicer out so I can sit outside), but honestly, there are so so many other restaurants around Chicago I would try before coming back. -
Review from Stacy H.
Chicago, IL
12/7/2010
This has got to be the most cozy, welcoming place near the Mag Mile. The location is perfect - easily walkable to the Mag Mile, but just removed enough from it all to avoid the traffic, congestion, and tourists. It's a pretty small place - so reservations are definitely recommended.
We came here on a Sat. night with a Living Social before going to see Black Swan at the AMC. Our wine was delicious. We got the bruchetta and split the baked fettuccine since we didn't want to carry around leftovers to the movie. I could have made a whole meal out of their bruchetta. And the fettuccine was perfectly buttery, prosciutto delicious, and the crumble topping baked in was a great addition.
Loved everything about this place! -
Review from Jordan B.
Chicago, IL
8/31/2009
I stopped by Salute for the first time a couple weeks ago for dinner with a coworker. The atmosphere was very inviting and sitting outside was great. I had a few glasses of wine, of course, but the food is what really won me over. I had the "Grazie" sandwich - out of this world delicious. If you like turkey and cranberry I highly recommend it! For dessert I had the homemade cannolis (one regular and one fig.) Again, they were great. Second time around I tried the tiramisu for dessert and even though I generally don't like tiramisu I thought it was delicious.
The absolute best thing about Salute is that they play old Italian movies on Thursdays on the wall of the building next door. I brought a date and he raved about the food and the experience afterward. I won't go into the gory details but let's just say the date was a success :) Thank's Salute!Listed in: Chicago Favorites
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Review from Gaurang S.
Chicago, IL
2/11/2010
Nice cozy bar in the River North Area. I've walked by it for years and never even realized it was there, because it's always overshadowed by its flashier cousin, 1492. Until a few weeks ago.
I like the atmosphere. It's perfect for nice sized groups, as well as dates - the couches are comfy. I can't comment on the food, but the wine selection is great. And they let you sit and chat for a while without bothering you or shuffling their feet around you trying to get you to leave, even on a Saturday night. We only left here because they were closing down, and then headed straight to purple pig. That's a great one-two combo, by the way. -
Review from James D.
Chicago, IL
10/19/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Love this place, especially on Thursday nights in the summer when they show Italian movies in B&W on the side of the building while you sit outside.
Great place, regardless of your mood. -
Review from caroline e.
New York, NY
5/8/2010
I have been stock piling groupons for a while now, and last night, I finally used one! Okay, now that I'm done congratulating myself, here is my review...
Food was good (Pork Belly & Onion Mushroom Pizza). Wine was good (a Sicilian red...cant remember the name). Service was good. The atmosphere was nice, but not really as cozy as I'd hoped (I think it was the bright lighting that bothered me). It was all good, but I found myself feeling a little disappointed anyway. Nothing about the experience had that "wow" factor that I always look for when trying a new restaurant/bar. I can't identify any one thing that would pull me back to this place or make me recommend it to someone else. That being said, if someone invited me to go again, I certainly wouldn't say no. -
Review from Candace P.
Chicago, IL
7/19/2010
Very cozy and charming wine bar. Of course I indulged in the Moscato, my favorite wine. As soon as you walk in, it smells of a delicious sweet wood burning fireplace. I was there for a meeting so I did not eat any of the food, but of course I indulged in dessert...the delicious warm, and mouthwatering s'mores...it doesn't get better than that.
Very quaint spot to hang out for wine & conversation. -
Review from Joanna F.
6/3/2010
My experience here was kind of a bizarre. On a trip to Chicago, my friend and I were walking around aimlessly on a beautiful night, and the idea of hitting up a wine bar came to mind. We happened upon Salute, which looked absolutely adorable.
At first we attempted to sit inside. We were literally the only people in there. There were a few on the patio. We sat for about 5 minutes without getting any service, so we moved it outside.
There was one waiter for numerous tables and he looked frazzled and acted insanely nervous. I actually assumed this place must be new, since the owner came up to tell us all about the special nights they have there (which sound cool), but he quickly went back to drinking with his friends as his waiter worked his ass off.
The service was flat out horrible, but the wine list was nice (albeit pricey). The atmosphere was glorious. -
Review from Johnny T.
11/11/2010
Oh dear. It's a total Yelp cliché, but I really wanted to like this place more than I did. The physical environment is extremely inviting and very European. From the outside café tables to the garden-level dining room, most everything about Salute says to sit down and enjoy some time well-spent with friends. The service is kind and chatty and very knowledgeable about wine and the menu. These are all positives that I don't think should be overlooked.
The negatives, however, are that the food isn't very good. I hate to say it. I had the spinach/artichoke spread and a pizza. I don't know whether it was the spread or the bread, but something cut up my tongue pretty badly. When I was eating it, I thought to myself, "Hmm, this spread must have some sort of new spice element because my tongue is burning. Interesting." It wasn't until my tongue remained in pain after I finished chewing and drinking water that I thought there might be something wrong. True enough a touch and sight test revealed that my tongue was cut. I don't know whether it was from the texture of the spread/bread or from something in the spread/bread but it wasn't a pleasant experience. At all. Trying to save face, I began work on the speck and baby arugula pizza. Meh. I got through it but I wasn't wow'ed or, even, okay'ed by the taste. I've definitely had better for better portions and price. Since it was lunchtime, I refrained from imbibing, so I can't speak to Salute as a wine bar. As a restaurant, I'm sorry to say, I can't recommend that you should try it.
I think I finally know the truth behind the saying, "This hurts me more than it hurts you" -- both literally and figuratively! -
Review from Agnes F.
Chicago, IL
6/4/2010
Cute little place in the middle of all the craziness in michigan avenue area
went there with a couple of friends and we had a grilled onion pizza (good), risotto with radiccio and fennel (better) and the mixed cheese/meat plate (came last and i think they forgot we ordered it, its ok but i had better ones before)
thurs is the italian movie night and they were playing the black and white movie in the patio, the atmosphere is great and extremely charming
wine is good and service is relaxed, we weren't in a hurry so that was no big deal
will check it out again -
Review from J R.
Chicago, IL
4/27/2010
I tried this restaurant with a friend last night. The ambiance of the place is nice and I like the relaxing feel inside.
The Italian wine list is great. We had the carpaccio appetizer and prosciutto appetizer. We also had the margarita pizza. The food was pretty good.
The service was decent but not the best I've ever had. I would definitely return as I liked the food and the environment. Very cozy. -
Review from Boon K.
2/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here with Alvina C. and her friend for restaurant week. It was homey and cozy with the fireplace going. It was a great deal $22 for 3 courses and unlimited bellinis. The bellinis was great but they just couldn't keep up with all the tables so for the two hours I was there, I only got 2 glasses. The 1 course was a fruit cup, which was ok, then potato soup with truffle oil, the truffle oil made the soup good, but I honestly was not a fan of my grill cheese. The ratio of cheese to bread was 300% and i had to pull apart my sandwich and move some of it. I know this would be heaven to a cheese lover but just too much for me. I wish the just had one more servicer to help with the follow of traffic. It would too much people for two servers who had to also make the bellinis from scratch.
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Review from K- K.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2010
This is more like 3.75 stars and could so easily have been a full 5.
The food could not have been better! I ordered the muffuletta panini and it was fantastic: savory with just the right amount of spice. My girlfriend had a pizza....mmmmm.... She had a glass of crisp champagne and I had coffee. To finish off, we had the AMAZING s'mores desert. OH GOD SO GOOD! They should just have a conveyer belt from the kitchen to my mouth, lined with s'mores.
However, there were no dairy products for my coffee. I thought this was odd and I was a little disappointed. The manager, who was working on her laptop in the dining room, yelled at the staff for not having cream/milk/etc. She had a projective voice in general so maybe she didn't intend to yell, but it was disturbing. I think someone ran to another restaurant nearby, for a glass of milk appeared! The manager cared for us and the staff did too, but hearing "I have this work to do, I can't be running around getting milk!" was distracting from the delicious meal. Our waitress forgot to bring us napkins/silverware but I think it's more that she was nervous than forgetful. I've worked in food service before and long enough to know that yelling doesn't help. -
Review from Amanda Z.
Chicago, IL
8/11/2010
I went to Salute last night for dinner and wine, just in the nick of time before my Groupon expired. I had been once before, but just for a HH quick glass of wine, so I knew it was a cute little place in a very convenient location for me. Last night it was pretty bustling...we went around 7:45pm and the staff seemed to be a little overwhelmed. It took us a while to get greeted then seated, although there were at least 10 vacant tables. Other than that little snafu, the rest of our service (i think Jennifer was our waitress) was wonderful. She was friendly, prompt, and recommended wonderful wines for us to try.
We had the meatballs (very yummy), arugula and orange salad (yummy), pork tenderloin panini (meh, not flavorlful) and the smores (FAB). Next time i want to try the pizza. Their food menu is pretty limited, but the extensive wine menu more than makes up for it. They give you a healthy pour and a taste before you decide, which is great. Also of note, the owner/manager came to our table during dessert to check on how everything was...he was very polite and it speaks volumes just in the fact that he was present and engaged w/his customers. I would return to Salute just based on that...and that i feel very sorry for this man who had to deal with too VERY inibriated older ladies at the table next to ours that were trying to get their whole meal and drinks for free - just because they're drunk cougars. He was more than patient dealing with those fools...almost so much that i wanted to give Salute an extra star, but i just couldn't based on the food. Perhaps next time Salute...perhaps next time... -
Review from nicole r.
The Loop, Chicago, IL
9/12/2010
Was there on a sunday. We were the only ones there. There was one waiter working who was drunk of his ass on wine. We sat outside, which was super nice, and when i went inside to go to the bathroom, the waiter was asleep on the couch. LOVE IT. He gave us HUGE glasses of wine, and was the best waiter ive ever had. I think more wine bar staff should drink the supply. I will go here again and again
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Review from Cristina Z.
Chicago, IL
3/17/2011
Just use my you swoop gift certicate yesterday night! Thought the Food Was great! And the Service was Exceptional! Chris you were great! Thanks:) Will see you again!
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Review from J M.
Burlingame, CA
3/15/2010
A group of 6 went there for wine and appetizers. Ambiance is a plus, with jazz music and cozy atmosphere... Being a fan of exotic beers, there was a handful (not a lot) of options from Italian to Austrian beers, a ok wine list, and what looked like a fun menu of appetizers.
The experience declines from here... not big drop off decline, just a night of small disappointments that the average "diner" would notice.
-They managed to be out of a total of 6 items from food, wine, beer
-Waiter must be some kind of brother/cousin of owner... aka there was no urgency to wait tables/provide good service, the table next to us was upset about it too, and he doesn't have much to say about wines...beyond "great" "wonderful "grand"
-Cheese plate was good, but the rest (pizzas, Italian dish, etc.) presented and tasted like I made it (amateur)
-Tables weren't made, I asked the bus boy if he had "salt and pepper" he said "hmmm... I think so, let me check" then ran around the restaurant looking for it on the tables.
-Everything took forever. We were in no hurry... but the service was on island time.
It wasn't a negatively awful experience so to speak. It just made me feel bad for the owner, who probably worked hard to try and establish a nice cozy place to dine/drink. Fix the front line and the inventory and this would be 4 stars. Otherwise, if 2 stars means "eh-I have had better" as yelp suggests, than my experience was certainly 2 starts. -
Review from Cherry M.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2011
Great place for a date! Wine selection is wonderful, atmosphere is cozy and warm, service and food were both very good. I've gone many times and have never been disappointed. They even had a live jazz singer there once which made the place even more romantic.
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Review from H G.
Chicago, IL
1/24/2011
My friend and I had a great time dining at Salute in November 2010. We adored the wine (the $39 red) and the food. I really appreciated the chef switching peas for the meat in the baked penne to accommodate my pescatarian diet. It was delicious. It wasn't the best pasta I'd ever had, but it was surprisingly good for a reasonable price point. Plus, the atmosphere was lovely; the fireplace was a great touch.
Salute doesn't have a lot of seating, but it's very cozy. I saw a casual business meeting happening by the window early on, then more couples on dates throughout the evening. My table was ready when I arrived, but they seated me on the couch next to the fireplace while I waited for my friend. They would have served me a drink, but I declined and looked at the menu. I had questions and the waitress had no problem answering them. We took our time enjoying the food and wine; the servers did not rush us at all.
The owner, Dom, was very kind over e-mail and in person. He allowed us to use daily deal discounts from a couple of different businesses and stopped by our table to introduce himself.
If you order a bottle of wine, this will land you into expensive dinner territory. Most of the wine bottles are in the $40 to $70 range. Yet the dinner entrees are priced in the $10-$15 range. If you eat and order wine by the glass, then the bill won't shock you. Yet the wine selection is very good, so either way you'll likely be pleased. Note that wine bottles are half off on Mondays (as of 1/24/11).
I would love to come back here on date, stop in to escape the cold by myself, or dine there with a friend again. I'm looking forward to the outdoor Italian cinema during the warmer months. Don't hesitate to walk down the steps to this inviting taste of Italy, which is very different from most bars/restaurants in the Mag Mile area. -
Review from Jennifer G.
Chicago, IL
7/25/2010
I love this place, especially the outdoor seating in the summer. It's kind of a hidden gem. Unfortunately, their late-night hours aren't consistent, so you might make the trek out only to discover they've closed. Great wine selection, though, and very amenable service.
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Review from Madelyn H.
Chicago, IL
3/7/2010
we had a groupon for salute, otherwise i would have never known about it. i'm glad we went because, as one would expect, there was a great wine list and we tried the bruschetta. this included two types... one your traditional tomato/garlic/basil and another with goat cheese and roasted red peppers. both were great. it's a cozy little atmosphere and is exactly what i think of when i think of a wine bar.
if you work in the loop it's a good place for an after-work drink. -
Review from pat h.
Chicago, IL
5/31/2009
Eh...It's ok.
The short review:Go with 3 friends and order a nice bottle of wine only. Skip the overpriced "small" plates.
The extended review:
We were wandering back from the Ohio Park beach (no one there) and noticed the relatively new Salute in the adorable garden level space.
Having just returned from Tuscany, and since Salute professes an authentic Italian menu, I thought it might be nice to recreate some of the experiences here at home that happened for me in Italy. Well. What was I thinking? If you try to recreate the good times of a trip to a place as wonderful as Italy (ANY part of Italy), good luck! You'll die trying.
The setting couldn't be nicer. Quaint. Charming. Lovely. We sat outside on the last Sunday of May and it couldn't have been better weather-wise. JUST like Italy, in fact, except without the moist air of the mountain foothills or the eccentric townsfolk.
We were able to order quickly since we were the first ones there apparently.
Our waiters (we seemed to have 2 for some reason?) were attentive and knowledgeable. The service was great. Relaxed and well-timed.
Our wine by-the-glass came right away. It was very good and priced right, we thought. $7 for a glass of Prosecco. Their vast wine selection only has a few offering available by the glass which was disappointing. I would have ordered one of the more interesting selections on the menu if all were available by the glass. Oh well. The Prosecco was good.
The food was nothing to rave about. Obviously there to soak up the wine since their menu encourages ordering by the bottle. Small plates to be sure. The tapas place next door has larger portion sizes!
My husband had the Quattro Formaggio Panini. It was missing the promised tomato pesto. I had the "Grazie" which was a smoked-turkey, open-faced deal. It was to have basil pesto and also a "cranberry hash". It had neither. The cranberry hash turned out to be leathery dried cranberries and there were a few basil leaves in the 2-Tablespoons of salad that topped my crust-removed, 1 slice-of-bread "sandwich". Good thing I wasn't hungry. All said and done, the ingredients to my sandwich could not have totaled more than 50 cents. To have it arrive skimpy AND wrong was just rude. Maybe the real chef didn't show up for work. Maybe their focus is so totally on the evening crowd that lunch isn't even on their radar....?
I understand the head chef's background has roots in many places I highly respect. Places like Monique's, Tru and Rosebud (across the street). Maybe he should remember his mentors and try to emulate the places that brought him along and mind his kitchen more closely.
You probably think I am being harsh. If so, sorry. I don't want anyone to spend their money foolishly due to marketing hype or a careless management staff or a greedy absentee owner.
If you have read any of my other reviews, you know I am in the business and even though I try to cut a place a lot of slack, this only applies when the place is inexpensive, excessively busy or is having their opening night.
With restaurant patronage at an all time low, Salute should have their pick of the litter when it comes to staff. Apparently, they did not take advantage of the glut of qualified culinary personnel wandering the streets of Chicago. But...not my problem...that is UNTIL I try to eat at their establishment. And, unfortunately, I don't care enough to go back and find out when they will fix their food issues. There are plenty of places to get 2 ounces of food for $8.50. After all, whole foods is just a few blocks away! -
Review from Jonathan W.
Chicago, IL
8/23/2010
General rule. If you use a groupon don't wait till the last minute. If you recieve groupons, don't expect to not be busy on the night before the groupin expires. Tomorrow you will be nothing.
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Review from Pete V.
5/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
We stopped in at Salute Wine Bar late on Saturday night for some wine and to make some use of our Groupon. We were immediately seated at on of the couches, which was awesome (despite some douchey investment banker type dude on a date getting seated in the couch across from us, he was so misbehaved that he put his feet up on the coffee table!). Despite the high douche quantity that we risk whenever venturing out of our Bucktown comfort zone where people are always polite and well dressed, we had a pleasant experience at Salute. I fact, the Fonteveccio Verdiccho recommended by our server was outstanding and we absolutely loved the speck and arugula pizza. Very light use of sauce, nice cheese, and lots of arugula...definitely our favorite. The service was great and the space they have is very cozy. I will definitely be heading back on a warm evening when we can get a table on the patio.
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Review from K Y.
Chicago, IL
11/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
Great wine selection, helpful servers, savory pasta dishes, and don't forget the homemade smores! Love the cute fireplace; makes it cozy! Fun place off the beaten path.
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Review from Kelly G.
Chicago, IL
5/13/2010
Excited about having gotten a new printer to finally start printing and using my Groupons again, I decided to try Salute for lunch with my girlfriend today. Being late risers, we ended up having a late lunch (around 2 pm), and because of this and it being a weekday, we had the place to ourselves. The seating is comfortable and the atmosphere is very nice. They had the door open too, so we could enjoy the beautiful day. The place also smells like delicious smoked meats so we were all about it.
I decided on their cheapest glass of champagne , and my girlfriend had coffee. This is where things got a little silly - we were told there was no milk for her coffee. A little confused, we just sort of rolled with it. A few moments later, the owner/manager person came and apologized and started a frantic hunt for some sort of dairy product she could put in her coffee - until finally a jug of milk was found. Huzzah!
The champagne was light and delicious. Then again, I have yet to find a champagne I didn't enjoy to some degree.
I had an arugula and prosciutto pizza. Bread-like dough cooked to perfection, smoked prosciutto which could top pepperoni or bacon on pizza anyday, and a smattering of arugula. Very good. My girlfriend at one of the paninis, which had lots of smoked and cured meats, and giardiniera. Also very good. At one point we had to ask for silverware and napkins as the tables weren't set, but it didn't bother us much.
The amazing part of the meal was dessert - house made s'mores. Seriously, damnit, get these if you go there. Perfectly gooey s'mores, delicious chocolate....seriously these lead a large amount of happy swearing and strange noises to come out of my mouth.
So the food is good, the dessert is amazing, and if you like wine it is the place to be.Listed in: Groupons!
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Review from Nick K.
Chicago, IL
7/25/2010
We had a groupon to use up before it expired so we decided to go last night. It was pretty hot and humid out so we decided to sit inside. The patio outdoors had a decent vibe and a few people out there. However, inside, the atmosphere was terrible and it was completely empty. All the tables had a candles on them but I'm not sure why since the lights were turned up so bright. There wasn't a very big selection of wines by the glass and the cheese menu was somewhat disappointing.
