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The Aviary
- Nearest Transit:
-
Grand-blue (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 6 pm - 2 am
Sat 6 pm - 3 am
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
246 reviews for The Aviary
Review Highlights
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"Grant Achatz is a culinary genius." In 18 reviews -
"The pork belly was my personal favorite." In 18 reviews -
"The cocktails were delish, as were the bites." In 71 reviews
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246 reviews in English
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Review from A L.
Omaha, NE
5/21/2012
The fanciest and most magical drinking experience I have ever and probably will ever have.
It's like a chemistry lab meets the circus meets bartender magic.
This place is incredible. -
Review from Char Y.
Chicago, IL
5/22/2012 3 Check-ins Here
We walked by on the friday night and were seated outside with glorious weather. We ordered
pina colada - with rum bubbles??? DELICIOUS!!!
cocktail flight - ok, i thought they were ok
i thought the best part of all drinks was the flavors! I love how the elements of the smoothes are broken down and reassembled beyond expections.
Awesome. -
Review from Alex H.
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Based on the drinks alone, this would have been an EASY 5 stars. Even calling them simply 'drinks' falls ridiculously short of the magical alchemy and culinary genius that these masterpieces are. Unfortunately some elements of the service fell flat.
Here's the rundown of the libations we sampled:
Clementine - vermouth, amaretto, rum. Served bottled. Delicious, yes, but the most understated of the drinks we tried. Feel like I could get a non-$20 version at Maude's or Violet Hour
Piña colada - rum encapsulations, cotton candy, coconut milk (from el bulli). Ever have bubble tea? Rum encapsulations are those bubbles with rum. That's probably all you need to read.
Bitter - Bourbon smoke, cognac, apple brandy, amari, bitters. Super creative. A drink that screams bourbon without a drop of it in the actual cocktail. A gentleman's drink.
Ginger - jalapeño, peychaud jellies, ginger snow, shiso, vodka. The glass comes filled with ginger 'snow' which you melt by pouring the vodka over it and stirring with lemongrass. On the sweeter side but delicious.
Popcorn - popcorn purée, salted caramel, Appleton 10 yr rum, cinnamon. The most delicious thing I drank all night. Absolutely sublime. This is what I imagine butterbeer in Harry Potter must taste like.
Roy Rogers - lilac air, scotch. Served in a giant sealed plastic bag, the bag is cut open and boom, there's a room full of lilacs. Contrast that with the complexity and depth of the scotch and this one is perfection. A great nightcap.
Had the chips as well which sound a whole lot better being described than they taste. They do provide a nice contrast to all the drinking so probably still worthwhile.
So why only 4 stars? Had made a reservation a few weeks in advance (not nearly as daunting of a process as it sounds), showed up 10 minutes early, then waited 25 minutes before being seated. In and of itself, no big deal. When our lucky number was called, we were welcomed, lead to our seats, and then basically forgotten for another 15 minutes. Both tables next to us were attended to, one of them multiple times before we were greeted by our server and given what I must admit was a very refreshing amuse bouche, some sort of cool tea prominent in hibiscus. Only fair to note that after this initial hiccup the service was flawless. My final issue is a bit ridiculous but really impacted the night: the temperature, which was stifling. Jacket off, sleeves rolled, and I'm still sweating. Like embarrassingly. Thankfully it wasn't a first date, but the temperature never cooled off and I was uncomfortable the whole time.
The drinks are crazy ridiculously good/over the top. No way to deny that. But at an automatic 18% gratuity and a bill than ran nearly $150 for two, I would have expected more from the service. I wanted to love this place. I'm still glad we tried it. But I won't be back anytime soon. -
Review from Mary S.
I was in Cleveland enjoying a cocktail at VTR, they were talking about the Aviary in Chicago. My first thought was why go back to Dallas so I changed my dress in the Hopkins airport bathroom, hopped on Southwest and checked in! Lets be honest, I have no swag, I roll a 99 suburban with ripped seats, and I wear 3 year old Dior shades. The table side drinks are very theatrical and amusing. The hand-crafted drink kitchen is somewhat mystical. The staff is Amazingly snappy. I still felt out of place, but they made me feel like a celebrity guest.
would I go back......Naw I'd move in "this place is the shizzle" -
Review from Ely L.
San Francisco, CA
5/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Loved the Aviary. Definitely not the kind of place I would go all the time, but as an occasional treat it was great.
Tried:
* Coco Loco - This was fantastic, frozen eatable coconut cocktail
* Ginger - I'm a big fan of ginger-based drinks as well as drinks with some chili spice, this had both! This probably had the most alcohol of the drinks we had.
* White Sangria in suspension - A fun take on sangria, different kinds of fruit suspended at various levels in the drink.
* Raspberry - The fun of watching it brew at your table in the glass beaker thing was worth it for this one. The drink was good overall too, some fruit but black tea was actually the strongest flavor which I enjoyed given this was a hot cocktail.
* Pina Colada - Very sweat, not a ton of alcohol, more like desert than a cocktail, but a great way to end the night. The little rum-filled gel balls (think boba) were fun.
Our waitress was also super friendly! -
Review from Karen C.
5/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have finally found a drink to rival the Moscow Mule at Drink in Boston, MA. The Ginger is out of this world - super spicy, just how I like it!
Let me back up and start at the beginning. I was a little over-zealous and tried to make a reservation a month in advance through email and they told me to write back closer to the date. No problem; I did so and my reservation was confirmed a couple days before I left for Chicago.
It was the one night it rained so my friend and I took a cab from dinner to the area and stopped in a different bar to wait it out (ok and have a drink before drinks!) until our 10PM reservation.
We checked in a few minutes before 10 and were seated by 10:15. I liked that the check in person was outside which made things less confusing.
I tried the Ginger, Young Coconut, and chartreuse cocktail (can't remember the name!) and they were all delicious but the Ginger and chartreuse were the best. I didn't even think I liked Chartreuse! My friend also tried that one along with the Chai and a berry/champagne one. No complaints about any of them. The presentation really is out of this world.
Are the drinks pricy? Yes. Is it worth a stop if you can get a reservation? Absolutely!
Also loved they will call a cab for you on your way out! -
Review from hamster p.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 5/15/2012
2nd time to the Aviary. Different experience then the 1st.
1. Reservation: it is a tuesday night, so we had no problems getting in a group of 6
2. Walked right in, no doorman, no waiting outside in the windy night
3. the drinks: We asked for recs for the more showy drinks and it paid off. They were all very fun.
4. The food: not salty today! so it wasn't just an aviary thing, it was just slight of hand on the salt the other time I went. But i still say overpriced.
Must try:
- pina colada - a bit on the sweet side and low on the ETOH side
- Coco Loco - coconut alcoholic ice cream in a coconut ( SOOO good) and deceivingly strong. (From El bulli menu so try it before its gone)
- In the rocks - just because it's fun to crack it open
Summary: Go on a weekday you'll have a much nicer experience. Doorman/bouncer wont' hassel you, the chef has more time to prepare your drinks and food according. And ask for recs. , there are def more "normal" drinks on their menu and if you're paying $20 /drink, might as well make it the more fun ones. Still overall pretentious atmosphere and i'm almost certain they are going to blacklist me cause I stole a pen.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/6/2012
Overhyped, overpriced, and pretentious
1. Reservations: I don't like the lottery system. I don't… Read more »
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Review from Matt M.
Chicago, IL
5/8/2012
A haiku:
You're not sure what you're
drinking, but it's awesome and
it's twenty dollars -
Review from Ryan S.
Chicago, IL
5/5/2012 2 photos
This is a tough one for me. On one hand the whole experience was incredible and unlike anything I've ever done for drinks. The presentation of everything was just mind blowing and the caged in kitchen was really cool to be able to look into. Now on the other hand I thought the drinks themselves weren't very good. I was with a group of 5 people. We order 2 sets of the prix fixe and several a la carte drinks. So we definitely got a good idea of the whole menu. The problem was that when we were done we all agreed that none of the drinks were that memorable or good. There were even a few at the table some people couldn't bare the taste of which shocked me. Usually when you are pay $300 for drinks you walk away with some memorable drinks ad this didn't happen.
Personally for that amount of money I'd rather search really hard for tickets to Next where you can get to eat and not just half ass the Grant Actatz experience. -
Review from Wendy Z.
Evanston, IL
4/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Way overhyped.
Came here with a friend who was in town, we got the prix-fix drinks ($45 for 3 drinks) and ordered the Pina Colada from the a la carte menu. From the prix-fix, we ordered the Tangerine, the Sazerac, and the Popcorn. The Tangerine - tasted like watered down orange soda, the Sazerac was decent, the Popcorn tasted plastic-y and overall way too sweet.
The only redeeming drink of the night was the Pina Colada, which we ooh'ed and aah'ed over as the cotton candy disappeared in front of our eyes.
We next decided to order some bites b/c we were starving, big mistake. We got the bacon and date, the toasted corn croquant with guacamole, and the fois gras. These bites were a total joke - i've had better bacon and date from local restaurants, better guacamole from Chipotle, and couldn't even taste the fois gras. Would not be this critical if the prices weren't so ridiculous. ($4 for each bite)
Overall, great ambience and excellent service, but drinks and food were highly disappointing for the high prices. Glad I tried this place once but definitely won't be back again. -
Review from Sean N.
The Loop, Chicago, IL
5/19/2012
Phenomenal drinks where presentation and experience matches and often exceeds the mix itself. Highly recommended for a memorable unique experience. Note that although flavorful, "Bites" are really just bites. I suggest eating first before going. For the drinks and the atmosphere, Aviary does not disappoint.
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Review from Lauren K.
Chicago, IL
5/1/2012
I love the atmosphere and the outside seating during the warm months. The drinks are creative and beautiful. The alcohol seems to overpower the flavors of the cocktails sometimes, but I think the art of the experience makes up for this slight drawback.
The bites were amazing (but very expensive for the portion size). -
Review from John R.
Chicago, IL
5/4/2012
Went to the aviary on a weekend - it is really more of a theatrical bar than anything. The cocktails are good - but, you can get cocktails that good in lots of places (for less $$). The presentation of the cocktails is the star of the show. The food was also quite awesome.
I wouldn't come here that often (unless I was seriously loaded). But, it is certainly a fun and different experience that your typical bar. But, you'll pay for it. -
Review from Sarah S.
I'm completely obsessed and in love with The Aviary. For that it gets my super special 600th review. I want to eventually try everything on their menu because each drink is a fun journey of a libation...not your run of the mill gin & tonic or coke & rum. The prices are high but in my opinion well worth it. Honestly, everything Grant Achatz touches turns to gold.
The Aviary makes you feel much more important than you are with a doorman, dim lighting and fancy, chic decor. I've always gone weekdays so I can't comment on the weekends but I've never had an issue with having to wait or it being so busy I couldn't get a table just walking in. They do take reservations which I would recommend if you have a bigger group or are going on the weekend.
They always start you off with a little drink starter and on this chilly February night it was a warm, hard cider. It was fantastically delicious and I could have definitely drank more.
I've been wanting to try In The Rocks (Old Fashioned) since I read about it and on this trip I did. It is $18 and has demerara, angostura, and bourbon. I felt like I was a super hot secretary on Mad Men as I snapped the sling shot shattering the giant ball of ice into my concoction, Seriously, every drink here is so much fun.
We got the lollipops which were SO cool and I highly recommend them. The restaurant asked me to stop taking pictures so sadly I didn't get a photo of how cool this was. I tried to take a picture without flash of the bites I got which were all fantastic. I always love the bites here and recommend trying as many of these as you can.
I tried my friend's cider which came in the super cool looking contraption that shows every single part of it. It was fantastic and fruity!
Their menu is constantly changing so there are always a ton of reasons to keep going back. My dream is to sit at The Chef's Table and experience their 7 course cocktail tasting menu for $165pp.Listed in: Restaurant Week 2012, Best of the Best in Chicago, Fun & Exciting Things To Do…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/4/2011
The Aviary is amazing! I'm a big Grant Achatz follower/fan and when I heard he was opening up a… Read more »
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Review from Tom A.
Chicago, IL
5/15/2012
Went there on a Saturday night and exceeded all expectations. Super cool inside and didn't wait long with a reservation.
I thought I was going to find the drinks gimmicky but they weren't -- They were awesome.
I recommend the whiskey based ones (On the Rocks and the Rob Roy).
Can't wait to go back. -
Review from Janet X.
4/9/2012
A friend I haven't seen in two years was in town for the weekend, so I dragged my butt of the couch and made a reservation here. They got back to me much earlier than the 4pm deadline and asked if I can come in earlier. Done and done.
The tough thing about the Aviary is that once somebody finds out you're going, they will leap forward to suggest this "AHMAAAZING cocktail" they had the last time they were here. And of course you'd get there and find out the whole menu had changed. So I asked the server for suggestions, which turned out to be spot-on.
True to form, there were a lot of chemical shenanigans I would have never thought would be possible, taking you back to those good old days in high school lab. But that wasn't what made the Aviary a good value for me. It was the top-notch service. From the fact that they took my coat without a number, to the taxi that stood waiting for us as we exited, there was no part of this process that didn't make the whole experience feel like a luxury.
It was a great start to the weekend, and I'm definitely looking forward to coming back again... hopefully with a sugar daddy in tow! -
Review from Brad P.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2012
Wow! This might have been the coolest place I've ever been to. I was lucky enough to get a reservation and confirmation early enough so I didn't have to wait until the day of to see if I had gotten in (something I was worried about).
The entrance is very dimmly lit and unassuming. If you're familiar with Chicago, you know this area is mainly warehouses and factories, and that gives it a modern, hip feel. Some people were huddled around the heaters waiting for a spot to open up but we were shuffled right in. The interior of the place is very modern and very attractive. All seating was comfortable and the high-backed boothes kept everyone separated. so you felt like you're in your own little world. Which was important because you plan on being there for 2 hours.
The drinks were very good and very theatrical, and I think that's what you're paying for. You can go anywhere in Chicago and pay $10 - $12 for a coctail, but the additional $5 - $10 per drink is totally worth it for the presentation. We thought about doing the prix fixe menu but opted instead to order each drink individually. The cost was most likely higher by doing this but what the hell, you're not going here if you're on a budget.
The bites were all delicious. Wagu beef and the potato bites are absolute necessities if you're going for the first time.
My only compaint is that the prix fixe menu drinks were not available for individual purchase. Not a huge deal as there are plenty to choose from, but I would have liked the option to try others.
Expect to pay between $60 and $100 per person, depending on how much food you order (that sounds a little backwards, normally it's the booze you have to worry about....). But I highly recommend trying this place out. I will certainly go back, will just need to save up a bit before I do :) -
Review from Onur U.
3/27/2012
It's an interesting place and they're really playing up the exclusivity angle, but I just didn't think the drinks were all that.
The decor of the place is modern and interesting so you feel like you're some place special. There is no bar nor any interaction with a bar tender, so a lot of the point of the cocktail experience is lost, but that's not what they're going for.
A lot of the more innovative drinks they're making are well documented. You crack an ice cube and out pours an old fashioned. You make a tea by lighting a beaker of liquid and infusing it with fruits and tea leaves. They're cool the first time you do it, but I'm not really in a rush to return and see the show again. The drinks tasted ok, but certainly nothing special. Especially considering the price tag.
I guess I prefer drinks where the focus is on what's inside the glass, not how it gets there. It's a place to take out-of-towners and worth seeing once, but not a cocktail experience I'm interested in repeating any time soon. -
Review from Noah S.
Newton, MA
3/31/2012
Had drinks here after the Thailand menu at Next.
Having seen Chef Achatz speak at Harvard before opening Next, and by some means being able to score a ticket to Thailand, I was looking forward to not only Next, but also trying the cocktails at Aviary.
The drinks are amazing, there were four of us, and we agreed not to get the same drinks so everyone could try different things. Although the prix-fix menu was tempting, I really wanted to try the Blueberry (by far the prettiest cocktail i've ever drank), and got the hurricane as my second. All of the drinks were fantastic, they had endless layers of flavor, especially the Blueberry, which evolved as it continued to steep in its custom made infuser. Even though the prices are on the high side, its like comparing a moderately priced restaurant with Alinea. Aviary is the Alinea of bars, and is well worth the premium.
Final Thought: If you are looking for drinks that will make you question what a cocktail is, look no further than the Aviary. -
Review from Jen B.
3/4/2012 ROTD 4/13/2012
We snagged a last-minute reservation to Aviary on a Friday night. It was much less daunting than I anticipated. Per the web site, I sent them an email with my name, date and time preference (6, 8, or 10 p.m.) and party size the day before, and later that night, they sent me an email confirmation. Easy peasey!
We showed up a few minutes before 8 p.m. and got in line. After asking a few others, I learned that they were also waiting to check in for their 8 p.m. reservation. Right at 8, they started taking names and letting people in. The seating was staggered so we had to wait a minute or two after the party before us was taken in. There were a number of people in line without reservations, and they were asked to step behind the door guy to wait. At 8:15, they start releasing the reservations for the no-shows and seating those in the waiting line. So it seems like you really need to be on time for your rezzie, and also, that it's not impossible to score a seating without a reservation.
Once inside, the hosts took our coats and showed us to our seats. There are a few tall tables near the entrance overlooking the drink lab. I wish the lounge tables had the same view, it would have been fun to watch the magic. The ambiance in the lounge is really modern and sexy. Lots of cozy banquets and recessed lighting. There's a weird naked chick picture so that's cool if you're into it. They sat three of us on along the wall. I wish we'd been able to score a chair to sit across from the banquet, it was kind of hard for us to look at each other when we sitting next to each other in a line.
The server was...fine...I guess. I mean, he was nice, but introduced himself and explained the menu a bit perfunctorily. Like, I get it, dude. You give the same spiel every night, over and over. But I have to imagine most of the patrons are one-time visitors and want the full experience. It's not like he was rude and he never left us hanging too long, he just didn't make us feel super special.
The drinks, on the other hand, made us feel awesome. The server that brought them out was really nice about explaining things and didn't mind when we geeked out and took pictures. As everyone else has noted at length, the cocktails are like nothing you've ever seen before. They are expensive, but compared to what you'll pay in River North, it's totally reasonable to kick in $8-10 more for the experience of these drinks.
Here's a rundown:
Three-Course Prix Fixe with Orange, Bitter and Popcorn: Each had it's own little flare. The orange had scented ice and a smooth finish. The bitter came on a piece of oak from a whiskey barrel. The glass had been overturned and the bottom of the barrel chunk lit so that the glass captured the smoke. When the server turned it over, we were overwhelmed (in a good way) with the smell of campfire. The popcorn was just that: Liquid popcorn. So cool.
In the Rocks: The coolest drink of the night. I loved breaking open the ice ball with the little slingshot device and watching the drink spill out. This bad boy is STRONG so beware.
The Cider: This is the one that comes in the clear circular flask. It's a work of art on its own, but also tastes great. The flavors change throughout the life of the drink as more of the ingredients dissolve and become part of the drink.
The Pina Colada (from the El Bulli menu): My favorite. It's a rum-based drink that comes with a cotton candy fluff on top. The server pours vodka over it to dissolve it. The cocktail has these little rum balls that have the feel of bubble tea balls, which explode in your mouth. A really mild, sweet cocktail.
For bites, we tried the bowl of chips (nine types of chips from various plants, sea life and animals) and the croquette with guac. Both unique, fun accompaniments. They won't fill you up, but that's what the drinks are for, silly. The bill cracked two hundy but was totally worth it. Note that gratuity is included. Thanks for showing us a great night! -
Review from Bree L.
Forest Park, IL
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is awesome! The drinks are really cool and the bites were soooo tasty. They are a little pricey, but it's worth a try if you're not doing it every weekend!
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Review from Christopher K.
Chicago, IL
5/6/2012 3 photos
This place is fantastic! Came here randomly on a Saturday when they opened with no reservation. We were the first in line. We were sat with another couple within ten minutes at the area right next to the kitchen divided by a cage. We tried many drinks like the Rooibos, the ginger cocktail and a drink that came in a bag. Really exciting! We also tried some Aviary chips which were light and delicious. Place isn't cheap but it was definitely an adventure. Can't wait to come back with reservations and sit in the main area. I did go to the bathroom and on my way back went through the wrong door and ended up in Next i think which looked cool. Someone there was quick to get me back to the right place. Ha! Such a good experience!
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Review from Katie S.
Chicago, IL
5/2/2012
What can I say that hasn't already been said? I've been here 4 times now, and every single time has been awesome. You should go too - maybe for a special occasion, or if you happen to score a ticket to Next (also amazing!) Order whatever - it really doesn't matter - it's all fantastic. Pricey, but fantastic.
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Review from Jenna S.
2/20/2012
I'll make this easy, because with 205 reviews and counting...there really isn't much that has yet to be said.
We sipped (I cannot say 'dined' as that would be more reserved for Next) and nibbled at The Aviary the week of it's opening to MUCH delight. The service was spot on, the drinks were faboosh and the bites were heavenly bursts of flavor as Grant is well known for.
After waiting a few months, raving about the incredibleness (I'm trying to make up as many words as I can in this review) of this joint, my fiance and I take our amazingly wonderful New York friend here after a night of such wonderful haunts as Maude's Liquor Bar, Violet Hour and more. Upon arrival, we were seated in the newly appointed lawn furniture (? Really, that's the only way I can describe it) and instructed to wait. So, we waited...and waited....and then waited some more.
Finally, after managing to get inside, I see it's not really THAT busy for such a late time. Oh well, we're inside and that's all that matters.
After what seems like an eternity, the server finally comes around to explain the menu, which was completely different than what we experienced the first time there. She explained that the prefix menu on the left side was something that everyone in our party must experience. If we want to do solo drinks, on the right side of the menu, everyone at the table must order solo drinks as well.
ERRRRRRRR WAIT...what? I mean, I get it. You're trying to force people to not be cheapskates. But, really? Cheat a lush-like girl out of the crazy line up because her up tight friends aren't interested in the crazy concoction of spirits? (PS- all the GOOD drinks are on that menu anyway!) Perhaps if this is the menu you'd like, it's best to avoid The Aviary with a group. However, I find that strict rules in general are enough to make me want to revolt.
In short, we left. All without ever ordering a single thing. And didn't even think twice about it. Done. -
Review from Rho T.
Sitting at a Kitchen Table for a tasting owned by one of the Chef's I most admire is one thing. Sitting at a Kitchen Table for a 10-course COCKTAIL tasting is when all hell breaks loose. I tested my limits. I pushed the envelope. I went balls out with a bang. Ok that didn't sound right. Nor feminine.
My friend and I had the 10pm Kitchen Table at this exclusive cocktail lounge, owned and operated by chef Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas. The Kitchen Table seats 4, but on this night it was just us two. Just us and the busy kitchen. All MEN, btw. We were told to enjoy ourselves, and since we were the last KT of the night, we had until 2am, if need be, to complete our experience. 4 hours of drinking? I was hoping I wouldn't be face flat on the floor after hour 1, or even worse, face flat against one of the cocktail chefs. (although I don't see why that'd be a bad thing)
Chef Craig Schoettler presides over Aviary's kitchen, but was not actually doing the dirty work that night. He was there watching the kitchen, making sure everything was up to par, lookin as cute as ever in an outfit that outshined my dress and heels. He's forgiven. Because The Aviary's cocktails and paired bites outshined us both. Sure, the cocktails weren't "standard" sized - we were each going to be enjoying 10 different drinks for cry's sake, but, as it turns out, about half of the tastings were in fact standard sized cocktails. This is because I have pictures. Not because I remember.
We started off with an amuse bouche cocktail which consisted of Popcorn, butter, crème fraiche, and rum. A fitting drink to start the show we were about to experience. Then we were given a gigantic bowl of chips that's on Next's elBulli menu (Chef Achatz' other restaurant, Next, is next door to The Aviary). Being the corny food lover I am, I could feel a sweat bead forming out of anticipation knowing that I'd actually be tasting something from the elBulli menu. (Tid bit: The elBulli menu at Next for 2 people is shy of a grand, and just the other month, this season's tickets to eat at Next were sold out w/in 6 hours of being on sale. elBulli: restaurant in Spain, voted the # 1 restaurant in the world 5x's before finally closing in 2011. elBulli was run by Chef Ferran Adria, and he kindly offered his assistance to Chef Achatz (who presides over Alinea) and Chef Dave Beran (who presides over Next) to re-create the elBulli menu to serve at Next.)
And you guys thought I just served jokes.
The rest of the night was a 1/4 chemistry lab, a 1/4 theatrics, a 1/4 How the and WTF? and a 1/4 blur.
Their exclusive Gin & Tonic, served only for the KT, had what you would think were lime green colored tapicoa balls, but were in fact cucumber juice filled balls that popped in your mouth once your teeth slightly bit it open. Talk about party in yo mouf. They hand make these balls one by fkin one. There were like 100 in my glass. Now if that ain't bout a btch then I don't know what is. So you know I popped erry one of em, to show my appreciation.
Their Bourbon Barrel was a mini barrel cut in half and made to look like a mini garden, filled w/plants and such, and 3 takes on bourbon: Bourbon and coke, whiskey sour, and old fashioned. The presentation itself was so creative that prior to having it brought to us, I thought it was an herb garden that the chef's were using for our bites. The creatrickery.
We also had paired bites with each cocktail. "Bites" being the literal term, finger food being the ghetto alt. My favorite savory bite were toasted corn flutes filled with guac. We each got 3. We wanted about 30 more. My favorite sweet bite was a crazy concoction of lollipops. 10 sticks each. Win.
Their take on a Rob Roy was Scotch and Pedro Ximenez Sherry, sitting in it's glass on the bottom of a huge fkin clear plastic bag filled with lavender air and sealed tight. The bag was like super sized ruffles big, dare I say even bigger. We had to cut it open on top, breathe in the lavender vapors, then pull the drink out and enjoy. I know, right? Batsht crazy up in here.
We had 7 more cocktails with paired bites, but if I told you bout all that, I'd have to take a Yelp hiatus due to carpal tunnel. Just take my word for it and know that
The Aviary isn't a place to hop on thru, nibble on utz pub mix and get wasted. Nothing is on tap here. There is no bar, with bartenders. There is 1 kitchen where the drinks are carefully crafted. There is only a menu with mind-boggling cocktail creations, which - sitting at the KT, I now know comes in 2 acts. You, the patron- get act 2. But the first act is beyond what anyone could ever imagine. These guys work hard. It's a combo of a theatrical performance and a science class on crack for them to make what you're about to drink and bite. If you get a chance to come to The Aviary, tip your hat off to the kitchen. Cuz now you know they don't just pour here. -
Review from Mahsa T.
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Aviary definitely delivers on cool factor and atmosphere. The cocktails are original and well-crafted, and at those prices, they better be. The service is top-notch--as in the server takes down your order on her iphone, not a notepad. Notepads are so old school, didn't you know?
I tend to rebel against establishments that hype themselves up unnecessarily. Every place should be accessible to everyone, so the whole getting a reservation is like winning the lottery aspect doesn't sit well with me. But then again, I do like that you can make a reservation, unlike at Violet Hour, so you don't have to wait in line to get in. The Aviary is similar to Violet Hour in a few ways, but Violet Hour wins for ambiance and taste of their drinks. Don't get me wrong, the craftsmanship shows in the originality and presentation of drinks, but if the taste doesn't knock your socks off, well then it was a waste. The place is dimly lit and cozy, with lush comfy sofas and chairs and modern furniture, but you can see everyone in the room--even the couple groping each other two feet away. There is no separation of spaces or privacy like there is at Violet Hour.
A couple of things to note about drinks and menu--the menu changes, so the Blueberry is now the cider. I really liked my Tom & Jerry, it was warm and creamy and hit the spot on a cold night. Don't bother with the small bites, nothing outstanding and portions are teeny tiny. For the overall experience though, I'd say that the Aviary is worth trying at least once.Listed in: Where to Take a Lady for…, Girls Night Out
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Review from Jill C.
Chicago, IL
4/29/2012
To be honest, I really prefer The Violet Hour. The glassware at Next is interesting, the servers with their iPhones are hip, but the taste of the drinks was not out of this world, especially considering the price. And the bites, as others have said, are literally ONE bite of food. I thought the decor was sorely lacking and I was not sad to leave. I took a friend here for her birthday but I will not be back again.
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Review from Christina G.
Oak Park, IL
5/7/2012
To start, i made a res via email for a thursday night at 6, which was a pretty simple process we arrived at 6:10 and there was a line of 4-5 people?? And we were being let in one party at a time based on our reservation which was fine except it was kind of empty inside. So it was purely for show and snobbery. I can get with that. The cocktails here are good but the descriptions in the menu only give ingredients without description of presentation. Our waitress was not overly helpful in picking out WOW drinks. It was kind of annoying to keep seeing these really cool drinks taken to other people. Why weren't they recommended to us? Anyway the whole experience was over hyped in my opinion. Maybe it takes a lot to impress me, but I'm not as excited to try to get into Next now, which I worry would just be a more expensive version of a similar letdown. We spent $130 on 3 drinks and 6 bites of food (literally bites of food) in case you are curious, included tip. Two bites were good and one was eh.
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Review from Rich J.
5/14/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Went here twice on my five day jaunt in Chicago. I went at 6ish both times..once Tues so it was easy to get in, and once Fri, when it was not so easy and we had to settle for a standing table, which wasnt too bad becasue it was by the kitchen where they make the drinks..yes they have a kitchen area, no "bar", and there's like 20 people in there running around. Me and my wife had 3 drinks each and some food each night we were there. The drinks are expensive for sure, but I am not going to be one of those people on here who bitch about prices ..I don't mind paying for a great experience..and the drinks were very creative and good. Had one in some sort of skinny fishbowl thing, needed a slingshot device to break the ice that encapsulated another drink, one "drink' was actually three smaller tiki drinks served in a wooden box complete with sand and seashells, one was made in a bunsen burner-type thing, my wife's marshallow cosmo...well it was served in a bowl and she needed a spoon, and her pina colada was served with disappearing cotton candy. Pretty much the cocktail version of Alinea, which is what I was expecting..which is why it was worth the $$$ to me. The food was good too, there were "bites" for $3-6 each, a bowl of "chips' and lollipops for $8..we tried them all.
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Review from Joshua M.
2/18/2012
I had no idea what to expect from this place. For some reason I expected it to be shaped like a giant bird cage or something. I expected them to have some good drinks. Other than that, I had no clue. Boy was I surprised.
Our server was incredible. She was spot-on, there the second we sat down. She even moved our table to make us more comfortable. She took the time to explain the menu to us (even though the menu is blatantly and intentionally vague. I think it adds to the surprise factor when your simple drink order is amazingly complex). I was able to ask her questions like "What's a coco loco?" She was friendly, attentive, and in no way pretentious.
All around me, I was seeing people with crazy-looking elaborate drink displays. Some peoples' drinks were arriving in plastic bags that they had to cut open. The beers appeared to be served in paper bags. Cute. The Pina Colada had cotton candy that they actually melted into the drink using pineapple juice. I had the suspended sangria. It was neat and fruity and had fruit-flavored caviar floating around in it.
This place is definitely on the cutting edge of some amazing molecular mixology. Every drink is genius in a glass. -
Review from Shelby B.
Chicago, IL
4/28/2012
Boy oh boy does this place have swag! Each item arrives with proper fanfare and presentation, and explanation too if needed. Great for entertaining guests or as a pre-evening lubricant, Aviary has a special something for everyone. If you don't have a reservation, even just for drinks, then arrive early. Their pre fixe drink menu may appear pricey, and it is, but it's a sure fire way to make your tablemates a little jealous at the variety of your unique and tasty pieces. What's the difference in this place and, say, Violet Hour? Same quality of drink ingredients and flavor, MUCH more energy goes into presentation and design. Don't worry, you'll believe it when you see it.
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Review from Nora C.
Manhattan, NY
4/27/2012
- hip/trendy place
- totally UNIQUE drink experience. I've had a lot of drinks in my time but these take it to a whole other level. they literally invent contraptions to hold and serve the drinks in
- def a memorable experience
- our waiter was super nice and friendly
- Negative: they made us wait outside past our 8pm reservation (for like 15 mins until i complained). the host outside had a hearing device in his ear through which he communicated with the ppl inside (very "cool" like). when we went in it was evident that making us wait outside was part of the show as there were MANY empty tables. pretty sure making us wait was so that they have a line outside the place. lame if you ask me. this place is cool, they don't need to try to fabricate it by forcing ppl to wait outside. with that said, when i complained to the guy he did within a minute let us in. -
Review from Jennie T.
Most expensive cocktail drinks ever. Worth the price? I'm leaning towards yes.
After hearing that The Aviary require a daily reservation to get in, I decided to try to get on that list the night that my friend and I had dinner at The Girl & The Goat. I sent in a request for reservation at around 10:30am that day; at around 4pm, I got a reply telling me that we got a table for two at 10pm. Sweet!
Dinner ran a little later than expected. I was worried that our reservation at The Aviary would be opened up to the public after 10:15pm (as warned in their email confirmation to me). In a slightly blitz state (we had wine with dinner), we skipped and ran over to The Aviary (after figuring out where exactly it is on our mobile GPS).
The Aviary is located in a somewhat shady looking area of town. It seriously looked as if we could have gotten mugged at any moment! I was a little worried. It was dark and it was raining. There were trucks everywhere. We looked as if we stumbled upon an industrial warehouse location. Yikes! I wouldn't be able to run very fast in high heels without falling on my face!
Luckily we found the entrance to The Aviary, and it was as if we stepped into a whole new world. The decor was magnificent. It was dimly lit, mysterious and romantic. I told our greeter (and then server) that we were a little late for our reservations. She said it was not a problem and seated us right away. The rain probably saved our reservation that night. The lounge area was everything that I thought it would be--classy and romantic. Our server presented us with the amuse-bouche (see picture). They were a delight to the senses as my friend and I looked over the menu with glee.
I was intrigued by the Oolong. Does this alcoholic beverage taste like tea? I LOVE TEA! I asked about it, and the server told us that yes, the taste is similar to tea, and yes, it is a hot beverage. Wow. What happened next was like being transported into the future or an alternative universe: they presented the Oolong to us with a strange-looking apparatus that boiled the drink right in front of us. I was delighted by the presentation. Then came the tasting... Like warm Oolong tea with a hint of alcohol. Wow, fantastic!
My friend ordered the Cider, which came in a flask with all the ingredients inside it. Pretty! Then came the pour. Mmm, like a delicious apple cider with just a hint of alcohol. I was already pretty buzzed by this point so don't take me too seriously. I was giddy with joy. Then a second and third pour... the drink changes color with each pour; it got darker and darker; and the taste got better and better... By this point, my memory of the night went a little hazy. I was happily blitzed.
Best anniversary night ever!
Our server presented our bill in an envelope. So classy! Just my kind of place. I loved it.
The price? I didn't love so much. It was around $54 (I don't remember whether this was with or without tip, but I somehow remembered this amount). Holy shit! But was it worth the experience? Hell yes! I was happy and delighted to pay.
My girl loved it so much that she said she wants to come back. Uh-oh, I've spoiled her. She's lucky though that we're in a long distance relationship and I can splurge on her every time she visits (which is about once a year).
See you at our next anniversary, Aviary, if not sooner (for she tells me that she'd love to visit more often if only to taste your sweet nectar again)!Listed in: Touring Chicago, Blow Me Away, Chicago!, Chicago Date Night
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Review from Svitlana P.
Buffalo Grove, IL
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
What an orgasmic experience. Yes, orgasmic.
So here's the scoop on The Aviary. To get in you have 2 options, email and hope that you're selected, or come at 6:15, 8:15 or 10:15pm and hope that someone didn't show up for their reservation (but who wouldn't, this place is amazing). I'm sure there's a third option, but unfortunately I don't have those connections.
As soon as you walk in you are greeted and your coats are taken (no, you don't get a number) and you are escorted to your table. What I love most about this place is that it's not so packed it's hard to breathe. And they never overbook. At some point there were a few empty tables, but not for long.
The service is also great. Yes, they do take your orders via an iphone and the bites on the menu are really just one bite....oh but what a great bite. I think someone mentioned that they waited 8 minutes for a server to take orders...really dude? Did you time them? And even so, what's 8 minutes in great company?
I thought the service was attentive and more importantly the servers were very knowledgeable about the drinks and the process of making drinks. I HIGHLY recommend Ginger and Pear. Ginger especially is full of flavors. Pear is fantastic but a little lighter. The Oolong Tea is also a very unique drink with great presentation. Another great creamy drink is Turtle Doves, I think, but it's seasonal.
The decor is simple yet elegant. The music is great. There is nothing I can complain about.
And to top the experience, our coats were waiting for us as soon as we walked up to the door (again, no number, no need to point to your coat....not sure how they do that).
Vous avez conquis mon coeur! -
Review from Karen T.
1/9/2012 9 Check-ins Here
The Aviary far exceeds its competition in the city for decor, ambiance, service and of course, food/drink. Establishments such as the Drawing Room and Violet Hour don't even begin to touch the polished excellence of the Aviary. I can't believe I haven't written a review yet, since it's been my new favorite place for drinks. I don't like that they switched over to a prix fixe that forces you to choose 3 from individual lists if you want to try some of the true classics on the menu, but I won't complain too much about that.
Some of the favorites: The Rooibos and the Oolong. The beautiful, oft-photographed Blueberry. They sometimes pull concoctions they've used at Next. On my last visit, I noticed the "Tom and Jerry" had been added, which had been a paired dessert drink at the Thailand Kitchen Table at Next.
Also, they do sell non-alcoholic drinks. A "fruit swizzle" will set you back $10, with flavored ice and the same attention to detail they provide to the non-virgin glasses. On my last visit, one of my companions was 5 months pregnant. I know it seems counterintuitive to bring a pregnant lady to one of the best cocktail lounges in the city, but it was because we were dining at Next afterwards and Maude's was completely packed when we tried to stop in there for a small nosh/pre-dinner apertif. They also had hot chocolate and cider. The Aviary isn't the ideal place to get an appetizer, as they only sell their food in "bites", but in the end it was probably for the best, as our 10 course dinner really did us all in.
And it is the ideal place for getting samples of the inventive and delicious concoctions that Chef Achatz and Craig Schoettler can whip up. I have yet to eat a bite I did not enjoy, and on my first visit way back in June, the boyfriend and I tried every single bite on the menu. As we stopped by the Office afterwards, we could barely finish the comparably huge dishes of foie gras and beef tartare.
Be prepared to shell out a pretty penny - it adds up fast here. Unless you have far more self-control than I do, in which case I commend you. -
Review from Martha C.
Chicago, IL
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
A personal letter to Grant Achatz:
Dear Grant,
After months of waiting I finally visited your new lounge, The Aviary. While I love the concept I have to say the execution fell a little short for my taste. Its painful for me to to tell you this, as I know a lot of work had to go into The Aviary, but the drinks and decor were just OK for me, nothing special.
When I think back about the experience I have to say the one thing that stuck out to me was how stale The Aviary felt. There comes a point when a person can be emotionally and creatively tapped causing their genius to suffer, and I think you were at that point when you created this place. Its sad when a friend compares her fruity rum drink to a drink she got on spring break in Florida circa 2000. I think that says enough.
I hope you don't take my criticism the wrong way, however after participating in the charade you call a waiting list and paying out the @$$ for a drink, my friends and I simply thought that we should have gotten more. At the end of the night we all agreed we would never come back and never recommend The Aviary to any of our friends.
If you want a real critic for your next endevour, you got one here.
Sincerely,
Martha -
Review from Ethan N.
Colton, CA
3/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Really super fun sexytime experience. If you love your mixology then this is an experience you really gotta have.
I'd be lying if I said Aviary didn't have an air of pretentiousness about it. There is a certain "oh you are so incredibly privileged that we allowed you in here" attitude that you can't quite shake no matter how much you want to. But I was able to get ignore it.
There is a 3 course tasting menu ($45) with 4 or so options for each course. Interestingly, the only way to try items from the tasting menu is to order the full tasting, meaning you can't get those items a la carte as it were. But we were in the mood to try a bunch of stuff so why not right?
We ordered the tangerine first. It's a rum based drink that they infuse with all sorts of fruity madness and then bottle in house and wrap up in a paper bag. Seems odd to pay $15 to drink like a hobo ... It was delicious though. It was fruity without being girly, kind of like me I guess.
Next we got the banana which was really quite something. It comes with half of the glass filled with frozen curry ice (yes, curry ice. Never thought I'd see the day) and the other half with a creamy and foamy banana drink. As the ice melts you slowly get more and more curry flavor. Delish.
Last we had the horchata which appropriately comes in a small styrofoam cup. The ice cubes are cinnamon ice and the drink is amazingly delicious. I recommend this one the most out of the three.
Our server was great at explaining everything and overall I was really happy with the staff, even if they could come off as hoity-toity.
But every now and again you need a little hoity-toity in your life. -
Review from Alyssa L.
Chicago, IL
4/18/2012
The drinks were wonderful. They have a horrible reservation system, but if you go early enough, you can get a standing table in the "gallery". You have to stand but you get a great view of the "kitchen".
I went there with 3 others and we each had the tasting. It was a great way to taste 12 different drinks. The tasting was 3 full drinks for $45, great deal considering what goes into making just one drink. -
Review from Rhoda G.
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was having dinner in the area and thought it would be great to check out this place afterwards. I was able to score a table of 2 at 10 pm on a Saturday night ahead of time. Then Saturday hits, I requested if it's possible to add 2 more people and had no problem. I was so happy that I got a table because by the time we got there, it was about an hour and half wait with no reservation and it was damn cold outside. Most likely you will get a standing only table if you do wait.
Once we were seated at our table, we got a complimentary small cup of cider, which was delicious. Three of us decided to get the Prixe Fixe menu where you get three cocktails while my other friend got one of their unique drinks. The cocktails were amazing and I loved the presentation especially the Horchata. It made me laugh. Some of us got different drinks from the Prixe Fixe menu, so we were able to try a little bit of everything. After we were done with our "meal", I ended up ordering the Cider for all of us to share. Wow, that was amazing and the flavors intensified the longer you waited. Also the glass container it came in was awesome. It did look like a "koi pond".
Also I did see Chef Grant twice during the evening. I was sorta surprised that he was there since he's usually at Alinea, but I read on his Twitter that he was at Next that night to do testing for the next dinner menu.
If you want unique experience, definitely come here. Their menu has drinks that you will never find elsewhere. Yes, it's swanky and pricey (more pricey than the Violet Hour), but it's worth it.Listed in: Fancy Smancy Cocktails
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Review from Jeanne L.
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
What an experience. My words will fail to do this place justice.
Every drink was beautifully executed - whether it was in presentation, or flavor, or both. Taste was not sacrificed for the sake of presentation.
Overall, it was stimulation overload for me. For the other food paparazzi out there, let me recommend the following drinks:
[[ Cider drink ]] - Served in a round glass with various colorful flowers, the flavor and color of the drink changes as you drink more of it. The "Blueberry" drink was previously served in this container.
pic: https://fbcdn-sphotos-...
[[ Oolong tea ]] - Prepared by infusion.
pic: https://fbcdn-sphotos-...
[[ Ginger ]] - With shaved ginger, chilies, and a lemongrass stirrer, this was amazing in taste.
pic: https://fbcdn-sphotos-...
[[ In the Rocks ]]: Break open (with a slingshot) an egg-shaped ball of ice that has bourbon inside.
pic: http://www.chicagomag....
[[ Pina Colada ]]
pic: http://www.elbulli.com...
My overall two favorite drinks in terms of flavor were the Ginger and the Popcorn, which was a lot more awesome than it sounded.
I ordered from the "Tasting Menu" - a prix fixe ($45) three course "meal" of drinks that aren't offered on the regular menu. These drinks aren't as "pretty" as the à la carte drinks, but wow, they were delectable.
Aviary also has some small bites currently, that are recreated from the menu of elBulli (and the numbers refer to the original numbers on their menu). I recommend trying them all!
-- bacon and date (401)
-- duck foie gras and mango caramels (347)
-- toast corn croquant flute with guacamole (338)
-- steamed brioche with rose and mozzarella (1125)
-- huckleberry marshmallow (711)
-- passion fruit diamond (604)
-- bowl of chips - 8 different types of chips, made with squid ink, seaweed, mozarella, etc
https://fbcdn-sphotos-...
-- assortment of lollipops -- I didn't try too many of these, but these were light airy bits of mouse/chocolate on skewers
https://fbcdn-sphotos-...
The whole experience was beyond amazing. Just stop reading these reviews, and go there yourself. GO!!!
