Bistro 110
Neighborhood: Near North Side, River East

110 E Pearson St
Chicago, IL 60611

Carol K. writes: Bistro 110 was one of the first restaurants I visited when I moved to Chicago because the concierge at the hotel I was staying at suggested it.  Fast forward 13 years and this place still delivers on great food in a nice atmosphere.

I stopped in for…

Car-X Auto Service
Neighborhood: Near West Side, Noble Square

1314 W Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Jill G. writes: I'd give them five stars but they wiped my bank account out. Okay seriously they really took care of my trusty Subaru.

My hubbie took the car in on a Monday morning around 9 and was out by early afternoon. The nice manager at the shop explained to him…

Grand Street Gardens
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village, Near West Side

2200 W Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60612

Nancy K. writes: A wonderful garden center - "your organic source".  They have indoor and outdoor plants, organic amendments, tools, books, gifts, premium cat and dog food.  They're very knowledgeable, friendly, and down to earth ; )

Store Hours
starting April 16th,…

Hawkeye's Bar & Grill Inc
Neighborhood: University Village

1458 W Taylor St Ste 1
Chicago, IL 60607

Jassira V. writes: WARNING: ONLY A FIVE STAR PLACE IN MY MIND

Hawkeyes is my "neighborhood bar" and therefore I love it like a man loves his mother. Whatever that means.

Sure the food isn't yippee good but it's satisfying. Cheap wings on Monday nights, decent (but…

Nookies Too
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

2112 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614

Kelly M. writes: pretty tasty! I met up with a friend here for Saturday brunch and as far as breakfast goes I thought it was pretty good.  The wait was not as long as I'd feared it would be- we got there around 11:30 and only waited a couple minutes for a table…

University of Illinois Chicago bowling
Neighborhood: University Village

750 S. Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60686

Colleen C. writes: This is "back in the day" bowling, at its finest. :)

$2 per game and $1.25 shoe rental!? Holy cheapness...even skeezy (I say that with utter fondness) Diversey and Waveland will cost at least $40 for the hour plus shoes...and frankly, I can do…

Pompei
Neighborhood: University Village

1531 W Taylor St
Chicago, IL 60607

Vamsi V. writes: Decent food at a decent price. I like their home style fries. The Philly steak sandwich is good. Service is quick.

Never had their pizza or calzones. I've only had the sandwiches. I wouldn't say it is great food but, it is decent and close to my…

The Wiener's Circle
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

2622 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614

Ed to the M. writes: Alright, so I am TOTALLY glad that I was warned about this place before I came.  I asked my friends about where to get a Chicago dog, and what exactly is a Chicago dog?  They reply, it has a bunch of toppings, including sweet peppers and mustard.  So…

Shanghai Terrace At the Peninsula Chicago
Neighborhood: Near North Side

108 E Superior St
Chicago, IL 60611

Jill D. writes: My office has had our holiday lunch here two years in a row.  The first year we each ordered our own dish off of a fixed menu, but this year we opted for something different and went with a selection of menu items served family style.  I loved being…

Osteria Via Stato
Neighborhood: Near North Side

620 N. State Street
Chicago, IL 60611

Monica A. writes: I really enjoyed Osteria.

However, when you tell your husband you want to go some where new and interesting on your birthday and he takes you to the same place you went last year for your birthday, you better have a freaking awesome gift under the…

Jubilee Juice
Neighborhood: Near West Side

140 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60661

Emily Y. writes: Thank God I live nowhere near this place. I'd be 50 pounds heavier! I've yet to have anything I didn't like from this place - and I'm going on 7 years of love and patronage.

Their waffle fries are awesome, their chocolate chip cookies are outstanding,…

Las Palmas Restaurant

474 Central Avenue
Highland Park, IL 60035

Jen H. writes: When I am hungry and want basic Mexican in a hurry, this is my place.  Las Palmas waiters will barely let you have the opportunity to sit down before you have a piping hot bowl of chips and fresh bowl of salsa in front of you.  The prices are…

Buzz Cafe

905 S Lombard Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60304

Nancy K. writes: Nice little coffee shop that offers many vegetarian and organic options.  Funky decor with the walls filled with local artists works that are for sale.  Great place to sit and catch up with friends over coffee.  They also feature book clubs, poetry…

Uncommon Ground
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3800 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60613

Julie H. writes: Food? good  
Service? alright  
Garnishes on my Bloody Mary? MOLDY!!!  

Let me explain... my big, tasty Bloody Mary arrived with a colorful skewer of garnishes, as all Bloody Marys should.  There was a cool-colored cucumber; and then some bright,…

Uncle Dan's Army-Navy Camping & Travel

700 Church St
Evanston, IL 60201

Drennen M. writes: I'm always up for supporting a locally-owned store, so Uncle Dan's gets a plus just for that.  And Kv G is not kidding when he says the staff is very helpful; I took my family in there when we went to visit and they seemed to know all the ins and…

Starbucks
Neighborhood: Near North Side, Old Town

200 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Edward H. writes: This 24hr Starbucks is great for a late night pick-me-up or a quick boost after a workout at the nearby XSport.  The coffee is made better than many other Starbucks and their hot sandwiches aren't too bad either (stay away from the reduced fat one…

Salt & Pepper Diner
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3537 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657

Lori L. writes: Salt & Pepper Diner, oh how you have corrupted me...in a good way.  Ok, lets face it.  I was already headed on the path towards damnation.

My first time here was the weekend all of the Iowa fans invaded my beautiful city.  Hungover and desperate for…

Hyde Park Animal Clinic
Neighborhood: Hyde Park

5210 S Harper Ave
Chicago, IL 60615

Vamsi V. writes: I give this place 5 stars for putting up with my partner's demands when our dog was sick. We were both devastated when the veterinarian told us that Barnabee (our dog) has cancer and will not live long. He was our child and you cannot imagine the…

The University of Chicago
Neighborhood: Woodlawn

1427 E 60th St
Chicago, IL 60637

gravy m. writes: To my mind this is the finest University in the U.S.A. I think it is an island in Hyde Park though, and the University needs to reach out to the surrounding community, because its kind of seems like a high school lunch room with everyone keeping to…

Le Peep Grill
Neighborhood: Near West Side

1000 W Washington Blvd
Chicago, IL 60607

Steve M. writes: Post Date Take-Out Breakfast

Scene: morning of first sleepover experience with date.  out of nearly all breakfast items in kitchen.  

Solution: 2 bagel sandwiches from LePeep.  $11.00, ready in 10 minutes.  Enough carbs to back-fill those lost during…

Skokie Public Library

5215 Oakton St
Skokie, IL 60077

Sarah C. writes: This is my favorite library in the world. When I lived in the suburbs, this was my happiest hangout.

The environment is phenomenal, the book selection is decent, and you can rent DVDs for a buck. There's even an indoor water fountain/courtyard type…

Woodfield Mall

5 Woodfield Mall
Schaumburg, IL 60173

andrea w. writes: Wondering what people do on the coldest day of the year? Apparently they go shopping at the Woodfield Shopping Center! It took my fiance and I at least 30 minutes to find a parking spot and when we finally did it was outside of JC Penny (ick- sorry…

Sayat Nova East Armenian Restrnt
Neighborhood: Near North Side, River East

157 E Ohio St Apt 2
Chicago, IL 60611

Vamsi V. writes: Great food and a great experience. I love the booths. The food is excellent and reasonably priced. Service is friendly and prompt.

Definitely recommended.

Flat Top Grill
Neighborhood: Near West Side

1000 W Washington Blvd
Chicago, IL 60607

Dez Z. writes: Flat top is awesome. The variety means there is something for everyone and everyone can exclude things that they don't like. This location is also nice because it is a lot less crowded (at least when I have been there) than the Lakeview location.…

Chiu Quon Bakery
Neighborhood: Uptown

1127 W Argyle St
Chicago, IL 60640

Keiko S. writes: My favorite bakery in the Argyle area. The line frequently gets long and sometimes frustratingly slow (due to people buying boxes and boxes of pastries at once!), but the delicacies are too good to pass.

They have all sorts of cookies, moon cakes and…

Pegasus Restaurant & Taverna
Neighborhood: Near West Side, Greektown

130 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60661

Cheryl L. writes: Pegasus (www.pegasuschicago.com) has firmly become my favorite Greek restaurant in the city, for a variety of reasons, ranging from the friendly and attentive (although not obtrusively so) waitstaff; the huge menu; the excellent portions; and the…

Knitting Workshop
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

2218 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

Beth T. writes: If you go to a fancy pants jewelry store and you're dressed head-to-toe in trendy stuff from Claire's, the employees will probably look at you funny and wonder what you're doing there.  Not fair, but it's basically how the world operates, stores,…

Dairy Queen
Neighborhood: Portage Park

5636 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL 60634

Mark S. writes: This is my Dairy Queen.  I live within walking distance, and end up here more than I should.  As far as Dairy Queens in general, I like them- I'm a peanut buster.  Here's what's special about this DQ:

1. The high school kids who work here.  They…

Jitlada Restaurant
Neighborhood: Lakeview, Wrigleyville

3715 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60613

Julia W. writes: I used to think I was a sassy spice lady.  I could handle heat in my food.  Spicy peppers?  Not a problem!  Spicy spices?  Bring 'em on, I love flavor!

Well.  That was until I met Jitlada.

Turns out I am a big, fat sissy-pants when it comes to heat at…

Tufano's
Neighborhood: University Village

1073 W Vernon Park Pl
Chicago, IL 60607

Karen A. writes: Hidden Italian gem near Taylor Street. UNPRETENTIOUS. You will not find trendy decor, stylish waitstaff, or even a menu (well its all written up on the blackboard).

Nice selection of Italian table vinos and great food to match it up with. The pastas…

Davis Theatre
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square, Ravenswood

4614 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60625

Matt W. writes: The Davis theater smells... of AWESOME.

I remember seeing Flight of the Navigator at this place back in 1986. My brother, living across the street from the theater took me. Halfway through the film the reels got screwed up and the last half of the…

Hackney's

1514 E Lake Ave
Glenview, IL 60025

Kathy R. writes: My perspective is different from many of the other reviewers, who've been coming here since childhood.  Somehow I (and my husband) made it well into adulthood without visiting Hackney's.  We've passed them many times, but until I read the raves on…

Whole Foods Market
Neighborhood: Near North Side

30 W Huron St
Chicago, IL 60610

Michelle B. writes: After getting sick of my all-meat Chicago diet I headed over to Whole Foods for something easy, quick, and delicious.

It's a small Whole Foods so there wasn't quite the selection that I was hoping for but I managed to find fruit and some halfway…

Spoon Thai Restaurant
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square, Ravenswood

4608 N Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625

Tony C. writes: This is going to be the most scathing review (of my fellow eaters) ever. If you're weak-blooded or weak-hearted, stop now.

Dawn M: you're a vegetarian. You know what Bourdain say about vegetarians? Thai cuisine IS fish sauce and lime juice. It's not…

Smart Museum of Art
Neighborhood: Hyde Park

5550 S Greenwood Ave
Chicago, IL 60637

Maya C. writes: I was incredibly surprised by the Smart Museum. Though the gallery is small, it houses an interesting collection of works. Located on the University of Chicago campus, the Smart is somewhat of a hidden gem.

I went specifically to see the Henry Darger…

Cleos Bar & Grill
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village

1935 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Ed to the M. writes: Every night's a special night at Cleo's.  I happened to be there at the most special-est night ever, 10 cent chicken wing night!!!  Colour me excited!

Service was poor, drinks were downright WEAK (and expensive), and it took us nearly half an hour…

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

951 Chicago Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302

X marks the spot .. writes: I didn't always have an aversion to Frank Lloyd Wright, it actually started with a class I took on  the history of architecture in SF/Bay Area, sounded promising. I mean I am the biggest architecture freak ever. But this guy actually  made me dread…

Lakeshore Athletic Club Illinois Center
Neighborhood: The Loop

211 N. Stetson Ave
Chicago, IL 60601

Brandon H. writes: I've never had a problem with anything at this place. Always enough treadmills, always enough equipment, both pools are very clean and a bunch of friendly people. It's also connected via the pedway to most of the Illinois center and surrounding areas…

Japonais Restaurant
Neighborhood: Near North Side, River North

600 W Chicago
Chicago, IL 60610

Brett D. writes: With so many reviews how do you even attempt to say anything original? Apparently it's all been said before.........

But ever since I popped my Yelp cherry I've had a list of places that I wanted to review. Well, today is Japonais' day and I refuse to…

Parto Naderi Creation De Beaute
Neighborhood: Near North Side

507 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60610

Chris B. writes: Yup. This is where I get my haircut once a month...a place that has "Creation De Beaute" in the name. And you have to say it properly...it's "Cree-AH-SHONE Duh Boo-TAY" (snicker).

I confess that I've followed my stylist, Alfredo Cornejo, from place…