Worth trying for the ambiance and fresh salads. Our waiter let us know they change their menu every few months. While the meal was fresh and flavorful, I recommend skipping dessert which was more artificial/perfumy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Kyle Whitehead
I was exploring the streets of Chicago with some friends and stumbled upon Beatnik on the River. Our group was excited to experience what Beatnik had to offer, and it did not disappoint! Our server Dustin was very attentive and extremely knowledgeable, which was fantastic in helping guide us through our experience. He couldn’t have been more outgoing in anticipation of our needs! Highly recommended if you’re in the area and want a great atmosphere, impeccable service, and a menu that makes it hard to pick one thing. Check out Beatnik on the River!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eric Baller
Great food. Waiter was laid back but really attentive. Get the big lamb.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
jgram
The food and atmosphere were great, but our experience was disrupted when, about 40 minutes into our meal, a host asked us to move tables because another party had reserved ours. There was no prior notice, and the situation wasn’t handled by a manager or accompanied by an apology. At a restaurant of this caliber, I’d expect reservations to be managed before seating guests, not during service. It took away from what was otherwise a nice evening.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Cassie Wilson
Jake was a lot of fun! Drinks were 10/10. My friend Anna said the egg sandwich was immaculate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex Rhoden
The decor is gorgeous! Sitting in the sunroom along the river was picture perfect but know there is an intense draft. Nevertheless the food was AMAZING and full of flavor! The drinks were also very good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Shira Myles
Not a lot of food options. The food isnt the best. The drinks are good. The atmosphere is amazing 👏🏽
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Elena Solenkova Photography
Delicious food. Very good drinks. And atmosphere is great!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dina Usman
Truly One of Chicago’s Most Magical Dining Experiences
Beatnik On The River is absolutely stunning — from the moment you walk in, you feel like you’ve stepped into a dreamy, bohemian oasis right on the water. The atmosphere is unforgettable: beautiful décor, gorgeous river views, and the perfect mix of music and energy.
The food is incredible! Every dish is packed with flavor and creativity. The Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences shine through in the best way. The cocktails are just as impressive — unique, refreshing, and beautifully presented.
Service is warm, attentive, and professional. The staff makes you feel welcomed and taken care of from start to finish.
We had a beautiful lunch here . Service was amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melissa Bennett
Quite the photogenic space, it is well decorated from top to bottom, perfect for insta-worthy photos. The views of the river are also outstanding since you are basically sitting on it. The food was unfortunately underwhelming. We had the kebab feast (the meat tasted strange), curry meatballs were good but could have used a little something extra, zaatar fries and carrots were pretty good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
HJLee
We were a group of nine people and we were seated in their private dining room. The place is located right next to the river and it’s decorated really nicely. We ordered a bunch of appetizers and entrees. The kebab skewers were pretty good but my favorite was Branzino. Avocado hummus or beet moutabal didn’t have much taste, and pita bread was dry. Salads were pretty standard. We didn’t order any alcoholic beverages but the lemonades and coconut water were good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Steve Lesniak
Prob won’t go back unless just for cocktails.
We were seated downstairs but because it’s cold out, they had the heat blasting directly at our table it felt like it was about 90 degrees. When we brought it up to the server and asked to change tables, she was unapologetic and said it would turn off in a minute but it never did. We left as soon as we finished our meal.
Food wise, the beef tenderloin kebob wasn’t good at all; several pieces weren’t chewable. The lamb kebob was pretty good though. Despite that, felt like very little food for the cost.
Cocktails are good and the view of the river is very nice.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Jenny Shah
I rarely leave negative reviews, but our experience at Beatnik on the River was honestly terrible from start to finish.
Our server was not accommodating at all, especially when we asked about vegetarian options. Every question was met with short, unhelpful responses, and it felt like we were inconveniencing her just by asking.
Things got worse when the hostess brought drinks to our table and spilled them all over my son and our food. Accidents happen, but the lack of apology or effort to help clean up was shocking. The people at the table next to us actually stepped in to help us because the staff didn’t.
Even after all of that, our server never came back to address the situation until we brought it up ourselves. Our plates were soaked with the spilled drinks, so we couldn’t eat most of what we ordered. All they offered was to comp two appetizers. After everything, we still left with a nearly $200 bill for a meal we could barely eat.
Extremely disappointing service and handling of the situation. We won’t be returning.
Cozy vibe, great view, good food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Worth trying for the ambiance and fresh salads. Our waiter let us know they change their menu every few months. While the meal was fresh and flavorful, I recommend skipping dessert which was more artificial/perfumy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
I was exploring the streets of Chicago with some friends and stumbled upon Beatnik on the River. Our group was excited to experience what Beatnik had to offer, and it did not disappoint! Our server Dustin was very attentive and extremely knowledgeable, which was fantastic in helping guide us through our experience. He couldn’t have been more outgoing in anticipation of our needs! Highly recommended if you’re in the area and want a great atmosphere, impeccable service, and a menu that makes it hard to pick one thing. Check out Beatnik on the River!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food. Waiter was laid back but really attentive. Get the big lamb.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food and atmosphere were great, but our experience was disrupted when, about 40 minutes into our meal, a host asked us to move tables because another party had reserved ours. There was no prior notice, and the situation wasn’t handled by a manager or accompanied by an apology. At a restaurant of this caliber, I’d expect reservations to be managed before seating guests, not during service. It took away from what was otherwise a nice evening.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Jake was a lot of fun! Drinks were 10/10. My friend Anna said the egg sandwich was immaculate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The decor is gorgeous! Sitting in the sunroom along the river was picture perfect but know there is an intense draft. Nevertheless the food was AMAZING and full of flavor! The drinks were also very good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Not a lot of food options. The food isnt the best. The drinks are good. The atmosphere is amazing 👏🏽
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Delicious food.
Very good drinks. And atmosphere is great!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Truly One of Chicago’s Most Magical Dining Experiences
Beatnik On The River is absolutely stunning — from the moment you walk in, you feel like you’ve stepped into a dreamy, bohemian oasis right on the water. The atmosphere is unforgettable: beautiful décor, gorgeous river views, and the perfect mix of music and energy.
The food is incredible! Every dish is packed with flavor and creativity. The Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences shine through in the best way. The cocktails are just as impressive — unique, refreshing, and beautifully presented.
Service is warm, attentive, and professional. The staff makes you feel welcomed and taken care of from start to finish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We had a beautiful lunch here . Service was amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Quite the photogenic space, it is well decorated from top to bottom, perfect for insta-worthy photos. The views of the river are also outstanding since you are basically sitting on it. The food was unfortunately underwhelming. We had the kebab feast (the meat tasted strange), curry meatballs were good but could have used a little something extra, zaatar fries and carrots were pretty good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
We were a group of nine people and we were seated in their private dining room. The place is located right next to the river and it’s decorated really nicely. We ordered a bunch of appetizers and entrees. The kebab skewers were pretty good but my favorite was Branzino. Avocado hummus or beet moutabal didn’t have much taste, and pita bread was dry. Salads were pretty standard. We didn’t order any alcoholic beverages but the lemonades and coconut water were good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Prob won’t go back unless just for cocktails.
We were seated downstairs but because it’s cold out, they had the heat blasting directly at our table it felt like it was about 90 degrees. When we brought it up to the server and asked to change tables, she was unapologetic and said it would turn off in a minute but it never did. We left as soon as we finished our meal.
Food wise, the beef tenderloin kebob wasn’t good at all; several pieces weren’t chewable. The lamb kebob was pretty good though. Despite that, felt like very little food for the cost.
Cocktails are good and the view of the river is very nice.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
I rarely leave negative reviews, but our experience at Beatnik on the River was honestly terrible from start to finish.
Our server was not accommodating at all, especially when we asked about vegetarian options. Every question was met with short, unhelpful responses, and it felt like we were inconveniencing her just by asking.
Things got worse when the hostess brought drinks to our table and spilled them all over my son and our food. Accidents happen, but the lack of apology or effort to help clean up was shocking. The people at the table next to us actually stepped in to help us because the staff didn’t.
Even after all of that, our server never came back to address the situation until we brought it up ourselves. Our plates were soaked with the spilled drinks, so we couldn’t eat most of what we ordered. All they offered was to comp two appetizers. After everything, we still left with a nearly $200 bill for a meal we could barely eat.
Extremely disappointing service and handling of the situation. We won’t be returning.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
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