CLOSED. CLOSED. CLOSED. I loved this place, but as of August 28 2022 they are defunct. Still really nice sandwiches across the street tho.
Paula B.
This is hands down the best restaurant on the north side. Make a reservation ahead of time and take advantage of the happy hour specials. Every dish was flavored to perfection and uniqueness. Our favorite was the light Parisienne gnocchi.
Julie K.
Came here for dinner to celebrate my cousin's birthday. The food was AMAZING-carrot pate and black cod, especially. The bread that came with the carrot pate was perfect. The service is off the charts terrific. My cousin just listed a bunch of ingredients that she wanted in a drink and the bartender whipped up something delicious that she was so happy with. We told the server it was her birthday, and they brought out a couple of scoops of really excellent chocolate ice cream and a candle. Everyone was so attentive and it made for a special night. Loved the outdoor seating, too. Just a total gem of a spot.
Allen M.
The food and drinks have been fantastic each time we've visited. This is to be expected, given that it's owned by one of our favorite delis in the neighborhood. Highly recommend.
Kayla F.
What an interesting experience at Parkside! First off, our server was absolutely fantastic. SO knowledgeable about the menu, preparation techniques and was so sweet and patient as it was our first time visiting- apologies I can't remember her name but she was so great. They had a nice happy hour drink special on a Friday so we took advantage of that and did some happy hour drinks - their $5 dirty martini was not as smooth since they use a happy hour vodka but after the first one it was just fine! The food was more abstract and upscale than I had imagined but it was delicious. We started with oysters which had "yuzu granita" which is the herby shaved ice looking portion on our oysters as well as hot sauce that was in the form of pearls. Much different than any preparation I had seen before but we did enjoy them. I tend to be a little more old fashion so I didn't love the accoutrements but it was cool to see a twist. The mushroom carpaccio was our fav part - the elements all worked real nice together. I would love to come back again sometime for dinner to try more of their unique and ever changing menu!
Kate C.
Stopped in for a quick drink, ended up having a full meal + dessert! Cheese plate & carrot pâté were amazing and we really appreciated having vegetarian options with a variety of complex flavors & textures. Very attentive staff, especially regarding cleaning/clearing dishes between courses. Will definitely be back soon.
Kelsey Norris
One of the best happy hours in the city!! They have the best, most curated cocktails! Oysters are always good, great wine selection and great appertif selection. Little bit in the vegetarian side for dishes nowadays, but I hope the new chef will at least put some sourdough options on the table! Allassandra and Chelsea are exceptional bartenders.
Justin Heath
One of the great margaritas I’ve ever had.Those are not small words.Actually everything was great. Loved the burger. Service was perfect.But, the margarita…
Justin H.
One of the great margaritas I've ever had. Those are not small words. Actually everything was great. Loved the burger. Service was perfect. But, the margarita...
Andrew W.
There are many gems in the Lincoln Square/North Center area. These are two neighborhoods with a lot of independent restaurants. While many are neighborhood places, they are no less sophisticated. Parkside is no exception and a true gem. First it has a good vibe. While the food is sophisticated, the atmosphere is laid back. On the night that I went, there was everyone from couples to groups of friends dining. Second, the food is very good. I ordered the carrot pate, pork chop and the mad hatter for dessert. This was the first I've heard of carrot pate and it didn't disappoint. The carrot pate was delicious and the bread was the perfect vessel for it. The pork chop was cooked nicely and the blueberry BBQ sauce was innovative and yummy. For dessert I got that Mad Hatter. It had a nice matcha taste and wasn't too sweet. Third, parking is easy and free. There is a large free parking lot across the street and behind the public library. There are, however, some negatives. It's expensive. For two entrees, an appetizer, a dessert and one drink it was $100.00 after tax, before tip. Overall, this is a must visit.
I'm from out of town, but my sister and brother-in-law took me here for dinner. Nice place, tucked away in the neighborhood. We had reservations, they checked vaccination cards at the door and masks had to be worn when moving around the space. The other plus was that the evening we went, it was snowing pretty heavily so I think it might have kept the normal dinner crowd warm at home. Our server, Margareet, took good care of us. She even took extra time to explain how the restaurant worked to the newbie (me). Basically they just ask you order all the food at the beginning, and they will course it out for you. The plates are portioned out and Margareet gave us good suggestions on the sizes (that could be shared). First of all: Happy Hour is 5:00-6:30pm. So we partook in some martinis and draft beers. Can't beat $5 Martinis! For our "Larder" we selected the Cornbread & The Caviar Co. Great for sharing and great flavor. We also ordered a dozen Oysters... super good. They came with two sauces; hot sauce & mignonette. My favorite was to mix both! We also shared a Carbonara and the Nichols Farm Beets- which was excellent. Then everyone went their separate ways for the Mains. My sister and brother-in-law went with the Cheeseburger as they had just gotten back from Maui. Later they admitted they probably could have split the burger since it comes with fries and we had all the other food beforehand. I went with the Sweet Tea Half Chicken. It was AMAZING. super flavorful and came with roasted russian banana potatoes and broccolini. The chicken jus was also on the plate and made for good potato dipping! We finished our meal with The Mad Hatter dessert: matcha custard, raspberry coulis, pound cake, white chocolate mousse, chocolate straw, and sprinkles. Definitely a unique desert... not overly sweet but a great way to end the meal. Their menu isn't overly big, but my brother-in-law mentioned that the restaurant used to be something else... but the grocery store across the street bought the restaurant and created Parkside. I'm sure the menu changes with the seasons and what is. Can't wait to come back and dine here again.
Ryan Sullivan
After walking and driving past this place all the time since it opened, I finally made it in for happy hour. The specials are pretty good, especially the Manhattan and Fries, both for $5. They were both delicious and high quality! Unfortunately the only dipping sauce they have is ketchup.We also ordered a spinach salad, burger, and cheese board. The salad was giant, and could easily be an entree on its own. The burger was a thick patty, which I don't normally like, but this was delicious with giardiniera and generous cheese. Lastly, they brought out the cheese board as a kind of dessert. I enjoyed all the cheeses and apple butter is one of my favorites.The bartender was also super nice, and allowed us to try several wines before we settled on one.Overall we have a great time and will definitely be back for another happy hour or Wine Wednesday to try out the extensive wine selection.
Heather W.
Very small place, but great updates ambience. The bar is super cute and great additions to both the drink list wine list and food menu. Highly recommend.
Madeline L.
I was really excited to try this place based on reviews; maybe I just didn't order the greatest hits but the food was very underwhelming (actually almost inedible). I ordered the squash entree and it was almost completely raw, and the garnishes and flavor profile was somehow both too salty and too sweet. I tried the carbonara which I was surprised to find is served with a cream sauce and not prepared like a traditional carbonara with egg and cheese. The pasta was under cooked to the point of being crunchy and once again was incredibly salty. One standout, though, was their beef tartare. I'd say it's even better than the tartare at Gather! Service was exceptional; our server was knowledgeable, the manager was very hospitable, and the bussing staff was seriously on top of it. I'd recommend coming here for appetizers and cocktails, but the mains and share plates were really disappointing in flavor and preparation.
Tracy Y.
We stopped for drinks before dinner and really enjoyed ourselves. We sat at the bar and ordered cocktails. Both of the ones we ordered were great. We didn't try any of the food since we already had a dinner reservation elsewhere, but the menu looked good. I'd like to go back and eat next time. The space is nice and I think they've only been open five or six months. We had a good time and would return.
CLOSED. CLOSED. CLOSED. I loved this place, but as of August 28 2022 they are defunct. Still really nice sandwiches across the street tho.
This is hands down the best restaurant on the north side. Make a reservation ahead of time and take advantage of the happy hour specials. Every dish was flavored to perfection and uniqueness. Our favorite was the light Parisienne gnocchi.
Came here for dinner to celebrate my cousin's birthday. The food was AMAZING-carrot pate and black cod, especially. The bread that came with the carrot pate was perfect. The service is off the charts terrific. My cousin just listed a bunch of ingredients that she wanted in a drink and the bartender whipped up something delicious that she was so happy with. We told the server it was her birthday, and they brought out a couple of scoops of really excellent chocolate ice cream and a candle. Everyone was so attentive and it made for a special night. Loved the outdoor seating, too. Just a total gem of a spot.
The food and drinks have been fantastic each time we've visited. This is to be expected, given that it's owned by one of our favorite delis in the neighborhood. Highly recommend.
What an interesting experience at Parkside! First off, our server was absolutely fantastic. SO knowledgeable about the menu, preparation techniques and was so sweet and patient as it was our first time visiting- apologies I can't remember her name but she was so great. They had a nice happy hour drink special on a Friday so we took advantage of that and did some happy hour drinks - their $5 dirty martini was not as smooth since they use a happy hour vodka but after the first one it was just fine! The food was more abstract and upscale than I had imagined but it was delicious. We started with oysters which had "yuzu granita" which is the herby shaved ice looking portion on our oysters as well as hot sauce that was in the form of pearls. Much different than any preparation I had seen before but we did enjoy them. I tend to be a little more old fashion so I didn't love the accoutrements but it was cool to see a twist. The mushroom carpaccio was our fav part - the elements all worked real nice together. I would love to come back again sometime for dinner to try more of their unique and ever changing menu!
Stopped in for a quick drink, ended up having a full meal + dessert! Cheese plate & carrot pâté were amazing and we really appreciated having vegetarian options with a variety of complex flavors & textures. Very attentive staff, especially regarding cleaning/clearing dishes between courses. Will definitely be back soon.
One of the best happy hours in the city!! They have the best, most curated cocktails! Oysters are always good, great wine selection and great appertif selection. Little bit in the vegetarian side for dishes nowadays, but I hope the new chef will at least put some sourdough options on the table! Allassandra and Chelsea are exceptional bartenders.
One of the great margaritas I’ve ever had.Those are not small words.Actually everything was great. Loved the burger. Service was perfect.But, the margarita…
One of the great margaritas I've ever had. Those are not small words. Actually everything was great. Loved the burger. Service was perfect. But, the margarita...
There are many gems in the Lincoln Square/North Center area. These are two neighborhoods with a lot of independent restaurants. While many are neighborhood places, they are no less sophisticated. Parkside is no exception and a true gem. First it has a good vibe. While the food is sophisticated, the atmosphere is laid back. On the night that I went, there was everyone from couples to groups of friends dining. Second, the food is very good. I ordered the carrot pate, pork chop and the mad hatter for dessert. This was the first I've heard of carrot pate and it didn't disappoint. The carrot pate was delicious and the bread was the perfect vessel for it. The pork chop was cooked nicely and the blueberry BBQ sauce was innovative and yummy. For dessert I got that Mad Hatter. It had a nice matcha taste and wasn't too sweet. Third, parking is easy and free. There is a large free parking lot across the street and behind the public library. There are, however, some negatives. It's expensive. For two entrees, an appetizer, a dessert and one drink it was $100.00 after tax, before tip. Overall, this is a must visit.
Restaurantji Recommends
I'm from out of town, but my sister and brother-in-law took me here for dinner. Nice place, tucked away in the neighborhood. We had reservations, they checked vaccination cards at the door and masks had to be worn when moving around the space. The other plus was that the evening we went, it was snowing pretty heavily so I think it might have kept the normal dinner crowd warm at home. Our server, Margareet, took good care of us. She even took extra time to explain how the restaurant worked to the newbie (me). Basically they just ask you order all the food at the beginning, and they will course it out for you. The plates are portioned out and Margareet gave us good suggestions on the sizes (that could be shared). First of all: Happy Hour is 5:00-6:30pm. So we partook in some martinis and draft beers. Can't beat $5 Martinis! For our "Larder" we selected the Cornbread & The Caviar Co. Great for sharing and great flavor. We also ordered a dozen Oysters... super good. They came with two sauces; hot sauce & mignonette. My favorite was to mix both! We also shared a Carbonara and the Nichols Farm Beets- which was excellent. Then everyone went their separate ways for the Mains. My sister and brother-in-law went with the Cheeseburger as they had just gotten back from Maui. Later they admitted they probably could have split the burger since it comes with fries and we had all the other food beforehand. I went with the Sweet Tea Half Chicken. It was AMAZING. super flavorful and came with roasted russian banana potatoes and broccolini. The chicken jus was also on the plate and made for good potato dipping! We finished our meal with The Mad Hatter dessert: matcha custard, raspberry coulis, pound cake, white chocolate mousse, chocolate straw, and sprinkles. Definitely a unique desert... not overly sweet but a great way to end the meal. Their menu isn't overly big, but my brother-in-law mentioned that the restaurant used to be something else... but the grocery store across the street bought the restaurant and created Parkside. I'm sure the menu changes with the seasons and what is. Can't wait to come back and dine here again.
After walking and driving past this place all the time since it opened, I finally made it in for happy hour. The specials are pretty good, especially the Manhattan and Fries, both for $5. They were both delicious and high quality! Unfortunately the only dipping sauce they have is ketchup.We also ordered a spinach salad, burger, and cheese board. The salad was giant, and could easily be an entree on its own. The burger was a thick patty, which I don't normally like, but this was delicious with giardiniera and generous cheese. Lastly, they brought out the cheese board as a kind of dessert. I enjoyed all the cheeses and apple butter is one of my favorites.The bartender was also super nice, and allowed us to try several wines before we settled on one.Overall we have a great time and will definitely be back for another happy hour or Wine Wednesday to try out the extensive wine selection.
Very small place, but great updates ambience. The bar is super cute and great additions to both the drink list wine list and food menu. Highly recommend.
I was really excited to try this place based on reviews; maybe I just didn't order the greatest hits but the food was very underwhelming (actually almost inedible). I ordered the squash entree and it was almost completely raw, and the garnishes and flavor profile was somehow both too salty and too sweet. I tried the carbonara which I was surprised to find is served with a cream sauce and not prepared like a traditional carbonara with egg and cheese. The pasta was under cooked to the point of being crunchy and once again was incredibly salty. One standout, though, was their beef tartare. I'd say it's even better than the tartare at Gather! Service was exceptional; our server was knowledgeable, the manager was very hospitable, and the bussing staff was seriously on top of it. I'd recommend coming here for appetizers and cocktails, but the mains and share plates were really disappointing in flavor and preparation.
We stopped for drinks before dinner and really enjoyed ourselves. We sat at the bar and ordered cocktails. Both of the ones we ordered were great. We didn't try any of the food since we already had a dinner reservation elsewhere, but the menu looked good. I'd like to go back and eat next time. The space is nice and I think they've only been open five or six months. We had a good time and would return.