Went for the 7 course experience. Amazing dinner, drinks, and service. Very relaxed atmosphere but very unrelaxed taste and presentation in the best way. Every course was special and insanely flavorful. I could have eaten so much more of each course, still ended up being very full (and quite tipsy) by the end of the meal. Gluten free restrictions were expertly accommodated. Especially appreciated the view at the kitchen table, wonderful to see the preparation. Can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lauren Berlyne
Used to go a lot when it was in new york and it had to be one of my favorite places on earth. Back then the service and experience matched any michelin restaurant. Top tier in every way. Now, i am shocked that this place is tied to Grant Achatz name. The food was strange, nothing wow worthy and very salty. The drinks were decent but other than their signature aviary cocktail, the other cocktails mostly lacked the robust flavor profile i once so enjoyed at the aviary. The service was a mixed bag. The team members who brought us our drinks and plated were lovely! However, when i had spoke with someone at the front, the conversation was awkward and uncomfortable. I was surprised at the lack of effort towards hospitality. I am from new york so no stranger to people being rude or unprofessional but i would expect more from a restaurant of this level, and with this price tag. I also am in charge of hospitality for some restaurants myself so i know a thing or two about customer service. It just really puts a damper on the experience when you are super excited to go to a place, come out of state for it, on an airplane and then treated like you are a problem.
To explain, for those who may read this so they can avoid my mistake: the booking options are varied and if you do not book the full tasting menu (the most expensive one with the most cocktails) you will not have access to order certain cocktails on the menu. At the time of booking, i had no idea that we would be limited in which cocktails we were allowed to order. So i explained how far we came and how excited we were to try their most famous/ signature cocktails like what i had fond memories of in nyc, and asked if there was a way for me and my friend to order them. The conversation became a debate questioning why i wanted that and trying to push the other cocktails on me. After a struggle of an uncomfortable convo, the team member eventually offered for us to upgrade to the full tasting menu at an additional cost which were happy and elated to do! Perhaps it was my fault for not prefacing at the beginning with “we are happy to pay extra” but i still think the service is alcking here because in my eyes how i see customer service should be is always offer the optimal solution first. If i were them, off the bat i would say “i understand. We would be happy to upgrade your experience to the XYZ one where you can get those cocktails you are referring to, for an additional cost. Is that something you would be willing to do?”. Simple, and comforting.
The reason i write this review is not to bash a specific employee but really just in hopes that the reviews are actually read by a team member who cares. The Aviary used to be, in my eyes, the best cocktail lounge in america. Now, i would say it’s just not worth it. I hope it can get back to what it once was. Maybe this was just an “off” season for them.
Next time i am in chicago, i will definitely be back. I will of course update my review if the experience gets better. Nothing would make me happier than writing a glowing 5 star review and recommending this place to all my chicago friends, like i used to in nyc.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Matthew Honaberger
Definitely not worth the money for the evening of drinks. In general, 90% of the drinks are incredibly sweet and not well balanced. Although somewhat interesting recipes and presentations, I’ve had far better at regular restaurants. Additionally, the cleanliness of the downstairs restrooms and even main room floors was not the quality one would expect for this price level. Save your money and find a bartender that knows what you like and can make a good drink. This experience makes me even less interested in checking out the other Alinea group establishments.
Anastasiia O
Amazing place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Monil Gala
Pre booked a cocktail experience. Definitely recommend this if you plan to have couple of drinks, saves you some extra $$. Ordered the Papaya smoke, Hermosa and Tres Amigos which is a must. The food is pretty good as well. Definitely try the truffle explosion as the name suggests it is infact an explosion in your mouth. The chips are dip are pretty good too. Nice touch to the beet dip. All the servers were great and pretty informed on the notes of the drinks/cocktails served.
All in all must visit place atleast once!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Black Truffle Explosion, 3-Course Cocktail Progression
Analyssa Reddy
Macy was amazing! She showed amazing service and a high amount of knowledge for each cocktail that came out. When coming from Austin I will have to come visit again and hopefully sit with her.
Lilah Buckles
Absolutely perfect! We enjoyed The Aviary Experience with a beautifully paired selection of exquisite food and and cocktails (of course). What made our experience perfect, however, was the staff. From the beginning to the end we were treated better than anyplace! Definitely worth the price point. Thank you again!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shitong Dai
The cocktails were both delicious and creative! They impressed me and my boyfriend a lot😋It’s a wonderful place for dating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
C Davis
I went here for my girlfriends birthday. We didn't care for the food they had so we ate before we got there. The drinks and the presentation were great. It's an experience that should be had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Maria V's Bridal Boutique
We had the most incredible dining experience! The five-course meal was truly one-of-a-kind — the surprise element of not knowing what we’d be served made it so exciting. Benjamin and the entire staff were absolutely amazing; attentive, welcoming, and made us feel so well taken care of.
At first, we weren’t sure if we’d leave full and even had a backup restaurant in mind just in case. By the end, we couldn’t even look at more food — every course was that good and so satisfying. The flavors, the service, and the overall experience exceeded every expectation. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and unforgettable meal!
We chanced upon this place and were seated outside as it was full. The whole cocktail experience took us on a journey and my friends and I had a lot of fun throughout the engaging process.
The cocktails had interesting history and the staffs put in tremendous effort to deliver the different components of the cocktails. What was very memorable is that our friend had the cocktail “Wish you were here” and it came with a postcard. The staff said he would mail it back for us all the way to our friend in Singapore.
We did not think much of it. However, the postcard did reach our friend after 2 weeks and we were very excited and grateful.
Overall, interesting cocktails curated with so much thought behind them, very fun experience and lovely staffs.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Dabitha
Went for our 10 year anniversary- Such a unique experience for those who appreciate cocktail culture and bartenders alike. Nothing about this place radiated pretentious or stuck up. The vibes were amazing, art deco inspired decor with some low key hip hop playing on the speakers. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable, and didn’t mind my slow pace or try to rush us! The cocktails were boozy and portioned well along with the small bites. We expressed to our server we based our trip to Chicago around our love for the books and coming to The Aviary, so she offered to have someone give us a tour of the establishment. It was pretty dope, got to see behind the bar and kitchen counter, the basement/prep areas, a few other spots, and ended in the speakeasy. Honorable mention to the wonderful Host who gave us a list of food and cocktail recommendations in the city. Thank you for the awesome hospitality! We will be back :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rhiannen
Everything about The Aviary was breathtaking from delicious and artistic food, to tasty and creative drinks. Our 5 course experience was one of a kind. I would highly recommend it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shane James
Absolutely exceptional experience at The Aviary! Not only were the drinks innovative and delicious, but the service truly set them apart. As someone with very severe celiac disease, dining or drinking out can often be stressful but here, the staff proactively addressed my dietary restrictions without me even needing to ask. I was especially impressed when they initiated a conversation about distilled spirits, understanding perfectly that not all are safe for people with celiac disease. Usually, this is a frustrating conversation involving a snarky bartender confidently insisting distilled spirits are gluten-free (and therefore safe for me), which, in my case, they're absolutely not. At The Aviary, however, the team understood this nuance perfectly and even thoughtfully brought up cross-contact concerns.
It was incredibly refreshing to feel understood and never once like a burden. For anyone seeking exceptional drinks and genuinely knowledgeable hospitality, especially with dietary restrictions, The Aviary is a must-visit.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
Kate Buhrke
Stunning lounge with magical cocktails. Pricey but worth it. Boozy cocktails
Went for the 7 course experience. Amazing dinner, drinks, and service. Very relaxed atmosphere but very unrelaxed taste and presentation in the best way. Every course was special and insanely flavorful. I could have eaten so much more of each course, still ended up being very full (and quite tipsy) by the end of the meal. Gluten free restrictions were expertly accommodated. Especially appreciated the view at the kitchen table, wonderful to see the preparation. Can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Used to go a lot when it was in new york and it had to be one of my favorite places on earth. Back then the service and experience matched any michelin restaurant. Top tier in every way. Now, i am shocked that this place is tied to Grant Achatz name. The food was strange, nothing wow worthy and very salty. The drinks were decent but other than their signature aviary cocktail, the other cocktails mostly lacked the robust flavor profile i once so enjoyed at the aviary.
The service was a mixed bag. The team members who brought us our drinks and plated were lovely! However, when i had spoke with someone at the front, the conversation was awkward and uncomfortable. I was surprised at the lack of effort towards hospitality. I am from new york so no stranger to people being rude or unprofessional but i would expect more from a restaurant of this level, and with this price tag. I also am in charge of hospitality for some restaurants myself so i know a thing or two about customer service. It just really puts a damper on the experience when you are super excited to go to a place, come out of state for it, on an airplane and then treated like you are a problem.
To explain, for those who may read this so they can avoid my mistake: the booking options are varied and if you do not book the full tasting menu (the most expensive one with the most cocktails) you will not have access to order certain cocktails on the menu. At the time of booking, i had no idea that we would be limited in which cocktails we were allowed to order. So i explained how far we came and how excited we were to try their most famous/ signature cocktails like what i had fond memories of in nyc, and asked if there was a way for me and my friend to order them. The conversation became a debate questioning why i wanted that and trying to push the other cocktails on me. After a struggle of an uncomfortable convo, the team member eventually offered for us to upgrade to the full tasting menu at an additional cost which were happy and elated to do! Perhaps it was my fault for not prefacing at the beginning with “we are happy to pay extra” but i still think the service is alcking here because in my eyes how i see customer service should be is always offer the optimal solution first. If i were them, off the bat i would say “i understand. We would be happy to upgrade your experience to the XYZ one where you can get those cocktails you are referring to, for an additional cost. Is that something you would be willing to do?”. Simple, and comforting.
The reason i write this review is not to bash a specific employee but really just in hopes that the reviews are actually read by a team member who cares. The Aviary used to be, in my eyes, the best cocktail lounge in america. Now, i would say it’s just not worth it. I hope it can get back to what it once was. Maybe this was just an “off” season for them.
Next time i am in chicago, i will definitely be back. I will of course update my review if the experience gets better. Nothing would make me happier than writing a glowing 5 star review and recommending this place to all my chicago friends, like i used to in nyc.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Definitely not worth the money for the evening of drinks. In general, 90% of the drinks are incredibly sweet and not well balanced. Although somewhat interesting recipes and presentations, I’ve had far better at regular restaurants. Additionally, the cleanliness of the downstairs restrooms and even main room floors was not the quality one would expect for this price level. Save your money and find a bartender that knows what you like and can make a good drink. This experience makes me even less interested in checking out the other Alinea group establishments.
Amazing place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Pre booked a cocktail experience. Definitely recommend this if you plan to have couple of drinks, saves you some extra $$.
Ordered the Papaya smoke, Hermosa and Tres Amigos which is a must. The food is pretty good as well. Definitely try the truffle explosion as the name suggests it is infact an explosion in your mouth. The chips are dip are pretty good too. Nice touch to the beet dip.
All the servers were great and pretty informed on the notes of the drinks/cocktails served.
All in all must visit place atleast once!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Black Truffle Explosion, 3-Course Cocktail Progression
Macy was amazing! She showed amazing service and a high amount of knowledge for each cocktail that came out. When coming from Austin I will have to come visit again and hopefully sit with her.
Absolutely perfect! We enjoyed The Aviary Experience with a beautifully paired selection of exquisite food and and cocktails (of course). What made our experience perfect, however, was the staff. From the beginning to the end we were treated better than anyplace! Definitely worth the price point. Thank you again!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The cocktails were both delicious and creative! They impressed me and my boyfriend a lot😋It’s a wonderful place for dating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I went here for my girlfriends birthday. We didn't care for the food they had so we ate before we got there. The drinks and the presentation were great. It's an experience that should be had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
We had the most incredible dining experience! The five-course meal was truly one-of-a-kind — the surprise element of not knowing what we’d be served made it so exciting. Benjamin and the entire staff were absolutely amazing; attentive, welcoming, and made us feel so well taken care of.
At first, we weren’t sure if we’d leave full and even had a backup restaurant in mind just in case. By the end, we couldn’t even look at more food — every course was that good and so satisfying. The flavors, the service, and the overall experience exceeded every expectation. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and unforgettable meal!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We chanced upon this place and were seated outside as it was full. The whole cocktail experience took us on a journey and my friends and I had a lot of fun throughout the engaging process.
The cocktails had interesting history and the staffs put in tremendous effort to deliver the different components of the cocktails. What was very memorable is that our friend had the cocktail “Wish you were here” and it came with a postcard. The staff said he would mail it back for us all the way to our friend in Singapore.
We did not think much of it. However, the postcard did reach our friend after 2 weeks and we were very excited and grateful.
Overall, interesting cocktails curated with so much thought behind them, very fun experience and lovely staffs.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Went for our 10 year anniversary- Such a unique experience for those who appreciate cocktail culture and bartenders alike. Nothing about this place radiated pretentious or stuck up. The vibes were amazing, art deco inspired decor with some low key hip hop playing on the speakers. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable, and didn’t mind my slow pace or try to rush us! The cocktails were boozy and portioned well along with the small bites. We expressed to our server we based our trip to Chicago around our love for the books and coming to The Aviary, so she offered to have someone give us a tour of the establishment. It was pretty dope, got to see behind the bar and kitchen counter, the basement/prep areas, a few other spots, and ended in the speakeasy. Honorable mention to the wonderful Host who gave us a list of food and cocktail recommendations in the city. Thank you for the awesome hospitality! We will be back :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything about The Aviary was breathtaking from delicious and artistic food, to tasty and creative drinks. Our 5 course experience was one of a kind. I would highly recommend it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely exceptional experience at The Aviary! Not only were the drinks innovative and delicious, but the service truly set them apart. As someone with very severe celiac disease, dining or drinking out can often be stressful but here, the staff proactively addressed my dietary restrictions without me even needing to ask. I was especially impressed when they initiated a conversation about distilled spirits, understanding perfectly that not all are safe for people with celiac disease. Usually, this is a frustrating conversation involving a snarky bartender confidently insisting distilled spirits are gluten-free (and therefore safe for me), which, in my case, they're absolutely not. At The Aviary, however, the team understood this nuance perfectly and even thoughtfully brought up cross-contact concerns.
It was incredibly refreshing to feel understood and never once like a burden. For anyone seeking exceptional drinks and genuinely knowledgeable hospitality, especially with dietary restrictions, The Aviary is a must-visit.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
Stunning lounge with magical cocktails.
Pricey but worth it.
Boozy cocktails
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
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