My first visit to Gilt Bar completely blew me away. I’m usually skeptical of restaurant hype, but this was genuinely one of the best meals—if not the best meal—I’ve had in Chicago. I came for Restaurant Week, which turned out to be an incredible value. We started with the bone marrow. I’d always been curious but hesitant because of the texture, yet it was rich, savory, and far more approachable than I expected. The beef cheek pie arrived with a beautiful presentation and delivered warm, comforting, deeply flavorful meat—perfect for a cold Chicago night. The mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts were excellent, but the real surprise was the aioli served with the fries. Whatever magic they put in that sauce, I would happily bathe in it. And then there was the burger: the undeniable showstopper. It’s easily the best burger I’ve had in Chicago, and honestly might be the best burger I’ve ever had. An absolute must‑order. We finished with the chocolate cream pie, which was decadent, silky, and perfectly whipped—a flawless end to the meal. I will absolutely be back as soon as possible.

We had a great dinner at the Gilt Bar! We all sat in the library speakeasy and it was a great spot. Cool corner table. Yes, lights are a little dim, but part of the ambiance, kind of loud as it is packed with people, but a cool place with huge bar, older speakeasy hallways, and the $5 Photo Booth is a nice touch! Food was really good, and portions were all shareable. To start we got the truffle mozzarella sticks and the Delice de Bourgonge. Plenty of bread and cheese to share! Great taste and flavor! For our entrees we ordered the spicy orecchiette and the vodka rigatoni, both were good. The orecchiette was a tad salty. We also ordered the side item hard to see on the menu, double wagu cheeseburger, $30, honestly wasn’t the best burger we had, good taste but dryer than id like, personally not worth that money. I’d go with other Italian pasta items for that cost they are known for. They are known for home made pasta. The service was really good. We ordered a bunch of martini and all were good, Tom was our server and took care of us. Ordered a Makers and Sprite, came out watery…they took that one off our bill! The other servers assistants were all very good, always cleaned up the table, fresh water and nice people. Tom brought us out some complimentary ice cream! Tom took all the menus so they wouldn’t get messy during the meal! Price wise, 5 of us….2 drink each, 4 entree’s and also apps, close to $500 in case you need a ballpark. Restaurant does add a “restaurant charge” automatically to the bill. Nice place! We’d come back for sure.

This time around, we decided to check out The Library speakeasy and absolutely loved it. The downstairs atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for—dim lighting, a low-key and intimate vibe, and candlelit tables that really set the mood. It felt cozy, relaxed, and perfect for a night out without feeling loud or crowded. We only stopped in for drinks on this visit, and they were well-crafted and enjoyable. While we didn’t order food this time, we couldn’t help but notice the meals coming out to other tables—and everything looked fantastic. The presentation alone made us want to come back just to try the food. Overall, the ambiance alone makes this place worth visiting, and based on what we saw and experienced, we’re already planning a return. Definitely a spot we’ll be coming back to, and next time we’ll be making sure to try the food as well!