I have been here numerous times (all the way from the Charlie's days) and my overall experience with Acre is that it is 'okay'. The service has been okay and the food has been okay. Of course, there are times when they food is great and the service is great, but there are also times when both are the opposite - which is why I have to give this place 3 stars. The location, ambiance and beer selection are superb...but I would rather go here for drinks than a meal.
(3)
Jeffrey K.
I sat at the crowded bar a few Fridays ago and had a stout and a dozen of the best oysters I have ever had in Chicago. They're a buck a piece if you arrive before seven. I ordered mine with five minutes to go. They've got an okay selection of brewskis on tap and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I'll be back for another quenching brew and more oysters.
(4)
Katie T.
Guess I should've consulted yelp before trying... I actually thought the food was really tasty. The mussels were pretty great but the few they give you leaves you wanting more. The flank steak was really flavorful but good thing I ordered it medium well because it came out medium rare. My friend got the fried rabbit that was really good as well but again the portions were just a hare small. (see what i did there?) The appearance of Acre makes you think of a brewery that will give you what you're paying for. But instead it feels as though they are all small plates presented on a white platter giving it an awkward high end feel.
(2)
Christy B.
I was excited to try based on reviews, I think they just had an off night. Ordered a dozen oysters for my meal but it came after everyone was already done eating..they comped it which was nice. Didn't get drunk refills, appetizers were a bit underwhelming. Just an off night I think, hope. I will try again sometime:)
(2)
J N.
We must have forgot about the time we stopped in and saw flies laying eggs in the buffet-style dishes. This time we made a reservation for some steak and fish. The service was not great, there was at least some miscommunication about the order, which is ok. But when all this accumulated and I spoke with the manager his attitude was an equivalent shrug. So, to share with all of you, your business as was mine, is a shrug to Acre. We tipped and left unhappy.
(1)
Michelle O.
Went early for dinner with 2 others. We ordered a few of the small plates to share to start: The sausage potatoes were delish, and the pierogis were sooo good, but not at all what I was expecting for a pierogi. Beet salad was ok. Oysters were excellent! For entrees we had the flank steak, BBQ pork ribs, and the griddled cheese with tomato soup. All 3 were good. Not great. Tiramisu and coffee drinks for dessert. Good. Not great. Food and drinks were overall 3 stars, but I gave an extra star just because the staff was so friendly, very knowledgeable, and just a pleasure to be served by :) We stayed for hours and they didn't mind one bit. Would go back, but after checking out some of the restaurants around that lil gem of an area
(4)
Molly F.
Staff was great and had a lot of beer on tap. Bartender was very knowledgable about beer. Oyster bar connected to the bar. Small plates that were perfect for sharing
(3)
Erik P.
Acre reminds me of the old adage, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Everything on their menu is a classic that they tried to make better and failed. Ketchup! It's been perfected! Why f*ck with it? But Acre did. The burger! It's been perfected! Why f*ck with it? But Acre did. If it's a classic, just do it well, don't change it. Also, a lot of reviewers said their service wasn't the best. This was also my experience. If it's not busy, I shouldn't have to hunt down my server for more water or the check. Nothing will turn people away from your establishment quicker than poor service, well maybe rat droppings, but rat sh*t shouldn't be the baseline for your service. I brought my mom here for Mother's Day and now its going to take a Cartier Watch to make up for this. #ThanksObama Serious though, there are a lot of great places to eat in Andersonville, it's a shame Acre isn't one of them. Also, don't f*ck with ketchup!
(2)
Christopher F.
A staple of Andersonville, this locally sourced restaurant kicks serious butt with pork and beef, and an ever changing menu based on seasonally available product. Brunch is a must. Try the salads, they're delicious.
(5)
Dan S.
We dined at Acre anticipating a nice food experience at a farm-to-table restaurant but the overall experience, and menu, is much more akin to a pub than a culinary experience. Check-in for our reservation was smooth and a table was immediately available. Impressive list of beers, and a beer flight, which I tried. Wine list is less extensive but adequate. Hence, the beginning of a more pub-like experience. Tables are pretty close together which, again, is okay for a pub. Menu has a nice variety of small plates. We tried the spicy cauliflower and the mac n cheese. The cauliflower, frankly, was disappointing. We were expecting crispy oven-baked with a tangy dipping sauce and what was served was coated cauliflower in a hot sauce. The mac n cheese was good but not particularly memorable. Oysters are a big feature here but not really our thing so can't comment on them. I bet the best items on the menu are the burgers, chicken sandwich or roast chicken. We both had the trout dish which was served on spinach with fried potatoes. The flavor of the trout was very good but, yikes, the spinach and potatoes were super salty. Good thing that I had beer to relieve the salty taste. Food service was fast but not particularly careful. Waiter was friendly and available. Also disappointing were the dessert choices - chocolate cake with strawberry sauce, tiramisu and bread pudding. Slim pickings and nothing particularly inventive. Again, okay for a pub but we were expecting something else. No dessert wines are available. Only street parking is available. We found a spot within 3 blocks on a Saturday night which isn't so bad for the area. Glad we tried Acre but I don't think that we'll be back again, unless we're craving a burger and beer.
(2)
Ted C.
I like Acre. I met up with some folks there over the holidays and aside from the terrific beer selection both draft and bottle. I seriously got some street cred with some beer aficionados. The oyster special was delicious enough that I managed to stuff myself with the bivalves and drank my fill for under 40 bucks. I had a whole bunch of fresh oysters and drank my share of Half Acre and Love Child before we headed out.
(4)
Gretchen A.
Popped into Acre today for the first time. Sat at the oyster bar and was pleasantly surprise to find great oyster, unique menu and good Bloody Mary's. Ordered the buffalo cauliflower with blue cheese dressing and fresh crumbled blue cheese. Wow what and awesome mid afternoon snack to go with our bloodys and oyster. Cant wait to come back for Sunday Brunch! Was eyeing the griddles cheese for next time...
(4)
Katharine T.
Something about this place is just not quite good enough. Bf and I had a few dinners here when we moved into the neighborhood but always left rather unimpressed. It's overpriced and the entree selection is strangely limited and not that good. Their ketchup is horrible for some reason. Service is slow as well. I think this place is better for drinks than dinner. They do have a nice bar and pour a nice glass of wine. They have some small plates that seem a little better than their entrees in our experience. Not all are that great but maybe a little nosh with a drink is the way to go. I cannot ever see us coming back for dinner unfortunately.
(2)
Rusty L.
Since it's in my neighborhood, I got tempted to try it. This easily became one of my least favorite restaurants. We ordered the half-shell oyster and mussels with bacon, tomatoes,etc.... These are the smallest oysters and mussels I ever had in my life. the pictures they posted here are for marketing purposes. I did not try their burgers but we're glad we did not. We saw the servers carrying what looked like slider-sized burger.
(1)
Annie D.
I didn't eat here but their drink selection was pretty good. Decent prices for the neighborhood and you can sit outside and watch the world go by. I suggest going for a beer on a nice day.
(3)
Chris B.
We went here for a Sunday brunch. Man, it was great. I had the corn bread cakes, topped with shredded pork confit and poached eggs. We will def be back.
(4)
Lindsay H.
I feel like Acre is a bit under rated. They are great for lunch, brunch, dinner and appetizers. The oyster special is also a must do! I also really like that they have oyster wine flights. Never had anything there I didn't like. The pierogi starter, calamari, buffalo cauliflower, pork burger and shrimp are my favorite items. The service is always good and I don't know that we've ever waited for a table!
(4)
Rahul G.
Clearly, I'm not the only one who feels poorly about this place. Especially the service. Wow. Took about 15 minutes before the waiter came to our table. Kept saying, "I'll be back" or "So sorry". I got the vibe he was new. Never confirmed, but more happened through the night that confirmed this. Since it took so long for him to come, we were ready to order everything at once when he did come. We ordered drinks, oysters, small plates, and dinner at the same time. It took another 15 minutes for drinks to come. We actually were sitting near the bar and saw our drinks sitting on the bar for a while. We contemplated going up to the bar and grabbing them. But we knew that'd be uncool. Ok, finally, food. I did not eat the oysters but was told they were great. Great. We ordered pizza and that was okay, nothing special. Same with crab cake. The sausages were good, although my friend wasn't impressed. The best part of the meal actually were the cheese curds. Some of the best I've had. But everything else was average. And yeah, the service was pitiful. There were several empty tables around us so it wasn't that he was swamped. And we watched him stare at our oysters at the bar before he brought them, looking at a menu making sure he knew which was which. Rookie move, right? I remember my first day working in a restaurant, but come on now. I never really complain about service, but this was terrible.
(2)
Alena A.
I wish I lived closer, so I could come here every day. The oysters are AMAZING! And you can't beat the price either - $1.50 each. They have a great variety and I've probably tried all of them at one point in time. Their menu changes often but that's a good thing because you get to try different things. Some of my favorites include mac & cheese with crimini mushrooms, wood-oven pizzas (from prosciutto to squash), and the grilled Scottish salmon. They have an awesome beer selection, too! Can't go wrong! Definitely a neighborhood gem!
After moving to Andersonville last month I made a vow to try every brunch so it was only a matter of time before I made my way to Acre. My husband and I invited some friends of ours to try the place. We'd all been hopelessly monotonous going to Lady Gregory's every week and needed a change of pace. I could easily see Acre becoming a regular brunch spot for me. I ordered the chicken and waffles. I've never ordered this dish anywhere before. Honestly, growing up in the South I'd never seen it on a menu. I've always thought of it as something Northerners think Southerners eat. However, that day my personal bias was relaxed and I gave it a try. It was delicious! The waffles were fluffy and crispy at the same time. The chicken was very good as well, though it was deboned. I don't know who started the deboning trend but it needs to stop. The sole reason this place isn't getting five stars from me is that fried chicken should never deprive one of the delicious sensation of licking the meat off the bone. A friend ordered the fried green tomatoes benedict and it was very good as well. My husband and her husband both ordered burgers. I suppose they liked them as they devoured them leaving no trace of their existence. The cocktails were also quite good. The prices were surprisingly low for brunch in Andersonville. Although, maybe the high price point exists only in my mind because I've never broken my budget on a Sunday morning in this neighborhood. I can't wait to go back and try more of their selections...if I can manage not to order the chicken and waffles every time. UPDATE: I've been back and ordered the corn cakes. These were amazing. They were rich and delicious. They almost reminded me of pineapple upside-down cake. They paired really well with the chorizo and pork confit. The deviled eggs are really good, too and they give you four halves! Also, the service was amazing. They brought share plates without us asking.Go to this place for brunch. DO IT!
(5)
Lauren B.
Still a fan of this place! Came here on Easter Sunday for brunch and had a lovely experience. The bottomless mimosa's are $18 and worth every penny. I had three in a wine sized glass and they do a great ratio of OJ to bubbly. Brisket has was great but the friend chicken and waffles were our favorite.
(4)
Kate N.
I am flummoxed. Are we all talking about the same restaurant? Friends and I wound up here the other night -- we'd never been, or really heard of it, but by the end of the meal, we were all convinced we had "discovered" something. We were seated for dinner immediately. The menu was succinct, so we shared a bunch of plates to get a good sampling of what was on order. The oysters were lovely, the sausages snappy, the squash pizza delightful (I don't even like squash), the pate smooth, and the beet salad...well, it was a beet salad. Our waiter was warm, friendly, and efficient. The place was clean, nicely laid out, and the lighting was correct -- low enough to be cozy, but not so dark as to make reading menus difficult. I basically took away one star for the tv (tvs are not for dinner time) and the mustard, which was a bit overpowering. But that really should only be half a star. Perhaps we went on a good night...but they certainly seem to have it in them. I'm only sorry for them that they haven't managed to be more consistent!
(4)
Gary R.
Oysters. Yep, oysters. I love em. Don't know that I've ever had my fill. Usually my oyster consumption is limited only by my wallet. But Acre has $1 oysters nightly from 5-7! Nightly!! And not just those mini oysters. No, these are sizable. There's a great selection and they're all fabulous! We went here the other night just to eat oysters and man, it was awesome! I can't vouch for the food but the oysters? Oh yeah!! My mouth is watering even now thinking about them. We ate dozens and dozens! Out waiter told us a table he served ordered over 380!! Now that's some eating! I felt sorry for the guy shucking! But I've put Acre on my must visit again list. And I will. I'm ordering oysters! Oh, and the beer selection is great too! What more could you want! Even Jimmy Buffet would be a fan - gimme oysters and beer, for dinner every night for a year!
(4)
Jeff L.
First time I've been here. I had a pierogi and it was decent. My friend ordered pancakes but they tasted like oysters. It was like they had cooked some sort of seafood on the grill and hadn't cleaned it and then just cooked the pancakes there. It took awhile to get water and the check. My friend remarked when we sat down that there weren't very many people here compared to every other brunch place. Now we know why. As we sit here waiting and waiting to pay, I've had time to write this review.
(2)
Solene M.
What a shame. They let go of one of their best bartenders, aka the one that knew the most about beers and drinks and consistent with his customer service. I sat at the bar and the new bartender DJ kept trying to entice flirtatious conversations with my friend and myself. If I ever go there again, I'll make sure not to sit at the bar.
(1)
Laura T.
We really wanted to like this place, but you gotta question why some of the food was allowed out of the kitchen. Chicken pate - Served in a jar that had just come out of the fridge and was rock hard. After chiseling it out it tasted fine but had a grainy texture. Half the toasts were burned black on one side and untoasted on the other. After asking for more to replace the burned ones, we were brought (more) freshly burned toast. Shrimp cocktail - The cocktail sauce wasn't properly mixed, it was straight horseradish on the bottom. Sausage plate - Driest sausage ever. Had to ask for the mustard the goes with it. The cocktails were meh. Two stars because the waiter was good and the cornbread was tasty.
(2)
Sarah G.
I want to give this more stars but the prices were a little nuts. I work at a highly rated oyster bar so I was coming in armed with some knowledge. The bad: - walked in for brunch at 2:30. Asked when oysters would be available. Hostess said 5pm. Was so disappointed until I learned it would be 3pm in reality. -My mom got the steak and eggs, steak was rather tough (however potatoes were good). -maybe it was plated strangely but the portions looked very small -my green salad was decent, nothing mind blowing. For the prices of both I expected more. -the cocktail sauce and mignonette were both kinda bad. Cocktail was flavorless and mignonette just tasted like straight up red wine vinegar. The good: -the service! I didn't catch our servers name (gentleman with a beard) but he was wonderful! Drinks refilled fast, checked in when needed, chatted about oysters. Great all around! - they shucked and served the oysters as soon as he was set up (right at 3). They were fresh and very reasonably priced. - decor is great. Overall the highlights were service and oysters themselves but for a $75 brunch for two (without booze) I expected more from the actual prepared food.
(3)
Francisco C.
Walked in to experience something new. The brunch was excellent. I recommend the House sausages, thatwere outstanding. The chicken and was delicious. I definitely recommend this Restaurant.
(4)
Tom S.
I really want to like this place but continues to disappoint. Stopped for brunch Sunday. Limited options with an attempt to be creative, but nothing jumped out as "oh that sound great". I opted for cornbread with some pork topping they gave a fancy name to with soft boiled egg on top. The cornbread was very dry and crumbly, the little bits of pork consisted of mini chunks of fat and leaner bits. About 50/50. Could not even eat the fat bits and the lean bits did not have a good flavor. My son had breakfast burger that he said was ok. Had an egg on it and a tomato relish. His friend had chicken and waffles. Waffles were dried out but said chicken was flavorful. It was a boneless breaded breast. Service is always friendly and attentive but the food has been inconsistent. They should take some cues from the Bongo Room. There is a reason there is always a long wait there!
(2)
Lizz M.
I've been to Acre twice, once as part of a burger crawl and then on a date. The first time, it was a pretty slow day with a bigger group. Service was great and we only had the burgers--which are delicious! Both the regular beef and the pork. The second time I came here was on a Saturday night. The place was pretty busy, but our server Tom didn't skip a beat on checking in on us and assuring we had enough to eat and drink. We started with the jumbo shrimp which are FANTASTIC. They're a bit of a splurge at $3 a piece, but worth it for a special occasion. We then got an order of fried cheese curds. Can you really go wrong with those? Didn't think so. For actual dinner, we both got burgers and yep, consistently good. And although primarily a beer spot, the Manhattans here are divine.
(4)
Anna B.
I have no idea why this place is only 3 stars! I've been here twice and I absolutely loved everything I had. They also have this amazingly retro cocktail list. They make a MEAN old fashioned! Everything on their menu is tastefully chosen and very interesting. This isn't really the place to go if you just want a burger (although they have a great pork burger) or a steak, but if you are in the mood for being a bit adventurous, this place is amazing. I'm very biased because I love Anteprima, also owned by the folks who own Acre, but I really did enjoy my meals here. I can't wait to go again!
(4)
Donyalle R.
So I was walking down the street one day with my boyfriend and my dog when the Acre sign for some reason caught my eye. I asked my boyfriend if he was familiar with the spot. A good sir overheard my question and told us that the place was pretty nice. He especially recommended that we try the chicken and waffles. In his words, "They have the best chicken and waffles in the city." I thought, "Oh great, its been awhile since I had some, now I got a cravin!" They had outdoor seating and allowed dogs so we went over then and there. My boyfriend wise in his ways knew to be a bit skeptical of this claim, so he decided to order something else. Since my stomach had already made up its mind I went for it. It turns out that this good sir we met on the street was but a poor lost misguided most likely north sider soul. This place did NOT have the city's best chicken and waffles. In fact, I would hope that these would appear on the list of the most bland chicken and waffles you can possibly order in the city. I might have made a doctor's appointment to make sure my taste buds were still intact but thank goodness I ordered a beer because drinking it was the only proof I had my buds were indeed functional. I should start a change.org petition to request the item be removed from the menu so as to not tarnish the good reputation of this usually tasty cuisine. I can't really comment on any other items on the menu as this was all I had, though I can say for the price my boyfriend wasn't too impressed with the meal he got.
(2)
Stephen L.
DO NOT PATRONIZE THIS PLACE. What a disappointment. The waiter did not know his menu. He did not know what their signature chow chow was made of. He had to take my menu to look if the fish and chips came with tarter sauce. He looked at the menu, said no it does not. When I looked at the menu it clearly said, yes, it came with tarter sauce. I asked for no dairy in my meal. My steak arrived with butter on it. I specifically mentioned to the waiter no butter on my steak. The two other people I was dining with had the fish and chips. The portions were totally different. This was brought to the waiter's attention. He came back from the kitchen to tell us that we were mistaken because they weight the fish. We could see that this was not true. Upon leaving the restaurant, I passed our waiter, who walked right by me and turned his face away. DO NOT PATRONIZE THIS PLACE.
(1)
Jeff H.
Booked an open table reservation. Rode our bikes 45 min to get here. Thought we would reward ourselves with a nice brunch. But unfortunately it just was not good. Salmon hash was greasy and soggy and flavorless. The accompanying salad way to salty. Chilaquiles was average at best. Had to ask for water. Had to ask for coffee refills. By the way everything is a little overpriced. the coffee is 4 bucks. Perhaps this is better place for a beer and oysters? Cute name. Good location. Bad execution.
(2)
Benjamin F.
I've been here for drinks several times and most recently the oysters and beer I had were great. Nice beer selection and I'd recommend getting a dozen oysters without hesitation. As to the other food, I've eaten at Acre 1-2 times but don't remember much, either good or bad, to comment on it. Sitting at the bar, service was attentive.
(3)
Robert A.
If YOU ARE paying Acre is definitely worth visiting for the oysters and drinks. If SOMEONE ELSE is paying definitely leave room for the eclectic small plates. This is the hardest review I've written thus far. I've been to Acre a few times, but they are constantly changing what menu items they offer and to a lesser extent their beer selection. This leaves me in a classic 'one hand' vs. 'other hand' conundrum. On the 'one hand', Acre definitely deserves credit for going for it. On the other hand, Euro Disney went for it. The movies John Carter, Waterworld, and Howard the Duck went for it too. Master P went for it when he started 'No Limit' representation, and we all know how that worked out for Ricky Williams (if you don't know - poorly). Sometimes our friends and SOs go for it. They have a dinner party and serve you something and when you ask how they found the recipe - they confess to just going for it. [Not you baby. I love when you take chances with your dinner parties by trying to imitate something done really well somewhere else without the benefit of the recipe or all the ingredients.] In short, going for it does not always yield rewards. So what can you count on? 1) Oysters. They are cheap (nightly 1$ specials) by comparison to anything else on the menu, of good quality (all types offered), and they are the one constant in an ever-changing kitchen. Plus, they might get your date horny. 2) Beers. The selections may vary, but you can count on finding some serious connoisseur-worthy choices. The beers are not cheap but not unreasonable unless you really go for it - there were some over my visits that approached 20 bucks a serving. Plus, they might get your date horny. 3) The atmosphere is hip but not too pretentious. I suppose it too, could get your date horny. 4) Small plates. Again selections vary. More so than the beers. So you can count on being pleasantly surprised and mildly disappointed if you visit often enough and try enough options. Most are not breath-friendly and will probably not get your date horny - unless your date is really into head cheese or liver... During my most recent we shared small plates of the deviled eggs and charcutier, pictured below. The deviled eggs cost 8 dollars amounted to about 2.5 boiled eggs with some smoked whitefish on top. Not bad - but definitely coming up short. It had so much lettuce, which I'm still not sure was intended as a garnish or part of the plate. I think they'd do better to market that plate as a salad. The charctuier was 14 bucks. Not cheap, but they had generous portions of 4 different types of meat (chicken pate, goat head cheese, pork liver pate, and pork rillete). It also came with pickled onions/peppers and THE BEST MUSTARD EVER! Sounds like a hit right? - it was - except for the tiny amount of bread. Have you people heard of baguettes? Fortunately they brought more by (and mustard) and I left all warm and tingly after finishing it (though it could have been #1-3). Overall I'd call it a 4, but if we guessed wrong on the small plates we chose it'd be a 3. If you don't mind going all food voyeur, you should be able to avoid mistakes by ordering something that looks good from a neighboring table. Otherwise, you may end up slightly disappointed for the money you spend. [Though this can also be avoided by being the one taken as opposed to the taker.]
(4)
Chelsea B.
We always really want to like this place. It has so much promise--a good selection of beers, the food is pretty solid, and the space is nice. The service, however, is awful. We went tonight for dinner, and the service was a disaster. The beers were slow to arrive, but the real problem was the food arrival. My boyfriend's burger arrived fifteen minutes before my flatbread (it was later explained that the flatbreads are cooked in the nextdoor kitchen so they can't be timed, but the waiter should have explained this issue when we ordered; I could have ordered something else). By the time mine arrived, my boyfried was just about done eating his, which was a little awkward. The thing is, it always feels like the service stinks here--we've tried it a few times, and have often had similar issues. Not a bad product, nice space, but not a place we like to go.
(2)
Paul B.
They have $1.25 oysters daily now. Let me know if you find a better deal in the city. It used to be a happy hour thing and now its all the time. The service can be amazing at busy times and slow during slow times. If you want to sit outside there is great seating. Great beer selection. Also enjoy the fried cheese curds. They will change your life.
(4)
Dawon H.
My 3 friends and I wanted to try a different place, so we landed on Acre after looking at the menu online. We sat on the patio and decided to order small plates. This ended up being a great choice! First round: Jumbo shrimp - (count 4) a little on the small side but tasty House sausages - a plate-full of flavor Buffalo cauliflower - added a bit of crunch (being battered) Second round: Wood oven corn pizza - this has a nice, spicy cayenne kick to it Pierogi- (count 4) creamy and a good palette cleanser Carnitas tacos - (count 4) I could have eaten all four, really good Ordered the Chinon Cuvee Mathilde - such a beautiful rose that we ordered three bottles! We had a bit of a wait once we first sat down before our waiter officially greeted us and took our drink order, but then he was more attentive throughout the meal.
(4)
Danny B.
The smoked trout hash (+ eggs benedict) was great. It helped with my slight hangover and was light enough not to regret eating it.
(5)
V W.
I had heard good reports about Acre ... but was very disappointed. Went for brunch..the Bloody Marys were just awful...there is no excuse for a bad bloody mary in my opinion...sent them back...my friends corned beef hash was terribly greasy with very little hash and my chilaquiles were ok. Coffee was good. Server was very nice (Charles). I know they were finishing up brunch but I couldnt help but feel the place was a bit dirty...sorry...no way would return.
(1)
Colin E.
I like the atmosphere here and our service was top-notch. However the food was all bland. We got a few small plates (tartinas, crudo, crab cake) and shared the pork burger. All of it was unbalanced (lots of fat, little flavor) and forgettable. Also, while I'm aware that people don't go there for cocktails, they were still "meh" enough to warrant mentioning that this is an area of weakness for Acre. Stick with the beer. I may go again, if I'm in the area, because of the atmopshere and service, but for the food or drink.
(2)
Keith A.
I came here for the Dark Nights, Darker Beer tap takeover that they were doing. And, I have to say, I'm extremely glad I made my way up here. I liked the whole set up of Acre. The bar curls around and even at it's busiest on a thursday night, I was able to grab a seat at the bar. Hell, by the time that the rest of my friends got there, we were able to get a decent sized table. Score! I mostly focused on the smaller plates as I wanted to drink most of my calories. Granted, I still was hungry enough to get a crab cake and some welsh rarebit later on. I was definitely a fan of the crab cake. Granted, for me not to really like a crab cake you kinda have to screw it up pretty badly. Still, this was a good sized cake with a good amount of meat in it. The rarebit was absolutely delicious. Welsh Rarebit is one of those treats my mom used to make every now and then when I was younger, and this one lived up to my good memories. I loved the selection they had going for the takeover. While I did mostly focus on stouts, I have to give it up to them for also including a schwarzbier and a dopplebock on the list as well as a black saison. There were about 20+ selections and it was tough to decide on which one to get. This is how to do a list people, it's not about having a bajillion taps. It's about looking at the list and thinking to yourself: if I'm gonna make my way through all of this list, I'm absolutely screwed tomorrow. I wanted to try everything, but that wasn't going to happen. I also loved that they had a BCBS vertical in there and all were on tap. The service was absolutely great the whole time, and the prices were killer. It was only $6 per pour on everything with a lot of very tough to get brews. I need to put Acre on my rotation now for when I venture up to A-ville. While Hopleaf is a holy grail bar, Acre certainly does their thing and did it well. I'm glad I used this event as my excuse for finally coming here.
(4)
Nichole F.
Some friends and I went here for an after dinner drink. The place was a little slow which was great since we had a party of 5. We had a nice big booth in the back. Our waiter was good. He was fast with the drinks. They had a great beer list. They don't have Dogfish Head beer at a ton of places and they had it here - I was pretty excited about that. I would definitely go back to this bar.
(5)
Sarah R.
My hubby and I had a gift certificate for this restaurant, but after reading some of the reviews we had average expectations for the night. Boy were we pleasantly surprised. Great, cozy atmosphere, perfect for chilly Chicago nights. Amazingly attentive service - Mike C. was beyond helpful, funny and charming. And we had great food to boot. Cheese curds are always good, but these are exceptional. Light batter crust and melted cheese inside that is very close to liquid gold. Grilled marinated shrimp - might seem like a weird flavor combo in writing, but it is so interesting in your mouth. Porkburger is great and, again, different from what we've tried at other places. I had the brisket. There is some secret chef maneuver in that brisket and it is amazing. Don't be scared by the horseradish cream, it is nowhere near overpowering. My best advice: Give this place a try. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Filip F.
I live in the neighborhood and I really want this place to be good. But it is not. Instead of a long review of good and bad, I will just leave you with one piece of information- my burger had carrots on it....yes...fucking carrots...that were sliced too thick, that were too hard in the middle, that were too cold...and tasted like fucking carrots would taste if you put them on top of a delicious warm burger. Enough said. ....1 year later. You get another shot Acre. Carrots are gone from the burger and burger is decent- good start. Tingo tacos are bland. Appetizer Puffs are good. Mac and cheese appetizer is great. Except that someone decided that in addition to velvety texture of cheese, macaroni and mushrooms, this entree needed garbage disposal-destroying, tough as shit...leaks! Who is it that works at this restaurant that keeps sneaking one extra ingredient into entrees that is way the fuck out of the left field. Salads were solid. Although lettuce is shit quality- not really Chicago restaurant standard. But service, drinks and vibe of this place is pleasant. And for that, you get another star Acre!
(3)
Jeffrey M.
Good food and Beer selection and great atmosphere. We tried this place despite all the poor reviews for service. We didn't have any problems with our server, he even talked to us for a bit about the other restaurants the owner of Acre owns. We started with oysters and the server took the time to tell us where they are from and how they are different. For my entree I had the pork burger and it was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. We will go back.
(4)
Dana L.
We are so happy we came here for brunch! The service and food were phenominal! I would definitely come back for the breakfast tacos and my wife loved her shrimp and grits! Come here for a great dining experience!
(5)
Jeffie J.
A small plate haven in Andersonville. Beer is fine, but so are cocktails. I had a very generous Manhattan, well made and boozy. So large I never got to the wine flight I hoped to sample. Then a succession of small plates. The artisanal salad with avocado was well-dressed and salty (in a good way). The fried green tomatoes came with a nice aioli sauce and two large shrimp. Corned beef tongue was tasty, but the edges were kind of hard and dried out; it came with sour green tomatoes. Service from Justin was great. The one miss of the night were Great Lake smelts-- they weren't so great, in fact they were so teeny that they were completely lost in their fried batter coating--you couldn't tell there were any fish in there. It adds up to 4 stars, because even if some of the food is just 3 stars, you have to give credit for a menu loaded with offbeat choices (deviled eggs, smelts, tongue, duck confit, etc.) This extends to the wine list (check out the Furmint Tokay from Hungary). I'll be back to sample some more of them and try some wine flights.
(4)
Joe P.
Despite the negative-leaning review, I tried Acre, and felt I gave them the benefit of the doubt. But try as I might--and its not due to their lack of effort--but the food just doesn't live up to any hype, if there is still any remaining. For what I paid, it just wasn't good at all.
(2)
Rohan D.
This interesting and friendly establishment is full of indecision. The decor is partly authentic turn of the last century (the bar is absolutely beautiful), with some odd ironic plaster animal heads on one wall, tractor seats on another, postmodern lighting mixed with antique art deco and art nouveau/craftsman lights, beautiful old bar booths with relatively cheap looking tables that don't match the chairs, and big screen televisions tuned to March Madness that make you wonder, sports bar, bar with food, seafood restaurant or neighborhood tap? On a Saturday night the place emptied out for us to come in here for a group night cap, the waitstaff had collectively settled into a "whew, we got slammed," mode. At times it was hard to get our waiter's attention, on the other hand, some in our group gave some annoying orders (some given after the kitchen closed), and there were no mistakes. Satisfactory selection of beer, wine, and bar drinks, but being the designated driver I can only report that the soft drinks were fine. We arrived late, after having had dinner around the corner, but they had sold out of oysters. They sold around a thousand oysters, which is a bit unimaginable to me, but looking at some of the other reviews, it might happen here more than it should. The prices seemed a bit high, but maybe not at all atypical in Andersonville.
(3)
Felipe A.
Food was just ok, I think is overpriced. I had a couple of small dishes with my girlfriend, the crab cake was ok, and the pierogi was good, nothing special. We also had a salad (artisanal greens), it was a shame for 7 dollars you get a very small salad with two tiny pieces of avocado a couple of radishes and the lemon vinaigrette but they put it for you and it does not have any special flavor. Then the BBq ribs were ok, but 20 dollars for just three bones, that's an assault specially when their recipe is nothing awesome. Positive: the service was very good, and the cocktails too.
(2)
Carrot D.
Great neighborhood place! $1 oysters after work and a nice Manhattan. Burger is good as is the Mac n cheese, the pierogi filled with potatoes, and the charcuterie board.
(4)
H. V.
Made Valentines reservations and were seated early and immediately. Right now, we're at a 10 star rating amiright? Wrong! While our server Charles (ask for him!) was amazing, accommodating, ebullient, and affable, it seems management and ownership does not understand that oysters are aphrodisiacs and that perhaps there may be a surplus ordered on valentines day. Our first course (shrimp cocktail) arrived. Then we waited. After 20 minutes we ordered the charcuterie and cheese platter. 5 minutes later they came but our oysters still hadn't. When we complained, we were told that the delay was due to the oysters being hand shucked. Well duh. You're an oyster bar. We were never delivered our salad, but out server did an excellent job making up for the kitchen and managements misstep. This is NOT am oyster bar. Don't go expecting otherwise. The poor things were mutilated beyond recognition and the shells were shattered enough to reconstruct your face.
(2)
Steven N.
I live close to here so, I have been able to eat at Acre several times. I was debating for a while to whether it should be given a rating of 3 or 4. I decided for the later because the beer list is great and the oyster bar is amazing! If you're a fan of oysters you definitely need to go here. Any given night they have 5-6 different types from different regions and certain nights they're only 1$. The wine list is so-so and drinks are decent although not consistent and quality depends on who is working. The food is good, depending on what you order. I have had the pork burger and the fried chicken and waffles. The most negative aspect of this restaurant is that the service isn't all that great. The bar tenders always seem kind of cranky and the servers always seem rushed. High point of the service is the oyster bar-bartender(they have it set up right next to the bar) was great. Gave me a couple recommendations on oysters, personally introduced himself. I wouldn't go back so often if it wasn't for the oyster bar. Price I chose was including one drink, an entree and a few oysters. Hope this helps!
(4)
Steph P.
I wasn't sure how Acre would go since the reviews are very mixed, but we went and enjoyed our time. Some plates were awesome while others fell flat. The best part of dinner by far was the service. Everyone was great - especially our server, Mike C (hopefully I remembered the name correctly!). Mike was knowledgeable on the beer selection and the plates. He was fun and attentive too. The restaurant decor is done well also. To sum it up - I'd say the food was overall a tad above average but the beer and service helps it even out to a solid four stars.
(4)
Lee L.
Acre has a really great beer list. They have had some special beer events you can see mentioned by others (Dark nights darker beers and a Three Floyd's tap takeover). Unfortunately, Acre has always had a bit of an identity crisis to me. Are you a beer bar or a farm-to-table restaurant? The food plates are small - with the excuse that everything is locally sourced and farm-to-table - but so are many restaurants on the same strip of road and I never feel shorted at those. Acre is great for a nightcap, but if I want to eat I go elsewhere. You should try the food out for yourself, though, because a couple of the dishes are pretty good and they have a good oyster special. For me, over time, Acre is no longer a go-to food place.
(3)
Joe M.
My partner and I ate here for the first time tonight and I'm torn about how to rate. We started with the cheese curds and pirogies which were amazing. I had the beef burger with the fried egg which was also very tasty. My partner had the pulled pork sandwich that unfortunately had no flavor along with flavorless coleslaw and the cold bun on which it was served - maybe it was an off night for that particular item. The fries served with our meal were delicious, but a little heavy and greasy. Our waiter was very polite and engaging. The host asked us how the meal was and we politely gave him honest feedback. He apologized, which was nice - but we're not sure if we'll come back. I didn't care for the music they were playing - sort of sounded like some indie burnout/depressing music - it did nothing for the ambiance. As well, the menu selection is quite limited so if we do go again, it will probably be for drinks and appetizers. Maybe not.
(2)
Ali L.
My first time at Acre, they were playing Tool (be still my nostalgic heart) and served Founders' Keepers -- something like an 8% cider aged in bourbon barrels. This was last year. Founders' Keepers hasn't been founders'd ever since, but Acre has a special place in my heart for introducing me to that alone. And then there are oysters. $1 oysters from 5-7 and 9-midnight EVERYDAY (or something, those might not be the exact times anymore?), with a selection which changes daily. God. So good. And thennn there is the food. Everything I've had has been wonderful, I'm surprised to see so many negative comments. I love that it's a daily menu, too. -1 star because I do agree that service has been awfully slow at times. The hospitality of the bartenders more than makes up for it, but that only works when you're actually sitting at the bar, which I haven't done often. I have been here more times than I can count and I'll continue going back for the oysters and amazing drink selection alone. This is always one of my favorite places to bring guests.
(4)
Eva M.
We decided to try their fixed price promotion this evening. It was $29 for an appetizer, entree and desert. I had the mushroom barley soup which is very hearty- nice size portions of mushrooms and barley. The soup was hot perfect for a winter night. My entree was the trout, well prepared but I didn't care for the yoghurt sauce on top. My friend had the chicken liver tartines and loved them. Her entree was the Char with farro and it was really good. I thought the chocolate mouse was ok. Not great and not bad. THe pear goat tart was outstanding. Our server was great. His name was Charles. He was attentive to us. I would go back and try some of their oysters. They have a promotion at certain hours where the oysters are $1.
(3)
Erica K.
I just can't with Acre. The food is not good. I ordered a burger recently (after having not been in there for AGES because there are better options around) and asked for medium rare. It came so well done it was basically burned. I had been traveling all day for business and just wanted some food. I let the waiter know it was terrible, but didn't kick up a fuss- not his fault. I ended up only eating 2 bites but still paying for the terrible food. If you go for drinks fine, but this place is a waste for dinner. Sad.
(2)
Angie M.
A couple gal pals and I stopped in for a little snack on a Saturday shopping run through Andersonville. The menu didn't look very appetizing. We decided to just order up the grilled veggie flatbread. Mistake. It arrived barely warm. We questioned whether or not the mushrooms were canned, as they had that unavoidable grayish tint. The cheese on top was barely melted and the flatbread itself was hardly cooked. Ick. We poked at it, paid the bill and scooted on out. I would avoid.
(2)
Mike V.
Went for brunch on a Saturday morning right when they opened at 11am. We were actually let in a few minutes early since we happened to walk by and were therefore waiting in the cold. seated right away - attentive wait staff for the whole meal. thumbs up there. i got the chicken and waffles - it was phenomenal. the chicken was lightly fried dark meat and the waffles were well done. the sunny side up eggs really sealed it all together, along with the handmade butter and syrup. my wife got buttermilk pancakes with apples - they were merely passable.
(5)
Carolyn B.
This could very well be the best brunch I've had in Chicago (and that's saying something!) Made reservations through OpenTable for a Saturday morning when my family was in town. I was surprised that the place was basically empty at 11am, but we got a great booth in the back. Decor is simple and a little rustic with comfy booths and plenty of light. The brunch menu has a number of large and small plates, and we all selected large plates. I had the cornbread cakes and it was absolutely delicious. The dish was a large piece of cornbread (more like 2 pieces) topped with plenty of pulled pork and chorizo, 2 poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce. My only teeny tiny nitpick was that the pork and chorizo could've been a little juicier, but the cornbread was plenty moist and the hollandaise and runny yolks brought it all together. Seriously, it was phenomenal. Definitely not a well-known brunch spot, but I would bring people here again. Worth the jaunt up to Andersonville for sure!
(5)
Mark E.
Well decorated, great beer selection, and an appealing menu. Service at the bar was frosty at first, as my friend and myself are not learned in the nuances of world-class beer, and I believe we were pegged as rubes. Music's too loud. Beer is tasty.
(3)
Talea B.
Service was top notch except when we told the waiter that one of our meals was less than desirable. Frankly..he didn't care. Meal in question: tempura avocado and shrimp. The shrimp was to door and over cooked and the avocado was bland. The vegetarian risotto was bland and even though the lamb confit was tasty, for the price of $11 there should have been more than one piece. We'll go back for the fine beer list and burgers, not the other food.
(2)
Deana R.
I was surprised by how not-great this place was. The service was bad--lots of booths were free when we got there, but we couldn't sit at one because they were covered with messes from the last people eating there. Our water glasses were dirty, nobody picked up our used plates, and we had to hail the busser to get our check after our waiter straight-up forgot about our last round of drinks. All of the food (besides the cheese plate, which was good) was pretty boring. I tried to order the only interesting cocktail on the menu only to be told they'd stopped carrying it. All in all, it wasn't a memorably horrible experience, but with all the great restaurants on Clark street, I wonder how this place is still there.
(2)
Jaime G.
Need another excuse to hit this North Side neighborhood? You got it. It's called Acre. Acre is cool restaurant with a sleek atmosphere inside and nice view outside (mostly for people watching). Awesome beer selection (i think they have 30 beers on top - mostly great quality craft beers, like the Mud Puppy Porter and Chocolate Yeti Stout, but also have a full bar). Food is descent too. Most of us ordered apps which are all good - like the ceviche, homemade sausage plate, and scallops. But try the memphis style burger - nice southern touch to this beauty. The one thing that made this a not-so perfect experience was the service outside. We ate and drank outside when i went and it was severely under manned. One waiter covering 6 tables and he just couldn't keep up. He really didn't seem to get it either. Nice enough though and i'll let it pass given the beer and food offering. You have to try it.
(4)
Dee W.
The hubby and I came here for date night and we had such a fabulous time there. Parking was easy enough to find. We came on a Thursday night around 6pm and were seated promptly. We definitely took advantage of Acre's Raw bar one buck oysters which is 5pm - 7pm and 9pm - midnight. We love the concept of farm to table restaurants and using local farms and breweries. The hubby had a glass of Few Spirits whiskey (from our local Evanston). We realized that we could take advantage of their fantastic prix fixe menu which was 3-course menu for only $29/person on Sunday - Thursday. The hubby had the fried cheese curds which were delicious (not as good as Farmhouse but pretty close) and I opted for the charcuterie which was delectable. For our entrees, the hubby opted for a salmon and I had the grilled cornish hen. Both were cooked perfectly and the freshly sauteed vegetables were delicious. Overall, we had a wonderful date night, Acre - thank you and we look forward to coming back again.
(4)
Rachel R.
Ugh, want to like this place but too many problems. Ordered a bottomless mimosa only to be told that they were nearly out of Prosecco so it wouldn't really be "bottomless." Then, after waiting forever, our brunch came out both cold and overdone. The staff is doing their best but the kitchen clearly needs to up their game. Disappointed.
(2)
Sheila K.
I always passed by this place when I am walking on Clark St. Finally came here for brunch and had the Chicken and Waffles. It was delicious, the waffles were nice and crispy and the Chicken was moist and crispy. You also get eggs, sunny side up. Thumbs up! The service is great too, they are really nice. We will come here to try the oysters in the future. Thanks for a delicious meal and great service!
(4)
Jenny N.
I wanted to like this place because of it's great location and promising menu, but it was just not good. Went on a Friday for dinner with a girlfriend and sat at the bar. We both ordered fish tacos and then the warm olive appetizer. The olives were inedible- I have no idea what they are marinated in but it was straight up disgusting. The fish tacos were just plain corn tortillas, what looked like bagged cabbage and pickled jalapenos from a jar and one piece of fried fish. Super bland. They were served with a green salsa which was not spicy or flavorful. This was one of the most boring meals I've had at a restaurant in a long time. By no means am I a good cook and I am confident I could make a more creative taco. The beer list was decent and the service was good. That earns them an extra star. I watched the bartenders waste SO MUCH BEER by pouring off the head of each beer sometimes 5 or 6 times per pint. I don't know if their keg line is too warm so that it makes the beer too heady or if they just don't know what they were doing- but as a former bartender I was annoyed by their wastefulness.
(2)
Brian G.
Terrible food and service. We waited forever for the waiter. The food was so bad my 9 year old could have made a better meal and I'm not kidding!
(1)
Stephanie C.
From the outside Acre seems like a place where you'd like to eat, maybe grab a pint or a few oysters. The inside is pleasant enough with tall ceilings, an inviting bar and plenty of TVs to watch that week's game. The menu, however leaves little to be desired. My wife and I first popped in here during an Andersonville street festival, basically because we were hot and looking for a place to cool down for a bit with a cold beer. While the beer was fine, the appetizers left little to be desired. This weekend we were in the neighborhood and went back there for brunch, not having realized that this was the place with the less than appetizing appetizers. The brunch menu is plentiful, that's about where the positive comments end. Items ranged from buffalo "chicken" (fried cauliflower smothered in Franks Hot Sauce and bleu cheese) to a frittata to pumpkin pancakes and everything in between. What's not on the menu is an egg any way you want dish; something I'd think would be a staple on any brunch menu. We ordered the buffalo cauliflower, the BLT and the house made sausages. I can't believe I'm saying this, but the best dish was the fake buffalo chicken. I ordered the BLT with the egg. The fried egg not only arrived cold, but on a different plate. I wasn't aware this was a build your own sandwich kind of place; if I wanted that, I'd head to the nearest Build-A-Bear store and see if they could offer that to me in addition to a stuffed animal. Now, the sandwich...it looked like the chef picked up a huge handful of arugula and just shoved it between the bread. Apparently they also had a large stash of the tomato jam they were looking to offload on to my sandwich because that was globbed on as well. Lastly, the bacon...oh the bacon...it was great...great if your thing is being able to grease your car with it, because that's about how much grease each piece of bacon had on it. The BLT came with a side of fries, decent enough and a dipping sauce. Get this....MORE TOMATO JAM!!! You know what it's like to think you're getting ketchup, but instead being greeted with more of the jam you didn't want on the sandwich?! Next came the home made sausages. Apparently our waiter told the kitchen we had a toddler in tow (we did not), because the sausages came out pre-cut and pretty much, aside from the chicken sausage, indecipherable. There was a blob of "mustard", that was chock full of vinegar, needless to say it tasted awful. There were mustard seeds, that was the only we knew it was "mustard". My wife suggested I try something that she described as scrapple. Now, to be honest, I've never had scrapple, but I'm willing to bet that scrapple is better than whatever other version of sausage they were trying to serve us. The beers were fine, probably because the kitchen couldn't get their hands on it. Oh, also, remember how I said it's a decent place to come in for a beer and catch the game? Plan on only watching one game, because every TV was tuned to the same channel; it was Sunday, we all know there are no less than half a dozen games you can watch at any one time. Obviously that last part could have been changed if I asked, but I was too focused on trying to get out of there at that point. We didn't have the oysters which is what they seem to like to be known for, but to be honest, there are a dozen places I'd head before sampling their oysters.
(2)
Monica G.
Unclean dishes: Two sets of our silverware had food residue on them and there was some sort of saucy substance on the rim and the bottom of someone's cup of coffee that was NOT coffee. Eggs were also undercooked.
(1)
Shane E.
Surprised to see mixed reviews regarding Acre - but everyone has an opinion and different tastes and preferences. My wife and I went here awhile back and I've been meaning to post a review. First off, I love their food and the different items you can order. I had their steak which was soooo good my wife and I ordered another one to take home. All the different options and appetizers are insane, and I feel this would be the perfect place for a group. The beer list is insane. Has everything from everywhere and you really can't go wrong. But what I most liked about the place was the atmosphere. Charmy, warm, fun, lively, cosy, you name it. Good music, full bar, crowded but not too crowded, and the server we had (so sorry - forgot name) was fantastic. People mention prices, but I feel their prices are normal. I mean heck, we are in Chicago - the third largest city in the U.S. and Edgewater is a nice area. It drives me nuts when people complain about prices in the city... I mean rents are high, taxes high, so how the heck do people expect businesses to stay around? Anyways - sorry for digression. But I love Acre. I will be back soon to eat and also to drink some more of those yummy beers!
(5)
Michelle H.
Love this neighborhood spot. Oysters daily, great, clean food. Healthy portions, no huge plates which is nice. Been here many times and always consistent. Fantastic beer selection, imports & craft.
(4)
Monica W.
Oysters! Oysters! Oysters! I'm one happy happy happy lady.
(5)
J H.
I've been to this place a number of times for brunch (bottomless mimosa, anyone?), dinner, and just drinks as well. The food is good and there's plenty of wine and beer to choose from.
(4)
Linh L.
I really liked this place. The food is different. I've eaten a ton of ethnic foods, but the food here tastes like something super exotic. I like how the portions are small too so you can try a little bit of everything. As for ambiance, we dined outside and it was great. It would be nice if our culture were open to sharing their plates instead of keeping the plate for themselves -- just sayin'!
(5)
Michael S.
Very disappointing. Stopped in for lunch last week, there were 2 tables seated - and we were the third. It took 3-4 minutes for our waiter to arrive, we ordered 2 glasses of wine, and those took about 8 minutes! The waiter kept disappearing! I had the swordfish sandwich - it was very small and smelled fishy, and the fries were not great that came with it. My friend had a nice flavorful flatbread. They have a huge beer and wine selection. When we left, I asked the other waiter on duty, if our waiter was new or something. He said, "No, he has been here a while - I think he was helping in the kitchen also today. You can NOT help in the kitchen AND wait on tables.
(2)
Kelly K.
It's just not good. Service and quality of food leaves much to be desired. Should have known better when we walked in and were sat immediately for Sunday Brunch.
(2)
Jeremy M.
Our initial impression of this restaurant was great. The menu looked delicious and the ambiance was decent. However, I prefer to eat and not just stare at my menu and drink warm water. We left after 15 minutes of not being helped or acknowledged. If you like reading menus, check this place out. If you like eating, pass.
(1)
Malia M.
We sat outside and everything we ate was very good, actually. Short review because the atmosphere wasn't spectacular or anything and the prices were tad high considering the entire experience. The food was very tasty across the board: WOOD GRILLED CALAMARI lentils, spinach, knob onion, spicy pepper vinaigrette FLATBREAD tomato, spence farm sweet corn , mushrooms, swiss chard, chihuahua , parmagiano ARUGULA SALAD red onion, pine nuts, pecorino romano, strawberry -rhubarb vinaigrette PANCETTA-WRAPPED PORK TENDERLOIN farro, cauliflower, asparagus, rhubarb-ginger chutney (Although, ours wasn't with Pancetta. Not sure if this menu is old)
(4)
Melissa S.
I visited Acre with some friends on a recent sunny weekday evening. We had a baby with us but we just couldn't bear another grease-filled meal at Hamburger Mary's or Lady Gregory's. Acre to the rescue! The week-day oyster special is a great deal. We ordered a bunch and they were all delicious. We also had several small plates, including the smelt, sweetbreads, and calamari. All were tasty, although the calamari was too salty. We were in the mood for a nice white wine and their selection gave us plenty to choose from! Although they were unfortunately out of my first choice. Best of all, the service was excellent! No one gave us the stink eye for bringing in a hungry baby, and everything was friendly and prompt. I'll be back for more $1 oysters!
(4)
April S.
I love Acre because it is located close to my house, but also I love the chicken and waffles for brunch. The food is good, no complaint with the food. I don't usually like any of the options for the pre-fixe dinner, but I'm a really picky eater so I won't hold that against them. They have an $18 bottomless mimosa brunch, which I've done several times. They also have a $1 oyster night if that is your thing. The one thing to mention is that I've been several times and I always seem to get the same server, except for twice. The one guy I get the most is kind lackidasicle and comes and go, mostly he's gone. I like when there is a good balance between the server who is always missing, and the server who seems to never go away. Just check in a little more frequently dude...but otherwise I enjoy the food, drinks, ambiance, location.
(4)
mark s.
Tasty fresh farm to table style American food updated seasonally. Outstanding beer selection, affordably priced wines. Service is prompt and very professional. Figure $40 per person with an appetizer, main and a few drinks.
(4)
Jeremy S.
This place was really cool to hang out with friends, try a bunch of Italian Tapas and enjoy a bottle of wine. The lamb entree and short ribs were pretty much perfect! The lamb was so tender you could cut through it with your fork. The short ribs were cooked to perfection, but I liked the Lamb much better. Mussels were as expected. Rapini greens were excellent as well. Great place for a date night or a great place for a group of good friends to enjoy wine, tapas and good times. Their is also a bar next door that looked awesome and had one dollar oysters.
(4)
Lina W.
This review is for the oyster happy hour! The oysters were only a $1 each and they were very fresh, cleanly shucked, abundantly tasty! Our bar server was very friendly and entertaining!
(5)
Nikkie H.
This is a brunch review, so keep that in mind. This past weekend was brunch-a-palooza for me. I had brunch both days at two new places. Acre was the second place. I know the reviews have been quite mixed, but I have to say that I loved it. LOVED IT! I'll explain why I didn't give five stars momentarily. So, yeah, the food was very tasty. I was really torn about what to get, because the chicken and waffles sounded so good. A girl sitting at the table next to me had it, and it also looked amazing. I decided to go a little different though and instead got the smoked salmon hash. Good call. It was deeeeee-licious. A bit salty, not surprisingly, but seasoned really well with a nice kick in each bite. The eggs were cooked perfectly, and the potatoes were chewy and crispy to perfection. My friend had the chilaquiles, and while I actually forgot to ask her if she liked them (too busy stuffing my face), she did clean her plate so I can "assume" she loved it. Our server was friendly, and I loved sitting facing the window so I could people watch while I scarfed. The one star came off because the end of our meal was a little weird. We finished our food and they took our plates. The server asked if we would like anything else and we said no, thinking he'd bring the bill. Then we waited, and waited, and waited. It was okay, because it was nice catching up with my friend, but if they weren't in a hurry to bring our bill the least they could've done is offer a refill on our coffee or water. We sat for a good 10 minutes with empty coffee mugs and water glasses before our server finally came up and asked if we wanted our bill.
(4)
Omar L.
2 years ago, I would have given Acre 2 stars for their high prices, bad service and limited menu. Thankfully, I gave it another try. It's clear that this place has had some growing pains, but I think they have finally found their way. With their improved service and menu, Acre has become a goto spot for me. I usually go for dinner, but I've also had a nice time just having apps and drinks. The beet salad is fantastic!
(4)
Tiffany C.
Food is pricey for what you get, but it tasted decent enough. Im interested to see how it is with their new chef. I have not eaten here since January 2011. I give it high ratings for the drinks. The wine is fantastic. Great selection and portion. The mixed drinks are always very well done. The bar tenders and servers have all had great customer service whenever I have come here.
(4)
Kameron N.
Worst service I have ever experienced. The worst part is I wanted to like the place and food was good. The waiters behavior was the worst I have ever experienced. The waiter lied to us and didn't come to our table except for every 30 minutes when we had to wave him down or have someone else grab him. I wish there was a 0 star rating because they deserve nothing but that. I don't usually write reviews but when I do it means the place was unbelievably good or unbelievably bad, I'm sure you can guess the rest.
(1)
Lisa F.
I go to Acre for the oysters. I love the raw oyster bar. I usually go during the week and so I haven't run into an issue with getting oysters quickly. I also sit at the bar so that might expedite the order. I haven't tried much from the kitchen, but the few items I have tried were okay. I would recommend Acre if you're looking for a good deal on raw oysters.
(3)
Jason W.
This is a drastic improvement of their former self Charlies. Have been here several times since the transition, and after a couple small bumps in the beginning they have settles in. Try the $1 oyster special, and have a few of the small plates at the bar. You won't be left hungry or unsatisfied. The oysters they have are somehow always fresh and they have a great seasonal beer selection now. Bar staff is much better as well, even the shuckers are good to talk to.
(4)
Ty F.
So, we live in the hood, and we've been to Acre many times. The usual service is great...I'm terribly sorry, but I don't know the name of our usual bartender. He (our usual bartender) is great. We've had the oysters, which we've never had any complaints about, and the beer on tap changes weekly (nice addition). Today, however, we had a less than lovely experience. Chelaea, our bartender, obviously didn't want to be at work today. I get that today is St. Patrick's day - the bar wasn't busier than usual - and perhaps those who had to work would rather be out drinking; however, when 1/4 of my pilsner is head and I'm told, "The beers are foamy today." I'm a bit turned off. Approximately 3 minutes after being asked if we want food, Chelaea says (verbatim), "To answer my question, do you want food?" No Chelaea, we don't want food...in fact, we don't want the drinks we just ordered. Will we be back? We will, but if that bartender is serving, we will certainly leave and go elsewhere. Sad, cause we used to enjoy this place.
(2)
Krystal B.
Always go for brunch have an amazing food experience. I love when they change their menu and find new things to try, they never disappoint. One if my favorite dishes are the chilaquiles and the chicken & waffles.
(5)
Bran W.
Been there twice, wonderful both times. Nice atmosphere, excellent service, and most importantly great food. Smelt appetizer was sooooo good. Lamb, great, Cocktails yummy......tad expensive...
(4)
RJ W.
I APOLOGIZE! I AM SORRY! to any other business I have ever given a one-star reivew to in the past. I was wrong. Compared to Acre, every single one of you is at least a 2-star. I was wrong and I am willing to admit my mistake! ACRE is , without a doubt, THE ABSOLUTE WORSE RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME IN ANY CITY, PERIOD. I do give them some credit, they are consistent. Not only is their food horrible, and it really is - I mean just awful across the board - but the service is arrogant and non-existant. I cannot posssibly hope, even in my wildest dreams, to give you my thoughts and opinions on how awful this place is minus writing a book. And as I already have wasted 3 hours of my time on this place (including over an hour from the time I ordered an appetizer to the point the sad item showed up in front of me, the waiter going missing for 20 minutes at a time, not taking drink orders, forgetting menu's for over 30 minutes, some of the worst, most over-priced food I have every had placed in front of me, etc...but I digress) I am not going to give ACRE any more of my precious life. I can heartily suggest going approx. 5 blocks north to the White Castle at Clark and Peterson... the food is astoundingly better and the employees infinitely more talented and caring....
(1)
Leslie G.
I've been here twice for dinner and really enjoyed my food both times. I first came here during the summer and just had two appetizers for dinner: a pickled beet salad and an heirloom tomato salad. I love beets and heirloom tomatoes, so it was hard to go wrong with those two choices. My only complaint was that the beet salad also included an assortment of fruit (strawberries and such). The sweet flavors of the fruit mixed with the pickled taste of the beets was a bit odd. I think I would have preferred the beets by themselves. When I came here more recently, the menu had changed for fall and I had the pierogi entree, which included three or four large pierogis filled with pumpkin puree and cheese. Mushrooms and pears came with it. All were delicious. There are so many enticing dishes on the menu here that make me eager to return soon. It's also really nice that this restaurant gets its food from local and organic farms. Another plus is that I've never had to wait to get a table here, even on a weekend. I like that you don't have to make a reservation to get in.
(4)
Sean B.
Service was terrible. The bartender was a huge douche. I do not recommend this place. As I am here now and just waiting for my bill. I will never come back
(1)
Ezra E.
Stopped in on a Saturday for lunch. We were seated right away. The beer menu was impressive and the dishes sounded quite good. The place was cold enough that I ket my hat on and considered a jacket. Our waitress did come over quickly and take our orders. We started with the empanadas apps hitch was very good though there were only two. My wife had the vegetable tart and I had the trout hash. None of the portions were adequate. The empanadas were decent but there were key two- for $10.00 The tart was about 6"x2"x1/4" and came with 10 baby spinach leaves. The trout hash was greasy and i will admit that there were visible trout pieces, there were only about 3 of them. The egg soto of the hash were sunny side up on the runny side. It's a matter of taste i know but I believe white should be solid and yolk runny. That aside I could taste the trout which was nice. That's about all that was nice. The coffee was mediocre but pleasantly strong but cost $3.95 (not listed on the menu). The waitress took 20 minutes to return with coffee after my wife asked for a refill despite only having four tables to serve. over all the experience was disappointing and at $42.00 was extremely over priced for the amount of food. Seriously...$4 coffee? I'd expect that at the over priced koi across the street but then that'd be a bottomless cup of super strong bitter black. Skip this place.
(2)
Amy M.
Great atmosphere! The food was delicious! We had oysters, deviled eggs and a burger!The oysters were fresh and affordable. The eggs were so tasty and our burger was done just right! Our waiter Tom was really helpful and made great suggestions on beer! Check this place out!!!
(5)
Jeanette S.
I was disappointed. The menu was sparse. I had to settle on a risotto because it was the only thing available that sounded edible. I was looking for something a bit more unique. The menu also changes daily. The service was good though. Our server was very knowledgable and friendly. Our drinks were good too. My date was happy with his Manhattan, and he is EXTREMELY picky on his Manhattans. I had a beer and liked the selection.
(2)
Vic P.
Acre... What can I say, except we enjoyed an excellent evening of Oysters and beer.. My cohorts and I arrived late Monday night after a card game since another friend suggested it to us with the promised allure of dollar oysters, and a complimentary beer and whiskey selection. The joint is nicely decorated and the music was audible but not overwhelming. Our bartender for the evening was a gentleman named Martin who was able to verbally recite their current whiskey selection, which included a variety of well known ryes, scotches and bourbons, which I should add is sort of out of sorts for 99% of bars in the city that aren't display bars. Well anyway, Martin was extremely attentive and offered a refreshment as soon as a glass was empty. Now for the oysters... Our chef for the evening was an entertaining fellow named Jeff. Jeff could have passed for any master sushi chef in the city with his confident and laid-back style. After the first couple dozen, we asked Jeff to keep them coming, and to make it chefs choice. With the speed and confidence of a real professional Jeff delivered a never ending flow of shucked oysters and was kind enough to explain to us the difference between the 4 types of oysters being consumed. All in all I'd say we had an amazing experience, and I am seriously going to try this a weekly Monday night event. Kudos! Tip: try the oysters with Alegash White on tap.. You can't go wrong. :)
(5)
Mariam S.
I went here on a Monday night, just barely catching the tail end of the 5-7 p.m. Oyster special. (It restarts at 9 p.m., but we didn't want to wait that long.) It was cool out, but we sat by the open windows for the fresh air, though it was later closed due to a request from another table. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't find the atmosphere problematic or to be overly noisy. I noticed the music, but it wasn't making conversation difficult, and while there was baseball on the television over the bar, my back was to it so I didn't really take notice of it except for when I walked to the bathroom. We started our meal off with oysters. I'm not a big oyster fan, but I did like one of the three different oysters I ate, and my friend happily polished off his share. The waiter was knowledgeable and super helpful in helping us decide on beers - my friend wanted something new, and I was unfamiliar with the selection. (We decided on a Boulevard Rye on Rye and Founder's Backwoods Bastard.) My friend mentioned the cheese curds to me before we arrived, and I was excited to try them. They went deliciously with my beer, though $9 for fried cheese curds, no matter how tasty, still strikes me as a bit pricey. The seared pork belly was tasty, but I've definitely had tastier pork belly before, and perhaps this is my own fault for having just eaten cheese curds, but I couldn't handle the fatty richness of pork belly at that moment. I would gladly visit Acre again, though it may be a while before I do. And next time, I'll probably get a less ridiculously rich meal.
(4)
Jules H.
Inspired wine and beer list, excellent service, and an impressive menu. The menu is small and printed daily with some very tasty and original offerings. Flavorful and unusual fare! We started with appetizer of a sausage medley served with intense grainy mustard. We also had the pierogis, very good, comfort food of the first order. My fellow diners had the salmon and the trout, and they did rave about them. I had the bacon wrapped pork tenderloin and it was delicious. They definitely add a bit of flair to the basics, perhaps too much flair for some palates. My palate enjoyed it all 100%. With our check we also received a coupon for brunch, which I will for sure be using on a return visit soon.
(4)
Adam S.
Acre gets by on the fact that it's a beautiful bar inside. They've tried to upgrade their food since transitioning from Charlie's Ale House, but it comes across like they're trying too hard. Stick to the basics and do them well. Don't put arugula on grilled cheese. Don't put pickled carrots on your burgers. Don't try to make your own ketchup. Don't have beef hearts and chicken liver and other "gourmet" items on your menu when you can't nail them. Same with the "snacks" and appetizers. Leave the trout out of the deviled eggs. Don't try to do fried green tomatoes when there's a southern restaurant down the street that runs circles around you on FGT's. Cut the menu down to a dozen really well done items, keep your extensive beer list and keep up the great atmosphere in the bar (and pleasant waitstaff and bartenders) and Acre could easily be a 4 or 5 star place.
(3)
Maureen V.
This could be such a good restaurant. But it's not. Food was meh. Service was slow. Seems as though no one is minding the store. Such a shame.
(2)
Jeff G.
Glad to see that this place is only 3 star, that is accurate. we ate there last night. i like their concept in sourcing local, seasonal, and making their own ketchup for example. however, the food missed. the squash soup lacked flavor. the potato au gratin the potatoes were hard and undercooked. burger was not all that good. Lady Gregory's has much better food on that same stretch.
(3)
Nikta P.
I have been here many times and LOVE this place. Service is relaxed and friendly while giving you your space and we always get great and spot on recommendations on beer, cocktails, oysters, etc. as well as just fun and interesting conversation (I can't say that about any other restaurant in Chicago!) we get the pork burger every time. it is ridiculously amazing. the jam, greens, bacon bread, pork and cheese come together to make the perfect flavor/texture combo. The $1 oysters are delicious and they have a great selection of briny and not so briny oysters. I really enjoy the atmosphere too, busy but not too loud, nice and upscale but not stuffy. My crazy picky parents are coming to visit next week and I cannot wait to take them here. Trust me, that a big deal! I highly recommend Acre for after work wind downs, weekend dinners and group brunches!
(5)
Stephen R.
went for brunch good eclectic menu sometimes you just want some eggs and bacon..they should show that on the menu. the b-l-t was ok...it came with no bread or toast...which was a little odd..so would prefer some toast or something crunchy even though the tomatoes were fried green tomatoes, it still needed something crunchy. overall a good experience..
(3)
Jim A.
BRUNCH: I had the chicken and waffles. my girlfriend, some sort of Mexican egg dish I can't be bothered to look up right now. The chicken was incredibly tender and juicy and the breading was crunchy, however it could have used a little more seasoning. The waffles were good but lukewarm, and not aided by the chilled butter which didn't melt at all. It came with sunny-up eggs which were quite good. I had an orange juice, which was fairly orange-juicey. My girlfriend didn't comment on her thing so I have to assume it was good-not-great. she loved the bite of chicken I gave her though. she also had a bloody mary which she thought was pretty okay. service was good. speedy sans theatrics, which is probably what you want at brunch.
(4)
Vickie G.
Brought my Man here for his birthday. Knew he would enjoy the variety of beers and the Oysters. Missed the timing for the $1 Oyster special, however, we still Indulged. The Oysters were delish. We tried all four kinds and our favorites were the Malpeque P.e.i and Old 1871. There are sooooo many beer selections---HEAVEN! I had a grapefruit beer, that isn't the name of it but Goooooood. Like the spot, will definitely go back during the Oyster special. Tip--Try the house made Ice Cream...New Favorite Flaaaaaaaav, *Balsamic ;)
(4)
Annie C.
My friend and I were dying to eat and have drinks at Hop Leaf, but the line was ridiculous so we ended up going to Acre, bad idea. The waiters were kind of how you say... all up in our business, I mean if you like waiters like that, go ahead, but it was just awkward. Anyways, I ordered the burger, it was alright, I've had better. Their beer selection is pretty nice. I had an Allagash White for the first time and was not disappointed. The time I had there was just, awkward because of the staff that works there in my opinion. And the food, meh.
(2)
Katy H.
I really want to like this place, I really do. It's a block from my office and they have a phenomenal beer selection, which keeps me coming back, but the food is just not there. Last time I was there I had the fig and cantaloupe salad and it just did not taste good (the presentation was excellent however). Every time I visit, the place is half full and the service is slow and I've never had a polite waiter or waitress. Hopefully they improve, otherwise, I can get good beer elsewhere.
(3)
J M.
I can't recall the last time (perhaps because it never happened before) that I've left a restaurant in Chicago really hungry. Full disclosure: I'm NOT a hearty eater and typically leave half of my meal untouched...if that says something. I ordered the cucumber salad ($9) off of their lunch/brunch menu. Without exaggeration, my best estimate is that the salad consisted of half of a cucumber cut up, a quarter of a tomato and feta tossed in some type of dressing. I was left a bit perplexed that what was before me constituted a meal. Again, I realize most restaurants go crazy with large portion sizes (hello obesity epidemic), but this was really small. The other people in my group had great meals (burger for one and a sandwich for the other).
(2)
Tori O.
Such a fan. Really enjoy the atmosphere of the place...awesome beer selection and great place for tapas style eating. Great spot for brunch as well...bottomless mimosa and super yummy food. Fun stuff...Gastro pub style at it's finest. Love this place. wonder if they have wifi??
(5)
Christine F.
Ok. So we tried the food. My husband and I went here on Friday and got some beers and a little bit of food. There was a mixup with my beer (they gave me the bruin instead of blonde), so I got a free beer. Which was nice of them. Ah, the food. We had eaten the cheeseplate at In Fine Spirits so we decided to split a griddled cheese. Beers were good. Grilled cheese was pretty meh and generic. It was on pumpernickel, which was ok...but you couldn't really taste the cheese. I did like the fries. In the end I probably wouldn't go back here to eat, but I would go for drinks.
(3)
David R.
Last night I dined at Acre for the first time. Their dining room has the same handsome grey/white scheme as the bar area, but also many eclectic pieces of art. Some are excellent and complement the room, while others are uncomfortably incongruous. But I like that they are jazzing it up a little in there. The beer list this time seemed weighted towards hops worship and beers that I would prefer to drink for dessert (i.e. porters, Belgian trippels, other high-abv or otherwise potent brews). A lot of those beers are great, but I wanted something medium-bodied and neutralish to drink with dinner. Krankshaft Kolsch and Victory Prima Pils are good beers but a little too plain (and dare I say anemic for a damp, cold night). The Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' is a truly excellent beer but was the only candidate fitting my profile. Eh, c'est la boire. The menu changes every day and featured some good choices. I may have erred a bit in my selection. While executed well, the dish's concept was puzzling: a pork chop with mole sauce, corn cake, and peppery cabbage slaw. The chop itself was delicious, but I felt that those elements simply do not match up well. The mole with the corn cake, sure; the cabbage with the corn cake, maybe; all three together, especially the slaw and the mole? No way. I tried a few bites of the arctic char with parsnip puree, mushrooms, and leeks, and got the same impression. The whole dish was too sweet, and that trio of vegetables is great for winter but just didn't complement the fish at all. The service was fantastically friendly and helpful, and the menu has enough variability that I'm sure that I will visit again.
(4)
Emilio D.
Acre, has outstanding food, unfortunately their service is absolutely terrible. They tried to scheme us on Oysters by replacing the ones we requested with other leftovers. Then tried to bill us for the oysters we never received. The manager has absolutely no idea what his waiting staff is doing and somehow defends them after this unbelievable service. Do not come to Arce! Unless you want to be completely disappointed.
(1)
Rachel O.
Seeing all the negative reviews makes me want to be my positive one up here right away. Based on the feedback here I would probably have picked a different place...good thing we stumbled upon Acre while walking down Clark instead of researching it first. I would have been sad to miss out on a such a great experience so I am grateful for that. I have a feeling that they do a better dinner than brunch. The spend $100 get a $20 coupon toward brunch is the first clue. Here is what I say to that....let the breakfast places to brunch. Every restaurant doesn't need to offer brunch if they do dinner right. Look at all the bad brunch reviews on here and stick to what you do best. A bit about my visit.... We dined here for an early dinner on a Sunday. I had friends in town and we stumbled upon Acre while hungrily strolling down Clark. Based on the (daily) menu posted outside we decided to give it a shot. The wine selection was good. We had a bottle from a local Michigan winery and enjoyed it very much. The food was inventive, fresh and flavorful. Between four of us we shared a about five small plates, a risotto and two desserts. It was a large enough amount of food for all of us to share and be nicely full. It sounds like some of the items on the menu don't change daily - the Fried Green Tomatoes for instance appear in other reviews. I'm not sure why this is a staple menu item because it was by far the worst and truly the only bad thing we ate. If I am going to eat a Fried Green Tomato it better be delicious. What did they do right? the wine, the goat cheese strawberry and arugula salad, the corn and tomato (trust me on this) risotto, grilled shrimp with couscous, grilled calamari, pumpkin brulee and the hazelnut brownie. The service was also great. The shared plates were timed well and the waiter was attentive without being annoying. Between four of us we really enjoyed the food and would recommend it to anyone in the area looking for a good dinner spot. I'll get back to you on brunch after we check that out.
(4)
Gregg T.
Pros: Good beer list. Cons: Poor service, unpleasant atmosphere, and overpriced food. The food wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great, and it was definitely overpriced. We've had very poor service when we've gone, and I don't know what the decor is supposed to be, but I found it decisively unpleasant. As others have said, Acre has put together a really attractive beer list. For me, that's not going to get me back in the door, especially not in a neighborhood with so much to offer.
(2)
Brian S.
This place might have the best beer selection in Andersonville. It does get busy on certain nights. That doesn't discourage me from pulling a stool up to the bar.
(4)
KELLIE K.
Old McViking had a restaurant E i e i o And in that restaurant there was some beer E i e i o With a beer beer here And a beer beer there Here a beer, there a beer Everywhere a beer beer Old McViking had a restaurant E i e i o The +1 and I hit up Acre for drinks only one evening. All I really wanted was a beer after dinner at another local BYO restaurant. The bar side remains pretty much the same bar as its previous incarnation of Charlie's. Acre does seem to have more wine selections and a few new brews. However... We didn't get enough of a chance to experience it entirely. We waited at the bar for quite a bit while the bartender finished a conversation with another staff member. There were only a few other customers in the place. I know a lot of people, like myself, were Charlie's regulars and I was willing to give it a chance. I gave It a go. Not sure I'll be back soon.
(2)
Nicole V.
Acre, you would think the theme would likely be something farm-related. I imagine acres of grass fed meat and organically fed poultry carefully led off the farm to be carefully prepared and presented on my plate with a gourmet touch. The reason I am giving three stars has nothing to do with the quality of the food. All seemed fresh and locally grown. The issue is with the menu and the preparation. They offered a very unique selection of options including rabbit, pork and lamb. As well as quite a bit of fish, but not much in the way of poultry. Seems slightly strange for a place called Acre. Everything seemed heavy on flavor and a little overwhelming. To start, I opted for a sloe gin fizz (one of my favorites, and hard to find). For an appetizer I had the lamb ribs and they were very charred with too much rub and then dolloped with a yogurt type sauce. I could tell the meat was high quality, but the prep left little to be desired. With such quality ingredients a lighter touch is necessary. For my entree I went with the rabbit. Again the prep left little to be desired, the meat was not the appropriate texture and the skin was over flavored. The side salad was too earthy and the taste was bitter due to the radishes and greens. With an inkling of hope left, I tried dessert. Chocolate cherry bread pudding was my pick. It tasted like bread. You could barely taste the chocolate and the cherry was non existent. It was heavy and overly hearty for a dessert. I really wish my experience at Acre was more positive. I feel like all the components are there. The menu just needs to be tweaked so that the great ingredients they offer are presented more subtlety. Maybe the idea of acres and acres of land could act as inspiration. Beautiful, clean, simple... For now, if I go back...it will be for the sloe gin fizz.
(3)
Jen R.
Ketchup-blocked on a burger?! Yes, it happened. A group of us decided to try out Charlie's replacement, and not one of us wasn't left disappointed. Cider? No. Captain Morgan? No. Regular ass ketchup? No. Instead, I got to wait over half an hour for my burger because a table of thirty got their orders in right before mine. No biggie, but when it arrived everyone at the table jumped right in to get their fry on - and suddenly everyone put on their o-face. No, no no - not that one, the "oh, shit" one. The review that so eloquently described a rancid shrimp sauce - ya, that's their own house made ketchup. I'll admit I did get a good laugh at everyone's face at first taste. I told our waiter all four of us agreed the ketchup was not doable and I couldn't eat my burger since it was smothered in their fun sauce. He said he'd box it up. Wow, thanks. Couldn't even hook me up with a fresh burger without the ketchup. I even tried to finish the burger at home. Sadly, the awesomeness of my Heinz was no match for Acre's "craptchup."
(2)
Gina F.
First off, I really like the atmosphere & decor here. We were greeted & seated very quickly, which was a great start. The beer list is extensive, and though the wine & cocktail list was less so, our cocktails were great. My salad was good & my husband's burger was amazing, but my flatbread was only okay. The preserved tomato was enough like tomato sauce that made it just taste like plain pizza and it was realatively unimpressive. Service was good throughout. I would give it another shot.
(3)
Erika G.
I want to like this place. I WANT TO LIKE IT. Charlie's Ale House was okay, and the interior now is a lot more elegant than Charlie's. It's more spare and uncluttered. Not so much crap on the walls. I like the subway tiles that are now visible in the back, by the bathrooms. The food, though, is only meh. Went here for appetizers and drinks tonight, and while my dining companion, as well as the waiter was charming, cute and great, the food . . . . Risotto - too watery. Chestnuts are a weird ingredient to put in mushroom risotto. The texture is unexpected, but in a weird way. It also looked tossed in the bowl, messy. Messy risotto. The flavor was okay, but I wanted it to be creamier. Charcuterie platter. The pate had been sitting out awhile, it seemed, because the outside was grey, while the inside remained pink. The mustard, YUM, but I love mustard. The head cheese was good, but a little bland - as was the pate. *sigh* I love pate. But this was not it. Bacon mac n' cheese, with ummmmmm . . . no bacon. White cheese with unexceptional noodles. Bland. Babyfoodish. The bartender - while a touch inattentive for what was not a busy night - hit it with his Allagash White beer suggestion. I told him I wanted something light, and he coincidentally chose a beer that is one I know I like. So, for a place to sit and have a couple of drinks, this place is great. I'm hoping the food steps up. 'Cos this place is A. in the 'hood. B. has a cool outdoor vibe in summer and C. is stylish.
(2)
Samuel M.
Came here earlier in the week - we were trying to go to Ombra next door, but the owner invited us in, and it was awkward to turn him down, so we wound up going in. All in all, the dining experience is a mixed bag. Mussels are tender and served in a tomatoey broth, but are a little on the salty side. Grilled octopus that is on special comes with piquant green garlic vinaigrette but the cephalopod itself is almost inedibly fishy. Brisket entree is quite good; while the meat itself does not burst with flavor, it is fork-tender, and the beans that accompany it are very good. Spiced cake with red wine ice cream is a pleasant cap, and the beer list is extensive and pretty good. Service was pretty mixed as well; at times overly attentive, at other times nowhere to be found. All in all, Acre is a pleasant but unremarkable restaurant; there are better places in Chicago, and probably in this building, to spend this kind of money on food. I'd recommend it on nights when other places are too crowded!
(3)
Mindy S.
Picked Acre randomly out of the lineup of brunch/lunch spots in Andersonville, and we were not disappointed one bit. Five stars for the attentive service of our server. Five stars for the menu - I wish I could have tried everything. Five stars for the atmosphere - family friendly, music wasn't incredibly loud, young vibe. And most importantly - five stars for the food! The brunch burger, with the bacon and egg was incredible. The pork burger literally melted in my mouth. It came topped with a homemade jam, and we asked for more, as it was just the additional flavoring that really made the pork burger shine. The fries were crisp, and the ketchup was homemade! Loved that we found Acre and will definitely definitely be back!
(5)
Mitchell A.
Went on a Saturday for brunch. Great space. They kept the bar from the old Charlie's ale house and just updated around it. Did a nice job of making the space feel Very warm, trendy and simple. Lots of small batch brews and liquor, which is rare and some what refreshing to see. Did not see a bottle of Bacardi anywhere. (Nothing wrong just saying...refreshing) it was a cool feeling to know they don't want to be the norm. Bartenders and servers were what you would expect I guess, your standard semi hipster (for lack of a better word) basically looked they would be seen at hop leaf or hanging out anywhere in wicker. Very friendly, very knowledgable, knew the menu, knew how to interact with without being annoying. The crowd was a mix of couples, tables of three a few singles at the bar. Not very busy at all. Bottomless mimosas....and gooood mimosas! Enough reason to go back. Only order one thing; the chicken and waffles. Very good. The chicken had almost like a thick tempura batter. Very unique and very good. Waffles had a bit of spice to them....prob Cheyenne mixed in the batter and also very crunchy, thick and tasty. Fried eggs where cooked perfect. Over all a very well simple and wonderful dish. They Let the main flavors stand out with out adding to much overkill. If all the dishes are like this, we are all in for a treat. Going back for sure!
(4)
David M.
I'll tell you the whole story here. I had to have a CT scan done at 6:30 and could not eat after 2:30. Needless to say, I thought I had enough time. I arrived here at 12:10 yesterday afternoon for a lunch with some friends. It took a while for the whole party to show up but they did around 12:45. In all that time, the waiter came by once, never offering us bread or anything. This was just the beginning of the long wait. At about 1, I ordered the porkburger. The rest of the table ordered various other items. It took about 50 minutes for food to start trickling out. I received mine at 2:10. The two people that ordered the steak got theirs ten minutes after that. The porkburger is decent, the jam on top the only special thing. I didn't exactly have time to savor it as I basically had to inhale the damned thing to get under my deadline. This does not excuse the fact that I received about half of the amount of fries as anyone else, for some reason. I wouldn;t have been able to eat them but they didn't know that. This was hardly worth $14. My friend's $17 steak was maybe 4 oz. of meat with about 5 oz. of peas and two fingerling potatoes. He said the guajillo salsa on top tasted like nothing. My other friend ordered the griddled cheese which was neither griddled, nor did it contain cheese. There were supposed to be four different cheeses on it but the layer managed to be paper thin. The bread was only toasted on the outside edges. An eight year old can make a better grilled cheese and they wouldn't be so audacious as to charge $9 for it. The server seemed more concerned with folding napkins than helping any of his guests. What is this, a laundromat? Someone from the kitchen actually came out to take some orders, probably because he was wondering why he had nothing to do. The only time the server allowed any interest to spark was when he heard us talking about Evil Dead. Guess what? When we wanted food, you weren't there. Stay out of our movie conversation. The word pretentious comes readily to mind when I think about this place, also slow and disinterested. As someone with a condition that prohibits drinking and a desire to actually eat lunch in under two hours (I really do have better things to do), I have absolutely no use for Acre.
(1)
Curtis H.
Just had brunch for the first time at Acre with a couple of friends. If anyone knows their brunches it should be the gays, so I am not writing as an inexperienced diner in this arena. Acre is mediocrity at its finest. The place looks good, is clean, and their bathrooms are pristine. I have now exhausted my positive comments. The service was so-so (I ordered an OJ and never got it). The food itself was just not that good. I ordered the seasonal omelet which was relatively tasty but tiny. The hashbrowns tasted no better than store-bought and were cold in the center. My "toast" was a piece of rye bread that was hard on one side and soft on the other with no evidence in color of being toasted. No butter nor jam was offered to at least make it palatable. One of the other diners also had the same slab of cold hashbrowns. We all agreed that this place was offering us no reason to return for brunch. It seems like Acre could have some real potential, but with food like we had today I don't see a very bright future. This place needs to turn it around.
(2)
Gary B.
Acre seems to be a continued work in progress. Probably the biggest challenge will be getting beyond the "Charlies" image. We went in on a Sunday evening and chose to sit on the Tap Room side. The menu had decent options. We started with the fried oysters which were tasty but seemed to be missing some seasoning in the batter. Not that you want to over power the oyster but bland breading is never good. For entrees we had the Griddled Cheese and the Pork Burger. The Pork Burger was missing a few ingredients that were listed in the menu...primarily the cheese. Both came with fries which were limp and and uneventful. All in all we will be back. As mentioned the beer and drink menus were jam packed with good options. The bartender that served us was friendly and seemed interested in the drinks and food he was serving.
(3)
Carter M.
Very small portions, overly pricy and terribly salty (and I love salt). Perhaps the fourth time I've been here but definitely the last. I live in the neighborhood and wish it was better.
(2)
J G.
Wow - I avoid this place but had to attend a work-related dinner at Acre. They were busy but understaffed. Our poor waiter was running around like crazy (but he was very nice) and the bartender was stressed out and sweating. We kept hearing crashing noises during dinner, which was sort of funny in a sit-com sort of way. The only thing good about the meal was the fried smelts. The waitress brought out an additional plate of them by mistake - who's minding the shop? The fish tacos, which most of us ordered were supposed to be crisp, they were, and so was the fish - crisp like a tree branch. These tacos couldn't be appealing even with a gallon of the green salsa they came with. BTW the salsa came in a teeny cup - enough for one taco - the dish came with 4. What was worse was our party was made up of out-of-towners, so the food and service was embarrassing.
(1)
Kristin M.
Went here Sunday for the prix fixe menu. It's a really great deal, $25 for starter, entree and dessert, anything off the menu. Starters were pretty sub-par. We ordered the "spicy" mussels (ok, kinda bland, definitely not spicy), beet salad (apparently not too tasty) and shrimp (pretty good, smoky flavor and served with some colorful veggies). Entrees were good. We ordered grilled salmon and risotto (very good, nice lemon flavor), whitefish with roasted potatoes (I thought the fish had a strawberry flavor, but maybe I was imagining it) and rainbow trout stuffed with artichoke and spinach (huge piece of fish, very buttery and delicious). We enjoyed our entrees. Dessert was really yummy. Pineapple upside down cake was excellent and the ice creams and sorbets had really interesting ingredients and combinations (basil/lime, beet, mint marshmallow, etc.) Overall, Acre is good. I would never pay the menu prices, but it's a great deal with the Sunday-Thursday prix fixe. It's a different vibe than Charlie's was (how I loved Charlie's), but I still enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be a neighborhood standby. Sigh.
(3)
Baron V.
This has the feel of a classy New Orleans southern bistro to me. I really like the ambiance. Well dressed crowd. Beer is top notch. The Oysters are really good. The bartenders can be a little stuck up when ordering beer if your not a connoisseur and you don't know every type of beer on the menu. You have to be confident and just go for a new beer here, and I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised with any selection on the menu.
(4)
Nishaat Y.
The service on the patio was a little spotty, but brunch was delicious!
(4)
Jim H.
I recently visited the pub-side of this place. Lots of dark wood and a terrific old-school vibe, without feeling stuffy and old. The bar is two large half circles, connected by a short straight-away, like a dumbbell cut in half, lengthwise. This gave the bar a communal feel, as opposed to everyone staring at the back wall. Nice touch. The crowd was very mixed. The bartenders were attentive and knowledgeable, without trying to be everybody's best friend. Another plus. Beer selection is impressive! Great selection of American craft brews, with a very respectable homage to many of the Belgian Trappists. They even had Dutch-Trappist "De Koningshoeven," a rarity in bars. It was the start of Three Floyds month, and I was happy to try a few different FFF on tap. Oh happy day! Food- I started with a plate of mixed homemade sausages-beef, spicy lamb and chorizo, served up with potatoes and grainy mustard. Excellent- except for the mustard. It tasted homemade- a good thing- but was very bitter...almost sour tasting. Rather than complementing the meats, it clashed with them. Too bad, because the dish was (otherwise) perfect! The sausages were a nice contrast of flavors and textures, the potatoes were crispy-out, soft-in. Fix the mustard and they have a winner. Next up: Mussels w /ramps, wheat berries, asparagus, tomato and white wine. This came with crunchy country bread, heady with the aroma of a wood-burning grill, and offered a terrific contrast to the sweetness of the mussels and ramps. The tomatoes and wine added just enough acidity to balance things out. The wheat berries contributed a chewy earthiness. Well executed! I will return. I have been told to go for the pork burger. The menu is full of intriguing choices, so I might have to hold off on trying any kind of burger until I have eaten my way through a good deal of the rest of the menu, along with the beer list. Looking to forward to my next visit.
(4)
Jay S.
Visited here last night, the dreaded Monday night of restaurant dining in Chicago, and had a pretty good time. The food was actually really good. The chef, Carlos came to our table, made an accommodating meal for my mother who's one of the pickiest eaters on the planet. The mash potatoes he made weren't that great, and were a bit watery, but we didn't complain since they weren't even on the menu. If this place had more "side" options, I'd probably be looking at a 5. We'd go back - other than our waitress (just didn't seem very knowledgeable), the service and food was great. Beer menu is extensive as well. additional note... My original submission here did absolutely no justice to the fact that the chef was outright amazing!!! This is seriously why I am giving this place 4 stars and if it weren't for the small nuances above, a 5 all the way. They got very lucky with this guy and again, my wife and I will definitely be back here soon. Starters, fish, chicken, pork, all just downright amazing. remind me to never write reviews first thing in the morning again.
(4)
Dan G.
We stopped here for dinner on a lets walk to Andersonville and find a restaurant we haven't tried. Really a beautiful place, the bar looks like it stretches and curves for a while. The ceiling is copper, and the kind you always wanted in your vintage kitchen. We were greeted right away and sat by the window for some people watching. They are on par with the rest of the brew pubs, offering a good selection of beers, but nothing that you haven't seen elsewhere. The menu is the basic gastropub fare. We started with the deviled eggs. They were topped with smoked trout and some picked peppers. Great starter. Got the taste buds flowing. I ordered the pork burger which sounded interesting but fell a little flat flavor-wise. The sweetness of the blueberry jam on it was great match with the saltiness of the burger but the burger just didn't live up to the hype on the menu. It was A-Okay. My dining partner got the Mushroom Risotto. The little taste I got was delicious. Great risotto, didn't expect that at this kind of place. The portions were good, the service was a little flaky at times, the waiter had some friends there, that he was more interested in than us. Would I go back here? Maybe. Andersonville is full of great eats this one is good but just doesn't stick out.
(3)
Elizabeth N.
So I had never heard anything about Acre - but it ended up being the plans for a friend's birthday dinner. I was very surprised and happy with how great everything went. I am not a beer drinker - but everyone seemed to enjoy the beer list. The waiter was very patient with us as we spent a very long time talking and reading the menu. We asked for his recomendations (and he said - he hadn't looked at the menu yet...really it's 8 pm?!?). Oh well, we ended up getting a bunch of small plates and sharing with each other. Everything was fantastic - I loved the variety - the shrimp was fantastic! All in all - loved the vibe and the food was great, prices reasonable. It is not really near where I live - but I would go back again.
(4)
Lindsey A.
I don't have anything bad or anything amazing to say about Acre. I went last night with my out-of-town boss and two colleagues and we all enjoyed the beer, wine and food. Monday through Thursday they do a fixed three course dinner for $25/person which is quite the steel considering some of Acre's entrees push the $15+ mark. The entire menu is up for grabs and the deal includes one starter, one main and one dessert. The appetizers are huge - big enough to share between two people. Mains were on the normal-sized side (speaking of 'sides' - make sure to ask if yours comes with anything, because some don't.) The chicken I had was super juicy and tender, but lacked overall flavor. I think there was only one veggie option on the menu - a grilled cheese. Dessert was lackluster - the chocolate cake tasted like it came from a generic grocery store bakery and bordered on the too-dry side. Others at the table praised the carrot cake and creme brulee.
(3)
Milton C.
Service was nice actually, but beef burger had little flavor and fries that came with it were burnt. If this place had any comparable competition in the neighborhood, it would probably get a 4 star, but since it doesn't (and should really offer more for the price), it gets a 3.
(3)
Julie S.
Review for brunch: We had a very large (20 people!) party for brunch last weekend. I will say this, the attention level we received was great. I also loved what they did with the space. So pretty. Okay, on to the food... I split the omelet and pancakes with my friend. The omelet made us laugh out loud. So tiny! It was about four bites of egg with a slice of toast and some flavorless hash browns. The pancakes looked amazing and had good texture, but surprisingly little flavor. The chilaquiles got "ok" reviews, but they would not tempt me away from Tweet's. My friend's pulled pork looked like the best breakfast dish on the table. BUT... lunch food was a winner. The soup special was fantastic. The burger was great. The chicken salad on croissant was also enjoyable. Drinks... we got the bloody Mary's, which just had a celery stalk and were a little too spicy. Our server was so nice though. She brought us more tomato juice to cut it. Can't be too upset because it led to us ordering a beer to chase it. GREAT beer list!! Seriously... Left Hand Stranger on draft?? Awesome! The cocktail list looked really interesting too. I was wishing that I had gotten one of those instead of the bloody, until I hit that beer list. So, I am giving it a three. Right down the middle. I think they could make it better. I am not sure I would recommend the brunch, but I would certainly give it another go for lunch, dinner or drinks in the fab bar area. I think that is where their strength is. It has potential. It just feels like a work in progress right now though.
(3)
A.J. M.
this place is a bit of a conundrum. The food is actually quite delicious, very well made, and the menu is always interesting. There are many things I'd be looking to try here, but the truth is the service is a bit slow. We had a dinner at 6 that lasted until 8, and that wasn't because our party couldn't shut up. It was because it took almost an hour for our food to come out, and at one point it took almost a half hour for me to get a beer. But I'm rating places based on the food, and the pork chop and sausage plate I had here last weekend were cooked to perfection and all that. I'll give Acre another shot, certainly, but it'll have to be a day where I have no other plans.
(4)
Kristen H.
Oh Acre such potential in flavor combinations on the menu, but merely acceptable execution from the kitchen that is experienced at the table. Beers: If you like beer the menu offers a wide assortment grouped together by style which is a nice touch. The gentleman accompanying me quoted: "Acre is getting better with each visit". With that said, I wasn't willing to commit myself to 1 entree for myself and preferred the pick at many dishes type of meal. Here's what we had: Fennel salad with grapefruit vinaigrette and manchego cheese - simple and tasty, but it's a salad and shouldn't be rocket science. Good crunch. Wood Grilled Marinated Spicy Shrimp - please don't call a dish spicy if there isn't any spice. I liked the flavoring, but the dish name is misleading. Caramelized Onion & Pear Tart - whoa onion and sorry pear there's just no way to taste you. I mean don't get me wrong, I like me some caramelized onion, but you overpowered and took over the dish - simmer please. Dumpling - pork & the flavors were totally there, but dough-a-licous. Might be time to revisit that recipe. Porkburger - the combination of the pork & raspberry jam hit the spot, not sure the bacon is necessary. I know I'm committing a sin to dis the bacon because usually "everything tastes better with bacon" - not in this case. The waiter was great, the spot is cozy and comfortable, now just take the potential of the menu combinations and get that kitchen to execute and the stars will be arising!
(3)
Anthony J.
Went for their Faux Bab Chicago Craft Beer Week event. Good selection of beers, and tasty food. Had some excellent pirogies, housemade sausage, and a pork burger. All were very good. Only complaint was that the place is pricey. Bill was $110 for just the wife and I, not including tax. Or is it "the wife and me"? I'll never figure that out.
(4)
Ben K.
This is the spot for craft beer - seriously. Bill behind the bar knows his stuff and gets amazing, hard to find selections in. I was ecstatic to discover this place during Chicago Craft Beer Week and I will surely now be stopping by with some regularity to get my fix. Also in addition to great selection, the service is friendly and the prices are phenomenal. Bourbon County Vanilla on tap for $7! What a steal! I'm excited to come back and try the food as well.
(5)
Christina P.
This place has a very extensive beer list, however our disinterested server had absolutely no knowledge on any of the beers and there are not any descriptions listed on the menu. When we asked a few questions on the beers he told us he's not really a beer person. Okay.....that's really helpful. The menu classifies the beers as (b) Belgian style, (h) hoppy, etc. but there are many different types of Belgian-style beers so I ended up just taking a chance on one of them and it turned out to be awful. Our server was super awkward when I politely asked for a different beer and he told me that since it was in a bottle and the manager couldn't resell it (um?) they would have to charge me for it. Niiiice. I will not be going back. Our food was average all around the table but there was one positive review from my friend who had the pork burger. I am giving it two stars because the space is well done and despite the dining experience I had a great time catching up with my friends in a cozy booth.
(2)
Melissa B.
I have only been to Acre for brunch. I have been 3-4 times. It is definitely not your run of the mill brunch choices but it is pretty delicious. Twice I have had the cornbread cakes which are topped with pulled pork , chorizo, poached eggs, and hollandaise. Both times they were just melt in your mouth tasty! A group of us went a few weeks back and only one of us could order the cornbread cakes because they were out of them which was quite disappointing as we were there pretty early. I have also had the skirt steak and eggs which was pretty darn good. I would probably order it again. Nothing mind blowing but it was good. The fried green tomato sandwich is also a great choice. The service is decent. I have never really had above and beyond service but always pretty consistent. The one thing that I was super disappointed by was when I ordered a bloody mary the server brought it to my table and it was a brown color which obviously threw me a little. I just thought it was their mix. I took a taste and it tasted nothing like a bloody mary. Then I thought maybe I was just hungover and imagining things so my friend tasted it and she too thought it was gross. We told the server and he said they had run out of bloody mary mix so they used canned tomatoes. Which still made no sense to me because it would have still been red. Weird. He took it back and offered me another drink which I didn't want I had come specifically for a bloody mary. I would not have been upset had he just told me from the beginning that they were out of the mix but to just throw something together and give it to a customer without knowing what it's going to taste like is a bad move.
We went here for Sunday brunch, and overall it was a delightful experience and we were happy to see we could watch the bears game with ease..they have a ton of tvs conveniently located so that everyone can watch. And on to the food. My boyfriend had the brunch burger. His only complaint was that it was incredibly difficult to eat (he had to eat it with a knife and fork)...but he said it was delicious. I had the pumpkin brioche french toast which was very good, but it was topped with some slightly undercooked sweet potatoes which I could've done without. And our friend had the rainbow trout hash, which she enjoyed. They also have beermosas which I'm a sucker for...I'd definitely go to this place again. My only other complaint is the prices are a little high, but not high enough to keep me from going back.
(4)
Ellen F.
After coming here about a dozen times for both dinner and brunch, I still do not understand all of the negative reviews. Perhaps people need to adjust their expectations before walking in the door. And if you miss Charlie's Ale House, it is time to mourn the loss and move on. The food at Acre is what I would call American new. If you are looking for a plain cheeseburger, you may not find it, but what you'll find in its place will be a creative burger that is still delicious. Don't hate on the food just because it's not plain and boring. Keep an open mind and you'll do just fine. I have had nothing but quality service every time I have been to Acre. Every. Single. Time. The staff has been gracious and attentive; always knowledgeable and never pretentious. The beer and wine selections are both great. They have a lot of beer on tap that I have only seen in bottles elsewhere. I consider this a big plus. Overall, I am a big fan of Acre and I don't see what all the bellyaching is about. Charlie's is over and it is time to embrace the next step: a sophisticated establishment serving locally-sourced, deliciously prepared food accompanied by great beer and wine.
(5)
d l.
Service was terrible! Waiter did come over when we first arrived, but then every time we needed to order (drinks, dinner, more drinks, dessert, etc) we had to flag him down....he stood about 3 feet from our table, but never bothered to look our direction, even when waiting on the table next to us. When we asked for explanation/description it was like pulling teeth to get any info. Waiter only served our drinks. The bus boys came over with our food. No one ever came by to ask if we needed anyting, etc. Food was super salty. Would not return.
(2)
Lucy M.
I love Acre, and I was so enamoured with it that I just assumed everyone else loved it too... I wouldn't have waited so long to get this review up if I had known otherwise... sorry Acre... better late than never? I first had dinner here when it was pretty new - my boyfriend and I sat by the fire in what is now Ombra (Acre and Anteprima's little sister) and had the most amazing squash risotto (with goat's cheese I believe), mac and cheese with beef heart, and an incredible duck dish. Delicious. We then went in a few times for beers, and every time managed to order a beer we'd never heard of before (quite a feat!) I still dream about a blueberry stout they had on tap about 18 months ago (I know it sounds gross, but it was superb, not sweet, just right.) For a little time my boyfriend and I tried to balance our love for Acre with our fondness for Lady Gregory's (just down the street), choosing Acre for quieter nights when it was just the two of us, since the ambience is a little softer, but then the food dragged us back in. Oh. My. Goodness. I can't even tell you all the dishes we have had here, but I can tell you that very few have been even mildly disappointing. We've taken to ordering lots of smaller dishes and sharing them, rather than the main entrees, just so we can try more of their frequently changing, imaginative, and original menu. Two visits ago, we had a squid dish, and I don't know what they did to that squid, but it was the most incredible, most tender squid I have ever eaten. Simply incredible. We also had pig's ears. Because how often are you going to see pig's ears on the menu? Any place that not only serves wonderful food, and has a huge beer list, but also has the courage to serve pig's ears and blueberry stouts is a place you need to be.
(5)
jillian d.
If you are a beer person, you should try this place. At the old Charlie's Ale House, I would say the food is pretty overpriced, but the beer selection is very good ---- for example, no light American beers on draft :) There are about 20-25 tappers and a multitude of bottles which rotate pretty routinely. Unlike Hopleaf (of which I am definitely a fan) which has a main focus on Belgian style beers, there is a variety of types which are indicated by section on the menu. Also, their staff has been pretty knowledgeable per description each time I have come by. As a plus, the bar is beautiful, large and curvy which can accommodate quite a few patrons. The only thing that would make it a little bit better is if they had a substantial appetizer to soak up my ingested fermented suds for less than $10-12.
(4)
Trisha B.
Ordered the pork ribs and although they were fall off the bone delicious, the order only had 3. I could've eaten like 6 more ribs!
(3)
Matilda E.
My boyfriend and I came here the other night on a Saturday to try out Ommegang's new Iron Throne Beer and were pleasantly surprised with how absolutely freaking awesome this establishment is. We are new to the neighborhood and hadn't heard of ACRE until we searched the internet for places in Chicago that had our beer in stock on Ommegang's website. The place was packed to the gills, but at around 9:30 p.m. we were first in line and the friendly host was able to find us a table pretty quickly. We chose to sit up at the bar because that's the kind of folks we are... Bill & Chris were our bartenders/servers and were beyond accommodating, friendly, and engaging. While they both clearly possess a great knowledge about craft beers, they did not come across as snobby or elitist like many bartenders at craft beer places can be. We ordered two bottles of Iron Throne, and our bartender Bill told us that if we were planning on coming back soon he would set aside a bottle of the Iron Throne with our name on it. Of course we are going back this weekend! Such a thoughtful gesture. The food was also delicious.. I highly recommend the grilled/marinated shrimp as well as the beef burger with the fried egg. One of the best burgers I've ever had in the city. The ingredients were fresh and the meat was tender and delicious. The marinade on the shrimp was very creatively executed and the shrimp were perfectly done. I also had to comment on the music, I'm not sure if they read my mind or if they just have impeccable taste, but all night the playlist was chocked with my favorite songs.... Think Cake, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gorillaz, etc. We will be coming back again very soon, Thanks Guys!
(5)
Christina Z.
This review is about Acre's brunch, as that's all I've experienced there. I have been to Acre for brunch now several times (I think four or five times). And I WANT to love it... and some aspects, they really get right. My partner and I both agree that the coffee is *the best brunch coffee in Andersonville* (and we're both total coffee snobs). (I'm looking at you, M Henry, with your UHT packets of half and half on the table.) It's Metropolis coffee, served in a white ceramic mug, with unlimited refills, and small pitcher of cream on the table, and sugar. We practically just go for that wonderful, wonderful brunch coffee. Both the servers we have had have been excellent (one from Italy). And the interior is really tasteful and beautiful. It's also never too crowded and you get seated right away (I'm looking at you again, M Henry). The food is where they have fallen short. They have been really hit or miss... mostly miss. And this is where it's the most unfortunate! I love the idea of modern eclectic American cuisine, and they list all the local providers of their food. So what could go so terribly wrong? Must be the cooks. The waffles I had this last Sunday were disappointingly dry and flavorless. The "griddled cheese" we both had another time was just... not good at all. The frittata was disappointing, to say the least. We have occasionally had good items -- the fries are good, and I once had a tomato-watermelon-cucumber gazpacho that was delectable. Please, Acre, just step up and put out better food! You could do a lot better, and become the best brunch spot in Andersonville (sorry, M Henry)!
(3)
Menton M.
Been here every night this week , still have not had a dish that did not blow my mind. Staff is amazing as well. Now one of the best if Chicago for me.
(5)
Y. F.
A friend of mine invited me for dinner at this place. At the beginning I was skeptical about coming to this place because it did not have great reviews on Yelp. But dinner was REALLY GREAT. Food was very esthetically arranged, well prepared and tasted amazing. Service was friendly, nice but not too professional. The atmosphere was pleasant. Overall I had a great time dinning here! PS: Yelp reviews are not always accurate
(5)
Kristine O.
Was in the neighborhood so stopped in for a Friday lunch with my husband and two-year-old. It was dead but it took too long for anyone to notice us at the door and the kitchen was slow, too. The decor is really beautiful and the menu sounded great; unfortunately, it was overpriced for what was delivered. The tomato flatbread was decent, but certainly not worth $11, and the burger was soggy and unremarkable, despite the pickled vegetables and tomato preserves. The fries were pretty terrible - dry and hard, no flavor. Even the $2.75 Diet Coke was poorly mixed from the bar - just brown water. In a neighborhood with so many great places to eat, Acre really should be skipped.
(2)
Greg W.
I can't speak highly enough about this restaurant. I had been going there for drinks for a while, since their beer selection is superb, but this was the first time we went for dinner. The start to the meal was inauspicious--it took a while for our drinks to come, even though our appetizer came within about 2 minutes of ordering. Unfortunately the appetizer (fried green tomatoes) seemed to have been sitting in the kitchen for a while, since it was lukewarm and much tougher than it should have been. Then we waited for our mains. And waited. And waited. Eventually I said something to our waitress. At this point, our experience turned completely around. Not only did our waitress apologize for the delay, she spoke to the chef and the manager. The manager came over to talk to us, and he could not have been more friendly and helpful. We explained the situation, and he immediately offered to buy us a round of drinks and a dessert; and he promised to make sure that our order would be the next up. Sure enough, our food came right out, and it was superb. The pork shoulder was flavorful and tender, and the burger was perfectly cooked. Our dessert was also stellar--a fresh apple poached in a red wine sauce. It's unfortunate that our meal got off to a bad start, but unfortunately these things happen occasionally. But what really impressed me was how the manager and waitress went well beyond what they needed to do to address our complaint. And the food was terrific, to boot. I will definitely be going back to this restaurant!
(5)
EJ F.
This place has everything for me. Excellent American cuisine and a fantastic beer list are just the start. I've been here 3 or 4 times and each time the service has been excellent. The waiters were always helpful and knowledgable about the food and the beer. The fixed price menu that's available Sunday through Thursday is a steal: appetizer, entree and dessert for $25 a person. I always find myself trying a food I haven't had before and being blown away by it. I really can't recommend this place enough.
(5)
Nicolas H.
Came here previously when it was the ale house and it was fine. Now its much better. Before the beer list wasn't nearly as impressive as what I saw this time. Too many good choices to choose from is a good thing and that's definitely what they've got going on. I can't speak for the food, but great bar area with friendly bar staff...
(4)
Susan B.
Yum! Really great dinner. The cheese curds were surprisingly light. Salmon was well prepared. Food was very fresh and well prepared. Would be a great go-to neighborhood spot if we lived nearer. We did not eat at the prior establishment, so we don't have any comparisons to make.
(4)
Jenn H.
Great atmosphere, attentive service, wonderful drink menu/offerings. Food is meh. Needs a new chef methinks. With better food this could be a regular go to for me and my friends!
(3)
Leigh C.
Nice beer menu. Diverse selection, reasonable prices. The food could use some work. Butternut Squash Soup and Pierogie appetizer each had the flavor of card board. $9 for 3 overcooked pierogies. Boyfriend had the pork burger with shoestring fries and homemade ketchup. I thought the fries and ketchup were also lacking in flavor, but his burger disappeared pretty quickly. I left the restaurant out $50 and still starving. The service was good. Helpful when needed without being in your face.
(3)
Annie D.
Acre is chic and rustic inside. Antlers everywhere. I think Portlandia should re-do their "Put a bird on it" episode and change it to "Put an antler on it." So IN... for the next five minutes. Being cute doesn't always cut it, and the brunch and service at Acre a couple of weeks ago didn't garner any more than three stars for me. Nothing was bad, but it was just nothing to woo about. I can definitely see this being a 4-5 star experience to grab a beer though. Their beer selection is off-the-chain. The concept is farm-to-table and the brunch menu offered things like a seasonal frittata, pumpkin french toast, chilaquiles and Amish fried chicken and waffles. Both the guys at our table wanted the chicken and waffles, and shed tears when our server told us it was 86ed for the day (it was only noon). I had the corn cakes with slow-cooked pulled pork confit, poached eggs and chorizo. This was good, though different from what I expected since it wasn't pancakes---it was more like squares of cornbread. $11 made it kinda pricey for what it was, but the pork was really tasty so I was cool with it. My boyfriend ordered the biscuits and gravy, which just looked sad and small. It was the equivalent of one regular sized biscuit with gravy and two eggs with no sides for $10. The gravy was OK, but not good enough to make up for the teensy size. If you're hungry, order the brunchburger. In comparison to all of our entrees, this was enormous. It's a bacon cheddar burger with an egg on top, served on a huge croissant. It also came with fries. Didn't get a chance to try it, but I drooled at it. Bloody Marys were solid, beer list is incredible and we didn't have to wait for Saturday brunch when Big Jones was quoting 2-hour waits. So the good news is that you will probably be able to get in here before dinner time. The not-so-good news is that you'll probably over-pay for a meal that's just alright.
(3)
Brian C.
Neither of us were bowled over by our food. We started with a salad that featured a carrot vinaigrette. It sounded cooler than it actually was. And that theme carried into the entrees. My wife had the salmon dish which featured a squash blossom risotto. The risotto was fair, the salmon was good. Not a homerun. I had a bison flank steak dish, which got me really excited. I ordered medium, it came out closer to medium well. It was decent, but again, not a homerun. The beer list was probably the selling point of the place. My wife's beer had a dark chocolate infusion, and mine had a sour cherry infusion. They were fun beers, not beers we'd have on a regular basis, but fun and novel beers that we'd remember having tried before. In all honesty, I'd recommend going in and sitting at the bar and having a beer and skipping the meal, as it just doesn't quite measure up to the price. My experience with the service was better than it was described in some of the reviews I noticed on here. I don't knock any points off for that.
(3)
connie p.
I do not understand why people are complaining about the menu; its is online and if you think its weird, finish you drink and go somewhere else to eat. I love a menu that has out of the ordinary items. Some you might like and some, maybe not, but I love the fact that they think outside the box. It an adventure and I enjoyed the food we had. Our server Steve was fabulous, friendly, accommodating and funny.
(5)
Morris F.
I happened into Acre at lunchtime with a friend when we were looking for someplace "different" to eat. $30 later we were out of the restaurant still wanting lunch, having cleaned our plates, including a serving of limp, mostly tasteless french fries and an insubstantial fried green tomato sandwich each. Adding a salad to the meal might have helped with the hunger satisfaction factor, but with tiny salads priced at $8-$9, it would have pushed us beyond any reasonable cost for lunch. Some of the other sandwiches probably would have provided a more substantial meal (at an even more substantial price), I'll grant you that; but what we did eat was just way too little for the price, considering its mediocre quality -- even the homemade ketchup! If you want a very light lunch at a not-so-light price, you might like this place; otherwise check the other options in the neighborhood.
(2)
Chelsea M.
I've been to acre on numerous occasions and I think every time I go there it gets worse. Last time I had a hair in my food...okay it happens. I decided to give them another change. Our waiter wanted nothing to do with us. No explanation of what cheese was included on our cheese plate. We had to track him down to get a glass of wine. Its sad to see such terrible service when their drink selection and food is so good.
(2)
Paige H.
First of all, I had never been to Charlie's before, so I approached Acre with a totally open mind. They have a nice patio out front with maybe 8 tables or so, which is why we chose it for a little afternoon get together with friends. We were pleasantly surprised by the beer menu, and that is what has kept us going back ever since. So my 4 stars are primarily for the beer and cocktails. They have a rotating selection of draft beers, which, while not as extensive as Sheffield's or Hopleaf, is thoughtfully chosen and has some good craft brew standbys as well as some more unusual selections. Cocktails are also great--I watched a bartender slice a fresh orange and zest it straight into a drink, which is freshness and attention to detail that you'd be hard pressed to find at a lot of other bars around town. They have some interesting creations that include things like Hum liqour and fresh ginger, and I love that. Food is also good. They have plenty of options for vegetarians, and everything we ordered off the appetizer menu was very good. I can't recall what they were at the moment, and they don't seem to be on the menu online, which leads me to believe the food menu rotates pretty frequently. We've never had a problem with service--seems that most of the servers are gay and sometimes a little "out there", so it keeps it fun. If we go during dinner hours and don't plan to eat we sit at the bar, as the tables are reserved for diners. During off-peak hours you can get a patio table just for drinks though.
(4)
Randazzle H.
I'm only posting an "AMEN" to all who found this place to be a big let down. I love the bartender Richie, he's knowledgeable and treats you like a true guest. Thanks Richie!!!! Everything else.... the wait service, the food, the decor, one big grey blah. I really hope they fix things because I was hopeful after I stopped going to Charlie's Ale House for the same reason. Your concept is great, focusing on locally available food, but seriously make some adjustments. Andersonville wants you to do well! Really.
(1)
Alexander H.
This place is deceptive. Really nice inside and numerous restaurants in area make you think this one is up to par. However, their menu which changes weekly is obviously their weak point. We ordered the tuna, which was decent, but it was basically a ceviche with just tuna. In other words half assed. The lamb t bone was good. The drinks were fine. The burger was horrible. We ordered it medium rare and it came out with 4oz of grease in it and way over cooked. The fries were completely soaked in grease as well and it looked/felt as though someone had dumped a bucket of water on them before getting to our table. The waiter was not too sharp either. He didn't know anything about their beers except for one beer which was obviously the only one he knew anything about cause I asked him about six different ones and he had no idea. His whole waiting game was just off. He touched food/plates, he didn't bring water, etc. whatever...if I'm paying $14 for a burger it better be good and you better have a good recommendation for a beer to go with it on your extensive drink list.
(2)
Megan B.
I go almost weekly to hang out with the bartenders and try what's new on tap. Bill and Chris are incredibly knowledgeable about beer and are excited to find something that I love each time I go. Reasonable prices for excellent beer. Bonus - they throw pretty great tap takeover parties. Carlos' kitchen changes menus nightly. I find some dishes hit or miss, and admit they seem a bit pricey for the quantity, but I completely respect his culinary vision. I know he heads to Green City Market weekly and cooks with whatever he purchases there. I love knowing that the salads are local. A lot of the meat is from Stan at Triple S, a fantastic mid-Illinois farmer. I had goat confit a few weeks ago that was to die for. Their pork burger with blueberry jam is killer as well. Definitely worth an evening to hang out and drink great brews with some good food.
(4)
Chris H.
We came for brunch and had great time! The food was AMAZING, although the portions are pretty small. We had bottomless mimosas, and even though our server was with a lot of tables, he still was very nice and laid back. The ambiance is wonderful; really a beautiful restaurant! Kind of pricey, but worth it for brunch.
(4)
Desirae K.
You can cook my griddled cheese and serve me A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' any time you want! While I'm quite certain someone lied to Acre about shipping them Blue Point oysters, that is my only quasi-complaint. Not enough restaurants serve their oysters with mignonette. So, despite only have 1 type of mystery oyster to choose from on the menu the mignonette made it all better. So why am I giving Acre 3-stars? Well, it's hard to mess up a grilled cheese and beer. On the other hand, I have no complaints, enjoyed my experience and would give it another try.
(3)
Rick C.
We've been to Anteprima a few times and had some success there, so We were hoping for a similar experience. Stopped by on a week night around 7 and were seated immediately. We were lead to the left by the bar and sat in these cozy, cool looking booths. It was comfy and stylish for the two of us. For four, it may be a bit cramped. The menu changes pretty often here, so the waitress told us everything was pretty good. Not much in the way of recommendations, so we went with the deviled eggs with smoked trout and the lamb meatballs. The meatballs were tiny but had good flavor. The deviled eggs were awesome. Who doesn't like deviled eggs? With smoked trout? dope. For the entrees, we went with the pork burger and the sweetbread sandwich. We've had sweetbreads at antiprima and they were cooked perfectly. They were just as good here with bacon and avocado, on a croissant. It was tasty, but the croissant didn't seem that fresh. I think it would have been better just by itself. I liked the pork burger, but my wife thought it was a bit sweet with the fig jam. It's a double patty of bershire pork with bacon, fig jam, and cheese. The jam made it reminiscent of a breakfast dish with sausage and jelly. There was some bad though. The kitchen was backed up and the wait seemed a bit excessive. Also, whoever made the fries should be kicked in the groin. They were greasy and soggy. I wanted to eat them with what seemed to be a homemade ketchup but couldn't. I really love dipping into sauces, but just couldn't. They were that gross. Overall, I'd try them again. The changing menu and interesting items would bring me back.
(4)
Chuck C.
Overpriced, slow service, mediocre food, will not be going back or recommending it it anyone. Took over two hours to get a meal that was ordered 5 minutes into sitting down. It wasn't busy at all, the waiter never came over and asked if we needed anything. Ordered the pork chop, and the waiter came back 5 minutes later and asked me how I wanted it cooked. I ask how do you mean? He said rare, medium, etc. I have never been to a place that has asked how I wanted my pork or chicken cooked. They seemed clueless. Terrible idea of a restaurant. Can't give 0 stars or I would. Can't wait for it to shut down so something else take over for this waste of space in the heart of Andersonville. Can't believe I left a 20% tip, I almost walked out it was that bad.
(1)
Dan D.
Acre was a nice place to grab dinner and a drink. I went with a group of six and seating was comfortable. Our server was very nice and very knowledgeable on all entrees and drinks. The menu wasn't too big, making it easier to make a decision. The choice in music was icing on the cake. I felt like they were playing Q101 from the late 90's. The only downfall of this joint is the food prices. The food was good, but it wasn't good enough to warrant the high prices. Beer prices were fair. I'd go again for sure.
(4)
Steve G.
Hmm, I think this place deserves 4 stars. I went again last night for dinner and a very nice experience. Our server was great, very accommodating for my family. There's an excellent beer list and we had no issues at all with our food choices: fried cheese curds, perfectly light frying with what I think was panko crumbs; beets and cherry salad; corned beef sandwich; and porkburger. I'm not sure why Acre gets a three-star average and so many bad reviews. But we tend to go early, so I don't know, maybe the crowd and wait times get bad. I don't think it's offensively overpriced either, maybe just a hair.
(4)
Janna N.
So I was doing some research on organic, certified-humane restaurants in Chicago and through my search I found Acre...and it's within walking distance! Yay! (They have a list of all the farms where their meats and vegetables come from next to where they showcase their daily menu on the outside of the building by the door.) Since my "discovery" I've dined here at least a dozen times and every time I've come the menu has been different and every time I have LOVED my food. The chef is amazing...I've never had a bad meal here. Here's a few pointers though: -- Even if there is a "reserved" tag on a patio table, it's not really reserved, they just want you to go into the restaurant and check in with them...they'll then seat you outside if you want. -- The ketchup that comes with the fries tastes funny (it's the only thing I dislike about this place) but if you ask for a side of BBQ sauce instead, it's all good. -- When choosing something from the menu, any sandwich that has a farm fresh egg on it, is to die for...seriously! -- Their salads are not your dinner salad with all the fixings...it really is just an appetizer.
(5)
Taste M.
Just went to the Goose Island tap invasion they had last night and it was simply awesome. That this place doesn't have at least 4 stars on Yelp is absurd. They butcher pigs in the kitchen and let you watch if you're interested. They make their own sausages, they even make their own ketchup! Yes the food is a little more expensive than the rest of the neighborhood but they had a menu of $5 bar appetizers last night that included homemade all-beef corndogs (really good). The brisket sandwich was perfectly succulent and not overly fatty. Dessert was this rhubarb cobbler with ice cream and it was a win as well. As far as the beer goes, during the event last night I had at least 5 different types of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout: Vanilla, Ancho Chile, Cherry, the regular and then they had one variety that had been aged in a 20-year bourbon barrel. They also had a bunch of crazy saison type stuff that isn't really my style but it is popular with a lot of people. The bottom line is Acre is a dining/drinking experience that should not be missed. I see a few poor reviews recently and it is a shame that people who don't realize pork chops can be done to different temperatures or didn't have their ass licked immediately after walking into the bar during the afternoon feel the need to get so aggressive with their ratings. I also wouldn't get the mussels there or anywhere else for that matter after reading Anthony Bourdain's book. Besides the food the space is great and the lighting and mirrors work well with the beautiful woodwork. Definitely stop in and check it out.
(5)
Susan L.
Have you been to Acre yet? Why NOT!?!?!? The chef of Anteprima does it again! I've been three times and the menu gets revamped each week (maybe even more quickly!). Holy deliciousness! The ceviche? Tangy and delightful. The deviled eggs? Smokey and salty. The pork shank AND ribs? Both fall off the bone. You will NOT be disappointed! I am thrilled to have Acre in the 'hood! Also, they have a large beer selection...with a lot of overlap with Hopleaf. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I like Acre's food better...there. I said it. (Although Acre hasn't offered mussels yet--THAT will be a showdown!)
(5)
David D.
My girlfriend and I stopped in here for an impromptu brunch a couple weeks ago, and both of us absolutely loved what we ordered. Unfortunately, I waited too long to write this review, so we don't quite remember what we both ordered. We do remember the bloody marys being very good, spicy and served with a well-appreciated beer back. Or maybe we ordered a beer with them. Not sure on that one, but I do remember a brisket hash that was one of the best brunch items I have had anywhere, served by a very nice bar tender. Obviously, we both have a few gaps to fill in on Acre, and I look forward to refreshing my memory soon. It was a fast, friendly delicious weekend brunch spot in Andersonville - which I didn't know existed (the fast part, at least) before popping in for a bite.
(4)
Curtis B.
My friend and I just got back from lunch at ACRE...aka, one of my new favorite spots. The craft beer selection here is really impressive! They also had a damn good burger- i have to put it in the top 5 burgers I've had in the states. Their service was top notch (our server REALLY knew his business with both the food menu and beer menu). I would go back any day...I already have plans to go back on Wednesday.
(4)
T Z.
Acre is great. But the overall yelp rating of Acre is skewed by the inflexible, childish judgments of those who abhor change. These folks are incensed by the mere fact that Acre isn't Charlie's Ale House. Get over it. Acre has a colossal selection of craft beers that is unmatched by any place north of Foster. Their food is tasty and creative. And there are plenty of affordable items- I usually stick with the sandwiches (the burger is awesome). The staff is super-friendly and knowledgeable about the beer and food they serve. The interior is clean and comfortable.
(5)
WIndy City X.
This place is a bad shadow of what Charlies Ale House used to be. Went there on a Saturday and ordered the Chicken Sandwich. I swapped a side salad instead of fries. The gave me a very small spring mix of a salad and a sandwich that was on the very small side, ridiculously small. I sent it back. I wasn't about to pay $12 for an appetizer size sandwich and a few leafs of greens. Ordered the soup instead. The soup was good and flavorful although it did not come with any crackers or bread. Very boring. Service was slow. I will not be back. WAY TOO MANY OTHER GREAT RESTAURANTS IN ANDERSONVILLE TO HAVE TO SETTLE FOR LESS THAN MEDIOCRE. Acre really needs to step up their game if they wanna make it.
(1)
Mag M.
A bland bloody mary is pretty unforgivable in my book. But to add insult to injury, the bartender forgot to add the bitters to my companion's champagne cocktail. Maybe it was a new guy, or an off day at the bar. The steak we ordered medium came bloody, and the egg on my fish cake wasn't cooked through. I can forgive a mistake or two. Maybe they're still working the kinks out, but my advice is to skip brunch.
(2)
Brian M.
Good and -or- Terrible The beer selection is great. The food is alright. My real problem with 'Acre' is the hit or miss service and some serious overpricing. When the service is on, it's awesome. Really friendly, quick and accommodating. When the service is bad, its terrible. Be prepared to wait 20 minutes between "how is everything"s. The beer pricing just baffles me. Some great $5-10 drafts, even some pricey rare snifters for $12 (which is to be expected) generally each draft is up a buck or two from other beer venues. Some bottles are really overpriced. $30 for Cantillon Gueuze? $10 Hop Stoopid is just that... stoopid. Lastly, this is the first bar that I can remember seeing tax on my tab. Usually when a bar lists a beer at $5 the bartender asks for exactly that. Not $5.50 Check it out, just don't overlook anything. Feels like I get nickel and dimed when I go there.
(2)
Chris C.
Went here for brunch on Saturday with a couple of friends. They had a twenty $ gift card, so we gave it a shot. I think the average 3 star review is about right. I'd been to this place before when it was Charlies. After trying it out as Acre, I feel like its the same place with the same staff, but trying to sell more expensive food. Its prices and menu listing said 'trying to be classy' but the staff didn't. Mind you, I didn't have any problem with the staff, but it just felt a little off. The food was decent but the breakfast situation in Chicago is far too good for this place to compete. M Henry right up the street would destroy this place. It could be better for lunch / dinner, and the beer list looked quite good. But I wouldn't go out of my way for their brunch.
(3)
Jodi M.
Thank you for excellent service and 'doing the right thing' on New Year's Eve! Our party really appreciated your proactive efforts and generous discount to our overall bill due to the wait - which was understandable (weather!!). Both the host and bartender, as well as the waiter, made every effort to ensure we were satisfied and we were! So thank you! Your service stands out - our meals were delicious - we'll definitely be back!!
(4)
Mike K.
My buddies and I stopped in after our dinner for some "adult beverages". We had them. They were good. We sat at the bar and were promptly attended to. The beer menu is long and extensive and we spent a good amount of time trying to figure out which beer to order. I had the Victory Pils. It tasted great. I guess by reading other reviews this is not the place to come for a meal. It's a shame b/c the interior is really well laid out and it seemed like a good place for dining in. The service was attentive when we were there. But like I said, we were at the bar so I'm sure that helped. I'd go back for the laid-back atmosphere, great beers and the awesome bathrooms. ps: I'm supposed to tell you they have Lagunitas' A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale on tap.
(4)
Isla E.
For lunch, It's too uppity for the food that actually arrives at the table. The menu looks really minimal; so you expect some high-quality, detailed dishes with complex flavors to arrive, but really the food is just not a big deal. If they presented it as regular food, one may be impressed, but with all the pomp and circumstance it is a little bit of a let down. But you can tell the ingredients are high quality. The deviled eggs were pretty good. I would try it again.
(3)
Jeremy R.
A couple of things... I've never written a review much less a negative one. It is not my intention to sound bitchy and put bad energy in the universe. I write this as a self-described foodie and home cook and do have pretty high expectations, especially when paying a moderate to high price for food. Now, with all that said... It was so bad. We live in Andersonville and went for a Saturday brunch. I don't know if it was because it's understaffed, but our waiter was anything but attentive - he checked on us once. It took us at least 7 min. to get a diet coke and cup of coffee. The background music was really loud making conversation difficult. Water in a carafe was brought to our table - it wasn't chilled and there was no ice. We noticed that other tables had condensation on the bottle suggesting it was supposed to be at least slightly chilled; ours was nothing short of right out of the tap. Water, not really a big deal. On to the food... My partner ordered the corn cakes - cornbread topped with a poached egg, hollandaise and a house made chorizo. Dreadful. Both of our plates were very hot suggesting it had set under a heating lamp for quite some time. His hollandaise was completely broken - nothing short of just melted butter - and the chorizo tasted like bland ground beef. The poached egg was way overcooked - completely hard in the center. I ordered the fried green tomato sandwich. The tomato was so not fried - if anything it was soggy. It came with a plateful of hard cold fries with a very small sandwich (I'm cool with a smaller portion, though). Before we got the check, we just went ahead and had the credit card out anticipating a long wait between receiving the check and getting the receipt. Our meal total was $38 and change (that includes a $6 tip - we really hate leaving bad tips). I would love to say we have another great restaurant in Andersonville. Alas, we don't.
(1)
Bruce S.
I'm sorry I haven't reviewed Acre before now. We've been to Acre about 6 times throughout the summer, fall and winter, and we've liked it so much we've brought three different groups of friends. We even bring our dog to sit outside with us in the summer. In short, we've never had a bad meal, or bad service. Based on what I read here, we've either been incredibly lucky, or they've fixed any opening jitters. If you haven't been to Acre, go. Go now. They're open for brunch. Go. First, Acre does the farm to table thing. I like that. There's always something different on the menu. I've had the Pork Burger, outstanding. Several different entrees, all good. My wife likes it too, and she's like Mikey. The beer selection on draft has been fantastic every time I've gone. Always some great craft selections that challenge you to try some new brews. They've always had some special cocktails that the female group members like. I realize this is a very general review, but as I stated up front this is a long overdue review for a place that we've come to really enjoy for an evening out or a summer brunch.
(5)
John C.
This place is wonderful! The menu is varied and quite creative. With only a couple of exceptions, every dish we have ever tried has been very, very good. The selection of draft beers is excellent. And the bartenders are not just knowledgeable, they're also very friendly. A great place to enjoy the night scene in Andersonville. This will probably be the last review I ever do for Yelp. Their website is so awkward it's just not worth dealing with.
(5)
Oliver T.
Went there for dinner with two other friends on a Tuesday night, the server who greeted us as the door seemed to be thinking about whether or not he wanted us to eat there or not...finally gave in and directed us to a table to the front of the restaurant on the bar side. He came to our table after what seemed like an eternity, informing us of specials and entrees which were out, then asked for our drink order...we placed our appetizer order and entree order at the same time...the appetizers made it out to the table before our drinks, at which point the server informed us one of the cocktails wasn't available! Seriously?. We ordered the Beets, the Sardines, and the Deviled Eggs...the beets were great, but nothing special, the sardines smelled and tasted like they came out of a can, the deviled eggs were devine! By the time our entrees came out, our drinks were empty and it took the server 10 more minutes to notice this and refill our drinks, which took him another 5 to 7 minutes to fulfill! Meanwhile, his attention was on the Bulls game on the TV screen which the entire bar was cheering at! The food was good, nothing special however, I understand what they are trying to do...they could honestly try harder! The service SUCKED!!! I work in the service industry and never leave less than 20%...he got 15%, sorry bud...maybe you should tivo the game and watch it at home and do your job while you're at work! We got a $20 gift certificate for spending over a hundred dollars...I think I'd rather recycle the paper than spend the certificate there!
(2)
Rafael C.
Granted I occasionally frequented Acre before when it was known as Charlie's; however, any future trips to Acre will be few and far in between. They changed the look a bit, matching what some gastropubs usually look like, but window dressing alone doesn't make it easier to win over patrons. Let me just get the positives out right away. I appreciate some of the cosmetic changes and even their intent. As I looked at both menu's, I did like the creativity in most of their offerings. The drink menu was impressive as it had plenty to choose from. And just like that my praise will turn to a rants ... Why the heck have a makeover if you don't care about the service. The night that I was there was not the best night for service. I expected better for all the changes I saw but it seems it is, as I mentioned before, window dressing. As for their drinks menu. I know I gave it kudos for being vast and impressive but it was all lost on me for not having any ciders on the list. They had it before but now no longer. They really couldn't stock a brand or two? One last thing, what the hell is that "ketchup" that they use? I applaud their decision to use fresh ingredients and all but shouldn't their homemade ketchup taste fresh? I really couldn't tell what they were going for as it tasted like rancid cocktail sauce or some other mysterious concoction. Sadly, they don't offer a replacement but let me suggest that Heinz does sell organic ketchup FYI. Stock it!
(2)
J W.
I'm giving this place 3 stars because the atmosphere is awesome and the food is also good. Cons are that it took two hours to eat a dinner on a weeknight when the place wasn't at all crowded, the portions are small, and it is kind of pricey. I think we would still go back though--it's somehow affiliated with Anteprima, which I think is the best bar in A-ville, so hopefully they will get it all figured out at Acre soon.
(3)
Brian V.
I really liked Charlie's, but was excited to see they were "updating" the restaurant and bringing some new life into the neighborhood. Sadly, they truly missed the mark - Acre was a huge disappointment. The menu is incredibly limited - and for what it is, very over priced. I ordered the risotto thinking it would be the "safe" bet - it came out ice cold, the rice under cooked, and the egg hard as a rock (my friend's was the same). If they can't get risotto right, I wouldn't trust them with anything else. The first glass of wine I had was great, the second was border line rancid (according to the server it was from the same bottle - right). Our service was beyond poor - the guy was either extremely over worked or incompetent (I'm still not sure which). The decor was less than stimulating (unless you enjoy the color gray). You do, however, get to know the people around you (the tables are packed in tightly and it's incredibly loud). Needless to say, I will not be returning. Ever.
(1)
Sheila B.
I'm very disappointed to say the least. The owners took a great restaurant and bar (Charlie's Ale House), that my husband and I used to go to every Friday and easily spend $100 on food and drinks over the course of the evening, to a restaurant that we will never step foot into again. Charlie's had a light atmosphere where I could order normal drinks (Captain and Coke, a black and tan, Bud Light) to a bar that serves off the wall liquor, specialty beers and is constantly changing. I don't mind change at all, and if I could still order a Malibu and Coke when I walked in the door, I would probably be a happy camper even with the new decor, but the fact that you don't have beers on hand to make a black and tan! A black and tan, a staple drink, drives me crazy. It's too bad. Go to Fireside, just down the road on Ravenswood, if you are looking for a fun bar that has specialty drinks, but will still serve you your favorites as well.
(1)
Kristen W.
After discovering a 45 minute wait (at 7:45pm on a Monday night!) at Hop Leaf we walked down to Acre and gave it a try. I must say I was not impressed with the draft beer list and I agree with the reviewer who stated that most of the beers on the list were brews I would rather have for dessert. The only weiss beer was an Allagash which is not my favorite and they had very little by way of pale ale choices (on tap). The food was good, my boyfriend said the fish & chips (at least the fish) was some of the best he's ever had. I liked my burger, the fries were good. I especially liked some of the little touches like homemade ketchup (surprisingly better than it sounds) and tartar sauce. Plus these awesome thinly sliced, marinated carrots they put on the burger. Sounds strange but it works. I can't say I find the menu to be all that creative- it seems like every new restaurant popping up features some sort of hoof or tongue (this one had beef tongue) and then the usual burgers & fried stuff. I can't say I'm dying to go back, either. But I'm 100% sure there will be many more instances where I find an irritatingly long wait at Hop Leaf and need to find something else.
(3)
Tyra M.
I was fine with the old Charley's Ale House. I always had great pub grub when I went in. If I can get a decent chicken pot pie and a cold bottle of Fin du Monde, I'm a happy camper. I never expected Charlie's to be anything more or less and I was satisfied. Stopped into what is now Acre for lunch (same owners or chef I believe?) and was a bit disappointed. The staff was friendly and attentive but the experience ends there. Not going to go into the decor because it doesn't seem finished yet. There are still holes in the walls where sconce fixtures are waiting to rest in and we were seated over a vent in the floor which gives one a nice view of the basement below along with a nice draft up the leg. If you don't have vertigo, you won't mind that your chair leg is resting over a vent and could puncture through sending you crashing to the catacomb below. Okay, let's get to the food. I had the Griddled Cheese which was okay along with pretty standard french fries. But what was with the dipping sauce for the fries? I dipped a fry, and at first it seemed like shrimp cocktail sauce but then I wasn't so sure. I took a whiff and it smelled like rancid shrimp cocktail sauce but I'm still not sure what it was. I set it aside not wanting to take any chances. My companion had the Smokin' Trout salad and unfortunately, the trout was a little more fishy than it should have been. The salad greens a little more wilted than they should have been. Anyway, maybe the dinner menu is better but with all of the choices in Andersonville, I'm not intrigued enough to go back. I wish them luck.
(2)
Daniel S.
As a proud resident of the neighborhood, I'm always thrilled whenever something *new* comes to the area. Recently, la Tache (now Vincent) underwent something of a facelift and I (for one) liked the changes...I think changes like this keep the area fresh. So, I was really interested to see what may come of Charlie's. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Charlie's...for what it was. But I was intrigued at the idea of "upscaling" the old pub into a new kind of dining experience. For the most part, I've been impressed. But during a recent visit (last night) my partner and I had a disturbing service experience and I feel like I need to write about it. First, the upside. I like the idea of separate "dining room" and "tavern" menus. They're related, to be sure. But each side has it's own focus. We've eaten in the dining room twice (including its "opening night") and the tavern once, and for the most part, the food was delicious. Indeed, the meatloaf I ate in the tavern was really delicious. The sauce was tangy...a little spicy; the meatloaf itself was lean, nicely spiced and well-cooked. I should also mention that I love the concept of "small plates"...it's a great way to "share" a dining experience, so I like the "smaller-to-larger" sections of the menus. Overall, the food is decent. But, service has consistently been poor. I might be willing to give a *new* restaurant a month or so to let the staff "settle in". But this isn't really a *new* restaurant. And I'm talking about the simple things. Seriously, how long does it take to fetch two cocktails on a relatively slow Monday night? Our server last night forgot -- not once, but TWICE -- the bottle of wine that I ordered. (BTW, the beer and wine list are quite nice) But here's where the place utterly fails, IMHO. Let be describe two situations. On our first night there, the owner (who, you must admit, knows a thing or two about food...see Anteprima, which I think is a wonderful establishment) sat himself down at the table next to us and proceeded to have a loud (and quite animated) conversation with the two women at that table (which was big enough for two, not three). He squeezed himself in between the two tables, along the bench, and really became quite a presence at our table, making it difficult to enjoy our meal. I found myself wishing he'd just go away. Despite that, we went back to the dining room last night, which I think likely will be my last time there. As I mentioned above, service was slow...but I'm usually pretty forgiving of something like that. Gut a drink in my hand, put some bread on the table and I'm a happy man. Again, we sat on the side, along the bench at a table for two. These tables are lined up along the side, spaced very close to one another...which isn't a big deal in itself, BUT THE STAFF NEEDS TO KNOW THAT WHEN THEY STAND BETWEEN THE TABLES, THEIR ASS IS BASICALLY ON THE TABLE BEHIND THEM. So, last night, our server seemed to know the two men sitting at the table next to us. At least I'm guessing so, because he wouldn't go away. And each time he came over "to chat", he stood between our tables, with his ass hovering over our table. Eventually, my partner asked him to stand on the other side of the table (there was no one dining at the table on the other side). I have to say that the server complied politely and actually respected our request so that we were able to enjoy the last bit of our dinner/dessert. But here's the weird part. Late last night, my partner (who paid for the meal--thank you--with his credit card) received a facebook message from someone who CLEARLY had been sitting at the table next to us and basically DERIDING my partner for having spoken up. Neither of us knows this fellow, so we're struggling to understand how he might have learned my partner's name. It's a puzzle, I know. Whether he picked up the credit card receipt himself after we left OR our server gave him my partner's name is IRRELEVANT. Either way, it's creepy and WE WON'T BE BACK. Unfortunately, Anteprima may lose our business, too. But in this wonderful city, with tons of wonderful restaurants, I'm sure we'll be fine.....
(2)
Matthew W.
Acre, 3 strikes and you're out. I never thought I would miss Charlie's Ale House, as it was pretty terrible. First visit to Acre: arrive to talk to Maitre'D who weirdly asks me which side of the restaurant I'd like to sit on. I asked why it mattered. "Because we have 2 different menus.". But surely I can get any food on either side, right? Nope - sorry, that's not an option. If you are on the bar side, you are stuck eating bar food (oversauced giant wings that make you looked like you committed murder when you are finished) - and if you're on the restaurant side, you're not allowed to eat the bad bar food. Same kitchen though. This makes no sense at all. Your "restaurant" has no ambiance, so I'm not sure why you force this policy. It's certainly not because there's anything added on the restaurant side. Outcome: we chose bar. Bad aforementioned wings, over complicated grilled cheese, fairly expensive. Good beer list, but the staff had no idea what was on it. Visit 2: forced against my will to give it another try. Let's try the other side this time. Long story short, I ordered prawn appetizer, soup and a beer. Only 2 of 3 prawns were cooked all the way. My wife had an appetizer sized salad, appetizer risotto and a glass of wine. $70. None of it was any good. Visit 3: drinks only (again, against my will). I tried to order the Alpha King, however the waiter thought I said Alpha Klaus. "Sorry, we're out of that.". Ugh. Then, he said "wait you wanted Alpha King? We have that.". So for 1 minute, I was excited. I like that beer. And they have it. Yum. Waiter comes back "sorry, we don't have that either". I asked him for a sharpie to make some edits to the menu, but he didn't get the joke. I'll admit, they have a good beer list, which is the only reason it's not 1 star, but the waiters don't know what's on the list, and they obviously don't have a lot that is on the actual list. Avoid. Bad food, uninformed staff.
(2)
Todd K.
I gotta say - Acre just didn't do it for me. I can even separate my mourning for Charlie's long enough to give Acre a fair shake. Allow me to explain: I was there on two separate occasions - dinner and brunch: Dinner My first experience was on a date. The portions were quite small for the price, though I had a feeling it was intentional. The concept Acre appeared to exploit was too common in Andersonville - catering to people with money that aren't necessarily big eaters. I ordered their salmon, which while good, wasn't anything to write home about. I've had the same portion size cheaper and places comparable in ambiance. My date had a random assortment of appetizers, which I tried but was not overly impressed. Given the amount of money I dropped on the dinner, I should have not left hungry and searching in my refrigerator a few hours later. Brunch Having a "meh" experience at dinner, I had a friend convince me to try brunch. I have to say, the food was much better at brunch. However, again, I feel Acre is a bit "much" when it comes to presentation and price. I feel it does not position itself very differently than many of the Andersonville restaurants. I was also surprised when I asked for a simple side of bacon and the waitress looked at me is if I was crazy and made an "exception" to give me something as plain as bacon. I didn't need it on a bed of caviar with a spotlight on it, just give me my pig. All things considered, I would go back if someone else was paying, but I'm headed to Lady Gregory's, Calo or Ann Sather for a real meal next time.
(2)
Matthew V.
As an avid frequenter of Charlie's, to say I was adamantly against Acre's take-over is a complete understatement. But being a relatively open-minded person, I decided to give it a whirl a couple weeks after it opened. First of all, we were seated in the "Tap" section not knowing that there were 2 different menus on either side of the restaurant. And though the server said he could show us the menu from the opposite side, he said we couldn't order from it and that, if we found something on that menu that appealed to us, we'd have to relocate to that side. Um... Really? Secondly, we ordered 2 dirty martinis and after 45 minutes without our drinks (and without our server even taking our food order... Though he did stop by the table several times to say he'd be right with us), we asked that he immediately bring us our drinks and our check. He apologized for our inconvenience, but he was "slammed." Ok... I understand that certain nights unexpectedly get busy at restaurants and the server has to bear the burden of running himself ragged in order to accommodate everyone... But this really shouldn't be happening a week and a half after the opening of a restaurant... ESPECIALLY a restaurant that replaced a much-loved and dependable neighborhood favorite like Charlie's. Those are big shoes to fill, and Acre didn't even come close. That being said, we didn't even get to try the food. I like the idea of the whole "locally-grown" bla bla bla, but seriously... This place is doomed for failure if this is the level of service they deem adequate so recently after opening. My opinion is that everyone in Andersonville (and other areas) that knew and loved Charlie's stay as far away from this place as possible in hopes our old tried and true will return... Or at least something tolerable at all. Oh... And PS: Their decour sucks. Painting over all that beautiful woodwork with that sad, depressing gray is reason enough to never go back.
(1)
Greer C.
So disappointed. I stopped into Acre with a few friends on Saturday at about 5 minutes until 3. The sign out front said brunch was from 11-3, no problem, surely they can feed us something. The host was very nice and said if we got our orders in quickly, we could probably still get food from the brunch menu. As the minutes ticked away with no sign of a server, we chose our "brunch" options and a back-up "lunch" option, which were really slim pickings. I fail to understand why fish and chips is a brunch option and not available after 3, but a fried fish sandwich is OK after 3. Whatever. Finally, we have someone arrive and we ask if we can still get brunch. She takes off like a shot to ask "the kitchen". When she came back she reported that she asked personally (what other options there might be, I'm not sure) and "the kitchen" would not make us anything from the brunch menu. Again, not a big deal, but she left so quickly, she didn't take a drink order. We decided we would have better luck elsewhere, so we left. If "the kitchen" doesn't want to make food after 3 on a Saturday, they should just close. If the server want to get out right at 3, she should have told us she just didn't want to wait on us. I won't be going back. It's a bummer, too, because I really liked Charlie's.
(1)
Rachel R.
Acre is the re-vamped venture of Marty/Tim (the owners of Charlie's Ale House, which used to occupy the same space). It's only been open a week, but appears to be a solid addition to the neighborhood. Capitalizing on the hype of "one-word" artisan restaurants, Acre offers a large menu based on fresh, local ingredients that will change daily. The executive chef, Carlos, is also the chef of Anteprima, but is presently focusing mostly on Acre's launch. The lunch menu is simple, proving that less is more and that fresh beats over-portioned renditions of fatty comfort foods. I had a burger made from a hand-packed beef patty served with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, mustard grain, and onions smoked in cherrywood. The burger was delicious, and was accompanied with hand-cut fries and house-made ketchup that had a bit of a zing. The dinner menu is more expansive, offering creative selections such as Duck Breast with sweet potato puree, spinach, and bacon-onion confiture, and Lamb Hearts with turnips, mint, and hen of the woods. Less vegetarians be deterred, there are Warm Stuffed Olives, Toasted Marcona Almonds, Green Bean "Bucatini," Swiss Chard & Turnip Gratin, and Pierogi (with aged white cheddar & potato, and chived sour cream). The beer selection was great, and will give the Hopleaf a run for a its money with a large bar section and great offering of Belgian and American small batch brews including West Coast darlings such as Ska Brewing's Modus Hoperandi (a lovely IPA from Durango, CO that comes in a can). The decor is definitely an improvement over the former haunt with tables at a regular height, fewer TVs, more minimalist war adornments, gray paint, and just enough of the old wood charm that Charlie's featured. My only complaint was that the music was a little off (unknown pop songs mixed with the occasional Norah Jones). Overall, I'm very happy with Acre. Whether or not the menu can live up to its ambition of creatively mixing fresh, local ingredients on a daily basis remains to be seen, but I'm cautiously optimistic that there will be more hits than misses.
(5)
Matt T.
Boooooooo!!!! Where do I start with this one. I should have known better after looking at the cliche paltry menu in the window but we decided to go in. Right off the bat, the nonchalant bartender didn't know what was on the charcueterie plate so he yells out to someone else to find out. We ask what's in the bloody mary mix, he doesn't know (hello, dude, you're a bartender) so he slaps down a laminated piece of paper that's the handwritten recipe. We ask some beer questions, he can't answer them. We order the deviled eggs...wtf, I've made better. These things were clearly in the fridge for a couple days. The trout toppings tasted like they were freshly peeled from pre-packaged trout or from some vacuum-sealed pack from the grocery store. The egg itself was pretty hard and the "lemon preserved" aioli tasted old. The beer menu was large but very typical and quite all over the place. Everything was handily organized by type of beer but it was still disorganized. The food menu was so cliche for every new brewpub, or wanna be gastropub. The owners should have left the place as Charlie's Ale House. At least the atmosphere was half decent. Anyway, the menu choices have been so overdone and the choices were just lacking. Pork burger, oyster sandwich, regular burger, some boring apps (except mac and cheese), dull atmosphere and clueless, disinterested bartenders. Oh, and they had the typical depressed looking hipster behind the bar as well. This place has no identity, no idea of what food they want to serve and no idea what kind of drinks they want to serve. Such a huge space with the sit down dining area, but honestly, who's going to fill those seats with the food, drinks and atmosphere at this place. How is this place owned by Anteprima? I've heard such great things about, how can Acre suck so bad? FAIL
(1)
Gretchen N.
We have lived in the Edgewater neighborhood part-time for three years...always passed by Acre but never stopped in...until last month. And I have to say...so glad that we did! Excellent beer selection and their appetizer menu is really really good. Try the grilled calamari and also the fried cheese curds...oh boy.
(5)
Jessica S.
Well, the second time I ate at Acre was a total 180 degrees from the first. The service by Evan was impeccable. The owner was very nice and came over twice to see how we were doing. We both ordered the heirloom tomato salad which was delicious. My friend got the skirt steak and said it was delicious. I ordered the sesame crusted tuna with jasmine rice. It was very good, despite being a little salty. Our waiter then informed us that since we had ordered apps and entrees we were eligible for the prix fixe which was very good at $25 a person. We were entitled to a dessert each. The bread pudding was delicious, but very dense and the fig brulee was divine. The decor is very nice, the service impeccable, the beer list is fabulous and honestly the only thing missing was a bread basket.
(4)
Liz K.
Cute place, and since it's relatively new, more will be added as time goes on. I had the deli plate, which had liverwurst of some sort and head cheese, which was great. Then for my entree I had the pork burger which tasted simply unholy. Annnnnd then for dessert I had the strawberry almond cake which was really almondy and delicious. Everything was tasty and they have a great beer selection. The menu is also organized nicely as all sandwiches are 10 and all regular entrees are 15. The only negative here was the extremely dim lighting. Other than that, it was great.
I came here for an informal rehearsal dinner the night before some friends were getting married. We had the whole back room to ourselves. The staff took great care of us, making sure that food was always coming and no guests were without drinks. Acre has that warm and inviting feeling you look for in a bar in the middle of a harsh Chicago winter. Muted tones and subdued lighting creates a relaxing atmosphere to warm up in. Our food was brought out and served buffet style. Truffled Mac n' Cheese - This seems to be on everyone's menu now. I thought the flavors were nice, although the cheese sauce was a bit too thin. This dish needs to eat like a meal, not a soup. Sausage - Delicious! A little smoky with that perfect snap when you bite into the casing. By far the highlight of the food we had. French Fries - These were fine. I mean, unless you cook the fries in duck fat or do something unique to them, fries are fries for the most part. These were standard, non-fast food, thin-cut fries. Mushroom flat bread - Nice crust and neat, this light take on pizza was quite appropriate for the circumstances. People were eating while standing, and the flat bread didn't fall apart when you bit into it, so I deem it a success. Even though the food was average, I give Acre 4 stars because of the service, ambiance, and beer list. The selection of beer was mature and diverse. I tried a few different beers upon our server Steven's recommendation. The left handed milk stout was the best, providing a creamy smooth sip every time. This isn't the best place you'll visit, but it accomplishes its ambitions well, and is a good place to meet friends for a drink.
(4)
Charlotte S.
I've only been here for the "Sip and Slurp" (martinis and dollar oysters) so I can only speak to that but we loved it. Was there for the 9pm - midnight special and it was a fantastic way to start or wrap up (mine was wrap up) a sexy date. I'll be back for sure. Hopefully with the same sexy date.
(5)
Brian S.
(While reading the following review, please insert many puns about traveling an (A)cre to eat this delicious food and drink these delicious brews.) A certain (Urban) Daddy blasted my inbox over and over again about Acre, formerly known as Charlie's Ale House (ha -- it still comes up as such on one's credit card bill). Liz, since she lives two or maybe three stone's throws away from Berwyn and Clark, agreed to meet me there. I walked in a few minutes early and checked out the dueling menus on the door -- Acre is a two-faced establishment with a "tap" on one side and a more traditional dining room on the other. Although I'm not too shy to order a $25 main once in awhile, I'd heard more cheers about the sandwiches served in the bar area, so I zigged upon entering and sat down. The beer menu. Is. Amazing. I really appreciated the orderly way they were arranged -- sessions here, drafts there, Belgian babes over yonder. The selection of beers is astounding -- and so are some of the prices. Once my companion joined me, we sampled the Dogfish Head Sahtea, a wildly spicy brew that was like an adult version of chai tea. I happily ordered a goblet of the sauce and followed it up with a thick, malty Night Tripper from New Holland. Liz had Moose Drool Brown Ale, presumably because of the low price-point and, natch, the kitsch. Speaking of sauce, have you ever had fig jam on a pork burger? If not -- please go to Acre right now. This afternoon or evening, if possible. The burger in question was outstanding -- pepper jack cheese and arugula rounded out the super-savory sandwich, and the homemade ketchup, although texturally off, was a nice side for the crispy, wavy fries. Liz ordered a "scrimp" (sic x 1,001; typos abounded on the menu (for authenticity's sake, since they change it "so, so often"?)) and crab BLT that was so creamy and sea-soaked. I don't know if it was our cheerful waiter's fault (he seemed to be manning the entire front section of the "tap") or the fact that my dear sister and I just couldn't coordinate our food and drink orders, but service was a little awkward. I wouldn't let it stop me from visiting again and again, though. I'd appreciate seeing you there, too. With a dollop of fig jam on your face.
(4)
Anne B.
This review is solely for the bar. Excellent.
(4)
Jason M.
These two stars are representative of a "restaurant" that has a pretty darn good beer list and absolutely nothing else. We showed up with a large group, say 15, and they borderline forced us to sit at a table with a waiter despite being on the "bar side" of the place. The place was empty. It would've been a lot easier to just chill wherever and order drinks at the bar...you know...like every other normal bar around. Despite having a fancy computer cash register, they have no idea how to allow someone to pay off their part of the bill while it's still open. Did they really think 15 people at a bar were all going to leave at the same moment? The bill was wrong in 15 different ways. The waiter was the most clueless person of all time. "I'll have the Chipotle Porter." "Wait, who makes that one?" "Stone" "Where?" (points to the menu.) My god. That happened about 4 times with different beers. While I know I said they had a good list, there's still only 15 or so drafts. Jesus. My friend got a Bourbon Cty Stout, which was $5 on the menu and $8 on the bill. The "bartender" explained that $5 was for a smaller pour or blah blah blah. Fella, no one asked for a larger pour. We ordered what was on the menu. Instead of just apologizing and explaining and offering to take $3 off, he justified the whole thing. Nonsense. I won't be back and I honestly hope they fail miserably so someone with a clue can run that space and provide me good beer without making my blood boil.
(2)
Rachel C.
A friend of mine who lives in the area made a reservation for us here on Saturday night. With a party of 6, he knew it may be tough to get in to some places on short notice so we all met up here. Before our table was ready we stopped at the bar to have drinks. I am pretty beer-dumb, my friend ordered me something that I couldn't tell you today what it was, but I liked it. They seemed to have a decent selection. The menu had quite a variety of things on it. We chose an appetizer of some assorted sausages that were very good, I really liked the curry andouille - they also ordered "bread cheese" which was tasty as well. I settled for the chicken and "cheddar grits" for my dinner. A couple of others chose steak, rabbit, a large spinach tortellini. The chicken was cooked perfectly and everyone else seemed pleased with their meals. The service was great too, although I have to admit I was very involved with the company I was with - but we tipped him well. If it had been bad I'd have noticed, but he was great and I was with a friend I rarely see. Nice atmosphere, neutral decor, soft lighting. A bit more room for larger parties to stay/sit together than some other places in the area. I had a place to put my coat and purse which wasn't on the floor or hanging over a chair dragging on the floor this time! All-in-all a very nice place!
(4)
Franny S.
I went for brunch last Sunday with two friends because one had received a $20 gift certificate when we had dinner at Anteprima the previous week and I guess they have the same owners. However, Anteprima was delicious. Acre was not. My crepes were supposed to be mushroom and leek, but no leeks were present and it had some kind of creamy sauce not included on the menu description. The entire dish was virtually tasteless. My hash browns were cold and the odd "ketchup" they have there (which tastes like cocktail sauce) was ICE cold, like it was just out of the fridge. Serving something cold to accompany something hot is a pet peeve of mine, though perhaps since the hash browns weren't served hot that rule shouldn't apply? My friends had similar experiences with their food, and the juice that one of them ordered never arrived. So in summary...the food was bland and cold. The service was bland and cold. The portions were very small for the prices. I will not be returning.
(2)
Katherine G.
Unfortunately have to edit this review. Used to be fresh food with a staff of experts when it came to beer. Staff has changed and they just aren't the same place. Food doesn't taste "farm to table" anymore. When I talked to a waiter about it he seemed clueless.
(3)
Elizabeth W.
I love Acre! Attentive, friendly service, delicious and interesting drinks, and amazing food. Two words: pork burger. You won't be disappointed! Have only been there for dinner, but are looking forward to trying out brunch soon.
(5)
Andy M.
I wasn't to impressed by this place despite its cool neighborhood. I thought the bar looked very common and suburban. The food was not really anything to write home to mama about and the place just seemed like it was just there. They have a decent beer choice, but that can be expected on a street where it is very competative. it is often crowded the previous times I passed by and on this Sunday it was also busy so they must be doing something right. It would not be my first or fifth choice in Andersonville.
(3)
Karmen F.
I was excited to see what took over for Charlie's, especially since hearing of Acre's use of locally grown produce. Went with vegetarian friend who was happy to see there were options available to her. Although we had to flag someone to seat us, we were happy since an outdoor table was avail. We then waited again - more than 10 minutes for a server. Our drink order was mangled - we order Little Blossom and received Little Blush. Waited again for server. Our cocktails were flat not sparkling but we drank them so we would not have to wait again. Our food order was the daily soup special, baked feta (fantastic), scallops ceviche (me), and the risotto. The food was fresh, but either the flavor was cooked out of the ingredients or they were past their prime. The soup was just short of tasting like Chef Boyardee, the scallops as if could do with a little more cleaning and the risotto was more brothy than it should be. I am curious enough to come back and try their pub food - hamburger - as well as their brunch before I write them off. It maybe that food is just not their thing but a place to have a nice beer & burger.
(3)
Holly M.
Come here for the beer only. I ordered a $16 plate of mushroom gnocchi. They brought me an enormous plate with a tiny puddle of boring dumplings in mushroom sauce plopped in the middle of it. My friend's flat bread appetizer was big enough that I helped him eat it, whereas my entree was just disappointing. So...impressive beer list, but super expensive un-filling food.
(2)
Janis W.
The service was beyond slow, yet friendly. The food was barely warm, but still good. I am tempted to go back because it's so on the fence that I think it might be very good next time. There is a $25 fixed price on Wednesdays that makes the meal less disappointing. If I had paid full price I'd be more upset and less resigned.
(3)
Beth O.
The pseudo-suburban haters who miss Charlie's Ale House should be damned to Panera and Amstel Light for all eternity. Whatever. Yes, portion sizes can be un-American (they do not make me unzip my pants at the table) and the menu of microbrews, belgians and food changes frequently compared to the consistency of the former restaurant, but stay home and eat prunes if you want to be consistent. Acre deserves five stars for the service-- arguably, from Tim to the waitstaff the best in A-ville-- as well as for the food. We always try the rotating variety of tacos (the well-sauced fish/tuna/snapper are especially fresh and tasty); we love the BLT with fried egg; we lust after the fried green tomato salad on cold winter days; and Yelp doesn't even want to know what we do with the sausage plate. Acre elevates comfort food and service each time we visit.
(5)
Peter B.
Best beer selection in the city, and the food is fantastic. I loved the pork burger, and the asparagus salad was outstanding (and actually pretty well sized). Our pork rillettes served with a perfect fried egg made me want one to take home for breakfast. Eat this!
(5)
Matthew T.
I went here with my girlfriend and her parents for a casual weekend lunch. This former location of Charlie's Ale House now Acre uses the space well and has a delightful staff. the menu is short and to the point for lunch, which i like because i often have trouble deciding what i want from a larger menu. Such was the case with my drink selection due to the expansive beer menu. Lunch menu consists of sandwiches organized by price and had a good variety of surf and turf. I had a delicious crab/shrimp cake sandwich on a baguette. Food was great, service was fast, drink recommendations were on point. The only thing preventing a 5 star rating is how dark it is for seated customers. The bar is very well lit, but sitting at a table in the back makes you forget what time of day it is. I will be going back.
(4)
Michael V.
Acre tries hard and fails pretty spectacularly. I get the feeling that they decided that Andersonville needed its own Publican, or Bristol, or Purple Pig, but neglected to figure out what made those places actually...good. Throwing random exotic-sounding things together does not cut it. I went there for dinner with a friend last night. We had been there before a while ago, back when they had two different menus. We both pretty much hated it then, but glancing at the menu last night, it looked like they had done an overhaul. They hadn't. We split the mussels and the chilaquiles as appetizers. The mussels were undercooked and only saved by the sausage in the broth. Still not exactly good, but palatable. Since the chilaquiles were offered as an evening appetizer, I expected them to be a little different than what's served at my local diner for breakfast, but sadly, that's exactly what they were. Actually, my local diner's chilaquiles are better. For dinner, I had the Amish chicken breast served on a bed of mashed sweet potatoes and kale. The chicken was well cooked, but the dish itself was pretty bland -- I've had better at hotel conference lunches. My friend had the halibut (or at least I think it was halibut -- can't remember) served with beans and rice. First of all, the whole dish was tan -- a little greenery or some sort of color would have helped the appearance at least. Beyond aesthetics, the dominant flavor was salt. Very, very salty. And that's about it -- not terrible, but certainly nothing that should command the prices they're charging. On the brighter side, the place looks great and our server was quite good. If they toss out the entire menu and start over, I may try it again.
(2)
Rob K.
We had a spontaneous lunch here on a Saturday afternoon and it's a nice little place. Great selection of beers and the food was good. I had the pork burger and my wife had a beet salad with some flatbread. Service was good. They do, however, have to do some serious work on mixing their Bloody Maries.
(3)
rebecca g.
I was never a fan of the food at Charlie's (their old incarnation), so I was skeptical from the onset. However, a rec from friends and talk of a new chef made me give it a try. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing, but the overpriced organic burger was terrible. Totally overcooked, tasteless, and to top it off, I was picking nasty chunks of stringy gristle out of several bites. Sorry, but if I'm paying $12 for a burger, it should be awesome! The Bacon Mac-n-Cheese was good enough, if overly creamy, with the sauce: pasta ratio way off. Also, though it was a small side, it cost almost as much as the sandwiches. The true highlight of this meal was my pricy cocktail, a Zombie that arrived with a fun flaming brown sugar cube on top. I must say our server was really awesome-- she was so down-to-earth and attentive, personable without being overbearing. I might go back for drinks, but was really disappointed in the food.
(2)
David S.
Awful. Small portions, expensive, and crappy service. Yes, it's one of those pretentious places that would have been hot ten years ago. Just plain awful.
(1)
Mike M.
This place gets better with every visit. I had initial problems with the acoustics but these have been addressed and now you get to concentrate on the food which is consistently good but highly varied from season to season. That might mean you miss an old favorite but it encourages you to try new things. The beer selection is extensive and bartenders are well informed. Acre is going from strenght to strength,
(4)
Nick B.
I'm not going to lie, I was a little bummed when I found out Charlie's was closing. I loved their veggie burgers. I have to say I was there a good 5 times to get my burger fill. Regardless, when I heard that Acre was opening up in it's old spot I was intrigued. I took a glance at the menu outside one night and looked at the menu. Ugh. All that meat? Entrees were expensive. Pass. Regardless! I ended up stopping in last night. I couldn't resist skipping out on a new Andersonville hot spot. I went in last night for drinks and a little bite to eat. I ignored the entrees based on my original impression but I settled with the roasted potatoes, mac n' cheese (no bacon!), and my friend went with their grilled cheese. I'm going to have to say...the food was great. I loved the roasted potatoes. It was a nice alternative to french fries. Were they flavored with mint? Basil? Whatever it was, it rocked. The mac n' cheese was very heavy, flavorful, and made for a nice snack. I couldn't eat the whole thing but I enjoyed it. Finally, I had a bite of my friend's grilled cheese. Crazy good too. Rye bread? Awesome. I just had a dry vodka martini which was fine. It was a little weird that it came out at the same time as the food. I like to dive into my drink before the food comes, but no big deal. Our waitress was nice. She looked a little stressed out despite it being moderately crowded. She also took forever to grab our credit cards. No big deal though! Overall, enjoyed it. Food was great, stick with the sides.
(4)
Anna B.
Pretty neat place - love the huge bar. The chicken and waffles was among some of the best I've ever had. The chicken fell off the bone and had just the right amount of tabasco to make the syrup and waffles just melt. They have a pretty good beer selection but it was mid-morning so I ordered a Beermosa. It was tasty but overpriced for such a small quantity. With the exception of the male waiter who checked out my boyfriend shamelessly EVERY time he walked by our table, I enjoyed my visit.
(3)
Kendra F.
Acre is truly a GEM! We recently moved back to Chicago and I couldn't wait to get back out on the foodie scene again. One of the first places we tried was Acre, and we LOVED it!! My husband and I really like tapas-style restaurants so that we can try numerous items. We started with oysters that were incredibly fresh and tasty. All of the meat dishes were fork-tender and SO flavorful! Not one dish disappointed (and we tried several). They have an amazing selection of wine and beers, extremely knowledgeable staff and an awesome ambience. We'll definitely make this a regular stop, especially when we have out-of-town guests that we want to dazzle with some of the best that Chicago has to offer!!!
(5)
Jimm C.
one biscuit topped with salty watery gravy for $12? WTF I would never return. I spoke to FB friends and they all say the same about this place, stay away!
(1)
Sarah K.
Just had brunch here and it was great all around. Service was fantastic and everyone at my table enjoyed their food (trout hash; chilaquiles; chicken & waffles; pork burger). I want to come back to try dinner for sure. Like that you can make reservations for brunch.
(5)
Ludwig D.
Really had a lovely time. Our waiter was very friendly and available. The food was pretty good. I didn't care too much for the charcuterie plate as I was hoping for some thin slice ham but the both the baked feta and the the bacon mac'n'cheese were great. A good addition to the neighborhood.
(4)
Sherry N.
We're so sad, Acre. We were expecting more. Now I really miss Charlie's chicken pot pies. We ordered off the brunch menu today, and there was something off with everything we tried. Drinks: I can tell this is a beer place, which is great. But is it really that difficult to offer hot tea as a beverage? "We don't offer tea yet." Huh? For our appetizer, we tried the chicken wings. I think they just poured on some sauce right before serving, because these wings had no flavor that had actually absorbed into the meat. Should have been better. Our entrees: The Griddled Cheese sandwich was really quite small - the bread slices were almost heel sized. Fries were good, dipping sauce a no-go. The mushroom crepes were really pretty bland - if you're going to focus on the mushrooms, they should really sing. These barely hummed. I ordered a side of bacon, which comes with potatoes. The bacon came extra crispy - some burnt, but fortunately for me, I can do burnt. However, the unforgivable was the house potatoes. Seriously, when they set the plate down with the bacon, the presentation of the potatoes on the side looked like little log poos. Sorry, it's so true. And they were dry and really bland and boring. If I'm going to eat something that at first glance looks that nasty, it had better taste amazing. Big bummer. Positives - good service. Friendly and efficient. I am totally not a bitchy, picky eater, but Acre, we won't be coming back any time soon.
(2)
Alfred T.
Acre is a new restaurant, owned by the same folks at Anteprima. While a completely different restaurant, serving locally sourced ingredients, the level of food and service is much like it's great brother--Anteprima. Wonderful combinations of perfectly prepared dishes. Unusual ingredients--I had the tongue starter last night which was fabulous. Beautifully prepared fish dishes, game and poultry, in a serene setting makes this institution a go to place. The service is subtle and knowledgeable. Graham is our favorite so ask for a table he is serving. A unique and delicious experience. Well priced, extraordinary list of micro-brewed beers make for a great time. GO!
(4)
Nichole F.
While they do have a nice beer list, the service is horrendous at best and I agree with other reviewers that the space is just not comfortable. It feels very cold. And for some reason, that bathroom scares me to death. Not because it is dirty or dark. It's just cold and creepy. I only come to Acre when other places are too busy and loud and I want a quieter place. Otherwise, there are plenty of other good places nearby to go.
(2)
Michelle D.
I came here several months ago with a.friend for dinner we both had the burger which changes dont quite remember what all came on it. What I do remember is.the waiter being a bit rude . It was our first time there so I.wasnt.aware of the burger changing and I asked the guy what comes on it and he got a bit of a tude with me. No complaints on the food but service made it lose a star. Not sure if i will return plenty of other places on that strip.that i enjoy with better service.
(3)
Walker H.
Great space. The kid tending bar didn't know what he was serving. The beer selection is quite good, though. I just didn't get any help from the staff. As for the food, I suppose it has it's place. I had the open-face turkey sandwich. Decent enough. Though a bit strange. I'll eat here again, it's so close to my current place.
(3)
Christopher K.
Full disclosure: we did not eat here so this review is purely based on our drink experience. We stopped in here for drinks after dining at Lady Gregory's nearby and saddled up at the bar. The bartender/proprietor? was very knowledgeable about their brews on tap and helped us pick out one that sounded tasty. However, he became rather surly after learning that we had eaten at Lady Gregory's and that we weren't there for food. He made a point to shake hands and introduce himself to other customers sitting at the bar but not to us. Then, after asking for our check after 1 drink he said "one and done, ok" in a confrontational tone. It was odd and very unwelcoming. Don't think I'll be back.
(2)
Cameron K.
Although I live in the neighborhood, I had never been to Acre before last night. And after last night, I probably won't be back. I would love nothing more than a solid restaurant serving this kind of food at this price point, but Acre is not getting it done. Two main problems: the sound level and the food. I was looking for a restaurant to have a drink and dinner while I chatted with my friend. Unfortunately, the place was so loud we had to yell at each other to be heard. We were there on a beautiful Wednesday evening, so the windows were open. But the majority of the noise was coming from inside, not outside. There is no sound insulation in the place at all, and if you are unlucky enough to be there when there is a loud party at the bar, like we were....good luck. Most of the food was not terrible, but it wasn't great. I had the asparagus salad, which was overdressed and too salty - I think the salt level came from the bread crumbs, which were unnecessary and a little overwhelming. My friend had the beet salad, which she deemed "just ok." Then we split the chicken liver tartinas and the sausage plate. The chicken liver was passable; the sausages were terrible. Overcooked and incredibly dry, and at least one of them had an extraordinarly odd crumbly texture. We didn't finish any of the food. So I won't go back. Maybe we ordered poorly, but if a restaurant can't deliver anything better than "just ok" on four separate dishes, it doesn't get a second chance.
(2)
Agnes F.
Wandering in the andersonville area on xmas eve, fiancee and i seeked refuge from the cold and snow at acre and boy did we pick a good place! richie our bartender suggested a French white belgian style ale for me and fiancee had a stout, we both loved our beer foodwise, we shared a pork burger and oyster sandwich (both excellent but definitely loved the oyster sandwich) and also the deviled eggs (yummy aioli and trout) service was good, richie was helpful and funny, we had a good time at acre
(4)
Ang R.
It's probably a bad sign when you go to write a review of a restaurant and you can't think of the name of it. Sigh. Acre was our last minute choice for NYE, based on the menu and what we could find available. I'm not saying it was bad, exactly. I had a very tasty salad, but the tuna tartar was a little strange. The short rib was OK; the pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon was a little better than OK. It's just not....top notch. That's all I can think of to say about it. If I never went back, I wouldn't mourn.
(3)
M K.
I'm generally not inclined to write reviews, but after reading what has been posted here I feel compelled to comment on my experience at Acre. I've been eating there regularly since it replaced it's predecessor Charlie's Ale House, and I don't go there for the beer-- although I will acknowledge that they seem to have a million different ones, and the few I tasted were rather interesting. I go to Acre for the food. It's not in my neighborhood, so getting there means driving 50 blocks. But when I get there, I know I can depend on fresh locally sourced food that tastes better than the prices reflect. I'm sort of particular about what I eat, and I go to Acre because I know it will taste like I'm in a gourmet farmer's kitchen. There aren't 100 things with ridiculous descriptions on the menu-- they are considerate enough to use plain english with acutely accurate descriptions of each entre. The servers have always been quite gracious in offering to elaborate, but it really isn't necessary if you just read the menu--it is totally b.s.-free. I also like eating weird stuff, and this really isn't the place for that, except for the occasional walk on the weird side in the desert menu(red wine gelato? um, interesting, but saved by it's companion's flavors). Acre is the place for ordering healthy foods that taste better than expected, and it's absolutely consistent! Now even though I don't drink much (yah, really) I have still sat at the bar a few times, and I want to say that the bartenders there are pretty cool. Not annoyingly hip, and not sports-bar types...they are just cool, attentive and unobtrusive. As for those millions of beers, well the names are pretty trippy, and they tasted good to me but I'm no expert in that department. So excellent and dependable food, casual and attentive vibe with fair prices--I'm going over there right now.
(5)
Jessica B.
I've dined at Anteprima before and enjoyed my meal so Acre was next on my list to try. The dining space is very cute with brushed suede covered booths and nice tables that line the windows and let you stare at people walking by. But be careful about the windows in winter as they are a little drafty. A friend and I went and both had the oven roasted duck with sweet potato puree, bacon and Brussel sprouts. My duck was very delicious with a soft sauce but a few of the medium raw pieces were REALLY raw. Either way, it was good. The sweet potato puree was light and tasty and the brussel sprouts were very good. For some reason though, I wasn't a huge fan of the maple cured bacon. Normally that's a hit or me but I wasn't feeling it tonight. We also split a side of the bacon mac and cheese, which was also good because it was light (unlike the mac and cheese at Table 52) and tasty. Again, we weren't a huge fan of the bacon, which was kind of a bummer, but the dish really didn't need it, it was good on its own. I would definitely go back but I don't know if I would run back there. The menu rotates seasonally which I like and there were a lot of dishes I would have loved to try but there wasn't a huge pull for me to run back. But the food was good, service was nice and it was a cozy place. So I would recommend it!
(3)
Matt G.
As someone who liked Charlie's I definitely wanted to give this place a try. Pros: Really extensive wine & beer list...very good selection and reasonably priced Cons: the food menu has some really good options (although my friend pointed out not too many vegetarian options and no more turkey burger) but it is a very small menu. The ambiance is really nice, I guess I'm just disappointed about the smaller menu.
(3)
skip l.
We come for the food! This is a great place for folks who love experimentation and variety. And who admire chefs who can combine imagination with "locally" grown/produced ingredients and with a discriminating sense of taste/texture. There, I've said it. There are strong reviews of Acre's beer selection -- which friends tell me is, indeed, wonderful -- but few emphasizing the food. That's why I'm writing: Acre has become our place specifically for fascinating, highly varied, high quality dining. Can't recall if I've reviewed Acre before, but the key is a very skilled, imaginative chef and a menu that changes daily. There are some continuing items, but the emphasis is on change. We just returned from a wonderful brunch. Our party split the steak and eggs, the pork burger (a fav), a salmon sandwich, and the biscuits and gravy. All were knockouts. Let me just focus on one: the biscuits and gravy. This had no resemblance to the gooey white mess which (I'll admit, lovingly) that such menu items usually represent. At Acre, the biscuit is split in half, each side topped with a piece of chicken sausage, and covered with dark brown and meat-laden gravy, spilling over the top and onto both sides. This design keeps the biscuit moistly firm and chewy, nicely ready to absorb the gravy but not until the time is right. We also had a very good cucumber, tomato, and pine nut salad with a white cheese, and a grilled octopus appetizer (another fav). We love the deserts as well; today I had a raspberry creme brule with brandy ice cream, a fine combination. Do dishes ever "miss"? Of course; with such variety and experimentation, how could that not happen from time to time. But in our experience not that often. As for service, we've never had anything other than friendly, attentive service. Evan, who we see often, is especially enjoyable, happy to chat and answer questions, check on ingredients (we have allergy issues), and when asked, to provide his own recommendations. Other waiters have been similarly helpful and friendly. It's that kind of place. Downsides? Acre can be a bit noisy when crowded. And the cocktail menu is not inspired. They had a winter drink with maple syrup that simply didn't work; the syrup did not seem a good match with the other ingredients (and separated out). But, as I said, we come for the food. And even in Chicago, with so many wonderful choices, that's what keeps making Acre our most frequent and consistently satisfying choice.
(4)
Larry B.
Great atmosphere and beer list and menu was innovative. However service/attention to detail was lacking and the main entree portions are incredibly small and overpriced. Stick with the burgers, which were delish and a value.
(3)
David G.
Wow. Friends recommended Acre for our anniversary dinner. We weren't expecting much from our neighborhood restaurant. But the wood grilled pork ribs were... the best ribs I've ever had! Beet salad, risotto and Trout hash were all excellent as well. We were also pleased by the reasonable prices and very friendly staff. We'll be back soon.
(5)
Sean C.
Stopped here after dinner and after Hopleaf on our way back to the car. Walked in after peeking through the windows. We loved the bar atmosphere, which I thought was classy yet casual, felt refined, not too loud. You could tell the clientele was not pretentious, nor there to get hammered. Felt the bartenders were personable, knowledgeable and friendly. Could have a conversation without yelling over one and other. My wife loved the dark wood bar and backdrop against the whitewashed walls. Would go back for a nice & relaxed drink. Well done ACRE!
(4)
A D.
Stopped in to ACRE for a late lunch on a Friday. Some people were walking out and my friends and I asked what they thought - they said it was good, great beer selection - so we were sold. Not sure what some of the bad reviews are for the waitstaff, but we had a great experience. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. We actually sat outside in the "Ombra" seating area. It was nicer and since they own it as well, they gave us the go ahead. I got the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich and it was sooooo good. The homemade ketchup was good too and I'm not a big ketchup fan. Salty and delicious. Beer was great. I went back again a couple of wks later and had the Pork Burger. Also very good. I would definitely recommend this place. Not sure how they do when they're super busy (both times were pretty empty when I was there), but I had good service, good food, and good beer. :-)
(4)
Bradley M.
Good beer list, but that was the highlight of the night. The atmosphere was pleasant, but the service was subpar at best. Very unprofessional in general. Took a good 15 minutes to see our server, and he was not present at the table. He never asked once how our food was. We had two courses so this seems unacceptable. The fried green tomatoes were pretty good, but a rather small portion in general. The beet salad was just on this side of inedible. Way to many beets, and low quality beets. For a salad that features beets, I expected much better. Hardly touched the beets, and the server never asked why. The skirt steak was flavorful, but again small portion and overpriced. Ordered medium rare and got medium well at best. We left hungry, which is never a good feeling when doing a multi-course dinner. When paying $70 plus, you expect to at least leave with a full stomach. Some redeeming qualities, but overall a dissatisfying experience. Doubtful I will be going back again, except perhaps for a small appetizer and a beer.
(2)
Julia F.
On the hunt to try a new brunch spot in Andersonville, I ventured to the recently opened Acre on a Sunday afternoon. While the lunch and dinner Yelp reviews are quite mixed, brunch delivered a savory, eclectic mix of food paired with friendly, prompt service. Using ingredients from local farms, the brunch menu offers up small appetizers ("snacks and sides") and well portioned entrees ("faves"). Local Metropolis is the brew of choice, with the server keeping our coffee cups hot and filled. The trio o' pastries (snack) promised a cinnamon roll, lingonberry preserve pastry, and coffee cake but, somewhat disappointingly, came with a lemon poppy seed muffin in place of the roll. With wonderful bakeries like Swedish Bakery in the neighborhood, there's no need to spend money and calories on this trio of baked goods. A savory alternative to the usual brunch fare, the creamy yam crepes (fave) consisted of the slightly sweet, mashed vegetable wrapped in thin pancakes and topped with sliced mushrooms. My red meat-loving dining partner opted for the brunchburger (fave), a tasty but heart attack-inducing meal of two beef patties, bacon, fried eggs, and cheddar cheese on a buttery croissant (accidentally spelled "crossaint" on the menu). Neither overly cutesy nor laborious, the American bistro brunch dishes uphold the Acre chef's claim to "buying the best, doing the least, and letting the ingredients be the star."
(4)
Smilz S.
I loved the smoked trout and I asked for vegetables instead of french fries, and got this excellent cucumber salad - with peaches and tomatoes.
(4)
Matt D.
We used to hit Charlie's Ale House, probably once a month at least. It's in the neighborhood, and it was consistently decent. Not great mind you. I actually think the casual atmosphere of the old Charlie's was what drew us back to it. It was never packed, and you could just walk in and sit down. The staff got to know us, and hell we could show up in lounge pants and a sweatshirt, sink into one of the booths and just chill. Last night went to the new version, and experienced Charlie's 2.0. A wait to eat? yep. Packed? mhmm. 2 different menus? unfortunately, yup. We had a friend in town, got seated on the bar side (whatever they call it: pub/tap room), at a high top table. Stools are actually quite comfortable. It was so loud at 8:30 you really had a hard time hearing each other. The high tops are right up to the bar that was 2 deep all the way around. The lights are super dim, but the paint color (which i don't care for) and the unfinished walls (?) give it an odd hazy like low lit vibe. They took out all the booths from the non bar side, and it's stuffed with little tables. To the food. Bar side = 'sammys'. Which to me is an odd dichotomy. Class up the place and get cutesy with the menu? Anyway, WAY better than Charlie's. I had the goat burger. Super great. Lemon yogurt on it, cooked perfect, a real dare i say artisanal bun, with great handcut fries. Wife had the ahi tuna on rye with side of veggies (that actually tasted freshish). Our friend has the For the rabbits salad, which looked great, and the Turkey Pastrami. All were satisfied. And the beer list, well, Charlie's had taken steps to improve theirs. This one is super. By 9:30 we could hear each other, and all in all enjoyed it.
(4)
Paul S.
Now normally when I sit down, read a menu, and have no idea what they are talking about, I look for ways to leave...you know, forgot my wallet, need to check my car, chew an Alka-Seltzer tablet and drop to the floor foaming at the mouth, etc. Despite reading things like "swiss chard" (huh?), "robiolo" (come again?), and "stinging nettles" (WTF?), my wife and I put our pallets in the hands of the chef and were pleasantly surprised. We shared the beet salad which was plated separately for us to have our own portion. My vegeterrorist wife had the "griddled" cheese and I had the "braised chicken leg". I'd love to tell you what it came with but honestly have no idea except to say that everything worked together in harmony and not a morsel was left when we were done. The fries my wife had (and I poached when possible) were perfectly seasoned and crispy. Lastly, we shared the chocolate cake with milk chocolate stout ice cream - yep, you read correctly, there was beer in the ice cream;o) Oh did I forget to mention that this place has a pretty amazing beer menu too? No Budweiser or Heineken here my friends but the staff will point you in the right direction if you tell them what you like. This was a good meal and experience. One word of warning though, the later you arrive the louder this place will be so if you are planning on doing anything but smile awkwardly across the table at each other, use sign language, or yell at each other (which I get enough of at home) get their a little early. Not early-bird special early but somewhere in the 6pm - 7pm range should work...
(4)
Nicholas W.
A great Belgian selection and range of delicious food. Oh and the look and feel of this place is awesome. Very well done! I'll definitely return. Perfect for a Sunday brunch before checkin' out the Andersonville shops.
(4)
Ryan G.
I went into Acre for lunch after passing by it countless times when wandering down Clark. I had heard it used to be an average neighborhood bar before it got its gastro-ish pub renovation. Pros: The interior is beautiful and the large, wooden bar is stunning. I remembering thinking how fun it was that they had thrown up old tractor seats on their walls. While their beer selection is not as vast as Hopleaf right down the street, it is very impressive and far reaching. The service was also attentive and friendly all the way from the manager who seated us to our server. Cons: The food menu--while somewhat impressive on paper--failed to deliver on all counts. We ordered the deviled eggs, the rainbow trout sandwich, and the ham panini. The deviled eggs were a little dry for my tests and our sandwiches were just as flavorless as they were sad looking. Additionally, I was surprised my trout sandwich was served cold, making me think the trout wasn't freshly prepared. With two beers, this all came to $40, a price that we both felt wasn't deserved for what we received. Verdict: While Acre has a great ambiance and beer selection, their food needs a serious upgrade before I consider returning. You can't run a restaurant without good eats. Period.
(2)
Diana J.
I have been wanting to try this place for a while, and got my chance this past Sunday afternoon. The space inside is very big and lovely, and we arrived before the lunch crowd, so it seemed even bigger. The menu is a little fancier than I expected, but I knew it wouldn't be inexpensive so I debated between 2 entrees and ended up choosing the Chilaquiles. I did not have a beer since I was sick, but my BF did have one, and even though it took 15 minutes to get it (with no other patrons inside the restaurant), he liked it enough. The BF got a pork sandwich and it was pretty good. It was a huge portion with a large side portion of fries. My chilaquiles = not so good. I did not go in there expecting authentic mexican cuisine, as that's ridiculous, but I did expect my $13 plate to be good. Or at least complete. They left the cheese off of the plate, which pretty much sucks. So I asked the server to bring cheese, but it took another 15 minutes (at least) for the "check-in" to see if we were ok and the cheese didn't really mask the mediocrity of the dish. They ended up not charging me for the plate, as I only took a bite and didn't eat the rest. The BF was happy with his sandwich, so maybe it's a hit or miss kind of place and you just gotta hope when you go it's a hit.
(2)
Sean H.
Horrible service. I am in Andersonville right now waiting for a store to complete an order, so I have a few minutes to kill. I haven't been in here since it was Charlie's, and I wanted a beer. Walk in, sit at bar. There are two bartenders. Five minutes go by, and the first bartender hasn't even made eye contact - she is too buy gabbing with her friend sitting at the bar. The other bartender, apparently, thinks it is more important to clean and rack mugs that it is to help a customer sitting the bar. Note - other than the friend that the first bartender felt was more important than me, I was the only other person at the bar. I thought about making a snide comment to get their attention, but you know what... I shouldn't need to do that so I got up, put away my laptop, and left. I am now sitting at Starbucks killing time, with no plans to ever enter Acre again...
(1)
Abby G.
Interesting Menu that changes frequently. I was concerned I might not find something I would like but I found one choice that was exactly to my liking, the short ribs. 2 of my friends had the same and we all agreed they were excellent. The forth had something different and for the life of me I can not remember what it was but it was good. The atmosphere is comfortable and tastefully decorated. We will definitely go back.
(4)
Bryan W.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Fresh ingredients and a seasonal menu. The brunch burger on the weekend is awesome and the kids love the pancakes. The dinners I've had here are also outstanding. The service is normally excellent. Plus they have a really great beer selection. I live in the neighborhood and this is definitely one of my go-to restaurants.
(5)
Adam R.
Got in on a Saturday night w/o a reservation, ordered apps, great food and great service.
(5)
Andrea B.
Went for Sunday Brunch with an out-of-town visitor who fancies himself a foodie (read: eager to try, hard to please). Service and food were both good-ish. For the money, I would just as soon have gone to Potbelly up the block. Just not good enough for the price. It wasn't a horrific experience, but i don't think I'll be back.
(2)
Greg H.
Still not sure what the owners were thinking when they redid Charlie's. It's no longer a go-to destination in Andersonville, in my opinion.
(2)
Matt P.
I went liquid here ... and their beer selection was pretty great. I'm not sure what our server's name was, but he never steered me wrong when I asked his opinion on what to drink. I didn't sample any of the food, but it looked pretty killer.
(4)
Rodrigo K.
Went here for dinner with my partner a couple of weeks ago. Both of our dinners tasted just fine...nothing spectacular, but good. The problem though was the ridiculously tiny portion of my entree risotto. Seriously, it came in a bowl with a very wide rim and it barely covered the bottom of the bowl...for $17. I left the place starving. I've eaten at plenty of very high end restaurants and seen a lot of small, beautiful portions, but this was insulting.
(2)
Sean H.
great bar and great beer selection...food was top notch as well. I had one of the best pork chops I've ever had on Saturday night.
(5)
Stephen F.
I've been here a couple of times since the change over from Charlie and for the most part I like the place. The food is very good thou the table I was at didn't get their entrees at the same time and the food was on the cool side. The service was very good. The beer selection is excellent with the one exception is they don't carry a single cider which baffles me. But overall a solid place.
(3)
LeAnne K.
I don't write many reviews, but I feel I need to give Acre the credit it deserves. My boyfriend and I discovered this place about a year ago, and I have yet to be disappointed. We usually come in during the week, around 6 or 7pm. The seasonal menu ensures the freshness of the ingredients, and I personally love the $29 prix fixe menu available during the week. It really is a great deal because you are able to choose any appetizer, entree and dessert off the menu (even the chef's specials). The octopus seems to be a mainstay on the app menu, and it is crispy on the outside, seasoned wonderfully, and tender inside. The salad it is served with is laden with fresh veggies and delicious purees and sauces. I enjoy the beet and goat cheese salad as well. Since the menu varies day-to-day, the components of the salad vary, but it always comes out fresh and delicious. This week we had a goat confit appetizer, which was awesome. It was formed into a cake (think a goat confit crab cake). It was lightly seared, giving it a delicate pot-pie-esque crust, served over fresh peas and greens with mint and lemon. The chef brought it to us, and came back to get our feedback. A really nice touch. I have had the amish chicken in the past, and it was tender, juicy and full of flavor. Most recently I had the pork tenderloin (twice in the last week, actually), and even though the chef prepared it differently, both dishes were perfect. The cut of meat was was well-seasoned and not at all dry. The accompaniments complimented the meat without taking away from it. My boyfriend is addicted to the pork burger. I do not eat burgers. I don't like the grease and salt. I enjoyed this burger. It's not greasy. The saltiness of the provolone and bacon combines perfectly with the sweetness of the blueberry jam, and the brioche bun is soft and fresh. The catsup served with the fries is prepared with molasses and I think lemon. Apparently someone complained about this to the waiter. I thought it was creative and worked well. The bread pudding was great; not too heavy. The pineapple celery sorbet is my favorite. The raspberry, vanilla and almond ice cream trio was a perfect end to our meal. The service is always attentive and helpful, especially Mike and Shoshona. We are definitely drinkers, and the bill is usually a little less than $100. The portion sizes are perfect. Sometimes there are leftovers, sometimes not, but we never left hungry. We will definitely be back. Again and again.
(5)
Michael S.
The owners of Charlie's Ale House tried again - and failed again. The food was bland and uninspired. The food took twice as long to arrive as it should have. The only thing that was good was the service. They are the reason this place even gets 1 star.
(1)
Alf O.
Good food, service, ambiance, character. Nice fit with the Andersonville scene.
(4)
Bethany L.
So after writing one of the few complimentary reviews of Acre, I have to come back and lower my rating. I went for the second time a few weeks ago and did the prix fixe once again, and this time it was... meh. The deviled eggs were good, but I like Lady Gregory's better. The fish was boring. And the desserts were really interesting - cherry cobbler with sour cream ice cream, hell yeah! - but just mediocre. They still have an awesome beer list, but I don't know. You can do better in the neighborhood these days.
(3)
Daniel Y.
We have been to Acre a few times now, and have never been disappointed. They have an excellent craft beer selection on draft (including our new favorite, Bell's Hopslam) and good food. We loved the sausage platter app, which is perfect with beer. The pierogi app was tasty, but the portions were very small. Their regular dinner/lunch menus are not extensive, which to me is one of the few drawbacks. But I would definitely recommend their Brunch menu (11-3 on Sat and Sun), which includes the delicous brunchburger (girlfriend had and she loved it). My SW burger was very good too, including the homemade ketchup. The service each time we have gone has been very cordial and attentive. Their recommendations have been spot on as well. We will continue to frequent Acre, not only because it is within short walking distance but because it ROCKS.
(4)
Gina T.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. I went here in the fall and sat outside since it was still warm. Sitting outside was perfect because all the people walked by. The food was fantastic. Everything there is fresh, seasonal, and I believe for the most part organic. The service was great too which is so important. Our server knew the menu, made great suggestions, made wine pairing suggestions, and had a great sense of humor. Everything from apps, to entrees, to dessert was delicious and I can't wait to go back! Also, their menu changes periodically in order to provide the best ingriedients.
(5)
Milo M.
The burger is mouth watering! Double patty (bonus!), seasoned to perfection on a buttery bun, just the right amount of saltiness. I would prefer the shaved carrot and radish on the side, so I could focus on the fine quality of the meat. Also, be sure to ask for a side of Mayo, it is like a lightly tangy lemon aioli, when dolloped next to the house made spicy ketchup is a secret sauce made for the gods! Lots of appetizers to choose from, like chorizo tacos, pate plates, fried oysters etc... Some of the items may startle you (e.g. lamb heart, etc...), since their concept is not wasting any part of the animal. I agree with this philosophy and they are bravely ahead of their time standing by it and I WILL try it soon (I hear it is delicious). Perhaps they could make it more accessible in bite sized samplers during happy hour or something. (FYI- Same owners as Ante
(4)
Heather M.
This place is a great new addition to the neighborhood. Their pork is amazing, and they have a nice wine list as well.
(5)
Reginald J.
Don't come hungry.. Over priced salmon and tomato salad. Portions are ridiculously small for the price. Service was good, but that is far as it goes.
(3)
Mike G.
Save your money. I use to go to Charlies Ale house weekly. In the last couple years the owners did a good job making sure the quality of food improved. Not the case with Acre. The service was slow, the burger uncooked, and menu was sparse. Go back to fountain sodas, a single menu, and your original concept.
(1)
Lisa P.
I wish I could give this place 2 separate ratings. I'll start with my first. 4/5 for Dinner The bf and I went there for dinner one random week night. It was awesome. Great waiter, great food. We were so excited to find a place in our new neighborhood that was so good. When you spend over $100 on dinner (no, it's not cheap), you get a $20 gift certificate for brunch that has to be used in the next 30 days. That was fine with us, we were excited to try their brunch! 2/5 for Brunch We went for brunch about 2 weeks after our dinner experience. The restaurant wasn't even a quarter of the way filled. Waiter seemed ok at first, nothing super special. Their brunch menu features many of their dinner menu items. We ordered a starter and drinks. I then proceeded to watch our starter get served to the table next to us, where the woman sitting said, "We didn't order that, but it looks good. We'll take it!" The waiter, I guess expecting we'd gotten our food, didn't check on us for a good 30 mins. He'd walked by MANY times and then, finally, came back to let us know that our food would be out soon. We got our starter and ordered our mains. When I received the fritatta I'd ordered, I was extremely disappointed. It was paper thin with a few quartered potatoes thrown to the side. On top of it, we had 1 coffee refill in TWO HOURS. Seriously, we've gotten better service at the Golden Nugget when they've been busy. I have no problems with a mistake being made, but if I could figure it out, I'd appreciate some sort of apology... it's only good customer service.
(3)
Ross M.
Finally went in to check out Acre and I was completely blown away by the food and beer list. Their Wood-Fire Baby Octopus app. was THE BEST octopus I've ever had. Dinner was delicious and inventive and I really appreciate their commitment to locally-sourced food. Our waitress was very attentive and sweet. We'll definitely be back!!
(5)
Hillary B.
I've been to Acre three times, and the proverbial "three strikes you're out" takes precedent here. I wanted it to be great because I love the other the Italian restaurant they own down the street. Unfortunately, the service was terrible, the atmosphere was stark and loud, and the food was cold all three times. :-( I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Kate W.
I didn't really like Charlie's Ale House when it was around, but coming to Acre made me long for Charlie's. Acre is pricey with really strange lighting and a dark atmosphere. I came here for a drink with a friend and the wine I had was $11 and totally fine, but for $11 I expect at least good or even great, not just fine. Maybe the food would have been redeeming but we didn't stay long enough to find out.
(3)
Alaina N.
Dinner here wasn't extremely memorable - especially being my finance's birthday and the wait staff climbing on ladders basically on top of our table to turn off the fans. HOWEVER, it redeemed itself with am amazing brunch! The chicken and waffles are the best I've had...ever. Good coffee, bubbly mimosas, great brunch spot hands down.
(3)
Ben H.
We had high hopes for this new incarnation of Charlie's Ale House, having been underwhelmed there a few times and living right in the neighborhood. The menu appeared to promise the sort of creative locavore, farm-to-table, etc. cuisine that other Chicago restaurants have done so well with. Unfortunately, the effort seemed half-finished at best, more style than substance. A somewhat random collection of charcuterie seemed chosen more for novelty value than commitment to quality or taste. We ordered the rabbit and duck leg from the "dining room" side (the other option was taproom or something similar with a selection of "samiches"). Both were quite tasty, though the duck was a bit too salty. The appetizer had one hit and one miss: grilled figs with no grill marks or caramelization and a lackluster cheese pairing, and a refreshing citrus green salad. The beer list aimed to impress with a number of hard-to-find and seasonal microbrews on tap, and the short list of cocktails had interesting flavor pairings and unusual ingredients. While the Swedish fizz (something with lingonberry) was delicious and slightly tart, the pear ginger cocktail tasted like margarita mix. The desserts were okay, but the coconut creme brulee was clearly just a custard and not actually creme brulee; tasty for coconut custard, but not what was promised on the menu. The space was the biggest problem. The cavernous room jammed with tiny tables made for awkward seating- I actually had to move the table aside to get out of my seat, and nearly dumped our neighbors breadbasket on the floor trying to squeeze between tables- and a noise level that, according to the server, causes the staff to lose their voices by the end of a night. (Apparently, acoustic tiles have been ordered, which should help somewhat.) Overall, I love what they're trying to do, but they seem to be aiming a bit higher than they can reach right now. I may go back in a few months to see if they've worked out the kinks.
(2)
Michael C.
Bring back charlies! Overpriced and mediocre food. So many other choices in the neighborhood. I wouldn't go back.
(1)
Lynn M.
Ok ok. The more I go, the more I am a fan. It's been a different bar menu the past 2 times I have been there. I think they change it weekly, as the date is listed on the bottom. I had an amazingly flavored amish chicken dish which came with peapods. It was everything I wanted for some comfort american food. Again, the flavor was awesome- simple but outstanding. My hat is off to the chef.
(5)
Joe L.
Great beer selection, food is absolutely terrible.
(2)
Lauren K.
I went here for a late lunch with a friend. The beer list is awesome! We had a new waiter that wasn't really on top of it. I didn't really like his recommendations. I went with a BBQ slow-roasted duck sandwich. The waiter came back and asked me if I wanted the regular or BBQ (only the BBQ was on the menu and I asked for the BBQ. He brought me the regular one. But, one bite in and I was not going to send it back, it was so good! It came with a side of fruit which I liked. The redecorating inside was really cute. I will go back.
(4)
Kyle H.
Ooh wee, looks like we should've checked out Yelp before going to Acre. We had two $20 gift certificates from spending a lot of money at Anteprima the week before (which was very good). It was very nice of them to give us two, it's only too bad we were only allowed to use one at a time... Because I don't think we'll be back anytime soon to use the second one. Our waitress was super nice, and a trip - what a winker! I am a sucker for anyone who winks when they talk to me. She was super hilarious, but this didn't remedy the fact that the floor is obviously just not run very well. All of the servers seemed like they were really busy - but the restaurant was no more than half full. There was obviously something going on behind the scenes that we were unaware of. I'm guessing the problem may have laid with the kitchen - as our food took approximately an hour to come out. All of us, being in the food service industry, are very accommodating to kitchen f-ups and whatever else... don't know if everyone else knows this, but if it's obvious that your mediocre experience is NOT the fault of your waiter DO NOT TAKE YOUR ANGER OUT ON YOUR SERVER. Leaving crappy tips for crappy experiences that are not the fault of your waiter is UNACCEPTABLE. If you're that unhappy with your experience, talk to a manager to maybe have something taken off your check - do not be the passive aggressive a-hole that stiffs an innocent waiter when they did nothing wrong. GOT IT??? That being said, the experience was mediocre, the service was fine, I didn't have any beer, although I hear it's great. Perhaps they'll be able to improve. I hope so!
(2)
Marlo D.
What on earth is wrong with this restaurant's average on Yelp? I've only enjoyed two meals at Acre--one in the late summer and one last night-- but they both were fantastic. Last night, my dining companion and I ordered off the extensive daily specials menu, and we were so pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the concept and execution of each dish. Interesting, tasty, and well prepared food was married with outstanding service. I could not ask for more for a Tuesday night dinner at a neighborhood place. Acre is certainly above average, and I'm truly distraught that its Yelp average does not reflect that.
(5)
Amy L.
I just wanted this to be better. For what it's worth, I'm willing to give Acre another try. However, there's some work to be done. The decor looks exactly like Charlie's Ale House. Except, it's the weird bad dream version where everything is in shades of gray. We sat in the "Tap" side, so this will be a review of the food offered there. We started with the deviled eggs. The accompanying greens appeared and tasted premium and were beautifully dressed. The deviled eggs were nothing special but I love deviled eggs "special" or not. So, we were off to a good start. Then, we shared the "Red Romaine" salad and the "Vegetable Pot Pie". The salad was supposed to be an anchovy dressing but had zero taste of anchovy. I'm still wondering if the guy on the line gave me the wrong dressing. It was just okay. A nice amount of peeky toe crab, which I appreciate...but still lackluster. The vegetable pot pie was dry dry dry and needed more vegetables. That being said, the beer list was great and our server was very friendly and efficient. I'm just a bit disappointed. I was so excited that Andersonville was getting a new restaurant focused on beer and good food. I never thought Charlie's was anything to go out of the way for. However, at least they did what they did well. Acre seems to be reaching for something more than they, as yet, are able to accomplish.
I previously alluded to longing for a mojito equivalent and they have it! ~ the Smashed Goose. Yum.
(4)
Steve F.
Awesome appetizers, burgers, beer & service!!! We had the smoked trout, beet salad, fried oysters -- all were incredible... One of the better burgers I've ever had -- and their housemade ketchup was one of my favorite things... Our wait person, Shoshone, was very accommdating... We will definitely go back.
(5)
Julie P.
Decided to try Acre last Saturday night shortly after landing from a two week vacation in Europe based on reading the first couple of Yelp reviews. My aunt and I decided to start with just appetizers instead of getting entrees. We had the deviled eggs, meatballs, beets, flatbread, empanadas, and the eggplant side dish. All were delicious. The deviled eggs do have rainbow trout, so if you aren't in to fish you may want to pass on these, but I thought they were pretty good. My favorites of the evening were the empanadas (salsa had a nice kick to it) and the meatballs. And the service was great! Will be visiting soon to try more!
(4)
Kearby K.
Are you people kidding?!! This is awesome. I love everything I get to eat here and I love that they still have Miller Light and i love the interiors. I do not know what else you could ask for- sure you can miss things about Charley's but don't hate on this place for taking over the space- Its fully different. its a big step up. Brunch was amazing too but please don't everyone come and make it hard to get a seat!!
(5)
Anthony Z.
Went for lunch during the week and had a good sandwich, so when friends from out of town were visiting on a Friday evening, we decided to make dinner reservations. BIG MISTAKE! Clams served as appetizer were almost all closed, which should never be served; the chef should have never sent this out, and the server should have caught it. You can easily get food poisoning this way! Took over 90 minutes to get our overall crappy appetizers. Risotto apps were very small servings for such a long wait. Kitchen was obviously overwhelmed, and was secondarily very inconsistent. Server spilled water all over my friends bread plate, and did not bother to clean it up or apologize. Servers did not seem prepped at all, in both the menu and the wine list. I was really embarrassed to take my friends to this place. Really sad, particularly since the new interior is so nice.
(1)
Kelly D.
I went to Acre last night for the first time with 2 friends. We chose to dine in the pub side of the restaurant, and it was packed. I understand that new restaurants need time to work out certain kinks, but really bad service and ice cold food shouldn't be one of them. Our waiter immediately identified himself as a trainee, to which we jokingly feigned horror and disappointment. Sadly, he did not exceed the tiniest of our expectations. The one bright moment of the evening came at the end of our meal, when, after having sent back not only a drink but an entree due to it being cold and fossilized, the trainee had the gall to ask us how everything was. We could barely control ourselves long enough for him to walk away before bursting into laughter. One of my dining partners started experiencing gastric distress before we even left the building, and continued to suffer for the next couple of hours. I hope this place gets their act together, and fast, because otherwise, they are doomed to fail due to zero repeat business. As we walked out, I stopped to chat with a table of diners who all had untouched plates of food sitting in front of them. They were also victims of the trainee and had no silverware with which to eat. The expressions on their faces were priceless as they sat and watched their dinner get cold(er). My recommendation is to wait about 6 months to try this place, if they make it that long...
(1)
Alison O.
My girlfriends and I have dined at Acre twice for Brunch and both times it was pretty good. My one problem is sometimes the servings are quite small! While none of my food was small portioned, quite a few of my girlfriends plates were. The two things I had at Acre over my two visits were the brunch corn cakes and the porkburger. The corn cakes were really good, except I wouldn't necessarily call them corn cakes, it was more like a large slice of corn bread. The flavors were really good though and it definitely filled me up! The porkburger was definitely the best I have had there and it looked like the best that anyone had! Very good flavor and a very good portion! We also all had Bloody Mary's, which were good as well. Service went well both times and the ambiance is just as I would expect at a bar/restaurant. If you want a good atmosphere and good service, I would go to Acre. If you are really hungry and want a big meal, I would not go to Acre.
(3)
Karl Z.
For the masses: The food is okay. Nothing bowled me over. I like the grilled cheese with mushrooms, but it's too small and too pricey for what it is. I had the steak the other night and I must say, once it hit our table it was cold and that ruined the meal. The plate needed to be heated. I did like the first wave of custom cocktails (especially the fig syrup one!), but those are gone now. I had a Honey Dipper cocktail the other night and spent the meal picking peppercorns (the garnish) out of my mouth and ended up not finishing the drink. Overall, I'm not a fan of the changes. The food seems to be fairly bland, sometimes cold and the presentation is nonexistent. It looks like they're just putting things on plates instead of offering some sort of visual experience. Nothing that dramatic, but if I pay $9 for a grilled cheese I shouldn't get it and instantly question spending that much money. The runner that brought our food out for both occasions messed up "who had what" and that was a bit irritating. The servers have all been very nice and friendly and seem to truly care about my needs, which is nice. I was also told by a server that the reason they're changing their cocktails again is because the bartenders just can't make the custom cocktails very well. It's still a fun place to go and sit in the bar area and grab a pint. The energy is still good and people seem to be having fun. So, I want to be honest AND offer some critique/advice for the owners. I used to love going to Charlie's Ale House for both the atmosphere and the food. It had that "Cheers" feeling to it and that was what I really liked in my neighborhood. Now, I'm all for change, but I feel that if change occurs it must have purpose and presence and I feel like Acre missed this. I like the changes to the aesthetics and understand the concept moved to more organic and locally grown ingredients, but honestly, restaurants in Chicago that "are" that are a dime-a-dozen. You can't rely on that being your marker for this new venture. You have to bring something more; something better to the table (no pun intended). I feel this is what needs to be done in order to elevate Acre's presence to something unique and noteworthy. I think it's time to up the ante and make Acre something even more amazing than ever thought possible. For now though, I have to say it's just riding the fence below average overall.
(2)
Jeff G.
I have to admit I wasn't sure I would like Acre. I loved Charlie's Ale House and really miss it. However, this restaurant's menu has gotten me to try things I normally would not order. How about their Mac'n Cheese with beef stripes on top - yum! And their beet salad (I think its a salad) was really good too. We are not comfortable with change even though it is usually inevitable- so at lease Acre is a good replacement.
(4)
Erica B.
This place is great! I've been a couple times for just drinks at the bar but finally had dinner there. I and another member of our dinner crew did the pre-fix for $25 and we all loved what we ordered. They try to buy local and make as much in the kitchen as possible - even things like their sausage. Our server was fantastic! Super friendly and attentive. He had great recommendations and made sure that we were enjoying our evening. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Christine J.
I ordered the mussels as an appetizer and have to say i was quite disappointed in the quality of their ingredients. The broth itself was quite tasty. Obviously someone in the kitchen knows what they are doing. But they had no business serving those rubbery tiny mussels that were obviously frozen.
(2)
Laura D.
Awful dinner! We have lived in Chicago for 3.5 years, and this is by far the WORST meal we have had. Starting with the "salmon deviled eggs," which had not a trace of salmon in them, moving on to the "artisanal greens salad," which was as best I can tell dredged in salt, and on to the main course -- a pork chop which was so gristly I couldn't cut it with a fork and steak knife (and what was cuttable was just fat). We sent it back, which the waiter did politely, but then this enormous thug from the kitchen came out, not to apologize (which is what they do at a decent restaurant), but to demand to know why we didn't like the pork chop, in what I would describe as a threatening manner. We ended up substituting pierogies for the pork chop (less risk there), but they were nothing more special than you could get at the frozen food section. This place might be worth a try for a beer, but I would not go for food. Too many great restaurants -- and too many in Andersonville alone -- to spend a dime on this dump.
(1)
Nate W.
Sat outside today and had a table next to hedges that made for a nice barrier to the hustle and bustle of Clark street. Nice setting for a late summer Sunday brunch. Two things made this a pretty average experience - service and the actual food. Our waiter was pretty much a downer. From the overall service and his attitude/response to us, it seemed that waiting the tables was the very last thing he wanted to be doing at this point in time... I wanted to tell him, "hey man, cheer up. this isn't really that bad." The food was definitely not great. Brunch Burger was swimming in grease, not all that tasty, and had a hair on it. Flat bread pulled pork thing was pretty good... but how wrong can you go with BBQ pulled pork? Might go back for drinks sometime... they have a pretty huge beer selection. Would probably pass on the food.
(3)
Morgan S.
Acre is by far one of a favorite places to be and a welcomed change from the mediocre Charlie's Ale House. The menu is now Farm-To-Table and usually has many adventurous items on it. They also have an amazing beer list that focuses on American craft beer and is backed up by one of the best cicerone in the city.
(5)
Jon C.
Charlies Ale House was much better. The new atmosphere is terrible and I will not be going back again. The Bloody Mary's were terrible, no "real" ketchup exists here, no ice in the water they bring you, the pop is in a bottle and is annoying, but the server was very nice.
(1)
Padraig J.
Psssst. I've got a secret: this place is NO WAIT for weekend brunch in Andersonville. And they shouldn't be. They do a decent job with the food here. We had mushroom crepes, fancy french toast, a bacon and mac&cheese ap all tasted pretty good, if not as complex as they could be. The beer list has expanded considerabley, and the Metropolitan coffee was excellent. Charlie's will always be missed, and no the new decor is not an improvement. Those burnished wood booths were half the reason to go to Charlie's. And so was that comfort good menu they had. Instead we'll settle for another restauranteur's swing at hip- yawn- that misses by a long shot. Bistro tables under globe lights the size of German shepherds made for a curiously bright eating area where once it was dark and cozy. The waiters have weird get ups that match the grey trim. I suspect it was all just to up their price point., and cram in more tables. Which in this economy who can blame 'em?
(3)
Sparty S.
This place is NOT an updated version of Charlie's Ale House. If you are a gourmet type, you will probably like this place. But if you are like me, and like the kind of place where you can go get good ol' American food that is excellent every time (like it was at Charlie's) you will be extremely disappointed. First of all, the dining room and the bar have totally separate menus. I am not a super picky eater, but I did not see anything on the dining room menu that interested me. Between the names of the dishes, and the ingredients, it just seemed way more complicated than it was worth. Therefore, we opted for the bar menu. And I use the term bar menu very loosely. My friend ordered a salad that was something about a rabbit.... arugula, apples, walnuts.... that type of thing. She asked for grilled chicken to be added on and they couldn't do it because they only have whole chickens and there wasn't a way they could get just the breast on the salad. Seriously, what restaurant doesn't have chicken breast to put on a salad?? I got the chili. Not bad, not amazing.... I wouldn't rave about it to my friends. I could get a similar chili prepared from Whole Foods. Maybe I'm just sore about Charlie's being gone, but even if I'd never been there to have something to compare Acre to, I wouldn't be impressed by Acre at all. Compared to Charlie's, this place makes me feel like I should be drinking my wine, pinky up. I can't even imagine what this place is going to be like in the summer. The only positives I saw in this place was the booze selection and the prices. Decent beer and wine list. It's no Hopleaf (nor will it ever come close to giving Hopleaf a run for it's money) but it's has a pretty good selection. The prices for the "bar" menu are pretty reasonable. We walked out paying $22 for the baked feta appetizer, whatever rabbit salad my friend got, and my chili. It was worth it to try this place, but I probably won't go back, unless it's for a few drinks. Maybe I'm not the target demographic, but after trying Acre they should have left Charlie's as Charlie's.
(1)
Lillian W.
It was not clear to us that there were two menus - the bar room and the dining room. We went with the dining room. The room was well set up; low-lit, romantic. The staff was very friendly. After a lot of going through the menu (not many options for vegetarians!), we finally decided on what we wanted... and it all was very delicious. A bit pricey, but probably worth it.
(4)
Jeff N.
This place is great and dog friendly (outside eating area). The menu changes daily and it's good each time. Service is good, some menu items are better than others but after eating there like 10 times, I think the place is great.
(4)
K W.
I wasn't impressed by food: very few choices, super salty, boring, and just not good. The place was also VERY noisy. Decor is nice, very "Beekman Chic." ACRE is new, so maybe they will figure it out. Bottom line: 10 minutes after arriving, I couldn't wait to leave.
(2)
Angie P.
Decent place, but something is a little sterile about it. My dish was delicious, but methinks this place needs more of a vibe.
(4)
Heather W.
This place is a welcome change to the neighborhood. I disliked the food when it was Charlies. The bartenders are fun and friendly. Food is excellent. It's a great place to stop in for a beer and lunch. Love it.
(4)
Kristine L.
I've always enjoyed my dinners here, and the service, particularly this past visit, was really good. I'd say Acre had it's awkward moments as it was taking off, but I'm really glad they changed it from Charlie's, which I didn't really ever like much. I'm also glad they switched to a single menu instead of forcing you to literally pick a side (two different rooms with different dining concepts), which was annoying and limiting. The style seems to be contemporary American with a little twist on some dishes. From the ever-evolving menu (changes seasonally, and with availability of ingredients), I've tried a great lamb entree, a perfect pork shank dish, a porkburger with blueberry jam, a tasty beet salad, really great fries, and a beef tongue (!) appetizer. Nothing hugely inventive, but more interesting than a cobb salad or chicken tenders. Everyone I've dined with has had an awesome-looking dish, well-presented, and well-received on the NOMNOMNOM-meter. Beer selection is extensive and impressive, and I didn't mind a little beer snobbery (No Stella! LOL). Our server was knowledgeable and offered honest opinion when we asked questions, had a sense of humor, and was really cool when we did the mildly annoying (I know it is, bc I used to have to do this uugh) "could you please split up our bills" thing. Only complaint on this last visit was that no one came by to clear plates, so we had some awkward extra/finished plates and glasses we just pushed into the middle of the table, and that my friend didn't get her side dish and our guy suddenly got too busy to notice (she was comp'd for the side though). Oh! And the week I went, they were running a limited time special fixed-price deal that was too good to pass up! $25 for an app or salad, an entree, and a dessert! With some entrees running 18-26, it was a great deal and an excuse to try a starter and a dessert! I hope they do it again! So in the end, it's no Charlies, which I am A-OK with, but if one is expecting Charlie's, then they will be disappointed. It's not the most mind-blowing place ever, but I've been content with all my experiences so far, and have recommended it to many of my clients in the neighborhood.
(4)
David C.
I went here again this weekend and this time it was not as good as the first visit. I guess its a hit or miss. My friend enjoyed his meal... mine was just ok... not bad... not good... just OK... and a bit over priced for what was on the plate. I will try again.... if its good I will continue to go... if not I may only visit when friend chicken is on the menu.
(3)
Toni G.
I'm not great with writing reviews, so all I can say is that this place was surprisingly delicious. We went on a weeknight and took advantage of the $25/person deal (includes choice of appetizer, entree and dessert). I highly recommend the pork chop with apple chutney. And even though the apple-turnip salad didn't sound appealing, it was fantastic.
(4)
Katie M.
While there are not a lot of choices at Acre, the food is very interesting and all the ingredients, although sometimes unusual, seem to compliment each other well. I had the Peirogi and the Veg Risotto. The risotto was amazing but you do not get a lot of food, so don't come to Acre hoping to get a lot for your money. It was pretty delicious though.
(4)
James M.
I've been here a few times since they reopened as Acre, and had OK service/food in the past - but had a really bad experience recently. We had a gift certificate/gift certificate for $20 off our bill, which explained restrictions on the back and ended in "Sat/Sun - brunch only." So, we assumed this meant if it was not Saturday or Sunday, we could use the coupon. Nope. No, no no no no. The manager, or owner, whoever he was, told us that we were wrong, that we should have read the signs at the front of the restaurant on our way in (I didn't check, but I didn't see this on the way in). He also did not apologize - but rather said "sorry that you feel that way" (and FYI - that doesn't count as an apology) when I explained that it was pretty clear that we should be able to use the coupon. That was probably the best part. Oh! And he said he had a family to feed - which was apparently part of why he was not accepting the coupon. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think these are all generally REALLY BAD things to say to customers. The thing is, I'm not really that fussy, I'm easy to please, I respect when people work hard and treat their customers well - and if that happened I wouldn't have written this. The kind of treatment I received was a major turn off, which stinks, because this seemed like it would be an alright, local place to eat. I just feel bad for the waiter that had to clean up the mess after the manager left - but, for the record, I think the waiter was great. And the food was fine.
(1)
Celtic B.
A solid 3.5 stars. Very nice wine list by the bottle or quartino, as well as a decent offering of craft beers. Had the Beefburger with fries, it was excellent - beefy, big with excellent on a tasty kaiser style bun. I've been to several of Chicago's burger "lounges", and these guys are as good. if not better than most of them.
(3)
Michael M.
What has happened to Acre? Visited this evening and was dissapointed by a poorly prepared Beet Salad (used to be dynamite, now tastes like canned beets), and smelt that could have passed for Andy Capps - Cheddar Fries. Grilled cheese was a bore. Beer was a bit WARM. Hey, resturants have off nights, but this makes two in a row. Get your head out yo ass Acre.
(2)
A M C.
I was someone who thought that Acre had a really rough start, but I am glad I waited and gave it another chance. We now eat here about three times a month, on average. My favorite thing to do is get an assortment of small plates to share. I have brought several guests here, and they have all liked it. in general, I don't think it is overpriced for the quality of the ingredients, though some items can be better values than others. They do trout particularly well, and I often order that if it is on the menu. Their wine pours are extremely generous and fairly priced.
(4)
Jim P.
It's just ok. I was a little disappointed in the fried clam appetizer it came and was really weak - mostly french fries with a few pieces of clam. I had the griddle cheese, average at best. The restaurant is really nice looking so I expected a little better.
(2)
Jorge M.
I was super hungry and a lot of places are close around 3pm, you know the annoying time between lunch and dinner. I thought I would it a try since the old restaurant there was pretty good and I loved their chicken pot pie... Anyway... I had the Pork Burger and it was very good, even thought I really didn't taste the blueberry sauce, which I believe it was just jam... The fries were crunchy and fresh, however I like my ketchup and/or ranch... Their house? sauce was weird and didn't taste like anything, thanks God I was lucky unlike other eater and they had ketchup! The boyfriend had Mac & Cheese, he really liked it and I did too, but we both agree that the portion was a bit small for the price. They had a nice list of beer and wine, I will come for another burger, but they work a bit more on their menu. By the way service was pretty good.
(4)
rich m.
I went their on Saturday night with my family. We had the beet salad and sausage plate to start. These were both excellent. Then we moved on to the burgers and skirt steak with all the sides. The food was so tasty and fresh. The sides were delicious. I really liked the corn. The service was fantastic. I highly recommend this place to eat dinner and enjoy the sports. Plus the beer choices are excellent.
(4)
Nik P.
A group of friends & I came to Acre for drinks and possible light dinner. When we entered the restaurant, there was only one other group & people at the bar, so we didn't have any problem snagging a table for our party of 7. Our server touched base, got drink orders & disappeared for 15 minutes. No worries - we weren't in a rush & were having a great time catching up with each other. After drinks came, we ordered meals.... And once again, our server disappeared. The food had been delivered by a member of the kitchen staff and nearly consumed before our server came back (mostly due to members of my party flagging him down for more drinks). Over the course of 2 hours, we saw him 3 times. Everytime the server came back, it felt like we were being inconvenient asking for drinks or the check. Bottom line? The service was the worst I've had in the city. When we had to ask another server and the bartender for our check, our server came back nearly 10 minutes later to hand it to us with a $20 off coupon for brunch to apologize about the wait - for the entire group. When we said we needed to split the check, he told us we should have told him when we arrived and that he couldn't help us out. The service was awful and unfortunately overshadowed any of the good food and drinks we had that night. Other reviews here on yelp seem to have differing opinions but our experience was awful and we won't be back. Good luck if you check it out.
(1)
Michael H.
Hmmm...after my first visit I am not really sure how I feel about this place. We just stopped in for a drink and an appetizer to check it out. I ordered the plate of sausages with potatoes. It was okay...kinda bland. they have an impressive selection of beers on tap but far too many "sipping beers" for my taste. The bartender was nice and attentive but the atmosphere made me feel like I had to make sure I was quiet. I can't exactly put my finger on it but maybe it is just a little too classy for the the likes of me.
(3)
R L.
You have to love a place where the waiters stare at your table but do NOTHING to help you... Just beyond rude"
(1)
Missy B.
This place is over-priced and silly. The decor is pretentious, as are the menu offerings. I know Charlie's, which it replaced, wasn't the best--the food was okay to good, but the place itself was special. It was cheerful, warm and inviting. With its pictures of historical Andersonville and Edgewater, it was a place I enjoyed being--I felt like I was part of a real neighborhood, with a unique history. Acre, on the other hand, is painted in cool tones, with few pictures on the wall. I think the restaurant hasn't changed owners since it was Charlies, so I really don't understand why they made these changes, or what vibe they were going for. Acre seems to pride itself on being indistinguishable from any other yuppy restaurant. I did go there to eat once, last Christmas, because I realize it is shallow to hate on a restaurant just because you find the decor so purposely banal as to be offensive. The food was fine, but the portions were small and expensive for what you got.
(2)
Matt G.
Acre is a vast improvement over Charlie's Ale House. The food is much better, the beer choices are incredible, and they kept the same hot blonde waiter from Charlie's so that made the dining experience all the better. My only complaint would be the price to portion ratio was a bit high, but it was otherwise a tasty experience in a great atmosphere all the way around.
(4)
Jennifer M.
I'm starting to really like this place, I've been a few times but I've only eaten one thing. The bar has a pretty nice beer list and it's a large bar so seats are usually available. I find this place so much more appealing than Charlie's Ale House (which I avoided). There are several things on the menu that look tasty and the bartender told us that the menu changes often based on what fresh ingredients that chef gets in (I think there was some sort of bison heart app on the menu at the time). We opted for the tuna ceviche. It was good and I'd recommend it! If you're in the area and Hopleaf if too packed - give Acre a try!
(4)
Susana D.
The dining room balances out the tap room well. The "bucatini" string beans are about a foot long, but they're prepared well with onions and tomatoes. The fried olives stuffed with blue cheese and served with strawberry aioli are...interesting. The salmon is reportedly well-seasoned, and trisotto is a stand-out--complex flavors and not too much salt, but the best part of the main course was the sunchokes gratin. Served in a little cast-iron ramekin, this came with gruyere and was an outstanding and unusual treat. The pear-chocolate tart stands out among a nice variety of desserts.
(4)
John F.
Ambitious menu - but I am not sure they really know what they want to be. I prefer Big Jones if that is who they think their competition is. It is disappointing since Anteprima is one of my favorite restaurants - maybe I expected too much. Don't give me a menu and then I go to order a beer yet you are out of it (it was featured the day before). Also, the dinner menu did not match what was online - so in both cases give your patrons updated menus online and in the restaurant. I mentioned it to the host on the way out and was told that the office manager was out today and didn't update it. Not my issue. The new interior seems a little stark. I do hope they succeed but this was not really for me.
(2)
Matthew C.
neighborhood staples are a chicago must. there's piece in bucktown, wilde in lakeview and for me there's acre in andersonville (hopleaf is great too but more of a bar, to me at least). i love acre because no matter if it's a tired tuesday evening after work a double date w/ my boyfriend - - calo always feels fresh, intimate and casual with an eclectic and delicious menu. THINGS I LOVE: i LOVE how their menu changes everyday. their pork burger is a must. their bar looks gorgeous - massive mahogany table. the owner is there every night and not only says hi but buses tables, gets take out orders and works respectfully with his staff. gorgeous lighting. THINGS TO WATCH-OUT FOR: some - not all - of the wait staff are absent minded and forget about half the stuff you order. because of the constant menu changes there are a lot of disconnects between wait staff and kitchen - items wait staff say are included in a dish aren't really included, etc. but all-in-all you forget about all those watch-outs as the atmosphere and eclectic menu have you really enjoying yourself - and better yet - your company.
(4)
Qadree H.
We stopped into Acre with minimal expectations and left delighted. We had a great server that started the evening off right. Normally when you go to places that say they buy locally but you can't tell. You could definitely tell that Acre was truly using fresh ingredients in their food and it shined through. It is definitely worth stopping in to check out the scene.
(4)
Mike A.
The atmosphere is fit for a fancy night out and the drink list was substantial. The pricing on the drinks and menu fit the motiff well. The menu was sparce but our food arrived quickly. Problem was it was pretty terrible and substantially over priced. I had the fish tacos and my gf had the vegetarian tortellini starter. The fish tacos only had squid not a combination of fish and squid as I had assumed by the name. They were not great and the tortillas used were horrible. The tortellini was decent but only gave about 3 or 4 small pieces (for $11). Overall, def. take your business elsewhere. I will never be going back.
(1)
Mathew O.
This is a review I was hoping not to write. The service was poor, food average, prices too high, and he NEW decor is boring at best. The concept of local seasonal food is great, unfortunately Acre misses the mark. Hope they can get it together fast. We went on Sunday and the restaurant was empty. I would not recommend this restaurant at this time.
(2)
J G.
Granted we went to this new place about two weeks after the opening; it's a great place if you like a lot of noise, slow service and a raw pork chop! If not, you might want to stay away. Much improvement over the years and now a fan!
(4)
Louise O.
Three strikes and you're out. This place is so bizarre. In fact it's like entering a Bizarro World. It doesn't know what it wants to be - the menu has no clear direction or motif. Where's Chef Ramsay when you need him?
(1)
jim h.
ok i'm writing this review not to be an ass but because i want to like acre and i think if it improves i'd definitely go there. i love ante prima so was expecting a lot. i did not get it. here's the deal. the interior is cute enough. i like it. the menu has potential, but falls short. the first warning sign was that this supposedly locally sourced, seasonal, farm to table type restaurant there was seared tuna in the appetizers. and it had an asian flair. i know seared tuna is very popular (i love it too) but if your vibe is to be farm to table you seem like an imposter. that theme kind of continued. i ordered the chicken flatbread and "winter" vegetable soup. the topping on the flat bread was ok, the crust was not. it had the flat boring taste of something store bought and not cooked enough. i think i would have really enjoyed it if it weren't for that crust. i put the "winter" in quotes for the soup because that seemed like some attempt to sound seasonal. i was expecting some delicious root veggies. parsnips or sweet potato or something. it was just veggie soup. like the kind you get at a diner. and that is exactly what it tasted like as well. the ingredient seemed fresh and the veggie chunks were nice and big, but ultimately it was just regular old vegetable soup. the one saving grace was the dessert. i really liked it. my fellow diners had a similar experience. all dishes were lacking and didn't live up to the promise. acre, right now you seem to be trying unsuccessfully to ride a trend instead of actually contributing your own point of view or take on food. you kind of feel like a copy cat. if you could get your act together i would definitely come back. until then... go here for drinks and dessert. skip the food.
(2)
Linda P.
Visited last night for dinner and had a lovely time. The outdoor seating is a great place to people watch (and dog watch!) The wine list is expensive, no bottles less than $33. It would be nice to have a couple of selections in the 20's. But the bottle we did select was very nice. We tried several of the small plates, the eggplant was excellent as well as the chicken liver. The meatball special had a good sauce but the meatballs were on the bland side, needed more punch. The waitress touted the grilled octopus so we ordered it but had to send it back as it was very fishy tasting. It looked as if it had not been cleaned properly. We tried the hamburger and the grilled cheese. Both were good, the fries and house made ketchup was the bomb! Skipped dessert in favor of the ice cream shop next door. Good decision, the ice cream was great, they carry the Chocolate Shoppe brand from Madison, WI. Others have complanied about the service but ours was excellent.
(3)
Elaine B.
Now these were some tasty vittles! I got to taste the mac and cheese, the hamma hamma oysters, the beef burger and the pork burger. Both burger were comprise of two cooked to perfection patties and sides of really good fries. All you have to do with oysters is make sure they are fresh and these were really nice. I'm not really into bacon in my mac and cheese (I know sacrilege) but it was tasty. The night did not start out so great though, both of my original beer selections were 86ed as I sat there waiting for our server, Jeremiah to bring them. That was when the bartender sent over a tasting to see if I would like one they still had plenty of on tap and it was a winner. So all in all a great dinning experience. We'll definitely be back for more.
(4)
Maggie C.
This place is a great improvement on Charlie's Ale House. The decor is crisper, the menu is better, and the bar choices are more extensive. I actually went here because of a Tweetup in the area. The owner greeted us and was more than happy to tell us about all the changes that he made to the establishment. My friend and I ordered the deviled eggs as our appetizer. They were delicious and I loved the arugula that it came with. I also ordered a sandwich that had melt in your mouth pork, avocado spread, pineapple and Swiss cheese, I was sad when it was gone :-( the French fries were good, but the ketchup that came with them was thin and too fruity... They should have stuck with good old Heinz. My friend ordereda beef shank sandwich with wait for it... Sour cream. She let me try a bite and the beef was tender and not chewy and seasoned perfectly. Someone by me also got a cheeseburger that looked so juicy. The owner also gave us their dining room menu and the options there looked great and creative. I definitely want to try the grilled figs.... Yum! The service was decent. He was very attentive but did forget to put in our order of deviled eggs. However, in his defense, we were part of an event that included lots of mingling.
(4)
D K.
We thought we'd try Acre after seeing the brunch menu. All in all, our experience was a D+. We ordered the romaine salad and the chicken salad sandwich. I would make a larger sandwich for a toddler. If you're anorexic, the portions will be just right. Or if your stomach is the size of a walnut, this is your place. Service was not unfriendly but also basically non-existent. It's always annoying when you have to flag down the host to ask for the bill because your server is hanging out with the bar tender. I'd say skip Acre...the experience and the food is really not worth your money.
(1)
Jessica F.
Food is ok, not great. Small portions for a big price. I won't be back.
(2)
D. J.
The beer list is good, but when a party of 4 of us went to the bar area, we were told by the bartender to wait for a server. A server never showed up, so we had to return to the bar. It was a few beers, not a complex order. The Maitre d' had to take the food order for one of our party. More of us would have liked to eat, but the kitchen fries the potatoes in the same oil as the seafood, so allergies prevented us from ordering more.
(2)
Scott A.
This place shares a store front with a restaurant called Ombra. We stopped in Ombra, an Italian Bar, for a drink and app. Really great cocktail and appetizer. Italian bartender, super friendly. Then we walked next door to Acre and sat at the bar. The bartender might be the most knowledgeable person I have ever spoken to about beer. He made great recommendations for what we ordered. We ordered 3 apps: The clams, sardines, and calamari. And we split the pork burger. All were very good but the pork burger was truly unique and very delicious. The atmosphere at Acre is relaxed and although it's Farm to Table cuisine, there's nothing too precious or over done. It's a place I'd feel comfortable to watch the game or go on a date with my wife. My only complaint is that the temperature of the room was very cold but it was adjusted. The place is very clean and you get the sense that a lot of effort and thought goes into the menu with high quality ingredients.
(4)
Tamara D.
Fantastic local fresh food. Even the kid's grilled cheese is the best I have ever had. I'll eat here again the next time I am in Chicago.
(5)
Josh J.
My friend and I stopped in for a sandwich and fries, but we stayed for the prix fixe menu ($25 for a salad or appetizer, entree and dessert, Sunday through Thursday). This place is not an after thought of Charlie's Pub. There is much more of a focus on food here, though Acre has a massive selection of beers. I liked the decor. I think it's going for a "sophisticated farm" look. I was warned that the menu rotates often but here is what we had: Roasted Beet Salad with Blood Oranges (well presented, delicious and generously portioned) Bay Scallop Ceviche (also generously portioned and delicious) For entree, I had the Pan Seared Salmon that came with cous cous, almonds, dried cherries, mint, preserved lemon yogurt. The salmon was prepared well and was an average portion size. This dish alone would not have filled you up. My friend had the cornmeal crusted fluke which paired very very well with the smoked andouille sausage (made by Acre), red peas & rice. This was a bigger size than the salmon entree. For dessert, I had the chocolate cake with homemade chocolate stout ice cream. It was good, but not as good as my friend's white chocolate creme brulee.
(5)
Dan G.
Went there for lunch. Place was formerly Charlie's Ale House and is now an establishment that serves eclectic American fare. The pork burger was to die for and so was the grilled cheese sandwich. I didn't like the bloody mary, but everything else was great. Will definitely go back and test out there dinner menu. I will miss Charlies, but looking forward to having Acre in the hood.
(4)
Thea V.
Nice neighborhood spot. Cute interior and nice food. Our service was reliable as well. Though I wouldn't say this is a destination restaurant... somewhere you plan especially to go to... I think if you are in the area and looking for a casual but not boring meal, this is your spot. Good drinks too. 4 stars because it is nothing you haven't seen before but is good at what it does.
(4)
Alvin d.
a well-needed re-vamp of the Ale House in A-ville. We went on opening night hence can only speak to the bar area for now. Menu looks great, this slightly updated and "fancier" american pub food, kind of this locally sourced, comfort food, farmhousey vibe. Food tasted very good, grilled cheese, the fries, the burgers, the turkey samich and selection of apps. with positive review from the group. It's reasonable. Draft beer selection is a good thing. Space is still casual, but a bit sleeker. Service is A-ville appropriate, nice with a flair (the gay kind). Will give HopLeaf a run for its money.
(4)
Duncan S.
Still a little undecided on Acre. The craft beer range on draft is quite good. The wine by the glass selections are a little underwhelming. Service can also be a little on the patchy side. At the bar it is usually fairly outstanding at the tables or booths - usually miss. The food is just OK without blowing my hair back. Crowd fairly mixed from the young to the old. The venue has a nice enough feel, a little upmarket food vibe with a casual bar, but something is missing and maybe a little confusing on what Acre is about.
(3)
Jenna P.
oh, acre. things i love: beer selection, size of the wine servings (1/3 bottle for what you usually pay for 1 glass), the long bar and cozy booths, typically inventive salads and even some delicious flatbreads and other apps. not a fan of: service can be spotty, house made ketchup is iffy. mainly the occasionally iffy service.
(4)
Anne S.
I am astounded that there are so many not so glowing reviews about Acre! I was enticed into going from a friendwho told me about their many beers on tap... Ive been there twice and loved (almost) everything both times. The first time I wasnt super hungry and made the mistake of ordering both a small plate and a bowl of chili. LOVE their chili. Kiiind of wish I could get a bowl every day. Anyhow, ended up with a burning mouth (spice wuss) and a two cups of extra chili. No problem, Chili mac as leftovers the next day was just as superb! My small plate was the mac and cheese with bacon and lamb heart. Not a fan of the heart, wasnt expecting to be, but now I can say I tried it. Getting rid of Aztec breath after meal = not so easy. Desserts change every day, grab the pineapple pie if you can! We were fighting over it! Server was great, very helpful and conversational as it was our first time there. Second time, brunch. Brunchburger and Chilaquiles. And a Beermosa (let it warm up a bit first!). AH MAY ZING! The brunchburger is everything i love and shouldnt! Meaning: butter, fat, and cholesterol. Croissant, burger, bacon, over easy egg. I really didnt want to share my other half, but if I didnt give it to my guy, i wouldnt get any chilaquiles... so i made the sacrifice. Had to get extra sour cream and eat fast before the spice caught up with my lips, but it was so worth it! Not an everyday place for me to eat because its pricey, but you do get your moneys worth. Great food, awesome beer selections.
(5)
Johnny A.
I really want to like Acre, because besides Hopleaf down the road, there is not too many selections in the area for good beers and good eats. The first time I went here was on their first day of operation under the new name, (this used to be charlies ale house, same owner i hear).. ... my experiences were all down hill from here. The burger was GREAT, fresh meat, cooked to my liking, the beers were awesome, the service was.... well , i would rate the service if there was.. wait... where did the server go.. .. hello.. over here.. seems like they are always understaffed. I went here on a weekend and waited 20 minutes for a drink, after i ordered it. They had 2 bartenders for the whole tap room and restaurant. Orders were flooded and they seemed like they could NOT keep up with the demands of the thirsty patrons waiting to be wined and dined. Came here on a Sunday for a bloody, I've had better bloody Marys as well, and at 8 bucks a pop, and a small glass, and no beer back/chase offered?? this last visit is ,sad to say, my last. i give them 2 stars, the quality of the food is great, and like i said the beer list is awesome..just need to work on service...good luck chuck!!
(2)
Betty D.
I have visited Acre twice and been very pleased both times! The first time was on a weekday evening for the $1 oysters on the half-shell. Delicious and what a bargain! There were four of us and we also ordered drinks, wine and some appetizers and were pleased with everything we ordered. Service was great! My second visit was for Sunday brunch. The food was very fresh and delicious and the service was friendly and prompt. The deviled eggs with smoked salmon were fantastic. My Amish chicken sandwich was wonderful. The chicken had a nice, grilled flavor. Fries were homemade and fresh, not greasy. Even the ketchup tasted homemade! My only suggestion is to add some non-meat, breakfast items to the menu. We ordered lunch items because my husband doesn't eat meat and the breakfast menu was extremely limited. We love eating out for breakfast but we would probably not return for brunch unless more non-meat breakfast items are added to the brunch menu.
(4)
adam k.
I've never had a good experience with the staff in these restaurants. Here too our server was inattentive and not very enthusiastic. We tried to ask about some of the beers and even changed our order based on his recommendation, and he brought the wrong beer. For a beer themed 'tap room' I thought the beer list was short and overpriced . The food is not particularly paired very well and as others have said it is underwhelming at best. Which is fine, nothing wrong with a good neighborhood bar and resturant that can feature a good beer and burger for $10, which Acre is definitely not.
(2)
sarah c.
I feel bad that this place gets such mixed reviews! This is our favorite neighborhood spot. We live in the area, so it's super convenient and fun to come by for drinks frequently. They have a great variety of bottled beer, and they usually have some pretty awesome tap selections. I admit that sometimes the food can be hit or miss, but they do change the menu all the time, so they're not all going to be home runs, I guess. Most of the food that we've had there (baked feta, salads, soups, burgers, etc) has been really great. I will continue to be a regular here, and I hope they grow in popularity so they can stay in business...!
(5)
Barbie G.
7/13/11: Since I blasted Acre when they first opened and needed to work out some problems, I thought I'd update my rating now that Acre has greatly improved. Gone are the separate menus, and hello to great food. I'm updating my 1 star to 4. --------------------------------------------------Â----------------------------------------- Poorly managed! Two friends and I went to Acre for the first time last night. Granted, we did not have a reservation, so gladly accepted the offer of first available in only 30 minutes. We were seated on the Pub side. Little did we know that there are separate menus for the Pub and Dining sides of the house. Now, if you've ever been to the space, you know that the back of the rooms actually connect, right? It's not like there are concrete walls and barbed wire fences keeping you or the servers from one side or the other. Of course, we were given the Pub menu, but because we had heard about the great food on the Dining menu, we asked to see it. The server only then informed us that we could not order from the Dining menu. Reason, the kitchen likes to keep things separated between Pub and Dining. What? Are you kidding? Nope, this was confirmed by the overly perfumed general manager. What the WHAT? No amount of persuading would enable us to order from the Dining menu. Why the big fuss you ask? Pub menu = grilled cheese samich, Dining menu = duck. Need I say more? Needless to say, voices were raised, gestures were made, and we ended up walking out. Advice: Take a look at what an extremely successful restaurant owner like Rick Bayless does at Frontera and Topolobampo -- you can order from EITHER menu. Rick doesn't care, he just wants you to enjoy his food and for you to have a great time doing it. Oh, and try letting your patrons know about the rules of ordering. It's kind of an important thing, dontcha think? You betcha! BTW, we walked down to Big Jones, got seated immediately, and had a great meal. Acre, get over yourself.
(4)
Made N.
oh my - what a find this was! we headed out to "In Fine Spirits" for some wine/cheese/small plates, but it was too loud for my liking and desire for a quiet wind-down on a friday night. We wandered about and ended up with Acre as the best option. Both vegetarians, this place had a few decent options on the menu which weren't Italian in nature, so seemed like a good bet! I was extremely impressed. First off, they list the farms from which they get their produce, which is awesome (and meat, if i was into that - this place is better on that front that 99% of other meat-serving joints, so i'll give them that credit for sure, even if I won't eat it!). we had caipriinhas (sp?), risotto, two orders of roasted egg plant with tomatoes and feta (appetizers - so incredibly tasty, we reordered - best eggplant of my life), and a fried egg/lentil patty concoction. i haven't been this thrilled with food quality for a very long time (since mercat la planxa probably, last summer) and I'm already so excited to recommend it to my conscious-eater friends! I will most definitely be back and chatting it up to anyone who's interested in good quality food. I can't believe this place only has 3 stars on yelp, per my impression, it should be off the charts. I can't vouge for the beers, but our drinks were tasty, though we initially hankered for a margarita which, disappointingly wasn't on the menu, but a caipirinha is a damn good alternative - enjoyed it MUITO :) I only gave it four stars because the part without the window/wall open was rather loud (quieter on bar side with walls open to sidewalk) and also because there were obnoxious large screen televisions up behind the bar, which is just totally unnecessary for a place with so much emphasis on food. And in response to other reviews, our server was lovely - friendly, but not obtrusive and on top of things, and cute as can be (South African? not sure, but cute and with an accent besides, so no complaints at all.
(4)
Matt J.
Holy Freaking Awesome Batman! So I was with my friend Britt on one of our Sunday Brunch excursions and we couldn't figure out where to go, started walking down Clark in Andersonville and could not agree on a place. That's when we said holy crap, Charlies is gone! We were both a little depressed to say the least, not that Charlies was all that good just that it had been there forever. We decided to try it out, at first it was a little odd being in Charlies but not being in Charlies. The decor has switched to Black and Grey which is odd but grows on you. The menu is a little on the small side especially when compared to what Charlies used to offer, but as they say good things come in small packages. My friend had the Breakfast Burger and I had the Harvest omlette and a bloody mary. The 1st bloody was a little on the spicy side, the 2nd was 10 times better because I squeezed the lemon that comes with the drink and mixed it totally changed the drink for the better. My omlette was outstanding. I always worry when getting a goat cheese, tomato, & spinach omlette that it will have no flavor. This was not the case, extremely flavorful fresh veggies that were a party in my mouth. I got a chance to taste the breakfast burger and was very impressed with the quality of the meat. Acre has become by far my favorite new brunch place and I can't wait to try the dinner options. Ces La Vie Charlies, long live Acre!
(5)
Michael H.
Consistently decent food. Very reliable! There is always something new on the menu and the food is always nicely plated and perfectly cooked. Service seems more than a little eccentric and I'm not sure we've ever had the same waiter twice but it's a well run kitchen and we've always enjoyed our meal.
(4)
Tom W.
Reluctantly came to dinner there from an invite. Charlies was a fine place and I always appreciated it. Not sure why the change to a bland, all grey boring decore. They need a serious change in bartenders with more professional people behind the bar. The drink I ordered was terrible and the bartender didn't even know how to make the very common drink my friend ordered. When seated, our server was very good. Very attentive and friendly. Appetizers were decent. Entres very disappointing. I have no intentions of ever going back voluntarily.
(2)
Bryan C.
Woah big buddy, this place blows! I'm a big 4 star yelper and it is quite rare that I ever feel the need to write a review like this, but I couldn't wait to stress my distaste for this establishment. You can attempt to discuss the dreary paint job to distract you from the price you're paying for a grilled cheese that you wouldn't feed your dog, but it probably won't help. The only word I can think of to describe the burger is "wet." I won't go any further. How one manages to make a three cheese mac and cheese without any flavor is beyond me, but they pulled it off quite nicely. Their beer list is somewhat impressive I suppose, but its not that difficult to find a specialty beer on Clark Street. The service started out OK until our server was tragically faced with more than one table. The prices are outrageous. If I'm going to pay $18 for a beer, its going to be at Hopleaf where they are highly knowledgeable of what they serve, not Acre where our server didn't know his ass from a hole in the ground. Even the menu was irritating, with a salad named "For the Rabbits," and an app called "Nibbles," - who wrote this menu? So to sum it all up: the atmosphere is unwelcoming and boring, the food is the absolute worst of Andersonville and the prices are ridiculous. I wasn't a huge fan of Charlies, but I sure do miss it now.
(1)
rachel c.
If you are into lamb heart, pork belly, or smoked trout with a side or ramps, escarole, or delicious frites, then this is the place for you. Unique, interesting, and delicious menu. The restaurant is huge- used to be Charlie's Ale House. Not sure if it usually fills up, but was only half full at 8pm on a Saturday night. This is not the place for fast service. Go if that doesn't bother you, and you have time to kill with some good friends.
(4)
Corey B.
After two visits, I'm holding steady at 3 stars. Service both times was a bit spotty and inattentive, almost annoyed that we were there. Two different servers on both occasions. The wine and beer list are ample and the food menu is very appealing, however, the execution of some of the dishes is where they run into problems. I had a shrimp sandwich which barely filled the bread--which was stale--and my side contained an ingredient I specifically mentioned I had an allergy to. Easily remedied, but I hate wasting food which is why I mention it. One the second visit, I wiped my memory clear of my previous experience because I WANTED to like the food this time. Looks like a foodie place, but just couldn't execute like a foodie place. My friends and I ordered five dishes and wine/beer. The dishes were all just ok. Things were either too salty, overcooked (beef tartare - well done?!) or were drowned in a citrus-y flavored sauce as if they were over-marinated. Also, the garnish on everything was exactly the same - not terribly creative. Again, great drinks, but it isn't enough to bring me back for more than a quick after-work drink.
(3)
Lethe X.
First time here, met a friend in the late afternoon on a Saturday for something between a snack and dinner, so we ordered cocktails (had an old fashioned and a sazerac and both were good) and split an order of sausages (excellent!) and the risotto (a wild mushroom one that day, and served with the taste and texture exactly right). The food was good, the service was good, the place was cozy and comfortable. BUT (and this is the reason I don't give it more stars) the pricing across the menu was unrealistic, and for that reason, I probably won't be back. Sadness.
(3)
Tim F.
Lived up to the hype. The service was warm and attentive. We opted to try a variety of small plates and apps rather than entrees and we were rewareded. The tomatoes in the Tomato Salad were excellent and fresh. The ceviche was fresh and vibrant, but perhaps to large a portion for a "small" plate. The grilled octopus was outstanding, tender and fresh. We also enjoyed the grilled shrimp app and the terrine of salmon. The wine list was excellent with a lot of diverse choices by the glass. And for beer fans, this is a must-stop, with a comprehensive beer list unusual for a restaurant of this caliber.
(4)
Eli R.
This place has been on a down trend in my view. I first went there a few months after they opened and liked it a fair bit. Next time it was not nearly as impressive. A recent visit was just not good. I don't know what happened in the kitchen, but at some point pretense replaced quality. Burnt trout and tough rabbit meat are not the best ways to showcase the farming bounty of the Midwest. Dousing bland dishes in oil isn't the best fix either. And the service? Our waiter was among the least attentive or knowledgeable in recent memory. I'm done experimenting.
(2)
shawn m.
seasonal, fresh, local ingredients that are always as tasty as can be. the beer list is stocked full with amazing bottled and draft selections. the atmosphere is inviting, laid back, and unpretentious. if you don't enjoy Acre i don't think you know good food. one of my fave local spots!
(5)
Shannon W.
GROSS!!! I have lived in Andersonville for 11 years. Although I had already heard bad reviews to this "Charlie's" spot, My husband and I decided we should make our own opinions. Went on Sunday for lunch, got a $50 bill (including $8 total in drinks) and I had the ickiest meal I have ever paid for. The open whitefish sandwich=bland and tasteless fish on top of a soggy piece of bread. Now because I don't eat red meat or chicken I was extremely limited in choice of entree. My husband, who does eat meat, had the pork burger and said is was mediocre at best. Didn't have any appetizers or order anything else, but we WON'T be back. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD! There are tons more options for great food, drinks, beer and service in Andersonville...DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY!
(1)
alisha c.
So glad Acre changed their menu. I had the mexican eggs dish and it was fab! The pork burger is seriously amazing, but it's been off the menu for a few weeks now. Acre should bring that back b/c my friends and I often just go for the pork burger. I think the beer selection on draft is great. Sure not as awesome as hopleaf but the bar it's self is nicer then hop leaf. Richie the Sunday bartender is the best bartender in Chicago. Part of the reason we go there is to talk to him! He is so funny and knows his drinks. Makes a mean bloody mary! I'm gald that Acre changed to more of an adult crowd from the family type resturant. I noticed that bussiness was bumpping yesterday! That is a great sign! Only suggestion, bring back Charlie's cobb salad! It was delish!
(4)
Zaven K.
After reading over the reviews from other Yelpers for Acre, I was surprised to see how many of you out there seem to hate this place. My experience there has been positive and I find this place to be a big step up from the former Charlies Ale House. So far, ive been here twice and each time I have been pleasantly surprised. My first visit, I wanted to order the Chilaquiles, but unfortunately, they had just stopped making them, as brunch was over. So I settled for an order of Chili and mac-n-cheese. The Chili was good (not great) being too tomatoey for my taste, but not bad either and it was clearly made with very fresh ingredients. The Mac-n-Cheese however was spectacular and for that reason alone I will be returning to Acre. I washed this all down with a great bottle of New Holland Dragons Milk and I was a happy camper. At my second visit, I was finally able to order the Chilaquiles with poached eggs and was very pleased. Im not sure how authentic they were, but they were very tasty and again I will be back for this dish. The price was a bit high, and Im not crazy about the grey interior, but the decor of a place is not all that important to me, I go to resaraunts for good food, and Acre has it in spades.
(4)
S G.
Went for a mid-week dinner with friends. The menu wasn't great. The waitstaff seemed uneducated on their menu. The food was at best a 2. Don't think I would go back.
(2)
Jennie P.
Stopped in for lunch on a Sunday. I'm usually not a big brunch menu person but they had a lot of great choices. I had the burger and it was awesome! Sooo very delicious! Great beer menu - big but not too big if you know what i mean. I will be going back to try the full menu!
(4)
Chris U.
Went here for dinner on a Wednesday night, and the place was a little empty, it wasn't a bad thing, but I asked the server about it, and he said it is usually more crowded. I wonder if people are not going based on a not so great Yelp score. I thought the food was good, and the beer/wine list was great, what else could you ask for. The service was great, and the place looked nice.
(4)
Peter M.
Good food. Interesting menu. Good location. A trifle loud.
(4)
H W.
I am sorry. I have never written a negative review, but my experience here was terrible. My husband and I decided to try brunch here yesterday bc we had yet to ventured into the once loved Charlies. Mistake. The server was good, despite the fact that my $4 cup of decaf was never refilled. However, the food was over priced, the portions small, and entrees were not served per the menu description. The food was not even cooked properly. To top it off, we were crammed in between two tables. The restaurant is quite large, but apparently they needed to squeeze us all in at the windows. If ever I have not wanted to pay for a meal, it was this one. My husband had to get food from Starbucks after we were done. Perhaps Acre has other things to offer or they were having an off day...but I will never know.
(1)
Larz F.
We used to go to Charlies several times a year and it was always a "safe" bet, but never ever a home run - a little too "Bennigans" for my taste. I was sort of sad to see it go, but was super impressed with Acre. The menu was limited, but I'd rather get a few perfect dishes than the 50 average that Charlie's offered. We got the chili, which was spicy but not so much that you missed the other flavors, the beet salad which was awesome, and the brisket tacos which were our least favorite item we tried. For dinner we got he pork burgers which were phenomenal. The Amish pulled chicken sandwich was also great - could have had a little more flavor. The service was attentive without being overbearing. All in all it far exceeded my expectations. The bar menu prices were on par with Charlies. I'm not sure I get the gray color scheme, but I'm not moving in. While I was initially sad to see Charlie's go, I hope this place sticks around and the haters out their get their heads out of their behinds and give Acre a second chance. If you want something more like Charlies get in your car and head to the nearest strip mall chain restaurant.
(4)
Vanessa R.
Brunch here is awesome!!! We've tried the corn cakes, beet salad, bruschetta, and brunchburger. All amazingly tasty:) The wait staff is friendly and the decor is farm shabby-chic....is that a style, don't know, but it works:)
(4)
j h.
loved everything we had: octopus tacos (so savory and octopus was super tender); greens salad (as fresh as it gets; love that it included arugula; subtle beets in the vinaigrette); spicy seafood on squid ink couscous (nice and light with a little spice; squid ink was a nice touch)
(5)
Brian M.
Four of us went here on a Saturday night for dinner at 7pm and the restaurant was half empty. Everything about the entire experience is average. None of the food was memorable and the portions are small so we likely won't be back. The beer selection and pub menu on the other side of the wall looks like a much better call.
(3)
Brian R.
This place would have gotten a much higher rating if the portions of the food were a little bigger or prices slightly lower. It's gotta be one or the other. I really liked the menu choices and the beer list. We all liked our food except for one.....I don't know if the chef/s were trying to put a unique spin on risotto but it resembled a chicken and rice soup, with not enough broth. I'm not sure the risotto was made with a starchy rice like arborio or carnaroli...truly a disappointment. Fish and chips was delicious, striped bass was delicious....but unfortunately, we ended up having a second dinner after some cocktails down the street.
(2)
caryn a.
Don't waste your time or your money. Overpriced for poor quality food. They are trying to have a more upscale menu, but it really misses the mark. BIG TIME. Today was our second visit...... thought we'd give it another shot, but sadly, this experience was worse than the first. Decor is really nice and cozy, so if you are looking to grab a drink, this might be a good spot for that!
(2)
Jim S.
Went here for lunch two weeks ago and the restaurant should be called Mediocre and not Acre (don't quite get the name). The menu was so limited at lunch time. The food was just OK and the service was mediocre too. Maybe Charlie's ran its course, but replace it with something more substantial and with a more homey feel.
(2)
Dianne O.
Looking for a not-terribly-fussy lunch, I went here. Food was surprisingly good - definitely high-status fare - despite the menu seeming more pretentious than it needed to be. It was kind of like, foodie bar food. Not sure why I didn't like it more.
(3)
Meg P.
My husband and I went to Acre last night with my parents and a few friends. It was amazing, from the wait staff to the food to the ambience. We loved it all. We all had different dishes and we all ate every last bite. Several months ago we went there for brunch on my birthday and had an amazing meal. I give this place a 6 star!
(5)
Rob T.
Started with the Feta Cheese. it came in a nice little cast iorn pot and was nice and hot. Had the pork for an entree. It was very very tender and flavorful. Our server Dan was friendly and fast. I will be going back to try something new on the menu.
(4)
SCOTT G.
i am impressed with what Acre has done. WOW...basically sums up my first visit, on opening night. i decided to take something to go, so i picked the burger. i thought to myself, how could they mess up a burger! i should have asked myself how could they have made it any better? from the amazing grilled onions, homemade mustard, homemade fries, homemade catsup...all the way to the melt in your mouth burger. probably the best i have ever had! just to be sure, i came back the next day for lunch and this time i brought my mother just to be sure i wasn't dreaming. i was not even really hungry, but i ate my entire burger, yup, another one! my mother on the other hand has never finished an entire meal since the clinton administration and she couldn't stop eating hers either. the waiter was amazing, wore a tie, looked sharp and was a nice grown up version of the staff that used to be there! he worked the bar area on the second day (you know who he is...keep him around!!!) i have said enough...now go eat!!!
(5)
Alison T.
Horrible experience! We live in the neighborhood and used to love Charlie's - it was decently priced, had great variety of food and family friendly. We also love, love, love Anteprima (owned by the same people) and have had many wonderful meals there. We went to Acre for lunch this past weekend. It's been open for awhile now so I expect them to have their kinks worked out. The host seemed really flustered. I know they were busy, but he just seemed overwhelmed and confused. We got a table outside - after about 15 mins, so not too bad. I had to ask 3 times for a high chair for my dgtr. We got water (eventually). About 20 mins. after we ordered, the manager came over to tell us the kitchen was backed up and asked if we would like bread. Now, it was nice of him to ask, and bring it over - but really is bread something special? I mean, shouldn't you get bread automatically and if you're backed up send out an app. or drink or something special? So anyway, our meals arrived. My husband had the steak and eggs - it was cold. I had the steak salad. It was a plate with a few bites of steak and a few pieces of lettuce. It was like an appetizer, not a salad. There was nothing filling about it. The only thing positive was the food for my dgtr. We got the kids burger and they brought out a nice size burger, fries and a bowl of fruit for her. She had so much and I had so little - that I ended up eating off her plate. Oh and it wasn't cheap! We will not go back.
(1)
Nota R.
Food was okay if over priced. Amish chicken was good, but the "artisanal greens" salad tasted like it came from a bag at Jewel. The food, it should be noted, was also, contrary to their boasts on the menu and from the server, far from locally sourced. Far as in, New England and the West Coast. Not a huge issue for me, but they're selling themselves as a locally sourced restaurant and they're far from it. The real bummer was the service. We were seated in the bar section, found it loud, and asked the host to move to the other side of the restaurant, which was over half empty. He simply said, "No" and walked away. We should have left then. Our food took over 50 minutes to arrive after ordering and the restaurant was not busy. Our waiter was supremely annoying - talked and dressed like he was working at a theme park and was far, far more amused with himself than we were. He couldn't answer basic questions about the menu and he took away our water bottle and never refilled it. I will agree that their beer menu is terrific: deep and well organized for novices. I'm giving a low low rating because I couldn't wait to leave and won't go back. That written, from the reviews, it does seem that the service can vary wildly. So, if you're okay with overpriced food that's hit and miss and don't mind gambling on the service, you might want to try Acre.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Ashley T.
I have been here numerous times (all the way from the Charlie's days) and my overall experience with Acre is that it is 'okay'. The service has been okay and the food has been okay. Of course, there are times when they food is great and the service is great, but there are also times when both are the opposite - which is why I have to give this place 3 stars. The location, ambiance and beer selection are superb...but I would rather go here for drinks than a meal.
(3)Jeffrey K.
I sat at the crowded bar a few Fridays ago and had a stout and a dozen of the best oysters I have ever had in Chicago. They're a buck a piece if you arrive before seven. I ordered mine with five minutes to go. They've got an okay selection of brewskis on tap and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I'll be back for another quenching brew and more oysters.
(4)Katie T.
Guess I should've consulted yelp before trying... I actually thought the food was really tasty. The mussels were pretty great but the few they give you leaves you wanting more. The flank steak was really flavorful but good thing I ordered it medium well because it came out medium rare. My friend got the fried rabbit that was really good as well but again the portions were just a hare small. (see what i did there?) The appearance of Acre makes you think of a brewery that will give you what you're paying for. But instead it feels as though they are all small plates presented on a white platter giving it an awkward high end feel.
(2)Christy B.
I was excited to try based on reviews, I think they just had an off night. Ordered a dozen oysters for my meal but it came after everyone was already done eating..they comped it which was nice. Didn't get drunk refills, appetizers were a bit underwhelming. Just an off night I think, hope. I will try again sometime:)
(2)J N.
We must have forgot about the time we stopped in and saw flies laying eggs in the buffet-style dishes. This time we made a reservation for some steak and fish. The service was not great, there was at least some miscommunication about the order, which is ok. But when all this accumulated and I spoke with the manager his attitude was an equivalent shrug. So, to share with all of you, your business as was mine, is a shrug to Acre. We tipped and left unhappy.
(1)Michelle O.
Went early for dinner with 2 others. We ordered a few of the small plates to share to start: The sausage potatoes were delish, and the pierogis were sooo good, but not at all what I was expecting for a pierogi. Beet salad was ok. Oysters were excellent! For entrees we had the flank steak, BBQ pork ribs, and the griddled cheese with tomato soup. All 3 were good. Not great. Tiramisu and coffee drinks for dessert. Good. Not great. Food and drinks were overall 3 stars, but I gave an extra star just because the staff was so friendly, very knowledgeable, and just a pleasure to be served by :) We stayed for hours and they didn't mind one bit. Would go back, but after checking out some of the restaurants around that lil gem of an area
(4)Molly F.
Staff was great and had a lot of beer on tap. Bartender was very knowledgable about beer. Oyster bar connected to the bar. Small plates that were perfect for sharing
(3)Erik P.
Acre reminds me of the old adage, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Everything on their menu is a classic that they tried to make better and failed. Ketchup! It's been perfected! Why f*ck with it? But Acre did. The burger! It's been perfected! Why f*ck with it? But Acre did. If it's a classic, just do it well, don't change it. Also, a lot of reviewers said their service wasn't the best. This was also my experience. If it's not busy, I shouldn't have to hunt down my server for more water or the check. Nothing will turn people away from your establishment quicker than poor service, well maybe rat droppings, but rat sh*t shouldn't be the baseline for your service. I brought my mom here for Mother's Day and now its going to take a Cartier Watch to make up for this. #ThanksObama Serious though, there are a lot of great places to eat in Andersonville, it's a shame Acre isn't one of them. Also, don't f*ck with ketchup!
(2)Christopher F.
A staple of Andersonville, this locally sourced restaurant kicks serious butt with pork and beef, and an ever changing menu based on seasonally available product. Brunch is a must. Try the salads, they're delicious.
(5)Dan S.
We dined at Acre anticipating a nice food experience at a farm-to-table restaurant but the overall experience, and menu, is much more akin to a pub than a culinary experience. Check-in for our reservation was smooth and a table was immediately available. Impressive list of beers, and a beer flight, which I tried. Wine list is less extensive but adequate. Hence, the beginning of a more pub-like experience. Tables are pretty close together which, again, is okay for a pub. Menu has a nice variety of small plates. We tried the spicy cauliflower and the mac n cheese. The cauliflower, frankly, was disappointing. We were expecting crispy oven-baked with a tangy dipping sauce and what was served was coated cauliflower in a hot sauce. The mac n cheese was good but not particularly memorable. Oysters are a big feature here but not really our thing so can't comment on them. I bet the best items on the menu are the burgers, chicken sandwich or roast chicken. We both had the trout dish which was served on spinach with fried potatoes. The flavor of the trout was very good but, yikes, the spinach and potatoes were super salty. Good thing that I had beer to relieve the salty taste. Food service was fast but not particularly careful. Waiter was friendly and available. Also disappointing were the dessert choices - chocolate cake with strawberry sauce, tiramisu and bread pudding. Slim pickings and nothing particularly inventive. Again, okay for a pub but we were expecting something else. No dessert wines are available. Only street parking is available. We found a spot within 3 blocks on a Saturday night which isn't so bad for the area. Glad we tried Acre but I don't think that we'll be back again, unless we're craving a burger and beer.
(2)Ted C.
I like Acre. I met up with some folks there over the holidays and aside from the terrific beer selection both draft and bottle. I seriously got some street cred with some beer aficionados. The oyster special was delicious enough that I managed to stuff myself with the bivalves and drank my fill for under 40 bucks. I had a whole bunch of fresh oysters and drank my share of Half Acre and Love Child before we headed out.
(4)Gretchen A.
Popped into Acre today for the first time. Sat at the oyster bar and was pleasantly surprise to find great oyster, unique menu and good Bloody Mary's. Ordered the buffalo cauliflower with blue cheese dressing and fresh crumbled blue cheese. Wow what and awesome mid afternoon snack to go with our bloodys and oyster. Cant wait to come back for Sunday Brunch! Was eyeing the griddles cheese for next time...
(4)Katharine T.
Something about this place is just not quite good enough. Bf and I had a few dinners here when we moved into the neighborhood but always left rather unimpressed. It's overpriced and the entree selection is strangely limited and not that good. Their ketchup is horrible for some reason. Service is slow as well. I think this place is better for drinks than dinner. They do have a nice bar and pour a nice glass of wine. They have some small plates that seem a little better than their entrees in our experience. Not all are that great but maybe a little nosh with a drink is the way to go. I cannot ever see us coming back for dinner unfortunately.
(2)Rusty L.
Since it's in my neighborhood, I got tempted to try it. This easily became one of my least favorite restaurants. We ordered the half-shell oyster and mussels with bacon, tomatoes,etc.... These are the smallest oysters and mussels I ever had in my life. the pictures they posted here are for marketing purposes. I did not try their burgers but we're glad we did not. We saw the servers carrying what looked like slider-sized burger.
(1)Annie D.
I didn't eat here but their drink selection was pretty good. Decent prices for the neighborhood and you can sit outside and watch the world go by. I suggest going for a beer on a nice day.
(3)Chris B.
We went here for a Sunday brunch. Man, it was great. I had the corn bread cakes, topped with shredded pork confit and poached eggs. We will def be back.
(4)Lindsay H.
I feel like Acre is a bit under rated. They are great for lunch, brunch, dinner and appetizers. The oyster special is also a must do! I also really like that they have oyster wine flights. Never had anything there I didn't like. The pierogi starter, calamari, buffalo cauliflower, pork burger and shrimp are my favorite items. The service is always good and I don't know that we've ever waited for a table!
(4)Rahul G.
Clearly, I'm not the only one who feels poorly about this place. Especially the service. Wow. Took about 15 minutes before the waiter came to our table. Kept saying, "I'll be back" or "So sorry". I got the vibe he was new. Never confirmed, but more happened through the night that confirmed this. Since it took so long for him to come, we were ready to order everything at once when he did come. We ordered drinks, oysters, small plates, and dinner at the same time. It took another 15 minutes for drinks to come. We actually were sitting near the bar and saw our drinks sitting on the bar for a while. We contemplated going up to the bar and grabbing them. But we knew that'd be uncool. Ok, finally, food. I did not eat the oysters but was told they were great. Great. We ordered pizza and that was okay, nothing special. Same with crab cake. The sausages were good, although my friend wasn't impressed. The best part of the meal actually were the cheese curds. Some of the best I've had. But everything else was average. And yeah, the service was pitiful. There were several empty tables around us so it wasn't that he was swamped. And we watched him stare at our oysters at the bar before he brought them, looking at a menu making sure he knew which was which. Rookie move, right? I remember my first day working in a restaurant, but come on now. I never really complain about service, but this was terrible.
(2)Alena A.
I wish I lived closer, so I could come here every day. The oysters are AMAZING! And you can't beat the price either - $1.50 each. They have a great variety and I've probably tried all of them at one point in time. Their menu changes often but that's a good thing because you get to try different things. Some of my favorites include mac & cheese with crimini mushrooms, wood-oven pizzas (from prosciutto to squash), and the grilled Scottish salmon. They have an awesome beer selection, too! Can't go wrong! Definitely a neighborhood gem!
(5)Carolyn B.
I've gone here a few times with my young son. Not the most kid friendly place, but they are always welcoming and accommodating when I bring him since he's rambunctious. Although they do have a children's menu, which is nice. I have always gotten the burgers when I've come. Which were always cooked perfectly and come with a side of fries. I order the cheese curds every time, and they're such a delicious sin! Beer selection is just okay, mostly local breweries, which matches there local menu. I want to try the oyster bar, but have yet to do so. You'll end up spending $10-15/plate plus $5-15 for appetizers. So reasonable given the quality. Love the staff here. Love the atmosphere. To the guy complaining that they were expecting some farm-to-table experience, but instead got more of a pub feel...go to Cracker Barrel for that. It might have farm décor, but it's an oyster bar. It's good pub food...Also, of course there is not a parking lot....this is the city and it's a congested neighborhood. What do you expect? There's always plenty of parking along Clark, even if you have to walk a bit. Maybe you should have read reviews before stopping in, or maybe called the restaurant to see if they would meet you dining atmosphere expectations. This is why they have Yelp reviews and menu's available online.
(4)Dustin G.
After moving to Andersonville last month I made a vow to try every brunch so it was only a matter of time before I made my way to Acre. My husband and I invited some friends of ours to try the place. We'd all been hopelessly monotonous going to Lady Gregory's every week and needed a change of pace. I could easily see Acre becoming a regular brunch spot for me. I ordered the chicken and waffles. I've never ordered this dish anywhere before. Honestly, growing up in the South I'd never seen it on a menu. I've always thought of it as something Northerners think Southerners eat. However, that day my personal bias was relaxed and I gave it a try. It was delicious! The waffles were fluffy and crispy at the same time. The chicken was very good as well, though it was deboned. I don't know who started the deboning trend but it needs to stop. The sole reason this place isn't getting five stars from me is that fried chicken should never deprive one of the delicious sensation of licking the meat off the bone. A friend ordered the fried green tomatoes benedict and it was very good as well. My husband and her husband both ordered burgers. I suppose they liked them as they devoured them leaving no trace of their existence. The cocktails were also quite good. The prices were surprisingly low for brunch in Andersonville. Although, maybe the high price point exists only in my mind because I've never broken my budget on a Sunday morning in this neighborhood. I can't wait to go back and try more of their selections...if I can manage not to order the chicken and waffles every time. UPDATE: I've been back and ordered the corn cakes. These were amazing. They were rich and delicious. They almost reminded me of pineapple upside-down cake. They paired really well with the chorizo and pork confit. The deviled eggs are really good, too and they give you four halves! Also, the service was amazing. They brought share plates without us asking.Go to this place for brunch. DO IT!
(5)Lauren B.
Still a fan of this place! Came here on Easter Sunday for brunch and had a lovely experience. The bottomless mimosa's are $18 and worth every penny. I had three in a wine sized glass and they do a great ratio of OJ to bubbly. Brisket has was great but the friend chicken and waffles were our favorite.
(4)Kate N.
I am flummoxed. Are we all talking about the same restaurant? Friends and I wound up here the other night -- we'd never been, or really heard of it, but by the end of the meal, we were all convinced we had "discovered" something. We were seated for dinner immediately. The menu was succinct, so we shared a bunch of plates to get a good sampling of what was on order. The oysters were lovely, the sausages snappy, the squash pizza delightful (I don't even like squash), the pate smooth, and the beet salad...well, it was a beet salad. Our waiter was warm, friendly, and efficient. The place was clean, nicely laid out, and the lighting was correct -- low enough to be cozy, but not so dark as to make reading menus difficult. I basically took away one star for the tv (tvs are not for dinner time) and the mustard, which was a bit overpowering. But that really should only be half a star. Perhaps we went on a good night...but they certainly seem to have it in them. I'm only sorry for them that they haven't managed to be more consistent!
(4)Gary R.
Oysters. Yep, oysters. I love em. Don't know that I've ever had my fill. Usually my oyster consumption is limited only by my wallet. But Acre has $1 oysters nightly from 5-7! Nightly!! And not just those mini oysters. No, these are sizable. There's a great selection and they're all fabulous! We went here the other night just to eat oysters and man, it was awesome! I can't vouch for the food but the oysters? Oh yeah!! My mouth is watering even now thinking about them. We ate dozens and dozens! Out waiter told us a table he served ordered over 380!! Now that's some eating! I felt sorry for the guy shucking! But I've put Acre on my must visit again list. And I will. I'm ordering oysters! Oh, and the beer selection is great too! What more could you want! Even Jimmy Buffet would be a fan - gimme oysters and beer, for dinner every night for a year!
(4)Jeff L.
First time I've been here. I had a pierogi and it was decent. My friend ordered pancakes but they tasted like oysters. It was like they had cooked some sort of seafood on the grill and hadn't cleaned it and then just cooked the pancakes there. It took awhile to get water and the check. My friend remarked when we sat down that there weren't very many people here compared to every other brunch place. Now we know why. As we sit here waiting and waiting to pay, I've had time to write this review.
(2)Solene M.
What a shame. They let go of one of their best bartenders, aka the one that knew the most about beers and drinks and consistent with his customer service. I sat at the bar and the new bartender DJ kept trying to entice flirtatious conversations with my friend and myself. If I ever go there again, I'll make sure not to sit at the bar.
(1)Laura T.
We really wanted to like this place, but you gotta question why some of the food was allowed out of the kitchen. Chicken pate - Served in a jar that had just come out of the fridge and was rock hard. After chiseling it out it tasted fine but had a grainy texture. Half the toasts were burned black on one side and untoasted on the other. After asking for more to replace the burned ones, we were brought (more) freshly burned toast. Shrimp cocktail - The cocktail sauce wasn't properly mixed, it was straight horseradish on the bottom. Sausage plate - Driest sausage ever. Had to ask for the mustard the goes with it. The cocktails were meh. Two stars because the waiter was good and the cornbread was tasty.
(2)Sarah G.
I want to give this more stars but the prices were a little nuts. I work at a highly rated oyster bar so I was coming in armed with some knowledge. The bad: - walked in for brunch at 2:30. Asked when oysters would be available. Hostess said 5pm. Was so disappointed until I learned it would be 3pm in reality. -My mom got the steak and eggs, steak was rather tough (however potatoes were good). -maybe it was plated strangely but the portions looked very small -my green salad was decent, nothing mind blowing. For the prices of both I expected more. -the cocktail sauce and mignonette were both kinda bad. Cocktail was flavorless and mignonette just tasted like straight up red wine vinegar. The good: -the service! I didn't catch our servers name (gentleman with a beard) but he was wonderful! Drinks refilled fast, checked in when needed, chatted about oysters. Great all around! - they shucked and served the oysters as soon as he was set up (right at 3). They were fresh and very reasonably priced. - decor is great. Overall the highlights were service and oysters themselves but for a $75 brunch for two (without booze) I expected more from the actual prepared food.
(3)Francisco C.
Walked in to experience something new. The brunch was excellent. I recommend the House sausages, thatwere outstanding. The chicken and was delicious. I definitely recommend this Restaurant.
(4)Tom S.
I really want to like this place but continues to disappoint. Stopped for brunch Sunday. Limited options with an attempt to be creative, but nothing jumped out as "oh that sound great". I opted for cornbread with some pork topping they gave a fancy name to with soft boiled egg on top. The cornbread was very dry and crumbly, the little bits of pork consisted of mini chunks of fat and leaner bits. About 50/50. Could not even eat the fat bits and the lean bits did not have a good flavor. My son had breakfast burger that he said was ok. Had an egg on it and a tomato relish. His friend had chicken and waffles. Waffles were dried out but said chicken was flavorful. It was a boneless breaded breast. Service is always friendly and attentive but the food has been inconsistent. They should take some cues from the Bongo Room. There is a reason there is always a long wait there!
(2)Lizz M.
I've been to Acre twice, once as part of a burger crawl and then on a date. The first time, it was a pretty slow day with a bigger group. Service was great and we only had the burgers--which are delicious! Both the regular beef and the pork. The second time I came here was on a Saturday night. The place was pretty busy, but our server Tom didn't skip a beat on checking in on us and assuring we had enough to eat and drink. We started with the jumbo shrimp which are FANTASTIC. They're a bit of a splurge at $3 a piece, but worth it for a special occasion. We then got an order of fried cheese curds. Can you really go wrong with those? Didn't think so. For actual dinner, we both got burgers and yep, consistently good. And although primarily a beer spot, the Manhattans here are divine.
(4)Anna B.
I have no idea why this place is only 3 stars! I've been here twice and I absolutely loved everything I had. They also have this amazingly retro cocktail list. They make a MEAN old fashioned! Everything on their menu is tastefully chosen and very interesting. This isn't really the place to go if you just want a burger (although they have a great pork burger) or a steak, but if you are in the mood for being a bit adventurous, this place is amazing. I'm very biased because I love Anteprima, also owned by the folks who own Acre, but I really did enjoy my meals here. I can't wait to go again!
(4)Donyalle R.
So I was walking down the street one day with my boyfriend and my dog when the Acre sign for some reason caught my eye. I asked my boyfriend if he was familiar with the spot. A good sir overheard my question and told us that the place was pretty nice. He especially recommended that we try the chicken and waffles. In his words, "They have the best chicken and waffles in the city." I thought, "Oh great, its been awhile since I had some, now I got a cravin!" They had outdoor seating and allowed dogs so we went over then and there. My boyfriend wise in his ways knew to be a bit skeptical of this claim, so he decided to order something else. Since my stomach had already made up its mind I went for it. It turns out that this good sir we met on the street was but a poor lost misguided most likely north sider soul. This place did NOT have the city's best chicken and waffles. In fact, I would hope that these would appear on the list of the most bland chicken and waffles you can possibly order in the city. I might have made a doctor's appointment to make sure my taste buds were still intact but thank goodness I ordered a beer because drinking it was the only proof I had my buds were indeed functional. I should start a change.org petition to request the item be removed from the menu so as to not tarnish the good reputation of this usually tasty cuisine. I can't really comment on any other items on the menu as this was all I had, though I can say for the price my boyfriend wasn't too impressed with the meal he got.
(2)Stephen L.
DO NOT PATRONIZE THIS PLACE. What a disappointment. The waiter did not know his menu. He did not know what their signature chow chow was made of. He had to take my menu to look if the fish and chips came with tarter sauce. He looked at the menu, said no it does not. When I looked at the menu it clearly said, yes, it came with tarter sauce. I asked for no dairy in my meal. My steak arrived with butter on it. I specifically mentioned to the waiter no butter on my steak. The two other people I was dining with had the fish and chips. The portions were totally different. This was brought to the waiter's attention. He came back from the kitchen to tell us that we were mistaken because they weight the fish. We could see that this was not true. Upon leaving the restaurant, I passed our waiter, who walked right by me and turned his face away. DO NOT PATRONIZE THIS PLACE.
(1)Jeff H.
Booked an open table reservation. Rode our bikes 45 min to get here. Thought we would reward ourselves with a nice brunch. But unfortunately it just was not good. Salmon hash was greasy and soggy and flavorless. The accompanying salad way to salty. Chilaquiles was average at best. Had to ask for water. Had to ask for coffee refills. By the way everything is a little overpriced. the coffee is 4 bucks. Perhaps this is better place for a beer and oysters? Cute name. Good location. Bad execution.
(2)Benjamin F.
I've been here for drinks several times and most recently the oysters and beer I had were great. Nice beer selection and I'd recommend getting a dozen oysters without hesitation. As to the other food, I've eaten at Acre 1-2 times but don't remember much, either good or bad, to comment on it. Sitting at the bar, service was attentive.
(3)Robert A.
If YOU ARE paying Acre is definitely worth visiting for the oysters and drinks. If SOMEONE ELSE is paying definitely leave room for the eclectic small plates. This is the hardest review I've written thus far. I've been to Acre a few times, but they are constantly changing what menu items they offer and to a lesser extent their beer selection. This leaves me in a classic 'one hand' vs. 'other hand' conundrum. On the 'one hand', Acre definitely deserves credit for going for it. On the other hand, Euro Disney went for it. The movies John Carter, Waterworld, and Howard the Duck went for it too. Master P went for it when he started 'No Limit' representation, and we all know how that worked out for Ricky Williams (if you don't know - poorly). Sometimes our friends and SOs go for it. They have a dinner party and serve you something and when you ask how they found the recipe - they confess to just going for it. [Not you baby. I love when you take chances with your dinner parties by trying to imitate something done really well somewhere else without the benefit of the recipe or all the ingredients.] In short, going for it does not always yield rewards. So what can you count on? 1) Oysters. They are cheap (nightly 1$ specials) by comparison to anything else on the menu, of good quality (all types offered), and they are the one constant in an ever-changing kitchen. Plus, they might get your date horny. 2) Beers. The selections may vary, but you can count on finding some serious connoisseur-worthy choices. The beers are not cheap but not unreasonable unless you really go for it - there were some over my visits that approached 20 bucks a serving. Plus, they might get your date horny. 3) The atmosphere is hip but not too pretentious. I suppose it too, could get your date horny. 4) Small plates. Again selections vary. More so than the beers. So you can count on being pleasantly surprised and mildly disappointed if you visit often enough and try enough options. Most are not breath-friendly and will probably not get your date horny - unless your date is really into head cheese or liver... During my most recent we shared small plates of the deviled eggs and charcutier, pictured below. The deviled eggs cost 8 dollars amounted to about 2.5 boiled eggs with some smoked whitefish on top. Not bad - but definitely coming up short. It had so much lettuce, which I'm still not sure was intended as a garnish or part of the plate. I think they'd do better to market that plate as a salad. The charctuier was 14 bucks. Not cheap, but they had generous portions of 4 different types of meat (chicken pate, goat head cheese, pork liver pate, and pork rillete). It also came with pickled onions/peppers and THE BEST MUSTARD EVER! Sounds like a hit right? - it was - except for the tiny amount of bread. Have you people heard of baguettes? Fortunately they brought more by (and mustard) and I left all warm and tingly after finishing it (though it could have been #1-3). Overall I'd call it a 4, but if we guessed wrong on the small plates we chose it'd be a 3. If you don't mind going all food voyeur, you should be able to avoid mistakes by ordering something that looks good from a neighboring table. Otherwise, you may end up slightly disappointed for the money you spend. [Though this can also be avoided by being the one taken as opposed to the taker.]
(4)Chelsea B.
We always really want to like this place. It has so much promise--a good selection of beers, the food is pretty solid, and the space is nice. The service, however, is awful. We went tonight for dinner, and the service was a disaster. The beers were slow to arrive, but the real problem was the food arrival. My boyfriend's burger arrived fifteen minutes before my flatbread (it was later explained that the flatbreads are cooked in the nextdoor kitchen so they can't be timed, but the waiter should have explained this issue when we ordered; I could have ordered something else). By the time mine arrived, my boyfried was just about done eating his, which was a little awkward. The thing is, it always feels like the service stinks here--we've tried it a few times, and have often had similar issues. Not a bad product, nice space, but not a place we like to go.
(2)Paul B.
They have $1.25 oysters daily now. Let me know if you find a better deal in the city. It used to be a happy hour thing and now its all the time. The service can be amazing at busy times and slow during slow times. If you want to sit outside there is great seating. Great beer selection. Also enjoy the fried cheese curds. They will change your life.
(4)Dawon H.
My 3 friends and I wanted to try a different place, so we landed on Acre after looking at the menu online. We sat on the patio and decided to order small plates. This ended up being a great choice! First round: Jumbo shrimp - (count 4) a little on the small side but tasty House sausages - a plate-full of flavor Buffalo cauliflower - added a bit of crunch (being battered) Second round: Wood oven corn pizza - this has a nice, spicy cayenne kick to it Pierogi- (count 4) creamy and a good palette cleanser Carnitas tacos - (count 4) I could have eaten all four, really good Ordered the Chinon Cuvee Mathilde - such a beautiful rose that we ordered three bottles! We had a bit of a wait once we first sat down before our waiter officially greeted us and took our drink order, but then he was more attentive throughout the meal.
(4)Danny B.
The smoked trout hash (+ eggs benedict) was great. It helped with my slight hangover and was light enough not to regret eating it.
(5)V W.
I had heard good reports about Acre ... but was very disappointed. Went for brunch..the Bloody Marys were just awful...there is no excuse for a bad bloody mary in my opinion...sent them back...my friends corned beef hash was terribly greasy with very little hash and my chilaquiles were ok. Coffee was good. Server was very nice (Charles). I know they were finishing up brunch but I couldnt help but feel the place was a bit dirty...sorry...no way would return.
(1)Colin E.
I like the atmosphere here and our service was top-notch. However the food was all bland. We got a few small plates (tartinas, crudo, crab cake) and shared the pork burger. All of it was unbalanced (lots of fat, little flavor) and forgettable. Also, while I'm aware that people don't go there for cocktails, they were still "meh" enough to warrant mentioning that this is an area of weakness for Acre. Stick with the beer. I may go again, if I'm in the area, because of the atmopshere and service, but for the food or drink.
(2)Keith A.
I came here for the Dark Nights, Darker Beer tap takeover that they were doing. And, I have to say, I'm extremely glad I made my way up here. I liked the whole set up of Acre. The bar curls around and even at it's busiest on a thursday night, I was able to grab a seat at the bar. Hell, by the time that the rest of my friends got there, we were able to get a decent sized table. Score! I mostly focused on the smaller plates as I wanted to drink most of my calories. Granted, I still was hungry enough to get a crab cake and some welsh rarebit later on. I was definitely a fan of the crab cake. Granted, for me not to really like a crab cake you kinda have to screw it up pretty badly. Still, this was a good sized cake with a good amount of meat in it. The rarebit was absolutely delicious. Welsh Rarebit is one of those treats my mom used to make every now and then when I was younger, and this one lived up to my good memories. I loved the selection they had going for the takeover. While I did mostly focus on stouts, I have to give it up to them for also including a schwarzbier and a dopplebock on the list as well as a black saison. There were about 20+ selections and it was tough to decide on which one to get. This is how to do a list people, it's not about having a bajillion taps. It's about looking at the list and thinking to yourself: if I'm gonna make my way through all of this list, I'm absolutely screwed tomorrow. I wanted to try everything, but that wasn't going to happen. I also loved that they had a BCBS vertical in there and all were on tap. The service was absolutely great the whole time, and the prices were killer. It was only $6 per pour on everything with a lot of very tough to get brews. I need to put Acre on my rotation now for when I venture up to A-ville. While Hopleaf is a holy grail bar, Acre certainly does their thing and did it well. I'm glad I used this event as my excuse for finally coming here.
(4)Nichole F.
Some friends and I went here for an after dinner drink. The place was a little slow which was great since we had a party of 5. We had a nice big booth in the back. Our waiter was good. He was fast with the drinks. They had a great beer list. They don't have Dogfish Head beer at a ton of places and they had it here - I was pretty excited about that. I would definitely go back to this bar.
(5)Sarah R.
My hubby and I had a gift certificate for this restaurant, but after reading some of the reviews we had average expectations for the night. Boy were we pleasantly surprised. Great, cozy atmosphere, perfect for chilly Chicago nights. Amazingly attentive service - Mike C. was beyond helpful, funny and charming. And we had great food to boot. Cheese curds are always good, but these are exceptional. Light batter crust and melted cheese inside that is very close to liquid gold. Grilled marinated shrimp - might seem like a weird flavor combo in writing, but it is so interesting in your mouth. Porkburger is great and, again, different from what we've tried at other places. I had the brisket. There is some secret chef maneuver in that brisket and it is amazing. Don't be scared by the horseradish cream, it is nowhere near overpowering. My best advice: Give this place a try. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Filip F.
I live in the neighborhood and I really want this place to be good. But it is not. Instead of a long review of good and bad, I will just leave you with one piece of information- my burger had carrots on it....yes...fucking carrots...that were sliced too thick, that were too hard in the middle, that were too cold...and tasted like fucking carrots would taste if you put them on top of a delicious warm burger. Enough said. ....1 year later. You get another shot Acre. Carrots are gone from the burger and burger is decent- good start. Tingo tacos are bland. Appetizer Puffs are good. Mac and cheese appetizer is great. Except that someone decided that in addition to velvety texture of cheese, macaroni and mushrooms, this entree needed garbage disposal-destroying, tough as shit...leaks! Who is it that works at this restaurant that keeps sneaking one extra ingredient into entrees that is way the fuck out of the left field. Salads were solid. Although lettuce is shit quality- not really Chicago restaurant standard. But service, drinks and vibe of this place is pleasant. And for that, you get another star Acre!
(3)Jeffrey M.
Good food and Beer selection and great atmosphere. We tried this place despite all the poor reviews for service. We didn't have any problems with our server, he even talked to us for a bit about the other restaurants the owner of Acre owns. We started with oysters and the server took the time to tell us where they are from and how they are different. For my entree I had the pork burger and it was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. We will go back.
(4)Dana L.
We are so happy we came here for brunch! The service and food were phenominal! I would definitely come back for the breakfast tacos and my wife loved her shrimp and grits! Come here for a great dining experience!
(5)Jeffie J.
A small plate haven in Andersonville. Beer is fine, but so are cocktails. I had a very generous Manhattan, well made and boozy. So large I never got to the wine flight I hoped to sample. Then a succession of small plates. The artisanal salad with avocado was well-dressed and salty (in a good way). The fried green tomatoes came with a nice aioli sauce and two large shrimp. Corned beef tongue was tasty, but the edges were kind of hard and dried out; it came with sour green tomatoes. Service from Justin was great. The one miss of the night were Great Lake smelts-- they weren't so great, in fact they were so teeny that they were completely lost in their fried batter coating--you couldn't tell there were any fish in there. It adds up to 4 stars, because even if some of the food is just 3 stars, you have to give credit for a menu loaded with offbeat choices (deviled eggs, smelts, tongue, duck confit, etc.) This extends to the wine list (check out the Furmint Tokay from Hungary). I'll be back to sample some more of them and try some wine flights.
(4)Joe P.
Despite the negative-leaning review, I tried Acre, and felt I gave them the benefit of the doubt. But try as I might--and its not due to their lack of effort--but the food just doesn't live up to any hype, if there is still any remaining. For what I paid, it just wasn't good at all.
(2)Rohan D.
This interesting and friendly establishment is full of indecision. The decor is partly authentic turn of the last century (the bar is absolutely beautiful), with some odd ironic plaster animal heads on one wall, tractor seats on another, postmodern lighting mixed with antique art deco and art nouveau/craftsman lights, beautiful old bar booths with relatively cheap looking tables that don't match the chairs, and big screen televisions tuned to March Madness that make you wonder, sports bar, bar with food, seafood restaurant or neighborhood tap? On a Saturday night the place emptied out for us to come in here for a group night cap, the waitstaff had collectively settled into a "whew, we got slammed," mode. At times it was hard to get our waiter's attention, on the other hand, some in our group gave some annoying orders (some given after the kitchen closed), and there were no mistakes. Satisfactory selection of beer, wine, and bar drinks, but being the designated driver I can only report that the soft drinks were fine. We arrived late, after having had dinner around the corner, but they had sold out of oysters. They sold around a thousand oysters, which is a bit unimaginable to me, but looking at some of the other reviews, it might happen here more than it should. The prices seemed a bit high, but maybe not at all atypical in Andersonville.
(3)Felipe A.
Food was just ok, I think is overpriced. I had a couple of small dishes with my girlfriend, the crab cake was ok, and the pierogi was good, nothing special. We also had a salad (artisanal greens), it was a shame for 7 dollars you get a very small salad with two tiny pieces of avocado a couple of radishes and the lemon vinaigrette but they put it for you and it does not have any special flavor. Then the BBq ribs were ok, but 20 dollars for just three bones, that's an assault specially when their recipe is nothing awesome. Positive: the service was very good, and the cocktails too.
(2)Carrot D.
Great neighborhood place! $1 oysters after work and a nice Manhattan. Burger is good as is the Mac n cheese, the pierogi filled with potatoes, and the charcuterie board.
(4)H. V.
Made Valentines reservations and were seated early and immediately. Right now, we're at a 10 star rating amiright? Wrong! While our server Charles (ask for him!) was amazing, accommodating, ebullient, and affable, it seems management and ownership does not understand that oysters are aphrodisiacs and that perhaps there may be a surplus ordered on valentines day. Our first course (shrimp cocktail) arrived. Then we waited. After 20 minutes we ordered the charcuterie and cheese platter. 5 minutes later they came but our oysters still hadn't. When we complained, we were told that the delay was due to the oysters being hand shucked. Well duh. You're an oyster bar. We were never delivered our salad, but out server did an excellent job making up for the kitchen and managements misstep. This is NOT am oyster bar. Don't go expecting otherwise. The poor things were mutilated beyond recognition and the shells were shattered enough to reconstruct your face.
(2)Steven N.
I live close to here so, I have been able to eat at Acre several times. I was debating for a while to whether it should be given a rating of 3 or 4. I decided for the later because the beer list is great and the oyster bar is amazing! If you're a fan of oysters you definitely need to go here. Any given night they have 5-6 different types from different regions and certain nights they're only 1$. The wine list is so-so and drinks are decent although not consistent and quality depends on who is working. The food is good, depending on what you order. I have had the pork burger and the fried chicken and waffles. The most negative aspect of this restaurant is that the service isn't all that great. The bar tenders always seem kind of cranky and the servers always seem rushed. High point of the service is the oyster bar-bartender(they have it set up right next to the bar) was great. Gave me a couple recommendations on oysters, personally introduced himself. I wouldn't go back so often if it wasn't for the oyster bar. Price I chose was including one drink, an entree and a few oysters. Hope this helps!
(4)Steph P.
I wasn't sure how Acre would go since the reviews are very mixed, but we went and enjoyed our time. Some plates were awesome while others fell flat. The best part of dinner by far was the service. Everyone was great - especially our server, Mike C (hopefully I remembered the name correctly!). Mike was knowledgeable on the beer selection and the plates. He was fun and attentive too. The restaurant decor is done well also. To sum it up - I'd say the food was overall a tad above average but the beer and service helps it even out to a solid four stars.
(4)Lee L.
Acre has a really great beer list. They have had some special beer events you can see mentioned by others (Dark nights darker beers and a Three Floyd's tap takeover). Unfortunately, Acre has always had a bit of an identity crisis to me. Are you a beer bar or a farm-to-table restaurant? The food plates are small - with the excuse that everything is locally sourced and farm-to-table - but so are many restaurants on the same strip of road and I never feel shorted at those. Acre is great for a nightcap, but if I want to eat I go elsewhere. You should try the food out for yourself, though, because a couple of the dishes are pretty good and they have a good oyster special. For me, over time, Acre is no longer a go-to food place.
(3)Joe M.
My partner and I ate here for the first time tonight and I'm torn about how to rate. We started with the cheese curds and pirogies which were amazing. I had the beef burger with the fried egg which was also very tasty. My partner had the pulled pork sandwich that unfortunately had no flavor along with flavorless coleslaw and the cold bun on which it was served - maybe it was an off night for that particular item. The fries served with our meal were delicious, but a little heavy and greasy. Our waiter was very polite and engaging. The host asked us how the meal was and we politely gave him honest feedback. He apologized, which was nice - but we're not sure if we'll come back. I didn't care for the music they were playing - sort of sounded like some indie burnout/depressing music - it did nothing for the ambiance. As well, the menu selection is quite limited so if we do go again, it will probably be for drinks and appetizers. Maybe not.
(2)Ali L.
My first time at Acre, they were playing Tool (be still my nostalgic heart) and served Founders' Keepers -- something like an 8% cider aged in bourbon barrels. This was last year. Founders' Keepers hasn't been founders'd ever since, but Acre has a special place in my heart for introducing me to that alone. And then there are oysters. $1 oysters from 5-7 and 9-midnight EVERYDAY (or something, those might not be the exact times anymore?), with a selection which changes daily. God. So good. And thennn there is the food. Everything I've had has been wonderful, I'm surprised to see so many negative comments. I love that it's a daily menu, too. -1 star because I do agree that service has been awfully slow at times. The hospitality of the bartenders more than makes up for it, but that only works when you're actually sitting at the bar, which I haven't done often. I have been here more times than I can count and I'll continue going back for the oysters and amazing drink selection alone. This is always one of my favorite places to bring guests.
(4)Eva M.
We decided to try their fixed price promotion this evening. It was $29 for an appetizer, entree and desert. I had the mushroom barley soup which is very hearty- nice size portions of mushrooms and barley. The soup was hot perfect for a winter night. My entree was the trout, well prepared but I didn't care for the yoghurt sauce on top. My friend had the chicken liver tartines and loved them. Her entree was the Char with farro and it was really good. I thought the chocolate mouse was ok. Not great and not bad. THe pear goat tart was outstanding. Our server was great. His name was Charles. He was attentive to us. I would go back and try some of their oysters. They have a promotion at certain hours where the oysters are $1.
(3)Erica K.
I just can't with Acre. The food is not good. I ordered a burger recently (after having not been in there for AGES because there are better options around) and asked for medium rare. It came so well done it was basically burned. I had been traveling all day for business and just wanted some food. I let the waiter know it was terrible, but didn't kick up a fuss- not his fault. I ended up only eating 2 bites but still paying for the terrible food. If you go for drinks fine, but this place is a waste for dinner. Sad.
(2)Angie M.
A couple gal pals and I stopped in for a little snack on a Saturday shopping run through Andersonville. The menu didn't look very appetizing. We decided to just order up the grilled veggie flatbread. Mistake. It arrived barely warm. We questioned whether or not the mushrooms were canned, as they had that unavoidable grayish tint. The cheese on top was barely melted and the flatbread itself was hardly cooked. Ick. We poked at it, paid the bill and scooted on out. I would avoid.
(2)Mike V.
Went for brunch on a Saturday morning right when they opened at 11am. We were actually let in a few minutes early since we happened to walk by and were therefore waiting in the cold. seated right away - attentive wait staff for the whole meal. thumbs up there. i got the chicken and waffles - it was phenomenal. the chicken was lightly fried dark meat and the waffles were well done. the sunny side up eggs really sealed it all together, along with the handmade butter and syrup. my wife got buttermilk pancakes with apples - they were merely passable.
(5)Carolyn B.
This could very well be the best brunch I've had in Chicago (and that's saying something!) Made reservations through OpenTable for a Saturday morning when my family was in town. I was surprised that the place was basically empty at 11am, but we got a great booth in the back. Decor is simple and a little rustic with comfy booths and plenty of light. The brunch menu has a number of large and small plates, and we all selected large plates. I had the cornbread cakes and it was absolutely delicious. The dish was a large piece of cornbread (more like 2 pieces) topped with plenty of pulled pork and chorizo, 2 poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce. My only teeny tiny nitpick was that the pork and chorizo could've been a little juicier, but the cornbread was plenty moist and the hollandaise and runny yolks brought it all together. Seriously, it was phenomenal. Definitely not a well-known brunch spot, but I would bring people here again. Worth the jaunt up to Andersonville for sure!
(5)Mark E.
Well decorated, great beer selection, and an appealing menu. Service at the bar was frosty at first, as my friend and myself are not learned in the nuances of world-class beer, and I believe we were pegged as rubes. Music's too loud. Beer is tasty.
(3)Talea B.
Service was top notch except when we told the waiter that one of our meals was less than desirable. Frankly..he didn't care. Meal in question: tempura avocado and shrimp. The shrimp was to door and over cooked and the avocado was bland. The vegetarian risotto was bland and even though the lamb confit was tasty, for the price of $11 there should have been more than one piece. We'll go back for the fine beer list and burgers, not the other food.
(2)Deana R.
I was surprised by how not-great this place was. The service was bad--lots of booths were free when we got there, but we couldn't sit at one because they were covered with messes from the last people eating there. Our water glasses were dirty, nobody picked up our used plates, and we had to hail the busser to get our check after our waiter straight-up forgot about our last round of drinks. All of the food (besides the cheese plate, which was good) was pretty boring. I tried to order the only interesting cocktail on the menu only to be told they'd stopped carrying it. All in all, it wasn't a memorably horrible experience, but with all the great restaurants on Clark street, I wonder how this place is still there.
(2)Jaime G.
Need another excuse to hit this North Side neighborhood? You got it. It's called Acre. Acre is cool restaurant with a sleek atmosphere inside and nice view outside (mostly for people watching). Awesome beer selection (i think they have 30 beers on top - mostly great quality craft beers, like the Mud Puppy Porter and Chocolate Yeti Stout, but also have a full bar). Food is descent too. Most of us ordered apps which are all good - like the ceviche, homemade sausage plate, and scallops. But try the memphis style burger - nice southern touch to this beauty. The one thing that made this a not-so perfect experience was the service outside. We ate and drank outside when i went and it was severely under manned. One waiter covering 6 tables and he just couldn't keep up. He really didn't seem to get it either. Nice enough though and i'll let it pass given the beer and food offering. You have to try it.
(4)Dee W.
The hubby and I came here for date night and we had such a fabulous time there. Parking was easy enough to find. We came on a Thursday night around 6pm and were seated promptly. We definitely took advantage of Acre's Raw bar one buck oysters which is 5pm - 7pm and 9pm - midnight. We love the concept of farm to table restaurants and using local farms and breweries. The hubby had a glass of Few Spirits whiskey (from our local Evanston). We realized that we could take advantage of their fantastic prix fixe menu which was 3-course menu for only $29/person on Sunday - Thursday. The hubby had the fried cheese curds which were delicious (not as good as Farmhouse but pretty close) and I opted for the charcuterie which was delectable. For our entrees, the hubby opted for a salmon and I had the grilled cornish hen. Both were cooked perfectly and the freshly sauteed vegetables were delicious. Overall, we had a wonderful date night, Acre - thank you and we look forward to coming back again.
(4)Rachel R.
Ugh, want to like this place but too many problems. Ordered a bottomless mimosa only to be told that they were nearly out of Prosecco so it wouldn't really be "bottomless." Then, after waiting forever, our brunch came out both cold and overdone. The staff is doing their best but the kitchen clearly needs to up their game. Disappointed.
(2)Sheila K.
I always passed by this place when I am walking on Clark St. Finally came here for brunch and had the Chicken and Waffles. It was delicious, the waffles were nice and crispy and the Chicken was moist and crispy. You also get eggs, sunny side up. Thumbs up! The service is great too, they are really nice. We will come here to try the oysters in the future. Thanks for a delicious meal and great service!
(4)Jenny N.
I wanted to like this place because of it's great location and promising menu, but it was just not good. Went on a Friday for dinner with a girlfriend and sat at the bar. We both ordered fish tacos and then the warm olive appetizer. The olives were inedible- I have no idea what they are marinated in but it was straight up disgusting. The fish tacos were just plain corn tortillas, what looked like bagged cabbage and pickled jalapenos from a jar and one piece of fried fish. Super bland. They were served with a green salsa which was not spicy or flavorful. This was one of the most boring meals I've had at a restaurant in a long time. By no means am I a good cook and I am confident I could make a more creative taco. The beer list was decent and the service was good. That earns them an extra star. I watched the bartenders waste SO MUCH BEER by pouring off the head of each beer sometimes 5 or 6 times per pint. I don't know if their keg line is too warm so that it makes the beer too heady or if they just don't know what they were doing- but as a former bartender I was annoyed by their wastefulness.
(2)Brian G.
Terrible food and service. We waited forever for the waiter. The food was so bad my 9 year old could have made a better meal and I'm not kidding!
(1)Stephanie C.
From the outside Acre seems like a place where you'd like to eat, maybe grab a pint or a few oysters. The inside is pleasant enough with tall ceilings, an inviting bar and plenty of TVs to watch that week's game. The menu, however leaves little to be desired. My wife and I first popped in here during an Andersonville street festival, basically because we were hot and looking for a place to cool down for a bit with a cold beer. While the beer was fine, the appetizers left little to be desired. This weekend we were in the neighborhood and went back there for brunch, not having realized that this was the place with the less than appetizing appetizers. The brunch menu is plentiful, that's about where the positive comments end. Items ranged from buffalo "chicken" (fried cauliflower smothered in Franks Hot Sauce and bleu cheese) to a frittata to pumpkin pancakes and everything in between. What's not on the menu is an egg any way you want dish; something I'd think would be a staple on any brunch menu. We ordered the buffalo cauliflower, the BLT and the house made sausages. I can't believe I'm saying this, but the best dish was the fake buffalo chicken. I ordered the BLT with the egg. The fried egg not only arrived cold, but on a different plate. I wasn't aware this was a build your own sandwich kind of place; if I wanted that, I'd head to the nearest Build-A-Bear store and see if they could offer that to me in addition to a stuffed animal. Now, the sandwich...it looked like the chef picked up a huge handful of arugula and just shoved it between the bread. Apparently they also had a large stash of the tomato jam they were looking to offload on to my sandwich because that was globbed on as well. Lastly, the bacon...oh the bacon...it was great...great if your thing is being able to grease your car with it, because that's about how much grease each piece of bacon had on it. The BLT came with a side of fries, decent enough and a dipping sauce. Get this....MORE TOMATO JAM!!! You know what it's like to think you're getting ketchup, but instead being greeted with more of the jam you didn't want on the sandwich?! Next came the home made sausages. Apparently our waiter told the kitchen we had a toddler in tow (we did not), because the sausages came out pre-cut and pretty much, aside from the chicken sausage, indecipherable. There was a blob of "mustard", that was chock full of vinegar, needless to say it tasted awful. There were mustard seeds, that was the only we knew it was "mustard". My wife suggested I try something that she described as scrapple. Now, to be honest, I've never had scrapple, but I'm willing to bet that scrapple is better than whatever other version of sausage they were trying to serve us. The beers were fine, probably because the kitchen couldn't get their hands on it. Oh, also, remember how I said it's a decent place to come in for a beer and catch the game? Plan on only watching one game, because every TV was tuned to the same channel; it was Sunday, we all know there are no less than half a dozen games you can watch at any one time. Obviously that last part could have been changed if I asked, but I was too focused on trying to get out of there at that point. We didn't have the oysters which is what they seem to like to be known for, but to be honest, there are a dozen places I'd head before sampling their oysters.
(2)Monica G.
Unclean dishes: Two sets of our silverware had food residue on them and there was some sort of saucy substance on the rim and the bottom of someone's cup of coffee that was NOT coffee. Eggs were also undercooked.
(1)Shane E.
Surprised to see mixed reviews regarding Acre - but everyone has an opinion and different tastes and preferences. My wife and I went here awhile back and I've been meaning to post a review. First off, I love their food and the different items you can order. I had their steak which was soooo good my wife and I ordered another one to take home. All the different options and appetizers are insane, and I feel this would be the perfect place for a group. The beer list is insane. Has everything from everywhere and you really can't go wrong. But what I most liked about the place was the atmosphere. Charmy, warm, fun, lively, cosy, you name it. Good music, full bar, crowded but not too crowded, and the server we had (so sorry - forgot name) was fantastic. People mention prices, but I feel their prices are normal. I mean heck, we are in Chicago - the third largest city in the U.S. and Edgewater is a nice area. It drives me nuts when people complain about prices in the city... I mean rents are high, taxes high, so how the heck do people expect businesses to stay around? Anyways - sorry for digression. But I love Acre. I will be back soon to eat and also to drink some more of those yummy beers!
(5)Michelle H.
Love this neighborhood spot. Oysters daily, great, clean food. Healthy portions, no huge plates which is nice. Been here many times and always consistent. Fantastic beer selection, imports & craft.
(4)Monica W.
Oysters! Oysters! Oysters! I'm one happy happy happy lady.
(5)J H.
I've been to this place a number of times for brunch (bottomless mimosa, anyone?), dinner, and just drinks as well. The food is good and there's plenty of wine and beer to choose from.
(4)Linh L.
I really liked this place. The food is different. I've eaten a ton of ethnic foods, but the food here tastes like something super exotic. I like how the portions are small too so you can try a little bit of everything. As for ambiance, we dined outside and it was great. It would be nice if our culture were open to sharing their plates instead of keeping the plate for themselves -- just sayin'!
(5)Michael S.
Very disappointing. Stopped in for lunch last week, there were 2 tables seated - and we were the third. It took 3-4 minutes for our waiter to arrive, we ordered 2 glasses of wine, and those took about 8 minutes! The waiter kept disappearing! I had the swordfish sandwich - it was very small and smelled fishy, and the fries were not great that came with it. My friend had a nice flavorful flatbread. They have a huge beer and wine selection. When we left, I asked the other waiter on duty, if our waiter was new or something. He said, "No, he has been here a while - I think he was helping in the kitchen also today. You can NOT help in the kitchen AND wait on tables.
(2)Kelly K.
It's just not good. Service and quality of food leaves much to be desired. Should have known better when we walked in and were sat immediately for Sunday Brunch.
(2)Jeremy M.
Our initial impression of this restaurant was great. The menu looked delicious and the ambiance was decent. However, I prefer to eat and not just stare at my menu and drink warm water. We left after 15 minutes of not being helped or acknowledged. If you like reading menus, check this place out. If you like eating, pass.
(1)Malia M.
We sat outside and everything we ate was very good, actually. Short review because the atmosphere wasn't spectacular or anything and the prices were tad high considering the entire experience. The food was very tasty across the board: WOOD GRILLED CALAMARI lentils, spinach, knob onion, spicy pepper vinaigrette FLATBREAD tomato, spence farm sweet corn , mushrooms, swiss chard, chihuahua , parmagiano ARUGULA SALAD red onion, pine nuts, pecorino romano, strawberry -rhubarb vinaigrette PANCETTA-WRAPPED PORK TENDERLOIN farro, cauliflower, asparagus, rhubarb-ginger chutney (Although, ours wasn't with Pancetta. Not sure if this menu is old)
(4)Melissa S.
I visited Acre with some friends on a recent sunny weekday evening. We had a baby with us but we just couldn't bear another grease-filled meal at Hamburger Mary's or Lady Gregory's. Acre to the rescue! The week-day oyster special is a great deal. We ordered a bunch and they were all delicious. We also had several small plates, including the smelt, sweetbreads, and calamari. All were tasty, although the calamari was too salty. We were in the mood for a nice white wine and their selection gave us plenty to choose from! Although they were unfortunately out of my first choice. Best of all, the service was excellent! No one gave us the stink eye for bringing in a hungry baby, and everything was friendly and prompt. I'll be back for more $1 oysters!
(4)April S.
I love Acre because it is located close to my house, but also I love the chicken and waffles for brunch. The food is good, no complaint with the food. I don't usually like any of the options for the pre-fixe dinner, but I'm a really picky eater so I won't hold that against them. They have an $18 bottomless mimosa brunch, which I've done several times. They also have a $1 oyster night if that is your thing. The one thing to mention is that I've been several times and I always seem to get the same server, except for twice. The one guy I get the most is kind lackidasicle and comes and go, mostly he's gone. I like when there is a good balance between the server who is always missing, and the server who seems to never go away. Just check in a little more frequently dude...but otherwise I enjoy the food, drinks, ambiance, location.
(4)mark s.
Tasty fresh farm to table style American food updated seasonally. Outstanding beer selection, affordably priced wines. Service is prompt and very professional. Figure $40 per person with an appetizer, main and a few drinks.
(4)Jeremy S.
This place was really cool to hang out with friends, try a bunch of Italian Tapas and enjoy a bottle of wine. The lamb entree and short ribs were pretty much perfect! The lamb was so tender you could cut through it with your fork. The short ribs were cooked to perfection, but I liked the Lamb much better. Mussels were as expected. Rapini greens were excellent as well. Great place for a date night or a great place for a group of good friends to enjoy wine, tapas and good times. Their is also a bar next door that looked awesome and had one dollar oysters.
(4)Lina W.
This review is for the oyster happy hour! The oysters were only a $1 each and they were very fresh, cleanly shucked, abundantly tasty! Our bar server was very friendly and entertaining!
(5)Nikkie H.
This is a brunch review, so keep that in mind. This past weekend was brunch-a-palooza for me. I had brunch both days at two new places. Acre was the second place. I know the reviews have been quite mixed, but I have to say that I loved it. LOVED IT! I'll explain why I didn't give five stars momentarily. So, yeah, the food was very tasty. I was really torn about what to get, because the chicken and waffles sounded so good. A girl sitting at the table next to me had it, and it also looked amazing. I decided to go a little different though and instead got the smoked salmon hash. Good call. It was deeeeee-licious. A bit salty, not surprisingly, but seasoned really well with a nice kick in each bite. The eggs were cooked perfectly, and the potatoes were chewy and crispy to perfection. My friend had the chilaquiles, and while I actually forgot to ask her if she liked them (too busy stuffing my face), she did clean her plate so I can "assume" she loved it. Our server was friendly, and I loved sitting facing the window so I could people watch while I scarfed. The one star came off because the end of our meal was a little weird. We finished our food and they took our plates. The server asked if we would like anything else and we said no, thinking he'd bring the bill. Then we waited, and waited, and waited. It was okay, because it was nice catching up with my friend, but if they weren't in a hurry to bring our bill the least they could've done is offer a refill on our coffee or water. We sat for a good 10 minutes with empty coffee mugs and water glasses before our server finally came up and asked if we wanted our bill.
(4)Omar L.
2 years ago, I would have given Acre 2 stars for their high prices, bad service and limited menu. Thankfully, I gave it another try. It's clear that this place has had some growing pains, but I think they have finally found their way. With their improved service and menu, Acre has become a goto spot for me. I usually go for dinner, but I've also had a nice time just having apps and drinks. The beet salad is fantastic!
(4)Tiffany C.
Food is pricey for what you get, but it tasted decent enough. Im interested to see how it is with their new chef. I have not eaten here since January 2011. I give it high ratings for the drinks. The wine is fantastic. Great selection and portion. The mixed drinks are always very well done. The bar tenders and servers have all had great customer service whenever I have come here.
(4)Kameron N.
Worst service I have ever experienced. The worst part is I wanted to like the place and food was good. The waiters behavior was the worst I have ever experienced. The waiter lied to us and didn't come to our table except for every 30 minutes when we had to wave him down or have someone else grab him. I wish there was a 0 star rating because they deserve nothing but that. I don't usually write reviews but when I do it means the place was unbelievably good or unbelievably bad, I'm sure you can guess the rest.
(1)Lisa F.
I go to Acre for the oysters. I love the raw oyster bar. I usually go during the week and so I haven't run into an issue with getting oysters quickly. I also sit at the bar so that might expedite the order. I haven't tried much from the kitchen, but the few items I have tried were okay. I would recommend Acre if you're looking for a good deal on raw oysters.
(3)Jason W.
This is a drastic improvement of their former self Charlies. Have been here several times since the transition, and after a couple small bumps in the beginning they have settles in. Try the $1 oyster special, and have a few of the small plates at the bar. You won't be left hungry or unsatisfied. The oysters they have are somehow always fresh and they have a great seasonal beer selection now. Bar staff is much better as well, even the shuckers are good to talk to.
(4)Ty F.
So, we live in the hood, and we've been to Acre many times. The usual service is great...I'm terribly sorry, but I don't know the name of our usual bartender. He (our usual bartender) is great. We've had the oysters, which we've never had any complaints about, and the beer on tap changes weekly (nice addition). Today, however, we had a less than lovely experience. Chelaea, our bartender, obviously didn't want to be at work today. I get that today is St. Patrick's day - the bar wasn't busier than usual - and perhaps those who had to work would rather be out drinking; however, when 1/4 of my pilsner is head and I'm told, "The beers are foamy today." I'm a bit turned off. Approximately 3 minutes after being asked if we want food, Chelaea says (verbatim), "To answer my question, do you want food?" No Chelaea, we don't want food...in fact, we don't want the drinks we just ordered. Will we be back? We will, but if that bartender is serving, we will certainly leave and go elsewhere. Sad, cause we used to enjoy this place.
(2)Krystal B.
Always go for brunch have an amazing food experience. I love when they change their menu and find new things to try, they never disappoint. One if my favorite dishes are the chilaquiles and the chicken & waffles.
(5)Bran W.
Been there twice, wonderful both times. Nice atmosphere, excellent service, and most importantly great food. Smelt appetizer was sooooo good. Lamb, great, Cocktails yummy......tad expensive...
(4)RJ W.
I APOLOGIZE! I AM SORRY! to any other business I have ever given a one-star reivew to in the past. I was wrong. Compared to Acre, every single one of you is at least a 2-star. I was wrong and I am willing to admit my mistake! ACRE is , without a doubt, THE ABSOLUTE WORSE RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME IN ANY CITY, PERIOD. I do give them some credit, they are consistent. Not only is their food horrible, and it really is - I mean just awful across the board - but the service is arrogant and non-existant. I cannot posssibly hope, even in my wildest dreams, to give you my thoughts and opinions on how awful this place is minus writing a book. And as I already have wasted 3 hours of my time on this place (including over an hour from the time I ordered an appetizer to the point the sad item showed up in front of me, the waiter going missing for 20 minutes at a time, not taking drink orders, forgetting menu's for over 30 minutes, some of the worst, most over-priced food I have every had placed in front of me, etc...but I digress) I am not going to give ACRE any more of my precious life. I can heartily suggest going approx. 5 blocks north to the White Castle at Clark and Peterson... the food is astoundingly better and the employees infinitely more talented and caring....
(1)Leslie G.
I've been here twice for dinner and really enjoyed my food both times. I first came here during the summer and just had two appetizers for dinner: a pickled beet salad and an heirloom tomato salad. I love beets and heirloom tomatoes, so it was hard to go wrong with those two choices. My only complaint was that the beet salad also included an assortment of fruit (strawberries and such). The sweet flavors of the fruit mixed with the pickled taste of the beets was a bit odd. I think I would have preferred the beets by themselves. When I came here more recently, the menu had changed for fall and I had the pierogi entree, which included three or four large pierogis filled with pumpkin puree and cheese. Mushrooms and pears came with it. All were delicious. There are so many enticing dishes on the menu here that make me eager to return soon. It's also really nice that this restaurant gets its food from local and organic farms. Another plus is that I've never had to wait to get a table here, even on a weekend. I like that you don't have to make a reservation to get in.
(4)Sean B.
Service was terrible. The bartender was a huge douche. I do not recommend this place. As I am here now and just waiting for my bill. I will never come back
(1)Ezra E.
Stopped in on a Saturday for lunch. We were seated right away. The beer menu was impressive and the dishes sounded quite good. The place was cold enough that I ket my hat on and considered a jacket. Our waitress did come over quickly and take our orders. We started with the empanadas apps hitch was very good though there were only two. My wife had the vegetable tart and I had the trout hash. None of the portions were adequate. The empanadas were decent but there were key two- for $10.00 The tart was about 6"x2"x1/4" and came with 10 baby spinach leaves. The trout hash was greasy and i will admit that there were visible trout pieces, there were only about 3 of them. The egg soto of the hash were sunny side up on the runny side. It's a matter of taste i know but I believe white should be solid and yolk runny. That aside I could taste the trout which was nice. That's about all that was nice. The coffee was mediocre but pleasantly strong but cost $3.95 (not listed on the menu). The waitress took 20 minutes to return with coffee after my wife asked for a refill despite only having four tables to serve. over all the experience was disappointing and at $42.00 was extremely over priced for the amount of food. Seriously...$4 coffee? I'd expect that at the over priced koi across the street but then that'd be a bottomless cup of super strong bitter black. Skip this place.
(2)Amy M.
Great atmosphere! The food was delicious! We had oysters, deviled eggs and a burger!The oysters were fresh and affordable. The eggs were so tasty and our burger was done just right! Our waiter Tom was really helpful and made great suggestions on beer! Check this place out!!!
(5)Jeanette S.
I was disappointed. The menu was sparse. I had to settle on a risotto because it was the only thing available that sounded edible. I was looking for something a bit more unique. The menu also changes daily. The service was good though. Our server was very knowledgable and friendly. Our drinks were good too. My date was happy with his Manhattan, and he is EXTREMELY picky on his Manhattans. I had a beer and liked the selection.
(2)Vic P.
Acre... What can I say, except we enjoyed an excellent evening of Oysters and beer.. My cohorts and I arrived late Monday night after a card game since another friend suggested it to us with the promised allure of dollar oysters, and a complimentary beer and whiskey selection. The joint is nicely decorated and the music was audible but not overwhelming. Our bartender for the evening was a gentleman named Martin who was able to verbally recite their current whiskey selection, which included a variety of well known ryes, scotches and bourbons, which I should add is sort of out of sorts for 99% of bars in the city that aren't display bars. Well anyway, Martin was extremely attentive and offered a refreshment as soon as a glass was empty. Now for the oysters... Our chef for the evening was an entertaining fellow named Jeff. Jeff could have passed for any master sushi chef in the city with his confident and laid-back style. After the first couple dozen, we asked Jeff to keep them coming, and to make it chefs choice. With the speed and confidence of a real professional Jeff delivered a never ending flow of shucked oysters and was kind enough to explain to us the difference between the 4 types of oysters being consumed. All in all I'd say we had an amazing experience, and I am seriously going to try this a weekly Monday night event. Kudos! Tip: try the oysters with Alegash White on tap.. You can't go wrong. :)
(5)Mariam S.
I went here on a Monday night, just barely catching the tail end of the 5-7 p.m. Oyster special. (It restarts at 9 p.m., but we didn't want to wait that long.) It was cool out, but we sat by the open windows for the fresh air, though it was later closed due to a request from another table. Unlike other reviewers, I didn't find the atmosphere problematic or to be overly noisy. I noticed the music, but it wasn't making conversation difficult, and while there was baseball on the television over the bar, my back was to it so I didn't really take notice of it except for when I walked to the bathroom. We started our meal off with oysters. I'm not a big oyster fan, but I did like one of the three different oysters I ate, and my friend happily polished off his share. The waiter was knowledgeable and super helpful in helping us decide on beers - my friend wanted something new, and I was unfamiliar with the selection. (We decided on a Boulevard Rye on Rye and Founder's Backwoods Bastard.) My friend mentioned the cheese curds to me before we arrived, and I was excited to try them. They went deliciously with my beer, though $9 for fried cheese curds, no matter how tasty, still strikes me as a bit pricey. The seared pork belly was tasty, but I've definitely had tastier pork belly before, and perhaps this is my own fault for having just eaten cheese curds, but I couldn't handle the fatty richness of pork belly at that moment. I would gladly visit Acre again, though it may be a while before I do. And next time, I'll probably get a less ridiculously rich meal.
(4)Jules H.
Inspired wine and beer list, excellent service, and an impressive menu. The menu is small and printed daily with some very tasty and original offerings. Flavorful and unusual fare! We started with appetizer of a sausage medley served with intense grainy mustard. We also had the pierogis, very good, comfort food of the first order. My fellow diners had the salmon and the trout, and they did rave about them. I had the bacon wrapped pork tenderloin and it was delicious. They definitely add a bit of flair to the basics, perhaps too much flair for some palates. My palate enjoyed it all 100%. With our check we also received a coupon for brunch, which I will for sure be using on a return visit soon.
(4)Adam S.
Acre gets by on the fact that it's a beautiful bar inside. They've tried to upgrade their food since transitioning from Charlie's Ale House, but it comes across like they're trying too hard. Stick to the basics and do them well. Don't put arugula on grilled cheese. Don't put pickled carrots on your burgers. Don't try to make your own ketchup. Don't have beef hearts and chicken liver and other "gourmet" items on your menu when you can't nail them. Same with the "snacks" and appetizers. Leave the trout out of the deviled eggs. Don't try to do fried green tomatoes when there's a southern restaurant down the street that runs circles around you on FGT's. Cut the menu down to a dozen really well done items, keep your extensive beer list and keep up the great atmosphere in the bar (and pleasant waitstaff and bartenders) and Acre could easily be a 4 or 5 star place.
(3)Maureen V.
This could be such a good restaurant. But it's not. Food was meh. Service was slow. Seems as though no one is minding the store. Such a shame.
(2)Jeff G.
Glad to see that this place is only 3 star, that is accurate. we ate there last night. i like their concept in sourcing local, seasonal, and making their own ketchup for example. however, the food missed. the squash soup lacked flavor. the potato au gratin the potatoes were hard and undercooked. burger was not all that good. Lady Gregory's has much better food on that same stretch.
(3)Nikta P.
I have been here many times and LOVE this place. Service is relaxed and friendly while giving you your space and we always get great and spot on recommendations on beer, cocktails, oysters, etc. as well as just fun and interesting conversation (I can't say that about any other restaurant in Chicago!) we get the pork burger every time. it is ridiculously amazing. the jam, greens, bacon bread, pork and cheese come together to make the perfect flavor/texture combo. The $1 oysters are delicious and they have a great selection of briny and not so briny oysters. I really enjoy the atmosphere too, busy but not too loud, nice and upscale but not stuffy. My crazy picky parents are coming to visit next week and I cannot wait to take them here. Trust me, that a big deal! I highly recommend Acre for after work wind downs, weekend dinners and group brunches!
(5)Stephen R.
went for brunch good eclectic menu sometimes you just want some eggs and bacon..they should show that on the menu. the b-l-t was ok...it came with no bread or toast...which was a little odd..so would prefer some toast or something crunchy even though the tomatoes were fried green tomatoes, it still needed something crunchy. overall a good experience..
(3)Jim A.
BRUNCH: I had the chicken and waffles. my girlfriend, some sort of Mexican egg dish I can't be bothered to look up right now. The chicken was incredibly tender and juicy and the breading was crunchy, however it could have used a little more seasoning. The waffles were good but lukewarm, and not aided by the chilled butter which didn't melt at all. It came with sunny-up eggs which were quite good. I had an orange juice, which was fairly orange-juicey. My girlfriend didn't comment on her thing so I have to assume it was good-not-great. she loved the bite of chicken I gave her though. she also had a bloody mary which she thought was pretty okay. service was good. speedy sans theatrics, which is probably what you want at brunch.
(4)Vickie G.
Brought my Man here for his birthday. Knew he would enjoy the variety of beers and the Oysters. Missed the timing for the $1 Oyster special, however, we still Indulged. The Oysters were delish. We tried all four kinds and our favorites were the Malpeque P.e.i and Old 1871. There are sooooo many beer selections---HEAVEN! I had a grapefruit beer, that isn't the name of it but Goooooood. Like the spot, will definitely go back during the Oyster special. Tip--Try the house made Ice Cream...New Favorite Flaaaaaaaav, *Balsamic ;)
(4)Annie C.
My friend and I were dying to eat and have drinks at Hop Leaf, but the line was ridiculous so we ended up going to Acre, bad idea. The waiters were kind of how you say... all up in our business, I mean if you like waiters like that, go ahead, but it was just awkward. Anyways, I ordered the burger, it was alright, I've had better. Their beer selection is pretty nice. I had an Allagash White for the first time and was not disappointed. The time I had there was just, awkward because of the staff that works there in my opinion. And the food, meh.
(2)Katy H.
I really want to like this place, I really do. It's a block from my office and they have a phenomenal beer selection, which keeps me coming back, but the food is just not there. Last time I was there I had the fig and cantaloupe salad and it just did not taste good (the presentation was excellent however). Every time I visit, the place is half full and the service is slow and I've never had a polite waiter or waitress. Hopefully they improve, otherwise, I can get good beer elsewhere.
(3)J M.
I can't recall the last time (perhaps because it never happened before) that I've left a restaurant in Chicago really hungry. Full disclosure: I'm NOT a hearty eater and typically leave half of my meal untouched...if that says something. I ordered the cucumber salad ($9) off of their lunch/brunch menu. Without exaggeration, my best estimate is that the salad consisted of half of a cucumber cut up, a quarter of a tomato and feta tossed in some type of dressing. I was left a bit perplexed that what was before me constituted a meal. Again, I realize most restaurants go crazy with large portion sizes (hello obesity epidemic), but this was really small. The other people in my group had great meals (burger for one and a sandwich for the other).
(2)Tori O.
Such a fan. Really enjoy the atmosphere of the place...awesome beer selection and great place for tapas style eating. Great spot for brunch as well...bottomless mimosa and super yummy food. Fun stuff...Gastro pub style at it's finest. Love this place. wonder if they have wifi??
(5)Christine F.
Ok. So we tried the food. My husband and I went here on Friday and got some beers and a little bit of food. There was a mixup with my beer (they gave me the bruin instead of blonde), so I got a free beer. Which was nice of them. Ah, the food. We had eaten the cheeseplate at In Fine Spirits so we decided to split a griddled cheese. Beers were good. Grilled cheese was pretty meh and generic. It was on pumpernickel, which was ok...but you couldn't really taste the cheese. I did like the fries. In the end I probably wouldn't go back here to eat, but I would go for drinks.
(3)David R.
Last night I dined at Acre for the first time. Their dining room has the same handsome grey/white scheme as the bar area, but also many eclectic pieces of art. Some are excellent and complement the room, while others are uncomfortably incongruous. But I like that they are jazzing it up a little in there. The beer list this time seemed weighted towards hops worship and beers that I would prefer to drink for dessert (i.e. porters, Belgian trippels, other high-abv or otherwise potent brews). A lot of those beers are great, but I wanted something medium-bodied and neutralish to drink with dinner. Krankshaft Kolsch and Victory Prima Pils are good beers but a little too plain (and dare I say anemic for a damp, cold night). The Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' is a truly excellent beer but was the only candidate fitting my profile. Eh, c'est la boire. The menu changes every day and featured some good choices. I may have erred a bit in my selection. While executed well, the dish's concept was puzzling: a pork chop with mole sauce, corn cake, and peppery cabbage slaw. The chop itself was delicious, but I felt that those elements simply do not match up well. The mole with the corn cake, sure; the cabbage with the corn cake, maybe; all three together, especially the slaw and the mole? No way. I tried a few bites of the arctic char with parsnip puree, mushrooms, and leeks, and got the same impression. The whole dish was too sweet, and that trio of vegetables is great for winter but just didn't complement the fish at all. The service was fantastically friendly and helpful, and the menu has enough variability that I'm sure that I will visit again.
(4)Emilio D.
Acre, has outstanding food, unfortunately their service is absolutely terrible. They tried to scheme us on Oysters by replacing the ones we requested with other leftovers. Then tried to bill us for the oysters we never received. The manager has absolutely no idea what his waiting staff is doing and somehow defends them after this unbelievable service. Do not come to Arce! Unless you want to be completely disappointed.
(1)Rachel O.
Seeing all the negative reviews makes me want to be my positive one up here right away. Based on the feedback here I would probably have picked a different place...good thing we stumbled upon Acre while walking down Clark instead of researching it first. I would have been sad to miss out on a such a great experience so I am grateful for that. I have a feeling that they do a better dinner than brunch. The spend $100 get a $20 coupon toward brunch is the first clue. Here is what I say to that....let the breakfast places to brunch. Every restaurant doesn't need to offer brunch if they do dinner right. Look at all the bad brunch reviews on here and stick to what you do best. A bit about my visit.... We dined here for an early dinner on a Sunday. I had friends in town and we stumbled upon Acre while hungrily strolling down Clark. Based on the (daily) menu posted outside we decided to give it a shot. The wine selection was good. We had a bottle from a local Michigan winery and enjoyed it very much. The food was inventive, fresh and flavorful. Between four of us we shared a about five small plates, a risotto and two desserts. It was a large enough amount of food for all of us to share and be nicely full. It sounds like some of the items on the menu don't change daily - the Fried Green Tomatoes for instance appear in other reviews. I'm not sure why this is a staple menu item because it was by far the worst and truly the only bad thing we ate. If I am going to eat a Fried Green Tomato it better be delicious. What did they do right? the wine, the goat cheese strawberry and arugula salad, the corn and tomato (trust me on this) risotto, grilled shrimp with couscous, grilled calamari, pumpkin brulee and the hazelnut brownie. The service was also great. The shared plates were timed well and the waiter was attentive without being annoying. Between four of us we really enjoyed the food and would recommend it to anyone in the area looking for a good dinner spot. I'll get back to you on brunch after we check that out.
(4)Gregg T.
Pros: Good beer list. Cons: Poor service, unpleasant atmosphere, and overpriced food. The food wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great, and it was definitely overpriced. We've had very poor service when we've gone, and I don't know what the decor is supposed to be, but I found it decisively unpleasant. As others have said, Acre has put together a really attractive beer list. For me, that's not going to get me back in the door, especially not in a neighborhood with so much to offer.
(2)Brian S.
This place might have the best beer selection in Andersonville. It does get busy on certain nights. That doesn't discourage me from pulling a stool up to the bar.
(4)KELLIE K.
Old McViking had a restaurant E i e i o And in that restaurant there was some beer E i e i o With a beer beer here And a beer beer there Here a beer, there a beer Everywhere a beer beer Old McViking had a restaurant E i e i o The +1 and I hit up Acre for drinks only one evening. All I really wanted was a beer after dinner at another local BYO restaurant. The bar side remains pretty much the same bar as its previous incarnation of Charlie's. Acre does seem to have more wine selections and a few new brews. However... We didn't get enough of a chance to experience it entirely. We waited at the bar for quite a bit while the bartender finished a conversation with another staff member. There were only a few other customers in the place. I know a lot of people, like myself, were Charlie's regulars and I was willing to give it a chance. I gave It a go. Not sure I'll be back soon.
(2)Nicole V.
Acre, you would think the theme would likely be something farm-related. I imagine acres of grass fed meat and organically fed poultry carefully led off the farm to be carefully prepared and presented on my plate with a gourmet touch. The reason I am giving three stars has nothing to do with the quality of the food. All seemed fresh and locally grown. The issue is with the menu and the preparation. They offered a very unique selection of options including rabbit, pork and lamb. As well as quite a bit of fish, but not much in the way of poultry. Seems slightly strange for a place called Acre. Everything seemed heavy on flavor and a little overwhelming. To start, I opted for a sloe gin fizz (one of my favorites, and hard to find). For an appetizer I had the lamb ribs and they were very charred with too much rub and then dolloped with a yogurt type sauce. I could tell the meat was high quality, but the prep left little to be desired. With such quality ingredients a lighter touch is necessary. For my entree I went with the rabbit. Again the prep left little to be desired, the meat was not the appropriate texture and the skin was over flavored. The side salad was too earthy and the taste was bitter due to the radishes and greens. With an inkling of hope left, I tried dessert. Chocolate cherry bread pudding was my pick. It tasted like bread. You could barely taste the chocolate and the cherry was non existent. It was heavy and overly hearty for a dessert. I really wish my experience at Acre was more positive. I feel like all the components are there. The menu just needs to be tweaked so that the great ingredients they offer are presented more subtlety. Maybe the idea of acres and acres of land could act as inspiration. Beautiful, clean, simple... For now, if I go back...it will be for the sloe gin fizz.
(3)Jen R.
Ketchup-blocked on a burger?! Yes, it happened. A group of us decided to try out Charlie's replacement, and not one of us wasn't left disappointed. Cider? No. Captain Morgan? No. Regular ass ketchup? No. Instead, I got to wait over half an hour for my burger because a table of thirty got their orders in right before mine. No biggie, but when it arrived everyone at the table jumped right in to get their fry on - and suddenly everyone put on their o-face. No, no no - not that one, the "oh, shit" one. The review that so eloquently described a rancid shrimp sauce - ya, that's their own house made ketchup. I'll admit I did get a good laugh at everyone's face at first taste. I told our waiter all four of us agreed the ketchup was not doable and I couldn't eat my burger since it was smothered in their fun sauce. He said he'd box it up. Wow, thanks. Couldn't even hook me up with a fresh burger without the ketchup. I even tried to finish the burger at home. Sadly, the awesomeness of my Heinz was no match for Acre's "craptchup."
(2)Gina F.
First off, I really like the atmosphere & decor here. We were greeted & seated very quickly, which was a great start. The beer list is extensive, and though the wine & cocktail list was less so, our cocktails were great. My salad was good & my husband's burger was amazing, but my flatbread was only okay. The preserved tomato was enough like tomato sauce that made it just taste like plain pizza and it was realatively unimpressive. Service was good throughout. I would give it another shot.
(3)Erika G.
I want to like this place. I WANT TO LIKE IT. Charlie's Ale House was okay, and the interior now is a lot more elegant than Charlie's. It's more spare and uncluttered. Not so much crap on the walls. I like the subway tiles that are now visible in the back, by the bathrooms. The food, though, is only meh. Went here for appetizers and drinks tonight, and while my dining companion, as well as the waiter was charming, cute and great, the food . . . . Risotto - too watery. Chestnuts are a weird ingredient to put in mushroom risotto. The texture is unexpected, but in a weird way. It also looked tossed in the bowl, messy. Messy risotto. The flavor was okay, but I wanted it to be creamier. Charcuterie platter. The pate had been sitting out awhile, it seemed, because the outside was grey, while the inside remained pink. The mustard, YUM, but I love mustard. The head cheese was good, but a little bland - as was the pate. *sigh* I love pate. But this was not it. Bacon mac n' cheese, with ummmmmm . . . no bacon. White cheese with unexceptional noodles. Bland. Babyfoodish. The bartender - while a touch inattentive for what was not a busy night - hit it with his Allagash White beer suggestion. I told him I wanted something light, and he coincidentally chose a beer that is one I know I like. So, for a place to sit and have a couple of drinks, this place is great. I'm hoping the food steps up. 'Cos this place is A. in the 'hood. B. has a cool outdoor vibe in summer and C. is stylish.
(2)Samuel M.
Came here earlier in the week - we were trying to go to Ombra next door, but the owner invited us in, and it was awkward to turn him down, so we wound up going in. All in all, the dining experience is a mixed bag. Mussels are tender and served in a tomatoey broth, but are a little on the salty side. Grilled octopus that is on special comes with piquant green garlic vinaigrette but the cephalopod itself is almost inedibly fishy. Brisket entree is quite good; while the meat itself does not burst with flavor, it is fork-tender, and the beans that accompany it are very good. Spiced cake with red wine ice cream is a pleasant cap, and the beer list is extensive and pretty good. Service was pretty mixed as well; at times overly attentive, at other times nowhere to be found. All in all, Acre is a pleasant but unremarkable restaurant; there are better places in Chicago, and probably in this building, to spend this kind of money on food. I'd recommend it on nights when other places are too crowded!
(3)Mindy S.
Picked Acre randomly out of the lineup of brunch/lunch spots in Andersonville, and we were not disappointed one bit. Five stars for the attentive service of our server. Five stars for the menu - I wish I could have tried everything. Five stars for the atmosphere - family friendly, music wasn't incredibly loud, young vibe. And most importantly - five stars for the food! The brunch burger, with the bacon and egg was incredible. The pork burger literally melted in my mouth. It came topped with a homemade jam, and we asked for more, as it was just the additional flavoring that really made the pork burger shine. The fries were crisp, and the ketchup was homemade! Loved that we found Acre and will definitely definitely be back!
(5)Mitchell A.
Went on a Saturday for brunch. Great space. They kept the bar from the old Charlie's ale house and just updated around it. Did a nice job of making the space feel Very warm, trendy and simple. Lots of small batch brews and liquor, which is rare and some what refreshing to see. Did not see a bottle of Bacardi anywhere. (Nothing wrong just saying...refreshing) it was a cool feeling to know they don't want to be the norm. Bartenders and servers were what you would expect I guess, your standard semi hipster (for lack of a better word) basically looked they would be seen at hop leaf or hanging out anywhere in wicker. Very friendly, very knowledgable, knew the menu, knew how to interact with without being annoying. The crowd was a mix of couples, tables of three a few singles at the bar. Not very busy at all. Bottomless mimosas....and gooood mimosas! Enough reason to go back. Only order one thing; the chicken and waffles. Very good. The chicken had almost like a thick tempura batter. Very unique and very good. Waffles had a bit of spice to them....prob Cheyenne mixed in the batter and also very crunchy, thick and tasty. Fried eggs where cooked perfect. Over all a very well simple and wonderful dish. They Let the main flavors stand out with out adding to much overkill. If all the dishes are like this, we are all in for a treat. Going back for sure!
(4)David M.
I'll tell you the whole story here. I had to have a CT scan done at 6:30 and could not eat after 2:30. Needless to say, I thought I had enough time. I arrived here at 12:10 yesterday afternoon for a lunch with some friends. It took a while for the whole party to show up but they did around 12:45. In all that time, the waiter came by once, never offering us bread or anything. This was just the beginning of the long wait. At about 1, I ordered the porkburger. The rest of the table ordered various other items. It took about 50 minutes for food to start trickling out. I received mine at 2:10. The two people that ordered the steak got theirs ten minutes after that. The porkburger is decent, the jam on top the only special thing. I didn't exactly have time to savor it as I basically had to inhale the damned thing to get under my deadline. This does not excuse the fact that I received about half of the amount of fries as anyone else, for some reason. I wouldn;t have been able to eat them but they didn't know that. This was hardly worth $14. My friend's $17 steak was maybe 4 oz. of meat with about 5 oz. of peas and two fingerling potatoes. He said the guajillo salsa on top tasted like nothing. My other friend ordered the griddled cheese which was neither griddled, nor did it contain cheese. There were supposed to be four different cheeses on it but the layer managed to be paper thin. The bread was only toasted on the outside edges. An eight year old can make a better grilled cheese and they wouldn't be so audacious as to charge $9 for it. The server seemed more concerned with folding napkins than helping any of his guests. What is this, a laundromat? Someone from the kitchen actually came out to take some orders, probably because he was wondering why he had nothing to do. The only time the server allowed any interest to spark was when he heard us talking about Evil Dead. Guess what? When we wanted food, you weren't there. Stay out of our movie conversation. The word pretentious comes readily to mind when I think about this place, also slow and disinterested. As someone with a condition that prohibits drinking and a desire to actually eat lunch in under two hours (I really do have better things to do), I have absolutely no use for Acre.
(1)Curtis H.
Just had brunch for the first time at Acre with a couple of friends. If anyone knows their brunches it should be the gays, so I am not writing as an inexperienced diner in this arena. Acre is mediocrity at its finest. The place looks good, is clean, and their bathrooms are pristine. I have now exhausted my positive comments. The service was so-so (I ordered an OJ and never got it). The food itself was just not that good. I ordered the seasonal omelet which was relatively tasty but tiny. The hashbrowns tasted no better than store-bought and were cold in the center. My "toast" was a piece of rye bread that was hard on one side and soft on the other with no evidence in color of being toasted. No butter nor jam was offered to at least make it palatable. One of the other diners also had the same slab of cold hashbrowns. We all agreed that this place was offering us no reason to return for brunch. It seems like Acre could have some real potential, but with food like we had today I don't see a very bright future. This place needs to turn it around.
(2)Gary B.
Acre seems to be a continued work in progress. Probably the biggest challenge will be getting beyond the "Charlies" image. We went in on a Sunday evening and chose to sit on the Tap Room side. The menu had decent options. We started with the fried oysters which were tasty but seemed to be missing some seasoning in the batter. Not that you want to over power the oyster but bland breading is never good. For entrees we had the Griddled Cheese and the Pork Burger. The Pork Burger was missing a few ingredients that were listed in the menu...primarily the cheese. Both came with fries which were limp and and uneventful. All in all we will be back. As mentioned the beer and drink menus were jam packed with good options. The bartender that served us was friendly and seemed interested in the drinks and food he was serving.
(3)Carter M.
Very small portions, overly pricy and terribly salty (and I love salt). Perhaps the fourth time I've been here but definitely the last. I live in the neighborhood and wish it was better.
(2)J G.
Wow - I avoid this place but had to attend a work-related dinner at Acre. They were busy but understaffed. Our poor waiter was running around like crazy (but he was very nice) and the bartender was stressed out and sweating. We kept hearing crashing noises during dinner, which was sort of funny in a sit-com sort of way. The only thing good about the meal was the fried smelts. The waitress brought out an additional plate of them by mistake - who's minding the shop? The fish tacos, which most of us ordered were supposed to be crisp, they were, and so was the fish - crisp like a tree branch. These tacos couldn't be appealing even with a gallon of the green salsa they came with. BTW the salsa came in a teeny cup - enough for one taco - the dish came with 4. What was worse was our party was made up of out-of-towners, so the food and service was embarrassing.
(1)Kristin M.
Went here Sunday for the prix fixe menu. It's a really great deal, $25 for starter, entree and dessert, anything off the menu. Starters were pretty sub-par. We ordered the "spicy" mussels (ok, kinda bland, definitely not spicy), beet salad (apparently not too tasty) and shrimp (pretty good, smoky flavor and served with some colorful veggies). Entrees were good. We ordered grilled salmon and risotto (very good, nice lemon flavor), whitefish with roasted potatoes (I thought the fish had a strawberry flavor, but maybe I was imagining it) and rainbow trout stuffed with artichoke and spinach (huge piece of fish, very buttery and delicious). We enjoyed our entrees. Dessert was really yummy. Pineapple upside down cake was excellent and the ice creams and sorbets had really interesting ingredients and combinations (basil/lime, beet, mint marshmallow, etc.) Overall, Acre is good. I would never pay the menu prices, but it's a great deal with the Sunday-Thursday prix fixe. It's a different vibe than Charlie's was (how I loved Charlie's), but I still enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be a neighborhood standby. Sigh.
(3)Baron V.
This has the feel of a classy New Orleans southern bistro to me. I really like the ambiance. Well dressed crowd. Beer is top notch. The Oysters are really good. The bartenders can be a little stuck up when ordering beer if your not a connoisseur and you don't know every type of beer on the menu. You have to be confident and just go for a new beer here, and I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised with any selection on the menu.
(4)Nishaat Y.
The service on the patio was a little spotty, but brunch was delicious!
(4)Jim H.
I recently visited the pub-side of this place. Lots of dark wood and a terrific old-school vibe, without feeling stuffy and old. The bar is two large half circles, connected by a short straight-away, like a dumbbell cut in half, lengthwise. This gave the bar a communal feel, as opposed to everyone staring at the back wall. Nice touch. The crowd was very mixed. The bartenders were attentive and knowledgeable, without trying to be everybody's best friend. Another plus. Beer selection is impressive! Great selection of American craft brews, with a very respectable homage to many of the Belgian Trappists. They even had Dutch-Trappist "De Koningshoeven," a rarity in bars. It was the start of Three Floyds month, and I was happy to try a few different FFF on tap. Oh happy day! Food- I started with a plate of mixed homemade sausages-beef, spicy lamb and chorizo, served up with potatoes and grainy mustard. Excellent- except for the mustard. It tasted homemade- a good thing- but was very bitter...almost sour tasting. Rather than complementing the meats, it clashed with them. Too bad, because the dish was (otherwise) perfect! The sausages were a nice contrast of flavors and textures, the potatoes were crispy-out, soft-in. Fix the mustard and they have a winner. Next up: Mussels w /ramps, wheat berries, asparagus, tomato and white wine. This came with crunchy country bread, heady with the aroma of a wood-burning grill, and offered a terrific contrast to the sweetness of the mussels and ramps. The tomatoes and wine added just enough acidity to balance things out. The wheat berries contributed a chewy earthiness. Well executed! I will return. I have been told to go for the pork burger. The menu is full of intriguing choices, so I might have to hold off on trying any kind of burger until I have eaten my way through a good deal of the rest of the menu, along with the beer list. Looking to forward to my next visit.
(4)Jay S.
Visited here last night, the dreaded Monday night of restaurant dining in Chicago, and had a pretty good time. The food was actually really good. The chef, Carlos came to our table, made an accommodating meal for my mother who's one of the pickiest eaters on the planet. The mash potatoes he made weren't that great, and were a bit watery, but we didn't complain since they weren't even on the menu. If this place had more "side" options, I'd probably be looking at a 5. We'd go back - other than our waitress (just didn't seem very knowledgeable), the service and food was great. Beer menu is extensive as well. additional note... My original submission here did absolutely no justice to the fact that the chef was outright amazing!!! This is seriously why I am giving this place 4 stars and if it weren't for the small nuances above, a 5 all the way. They got very lucky with this guy and again, my wife and I will definitely be back here soon. Starters, fish, chicken, pork, all just downright amazing. remind me to never write reviews first thing in the morning again.
(4)Dan G.
We stopped here for dinner on a lets walk to Andersonville and find a restaurant we haven't tried. Really a beautiful place, the bar looks like it stretches and curves for a while. The ceiling is copper, and the kind you always wanted in your vintage kitchen. We were greeted right away and sat by the window for some people watching. They are on par with the rest of the brew pubs, offering a good selection of beers, but nothing that you haven't seen elsewhere. The menu is the basic gastropub fare. We started with the deviled eggs. They were topped with smoked trout and some picked peppers. Great starter. Got the taste buds flowing. I ordered the pork burger which sounded interesting but fell a little flat flavor-wise. The sweetness of the blueberry jam on it was great match with the saltiness of the burger but the burger just didn't live up to the hype on the menu. It was A-Okay. My dining partner got the Mushroom Risotto. The little taste I got was delicious. Great risotto, didn't expect that at this kind of place. The portions were good, the service was a little flaky at times, the waiter had some friends there, that he was more interested in than us. Would I go back here? Maybe. Andersonville is full of great eats this one is good but just doesn't stick out.
(3)Elizabeth N.
So I had never heard anything about Acre - but it ended up being the plans for a friend's birthday dinner. I was very surprised and happy with how great everything went. I am not a beer drinker - but everyone seemed to enjoy the beer list. The waiter was very patient with us as we spent a very long time talking and reading the menu. We asked for his recomendations (and he said - he hadn't looked at the menu yet...really it's 8 pm?!?). Oh well, we ended up getting a bunch of small plates and sharing with each other. Everything was fantastic - I loved the variety - the shrimp was fantastic! All in all - loved the vibe and the food was great, prices reasonable. It is not really near where I live - but I would go back again.
(4)Lindsey A.
I don't have anything bad or anything amazing to say about Acre. I went last night with my out-of-town boss and two colleagues and we all enjoyed the beer, wine and food. Monday through Thursday they do a fixed three course dinner for $25/person which is quite the steel considering some of Acre's entrees push the $15+ mark. The entire menu is up for grabs and the deal includes one starter, one main and one dessert. The appetizers are huge - big enough to share between two people. Mains were on the normal-sized side (speaking of 'sides' - make sure to ask if yours comes with anything, because some don't.) The chicken I had was super juicy and tender, but lacked overall flavor. I think there was only one veggie option on the menu - a grilled cheese. Dessert was lackluster - the chocolate cake tasted like it came from a generic grocery store bakery and bordered on the too-dry side. Others at the table praised the carrot cake and creme brulee.
(3)Milton C.
Service was nice actually, but beef burger had little flavor and fries that came with it were burnt. If this place had any comparable competition in the neighborhood, it would probably get a 4 star, but since it doesn't (and should really offer more for the price), it gets a 3.
(3)Julie S.
Review for brunch: We had a very large (20 people!) party for brunch last weekend. I will say this, the attention level we received was great. I also loved what they did with the space. So pretty. Okay, on to the food... I split the omelet and pancakes with my friend. The omelet made us laugh out loud. So tiny! It was about four bites of egg with a slice of toast and some flavorless hash browns. The pancakes looked amazing and had good texture, but surprisingly little flavor. The chilaquiles got "ok" reviews, but they would not tempt me away from Tweet's. My friend's pulled pork looked like the best breakfast dish on the table. BUT... lunch food was a winner. The soup special was fantastic. The burger was great. The chicken salad on croissant was also enjoyable. Drinks... we got the bloody Mary's, which just had a celery stalk and were a little too spicy. Our server was so nice though. She brought us more tomato juice to cut it. Can't be too upset because it led to us ordering a beer to chase it. GREAT beer list!! Seriously... Left Hand Stranger on draft?? Awesome! The cocktail list looked really interesting too. I was wishing that I had gotten one of those instead of the bloody, until I hit that beer list. So, I am giving it a three. Right down the middle. I think they could make it better. I am not sure I would recommend the brunch, but I would certainly give it another go for lunch, dinner or drinks in the fab bar area. I think that is where their strength is. It has potential. It just feels like a work in progress right now though.
(3)A.J. M.
this place is a bit of a conundrum. The food is actually quite delicious, very well made, and the menu is always interesting. There are many things I'd be looking to try here, but the truth is the service is a bit slow. We had a dinner at 6 that lasted until 8, and that wasn't because our party couldn't shut up. It was because it took almost an hour for our food to come out, and at one point it took almost a half hour for me to get a beer. But I'm rating places based on the food, and the pork chop and sausage plate I had here last weekend were cooked to perfection and all that. I'll give Acre another shot, certainly, but it'll have to be a day where I have no other plans.
(4)Kristen H.
Oh Acre such potential in flavor combinations on the menu, but merely acceptable execution from the kitchen that is experienced at the table. Beers: If you like beer the menu offers a wide assortment grouped together by style which is a nice touch. The gentleman accompanying me quoted: "Acre is getting better with each visit". With that said, I wasn't willing to commit myself to 1 entree for myself and preferred the pick at many dishes type of meal. Here's what we had: Fennel salad with grapefruit vinaigrette and manchego cheese - simple and tasty, but it's a salad and shouldn't be rocket science. Good crunch. Wood Grilled Marinated Spicy Shrimp - please don't call a dish spicy if there isn't any spice. I liked the flavoring, but the dish name is misleading. Caramelized Onion & Pear Tart - whoa onion and sorry pear there's just no way to taste you. I mean don't get me wrong, I like me some caramelized onion, but you overpowered and took over the dish - simmer please. Dumpling - pork & the flavors were totally there, but dough-a-licous. Might be time to revisit that recipe. Porkburger - the combination of the pork & raspberry jam hit the spot, not sure the bacon is necessary. I know I'm committing a sin to dis the bacon because usually "everything tastes better with bacon" - not in this case. The waiter was great, the spot is cozy and comfortable, now just take the potential of the menu combinations and get that kitchen to execute and the stars will be arising!
(3)Anthony J.
Went for their Faux Bab Chicago Craft Beer Week event. Good selection of beers, and tasty food. Had some excellent pirogies, housemade sausage, and a pork burger. All were very good. Only complaint was that the place is pricey. Bill was $110 for just the wife and I, not including tax. Or is it "the wife and me"? I'll never figure that out.
(4)Ben K.
This is the spot for craft beer - seriously. Bill behind the bar knows his stuff and gets amazing, hard to find selections in. I was ecstatic to discover this place during Chicago Craft Beer Week and I will surely now be stopping by with some regularity to get my fix. Also in addition to great selection, the service is friendly and the prices are phenomenal. Bourbon County Vanilla on tap for $7! What a steal! I'm excited to come back and try the food as well.
(5)Christina P.
This place has a very extensive beer list, however our disinterested server had absolutely no knowledge on any of the beers and there are not any descriptions listed on the menu. When we asked a few questions on the beers he told us he's not really a beer person. Okay.....that's really helpful. The menu classifies the beers as (b) Belgian style, (h) hoppy, etc. but there are many different types of Belgian-style beers so I ended up just taking a chance on one of them and it turned out to be awful. Our server was super awkward when I politely asked for a different beer and he told me that since it was in a bottle and the manager couldn't resell it (um?) they would have to charge me for it. Niiiice. I will not be going back. Our food was average all around the table but there was one positive review from my friend who had the pork burger. I am giving it two stars because the space is well done and despite the dining experience I had a great time catching up with my friends in a cozy booth.
(2)Melissa B.
I have only been to Acre for brunch. I have been 3-4 times. It is definitely not your run of the mill brunch choices but it is pretty delicious. Twice I have had the cornbread cakes which are topped with pulled pork , chorizo, poached eggs, and hollandaise. Both times they were just melt in your mouth tasty! A group of us went a few weeks back and only one of us could order the cornbread cakes because they were out of them which was quite disappointing as we were there pretty early. I have also had the skirt steak and eggs which was pretty darn good. I would probably order it again. Nothing mind blowing but it was good. The fried green tomato sandwich is also a great choice. The service is decent. I have never really had above and beyond service but always pretty consistent. The one thing that I was super disappointed by was when I ordered a bloody mary the server brought it to my table and it was a brown color which obviously threw me a little. I just thought it was their mix. I took a taste and it tasted nothing like a bloody mary. Then I thought maybe I was just hungover and imagining things so my friend tasted it and she too thought it was gross. We told the server and he said they had run out of bloody mary mix so they used canned tomatoes. Which still made no sense to me because it would have still been red. Weird. He took it back and offered me another drink which I didn't want I had come specifically for a bloody mary. I would not have been upset had he just told me from the beginning that they were out of the mix but to just throw something together and give it to a customer without knowing what it's going to taste like is a bad move.
(3)Steven M.
Some of the most pathetic corned beef and cabbage I have ever had in my life! Happy St. Patty's Day? Not so much!! So terribly meager with perhaps 2 tablespoons of cabbage for $21. It was truly one of the strangest lunches in general, with the entrée coming first, drinks coming second, and appetizers coming third. Bread that we asked for didn't come until after we were finished eating the entrée. This place was not crowded, it was 3 PM in the afternoon, and it was just a tragedy. This restaurant is just too big for its britches and really out of place in Andersonville. Save your money, add 10 additional dollars per person, and go across the street to Big Jones!
(2)Kat A.
We went here for Sunday brunch, and overall it was a delightful experience and we were happy to see we could watch the bears game with ease..they have a ton of tvs conveniently located so that everyone can watch. And on to the food. My boyfriend had the brunch burger. His only complaint was that it was incredibly difficult to eat (he had to eat it with a knife and fork)...but he said it was delicious. I had the pumpkin brioche french toast which was very good, but it was topped with some slightly undercooked sweet potatoes which I could've done without. And our friend had the rainbow trout hash, which she enjoyed. They also have beermosas which I'm a sucker for...I'd definitely go to this place again. My only other complaint is the prices are a little high, but not high enough to keep me from going back.
(4)Ellen F.
After coming here about a dozen times for both dinner and brunch, I still do not understand all of the negative reviews. Perhaps people need to adjust their expectations before walking in the door. And if you miss Charlie's Ale House, it is time to mourn the loss and move on. The food at Acre is what I would call American new. If you are looking for a plain cheeseburger, you may not find it, but what you'll find in its place will be a creative burger that is still delicious. Don't hate on the food just because it's not plain and boring. Keep an open mind and you'll do just fine. I have had nothing but quality service every time I have been to Acre. Every. Single. Time. The staff has been gracious and attentive; always knowledgeable and never pretentious. The beer and wine selections are both great. They have a lot of beer on tap that I have only seen in bottles elsewhere. I consider this a big plus. Overall, I am a big fan of Acre and I don't see what all the bellyaching is about. Charlie's is over and it is time to embrace the next step: a sophisticated establishment serving locally-sourced, deliciously prepared food accompanied by great beer and wine.
(5)d l.
Service was terrible! Waiter did come over when we first arrived, but then every time we needed to order (drinks, dinner, more drinks, dessert, etc) we had to flag him down....he stood about 3 feet from our table, but never bothered to look our direction, even when waiting on the table next to us. When we asked for explanation/description it was like pulling teeth to get any info. Waiter only served our drinks. The bus boys came over with our food. No one ever came by to ask if we needed anyting, etc. Food was super salty. Would not return.
(2)Lucy M.
I love Acre, and I was so enamoured with it that I just assumed everyone else loved it too... I wouldn't have waited so long to get this review up if I had known otherwise... sorry Acre... better late than never? I first had dinner here when it was pretty new - my boyfriend and I sat by the fire in what is now Ombra (Acre and Anteprima's little sister) and had the most amazing squash risotto (with goat's cheese I believe), mac and cheese with beef heart, and an incredible duck dish. Delicious. We then went in a few times for beers, and every time managed to order a beer we'd never heard of before (quite a feat!) I still dream about a blueberry stout they had on tap about 18 months ago (I know it sounds gross, but it was superb, not sweet, just right.) For a little time my boyfriend and I tried to balance our love for Acre with our fondness for Lady Gregory's (just down the street), choosing Acre for quieter nights when it was just the two of us, since the ambience is a little softer, but then the food dragged us back in. Oh. My. Goodness. I can't even tell you all the dishes we have had here, but I can tell you that very few have been even mildly disappointing. We've taken to ordering lots of smaller dishes and sharing them, rather than the main entrees, just so we can try more of their frequently changing, imaginative, and original menu. Two visits ago, we had a squid dish, and I don't know what they did to that squid, but it was the most incredible, most tender squid I have ever eaten. Simply incredible. We also had pig's ears. Because how often are you going to see pig's ears on the menu? Any place that not only serves wonderful food, and has a huge beer list, but also has the courage to serve pig's ears and blueberry stouts is a place you need to be.
(5)jillian d.
If you are a beer person, you should try this place. At the old Charlie's Ale House, I would say the food is pretty overpriced, but the beer selection is very good ---- for example, no light American beers on draft :) There are about 20-25 tappers and a multitude of bottles which rotate pretty routinely. Unlike Hopleaf (of which I am definitely a fan) which has a main focus on Belgian style beers, there is a variety of types which are indicated by section on the menu. Also, their staff has been pretty knowledgeable per description each time I have come by. As a plus, the bar is beautiful, large and curvy which can accommodate quite a few patrons. The only thing that would make it a little bit better is if they had a substantial appetizer to soak up my ingested fermented suds for less than $10-12.
(4)Trisha B.
Ordered the pork ribs and although they were fall off the bone delicious, the order only had 3. I could've eaten like 6 more ribs!
(3)Matilda E.
My boyfriend and I came here the other night on a Saturday to try out Ommegang's new Iron Throne Beer and were pleasantly surprised with how absolutely freaking awesome this establishment is. We are new to the neighborhood and hadn't heard of ACRE until we searched the internet for places in Chicago that had our beer in stock on Ommegang's website. The place was packed to the gills, but at around 9:30 p.m. we were first in line and the friendly host was able to find us a table pretty quickly. We chose to sit up at the bar because that's the kind of folks we are... Bill & Chris were our bartenders/servers and were beyond accommodating, friendly, and engaging. While they both clearly possess a great knowledge about craft beers, they did not come across as snobby or elitist like many bartenders at craft beer places can be. We ordered two bottles of Iron Throne, and our bartender Bill told us that if we were planning on coming back soon he would set aside a bottle of the Iron Throne with our name on it. Of course we are going back this weekend! Such a thoughtful gesture. The food was also delicious.. I highly recommend the grilled/marinated shrimp as well as the beef burger with the fried egg. One of the best burgers I've ever had in the city. The ingredients were fresh and the meat was tender and delicious. The marinade on the shrimp was very creatively executed and the shrimp were perfectly done. I also had to comment on the music, I'm not sure if they read my mind or if they just have impeccable taste, but all night the playlist was chocked with my favorite songs.... Think Cake, Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gorillaz, etc. We will be coming back again very soon, Thanks Guys!
(5)Christina Z.
This review is about Acre's brunch, as that's all I've experienced there. I have been to Acre for brunch now several times (I think four or five times). And I WANT to love it... and some aspects, they really get right. My partner and I both agree that the coffee is *the best brunch coffee in Andersonville* (and we're both total coffee snobs). (I'm looking at you, M Henry, with your UHT packets of half and half on the table.) It's Metropolis coffee, served in a white ceramic mug, with unlimited refills, and small pitcher of cream on the table, and sugar. We practically just go for that wonderful, wonderful brunch coffee. Both the servers we have had have been excellent (one from Italy). And the interior is really tasteful and beautiful. It's also never too crowded and you get seated right away (I'm looking at you again, M Henry). The food is where they have fallen short. They have been really hit or miss... mostly miss. And this is where it's the most unfortunate! I love the idea of modern eclectic American cuisine, and they list all the local providers of their food. So what could go so terribly wrong? Must be the cooks. The waffles I had this last Sunday were disappointingly dry and flavorless. The "griddled cheese" we both had another time was just... not good at all. The frittata was disappointing, to say the least. We have occasionally had good items -- the fries are good, and I once had a tomato-watermelon-cucumber gazpacho that was delectable. Please, Acre, just step up and put out better food! You could do a lot better, and become the best brunch spot in Andersonville (sorry, M Henry)!
(3)Menton M.
Been here every night this week , still have not had a dish that did not blow my mind. Staff is amazing as well. Now one of the best if Chicago for me.
(5)Y. F.
A friend of mine invited me for dinner at this place. At the beginning I was skeptical about coming to this place because it did not have great reviews on Yelp. But dinner was REALLY GREAT. Food was very esthetically arranged, well prepared and tasted amazing. Service was friendly, nice but not too professional. The atmosphere was pleasant. Overall I had a great time dinning here! PS: Yelp reviews are not always accurate
(5)Kristine O.
Was in the neighborhood so stopped in for a Friday lunch with my husband and two-year-old. It was dead but it took too long for anyone to notice us at the door and the kitchen was slow, too. The decor is really beautiful and the menu sounded great; unfortunately, it was overpriced for what was delivered. The tomato flatbread was decent, but certainly not worth $11, and the burger was soggy and unremarkable, despite the pickled vegetables and tomato preserves. The fries were pretty terrible - dry and hard, no flavor. Even the $2.75 Diet Coke was poorly mixed from the bar - just brown water. In a neighborhood with so many great places to eat, Acre really should be skipped.
(2)Greg W.
I can't speak highly enough about this restaurant. I had been going there for drinks for a while, since their beer selection is superb, but this was the first time we went for dinner. The start to the meal was inauspicious--it took a while for our drinks to come, even though our appetizer came within about 2 minutes of ordering. Unfortunately the appetizer (fried green tomatoes) seemed to have been sitting in the kitchen for a while, since it was lukewarm and much tougher than it should have been. Then we waited for our mains. And waited. And waited. Eventually I said something to our waitress. At this point, our experience turned completely around. Not only did our waitress apologize for the delay, she spoke to the chef and the manager. The manager came over to talk to us, and he could not have been more friendly and helpful. We explained the situation, and he immediately offered to buy us a round of drinks and a dessert; and he promised to make sure that our order would be the next up. Sure enough, our food came right out, and it was superb. The pork shoulder was flavorful and tender, and the burger was perfectly cooked. Our dessert was also stellar--a fresh apple poached in a red wine sauce. It's unfortunate that our meal got off to a bad start, but unfortunately these things happen occasionally. But what really impressed me was how the manager and waitress went well beyond what they needed to do to address our complaint. And the food was terrific, to boot. I will definitely be going back to this restaurant!
(5)EJ F.
This place has everything for me. Excellent American cuisine and a fantastic beer list are just the start. I've been here 3 or 4 times and each time the service has been excellent. The waiters were always helpful and knowledgable about the food and the beer. The fixed price menu that's available Sunday through Thursday is a steal: appetizer, entree and dessert for $25 a person. I always find myself trying a food I haven't had before and being blown away by it. I really can't recommend this place enough.
(5)Nicolas H.
Came here previously when it was the ale house and it was fine. Now its much better. Before the beer list wasn't nearly as impressive as what I saw this time. Too many good choices to choose from is a good thing and that's definitely what they've got going on. I can't speak for the food, but great bar area with friendly bar staff...
(4)Susan B.
Yum! Really great dinner. The cheese curds were surprisingly light. Salmon was well prepared. Food was very fresh and well prepared. Would be a great go-to neighborhood spot if we lived nearer. We did not eat at the prior establishment, so we don't have any comparisons to make.
(4)Jenn H.
Great atmosphere, attentive service, wonderful drink menu/offerings. Food is meh. Needs a new chef methinks. With better food this could be a regular go to for me and my friends!
(3)Leigh C.
Nice beer menu. Diverse selection, reasonable prices. The food could use some work. Butternut Squash Soup and Pierogie appetizer each had the flavor of card board. $9 for 3 overcooked pierogies. Boyfriend had the pork burger with shoestring fries and homemade ketchup. I thought the fries and ketchup were also lacking in flavor, but his burger disappeared pretty quickly. I left the restaurant out $50 and still starving. The service was good. Helpful when needed without being in your face.
(3)Annie D.
Acre is chic and rustic inside. Antlers everywhere. I think Portlandia should re-do their "Put a bird on it" episode and change it to "Put an antler on it." So IN... for the next five minutes. Being cute doesn't always cut it, and the brunch and service at Acre a couple of weeks ago didn't garner any more than three stars for me. Nothing was bad, but it was just nothing to woo about. I can definitely see this being a 4-5 star experience to grab a beer though. Their beer selection is off-the-chain. The concept is farm-to-table and the brunch menu offered things like a seasonal frittata, pumpkin french toast, chilaquiles and Amish fried chicken and waffles. Both the guys at our table wanted the chicken and waffles, and shed tears when our server told us it was 86ed for the day (it was only noon). I had the corn cakes with slow-cooked pulled pork confit, poached eggs and chorizo. This was good, though different from what I expected since it wasn't pancakes---it was more like squares of cornbread. $11 made it kinda pricey for what it was, but the pork was really tasty so I was cool with it. My boyfriend ordered the biscuits and gravy, which just looked sad and small. It was the equivalent of one regular sized biscuit with gravy and two eggs with no sides for $10. The gravy was OK, but not good enough to make up for the teensy size. If you're hungry, order the brunchburger. In comparison to all of our entrees, this was enormous. It's a bacon cheddar burger with an egg on top, served on a huge croissant. It also came with fries. Didn't get a chance to try it, but I drooled at it. Bloody Marys were solid, beer list is incredible and we didn't have to wait for Saturday brunch when Big Jones was quoting 2-hour waits. So the good news is that you will probably be able to get in here before dinner time. The not-so-good news is that you'll probably over-pay for a meal that's just alright.
(3)Brian C.
Neither of us were bowled over by our food. We started with a salad that featured a carrot vinaigrette. It sounded cooler than it actually was. And that theme carried into the entrees. My wife had the salmon dish which featured a squash blossom risotto. The risotto was fair, the salmon was good. Not a homerun. I had a bison flank steak dish, which got me really excited. I ordered medium, it came out closer to medium well. It was decent, but again, not a homerun. The beer list was probably the selling point of the place. My wife's beer had a dark chocolate infusion, and mine had a sour cherry infusion. They were fun beers, not beers we'd have on a regular basis, but fun and novel beers that we'd remember having tried before. In all honesty, I'd recommend going in and sitting at the bar and having a beer and skipping the meal, as it just doesn't quite measure up to the price. My experience with the service was better than it was described in some of the reviews I noticed on here. I don't knock any points off for that.
(3)connie p.
I do not understand why people are complaining about the menu; its is online and if you think its weird, finish you drink and go somewhere else to eat. I love a menu that has out of the ordinary items. Some you might like and some, maybe not, but I love the fact that they think outside the box. It an adventure and I enjoyed the food we had. Our server Steve was fabulous, friendly, accommodating and funny.
(5)Morris F.
I happened into Acre at lunchtime with a friend when we were looking for someplace "different" to eat. $30 later we were out of the restaurant still wanting lunch, having cleaned our plates, including a serving of limp, mostly tasteless french fries and an insubstantial fried green tomato sandwich each. Adding a salad to the meal might have helped with the hunger satisfaction factor, but with tiny salads priced at $8-$9, it would have pushed us beyond any reasonable cost for lunch. Some of the other sandwiches probably would have provided a more substantial meal (at an even more substantial price), I'll grant you that; but what we did eat was just way too little for the price, considering its mediocre quality -- even the homemade ketchup! If you want a very light lunch at a not-so-light price, you might like this place; otherwise check the other options in the neighborhood.
(2)Chelsea M.
I've been to acre on numerous occasions and I think every time I go there it gets worse. Last time I had a hair in my food...okay it happens. I decided to give them another change. Our waiter wanted nothing to do with us. No explanation of what cheese was included on our cheese plate. We had to track him down to get a glass of wine. Its sad to see such terrible service when their drink selection and food is so good.
(2)Paige H.
First of all, I had never been to Charlie's before, so I approached Acre with a totally open mind. They have a nice patio out front with maybe 8 tables or so, which is why we chose it for a little afternoon get together with friends. We were pleasantly surprised by the beer menu, and that is what has kept us going back ever since. So my 4 stars are primarily for the beer and cocktails. They have a rotating selection of draft beers, which, while not as extensive as Sheffield's or Hopleaf, is thoughtfully chosen and has some good craft brew standbys as well as some more unusual selections. Cocktails are also great--I watched a bartender slice a fresh orange and zest it straight into a drink, which is freshness and attention to detail that you'd be hard pressed to find at a lot of other bars around town. They have some interesting creations that include things like Hum liqour and fresh ginger, and I love that. Food is also good. They have plenty of options for vegetarians, and everything we ordered off the appetizer menu was very good. I can't recall what they were at the moment, and they don't seem to be on the menu online, which leads me to believe the food menu rotates pretty frequently. We've never had a problem with service--seems that most of the servers are gay and sometimes a little "out there", so it keeps it fun. If we go during dinner hours and don't plan to eat we sit at the bar, as the tables are reserved for diners. During off-peak hours you can get a patio table just for drinks though.
(4)Randazzle H.
I'm only posting an "AMEN" to all who found this place to be a big let down. I love the bartender Richie, he's knowledgeable and treats you like a true guest. Thanks Richie!!!! Everything else.... the wait service, the food, the decor, one big grey blah. I really hope they fix things because I was hopeful after I stopped going to Charlie's Ale House for the same reason. Your concept is great, focusing on locally available food, but seriously make some adjustments. Andersonville wants you to do well! Really.
(1)Alexander H.
This place is deceptive. Really nice inside and numerous restaurants in area make you think this one is up to par. However, their menu which changes weekly is obviously their weak point. We ordered the tuna, which was decent, but it was basically a ceviche with just tuna. In other words half assed. The lamb t bone was good. The drinks were fine. The burger was horrible. We ordered it medium rare and it came out with 4oz of grease in it and way over cooked. The fries were completely soaked in grease as well and it looked/felt as though someone had dumped a bucket of water on them before getting to our table. The waiter was not too sharp either. He didn't know anything about their beers except for one beer which was obviously the only one he knew anything about cause I asked him about six different ones and he had no idea. His whole waiting game was just off. He touched food/plates, he didn't bring water, etc. whatever...if I'm paying $14 for a burger it better be good and you better have a good recommendation for a beer to go with it on your extensive drink list.
(2)Megan B.
I go almost weekly to hang out with the bartenders and try what's new on tap. Bill and Chris are incredibly knowledgeable about beer and are excited to find something that I love each time I go. Reasonable prices for excellent beer. Bonus - they throw pretty great tap takeover parties. Carlos' kitchen changes menus nightly. I find some dishes hit or miss, and admit they seem a bit pricey for the quantity, but I completely respect his culinary vision. I know he heads to Green City Market weekly and cooks with whatever he purchases there. I love knowing that the salads are local. A lot of the meat is from Stan at Triple S, a fantastic mid-Illinois farmer. I had goat confit a few weeks ago that was to die for. Their pork burger with blueberry jam is killer as well. Definitely worth an evening to hang out and drink great brews with some good food.
(4)Chris H.
We came for brunch and had great time! The food was AMAZING, although the portions are pretty small. We had bottomless mimosas, and even though our server was with a lot of tables, he still was very nice and laid back. The ambiance is wonderful; really a beautiful restaurant! Kind of pricey, but worth it for brunch.
(4)Desirae K.
You can cook my griddled cheese and serve me A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' any time you want! While I'm quite certain someone lied to Acre about shipping them Blue Point oysters, that is my only quasi-complaint. Not enough restaurants serve their oysters with mignonette. So, despite only have 1 type of mystery oyster to choose from on the menu the mignonette made it all better. So why am I giving Acre 3-stars? Well, it's hard to mess up a grilled cheese and beer. On the other hand, I have no complaints, enjoyed my experience and would give it another try.
(3)Rick C.
We've been to Anteprima a few times and had some success there, so We were hoping for a similar experience. Stopped by on a week night around 7 and were seated immediately. We were lead to the left by the bar and sat in these cozy, cool looking booths. It was comfy and stylish for the two of us. For four, it may be a bit cramped. The menu changes pretty often here, so the waitress told us everything was pretty good. Not much in the way of recommendations, so we went with the deviled eggs with smoked trout and the lamb meatballs. The meatballs were tiny but had good flavor. The deviled eggs were awesome. Who doesn't like deviled eggs? With smoked trout? dope. For the entrees, we went with the pork burger and the sweetbread sandwich. We've had sweetbreads at antiprima and they were cooked perfectly. They were just as good here with bacon and avocado, on a croissant. It was tasty, but the croissant didn't seem that fresh. I think it would have been better just by itself. I liked the pork burger, but my wife thought it was a bit sweet with the fig jam. It's a double patty of bershire pork with bacon, fig jam, and cheese. The jam made it reminiscent of a breakfast dish with sausage and jelly. There was some bad though. The kitchen was backed up and the wait seemed a bit excessive. Also, whoever made the fries should be kicked in the groin. They were greasy and soggy. I wanted to eat them with what seemed to be a homemade ketchup but couldn't. I really love dipping into sauces, but just couldn't. They were that gross. Overall, I'd try them again. The changing menu and interesting items would bring me back.
(4)Chuck C.
Overpriced, slow service, mediocre food, will not be going back or recommending it it anyone. Took over two hours to get a meal that was ordered 5 minutes into sitting down. It wasn't busy at all, the waiter never came over and asked if we needed anything. Ordered the pork chop, and the waiter came back 5 minutes later and asked me how I wanted it cooked. I ask how do you mean? He said rare, medium, etc. I have never been to a place that has asked how I wanted my pork or chicken cooked. They seemed clueless. Terrible idea of a restaurant. Can't give 0 stars or I would. Can't wait for it to shut down so something else take over for this waste of space in the heart of Andersonville. Can't believe I left a 20% tip, I almost walked out it was that bad.
(1)Dan D.
Acre was a nice place to grab dinner and a drink. I went with a group of six and seating was comfortable. Our server was very nice and very knowledgeable on all entrees and drinks. The menu wasn't too big, making it easier to make a decision. The choice in music was icing on the cake. I felt like they were playing Q101 from the late 90's. The only downfall of this joint is the food prices. The food was good, but it wasn't good enough to warrant the high prices. Beer prices were fair. I'd go again for sure.
(4)Steve G.
Hmm, I think this place deserves 4 stars. I went again last night for dinner and a very nice experience. Our server was great, very accommodating for my family. There's an excellent beer list and we had no issues at all with our food choices: fried cheese curds, perfectly light frying with what I think was panko crumbs; beets and cherry salad; corned beef sandwich; and porkburger. I'm not sure why Acre gets a three-star average and so many bad reviews. But we tend to go early, so I don't know, maybe the crowd and wait times get bad. I don't think it's offensively overpriced either, maybe just a hair.
(4)Janna N.
So I was doing some research on organic, certified-humane restaurants in Chicago and through my search I found Acre...and it's within walking distance! Yay! (They have a list of all the farms where their meats and vegetables come from next to where they showcase their daily menu on the outside of the building by the door.) Since my "discovery" I've dined here at least a dozen times and every time I've come the menu has been different and every time I have LOVED my food. The chef is amazing...I've never had a bad meal here. Here's a few pointers though: -- Even if there is a "reserved" tag on a patio table, it's not really reserved, they just want you to go into the restaurant and check in with them...they'll then seat you outside if you want. -- The ketchup that comes with the fries tastes funny (it's the only thing I dislike about this place) but if you ask for a side of BBQ sauce instead, it's all good. -- When choosing something from the menu, any sandwich that has a farm fresh egg on it, is to die for...seriously! -- Their salads are not your dinner salad with all the fixings...it really is just an appetizer.
(5)Taste M.
Just went to the Goose Island tap invasion they had last night and it was simply awesome. That this place doesn't have at least 4 stars on Yelp is absurd. They butcher pigs in the kitchen and let you watch if you're interested. They make their own sausages, they even make their own ketchup! Yes the food is a little more expensive than the rest of the neighborhood but they had a menu of $5 bar appetizers last night that included homemade all-beef corndogs (really good). The brisket sandwich was perfectly succulent and not overly fatty. Dessert was this rhubarb cobbler with ice cream and it was a win as well. As far as the beer goes, during the event last night I had at least 5 different types of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout: Vanilla, Ancho Chile, Cherry, the regular and then they had one variety that had been aged in a 20-year bourbon barrel. They also had a bunch of crazy saison type stuff that isn't really my style but it is popular with a lot of people. The bottom line is Acre is a dining/drinking experience that should not be missed. I see a few poor reviews recently and it is a shame that people who don't realize pork chops can be done to different temperatures or didn't have their ass licked immediately after walking into the bar during the afternoon feel the need to get so aggressive with their ratings. I also wouldn't get the mussels there or anywhere else for that matter after reading Anthony Bourdain's book. Besides the food the space is great and the lighting and mirrors work well with the beautiful woodwork. Definitely stop in and check it out.
(5)Susan L.
Have you been to Acre yet? Why NOT!?!?!? The chef of Anteprima does it again! I've been three times and the menu gets revamped each week (maybe even more quickly!). Holy deliciousness! The ceviche? Tangy and delightful. The deviled eggs? Smokey and salty. The pork shank AND ribs? Both fall off the bone. You will NOT be disappointed! I am thrilled to have Acre in the 'hood! Also, they have a large beer selection...with a lot of overlap with Hopleaf. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I like Acre's food better...there. I said it. (Although Acre hasn't offered mussels yet--THAT will be a showdown!)
(5)David D.
My girlfriend and I stopped in here for an impromptu brunch a couple weeks ago, and both of us absolutely loved what we ordered. Unfortunately, I waited too long to write this review, so we don't quite remember what we both ordered. We do remember the bloody marys being very good, spicy and served with a well-appreciated beer back. Or maybe we ordered a beer with them. Not sure on that one, but I do remember a brisket hash that was one of the best brunch items I have had anywhere, served by a very nice bar tender. Obviously, we both have a few gaps to fill in on Acre, and I look forward to refreshing my memory soon. It was a fast, friendly delicious weekend brunch spot in Andersonville - which I didn't know existed (the fast part, at least) before popping in for a bite.
(4)Curtis B.
My friend and I just got back from lunch at ACRE...aka, one of my new favorite spots. The craft beer selection here is really impressive! They also had a damn good burger- i have to put it in the top 5 burgers I've had in the states. Their service was top notch (our server REALLY knew his business with both the food menu and beer menu). I would go back any day...I already have plans to go back on Wednesday.
(4)T Z.
Acre is great. But the overall yelp rating of Acre is skewed by the inflexible, childish judgments of those who abhor change. These folks are incensed by the mere fact that Acre isn't Charlie's Ale House. Get over it. Acre has a colossal selection of craft beers that is unmatched by any place north of Foster. Their food is tasty and creative. And there are plenty of affordable items- I usually stick with the sandwiches (the burger is awesome). The staff is super-friendly and knowledgeable about the beer and food they serve. The interior is clean and comfortable.
(5)WIndy City X.
This place is a bad shadow of what Charlies Ale House used to be. Went there on a Saturday and ordered the Chicken Sandwich. I swapped a side salad instead of fries. The gave me a very small spring mix of a salad and a sandwich that was on the very small side, ridiculously small. I sent it back. I wasn't about to pay $12 for an appetizer size sandwich and a few leafs of greens. Ordered the soup instead. The soup was good and flavorful although it did not come with any crackers or bread. Very boring. Service was slow. I will not be back. WAY TOO MANY OTHER GREAT RESTAURANTS IN ANDERSONVILLE TO HAVE TO SETTLE FOR LESS THAN MEDIOCRE. Acre really needs to step up their game if they wanna make it.
(1)Mag M.
A bland bloody mary is pretty unforgivable in my book. But to add insult to injury, the bartender forgot to add the bitters to my companion's champagne cocktail. Maybe it was a new guy, or an off day at the bar. The steak we ordered medium came bloody, and the egg on my fish cake wasn't cooked through. I can forgive a mistake or two. Maybe they're still working the kinks out, but my advice is to skip brunch.
(2)Brian M.
Good and -or- Terrible The beer selection is great. The food is alright. My real problem with 'Acre' is the hit or miss service and some serious overpricing. When the service is on, it's awesome. Really friendly, quick and accommodating. When the service is bad, its terrible. Be prepared to wait 20 minutes between "how is everything"s. The beer pricing just baffles me. Some great $5-10 drafts, even some pricey rare snifters for $12 (which is to be expected) generally each draft is up a buck or two from other beer venues. Some bottles are really overpriced. $30 for Cantillon Gueuze? $10 Hop Stoopid is just that... stoopid. Lastly, this is the first bar that I can remember seeing tax on my tab. Usually when a bar lists a beer at $5 the bartender asks for exactly that. Not $5.50 Check it out, just don't overlook anything. Feels like I get nickel and dimed when I go there.
(2)Chris C.
Went here for brunch on Saturday with a couple of friends. They had a twenty $ gift card, so we gave it a shot. I think the average 3 star review is about right. I'd been to this place before when it was Charlies. After trying it out as Acre, I feel like its the same place with the same staff, but trying to sell more expensive food. Its prices and menu listing said 'trying to be classy' but the staff didn't. Mind you, I didn't have any problem with the staff, but it just felt a little off. The food was decent but the breakfast situation in Chicago is far too good for this place to compete. M Henry right up the street would destroy this place. It could be better for lunch / dinner, and the beer list looked quite good. But I wouldn't go out of my way for their brunch.
(3)Jodi M.
Thank you for excellent service and 'doing the right thing' on New Year's Eve! Our party really appreciated your proactive efforts and generous discount to our overall bill due to the wait - which was understandable (weather!!). Both the host and bartender, as well as the waiter, made every effort to ensure we were satisfied and we were! So thank you! Your service stands out - our meals were delicious - we'll definitely be back!!
(4)Mike K.
My buddies and I stopped in after our dinner for some "adult beverages". We had them. They were good. We sat at the bar and were promptly attended to. The beer menu is long and extensive and we spent a good amount of time trying to figure out which beer to order. I had the Victory Pils. It tasted great. I guess by reading other reviews this is not the place to come for a meal. It's a shame b/c the interior is really well laid out and it seemed like a good place for dining in. The service was attentive when we were there. But like I said, we were at the bar so I'm sure that helped. I'd go back for the laid-back atmosphere, great beers and the awesome bathrooms. ps: I'm supposed to tell you they have Lagunitas' A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale on tap.
(4)Isla E.
For lunch, It's too uppity for the food that actually arrives at the table. The menu looks really minimal; so you expect some high-quality, detailed dishes with complex flavors to arrive, but really the food is just not a big deal. If they presented it as regular food, one may be impressed, but with all the pomp and circumstance it is a little bit of a let down. But you can tell the ingredients are high quality. The deviled eggs were pretty good. I would try it again.
(3)Jeremy R.
A couple of things... I've never written a review much less a negative one. It is not my intention to sound bitchy and put bad energy in the universe. I write this as a self-described foodie and home cook and do have pretty high expectations, especially when paying a moderate to high price for food. Now, with all that said... It was so bad. We live in Andersonville and went for a Saturday brunch. I don't know if it was because it's understaffed, but our waiter was anything but attentive - he checked on us once. It took us at least 7 min. to get a diet coke and cup of coffee. The background music was really loud making conversation difficult. Water in a carafe was brought to our table - it wasn't chilled and there was no ice. We noticed that other tables had condensation on the bottle suggesting it was supposed to be at least slightly chilled; ours was nothing short of right out of the tap. Water, not really a big deal. On to the food... My partner ordered the corn cakes - cornbread topped with a poached egg, hollandaise and a house made chorizo. Dreadful. Both of our plates were very hot suggesting it had set under a heating lamp for quite some time. His hollandaise was completely broken - nothing short of just melted butter - and the chorizo tasted like bland ground beef. The poached egg was way overcooked - completely hard in the center. I ordered the fried green tomato sandwich. The tomato was so not fried - if anything it was soggy. It came with a plateful of hard cold fries with a very small sandwich (I'm cool with a smaller portion, though). Before we got the check, we just went ahead and had the credit card out anticipating a long wait between receiving the check and getting the receipt. Our meal total was $38 and change (that includes a $6 tip - we really hate leaving bad tips). I would love to say we have another great restaurant in Andersonville. Alas, we don't.
(1)Bruce S.
I'm sorry I haven't reviewed Acre before now. We've been to Acre about 6 times throughout the summer, fall and winter, and we've liked it so much we've brought three different groups of friends. We even bring our dog to sit outside with us in the summer. In short, we've never had a bad meal, or bad service. Based on what I read here, we've either been incredibly lucky, or they've fixed any opening jitters. If you haven't been to Acre, go. Go now. They're open for brunch. Go. First, Acre does the farm to table thing. I like that. There's always something different on the menu. I've had the Pork Burger, outstanding. Several different entrees, all good. My wife likes it too, and she's like Mikey. The beer selection on draft has been fantastic every time I've gone. Always some great craft selections that challenge you to try some new brews. They've always had some special cocktails that the female group members like. I realize this is a very general review, but as I stated up front this is a long overdue review for a place that we've come to really enjoy for an evening out or a summer brunch.
(5)John C.
This place is wonderful! The menu is varied and quite creative. With only a couple of exceptions, every dish we have ever tried has been very, very good. The selection of draft beers is excellent. And the bartenders are not just knowledgeable, they're also very friendly. A great place to enjoy the night scene in Andersonville. This will probably be the last review I ever do for Yelp. Their website is so awkward it's just not worth dealing with.
(5)Oliver T.
Went there for dinner with two other friends on a Tuesday night, the server who greeted us as the door seemed to be thinking about whether or not he wanted us to eat there or not...finally gave in and directed us to a table to the front of the restaurant on the bar side. He came to our table after what seemed like an eternity, informing us of specials and entrees which were out, then asked for our drink order...we placed our appetizer order and entree order at the same time...the appetizers made it out to the table before our drinks, at which point the server informed us one of the cocktails wasn't available! Seriously?. We ordered the Beets, the Sardines, and the Deviled Eggs...the beets were great, but nothing special, the sardines smelled and tasted like they came out of a can, the deviled eggs were devine! By the time our entrees came out, our drinks were empty and it took the server 10 more minutes to notice this and refill our drinks, which took him another 5 to 7 minutes to fulfill! Meanwhile, his attention was on the Bulls game on the TV screen which the entire bar was cheering at! The food was good, nothing special however, I understand what they are trying to do...they could honestly try harder! The service SUCKED!!! I work in the service industry and never leave less than 20%...he got 15%, sorry bud...maybe you should tivo the game and watch it at home and do your job while you're at work! We got a $20 gift certificate for spending over a hundred dollars...I think I'd rather recycle the paper than spend the certificate there!
(2)Rafael C.
Granted I occasionally frequented Acre before when it was known as Charlie's; however, any future trips to Acre will be few and far in between. They changed the look a bit, matching what some gastropubs usually look like, but window dressing alone doesn't make it easier to win over patrons. Let me just get the positives out right away. I appreciate some of the cosmetic changes and even their intent. As I looked at both menu's, I did like the creativity in most of their offerings. The drink menu was impressive as it had plenty to choose from. And just like that my praise will turn to a rants ... Why the heck have a makeover if you don't care about the service. The night that I was there was not the best night for service. I expected better for all the changes I saw but it seems it is, as I mentioned before, window dressing. As for their drinks menu. I know I gave it kudos for being vast and impressive but it was all lost on me for not having any ciders on the list. They had it before but now no longer. They really couldn't stock a brand or two? One last thing, what the hell is that "ketchup" that they use? I applaud their decision to use fresh ingredients and all but shouldn't their homemade ketchup taste fresh? I really couldn't tell what they were going for as it tasted like rancid cocktail sauce or some other mysterious concoction. Sadly, they don't offer a replacement but let me suggest that Heinz does sell organic ketchup FYI. Stock it!
(2)J W.
I'm giving this place 3 stars because the atmosphere is awesome and the food is also good. Cons are that it took two hours to eat a dinner on a weeknight when the place wasn't at all crowded, the portions are small, and it is kind of pricey. I think we would still go back though--it's somehow affiliated with Anteprima, which I think is the best bar in A-ville, so hopefully they will get it all figured out at Acre soon.
(3)Brian V.
I really liked Charlie's, but was excited to see they were "updating" the restaurant and bringing some new life into the neighborhood. Sadly, they truly missed the mark - Acre was a huge disappointment. The menu is incredibly limited - and for what it is, very over priced. I ordered the risotto thinking it would be the "safe" bet - it came out ice cold, the rice under cooked, and the egg hard as a rock (my friend's was the same). If they can't get risotto right, I wouldn't trust them with anything else. The first glass of wine I had was great, the second was border line rancid (according to the server it was from the same bottle - right). Our service was beyond poor - the guy was either extremely over worked or incompetent (I'm still not sure which). The decor was less than stimulating (unless you enjoy the color gray). You do, however, get to know the people around you (the tables are packed in tightly and it's incredibly loud). Needless to say, I will not be returning. Ever.
(1)Sheila B.
I'm very disappointed to say the least. The owners took a great restaurant and bar (Charlie's Ale House), that my husband and I used to go to every Friday and easily spend $100 on food and drinks over the course of the evening, to a restaurant that we will never step foot into again. Charlie's had a light atmosphere where I could order normal drinks (Captain and Coke, a black and tan, Bud Light) to a bar that serves off the wall liquor, specialty beers and is constantly changing. I don't mind change at all, and if I could still order a Malibu and Coke when I walked in the door, I would probably be a happy camper even with the new decor, but the fact that you don't have beers on hand to make a black and tan! A black and tan, a staple drink, drives me crazy. It's too bad. Go to Fireside, just down the road on Ravenswood, if you are looking for a fun bar that has specialty drinks, but will still serve you your favorites as well.
(1)Kristen W.
After discovering a 45 minute wait (at 7:45pm on a Monday night!) at Hop Leaf we walked down to Acre and gave it a try. I must say I was not impressed with the draft beer list and I agree with the reviewer who stated that most of the beers on the list were brews I would rather have for dessert. The only weiss beer was an Allagash which is not my favorite and they had very little by way of pale ale choices (on tap). The food was good, my boyfriend said the fish & chips (at least the fish) was some of the best he's ever had. I liked my burger, the fries were good. I especially liked some of the little touches like homemade ketchup (surprisingly better than it sounds) and tartar sauce. Plus these awesome thinly sliced, marinated carrots they put on the burger. Sounds strange but it works. I can't say I find the menu to be all that creative- it seems like every new restaurant popping up features some sort of hoof or tongue (this one had beef tongue) and then the usual burgers & fried stuff. I can't say I'm dying to go back, either. But I'm 100% sure there will be many more instances where I find an irritatingly long wait at Hop Leaf and need to find something else.
(3)Tyra M.
I was fine with the old Charley's Ale House. I always had great pub grub when I went in. If I can get a decent chicken pot pie and a cold bottle of Fin du Monde, I'm a happy camper. I never expected Charlie's to be anything more or less and I was satisfied. Stopped into what is now Acre for lunch (same owners or chef I believe?) and was a bit disappointed. The staff was friendly and attentive but the experience ends there. Not going to go into the decor because it doesn't seem finished yet. There are still holes in the walls where sconce fixtures are waiting to rest in and we were seated over a vent in the floor which gives one a nice view of the basement below along with a nice draft up the leg. If you don't have vertigo, you won't mind that your chair leg is resting over a vent and could puncture through sending you crashing to the catacomb below. Okay, let's get to the food. I had the Griddled Cheese which was okay along with pretty standard french fries. But what was with the dipping sauce for the fries? I dipped a fry, and at first it seemed like shrimp cocktail sauce but then I wasn't so sure. I took a whiff and it smelled like rancid shrimp cocktail sauce but I'm still not sure what it was. I set it aside not wanting to take any chances. My companion had the Smokin' Trout salad and unfortunately, the trout was a little more fishy than it should have been. The salad greens a little more wilted than they should have been. Anyway, maybe the dinner menu is better but with all of the choices in Andersonville, I'm not intrigued enough to go back. I wish them luck.
(2)Daniel S.
As a proud resident of the neighborhood, I'm always thrilled whenever something *new* comes to the area. Recently, la Tache (now Vincent) underwent something of a facelift and I (for one) liked the changes...I think changes like this keep the area fresh. So, I was really interested to see what may come of Charlie's. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Charlie's...for what it was. But I was intrigued at the idea of "upscaling" the old pub into a new kind of dining experience. For the most part, I've been impressed. But during a recent visit (last night) my partner and I had a disturbing service experience and I feel like I need to write about it. First, the upside. I like the idea of separate "dining room" and "tavern" menus. They're related, to be sure. But each side has it's own focus. We've eaten in the dining room twice (including its "opening night") and the tavern once, and for the most part, the food was delicious. Indeed, the meatloaf I ate in the tavern was really delicious. The sauce was tangy...a little spicy; the meatloaf itself was lean, nicely spiced and well-cooked. I should also mention that I love the concept of "small plates"...it's a great way to "share" a dining experience, so I like the "smaller-to-larger" sections of the menus. Overall, the food is decent. But, service has consistently been poor. I might be willing to give a *new* restaurant a month or so to let the staff "settle in". But this isn't really a *new* restaurant. And I'm talking about the simple things. Seriously, how long does it take to fetch two cocktails on a relatively slow Monday night? Our server last night forgot -- not once, but TWICE -- the bottle of wine that I ordered. (BTW, the beer and wine list are quite nice) But here's where the place utterly fails, IMHO. Let be describe two situations. On our first night there, the owner (who, you must admit, knows a thing or two about food...see Anteprima, which I think is a wonderful establishment) sat himself down at the table next to us and proceeded to have a loud (and quite animated) conversation with the two women at that table (which was big enough for two, not three). He squeezed himself in between the two tables, along the bench, and really became quite a presence at our table, making it difficult to enjoy our meal. I found myself wishing he'd just go away. Despite that, we went back to the dining room last night, which I think likely will be my last time there. As I mentioned above, service was slow...but I'm usually pretty forgiving of something like that. Gut a drink in my hand, put some bread on the table and I'm a happy man. Again, we sat on the side, along the bench at a table for two. These tables are lined up along the side, spaced very close to one another...which isn't a big deal in itself, BUT THE STAFF NEEDS TO KNOW THAT WHEN THEY STAND BETWEEN THE TABLES, THEIR ASS IS BASICALLY ON THE TABLE BEHIND THEM. So, last night, our server seemed to know the two men sitting at the table next to us. At least I'm guessing so, because he wouldn't go away. And each time he came over "to chat", he stood between our tables, with his ass hovering over our table. Eventually, my partner asked him to stand on the other side of the table (there was no one dining at the table on the other side). I have to say that the server complied politely and actually respected our request so that we were able to enjoy the last bit of our dinner/dessert. But here's the weird part. Late last night, my partner (who paid for the meal--thank you--with his credit card) received a facebook message from someone who CLEARLY had been sitting at the table next to us and basically DERIDING my partner for having spoken up. Neither of us knows this fellow, so we're struggling to understand how he might have learned my partner's name. It's a puzzle, I know. Whether he picked up the credit card receipt himself after we left OR our server gave him my partner's name is IRRELEVANT. Either way, it's creepy and WE WON'T BE BACK. Unfortunately, Anteprima may lose our business, too. But in this wonderful city, with tons of wonderful restaurants, I'm sure we'll be fine.....
(2)Matthew W.
Acre, 3 strikes and you're out. I never thought I would miss Charlie's Ale House, as it was pretty terrible. First visit to Acre: arrive to talk to Maitre'D who weirdly asks me which side of the restaurant I'd like to sit on. I asked why it mattered. "Because we have 2 different menus.". But surely I can get any food on either side, right? Nope - sorry, that's not an option. If you are on the bar side, you are stuck eating bar food (oversauced giant wings that make you looked like you committed murder when you are finished) - and if you're on the restaurant side, you're not allowed to eat the bad bar food. Same kitchen though. This makes no sense at all. Your "restaurant" has no ambiance, so I'm not sure why you force this policy. It's certainly not because there's anything added on the restaurant side. Outcome: we chose bar. Bad aforementioned wings, over complicated grilled cheese, fairly expensive. Good beer list, but the staff had no idea what was on it. Visit 2: forced against my will to give it another try. Let's try the other side this time. Long story short, I ordered prawn appetizer, soup and a beer. Only 2 of 3 prawns were cooked all the way. My wife had an appetizer sized salad, appetizer risotto and a glass of wine. $70. None of it was any good. Visit 3: drinks only (again, against my will). I tried to order the Alpha King, however the waiter thought I said Alpha Klaus. "Sorry, we're out of that.". Ugh. Then, he said "wait you wanted Alpha King? We have that.". So for 1 minute, I was excited. I like that beer. And they have it. Yum. Waiter comes back "sorry, we don't have that either". I asked him for a sharpie to make some edits to the menu, but he didn't get the joke. I'll admit, they have a good beer list, which is the only reason it's not 1 star, but the waiters don't know what's on the list, and they obviously don't have a lot that is on the actual list. Avoid. Bad food, uninformed staff.
(2)Todd K.
I gotta say - Acre just didn't do it for me. I can even separate my mourning for Charlie's long enough to give Acre a fair shake. Allow me to explain: I was there on two separate occasions - dinner and brunch: Dinner My first experience was on a date. The portions were quite small for the price, though I had a feeling it was intentional. The concept Acre appeared to exploit was too common in Andersonville - catering to people with money that aren't necessarily big eaters. I ordered their salmon, which while good, wasn't anything to write home about. I've had the same portion size cheaper and places comparable in ambiance. My date had a random assortment of appetizers, which I tried but was not overly impressed. Given the amount of money I dropped on the dinner, I should have not left hungry and searching in my refrigerator a few hours later. Brunch Having a "meh" experience at dinner, I had a friend convince me to try brunch. I have to say, the food was much better at brunch. However, again, I feel Acre is a bit "much" when it comes to presentation and price. I feel it does not position itself very differently than many of the Andersonville restaurants. I was also surprised when I asked for a simple side of bacon and the waitress looked at me is if I was crazy and made an "exception" to give me something as plain as bacon. I didn't need it on a bed of caviar with a spotlight on it, just give me my pig. All things considered, I would go back if someone else was paying, but I'm headed to Lady Gregory's, Calo or Ann Sather for a real meal next time.
(2)Matthew V.
As an avid frequenter of Charlie's, to say I was adamantly against Acre's take-over is a complete understatement. But being a relatively open-minded person, I decided to give it a whirl a couple weeks after it opened. First of all, we were seated in the "Tap" section not knowing that there were 2 different menus on either side of the restaurant. And though the server said he could show us the menu from the opposite side, he said we couldn't order from it and that, if we found something on that menu that appealed to us, we'd have to relocate to that side. Um... Really? Secondly, we ordered 2 dirty martinis and after 45 minutes without our drinks (and without our server even taking our food order... Though he did stop by the table several times to say he'd be right with us), we asked that he immediately bring us our drinks and our check. He apologized for our inconvenience, but he was "slammed." Ok... I understand that certain nights unexpectedly get busy at restaurants and the server has to bear the burden of running himself ragged in order to accommodate everyone... But this really shouldn't be happening a week and a half after the opening of a restaurant... ESPECIALLY a restaurant that replaced a much-loved and dependable neighborhood favorite like Charlie's. Those are big shoes to fill, and Acre didn't even come close. That being said, we didn't even get to try the food. I like the idea of the whole "locally-grown" bla bla bla, but seriously... This place is doomed for failure if this is the level of service they deem adequate so recently after opening. My opinion is that everyone in Andersonville (and other areas) that knew and loved Charlie's stay as far away from this place as possible in hopes our old tried and true will return... Or at least something tolerable at all. Oh... And PS: Their decour sucks. Painting over all that beautiful woodwork with that sad, depressing gray is reason enough to never go back.
(1)Greer C.
So disappointed. I stopped into Acre with a few friends on Saturday at about 5 minutes until 3. The sign out front said brunch was from 11-3, no problem, surely they can feed us something. The host was very nice and said if we got our orders in quickly, we could probably still get food from the brunch menu. As the minutes ticked away with no sign of a server, we chose our "brunch" options and a back-up "lunch" option, which were really slim pickings. I fail to understand why fish and chips is a brunch option and not available after 3, but a fried fish sandwich is OK after 3. Whatever. Finally, we have someone arrive and we ask if we can still get brunch. She takes off like a shot to ask "the kitchen". When she came back she reported that she asked personally (what other options there might be, I'm not sure) and "the kitchen" would not make us anything from the brunch menu. Again, not a big deal, but she left so quickly, she didn't take a drink order. We decided we would have better luck elsewhere, so we left. If "the kitchen" doesn't want to make food after 3 on a Saturday, they should just close. If the server want to get out right at 3, she should have told us she just didn't want to wait on us. I won't be going back. It's a bummer, too, because I really liked Charlie's.
(1)Rachel R.
Acre is the re-vamped venture of Marty/Tim (the owners of Charlie's Ale House, which used to occupy the same space). It's only been open a week, but appears to be a solid addition to the neighborhood. Capitalizing on the hype of "one-word" artisan restaurants, Acre offers a large menu based on fresh, local ingredients that will change daily. The executive chef, Carlos, is also the chef of Anteprima, but is presently focusing mostly on Acre's launch. The lunch menu is simple, proving that less is more and that fresh beats over-portioned renditions of fatty comfort foods. I had a burger made from a hand-packed beef patty served with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, mustard grain, and onions smoked in cherrywood. The burger was delicious, and was accompanied with hand-cut fries and house-made ketchup that had a bit of a zing. The dinner menu is more expansive, offering creative selections such as Duck Breast with sweet potato puree, spinach, and bacon-onion confiture, and Lamb Hearts with turnips, mint, and hen of the woods. Less vegetarians be deterred, there are Warm Stuffed Olives, Toasted Marcona Almonds, Green Bean "Bucatini," Swiss Chard & Turnip Gratin, and Pierogi (with aged white cheddar & potato, and chived sour cream). The beer selection was great, and will give the Hopleaf a run for a its money with a large bar section and great offering of Belgian and American small batch brews including West Coast darlings such as Ska Brewing's Modus Hoperandi (a lovely IPA from Durango, CO that comes in a can). The decor is definitely an improvement over the former haunt with tables at a regular height, fewer TVs, more minimalist war adornments, gray paint, and just enough of the old wood charm that Charlie's featured. My only complaint was that the music was a little off (unknown pop songs mixed with the occasional Norah Jones). Overall, I'm very happy with Acre. Whether or not the menu can live up to its ambition of creatively mixing fresh, local ingredients on a daily basis remains to be seen, but I'm cautiously optimistic that there will be more hits than misses.
(5)Matt T.
Boooooooo!!!! Where do I start with this one. I should have known better after looking at the cliche paltry menu in the window but we decided to go in. Right off the bat, the nonchalant bartender didn't know what was on the charcueterie plate so he yells out to someone else to find out. We ask what's in the bloody mary mix, he doesn't know (hello, dude, you're a bartender) so he slaps down a laminated piece of paper that's the handwritten recipe. We ask some beer questions, he can't answer them. We order the deviled eggs...wtf, I've made better. These things were clearly in the fridge for a couple days. The trout toppings tasted like they were freshly peeled from pre-packaged trout or from some vacuum-sealed pack from the grocery store. The egg itself was pretty hard and the "lemon preserved" aioli tasted old. The beer menu was large but very typical and quite all over the place. Everything was handily organized by type of beer but it was still disorganized. The food menu was so cliche for every new brewpub, or wanna be gastropub. The owners should have left the place as Charlie's Ale House. At least the atmosphere was half decent. Anyway, the menu choices have been so overdone and the choices were just lacking. Pork burger, oyster sandwich, regular burger, some boring apps (except mac and cheese), dull atmosphere and clueless, disinterested bartenders. Oh, and they had the typical depressed looking hipster behind the bar as well. This place has no identity, no idea of what food they want to serve and no idea what kind of drinks they want to serve. Such a huge space with the sit down dining area, but honestly, who's going to fill those seats with the food, drinks and atmosphere at this place. How is this place owned by Anteprima? I've heard such great things about, how can Acre suck so bad? FAIL
(1)Gretchen N.
We have lived in the Edgewater neighborhood part-time for three years...always passed by Acre but never stopped in...until last month. And I have to say...so glad that we did! Excellent beer selection and their appetizer menu is really really good. Try the grilled calamari and also the fried cheese curds...oh boy.
(5)Jessica S.
Well, the second time I ate at Acre was a total 180 degrees from the first. The service by Evan was impeccable. The owner was very nice and came over twice to see how we were doing. We both ordered the heirloom tomato salad which was delicious. My friend got the skirt steak and said it was delicious. I ordered the sesame crusted tuna with jasmine rice. It was very good, despite being a little salty. Our waiter then informed us that since we had ordered apps and entrees we were eligible for the prix fixe which was very good at $25 a person. We were entitled to a dessert each. The bread pudding was delicious, but very dense and the fig brulee was divine. The decor is very nice, the service impeccable, the beer list is fabulous and honestly the only thing missing was a bread basket.
(4)Liz K.
Cute place, and since it's relatively new, more will be added as time goes on. I had the deli plate, which had liverwurst of some sort and head cheese, which was great. Then for my entree I had the pork burger which tasted simply unholy. Annnnnd then for dessert I had the strawberry almond cake which was really almondy and delicious. Everything was tasty and they have a great beer selection. The menu is also organized nicely as all sandwiches are 10 and all regular entrees are 15. The only negative here was the extremely dim lighting. Other than that, it was great.
(4)Henry S.
Twice in a row now I've had wait staff who forgot to put in an order. Is there an outbreak of restaurant memory lapse going on around town? So... Acre. Quick rehab and upgrade from Clark St Ale House, sister restaurant to Anteprima, one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. Local, seasonal cuisine. All sounded very promising. Menu overall was kicked-up comfort food. The Artisanal Salad sounded good on the menu. On the table, it was just ok. Nothing to write home about. In fact, I think I've made something similar at home. The Dungeness Crab Cakes, which our waitress was quick to point out are more like crab fritters, had a crunchy coating and good filling. The preserved lemon aioli though was too salty, with no hints of garlic. Why call it a crab cake when it's a fried crab ball? Why aioli if there is no taste of garlic? We had a 3rd appetizer, the House-made Grilled Sausages, and we were sharing an entrée, the Wood-grilled BBQ Amish Chicken. After the salad and the crab, our waitress came by to tell us that the chicken will be out shortly. We reminded her about the sausage, and saw her jaw dropped to the floor. She apologized profusely, and asked if we still wanted the sausage. We've figured out how much we wanted to eat when we ordered, so...yeah, we still want the sausage. The chicken came, split in 2 different plates. The chicken was nicely grilled, with a good brine. The barbeque sauce was ok, nothing interesting about it. The collared greens were nicely braised, but it had so much white, flat strips of cartilage in it. I know, braising collared greens needed any variety of meat product to give it flavor. But this one had copious amounts of unknown pig(?) parts. I'm not a squeamish eater by any means, but it was so off-putting. After the chicken, the sausages came. They were in fact the best dish of the evening. But sadly, too much had happened beforehand, that it soured my judgment. Why 2 stars? The idea of Acre is good. If you're in the neighborhood, and looking for a casual family restaurant, this might be a choice. The food I had was just uninspiring. The dishes with more promise had either taste or execution issues. It's also interesting that they emphasize seasonality as their philosophy, and yet corn on the cob was featured in 2 dishes, in the middle of January?
(2)Steve W.
I came here for an informal rehearsal dinner the night before some friends were getting married. We had the whole back room to ourselves. The staff took great care of us, making sure that food was always coming and no guests were without drinks. Acre has that warm and inviting feeling you look for in a bar in the middle of a harsh Chicago winter. Muted tones and subdued lighting creates a relaxing atmosphere to warm up in. Our food was brought out and served buffet style. Truffled Mac n' Cheese - This seems to be on everyone's menu now. I thought the flavors were nice, although the cheese sauce was a bit too thin. This dish needs to eat like a meal, not a soup. Sausage - Delicious! A little smoky with that perfect snap when you bite into the casing. By far the highlight of the food we had. French Fries - These were fine. I mean, unless you cook the fries in duck fat or do something unique to them, fries are fries for the most part. These were standard, non-fast food, thin-cut fries. Mushroom flat bread - Nice crust and neat, this light take on pizza was quite appropriate for the circumstances. People were eating while standing, and the flat bread didn't fall apart when you bit into it, so I deem it a success. Even though the food was average, I give Acre 4 stars because of the service, ambiance, and beer list. The selection of beer was mature and diverse. I tried a few different beers upon our server Steven's recommendation. The left handed milk stout was the best, providing a creamy smooth sip every time. This isn't the best place you'll visit, but it accomplishes its ambitions well, and is a good place to meet friends for a drink.
(4)Charlotte S.
I've only been here for the "Sip and Slurp" (martinis and dollar oysters) so I can only speak to that but we loved it. Was there for the 9pm - midnight special and it was a fantastic way to start or wrap up (mine was wrap up) a sexy date. I'll be back for sure. Hopefully with the same sexy date.
(5)Brian S.
(While reading the following review, please insert many puns about traveling an (A)cre to eat this delicious food and drink these delicious brews.) A certain (Urban) Daddy blasted my inbox over and over again about Acre, formerly known as Charlie's Ale House (ha -- it still comes up as such on one's credit card bill). Liz, since she lives two or maybe three stone's throws away from Berwyn and Clark, agreed to meet me there. I walked in a few minutes early and checked out the dueling menus on the door -- Acre is a two-faced establishment with a "tap" on one side and a more traditional dining room on the other. Although I'm not too shy to order a $25 main once in awhile, I'd heard more cheers about the sandwiches served in the bar area, so I zigged upon entering and sat down. The beer menu. Is. Amazing. I really appreciated the orderly way they were arranged -- sessions here, drafts there, Belgian babes over yonder. The selection of beers is astounding -- and so are some of the prices. Once my companion joined me, we sampled the Dogfish Head Sahtea, a wildly spicy brew that was like an adult version of chai tea. I happily ordered a goblet of the sauce and followed it up with a thick, malty Night Tripper from New Holland. Liz had Moose Drool Brown Ale, presumably because of the low price-point and, natch, the kitsch. Speaking of sauce, have you ever had fig jam on a pork burger? If not -- please go to Acre right now. This afternoon or evening, if possible. The burger in question was outstanding -- pepper jack cheese and arugula rounded out the super-savory sandwich, and the homemade ketchup, although texturally off, was a nice side for the crispy, wavy fries. Liz ordered a "scrimp" (sic x 1,001; typos abounded on the menu (for authenticity's sake, since they change it "so, so often"?)) and crab BLT that was so creamy and sea-soaked. I don't know if it was our cheerful waiter's fault (he seemed to be manning the entire front section of the "tap") or the fact that my dear sister and I just couldn't coordinate our food and drink orders, but service was a little awkward. I wouldn't let it stop me from visiting again and again, though. I'd appreciate seeing you there, too. With a dollop of fig jam on your face.
(4)Anne B.
This review is solely for the bar. Excellent.
(4)Jason M.
These two stars are representative of a "restaurant" that has a pretty darn good beer list and absolutely nothing else. We showed up with a large group, say 15, and they borderline forced us to sit at a table with a waiter despite being on the "bar side" of the place. The place was empty. It would've been a lot easier to just chill wherever and order drinks at the bar...you know...like every other normal bar around. Despite having a fancy computer cash register, they have no idea how to allow someone to pay off their part of the bill while it's still open. Did they really think 15 people at a bar were all going to leave at the same moment? The bill was wrong in 15 different ways. The waiter was the most clueless person of all time. "I'll have the Chipotle Porter." "Wait, who makes that one?" "Stone" "Where?" (points to the menu.) My god. That happened about 4 times with different beers. While I know I said they had a good list, there's still only 15 or so drafts. Jesus. My friend got a Bourbon Cty Stout, which was $5 on the menu and $8 on the bill. The "bartender" explained that $5 was for a smaller pour or blah blah blah. Fella, no one asked for a larger pour. We ordered what was on the menu. Instead of just apologizing and explaining and offering to take $3 off, he justified the whole thing. Nonsense. I won't be back and I honestly hope they fail miserably so someone with a clue can run that space and provide me good beer without making my blood boil.
(2)Rachel C.
A friend of mine who lives in the area made a reservation for us here on Saturday night. With a party of 6, he knew it may be tough to get in to some places on short notice so we all met up here. Before our table was ready we stopped at the bar to have drinks. I am pretty beer-dumb, my friend ordered me something that I couldn't tell you today what it was, but I liked it. They seemed to have a decent selection. The menu had quite a variety of things on it. We chose an appetizer of some assorted sausages that were very good, I really liked the curry andouille - they also ordered "bread cheese" which was tasty as well. I settled for the chicken and "cheddar grits" for my dinner. A couple of others chose steak, rabbit, a large spinach tortellini. The chicken was cooked perfectly and everyone else seemed pleased with their meals. The service was great too, although I have to admit I was very involved with the company I was with - but we tipped him well. If it had been bad I'd have noticed, but he was great and I was with a friend I rarely see. Nice atmosphere, neutral decor, soft lighting. A bit more room for larger parties to stay/sit together than some other places in the area. I had a place to put my coat and purse which wasn't on the floor or hanging over a chair dragging on the floor this time! All-in-all a very nice place!
(4)Franny S.
I went for brunch last Sunday with two friends because one had received a $20 gift certificate when we had dinner at Anteprima the previous week and I guess they have the same owners. However, Anteprima was delicious. Acre was not. My crepes were supposed to be mushroom and leek, but no leeks were present and it had some kind of creamy sauce not included on the menu description. The entire dish was virtually tasteless. My hash browns were cold and the odd "ketchup" they have there (which tastes like cocktail sauce) was ICE cold, like it was just out of the fridge. Serving something cold to accompany something hot is a pet peeve of mine, though perhaps since the hash browns weren't served hot that rule shouldn't apply? My friends had similar experiences with their food, and the juice that one of them ordered never arrived. So in summary...the food was bland and cold. The service was bland and cold. The portions were very small for the prices. I will not be returning.
(2)Katherine G.
Unfortunately have to edit this review. Used to be fresh food with a staff of experts when it came to beer. Staff has changed and they just aren't the same place. Food doesn't taste "farm to table" anymore. When I talked to a waiter about it he seemed clueless.
(3)Elizabeth W.
I love Acre! Attentive, friendly service, delicious and interesting drinks, and amazing food. Two words: pork burger. You won't be disappointed! Have only been there for dinner, but are looking forward to trying out brunch soon.
(5)Andy M.
I wasn't to impressed by this place despite its cool neighborhood. I thought the bar looked very common and suburban. The food was not really anything to write home to mama about and the place just seemed like it was just there. They have a decent beer choice, but that can be expected on a street where it is very competative. it is often crowded the previous times I passed by and on this Sunday it was also busy so they must be doing something right. It would not be my first or fifth choice in Andersonville.
(3)Karmen F.
I was excited to see what took over for Charlie's, especially since hearing of Acre's use of locally grown produce. Went with vegetarian friend who was happy to see there were options available to her. Although we had to flag someone to seat us, we were happy since an outdoor table was avail. We then waited again - more than 10 minutes for a server. Our drink order was mangled - we order Little Blossom and received Little Blush. Waited again for server. Our cocktails were flat not sparkling but we drank them so we would not have to wait again. Our food order was the daily soup special, baked feta (fantastic), scallops ceviche (me), and the risotto. The food was fresh, but either the flavor was cooked out of the ingredients or they were past their prime. The soup was just short of tasting like Chef Boyardee, the scallops as if could do with a little more cleaning and the risotto was more brothy than it should be. I am curious enough to come back and try their pub food - hamburger - as well as their brunch before I write them off. It maybe that food is just not their thing but a place to have a nice beer & burger.
(3)Holly M.
Come here for the beer only. I ordered a $16 plate of mushroom gnocchi. They brought me an enormous plate with a tiny puddle of boring dumplings in mushroom sauce plopped in the middle of it. My friend's flat bread appetizer was big enough that I helped him eat it, whereas my entree was just disappointing. So...impressive beer list, but super expensive un-filling food.
(2)Janis W.
The service was beyond slow, yet friendly. The food was barely warm, but still good. I am tempted to go back because it's so on the fence that I think it might be very good next time. There is a $25 fixed price on Wednesdays that makes the meal less disappointing. If I had paid full price I'd be more upset and less resigned.
(3)Beth O.
The pseudo-suburban haters who miss Charlie's Ale House should be damned to Panera and Amstel Light for all eternity. Whatever. Yes, portion sizes can be un-American (they do not make me unzip my pants at the table) and the menu of microbrews, belgians and food changes frequently compared to the consistency of the former restaurant, but stay home and eat prunes if you want to be consistent. Acre deserves five stars for the service-- arguably, from Tim to the waitstaff the best in A-ville-- as well as for the food. We always try the rotating variety of tacos (the well-sauced fish/tuna/snapper are especially fresh and tasty); we love the BLT with fried egg; we lust after the fried green tomato salad on cold winter days; and Yelp doesn't even want to know what we do with the sausage plate. Acre elevates comfort food and service each time we visit.
(5)Peter B.
Best beer selection in the city, and the food is fantastic. I loved the pork burger, and the asparagus salad was outstanding (and actually pretty well sized). Our pork rillettes served with a perfect fried egg made me want one to take home for breakfast. Eat this!
(5)Matthew T.
I went here with my girlfriend and her parents for a casual weekend lunch. This former location of Charlie's Ale House now Acre uses the space well and has a delightful staff. the menu is short and to the point for lunch, which i like because i often have trouble deciding what i want from a larger menu. Such was the case with my drink selection due to the expansive beer menu. Lunch menu consists of sandwiches organized by price and had a good variety of surf and turf. I had a delicious crab/shrimp cake sandwich on a baguette. Food was great, service was fast, drink recommendations were on point. The only thing preventing a 5 star rating is how dark it is for seated customers. The bar is very well lit, but sitting at a table in the back makes you forget what time of day it is. I will be going back.
(4)Michael V.
Acre tries hard and fails pretty spectacularly. I get the feeling that they decided that Andersonville needed its own Publican, or Bristol, or Purple Pig, but neglected to figure out what made those places actually...good. Throwing random exotic-sounding things together does not cut it. I went there for dinner with a friend last night. We had been there before a while ago, back when they had two different menus. We both pretty much hated it then, but glancing at the menu last night, it looked like they had done an overhaul. They hadn't. We split the mussels and the chilaquiles as appetizers. The mussels were undercooked and only saved by the sausage in the broth. Still not exactly good, but palatable. Since the chilaquiles were offered as an evening appetizer, I expected them to be a little different than what's served at my local diner for breakfast, but sadly, that's exactly what they were. Actually, my local diner's chilaquiles are better. For dinner, I had the Amish chicken breast served on a bed of mashed sweet potatoes and kale. The chicken was well cooked, but the dish itself was pretty bland -- I've had better at hotel conference lunches. My friend had the halibut (or at least I think it was halibut -- can't remember) served with beans and rice. First of all, the whole dish was tan -- a little greenery or some sort of color would have helped the appearance at least. Beyond aesthetics, the dominant flavor was salt. Very, very salty. And that's about it -- not terrible, but certainly nothing that should command the prices they're charging. On the brighter side, the place looks great and our server was quite good. If they toss out the entire menu and start over, I may try it again.
(2)Rob K.
We had a spontaneous lunch here on a Saturday afternoon and it's a nice little place. Great selection of beers and the food was good. I had the pork burger and my wife had a beet salad with some flatbread. Service was good. They do, however, have to do some serious work on mixing their Bloody Maries.
(3)rebecca g.
I was never a fan of the food at Charlie's (their old incarnation), so I was skeptical from the onset. However, a rec from friends and talk of a new chef made me give it a try. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing, but the overpriced organic burger was terrible. Totally overcooked, tasteless, and to top it off, I was picking nasty chunks of stringy gristle out of several bites. Sorry, but if I'm paying $12 for a burger, it should be awesome! The Bacon Mac-n-Cheese was good enough, if overly creamy, with the sauce: pasta ratio way off. Also, though it was a small side, it cost almost as much as the sandwiches. The true highlight of this meal was my pricy cocktail, a Zombie that arrived with a fun flaming brown sugar cube on top. I must say our server was really awesome-- she was so down-to-earth and attentive, personable without being overbearing. I might go back for drinks, but was really disappointed in the food.
(2)David S.
Awful. Small portions, expensive, and crappy service. Yes, it's one of those pretentious places that would have been hot ten years ago. Just plain awful.
(1)Mike M.
This place gets better with every visit. I had initial problems with the acoustics but these have been addressed and now you get to concentrate on the food which is consistently good but highly varied from season to season. That might mean you miss an old favorite but it encourages you to try new things. The beer selection is extensive and bartenders are well informed. Acre is going from strenght to strength,
(4)Nick B.
I'm not going to lie, I was a little bummed when I found out Charlie's was closing. I loved their veggie burgers. I have to say I was there a good 5 times to get my burger fill. Regardless, when I heard that Acre was opening up in it's old spot I was intrigued. I took a glance at the menu outside one night and looked at the menu. Ugh. All that meat? Entrees were expensive. Pass. Regardless! I ended up stopping in last night. I couldn't resist skipping out on a new Andersonville hot spot. I went in last night for drinks and a little bite to eat. I ignored the entrees based on my original impression but I settled with the roasted potatoes, mac n' cheese (no bacon!), and my friend went with their grilled cheese. I'm going to have to say...the food was great. I loved the roasted potatoes. It was a nice alternative to french fries. Were they flavored with mint? Basil? Whatever it was, it rocked. The mac n' cheese was very heavy, flavorful, and made for a nice snack. I couldn't eat the whole thing but I enjoyed it. Finally, I had a bite of my friend's grilled cheese. Crazy good too. Rye bread? Awesome. I just had a dry vodka martini which was fine. It was a little weird that it came out at the same time as the food. I like to dive into my drink before the food comes, but no big deal. Our waitress was nice. She looked a little stressed out despite it being moderately crowded. She also took forever to grab our credit cards. No big deal though! Overall, enjoyed it. Food was great, stick with the sides.
(4)Anna B.
Pretty neat place - love the huge bar. The chicken and waffles was among some of the best I've ever had. The chicken fell off the bone and had just the right amount of tabasco to make the syrup and waffles just melt. They have a pretty good beer selection but it was mid-morning so I ordered a Beermosa. It was tasty but overpriced for such a small quantity. With the exception of the male waiter who checked out my boyfriend shamelessly EVERY time he walked by our table, I enjoyed my visit.
(3)Kendra F.
Acre is truly a GEM! We recently moved back to Chicago and I couldn't wait to get back out on the foodie scene again. One of the first places we tried was Acre, and we LOVED it!! My husband and I really like tapas-style restaurants so that we can try numerous items. We started with oysters that were incredibly fresh and tasty. All of the meat dishes were fork-tender and SO flavorful! Not one dish disappointed (and we tried several). They have an amazing selection of wine and beers, extremely knowledgeable staff and an awesome ambience. We'll definitely make this a regular stop, especially when we have out-of-town guests that we want to dazzle with some of the best that Chicago has to offer!!!
(5)Jimm C.
one biscuit topped with salty watery gravy for $12? WTF I would never return. I spoke to FB friends and they all say the same about this place, stay away!
(1)Sarah K.
Just had brunch here and it was great all around. Service was fantastic and everyone at my table enjoyed their food (trout hash; chilaquiles; chicken & waffles; pork burger). I want to come back to try dinner for sure. Like that you can make reservations for brunch.
(5)Ludwig D.
Really had a lovely time. Our waiter was very friendly and available. The food was pretty good. I didn't care too much for the charcuterie plate as I was hoping for some thin slice ham but the both the baked feta and the the bacon mac'n'cheese were great. A good addition to the neighborhood.
(4)Sherry N.
We're so sad, Acre. We were expecting more. Now I really miss Charlie's chicken pot pies. We ordered off the brunch menu today, and there was something off with everything we tried. Drinks: I can tell this is a beer place, which is great. But is it really that difficult to offer hot tea as a beverage? "We don't offer tea yet." Huh? For our appetizer, we tried the chicken wings. I think they just poured on some sauce right before serving, because these wings had no flavor that had actually absorbed into the meat. Should have been better. Our entrees: The Griddled Cheese sandwich was really quite small - the bread slices were almost heel sized. Fries were good, dipping sauce a no-go. The mushroom crepes were really pretty bland - if you're going to focus on the mushrooms, they should really sing. These barely hummed. I ordered a side of bacon, which comes with potatoes. The bacon came extra crispy - some burnt, but fortunately for me, I can do burnt. However, the unforgivable was the house potatoes. Seriously, when they set the plate down with the bacon, the presentation of the potatoes on the side looked like little log poos. Sorry, it's so true. And they were dry and really bland and boring. If I'm going to eat something that at first glance looks that nasty, it had better taste amazing. Big bummer. Positives - good service. Friendly and efficient. I am totally not a bitchy, picky eater, but Acre, we won't be coming back any time soon.
(2)Alfred T.
Acre is a new restaurant, owned by the same folks at Anteprima. While a completely different restaurant, serving locally sourced ingredients, the level of food and service is much like it's great brother--Anteprima. Wonderful combinations of perfectly prepared dishes. Unusual ingredients--I had the tongue starter last night which was fabulous. Beautifully prepared fish dishes, game and poultry, in a serene setting makes this institution a go to place. The service is subtle and knowledgeable. Graham is our favorite so ask for a table he is serving. A unique and delicious experience. Well priced, extraordinary list of micro-brewed beers make for a great time. GO!
(4)Nichole F.
While they do have a nice beer list, the service is horrendous at best and I agree with other reviewers that the space is just not comfortable. It feels very cold. And for some reason, that bathroom scares me to death. Not because it is dirty or dark. It's just cold and creepy. I only come to Acre when other places are too busy and loud and I want a quieter place. Otherwise, there are plenty of other good places nearby to go.
(2)Michelle D.
I came here several months ago with a.friend for dinner we both had the burger which changes dont quite remember what all came on it. What I do remember is.the waiter being a bit rude . It was our first time there so I.wasnt.aware of the burger changing and I asked the guy what comes on it and he got a bit of a tude with me. No complaints on the food but service made it lose a star. Not sure if i will return plenty of other places on that strip.that i enjoy with better service.
(3)Walker H.
Great space. The kid tending bar didn't know what he was serving. The beer selection is quite good, though. I just didn't get any help from the staff. As for the food, I suppose it has it's place. I had the open-face turkey sandwich. Decent enough. Though a bit strange. I'll eat here again, it's so close to my current place.
(3)Christopher K.
Full disclosure: we did not eat here so this review is purely based on our drink experience. We stopped in here for drinks after dining at Lady Gregory's nearby and saddled up at the bar. The bartender/proprietor? was very knowledgeable about their brews on tap and helped us pick out one that sounded tasty. However, he became rather surly after learning that we had eaten at Lady Gregory's and that we weren't there for food. He made a point to shake hands and introduce himself to other customers sitting at the bar but not to us. Then, after asking for our check after 1 drink he said "one and done, ok" in a confrontational tone. It was odd and very unwelcoming. Don't think I'll be back.
(2)Cameron K.
Although I live in the neighborhood, I had never been to Acre before last night. And after last night, I probably won't be back. I would love nothing more than a solid restaurant serving this kind of food at this price point, but Acre is not getting it done. Two main problems: the sound level and the food. I was looking for a restaurant to have a drink and dinner while I chatted with my friend. Unfortunately, the place was so loud we had to yell at each other to be heard. We were there on a beautiful Wednesday evening, so the windows were open. But the majority of the noise was coming from inside, not outside. There is no sound insulation in the place at all, and if you are unlucky enough to be there when there is a loud party at the bar, like we were....good luck. Most of the food was not terrible, but it wasn't great. I had the asparagus salad, which was overdressed and too salty - I think the salt level came from the bread crumbs, which were unnecessary and a little overwhelming. My friend had the beet salad, which she deemed "just ok." Then we split the chicken liver tartinas and the sausage plate. The chicken liver was passable; the sausages were terrible. Overcooked and incredibly dry, and at least one of them had an extraordinarly odd crumbly texture. We didn't finish any of the food. So I won't go back. Maybe we ordered poorly, but if a restaurant can't deliver anything better than "just ok" on four separate dishes, it doesn't get a second chance.
(2)Agnes F.
Wandering in the andersonville area on xmas eve, fiancee and i seeked refuge from the cold and snow at acre and boy did we pick a good place! richie our bartender suggested a French white belgian style ale for me and fiancee had a stout, we both loved our beer foodwise, we shared a pork burger and oyster sandwich (both excellent but definitely loved the oyster sandwich) and also the deviled eggs (yummy aioli and trout) service was good, richie was helpful and funny, we had a good time at acre
(4)Ang R.
It's probably a bad sign when you go to write a review of a restaurant and you can't think of the name of it. Sigh. Acre was our last minute choice for NYE, based on the menu and what we could find available. I'm not saying it was bad, exactly. I had a very tasty salad, but the tuna tartar was a little strange. The short rib was OK; the pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon was a little better than OK. It's just not....top notch. That's all I can think of to say about it. If I never went back, I wouldn't mourn.
(3)M K.
I'm generally not inclined to write reviews, but after reading what has been posted here I feel compelled to comment on my experience at Acre. I've been eating there regularly since it replaced it's predecessor Charlie's Ale House, and I don't go there for the beer-- although I will acknowledge that they seem to have a million different ones, and the few I tasted were rather interesting. I go to Acre for the food. It's not in my neighborhood, so getting there means driving 50 blocks. But when I get there, I know I can depend on fresh locally sourced food that tastes better than the prices reflect. I'm sort of particular about what I eat, and I go to Acre because I know it will taste like I'm in a gourmet farmer's kitchen. There aren't 100 things with ridiculous descriptions on the menu-- they are considerate enough to use plain english with acutely accurate descriptions of each entre. The servers have always been quite gracious in offering to elaborate, but it really isn't necessary if you just read the menu--it is totally b.s.-free. I also like eating weird stuff, and this really isn't the place for that, except for the occasional walk on the weird side in the desert menu(red wine gelato? um, interesting, but saved by it's companion's flavors). Acre is the place for ordering healthy foods that taste better than expected, and it's absolutely consistent! Now even though I don't drink much (yah, really) I have still sat at the bar a few times, and I want to say that the bartenders there are pretty cool. Not annoyingly hip, and not sports-bar types...they are just cool, attentive and unobtrusive. As for those millions of beers, well the names are pretty trippy, and they tasted good to me but I'm no expert in that department. So excellent and dependable food, casual and attentive vibe with fair prices--I'm going over there right now.
(5)Jessica B.
I've dined at Anteprima before and enjoyed my meal so Acre was next on my list to try. The dining space is very cute with brushed suede covered booths and nice tables that line the windows and let you stare at people walking by. But be careful about the windows in winter as they are a little drafty. A friend and I went and both had the oven roasted duck with sweet potato puree, bacon and Brussel sprouts. My duck was very delicious with a soft sauce but a few of the medium raw pieces were REALLY raw. Either way, it was good. The sweet potato puree was light and tasty and the brussel sprouts were very good. For some reason though, I wasn't a huge fan of the maple cured bacon. Normally that's a hit or me but I wasn't feeling it tonight. We also split a side of the bacon mac and cheese, which was also good because it was light (unlike the mac and cheese at Table 52) and tasty. Again, we weren't a huge fan of the bacon, which was kind of a bummer, but the dish really didn't need it, it was good on its own. I would definitely go back but I don't know if I would run back there. The menu rotates seasonally which I like and there were a lot of dishes I would have loved to try but there wasn't a huge pull for me to run back. But the food was good, service was nice and it was a cozy place. So I would recommend it!
(3)Matt G.
As someone who liked Charlie's I definitely wanted to give this place a try. Pros: Really extensive wine & beer list...very good selection and reasonably priced Cons: the food menu has some really good options (although my friend pointed out not too many vegetarian options and no more turkey burger) but it is a very small menu. The ambiance is really nice, I guess I'm just disappointed about the smaller menu.
(3)skip l.
We come for the food! This is a great place for folks who love experimentation and variety. And who admire chefs who can combine imagination with "locally" grown/produced ingredients and with a discriminating sense of taste/texture. There, I've said it. There are strong reviews of Acre's beer selection -- which friends tell me is, indeed, wonderful -- but few emphasizing the food. That's why I'm writing: Acre has become our place specifically for fascinating, highly varied, high quality dining. Can't recall if I've reviewed Acre before, but the key is a very skilled, imaginative chef and a menu that changes daily. There are some continuing items, but the emphasis is on change. We just returned from a wonderful brunch. Our party split the steak and eggs, the pork burger (a fav), a salmon sandwich, and the biscuits and gravy. All were knockouts. Let me just focus on one: the biscuits and gravy. This had no resemblance to the gooey white mess which (I'll admit, lovingly) that such menu items usually represent. At Acre, the biscuit is split in half, each side topped with a piece of chicken sausage, and covered with dark brown and meat-laden gravy, spilling over the top and onto both sides. This design keeps the biscuit moistly firm and chewy, nicely ready to absorb the gravy but not until the time is right. We also had a very good cucumber, tomato, and pine nut salad with a white cheese, and a grilled octopus appetizer (another fav). We love the deserts as well; today I had a raspberry creme brule with brandy ice cream, a fine combination. Do dishes ever "miss"? Of course; with such variety and experimentation, how could that not happen from time to time. But in our experience not that often. As for service, we've never had anything other than friendly, attentive service. Evan, who we see often, is especially enjoyable, happy to chat and answer questions, check on ingredients (we have allergy issues), and when asked, to provide his own recommendations. Other waiters have been similarly helpful and friendly. It's that kind of place. Downsides? Acre can be a bit noisy when crowded. And the cocktail menu is not inspired. They had a winter drink with maple syrup that simply didn't work; the syrup did not seem a good match with the other ingredients (and separated out). But, as I said, we come for the food. And even in Chicago, with so many wonderful choices, that's what keeps making Acre our most frequent and consistently satisfying choice.
(4)Larry B.
Great atmosphere and beer list and menu was innovative. However service/attention to detail was lacking and the main entree portions are incredibly small and overpriced. Stick with the burgers, which were delish and a value.
(3)David G.
Wow. Friends recommended Acre for our anniversary dinner. We weren't expecting much from our neighborhood restaurant. But the wood grilled pork ribs were... the best ribs I've ever had! Beet salad, risotto and Trout hash were all excellent as well. We were also pleased by the reasonable prices and very friendly staff. We'll be back soon.
(5)Sean C.
Stopped here after dinner and after Hopleaf on our way back to the car. Walked in after peeking through the windows. We loved the bar atmosphere, which I thought was classy yet casual, felt refined, not too loud. You could tell the clientele was not pretentious, nor there to get hammered. Felt the bartenders were personable, knowledgeable and friendly. Could have a conversation without yelling over one and other. My wife loved the dark wood bar and backdrop against the whitewashed walls. Would go back for a nice & relaxed drink. Well done ACRE!
(4)A D.
Stopped in to ACRE for a late lunch on a Friday. Some people were walking out and my friends and I asked what they thought - they said it was good, great beer selection - so we were sold. Not sure what some of the bad reviews are for the waitstaff, but we had a great experience. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. We actually sat outside in the "Ombra" seating area. It was nicer and since they own it as well, they gave us the go ahead. I got the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich and it was sooooo good. The homemade ketchup was good too and I'm not a big ketchup fan. Salty and delicious. Beer was great. I went back again a couple of wks later and had the Pork Burger. Also very good. I would definitely recommend this place. Not sure how they do when they're super busy (both times were pretty empty when I was there), but I had good service, good food, and good beer. :-)
(4)Bradley M.
Good beer list, but that was the highlight of the night. The atmosphere was pleasant, but the service was subpar at best. Very unprofessional in general. Took a good 15 minutes to see our server, and he was not present at the table. He never asked once how our food was. We had two courses so this seems unacceptable. The fried green tomatoes were pretty good, but a rather small portion in general. The beet salad was just on this side of inedible. Way to many beets, and low quality beets. For a salad that features beets, I expected much better. Hardly touched the beets, and the server never asked why. The skirt steak was flavorful, but again small portion and overpriced. Ordered medium rare and got medium well at best. We left hungry, which is never a good feeling when doing a multi-course dinner. When paying $70 plus, you expect to at least leave with a full stomach. Some redeeming qualities, but overall a dissatisfying experience. Doubtful I will be going back again, except perhaps for a small appetizer and a beer.
(2)Julia F.
On the hunt to try a new brunch spot in Andersonville, I ventured to the recently opened Acre on a Sunday afternoon. While the lunch and dinner Yelp reviews are quite mixed, brunch delivered a savory, eclectic mix of food paired with friendly, prompt service. Using ingredients from local farms, the brunch menu offers up small appetizers ("snacks and sides") and well portioned entrees ("faves"). Local Metropolis is the brew of choice, with the server keeping our coffee cups hot and filled. The trio o' pastries (snack) promised a cinnamon roll, lingonberry preserve pastry, and coffee cake but, somewhat disappointingly, came with a lemon poppy seed muffin in place of the roll. With wonderful bakeries like Swedish Bakery in the neighborhood, there's no need to spend money and calories on this trio of baked goods. A savory alternative to the usual brunch fare, the creamy yam crepes (fave) consisted of the slightly sweet, mashed vegetable wrapped in thin pancakes and topped with sliced mushrooms. My red meat-loving dining partner opted for the brunchburger (fave), a tasty but heart attack-inducing meal of two beef patties, bacon, fried eggs, and cheddar cheese on a buttery croissant (accidentally spelled "crossaint" on the menu). Neither overly cutesy nor laborious, the American bistro brunch dishes uphold the Acre chef's claim to "buying the best, doing the least, and letting the ingredients be the star."
(4)Smilz S.
I loved the smoked trout and I asked for vegetables instead of french fries, and got this excellent cucumber salad - with peaches and tomatoes.
(4)Matt D.
We used to hit Charlie's Ale House, probably once a month at least. It's in the neighborhood, and it was consistently decent. Not great mind you. I actually think the casual atmosphere of the old Charlie's was what drew us back to it. It was never packed, and you could just walk in and sit down. The staff got to know us, and hell we could show up in lounge pants and a sweatshirt, sink into one of the booths and just chill. Last night went to the new version, and experienced Charlie's 2.0. A wait to eat? yep. Packed? mhmm. 2 different menus? unfortunately, yup. We had a friend in town, got seated on the bar side (whatever they call it: pub/tap room), at a high top table. Stools are actually quite comfortable. It was so loud at 8:30 you really had a hard time hearing each other. The high tops are right up to the bar that was 2 deep all the way around. The lights are super dim, but the paint color (which i don't care for) and the unfinished walls (?) give it an odd hazy like low lit vibe. They took out all the booths from the non bar side, and it's stuffed with little tables. To the food. Bar side = 'sammys'. Which to me is an odd dichotomy. Class up the place and get cutesy with the menu? Anyway, WAY better than Charlie's. I had the goat burger. Super great. Lemon yogurt on it, cooked perfect, a real dare i say artisanal bun, with great handcut fries. Wife had the ahi tuna on rye with side of veggies (that actually tasted freshish). Our friend has the For the rabbits salad, which looked great, and the Turkey Pastrami. All were satisfied. And the beer list, well, Charlie's had taken steps to improve theirs. This one is super. By 9:30 we could hear each other, and all in all enjoyed it.
(4)Paul S.
Now normally when I sit down, read a menu, and have no idea what they are talking about, I look for ways to leave...you know, forgot my wallet, need to check my car, chew an Alka-Seltzer tablet and drop to the floor foaming at the mouth, etc. Despite reading things like "swiss chard" (huh?), "robiolo" (come again?), and "stinging nettles" (WTF?), my wife and I put our pallets in the hands of the chef and were pleasantly surprised. We shared the beet salad which was plated separately for us to have our own portion. My vegeterrorist wife had the "griddled" cheese and I had the "braised chicken leg". I'd love to tell you what it came with but honestly have no idea except to say that everything worked together in harmony and not a morsel was left when we were done. The fries my wife had (and I poached when possible) were perfectly seasoned and crispy. Lastly, we shared the chocolate cake with milk chocolate stout ice cream - yep, you read correctly, there was beer in the ice cream;o) Oh did I forget to mention that this place has a pretty amazing beer menu too? No Budweiser or Heineken here my friends but the staff will point you in the right direction if you tell them what you like. This was a good meal and experience. One word of warning though, the later you arrive the louder this place will be so if you are planning on doing anything but smile awkwardly across the table at each other, use sign language, or yell at each other (which I get enough of at home) get their a little early. Not early-bird special early but somewhere in the 6pm - 7pm range should work...
(4)Nicholas W.
A great Belgian selection and range of delicious food. Oh and the look and feel of this place is awesome. Very well done! I'll definitely return. Perfect for a Sunday brunch before checkin' out the Andersonville shops.
(4)Ryan G.
I went into Acre for lunch after passing by it countless times when wandering down Clark. I had heard it used to be an average neighborhood bar before it got its gastro-ish pub renovation. Pros: The interior is beautiful and the large, wooden bar is stunning. I remembering thinking how fun it was that they had thrown up old tractor seats on their walls. While their beer selection is not as vast as Hopleaf right down the street, it is very impressive and far reaching. The service was also attentive and friendly all the way from the manager who seated us to our server. Cons: The food menu--while somewhat impressive on paper--failed to deliver on all counts. We ordered the deviled eggs, the rainbow trout sandwich, and the ham panini. The deviled eggs were a little dry for my tests and our sandwiches were just as flavorless as they were sad looking. Additionally, I was surprised my trout sandwich was served cold, making me think the trout wasn't freshly prepared. With two beers, this all came to $40, a price that we both felt wasn't deserved for what we received. Verdict: While Acre has a great ambiance and beer selection, their food needs a serious upgrade before I consider returning. You can't run a restaurant without good eats. Period.
(2)Diana J.
I have been wanting to try this place for a while, and got my chance this past Sunday afternoon. The space inside is very big and lovely, and we arrived before the lunch crowd, so it seemed even bigger. The menu is a little fancier than I expected, but I knew it wouldn't be inexpensive so I debated between 2 entrees and ended up choosing the Chilaquiles. I did not have a beer since I was sick, but my BF did have one, and even though it took 15 minutes to get it (with no other patrons inside the restaurant), he liked it enough. The BF got a pork sandwich and it was pretty good. It was a huge portion with a large side portion of fries. My chilaquiles = not so good. I did not go in there expecting authentic mexican cuisine, as that's ridiculous, but I did expect my $13 plate to be good. Or at least complete. They left the cheese off of the plate, which pretty much sucks. So I asked the server to bring cheese, but it took another 15 minutes (at least) for the "check-in" to see if we were ok and the cheese didn't really mask the mediocrity of the dish. They ended up not charging me for the plate, as I only took a bite and didn't eat the rest. The BF was happy with his sandwich, so maybe it's a hit or miss kind of place and you just gotta hope when you go it's a hit.
(2)Sean H.
Horrible service. I am in Andersonville right now waiting for a store to complete an order, so I have a few minutes to kill. I haven't been in here since it was Charlie's, and I wanted a beer. Walk in, sit at bar. There are two bartenders. Five minutes go by, and the first bartender hasn't even made eye contact - she is too buy gabbing with her friend sitting at the bar. The other bartender, apparently, thinks it is more important to clean and rack mugs that it is to help a customer sitting the bar. Note - other than the friend that the first bartender felt was more important than me, I was the only other person at the bar. I thought about making a snide comment to get their attention, but you know what... I shouldn't need to do that so I got up, put away my laptop, and left. I am now sitting at Starbucks killing time, with no plans to ever enter Acre again...
(1)Abby G.
Interesting Menu that changes frequently. I was concerned I might not find something I would like but I found one choice that was exactly to my liking, the short ribs. 2 of my friends had the same and we all agreed they were excellent. The forth had something different and for the life of me I can not remember what it was but it was good. The atmosphere is comfortable and tastefully decorated. We will definitely go back.
(4)Bryan W.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Fresh ingredients and a seasonal menu. The brunch burger on the weekend is awesome and the kids love the pancakes. The dinners I've had here are also outstanding. The service is normally excellent. Plus they have a really great beer selection. I live in the neighborhood and this is definitely one of my go-to restaurants.
(5)Adam R.
Got in on a Saturday night w/o a reservation, ordered apps, great food and great service.
(5)Andrea B.
Went for Sunday Brunch with an out-of-town visitor who fancies himself a foodie (read: eager to try, hard to please). Service and food were both good-ish. For the money, I would just as soon have gone to Potbelly up the block. Just not good enough for the price. It wasn't a horrific experience, but i don't think I'll be back.
(2)Greg H.
Still not sure what the owners were thinking when they redid Charlie's. It's no longer a go-to destination in Andersonville, in my opinion.
(2)Matt P.
I went liquid here ... and their beer selection was pretty great. I'm not sure what our server's name was, but he never steered me wrong when I asked his opinion on what to drink. I didn't sample any of the food, but it looked pretty killer.
(4)Rodrigo K.
Went here for dinner with my partner a couple of weeks ago. Both of our dinners tasted just fine...nothing spectacular, but good. The problem though was the ridiculously tiny portion of my entree risotto. Seriously, it came in a bowl with a very wide rim and it barely covered the bottom of the bowl...for $17. I left the place starving. I've eaten at plenty of very high end restaurants and seen a lot of small, beautiful portions, but this was insulting.
(2)Sean H.
great bar and great beer selection...food was top notch as well. I had one of the best pork chops I've ever had on Saturday night.
(5)Stephen F.
I've been here a couple of times since the change over from Charlie and for the most part I like the place. The food is very good thou the table I was at didn't get their entrees at the same time and the food was on the cool side. The service was very good. The beer selection is excellent with the one exception is they don't carry a single cider which baffles me. But overall a solid place.
(3)LeAnne K.
I don't write many reviews, but I feel I need to give Acre the credit it deserves. My boyfriend and I discovered this place about a year ago, and I have yet to be disappointed. We usually come in during the week, around 6 or 7pm. The seasonal menu ensures the freshness of the ingredients, and I personally love the $29 prix fixe menu available during the week. It really is a great deal because you are able to choose any appetizer, entree and dessert off the menu (even the chef's specials). The octopus seems to be a mainstay on the app menu, and it is crispy on the outside, seasoned wonderfully, and tender inside. The salad it is served with is laden with fresh veggies and delicious purees and sauces. I enjoy the beet and goat cheese salad as well. Since the menu varies day-to-day, the components of the salad vary, but it always comes out fresh and delicious. This week we had a goat confit appetizer, which was awesome. It was formed into a cake (think a goat confit crab cake). It was lightly seared, giving it a delicate pot-pie-esque crust, served over fresh peas and greens with mint and lemon. The chef brought it to us, and came back to get our feedback. A really nice touch. I have had the amish chicken in the past, and it was tender, juicy and full of flavor. Most recently I had the pork tenderloin (twice in the last week, actually), and even though the chef prepared it differently, both dishes were perfect. The cut of meat was was well-seasoned and not at all dry. The accompaniments complimented the meat without taking away from it. My boyfriend is addicted to the pork burger. I do not eat burgers. I don't like the grease and salt. I enjoyed this burger. It's not greasy. The saltiness of the provolone and bacon combines perfectly with the sweetness of the blueberry jam, and the brioche bun is soft and fresh. The catsup served with the fries is prepared with molasses and I think lemon. Apparently someone complained about this to the waiter. I thought it was creative and worked well. The bread pudding was great; not too heavy. The pineapple celery sorbet is my favorite. The raspberry, vanilla and almond ice cream trio was a perfect end to our meal. The service is always attentive and helpful, especially Mike and Shoshona. We are definitely drinkers, and the bill is usually a little less than $100. The portion sizes are perfect. Sometimes there are leftovers, sometimes not, but we never left hungry. We will definitely be back. Again and again.
(5)Michael S.
The owners of Charlie's Ale House tried again - and failed again. The food was bland and uninspired. The food took twice as long to arrive as it should have. The only thing that was good was the service. They are the reason this place even gets 1 star.
(1)Alf O.
Good food, service, ambiance, character. Nice fit with the Andersonville scene.
(4)Bethany L.
So after writing one of the few complimentary reviews of Acre, I have to come back and lower my rating. I went for the second time a few weeks ago and did the prix fixe once again, and this time it was... meh. The deviled eggs were good, but I like Lady Gregory's better. The fish was boring. And the desserts were really interesting - cherry cobbler with sour cream ice cream, hell yeah! - but just mediocre. They still have an awesome beer list, but I don't know. You can do better in the neighborhood these days.
(3)Daniel Y.
We have been to Acre a few times now, and have never been disappointed. They have an excellent craft beer selection on draft (including our new favorite, Bell's Hopslam) and good food. We loved the sausage platter app, which is perfect with beer. The pierogi app was tasty, but the portions were very small. Their regular dinner/lunch menus are not extensive, which to me is one of the few drawbacks. But I would definitely recommend their Brunch menu (11-3 on Sat and Sun), which includes the delicous brunchburger (girlfriend had and she loved it). My SW burger was very good too, including the homemade ketchup. The service each time we have gone has been very cordial and attentive. Their recommendations have been spot on as well. We will continue to frequent Acre, not only because it is within short walking distance but because it ROCKS.
(4)Gina T.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. I went here in the fall and sat outside since it was still warm. Sitting outside was perfect because all the people walked by. The food was fantastic. Everything there is fresh, seasonal, and I believe for the most part organic. The service was great too which is so important. Our server knew the menu, made great suggestions, made wine pairing suggestions, and had a great sense of humor. Everything from apps, to entrees, to dessert was delicious and I can't wait to go back! Also, their menu changes periodically in order to provide the best ingriedients.
(5)Milo M.
The burger is mouth watering! Double patty (bonus!), seasoned to perfection on a buttery bun, just the right amount of saltiness. I would prefer the shaved carrot and radish on the side, so I could focus on the fine quality of the meat. Also, be sure to ask for a side of Mayo, it is like a lightly tangy lemon aioli, when dolloped next to the house made spicy ketchup is a secret sauce made for the gods! Lots of appetizers to choose from, like chorizo tacos, pate plates, fried oysters etc... Some of the items may startle you (e.g. lamb heart, etc...), since their concept is not wasting any part of the animal. I agree with this philosophy and they are bravely ahead of their time standing by it and I WILL try it soon (I hear it is delicious). Perhaps they could make it more accessible in bite sized samplers during happy hour or something. (FYI- Same owners as Ante
(4)Heather M.
This place is a great new addition to the neighborhood. Their pork is amazing, and they have a nice wine list as well.
(5)Reginald J.
Don't come hungry.. Over priced salmon and tomato salad. Portions are ridiculously small for the price. Service was good, but that is far as it goes.
(3)Mike G.
Save your money. I use to go to Charlies Ale house weekly. In the last couple years the owners did a good job making sure the quality of food improved. Not the case with Acre. The service was slow, the burger uncooked, and menu was sparse. Go back to fountain sodas, a single menu, and your original concept.
(1)Lisa P.
I wish I could give this place 2 separate ratings. I'll start with my first. 4/5 for Dinner The bf and I went there for dinner one random week night. It was awesome. Great waiter, great food. We were so excited to find a place in our new neighborhood that was so good. When you spend over $100 on dinner (no, it's not cheap), you get a $20 gift certificate for brunch that has to be used in the next 30 days. That was fine with us, we were excited to try their brunch! 2/5 for Brunch We went for brunch about 2 weeks after our dinner experience. The restaurant wasn't even a quarter of the way filled. Waiter seemed ok at first, nothing super special. Their brunch menu features many of their dinner menu items. We ordered a starter and drinks. I then proceeded to watch our starter get served to the table next to us, where the woman sitting said, "We didn't order that, but it looks good. We'll take it!" The waiter, I guess expecting we'd gotten our food, didn't check on us for a good 30 mins. He'd walked by MANY times and then, finally, came back to let us know that our food would be out soon. We got our starter and ordered our mains. When I received the fritatta I'd ordered, I was extremely disappointed. It was paper thin with a few quartered potatoes thrown to the side. On top of it, we had 1 coffee refill in TWO HOURS. Seriously, we've gotten better service at the Golden Nugget when they've been busy. I have no problems with a mistake being made, but if I could figure it out, I'd appreciate some sort of apology... it's only good customer service.
(3)Ross M.
Finally went in to check out Acre and I was completely blown away by the food and beer list. Their Wood-Fire Baby Octopus app. was THE BEST octopus I've ever had. Dinner was delicious and inventive and I really appreciate their commitment to locally-sourced food. Our waitress was very attentive and sweet. We'll definitely be back!!
(5)Hillary B.
I've been to Acre three times, and the proverbial "three strikes you're out" takes precedent here. I wanted it to be great because I love the other the Italian restaurant they own down the street. Unfortunately, the service was terrible, the atmosphere was stark and loud, and the food was cold all three times. :-( I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Kate W.
I didn't really like Charlie's Ale House when it was around, but coming to Acre made me long for Charlie's. Acre is pricey with really strange lighting and a dark atmosphere. I came here for a drink with a friend and the wine I had was $11 and totally fine, but for $11 I expect at least good or even great, not just fine. Maybe the food would have been redeeming but we didn't stay long enough to find out.
(3)Alaina N.
Dinner here wasn't extremely memorable - especially being my finance's birthday and the wait staff climbing on ladders basically on top of our table to turn off the fans. HOWEVER, it redeemed itself with am amazing brunch! The chicken and waffles are the best I've had...ever. Good coffee, bubbly mimosas, great brunch spot hands down.
(3)Ben H.
We had high hopes for this new incarnation of Charlie's Ale House, having been underwhelmed there a few times and living right in the neighborhood. The menu appeared to promise the sort of creative locavore, farm-to-table, etc. cuisine that other Chicago restaurants have done so well with. Unfortunately, the effort seemed half-finished at best, more style than substance. A somewhat random collection of charcuterie seemed chosen more for novelty value than commitment to quality or taste. We ordered the rabbit and duck leg from the "dining room" side (the other option was taproom or something similar with a selection of "samiches"). Both were quite tasty, though the duck was a bit too salty. The appetizer had one hit and one miss: grilled figs with no grill marks or caramelization and a lackluster cheese pairing, and a refreshing citrus green salad. The beer list aimed to impress with a number of hard-to-find and seasonal microbrews on tap, and the short list of cocktails had interesting flavor pairings and unusual ingredients. While the Swedish fizz (something with lingonberry) was delicious and slightly tart, the pear ginger cocktail tasted like margarita mix. The desserts were okay, but the coconut creme brulee was clearly just a custard and not actually creme brulee; tasty for coconut custard, but not what was promised on the menu. The space was the biggest problem. The cavernous room jammed with tiny tables made for awkward seating- I actually had to move the table aside to get out of my seat, and nearly dumped our neighbors breadbasket on the floor trying to squeeze between tables- and a noise level that, according to the server, causes the staff to lose their voices by the end of a night. (Apparently, acoustic tiles have been ordered, which should help somewhat.) Overall, I love what they're trying to do, but they seem to be aiming a bit higher than they can reach right now. I may go back in a few months to see if they've worked out the kinks.
(2)Michael C.
Bring back charlies! Overpriced and mediocre food. So many other choices in the neighborhood. I wouldn't go back.
(1)Lynn M.
Ok ok. The more I go, the more I am a fan. It's been a different bar menu the past 2 times I have been there. I think they change it weekly, as the date is listed on the bottom. I had an amazingly flavored amish chicken dish which came with peapods. It was everything I wanted for some comfort american food. Again, the flavor was awesome- simple but outstanding. My hat is off to the chef.
(5)Joe L.
Great beer selection, food is absolutely terrible.
(2)Lauren K.
I went here for a late lunch with a friend. The beer list is awesome! We had a new waiter that wasn't really on top of it. I didn't really like his recommendations. I went with a BBQ slow-roasted duck sandwich. The waiter came back and asked me if I wanted the regular or BBQ (only the BBQ was on the menu and I asked for the BBQ. He brought me the regular one. But, one bite in and I was not going to send it back, it was so good! It came with a side of fruit which I liked. The redecorating inside was really cute. I will go back.
(4)Kyle H.
Ooh wee, looks like we should've checked out Yelp before going to Acre. We had two $20 gift certificates from spending a lot of money at Anteprima the week before (which was very good). It was very nice of them to give us two, it's only too bad we were only allowed to use one at a time... Because I don't think we'll be back anytime soon to use the second one. Our waitress was super nice, and a trip - what a winker! I am a sucker for anyone who winks when they talk to me. She was super hilarious, but this didn't remedy the fact that the floor is obviously just not run very well. All of the servers seemed like they were really busy - but the restaurant was no more than half full. There was obviously something going on behind the scenes that we were unaware of. I'm guessing the problem may have laid with the kitchen - as our food took approximately an hour to come out. All of us, being in the food service industry, are very accommodating to kitchen f-ups and whatever else... don't know if everyone else knows this, but if it's obvious that your mediocre experience is NOT the fault of your waiter DO NOT TAKE YOUR ANGER OUT ON YOUR SERVER. Leaving crappy tips for crappy experiences that are not the fault of your waiter is UNACCEPTABLE. If you're that unhappy with your experience, talk to a manager to maybe have something taken off your check - do not be the passive aggressive a-hole that stiffs an innocent waiter when they did nothing wrong. GOT IT??? That being said, the experience was mediocre, the service was fine, I didn't have any beer, although I hear it's great. Perhaps they'll be able to improve. I hope so!
(2)Marlo D.
What on earth is wrong with this restaurant's average on Yelp? I've only enjoyed two meals at Acre--one in the late summer and one last night-- but they both were fantastic. Last night, my dining companion and I ordered off the extensive daily specials menu, and we were so pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the concept and execution of each dish. Interesting, tasty, and well prepared food was married with outstanding service. I could not ask for more for a Tuesday night dinner at a neighborhood place. Acre is certainly above average, and I'm truly distraught that its Yelp average does not reflect that.
(5)Amy L.
I just wanted this to be better. For what it's worth, I'm willing to give Acre another try. However, there's some work to be done. The decor looks exactly like Charlie's Ale House. Except, it's the weird bad dream version where everything is in shades of gray. We sat in the "Tap" side, so this will be a review of the food offered there. We started with the deviled eggs. The accompanying greens appeared and tasted premium and were beautifully dressed. The deviled eggs were nothing special but I love deviled eggs "special" or not. So, we were off to a good start. Then, we shared the "Red Romaine" salad and the "Vegetable Pot Pie". The salad was supposed to be an anchovy dressing but had zero taste of anchovy. I'm still wondering if the guy on the line gave me the wrong dressing. It was just okay. A nice amount of peeky toe crab, which I appreciate...but still lackluster. The vegetable pot pie was dry dry dry and needed more vegetables. That being said, the beer list was great and our server was very friendly and efficient. I'm just a bit disappointed. I was so excited that Andersonville was getting a new restaurant focused on beer and good food. I never thought Charlie's was anything to go out of the way for. However, at least they did what they did well. Acre seems to be reaching for something more than they, as yet, are able to accomplish.
(2)Frank T.
We were what you would call 'regulars' at the Old Charlie's Ale House. Now that it's Acre, that time has come to an end. The new folks running it have modified it into a space using some paint and a new kitchen staff; from one with neighborhood feel, atmosphere and cheer, and turned it into a Tap Room. Yes, a Tap Room due to the hand drawn beer I guess? Yes, the beers and wines are the same for the most part though the latter are poured in small wine carafes. But what has turned this place into a spot a lot less neighborhood-like is the bar menu. It's a restaurateurs attempt at customer culture change. They kept much of the staff and I'm grateful for that. It's the menu that changed and that's another story. We ordered three items. First, we received a small portion of feta cheese and herbs in a small cast iron pot. It was warm, but nothing to rave about, but the price. Then, came the "Griddled" Cheese samwich (their spelling, not mine). What can I say? It looked more like finger sandwiches (my spelling, not theirs) than something you'd get at a bar. The fries were good. The last order has an introduction: I looked at the menu and chose "Cold Cuts" because I like antipasto plates and thought this was one. What I thought was to be and what they actually served was not even close. Not by any stretch. I got blueberry compote, a small portion each of sliced sausage, terrine, and pâté with mustard (stone ground, of course). What no cornichons? Nope. No cold cuts? Nope. No bread? Nope. I asked for that separately. It was good, but a disappointment just the same. What's wrong with simple fare? It's a BAR! Not a dining room. Not a tasting room. Not a gustatory experience - a B-A-R! I guess nobody will know my name at Acre, spelled p-r-e-t-e-n- t-i-o-u-s.
(3)Annika Y.
Slow service, questionable food.
(2)Laura W.
I previously alluded to longing for a mojito equivalent and they have it! ~ the Smashed Goose. Yum.
(4)Steve F.
Awesome appetizers, burgers, beer & service!!! We had the smoked trout, beet salad, fried oysters -- all were incredible... One of the better burgers I've ever had -- and their housemade ketchup was one of my favorite things... Our wait person, Shoshone, was very accommdating... We will definitely go back.
(5)Julie P.
Decided to try Acre last Saturday night shortly after landing from a two week vacation in Europe based on reading the first couple of Yelp reviews. My aunt and I decided to start with just appetizers instead of getting entrees. We had the deviled eggs, meatballs, beets, flatbread, empanadas, and the eggplant side dish. All were delicious. The deviled eggs do have rainbow trout, so if you aren't in to fish you may want to pass on these, but I thought they were pretty good. My favorites of the evening were the empanadas (salsa had a nice kick to it) and the meatballs. And the service was great! Will be visiting soon to try more!
(4)Kearby K.
Are you people kidding?!! This is awesome. I love everything I get to eat here and I love that they still have Miller Light and i love the interiors. I do not know what else you could ask for- sure you can miss things about Charley's but don't hate on this place for taking over the space- Its fully different. its a big step up. Brunch was amazing too but please don't everyone come and make it hard to get a seat!!
(5)Anthony Z.
Went for lunch during the week and had a good sandwich, so when friends from out of town were visiting on a Friday evening, we decided to make dinner reservations. BIG MISTAKE! Clams served as appetizer were almost all closed, which should never be served; the chef should have never sent this out, and the server should have caught it. You can easily get food poisoning this way! Took over 90 minutes to get our overall crappy appetizers. Risotto apps were very small servings for such a long wait. Kitchen was obviously overwhelmed, and was secondarily very inconsistent. Server spilled water all over my friends bread plate, and did not bother to clean it up or apologize. Servers did not seem prepped at all, in both the menu and the wine list. I was really embarrassed to take my friends to this place. Really sad, particularly since the new interior is so nice.
(1)Kelly D.
I went to Acre last night for the first time with 2 friends. We chose to dine in the pub side of the restaurant, and it was packed. I understand that new restaurants need time to work out certain kinks, but really bad service and ice cold food shouldn't be one of them. Our waiter immediately identified himself as a trainee, to which we jokingly feigned horror and disappointment. Sadly, he did not exceed the tiniest of our expectations. The one bright moment of the evening came at the end of our meal, when, after having sent back not only a drink but an entree due to it being cold and fossilized, the trainee had the gall to ask us how everything was. We could barely control ourselves long enough for him to walk away before bursting into laughter. One of my dining partners started experiencing gastric distress before we even left the building, and continued to suffer for the next couple of hours. I hope this place gets their act together, and fast, because otherwise, they are doomed to fail due to zero repeat business. As we walked out, I stopped to chat with a table of diners who all had untouched plates of food sitting in front of them. They were also victims of the trainee and had no silverware with which to eat. The expressions on their faces were priceless as they sat and watched their dinner get cold(er). My recommendation is to wait about 6 months to try this place, if they make it that long...
(1)Alison O.
My girlfriends and I have dined at Acre twice for Brunch and both times it was pretty good. My one problem is sometimes the servings are quite small! While none of my food was small portioned, quite a few of my girlfriends plates were. The two things I had at Acre over my two visits were the brunch corn cakes and the porkburger. The corn cakes were really good, except I wouldn't necessarily call them corn cakes, it was more like a large slice of corn bread. The flavors were really good though and it definitely filled me up! The porkburger was definitely the best I have had there and it looked like the best that anyone had! Very good flavor and a very good portion! We also all had Bloody Mary's, which were good as well. Service went well both times and the ambiance is just as I would expect at a bar/restaurant. If you want a good atmosphere and good service, I would go to Acre. If you are really hungry and want a big meal, I would not go to Acre.
(3)Karl Z.
For the masses: The food is okay. Nothing bowled me over. I like the grilled cheese with mushrooms, but it's too small and too pricey for what it is. I had the steak the other night and I must say, once it hit our table it was cold and that ruined the meal. The plate needed to be heated. I did like the first wave of custom cocktails (especially the fig syrup one!), but those are gone now. I had a Honey Dipper cocktail the other night and spent the meal picking peppercorns (the garnish) out of my mouth and ended up not finishing the drink. Overall, I'm not a fan of the changes. The food seems to be fairly bland, sometimes cold and the presentation is nonexistent. It looks like they're just putting things on plates instead of offering some sort of visual experience. Nothing that dramatic, but if I pay $9 for a grilled cheese I shouldn't get it and instantly question spending that much money. The runner that brought our food out for both occasions messed up "who had what" and that was a bit irritating. The servers have all been very nice and friendly and seem to truly care about my needs, which is nice. I was also told by a server that the reason they're changing their cocktails again is because the bartenders just can't make the custom cocktails very well. It's still a fun place to go and sit in the bar area and grab a pint. The energy is still good and people seem to be having fun. So, I want to be honest AND offer some critique/advice for the owners. I used to love going to Charlie's Ale House for both the atmosphere and the food. It had that "Cheers" feeling to it and that was what I really liked in my neighborhood. Now, I'm all for change, but I feel that if change occurs it must have purpose and presence and I feel like Acre missed this. I like the changes to the aesthetics and understand the concept moved to more organic and locally grown ingredients, but honestly, restaurants in Chicago that "are" that are a dime-a-dozen. You can't rely on that being your marker for this new venture. You have to bring something more; something better to the table (no pun intended). I feel this is what needs to be done in order to elevate Acre's presence to something unique and noteworthy. I think it's time to up the ante and make Acre something even more amazing than ever thought possible. For now though, I have to say it's just riding the fence below average overall.
(2)Jeff G.
I have to admit I wasn't sure I would like Acre. I loved Charlie's Ale House and really miss it. However, this restaurant's menu has gotten me to try things I normally would not order. How about their Mac'n Cheese with beef stripes on top - yum! And their beet salad (I think its a salad) was really good too. We are not comfortable with change even though it is usually inevitable- so at lease Acre is a good replacement.
(4)Erica B.
This place is great! I've been a couple times for just drinks at the bar but finally had dinner there. I and another member of our dinner crew did the pre-fix for $25 and we all loved what we ordered. They try to buy local and make as much in the kitchen as possible - even things like their sausage. Our server was fantastic! Super friendly and attentive. He had great recommendations and made sure that we were enjoying our evening. I will definitely be back.
(5)Christine J.
I ordered the mussels as an appetizer and have to say i was quite disappointed in the quality of their ingredients. The broth itself was quite tasty. Obviously someone in the kitchen knows what they are doing. But they had no business serving those rubbery tiny mussels that were obviously frozen.
(2)Laura D.
Awful dinner! We have lived in Chicago for 3.5 years, and this is by far the WORST meal we have had. Starting with the "salmon deviled eggs," which had not a trace of salmon in them, moving on to the "artisanal greens salad," which was as best I can tell dredged in salt, and on to the main course -- a pork chop which was so gristly I couldn't cut it with a fork and steak knife (and what was cuttable was just fat). We sent it back, which the waiter did politely, but then this enormous thug from the kitchen came out, not to apologize (which is what they do at a decent restaurant), but to demand to know why we didn't like the pork chop, in what I would describe as a threatening manner. We ended up substituting pierogies for the pork chop (less risk there), but they were nothing more special than you could get at the frozen food section. This place might be worth a try for a beer, but I would not go for food. Too many great restaurants -- and too many in Andersonville alone -- to spend a dime on this dump.
(1)Nate W.
Sat outside today and had a table next to hedges that made for a nice barrier to the hustle and bustle of Clark street. Nice setting for a late summer Sunday brunch. Two things made this a pretty average experience - service and the actual food. Our waiter was pretty much a downer. From the overall service and his attitude/response to us, it seemed that waiting the tables was the very last thing he wanted to be doing at this point in time... I wanted to tell him, "hey man, cheer up. this isn't really that bad." The food was definitely not great. Brunch Burger was swimming in grease, not all that tasty, and had a hair on it. Flat bread pulled pork thing was pretty good... but how wrong can you go with BBQ pulled pork? Might go back for drinks sometime... they have a pretty huge beer selection. Would probably pass on the food.
(3)Morgan S.
Acre is by far one of a favorite places to be and a welcomed change from the mediocre Charlie's Ale House. The menu is now Farm-To-Table and usually has many adventurous items on it. They also have an amazing beer list that focuses on American craft beer and is backed up by one of the best cicerone in the city.
(5)Jon C.
Charlies Ale House was much better. The new atmosphere is terrible and I will not be going back again. The Bloody Mary's were terrible, no "real" ketchup exists here, no ice in the water they bring you, the pop is in a bottle and is annoying, but the server was very nice.
(1)Padraig J.
Psssst. I've got a secret: this place is NO WAIT for weekend brunch in Andersonville. And they shouldn't be. They do a decent job with the food here. We had mushroom crepes, fancy french toast, a bacon and mac&cheese ap all tasted pretty good, if not as complex as they could be. The beer list has expanded considerabley, and the Metropolitan coffee was excellent. Charlie's will always be missed, and no the new decor is not an improvement. Those burnished wood booths were half the reason to go to Charlie's. And so was that comfort good menu they had. Instead we'll settle for another restauranteur's swing at hip- yawn- that misses by a long shot. Bistro tables under globe lights the size of German shepherds made for a curiously bright eating area where once it was dark and cozy. The waiters have weird get ups that match the grey trim. I suspect it was all just to up their price point., and cram in more tables. Which in this economy who can blame 'em?
(3)Sparty S.
This place is NOT an updated version of Charlie's Ale House. If you are a gourmet type, you will probably like this place. But if you are like me, and like the kind of place where you can go get good ol' American food that is excellent every time (like it was at Charlie's) you will be extremely disappointed. First of all, the dining room and the bar have totally separate menus. I am not a super picky eater, but I did not see anything on the dining room menu that interested me. Between the names of the dishes, and the ingredients, it just seemed way more complicated than it was worth. Therefore, we opted for the bar menu. And I use the term bar menu very loosely. My friend ordered a salad that was something about a rabbit.... arugula, apples, walnuts.... that type of thing. She asked for grilled chicken to be added on and they couldn't do it because they only have whole chickens and there wasn't a way they could get just the breast on the salad. Seriously, what restaurant doesn't have chicken breast to put on a salad?? I got the chili. Not bad, not amazing.... I wouldn't rave about it to my friends. I could get a similar chili prepared from Whole Foods. Maybe I'm just sore about Charlie's being gone, but even if I'd never been there to have something to compare Acre to, I wouldn't be impressed by Acre at all. Compared to Charlie's, this place makes me feel like I should be drinking my wine, pinky up. I can't even imagine what this place is going to be like in the summer. The only positives I saw in this place was the booze selection and the prices. Decent beer and wine list. It's no Hopleaf (nor will it ever come close to giving Hopleaf a run for it's money) but it's has a pretty good selection. The prices for the "bar" menu are pretty reasonable. We walked out paying $22 for the baked feta appetizer, whatever rabbit salad my friend got, and my chili. It was worth it to try this place, but I probably won't go back, unless it's for a few drinks. Maybe I'm not the target demographic, but after trying Acre they should have left Charlie's as Charlie's.
(1)Lillian W.
It was not clear to us that there were two menus - the bar room and the dining room. We went with the dining room. The room was well set up; low-lit, romantic. The staff was very friendly. After a lot of going through the menu (not many options for vegetarians!), we finally decided on what we wanted... and it all was very delicious. A bit pricey, but probably worth it.
(4)Jeff N.
This place is great and dog friendly (outside eating area). The menu changes daily and it's good each time. Service is good, some menu items are better than others but after eating there like 10 times, I think the place is great.
(4)K W.
I wasn't impressed by food: very few choices, super salty, boring, and just not good. The place was also VERY noisy. Decor is nice, very "Beekman Chic." ACRE is new, so maybe they will figure it out. Bottom line: 10 minutes after arriving, I couldn't wait to leave.
(2)Angie P.
Decent place, but something is a little sterile about it. My dish was delicious, but methinks this place needs more of a vibe.
(4)Heather W.
This place is a welcome change to the neighborhood. I disliked the food when it was Charlies. The bartenders are fun and friendly. Food is excellent. It's a great place to stop in for a beer and lunch. Love it.
(4)Kristine L.
I've always enjoyed my dinners here, and the service, particularly this past visit, was really good. I'd say Acre had it's awkward moments as it was taking off, but I'm really glad they changed it from Charlie's, which I didn't really ever like much. I'm also glad they switched to a single menu instead of forcing you to literally pick a side (two different rooms with different dining concepts), which was annoying and limiting. The style seems to be contemporary American with a little twist on some dishes. From the ever-evolving menu (changes seasonally, and with availability of ingredients), I've tried a great lamb entree, a perfect pork shank dish, a porkburger with blueberry jam, a tasty beet salad, really great fries, and a beef tongue (!) appetizer. Nothing hugely inventive, but more interesting than a cobb salad or chicken tenders. Everyone I've dined with has had an awesome-looking dish, well-presented, and well-received on the NOMNOMNOM-meter. Beer selection is extensive and impressive, and I didn't mind a little beer snobbery (No Stella! LOL). Our server was knowledgeable and offered honest opinion when we asked questions, had a sense of humor, and was really cool when we did the mildly annoying (I know it is, bc I used to have to do this uugh) "could you please split up our bills" thing. Only complaint on this last visit was that no one came by to clear plates, so we had some awkward extra/finished plates and glasses we just pushed into the middle of the table, and that my friend didn't get her side dish and our guy suddenly got too busy to notice (she was comp'd for the side though). Oh! And the week I went, they were running a limited time special fixed-price deal that was too good to pass up! $25 for an app or salad, an entree, and a dessert! With some entrees running 18-26, it was a great deal and an excuse to try a starter and a dessert! I hope they do it again! So in the end, it's no Charlies, which I am A-OK with, but if one is expecting Charlie's, then they will be disappointed. It's not the most mind-blowing place ever, but I've been content with all my experiences so far, and have recommended it to many of my clients in the neighborhood.
(4)David C.
I went here again this weekend and this time it was not as good as the first visit. I guess its a hit or miss. My friend enjoyed his meal... mine was just ok... not bad... not good... just OK... and a bit over priced for what was on the plate. I will try again.... if its good I will continue to go... if not I may only visit when friend chicken is on the menu.
(3)Toni G.
I'm not great with writing reviews, so all I can say is that this place was surprisingly delicious. We went on a weeknight and took advantage of the $25/person deal (includes choice of appetizer, entree and dessert). I highly recommend the pork chop with apple chutney. And even though the apple-turnip salad didn't sound appealing, it was fantastic.
(4)Katie M.
While there are not a lot of choices at Acre, the food is very interesting and all the ingredients, although sometimes unusual, seem to compliment each other well. I had the Peirogi and the Veg Risotto. The risotto was amazing but you do not get a lot of food, so don't come to Acre hoping to get a lot for your money. It was pretty delicious though.
(4)James M.
I've been here a few times since they reopened as Acre, and had OK service/food in the past - but had a really bad experience recently. We had a gift certificate/gift certificate for $20 off our bill, which explained restrictions on the back and ended in "Sat/Sun - brunch only." So, we assumed this meant if it was not Saturday or Sunday, we could use the coupon. Nope. No, no no no no. The manager, or owner, whoever he was, told us that we were wrong, that we should have read the signs at the front of the restaurant on our way in (I didn't check, but I didn't see this on the way in). He also did not apologize - but rather said "sorry that you feel that way" (and FYI - that doesn't count as an apology) when I explained that it was pretty clear that we should be able to use the coupon. That was probably the best part. Oh! And he said he had a family to feed - which was apparently part of why he was not accepting the coupon. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think these are all generally REALLY BAD things to say to customers. The thing is, I'm not really that fussy, I'm easy to please, I respect when people work hard and treat their customers well - and if that happened I wouldn't have written this. The kind of treatment I received was a major turn off, which stinks, because this seemed like it would be an alright, local place to eat. I just feel bad for the waiter that had to clean up the mess after the manager left - but, for the record, I think the waiter was great. And the food was fine.
(1)Celtic B.
A solid 3.5 stars. Very nice wine list by the bottle or quartino, as well as a decent offering of craft beers. Had the Beefburger with fries, it was excellent - beefy, big with excellent on a tasty kaiser style bun. I've been to several of Chicago's burger "lounges", and these guys are as good. if not better than most of them.
(3)Michael M.
What has happened to Acre? Visited this evening and was dissapointed by a poorly prepared Beet Salad (used to be dynamite, now tastes like canned beets), and smelt that could have passed for Andy Capps - Cheddar Fries. Grilled cheese was a bore. Beer was a bit WARM. Hey, resturants have off nights, but this makes two in a row. Get your head out yo ass Acre.
(2)A M C.
I was someone who thought that Acre had a really rough start, but I am glad I waited and gave it another chance. We now eat here about three times a month, on average. My favorite thing to do is get an assortment of small plates to share. I have brought several guests here, and they have all liked it. in general, I don't think it is overpriced for the quality of the ingredients, though some items can be better values than others. They do trout particularly well, and I often order that if it is on the menu. Their wine pours are extremely generous and fairly priced.
(4)Jim P.
It's just ok. I was a little disappointed in the fried clam appetizer it came and was really weak - mostly french fries with a few pieces of clam. I had the griddle cheese, average at best. The restaurant is really nice looking so I expected a little better.
(2)Jorge M.
I was super hungry and a lot of places are close around 3pm, you know the annoying time between lunch and dinner. I thought I would it a try since the old restaurant there was pretty good and I loved their chicken pot pie... Anyway... I had the Pork Burger and it was very good, even thought I really didn't taste the blueberry sauce, which I believe it was just jam... The fries were crunchy and fresh, however I like my ketchup and/or ranch... Their house? sauce was weird and didn't taste like anything, thanks God I was lucky unlike other eater and they had ketchup! The boyfriend had Mac & Cheese, he really liked it and I did too, but we both agree that the portion was a bit small for the price. They had a nice list of beer and wine, I will come for another burger, but they work a bit more on their menu. By the way service was pretty good.
(4)rich m.
I went their on Saturday night with my family. We had the beet salad and sausage plate to start. These were both excellent. Then we moved on to the burgers and skirt steak with all the sides. The food was so tasty and fresh. The sides were delicious. I really liked the corn. The service was fantastic. I highly recommend this place to eat dinner and enjoy the sports. Plus the beer choices are excellent.
(4)Nik P.
A group of friends & I came to Acre for drinks and possible light dinner. When we entered the restaurant, there was only one other group & people at the bar, so we didn't have any problem snagging a table for our party of 7. Our server touched base, got drink orders & disappeared for 15 minutes. No worries - we weren't in a rush & were having a great time catching up with each other. After drinks came, we ordered meals.... And once again, our server disappeared. The food had been delivered by a member of the kitchen staff and nearly consumed before our server came back (mostly due to members of my party flagging him down for more drinks). Over the course of 2 hours, we saw him 3 times. Everytime the server came back, it felt like we were being inconvenient asking for drinks or the check. Bottom line? The service was the worst I've had in the city. When we had to ask another server and the bartender for our check, our server came back nearly 10 minutes later to hand it to us with a $20 off coupon for brunch to apologize about the wait - for the entire group. When we said we needed to split the check, he told us we should have told him when we arrived and that he couldn't help us out. The service was awful and unfortunately overshadowed any of the good food and drinks we had that night. Other reviews here on yelp seem to have differing opinions but our experience was awful and we won't be back. Good luck if you check it out.
(1)Michael H.
Hmmm...after my first visit I am not really sure how I feel about this place. We just stopped in for a drink and an appetizer to check it out. I ordered the plate of sausages with potatoes. It was okay...kinda bland. they have an impressive selection of beers on tap but far too many "sipping beers" for my taste. The bartender was nice and attentive but the atmosphere made me feel like I had to make sure I was quiet. I can't exactly put my finger on it but maybe it is just a little too classy for the the likes of me.
(3)R L.
You have to love a place where the waiters stare at your table but do NOTHING to help you... Just beyond rude"
(1)Missy B.
This place is over-priced and silly. The decor is pretentious, as are the menu offerings. I know Charlie's, which it replaced, wasn't the best--the food was okay to good, but the place itself was special. It was cheerful, warm and inviting. With its pictures of historical Andersonville and Edgewater, it was a place I enjoyed being--I felt like I was part of a real neighborhood, with a unique history. Acre, on the other hand, is painted in cool tones, with few pictures on the wall. I think the restaurant hasn't changed owners since it was Charlies, so I really don't understand why they made these changes, or what vibe they were going for. Acre seems to pride itself on being indistinguishable from any other yuppy restaurant. I did go there to eat once, last Christmas, because I realize it is shallow to hate on a restaurant just because you find the decor so purposely banal as to be offensive. The food was fine, but the portions were small and expensive for what you got.
(2)Matt G.
Acre is a vast improvement over Charlie's Ale House. The food is much better, the beer choices are incredible, and they kept the same hot blonde waiter from Charlie's so that made the dining experience all the better. My only complaint would be the price to portion ratio was a bit high, but it was otherwise a tasty experience in a great atmosphere all the way around.
(4)Jennifer M.
I'm starting to really like this place, I've been a few times but I've only eaten one thing. The bar has a pretty nice beer list and it's a large bar so seats are usually available. I find this place so much more appealing than Charlie's Ale House (which I avoided). There are several things on the menu that look tasty and the bartender told us that the menu changes often based on what fresh ingredients that chef gets in (I think there was some sort of bison heart app on the menu at the time). We opted for the tuna ceviche. It was good and I'd recommend it! If you're in the area and Hopleaf if too packed - give Acre a try!
(4)Susana D.
The dining room balances out the tap room well. The "bucatini" string beans are about a foot long, but they're prepared well with onions and tomatoes. The fried olives stuffed with blue cheese and served with strawberry aioli are...interesting. The salmon is reportedly well-seasoned, and trisotto is a stand-out--complex flavors and not too much salt, but the best part of the main course was the sunchokes gratin. Served in a little cast-iron ramekin, this came with gruyere and was an outstanding and unusual treat. The pear-chocolate tart stands out among a nice variety of desserts.
(4)John F.
Ambitious menu - but I am not sure they really know what they want to be. I prefer Big Jones if that is who they think their competition is. It is disappointing since Anteprima is one of my favorite restaurants - maybe I expected too much. Don't give me a menu and then I go to order a beer yet you are out of it (it was featured the day before). Also, the dinner menu did not match what was online - so in both cases give your patrons updated menus online and in the restaurant. I mentioned it to the host on the way out and was told that the office manager was out today and didn't update it. Not my issue. The new interior seems a little stark. I do hope they succeed but this was not really for me.
(2)Matthew C.
neighborhood staples are a chicago must. there's piece in bucktown, wilde in lakeview and for me there's acre in andersonville (hopleaf is great too but more of a bar, to me at least). i love acre because no matter if it's a tired tuesday evening after work a double date w/ my boyfriend - - calo always feels fresh, intimate and casual with an eclectic and delicious menu. THINGS I LOVE: i LOVE how their menu changes everyday. their pork burger is a must. their bar looks gorgeous - massive mahogany table. the owner is there every night and not only says hi but buses tables, gets take out orders and works respectfully with his staff. gorgeous lighting. THINGS TO WATCH-OUT FOR: some - not all - of the wait staff are absent minded and forget about half the stuff you order. because of the constant menu changes there are a lot of disconnects between wait staff and kitchen - items wait staff say are included in a dish aren't really included, etc. but all-in-all you forget about all those watch-outs as the atmosphere and eclectic menu have you really enjoying yourself - and better yet - your company.
(4)Qadree H.
We stopped into Acre with minimal expectations and left delighted. We had a great server that started the evening off right. Normally when you go to places that say they buy locally but you can't tell. You could definitely tell that Acre was truly using fresh ingredients in their food and it shined through. It is definitely worth stopping in to check out the scene.
(4)Mike A.
The atmosphere is fit for a fancy night out and the drink list was substantial. The pricing on the drinks and menu fit the motiff well. The menu was sparce but our food arrived quickly. Problem was it was pretty terrible and substantially over priced. I had the fish tacos and my gf had the vegetarian tortellini starter. The fish tacos only had squid not a combination of fish and squid as I had assumed by the name. They were not great and the tortillas used were horrible. The tortellini was decent but only gave about 3 or 4 small pieces (for $11). Overall, def. take your business elsewhere. I will never be going back.
(1)Mathew O.
This is a review I was hoping not to write. The service was poor, food average, prices too high, and he NEW decor is boring at best. The concept of local seasonal food is great, unfortunately Acre misses the mark. Hope they can get it together fast. We went on Sunday and the restaurant was empty. I would not recommend this restaurant at this time.
(2)J G.
Granted we went to this new place about two weeks after the opening; it's a great place if you like a lot of noise, slow service and a raw pork chop! If not, you might want to stay away. Much improvement over the years and now a fan!
(4)Louise O.
Three strikes and you're out. This place is so bizarre. In fact it's like entering a Bizarro World. It doesn't know what it wants to be - the menu has no clear direction or motif. Where's Chef Ramsay when you need him?
(1)jim h.
ok i'm writing this review not to be an ass but because i want to like acre and i think if it improves i'd definitely go there. i love ante prima so was expecting a lot. i did not get it. here's the deal. the interior is cute enough. i like it. the menu has potential, but falls short. the first warning sign was that this supposedly locally sourced, seasonal, farm to table type restaurant there was seared tuna in the appetizers. and it had an asian flair. i know seared tuna is very popular (i love it too) but if your vibe is to be farm to table you seem like an imposter. that theme kind of continued. i ordered the chicken flatbread and "winter" vegetable soup. the topping on the flat bread was ok, the crust was not. it had the flat boring taste of something store bought and not cooked enough. i think i would have really enjoyed it if it weren't for that crust. i put the "winter" in quotes for the soup because that seemed like some attempt to sound seasonal. i was expecting some delicious root veggies. parsnips or sweet potato or something. it was just veggie soup. like the kind you get at a diner. and that is exactly what it tasted like as well. the ingredient seemed fresh and the veggie chunks were nice and big, but ultimately it was just regular old vegetable soup. the one saving grace was the dessert. i really liked it. my fellow diners had a similar experience. all dishes were lacking and didn't live up to the promise. acre, right now you seem to be trying unsuccessfully to ride a trend instead of actually contributing your own point of view or take on food. you kind of feel like a copy cat. if you could get your act together i would definitely come back. until then... go here for drinks and dessert. skip the food.
(2)Linda P.
Visited last night for dinner and had a lovely time. The outdoor seating is a great place to people watch (and dog watch!) The wine list is expensive, no bottles less than $33. It would be nice to have a couple of selections in the 20's. But the bottle we did select was very nice. We tried several of the small plates, the eggplant was excellent as well as the chicken liver. The meatball special had a good sauce but the meatballs were on the bland side, needed more punch. The waitress touted the grilled octopus so we ordered it but had to send it back as it was very fishy tasting. It looked as if it had not been cleaned properly. We tried the hamburger and the grilled cheese. Both were good, the fries and house made ketchup was the bomb! Skipped dessert in favor of the ice cream shop next door. Good decision, the ice cream was great, they carry the Chocolate Shoppe brand from Madison, WI. Others have complanied about the service but ours was excellent.
(3)Elaine B.
Now these were some tasty vittles! I got to taste the mac and cheese, the hamma hamma oysters, the beef burger and the pork burger. Both burger were comprise of two cooked to perfection patties and sides of really good fries. All you have to do with oysters is make sure they are fresh and these were really nice. I'm not really into bacon in my mac and cheese (I know sacrilege) but it was tasty. The night did not start out so great though, both of my original beer selections were 86ed as I sat there waiting for our server, Jeremiah to bring them. That was when the bartender sent over a tasting to see if I would like one they still had plenty of on tap and it was a winner. So all in all a great dinning experience. We'll definitely be back for more.
(4)Maggie C.
This place is a great improvement on Charlie's Ale House. The decor is crisper, the menu is better, and the bar choices are more extensive. I actually went here because of a Tweetup in the area. The owner greeted us and was more than happy to tell us about all the changes that he made to the establishment. My friend and I ordered the deviled eggs as our appetizer. They were delicious and I loved the arugula that it came with. I also ordered a sandwich that had melt in your mouth pork, avocado spread, pineapple and Swiss cheese, I was sad when it was gone :-( the French fries were good, but the ketchup that came with them was thin and too fruity... They should have stuck with good old Heinz. My friend ordereda beef shank sandwich with wait for it... Sour cream. She let me try a bite and the beef was tender and not chewy and seasoned perfectly. Someone by me also got a cheeseburger that looked so juicy. The owner also gave us their dining room menu and the options there looked great and creative. I definitely want to try the grilled figs.... Yum! The service was decent. He was very attentive but did forget to put in our order of deviled eggs. However, in his defense, we were part of an event that included lots of mingling.
(4)D K.
We thought we'd try Acre after seeing the brunch menu. All in all, our experience was a D+. We ordered the romaine salad and the chicken salad sandwich. I would make a larger sandwich for a toddler. If you're anorexic, the portions will be just right. Or if your stomach is the size of a walnut, this is your place. Service was not unfriendly but also basically non-existent. It's always annoying when you have to flag down the host to ask for the bill because your server is hanging out with the bar tender. I'd say skip Acre...the experience and the food is really not worth your money.
(1)Jessica F.
Food is ok, not great. Small portions for a big price. I won't be back.
(2)D. J.
The beer list is good, but when a party of 4 of us went to the bar area, we were told by the bartender to wait for a server. A server never showed up, so we had to return to the bar. It was a few beers, not a complex order. The Maitre d' had to take the food order for one of our party. More of us would have liked to eat, but the kitchen fries the potatoes in the same oil as the seafood, so allergies prevented us from ordering more.
(2)Scott A.
This place shares a store front with a restaurant called Ombra. We stopped in Ombra, an Italian Bar, for a drink and app. Really great cocktail and appetizer. Italian bartender, super friendly. Then we walked next door to Acre and sat at the bar. The bartender might be the most knowledgeable person I have ever spoken to about beer. He made great recommendations for what we ordered. We ordered 3 apps: The clams, sardines, and calamari. And we split the pork burger. All were very good but the pork burger was truly unique and very delicious. The atmosphere at Acre is relaxed and although it's Farm to Table cuisine, there's nothing too precious or over done. It's a place I'd feel comfortable to watch the game or go on a date with my wife. My only complaint is that the temperature of the room was very cold but it was adjusted. The place is very clean and you get the sense that a lot of effort and thought goes into the menu with high quality ingredients.
(4)Tamara D.
Fantastic local fresh food. Even the kid's grilled cheese is the best I have ever had. I'll eat here again the next time I am in Chicago.
(5)Josh J.
My friend and I stopped in for a sandwich and fries, but we stayed for the prix fixe menu ($25 for a salad or appetizer, entree and dessert, Sunday through Thursday). This place is not an after thought of Charlie's Pub. There is much more of a focus on food here, though Acre has a massive selection of beers. I liked the decor. I think it's going for a "sophisticated farm" look. I was warned that the menu rotates often but here is what we had: Roasted Beet Salad with Blood Oranges (well presented, delicious and generously portioned) Bay Scallop Ceviche (also generously portioned and delicious) For entree, I had the Pan Seared Salmon that came with cous cous, almonds, dried cherries, mint, preserved lemon yogurt. The salmon was prepared well and was an average portion size. This dish alone would not have filled you up. My friend had the cornmeal crusted fluke which paired very very well with the smoked andouille sausage (made by Acre), red peas & rice. This was a bigger size than the salmon entree. For dessert, I had the chocolate cake with homemade chocolate stout ice cream. It was good, but not as good as my friend's white chocolate creme brulee.
(5)Dan G.
Went there for lunch. Place was formerly Charlie's Ale House and is now an establishment that serves eclectic American fare. The pork burger was to die for and so was the grilled cheese sandwich. I didn't like the bloody mary, but everything else was great. Will definitely go back and test out there dinner menu. I will miss Charlies, but looking forward to having Acre in the hood.
(4)Thea V.
Nice neighborhood spot. Cute interior and nice food. Our service was reliable as well. Though I wouldn't say this is a destination restaurant... somewhere you plan especially to go to... I think if you are in the area and looking for a casual but not boring meal, this is your spot. Good drinks too. 4 stars because it is nothing you haven't seen before but is good at what it does.
(4)Alvin d.
a well-needed re-vamp of the Ale House in A-ville. We went on opening night hence can only speak to the bar area for now. Menu looks great, this slightly updated and "fancier" american pub food, kind of this locally sourced, comfort food, farmhousey vibe. Food tasted very good, grilled cheese, the fries, the burgers, the turkey samich and selection of apps. with positive review from the group. It's reasonable. Draft beer selection is a good thing. Space is still casual, but a bit sleeker. Service is A-ville appropriate, nice with a flair (the gay kind). Will give HopLeaf a run for its money.
(4)Duncan S.
Still a little undecided on Acre. The craft beer range on draft is quite good. The wine by the glass selections are a little underwhelming. Service can also be a little on the patchy side. At the bar it is usually fairly outstanding at the tables or booths - usually miss. The food is just OK without blowing my hair back. Crowd fairly mixed from the young to the old. The venue has a nice enough feel, a little upmarket food vibe with a casual bar, but something is missing and maybe a little confusing on what Acre is about.
(3)Jenna P.
oh, acre. things i love: beer selection, size of the wine servings (1/3 bottle for what you usually pay for 1 glass), the long bar and cozy booths, typically inventive salads and even some delicious flatbreads and other apps. not a fan of: service can be spotty, house made ketchup is iffy. mainly the occasionally iffy service.
(4)Anne S.
I am astounded that there are so many not so glowing reviews about Acre! I was enticed into going from a friendwho told me about their many beers on tap... Ive been there twice and loved (almost) everything both times. The first time I wasnt super hungry and made the mistake of ordering both a small plate and a bowl of chili. LOVE their chili. Kiiind of wish I could get a bowl every day. Anyhow, ended up with a burning mouth (spice wuss) and a two cups of extra chili. No problem, Chili mac as leftovers the next day was just as superb! My small plate was the mac and cheese with bacon and lamb heart. Not a fan of the heart, wasnt expecting to be, but now I can say I tried it. Getting rid of Aztec breath after meal = not so easy. Desserts change every day, grab the pineapple pie if you can! We were fighting over it! Server was great, very helpful and conversational as it was our first time there. Second time, brunch. Brunchburger and Chilaquiles. And a Beermosa (let it warm up a bit first!). AH MAY ZING! The brunchburger is everything i love and shouldnt! Meaning: butter, fat, and cholesterol. Croissant, burger, bacon, over easy egg. I really didnt want to share my other half, but if I didnt give it to my guy, i wouldnt get any chilaquiles... so i made the sacrifice. Had to get extra sour cream and eat fast before the spice caught up with my lips, but it was so worth it! Not an everyday place for me to eat because its pricey, but you do get your moneys worth. Great food, awesome beer selections.
(5)Johnny A.
I really want to like Acre, because besides Hopleaf down the road, there is not too many selections in the area for good beers and good eats. The first time I went here was on their first day of operation under the new name, (this used to be charlies ale house, same owner i hear).. ... my experiences were all down hill from here. The burger was GREAT, fresh meat, cooked to my liking, the beers were awesome, the service was.... well , i would rate the service if there was.. wait... where did the server go.. .. hello.. over here.. seems like they are always understaffed. I went here on a weekend and waited 20 minutes for a drink, after i ordered it. They had 2 bartenders for the whole tap room and restaurant. Orders were flooded and they seemed like they could NOT keep up with the demands of the thirsty patrons waiting to be wined and dined. Came here on a Sunday for a bloody, I've had better bloody Marys as well, and at 8 bucks a pop, and a small glass, and no beer back/chase offered?? this last visit is ,sad to say, my last. i give them 2 stars, the quality of the food is great, and like i said the beer list is awesome..just need to work on service...good luck chuck!!
(2)Betty D.
I have visited Acre twice and been very pleased both times! The first time was on a weekday evening for the $1 oysters on the half-shell. Delicious and what a bargain! There were four of us and we also ordered drinks, wine and some appetizers and were pleased with everything we ordered. Service was great! My second visit was for Sunday brunch. The food was very fresh and delicious and the service was friendly and prompt. The deviled eggs with smoked salmon were fantastic. My Amish chicken sandwich was wonderful. The chicken had a nice, grilled flavor. Fries were homemade and fresh, not greasy. Even the ketchup tasted homemade! My only suggestion is to add some non-meat, breakfast items to the menu. We ordered lunch items because my husband doesn't eat meat and the breakfast menu was extremely limited. We love eating out for breakfast but we would probably not return for brunch unless more non-meat breakfast items are added to the brunch menu.
(4)adam k.
I've never had a good experience with the staff in these restaurants. Here too our server was inattentive and not very enthusiastic. We tried to ask about some of the beers and even changed our order based on his recommendation, and he brought the wrong beer. For a beer themed 'tap room' I thought the beer list was short and overpriced . The food is not particularly paired very well and as others have said it is underwhelming at best. Which is fine, nothing wrong with a good neighborhood bar and resturant that can feature a good beer and burger for $10, which Acre is definitely not.
(2)sarah c.
I feel bad that this place gets such mixed reviews! This is our favorite neighborhood spot. We live in the area, so it's super convenient and fun to come by for drinks frequently. They have a great variety of bottled beer, and they usually have some pretty awesome tap selections. I admit that sometimes the food can be hit or miss, but they do change the menu all the time, so they're not all going to be home runs, I guess. Most of the food that we've had there (baked feta, salads, soups, burgers, etc) has been really great. I will continue to be a regular here, and I hope they grow in popularity so they can stay in business...!
(5)Barbie G.
7/13/11: Since I blasted Acre when they first opened and needed to work out some problems, I thought I'd update my rating now that Acre has greatly improved. Gone are the separate menus, and hello to great food. I'm updating my 1 star to 4. --------------------------------------------------Â----------------------------------------- Poorly managed! Two friends and I went to Acre for the first time last night. Granted, we did not have a reservation, so gladly accepted the offer of first available in only 30 minutes. We were seated on the Pub side. Little did we know that there are separate menus for the Pub and Dining sides of the house. Now, if you've ever been to the space, you know that the back of the rooms actually connect, right? It's not like there are concrete walls and barbed wire fences keeping you or the servers from one side or the other. Of course, we were given the Pub menu, but because we had heard about the great food on the Dining menu, we asked to see it. The server only then informed us that we could not order from the Dining menu. Reason, the kitchen likes to keep things separated between Pub and Dining. What? Are you kidding? Nope, this was confirmed by the overly perfumed general manager. What the WHAT? No amount of persuading would enable us to order from the Dining menu. Why the big fuss you ask? Pub menu = grilled cheese samich, Dining menu = duck. Need I say more? Needless to say, voices were raised, gestures were made, and we ended up walking out. Advice: Take a look at what an extremely successful restaurant owner like Rick Bayless does at Frontera and Topolobampo -- you can order from EITHER menu. Rick doesn't care, he just wants you to enjoy his food and for you to have a great time doing it. Oh, and try letting your patrons know about the rules of ordering. It's kind of an important thing, dontcha think? You betcha! BTW, we walked down to Big Jones, got seated immediately, and had a great meal. Acre, get over yourself.
(4)Made N.
oh my - what a find this was! we headed out to "In Fine Spirits" for some wine/cheese/small plates, but it was too loud for my liking and desire for a quiet wind-down on a friday night. We wandered about and ended up with Acre as the best option. Both vegetarians, this place had a few decent options on the menu which weren't Italian in nature, so seemed like a good bet! I was extremely impressed. First off, they list the farms from which they get their produce, which is awesome (and meat, if i was into that - this place is better on that front that 99% of other meat-serving joints, so i'll give them that credit for sure, even if I won't eat it!). we had caipriinhas (sp?), risotto, two orders of roasted egg plant with tomatoes and feta (appetizers - so incredibly tasty, we reordered - best eggplant of my life), and a fried egg/lentil patty concoction. i haven't been this thrilled with food quality for a very long time (since mercat la planxa probably, last summer) and I'm already so excited to recommend it to my conscious-eater friends! I will most definitely be back and chatting it up to anyone who's interested in good quality food. I can't believe this place only has 3 stars on yelp, per my impression, it should be off the charts. I can't vouge for the beers, but our drinks were tasty, though we initially hankered for a margarita which, disappointingly wasn't on the menu, but a caipirinha is a damn good alternative - enjoyed it MUITO :) I only gave it four stars because the part without the window/wall open was rather loud (quieter on bar side with walls open to sidewalk) and also because there were obnoxious large screen televisions up behind the bar, which is just totally unnecessary for a place with so much emphasis on food. And in response to other reviews, our server was lovely - friendly, but not obtrusive and on top of things, and cute as can be (South African? not sure, but cute and with an accent besides, so no complaints at all.
(4)Matt J.
Holy Freaking Awesome Batman! So I was with my friend Britt on one of our Sunday Brunch excursions and we couldn't figure out where to go, started walking down Clark in Andersonville and could not agree on a place. That's when we said holy crap, Charlies is gone! We were both a little depressed to say the least, not that Charlies was all that good just that it had been there forever. We decided to try it out, at first it was a little odd being in Charlies but not being in Charlies. The decor has switched to Black and Grey which is odd but grows on you. The menu is a little on the small side especially when compared to what Charlies used to offer, but as they say good things come in small packages. My friend had the Breakfast Burger and I had the Harvest omlette and a bloody mary. The 1st bloody was a little on the spicy side, the 2nd was 10 times better because I squeezed the lemon that comes with the drink and mixed it totally changed the drink for the better. My omlette was outstanding. I always worry when getting a goat cheese, tomato, & spinach omlette that it will have no flavor. This was not the case, extremely flavorful fresh veggies that were a party in my mouth. I got a chance to taste the breakfast burger and was very impressed with the quality of the meat. Acre has become by far my favorite new brunch place and I can't wait to try the dinner options. Ces La Vie Charlies, long live Acre!
(5)Michael H.
Consistently decent food. Very reliable! There is always something new on the menu and the food is always nicely plated and perfectly cooked. Service seems more than a little eccentric and I'm not sure we've ever had the same waiter twice but it's a well run kitchen and we've always enjoyed our meal.
(4)Tom W.
Reluctantly came to dinner there from an invite. Charlies was a fine place and I always appreciated it. Not sure why the change to a bland, all grey boring decore. They need a serious change in bartenders with more professional people behind the bar. The drink I ordered was terrible and the bartender didn't even know how to make the very common drink my friend ordered. When seated, our server was very good. Very attentive and friendly. Appetizers were decent. Entres very disappointing. I have no intentions of ever going back voluntarily.
(2)Bryan C.
Woah big buddy, this place blows! I'm a big 4 star yelper and it is quite rare that I ever feel the need to write a review like this, but I couldn't wait to stress my distaste for this establishment. You can attempt to discuss the dreary paint job to distract you from the price you're paying for a grilled cheese that you wouldn't feed your dog, but it probably won't help. The only word I can think of to describe the burger is "wet." I won't go any further. How one manages to make a three cheese mac and cheese without any flavor is beyond me, but they pulled it off quite nicely. Their beer list is somewhat impressive I suppose, but its not that difficult to find a specialty beer on Clark Street. The service started out OK until our server was tragically faced with more than one table. The prices are outrageous. If I'm going to pay $18 for a beer, its going to be at Hopleaf where they are highly knowledgeable of what they serve, not Acre where our server didn't know his ass from a hole in the ground. Even the menu was irritating, with a salad named "For the Rabbits," and an app called "Nibbles," - who wrote this menu? So to sum it all up: the atmosphere is unwelcoming and boring, the food is the absolute worst of Andersonville and the prices are ridiculous. I wasn't a huge fan of Charlies, but I sure do miss it now.
(1)rachel c.
If you are into lamb heart, pork belly, or smoked trout with a side or ramps, escarole, or delicious frites, then this is the place for you. Unique, interesting, and delicious menu. The restaurant is huge- used to be Charlie's Ale House. Not sure if it usually fills up, but was only half full at 8pm on a Saturday night. This is not the place for fast service. Go if that doesn't bother you, and you have time to kill with some good friends.
(4)Corey B.
After two visits, I'm holding steady at 3 stars. Service both times was a bit spotty and inattentive, almost annoyed that we were there. Two different servers on both occasions. The wine and beer list are ample and the food menu is very appealing, however, the execution of some of the dishes is where they run into problems. I had a shrimp sandwich which barely filled the bread--which was stale--and my side contained an ingredient I specifically mentioned I had an allergy to. Easily remedied, but I hate wasting food which is why I mention it. One the second visit, I wiped my memory clear of my previous experience because I WANTED to like the food this time. Looks like a foodie place, but just couldn't execute like a foodie place. My friends and I ordered five dishes and wine/beer. The dishes were all just ok. Things were either too salty, overcooked (beef tartare - well done?!) or were drowned in a citrus-y flavored sauce as if they were over-marinated. Also, the garnish on everything was exactly the same - not terribly creative. Again, great drinks, but it isn't enough to bring me back for more than a quick after-work drink.
(3)Lethe X.
First time here, met a friend in the late afternoon on a Saturday for something between a snack and dinner, so we ordered cocktails (had an old fashioned and a sazerac and both were good) and split an order of sausages (excellent!) and the risotto (a wild mushroom one that day, and served with the taste and texture exactly right). The food was good, the service was good, the place was cozy and comfortable. BUT (and this is the reason I don't give it more stars) the pricing across the menu was unrealistic, and for that reason, I probably won't be back. Sadness.
(3)Tim F.
Lived up to the hype. The service was warm and attentive. We opted to try a variety of small plates and apps rather than entrees and we were rewareded. The tomatoes in the Tomato Salad were excellent and fresh. The ceviche was fresh and vibrant, but perhaps to large a portion for a "small" plate. The grilled octopus was outstanding, tender and fresh. We also enjoyed the grilled shrimp app and the terrine of salmon. The wine list was excellent with a lot of diverse choices by the glass. And for beer fans, this is a must-stop, with a comprehensive beer list unusual for a restaurant of this caliber.
(4)Eli R.
This place has been on a down trend in my view. I first went there a few months after they opened and liked it a fair bit. Next time it was not nearly as impressive. A recent visit was just not good. I don't know what happened in the kitchen, but at some point pretense replaced quality. Burnt trout and tough rabbit meat are not the best ways to showcase the farming bounty of the Midwest. Dousing bland dishes in oil isn't the best fix either. And the service? Our waiter was among the least attentive or knowledgeable in recent memory. I'm done experimenting.
(2)shawn m.
seasonal, fresh, local ingredients that are always as tasty as can be. the beer list is stocked full with amazing bottled and draft selections. the atmosphere is inviting, laid back, and unpretentious. if you don't enjoy Acre i don't think you know good food. one of my fave local spots!
(5)Shannon W.
GROSS!!! I have lived in Andersonville for 11 years. Although I had already heard bad reviews to this "Charlie's" spot, My husband and I decided we should make our own opinions. Went on Sunday for lunch, got a $50 bill (including $8 total in drinks) and I had the ickiest meal I have ever paid for. The open whitefish sandwich=bland and tasteless fish on top of a soggy piece of bread. Now because I don't eat red meat or chicken I was extremely limited in choice of entree. My husband, who does eat meat, had the pork burger and said is was mediocre at best. Didn't have any appetizers or order anything else, but we WON'T be back. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD! There are tons more options for great food, drinks, beer and service in Andersonville...DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY!
(1)alisha c.
So glad Acre changed their menu. I had the mexican eggs dish and it was fab! The pork burger is seriously amazing, but it's been off the menu for a few weeks now. Acre should bring that back b/c my friends and I often just go for the pork burger. I think the beer selection on draft is great. Sure not as awesome as hopleaf but the bar it's self is nicer then hop leaf. Richie the Sunday bartender is the best bartender in Chicago. Part of the reason we go there is to talk to him! He is so funny and knows his drinks. Makes a mean bloody mary! I'm gald that Acre changed to more of an adult crowd from the family type resturant. I noticed that bussiness was bumpping yesterday! That is a great sign! Only suggestion, bring back Charlie's cobb salad! It was delish!
(4)Zaven K.
After reading over the reviews from other Yelpers for Acre, I was surprised to see how many of you out there seem to hate this place. My experience there has been positive and I find this place to be a big step up from the former Charlies Ale House. So far, ive been here twice and each time I have been pleasantly surprised. My first visit, I wanted to order the Chilaquiles, but unfortunately, they had just stopped making them, as brunch was over. So I settled for an order of Chili and mac-n-cheese. The Chili was good (not great) being too tomatoey for my taste, but not bad either and it was clearly made with very fresh ingredients. The Mac-n-Cheese however was spectacular and for that reason alone I will be returning to Acre. I washed this all down with a great bottle of New Holland Dragons Milk and I was a happy camper. At my second visit, I was finally able to order the Chilaquiles with poached eggs and was very pleased. Im not sure how authentic they were, but they were very tasty and again I will be back for this dish. The price was a bit high, and Im not crazy about the grey interior, but the decor of a place is not all that important to me, I go to resaraunts for good food, and Acre has it in spades.
(4)S G.
Went for a mid-week dinner with friends. The menu wasn't great. The waitstaff seemed uneducated on their menu. The food was at best a 2. Don't think I would go back.
(2)Jennie P.
Stopped in for lunch on a Sunday. I'm usually not a big brunch menu person but they had a lot of great choices. I had the burger and it was awesome! Sooo very delicious! Great beer menu - big but not too big if you know what i mean. I will be going back to try the full menu!
(4)Chris U.
Went here for dinner on a Wednesday night, and the place was a little empty, it wasn't a bad thing, but I asked the server about it, and he said it is usually more crowded. I wonder if people are not going based on a not so great Yelp score. I thought the food was good, and the beer/wine list was great, what else could you ask for. The service was great, and the place looked nice.
(4)Peter M.
Good food. Interesting menu. Good location. A trifle loud.
(4)H W.
I am sorry. I have never written a negative review, but my experience here was terrible. My husband and I decided to try brunch here yesterday bc we had yet to ventured into the once loved Charlies. Mistake. The server was good, despite the fact that my $4 cup of decaf was never refilled. However, the food was over priced, the portions small, and entrees were not served per the menu description. The food was not even cooked properly. To top it off, we were crammed in between two tables. The restaurant is quite large, but apparently they needed to squeeze us all in at the windows. If ever I have not wanted to pay for a meal, it was this one. My husband had to get food from Starbucks after we were done. Perhaps Acre has other things to offer or they were having an off day...but I will never know.
(1)Larz F.
We used to go to Charlies several times a year and it was always a "safe" bet, but never ever a home run - a little too "Bennigans" for my taste. I was sort of sad to see it go, but was super impressed with Acre. The menu was limited, but I'd rather get a few perfect dishes than the 50 average that Charlie's offered. We got the chili, which was spicy but not so much that you missed the other flavors, the beet salad which was awesome, and the brisket tacos which were our least favorite item we tried. For dinner we got he pork burgers which were phenomenal. The Amish pulled chicken sandwich was also great - could have had a little more flavor. The service was attentive without being overbearing. All in all it far exceeded my expectations. The bar menu prices were on par with Charlies. I'm not sure I get the gray color scheme, but I'm not moving in. While I was initially sad to see Charlie's go, I hope this place sticks around and the haters out their get their heads out of their behinds and give Acre a second chance. If you want something more like Charlies get in your car and head to the nearest strip mall chain restaurant.
(4)Vanessa R.
Brunch here is awesome!!! We've tried the corn cakes, beet salad, bruschetta, and brunchburger. All amazingly tasty:) The wait staff is friendly and the decor is farm shabby-chic....is that a style, don't know, but it works:)
(4)j h.
loved everything we had: octopus tacos (so savory and octopus was super tender); greens salad (as fresh as it gets; love that it included arugula; subtle beets in the vinaigrette); spicy seafood on squid ink couscous (nice and light with a little spice; squid ink was a nice touch)
(5)Brian M.
Four of us went here on a Saturday night for dinner at 7pm and the restaurant was half empty. Everything about the entire experience is average. None of the food was memorable and the portions are small so we likely won't be back. The beer selection and pub menu on the other side of the wall looks like a much better call.
(3)Brian R.
This place would have gotten a much higher rating if the portions of the food were a little bigger or prices slightly lower. It's gotta be one or the other. I really liked the menu choices and the beer list. We all liked our food except for one.....I don't know if the chef/s were trying to put a unique spin on risotto but it resembled a chicken and rice soup, with not enough broth. I'm not sure the risotto was made with a starchy rice like arborio or carnaroli...truly a disappointment. Fish and chips was delicious, striped bass was delicious....but unfortunately, we ended up having a second dinner after some cocktails down the street.
(2)caryn a.
Don't waste your time or your money. Overpriced for poor quality food. They are trying to have a more upscale menu, but it really misses the mark. BIG TIME. Today was our second visit...... thought we'd give it another shot, but sadly, this experience was worse than the first. Decor is really nice and cozy, so if you are looking to grab a drink, this might be a good spot for that!
(2)Jim S.
Went here for lunch two weeks ago and the restaurant should be called Mediocre and not Acre (don't quite get the name). The menu was so limited at lunch time. The food was just OK and the service was mediocre too. Maybe Charlie's ran its course, but replace it with something more substantial and with a more homey feel.
(2)Dianne O.
Looking for a not-terribly-fussy lunch, I went here. Food was surprisingly good - definitely high-status fare - despite the menu seeming more pretentious than it needed to be. It was kind of like, foodie bar food. Not sure why I didn't like it more.
(3)Meg P.
My husband and I went to Acre last night with my parents and a few friends. It was amazing, from the wait staff to the food to the ambience. We loved it all. We all had different dishes and we all ate every last bite. Several months ago we went there for brunch on my birthday and had an amazing meal. I give this place a 6 star!
(5)Rob T.
Started with the Feta Cheese. it came in a nice little cast iorn pot and was nice and hot. Had the pork for an entree. It was very very tender and flavorful. Our server Dan was friendly and fast. I will be going back to try something new on the menu.
(4)SCOTT G.
i am impressed with what Acre has done. WOW...basically sums up my first visit, on opening night. i decided to take something to go, so i picked the burger. i thought to myself, how could they mess up a burger! i should have asked myself how could they have made it any better? from the amazing grilled onions, homemade mustard, homemade fries, homemade catsup...all the way to the melt in your mouth burger. probably the best i have ever had! just to be sure, i came back the next day for lunch and this time i brought my mother just to be sure i wasn't dreaming. i was not even really hungry, but i ate my entire burger, yup, another one! my mother on the other hand has never finished an entire meal since the clinton administration and she couldn't stop eating hers either. the waiter was amazing, wore a tie, looked sharp and was a nice grown up version of the staff that used to be there! he worked the bar area on the second day (you know who he is...keep him around!!!) i have said enough...now go eat!!!
(5)Alison T.
Horrible experience! We live in the neighborhood and used to love Charlie's - it was decently priced, had great variety of food and family friendly. We also love, love, love Anteprima (owned by the same people) and have had many wonderful meals there. We went to Acre for lunch this past weekend. It's been open for awhile now so I expect them to have their kinks worked out. The host seemed really flustered. I know they were busy, but he just seemed overwhelmed and confused. We got a table outside - after about 15 mins, so not too bad. I had to ask 3 times for a high chair for my dgtr. We got water (eventually). About 20 mins. after we ordered, the manager came over to tell us the kitchen was backed up and asked if we would like bread. Now, it was nice of him to ask, and bring it over - but really is bread something special? I mean, shouldn't you get bread automatically and if you're backed up send out an app. or drink or something special? So anyway, our meals arrived. My husband had the steak and eggs - it was cold. I had the steak salad. It was a plate with a few bites of steak and a few pieces of lettuce. It was like an appetizer, not a salad. There was nothing filling about it. The only thing positive was the food for my dgtr. We got the kids burger and they brought out a nice size burger, fries and a bowl of fruit for her. She had so much and I had so little - that I ended up eating off her plate. Oh and it wasn't cheap! We will not go back.
(1)Nota R.
Food was okay if over priced. Amish chicken was good, but the "artisanal greens" salad tasted like it came from a bag at Jewel. The food, it should be noted, was also, contrary to their boasts on the menu and from the server, far from locally sourced. Far as in, New England and the West Coast. Not a huge issue for me, but they're selling themselves as a locally sourced restaurant and they're far from it. The real bummer was the service. We were seated in the bar section, found it loud, and asked the host to move to the other side of the restaurant, which was over half empty. He simply said, "No" and walked away. We should have left then. Our food took over 50 minutes to arrive after ordering and the restaurant was not busy. Our waiter was supremely annoying - talked and dressed like he was working at a theme park and was far, far more amused with himself than we were. He couldn't answer basic questions about the menu and he took away our water bottle and never refilled it. I will agree that their beer menu is terrific: deep and well organized for novices. I'm giving a low low rating because I couldn't wait to leave and won't go back. That written, from the reviews, it does seem that the service can vary wildly. So, if you're okay with overpriced food that's hit and miss and don't mind gambling on the service, you might want to try Acre.
(1)