Swung by early on a Sat night and snagged a seat at the bar with Hans. Started with a nice priced bottle of Josh Cellars cab. Started with some cheese and meats. we got chicken liver(amazing), Panceta(amazing), duck and some other cheeses. Well could have made a meal with all that but also got the fries which were great and the duck pierogies. Pierogies were OK. Will definitely be back to try some other dishes.
(4)
Johanna L.
Pros: good selection of wine by the bottle, knowledgable staff, pickled dates on the cheese plate, housemade pasta Cons: fettucini was WAY too salty - almost inedible, terrible accoustics (I had to yell across the table at my friends), mushrooms were even chewier than the pasta. Glad I tried it, but will not go back unless it's just for the cheese plate and a bottle of wine.
(2)
Mariah V.
When they announced they were taking reservations, my friend and I knew it was time to make a trip out there. There's a little parking lot out front, and we had no trouble getting a spot. Walking in the host asked us if we were the party of 5 which kind of threw us off, because there were, well, only two of us standing there. We ended up ordering parmesan grana, herb fries, duck confit pierogies, mixed greens salad, and braised pork shoulder. Our waitress said she would pace the food so first we got the parmesan, pierogies and fries, then salad and pork shoulder. They did come in little waves, but we couldn't eat everything fast enough until the next wave came. I didn't mind all the food sitting in front of us, because I like to feel like I'm feasting. The parmesan grana came in little chunks with a few pieces of bread, mustard, jam and mini pickles. Loved the cheese, mustard and the tanginess of the jam, but the bread left a little to be desired. Next up, the pierogies that had creme fraiche (cafeteria fraiiiiiiiiche. South Park, anyone?) and pickled red onions. All the components worked very well together, plus I really love pickled red onions. Really. The fries were seasoned well and were nice with the malt aioli, but we had a lot of little fry nubbins in the bottom of the basket. Fortunately, I am not too proud to eat fry nubbins. The salad was fresh, and the pickled fennel was so good. Finally, the main event, the braised pork shoulder. Meat with cornbread puree, baked beans and pickled brussels sprouts, which seemed like a bizarre combination of things we love. I loved the brussels sprouts, the baked beans were alright, and the meat was nice but had a few bits of gristle. Leaving Bread & Wine, I was kind of confused. The flavors were good, but everything we got was strangely luke warm instead of hot, literally. I would understand more if the food had actually been paced, but it all came out very quickly and couldn't have sat for long. The pierogies were my favorite part of the meal but were just sort of warm and sitting there. Nothing cooked felt very fresh, I suppose, despite the ingredients clearly being fresh. Bread & Wine could be so good, but everything just seemed a bit off from the food to the service. I do love that they list the farms from which their ingredients come. I'd give Bread & Wine a 3.5, but I can't think of a good reason to round up to 4 stars.
(3)
Susan F.
My recent experience at bread & wine was delightful. Food standouts included the pig face pancetta, Manchester cheese, beef and chorizo burger, carrot fettuccine and flank steak. Service was very attentive and the atmosphere was lively. The wine selections were really great. Their sauvignon blanc was perfect and we also had a delicious Malbec. Downsides: 1) cheese and meat portions on the charcuterie (sp?) were far too small - need to be about 25% bigger so a group can taste and for the value, 2) Hard to hear each other in a big group.
(4)
Foodie E.
Been on Chicago 20 years and this place by far is one of my favorites. Highly highly recommended. Flank steak is the best I've ever had. Unbelievable.
(5)
Michelle M.
My boyfriend recently took me here to celebrate my birthday and it was one of the best birthday dinners I've ever had. From the minute we walked in the door I knew it was going to be a good experience. We went out on a Thursday night, so it really wasn't that crowded. Initially we thought we'd sit outside because it was such a nice night. Since it wasn't very crowded, the super nice hostess gave us the option to sit - including the "chef table." Not your typical chef table since it's more of a "bar with many seats," we chose this option. From the moment we sat down, the chef(s) were just awesome. They got wind it was my birthday and perhaps that's why they were so awesome to us, but the hostess did tell us you "get special things" sometimes when you sit there. We started off with meat/cheese plate - the Kielbasa is to DIE for - and I don't even like sausage that much. We then were given as a "treat" the fried gnocchi - which is nothing like you'd think and I'm not even going to try to justify it in writing b/c I can't. Just go there and get it. It's not on the menu; it's a special request dish. Fantastic! Then, chef let us taste some pork belly - incredible - as well as a wild mushroom that was literally walked in the door by the seller while we were sitting there. I got the scallops, my boyfriend got the pasta and they were SO amazing. Then, when it came to dessert, we couldn't' decide, so we ordered the panacotta - and they actually brought us that and the seasonal dessert. It was such a wonderful birthday and the entire staff at Bread & Wine made it that way! Thank you!
Wow! We loved this place! I cannot wait to get back there! My fiance and I just went last week. We were in a bit of a rush - we had about an hour and our server Kevin made sure that was no problem for us. We did 4 courses and left with no sweat on our brow. But that's just the start for Kevin - he was super helpful and accommodating and you couldn't ask for a better server knowledge. He was there when we needed him and gave us space to enjoy ourselves when we didn't. And we definitely bombarded him with a lot of questions! For wine we had a Malbec and Syrah - both delicious. We started with a cheese and charcuterie plate with selections suggested by Kevin and were immediately in love with Bread and Wine. Next was the duck pierogies which, again, were perfect. My favorite thing about this restaurant is that it's farm to table - which means meat I can eat! Yippee!! For the main course we had the pumpkin fettuccine and the burger. The pumpkin fettuccine was good but not my favorite thing - probably because I kept eating the mushrooms forgetting they were mushrooms and not liking them (apparently I'm not so smart). The burger was amazing. I mean, it had chorizo! What's not to like? And the fries were great too - you could tell how fresh they were. Not to mention I could see how fresh they were. I sat up at the kitchen bar. Which i recommend. We got to hang with the chefs and chat it up a bit and watch them do their thing. On top of everything, the place is reasonably priced. For all that our bill was still less than $100. Can't beat that! Seriously, what's not to like about this place??
(5)
Sparty S.
This place is just alright. Honestly, I don't see what the hype was by all the 5-star reviewers. They made me have high hopes for this place. Went in on Saturday at 7:30, didn't wait terribly long. I have to say, the location is sort of weird, so the fact that they have a parking lot is a plus.... otherwise it'd be a huge pain to get to unless you live off the blue line or the Metra. We ended up getting lucky and scoring some seats at the bar. The bar staff was a bit rough around the edges.... it didn't seem like they had their "groove" down quite yet, but since this place is less than a month old, I gave them some credit. The guy that took our order was one of those that tries to remember it without writing it down, but then forgets to put it in. Dude, just grab a pad of paper! So we waited sort of a while for our appetizers/small plates.... Which were really small. I guess that is why they are called small plates. For the price, so not worth it. 3 tiny chorizo tacos for 7 bucks. Each taco was literally 2 bite. They were pretty tasty. The Duck Pieorgis were FAB. We also had fried pickles. They were decent. I got the chicken dish, and both of my friends got the fish. They were out of the walleye so they served up some other fish that tasted pretty fishy. Mine was alright... not awesome. It could have been worse.... but it could have been better. There just wasn't much wow factor to this.... and my friend commented that it was on the dry side. We had dessert.... my favorite part of every meal... and it was delicious. We had the rosemary olive oil cake with lemon curd and whipped creme fraiche, and the sweet potato donuts with salted caramel sauce. Both were DELICIOUS. Overall, I'd say try this place if you live in the area. If you don't, I'd say you can take it or leave it. It's definitely no Ruxbin.... or Telegraph. I didn't get to work today and blab about this place to my coworkers.
(3)
Johnny B.
What a great addition to the neighborhood! My wife and I have been twice already and will definitely be returning soon. Everything, from the food to the service, is spot-on! We love the counter seating next to the open kitchen. It's interesting to watch the activity and the kitchen staff is quite friendly in spite of the frantic pace. Prices are quite reasonable considering the quality of food and preparation. The tab would be double if this place were on Randolph Street. My one complaint is the shortage of parking (the lot in front is small and was full during both of our visits). Street parking is generally plentiful but the restaurant resides near that weird intersection of Elston and Irving Park Road where you get sucked into a Bermuda Triangle-like maze of one directional side streets. It's also good to see several vegetarian / vegan options on the menu so we can bring our misguided friends - whom we love in spite of their dietary preference.
(5)
Scott Y.
We really enjoyed our wine tasting/food pairing over the weekend. The owners and staff were friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. The wine picks were very interesting and the nibbles were really good. Told this will be a monthly event. This was our first visit and we will be back to have a full meal. Glad they are in the neighborhood!
(4)
Michelle N.
Food and atmosphere were excellent. We went on a busy Sat night and had the option to sit at the counter or wait for a table. Sitting at the counter and conversing with the staff made for an entertaining experience! Staff was informative, attentive, and friendly. Food was flavorful and fun. Would definitely go back and recommend to friends!
(5)
Jerry M.
Great neighborhood join, truly a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Super friendly staff, love sitting at the kitchen bar. As they worked through their opening quirks, things just kept getting better.
(4)
Alexandra B.
Everything about this place was meh. The wine, the food, the service, all of it. The only thing I truly liked was the cheese but it's not like they make that there anyway. I hope this is all part of getting the "just opened" kinks out because I would really like to come back. This neighborhood desperately needs better places to eat. I was really surprised the wine menu was not bigger, given the name of the place. I kept flipping the menu over expecting more on the next page. The prices are really high for what you're getting. The quality and quantity just don't match up with the price. Maybe I'll try it again once they've been here for a year or so.
(2)
Denise M.
Amazing!! First of all the service was amazing. Lisa Rocks!! She took such good care of me last night for my 14 person birthday dinner. I had such great wine and a lot of it!! The food was great! Good time was had by all!
(5)
Leo J.
A place with a fun and inviting atmosphere. Great food, good service and reasonable prices. I will definitely be coming back. Make sure to get the Pate and the chorizo burger is to die for.
(5)
Mary K.
What a pleasant surprise. Amazing food. You eat straight from the Midwest prairie. Houses made charcuterie, local cheeses, wild greens, stinging nettle fetuccini with hedgehog mushrooms- some of the best food we have had this year. Outstanding attentive service without being pretentious. A delightful mix of Chicago folks from Old Irving Park, Avondale and Albany Park. We will go back often. This is a restaurant that focuses on the basics of great ingredients, great service and great wine at affordable price points. Big success. Let's hope the ultra cool and snooty don't discover this down to Earth gem. Bravo to all involved.
(5)
B B.
Maybe we went on an off night, but our experience was quite disappointing. The salads were weak with very little flavor and pork belly had no sear on it at all, so there was no texture to the dish. Nice decor and atmosphere and probably a welcomed addition to that neighborhood, but for us it was not worth the drive.
(2)
Guido N.
We didn't have reservations so we sat at the bar that overlooks their open kitchen. Turned out to be the best seats in the house. House cured meats with a schmeer of this or that on top. Everything was great. A tall pretty lady helped me through the wine list-fine by me. I'll be back.
(5)
Elle D.
The food was awesome! Best sausage I have ever had! A def must try!
(5)
Kim H.
Absolutely fabulous! Sat at the bar. The service was excellent and the food was over the top. Pork belly, scallop, and the chicken liver was to die for. I love this place!
(5)
Jamie B.
My sister and I went here for dinner last night. I seriously can't believe it has only been open a week; the service was flawless and the food was amazing. The seamless service and the degree of familiarity that the waitstaff had with all of the food and wines is much more of what I would expect from a well-run place that has been around for years. Did I mention that the food was amazing (I am going to be craving that burger!)? The wine we had with it was perfect, and the dessert is to die for. I will be going back as soon as possible! We went on a Wednesday night, and given how many people were there (and already waiting for tables), this restaurant is just what the neighborhood has been needing! Although it was busy, we never felt rushed. I'm sure that word will get out soon and people will make this spot a destination from all over, because the menu and experience is unique and delightful. I'll just make reservations next time!
(5)
Laura B.
We went here yesterday evening for our wedding anniversary and had an amazing time. The service was wonderful. This place is unique and creative, their menu is full of items you won't find other places. We enjoyed everything we tried, especially the flour less chocolate cake with pop rocks and fruity pebbles. Very enjoyable experience all around, and we look forward to dining here again!
(5)
Brian W.
Went on Saturday, 1/28 at 6:00 pm. We sat along the east wall where it was very loud. Hard to have a conversation. Needs something on the wall or drapes to eat up some of the noise. Food was good.
(3)
Gary W.
Enjoyed the Tuesday tasting menu. Also had the special cocktail of the evening which was only 7$ well balanced, yet plenty of booze. It was fun sitting at the counter engaging the chefs periodically or just watching the whole process. 130$ total for two 3 course meals with two great drinks each is a good deal. The food was complex, tasty, and well executed. We'll definately be back.
(5)
Jean B.
Lincoln Park comes to Irving Park! Casual-fine dining with a select yet well-executed menu. We enjoyed every taste - but especially the crispy gnocchi and popcorn panna cotta. Impressive and well-priced wine list. Wonderful, attentive service. And they DO have outdoor seating on their delightful tree-lined side street - nary an exhaust fume in the air!
(4)
Jenny H.
My new favorite restaurant in my hood! The food is farm to table and amazing. We sat at the counter where you can watch your food being prepared as well as in house meats and they even let us sample some. I have been back multiple times and can't wait to go for the brunch which I heard was wonderful! I love having them in the neighborhood.
(5)
Jill P.
I'm so excited Bread & Wine opened in my neighborhood. Amazing food and really great service while still moderately priced. I went there with my boyfriend on a Saturday night (of opening weekend). The place was packed so I sat at the bar while my bf stood behind me and waited for another seat to open up - he waited about 15 minutes. I started off with a cocktail, the Blue Line to O'Hare for $8 - yum! They also have a nice selection of wines by the glass/bottle and beers. I tried the Dragon's Milk stout for $5 - I have a new favorite beer :) The chicken liver pate was like meat butter - it was so good. My bf loved the chorizo beef burger and I was very impressed by the walleye. The braised fennel had such great flavor, I wanted to lick the green olive tapenade off the plate and of course the walleye was perfectly cooked that just made the perfect dish. Three drinks for me and 2 for the bf, an appetizer and two entrees added up to about $60 after tip. What a deal. I'll definitely be back. Be sure to peruse their market items while waiting for a table - biscotti, brittle, almonds, the curry coconut cashews rock my face off.
(5)
Jennifer L.
So happy to have something like Bread & Wine in the neighborhood!!! Had dinner here on Friday night and smiled the entire time because the food was just that good! The chicken tortellini small plate special and the salad we had were our favorites but everything we ordered was seasoned well, tasted great and left us wanting to visit again VERY soon!
(4)
Henry H.
came here for brunch on a sunday. my friends and I all ordered different things. I got the seasonal omelette with a side of bacon. It was great. The french toast my friend got was delicious, three of us agreed that it was the best we had ever had. we also split the cinnamon bun for a starter, flaky creamy goodness. Good service and ambiance as well. highly recommend this place!
(5)
Angela R.
Simple, delicious, thoughtful food. Chicken liver pate, sheep cheese & Tasso ham accompanied by crusty bread, kumquat marmalade & mustard. Scrumptious pasta with confit duck & butternut squash. Perfectly seared Whitefish with lentils. Refreshing to see a mature crowd enjoying excellent food & conversation.
I went to Bread & Wine for Chicago Restaurant week! Everything I had was very good, my only complaint was that the red velvet cake was a bit dry. Otherwise, excellent food, drinks, and service. I will definitely be returning!
(4)
Lauren L.
I LOOOOVVVEEE THIS PLACE! I am actually hating the fact that I am writing a review because I do not want people to know how special this place is. (I want it all for myself) I have been going here for the past 3 years (give or take) and EVERY time I go there, I have such an amazing experience. The food is.....oh god, like SO GOOD. You could literally close your eyes, and randomly select a dish and be satisfied. The other thing I really like about this place is that everything is organically farm raised - everything is fresh! My husband and I went on a bread and wine bender and visited the place once a week for about a month, the staff began to recognize us, and we got some free perks here and there. (hehe) Tommy is our favorite server, but there are other people on staff that rock. (seriously, you guys rule) There was one experience that stuck with me that I would like to share. On a random Sunday, my husband and I walked over and had a beautiful brunch....we decided to stay a little longer and order some drinks (you only live once, right!?) it was becoming very busy, and so the waiter asked us very kindly if we could just sit at the bar since we were only having drinks. Of course, we agreed, and we continued drinking. Then, I can't remember why, but we had to move from the bar. This time, one of the hosts asked us to move. Honestly, it really didn't bother us because we knew that we were the ones staying and basically, getting in the way. So, I just told her, "you can put me any where you want, as long as you keep slinging me these drinks!" She laughed, and said, "I like your style!" and she totally hooked us up with a free dessert. Like, she didn't have to do that. Yes, we had to move 2 times, but who cares? We were still able to enjoy our delicious drinks, and we got a free plate!
(5)
Craig Y.
This place does some great food and some questionable things. You can always rely on their burgers. They are thick and juicy plus I love their fries. The plates of cheeses and pates are awesome. They have some Devine artisan cheeses full of different flavor sand different depths. Their bread is fresh and really good. I would give the place a higher stars but I had the gazpacho corn soup which was like a water drained out of a can of plain corn with 16 kernels added to it. Perhaps I was not ready for something that cutting edge. I will definitely go back just not sure if I should experiment.
Appetizers - good charcuterie Main course - nice smaller portions Dessert - get the popcorn panne cotta The Bill - very reasonable for the high quality Service - Good Atmosphere - relaxed and intimate Bottom Line - we had a great time and everyone loved the food. Service was very good but not perfect, hence the 1 star deduction.
(4)
Julia R.
I frequent Bread & Wine every other month or so because I live in the Irving Park neighborhood and its within walking distance of our home. Unfortunately I'm not sure I'll return. While I was out for a walk with my family this evening, they waited outside while I ran in to set a reservation for Fathers Day on Sunday. I was greeted by a short man with stringy hair at the host stand. I asked for an 11am reservation for two and baby, in hopes that we could be sat on the bench along the wall and was told probably not, because of two other large parties booked ahead of us. I'm not sure why the large tables in the center of the restaurant couldn't have been used for these two groups but I explained why the bench worked better for us. We visited for Mothers Day with our 3wo, at that time, and my husband made the same request because we don't have an infant car seat to pop out of our car (to have a place for our baby to sit during the meal) so we just lay him on the bench next to us. Anyhow, the host was pretty rude. It didn't seem like he wanted or cared about getting our business at all. He said he couldn't reserve the bench for us at 11 so when I asked for another time that we could come in and sit along the wall he said it's probably impossible. Anyhow, the interaction was unfortunate and unfriendly and made my family feel unwelcome on a day we would have loved to celebrate Fathers Day with a nice brunch together.
(3)
Ryan T.
Had a small plate and 2 large plates which was perfect for 2 people. The food was really good (crispy gnocchi ++++) and our server was great. Would have been a higher rating if not for the fact that after dinner we tried to have a few cocktails as the bar, waited for 15 min without so much as an acknowledgment from the bartender and then just left.
(3)
Matthew M.
Amazing atmosphere and food! We started at the bar and had a great conversation with the bartender Josh who paired us up with some great glasses of wine. When our table was really shortly after, we were delighted to browse the menu - it was stacked with some great options, mainly the chorizo angus burger and the chicken with pate. My fiancee who is a vegetarian had no problem finding something to her liking. Desert was superb, we got 4 different options! Highly recommended..
(5)
Linda P.
As other reviewers have noted, b&w is a nice addition to the hood. Most of the patrons seem to be neighborhood folks which is good & bad news. They will need to do some work to attract people from out of the area to make the trek. The restaurant is very noisy. The owners are aware of the problem & say a fix is in the works but on a busy Friday night it was virtually impossible to carry on a conversation at our table. Good wine selection & fair prices. The food is generally good but a bit pricy. $5 for a bowl of nuts? The cheese sampler plate had tiny portions. The entrees are a better deal than the small plates. Dessert choices are limited but very good. Since I live nearby I will be back.
(3)
Axel G.
The food and wait staff staff was great. The wines were also very good. The only downside was that we sat by the window/fridge so it was a bit cold. Regardless, adults and children enjoyed the meal.
(4)
Megan M.
We came from the Cubs game to meet up for dinner with my cousins. We're all foodies and winos, so we bagged some vino on the way, and decided on Moroccan food. Unfortunately, the owner of the Moroccan joint had to turn us away, reservations only, place was full. So, Yelp to the rescue, we walked half a mile to Bread and Wine. We had to leave our BYOB selections behind- but hopeful that a place with Wine in the name, would be able to deliver in that department. While two of us, myself included, were atrociously underdressed, the staff made sure to get a table ready for us, on the patio. It was a perfect night to eat outside. Tommy, our server, was absolutely on point the entire night. He helped us make every choice we did, and kept our focus on enjoying company, rather than the menu. We started with the chef's choice cheese and meat pairing. The two plates came out bountiful, while neatly organized. We shared an entire bottle of Malbec while enjoying the pairing. Tommy made out dinner decisions with very little input from our slightly inebriated table. When the dishes arrived, it was evident that we couldn't possibly have made a bette decision. We had duck egg, chicken, lamb and goat dishes for the main course. We passed the delicately plated decadent morsels around the table, and nearly licked them clean. We enjoyed them with a quite remarkable bottle of Aquinas Pino Noir. After such an unbelievable dining experience, we decided to take it all the way. It got real. Very real. When the chocolate mousse and the salted Carmel popcorn and creme arrived. Unreal, start to finish. Can't say enough about our server, and the food. Everything was cooked to perfection, clearly fresh, and meticulously paired. Each plate was a unique palate, delightful, and adventurous. The entire night was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had, all because our original plans fell through. Worth every cent- ask for Tommy. He's truly an asset to Bread and Wine. Cannot wait to dine here again!
(5)
Brittney H.
We dined her awhile ago but I'm slacking on my reviews lately. First of all, weird location. This restaurant looks like it used to be a gas station from the outside. Irving Park is not my favorite area and parking here completely sucked. That being said, the inside is beautiful. It manages to be modern and cozy at the same time - the staff is incredibly attentive and gracious. Our food (we had two things that are no longer on the menu which were delicious) was incredibly delicious. We also has the grass fed burger which was huge and I had many regrets later (from calories, not taste). If you're in this area, this is the spot to go!
(4)
Philip S.
Lovely contemporary American food. Great ambiance, great service. Menu is very seasonal. We enjoyed the Ricketts, chicken liver pate, Tasso beef, 6 minute duck egg, steak tartar, pork cheek and more. Great for sharing even better for conversation. Highly recommend.
(5)
Yvonne I.
"Great food, but terrible service experience." Four of my friends and I came for brunch one Sunday in May 2015. My friends and I are currently half way through trying about 20 brunch places from this "best brunch in Chicago" list, and Bread and Wine was on our list in May. The layout of the restaurant was nice, and I liked the open kitchen aspect of it. I felt really comfortable being able to see what was going on in the kitchen. The waiter came right away, and was relatively pleasant for most of the meal. For an appetizer I had the Whiskey glazed cinnamon roll, which was one of the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had. The whiskey flavor wasn't too strong, so someone that doesn't like the taste of whiskey would most likely not be turned off by this cinnamon roll. For my main brunch meal I had the breakfast banh mi. The description of this dish on the menu sounded very different than items I've had at other brunch restaurants. The banh mi sandwich itself was amazing due to its great flavor and appropriate size. The hash browns were also amazing, and were not greasy like the hash browns at some restaurants. Our dining experience went down hill when we asked for the check after we finished our food. Not everyone in my group had cash, so one of my friends politely asked our waiter if he would be able to split the check. (I realize that we should have asked him this in the beginning of the meal, since that is what we normally do when we go to restaurants). Tommy responded with "NO!", and then stormed away from the table. Tommy eventually came back to the table and told us he would be able to take separate payments from us. We really appreciated this, but we were still a little confused why he had been so dramatic originally . Those of us that had cash put our cash in, and those of us with Cards wrote our names along with the last 4 digits of the credit cards on the back of the receipt so that we could evenly split the bill. Tommy ran the credit cards and applied the cash. When he brought back the receipts, one of my friend's credit cards had been ran twice. After explaining this nicely to Tommy, he snatched the credit card booklet up and stormed away. When Tommy brought back the refunded credit card, he slammed it on the table and walked away again. I hope that we caught Tommy on a bad day, and that he does not always act this rudely towards customers. This is not an establishment I would visit again.
(2)
Dave S.
The food is pretty good, but very pricey. The portions are pretty small and the selection pretty limited. Not a horrible experience, just not that great.
(3)
Hannah C.
We went for brunch and most of the food was excellent. We snuck in just before they closed, around 1, and had no problem getting a table. The homemade chicken sausage was exceptional. The hash browns were delightfully crispy but hardly seasoned at all. The Cubano sandwich was also a treat - we got extra mustard sauce on the side and wound up dipping the fries in it. The whiskey glazed cinnamon roll was quite good, although the tangy of the whiskey suggested they might want to use a higher quality liquor? Apparently the bloody marys, omelette of the day, and pork belly with grits were also quite good. Everyone enjoyed the atmosphere, music list, and food. Wish they gave you slightly larger water glasses, though!
(4)
Justin B.
Came by for dinner yesterday; with family in town and an expiring Groupon, we thought coming by for an early dinner would fit the bill. Although I usually start with the positives, let's mix it up today and start with the negatives: 1) I tried the Lowe Ball specialty cocktail. While I didn't send this back, I was surprised how much I didn't like this drink. Maybe it was because I had gone to The California Clipper the night before, but this drink just wasn't great. It was a little watered down, but I couldn't tell how or why, because I'm sure it was served to me right after it was made. We came for a 5:30 dinner reservation and the restaurant was only about half-full, so there wasn't a crowd issue...hmm, maybe it was the semi-sugared rim, not a full rim of sugar? Maybe it was the rum? Maybe it wasn't sweet enough? Not sure, but a bust regardless. 2) I ordered the cheeseburger because I'm a burger whore and Zagat said B&W made one of the ten best burgers in Chicago. And it might...but I'll never know. You see, I ordered the burger rare...and the burger came out medium well, MINIMUM. In my estimation, it was well done. Like, completely, totally wrong. It was so wrong that I asked my server to just show his kitchen staff how wrong it was, but I didn't have the time for the kitchen to remake the burger; our one-year-old was with us and was nearing her 7 PM bedtime, so I took one for the team and ate half the burger and all of the fries. But I don't think I've ever had a restaurant get the temperature of the burger this wrong (I eat burgers at varying levels of restaurant usually twice a week). 3) Our server didn't take the well done burger off the bill. I made up for this slightly by tipping less, but I was surprised that this was not addressed when it came to payment. The positives: 1) It wasn't part of my order, but the seasonal soup that I tasted was exceptional. Exceptional. I don't remember what was in it besides sriracha, noted because it did give the soup a little kick and our server called it out. But the subtleties of the taste of this soup were something else. 2) Our server--save for the bill at the end--was great, explained everything clearly, and generally was a whirling dervish of energy. I want to say his name was Tommy, but it was in the Tommy/Bobby/____-ie category. And he was loud enough to talk over the din of the space; it's fairly loud at Bread and Wine, so a loud server is a plus. 3) Parking out front in a dedicated lot. Going for dinner at 5:30 helped because we got one of the dozen-ish spaces, but still, great that they have one. 4) The fries with my burger were great, well seasoned, above-average aioli, and there were a ton of them...key, since my burger was a fail. Yes, a ton of places in Chicago make great french fries, so this isn't crazy out-of-this-world, but still, I needed the fries to be great for this particular dinner! 5) Overall space in this restaurant was also nice. Open kitchen is pretty sweet. Kudos to the hostess for putting our group at a four-top where we could stash the high chair near the window, away from server and diner foot traffic. (And, because it's so loud in here, even your crying baby probably doesn't get many looks.) 6) Groupon deal helped us save a few bucks. I'm not sure I would go back unless others are doing a "special" dinner here, but glad that I finally checked this one off the list!
I really wanted to continue my love affair with B&W but I just can't. My first meal was really good but it continued to go downhill from there. Brunch was so unremarkable that I can't even remember what I had. My second dinner was not great. I had a tofu dish with a description that made it sound like some type of broth was involved but there was no broth and very little flavor. My most recent meal wasn't all bad. The charcuterie was good as was the salad and dessert. But nothing was great. My entree of BBQ beef cheeks was awful. There was no BBQ that I could recognize. The slaw was disgustingly smokey. The entree was overly salty and I like salt. Along with the less than stellar meal our server was aloof and not very friendly. I hate when reviewers say this but this review was really a 2.5.
(3)
Alysha L.
Just tried this place for brunch after my AirBnB host recommended it as one of the neighborhood restaurants I had to check out. I had their seasonal omelette, which was delicious. Food aside, I can't remember the last time I walked into a restaurant and got ice cold glares from the staff. Three people stood at the front and were very awkward in their responses when I asked to see a menu and then asked to be seated. I did not feel welcome here at all. What's up with the service???
(3)
Mike H.
Great food, great wine, great service! Tommy was a finominal server with a great handle on the food and pairings for this fantastic yet quaint neighborhood secret. The 3 course meal was prepared perfectly for my friends and I. As no one in our group had ever tried Bread & Wine before. Terrific help from our server; Tommi, picking out the best tastings they had to offer.
(5)
Naomi L.
God I really wanted to love this place! Well got here around 9 and it was steady. This place is really modern and stylish. The decor is nice and the vibe was also great. We ordered a flight of cheese and had a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. The cheese was absolutely amazing! I was hoping for a few pieces of apples with the cheese but it wasn't a big deal. I expected their menu to have a flight of wine we could taste since the place is called "Bread and Wine" but nope, no flight of wine. Their menu is also very very thin. They did not have a good selection of food but i guess its a very small neighborhood restaurant that is still trying to make s name for themselves I had the gnooci but it was not pasta. I always thought it was pasta but i got six square pieces of fried things. I was really disappointed because i am pretty sure that it wasn't gnocci. Plus the "gnocci" wasn't even good. Before i even ordered this "gnocci" i asked the waiter what it was and he explained as if it was pasta. Now the really disappointing thing is that when we walked in (a tall slim woman) well she obviously works there gave a dirty looks. We asked to sit in the corner because, god damn that's where we wanted to sit. The place wasn't packed so yes that was our table of choice. She rolled her eyes and gave us attitude seating us. No do not roll your eyes. If the place was crazy busy then yes we would have understood but it was slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I really wanted to like this place but nope
(2)
Mike P.
Such a small restaurant but with big flavor! I feel like I will need to go back a number of times to really get a good read on the food. For now I will offer the following: Charcuterie plate: Let the chef decide but try to get the chicken liver pate. It's excellent. The cheddar is a touch too mellow when paired with stronger, more pungent cheeses. The country ham is not overly salty. Sausage dinner: Good deal. It looks like a small portion but is very fitting and the roasted Brussels sprouts are so good, they could probably convert some Brussels haters. My wife go the prawns, or should I say miniature lobsters. Kind of intimidating, to have whole prawns served to you, but dig in. Definitely a fun joint! The staff is friendly and attentive. Have a seat at the chef's counter and chat up the chef and cooks while they prep the meals. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Colsha L.
I frequent Bread And Wine because it is about 5 blocks from my home, extremely convenient and I loved the ambiance. I went last night July 23rd 2015 and boy was I disappointed! I made reservations for 8:00 and was greeted by a shorter guy with really greasy and stringy hair, he was incredibly rude! He didn't seem like he wanted to be there nor serve us. Initially I tried to ignore his sarcastic remarks and cattiness but it was too much to bare. His customer service skills are dreadful for lack of a better term. I won't be returning.
(1)
Brittney E.
I LOVED this place! It's a bit pricey if you want to have a selection of food items to get a good taste for the place, but It was right up my alley with a nice selection of cheese and charcuterie. I even had the opportunity to sit at the chef's counter and watch all of the food being prepared which was a very nice experience. The gnocchi was pretty much the best I've ever had... it wasn't your typical potato gnocchi but very similar. The ingredients they used to make this dish were very simplistic (I had a brief conversation with the chef) yet they delivered flavor better than any combination of ingredients I've ever experienced. They saute the gnocchi for that perfect crispy outer layer. I highly recommend this dish and the restaurant as a whole.
(5)
Mariel V.
I have quite a history with B&W AND so far I've been very pleased with their food and service. For starters back in July we were looking for a small, intimate place to have a wedding party and being new to the neighborhood we took a chance with picking B&W. They were able to accommodate to our semi-private party of 20 with only a weeks notice. Jen was awesome! She even printed us a custom menu. I've been back numerous times since with my husband and friends and we've had almost everything in their constantly changing menu. If you're a fan I suggest visiting at least twice a month to see what's new for brunch or dinner.
(5)
Cynthia R.
So yeah, this place is alright! I appreciate that there are decent restaurants in this part of the city, but it's also quite oddly located and you wouldn't really expect there to be a good place....there. Ya know? But besides that, it was great to see the place buzzing with business on a Friday nite! I thought it was a bit pricey for the location, and for the food. Don't get me wrong, the menu was decent, and the food was respectable. But it was definitely pricier than I thought they could honestly pull off over all. I got the burger, which was good. I loved that the meat was "clean"; hormone and anitbiotic free, and the other ingredients were organic. House made ketchup was a nice touch too. The hubs got fish, which was a tad bland. Nice presentation and very nice wine suggestion that got paired with it. Oh btw, our server, Gus, was fantastic. And the general vibe of the place was cool as well. NIce and clean.....and open kitchen concept, so you can watch the chefs prepare your food!
(3)
Linsey R.
We've been here a few times and really like it so I thought I'd spread the word. The ambiance is awesome, from the decor to the lighting to the music. Being able to watch the chefs work their magic is always a plus too. They have an excellent variety of cheese and charcuterie and the bread they serve it with is so good. The menu is constantly changing with the seasons and there are a lot of interesting options. The wine list is great and the cocktails are nice too. I'm really excited to see a place this nice succeed in the area and am happy it's so close to my house. The brunch is REALLY good too but gets pretty expensive when you like to drink like we do :)
(4)
Lauren F.
My husband and I came here with my mother and grandmother on New Year's Eve and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the meal. We started with a Chef's Choice cheese/charcuterie board that was delicious and plentiful for 4 people. We also had the Herb Fries and Steak Tartare for starters - fries were great, not the best steak tartare I've ever had, but I've had some really great steak tartare! For mains I had the Pork Chop which I really enjoyed along with its accompaniments and my husband had the special for the evening which was a steak - tasty but not the most impressive cut of meat, especially for the price. My mother and grandmother both had the Tagliatelle pasta with duck confit and both of their plates were completely clean at the end of the meal, so they were both very happy with their choice! For dessert we had the Chocolate Mousse and the Salted Caramel Popcorn Panna Cotta. The mousse itself was great, but the marshmallow that came on top wasn't the easiest to eat. The panna cotta was also delicious, but the mound of popcorn on top was a bit too much. Overall we were very happy with our NYE choice, good food and wine and nice, relaxed atmosphere!
(4)
Ruby Q.
This is our "go to" place for New American, locally sourced, farm to table food when not splashing about in Wicker Park or Logan Square. The burger and fries are great and give the good folks at "Au Cheval" a run for their money - well almost. The have recently changed chefs, and the new guy rocks. I had the pork cheeks last night and they were awesome with concentrated flavor. An adventurous dish paired creatively with black eyed pea mash and a pea tamale. Weirdest and best thing I have eaten this year! Servers are always knowledgeable and friendly (thanks Emily) Their cocktails are good, but for the price they should give a more generous pour. You must try the panna cotta popcorn before you leave this planet.
(5)
Eva M.
This is a great addition to the neighborhood. I went here on a Friday night and we sat at the bar counter. This is the best seat at this restaurant. We were able to watch the chefs in action. The portions were good. The wine recommendations were good too. This parking lot is an added bonus.
(4)
Megan A.
I really, really want to like this place since it's in my neighborhood. My husband and I have given it several chances to wow us, and it falls short every time. Last night was the straw that broke the camel's back. Service was painfully slow, they gave me the wrong beer...and that was just the beginning. Ordered steak tartare, the burger and the chicken to share. Took forever to get our food, and the chicken was dry and tough. Server tried to take away our plate AS we were eating. Overall a bad experience. We give up...will not be back.
(1)
Gregg G.
Rik u and Leo G said it so well. I would add though that the Chorizo Tacos were some of the best tacos that I have ever had. A homemade tortilla is wrapped around a delicous blend of chorizo and cheese that the flavors explode in your mouth. The service was outstanding and the atomosphere was up beat and fun. Since it just opened the wait was very short...however...it won't be too long before the secret is out and the wait will be crazy!
(5)
Dan S.
While Bread & Wine is a bit off the beaten path for the downtown Chicago visitor, it's well worth the stretch to get there. For locals in other parts of the city or the suburbs, the location is fantastic, just off the Kennedy Expressway with available parking. But the convenience is not the reason to try Bread & Wine - it's the food and fun. Just an overall great dining experience with a creative menu from the drinks, small plates to large plates. The restaurant is focused on using locally sourced foods and adding a creativity to their dishes. At the same time, nothing is over the top wild and all very tasty. We enjoyed the small plate fish terrine which is a delicious white fish served on crusty bread with lettuce. Great smokey flavor and buttery texture. While the restaurant is known of it's in-house prepared charcuterie, that's not one of our favorites so we tried one of the artisan cheeses. Not only was the cheese tasty but the dabs of mustard along with sweet pickled watermelon really made a terrific combo on the toast points. For large plates, we enjoyed the duck confit and the vegetarian special which was an unusual collection of tastes that worked - tofu, kimchi, rice noodles, spicy beet sauce and hazelnuts. Glad that I overlooked the unusual mix of ingredients on the menu and tried it. Portions were appropriate and the food was served hot. We shared a chocolate dessert and left the restaurant satisfied by not over-sated. We also enjoyed the drink selections which included some of my favorites bourbon drinks, extensive wine choices reasonably priced as well as some good aperitifs/digestifs. We dined inside at a private table but the restaurant also has the option of outdoor dining as well as dining at the kitchen bar overlooking the food preparation. As with many restaurants, with either concrete or wood floors and high ceilings, the restaurant can be loud but it was tolerable. Our server was not only friendly but very eager to get in to the descriptions of the food and drink to help us make better choices. So, Bread & Wine is a great food experience and dining atmosphere. I would further add that for this type of restaurant, the prices are reasonable.
(5)
Andrew M.
It was great. Had the feel of high end places in Lincoln Park where we used to live. Wine selection is great and prices are not that bad either. I really enjoyed the decor and the staff was very helpful. Nice size parking lot with free parking to boot! Highly recommended. Burger and Pork Chop were both excellent! Chocolate Mousse!!!
(5)
Hannah G.
Had a wonderful experience here this evening for wine & cheese. We purchased a Gilt City voucher for the charcuterie plate with wine. I've had hit or miss experiences using vouchers, but no irritation or "you're not a real paying customer" attitude from these guys! We chose to sit at the bar and Eric was extremely friendly and helpful. The charcuterie was amazing!!! Lots of great flavors and honestly it was a filling dinner for two. Would totally recommend & plan on going back soon!
(5)
Elaine M.
We came here because a friend of ours had heard good things and wanted to try it out with us. So glad that we did. It was terrific! We did of course order a bottle of wine but that is more my husband's purview. It was good but honestly I don't remember much beyond it was red. The highlights were the appetizers and desserts by a long shot. We began our meal by sharing the CHARCUTERIE, chef's choice. We actually got to choose our six items and I would say that most were outstanding. Starting with my favorite, the chicken liver pate; it was smooth, creamy and the best I have ever had! I am looking forward to buying some this summer and taking in our picnic basket to Ravinia. We also had the duck rilletes and the tasso ham. The rilletes were mighty fine and the tasso ham very very smoky. Kind of like cigar smoke. Good if you like that sort of thing. Then for our cheeses we went with two of the Ann Arbor cheeses, Great Lakes Cheshire and YPSI, since we used to live there. Both were outstanding. The YPSI is a goat cheese and I loved it. Our third choice was the Cottonwood River Cheddar which was only okay, nothing really exceptional. The only disappointment with the charcuterie was that though it came with bread there were two kinds to choose from and we asked if we could do half and half. They said no, only one kind. When the board came there two loaves of bread, both the same kind. If there are two loaves, what's the big deal with doing half one kind and half the other? On to dessert, I would have like to try all three but only ended up trying two, the Salted Caramel Popcorn Panna Cotta and the Chocolate Mousse. The Panna Cotta was so amazing! We loved all the flavors and the smooth panna cotta paired with the caramel corn is genius. For our mains we had the sea trout, lamb meatball and the curried tofu. The flavors were spot on but only one meatball seemed kind of skimpy for a main course portion.
(5)
Lauren B.
Really, REALLY disappointed. I'd heard great things and wanted to love it. However, sitting at the show kitchen I watched the chefs perform highly unsanitary actions with the food items. We mentioned it to the manager, she kindly refired the food. Then my boyfriend's burger came back raw, he ordered medium. So, THAT was sent back. Mind you, we've unsuccessfully gotten our dinners 2x now. Then, when the bill came, only the burger was comped. Now, I'm not the type seeking free food, by any means. But, as a diner I expect good customer service, food that's tasty ( my chicken was mediocre, his burger was good), and food that is safe to eat. They failed on all 3 counts. It was really upsetting. I will say the waitstaff were great! So if all you're looking for is a friendly face, not worried about the safety or taste of your food... This might be a your place!
(1)
Amy H.
Fantastic food. Excellent wine selection. Really nice restaurant with a romantic ambience in a neighborhood you would not expect. If you don't usually find yourself in Irving park, it's worth the trip. Besides, parking is easier and free unlike the areas with the other nice restaurants. Try the gnocchi starter and the pork chop entree!
(5)
Jiratt P.
I would say the food here is not my favorite but absolutely nothing wrong. I love it here and I might come back because of service. They did a great job from understanding of my needs and taste of wine. Let me taste a few wine before open the bottle. Friendly and quick service here. I think sit at the patio for a light dinner and a nice bottle of wine it's must here.
(5)
John B.
Four of us dined at Bread & Wine this past Saturday. On first look, I liked what I saw. It's a pretty cool looking space. The restaurant was about 50% filled with people.The hostess greeted us pleasantly and led us to our table. The server appeared fairly quickly with menus. When he returned he informed us that they had already run out of two items. One was the trout; the other I can't remember. But wait, how do you run out of something at 7 PM? When the restaurant is half empty. Hmm. I ordered a bottle of wine, but the server apparantly assumed that it was for the table. He spun around in a flash and disappeared. In fact, the wine was for two of us and the other planned to order cocktails. He returned with four wine glasses and we pointed out that we only needed two; that A &M wanted cocktails. He grabbed the two extra glass and ran off. About 5 minutes later he returned with the wine and took the order for the cocktails. It was a bit awkward to have wine and for our friends to be without drinks. We waited. And waited. And my friend kept trying to get the servers attention, but without luck. Meanwhile another couple had been seated at an adjoining table. They not only had drinks, but salads. Mind you, we have now been there for 30 minutes. Finally A waved furiously for the server's attention. Drinks? "They're on their way," he claimed. They arrived 10 minutes later. Once the drinks arrived, service seems to take a more normal trajectory. The food was all excellent.Top notch. Everyone enjoyed their meals, however, speaking was difficult. The noise level in this restaurant is insane. Food: 4 stars Service: 2 stars Ambiance: 4 stars for decor ... 1 star for noise level = 2.5 They have wine bottles displayed along the wall for sale. My wife looked at them and we ordered one. It turns out that the prices of the bottles on the wall are different than when ordered. About $10 more, as I recall. That's a reasonable mark-up, although it was a bit confusing. It pains me to rate this restaurant only 3 stars, because the food was good. But the noise level and bad service leaves me no choice. If I learned that they addressed the acoustics, I'd come back. But I would ask for a different server.
(3)
Rob B.
How did I miss this? Not a full time resident, we yelped for a brunch location Sunday. Bread and Wine came up and oh, so glad it did! A downtown experience out here in Irving Park. Why there was not a line surprises me, this place was off the hook awesome! The Bloody Mary with a beer back was the way to start the day and we were in good company. I think every table had a bloody and I can see why. We shared a pancake with cherries. I had the Egg and Grits he had the Benedict. Service was amazing thanks guys! Only suggestion: Send those poached eggs out a little more rare. We want our yokes to run free.
(5)
Susan M.
Chef's know what they are doing. The owner is bringing down the rating in this case. We ordered the Cured Pork Belly and Breakfast Banh Mi, which were very well executed with great presentation. The servers are very attentive and welcoming. The owner seems unfriendly and not genuine. If she can hire someone to manage the daily operation, greet customers, tend bar and take on the role as the daily face of the restaurant, that would be a smart move. She was in the role of bartender on 7/12/15.
(3)
Lucius B.
I had reserved a table at Bread & Wine on Opentable for NYE, but suprise surprise, me and my friend are ushered to bar to sit in front of a disgruntled chef--Maybe because two dudes eating together wasn't the clientele this establishment was looking for. What could have been a superb dining experience was eclipsed by several unforgivable incidents, and although the staff was really nice, it wasn't enough to save the sinking ship--much like the violinists playing while the titanic was coming to it's inevitable fate. 1. The herb fries were just seasoned fries with aoili on the side. I don't condone of slapping a fancier name on a basic item so that you can charge more for it. They tasted bland, and not very herb-y. The only thing that made it worthwhile was the aeoli. 2. My porkchop was incredibly bland, and tough. Also it didn't come with a knife sharp enough to cut it, so I had been left to fight it out with a dull butter knife. It was a challenge, and I thought the porkchop would ultimately win the battle, and it did. I dusted myself off and let the slab of meat claim victory with 40% of it still remaining. I was defeated. 3. My cocktail was noted as having a sugared rim, and as I move in to taste the delightful crystals on the rim of the glass, SALT. I know this doesn't seem like a big thing but honestly for a $12 dollar cocktail the size of a baby's fist the least thing you can do it get it right. 4. While finally wrapping up, I overheard some very unsavory language coming from the chef about banging chicks or something. Honestly, it wouldn't have bothered me as much if the food had been better. Overall, the entire experiences was underwhelming, and entirely forgettable. I can already feel it fading out of my memory....
(2)
M M.
The food was really good, the service... was found wanting. Thank you, waiter A, for pointing out how stupid it was that all three of us got the burger ("Reaaally guys? The three of you could share a burger, we have some amazing stuff to try LIKE THE TROUT"), like we didn't already know this was stupid we just really wanted burgers. The burger, by the way, was amazing. In-house made pretzel bun, people. After we got shamed into ordering some charcuterie and ate our burgers I was stuffed. Waiter B came to clear our plates and saw my 7 fries and 2 bites of burger left and said, "Are you done there? Oh, did you not like it? Oh, can I get you a box for that?" More shame. Then it was similarly deemed ridiculous by waiter A that we not "at least try" some desert. We put our foot down. It was weird, it was rude, it was uncomfortable. Also, I noticed no female employees, which maybe has something to do with the awful interactions.
(3)
Walt P.
Back in Chicago again and had the chance to go to Bread and Wine several times. Brought 4 friends in Friday night for a bit of a reunion. As always we had great service ... this time Alex was our server. He did a great job pairing wine with our eclectic orders, which ranged from pork chops, sausage and Brussels sprouts to mussels in a simple wine broth. It was a challenge but the result made everyone happy. Stopped in for brunch Sunday before heading back to California. Sat at the bar and Emily helped us put together a delicious breakfast including the omelet of the day, French toast and a side of house cured bacon...yum. Lisa and Jenny have created a warm friendly place that keeps us coming back. We started coming here right after it opened three years ago and count on a warm welcome, wonderful service and great food...we've never been disappointed.
(5)
Steve B.
Went there with my wife, another couple and their 1 year old for brunch on a Saturday. The place was busy but not packed and the parking lot was still full. Slightly annoying. As with most brunch places, it was full of adults and their kids. I didn't directly hear any of the staff say they were annoyed by that but there definitely felt like some aggravation in the air. Maybe it was just an off day. Also even though it wasn't that busy the staff was not that attentive. We were there for almost 2 hours and could have easily cut 30 minutes off that. Took almost 15 minutes for the waiter to come back and take the check. The food itself was tasty but nothing that you couldn't find at other places. I had the french toast with pear compote. It was good but again nothing I couldn't find at a local diner. My wife had the classic fry-up and the hash was maybe some of the best out there. All of the potatoes were crispy just the way they should be. I have to say that while both dishes were good they have almost no veggie option on their menu. It is all meet, egg and wheat. My wife and I are big fans of skillets where there are lots of peppers, onions, etc... and there really wasn't an option for that. All in all I am not sure I would go back. Maybe for dinner as I have heard that is extremely good. But for brunch there are plenty of places that said that was the best brunch in the Irving Park neighborhood. I really hope not.
(3)
Raj P.
Great ambiance and excellent service. My partner had their fish entree and it was great. I had their chicken and thought it was cooked perfectly but for me lacked flavor. I would definitely go back and get the fish or something else though.
(4)
Diane A.
I live in the neighborhood and really want to like this place. I opted for the restaurant week option which came with a salad (very good), prawns with sauce and polenta and some other stuff, and white chocolate pudding. The pudding was ok. Nothing I would go out of my way to get but edible. The prawns were NOT GOOD. They tasted like the bottom of a river, or what I imagine that muck at the bottom tastes like. Now, maybe the fact that I asked for no bacon with this meal (I do not eat bacon) was what made it taste bad, but I doubt even bacon could cover up that flavor. I have had prawns before and enjoyed them immensely, so I don't know what happened here, but the moral of the story is that if you go for restaurant week, get the chicken. My husband did enjoy his burger, however. And my friend liked her fish. I will probably go back and try something else, maybe for brunch, but I will never, ever eat prawn here again.
So glad this place is in Irving Park. The atmosphere is really laid back and friendly and the food is inventive without being stuffy (and very good!). I'm looking forward to returning again and again!
(4)
Kathleen C.
I have been wanting to try this spot for a while and a random Wednesday seemed like the perfect time! I made a reservation, though I didn't need one mid-week. However, it's a small-ish spot, so I can imagine that it gets busy on the weekends and you probably need reservations then. We were quickly seated and warmly greeted. The wine/beer/cocktail list is extensive as you might imagine and they had some unique combinations. As to food, we tried the mussels (REALLY interesting with blue cheese and sriracha) and the burger and chicken entrees. The food was quite tasty and portion sizes were large, but I will say that nothing was amazing or overly wonderful. Service was a bit overly attentive, showing up ALL of the time (though, as we were one of few tables, I don't blame them). I did like it and I'd probably go back (mostly for their Tuesday dinner as I think that's a good deal), but I think it's a bit pricey for what it is and I will say that while the food was good, it wasn't as good as I expected for the price and also, a lot of the food options didn't really call to me. So, worth a spot and great for parking as they have a lot, but nothing that I'd travel specifically to if I lived far outside of the area.
(3)
Capaytano H.
This place is amazing the freshness is superb. The burger is grass fed and as a beef lover I sure could tell. The waitress OMG she was so friendly oh sure was her favorite saying. This place is just amazing can't wait for the next time. I hope this is how the food is in heaven juicy and flavorful
(5)
Max P.
Pricey but good. I have only had the burger, it is very tasty. The Pretzel Bun is a nice touch. The french fries are super tasty, well seasoned. 3 stars only because every time I order I ask for no mustard and yet always get mustard.
(3)
Sally O.
IT'S THE WAITING GAME! It took 10 minutes for our waiter to see us when we sat down. We finally had to ASK our hostess if one could come to our table. Our drinks took a long time to come out. Dinner took a long time to come out. You get tired of tapping your fingers on the table. We ordered dessert at the beginning of the meal and it came out a good 25 minutes after they cleared our dinner plates. We couldn't even drink coffee while we waited because we ordered it right after dinner and that took a good 15-20 minutes to get to our table. They even forgot to bring the pasta that I had boxed up back to us. I had to ask for it, to which our waiter said, "Oh yea!" Yeesh, this place wasn't on top of anything. Food was pretty good, but nothing remarkable. Would NOT recommend.
(1)
Terri R.
We left dinner here last night kind of shaking our heads. Not really sure what to think. We wanted to like it. Walking in we felt pretty sure that we would like it. But now... pretty sure we won't be trekking over to that neighborhood again to go back. The room is pretty--the lighting is just right. The decor is a nice balance of elegant and edgy. I like the layout: there's a long L-shaped bar off to the left of the dining room and a bar that faces the open kitchen. A long dark wood bench on the far right wall lined with pillows provides seating for a row of nicely spaced 2-tops. The music, however, was an odd choice. Are you playing it for the guests or for the cooks? It didn't seem at all to match your clientele. I couldn't really hear that it was music, only that it was loud noise that amped up the volume of people talking, but not in a way to create a buzzy atmosphere, more to just be annoying. The open kitchen would be fun--I usually love to sit facing the kitchen and watching the interplay of the chefs and the food being prepared. Thankfully though, we weren't sitting facing this group of cooks, who all seemed pretty surly. And, I"m sorry, but the waist-length hairnet on the one guy is just gross. Really. The greeting of the first person who came to our table was fun and friendly. The cocktails were creative and tasty. I had the mezcal mule that was made with a nice smoky mezcal and chile rim. It was supposed to have ginger beer in it, too, and I didn't taste any ginger beer, so not sure what was up with that. But I liked it anyway. My wife had the Paloma; it was fine, but missing some of the tartness that distinguishes this drink. For small plate starters, we had the mixed greens salad with pears, pipettes, blue cheese and currants. It was good--I like dressing to be a little bit lighter, but the flavor combination was very good. We also had what on the menu is called semolina gnocchi. In another review I read, someone complained about the gnocchi because it wasn't pasta and she thought gnocchi was supposed to be pasta. Since I know gnocchi isn't pasta, I dismissed that complaint, and ordered with an open mind. But now, I'm siding with that other reviewer. Because while gnocchi isn't pasta per se, it's also not what was served at Bread and Wine. What was served--square deep fried cakes of creamy semolina were tasty, but it's a dish that is hard to call gnocchi. And, the aioli -- again, another liberal interpretation of aioli, because it tasted just like plain mayonnaise-- isn't the right condiment. It needed something more acidic to cut through the fat of the deep fry. The main courses. I had the curried tofu with rice noodles, kimchi, and beet broth. It sounds odd, but it worked and I really enjoyed it. I would have loved more beet broth. My wife had the pork chop. The chop was a nice sized chop and the flavor was good. But... it was raw on the inside. I know that you can eat pork now that is not well done. But pork that is too undercooked is not pleasant. The dessert--the caramel popcorn panna cotta was delicious. I could have eaten bowls of it. The salty popcorn onto of the sweet creamy custard was a perfect matchup. The service was mixed. Our server was a kind of cool dude, and he checked on us often and that was all fine. But as we were clearly finishing and making motions toward leaving, the nice guy who had first greeted us when we sat down came over and just scooped up our wine glasses. It seemed brusque and misplaced and kind of rude like he was anxious to rush us out. Since the restaurant only had a few occupied tables by then, I wasn't sure why he felt he needed to hasten our departure, but it left an unpleasant feeling after what had already been a mixed experience. The final thing I'll say is that for a restaurant that calls itself Bread and Wine, you would think two things: the server would know something about wine and be able to talk about it and make a recommendation when asked. That there would be more than one option for a sav blanc by the glass. And, that there would be bread. Right? No bread.
(3)
Oliver S.
Went for dinner on a Tuesday night, and after being told that our first two drink choices each were unavailable because they had a large party the night before, we left...disappointing.
(2)
Dan M.
To start we made a 7:00 p.m. reservation on a Saturday night and we were sat at communal counter seats when many an actual open table were surrounding us as the restaurant was clearly not booked out. Kind of a head scratcher? We rolled with the punches as we decided we were here to experience the food more than anything; so no big. 1st off cocktails. Quite a nice selection and they were executed rather well so kudos to the bar manager and staff. Delightful 2nd. Appetizers. We ordered steak tartare and an heirloom tomato salad w/ watermelon and frisee. The steak tartare was actually wonderful in texture and flavor, but the actual portion size for a $16 dollar starter was absolutely abysmal. You can pay $18 for the best steak tartare in my opinion at Gilt Bar down in River North AND the portion is twice as much. Anywho on to the salad. I don't want to come off as another reviewer behind their Yelp keyboard shied, but it was an insult. Literally 1 tomato sliced in quarters, 4 cubes of watermelon, a boat load of frisee, and a few crumbles of feta chesse on a plate. I felt like I couldn't even try a tomato because if I did my partner, who I was on my date with, wouldn't get enough AND this dish, which half of the flavorless frisee was left on the plate, was $12!!! I have lived in Chicago for the past 7 years and I work in the food industry for a reputable James Beard Award winning chef. I understand menu pricing and your market. This menu is clearly priced to expose your ill informed north side neighborhood market. I understand that you are sourcing high quality food, but you are attempting to price your menu at River North to West Loop prices. 3rd. Entrees. We decided on the burger because it has been written up and repped in local publications and we also tried the pasta. The burger was executed perfectly. Kudos to the chefs for nailing the execution. Although it wasn't my fav burger of all time flavorwise it most certainly was excellent. The pasta on the other hand was the most forgettable dish of the night. It had NO seasoning and tasted like wet bland noodles in a cream sauce of no discernible taste. I commend this place for trying to bring a bit of that downtown elegance out to the neighborhoods, but where things end up faltering is there is no accountability. That salad and pasta were things that could be made in anyone's kitchen for a $2 food cost. Why should I come out to your restaurant to experience mediocrity and pay a $150 tab? We currently live in a culinary mecca and to settle for downtown prices at Irving Park and Elston is just unnecessary. You deserve better for your hard earned dough.
(2)
Melissa S.
Came in last Friday for dinner with a friend for the first time. Reservations were easy to get, we were seated at the bar in front of the kitchen. Which frankly were the best seats in the house! Watching the chefs prepare the Pork Chop made the decision to order it easy, and it was really delicious. The gnocchi small plate was a perfect start and the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta was an even better end. The service was absolutely delightful, the chefs in the kitchen were talented (and handsome!) and I can't wait to come back for brunch.
(4)
Allison C.
Absolutely delicious! Delicious food, delicious wine, delicious dessert. We even got free Malort shots at the end of the evening (are we crazy!?)
(5)
Jennifer M.
Came in on a Friday night with a friend to check this place out! It's near my boyfriend's, which in general lacks a lot of nicer restaurants so was excited to give it a try and seen a lot of good reviews. When we first drove in (was really excited for the parking lot), there was no parking left! It's actually quite a small lot, but we found street parking only a block away without a problem. I was slightly confused that there wasn't a table for us as I had made a reservation, but the hostess offered a round of free drinks if we took a seat at the bar so we obliged. I ordered the Mezcal Mule, thinking it'd compare to a Moscow Mule. But boy on boy was it strong! The bartender did tell me after that Mezcal is a very strong liquor and many people don't like it (wish he had told me that before). I only had a sip and couldn't drink the rest. It would have been above & beyond for him to offer me something else instead and only charge me the one drink but he didn't so I didn't ask. The drink was still on our bill but also could've been partly my own doing. There was some confusion that the first drinks we ordered were our drinks "on the house", but it turns out that was Prosecco. I wish we were told that first so I would've just had that and not made a drink order. Now we receved our appetizer fairly quickly, we ordered the Crispy Semolina Gnocchi and it was delicious! Fried just right, crispy, and some may say too salty but I loved the salt so it was all good for me. We gobbled that up within minutes. Then we waited for at least 30 minutes for main course which felt excruciatingly long. When it finally came, we were ready to pounce. I ordered the Chicken, which came with a warm cabbage salad and items that looked like dumplings but weren't. For the life of me I can't remember what they were called. The whole dish was fabulous! My friend ordered the mussels which was a decent sized portion served with side bread that was toasted and buttered. I tried a piece and dipping it in the sauce with the mussels was superb! The food was great but the overall service needed some work. I will go back here again but feel you have to go in knowing you may be there a while. It would have been nice to see them go above and beyond a little more with the drinks as well. Solid meal, just not overall super solid experience. Go if you have a little bit of patience.
(3)
Kelleen L.
First time there last night and I really liked it. Server/baretender was really nice, service was great and the food was good. My friend and I split two things, steak and grassfed burger. Both were really good. Its a smaller place with a small parking lot, the enviroment is nice as well. It is a bit pricey, but it is good.. would be good for a date night.
(4)
Jaime G.
Have to admit that i thought Bread and Wine was going to be a disappointment...too good to be true. Mixed reviews yet so close to home??? I was really skeptical. Good news is that I loved it. Great little place that serves fun new American dishes with flare. Also have a great wine and beer selection to keep most satisfied. Add the outdoor patio for nice summer nights and we're in business. I had the 3 Floyd's pride and joy ale to start then a fine chard. The most memorable menu items (menu is not very big but plenty of variety) were the raw scallops with juniper berries and oranges and the burger. Can't wait to go back esp since it's so close to home.
(5)
Claire G.
The mister and I went there last night to celebrate his birthday. We don't get an opportunity to dine out as much as we used to since having the kiddo. So when we do go out to eat, we cross our fingers and pray that it doesn't suck. Bread & Wine doesn't suck. In fact, it is really quite good. And it's close to where we live - double win. We ordered up a storm. The cheese and charcuterie was pretty spectacular with an emphasis on local, midwestern meats and cheeses. I like how the menu steered towards the local flavors. Baby kale salad was adorned with bits of thick bacon, strawberries, and pickled rhubarb. YUM! I affectionately referred to the mussels as buffalo mussels, as they come in a spicy sauce with blue cheese. They were good, along with a side of well-seasoned fries with truffle mayo. We had the chocolate mousse for dessert, which kind of tasted like a a Kit-Kat. Very sweet and chocolatey with crunchy bits. The only miss was the gnocchi. It's basically deep fried mashed potato squares with the same mayo as the fries. Meh. We had ordered way too much food anyway. Wine list is solid with some tasty choices by the glass, which is to be expected. Decent beer list and the cocktails looked good. Parking was a plus, especially in that area. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I would definitely go back for a glass of wine and some cheese on their patio or try them out for brunch (if they have high chairs - can't always ditch the kid).
(4)
Roxanne R.
I live in Old Irving Park and have always wanted to visit this restaurant since I've spotted the chic decor when driving by. We had a plate of cheese to start. It was pretty good with the jam and mustard they served with it. I had the chorizo beef and cheddar burger. It was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. I also liked the seasoned fries with the garlic aioli dipping sauce. If my stomach wasn't bursting out of my jeans, I would have finished every last fry. Last we had the salted caramel popcorn with chilled panna cotta. Maybe it's because I'm a huge Ice cream fan but I wish it was some gelato or ice cream. I think it would've tasted better. The sweet and salty concept was nice thought though The service was stellar. Our server provided great tips and checked on us just enough times. If you're in the old Irving park neighborhood, I would swing by for at least a glass of wine and some cheese.
(4)
Giovanni D.
Love this place I come here all the time. It's a nice hidden gem on the Northside. The staff is very passionate about the restaurant and make you feel very welcome. The steak tartare is probably the best I've had it beats Maudes. The burger is again is probably the best burger I've had as well. I think its all around better than Au Cheval. Every bottle of wine that I have tried is amazing. They put a lot of thought into there wine list. Chocolate mouse is great for a dessert. Highly recommend this place!
(5)
Jessy S.
Bread & Wine is sooooo delicious. I went there last Sunday for a late brunch with a friend and it was great! I drive past this place multiple times a week and I've always wanted to stop in. I made reservations shortly before but they weren't really needed for the time of day that we went, but, it is a more intimate place so I would definitely recommend making them if you're going at a peak dining time. I had some delicious Pear French Toast w/ hash browns and my friend had the Pork Belly, we were both so happy with our meals. My friend is pregnant, so I didn't order an alcoholic beverage as to not make her jealous... but... they had a great selection and I will definitely be back in the near future to try some of them out. Service was great, atmosphere was modern & clean, will definitely stop by for dinner sometime.
The only reason this place gets a second star is because they have parking and take reservations. I came here on a Saturday night with my girlfriends, and was unimpressed by the food and drinks. I found everything I ate to be super salty and similar tasting. To be specific, we had the gnocchi and the fries with aioli to start, and I had the burger for dinner. I don't know what it is, but the entire meal had one main flavor: salt. The drink list was interesting but expensive for Irving Park. I thought it would be a nice place in the neighborhood to bring out of town guests, but I probably won't be back.
(2)
Chary H.
Came here in January for lunch. Our waiter was very nice and pretty much attentive. I had the gnocchi. Nothing to write home about, I've definitely had better. It was a bit irksome to have to keep asking for cream for our coffees' and when I asked a different waitress who happened to be near us she purposely took forever to bring it. I know because I could see her behind the bar standing there and talking to another waiter. Then as we were leaving she gave us a dirty look and that's why they're getting a two star review. There's no need for cattiness, I just want cream for my coffee.
(2)
Sherrie E.
This review is way over due! My husband and I LOVE this place...from the cozy environment, wine, cocktails, food, and service. It just can't be beat. The owners, Lisa and Jenny, are awesome as well. Try the gnocchi appetizer (unbelievable and too hard to describe), cheese plate with liver mousse, burger, carmel corn panna cotta, +++. Just go, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Liz K.
Sometimes it really pays off to go off the beaten path and try something that you didn't find on Yelp. Thanks to a suggestion from my friend, I ventured out of my well-traveled Lakeview and Lincoln Park paths to try Bread & Wine this week during Restaurant Week. The restaurant is not in a location that I automatically associate with fine dining, but as soon as we entered, I forgot that we were minutes from the expressway and off of the ever-crowded Irving Park Road. Parking lot? IMMEDIATE bonus. The atmosphere on the interior immediately made me feel like I was in a high-end restaurant in the Gold Coast, which I consider impressive. The hostess greeted us immediately, made us feel welcome, and showed us to our table (pointing out the space heater along the way in case we got cold and needed to move it). With that said, it was a little cold because our table was in the area by the door that I believe is typically a small grocery. It wasn't distracting but I sure wished I had worn socks. Oh well, neither here nor there. I haven't been to a restaurant where I have so many questions on the menu as I did at Bread & Wine, but our server (Josh) was very helpful in guiding our decisions and I was 110% pleased with our choices. We started out with a cheese - we were planning on getting anything but the Dante (sheep's milk? we had to have a debate about whether sheep even had milk...and then I felt a little dumber) - but then when the server said "it's like the Spanish manchego," our decision was made. We both studied abroad in Seville and that is THE cheese there. Our next course was the Mixed Carrot salad, which had a great flavor but I wasn't a huge fan of the wheat berries, as I was expecting more of a chewy and less crunchy bulgar wheat type nugget. I was speechless when the main course arrived. We chose to have the small plate, semolina gnocchi, come out with our main dish, which was the pork special that came with pretzel bread pudding. We were told that the pork would be between 14-16 ounces, but we easily had a 20-24 oz piece of meat on our hands. It was fantastic, seasoned perfectly alone but also well paired with the sauces on the plate, and we had a good deal left over to take home. I loved the gnocchi, but will warn you that it was quite salty. The garlic aioli that came with was a perfect pair because it cut into some of that saltiness, and I found it to go well with the pork also. Since it was restaurant week, we decided to go all out and get a dessert too - why not? We hadn't ordered from the special menu but decided to live it up and order the salted caramel panna cotta. I haven't had panna cotta before, so I was imagining something similar to creme brulee or flan, and was surprised by the grainy texture of the dessert. It was still tasty, but you really had to make sure to get a bite of all three layers to see what this dessert was like. The bill was very reasonable, considering the quantity and quality of food, plus a glass of wine apiece. I would highly recommend going out of your way to give this restaurant a try.
(4)
Elaine S.
My boyfriend and I came here for dinner last night and everything was wonderful. We sat up at the chefs table which was essentially just a counter, but we were able to see the chefs prepare all of the food which was cool! Our cocktails were fantastic (I highly recommend the Second City Storm) and our dinner was even better. We had the burger and the Taglietelle - both phenomenal. Our waitress, Emily, and another waiter, Tommy, took incredible care of us and we're always there when we needed them.
This place was amazing. Great food excellent service. Max our server was great. Had the duck confit and loved it. Also wanted dessert but didn't have enough room. We will be back soon.
(5)
Scott C.
We were late for our reservations and it turned out great. We were seated at the chef's counter and for the next 90 minutes had a thoroughly enjoyable time eating, drinking, and finding out really interesting things from the chef about the food we were enjoying. We will be sure to go back again before summer is out.
(4)
Kerrie G.
As good as it gets. If you are looking for a lovely casual dining experience that has a fabulous choice menu. I have been to Bread and Wine only twice, but have been blown away both times. Can we please just talk about the panacotta? It is like a velvety slice of love. Not too sweet, not too bland, it was just perfect. The staff is pleasant and helpful.
(5)
Mike S.
We went as a date on a Thursday a few weeks ago. The place is rather small in size, maybe 20 -25 tables at most, with an open kitchen and a small bar. Get reservations if you plan on going at peak dining hours. Parking is at a premium; there are only about 8 or 9 spots in their lot. Service is outstanding, the waitstaff are attentive, educated and really seem to like their job. Prices are average for this type of slight upscale gastropub and the drinks are unique and inviting. The menu is rather limited, as I would assume it changes regularly based on what is available. They focus on locally sourced food items. My only caveat is that while we were dining and the place was winding down, I noticed the hostess leaving for the night, and as she left, she was parked in the closest spot in the lot! With limited parking, make the staff park on the street!!!!
(3)
lovesmyanimals l.
My review will reflect some of the other diners regarding service. I went on a Saturday night, the restaurant was not overly packed so why we had the experience we did, baffles me. The night started off great, there is a parking lot for us who drive, friendly hostess and homemade caramels at the front door (yum). However, from there the night went the other way. 1) After being seated, our waiter forgot about us. Methinks. As other tables seated after us were getting attention from their waitstaff. 2) About 15 minutes later, (yes I watch my phone) the waiter appeared and said what do we want, very rushed and rude. Never once did he explain the menu or even tell us the specials as I watch him with two other of his tables. 3)Our waiter forgot to put in part of our order. 4) Our waiter did a disappearing act during before and during the meal. I waved down other staff to get hot water or even condiments with my meal. 5) Speaking of meal - it came out cold. 7) when I sat their for a while waiting for our waiter to see how our meal was, he never showed up - so I had to send my meal back to the kitchen with another waiter. 8) He was quick to bring us the bill - again after we waived him down. I did speak with the manager and they did make things right with the meal. But the entire SERVICE was horrible, that it in itself is reason enough not to come back. Even more baffling and per the manager we had one of the best waiters... How is that when it was a disappearing act all night and his rude demeanor. Best part of the meal was not the meal but the yummy caramels at the door. I could eat those all day.
(1)
Suzana G.
How I love this place!! Wine, cheese and its interior decor! Had a chance to spend a Friday night at Bread and Wine with my friend, we both had an amazing time. Wine is delicious, paired with cheese very memorable. Cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Sol A.
My friend the birthday girl picked this place for dinner. Gus our server was impeccable! Extremely knowledgable, helpful and personable. His helpers were equally attentive. We started out with the chartreuse. It was very good. Upon recommendation I opted for the pork chop dinner. I was sadly disappointed. Although a good portion size and juicy, the pork chop lacked flavor. Next time I'll listen to previous Yelper's review. Beside the service, the bread pudding desert was amazing! Nice atmosphere, great service, good deserts but my main dish left something to be desired. I would definitely give them another chance and visit again. Next time opting for the pasta or chicken entree. Worth a visit!
(3)
Regina G.
Thank You, Jennifer for helping with my Reservations. My husband and I had a wonderful first time there. I had the #80 & hubby had a "London's Burning": yummy drinks! The food & service were perfect. Thanks for making our date night a great experience!
(5)
Craig R.
Came here with my wife and family while we were in town last and what an excellent experience. The good: -We came early because we made our reservation on short notice, we pretty much had the whole restaurant to ourselves! -Semolina Gnocchi, get these, you will not regret it! -The Cavaletti had a nice spice to it, but it wasn't overwhelming, even my mother who doesn't love spicy food was able to enjoy it. -Despite being named Bread and Wine it had a solid selection of beers as well. -Our server was very attentive and ensured we had everything we ordered/needed. -The decor/atmosphere was simple without a ton of frills, I loved it. They bad: -The only bread on the menu that I saw was the bun for the burger, the name is misleading!! -It is kind of a hassle to get to unless you live way up on the north side already. The blue line drops you about a half mile off and a taxi from downtown is 20 bucks or so. I'd definitely be back for another visit if I still lived in Chicago.
(5)
Keith A.
Bread&Wine falls into one of those places that does a really good job across the board, but really excels with the appetizers. I came here with a group of friends for their birthday. We started off with a cheese&charcuterie plate. We went 3 and 3 on the cheese and meats. For the cheeses we went with the gorgonzola, parmesan, and the cheddar. The gorgonzola was really good and I was digging on the parmesan as well. On the meats, the tasso ham is absolutely awesome. This was worth getting 2 orders alone (sadly we didn't) and is an absolute gem here. On the small bites, we went with the semolina gnocchi and herbs fries. The gnocchi was fried, and this was absolutely the perfect way to do semolina gnocchi IMO. I normally want my gnocchi in egg dumpling form, but I really liked this in the way of finger small bites. The herbs fries were also really enjoyable, but it definitely says something when the 4 of us took down the semolina gnocchi easily first. Our group also treated the entrees as small plates. We ordered the pappardelle and the roasted chicken. The chicken was definitely the winner here. The pappardelle wasn't anything to sneeze at, but this chicken was well done and there was some more of the tasso ham. The service was also really good all night as well. It was never hard to get ahold of her, and she even helped us in messing with the birthday boy and secretly loading up a brownie with candles. Bread&Wine is definitely worth coming to. I really enjoyed myself, and with us ordering a bunch along with corkage, we still only left there paying $60 with a good sized tip. I am always happy with that.
(4)
Nat M.
nice space/ambience. typical dinner menu for a chicago restaurant, which means very good. great cocktails. staff was excellent and managed our group very well. food was really good and the price was right. odd location, but i'll defn come back when im in the area
(4)
Christina G.
My husband and i came here with a Blackboard Eats deal in hand, which essentially gave us a free meat, a free cheese, and a free dessert. I will start by saying that if I could have a meat and cheese plate with a glass of wine for every meal, I would die a happy lady. So, I was very excited to give this place a try. We drove down Irving Park and were glad to see there was a parking lot. It was a pretty ample size too. We walked in and were given some options of where to sit: booths to the right, the chef's table, or tables to the left. We chose a table off on our own. Our waiter was the best. He clearly knew the menu and alcohol selection well, as he had some spot on recommendations for us. I ended up going with a Pinot Gris and my husband had a beer (I forget what kind). We started off Country Ham and Gorgonzola. Originally, we wanted to try some Boone County Bloom cheese, but unfortunately, they were out. It happened again, when we asked for the small plate special of scallops. We were told they only had enough scallops for 6-8 tables to order the special that night. That seemed low to me, but OK, no scallops for us. The meat and cheese plate was great. It was served with warm baguette slices, mustard with a kick, and some sort of apple-quince paste. Delicious. Next came the crispy semolina gnocchi. Best part of the meal, hands down. These were unlike any gnocchi I've ever had, as they were fried, crispy, light, and filled with something creamy that tasted out of this world. Order this, for sure! The rest of the meal was underwhelming, to say the least. I expected more from the beer and chorizo burger for $18. And the poached hen egg was basically an egg served on a piece of toast. Not great. Even the dessert was just meh. We had the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta, and the only part I really liked was the caramel popcorn, as the panna cotta itself was pretty tasteless. My recommendation: Come here for drinks and an appetizer cheese plate on a pretty summer night when you're not too hungry. This restaurant is great for that. If you're looking for a big meal, head elsewhere.
(3)
Suzi K.
Worst service I have experienced in a long time. Food was fine ( although not great) but it was eclipsed by the incompetence of the waitress.
(2)
Tom O.
Reservations at 6:30 on a Saturday. No parking in the lot, but no meters on Irving Park either. Place was about 3/4 full when we entered and noise level was a medium, by the time we left every seat was filled and you had to raise your voice a little more to be heard. They were cool with us bringing in our own wine, $10 corkage fee. We had a charcuterie plate and each piece was worth every bite. Herb fries were excellent as well as trout, skirt steak special, and chicken. The chocolate-pumpkin dessert with pumpkin brittle blew us away; we ended up ordering more. Gus was a great, accommodating server. Would definitely go back again.
(4)
Supna R.
A great friend and I had dinner here this evening, and I am SO happy we did! From the second we sat down at the bar area overseeing the kitchen, we could see how much love and attention went into each dish. We started with the charcuterie, my absolute favorite part being that we could choose our own combination of meat and cheese. The chicken liver pate was scrumptious, as was the cheese and tasso ham. We followed that with the mussels. I must say, I am not much of a cheese and seafood fan, but somehow the combination of the blue cheese and siracha made me a convert. The broth was so good, that it made me want to pick up the bowl and sip every last bit. The mussels were cooked to perfection- every shell opened perfectly. We finished the meal by sharing the burger (an unconventional dessert choice- but a smart one)... and it was every bit as delicious as I had hoped. The burger itself was cooked beautifully, and the sweetness of the pickles and caramelized onions complemented it so well, that I didn't even miss one condiment that wasn't already on the bun. Overall, this was a fantastic dining experience with excellent and attentive service, topped off with a great suggestion for a bottle of wine. I cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Yazid E.
After a lengthy absence, my wife and I returned to Bread & Wine. The meal was superb. I started with the PEI Mussels, which were excellent. The portion size was very generous for a small plate. The entree of Hanger Steak was a perfectly prepared with green beans, potatoes and beet ash. See the photo I posted. The vibe at the restaurant is as great as ever - hip and classy. They even have some beers on tap.
(4)
Dan H.
I stopped in to meet an old high school classmate and immediately was treated to great decor subdued but captivating. We sat at the counter which was a comfortable feeling similar to an old school diner with a modern theme. The wait staff/team was very genuine in their greetings and concern for my needs. We sampled the tray of kielbasa cheese and other delicious offerings. I learned that most of the plates were locally sourced or made on site. The bar offered 4 locally brewed taps along the IPA theme, I sampled 3 which were great. For my first experience it was great, I will return with my lovely bride to enjoy a full evening. Thank Lisa I had a great time! Dan
(5)
Laila C.
I haven't had such an enjoyable dinner experience anywhere in a while! I LOVED Bread & Wine. First of all, they have a parking lot! We sat at the Chef's table and got to chit chat and batter with the kitchen crew the whole night. They let us try different sauces, we gave them some of the special Founders Doom beer we ordered, they bought us shots of Malort (surprisingly, I kind of loved it!). We started with a 3 piece charcuterie plate, for apps we had some heart, some tongue, basically just all the organ meats they had on the menu. We shared the fish and the steak. Everything was phenomenal!!!!!! So thoughtful and surprising flavors. The only thing I found boring was the dessert, we had the white chocolate. But then again, I'm just not a big dessert person. Also, all the cocktails kick ass! I can't wait to come back!!!!!
(5)
Christy L.
I haven't been this excited about a restaurant since I tried the Girl and the Goat when it first opened! Bread & Wine is amazing! My friend and I dined here tonight; and the food was tasty, the service attentive, and the atmosphere perfect. The wine list offers plenty of affordable selections, as cheap as $6 per glass with many bottles under $35. There was a small, but interesting cocktail list, though we did not order from it. We started by splitting the duck confit pierogi and the crispy chicken leg appetizers. The duck pierogi, my least favorite dish of the evening, was well-prepared though tasted a bit too gamey for me (this is typical of duck and does not reflect on the preparation). The pierogi was delicate with the right amount of filling and the pickled onions and sauce perfectly complimented the meat. If you like duck, you will love this dish. The chicken won me over - it fell right off the bone and the sauce was an interesting mix of sweet and spicy. It was a special for the evening, and I hope they rotate it into the regular menu. For entrees, we again shared - the Bahn Mi sandwich as well as the fettuccine with mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and goat cheese. Bahn Mi must be the new craze as this isn't the first time I've seen them on the menu of a non-Vietnamese restaurant. The sandwich was tasty. The homemade pasta was to die for - the best dish of the evening. The mushrooms were nice and garlicky, and the goat cheese was a great deviation from the standard Parmesan. For dessert, we shared the sweet potato donuts with salted caramel sauce. The bite-sized donuts were good though could have been a bit sweeter. The caramel - wow! It comes out in a shot glass, and I literally drank from the glass after we polished off the donuts! It was delicious! Our waiter, Jerry, was very attentive, making helpful suggestions on what to order. We sat at the chef's table and interacted with the chef while he prepped the food. The decor is minimalist without being harsh, and the restaurant is loud without hindering conversation. What really sealed the deal for me was when our check came - we ordered two glasses of wine, two appetizers, two entrees and a dessert, and our bill, including tip, was only $85. Take Bread & Wine and plop it in the West Loop, and I imagine it'd cost at least 50 percent more. It's only a matter of time before getting a table here will be near impossible. The restaurant's small and while off the beaten path for many, it's more than the worth the trip.
(5)
Jay L.
I've been twice now and the food was super both times. It's a bit off the beaten path in what looks like the shell of a former Burger King, but the inside leaves no trace of its former self. Open Kitchen, expansive drink menu, and a mix of what I would consider somewhat rich foods. Highlights for me were the coffee at the end of the meal to cut the richness of the salted chocolate mousse. Nice job!
(4)
L P.
We went for an early dinner on a Tuesday. We loved everything about this place. The staff was fantastic, super friendly and attentive. The food was AMAZING! We ordered the tasting and a burger. Nothing disappointed. Each bite was delicious and left you wanting another. We will be back and hope to sample everything on the menu.
(5)
Nina B.
Perhaps I just don't get out much... But a tad over $80.00 for a dinner for two? Methinks not. I took my daughter out after work one Friday evening - something new for me, (we normally visit on Sunday afternoons). Still, I was up for a new adventure and thought I would try a dining out on a Friday evening, no less. I drove pass Bread & Wine one day and thought, "Hmm looks trendy, but could have nice eats and good atmosphere". Bread & Wine is trendy - not the place to meet good old mom after work, (I'm the old mom). Many 20-30 something couples, a couple of large groups,(4-6), even a small family, (you know a mom, dad and 1 child), but overall very loud. Something should be done about acoustical tiles. I suspect the dining area used to be a garage, so the walls are cement or simply dry wall, so the noise level can get really high, (or maybe I'm just sensitive - I am the old mom). The tables seemed close to me, so I felt like my conversation was public. Still, everything under low lighting appeared clean and the food... The food was tasty. Different for sure - not basic - not at all what I would cook at home. I had white fish - which really is basic, but not the price. The portion was more than enough to share with my daughter who had ordered the lamb, which was really small - so she was still a little hungry. Both meals were served attractively on the plate, so eye appeal was met, but still the price... Our service was good, but not great, (although, my daughter left a very generous tip). Our waitress came once after serving to check on us. I noticed other servers were more attentive. I poured my own water throughout our meal, again while other servers poured the water for their customers.... Then our dessert came... Being the old mom; I know a thing or two about sweet potato pie - We had the sweet potato custard "strip", twirled ever so nicely on the plate, but it didn't add to the taste, which left me wondering did the chef's mother ever teach him or her about making real sweet potato pie. I don't know if I'll go back, maybe with my husband, maybe with another one of my six children...but not anytime soon. I guess, if one is looking for a little something to taste and good wines; Bread & Wine is the place to go, but not with dear old mom after work on a Friday.
(3)
Shannon H.
Food was delicious, waiter was great. My only complaint is that the bar service was super slow. Took about 20 minutes to get our drink order.
(4)
Annie W.
Excited to try this place again! So grateful for a nice foodie place in Avondale/Irving Park! Hey, us West-siders gotta eat too! Very interesting combos, cute atmosphere, can't wait to try more on the menu!
(4)
Linda B.
I like the appetizer choices. I did not find the entree portion of the menu as impressive. I think I would stick to a drink and appetizers next time.
(3)
Amy B.
I had a hankering for meat, so I went with the grass-fed beef burger with beef bacon during a Saturday afternoon brunch. It did not disappoint. It was the juiciest grass-fed burger I've had to date. It was cooked perfectly, and the flavor was wonderful. There are also a couple savory and sweet vegetarian brunch options I aim to try, but I look forward to returning some evening for wine and a charcuterie plate.
(4)
Rick F.
Overall a great experience! We went with some dear friends that frequent and love Bread & Wine. The owners work at the restaurant everyday, I love that they get to know the clientele and genuinely care. The service was perfect, the waitress was very attentive and made some great recommendations. To have a restaurant of this caliber: modern, cool, hip vibe in this part of town is desperately needed and welcomed. Thank you for taking the risk! The decor is way cool, loved everything about it, next time it was recommended that we sit at the food bar and engage the chefs throughout the meal, you may get some Scooby snacks on your plate, yum! Chicken Liver Pate-Excellent Salumi and Cheese Plate- Excellent Crispy semolina Gnocchi- Excellent Beef and Kielbasa Burger-Not a fan Butter poached Whitefish-Just OK Salted caramel popcorn Panna Cotta- Excellent, WOW! I'd like to see more Bread and more Wine since it is in the name?????? I'm looking forward to my next visit!
(4)
Jennifer G.
I'm not coming here anymore. It has changed since they opened. The prices are not worth the food. This food doesn't taste gourmet enough to warrant the tiny portions and okay only food. You can get this kind of food for way cheaper at pitchfork down the street or chicago diner in Logan. Or kinda anywhere. I don't know why they charge so much. They have paid off their ikea furniture by now. They don't explain the specials well. They don't give you a meat knife to cut their tough ass meat. Bathroom smells. Wine glass overpriced. It is too bad this is our only sort of fine dining option in this area still. I'm not coming Back anymore. :( You can get this kind of food way better at some nice bars in Lincoln square and roscoe village, etc. I think they are going to wind up closing soon.
(1)
Jon M.
Overall review: 3 1/2 stars I took my fiancee here for her birthday. Snf it was our first time here. The ambience upon entering was pretty cool but you could tell the decor is from ikea. I was cracking up with my fiancee. The hostess at the front wasn't attentive at all. There was a group before us who appeared to be friends with her, was very chatty with hugs and laughter. Too bad, she was the cause of 1/2 of a star. The waitress was attentive and good, not overwhelming or overly talkative. My fiancee usually have the luck of having our mouths full of food and the waiter comes by to ask us how the food was.. then you can't answer how you want to. I dislike that. Our waitress there, has great timing. We were in between bites sipping on our spirits and conversing only to ask us how the food was. The apps were great! We had the mussels with bleu cheese siriacha sauce. The mixture of flavors had heat to it, but enough heat not requiring milk to save your taste buds from full destruction. There was sliced French bread soaking up the sauce. That was the best party but I didn't want to fill up on food quickly. We also ordered the crispy gnocchi. You're taste buds will have a full on orgasm. No joke. I highly recommend them. My fiance had curried tofu with noodles. the total was good but the noodles tasted like it was still al dente. it was nothing too exciting. I had poached chicken with potato puree and sweet potatoes and onions. It was good but the outer part of the chicken was over salted. If we could do it all over again, we would have just gone for the small plates or the cheese & wine.
(3)
Leah C.
hardworking staff...but still fell short for service... from the moment i booked a last minute weekday date night at b+w, i knew this spot would shine. the receiving end was bright and cheery on the phone and informed me that if we could not find a last minute sitter, kids were welcomed (kids menu available). we were greeted by his smiling colleague upon arrival followed by a courteous server and main server. our gilt voucher allowed us to order 2 dishes of each category. i applaud the "equal opportunity service" as i feel that sometimes service is cut short the second you present a voucher... i went with the salad, curried tofu and the panna cotta dessert. we added a cheese plate to our order as well which was divine. after the cheese plate was served, service slowed tremendously (reason for knocking off a star). our server, we later observed, was running back and forth from the kitchen to the bar to his tables. they were obviously short staffed and something was obviously going on in the kitchen because our next courses took forever to appear. the salad was good but nothing beyond what was described on paper (which is fine). my tofu dish was the perfect combination of spice and texture (the rice noodle accompaniment was al dente and the tofu crisp on the outside and silky on the inside). we ended up having to box up our desserts to make it home in time for the sitter. as i restlessly waited for our meal to arrive, i was kept busy by the wine bottles tucked away on the shelves - all for sale. great homey atmosphere and nothing too frilly on the plates either.
(4)
Brad Y.
We went to Bread and Wine last night for dinner. It was our first time there. The food was good, but the service was horrible - extremely slow, ordered a drink that never came, and the server (as opposed to our waiter) was downright rude. Oh, and by the way - despite their name, they don't serve any "bread" - which would have come in handy for the first 30 minutes when our order had not even been taken. We won't be back.
(2)
J V.
I had family visiting for New Year's Eve and saw that Bread & Wine was opened and was offering a special menu with a midnight toast. I always wanted to check this place out so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. It was nice that there was parking and our table was available right away. Our server was friendly but left after an hour because she had New Year's plans of her own. Our new waiter was also friendly. We had a couple of drinks and a couple small dishes. The food was ok and was very pricey for what it was. We were expecting a toast at midnight but the waiter had us close out around 11:30PM and no one said anything at midnight. The staff was just chatting somewhere in the back. So we just toasted with water and went home. It was quite depressing. I was really hoping to have a better experience. Sorry won't be back and won't be recommending Bread & Wine to my friends.
(2)
Robert T.
What a great surprise. One of the better meals that I've had in Chicago, without a doubt. The service was great for us, so I obviously didn't have the same experience as a few who complained about service. Our table had a selection of charcuterie to start, as well as the gnocchi. We had the pate, tasso ham, mortadella, cheddar, camembert, and the goat cheese. The camembert was a bit bland, but the other five were all exceptionally tasty. Really fantastic. Our table ended up ordering the trout and the carbonara, which were enjoyed by everyone. In particular, the trout was apparently really fresh and perfectly cooked (not overcooked, as most places do). The panna cotta and chocolate mousse provided a perfect dessert. The menu is the perfect size. Enough choices to satisfy everyone, but not so much s to overwhelm or to ensure mediocrity. And, 1/2 price wine on Wednesday nights? It made for a perfect meal. Can't wait to go back....
(5)
John C.
Lets start by saying the food is great, atmosphere is great, chic but comfortable. We love all the staff Jennifer and Lisa are both fun and fabulous with a great eye for detail. We love it so much that we are having are wedding here. My partner Erick and I love to sit at the bar and eat and drink great food and socialize with the staff and other patrons. John C. and Erick B.
(5)
Bettina Y.
I tried to like this place but every time (4 to be exact) I have walked out of this place disappointed and feeling like I got ripped off! The last time we went there, which should have been the last, they told us that they were closing soon so we had to get our order in quick. So we did and then proceeded to waited for about 40 minutes for our breakfast. We were told that the cook kept messing the eggs up. Why did we go back?! Well we did and last night was the same. We finally tried the burger that they are famous for and it was memorable in the way that the soggy pretzel bun made us want to be eating at DMK as that was a memorable burger and bun. I couldn't even tell that the chorizo was chorizo and it annoyingly kept slipping out of the burger. The burger was raw when we ordered medium. Also had a pappardelle entree that was really bland and I remember thinking that it just tasted like pasta. The flavors were all very mute except for the pork in the dish, which really didn't seem to go. I tried to put all of the components in the dish together to see if it made it taste like something, but then all you tasted was the pork much which again didn't really go. We also ordered a kielbasa appetizer which was good, but it was 4 tiny pieces for $6. It was completely ridiculous! We barely ate either dish, which the server really could care less if we did. Overall, the service is sub-par, the kitchen is slow, the food is trying to be something it isn't and it is overpriced. I wish I could say that it is a great neighborhood place for when you don't want to drive, but it isn't even that.
(2)
Jeff G.
went there for dinner one night. while i like the concept that they are farm to table, both of our meat entrees we ordered were below average quality, either tough or dry or both probably wouldnt go back for dinner but maybe for brunch.
(2)
Victoria D.
This restaurant is in my neighborhood and so I want to LOVE it, want to SUPPORT it, and want to see if SUCCEED. However, at least 6 out of the 7 times I've been there, I've been disappointed on some level. Why? Very small wine pours, uneven service, and inconsistent food. Then, the last time we went--my husband and I brought a friend for her birthday. That night, even though it was a slow night, we were not told it was half-price bottled wine night, so we ordered by the glass, AND they do NOT recognize/celebrate special occasions beyond the perfunctory "Happy Birthday" wish. Most restaurants offer a complimentary dessert--likely costs them less than $1.00 but it goes a long way in good will, customer loyalty and a display of appreciation for choosing THEIR establishment to celebrate. Our waiter went so far as to say to our friend, "What, no dessert on your birthday" after we had spent a small fortune on drinks, apps, sides, and entrees. So, I'll likely go back....maybe in the summer and dine al fresco when I want to walk to where I'll dine, but I'd pick another restaurant to celebrate a special event.
(2)
Julie K.
Sat at kitchen bar and had a great night. The chef answered our questions, and also it was a great way to see other items on the menu. Definitely try the charcuterie, the homemade sausage and prosciutto were delicious. Also, the chicken dish was really uniquely executed and delicious, I think he said it was sousvide, Also, prices are reasonable for a nicer dinner, and it's a great addition to the area.
(5)
Monte O.
The owners are very nice and made me feel welcome, and the food and service is amazing! I will definitely be a regular...
(5)
M M.
For some reason my eating partner picked this place. I don't know why, since we seldom drink wine. Just as I suspeced, a menu with a large selection of wine and just a few dishes to choose from, that didn't give my finiky friend many options. I had the beef and charizo burger, very good--the beef was grass fed (the waitress was nice enough to inquire about their beef when I asked if it was organic). I figured if it was good beef I wouldn't have minded having it on the medium side, but I decided to be safe and ordered it well. The burger was cooked perfectly and I guess the grass fed beef justifies the $14 burger which came with a side of fries uniquely seasoned -best fries I ever had! I can confidently boast that. My friend ordered the $18 chicken breast and loved their signature mulberry mustard sauce, which I think I had a hint of in my burger. The waitress was kind enough to give my friend a little container with a bit of the sauce to take home. It was charished like gold, kind of like how I cherish the fautoush salad dressing at Pita Inn. Bread and wine was a visually suave and sopisticated place, yet with a casual confortable feel. People were great, it was just a tad bit pricy for my budget. If I liked wine, I would probably appreciate this place more.
(4)
Harvey M.
I'd been wanting to try this place for a long while and it did not disappoint when I went for Sunday brunch with a friend. Great parking options nearby (free!). The menu was eclectic enough to differentiate itself from other restaurants, but familiar enough to be accessible to almost any palate. The service was outstanding and the food was very good. I can't wait to go back.
(4)
FoodLover Z.
Took my wife here for a Valentine's Day dinner today. I ordered their special V-Day menu -$45 for a three course meal consisting of kampachi crudo, lamb chops and chocolate mousse. My wife order the crispy semolina gnocchi and smoked celery root agnolotti. Everything we ordered was absolutely fantastic. Even my drink - a simple honey gimley, was amazing. The only reason I take away one star is that the portions are tiny. I could've eatern two entrees, in addition to the appetizer and dessert - I'm not even kidding. I had to have a small snack after coming home to keep myself from sleeping hungry. All-in-all, it's a great place, but it's not as "reasonably priced" as it looks on paper due to the small portions.
(4)
Yvonne O.
I am not big on driving into this area on a Saturday night as it brings back memories of fighting the awful traffic on Irving at ALL TIMES OF DAY AND NIGHT when I lived at Irving and Damen. But, the husband read about the place in the paper, saw "charcuterie plate" and it was a done deal. I hoped there would be options for me. We were seated at the bar - totally fine with me and ordered right away. Husband got the charcuterie with pig face, spanish ham and aged cheddar and I ordered the smoked duck pierogies. He loved the plate, my duck was lacking in flavour. For entrees, he got the steak and gnocchi and I ordered the stinging nettle (flower) fettuccini. Both were delicious - especially the semolina gnocchi that look like little marshmallow squares. Those come as a side order - get them, you will not regret it. All this and two drinks was about $90 before tip - not bad. And, if you eat in, you can shop in the little market area behind the host with 10% off. I would definitely come back, but I would like to see a few more seafood options as there were only two things I would really order as an entree on the menu (no shrimp, scallops, whitefish, and only the one steak, which was suprising)
(4)
Flora C.
Bread and Wine took it's time getting opened, and it was well worth the wait! The decor is elegant, the ambiance is warm and inviting. The food was delicious. I had the fettuccine with roasted pumpkin and goat cheese and oyster mushrooms. It was yummy! The pasta was home made. My husband had the lamb, which he raved about and kept having to share pieces with our daughter. My daughter had the chicken over leg confit and truffle dumplings with roasted vegetables. She ate it all up! We also tried the olives, togarashi popcorn and the duck pierogis as apps. Delicious! We left stuffed and cannot wait to go back. BTW, we went on opening night. And for a first night being open, it was PERFECT! Service, food, wait time. Well done! SO excited to have a restaurant of this caliber in what has been a "restaurant desert" in our west walker/old irving area.
(5)
Cristen B.
Flank steak was amazing and so was the beet salad. The sauces served on both our meals were out if this world, I wanted seconds! Lady working the host stand was a bit quirky. Dessert was ok, was list could use better options (Malbec option wasn't great).
(4)
Neha M.
We went here today for Sunday brunch, and although it was far outta the way, it was worth it. What looks from the outside like an upscale suburban restaurant, turns out to be an airy and hip establishment on the inside. We came here with a Gilt City certificate which was an amazing deal $39 for 2 drinks, two brunch entrees, 2 side orders, and a dessert. It ended up being a ton of food - but it was great because this meant we got to try at least one item from each part of the menu. Drinks: He got the mimosa and I got the bloody mary. The juice in both was really fresh and great. Entrees: He got the sausage links which came with sausage, coca-cola baked beans, and eggs (I think sunnyside up?). I didn't try the sausage but he seemed happy with them. The eggs and baked beans were good. I got the friend semolina gnocchi. Good but a little too oily and salty. Came with both a tomato sauce and a white sauce which complimented each other well. Sides: House cured bacon (again a little too salty for me) and cheddar grits (yummm). Dessert is sitting in our fridge because we couldn't possibly eat it after that huge meal. But they even plated it nicely for us in the to go box...cant WAIT!! It is pricey (our total without the certificate would have been $74 before tip) and very out of the way for me, so it would have to be a special occasion for me to return. But I am very glad that we were able to try it out!!
(5)
Robert Y.
Great service, delicious food, and great selection of wines. It is a little bit loud in here, so be prepared to speak up!
(4)
Alyssa E.
Bread and Wine is a solid restaurant. However, there were a few kinks that need to be worked out or maybe they were having an "off" night. I had a groupon, so was able to try many different dishes. First, my friend and I got to sit at the chef's table and watch all the food being prepared! Awesome! Second three of our 5 dishes came out almost at the same time. However, after we vouched our concern to our waitress, she was good about telling them to pace the rest of our food. We started with a cheese plate wonderful. Then moved on to the gnocchi, not to be missed! This was one of my favorites that night! Then we shared the baby octopus. Fantastic! For the main course, I got the burger, as I had heard they are known for their burger. However, I was not blown away by it. Again, solid, but certainly not the best I've had in the city. Dessert was the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta. I was glad I got to try it, but I need something sweeter, more like creme brulee! The panna cotta part was very bland and tasteless, which is the way it is supposed to be. Just not my personal preference. Again, this place is solid, but with all the places to try in Chicago I'm not dying to go back soon.
(3)
Audrey S.
Went there last night for dinner. We had reservations for 7:15, got there at 7:00, and the place was pretty empty. We were seated right away at the "Chef Table", which was so much FUN! FYI - by 7:45 the place was packed. We had cheese and house made ham, arctic char, the chicken breast and the desserts. Everything we had was fresh and the portions were quite large for a higher end place like this. Service was excellent. We went to Premise a few weeks prior, so to compare the two is natural. Premise was good, but for my money, I'd rather go to Bread & Wine.
(5)
Kristina O.
I love that this place is in Old Irving, a neighborhood slightly starved for really great food! I haven't tried this place for dinner, but did come here for brunch. I like something a little different, the layout is very open and not too fancy. I could see it being a great first date place or for gathering with friends. The service was fine, the food was...different... but good! Honestly, we both just ordered things and they came out looking very different from what we expected! That said, the flavors and ingredients were still top notch, and we had an experience, which in my opinion, is what is important. I'll definitely go back to try dinner, and would recommend it to anyone who lives remotely close. Gotta support the neighborhoods which need a little more flava!
I was really surprised by Bread & Wine, but not necessarily in a good way. Some quick thoughts: 1. Why does a restaurant called Bread & Wine not serve any bread? This seems like a gross oversight, especially when you consider the absurdly small portions... even on the large plates. 2. Speaking of absurdly small portions, the portions are absurdly small, and I'm not just talking about the small plates. I was out to dinner with 5 other people and everyone except me had the large plates, and the food on their plate took up exactly half of the plate. It was almost comical just how small the portions were. If you're going to serve such little food, why not at least use smaller plates so people don't feel like they're getting ripped off? 3. The gnocchi was just bizarre. Instead of gnocchi, it tasted like battered and fried tofu. And not in a good way. 4. The pork belly was tasty! 5. The peanut butter pie was one of the worst desserts I've ever had in my life. I live for dessert, yet I spit out the bit of pie that I had. It tasted like congealed lukewarm peanut butter. Not to mention that the slice was approximately 1/3 the size of what a normal piece of pie should be. 6. The acoustics in the restaurant are terrible. Dinner got uncomfortable at times because we just got tired of yelling at one another. I assume they're doing the best they can in a space that used to be a laundromat, but holy heck. Don't go here to have a conversation. 7. Free parking. Let me say that again: free parking. In a lot. Awesome. Lest that sound harsh, I think there's a lot of opportunity for improvement here and I'm happy to see nicer restaurants on Irving Park. That said, our experience didn't match the high price tags on the menu.
(2)
Stan P.
I wish that I could give Bread&Wine 3.5 stars, but Yelp doesn't have that flexibility. The restaurant has great atmosphere and some profoundly good aspects, but the food tripped me up a little bit. Partly, I think I am personally out of sync with the heavy salty, rich food that is so ubiquitous in Chicago right now. I admit that I am a fan of lighter sauces, vegetables and a great salad. In fact, there was no great salad on the menu. And, when I ordered the small salad with wheat berries, I asked for a substitution in dressing given that I have an allergy to miso - and the waitress balked and said that it was just too busy to make any changes. I pleaded my case, and she did bring me a lemon based dressing that was very rich. At least no miso. Our group did start dinner with some yummy appetizers. The fried Tofu, the octopus and the scallops were all different and very good. Again, all but the scallops suffered from the too much salt trend, but they were tasty in small quantity. At the table, we also had the Chorizo/beef burger which was pretty good and came with excellent french fries and the chicken/spaetzle/oat dish which seemed to be a bit over cooked. But, again, there were no fresh veggies - nothing to clean or lighten the palate. Dessert was probably the best course. We had some very good french press decaf -- great flavor. And, we had the salted caramel, popcorn panna cotta. Wow. It was good. Very rich and the caramel was certainly salty. We split it four ways so it wasn't too bad. It's a great little place. Nicely decorated. Has its own small parking lot and parking is pretty easy on Irving Park as well. We would go back. Maybe the menu will lighten as spring and summer approach.
(3)
Evan H.
Party of 5 had an 8PM reservation this past Friday. The hostess greeted us warmly and we posted up at the bar while waiting for 2 more in our party to arrive. We were seated promptly upon their arrival. Our server was friendly and seemed knowledgeable. We ordered drinks and started scanning the menu. First annoyance was that beer and wine arrived WAY before the 2 specialty cocktails that were ordered. I mean, it was AT LEAST another 5-7 minutes before the 2 cocktails arrived. I looked over my shoulder at the bar a few times - 1 bartender on a bustling Friday night. Bad scheduling on management's part, it seemed. We ordered some cheeses and charcuterie to start. Everything was good, but servings were TINY. That's ok, I'm used to that when ordering a cheese plate. Just be prepared to drop $30 on MAYBE 2 oz. each of 5-6 different items. Additionally, they were super-stingy on the bread. Yes, they did bring us a second little basket when our first disappeared 3 seconds after arriving at the table, but when each basket contains only 6-7 little wedges of bread, it goes fast. Isn't this place called BREAD & Wine? As someone else pointed out, where the hell was the bread? Our party of 5 ordered 4 small plates and 4 large plates. We ate EVERYTHING. What to take away from this? Order more than you think you'll need. Portions are minuscule, especially on the small plates. Very difficult for more than 2 or 3 people to even get a taste. Another big problem? No vegetables. I mean not a single green thing graced our table all night (notwithstanding the 2 little slices of cornichon that came with the charcuterie). When I'm ordering a $16 chorizo burger (good, but extremely salty) or a $22 flank steak entree, I say you throw in a little side salad or SOMETHING. I left feeling profoundly carnivorous and over-salted. It was a gorgeous night on Friday, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to leave the a/c off when your restaurant is busy, the kitchen/dining room follows an open concept, and your windows don't open. It got HOT in there. Uncomfortably hot. I was ready to go before the end of our meal, if only to dam the river of sweat that was rolling down my back. The 5 of us managed to drop $245 on a modest cheese/charcuterie plate, 4 small plates, 4 large plates, and 8 drinks. While the food was good, I did not leave feeling I got good value for my money. Honestly, I enjoyed the company more than any aspect of the experience at Bread & Wine. Considering its price-point, I expected more. Probably won't be going back.
(2)
Felix C.
Fabulous from beginning to the end. Great service and conversation with the sous chef. The baby octopus was awesome!
(4)
Sam L.
The neighborhood needed an upper scale restaurant but NOT this place. Here is why - Rude host full of her self AND it turns out out to be one of the owners ! - food portions are way too small to be charging $28 for an entree and to walk out still hungry , that goes also for the salad, dessert and even the small half full glass of wine for $11.50 - food is nothing special, lacks flavor , very small portions and expensive for no reason ! Too bad This place will not last another year! There are plenty of better restaurants .
(1)
Deeds P.
My husband and I want for valentines last week. We got there pretty early (6pm), and by 6:30, the place was packed. I think they were working very hard to keep all their reservations on schedule b/c we were seated, served, billed, and out the door in an hour and 5 min! We did feel a little rushed to quickly finish as they kept tying to take away our plates before we were done. Food wise, we had the burger (good, but on the small side), octopus (yum, and actually I was surprised by the generous portion), and the semolina gnocchi (very different from your normal gnocchi - they were breaded/fried cubes of rich deliciousness. Super heavy, but totally worth it). Our cocktails were good, and no, we did not order wine. Come to think of it, we also were not served any bread. All in all, great splurge place to try once. Prob won't be returning, but only b/c there are just too many places to try!
(4)
Martha L.
Being in the neighborhood I am so happy to have a dining option such as Bread and Wine. Within walking distance! I've dined here 3 times now. Love their wine list....many good, reasonably priced options. Outsranding. Love their decor. Sitting at the bar is the greatest! But there are a few things that continue to leave a slight sour taste in my mouth.... 1. Portions are too small for the price. I understand the need to charge for good, qaulity ingredients and chef preparation but the math just doesn't add up here. I had the deconstructed sweet potato pie on Saturday night. Wonderful flavors; WAY too small for $8.00. 2. My girlfriend ordered an expresso from the Bartender and he advised that this was not available. He then offered her "french pressed" coffee. We were charged $7.00. Kinda need to know that it comes for "2"....not impressed. And really, at that price? I really need to see some more "value" here. I LOVE the fact that it is within walking distance. But then I think of my experience at places like the Purple Pig; where I feel I get outstanding food at prices that match; I am perfectly fine to get in my car and drive.
(3)
Mimi R.
This place rocks! We went there at 3:30pm and for at least the first hour were the only patrons. Talk about an ideal environment to enjoy this place. We were tag-teamed by the two bartenders (sat at the bar, of course) who were so terrific and gracious. The food was amazing...smoke trout on toast, herb fries, warm burrata (OH YUM) with crispy capers to die for, beef & chorizo burger and the sweet potato doughnuts with salted caramel sauce. And the wine...all great selections. We ended up being there for almost four hours and watched the people trickle in until it was packed by 6pm-ish. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
(5)
Michele G.
Visited this restaurant for the first time tonight and it won't be out last. Enjoyed particularly attentive and friendly service and enjoyed our bean puree appetizer, as well as the fettuccine with pumpkin, chicken thigh and grits special and pork shoulder. Had an olive oil cake that was incredibly moist and a panna cotta that was fun (popped corn), unusual and very smooth. Lovely wine list by the glass and Intelligentsia coffee for the finale. Glad that Bread and wine is in the neighborhood!
(5)
Scott B.
I usually try to avoid restaurants until they've been open for at least a month but I was glad that I did not wait to go here. We had no wait on a Tuesday night as long as we were willing to sit at the bar. Our server, the bartender, was extremely helpful and attentive. It is a nice little restaurant that I think will be around for awhile. The small plate portions were a little light but still very tasty. My beef and chorizo burger was excellent, I highly recommend it. I never thought the chorizo would be a separate patty itself but it worked so well with the beef. And I love pretzel rolls so this only made the burger that much more enjoyable. My girlfriend had the chicken dish and seemed to really enjoy it as well. The final touch was sweet potato doughnut for dessert. It doesn't sound appealing but it is so delicious. The only hiccup in the night was when our server accidentally charged us the bottle price for a glass of wine. After a minor heart attack on my part, the situation was quickly rectified. So after 1 small plate, 2 large plates, 1 dessert, 2 glasses of wine and a beer, our total was still under $70. Not too bad for a nice meal out. We will go back again.
(5)
Jeanus T.
I cannot remember anything spectacular but the overall impression was that food very solid. I do like the atmosphere there, the crowd was sophisticated and more mature. Good hangout place.
(3)
Alexis W.
Close to my house, parking for everyone else, beautiful interior, friendly service, excellent drink selections, delicious food, and sitting at the chef's bar nets extra treats. Also a delicious brunch. Make reservations.
(5)
Mark V.
I really dig this place and like a lot of other reviewers I see here, am rooting for it to flourish. My wife and I have had a couple different date nights there and are always really pleased with the experience. I recommend the gnocchi, burger, white fish, and chicken. They have some great seasonal beers too, including two different 650ml bottles from 3 Floyds last time I was there. Yes please. Our server was delightful and even the music was great. I wish it was a little less expensive but only because we're always tempted to try one of everything when we're there.
(4)
David J.
I was definitely underwhelmed by this place. Considering how much I was paying, the portions and quality just weren't cutting it. I will say that the cheese was absolutely delicious, but it's not like they make it in-house. At the time, they had a meatloaf on the menu which was terribly bland. It was served with some weird chili paste that was really bitter and did little to help the dish. It's a huge shame since Old Irving really needs some good restaurants.
(2)
Jerry P.
Bread & Wine has so much unrealized potential. I anxiously awaited the opening of this local restaurant for nearly a year. When it finally opened, I could hardly wait to check it out! Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. I decided to make my first trip an event and scheduled a birthday dinner for four people on a Saturday night. I called and even though they did not take reservations yet, they said they would accomodate my party -- that's excellent customer service! But that's where the exceptional service ended. My party was seated and our server did not come by and check with us for over 25 minutes to take orders. When we inquired about drinks and recommendations, we were just pointed to the printed menu and said to select from there. Well, I knew that the drinks were printed on there, I wanted the server's opinion on things to try. Speaking of the menus, they are two very large legal size sheets with small type printed on both sides -- they need to improve their presentation so that people can make good decisions. We got the duck perogis for an appetizer. The menu stated that there were three but when they were served, there were only two. We inquired with our server but she had no answer. The perogis were dry, had very little duck and seemed overdone. For the entrees, I had the chorizo burger (excellent!) and my friend had a salad which she also deemed pretty good. However, the two others had the duck stroganoff special. It was INEDIBLE. The noodles tasted just like flour and water mixed together for thirty seconds and then boiled for another thirty seconds. The noodles were gummy, hard and not at all appetizing. There was no stroganoff sauce detected at all (all absorbed into the noodles) and no one ever found a piece of duck in the entire dish. We spoke to our server about this horrible food and were given a complimentary chorizo taco appetizer ($7 value) but we still had to pay for our stroganoff dishes that could not be eaten ($18 per dish). I followed up with the restaurant on the Monday following our visit and told them my concerns and said that I was telling them since I wanted to support local business and wanted to come back again to see their improvements. They responded that everyone has an off night and that was it. They did not give me any sort of incentive to show they'd listened to encourage me to come back in. I decided to give 2 stars because the concept is good and my food from their main menu was very good. But, the service, specials and the overall laissez-faire attitude is not going to help them be successful. I wish them good luck and hope that they improve. But until I hear otherwise, I won't be back.
(2)
Kelly M.
I'm obsessed with this place!! It's so ridiculously amazing!! A few items worth noting: wine list (duh!); beer list (yep!....at a wine place!); cheese & charcuterie plates (to DIE for!!); cocktails (creative, fun, seasonal, all-around-a-huge-party-in-your-mouth); seafood: um HELLO!! More please!!; outdoor seating: it's small (and hard to come by on those rare great-weather days in early spring/late fall when everyone and their mother have an amazing urge to dine al fresco), but it's SUPER adorable and cozy; oh, and the service is literally FANTASTIC!! Basically, it's the full package! : )
(5)
Julie Y.
I like the name. I like the location and they have a parking lot - unheard of. I like the decor and the small bar and the chef's bar. But I did not like the food. The wine was good - nice selection but they could use more selections by the glass. The olives and cheese were very good. Pigface pancetta - nah. Pancetta is all fatty, better to offer prosciutto. The fried gnocchi - I don't get it. Had not flavor. So once I have ordered the cheese plate, olives and gnocchi, frankly, I did not want anything else. They gave us free dessert - still not sure why. It just appeared when we were discussing whether we wanted a dessert. It was a nice gesture, but odd because it happened without much discussion. I liked the dessert - panna cotta - with carmel corn on top. Interesting. It's a cool place. I want it to succeed. They need a bit more polish and maybe have someone tweak some of the starters. I cannot speak to the small or large plates, but I do understand other reviewers were not unhappy.
(3)
Michelle L.
Just had brunch today. Service was excellent. Atmosphere was also excellent. The food was good - very good but not great or the best I have had. My two friends felt the same way. We will definitely be back to try dinner.
(4)
B. A.
Eight of us had a wonderful dinner here - appetizers, entrees, desserts and nice wine. The servers were friendly and knowledgable and the food was perfect - all of it. It's a cozy darkish space with a parking lot in front. Perfect evening.
(5)
Matt G.
Bread & Wine is a great destination restaurant, as well as a local option for those in the area. The food is very tasty and unique, i'm glad the chef from Leopold relocated here, as that was another great restaurant. The hand-picked craft beer selection is surprisingly good, with options from Greenbush, FFF, Lagunitas, Perennial, Metropolitan, and more. Best dishes have been the crispy semolina gnocchi, burger, agnolotti, and the rotating charcuterie. Can't wait to dine out on the patio this summer...
(5)
Eleni G.
My boyfriend and I came in last night on a whim - I wanted wine and cheese, he could care less as long as he was fed. We both left satisfied and in a great mood. It wasn't too crowded, but we did arrive later in the evening, around 8:30 or so. They do have outdoor seating, but nothing was available when we came in, so we snagged seats at the bar. Josh was great, recommending we try the Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Wild, which is a variation on one of my favorite beers, the Lil Sumpin Sumpin. It was great, and he was genuinely excited to offer it to us since there is limited availability, which is, for me, the sign of a great bartender: genuinely excited to share favorites with their customers. We started with the mussels, which I loved. A combo I never would have considered in that dish is sriracha and blue cheese, and it was a very pleasant surprise. Do note -it's spicy. I would not order it if you aren't into heat. In between the courses, we switched from beer to wine. We asked about the wine we were considering and he offered a tasting if the bottle was open, which it was. The first we tried - meh. The second, though, which he said was his favorite of the whites, was great, and not on the extra-pricey end of the spectrum. Next we ordered the cheese plate - yes, all 5 on the menu. They were out of one of the selections, so Josh promptly returned to see if we'd like to double any up, and even recommended which he would choose. He was more attentive than many servers I've ever had, which speaks volumes to the level of service. The cheeses were fresh, delicious, and the portions were significant compared to some restaurants I've tried. The accoutrements were plentiful and well-matched. This was the majority of my meal. My boyfriend ordered the beef and chorizo burger, medium rare. I was impressed that the patty was truly medium rare and not too well-done, since that is always my struggle when I order a burger. It was packed with flavor and the cheddar on it was to die for. We had a great evening and experience, with great service, and will definitely be back!
(4)
Ron T.
This place is always impressing me. They have many new menu items. Had their smoked poach lake trout, beer sriracha bleu cheese mussels, grass fed beef burger and smoked celery root agnolotti. WOW! All amazing and bigger portions than usual. We also had some of their new drink concoctions which were delicious and fun. Keep up the creativity b&w we love it!
(5)
Meredith K.
Oh man this place has great potential but it just didn't do it for me! As a joke we were thinking that its called Bread and Wine but had no bread an no wine, but in a way it was kind of true. At least the no bread part. I hate it when a restaurant's setting includes a bread plate but they don't bring you bread. We received a little basket of toast points with our cheese. They don't make the bread there. The cheese was ok. We liked the mustard however none of the cheese that we ordered needed any. I was missing honey - and I know that's a personal preference but stinky cheeses are best with it! We started with some brown liquor cocktails. I tried their version of a sazerac. It was alright, not the best not the worst. My boyfriend got the one with the beet juice. It was too juicy for me but he liked it. Then on to wines. I was a little underwhelmed by the by-the-glass options. It was slim pickings esp for the whites. It was heavy on the sweets and lacking any oaky chardonnays. She said most of their whites are from steel barrels. The wines come in stemless glasses. I dunno for a wine bar I think that's a miss. You can't swirl the red and you're warming the white with you hand. Then we tried the marinated squid. It was a texture that I couldn't eat. My boyfriend felt the same. It wasn't bad but it had a mushy this-might-be-bad feeling in your mouth. Also the sun-choke salad which was super super salty and it seemed to be missing sun-chokes. The greens had a nice earthy flavor which was great with a pickled egg, but the heavy salt and eating a bunch of stems is never easy. Next on to the walleye which was excellent. A great springy flavor. My boyfriend had to try the burger which he greatly enjoyed. He wanted me to include in the review that he boxed up half of it and they included a little cup of the aioli which is never done! High praise for that. For dessert we got the signature panna cotta. I thought the texture was too gritty and hard. My boyfriend didn't care. He loved it. He's a sucker for homemade caramel sauce. The service was touch and go. Our server was very friendly and attentive and after ever few sips of water a guy came by to refill. The wait for the cocktails was really long, and we were the only ones in there. And then the wait for the cheese was really long which seemed odd b/c you can see in their kitchen that they have a ton of people back there. We had 2 mins to enjoy the cheese and then both starter came out. It wasn't paced right. But again the people there are great! I want to give it another shot. It is nice that they have like 8 spaces in their parking lot. But unfortunately for the same price we were thinking of other places with better food and drink.
(3)
Rich R.
What a great find! Service felt hip-upscale and very attentive. Menu for brunch was imaginative and attractively presented. I ordered an omelet with oyster mushrooms and bleu cheese. Delicious. Their cheese selections wonderful as was the wine list. Can't miss as far as I'm concerned.
(5)
Edward S.
Chicken Liver Pate - Ok Goat Cheese - Great Bresaola - Ok Duck Balls - Ok Gnocchi - Great Burger - Good, but a tad salty from the Chorizo Roasted Chicken - The chicken itself is moist, juicy, and flavorful, swimming in it's own jus (Used some of the bread from the charcuterie to soak it up). The pierogis were good, but not up to par with the chicken. Ample parking in the lot or on the small side directly east of the restaurant (one way going south though).
(4)
Al D.
I can't believe I went to a restaurant on the second day it was open, and had an amazing dining experience. For starters, I'm thrilled that Bread and Wine has finally opened in my neighborhood. It's great to have a new place in what was formerly the Wishing Well launderette. For years, I always thought that location would be a great place for a restaurant because it has a parking lot and it's close to I90 and the El. Enter Bread and Wine with its new concept of American dining I sampled many things last night, including the buratta, the pumkin seed tofu, the banh mi, and finally the sweet potato bignets. Everything was very fresh and carefully created. Again, I'm extremely impressed by my new neighbor. My only suggestion is to cook the fries more thoroughly; my batch with the banh mi was underdone. Aside from that small mishap, Bread and Wine is a fantastic new addition to this area.
(5)
Michelle Z.
I would not recommend this restaurant to parents who have kids at home with babysitter or if you had planned on seeing a movie on Friday night with dinner cause you won't have time for it. The food was ok. My husband had the roasted chicken which tasted good but not $22 good. When we left the restaurant he kept saying he couldn't believe that he had just paid $22 for 5 small pieces of chicken that his wife could have made better at home. We were seated at the bar since the restaurant was busy. I ordered a mezcal mule which was quite good. It took the waiter forever to take our order. The restaurant was rather busy but we waited 25 minutes for the waiter to take our appetizer order and since we had ample time to ponder the menu we ordered our main dishes as well. They served us bread and herbed fries with an amazing aioli. They both tasted quite good but took forever to get to our table. We were starving by the time the appetizers came since we arrived at the restaurant at 7pm and didn't eat anything until almost 7:45pm. Our main dish didn't come until after 8pm. If you are willing to wait an hour before getting your main dish than this is your restaurant. I ordered a vegetarian entree with shaved asparagus that was quite good. The portion sizes were quite small even though we ordered a large plate. At the end of the meal it took forever to get our check so we ended up waiting awhile in front of the register because we had already spent over 2 hours there and needed to get home. If this was a tapas restaurant I could understand spending that much time at a restaurant but since we only had main course and fries I didn't think it would take that long.
(2)
Amy A.
I love going to Bread & Wine. Great service, great ambiance. The squash ravioli was amazing. The ingredients are fresh and the flavors work so well together. The cheese & meat plater is so delicious and flavorful. I highly recommend trying it out.
(5)
Url R.
This is quite the neighborhood gem. I highly recommend seating at the chef's bar so you can watch these folks cook. They will chit chat with you all the while. Moreover, they will hand you little special made treats just for you.
(5)
Bryan C.
Thanks to the Michelin Guide and Yelp, we found this amazing gem of a restaurant and enjoyed one the best meals we've had in recent memory. First of all, there is a parking lot. A small one, but still there is a parking lot and free street parking. So, right away we were pleased. Everyone knows how stressful it can be to get into a restaurant on a Saturday night with a party of 3 and find parking on top of that. More importantly however, the staff was extremely friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable, and the food was simply out of this world. The menu includes cheese and charcuterie plates, small plates, entrees and desserts. We started with some delicious house kielbasa, organic cheddar and hickory smoked gorgonzola to complement the bottle of sauvignon blanc we ordered (hey, great wine and beer list too). The charcuterie was so delicious we couldn't stop talking about it. It was the perfect start to a perfect meal. We also enjoyed the herb fries served with garlic aioli before our entrees which included the whitefish, the flank steak, and the tofu. Everything was beautifully presented, full of flavor, and perfectly proportioned. We couldn't have been more pleased. To end the meal, we shared the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta. This dessert was absolutely delicious and completely unique. Loved it! Something important to note is that the menu offers both vegetarian and gluten free options throughout each course, clearly marked with a 'v' or 'gf'. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, whether you live in the neighborhood or not. We cannot wait to go back to try some cocktails and sit at the kitchen/chef's table for another amazing meal.
(5)
Kelly R.
Being from the neighborhood, I have eaten here a few times, okay on those occasions. This last time I brought friends visiting from New York and New Hampshire with me. I have always bragged about the food here in Chicago and was hopeful that Bread & WIne would be proving my point but unfortunately it was a let down. I ordered from the "restaurant week" menu and it was completely disappointing. The 2 prawns were half raw and there was pretty much nothing else to eat with it. The suggested 1/2 cup of beet and barley salad was good and so were the 2 tablespoons of "bread pudding", but I left hungry with a $33.00 bill for just my portion of the dinner order, no drinks. A cocktail they brought was a mistake and they did comp it but it didn't make up for the overall dinner in general. One of my friends enjoyed the burger but the other 2 people thought what they had from the regular menu was very overpriced for being just so-so. I really want the food establishments in this area to succeed as we are desperate for good restaurants in this part of Chicago, but as it stands now this will be my last time going to Bread & Wine.
(1)
D G.
Out for an evening walk. Headed east rather than west for a change. Have driven by this place for months but never took the time to stop. Popped in after ten pm. Just had a brownie and some water. Clean, elegant, warm setting. Interesting menu. Plenty of parking. Great wine selection, though nothing seemed inexpensive (nothing under $20). The brownie was simple and warm with a dab of Carmel sauce and a dab of cherry custard, lightly sprinkled with sea salt. Very good. It was $8 which seemed fair. Just a few couples when I arrived. Thinned out to a few at the bar when I left. Good music but a bit too loud. Air conditioning a bit too cool for a cool night outside. I stayed for about an hour answering emails and scanning Facebook. All in all a nice alternative to Starbucks. I will probably pop in again.
(4)
Emily C.
We had an amazing Gilt City offer to use here and had a great time. We tried the charcuterie and cheeses (would recommend any of the cheeses and the lamb belly), octopus (fantastic), the gnocchi (almost like fried mozzarella sticks, but better), the corned beef rillette (skip, no one liked it), and the duck balls. The duck balls are actually duck testicles, not balls of duck meat, which the waiter clarified for us. They were pretty good! But it was hard to get the image out of my head.... For the mains, I would definitely recommend the burger - it comes with chorizo on a pretzel roll. It was delicious. No one liked the fish so skip that. Both desserts were EXCELLENT. We tried the mud pie and the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta. Both were salty and sweet and delicious. We couldn't decide which we liked more. The restaurant has a private lot, but it doesn't have a lot of spots. We parked pretty easily on the street. We also had exceptional service! 111/365
(4)
Char Y.
came as a party of 5 and ordered beer steamed pei mussels herb frie fines herb pappardelle beef and chorizo burger seared flap steak white chocolate apple bread pudding salted caramel popcorn panna cotta hazelnut flourless chocolate cake everything was a little too salty, the seasoning seemed slightly off that night.
(3)
April E.
I used to go here as a kid when it was a laundry mat. So a new wine bar just opened just opened up in the neighborhood and my husband and I were so excited. We love and appreciate wine. I don't like to look at a wine menu. I expect the bartender selling the wine would know what I was talking about. Or at least to know what he was talking about. It was the worst wine bar experience I've ever had. He didn't know anything. I had one glass of Bordeaux and left. If you're going to hire someone make sure they've at lest heard of a Montepulciano or Sangiovese. Won't be going back.
(1)
Amerit D.
This place has a very limited menu however, it was very delicious! I had the steak and everyone else had a burger. The bun on the burger was phenomenal. For dessert we tried the chocolate cake and the eclairs, both very yummy. The service was great, our waiter kept our glasses full and everyone else was very friendly with the exception of a tall blonde hostess who never acknowledged us and ignored us when the other hostess told us bye. Decor was great and provided a great ambiance.
(3)
Raymond S.
I went to Bread and Wine during one of my lazy moments as I didn't feel like driving to Wicker Park or Edgewater and I live right down the street. I didn't have high expectations for this place, as the top tier brunch selections in my hood of Irving Park either start with "golden" or end with "hop". I was pleasantly surprised. First of all it has a parking lot. Secondly, it wasn't crowded as they just began serving brunch. The decor is modern and nice, and the restaurant isn't small but it isn't massive either. I ordered pork belly with cheddar grits. The flavor was exquisite, the way braised pork belly should taste. They didn't serve it crispy, which under most circumstances would be fine. The problem is the cut was only 20% meat. All of that creamy fat mixed with creamy grits created an almost nauseating texture in my mouth. I ended up slicing off the fat and just eating the meat which significantly lowered the available protein on my plate. On the plus side the grits were awesome and there was a sriracha-like sauce on my plate that was very nice. Other dishes ordered included corned beef hash and crispy gnocchi. All were good yet a little expensive. The dishes were all prices high for not only this area, but for Chicago as a whole. Drinks mostly ran $10+ with the average being around $13. The dishes where $12-15, all a buck more than what's displayed on their web site. Portions are meh, definitely not large enough to share but large enough to feel slightly satisfied. The proximity of the restaurant may allow me to come back, but if it wasn't around the corner I'm not too sure I would be a frequent visitor.
(3)
Dee C.
Came for restaurant week, but the real menu looked too good to pass up, so I did the gnocchi and then chicken entree...soooo good..servers, bussers etc, were all great..I can't wait to come back in summer for patio(i have already told 5 people since dinner 4 hours ago)
(4)
Seth F.
I learned a new word: CHARCUTERIE. Well I didn't really learn it, but since the "cheese and charcuterie" contained only cheese and meat I'm gonna guess it means meat. The food, service and atmosphere here was excellent. We had an extremely knowledgable and accommodating waiter, but I suppose YMMV. Specifically, the pan roasted chicken with crispy oats was amazing and my friends, and soon the entire Yelp community, know that I have a long standing "discussion" with a very close friend about the benefits and drawbacks of the strategy of ordering chicken at a quality restaurant (I'm generally opposed). The beef & chorizo burger was also outstanding and the rating of burger quality is one of the few fields in which I am truly an expert (and not just in my mind). On the dessert front: The Mud Pie was pretty disappointing for how excited I was to order it. I had to fight the urge to order it as an appetizer and barely touched it once it arrived. Honestly, it looked like a turd.
(5)
Nina E.
I want to eat here everyday. Came here this past Sunday with my family (7 people total) for brunch. They treated us like kings and queens and the thought of their food is making my mouth water. I ordered the Blood and Smoke drink to start and it was absolutely delicious. I then went on to have the pork belly with cheddar grits. So yummy and exactly what I needed after a late night out on Saturday. Somewhere during my meal I ordered a glass of tempranillo and that was delicious too. We then split three desserts--salted popcorn panna cotta, mud pie and a pineapple cake. All were great but the panna cotta was the winner. I have nothing negative to say about this place and would highly recommend this place for brunch. I look forward to coming back for dinner.
(5)
Kyle P.
great place. Just felt good when you walk in. three or four different feels inside and I always think it is cool to have an open kitchen where you can sit and eat. the gnocchi was to die for and the most unique i have had. little squares with bread crumbs or some cooler way of saying bread crumbs. The staff was great the wine is great and all the food including the carmel popcorn with panna cotta was a great way to end the night. And parking which is very cool...
(5)
Alex M.
If you live in Albany Park, you know that it takes real motivation to strap on your kevlar vest and step outside after dark. While there are plenty of delicious lunch places that are safe to visit during the light of day, such as Salam and Dawali (both are recommended), there aren't too many places that are tempting enough to make the trek after dark (Semiramis being one notable exception). Check out Bread and Wine on Irving Park, just west of Elston. The food is eclectic, delicious, and beautifully served. The service is attentive and un-hurried, the wine selection is good, and they have a full bar. This is sort of a special-occassion type of restaurant, and it's priced accordingly. We tried the baby octopus, an arugula salad, and the flank steak. Call ahead to be sure they're not too crowded, or just walk over on a weeknight. There are coat racks to hang up your bullet proof vest, and there's very little actual gunfire inside.
(5)
D R.
Great ambiance, evolving wine selection, and the food is unique. Friendly yet professional staff. Just enough tables to keep things cozy. A crowd attracts a crowd. From the pick-your-cheese-plate to the small and large plate options, the menu demands careful consideration. Our dinner was good, but we did not forget to leave room for dessert. Seems like the type of chef, or chefs, who would evolve the menu seasonally, but suffice to say that they had thought of everything by the time we arrived. I left feeling satisfied but not stuffed. It is an oasis in an area which doesn't have any other relevant options.
(4)
Marie M.
No real handicap parking. We tried, had to park down the block. The space would not fit a small SUV if there was a car in the first normal spot. Don't believe this is a regulation spot unless you drive a motorcycle. Made a reservation like asked a day ahead of time via Groupon. Table selection was poor. The place is LOUD, however the food is good. Service is slow to start but ends up good if you can order the appetizer. I have to say the best thing on the menu was the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta.
(3)
Suzan W.
Dined at Bread & Wine this past Friday, and loved it! Sat at the bar facing the open kitchen. Had a great time. Decent selection of wine, beer and cocktails, but all three could be expanded a bit. I appreciate that they will nicely package your half-full open bottle of wine for you to take home. We had a selection of apps/small plates: Five cheese platter - excellent except for the fresh goat cheese....it was just a bit too bland (and they were out of the other goat cheese they have on the menu); Mussels - amazing flavors and the blue cheese, sriracha and garlic broth was great for dipping. I will be getting two orders next time!; Gnocci - good but this was definitely not a typical gnocci.....almost a cream in the middle and very crispy on the outside (definitely fried); Carrot salad - I was not impressed with this dish at all...way too many wheat berries and the queso fresco was dull....just not enough flavor in the entire dish, and could use more carrots (which were very tasty). Overall, a fun experience....we left full, happy, and slightly tipsy. :-) We will definitely be back.
(4)
Jen P.
I always have a good time here. Is it overpriced? No for what they are spending on food and drink, yes for what the average resident of Mayfair wants to pay for dinner. I think that the location is bad for what they are and what they serve, but I do enjoy the hell out of this place. Even with half price wine on Wednesday they need to move north and east to justify their prices.
(4)
Gabriel L.
Had reservations for Valentine's Day. Was greeted with a warm smile and a clean open table. Our waiter was prompt, courteous and very attentive to our table. Ordered a cocktail from the bar which was beyond expectation, truly hit the spot. Enjoyed the cheese and charcuterie plate while waiting on the meal. The selection of cheese and meats was outstanding. Main course was delicious and portioned perfectly, leaving just enough room for their amazing caramel apple bread pudding. Really looking forward to a return visit.
(4)
Michael S.
Love this place. The food, the wine, the staff are all top notch. One of my favorite places, period.
(5)
Meagan H.
It's great to find a place like this in an area that has so little. I was surprised to find that it wasn't very busy on a Thursday evening. The ambiance is pleasant, quaint, and relaxing. They play low intensity electronic music and the Black Keys. The lighting is dark enough to get you ready for a food coma. Trust me, you'll have one! We started with the chicken liver pate, then baby octopus, and Bay scallop crudo, followed by the beef and chorizo burger and finally... the mud pie. Yes, we walked out with some serious fat bellies. But it was all worth it. The food was absolutely amazing. The service was out of this world. The waiter checked on us at every plate while also providing us with new, clean silverware. It really added to the delightful experience. The beef and chorizo burger and pate had to be my favorite. It's quite easy to rack up a $100 bill. But I'm ok with that. We got more than what we paid for! So glad this place is a block away from me. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Sherie P.
What can I say about Bread and Wine.... I definitely think some people are rating it a bit high but it was good! No matter what you say, being expensive, portions being small, inexperienced wait staff, shortish wine list... The food was damn good! We went last night, a Tuesday night, and the place was half full. That's great for a Tuesday night in a neighborhood with not much night life. The hostess was super sweet and sat us right away. Being a new restaurant, I thought they would sort of walk us through their wine list/menu but we were pretty much left to our own devices. Our waitress was perfectly lovely, but I felt a bit cheated when she explained the specials to the table next to ours immediately upon their arrival about 15 minutes after us. On to the food... the real reason for any restaurant review! We had the duck confit pierogi and chorizo tacos as appetizers. The tacos were smaller than the palm of my hand and there were only 3 on the plate, but damn were they good. The combo of the chorizo with the cactus was so great. I might be tempted to have them as my meal when I want to eat light. The pierogi... Well, those were just heaven on the plate... Two little pillows of heaven. Yes, there were only two but they were so good. I would have liked a bit more sauce but it was good none the less... For dinner I had the chicken breast & confit leg. The breast was cooked so that the skin was super crispy and the leg was all shredded on the plate. The chicken wasn't the moistest chicken I've ever had but it wasn't dry either. With the small bit of gravy in the bottom of the bowl it was perfect. I would have liked a little bit more of that too! The roasted veggies that came with it were still very firm, which is good be cause I hate soft overcooked veggies! My friend had the beef & chorizo burger on a pretzel bun. I had two bites and it was sooo good. She had to pry it from my hands. We asked for it to be medium and it was a little over done but was still really good. For desert we had the sweet potato doughnuts and the rosemary olive oil cake. AMAZING!!! The donuts were the shape of pretzel bites. They were pretty much one little bite and were sooo good with the salted caramel sauce! The cake was moist and light and the lemon curd went perfectly with the light hint of rosemary. I loved it. I would go back and eat anything I had again but I definitely WANT these desserts! As for the wine part, there were a lot of bottles around or under the $30 mark, which is always nice. It stings a bit when you can walk over to the retail area and buy the same bottle for half the price, but hey... that's restaurants, right? We had the Showdown Red and it was a nice blend of several varietals out of California. It was light enough to go with the chicken and wasn't too overpowered by the chorizo. A nice table wine to go with whatever. We even got a bottle to go home with. That brings me to the retail area... I felt intrusive while trying to browse. They have one table for 4 right in the middle of the retail area! I would have rather had some sort of island that featured some of the products they have. I felt so bad standing by these women eating while I was looking at wine bottles. They did have a nice selection and some tasty looking treats. Maybe next time I'll have to pick something up other than wine.
(4)
Abbey F.
Dear Bread and Wine, I am rooting for you, I really am. You're just a block from my house, and the neighborhood desperately needs more restaurants. I'm hoping that B&W is still in it's awkward pre-adolescent phase, and that it'll fix the glitches soon. Here are some observations: The not so fab: *You MUST start serving bread. It's just ridiculous. *The portions are just too small. I have eaten dinner 3 times, and brunch once, with groups of family and/or friends, and we always leave hungry. * Both your brunch and dinner menus are too small. We need more choices. *Your burger, while delicious, is too small for the bun. It's about 60% bread, 40% meat. *Your desserts are just terrible. This needs a total rehab. The fab: *Your cockail and wine program is excellent. *Your culinary and wine events look very interesting. *Your charcuterie and cheeses are amazing. The chicken liver pate is one of the best things I've eaten all year. *Your staff and owners are all super lovely. you can dooooo it!
(3)
Kris L.
I just came back from Bread & Wine and had the BEST dinner and drinks with girlfriends! It's place is amazing. The food is delicious and we seriously got every small plate on the menu to share and every dessert listed, on top of a Chef's choice cheese and charcuterie plate. So in having tried pretty much every single item on the menu, I can honestly say there was not one thing on the whole list that I did not like! The waitress we had was REALLY good too! I wish I got her name :( I'd like to give her a shout out. She was so attentive to our table, even on a busy night, and even brought us some extra food to go with one of our desserts. I would recommend going a bit earlier... We went at 6:30 and it was starting to get a busy, but by the time we left at 9, the place was packed! This whole area has really been popping up cute little restaurants. Bread & wine is one of those not to be missed!
(5)
Faye B.
Hooray, for Restaurant Week! Gave me and the hubs a chance to try a place by our 'hood. In Old Irving you usually find fast food joints or diners so it is refreshing to find an upscale eatery that rivals those of Lincoln Square and North Center. We went with the prix fixe offerings and it must have been funny watching us eat as we traded plates every 5-10min. The menu even had suggested wine pairings. My husband opted for the beer and in looking at their libations menu their beer list was pretty impressive as well. The first course were appetizers. I'm not much of a salad eater so I grabbed the plate with the corned beef tongue, Funyuns (which reminded me of a flat pork rind), a little sauce and mustard seed. It was good, it reminded me of corned beef sans bread. My husband liked mine more than his greens with wheat berries. I liked that the salad was crunchy. On to the entrees. My husband grabbed the pan roasted white fish and I got the braised pork shoulder. The presentation of both were lovely. The pork shoulder came with a pretzel bread which I thought was a tad bit salty. The creme fraiche helped cut some of the saltiness, but I wish there was just a bit more jus. The pan roasted fish rested atop a split pea pancake with pickled cabbage on top and came with more of the Funyun crisp. I didn't care much for the pancake, but the fish was great with the buttermilk sauce and crisp. Lastly came the dessert: a chocolate cake with a 'red velvet' beet custard with cream cheese pudding and a sea salt caramel corn pannna cotta. Yummy! The beet custard really came through until it was mixed with the cream cheese and chocolate cake making it true to its namesake. A twist on red velvet indeed! Both my husband and I loved the panna cotta. It was especially whimsical to have the caramel popcorn and caramel drizzle decorating the panna cotta. Overall the experience made me want to come back. It is a very cute space, very rustic chic with friendly wait staff. The only drawback is a tiny parking lot. There is an open air kitchen as well as a bar space. We were seated in their market area. They have shelving where wine was sold along with old school general store offerings with a modern twist: hot sauces, crackers, hazelnut spread and the like. Can't wait to have another date night with an option close to my 'hood.
(4)
Naina J.
We went there for valentines day and it was fantastic. Their menus is very accommodating to dietary restrictions and the wine selection is quite extensive. I would highly recommend it.
(4)
Jenny C.
I would say I enjoy coming to Bread & Wine, though sometimes I order a dish that is not -so- amazing. My partner is a meat eater & usually enjoys his dishes. In late summer I ordered a pasta with red pepper sauce & it was very lovely, my partner ordered a chopped steak which came with salad which he liked. We also ordered the hen egg small plate and I didn't really like it. In the fall I ordered a curry tofu which came with pasta in beet sauce & I was not too thrilled with it. While the tofu was perfectly crispy on the outside I felt like the curry sauce was far too little and not enough flavor to spice the plain tofu & pasta. Their gnocchi small plate is amazing though & their salad with apples and Gorgonzola cheese is also wonderful to try! I feel like those are meals in themselves. The staff is also great as is the food presentation!
(3)
Jen D.
I am not even sure where to begin, so many thoughts are bursting from my mind, trying to work their way out through my keyboard! I went on Sat 1/28 - the ELEVENTH day of operation and had a great experience. Like other reviewers, I am shocked by how "together" this place is for being open less than 2 weeks. I am eager to go back and I'm sure it will only get better!! They aren't taking reservations right now as they are trying to figure out the rhythm of the restaurant, so hopefully they will soon. We went in at 8:20pm on a Saturday night and took 2 seats at the counter overlooking the kitchen because there was a wait for tables. It was fun to watch the kitchen, they really are all on display. I enjoyed seeing the different dishes - it gets me excited to go back! I disagree very strongly with the couple of people here who've said the place is "too expensive". Uh, I beg to differ. Sure it might be more $$ than some dive in the neighborhood - but I dare you to find a place with that atmosphere and food for a better price. The wine glass and bottle prices have many affordable price pts and the pours were what I would expect. They have bottles under $30 and glasses for $6-7. Our entrees were $12 and $14, seriously. My interpretation of the menu... The menu is divided into small and large plates, but from what I can tell - it's not meant to be a shared plate meal. There are not enough small plates to really do the "sharing" small plate/tapas style meal and the large plates are true entrees. We shared the fried pickle small plate. It was two small spears - not chips. It was really yummy with the tabasco aioli. I ordered the pumpkin fettuccine for my entree. It was so good! Housemade fettuccine noodles (my weakness is fresh pasta!!) tossed with goat cheese, cubed pumpkin (which could have been butternut squash... without all the spices I can never tell the diff), chanterelle mushrooms, etc. It actually ate/felt nice and light - even though the noodles are more substantial. My friend ordered the meatloaf. It looked like 2 dry slices from a loaf (sort of puck like visually). The meatloaf was on the drier side but came with a nice sauce on the side that made it not dry to eat. We shared the sweet potato donut dessert (covered in salted caramel sauce). Hmmmmm. So yummy. Sitting by the kitchen we watched a ton of plates go out... the chicken looked fantastic and smelled so good. Burger looked good. Fries were super yummy looking. re: parking - yes there is a lot, but it is small. Side streets have plenty of parking. The sign is not illuminated out front - so it's easy to miss in the dark. Hopefully that gets fixed. I will definitely be back sometime soon!
I really like this spot a lot; Been there 4 or 5 times. Food is very, very tasty, and everything seems fresh. Musts are; cheeses, house made pappardelle (really, really wonderful), octopus (Yummy, lite- smokey delicate flavor ), panna cotta (out of this world-- best I've ever had). My friend loved her poached fish -- very light, yet lots of flavor. Portions are on the small side- big eaters can do two entrees. I am not fond of small portion places- too much blue collar blood in me, I guess- but it doesn't bother me here. They are not so small, and the prices are not so big. Professional waitstaff, great casual and low key ambience, and a very "keep it simple" look. Right now, it's on my fave five list. So afraid it'll make the "check, please tour". It really does have a parking lot, right in the front-- it used to be a laundromat, and they preserved some of the look-- a bit kooky, but sensibly well-appointed. Pricey, but worth it, and I hardly ever say that.
(5)
Steven S.
Came for brunch and it was outstanding. Couldn't have asked for a better meal, prepared and presented beautifully.
(5)
Leslie K.
My husband and I were here celebrating our 10 yr wedding anniversary. We sat outside and it was quiet and beautiful. Our server was Eric and he was fantastic. Their staff was on top of everything the entire night. We started out with the Cheese & Charcuterie plate, which we choose the Tasso Ham, Cedar Grove Cheddar, and the Bloome County Bloom, this came with some fantastic toast, pickled watermelon, jelly, and mustard. Very delicious. My husband had their special which was Salmon and I had the butter poached lake trout, both were so good, and cooked perfectly! We also enjoyed a great bottle of wine with dinner, Durigutti Bonarda, Mendoza, a red wine obviously not traditional since we both had fish, but oh well! It was really good. For dessert we shared the warm brownie which had caramel sauce and a cherry custard, it melted in my mouth. We had a fantastic experience, the price was reasonable for what we got, can't wait to come back.
(4)
Susan G.
This is a Gem! Dined here for the first time on a Saturday night with friends and we enjoyed every course. We started with the Chef's Choice Cheese and Charcuterie plate which was just right. We had wine by the glass with our meal. Followed this with the very fresh and well-composed green salad. For our main entrees we had the pan roasted chicken breast which was amazingly juicy, poached lake trout, and the fine herbs pappardelle pasta. Ended the meal with French-press coffee and a couple orders of the fresh strawberry pie with whipped cream which was heavenly. Service was prompt and friendly and the pacing between courses was just right. The cost per person, including tax, tip and all the food and beverages mentioned, was about $70.
(4)
Jessie M.
I came here with my husband on a busy summer night--the service was slooow but the food was good--particularly, the duck pierogies (they accidentally brought us two orders--we were not complaining). If you're doing the charcuterie, make sure to get the sheep's cheese (the dante). It's delicious. Skip the fries--they're kinda greasy.
(3)
James L.
I live in the Irving Park area and was happy to see that this place opened up. Went there for a birthday dinner and the service was excellent! We all shared a bunch of tapas dishes and wine. We weren't full by any means but was satisfied with dinner. Definitely a place to go if you want to taste different foods and drink good wine, but not to go to town on.
(4)
Eduardo C.
Amazing cocktails. Great service. Elevated food.
(4)
Allan C.
No ice in the water means you're at a classy joint. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Bread & Wine has a very warm and modern interior design and their food is excellent. Went with my significant other and dined on small plates: Pork belly with poached egg and sourdough Duck confit pierogi with pickled red onion and creme fraiche Herb fries with garlic, thyme, and malt aioli Arugula and pear salad (had another fruit and nuts in it) Dessert: Chocolate custard and graham cracker smore Everything was delicious and flavorful. Standout was the Pork Belly. Loved the dessert.
(4)
Anna V.
Yelp keeps insisting I review B&W, and I've been putting it off because I don't know how I feel about it and don't really have a ton to say. Here it is: it has potential but it has kinks in it. Nothing was terrible. We'd heard great stuff, and it's possible it just wasn't our thing. Things that were good: the duck confit pierogi (deliciously tender, the good kind of gamey, very flavorful) and their crispy hot fries. Wine list is great - I've never heard of most of it, which is fun for me. They use good ingredients. Parking is free. Atmosphere reminds me a little of Ceres' Table. But there are definitely elements that need work. Service was friendly but spotty and a little intrusive, pacing was bizarre, the pork shoulder was not my favorite and had some fatty bits that weren't palatable. Portions in general were tricky to get right since it's all meant to be shared - but not quite the right size for it. The whole experience felt off somehow. However, it's still new, and it's understandable there are kinks to work out. It does have loads of potential in the concept. But you know what would be really good? If they had bread. At the moment, they don't, and we were surprised. I think Bread & Wine really needs some hot crusty bread.
(3)
Cynthia A.
Our second time here, and we were looking forward to another great experience. A beautiful night and sat outside. When the menus arrived, I had a hard time choosing from the five entrees. Nothing really jumped out to make my mouth water. First time, we had the charcuterie platter for 6 and there was a great mix. This time for three, we had to choose. I would really stay away from the pancetta. While flavorful, it was mostly fat and not that appealing. I was surprised there were no specials as an adjunct to the menu items. REally? Midsummer when the local farmers are overflowing with beautiful produce? Our table had two burgers (the chorizo as it's own patty seemed odd along with the beef patty) and the chicken breast (nicely cooked, but more simple than I would like--I cook too much plain chicken at home--give me some flavor). I can't say we were super excited. Maybe the new chef? Didn't seem to have the same vibe or buzz as first time there. Highly recommend adding some interesting, flavorful entrees to the menu. And specials would be most welcome.
(3)
KChicagoan S.
Went here on a week night for an impromptu girls night out. I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could, but 3 will have to suffice. It's a farm-to-table type concept, which was nice. This means their menu will change often, with a rotation of freshly-inspired small plates, salads and larger plates. Started with a cheese/charcuterie board. The cheeses were fresh and the homemade marmalade and mustard on the board was a nice balance to the salty cheese. As a group we split 4 small plates and one large plate. Overall the food was good and fresh, but as I type this review barely a week later, I can't remember a single thing I ate, aside from the cheese. What that tells me - nothing was all that memorable. I'd give ambiance and SERVICE 5 stars, and while the food was fresh, it was forgettable. I would go here for a return visit, but I won't be running back or shouting my praises from the rooftops (or via Yelp for that matter...)
When five stars are just not enough ... From the luscious swine to the salted carmelcorn panna cotta, we couldn't have been happier with our dinner. Not sure what some other (CRAZY) reviewers were talking about regarding portion size... the small plates were anything but small. We took the opportunity to sit at the counter and were thrilled to interact with Lulu, Jacob and the rest of the team (thanks for the tasty bits inbetween!) We will definitely be back... and soon!
(5)
Cee A.
I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed this yet, so here goes... This is an easy, friendly, consistent place to dine. I'm usually here during the week and reservations are not needed. I find it a great place to relax over shared food and enjoy a bottle of wine. It's lively but not loud so conversation is easy. The service isn't rushed and the vibe overall is great. Last visit included an assortment of cheeses and meats, the incredibly awesome mussels and the already famous popcorn panacotta. Always good, fun and tasty.
(5)
Casey A.
1) Be sure to sit at the Kitchen Counter if it's available.. and if you're in the mood to talk to the chefs. 2) Order whatever you want because it's all amazing. We got the Crispy Semolina Gnocchi and Herb Ricotta toast with Yellow Beets and Arugula and for dinner we split the Walleye.. I don't know why I'm making you drool with this description bc the menu changes every 2ish weeks. (i.e. there were no tomatoes on the menu at our seating bc the head chef wasn't interested in bringing in tomatoes from the west coast.. pretty cool in my opinion!) 3) We got dessert, not because we needed the calories but because the people next to us had been there a couple times and convinced us to (not that we needed much convincing..) The Salted Caramel Popcorn Panna Cotta.. HOLY COW HARRY CARAY. We loved it enough to drop off one of our dishes the next night so they could make a WHOLE bunch for a party we had on the following night. 4) Lulu might be the nicest chef/pastry chef.. ever. / All the people behind that counter had something pleasant to say.. 5) I'm going back and soon!
(5)
Lawrence C.
We went to Bread and Wind with neighborhood friends and must say it was very enjoyable. They have 2 'special' areas to eat with the first being a private table by the wine racks and the second is a bar you can eat at that has a great view of the chef's going about their business. We sat at the table. For starters we had the Chicken Liver Pate, Blue Mountain Dairy Reserve Cheddar from Wisconsin and toast points all of which was delicious. We had a really nice Cabernet from the Paso Bobles region of California which paired nicely with everything. For a main course I had the Striped Bass with Braised Fennel which was outstanding and filled me up. The girls both had the Beef and Chorizo Burger on a Pretzel Roll of which they both enjoyed although my wife said that next time she will get it without the Chorizo Patty and just beef. The wait staff was very attentive and the manager came by on 2 occasions to make sure everything was okay and then prior to our departure he gave us a rundown on how the place came to be, the chef and what the owner was all about. Very nice. All in all this is a top notch local restaurant with pricing to be reasonable for the type of food you are getting which is mostly locally procured.
(4)
Mike M.
Bread & Wine is a great addition to the neighborhood. Still in their pre-reservation mode, any wait was easily passed at the bar having a great goat cheese spread w/ one of their many great wines. The place has a great local vibe to it and even features a small retail area if you'd like to take some of their ingredients home. I was very excited to get a counter seat as I was able to watch the executive chef make my dinner. He and the sous chef were super cool and answered any questions when they had a moment between plating. I've never been to an open kitchen before and it was a great experience. I went w/ the beef & chorizo burger which was great. All ingredients are in season so no lettuce or tomato. Who goes here: Irving Park neighbors, foodies, organic diners. Will I go back? Certainly. I began listing who I should take here by the second bite. It's also cool that they get all their ingredients locally. (Midwest locally)
(5)
David F.
My wife took me here for my birthday tonight. Very pleasant ambience that feels at once sophisticated but also casual enough that you can hear each other. Our server was wonderful. We had: the gnocchi, the fries, the mussels, the salad and the striped bass. The dishes were uniformly terrific (and unlike what a previous reviewer said, it is plenty of food). I think the chef could add just a bit of kick to the striped bass but overall it was well-seared and beautifully prepared. My gin cocktails were delicious and overall it was reasonably priced for what we got and the level of service. Highly recommend.
(5)
Allen J.
I should state, for the record, that I'm that person who always takes bad Yelp reviews with a grain of salt. Like, who comes on Yelp to write a positive experience? It's just people b*tching to hear themselves. But Bread & Wine was disappointing. We live in the neighborhood, and have been looking forward to coming here for weeks. Moreover, it was my birthday, and I couldn't wait to try things off the menu. Reading other reviews, I think what the more specific price complaint should be relates to the price of the small plates. I think they are over-priced for what you get. The bowl of nuts was not warm, and the duck pierogi was fine. But two pierogis for $7? Some of my party ordered drinks, some ordered wine. The wine was good. The drinks I felt were fine. My main complaint was that, with the restaurant not terribly busy, it just seems like the drinks took forever. Our waitress, so very nice, just seemed over-worked. My main mistake of the evening was ordering the special: Duck Stroganoff - Black Trumpet Mushrooms, pappardelle pasta, duck leg confit & creme fraiche. Honestly, I've never had a worse dish at a restaurant. It was bland, there was really no sauce, also no seasoning, and the pasta after sitting just a few minutes was like eating chewy rubber and quite honestly inedible. Perhaps it could have been helped by cutting the noodles smaller or thinner? It was the very first time I've ever told a server that I was unhappy with a dish at a restaurant. To her credit, she offered me something else, and I tried the small plate tacos, which were good. I will be back to try other things off the menu, because all these other people can't be wrong. I hope my experience was an anomaly.
(2)
Rik U.
The long awaited Bread & Wine restaurant is open and well worth the wait. Touted as an American bistro yet I would think they fit the description of an American Melting Pot. They are keying in on the areas different cultures/cuisines and adding a twist to it. They did an amazing job of converting the existing building into a elegant yet very comfortable space. I loved the juxtaposition of modern and natural/farm feel they have created here. Tables are cut from large trees and lacquered with bark still on them. Napkins are simple yet tasteful kitchen towels. Hand blown glass water bottles are brought to tables. The food was excellent and perfectly executed. I was impressed that they nailed it the first night out. Great job! We had some small plate appetizers which were playful to decadent. Togarashi buttered popcorn, olives with a nutty orange citrus flavor and Duck confit pierogi with pickled red onion and herbed creme fraiche. Delicious. Entrees we tried were original and equally delicious. - Black earth lamb & mustard seed meatloaf, yogurt braised greens with white beans and harrisa - Chicken breast & confit leg, truffle dumplings and roasted root vegetables - Homemade fettuccine, pumpkin, oyster mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and fresh goat cheese I ordered the lamb meatloaf but tried all of these and they were all excellent. I am very excited to have a restaurant of this caliber right in my neighborhood. Keep up the good work! Also, they have a shop up front featuring not only local, gourmet products, but a wonderful wine selection and items that they make right there (such as granola, shortbread cookies, etc.). I look forward to visiting this again because the shop was still getting stocked..being the first night and all. Congrats Bread and Wine team!
(5)
Kate P.
I really hope this place makes it. It's great having it in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, I think it's a little over priced. First, I ordered a glass of wine and the bartender (we sat at the bar) poured it less than 20% of the way up. Now I do appreciate a heavy pour but I wouldn't say I'm biased- however atleast pour it 25-30% to make me fee like I"m getting my moneys worth. It was a 3 sip glass of wine for $10. Secondly, we weren't very hungry but I was dying to try the duck pieorgis so we ordered those. I was very excited to get them but slightly diappointed when they came out. $8 for 2 pierogis. This was listed on the "small plates" section of the menu so I'd envisioned enough for 2 people to share- not 1 each. Now don't get me wrong the pierogis were amazing. I was just disappointed spending $8 on 2 pieorgis. Had there been 3 on the plate I probably wouldn't have been a bit miffed by it or had they been larger it would have been fine but I scarfed mine down in 2 bites. Or even if they were listed as a "side dish" I would understand only putting 2 on the portion size. Now, I really did enjoy the ambiance of the place. I just thought it was slightly overpriced for what you get and the neighborhood it is in- which is my neighborhood that I love so all you Albany/Irving Parkers don't jump all over me- I'm not knocking on the neighborhood. Just if I'm spending that on food I'll go downtown.
(3)
Ingrid R.
I really enjoyed my evening here with a bunch of other moms. Awesome food, service and atmosphere. The salted caramel panna cota was the most amazing thing on the planet. All that cheese, wine, yum. What's not to love. Can't wait to go back with the husband.
Bread and Wine is a good solid choice overall for a date night or for a large group. Service The service and overall customer experience is really good. The hostess and waitstaff are knowledgeable and attentive. They knew the wine list well and made an effort to provide guidance without being pretentious about the wine list. The service was quick and on point which is a plus. Food Appetizers and Snacks This section shines. The PEI mussels are excellent- highly recommended. The entire list looked great and is enough to share a taste. The squash salad and roasted beets are tasty. Good use of seasonal ingredients. Large Plates The burger is really good. The burger is a hearty meal with the bacon and onion jam on pretzel bread. The fries are plentiful for 2 people to share and with the aioli - it definitely a memorable burger in a town of burgers. The rest of the dishes such as the chicken was good but not nearly as hefty as the burger. The presentation and taste was good but lacked the punch of the snacks and apps. Dessert The desserts are all excellent. The salted caramel pana cotta is light and the hints of salt and caramel doesn't overwhelm the dish. The flourless chocolate cake is good- looks more like a cooke but it is rich. The acid from the pineapple cuts the richness of the chocolate. Overall The parking is fantastic for anyone looking to venture out of the area. The service is excellent. The meal is good if not great. The location is a destination but worth a trip for either dinner or even better brunch.
(4)
Andrew S.
I agree with the other yelp users here. I had a total enjoyable dining experience. The staff is affable and friendly. Nothings worse than throwing a good chunk of money at a dining experience and the staff acts like they're doing you a favor, NOT the case at bread and wine. Our server Aric was awesome, he clearly explained what was in each course and suggested a delicious desert as well. The beer list highlights local favorites and well as seasonal offerings from Three Floyds. Their cocktails were delicious and crafted with care. The entree's were reasonably priced,large and their burger rivaled any high end/hype burger joint out there. I will definitely patron this establishment more often.
(4)
Ben P.
Love, love, love this place. The ambiance works very well - we sat at the kitchen counter/chef's table which just added to the enjoyment of the evening. The food there was delectible - I had the rabbit linguini and it was perfectly cooked, great sized portions. The service was wonderful. Will definitely be coming back. Score! Now if it could be closer to where we live, we'd be there every night...
(5)
Therese O.
What the hell, Bread and Wine. It was a Sunday night. you weren't even busy, and yet the level of disappointment cannot be forgiven. We live in the neighborhood and wanted to try Bread and Wine for a while. We wandered in and there were about two other tables full. Which we like. Sat down and looked at the menu. Cheese plate for $28 with six teeny portions on it. About six 'small plate' dishes which range from $6-$9. While entrees are $13-$20. Portion sizes are SMALL so be warned. A $13 burger is teeny, and most of the plate is filled up with fries. Choriso/Cheddar/Burger was too overpowering and the bun was bigger than the hamburger. The garlic fries were great, but for $13 you'd better not mess up the fries, people. Lamb meatloaf was COLD and served on top of white beans and greens that were too salty to eat. And I like salt. The portion was so small and the price so high, I almost sent it back and told them not to bother. I already knew it wasn't going to be good. There was something crunchy in the meatloaf which messed with the mouthfeel. Walnuts?? Pine Nuts? Who knew.... Glass of lovely Oregon wine for $9 but the small pour that they give you was ridiculous. Maybe 1/3 cup. The space is pretty, though with and open kitchen and the place was very loud with only two couples inside. This place could have the potential to be an Irving Park Lula Cafe. But, unlike Lula, the flavors are not well constructed, the food is miniscule and cold and it seems they care more about atmosphere than quality. Unless they up their game, we won't be back. And sadly, unless someone else pays for my dinner, I won't return any time soon.
(1)
Matt R.
Checked out this relatively new neighborhood spot early on a Friday night. Sat at the bar noshing on charcuterie while chatting up the friendly couple sitting next to me, enjoying a nice glass of S. African Cabernet. Pricey? A little bit, comparable to Lincoln Park but I thought the quality warranted the cost. Staff was attentive, the owner Lisa came by to find out how I was doing, all in all a very agreeable visit to a very agreeable spot in the neighborhood. I am giving the fifth star to the bartender who was on top of his game without getting in my space. I will be back.
(5)
Mary L.
Heard good things about Bread & Wine & finally got to try it for myself the other night. Was pleasantly surprised. The Old Irving neighborhood seems odd to have a restaurant this nice there, but it really does fit. Parking was a bit hard on a Saturday night, be we found side street parking in a little bit. I like the smaller size of the restaurant and the decor is really stylish. We had a reservation & were immediately seated. Our waiter was pretty good & pretty attentive. The restaurant was crowded for a Saturday night , but all in all the service is good. Our group shared a charcuterie plate which was wonderful. We all had the full dinner plates for our main course. Other diners with me commented that the main courses were all good.....not the best ever, but pretty good. I had the burger with fries which was wonderful & I've had burgers at a lot of good places in Chicago. This was up there as good. The other diners I was with shared the Mudd pie & said it was good. The coffee is served in a french press which was nice & I had the jasmine tea which was delightful. All in all, a nice restaurant on the north side & I would definitely go again.
(4)
Max E.
Our meal at Bread & Wine was very pleasant. We came under the impression that they would be offering extended restaurant week specials, but that was not the case. Still, the service was good and the food was very delicious. The raw scallop starter was delicious and very bright, and the main courses were all very tasty. The interior is spare and trendy, but I think the main wall could use a larger piece of art.
(4)
Megan L.
A friend of mine lives near by Bread & Wine and has been anxiously awaiting its opening. So voila, Bread & Wine is now open, so we took ourselves over there on Friday night. It's a nice little space - we were a little concerned that we'd have trouble getting seated because it is fairly small, but they've done a good job maximizing the occupancy. We were offered a choice between waiting for a table, or sitting at the counter facing the kitchen. Hello, court-side seats it is! We checked out the menu and while there were 'main' dishes that appealed to each of us, we ultimately decided to go a more munchie, small plate route. So we tried the cheese plate (picked 3), herbed french fries (heavenly - we had to get more of the aoili it came with!), fried pickles, white bean puree on toast, and a side of roasted root vegetables. We loved every bite! For dessert (which we didn't need, but come on) we had the sweet potato donuts with salted caramel sauce. Admittedly, you can put salted caramel sauce on damn near anything and make it delicious, but the donuts held up on their own, too. Our server was great - friendly, attentive but not hovering, and super knowledgeable. It was also really fun to be seated where all the action is happening. They were busy and the chefs were running around like crazy - but the focused kind of crazy that gets things done. I saw a lot of attention to detail going on there! After it slowed down (we were there a while... a bottle or so of wine... a cocktail... girls night out...) we chatted with them a bit too - again, very friendly and seemed pretty excited about the product they're putting out. Bread & Wine, you were worth the wait!
(5)
Sean D.
I would give B&W 3.5 stars if I could. I think that there is a lot of potential here, but its just a bit off. First off, I apparently need to dine up north more often as contrary to other reviews, I thought the prices were very fair. The wine list tops out at $60 and most bottles were in the $20-40 range. The entrees top out at $20 and the serving sizes are perfectly acceptable. I liked the space. Very warm and modern with exposed wood and interesting lighting. However, the open kitchen surrounded by all hard surfaces makes the spot very loud on a Saturday night. I fully recognize that I'm getting old, but I think my ears were ringing when we left. We started with a charcuterie plate, and while the meats and cheeses were nice, the servings were rather skimpie. Two small squares of each hard cheese and a dollop of goat cheese a platter does not make. We didn't end up ordering any small plates but there were a few that I'd like to try at some point like the duck pierogies or one of the salads. I thought the entrees were a bit limited in selection and imagination. There was only one fish item for my pescetarian wife and the rest of the choices amounted to a burger, pork shoulder, pasta, or chicken. Perhaps we were biased after just having an amazing meal the night before, but if you're going to serve chicken, it should be really freaking good chicken! Bottom line, decent value with an affordable wine list. Perhaps not worth the special trip up north for me but if you're local I definitely recommend giving it a try.
(3)
shylo b.
As a preface, I wish I could separate the rating for food from the experience/ambiance. Because the ambiance and experience Bread & Wine provided was quite nice. The team has done a nice job with a funky space and the service was impeccable (and we sat at the bar, where I don't usually expect attentive dining service.) We started with cocktails, which were fresh, creative and fantastic. However, the food. We're vegetarians, so maybe the meat is great? We started with the cheese plate, which had nice selections, crispy toast points, two (!) cornichon and a spot of slightly-too-sweet cherry jam/preserves. This was the best thing we had all night, and none of it required cooking. We moved on to white-bean puree on toast. The puree was smooth to the point of unctuous (think baby food) and lacked ANY seasoning. I'm serious. I make a lot of white-bean hummus and (thicker) purees and I know what I'm talking about. Not a spot of salt. We also ordered the garlic fries with aioli. The aioli was too thin and the fries were floppy. Because the apps were disappointing, and we'd already dropped $50 on two cocktails, a glass of wine, and two appetizers, we decided to skip dinner. Which I was sad about because I wanted to try the tofu with pepitas. We went for dessert, featuring a smidge of olive-oil cake with creme fraiche and a panna cotta with popcorn. The cake was meh but the creme fraiche was lovely. The panna cotta was silky, but the popcorn was gummy. Hits, misses. I'm really glad this place is here and would highly recommend it for drinks and the cheese plates, and perhaps charcuterie, if you're into that. Hopefully, B & W is just working out kinks.
(2)
Margo K.
I drove by this place last week and wondered what it was (maybe a new specialty store or a restaurant), was just excited to see a new place. Then we drove by again and decided to stop in because I was starving. It turns out we went there on the 2nd day they were open. Although it was BYOB at the time because of a delay in getting their liquor license, I will definitely be back for more. We tried several of the small plates and were impressed with everything. Next time I will be back fro the large plates. The service was excellent, and the place was simple and elegant without being pretentious. I think this place is going to take off and I'm glad I got to go there in the beginning. Glad to see this excellent new restaurant in an area where you may not be expecting it!
(5)
Keira S.
LOVE: - the fact that it's in the neighborhood - the friendly service - the caramel corn dessert - the little shop area where you can buy, like, olive oil LIKE: - The dish I had--lamb meatloaf--was just OK and waayyyyyyyy too salty. And I'm a salt fanatic. - The wine menu was pretty paltry although the wine I had was very tasty. Skimpy pour, though! HATE: - The overused, 2001-era Ikea chairs and chandeliers - Prices are a bit too high for what you get Yeah, I dunno. I need to try it again.
(3)
Nancy W.
I decided to check out Bread & Wine with 2 friends since I saw that the establishment was participating in Chicago Restaurant Week and it's in my neighborhood. I am so, so, so glad I found it because I will definitely be coming back! It was quite crowded on a Saturday night so I recommend making a reservation beforehand. The space is also small so parties with more than 4-6 people should probably look elsewhere. There is a teeny parking lot, but it was already full when we got there so we had to park a block away (no biggie, street parking isn't bad in this area). The restaurant has a nice ambiance with their minimalist decor. Our waiter was very nice to us and even grabbed an extra candle for me to help with the lighting when he saw that I was photographing our food. Bread & Wine is pricey, but it's absolutely delicious. We shared one 3-course meal from the Restaurant Week menu and 2 starters from their normal menu, which was surprisingly enough food for 3 people. Everything on the Restaurant Week menu was fantastic. We tried a pork shank starter from their normal menu that was cooked perfectly and was unbelievably tender. The salted caramel popcorn panna cotta dessert (on both the special menu and the normal menu) was also tasty - a perfect balance of sweet and salty, crunchy and custardy, etc. This is definitely a restaurant that takes it to the next culinary level with their presentation and creation of good flavors. With that being said, you aren't going to get heaping portions of mediocre food on your plate like at other restaurants. I would recommend coming here for nice occasions as it is a little more expensive, but it's worth it for how delicious everything is!
(5)
Gail M.
Three of us visited Bread & Wine this past weekend to take advantage of their Chicago Chef Week menu. The food was inventive and totally delicious. The service was really friendly and attentive without being hovering. We liked the decor, too, and the fact that it's easy to park either in the lot or on surrounding streets, even on a Friday night. What impressed us most, though, was the awesome way our very kind server, Emily, handled a problem I had with my entree. Because it was cooked sous vide, the wine in it wasn't cooked off (it's not supposed to be in this method of cooking), and I can't consume alcohol. Emily immediately understood the problem and checked with the chef to see if the dish could be reheated to cook off the wine. When it couldn't, she comped me the small plate I ordered as a replacement -- a nice surprise. We'll be back -- next time to try Sunday brunch!
(5)
L J.
THANK GOD upscale restaurants are opening further west! Don't get me wrong, I love Chicago's lakefront just as much as the next girl, but please don't make every good city restaurant in neighborhoods where we have to fight traffic or pay astronomical prices for parking. Restauranteurs- head west! We appreciate good food out here, too. The GOOD: - Our cheese and charcuterie plate was fantastic! Great options and more filling then we anticipated. - The walleye was THE BEST! Really interesting, savory flavors. Order it. You will have no regrets. - Ambiance was nice- clean, simple, pretty. - The staff was friendly. The BAD: - Our waiter wasn't too knowledgeable about their wine list and there were many dishes on our menu he hadn't tried. I think that should be mandatory so when customers ask you about dishes or wine pairings you have something to say. - My husband's steak was well-done and he asked for medium. A slight con, I know, but I'm not a fan of returning food, so he ate it anyway. And everything IN BETWEEN: - The desserts were ok: not a fan of the seasonal lavender and almond dessert; it tasted a bit like soap. Panna cotta was good, but perhaps too sweet. - AC must've been broken, but I suppose there was nothing they could do about it. - Finally, I know it's not TGI Friday's, but if I tell you we are celebrating an anniversary, can we get some kind of acknowledgement? A complimentary dessert? 5% off our bill? A "Happy Anniversary"? Perhaps that's the child in me, but people like stuff like that. Still, I give B&W 4 stars because I appreciate what they're doing and I support small businesses in my neighborhood. We'll be back.
(4)
Angela S.
Was fortunate to get a reservation for a group of 12 for a birthday and they took excellent care of us. The food is incredible and the drink selection is awesome. Was a terrific experience for all of us.
(4)
Audrey S.
I came here for a friend's birthday. It's a good thing we had reservations because the place was packed. We had to wait a few minutes for our table to open up so we checked out their large selection of wine. We started with a cheese and charcuterie plate of St. Joseph (raw sheep) cheese, fresh goat cheese, chicken liver pate, and pig face pancetta. It came with bite size toasted bread. I thoroughly enjoyed everything on this plate. For my entree I decided to be brave and get something unusual that I'd never had before - the duck confit with a poached egg, pickled red onion and herb creme fraiche. The duck was marinated in duck fat and I did not particularly care for this part (and this is most likely how I would feel about it anywhere). There were three pieces of burnt cheese plated nicely on the top. I mixed the egg and duck together. I tried the smoked trout mousse on toast which was absolutely delicious and immediately wished I'd ordered that instead. (There's always next time.) Our server Haley was pleasant and prompt. Just as we were getting ready to leave, one of the owners, Lisa Fosler Kelly began talking with someone at our table. We learned that she lives in the area and wanted more restaraunt choices, so she decided to open up her own. Right now the seating is all inside, but as the weather turns warm, al fresco dining will open up. It's pretty exciting to have a new and decently priced restaurant in my 'hood. I give it two thumbs up and will recommend it to friends.
(4)
Craig Y.
This place does some great food and some questionable things. You can always rely on their burgers. They are thick and juicy plus I love their fries. The plates of cheeses and pates are awesome. They have some Devine artisan cheeses full of different flavor sand different depths. Their bread is fresh and really good. I would give the place a higher stars but I had the gazpacho corn soup which was like a water drained out of a can of plain corn with 16 kernels added to it. Perhaps I was not ready for something that cutting edge. I will definitely go back just not sure if I should experiment.
(3)
Hannah G.
Had a wonderful experience here this evening for wine & cheese. We purchased a Gilt City voucher for the charcuterie plate with wine. I've had hit or miss experiences using vouchers, but no irritation or "you're not a real paying customer" attitude from these guys! We chose to sit at the bar and Eric was extremely friendly and helpful. The charcuterie was amazing!!! Lots of great flavors and honestly it was a filling dinner for two. Would totally recommend & plan on going back soon!
Appetizers - good charcuterie Main course - nice smaller portions Dessert - get the popcorn panne cotta The Bill - very reasonable for the high quality Service - Good Atmosphere - relaxed and intimate Bottom Line - we had a great time and everyone loved the food. Service was very good but not perfect, hence the 1 star deduction.
(4)
Lauren L.
I LOOOOVVVEEE THIS PLACE! I am actually hating the fact that I am writing a review because I do not want people to know how special this place is. (I want it all for myself) I have been going here for the past 3 years (give or take) and EVERY time I go there, I have such an amazing experience. The food is.....oh god, like SO GOOD. You could literally close your eyes, and randomly select a dish and be satisfied. The other thing I really like about this place is that everything is organically farm raised - everything is fresh! My husband and I went on a bread and wine bender and visited the place once a week for about a month, the staff began to recognize us, and we got some free perks here and there. (hehe) Tommy is our favorite server, but there are other people on staff that rock. (seriously, you guys rule) There was one experience that stuck with me that I would like to share. On a random Sunday, my husband and I walked over and had a beautiful brunch....we decided to stay a little longer and order some drinks (you only live once, right!?) it was becoming very busy, and so the waiter asked us very kindly if we could just sit at the bar since we were only having drinks. Of course, we agreed, and we continued drinking. Then, I can't remember why, but we had to move from the bar. This time, one of the hosts asked us to move. Honestly, it really didn't bother us because we knew that we were the ones staying and basically, getting in the way. So, I just told her, "you can put me any where you want, as long as you keep slinging me these drinks!" She laughed, and said, "I like your style!" and she totally hooked us up with a free dessert. Like, she didn't have to do that. Yes, we had to move 2 times, but who cares? We were still able to enjoy our delicious drinks, and we got a free plate!
(5)
Julia R.
I frequent Bread & Wine every other month or so because I live in the Irving Park neighborhood and its within walking distance of our home. Unfortunately I'm not sure I'll return. While I was out for a walk with my family this evening, they waited outside while I ran in to set a reservation for Fathers Day on Sunday. I was greeted by a short man with stringy hair at the host stand. I asked for an 11am reservation for two and baby, in hopes that we could be sat on the bench along the wall and was told probably not, because of two other large parties booked ahead of us. I'm not sure why the large tables in the center of the restaurant couldn't have been used for these two groups but I explained why the bench worked better for us. We visited for Mothers Day with our 3wo, at that time, and my husband made the same request because we don't have an infant car seat to pop out of our car (to have a place for our baby to sit during the meal) so we just lay him on the bench next to us. Anyhow, the host was pretty rude. It didn't seem like he wanted or cared about getting our business at all. He said he couldn't reserve the bench for us at 11 so when I asked for another time that we could come in and sit along the wall he said it's probably impossible. Anyhow, the interaction was unfortunate and unfriendly and made my family feel unwelcome on a day we would have loved to celebrate Fathers Day with a nice brunch together.
(3)
Ryan T.
Had a small plate and 2 large plates which was perfect for 2 people. The food was really good (crispy gnocchi ++++) and our server was great. Would have been a higher rating if not for the fact that after dinner we tried to have a few cocktails as the bar, waited for 15 min without so much as an acknowledgment from the bartender and then just left.
(3)
Henry H.
came here for brunch on a sunday. my friends and I all ordered different things. I got the seasonal omelette with a side of bacon. It was great. The french toast my friend got was delicious, three of us agreed that it was the best we had ever had. we also split the cinnamon bun for a starter, flaky creamy goodness. Good service and ambiance as well. highly recommend this place!
(5)
Angela R.
Simple, delicious, thoughtful food. Chicken liver pate, sheep cheese & Tasso ham accompanied by crusty bread, kumquat marmalade & mustard. Scrumptious pasta with confit duck & butternut squash. Perfectly seared Whitefish with lentils. Refreshing to see a mature crowd enjoying excellent food & conversation.
I went to Bread & Wine for Chicago Restaurant week! Everything I had was very good, my only complaint was that the red velvet cake was a bit dry. Otherwise, excellent food, drinks, and service. I will definitely be returning!
(4)
Eva M.
This is a great addition to the neighborhood. I went here on a Friday night and we sat at the bar counter. This is the best seat at this restaurant. We were able to watch the chefs in action. The portions were good. The wine recommendations were good too. This parking lot is an added bonus.
(4)
Megan M.
We came from the Cubs game to meet up for dinner with my cousins. We're all foodies and winos, so we bagged some vino on the way, and decided on Moroccan food. Unfortunately, the owner of the Moroccan joint had to turn us away, reservations only, place was full. So, Yelp to the rescue, we walked half a mile to Bread and Wine. We had to leave our BYOB selections behind- but hopeful that a place with Wine in the name, would be able to deliver in that department. While two of us, myself included, were atrociously underdressed, the staff made sure to get a table ready for us, on the patio. It was a perfect night to eat outside. Tommy, our server, was absolutely on point the entire night. He helped us make every choice we did, and kept our focus on enjoying company, rather than the menu. We started with the chef's choice cheese and meat pairing. The two plates came out bountiful, while neatly organized. We shared an entire bottle of Malbec while enjoying the pairing. Tommy made out dinner decisions with very little input from our slightly inebriated table. When the dishes arrived, it was evident that we couldn't possibly have made a bette decision. We had duck egg, chicken, lamb and goat dishes for the main course. We passed the delicately plated decadent morsels around the table, and nearly licked them clean. We enjoyed them with a quite remarkable bottle of Aquinas Pino Noir. After such an unbelievable dining experience, we decided to take it all the way. It got real. Very real. When the chocolate mousse and the salted Carmel popcorn and creme arrived. Unreal, start to finish. Can't say enough about our server, and the food. Everything was cooked to perfection, clearly fresh, and meticulously paired. Each plate was a unique palate, delightful, and adventurous. The entire night was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had, all because our original plans fell through. Worth every cent- ask for Tommy. He's truly an asset to Bread and Wine. Cannot wait to dine here again!
(5)
Brittney H.
We dined her awhile ago but I'm slacking on my reviews lately. First of all, weird location. This restaurant looks like it used to be a gas station from the outside. Irving Park is not my favorite area and parking here completely sucked. That being said, the inside is beautiful. It manages to be modern and cozy at the same time - the staff is incredibly attentive and gracious. Our food (we had two things that are no longer on the menu which were delicious) was incredibly delicious. We also has the grass fed burger which was huge and I had many regrets later (from calories, not taste). If you're in this area, this is the spot to go!
(4)
Philip S.
Lovely contemporary American food. Great ambiance, great service. Menu is very seasonal. We enjoyed the Ricketts, chicken liver pate, Tasso beef, 6 minute duck egg, steak tartar, pork cheek and more. Great for sharing even better for conversation. Highly recommend.
(5)
Yvonne I.
"Great food, but terrible service experience." Four of my friends and I came for brunch one Sunday in May 2015. My friends and I are currently half way through trying about 20 brunch places from this "best brunch in Chicago" list, and Bread and Wine was on our list in May. The layout of the restaurant was nice, and I liked the open kitchen aspect of it. I felt really comfortable being able to see what was going on in the kitchen. The waiter came right away, and was relatively pleasant for most of the meal. For an appetizer I had the Whiskey glazed cinnamon roll, which was one of the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had. The whiskey flavor wasn't too strong, so someone that doesn't like the taste of whiskey would most likely not be turned off by this cinnamon roll. For my main brunch meal I had the breakfast banh mi. The description of this dish on the menu sounded very different than items I've had at other brunch restaurants. The banh mi sandwich itself was amazing due to its great flavor and appropriate size. The hash browns were also amazing, and were not greasy like the hash browns at some restaurants. Our dining experience went down hill when we asked for the check after we finished our food. Not everyone in my group had cash, so one of my friends politely asked our waiter if he would be able to split the check. (I realize that we should have asked him this in the beginning of the meal, since that is what we normally do when we go to restaurants). Tommy responded with "NO!", and then stormed away from the table. Tommy eventually came back to the table and told us he would be able to take separate payments from us. We really appreciated this, but we were still a little confused why he had been so dramatic originally . Those of us that had cash put our cash in, and those of us with Cards wrote our names along with the last 4 digits of the credit cards on the back of the receipt so that we could evenly split the bill. Tommy ran the credit cards and applied the cash. When he brought back the receipts, one of my friend's credit cards had been ran twice. After explaining this nicely to Tommy, he snatched the credit card booklet up and stormed away. When Tommy brought back the refunded credit card, he slammed it on the table and walked away again. I hope that we caught Tommy on a bad day, and that he does not always act this rudely towards customers. This is not an establishment I would visit again.
(2)
Dave S.
The food is pretty good, but very pricey. The portions are pretty small and the selection pretty limited. Not a horrible experience, just not that great.
(3)
Hannah C.
We went for brunch and most of the food was excellent. We snuck in just before they closed, around 1, and had no problem getting a table. The homemade chicken sausage was exceptional. The hash browns were delightfully crispy but hardly seasoned at all. The Cubano sandwich was also a treat - we got extra mustard sauce on the side and wound up dipping the fries in it. The whiskey glazed cinnamon roll was quite good, although the tangy of the whiskey suggested they might want to use a higher quality liquor? Apparently the bloody marys, omelette of the day, and pork belly with grits were also quite good. Everyone enjoyed the atmosphere, music list, and food. Wish they gave you slightly larger water glasses, though!
(4)
Justin B.
Came by for dinner yesterday; with family in town and an expiring Groupon, we thought coming by for an early dinner would fit the bill. Although I usually start with the positives, let's mix it up today and start with the negatives: 1) I tried the Lowe Ball specialty cocktail. While I didn't send this back, I was surprised how much I didn't like this drink. Maybe it was because I had gone to The California Clipper the night before, but this drink just wasn't great. It was a little watered down, but I couldn't tell how or why, because I'm sure it was served to me right after it was made. We came for a 5:30 dinner reservation and the restaurant was only about half-full, so there wasn't a crowd issue...hmm, maybe it was the semi-sugared rim, not a full rim of sugar? Maybe it was the rum? Maybe it wasn't sweet enough? Not sure, but a bust regardless. 2) I ordered the cheeseburger because I'm a burger whore and Zagat said B&W made one of the ten best burgers in Chicago. And it might...but I'll never know. You see, I ordered the burger rare...and the burger came out medium well, MINIMUM. In my estimation, it was well done. Like, completely, totally wrong. It was so wrong that I asked my server to just show his kitchen staff how wrong it was, but I didn't have the time for the kitchen to remake the burger; our one-year-old was with us and was nearing her 7 PM bedtime, so I took one for the team and ate half the burger and all of the fries. But I don't think I've ever had a restaurant get the temperature of the burger this wrong (I eat burgers at varying levels of restaurant usually twice a week). 3) Our server didn't take the well done burger off the bill. I made up for this slightly by tipping less, but I was surprised that this was not addressed when it came to payment. The positives: 1) It wasn't part of my order, but the seasonal soup that I tasted was exceptional. Exceptional. I don't remember what was in it besides sriracha, noted because it did give the soup a little kick and our server called it out. But the subtleties of the taste of this soup were something else. 2) Our server--save for the bill at the end--was great, explained everything clearly, and generally was a whirling dervish of energy. I want to say his name was Tommy, but it was in the Tommy/Bobby/____-ie category. And he was loud enough to talk over the din of the space; it's fairly loud at Bread and Wine, so a loud server is a plus. 3) Parking out front in a dedicated lot. Going for dinner at 5:30 helped because we got one of the dozen-ish spaces, but still, great that they have one. 4) The fries with my burger were great, well seasoned, above-average aioli, and there were a ton of them...key, since my burger was a fail. Yes, a ton of places in Chicago make great french fries, so this isn't crazy out-of-this-world, but still, I needed the fries to be great for this particular dinner! 5) Overall space in this restaurant was also nice. Open kitchen is pretty sweet. Kudos to the hostess for putting our group at a four-top where we could stash the high chair near the window, away from server and diner foot traffic. (And, because it's so loud in here, even your crying baby probably doesn't get many looks.) 6) Groupon deal helped us save a few bucks. I'm not sure I would go back unless others are doing a "special" dinner here, but glad that I finally checked this one off the list!
I really wanted to continue my love affair with B&W but I just can't. My first meal was really good but it continued to go downhill from there. Brunch was so unremarkable that I can't even remember what I had. My second dinner was not great. I had a tofu dish with a description that made it sound like some type of broth was involved but there was no broth and very little flavor. My most recent meal wasn't all bad. The charcuterie was good as was the salad and dessert. But nothing was great. My entree of BBQ beef cheeks was awful. There was no BBQ that I could recognize. The slaw was disgustingly smokey. The entree was overly salty and I like salt. Along with the less than stellar meal our server was aloof and not very friendly. I hate when reviewers say this but this review was really a 2.5.
(3)
Alysha L.
Just tried this place for brunch after my AirBnB host recommended it as one of the neighborhood restaurants I had to check out. I had their seasonal omelette, which was delicious. Food aside, I can't remember the last time I walked into a restaurant and got ice cold glares from the staff. Three people stood at the front and were very awkward in their responses when I asked to see a menu and then asked to be seated. I did not feel welcome here at all. What's up with the service???
(3)
Mike H.
Great food, great wine, great service! Tommy was a finominal server with a great handle on the food and pairings for this fantastic yet quaint neighborhood secret. The 3 course meal was prepared perfectly for my friends and I. As no one in our group had ever tried Bread & Wine before. Terrific help from our server; Tommi, picking out the best tastings they had to offer.
(5)
Naomi L.
God I really wanted to love this place! Well got here around 9 and it was steady. This place is really modern and stylish. The decor is nice and the vibe was also great. We ordered a flight of cheese and had a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. The cheese was absolutely amazing! I was hoping for a few pieces of apples with the cheese but it wasn't a big deal. I expected their menu to have a flight of wine we could taste since the place is called "Bread and Wine" but nope, no flight of wine. Their menu is also very very thin. They did not have a good selection of food but i guess its a very small neighborhood restaurant that is still trying to make s name for themselves I had the gnooci but it was not pasta. I always thought it was pasta but i got six square pieces of fried things. I was really disappointed because i am pretty sure that it wasn't gnocci. Plus the "gnocci" wasn't even good. Before i even ordered this "gnocci" i asked the waiter what it was and he explained as if it was pasta. Now the really disappointing thing is that when we walked in (a tall slim woman) well she obviously works there gave a dirty looks. We asked to sit in the corner because, god damn that's where we wanted to sit. The place wasn't packed so yes that was our table of choice. She rolled her eyes and gave us attitude seating us. No do not roll your eyes. If the place was crazy busy then yes we would have understood but it was slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I really wanted to like this place but nope
(2)
Mike P.
Such a small restaurant but with big flavor! I feel like I will need to go back a number of times to really get a good read on the food. For now I will offer the following: Charcuterie plate: Let the chef decide but try to get the chicken liver pate. It's excellent. The cheddar is a touch too mellow when paired with stronger, more pungent cheeses. The country ham is not overly salty. Sausage dinner: Good deal. It looks like a small portion but is very fitting and the roasted Brussels sprouts are so good, they could probably convert some Brussels haters. My wife go the prawns, or should I say miniature lobsters. Kind of intimidating, to have whole prawns served to you, but dig in. Definitely a fun joint! The staff is friendly and attentive. Have a seat at the chef's counter and chat up the chef and cooks while they prep the meals. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Colsha L.
I frequent Bread And Wine because it is about 5 blocks from my home, extremely convenient and I loved the ambiance. I went last night July 23rd 2015 and boy was I disappointed! I made reservations for 8:00 and was greeted by a shorter guy with really greasy and stringy hair, he was incredibly rude! He didn't seem like he wanted to be there nor serve us. Initially I tried to ignore his sarcastic remarks and cattiness but it was too much to bare. His customer service skills are dreadful for lack of a better term. I won't be returning.
(1)
Brittney E.
I LOVED this place! It's a bit pricey if you want to have a selection of food items to get a good taste for the place, but It was right up my alley with a nice selection of cheese and charcuterie. I even had the opportunity to sit at the chef's counter and watch all of the food being prepared which was a very nice experience. The gnocchi was pretty much the best I've ever had... it wasn't your typical potato gnocchi but very similar. The ingredients they used to make this dish were very simplistic (I had a brief conversation with the chef) yet they delivered flavor better than any combination of ingredients I've ever experienced. They saute the gnocchi for that perfect crispy outer layer. I highly recommend this dish and the restaurant as a whole.
(5)
Mariel V.
I have quite a history with B&W AND so far I've been very pleased with their food and service. For starters back in July we were looking for a small, intimate place to have a wedding party and being new to the neighborhood we took a chance with picking B&W. They were able to accommodate to our semi-private party of 20 with only a weeks notice. Jen was awesome! She even printed us a custom menu. I've been back numerous times since with my husband and friends and we've had almost everything in their constantly changing menu. If you're a fan I suggest visiting at least twice a month to see what's new for brunch or dinner.
(5)
Cynthia R.
So yeah, this place is alright! I appreciate that there are decent restaurants in this part of the city, but it's also quite oddly located and you wouldn't really expect there to be a good place....there. Ya know? But besides that, it was great to see the place buzzing with business on a Friday nite! I thought it was a bit pricey for the location, and for the food. Don't get me wrong, the menu was decent, and the food was respectable. But it was definitely pricier than I thought they could honestly pull off over all. I got the burger, which was good. I loved that the meat was "clean"; hormone and anitbiotic free, and the other ingredients were organic. House made ketchup was a nice touch too. The hubs got fish, which was a tad bland. Nice presentation and very nice wine suggestion that got paired with it. Oh btw, our server, Gus, was fantastic. And the general vibe of the place was cool as well. NIce and clean.....and open kitchen concept, so you can watch the chefs prepare your food!
(3)
Linsey R.
We've been here a few times and really like it so I thought I'd spread the word. The ambiance is awesome, from the decor to the lighting to the music. Being able to watch the chefs work their magic is always a plus too. They have an excellent variety of cheese and charcuterie and the bread they serve it with is so good. The menu is constantly changing with the seasons and there are a lot of interesting options. The wine list is great and the cocktails are nice too. I'm really excited to see a place this nice succeed in the area and am happy it's so close to my house. The brunch is REALLY good too but gets pretty expensive when you like to drink like we do :)
(4)
Lauren F.
My husband and I came here with my mother and grandmother on New Year's Eve and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the meal. We started with a Chef's Choice cheese/charcuterie board that was delicious and plentiful for 4 people. We also had the Herb Fries and Steak Tartare for starters - fries were great, not the best steak tartare I've ever had, but I've had some really great steak tartare! For mains I had the Pork Chop which I really enjoyed along with its accompaniments and my husband had the special for the evening which was a steak - tasty but not the most impressive cut of meat, especially for the price. My mother and grandmother both had the Tagliatelle pasta with duck confit and both of their plates were completely clean at the end of the meal, so they were both very happy with their choice! For dessert we had the Chocolate Mousse and the Salted Caramel Popcorn Panna Cotta. The mousse itself was great, but the marshmallow that came on top wasn't the easiest to eat. The panna cotta was also delicious, but the mound of popcorn on top was a bit too much. Overall we were very happy with our NYE choice, good food and wine and nice, relaxed atmosphere!
(4)
Ruby Q.
This is our "go to" place for New American, locally sourced, farm to table food when not splashing about in Wicker Park or Logan Square. The burger and fries are great and give the good folks at "Au Cheval" a run for their money - well almost. The have recently changed chefs, and the new guy rocks. I had the pork cheeks last night and they were awesome with concentrated flavor. An adventurous dish paired creatively with black eyed pea mash and a pea tamale. Weirdest and best thing I have eaten this year! Servers are always knowledgeable and friendly (thanks Emily) Their cocktails are good, but for the price they should give a more generous pour. You must try the panna cotta popcorn before you leave this planet.
(5)
Url R.
This is quite the neighborhood gem. I highly recommend seating at the chef's bar so you can watch these folks cook. They will chit chat with you all the while. Moreover, they will hand you little special made treats just for you.
(5)
Dan S.
While Bread & Wine is a bit off the beaten path for the downtown Chicago visitor, it's well worth the stretch to get there. For locals in other parts of the city or the suburbs, the location is fantastic, just off the Kennedy Expressway with available parking. But the convenience is not the reason to try Bread & Wine - it's the food and fun. Just an overall great dining experience with a creative menu from the drinks, small plates to large plates. The restaurant is focused on using locally sourced foods and adding a creativity to their dishes. At the same time, nothing is over the top wild and all very tasty. We enjoyed the small plate fish terrine which is a delicious white fish served on crusty bread with lettuce. Great smokey flavor and buttery texture. While the restaurant is known of it's in-house prepared charcuterie, that's not one of our favorites so we tried one of the artisan cheeses. Not only was the cheese tasty but the dabs of mustard along with sweet pickled watermelon really made a terrific combo on the toast points. For large plates, we enjoyed the duck confit and the vegetarian special which was an unusual collection of tastes that worked - tofu, kimchi, rice noodles, spicy beet sauce and hazelnuts. Glad that I overlooked the unusual mix of ingredients on the menu and tried it. Portions were appropriate and the food was served hot. We shared a chocolate dessert and left the restaurant satisfied by not over-sated. We also enjoyed the drink selections which included some of my favorites bourbon drinks, extensive wine choices reasonably priced as well as some good aperitifs/digestifs. We dined inside at a private table but the restaurant also has the option of outdoor dining as well as dining at the kitchen bar overlooking the food preparation. As with many restaurants, with either concrete or wood floors and high ceilings, the restaurant can be loud but it was tolerable. Our server was not only friendly but very eager to get in to the descriptions of the food and drink to help us make better choices. So, Bread & Wine is a great food experience and dining atmosphere. I would further add that for this type of restaurant, the prices are reasonable.
(5)
Andrew M.
It was great. Had the feel of high end places in Lincoln Park where we used to live. Wine selection is great and prices are not that bad either. I really enjoyed the decor and the staff was very helpful. Nice size parking lot with free parking to boot! Highly recommended. Burger and Pork Chop were both excellent! Chocolate Mousse!!!
(5)
Jaime G.
Have to admit that i thought Bread and Wine was going to be a disappointment...too good to be true. Mixed reviews yet so close to home??? I was really skeptical. Good news is that I loved it. Great little place that serves fun new American dishes with flare. Also have a great wine and beer selection to keep most satisfied. Add the outdoor patio for nice summer nights and we're in business. I had the 3 Floyd's pride and joy ale to start then a fine chard. The most memorable menu items (menu is not very big but plenty of variety) were the raw scallops with juniper berries and oranges and the burger. Can't wait to go back esp since it's so close to home.
(5)
Elaine M.
We came here because a friend of ours had heard good things and wanted to try it out with us. So glad that we did. It was terrific! We did of course order a bottle of wine but that is more my husband's purview. It was good but honestly I don't remember much beyond it was red. The highlights were the appetizers and desserts by a long shot. We began our meal by sharing the CHARCUTERIE, chef's choice. We actually got to choose our six items and I would say that most were outstanding. Starting with my favorite, the chicken liver pate; it was smooth, creamy and the best I have ever had! I am looking forward to buying some this summer and taking in our picnic basket to Ravinia. We also had the duck rilletes and the tasso ham. The rilletes were mighty fine and the tasso ham very very smoky. Kind of like cigar smoke. Good if you like that sort of thing. Then for our cheeses we went with two of the Ann Arbor cheeses, Great Lakes Cheshire and YPSI, since we used to live there. Both were outstanding. The YPSI is a goat cheese and I loved it. Our third choice was the Cottonwood River Cheddar which was only okay, nothing really exceptional. The only disappointment with the charcuterie was that though it came with bread there were two kinds to choose from and we asked if we could do half and half. They said no, only one kind. When the board came there two loaves of bread, both the same kind. If there are two loaves, what's the big deal with doing half one kind and half the other? On to dessert, I would have like to try all three but only ended up trying two, the Salted Caramel Popcorn Panna Cotta and the Chocolate Mousse. The Panna Cotta was so amazing! We loved all the flavors and the smooth panna cotta paired with the caramel corn is genius. For our mains we had the sea trout, lamb meatball and the curried tofu. The flavors were spot on but only one meatball seemed kind of skimpy for a main course portion.
(5)
Lauren B.
Really, REALLY disappointed. I'd heard great things and wanted to love it. However, sitting at the show kitchen I watched the chefs perform highly unsanitary actions with the food items. We mentioned it to the manager, she kindly refired the food. Then my boyfriend's burger came back raw, he ordered medium. So, THAT was sent back. Mind you, we've unsuccessfully gotten our dinners 2x now. Then, when the bill came, only the burger was comped. Now, I'm not the type seeking free food, by any means. But, as a diner I expect good customer service, food that's tasty ( my chicken was mediocre, his burger was good), and food that is safe to eat. They failed on all 3 counts. It was really upsetting. I will say the waitstaff were great! So if all you're looking for is a friendly face, not worried about the safety or taste of your food... This might be a your place!
(1)
Amy H.
Fantastic food. Excellent wine selection. Really nice restaurant with a romantic ambience in a neighborhood you would not expect. If you don't usually find yourself in Irving park, it's worth the trip. Besides, parking is easier and free unlike the areas with the other nice restaurants. Try the gnocchi starter and the pork chop entree!
(5)
Jiratt P.
I would say the food here is not my favorite but absolutely nothing wrong. I love it here and I might come back because of service. They did a great job from understanding of my needs and taste of wine. Let me taste a few wine before open the bottle. Friendly and quick service here. I think sit at the patio for a light dinner and a nice bottle of wine it's must here.
(5)
John B.
Four of us dined at Bread & Wine this past Saturday. On first look, I liked what I saw. It's a pretty cool looking space. The restaurant was about 50% filled with people.The hostess greeted us pleasantly and led us to our table. The server appeared fairly quickly with menus. When he returned he informed us that they had already run out of two items. One was the trout; the other I can't remember. But wait, how do you run out of something at 7 PM? When the restaurant is half empty. Hmm. I ordered a bottle of wine, but the server apparantly assumed that it was for the table. He spun around in a flash and disappeared. In fact, the wine was for two of us and the other planned to order cocktails. He returned with four wine glasses and we pointed out that we only needed two; that A &M wanted cocktails. He grabbed the two extra glass and ran off. About 5 minutes later he returned with the wine and took the order for the cocktails. It was a bit awkward to have wine and for our friends to be without drinks. We waited. And waited. And my friend kept trying to get the servers attention, but without luck. Meanwhile another couple had been seated at an adjoining table. They not only had drinks, but salads. Mind you, we have now been there for 30 minutes. Finally A waved furiously for the server's attention. Drinks? "They're on their way," he claimed. They arrived 10 minutes later. Once the drinks arrived, service seems to take a more normal trajectory. The food was all excellent.Top notch. Everyone enjoyed their meals, however, speaking was difficult. The noise level in this restaurant is insane. Food: 4 stars Service: 2 stars Ambiance: 4 stars for decor ... 1 star for noise level = 2.5 They have wine bottles displayed along the wall for sale. My wife looked at them and we ordered one. It turns out that the prices of the bottles on the wall are different than when ordered. About $10 more, as I recall. That's a reasonable mark-up, although it was a bit confusing. It pains me to rate this restaurant only 3 stars, because the food was good. But the noise level and bad service leaves me no choice. If I learned that they addressed the acoustics, I'd come back. But I would ask for a different server.
(3)
Rob B.
How did I miss this? Not a full time resident, we yelped for a brunch location Sunday. Bread and Wine came up and oh, so glad it did! A downtown experience out here in Irving Park. Why there was not a line surprises me, this place was off the hook awesome! The Bloody Mary with a beer back was the way to start the day and we were in good company. I think every table had a bloody and I can see why. We shared a pancake with cherries. I had the Egg and Grits he had the Benedict. Service was amazing thanks guys! Only suggestion: Send those poached eggs out a little more rare. We want our yokes to run free.
(5)
Susan M.
Chef's know what they are doing. The owner is bringing down the rating in this case. We ordered the Cured Pork Belly and Breakfast Banh Mi, which were very well executed with great presentation. The servers are very attentive and welcoming. The owner seems unfriendly and not genuine. If she can hire someone to manage the daily operation, greet customers, tend bar and take on the role as the daily face of the restaurant, that would be a smart move. She was in the role of bartender on 7/12/15.
(3)
Lucius B.
I had reserved a table at Bread & Wine on Opentable for NYE, but suprise surprise, me and my friend are ushered to bar to sit in front of a disgruntled chef--Maybe because two dudes eating together wasn't the clientele this establishment was looking for. What could have been a superb dining experience was eclipsed by several unforgivable incidents, and although the staff was really nice, it wasn't enough to save the sinking ship--much like the violinists playing while the titanic was coming to it's inevitable fate. 1. The herb fries were just seasoned fries with aoili on the side. I don't condone of slapping a fancier name on a basic item so that you can charge more for it. They tasted bland, and not very herb-y. The only thing that made it worthwhile was the aeoli. 2. My porkchop was incredibly bland, and tough. Also it didn't come with a knife sharp enough to cut it, so I had been left to fight it out with a dull butter knife. It was a challenge, and I thought the porkchop would ultimately win the battle, and it did. I dusted myself off and let the slab of meat claim victory with 40% of it still remaining. I was defeated. 3. My cocktail was noted as having a sugared rim, and as I move in to taste the delightful crystals on the rim of the glass, SALT. I know this doesn't seem like a big thing but honestly for a $12 dollar cocktail the size of a baby's fist the least thing you can do it get it right. 4. While finally wrapping up, I overheard some very unsavory language coming from the chef about banging chicks or something. Honestly, it wouldn't have bothered me as much if the food had been better. Overall, the entire experiences was underwhelming, and entirely forgettable. I can already feel it fading out of my memory....
(2)
M M.
The food was really good, the service... was found wanting. Thank you, waiter A, for pointing out how stupid it was that all three of us got the burger ("Reaaally guys? The three of you could share a burger, we have some amazing stuff to try LIKE THE TROUT"), like we didn't already know this was stupid we just really wanted burgers. The burger, by the way, was amazing. In-house made pretzel bun, people. After we got shamed into ordering some charcuterie and ate our burgers I was stuffed. Waiter B came to clear our plates and saw my 7 fries and 2 bites of burger left and said, "Are you done there? Oh, did you not like it? Oh, can I get you a box for that?" More shame. Then it was similarly deemed ridiculous by waiter A that we not "at least try" some desert. We put our foot down. It was weird, it was rude, it was uncomfortable. Also, I noticed no female employees, which maybe has something to do with the awful interactions.
(3)
Walt P.
Back in Chicago again and had the chance to go to Bread and Wine several times. Brought 4 friends in Friday night for a bit of a reunion. As always we had great service ... this time Alex was our server. He did a great job pairing wine with our eclectic orders, which ranged from pork chops, sausage and Brussels sprouts to mussels in a simple wine broth. It was a challenge but the result made everyone happy. Stopped in for brunch Sunday before heading back to California. Sat at the bar and Emily helped us put together a delicious breakfast including the omelet of the day, French toast and a side of house cured bacon...yum. Lisa and Jenny have created a warm friendly place that keeps us coming back. We started coming here right after it opened three years ago and count on a warm welcome, wonderful service and great food...we've never been disappointed.
(5)
Steve B.
Went there with my wife, another couple and their 1 year old for brunch on a Saturday. The place was busy but not packed and the parking lot was still full. Slightly annoying. As with most brunch places, it was full of adults and their kids. I didn't directly hear any of the staff say they were annoyed by that but there definitely felt like some aggravation in the air. Maybe it was just an off day. Also even though it wasn't that busy the staff was not that attentive. We were there for almost 2 hours and could have easily cut 30 minutes off that. Took almost 15 minutes for the waiter to come back and take the check. The food itself was tasty but nothing that you couldn't find at other places. I had the french toast with pear compote. It was good but again nothing I couldn't find at a local diner. My wife had the classic fry-up and the hash was maybe some of the best out there. All of the potatoes were crispy just the way they should be. I have to say that while both dishes were good they have almost no veggie option on their menu. It is all meet, egg and wheat. My wife and I are big fans of skillets where there are lots of peppers, onions, etc... and there really wasn't an option for that. All in all I am not sure I would go back. Maybe for dinner as I have heard that is extremely good. But for brunch there are plenty of places that said that was the best brunch in the Irving Park neighborhood. I really hope not.
(3)
Raj P.
Great ambiance and excellent service. My partner had their fish entree and it was great. I had their chicken and thought it was cooked perfectly but for me lacked flavor. I would definitely go back and get the fish or something else though.
(4)
Diane A.
I live in the neighborhood and really want to like this place. I opted for the restaurant week option which came with a salad (very good), prawns with sauce and polenta and some other stuff, and white chocolate pudding. The pudding was ok. Nothing I would go out of my way to get but edible. The prawns were NOT GOOD. They tasted like the bottom of a river, or what I imagine that muck at the bottom tastes like. Now, maybe the fact that I asked for no bacon with this meal (I do not eat bacon) was what made it taste bad, but I doubt even bacon could cover up that flavor. I have had prawns before and enjoyed them immensely, so I don't know what happened here, but the moral of the story is that if you go for restaurant week, get the chicken. My husband did enjoy his burger, however. And my friend liked her fish. I will probably go back and try something else, maybe for brunch, but I will never, ever eat prawn here again.
(2)
Max P.
Pricey but good. I have only had the burger, it is very tasty. The Pretzel Bun is a nice touch. The french fries are super tasty, well seasoned. 3 stars only because every time I order I ask for no mustard and yet always get mustard.
(3)
Kathleen C.
I have been wanting to try this spot for a while and a random Wednesday seemed like the perfect time! I made a reservation, though I didn't need one mid-week. However, it's a small-ish spot, so I can imagine that it gets busy on the weekends and you probably need reservations then. We were quickly seated and warmly greeted. The wine/beer/cocktail list is extensive as you might imagine and they had some unique combinations. As to food, we tried the mussels (REALLY interesting with blue cheese and sriracha) and the burger and chicken entrees. The food was quite tasty and portion sizes were large, but I will say that nothing was amazing or overly wonderful. Service was a bit overly attentive, showing up ALL of the time (though, as we were one of few tables, I don't blame them). I did like it and I'd probably go back (mostly for their Tuesday dinner as I think that's a good deal), but I think it's a bit pricey for what it is and I will say that while the food was good, it wasn't as good as I expected for the price and also, a lot of the food options didn't really call to me. So, worth a spot and great for parking as they have a lot, but nothing that I'd travel specifically to if I lived far outside of the area.
(3)
Capaytano H.
This place is amazing the freshness is superb. The burger is grass fed and as a beef lover I sure could tell. The waitress OMG she was so friendly oh sure was her favorite saying. This place is just amazing can't wait for the next time. I hope this is how the food is in heaven juicy and flavorful
(5)
Sally O.
IT'S THE WAITING GAME! It took 10 minutes for our waiter to see us when we sat down. We finally had to ASK our hostess if one could come to our table. Our drinks took a long time to come out. Dinner took a long time to come out. You get tired of tapping your fingers on the table. We ordered dessert at the beginning of the meal and it came out a good 25 minutes after they cleared our dinner plates. We couldn't even drink coffee while we waited because we ordered it right after dinner and that took a good 15-20 minutes to get to our table. They even forgot to bring the pasta that I had boxed up back to us. I had to ask for it, to which our waiter said, "Oh yea!" Yeesh, this place wasn't on top of anything. Food was pretty good, but nothing remarkable. Would NOT recommend.
(1)
Terri R.
We left dinner here last night kind of shaking our heads. Not really sure what to think. We wanted to like it. Walking in we felt pretty sure that we would like it. But now... pretty sure we won't be trekking over to that neighborhood again to go back. The room is pretty--the lighting is just right. The decor is a nice balance of elegant and edgy. I like the layout: there's a long L-shaped bar off to the left of the dining room and a bar that faces the open kitchen. A long dark wood bench on the far right wall lined with pillows provides seating for a row of nicely spaced 2-tops. The music, however, was an odd choice. Are you playing it for the guests or for the cooks? It didn't seem at all to match your clientele. I couldn't really hear that it was music, only that it was loud noise that amped up the volume of people talking, but not in a way to create a buzzy atmosphere, more to just be annoying. The open kitchen would be fun--I usually love to sit facing the kitchen and watching the interplay of the chefs and the food being prepared. Thankfully though, we weren't sitting facing this group of cooks, who all seemed pretty surly. And, I"m sorry, but the waist-length hairnet on the one guy is just gross. Really. The greeting of the first person who came to our table was fun and friendly. The cocktails were creative and tasty. I had the mezcal mule that was made with a nice smoky mezcal and chile rim. It was supposed to have ginger beer in it, too, and I didn't taste any ginger beer, so not sure what was up with that. But I liked it anyway. My wife had the Paloma; it was fine, but missing some of the tartness that distinguishes this drink. For small plate starters, we had the mixed greens salad with pears, pipettes, blue cheese and currants. It was good--I like dressing to be a little bit lighter, but the flavor combination was very good. We also had what on the menu is called semolina gnocchi. In another review I read, someone complained about the gnocchi because it wasn't pasta and she thought gnocchi was supposed to be pasta. Since I know gnocchi isn't pasta, I dismissed that complaint, and ordered with an open mind. But now, I'm siding with that other reviewer. Because while gnocchi isn't pasta per se, it's also not what was served at Bread and Wine. What was served--square deep fried cakes of creamy semolina were tasty, but it's a dish that is hard to call gnocchi. And, the aioli -- again, another liberal interpretation of aioli, because it tasted just like plain mayonnaise-- isn't the right condiment. It needed something more acidic to cut through the fat of the deep fry. The main courses. I had the curried tofu with rice noodles, kimchi, and beet broth. It sounds odd, but it worked and I really enjoyed it. I would have loved more beet broth. My wife had the pork chop. The chop was a nice sized chop and the flavor was good. But... it was raw on the inside. I know that you can eat pork now that is not well done. But pork that is too undercooked is not pleasant. The dessert--the caramel popcorn panna cotta was delicious. I could have eaten bowls of it. The salty popcorn onto of the sweet creamy custard was a perfect matchup. The service was mixed. Our server was a kind of cool dude, and he checked on us often and that was all fine. But as we were clearly finishing and making motions toward leaving, the nice guy who had first greeted us when we sat down came over and just scooped up our wine glasses. It seemed brusque and misplaced and kind of rude like he was anxious to rush us out. Since the restaurant only had a few occupied tables by then, I wasn't sure why he felt he needed to hasten our departure, but it left an unpleasant feeling after what had already been a mixed experience. The final thing I'll say is that for a restaurant that calls itself Bread and Wine, you would think two things: the server would know something about wine and be able to talk about it and make a recommendation when asked. That there would be more than one option for a sav blanc by the glass. And, that there would be bread. Right? No bread.
(3)
Megan A.
I really, really want to like this place since it's in my neighborhood. My husband and I have given it several chances to wow us, and it falls short every time. Last night was the straw that broke the camel's back. Service was painfully slow, they gave me the wrong beer...and that was just the beginning. Ordered steak tartare, the burger and the chicken to share. Took forever to get our food, and the chicken was dry and tough. Server tried to take away our plate AS we were eating. Overall a bad experience. We give up...will not be back.
(1)
Dan M.
To start we made a 7:00 p.m. reservation on a Saturday night and we were sat at communal counter seats when many an actual open table were surrounding us as the restaurant was clearly not booked out. Kind of a head scratcher? We rolled with the punches as we decided we were here to experience the food more than anything; so no big. 1st off cocktails. Quite a nice selection and they were executed rather well so kudos to the bar manager and staff. Delightful 2nd. Appetizers. We ordered steak tartare and an heirloom tomato salad w/ watermelon and frisee. The steak tartare was actually wonderful in texture and flavor, but the actual portion size for a $16 dollar starter was absolutely abysmal. You can pay $18 for the best steak tartare in my opinion at Gilt Bar down in River North AND the portion is twice as much. Anywho on to the salad. I don't want to come off as another reviewer behind their Yelp keyboard shied, but it was an insult. Literally 1 tomato sliced in quarters, 4 cubes of watermelon, a boat load of frisee, and a few crumbles of feta chesse on a plate. I felt like I couldn't even try a tomato because if I did my partner, who I was on my date with, wouldn't get enough AND this dish, which half of the flavorless frisee was left on the plate, was $12!!! I have lived in Chicago for the past 7 years and I work in the food industry for a reputable James Beard Award winning chef. I understand menu pricing and your market. This menu is clearly priced to expose your ill informed north side neighborhood market. I understand that you are sourcing high quality food, but you are attempting to price your menu at River North to West Loop prices. 3rd. Entrees. We decided on the burger because it has been written up and repped in local publications and we also tried the pasta. The burger was executed perfectly. Kudos to the chefs for nailing the execution. Although it wasn't my fav burger of all time flavorwise it most certainly was excellent. The pasta on the other hand was the most forgettable dish of the night. It had NO seasoning and tasted like wet bland noodles in a cream sauce of no discernible taste. I commend this place for trying to bring a bit of that downtown elegance out to the neighborhoods, but where things end up faltering is there is no accountability. That salad and pasta were things that could be made in anyone's kitchen for a $2 food cost. Why should I come out to your restaurant to experience mediocrity and pay a $150 tab? We currently live in a culinary mecca and to settle for downtown prices at Irving Park and Elston is just unnecessary. You deserve better for your hard earned dough.
(2)
Melissa S.
Came in last Friday for dinner with a friend for the first time. Reservations were easy to get, we were seated at the bar in front of the kitchen. Which frankly were the best seats in the house! Watching the chefs prepare the Pork Chop made the decision to order it easy, and it was really delicious. The gnocchi small plate was a perfect start and the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta was an even better end. The service was absolutely delightful, the chefs in the kitchen were talented (and handsome!) and I can't wait to come back for brunch.
(4)
Allison C.
Absolutely delicious! Delicious food, delicious wine, delicious dessert. We even got free Malort shots at the end of the evening (are we crazy!?)
(5)
Jennifer M.
Came in on a Friday night with a friend to check this place out! It's near my boyfriend's, which in general lacks a lot of nicer restaurants so was excited to give it a try and seen a lot of good reviews. When we first drove in (was really excited for the parking lot), there was no parking left! It's actually quite a small lot, but we found street parking only a block away without a problem. I was slightly confused that there wasn't a table for us as I had made a reservation, but the hostess offered a round of free drinks if we took a seat at the bar so we obliged. I ordered the Mezcal Mule, thinking it'd compare to a Moscow Mule. But boy on boy was it strong! The bartender did tell me after that Mezcal is a very strong liquor and many people don't like it (wish he had told me that before). I only had a sip and couldn't drink the rest. It would have been above & beyond for him to offer me something else instead and only charge me the one drink but he didn't so I didn't ask. The drink was still on our bill but also could've been partly my own doing. There was some confusion that the first drinks we ordered were our drinks "on the house", but it turns out that was Prosecco. I wish we were told that first so I would've just had that and not made a drink order. Now we receved our appetizer fairly quickly, we ordered the Crispy Semolina Gnocchi and it was delicious! Fried just right, crispy, and some may say too salty but I loved the salt so it was all good for me. We gobbled that up within minutes. Then we waited for at least 30 minutes for main course which felt excruciatingly long. When it finally came, we were ready to pounce. I ordered the Chicken, which came with a warm cabbage salad and items that looked like dumplings but weren't. For the life of me I can't remember what they were called. The whole dish was fabulous! My friend ordered the mussels which was a decent sized portion served with side bread that was toasted and buttered. I tried a piece and dipping it in the sauce with the mussels was superb! The food was great but the overall service needed some work. I will go back here again but feel you have to go in knowing you may be there a while. It would have been nice to see them go above and beyond a little more with the drinks as well. Solid meal, just not overall super solid experience. Go if you have a little bit of patience.
(3)
Sherrie E.
This review is way over due! My husband and I LOVE this place...from the cozy environment, wine, cocktails, food, and service. It just can't be beat. The owners, Lisa and Jenny, are awesome as well. Try the gnocchi appetizer (unbelievable and too hard to describe), cheese plate with liver mousse, burger, carmel corn panna cotta, +++. Just go, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Kelleen L.
First time there last night and I really liked it. Server/baretender was really nice, service was great and the food was good. My friend and I split two things, steak and grassfed burger. Both were really good. Its a smaller place with a small parking lot, the enviroment is nice as well. It is a bit pricey, but it is good.. would be good for a date night.
(4)
Claire G.
The mister and I went there last night to celebrate his birthday. We don't get an opportunity to dine out as much as we used to since having the kiddo. So when we do go out to eat, we cross our fingers and pray that it doesn't suck. Bread & Wine doesn't suck. In fact, it is really quite good. And it's close to where we live - double win. We ordered up a storm. The cheese and charcuterie was pretty spectacular with an emphasis on local, midwestern meats and cheeses. I like how the menu steered towards the local flavors. Baby kale salad was adorned with bits of thick bacon, strawberries, and pickled rhubarb. YUM! I affectionately referred to the mussels as buffalo mussels, as they come in a spicy sauce with blue cheese. They were good, along with a side of well-seasoned fries with truffle mayo. We had the chocolate mousse for dessert, which kind of tasted like a a Kit-Kat. Very sweet and chocolatey with crunchy bits. The only miss was the gnocchi. It's basically deep fried mashed potato squares with the same mayo as the fries. Meh. We had ordered way too much food anyway. Wine list is solid with some tasty choices by the glass, which is to be expected. Decent beer list and the cocktails looked good. Parking was a plus, especially in that area. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I would definitely go back for a glass of wine and some cheese on their patio or try them out for brunch (if they have high chairs - can't always ditch the kid).
(4)
Roxanne R.
I live in Old Irving Park and have always wanted to visit this restaurant since I've spotted the chic decor when driving by. We had a plate of cheese to start. It was pretty good with the jam and mustard they served with it. I had the chorizo beef and cheddar burger. It was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. I also liked the seasoned fries with the garlic aioli dipping sauce. If my stomach wasn't bursting out of my jeans, I would have finished every last fry. Last we had the salted caramel popcorn with chilled panna cotta. Maybe it's because I'm a huge Ice cream fan but I wish it was some gelato or ice cream. I think it would've tasted better. The sweet and salty concept was nice thought though The service was stellar. Our server provided great tips and checked on us just enough times. If you're in the old Irving park neighborhood, I would swing by for at least a glass of wine and some cheese.
(4)
Giovanni D.
Love this place I come here all the time. It's a nice hidden gem on the Northside. The staff is very passionate about the restaurant and make you feel very welcome. The steak tartare is probably the best I've had it beats Maudes. The burger is again is probably the best burger I've had as well. I think its all around better than Au Cheval. Every bottle of wine that I have tried is amazing. They put a lot of thought into there wine list. Chocolate mouse is great for a dessert. Highly recommend this place!
(5)
Jessy S.
Bread & Wine is sooooo delicious. I went there last Sunday for a late brunch with a friend and it was great! I drive past this place multiple times a week and I've always wanted to stop in. I made reservations shortly before but they weren't really needed for the time of day that we went, but, it is a more intimate place so I would definitely recommend making them if you're going at a peak dining time. I had some delicious Pear French Toast w/ hash browns and my friend had the Pork Belly, we were both so happy with our meals. My friend is pregnant, so I didn't order an alcoholic beverage as to not make her jealous... but... they had a great selection and I will definitely be back in the near future to try some of them out. Service was great, atmosphere was modern & clean, will definitely stop by for dinner sometime.
(5)
Oliver S.
Went for dinner on a Tuesday night, and after being told that our first two drink choices each were unavailable because they had a large party the night before, we left...disappointing.
The only reason this place gets a second star is because they have parking and take reservations. I came here on a Saturday night with my girlfriends, and was unimpressed by the food and drinks. I found everything I ate to be super salty and similar tasting. To be specific, we had the gnocchi and the fries with aioli to start, and I had the burger for dinner. I don't know what it is, but the entire meal had one main flavor: salt. The drink list was interesting but expensive for Irving Park. I thought it would be a nice place in the neighborhood to bring out of town guests, but I probably won't be back.
(2)
Chary H.
Came here in January for lunch. Our waiter was very nice and pretty much attentive. I had the gnocchi. Nothing to write home about, I've definitely had better. It was a bit irksome to have to keep asking for cream for our coffees' and when I asked a different waitress who happened to be near us she purposely took forever to bring it. I know because I could see her behind the bar standing there and talking to another waiter. Then as we were leaving she gave us a dirty look and that's why they're getting a two star review. There's no need for cattiness, I just want cream for my coffee.
(2)
Liz K.
Sometimes it really pays off to go off the beaten path and try something that you didn't find on Yelp. Thanks to a suggestion from my friend, I ventured out of my well-traveled Lakeview and Lincoln Park paths to try Bread & Wine this week during Restaurant Week. The restaurant is not in a location that I automatically associate with fine dining, but as soon as we entered, I forgot that we were minutes from the expressway and off of the ever-crowded Irving Park Road. Parking lot? IMMEDIATE bonus. The atmosphere on the interior immediately made me feel like I was in a high-end restaurant in the Gold Coast, which I consider impressive. The hostess greeted us immediately, made us feel welcome, and showed us to our table (pointing out the space heater along the way in case we got cold and needed to move it). With that said, it was a little cold because our table was in the area by the door that I believe is typically a small grocery. It wasn't distracting but I sure wished I had worn socks. Oh well, neither here nor there. I haven't been to a restaurant where I have so many questions on the menu as I did at Bread & Wine, but our server (Josh) was very helpful in guiding our decisions and I was 110% pleased with our choices. We started out with a cheese - we were planning on getting anything but the Dante (sheep's milk? we had to have a debate about whether sheep even had milk...and then I felt a little dumber) - but then when the server said "it's like the Spanish manchego," our decision was made. We both studied abroad in Seville and that is THE cheese there. Our next course was the Mixed Carrot salad, which had a great flavor but I wasn't a huge fan of the wheat berries, as I was expecting more of a chewy and less crunchy bulgar wheat type nugget. I was speechless when the main course arrived. We chose to have the small plate, semolina gnocchi, come out with our main dish, which was the pork special that came with pretzel bread pudding. We were told that the pork would be between 14-16 ounces, but we easily had a 20-24 oz piece of meat on our hands. It was fantastic, seasoned perfectly alone but also well paired with the sauces on the plate, and we had a good deal left over to take home. I loved the gnocchi, but will warn you that it was quite salty. The garlic aioli that came with was a perfect pair because it cut into some of that saltiness, and I found it to go well with the pork also. Since it was restaurant week, we decided to go all out and get a dessert too - why not? We hadn't ordered from the special menu but decided to live it up and order the salted caramel panna cotta. I haven't had panna cotta before, so I was imagining something similar to creme brulee or flan, and was surprised by the grainy texture of the dessert. It was still tasty, but you really had to make sure to get a bite of all three layers to see what this dessert was like. The bill was very reasonable, considering the quantity and quality of food, plus a glass of wine apiece. I would highly recommend going out of your way to give this restaurant a try.
(4)
Elaine S.
My boyfriend and I came here for dinner last night and everything was wonderful. We sat up at the chefs table which was essentially just a counter, but we were able to see the chefs prepare all of the food which was cool! Our cocktails were fantastic (I highly recommend the Second City Storm) and our dinner was even better. We had the burger and the Taglietelle - both phenomenal. Our waitress, Emily, and another waiter, Tommy, took incredible care of us and we're always there when we needed them.
This place was amazing. Great food excellent service. Max our server was great. Had the duck confit and loved it. Also wanted dessert but didn't have enough room. We will be back soon.
(5)
Scott C.
We were late for our reservations and it turned out great. We were seated at the chef's counter and for the next 90 minutes had a thoroughly enjoyable time eating, drinking, and finding out really interesting things from the chef about the food we were enjoying. We will be sure to go back again before summer is out.
(4)
Kerrie G.
As good as it gets. If you are looking for a lovely casual dining experience that has a fabulous choice menu. I have been to Bread and Wine only twice, but have been blown away both times. Can we please just talk about the panacotta? It is like a velvety slice of love. Not too sweet, not too bland, it was just perfect. The staff is pleasant and helpful.
(5)
Mike S.
We went as a date on a Thursday a few weeks ago. The place is rather small in size, maybe 20 -25 tables at most, with an open kitchen and a small bar. Get reservations if you plan on going at peak dining hours. Parking is at a premium; there are only about 8 or 9 spots in their lot. Service is outstanding, the waitstaff are attentive, educated and really seem to like their job. Prices are average for this type of slight upscale gastropub and the drinks are unique and inviting. The menu is rather limited, as I would assume it changes regularly based on what is available. They focus on locally sourced food items. My only caveat is that while we were dining and the place was winding down, I noticed the hostess leaving for the night, and as she left, she was parked in the closest spot in the lot! With limited parking, make the staff park on the street!!!!
(3)
lovesmyanimals l.
My review will reflect some of the other diners regarding service. I went on a Saturday night, the restaurant was not overly packed so why we had the experience we did, baffles me. The night started off great, there is a parking lot for us who drive, friendly hostess and homemade caramels at the front door (yum). However, from there the night went the other way. 1) After being seated, our waiter forgot about us. Methinks. As other tables seated after us were getting attention from their waitstaff. 2) About 15 minutes later, (yes I watch my phone) the waiter appeared and said what do we want, very rushed and rude. Never once did he explain the menu or even tell us the specials as I watch him with two other of his tables. 3)Our waiter forgot to put in part of our order. 4) Our waiter did a disappearing act during before and during the meal. I waved down other staff to get hot water or even condiments with my meal. 5) Speaking of meal - it came out cold. 7) when I sat their for a while waiting for our waiter to see how our meal was, he never showed up - so I had to send my meal back to the kitchen with another waiter. 8) He was quick to bring us the bill - again after we waived him down. I did speak with the manager and they did make things right with the meal. But the entire SERVICE was horrible, that it in itself is reason enough not to come back. Even more baffling and per the manager we had one of the best waiters... How is that when it was a disappearing act all night and his rude demeanor. Best part of the meal was not the meal but the yummy caramels at the door. I could eat those all day.
(1)
Suzana G.
How I love this place!! Wine, cheese and its interior decor! Had a chance to spend a Friday night at Bread and Wine with my friend, we both had an amazing time. Wine is delicious, paired with cheese very memorable. Cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Sol A.
My friend the birthday girl picked this place for dinner. Gus our server was impeccable! Extremely knowledgable, helpful and personable. His helpers were equally attentive. We started out with the chartreuse. It was very good. Upon recommendation I opted for the pork chop dinner. I was sadly disappointed. Although a good portion size and juicy, the pork chop lacked flavor. Next time I'll listen to previous Yelper's review. Beside the service, the bread pudding desert was amazing! Nice atmosphere, great service, good deserts but my main dish left something to be desired. I would definitely give them another chance and visit again. Next time opting for the pasta or chicken entree. Worth a visit!
(3)
Regina G.
Thank You, Jennifer for helping with my Reservations. My husband and I had a wonderful first time there. I had the #80 & hubby had a "London's Burning": yummy drinks! The food & service were perfect. Thanks for making our date night a great experience!
(5)
Craig R.
Came here with my wife and family while we were in town last and what an excellent experience. The good: -We came early because we made our reservation on short notice, we pretty much had the whole restaurant to ourselves! -Semolina Gnocchi, get these, you will not regret it! -The Cavaletti had a nice spice to it, but it wasn't overwhelming, even my mother who doesn't love spicy food was able to enjoy it. -Despite being named Bread and Wine it had a solid selection of beers as well. -Our server was very attentive and ensured we had everything we ordered/needed. -The decor/atmosphere was simple without a ton of frills, I loved it. They bad: -The only bread on the menu that I saw was the bun for the burger, the name is misleading!! -It is kind of a hassle to get to unless you live way up on the north side already. The blue line drops you about a half mile off and a taxi from downtown is 20 bucks or so. I'd definitely be back for another visit if I still lived in Chicago.
(5)
Keith A.
Bread&Wine falls into one of those places that does a really good job across the board, but really excels with the appetizers. I came here with a group of friends for their birthday. We started off with a cheese&charcuterie plate. We went 3 and 3 on the cheese and meats. For the cheeses we went with the gorgonzola, parmesan, and the cheddar. The gorgonzola was really good and I was digging on the parmesan as well. On the meats, the tasso ham is absolutely awesome. This was worth getting 2 orders alone (sadly we didn't) and is an absolute gem here. On the small bites, we went with the semolina gnocchi and herbs fries. The gnocchi was fried, and this was absolutely the perfect way to do semolina gnocchi IMO. I normally want my gnocchi in egg dumpling form, but I really liked this in the way of finger small bites. The herbs fries were also really enjoyable, but it definitely says something when the 4 of us took down the semolina gnocchi easily first. Our group also treated the entrees as small plates. We ordered the pappardelle and the roasted chicken. The chicken was definitely the winner here. The pappardelle wasn't anything to sneeze at, but this chicken was well done and there was some more of the tasso ham. The service was also really good all night as well. It was never hard to get ahold of her, and she even helped us in messing with the birthday boy and secretly loading up a brownie with candles. Bread&Wine is definitely worth coming to. I really enjoyed myself, and with us ordering a bunch along with corkage, we still only left there paying $60 with a good sized tip. I am always happy with that.
(4)
Nat M.
nice space/ambience. typical dinner menu for a chicago restaurant, which means very good. great cocktails. staff was excellent and managed our group very well. food was really good and the price was right. odd location, but i'll defn come back when im in the area
(4)
Christina G.
My husband and i came here with a Blackboard Eats deal in hand, which essentially gave us a free meat, a free cheese, and a free dessert. I will start by saying that if I could have a meat and cheese plate with a glass of wine for every meal, I would die a happy lady. So, I was very excited to give this place a try. We drove down Irving Park and were glad to see there was a parking lot. It was a pretty ample size too. We walked in and were given some options of where to sit: booths to the right, the chef's table, or tables to the left. We chose a table off on our own. Our waiter was the best. He clearly knew the menu and alcohol selection well, as he had some spot on recommendations for us. I ended up going with a Pinot Gris and my husband had a beer (I forget what kind). We started off Country Ham and Gorgonzola. Originally, we wanted to try some Boone County Bloom cheese, but unfortunately, they were out. It happened again, when we asked for the small plate special of scallops. We were told they only had enough scallops for 6-8 tables to order the special that night. That seemed low to me, but OK, no scallops for us. The meat and cheese plate was great. It was served with warm baguette slices, mustard with a kick, and some sort of apple-quince paste. Delicious. Next came the crispy semolina gnocchi. Best part of the meal, hands down. These were unlike any gnocchi I've ever had, as they were fried, crispy, light, and filled with something creamy that tasted out of this world. Order this, for sure! The rest of the meal was underwhelming, to say the least. I expected more from the beer and chorizo burger for $18. And the poached hen egg was basically an egg served on a piece of toast. Not great. Even the dessert was just meh. We had the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta, and the only part I really liked was the caramel popcorn, as the panna cotta itself was pretty tasteless. My recommendation: Come here for drinks and an appetizer cheese plate on a pretty summer night when you're not too hungry. This restaurant is great for that. If you're looking for a big meal, head elsewhere.
(3)
Suzi K.
Worst service I have experienced in a long time. Food was fine ( although not great) but it was eclipsed by the incompetence of the waitress.
(2)
Tom O.
Reservations at 6:30 on a Saturday. No parking in the lot, but no meters on Irving Park either. Place was about 3/4 full when we entered and noise level was a medium, by the time we left every seat was filled and you had to raise your voice a little more to be heard. They were cool with us bringing in our own wine, $10 corkage fee. We had a charcuterie plate and each piece was worth every bite. Herb fries were excellent as well as trout, skirt steak special, and chicken. The chocolate-pumpkin dessert with pumpkin brittle blew us away; we ended up ordering more. Gus was a great, accommodating server. Would definitely go back again.
(4)
Supna R.
A great friend and I had dinner here this evening, and I am SO happy we did! From the second we sat down at the bar area overseeing the kitchen, we could see how much love and attention went into each dish. We started with the charcuterie, my absolute favorite part being that we could choose our own combination of meat and cheese. The chicken liver pate was scrumptious, as was the cheese and tasso ham. We followed that with the mussels. I must say, I am not much of a cheese and seafood fan, but somehow the combination of the blue cheese and siracha made me a convert. The broth was so good, that it made me want to pick up the bowl and sip every last bit. The mussels were cooked to perfection- every shell opened perfectly. We finished the meal by sharing the burger (an unconventional dessert choice- but a smart one)... and it was every bit as delicious as I had hoped. The burger itself was cooked beautifully, and the sweetness of the pickles and caramelized onions complemented it so well, that I didn't even miss one condiment that wasn't already on the bun. Overall, this was a fantastic dining experience with excellent and attentive service, topped off with a great suggestion for a bottle of wine. I cannot wait to go back!
(5)
Yazid E.
After a lengthy absence, my wife and I returned to Bread & Wine. The meal was superb. I started with the PEI Mussels, which were excellent. The portion size was very generous for a small plate. The entree of Hanger Steak was a perfectly prepared with green beans, potatoes and beet ash. See the photo I posted. The vibe at the restaurant is as great as ever - hip and classy. They even have some beers on tap.
(4)
Dan H.
I stopped in to meet an old high school classmate and immediately was treated to great decor subdued but captivating. We sat at the counter which was a comfortable feeling similar to an old school diner with a modern theme. The wait staff/team was very genuine in their greetings and concern for my needs. We sampled the tray of kielbasa cheese and other delicious offerings. I learned that most of the plates were locally sourced or made on site. The bar offered 4 locally brewed taps along the IPA theme, I sampled 3 which were great. For my first experience it was great, I will return with my lovely bride to enjoy a full evening. Thank Lisa I had a great time! Dan
(5)
Laila C.
I haven't had such an enjoyable dinner experience anywhere in a while! I LOVED Bread & Wine. First of all, they have a parking lot! We sat at the Chef's table and got to chit chat and batter with the kitchen crew the whole night. They let us try different sauces, we gave them some of the special Founders Doom beer we ordered, they bought us shots of Malort (surprisingly, I kind of loved it!). We started with a 3 piece charcuterie plate, for apps we had some heart, some tongue, basically just all the organ meats they had on the menu. We shared the fish and the steak. Everything was phenomenal!!!!!! So thoughtful and surprising flavors. The only thing I found boring was the dessert, we had the white chocolate. But then again, I'm just not a big dessert person. Also, all the cocktails kick ass! I can't wait to come back!!!!!
(5)
Christy L.
I haven't been this excited about a restaurant since I tried the Girl and the Goat when it first opened! Bread & Wine is amazing! My friend and I dined here tonight; and the food was tasty, the service attentive, and the atmosphere perfect. The wine list offers plenty of affordable selections, as cheap as $6 per glass with many bottles under $35. There was a small, but interesting cocktail list, though we did not order from it. We started by splitting the duck confit pierogi and the crispy chicken leg appetizers. The duck pierogi, my least favorite dish of the evening, was well-prepared though tasted a bit too gamey for me (this is typical of duck and does not reflect on the preparation). The pierogi was delicate with the right amount of filling and the pickled onions and sauce perfectly complimented the meat. If you like duck, you will love this dish. The chicken won me over - it fell right off the bone and the sauce was an interesting mix of sweet and spicy. It was a special for the evening, and I hope they rotate it into the regular menu. For entrees, we again shared - the Bahn Mi sandwich as well as the fettuccine with mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and goat cheese. Bahn Mi must be the new craze as this isn't the first time I've seen them on the menu of a non-Vietnamese restaurant. The sandwich was tasty. The homemade pasta was to die for - the best dish of the evening. The mushrooms were nice and garlicky, and the goat cheese was a great deviation from the standard Parmesan. For dessert, we shared the sweet potato donuts with salted caramel sauce. The bite-sized donuts were good though could have been a bit sweeter. The caramel - wow! It comes out in a shot glass, and I literally drank from the glass after we polished off the donuts! It was delicious! Our waiter, Jerry, was very attentive, making helpful suggestions on what to order. We sat at the chef's table and interacted with the chef while he prepped the food. The decor is minimalist without being harsh, and the restaurant is loud without hindering conversation. What really sealed the deal for me was when our check came - we ordered two glasses of wine, two appetizers, two entrees and a dessert, and our bill, including tip, was only $85. Take Bread & Wine and plop it in the West Loop, and I imagine it'd cost at least 50 percent more. It's only a matter of time before getting a table here will be near impossible. The restaurant's small and while off the beaten path for many, it's more than the worth the trip.
(5)
Jay L.
I've been twice now and the food was super both times. It's a bit off the beaten path in what looks like the shell of a former Burger King, but the inside leaves no trace of its former self. Open Kitchen, expansive drink menu, and a mix of what I would consider somewhat rich foods. Highlights for me were the coffee at the end of the meal to cut the richness of the salted chocolate mousse. Nice job!
(4)
L P.
We went for an early dinner on a Tuesday. We loved everything about this place. The staff was fantastic, super friendly and attentive. The food was AMAZING! We ordered the tasting and a burger. Nothing disappointed. Each bite was delicious and left you wanting another. We will be back and hope to sample everything on the menu.
(5)
Nina B.
Perhaps I just don't get out much... But a tad over $80.00 for a dinner for two? Methinks not. I took my daughter out after work one Friday evening - something new for me, (we normally visit on Sunday afternoons). Still, I was up for a new adventure and thought I would try a dining out on a Friday evening, no less. I drove pass Bread & Wine one day and thought, "Hmm looks trendy, but could have nice eats and good atmosphere". Bread & Wine is trendy - not the place to meet good old mom after work, (I'm the old mom). Many 20-30 something couples, a couple of large groups,(4-6), even a small family, (you know a mom, dad and 1 child), but overall very loud. Something should be done about acoustical tiles. I suspect the dining area used to be a garage, so the walls are cement or simply dry wall, so the noise level can get really high, (or maybe I'm just sensitive - I am the old mom). The tables seemed close to me, so I felt like my conversation was public. Still, everything under low lighting appeared clean and the food... The food was tasty. Different for sure - not basic - not at all what I would cook at home. I had white fish - which really is basic, but not the price. The portion was more than enough to share with my daughter who had ordered the lamb, which was really small - so she was still a little hungry. Both meals were served attractively on the plate, so eye appeal was met, but still the price... Our service was good, but not great, (although, my daughter left a very generous tip). Our waitress came once after serving to check on us. I noticed other servers were more attentive. I poured my own water throughout our meal, again while other servers poured the water for their customers.... Then our dessert came... Being the old mom; I know a thing or two about sweet potato pie - We had the sweet potato custard "strip", twirled ever so nicely on the plate, but it didn't add to the taste, which left me wondering did the chef's mother ever teach him or her about making real sweet potato pie. I don't know if I'll go back, maybe with my husband, maybe with another one of my six children...but not anytime soon. I guess, if one is looking for a little something to taste and good wines; Bread & Wine is the place to go, but not with dear old mom after work on a Friday.
(3)
Shannon H.
Food was delicious, waiter was great. My only complaint is that the bar service was super slow. Took about 20 minutes to get our drink order.
(4)
Annie W.
Excited to try this place again! So grateful for a nice foodie place in Avondale/Irving Park! Hey, us West-siders gotta eat too! Very interesting combos, cute atmosphere, can't wait to try more on the menu!
(4)
Linda B.
I like the appetizer choices. I did not find the entree portion of the menu as impressive. I think I would stick to a drink and appetizers next time.
(3)
Amy B.
I had a hankering for meat, so I went with the grass-fed beef burger with beef bacon during a Saturday afternoon brunch. It did not disappoint. It was the juiciest grass-fed burger I've had to date. It was cooked perfectly, and the flavor was wonderful. There are also a couple savory and sweet vegetarian brunch options I aim to try, but I look forward to returning some evening for wine and a charcuterie plate.
(4)
Rick F.
Overall a great experience! We went with some dear friends that frequent and love Bread & Wine. The owners work at the restaurant everyday, I love that they get to know the clientele and genuinely care. The service was perfect, the waitress was very attentive and made some great recommendations. To have a restaurant of this caliber: modern, cool, hip vibe in this part of town is desperately needed and welcomed. Thank you for taking the risk! The decor is way cool, loved everything about it, next time it was recommended that we sit at the food bar and engage the chefs throughout the meal, you may get some Scooby snacks on your plate, yum! Chicken Liver Pate-Excellent Salumi and Cheese Plate- Excellent Crispy semolina Gnocchi- Excellent Beef and Kielbasa Burger-Not a fan Butter poached Whitefish-Just OK Salted caramel popcorn Panna Cotta- Excellent, WOW! I'd like to see more Bread and more Wine since it is in the name?????? I'm looking forward to my next visit!
(4)
Jennifer G.
I'm not coming here anymore. It has changed since they opened. The prices are not worth the food. This food doesn't taste gourmet enough to warrant the tiny portions and okay only food. You can get this kind of food for way cheaper at pitchfork down the street or chicago diner in Logan. Or kinda anywhere. I don't know why they charge so much. They have paid off their ikea furniture by now. They don't explain the specials well. They don't give you a meat knife to cut their tough ass meat. Bathroom smells. Wine glass overpriced. It is too bad this is our only sort of fine dining option in this area still. I'm not coming Back anymore. :( You can get this kind of food way better at some nice bars in Lincoln square and roscoe village, etc. I think they are going to wind up closing soon.
(1)
Jon M.
Overall review: 3 1/2 stars I took my fiancee here for her birthday. Snf it was our first time here. The ambience upon entering was pretty cool but you could tell the decor is from ikea. I was cracking up with my fiancee. The hostess at the front wasn't attentive at all. There was a group before us who appeared to be friends with her, was very chatty with hugs and laughter. Too bad, she was the cause of 1/2 of a star. The waitress was attentive and good, not overwhelming or overly talkative. My fiancee usually have the luck of having our mouths full of food and the waiter comes by to ask us how the food was.. then you can't answer how you want to. I dislike that. Our waitress there, has great timing. We were in between bites sipping on our spirits and conversing only to ask us how the food was. The apps were great! We had the mussels with bleu cheese siriacha sauce. The mixture of flavors had heat to it, but enough heat not requiring milk to save your taste buds from full destruction. There was sliced French bread soaking up the sauce. That was the best party but I didn't want to fill up on food quickly. We also ordered the crispy gnocchi. You're taste buds will have a full on orgasm. No joke. I highly recommend them. My fiance had curried tofu with noodles. the total was good but the noodles tasted like it was still al dente. it was nothing too exciting. I had poached chicken with potato puree and sweet potatoes and onions. It was good but the outer part of the chicken was over salted. If we could do it all over again, we would have just gone for the small plates or the cheese & wine.
(3)
Leah C.
hardworking staff...but still fell short for service... from the moment i booked a last minute weekday date night at b+w, i knew this spot would shine. the receiving end was bright and cheery on the phone and informed me that if we could not find a last minute sitter, kids were welcomed (kids menu available). we were greeted by his smiling colleague upon arrival followed by a courteous server and main server. our gilt voucher allowed us to order 2 dishes of each category. i applaud the "equal opportunity service" as i feel that sometimes service is cut short the second you present a voucher... i went with the salad, curried tofu and the panna cotta dessert. we added a cheese plate to our order as well which was divine. after the cheese plate was served, service slowed tremendously (reason for knocking off a star). our server, we later observed, was running back and forth from the kitchen to the bar to his tables. they were obviously short staffed and something was obviously going on in the kitchen because our next courses took forever to appear. the salad was good but nothing beyond what was described on paper (which is fine). my tofu dish was the perfect combination of spice and texture (the rice noodle accompaniment was al dente and the tofu crisp on the outside and silky on the inside). we ended up having to box up our desserts to make it home in time for the sitter. as i restlessly waited for our meal to arrive, i was kept busy by the wine bottles tucked away on the shelves - all for sale. great homey atmosphere and nothing too frilly on the plates either.
(4)
Brad Y.
We went to Bread and Wine last night for dinner. It was our first time there. The food was good, but the service was horrible - extremely slow, ordered a drink that never came, and the server (as opposed to our waiter) was downright rude. Oh, and by the way - despite their name, they don't serve any "bread" - which would have come in handy for the first 30 minutes when our order had not even been taken. We won't be back.
(2)
J V.
I had family visiting for New Year's Eve and saw that Bread & Wine was opened and was offering a special menu with a midnight toast. I always wanted to check this place out so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. It was nice that there was parking and our table was available right away. Our server was friendly but left after an hour because she had New Year's plans of her own. Our new waiter was also friendly. We had a couple of drinks and a couple small dishes. The food was ok and was very pricey for what it was. We were expecting a toast at midnight but the waiter had us close out around 11:30PM and no one said anything at midnight. The staff was just chatting somewhere in the back. So we just toasted with water and went home. It was quite depressing. I was really hoping to have a better experience. Sorry won't be back and won't be recommending Bread & Wine to my friends.
(2)
Robert T.
What a great surprise. One of the better meals that I've had in Chicago, without a doubt. The service was great for us, so I obviously didn't have the same experience as a few who complained about service. Our table had a selection of charcuterie to start, as well as the gnocchi. We had the pate, tasso ham, mortadella, cheddar, camembert, and the goat cheese. The camembert was a bit bland, but the other five were all exceptionally tasty. Really fantastic. Our table ended up ordering the trout and the carbonara, which were enjoyed by everyone. In particular, the trout was apparently really fresh and perfectly cooked (not overcooked, as most places do). The panna cotta and chocolate mousse provided a perfect dessert. The menu is the perfect size. Enough choices to satisfy everyone, but not so much s to overwhelm or to ensure mediocrity. And, 1/2 price wine on Wednesday nights? It made for a perfect meal. Can't wait to go back....
(5)
John C.
Lets start by saying the food is great, atmosphere is great, chic but comfortable. We love all the staff Jennifer and Lisa are both fun and fabulous with a great eye for detail. We love it so much that we are having are wedding here. My partner Erick and I love to sit at the bar and eat and drink great food and socialize with the staff and other patrons. John C. and Erick B.
(5)
Bettina Y.
I tried to like this place but every time (4 to be exact) I have walked out of this place disappointed and feeling like I got ripped off! The last time we went there, which should have been the last, they told us that they were closing soon so we had to get our order in quick. So we did and then proceeded to waited for about 40 minutes for our breakfast. We were told that the cook kept messing the eggs up. Why did we go back?! Well we did and last night was the same. We finally tried the burger that they are famous for and it was memorable in the way that the soggy pretzel bun made us want to be eating at DMK as that was a memorable burger and bun. I couldn't even tell that the chorizo was chorizo and it annoyingly kept slipping out of the burger. The burger was raw when we ordered medium. Also had a pappardelle entree that was really bland and I remember thinking that it just tasted like pasta. The flavors were all very mute except for the pork in the dish, which really didn't seem to go. I tried to put all of the components in the dish together to see if it made it taste like something, but then all you tasted was the pork much which again didn't really go. We also ordered a kielbasa appetizer which was good, but it was 4 tiny pieces for $6. It was completely ridiculous! We barely ate either dish, which the server really could care less if we did. Overall, the service is sub-par, the kitchen is slow, the food is trying to be something it isn't and it is overpriced. I wish I could say that it is a great neighborhood place for when you don't want to drive, but it isn't even that.
(2)
Jeff G.
went there for dinner one night. while i like the concept that they are farm to table, both of our meat entrees we ordered were below average quality, either tough or dry or both probably wouldnt go back for dinner but maybe for brunch.
(2)
Victoria D.
This restaurant is in my neighborhood and so I want to LOVE it, want to SUPPORT it, and want to see if SUCCEED. However, at least 6 out of the 7 times I've been there, I've been disappointed on some level. Why? Very small wine pours, uneven service, and inconsistent food. Then, the last time we went--my husband and I brought a friend for her birthday. That night, even though it was a slow night, we were not told it was half-price bottled wine night, so we ordered by the glass, AND they do NOT recognize/celebrate special occasions beyond the perfunctory "Happy Birthday" wish. Most restaurants offer a complimentary dessert--likely costs them less than $1.00 but it goes a long way in good will, customer loyalty and a display of appreciation for choosing THEIR establishment to celebrate. Our waiter went so far as to say to our friend, "What, no dessert on your birthday" after we had spent a small fortune on drinks, apps, sides, and entrees. So, I'll likely go back....maybe in the summer and dine al fresco when I want to walk to where I'll dine, but I'd pick another restaurant to celebrate a special event.
(2)
Matt G.
Bread & Wine is a great destination restaurant, as well as a local option for those in the area. The food is very tasty and unique, i'm glad the chef from Leopold relocated here, as that was another great restaurant. The hand-picked craft beer selection is surprisingly good, with options from Greenbush, FFF, Lagunitas, Perennial, Metropolitan, and more. Best dishes have been the crispy semolina gnocchi, burger, agnolotti, and the rotating charcuterie. Can't wait to dine out on the patio this summer...
(5)
Al D.
I can't believe I went to a restaurant on the second day it was open, and had an amazing dining experience. For starters, I'm thrilled that Bread and Wine has finally opened in my neighborhood. It's great to have a new place in what was formerly the Wishing Well launderette. For years, I always thought that location would be a great place for a restaurant because it has a parking lot and it's close to I90 and the El. Enter Bread and Wine with its new concept of American dining I sampled many things last night, including the buratta, the pumkin seed tofu, the banh mi, and finally the sweet potato bignets. Everything was very fresh and carefully created. Again, I'm extremely impressed by my new neighbor. My only suggestion is to cook the fries more thoroughly; my batch with the banh mi was underdone. Aside from that small mishap, Bread and Wine is a fantastic new addition to this area.
(5)
Amy A.
I love going to Bread & Wine. Great service, great ambiance. The squash ravioli was amazing. The ingredients are fresh and the flavors work so well together. The cheese & meat plater is so delicious and flavorful. I highly recommend trying it out.
(5)
Eleni G.
My boyfriend and I came in last night on a whim - I wanted wine and cheese, he could care less as long as he was fed. We both left satisfied and in a great mood. It wasn't too crowded, but we did arrive later in the evening, around 8:30 or so. They do have outdoor seating, but nothing was available when we came in, so we snagged seats at the bar. Josh was great, recommending we try the Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Wild, which is a variation on one of my favorite beers, the Lil Sumpin Sumpin. It was great, and he was genuinely excited to offer it to us since there is limited availability, which is, for me, the sign of a great bartender: genuinely excited to share favorites with their customers. We started with the mussels, which I loved. A combo I never would have considered in that dish is sriracha and blue cheese, and it was a very pleasant surprise. Do note -it's spicy. I would not order it if you aren't into heat. In between the courses, we switched from beer to wine. We asked about the wine we were considering and he offered a tasting if the bottle was open, which it was. The first we tried - meh. The second, though, which he said was his favorite of the whites, was great, and not on the extra-pricey end of the spectrum. Next we ordered the cheese plate - yes, all 5 on the menu. They were out of one of the selections, so Josh promptly returned to see if we'd like to double any up, and even recommended which he would choose. He was more attentive than many servers I've ever had, which speaks volumes to the level of service. The cheeses were fresh, delicious, and the portions were significant compared to some restaurants I've tried. The accoutrements were plentiful and well-matched. This was the majority of my meal. My boyfriend ordered the beef and chorizo burger, medium rare. I was impressed that the patty was truly medium rare and not too well-done, since that is always my struggle when I order a burger. It was packed with flavor and the cheddar on it was to die for. We had a great evening and experience, with great service, and will definitely be back!
(4)
Ron T.
This place is always impressing me. They have many new menu items. Had their smoked poach lake trout, beer sriracha bleu cheese mussels, grass fed beef burger and smoked celery root agnolotti. WOW! All amazing and bigger portions than usual. We also had some of their new drink concoctions which were delicious and fun. Keep up the creativity b&w we love it!
(5)
April E.
I used to go here as a kid when it was a laundry mat. So a new wine bar just opened just opened up in the neighborhood and my husband and I were so excited. We love and appreciate wine. I don't like to look at a wine menu. I expect the bartender selling the wine would know what I was talking about. Or at least to know what he was talking about. It was the worst wine bar experience I've ever had. He didn't know anything. I had one glass of Bordeaux and left. If you're going to hire someone make sure they've at lest heard of a Montepulciano or Sangiovese. Won't be going back.
(1)
Amerit D.
This place has a very limited menu however, it was very delicious! I had the steak and everyone else had a burger. The bun on the burger was phenomenal. For dessert we tried the chocolate cake and the eclairs, both very yummy. The service was great, our waiter kept our glasses full and everyone else was very friendly with the exception of a tall blonde hostess who never acknowledged us and ignored us when the other hostess told us bye. Decor was great and provided a great ambiance.
(3)
Meredith K.
Oh man this place has great potential but it just didn't do it for me! As a joke we were thinking that its called Bread and Wine but had no bread an no wine, but in a way it was kind of true. At least the no bread part. I hate it when a restaurant's setting includes a bread plate but they don't bring you bread. We received a little basket of toast points with our cheese. They don't make the bread there. The cheese was ok. We liked the mustard however none of the cheese that we ordered needed any. I was missing honey - and I know that's a personal preference but stinky cheeses are best with it! We started with some brown liquor cocktails. I tried their version of a sazerac. It was alright, not the best not the worst. My boyfriend got the one with the beet juice. It was too juicy for me but he liked it. Then on to wines. I was a little underwhelmed by the by-the-glass options. It was slim pickings esp for the whites. It was heavy on the sweets and lacking any oaky chardonnays. She said most of their whites are from steel barrels. The wines come in stemless glasses. I dunno for a wine bar I think that's a miss. You can't swirl the red and you're warming the white with you hand. Then we tried the marinated squid. It was a texture that I couldn't eat. My boyfriend felt the same. It wasn't bad but it had a mushy this-might-be-bad feeling in your mouth. Also the sun-choke salad which was super super salty and it seemed to be missing sun-chokes. The greens had a nice earthy flavor which was great with a pickled egg, but the heavy salt and eating a bunch of stems is never easy. Next on to the walleye which was excellent. A great springy flavor. My boyfriend had to try the burger which he greatly enjoyed. He wanted me to include in the review that he boxed up half of it and they included a little cup of the aioli which is never done! High praise for that. For dessert we got the signature panna cotta. I thought the texture was too gritty and hard. My boyfriend didn't care. He loved it. He's a sucker for homemade caramel sauce. The service was touch and go. Our server was very friendly and attentive and after ever few sips of water a guy came by to refill. The wait for the cocktails was really long, and we were the only ones in there. And then the wait for the cheese was really long which seemed odd b/c you can see in their kitchen that they have a ton of people back there. We had 2 mins to enjoy the cheese and then both starter came out. It wasn't paced right. But again the people there are great! I want to give it another shot. It is nice that they have like 8 spaces in their parking lot. But unfortunately for the same price we were thinking of other places with better food and drink.
(3)
Rich R.
What a great find! Service felt hip-upscale and very attentive. Menu for brunch was imaginative and attractively presented. I ordered an omelet with oyster mushrooms and bleu cheese. Delicious. Their cheese selections wonderful as was the wine list. Can't miss as far as I'm concerned.
(5)
Edward S.
Chicken Liver Pate - Ok Goat Cheese - Great Bresaola - Ok Duck Balls - Ok Gnocchi - Great Burger - Good, but a tad salty from the Chorizo Roasted Chicken - The chicken itself is moist, juicy, and flavorful, swimming in it's own jus (Used some of the bread from the charcuterie to soak it up). The pierogis were good, but not up to par with the chicken. Ample parking in the lot or on the small side directly east of the restaurant (one way going south though).
(4)
Michelle Z.
I would not recommend this restaurant to parents who have kids at home with babysitter or if you had planned on seeing a movie on Friday night with dinner cause you won't have time for it. The food was ok. My husband had the roasted chicken which tasted good but not $22 good. When we left the restaurant he kept saying he couldn't believe that he had just paid $22 for 5 small pieces of chicken that his wife could have made better at home. We were seated at the bar since the restaurant was busy. I ordered a mezcal mule which was quite good. It took the waiter forever to take our order. The restaurant was rather busy but we waited 25 minutes for the waiter to take our appetizer order and since we had ample time to ponder the menu we ordered our main dishes as well. They served us bread and herbed fries with an amazing aioli. They both tasted quite good but took forever to get to our table. We were starving by the time the appetizers came since we arrived at the restaurant at 7pm and didn't eat anything until almost 7:45pm. Our main dish didn't come until after 8pm. If you are willing to wait an hour before getting your main dish than this is your restaurant. I ordered a vegetarian entree with shaved asparagus that was quite good. The portion sizes were quite small even though we ordered a large plate. At the end of the meal it took forever to get our check so we ended up waiting awhile in front of the register because we had already spent over 2 hours there and needed to get home. If this was a tapas restaurant I could understand spending that much time at a restaurant but since we only had main course and fries I didn't think it would take that long.
(2)
Bryan C.
Thanks to the Michelin Guide and Yelp, we found this amazing gem of a restaurant and enjoyed one the best meals we've had in recent memory. First of all, there is a parking lot. A small one, but still there is a parking lot and free street parking. So, right away we were pleased. Everyone knows how stressful it can be to get into a restaurant on a Saturday night with a party of 3 and find parking on top of that. More importantly however, the staff was extremely friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable, and the food was simply out of this world. The menu includes cheese and charcuterie plates, small plates, entrees and desserts. We started with some delicious house kielbasa, organic cheddar and hickory smoked gorgonzola to complement the bottle of sauvignon blanc we ordered (hey, great wine and beer list too). The charcuterie was so delicious we couldn't stop talking about it. It was the perfect start to a perfect meal. We also enjoyed the herb fries served with garlic aioli before our entrees which included the whitefish, the flank steak, and the tofu. Everything was beautifully presented, full of flavor, and perfectly proportioned. We couldn't have been more pleased. To end the meal, we shared the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta. This dessert was absolutely delicious and completely unique. Loved it! Something important to note is that the menu offers both vegetarian and gluten free options throughout each course, clearly marked with a 'v' or 'gf'. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, whether you live in the neighborhood or not. We cannot wait to go back to try some cocktails and sit at the kitchen/chef's table for another amazing meal.
(5)
Kelly R.
Being from the neighborhood, I have eaten here a few times, okay on those occasions. This last time I brought friends visiting from New York and New Hampshire with me. I have always bragged about the food here in Chicago and was hopeful that Bread & WIne would be proving my point but unfortunately it was a let down. I ordered from the "restaurant week" menu and it was completely disappointing. The 2 prawns were half raw and there was pretty much nothing else to eat with it. The suggested 1/2 cup of beet and barley salad was good and so were the 2 tablespoons of "bread pudding", but I left hungry with a $33.00 bill for just my portion of the dinner order, no drinks. A cocktail they brought was a mistake and they did comp it but it didn't make up for the overall dinner in general. One of my friends enjoyed the burger but the other 2 people thought what they had from the regular menu was very overpriced for being just so-so. I really want the food establishments in this area to succeed as we are desperate for good restaurants in this part of Chicago, but as it stands now this will be my last time going to Bread & Wine.
(1)
D G.
Out for an evening walk. Headed east rather than west for a change. Have driven by this place for months but never took the time to stop. Popped in after ten pm. Just had a brownie and some water. Clean, elegant, warm setting. Interesting menu. Plenty of parking. Great wine selection, though nothing seemed inexpensive (nothing under $20). The brownie was simple and warm with a dab of Carmel sauce and a dab of cherry custard, lightly sprinkled with sea salt. Very good. It was $8 which seemed fair. Just a few couples when I arrived. Thinned out to a few at the bar when I left. Good music but a bit too loud. Air conditioning a bit too cool for a cool night outside. I stayed for about an hour answering emails and scanning Facebook. All in all a nice alternative to Starbucks. I will probably pop in again.
(4)
Emily C.
We had an amazing Gilt City offer to use here and had a great time. We tried the charcuterie and cheeses (would recommend any of the cheeses and the lamb belly), octopus (fantastic), the gnocchi (almost like fried mozzarella sticks, but better), the corned beef rillette (skip, no one liked it), and the duck balls. The duck balls are actually duck testicles, not balls of duck meat, which the waiter clarified for us. They were pretty good! But it was hard to get the image out of my head.... For the mains, I would definitely recommend the burger - it comes with chorizo on a pretzel roll. It was delicious. No one liked the fish so skip that. Both desserts were EXCELLENT. We tried the mud pie and the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta. Both were salty and sweet and delicious. We couldn't decide which we liked more. The restaurant has a private lot, but it doesn't have a lot of spots. We parked pretty easily on the street. We also had exceptional service! 111/365
(4)
Char Y.
came as a party of 5 and ordered beer steamed pei mussels herb frie fines herb pappardelle beef and chorizo burger seared flap steak white chocolate apple bread pudding salted caramel popcorn panna cotta hazelnut flourless chocolate cake everything was a little too salty, the seasoning seemed slightly off that night.
(3)
Raymond S.
I went to Bread and Wine during one of my lazy moments as I didn't feel like driving to Wicker Park or Edgewater and I live right down the street. I didn't have high expectations for this place, as the top tier brunch selections in my hood of Irving Park either start with "golden" or end with "hop". I was pleasantly surprised. First of all it has a parking lot. Secondly, it wasn't crowded as they just began serving brunch. The decor is modern and nice, and the restaurant isn't small but it isn't massive either. I ordered pork belly with cheddar grits. The flavor was exquisite, the way braised pork belly should taste. They didn't serve it crispy, which under most circumstances would be fine. The problem is the cut was only 20% meat. All of that creamy fat mixed with creamy grits created an almost nauseating texture in my mouth. I ended up slicing off the fat and just eating the meat which significantly lowered the available protein on my plate. On the plus side the grits were awesome and there was a sriracha-like sauce on my plate that was very nice. Other dishes ordered included corned beef hash and crispy gnocchi. All were good yet a little expensive. The dishes were all prices high for not only this area, but for Chicago as a whole. Drinks mostly ran $10+ with the average being around $13. The dishes where $12-15, all a buck more than what's displayed on their web site. Portions are meh, definitely not large enough to share but large enough to feel slightly satisfied. The proximity of the restaurant may allow me to come back, but if it wasn't around the corner I'm not too sure I would be a frequent visitor.
(3)
Dee C.
Came for restaurant week, but the real menu looked too good to pass up, so I did the gnocchi and then chicken entree...soooo good..servers, bussers etc, were all great..I can't wait to come back in summer for patio(i have already told 5 people since dinner 4 hours ago)
(4)
Seth F.
I learned a new word: CHARCUTERIE. Well I didn't really learn it, but since the "cheese and charcuterie" contained only cheese and meat I'm gonna guess it means meat. The food, service and atmosphere here was excellent. We had an extremely knowledgable and accommodating waiter, but I suppose YMMV. Specifically, the pan roasted chicken with crispy oats was amazing and my friends, and soon the entire Yelp community, know that I have a long standing "discussion" with a very close friend about the benefits and drawbacks of the strategy of ordering chicken at a quality restaurant (I'm generally opposed). The beef & chorizo burger was also outstanding and the rating of burger quality is one of the few fields in which I am truly an expert (and not just in my mind). On the dessert front: The Mud Pie was pretty disappointing for how excited I was to order it. I had to fight the urge to order it as an appetizer and barely touched it once it arrived. Honestly, it looked like a turd.
(5)
Nina E.
I want to eat here everyday. Came here this past Sunday with my family (7 people total) for brunch. They treated us like kings and queens and the thought of their food is making my mouth water. I ordered the Blood and Smoke drink to start and it was absolutely delicious. I then went on to have the pork belly with cheddar grits. So yummy and exactly what I needed after a late night out on Saturday. Somewhere during my meal I ordered a glass of tempranillo and that was delicious too. We then split three desserts--salted popcorn panna cotta, mud pie and a pineapple cake. All were great but the panna cotta was the winner. I have nothing negative to say about this place and would highly recommend this place for brunch. I look forward to coming back for dinner.
(5)
Kyle P.
great place. Just felt good when you walk in. three or four different feels inside and I always think it is cool to have an open kitchen where you can sit and eat. the gnocchi was to die for and the most unique i have had. little squares with bread crumbs or some cooler way of saying bread crumbs. The staff was great the wine is great and all the food including the carmel popcorn with panna cotta was a great way to end the night. And parking which is very cool...
(5)
Alex M.
If you live in Albany Park, you know that it takes real motivation to strap on your kevlar vest and step outside after dark. While there are plenty of delicious lunch places that are safe to visit during the light of day, such as Salam and Dawali (both are recommended), there aren't too many places that are tempting enough to make the trek after dark (Semiramis being one notable exception). Check out Bread and Wine on Irving Park, just west of Elston. The food is eclectic, delicious, and beautifully served. The service is attentive and un-hurried, the wine selection is good, and they have a full bar. This is sort of a special-occassion type of restaurant, and it's priced accordingly. We tried the baby octopus, an arugula salad, and the flank steak. Call ahead to be sure they're not too crowded, or just walk over on a weeknight. There are coat racks to hang up your bullet proof vest, and there's very little actual gunfire inside.
(5)
D R.
Great ambiance, evolving wine selection, and the food is unique. Friendly yet professional staff. Just enough tables to keep things cozy. A crowd attracts a crowd. From the pick-your-cheese-plate to the small and large plate options, the menu demands careful consideration. Our dinner was good, but we did not forget to leave room for dessert. Seems like the type of chef, or chefs, who would evolve the menu seasonally, but suffice to say that they had thought of everything by the time we arrived. I left feeling satisfied but not stuffed. It is an oasis in an area which doesn't have any other relevant options.
(4)
Marie M.
No real handicap parking. We tried, had to park down the block. The space would not fit a small SUV if there was a car in the first normal spot. Don't believe this is a regulation spot unless you drive a motorcycle. Made a reservation like asked a day ahead of time via Groupon. Table selection was poor. The place is LOUD, however the food is good. Service is slow to start but ends up good if you can order the appetizer. I have to say the best thing on the menu was the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta.
(3)
Suzan W.
Dined at Bread & Wine this past Friday, and loved it! Sat at the bar facing the open kitchen. Had a great time. Decent selection of wine, beer and cocktails, but all three could be expanded a bit. I appreciate that they will nicely package your half-full open bottle of wine for you to take home. We had a selection of apps/small plates: Five cheese platter - excellent except for the fresh goat cheese....it was just a bit too bland (and they were out of the other goat cheese they have on the menu); Mussels - amazing flavors and the blue cheese, sriracha and garlic broth was great for dipping. I will be getting two orders next time!; Gnocci - good but this was definitely not a typical gnocci.....almost a cream in the middle and very crispy on the outside (definitely fried); Carrot salad - I was not impressed with this dish at all...way too many wheat berries and the queso fresco was dull....just not enough flavor in the entire dish, and could use more carrots (which were very tasty). Overall, a fun experience....we left full, happy, and slightly tipsy. :-) We will definitely be back.
(4)
Jen P.
I always have a good time here. Is it overpriced? No for what they are spending on food and drink, yes for what the average resident of Mayfair wants to pay for dinner. I think that the location is bad for what they are and what they serve, but I do enjoy the hell out of this place. Even with half price wine on Wednesday they need to move north and east to justify their prices.
(4)
Gabriel L.
Had reservations for Valentine's Day. Was greeted with a warm smile and a clean open table. Our waiter was prompt, courteous and very attentive to our table. Ordered a cocktail from the bar which was beyond expectation, truly hit the spot. Enjoyed the cheese and charcuterie plate while waiting on the meal. The selection of cheese and meats was outstanding. Main course was delicious and portioned perfectly, leaving just enough room for their amazing caramel apple bread pudding. Really looking forward to a return visit.
(4)
Michael S.
Love this place. The food, the wine, the staff are all top notch. One of my favorite places, period.
(5)
Meagan H.
It's great to find a place like this in an area that has so little. I was surprised to find that it wasn't very busy on a Thursday evening. The ambiance is pleasant, quaint, and relaxing. They play low intensity electronic music and the Black Keys. The lighting is dark enough to get you ready for a food coma. Trust me, you'll have one! We started with the chicken liver pate, then baby octopus, and Bay scallop crudo, followed by the beef and chorizo burger and finally... the mud pie. Yes, we walked out with some serious fat bellies. But it was all worth it. The food was absolutely amazing. The service was out of this world. The waiter checked on us at every plate while also providing us with new, clean silverware. It really added to the delightful experience. The beef and chorizo burger and pate had to be my favorite. It's quite easy to rack up a $100 bill. But I'm ok with that. We got more than what we paid for! So glad this place is a block away from me. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Sherie P.
What can I say about Bread and Wine.... I definitely think some people are rating it a bit high but it was good! No matter what you say, being expensive, portions being small, inexperienced wait staff, shortish wine list... The food was damn good! We went last night, a Tuesday night, and the place was half full. That's great for a Tuesday night in a neighborhood with not much night life. The hostess was super sweet and sat us right away. Being a new restaurant, I thought they would sort of walk us through their wine list/menu but we were pretty much left to our own devices. Our waitress was perfectly lovely, but I felt a bit cheated when she explained the specials to the table next to ours immediately upon their arrival about 15 minutes after us. On to the food... the real reason for any restaurant review! We had the duck confit pierogi and chorizo tacos as appetizers. The tacos were smaller than the palm of my hand and there were only 3 on the plate, but damn were they good. The combo of the chorizo with the cactus was so great. I might be tempted to have them as my meal when I want to eat light. The pierogi... Well, those were just heaven on the plate... Two little pillows of heaven. Yes, there were only two but they were so good. I would have liked a bit more sauce but it was good none the less... For dinner I had the chicken breast & confit leg. The breast was cooked so that the skin was super crispy and the leg was all shredded on the plate. The chicken wasn't the moistest chicken I've ever had but it wasn't dry either. With the small bit of gravy in the bottom of the bowl it was perfect. I would have liked a little bit more of that too! The roasted veggies that came with it were still very firm, which is good be cause I hate soft overcooked veggies! My friend had the beef & chorizo burger on a pretzel bun. I had two bites and it was sooo good. She had to pry it from my hands. We asked for it to be medium and it was a little over done but was still really good. For desert we had the sweet potato doughnuts and the rosemary olive oil cake. AMAZING!!! The donuts were the shape of pretzel bites. They were pretty much one little bite and were sooo good with the salted caramel sauce! The cake was moist and light and the lemon curd went perfectly with the light hint of rosemary. I loved it. I would go back and eat anything I had again but I definitely WANT these desserts! As for the wine part, there were a lot of bottles around or under the $30 mark, which is always nice. It stings a bit when you can walk over to the retail area and buy the same bottle for half the price, but hey... that's restaurants, right? We had the Showdown Red and it was a nice blend of several varietals out of California. It was light enough to go with the chicken and wasn't too overpowered by the chorizo. A nice table wine to go with whatever. We even got a bottle to go home with. That brings me to the retail area... I felt intrusive while trying to browse. They have one table for 4 right in the middle of the retail area! I would have rather had some sort of island that featured some of the products they have. I felt so bad standing by these women eating while I was looking at wine bottles. They did have a nice selection and some tasty looking treats. Maybe next time I'll have to pick something up other than wine.
(4)
Abbey F.
Dear Bread and Wine, I am rooting for you, I really am. You're just a block from my house, and the neighborhood desperately needs more restaurants. I'm hoping that B&W is still in it's awkward pre-adolescent phase, and that it'll fix the glitches soon. Here are some observations: The not so fab: *You MUST start serving bread. It's just ridiculous. *The portions are just too small. I have eaten dinner 3 times, and brunch once, with groups of family and/or friends, and we always leave hungry. * Both your brunch and dinner menus are too small. We need more choices. *Your burger, while delicious, is too small for the bun. It's about 60% bread, 40% meat. *Your desserts are just terrible. This needs a total rehab. The fab: *Your cockail and wine program is excellent. *Your culinary and wine events look very interesting. *Your charcuterie and cheeses are amazing. The chicken liver pate is one of the best things I've eaten all year. *Your staff and owners are all super lovely. you can dooooo it!
(3)
Kris L.
I just came back from Bread & Wine and had the BEST dinner and drinks with girlfriends! It's place is amazing. The food is delicious and we seriously got every small plate on the menu to share and every dessert listed, on top of a Chef's choice cheese and charcuterie plate. So in having tried pretty much every single item on the menu, I can honestly say there was not one thing on the whole list that I did not like! The waitress we had was REALLY good too! I wish I got her name :( I'd like to give her a shout out. She was so attentive to our table, even on a busy night, and even brought us some extra food to go with one of our desserts. I would recommend going a bit earlier... We went at 6:30 and it was starting to get a busy, but by the time we left at 9, the place was packed! This whole area has really been popping up cute little restaurants. Bread & wine is one of those not to be missed!
(5)
Faye B.
Hooray, for Restaurant Week! Gave me and the hubs a chance to try a place by our 'hood. In Old Irving you usually find fast food joints or diners so it is refreshing to find an upscale eatery that rivals those of Lincoln Square and North Center. We went with the prix fixe offerings and it must have been funny watching us eat as we traded plates every 5-10min. The menu even had suggested wine pairings. My husband opted for the beer and in looking at their libations menu their beer list was pretty impressive as well. The first course were appetizers. I'm not much of a salad eater so I grabbed the plate with the corned beef tongue, Funyuns (which reminded me of a flat pork rind), a little sauce and mustard seed. It was good, it reminded me of corned beef sans bread. My husband liked mine more than his greens with wheat berries. I liked that the salad was crunchy. On to the entrees. My husband grabbed the pan roasted white fish and I got the braised pork shoulder. The presentation of both were lovely. The pork shoulder came with a pretzel bread which I thought was a tad bit salty. The creme fraiche helped cut some of the saltiness, but I wish there was just a bit more jus. The pan roasted fish rested atop a split pea pancake with pickled cabbage on top and came with more of the Funyun crisp. I didn't care much for the pancake, but the fish was great with the buttermilk sauce and crisp. Lastly came the dessert: a chocolate cake with a 'red velvet' beet custard with cream cheese pudding and a sea salt caramel corn pannna cotta. Yummy! The beet custard really came through until it was mixed with the cream cheese and chocolate cake making it true to its namesake. A twist on red velvet indeed! Both my husband and I loved the panna cotta. It was especially whimsical to have the caramel popcorn and caramel drizzle decorating the panna cotta. Overall the experience made me want to come back. It is a very cute space, very rustic chic with friendly wait staff. The only drawback is a tiny parking lot. There is an open air kitchen as well as a bar space. We were seated in their market area. They have shelving where wine was sold along with old school general store offerings with a modern twist: hot sauces, crackers, hazelnut spread and the like. Can't wait to have another date night with an option close to my 'hood.
(4)
Gregg G.
Rik u and Leo G said it so well. I would add though that the Chorizo Tacos were some of the best tacos that I have ever had. A homemade tortilla is wrapped around a delicous blend of chorizo and cheese that the flavors explode in your mouth. The service was outstanding and the atomosphere was up beat and fun. Since it just opened the wait was very short...however...it won't be too long before the secret is out and the wait will be crazy!
(5)
FoodLover Z.
Took my wife here for a Valentine's Day dinner today. I ordered their special V-Day menu -$45 for a three course meal consisting of kampachi crudo, lamb chops and chocolate mousse. My wife order the crispy semolina gnocchi and smoked celery root agnolotti. Everything we ordered was absolutely fantastic. Even my drink - a simple honey gimley, was amazing. The only reason I take away one star is that the portions are tiny. I could've eatern two entrees, in addition to the appetizer and dessert - I'm not even kidding. I had to have a small snack after coming home to keep myself from sleeping hungry. All-in-all, it's a great place, but it's not as "reasonably priced" as it looks on paper due to the small portions.
(4)
Jen D.
I am not even sure where to begin, so many thoughts are bursting from my mind, trying to work their way out through my keyboard! I went on Sat 1/28 - the ELEVENTH day of operation and had a great experience. Like other reviewers, I am shocked by how "together" this place is for being open less than 2 weeks. I am eager to go back and I'm sure it will only get better!! They aren't taking reservations right now as they are trying to figure out the rhythm of the restaurant, so hopefully they will soon. We went in at 8:20pm on a Saturday night and took 2 seats at the counter overlooking the kitchen because there was a wait for tables. It was fun to watch the kitchen, they really are all on display. I enjoyed seeing the different dishes - it gets me excited to go back! I disagree very strongly with the couple of people here who've said the place is "too expensive". Uh, I beg to differ. Sure it might be more $$ than some dive in the neighborhood - but I dare you to find a place with that atmosphere and food for a better price. The wine glass and bottle prices have many affordable price pts and the pours were what I would expect. They have bottles under $30 and glasses for $6-7. Our entrees were $12 and $14, seriously. My interpretation of the menu... The menu is divided into small and large plates, but from what I can tell - it's not meant to be a shared plate meal. There are not enough small plates to really do the "sharing" small plate/tapas style meal and the large plates are true entrees. We shared the fried pickle small plate. It was two small spears - not chips. It was really yummy with the tabasco aioli. I ordered the pumpkin fettuccine for my entree. It was so good! Housemade fettuccine noodles (my weakness is fresh pasta!!) tossed with goat cheese, cubed pumpkin (which could have been butternut squash... without all the spices I can never tell the diff), chanterelle mushrooms, etc. It actually ate/felt nice and light - even though the noodles are more substantial. My friend ordered the meatloaf. It looked like 2 dry slices from a loaf (sort of puck like visually). The meatloaf was on the drier side but came with a nice sauce on the side that made it not dry to eat. We shared the sweet potato donut dessert (covered in salted caramel sauce). Hmmmmm. So yummy. Sitting by the kitchen we watched a ton of plates go out... the chicken looked fantastic and smelled so good. Burger looked good. Fries were super yummy looking. re: parking - yes there is a lot, but it is small. Side streets have plenty of parking. The sign is not illuminated out front - so it's easy to miss in the dark. Hopefully that gets fixed. I will definitely be back sometime soon!
(4)
Naina J.
We went there for valentines day and it was fantastic. Their menus is very accommodating to dietary restrictions and the wine selection is quite extensive. I would highly recommend it.
(4)
Eduardo C.
Amazing cocktails. Great service. Elevated food.
(4)
Allan C.
No ice in the water means you're at a classy joint. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Bread & Wine has a very warm and modern interior design and their food is excellent. Went with my significant other and dined on small plates: Pork belly with poached egg and sourdough Duck confit pierogi with pickled red onion and creme fraiche Herb fries with garlic, thyme, and malt aioli Arugula and pear salad (had another fruit and nuts in it) Dessert: Chocolate custard and graham cracker smore Everything was delicious and flavorful. Standout was the Pork Belly. Loved the dessert.
I really like this spot a lot; Been there 4 or 5 times. Food is very, very tasty, and everything seems fresh. Musts are; cheeses, house made pappardelle (really, really wonderful), octopus (Yummy, lite- smokey delicate flavor ), panna cotta (out of this world-- best I've ever had). My friend loved her poached fish -- very light, yet lots of flavor. Portions are on the small side- big eaters can do two entrees. I am not fond of small portion places- too much blue collar blood in me, I guess- but it doesn't bother me here. They are not so small, and the prices are not so big. Professional waitstaff, great casual and low key ambience, and a very "keep it simple" look. Right now, it's on my fave five list. So afraid it'll make the "check, please tour". It really does have a parking lot, right in the front-- it used to be a laundromat, and they preserved some of the look-- a bit kooky, but sensibly well-appointed. Pricey, but worth it, and I hardly ever say that.
(5)
Steven S.
Came for brunch and it was outstanding. Couldn't have asked for a better meal, prepared and presented beautifully.
(5)
Jenny C.
I would say I enjoy coming to Bread & Wine, though sometimes I order a dish that is not -so- amazing. My partner is a meat eater & usually enjoys his dishes. In late summer I ordered a pasta with red pepper sauce & it was very lovely, my partner ordered a chopped steak which came with salad which he liked. We also ordered the hen egg small plate and I didn't really like it. In the fall I ordered a curry tofu which came with pasta in beet sauce & I was not too thrilled with it. While the tofu was perfectly crispy on the outside I felt like the curry sauce was far too little and not enough flavor to spice the plain tofu & pasta. Their gnocchi small plate is amazing though & their salad with apples and Gorgonzola cheese is also wonderful to try! I feel like those are meals in themselves. The staff is also great as is the food presentation!
(3)
Leslie K.
My husband and I were here celebrating our 10 yr wedding anniversary. We sat outside and it was quiet and beautiful. Our server was Eric and he was fantastic. Their staff was on top of everything the entire night. We started out with the Cheese & Charcuterie plate, which we choose the Tasso Ham, Cedar Grove Cheddar, and the Bloome County Bloom, this came with some fantastic toast, pickled watermelon, jelly, and mustard. Very delicious. My husband had their special which was Salmon and I had the butter poached lake trout, both were so good, and cooked perfectly! We also enjoyed a great bottle of wine with dinner, Durigutti Bonarda, Mendoza, a red wine obviously not traditional since we both had fish, but oh well! It was really good. For dessert we shared the warm brownie which had caramel sauce and a cherry custard, it melted in my mouth. We had a fantastic experience, the price was reasonable for what we got, can't wait to come back.
(4)
Susan G.
This is a Gem! Dined here for the first time on a Saturday night with friends and we enjoyed every course. We started with the Chef's Choice Cheese and Charcuterie plate which was just right. We had wine by the glass with our meal. Followed this with the very fresh and well-composed green salad. For our main entrees we had the pan roasted chicken breast which was amazingly juicy, poached lake trout, and the fine herbs pappardelle pasta. Ended the meal with French-press coffee and a couple orders of the fresh strawberry pie with whipped cream which was heavenly. Service was prompt and friendly and the pacing between courses was just right. The cost per person, including tax, tip and all the food and beverages mentioned, was about $70.
(4)
Jessie M.
I came here with my husband on a busy summer night--the service was slooow but the food was good--particularly, the duck pierogies (they accidentally brought us two orders--we were not complaining). If you're doing the charcuterie, make sure to get the sheep's cheese (the dante). It's delicious. Skip the fries--they're kinda greasy.
(3)
James L.
I live in the Irving Park area and was happy to see that this place opened up. Went there for a birthday dinner and the service was excellent! We all shared a bunch of tapas dishes and wine. We weren't full by any means but was satisfied with dinner. Definitely a place to go if you want to taste different foods and drink good wine, but not to go to town on.
(4)
Anna V.
Yelp keeps insisting I review B&W, and I've been putting it off because I don't know how I feel about it and don't really have a ton to say. Here it is: it has potential but it has kinks in it. Nothing was terrible. We'd heard great stuff, and it's possible it just wasn't our thing. Things that were good: the duck confit pierogi (deliciously tender, the good kind of gamey, very flavorful) and their crispy hot fries. Wine list is great - I've never heard of most of it, which is fun for me. They use good ingredients. Parking is free. Atmosphere reminds me a little of Ceres' Table. But there are definitely elements that need work. Service was friendly but spotty and a little intrusive, pacing was bizarre, the pork shoulder was not my favorite and had some fatty bits that weren't palatable. Portions in general were tricky to get right since it's all meant to be shared - but not quite the right size for it. The whole experience felt off somehow. However, it's still new, and it's understandable there are kinks to work out. It does have loads of potential in the concept. But you know what would be really good? If they had bread. At the moment, they don't, and we were surprised. I think Bread & Wine really needs some hot crusty bread.
(3)
Cynthia A.
Our second time here, and we were looking forward to another great experience. A beautiful night and sat outside. When the menus arrived, I had a hard time choosing from the five entrees. Nothing really jumped out to make my mouth water. First time, we had the charcuterie platter for 6 and there was a great mix. This time for three, we had to choose. I would really stay away from the pancetta. While flavorful, it was mostly fat and not that appealing. I was surprised there were no specials as an adjunct to the menu items. REally? Midsummer when the local farmers are overflowing with beautiful produce? Our table had two burgers (the chorizo as it's own patty seemed odd along with the beef patty) and the chicken breast (nicely cooked, but more simple than I would like--I cook too much plain chicken at home--give me some flavor). I can't say we were super excited. Maybe the new chef? Didn't seem to have the same vibe or buzz as first time there. Highly recommend adding some interesting, flavorful entrees to the menu. And specials would be most welcome.
(3)
KChicagoan S.
Went here on a week night for an impromptu girls night out. I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could, but 3 will have to suffice. It's a farm-to-table type concept, which was nice. This means their menu will change often, with a rotation of freshly-inspired small plates, salads and larger plates. Started with a cheese/charcuterie board. The cheeses were fresh and the homemade marmalade and mustard on the board was a nice balance to the salty cheese. As a group we split 4 small plates and one large plate. Overall the food was good and fresh, but as I type this review barely a week later, I can't remember a single thing I ate, aside from the cheese. What that tells me - nothing was all that memorable. I'd give ambiance and SERVICE 5 stars, and while the food was fresh, it was forgettable. I would go here for a return visit, but I won't be running back or shouting my praises from the rooftops (or via Yelp for that matter...)
When five stars are just not enough ... From the luscious swine to the salted carmelcorn panna cotta, we couldn't have been happier with our dinner. Not sure what some other (CRAZY) reviewers were talking about regarding portion size... the small plates were anything but small. We took the opportunity to sit at the counter and were thrilled to interact with Lulu, Jacob and the rest of the team (thanks for the tasty bits inbetween!) We will definitely be back... and soon!
(5)
Cee A.
I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed this yet, so here goes... This is an easy, friendly, consistent place to dine. I'm usually here during the week and reservations are not needed. I find it a great place to relax over shared food and enjoy a bottle of wine. It's lively but not loud so conversation is easy. The service isn't rushed and the vibe overall is great. Last visit included an assortment of cheeses and meats, the incredibly awesome mussels and the already famous popcorn panacotta. Always good, fun and tasty.
(5)
Casey A.
1) Be sure to sit at the Kitchen Counter if it's available.. and if you're in the mood to talk to the chefs. 2) Order whatever you want because it's all amazing. We got the Crispy Semolina Gnocchi and Herb Ricotta toast with Yellow Beets and Arugula and for dinner we split the Walleye.. I don't know why I'm making you drool with this description bc the menu changes every 2ish weeks. (i.e. there were no tomatoes on the menu at our seating bc the head chef wasn't interested in bringing in tomatoes from the west coast.. pretty cool in my opinion!) 3) We got dessert, not because we needed the calories but because the people next to us had been there a couple times and convinced us to (not that we needed much convincing..) The Salted Caramel Popcorn Panna Cotta.. HOLY COW HARRY CARAY. We loved it enough to drop off one of our dishes the next night so they could make a WHOLE bunch for a party we had on the following night. 4) Lulu might be the nicest chef/pastry chef.. ever. / All the people behind that counter had something pleasant to say.. 5) I'm going back and soon!
(5)
Lawrence C.
We went to Bread and Wind with neighborhood friends and must say it was very enjoyable. They have 2 'special' areas to eat with the first being a private table by the wine racks and the second is a bar you can eat at that has a great view of the chef's going about their business. We sat at the table. For starters we had the Chicken Liver Pate, Blue Mountain Dairy Reserve Cheddar from Wisconsin and toast points all of which was delicious. We had a really nice Cabernet from the Paso Bobles region of California which paired nicely with everything. For a main course I had the Striped Bass with Braised Fennel which was outstanding and filled me up. The girls both had the Beef and Chorizo Burger on a Pretzel Roll of which they both enjoyed although my wife said that next time she will get it without the Chorizo Patty and just beef. The wait staff was very attentive and the manager came by on 2 occasions to make sure everything was okay and then prior to our departure he gave us a rundown on how the place came to be, the chef and what the owner was all about. Very nice. All in all this is a top notch local restaurant with pricing to be reasonable for the type of food you are getting which is mostly locally procured.
(4)
Mike M.
Bread & Wine is a great addition to the neighborhood. Still in their pre-reservation mode, any wait was easily passed at the bar having a great goat cheese spread w/ one of their many great wines. The place has a great local vibe to it and even features a small retail area if you'd like to take some of their ingredients home. I was very excited to get a counter seat as I was able to watch the executive chef make my dinner. He and the sous chef were super cool and answered any questions when they had a moment between plating. I've never been to an open kitchen before and it was a great experience. I went w/ the beef & chorizo burger which was great. All ingredients are in season so no lettuce or tomato. Who goes here: Irving Park neighbors, foodies, organic diners. Will I go back? Certainly. I began listing who I should take here by the second bite. It's also cool that they get all their ingredients locally. (Midwest locally)
(5)
David F.
My wife took me here for my birthday tonight. Very pleasant ambience that feels at once sophisticated but also casual enough that you can hear each other. Our server was wonderful. We had: the gnocchi, the fries, the mussels, the salad and the striped bass. The dishes were uniformly terrific (and unlike what a previous reviewer said, it is plenty of food). I think the chef could add just a bit of kick to the striped bass but overall it was well-seared and beautifully prepared. My gin cocktails were delicious and overall it was reasonably priced for what we got and the level of service. Highly recommend.
(5)
Kim H.
Absolutely fabulous! Sat at the bar. The service was excellent and the food was over the top. Pork belly, scallop, and the chicken liver was to die for. I love this place!
(5)
Allen J.
I should state, for the record, that I'm that person who always takes bad Yelp reviews with a grain of salt. Like, who comes on Yelp to write a positive experience? It's just people b*tching to hear themselves. But Bread & Wine was disappointing. We live in the neighborhood, and have been looking forward to coming here for weeks. Moreover, it was my birthday, and I couldn't wait to try things off the menu. Reading other reviews, I think what the more specific price complaint should be relates to the price of the small plates. I think they are over-priced for what you get. The bowl of nuts was not warm, and the duck pierogi was fine. But two pierogis for $7? Some of my party ordered drinks, some ordered wine. The wine was good. The drinks I felt were fine. My main complaint was that, with the restaurant not terribly busy, it just seems like the drinks took forever. Our waitress, so very nice, just seemed over-worked. My main mistake of the evening was ordering the special: Duck Stroganoff - Black Trumpet Mushrooms, pappardelle pasta, duck leg confit & creme fraiche. Honestly, I've never had a worse dish at a restaurant. It was bland, there was really no sauce, also no seasoning, and the pasta after sitting just a few minutes was like eating chewy rubber and quite honestly inedible. Perhaps it could have been helped by cutting the noodles smaller or thinner? It was the very first time I've ever told a server that I was unhappy with a dish at a restaurant. To her credit, she offered me something else, and I tried the small plate tacos, which were good. I will be back to try other things off the menu, because all these other people can't be wrong. I hope my experience was an anomaly.
(2)
Rik U.
The long awaited Bread & Wine restaurant is open and well worth the wait. Touted as an American bistro yet I would think they fit the description of an American Melting Pot. They are keying in on the areas different cultures/cuisines and adding a twist to it. They did an amazing job of converting the existing building into a elegant yet very comfortable space. I loved the juxtaposition of modern and natural/farm feel they have created here. Tables are cut from large trees and lacquered with bark still on them. Napkins are simple yet tasteful kitchen towels. Hand blown glass water bottles are brought to tables. The food was excellent and perfectly executed. I was impressed that they nailed it the first night out. Great job! We had some small plate appetizers which were playful to decadent. Togarashi buttered popcorn, olives with a nutty orange citrus flavor and Duck confit pierogi with pickled red onion and herbed creme fraiche. Delicious. Entrees we tried were original and equally delicious. - Black earth lamb & mustard seed meatloaf, yogurt braised greens with white beans and harrisa - Chicken breast & confit leg, truffle dumplings and roasted root vegetables - Homemade fettuccine, pumpkin, oyster mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and fresh goat cheese I ordered the lamb meatloaf but tried all of these and they were all excellent. I am very excited to have a restaurant of this caliber right in my neighborhood. Keep up the good work! Also, they have a shop up front featuring not only local, gourmet products, but a wonderful wine selection and items that they make right there (such as granola, shortbread cookies, etc.). I look forward to visiting this again because the shop was still getting stocked..being the first night and all. Congrats Bread and Wine team!
(5)
Kate P.
I really hope this place makes it. It's great having it in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, I think it's a little over priced. First, I ordered a glass of wine and the bartender (we sat at the bar) poured it less than 20% of the way up. Now I do appreciate a heavy pour but I wouldn't say I'm biased- however atleast pour it 25-30% to make me fee like I"m getting my moneys worth. It was a 3 sip glass of wine for $10. Secondly, we weren't very hungry but I was dying to try the duck pieorgis so we ordered those. I was very excited to get them but slightly diappointed when they came out. $8 for 2 pierogis. This was listed on the "small plates" section of the menu so I'd envisioned enough for 2 people to share- not 1 each. Now don't get me wrong the pierogis were amazing. I was just disappointed spending $8 on 2 pieorgis. Had there been 3 on the plate I probably wouldn't have been a bit miffed by it or had they been larger it would have been fine but I scarfed mine down in 2 bites. Or even if they were listed as a "side dish" I would understand only putting 2 on the portion size. Now, I really did enjoy the ambiance of the place. I just thought it was slightly overpriced for what you get and the neighborhood it is in- which is my neighborhood that I love so all you Albany/Irving Parkers don't jump all over me- I'm not knocking on the neighborhood. Just if I'm spending that on food I'll go downtown.
(3)
Ingrid R.
I really enjoyed my evening here with a bunch of other moms. Awesome food, service and atmosphere. The salted caramel panna cota was the most amazing thing on the planet. All that cheese, wine, yum. What's not to love. Can't wait to go back with the husband.
Bread and Wine is a good solid choice overall for a date night or for a large group. Service The service and overall customer experience is really good. The hostess and waitstaff are knowledgeable and attentive. They knew the wine list well and made an effort to provide guidance without being pretentious about the wine list. The service was quick and on point which is a plus. Food Appetizers and Snacks This section shines. The PEI mussels are excellent- highly recommended. The entire list looked great and is enough to share a taste. The squash salad and roasted beets are tasty. Good use of seasonal ingredients. Large Plates The burger is really good. The burger is a hearty meal with the bacon and onion jam on pretzel bread. The fries are plentiful for 2 people to share and with the aioli - it definitely a memorable burger in a town of burgers. The rest of the dishes such as the chicken was good but not nearly as hefty as the burger. The presentation and taste was good but lacked the punch of the snacks and apps. Dessert The desserts are all excellent. The salted caramel pana cotta is light and the hints of salt and caramel doesn't overwhelm the dish. The flourless chocolate cake is good- looks more like a cooke but it is rich. The acid from the pineapple cuts the richness of the chocolate. Overall The parking is fantastic for anyone looking to venture out of the area. The service is excellent. The meal is good if not great. The location is a destination but worth a trip for either dinner or even better brunch.
(4)
Andrew S.
I agree with the other yelp users here. I had a total enjoyable dining experience. The staff is affable and friendly. Nothings worse than throwing a good chunk of money at a dining experience and the staff acts like they're doing you a favor, NOT the case at bread and wine. Our server Aric was awesome, he clearly explained what was in each course and suggested a delicious desert as well. The beer list highlights local favorites and well as seasonal offerings from Three Floyds. Their cocktails were delicious and crafted with care. The entree's were reasonably priced,large and their burger rivaled any high end/hype burger joint out there. I will definitely patron this establishment more often.
(4)
Ben P.
Love, love, love this place. The ambiance works very well - we sat at the kitchen counter/chef's table which just added to the enjoyment of the evening. The food there was delectible - I had the rabbit linguini and it was perfectly cooked, great sized portions. The service was wonderful. Will definitely be coming back. Score! Now if it could be closer to where we live, we'd be there every night...
(5)
Therese O.
What the hell, Bread and Wine. It was a Sunday night. you weren't even busy, and yet the level of disappointment cannot be forgiven. We live in the neighborhood and wanted to try Bread and Wine for a while. We wandered in and there were about two other tables full. Which we like. Sat down and looked at the menu. Cheese plate for $28 with six teeny portions on it. About six 'small plate' dishes which range from $6-$9. While entrees are $13-$20. Portion sizes are SMALL so be warned. A $13 burger is teeny, and most of the plate is filled up with fries. Choriso/Cheddar/Burger was too overpowering and the bun was bigger than the hamburger. The garlic fries were great, but for $13 you'd better not mess up the fries, people. Lamb meatloaf was COLD and served on top of white beans and greens that were too salty to eat. And I like salt. The portion was so small and the price so high, I almost sent it back and told them not to bother. I already knew it wasn't going to be good. There was something crunchy in the meatloaf which messed with the mouthfeel. Walnuts?? Pine Nuts? Who knew.... Glass of lovely Oregon wine for $9 but the small pour that they give you was ridiculous. Maybe 1/3 cup. The space is pretty, though with and open kitchen and the place was very loud with only two couples inside. This place could have the potential to be an Irving Park Lula Cafe. But, unlike Lula, the flavors are not well constructed, the food is miniscule and cold and it seems they care more about atmosphere than quality. Unless they up their game, we won't be back. And sadly, unless someone else pays for my dinner, I won't return any time soon.
(1)
Matt R.
Checked out this relatively new neighborhood spot early on a Friday night. Sat at the bar noshing on charcuterie while chatting up the friendly couple sitting next to me, enjoying a nice glass of S. African Cabernet. Pricey? A little bit, comparable to Lincoln Park but I thought the quality warranted the cost. Staff was attentive, the owner Lisa came by to find out how I was doing, all in all a very agreeable visit to a very agreeable spot in the neighborhood. I am giving the fifth star to the bartender who was on top of his game without getting in my space. I will be back.
(5)
Mary L.
Heard good things about Bread & Wine & finally got to try it for myself the other night. Was pleasantly surprised. The Old Irving neighborhood seems odd to have a restaurant this nice there, but it really does fit. Parking was a bit hard on a Saturday night, be we found side street parking in a little bit. I like the smaller size of the restaurant and the decor is really stylish. We had a reservation & were immediately seated. Our waiter was pretty good & pretty attentive. The restaurant was crowded for a Saturday night , but all in all the service is good. Our group shared a charcuterie plate which was wonderful. We all had the full dinner plates for our main course. Other diners with me commented that the main courses were all good.....not the best ever, but pretty good. I had the burger with fries which was wonderful & I've had burgers at a lot of good places in Chicago. This was up there as good. The other diners I was with shared the Mudd pie & said it was good. The coffee is served in a french press which was nice & I had the jasmine tea which was delightful. All in all, a nice restaurant on the north side & I would definitely go again.
(4)
Max E.
Our meal at Bread & Wine was very pleasant. We came under the impression that they would be offering extended restaurant week specials, but that was not the case. Still, the service was good and the food was very delicious. The raw scallop starter was delicious and very bright, and the main courses were all very tasty. The interior is spare and trendy, but I think the main wall could use a larger piece of art.
(4)
Megan L.
A friend of mine lives near by Bread & Wine and has been anxiously awaiting its opening. So voila, Bread & Wine is now open, so we took ourselves over there on Friday night. It's a nice little space - we were a little concerned that we'd have trouble getting seated because it is fairly small, but they've done a good job maximizing the occupancy. We were offered a choice between waiting for a table, or sitting at the counter facing the kitchen. Hello, court-side seats it is! We checked out the menu and while there were 'main' dishes that appealed to each of us, we ultimately decided to go a more munchie, small plate route. So we tried the cheese plate (picked 3), herbed french fries (heavenly - we had to get more of the aoili it came with!), fried pickles, white bean puree on toast, and a side of roasted root vegetables. We loved every bite! For dessert (which we didn't need, but come on) we had the sweet potato donuts with salted caramel sauce. Admittedly, you can put salted caramel sauce on damn near anything and make it delicious, but the donuts held up on their own, too. Our server was great - friendly, attentive but not hovering, and super knowledgeable. It was also really fun to be seated where all the action is happening. They were busy and the chefs were running around like crazy - but the focused kind of crazy that gets things done. I saw a lot of attention to detail going on there! After it slowed down (we were there a while... a bottle or so of wine... a cocktail... girls night out...) we chatted with them a bit too - again, very friendly and seemed pretty excited about the product they're putting out. Bread & Wine, you were worth the wait!
(5)
Sean D.
I would give B&W 3.5 stars if I could. I think that there is a lot of potential here, but its just a bit off. First off, I apparently need to dine up north more often as contrary to other reviews, I thought the prices were very fair. The wine list tops out at $60 and most bottles were in the $20-40 range. The entrees top out at $20 and the serving sizes are perfectly acceptable. I liked the space. Very warm and modern with exposed wood and interesting lighting. However, the open kitchen surrounded by all hard surfaces makes the spot very loud on a Saturday night. I fully recognize that I'm getting old, but I think my ears were ringing when we left. We started with a charcuterie plate, and while the meats and cheeses were nice, the servings were rather skimpie. Two small squares of each hard cheese and a dollop of goat cheese a platter does not make. We didn't end up ordering any small plates but there were a few that I'd like to try at some point like the duck pierogies or one of the salads. I thought the entrees were a bit limited in selection and imagination. There was only one fish item for my pescetarian wife and the rest of the choices amounted to a burger, pork shoulder, pasta, or chicken. Perhaps we were biased after just having an amazing meal the night before, but if you're going to serve chicken, it should be really freaking good chicken! Bottom line, decent value with an affordable wine list. Perhaps not worth the special trip up north for me but if you're local I definitely recommend giving it a try.
(3)
shylo b.
As a preface, I wish I could separate the rating for food from the experience/ambiance. Because the ambiance and experience Bread & Wine provided was quite nice. The team has done a nice job with a funky space and the service was impeccable (and we sat at the bar, where I don't usually expect attentive dining service.) We started with cocktails, which were fresh, creative and fantastic. However, the food. We're vegetarians, so maybe the meat is great? We started with the cheese plate, which had nice selections, crispy toast points, two (!) cornichon and a spot of slightly-too-sweet cherry jam/preserves. This was the best thing we had all night, and none of it required cooking. We moved on to white-bean puree on toast. The puree was smooth to the point of unctuous (think baby food) and lacked ANY seasoning. I'm serious. I make a lot of white-bean hummus and (thicker) purees and I know what I'm talking about. Not a spot of salt. We also ordered the garlic fries with aioli. The aioli was too thin and the fries were floppy. Because the apps were disappointing, and we'd already dropped $50 on two cocktails, a glass of wine, and two appetizers, we decided to skip dinner. Which I was sad about because I wanted to try the tofu with pepitas. We went for dessert, featuring a smidge of olive-oil cake with creme fraiche and a panna cotta with popcorn. The cake was meh but the creme fraiche was lovely. The panna cotta was silky, but the popcorn was gummy. Hits, misses. I'm really glad this place is here and would highly recommend it for drinks and the cheese plates, and perhaps charcuterie, if you're into that. Hopefully, B & W is just working out kinks.
(2)
Margo K.
I drove by this place last week and wondered what it was (maybe a new specialty store or a restaurant), was just excited to see a new place. Then we drove by again and decided to stop in because I was starving. It turns out we went there on the 2nd day they were open. Although it was BYOB at the time because of a delay in getting their liquor license, I will definitely be back for more. We tried several of the small plates and were impressed with everything. Next time I will be back fro the large plates. The service was excellent, and the place was simple and elegant without being pretentious. I think this place is going to take off and I'm glad I got to go there in the beginning. Glad to see this excellent new restaurant in an area where you may not be expecting it!
(5)
Keira S.
LOVE: - the fact that it's in the neighborhood - the friendly service - the caramel corn dessert - the little shop area where you can buy, like, olive oil LIKE: - The dish I had--lamb meatloaf--was just OK and waayyyyyyyy too salty. And I'm a salt fanatic. - The wine menu was pretty paltry although the wine I had was very tasty. Skimpy pour, though! HATE: - The overused, 2001-era Ikea chairs and chandeliers - Prices are a bit too high for what you get Yeah, I dunno. I need to try it again.
(3)
Nancy W.
I decided to check out Bread & Wine with 2 friends since I saw that the establishment was participating in Chicago Restaurant Week and it's in my neighborhood. I am so, so, so glad I found it because I will definitely be coming back! It was quite crowded on a Saturday night so I recommend making a reservation beforehand. The space is also small so parties with more than 4-6 people should probably look elsewhere. There is a teeny parking lot, but it was already full when we got there so we had to park a block away (no biggie, street parking isn't bad in this area). The restaurant has a nice ambiance with their minimalist decor. Our waiter was very nice to us and even grabbed an extra candle for me to help with the lighting when he saw that I was photographing our food. Bread & Wine is pricey, but it's absolutely delicious. We shared one 3-course meal from the Restaurant Week menu and 2 starters from their normal menu, which was surprisingly enough food for 3 people. Everything on the Restaurant Week menu was fantastic. We tried a pork shank starter from their normal menu that was cooked perfectly and was unbelievably tender. The salted caramel popcorn panna cotta dessert (on both the special menu and the normal menu) was also tasty - a perfect balance of sweet and salty, crunchy and custardy, etc. This is definitely a restaurant that takes it to the next culinary level with their presentation and creation of good flavors. With that being said, you aren't going to get heaping portions of mediocre food on your plate like at other restaurants. I would recommend coming here for nice occasions as it is a little more expensive, but it's worth it for how delicious everything is!
(5)
Gail M.
Three of us visited Bread & Wine this past weekend to take advantage of their Chicago Chef Week menu. The food was inventive and totally delicious. The service was really friendly and attentive without being hovering. We liked the decor, too, and the fact that it's easy to park either in the lot or on surrounding streets, even on a Friday night. What impressed us most, though, was the awesome way our very kind server, Emily, handled a problem I had with my entree. Because it was cooked sous vide, the wine in it wasn't cooked off (it's not supposed to be in this method of cooking), and I can't consume alcohol. Emily immediately understood the problem and checked with the chef to see if the dish could be reheated to cook off the wine. When it couldn't, she comped me the small plate I ordered as a replacement -- a nice surprise. We'll be back -- next time to try Sunday brunch!
(5)
L J.
THANK GOD upscale restaurants are opening further west! Don't get me wrong, I love Chicago's lakefront just as much as the next girl, but please don't make every good city restaurant in neighborhoods where we have to fight traffic or pay astronomical prices for parking. Restauranteurs- head west! We appreciate good food out here, too. The GOOD: - Our cheese and charcuterie plate was fantastic! Great options and more filling then we anticipated. - The walleye was THE BEST! Really interesting, savory flavors. Order it. You will have no regrets. - Ambiance was nice- clean, simple, pretty. - The staff was friendly. The BAD: - Our waiter wasn't too knowledgeable about their wine list and there were many dishes on our menu he hadn't tried. I think that should be mandatory so when customers ask you about dishes or wine pairings you have something to say. - My husband's steak was well-done and he asked for medium. A slight con, I know, but I'm not a fan of returning food, so he ate it anyway. And everything IN BETWEEN: - The desserts were ok: not a fan of the seasonal lavender and almond dessert; it tasted a bit like soap. Panna cotta was good, but perhaps too sweet. - AC must've been broken, but I suppose there was nothing they could do about it. - Finally, I know it's not TGI Friday's, but if I tell you we are celebrating an anniversary, can we get some kind of acknowledgement? A complimentary dessert? 5% off our bill? A "Happy Anniversary"? Perhaps that's the child in me, but people like stuff like that. Still, I give B&W 4 stars because I appreciate what they're doing and I support small businesses in my neighborhood. We'll be back.
(4)
Angela S.
Was fortunate to get a reservation for a group of 12 for a birthday and they took excellent care of us. The food is incredible and the drink selection is awesome. Was a terrific experience for all of us.
(4)
Harvey M.
I'd been wanting to try this place for a long while and it did not disappoint when I went for Sunday brunch with a friend. Great parking options nearby (free!). The menu was eclectic enough to differentiate itself from other restaurants, but familiar enough to be accessible to almost any palate. The service was outstanding and the food was very good. I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Audrey S.
I came here for a friend's birthday. It's a good thing we had reservations because the place was packed. We had to wait a few minutes for our table to open up so we checked out their large selection of wine. We started with a cheese and charcuterie plate of St. Joseph (raw sheep) cheese, fresh goat cheese, chicken liver pate, and pig face pancetta. It came with bite size toasted bread. I thoroughly enjoyed everything on this plate. For my entree I decided to be brave and get something unusual that I'd never had before - the duck confit with a poached egg, pickled red onion and herb creme fraiche. The duck was marinated in duck fat and I did not particularly care for this part (and this is most likely how I would feel about it anywhere). There were three pieces of burnt cheese plated nicely on the top. I mixed the egg and duck together. I tried the smoked trout mousse on toast which was absolutely delicious and immediately wished I'd ordered that instead. (There's always next time.) Our server Haley was pleasant and prompt. Just as we were getting ready to leave, one of the owners, Lisa Fosler Kelly began talking with someone at our table. We learned that she lives in the area and wanted more restaraunt choices, so she decided to open up her own. Right now the seating is all inside, but as the weather turns warm, al fresco dining will open up. It's pretty exciting to have a new and decently priced restaurant in my 'hood. I give it two thumbs up and will recommend it to friends.
(4)
Julie K.
Sat at kitchen bar and had a great night. The chef answered our questions, and also it was a great way to see other items on the menu. Definitely try the charcuterie, the homemade sausage and prosciutto were delicious. Also, the chicken dish was really uniquely executed and delicious, I think he said it was sousvide, Also, prices are reasonable for a nicer dinner, and it's a great addition to the area.
(5)
Monte O.
The owners are very nice and made me feel welcome, and the food and service is amazing! I will definitely be a regular...
(5)
M M.
For some reason my eating partner picked this place. I don't know why, since we seldom drink wine. Just as I suspeced, a menu with a large selection of wine and just a few dishes to choose from, that didn't give my finiky friend many options. I had the beef and charizo burger, very good--the beef was grass fed (the waitress was nice enough to inquire about their beef when I asked if it was organic). I figured if it was good beef I wouldn't have minded having it on the medium side, but I decided to be safe and ordered it well. The burger was cooked perfectly and I guess the grass fed beef justifies the $14 burger which came with a side of fries uniquely seasoned -best fries I ever had! I can confidently boast that. My friend ordered the $18 chicken breast and loved their signature mulberry mustard sauce, which I think I had a hint of in my burger. The waitress was kind enough to give my friend a little container with a bit of the sauce to take home. It was charished like gold, kind of like how I cherish the fautoush salad dressing at Pita Inn. Bread and wine was a visually suave and sopisticated place, yet with a casual confortable feel. People were great, it was just a tad bit pricy for my budget. If I liked wine, I would probably appreciate this place more.
(4)
Yvonne O.
I am not big on driving into this area on a Saturday night as it brings back memories of fighting the awful traffic on Irving at ALL TIMES OF DAY AND NIGHT when I lived at Irving and Damen. But, the husband read about the place in the paper, saw "charcuterie plate" and it was a done deal. I hoped there would be options for me. We were seated at the bar - totally fine with me and ordered right away. Husband got the charcuterie with pig face, spanish ham and aged cheddar and I ordered the smoked duck pierogies. He loved the plate, my duck was lacking in flavour. For entrees, he got the steak and gnocchi and I ordered the stinging nettle (flower) fettuccini. Both were delicious - especially the semolina gnocchi that look like little marshmallow squares. Those come as a side order - get them, you will not regret it. All this and two drinks was about $90 before tip - not bad. And, if you eat in, you can shop in the little market area behind the host with 10% off. I would definitely come back, but I would like to see a few more seafood options as there were only two things I would really order as an entree on the menu (no shrimp, scallops, whitefish, and only the one steak, which was suprising)
(4)
Flora C.
Bread and Wine took it's time getting opened, and it was well worth the wait! The decor is elegant, the ambiance is warm and inviting. The food was delicious. I had the fettuccine with roasted pumpkin and goat cheese and oyster mushrooms. It was yummy! The pasta was home made. My husband had the lamb, which he raved about and kept having to share pieces with our daughter. My daughter had the chicken over leg confit and truffle dumplings with roasted vegetables. She ate it all up! We also tried the olives, togarashi popcorn and the duck pierogis as apps. Delicious! We left stuffed and cannot wait to go back. BTW, we went on opening night. And for a first night being open, it was PERFECT! Service, food, wait time. Well done! SO excited to have a restaurant of this caliber in what has been a "restaurant desert" in our west walker/old irving area.
(5)
Cristen B.
Flank steak was amazing and so was the beet salad. The sauces served on both our meals were out if this world, I wanted seconds! Lady working the host stand was a bit quirky. Dessert was ok, was list could use better options (Malbec option wasn't great).
(4)
Michele G.
Visited this restaurant for the first time tonight and it won't be out last. Enjoyed particularly attentive and friendly service and enjoyed our bean puree appetizer, as well as the fettuccine with pumpkin, chicken thigh and grits special and pork shoulder. Had an olive oil cake that was incredibly moist and a panna cotta that was fun (popped corn), unusual and very smooth. Lovely wine list by the glass and Intelligentsia coffee for the finale. Glad that Bread and wine is in the neighborhood!
(5)
Matthew M.
Amazing atmosphere and food! We started at the bar and had a great conversation with the bartender Josh who paired us up with some great glasses of wine. When our table was really shortly after, we were delighted to browse the menu - it was stacked with some great options, mainly the chorizo angus burger and the chicken with pate. My fiancee who is a vegetarian had no problem finding something to her liking. Desert was superb, we got 4 different options! Highly recommended..
(5)
Neha M.
We went here today for Sunday brunch, and although it was far outta the way, it was worth it. What looks from the outside like an upscale suburban restaurant, turns out to be an airy and hip establishment on the inside. We came here with a Gilt City certificate which was an amazing deal $39 for 2 drinks, two brunch entrees, 2 side orders, and a dessert. It ended up being a ton of food - but it was great because this meant we got to try at least one item from each part of the menu. Drinks: He got the mimosa and I got the bloody mary. The juice in both was really fresh and great. Entrees: He got the sausage links which came with sausage, coca-cola baked beans, and eggs (I think sunnyside up?). I didn't try the sausage but he seemed happy with them. The eggs and baked beans were good. I got the friend semolina gnocchi. Good but a little too oily and salty. Came with both a tomato sauce and a white sauce which complimented each other well. Sides: House cured bacon (again a little too salty for me) and cheddar grits (yummm). Dessert is sitting in our fridge because we couldn't possibly eat it after that huge meal. But they even plated it nicely for us in the to go box...cant WAIT!! It is pricey (our total without the certificate would have been $74 before tip) and very out of the way for me, so it would have to be a special occasion for me to return. But I am very glad that we were able to try it out!!
(5)
Robert Y.
Great service, delicious food, and great selection of wines. It is a little bit loud in here, so be prepared to speak up!
(4)
Alyssa E.
Bread and Wine is a solid restaurant. However, there were a few kinks that need to be worked out or maybe they were having an "off" night. I had a groupon, so was able to try many different dishes. First, my friend and I got to sit at the chef's table and watch all the food being prepared! Awesome! Second three of our 5 dishes came out almost at the same time. However, after we vouched our concern to our waitress, she was good about telling them to pace the rest of our food. We started with a cheese plate wonderful. Then moved on to the gnocchi, not to be missed! This was one of my favorites that night! Then we shared the baby octopus. Fantastic! For the main course, I got the burger, as I had heard they are known for their burger. However, I was not blown away by it. Again, solid, but certainly not the best I've had in the city. Dessert was the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta. I was glad I got to try it, but I need something sweeter, more like creme brulee! The panna cotta part was very bland and tasteless, which is the way it is supposed to be. Just not my personal preference. Again, this place is solid, but with all the places to try in Chicago I'm not dying to go back soon.
(3)
Audrey S.
Went there last night for dinner. We had reservations for 7:15, got there at 7:00, and the place was pretty empty. We were seated right away at the "Chef Table", which was so much FUN! FYI - by 7:45 the place was packed. We had cheese and house made ham, arctic char, the chicken breast and the desserts. Everything we had was fresh and the portions were quite large for a higher end place like this. Service was excellent. We went to Premise a few weeks prior, so to compare the two is natural. Premise was good, but for my money, I'd rather go to Bread & Wine.
(5)
Kristina O.
I love that this place is in Old Irving, a neighborhood slightly starved for really great food! I haven't tried this place for dinner, but did come here for brunch. I like something a little different, the layout is very open and not too fancy. I could see it being a great first date place or for gathering with friends. The service was fine, the food was...different... but good! Honestly, we both just ordered things and they came out looking very different from what we expected! That said, the flavors and ingredients were still top notch, and we had an experience, which in my opinion, is what is important. I'll definitely go back to try dinner, and would recommend it to anyone who lives remotely close. Gotta support the neighborhoods which need a little more flava!
I was really surprised by Bread & Wine, but not necessarily in a good way. Some quick thoughts: 1. Why does a restaurant called Bread & Wine not serve any bread? This seems like a gross oversight, especially when you consider the absurdly small portions... even on the large plates. 2. Speaking of absurdly small portions, the portions are absurdly small, and I'm not just talking about the small plates. I was out to dinner with 5 other people and everyone except me had the large plates, and the food on their plate took up exactly half of the plate. It was almost comical just how small the portions were. If you're going to serve such little food, why not at least use smaller plates so people don't feel like they're getting ripped off? 3. The gnocchi was just bizarre. Instead of gnocchi, it tasted like battered and fried tofu. And not in a good way. 4. The pork belly was tasty! 5. The peanut butter pie was one of the worst desserts I've ever had in my life. I live for dessert, yet I spit out the bit of pie that I had. It tasted like congealed lukewarm peanut butter. Not to mention that the slice was approximately 1/3 the size of what a normal piece of pie should be. 6. The acoustics in the restaurant are terrible. Dinner got uncomfortable at times because we just got tired of yelling at one another. I assume they're doing the best they can in a space that used to be a laundromat, but holy heck. Don't go here to have a conversation. 7. Free parking. Let me say that again: free parking. In a lot. Awesome. Lest that sound harsh, I think there's a lot of opportunity for improvement here and I'm happy to see nicer restaurants on Irving Park. That said, our experience didn't match the high price tags on the menu.
(2)
Stan P.
I wish that I could give Bread&Wine 3.5 stars, but Yelp doesn't have that flexibility. The restaurant has great atmosphere and some profoundly good aspects, but the food tripped me up a little bit. Partly, I think I am personally out of sync with the heavy salty, rich food that is so ubiquitous in Chicago right now. I admit that I am a fan of lighter sauces, vegetables and a great salad. In fact, there was no great salad on the menu. And, when I ordered the small salad with wheat berries, I asked for a substitution in dressing given that I have an allergy to miso - and the waitress balked and said that it was just too busy to make any changes. I pleaded my case, and she did bring me a lemon based dressing that was very rich. At least no miso. Our group did start dinner with some yummy appetizers. The fried Tofu, the octopus and the scallops were all different and very good. Again, all but the scallops suffered from the too much salt trend, but they were tasty in small quantity. At the table, we also had the Chorizo/beef burger which was pretty good and came with excellent french fries and the chicken/spaetzle/oat dish which seemed to be a bit over cooked. But, again, there were no fresh veggies - nothing to clean or lighten the palate. Dessert was probably the best course. We had some very good french press decaf -- great flavor. And, we had the salted caramel, popcorn panna cotta. Wow. It was good. Very rich and the caramel was certainly salty. We split it four ways so it wasn't too bad. It's a great little place. Nicely decorated. Has its own small parking lot and parking is pretty easy on Irving Park as well. We would go back. Maybe the menu will lighten as spring and summer approach.
(3)
Evan H.
Party of 5 had an 8PM reservation this past Friday. The hostess greeted us warmly and we posted up at the bar while waiting for 2 more in our party to arrive. We were seated promptly upon their arrival. Our server was friendly and seemed knowledgeable. We ordered drinks and started scanning the menu. First annoyance was that beer and wine arrived WAY before the 2 specialty cocktails that were ordered. I mean, it was AT LEAST another 5-7 minutes before the 2 cocktails arrived. I looked over my shoulder at the bar a few times - 1 bartender on a bustling Friday night. Bad scheduling on management's part, it seemed. We ordered some cheeses and charcuterie to start. Everything was good, but servings were TINY. That's ok, I'm used to that when ordering a cheese plate. Just be prepared to drop $30 on MAYBE 2 oz. each of 5-6 different items. Additionally, they were super-stingy on the bread. Yes, they did bring us a second little basket when our first disappeared 3 seconds after arriving at the table, but when each basket contains only 6-7 little wedges of bread, it goes fast. Isn't this place called BREAD & Wine? As someone else pointed out, where the hell was the bread? Our party of 5 ordered 4 small plates and 4 large plates. We ate EVERYTHING. What to take away from this? Order more than you think you'll need. Portions are minuscule, especially on the small plates. Very difficult for more than 2 or 3 people to even get a taste. Another big problem? No vegetables. I mean not a single green thing graced our table all night (notwithstanding the 2 little slices of cornichon that came with the charcuterie). When I'm ordering a $16 chorizo burger (good, but extremely salty) or a $22 flank steak entree, I say you throw in a little side salad or SOMETHING. I left feeling profoundly carnivorous and over-salted. It was a gorgeous night on Friday, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to leave the a/c off when your restaurant is busy, the kitchen/dining room follows an open concept, and your windows don't open. It got HOT in there. Uncomfortably hot. I was ready to go before the end of our meal, if only to dam the river of sweat that was rolling down my back. The 5 of us managed to drop $245 on a modest cheese/charcuterie plate, 4 small plates, 4 large plates, and 8 drinks. While the food was good, I did not leave feeling I got good value for my money. Honestly, I enjoyed the company more than any aspect of the experience at Bread & Wine. Considering its price-point, I expected more. Probably won't be going back.
(2)
Felix C.
Fabulous from beginning to the end. Great service and conversation with the sous chef. The baby octopus was awesome!
(4)
Sam L.
The neighborhood needed an upper scale restaurant but NOT this place. Here is why - Rude host full of her self AND it turns out out to be one of the owners ! - food portions are way too small to be charging $28 for an entree and to walk out still hungry , that goes also for the salad, dessert and even the small half full glass of wine for $11.50 - food is nothing special, lacks flavor , very small portions and expensive for no reason ! Too bad This place will not last another year! There are plenty of better restaurants .
(1)
Deeds P.
My husband and I want for valentines last week. We got there pretty early (6pm), and by 6:30, the place was packed. I think they were working very hard to keep all their reservations on schedule b/c we were seated, served, billed, and out the door in an hour and 5 min! We did feel a little rushed to quickly finish as they kept tying to take away our plates before we were done. Food wise, we had the burger (good, but on the small side), octopus (yum, and actually I was surprised by the generous portion), and the semolina gnocchi (very different from your normal gnocchi - they were breaded/fried cubes of rich deliciousness. Super heavy, but totally worth it). Our cocktails were good, and no, we did not order wine. Come to think of it, we also were not served any bread. All in all, great splurge place to try once. Prob won't be returning, but only b/c there are just too many places to try!
(4)
Martha L.
Being in the neighborhood I am so happy to have a dining option such as Bread and Wine. Within walking distance! I've dined here 3 times now. Love their wine list....many good, reasonably priced options. Outsranding. Love their decor. Sitting at the bar is the greatest! But there are a few things that continue to leave a slight sour taste in my mouth.... 1. Portions are too small for the price. I understand the need to charge for good, qaulity ingredients and chef preparation but the math just doesn't add up here. I had the deconstructed sweet potato pie on Saturday night. Wonderful flavors; WAY too small for $8.00. 2. My girlfriend ordered an expresso from the Bartender and he advised that this was not available. He then offered her "french pressed" coffee. We were charged $7.00. Kinda need to know that it comes for "2"....not impressed. And really, at that price? I really need to see some more "value" here. I LOVE the fact that it is within walking distance. But then I think of my experience at places like the Purple Pig; where I feel I get outstanding food at prices that match; I am perfectly fine to get in my car and drive.
(3)
Mimi R.
This place rocks! We went there at 3:30pm and for at least the first hour were the only patrons. Talk about an ideal environment to enjoy this place. We were tag-teamed by the two bartenders (sat at the bar, of course) who were so terrific and gracious. The food was amazing...smoke trout on toast, herb fries, warm burrata (OH YUM) with crispy capers to die for, beef & chorizo burger and the sweet potato doughnuts with salted caramel sauce. And the wine...all great selections. We ended up being there for almost four hours and watched the people trickle in until it was packed by 6pm-ish. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
(5)
Johanna L.
Pros: good selection of wine by the bottle, knowledgable staff, pickled dates on the cheese plate, housemade pasta Cons: fettucini was WAY too salty - almost inedible, terrible accoustics (I had to yell across the table at my friends), mushrooms were even chewier than the pasta. Glad I tried it, but will not go back unless it's just for the cheese plate and a bottle of wine.
(2)
Scott B.
I usually try to avoid restaurants until they've been open for at least a month but I was glad that I did not wait to go here. We had no wait on a Tuesday night as long as we were willing to sit at the bar. Our server, the bartender, was extremely helpful and attentive. It is a nice little restaurant that I think will be around for awhile. The small plate portions were a little light but still very tasty. My beef and chorizo burger was excellent, I highly recommend it. I never thought the chorizo would be a separate patty itself but it worked so well with the beef. And I love pretzel rolls so this only made the burger that much more enjoyable. My girlfriend had the chicken dish and seemed to really enjoy it as well. The final touch was sweet potato doughnut for dessert. It doesn't sound appealing but it is so delicious. The only hiccup in the night was when our server accidentally charged us the bottle price for a glass of wine. After a minor heart attack on my part, the situation was quickly rectified. So after 1 small plate, 2 large plates, 1 dessert, 2 glasses of wine and a beer, our total was still under $70. Not too bad for a nice meal out. We will go back again.
(5)
Jeanus T.
I cannot remember anything spectacular but the overall impression was that food very solid. I do like the atmosphere there, the crowd was sophisticated and more mature. Good hangout place.
(3)
Alexis W.
Close to my house, parking for everyone else, beautiful interior, friendly service, excellent drink selections, delicious food, and sitting at the chef's bar nets extra treats. Also a delicious brunch. Make reservations.
(5)
Mark V.
I really dig this place and like a lot of other reviewers I see here, am rooting for it to flourish. My wife and I have had a couple different date nights there and are always really pleased with the experience. I recommend the gnocchi, burger, white fish, and chicken. They have some great seasonal beers too, including two different 650ml bottles from 3 Floyds last time I was there. Yes please. Our server was delightful and even the music was great. I wish it was a little less expensive but only because we're always tempted to try one of everything when we're there.
(4)
Jerry P.
Bread & Wine has so much unrealized potential. I anxiously awaited the opening of this local restaurant for nearly a year. When it finally opened, I could hardly wait to check it out! Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. I decided to make my first trip an event and scheduled a birthday dinner for four people on a Saturday night. I called and even though they did not take reservations yet, they said they would accomodate my party -- that's excellent customer service! But that's where the exceptional service ended. My party was seated and our server did not come by and check with us for over 25 minutes to take orders. When we inquired about drinks and recommendations, we were just pointed to the printed menu and said to select from there. Well, I knew that the drinks were printed on there, I wanted the server's opinion on things to try. Speaking of the menus, they are two very large legal size sheets with small type printed on both sides -- they need to improve their presentation so that people can make good decisions. We got the duck perogis for an appetizer. The menu stated that there were three but when they were served, there were only two. We inquired with our server but she had no answer. The perogis were dry, had very little duck and seemed overdone. For the entrees, I had the chorizo burger (excellent!) and my friend had a salad which she also deemed pretty good. However, the two others had the duck stroganoff special. It was INEDIBLE. The noodles tasted just like flour and water mixed together for thirty seconds and then boiled for another thirty seconds. The noodles were gummy, hard and not at all appetizing. There was no stroganoff sauce detected at all (all absorbed into the noodles) and no one ever found a piece of duck in the entire dish. We spoke to our server about this horrible food and were given a complimentary chorizo taco appetizer ($7 value) but we still had to pay for our stroganoff dishes that could not be eaten ($18 per dish). I followed up with the restaurant on the Monday following our visit and told them my concerns and said that I was telling them since I wanted to support local business and wanted to come back again to see their improvements. They responded that everyone has an off night and that was it. They did not give me any sort of incentive to show they'd listened to encourage me to come back in. I decided to give 2 stars because the concept is good and my food from their main menu was very good. But, the service, specials and the overall laissez-faire attitude is not going to help them be successful. I wish them good luck and hope that they improve. But until I hear otherwise, I won't be back.
(2)
Kelly M.
I'm obsessed with this place!! It's so ridiculously amazing!! A few items worth noting: wine list (duh!); beer list (yep!....at a wine place!); cheese & charcuterie plates (to DIE for!!); cocktails (creative, fun, seasonal, all-around-a-huge-party-in-your-mouth); seafood: um HELLO!! More please!!; outdoor seating: it's small (and hard to come by on those rare great-weather days in early spring/late fall when everyone and their mother have an amazing urge to dine al fresco), but it's SUPER adorable and cozy; oh, and the service is literally FANTASTIC!! Basically, it's the full package! : )
(5)
Julie Y.
I like the name. I like the location and they have a parking lot - unheard of. I like the decor and the small bar and the chef's bar. But I did not like the food. The wine was good - nice selection but they could use more selections by the glass. The olives and cheese were very good. Pigface pancetta - nah. Pancetta is all fatty, better to offer prosciutto. The fried gnocchi - I don't get it. Had not flavor. So once I have ordered the cheese plate, olives and gnocchi, frankly, I did not want anything else. They gave us free dessert - still not sure why. It just appeared when we were discussing whether we wanted a dessert. It was a nice gesture, but odd because it happened without much discussion. I liked the dessert - panna cotta - with carmel corn on top. Interesting. It's a cool place. I want it to succeed. They need a bit more polish and maybe have someone tweak some of the starters. I cannot speak to the small or large plates, but I do understand other reviewers were not unhappy.
(3)
Michelle L.
Just had brunch today. Service was excellent. Atmosphere was also excellent. The food was good - very good but not great or the best I have had. My two friends felt the same way. We will definitely be back to try dinner.
(4)
B. A.
Eight of us had a wonderful dinner here - appetizers, entrees, desserts and nice wine. The servers were friendly and knowledgable and the food was perfect - all of it. It's a cozy darkish space with a parking lot in front. Perfect evening.
I was definitely underwhelmed by this place. Considering how much I was paying, the portions and quality just weren't cutting it. I will say that the cheese was absolutely delicious, but it's not like they make it in-house. At the time, they had a meatloaf on the menu which was terribly bland. It was served with some weird chili paste that was really bitter and did little to help the dish. It's a huge shame since Old Irving really needs some good restaurants.
(2)
Moe f.
Swung by early on a Sat night and snagged a seat at the bar with Hans. Started with a nice priced bottle of Josh Cellars cab. Started with some cheese and meats. we got chicken liver(amazing), Panceta(amazing), duck and some other cheeses. Well could have made a meal with all that but also got the fries which were great and the duck pierogies. Pierogies were OK. Will definitely be back to try some other dishes.
(4)
Mariah V.
When they announced they were taking reservations, my friend and I knew it was time to make a trip out there. There's a little parking lot out front, and we had no trouble getting a spot. Walking in the host asked us if we were the party of 5 which kind of threw us off, because there were, well, only two of us standing there. We ended up ordering parmesan grana, herb fries, duck confit pierogies, mixed greens salad, and braised pork shoulder. Our waitress said she would pace the food so first we got the parmesan, pierogies and fries, then salad and pork shoulder. They did come in little waves, but we couldn't eat everything fast enough until the next wave came. I didn't mind all the food sitting in front of us, because I like to feel like I'm feasting. The parmesan grana came in little chunks with a few pieces of bread, mustard, jam and mini pickles. Loved the cheese, mustard and the tanginess of the jam, but the bread left a little to be desired. Next up, the pierogies that had creme fraiche (cafeteria fraiiiiiiiiche. South Park, anyone?) and pickled red onions. All the components worked very well together, plus I really love pickled red onions. Really. The fries were seasoned well and were nice with the malt aioli, but we had a lot of little fry nubbins in the bottom of the basket. Fortunately, I am not too proud to eat fry nubbins. The salad was fresh, and the pickled fennel was so good. Finally, the main event, the braised pork shoulder. Meat with cornbread puree, baked beans and pickled brussels sprouts, which seemed like a bizarre combination of things we love. I loved the brussels sprouts, the baked beans were alright, and the meat was nice but had a few bits of gristle. Leaving Bread & Wine, I was kind of confused. The flavors were good, but everything we got was strangely luke warm instead of hot, literally. I would understand more if the food had actually been paced, but it all came out very quickly and couldn't have sat for long. The pierogies were my favorite part of the meal but were just sort of warm and sitting there. Nothing cooked felt very fresh, I suppose, despite the ingredients clearly being fresh. Bread & Wine could be so good, but everything just seemed a bit off from the food to the service. I do love that they list the farms from which their ingredients come. I'd give Bread & Wine a 3.5, but I can't think of a good reason to round up to 4 stars.
(3)
Susan F.
My recent experience at bread & wine was delightful. Food standouts included the pig face pancetta, Manchester cheese, beef and chorizo burger, carrot fettuccine and flank steak. Service was very attentive and the atmosphere was lively. The wine selections were really great. Their sauvignon blanc was perfect and we also had a delicious Malbec. Downsides: 1) cheese and meat portions on the charcuterie (sp?) were far too small - need to be about 25% bigger so a group can taste and for the value, 2) Hard to hear each other in a big group.
(4)
Foodie E.
Been on Chicago 20 years and this place by far is one of my favorites. Highly highly recommended. Flank steak is the best I've ever had. Unbelievable.
(5)
Michelle M.
My boyfriend recently took me here to celebrate my birthday and it was one of the best birthday dinners I've ever had. From the minute we walked in the door I knew it was going to be a good experience. We went out on a Thursday night, so it really wasn't that crowded. Initially we thought we'd sit outside because it was such a nice night. Since it wasn't very crowded, the super nice hostess gave us the option to sit - including the "chef table." Not your typical chef table since it's more of a "bar with many seats," we chose this option. From the moment we sat down, the chef(s) were just awesome. They got wind it was my birthday and perhaps that's why they were so awesome to us, but the hostess did tell us you "get special things" sometimes when you sit there. We started off with meat/cheese plate - the Kielbasa is to DIE for - and I don't even like sausage that much. We then were given as a "treat" the fried gnocchi - which is nothing like you'd think and I'm not even going to try to justify it in writing b/c I can't. Just go there and get it. It's not on the menu; it's a special request dish. Fantastic! Then, chef let us taste some pork belly - incredible - as well as a wild mushroom that was literally walked in the door by the seller while we were sitting there. I got the scallops, my boyfriend got the pasta and they were SO amazing. Then, when it came to dessert, we couldn't' decide, so we ordered the panacotta - and they actually brought us that and the seasonal dessert. It was such a wonderful birthday and the entire staff at Bread & Wine made it that way! Thank you!
Wow! We loved this place! I cannot wait to get back there! My fiance and I just went last week. We were in a bit of a rush - we had about an hour and our server Kevin made sure that was no problem for us. We did 4 courses and left with no sweat on our brow. But that's just the start for Kevin - he was super helpful and accommodating and you couldn't ask for a better server knowledge. He was there when we needed him and gave us space to enjoy ourselves when we didn't. And we definitely bombarded him with a lot of questions! For wine we had a Malbec and Syrah - both delicious. We started with a cheese and charcuterie plate with selections suggested by Kevin and were immediately in love with Bread and Wine. Next was the duck pierogies which, again, were perfect. My favorite thing about this restaurant is that it's farm to table - which means meat I can eat! Yippee!! For the main course we had the pumpkin fettuccine and the burger. The pumpkin fettuccine was good but not my favorite thing - probably because I kept eating the mushrooms forgetting they were mushrooms and not liking them (apparently I'm not so smart). The burger was amazing. I mean, it had chorizo! What's not to like? And the fries were great too - you could tell how fresh they were. Not to mention I could see how fresh they were. I sat up at the kitchen bar. Which i recommend. We got to hang with the chefs and chat it up a bit and watch them do their thing. On top of everything, the place is reasonably priced. For all that our bill was still less than $100. Can't beat that! Seriously, what's not to like about this place??
(5)
Sparty S.
This place is just alright. Honestly, I don't see what the hype was by all the 5-star reviewers. They made me have high hopes for this place. Went in on Saturday at 7:30, didn't wait terribly long. I have to say, the location is sort of weird, so the fact that they have a parking lot is a plus.... otherwise it'd be a huge pain to get to unless you live off the blue line or the Metra. We ended up getting lucky and scoring some seats at the bar. The bar staff was a bit rough around the edges.... it didn't seem like they had their "groove" down quite yet, but since this place is less than a month old, I gave them some credit. The guy that took our order was one of those that tries to remember it without writing it down, but then forgets to put it in. Dude, just grab a pad of paper! So we waited sort of a while for our appetizers/small plates.... Which were really small. I guess that is why they are called small plates. For the price, so not worth it. 3 tiny chorizo tacos for 7 bucks. Each taco was literally 2 bite. They were pretty tasty. The Duck Pieorgis were FAB. We also had fried pickles. They were decent. I got the chicken dish, and both of my friends got the fish. They were out of the walleye so they served up some other fish that tasted pretty fishy. Mine was alright... not awesome. It could have been worse.... but it could have been better. There just wasn't much wow factor to this.... and my friend commented that it was on the dry side. We had dessert.... my favorite part of every meal... and it was delicious. We had the rosemary olive oil cake with lemon curd and whipped creme fraiche, and the sweet potato donuts with salted caramel sauce. Both were DELICIOUS. Overall, I'd say try this place if you live in the area. If you don't, I'd say you can take it or leave it. It's definitely no Ruxbin.... or Telegraph. I didn't get to work today and blab about this place to my coworkers.
(3)
Johnny B.
What a great addition to the neighborhood! My wife and I have been twice already and will definitely be returning soon. Everything, from the food to the service, is spot-on! We love the counter seating next to the open kitchen. It's interesting to watch the activity and the kitchen staff is quite friendly in spite of the frantic pace. Prices are quite reasonable considering the quality of food and preparation. The tab would be double if this place were on Randolph Street. My one complaint is the shortage of parking (the lot in front is small and was full during both of our visits). Street parking is generally plentiful but the restaurant resides near that weird intersection of Elston and Irving Park Road where you get sucked into a Bermuda Triangle-like maze of one directional side streets. It's also good to see several vegetarian / vegan options on the menu so we can bring our misguided friends - whom we love in spite of their dietary preference.
(5)
Scott Y.
We really enjoyed our wine tasting/food pairing over the weekend. The owners and staff were friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. The wine picks were very interesting and the nibbles were really good. Told this will be a monthly event. This was our first visit and we will be back to have a full meal. Glad they are in the neighborhood!
(4)
Michelle N.
Food and atmosphere were excellent. We went on a busy Sat night and had the option to sit at the counter or wait for a table. Sitting at the counter and conversing with the staff made for an entertaining experience! Staff was informative, attentive, and friendly. Food was flavorful and fun. Would definitely go back and recommend to friends!
(5)
Jerry M.
Great neighborhood join, truly a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Super friendly staff, love sitting at the kitchen bar. As they worked through their opening quirks, things just kept getting better.
(4)
Alexandra B.
Everything about this place was meh. The wine, the food, the service, all of it. The only thing I truly liked was the cheese but it's not like they make that there anyway. I hope this is all part of getting the "just opened" kinks out because I would really like to come back. This neighborhood desperately needs better places to eat. I was really surprised the wine menu was not bigger, given the name of the place. I kept flipping the menu over expecting more on the next page. The prices are really high for what you're getting. The quality and quantity just don't match up with the price. Maybe I'll try it again once they've been here for a year or so.
(2)
Denise M.
Amazing!! First of all the service was amazing. Lisa Rocks!! She took such good care of me last night for my 14 person birthday dinner. I had such great wine and a lot of it!! The food was great! Good time was had by all!
(5)
Leo J.
A place with a fun and inviting atmosphere. Great food, good service and reasonable prices. I will definitely be coming back. Make sure to get the Pate and the chorizo burger is to die for.
(5)
Linda P.
As other reviewers have noted, b&w is a nice addition to the hood. Most of the patrons seem to be neighborhood folks which is good & bad news. They will need to do some work to attract people from out of the area to make the trek. The restaurant is very noisy. The owners are aware of the problem & say a fix is in the works but on a busy Friday night it was virtually impossible to carry on a conversation at our table. Good wine selection & fair prices. The food is generally good but a bit pricy. $5 for a bowl of nuts? The cheese sampler plate had tiny portions. The entrees are a better deal than the small plates. Dessert choices are limited but very good. Since I live nearby I will be back.
(3)
Axel G.
The food and wait staff staff was great. The wines were also very good. The only downside was that we sat by the window/fridge so it was a bit cold. Regardless, adults and children enjoyed the meal.
So glad this place is in Irving Park. The atmosphere is really laid back and friendly and the food is inventive without being stuffy (and very good!). I'm looking forward to returning again and again!
(4)
Mary K.
What a pleasant surprise. Amazing food. You eat straight from the Midwest prairie. Houses made charcuterie, local cheeses, wild greens, stinging nettle fetuccini with hedgehog mushrooms- some of the best food we have had this year. Outstanding attentive service without being pretentious. A delightful mix of Chicago folks from Old Irving Park, Avondale and Albany Park. We will go back often. This is a restaurant that focuses on the basics of great ingredients, great service and great wine at affordable price points. Big success. Let's hope the ultra cool and snooty don't discover this down to Earth gem. Bravo to all involved.
(5)
B B.
Maybe we went on an off night, but our experience was quite disappointing. The salads were weak with very little flavor and pork belly had no sear on it at all, so there was no texture to the dish. Nice decor and atmosphere and probably a welcomed addition to that neighborhood, but for us it was not worth the drive.
(2)
Guido N.
We didn't have reservations so we sat at the bar that overlooks their open kitchen. Turned out to be the best seats in the house. House cured meats with a schmeer of this or that on top. Everything was great. A tall pretty lady helped me through the wine list-fine by me. I'll be back.
(5)
Elle D.
The food was awesome! Best sausage I have ever had! A def must try!
(5)
Jamie B.
My sister and I went here for dinner last night. I seriously can't believe it has only been open a week; the service was flawless and the food was amazing. The seamless service and the degree of familiarity that the waitstaff had with all of the food and wines is much more of what I would expect from a well-run place that has been around for years. Did I mention that the food was amazing (I am going to be craving that burger!)? The wine we had with it was perfect, and the dessert is to die for. I will be going back as soon as possible! We went on a Wednesday night, and given how many people were there (and already waiting for tables), this restaurant is just what the neighborhood has been needing! Although it was busy, we never felt rushed. I'm sure that word will get out soon and people will make this spot a destination from all over, because the menu and experience is unique and delightful. I'll just make reservations next time!
(5)
Laura B.
We went here yesterday evening for our wedding anniversary and had an amazing time. The service was wonderful. This place is unique and creative, their menu is full of items you won't find other places. We enjoyed everything we tried, especially the flour less chocolate cake with pop rocks and fruity pebbles. Very enjoyable experience all around, and we look forward to dining here again!
(5)
Brian W.
Went on Saturday, 1/28 at 6:00 pm. We sat along the east wall where it was very loud. Hard to have a conversation. Needs something on the wall or drapes to eat up some of the noise. Food was good.
(3)
Gary W.
Enjoyed the Tuesday tasting menu. Also had the special cocktail of the evening which was only 7$ well balanced, yet plenty of booze. It was fun sitting at the counter engaging the chefs periodically or just watching the whole process. 130$ total for two 3 course meals with two great drinks each is a good deal. The food was complex, tasty, and well executed. We'll definately be back.
(5)
Jean B.
Lincoln Park comes to Irving Park! Casual-fine dining with a select yet well-executed menu. We enjoyed every taste - but especially the crispy gnocchi and popcorn panna cotta. Impressive and well-priced wine list. Wonderful, attentive service. And they DO have outdoor seating on their delightful tree-lined side street - nary an exhaust fume in the air!
(4)
Jenny H.
My new favorite restaurant in my hood! The food is farm to table and amazing. We sat at the counter where you can watch your food being prepared as well as in house meats and they even let us sample some. I have been back multiple times and can't wait to go for the brunch which I heard was wonderful! I love having them in the neighborhood.
(5)
Jill P.
I'm so excited Bread & Wine opened in my neighborhood. Amazing food and really great service while still moderately priced. I went there with my boyfriend on a Saturday night (of opening weekend). The place was packed so I sat at the bar while my bf stood behind me and waited for another seat to open up - he waited about 15 minutes. I started off with a cocktail, the Blue Line to O'Hare for $8 - yum! They also have a nice selection of wines by the glass/bottle and beers. I tried the Dragon's Milk stout for $5 - I have a new favorite beer :) The chicken liver pate was like meat butter - it was so good. My bf loved the chorizo beef burger and I was very impressed by the walleye. The braised fennel had such great flavor, I wanted to lick the green olive tapenade off the plate and of course the walleye was perfectly cooked that just made the perfect dish. Three drinks for me and 2 for the bf, an appetizer and two entrees added up to about $60 after tip. What a deal. I'll definitely be back. Be sure to peruse their market items while waiting for a table - biscotti, brittle, almonds, the curry coconut cashews rock my face off.
(5)
Jennifer L.
So happy to have something like Bread & Wine in the neighborhood!!! Had dinner here on Friday night and smiled the entire time because the food was just that good! The chicken tortellini small plate special and the salad we had were our favorites but everything we ordered was seasoned well, tasted great and left us wanting to visit again VERY soon!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
George A.
The staff and owners are very welcoming. We had raw sliced scallops with exotic fruit gels, the walleye was great, the gnocchi is one of a kind. We ordered the chefs choice cheese and charcuterie which was enough for 4 people, we loved the chicken liver pâté, the ham was excellent and the cheeses were awesome. I also ordered the duck confit pierogis and we both thought they were very good. Flourless chocolate cake with fruity pebble crumble finished off a great meal! I loved my "grumpy old man" cocktail which was made with Redemption bourbon, ginger ale, and a lime! Can't wait to go back!
(4)Moe f.
Swung by early on a Sat night and snagged a seat at the bar with Hans. Started with a nice priced bottle of Josh Cellars cab. Started with some cheese and meats. we got chicken liver(amazing), Panceta(amazing), duck and some other cheeses. Well could have made a meal with all that but also got the fries which were great and the duck pierogies. Pierogies were OK. Will definitely be back to try some other dishes.
(4)Johanna L.
Pros: good selection of wine by the bottle, knowledgable staff, pickled dates on the cheese plate, housemade pasta Cons: fettucini was WAY too salty - almost inedible, terrible accoustics (I had to yell across the table at my friends), mushrooms were even chewier than the pasta. Glad I tried it, but will not go back unless it's just for the cheese plate and a bottle of wine.
(2)Mariah V.
When they announced they were taking reservations, my friend and I knew it was time to make a trip out there. There's a little parking lot out front, and we had no trouble getting a spot. Walking in the host asked us if we were the party of 5 which kind of threw us off, because there were, well, only two of us standing there. We ended up ordering parmesan grana, herb fries, duck confit pierogies, mixed greens salad, and braised pork shoulder. Our waitress said she would pace the food so first we got the parmesan, pierogies and fries, then salad and pork shoulder. They did come in little waves, but we couldn't eat everything fast enough until the next wave came. I didn't mind all the food sitting in front of us, because I like to feel like I'm feasting. The parmesan grana came in little chunks with a few pieces of bread, mustard, jam and mini pickles. Loved the cheese, mustard and the tanginess of the jam, but the bread left a little to be desired. Next up, the pierogies that had creme fraiche (cafeteria fraiiiiiiiiche. South Park, anyone?) and pickled red onions. All the components worked very well together, plus I really love pickled red onions. Really. The fries were seasoned well and were nice with the malt aioli, but we had a lot of little fry nubbins in the bottom of the basket. Fortunately, I am not too proud to eat fry nubbins. The salad was fresh, and the pickled fennel was so good. Finally, the main event, the braised pork shoulder. Meat with cornbread puree, baked beans and pickled brussels sprouts, which seemed like a bizarre combination of things we love. I loved the brussels sprouts, the baked beans were alright, and the meat was nice but had a few bits of gristle. Leaving Bread & Wine, I was kind of confused. The flavors were good, but everything we got was strangely luke warm instead of hot, literally. I would understand more if the food had actually been paced, but it all came out very quickly and couldn't have sat for long. The pierogies were my favorite part of the meal but were just sort of warm and sitting there. Nothing cooked felt very fresh, I suppose, despite the ingredients clearly being fresh. Bread & Wine could be so good, but everything just seemed a bit off from the food to the service. I do love that they list the farms from which their ingredients come. I'd give Bread & Wine a 3.5, but I can't think of a good reason to round up to 4 stars.
(3)Susan F.
My recent experience at bread & wine was delightful. Food standouts included the pig face pancetta, Manchester cheese, beef and chorizo burger, carrot fettuccine and flank steak. Service was very attentive and the atmosphere was lively. The wine selections were really great. Their sauvignon blanc was perfect and we also had a delicious Malbec. Downsides: 1) cheese and meat portions on the charcuterie (sp?) were far too small - need to be about 25% bigger so a group can taste and for the value, 2) Hard to hear each other in a big group.
(4)Foodie E.
Been on Chicago 20 years and this place by far is one of my favorites. Highly highly recommended. Flank steak is the best I've ever had. Unbelievable.
(5)Michelle M.
My boyfriend recently took me here to celebrate my birthday and it was one of the best birthday dinners I've ever had. From the minute we walked in the door I knew it was going to be a good experience. We went out on a Thursday night, so it really wasn't that crowded. Initially we thought we'd sit outside because it was such a nice night. Since it wasn't very crowded, the super nice hostess gave us the option to sit - including the "chef table." Not your typical chef table since it's more of a "bar with many seats," we chose this option. From the moment we sat down, the chef(s) were just awesome. They got wind it was my birthday and perhaps that's why they were so awesome to us, but the hostess did tell us you "get special things" sometimes when you sit there. We started off with meat/cheese plate - the Kielbasa is to DIE for - and I don't even like sausage that much. We then were given as a "treat" the fried gnocchi - which is nothing like you'd think and I'm not even going to try to justify it in writing b/c I can't. Just go there and get it. It's not on the menu; it's a special request dish. Fantastic! Then, chef let us taste some pork belly - incredible - as well as a wild mushroom that was literally walked in the door by the seller while we were sitting there. I got the scallops, my boyfriend got the pasta and they were SO amazing. Then, when it came to dessert, we couldn't' decide, so we ordered the panacotta - and they actually brought us that and the seasonal dessert. It was such a wonderful birthday and the entire staff at Bread & Wine made it that way! Thank you!
(5)Vic B.
I can only give one star on the basis that we didn't stay long enough to actually try the food. We had a party of 6 for an 8pm reservation on a Friday night.....a rehearsal dinner, as we're getting married the next day. I should have known something was up, getting such a reservation on a Friday night via Open Table, just two days before. In fact I even commented so to my fiancé as I booked it. We arrive a few minutes to 8. And the hostess says our table is almost ready. By 8.15, no sign of the table, and we're standing by the bar - where they're obviously hoping we will buy their overpriced drinks while we wait. Thing is, don't offer us the bar when there's only 4 seats, and there's 6 of us. Then don't hassle us nonstop for standing in the way. Then we wait and wait as we see at least two parties of two walk right in and get seated right away. By 8.30, we've had enough. Now, half an hour may not be that long to some people, but in that restaurant, where there is hardly room to move, it felt like a lifetime. It's too loud to have a conversation anyway, and we're tired of watching the hostess and bartender harass the couple who are finishing up their meal and clearly taking too long to finish according to the hostess, as she's busy rearranging the table next to them in readiness for pushing the two together for our party, which was obviously being done for our benefit. Overall, I'm sure the food is as good as the reviews say, but until they have an attitude adjustment and an overhaul of their business plan and accept you cannot and should not accept large parties when you clearly don't have the capacity for them, I won't be back, or will the other 5 members of my party. Too bad, as we live right around the corner and have a lot of friends who like to eat out.
(1)Erin K.
Wow! We loved this place! I cannot wait to get back there! My fiance and I just went last week. We were in a bit of a rush - we had about an hour and our server Kevin made sure that was no problem for us. We did 4 courses and left with no sweat on our brow. But that's just the start for Kevin - he was super helpful and accommodating and you couldn't ask for a better server knowledge. He was there when we needed him and gave us space to enjoy ourselves when we didn't. And we definitely bombarded him with a lot of questions! For wine we had a Malbec and Syrah - both delicious. We started with a cheese and charcuterie plate with selections suggested by Kevin and were immediately in love with Bread and Wine. Next was the duck pierogies which, again, were perfect. My favorite thing about this restaurant is that it's farm to table - which means meat I can eat! Yippee!! For the main course we had the pumpkin fettuccine and the burger. The pumpkin fettuccine was good but not my favorite thing - probably because I kept eating the mushrooms forgetting they were mushrooms and not liking them (apparently I'm not so smart). The burger was amazing. I mean, it had chorizo! What's not to like? And the fries were great too - you could tell how fresh they were. Not to mention I could see how fresh they were. I sat up at the kitchen bar. Which i recommend. We got to hang with the chefs and chat it up a bit and watch them do their thing. On top of everything, the place is reasonably priced. For all that our bill was still less than $100. Can't beat that! Seriously, what's not to like about this place??
(5)Sparty S.
This place is just alright. Honestly, I don't see what the hype was by all the 5-star reviewers. They made me have high hopes for this place. Went in on Saturday at 7:30, didn't wait terribly long. I have to say, the location is sort of weird, so the fact that they have a parking lot is a plus.... otherwise it'd be a huge pain to get to unless you live off the blue line or the Metra. We ended up getting lucky and scoring some seats at the bar. The bar staff was a bit rough around the edges.... it didn't seem like they had their "groove" down quite yet, but since this place is less than a month old, I gave them some credit. The guy that took our order was one of those that tries to remember it without writing it down, but then forgets to put it in. Dude, just grab a pad of paper! So we waited sort of a while for our appetizers/small plates.... Which were really small. I guess that is why they are called small plates. For the price, so not worth it. 3 tiny chorizo tacos for 7 bucks. Each taco was literally 2 bite. They were pretty tasty. The Duck Pieorgis were FAB. We also had fried pickles. They were decent. I got the chicken dish, and both of my friends got the fish. They were out of the walleye so they served up some other fish that tasted pretty fishy. Mine was alright... not awesome. It could have been worse.... but it could have been better. There just wasn't much wow factor to this.... and my friend commented that it was on the dry side. We had dessert.... my favorite part of every meal... and it was delicious. We had the rosemary olive oil cake with lemon curd and whipped creme fraiche, and the sweet potato donuts with salted caramel sauce. Both were DELICIOUS. Overall, I'd say try this place if you live in the area. If you don't, I'd say you can take it or leave it. It's definitely no Ruxbin.... or Telegraph. I didn't get to work today and blab about this place to my coworkers.
(3)Johnny B.
What a great addition to the neighborhood! My wife and I have been twice already and will definitely be returning soon. Everything, from the food to the service, is spot-on! We love the counter seating next to the open kitchen. It's interesting to watch the activity and the kitchen staff is quite friendly in spite of the frantic pace. Prices are quite reasonable considering the quality of food and preparation. The tab would be double if this place were on Randolph Street. My one complaint is the shortage of parking (the lot in front is small and was full during both of our visits). Street parking is generally plentiful but the restaurant resides near that weird intersection of Elston and Irving Park Road where you get sucked into a Bermuda Triangle-like maze of one directional side streets. It's also good to see several vegetarian / vegan options on the menu so we can bring our misguided friends - whom we love in spite of their dietary preference.
(5)Scott Y.
We really enjoyed our wine tasting/food pairing over the weekend. The owners and staff were friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. The wine picks were very interesting and the nibbles were really good. Told this will be a monthly event. This was our first visit and we will be back to have a full meal. Glad they are in the neighborhood!
(4)Michelle N.
Food and atmosphere were excellent. We went on a busy Sat night and had the option to sit at the counter or wait for a table. Sitting at the counter and conversing with the staff made for an entertaining experience! Staff was informative, attentive, and friendly. Food was flavorful and fun. Would definitely go back and recommend to friends!
(5)Jerry M.
Great neighborhood join, truly a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Super friendly staff, love sitting at the kitchen bar. As they worked through their opening quirks, things just kept getting better.
(4)Alexandra B.
Everything about this place was meh. The wine, the food, the service, all of it. The only thing I truly liked was the cheese but it's not like they make that there anyway. I hope this is all part of getting the "just opened" kinks out because I would really like to come back. This neighborhood desperately needs better places to eat. I was really surprised the wine menu was not bigger, given the name of the place. I kept flipping the menu over expecting more on the next page. The prices are really high for what you're getting. The quality and quantity just don't match up with the price. Maybe I'll try it again once they've been here for a year or so.
(2)Denise M.
Amazing!! First of all the service was amazing. Lisa Rocks!! She took such good care of me last night for my 14 person birthday dinner. I had such great wine and a lot of it!! The food was great! Good time was had by all!
(5)Leo J.
A place with a fun and inviting atmosphere. Great food, good service and reasonable prices. I will definitely be coming back. Make sure to get the Pate and the chorizo burger is to die for.
(5)Mary K.
What a pleasant surprise. Amazing food. You eat straight from the Midwest prairie. Houses made charcuterie, local cheeses, wild greens, stinging nettle fetuccini with hedgehog mushrooms- some of the best food we have had this year. Outstanding attentive service without being pretentious. A delightful mix of Chicago folks from Old Irving Park, Avondale and Albany Park. We will go back often. This is a restaurant that focuses on the basics of great ingredients, great service and great wine at affordable price points. Big success. Let's hope the ultra cool and snooty don't discover this down to Earth gem. Bravo to all involved.
(5)B B.
Maybe we went on an off night, but our experience was quite disappointing. The salads were weak with very little flavor and pork belly had no sear on it at all, so there was no texture to the dish. Nice decor and atmosphere and probably a welcomed addition to that neighborhood, but for us it was not worth the drive.
(2)Guido N.
We didn't have reservations so we sat at the bar that overlooks their open kitchen. Turned out to be the best seats in the house. House cured meats with a schmeer of this or that on top. Everything was great. A tall pretty lady helped me through the wine list-fine by me. I'll be back.
(5)Elle D.
The food was awesome! Best sausage I have ever had! A def must try!
(5)Kim H.
Absolutely fabulous! Sat at the bar. The service was excellent and the food was over the top. Pork belly, scallop, and the chicken liver was to die for. I love this place!
(5)Jamie B.
My sister and I went here for dinner last night. I seriously can't believe it has only been open a week; the service was flawless and the food was amazing. The seamless service and the degree of familiarity that the waitstaff had with all of the food and wines is much more of what I would expect from a well-run place that has been around for years. Did I mention that the food was amazing (I am going to be craving that burger!)? The wine we had with it was perfect, and the dessert is to die for. I will be going back as soon as possible! We went on a Wednesday night, and given how many people were there (and already waiting for tables), this restaurant is just what the neighborhood has been needing! Although it was busy, we never felt rushed. I'm sure that word will get out soon and people will make this spot a destination from all over, because the menu and experience is unique and delightful. I'll just make reservations next time!
(5)Laura B.
We went here yesterday evening for our wedding anniversary and had an amazing time. The service was wonderful. This place is unique and creative, their menu is full of items you won't find other places. We enjoyed everything we tried, especially the flour less chocolate cake with pop rocks and fruity pebbles. Very enjoyable experience all around, and we look forward to dining here again!
(5)Brian W.
Went on Saturday, 1/28 at 6:00 pm. We sat along the east wall where it was very loud. Hard to have a conversation. Needs something on the wall or drapes to eat up some of the noise. Food was good.
(3)Gary W.
Enjoyed the Tuesday tasting menu. Also had the special cocktail of the evening which was only 7$ well balanced, yet plenty of booze. It was fun sitting at the counter engaging the chefs periodically or just watching the whole process. 130$ total for two 3 course meals with two great drinks each is a good deal. The food was complex, tasty, and well executed. We'll definately be back.
(5)Jean B.
Lincoln Park comes to Irving Park! Casual-fine dining with a select yet well-executed menu. We enjoyed every taste - but especially the crispy gnocchi and popcorn panna cotta. Impressive and well-priced wine list. Wonderful, attentive service. And they DO have outdoor seating on their delightful tree-lined side street - nary an exhaust fume in the air!
(4)Jenny H.
My new favorite restaurant in my hood! The food is farm to table and amazing. We sat at the counter where you can watch your food being prepared as well as in house meats and they even let us sample some. I have been back multiple times and can't wait to go for the brunch which I heard was wonderful! I love having them in the neighborhood.
(5)Jill P.
I'm so excited Bread & Wine opened in my neighborhood. Amazing food and really great service while still moderately priced. I went there with my boyfriend on a Saturday night (of opening weekend). The place was packed so I sat at the bar while my bf stood behind me and waited for another seat to open up - he waited about 15 minutes. I started off with a cocktail, the Blue Line to O'Hare for $8 - yum! They also have a nice selection of wines by the glass/bottle and beers. I tried the Dragon's Milk stout for $5 - I have a new favorite beer :) The chicken liver pate was like meat butter - it was so good. My bf loved the chorizo beef burger and I was very impressed by the walleye. The braised fennel had such great flavor, I wanted to lick the green olive tapenade off the plate and of course the walleye was perfectly cooked that just made the perfect dish. Three drinks for me and 2 for the bf, an appetizer and two entrees added up to about $60 after tip. What a deal. I'll definitely be back. Be sure to peruse their market items while waiting for a table - biscotti, brittle, almonds, the curry coconut cashews rock my face off.
(5)Jennifer L.
So happy to have something like Bread & Wine in the neighborhood!!! Had dinner here on Friday night and smiled the entire time because the food was just that good! The chicken tortellini small plate special and the salad we had were our favorites but everything we ordered was seasoned well, tasted great and left us wanting to visit again VERY soon!
(4)Henry H.
came here for brunch on a sunday. my friends and I all ordered different things. I got the seasonal omelette with a side of bacon. It was great. The french toast my friend got was delicious, three of us agreed that it was the best we had ever had. we also split the cinnamon bun for a starter, flaky creamy goodness. Good service and ambiance as well. highly recommend this place!
(5)Angela R.
Simple, delicious, thoughtful food. Chicken liver pate, sheep cheese & Tasso ham accompanied by crusty bread, kumquat marmalade & mustard. Scrumptious pasta with confit duck & butternut squash. Perfectly seared Whitefish with lentils. Refreshing to see a mature crowd enjoying excellent food & conversation.
(5)Coll P.
Wildly attractive servers, mezcal cocktails, fresh farm to table food! I'm smitten.
(5)Emily J.
I went to Bread & Wine for Chicago Restaurant week! Everything I had was very good, my only complaint was that the red velvet cake was a bit dry. Otherwise, excellent food, drinks, and service. I will definitely be returning!
(4)Lauren L.
I LOOOOVVVEEE THIS PLACE! I am actually hating the fact that I am writing a review because I do not want people to know how special this place is. (I want it all for myself) I have been going here for the past 3 years (give or take) and EVERY time I go there, I have such an amazing experience. The food is.....oh god, like SO GOOD. You could literally close your eyes, and randomly select a dish and be satisfied. The other thing I really like about this place is that everything is organically farm raised - everything is fresh! My husband and I went on a bread and wine bender and visited the place once a week for about a month, the staff began to recognize us, and we got some free perks here and there. (hehe) Tommy is our favorite server, but there are other people on staff that rock. (seriously, you guys rule) There was one experience that stuck with me that I would like to share. On a random Sunday, my husband and I walked over and had a beautiful brunch....we decided to stay a little longer and order some drinks (you only live once, right!?) it was becoming very busy, and so the waiter asked us very kindly if we could just sit at the bar since we were only having drinks. Of course, we agreed, and we continued drinking. Then, I can't remember why, but we had to move from the bar. This time, one of the hosts asked us to move. Honestly, it really didn't bother us because we knew that we were the ones staying and basically, getting in the way. So, I just told her, "you can put me any where you want, as long as you keep slinging me these drinks!" She laughed, and said, "I like your style!" and she totally hooked us up with a free dessert. Like, she didn't have to do that. Yes, we had to move 2 times, but who cares? We were still able to enjoy our delicious drinks, and we got a free plate!
(5)Craig Y.
This place does some great food and some questionable things. You can always rely on their burgers. They are thick and juicy plus I love their fries. The plates of cheeses and pates are awesome. They have some Devine artisan cheeses full of different flavor sand different depths. Their bread is fresh and really good. I would give the place a higher stars but I had the gazpacho corn soup which was like a water drained out of a can of plain corn with 16 kernels added to it. Perhaps I was not ready for something that cutting edge. I will definitely go back just not sure if I should experiment.
(3)Melissa S.
It's about time I updated this review. I've been back here several times (since it's very convenient for me) and the food has definitely improved since my first visit. I get friendly and consistent service here. My favorite way to visit B&W is to snag a table on the quiet patio and take my time working through some charcuterie, small plates, and of course lots of wine. The house rosé is yummy!
(4)Jason M.
Appetizers - good charcuterie Main course - nice smaller portions Dessert - get the popcorn panne cotta The Bill - very reasonable for the high quality Service - Good Atmosphere - relaxed and intimate Bottom Line - we had a great time and everyone loved the food. Service was very good but not perfect, hence the 1 star deduction.
(4)Julia R.
I frequent Bread & Wine every other month or so because I live in the Irving Park neighborhood and its within walking distance of our home. Unfortunately I'm not sure I'll return. While I was out for a walk with my family this evening, they waited outside while I ran in to set a reservation for Fathers Day on Sunday. I was greeted by a short man with stringy hair at the host stand. I asked for an 11am reservation for two and baby, in hopes that we could be sat on the bench along the wall and was told probably not, because of two other large parties booked ahead of us. I'm not sure why the large tables in the center of the restaurant couldn't have been used for these two groups but I explained why the bench worked better for us. We visited for Mothers Day with our 3wo, at that time, and my husband made the same request because we don't have an infant car seat to pop out of our car (to have a place for our baby to sit during the meal) so we just lay him on the bench next to us. Anyhow, the host was pretty rude. It didn't seem like he wanted or cared about getting our business at all. He said he couldn't reserve the bench for us at 11 so when I asked for another time that we could come in and sit along the wall he said it's probably impossible. Anyhow, the interaction was unfortunate and unfriendly and made my family feel unwelcome on a day we would have loved to celebrate Fathers Day with a nice brunch together.
(3)Ryan T.
Had a small plate and 2 large plates which was perfect for 2 people. The food was really good (crispy gnocchi ++++) and our server was great. Would have been a higher rating if not for the fact that after dinner we tried to have a few cocktails as the bar, waited for 15 min without so much as an acknowledgment from the bartender and then just left.
(3)Matthew M.
Amazing atmosphere and food! We started at the bar and had a great conversation with the bartender Josh who paired us up with some great glasses of wine. When our table was really shortly after, we were delighted to browse the menu - it was stacked with some great options, mainly the chorizo angus burger and the chicken with pate. My fiancee who is a vegetarian had no problem finding something to her liking. Desert was superb, we got 4 different options! Highly recommended..
(5)Linda P.
As other reviewers have noted, b&w is a nice addition to the hood. Most of the patrons seem to be neighborhood folks which is good & bad news. They will need to do some work to attract people from out of the area to make the trek. The restaurant is very noisy. The owners are aware of the problem & say a fix is in the works but on a busy Friday night it was virtually impossible to carry on a conversation at our table. Good wine selection & fair prices. The food is generally good but a bit pricy. $5 for a bowl of nuts? The cheese sampler plate had tiny portions. The entrees are a better deal than the small plates. Dessert choices are limited but very good. Since I live nearby I will be back.
(3)Axel G.
The food and wait staff staff was great. The wines were also very good. The only downside was that we sat by the window/fridge so it was a bit cold. Regardless, adults and children enjoyed the meal.
(4)Megan M.
We came from the Cubs game to meet up for dinner with my cousins. We're all foodies and winos, so we bagged some vino on the way, and decided on Moroccan food. Unfortunately, the owner of the Moroccan joint had to turn us away, reservations only, place was full. So, Yelp to the rescue, we walked half a mile to Bread and Wine. We had to leave our BYOB selections behind- but hopeful that a place with Wine in the name, would be able to deliver in that department. While two of us, myself included, were atrociously underdressed, the staff made sure to get a table ready for us, on the patio. It was a perfect night to eat outside. Tommy, our server, was absolutely on point the entire night. He helped us make every choice we did, and kept our focus on enjoying company, rather than the menu. We started with the chef's choice cheese and meat pairing. The two plates came out bountiful, while neatly organized. We shared an entire bottle of Malbec while enjoying the pairing. Tommy made out dinner decisions with very little input from our slightly inebriated table. When the dishes arrived, it was evident that we couldn't possibly have made a bette decision. We had duck egg, chicken, lamb and goat dishes for the main course. We passed the delicately plated decadent morsels around the table, and nearly licked them clean. We enjoyed them with a quite remarkable bottle of Aquinas Pino Noir. After such an unbelievable dining experience, we decided to take it all the way. It got real. Very real. When the chocolate mousse and the salted Carmel popcorn and creme arrived. Unreal, start to finish. Can't say enough about our server, and the food. Everything was cooked to perfection, clearly fresh, and meticulously paired. Each plate was a unique palate, delightful, and adventurous. The entire night was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had, all because our original plans fell through. Worth every cent- ask for Tommy. He's truly an asset to Bread and Wine. Cannot wait to dine here again!
(5)Brittney H.
We dined her awhile ago but I'm slacking on my reviews lately. First of all, weird location. This restaurant looks like it used to be a gas station from the outside. Irving Park is not my favorite area and parking here completely sucked. That being said, the inside is beautiful. It manages to be modern and cozy at the same time - the staff is incredibly attentive and gracious. Our food (we had two things that are no longer on the menu which were delicious) was incredibly delicious. We also has the grass fed burger which was huge and I had many regrets later (from calories, not taste). If you're in this area, this is the spot to go!
(4)Philip S.
Lovely contemporary American food. Great ambiance, great service. Menu is very seasonal. We enjoyed the Ricketts, chicken liver pate, Tasso beef, 6 minute duck egg, steak tartar, pork cheek and more. Great for sharing even better for conversation. Highly recommend.
(5)Yvonne I.
"Great food, but terrible service experience." Four of my friends and I came for brunch one Sunday in May 2015. My friends and I are currently half way through trying about 20 brunch places from this "best brunch in Chicago" list, and Bread and Wine was on our list in May. The layout of the restaurant was nice, and I liked the open kitchen aspect of it. I felt really comfortable being able to see what was going on in the kitchen. The waiter came right away, and was relatively pleasant for most of the meal. For an appetizer I had the Whiskey glazed cinnamon roll, which was one of the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had. The whiskey flavor wasn't too strong, so someone that doesn't like the taste of whiskey would most likely not be turned off by this cinnamon roll. For my main brunch meal I had the breakfast banh mi. The description of this dish on the menu sounded very different than items I've had at other brunch restaurants. The banh mi sandwich itself was amazing due to its great flavor and appropriate size. The hash browns were also amazing, and were not greasy like the hash browns at some restaurants. Our dining experience went down hill when we asked for the check after we finished our food. Not everyone in my group had cash, so one of my friends politely asked our waiter if he would be able to split the check. (I realize that we should have asked him this in the beginning of the meal, since that is what we normally do when we go to restaurants). Tommy responded with "NO!", and then stormed away from the table. Tommy eventually came back to the table and told us he would be able to take separate payments from us. We really appreciated this, but we were still a little confused why he had been so dramatic originally . Those of us that had cash put our cash in, and those of us with Cards wrote our names along with the last 4 digits of the credit cards on the back of the receipt so that we could evenly split the bill. Tommy ran the credit cards and applied the cash. When he brought back the receipts, one of my friend's credit cards had been ran twice. After explaining this nicely to Tommy, he snatched the credit card booklet up and stormed away. When Tommy brought back the refunded credit card, he slammed it on the table and walked away again. I hope that we caught Tommy on a bad day, and that he does not always act this rudely towards customers. This is not an establishment I would visit again.
(2)Dave S.
The food is pretty good, but very pricey. The portions are pretty small and the selection pretty limited. Not a horrible experience, just not that great.
(3)Hannah C.
We went for brunch and most of the food was excellent. We snuck in just before they closed, around 1, and had no problem getting a table. The homemade chicken sausage was exceptional. The hash browns were delightfully crispy but hardly seasoned at all. The Cubano sandwich was also a treat - we got extra mustard sauce on the side and wound up dipping the fries in it. The whiskey glazed cinnamon roll was quite good, although the tangy of the whiskey suggested they might want to use a higher quality liquor? Apparently the bloody marys, omelette of the day, and pork belly with grits were also quite good. Everyone enjoyed the atmosphere, music list, and food. Wish they gave you slightly larger water glasses, though!
(4)Justin B.
Came by for dinner yesterday; with family in town and an expiring Groupon, we thought coming by for an early dinner would fit the bill. Although I usually start with the positives, let's mix it up today and start with the negatives: 1) I tried the Lowe Ball specialty cocktail. While I didn't send this back, I was surprised how much I didn't like this drink. Maybe it was because I had gone to The California Clipper the night before, but this drink just wasn't great. It was a little watered down, but I couldn't tell how or why, because I'm sure it was served to me right after it was made. We came for a 5:30 dinner reservation and the restaurant was only about half-full, so there wasn't a crowd issue...hmm, maybe it was the semi-sugared rim, not a full rim of sugar? Maybe it was the rum? Maybe it wasn't sweet enough? Not sure, but a bust regardless. 2) I ordered the cheeseburger because I'm a burger whore and Zagat said B&W made one of the ten best burgers in Chicago. And it might...but I'll never know. You see, I ordered the burger rare...and the burger came out medium well, MINIMUM. In my estimation, it was well done. Like, completely, totally wrong. It was so wrong that I asked my server to just show his kitchen staff how wrong it was, but I didn't have the time for the kitchen to remake the burger; our one-year-old was with us and was nearing her 7 PM bedtime, so I took one for the team and ate half the burger and all of the fries. But I don't think I've ever had a restaurant get the temperature of the burger this wrong (I eat burgers at varying levels of restaurant usually twice a week). 3) Our server didn't take the well done burger off the bill. I made up for this slightly by tipping less, but I was surprised that this was not addressed when it came to payment. The positives: 1) It wasn't part of my order, but the seasonal soup that I tasted was exceptional. Exceptional. I don't remember what was in it besides sriracha, noted because it did give the soup a little kick and our server called it out. But the subtleties of the taste of this soup were something else. 2) Our server--save for the bill at the end--was great, explained everything clearly, and generally was a whirling dervish of energy. I want to say his name was Tommy, but it was in the Tommy/Bobby/____-ie category. And he was loud enough to talk over the din of the space; it's fairly loud at Bread and Wine, so a loud server is a plus. 3) Parking out front in a dedicated lot. Going for dinner at 5:30 helped because we got one of the dozen-ish spaces, but still, great that they have one. 4) The fries with my burger were great, well seasoned, above-average aioli, and there were a ton of them...key, since my burger was a fail. Yes, a ton of places in Chicago make great french fries, so this isn't crazy out-of-this-world, but still, I needed the fries to be great for this particular dinner! 5) Overall space in this restaurant was also nice. Open kitchen is pretty sweet. Kudos to the hostess for putting our group at a four-top where we could stash the high chair near the window, away from server and diner foot traffic. (And, because it's so loud in here, even your crying baby probably doesn't get many looks.) 6) Groupon deal helped us save a few bucks. I'm not sure I would go back unless others are doing a "special" dinner here, but glad that I finally checked this one off the list!
(2)William B.
Made it back to Bread and Wine for the third time last night. We celebrated a friend's birthday with an early reservation, and for most of the evening it felt like we had bought out the entire restaurant. Only one other table came in during the course of our meal. OK, it was a Tuesday night after a holiday weekend, but I hate to think a place this good is not getting enough business. We shared cheese and charcuterie plates among six people; the chicken liver paté was as great as everyone says. Each entrée was beautifully plated and imaginatively composed, not a miss among them. A couple of us opted for two "small plates" instead of entrées, and the portion sizes were just right. Particularly good were the "pig face" pancetta and the corn nuggets, and a special corn consommé was unlike anything I've tasted recently and very refreshing after all the hot weather. We went through three bottles of wine among the three of us and the tab with tip came to about $60pp, a real bargain. Add in the free parking lot in front and you have a winner that should be busier on a weeknight. Can't wait to return and try some of the items from the beer and cocktail lists.
(5)Sandy R.
I really wanted to continue my love affair with B&W but I just can't. My first meal was really good but it continued to go downhill from there. Brunch was so unremarkable that I can't even remember what I had. My second dinner was not great. I had a tofu dish with a description that made it sound like some type of broth was involved but there was no broth and very little flavor. My most recent meal wasn't all bad. The charcuterie was good as was the salad and dessert. But nothing was great. My entree of BBQ beef cheeks was awful. There was no BBQ that I could recognize. The slaw was disgustingly smokey. The entree was overly salty and I like salt. Along with the less than stellar meal our server was aloof and not very friendly. I hate when reviewers say this but this review was really a 2.5.
(3)Alysha L.
Just tried this place for brunch after my AirBnB host recommended it as one of the neighborhood restaurants I had to check out. I had their seasonal omelette, which was delicious. Food aside, I can't remember the last time I walked into a restaurant and got ice cold glares from the staff. Three people stood at the front and were very awkward in their responses when I asked to see a menu and then asked to be seated. I did not feel welcome here at all. What's up with the service???
(3)Mike H.
Great food, great wine, great service! Tommy was a finominal server with a great handle on the food and pairings for this fantastic yet quaint neighborhood secret. The 3 course meal was prepared perfectly for my friends and I. As no one in our group had ever tried Bread & Wine before. Terrific help from our server; Tommi, picking out the best tastings they had to offer.
(5)Naomi L.
God I really wanted to love this place! Well got here around 9 and it was steady. This place is really modern and stylish. The decor is nice and the vibe was also great. We ordered a flight of cheese and had a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. The cheese was absolutely amazing! I was hoping for a few pieces of apples with the cheese but it wasn't a big deal. I expected their menu to have a flight of wine we could taste since the place is called "Bread and Wine" but nope, no flight of wine. Their menu is also very very thin. They did not have a good selection of food but i guess its a very small neighborhood restaurant that is still trying to make s name for themselves I had the gnooci but it was not pasta. I always thought it was pasta but i got six square pieces of fried things. I was really disappointed because i am pretty sure that it wasn't gnocci. Plus the "gnocci" wasn't even good. Before i even ordered this "gnocci" i asked the waiter what it was and he explained as if it was pasta. Now the really disappointing thing is that when we walked in (a tall slim woman) well she obviously works there gave a dirty looks. We asked to sit in the corner because, god damn that's where we wanted to sit. The place wasn't packed so yes that was our table of choice. She rolled her eyes and gave us attitude seating us. No do not roll your eyes. If the place was crazy busy then yes we would have understood but it was slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I really wanted to like this place but nope
(2)Mike P.
Such a small restaurant but with big flavor! I feel like I will need to go back a number of times to really get a good read on the food. For now I will offer the following: Charcuterie plate: Let the chef decide but try to get the chicken liver pate. It's excellent. The cheddar is a touch too mellow when paired with stronger, more pungent cheeses. The country ham is not overly salty. Sausage dinner: Good deal. It looks like a small portion but is very fitting and the roasted Brussels sprouts are so good, they could probably convert some Brussels haters. My wife go the prawns, or should I say miniature lobsters. Kind of intimidating, to have whole prawns served to you, but dig in. Definitely a fun joint! The staff is friendly and attentive. Have a seat at the chef's counter and chat up the chef and cooks while they prep the meals. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Colsha L.
I frequent Bread And Wine because it is about 5 blocks from my home, extremely convenient and I loved the ambiance. I went last night July 23rd 2015 and boy was I disappointed! I made reservations for 8:00 and was greeted by a shorter guy with really greasy and stringy hair, he was incredibly rude! He didn't seem like he wanted to be there nor serve us. Initially I tried to ignore his sarcastic remarks and cattiness but it was too much to bare. His customer service skills are dreadful for lack of a better term. I won't be returning.
(1)Brittney E.
I LOVED this place! It's a bit pricey if you want to have a selection of food items to get a good taste for the place, but It was right up my alley with a nice selection of cheese and charcuterie. I even had the opportunity to sit at the chef's counter and watch all of the food being prepared which was a very nice experience. The gnocchi was pretty much the best I've ever had... it wasn't your typical potato gnocchi but very similar. The ingredients they used to make this dish were very simplistic (I had a brief conversation with the chef) yet they delivered flavor better than any combination of ingredients I've ever experienced. They saute the gnocchi for that perfect crispy outer layer. I highly recommend this dish and the restaurant as a whole.
(5)Mariel V.
I have quite a history with B&W AND so far I've been very pleased with their food and service. For starters back in July we were looking for a small, intimate place to have a wedding party and being new to the neighborhood we took a chance with picking B&W. They were able to accommodate to our semi-private party of 20 with only a weeks notice. Jen was awesome! She even printed us a custom menu. I've been back numerous times since with my husband and friends and we've had almost everything in their constantly changing menu. If you're a fan I suggest visiting at least twice a month to see what's new for brunch or dinner.
(5)Cynthia R.
So yeah, this place is alright! I appreciate that there are decent restaurants in this part of the city, but it's also quite oddly located and you wouldn't really expect there to be a good place....there. Ya know? But besides that, it was great to see the place buzzing with business on a Friday nite! I thought it was a bit pricey for the location, and for the food. Don't get me wrong, the menu was decent, and the food was respectable. But it was definitely pricier than I thought they could honestly pull off over all. I got the burger, which was good. I loved that the meat was "clean"; hormone and anitbiotic free, and the other ingredients were organic. House made ketchup was a nice touch too. The hubs got fish, which was a tad bland. Nice presentation and very nice wine suggestion that got paired with it. Oh btw, our server, Gus, was fantastic. And the general vibe of the place was cool as well. NIce and clean.....and open kitchen concept, so you can watch the chefs prepare your food!
(3)Linsey R.
We've been here a few times and really like it so I thought I'd spread the word. The ambiance is awesome, from the decor to the lighting to the music. Being able to watch the chefs work their magic is always a plus too. They have an excellent variety of cheese and charcuterie and the bread they serve it with is so good. The menu is constantly changing with the seasons and there are a lot of interesting options. The wine list is great and the cocktails are nice too. I'm really excited to see a place this nice succeed in the area and am happy it's so close to my house. The brunch is REALLY good too but gets pretty expensive when you like to drink like we do :)
(4)Lauren F.
My husband and I came here with my mother and grandmother on New Year's Eve and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the meal. We started with a Chef's Choice cheese/charcuterie board that was delicious and plentiful for 4 people. We also had the Herb Fries and Steak Tartare for starters - fries were great, not the best steak tartare I've ever had, but I've had some really great steak tartare! For mains I had the Pork Chop which I really enjoyed along with its accompaniments and my husband had the special for the evening which was a steak - tasty but not the most impressive cut of meat, especially for the price. My mother and grandmother both had the Tagliatelle pasta with duck confit and both of their plates were completely clean at the end of the meal, so they were both very happy with their choice! For dessert we had the Chocolate Mousse and the Salted Caramel Popcorn Panna Cotta. The mousse itself was great, but the marshmallow that came on top wasn't the easiest to eat. The panna cotta was also delicious, but the mound of popcorn on top was a bit too much. Overall we were very happy with our NYE choice, good food and wine and nice, relaxed atmosphere!
(4)Ruby Q.
This is our "go to" place for New American, locally sourced, farm to table food when not splashing about in Wicker Park or Logan Square. The burger and fries are great and give the good folks at "Au Cheval" a run for their money - well almost. The have recently changed chefs, and the new guy rocks. I had the pork cheeks last night and they were awesome with concentrated flavor. An adventurous dish paired creatively with black eyed pea mash and a pea tamale. Weirdest and best thing I have eaten this year! Servers are always knowledgeable and friendly (thanks Emily) Their cocktails are good, but for the price they should give a more generous pour. You must try the panna cotta popcorn before you leave this planet.
(5)Eva M.
This is a great addition to the neighborhood. I went here on a Friday night and we sat at the bar counter. This is the best seat at this restaurant. We were able to watch the chefs in action. The portions were good. The wine recommendations were good too. This parking lot is an added bonus.
(4)Megan A.
I really, really want to like this place since it's in my neighborhood. My husband and I have given it several chances to wow us, and it falls short every time. Last night was the straw that broke the camel's back. Service was painfully slow, they gave me the wrong beer...and that was just the beginning. Ordered steak tartare, the burger and the chicken to share. Took forever to get our food, and the chicken was dry and tough. Server tried to take away our plate AS we were eating. Overall a bad experience. We give up...will not be back.
(1)Gregg G.
Rik u and Leo G said it so well. I would add though that the Chorizo Tacos were some of the best tacos that I have ever had. A homemade tortilla is wrapped around a delicous blend of chorizo and cheese that the flavors explode in your mouth. The service was outstanding and the atomosphere was up beat and fun. Since it just opened the wait was very short...however...it won't be too long before the secret is out and the wait will be crazy!
(5)Dan S.
While Bread & Wine is a bit off the beaten path for the downtown Chicago visitor, it's well worth the stretch to get there. For locals in other parts of the city or the suburbs, the location is fantastic, just off the Kennedy Expressway with available parking. But the convenience is not the reason to try Bread & Wine - it's the food and fun. Just an overall great dining experience with a creative menu from the drinks, small plates to large plates. The restaurant is focused on using locally sourced foods and adding a creativity to their dishes. At the same time, nothing is over the top wild and all very tasty. We enjoyed the small plate fish terrine which is a delicious white fish served on crusty bread with lettuce. Great smokey flavor and buttery texture. While the restaurant is known of it's in-house prepared charcuterie, that's not one of our favorites so we tried one of the artisan cheeses. Not only was the cheese tasty but the dabs of mustard along with sweet pickled watermelon really made a terrific combo on the toast points. For large plates, we enjoyed the duck confit and the vegetarian special which was an unusual collection of tastes that worked - tofu, kimchi, rice noodles, spicy beet sauce and hazelnuts. Glad that I overlooked the unusual mix of ingredients on the menu and tried it. Portions were appropriate and the food was served hot. We shared a chocolate dessert and left the restaurant satisfied by not over-sated. We also enjoyed the drink selections which included some of my favorites bourbon drinks, extensive wine choices reasonably priced as well as some good aperitifs/digestifs. We dined inside at a private table but the restaurant also has the option of outdoor dining as well as dining at the kitchen bar overlooking the food preparation. As with many restaurants, with either concrete or wood floors and high ceilings, the restaurant can be loud but it was tolerable. Our server was not only friendly but very eager to get in to the descriptions of the food and drink to help us make better choices. So, Bread & Wine is a great food experience and dining atmosphere. I would further add that for this type of restaurant, the prices are reasonable.
(5)Andrew M.
It was great. Had the feel of high end places in Lincoln Park where we used to live. Wine selection is great and prices are not that bad either. I really enjoyed the decor and the staff was very helpful. Nice size parking lot with free parking to boot! Highly recommended. Burger and Pork Chop were both excellent! Chocolate Mousse!!!
(5)Hannah G.
Had a wonderful experience here this evening for wine & cheese. We purchased a Gilt City voucher for the charcuterie plate with wine. I've had hit or miss experiences using vouchers, but no irritation or "you're not a real paying customer" attitude from these guys! We chose to sit at the bar and Eric was extremely friendly and helpful. The charcuterie was amazing!!! Lots of great flavors and honestly it was a filling dinner for two. Would totally recommend & plan on going back soon!
(5)Elaine M.
We came here because a friend of ours had heard good things and wanted to try it out with us. So glad that we did. It was terrific! We did of course order a bottle of wine but that is more my husband's purview. It was good but honestly I don't remember much beyond it was red. The highlights were the appetizers and desserts by a long shot. We began our meal by sharing the CHARCUTERIE, chef's choice. We actually got to choose our six items and I would say that most were outstanding. Starting with my favorite, the chicken liver pate; it was smooth, creamy and the best I have ever had! I am looking forward to buying some this summer and taking in our picnic basket to Ravinia. We also had the duck rilletes and the tasso ham. The rilletes were mighty fine and the tasso ham very very smoky. Kind of like cigar smoke. Good if you like that sort of thing. Then for our cheeses we went with two of the Ann Arbor cheeses, Great Lakes Cheshire and YPSI, since we used to live there. Both were outstanding. The YPSI is a goat cheese and I loved it. Our third choice was the Cottonwood River Cheddar which was only okay, nothing really exceptional. The only disappointment with the charcuterie was that though it came with bread there were two kinds to choose from and we asked if we could do half and half. They said no, only one kind. When the board came there two loaves of bread, both the same kind. If there are two loaves, what's the big deal with doing half one kind and half the other? On to dessert, I would have like to try all three but only ended up trying two, the Salted Caramel Popcorn Panna Cotta and the Chocolate Mousse. The Panna Cotta was so amazing! We loved all the flavors and the smooth panna cotta paired with the caramel corn is genius. For our mains we had the sea trout, lamb meatball and the curried tofu. The flavors were spot on but only one meatball seemed kind of skimpy for a main course portion.
(5)Lauren B.
Really, REALLY disappointed. I'd heard great things and wanted to love it. However, sitting at the show kitchen I watched the chefs perform highly unsanitary actions with the food items. We mentioned it to the manager, she kindly refired the food. Then my boyfriend's burger came back raw, he ordered medium. So, THAT was sent back. Mind you, we've unsuccessfully gotten our dinners 2x now. Then, when the bill came, only the burger was comped. Now, I'm not the type seeking free food, by any means. But, as a diner I expect good customer service, food that's tasty ( my chicken was mediocre, his burger was good), and food that is safe to eat. They failed on all 3 counts. It was really upsetting. I will say the waitstaff were great! So if all you're looking for is a friendly face, not worried about the safety or taste of your food... This might be a your place!
(1)Amy H.
Fantastic food. Excellent wine selection. Really nice restaurant with a romantic ambience in a neighborhood you would not expect. If you don't usually find yourself in Irving park, it's worth the trip. Besides, parking is easier and free unlike the areas with the other nice restaurants. Try the gnocchi starter and the pork chop entree!
(5)Jiratt P.
I would say the food here is not my favorite but absolutely nothing wrong. I love it here and I might come back because of service. They did a great job from understanding of my needs and taste of wine. Let me taste a few wine before open the bottle. Friendly and quick service here. I think sit at the patio for a light dinner and a nice bottle of wine it's must here.
(5)John B.
Four of us dined at Bread & Wine this past Saturday. On first look, I liked what I saw. It's a pretty cool looking space. The restaurant was about 50% filled with people.The hostess greeted us pleasantly and led us to our table. The server appeared fairly quickly with menus. When he returned he informed us that they had already run out of two items. One was the trout; the other I can't remember. But wait, how do you run out of something at 7 PM? When the restaurant is half empty. Hmm. I ordered a bottle of wine, but the server apparantly assumed that it was for the table. He spun around in a flash and disappeared. In fact, the wine was for two of us and the other planned to order cocktails. He returned with four wine glasses and we pointed out that we only needed two; that A &M wanted cocktails. He grabbed the two extra glass and ran off. About 5 minutes later he returned with the wine and took the order for the cocktails. It was a bit awkward to have wine and for our friends to be without drinks. We waited. And waited. And my friend kept trying to get the servers attention, but without luck. Meanwhile another couple had been seated at an adjoining table. They not only had drinks, but salads. Mind you, we have now been there for 30 minutes. Finally A waved furiously for the server's attention. Drinks? "They're on their way," he claimed. They arrived 10 minutes later. Once the drinks arrived, service seems to take a more normal trajectory. The food was all excellent.Top notch. Everyone enjoyed their meals, however, speaking was difficult. The noise level in this restaurant is insane. Food: 4 stars Service: 2 stars Ambiance: 4 stars for decor ... 1 star for noise level = 2.5 They have wine bottles displayed along the wall for sale. My wife looked at them and we ordered one. It turns out that the prices of the bottles on the wall are different than when ordered. About $10 more, as I recall. That's a reasonable mark-up, although it was a bit confusing. It pains me to rate this restaurant only 3 stars, because the food was good. But the noise level and bad service leaves me no choice. If I learned that they addressed the acoustics, I'd come back. But I would ask for a different server.
(3)Rob B.
How did I miss this? Not a full time resident, we yelped for a brunch location Sunday. Bread and Wine came up and oh, so glad it did! A downtown experience out here in Irving Park. Why there was not a line surprises me, this place was off the hook awesome! The Bloody Mary with a beer back was the way to start the day and we were in good company. I think every table had a bloody and I can see why. We shared a pancake with cherries. I had the Egg and Grits he had the Benedict. Service was amazing thanks guys! Only suggestion: Send those poached eggs out a little more rare. We want our yokes to run free.
(5)Susan M.
Chef's know what they are doing. The owner is bringing down the rating in this case. We ordered the Cured Pork Belly and Breakfast Banh Mi, which were very well executed with great presentation. The servers are very attentive and welcoming. The owner seems unfriendly and not genuine. If she can hire someone to manage the daily operation, greet customers, tend bar and take on the role as the daily face of the restaurant, that would be a smart move. She was in the role of bartender on 7/12/15.
(3)Lucius B.
I had reserved a table at Bread & Wine on Opentable for NYE, but suprise surprise, me and my friend are ushered to bar to sit in front of a disgruntled chef--Maybe because two dudes eating together wasn't the clientele this establishment was looking for. What could have been a superb dining experience was eclipsed by several unforgivable incidents, and although the staff was really nice, it wasn't enough to save the sinking ship--much like the violinists playing while the titanic was coming to it's inevitable fate. 1. The herb fries were just seasoned fries with aoili on the side. I don't condone of slapping a fancier name on a basic item so that you can charge more for it. They tasted bland, and not very herb-y. The only thing that made it worthwhile was the aeoli. 2. My porkchop was incredibly bland, and tough. Also it didn't come with a knife sharp enough to cut it, so I had been left to fight it out with a dull butter knife. It was a challenge, and I thought the porkchop would ultimately win the battle, and it did. I dusted myself off and let the slab of meat claim victory with 40% of it still remaining. I was defeated. 3. My cocktail was noted as having a sugared rim, and as I move in to taste the delightful crystals on the rim of the glass, SALT. I know this doesn't seem like a big thing but honestly for a $12 dollar cocktail the size of a baby's fist the least thing you can do it get it right. 4. While finally wrapping up, I overheard some very unsavory language coming from the chef about banging chicks or something. Honestly, it wouldn't have bothered me as much if the food had been better. Overall, the entire experiences was underwhelming, and entirely forgettable. I can already feel it fading out of my memory....
(2)M M.
The food was really good, the service... was found wanting. Thank you, waiter A, for pointing out how stupid it was that all three of us got the burger ("Reaaally guys? The three of you could share a burger, we have some amazing stuff to try LIKE THE TROUT"), like we didn't already know this was stupid we just really wanted burgers. The burger, by the way, was amazing. In-house made pretzel bun, people. After we got shamed into ordering some charcuterie and ate our burgers I was stuffed. Waiter B came to clear our plates and saw my 7 fries and 2 bites of burger left and said, "Are you done there? Oh, did you not like it? Oh, can I get you a box for that?" More shame. Then it was similarly deemed ridiculous by waiter A that we not "at least try" some desert. We put our foot down. It was weird, it was rude, it was uncomfortable. Also, I noticed no female employees, which maybe has something to do with the awful interactions.
(3)Walt P.
Back in Chicago again and had the chance to go to Bread and Wine several times. Brought 4 friends in Friday night for a bit of a reunion. As always we had great service ... this time Alex was our server. He did a great job pairing wine with our eclectic orders, which ranged from pork chops, sausage and Brussels sprouts to mussels in a simple wine broth. It was a challenge but the result made everyone happy. Stopped in for brunch Sunday before heading back to California. Sat at the bar and Emily helped us put together a delicious breakfast including the omelet of the day, French toast and a side of house cured bacon...yum. Lisa and Jenny have created a warm friendly place that keeps us coming back. We started coming here right after it opened three years ago and count on a warm welcome, wonderful service and great food...we've never been disappointed.
(5)Steve B.
Went there with my wife, another couple and their 1 year old for brunch on a Saturday. The place was busy but not packed and the parking lot was still full. Slightly annoying. As with most brunch places, it was full of adults and their kids. I didn't directly hear any of the staff say they were annoyed by that but there definitely felt like some aggravation in the air. Maybe it was just an off day. Also even though it wasn't that busy the staff was not that attentive. We were there for almost 2 hours and could have easily cut 30 minutes off that. Took almost 15 minutes for the waiter to come back and take the check. The food itself was tasty but nothing that you couldn't find at other places. I had the french toast with pear compote. It was good but again nothing I couldn't find at a local diner. My wife had the classic fry-up and the hash was maybe some of the best out there. All of the potatoes were crispy just the way they should be. I have to say that while both dishes were good they have almost no veggie option on their menu. It is all meet, egg and wheat. My wife and I are big fans of skillets where there are lots of peppers, onions, etc... and there really wasn't an option for that. All in all I am not sure I would go back. Maybe for dinner as I have heard that is extremely good. But for brunch there are plenty of places that said that was the best brunch in the Irving Park neighborhood. I really hope not.
(3)Raj P.
Great ambiance and excellent service. My partner had their fish entree and it was great. I had their chicken and thought it was cooked perfectly but for me lacked flavor. I would definitely go back and get the fish or something else though.
(4)Diane A.
I live in the neighborhood and really want to like this place. I opted for the restaurant week option which came with a salad (very good), prawns with sauce and polenta and some other stuff, and white chocolate pudding. The pudding was ok. Nothing I would go out of my way to get but edible. The prawns were NOT GOOD. They tasted like the bottom of a river, or what I imagine that muck at the bottom tastes like. Now, maybe the fact that I asked for no bacon with this meal (I do not eat bacon) was what made it taste bad, but I doubt even bacon could cover up that flavor. I have had prawns before and enjoyed them immensely, so I don't know what happened here, but the moral of the story is that if you go for restaurant week, get the chicken. My husband did enjoy his burger, however. And my friend liked her fish. I will probably go back and try something else, maybe for brunch, but I will never, ever eat prawn here again.
(2)Sarah B.
I love this place and love that it's in my neighborhood even more! Delicious plates, farm to table ingredients and attentive and friendly staff. I stopped in tonight with a craving for chicken liver pâté, got the Chef's selection cheese & charcuterie, Erin was my server and I sat at the counter and chatted it up with Dylan as he cooked in front of me. The perfect end to a lovely day. I'll be back on Sunday to check out the brunch menu!
(5)Daisy F.
So glad this place is in Irving Park. The atmosphere is really laid back and friendly and the food is inventive without being stuffy (and very good!). I'm looking forward to returning again and again!
(4)Kathleen C.
I have been wanting to try this spot for a while and a random Wednesday seemed like the perfect time! I made a reservation, though I didn't need one mid-week. However, it's a small-ish spot, so I can imagine that it gets busy on the weekends and you probably need reservations then. We were quickly seated and warmly greeted. The wine/beer/cocktail list is extensive as you might imagine and they had some unique combinations. As to food, we tried the mussels (REALLY interesting with blue cheese and sriracha) and the burger and chicken entrees. The food was quite tasty and portion sizes were large, but I will say that nothing was amazing or overly wonderful. Service was a bit overly attentive, showing up ALL of the time (though, as we were one of few tables, I don't blame them). I did like it and I'd probably go back (mostly for their Tuesday dinner as I think that's a good deal), but I think it's a bit pricey for what it is and I will say that while the food was good, it wasn't as good as I expected for the price and also, a lot of the food options didn't really call to me. So, worth a spot and great for parking as they have a lot, but nothing that I'd travel specifically to if I lived far outside of the area.
(3)Capaytano H.
This place is amazing the freshness is superb. The burger is grass fed and as a beef lover I sure could tell. The waitress OMG she was so friendly oh sure was her favorite saying. This place is just amazing can't wait for the next time. I hope this is how the food is in heaven juicy and flavorful
(5)Max P.
Pricey but good. I have only had the burger, it is very tasty. The Pretzel Bun is a nice touch. The french fries are super tasty, well seasoned. 3 stars only because every time I order I ask for no mustard and yet always get mustard.
(3)Sally O.
IT'S THE WAITING GAME! It took 10 minutes for our waiter to see us when we sat down. We finally had to ASK our hostess if one could come to our table. Our drinks took a long time to come out. Dinner took a long time to come out. You get tired of tapping your fingers on the table. We ordered dessert at the beginning of the meal and it came out a good 25 minutes after they cleared our dinner plates. We couldn't even drink coffee while we waited because we ordered it right after dinner and that took a good 15-20 minutes to get to our table. They even forgot to bring the pasta that I had boxed up back to us. I had to ask for it, to which our waiter said, "Oh yea!" Yeesh, this place wasn't on top of anything. Food was pretty good, but nothing remarkable. Would NOT recommend.
(1)Terri R.
We left dinner here last night kind of shaking our heads. Not really sure what to think. We wanted to like it. Walking in we felt pretty sure that we would like it. But now... pretty sure we won't be trekking over to that neighborhood again to go back. The room is pretty--the lighting is just right. The decor is a nice balance of elegant and edgy. I like the layout: there's a long L-shaped bar off to the left of the dining room and a bar that faces the open kitchen. A long dark wood bench on the far right wall lined with pillows provides seating for a row of nicely spaced 2-tops. The music, however, was an odd choice. Are you playing it for the guests or for the cooks? It didn't seem at all to match your clientele. I couldn't really hear that it was music, only that it was loud noise that amped up the volume of people talking, but not in a way to create a buzzy atmosphere, more to just be annoying. The open kitchen would be fun--I usually love to sit facing the kitchen and watching the interplay of the chefs and the food being prepared. Thankfully though, we weren't sitting facing this group of cooks, who all seemed pretty surly. And, I"m sorry, but the waist-length hairnet on the one guy is just gross. Really. The greeting of the first person who came to our table was fun and friendly. The cocktails were creative and tasty. I had the mezcal mule that was made with a nice smoky mezcal and chile rim. It was supposed to have ginger beer in it, too, and I didn't taste any ginger beer, so not sure what was up with that. But I liked it anyway. My wife had the Paloma; it was fine, but missing some of the tartness that distinguishes this drink. For small plate starters, we had the mixed greens salad with pears, pipettes, blue cheese and currants. It was good--I like dressing to be a little bit lighter, but the flavor combination was very good. We also had what on the menu is called semolina gnocchi. In another review I read, someone complained about the gnocchi because it wasn't pasta and she thought gnocchi was supposed to be pasta. Since I know gnocchi isn't pasta, I dismissed that complaint, and ordered with an open mind. But now, I'm siding with that other reviewer. Because while gnocchi isn't pasta per se, it's also not what was served at Bread and Wine. What was served--square deep fried cakes of creamy semolina were tasty, but it's a dish that is hard to call gnocchi. And, the aioli -- again, another liberal interpretation of aioli, because it tasted just like plain mayonnaise-- isn't the right condiment. It needed something more acidic to cut through the fat of the deep fry. The main courses. I had the curried tofu with rice noodles, kimchi, and beet broth. It sounds odd, but it worked and I really enjoyed it. I would have loved more beet broth. My wife had the pork chop. The chop was a nice sized chop and the flavor was good. But... it was raw on the inside. I know that you can eat pork now that is not well done. But pork that is too undercooked is not pleasant. The dessert--the caramel popcorn panna cotta was delicious. I could have eaten bowls of it. The salty popcorn onto of the sweet creamy custard was a perfect matchup. The service was mixed. Our server was a kind of cool dude, and he checked on us often and that was all fine. But as we were clearly finishing and making motions toward leaving, the nice guy who had first greeted us when we sat down came over and just scooped up our wine glasses. It seemed brusque and misplaced and kind of rude like he was anxious to rush us out. Since the restaurant only had a few occupied tables by then, I wasn't sure why he felt he needed to hasten our departure, but it left an unpleasant feeling after what had already been a mixed experience. The final thing I'll say is that for a restaurant that calls itself Bread and Wine, you would think two things: the server would know something about wine and be able to talk about it and make a recommendation when asked. That there would be more than one option for a sav blanc by the glass. And, that there would be bread. Right? No bread.
(3)Oliver S.
Went for dinner on a Tuesday night, and after being told that our first two drink choices each were unavailable because they had a large party the night before, we left...disappointing.
(2)Dan M.
To start we made a 7:00 p.m. reservation on a Saturday night and we were sat at communal counter seats when many an actual open table were surrounding us as the restaurant was clearly not booked out. Kind of a head scratcher? We rolled with the punches as we decided we were here to experience the food more than anything; so no big. 1st off cocktails. Quite a nice selection and they were executed rather well so kudos to the bar manager and staff. Delightful 2nd. Appetizers. We ordered steak tartare and an heirloom tomato salad w/ watermelon and frisee. The steak tartare was actually wonderful in texture and flavor, but the actual portion size for a $16 dollar starter was absolutely abysmal. You can pay $18 for the best steak tartare in my opinion at Gilt Bar down in River North AND the portion is twice as much. Anywho on to the salad. I don't want to come off as another reviewer behind their Yelp keyboard shied, but it was an insult. Literally 1 tomato sliced in quarters, 4 cubes of watermelon, a boat load of frisee, and a few crumbles of feta chesse on a plate. I felt like I couldn't even try a tomato because if I did my partner, who I was on my date with, wouldn't get enough AND this dish, which half of the flavorless frisee was left on the plate, was $12!!! I have lived in Chicago for the past 7 years and I work in the food industry for a reputable James Beard Award winning chef. I understand menu pricing and your market. This menu is clearly priced to expose your ill informed north side neighborhood market. I understand that you are sourcing high quality food, but you are attempting to price your menu at River North to West Loop prices. 3rd. Entrees. We decided on the burger because it has been written up and repped in local publications and we also tried the pasta. The burger was executed perfectly. Kudos to the chefs for nailing the execution. Although it wasn't my fav burger of all time flavorwise it most certainly was excellent. The pasta on the other hand was the most forgettable dish of the night. It had NO seasoning and tasted like wet bland noodles in a cream sauce of no discernible taste. I commend this place for trying to bring a bit of that downtown elegance out to the neighborhoods, but where things end up faltering is there is no accountability. That salad and pasta were things that could be made in anyone's kitchen for a $2 food cost. Why should I come out to your restaurant to experience mediocrity and pay a $150 tab? We currently live in a culinary mecca and to settle for downtown prices at Irving Park and Elston is just unnecessary. You deserve better for your hard earned dough.
(2)Melissa S.
Came in last Friday for dinner with a friend for the first time. Reservations were easy to get, we were seated at the bar in front of the kitchen. Which frankly were the best seats in the house! Watching the chefs prepare the Pork Chop made the decision to order it easy, and it was really delicious. The gnocchi small plate was a perfect start and the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta was an even better end. The service was absolutely delightful, the chefs in the kitchen were talented (and handsome!) and I can't wait to come back for brunch.
(4)Allison C.
Absolutely delicious! Delicious food, delicious wine, delicious dessert. We even got free Malort shots at the end of the evening (are we crazy!?)
(5)Jennifer M.
Came in on a Friday night with a friend to check this place out! It's near my boyfriend's, which in general lacks a lot of nicer restaurants so was excited to give it a try and seen a lot of good reviews. When we first drove in (was really excited for the parking lot), there was no parking left! It's actually quite a small lot, but we found street parking only a block away without a problem. I was slightly confused that there wasn't a table for us as I had made a reservation, but the hostess offered a round of free drinks if we took a seat at the bar so we obliged. I ordered the Mezcal Mule, thinking it'd compare to a Moscow Mule. But boy on boy was it strong! The bartender did tell me after that Mezcal is a very strong liquor and many people don't like it (wish he had told me that before). I only had a sip and couldn't drink the rest. It would have been above & beyond for him to offer me something else instead and only charge me the one drink but he didn't so I didn't ask. The drink was still on our bill but also could've been partly my own doing. There was some confusion that the first drinks we ordered were our drinks "on the house", but it turns out that was Prosecco. I wish we were told that first so I would've just had that and not made a drink order. Now we receved our appetizer fairly quickly, we ordered the Crispy Semolina Gnocchi and it was delicious! Fried just right, crispy, and some may say too salty but I loved the salt so it was all good for me. We gobbled that up within minutes. Then we waited for at least 30 minutes for main course which felt excruciatingly long. When it finally came, we were ready to pounce. I ordered the Chicken, which came with a warm cabbage salad and items that looked like dumplings but weren't. For the life of me I can't remember what they were called. The whole dish was fabulous! My friend ordered the mussels which was a decent sized portion served with side bread that was toasted and buttered. I tried a piece and dipping it in the sauce with the mussels was superb! The food was great but the overall service needed some work. I will go back here again but feel you have to go in knowing you may be there a while. It would have been nice to see them go above and beyond a little more with the drinks as well. Solid meal, just not overall super solid experience. Go if you have a little bit of patience.
(3)Kelleen L.
First time there last night and I really liked it. Server/baretender was really nice, service was great and the food was good. My friend and I split two things, steak and grassfed burger. Both were really good. Its a smaller place with a small parking lot, the enviroment is nice as well. It is a bit pricey, but it is good.. would be good for a date night.
(4)Jaime G.
Have to admit that i thought Bread and Wine was going to be a disappointment...too good to be true. Mixed reviews yet so close to home??? I was really skeptical. Good news is that I loved it. Great little place that serves fun new American dishes with flare. Also have a great wine and beer selection to keep most satisfied. Add the outdoor patio for nice summer nights and we're in business. I had the 3 Floyd's pride and joy ale to start then a fine chard. The most memorable menu items (menu is not very big but plenty of variety) were the raw scallops with juniper berries and oranges and the burger. Can't wait to go back esp since it's so close to home.
(5)Claire G.
The mister and I went there last night to celebrate his birthday. We don't get an opportunity to dine out as much as we used to since having the kiddo. So when we do go out to eat, we cross our fingers and pray that it doesn't suck. Bread & Wine doesn't suck. In fact, it is really quite good. And it's close to where we live - double win. We ordered up a storm. The cheese and charcuterie was pretty spectacular with an emphasis on local, midwestern meats and cheeses. I like how the menu steered towards the local flavors. Baby kale salad was adorned with bits of thick bacon, strawberries, and pickled rhubarb. YUM! I affectionately referred to the mussels as buffalo mussels, as they come in a spicy sauce with blue cheese. They were good, along with a side of well-seasoned fries with truffle mayo. We had the chocolate mousse for dessert, which kind of tasted like a a Kit-Kat. Very sweet and chocolatey with crunchy bits. The only miss was the gnocchi. It's basically deep fried mashed potato squares with the same mayo as the fries. Meh. We had ordered way too much food anyway. Wine list is solid with some tasty choices by the glass, which is to be expected. Decent beer list and the cocktails looked good. Parking was a plus, especially in that area. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I would definitely go back for a glass of wine and some cheese on their patio or try them out for brunch (if they have high chairs - can't always ditch the kid).
(4)Roxanne R.
I live in Old Irving Park and have always wanted to visit this restaurant since I've spotted the chic decor when driving by. We had a plate of cheese to start. It was pretty good with the jam and mustard they served with it. I had the chorizo beef and cheddar burger. It was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. I also liked the seasoned fries with the garlic aioli dipping sauce. If my stomach wasn't bursting out of my jeans, I would have finished every last fry. Last we had the salted caramel popcorn with chilled panna cotta. Maybe it's because I'm a huge Ice cream fan but I wish it was some gelato or ice cream. I think it would've tasted better. The sweet and salty concept was nice thought though The service was stellar. Our server provided great tips and checked on us just enough times. If you're in the old Irving park neighborhood, I would swing by for at least a glass of wine and some cheese.
(4)Giovanni D.
Love this place I come here all the time. It's a nice hidden gem on the Northside. The staff is very passionate about the restaurant and make you feel very welcome. The steak tartare is probably the best I've had it beats Maudes. The burger is again is probably the best burger I've had as well. I think its all around better than Au Cheval. Every bottle of wine that I have tried is amazing. They put a lot of thought into there wine list. Chocolate mouse is great for a dessert. Highly recommend this place!
(5)Jessy S.
Bread & Wine is sooooo delicious. I went there last Sunday for a late brunch with a friend and it was great! I drive past this place multiple times a week and I've always wanted to stop in. I made reservations shortly before but they weren't really needed for the time of day that we went, but, it is a more intimate place so I would definitely recommend making them if you're going at a peak dining time. I had some delicious Pear French Toast w/ hash browns and my friend had the Pork Belly, we were both so happy with our meals. My friend is pregnant, so I didn't order an alcoholic beverage as to not make her jealous... but... they had a great selection and I will definitely be back in the near future to try some of them out. Service was great, atmosphere was modern & clean, will definitely stop by for dinner sometime.
(5)Dessie G.
My friends and I wanted to come try this place out because of all the great reviews. The place was packed on Saturday night, and even though there wasn't any music, it was incredibly loud. Service at the bar was great, but once we got to our table, it took awhile for someone to take our order, and then it took a really long time for us to actually get food. The meal itself was ok, nothing to write home about. Both my pork shoulder as well as the burgers my friends had were quite heavy on salt. The fries were great, but the lime bean hush puppies were so dry, I didn't even finish them. The prices are pretty high, I feel that the two $$ on Yelp is very misleading (we shared one appetizer, bought 3 entrées, and had a total of 6 beers for a whopping $150). All in all, I don't see us going back there, the food wad just ok, and I felt the prices were way too high.
(3)Laura G.
The only reason this place gets a second star is because they have parking and take reservations. I came here on a Saturday night with my girlfriends, and was unimpressed by the food and drinks. I found everything I ate to be super salty and similar tasting. To be specific, we had the gnocchi and the fries with aioli to start, and I had the burger for dinner. I don't know what it is, but the entire meal had one main flavor: salt. The drink list was interesting but expensive for Irving Park. I thought it would be a nice place in the neighborhood to bring out of town guests, but I probably won't be back.
(2)Chary H.
Came here in January for lunch. Our waiter was very nice and pretty much attentive. I had the gnocchi. Nothing to write home about, I've definitely had better. It was a bit irksome to have to keep asking for cream for our coffees' and when I asked a different waitress who happened to be near us she purposely took forever to bring it. I know because I could see her behind the bar standing there and talking to another waiter. Then as we were leaving she gave us a dirty look and that's why they're getting a two star review. There's no need for cattiness, I just want cream for my coffee.
(2)Sherrie E.
This review is way over due! My husband and I LOVE this place...from the cozy environment, wine, cocktails, food, and service. It just can't be beat. The owners, Lisa and Jenny, are awesome as well. Try the gnocchi appetizer (unbelievable and too hard to describe), cheese plate with liver mousse, burger, carmel corn panna cotta, +++. Just go, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Liz K.
Sometimes it really pays off to go off the beaten path and try something that you didn't find on Yelp. Thanks to a suggestion from my friend, I ventured out of my well-traveled Lakeview and Lincoln Park paths to try Bread & Wine this week during Restaurant Week. The restaurant is not in a location that I automatically associate with fine dining, but as soon as we entered, I forgot that we were minutes from the expressway and off of the ever-crowded Irving Park Road. Parking lot? IMMEDIATE bonus. The atmosphere on the interior immediately made me feel like I was in a high-end restaurant in the Gold Coast, which I consider impressive. The hostess greeted us immediately, made us feel welcome, and showed us to our table (pointing out the space heater along the way in case we got cold and needed to move it). With that said, it was a little cold because our table was in the area by the door that I believe is typically a small grocery. It wasn't distracting but I sure wished I had worn socks. Oh well, neither here nor there. I haven't been to a restaurant where I have so many questions on the menu as I did at Bread & Wine, but our server (Josh) was very helpful in guiding our decisions and I was 110% pleased with our choices. We started out with a cheese - we were planning on getting anything but the Dante (sheep's milk? we had to have a debate about whether sheep even had milk...and then I felt a little dumber) - but then when the server said "it's like the Spanish manchego," our decision was made. We both studied abroad in Seville and that is THE cheese there. Our next course was the Mixed Carrot salad, which had a great flavor but I wasn't a huge fan of the wheat berries, as I was expecting more of a chewy and less crunchy bulgar wheat type nugget. I was speechless when the main course arrived. We chose to have the small plate, semolina gnocchi, come out with our main dish, which was the pork special that came with pretzel bread pudding. We were told that the pork would be between 14-16 ounces, but we easily had a 20-24 oz piece of meat on our hands. It was fantastic, seasoned perfectly alone but also well paired with the sauces on the plate, and we had a good deal left over to take home. I loved the gnocchi, but will warn you that it was quite salty. The garlic aioli that came with was a perfect pair because it cut into some of that saltiness, and I found it to go well with the pork also. Since it was restaurant week, we decided to go all out and get a dessert too - why not? We hadn't ordered from the special menu but decided to live it up and order the salted caramel panna cotta. I haven't had panna cotta before, so I was imagining something similar to creme brulee or flan, and was surprised by the grainy texture of the dessert. It was still tasty, but you really had to make sure to get a bite of all three layers to see what this dessert was like. The bill was very reasonable, considering the quantity and quality of food, plus a glass of wine apiece. I would highly recommend going out of your way to give this restaurant a try.
(4)Elaine S.
My boyfriend and I came here for dinner last night and everything was wonderful. We sat up at the chefs table which was essentially just a counter, but we were able to see the chefs prepare all of the food which was cool! Our cocktails were fantastic (I highly recommend the Second City Storm) and our dinner was even better. We had the burger and the Taglietelle - both phenomenal. Our waitress, Emily, and another waiter, Tommy, took incredible care of us and we're always there when we needed them.
(5)Giovanni A.
This restaurant has fallen on hard times. Due to the economy they need to cut back on a few things - such as the food. Bread and Wine is looking into changing their name to 'Bread and Water' to express the dining experience will be "bare-bones" until the financial unrest settles. I entered 'Bread and Water' and found the ambiance to be pleasant. Open kitchen. Rustic tables. I had high hopes. On the menu the options were labeled vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. What they failed to mention was it was also free of food. I asked for bread for the table. I would expect if you have 'Bread' in the name of your restaurant, you'd offer some. I received some burnt bread that you could have used to cut diamonds. I ordered the watermelon and arugula salad with heirloom tomatoes. It was excellent. The lemon vinaigrette was outstanding. It was probably one of the best salads I've ever had. For my entrée, I ordered the jerk tofu. When the waitress came out, I thought she was bringing me a dirty plate. The dark spot on the dish was the entrée. I say this with no exaggeration: the dish consisted of 5 small pieces of tofu and a couple globs of mango sauce. After I cleaned my plate with a pair of tweezers, I received the bill. The bill compensated for the paucity of food, because that was large enough for several people. I left ''Bread and Water'' angry and frustrated. I don't consume copious amount of food, but I expect some satiety after a meal. It's almost laughable to call this place a restaurant. I would have gone to REAL restaurant afterwards, but I'm working on the second mortgage I had to take out to pay for the "meal" I had.
(2)James B.
This place was amazing. Great food excellent service. Max our server was great. Had the duck confit and loved it. Also wanted dessert but didn't have enough room. We will be back soon.
(5)Scott C.
We were late for our reservations and it turned out great. We were seated at the chef's counter and for the next 90 minutes had a thoroughly enjoyable time eating, drinking, and finding out really interesting things from the chef about the food we were enjoying. We will be sure to go back again before summer is out.
(4)Kerrie G.
As good as it gets. If you are looking for a lovely casual dining experience that has a fabulous choice menu. I have been to Bread and Wine only twice, but have been blown away both times. Can we please just talk about the panacotta? It is like a velvety slice of love. Not too sweet, not too bland, it was just perfect. The staff is pleasant and helpful.
(5)Mike S.
We went as a date on a Thursday a few weeks ago. The place is rather small in size, maybe 20 -25 tables at most, with an open kitchen and a small bar. Get reservations if you plan on going at peak dining hours. Parking is at a premium; there are only about 8 or 9 spots in their lot. Service is outstanding, the waitstaff are attentive, educated and really seem to like their job. Prices are average for this type of slight upscale gastropub and the drinks are unique and inviting. The menu is rather limited, as I would assume it changes regularly based on what is available. They focus on locally sourced food items. My only caveat is that while we were dining and the place was winding down, I noticed the hostess leaving for the night, and as she left, she was parked in the closest spot in the lot! With limited parking, make the staff park on the street!!!!
(3)lovesmyanimals l.
My review will reflect some of the other diners regarding service. I went on a Saturday night, the restaurant was not overly packed so why we had the experience we did, baffles me. The night started off great, there is a parking lot for us who drive, friendly hostess and homemade caramels at the front door (yum). However, from there the night went the other way. 1) After being seated, our waiter forgot about us. Methinks. As other tables seated after us were getting attention from their waitstaff. 2) About 15 minutes later, (yes I watch my phone) the waiter appeared and said what do we want, very rushed and rude. Never once did he explain the menu or even tell us the specials as I watch him with two other of his tables. 3)Our waiter forgot to put in part of our order. 4) Our waiter did a disappearing act during before and during the meal. I waved down other staff to get hot water or even condiments with my meal. 5) Speaking of meal - it came out cold. 7) when I sat their for a while waiting for our waiter to see how our meal was, he never showed up - so I had to send my meal back to the kitchen with another waiter. 8) He was quick to bring us the bill - again after we waived him down. I did speak with the manager and they did make things right with the meal. But the entire SERVICE was horrible, that it in itself is reason enough not to come back. Even more baffling and per the manager we had one of the best waiters... How is that when it was a disappearing act all night and his rude demeanor. Best part of the meal was not the meal but the yummy caramels at the door. I could eat those all day.
(1)Suzana G.
How I love this place!! Wine, cheese and its interior decor! Had a chance to spend a Friday night at Bread and Wine with my friend, we both had an amazing time. Wine is delicious, paired with cheese very memorable. Cannot wait to go back!
(5)Sol A.
My friend the birthday girl picked this place for dinner. Gus our server was impeccable! Extremely knowledgable, helpful and personable. His helpers were equally attentive. We started out with the chartreuse. It was very good. Upon recommendation I opted for the pork chop dinner. I was sadly disappointed. Although a good portion size and juicy, the pork chop lacked flavor. Next time I'll listen to previous Yelper's review. Beside the service, the bread pudding desert was amazing! Nice atmosphere, great service, good deserts but my main dish left something to be desired. I would definitely give them another chance and visit again. Next time opting for the pasta or chicken entree. Worth a visit!
(3)Regina G.
Thank You, Jennifer for helping with my Reservations. My husband and I had a wonderful first time there. I had the #80 & hubby had a "London's Burning": yummy drinks! The food & service were perfect. Thanks for making our date night a great experience!
(5)Craig R.
Came here with my wife and family while we were in town last and what an excellent experience. The good: -We came early because we made our reservation on short notice, we pretty much had the whole restaurant to ourselves! -Semolina Gnocchi, get these, you will not regret it! -The Cavaletti had a nice spice to it, but it wasn't overwhelming, even my mother who doesn't love spicy food was able to enjoy it. -Despite being named Bread and Wine it had a solid selection of beers as well. -Our server was very attentive and ensured we had everything we ordered/needed. -The decor/atmosphere was simple without a ton of frills, I loved it. They bad: -The only bread on the menu that I saw was the bun for the burger, the name is misleading!! -It is kind of a hassle to get to unless you live way up on the north side already. The blue line drops you about a half mile off and a taxi from downtown is 20 bucks or so. I'd definitely be back for another visit if I still lived in Chicago.
(5)Keith A.
Bread&Wine falls into one of those places that does a really good job across the board, but really excels with the appetizers. I came here with a group of friends for their birthday. We started off with a cheese&charcuterie plate. We went 3 and 3 on the cheese and meats. For the cheeses we went with the gorgonzola, parmesan, and the cheddar. The gorgonzola was really good and I was digging on the parmesan as well. On the meats, the tasso ham is absolutely awesome. This was worth getting 2 orders alone (sadly we didn't) and is an absolute gem here. On the small bites, we went with the semolina gnocchi and herbs fries. The gnocchi was fried, and this was absolutely the perfect way to do semolina gnocchi IMO. I normally want my gnocchi in egg dumpling form, but I really liked this in the way of finger small bites. The herbs fries were also really enjoyable, but it definitely says something when the 4 of us took down the semolina gnocchi easily first. Our group also treated the entrees as small plates. We ordered the pappardelle and the roasted chicken. The chicken was definitely the winner here. The pappardelle wasn't anything to sneeze at, but this chicken was well done and there was some more of the tasso ham. The service was also really good all night as well. It was never hard to get ahold of her, and she even helped us in messing with the birthday boy and secretly loading up a brownie with candles. Bread&Wine is definitely worth coming to. I really enjoyed myself, and with us ordering a bunch along with corkage, we still only left there paying $60 with a good sized tip. I am always happy with that.
(4)Nat M.
nice space/ambience. typical dinner menu for a chicago restaurant, which means very good. great cocktails. staff was excellent and managed our group very well. food was really good and the price was right. odd location, but i'll defn come back when im in the area
(4)Christina G.
My husband and i came here with a Blackboard Eats deal in hand, which essentially gave us a free meat, a free cheese, and a free dessert. I will start by saying that if I could have a meat and cheese plate with a glass of wine for every meal, I would die a happy lady. So, I was very excited to give this place a try. We drove down Irving Park and were glad to see there was a parking lot. It was a pretty ample size too. We walked in and were given some options of where to sit: booths to the right, the chef's table, or tables to the left. We chose a table off on our own. Our waiter was the best. He clearly knew the menu and alcohol selection well, as he had some spot on recommendations for us. I ended up going with a Pinot Gris and my husband had a beer (I forget what kind). We started off Country Ham and Gorgonzola. Originally, we wanted to try some Boone County Bloom cheese, but unfortunately, they were out. It happened again, when we asked for the small plate special of scallops. We were told they only had enough scallops for 6-8 tables to order the special that night. That seemed low to me, but OK, no scallops for us. The meat and cheese plate was great. It was served with warm baguette slices, mustard with a kick, and some sort of apple-quince paste. Delicious. Next came the crispy semolina gnocchi. Best part of the meal, hands down. These were unlike any gnocchi I've ever had, as they were fried, crispy, light, and filled with something creamy that tasted out of this world. Order this, for sure! The rest of the meal was underwhelming, to say the least. I expected more from the beer and chorizo burger for $18. And the poached hen egg was basically an egg served on a piece of toast. Not great. Even the dessert was just meh. We had the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta, and the only part I really liked was the caramel popcorn, as the panna cotta itself was pretty tasteless. My recommendation: Come here for drinks and an appetizer cheese plate on a pretty summer night when you're not too hungry. This restaurant is great for that. If you're looking for a big meal, head elsewhere.
(3)Suzi K.
Worst service I have experienced in a long time. Food was fine ( although not great) but it was eclipsed by the incompetence of the waitress.
(2)Tom O.
Reservations at 6:30 on a Saturday. No parking in the lot, but no meters on Irving Park either. Place was about 3/4 full when we entered and noise level was a medium, by the time we left every seat was filled and you had to raise your voice a little more to be heard. They were cool with us bringing in our own wine, $10 corkage fee. We had a charcuterie plate and each piece was worth every bite. Herb fries were excellent as well as trout, skirt steak special, and chicken. The chocolate-pumpkin dessert with pumpkin brittle blew us away; we ended up ordering more. Gus was a great, accommodating server. Would definitely go back again.
(4)Supna R.
A great friend and I had dinner here this evening, and I am SO happy we did! From the second we sat down at the bar area overseeing the kitchen, we could see how much love and attention went into each dish. We started with the charcuterie, my absolute favorite part being that we could choose our own combination of meat and cheese. The chicken liver pate was scrumptious, as was the cheese and tasso ham. We followed that with the mussels. I must say, I am not much of a cheese and seafood fan, but somehow the combination of the blue cheese and siracha made me a convert. The broth was so good, that it made me want to pick up the bowl and sip every last bit. The mussels were cooked to perfection- every shell opened perfectly. We finished the meal by sharing the burger (an unconventional dessert choice- but a smart one)... and it was every bit as delicious as I had hoped. The burger itself was cooked beautifully, and the sweetness of the pickles and caramelized onions complemented it so well, that I didn't even miss one condiment that wasn't already on the bun. Overall, this was a fantastic dining experience with excellent and attentive service, topped off with a great suggestion for a bottle of wine. I cannot wait to go back!
(5)Yazid E.
After a lengthy absence, my wife and I returned to Bread & Wine. The meal was superb. I started with the PEI Mussels, which were excellent. The portion size was very generous for a small plate. The entree of Hanger Steak was a perfectly prepared with green beans, potatoes and beet ash. See the photo I posted. The vibe at the restaurant is as great as ever - hip and classy. They even have some beers on tap.
(4)Dan H.
I stopped in to meet an old high school classmate and immediately was treated to great decor subdued but captivating. We sat at the counter which was a comfortable feeling similar to an old school diner with a modern theme. The wait staff/team was very genuine in their greetings and concern for my needs. We sampled the tray of kielbasa cheese and other delicious offerings. I learned that most of the plates were locally sourced or made on site. The bar offered 4 locally brewed taps along the IPA theme, I sampled 3 which were great. For my first experience it was great, I will return with my lovely bride to enjoy a full evening. Thank Lisa I had a great time! Dan
(5)Laila C.
I haven't had such an enjoyable dinner experience anywhere in a while! I LOVED Bread & Wine. First of all, they have a parking lot! We sat at the Chef's table and got to chit chat and batter with the kitchen crew the whole night. They let us try different sauces, we gave them some of the special Founders Doom beer we ordered, they bought us shots of Malort (surprisingly, I kind of loved it!). We started with a 3 piece charcuterie plate, for apps we had some heart, some tongue, basically just all the organ meats they had on the menu. We shared the fish and the steak. Everything was phenomenal!!!!!! So thoughtful and surprising flavors. The only thing I found boring was the dessert, we had the white chocolate. But then again, I'm just not a big dessert person. Also, all the cocktails kick ass! I can't wait to come back!!!!!
(5)Christy L.
I haven't been this excited about a restaurant since I tried the Girl and the Goat when it first opened! Bread & Wine is amazing! My friend and I dined here tonight; and the food was tasty, the service attentive, and the atmosphere perfect. The wine list offers plenty of affordable selections, as cheap as $6 per glass with many bottles under $35. There was a small, but interesting cocktail list, though we did not order from it. We started by splitting the duck confit pierogi and the crispy chicken leg appetizers. The duck pierogi, my least favorite dish of the evening, was well-prepared though tasted a bit too gamey for me (this is typical of duck and does not reflect on the preparation). The pierogi was delicate with the right amount of filling and the pickled onions and sauce perfectly complimented the meat. If you like duck, you will love this dish. The chicken won me over - it fell right off the bone and the sauce was an interesting mix of sweet and spicy. It was a special for the evening, and I hope they rotate it into the regular menu. For entrees, we again shared - the Bahn Mi sandwich as well as the fettuccine with mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and goat cheese. Bahn Mi must be the new craze as this isn't the first time I've seen them on the menu of a non-Vietnamese restaurant. The sandwich was tasty. The homemade pasta was to die for - the best dish of the evening. The mushrooms were nice and garlicky, and the goat cheese was a great deviation from the standard Parmesan. For dessert, we shared the sweet potato donuts with salted caramel sauce. The bite-sized donuts were good though could have been a bit sweeter. The caramel - wow! It comes out in a shot glass, and I literally drank from the glass after we polished off the donuts! It was delicious! Our waiter, Jerry, was very attentive, making helpful suggestions on what to order. We sat at the chef's table and interacted with the chef while he prepped the food. The decor is minimalist without being harsh, and the restaurant is loud without hindering conversation. What really sealed the deal for me was when our check came - we ordered two glasses of wine, two appetizers, two entrees and a dessert, and our bill, including tip, was only $85. Take Bread & Wine and plop it in the West Loop, and I imagine it'd cost at least 50 percent more. It's only a matter of time before getting a table here will be near impossible. The restaurant's small and while off the beaten path for many, it's more than the worth the trip.
(5)Jay L.
I've been twice now and the food was super both times. It's a bit off the beaten path in what looks like the shell of a former Burger King, but the inside leaves no trace of its former self. Open Kitchen, expansive drink menu, and a mix of what I would consider somewhat rich foods. Highlights for me were the coffee at the end of the meal to cut the richness of the salted chocolate mousse. Nice job!
(4)L P.
We went for an early dinner on a Tuesday. We loved everything about this place. The staff was fantastic, super friendly and attentive. The food was AMAZING! We ordered the tasting and a burger. Nothing disappointed. Each bite was delicious and left you wanting another. We will be back and hope to sample everything on the menu.
(5)Nina B.
Perhaps I just don't get out much... But a tad over $80.00 for a dinner for two? Methinks not. I took my daughter out after work one Friday evening - something new for me, (we normally visit on Sunday afternoons). Still, I was up for a new adventure and thought I would try a dining out on a Friday evening, no less. I drove pass Bread & Wine one day and thought, "Hmm looks trendy, but could have nice eats and good atmosphere". Bread & Wine is trendy - not the place to meet good old mom after work, (I'm the old mom). Many 20-30 something couples, a couple of large groups,(4-6), even a small family, (you know a mom, dad and 1 child), but overall very loud. Something should be done about acoustical tiles. I suspect the dining area used to be a garage, so the walls are cement or simply dry wall, so the noise level can get really high, (or maybe I'm just sensitive - I am the old mom). The tables seemed close to me, so I felt like my conversation was public. Still, everything under low lighting appeared clean and the food... The food was tasty. Different for sure - not basic - not at all what I would cook at home. I had white fish - which really is basic, but not the price. The portion was more than enough to share with my daughter who had ordered the lamb, which was really small - so she was still a little hungry. Both meals were served attractively on the plate, so eye appeal was met, but still the price... Our service was good, but not great, (although, my daughter left a very generous tip). Our waitress came once after serving to check on us. I noticed other servers were more attentive. I poured my own water throughout our meal, again while other servers poured the water for their customers.... Then our dessert came... Being the old mom; I know a thing or two about sweet potato pie - We had the sweet potato custard "strip", twirled ever so nicely on the plate, but it didn't add to the taste, which left me wondering did the chef's mother ever teach him or her about making real sweet potato pie. I don't know if I'll go back, maybe with my husband, maybe with another one of my six children...but not anytime soon. I guess, if one is looking for a little something to taste and good wines; Bread & Wine is the place to go, but not with dear old mom after work on a Friday.
(3)Shannon H.
Food was delicious, waiter was great. My only complaint is that the bar service was super slow. Took about 20 minutes to get our drink order.
(4)Annie W.
Excited to try this place again! So grateful for a nice foodie place in Avondale/Irving Park! Hey, us West-siders gotta eat too! Very interesting combos, cute atmosphere, can't wait to try more on the menu!
(4)Linda B.
I like the appetizer choices. I did not find the entree portion of the menu as impressive. I think I would stick to a drink and appetizers next time.
(3)Amy B.
I had a hankering for meat, so I went with the grass-fed beef burger with beef bacon during a Saturday afternoon brunch. It did not disappoint. It was the juiciest grass-fed burger I've had to date. It was cooked perfectly, and the flavor was wonderful. There are also a couple savory and sweet vegetarian brunch options I aim to try, but I look forward to returning some evening for wine and a charcuterie plate.
(4)Rick F.
Overall a great experience! We went with some dear friends that frequent and love Bread & Wine. The owners work at the restaurant everyday, I love that they get to know the clientele and genuinely care. The service was perfect, the waitress was very attentive and made some great recommendations. To have a restaurant of this caliber: modern, cool, hip vibe in this part of town is desperately needed and welcomed. Thank you for taking the risk! The decor is way cool, loved everything about it, next time it was recommended that we sit at the food bar and engage the chefs throughout the meal, you may get some Scooby snacks on your plate, yum! Chicken Liver Pate-Excellent Salumi and Cheese Plate- Excellent Crispy semolina Gnocchi- Excellent Beef and Kielbasa Burger-Not a fan Butter poached Whitefish-Just OK Salted caramel popcorn Panna Cotta- Excellent, WOW! I'd like to see more Bread and more Wine since it is in the name?????? I'm looking forward to my next visit!
(4)Jennifer G.
I'm not coming here anymore. It has changed since they opened. The prices are not worth the food. This food doesn't taste gourmet enough to warrant the tiny portions and okay only food. You can get this kind of food for way cheaper at pitchfork down the street or chicago diner in Logan. Or kinda anywhere. I don't know why they charge so much. They have paid off their ikea furniture by now. They don't explain the specials well. They don't give you a meat knife to cut their tough ass meat. Bathroom smells. Wine glass overpriced. It is too bad this is our only sort of fine dining option in this area still. I'm not coming Back anymore. :( You can get this kind of food way better at some nice bars in Lincoln square and roscoe village, etc. I think they are going to wind up closing soon.
(1)Jon M.
Overall review: 3 1/2 stars I took my fiancee here for her birthday. Snf it was our first time here. The ambience upon entering was pretty cool but you could tell the decor is from ikea. I was cracking up with my fiancee. The hostess at the front wasn't attentive at all. There was a group before us who appeared to be friends with her, was very chatty with hugs and laughter. Too bad, she was the cause of 1/2 of a star. The waitress was attentive and good, not overwhelming or overly talkative. My fiancee usually have the luck of having our mouths full of food and the waiter comes by to ask us how the food was.. then you can't answer how you want to. I dislike that. Our waitress there, has great timing. We were in between bites sipping on our spirits and conversing only to ask us how the food was. The apps were great! We had the mussels with bleu cheese siriacha sauce. The mixture of flavors had heat to it, but enough heat not requiring milk to save your taste buds from full destruction. There was sliced French bread soaking up the sauce. That was the best party but I didn't want to fill up on food quickly. We also ordered the crispy gnocchi. You're taste buds will have a full on orgasm. No joke. I highly recommend them. My fiance had curried tofu with noodles. the total was good but the noodles tasted like it was still al dente. it was nothing too exciting. I had poached chicken with potato puree and sweet potatoes and onions. It was good but the outer part of the chicken was over salted. If we could do it all over again, we would have just gone for the small plates or the cheese & wine.
(3)Leah C.
hardworking staff...but still fell short for service... from the moment i booked a last minute weekday date night at b+w, i knew this spot would shine. the receiving end was bright and cheery on the phone and informed me that if we could not find a last minute sitter, kids were welcomed (kids menu available). we were greeted by his smiling colleague upon arrival followed by a courteous server and main server. our gilt voucher allowed us to order 2 dishes of each category. i applaud the "equal opportunity service" as i feel that sometimes service is cut short the second you present a voucher... i went with the salad, curried tofu and the panna cotta dessert. we added a cheese plate to our order as well which was divine. after the cheese plate was served, service slowed tremendously (reason for knocking off a star). our server, we later observed, was running back and forth from the kitchen to the bar to his tables. they were obviously short staffed and something was obviously going on in the kitchen because our next courses took forever to appear. the salad was good but nothing beyond what was described on paper (which is fine). my tofu dish was the perfect combination of spice and texture (the rice noodle accompaniment was al dente and the tofu crisp on the outside and silky on the inside). we ended up having to box up our desserts to make it home in time for the sitter. as i restlessly waited for our meal to arrive, i was kept busy by the wine bottles tucked away on the shelves - all for sale. great homey atmosphere and nothing too frilly on the plates either.
(4)Brad Y.
We went to Bread and Wine last night for dinner. It was our first time there. The food was good, but the service was horrible - extremely slow, ordered a drink that never came, and the server (as opposed to our waiter) was downright rude. Oh, and by the way - despite their name, they don't serve any "bread" - which would have come in handy for the first 30 minutes when our order had not even been taken. We won't be back.
(2)J V.
I had family visiting for New Year's Eve and saw that Bread & Wine was opened and was offering a special menu with a midnight toast. I always wanted to check this place out so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. It was nice that there was parking and our table was available right away. Our server was friendly but left after an hour because she had New Year's plans of her own. Our new waiter was also friendly. We had a couple of drinks and a couple small dishes. The food was ok and was very pricey for what it was. We were expecting a toast at midnight but the waiter had us close out around 11:30PM and no one said anything at midnight. The staff was just chatting somewhere in the back. So we just toasted with water and went home. It was quite depressing. I was really hoping to have a better experience. Sorry won't be back and won't be recommending Bread & Wine to my friends.
(2)Robert T.
What a great surprise. One of the better meals that I've had in Chicago, without a doubt. The service was great for us, so I obviously didn't have the same experience as a few who complained about service. Our table had a selection of charcuterie to start, as well as the gnocchi. We had the pate, tasso ham, mortadella, cheddar, camembert, and the goat cheese. The camembert was a bit bland, but the other five were all exceptionally tasty. Really fantastic. Our table ended up ordering the trout and the carbonara, which were enjoyed by everyone. In particular, the trout was apparently really fresh and perfectly cooked (not overcooked, as most places do). The panna cotta and chocolate mousse provided a perfect dessert. The menu is the perfect size. Enough choices to satisfy everyone, but not so much s to overwhelm or to ensure mediocrity. And, 1/2 price wine on Wednesday nights? It made for a perfect meal. Can't wait to go back....
(5)John C.
Lets start by saying the food is great, atmosphere is great, chic but comfortable. We love all the staff Jennifer and Lisa are both fun and fabulous with a great eye for detail. We love it so much that we are having are wedding here. My partner Erick and I love to sit at the bar and eat and drink great food and socialize with the staff and other patrons. John C. and Erick B.
(5)Bettina Y.
I tried to like this place but every time (4 to be exact) I have walked out of this place disappointed and feeling like I got ripped off! The last time we went there, which should have been the last, they told us that they were closing soon so we had to get our order in quick. So we did and then proceeded to waited for about 40 minutes for our breakfast. We were told that the cook kept messing the eggs up. Why did we go back?! Well we did and last night was the same. We finally tried the burger that they are famous for and it was memorable in the way that the soggy pretzel bun made us want to be eating at DMK as that was a memorable burger and bun. I couldn't even tell that the chorizo was chorizo and it annoyingly kept slipping out of the burger. The burger was raw when we ordered medium. Also had a pappardelle entree that was really bland and I remember thinking that it just tasted like pasta. The flavors were all very mute except for the pork in the dish, which really didn't seem to go. I tried to put all of the components in the dish together to see if it made it taste like something, but then all you tasted was the pork much which again didn't really go. We also ordered a kielbasa appetizer which was good, but it was 4 tiny pieces for $6. It was completely ridiculous! We barely ate either dish, which the server really could care less if we did. Overall, the service is sub-par, the kitchen is slow, the food is trying to be something it isn't and it is overpriced. I wish I could say that it is a great neighborhood place for when you don't want to drive, but it isn't even that.
(2)Jeff G.
went there for dinner one night. while i like the concept that they are farm to table, both of our meat entrees we ordered were below average quality, either tough or dry or both probably wouldnt go back for dinner but maybe for brunch.
(2)Victoria D.
This restaurant is in my neighborhood and so I want to LOVE it, want to SUPPORT it, and want to see if SUCCEED. However, at least 6 out of the 7 times I've been there, I've been disappointed on some level. Why? Very small wine pours, uneven service, and inconsistent food. Then, the last time we went--my husband and I brought a friend for her birthday. That night, even though it was a slow night, we were not told it was half-price bottled wine night, so we ordered by the glass, AND they do NOT recognize/celebrate special occasions beyond the perfunctory "Happy Birthday" wish. Most restaurants offer a complimentary dessert--likely costs them less than $1.00 but it goes a long way in good will, customer loyalty and a display of appreciation for choosing THEIR establishment to celebrate. Our waiter went so far as to say to our friend, "What, no dessert on your birthday" after we had spent a small fortune on drinks, apps, sides, and entrees. So, I'll likely go back....maybe in the summer and dine al fresco when I want to walk to where I'll dine, but I'd pick another restaurant to celebrate a special event.
(2)Julie K.
Sat at kitchen bar and had a great night. The chef answered our questions, and also it was a great way to see other items on the menu. Definitely try the charcuterie, the homemade sausage and prosciutto were delicious. Also, the chicken dish was really uniquely executed and delicious, I think he said it was sousvide, Also, prices are reasonable for a nicer dinner, and it's a great addition to the area.
(5)Monte O.
The owners are very nice and made me feel welcome, and the food and service is amazing! I will definitely be a regular...
(5)M M.
For some reason my eating partner picked this place. I don't know why, since we seldom drink wine. Just as I suspeced, a menu with a large selection of wine and just a few dishes to choose from, that didn't give my finiky friend many options. I had the beef and charizo burger, very good--the beef was grass fed (the waitress was nice enough to inquire about their beef when I asked if it was organic). I figured if it was good beef I wouldn't have minded having it on the medium side, but I decided to be safe and ordered it well. The burger was cooked perfectly and I guess the grass fed beef justifies the $14 burger which came with a side of fries uniquely seasoned -best fries I ever had! I can confidently boast that. My friend ordered the $18 chicken breast and loved their signature mulberry mustard sauce, which I think I had a hint of in my burger. The waitress was kind enough to give my friend a little container with a bit of the sauce to take home. It was charished like gold, kind of like how I cherish the fautoush salad dressing at Pita Inn. Bread and wine was a visually suave and sopisticated place, yet with a casual confortable feel. People were great, it was just a tad bit pricy for my budget. If I liked wine, I would probably appreciate this place more.
(4)Harvey M.
I'd been wanting to try this place for a long while and it did not disappoint when I went for Sunday brunch with a friend. Great parking options nearby (free!). The menu was eclectic enough to differentiate itself from other restaurants, but familiar enough to be accessible to almost any palate. The service was outstanding and the food was very good. I can't wait to go back.
(4)FoodLover Z.
Took my wife here for a Valentine's Day dinner today. I ordered their special V-Day menu -$45 for a three course meal consisting of kampachi crudo, lamb chops and chocolate mousse. My wife order the crispy semolina gnocchi and smoked celery root agnolotti. Everything we ordered was absolutely fantastic. Even my drink - a simple honey gimley, was amazing. The only reason I take away one star is that the portions are tiny. I could've eatern two entrees, in addition to the appetizer and dessert - I'm not even kidding. I had to have a small snack after coming home to keep myself from sleeping hungry. All-in-all, it's a great place, but it's not as "reasonably priced" as it looks on paper due to the small portions.
(4)Yvonne O.
I am not big on driving into this area on a Saturday night as it brings back memories of fighting the awful traffic on Irving at ALL TIMES OF DAY AND NIGHT when I lived at Irving and Damen. But, the husband read about the place in the paper, saw "charcuterie plate" and it was a done deal. I hoped there would be options for me. We were seated at the bar - totally fine with me and ordered right away. Husband got the charcuterie with pig face, spanish ham and aged cheddar and I ordered the smoked duck pierogies. He loved the plate, my duck was lacking in flavour. For entrees, he got the steak and gnocchi and I ordered the stinging nettle (flower) fettuccini. Both were delicious - especially the semolina gnocchi that look like little marshmallow squares. Those come as a side order - get them, you will not regret it. All this and two drinks was about $90 before tip - not bad. And, if you eat in, you can shop in the little market area behind the host with 10% off. I would definitely come back, but I would like to see a few more seafood options as there were only two things I would really order as an entree on the menu (no shrimp, scallops, whitefish, and only the one steak, which was suprising)
(4)Flora C.
Bread and Wine took it's time getting opened, and it was well worth the wait! The decor is elegant, the ambiance is warm and inviting. The food was delicious. I had the fettuccine with roasted pumpkin and goat cheese and oyster mushrooms. It was yummy! The pasta was home made. My husband had the lamb, which he raved about and kept having to share pieces with our daughter. My daughter had the chicken over leg confit and truffle dumplings with roasted vegetables. She ate it all up! We also tried the olives, togarashi popcorn and the duck pierogis as apps. Delicious! We left stuffed and cannot wait to go back. BTW, we went on opening night. And for a first night being open, it was PERFECT! Service, food, wait time. Well done! SO excited to have a restaurant of this caliber in what has been a "restaurant desert" in our west walker/old irving area.
(5)Cristen B.
Flank steak was amazing and so was the beet salad. The sauces served on both our meals were out if this world, I wanted seconds! Lady working the host stand was a bit quirky. Dessert was ok, was list could use better options (Malbec option wasn't great).
(4)Neha M.
We went here today for Sunday brunch, and although it was far outta the way, it was worth it. What looks from the outside like an upscale suburban restaurant, turns out to be an airy and hip establishment on the inside. We came here with a Gilt City certificate which was an amazing deal $39 for 2 drinks, two brunch entrees, 2 side orders, and a dessert. It ended up being a ton of food - but it was great because this meant we got to try at least one item from each part of the menu. Drinks: He got the mimosa and I got the bloody mary. The juice in both was really fresh and great. Entrees: He got the sausage links which came with sausage, coca-cola baked beans, and eggs (I think sunnyside up?). I didn't try the sausage but he seemed happy with them. The eggs and baked beans were good. I got the friend semolina gnocchi. Good but a little too oily and salty. Came with both a tomato sauce and a white sauce which complimented each other well. Sides: House cured bacon (again a little too salty for me) and cheddar grits (yummm). Dessert is sitting in our fridge because we couldn't possibly eat it after that huge meal. But they even plated it nicely for us in the to go box...cant WAIT!! It is pricey (our total without the certificate would have been $74 before tip) and very out of the way for me, so it would have to be a special occasion for me to return. But I am very glad that we were able to try it out!!
(5)Robert Y.
Great service, delicious food, and great selection of wines. It is a little bit loud in here, so be prepared to speak up!
(4)Alyssa E.
Bread and Wine is a solid restaurant. However, there were a few kinks that need to be worked out or maybe they were having an "off" night. I had a groupon, so was able to try many different dishes. First, my friend and I got to sit at the chef's table and watch all the food being prepared! Awesome! Second three of our 5 dishes came out almost at the same time. However, after we vouched our concern to our waitress, she was good about telling them to pace the rest of our food. We started with a cheese plate wonderful. Then moved on to the gnocchi, not to be missed! This was one of my favorites that night! Then we shared the baby octopus. Fantastic! For the main course, I got the burger, as I had heard they are known for their burger. However, I was not blown away by it. Again, solid, but certainly not the best I've had in the city. Dessert was the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta. I was glad I got to try it, but I need something sweeter, more like creme brulee! The panna cotta part was very bland and tasteless, which is the way it is supposed to be. Just not my personal preference. Again, this place is solid, but with all the places to try in Chicago I'm not dying to go back soon.
(3)Audrey S.
Went there last night for dinner. We had reservations for 7:15, got there at 7:00, and the place was pretty empty. We were seated right away at the "Chef Table", which was so much FUN! FYI - by 7:45 the place was packed. We had cheese and house made ham, arctic char, the chicken breast and the desserts. Everything we had was fresh and the portions were quite large for a higher end place like this. Service was excellent. We went to Premise a few weeks prior, so to compare the two is natural. Premise was good, but for my money, I'd rather go to Bread & Wine.
(5)Kristina O.
I love that this place is in Old Irving, a neighborhood slightly starved for really great food! I haven't tried this place for dinner, but did come here for brunch. I like something a little different, the layout is very open and not too fancy. I could see it being a great first date place or for gathering with friends. The service was fine, the food was...different... but good! Honestly, we both just ordered things and they came out looking very different from what we expected! That said, the flavors and ingredients were still top notch, and we had an experience, which in my opinion, is what is important. I'll definitely go back to try dinner, and would recommend it to anyone who lives remotely close. Gotta support the neighborhoods which need a little more flava!
(4)Rob F.
I've wanted to try this place out for a while. I've heard nothing but good stuff about B&W . I had to cancel a reservation and they couldn't have been nicer... So my girlfriend and Iook a nice Sunday trip up Irving Park to B&W Parking was nice and we sat out on the patio which seemed quieter than the inside. There was no bread service... isn't it in the name? We got three pieces from the charcuterie plate. These were very good, albeit small portions for 15. The pate was well executed and the kielbasa was tasty. One hang up, they gave us one cornichon...and cut it in half. Really? Cant part with a couple tiny pickles for 15 bucks. It seemed a bit arrogant. On to the entrees...After a long wait, both came out cold. Keep in mind the place had three tables filled. Upon returning the overcooked and cold steak the waitress returned with the same steak. Yes the same steak. She addressed the problem saying, the chef said that the steak was indeed medium rare and just reheated it for you." Unacceptable. I was unsatisfied with the dish that was over cooked and B&W responds by telling me I am wrong and overcooked my steak more!!?? What a joke. And to boot the steak was also unseasoned and served with a weird gross steak sauce on the plate which wasn't on the menu...Isn't it an insult to the chef when you add a sauce to a steak? Also the asparagus mentioned on the menu was nowhere to be found. The gnocchis that were not gnocchis were good but they are cubed fried semolina dough so just call them that. Our other entrée was the Whitefish which was not as hot as it should have been but good. Until we found that it was not whitefish but bass because that's what was printed on the check and not on the menu. Also Unacceptable. Last but not least, we tried the tiny slice of peanut butter icebox pie...please kill this dessert with fire. It was by far the worst thing I've eaten in recent memory, putting it in the running for the worst in my life. The pretzel crust was wet sand. The filling was a horrible, sour, salty, peanut slime. I couldn't get the taste and film from my mouth for almost 2 hours after one bite. This pie had clearly been in the icebox for quite some time. It also had a clumsy salty ganache which was also inedible. I really wanted to like this place. For the money and after the steak incident I will not be returning. If I want to be insulted I'll go to Wiener's Circle and be insulted, at least I'll get what I want and not get lied to.
(2)Lisa K.
I was really surprised by Bread & Wine, but not necessarily in a good way. Some quick thoughts: 1. Why does a restaurant called Bread & Wine not serve any bread? This seems like a gross oversight, especially when you consider the absurdly small portions... even on the large plates. 2. Speaking of absurdly small portions, the portions are absurdly small, and I'm not just talking about the small plates. I was out to dinner with 5 other people and everyone except me had the large plates, and the food on their plate took up exactly half of the plate. It was almost comical just how small the portions were. If you're going to serve such little food, why not at least use smaller plates so people don't feel like they're getting ripped off? 3. The gnocchi was just bizarre. Instead of gnocchi, it tasted like battered and fried tofu. And not in a good way. 4. The pork belly was tasty! 5. The peanut butter pie was one of the worst desserts I've ever had in my life. I live for dessert, yet I spit out the bit of pie that I had. It tasted like congealed lukewarm peanut butter. Not to mention that the slice was approximately 1/3 the size of what a normal piece of pie should be. 6. The acoustics in the restaurant are terrible. Dinner got uncomfortable at times because we just got tired of yelling at one another. I assume they're doing the best they can in a space that used to be a laundromat, but holy heck. Don't go here to have a conversation. 7. Free parking. Let me say that again: free parking. In a lot. Awesome. Lest that sound harsh, I think there's a lot of opportunity for improvement here and I'm happy to see nicer restaurants on Irving Park. That said, our experience didn't match the high price tags on the menu.
(2)Stan P.
I wish that I could give Bread&Wine 3.5 stars, but Yelp doesn't have that flexibility. The restaurant has great atmosphere and some profoundly good aspects, but the food tripped me up a little bit. Partly, I think I am personally out of sync with the heavy salty, rich food that is so ubiquitous in Chicago right now. I admit that I am a fan of lighter sauces, vegetables and a great salad. In fact, there was no great salad on the menu. And, when I ordered the small salad with wheat berries, I asked for a substitution in dressing given that I have an allergy to miso - and the waitress balked and said that it was just too busy to make any changes. I pleaded my case, and she did bring me a lemon based dressing that was very rich. At least no miso. Our group did start dinner with some yummy appetizers. The fried Tofu, the octopus and the scallops were all different and very good. Again, all but the scallops suffered from the too much salt trend, but they were tasty in small quantity. At the table, we also had the Chorizo/beef burger which was pretty good and came with excellent french fries and the chicken/spaetzle/oat dish which seemed to be a bit over cooked. But, again, there were no fresh veggies - nothing to clean or lighten the palate. Dessert was probably the best course. We had some very good french press decaf -- great flavor. And, we had the salted caramel, popcorn panna cotta. Wow. It was good. Very rich and the caramel was certainly salty. We split it four ways so it wasn't too bad. It's a great little place. Nicely decorated. Has its own small parking lot and parking is pretty easy on Irving Park as well. We would go back. Maybe the menu will lighten as spring and summer approach.
(3)Evan H.
Party of 5 had an 8PM reservation this past Friday. The hostess greeted us warmly and we posted up at the bar while waiting for 2 more in our party to arrive. We were seated promptly upon their arrival. Our server was friendly and seemed knowledgeable. We ordered drinks and started scanning the menu. First annoyance was that beer and wine arrived WAY before the 2 specialty cocktails that were ordered. I mean, it was AT LEAST another 5-7 minutes before the 2 cocktails arrived. I looked over my shoulder at the bar a few times - 1 bartender on a bustling Friday night. Bad scheduling on management's part, it seemed. We ordered some cheeses and charcuterie to start. Everything was good, but servings were TINY. That's ok, I'm used to that when ordering a cheese plate. Just be prepared to drop $30 on MAYBE 2 oz. each of 5-6 different items. Additionally, they were super-stingy on the bread. Yes, they did bring us a second little basket when our first disappeared 3 seconds after arriving at the table, but when each basket contains only 6-7 little wedges of bread, it goes fast. Isn't this place called BREAD & Wine? As someone else pointed out, where the hell was the bread? Our party of 5 ordered 4 small plates and 4 large plates. We ate EVERYTHING. What to take away from this? Order more than you think you'll need. Portions are minuscule, especially on the small plates. Very difficult for more than 2 or 3 people to even get a taste. Another big problem? No vegetables. I mean not a single green thing graced our table all night (notwithstanding the 2 little slices of cornichon that came with the charcuterie). When I'm ordering a $16 chorizo burger (good, but extremely salty) or a $22 flank steak entree, I say you throw in a little side salad or SOMETHING. I left feeling profoundly carnivorous and over-salted. It was a gorgeous night on Friday, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to leave the a/c off when your restaurant is busy, the kitchen/dining room follows an open concept, and your windows don't open. It got HOT in there. Uncomfortably hot. I was ready to go before the end of our meal, if only to dam the river of sweat that was rolling down my back. The 5 of us managed to drop $245 on a modest cheese/charcuterie plate, 4 small plates, 4 large plates, and 8 drinks. While the food was good, I did not leave feeling I got good value for my money. Honestly, I enjoyed the company more than any aspect of the experience at Bread & Wine. Considering its price-point, I expected more. Probably won't be going back.
(2)Felix C.
Fabulous from beginning to the end. Great service and conversation with the sous chef. The baby octopus was awesome!
(4)Sam L.
The neighborhood needed an upper scale restaurant but NOT this place. Here is why - Rude host full of her self AND it turns out out to be one of the owners ! - food portions are way too small to be charging $28 for an entree and to walk out still hungry , that goes also for the salad, dessert and even the small half full glass of wine for $11.50 - food is nothing special, lacks flavor , very small portions and expensive for no reason ! Too bad This place will not last another year! There are plenty of better restaurants .
(1)Deeds P.
My husband and I want for valentines last week. We got there pretty early (6pm), and by 6:30, the place was packed. I think they were working very hard to keep all their reservations on schedule b/c we were seated, served, billed, and out the door in an hour and 5 min! We did feel a little rushed to quickly finish as they kept tying to take away our plates before we were done. Food wise, we had the burger (good, but on the small side), octopus (yum, and actually I was surprised by the generous portion), and the semolina gnocchi (very different from your normal gnocchi - they were breaded/fried cubes of rich deliciousness. Super heavy, but totally worth it). Our cocktails were good, and no, we did not order wine. Come to think of it, we also were not served any bread. All in all, great splurge place to try once. Prob won't be returning, but only b/c there are just too many places to try!
(4)Martha L.
Being in the neighborhood I am so happy to have a dining option such as Bread and Wine. Within walking distance! I've dined here 3 times now. Love their wine list....many good, reasonably priced options. Outsranding. Love their decor. Sitting at the bar is the greatest! But there are a few things that continue to leave a slight sour taste in my mouth.... 1. Portions are too small for the price. I understand the need to charge for good, qaulity ingredients and chef preparation but the math just doesn't add up here. I had the deconstructed sweet potato pie on Saturday night. Wonderful flavors; WAY too small for $8.00. 2. My girlfriend ordered an expresso from the Bartender and he advised that this was not available. He then offered her "french pressed" coffee. We were charged $7.00. Kinda need to know that it comes for "2"....not impressed. And really, at that price? I really need to see some more "value" here. I LOVE the fact that it is within walking distance. But then I think of my experience at places like the Purple Pig; where I feel I get outstanding food at prices that match; I am perfectly fine to get in my car and drive.
(3)Mimi R.
This place rocks! We went there at 3:30pm and for at least the first hour were the only patrons. Talk about an ideal environment to enjoy this place. We were tag-teamed by the two bartenders (sat at the bar, of course) who were so terrific and gracious. The food was amazing...smoke trout on toast, herb fries, warm burrata (OH YUM) with crispy capers to die for, beef & chorizo burger and the sweet potato doughnuts with salted caramel sauce. And the wine...all great selections. We ended up being there for almost four hours and watched the people trickle in until it was packed by 6pm-ish. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
(5)Michele G.
Visited this restaurant for the first time tonight and it won't be out last. Enjoyed particularly attentive and friendly service and enjoyed our bean puree appetizer, as well as the fettuccine with pumpkin, chicken thigh and grits special and pork shoulder. Had an olive oil cake that was incredibly moist and a panna cotta that was fun (popped corn), unusual and very smooth. Lovely wine list by the glass and Intelligentsia coffee for the finale. Glad that Bread and wine is in the neighborhood!
(5)Scott B.
I usually try to avoid restaurants until they've been open for at least a month but I was glad that I did not wait to go here. We had no wait on a Tuesday night as long as we were willing to sit at the bar. Our server, the bartender, was extremely helpful and attentive. It is a nice little restaurant that I think will be around for awhile. The small plate portions were a little light but still very tasty. My beef and chorizo burger was excellent, I highly recommend it. I never thought the chorizo would be a separate patty itself but it worked so well with the beef. And I love pretzel rolls so this only made the burger that much more enjoyable. My girlfriend had the chicken dish and seemed to really enjoy it as well. The final touch was sweet potato doughnut for dessert. It doesn't sound appealing but it is so delicious. The only hiccup in the night was when our server accidentally charged us the bottle price for a glass of wine. After a minor heart attack on my part, the situation was quickly rectified. So after 1 small plate, 2 large plates, 1 dessert, 2 glasses of wine and a beer, our total was still under $70. Not too bad for a nice meal out. We will go back again.
(5)Jeanus T.
I cannot remember anything spectacular but the overall impression was that food very solid. I do like the atmosphere there, the crowd was sophisticated and more mature. Good hangout place.
(3)Alexis W.
Close to my house, parking for everyone else, beautiful interior, friendly service, excellent drink selections, delicious food, and sitting at the chef's bar nets extra treats. Also a delicious brunch. Make reservations.
(5)Mark V.
I really dig this place and like a lot of other reviewers I see here, am rooting for it to flourish. My wife and I have had a couple different date nights there and are always really pleased with the experience. I recommend the gnocchi, burger, white fish, and chicken. They have some great seasonal beers too, including two different 650ml bottles from 3 Floyds last time I was there. Yes please. Our server was delightful and even the music was great. I wish it was a little less expensive but only because we're always tempted to try one of everything when we're there.
(4)David J.
I was definitely underwhelmed by this place. Considering how much I was paying, the portions and quality just weren't cutting it. I will say that the cheese was absolutely delicious, but it's not like they make it in-house. At the time, they had a meatloaf on the menu which was terribly bland. It was served with some weird chili paste that was really bitter and did little to help the dish. It's a huge shame since Old Irving really needs some good restaurants.
(2)Jerry P.
Bread & Wine has so much unrealized potential. I anxiously awaited the opening of this local restaurant for nearly a year. When it finally opened, I could hardly wait to check it out! Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. I decided to make my first trip an event and scheduled a birthday dinner for four people on a Saturday night. I called and even though they did not take reservations yet, they said they would accomodate my party -- that's excellent customer service! But that's where the exceptional service ended. My party was seated and our server did not come by and check with us for over 25 minutes to take orders. When we inquired about drinks and recommendations, we were just pointed to the printed menu and said to select from there. Well, I knew that the drinks were printed on there, I wanted the server's opinion on things to try. Speaking of the menus, they are two very large legal size sheets with small type printed on both sides -- they need to improve their presentation so that people can make good decisions. We got the duck perogis for an appetizer. The menu stated that there were three but when they were served, there were only two. We inquired with our server but she had no answer. The perogis were dry, had very little duck and seemed overdone. For the entrees, I had the chorizo burger (excellent!) and my friend had a salad which she also deemed pretty good. However, the two others had the duck stroganoff special. It was INEDIBLE. The noodles tasted just like flour and water mixed together for thirty seconds and then boiled for another thirty seconds. The noodles were gummy, hard and not at all appetizing. There was no stroganoff sauce detected at all (all absorbed into the noodles) and no one ever found a piece of duck in the entire dish. We spoke to our server about this horrible food and were given a complimentary chorizo taco appetizer ($7 value) but we still had to pay for our stroganoff dishes that could not be eaten ($18 per dish). I followed up with the restaurant on the Monday following our visit and told them my concerns and said that I was telling them since I wanted to support local business and wanted to come back again to see their improvements. They responded that everyone has an off night and that was it. They did not give me any sort of incentive to show they'd listened to encourage me to come back in. I decided to give 2 stars because the concept is good and my food from their main menu was very good. But, the service, specials and the overall laissez-faire attitude is not going to help them be successful. I wish them good luck and hope that they improve. But until I hear otherwise, I won't be back.
(2)Kelly M.
I'm obsessed with this place!! It's so ridiculously amazing!! A few items worth noting: wine list (duh!); beer list (yep!....at a wine place!); cheese & charcuterie plates (to DIE for!!); cocktails (creative, fun, seasonal, all-around-a-huge-party-in-your-mouth); seafood: um HELLO!! More please!!; outdoor seating: it's small (and hard to come by on those rare great-weather days in early spring/late fall when everyone and their mother have an amazing urge to dine al fresco), but it's SUPER adorable and cozy; oh, and the service is literally FANTASTIC!! Basically, it's the full package! : )
(5)Julie Y.
I like the name. I like the location and they have a parking lot - unheard of. I like the decor and the small bar and the chef's bar. But I did not like the food. The wine was good - nice selection but they could use more selections by the glass. The olives and cheese were very good. Pigface pancetta - nah. Pancetta is all fatty, better to offer prosciutto. The fried gnocchi - I don't get it. Had not flavor. So once I have ordered the cheese plate, olives and gnocchi, frankly, I did not want anything else. They gave us free dessert - still not sure why. It just appeared when we were discussing whether we wanted a dessert. It was a nice gesture, but odd because it happened without much discussion. I liked the dessert - panna cotta - with carmel corn on top. Interesting. It's a cool place. I want it to succeed. They need a bit more polish and maybe have someone tweak some of the starters. I cannot speak to the small or large plates, but I do understand other reviewers were not unhappy.
(3)Michelle L.
Just had brunch today. Service was excellent. Atmosphere was also excellent. The food was good - very good but not great or the best I have had. My two friends felt the same way. We will definitely be back to try dinner.
(4)B. A.
Eight of us had a wonderful dinner here - appetizers, entrees, desserts and nice wine. The servers were friendly and knowledgable and the food was perfect - all of it. It's a cozy darkish space with a parking lot in front. Perfect evening.
(5)Matt G.
Bread & Wine is a great destination restaurant, as well as a local option for those in the area. The food is very tasty and unique, i'm glad the chef from Leopold relocated here, as that was another great restaurant. The hand-picked craft beer selection is surprisingly good, with options from Greenbush, FFF, Lagunitas, Perennial, Metropolitan, and more. Best dishes have been the crispy semolina gnocchi, burger, agnolotti, and the rotating charcuterie. Can't wait to dine out on the patio this summer...
(5)Eleni G.
My boyfriend and I came in last night on a whim - I wanted wine and cheese, he could care less as long as he was fed. We both left satisfied and in a great mood. It wasn't too crowded, but we did arrive later in the evening, around 8:30 or so. They do have outdoor seating, but nothing was available when we came in, so we snagged seats at the bar. Josh was great, recommending we try the Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Wild, which is a variation on one of my favorite beers, the Lil Sumpin Sumpin. It was great, and he was genuinely excited to offer it to us since there is limited availability, which is, for me, the sign of a great bartender: genuinely excited to share favorites with their customers. We started with the mussels, which I loved. A combo I never would have considered in that dish is sriracha and blue cheese, and it was a very pleasant surprise. Do note -it's spicy. I would not order it if you aren't into heat. In between the courses, we switched from beer to wine. We asked about the wine we were considering and he offered a tasting if the bottle was open, which it was. The first we tried - meh. The second, though, which he said was his favorite of the whites, was great, and not on the extra-pricey end of the spectrum. Next we ordered the cheese plate - yes, all 5 on the menu. They were out of one of the selections, so Josh promptly returned to see if we'd like to double any up, and even recommended which he would choose. He was more attentive than many servers I've ever had, which speaks volumes to the level of service. The cheeses were fresh, delicious, and the portions were significant compared to some restaurants I've tried. The accoutrements were plentiful and well-matched. This was the majority of my meal. My boyfriend ordered the beef and chorizo burger, medium rare. I was impressed that the patty was truly medium rare and not too well-done, since that is always my struggle when I order a burger. It was packed with flavor and the cheddar on it was to die for. We had a great evening and experience, with great service, and will definitely be back!
(4)Ron T.
This place is always impressing me. They have many new menu items. Had their smoked poach lake trout, beer sriracha bleu cheese mussels, grass fed beef burger and smoked celery root agnolotti. WOW! All amazing and bigger portions than usual. We also had some of their new drink concoctions which were delicious and fun. Keep up the creativity b&w we love it!
(5)Meredith K.
Oh man this place has great potential but it just didn't do it for me! As a joke we were thinking that its called Bread and Wine but had no bread an no wine, but in a way it was kind of true. At least the no bread part. I hate it when a restaurant's setting includes a bread plate but they don't bring you bread. We received a little basket of toast points with our cheese. They don't make the bread there. The cheese was ok. We liked the mustard however none of the cheese that we ordered needed any. I was missing honey - and I know that's a personal preference but stinky cheeses are best with it! We started with some brown liquor cocktails. I tried their version of a sazerac. It was alright, not the best not the worst. My boyfriend got the one with the beet juice. It was too juicy for me but he liked it. Then on to wines. I was a little underwhelmed by the by-the-glass options. It was slim pickings esp for the whites. It was heavy on the sweets and lacking any oaky chardonnays. She said most of their whites are from steel barrels. The wines come in stemless glasses. I dunno for a wine bar I think that's a miss. You can't swirl the red and you're warming the white with you hand. Then we tried the marinated squid. It was a texture that I couldn't eat. My boyfriend felt the same. It wasn't bad but it had a mushy this-might-be-bad feeling in your mouth. Also the sun-choke salad which was super super salty and it seemed to be missing sun-chokes. The greens had a nice earthy flavor which was great with a pickled egg, but the heavy salt and eating a bunch of stems is never easy. Next on to the walleye which was excellent. A great springy flavor. My boyfriend had to try the burger which he greatly enjoyed. He wanted me to include in the review that he boxed up half of it and they included a little cup of the aioli which is never done! High praise for that. For dessert we got the signature panna cotta. I thought the texture was too gritty and hard. My boyfriend didn't care. He loved it. He's a sucker for homemade caramel sauce. The service was touch and go. Our server was very friendly and attentive and after ever few sips of water a guy came by to refill. The wait for the cocktails was really long, and we were the only ones in there. And then the wait for the cheese was really long which seemed odd b/c you can see in their kitchen that they have a ton of people back there. We had 2 mins to enjoy the cheese and then both starter came out. It wasn't paced right. But again the people there are great! I want to give it another shot. It is nice that they have like 8 spaces in their parking lot. But unfortunately for the same price we were thinking of other places with better food and drink.
(3)Rich R.
What a great find! Service felt hip-upscale and very attentive. Menu for brunch was imaginative and attractively presented. I ordered an omelet with oyster mushrooms and bleu cheese. Delicious. Their cheese selections wonderful as was the wine list. Can't miss as far as I'm concerned.
(5)Edward S.
Chicken Liver Pate - Ok Goat Cheese - Great Bresaola - Ok Duck Balls - Ok Gnocchi - Great Burger - Good, but a tad salty from the Chorizo Roasted Chicken - The chicken itself is moist, juicy, and flavorful, swimming in it's own jus (Used some of the bread from the charcuterie to soak it up). The pierogis were good, but not up to par with the chicken. Ample parking in the lot or on the small side directly east of the restaurant (one way going south though).
(4)Al D.
I can't believe I went to a restaurant on the second day it was open, and had an amazing dining experience. For starters, I'm thrilled that Bread and Wine has finally opened in my neighborhood. It's great to have a new place in what was formerly the Wishing Well launderette. For years, I always thought that location would be a great place for a restaurant because it has a parking lot and it's close to I90 and the El. Enter Bread and Wine with its new concept of American dining I sampled many things last night, including the buratta, the pumkin seed tofu, the banh mi, and finally the sweet potato bignets. Everything was very fresh and carefully created. Again, I'm extremely impressed by my new neighbor. My only suggestion is to cook the fries more thoroughly; my batch with the banh mi was underdone. Aside from that small mishap, Bread and Wine is a fantastic new addition to this area.
(5)Michelle Z.
I would not recommend this restaurant to parents who have kids at home with babysitter or if you had planned on seeing a movie on Friday night with dinner cause you won't have time for it. The food was ok. My husband had the roasted chicken which tasted good but not $22 good. When we left the restaurant he kept saying he couldn't believe that he had just paid $22 for 5 small pieces of chicken that his wife could have made better at home. We were seated at the bar since the restaurant was busy. I ordered a mezcal mule which was quite good. It took the waiter forever to take our order. The restaurant was rather busy but we waited 25 minutes for the waiter to take our appetizer order and since we had ample time to ponder the menu we ordered our main dishes as well. They served us bread and herbed fries with an amazing aioli. They both tasted quite good but took forever to get to our table. We were starving by the time the appetizers came since we arrived at the restaurant at 7pm and didn't eat anything until almost 7:45pm. Our main dish didn't come until after 8pm. If you are willing to wait an hour before getting your main dish than this is your restaurant. I ordered a vegetarian entree with shaved asparagus that was quite good. The portion sizes were quite small even though we ordered a large plate. At the end of the meal it took forever to get our check so we ended up waiting awhile in front of the register because we had already spent over 2 hours there and needed to get home. If this was a tapas restaurant I could understand spending that much time at a restaurant but since we only had main course and fries I didn't think it would take that long.
(2)Amy A.
I love going to Bread & Wine. Great service, great ambiance. The squash ravioli was amazing. The ingredients are fresh and the flavors work so well together. The cheese & meat plater is so delicious and flavorful. I highly recommend trying it out.
(5)Url R.
This is quite the neighborhood gem. I highly recommend seating at the chef's bar so you can watch these folks cook. They will chit chat with you all the while. Moreover, they will hand you little special made treats just for you.
(5)Bryan C.
Thanks to the Michelin Guide and Yelp, we found this amazing gem of a restaurant and enjoyed one the best meals we've had in recent memory. First of all, there is a parking lot. A small one, but still there is a parking lot and free street parking. So, right away we were pleased. Everyone knows how stressful it can be to get into a restaurant on a Saturday night with a party of 3 and find parking on top of that. More importantly however, the staff was extremely friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable, and the food was simply out of this world. The menu includes cheese and charcuterie plates, small plates, entrees and desserts. We started with some delicious house kielbasa, organic cheddar and hickory smoked gorgonzola to complement the bottle of sauvignon blanc we ordered (hey, great wine and beer list too). The charcuterie was so delicious we couldn't stop talking about it. It was the perfect start to a perfect meal. We also enjoyed the herb fries served with garlic aioli before our entrees which included the whitefish, the flank steak, and the tofu. Everything was beautifully presented, full of flavor, and perfectly proportioned. We couldn't have been more pleased. To end the meal, we shared the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta. This dessert was absolutely delicious and completely unique. Loved it! Something important to note is that the menu offers both vegetarian and gluten free options throughout each course, clearly marked with a 'v' or 'gf'. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, whether you live in the neighborhood or not. We cannot wait to go back to try some cocktails and sit at the kitchen/chef's table for another amazing meal.
(5)Kelly R.
Being from the neighborhood, I have eaten here a few times, okay on those occasions. This last time I brought friends visiting from New York and New Hampshire with me. I have always bragged about the food here in Chicago and was hopeful that Bread & WIne would be proving my point but unfortunately it was a let down. I ordered from the "restaurant week" menu and it was completely disappointing. The 2 prawns were half raw and there was pretty much nothing else to eat with it. The suggested 1/2 cup of beet and barley salad was good and so were the 2 tablespoons of "bread pudding", but I left hungry with a $33.00 bill for just my portion of the dinner order, no drinks. A cocktail they brought was a mistake and they did comp it but it didn't make up for the overall dinner in general. One of my friends enjoyed the burger but the other 2 people thought what they had from the regular menu was very overpriced for being just so-so. I really want the food establishments in this area to succeed as we are desperate for good restaurants in this part of Chicago, but as it stands now this will be my last time going to Bread & Wine.
(1)D G.
Out for an evening walk. Headed east rather than west for a change. Have driven by this place for months but never took the time to stop. Popped in after ten pm. Just had a brownie and some water. Clean, elegant, warm setting. Interesting menu. Plenty of parking. Great wine selection, though nothing seemed inexpensive (nothing under $20). The brownie was simple and warm with a dab of Carmel sauce and a dab of cherry custard, lightly sprinkled with sea salt. Very good. It was $8 which seemed fair. Just a few couples when I arrived. Thinned out to a few at the bar when I left. Good music but a bit too loud. Air conditioning a bit too cool for a cool night outside. I stayed for about an hour answering emails and scanning Facebook. All in all a nice alternative to Starbucks. I will probably pop in again.
(4)Emily C.
We had an amazing Gilt City offer to use here and had a great time. We tried the charcuterie and cheeses (would recommend any of the cheeses and the lamb belly), octopus (fantastic), the gnocchi (almost like fried mozzarella sticks, but better), the corned beef rillette (skip, no one liked it), and the duck balls. The duck balls are actually duck testicles, not balls of duck meat, which the waiter clarified for us. They were pretty good! But it was hard to get the image out of my head.... For the mains, I would definitely recommend the burger - it comes with chorizo on a pretzel roll. It was delicious. No one liked the fish so skip that. Both desserts were EXCELLENT. We tried the mud pie and the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta. Both were salty and sweet and delicious. We couldn't decide which we liked more. The restaurant has a private lot, but it doesn't have a lot of spots. We parked pretty easily on the street. We also had exceptional service! 111/365
(4)Char Y.
came as a party of 5 and ordered beer steamed pei mussels herb frie fines herb pappardelle beef and chorizo burger seared flap steak white chocolate apple bread pudding salted caramel popcorn panna cotta hazelnut flourless chocolate cake everything was a little too salty, the seasoning seemed slightly off that night.
(3)April E.
I used to go here as a kid when it was a laundry mat. So a new wine bar just opened just opened up in the neighborhood and my husband and I were so excited. We love and appreciate wine. I don't like to look at a wine menu. I expect the bartender selling the wine would know what I was talking about. Or at least to know what he was talking about. It was the worst wine bar experience I've ever had. He didn't know anything. I had one glass of Bordeaux and left. If you're going to hire someone make sure they've at lest heard of a Montepulciano or Sangiovese. Won't be going back.
(1)Amerit D.
This place has a very limited menu however, it was very delicious! I had the steak and everyone else had a burger. The bun on the burger was phenomenal. For dessert we tried the chocolate cake and the eclairs, both very yummy. The service was great, our waiter kept our glasses full and everyone else was very friendly with the exception of a tall blonde hostess who never acknowledged us and ignored us when the other hostess told us bye. Decor was great and provided a great ambiance.
(3)Raymond S.
I went to Bread and Wine during one of my lazy moments as I didn't feel like driving to Wicker Park or Edgewater and I live right down the street. I didn't have high expectations for this place, as the top tier brunch selections in my hood of Irving Park either start with "golden" or end with "hop". I was pleasantly surprised. First of all it has a parking lot. Secondly, it wasn't crowded as they just began serving brunch. The decor is modern and nice, and the restaurant isn't small but it isn't massive either. I ordered pork belly with cheddar grits. The flavor was exquisite, the way braised pork belly should taste. They didn't serve it crispy, which under most circumstances would be fine. The problem is the cut was only 20% meat. All of that creamy fat mixed with creamy grits created an almost nauseating texture in my mouth. I ended up slicing off the fat and just eating the meat which significantly lowered the available protein on my plate. On the plus side the grits were awesome and there was a sriracha-like sauce on my plate that was very nice. Other dishes ordered included corned beef hash and crispy gnocchi. All were good yet a little expensive. The dishes were all prices high for not only this area, but for Chicago as a whole. Drinks mostly ran $10+ with the average being around $13. The dishes where $12-15, all a buck more than what's displayed on their web site. Portions are meh, definitely not large enough to share but large enough to feel slightly satisfied. The proximity of the restaurant may allow me to come back, but if it wasn't around the corner I'm not too sure I would be a frequent visitor.
(3)Dee C.
Came for restaurant week, but the real menu looked too good to pass up, so I did the gnocchi and then chicken entree...soooo good..servers, bussers etc, were all great..I can't wait to come back in summer for patio(i have already told 5 people since dinner 4 hours ago)
(4)Seth F.
I learned a new word: CHARCUTERIE. Well I didn't really learn it, but since the "cheese and charcuterie" contained only cheese and meat I'm gonna guess it means meat. The food, service and atmosphere here was excellent. We had an extremely knowledgable and accommodating waiter, but I suppose YMMV. Specifically, the pan roasted chicken with crispy oats was amazing and my friends, and soon the entire Yelp community, know that I have a long standing "discussion" with a very close friend about the benefits and drawbacks of the strategy of ordering chicken at a quality restaurant (I'm generally opposed). The beef & chorizo burger was also outstanding and the rating of burger quality is one of the few fields in which I am truly an expert (and not just in my mind). On the dessert front: The Mud Pie was pretty disappointing for how excited I was to order it. I had to fight the urge to order it as an appetizer and barely touched it once it arrived. Honestly, it looked like a turd.
(5)Nina E.
I want to eat here everyday. Came here this past Sunday with my family (7 people total) for brunch. They treated us like kings and queens and the thought of their food is making my mouth water. I ordered the Blood and Smoke drink to start and it was absolutely delicious. I then went on to have the pork belly with cheddar grits. So yummy and exactly what I needed after a late night out on Saturday. Somewhere during my meal I ordered a glass of tempranillo and that was delicious too. We then split three desserts--salted popcorn panna cotta, mud pie and a pineapple cake. All were great but the panna cotta was the winner. I have nothing negative to say about this place and would highly recommend this place for brunch. I look forward to coming back for dinner.
(5)Kyle P.
great place. Just felt good when you walk in. three or four different feels inside and I always think it is cool to have an open kitchen where you can sit and eat. the gnocchi was to die for and the most unique i have had. little squares with bread crumbs or some cooler way of saying bread crumbs. The staff was great the wine is great and all the food including the carmel popcorn with panna cotta was a great way to end the night. And parking which is very cool...
(5)Alex M.
If you live in Albany Park, you know that it takes real motivation to strap on your kevlar vest and step outside after dark. While there are plenty of delicious lunch places that are safe to visit during the light of day, such as Salam and Dawali (both are recommended), there aren't too many places that are tempting enough to make the trek after dark (Semiramis being one notable exception). Check out Bread and Wine on Irving Park, just west of Elston. The food is eclectic, delicious, and beautifully served. The service is attentive and un-hurried, the wine selection is good, and they have a full bar. This is sort of a special-occassion type of restaurant, and it's priced accordingly. We tried the baby octopus, an arugula salad, and the flank steak. Call ahead to be sure they're not too crowded, or just walk over on a weeknight. There are coat racks to hang up your bullet proof vest, and there's very little actual gunfire inside.
(5)D R.
Great ambiance, evolving wine selection, and the food is unique. Friendly yet professional staff. Just enough tables to keep things cozy. A crowd attracts a crowd. From the pick-your-cheese-plate to the small and large plate options, the menu demands careful consideration. Our dinner was good, but we did not forget to leave room for dessert. Seems like the type of chef, or chefs, who would evolve the menu seasonally, but suffice to say that they had thought of everything by the time we arrived. I left feeling satisfied but not stuffed. It is an oasis in an area which doesn't have any other relevant options.
(4)Marie M.
No real handicap parking. We tried, had to park down the block. The space would not fit a small SUV if there was a car in the first normal spot. Don't believe this is a regulation spot unless you drive a motorcycle. Made a reservation like asked a day ahead of time via Groupon. Table selection was poor. The place is LOUD, however the food is good. Service is slow to start but ends up good if you can order the appetizer. I have to say the best thing on the menu was the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta.
(3)Suzan W.
Dined at Bread & Wine this past Friday, and loved it! Sat at the bar facing the open kitchen. Had a great time. Decent selection of wine, beer and cocktails, but all three could be expanded a bit. I appreciate that they will nicely package your half-full open bottle of wine for you to take home. We had a selection of apps/small plates: Five cheese platter - excellent except for the fresh goat cheese....it was just a bit too bland (and they were out of the other goat cheese they have on the menu); Mussels - amazing flavors and the blue cheese, sriracha and garlic broth was great for dipping. I will be getting two orders next time!; Gnocci - good but this was definitely not a typical gnocci.....almost a cream in the middle and very crispy on the outside (definitely fried); Carrot salad - I was not impressed with this dish at all...way too many wheat berries and the queso fresco was dull....just not enough flavor in the entire dish, and could use more carrots (which were very tasty). Overall, a fun experience....we left full, happy, and slightly tipsy. :-) We will definitely be back.
(4)Jen P.
I always have a good time here. Is it overpriced? No for what they are spending on food and drink, yes for what the average resident of Mayfair wants to pay for dinner. I think that the location is bad for what they are and what they serve, but I do enjoy the hell out of this place. Even with half price wine on Wednesday they need to move north and east to justify their prices.
(4)Gabriel L.
Had reservations for Valentine's Day. Was greeted with a warm smile and a clean open table. Our waiter was prompt, courteous and very attentive to our table. Ordered a cocktail from the bar which was beyond expectation, truly hit the spot. Enjoyed the cheese and charcuterie plate while waiting on the meal. The selection of cheese and meats was outstanding. Main course was delicious and portioned perfectly, leaving just enough room for their amazing caramel apple bread pudding. Really looking forward to a return visit.
(4)Michael S.
Love this place. The food, the wine, the staff are all top notch. One of my favorite places, period.
(5)Meagan H.
It's great to find a place like this in an area that has so little. I was surprised to find that it wasn't very busy on a Thursday evening. The ambiance is pleasant, quaint, and relaxing. They play low intensity electronic music and the Black Keys. The lighting is dark enough to get you ready for a food coma. Trust me, you'll have one! We started with the chicken liver pate, then baby octopus, and Bay scallop crudo, followed by the beef and chorizo burger and finally... the mud pie. Yes, we walked out with some serious fat bellies. But it was all worth it. The food was absolutely amazing. The service was out of this world. The waiter checked on us at every plate while also providing us with new, clean silverware. It really added to the delightful experience. The beef and chorizo burger and pate had to be my favorite. It's quite easy to rack up a $100 bill. But I'm ok with that. We got more than what we paid for! So glad this place is a block away from me. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Sherie P.
What can I say about Bread and Wine.... I definitely think some people are rating it a bit high but it was good! No matter what you say, being expensive, portions being small, inexperienced wait staff, shortish wine list... The food was damn good! We went last night, a Tuesday night, and the place was half full. That's great for a Tuesday night in a neighborhood with not much night life. The hostess was super sweet and sat us right away. Being a new restaurant, I thought they would sort of walk us through their wine list/menu but we were pretty much left to our own devices. Our waitress was perfectly lovely, but I felt a bit cheated when she explained the specials to the table next to ours immediately upon their arrival about 15 minutes after us. On to the food... the real reason for any restaurant review! We had the duck confit pierogi and chorizo tacos as appetizers. The tacos were smaller than the palm of my hand and there were only 3 on the plate, but damn were they good. The combo of the chorizo with the cactus was so great. I might be tempted to have them as my meal when I want to eat light. The pierogi... Well, those were just heaven on the plate... Two little pillows of heaven. Yes, there were only two but they were so good. I would have liked a bit more sauce but it was good none the less... For dinner I had the chicken breast & confit leg. The breast was cooked so that the skin was super crispy and the leg was all shredded on the plate. The chicken wasn't the moistest chicken I've ever had but it wasn't dry either. With the small bit of gravy in the bottom of the bowl it was perfect. I would have liked a little bit more of that too! The roasted veggies that came with it were still very firm, which is good be cause I hate soft overcooked veggies! My friend had the beef & chorizo burger on a pretzel bun. I had two bites and it was sooo good. She had to pry it from my hands. We asked for it to be medium and it was a little over done but was still really good. For desert we had the sweet potato doughnuts and the rosemary olive oil cake. AMAZING!!! The donuts were the shape of pretzel bites. They were pretty much one little bite and were sooo good with the salted caramel sauce! The cake was moist and light and the lemon curd went perfectly with the light hint of rosemary. I loved it. I would go back and eat anything I had again but I definitely WANT these desserts! As for the wine part, there were a lot of bottles around or under the $30 mark, which is always nice. It stings a bit when you can walk over to the retail area and buy the same bottle for half the price, but hey... that's restaurants, right? We had the Showdown Red and it was a nice blend of several varietals out of California. It was light enough to go with the chicken and wasn't too overpowered by the chorizo. A nice table wine to go with whatever. We even got a bottle to go home with. That brings me to the retail area... I felt intrusive while trying to browse. They have one table for 4 right in the middle of the retail area! I would have rather had some sort of island that featured some of the products they have. I felt so bad standing by these women eating while I was looking at wine bottles. They did have a nice selection and some tasty looking treats. Maybe next time I'll have to pick something up other than wine.
(4)Abbey F.
Dear Bread and Wine, I am rooting for you, I really am. You're just a block from my house, and the neighborhood desperately needs more restaurants. I'm hoping that B&W is still in it's awkward pre-adolescent phase, and that it'll fix the glitches soon. Here are some observations: The not so fab: *You MUST start serving bread. It's just ridiculous. *The portions are just too small. I have eaten dinner 3 times, and brunch once, with groups of family and/or friends, and we always leave hungry. * Both your brunch and dinner menus are too small. We need more choices. *Your burger, while delicious, is too small for the bun. It's about 60% bread, 40% meat. *Your desserts are just terrible. This needs a total rehab. The fab: *Your cockail and wine program is excellent. *Your culinary and wine events look very interesting. *Your charcuterie and cheeses are amazing. The chicken liver pate is one of the best things I've eaten all year. *Your staff and owners are all super lovely. you can dooooo it!
(3)Kris L.
I just came back from Bread & Wine and had the BEST dinner and drinks with girlfriends! It's place is amazing. The food is delicious and we seriously got every small plate on the menu to share and every dessert listed, on top of a Chef's choice cheese and charcuterie plate. So in having tried pretty much every single item on the menu, I can honestly say there was not one thing on the whole list that I did not like! The waitress we had was REALLY good too! I wish I got her name :( I'd like to give her a shout out. She was so attentive to our table, even on a busy night, and even brought us some extra food to go with one of our desserts. I would recommend going a bit earlier... We went at 6:30 and it was starting to get a busy, but by the time we left at 9, the place was packed! This whole area has really been popping up cute little restaurants. Bread & wine is one of those not to be missed!
(5)Faye B.
Hooray, for Restaurant Week! Gave me and the hubs a chance to try a place by our 'hood. In Old Irving you usually find fast food joints or diners so it is refreshing to find an upscale eatery that rivals those of Lincoln Square and North Center. We went with the prix fixe offerings and it must have been funny watching us eat as we traded plates every 5-10min. The menu even had suggested wine pairings. My husband opted for the beer and in looking at their libations menu their beer list was pretty impressive as well. The first course were appetizers. I'm not much of a salad eater so I grabbed the plate with the corned beef tongue, Funyuns (which reminded me of a flat pork rind), a little sauce and mustard seed. It was good, it reminded me of corned beef sans bread. My husband liked mine more than his greens with wheat berries. I liked that the salad was crunchy. On to the entrees. My husband grabbed the pan roasted white fish and I got the braised pork shoulder. The presentation of both were lovely. The pork shoulder came with a pretzel bread which I thought was a tad bit salty. The creme fraiche helped cut some of the saltiness, but I wish there was just a bit more jus. The pan roasted fish rested atop a split pea pancake with pickled cabbage on top and came with more of the Funyun crisp. I didn't care much for the pancake, but the fish was great with the buttermilk sauce and crisp. Lastly came the dessert: a chocolate cake with a 'red velvet' beet custard with cream cheese pudding and a sea salt caramel corn pannna cotta. Yummy! The beet custard really came through until it was mixed with the cream cheese and chocolate cake making it true to its namesake. A twist on red velvet indeed! Both my husband and I loved the panna cotta. It was especially whimsical to have the caramel popcorn and caramel drizzle decorating the panna cotta. Overall the experience made me want to come back. It is a very cute space, very rustic chic with friendly wait staff. The only drawback is a tiny parking lot. There is an open air kitchen as well as a bar space. We were seated in their market area. They have shelving where wine was sold along with old school general store offerings with a modern twist: hot sauces, crackers, hazelnut spread and the like. Can't wait to have another date night with an option close to my 'hood.
(4)Naina J.
We went there for valentines day and it was fantastic. Their menus is very accommodating to dietary restrictions and the wine selection is quite extensive. I would highly recommend it.
(4)Jenny C.
I would say I enjoy coming to Bread & Wine, though sometimes I order a dish that is not -so- amazing. My partner is a meat eater & usually enjoys his dishes. In late summer I ordered a pasta with red pepper sauce & it was very lovely, my partner ordered a chopped steak which came with salad which he liked. We also ordered the hen egg small plate and I didn't really like it. In the fall I ordered a curry tofu which came with pasta in beet sauce & I was not too thrilled with it. While the tofu was perfectly crispy on the outside I felt like the curry sauce was far too little and not enough flavor to spice the plain tofu & pasta. Their gnocchi small plate is amazing though & their salad with apples and Gorgonzola cheese is also wonderful to try! I feel like those are meals in themselves. The staff is also great as is the food presentation!
(3)Jen D.
I am not even sure where to begin, so many thoughts are bursting from my mind, trying to work their way out through my keyboard! I went on Sat 1/28 - the ELEVENTH day of operation and had a great experience. Like other reviewers, I am shocked by how "together" this place is for being open less than 2 weeks. I am eager to go back and I'm sure it will only get better!! They aren't taking reservations right now as they are trying to figure out the rhythm of the restaurant, so hopefully they will soon. We went in at 8:20pm on a Saturday night and took 2 seats at the counter overlooking the kitchen because there was a wait for tables. It was fun to watch the kitchen, they really are all on display. I enjoyed seeing the different dishes - it gets me excited to go back! I disagree very strongly with the couple of people here who've said the place is "too expensive". Uh, I beg to differ. Sure it might be more $$ than some dive in the neighborhood - but I dare you to find a place with that atmosphere and food for a better price. The wine glass and bottle prices have many affordable price pts and the pours were what I would expect. They have bottles under $30 and glasses for $6-7. Our entrees were $12 and $14, seriously. My interpretation of the menu... The menu is divided into small and large plates, but from what I can tell - it's not meant to be a shared plate meal. There are not enough small plates to really do the "sharing" small plate/tapas style meal and the large plates are true entrees. We shared the fried pickle small plate. It was two small spears - not chips. It was really yummy with the tabasco aioli. I ordered the pumpkin fettuccine for my entree. It was so good! Housemade fettuccine noodles (my weakness is fresh pasta!!) tossed with goat cheese, cubed pumpkin (which could have been butternut squash... without all the spices I can never tell the diff), chanterelle mushrooms, etc. It actually ate/felt nice and light - even though the noodles are more substantial. My friend ordered the meatloaf. It looked like 2 dry slices from a loaf (sort of puck like visually). The meatloaf was on the drier side but came with a nice sauce on the side that made it not dry to eat. We shared the sweet potato donut dessert (covered in salted caramel sauce). Hmmmmm. So yummy. Sitting by the kitchen we watched a ton of plates go out... the chicken looked fantastic and smelled so good. Burger looked good. Fries were super yummy looking. re: parking - yes there is a lot, but it is small. Side streets have plenty of parking. The sign is not illuminated out front - so it's easy to miss in the dark. Hopefully that gets fixed. I will definitely be back sometime soon!
(4)Pat C.
I have to say I highly recommend Bread & Wine restaurant, in all ways. And I have to also say that the reservation for two of us was at 5:00 pm on a Thursday evening, so that might have made the experience even better. My friend and I were the first guests at the restaurant last evening. We both were greeted with a warm smile by Max, who also turned out to be our server. We were very happy with Max, and would highly recommend him as your server to any other customers. He was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about both the cocktails and about all of the menu offerings. We started out with a Bungalow Manhattan, and it was so delicious we wound up having a couple each. My friend had the great gnocchi small plate - crispy on the outside and pillowy and rich on the inside. I had the steamed P.E.I. Mussels - hard to go wrong with these. He also enjoyed the good-sized and delicious hamburger, and I loved every morsel of the lake trout entrée (which was also a very good-sized entrée). Desserts of the salted caramel panna cotta and the poached pears were as wonderful as other diners have noted. The service was superb, as was our food. A very fun and enjoyable experience last night - and we did have a Groupon - which was no problem at all for anyone. It worked out well for us that they have a small parking lot in the front of the restaurant as well - easy in and out.
(5)Comensal A.
We spotted Bread & Wine one night on the way to a dance class and filed it away for future reference. We finally got a chance to visit when we were attending a show at Prop Thtr this weekend. I was impressed by the variety & innovation of the menu, the good cooking and presentation, the nice choices at various price points on the wine list, and the friendly, helpful staff. It was Restaurant Week, and between the two of us we sampled all courses of the prix fixe dinner. No point going into detail about the dishes since they are not on the regular menu, but we enjoyed everything. The chef has a good sense of flavor diversity & balance, and there were items and combos I would not have otherwise tried but found I liked them. The only thing I would have preferred would be less salt in the entrées. This night, B&W seemed to be drawing heavily from the neighborhood, and it's great that Old Irving has a place like this to elevate the culinary scene. It's definitely on my list next time I'm in that neighborhood for dinner.
(4)C C.
I really like this spot a lot; Been there 4 or 5 times. Food is very, very tasty, and everything seems fresh. Musts are; cheeses, house made pappardelle (really, really wonderful), octopus (Yummy, lite- smokey delicate flavor ), panna cotta (out of this world-- best I've ever had). My friend loved her poached fish -- very light, yet lots of flavor. Portions are on the small side- big eaters can do two entrees. I am not fond of small portion places- too much blue collar blood in me, I guess- but it doesn't bother me here. They are not so small, and the prices are not so big. Professional waitstaff, great casual and low key ambience, and a very "keep it simple" look. Right now, it's on my fave five list. So afraid it'll make the "check, please tour". It really does have a parking lot, right in the front-- it used to be a laundromat, and they preserved some of the look-- a bit kooky, but sensibly well-appointed. Pricey, but worth it, and I hardly ever say that.
(5)Steven S.
Came for brunch and it was outstanding. Couldn't have asked for a better meal, prepared and presented beautifully.
(5)Leslie K.
My husband and I were here celebrating our 10 yr wedding anniversary. We sat outside and it was quiet and beautiful. Our server was Eric and he was fantastic. Their staff was on top of everything the entire night. We started out with the Cheese & Charcuterie plate, which we choose the Tasso Ham, Cedar Grove Cheddar, and the Bloome County Bloom, this came with some fantastic toast, pickled watermelon, jelly, and mustard. Very delicious. My husband had their special which was Salmon and I had the butter poached lake trout, both were so good, and cooked perfectly! We also enjoyed a great bottle of wine with dinner, Durigutti Bonarda, Mendoza, a red wine obviously not traditional since we both had fish, but oh well! It was really good. For dessert we shared the warm brownie which had caramel sauce and a cherry custard, it melted in my mouth. We had a fantastic experience, the price was reasonable for what we got, can't wait to come back.
(4)Susan G.
This is a Gem! Dined here for the first time on a Saturday night with friends and we enjoyed every course. We started with the Chef's Choice Cheese and Charcuterie plate which was just right. We had wine by the glass with our meal. Followed this with the very fresh and well-composed green salad. For our main entrees we had the pan roasted chicken breast which was amazingly juicy, poached lake trout, and the fine herbs pappardelle pasta. Ended the meal with French-press coffee and a couple orders of the fresh strawberry pie with whipped cream which was heavenly. Service was prompt and friendly and the pacing between courses was just right. The cost per person, including tax, tip and all the food and beverages mentioned, was about $70.
(4)Jessie M.
I came here with my husband on a busy summer night--the service was slooow but the food was good--particularly, the duck pierogies (they accidentally brought us two orders--we were not complaining). If you're doing the charcuterie, make sure to get the sheep's cheese (the dante). It's delicious. Skip the fries--they're kinda greasy.
(3)James L.
I live in the Irving Park area and was happy to see that this place opened up. Went there for a birthday dinner and the service was excellent! We all shared a bunch of tapas dishes and wine. We weren't full by any means but was satisfied with dinner. Definitely a place to go if you want to taste different foods and drink good wine, but not to go to town on.
(4)Eduardo C.
Amazing cocktails. Great service. Elevated food.
(4)Allan C.
No ice in the water means you're at a classy joint. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Bread & Wine has a very warm and modern interior design and their food is excellent. Went with my significant other and dined on small plates: Pork belly with poached egg and sourdough Duck confit pierogi with pickled red onion and creme fraiche Herb fries with garlic, thyme, and malt aioli Arugula and pear salad (had another fruit and nuts in it) Dessert: Chocolate custard and graham cracker smore Everything was delicious and flavorful. Standout was the Pork Belly. Loved the dessert.
(4)Anna V.
Yelp keeps insisting I review B&W, and I've been putting it off because I don't know how I feel about it and don't really have a ton to say. Here it is: it has potential but it has kinks in it. Nothing was terrible. We'd heard great stuff, and it's possible it just wasn't our thing. Things that were good: the duck confit pierogi (deliciously tender, the good kind of gamey, very flavorful) and their crispy hot fries. Wine list is great - I've never heard of most of it, which is fun for me. They use good ingredients. Parking is free. Atmosphere reminds me a little of Ceres' Table. But there are definitely elements that need work. Service was friendly but spotty and a little intrusive, pacing was bizarre, the pork shoulder was not my favorite and had some fatty bits that weren't palatable. Portions in general were tricky to get right since it's all meant to be shared - but not quite the right size for it. The whole experience felt off somehow. However, it's still new, and it's understandable there are kinks to work out. It does have loads of potential in the concept. But you know what would be really good? If they had bread. At the moment, they don't, and we were surprised. I think Bread & Wine really needs some hot crusty bread.
(3)Cynthia A.
Our second time here, and we were looking forward to another great experience. A beautiful night and sat outside. When the menus arrived, I had a hard time choosing from the five entrees. Nothing really jumped out to make my mouth water. First time, we had the charcuterie platter for 6 and there was a great mix. This time for three, we had to choose. I would really stay away from the pancetta. While flavorful, it was mostly fat and not that appealing. I was surprised there were no specials as an adjunct to the menu items. REally? Midsummer when the local farmers are overflowing with beautiful produce? Our table had two burgers (the chorizo as it's own patty seemed odd along with the beef patty) and the chicken breast (nicely cooked, but more simple than I would like--I cook too much plain chicken at home--give me some flavor). I can't say we were super excited. Maybe the new chef? Didn't seem to have the same vibe or buzz as first time there. Highly recommend adding some interesting, flavorful entrees to the menu. And specials would be most welcome.
(3)KChicagoan S.
Went here on a week night for an impromptu girls night out. I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could, but 3 will have to suffice. It's a farm-to-table type concept, which was nice. This means their menu will change often, with a rotation of freshly-inspired small plates, salads and larger plates. Started with a cheese/charcuterie board. The cheeses were fresh and the homemade marmalade and mustard on the board was a nice balance to the salty cheese. As a group we split 4 small plates and one large plate. Overall the food was good and fresh, but as I type this review barely a week later, I can't remember a single thing I ate, aside from the cheese. What that tells me - nothing was all that memorable. I'd give ambiance and SERVICE 5 stars, and while the food was fresh, it was forgettable. I would go here for a return visit, but I won't be running back or shouting my praises from the rooftops (or via Yelp for that matter...)
(3)Monica G.
3 girlfriends and I did a ladies night here on Friday, and we had a really enjoyable time. We made a reservation earlier in the week, which was a great idea, and the ambiance was excellent for the evening we were looking for. We each ordered a different cocktail, and enjoyed our individual drinks. Any place that can serve 4 great cocktails is a winner in my book. We also ordered: Charcuterie plate (2 cheese and blood sausage which was surprisingly great, not as scary as I expected) Herb fries, Gnocci, (The best dish), Arctic Char (The worst dish. Super salty, with the texture of a fruit roll-up) Flank steak (the béarnaise was incredible) And a bottle of white white. Our server listened to our needs (two vegetarians, attempting to save money), and gave us earnest recommendations. It was the perfect place for our occasion. We were a little disappointed in the total bill versus the serving size, so just be aware of that fact. With that in mind, we will return.
(4)Kari C.
When five stars are just not enough ... From the luscious swine to the salted carmelcorn panna cotta, we couldn't have been happier with our dinner. Not sure what some other (CRAZY) reviewers were talking about regarding portion size... the small plates were anything but small. We took the opportunity to sit at the counter and were thrilled to interact with Lulu, Jacob and the rest of the team (thanks for the tasty bits inbetween!) We will definitely be back... and soon!
(5)Cee A.
I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed this yet, so here goes... This is an easy, friendly, consistent place to dine. I'm usually here during the week and reservations are not needed. I find it a great place to relax over shared food and enjoy a bottle of wine. It's lively but not loud so conversation is easy. The service isn't rushed and the vibe overall is great. Last visit included an assortment of cheeses and meats, the incredibly awesome mussels and the already famous popcorn panacotta. Always good, fun and tasty.
(5)Casey A.
1) Be sure to sit at the Kitchen Counter if it's available.. and if you're in the mood to talk to the chefs. 2) Order whatever you want because it's all amazing. We got the Crispy Semolina Gnocchi and Herb Ricotta toast with Yellow Beets and Arugula and for dinner we split the Walleye.. I don't know why I'm making you drool with this description bc the menu changes every 2ish weeks. (i.e. there were no tomatoes on the menu at our seating bc the head chef wasn't interested in bringing in tomatoes from the west coast.. pretty cool in my opinion!) 3) We got dessert, not because we needed the calories but because the people next to us had been there a couple times and convinced us to (not that we needed much convincing..) The Salted Caramel Popcorn Panna Cotta.. HOLY COW HARRY CARAY. We loved it enough to drop off one of our dishes the next night so they could make a WHOLE bunch for a party we had on the following night. 4) Lulu might be the nicest chef/pastry chef.. ever. / All the people behind that counter had something pleasant to say.. 5) I'm going back and soon!
(5)Lawrence C.
We went to Bread and Wind with neighborhood friends and must say it was very enjoyable. They have 2 'special' areas to eat with the first being a private table by the wine racks and the second is a bar you can eat at that has a great view of the chef's going about their business. We sat at the table. For starters we had the Chicken Liver Pate, Blue Mountain Dairy Reserve Cheddar from Wisconsin and toast points all of which was delicious. We had a really nice Cabernet from the Paso Bobles region of California which paired nicely with everything. For a main course I had the Striped Bass with Braised Fennel which was outstanding and filled me up. The girls both had the Beef and Chorizo Burger on a Pretzel Roll of which they both enjoyed although my wife said that next time she will get it without the Chorizo Patty and just beef. The wait staff was very attentive and the manager came by on 2 occasions to make sure everything was okay and then prior to our departure he gave us a rundown on how the place came to be, the chef and what the owner was all about. Very nice. All in all this is a top notch local restaurant with pricing to be reasonable for the type of food you are getting which is mostly locally procured.
(4)Mike M.
Bread & Wine is a great addition to the neighborhood. Still in their pre-reservation mode, any wait was easily passed at the bar having a great goat cheese spread w/ one of their many great wines. The place has a great local vibe to it and even features a small retail area if you'd like to take some of their ingredients home. I was very excited to get a counter seat as I was able to watch the executive chef make my dinner. He and the sous chef were super cool and answered any questions when they had a moment between plating. I've never been to an open kitchen before and it was a great experience. I went w/ the beef & chorizo burger which was great. All ingredients are in season so no lettuce or tomato. Who goes here: Irving Park neighbors, foodies, organic diners. Will I go back? Certainly. I began listing who I should take here by the second bite. It's also cool that they get all their ingredients locally. (Midwest locally)
(5)David F.
My wife took me here for my birthday tonight. Very pleasant ambience that feels at once sophisticated but also casual enough that you can hear each other. Our server was wonderful. We had: the gnocchi, the fries, the mussels, the salad and the striped bass. The dishes were uniformly terrific (and unlike what a previous reviewer said, it is plenty of food). I think the chef could add just a bit of kick to the striped bass but overall it was well-seared and beautifully prepared. My gin cocktails were delicious and overall it was reasonably priced for what we got and the level of service. Highly recommend.
(5)Allen J.
I should state, for the record, that I'm that person who always takes bad Yelp reviews with a grain of salt. Like, who comes on Yelp to write a positive experience? It's just people b*tching to hear themselves. But Bread & Wine was disappointing. We live in the neighborhood, and have been looking forward to coming here for weeks. Moreover, it was my birthday, and I couldn't wait to try things off the menu. Reading other reviews, I think what the more specific price complaint should be relates to the price of the small plates. I think they are over-priced for what you get. The bowl of nuts was not warm, and the duck pierogi was fine. But two pierogis for $7? Some of my party ordered drinks, some ordered wine. The wine was good. The drinks I felt were fine. My main complaint was that, with the restaurant not terribly busy, it just seems like the drinks took forever. Our waitress, so very nice, just seemed over-worked. My main mistake of the evening was ordering the special: Duck Stroganoff - Black Trumpet Mushrooms, pappardelle pasta, duck leg confit & creme fraiche. Honestly, I've never had a worse dish at a restaurant. It was bland, there was really no sauce, also no seasoning, and the pasta after sitting just a few minutes was like eating chewy rubber and quite honestly inedible. Perhaps it could have been helped by cutting the noodles smaller or thinner? It was the very first time I've ever told a server that I was unhappy with a dish at a restaurant. To her credit, she offered me something else, and I tried the small plate tacos, which were good. I will be back to try other things off the menu, because all these other people can't be wrong. I hope my experience was an anomaly.
(2)Rik U.
The long awaited Bread & Wine restaurant is open and well worth the wait. Touted as an American bistro yet I would think they fit the description of an American Melting Pot. They are keying in on the areas different cultures/cuisines and adding a twist to it. They did an amazing job of converting the existing building into a elegant yet very comfortable space. I loved the juxtaposition of modern and natural/farm feel they have created here. Tables are cut from large trees and lacquered with bark still on them. Napkins are simple yet tasteful kitchen towels. Hand blown glass water bottles are brought to tables. The food was excellent and perfectly executed. I was impressed that they nailed it the first night out. Great job! We had some small plate appetizers which were playful to decadent. Togarashi buttered popcorn, olives with a nutty orange citrus flavor and Duck confit pierogi with pickled red onion and herbed creme fraiche. Delicious. Entrees we tried were original and equally delicious. - Black earth lamb & mustard seed meatloaf, yogurt braised greens with white beans and harrisa - Chicken breast & confit leg, truffle dumplings and roasted root vegetables - Homemade fettuccine, pumpkin, oyster mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and fresh goat cheese I ordered the lamb meatloaf but tried all of these and they were all excellent. I am very excited to have a restaurant of this caliber right in my neighborhood. Keep up the good work! Also, they have a shop up front featuring not only local, gourmet products, but a wonderful wine selection and items that they make right there (such as granola, shortbread cookies, etc.). I look forward to visiting this again because the shop was still getting stocked..being the first night and all. Congrats Bread and Wine team!
(5)Kate P.
I really hope this place makes it. It's great having it in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, I think it's a little over priced. First, I ordered a glass of wine and the bartender (we sat at the bar) poured it less than 20% of the way up. Now I do appreciate a heavy pour but I wouldn't say I'm biased- however atleast pour it 25-30% to make me fee like I"m getting my moneys worth. It was a 3 sip glass of wine for $10. Secondly, we weren't very hungry but I was dying to try the duck pieorgis so we ordered those. I was very excited to get them but slightly diappointed when they came out. $8 for 2 pierogis. This was listed on the "small plates" section of the menu so I'd envisioned enough for 2 people to share- not 1 each. Now don't get me wrong the pierogis were amazing. I was just disappointed spending $8 on 2 pieorgis. Had there been 3 on the plate I probably wouldn't have been a bit miffed by it or had they been larger it would have been fine but I scarfed mine down in 2 bites. Or even if they were listed as a "side dish" I would understand only putting 2 on the portion size. Now, I really did enjoy the ambiance of the place. I just thought it was slightly overpriced for what you get and the neighborhood it is in- which is my neighborhood that I love so all you Albany/Irving Parkers don't jump all over me- I'm not knocking on the neighborhood. Just if I'm spending that on food I'll go downtown.
(3)Ingrid R.
I really enjoyed my evening here with a bunch of other moms. Awesome food, service and atmosphere. The salted caramel panna cota was the most amazing thing on the planet. All that cheese, wine, yum. What's not to love. Can't wait to go back with the husband.
(4)John G.
Very cozy place on Irving Park with their own parking lot. My wife loved the pâté an poached trout. Very tender. I had mussels and soaked up all the spicy sauce with the fresh bread. I had the bay scallops too but a little salty. We finished with the fresh strawberries on a delicate pastry.
(4)Ethan J.
Bread and Wine is a good solid choice overall for a date night or for a large group. Service The service and overall customer experience is really good. The hostess and waitstaff are knowledgeable and attentive. They knew the wine list well and made an effort to provide guidance without being pretentious about the wine list. The service was quick and on point which is a plus. Food Appetizers and Snacks This section shines. The PEI mussels are excellent- highly recommended. The entire list looked great and is enough to share a taste. The squash salad and roasted beets are tasty. Good use of seasonal ingredients. Large Plates The burger is really good. The burger is a hearty meal with the bacon and onion jam on pretzel bread. The fries are plentiful for 2 people to share and with the aioli - it definitely a memorable burger in a town of burgers. The rest of the dishes such as the chicken was good but not nearly as hefty as the burger. The presentation and taste was good but lacked the punch of the snacks and apps. Dessert The desserts are all excellent. The salted caramel pana cotta is light and the hints of salt and caramel doesn't overwhelm the dish. The flourless chocolate cake is good- looks more like a cooke but it is rich. The acid from the pineapple cuts the richness of the chocolate. Overall The parking is fantastic for anyone looking to venture out of the area. The service is excellent. The meal is good if not great. The location is a destination but worth a trip for either dinner or even better brunch.
(4)Andrew S.
I agree with the other yelp users here. I had a total enjoyable dining experience. The staff is affable and friendly. Nothings worse than throwing a good chunk of money at a dining experience and the staff acts like they're doing you a favor, NOT the case at bread and wine. Our server Aric was awesome, he clearly explained what was in each course and suggested a delicious desert as well. The beer list highlights local favorites and well as seasonal offerings from Three Floyds. Their cocktails were delicious and crafted with care. The entree's were reasonably priced,large and their burger rivaled any high end/hype burger joint out there. I will definitely patron this establishment more often.
(4)Ben P.
Love, love, love this place. The ambiance works very well - we sat at the kitchen counter/chef's table which just added to the enjoyment of the evening. The food there was delectible - I had the rabbit linguini and it was perfectly cooked, great sized portions. The service was wonderful. Will definitely be coming back. Score! Now if it could be closer to where we live, we'd be there every night...
(5)Therese O.
What the hell, Bread and Wine. It was a Sunday night. you weren't even busy, and yet the level of disappointment cannot be forgiven. We live in the neighborhood and wanted to try Bread and Wine for a while. We wandered in and there were about two other tables full. Which we like. Sat down and looked at the menu. Cheese plate for $28 with six teeny portions on it. About six 'small plate' dishes which range from $6-$9. While entrees are $13-$20. Portion sizes are SMALL so be warned. A $13 burger is teeny, and most of the plate is filled up with fries. Choriso/Cheddar/Burger was too overpowering and the bun was bigger than the hamburger. The garlic fries were great, but for $13 you'd better not mess up the fries, people. Lamb meatloaf was COLD and served on top of white beans and greens that were too salty to eat. And I like salt. The portion was so small and the price so high, I almost sent it back and told them not to bother. I already knew it wasn't going to be good. There was something crunchy in the meatloaf which messed with the mouthfeel. Walnuts?? Pine Nuts? Who knew.... Glass of lovely Oregon wine for $9 but the small pour that they give you was ridiculous. Maybe 1/3 cup. The space is pretty, though with and open kitchen and the place was very loud with only two couples inside. This place could have the potential to be an Irving Park Lula Cafe. But, unlike Lula, the flavors are not well constructed, the food is miniscule and cold and it seems they care more about atmosphere than quality. Unless they up their game, we won't be back. And sadly, unless someone else pays for my dinner, I won't return any time soon.
(1)Matt R.
Checked out this relatively new neighborhood spot early on a Friday night. Sat at the bar noshing on charcuterie while chatting up the friendly couple sitting next to me, enjoying a nice glass of S. African Cabernet. Pricey? A little bit, comparable to Lincoln Park but I thought the quality warranted the cost. Staff was attentive, the owner Lisa came by to find out how I was doing, all in all a very agreeable visit to a very agreeable spot in the neighborhood. I am giving the fifth star to the bartender who was on top of his game without getting in my space. I will be back.
(5)Mary L.
Heard good things about Bread & Wine & finally got to try it for myself the other night. Was pleasantly surprised. The Old Irving neighborhood seems odd to have a restaurant this nice there, but it really does fit. Parking was a bit hard on a Saturday night, be we found side street parking in a little bit. I like the smaller size of the restaurant and the decor is really stylish. We had a reservation & were immediately seated. Our waiter was pretty good & pretty attentive. The restaurant was crowded for a Saturday night , but all in all the service is good. Our group shared a charcuterie plate which was wonderful. We all had the full dinner plates for our main course. Other diners with me commented that the main courses were all good.....not the best ever, but pretty good. I had the burger with fries which was wonderful & I've had burgers at a lot of good places in Chicago. This was up there as good. The other diners I was with shared the Mudd pie & said it was good. The coffee is served in a french press which was nice & I had the jasmine tea which was delightful. All in all, a nice restaurant on the north side & I would definitely go again.
(4)Max E.
Our meal at Bread & Wine was very pleasant. We came under the impression that they would be offering extended restaurant week specials, but that was not the case. Still, the service was good and the food was very delicious. The raw scallop starter was delicious and very bright, and the main courses were all very tasty. The interior is spare and trendy, but I think the main wall could use a larger piece of art.
(4)Megan L.
A friend of mine lives near by Bread & Wine and has been anxiously awaiting its opening. So voila, Bread & Wine is now open, so we took ourselves over there on Friday night. It's a nice little space - we were a little concerned that we'd have trouble getting seated because it is fairly small, but they've done a good job maximizing the occupancy. We were offered a choice between waiting for a table, or sitting at the counter facing the kitchen. Hello, court-side seats it is! We checked out the menu and while there were 'main' dishes that appealed to each of us, we ultimately decided to go a more munchie, small plate route. So we tried the cheese plate (picked 3), herbed french fries (heavenly - we had to get more of the aoili it came with!), fried pickles, white bean puree on toast, and a side of roasted root vegetables. We loved every bite! For dessert (which we didn't need, but come on) we had the sweet potato donuts with salted caramel sauce. Admittedly, you can put salted caramel sauce on damn near anything and make it delicious, but the donuts held up on their own, too. Our server was great - friendly, attentive but not hovering, and super knowledgeable. It was also really fun to be seated where all the action is happening. They were busy and the chefs were running around like crazy - but the focused kind of crazy that gets things done. I saw a lot of attention to detail going on there! After it slowed down (we were there a while... a bottle or so of wine... a cocktail... girls night out...) we chatted with them a bit too - again, very friendly and seemed pretty excited about the product they're putting out. Bread & Wine, you were worth the wait!
(5)Sean D.
I would give B&W 3.5 stars if I could. I think that there is a lot of potential here, but its just a bit off. First off, I apparently need to dine up north more often as contrary to other reviews, I thought the prices were very fair. The wine list tops out at $60 and most bottles were in the $20-40 range. The entrees top out at $20 and the serving sizes are perfectly acceptable. I liked the space. Very warm and modern with exposed wood and interesting lighting. However, the open kitchen surrounded by all hard surfaces makes the spot very loud on a Saturday night. I fully recognize that I'm getting old, but I think my ears were ringing when we left. We started with a charcuterie plate, and while the meats and cheeses were nice, the servings were rather skimpie. Two small squares of each hard cheese and a dollop of goat cheese a platter does not make. We didn't end up ordering any small plates but there were a few that I'd like to try at some point like the duck pierogies or one of the salads. I thought the entrees were a bit limited in selection and imagination. There was only one fish item for my pescetarian wife and the rest of the choices amounted to a burger, pork shoulder, pasta, or chicken. Perhaps we were biased after just having an amazing meal the night before, but if you're going to serve chicken, it should be really freaking good chicken! Bottom line, decent value with an affordable wine list. Perhaps not worth the special trip up north for me but if you're local I definitely recommend giving it a try.
(3)shylo b.
As a preface, I wish I could separate the rating for food from the experience/ambiance. Because the ambiance and experience Bread & Wine provided was quite nice. The team has done a nice job with a funky space and the service was impeccable (and we sat at the bar, where I don't usually expect attentive dining service.) We started with cocktails, which were fresh, creative and fantastic. However, the food. We're vegetarians, so maybe the meat is great? We started with the cheese plate, which had nice selections, crispy toast points, two (!) cornichon and a spot of slightly-too-sweet cherry jam/preserves. This was the best thing we had all night, and none of it required cooking. We moved on to white-bean puree on toast. The puree was smooth to the point of unctuous (think baby food) and lacked ANY seasoning. I'm serious. I make a lot of white-bean hummus and (thicker) purees and I know what I'm talking about. Not a spot of salt. We also ordered the garlic fries with aioli. The aioli was too thin and the fries were floppy. Because the apps were disappointing, and we'd already dropped $50 on two cocktails, a glass of wine, and two appetizers, we decided to skip dinner. Which I was sad about because I wanted to try the tofu with pepitas. We went for dessert, featuring a smidge of olive-oil cake with creme fraiche and a panna cotta with popcorn. The cake was meh but the creme fraiche was lovely. The panna cotta was silky, but the popcorn was gummy. Hits, misses. I'm really glad this place is here and would highly recommend it for drinks and the cheese plates, and perhaps charcuterie, if you're into that. Hopefully, B & W is just working out kinks.
(2)Margo K.
I drove by this place last week and wondered what it was (maybe a new specialty store or a restaurant), was just excited to see a new place. Then we drove by again and decided to stop in because I was starving. It turns out we went there on the 2nd day they were open. Although it was BYOB at the time because of a delay in getting their liquor license, I will definitely be back for more. We tried several of the small plates and were impressed with everything. Next time I will be back fro the large plates. The service was excellent, and the place was simple and elegant without being pretentious. I think this place is going to take off and I'm glad I got to go there in the beginning. Glad to see this excellent new restaurant in an area where you may not be expecting it!
(5)Keira S.
LOVE: - the fact that it's in the neighborhood - the friendly service - the caramel corn dessert - the little shop area where you can buy, like, olive oil LIKE: - The dish I had--lamb meatloaf--was just OK and waayyyyyyyy too salty. And I'm a salt fanatic. - The wine menu was pretty paltry although the wine I had was very tasty. Skimpy pour, though! HATE: - The overused, 2001-era Ikea chairs and chandeliers - Prices are a bit too high for what you get Yeah, I dunno. I need to try it again.
(3)Nancy W.
I decided to check out Bread & Wine with 2 friends since I saw that the establishment was participating in Chicago Restaurant Week and it's in my neighborhood. I am so, so, so glad I found it because I will definitely be coming back! It was quite crowded on a Saturday night so I recommend making a reservation beforehand. The space is also small so parties with more than 4-6 people should probably look elsewhere. There is a teeny parking lot, but it was already full when we got there so we had to park a block away (no biggie, street parking isn't bad in this area). The restaurant has a nice ambiance with their minimalist decor. Our waiter was very nice to us and even grabbed an extra candle for me to help with the lighting when he saw that I was photographing our food. Bread & Wine is pricey, but it's absolutely delicious. We shared one 3-course meal from the Restaurant Week menu and 2 starters from their normal menu, which was surprisingly enough food for 3 people. Everything on the Restaurant Week menu was fantastic. We tried a pork shank starter from their normal menu that was cooked perfectly and was unbelievably tender. The salted caramel popcorn panna cotta dessert (on both the special menu and the normal menu) was also tasty - a perfect balance of sweet and salty, crunchy and custardy, etc. This is definitely a restaurant that takes it to the next culinary level with their presentation and creation of good flavors. With that being said, you aren't going to get heaping portions of mediocre food on your plate like at other restaurants. I would recommend coming here for nice occasions as it is a little more expensive, but it's worth it for how delicious everything is!
(5)Gail M.
Three of us visited Bread & Wine this past weekend to take advantage of their Chicago Chef Week menu. The food was inventive and totally delicious. The service was really friendly and attentive without being hovering. We liked the decor, too, and the fact that it's easy to park either in the lot or on surrounding streets, even on a Friday night. What impressed us most, though, was the awesome way our very kind server, Emily, handled a problem I had with my entree. Because it was cooked sous vide, the wine in it wasn't cooked off (it's not supposed to be in this method of cooking), and I can't consume alcohol. Emily immediately understood the problem and checked with the chef to see if the dish could be reheated to cook off the wine. When it couldn't, she comped me the small plate I ordered as a replacement -- a nice surprise. We'll be back -- next time to try Sunday brunch!
(5)L J.
THANK GOD upscale restaurants are opening further west! Don't get me wrong, I love Chicago's lakefront just as much as the next girl, but please don't make every good city restaurant in neighborhoods where we have to fight traffic or pay astronomical prices for parking. Restauranteurs- head west! We appreciate good food out here, too. The GOOD: - Our cheese and charcuterie plate was fantastic! Great options and more filling then we anticipated. - The walleye was THE BEST! Really interesting, savory flavors. Order it. You will have no regrets. - Ambiance was nice- clean, simple, pretty. - The staff was friendly. The BAD: - Our waiter wasn't too knowledgeable about their wine list and there were many dishes on our menu he hadn't tried. I think that should be mandatory so when customers ask you about dishes or wine pairings you have something to say. - My husband's steak was well-done and he asked for medium. A slight con, I know, but I'm not a fan of returning food, so he ate it anyway. And everything IN BETWEEN: - The desserts were ok: not a fan of the seasonal lavender and almond dessert; it tasted a bit like soap. Panna cotta was good, but perhaps too sweet. - AC must've been broken, but I suppose there was nothing they could do about it. - Finally, I know it's not TGI Friday's, but if I tell you we are celebrating an anniversary, can we get some kind of acknowledgement? A complimentary dessert? 5% off our bill? A "Happy Anniversary"? Perhaps that's the child in me, but people like stuff like that. Still, I give B&W 4 stars because I appreciate what they're doing and I support small businesses in my neighborhood. We'll be back.
(4)Angela S.
Was fortunate to get a reservation for a group of 12 for a birthday and they took excellent care of us. The food is incredible and the drink selection is awesome. Was a terrific experience for all of us.
(4)Audrey S.
I came here for a friend's birthday. It's a good thing we had reservations because the place was packed. We had to wait a few minutes for our table to open up so we checked out their large selection of wine. We started with a cheese and charcuterie plate of St. Joseph (raw sheep) cheese, fresh goat cheese, chicken liver pate, and pig face pancetta. It came with bite size toasted bread. I thoroughly enjoyed everything on this plate. For my entree I decided to be brave and get something unusual that I'd never had before - the duck confit with a poached egg, pickled red onion and herb creme fraiche. The duck was marinated in duck fat and I did not particularly care for this part (and this is most likely how I would feel about it anywhere). There were three pieces of burnt cheese plated nicely on the top. I mixed the egg and duck together. I tried the smoked trout mousse on toast which was absolutely delicious and immediately wished I'd ordered that instead. (There's always next time.) Our server Haley was pleasant and prompt. Just as we were getting ready to leave, one of the owners, Lisa Fosler Kelly began talking with someone at our table. We learned that she lives in the area and wanted more restaraunt choices, so she decided to open up her own. Right now the seating is all inside, but as the weather turns warm, al fresco dining will open up. It's pretty exciting to have a new and decently priced restaurant in my 'hood. I give it two thumbs up and will recommend it to friends.
(4)Craig Y.
This place does some great food and some questionable things. You can always rely on their burgers. They are thick and juicy plus I love their fries. The plates of cheeses and pates are awesome. They have some Devine artisan cheeses full of different flavor sand different depths. Their bread is fresh and really good. I would give the place a higher stars but I had the gazpacho corn soup which was like a water drained out of a can of plain corn with 16 kernels added to it. Perhaps I was not ready for something that cutting edge. I will definitely go back just not sure if I should experiment.
(3)Hannah G.
Had a wonderful experience here this evening for wine & cheese. We purchased a Gilt City voucher for the charcuterie plate with wine. I've had hit or miss experiences using vouchers, but no irritation or "you're not a real paying customer" attitude from these guys! We chose to sit at the bar and Eric was extremely friendly and helpful. The charcuterie was amazing!!! Lots of great flavors and honestly it was a filling dinner for two. Would totally recommend & plan on going back soon!
(5)Melissa S.
It's about time I updated this review. I've been back here several times (since it's very convenient for me) and the food has definitely improved since my first visit. I get friendly and consistent service here. My favorite way to visit B&W is to snag a table on the quiet patio and take my time working through some charcuterie, small plates, and of course lots of wine. The house rosé is yummy!
(4)Jason M.
Appetizers - good charcuterie Main course - nice smaller portions Dessert - get the popcorn panne cotta The Bill - very reasonable for the high quality Service - Good Atmosphere - relaxed and intimate Bottom Line - we had a great time and everyone loved the food. Service was very good but not perfect, hence the 1 star deduction.
(4)Lauren L.
I LOOOOVVVEEE THIS PLACE! I am actually hating the fact that I am writing a review because I do not want people to know how special this place is. (I want it all for myself) I have been going here for the past 3 years (give or take) and EVERY time I go there, I have such an amazing experience. The food is.....oh god, like SO GOOD. You could literally close your eyes, and randomly select a dish and be satisfied. The other thing I really like about this place is that everything is organically farm raised - everything is fresh! My husband and I went on a bread and wine bender and visited the place once a week for about a month, the staff began to recognize us, and we got some free perks here and there. (hehe) Tommy is our favorite server, but there are other people on staff that rock. (seriously, you guys rule) There was one experience that stuck with me that I would like to share. On a random Sunday, my husband and I walked over and had a beautiful brunch....we decided to stay a little longer and order some drinks (you only live once, right!?) it was becoming very busy, and so the waiter asked us very kindly if we could just sit at the bar since we were only having drinks. Of course, we agreed, and we continued drinking. Then, I can't remember why, but we had to move from the bar. This time, one of the hosts asked us to move. Honestly, it really didn't bother us because we knew that we were the ones staying and basically, getting in the way. So, I just told her, "you can put me any where you want, as long as you keep slinging me these drinks!" She laughed, and said, "I like your style!" and she totally hooked us up with a free dessert. Like, she didn't have to do that. Yes, we had to move 2 times, but who cares? We were still able to enjoy our delicious drinks, and we got a free plate!
(5)Julia R.
I frequent Bread & Wine every other month or so because I live in the Irving Park neighborhood and its within walking distance of our home. Unfortunately I'm not sure I'll return. While I was out for a walk with my family this evening, they waited outside while I ran in to set a reservation for Fathers Day on Sunday. I was greeted by a short man with stringy hair at the host stand. I asked for an 11am reservation for two and baby, in hopes that we could be sat on the bench along the wall and was told probably not, because of two other large parties booked ahead of us. I'm not sure why the large tables in the center of the restaurant couldn't have been used for these two groups but I explained why the bench worked better for us. We visited for Mothers Day with our 3wo, at that time, and my husband made the same request because we don't have an infant car seat to pop out of our car (to have a place for our baby to sit during the meal) so we just lay him on the bench next to us. Anyhow, the host was pretty rude. It didn't seem like he wanted or cared about getting our business at all. He said he couldn't reserve the bench for us at 11 so when I asked for another time that we could come in and sit along the wall he said it's probably impossible. Anyhow, the interaction was unfortunate and unfriendly and made my family feel unwelcome on a day we would have loved to celebrate Fathers Day with a nice brunch together.
(3)Ryan T.
Had a small plate and 2 large plates which was perfect for 2 people. The food was really good (crispy gnocchi ++++) and our server was great. Would have been a higher rating if not for the fact that after dinner we tried to have a few cocktails as the bar, waited for 15 min without so much as an acknowledgment from the bartender and then just left.
(3)Henry H.
came here for brunch on a sunday. my friends and I all ordered different things. I got the seasonal omelette with a side of bacon. It was great. The french toast my friend got was delicious, three of us agreed that it was the best we had ever had. we also split the cinnamon bun for a starter, flaky creamy goodness. Good service and ambiance as well. highly recommend this place!
(5)Angela R.
Simple, delicious, thoughtful food. Chicken liver pate, sheep cheese & Tasso ham accompanied by crusty bread, kumquat marmalade & mustard. Scrumptious pasta with confit duck & butternut squash. Perfectly seared Whitefish with lentils. Refreshing to see a mature crowd enjoying excellent food & conversation.
(5)Coll P.
Wildly attractive servers, mezcal cocktails, fresh farm to table food! I'm smitten.
(5)Emily J.
I went to Bread & Wine for Chicago Restaurant week! Everything I had was very good, my only complaint was that the red velvet cake was a bit dry. Otherwise, excellent food, drinks, and service. I will definitely be returning!
(4)Eva M.
This is a great addition to the neighborhood. I went here on a Friday night and we sat at the bar counter. This is the best seat at this restaurant. We were able to watch the chefs in action. The portions were good. The wine recommendations were good too. This parking lot is an added bonus.
(4)Megan M.
We came from the Cubs game to meet up for dinner with my cousins. We're all foodies and winos, so we bagged some vino on the way, and decided on Moroccan food. Unfortunately, the owner of the Moroccan joint had to turn us away, reservations only, place was full. So, Yelp to the rescue, we walked half a mile to Bread and Wine. We had to leave our BYOB selections behind- but hopeful that a place with Wine in the name, would be able to deliver in that department. While two of us, myself included, were atrociously underdressed, the staff made sure to get a table ready for us, on the patio. It was a perfect night to eat outside. Tommy, our server, was absolutely on point the entire night. He helped us make every choice we did, and kept our focus on enjoying company, rather than the menu. We started with the chef's choice cheese and meat pairing. The two plates came out bountiful, while neatly organized. We shared an entire bottle of Malbec while enjoying the pairing. Tommy made out dinner decisions with very little input from our slightly inebriated table. When the dishes arrived, it was evident that we couldn't possibly have made a bette decision. We had duck egg, chicken, lamb and goat dishes for the main course. We passed the delicately plated decadent morsels around the table, and nearly licked them clean. We enjoyed them with a quite remarkable bottle of Aquinas Pino Noir. After such an unbelievable dining experience, we decided to take it all the way. It got real. Very real. When the chocolate mousse and the salted Carmel popcorn and creme arrived. Unreal, start to finish. Can't say enough about our server, and the food. Everything was cooked to perfection, clearly fresh, and meticulously paired. Each plate was a unique palate, delightful, and adventurous. The entire night was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had, all because our original plans fell through. Worth every cent- ask for Tommy. He's truly an asset to Bread and Wine. Cannot wait to dine here again!
(5)Brittney H.
We dined her awhile ago but I'm slacking on my reviews lately. First of all, weird location. This restaurant looks like it used to be a gas station from the outside. Irving Park is not my favorite area and parking here completely sucked. That being said, the inside is beautiful. It manages to be modern and cozy at the same time - the staff is incredibly attentive and gracious. Our food (we had two things that are no longer on the menu which were delicious) was incredibly delicious. We also has the grass fed burger which was huge and I had many regrets later (from calories, not taste). If you're in this area, this is the spot to go!
(4)Philip S.
Lovely contemporary American food. Great ambiance, great service. Menu is very seasonal. We enjoyed the Ricketts, chicken liver pate, Tasso beef, 6 minute duck egg, steak tartar, pork cheek and more. Great for sharing even better for conversation. Highly recommend.
(5)Yvonne I.
"Great food, but terrible service experience." Four of my friends and I came for brunch one Sunday in May 2015. My friends and I are currently half way through trying about 20 brunch places from this "best brunch in Chicago" list, and Bread and Wine was on our list in May. The layout of the restaurant was nice, and I liked the open kitchen aspect of it. I felt really comfortable being able to see what was going on in the kitchen. The waiter came right away, and was relatively pleasant for most of the meal. For an appetizer I had the Whiskey glazed cinnamon roll, which was one of the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had. The whiskey flavor wasn't too strong, so someone that doesn't like the taste of whiskey would most likely not be turned off by this cinnamon roll. For my main brunch meal I had the breakfast banh mi. The description of this dish on the menu sounded very different than items I've had at other brunch restaurants. The banh mi sandwich itself was amazing due to its great flavor and appropriate size. The hash browns were also amazing, and were not greasy like the hash browns at some restaurants. Our dining experience went down hill when we asked for the check after we finished our food. Not everyone in my group had cash, so one of my friends politely asked our waiter if he would be able to split the check. (I realize that we should have asked him this in the beginning of the meal, since that is what we normally do when we go to restaurants). Tommy responded with "NO!", and then stormed away from the table. Tommy eventually came back to the table and told us he would be able to take separate payments from us. We really appreciated this, but we were still a little confused why he had been so dramatic originally . Those of us that had cash put our cash in, and those of us with Cards wrote our names along with the last 4 digits of the credit cards on the back of the receipt so that we could evenly split the bill. Tommy ran the credit cards and applied the cash. When he brought back the receipts, one of my friend's credit cards had been ran twice. After explaining this nicely to Tommy, he snatched the credit card booklet up and stormed away. When Tommy brought back the refunded credit card, he slammed it on the table and walked away again. I hope that we caught Tommy on a bad day, and that he does not always act this rudely towards customers. This is not an establishment I would visit again.
(2)Dave S.
The food is pretty good, but very pricey. The portions are pretty small and the selection pretty limited. Not a horrible experience, just not that great.
(3)Hannah C.
We went for brunch and most of the food was excellent. We snuck in just before they closed, around 1, and had no problem getting a table. The homemade chicken sausage was exceptional. The hash browns were delightfully crispy but hardly seasoned at all. The Cubano sandwich was also a treat - we got extra mustard sauce on the side and wound up dipping the fries in it. The whiskey glazed cinnamon roll was quite good, although the tangy of the whiskey suggested they might want to use a higher quality liquor? Apparently the bloody marys, omelette of the day, and pork belly with grits were also quite good. Everyone enjoyed the atmosphere, music list, and food. Wish they gave you slightly larger water glasses, though!
(4)Justin B.
Came by for dinner yesterday; with family in town and an expiring Groupon, we thought coming by for an early dinner would fit the bill. Although I usually start with the positives, let's mix it up today and start with the negatives: 1) I tried the Lowe Ball specialty cocktail. While I didn't send this back, I was surprised how much I didn't like this drink. Maybe it was because I had gone to The California Clipper the night before, but this drink just wasn't great. It was a little watered down, but I couldn't tell how or why, because I'm sure it was served to me right after it was made. We came for a 5:30 dinner reservation and the restaurant was only about half-full, so there wasn't a crowd issue...hmm, maybe it was the semi-sugared rim, not a full rim of sugar? Maybe it was the rum? Maybe it wasn't sweet enough? Not sure, but a bust regardless. 2) I ordered the cheeseburger because I'm a burger whore and Zagat said B&W made one of the ten best burgers in Chicago. And it might...but I'll never know. You see, I ordered the burger rare...and the burger came out medium well, MINIMUM. In my estimation, it was well done. Like, completely, totally wrong. It was so wrong that I asked my server to just show his kitchen staff how wrong it was, but I didn't have the time for the kitchen to remake the burger; our one-year-old was with us and was nearing her 7 PM bedtime, so I took one for the team and ate half the burger and all of the fries. But I don't think I've ever had a restaurant get the temperature of the burger this wrong (I eat burgers at varying levels of restaurant usually twice a week). 3) Our server didn't take the well done burger off the bill. I made up for this slightly by tipping less, but I was surprised that this was not addressed when it came to payment. The positives: 1) It wasn't part of my order, but the seasonal soup that I tasted was exceptional. Exceptional. I don't remember what was in it besides sriracha, noted because it did give the soup a little kick and our server called it out. But the subtleties of the taste of this soup were something else. 2) Our server--save for the bill at the end--was great, explained everything clearly, and generally was a whirling dervish of energy. I want to say his name was Tommy, but it was in the Tommy/Bobby/____-ie category. And he was loud enough to talk over the din of the space; it's fairly loud at Bread and Wine, so a loud server is a plus. 3) Parking out front in a dedicated lot. Going for dinner at 5:30 helped because we got one of the dozen-ish spaces, but still, great that they have one. 4) The fries with my burger were great, well seasoned, above-average aioli, and there were a ton of them...key, since my burger was a fail. Yes, a ton of places in Chicago make great french fries, so this isn't crazy out-of-this-world, but still, I needed the fries to be great for this particular dinner! 5) Overall space in this restaurant was also nice. Open kitchen is pretty sweet. Kudos to the hostess for putting our group at a four-top where we could stash the high chair near the window, away from server and diner foot traffic. (And, because it's so loud in here, even your crying baby probably doesn't get many looks.) 6) Groupon deal helped us save a few bucks. I'm not sure I would go back unless others are doing a "special" dinner here, but glad that I finally checked this one off the list!
(2)William B.
Made it back to Bread and Wine for the third time last night. We celebrated a friend's birthday with an early reservation, and for most of the evening it felt like we had bought out the entire restaurant. Only one other table came in during the course of our meal. OK, it was a Tuesday night after a holiday weekend, but I hate to think a place this good is not getting enough business. We shared cheese and charcuterie plates among six people; the chicken liver paté was as great as everyone says. Each entrée was beautifully plated and imaginatively composed, not a miss among them. A couple of us opted for two "small plates" instead of entrées, and the portion sizes were just right. Particularly good were the "pig face" pancetta and the corn nuggets, and a special corn consommé was unlike anything I've tasted recently and very refreshing after all the hot weather. We went through three bottles of wine among the three of us and the tab with tip came to about $60pp, a real bargain. Add in the free parking lot in front and you have a winner that should be busier on a weeknight. Can't wait to return and try some of the items from the beer and cocktail lists.
(5)Sandy R.
I really wanted to continue my love affair with B&W but I just can't. My first meal was really good but it continued to go downhill from there. Brunch was so unremarkable that I can't even remember what I had. My second dinner was not great. I had a tofu dish with a description that made it sound like some type of broth was involved but there was no broth and very little flavor. My most recent meal wasn't all bad. The charcuterie was good as was the salad and dessert. But nothing was great. My entree of BBQ beef cheeks was awful. There was no BBQ that I could recognize. The slaw was disgustingly smokey. The entree was overly salty and I like salt. Along with the less than stellar meal our server was aloof and not very friendly. I hate when reviewers say this but this review was really a 2.5.
(3)Alysha L.
Just tried this place for brunch after my AirBnB host recommended it as one of the neighborhood restaurants I had to check out. I had their seasonal omelette, which was delicious. Food aside, I can't remember the last time I walked into a restaurant and got ice cold glares from the staff. Three people stood at the front and were very awkward in their responses when I asked to see a menu and then asked to be seated. I did not feel welcome here at all. What's up with the service???
(3)Mike H.
Great food, great wine, great service! Tommy was a finominal server with a great handle on the food and pairings for this fantastic yet quaint neighborhood secret. The 3 course meal was prepared perfectly for my friends and I. As no one in our group had ever tried Bread & Wine before. Terrific help from our server; Tommi, picking out the best tastings they had to offer.
(5)Naomi L.
God I really wanted to love this place! Well got here around 9 and it was steady. This place is really modern and stylish. The decor is nice and the vibe was also great. We ordered a flight of cheese and had a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. The cheese was absolutely amazing! I was hoping for a few pieces of apples with the cheese but it wasn't a big deal. I expected their menu to have a flight of wine we could taste since the place is called "Bread and Wine" but nope, no flight of wine. Their menu is also very very thin. They did not have a good selection of food but i guess its a very small neighborhood restaurant that is still trying to make s name for themselves I had the gnooci but it was not pasta. I always thought it was pasta but i got six square pieces of fried things. I was really disappointed because i am pretty sure that it wasn't gnocci. Plus the "gnocci" wasn't even good. Before i even ordered this "gnocci" i asked the waiter what it was and he explained as if it was pasta. Now the really disappointing thing is that when we walked in (a tall slim woman) well she obviously works there gave a dirty looks. We asked to sit in the corner because, god damn that's where we wanted to sit. The place wasn't packed so yes that was our table of choice. She rolled her eyes and gave us attitude seating us. No do not roll your eyes. If the place was crazy busy then yes we would have understood but it was slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I really wanted to like this place but nope
(2)Mike P.
Such a small restaurant but with big flavor! I feel like I will need to go back a number of times to really get a good read on the food. For now I will offer the following: Charcuterie plate: Let the chef decide but try to get the chicken liver pate. It's excellent. The cheddar is a touch too mellow when paired with stronger, more pungent cheeses. The country ham is not overly salty. Sausage dinner: Good deal. It looks like a small portion but is very fitting and the roasted Brussels sprouts are so good, they could probably convert some Brussels haters. My wife go the prawns, or should I say miniature lobsters. Kind of intimidating, to have whole prawns served to you, but dig in. Definitely a fun joint! The staff is friendly and attentive. Have a seat at the chef's counter and chat up the chef and cooks while they prep the meals. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Colsha L.
I frequent Bread And Wine because it is about 5 blocks from my home, extremely convenient and I loved the ambiance. I went last night July 23rd 2015 and boy was I disappointed! I made reservations for 8:00 and was greeted by a shorter guy with really greasy and stringy hair, he was incredibly rude! He didn't seem like he wanted to be there nor serve us. Initially I tried to ignore his sarcastic remarks and cattiness but it was too much to bare. His customer service skills are dreadful for lack of a better term. I won't be returning.
(1)Brittney E.
I LOVED this place! It's a bit pricey if you want to have a selection of food items to get a good taste for the place, but It was right up my alley with a nice selection of cheese and charcuterie. I even had the opportunity to sit at the chef's counter and watch all of the food being prepared which was a very nice experience. The gnocchi was pretty much the best I've ever had... it wasn't your typical potato gnocchi but very similar. The ingredients they used to make this dish were very simplistic (I had a brief conversation with the chef) yet they delivered flavor better than any combination of ingredients I've ever experienced. They saute the gnocchi for that perfect crispy outer layer. I highly recommend this dish and the restaurant as a whole.
(5)Mariel V.
I have quite a history with B&W AND so far I've been very pleased with their food and service. For starters back in July we were looking for a small, intimate place to have a wedding party and being new to the neighborhood we took a chance with picking B&W. They were able to accommodate to our semi-private party of 20 with only a weeks notice. Jen was awesome! She even printed us a custom menu. I've been back numerous times since with my husband and friends and we've had almost everything in their constantly changing menu. If you're a fan I suggest visiting at least twice a month to see what's new for brunch or dinner.
(5)Cynthia R.
So yeah, this place is alright! I appreciate that there are decent restaurants in this part of the city, but it's also quite oddly located and you wouldn't really expect there to be a good place....there. Ya know? But besides that, it was great to see the place buzzing with business on a Friday nite! I thought it was a bit pricey for the location, and for the food. Don't get me wrong, the menu was decent, and the food was respectable. But it was definitely pricier than I thought they could honestly pull off over all. I got the burger, which was good. I loved that the meat was "clean"; hormone and anitbiotic free, and the other ingredients were organic. House made ketchup was a nice touch too. The hubs got fish, which was a tad bland. Nice presentation and very nice wine suggestion that got paired with it. Oh btw, our server, Gus, was fantastic. And the general vibe of the place was cool as well. NIce and clean.....and open kitchen concept, so you can watch the chefs prepare your food!
(3)Linsey R.
We've been here a few times and really like it so I thought I'd spread the word. The ambiance is awesome, from the decor to the lighting to the music. Being able to watch the chefs work their magic is always a plus too. They have an excellent variety of cheese and charcuterie and the bread they serve it with is so good. The menu is constantly changing with the seasons and there are a lot of interesting options. The wine list is great and the cocktails are nice too. I'm really excited to see a place this nice succeed in the area and am happy it's so close to my house. The brunch is REALLY good too but gets pretty expensive when you like to drink like we do :)
(4)Lauren F.
My husband and I came here with my mother and grandmother on New Year's Eve and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the meal. We started with a Chef's Choice cheese/charcuterie board that was delicious and plentiful for 4 people. We also had the Herb Fries and Steak Tartare for starters - fries were great, not the best steak tartare I've ever had, but I've had some really great steak tartare! For mains I had the Pork Chop which I really enjoyed along with its accompaniments and my husband had the special for the evening which was a steak - tasty but not the most impressive cut of meat, especially for the price. My mother and grandmother both had the Tagliatelle pasta with duck confit and both of their plates were completely clean at the end of the meal, so they were both very happy with their choice! For dessert we had the Chocolate Mousse and the Salted Caramel Popcorn Panna Cotta. The mousse itself was great, but the marshmallow that came on top wasn't the easiest to eat. The panna cotta was also delicious, but the mound of popcorn on top was a bit too much. Overall we were very happy with our NYE choice, good food and wine and nice, relaxed atmosphere!
(4)Ruby Q.
This is our "go to" place for New American, locally sourced, farm to table food when not splashing about in Wicker Park or Logan Square. The burger and fries are great and give the good folks at "Au Cheval" a run for their money - well almost. The have recently changed chefs, and the new guy rocks. I had the pork cheeks last night and they were awesome with concentrated flavor. An adventurous dish paired creatively with black eyed pea mash and a pea tamale. Weirdest and best thing I have eaten this year! Servers are always knowledgeable and friendly (thanks Emily) Their cocktails are good, but for the price they should give a more generous pour. You must try the panna cotta popcorn before you leave this planet.
(5)Url R.
This is quite the neighborhood gem. I highly recommend seating at the chef's bar so you can watch these folks cook. They will chit chat with you all the while. Moreover, they will hand you little special made treats just for you.
(5)Dan S.
While Bread & Wine is a bit off the beaten path for the downtown Chicago visitor, it's well worth the stretch to get there. For locals in other parts of the city or the suburbs, the location is fantastic, just off the Kennedy Expressway with available parking. But the convenience is not the reason to try Bread & Wine - it's the food and fun. Just an overall great dining experience with a creative menu from the drinks, small plates to large plates. The restaurant is focused on using locally sourced foods and adding a creativity to their dishes. At the same time, nothing is over the top wild and all very tasty. We enjoyed the small plate fish terrine which is a delicious white fish served on crusty bread with lettuce. Great smokey flavor and buttery texture. While the restaurant is known of it's in-house prepared charcuterie, that's not one of our favorites so we tried one of the artisan cheeses. Not only was the cheese tasty but the dabs of mustard along with sweet pickled watermelon really made a terrific combo on the toast points. For large plates, we enjoyed the duck confit and the vegetarian special which was an unusual collection of tastes that worked - tofu, kimchi, rice noodles, spicy beet sauce and hazelnuts. Glad that I overlooked the unusual mix of ingredients on the menu and tried it. Portions were appropriate and the food was served hot. We shared a chocolate dessert and left the restaurant satisfied by not over-sated. We also enjoyed the drink selections which included some of my favorites bourbon drinks, extensive wine choices reasonably priced as well as some good aperitifs/digestifs. We dined inside at a private table but the restaurant also has the option of outdoor dining as well as dining at the kitchen bar overlooking the food preparation. As with many restaurants, with either concrete or wood floors and high ceilings, the restaurant can be loud but it was tolerable. Our server was not only friendly but very eager to get in to the descriptions of the food and drink to help us make better choices. So, Bread & Wine is a great food experience and dining atmosphere. I would further add that for this type of restaurant, the prices are reasonable.
(5)Andrew M.
It was great. Had the feel of high end places in Lincoln Park where we used to live. Wine selection is great and prices are not that bad either. I really enjoyed the decor and the staff was very helpful. Nice size parking lot with free parking to boot! Highly recommended. Burger and Pork Chop were both excellent! Chocolate Mousse!!!
(5)Jaime G.
Have to admit that i thought Bread and Wine was going to be a disappointment...too good to be true. Mixed reviews yet so close to home??? I was really skeptical. Good news is that I loved it. Great little place that serves fun new American dishes with flare. Also have a great wine and beer selection to keep most satisfied. Add the outdoor patio for nice summer nights and we're in business. I had the 3 Floyd's pride and joy ale to start then a fine chard. The most memorable menu items (menu is not very big but plenty of variety) were the raw scallops with juniper berries and oranges and the burger. Can't wait to go back esp since it's so close to home.
(5)Elaine M.
We came here because a friend of ours had heard good things and wanted to try it out with us. So glad that we did. It was terrific! We did of course order a bottle of wine but that is more my husband's purview. It was good but honestly I don't remember much beyond it was red. The highlights were the appetizers and desserts by a long shot. We began our meal by sharing the CHARCUTERIE, chef's choice. We actually got to choose our six items and I would say that most were outstanding. Starting with my favorite, the chicken liver pate; it was smooth, creamy and the best I have ever had! I am looking forward to buying some this summer and taking in our picnic basket to Ravinia. We also had the duck rilletes and the tasso ham. The rilletes were mighty fine and the tasso ham very very smoky. Kind of like cigar smoke. Good if you like that sort of thing. Then for our cheeses we went with two of the Ann Arbor cheeses, Great Lakes Cheshire and YPSI, since we used to live there. Both were outstanding. The YPSI is a goat cheese and I loved it. Our third choice was the Cottonwood River Cheddar which was only okay, nothing really exceptional. The only disappointment with the charcuterie was that though it came with bread there were two kinds to choose from and we asked if we could do half and half. They said no, only one kind. When the board came there two loaves of bread, both the same kind. If there are two loaves, what's the big deal with doing half one kind and half the other? On to dessert, I would have like to try all three but only ended up trying two, the Salted Caramel Popcorn Panna Cotta and the Chocolate Mousse. The Panna Cotta was so amazing! We loved all the flavors and the smooth panna cotta paired with the caramel corn is genius. For our mains we had the sea trout, lamb meatball and the curried tofu. The flavors were spot on but only one meatball seemed kind of skimpy for a main course portion.
(5)Lauren B.
Really, REALLY disappointed. I'd heard great things and wanted to love it. However, sitting at the show kitchen I watched the chefs perform highly unsanitary actions with the food items. We mentioned it to the manager, she kindly refired the food. Then my boyfriend's burger came back raw, he ordered medium. So, THAT was sent back. Mind you, we've unsuccessfully gotten our dinners 2x now. Then, when the bill came, only the burger was comped. Now, I'm not the type seeking free food, by any means. But, as a diner I expect good customer service, food that's tasty ( my chicken was mediocre, his burger was good), and food that is safe to eat. They failed on all 3 counts. It was really upsetting. I will say the waitstaff were great! So if all you're looking for is a friendly face, not worried about the safety or taste of your food... This might be a your place!
(1)Amy H.
Fantastic food. Excellent wine selection. Really nice restaurant with a romantic ambience in a neighborhood you would not expect. If you don't usually find yourself in Irving park, it's worth the trip. Besides, parking is easier and free unlike the areas with the other nice restaurants. Try the gnocchi starter and the pork chop entree!
(5)Jiratt P.
I would say the food here is not my favorite but absolutely nothing wrong. I love it here and I might come back because of service. They did a great job from understanding of my needs and taste of wine. Let me taste a few wine before open the bottle. Friendly and quick service here. I think sit at the patio for a light dinner and a nice bottle of wine it's must here.
(5)John B.
Four of us dined at Bread & Wine this past Saturday. On first look, I liked what I saw. It's a pretty cool looking space. The restaurant was about 50% filled with people.The hostess greeted us pleasantly and led us to our table. The server appeared fairly quickly with menus. When he returned he informed us that they had already run out of two items. One was the trout; the other I can't remember. But wait, how do you run out of something at 7 PM? When the restaurant is half empty. Hmm. I ordered a bottle of wine, but the server apparantly assumed that it was for the table. He spun around in a flash and disappeared. In fact, the wine was for two of us and the other planned to order cocktails. He returned with four wine glasses and we pointed out that we only needed two; that A &M wanted cocktails. He grabbed the two extra glass and ran off. About 5 minutes later he returned with the wine and took the order for the cocktails. It was a bit awkward to have wine and for our friends to be without drinks. We waited. And waited. And my friend kept trying to get the servers attention, but without luck. Meanwhile another couple had been seated at an adjoining table. They not only had drinks, but salads. Mind you, we have now been there for 30 minutes. Finally A waved furiously for the server's attention. Drinks? "They're on their way," he claimed. They arrived 10 minutes later. Once the drinks arrived, service seems to take a more normal trajectory. The food was all excellent.Top notch. Everyone enjoyed their meals, however, speaking was difficult. The noise level in this restaurant is insane. Food: 4 stars Service: 2 stars Ambiance: 4 stars for decor ... 1 star for noise level = 2.5 They have wine bottles displayed along the wall for sale. My wife looked at them and we ordered one. It turns out that the prices of the bottles on the wall are different than when ordered. About $10 more, as I recall. That's a reasonable mark-up, although it was a bit confusing. It pains me to rate this restaurant only 3 stars, because the food was good. But the noise level and bad service leaves me no choice. If I learned that they addressed the acoustics, I'd come back. But I would ask for a different server.
(3)Rob B.
How did I miss this? Not a full time resident, we yelped for a brunch location Sunday. Bread and Wine came up and oh, so glad it did! A downtown experience out here in Irving Park. Why there was not a line surprises me, this place was off the hook awesome! The Bloody Mary with a beer back was the way to start the day and we were in good company. I think every table had a bloody and I can see why. We shared a pancake with cherries. I had the Egg and Grits he had the Benedict. Service was amazing thanks guys! Only suggestion: Send those poached eggs out a little more rare. We want our yokes to run free.
(5)Susan M.
Chef's know what they are doing. The owner is bringing down the rating in this case. We ordered the Cured Pork Belly and Breakfast Banh Mi, which were very well executed with great presentation. The servers are very attentive and welcoming. The owner seems unfriendly and not genuine. If she can hire someone to manage the daily operation, greet customers, tend bar and take on the role as the daily face of the restaurant, that would be a smart move. She was in the role of bartender on 7/12/15.
(3)Lucius B.
I had reserved a table at Bread & Wine on Opentable for NYE, but suprise surprise, me and my friend are ushered to bar to sit in front of a disgruntled chef--Maybe because two dudes eating together wasn't the clientele this establishment was looking for. What could have been a superb dining experience was eclipsed by several unforgivable incidents, and although the staff was really nice, it wasn't enough to save the sinking ship--much like the violinists playing while the titanic was coming to it's inevitable fate. 1. The herb fries were just seasoned fries with aoili on the side. I don't condone of slapping a fancier name on a basic item so that you can charge more for it. They tasted bland, and not very herb-y. The only thing that made it worthwhile was the aeoli. 2. My porkchop was incredibly bland, and tough. Also it didn't come with a knife sharp enough to cut it, so I had been left to fight it out with a dull butter knife. It was a challenge, and I thought the porkchop would ultimately win the battle, and it did. I dusted myself off and let the slab of meat claim victory with 40% of it still remaining. I was defeated. 3. My cocktail was noted as having a sugared rim, and as I move in to taste the delightful crystals on the rim of the glass, SALT. I know this doesn't seem like a big thing but honestly for a $12 dollar cocktail the size of a baby's fist the least thing you can do it get it right. 4. While finally wrapping up, I overheard some very unsavory language coming from the chef about banging chicks or something. Honestly, it wouldn't have bothered me as much if the food had been better. Overall, the entire experiences was underwhelming, and entirely forgettable. I can already feel it fading out of my memory....
(2)M M.
The food was really good, the service... was found wanting. Thank you, waiter A, for pointing out how stupid it was that all three of us got the burger ("Reaaally guys? The three of you could share a burger, we have some amazing stuff to try LIKE THE TROUT"), like we didn't already know this was stupid we just really wanted burgers. The burger, by the way, was amazing. In-house made pretzel bun, people. After we got shamed into ordering some charcuterie and ate our burgers I was stuffed. Waiter B came to clear our plates and saw my 7 fries and 2 bites of burger left and said, "Are you done there? Oh, did you not like it? Oh, can I get you a box for that?" More shame. Then it was similarly deemed ridiculous by waiter A that we not "at least try" some desert. We put our foot down. It was weird, it was rude, it was uncomfortable. Also, I noticed no female employees, which maybe has something to do with the awful interactions.
(3)Walt P.
Back in Chicago again and had the chance to go to Bread and Wine several times. Brought 4 friends in Friday night for a bit of a reunion. As always we had great service ... this time Alex was our server. He did a great job pairing wine with our eclectic orders, which ranged from pork chops, sausage and Brussels sprouts to mussels in a simple wine broth. It was a challenge but the result made everyone happy. Stopped in for brunch Sunday before heading back to California. Sat at the bar and Emily helped us put together a delicious breakfast including the omelet of the day, French toast and a side of house cured bacon...yum. Lisa and Jenny have created a warm friendly place that keeps us coming back. We started coming here right after it opened three years ago and count on a warm welcome, wonderful service and great food...we've never been disappointed.
(5)Steve B.
Went there with my wife, another couple and their 1 year old for brunch on a Saturday. The place was busy but not packed and the parking lot was still full. Slightly annoying. As with most brunch places, it was full of adults and their kids. I didn't directly hear any of the staff say they were annoyed by that but there definitely felt like some aggravation in the air. Maybe it was just an off day. Also even though it wasn't that busy the staff was not that attentive. We were there for almost 2 hours and could have easily cut 30 minutes off that. Took almost 15 minutes for the waiter to come back and take the check. The food itself was tasty but nothing that you couldn't find at other places. I had the french toast with pear compote. It was good but again nothing I couldn't find at a local diner. My wife had the classic fry-up and the hash was maybe some of the best out there. All of the potatoes were crispy just the way they should be. I have to say that while both dishes were good they have almost no veggie option on their menu. It is all meet, egg and wheat. My wife and I are big fans of skillets where there are lots of peppers, onions, etc... and there really wasn't an option for that. All in all I am not sure I would go back. Maybe for dinner as I have heard that is extremely good. But for brunch there are plenty of places that said that was the best brunch in the Irving Park neighborhood. I really hope not.
(3)Raj P.
Great ambiance and excellent service. My partner had their fish entree and it was great. I had their chicken and thought it was cooked perfectly but for me lacked flavor. I would definitely go back and get the fish or something else though.
(4)Diane A.
I live in the neighborhood and really want to like this place. I opted for the restaurant week option which came with a salad (very good), prawns with sauce and polenta and some other stuff, and white chocolate pudding. The pudding was ok. Nothing I would go out of my way to get but edible. The prawns were NOT GOOD. They tasted like the bottom of a river, or what I imagine that muck at the bottom tastes like. Now, maybe the fact that I asked for no bacon with this meal (I do not eat bacon) was what made it taste bad, but I doubt even bacon could cover up that flavor. I have had prawns before and enjoyed them immensely, so I don't know what happened here, but the moral of the story is that if you go for restaurant week, get the chicken. My husband did enjoy his burger, however. And my friend liked her fish. I will probably go back and try something else, maybe for brunch, but I will never, ever eat prawn here again.
(2)Max P.
Pricey but good. I have only had the burger, it is very tasty. The Pretzel Bun is a nice touch. The french fries are super tasty, well seasoned. 3 stars only because every time I order I ask for no mustard and yet always get mustard.
(3)Kathleen C.
I have been wanting to try this spot for a while and a random Wednesday seemed like the perfect time! I made a reservation, though I didn't need one mid-week. However, it's a small-ish spot, so I can imagine that it gets busy on the weekends and you probably need reservations then. We were quickly seated and warmly greeted. The wine/beer/cocktail list is extensive as you might imagine and they had some unique combinations. As to food, we tried the mussels (REALLY interesting with blue cheese and sriracha) and the burger and chicken entrees. The food was quite tasty and portion sizes were large, but I will say that nothing was amazing or overly wonderful. Service was a bit overly attentive, showing up ALL of the time (though, as we were one of few tables, I don't blame them). I did like it and I'd probably go back (mostly for their Tuesday dinner as I think that's a good deal), but I think it's a bit pricey for what it is and I will say that while the food was good, it wasn't as good as I expected for the price and also, a lot of the food options didn't really call to me. So, worth a spot and great for parking as they have a lot, but nothing that I'd travel specifically to if I lived far outside of the area.
(3)Capaytano H.
This place is amazing the freshness is superb. The burger is grass fed and as a beef lover I sure could tell. The waitress OMG she was so friendly oh sure was her favorite saying. This place is just amazing can't wait for the next time. I hope this is how the food is in heaven juicy and flavorful
(5)Sally O.
IT'S THE WAITING GAME! It took 10 minutes for our waiter to see us when we sat down. We finally had to ASK our hostess if one could come to our table. Our drinks took a long time to come out. Dinner took a long time to come out. You get tired of tapping your fingers on the table. We ordered dessert at the beginning of the meal and it came out a good 25 minutes after they cleared our dinner plates. We couldn't even drink coffee while we waited because we ordered it right after dinner and that took a good 15-20 minutes to get to our table. They even forgot to bring the pasta that I had boxed up back to us. I had to ask for it, to which our waiter said, "Oh yea!" Yeesh, this place wasn't on top of anything. Food was pretty good, but nothing remarkable. Would NOT recommend.
(1)Terri R.
We left dinner here last night kind of shaking our heads. Not really sure what to think. We wanted to like it. Walking in we felt pretty sure that we would like it. But now... pretty sure we won't be trekking over to that neighborhood again to go back. The room is pretty--the lighting is just right. The decor is a nice balance of elegant and edgy. I like the layout: there's a long L-shaped bar off to the left of the dining room and a bar that faces the open kitchen. A long dark wood bench on the far right wall lined with pillows provides seating for a row of nicely spaced 2-tops. The music, however, was an odd choice. Are you playing it for the guests or for the cooks? It didn't seem at all to match your clientele. I couldn't really hear that it was music, only that it was loud noise that amped up the volume of people talking, but not in a way to create a buzzy atmosphere, more to just be annoying. The open kitchen would be fun--I usually love to sit facing the kitchen and watching the interplay of the chefs and the food being prepared. Thankfully though, we weren't sitting facing this group of cooks, who all seemed pretty surly. And, I"m sorry, but the waist-length hairnet on the one guy is just gross. Really. The greeting of the first person who came to our table was fun and friendly. The cocktails were creative and tasty. I had the mezcal mule that was made with a nice smoky mezcal and chile rim. It was supposed to have ginger beer in it, too, and I didn't taste any ginger beer, so not sure what was up with that. But I liked it anyway. My wife had the Paloma; it was fine, but missing some of the tartness that distinguishes this drink. For small plate starters, we had the mixed greens salad with pears, pipettes, blue cheese and currants. It was good--I like dressing to be a little bit lighter, but the flavor combination was very good. We also had what on the menu is called semolina gnocchi. In another review I read, someone complained about the gnocchi because it wasn't pasta and she thought gnocchi was supposed to be pasta. Since I know gnocchi isn't pasta, I dismissed that complaint, and ordered with an open mind. But now, I'm siding with that other reviewer. Because while gnocchi isn't pasta per se, it's also not what was served at Bread and Wine. What was served--square deep fried cakes of creamy semolina were tasty, but it's a dish that is hard to call gnocchi. And, the aioli -- again, another liberal interpretation of aioli, because it tasted just like plain mayonnaise-- isn't the right condiment. It needed something more acidic to cut through the fat of the deep fry. The main courses. I had the curried tofu with rice noodles, kimchi, and beet broth. It sounds odd, but it worked and I really enjoyed it. I would have loved more beet broth. My wife had the pork chop. The chop was a nice sized chop and the flavor was good. But... it was raw on the inside. I know that you can eat pork now that is not well done. But pork that is too undercooked is not pleasant. The dessert--the caramel popcorn panna cotta was delicious. I could have eaten bowls of it. The salty popcorn onto of the sweet creamy custard was a perfect matchup. The service was mixed. Our server was a kind of cool dude, and he checked on us often and that was all fine. But as we were clearly finishing and making motions toward leaving, the nice guy who had first greeted us when we sat down came over and just scooped up our wine glasses. It seemed brusque and misplaced and kind of rude like he was anxious to rush us out. Since the restaurant only had a few occupied tables by then, I wasn't sure why he felt he needed to hasten our departure, but it left an unpleasant feeling after what had already been a mixed experience. The final thing I'll say is that for a restaurant that calls itself Bread and Wine, you would think two things: the server would know something about wine and be able to talk about it and make a recommendation when asked. That there would be more than one option for a sav blanc by the glass. And, that there would be bread. Right? No bread.
(3)Megan A.
I really, really want to like this place since it's in my neighborhood. My husband and I have given it several chances to wow us, and it falls short every time. Last night was the straw that broke the camel's back. Service was painfully slow, they gave me the wrong beer...and that was just the beginning. Ordered steak tartare, the burger and the chicken to share. Took forever to get our food, and the chicken was dry and tough. Server tried to take away our plate AS we were eating. Overall a bad experience. We give up...will not be back.
(1)Dan M.
To start we made a 7:00 p.m. reservation on a Saturday night and we were sat at communal counter seats when many an actual open table were surrounding us as the restaurant was clearly not booked out. Kind of a head scratcher? We rolled with the punches as we decided we were here to experience the food more than anything; so no big. 1st off cocktails. Quite a nice selection and they were executed rather well so kudos to the bar manager and staff. Delightful 2nd. Appetizers. We ordered steak tartare and an heirloom tomato salad w/ watermelon and frisee. The steak tartare was actually wonderful in texture and flavor, but the actual portion size for a $16 dollar starter was absolutely abysmal. You can pay $18 for the best steak tartare in my opinion at Gilt Bar down in River North AND the portion is twice as much. Anywho on to the salad. I don't want to come off as another reviewer behind their Yelp keyboard shied, but it was an insult. Literally 1 tomato sliced in quarters, 4 cubes of watermelon, a boat load of frisee, and a few crumbles of feta chesse on a plate. I felt like I couldn't even try a tomato because if I did my partner, who I was on my date with, wouldn't get enough AND this dish, which half of the flavorless frisee was left on the plate, was $12!!! I have lived in Chicago for the past 7 years and I work in the food industry for a reputable James Beard Award winning chef. I understand menu pricing and your market. This menu is clearly priced to expose your ill informed north side neighborhood market. I understand that you are sourcing high quality food, but you are attempting to price your menu at River North to West Loop prices. 3rd. Entrees. We decided on the burger because it has been written up and repped in local publications and we also tried the pasta. The burger was executed perfectly. Kudos to the chefs for nailing the execution. Although it wasn't my fav burger of all time flavorwise it most certainly was excellent. The pasta on the other hand was the most forgettable dish of the night. It had NO seasoning and tasted like wet bland noodles in a cream sauce of no discernible taste. I commend this place for trying to bring a bit of that downtown elegance out to the neighborhoods, but where things end up faltering is there is no accountability. That salad and pasta were things that could be made in anyone's kitchen for a $2 food cost. Why should I come out to your restaurant to experience mediocrity and pay a $150 tab? We currently live in a culinary mecca and to settle for downtown prices at Irving Park and Elston is just unnecessary. You deserve better for your hard earned dough.
(2)Melissa S.
Came in last Friday for dinner with a friend for the first time. Reservations were easy to get, we were seated at the bar in front of the kitchen. Which frankly were the best seats in the house! Watching the chefs prepare the Pork Chop made the decision to order it easy, and it was really delicious. The gnocchi small plate was a perfect start and the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta was an even better end. The service was absolutely delightful, the chefs in the kitchen were talented (and handsome!) and I can't wait to come back for brunch.
(4)Allison C.
Absolutely delicious! Delicious food, delicious wine, delicious dessert. We even got free Malort shots at the end of the evening (are we crazy!?)
(5)Jennifer M.
Came in on a Friday night with a friend to check this place out! It's near my boyfriend's, which in general lacks a lot of nicer restaurants so was excited to give it a try and seen a lot of good reviews. When we first drove in (was really excited for the parking lot), there was no parking left! It's actually quite a small lot, but we found street parking only a block away without a problem. I was slightly confused that there wasn't a table for us as I had made a reservation, but the hostess offered a round of free drinks if we took a seat at the bar so we obliged. I ordered the Mezcal Mule, thinking it'd compare to a Moscow Mule. But boy on boy was it strong! The bartender did tell me after that Mezcal is a very strong liquor and many people don't like it (wish he had told me that before). I only had a sip and couldn't drink the rest. It would have been above & beyond for him to offer me something else instead and only charge me the one drink but he didn't so I didn't ask. The drink was still on our bill but also could've been partly my own doing. There was some confusion that the first drinks we ordered were our drinks "on the house", but it turns out that was Prosecco. I wish we were told that first so I would've just had that and not made a drink order. Now we receved our appetizer fairly quickly, we ordered the Crispy Semolina Gnocchi and it was delicious! Fried just right, crispy, and some may say too salty but I loved the salt so it was all good for me. We gobbled that up within minutes. Then we waited for at least 30 minutes for main course which felt excruciatingly long. When it finally came, we were ready to pounce. I ordered the Chicken, which came with a warm cabbage salad and items that looked like dumplings but weren't. For the life of me I can't remember what they were called. The whole dish was fabulous! My friend ordered the mussels which was a decent sized portion served with side bread that was toasted and buttered. I tried a piece and dipping it in the sauce with the mussels was superb! The food was great but the overall service needed some work. I will go back here again but feel you have to go in knowing you may be there a while. It would have been nice to see them go above and beyond a little more with the drinks as well. Solid meal, just not overall super solid experience. Go if you have a little bit of patience.
(3)Sherrie E.
This review is way over due! My husband and I LOVE this place...from the cozy environment, wine, cocktails, food, and service. It just can't be beat. The owners, Lisa and Jenny, are awesome as well. Try the gnocchi appetizer (unbelievable and too hard to describe), cheese plate with liver mousse, burger, carmel corn panna cotta, +++. Just go, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Kelleen L.
First time there last night and I really liked it. Server/baretender was really nice, service was great and the food was good. My friend and I split two things, steak and grassfed burger. Both were really good. Its a smaller place with a small parking lot, the enviroment is nice as well. It is a bit pricey, but it is good.. would be good for a date night.
(4)Claire G.
The mister and I went there last night to celebrate his birthday. We don't get an opportunity to dine out as much as we used to since having the kiddo. So when we do go out to eat, we cross our fingers and pray that it doesn't suck. Bread & Wine doesn't suck. In fact, it is really quite good. And it's close to where we live - double win. We ordered up a storm. The cheese and charcuterie was pretty spectacular with an emphasis on local, midwestern meats and cheeses. I like how the menu steered towards the local flavors. Baby kale salad was adorned with bits of thick bacon, strawberries, and pickled rhubarb. YUM! I affectionately referred to the mussels as buffalo mussels, as they come in a spicy sauce with blue cheese. They were good, along with a side of well-seasoned fries with truffle mayo. We had the chocolate mousse for dessert, which kind of tasted like a a Kit-Kat. Very sweet and chocolatey with crunchy bits. The only miss was the gnocchi. It's basically deep fried mashed potato squares with the same mayo as the fries. Meh. We had ordered way too much food anyway. Wine list is solid with some tasty choices by the glass, which is to be expected. Decent beer list and the cocktails looked good. Parking was a plus, especially in that area. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I would definitely go back for a glass of wine and some cheese on their patio or try them out for brunch (if they have high chairs - can't always ditch the kid).
(4)Roxanne R.
I live in Old Irving Park and have always wanted to visit this restaurant since I've spotted the chic decor when driving by. We had a plate of cheese to start. It was pretty good with the jam and mustard they served with it. I had the chorizo beef and cheddar burger. It was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. I also liked the seasoned fries with the garlic aioli dipping sauce. If my stomach wasn't bursting out of my jeans, I would have finished every last fry. Last we had the salted caramel popcorn with chilled panna cotta. Maybe it's because I'm a huge Ice cream fan but I wish it was some gelato or ice cream. I think it would've tasted better. The sweet and salty concept was nice thought though The service was stellar. Our server provided great tips and checked on us just enough times. If you're in the old Irving park neighborhood, I would swing by for at least a glass of wine and some cheese.
(4)Giovanni D.
Love this place I come here all the time. It's a nice hidden gem on the Northside. The staff is very passionate about the restaurant and make you feel very welcome. The steak tartare is probably the best I've had it beats Maudes. The burger is again is probably the best burger I've had as well. I think its all around better than Au Cheval. Every bottle of wine that I have tried is amazing. They put a lot of thought into there wine list. Chocolate mouse is great for a dessert. Highly recommend this place!
(5)Jessy S.
Bread & Wine is sooooo delicious. I went there last Sunday for a late brunch with a friend and it was great! I drive past this place multiple times a week and I've always wanted to stop in. I made reservations shortly before but they weren't really needed for the time of day that we went, but, it is a more intimate place so I would definitely recommend making them if you're going at a peak dining time. I had some delicious Pear French Toast w/ hash browns and my friend had the Pork Belly, we were both so happy with our meals. My friend is pregnant, so I didn't order an alcoholic beverage as to not make her jealous... but... they had a great selection and I will definitely be back in the near future to try some of them out. Service was great, atmosphere was modern & clean, will definitely stop by for dinner sometime.
(5)Oliver S.
Went for dinner on a Tuesday night, and after being told that our first two drink choices each were unavailable because they had a large party the night before, we left...disappointing.
(2)Dessie G.
My friends and I wanted to come try this place out because of all the great reviews. The place was packed on Saturday night, and even though there wasn't any music, it was incredibly loud. Service at the bar was great, but once we got to our table, it took awhile for someone to take our order, and then it took a really long time for us to actually get food. The meal itself was ok, nothing to write home about. Both my pork shoulder as well as the burgers my friends had were quite heavy on salt. The fries were great, but the lime bean hush puppies were so dry, I didn't even finish them. The prices are pretty high, I feel that the two $$ on Yelp is very misleading (we shared one appetizer, bought 3 entrées, and had a total of 6 beers for a whopping $150). All in all, I don't see us going back there, the food wad just ok, and I felt the prices were way too high.
(3)Laura G.
The only reason this place gets a second star is because they have parking and take reservations. I came here on a Saturday night with my girlfriends, and was unimpressed by the food and drinks. I found everything I ate to be super salty and similar tasting. To be specific, we had the gnocchi and the fries with aioli to start, and I had the burger for dinner. I don't know what it is, but the entire meal had one main flavor: salt. The drink list was interesting but expensive for Irving Park. I thought it would be a nice place in the neighborhood to bring out of town guests, but I probably won't be back.
(2)Chary H.
Came here in January for lunch. Our waiter was very nice and pretty much attentive. I had the gnocchi. Nothing to write home about, I've definitely had better. It was a bit irksome to have to keep asking for cream for our coffees' and when I asked a different waitress who happened to be near us she purposely took forever to bring it. I know because I could see her behind the bar standing there and talking to another waiter. Then as we were leaving she gave us a dirty look and that's why they're getting a two star review. There's no need for cattiness, I just want cream for my coffee.
(2)Liz K.
Sometimes it really pays off to go off the beaten path and try something that you didn't find on Yelp. Thanks to a suggestion from my friend, I ventured out of my well-traveled Lakeview and Lincoln Park paths to try Bread & Wine this week during Restaurant Week. The restaurant is not in a location that I automatically associate with fine dining, but as soon as we entered, I forgot that we were minutes from the expressway and off of the ever-crowded Irving Park Road. Parking lot? IMMEDIATE bonus. The atmosphere on the interior immediately made me feel like I was in a high-end restaurant in the Gold Coast, which I consider impressive. The hostess greeted us immediately, made us feel welcome, and showed us to our table (pointing out the space heater along the way in case we got cold and needed to move it). With that said, it was a little cold because our table was in the area by the door that I believe is typically a small grocery. It wasn't distracting but I sure wished I had worn socks. Oh well, neither here nor there. I haven't been to a restaurant where I have so many questions on the menu as I did at Bread & Wine, but our server (Josh) was very helpful in guiding our decisions and I was 110% pleased with our choices. We started out with a cheese - we were planning on getting anything but the Dante (sheep's milk? we had to have a debate about whether sheep even had milk...and then I felt a little dumber) - but then when the server said "it's like the Spanish manchego," our decision was made. We both studied abroad in Seville and that is THE cheese there. Our next course was the Mixed Carrot salad, which had a great flavor but I wasn't a huge fan of the wheat berries, as I was expecting more of a chewy and less crunchy bulgar wheat type nugget. I was speechless when the main course arrived. We chose to have the small plate, semolina gnocchi, come out with our main dish, which was the pork special that came with pretzel bread pudding. We were told that the pork would be between 14-16 ounces, but we easily had a 20-24 oz piece of meat on our hands. It was fantastic, seasoned perfectly alone but also well paired with the sauces on the plate, and we had a good deal left over to take home. I loved the gnocchi, but will warn you that it was quite salty. The garlic aioli that came with was a perfect pair because it cut into some of that saltiness, and I found it to go well with the pork also. Since it was restaurant week, we decided to go all out and get a dessert too - why not? We hadn't ordered from the special menu but decided to live it up and order the salted caramel panna cotta. I haven't had panna cotta before, so I was imagining something similar to creme brulee or flan, and was surprised by the grainy texture of the dessert. It was still tasty, but you really had to make sure to get a bite of all three layers to see what this dessert was like. The bill was very reasonable, considering the quantity and quality of food, plus a glass of wine apiece. I would highly recommend going out of your way to give this restaurant a try.
(4)Elaine S.
My boyfriend and I came here for dinner last night and everything was wonderful. We sat up at the chefs table which was essentially just a counter, but we were able to see the chefs prepare all of the food which was cool! Our cocktails were fantastic (I highly recommend the Second City Storm) and our dinner was even better. We had the burger and the Taglietelle - both phenomenal. Our waitress, Emily, and another waiter, Tommy, took incredible care of us and we're always there when we needed them.
(5)Giovanni A.
This restaurant has fallen on hard times. Due to the economy they need to cut back on a few things - such as the food. Bread and Wine is looking into changing their name to 'Bread and Water' to express the dining experience will be "bare-bones" until the financial unrest settles. I entered 'Bread and Water' and found the ambiance to be pleasant. Open kitchen. Rustic tables. I had high hopes. On the menu the options were labeled vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. What they failed to mention was it was also free of food. I asked for bread for the table. I would expect if you have 'Bread' in the name of your restaurant, you'd offer some. I received some burnt bread that you could have used to cut diamonds. I ordered the watermelon and arugula salad with heirloom tomatoes. It was excellent. The lemon vinaigrette was outstanding. It was probably one of the best salads I've ever had. For my entrée, I ordered the jerk tofu. When the waitress came out, I thought she was bringing me a dirty plate. The dark spot on the dish was the entrée. I say this with no exaggeration: the dish consisted of 5 small pieces of tofu and a couple globs of mango sauce. After I cleaned my plate with a pair of tweezers, I received the bill. The bill compensated for the paucity of food, because that was large enough for several people. I left ''Bread and Water'' angry and frustrated. I don't consume copious amount of food, but I expect some satiety after a meal. It's almost laughable to call this place a restaurant. I would have gone to REAL restaurant afterwards, but I'm working on the second mortgage I had to take out to pay for the "meal" I had.
(2)James B.
This place was amazing. Great food excellent service. Max our server was great. Had the duck confit and loved it. Also wanted dessert but didn't have enough room. We will be back soon.
(5)Scott C.
We were late for our reservations and it turned out great. We were seated at the chef's counter and for the next 90 minutes had a thoroughly enjoyable time eating, drinking, and finding out really interesting things from the chef about the food we were enjoying. We will be sure to go back again before summer is out.
(4)Kerrie G.
As good as it gets. If you are looking for a lovely casual dining experience that has a fabulous choice menu. I have been to Bread and Wine only twice, but have been blown away both times. Can we please just talk about the panacotta? It is like a velvety slice of love. Not too sweet, not too bland, it was just perfect. The staff is pleasant and helpful.
(5)Mike S.
We went as a date on a Thursday a few weeks ago. The place is rather small in size, maybe 20 -25 tables at most, with an open kitchen and a small bar. Get reservations if you plan on going at peak dining hours. Parking is at a premium; there are only about 8 or 9 spots in their lot. Service is outstanding, the waitstaff are attentive, educated and really seem to like their job. Prices are average for this type of slight upscale gastropub and the drinks are unique and inviting. The menu is rather limited, as I would assume it changes regularly based on what is available. They focus on locally sourced food items. My only caveat is that while we were dining and the place was winding down, I noticed the hostess leaving for the night, and as she left, she was parked in the closest spot in the lot! With limited parking, make the staff park on the street!!!!
(3)lovesmyanimals l.
My review will reflect some of the other diners regarding service. I went on a Saturday night, the restaurant was not overly packed so why we had the experience we did, baffles me. The night started off great, there is a parking lot for us who drive, friendly hostess and homemade caramels at the front door (yum). However, from there the night went the other way. 1) After being seated, our waiter forgot about us. Methinks. As other tables seated after us were getting attention from their waitstaff. 2) About 15 minutes later, (yes I watch my phone) the waiter appeared and said what do we want, very rushed and rude. Never once did he explain the menu or even tell us the specials as I watch him with two other of his tables. 3)Our waiter forgot to put in part of our order. 4) Our waiter did a disappearing act during before and during the meal. I waved down other staff to get hot water or even condiments with my meal. 5) Speaking of meal - it came out cold. 7) when I sat their for a while waiting for our waiter to see how our meal was, he never showed up - so I had to send my meal back to the kitchen with another waiter. 8) He was quick to bring us the bill - again after we waived him down. I did speak with the manager and they did make things right with the meal. But the entire SERVICE was horrible, that it in itself is reason enough not to come back. Even more baffling and per the manager we had one of the best waiters... How is that when it was a disappearing act all night and his rude demeanor. Best part of the meal was not the meal but the yummy caramels at the door. I could eat those all day.
(1)Suzana G.
How I love this place!! Wine, cheese and its interior decor! Had a chance to spend a Friday night at Bread and Wine with my friend, we both had an amazing time. Wine is delicious, paired with cheese very memorable. Cannot wait to go back!
(5)Sol A.
My friend the birthday girl picked this place for dinner. Gus our server was impeccable! Extremely knowledgable, helpful and personable. His helpers were equally attentive. We started out with the chartreuse. It was very good. Upon recommendation I opted for the pork chop dinner. I was sadly disappointed. Although a good portion size and juicy, the pork chop lacked flavor. Next time I'll listen to previous Yelper's review. Beside the service, the bread pudding desert was amazing! Nice atmosphere, great service, good deserts but my main dish left something to be desired. I would definitely give them another chance and visit again. Next time opting for the pasta or chicken entree. Worth a visit!
(3)Regina G.
Thank You, Jennifer for helping with my Reservations. My husband and I had a wonderful first time there. I had the #80 & hubby had a "London's Burning": yummy drinks! The food & service were perfect. Thanks for making our date night a great experience!
(5)Craig R.
Came here with my wife and family while we were in town last and what an excellent experience. The good: -We came early because we made our reservation on short notice, we pretty much had the whole restaurant to ourselves! -Semolina Gnocchi, get these, you will not regret it! -The Cavaletti had a nice spice to it, but it wasn't overwhelming, even my mother who doesn't love spicy food was able to enjoy it. -Despite being named Bread and Wine it had a solid selection of beers as well. -Our server was very attentive and ensured we had everything we ordered/needed. -The decor/atmosphere was simple without a ton of frills, I loved it. They bad: -The only bread on the menu that I saw was the bun for the burger, the name is misleading!! -It is kind of a hassle to get to unless you live way up on the north side already. The blue line drops you about a half mile off and a taxi from downtown is 20 bucks or so. I'd definitely be back for another visit if I still lived in Chicago.
(5)Keith A.
Bread&Wine falls into one of those places that does a really good job across the board, but really excels with the appetizers. I came here with a group of friends for their birthday. We started off with a cheese&charcuterie plate. We went 3 and 3 on the cheese and meats. For the cheeses we went with the gorgonzola, parmesan, and the cheddar. The gorgonzola was really good and I was digging on the parmesan as well. On the meats, the tasso ham is absolutely awesome. This was worth getting 2 orders alone (sadly we didn't) and is an absolute gem here. On the small bites, we went with the semolina gnocchi and herbs fries. The gnocchi was fried, and this was absolutely the perfect way to do semolina gnocchi IMO. I normally want my gnocchi in egg dumpling form, but I really liked this in the way of finger small bites. The herbs fries were also really enjoyable, but it definitely says something when the 4 of us took down the semolina gnocchi easily first. Our group also treated the entrees as small plates. We ordered the pappardelle and the roasted chicken. The chicken was definitely the winner here. The pappardelle wasn't anything to sneeze at, but this chicken was well done and there was some more of the tasso ham. The service was also really good all night as well. It was never hard to get ahold of her, and she even helped us in messing with the birthday boy and secretly loading up a brownie with candles. Bread&Wine is definitely worth coming to. I really enjoyed myself, and with us ordering a bunch along with corkage, we still only left there paying $60 with a good sized tip. I am always happy with that.
(4)Nat M.
nice space/ambience. typical dinner menu for a chicago restaurant, which means very good. great cocktails. staff was excellent and managed our group very well. food was really good and the price was right. odd location, but i'll defn come back when im in the area
(4)Christina G.
My husband and i came here with a Blackboard Eats deal in hand, which essentially gave us a free meat, a free cheese, and a free dessert. I will start by saying that if I could have a meat and cheese plate with a glass of wine for every meal, I would die a happy lady. So, I was very excited to give this place a try. We drove down Irving Park and were glad to see there was a parking lot. It was a pretty ample size too. We walked in and were given some options of where to sit: booths to the right, the chef's table, or tables to the left. We chose a table off on our own. Our waiter was the best. He clearly knew the menu and alcohol selection well, as he had some spot on recommendations for us. I ended up going with a Pinot Gris and my husband had a beer (I forget what kind). We started off Country Ham and Gorgonzola. Originally, we wanted to try some Boone County Bloom cheese, but unfortunately, they were out. It happened again, when we asked for the small plate special of scallops. We were told they only had enough scallops for 6-8 tables to order the special that night. That seemed low to me, but OK, no scallops for us. The meat and cheese plate was great. It was served with warm baguette slices, mustard with a kick, and some sort of apple-quince paste. Delicious. Next came the crispy semolina gnocchi. Best part of the meal, hands down. These were unlike any gnocchi I've ever had, as they were fried, crispy, light, and filled with something creamy that tasted out of this world. Order this, for sure! The rest of the meal was underwhelming, to say the least. I expected more from the beer and chorizo burger for $18. And the poached hen egg was basically an egg served on a piece of toast. Not great. Even the dessert was just meh. We had the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta, and the only part I really liked was the caramel popcorn, as the panna cotta itself was pretty tasteless. My recommendation: Come here for drinks and an appetizer cheese plate on a pretty summer night when you're not too hungry. This restaurant is great for that. If you're looking for a big meal, head elsewhere.
(3)Suzi K.
Worst service I have experienced in a long time. Food was fine ( although not great) but it was eclipsed by the incompetence of the waitress.
(2)Tom O.
Reservations at 6:30 on a Saturday. No parking in the lot, but no meters on Irving Park either. Place was about 3/4 full when we entered and noise level was a medium, by the time we left every seat was filled and you had to raise your voice a little more to be heard. They were cool with us bringing in our own wine, $10 corkage fee. We had a charcuterie plate and each piece was worth every bite. Herb fries were excellent as well as trout, skirt steak special, and chicken. The chocolate-pumpkin dessert with pumpkin brittle blew us away; we ended up ordering more. Gus was a great, accommodating server. Would definitely go back again.
(4)Supna R.
A great friend and I had dinner here this evening, and I am SO happy we did! From the second we sat down at the bar area overseeing the kitchen, we could see how much love and attention went into each dish. We started with the charcuterie, my absolute favorite part being that we could choose our own combination of meat and cheese. The chicken liver pate was scrumptious, as was the cheese and tasso ham. We followed that with the mussels. I must say, I am not much of a cheese and seafood fan, but somehow the combination of the blue cheese and siracha made me a convert. The broth was so good, that it made me want to pick up the bowl and sip every last bit. The mussels were cooked to perfection- every shell opened perfectly. We finished the meal by sharing the burger (an unconventional dessert choice- but a smart one)... and it was every bit as delicious as I had hoped. The burger itself was cooked beautifully, and the sweetness of the pickles and caramelized onions complemented it so well, that I didn't even miss one condiment that wasn't already on the bun. Overall, this was a fantastic dining experience with excellent and attentive service, topped off with a great suggestion for a bottle of wine. I cannot wait to go back!
(5)Yazid E.
After a lengthy absence, my wife and I returned to Bread & Wine. The meal was superb. I started with the PEI Mussels, which were excellent. The portion size was very generous for a small plate. The entree of Hanger Steak was a perfectly prepared with green beans, potatoes and beet ash. See the photo I posted. The vibe at the restaurant is as great as ever - hip and classy. They even have some beers on tap.
(4)Dan H.
I stopped in to meet an old high school classmate and immediately was treated to great decor subdued but captivating. We sat at the counter which was a comfortable feeling similar to an old school diner with a modern theme. The wait staff/team was very genuine in their greetings and concern for my needs. We sampled the tray of kielbasa cheese and other delicious offerings. I learned that most of the plates were locally sourced or made on site. The bar offered 4 locally brewed taps along the IPA theme, I sampled 3 which were great. For my first experience it was great, I will return with my lovely bride to enjoy a full evening. Thank Lisa I had a great time! Dan
(5)Laila C.
I haven't had such an enjoyable dinner experience anywhere in a while! I LOVED Bread & Wine. First of all, they have a parking lot! We sat at the Chef's table and got to chit chat and batter with the kitchen crew the whole night. They let us try different sauces, we gave them some of the special Founders Doom beer we ordered, they bought us shots of Malort (surprisingly, I kind of loved it!). We started with a 3 piece charcuterie plate, for apps we had some heart, some tongue, basically just all the organ meats they had on the menu. We shared the fish and the steak. Everything was phenomenal!!!!!! So thoughtful and surprising flavors. The only thing I found boring was the dessert, we had the white chocolate. But then again, I'm just not a big dessert person. Also, all the cocktails kick ass! I can't wait to come back!!!!!
(5)Christy L.
I haven't been this excited about a restaurant since I tried the Girl and the Goat when it first opened! Bread & Wine is amazing! My friend and I dined here tonight; and the food was tasty, the service attentive, and the atmosphere perfect. The wine list offers plenty of affordable selections, as cheap as $6 per glass with many bottles under $35. There was a small, but interesting cocktail list, though we did not order from it. We started by splitting the duck confit pierogi and the crispy chicken leg appetizers. The duck pierogi, my least favorite dish of the evening, was well-prepared though tasted a bit too gamey for me (this is typical of duck and does not reflect on the preparation). The pierogi was delicate with the right amount of filling and the pickled onions and sauce perfectly complimented the meat. If you like duck, you will love this dish. The chicken won me over - it fell right off the bone and the sauce was an interesting mix of sweet and spicy. It was a special for the evening, and I hope they rotate it into the regular menu. For entrees, we again shared - the Bahn Mi sandwich as well as the fettuccine with mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and goat cheese. Bahn Mi must be the new craze as this isn't the first time I've seen them on the menu of a non-Vietnamese restaurant. The sandwich was tasty. The homemade pasta was to die for - the best dish of the evening. The mushrooms were nice and garlicky, and the goat cheese was a great deviation from the standard Parmesan. For dessert, we shared the sweet potato donuts with salted caramel sauce. The bite-sized donuts were good though could have been a bit sweeter. The caramel - wow! It comes out in a shot glass, and I literally drank from the glass after we polished off the donuts! It was delicious! Our waiter, Jerry, was very attentive, making helpful suggestions on what to order. We sat at the chef's table and interacted with the chef while he prepped the food. The decor is minimalist without being harsh, and the restaurant is loud without hindering conversation. What really sealed the deal for me was when our check came - we ordered two glasses of wine, two appetizers, two entrees and a dessert, and our bill, including tip, was only $85. Take Bread & Wine and plop it in the West Loop, and I imagine it'd cost at least 50 percent more. It's only a matter of time before getting a table here will be near impossible. The restaurant's small and while off the beaten path for many, it's more than the worth the trip.
(5)Jay L.
I've been twice now and the food was super both times. It's a bit off the beaten path in what looks like the shell of a former Burger King, but the inside leaves no trace of its former self. Open Kitchen, expansive drink menu, and a mix of what I would consider somewhat rich foods. Highlights for me were the coffee at the end of the meal to cut the richness of the salted chocolate mousse. Nice job!
(4)L P.
We went for an early dinner on a Tuesday. We loved everything about this place. The staff was fantastic, super friendly and attentive. The food was AMAZING! We ordered the tasting and a burger. Nothing disappointed. Each bite was delicious and left you wanting another. We will be back and hope to sample everything on the menu.
(5)Nina B.
Perhaps I just don't get out much... But a tad over $80.00 for a dinner for two? Methinks not. I took my daughter out after work one Friday evening - something new for me, (we normally visit on Sunday afternoons). Still, I was up for a new adventure and thought I would try a dining out on a Friday evening, no less. I drove pass Bread & Wine one day and thought, "Hmm looks trendy, but could have nice eats and good atmosphere". Bread & Wine is trendy - not the place to meet good old mom after work, (I'm the old mom). Many 20-30 something couples, a couple of large groups,(4-6), even a small family, (you know a mom, dad and 1 child), but overall very loud. Something should be done about acoustical tiles. I suspect the dining area used to be a garage, so the walls are cement or simply dry wall, so the noise level can get really high, (or maybe I'm just sensitive - I am the old mom). The tables seemed close to me, so I felt like my conversation was public. Still, everything under low lighting appeared clean and the food... The food was tasty. Different for sure - not basic - not at all what I would cook at home. I had white fish - which really is basic, but not the price. The portion was more than enough to share with my daughter who had ordered the lamb, which was really small - so she was still a little hungry. Both meals were served attractively on the plate, so eye appeal was met, but still the price... Our service was good, but not great, (although, my daughter left a very generous tip). Our waitress came once after serving to check on us. I noticed other servers were more attentive. I poured my own water throughout our meal, again while other servers poured the water for their customers.... Then our dessert came... Being the old mom; I know a thing or two about sweet potato pie - We had the sweet potato custard "strip", twirled ever so nicely on the plate, but it didn't add to the taste, which left me wondering did the chef's mother ever teach him or her about making real sweet potato pie. I don't know if I'll go back, maybe with my husband, maybe with another one of my six children...but not anytime soon. I guess, if one is looking for a little something to taste and good wines; Bread & Wine is the place to go, but not with dear old mom after work on a Friday.
(3)Shannon H.
Food was delicious, waiter was great. My only complaint is that the bar service was super slow. Took about 20 minutes to get our drink order.
(4)Annie W.
Excited to try this place again! So grateful for a nice foodie place in Avondale/Irving Park! Hey, us West-siders gotta eat too! Very interesting combos, cute atmosphere, can't wait to try more on the menu!
(4)Linda B.
I like the appetizer choices. I did not find the entree portion of the menu as impressive. I think I would stick to a drink and appetizers next time.
(3)Amy B.
I had a hankering for meat, so I went with the grass-fed beef burger with beef bacon during a Saturday afternoon brunch. It did not disappoint. It was the juiciest grass-fed burger I've had to date. It was cooked perfectly, and the flavor was wonderful. There are also a couple savory and sweet vegetarian brunch options I aim to try, but I look forward to returning some evening for wine and a charcuterie plate.
(4)Rick F.
Overall a great experience! We went with some dear friends that frequent and love Bread & Wine. The owners work at the restaurant everyday, I love that they get to know the clientele and genuinely care. The service was perfect, the waitress was very attentive and made some great recommendations. To have a restaurant of this caliber: modern, cool, hip vibe in this part of town is desperately needed and welcomed. Thank you for taking the risk! The decor is way cool, loved everything about it, next time it was recommended that we sit at the food bar and engage the chefs throughout the meal, you may get some Scooby snacks on your plate, yum! Chicken Liver Pate-Excellent Salumi and Cheese Plate- Excellent Crispy semolina Gnocchi- Excellent Beef and Kielbasa Burger-Not a fan Butter poached Whitefish-Just OK Salted caramel popcorn Panna Cotta- Excellent, WOW! I'd like to see more Bread and more Wine since it is in the name?????? I'm looking forward to my next visit!
(4)Jennifer G.
I'm not coming here anymore. It has changed since they opened. The prices are not worth the food. This food doesn't taste gourmet enough to warrant the tiny portions and okay only food. You can get this kind of food for way cheaper at pitchfork down the street or chicago diner in Logan. Or kinda anywhere. I don't know why they charge so much. They have paid off their ikea furniture by now. They don't explain the specials well. They don't give you a meat knife to cut their tough ass meat. Bathroom smells. Wine glass overpriced. It is too bad this is our only sort of fine dining option in this area still. I'm not coming Back anymore. :( You can get this kind of food way better at some nice bars in Lincoln square and roscoe village, etc. I think they are going to wind up closing soon.
(1)Jon M.
Overall review: 3 1/2 stars I took my fiancee here for her birthday. Snf it was our first time here. The ambience upon entering was pretty cool but you could tell the decor is from ikea. I was cracking up with my fiancee. The hostess at the front wasn't attentive at all. There was a group before us who appeared to be friends with her, was very chatty with hugs and laughter. Too bad, she was the cause of 1/2 of a star. The waitress was attentive and good, not overwhelming or overly talkative. My fiancee usually have the luck of having our mouths full of food and the waiter comes by to ask us how the food was.. then you can't answer how you want to. I dislike that. Our waitress there, has great timing. We were in between bites sipping on our spirits and conversing only to ask us how the food was. The apps were great! We had the mussels with bleu cheese siriacha sauce. The mixture of flavors had heat to it, but enough heat not requiring milk to save your taste buds from full destruction. There was sliced French bread soaking up the sauce. That was the best party but I didn't want to fill up on food quickly. We also ordered the crispy gnocchi. You're taste buds will have a full on orgasm. No joke. I highly recommend them. My fiance had curried tofu with noodles. the total was good but the noodles tasted like it was still al dente. it was nothing too exciting. I had poached chicken with potato puree and sweet potatoes and onions. It was good but the outer part of the chicken was over salted. If we could do it all over again, we would have just gone for the small plates or the cheese & wine.
(3)Leah C.
hardworking staff...but still fell short for service... from the moment i booked a last minute weekday date night at b+w, i knew this spot would shine. the receiving end was bright and cheery on the phone and informed me that if we could not find a last minute sitter, kids were welcomed (kids menu available). we were greeted by his smiling colleague upon arrival followed by a courteous server and main server. our gilt voucher allowed us to order 2 dishes of each category. i applaud the "equal opportunity service" as i feel that sometimes service is cut short the second you present a voucher... i went with the salad, curried tofu and the panna cotta dessert. we added a cheese plate to our order as well which was divine. after the cheese plate was served, service slowed tremendously (reason for knocking off a star). our server, we later observed, was running back and forth from the kitchen to the bar to his tables. they were obviously short staffed and something was obviously going on in the kitchen because our next courses took forever to appear. the salad was good but nothing beyond what was described on paper (which is fine). my tofu dish was the perfect combination of spice and texture (the rice noodle accompaniment was al dente and the tofu crisp on the outside and silky on the inside). we ended up having to box up our desserts to make it home in time for the sitter. as i restlessly waited for our meal to arrive, i was kept busy by the wine bottles tucked away on the shelves - all for sale. great homey atmosphere and nothing too frilly on the plates either.
(4)Brad Y.
We went to Bread and Wine last night for dinner. It was our first time there. The food was good, but the service was horrible - extremely slow, ordered a drink that never came, and the server (as opposed to our waiter) was downright rude. Oh, and by the way - despite their name, they don't serve any "bread" - which would have come in handy for the first 30 minutes when our order had not even been taken. We won't be back.
(2)J V.
I had family visiting for New Year's Eve and saw that Bread & Wine was opened and was offering a special menu with a midnight toast. I always wanted to check this place out so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. It was nice that there was parking and our table was available right away. Our server was friendly but left after an hour because she had New Year's plans of her own. Our new waiter was also friendly. We had a couple of drinks and a couple small dishes. The food was ok and was very pricey for what it was. We were expecting a toast at midnight but the waiter had us close out around 11:30PM and no one said anything at midnight. The staff was just chatting somewhere in the back. So we just toasted with water and went home. It was quite depressing. I was really hoping to have a better experience. Sorry won't be back and won't be recommending Bread & Wine to my friends.
(2)Robert T.
What a great surprise. One of the better meals that I've had in Chicago, without a doubt. The service was great for us, so I obviously didn't have the same experience as a few who complained about service. Our table had a selection of charcuterie to start, as well as the gnocchi. We had the pate, tasso ham, mortadella, cheddar, camembert, and the goat cheese. The camembert was a bit bland, but the other five were all exceptionally tasty. Really fantastic. Our table ended up ordering the trout and the carbonara, which were enjoyed by everyone. In particular, the trout was apparently really fresh and perfectly cooked (not overcooked, as most places do). The panna cotta and chocolate mousse provided a perfect dessert. The menu is the perfect size. Enough choices to satisfy everyone, but not so much s to overwhelm or to ensure mediocrity. And, 1/2 price wine on Wednesday nights? It made for a perfect meal. Can't wait to go back....
(5)John C.
Lets start by saying the food is great, atmosphere is great, chic but comfortable. We love all the staff Jennifer and Lisa are both fun and fabulous with a great eye for detail. We love it so much that we are having are wedding here. My partner Erick and I love to sit at the bar and eat and drink great food and socialize with the staff and other patrons. John C. and Erick B.
(5)Bettina Y.
I tried to like this place but every time (4 to be exact) I have walked out of this place disappointed and feeling like I got ripped off! The last time we went there, which should have been the last, they told us that they were closing soon so we had to get our order in quick. So we did and then proceeded to waited for about 40 minutes for our breakfast. We were told that the cook kept messing the eggs up. Why did we go back?! Well we did and last night was the same. We finally tried the burger that they are famous for and it was memorable in the way that the soggy pretzel bun made us want to be eating at DMK as that was a memorable burger and bun. I couldn't even tell that the chorizo was chorizo and it annoyingly kept slipping out of the burger. The burger was raw when we ordered medium. Also had a pappardelle entree that was really bland and I remember thinking that it just tasted like pasta. The flavors were all very mute except for the pork in the dish, which really didn't seem to go. I tried to put all of the components in the dish together to see if it made it taste like something, but then all you tasted was the pork much which again didn't really go. We also ordered a kielbasa appetizer which was good, but it was 4 tiny pieces for $6. It was completely ridiculous! We barely ate either dish, which the server really could care less if we did. Overall, the service is sub-par, the kitchen is slow, the food is trying to be something it isn't and it is overpriced. I wish I could say that it is a great neighborhood place for when you don't want to drive, but it isn't even that.
(2)Jeff G.
went there for dinner one night. while i like the concept that they are farm to table, both of our meat entrees we ordered were below average quality, either tough or dry or both probably wouldnt go back for dinner but maybe for brunch.
(2)Victoria D.
This restaurant is in my neighborhood and so I want to LOVE it, want to SUPPORT it, and want to see if SUCCEED. However, at least 6 out of the 7 times I've been there, I've been disappointed on some level. Why? Very small wine pours, uneven service, and inconsistent food. Then, the last time we went--my husband and I brought a friend for her birthday. That night, even though it was a slow night, we were not told it was half-price bottled wine night, so we ordered by the glass, AND they do NOT recognize/celebrate special occasions beyond the perfunctory "Happy Birthday" wish. Most restaurants offer a complimentary dessert--likely costs them less than $1.00 but it goes a long way in good will, customer loyalty and a display of appreciation for choosing THEIR establishment to celebrate. Our waiter went so far as to say to our friend, "What, no dessert on your birthday" after we had spent a small fortune on drinks, apps, sides, and entrees. So, I'll likely go back....maybe in the summer and dine al fresco when I want to walk to where I'll dine, but I'd pick another restaurant to celebrate a special event.
(2)Matt G.
Bread & Wine is a great destination restaurant, as well as a local option for those in the area. The food is very tasty and unique, i'm glad the chef from Leopold relocated here, as that was another great restaurant. The hand-picked craft beer selection is surprisingly good, with options from Greenbush, FFF, Lagunitas, Perennial, Metropolitan, and more. Best dishes have been the crispy semolina gnocchi, burger, agnolotti, and the rotating charcuterie. Can't wait to dine out on the patio this summer...
(5)Al D.
I can't believe I went to a restaurant on the second day it was open, and had an amazing dining experience. For starters, I'm thrilled that Bread and Wine has finally opened in my neighborhood. It's great to have a new place in what was formerly the Wishing Well launderette. For years, I always thought that location would be a great place for a restaurant because it has a parking lot and it's close to I90 and the El. Enter Bread and Wine with its new concept of American dining I sampled many things last night, including the buratta, the pumkin seed tofu, the banh mi, and finally the sweet potato bignets. Everything was very fresh and carefully created. Again, I'm extremely impressed by my new neighbor. My only suggestion is to cook the fries more thoroughly; my batch with the banh mi was underdone. Aside from that small mishap, Bread and Wine is a fantastic new addition to this area.
(5)Amy A.
I love going to Bread & Wine. Great service, great ambiance. The squash ravioli was amazing. The ingredients are fresh and the flavors work so well together. The cheese & meat plater is so delicious and flavorful. I highly recommend trying it out.
(5)Eleni G.
My boyfriend and I came in last night on a whim - I wanted wine and cheese, he could care less as long as he was fed. We both left satisfied and in a great mood. It wasn't too crowded, but we did arrive later in the evening, around 8:30 or so. They do have outdoor seating, but nothing was available when we came in, so we snagged seats at the bar. Josh was great, recommending we try the Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Wild, which is a variation on one of my favorite beers, the Lil Sumpin Sumpin. It was great, and he was genuinely excited to offer it to us since there is limited availability, which is, for me, the sign of a great bartender: genuinely excited to share favorites with their customers. We started with the mussels, which I loved. A combo I never would have considered in that dish is sriracha and blue cheese, and it was a very pleasant surprise. Do note -it's spicy. I would not order it if you aren't into heat. In between the courses, we switched from beer to wine. We asked about the wine we were considering and he offered a tasting if the bottle was open, which it was. The first we tried - meh. The second, though, which he said was his favorite of the whites, was great, and not on the extra-pricey end of the spectrum. Next we ordered the cheese plate - yes, all 5 on the menu. They were out of one of the selections, so Josh promptly returned to see if we'd like to double any up, and even recommended which he would choose. He was more attentive than many servers I've ever had, which speaks volumes to the level of service. The cheeses were fresh, delicious, and the portions were significant compared to some restaurants I've tried. The accoutrements were plentiful and well-matched. This was the majority of my meal. My boyfriend ordered the beef and chorizo burger, medium rare. I was impressed that the patty was truly medium rare and not too well-done, since that is always my struggle when I order a burger. It was packed with flavor and the cheddar on it was to die for. We had a great evening and experience, with great service, and will definitely be back!
(4)Ron T.
This place is always impressing me. They have many new menu items. Had their smoked poach lake trout, beer sriracha bleu cheese mussels, grass fed beef burger and smoked celery root agnolotti. WOW! All amazing and bigger portions than usual. We also had some of their new drink concoctions which were delicious and fun. Keep up the creativity b&w we love it!
(5)April E.
I used to go here as a kid when it was a laundry mat. So a new wine bar just opened just opened up in the neighborhood and my husband and I were so excited. We love and appreciate wine. I don't like to look at a wine menu. I expect the bartender selling the wine would know what I was talking about. Or at least to know what he was talking about. It was the worst wine bar experience I've ever had. He didn't know anything. I had one glass of Bordeaux and left. If you're going to hire someone make sure they've at lest heard of a Montepulciano or Sangiovese. Won't be going back.
(1)Amerit D.
This place has a very limited menu however, it was very delicious! I had the steak and everyone else had a burger. The bun on the burger was phenomenal. For dessert we tried the chocolate cake and the eclairs, both very yummy. The service was great, our waiter kept our glasses full and everyone else was very friendly with the exception of a tall blonde hostess who never acknowledged us and ignored us when the other hostess told us bye. Decor was great and provided a great ambiance.
(3)Meredith K.
Oh man this place has great potential but it just didn't do it for me! As a joke we were thinking that its called Bread and Wine but had no bread an no wine, but in a way it was kind of true. At least the no bread part. I hate it when a restaurant's setting includes a bread plate but they don't bring you bread. We received a little basket of toast points with our cheese. They don't make the bread there. The cheese was ok. We liked the mustard however none of the cheese that we ordered needed any. I was missing honey - and I know that's a personal preference but stinky cheeses are best with it! We started with some brown liquor cocktails. I tried their version of a sazerac. It was alright, not the best not the worst. My boyfriend got the one with the beet juice. It was too juicy for me but he liked it. Then on to wines. I was a little underwhelmed by the by-the-glass options. It was slim pickings esp for the whites. It was heavy on the sweets and lacking any oaky chardonnays. She said most of their whites are from steel barrels. The wines come in stemless glasses. I dunno for a wine bar I think that's a miss. You can't swirl the red and you're warming the white with you hand. Then we tried the marinated squid. It was a texture that I couldn't eat. My boyfriend felt the same. It wasn't bad but it had a mushy this-might-be-bad feeling in your mouth. Also the sun-choke salad which was super super salty and it seemed to be missing sun-chokes. The greens had a nice earthy flavor which was great with a pickled egg, but the heavy salt and eating a bunch of stems is never easy. Next on to the walleye which was excellent. A great springy flavor. My boyfriend had to try the burger which he greatly enjoyed. He wanted me to include in the review that he boxed up half of it and they included a little cup of the aioli which is never done! High praise for that. For dessert we got the signature panna cotta. I thought the texture was too gritty and hard. My boyfriend didn't care. He loved it. He's a sucker for homemade caramel sauce. The service was touch and go. Our server was very friendly and attentive and after ever few sips of water a guy came by to refill. The wait for the cocktails was really long, and we were the only ones in there. And then the wait for the cheese was really long which seemed odd b/c you can see in their kitchen that they have a ton of people back there. We had 2 mins to enjoy the cheese and then both starter came out. It wasn't paced right. But again the people there are great! I want to give it another shot. It is nice that they have like 8 spaces in their parking lot. But unfortunately for the same price we were thinking of other places with better food and drink.
(3)Rich R.
What a great find! Service felt hip-upscale and very attentive. Menu for brunch was imaginative and attractively presented. I ordered an omelet with oyster mushrooms and bleu cheese. Delicious. Their cheese selections wonderful as was the wine list. Can't miss as far as I'm concerned.
(5)Edward S.
Chicken Liver Pate - Ok Goat Cheese - Great Bresaola - Ok Duck Balls - Ok Gnocchi - Great Burger - Good, but a tad salty from the Chorizo Roasted Chicken - The chicken itself is moist, juicy, and flavorful, swimming in it's own jus (Used some of the bread from the charcuterie to soak it up). The pierogis were good, but not up to par with the chicken. Ample parking in the lot or on the small side directly east of the restaurant (one way going south though).
(4)Michelle Z.
I would not recommend this restaurant to parents who have kids at home with babysitter or if you had planned on seeing a movie on Friday night with dinner cause you won't have time for it. The food was ok. My husband had the roasted chicken which tasted good but not $22 good. When we left the restaurant he kept saying he couldn't believe that he had just paid $22 for 5 small pieces of chicken that his wife could have made better at home. We were seated at the bar since the restaurant was busy. I ordered a mezcal mule which was quite good. It took the waiter forever to take our order. The restaurant was rather busy but we waited 25 minutes for the waiter to take our appetizer order and since we had ample time to ponder the menu we ordered our main dishes as well. They served us bread and herbed fries with an amazing aioli. They both tasted quite good but took forever to get to our table. We were starving by the time the appetizers came since we arrived at the restaurant at 7pm and didn't eat anything until almost 7:45pm. Our main dish didn't come until after 8pm. If you are willing to wait an hour before getting your main dish than this is your restaurant. I ordered a vegetarian entree with shaved asparagus that was quite good. The portion sizes were quite small even though we ordered a large plate. At the end of the meal it took forever to get our check so we ended up waiting awhile in front of the register because we had already spent over 2 hours there and needed to get home. If this was a tapas restaurant I could understand spending that much time at a restaurant but since we only had main course and fries I didn't think it would take that long.
(2)Bryan C.
Thanks to the Michelin Guide and Yelp, we found this amazing gem of a restaurant and enjoyed one the best meals we've had in recent memory. First of all, there is a parking lot. A small one, but still there is a parking lot and free street parking. So, right away we were pleased. Everyone knows how stressful it can be to get into a restaurant on a Saturday night with a party of 3 and find parking on top of that. More importantly however, the staff was extremely friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable, and the food was simply out of this world. The menu includes cheese and charcuterie plates, small plates, entrees and desserts. We started with some delicious house kielbasa, organic cheddar and hickory smoked gorgonzola to complement the bottle of sauvignon blanc we ordered (hey, great wine and beer list too). The charcuterie was so delicious we couldn't stop talking about it. It was the perfect start to a perfect meal. We also enjoyed the herb fries served with garlic aioli before our entrees which included the whitefish, the flank steak, and the tofu. Everything was beautifully presented, full of flavor, and perfectly proportioned. We couldn't have been more pleased. To end the meal, we shared the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta. This dessert was absolutely delicious and completely unique. Loved it! Something important to note is that the menu offers both vegetarian and gluten free options throughout each course, clearly marked with a 'v' or 'gf'. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, whether you live in the neighborhood or not. We cannot wait to go back to try some cocktails and sit at the kitchen/chef's table for another amazing meal.
(5)Kelly R.
Being from the neighborhood, I have eaten here a few times, okay on those occasions. This last time I brought friends visiting from New York and New Hampshire with me. I have always bragged about the food here in Chicago and was hopeful that Bread & WIne would be proving my point but unfortunately it was a let down. I ordered from the "restaurant week" menu and it was completely disappointing. The 2 prawns were half raw and there was pretty much nothing else to eat with it. The suggested 1/2 cup of beet and barley salad was good and so were the 2 tablespoons of "bread pudding", but I left hungry with a $33.00 bill for just my portion of the dinner order, no drinks. A cocktail they brought was a mistake and they did comp it but it didn't make up for the overall dinner in general. One of my friends enjoyed the burger but the other 2 people thought what they had from the regular menu was very overpriced for being just so-so. I really want the food establishments in this area to succeed as we are desperate for good restaurants in this part of Chicago, but as it stands now this will be my last time going to Bread & Wine.
(1)D G.
Out for an evening walk. Headed east rather than west for a change. Have driven by this place for months but never took the time to stop. Popped in after ten pm. Just had a brownie and some water. Clean, elegant, warm setting. Interesting menu. Plenty of parking. Great wine selection, though nothing seemed inexpensive (nothing under $20). The brownie was simple and warm with a dab of Carmel sauce and a dab of cherry custard, lightly sprinkled with sea salt. Very good. It was $8 which seemed fair. Just a few couples when I arrived. Thinned out to a few at the bar when I left. Good music but a bit too loud. Air conditioning a bit too cool for a cool night outside. I stayed for about an hour answering emails and scanning Facebook. All in all a nice alternative to Starbucks. I will probably pop in again.
(4)Emily C.
We had an amazing Gilt City offer to use here and had a great time. We tried the charcuterie and cheeses (would recommend any of the cheeses and the lamb belly), octopus (fantastic), the gnocchi (almost like fried mozzarella sticks, but better), the corned beef rillette (skip, no one liked it), and the duck balls. The duck balls are actually duck testicles, not balls of duck meat, which the waiter clarified for us. They were pretty good! But it was hard to get the image out of my head.... For the mains, I would definitely recommend the burger - it comes with chorizo on a pretzel roll. It was delicious. No one liked the fish so skip that. Both desserts were EXCELLENT. We tried the mud pie and the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta. Both were salty and sweet and delicious. We couldn't decide which we liked more. The restaurant has a private lot, but it doesn't have a lot of spots. We parked pretty easily on the street. We also had exceptional service! 111/365
(4)Char Y.
came as a party of 5 and ordered beer steamed pei mussels herb frie fines herb pappardelle beef and chorizo burger seared flap steak white chocolate apple bread pudding salted caramel popcorn panna cotta hazelnut flourless chocolate cake everything was a little too salty, the seasoning seemed slightly off that night.
(3)Raymond S.
I went to Bread and Wine during one of my lazy moments as I didn't feel like driving to Wicker Park or Edgewater and I live right down the street. I didn't have high expectations for this place, as the top tier brunch selections in my hood of Irving Park either start with "golden" or end with "hop". I was pleasantly surprised. First of all it has a parking lot. Secondly, it wasn't crowded as they just began serving brunch. The decor is modern and nice, and the restaurant isn't small but it isn't massive either. I ordered pork belly with cheddar grits. The flavor was exquisite, the way braised pork belly should taste. They didn't serve it crispy, which under most circumstances would be fine. The problem is the cut was only 20% meat. All of that creamy fat mixed with creamy grits created an almost nauseating texture in my mouth. I ended up slicing off the fat and just eating the meat which significantly lowered the available protein on my plate. On the plus side the grits were awesome and there was a sriracha-like sauce on my plate that was very nice. Other dishes ordered included corned beef hash and crispy gnocchi. All were good yet a little expensive. The dishes were all prices high for not only this area, but for Chicago as a whole. Drinks mostly ran $10+ with the average being around $13. The dishes where $12-15, all a buck more than what's displayed on their web site. Portions are meh, definitely not large enough to share but large enough to feel slightly satisfied. The proximity of the restaurant may allow me to come back, but if it wasn't around the corner I'm not too sure I would be a frequent visitor.
(3)Dee C.
Came for restaurant week, but the real menu looked too good to pass up, so I did the gnocchi and then chicken entree...soooo good..servers, bussers etc, were all great..I can't wait to come back in summer for patio(i have already told 5 people since dinner 4 hours ago)
(4)Seth F.
I learned a new word: CHARCUTERIE. Well I didn't really learn it, but since the "cheese and charcuterie" contained only cheese and meat I'm gonna guess it means meat. The food, service and atmosphere here was excellent. We had an extremely knowledgable and accommodating waiter, but I suppose YMMV. Specifically, the pan roasted chicken with crispy oats was amazing and my friends, and soon the entire Yelp community, know that I have a long standing "discussion" with a very close friend about the benefits and drawbacks of the strategy of ordering chicken at a quality restaurant (I'm generally opposed). The beef & chorizo burger was also outstanding and the rating of burger quality is one of the few fields in which I am truly an expert (and not just in my mind). On the dessert front: The Mud Pie was pretty disappointing for how excited I was to order it. I had to fight the urge to order it as an appetizer and barely touched it once it arrived. Honestly, it looked like a turd.
(5)Nina E.
I want to eat here everyday. Came here this past Sunday with my family (7 people total) for brunch. They treated us like kings and queens and the thought of their food is making my mouth water. I ordered the Blood and Smoke drink to start and it was absolutely delicious. I then went on to have the pork belly with cheddar grits. So yummy and exactly what I needed after a late night out on Saturday. Somewhere during my meal I ordered a glass of tempranillo and that was delicious too. We then split three desserts--salted popcorn panna cotta, mud pie and a pineapple cake. All were great but the panna cotta was the winner. I have nothing negative to say about this place and would highly recommend this place for brunch. I look forward to coming back for dinner.
(5)Kyle P.
great place. Just felt good when you walk in. three or four different feels inside and I always think it is cool to have an open kitchen where you can sit and eat. the gnocchi was to die for and the most unique i have had. little squares with bread crumbs or some cooler way of saying bread crumbs. The staff was great the wine is great and all the food including the carmel popcorn with panna cotta was a great way to end the night. And parking which is very cool...
(5)Alex M.
If you live in Albany Park, you know that it takes real motivation to strap on your kevlar vest and step outside after dark. While there are plenty of delicious lunch places that are safe to visit during the light of day, such as Salam and Dawali (both are recommended), there aren't too many places that are tempting enough to make the trek after dark (Semiramis being one notable exception). Check out Bread and Wine on Irving Park, just west of Elston. The food is eclectic, delicious, and beautifully served. The service is attentive and un-hurried, the wine selection is good, and they have a full bar. This is sort of a special-occassion type of restaurant, and it's priced accordingly. We tried the baby octopus, an arugula salad, and the flank steak. Call ahead to be sure they're not too crowded, or just walk over on a weeknight. There are coat racks to hang up your bullet proof vest, and there's very little actual gunfire inside.
(5)D R.
Great ambiance, evolving wine selection, and the food is unique. Friendly yet professional staff. Just enough tables to keep things cozy. A crowd attracts a crowd. From the pick-your-cheese-plate to the small and large plate options, the menu demands careful consideration. Our dinner was good, but we did not forget to leave room for dessert. Seems like the type of chef, or chefs, who would evolve the menu seasonally, but suffice to say that they had thought of everything by the time we arrived. I left feeling satisfied but not stuffed. It is an oasis in an area which doesn't have any other relevant options.
(4)Marie M.
No real handicap parking. We tried, had to park down the block. The space would not fit a small SUV if there was a car in the first normal spot. Don't believe this is a regulation spot unless you drive a motorcycle. Made a reservation like asked a day ahead of time via Groupon. Table selection was poor. The place is LOUD, however the food is good. Service is slow to start but ends up good if you can order the appetizer. I have to say the best thing on the menu was the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta.
(3)Suzan W.
Dined at Bread & Wine this past Friday, and loved it! Sat at the bar facing the open kitchen. Had a great time. Decent selection of wine, beer and cocktails, but all three could be expanded a bit. I appreciate that they will nicely package your half-full open bottle of wine for you to take home. We had a selection of apps/small plates: Five cheese platter - excellent except for the fresh goat cheese....it was just a bit too bland (and they were out of the other goat cheese they have on the menu); Mussels - amazing flavors and the blue cheese, sriracha and garlic broth was great for dipping. I will be getting two orders next time!; Gnocci - good but this was definitely not a typical gnocci.....almost a cream in the middle and very crispy on the outside (definitely fried); Carrot salad - I was not impressed with this dish at all...way too many wheat berries and the queso fresco was dull....just not enough flavor in the entire dish, and could use more carrots (which were very tasty). Overall, a fun experience....we left full, happy, and slightly tipsy. :-) We will definitely be back.
(4)Jen P.
I always have a good time here. Is it overpriced? No for what they are spending on food and drink, yes for what the average resident of Mayfair wants to pay for dinner. I think that the location is bad for what they are and what they serve, but I do enjoy the hell out of this place. Even with half price wine on Wednesday they need to move north and east to justify their prices.
(4)Gabriel L.
Had reservations for Valentine's Day. Was greeted with a warm smile and a clean open table. Our waiter was prompt, courteous and very attentive to our table. Ordered a cocktail from the bar which was beyond expectation, truly hit the spot. Enjoyed the cheese and charcuterie plate while waiting on the meal. The selection of cheese and meats was outstanding. Main course was delicious and portioned perfectly, leaving just enough room for their amazing caramel apple bread pudding. Really looking forward to a return visit.
(4)Michael S.
Love this place. The food, the wine, the staff are all top notch. One of my favorite places, period.
(5)Meagan H.
It's great to find a place like this in an area that has so little. I was surprised to find that it wasn't very busy on a Thursday evening. The ambiance is pleasant, quaint, and relaxing. They play low intensity electronic music and the Black Keys. The lighting is dark enough to get you ready for a food coma. Trust me, you'll have one! We started with the chicken liver pate, then baby octopus, and Bay scallop crudo, followed by the beef and chorizo burger and finally... the mud pie. Yes, we walked out with some serious fat bellies. But it was all worth it. The food was absolutely amazing. The service was out of this world. The waiter checked on us at every plate while also providing us with new, clean silverware. It really added to the delightful experience. The beef and chorizo burger and pate had to be my favorite. It's quite easy to rack up a $100 bill. But I'm ok with that. We got more than what we paid for! So glad this place is a block away from me. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Sherie P.
What can I say about Bread and Wine.... I definitely think some people are rating it a bit high but it was good! No matter what you say, being expensive, portions being small, inexperienced wait staff, shortish wine list... The food was damn good! We went last night, a Tuesday night, and the place was half full. That's great for a Tuesday night in a neighborhood with not much night life. The hostess was super sweet and sat us right away. Being a new restaurant, I thought they would sort of walk us through their wine list/menu but we were pretty much left to our own devices. Our waitress was perfectly lovely, but I felt a bit cheated when she explained the specials to the table next to ours immediately upon their arrival about 15 minutes after us. On to the food... the real reason for any restaurant review! We had the duck confit pierogi and chorizo tacos as appetizers. The tacos were smaller than the palm of my hand and there were only 3 on the plate, but damn were they good. The combo of the chorizo with the cactus was so great. I might be tempted to have them as my meal when I want to eat light. The pierogi... Well, those were just heaven on the plate... Two little pillows of heaven. Yes, there were only two but they were so good. I would have liked a bit more sauce but it was good none the less... For dinner I had the chicken breast & confit leg. The breast was cooked so that the skin was super crispy and the leg was all shredded on the plate. The chicken wasn't the moistest chicken I've ever had but it wasn't dry either. With the small bit of gravy in the bottom of the bowl it was perfect. I would have liked a little bit more of that too! The roasted veggies that came with it were still very firm, which is good be cause I hate soft overcooked veggies! My friend had the beef & chorizo burger on a pretzel bun. I had two bites and it was sooo good. She had to pry it from my hands. We asked for it to be medium and it was a little over done but was still really good. For desert we had the sweet potato doughnuts and the rosemary olive oil cake. AMAZING!!! The donuts were the shape of pretzel bites. They were pretty much one little bite and were sooo good with the salted caramel sauce! The cake was moist and light and the lemon curd went perfectly with the light hint of rosemary. I loved it. I would go back and eat anything I had again but I definitely WANT these desserts! As for the wine part, there were a lot of bottles around or under the $30 mark, which is always nice. It stings a bit when you can walk over to the retail area and buy the same bottle for half the price, but hey... that's restaurants, right? We had the Showdown Red and it was a nice blend of several varietals out of California. It was light enough to go with the chicken and wasn't too overpowered by the chorizo. A nice table wine to go with whatever. We even got a bottle to go home with. That brings me to the retail area... I felt intrusive while trying to browse. They have one table for 4 right in the middle of the retail area! I would have rather had some sort of island that featured some of the products they have. I felt so bad standing by these women eating while I was looking at wine bottles. They did have a nice selection and some tasty looking treats. Maybe next time I'll have to pick something up other than wine.
(4)Abbey F.
Dear Bread and Wine, I am rooting for you, I really am. You're just a block from my house, and the neighborhood desperately needs more restaurants. I'm hoping that B&W is still in it's awkward pre-adolescent phase, and that it'll fix the glitches soon. Here are some observations: The not so fab: *You MUST start serving bread. It's just ridiculous. *The portions are just too small. I have eaten dinner 3 times, and brunch once, with groups of family and/or friends, and we always leave hungry. * Both your brunch and dinner menus are too small. We need more choices. *Your burger, while delicious, is too small for the bun. It's about 60% bread, 40% meat. *Your desserts are just terrible. This needs a total rehab. The fab: *Your cockail and wine program is excellent. *Your culinary and wine events look very interesting. *Your charcuterie and cheeses are amazing. The chicken liver pate is one of the best things I've eaten all year. *Your staff and owners are all super lovely. you can dooooo it!
(3)Kris L.
I just came back from Bread & Wine and had the BEST dinner and drinks with girlfriends! It's place is amazing. The food is delicious and we seriously got every small plate on the menu to share and every dessert listed, on top of a Chef's choice cheese and charcuterie plate. So in having tried pretty much every single item on the menu, I can honestly say there was not one thing on the whole list that I did not like! The waitress we had was REALLY good too! I wish I got her name :( I'd like to give her a shout out. She was so attentive to our table, even on a busy night, and even brought us some extra food to go with one of our desserts. I would recommend going a bit earlier... We went at 6:30 and it was starting to get a busy, but by the time we left at 9, the place was packed! This whole area has really been popping up cute little restaurants. Bread & wine is one of those not to be missed!
(5)Faye B.
Hooray, for Restaurant Week! Gave me and the hubs a chance to try a place by our 'hood. In Old Irving you usually find fast food joints or diners so it is refreshing to find an upscale eatery that rivals those of Lincoln Square and North Center. We went with the prix fixe offerings and it must have been funny watching us eat as we traded plates every 5-10min. The menu even had suggested wine pairings. My husband opted for the beer and in looking at their libations menu their beer list was pretty impressive as well. The first course were appetizers. I'm not much of a salad eater so I grabbed the plate with the corned beef tongue, Funyuns (which reminded me of a flat pork rind), a little sauce and mustard seed. It was good, it reminded me of corned beef sans bread. My husband liked mine more than his greens with wheat berries. I liked that the salad was crunchy. On to the entrees. My husband grabbed the pan roasted white fish and I got the braised pork shoulder. The presentation of both were lovely. The pork shoulder came with a pretzel bread which I thought was a tad bit salty. The creme fraiche helped cut some of the saltiness, but I wish there was just a bit more jus. The pan roasted fish rested atop a split pea pancake with pickled cabbage on top and came with more of the Funyun crisp. I didn't care much for the pancake, but the fish was great with the buttermilk sauce and crisp. Lastly came the dessert: a chocolate cake with a 'red velvet' beet custard with cream cheese pudding and a sea salt caramel corn pannna cotta. Yummy! The beet custard really came through until it was mixed with the cream cheese and chocolate cake making it true to its namesake. A twist on red velvet indeed! Both my husband and I loved the panna cotta. It was especially whimsical to have the caramel popcorn and caramel drizzle decorating the panna cotta. Overall the experience made me want to come back. It is a very cute space, very rustic chic with friendly wait staff. The only drawback is a tiny parking lot. There is an open air kitchen as well as a bar space. We were seated in their market area. They have shelving where wine was sold along with old school general store offerings with a modern twist: hot sauces, crackers, hazelnut spread and the like. Can't wait to have another date night with an option close to my 'hood.
(4)Gregg G.
Rik u and Leo G said it so well. I would add though that the Chorizo Tacos were some of the best tacos that I have ever had. A homemade tortilla is wrapped around a delicous blend of chorizo and cheese that the flavors explode in your mouth. The service was outstanding and the atomosphere was up beat and fun. Since it just opened the wait was very short...however...it won't be too long before the secret is out and the wait will be crazy!
(5)FoodLover Z.
Took my wife here for a Valentine's Day dinner today. I ordered their special V-Day menu -$45 for a three course meal consisting of kampachi crudo, lamb chops and chocolate mousse. My wife order the crispy semolina gnocchi and smoked celery root agnolotti. Everything we ordered was absolutely fantastic. Even my drink - a simple honey gimley, was amazing. The only reason I take away one star is that the portions are tiny. I could've eatern two entrees, in addition to the appetizer and dessert - I'm not even kidding. I had to have a small snack after coming home to keep myself from sleeping hungry. All-in-all, it's a great place, but it's not as "reasonably priced" as it looks on paper due to the small portions.
(4)Jen D.
I am not even sure where to begin, so many thoughts are bursting from my mind, trying to work their way out through my keyboard! I went on Sat 1/28 - the ELEVENTH day of operation and had a great experience. Like other reviewers, I am shocked by how "together" this place is for being open less than 2 weeks. I am eager to go back and I'm sure it will only get better!! They aren't taking reservations right now as they are trying to figure out the rhythm of the restaurant, so hopefully they will soon. We went in at 8:20pm on a Saturday night and took 2 seats at the counter overlooking the kitchen because there was a wait for tables. It was fun to watch the kitchen, they really are all on display. I enjoyed seeing the different dishes - it gets me excited to go back! I disagree very strongly with the couple of people here who've said the place is "too expensive". Uh, I beg to differ. Sure it might be more $$ than some dive in the neighborhood - but I dare you to find a place with that atmosphere and food for a better price. The wine glass and bottle prices have many affordable price pts and the pours were what I would expect. They have bottles under $30 and glasses for $6-7. Our entrees were $12 and $14, seriously. My interpretation of the menu... The menu is divided into small and large plates, but from what I can tell - it's not meant to be a shared plate meal. There are not enough small plates to really do the "sharing" small plate/tapas style meal and the large plates are true entrees. We shared the fried pickle small plate. It was two small spears - not chips. It was really yummy with the tabasco aioli. I ordered the pumpkin fettuccine for my entree. It was so good! Housemade fettuccine noodles (my weakness is fresh pasta!!) tossed with goat cheese, cubed pumpkin (which could have been butternut squash... without all the spices I can never tell the diff), chanterelle mushrooms, etc. It actually ate/felt nice and light - even though the noodles are more substantial. My friend ordered the meatloaf. It looked like 2 dry slices from a loaf (sort of puck like visually). The meatloaf was on the drier side but came with a nice sauce on the side that made it not dry to eat. We shared the sweet potato donut dessert (covered in salted caramel sauce). Hmmmmm. So yummy. Sitting by the kitchen we watched a ton of plates go out... the chicken looked fantastic and smelled so good. Burger looked good. Fries were super yummy looking. re: parking - yes there is a lot, but it is small. Side streets have plenty of parking. The sign is not illuminated out front - so it's easy to miss in the dark. Hopefully that gets fixed. I will definitely be back sometime soon!
(4)Naina J.
We went there for valentines day and it was fantastic. Their menus is very accommodating to dietary restrictions and the wine selection is quite extensive. I would highly recommend it.
(4)Eduardo C.
Amazing cocktails. Great service. Elevated food.
(4)Allan C.
No ice in the water means you're at a classy joint. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Bread & Wine has a very warm and modern interior design and their food is excellent. Went with my significant other and dined on small plates: Pork belly with poached egg and sourdough Duck confit pierogi with pickled red onion and creme fraiche Herb fries with garlic, thyme, and malt aioli Arugula and pear salad (had another fruit and nuts in it) Dessert: Chocolate custard and graham cracker smore Everything was delicious and flavorful. Standout was the Pork Belly. Loved the dessert.
(4)Pat C.
I have to say I highly recommend Bread & Wine restaurant, in all ways. And I have to also say that the reservation for two of us was at 5:00 pm on a Thursday evening, so that might have made the experience even better. My friend and I were the first guests at the restaurant last evening. We both were greeted with a warm smile by Max, who also turned out to be our server. We were very happy with Max, and would highly recommend him as your server to any other customers. He was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about both the cocktails and about all of the menu offerings. We started out with a Bungalow Manhattan, and it was so delicious we wound up having a couple each. My friend had the great gnocchi small plate - crispy on the outside and pillowy and rich on the inside. I had the steamed P.E.I. Mussels - hard to go wrong with these. He also enjoyed the good-sized and delicious hamburger, and I loved every morsel of the lake trout entrée (which was also a very good-sized entrée). Desserts of the salted caramel panna cotta and the poached pears were as wonderful as other diners have noted. The service was superb, as was our food. A very fun and enjoyable experience last night - and we did have a Groupon - which was no problem at all for anyone. It worked out well for us that they have a small parking lot in the front of the restaurant as well - easy in and out.
(5)Comensal A.
We spotted Bread & Wine one night on the way to a dance class and filed it away for future reference. We finally got a chance to visit when we were attending a show at Prop Thtr this weekend. I was impressed by the variety & innovation of the menu, the good cooking and presentation, the nice choices at various price points on the wine list, and the friendly, helpful staff. It was Restaurant Week, and between the two of us we sampled all courses of the prix fixe dinner. No point going into detail about the dishes since they are not on the regular menu, but we enjoyed everything. The chef has a good sense of flavor diversity & balance, and there were items and combos I would not have otherwise tried but found I liked them. The only thing I would have preferred would be less salt in the entrées. This night, B&W seemed to be drawing heavily from the neighborhood, and it's great that Old Irving has a place like this to elevate the culinary scene. It's definitely on my list next time I'm in that neighborhood for dinner.
(4)C C.
I really like this spot a lot; Been there 4 or 5 times. Food is very, very tasty, and everything seems fresh. Musts are; cheeses, house made pappardelle (really, really wonderful), octopus (Yummy, lite- smokey delicate flavor ), panna cotta (out of this world-- best I've ever had). My friend loved her poached fish -- very light, yet lots of flavor. Portions are on the small side- big eaters can do two entrees. I am not fond of small portion places- too much blue collar blood in me, I guess- but it doesn't bother me here. They are not so small, and the prices are not so big. Professional waitstaff, great casual and low key ambience, and a very "keep it simple" look. Right now, it's on my fave five list. So afraid it'll make the "check, please tour". It really does have a parking lot, right in the front-- it used to be a laundromat, and they preserved some of the look-- a bit kooky, but sensibly well-appointed. Pricey, but worth it, and I hardly ever say that.
(5)Steven S.
Came for brunch and it was outstanding. Couldn't have asked for a better meal, prepared and presented beautifully.
(5)Jenny C.
I would say I enjoy coming to Bread & Wine, though sometimes I order a dish that is not -so- amazing. My partner is a meat eater & usually enjoys his dishes. In late summer I ordered a pasta with red pepper sauce & it was very lovely, my partner ordered a chopped steak which came with salad which he liked. We also ordered the hen egg small plate and I didn't really like it. In the fall I ordered a curry tofu which came with pasta in beet sauce & I was not too thrilled with it. While the tofu was perfectly crispy on the outside I felt like the curry sauce was far too little and not enough flavor to spice the plain tofu & pasta. Their gnocchi small plate is amazing though & their salad with apples and Gorgonzola cheese is also wonderful to try! I feel like those are meals in themselves. The staff is also great as is the food presentation!
(3)Leslie K.
My husband and I were here celebrating our 10 yr wedding anniversary. We sat outside and it was quiet and beautiful. Our server was Eric and he was fantastic. Their staff was on top of everything the entire night. We started out with the Cheese & Charcuterie plate, which we choose the Tasso Ham, Cedar Grove Cheddar, and the Bloome County Bloom, this came with some fantastic toast, pickled watermelon, jelly, and mustard. Very delicious. My husband had their special which was Salmon and I had the butter poached lake trout, both were so good, and cooked perfectly! We also enjoyed a great bottle of wine with dinner, Durigutti Bonarda, Mendoza, a red wine obviously not traditional since we both had fish, but oh well! It was really good. For dessert we shared the warm brownie which had caramel sauce and a cherry custard, it melted in my mouth. We had a fantastic experience, the price was reasonable for what we got, can't wait to come back.
(4)Susan G.
This is a Gem! Dined here for the first time on a Saturday night with friends and we enjoyed every course. We started with the Chef's Choice Cheese and Charcuterie plate which was just right. We had wine by the glass with our meal. Followed this with the very fresh and well-composed green salad. For our main entrees we had the pan roasted chicken breast which was amazingly juicy, poached lake trout, and the fine herbs pappardelle pasta. Ended the meal with French-press coffee and a couple orders of the fresh strawberry pie with whipped cream which was heavenly. Service was prompt and friendly and the pacing between courses was just right. The cost per person, including tax, tip and all the food and beverages mentioned, was about $70.
(4)Jessie M.
I came here with my husband on a busy summer night--the service was slooow but the food was good--particularly, the duck pierogies (they accidentally brought us two orders--we were not complaining). If you're doing the charcuterie, make sure to get the sheep's cheese (the dante). It's delicious. Skip the fries--they're kinda greasy.
(3)James L.
I live in the Irving Park area and was happy to see that this place opened up. Went there for a birthday dinner and the service was excellent! We all shared a bunch of tapas dishes and wine. We weren't full by any means but was satisfied with dinner. Definitely a place to go if you want to taste different foods and drink good wine, but not to go to town on.
(4)Anna V.
Yelp keeps insisting I review B&W, and I've been putting it off because I don't know how I feel about it and don't really have a ton to say. Here it is: it has potential but it has kinks in it. Nothing was terrible. We'd heard great stuff, and it's possible it just wasn't our thing. Things that were good: the duck confit pierogi (deliciously tender, the good kind of gamey, very flavorful) and their crispy hot fries. Wine list is great - I've never heard of most of it, which is fun for me. They use good ingredients. Parking is free. Atmosphere reminds me a little of Ceres' Table. But there are definitely elements that need work. Service was friendly but spotty and a little intrusive, pacing was bizarre, the pork shoulder was not my favorite and had some fatty bits that weren't palatable. Portions in general were tricky to get right since it's all meant to be shared - but not quite the right size for it. The whole experience felt off somehow. However, it's still new, and it's understandable there are kinks to work out. It does have loads of potential in the concept. But you know what would be really good? If they had bread. At the moment, they don't, and we were surprised. I think Bread & Wine really needs some hot crusty bread.
(3)Cynthia A.
Our second time here, and we were looking forward to another great experience. A beautiful night and sat outside. When the menus arrived, I had a hard time choosing from the five entrees. Nothing really jumped out to make my mouth water. First time, we had the charcuterie platter for 6 and there was a great mix. This time for three, we had to choose. I would really stay away from the pancetta. While flavorful, it was mostly fat and not that appealing. I was surprised there were no specials as an adjunct to the menu items. REally? Midsummer when the local farmers are overflowing with beautiful produce? Our table had two burgers (the chorizo as it's own patty seemed odd along with the beef patty) and the chicken breast (nicely cooked, but more simple than I would like--I cook too much plain chicken at home--give me some flavor). I can't say we were super excited. Maybe the new chef? Didn't seem to have the same vibe or buzz as first time there. Highly recommend adding some interesting, flavorful entrees to the menu. And specials would be most welcome.
(3)KChicagoan S.
Went here on a week night for an impromptu girls night out. I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could, but 3 will have to suffice. It's a farm-to-table type concept, which was nice. This means their menu will change often, with a rotation of freshly-inspired small plates, salads and larger plates. Started with a cheese/charcuterie board. The cheeses were fresh and the homemade marmalade and mustard on the board was a nice balance to the salty cheese. As a group we split 4 small plates and one large plate. Overall the food was good and fresh, but as I type this review barely a week later, I can't remember a single thing I ate, aside from the cheese. What that tells me - nothing was all that memorable. I'd give ambiance and SERVICE 5 stars, and while the food was fresh, it was forgettable. I would go here for a return visit, but I won't be running back or shouting my praises from the rooftops (or via Yelp for that matter...)
(3)Monica G.
3 girlfriends and I did a ladies night here on Friday, and we had a really enjoyable time. We made a reservation earlier in the week, which was a great idea, and the ambiance was excellent for the evening we were looking for. We each ordered a different cocktail, and enjoyed our individual drinks. Any place that can serve 4 great cocktails is a winner in my book. We also ordered: Charcuterie plate (2 cheese and blood sausage which was surprisingly great, not as scary as I expected) Herb fries, Gnocci, (The best dish), Arctic Char (The worst dish. Super salty, with the texture of a fruit roll-up) Flank steak (the béarnaise was incredible) And a bottle of white white. Our server listened to our needs (two vegetarians, attempting to save money), and gave us earnest recommendations. It was the perfect place for our occasion. We were a little disappointed in the total bill versus the serving size, so just be aware of that fact. With that in mind, we will return.
(4)Kari C.
When five stars are just not enough ... From the luscious swine to the salted carmelcorn panna cotta, we couldn't have been happier with our dinner. Not sure what some other (CRAZY) reviewers were talking about regarding portion size... the small plates were anything but small. We took the opportunity to sit at the counter and were thrilled to interact with Lulu, Jacob and the rest of the team (thanks for the tasty bits inbetween!) We will definitely be back... and soon!
(5)Cee A.
I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed this yet, so here goes... This is an easy, friendly, consistent place to dine. I'm usually here during the week and reservations are not needed. I find it a great place to relax over shared food and enjoy a bottle of wine. It's lively but not loud so conversation is easy. The service isn't rushed and the vibe overall is great. Last visit included an assortment of cheeses and meats, the incredibly awesome mussels and the already famous popcorn panacotta. Always good, fun and tasty.
(5)Casey A.
1) Be sure to sit at the Kitchen Counter if it's available.. and if you're in the mood to talk to the chefs. 2) Order whatever you want because it's all amazing. We got the Crispy Semolina Gnocchi and Herb Ricotta toast with Yellow Beets and Arugula and for dinner we split the Walleye.. I don't know why I'm making you drool with this description bc the menu changes every 2ish weeks. (i.e. there were no tomatoes on the menu at our seating bc the head chef wasn't interested in bringing in tomatoes from the west coast.. pretty cool in my opinion!) 3) We got dessert, not because we needed the calories but because the people next to us had been there a couple times and convinced us to (not that we needed much convincing..) The Salted Caramel Popcorn Panna Cotta.. HOLY COW HARRY CARAY. We loved it enough to drop off one of our dishes the next night so they could make a WHOLE bunch for a party we had on the following night. 4) Lulu might be the nicest chef/pastry chef.. ever. / All the people behind that counter had something pleasant to say.. 5) I'm going back and soon!
(5)Lawrence C.
We went to Bread and Wind with neighborhood friends and must say it was very enjoyable. They have 2 'special' areas to eat with the first being a private table by the wine racks and the second is a bar you can eat at that has a great view of the chef's going about their business. We sat at the table. For starters we had the Chicken Liver Pate, Blue Mountain Dairy Reserve Cheddar from Wisconsin and toast points all of which was delicious. We had a really nice Cabernet from the Paso Bobles region of California which paired nicely with everything. For a main course I had the Striped Bass with Braised Fennel which was outstanding and filled me up. The girls both had the Beef and Chorizo Burger on a Pretzel Roll of which they both enjoyed although my wife said that next time she will get it without the Chorizo Patty and just beef. The wait staff was very attentive and the manager came by on 2 occasions to make sure everything was okay and then prior to our departure he gave us a rundown on how the place came to be, the chef and what the owner was all about. Very nice. All in all this is a top notch local restaurant with pricing to be reasonable for the type of food you are getting which is mostly locally procured.
(4)Mike M.
Bread & Wine is a great addition to the neighborhood. Still in their pre-reservation mode, any wait was easily passed at the bar having a great goat cheese spread w/ one of their many great wines. The place has a great local vibe to it and even features a small retail area if you'd like to take some of their ingredients home. I was very excited to get a counter seat as I was able to watch the executive chef make my dinner. He and the sous chef were super cool and answered any questions when they had a moment between plating. I've never been to an open kitchen before and it was a great experience. I went w/ the beef & chorizo burger which was great. All ingredients are in season so no lettuce or tomato. Who goes here: Irving Park neighbors, foodies, organic diners. Will I go back? Certainly. I began listing who I should take here by the second bite. It's also cool that they get all their ingredients locally. (Midwest locally)
(5)David F.
My wife took me here for my birthday tonight. Very pleasant ambience that feels at once sophisticated but also casual enough that you can hear each other. Our server was wonderful. We had: the gnocchi, the fries, the mussels, the salad and the striped bass. The dishes were uniformly terrific (and unlike what a previous reviewer said, it is plenty of food). I think the chef could add just a bit of kick to the striped bass but overall it was well-seared and beautifully prepared. My gin cocktails were delicious and overall it was reasonably priced for what we got and the level of service. Highly recommend.
(5)Kim H.
Absolutely fabulous! Sat at the bar. The service was excellent and the food was over the top. Pork belly, scallop, and the chicken liver was to die for. I love this place!
(5)Allen J.
I should state, for the record, that I'm that person who always takes bad Yelp reviews with a grain of salt. Like, who comes on Yelp to write a positive experience? It's just people b*tching to hear themselves. But Bread & Wine was disappointing. We live in the neighborhood, and have been looking forward to coming here for weeks. Moreover, it was my birthday, and I couldn't wait to try things off the menu. Reading other reviews, I think what the more specific price complaint should be relates to the price of the small plates. I think they are over-priced for what you get. The bowl of nuts was not warm, and the duck pierogi was fine. But two pierogis for $7? Some of my party ordered drinks, some ordered wine. The wine was good. The drinks I felt were fine. My main complaint was that, with the restaurant not terribly busy, it just seems like the drinks took forever. Our waitress, so very nice, just seemed over-worked. My main mistake of the evening was ordering the special: Duck Stroganoff - Black Trumpet Mushrooms, pappardelle pasta, duck leg confit & creme fraiche. Honestly, I've never had a worse dish at a restaurant. It was bland, there was really no sauce, also no seasoning, and the pasta after sitting just a few minutes was like eating chewy rubber and quite honestly inedible. Perhaps it could have been helped by cutting the noodles smaller or thinner? It was the very first time I've ever told a server that I was unhappy with a dish at a restaurant. To her credit, she offered me something else, and I tried the small plate tacos, which were good. I will be back to try other things off the menu, because all these other people can't be wrong. I hope my experience was an anomaly.
(2)Rik U.
The long awaited Bread & Wine restaurant is open and well worth the wait. Touted as an American bistro yet I would think they fit the description of an American Melting Pot. They are keying in on the areas different cultures/cuisines and adding a twist to it. They did an amazing job of converting the existing building into a elegant yet very comfortable space. I loved the juxtaposition of modern and natural/farm feel they have created here. Tables are cut from large trees and lacquered with bark still on them. Napkins are simple yet tasteful kitchen towels. Hand blown glass water bottles are brought to tables. The food was excellent and perfectly executed. I was impressed that they nailed it the first night out. Great job! We had some small plate appetizers which were playful to decadent. Togarashi buttered popcorn, olives with a nutty orange citrus flavor and Duck confit pierogi with pickled red onion and herbed creme fraiche. Delicious. Entrees we tried were original and equally delicious. - Black earth lamb & mustard seed meatloaf, yogurt braised greens with white beans and harrisa - Chicken breast & confit leg, truffle dumplings and roasted root vegetables - Homemade fettuccine, pumpkin, oyster mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and fresh goat cheese I ordered the lamb meatloaf but tried all of these and they were all excellent. I am very excited to have a restaurant of this caliber right in my neighborhood. Keep up the good work! Also, they have a shop up front featuring not only local, gourmet products, but a wonderful wine selection and items that they make right there (such as granola, shortbread cookies, etc.). I look forward to visiting this again because the shop was still getting stocked..being the first night and all. Congrats Bread and Wine team!
(5)Kate P.
I really hope this place makes it. It's great having it in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, I think it's a little over priced. First, I ordered a glass of wine and the bartender (we sat at the bar) poured it less than 20% of the way up. Now I do appreciate a heavy pour but I wouldn't say I'm biased- however atleast pour it 25-30% to make me fee like I"m getting my moneys worth. It was a 3 sip glass of wine for $10. Secondly, we weren't very hungry but I was dying to try the duck pieorgis so we ordered those. I was very excited to get them but slightly diappointed when they came out. $8 for 2 pierogis. This was listed on the "small plates" section of the menu so I'd envisioned enough for 2 people to share- not 1 each. Now don't get me wrong the pierogis were amazing. I was just disappointed spending $8 on 2 pieorgis. Had there been 3 on the plate I probably wouldn't have been a bit miffed by it or had they been larger it would have been fine but I scarfed mine down in 2 bites. Or even if they were listed as a "side dish" I would understand only putting 2 on the portion size. Now, I really did enjoy the ambiance of the place. I just thought it was slightly overpriced for what you get and the neighborhood it is in- which is my neighborhood that I love so all you Albany/Irving Parkers don't jump all over me- I'm not knocking on the neighborhood. Just if I'm spending that on food I'll go downtown.
(3)Ingrid R.
I really enjoyed my evening here with a bunch of other moms. Awesome food, service and atmosphere. The salted caramel panna cota was the most amazing thing on the planet. All that cheese, wine, yum. What's not to love. Can't wait to go back with the husband.
(4)John G.
Very cozy place on Irving Park with their own parking lot. My wife loved the pâté an poached trout. Very tender. I had mussels and soaked up all the spicy sauce with the fresh bread. I had the bay scallops too but a little salty. We finished with the fresh strawberries on a delicate pastry.
(4)Ethan J.
Bread and Wine is a good solid choice overall for a date night or for a large group. Service The service and overall customer experience is really good. The hostess and waitstaff are knowledgeable and attentive. They knew the wine list well and made an effort to provide guidance without being pretentious about the wine list. The service was quick and on point which is a plus. Food Appetizers and Snacks This section shines. The PEI mussels are excellent- highly recommended. The entire list looked great and is enough to share a taste. The squash salad and roasted beets are tasty. Good use of seasonal ingredients. Large Plates The burger is really good. The burger is a hearty meal with the bacon and onion jam on pretzel bread. The fries are plentiful for 2 people to share and with the aioli - it definitely a memorable burger in a town of burgers. The rest of the dishes such as the chicken was good but not nearly as hefty as the burger. The presentation and taste was good but lacked the punch of the snacks and apps. Dessert The desserts are all excellent. The salted caramel pana cotta is light and the hints of salt and caramel doesn't overwhelm the dish. The flourless chocolate cake is good- looks more like a cooke but it is rich. The acid from the pineapple cuts the richness of the chocolate. Overall The parking is fantastic for anyone looking to venture out of the area. The service is excellent. The meal is good if not great. The location is a destination but worth a trip for either dinner or even better brunch.
(4)Andrew S.
I agree with the other yelp users here. I had a total enjoyable dining experience. The staff is affable and friendly. Nothings worse than throwing a good chunk of money at a dining experience and the staff acts like they're doing you a favor, NOT the case at bread and wine. Our server Aric was awesome, he clearly explained what was in each course and suggested a delicious desert as well. The beer list highlights local favorites and well as seasonal offerings from Three Floyds. Their cocktails were delicious and crafted with care. The entree's were reasonably priced,large and their burger rivaled any high end/hype burger joint out there. I will definitely patron this establishment more often.
(4)Ben P.
Love, love, love this place. The ambiance works very well - we sat at the kitchen counter/chef's table which just added to the enjoyment of the evening. The food there was delectible - I had the rabbit linguini and it was perfectly cooked, great sized portions. The service was wonderful. Will definitely be coming back. Score! Now if it could be closer to where we live, we'd be there every night...
(5)Therese O.
What the hell, Bread and Wine. It was a Sunday night. you weren't even busy, and yet the level of disappointment cannot be forgiven. We live in the neighborhood and wanted to try Bread and Wine for a while. We wandered in and there were about two other tables full. Which we like. Sat down and looked at the menu. Cheese plate for $28 with six teeny portions on it. About six 'small plate' dishes which range from $6-$9. While entrees are $13-$20. Portion sizes are SMALL so be warned. A $13 burger is teeny, and most of the plate is filled up with fries. Choriso/Cheddar/Burger was too overpowering and the bun was bigger than the hamburger. The garlic fries were great, but for $13 you'd better not mess up the fries, people. Lamb meatloaf was COLD and served on top of white beans and greens that were too salty to eat. And I like salt. The portion was so small and the price so high, I almost sent it back and told them not to bother. I already knew it wasn't going to be good. There was something crunchy in the meatloaf which messed with the mouthfeel. Walnuts?? Pine Nuts? Who knew.... Glass of lovely Oregon wine for $9 but the small pour that they give you was ridiculous. Maybe 1/3 cup. The space is pretty, though with and open kitchen and the place was very loud with only two couples inside. This place could have the potential to be an Irving Park Lula Cafe. But, unlike Lula, the flavors are not well constructed, the food is miniscule and cold and it seems they care more about atmosphere than quality. Unless they up their game, we won't be back. And sadly, unless someone else pays for my dinner, I won't return any time soon.
(1)Matt R.
Checked out this relatively new neighborhood spot early on a Friday night. Sat at the bar noshing on charcuterie while chatting up the friendly couple sitting next to me, enjoying a nice glass of S. African Cabernet. Pricey? A little bit, comparable to Lincoln Park but I thought the quality warranted the cost. Staff was attentive, the owner Lisa came by to find out how I was doing, all in all a very agreeable visit to a very agreeable spot in the neighborhood. I am giving the fifth star to the bartender who was on top of his game without getting in my space. I will be back.
(5)Mary L.
Heard good things about Bread & Wine & finally got to try it for myself the other night. Was pleasantly surprised. The Old Irving neighborhood seems odd to have a restaurant this nice there, but it really does fit. Parking was a bit hard on a Saturday night, be we found side street parking in a little bit. I like the smaller size of the restaurant and the decor is really stylish. We had a reservation & were immediately seated. Our waiter was pretty good & pretty attentive. The restaurant was crowded for a Saturday night , but all in all the service is good. Our group shared a charcuterie plate which was wonderful. We all had the full dinner plates for our main course. Other diners with me commented that the main courses were all good.....not the best ever, but pretty good. I had the burger with fries which was wonderful & I've had burgers at a lot of good places in Chicago. This was up there as good. The other diners I was with shared the Mudd pie & said it was good. The coffee is served in a french press which was nice & I had the jasmine tea which was delightful. All in all, a nice restaurant on the north side & I would definitely go again.
(4)Max E.
Our meal at Bread & Wine was very pleasant. We came under the impression that they would be offering extended restaurant week specials, but that was not the case. Still, the service was good and the food was very delicious. The raw scallop starter was delicious and very bright, and the main courses were all very tasty. The interior is spare and trendy, but I think the main wall could use a larger piece of art.
(4)Megan L.
A friend of mine lives near by Bread & Wine and has been anxiously awaiting its opening. So voila, Bread & Wine is now open, so we took ourselves over there on Friday night. It's a nice little space - we were a little concerned that we'd have trouble getting seated because it is fairly small, but they've done a good job maximizing the occupancy. We were offered a choice between waiting for a table, or sitting at the counter facing the kitchen. Hello, court-side seats it is! We checked out the menu and while there were 'main' dishes that appealed to each of us, we ultimately decided to go a more munchie, small plate route. So we tried the cheese plate (picked 3), herbed french fries (heavenly - we had to get more of the aoili it came with!), fried pickles, white bean puree on toast, and a side of roasted root vegetables. We loved every bite! For dessert (which we didn't need, but come on) we had the sweet potato donuts with salted caramel sauce. Admittedly, you can put salted caramel sauce on damn near anything and make it delicious, but the donuts held up on their own, too. Our server was great - friendly, attentive but not hovering, and super knowledgeable. It was also really fun to be seated where all the action is happening. They were busy and the chefs were running around like crazy - but the focused kind of crazy that gets things done. I saw a lot of attention to detail going on there! After it slowed down (we were there a while... a bottle or so of wine... a cocktail... girls night out...) we chatted with them a bit too - again, very friendly and seemed pretty excited about the product they're putting out. Bread & Wine, you were worth the wait!
(5)Sean D.
I would give B&W 3.5 stars if I could. I think that there is a lot of potential here, but its just a bit off. First off, I apparently need to dine up north more often as contrary to other reviews, I thought the prices were very fair. The wine list tops out at $60 and most bottles were in the $20-40 range. The entrees top out at $20 and the serving sizes are perfectly acceptable. I liked the space. Very warm and modern with exposed wood and interesting lighting. However, the open kitchen surrounded by all hard surfaces makes the spot very loud on a Saturday night. I fully recognize that I'm getting old, but I think my ears were ringing when we left. We started with a charcuterie plate, and while the meats and cheeses were nice, the servings were rather skimpie. Two small squares of each hard cheese and a dollop of goat cheese a platter does not make. We didn't end up ordering any small plates but there were a few that I'd like to try at some point like the duck pierogies or one of the salads. I thought the entrees were a bit limited in selection and imagination. There was only one fish item for my pescetarian wife and the rest of the choices amounted to a burger, pork shoulder, pasta, or chicken. Perhaps we were biased after just having an amazing meal the night before, but if you're going to serve chicken, it should be really freaking good chicken! Bottom line, decent value with an affordable wine list. Perhaps not worth the special trip up north for me but if you're local I definitely recommend giving it a try.
(3)shylo b.
As a preface, I wish I could separate the rating for food from the experience/ambiance. Because the ambiance and experience Bread & Wine provided was quite nice. The team has done a nice job with a funky space and the service was impeccable (and we sat at the bar, where I don't usually expect attentive dining service.) We started with cocktails, which were fresh, creative and fantastic. However, the food. We're vegetarians, so maybe the meat is great? We started with the cheese plate, which had nice selections, crispy toast points, two (!) cornichon and a spot of slightly-too-sweet cherry jam/preserves. This was the best thing we had all night, and none of it required cooking. We moved on to white-bean puree on toast. The puree was smooth to the point of unctuous (think baby food) and lacked ANY seasoning. I'm serious. I make a lot of white-bean hummus and (thicker) purees and I know what I'm talking about. Not a spot of salt. We also ordered the garlic fries with aioli. The aioli was too thin and the fries were floppy. Because the apps were disappointing, and we'd already dropped $50 on two cocktails, a glass of wine, and two appetizers, we decided to skip dinner. Which I was sad about because I wanted to try the tofu with pepitas. We went for dessert, featuring a smidge of olive-oil cake with creme fraiche and a panna cotta with popcorn. The cake was meh but the creme fraiche was lovely. The panna cotta was silky, but the popcorn was gummy. Hits, misses. I'm really glad this place is here and would highly recommend it for drinks and the cheese plates, and perhaps charcuterie, if you're into that. Hopefully, B & W is just working out kinks.
(2)Margo K.
I drove by this place last week and wondered what it was (maybe a new specialty store or a restaurant), was just excited to see a new place. Then we drove by again and decided to stop in because I was starving. It turns out we went there on the 2nd day they were open. Although it was BYOB at the time because of a delay in getting their liquor license, I will definitely be back for more. We tried several of the small plates and were impressed with everything. Next time I will be back fro the large plates. The service was excellent, and the place was simple and elegant without being pretentious. I think this place is going to take off and I'm glad I got to go there in the beginning. Glad to see this excellent new restaurant in an area where you may not be expecting it!
(5)Keira S.
LOVE: - the fact that it's in the neighborhood - the friendly service - the caramel corn dessert - the little shop area where you can buy, like, olive oil LIKE: - The dish I had--lamb meatloaf--was just OK and waayyyyyyyy too salty. And I'm a salt fanatic. - The wine menu was pretty paltry although the wine I had was very tasty. Skimpy pour, though! HATE: - The overused, 2001-era Ikea chairs and chandeliers - Prices are a bit too high for what you get Yeah, I dunno. I need to try it again.
(3)Nancy W.
I decided to check out Bread & Wine with 2 friends since I saw that the establishment was participating in Chicago Restaurant Week and it's in my neighborhood. I am so, so, so glad I found it because I will definitely be coming back! It was quite crowded on a Saturday night so I recommend making a reservation beforehand. The space is also small so parties with more than 4-6 people should probably look elsewhere. There is a teeny parking lot, but it was already full when we got there so we had to park a block away (no biggie, street parking isn't bad in this area). The restaurant has a nice ambiance with their minimalist decor. Our waiter was very nice to us and even grabbed an extra candle for me to help with the lighting when he saw that I was photographing our food. Bread & Wine is pricey, but it's absolutely delicious. We shared one 3-course meal from the Restaurant Week menu and 2 starters from their normal menu, which was surprisingly enough food for 3 people. Everything on the Restaurant Week menu was fantastic. We tried a pork shank starter from their normal menu that was cooked perfectly and was unbelievably tender. The salted caramel popcorn panna cotta dessert (on both the special menu and the normal menu) was also tasty - a perfect balance of sweet and salty, crunchy and custardy, etc. This is definitely a restaurant that takes it to the next culinary level with their presentation and creation of good flavors. With that being said, you aren't going to get heaping portions of mediocre food on your plate like at other restaurants. I would recommend coming here for nice occasions as it is a little more expensive, but it's worth it for how delicious everything is!
(5)Gail M.
Three of us visited Bread & Wine this past weekend to take advantage of their Chicago Chef Week menu. The food was inventive and totally delicious. The service was really friendly and attentive without being hovering. We liked the decor, too, and the fact that it's easy to park either in the lot or on surrounding streets, even on a Friday night. What impressed us most, though, was the awesome way our very kind server, Emily, handled a problem I had with my entree. Because it was cooked sous vide, the wine in it wasn't cooked off (it's not supposed to be in this method of cooking), and I can't consume alcohol. Emily immediately understood the problem and checked with the chef to see if the dish could be reheated to cook off the wine. When it couldn't, she comped me the small plate I ordered as a replacement -- a nice surprise. We'll be back -- next time to try Sunday brunch!
(5)L J.
THANK GOD upscale restaurants are opening further west! Don't get me wrong, I love Chicago's lakefront just as much as the next girl, but please don't make every good city restaurant in neighborhoods where we have to fight traffic or pay astronomical prices for parking. Restauranteurs- head west! We appreciate good food out here, too. The GOOD: - Our cheese and charcuterie plate was fantastic! Great options and more filling then we anticipated. - The walleye was THE BEST! Really interesting, savory flavors. Order it. You will have no regrets. - Ambiance was nice- clean, simple, pretty. - The staff was friendly. The BAD: - Our waiter wasn't too knowledgeable about their wine list and there were many dishes on our menu he hadn't tried. I think that should be mandatory so when customers ask you about dishes or wine pairings you have something to say. - My husband's steak was well-done and he asked for medium. A slight con, I know, but I'm not a fan of returning food, so he ate it anyway. And everything IN BETWEEN: - The desserts were ok: not a fan of the seasonal lavender and almond dessert; it tasted a bit like soap. Panna cotta was good, but perhaps too sweet. - AC must've been broken, but I suppose there was nothing they could do about it. - Finally, I know it's not TGI Friday's, but if I tell you we are celebrating an anniversary, can we get some kind of acknowledgement? A complimentary dessert? 5% off our bill? A "Happy Anniversary"? Perhaps that's the child in me, but people like stuff like that. Still, I give B&W 4 stars because I appreciate what they're doing and I support small businesses in my neighborhood. We'll be back.
(4)Angela S.
Was fortunate to get a reservation for a group of 12 for a birthday and they took excellent care of us. The food is incredible and the drink selection is awesome. Was a terrific experience for all of us.
(4)Harvey M.
I'd been wanting to try this place for a long while and it did not disappoint when I went for Sunday brunch with a friend. Great parking options nearby (free!). The menu was eclectic enough to differentiate itself from other restaurants, but familiar enough to be accessible to almost any palate. The service was outstanding and the food was very good. I can't wait to go back.
(4)Audrey S.
I came here for a friend's birthday. It's a good thing we had reservations because the place was packed. We had to wait a few minutes for our table to open up so we checked out their large selection of wine. We started with a cheese and charcuterie plate of St. Joseph (raw sheep) cheese, fresh goat cheese, chicken liver pate, and pig face pancetta. It came with bite size toasted bread. I thoroughly enjoyed everything on this plate. For my entree I decided to be brave and get something unusual that I'd never had before - the duck confit with a poached egg, pickled red onion and herb creme fraiche. The duck was marinated in duck fat and I did not particularly care for this part (and this is most likely how I would feel about it anywhere). There were three pieces of burnt cheese plated nicely on the top. I mixed the egg and duck together. I tried the smoked trout mousse on toast which was absolutely delicious and immediately wished I'd ordered that instead. (There's always next time.) Our server Haley was pleasant and prompt. Just as we were getting ready to leave, one of the owners, Lisa Fosler Kelly began talking with someone at our table. We learned that she lives in the area and wanted more restaraunt choices, so she decided to open up her own. Right now the seating is all inside, but as the weather turns warm, al fresco dining will open up. It's pretty exciting to have a new and decently priced restaurant in my 'hood. I give it two thumbs up and will recommend it to friends.
(4)Julie K.
Sat at kitchen bar and had a great night. The chef answered our questions, and also it was a great way to see other items on the menu. Definitely try the charcuterie, the homemade sausage and prosciutto were delicious. Also, the chicken dish was really uniquely executed and delicious, I think he said it was sousvide, Also, prices are reasonable for a nicer dinner, and it's a great addition to the area.
(5)Monte O.
The owners are very nice and made me feel welcome, and the food and service is amazing! I will definitely be a regular...
(5)M M.
For some reason my eating partner picked this place. I don't know why, since we seldom drink wine. Just as I suspeced, a menu with a large selection of wine and just a few dishes to choose from, that didn't give my finiky friend many options. I had the beef and charizo burger, very good--the beef was grass fed (the waitress was nice enough to inquire about their beef when I asked if it was organic). I figured if it was good beef I wouldn't have minded having it on the medium side, but I decided to be safe and ordered it well. The burger was cooked perfectly and I guess the grass fed beef justifies the $14 burger which came with a side of fries uniquely seasoned -best fries I ever had! I can confidently boast that. My friend ordered the $18 chicken breast and loved their signature mulberry mustard sauce, which I think I had a hint of in my burger. The waitress was kind enough to give my friend a little container with a bit of the sauce to take home. It was charished like gold, kind of like how I cherish the fautoush salad dressing at Pita Inn. Bread and wine was a visually suave and sopisticated place, yet with a casual confortable feel. People were great, it was just a tad bit pricy for my budget. If I liked wine, I would probably appreciate this place more.
(4)Yvonne O.
I am not big on driving into this area on a Saturday night as it brings back memories of fighting the awful traffic on Irving at ALL TIMES OF DAY AND NIGHT when I lived at Irving and Damen. But, the husband read about the place in the paper, saw "charcuterie plate" and it was a done deal. I hoped there would be options for me. We were seated at the bar - totally fine with me and ordered right away. Husband got the charcuterie with pig face, spanish ham and aged cheddar and I ordered the smoked duck pierogies. He loved the plate, my duck was lacking in flavour. For entrees, he got the steak and gnocchi and I ordered the stinging nettle (flower) fettuccini. Both were delicious - especially the semolina gnocchi that look like little marshmallow squares. Those come as a side order - get them, you will not regret it. All this and two drinks was about $90 before tip - not bad. And, if you eat in, you can shop in the little market area behind the host with 10% off. I would definitely come back, but I would like to see a few more seafood options as there were only two things I would really order as an entree on the menu (no shrimp, scallops, whitefish, and only the one steak, which was suprising)
(4)Flora C.
Bread and Wine took it's time getting opened, and it was well worth the wait! The decor is elegant, the ambiance is warm and inviting. The food was delicious. I had the fettuccine with roasted pumpkin and goat cheese and oyster mushrooms. It was yummy! The pasta was home made. My husband had the lamb, which he raved about and kept having to share pieces with our daughter. My daughter had the chicken over leg confit and truffle dumplings with roasted vegetables. She ate it all up! We also tried the olives, togarashi popcorn and the duck pierogis as apps. Delicious! We left stuffed and cannot wait to go back. BTW, we went on opening night. And for a first night being open, it was PERFECT! Service, food, wait time. Well done! SO excited to have a restaurant of this caliber in what has been a "restaurant desert" in our west walker/old irving area.
(5)Cristen B.
Flank steak was amazing and so was the beet salad. The sauces served on both our meals were out if this world, I wanted seconds! Lady working the host stand was a bit quirky. Dessert was ok, was list could use better options (Malbec option wasn't great).
(4)Michele G.
Visited this restaurant for the first time tonight and it won't be out last. Enjoyed particularly attentive and friendly service and enjoyed our bean puree appetizer, as well as the fettuccine with pumpkin, chicken thigh and grits special and pork shoulder. Had an olive oil cake that was incredibly moist and a panna cotta that was fun (popped corn), unusual and very smooth. Lovely wine list by the glass and Intelligentsia coffee for the finale. Glad that Bread and wine is in the neighborhood!
(5)Matthew M.
Amazing atmosphere and food! We started at the bar and had a great conversation with the bartender Josh who paired us up with some great glasses of wine. When our table was really shortly after, we were delighted to browse the menu - it was stacked with some great options, mainly the chorizo angus burger and the chicken with pate. My fiancee who is a vegetarian had no problem finding something to her liking. Desert was superb, we got 4 different options! Highly recommended..
(5)Neha M.
We went here today for Sunday brunch, and although it was far outta the way, it was worth it. What looks from the outside like an upscale suburban restaurant, turns out to be an airy and hip establishment on the inside. We came here with a Gilt City certificate which was an amazing deal $39 for 2 drinks, two brunch entrees, 2 side orders, and a dessert. It ended up being a ton of food - but it was great because this meant we got to try at least one item from each part of the menu. Drinks: He got the mimosa and I got the bloody mary. The juice in both was really fresh and great. Entrees: He got the sausage links which came with sausage, coca-cola baked beans, and eggs (I think sunnyside up?). I didn't try the sausage but he seemed happy with them. The eggs and baked beans were good. I got the friend semolina gnocchi. Good but a little too oily and salty. Came with both a tomato sauce and a white sauce which complimented each other well. Sides: House cured bacon (again a little too salty for me) and cheddar grits (yummm). Dessert is sitting in our fridge because we couldn't possibly eat it after that huge meal. But they even plated it nicely for us in the to go box...cant WAIT!! It is pricey (our total without the certificate would have been $74 before tip) and very out of the way for me, so it would have to be a special occasion for me to return. But I am very glad that we were able to try it out!!
(5)Robert Y.
Great service, delicious food, and great selection of wines. It is a little bit loud in here, so be prepared to speak up!
(4)Alyssa E.
Bread and Wine is a solid restaurant. However, there were a few kinks that need to be worked out or maybe they were having an "off" night. I had a groupon, so was able to try many different dishes. First, my friend and I got to sit at the chef's table and watch all the food being prepared! Awesome! Second three of our 5 dishes came out almost at the same time. However, after we vouched our concern to our waitress, she was good about telling them to pace the rest of our food. We started with a cheese plate wonderful. Then moved on to the gnocchi, not to be missed! This was one of my favorites that night! Then we shared the baby octopus. Fantastic! For the main course, I got the burger, as I had heard they are known for their burger. However, I was not blown away by it. Again, solid, but certainly not the best I've had in the city. Dessert was the salted caramel popcorn panna cotta. I was glad I got to try it, but I need something sweeter, more like creme brulee! The panna cotta part was very bland and tasteless, which is the way it is supposed to be. Just not my personal preference. Again, this place is solid, but with all the places to try in Chicago I'm not dying to go back soon.
(3)Audrey S.
Went there last night for dinner. We had reservations for 7:15, got there at 7:00, and the place was pretty empty. We were seated right away at the "Chef Table", which was so much FUN! FYI - by 7:45 the place was packed. We had cheese and house made ham, arctic char, the chicken breast and the desserts. Everything we had was fresh and the portions were quite large for a higher end place like this. Service was excellent. We went to Premise a few weeks prior, so to compare the two is natural. Premise was good, but for my money, I'd rather go to Bread & Wine.
(5)Kristina O.
I love that this place is in Old Irving, a neighborhood slightly starved for really great food! I haven't tried this place for dinner, but did come here for brunch. I like something a little different, the layout is very open and not too fancy. I could see it being a great first date place or for gathering with friends. The service was fine, the food was...different... but good! Honestly, we both just ordered things and they came out looking very different from what we expected! That said, the flavors and ingredients were still top notch, and we had an experience, which in my opinion, is what is important. I'll definitely go back to try dinner, and would recommend it to anyone who lives remotely close. Gotta support the neighborhoods which need a little more flava!
(4)Rob F.
I've wanted to try this place out for a while. I've heard nothing but good stuff about B&W . I had to cancel a reservation and they couldn't have been nicer... So my girlfriend and Iook a nice Sunday trip up Irving Park to B&W Parking was nice and we sat out on the patio which seemed quieter than the inside. There was no bread service... isn't it in the name? We got three pieces from the charcuterie plate. These were very good, albeit small portions for 15. The pate was well executed and the kielbasa was tasty. One hang up, they gave us one cornichon...and cut it in half. Really? Cant part with a couple tiny pickles for 15 bucks. It seemed a bit arrogant. On to the entrees...After a long wait, both came out cold. Keep in mind the place had three tables filled. Upon returning the overcooked and cold steak the waitress returned with the same steak. Yes the same steak. She addressed the problem saying, the chef said that the steak was indeed medium rare and just reheated it for you." Unacceptable. I was unsatisfied with the dish that was over cooked and B&W responds by telling me I am wrong and overcooked my steak more!!?? What a joke. And to boot the steak was also unseasoned and served with a weird gross steak sauce on the plate which wasn't on the menu...Isn't it an insult to the chef when you add a sauce to a steak? Also the asparagus mentioned on the menu was nowhere to be found. The gnocchis that were not gnocchis were good but they are cubed fried semolina dough so just call them that. Our other entrée was the Whitefish which was not as hot as it should have been but good. Until we found that it was not whitefish but bass because that's what was printed on the check and not on the menu. Also Unacceptable. Last but not least, we tried the tiny slice of peanut butter icebox pie...please kill this dessert with fire. It was by far the worst thing I've eaten in recent memory, putting it in the running for the worst in my life. The pretzel crust was wet sand. The filling was a horrible, sour, salty, peanut slime. I couldn't get the taste and film from my mouth for almost 2 hours after one bite. This pie had clearly been in the icebox for quite some time. It also had a clumsy salty ganache which was also inedible. I really wanted to like this place. For the money and after the steak incident I will not be returning. If I want to be insulted I'll go to Wiener's Circle and be insulted, at least I'll get what I want and not get lied to.
(2)Lisa K.
I was really surprised by Bread & Wine, but not necessarily in a good way. Some quick thoughts: 1. Why does a restaurant called Bread & Wine not serve any bread? This seems like a gross oversight, especially when you consider the absurdly small portions... even on the large plates. 2. Speaking of absurdly small portions, the portions are absurdly small, and I'm not just talking about the small plates. I was out to dinner with 5 other people and everyone except me had the large plates, and the food on their plate took up exactly half of the plate. It was almost comical just how small the portions were. If you're going to serve such little food, why not at least use smaller plates so people don't feel like they're getting ripped off? 3. The gnocchi was just bizarre. Instead of gnocchi, it tasted like battered and fried tofu. And not in a good way. 4. The pork belly was tasty! 5. The peanut butter pie was one of the worst desserts I've ever had in my life. I live for dessert, yet I spit out the bit of pie that I had. It tasted like congealed lukewarm peanut butter. Not to mention that the slice was approximately 1/3 the size of what a normal piece of pie should be. 6. The acoustics in the restaurant are terrible. Dinner got uncomfortable at times because we just got tired of yelling at one another. I assume they're doing the best they can in a space that used to be a laundromat, but holy heck. Don't go here to have a conversation. 7. Free parking. Let me say that again: free parking. In a lot. Awesome. Lest that sound harsh, I think there's a lot of opportunity for improvement here and I'm happy to see nicer restaurants on Irving Park. That said, our experience didn't match the high price tags on the menu.
(2)Stan P.
I wish that I could give Bread&Wine 3.5 stars, but Yelp doesn't have that flexibility. The restaurant has great atmosphere and some profoundly good aspects, but the food tripped me up a little bit. Partly, I think I am personally out of sync with the heavy salty, rich food that is so ubiquitous in Chicago right now. I admit that I am a fan of lighter sauces, vegetables and a great salad. In fact, there was no great salad on the menu. And, when I ordered the small salad with wheat berries, I asked for a substitution in dressing given that I have an allergy to miso - and the waitress balked and said that it was just too busy to make any changes. I pleaded my case, and she did bring me a lemon based dressing that was very rich. At least no miso. Our group did start dinner with some yummy appetizers. The fried Tofu, the octopus and the scallops were all different and very good. Again, all but the scallops suffered from the too much salt trend, but they were tasty in small quantity. At the table, we also had the Chorizo/beef burger which was pretty good and came with excellent french fries and the chicken/spaetzle/oat dish which seemed to be a bit over cooked. But, again, there were no fresh veggies - nothing to clean or lighten the palate. Dessert was probably the best course. We had some very good french press decaf -- great flavor. And, we had the salted caramel, popcorn panna cotta. Wow. It was good. Very rich and the caramel was certainly salty. We split it four ways so it wasn't too bad. It's a great little place. Nicely decorated. Has its own small parking lot and parking is pretty easy on Irving Park as well. We would go back. Maybe the menu will lighten as spring and summer approach.
(3)Evan H.
Party of 5 had an 8PM reservation this past Friday. The hostess greeted us warmly and we posted up at the bar while waiting for 2 more in our party to arrive. We were seated promptly upon their arrival. Our server was friendly and seemed knowledgeable. We ordered drinks and started scanning the menu. First annoyance was that beer and wine arrived WAY before the 2 specialty cocktails that were ordered. I mean, it was AT LEAST another 5-7 minutes before the 2 cocktails arrived. I looked over my shoulder at the bar a few times - 1 bartender on a bustling Friday night. Bad scheduling on management's part, it seemed. We ordered some cheeses and charcuterie to start. Everything was good, but servings were TINY. That's ok, I'm used to that when ordering a cheese plate. Just be prepared to drop $30 on MAYBE 2 oz. each of 5-6 different items. Additionally, they were super-stingy on the bread. Yes, they did bring us a second little basket when our first disappeared 3 seconds after arriving at the table, but when each basket contains only 6-7 little wedges of bread, it goes fast. Isn't this place called BREAD & Wine? As someone else pointed out, where the hell was the bread? Our party of 5 ordered 4 small plates and 4 large plates. We ate EVERYTHING. What to take away from this? Order more than you think you'll need. Portions are minuscule, especially on the small plates. Very difficult for more than 2 or 3 people to even get a taste. Another big problem? No vegetables. I mean not a single green thing graced our table all night (notwithstanding the 2 little slices of cornichon that came with the charcuterie). When I'm ordering a $16 chorizo burger (good, but extremely salty) or a $22 flank steak entree, I say you throw in a little side salad or SOMETHING. I left feeling profoundly carnivorous and over-salted. It was a gorgeous night on Friday, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to leave the a/c off when your restaurant is busy, the kitchen/dining room follows an open concept, and your windows don't open. It got HOT in there. Uncomfortably hot. I was ready to go before the end of our meal, if only to dam the river of sweat that was rolling down my back. The 5 of us managed to drop $245 on a modest cheese/charcuterie plate, 4 small plates, 4 large plates, and 8 drinks. While the food was good, I did not leave feeling I got good value for my money. Honestly, I enjoyed the company more than any aspect of the experience at Bread & Wine. Considering its price-point, I expected more. Probably won't be going back.
(2)Felix C.
Fabulous from beginning to the end. Great service and conversation with the sous chef. The baby octopus was awesome!
(4)Sam L.
The neighborhood needed an upper scale restaurant but NOT this place. Here is why - Rude host full of her self AND it turns out out to be one of the owners ! - food portions are way too small to be charging $28 for an entree and to walk out still hungry , that goes also for the salad, dessert and even the small half full glass of wine for $11.50 - food is nothing special, lacks flavor , very small portions and expensive for no reason ! Too bad This place will not last another year! There are plenty of better restaurants .
(1)Deeds P.
My husband and I want for valentines last week. We got there pretty early (6pm), and by 6:30, the place was packed. I think they were working very hard to keep all their reservations on schedule b/c we were seated, served, billed, and out the door in an hour and 5 min! We did feel a little rushed to quickly finish as they kept tying to take away our plates before we were done. Food wise, we had the burger (good, but on the small side), octopus (yum, and actually I was surprised by the generous portion), and the semolina gnocchi (very different from your normal gnocchi - they were breaded/fried cubes of rich deliciousness. Super heavy, but totally worth it). Our cocktails were good, and no, we did not order wine. Come to think of it, we also were not served any bread. All in all, great splurge place to try once. Prob won't be returning, but only b/c there are just too many places to try!
(4)Martha L.
Being in the neighborhood I am so happy to have a dining option such as Bread and Wine. Within walking distance! I've dined here 3 times now. Love their wine list....many good, reasonably priced options. Outsranding. Love their decor. Sitting at the bar is the greatest! But there are a few things that continue to leave a slight sour taste in my mouth.... 1. Portions are too small for the price. I understand the need to charge for good, qaulity ingredients and chef preparation but the math just doesn't add up here. I had the deconstructed sweet potato pie on Saturday night. Wonderful flavors; WAY too small for $8.00. 2. My girlfriend ordered an expresso from the Bartender and he advised that this was not available. He then offered her "french pressed" coffee. We were charged $7.00. Kinda need to know that it comes for "2"....not impressed. And really, at that price? I really need to see some more "value" here. I LOVE the fact that it is within walking distance. But then I think of my experience at places like the Purple Pig; where I feel I get outstanding food at prices that match; I am perfectly fine to get in my car and drive.
(3)Mimi R.
This place rocks! We went there at 3:30pm and for at least the first hour were the only patrons. Talk about an ideal environment to enjoy this place. We were tag-teamed by the two bartenders (sat at the bar, of course) who were so terrific and gracious. The food was amazing...smoke trout on toast, herb fries, warm burrata (OH YUM) with crispy capers to die for, beef & chorizo burger and the sweet potato doughnuts with salted caramel sauce. And the wine...all great selections. We ended up being there for almost four hours and watched the people trickle in until it was packed by 6pm-ish. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
(5)Johanna L.
Pros: good selection of wine by the bottle, knowledgable staff, pickled dates on the cheese plate, housemade pasta Cons: fettucini was WAY too salty - almost inedible, terrible accoustics (I had to yell across the table at my friends), mushrooms were even chewier than the pasta. Glad I tried it, but will not go back unless it's just for the cheese plate and a bottle of wine.
(2)Scott B.
I usually try to avoid restaurants until they've been open for at least a month but I was glad that I did not wait to go here. We had no wait on a Tuesday night as long as we were willing to sit at the bar. Our server, the bartender, was extremely helpful and attentive. It is a nice little restaurant that I think will be around for awhile. The small plate portions were a little light but still very tasty. My beef and chorizo burger was excellent, I highly recommend it. I never thought the chorizo would be a separate patty itself but it worked so well with the beef. And I love pretzel rolls so this only made the burger that much more enjoyable. My girlfriend had the chicken dish and seemed to really enjoy it as well. The final touch was sweet potato doughnut for dessert. It doesn't sound appealing but it is so delicious. The only hiccup in the night was when our server accidentally charged us the bottle price for a glass of wine. After a minor heart attack on my part, the situation was quickly rectified. So after 1 small plate, 2 large plates, 1 dessert, 2 glasses of wine and a beer, our total was still under $70. Not too bad for a nice meal out. We will go back again.
(5)Jeanus T.
I cannot remember anything spectacular but the overall impression was that food very solid. I do like the atmosphere there, the crowd was sophisticated and more mature. Good hangout place.
(3)Alexis W.
Close to my house, parking for everyone else, beautiful interior, friendly service, excellent drink selections, delicious food, and sitting at the chef's bar nets extra treats. Also a delicious brunch. Make reservations.
(5)Mark V.
I really dig this place and like a lot of other reviewers I see here, am rooting for it to flourish. My wife and I have had a couple different date nights there and are always really pleased with the experience. I recommend the gnocchi, burger, white fish, and chicken. They have some great seasonal beers too, including two different 650ml bottles from 3 Floyds last time I was there. Yes please. Our server was delightful and even the music was great. I wish it was a little less expensive but only because we're always tempted to try one of everything when we're there.
(4)Jerry P.
Bread & Wine has so much unrealized potential. I anxiously awaited the opening of this local restaurant for nearly a year. When it finally opened, I could hardly wait to check it out! Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. I decided to make my first trip an event and scheduled a birthday dinner for four people on a Saturday night. I called and even though they did not take reservations yet, they said they would accomodate my party -- that's excellent customer service! But that's where the exceptional service ended. My party was seated and our server did not come by and check with us for over 25 minutes to take orders. When we inquired about drinks and recommendations, we were just pointed to the printed menu and said to select from there. Well, I knew that the drinks were printed on there, I wanted the server's opinion on things to try. Speaking of the menus, they are two very large legal size sheets with small type printed on both sides -- they need to improve their presentation so that people can make good decisions. We got the duck perogis for an appetizer. The menu stated that there were three but when they were served, there were only two. We inquired with our server but she had no answer. The perogis were dry, had very little duck and seemed overdone. For the entrees, I had the chorizo burger (excellent!) and my friend had a salad which she also deemed pretty good. However, the two others had the duck stroganoff special. It was INEDIBLE. The noodles tasted just like flour and water mixed together for thirty seconds and then boiled for another thirty seconds. The noodles were gummy, hard and not at all appetizing. There was no stroganoff sauce detected at all (all absorbed into the noodles) and no one ever found a piece of duck in the entire dish. We spoke to our server about this horrible food and were given a complimentary chorizo taco appetizer ($7 value) but we still had to pay for our stroganoff dishes that could not be eaten ($18 per dish). I followed up with the restaurant on the Monday following our visit and told them my concerns and said that I was telling them since I wanted to support local business and wanted to come back again to see their improvements. They responded that everyone has an off night and that was it. They did not give me any sort of incentive to show they'd listened to encourage me to come back in. I decided to give 2 stars because the concept is good and my food from their main menu was very good. But, the service, specials and the overall laissez-faire attitude is not going to help them be successful. I wish them good luck and hope that they improve. But until I hear otherwise, I won't be back.
(2)Kelly M.
I'm obsessed with this place!! It's so ridiculously amazing!! A few items worth noting: wine list (duh!); beer list (yep!....at a wine place!); cheese & charcuterie plates (to DIE for!!); cocktails (creative, fun, seasonal, all-around-a-huge-party-in-your-mouth); seafood: um HELLO!! More please!!; outdoor seating: it's small (and hard to come by on those rare great-weather days in early spring/late fall when everyone and their mother have an amazing urge to dine al fresco), but it's SUPER adorable and cozy; oh, and the service is literally FANTASTIC!! Basically, it's the full package! : )
(5)Julie Y.
I like the name. I like the location and they have a parking lot - unheard of. I like the decor and the small bar and the chef's bar. But I did not like the food. The wine was good - nice selection but they could use more selections by the glass. The olives and cheese were very good. Pigface pancetta - nah. Pancetta is all fatty, better to offer prosciutto. The fried gnocchi - I don't get it. Had not flavor. So once I have ordered the cheese plate, olives and gnocchi, frankly, I did not want anything else. They gave us free dessert - still not sure why. It just appeared when we were discussing whether we wanted a dessert. It was a nice gesture, but odd because it happened without much discussion. I liked the dessert - panna cotta - with carmel corn on top. Interesting. It's a cool place. I want it to succeed. They need a bit more polish and maybe have someone tweak some of the starters. I cannot speak to the small or large plates, but I do understand other reviewers were not unhappy.
(3)Michelle L.
Just had brunch today. Service was excellent. Atmosphere was also excellent. The food was good - very good but not great or the best I have had. My two friends felt the same way. We will definitely be back to try dinner.
(4)B. A.
Eight of us had a wonderful dinner here - appetizers, entrees, desserts and nice wine. The servers were friendly and knowledgable and the food was perfect - all of it. It's a cozy darkish space with a parking lot in front. Perfect evening.
(5)George A.
The staff and owners are very welcoming. We had raw sliced scallops with exotic fruit gels, the walleye was great, the gnocchi is one of a kind. We ordered the chefs choice cheese and charcuterie which was enough for 4 people, we loved the chicken liver pâté, the ham was excellent and the cheeses were awesome. I also ordered the duck confit pierogis and we both thought they were very good. Flourless chocolate cake with fruity pebble crumble finished off a great meal! I loved my "grumpy old man" cocktail which was made with Redemption bourbon, ginger ale, and a lime! Can't wait to go back!
(4)David J.
I was definitely underwhelmed by this place. Considering how much I was paying, the portions and quality just weren't cutting it. I will say that the cheese was absolutely delicious, but it's not like they make it in-house. At the time, they had a meatloaf on the menu which was terribly bland. It was served with some weird chili paste that was really bitter and did little to help the dish. It's a huge shame since Old Irving really needs some good restaurants.
(2)Moe f.
Swung by early on a Sat night and snagged a seat at the bar with Hans. Started with a nice priced bottle of Josh Cellars cab. Started with some cheese and meats. we got chicken liver(amazing), Panceta(amazing), duck and some other cheeses. Well could have made a meal with all that but also got the fries which were great and the duck pierogies. Pierogies were OK. Will definitely be back to try some other dishes.
(4)Mariah V.
When they announced they were taking reservations, my friend and I knew it was time to make a trip out there. There's a little parking lot out front, and we had no trouble getting a spot. Walking in the host asked us if we were the party of 5 which kind of threw us off, because there were, well, only two of us standing there. We ended up ordering parmesan grana, herb fries, duck confit pierogies, mixed greens salad, and braised pork shoulder. Our waitress said she would pace the food so first we got the parmesan, pierogies and fries, then salad and pork shoulder. They did come in little waves, but we couldn't eat everything fast enough until the next wave came. I didn't mind all the food sitting in front of us, because I like to feel like I'm feasting. The parmesan grana came in little chunks with a few pieces of bread, mustard, jam and mini pickles. Loved the cheese, mustard and the tanginess of the jam, but the bread left a little to be desired. Next up, the pierogies that had creme fraiche (cafeteria fraiiiiiiiiche. South Park, anyone?) and pickled red onions. All the components worked very well together, plus I really love pickled red onions. Really. The fries were seasoned well and were nice with the malt aioli, but we had a lot of little fry nubbins in the bottom of the basket. Fortunately, I am not too proud to eat fry nubbins. The salad was fresh, and the pickled fennel was so good. Finally, the main event, the braised pork shoulder. Meat with cornbread puree, baked beans and pickled brussels sprouts, which seemed like a bizarre combination of things we love. I loved the brussels sprouts, the baked beans were alright, and the meat was nice but had a few bits of gristle. Leaving Bread & Wine, I was kind of confused. The flavors were good, but everything we got was strangely luke warm instead of hot, literally. I would understand more if the food had actually been paced, but it all came out very quickly and couldn't have sat for long. The pierogies were my favorite part of the meal but were just sort of warm and sitting there. Nothing cooked felt very fresh, I suppose, despite the ingredients clearly being fresh. Bread & Wine could be so good, but everything just seemed a bit off from the food to the service. I do love that they list the farms from which their ingredients come. I'd give Bread & Wine a 3.5, but I can't think of a good reason to round up to 4 stars.
(3)Susan F.
My recent experience at bread & wine was delightful. Food standouts included the pig face pancetta, Manchester cheese, beef and chorizo burger, carrot fettuccine and flank steak. Service was very attentive and the atmosphere was lively. The wine selections were really great. Their sauvignon blanc was perfect and we also had a delicious Malbec. Downsides: 1) cheese and meat portions on the charcuterie (sp?) were far too small - need to be about 25% bigger so a group can taste and for the value, 2) Hard to hear each other in a big group.
(4)Foodie E.
Been on Chicago 20 years and this place by far is one of my favorites. Highly highly recommended. Flank steak is the best I've ever had. Unbelievable.
(5)Michelle M.
My boyfriend recently took me here to celebrate my birthday and it was one of the best birthday dinners I've ever had. From the minute we walked in the door I knew it was going to be a good experience. We went out on a Thursday night, so it really wasn't that crowded. Initially we thought we'd sit outside because it was such a nice night. Since it wasn't very crowded, the super nice hostess gave us the option to sit - including the "chef table." Not your typical chef table since it's more of a "bar with many seats," we chose this option. From the moment we sat down, the chef(s) were just awesome. They got wind it was my birthday and perhaps that's why they were so awesome to us, but the hostess did tell us you "get special things" sometimes when you sit there. We started off with meat/cheese plate - the Kielbasa is to DIE for - and I don't even like sausage that much. We then were given as a "treat" the fried gnocchi - which is nothing like you'd think and I'm not even going to try to justify it in writing b/c I can't. Just go there and get it. It's not on the menu; it's a special request dish. Fantastic! Then, chef let us taste some pork belly - incredible - as well as a wild mushroom that was literally walked in the door by the seller while we were sitting there. I got the scallops, my boyfriend got the pasta and they were SO amazing. Then, when it came to dessert, we couldn't' decide, so we ordered the panacotta - and they actually brought us that and the seasonal dessert. It was such a wonderful birthday and the entire staff at Bread & Wine made it that way! Thank you!
(5)Vic B.
I can only give one star on the basis that we didn't stay long enough to actually try the food. We had a party of 6 for an 8pm reservation on a Friday night.....a rehearsal dinner, as we're getting married the next day. I should have known something was up, getting such a reservation on a Friday night via Open Table, just two days before. In fact I even commented so to my fiancé as I booked it. We arrive a few minutes to 8. And the hostess says our table is almost ready. By 8.15, no sign of the table, and we're standing by the bar - where they're obviously hoping we will buy their overpriced drinks while we wait. Thing is, don't offer us the bar when there's only 4 seats, and there's 6 of us. Then don't hassle us nonstop for standing in the way. Then we wait and wait as we see at least two parties of two walk right in and get seated right away. By 8.30, we've had enough. Now, half an hour may not be that long to some people, but in that restaurant, where there is hardly room to move, it felt like a lifetime. It's too loud to have a conversation anyway, and we're tired of watching the hostess and bartender harass the couple who are finishing up their meal and clearly taking too long to finish according to the hostess, as she's busy rearranging the table next to them in readiness for pushing the two together for our party, which was obviously being done for our benefit. Overall, I'm sure the food is as good as the reviews say, but until they have an attitude adjustment and an overhaul of their business plan and accept you cannot and should not accept large parties when you clearly don't have the capacity for them, I won't be back, or will the other 5 members of my party. Too bad, as we live right around the corner and have a lot of friends who like to eat out.
(1)Erin K.
Wow! We loved this place! I cannot wait to get back there! My fiance and I just went last week. We were in a bit of a rush - we had about an hour and our server Kevin made sure that was no problem for us. We did 4 courses and left with no sweat on our brow. But that's just the start for Kevin - he was super helpful and accommodating and you couldn't ask for a better server knowledge. He was there when we needed him and gave us space to enjoy ourselves when we didn't. And we definitely bombarded him with a lot of questions! For wine we had a Malbec and Syrah - both delicious. We started with a cheese and charcuterie plate with selections suggested by Kevin and were immediately in love with Bread and Wine. Next was the duck pierogies which, again, were perfect. My favorite thing about this restaurant is that it's farm to table - which means meat I can eat! Yippee!! For the main course we had the pumpkin fettuccine and the burger. The pumpkin fettuccine was good but not my favorite thing - probably because I kept eating the mushrooms forgetting they were mushrooms and not liking them (apparently I'm not so smart). The burger was amazing. I mean, it had chorizo! What's not to like? And the fries were great too - you could tell how fresh they were. Not to mention I could see how fresh they were. I sat up at the kitchen bar. Which i recommend. We got to hang with the chefs and chat it up a bit and watch them do their thing. On top of everything, the place is reasonably priced. For all that our bill was still less than $100. Can't beat that! Seriously, what's not to like about this place??
(5)Sparty S.
This place is just alright. Honestly, I don't see what the hype was by all the 5-star reviewers. They made me have high hopes for this place. Went in on Saturday at 7:30, didn't wait terribly long. I have to say, the location is sort of weird, so the fact that they have a parking lot is a plus.... otherwise it'd be a huge pain to get to unless you live off the blue line or the Metra. We ended up getting lucky and scoring some seats at the bar. The bar staff was a bit rough around the edges.... it didn't seem like they had their "groove" down quite yet, but since this place is less than a month old, I gave them some credit. The guy that took our order was one of those that tries to remember it without writing it down, but then forgets to put it in. Dude, just grab a pad of paper! So we waited sort of a while for our appetizers/small plates.... Which were really small. I guess that is why they are called small plates. For the price, so not worth it. 3 tiny chorizo tacos for 7 bucks. Each taco was literally 2 bite. They were pretty tasty. The Duck Pieorgis were FAB. We also had fried pickles. They were decent. I got the chicken dish, and both of my friends got the fish. They were out of the walleye so they served up some other fish that tasted pretty fishy. Mine was alright... not awesome. It could have been worse.... but it could have been better. There just wasn't much wow factor to this.... and my friend commented that it was on the dry side. We had dessert.... my favorite part of every meal... and it was delicious. We had the rosemary olive oil cake with lemon curd and whipped creme fraiche, and the sweet potato donuts with salted caramel sauce. Both were DELICIOUS. Overall, I'd say try this place if you live in the area. If you don't, I'd say you can take it or leave it. It's definitely no Ruxbin.... or Telegraph. I didn't get to work today and blab about this place to my coworkers.
(3)Johnny B.
What a great addition to the neighborhood! My wife and I have been twice already and will definitely be returning soon. Everything, from the food to the service, is spot-on! We love the counter seating next to the open kitchen. It's interesting to watch the activity and the kitchen staff is quite friendly in spite of the frantic pace. Prices are quite reasonable considering the quality of food and preparation. The tab would be double if this place were on Randolph Street. My one complaint is the shortage of parking (the lot in front is small and was full during both of our visits). Street parking is generally plentiful but the restaurant resides near that weird intersection of Elston and Irving Park Road where you get sucked into a Bermuda Triangle-like maze of one directional side streets. It's also good to see several vegetarian / vegan options on the menu so we can bring our misguided friends - whom we love in spite of their dietary preference.
(5)Scott Y.
We really enjoyed our wine tasting/food pairing over the weekend. The owners and staff were friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. The wine picks were very interesting and the nibbles were really good. Told this will be a monthly event. This was our first visit and we will be back to have a full meal. Glad they are in the neighborhood!
(4)Michelle N.
Food and atmosphere were excellent. We went on a busy Sat night and had the option to sit at the counter or wait for a table. Sitting at the counter and conversing with the staff made for an entertaining experience! Staff was informative, attentive, and friendly. Food was flavorful and fun. Would definitely go back and recommend to friends!
(5)Jerry M.
Great neighborhood join, truly a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Super friendly staff, love sitting at the kitchen bar. As they worked through their opening quirks, things just kept getting better.
(4)Alexandra B.
Everything about this place was meh. The wine, the food, the service, all of it. The only thing I truly liked was the cheese but it's not like they make that there anyway. I hope this is all part of getting the "just opened" kinks out because I would really like to come back. This neighborhood desperately needs better places to eat. I was really surprised the wine menu was not bigger, given the name of the place. I kept flipping the menu over expecting more on the next page. The prices are really high for what you're getting. The quality and quantity just don't match up with the price. Maybe I'll try it again once they've been here for a year or so.
(2)Denise M.
Amazing!! First of all the service was amazing. Lisa Rocks!! She took such good care of me last night for my 14 person birthday dinner. I had such great wine and a lot of it!! The food was great! Good time was had by all!
(5)Leo J.
A place with a fun and inviting atmosphere. Great food, good service and reasonable prices. I will definitely be coming back. Make sure to get the Pate and the chorizo burger is to die for.
(5)Linda P.
As other reviewers have noted, b&w is a nice addition to the hood. Most of the patrons seem to be neighborhood folks which is good & bad news. They will need to do some work to attract people from out of the area to make the trek. The restaurant is very noisy. The owners are aware of the problem & say a fix is in the works but on a busy Friday night it was virtually impossible to carry on a conversation at our table. Good wine selection & fair prices. The food is generally good but a bit pricy. $5 for a bowl of nuts? The cheese sampler plate had tiny portions. The entrees are a better deal than the small plates. Dessert choices are limited but very good. Since I live nearby I will be back.
(3)Axel G.
The food and wait staff staff was great. The wines were also very good. The only downside was that we sat by the window/fridge so it was a bit cold. Regardless, adults and children enjoyed the meal.
(4)Sarah B.
I love this place and love that it's in my neighborhood even more! Delicious plates, farm to table ingredients and attentive and friendly staff. I stopped in tonight with a craving for chicken liver pâté, got the Chef's selection cheese & charcuterie, Erin was my server and I sat at the counter and chatted it up with Dylan as he cooked in front of me. The perfect end to a lovely day. I'll be back on Sunday to check out the brunch menu!
(5)Daisy F.
So glad this place is in Irving Park. The atmosphere is really laid back and friendly and the food is inventive without being stuffy (and very good!). I'm looking forward to returning again and again!
(4)Mary K.
What a pleasant surprise. Amazing food. You eat straight from the Midwest prairie. Houses made charcuterie, local cheeses, wild greens, stinging nettle fetuccini with hedgehog mushrooms- some of the best food we have had this year. Outstanding attentive service without being pretentious. A delightful mix of Chicago folks from Old Irving Park, Avondale and Albany Park. We will go back often. This is a restaurant that focuses on the basics of great ingredients, great service and great wine at affordable price points. Big success. Let's hope the ultra cool and snooty don't discover this down to Earth gem. Bravo to all involved.
(5)B B.
Maybe we went on an off night, but our experience was quite disappointing. The salads were weak with very little flavor and pork belly had no sear on it at all, so there was no texture to the dish. Nice decor and atmosphere and probably a welcomed addition to that neighborhood, but for us it was not worth the drive.
(2)Guido N.
We didn't have reservations so we sat at the bar that overlooks their open kitchen. Turned out to be the best seats in the house. House cured meats with a schmeer of this or that on top. Everything was great. A tall pretty lady helped me through the wine list-fine by me. I'll be back.
(5)Elle D.
The food was awesome! Best sausage I have ever had! A def must try!
(5)Jamie B.
My sister and I went here for dinner last night. I seriously can't believe it has only been open a week; the service was flawless and the food was amazing. The seamless service and the degree of familiarity that the waitstaff had with all of the food and wines is much more of what I would expect from a well-run place that has been around for years. Did I mention that the food was amazing (I am going to be craving that burger!)? The wine we had with it was perfect, and the dessert is to die for. I will be going back as soon as possible! We went on a Wednesday night, and given how many people were there (and already waiting for tables), this restaurant is just what the neighborhood has been needing! Although it was busy, we never felt rushed. I'm sure that word will get out soon and people will make this spot a destination from all over, because the menu and experience is unique and delightful. I'll just make reservations next time!
(5)Laura B.
We went here yesterday evening for our wedding anniversary and had an amazing time. The service was wonderful. This place is unique and creative, their menu is full of items you won't find other places. We enjoyed everything we tried, especially the flour less chocolate cake with pop rocks and fruity pebbles. Very enjoyable experience all around, and we look forward to dining here again!
(5)Brian W.
Went on Saturday, 1/28 at 6:00 pm. We sat along the east wall where it was very loud. Hard to have a conversation. Needs something on the wall or drapes to eat up some of the noise. Food was good.
(3)Gary W.
Enjoyed the Tuesday tasting menu. Also had the special cocktail of the evening which was only 7$ well balanced, yet plenty of booze. It was fun sitting at the counter engaging the chefs periodically or just watching the whole process. 130$ total for two 3 course meals with two great drinks each is a good deal. The food was complex, tasty, and well executed. We'll definately be back.
(5)Jean B.
Lincoln Park comes to Irving Park! Casual-fine dining with a select yet well-executed menu. We enjoyed every taste - but especially the crispy gnocchi and popcorn panna cotta. Impressive and well-priced wine list. Wonderful, attentive service. And they DO have outdoor seating on their delightful tree-lined side street - nary an exhaust fume in the air!
(4)Jenny H.
My new favorite restaurant in my hood! The food is farm to table and amazing. We sat at the counter where you can watch your food being prepared as well as in house meats and they even let us sample some. I have been back multiple times and can't wait to go for the brunch which I heard was wonderful! I love having them in the neighborhood.
(5)Jill P.
I'm so excited Bread & Wine opened in my neighborhood. Amazing food and really great service while still moderately priced. I went there with my boyfriend on a Saturday night (of opening weekend). The place was packed so I sat at the bar while my bf stood behind me and waited for another seat to open up - he waited about 15 minutes. I started off with a cocktail, the Blue Line to O'Hare for $8 - yum! They also have a nice selection of wines by the glass/bottle and beers. I tried the Dragon's Milk stout for $5 - I have a new favorite beer :) The chicken liver pate was like meat butter - it was so good. My bf loved the chorizo beef burger and I was very impressed by the walleye. The braised fennel had such great flavor, I wanted to lick the green olive tapenade off the plate and of course the walleye was perfectly cooked that just made the perfect dish. Three drinks for me and 2 for the bf, an appetizer and two entrees added up to about $60 after tip. What a deal. I'll definitely be back. Be sure to peruse their market items while waiting for a table - biscotti, brittle, almonds, the curry coconut cashews rock my face off.
(5)Jennifer L.
So happy to have something like Bread & Wine in the neighborhood!!! Had dinner here on Friday night and smiled the entire time because the food was just that good! The chicken tortellini small plate special and the salad we had were our favorites but everything we ordered was seasoned well, tasted great and left us wanting to visit again VERY soon!
(4)