Brendan Sodikoff is a highly successful American chef and restaurateur, recognized as a 'culinary wunderkind'. He is the founder of the Chicago-based Hogsalt Hospitality group, known for creating distinct and popular...
Gilt Bar is an inviting and intimate New American restaurant located in Chicago, known for its sophisticated yet comfortable ambiance. It features a main dining area and an underground lounge called Curio, which offers a speakeasy-like experience with its own bar and a photo booth. The restaurant is celebrated for its high-quality food and exceptional cocktail program.
Customers consistently praise Gilt Bar for its outstanding food, particularly highlighting the burger, chicken & morel pot pie, and steak tartare as must-try dishes. The cocktails are frequently lauded as 'the jam' and 'perfecto'. Service is described as attentive and wonderful. The atmosphere, especially in the intimate downstairs lounge, is a major draw, though it can get very crowded, particularly on weekends. It's perceived as a high-quality, decadently dependable spot suitable for dates and group dinners.
Additional Details
Gilt Bar houses an underground lounge named Curio, which offers a distinct speakeasy vibe and includes a photo booth, adding to the unique experience. The restaurant is part of the Hogsalt Hospitality group.
Reservations are highly recommended, especially for weekend evenings, as the restaurant can be very crowded. Walk-ins are welcome at the bar, but expect a wait during peak times like Friday evenings. Booking up to 21 days in advance is possible.
5
Perfect setting for an end of the year dinner with my friends. We let one take the wheel and order for the table. Our favorites were the steak tartare, carbonara, burger with fries and the martinis! I did reserve for main dining area but we ended up sitting in the basement which was a much better vibe for our party! Don’t forget to check out the Photo Booth if you are already down there.
Perfect Chicago Summer Night at Gilt Bar!
Ending up at Gilt Bar tonight was a fantastic pivot. I sat outside on the patio to enjoy the beautiful Chicago weather, and the entire experience was flawless.
To start, the Hamachi Crudo was incredibly light, clean, and refreshing with its bright citrus notes. For the main, the Chicken & Morel Pot Pie completely stole the show—it's an absolute must-order, rich, comforting, and topped perfectly with that roasted bone marrow. Paired everything with a perfectly crisp Hugo Spritz from their house cocktail list.
The food was top-tier, the service was wonderfully attentive, and the outdoor atmosphere was just perfect. I'll absolutely be back!
We had a wonderful dining experience. The food was absolutely delicious, and every staff member was warm, friendly, and attentive. The level of service truly felt like what you would expect at a fine dining restaurant, and we were extremely satisfied with every part of the experience.
The atmosphere was elegant and welcoming, and all of the staff were highly professional. To be honest, I was a little worried before coming because, as someone of a different ethnicity, I sometimes wonder if I might be treated differently at certain restaurants. However, I never felt that way here. Everyone treated us with genuine kindness and respect, which made us feel comfortable and welcome throughout our visit.
Thank you for providing such an outstanding dining experience. We will definitely be back and will happily recommend your restaurant to others.
Arrived at 515pm on a Friday to a packed house and an 8-person deep wait for a single table. Took my chance at the bar and scored after about 15 minutes. Cocktail specialties here: drinks are the jam. Whiskey sour was potent and all too easy. The Hemingway daiquiri was equally perfecto. The double wagyu cheeseburger felt under-priced at $29: it came with fries and a mayo-y dip. Asparagus on the side was roasted, salty, and smoky - super good. Bartender was conversational.
The crowd feels like finance employees on dates and group chat threads, mixed with Gen X drinkers (me?) and some tourists. Crowded as heck because it’s high quality, finely detailed, comfortable, and decadently dependable.
Had an amazing dinner at Gilt Bar. My wife booked and requested a table downstairs. When we arrived we were excited to find we’d secured a table downstairs which is an awesome intimate space with its own bars we had a booth which was also really cool. Service was excellent and the food lived up to the hype. An amazing experience on our trip to Chicago.
