4. Restaurants

Estate Ultra Bar

1177 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL, 60642
  • (312) 523-4296
  • Store is closed

Estate Ultra Bar Menu

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  • Jeffrey M.

    Estate Ultra Bar - Social Dining and Drinking. The name and the tagline says it all. Estate - While parts of the exterior have yet to be complete, the interior is modern, clean, and feels like a spacious home. Plenty of natural light brightens the entire building during the day and views of the river and city can be enjoyed day or night. If you enjoy the outdoors, al fresco dining is an option. Right now it's limited to their patio but I hear they have plans to opening their rooftop sometime this summer. Ultra - Other than the ambiance, I've had some pretty good service too. Servers were attentive and so were the bus boys! They kept the table cleaned up and didn't let any dirty plates sit there for long. Bar - Several speciality cocktails and a solid selection of tap beers including some local Goose Island products highlight their drink menu. If you enjoy whiskey with a hint of sweetness, try the Whiskey for Breakfast. Social Dining and Drinking - The menu has a nice selection of shared plates good for groups. Some of the items are good enough to not want to share though, the Lobster Mac and Cheese being one of them! Altogether, the atmosphere and menu make it a great place for social gatherings complete with couches and oversized booths. One of my friends was able to reserve their "trophy room" for his birthday for a more private feel. It almost felt like we were hanging out in someone's living room but with bottle service! I've thoroughly enjoyed my experiences at the estate and look forward to checking it out again especially when their rooftop opens. Chicago summer is only so long and what better way to enjoy it than being outdoors with some good food, drink, music and a view of the best skyline there is!

    (5)

  • Karissa J.

    We went to a bowl game viewing location here that had been planned for a month, which one would anticipate would be enough time for the staff to prepare for a big night. Apparently, it was not. Our package was to include beer and food. However, they were out of all but four beers and ran out of their signature beer nuggets before our package even began. The wait staff tried to keep up with our large group but seemed extremely overwhelmed. Maybe for small gatherings and dinner this place would be good, but this was not impressive to say the least.

    (2)

  • Liza K.

    The staff here is rude, aggressive, and get into people's faces for no reason. Horrible experience. I was part of a birthday party 40+ people and one of the girls who was with us was physically shoved by a big tall bald bouncer..for no reason! I'm scared to go back here it's unsafe!

    (1)

  • Mateusz K.

    This bar is a joke.First you can't go on the roof until you purchase a bottle.I can live with that though.Than we waited 30 min for menus and another 30 for drinks.We ordered few flatbreads -nothing special.My wife ordered Tuna tatare and what came was ridiculous .5 tiny potato chips with tuna mixed with something on top of it for $12. They can't be serious serving this to people.5 star hotels, best bars wouldn't dare serve something like this. Never go there again and others shouldn't too If u don't want to waste money and time.

    (1)

  • Lisa D.

    The place is cool and the rooftop is nice. I love rooftops. But it is very overpriced and nothing special. I found the food to taste horrible and the drinks to be watered down. I was disappointed. The service was horrible and our waitress was so rude! It took about 15 minutes just to order a drink and an additional 15 to order food, and they weren't even busy! We were never offered waters and ignored us several times. I cant imagine the service if they were busy! If i go back, it will be on a Wednesday because they have half price bottles of wine and will definitely NOT eat their food again! Not a fan of the location either. This place has potential but needs a lot of work!

    (2)

  • joe b.

    First off...to all Estate employees, owners, and friends...it's obvious which agenda driven reviews are yours. Tone your excitement down a little if you want to be believable. I've been to Estate twice, and the place definitely has potential. As others have mentioned, it seems to be having a bit of an identity crisis. It's just strange to have a young lady in a tight black dress(nightclub attire) serving us our burgers and fries. Positives were the food and the service. All of the staff I have dealt with are very pleasant. Some seemed a little confused at times, but this is the norm for newer establishments. I wanted to give them 3/12 stars...but they are not quite 4 star yet so I had to round down. Estate would benefit from creating a more casual atmosphere. Hopefully they find the right direction because I would like to see this place stick around.

    (3)

  • Shayna Y.

    I went here for St. Patty's day this year. They had an amazing all you can drink special, but their food policy and bar staff made for a less than customer friendly atmosphere. Their female bar staff all have chips on their shoulders. They gave all my friends a ton of attitude. The female bathroom attendants were much nicer - sadly. They also had a policy that you could not order food unless you ordered a minimum of $25. When you have an open bar special and you have restrictions on food, that does not seem like the safest of strategies. Regardless, we did have fun and during the summer, I am sure this place is pretty cool since it is on the river and has a patio.

    (2)

  • Stefanie B.

    Came here to eat their Horchata French Toast...doesn't that just sound amazing??! The service was very slow and the french toast was good but needed more Horchata flavor

    (4)

  • Ernirose M.

    The manager and owner is RUDE and DISRESPECTFUL. HORRIBLE customer service. What was advertised on their site is completely false. The manager refused to give us our money back after we paid the online fee. You can't advertise first come first serve seating and only have access to a few bar stools. After having talked to the manager about FALSE ADVERTISEMENT, he told us "you don't like it, just GO!", and turned around and walked away as if he had a busy bar to tend to. At this point, the bar was pretty empty and he continued to sit outside and hang out with other customers. I definitely DO NOT RECOMMEND this bar. This deserves NO STARS.

    (1)

  • Angela B.

    When you are in the event planning business you get to see more than the every day customer. I absolutely love Estate. We began working with Estate last year. From making reservations for dinner to setting up girls night out events, the entire staff always accommodates. Drinks- priced right, Food- amazing (try the shrimp tempura) Staff- always smiling and helpful if you are stopping in on a Friday or Saturday and you think there is no when there, think again. Make your way up the stairs to the rooftop where the DJ plays the most incredible dance, top 40 and throw backs that has everyone wanting to dance. Its sexy, fun and yes there is bottle service and cabanas. Table reservations are fairly priced and actually less expensive than River North clubs. If you are visiting Chicago, this is a place you must experience and if you live in Chicago, come by and checkout the rooftop. From boaters during the day to club hoppers at night..everyone fits in.

    (5)

  • Tracy X.

    Been here twice, neither time was great. One time I came here for a friend's reunion party, and the entire place is pretty much empty except for our giant group. The margaritas were good though. The other time I came here it was packed, but only because we actually had a major event there. Then one of the bouncers saw me sipping from my friend's glass (purely because neither of us wanted to drink a lot so we decided to share), quickly assumed that she was trying to pass drinks onto a minor, and started throwing us out. We tried to explain to them the situation and presented our IDs (Authentic Illinois Driver's Licenses, it's not even like we were using some obscure foreign ID). The bouncers clearly seemed to have an "Oh shit maybe I made a mistake" look but quickly decided to continue kicking us out instead of apologizing that they've made a mistake. They even threatened to report me to the police for drinking underage.... so we told them that we'd gladly answer to the police since we were clearly of age, and walked out. Oh well, this experience actually became a great story for us to tell, reinforcing the Asian people just look too young stereotype.

    (1)

  • Davis M.

    Simply put estate is the WORST experience you can pay for in the city. Be prepared for a RUDE and ARROGANT staff, OVERPRICED drinks and management that is looking to RIP YOU OFF. While trying to enjoy a nice date the following happened. - Waitress brought the entirely wrong dish which I could not eat due to allergies. - Refused to exchange it and ignored us the rest of the night. We spoke to the manager who said, "You get what you get bro. I don't give a shit about allergies, if it's such a problem why don't you just order something else." They refused to take off the wrong item off our bill and as I walked away I over heard him laughing to a buddy after saying "Geez what a fucking retard." - We also discovered an extra drink on the bill that the waitress tried to sneak in. This place is a TOTAL SCAM. With so many delicious and friendly establishments in the city I'm shocked anyone would WASTE their time and money here.

    (1)

  • Jesus G.

    Not sure how this place is still open! Was there on a Friday night and my guess is that there were less than 50 people there on the entire lounge (including the staff! Lol). My old fashion was great however they seem pricey ($12) given the portion. A shot of Jamo was $8 which my friends also said it was a lot for this place. They have downtown prices without the crowd or luxury. You have people wearing snapbacks and gym shoes which does not help the nightclub scene they are trying to portray. Doubt I would come back here since my favorite whisky joint is not far from there!

    (2)

  • mark j.

    Worst night of my life at this place! Going to sum it up: 1. Clueless hostesses who claimed they did not have "enough" wristbands to let my entire party onto the rooftop for a party we pre-planned weeks before, and not to mention had to place a ($500 non refundable deposit for-who does this) 2. The service was slow, and unresponsive to simple questions 3. Manager was rude and rather than enjoy the 1,000$ we are spending at your club you try to rotate our table before our bottles are done 4. Security staff- brainless and rude 5. Treat your customers as If you owe them something for coming and spending their Money, we owe you nothing!

    (1)

  • Tom B.

    There is good reason you see so many 1 or 2 star reviews for this place. I don't usually take the time to rate a business I do not like, but this place isn't worth anyone's time.

    (1)

  • Mickey F.

    Be careful when you come here very heavy handed door hosts make sure you bring a friend with you if are using the restroom my friend was attacked in the restroom.

    (1)

  • Delightful D.

    Visited last night for some drinks and had a great time. I loved the large open rooftop. So much room Def didn't feel crowded at all. I wish I would have tried some food. So I Def will next time. Nice rooftop away from downtown and not as busy or packed but still with a great view. I will return.

    (4)

  • Maria D.

    Great food, great atmosphere, service is always fantastic. I'm not a cheap-o who complains about prices, and I always tip well. Maybe that's why I always have the best time.

    (5)

  • Lisa S.

    I had my birthday party here a couple of weeks ago. The food was great, affordable, and just right for sharing with a group. I had set up a wristband bar package for my party and the whole night was a great time. The party was very easy. The only complaint one of my guests had was that the drink prices were too high. The drinks are definitely expensive, but if he had taken part in the drink package I don't think he would have had any complaints. I didn't drive, but some of my friends did, and they said parking was $10 if you parked in the bar's lot, and hard to find elsewhere. That's the city for you.

    (4)

  • John F.

    Have thrown many events there for personal and business functions and find great value and service. Parking a breeze, food while not Alinea is still top notch. The menu is diverse enough to keep me coming back for more great nights with great service enjoying amazing views from the roof top deck. Definitely will be back again this year. Only catch is they are open seasonly.

    (5)

  • Spencer H.

    If you've ever had to take a massive dump at a restaurant then read this review. I loved this plave already but now I love it even more. We have all had that time when we had a really good dinner then had to take a massive dump. Well I just finished my order of Rock Shrimp & then had to take a massive dump. I walk in the bathroom which was spotless & clean. I picked out one of the stalls & got down to business. The one thing that made me love this restaurant even more is that while I was taking a massive dump I was not in some flimsy bathroom stall, I was in a really nice one with real walls & a wooden door. It was not some cubicle style bathroom stall with a flimsy door with a crack in it so some one can watch you while you take a massive dump, it was a real stall with a real wooden door. Another plus about the bathroom was that while I was taking a massive dump I could hear the DJ playing good music. I almost started to rock out while I was taking a massive dump but decided not to. After my massive dump was over I returned to the bar for an iced tea. My meal here was delicious. One of my favorite items not just here but in general is the Rock Shrimp that Estate Ultra Bar has to offer. It is shrimp deep fried & served with jalapenos to give it extra flavor & spice. The portion size is very good as well. Monday nights are pretty crowded & they offer 50% off of drinks & 25% off of food for industry. Overall this place is awesome. The bathrooms are nice, the staff is friendly & the food is great.

    (5)

  • Yanja B.

    Eh, not that impressed. I was expecting a little more. Service was slow. But the waiting staff was super friendly. She almost told my boyfriend that they didn't have Blue Moon because she didn't want to go downstairs and get it from the bar. Food was alright. Not a bad place to visit once, but most likely will not be back. Please note we were there during the day

    (3)

  • Kait G.

    I have never felt so much regret going into a bar. I will give Estate this, the rooftop provides a pretty view of the city sky line and is good for groups but it is definitely not worth the money that must be spent here. Estate charges $9 for basically all of their drinks, including miller lite, shots of rumchata, and well mixed drinks ( on the rooftop at night, i'm not sure what the deal is at other times). With that, the minimum credit card amount is $30. The bartenders are impolite and the atmosphere is unbecoming. I made the choice to go but I felt robbed and crappy after leaving this place. Estate at least should step up their service and how they treat customers who are spending a lot of money on an experience they can get elsewhere at a much lower price.

    (1)

  • Anne A.

    Don't even bother with this place. Natasha is the rudest girl I've ever encountered at a bar. These people are nothing but greedy, money hungry monsters. I had the worst experience ever there. Take your hard earned money elsewhere asap. Pretty sure this place won't be open much longer with the way they treat their customers.

    (1)

  • kelly c.

    I wish I knew what it took to get the staff to be nice here. I believe the people that said they had a good experience here, but unfortunately, after four tries, and twice being turned away for dress code*, I can't go back. I want to like this place, because it's really close to where I live, and there aren't too many bars along the elston corridor. I think they are aiming for a crowd that is coming in from the suburbs, not locals, for a few reasons: - the location is not convenient to straightforward transportation - you have to take a cab or drive - there's a lot of effort put into valet service and space for parking (good idea when you're drinking at a bar, huh?) - the strict dress-code doesn't lend itself to someone walking down the block to get lunch or a drink - at all hours, not just evenings I feel the food is overpriced and not of great quality. With so many places upping their game for fancy cocktails, the drink list here really leaves something to be desired. It took a long time to get our food and drinks, for it not being too special. For the nighttime scene, it's too much pomp for not pulling big name DJs. I'll put up with dress codes, crap service for bad drinks if they get awesome people to play, but they don't. *The dress code thing: first time - bad on me - I didn't know you wanted to keep it super dressy. Second time, it was because my friend was wearing leather strappy sandals. They said dudes can't wear sandals. It was in the afternoon before the Bears game and we were just trying to get some drinks and something to drink. Then I've seen them let super scrubby looking people in during the evening, so I don't quite understand the rules or what they're going for. I guess I just get the feeling they don't want me and my friends there, but then I am really at a loss for what kind of people they're trying to draw. So that's perhaps why I say they seem to want to draw a suburban crowd, because they certainly aren't being too friendly to their neighbors.

    (1)

  • Kim S.

    This bar is ok on the river with a great view. But, don't be fooled if you aren't part of their approved crowd they will find a way to disrespect you. We got kicked out because we would not pay a tip to the bathroom attendant. Apparently, we were not allowed to sit in certain seats on the rooftop deck and had to pay tips to the bartender and bathroom attendant to be able to stay. So all I say is...Chicago has a scene and this place tries to compete with that scene..but it's cheap trash pretending they have money. Don't go. They don't deserve service from respectable people. It's a trashy crowd. Go to River North at least they respect your service and the crowd is better looking.

    (1)

  • Tina L.

    From the parking lot, there is a pretty awesome view of the city skyline. Would like to come again when the weather warms up so that we can enjoy a couple cocktails on the patio. Overall, I liked the look and feel of this lounge. The drinks are tasty and strong, and the dj spinning played some good mash-ups of hip-hop and pop that I tend to prefer. Didn't get to try any of the food, but I'd rather just come here for a couple drinks and the atmosphere. Pretty chill and not so loud that you can't necessarily have a conversation. Get ready to pay $12-$15 for each drink, tho.

    (3)

  • Michael S.

    I came here for a charity event last night! This place was pretty amazing and the music was great!! They have a small bar area downstairs and they have a rooftop upstairs which was pretty great. They also had some great music if your into house music. This place also had one of the most amazing views of the city from the rooftop!! The only negative thing I can say about this place is the prices of drinks. I think my friend bought 5 shots of fireball and they cost 9 dollars each. Last time I checked you can buy a whole bottle for like 18 dollars. It's fireball not hennessey.

    (4)

  • Jane K.

    Very modern looking! The drinks were good. My friends and I stopped by before going out here and I was impressed. I can not wait until the upstairs outside seating is open for the summer. I love roof top seating =)

    (4)

  • Amy J.

    Really loved this place. The atmosphere was very cool and modern and there are a lot of TVs so it could be a great spot for watching games. The mixed drinks were all delicious and there were so many on the menu that looked interesting, that alone will bring me back. Also love that they serve Veev. All of the food I had was awesome- pappadew peppers, lobster mac, chicken sandwich. Service was also really great and attentive. Easy to get to, easy parking. Definitely going back.

    (5)

  • Larry V.

    Great food, great atmosphere. Came here after work, and it was pretty amazing how far it has come since it was "Life is too short". It's an incredible transformation from the dive bar it use to be. Nowadays, it's chic and contemporary. The only concern is that the location. Street parking fills up, and a cab may be the only option (other than the Division St. bus).

    (4)

  • Christina F.

    Las Vegas on crack met a knock off South Beach, had a baby out of wedlock, and named it Estate. It's the only logical metaphor I can use to accurately describe this pretentious, fake, douche-bag and gold digger filled place. Beyond that you can find your typical stereotypes: Old, miserable cougars hitting on the valet guys and bartenders; younger women whose only purpose in life is to be eye candy to old ugly rich men; men wearing Rolexes and Cartier and driving Mercedes, the rich kids who blow their parents money on coke and alcohol To go even further down the drain, the service sucks. Basically if you don't reserve a VIP table with bottle service, they will not serve you. Yeah, the guy who doesn't speak English will come give you some tap water, but if you're looking for a drink or food be prepared to wait for 30 minutes just to place and order (and that's when it isn't crowded). Plus it's cash only. Those black American Express cards won't work here! I'm still not sure if it's a rooftop or a deck or a rooftop deck. If it's light outside or the sun is setting you'll have a great view of the Chicago skyline, blocked by the bright orange tacky furniture and tall giraffe looking platinum blondes. But the VIP has a better view, only obstructed by the bright Mercedes-Benz sign across the river. And don't think of taking a cab here, you'll never find cabs after you're finished with your miserable night. This place is located a little west of Cabrini Green (yeah, the rent must be dirt cheap) and you'd probably have to walk through the hood to find a cab if need be. But rest assure, Estate has parking, valet parking! And don't worry, if you had a bit much to drink, the valets will send you on your merry way to crash your car into the river, or even worse, a person (yeah, saw a hammered, lonely cougar get sent off happily in her Hummer). But you're loaded so just get yourself a good lawyer and make it go away! I, personally, consider myself a down-to-earth person. I'd rather get a free (and better view) at the museum campus, followed by some drinks in the loop. But, hey, this is the perfect place if you're a snooty millionaire or gold-digging cougar. Enjoy!

    (2)

  • Mama A.

    Was there this past weekend for a birthday party. After reading the reviews, I really didn't expect much. Boy did they prove me wrong! Lets start with the place itself. It's absolutely beautiful both downstairs and upstairs. Restrooms stood clean and smelling good. Now for the staff. Everyone I came into contact with there was super nice and pleasant. Big shout out to Sabrina who is not only really sweet but so adorable! The bouncer was a big teddy bear and valet was super cool! NO ATTITUDES from the staff what so ever.... DJ was really good too. I wasn't feeling the music at first but all I did was request to change the music and my wish came true :) All in all, this place is awesome. Will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Steph V.

    I am in LOVE with this place! Love the tapa style menu, and the sliders are amazing!! The staff is very friendly and I would definitely come back. The food came out right away and it was delicious. You HAVE to get the lobster mac and cheeseee... sooo good!! :-)

    (5)

  • Ro L.

    Horrible Service! Arranged for a large group of people to come here and it was pretty much horrible. Everything the event planner told me was wrong. Free parking in the rear parking lot till 6...wrong, valet started charging at 2pm. We could go check out the roof deck ....wrong, the manager refused to let us up there and was really rude about. They couldn't fit us a larger seating area because there was a private party...wrong , hardly anybody sat over there for the entire time we were there. The food service was pretty terrible as well. People had to keep asking for their orders, the waitress kept sending out the wrong orders drinks sometimes took 30 minutes to make their way from the bar which was about about 5 feet away. Won't be coming here again.

    (1)

  • Ajay H.

    Wow, so many awful reviews... But don't take my word for it.

    (1)

  • L T.

    Disappointing to say in the least. First off, our server did not seem to know much about the menu. We would ask her a question and she would leave to get the answer. For the food, i was really, really disappointed. The oysters were so fishy (east and west coast ones)! YUCK! i was expecting the lobster mac and cheese to be of a creamier texture, but it wasn't. The lobster in the mac was okay. We ended up taking that to go because we didn't finish it. My boyfriend (who did not dine with me that night), ate it the next day and told me the lobster tasted super fishy. He had to take all the lobster out to eat the rest of the mac. The one thing that was good was the pork belly. For the price and hype around this place, I expected better service and better food. Probably won't be returning. Definitely left feeling very unsatisfied.

    (1)

  • Leah M.

    The best rooftop in the city hands down. I love this place its like a diamond in the rough, and an amazing atmosphere for not being "downtown". I think the location is so cool.. You're close to old town, the loop and minutes from ukranian village. It's "Loop Atmosphere" without the douchebag attitude . Our server was perfect, my glass was never empty and she made fantastic beer selections! Oh, and the lobster mac is something I've only seen in my wildest (best) dreams! The management takes the time to come over and make sure your experience is great everytime, and if you come more than one time. They know youre name. This place is a gem, and I'm so excited that its here!

    (5)

  • Anthony F.

    We went there this past Saturday night and had the best time we have had all summer. Did bottle service and was treated very well. I highly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Kara S.

    I had the best time at Estate last night! We were kindly greeted at the door and even received a tour of the new bar/restaurant. The menu had a nice mix of casual appetizers, entrees, and healthy salads. I really enjoyed the popcorn shrimp and my skinny cocktail. The deck and roof had an incredible view of the city and the river. If you need a spot to have a roof top party, look no further, because this is the summer spot to party. Nice work Estate!

    (5)

  • Kim S.

    The service was awesome! We had a bachelorette party with bottle service and our server, Laura, was the best waitress I have ever had in the city! If you're looking for a great rooftop with great service, go here!

    (5)

  • Tara C.

    I went to Estate with a few friends on Labor day (Monday afternoon). It was our intention to have brunch and sit on the roof. However, we were told that there is NO brunch because it was not the weekend (fair enough it technically wasnt, we assumed that they would do brunch on the holiday, not a safe assumption), and the rooftop is only open at night (a big mistake in my opinion! They are missing out on the summer brunch crowd, who are looking for a great rooftop (check), with a good food and drink selection (check), and located ON the water/ breathtaking view of the city (check). All of which this location boasts, but does not utilize to their advantage!! Additionally, you would think that Estate would indicate somewhere on their website that their roof is only open at night we assumed it would be open when the venue is open (the website says call for rooftop hours of operation, my bad). We arrived around 12:30 and the place was DEAD. But we sat out on their first floor patio right next to the water. We soon forgot about not being able to sit on the roof, although there is a cover over the entire back patio, so you won't be getting much color on nice summer afternoons. But the view is great and you feel like you are on vacation with the boats flying by and docking up to come in for a bite to eat. We ordered some of the specialty drinks and although they are pricey they are VERY tasty (I highly suggest the summer snow or any of the sangria choices they were all phenomenal!!). We ordered our lunch options and they were all fine. The only mistake the waitress made was she forgot our calamari appetizer, but brought it during our meal and it was not a big deal at all. I will admit for being SO dead the service was a little slow, but not unbearable. It was a summer afternoon, so we were pretty laid back and parked up for the afternoon. Our waitress was more than accommodating, we asked her if we could see the roof since that's where we wanted to sit originally and she walked us right up there and took our picture. I have to say I would defiantly go back to enjoy a few of their specialty cocktails on that roof! The furniture and decor would remind you of a club in Miami or Vegas. The cushions were bright orange with white trim, eye catching but still elegant. The view is very pretty as long as you do not walk to close to the parking lot side. That side looks more like a construction zone as I would assume that areas is still up and coming. Unfortunately for them that side is where the city sky line is, makes for a pretty picture just make sure you stay far enough from ledge. The parking and taxi situation I can imagine would be a huge issue. We drove because it was a Sunday afternoon and we were not planning to drink to heavily. But if it were a Friday or Saturday night it would have been a different story. The parking lot is pretty big, but not big enough if the club was full. My suggestion would be to use UBER. They come on demand and with this location being very secluded (not many businesses and certainly no other bars surrounding it) taxis probably don't come that far off the beaten trail ..... UBER would be your best bet! I'm going to look into it for the next time I visit that rooftop!

    (4)

  • George G.

    Great cocktails and amazing staff. Oh and the rooftop has the best view in the city!

    (5)

  • Larisa K.

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Been to this place many times and for a variety of reasons. First off, the food and drinks. The skinny cocktails (mojitos, sangria, etc) don't taste funny like other lower calorie drinks and I still get a good buzz from them. They have many options from cocktails to wines and beers and they change them seasonally which is pretty cool. I am obsessed with the peppadew peppers and haven't found any place EVER where they taste as good. I constantly crave them and its like heaven in my mouth when I have them! The lobster mac is also really good and so Is the rock shrimp with the sauce. The salads are also decent and the burger is yummy done at medium rare. I like the ambiance and atmosphere here, especially on their rooftop. They have fun dance music on the weekends and a gorgeous view of the skyline. I haven't had any bad experiences with the wait staff and all the girls seem helpful and polite. At times it does get super busy but I've never had to wait to use the washroom which is a major plus when it comes to going out. Parking sort of sucks but you can easily find free street parking on Elston and you do not have to valet. They also have some daily specials, with one of them being on Oysters (I think on Tuesdays) which were super delicious. I would say to totally check this place out and try and come on a nice day so you can enjoy the breathtaking views of Chicago :)

    (5)

  • Clint M.

    I have been saving up money to get out of credit card debt, so the bars I have been frequenting have offered low priced drinks. That is not to say that this play has low priced drinks because I have never purchased any, but they had no problem with me hanging outside next to their fenced in patio. I brown bagged a forty and listened to the free music from the sidewalk, it was as though I was in the confines of the property. No one came out and hassled me and I got to look at all the beautiful women eating appetizers and taking in cocktails.

    (4)

  • Abby T.

    This review is based on my experiences at the club/lounge....not the dining area. The first time I came to Estate was to shop it out as a potential location for my birthday party. It was only open about 2 weeks at that time. It wasn't too packed and we received good service from everyone we ran into, from the coat check attendants to the bartenders. Last week was my birthday party. The club was pretty jam-packed....to the point to uncomfortableness. My bartender, Dan D had a chip on his shoulder (I knew I should have gotten my round from the Adrian Brody lookalike instead!). After ordering, I intended on closing my tab, but Dan D (jerkface) says, "leave it open or close it? LEAVE IT OPEN, RIGHT?" ummm....leave it open, I guess?? I felt compelled to leave it open, even though it WAS my birthday, how many other rounds would I need/have to buy for myself? lame. There was no coat check.....and when we went outside to go put my coat in the car through valet (who coincidentally (ha) was having internal issues of their own), the doorman reassured me that they had a coatcheck. Yea, i know that you usually do, DOORMAN, but tonight you don't! He still insisted coat check was up and running. Dumb. A 5-minute staff meeting before the night started could have prevented this whole back n forth conversation. DOORMAN, DOORMAN! lol. I didn't end up putting my coat in the car, as valet was slammed & couldn't help us out quick enough (understandably so, I suppose). I dunno, guess I'm used to getting treated like a normal human being when I come to clubs. Not sure I will be back for drinks, but I may come back to try their food.

    (2)

  • Kradle W.

    Went for early lunch. Perfect weather, got a table outside on the terrace. Our party of 3 had Dock Benedict with lobster, the burger chicken sandwich. The food was really outstanding. The chicken filet was exceptional! The burger excellent and the lobster and eggs delicious. And last, the Mimosa was really good. Worth the drive for the food!

    (5)

  • Kena H.

    The estate offers a unique blend of upscale dining, laid back feel and sexy decor. You must check this place out! I had the lobster Mac and cheese, tuna tartar and oysters during a night out with the girls and each item offered a very satisfying flavor combination and plentiful portion sizes. There are several large screened televisions that display games, music videos, etc. As the evening progresses, the restaurant turns into a club-like scene. The DJ is super live and plays great music to dance to.

    (5)

  • alex A.

    Horrible. I never leave reviews like this but I had to for this experience 1) spent hours in the bathroom after leaving this place 2) service was horrible. They did offer to take 20% off the bill (without us asking) because they realized service was terrible 3)my iced tea glass came out with white gunk stuck to the inside. I had to go back inside and track down someone (we were out on the patio) to get me a new glass. I sat for much too long on a hot summer day waiting for someone to bring me a clean glass of tea 4) When my tea ran out we sat for a very long time again with nothing to drink with our food before anyone came out to ask for a refill 5) angus sliders had no flavor and were hard 6) deviled eggs tasted like chemicals (perhaps that was what made me sick? or was it the unwashed glasses?

    (1)

  • Neel M.

    A friend and I went to dinner last night and I have to say it is everything it has been hyped up to be! Even though they havent had their official grand opening yet, the place lived up to the reputation it seemed to be getting. We got a tour of the place when we first walked in and I have to say I am quite impressed with the layout and setup. The coolest room definitely has to the be the Trophy Room, which has a lazy boys and an 80 inch LCD tv. This is a room definitely great to watch sports! The food was Amazing! Everything we had was unbelievable. We each had the Estate cocktail and it was amazing! such a nice refreshing cocktail We ordered their Soup of the Day: Eggplant and Tomato. And the soup comes in enormous bowls, so its a lot to eat!! :) We then ordered the Tuna Tartar, Calamari, Lobster Roll, Pork Belly Sammies and the Pretzel Croissant. By far the Tuna Tartar and the Pork Belly Sammies were the highlights of all the food. Our waitress, Shab, was Great!! Very friendly, helpful and she let us know about all the items, including the drinks! She was very aware of the menu (which you don't see often in restaurants, let alone brand new restaurants). Her and other members of the staff all recommended the Lobster Mac & Cheese, which I definitely will be having the next time I go. The staff and management were all very friendly. Management stopped by to see how everything was and even chatted with us for a few minutes. I definitely cant wait for the rooftop this summer and the amazing view of the skyline! I highly recommend this place and I will definitely be coming back often!

    (5)

  • caryn a.

    Cheese ball heaven. Lots of skin tight cheap polyester clad dresses and nerdy dudes acting like they're big swinging......Food was absolutely nothing to write home about, and I would agree with another reviewer that the rock shrimp was the best thing we had. Then again, most things taste pretty decent when fried and served with a dipping sauce. Our waitress was super cute and nice, the only complaint is we were ready for our bill and couldn't find her.....until we did, sitting at another group's table doing shots. The male staff was super and I repeat, SUPER douchy. Also, the decor was nice, but the super low tables made it difficult to eat off of. At the end of the day there are way better places to spend your time and money.

    (2)

  • Charles H.

    Worst experience I've had at a bar yet in Chicago, and I've lived in the city for 7 years. First off, the entire staff was ridiculously rude. Its right on the river, so some people have been saying how the location is great, but its not near any other bars and at least the night I went, the rooftop smelled like crap, guessing from a result of its location. There are a bunch of other rooftops in the city way better than this place. But here's the kicker- myself and a group of friends were on the rooftop drinking, and so when the time came for the rooftop to close, we all went downstairs. There was a miscommunication amongst us as far as who had paid tour waitress for our tab, and it had gone unpaid for the moment as we were shuffled downstairs. We hung out on the first floor for another 2+ hrs easy, no one, not our waitress from the rooftop, not a bartender, no one working there let us know that we hadn't paid for our tab on the rooftop. We leave, and the next day, someone from our group (who knew the 1 of the owners, Eddie, through a friend of a friend) gets a BUNCH of seriously threatening texts from the owner because we hadn't paid our rooftop tab (which we didn't even realize up until that point, and the tab was barely over $100). So basically, because our waitress didn't find us/do her job to tell us about the unpaid tab (that we had no idea about) while we hung out there for hours afterwards, my friend received a bunch of pretty scary messages from the part-owner of Estate the following afternoon. His general psychotic attitude has clearly rubbed off on the staff, and I would never in a million years go back to this place

    (1)

  • Jules j.

    I threw my husbands bday party here...The apps we ordered were delish, the management and wait staff were friendly and accommodating. Everyone that attended seemed to have a really great time. Parking or getting a cab was easy and valet was also available, which made for ease of getting there. I will definitely be going back.

    (5)

  • Karmin A.

    This review is strictly for the rooftop. I came here on a Tuesday night for a party and enjoyed the view very much. It's one of the best views in Chicago. You have to check it out!

    (5)

  • Jason G.

    We visited Estate on Friday, July 20th. Great locaiton off the North Branch in a little more industrial part of town, which is really nice (not your typical River North, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park experience). To those that remember the old Life's Too Short, which was a really fun, late night Chicago bar that had no attitude, pretenses and always promised a good time, it was very nice to see something come back to this location, albeit a totally different feeling type place. The main room is nice and the first floor patio is also really nice, although the furniture could use some work (both tables we sat at needed to be shimmed!). The hostess was very nice and helped us grab a table outside. We saw the upstairs but did not ask what it took to go up there; our seat adjacent to the parking lot by the water was fine (2 in our party). We planned on eating and hanging out for a while, but unfortunately, the service was pretty slow. We had to ask one of the bus boys to grab our waitress for us. A server came over and said "I'll be right back" and well, she was not right back. We moved about 3 feet from our table to a tall-boy table, so I don't know if that confused her, but in any event, we waited a solid 10 minutes before being able to order a drink. We decided to just order a bottle of champagne (Moet Imperial) because we like champagne but also to economize on time in case the patio where we sat was busy and the place happened to be understaffed. I know we did not ask for "bottle service" treatment when we walked in, and we didn't specify to the hostess that we were here for "bottle service", but I have always thought that purchasing a bottle, even if unplanned, is still bottle service. We were not asked if we wanted to be seated upstairs (that is OK, we did not ask), but I am afraid that the bottle did not come out any faster than if we would have ordered two Diet Cokes. We were so turned off by the speed of service that we elected to not have any food or additional drinks at Estate. When we told our waitress that we decided to just enjoy our champagne, she gave us a small touch of attitude. We weren't angry with her, she seemed really busy and maybe just had to move on to the next table. When the bottle came, it was clear that this server had not opened a bottle of champagne. She finally got it open, and was clearly nervous about it. Furthermore, she was clearly nervous about how much champagne to pour, and she did not offer a sampling of the champagne before pouring full glasses. I was really surprised that a place that seems to tout its bottle service as the way to "get upstairs" would not have properly trained servers. Again, no blame at all on the poor gal, she was clearly nervous and outside her comfort zone. But when you are paying premium prices for a bottle ($145 for a $35 bottle of champagne), obviously the experience, ambiance and real estate are a major contributing factor, and I was really disappointed to see that this particular server was not given the proper basic, basic training and that we were not offered slightly better real estate. I don't think that I should have had to "promise" a larger order, although it was Friday night. Oh, and one other thing chapped my a$$....even on the patio, when we did not really get full "bottle service" treatment, we were however charged the full "bottle service" gratuity of 20% without being told. It state this clearly in the menu, but I was just disappointed that the experience was not a two way street. All in all, I will definitely give Estate another shot at some point, but this was a bummer of an experience.

    (2)

  • Shaina G.

    If I could give them 0 stars, I would. Worst experience EVER. Not only did they screw up my friend's reservations, for her birthday, management was HORRIBLY rude and did nothing to accommodate our party. We waited about 2 hours and were not seated in the area we requested. They seated us at a freezing cold booth in front of the door and threatened to remove us or charge us for bottle service, regardless of whether or not we bought them. You'd think that, after screwing everything up and keeping us waiting, they would just let us have the seats and order drinks. We had a big group that was well prepared to spend a large amount and enjoy ourselves....Never in life have I gone somewhere and felt like I was begging people to take my money. I will never go back and will continue to advise others to stay away

    (1)

  • C L.

    Love the view, the food and the drinks. Wish they had more seating with tables on the roof deck but not a big deal.

    (5)

  • Jina A.

    Just checked this place out last night to my surprise the looks of it from the outside is deceiving. The inside was nice outside seating and ofcourse for us smokers a plus, great mix of crowd used the valet service decent price for it too. However disappointed at the drinks : ( No cognac at all then asked for a Cosmo and it was the worst ever made! Who can not make a Cosmo? Well this place did and had the nerve to charge $12 for it using the bottom of the list liquor... On top of that it took a long time just to ask for a drink. Either get more bartenders or ones who can handle the bar. You would have more turn around on drinks that was my one and only drink there.

    (2)

  • Furry P.

    This review is for food and drinks when its not operating as a club. We went here on 2 occasions once for dinner, and once for appetizers and drinks. In both instances the food was a disappointment. We had the roasted olives which were rock hard (still contained pits) served with melba toast like bread that had no use since you cant really smear rock hard olives onto melba toast. The chicken wings were by far the worst - the buffalo sauce was overwhelmed with orange flavor - and there is no hint on the menu that these are going to be buffalo wings a la orange. My man had a ceasar salad.. very plain. Once we were seated indoors and the other time we were outside on the small patio along the river (it has been so warm). The patio was nice except it was pretty much used as a smoking lounge by employees and patrons alike to the point where we wanted o.u.t. The waitress was very attentive and the decor indoors is nice. The patios will be nice for drinks once they open them this summer. They really should take down the disgusting ratty fence along the parking lot - its a serious eyesore. Not my kind of place so I wont be back but I wish them luck with the club scene - seems like the place is better equipped for that.

    (2)

  • J R.

    I recently set up a private party there for one of my girlfriends and I had the absolut pleasure of planning it with the events coordinator Natasha. This girl has got it together!! She was absolutely fabulous to deal with and on point. Personalized menus, every option explained in detail and her follow through was impeccable. This was my first time coming to the venue as well. Great space, friendly staff and the food was great. I can't wait to hang out on the roof top once it's done. Highly recommend this space for causal dinning and cocktails as well as private events!

    (4)

  • Monica D.

    I was super excited to try out Estate. I've lived down the street for years and was hoping that someone would put up a bar/restaurant in this space. Shortly after arriving I regretting bringing my girlfriend here for her birthday dinner. We arrived around 7 to a shockingly empty restaurant and bar. Started off ordering the deviled eggs which were actually super tasty and presented very nicely. Everything after that went downhill. Next we got the Crispy Calamari which was not crispy at all, and was actually on the soggy side. The dipping sauce that accompanied it was a weird version of a cold cocktail sauce that was unappetizing. We then proceeded to get the Steak & Frites which is one of my favorite dishes along with the regular mac and cheese which sounded very tasty. Once again, we were disappointed. We dived into the mac & cheese which seemed like it has been sitting for a while and it was very dense and heavy. The steak was a good cut of meat and cooked medium as we requested but was very bland. The dipping sauce that came with it was atrocious and not even edible. It was a weird A-1 like sauce with a very off taste. Thesideof hand cut french fries were also soggy and cold by the time they got to our table. To make matters worse, our entree was disrupted when two men wearing too much cologne sat at the table next to us. From that point on, that's all we could smell for the remainder of our dinner. I was hoping that they would at least have some tasty cocktails, but I was wrong again. We each got one of their "skinny girl" cocktails which sounded like a great new idea, but the drinks were lacking alcohol and just tasted like overly sweet syrup. I then decided to try one of their signature cocktails, so I got the "Estate". Once again, it was the oddest conconction I have ever had. You could not make out any of the ingrediants and in the end left much too be desired. In the end, it's a great space with a lot of potential. Unfortunately, it needs to decide if they want to be a restaurant, bar longue, or club and focus on a few menu items.

    (1)

  • Julie R.

    Came here last week for the grand opening this place is awesome!! The staff is super friendly... They have a great selection of beers and specialty cocktails.. The food was really good. Try the pork belly sammies or glazed Tuna salad!! Can't wait to go back and hang out in the trophy room with the huge flat screen and reclining couches makes you feel like ur right at home!

    (5)

  • Samantha F.

    Read the previous reviews and went in with an open mind. We love this place! We ordered the following apps...(Check out my photo) Calamari Grilled Octopus Deviled Eggs Excellent place for a first date or just date night in general. I would definitely do reservations and request to be by the windows on the canal. The deck is beautiful on a nice night and relaxing. Also, loved the music selection, they played a lot of Coldplay and nothing is more sexy than that.

    (4)

  • Rafael B.

    1 st. first time I went was on a friday and not such a good experience. As soon as i drove my new truck inside the parking lot a valet guy wanted to park it. i told him i insisted in parking it considering i seen how valet parkers treat other peoples vehicles. he said valet parking is 8 dollars so i rather parked it myself to save some money. when i was walking out to the truck another guy tried to charge me the 8 dollars either way and i told him i parked it not one of his guys. so i got charged so i wont have to argue. 2nd the bartenders in the first floor were nice and did not tell me anything about having to spend a certain limit per credit card swipe. i went to the balcony and ordered a drink with my friends and they didnt want to give me my card back until i spend at least a 30 dollar minimum which they didnt even tell me before i ordered my drink. drinks are kind of pricey. 12 ounce beer 8 dollars. 5 ounce glass of wine 10 dollars. the only good thing where the bathrooms like another reviewer said. i try to go on an empty stomach to bars because i don't like to sit on pist on toilets in bars. the bathroom was super clean. there was a guy always inside cleaning it up. putting soap on your hands when you were washing them and they have a massive amounts of cologne,gum,cigarets,etc for you to buy, (i think). another good thing are all the beautiful ladies i saw there that night. mostly 25+ too bad im not returning.

    (1)

  • Beth D.

    Wow. I was really hoping this was a great place. It is not. Never again. Loud. Over-priced. Mediocre food. Anywhere that there is a whole part of the menu devoted to "skinny" drinks is not a good idea. We had to ask for the three blaring music sources to be turned down. Awful.

    (1)

  • Alexandria M.

    Good food with fast service. Our waitress was nice but very ditzy. She came back to the table several times to get our order right. Then when we paid the tab she did not bring us back the change so she could give herself a nice tip. Which was rude in my opinion. The rooftop is really nice. Just be prepared to listen to house music all night.

    (3)

  • MavsFan1232 S.

    They were rude to so many of our girls by calling them bitches, yelling at girls for pushing them/having attitude with them, and literally pulling/pushing people themselves out the door. Would never come back again, and would never recommend to anyone.

    (1)

  • Johanna R.

    Went on a early Saturday around 9 p : Overall look of the place is great and great view of Chicago skyline: We Sat in the roof top area. Service started off slow but once the night went on the service became speedily. Drinks ( had wine no mixed) was ok but no worth the price they charged. Food was really good. You have to try their Lobster mac and Cheese was amazing .As the night progress I didn't care for the crowed.So I left around 11pm .

    (3)

  • Carol K.

    Nothing Ultra about this place. If you go- go for a cold beer on the patio overlooking the river and you will not be disappointed. As for anything else? Meh. I think this place has an identity crisis. Just what it is trying to be escaped me during my visit. Is it a sports bar? All the TVs had games on them but it didn't really feel like a sports bar. A club? Plenty of little seating clusters and the servers wear ridiculous skin tight dresses and serve champagne with sparklers, but the clientele were in shorts. A restaurant? They take reservations on Open Table but the servers know nothing about the food. So what are they going for? We went on a Thursday night. It's pretty non descript from the outside so know it is right at the corner of Ellston and Division. Know that the back faces the street so it's better in the inside than it looks. We checked on with the hostess who basically said we didn't really need a reservation (which we had) so we sat at the bar. The bartender really had no idea of what the food was that she was being asked to serve. They have fresh oysters daily. but when we asked what kind, she didn't know. She still didn't know when she went back to ask. and on the third trip back she said she would write it down this time. Urrgh! We ordered a few things to try- Angus sliders with spicy cheese, chicken sliders and the lobster mac and cheese. The burgers tasted like they had been frozen but the mac and cheese was okay. Service was non existent as the bartender was busy talking up some guy at the bar (I think he dated her friend) so anything we needed we constantly had to flag someone down . . . .from the basics like flatware . . .to getting some plates to share the food. So the name is way overstated as there is nothing Ultra about this place. Just grab a beer at the bar on a sunny afternoon and watch the river go by. Trust me. It's your best bet!

    (2)

  • John R.

    Went there tonight (a Tuesday) and have a few mixed thoughts on this place. First, nice decor and great view of the city skyline. Nice hostess that brought us upstairs to the rooftop dining and bar area. Maybe it was the private event downstairs, but is there a need to bump club music on the patio on a Tuesday at 6pm? The menu was limited tonight, but I can respect that, can't overwhelm the kitchen when an event is going on. No worries, I ordered the filet which came out the way I ordered it. The server was attentive and very nice, but it always bothers me when I can see multiple servers sitting down and texting in the wait station that everyone can see. Is there a manager up there? Table touch? I don't mind spending $60 at dinner, but a check in from a manager should occur... again maybe it's just me. Oh and one more thing, charging $8 to valet my car 20 feet away from me in a parking lot? I'll gladly pay for valet when there is no parking in sight... but when there is an entire lot... meh

    (2)

  • Shradha A.

    + Nice place + Indoor and patio options + regular top 40 music + not over crowded and is ventilated - nothing else in the area and difficult to connect with public transport - understaffed and unfriendly bar staff - no dance floor Lot of potential, but ne

    (3)

  • Vivian T.

    Booked a Private sorority formal and it was Murphy's law. They bar staff was rude, the drinks were weak, and security literally swore and pushed people out of the door to kick them out for no wrong doing.

    (1)

  • Lily Z.

    I went here last night for a birthday. The place looks nice enough. I like that they have an outdoor deck that overlooks the river. The neighborhood is a little suspicious though. I believe it's the only establishment on the street? I don't know how to classify the music they play. It's mostly top 40s with some trance? It was a little disappointing to hear the same song played an hour or two later. Really, you couldn't find any other music to play? Like the other reviewers said, I am confused about the attire for this place. I saw jeans and sneakers, girls with dresses and heels and guys in dress shirts. I guess since it's a new place, it's still trying to find its identity. Btw, Easy street parking!

    (3)

  • Itzel E.

    I just wanted to share the horrible experience I had spending New Year's eve, which also happened to be my bday, at Estate bar. A group of about 10 friends and I purchased tickets to Estates bar about 4 weeks prior to the event. They were advertising premium open bar from 9-1am. About two weeks prior to the event they changed it to 6 drink tickets per person. I personally felt I had been deceived as I had paid for one thing and then sold another. I called Estate and was told that by law they couldn't offer open bar. I'm surprised a establishment such as Estate would of not been aware of this prior to creating and advertising their event. The person I spoke to assure me that they would be giving additional tickets at the door if needed. Not sure why I even believed them! Once there, the hostess refused to provide us with any additional tickets and by about 11pm they had even ran out of tickets. Numerous people were complaining as they were not getting any drinking tickets. This was by far the worst and least organized New Year's event I have ever attended. False advertising, lack of organization, and poor customer service to say the least.

    (1)

  • lisa k.

    I searched half price wine places on Wednesday's and thankfully this place popped up for me. My friend and I sat at the bar. Firstly, the view outside of this place is gorgeous. The service was phenomenal and the wine was even better. we also ordered food as well. Definitely recommend this place and will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Abby R.

    This is disappointing because it really has the potential to be a 4+ star place. Why it's great: - Patio - View of the city - Drinks (150cal superfruit sangria was lovely) - Patio bar menu...great variety of snackies What drops this down 2 stars: - The pretentious hostess who made me feel like a dumbass for never being there before - It was 5pm and the patio deck just opened but we were limited to a small section of 6 tables - Waitress making it seem like it was super difficult to add tomatoes to the side of a sandwich - Overall service was disappointing

    (3)

  • Bradley T.

    The nonprofit I work for hosted a fundraiser at Estate a couple months ago. The staff and management was really helpful before and during the event. The space itself is great, especially the rooftop deck. It is one of the better unobstructed views of the Chicago skyline from a restaurant/bar. I thought the location was good as well as we were expecting people from all over the city. Plus they have a huge parking lot on site. They do charge for valet, but it is nice to have an easy parking option right at the venue. I definitely recommend Estate if you are looking to host a large party for friends or business associates.

    (5)

  • Stephanie L.

    Meh, I was really on the fence about this one. So we pull up and it literally looks like an opening for a junk yard. There is a parking lot (gravel), but no one regulating parking, no valet, no direction, no nothing. So we pull in. I dont know how some of the people there were getting out. Of course, the rooftop wasnt open. Which I think would be the ONLY reason I would ever come back here because of the beautiful day of the city skyline. We sat on the 'patio.' Which means, a couple of tables and chairs awkwardly placed right in the back area. BUT its butted up to the gravel parking lot. It reminded me of something in my small hometown. Patio this was not. Also, there were kind of nice views of the river, however, it was just all awkward. It wasnt great and I wouldnt go back. Its just a REALLY awkward area. Also, good luck getting a cab over in the sketch of a hood. We had some cocktails, which were good. I had something called thats what she said. Decent. The food was hot or not. The cavatelli pasta was fantastic. It had this smokey, sweet flavor. The beet salad was pretty good and pretty standard. The peppers were just OK at best. They sounded so great, but it was literally just goat cheese and peppers and had the bread crumbs all over the plate, but nothing like a stuffed mushroom or something to that affect. Also, the tuna tartare was not flavorful. There was absolutely no salt in it or seasoning for that matter. It was VERY difficult to eat because they just piled the tuna on top of very small chips. Well, once you bit into the chip, the rest of the tuna fell all over the place, yet it was too big for one bite. Maybe a different presentation and a little seasoning and this dish could have made it. Our waitress Shad was very nice. Not the best server, but was a sweetheart and recommended some stuff for us. The girls are dressed to the nines here. Which I thought was interesting because it just seemed weird. Like twilight zone-ish. It was like 8PM on a Thursday and no one was there and we were sitting in a gravel parking lot in front of people's gas eating mediocre food staring at the river thinking, what am I missing about this place???

    (2)

  • Stephen S.

    The bartenders here are jerks. The entire staff in general should just be fired. This place has potential, but the food is mediocre and the service staff is rude

    (1)

  • Mandi P.

    This place has great potential!!! I came here a couple of times years ago when it was "Life's Too Short". What a disgusting little bacteria infested dive that was!!! Estate is about as opposite to that as you can get. Everything is new, clean, and fresh feeling. I was here on Saint Patrick's Day so I am sure the vibe that day was not the typical vibe, but I could definitely see through the weirdness of the day and see what this place has to offer. The doors open up to a nice and breezy deck/patio with outdoor seating. We were told there is going to be a rooftop area added on which will be nice in the summer!!! Also were told that concerts will be performed in the empty lot directly in front of the front door...pretty cool. Only giving the place 3 stars for now as I am more excited about the potential than I am about the current state. When I return and see what this place is like in full swing, I will revisit my review!!!

    (3)

  • Peggy T.

    I pass this place almost everyday and have always wanted to stop in. Yesterday my boyfriend and I took a couple friends who were visiting the city here. We went in around 6PM and the place was pretty empty inside. It was beautiful out so we went up to the rooftop. Let me say this, the view is breathtaking and the atmosphere is beautiful. They have swanky- lounge type couches around and the building sits along the river. There was an event going on upstairs for a company and I think they had a Kayak deal running too. Still, it wasnt very busy. The food that was being served to the party looked good, but we just had a few tall beers here. I will say not one cocktail server ever came over to use to take our empty cans or ask if we wanted more. Instead we had to go up to the bar to place orders. The servers just kind of stood around and gave all their attention to the (small) event going on. The prices here are a little outrageous too. Youre paying a premium for budlights and summer shandy, let me just say that. I'd probably head back in though, the view is awesome and I love a roof top. Just be ready to spend some $$

    (3)

  • Elizabeth K.

    We went to Estate for a special deal to watch the NIU vs. FSU game. When I pre-purchased the event tickets, the website said the deal was from 5:00pm-1:00am. I have an EMAILED receipt stating this time frame as well. When we go to the bar, at 5:45pm, we were told the deal didn't start til 7:30 and ended at 10:30pm. I didn't pay for that time frame, I paid from 5:00pm-1:00am. No one contacted me telling me there was a change of time, so once we were there, almost 2 hours before the deal we already purchased started, we had to pay for our drinks, meaning we HAD to spend more money. We had an additional $60 dollar tab for our group. Since the bar knew they were offering a drink special during the game, they should have been more properly staffed. There were 2 bartenders and a bar back. The bar back was very nice, and pouring beers, getting cans, but he wouldn't take food orders. He said we had to order from the bartender. I think it confused a lot of people. Besides being under staffed, they also were under supplied. The deal offered select cans and drafts and before halftime, they were out of 3 of the 5 beers being offered. The only option people had was Bud Light and 312 drafts, and some people don't like draft beer for fear of dirty lines and a huge headache the next day. They ran out of Stella before the first quarter was over. I know it was busy, but the bar was offering this deal, they should have known to be ready for a crowd. Lastly, "beer nuggets" during the game were included in the package. They set tiny bowls on the bar and it was pretty much a free for all. People were 2 rows deep at the bar reaching over people's heads to grab what they could. I didn't see one bowl get replaced once emptied. So not only were the "nuggets" already sparce, once they were gone, that was it. They were gone. We asked for a new bowl since our surrounding patrons hoarded them, but we were told there were no more. Overall, it was a horrible first experience. The only good thing about our time at Estate was seeing old friends and alumni. We left at halftime, annoyed and hungry.

    (2)

  • Sammy L.

    An organization I'm a part of recently held an event at this venue and it was absolutely THE WORST EXPERIENCE we've ever had. The security and staff were not only rude, but physically abusive of our guests. Out of an event of roughly 300 people, they physically pushed/forced over 50 out the door. When asked for explanation, considering we had paid Estate for their venue for OUR party with OUR guests, guests were told to "f**k off" and called "b*tches." The majority of our guests paid additional money for open bar access for 4 hours, but coincidentally, security felt the need to throw people out (many who had purchased the open bar access deal) within the first hour of our event -- a sketchy business move that cheated hundreds of our guests of what added up to be thousands of dollars. Besides the rude and unprofessional staff who removed people from our private party at our leisure, the venue itself was not fun. Guests weren't dancing because there was no clear spot for a dance floor, and compared to the many other venues we've hosted events at, this was by far the most dull, had the worst food (and not much of it at all despite paying a hefty sum for it), and was on the smaller side (especially given the price). I will never be going back to Estate, and given the horrible time that the majority of my guests had, I don't think anyone in the organization will ever be returning again. Edit: Even more disappointing, after our organization's feedback, management promised at least a partial refund to a representative of our organization for members of our party who had been thrown out, which was much appreciated. However, more than a month later, this still hasn't been fulfilled/two e-mails following up about it are left unreturned. Wholly disappointing and aggravating experience with this venue.

    (1)

  • LIDA A.

    I have been here three times since they opened. Each time I hope that the service has improved with time, and instead I see that in fact, the food is not any better, and the service is slower. Don't expect to: a) place any kind of order in less than a 1/2 hour b) actually get that food served in the next hour c) get any kind of service or attention from the wait staff. The location is fabulous, but the food and service don't justify the wait or the inflated prices. It would also be nice if they took the time to wipe the grease and spots off of the glass tables in the lounge area. Yuck. I don't think I'll be going back to give them another try.

    (2)

  • Michael M.

    The only favorable thing I have to offer about this place is the location. I hope it closes soon and makes way for a wine bar. It was a calamitous experience from top to bottom. My unpleasant experience started at the bar where they had The O'Reilly Factor playing on one of the three TV's. I asked the bartender why they were showing Fox News on the TV at a bar and he didn't know. He asked a manager and he too shrugged and kinda laughed. The channel wasn't changed. I generally sit at the service well to understand the reality of the place. It instantly gave me insight into what a nightmare the people and place was. The manager/owner dropped a number of f bombs in normal conversation within ear shot of me. Not that I care, but not so Klassy. And there was something happening with a girl trying to make an iced coffee. She told me she didn't drink coffee and wondered aloud where the cream was. I suggested she take a look in the fridge. It was way overstaffed with the worst type of just moved into the city big hair, fake tan, boobs and nails wanna-be suburban girls. The dudes, even worse. Faux hawks and rat tails/ retro mullet with a #1 electric razor beard was the insulting aesthetic. The "service" is beyond redic. Declining beer because I didn't want to be buzzed while I waited for my friend, my water was never re-filled, the glass removed when I walked up to the host stand for a second and when I returned I was again offered a beer. I declined and waited for my friend. After another moment or so of waiting, he asked me if I wanted a water. I must complement them on the water service, it was cold and wet, though it was served both inside and outside the glass. My reso noted I was a first time guest, entertaining a client and preferred to be outside. When the host tried to seat us, she was leading us to an empty area of the restaurant away from the desired water feature. We said we wanted to be outside, and while there were tables available, she told us it was first come first serve. OK, so just seat us there in one of the three open outdoor tables that are next to the rest of the outdoor tables. She did. There was an outdoor table with a reserved sign on it too, but I think it was for the investors or owners friends or some type of striver wanna-be couple. My friend tried to order a tequila on the rocks and when asked what type of tequila they had, the server was stumped and said "um, Cuervo and Patron. I offered up many names (Herradura, El Jimador, Milagro, Tres Generations) and she didn't know. She said, "Cavadores is good too, but I'm not sure we have that." We opted for Patron. After the server dropped the drinks, I asked her to bring us a couple of bev naps. She promptly did and then never returned for a check back or anything. Or to try to take our food order. We were there, at a table for ~20 minutes. My friend and I were like, this place is beyond words. We called around and made dinner reservations at Province instead where a nice dinner was had and capped with a visit from the chef thanking us for coming. I asked the bus-boy to have the server bring us the check and he returned with a pen for us. I was like, no. Not a pen. The check. The Bill, please. With a voice like Borat, he told me "I'm not server." Right, so have the server bring us the check please. The server returned with the check $12 for patron on the rocks, $10 for a What she said (eh) and tried to make a get-away when I told her to hold up and gave her my card and then over gratuitized her with $2. If you the owner and manager, feel free to message me and I'll share with you some other great moments, like how staff hover at the host stand and how the trainee host asked me "if I worked here too" while I was waiting to be acknowledged. The conversation the meat head bouncers/enforcers were having with the bartender was a doozy too. Although to their credit, they tried to have it discreetly. Did I mention the staff stands around paying more attention to their twitter and facebooks then to the customers. Please do Chicago a favor and do not go here. It will hasten the demise and ideally bring in some investors who have been in the business before and offer chicago something cool in a fabulous location.

    (1)

  • Vanessa P.

    I really feel bad giving this place only one star but my experience last night was so terrible. A few of my girl friends and I went for their "Summer Soiree" event and I have to say we left very disappointed. The event boasted "breathtaking views" of the skyline. Yes, that is if you are hanging around the parking lot. I do agree with the other yelpers that the terrace is awkwardly placed and instead of the skyline you are facing the Chicago river and Mercedes dealership. Which is fine, but we were a bit misled. We were also under the assumption that our event tickets include appetizers and dessert. We showed up around 45 minutes to an hour after the event started and it didn't seem like appetizers were being passed out yet? I asked a member of the staff when in fact they were going to be bringing them out because frankly, we were starving and held off on dinner earlier since we knew we were going to the event. He seemed to have no idea what I was talking about and simply just shrugged me off. Okay... Since it really seemed like either 1. This wasn't planned well and on a timely manner or 2. They were holding off on passing out food in hopes that guests would cave and order from the slightly pricier menu, we decided to grab a table out on the terrace and order some food. I cannot emphasize how rude and unattentive the waitstaff was. Nobody even acknowledged the fact that we sat down or asked us if we needed anything for a good 10 minutes. It took THREE tries to get menus. First, the waitress promised she would bring them but never did. Then the same thing happened with the confused food runner from earlier. Finally, we flagged down the guy who was at the front door and he brought them fairly quickly. It was not even busy at this point. I really do not want this review to get too lengthy so I'll summarize the rest of my complaints. 1. My friend ordered calamari and we were delivered shrimp instead. In our hunger-crazed stupor, we did not realize until the waitress pointed it out that they gave us the wrong item. Then, she proceeded to ask "since you already started eating it, do you want that instead of the calamari then?"...of course my friend said no, she would still like her calamari. 2. The food came out at completely seperate times! I understand the calamari/shrimp because technically it is an appetizer but I mean, how was my burger brought out a good 5 minutes before my friends lobster mac and cheese? I've worked in this industry for a good 3 1/2 years and it is pretty standard knowledge that you bring out entrees at the same time. Once again, it was not that busy. 3. We were never offered waters. 4. The bill. The calamari was comped which was really nice and unexpected. Unfortunately, my friends and I had to be "that table" and pay separately because two of us had cards and one had cash. I did try to simplify it was much as possible and wrote on the receipt exactly what amount goes on what card (I even divided up and included the tax). I've served before so I know what a pain this can be and hate doing it. However, it happens. Once I informed our waitress about our payment methods she told us (rather rudely) that they can only split evenly and not do different charges. What? No one informed us of this in the beginning of our meal and since we all ordered a pretty wide ranged priced meals, we were definitely not up for that. The waitress ended up giving us extreme attitude and said she will do it "this one time" and just for us. I completely understand when you are "swamped" to the point where you don't know what to do with yourself but that is when a simple apology or acknowledgement goes a long way. Not giving us attitude because you are having trouble handling your section and have to do more work. 5. The worst part? My friend who ordered the lobster mac and cheese got very sick and is pretty sure it's from food poisoning. Okay, I really hate doing bad reviews so I will point out a few positives from my experience. My chickpea burger was great, the fries were amazing, the bartenders were fast and knew how to make a good-tasting cocktail and the management seemed to be really nice. I do wish the rooftop was open though because maybe the view of the skyline would redeem our terrible dinner experience. However, I am not too sure I will be coming back to find out...

    (1)

  • Nari H.

    So many haters! Food is decent - Had a berry mixed drink, the rock shrimp appetizer, the deviled eggs and the beet salad. All were good. Nothing spectacular. The first level has outdoor seating and indoor too. They've got TV's lining the bar. You can dock here from the Chicago River, but it only fits one boat at a time. If you dock, you have to climb up a ladder. So if you're not a ladder-climber, think of driving there instead. Has a great rooftop venue with a really nice sound system. The music was a little too loud for us, but the view was great. If I came back, I'd capitalize on the rooftop.

    (3)

  • Adam N.

    Each year our company throws an annual holiday party a few weeks prior to the new year. The location which we've held it at over the past couple years had a change in management, so in searched for new locations. I came across Estate Ultra Bar and spoke with them. I received all the necessary information promptly, as I requested. Given the size of the venue and their willingness to host a private party made my decision making process very simple. There was an increase in our total guest count, and they accommodated to this, just days before the party. The party ran smoothly, with outstanding quality of food and service. I highly recommend Estate Ultra Bar for large parties and I am looking forward to visiting during the summer months when their rooftop is open! Thanks for a great party! Definitely order the lobster Mac and the Caprese salad!

    (5)

  • Michelle D.

    I've been so excited to try out Estate since I saw their new construction start. They have a nice menu with good, creative food. We went in for a sunday afternoon brunch. It was a lovely warm day on the river. We were sitting in the sun so I do hope that there are some fun umbrellas in Estate's future. The Bubble Smoothie was nice with some great accents of mango and banana. I had the Pretzel Croissant Sandwich and my friend had the Chickpea Burger. The problem. I was served my sandwich and let it sit for a few minutes while we waited for my friend's meal. Another table of five received their meals (one by one) and then, after my meal had been sitting for 10 minutes, my friend received her burger. We were unable to really enjoy our meal together because we were waiting so long. There was no acknowledgment to this problem. I liked Estate but I won't be back for quite a while, until the service issues get worked out.

    (3)

  • Stef C.

    I love the rooftop. It's great looking at the skyline. However it depends what night you go because sometimes the crowd isn't that great.

    (3)

  • Keith L.

    Went this past Saturday night for the first time. What seems like a upscale sports bar during the day (i.e. Rockit, Deuces & Diamond, etc) is definitely one of the best new additions to the Chicago nightlife scene. Lying somewhere in between a bar (Rockit), a lounge, and a club, Estate Ultra Bar is best of all three. Estate plays great music (but not so loud where you cannot hear the person next to you) and attracts probably one of the best looking crowds in Chicago. Although I do not think it is required, people (both guys and girls) dress to impress (finally!...tired of guys wearing $70 t's that their rich mommies bought them out at night!). Two downfalls...1. drinks are pricey (River North pricey) and 2. male staff are rude and full of themselves (more so than usual). I will be back regardless, but will definitely make it a point when the rooftop opens!

    (5)

  • Grennan K.

    Tis the season. What a gorgeous view of the skyline!!! I come here weekday nights just to chill with group of friends. Very relaxed... unlike the weekend where it's a cluster fuck of people and typical music. Last time i was here it was a surprising mix of alt rock and 90s throwback. Very nostalgic. I think... this was my birthday night. Food: Mediocre... Service is decent...

    (4)

  • Maudie B.

    I bought the brunch for 2 deal on YouSwoop and was excited to go try it out. The menu looked good and the photos online made it look like a cool place to go for rooftop brunch. When we first got off the bus we saw the building and honestly thought it had closed down. There were no cars in the parking lot and the building looked janky and out of business. Once we got inside there was only one woman working. We were hoping to sit on the roof as they advertised online, but instead sat on their outdoor patio facing the parking lot. All our food came out separately in 20 minute intervals, so by the time I got my food, my friend had finished hers. All around awkward. For what the food is priced at it was not that good. We were disappointed in the restaurant and had been excited to go based on YouSwoop reviews and their website, but were let down. Even with a deal it wasn't worth it.

    (2)

  • Dj Nightwolf ..

    I just left Estate, checked it out because they're having an open house until the grand opening in a couple weeks. In fact, I'm actually writing this review on my cab ride to my next destination for the evening. Why couldn't I wait to write my review tomorrow, you ask? Because I want to be the first review. Just kidding... not really. But, seriously. Sparklers, bottles of champagne, more sparklers, bottles of jamo, and more sparklers... bottles & sparklers EVERYWHERE!!! It was good times. Just about everyone from different scenes/industries where there, as well as many people from different segments of the nightlife industry. Good times, my friends. Good times, indeed. Talk about a starting off with a bang! And this wasn't even the official grand opening event! Congrats to the owners of this fine establishment. I cannot wait for the nice weather to hit Chicago so I can chill on the rooftop area and get the full experience! I can't comment on the food yet because I only took part in the consumption of alcoholic libations, but, from what I remember the service was great, and the atmosphere & vibe was awesome... this a very nice place. I'd go into more detail, and I probably should've snapped a few pics of the interior, but I was distracted by all the sparklers! What can I say? I'm addicted to sparklers... don't judge me. Anyway, I will return so that I may sample the Lobster Mac that EVERYONE has been telling me about. Yes, that's right, LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE! Stay tuned for a follow up review when I destroy my body with the deliciousness they have to offer at Estate. Then, stay tuned for a follow up to the follow up when I check out the roof lounge area! I'm pretty sure that as soon as I get the full experience, I'll be able to give a 5 star review, but for now I'll go with the 4 stars since Yelp doesn't allow me to give 4.75 stars. Holla!!!â„¢

    (4)

  • Bomby K.

    I was visiting Chicago for the first time and some locals brought be to this place.. it looked and seemed like it was a bit further away from everything.. but what do i know? So we walked into the place and it seem deserted. Probably because we were there too early. Anyway... we went to the roof and WOW! the decor was fabulous and the view- breathtaking.. The asian waitress was pretty hot as well ;) Anyway... the ambiance and music was great. Loved this places. We had some shrimp and hummus as appetizers and we only went to this place for a pre-dinner drink. Any way.. I loved this place and would definitely go back the next time i am in Chicago!

    (4)

  • Kristen K.

    I had high expectations for this place as I watched the construction daily and proclaimed... what are they putting there? So I was having a hard time deciding whether to give 3 or 4 stars... Let's weigh he pros and cons: Pros: Free (and abundant) street parking on Elston Good atmosphere Nice light fixtures and a modern design/feel Great service City views Cake pop trio dessert was yummy (but awkward to share) Gorgeous bathrooms with granite counters and full size stall doors. Good music (Gotye, Muse, M83, Gaga, & Daft Punk all played while we were there) Nice beer selection Many large screen TV's with sports on (more for the boys) They let us split 2 credit cards Cons: $8 parking in the lot Awful pre-formed frozen burger (came medium well when I asked for medium rare) Luke-warm not so tasty fries Tables were too close together and it was awkward to get in and out Went on monday, the music ended up being so loud we couldn't talk during dinner Price for 2 burgers, 2 beers, and 1 dessert was a $50 dollar tab! The message is unclear of what this place is: club/bar/restaurant I'm going to give 4 stars, but only probationally, because of this places potential. On my return trip I want to try one of the mixology cocktails and some of the small plates including the lobster mac and cheese. Here's hoping for a better food experience! It's a shame if this place doesn't improve the quality of their $12 burger. If you can't do a staple well then you won't survive in this business.

    (4)

  • Glen H.

    It was ok. Nothing special though.

    (3)

  • Mark V.

    I was pretty excited to try out this place, but sadly I was extremely disappointed. A friend and I went in on a Monday night and the place looks amazing, but it can't seem to decide whether it wants to be a high end bar or a chic restaurant. We both ordered a medium rare burger and a beer. The waitress was very nice and professional despite the ridiculous outfits this place makes them wear. They were out of practically every beer I tried to order. They didn't have a German brew or a 312. The food took a good long while to get to the table and when it did arrive the fries were cold and the burger was absolutely sub par. It came out medium well and seemed to taste like a frozen patty. We both shared the lollipop dessert platter and it was quite delicious, but nothing I'd die to try again. The place definitely looks pretty amazing and seems like a hot spot to get a drink. I, However, went in on a Monday night for some food and it absolutely disappointed. My friend rated this place on potential and was very generous with her review. I don't like paying about $60 for two borderline bad burgers, beers and a dessert. I'm not looking for potential. I'm looking for what I can get out of a place now and unfortunately Estate's food is disappointing. My suggestion would be to just completely get rid of the kitchen and strictly focus on the bar and lounge. I'd like to give 2 and 1/2 stars but I'm not one to round up so sorry!

    (2)

  • Carmen B.

    This place is somewhat out of the way - I've seen it several times, but it's not in my consideration set in the evening. We made this the last stop on a Friday night. It was not crowded, and we got a table on the terrace - it is a cool spot for drinks on the river. From a beer and food perspective, it was a good experience - basic sliders, baked pretzels with cheese (perfect for late night), etc. Staff was fine. There was no problem getting a cab out, either. I think I'd return for a low key summer afternoon outing for drinks.

    (3)

  • Justin P.

    So I went here last night (Saturday) to see the place morph into a lounge/club. This spot is LEGIT. It tilts more towards being a lounge than a club, since there's really not a huge dance floor and the music isn't blasting. Valet was cheap ($8); the music wasn't so loud that I couldn't hear my friends; but loud enough where I could shake my butt. As for the crowd, it wasn't so packed that I couldn't move, but enough people where I could mingle. My favorite part of the evening came when I discovered that their patio is open and allows patrons to smoke cigars AND take their drink outside. I mean the patio alone makes the place 3 1/2 stars...then the drinks and ambiance put it up to 4. Sadly their rooftop wasn't open; but I'll be sure to go back when it does. The place isn't big; but they make the best use of the space they have and they do a good job at that. I'd go back.

    (4)

  • Lindsay S.

    Wow I had the best birthday ever here!! We started off with the champagne supernova which came with a sparkler! and cake pops! It was superexciting!! The rooftop has a beautiful view of the city skyline. And what else can I say, the bartender, Peter, was pretty hot and the nicest person we met in Chicago :) He made us a bunch of special birthday drinks which were all amazing!!! Our favorite was the killer special! This definitely exceeded my expectations of the best birthday ever and I would love to come back!

    (5)

  • Jeffrey M.

    After hearing about this place through Zagat and visiting their website I was really looking forward to visiting this place. What you see on the website is not what you get. I give it a second star only because I think the place has some potential. First, the upstairs and roof top is still under construction. The decor looks cheap in the areas that are finished. The place wasn't busy and we were sat at a horrible table near an employees only access to the kitchen. The smell coming out of there was awful. Not a good sign when you're about to eat. The drinks sounded interesting on the menu, but while they weren't bad they just didn't measure up to the expectation. The deviled eggs weren't bad. We ordered a couple different kinds of sammies, and they were completely inedible. We took one bite each and were ready to leave. The server asked why we didn't finish and my girlfriend told her they were disgusting. The server couldn't believe it pointing out how much everyone loves them. Anyone who watches Ramsays Kitchen Nightmares knows that's a stupid thing to say. The place is a waste of time. Avoid it for now.

    (2)

  • Kyle K.

    I am giving this place 4 stars. However, it would have received 5 if the atmosphere was a little different. Nonetheless, the staff are friendly, the food is good, and so are the drinks. Foodwise, I highly recommended the lobster mac and cheese and the buffalo wings. As for drinks, the "that's what she said" and "summer snow" are absolutely delicious. The quiet location on the river offers a unique and beautiful of the city. I definitely recommend that you check this place out!

    (4)

  • Heather H.

    That's right mike. I right reviews when I've had a bad experience and as I look at reviews from estate. There sure are a lot of bad ones!! Cheers!

    (1)

  • Lauren B.

    I can't highly un-recommend (prob not a word) this place enough. The stupid name of this place should have been enough of a clue that this place would not be worth our time. Since CPS teachers on strike, someone has to issue some grades! Here they are: Food -- C Waitstaff -- F Management -- D Parking/Location -- D The entrance to the bar was marked only by the meathead standing at the door checking IDs. It looks like a dive bar from outside. I actually had to ask him if that was the entrance. He grunted and that was about the extent of the welcome. There was nobody inside the door at the hostess stand to greet us. The food was average. Nothing special, although I will agree that the lobster mac and cheese was delish. The menu was very limited -- mostly appetizers and overpriced drinks. The fries that come with the meals are served with some nasty ketchup concoction. I don't even know what that was, but Honey Boo Boo's mother's ketchup and butter sauce sounds more appealing. Our waitress was inattentive and dumber than a box of rocks. She came back to our table for once maybe every 20-30 minutes, and we only ordered a main course and drinks. We literally had to waive our arms in the air to flag her down for refills. The busboys were carrying off our plates before we could even finish eating in an effort to turn over the table as quickly as possible. I understand that there were 8 people in our party, but wouldn't you think it would have been a good idea for our waitress to find out how we planned to split up the check if she knew the bill couldn't be split among more than 3 cards???? We didn't find this out until our waitress came with our bill and we handed her multiple cards. We had to explain to her how to enter it into the cash register because she for some reason couldn't figure it out. Then after 20 minutes she came back and told us she could only accept 3 cards so the rest of us would have to get cash from the ATM in the basement. So, we were forced to each pay a $4 ATM fee to get cash to pay our bill, which they took the liberty of adding an 18% gratuity to. If it had been up to me, this girl would have gotten NO TIP AT ALL. I asked the manager to confirm this three card policy and she said yes, that was the case because it slowed down their system too much. The waitress came back to our table and we asked her to stay for 2 min while we all threw in our cash and she REFUSED! She said she had to check on her other tables! Where was she all night when she should have been checking on ours! Then the girl finally takes the check, comes back, and had overcharged one of my friends by $100! I had to drag the manager from the table where she was boozing with customers to come get it straightened out. She took the check and then handed it off to the owner, who came back to the table and demanded an accounting of all of the cash that was paid, meaning who paid what. I do not know why that was relevant. He sent the waitress back to the table with our "corrected" receipt and I told the manager at that time that it was the worst service we had ever received. His response was that he would talk to the waitress. Um, thanks. That helps us 0% after the bill was already paid. I have to point out that it took us over an hour to get the check straightened out. To put the timing into context, I actually had to use the restroom twice while the waitress was trying to figure it out. Ridiculous. By the way, the website says there is ample street parking available. I am going to call BS on that one. I had to park several blocks away. There is valet parking available for $8. The bus/cab situation is pretty weak because it is in the middle of freaking nowhere. I'm willing to bet that this "estate" will be bankrupt in a matter of months.

    (1)

  • Francesca S.

    New hot spot for the Chii people! 3 and a 1/2 stars to be exact. Give it some time it has potential to be 4 stars. One can easily pass this place up if they don't know what they are looking for. I guess some of my friends had a hard time finding the place, but I had no problem spotting the valet line the pumps and short dress chicas walking up to the place. I didn't use the valet. I just parked down the street and had ourselves a little walk. Wasn't bad at all. A group of friends and I got here almost midnight and the place was poppin' and super crowded! We met up with the birthday girl who reserved a booth area with bottle service in the "Trophy Room" which was great because it was a little private area with another party. It was good to have a tad bit space from the crowds but still close to the bar if we wanted to grab our own drinks. The music wasn't too loud where I couldn't hear each other which was a good thing. Plus, it was not too dark either which I couldn't see anybody. I liked that about the place. The layout of the place is like a house (Durr, that's why it's called Estate) with the "Dining Room" and "Patio" areas. The place has great potential once it gets warmer. There's a rooftop area which I know will have an amazing view of the ci-tayy! Heyy girl heyyyy!! The crowd was definitely diverse that night. Girls dressed to the Nines and the guys looking pretty sharp, too. There must have been a weird eyelash party because the party next to us all had super long funky color eyelashes. It totally creeped me out. Crazy lookin' birds. Drinks were alright. The bartender definitely had a full plate with it being crowded so I knew it was going to take a while for our order to get through. Thankful our friend had a bottle. Later on, though we found a break at the bar and scooted our way through to order our beers of Red Stripe and Guinness. I think I'll try a different bartender when I'm there next. They do serve food there. I'm not sure exactly what time til. We didn't take advantage of that as we did get there kinda late. The menu online looks pretty decent so maybe next time I'll get there earlier and try it.

    (4)

  • Jen S.

    While the atmosphere and menu was nice, the staff ruined the whole experience. They were incredibly rude to customers and called women "bitches" multiple times (I wish I was making this up). After buying bottles of moet I had to leave because my date was kicked out for simply asking why another friend had been kicked out. The staff engaged in verbal arguements with drunk angry customers and was very unprofessional. I will never return to this bar again and will be happy to tell anybody else in Chicago how horribly this venue treats paying customers.

    (1)

  • Lauren F.

    This place is off the beaten path, but worth the trip. The rooftop bar is awesome and there is a gorgeous view of the skyline! I worked with Natasha to plan a company outing and she was nothing short of fabulous. They were extremely accommodating and she made sure that we were taken care of at all times! Our group arrived late and they held the tables for us. They had already prepared our food, but since we were late, they had to throw it away. The food came out a little slow, but that was our own fault. When I went to go ask about it, Natasha added on a few extra food items to our package! She checked in on us multiple times and we felt very taken care of at all times. I would highly recommend this for any medium/large outing! We had a blast! Thanks Estate!

    (5)

  • Ismene P.

    Went for the first time on a Friday night to enjoy the supposed great view. View was great...the whole city skyline. Go check it out if only for the view alone. Great ambiance. When my friends and I went, it was maybe half full---that was nice because not alot of people had table service so people could sit on the comfy couch seating area (which is otherwise reserved for table service only). But then again, it was half full--not exactly a bumping place to be. We did end up leaving around 1230 am to go somewhere else. Maybe it got fuller right after we left, I don't know. Bar service on the patio was very slow---the bar tender girl was nice and good, but she was the only one, which made service slow. My mixed drinks were ~$9 each I believe. Also, bathrooms were VERY nice (at least the ones downstairs). Dress code: most people were mildly dressed up. no jeans, tshirt, and gym shoes. But you don't exactly need to dress like you're going clubbing or anything. although there were plenty of us ladies that were dressed that way. Overall, I'm definitely coming back. I think it's at least worth checking it out on your own and judging for yourself.

    (4)

  • Michelle L.

    So the girls and I went here on Saturday night. When we sat down for dinner most tables were already taken. (We had a reservation.) However we eventually left at 10:30 since we had waited around for it to get more crowded and it didn't seem like anyone else had entered the place in the past two hours. The FOOD? The hummus we ordered was delish and there were not enough veggies and croutons to finish the hummus. They gladly brought us more. I had a burger and it didnt really live up to what was stated on the menu with different kinds of meat, I expected a deeeelicious burger but this seemed to be and taste like a standard frozen meat from some food distributor. The brioche bun and the fries were fresh. I do recommend the skinny drinks.They were only serving the mojito skinny. Overall, I think once summer comes this place will be hoppin!!! Oh yeah, look out for the Jersey Shore crew, it seemed as though everyone who worked there was friends with this booth of people (straight from the Jersey Shore.) And what's with the waitresses outfits? This is not a club but a classier place, they should where something with a little more taste. Will I scream to go back? Probably not too soon.

    (3)

  • Steve T.

    Really wanted to like this place more than I do. I work in the area and was looking for a much needed option for lunch during the week. I am sure as a bar nights/weekends it is a totally different vibe. Anyway, I have tried most things on the menu and in a nutshell.....it's OK. (1) the rock shrimp appetizer is the best thing on the menu and it is really good (2) the lobster roll sammies sound good but they disappoint in a major way.....not real flavor at all. (3) the scallop salad is either really really good or they overchar the scallops and the whole thing is bitter (4) the salmon salad is also very good and would recommend that. (5) most of the sandwiches suffer from the same issue....too much bread! The buns are way to big for what you get. I end up using a knife/fork to eat it instead. And the bread never seems very fresh either. For the most part, the servers are very nice and do a great job. I hope they do something with the bread issue and add a few things to the menu. It is still in my rotation for lunches, but I was hoping for better.

    (3)

  • lisa k.

    I searched half price wine places on Wednesday's and thankfully this place popped up for me. My friend and I sat at the bar. Firstly, the view outside of this place is gorgeous. The service was phenomenal and the wine was even better. we also ordered food as well. Definitely recommend this place and will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Kena H.

    The estate offers a unique blend of upscale dining, laid back feel and sexy decor. You must check this place out! I had the lobster Mac and cheese, tuna tartar and oysters during a night out with the girls and each item offered a very satisfying flavor combination and plentiful portion sizes. There are several large screened televisions that display games, music videos, etc. As the evening progresses, the restaurant turns into a club-like scene. The DJ is super live and plays great music to dance to.

    (5)

  • Bradley T.

    The nonprofit I work for hosted a fundraiser at Estate a couple months ago. The staff and management was really helpful before and during the event. The space itself is great, especially the rooftop deck. It is one of the better unobstructed views of the Chicago skyline from a restaurant/bar. I thought the location was good as well as we were expecting people from all over the city. Plus they have a huge parking lot on site. They do charge for valet, but it is nice to have an easy parking option right at the venue. I definitely recommend Estate if you are looking to host a large party for friends or business associates.

    (5)

  • Peggy T.

    I pass this place almost everyday and have always wanted to stop in. Yesterday my boyfriend and I took a couple friends who were visiting the city here. We went in around 6PM and the place was pretty empty inside. It was beautiful out so we went up to the rooftop. Let me say this, the view is breathtaking and the atmosphere is beautiful. They have swanky- lounge type couches around and the building sits along the river. There was an event going on upstairs for a company and I think they had a Kayak deal running too. Still, it wasnt very busy. The food that was being served to the party looked good, but we just had a few tall beers here. I will say not one cocktail server ever came over to use to take our empty cans or ask if we wanted more. Instead we had to go up to the bar to place orders. The servers just kind of stood around and gave all their attention to the (small) event going on. The prices here are a little outrageous too. Youre paying a premium for budlights and summer shandy, let me just say that. I'd probably head back in though, the view is awesome and I love a roof top. Just be ready to spend some $$

    (3)

  • Abby R.

    This is disappointing because it really has the potential to be a 4+ star place. Why it's great: - Patio - View of the city - Drinks (150cal superfruit sangria was lovely) - Patio bar menu...great variety of snackies What drops this down 2 stars: - The pretentious hostess who made me feel like a dumbass for never being there before - It was 5pm and the patio deck just opened but we were limited to a small section of 6 tables - Waitress making it seem like it was super difficult to add tomatoes to the side of a sandwich - Overall service was disappointing

    (3)

  • Elizabeth K.

    We went to Estate for a special deal to watch the NIU vs. FSU game. When I pre-purchased the event tickets, the website said the deal was from 5:00pm-1:00am. I have an EMAILED receipt stating this time frame as well. When we go to the bar, at 5:45pm, we were told the deal didn't start til 7:30 and ended at 10:30pm. I didn't pay for that time frame, I paid from 5:00pm-1:00am. No one contacted me telling me there was a change of time, so once we were there, almost 2 hours before the deal we already purchased started, we had to pay for our drinks, meaning we HAD to spend more money. We had an additional $60 dollar tab for our group. Since the bar knew they were offering a drink special during the game, they should have been more properly staffed. There were 2 bartenders and a bar back. The bar back was very nice, and pouring beers, getting cans, but he wouldn't take food orders. He said we had to order from the bartender. I think it confused a lot of people. Besides being under staffed, they also were under supplied. The deal offered select cans and drafts and before halftime, they were out of 3 of the 5 beers being offered. The only option people had was Bud Light and 312 drafts, and some people don't like draft beer for fear of dirty lines and a huge headache the next day. They ran out of Stella before the first quarter was over. I know it was busy, but the bar was offering this deal, they should have known to be ready for a crowd. Lastly, "beer nuggets" during the game were included in the package. They set tiny bowls on the bar and it was pretty much a free for all. People were 2 rows deep at the bar reaching over people's heads to grab what they could. I didn't see one bowl get replaced once emptied. So not only were the "nuggets" already sparce, once they were gone, that was it. They were gone. We asked for a new bowl since our surrounding patrons hoarded them, but we were told there were no more. Overall, it was a horrible first experience. The only good thing about our time at Estate was seeing old friends and alumni. We left at halftime, annoyed and hungry.

    (2)

  • Samantha F.

    Read the previous reviews and went in with an open mind. We love this place! We ordered the following apps...(Check out my photo) Calamari Grilled Octopus Deviled Eggs Excellent place for a first date or just date night in general. I would definitely do reservations and request to be by the windows on the canal. The deck is beautiful on a nice night and relaxing. Also, loved the music selection, they played a lot of Coldplay and nothing is more sexy than that.

    (4)

  • Karmin A.

    This review is strictly for the rooftop. I came here on a Tuesday night for a party and enjoyed the view very much. It's one of the best views in Chicago. You have to check it out!

    (5)

  • Lisa D.

    The place is cool and the rooftop is nice. I love rooftops. But it is very overpriced and nothing special. I found the food to taste horrible and the drinks to be watered down. I was disappointed. The service was horrible and our waitress was so rude! It took about 15 minutes just to order a drink and an additional 15 to order food, and they weren't even busy! We were never offered waters and ignored us several times. I cant imagine the service if they were busy! If i go back, it will be on a Wednesday because they have half price bottles of wine and will definitely NOT eat their food again! Not a fan of the location either. This place has potential but needs a lot of work!

    (2)

  • Sammy L.

    An organization I'm a part of recently held an event at this venue and it was absolutely THE WORST EXPERIENCE we've ever had. The security and staff were not only rude, but physically abusive of our guests. Out of an event of roughly 300 people, they physically pushed/forced over 50 out the door. When asked for explanation, considering we had paid Estate for their venue for OUR party with OUR guests, guests were told to "f**k off" and called "b*tches." The majority of our guests paid additional money for open bar access for 4 hours, but coincidentally, security felt the need to throw people out (many who had purchased the open bar access deal) within the first hour of our event -- a sketchy business move that cheated hundreds of our guests of what added up to be thousands of dollars. Besides the rude and unprofessional staff who removed people from our private party at our leisure, the venue itself was not fun. Guests weren't dancing because there was no clear spot for a dance floor, and compared to the many other venues we've hosted events at, this was by far the most dull, had the worst food (and not much of it at all despite paying a hefty sum for it), and was on the smaller side (especially given the price). I will never be going back to Estate, and given the horrible time that the majority of my guests had, I don't think anyone in the organization will ever be returning again. Edit: Even more disappointing, after our organization's feedback, management promised at least a partial refund to a representative of our organization for members of our party who had been thrown out, which was much appreciated. However, more than a month later, this still hasn't been fulfilled/two e-mails following up about it are left unreturned. Wholly disappointing and aggravating experience with this venue.

    (1)

  • LIDA A.

    I have been here three times since they opened. Each time I hope that the service has improved with time, and instead I see that in fact, the food is not any better, and the service is slower. Don't expect to: a) place any kind of order in less than a 1/2 hour b) actually get that food served in the next hour c) get any kind of service or attention from the wait staff. The location is fabulous, but the food and service don't justify the wait or the inflated prices. It would also be nice if they took the time to wipe the grease and spots off of the glass tables in the lounge area. Yuck. I don't think I'll be going back to give them another try.

    (2)

  • Michael M.

    The only favorable thing I have to offer about this place is the location. I hope it closes soon and makes way for a wine bar. It was a calamitous experience from top to bottom. My unpleasant experience started at the bar where they had The O'Reilly Factor playing on one of the three TV's. I asked the bartender why they were showing Fox News on the TV at a bar and he didn't know. He asked a manager and he too shrugged and kinda laughed. The channel wasn't changed. I generally sit at the service well to understand the reality of the place. It instantly gave me insight into what a nightmare the people and place was. The manager/owner dropped a number of f bombs in normal conversation within ear shot of me. Not that I care, but not so Klassy. And there was something happening with a girl trying to make an iced coffee. She told me she didn't drink coffee and wondered aloud where the cream was. I suggested she take a look in the fridge. It was way overstaffed with the worst type of just moved into the city big hair, fake tan, boobs and nails wanna-be suburban girls. The dudes, even worse. Faux hawks and rat tails/ retro mullet with a #1 electric razor beard was the insulting aesthetic. The "service" is beyond redic. Declining beer because I didn't want to be buzzed while I waited for my friend, my water was never re-filled, the glass removed when I walked up to the host stand for a second and when I returned I was again offered a beer. I declined and waited for my friend. After another moment or so of waiting, he asked me if I wanted a water. I must complement them on the water service, it was cold and wet, though it was served both inside and outside the glass. My reso noted I was a first time guest, entertaining a client and preferred to be outside. When the host tried to seat us, she was leading us to an empty area of the restaurant away from the desired water feature. We said we wanted to be outside, and while there were tables available, she told us it was first come first serve. OK, so just seat us there in one of the three open outdoor tables that are next to the rest of the outdoor tables. She did. There was an outdoor table with a reserved sign on it too, but I think it was for the investors or owners friends or some type of striver wanna-be couple. My friend tried to order a tequila on the rocks and when asked what type of tequila they had, the server was stumped and said "um, Cuervo and Patron. I offered up many names (Herradura, El Jimador, Milagro, Tres Generations) and she didn't know. She said, "Cavadores is good too, but I'm not sure we have that." We opted for Patron. After the server dropped the drinks, I asked her to bring us a couple of bev naps. She promptly did and then never returned for a check back or anything. Or to try to take our food order. We were there, at a table for ~20 minutes. My friend and I were like, this place is beyond words. We called around and made dinner reservations at Province instead where a nice dinner was had and capped with a visit from the chef thanking us for coming. I asked the bus-boy to have the server bring us the check and he returned with a pen for us. I was like, no. Not a pen. The check. The Bill, please. With a voice like Borat, he told me "I'm not server." Right, so have the server bring us the check please. The server returned with the check $12 for patron on the rocks, $10 for a What she said (eh) and tried to make a get-away when I told her to hold up and gave her my card and then over gratuitized her with $2. If you the owner and manager, feel free to message me and I'll share with you some other great moments, like how staff hover at the host stand and how the trainee host asked me "if I worked here too" while I was waiting to be acknowledged. The conversation the meat head bouncers/enforcers were having with the bartender was a doozy too. Although to their credit, they tried to have it discreetly. Did I mention the staff stands around paying more attention to their twitter and facebooks then to the customers. Please do Chicago a favor and do not go here. It will hasten the demise and ideally bring in some investors who have been in the business before and offer chicago something cool in a fabulous location.

    (1)

  • Vanessa P.

    I really feel bad giving this place only one star but my experience last night was so terrible. A few of my girl friends and I went for their "Summer Soiree" event and I have to say we left very disappointed. The event boasted "breathtaking views" of the skyline. Yes, that is if you are hanging around the parking lot. I do agree with the other yelpers that the terrace is awkwardly placed and instead of the skyline you are facing the Chicago river and Mercedes dealership. Which is fine, but we were a bit misled. We were also under the assumption that our event tickets include appetizers and dessert. We showed up around 45 minutes to an hour after the event started and it didn't seem like appetizers were being passed out yet? I asked a member of the staff when in fact they were going to be bringing them out because frankly, we were starving and held off on dinner earlier since we knew we were going to the event. He seemed to have no idea what I was talking about and simply just shrugged me off. Okay... Since it really seemed like either 1. This wasn't planned well and on a timely manner or 2. They were holding off on passing out food in hopes that guests would cave and order from the slightly pricier menu, we decided to grab a table out on the terrace and order some food. I cannot emphasize how rude and unattentive the waitstaff was. Nobody even acknowledged the fact that we sat down or asked us if we needed anything for a good 10 minutes. It took THREE tries to get menus. First, the waitress promised she would bring them but never did. Then the same thing happened with the confused food runner from earlier. Finally, we flagged down the guy who was at the front door and he brought them fairly quickly. It was not even busy at this point. I really do not want this review to get too lengthy so I'll summarize the rest of my complaints. 1. My friend ordered calamari and we were delivered shrimp instead. In our hunger-crazed stupor, we did not realize until the waitress pointed it out that they gave us the wrong item. Then, she proceeded to ask "since you already started eating it, do you want that instead of the calamari then?"...of course my friend said no, she would still like her calamari. 2. The food came out at completely seperate times! I understand the calamari/shrimp because technically it is an appetizer but I mean, how was my burger brought out a good 5 minutes before my friends lobster mac and cheese? I've worked in this industry for a good 3 1/2 years and it is pretty standard knowledge that you bring out entrees at the same time. Once again, it was not that busy. 3. We were never offered waters. 4. The bill. The calamari was comped which was really nice and unexpected. Unfortunately, my friends and I had to be "that table" and pay separately because two of us had cards and one had cash. I did try to simplify it was much as possible and wrote on the receipt exactly what amount goes on what card (I even divided up and included the tax). I've served before so I know what a pain this can be and hate doing it. However, it happens. Once I informed our waitress about our payment methods she told us (rather rudely) that they can only split evenly and not do different charges. What? No one informed us of this in the beginning of our meal and since we all ordered a pretty wide ranged priced meals, we were definitely not up for that. The waitress ended up giving us extreme attitude and said she will do it "this one time" and just for us. I completely understand when you are "swamped" to the point where you don't know what to do with yourself but that is when a simple apology or acknowledgement goes a long way. Not giving us attitude because you are having trouble handling your section and have to do more work. 5. The worst part? My friend who ordered the lobster mac and cheese got very sick and is pretty sure it's from food poisoning. Okay, I really hate doing bad reviews so I will point out a few positives from my experience. My chickpea burger was great, the fries were amazing, the bartenders were fast and knew how to make a good-tasting cocktail and the management seemed to be really nice. I do wish the rooftop was open though because maybe the view of the skyline would redeem our terrible dinner experience. However, I am not too sure I will be coming back to find out...

    (1)

  • Nari H.

    So many haters! Food is decent - Had a berry mixed drink, the rock shrimp appetizer, the deviled eggs and the beet salad. All were good. Nothing spectacular. The first level has outdoor seating and indoor too. They've got TV's lining the bar. You can dock here from the Chicago River, but it only fits one boat at a time. If you dock, you have to climb up a ladder. So if you're not a ladder-climber, think of driving there instead. Has a great rooftop venue with a really nice sound system. The music was a little too loud for us, but the view was great. If I came back, I'd capitalize on the rooftop.

    (3)

  • Adam N.

    Each year our company throws an annual holiday party a few weeks prior to the new year. The location which we've held it at over the past couple years had a change in management, so in searched for new locations. I came across Estate Ultra Bar and spoke with them. I received all the necessary information promptly, as I requested. Given the size of the venue and their willingness to host a private party made my decision making process very simple. There was an increase in our total guest count, and they accommodated to this, just days before the party. The party ran smoothly, with outstanding quality of food and service. I highly recommend Estate Ultra Bar for large parties and I am looking forward to visiting during the summer months when their rooftop is open! Thanks for a great party! Definitely order the lobster Mac and the Caprese salad!

    (5)

  • Michelle D.

    I've been so excited to try out Estate since I saw their new construction start. They have a nice menu with good, creative food. We went in for a sunday afternoon brunch. It was a lovely warm day on the river. We were sitting in the sun so I do hope that there are some fun umbrellas in Estate's future. The Bubble Smoothie was nice with some great accents of mango and banana. I had the Pretzel Croissant Sandwich and my friend had the Chickpea Burger. The problem. I was served my sandwich and let it sit for a few minutes while we waited for my friend's meal. Another table of five received their meals (one by one) and then, after my meal had been sitting for 10 minutes, my friend received her burger. We were unable to really enjoy our meal together because we were waiting so long. There was no acknowledgment to this problem. I liked Estate but I won't be back for quite a while, until the service issues get worked out.

    (3)

  • Stef C.

    I love the rooftop. It's great looking at the skyline. However it depends what night you go because sometimes the crowd isn't that great.

    (3)

  • Keith L.

    Went this past Saturday night for the first time. What seems like a upscale sports bar during the day (i.e. Rockit, Deuces & Diamond, etc) is definitely one of the best new additions to the Chicago nightlife scene. Lying somewhere in between a bar (Rockit), a lounge, and a club, Estate Ultra Bar is best of all three. Estate plays great music (but not so loud where you cannot hear the person next to you) and attracts probably one of the best looking crowds in Chicago. Although I do not think it is required, people (both guys and girls) dress to impress (finally!...tired of guys wearing $70 t's that their rich mommies bought them out at night!). Two downfalls...1. drinks are pricey (River North pricey) and 2. male staff are rude and full of themselves (more so than usual). I will be back regardless, but will definitely make it a point when the rooftop opens!

    (5)

  • Grennan K.

    Tis the season. What a gorgeous view of the skyline!!! I come here weekday nights just to chill with group of friends. Very relaxed... unlike the weekend where it's a cluster fuck of people and typical music. Last time i was here it was a surprising mix of alt rock and 90s throwback. Very nostalgic. I think... this was my birthday night. Food: Mediocre... Service is decent...

    (4)

  • Maudie B.

    I bought the brunch for 2 deal on YouSwoop and was excited to go try it out. The menu looked good and the photos online made it look like a cool place to go for rooftop brunch. When we first got off the bus we saw the building and honestly thought it had closed down. There were no cars in the parking lot and the building looked janky and out of business. Once we got inside there was only one woman working. We were hoping to sit on the roof as they advertised online, but instead sat on their outdoor patio facing the parking lot. All our food came out separately in 20 minute intervals, so by the time I got my food, my friend had finished hers. All around awkward. For what the food is priced at it was not that good. We were disappointed in the restaurant and had been excited to go based on YouSwoop reviews and their website, but were let down. Even with a deal it wasn't worth it.

    (2)

  • Dj Nightwolf ..

    I just left Estate, checked it out because they're having an open house until the grand opening in a couple weeks. In fact, I'm actually writing this review on my cab ride to my next destination for the evening. Why couldn't I wait to write my review tomorrow, you ask? Because I want to be the first review. Just kidding... not really. But, seriously. Sparklers, bottles of champagne, more sparklers, bottles of jamo, and more sparklers... bottles & sparklers EVERYWHERE!!! It was good times. Just about everyone from different scenes/industries where there, as well as many people from different segments of the nightlife industry. Good times, my friends. Good times, indeed. Talk about a starting off with a bang! And this wasn't even the official grand opening event! Congrats to the owners of this fine establishment. I cannot wait for the nice weather to hit Chicago so I can chill on the rooftop area and get the full experience! I can't comment on the food yet because I only took part in the consumption of alcoholic libations, but, from what I remember the service was great, and the atmosphere & vibe was awesome... this a very nice place. I'd go into more detail, and I probably should've snapped a few pics of the interior, but I was distracted by all the sparklers! What can I say? I'm addicted to sparklers... don't judge me. Anyway, I will return so that I may sample the Lobster Mac that EVERYONE has been telling me about. Yes, that's right, LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE! Stay tuned for a follow up review when I destroy my body with the deliciousness they have to offer at Estate. Then, stay tuned for a follow up to the follow up when I check out the roof lounge area! I'm pretty sure that as soon as I get the full experience, I'll be able to give a 5 star review, but for now I'll go with the 4 stars since Yelp doesn't allow me to give 4.75 stars. Holla!!!â„¢

    (4)

  • Bomby K.

    I was visiting Chicago for the first time and some locals brought be to this place.. it looked and seemed like it was a bit further away from everything.. but what do i know? So we walked into the place and it seem deserted. Probably because we were there too early. Anyway... we went to the roof and WOW! the decor was fabulous and the view- breathtaking.. The asian waitress was pretty hot as well ;) Anyway... the ambiance and music was great. Loved this places. We had some shrimp and hummus as appetizers and we only went to this place for a pre-dinner drink. Any way.. I loved this place and would definitely go back the next time i am in Chicago!

    (4)

  • Kristen K.

    I had high expectations for this place as I watched the construction daily and proclaimed... what are they putting there? So I was having a hard time deciding whether to give 3 or 4 stars... Let's weigh he pros and cons: Pros: Free (and abundant) street parking on Elston Good atmosphere Nice light fixtures and a modern design/feel Great service City views Cake pop trio dessert was yummy (but awkward to share) Gorgeous bathrooms with granite counters and full size stall doors. Good music (Gotye, Muse, M83, Gaga, & Daft Punk all played while we were there) Nice beer selection Many large screen TV's with sports on (more for the boys) They let us split 2 credit cards Cons: $8 parking in the lot Awful pre-formed frozen burger (came medium well when I asked for medium rare) Luke-warm not so tasty fries Tables were too close together and it was awkward to get in and out Went on monday, the music ended up being so loud we couldn't talk during dinner Price for 2 burgers, 2 beers, and 1 dessert was a $50 dollar tab! The message is unclear of what this place is: club/bar/restaurant I'm going to give 4 stars, but only probationally, because of this places potential. On my return trip I want to try one of the mixology cocktails and some of the small plates including the lobster mac and cheese. Here's hoping for a better food experience! It's a shame if this place doesn't improve the quality of their $12 burger. If you can't do a staple well then you won't survive in this business.

    (4)

  • Glen H.

    It was ok. Nothing special though.

    (3)

  • Mark V.

    I was pretty excited to try out this place, but sadly I was extremely disappointed. A friend and I went in on a Monday night and the place looks amazing, but it can't seem to decide whether it wants to be a high end bar or a chic restaurant. We both ordered a medium rare burger and a beer. The waitress was very nice and professional despite the ridiculous outfits this place makes them wear. They were out of practically every beer I tried to order. They didn't have a German brew or a 312. The food took a good long while to get to the table and when it did arrive the fries were cold and the burger was absolutely sub par. It came out medium well and seemed to taste like a frozen patty. We both shared the lollipop dessert platter and it was quite delicious, but nothing I'd die to try again. The place definitely looks pretty amazing and seems like a hot spot to get a drink. I, However, went in on a Monday night for some food and it absolutely disappointed. My friend rated this place on potential and was very generous with her review. I don't like paying about $60 for two borderline bad burgers, beers and a dessert. I'm not looking for potential. I'm looking for what I can get out of a place now and unfortunately Estate's food is disappointing. My suggestion would be to just completely get rid of the kitchen and strictly focus on the bar and lounge. I'd like to give 2 and 1/2 stars but I'm not one to round up so sorry!

    (2)

  • Carmen B.

    This place is somewhat out of the way - I've seen it several times, but it's not in my consideration set in the evening. We made this the last stop on a Friday night. It was not crowded, and we got a table on the terrace - it is a cool spot for drinks on the river. From a beer and food perspective, it was a good experience - basic sliders, baked pretzels with cheese (perfect for late night), etc. Staff was fine. There was no problem getting a cab out, either. I think I'd return for a low key summer afternoon outing for drinks.

    (3)

  • Justin P.

    So I went here last night (Saturday) to see the place morph into a lounge/club. This spot is LEGIT. It tilts more towards being a lounge than a club, since there's really not a huge dance floor and the music isn't blasting. Valet was cheap ($8); the music wasn't so loud that I couldn't hear my friends; but loud enough where I could shake my butt. As for the crowd, it wasn't so packed that I couldn't move, but enough people where I could mingle. My favorite part of the evening came when I discovered that their patio is open and allows patrons to smoke cigars AND take their drink outside. I mean the patio alone makes the place 3 1/2 stars...then the drinks and ambiance put it up to 4. Sadly their rooftop wasn't open; but I'll be sure to go back when it does. The place isn't big; but they make the best use of the space they have and they do a good job at that. I'd go back.

    (4)

  • Lindsay S.

    Wow I had the best birthday ever here!! We started off with the champagne supernova which came with a sparkler! and cake pops! It was superexciting!! The rooftop has a beautiful view of the city skyline. And what else can I say, the bartender, Peter, was pretty hot and the nicest person we met in Chicago :) He made us a bunch of special birthday drinks which were all amazing!!! Our favorite was the killer special! This definitely exceeded my expectations of the best birthday ever and I would love to come back!

    (5)

  • Jeffrey M.

    After hearing about this place through Zagat and visiting their website I was really looking forward to visiting this place. What you see on the website is not what you get. I give it a second star only because I think the place has some potential. First, the upstairs and roof top is still under construction. The decor looks cheap in the areas that are finished. The place wasn't busy and we were sat at a horrible table near an employees only access to the kitchen. The smell coming out of there was awful. Not a good sign when you're about to eat. The drinks sounded interesting on the menu, but while they weren't bad they just didn't measure up to the expectation. The deviled eggs weren't bad. We ordered a couple different kinds of sammies, and they were completely inedible. We took one bite each and were ready to leave. The server asked why we didn't finish and my girlfriend told her they were disgusting. The server couldn't believe it pointing out how much everyone loves them. Anyone who watches Ramsays Kitchen Nightmares knows that's a stupid thing to say. The place is a waste of time. Avoid it for now.

    (2)

  • Kyle K.

    I am giving this place 4 stars. However, it would have received 5 if the atmosphere was a little different. Nonetheless, the staff are friendly, the food is good, and so are the drinks. Foodwise, I highly recommended the lobster mac and cheese and the buffalo wings. As for drinks, the "that's what she said" and "summer snow" are absolutely delicious. The quiet location on the river offers a unique and beautiful of the city. I definitely recommend that you check this place out!

    (4)

  • Heather H.

    That's right mike. I right reviews when I've had a bad experience and as I look at reviews from estate. There sure are a lot of bad ones!! Cheers!

    (1)

  • Lauren B.

    I can't highly un-recommend (prob not a word) this place enough. The stupid name of this place should have been enough of a clue that this place would not be worth our time. Since CPS teachers on strike, someone has to issue some grades! Here they are: Food -- C Waitstaff -- F Management -- D Parking/Location -- D The entrance to the bar was marked only by the meathead standing at the door checking IDs. It looks like a dive bar from outside. I actually had to ask him if that was the entrance. He grunted and that was about the extent of the welcome. There was nobody inside the door at the hostess stand to greet us. The food was average. Nothing special, although I will agree that the lobster mac and cheese was delish. The menu was very limited -- mostly appetizers and overpriced drinks. The fries that come with the meals are served with some nasty ketchup concoction. I don't even know what that was, but Honey Boo Boo's mother's ketchup and butter sauce sounds more appealing. Our waitress was inattentive and dumber than a box of rocks. She came back to our table for once maybe every 20-30 minutes, and we only ordered a main course and drinks. We literally had to waive our arms in the air to flag her down for refills. The busboys were carrying off our plates before we could even finish eating in an effort to turn over the table as quickly as possible. I understand that there were 8 people in our party, but wouldn't you think it would have been a good idea for our waitress to find out how we planned to split up the check if she knew the bill couldn't be split among more than 3 cards???? We didn't find this out until our waitress came with our bill and we handed her multiple cards. We had to explain to her how to enter it into the cash register because she for some reason couldn't figure it out. Then after 20 minutes she came back and told us she could only accept 3 cards so the rest of us would have to get cash from the ATM in the basement. So, we were forced to each pay a $4 ATM fee to get cash to pay our bill, which they took the liberty of adding an 18% gratuity to. If it had been up to me, this girl would have gotten NO TIP AT ALL. I asked the manager to confirm this three card policy and she said yes, that was the case because it slowed down their system too much. The waitress came back to our table and we asked her to stay for 2 min while we all threw in our cash and she REFUSED! She said she had to check on her other tables! Where was she all night when she should have been checking on ours! Then the girl finally takes the check, comes back, and had overcharged one of my friends by $100! I had to drag the manager from the table where she was boozing with customers to come get it straightened out. She took the check and then handed it off to the owner, who came back to the table and demanded an accounting of all of the cash that was paid, meaning who paid what. I do not know why that was relevant. He sent the waitress back to the table with our "corrected" receipt and I told the manager at that time that it was the worst service we had ever received. His response was that he would talk to the waitress. Um, thanks. That helps us 0% after the bill was already paid. I have to point out that it took us over an hour to get the check straightened out. To put the timing into context, I actually had to use the restroom twice while the waitress was trying to figure it out. Ridiculous. By the way, the website says there is ample street parking available. I am going to call BS on that one. I had to park several blocks away. There is valet parking available for $8. The bus/cab situation is pretty weak because it is in the middle of freaking nowhere. I'm willing to bet that this "estate" will be bankrupt in a matter of months.

    (1)

  • Francesca S.

    New hot spot for the Chii people! 3 and a 1/2 stars to be exact. Give it some time it has potential to be 4 stars. One can easily pass this place up if they don't know what they are looking for. I guess some of my friends had a hard time finding the place, but I had no problem spotting the valet line the pumps and short dress chicas walking up to the place. I didn't use the valet. I just parked down the street and had ourselves a little walk. Wasn't bad at all. A group of friends and I got here almost midnight and the place was poppin' and super crowded! We met up with the birthday girl who reserved a booth area with bottle service in the "Trophy Room" which was great because it was a little private area with another party. It was good to have a tad bit space from the crowds but still close to the bar if we wanted to grab our own drinks. The music wasn't too loud where I couldn't hear each other which was a good thing. Plus, it was not too dark either which I couldn't see anybody. I liked that about the place. The layout of the place is like a house (Durr, that's why it's called Estate) with the "Dining Room" and "Patio" areas. The place has great potential once it gets warmer. There's a rooftop area which I know will have an amazing view of the ci-tayy! Heyy girl heyyyy!! The crowd was definitely diverse that night. Girls dressed to the Nines and the guys looking pretty sharp, too. There must have been a weird eyelash party because the party next to us all had super long funky color eyelashes. It totally creeped me out. Crazy lookin' birds. Drinks were alright. The bartender definitely had a full plate with it being crowded so I knew it was going to take a while for our order to get through. Thankful our friend had a bottle. Later on, though we found a break at the bar and scooted our way through to order our beers of Red Stripe and Guinness. I think I'll try a different bartender when I'm there next. They do serve food there. I'm not sure exactly what time til. We didn't take advantage of that as we did get there kinda late. The menu online looks pretty decent so maybe next time I'll get there earlier and try it.

    (4)

  • Jen S.

    While the atmosphere and menu was nice, the staff ruined the whole experience. They were incredibly rude to customers and called women "bitches" multiple times (I wish I was making this up). After buying bottles of moet I had to leave because my date was kicked out for simply asking why another friend had been kicked out. The staff engaged in verbal arguements with drunk angry customers and was very unprofessional. I will never return to this bar again and will be happy to tell anybody else in Chicago how horribly this venue treats paying customers.

    (1)

  • Lauren F.

    This place is off the beaten path, but worth the trip. The rooftop bar is awesome and there is a gorgeous view of the skyline! I worked with Natasha to plan a company outing and she was nothing short of fabulous. They were extremely accommodating and she made sure that we were taken care of at all times! Our group arrived late and they held the tables for us. They had already prepared our food, but since we were late, they had to throw it away. The food came out a little slow, but that was our own fault. When I went to go ask about it, Natasha added on a few extra food items to our package! She checked in on us multiple times and we felt very taken care of at all times. I would highly recommend this for any medium/large outing! We had a blast! Thanks Estate!

    (5)

  • Ismene P.

    Went for the first time on a Friday night to enjoy the supposed great view. View was great...the whole city skyline. Go check it out if only for the view alone. Great ambiance. When my friends and I went, it was maybe half full---that was nice because not alot of people had table service so people could sit on the comfy couch seating area (which is otherwise reserved for table service only). But then again, it was half full--not exactly a bumping place to be. We did end up leaving around 1230 am to go somewhere else. Maybe it got fuller right after we left, I don't know. Bar service on the patio was very slow---the bar tender girl was nice and good, but she was the only one, which made service slow. My mixed drinks were ~$9 each I believe. Also, bathrooms were VERY nice (at least the ones downstairs). Dress code: most people were mildly dressed up. no jeans, tshirt, and gym shoes. But you don't exactly need to dress like you're going clubbing or anything. although there were plenty of us ladies that were dressed that way. Overall, I'm definitely coming back. I think it's at least worth checking it out on your own and judging for yourself.

    (4)

  • Michelle L.

    So the girls and I went here on Saturday night. When we sat down for dinner most tables were already taken. (We had a reservation.) However we eventually left at 10:30 since we had waited around for it to get more crowded and it didn't seem like anyone else had entered the place in the past two hours. The FOOD? The hummus we ordered was delish and there were not enough veggies and croutons to finish the hummus. They gladly brought us more. I had a burger and it didnt really live up to what was stated on the menu with different kinds of meat, I expected a deeeelicious burger but this seemed to be and taste like a standard frozen meat from some food distributor. The brioche bun and the fries were fresh. I do recommend the skinny drinks.They were only serving the mojito skinny. Overall, I think once summer comes this place will be hoppin!!! Oh yeah, look out for the Jersey Shore crew, it seemed as though everyone who worked there was friends with this booth of people (straight from the Jersey Shore.) And what's with the waitresses outfits? This is not a club but a classier place, they should where something with a little more taste. Will I scream to go back? Probably not too soon.

    (3)

  • Steve T.

    Really wanted to like this place more than I do. I work in the area and was looking for a much needed option for lunch during the week. I am sure as a bar nights/weekends it is a totally different vibe. Anyway, I have tried most things on the menu and in a nutshell.....it's OK. (1) the rock shrimp appetizer is the best thing on the menu and it is really good (2) the lobster roll sammies sound good but they disappoint in a major way.....not real flavor at all. (3) the scallop salad is either really really good or they overchar the scallops and the whole thing is bitter (4) the salmon salad is also very good and would recommend that. (5) most of the sandwiches suffer from the same issue....too much bread! The buns are way to big for what you get. I end up using a knife/fork to eat it instead. And the bread never seems very fresh either. For the most part, the servers are very nice and do a great job. I hope they do something with the bread issue and add a few things to the menu. It is still in my rotation for lunches, but I was hoping for better.

    (3)

  • Jeffrey M.

    Estate Ultra Bar - Social Dining and Drinking. The name and the tagline says it all. Estate - While parts of the exterior have yet to be complete, the interior is modern, clean, and feels like a spacious home. Plenty of natural light brightens the entire building during the day and views of the river and city can be enjoyed day or night. If you enjoy the outdoors, al fresco dining is an option. Right now it's limited to their patio but I hear they have plans to opening their rooftop sometime this summer. Ultra - Other than the ambiance, I've had some pretty good service too. Servers were attentive and so were the bus boys! They kept the table cleaned up and didn't let any dirty plates sit there for long. Bar - Several speciality cocktails and a solid selection of tap beers including some local Goose Island products highlight their drink menu. If you enjoy whiskey with a hint of sweetness, try the Whiskey for Breakfast. Social Dining and Drinking - The menu has a nice selection of shared plates good for groups. Some of the items are good enough to not want to share though, the Lobster Mac and Cheese being one of them! Altogether, the atmosphere and menu make it a great place for social gatherings complete with couches and oversized booths. One of my friends was able to reserve their "trophy room" for his birthday for a more private feel. It almost felt like we were hanging out in someone's living room but with bottle service! I've thoroughly enjoyed my experiences at the estate and look forward to checking it out again especially when their rooftop opens. Chicago summer is only so long and what better way to enjoy it than being outdoors with some good food, drink, music and a view of the best skyline there is!

    (5)

  • Karissa J.

    We went to a bowl game viewing location here that had been planned for a month, which one would anticipate would be enough time for the staff to prepare for a big night. Apparently, it was not. Our package was to include beer and food. However, they were out of all but four beers and ran out of their signature beer nuggets before our package even began. The wait staff tried to keep up with our large group but seemed extremely overwhelmed. Maybe for small gatherings and dinner this place would be good, but this was not impressive to say the least.

    (2)

  • Liza K.

    The staff here is rude, aggressive, and get into people's faces for no reason. Horrible experience. I was part of a birthday party 40+ people and one of the girls who was with us was physically shoved by a big tall bald bouncer..for no reason! I'm scared to go back here it's unsafe!

    (1)

  • Mateusz K.

    This bar is a joke.First you can't go on the roof until you purchase a bottle.I can live with that though.Than we waited 30 min for menus and another 30 for drinks.We ordered few flatbreads -nothing special.My wife ordered Tuna tatare and what came was ridiculous .5 tiny potato chips with tuna mixed with something on top of it for $12. They can't be serious serving this to people.5 star hotels, best bars wouldn't dare serve something like this. Never go there again and others shouldn't too If u don't want to waste money and time.

    (1)

  • joe b.

    First off...to all Estate employees, owners, and friends...it's obvious which agenda driven reviews are yours. Tone your excitement down a little if you want to be believable. I've been to Estate twice, and the place definitely has potential. As others have mentioned, it seems to be having a bit of an identity crisis. It's just strange to have a young lady in a tight black dress(nightclub attire) serving us our burgers and fries. Positives were the food and the service. All of the staff I have dealt with are very pleasant. Some seemed a little confused at times, but this is the norm for newer establishments. I wanted to give them 3/12 stars...but they are not quite 4 star yet so I had to round down. Estate would benefit from creating a more casual atmosphere. Hopefully they find the right direction because I would like to see this place stick around.

    (3)

  • Steph V.

    I am in LOVE with this place! Love the tapa style menu, and the sliders are amazing!! The staff is very friendly and I would definitely come back. The food came out right away and it was delicious. You HAVE to get the lobster mac and cheeseee... sooo good!! :-)

    (5)

  • Ro L.

    Horrible Service! Arranged for a large group of people to come here and it was pretty much horrible. Everything the event planner told me was wrong. Free parking in the rear parking lot till 6...wrong, valet started charging at 2pm. We could go check out the roof deck ....wrong, the manager refused to let us up there and was really rude about. They couldn't fit us a larger seating area because there was a private party...wrong , hardly anybody sat over there for the entire time we were there. The food service was pretty terrible as well. People had to keep asking for their orders, the waitress kept sending out the wrong orders drinks sometimes took 30 minutes to make their way from the bar which was about about 5 feet away. Won't be coming here again.

    (1)

  • Ajay H.

    Wow, so many awful reviews... But don't take my word for it.

    (1)

  • Clint M.

    I have been saving up money to get out of credit card debt, so the bars I have been frequenting have offered low priced drinks. That is not to say that this play has low priced drinks because I have never purchased any, but they had no problem with me hanging outside next to their fenced in patio. I brown bagged a forty and listened to the free music from the sidewalk, it was as though I was in the confines of the property. No one came out and hassled me and I got to look at all the beautiful women eating appetizers and taking in cocktails.

    (4)

  • Larry V.

    Great food, great atmosphere. Came here after work, and it was pretty amazing how far it has come since it was "Life is too short". It's an incredible transformation from the dive bar it use to be. Nowadays, it's chic and contemporary. The only concern is that the location. Street parking fills up, and a cab may be the only option (other than the Division St. bus).

    (4)

  • Kradle W.

    Went for early lunch. Perfect weather, got a table outside on the terrace. Our party of 3 had Dock Benedict with lobster, the burger chicken sandwich. The food was really outstanding. The chicken filet was exceptional! The burger excellent and the lobster and eggs delicious. And last, the Mimosa was really good. Worth the drive for the food!

    (5)

  • Tara C.

    I went to Estate with a few friends on Labor day (Monday afternoon). It was our intention to have brunch and sit on the roof. However, we were told that there is NO brunch because it was not the weekend (fair enough it technically wasnt, we assumed that they would do brunch on the holiday, not a safe assumption), and the rooftop is only open at night (a big mistake in my opinion! They are missing out on the summer brunch crowd, who are looking for a great rooftop (check), with a good food and drink selection (check), and located ON the water/ breathtaking view of the city (check). All of which this location boasts, but does not utilize to their advantage!! Additionally, you would think that Estate would indicate somewhere on their website that their roof is only open at night we assumed it would be open when the venue is open (the website says call for rooftop hours of operation, my bad). We arrived around 12:30 and the place was DEAD. But we sat out on their first floor patio right next to the water. We soon forgot about not being able to sit on the roof, although there is a cover over the entire back patio, so you won't be getting much color on nice summer afternoons. But the view is great and you feel like you are on vacation with the boats flying by and docking up to come in for a bite to eat. We ordered some of the specialty drinks and although they are pricey they are VERY tasty (I highly suggest the summer snow or any of the sangria choices they were all phenomenal!!). We ordered our lunch options and they were all fine. The only mistake the waitress made was she forgot our calamari appetizer, but brought it during our meal and it was not a big deal at all. I will admit for being SO dead the service was a little slow, but not unbearable. It was a summer afternoon, so we were pretty laid back and parked up for the afternoon. Our waitress was more than accommodating, we asked her if we could see the roof since that's where we wanted to sit originally and she walked us right up there and took our picture. I have to say I would defiantly go back to enjoy a few of their specialty cocktails on that roof! The furniture and decor would remind you of a club in Miami or Vegas. The cushions were bright orange with white trim, eye catching but still elegant. The view is very pretty as long as you do not walk to close to the parking lot side. That side looks more like a construction zone as I would assume that areas is still up and coming. Unfortunately for them that side is where the city sky line is, makes for a pretty picture just make sure you stay far enough from ledge. The parking and taxi situation I can imagine would be a huge issue. We drove because it was a Sunday afternoon and we were not planning to drink to heavily. But if it were a Friday or Saturday night it would have been a different story. The parking lot is pretty big, but not big enough if the club was full. My suggestion would be to use UBER. They come on demand and with this location being very secluded (not many businesses and certainly no other bars surrounding it) taxis probably don't come that far off the beaten trail ..... UBER would be your best bet! I'm going to look into it for the next time I visit that rooftop!

    (4)

  • George G.

    Great cocktails and amazing staff. Oh and the rooftop has the best view in the city!

    (5)

  • L T.

    Disappointing to say in the least. First off, our server did not seem to know much about the menu. We would ask her a question and she would leave to get the answer. For the food, i was really, really disappointed. The oysters were so fishy (east and west coast ones)! YUCK! i was expecting the lobster mac and cheese to be of a creamier texture, but it wasn't. The lobster in the mac was okay. We ended up taking that to go because we didn't finish it. My boyfriend (who did not dine with me that night), ate it the next day and told me the lobster tasted super fishy. He had to take all the lobster out to eat the rest of the mac. The one thing that was good was the pork belly. For the price and hype around this place, I expected better service and better food. Probably won't be returning. Definitely left feeling very unsatisfied.

    (1)

  • Leah M.

    The best rooftop in the city hands down. I love this place its like a diamond in the rough, and an amazing atmosphere for not being "downtown". I think the location is so cool.. You're close to old town, the loop and minutes from ukranian village. It's "Loop Atmosphere" without the douchebag attitude . Our server was perfect, my glass was never empty and she made fantastic beer selections! Oh, and the lobster mac is something I've only seen in my wildest (best) dreams! The management takes the time to come over and make sure your experience is great everytime, and if you come more than one time. They know youre name. This place is a gem, and I'm so excited that its here!

    (5)

  • Anthony F.

    We went there this past Saturday night and had the best time we have had all summer. Did bottle service and was treated very well. I highly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Larisa K.

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Been to this place many times and for a variety of reasons. First off, the food and drinks. The skinny cocktails (mojitos, sangria, etc) don't taste funny like other lower calorie drinks and I still get a good buzz from them. They have many options from cocktails to wines and beers and they change them seasonally which is pretty cool. I am obsessed with the peppadew peppers and haven't found any place EVER where they taste as good. I constantly crave them and its like heaven in my mouth when I have them! The lobster mac is also really good and so Is the rock shrimp with the sauce. The salads are also decent and the burger is yummy done at medium rare. I like the ambiance and atmosphere here, especially on their rooftop. They have fun dance music on the weekends and a gorgeous view of the skyline. I haven't had any bad experiences with the wait staff and all the girls seem helpful and polite. At times it does get super busy but I've never had to wait to use the washroom which is a major plus when it comes to going out. Parking sort of sucks but you can easily find free street parking on Elston and you do not have to valet. They also have some daily specials, with one of them being on Oysters (I think on Tuesdays) which were super delicious. I would say to totally check this place out and try and come on a nice day so you can enjoy the breathtaking views of Chicago :)

    (5)

  • Abby T.

    This review is based on my experiences at the club/lounge....not the dining area. The first time I came to Estate was to shop it out as a potential location for my birthday party. It was only open about 2 weeks at that time. It wasn't too packed and we received good service from everyone we ran into, from the coat check attendants to the bartenders. Last week was my birthday party. The club was pretty jam-packed....to the point to uncomfortableness. My bartender, Dan D had a chip on his shoulder (I knew I should have gotten my round from the Adrian Brody lookalike instead!). After ordering, I intended on closing my tab, but Dan D (jerkface) says, "leave it open or close it? LEAVE IT OPEN, RIGHT?" ummm....leave it open, I guess?? I felt compelled to leave it open, even though it WAS my birthday, how many other rounds would I need/have to buy for myself? lame. There was no coat check.....and when we went outside to go put my coat in the car through valet (who coincidentally (ha) was having internal issues of their own), the doorman reassured me that they had a coatcheck. Yea, i know that you usually do, DOORMAN, but tonight you don't! He still insisted coat check was up and running. Dumb. A 5-minute staff meeting before the night started could have prevented this whole back n forth conversation. DOORMAN, DOORMAN! lol. I didn't end up putting my coat in the car, as valet was slammed & couldn't help us out quick enough (understandably so, I suppose). I dunno, guess I'm used to getting treated like a normal human being when I come to clubs. Not sure I will be back for drinks, but I may come back to try their food.

    (2)

  • Kara S.

    I had the best time at Estate last night! We were kindly greeted at the door and even received a tour of the new bar/restaurant. The menu had a nice mix of casual appetizers, entrees, and healthy salads. I really enjoyed the popcorn shrimp and my skinny cocktail. The deck and roof had an incredible view of the city and the river. If you need a spot to have a roof top party, look no further, because this is the summer spot to party. Nice work Estate!

    (5)

  • Kim S.

    The service was awesome! We had a bachelorette party with bottle service and our server, Laura, was the best waitress I have ever had in the city! If you're looking for a great rooftop with great service, go here!

    (5)

  • Jane K.

    Very modern looking! The drinks were good. My friends and I stopped by before going out here and I was impressed. I can not wait until the upstairs outside seating is open for the summer. I love roof top seating =)

    (4)

  • Amy J.

    Really loved this place. The atmosphere was very cool and modern and there are a lot of TVs so it could be a great spot for watching games. The mixed drinks were all delicious and there were so many on the menu that looked interesting, that alone will bring me back. Also love that they serve Veev. All of the food I had was awesome- pappadew peppers, lobster mac, chicken sandwich. Service was also really great and attentive. Easy to get to, easy parking. Definitely going back.

    (5)

  • alex A.

    Horrible. I never leave reviews like this but I had to for this experience 1) spent hours in the bathroom after leaving this place 2) service was horrible. They did offer to take 20% off the bill (without us asking) because they realized service was terrible 3)my iced tea glass came out with white gunk stuck to the inside. I had to go back inside and track down someone (we were out on the patio) to get me a new glass. I sat for much too long on a hot summer day waiting for someone to bring me a clean glass of tea 4) When my tea ran out we sat for a very long time again with nothing to drink with our food before anyone came out to ask for a refill 5) angus sliders had no flavor and were hard 6) deviled eggs tasted like chemicals (perhaps that was what made me sick? or was it the unwashed glasses?

    (1)

  • Neel M.

    A friend and I went to dinner last night and I have to say it is everything it has been hyped up to be! Even though they havent had their official grand opening yet, the place lived up to the reputation it seemed to be getting. We got a tour of the place when we first walked in and I have to say I am quite impressed with the layout and setup. The coolest room definitely has to the be the Trophy Room, which has a lazy boys and an 80 inch LCD tv. This is a room definitely great to watch sports! The food was Amazing! Everything we had was unbelievable. We each had the Estate cocktail and it was amazing! such a nice refreshing cocktail We ordered their Soup of the Day: Eggplant and Tomato. And the soup comes in enormous bowls, so its a lot to eat!! :) We then ordered the Tuna Tartar, Calamari, Lobster Roll, Pork Belly Sammies and the Pretzel Croissant. By far the Tuna Tartar and the Pork Belly Sammies were the highlights of all the food. Our waitress, Shab, was Great!! Very friendly, helpful and she let us know about all the items, including the drinks! She was very aware of the menu (which you don't see often in restaurants, let alone brand new restaurants). Her and other members of the staff all recommended the Lobster Mac & Cheese, which I definitely will be having the next time I go. The staff and management were all very friendly. Management stopped by to see how everything was and even chatted with us for a few minutes. I definitely cant wait for the rooftop this summer and the amazing view of the skyline! I highly recommend this place and I will definitely be coming back often!

    (5)

  • caryn a.

    Cheese ball heaven. Lots of skin tight cheap polyester clad dresses and nerdy dudes acting like they're big swinging......Food was absolutely nothing to write home about, and I would agree with another reviewer that the rock shrimp was the best thing we had. Then again, most things taste pretty decent when fried and served with a dipping sauce. Our waitress was super cute and nice, the only complaint is we were ready for our bill and couldn't find her.....until we did, sitting at another group's table doing shots. The male staff was super and I repeat, SUPER douchy. Also, the decor was nice, but the super low tables made it difficult to eat off of. At the end of the day there are way better places to spend your time and money.

    (2)

  • Charles H.

    Worst experience I've had at a bar yet in Chicago, and I've lived in the city for 7 years. First off, the entire staff was ridiculously rude. Its right on the river, so some people have been saying how the location is great, but its not near any other bars and at least the night I went, the rooftop smelled like crap, guessing from a result of its location. There are a bunch of other rooftops in the city way better than this place. But here's the kicker- myself and a group of friends were on the rooftop drinking, and so when the time came for the rooftop to close, we all went downstairs. There was a miscommunication amongst us as far as who had paid tour waitress for our tab, and it had gone unpaid for the moment as we were shuffled downstairs. We hung out on the first floor for another 2+ hrs easy, no one, not our waitress from the rooftop, not a bartender, no one working there let us know that we hadn't paid for our tab on the rooftop. We leave, and the next day, someone from our group (who knew the 1 of the owners, Eddie, through a friend of a friend) gets a BUNCH of seriously threatening texts from the owner because we hadn't paid our rooftop tab (which we didn't even realize up until that point, and the tab was barely over $100). So basically, because our waitress didn't find us/do her job to tell us about the unpaid tab (that we had no idea about) while we hung out there for hours afterwards, my friend received a bunch of pretty scary messages from the part-owner of Estate the following afternoon. His general psychotic attitude has clearly rubbed off on the staff, and I would never in a million years go back to this place

    (1)

  • Shaina G.

    If I could give them 0 stars, I would. Worst experience EVER. Not only did they screw up my friend's reservations, for her birthday, management was HORRIBLY rude and did nothing to accommodate our party. We waited about 2 hours and were not seated in the area we requested. They seated us at a freezing cold booth in front of the door and threatened to remove us or charge us for bottle service, regardless of whether or not we bought them. You'd think that, after screwing everything up and keeping us waiting, they would just let us have the seats and order drinks. We had a big group that was well prepared to spend a large amount and enjoy ourselves....Never in life have I gone somewhere and felt like I was begging people to take my money. I will never go back and will continue to advise others to stay away

    (1)

  • C L.

    Love the view, the food and the drinks. Wish they had more seating with tables on the roof deck but not a big deal.

    (5)

  • Jina A.

    Just checked this place out last night to my surprise the looks of it from the outside is deceiving. The inside was nice outside seating and ofcourse for us smokers a plus, great mix of crowd used the valet service decent price for it too. However disappointed at the drinks : ( No cognac at all then asked for a Cosmo and it was the worst ever made! Who can not make a Cosmo? Well this place did and had the nerve to charge $12 for it using the bottom of the list liquor... On top of that it took a long time just to ask for a drink. Either get more bartenders or ones who can handle the bar. You would have more turn around on drinks that was my one and only drink there.

    (2)

  • Jason G.

    We visited Estate on Friday, July 20th. Great locaiton off the North Branch in a little more industrial part of town, which is really nice (not your typical River North, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park experience). To those that remember the old Life's Too Short, which was a really fun, late night Chicago bar that had no attitude, pretenses and always promised a good time, it was very nice to see something come back to this location, albeit a totally different feeling type place. The main room is nice and the first floor patio is also really nice, although the furniture could use some work (both tables we sat at needed to be shimmed!). The hostess was very nice and helped us grab a table outside. We saw the upstairs but did not ask what it took to go up there; our seat adjacent to the parking lot by the water was fine (2 in our party). We planned on eating and hanging out for a while, but unfortunately, the service was pretty slow. We had to ask one of the bus boys to grab our waitress for us. A server came over and said "I'll be right back" and well, she was not right back. We moved about 3 feet from our table to a tall-boy table, so I don't know if that confused her, but in any event, we waited a solid 10 minutes before being able to order a drink. We decided to just order a bottle of champagne (Moet Imperial) because we like champagne but also to economize on time in case the patio where we sat was busy and the place happened to be understaffed. I know we did not ask for "bottle service" treatment when we walked in, and we didn't specify to the hostess that we were here for "bottle service", but I have always thought that purchasing a bottle, even if unplanned, is still bottle service. We were not asked if we wanted to be seated upstairs (that is OK, we did not ask), but I am afraid that the bottle did not come out any faster than if we would have ordered two Diet Cokes. We were so turned off by the speed of service that we elected to not have any food or additional drinks at Estate. When we told our waitress that we decided to just enjoy our champagne, she gave us a small touch of attitude. We weren't angry with her, she seemed really busy and maybe just had to move on to the next table. When the bottle came, it was clear that this server had not opened a bottle of champagne. She finally got it open, and was clearly nervous about it. Furthermore, she was clearly nervous about how much champagne to pour, and she did not offer a sampling of the champagne before pouring full glasses. I was really surprised that a place that seems to tout its bottle service as the way to "get upstairs" would not have properly trained servers. Again, no blame at all on the poor gal, she was clearly nervous and outside her comfort zone. But when you are paying premium prices for a bottle ($145 for a $35 bottle of champagne), obviously the experience, ambiance and real estate are a major contributing factor, and I was really disappointed to see that this particular server was not given the proper basic, basic training and that we were not offered slightly better real estate. I don't think that I should have had to "promise" a larger order, although it was Friday night. Oh, and one other thing chapped my a$$....even on the patio, when we did not really get full "bottle service" treatment, we were however charged the full "bottle service" gratuity of 20% without being told. It state this clearly in the menu, but I was just disappointed that the experience was not a two way street. All in all, I will definitely give Estate another shot at some point, but this was a bummer of an experience.

    (2)

  • Furry P.

    This review is for food and drinks when its not operating as a club. We went here on 2 occasions once for dinner, and once for appetizers and drinks. In both instances the food was a disappointment. We had the roasted olives which were rock hard (still contained pits) served with melba toast like bread that had no use since you cant really smear rock hard olives onto melba toast. The chicken wings were by far the worst - the buffalo sauce was overwhelmed with orange flavor - and there is no hint on the menu that these are going to be buffalo wings a la orange. My man had a ceasar salad.. very plain. Once we were seated indoors and the other time we were outside on the small patio along the river (it has been so warm). The patio was nice except it was pretty much used as a smoking lounge by employees and patrons alike to the point where we wanted o.u.t. The waitress was very attentive and the decor indoors is nice. The patios will be nice for drinks once they open them this summer. They really should take down the disgusting ratty fence along the parking lot - its a serious eyesore. Not my kind of place so I wont be back but I wish them luck with the club scene - seems like the place is better equipped for that.

    (2)

  • J R.

    I recently set up a private party there for one of my girlfriends and I had the absolut pleasure of planning it with the events coordinator Natasha. This girl has got it together!! She was absolutely fabulous to deal with and on point. Personalized menus, every option explained in detail and her follow through was impeccable. This was my first time coming to the venue as well. Great space, friendly staff and the food was great. I can't wait to hang out on the roof top once it's done. Highly recommend this space for causal dinning and cocktails as well as private events!

    (4)

  • Jules j.

    I threw my husbands bday party here...The apps we ordered were delish, the management and wait staff were friendly and accommodating. Everyone that attended seemed to have a really great time. Parking or getting a cab was easy and valet was also available, which made for ease of getting there. I will definitely be going back.

    (5)

  • Monica D.

    I was super excited to try out Estate. I've lived down the street for years and was hoping that someone would put up a bar/restaurant in this space. Shortly after arriving I regretting bringing my girlfriend here for her birthday dinner. We arrived around 7 to a shockingly empty restaurant and bar. Started off ordering the deviled eggs which were actually super tasty and presented very nicely. Everything after that went downhill. Next we got the Crispy Calamari which was not crispy at all, and was actually on the soggy side. The dipping sauce that accompanied it was a weird version of a cold cocktail sauce that was unappetizing. We then proceeded to get the Steak & Frites which is one of my favorite dishes along with the regular mac and cheese which sounded very tasty. Once again, we were disappointed. We dived into the mac & cheese which seemed like it has been sitting for a while and it was very dense and heavy. The steak was a good cut of meat and cooked medium as we requested but was very bland. The dipping sauce that came with it was atrocious and not even edible. It was a weird A-1 like sauce with a very off taste. Thesideof hand cut french fries were also soggy and cold by the time they got to our table. To make matters worse, our entree was disrupted when two men wearing too much cologne sat at the table next to us. From that point on, that's all we could smell for the remainder of our dinner. I was hoping that they would at least have some tasty cocktails, but I was wrong again. We each got one of their "skinny girl" cocktails which sounded like a great new idea, but the drinks were lacking alcohol and just tasted like overly sweet syrup. I then decided to try one of their signature cocktails, so I got the "Estate". Once again, it was the oddest conconction I have ever had. You could not make out any of the ingrediants and in the end left much too be desired. In the end, it's a great space with a lot of potential. Unfortunately, it needs to decide if they want to be a restaurant, bar longue, or club and focus on a few menu items.

    (1)

  • Julie R.

    Came here last week for the grand opening this place is awesome!! The staff is super friendly... They have a great selection of beers and specialty cocktails.. The food was really good. Try the pork belly sammies or glazed Tuna salad!! Can't wait to go back and hang out in the trophy room with the huge flat screen and reclining couches makes you feel like ur right at home!

    (5)

  • Angela B.

    When you are in the event planning business you get to see more than the every day customer. I absolutely love Estate. We began working with Estate last year. From making reservations for dinner to setting up girls night out events, the entire staff always accommodates. Drinks- priced right, Food- amazing (try the shrimp tempura) Staff- always smiling and helpful if you are stopping in on a Friday or Saturday and you think there is no when there, think again. Make your way up the stairs to the rooftop where the DJ plays the most incredible dance, top 40 and throw backs that has everyone wanting to dance. Its sexy, fun and yes there is bottle service and cabanas. Table reservations are fairly priced and actually less expensive than River North clubs. If you are visiting Chicago, this is a place you must experience and if you live in Chicago, come by and checkout the rooftop. From boaters during the day to club hoppers at night..everyone fits in.

    (5)

  • Tracy X.

    Been here twice, neither time was great. One time I came here for a friend's reunion party, and the entire place is pretty much empty except for our giant group. The margaritas were good though. The other time I came here it was packed, but only because we actually had a major event there. Then one of the bouncers saw me sipping from my friend's glass (purely because neither of us wanted to drink a lot so we decided to share), quickly assumed that she was trying to pass drinks onto a minor, and started throwing us out. We tried to explain to them the situation and presented our IDs (Authentic Illinois Driver's Licenses, it's not even like we were using some obscure foreign ID). The bouncers clearly seemed to have an "Oh shit maybe I made a mistake" look but quickly decided to continue kicking us out instead of apologizing that they've made a mistake. They even threatened to report me to the police for drinking underage.... so we told them that we'd gladly answer to the police since we were clearly of age, and walked out. Oh well, this experience actually became a great story for us to tell, reinforcing the Asian people just look too young stereotype.

    (1)

  • Davis M.

    Simply put estate is the WORST experience you can pay for in the city. Be prepared for a RUDE and ARROGANT staff, OVERPRICED drinks and management that is looking to RIP YOU OFF. While trying to enjoy a nice date the following happened. - Waitress brought the entirely wrong dish which I could not eat due to allergies. - Refused to exchange it and ignored us the rest of the night. We spoke to the manager who said, "You get what you get bro. I don't give a shit about allergies, if it's such a problem why don't you just order something else." They refused to take off the wrong item off our bill and as I walked away I over heard him laughing to a buddy after saying "Geez what a fucking retard." - We also discovered an extra drink on the bill that the waitress tried to sneak in. This place is a TOTAL SCAM. With so many delicious and friendly establishments in the city I'm shocked anyone would WASTE their time and money here.

    (1)

  • Jesus G.

    Not sure how this place is still open! Was there on a Friday night and my guess is that there were less than 50 people there on the entire lounge (including the staff! Lol). My old fashion was great however they seem pricey ($12) given the portion. A shot of Jamo was $8 which my friends also said it was a lot for this place. They have downtown prices without the crowd or luxury. You have people wearing snapbacks and gym shoes which does not help the nightclub scene they are trying to portray. Doubt I would come back here since my favorite whisky joint is not far from there!

    (2)

  • mark j.

    Worst night of my life at this place! Going to sum it up: 1. Clueless hostesses who claimed they did not have "enough" wristbands to let my entire party onto the rooftop for a party we pre-planned weeks before, and not to mention had to place a ($500 non refundable deposit for-who does this) 2. The service was slow, and unresponsive to simple questions 3. Manager was rude and rather than enjoy the 1,000$ we are spending at your club you try to rotate our table before our bottles are done 4. Security staff- brainless and rude 5. Treat your customers as If you owe them something for coming and spending their Money, we owe you nothing!

    (1)

  • Tom B.

    There is good reason you see so many 1 or 2 star reviews for this place. I don't usually take the time to rate a business I do not like, but this place isn't worth anyone's time.

    (1)

  • Mickey F.

    Be careful when you come here very heavy handed door hosts make sure you bring a friend with you if are using the restroom my friend was attacked in the restroom.

    (1)

  • Delightful D.

    Visited last night for some drinks and had a great time. I loved the large open rooftop. So much room Def didn't feel crowded at all. I wish I would have tried some food. So I Def will next time. Nice rooftop away from downtown and not as busy or packed but still with a great view. I will return.

    (4)

  • Maria D.

    Great food, great atmosphere, service is always fantastic. I'm not a cheap-o who complains about prices, and I always tip well. Maybe that's why I always have the best time.

    (5)

  • Stefanie B.

    Came here to eat their Horchata French Toast...doesn't that just sound amazing??! The service was very slow and the french toast was good but needed more Horchata flavor

    (4)

  • Ernirose M.

    The manager and owner is RUDE and DISRESPECTFUL. HORRIBLE customer service. What was advertised on their site is completely false. The manager refused to give us our money back after we paid the online fee. You can't advertise first come first serve seating and only have access to a few bar stools. After having talked to the manager about FALSE ADVERTISEMENT, he told us "you don't like it, just GO!", and turned around and walked away as if he had a busy bar to tend to. At this point, the bar was pretty empty and he continued to sit outside and hang out with other customers. I definitely DO NOT RECOMMEND this bar. This deserves NO STARS.

    (1)

  • Shayna Y.

    I went here for St. Patty's day this year. They had an amazing all you can drink special, but their food policy and bar staff made for a less than customer friendly atmosphere. Their female bar staff all have chips on their shoulders. They gave all my friends a ton of attitude. The female bathroom attendants were much nicer - sadly. They also had a policy that you could not order food unless you ordered a minimum of $25. When you have an open bar special and you have restrictions on food, that does not seem like the safest of strategies. Regardless, we did have fun and during the summer, I am sure this place is pretty cool since it is on the river and has a patio.

    (2)

  • Lisa S.

    I had my birthday party here a couple of weeks ago. The food was great, affordable, and just right for sharing with a group. I had set up a wristband bar package for my party and the whole night was a great time. The party was very easy. The only complaint one of my guests had was that the drink prices were too high. The drinks are definitely expensive, but if he had taken part in the drink package I don't think he would have had any complaints. I didn't drive, but some of my friends did, and they said parking was $10 if you parked in the bar's lot, and hard to find elsewhere. That's the city for you.

    (4)

  • John F.

    Have thrown many events there for personal and business functions and find great value and service. Parking a breeze, food while not Alinea is still top notch. The menu is diverse enough to keep me coming back for more great nights with great service enjoying amazing views from the roof top deck. Definitely will be back again this year. Only catch is they are open seasonly.

    (5)

  • Spencer H.

    If you've ever had to take a massive dump at a restaurant then read this review. I loved this plave already but now I love it even more. We have all had that time when we had a really good dinner then had to take a massive dump. Well I just finished my order of Rock Shrimp & then had to take a massive dump. I walk in the bathroom which was spotless & clean. I picked out one of the stalls & got down to business. The one thing that made me love this restaurant even more is that while I was taking a massive dump I was not in some flimsy bathroom stall, I was in a really nice one with real walls & a wooden door. It was not some cubicle style bathroom stall with a flimsy door with a crack in it so some one can watch you while you take a massive dump, it was a real stall with a real wooden door. Another plus about the bathroom was that while I was taking a massive dump I could hear the DJ playing good music. I almost started to rock out while I was taking a massive dump but decided not to. After my massive dump was over I returned to the bar for an iced tea. My meal here was delicious. One of my favorite items not just here but in general is the Rock Shrimp that Estate Ultra Bar has to offer. It is shrimp deep fried & served with jalapenos to give it extra flavor & spice. The portion size is very good as well. Monday nights are pretty crowded & they offer 50% off of drinks & 25% off of food for industry. Overall this place is awesome. The bathrooms are nice, the staff is friendly & the food is great.

    (5)

  • Yanja B.

    Eh, not that impressed. I was expecting a little more. Service was slow. But the waiting staff was super friendly. She almost told my boyfriend that they didn't have Blue Moon because she didn't want to go downstairs and get it from the bar. Food was alright. Not a bad place to visit once, but most likely will not be back. Please note we were there during the day

    (3)

  • Kait G.

    I have never felt so much regret going into a bar. I will give Estate this, the rooftop provides a pretty view of the city sky line and is good for groups but it is definitely not worth the money that must be spent here. Estate charges $9 for basically all of their drinks, including miller lite, shots of rumchata, and well mixed drinks ( on the rooftop at night, i'm not sure what the deal is at other times). With that, the minimum credit card amount is $30. The bartenders are impolite and the atmosphere is unbecoming. I made the choice to go but I felt robbed and crappy after leaving this place. Estate at least should step up their service and how they treat customers who are spending a lot of money on an experience they can get elsewhere at a much lower price.

    (1)

  • Anne A.

    Don't even bother with this place. Natasha is the rudest girl I've ever encountered at a bar. These people are nothing but greedy, money hungry monsters. I had the worst experience ever there. Take your hard earned money elsewhere asap. Pretty sure this place won't be open much longer with the way they treat their customers.

    (1)

  • kelly c.

    I wish I knew what it took to get the staff to be nice here. I believe the people that said they had a good experience here, but unfortunately, after four tries, and twice being turned away for dress code*, I can't go back. I want to like this place, because it's really close to where I live, and there aren't too many bars along the elston corridor. I think they are aiming for a crowd that is coming in from the suburbs, not locals, for a few reasons: - the location is not convenient to straightforward transportation - you have to take a cab or drive - there's a lot of effort put into valet service and space for parking (good idea when you're drinking at a bar, huh?) - the strict dress-code doesn't lend itself to someone walking down the block to get lunch or a drink - at all hours, not just evenings I feel the food is overpriced and not of great quality. With so many places upping their game for fancy cocktails, the drink list here really leaves something to be desired. It took a long time to get our food and drinks, for it not being too special. For the nighttime scene, it's too much pomp for not pulling big name DJs. I'll put up with dress codes, crap service for bad drinks if they get awesome people to play, but they don't. *The dress code thing: first time - bad on me - I didn't know you wanted to keep it super dressy. Second time, it was because my friend was wearing leather strappy sandals. They said dudes can't wear sandals. It was in the afternoon before the Bears game and we were just trying to get some drinks and something to drink. Then I've seen them let super scrubby looking people in during the evening, so I don't quite understand the rules or what they're going for. I guess I just get the feeling they don't want me and my friends there, but then I am really at a loss for what kind of people they're trying to draw. So that's perhaps why I say they seem to want to draw a suburban crowd, because they certainly aren't being too friendly to their neighbors.

    (1)

  • Kim S.

    This bar is ok on the river with a great view. But, don't be fooled if you aren't part of their approved crowd they will find a way to disrespect you. We got kicked out because we would not pay a tip to the bathroom attendant. Apparently, we were not allowed to sit in certain seats on the rooftop deck and had to pay tips to the bartender and bathroom attendant to be able to stay. So all I say is...Chicago has a scene and this place tries to compete with that scene..but it's cheap trash pretending they have money. Don't go. They don't deserve service from respectable people. It's a trashy crowd. Go to River North at least they respect your service and the crowd is better looking.

    (1)

  • Tina L.

    From the parking lot, there is a pretty awesome view of the city skyline. Would like to come again when the weather warms up so that we can enjoy a couple cocktails on the patio. Overall, I liked the look and feel of this lounge. The drinks are tasty and strong, and the dj spinning played some good mash-ups of hip-hop and pop that I tend to prefer. Didn't get to try any of the food, but I'd rather just come here for a couple drinks and the atmosphere. Pretty chill and not so loud that you can't necessarily have a conversation. Get ready to pay $12-$15 for each drink, tho.

    (3)

  • Michael S.

    I came here for a charity event last night! This place was pretty amazing and the music was great!! They have a small bar area downstairs and they have a rooftop upstairs which was pretty great. They also had some great music if your into house music. This place also had one of the most amazing views of the city from the rooftop!! The only negative thing I can say about this place is the prices of drinks. I think my friend bought 5 shots of fireball and they cost 9 dollars each. Last time I checked you can buy a whole bottle for like 18 dollars. It's fireball not hennessey.

    (4)

  • Christina F.

    Las Vegas on crack met a knock off South Beach, had a baby out of wedlock, and named it Estate. It's the only logical metaphor I can use to accurately describe this pretentious, fake, douche-bag and gold digger filled place. Beyond that you can find your typical stereotypes: Old, miserable cougars hitting on the valet guys and bartenders; younger women whose only purpose in life is to be eye candy to old ugly rich men; men wearing Rolexes and Cartier and driving Mercedes, the rich kids who blow their parents money on coke and alcohol To go even further down the drain, the service sucks. Basically if you don't reserve a VIP table with bottle service, they will not serve you. Yeah, the guy who doesn't speak English will come give you some tap water, but if you're looking for a drink or food be prepared to wait for 30 minutes just to place and order (and that's when it isn't crowded). Plus it's cash only. Those black American Express cards won't work here! I'm still not sure if it's a rooftop or a deck or a rooftop deck. If it's light outside or the sun is setting you'll have a great view of the Chicago skyline, blocked by the bright orange tacky furniture and tall giraffe looking platinum blondes. But the VIP has a better view, only obstructed by the bright Mercedes-Benz sign across the river. And don't think of taking a cab here, you'll never find cabs after you're finished with your miserable night. This place is located a little west of Cabrini Green (yeah, the rent must be dirt cheap) and you'd probably have to walk through the hood to find a cab if need be. But rest assure, Estate has parking, valet parking! And don't worry, if you had a bit much to drink, the valets will send you on your merry way to crash your car into the river, or even worse, a person (yeah, saw a hammered, lonely cougar get sent off happily in her Hummer). But you're loaded so just get yourself a good lawyer and make it go away! I, personally, consider myself a down-to-earth person. I'd rather get a free (and better view) at the museum campus, followed by some drinks in the loop. But, hey, this is the perfect place if you're a snooty millionaire or gold-digging cougar. Enjoy!

    (2)

  • Mama A.

    Was there this past weekend for a birthday party. After reading the reviews, I really didn't expect much. Boy did they prove me wrong! Lets start with the place itself. It's absolutely beautiful both downstairs and upstairs. Restrooms stood clean and smelling good. Now for the staff. Everyone I came into contact with there was super nice and pleasant. Big shout out to Sabrina who is not only really sweet but so adorable! The bouncer was a big teddy bear and valet was super cool! NO ATTITUDES from the staff what so ever.... DJ was really good too. I wasn't feeling the music at first but all I did was request to change the music and my wish came true :) All in all, this place is awesome. Will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Rafael B.

    1 st. first time I went was on a friday and not such a good experience. As soon as i drove my new truck inside the parking lot a valet guy wanted to park it. i told him i insisted in parking it considering i seen how valet parkers treat other peoples vehicles. he said valet parking is 8 dollars so i rather parked it myself to save some money. when i was walking out to the truck another guy tried to charge me the 8 dollars either way and i told him i parked it not one of his guys. so i got charged so i wont have to argue. 2nd the bartenders in the first floor were nice and did not tell me anything about having to spend a certain limit per credit card swipe. i went to the balcony and ordered a drink with my friends and they didnt want to give me my card back until i spend at least a 30 dollar minimum which they didnt even tell me before i ordered my drink. drinks are kind of pricey. 12 ounce beer 8 dollars. 5 ounce glass of wine 10 dollars. the only good thing where the bathrooms like another reviewer said. i try to go on an empty stomach to bars because i don't like to sit on pist on toilets in bars. the bathroom was super clean. there was a guy always inside cleaning it up. putting soap on your hands when you were washing them and they have a massive amounts of cologne,gum,cigarets,etc for you to buy, (i think). another good thing are all the beautiful ladies i saw there that night. mostly 25+ too bad im not returning.

    (1)

  • Beth D.

    Wow. I was really hoping this was a great place. It is not. Never again. Loud. Over-priced. Mediocre food. Anywhere that there is a whole part of the menu devoted to "skinny" drinks is not a good idea. We had to ask for the three blaring music sources to be turned down. Awful.

    (1)

  • Alexandria M.

    Good food with fast service. Our waitress was nice but very ditzy. She came back to the table several times to get our order right. Then when we paid the tab she did not bring us back the change so she could give herself a nice tip. Which was rude in my opinion. The rooftop is really nice. Just be prepared to listen to house music all night.

    (3)

  • MavsFan1232 S.

    They were rude to so many of our girls by calling them bitches, yelling at girls for pushing them/having attitude with them, and literally pulling/pushing people themselves out the door. Would never come back again, and would never recommend to anyone.

    (1)

  • Johanna R.

    Went on a early Saturday around 9 p : Overall look of the place is great and great view of Chicago skyline: We Sat in the roof top area. Service started off slow but once the night went on the service became speedily. Drinks ( had wine no mixed) was ok but no worth the price they charged. Food was really good. You have to try their Lobster mac and Cheese was amazing .As the night progress I didn't care for the crowed.So I left around 11pm .

    (3)

  • Carol K.

    Nothing Ultra about this place. If you go- go for a cold beer on the patio overlooking the river and you will not be disappointed. As for anything else? Meh. I think this place has an identity crisis. Just what it is trying to be escaped me during my visit. Is it a sports bar? All the TVs had games on them but it didn't really feel like a sports bar. A club? Plenty of little seating clusters and the servers wear ridiculous skin tight dresses and serve champagne with sparklers, but the clientele were in shorts. A restaurant? They take reservations on Open Table but the servers know nothing about the food. So what are they going for? We went on a Thursday night. It's pretty non descript from the outside so know it is right at the corner of Ellston and Division. Know that the back faces the street so it's better in the inside than it looks. We checked on with the hostess who basically said we didn't really need a reservation (which we had) so we sat at the bar. The bartender really had no idea of what the food was that she was being asked to serve. They have fresh oysters daily. but when we asked what kind, she didn't know. She still didn't know when she went back to ask. and on the third trip back she said she would write it down this time. Urrgh! We ordered a few things to try- Angus sliders with spicy cheese, chicken sliders and the lobster mac and cheese. The burgers tasted like they had been frozen but the mac and cheese was okay. Service was non existent as the bartender was busy talking up some guy at the bar (I think he dated her friend) so anything we needed we constantly had to flag someone down . . . .from the basics like flatware . . .to getting some plates to share the food. So the name is way overstated as there is nothing Ultra about this place. Just grab a beer at the bar on a sunny afternoon and watch the river go by. Trust me. It's your best bet!

    (2)

  • John R.

    Went there tonight (a Tuesday) and have a few mixed thoughts on this place. First, nice decor and great view of the city skyline. Nice hostess that brought us upstairs to the rooftop dining and bar area. Maybe it was the private event downstairs, but is there a need to bump club music on the patio on a Tuesday at 6pm? The menu was limited tonight, but I can respect that, can't overwhelm the kitchen when an event is going on. No worries, I ordered the filet which came out the way I ordered it. The server was attentive and very nice, but it always bothers me when I can see multiple servers sitting down and texting in the wait station that everyone can see. Is there a manager up there? Table touch? I don't mind spending $60 at dinner, but a check in from a manager should occur... again maybe it's just me. Oh and one more thing, charging $8 to valet my car 20 feet away from me in a parking lot? I'll gladly pay for valet when there is no parking in sight... but when there is an entire lot... meh

    (2)

  • Shradha A.

    + Nice place + Indoor and patio options + regular top 40 music + not over crowded and is ventilated - nothing else in the area and difficult to connect with public transport - understaffed and unfriendly bar staff - no dance floor Lot of potential, but ne

    (3)

  • Vivian T.

    Booked a Private sorority formal and it was Murphy's law. They bar staff was rude, the drinks were weak, and security literally swore and pushed people out of the door to kick them out for no wrong doing.

    (1)

  • Lily Z.

    I went here last night for a birthday. The place looks nice enough. I like that they have an outdoor deck that overlooks the river. The neighborhood is a little suspicious though. I believe it's the only establishment on the street? I don't know how to classify the music they play. It's mostly top 40s with some trance? It was a little disappointing to hear the same song played an hour or two later. Really, you couldn't find any other music to play? Like the other reviewers said, I am confused about the attire for this place. I saw jeans and sneakers, girls with dresses and heels and guys in dress shirts. I guess since it's a new place, it's still trying to find its identity. Btw, Easy street parking!

    (3)

  • Itzel E.

    I just wanted to share the horrible experience I had spending New Year's eve, which also happened to be my bday, at Estate bar. A group of about 10 friends and I purchased tickets to Estates bar about 4 weeks prior to the event. They were advertising premium open bar from 9-1am. About two weeks prior to the event they changed it to 6 drink tickets per person. I personally felt I had been deceived as I had paid for one thing and then sold another. I called Estate and was told that by law they couldn't offer open bar. I'm surprised a establishment such as Estate would of not been aware of this prior to creating and advertising their event. The person I spoke to assure me that they would be giving additional tickets at the door if needed. Not sure why I even believed them! Once there, the hostess refused to provide us with any additional tickets and by about 11pm they had even ran out of tickets. Numerous people were complaining as they were not getting any drinking tickets. This was by far the worst and least organized New Year's event I have ever attended. False advertising, lack of organization, and poor customer service to say the least.

    (1)

  • Stephanie L.

    Meh, I was really on the fence about this one. So we pull up and it literally looks like an opening for a junk yard. There is a parking lot (gravel), but no one regulating parking, no valet, no direction, no nothing. So we pull in. I dont know how some of the people there were getting out. Of course, the rooftop wasnt open. Which I think would be the ONLY reason I would ever come back here because of the beautiful day of the city skyline. We sat on the 'patio.' Which means, a couple of tables and chairs awkwardly placed right in the back area. BUT its butted up to the gravel parking lot. It reminded me of something in my small hometown. Patio this was not. Also, there were kind of nice views of the river, however, it was just all awkward. It wasnt great and I wouldnt go back. Its just a REALLY awkward area. Also, good luck getting a cab over in the sketch of a hood. We had some cocktails, which were good. I had something called thats what she said. Decent. The food was hot or not. The cavatelli pasta was fantastic. It had this smokey, sweet flavor. The beet salad was pretty good and pretty standard. The peppers were just OK at best. They sounded so great, but it was literally just goat cheese and peppers and had the bread crumbs all over the plate, but nothing like a stuffed mushroom or something to that affect. Also, the tuna tartare was not flavorful. There was absolutely no salt in it or seasoning for that matter. It was VERY difficult to eat because they just piled the tuna on top of very small chips. Well, once you bit into the chip, the rest of the tuna fell all over the place, yet it was too big for one bite. Maybe a different presentation and a little seasoning and this dish could have made it. Our waitress Shad was very nice. Not the best server, but was a sweetheart and recommended some stuff for us. The girls are dressed to the nines here. Which I thought was interesting because it just seemed weird. Like twilight zone-ish. It was like 8PM on a Thursday and no one was there and we were sitting in a gravel parking lot in front of people's gas eating mediocre food staring at the river thinking, what am I missing about this place???

    (2)

  • Stephen S.

    The bartenders here are jerks. The entire staff in general should just be fired. This place has potential, but the food is mediocre and the service staff is rude

    (1)

  • Mandi P.

    This place has great potential!!! I came here a couple of times years ago when it was "Life's Too Short". What a disgusting little bacteria infested dive that was!!! Estate is about as opposite to that as you can get. Everything is new, clean, and fresh feeling. I was here on Saint Patrick's Day so I am sure the vibe that day was not the typical vibe, but I could definitely see through the weirdness of the day and see what this place has to offer. The doors open up to a nice and breezy deck/patio with outdoor seating. We were told there is going to be a rooftop area added on which will be nice in the summer!!! Also were told that concerts will be performed in the empty lot directly in front of the front door...pretty cool. Only giving the place 3 stars for now as I am more excited about the potential than I am about the current state. When I return and see what this place is like in full swing, I will revisit my review!!!

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner, Late Night
    Parking : Valet, Street
    Bike Parking : No
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Trendy
    Noise Level : Average
    Music : DJ, Background
    Good For Dancing : Yes
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : Yes
    Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Estate Ultra Bar

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