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Name: Folklore Argentine Grill
Address: 2100 W Division St, Chicago, IL, 60622
Telephone: (773) 292-1600
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.85

Folklore Argentine Grill

2100 W Division St, Chicago, IL, 60622

(773) 292-1600
Store is closed

Folklore Argentine Grill Menu

Ensaladas

Ensalada Parisina

Ensalada Folklore

Tomate Con Huevo
Entradas

Empanadas

Provoleta

Antipasto

Jamon Crudo Con Melon

Jamon Crudo Con Palmito Y Salsa Golf

Lengua A La Vinagreta

Berenjena En Escabeche

Ensalada Rusa

Matambre

Tortilla De Papa
Pastas

Tallarines

Ravioles

Gnoqui

Estofado
Cocina

Milanesa De Pollo

Milanesa De Ternera

Milanesa Napolitana

Milanesa A Caballo

Suprema A La Napolitana
Parrilla

Asado De Tira

Entrana

Vacio

Bife De Chorizo

Churrasco

Medio Pollo Al Limon

Pechuga De Pollo
Parrillada

Para Uno

Para Dos
Chef's Special

Berenjena

La Pasta

Pez

Pork Chop

Costeleta

T. Bone

El Filet

Vacio

Lomo Relleno

Bife Vesuvio

Churrasco

Bife Angosto

Bife Ancho

Lomo

Healthy Meal suggestions for Folklore Argentine Grill

Ensaladas

Ensalada Parisina [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ensalada Folklore [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomate Con Huevo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entradas

Empanadas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Provoleta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Antipasto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jamon Crudo Con Melon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jamon Crudo Con Palmito Y Salsa Golf [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lengua A La Vinagreta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Berenjena En Escabeche [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ensalada Rusa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Matambre [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tortilla De Papa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pastas

Tallarines [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ravioles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gnoqui [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Estofado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Cocina

Milanesa De Pollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Milanesa De Ternera [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Milanesa Napolitana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Milanesa A Caballo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Suprema A La Napolitana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Parrilla

Asado De Tira [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Entrana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vacio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bife De Chorizo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Churrasco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Medio Pollo Al Limon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pechuga De Pollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Parrillada

Para Uno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Para Dos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Chef's Special

Berenjena [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

La Pasta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pez [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Chop [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Costeleta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

T. Bone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

El Filet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vacio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lomo Relleno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bife Vesuvio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Churrasco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bife Angosto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bife Ancho [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lomo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Ashley S.

Awesome! I took my mom here on a visit a week ago and it was exceptional. The food was incredible but the portions are huge. I ordered the filet and had it for three meals. The empanadas were my favorite. This neighborhood gem is one that I will be returning to.
(4)
Raymond S.

I feel scammed. Such high hopes for this place. Choose Folklore since the comments considered it a good date spot. Unfortunately, like most women do when you ask what kind of food they prefer, my date said anything. Of course she turned out to be a vegetarian. And of course an Argentinian grill is the opposite of vegetarian. She got pasta, which was your standard fare. Can't expect nothing to fancy from a place like this. I got the mix grill. For one the portion is smaller than you'd imagine. It may be a lot for a a small woman, but for a grown man there is a lot to be desired. The meat were all cooked unevenly. The short ribs were almost well done, the flap medium well. They were okay flavor wise, the flap was amazing but you just can't go wrong with it. The sweetbreads were gummy, it was my first time eating blood sausage and I will probably never again. The dishes came with some crappy salad and they gave a complimentary appetizer which literally consisted of a plate of melted cheese and bread. Nothing says date night like strings of protein hanging from your mouth as you talk about life.
(2)
Donika T.

I ordered a spinach and cheese stuffed steak with roasted potatoes and a passion fruit mojito. All were just perfectly cooked and prepared. The atmosphere was also really romantic and the service was great! I definitely will be returning!!
(5)
Marie C.

Wow I am really disappointed. This place was awful. I want to start off by saying that the hostess had no idea what he was doing. We put our names down he told us twenty minutes. Forty minutes later he kept asking me if I was jasmine party of eight after i said no he finally asked me how many we were I responded two. He proceeded to seat couples that came in after us while we were still waiting. The empanadas are the only reason I gave this two stars. They were absolutely amazing. Mojitos were good too but nothing too crazy. We both ordered the filets. We get steak dinners at least once a week more like twice or three times a week. I get a filet everywhere I go because of the tenderness. I would highly recommend NOT getting a filet from here. It was chewy and drenched in sauce like they were trying to hide something absolutely awful. We both took two bites of our dinner and had the bus boy take it out of our faces. The waiter was no where to be found as we were sitting in disgust. Finally he came back with our check and I mentioned that is was awful. He said it was the first time in four years he has heard that. I leaned over and asked the couple next to us what they ordered. They both said that they were not fans of the filet either. The waiter told the manager we were unhappy who took no part in trying to please us. As my boyfriend was signing out triple digit check he said "it was worth paying this much to never come here again". The atmosphere was loud and your sitting literally inches away from other couples. I didn't mind cause they were nice but not my cup of tea.
(2)
Lynne R.

Amazing drinks and empanadas. Flank steak ok but loved the filet. Slower service but very sweet staff.
(4)
Chris M.

Christmas Eve dinner in Chicago with family and friends. My brother and sister both reside in the Windy City, and I learned that my brother is a regular here at Folklore so he made the recommendation - which turned out to be an enjoyable experience. Ambiance is on the darker side but there's plenty of candles. Even though some tables are close together your conversations don't carry and stay within your realm. It can get a bit loud if the place is packed, but nothing too major. We started out w/ a few bottles of Malbec which was very good, then comes the bread. I liked their wheat / brown rolls, so warm and full of flavor, just be careful not to fill up! Many good choices on the menu, the theme is meat and potatoes but there are vegetarian, pasta and salad options as well. I ordered the Medio Pollo Al Jamon (grilled half chicken marinated w/ white wine & lemon sauce & potato wedges). Others got the popular El Filet w/ Spinach Mashed Potatoes and the Filet with large shrimp. My bro and sis got a special dish made just for them: grilled chicken breast w/ steamed broccoli and grated parmesan cheese. All the dishes looked fabulous and the portions were healthy. For appetizers we started w/ the Berenjena (egg plant layered w/ spinach, cheese, parmesan & ricotta w/ a tomato cream sauce). It was really good, the sauce is perfect for roll-dipping. The Provoleta came next (fried cheese w/ peppers), similar to the Greek dish (whopa!). The house salad was simple, lettuce greens and tomatoes, nothing too exciting, and dressing options were oil, red wine vinegar, and balsamic vinegar. You need the fiber so just eat up. My Medio Pollo soon arrives as it was massive and full of flavor. The seasonings were spot on and the potatoes had skins and were well seasoned. Good enough to share for two. Here comes the desserts, my brother ordered: carrot cake, chocolate cake, and Flan w/ a caramel sauce - - which was my favorite. They even added candles and sang Happy Birthday to moi - - for my recent mid November milestone (thanks for the love!). One bite of that Flan and I went back for more - - probably one of the top 5 desserts I've ever had. Customer service was spot-on, very attentive, drinks always filled. At peak times you may have to wait a little longer for your main course, but that's okay because it's worth it. I mean, what's the rush? Just have a cocktail and enjoy the moment at Folklore. I checked out other dishes around the room - - the steaks and grilled meats looked fabulous, some added incentive to make a trip back.
(5)
Maaya Y.

My boyfriend and I decided to go here for our one year anniversary date and at first, I wasn't so sure if I was content with this restaurant but I was SO WRONG. We started off eating outside but it got chilly so we transferred to a table inside. The waiters were very flexible and kind so that's a plus! I have never had Argentinean food or grill so I was kind of unsure how our food would turn out. Well, it was amazing!!! The meat was very tender and thick, just how I wanted it! Definitely worth the money! Another thing I liked was the atmosphere. The inside atmosphere was awesome. Not too simple but not too crazy with the decorations and it was very romantic. Definitely a plus for those who are trying to find a place to go out for a date. Overall, I had a very pleasant experience here!
(5)
Jorge M.

Great food and setting! I would go more often, but it's a little on pricey side if you are having drinks. Overall, definitely would recommend. Great spot for a date night!
(3)
Natalie A.

My go to place for steak and dinner with friends! Love this place, the decor is gorgeous, the staff is nice. I usually get La Negra Drink and el Churrasco with vesuvio potatoes and chimmichurri sauce! Thats the perfect meal! They have a facebook and announce their daily deals on there. Thursday is date night and they give a complimentary appetizer! Very romantic and great place to meet friends to catch up and have a nice meal. Reasonably priced, cannot go wrong for a date night ;) oh! And the music is heavenly! They play tango songs that can be catchy, some romantic, and some make you wanna dance. Some nights they even have an acoustic guitarist. One of those places you just gotta try, then your hooked.
(5)
Mina L.

Great food, great ambiance, and great price! My friend and i both enjoyed our dinner at Folklore. I'm glad I found this gem in my neighborhood. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Bryson H.

Short version: perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked grass-fed beef, huge portions especially for being in the city, great atmosphere, awesome food, awesome service. Best prices I've seen at a steak house, let alone one with grass-fed beef this size! Incredible! The couple that took us here are big fans of Tengo Sur, and this place is their sister restaurant (they even have a small Tengo Sur sign in the window), they said the menu was just the same and the food was just as delicious. The most mind-blowing part of eating here was the price. In Vegas, where I live, the steak alone would have been half the size and twice the price. For $27, I got the biggest strip steak I've ever had, a large side portion of potatoes, and a big salad. For $27. I saw the prices and expected tiny portions, which is par for the course with high-end steaks. I was shocked at the size of the food on my plate. While we're talking about the steak, let me take a moment to praise a restaurant for getting "medium" right. This slab of beef was over an inch thick and they nailed it: a great crust on the outside, no "well done" ring just inside the crust but instead perfectly warm pink all the way through. Just past the red stage, just like it should be. The seasoning was also done right: accenting the flavor of the steak rather than overpowering it, but not missing either. Just right. The potatoes as my side were good, they may have even been really good, but I was jaded by the spinach mashed potatoes that my fiancÃ© ordered. I had the option of them with my steak as well but got the normal potatoes as a hedge. I should have just gone with the spinach mashed like I wanted to in the first place. Again, not that my potatoes were bad, but the spinach mashed potatoes are just seriously good. Our appetizer was the Provoleta. A large platter of Argentine provolone cheese cooked on the grill with olive oil and roasted peppers. The cheese was pretty good on its own, but we ate it with the rolls, and asked for a side of sauce I can't remember the name of or find on their site. It's garlic, oil, parsley I think, and capers. This sauce, the cheese, and melting butter on the delicious bread rolls was just great. If I had to complain about one thing it would be the butter on the table for the bread rolls. The butter is cheap diner-style plastic packets in a bowl in the table, and it's quite cold. The rolls come out hot but spreading cold butter even on hot bread is a pain. That's my only complaint.
(5)
Holly W.

I rarely give 5 star reviews but folklore definite earned it! My boyfriend and I went for my bday and they were amazing, I was a little nervous when I read some of the recent reviews. The waiter (Luis) was awesome! He had forgotten to place one of our appetizers when he found out he asked if we still wanted it when we declined he brought 2 glasses of res wine to go with out steak(on he house)! The steak and potatoes were so yummy and did I mention the pisco sours were amazing! We ordered 2 desserts and they put a candle on the flan and only charged us for one dessert! Service and food were impeccable!
(5)
Sherlock A.

Have been to this delicious Argentinian restaurant several times so it's about time for a 5 star review. This last visit we had the pleasure of sitting at the bar while we waited for a table. It was quite a delight to watch the drink chefs create their awesome concoctions. One of the best mojitos I've ever had. My lady had a gin drink called La Sevillana. Very good and strong drink so don't let the smooth taste fool you. Dinner included a few tasty empanadas. My favorite is the beef. For the main entrÃ©e a perfectly cooked 10oz. "El filet". It's range grown filet mignon grilled, topped with red onion wine sauce & served with spinach mashed potatos. Love at first bite.
(5)
lesley r.

We came to this one because their sister restaurant, Tango Sur was full but it was still great. The service, decor, ambiance and price for everything that you get is pretty good. Definitely recommend for anyone who's in the area.
(5)
D O.

I really enjoyed dinner at Folklore! Everything was to my liking, from the decor, to the music, to the ENORMOUS juicy flavorful steak with delicious spinach mashed potatoes, to the magnificent whiskey drinks with cranberries, to the cake. Just lovely. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Dominic G.

Pros: Half off wine bottle on Tuesday More elbow room compared to Tango Sur Romantic atmosphere (candle lights) Good service!!!! Empanadas are good! (Get the corn) Cons: Street parking -- i dont think they offer their own valet service-- Salad is pretty boring Other: The steak we ordered was ok (not bad) i think tango sur is better. Overall, i will still come back to this restaurant to try new dishes. Tip: Be prepared to look for parking. Check out their specials offers on a specific day!!!
(4)
Patrick S.

Great food every time , meat quality is excellent, usually pretty busy, well worth any wait
(4)
Esteban L.

I had the pleasure of eating here yesterday and really enjoyed myself. Not sure if it was because I was with friends or the food??? Regardless, both were good. ARRIVAL: Our reservation was for 8:30 and got to our table around 8:45. I totally forgot the waiters name but I gotta say he was good and super friendly. He took our order and recommended some good items for the people that had dietary constraints. I'M NOT SURE but I think a decent portion of the menu was Gluten Free. THE ORDER: I ordered the Medio Pollo Al Limon with a Corn Empanadas while the others ordered: 2 Entranas(skirt steak), Para Uno (grilled short ribs, sausage, beef sweetbread and black sausage), Churrassco (12 oz sirloin steak cooked on the grill) & Asado De Tira (short ribs, cooked on the grill). All served with salad of course. THE BILL: $132 but take into consideration we did NOT order drinks with dinner. FINAL THOUGHTS: I really like this place. The atmosphere was nice and the table seemed to be sturdy(at least my table was). The host, bartender and waiter were all dudes but were still cool with us. I really do not have any negative comments about this place. If you're looking for a place to share a nice meal with friends or a date, check them out. until next time.....
(4)
Meredith B.

My boyfriend and I had a romantic al fresco dinner here on a warm night in May. Why do I say romantic? I'm not sure, because the patio isn't especially scenic, but the friendly and suave Argentine staff let me pretend we were at a corner cafe in Buenos Aires. Yeah, I've never been there. So I have no idea what I'm talking about. Servers with accents make dinner seem romantic. Roll with it. Anyhoo, we came on a Tuesday which meant half price bottles of wine, so we got all up on that Malbec. We started with an appetizer that I don't see on the menu right now - it was a stuffed calamari of some sort. Like a massive calamari. We liked it, though I find the texture of calamari to be fine when the pieces are small, but really freakin' rubbery when you get a huge one! Good flavor in the dish though. Then we went all in and got the Para Dos - $25 gets you grilled short ribs, flap meat, sausage, beef sweetbreads, and black sausage. For two. Obviously. It's served on a grill with a side of chimichurri sauce. Before you get ooooky about the phrase "flap meat," it's steak from the bottom sirloin. The word "flap" makes it sound like it's cut from some alien flying cow, but the only thing alien about it was how GOOOOOD it was! Delicious, juicy steak. Short ribs also outstanding. Sausage good but I let my boyfriend eat most of that because he didn't like the sweetbreads, and I did. Sweetbreads are glands. What more can you say, it's like fried thyroid. And it's SO GOOD! If you like crispy fried chewy things, you will like sweetbreads. I ate all of them except the one my boyfriend tried to convince himself to eat, to no avail. Though I generally am okay with blood sausage, it was not the star of the platter so I only had a few bites of it. If you like blood sausage, you'll like it. Flavorful. A little crumbly. It's a traditional part of mixed grill in this part of the world, but I see my boyfriend's point that with steak, short ribs, and sausage on the plate, blood sausage and sweetbreads sort of lose their luster. But ohhhhh that chimichurri sauce! Hubba hubba! I could not get enough. If you've never dunked grilled meat in this delicious herbal green sauce, you are missing it. Amazeballs. The Para Dos is a great deal, as were the Tuesday half bottles! They cook meat excellently here, and the food is authentically prepared with love and panache. Great place for a romantic date if you want to get your steak on!
(4)
Johnny B.

Excellent! Forget about Chop House or Morton's these guys stack up to all the hot shot steak houses in Chicago without all the posers
(5)
Rits M.

Not sure why this place has negative reviews. I liked all the food that I had. Went here with mum and sidmo. Place itself doesnt look like it would be tres awesome from the outside. It looks dark at lonely at best. However, the inside belies this. It has a long bar the moment you enter, but it reminds me of the bars in London - dark wood and sleek. Nice decor too. We got a table at the back near the patio. I liked the low lighting and they light a pretty bright table candle for you to read the menu. Good idea to come here for a date! We had the El Filet, the canneloni stuffed with ground beef and the Mil Hojas for dessert. For me, the canneloni was a little of a miss. But the meat made up for it, it was DELISH - came with tons of gravy, perfectly cooked and super juicy. Had spinach mashed potatoes on the side too - GET THIS DISH FOR SURE. The Mil Hojas was outstanding too. I'll be back Folklore, thanks for the meal!
(4)
Greg R.

I'm a bit surprised at seeing all the 4-5 star reviews of this place. I could see myself giving it 2 stars before I would 4. The location, decor, look and feel of the place is very cool. a nice casual vibe to the place. Although the argentine music playing from the concert speaker on the patio was a bit loud and got old after it looped a second time. Service is/was horrible for us. After being seated outside, we sat for 5-10 minutes and no one ever greeted us. We stopped a waiter and ask if we could order a couple drinks. Instead of 'sure, what would you like' we got 'let me find you waiter' 5 minutes later, I walked into the bar and bought two glasses of wine and walked back to our table....Then I met our waiter Our waiter was a nice enough guy and explained the menu well. In fact we got what he suggested as a couple of the more popular dishes.....You peeps that eat here have awful taste! Food - We got some gooey cheese plate that was all grease and cheese and an empanada that was dry as a catchers mit. They did take back our Empanada after they saw we each had a small bite and it sat there. We passed on order dinner. They were nice enough and removed the empanada from the check, so we tipped very well. all-in-all, it was a nice place to sit out side and relax, just not some place we'd go back to eat.
(3)
Olaf K.

Although I'm not a huge steak fan, I thought I'd try one at Folklore. It turned out to be a great choice! The "El Filet" was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The sauce was delicious. I requested an extra dollop of Chimichurri sauce which was excellent. Sides were delicious. The atmosphere is fun yet cozy. Service is friendly, helpful and efficient.
(5)
Mark D.

Holy Mary mother of God.....the bartenders and servers here look like they came out of a good porn scene. Where do they find so many delicious Latin American men? Enough said about that. The steak was delicious, the ambiance is amazing. The interior of this restaurant is very cool, and all of the wood they use is reclaimed lumber. Also, they serve the best mojito I have EVER had. Ever. I recommend the blackberry mojito, you wont regret it.
(4)
Bouchette J.

The food here is delicious I went with some Argentinians and they claimed that it was extremely authentic the service is excellent you might have to wait for a while but just get a drink at the bar as the wines are delicious while you wait my favorite is la lengua ( the tongue).
(5)
Moe f.

Tango Sur w/out the BYO, wait, and bad attitude. Good empanadas. Huge reasonably priced delicious steak. Nice atmosphere, decent service. Found the wines to be a little pricey but I guess that's the price of eating on Division these days.
(4)
Justine L.

Folklore's menu, decor, and overall style is just like it's sister restaurant Tango Sur. I thoroughly enjoyed every dish. This go around I had the El Novillo, which was three petite filets, zucchini, and mushrooms. El Novillo's filets were not as high quality as El Filet such that the meat was fatty and sometimes chewy for a filet. However, I did enjoy the sides of zucchini and mushrooms over the standard spinach mash potatoes, just to lighten the meal. One thing Folklore lacks compared to Tango Sur is that it is not BYOB. They do have a wide range of selection, but it is always great to bring your favorite bottle to dinner.
(5)
Crystal M.

What a disappointment. I just walked out and had to write this review. The service is horrendous. The empanadas were good. The sangria was decent. I ordered the rack of lamb and my fiance ordered the churrasco. They brought out his churrasco, it was ok. Minutes later they brought out a meal but it wasn't rack of lamb. It took the waiter ten minutes to return and check on us. By then my fiance had eaten half his meal and shared, but I was annoyed. Finally the waiter came out and I pointed out that I didnt have my rack of lamb. He laughed it off and took the flank steak dinner back in. When the rack of lamb arrived I was disappointed by the lack of flavor. Twenty minutes later we got the attention of the host because we never saw the waiter again. He wrapped my finances left overs. We waited exactly twenty more minutes for the check we requested. Finally my fiance walked in and asked for it. Ten minutes later it's still on the table. I had to hand it to the host who finally took it. Im usually a great tipper but today it pained me to leave even fifteen percent Never again! Nandu on Fullerton is better, cheaper, and with way better service. Try that. You won't be disappointed
(1)
Isa C.

Love! Love! Love! This place. I have been to folklore on several occasions and have never been disappointed. The filet is juicy and tender and the spinach mashed potatoes are amazing. Empanadas are fluffy and delicious. The drinks are also on par, not to mention the romantic warm ambiance. The staff is courteous and makes us feel at home. Can't wait to dine here again.
(5)
Iris T.

I absolutely love this place. We have been here multiple times and everything from the service, atmosphere, and food is top notch. The food is incredible. It is a twist on true argentine food. Start out with any of the empanadas with the chimichurri. My favorite meals are the El Solitario (chef's special) and the El Filet with the creamiest spinach mashed potatoes.
(5)
Ashley B.

Went here today and got the surf and turf and the bf got the fish. Both were pretty tasty and the sauces were on point. The salad is just a simple bed of lettuce with tomatoes and white onions with oil and vinegar, but they were pretty good too. I want to come back and check out the bar area and drinks, they looked pretty great!
(4)
Fabiola I.

Was here a couple of months back, I love the ambiance to this place. The food here is great! You HAVE to try their empanadas, they've very inexpensive but very satisfying.
(4)
Virginia T.

First, we've been to Argentina- and we loved the food there- so we were going with high expectations already. Folklore was awesome! We were a group of 9- ages 14 to 81, and everyone loved what they ordered. The empanadas were great, I had the beef and the corn- never having eaten "corn" empanadas, I followed the waiter's suggestion. They were creamy inside, crunchy outside, and perfect. The steaks were huge, and my sons and husband were quite happy. Try to leave room for the flan- it's big enough to share- and hands down the best I've had! The decor is cool industrial with exposed brick, etc. Very warm and casual- similar to Restoration Hardware style. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
Lizz T.

BEST SERVICE EVER! Not only is the food amazing, but my customer service experience was something to remember. I've been wanting to try this place forever now, so I ordered it take out. As I was waiting at the bar for my food it started POURING down rain outside. The bartender felt horrible for me, because I didn't have an umbrella and even offered to find me one. Fortunate for me I love running in rainstorms, so I was fine! But that really was very considerate and blew me away. On top of that, the food was amazing. (the seasoning and oils are absolute perfection!!) The atmosphere was trendy and classy. I go to a new restaurant once a week, so it's safe to say I never repeat places....but this is definitely a place I will come back to and recommend to others.
(5)
Jim M.

The food was outstanding and the price was right. I spent about $40 and that got me a steak and two cocktails.
(4)
Karen M.

My husband and I went to Folklore yesterday evening, Saturday. We had a GREAT time. Food was amazing and portions were large. Wine was great. The bill was not bad, $126 for 2 empanadas, sausage, parrillada for 1, filet mignon, 1 bottle of wine, oporto and flan for dessert. There is NO valet parking available BUT the valet guy from Pizanos - which is next doors - is ready to help! Also the person at the door is not super friendly but you only deal with him for about 2 minutes until you are seated. Our waiter - Luis - was great. We had a fun time and my husband love the ambiance. We will definitely good back!
(5)
Jeannie C.

The empanadas are amazing! Can't go wrong with any of them. They were so good, I can't even remember what I ordered for my main entree. My husband's steak was a bit bland. We would totally go back for the empanadas though in addition to the mojitos!! I think this place would definitely be great for an after-work bev, especially after a long day.
(4)
Cathy K.

The menu had a good variety of choices and it was nice to sit outside with a romantic atmosphere. Ham and cheese empanada was really good. Beef was fine. The el filet came with 2 pieces and there was a lot of great flavor and it was tender. It came with spinach mashed potatoes which was good also. I ate about half my plate because it was a lot of food, but I love leftovers for lunch the next day! Our waiter Javier was very nice and we had great service. Definitely coming back to try more on the menu!
(5)
Andrew B.

EXCELLENT dining experience. After a car-buying trip with a friend, we came in for a late, late (4:15 PM) lunch, and had the place to ourselves. Sat immediately, served quickly. Could imagine street parking being a bit tough at a busier time. A little confused menu-wise -- the online menu doesn't seem to match the paper menu in the restaurant, and the chef's specials seem to overlap with the usual dishes. Almost seemed like more of a "this is what's available today" sort of menu. That said, the provoleta app was AWESOME. Maybe a tad heavy on the oregano, but otherwise a great complement to the Delirium Tremens I started with. My dining companion raved about the mojitos. The chorizo app had potential -- crisply done sausage, and amazing good raw sliced tomatoes on the side for being out-of-season. The sausage was a bit pink in the middle however, which did concern us a bit. Both feeling fine today however. My dining companion had the filet and shrimp special, and loved it. The shrimp were huge, the filet cooked perfectly as-ordered. I had the veal t-bone special with red chimichurri and was equally happy. Also cooked as-ordered, and thick as an old-school Webster's dictionary it seemed. Great char on the outside. Great food, great drinks, great service -- winner!
(5)
Allison C.

I saw this place pop up in the neighborhood a couple months back, and I kept meaning to try it out. Last night I finally went in for dinner, and I was very impressed. The interior is beautifully designed, the lighting is dim, and each table has a candlestick to provide a soft glow. The service was excellent, and our waiter kept our wine glasses full. We started with a bottle of the organic Malbec and the marinated eggplant appetizer. The Malbec was smooth, the eggplant light and flavorful. For my entree, I ordered the filet with two jumbo shrimp in a tomato-caper sauce. The steak was tender and cooked to perfection. The shrimp were very large and full of flavor.The sauce was light and incredible, and complimented both the steak and the shrimp. The entree was also served with a fresh romaine salad and a side of spinach mashed potatoes. Overall, it was an insane amount of food. My friend ordered the Para Uno, which included grilled short ribs, sausage, beef, sweetbread and black sausage. I'm not as much of a fan of the random animal parts as he is, but I did try the chorizo, and it was excellent. We both left satisfied, and agreed to return soon to try another amazing dish. I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Joann B.

Amazing service and great food. Staff makes sure you enjoy your food and leave wanting to come back for more.
(4)
Maria D.

Went here with my 9 year old son, we both wanted to try most exotic dishes traditional to Argentina. Our waiter was fantastic, he described everything to us in the terms we could understand and both of us truly enjoyed the dishes we had selected. It's hard to please a 9 year old in an ethnic restaurant, so I was even more impressed as he kept clearing his plates! The best part was desert! The waiter came out with a huge tray of choices. It was hard to choose and I extended the courtesy to my son. He selected a caramel cheesecake. He loved it so much that he asked to speak with chef and compliment him in person. The restaurant accommodated immediately which means their kitchen had nothing to hide. After the kitchen tour we both left happy and satisfied.
(5)
Abby M.

True story, I married an Argentine. This has entitled me to witnessing wildly uncomfortable family throw-downs and being the victim of perpetual lateness. It has also gained me entrance into the deliciously bloody world of the Parilla, otherwise known as Argentine BBQ. I am a sucker for blood sausage, sweatbreads and pretty much any other discard of our friend the cow. When I am in Chicago on a blood lust, I ALWAYS go to Folklore. Beautiful food and soft dim lighting that will disguise the enthusiasm in which you eat said beautiful food. Great cocktails (they even have fernet) and strong coffee. Comfortable volume for when you just want to lay back and fall into your inevitable food coma.
(4)
Frank L.

over price rude service Bad food low quality and tons of oil! Cold inside
(1)
Christine G.

I have been to folklore probably a dozen times or so. The atmosphere at Folklore is relaxing & laid back. The food is great, especially the empanadas. I would recommend it to a friend.
(4)
Brent W.

It's a 2.5 and I just didn't experience the ott wow factor many have attributed to Folklore. Came on a Monday evening and the place was fairly empty and borderline pitch black, save for the individual, occupied candlelit tables. Romantic, possibly, but function over form for me, esp when dealing w. an Argentine steak 'bistro'. The DT's: Good price for proportion. Quality lacked, esp the salad starter. Dry, undressed cut up greens w. tons of tomatoes. The red vinaigrette was on the table, and only after it was pointed out by our server were we able to discern (see above lack o lighting) that it was in fact our job to complete the "salad". We decided to split a Ribeye that was ginorm in size. Ordered Med-rare and it was basically rare. Normally I can deal but it was a very thick cut of steak so you're left w going from slight char to room temp red. At least they were consistent bc the flavor from bite to bite was either non-existant or way overly seasoned. It should be noted that even upon sharing this steak there was still enough to take home and eat a few steak tacos at home the night after. Service was adequate and overall a non-memorable dining experience. Tbh, i would would probably give Folklore another shot, strictly based on price point and all the positive reviews by ppl i actually know and highly regard opinions of.
(3)
Iris D.

Decor beautiful, service also good but I disliked Tango Sur, dislike Argentinean empanadas so why would I go here? My husband insisted. If you want steak go to a steak house. Argentineans don't know meat. Sorry. Meat was tough, lamb raw. Never again.
(1)
Megan M.

easily one of the greatest mojitos i've had. ever. & for $10, i wouldn't expect anything less (go with pom or blackberry). empanadas come with chimichurri (my fave), and are crispy, moist, and delicious (go spinach over chicken). grabbed the provolone plate as well. cant really go wrong with melted cheese. they feature a few items weekly, one of which was the solitario. 10oz steak w a red wine reduction. one of the better steaks i've had. the melted gorgonzola on top was pretty intense, but to be fair, we were warned by the server. downfalls? i'm a sucker for good bread, and folklore didn't deliver. they were reminiscent of a bag of store bought dinner rolls that were left open over night. the appetizer salad is also pretty depressing. few pieces of lettuce, 3 slices of tomato, and 4 rings of raw onion. the meal would have been better off without it. on a regular day, i'd dock a star for crappy bread, but that mojito really out did itself. ps. super romantic ambiance. and dreamy servers. great date spot. 1/2 price bottles of wine on tuesday, and $6 mojitos on thursday (steal).
(4)
Jelena Z.

Folklore, I've been waiting for you. I'm a bit obsessed with Argentinean wine, the Tango, the culture, and of course, the food. Last night's soft opening connected me with all of those elements + others thirsty for the same enlightenment. Hot on the heels of sister restaurants Tango Sur and Ã‘, Folklore fills the 'steakhouse with late-night hours' void. And unlike Tango Sur, there's alcohol. You'll find Latin libations such as mojitos, pisco sours and caipirinhas make the menu. I tried the mango mojito and was so enamored I had three of them (this coming from someone who doesn't usually drink cocktails). I believe I've found my favorite new mixologist and drink in the city: resident mojito maestro Marissa rules the coop! The restaurant is stunning with its hard-nosed rusticism meets wildly romantic feel: check out the tin ceiling! And, as my friend said, "it makes you want to make out". This alone guarantees my return for a full meal. Even the washroom is gorgeous with its spa-inspired stylings. Folklore isn't just another pretty face on the Divison scene, either. We were able to sample a wide menu selection including meat, meat and more meat! The beef here is the shining star (I couldn't get enough) and they also offer the organic, grass-fed variety. The service is excellent and complements an experience built on elegance, culture and flair for fun. Oh, and the music: SEXY. Urban chic at its best!
(5)
Michelle M.

Location! Location! Location! This place is so pretty. I love the patio. Staff is friendly and nice but since this place is a hot spot their hard to get their attention. Food is good but I've had better. Here is what we had: corn empanadas, pechuga de pollo and medio pollo al lemon. Drinks:capirinha, mango picado and mangotini.
(3)
Brett F.

For once, believe the hype!! Folklore is Folkfabulous!! Wasn't quite sure what to expect aside from the fact that I'd be a) eating meat and b) hanging at one of the newest and hottest of hot spots. Fortunately for me, my expectations were met with flying colors and then some. This adorable new Argentine 'steakhouse' graces the Wicker Park Division Street strip with a welcomed brand of rustic elegance that only a few other neighborhood joints successfully bring to the table. Think exquisite dim lighting, tons of flickering candlelight, white-washed tin ceilings, authentic pastoral decorative touches... just a really warm, inviting, sexy surrounding. Perfect for date night - if you enjoy shoving meat in your mouth on your dates - I know I do! Ahem, moving on... While the environs are subtle, delicate and romantic, the menu? Not so much. Prepare for pages and pages of yummy, meaty gluttony... don't be shy, wanna dig into a rib-eye? How 'bout some sausages? Nah... veal or lamb more your thing? Take your pick, it's a veritable meat-a-palooza at Folklore with each item sounding more mouthwatering, scrumptious and delicious than the next. Loved the option of the 'parrilladas', individual tasting entrÃ©es that come served tabletop on an individual grill (impressive) and give you a smattering of a 'lil bit 'o everything. Perfecto! Oh and did I mention they're economy friendly, too? My 'para uno' tasting at $19 came with a starter salad, 2 juicy, perfectly prepared steaks (short rib and skirt steak), spicy chorizo sausage, an adventurous black sausage and a huge handful of crispy, fried, fabulous sweetbreads. Don't believe me? Check the photos, yo! It was enough to feed at least two (para UNO my ass!) hey, I'm not complaining, it was sooo very nice to have those yummy leftovers for days! Talk about recession friendly service without skimping on an iota of charm, taste and ambiance. Swoon. Additional dishes of free range filet mignon, the magnificent sweet mashes potatoes and a selection of empanadas - oh, those lovely, tasty, steamy pockets of joy - were all so very remarkable, really, but I gotta say the empanadas exceedingly stood out. Loved the sweet corn goodness and ubermelty ham & cheese, especially. Y-U-M. Folklore won me over with their alluring dÃ©cor, warm service, affordable pricing and amazingly tasty dishes... they'll keep me coming back, however, just to prove I can conquer that insanely extensive and alluring menu. Up next? Everything. Â¡OlÃ©!
(5)
Nikki H.

Went here for date night last month. We came with a howaboutwe deal, which included a set menu for the night. I was really impressed not only with the food, but especially with the customer service. The food (empanadas, salad, pasta, el filet, and dessert) were all awesome - we left super stuffed and satisfied. They were so nice and attentive all night, which you don't always get when you come in with a deal voucher. I'd definitely pay full price to go back.
(5)
Luis C.

Nice decor, good environment, friendly staff. I went on a friday night with a party of eight, they seated us pretty quickly although we didn't have a reservation. I had the Entrana which I did not really enjoy too much. Luckily for me, my wife let me try some of her dish, definitely better than mine. They bring you bread before your meal, I enjoyed the bread more than my meal. We did see a cast member from Reno 911! who was also eating here. I dont see myself going back any time soon.
(3)
Andre W.

A complete and utter disappointment! I had very high expectations for this place as I have walked by for quite awhile. Me & my party of 5 met here this past Thurday evening to celebrate a friend coming to town. We were able to score seating on the outside patio for an al fresco experience. The menu looked great as it was so many dishes to choose from. My hunger grew as I looked over each item. While we all were deciding what we wanted, the very nice server asked if we wanted to start out with a drink...I went with the Chilean Riesling which was really good. It took quite awhile for the drinks to come out and it wasn't even a full house/patio. I decicded to go with one of the chef's special, Grilled Swordfish which came with a white cream sauce over rice, corn and bacon bits. Not even the bacon bits could over come the blandness of my dish. The swordfish itself was a pretty nice size, but did not include flavor. We ordered another round of drinks which again took awhile to come back to us. Some of my peeps went with the steak and they had the same issue I had: lack of flavor I would actually like to try this place again because I think its a cool joint, the wait staff was very nice and I see rave reviews on the empanadas. I wanna believe we caught them on an off night.
(3)
Adam W.

I am leaving this review because there is an appetizer on the menu that NEEEDS more recognition: Go here. Eat the special berenjena (hot eggplant / spinach / cheese layered). Do not go here without planning to try this dish. You will love it. It's like a vegetarian lasagna but better. It will blow you away. It's that good. I would honestly eat just this for dinner but that wouldn't leave any room for the el filet.
(4)
Natasha L.

I was here recently for a birthday dinner for a good friend. The other reviews don't lie -the portions are huge! We were pleasantly surprised when several of us ordered the Lomo (filet mignon) and got not one but two filets. The meat was cooked perfectly - nice and juicy. Needless to say the entrees were very filling so we brought leftovers home. Overall, I definitely enjoyed Folklore. I look forward to going back for more of the menu and possibly following up with an in-depth review.
(4)
Jelitsa L.

Loved it! Great food (the chicken was so flavorful)! My fiancÃ© had the ribeye and he loved it as well. The prices are reasonable and the service was great! Oscar was our server and he was wonderful. If you ever make a reservation, ask for him! The space was very inviting and romantic. I will come here again! So happy to have it in the neighborhood!
(4)
Becca F.

I'm still digesting my meal. We waited a bit for a table, but no longer than they estimated. The menu mimics Tango, which is why we went in the first place. No need to battle the Wrigleyville traffic or crowds. We had the Provolata (or glob of melted cheese), risotto special, and the Vacio Relleno, which is a pile of food for two on a grill right on your table. These 3 things were enough for the 4 of us to share. All was great. Glad to have them in the neighborhood.
(4)
Jessica V.

If you bring someone here make sure you bring someone who appreciates you. You can bring your boyfriend, husband, wife, girlfriend, or your mother, but whoever you decide to bring make sure they are someone special. For me, I came here on my anniversary. I also came here when I was having a rough time looking for a new job. This is not the best place in the entire world but it is a place that means a lot to me. Sure, everyone is going to have their own opinions on this restaurant but take it from me who has been here twice.. they are VERY consist ant. First off, I need a good red. Every time I come here the servers do not disappoint with a good wine recommendation. I also always get cheese and spinach empinadas and Vacio to share. It is a plentiful and not bad for the price. You get great service and the food does not take long to prepare. The first time I came here I remember how hard it was for me find a new job. I was leaving a job I had put more than two years of my life into and moving to a new job was something I was not sure if I was ready to do. I looked for something different but was not successful. My man took me here and this place is so beautiful to me and the food was great I do not know what else could have put me in better spirits. The second time we came here for our anniversary and it could not have been better. Today, I have a new job with great people. All the hard looking and good food paid off. I appreciate coming here and that is why I said you should consider taking someone amazing here because they will appreciate it.
(5)
Jannelly D.

Thier empanadas are delish, the plates I have ordered are juicy and tender and the piÃ±as are to die for, hands down best place, better than other fine dining places that are over rated.
(5)
D D.

I wasn't blown away by the filet, I thought the empanadas were good but not amazing (we got 3 or 4 types and all four of my family members seemed to feel similarly), the mashed potatoes were excellent, the service was solid. All in all I would give it a B.
(3)
Angela L.

I went here for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I was very impressed! The atmosphere is wonderful. It's very romantic -- rustic decor, large windows that open to a patio, and burning candlesticks on every table. The service is great too -- They were very nice and attentive. My date and I had a couple of Mojitos -- Best mojitos I have ever tasted! We also ordered the "Para Dos", a meat sampler for two. It was served to us on a hot iron skillet and everything was so delicious. We ate until we couldn't eat any more, and there were still leftovers! It was a meatlovers dream. I recommend this place to everyone. I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Ela G.

Pretty goddamn delicious. Yes I'm sitting at their outdoor seating on Division street. But instantly I felt as if transported to another land, where dinners last hours (in a good way), your servers are hunky Argentines, and the food is flavorful and delicious. The quality of everything we ordered was great, and everything seemed very un-Americanized. They made no attempt to dull-down or cater to our American eating habits - there was a ton of flavor, garlic, herbs and seasoning on everything and it felt super authentic. The drinks, by the way, were amazing. Yes, they took a bit longer than I would have expected, but they seemed to have been crafted with care and thought. Not to mention, my Caipirihna was DELICIOUS and well-portioned well above my expectations.
(4)
julie q.

It's alright. My husband went with his friend and said it was excellent about three weeks ago. We went last night and even he said something was off from last time. I ordered the 8 oz filet (which was tough) with 3 jumbo shrimp (that could have been cooked about 2 minutes longer) and a bunch of mushrooms (that tasted only like butter). My husband had the ribeye and mashed potatoes (decently seasoned and appetizing). Will I go back? Probably. Will it be anytime soon? Probably not.
(3)
Kevin A.

IS THERE AN ARGENTINIAN WORD FOR 'MEH'? I'll keep this brief. Giant portions of less than ideal quality beef sloppily hacked off the cow, overcooked, and served with chimichurri to mask the imperfections. On the plus side, tasty empanadas. That is all.
(2)
Hanee L.

Very nice ambience, great interior, and a lovely patio..! had empanadas, para dos (bunch of meats!) and a bottle of Argentinian Malbec. My boyfriend liked beef sweetbread and black sausage,but I liked flap meat.. we are not big fans of meats, but we liked the restaurant. Next time when we visit again, we would like to try out their appetizers and cooked dishes. Since it was my bf's surprise dinner on one pleasant summer friday night, I was very happy regardless of the food.
(4)
Victoria W.

I love the dark, sensual atmosphere. Great food at very reasonable prices. The empanadas--$2--are amazing! I was happily surprised to see some good vegetarian options. There were a bunch of pastas and tapas-type dishes, but what I ordered was a layered eggplant dish ("Berenjena") in the Chef's Specials section ($9). It was great! My boyfriend was impressed by his giant meat assortment ($19) served on a tabletop grill. One time he ordered the lengua appetizer ($7) and it was HUGE--more lengua than if he had bought $7-worth at the local international grocer known for low prices. I would say Folklore's prices are closer to the two-dollar-sign range for the average person.
(5)
Casey Z.

If you love Tango Sur (as I do), you'll be very impressed with Folklore. The only difference is that Folklore has a full bar. Their food is consistently good. Have to try the empanadas!
(4)
Tracy F.

In the words of my husband: - The drinks were above average - The food was below average - The service was below average - It was too expensive for what you got - The ambiance was cool That pretty much sums it up. Drinks were fabulous. Food was not. I ordered the filet with Gorgonzola. I've had filet with blue cheese many times. This, however, was disgusting. It smelled like dirty feet. Luckily, when I scraped it off my plate, the steak did not smell. I ordered the steak medium and it came out medium rare, but that's what I expect from most steak restaurants. The meat itself was pretty good. However, my husband could not eat more than a couple bites of his steak. The sides for the most part were good. We had the beef empanadas for appetizer and it was served with egg whites. That was pretty odd. We also had the flame grilled cheese, which ended up tasting like a pizza topping. The dessert was pretty good - a complimentary flan. The service was very slow. After ordering our drinks, we had to call him back each time we wanted to order appetizers, entrees, get the check and get our receipt. Also, with an appetizer, salad and an entree, I asked if I could have a new fork before the entree. The busboy literally said "Only knives. We can't give new forks." I literally was not allowed to have a new fork. That pretty much sealed the deal for me. Won't be back, even for the great drinks and cool atmosphere.
(2)
Jesse B.

I personally thought it was over priced. Nothing really stood out. The bartender was friendly. He really made up for the food. My friend who I was with at Folklore lived in Argentina and was highly disappointed in the food.
(3)
Randy S.

No power? No problem! It is not how you act during prosperous times that defines you - it's how you respond to the adversity...and Folklore failed this test. I visited folklore recently with a very large group 10+ recently. We sat down and ordered drinks, and our appetizers. Everything was going smoothly. Once the appetizers were served we ordered our entrees. 20 minutes later were told that the power in the restaurant was out, and that there would be a slight delay in getting our food. We were assured the power would return, and to just sit tight. Instead of sitting with our hands in our lap the group decided to order another round. 20 more minutes pass before our waiter corners me on my way to the washroom, and tell me that the power is not coming back on any time soon, and that they will be sending our bill to the table. This is where things go afoul for me. It is now after 9pm on a Friday, we are starving, and the restaurant has charged for both rounds of drinks. No apologies, no compensation, and no dinner. Friends at the table did speak with management, but I am disappointed it came to that. It will be some time before I stop retelling this tale of folklore.
(1)
Chris D.

Still kicking @ss fellas.. :) The steaks seem to get better each time I go. Keep up the good work. Yeah I like to dip my steak in a bowl of warm garlic butter.. :) We only live once right.. LOL Service is still top notch. Wine selection has gotten better.
(5)
Hannah C.

Came here a few weeks ago with two friends. PRO: the appetizers are great; we loved the chorizo plate and we inhaled the empanadas, I would go back JUST for those. PRO: romantic ambiance, we sat outside and it was lovely. PRO: good cocktails, good beer and wine selection. CON: the salad that came with the main course was an undressed pile of lettuce and sliced tomato and red onion on a plate. It literally looked like burger toppings. CON: the main courses are hit or miss. We each ordered three different steaks, all done medium-rare. One came out medium-rare and was delicious, one came out half medium/half medium-well (clearly they have some grill problems), and one came out decidedly well-done and a pain to chew. We showed our steaks to the waiter and he brushed it aside, protesting that the well-done steak was difficult to cook and lost color easily. Lost color? It was so tasteless and chewy my friend didn't even end up finishing it. And I'm sorry, but the difficulty of the cut of meat is no excuse. At this price, and at a grill, every steak should be cooked to order. CON: the service was extremely slow from start to finish and the response to our complaint about the food was very disappointing. A person I can only assume to be the manager (he didn't introduce himself) stopped by after we spoke to the waiter and asked how things we going. We said, "Well, alright..." and he quickly said, "Great!" and leapt away from the table. It was ridiculous, it actually made us laugh! Were we supposed to play the part of the enraged customer and bring it up again before he got a word in edgewise? I guess so, because he never came back. Our waiter brought us some flan on the house (after staring at it for 30 seconds, we all admitted to each other that we didn't like flan), with no apologies for the botched steaks. I expected an apology from the manager for our meals and maybe even an offer for something on the house on another visit. As it is, I have no incentive to go back. In the end, EMPANADAS, go, get them. They're the only reason this isn't a two-star review. Choose your main courses wisely, as attention to detail doesn't seem to be a mainstay of this kitchen, and don't be expect to be served quickly.
(3)
Andrea H.

After perusing the Do Division fest, we decided on Folklore for dinner. My friends had been eyeing the place for hours, mostly because of the hot waiters, but I digress. Luckily we made it in just in time to beat the rain and snag a table for 5 in the dining room. The place was lively and definitely provided the right atmosphere to continue the party. When it was time to choose a beverage, I chose the mango picado. Now I'm always a little bit skeptical of these types of drinks since they almost always turn out to be watered down and super sweet. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Mango flavor, but a nice kick with the chili and not too sweet. I dug it. For food, I decided to share the parillada para dos with one other person. This dish has sweetbreads, short ribs, flank steak and two different kinds of sausage. When it came out, it was probably enough to feed an Argentinian village. Four steaks, three sausages and tons of sweetbreads. And boy, do I LOVE those. So delicious. Of course I had to wash it all down so I settled on the Mole Ocho. Little did I know it was a 20 oz bottle but I wasn't sorry. This beer has got some flavor! I loved it and was happy to see that New Belgium has branched out and started producing some great small batch beers. So anyway, we had a blast. Everything was great from start to finish. Check it out with friends, just be prepared to eat. A lot. For days after.
(4)
Mickey A.

"You say it's your birthday (nah nah nah nah nah), Well let's celebrate it at Folklore..." I know that last line isn't part of the Beatles' song, but that's what I wanted to do. Celebrate my birthday and eat like there's no tomorrow. Done deal. I was the first one in my party to arrive and was seated to wait at the bar. One of the bartendars handed me two drink menus: beer and cocktail list and then the wine list. I was sold as soon as I saw mangotini. But of course, as soon as I got my drink, my friends started pouring in and ordering their drinks. After paying for drinks, we were then seated to our table. Dark and cozy, the dining room was a-buzz with servers and a ton of food flying by. It took us awhile to study the menu and figuring out what to get. Our server (so nice but forgot his name) went through the menu with us and suggested some of the restuarant's popular appetizers and entrees. For appetizers, we went with (a) baked eggplant layered with spinach, provolone and ricotta cheese, and tomato cream sauce, (b) grilled provolone cheese and red pepper, and (c) empanadas (beef?). All were excellent in our minds (and stomachs). I didn't have the empanadas (1 per order), but the ones who did seemed to like it. The eggplant was the biggest hit. It was of a pretty good size to share. Note: the eggplant dish is actually under the Chef's menu and not in the appetizer section. You'd think we'd be goners with all that. Nope, we still had enough room for dinner. I ordered the rack of lamb with white wine sauce. It came with mashed sweet potatoes, which was a big plus for me. Holy mouthful of awesomeness! It's a very big dish that I ended up taking the rest home. Other dishes my friends enjoyed: el filet, para dos (probably good enough for more than 2 people), and four cheese ravioli with mushrooms. Summary: good food + drinks = fun. Again, our server was great as were the bartendars and host. Our server checked on us periodically and made sure we had enough to drink (and eat, not that there was much to add). Tip: if you make reservations and have last minute no-shows, let the host know. I felt bad for doing this when we arrived, but they were ok with it and shifted us to another table.
(4)
Jackie O.

Hot rum, ginger and cider with a citrus peel can just melt the winter chill right off your shoulders. If that doesn't - maybe the live guitar music or belly-filling mountains of meat will. This meal was fantastic! More importantly, it was reasonable yet sexy enough for a cool date night. The empanadas were my favorite. So crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Perfect! There is one big star knocked off because on a slow weekday, we still waited over 45 minutes for our entrees.
(4)
Courtney M.

Hubs and I went here for our second anniversary. I feel compelled to mention he grew up in Chicago and I'm a 10-year vet. So we're pretty much used to the portion sizes in the city. But the double filet they served - complete with salad and a side - made me do a double-take. We both agreed they were the best steaks we'd ever had. Service was awesome. Louie, our server, was friendly and checked in with us the requisite amount of times - not too many, not too few - and our water glasses never got below half-full. We were already planning a trip back over before we even left. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until some time after we make it through all the leftovers. Also, you have to have at least one empanada (chicken and beef were personal faves) and try the sangria. It's awesome.
(5)
Mahsa T.

Walking into Folklore is a bit like slipping into a sexy little black dress. It's dark, inviting, sensual, romantic, and makes you feel instantly hot.... My date and I were walking by on our way to another restaurant down the street one Sunday night, when we saw the pitch blackness of Folklore broken only by the flicker of candles through the floor-to-ceiling windows--and we literally stopped in our tracks. "What is this place?" I asked. "I don't know, let's find out," he replied. So we went in, were greeted warmly, and seated right away at a rustic wooden table. Argentinian tango music played in the background and soon I was under its spell. The exposed brick and unexpected items on display, like a Victrola, further added to the charm of this place. A very good-looking Latin man, who both looked like Antonio Banderas and was soft-spoken like Antonio Banderas, appeared to take our order. I ordered a flavorful Cabernet Sauvignon that went perfectly with my "el filet" which came with delicious spinach mashed potatoes and side salad. My date ordered the rib-eye. "HOLY COW," I said when our entrees arrived. No really, they bring you a cow-sized piece of meat, which is great for their relatively low prices. Mine came with 2 pieces of filet and my date's rib-eye was large enough to feed 3 people, seriously. We had to take most of it home. My only complaint is that they didn't quite cook the meat to my specification, I asked for medium well but it was definitely only medium cooked. But that didn't stop me from savoring the juicy goodness of my filet. I needed a little something sweet after eating all that meat, so we got a light dessert (it was not easy to choose from a tray of delicious options), but we went with a yellow cake with a layer of dulce de leche and coconut shavings on top--perfect way to end our meal. In case you didn't know, Folklore is the sister restaurant to Tango Sur and has been open for about 6 months. Unlike Tango Sur, Folklore is not BYOB, but they have an extensive wine list. I have personally never been to Tango Sur, but my date who has said that he prefers the seating and space here better, it's less cramped. So if you're looking for a romantic spot to indulge in a nice steak and great wine, head over to Folklore.
(5)
Ben M.

Meh - what can I say about this place. I love the aesthetic, thats true. The low lighting and the dark furniture really speak to my soul. The problem here is not that its bad, its just not a great value for the price. My steak was around $25, and sure, that is an acceptable price for a steak if it is something that you are going to write your mom about. But this was more like a shrug of the shoulders. I can see this place working out for you if you're going on a date and need some prices to impress the person you are with, and food that wont disappoint. Or maybe your a pompous Argentine who needs to tell others how much better it is down there. Either way, this place might be worth your while. Otherwise, I think you can do better.
(3)
Jeka M.

Dark wood details, labyrinthine pipe lines with dim lightbulbs, tall candles lit on each table, and traditional tables and chairs create an intimate and inviting atmosphere. Apparently Folklore was meant to be Folklorico or something in Spanish, but in spite of the name, this restaurant is imbued with Argentinian flavor both in the menu options, drink options (though these are South American in general), and in the apparently all male and coincidentally also good-looking waitstaff. Incidentally, the owners happen to also be the proprietors of Ã‘ which is clear when you see the advertisement in the bathrooms (which are nice and clean). :) I noticed that this got a $$$, however, my boyfriend and I got an appetizer (we got the Proveleto which is basically friend cheese. Imagine really cheesy pizza... without sauce or dough. Yeah, a little overwhelming) and then split an entree, and it was really doable. It's a great way to try new places without having to break the bank, and most split your meal without charge... some will add like $1 or $2 to your check, but we weren't that hungry so this was perfect for us. While I wouldn't get the Proveleto again, the Pollo Relleno was delicious! There was some sort of super light cream sauce, and the spinach inside the chicken was really well-prepared... sometimes spinach can be too flavorful, but here it was perfect, as were the delicious mashed potatoes. :) Overall, I def recommend as a romantic evening out.
(4)
Rachel K.

I have been living steps away from Folklore for the past year and can't get enough! Awesome place to hang out for a drink in the evening or for dinner - I always bring guests here when they are visiting. The vibe of the bar is laid back but classy and truly feels like you are in Argentina (well, as good as you can get being in the Midwest...) Empanadas are great, the chimichurri sauce is great, and the meats have turned me from a quasi-vegetarian to red meat lover! The Para Dos is a dish with a variety of meats with more than enough for 2 people (doggie bag!). As for the drink selection, in addition to an awesome wine selection, they have a nice variety of ''South American'' classics: Quilmes beer, Capirinha, Pisco Sour, etc... the Mojitos can't be beat! It's great for a date or to take the parents when they visit, and the prices are very reasonable, especially for the awesome amibiance!
(5)
Bella D.

Really, they accomodated us with such short notice!! First it was 5-6 of us, then the party grew to 12 of us!! Thank you for provoletta, Vacio steak and lovely potatoes/salad :) Mojitos were flowing all night!! Great service as always :) It was a great birthday!! :)
(5)
Nancy C.

Great food and service! I have been here several times and can't get enough of it. This place is a MUST!!
(5)
Michael S.

It was only supposed to be a quick dinner in the neighborhood on a Tuesday night... nothing fancy, but as we passed Folklore and it's outdoor seating (never realized how wide the sidewalks are on Division) we decided to try some Argentine food. It's really nice how it's away from the more noisy places of Wicker Park which leads to a much nicer setting. First off, there is a guy that does remind one of Antonio Banderas. His name is Alfredo and he is definitely a big factor in why Folklore is 5 stars. He was very helpful in making suggestions and had a charming way of saying thank you when we complimented his choices. He is one of those waiters that you know is there without being obtrusive. Cool guy. Now for the food. Loved it all so I will mention everything. Berenjena: An Alfredo pick... Eggplant done in a lasagna kind of style. It came with a tomato cream sauce that complimented the eggplant perfectly. It was a chef special so I don't know how often it appears. Really, really good starter though.. Lomo relleno: It says this is for two people, but in reality you can feel more people with this dish! It comes with a house salad which I shall not really comment on. It wasn't bad, but it was a regular salad. The meat is essentially a chunk of fillet (mmmm... beef) that is cooked to your liking. It came with an excess of portabello mushrooms which was very much appreciated. Also, there was a chimichurri sauce on the side which just made everything better. I am ready to go home now to tear into the leftovers after writing about this! Flor: After enjoying myself thoroughly, I was left in a great mood. Not really a sweets person, I was enjoying myself so much that I decided that we are splurging and going with a dessert to top off the meal. Doesn't hurt that the gf likes herself some dessert... The desserts came out on a tray and Alfredo explained all of them. Ended up choosing the flor per his suggestion and I was really pleased with it. Only had one bite as I've cut down on my carbs for wedding slimming, but it took a lot of willpower to not eat more. By the time we got our check (had to rush back home) the very full gf almost finished the dessert that she said she was going to take home. Also, I feel I should mention that they have some excellent craft beers in case you don't want to go the wine route. Didn't see the cocktails, but I was more than pleased with a gumball head to go along with my meal. The best place I've been to for Argentine food. Thanks Folklore!
(5)
Brent G.

Stopped in for a drink and a light meal with some colleagues. I started with a caipirinha and, while the taste and strength were about right, the limes (about six slices were used) were obviously not fresh and had brown edges all the way around. Yuck. In my opinion limes should be cut just prior to use, not the day before. I ordered antipasti which was nicely prepared and plated. The meats were a little on the bland side, but still not bad. My colleagues each had a steak dish and seemed pleased. While this specific experience was not my best here I will return...if for no other reason than it;s a five minute walk from the house.
(3)
Kathryn M.

Everything about this place is wonderful! Every time I go there it reminds me just why I love it so much. Not only are the cocktails delicious (I always get the Mojitos), but the empanadas are very good as well. My husband and I always get steak when we go here since we are big red meat fans and we are never disappointed. The atmosphere is very fun and relaxed and the servers are always polite and attentive. Overall, a great dining experience that I highly recommend!
(5)
Luan N.

Stepping into the new year, I like to let go of any grudges, but I don't think I can let this one slide until I get this off my chest. This restaurant's slogan should be: "Not your typical steakhouse, where chicken tastes better than beef!" My cousins were visiting just for the weekend, and I thought I could take a chance on taking them somewhere new, due to the great reviews and that fact that you can't really mess up the flavors of Argentinian steak. But this assumption was total folklore. First of all, the entrees finally came out after more than an hour wait, and there was a 15 min gap between when the chicken entrees and lomo relleno was served. I ordered a medium lomo relleno stuffed with chimichurri. I cut into the end of the big hunk of steak. Okay no red present, but I guess the edges cook faster. I kept cutting and cutting away, and in the dead center, there was about a dime size bit of red in the huge 3 inch slab of meat. I felt like a kid digging through cereal for the prize but in my case no red and no chimmichurri sauce to be found! To add insult to injury of my grief struck stomach, I pointed it out to my waiter. He gave me this incomprehensible explanation that the way the lomo relleno was cooked, you can't really get medium because the meat needs to cook longer. I think that's b.s. but, if that's the case I wish I was told that earlier when ordering! Maybe I would have ordered the lomo relleno "raw" and it would have come out "medium" I just felt like I ate a big piece of pot roast. I seriously would have rather shelled out a few extra bucks and ate at a quality steakhouse like Gibson's or David Burke. The chicken dishes, the empanada, and cocktails were enjoyed. But there is a valuable lesson to be learned. When you have visitors, stick to places you know! And when eating at Folklore, as Jennifer L states, "not to use confusing words like medium rare"
(2)
Melissa S.

Had a great time here. Servers and bartenders were very polite and attentive, the employees there want you to have a pleasant experience and often thats hard to find at resturants. Food was cooked well and you definitely wont leave hungry. Would certainly recommend this resturant to others. However, be aware, they dont take reservations so expect to wait, the good news is they have a full bar.
(4)
Meaghan C.

Went to Folklore for the fifth time on Saturday night with the family and let me say, the best price and deal on Filet. My husband and I have been splitting the El Filet because it is two huge 8oz portions of filet, yes two in one order! We also order a small app, last Saturday was the shrimp in a tomato garlic sauce and that is also amazing. I have to say that my favorite thing at Folklore is the empanadas, definitely try the corn and the ham and cheese, try them all they are all good. Service is wonderful and it is very comfortable seating, not to loud. We go back for so many casual dinners with the family....
(5)
Carol K.

Folklore certainly lives up to the expectation that Argentines love their beef. Beef is king on this menu and given the amount of carnivores that were there on Saturday night- this place is a hit. We got there around 8:15 and the place was packed. We pulled open the ornate door and and stepped into the front bar area. The host said the wait was easily an hour and a half but we might be able to grab appetizers at the bar. Hmm . . . .that didn't seem possible as there were four people deep to even get to the bar. So we flagged down a bartender, snagged a hand muddled mojito and a glass of Argentine wine and stood back and checked the place out. The space is lovely. Large windows facing the street that are made more intimate by the metal mullions, cream colored tin ceiling, small down lights and exposed brick walls. Intimate seating areas. Nice. At that point, a couple got up from the bar to be seated and we were able to grab their seats. Crystal (bartender extraordinaire) came over with the specialty drink menu and asked if we were going to eat at the bar. While not a favorite of mine- this seemed like the best option not to have to wait as we had to be somewhere at 10- so eat at the bar we did. To start with, we had a couple of empanadas (the beef with cheese and the ham and cheese) both were good. And a perfect precursor of what was to come. You can't believe how big (and cheap) the entrees are. I ordered the beef short rib and I thought for $13 how big could this be, right? Wrong. This turned out to be 3 large pieces of steak, grilled perfectly and served with a simple salad of lettuce, tomatoes and onions (I ended up taking two of the steaks home -it was enough for two people to split). And my friend got the Parillida (only $19) which was was surely enough for three people! This grilled meat and sausage combo included short ribs, flap meat, crispy sweetbreads, chorizo and blood sausage. Unbelievable! Service was great! I felt bad having Crystal serve us dinner at the bar as she was going crazy trying to keep up with the requests for the specialty drinks. With all the muddling she was doing- she won't have to go to the gym, that's for sure. The food runner got our food to us quickly and was also quick to clear the area when we were done. If you drive, parking can be a hassle in this area on the weekends so valet parking is available for $10. Or you can try to find street parking just south of Division. It's known that the Argentine culture is about socializing and eating. Step into Folklore and you will immediately know that this new addition to the line up of restaurants on this stretch of Division is all about that culture. And who doesn't need a little more culture in their life?
(4)
David T.

Great food, great atmosphere, and great service. If the ear splitting techno music during dinner is turned down or better yet switched to something with a little more seductive then I will give it the 5th star.
(4)
Kristy B.

My boyfriend took me here for my birthday this past January. Aesthetically Folklore is gorgeous. The mixed drinks were fantastic too. We had a wonderful appetizer but when it came to our main dish I thought it was just so so. He left feeling the same way. It's worth trying but it wouldn't become one of my favorites.
(3)
Tim S.

Finally a Steak Place down the street! Saturday night the place was filled up, thank goodness I had the foresight to make a reservation. Arrived on time and were told there was a few minute wait so we grabbed a Beer, "the most popular in Argentina", actually was nice and light. We liked the decor, after all these years of walking by the space when empty they did a phenomenal job on the place... As the lady said, "This feels like a Winter Restaurant, so cozy". For Apps we decided on the Empenadas, one Beef and the other Corn seasoned quite nicely. Ordered a bottle of wine looked forward to the main course. Salad, quite basic but more than enough to get you ready... for Meat. I had heard rumors about Tango Sur that you get MORE than enough on the plate... well it has carried over here. You could almost load up on some of the great looking apps and then split an entree. We way over-stood our welcome as we were enjoying a leisurely meal and they are the hot place in the hood. A polite request for us to head into the bar was heeded, can't blame em. Sorry guys.
(5)
Maegan M.

Delicious! My friends and I went to Folklore for the eve of NYE! It was great fun, the food was amazing and I thought pretty reasonably priced. We all drank and had full entrees and it came to $55 a person. The service was amazing. The server was delicious and very honest/knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
(4)
Karina A.

I adore this restaurant. I get soooooo nostalgic for Buenos Aires. Argentinian Desgin is very turn-of-the-century with a modern reconstruction. This restaurant is so authentic in this respect, and its what makes it so romantic. Wines are excellent. I am vegetarian but my carnivorous friends really enjoy the steak. The eggplant dish is AMAZING. roasted basil, drenched in a creamy red sauce... The empanadas melt in your mouth... I took home a tub of chimichuri sauce for home for $4. Score! Will return again & again...
(5)
Drew M.

Could possibly be named one of my favorite restaurants in the city. AMAZING food, great service and intriguing atmosphere. I was almost positive I was going to have to be rolled out the door after all the food I ate. I can't recommend anything in particular because it is all very tasty. I would, however, recommend sharing a few different plates unless you want to be uncomfortably full.
(5)
Jason G.

Great space, great service, great food.Why will I probably never go back? No byo.I dont mind paying a $10 corkage if they had one, but I would rather drive up to the other location and byo.If it was byo I would probably be there 3 times a month, as would everyone I've talked to. Sorry I just want to drink my own wine with a good steak and I'm not a fan of wine from Argentina.
(4)
Miss O.

this place is pretty good. perhaps my view is skewed because of my love for dry aged steaks. i like the atmosphere and staff. i definitely liked it enough to try again. i found that it gets pretty packed on the weekends so a reservation is a good idea before going.
(3)
Steve M.

The dining experience at Folklore is nothing short of mythically amazing! A group of 5 of us gathered here on Thursday night to get down w/ some steaks, and I'm super happy we did. The scene is dark and candlelit, with exposed brick, cool windows and a really great bar area. In my opinion, the atmosphere at Folklore beats that of Tango Sur by a landslide. We all split some ham and cheese, chicken and beef empanadas to get the meal started, and just like Tango Sur that chimmichurri is DAMN GOOD! I ordered the skirt steak, which had "flaps" on it, which were kind of weird, but I tried them. (Flaps are like extra skin around the skirt, and were kind of hard and chewy.) No big deal though, I just cut them off. Getting some extra chimmichurri for the steak wasn't such a bad idea either. (I'm sure my breath was pretty rough afterwards, but whatever. It was still so worth it!) My $5 Malbec was great too. It tasted like a far more expensive wine, but at an awesome price. I wish I had written down the "make" of that grape juice. Service was prompt and attentive. After reading some other reviews, some folks seem to have had issues with the waitstaff. I'm happy to report that wasn't an issue for us. Folklore, I'll definitely be back! One of my faves in Wickaaa Paaaaak.
(5)
Mari M.

Love it! Had dinner here.. food was DELICIOUS, bottles and bottles of wine, and with gotan project like music playing in the background= spot on. This place is sexy and i will be back again!
(4)
Julie V.

Really unique atmosphere and decor. Initially it appeared we had no waiter and were waiting a bit, but as soon as we asked - a server took us and was very apologetic. He also brought us a free dessert at the end of the meal. Therefore everyone was happy. The waiter was also just incredibly friendly and accommodating throughout the meal. This was very appreciated. I wish other establishments could learn this very simple art - be nice and compensate if there's a mistake. That's it! Simple formula, and works wonders. Overall, food was great, drinks were fantastic!! I would come back many times. Folklore wins.
(4)
Jorge C.

Went to Folklore a few weeks ago with some friends. Made a reservation which was good since it was pretty full. I had always wanted to try Folklore ever since I moved to the area. I finally made it a few weeks ago, after reading some of the Yelp reviews about this being in the Tango Sur family. I lived in Buenos Aires for a while, so when I go to an Argentine steakhouse, it better have solid classics: Bife chorizo and provoletta. they do and both were pretty good. We also tried some empanadas (which had pretty thick dough, not so good) And the best was the filet, it was perfectly cooked and super tender. They also had a good selection of beer ( I had a Quilmes for old times) and cocktails. I would definitely go back, although it is a bit pricey and abnormally dark
(4)
Seema A.

I celebrated my birthday dinner here outdoors with friends and family. Fantastic food, byob with a small fee for corkage. Loved the people who worked there (very warm and welcoming). I would def. go here again! Fantastic steak.
(5)
Pochi V.

Me and my husband were visiting the city so we choose this restaurant because the reviews were fine, but when we got there we were waiting to be served for more than 15mins, the drinks are awesome, matambre good but 4 thin slices for $10 dissapointed us. The argentinean sausage was excellent. But for the time of the entrees we waited 55mins for a "Milanesa ala Napolitana" and "capeletis".. I dont RECOMMEND "milanesa" in this place since is not milanesa thin cut, it was thick like a rib eye and it seem like they threw a pot of salsa on top of the milanesa, it tasted horrible. I got the "capeletis" and the sauce was sour and it tasted bad. We complain so we got a Flan for free, we were two and they just gave us ONE FLAN FOR FREE it was not even Argentinean flan it tasted like Mexican flan. For this horrible time we wasted 100$ dollars, and is not even tradicional Argentinean platters. Im Argentinean and I know about my culture and food. Dont recommend this place at all. Good luck
(1)
betsy b.

After having visited Argentina I need my steak fix now and then. Folklore didn't disappoint, although the meal I had would have been about half the cost in Argentina.....oh how I miss those amazing meals!!! We started with the chorizo and chimmichurri which was OUTSTANDING!!! I had the el filet which was a little under cooked for my pregnant a*s but I knew I'd never finish it so I just ate what I could and took the rest home. Others at the table had the shrimp and filet......the shrimps were ginormous!!! The spinach mashed taters were good but if I went back I'd substitute the veszuvio taters....mmmm they were way better!!! My only gripe would be the appetizer list is seriously lacking. Other than the chorizo and empanandas it wasn't that interesting. The bread basket was tasty but this isn't a diner, put out some real butter on a plate. The dessert tray they bring out is pretty nice. We went with the alfajore which wasn't as good as the ones we had in Argentina but it still brought me back. Sadly I didn't have any cocktails but they looked good. I look forward to coming back here post baby and having some good Argentinean wine!
(4)
Miss Bonnie B.

Okay... I have to confess, I actually wanted to go to Tango Sur. However, when I called a week prior, they said that their large tables were all booked and we weren't likely to get seated till after 10pm. THAT was not going to work. However, they told me to check out their sister restaurant... and I was able to score reservations! WEEEEEeeeee........... Except they weren't real reservations because a few days later... someone calls to say the person that answered was new and didn't know that they wouldn't be able to accommodate me. They bumped us to later and initially I agreed. However, at the end of the day... it was too much hassle to deal with their second fiddle location (especially after reading the reviews, it wasn't the Tango Sur vibe I was hoping for)... and so we didn't go at all.
(3)
Howard H.

Always have an excellent experience here. On my last visit I chose the veal t-bone and I am not particularly drawn to veal, but what the hell, right? The chimichurri was a perfect compliment to this cut and I would certainly order it again. The staff were friendly and extremely helpful and knowledgeable with menu questions and wine suggestions. Go. Enjoy. But make a reservation or arrive early because it can fill up quick, and rightly so.
(4)
cassie r.

I'm going to have to postpone my review of the excellent offerings at Folklore to wax poetic about the service we received here last Thursday night. Oscar E. was our server, and he was nothing short of phenomenal. It was obvious he knew the menu, and he provided useful insight and helpful tips on what we should order. He was attentive, without being smothering, and my mom and I couldn't stop talking about how NICE he was throughout our entire meal. He definitely made our experience there even better than it might have been. Now, Mahsa T. said it best below - walking into Folklore is definitely like slipping into a sexy little black dress. It has an appealingly cozy atmosphere, and the food is to die for. We ordered the beef and spinach empanadas to start, which were delicious, and shared the Vacio Rellano as our main course. This entree comes with a (pretty sad) side salad, and the menu says this is perfect for two, but I would say you could probably double that number and still have leftovers. The beef was nicely cooked and seasoned well, filled with a mix of olive oil, parsley and garlic. A side of perfectly cooked sweet potatoes completed the meal. Paired with the La Posta (a reco from Oscar - I highly recommend), there was little to complain about after this culinary experience. We ended the evening with the mil hojas - don't ask me what was in it, but it was amazing. Enough said.
(4)
Mrs. Z.

Forklore was an overall great evening with friends. Great place for a birthday celebration! It was one big meat Fest! Every dish was amazing and made your mouth water.
(4)
Liz W.

Oh boy did we eat a lot. Like an uncomfortable amount of food. And, wow, it was delicious. We had empanadas, the baked cheese (so amazing), lomo para dos, and some dessert that reminded me of tiramisu. The lomo para dos, however, could easily be para quatro. Would definitely recommend and return. And the pisco sours are a work of art. A delicious work of art.
(4)
Kris R.

sat outdoors on a somewhat chilly summer night. the service was great - he was very nice and attentive. ordered the appetizer special - the berenjena, which was awesome. it's like an eggplant lasagna all up in your mouth. creamy tomato sauce. and it was HUGE. i could have just eaten that and been done with it. the filet came out right after. it was...okay. nothing spectacular, which was sort of disappointing. maybe the ribeye would have been the better choice. it came out a little more cooked than what was expected. the green mashed potatoes were excellent, though. the wine was wonderful, too. i will definitely be back to try a different cut of steak. it's a good place to bring the lady - very romantic. maybe you could say it's a good precursor for sexy time. i dont know.
(4)
Elizabeth H.

I came here with my family on a Friday night and it was wonderful. Ambiance: 5 stars! The lighting is so interesting and there are white taper candles on each table which gives a great glow to the place. Also, they don't have TVs, which is so refreshing. Drinks: Delicious! I am usually a beer drinker but the cocktail list was too tempting. My mom and dad had the mojito, which was very good and very fresh. My sister had the caperania, which was really sweet but really good. I ordered the El Negra, which was a delicious berry cocktail. Yum! The bartenders were really skilled. Service: Great! The host was really good. We had a long wait but he kept us updated on when the table would be ready. Our server was also really friendly and knowledgeable. Food: We started with the empenadas. You have to order them! They were amazing. The steaks were perfectly cooked and had great flavor. However, everyone's was really fatty which made the meat hard to eat. Two disappointments: There was a huge group behind us who were so loud, like screaming and yelling instead of talking. We couldn't hold a conversation at our table because of it. Obviously this isn't the restaurants fault but I am putting it in here because sadly the Wicker Park crowd can be overwhelming. Also, the bathroom is super cute but was really messy. There were dirty paper towels everywhere. It was kind of gross. But overall, a great place. You should go!
(5)
Megan B.

One of the best steaks I've ever eaten. And the prices are reasonable!
(5)
Blake W.

I couldn't tell the difference from Tango Sur (other than the fact this place has its liquor licence). Due to the afore mentioned liquor licence we ended up with a much larger bill than our normal trip to Tango Sur. I had a very tasty stuffed chicken leg/breast over pesto -- also very tasty the next day cold :) As with Tango Sur, portions are huge, plan to go home with lunch for the next day. The service here although better than Tango is still pretty weak. The space itself is much improved over Tango Sur, but the parking is rather difficult on the weekend...
(3)
Brittany B.

Went to sit in their outdoor space during Do Division fest to people watch and avoid eating corn dogs and funnel cakes for dinner. Such a great decision! Despite the crowds, we were seated right away outside in a perfect location to mock hipsters' facial hair choices and listen to the music. The drinks were divine: my hubby had a Mojito (his favorite) and I had the La Negra, a blueberry compote concoction in a martini glass that was heavenly. Not too sweet, not too boozy. The service was wonderful, particularly considering how busy and crazy it was with Do Division happening. The food was amazingly delish. My only regret was that we couldn't take leftovers home because we had walked to the fest and had no plans on returning home immediately. My hubby was in meat and potatoes heaven! The Filet Mignon was just perfect and ginormous, with an amazing side of the creamiest mashed potatoes in the world and a perfect brown gravy/sauce. The steaks were as high quality as I've ever had and the food was very simple and "earthy." It felt like the kind of meal you'd have on a ranch in argentina, sitting at a long wooden table with a bunch of Gauchos after a long hard day on the range. Just so good. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Rosa C.

I came here Friday night with the family and we had a really great time! The ambiance of the place was perfect for a breezy, summer night in Chicago. The empanadas were delicious. Some of the dinners were hit and miss. The Costeleta dinner was very flavorful and tender, but the Entrana dinner was a bit tough. Great drink selection, La Negra cocktails were very tasty and refreshing. I didn't give this place five stars because of the American music in the background, I would have preferred something a little more Latin. The service was very good, waiters and host were all very accommodating. Lastly, we saw Cedric Yarbough dining here - nice treat for me because I am a huge Reno 911 fan.
(4)
Ian V.

I went here for a birthday dinner. It's not quite L friendly but if you don't mind a walk it's alright. Parking is along the street. We were walk-ins on a Sunday night and were able to get a table outside. The inside was tiny with a few tables and a bar, and it seemed the outside had more seating from what I saw. Maybe I missed some more tables in the bar or something. But the set up was dim and appropriate for dates both indoor and out. The service was good. They were timely with water refills and were attentive without being too obtrusive. They have a good wine list that had many selections that pairs well with meat, and a pretty good beer and cocktail list with Argentinian classics. I stuck with malbec since it is an Argentinian steak place. We started with empanadas. The chicken was nicely seasoned but the cheese and spinach one was unremarkable. The crust was alright but I expected it to be more flaky. Neither of the empanadas were overly greasy. I got the bife de chorizo which was perfectly rare. It was a little more fatty that i thought. The potatoes were nicely seasoned but a little burned. The chimichurri didn't seem flavorful at all though. We forwent desserts since we were fully before we even finished out entrees. If you're looking for a good argentianian place that has a full bar and not too long a wait, this is the place to go to. Though there are better BYOB argentinian places in the city but have a bit a wait to get in.
(4)
Trina J.

Pretty nice place but the food is barely seasoned. I ate a sirloin which was served with a salad and we shared a side of spinach mashed potatoes. Nice evening lighting for a night out with someone special. Parking is challenging but worth a try.
(3)
Nadine H.

Being a fan of Tango Sur in Lakeview, I decided to try out Folklore for the first time this week. Everything was great! I opted to try to the Free Range filet, the menu distinguishes between free range and range grown. I actually had my mind set on another item but started to feel a little guilty when I saw the "free range" option. However, I was not disappointed! My steak was cooked perfectly and was a huge portion for the price. Oh! And it came with a little unexpected starter salad. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Aurore L.

I was really craving blood. And had been for WEEKS. Before you think that I am so enthralled in the recent hemoglobin-sucker craze that I fancy myself as one of them sun and garlic haters, I have to add an important word here. SAUSAGE. I had been craving blood sausage for quite a while. Black pudding wouldn't do. What I really wanted was some French 'boudin' baked in the oven with melting apples but the closest thing I could think of was some Argentinean fare. So when Ruxbin told us that we would have to wait about 95 minutes for a table to celebrate the double birthday of our men, I didn't hesitate long before suggesting Folklore. Meat and guys?!?!?!? Ummm, hello!!! We walked our way up there on Division, settled for a nice table inside (cooler than outside and the decor makes it really worthwhile), perused the menu and settled on cocktails and a nice Spanish tortilla to share. And then the main event happened. Parillada para dos, mi amor, mucho carne y my beloved blood sausage flanked by these delicious little sweetbread suckers (this type, figuratively. Nothing to fear from them). I enjoyed my protein fiesta, slightly regretting to not have more bread, potatoes or any other kind of starch (preferably) or vegetables (if it has to be) to complete my delight. But it was still ok. I ate like there was no tomorrow, drank the same and celebrated the man of my life at the same time. Not bad for a Friday night. Be prepared to take home left-overs, these people don't mess around. And book your plane ticket to Buenos Aires because it's always best to get what you love from the source. Just a suggestion.
(4)
Eman S.

The elusive 5-star rating. I am a huge fan of Tango Sur and live just down the street from Folklore, but hadn't been there until last night...a perfect night for their really nice outdoor seating. Reservation for 2 started and ended with great service mixed with amazing drink and food. The $4 Argentinian beer was crazy to see on the menu and was delicious. For dinner we ordered the Saint Julia Malbec...$20...for the bottle. Since I don't have a refined palette yet, it tasted really good to me and it was organic (whatever that means). We started off with the empanadas. Amazing. I am going to start coming here before going out for the night for $4 beer and $2 per empanada. I had the chicken and the wife had the spinach-filled. Both were delicious. For dinner she had a pasta dish that I didn't feel like tasting because the sauce looked a little too heavy for me, but she really liked it. I got the "For 1" dinner, which was a ton of meat with potatoes. Sausage...2 of them and both delicious. Meat on a bone...a large piece and delicious. Something fried...put in the middle of the pan and ridiculously good. How about another steak...cooked medium rare to perfection. You'd think we were full by this point, but first time a new restaurant means trying the dessert. The waiter brought out the tray of 8 options and we choose and a multi-layered white with cream cake. So good.
(5)
matt w.

While I do dig this places sister restaurants BYOB feature, Folklore is right up the street from me.. so I usually end up here first. I dig the Argentine beer they serve and normally stick with that when I eat here. I have had a few entrees and all are top notch. Last time my lady and I did one of the large dinners 'for two'.. it was really amazing. Like a large uplifted tray with a huge steak roast and sweet potatoes. Service is always really good. Outdoor seating is nice.
(4)
Allison R.

Went for the first time last night and will definitely be back!!!!!! Our food was beyond delicious and prepared perfectly! I had the El Filet which melts in your mouth; my husband had the lamb chops which also were delicious; my two friends both got the ribeye and raved about it! Wines from Spain, Argentina, and Chile~ Cant go wrong with the Mojitos! Enjoyed the atmosphere although it was a little loud. Service was impeccable. Hosts were great. Waiter Emanuel(??) was on the ball....he had great recommendations and even helped my husband get his phone out of our valeted car!~ Everyone was uber friendly....We will def. be back....if you didnt find the same results, give this place a second chance!
(5)
Evangeline L.

Yip yip yeah! Finally, the long awaited Folklore has arrived! No more driving to Southport for me...instead just a quick jaunt down the street to meat heaven. We decided to stop in on the Sunday night after they opened and were nervous about the possible wait. However, we were seated upon arrival! The interior is familiar; candlelit tables that are close together but not too close, pushed tin ceilings, servers with seductive accents, sexy music playing in the background, and people making out all over the place. Ok scratch that last one but you know what I mean. The menu is almost identical to Tango Sur: empanadas, sweetbreads, antipasto for starters and meat for one and giant meat platters for two (or three). The main difference I noticed is that they have a section dedicated to grass fed beef-nice job Folklore! Also, they serve cocktails here and yummy ones at that. The wine list houses some excellent wines from Argentina, Chile, and Spain. I noticed one of my favorite Spanish reds for $38 a bottle which is almost half the amount other places charge for it. Score!! For an entree we split the (insert name I don't remember) duo which had perfectly cooked flap meat, sweetbreads, blood sausage, and short ribs which came with the ever so perfect chimichurri sauce. Oh holy meat! Everything was delicious but I think I prefer my old standby of the lomo relleno. The entrees still come with that random salad consisting of lettuce, onion, tomato and vinegar and the desserts still come out on a platter at the end of your meal. The reason why I'm knocking a star is because of the rushed service. After 5 minutes of enjoying our app's our salads came out and then 2 minutes after that our entree. Umm. I hadn't even gotten through the app yet. Their excuse was that medium rare doesn't take long to cook. Well, I think we all know that it wasn't the steaks fault! They kindly took it back and we enjoyed our meal at the pace we wanted. I left full, tipsy, and happy. Folklore, you serenaded me and I love you for that.
(4)
Deanna G.

Soooo freaking cute inside! This menu is very similar to Tango Sur - which for me, is a good thing. I love Tango Sur. I would probably give it a 5 if it was also a BYOB. Much bigger than tango sur, so the wait isn't as long, and just really cute ambiance. The service was really good. Food was amazing and the wine was decently priced. It's just a little too expensive to go unless special occasion. But if i was rich, or if it was a BYOB I would go much more often. :)
(4)
Beth H.

I had never heard of this place, but my fiance's family had a birthday party here. It was amazing. We had been told by another friend that the filet was better than the strip steak. There were several filet's ordered, one fish and one chicken dish and everything was amazing! I could not get over the size of the dishes. Each filet was actually 2 ginormous filets. Nobody could finish their dish, and everybody brought home leftovers. The empanadas that we had as an appetizer were so-so, and the deserts were dry and not that good (we had a cookie and some swirly dish, that tasted like a dry chocolate and regular pound cake) but for the price-the steak and portions were amazing. Definitely worth checking out-would be nice for a date. The same meal at another steak house would cost you $60, as opposed to the $24 for one filet (which was actually 2!). Also, the ambiance was nice. Dark, with almost industrial looking lighting-created a nice, sophisticated and intimate experience.
(4)
Elizabeth E.

Went here late night for drinks and had the best mojito I've ever had. My frieds were not crazy about their drinks so they made them new ones without a problem. Manager was there, introducing himself, making sure service was great. Bartender was amazing, knew exactly what he was doing. I lived in NYC and this place reminded me of a place you'd find in trendy SoHo. Can't wait to try the food next time!
(4)
C P.

This place comes highly recommened by friends so I thought I would give it a try. Very good mojitos, but not so great food. My boyfriend and I both ordered a salad and a filet. The salad was boring, and the steak was aweful. I ordered mine medium and it came out bloody. My bf ordered his steak medium-well and it came out bloody. We sent them both back and then the steaks came out burnt! The end result of this dinner was us leaving without eating. I'll stick to Tango Sur.
(1)
Mike V.

Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at Folklore; the only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five is that the service was a bit lacking. Granted, we were eating during an off time, but our server kept going MIA, leaving us sitting for 15-20 minutes at a time. With that said, the food was great, and I found it to be a good value. My girlfriend and I had a pretty casual meal- started off with a few empanadas and shared the filet parrillada- which was excellent. The filet parrillada (I believe they call it the Lomo) is basically a huge, untrimmed chunk of filet, surrounded with portabella mushrooms, all covered with an excellent chimichurri sauce- served on a mini grill at your table (seems kind of cheesy, but once you lay your eyes on the meat, it's all good). Anyways, cooked to perfection, and I thought this was a solid deal at $36, considering it was probably 1.5 lbs of meat... When it was all said and done, we were out the door for $57 (no drinks), so my cheap ass was pretty happy.
(4)
Thiago B.

I'm not sure you could really compare this place to a typical Chicago steakhouse. It's not, and based on the fact that it's much like Tango Sur, you're going to get the Argentinian version of a quality steak, not the American way, so it's going to be a less marbled, but more gamey beef cut. Gamey beef, yes, and the grilling technique to bring out the flavor of the beef, as opposed to the aging and fat we are so used to, make Argentinian steak a much more different experience. You've got to come here not with the typical steakhouse mentality, but a little more open-minded to how other countries view the same 'food', and how it is prepared. It's like expecting to taste fried fish at a sushi place. Fish, same type of meat Cuisine, different. I liked Folklore, and since I'm a Division St. snob, I like the fact that I can go not so far and not downtown to enjoy a cut of beef that I didn't grill myself. We needed a place like this to round off our selections. Now somebody needs to open up a Vietnamese noodle shop and an Indian restaurant.
(4)
Natasha M.

Folklore is a pretty fancy place that gives 28oz of meat of $36 dollar. If you share that 28oz fillet mignon, it's not expensive at all. It's enough for two to three people. It's a meat lover's place. The ambiance was dark, elegant and hip. The music was Gotan project, a electronic Tango fusion group. When my boyfriend and I explored the Buckton/Wicker Park neighborhood, we found this place being highly recommended on Chicago Tribune. We decided to give it a try on a Friday night. When we arrive at 9:00pm, it was completely packed and the wait is about an hour and ten minutes. We walked around the neighborhood and went to Adobo Grill to have a Guacamole appetizer while waiting. It was worth the wait. The meat was so tender and juicy. The sauce I thought was a little but heavy, but it doesn't cover the taste of the red and tender fillet mignon. It was seriously 28oz, no joking. We had to pack it at the end. The dessert - flan- was not as good as it looks when it's on other people' desk. We paid about $27 per person including tax, tips, drinks, dessert, and the big entree. Overall, this hot new place is worth going to, and will definitely become one of Chicago's top restaurants very soon.
(4)
Angie V.

GREAT food - especially an otherworldly/amazing flan. Inattentive service - kitchen forgot one of my friend's meals, and there was a sneaky $10 share fee, which seems unacceptable when the entrees are only slightly more expensive. Beautiful atmosphere- dining room was divided into two, which made it seem more intimate, and the bathroom was clean, eerily spacious, and with a tastefully beachy (?) look/feel.
(3)
Emily D.

LOVED it. Great atmosphere. Good food. Good service.
(5)
Nicole S.

This restaurant is only 1 block from my apartment and I've wanted to check it out for some time. Based on good yelp reviews my husband and I decided to take my mother here to eat on her 62nd birthday on a Thursday night. It was important to have an intimate and somewhat quiet atmosphere since it had been about a month since I last saw my mom. 15min after our arrival a large group of maybe 20+ arrived. The noise level was very irritating and I was extremely frustrated that I had to yell across the table to be able to have a conversation. This definitely spoiled the evening for us. It is also very dark in the restaurant. I understand this is for ambiance, but the only light..the flicker of one candle on the table made it difficult for my mom to read the menu. We ordered the berenjena eggplant entree for 3 of us to share as an appetizer....a lot of people rave about this dish, however it came to the table cold and unappetizing. The other entrees we ordered were ok...large portions, but I can't say that is was the greatest food. We were all starving, but after the cold eggplant dish...we barely touched our entrees and took them to go.....ate the leftovers for the next 2 days. Waiters/bus boys trying to take our plates of food several times even before we were finished was annoying. Prices were decent...spent about $130 for 4 beers, 1 extra salad and 4 entrees. When I called to make the reservation the person who answered the phone was very cold and not welcoming at all....no hello or thank you for calling. I should have taken this as a sign to go elsewhere.
(3)
AJ R.

Went Folklore last weekend for dinner--Fri night, called at the last min to make a reservation, and had no problems getting one for 6:30...not bad. Have been to Tango Sur numerous times (love it) and so wanted to try Folklore. Menu is basically the same as Tango Sur, and we like the food there, so we liked the food here--it would be nice if they had changed the menu up though...the atmosphere is "nicer" than Tango Sur--a little more upscale, not as dark, and less crowded. Service was good, and overall we really enjoyed the evening. Our favorites are the eggplant appetizer, empanadas, and the el Filet. At the same time I'd choose Tango Sur over Folklore--same menu, fun atmosphere, and closer to where we live.
(4)
Sam G.

Food was good but I do think Tango Sur is much better and unlike Folklore Tango Sur is BYOB. The service was also little lacking but not terrible. That being said the cocktails where really great and they easily accommodated a party of 15 which was a big plus. I would go back again for apps and cocktails for sure.
(3)
Sep E.

A lovely atmosphere with tasty food. I had the steak stuffed with spinach and cheese and it was delicious. The portion was huge, though, and the dog got lucky with some good leftovers that night. My boyfriend had the two filets with mashed potatoes and that was very good too. I would probably order the filet next time, but maybe to split. Empanadas were just okay. The spinach one was pretty tasteless and needed salt. Since the spinach was well-seasoned in the steak, it was a little odd it wasn't in the empanada. We also had the flan for dessert, and it was the best flan I have ever had. I would definitely go back!
(4)
WM P.

Nice little bar, fabulous service - in fact the staff in general was exceptional - the food? Well the two stars are for the staff and scene. The two appetizers we tried were weak. A plate of melted cheese with a couple sliced red peppers and a chorizo dish accompanied by their holy trinity of: ice burg lettuce, sliced tomato, and a red onion. This combo appeared with many sides, while also doubling as the house salad. It was oddly everywhere. Very reminiscent of a diner type salad. Note an average diner salad. I felt the cheese dish could have been salvaged with additional peppers or maybe caramelized onions. Some type of acid or sweet was needed to cut the melted fat. The chorizo was more akin to a bad bratwurst. Would have liked some spice. Two of our three steaks were passable. That in and of it's self is the problem. Not really looking for passable when I go to dinner. We probably all have a few friends who consistently knock a steak out of the park, on their Weber. No? Meat, salt & pepper, butter or olive oil - hey maybe both - add some fire and wallah. Now the third steak was smothered in some type of herb encrusted weed. I would guess at it as dried Thyme? Edible? I thought so, but I could muscle down anything. My friend. Well she skipped it and split my passable rib-eye. Desserts. I know what you are thinking. Why good man did you order dessert? Well I really can't help myself. I always order dessert, whether it seems wise or not. Alas all the desserts had some type of coconut. Unfortunately I despise coconut. A normal person may have been deterred at this point but I pushed on. It was some type of roll filled with chocolate and coconut. In all fairness this dessert would have had to be exceptional for me to like it, after the preceding dishes.... Thought it was dry. Did I mention the coffee and Baily's was spot on? Just to many steak options to give it another shot.
(2)
Deron N.

Love the space...the candlelit tables and the simple, rustic furniture creates a truly intimate ambiance. Problem is the food, particularly the steaks. I've been here three times, ordered steak twice. Both times it was super chewy and tough...barely edible. I will admit I ordered seafood once and LOVED it. Will go back as long I'm not in the mood for steak, because I like the vibe that much.
(2)
Vanessa M.

Folk this is good food!
(4)
Magda P.

Very good alternative to crowded Tango Sur. Good service, big portions of tasty food, great drinks.
(5)
Todd M.

I had a pretty enjoyable evening here. The food was quite good and I was not disappointed. I had pretty high expectations having spent a few weeks in Argentina a month or so before and the food was pretty authentic. The empanadas for an app are a must. The lomo para dos (essentially beef tenderloin for two) was cooked perfectly and although slightly different from what I had eaten in Argentina was delicious. I also really enjoyed the selection of Argentine and Chilean wines. I recommend this place if you like steak and are looking for something a little different than the traditional steakhouse.
(4)
Mallory G.

I would definitely go back to Folklore for appetizers & cocktails, but wasn't impressed with the main event. Their cocktail list is good, the caipirinhas are spot on and my dad was pleased that our waiter brought him 3 blue-cheese stuffed olives with his martini - yum. Empanadas were great and so was the roasted red pepper & cheese dip. However, I felt like my entree was quantity over quality - the plate probably weighed five pounds - impressive, until you taste it. I had some kind of steak that was stuffed with spinach & cheese, which sounded great in theory but lacked flavor. I ordered it medium rare, but somehow one side of the steak managed to be completely raw, while the other side was well done. I should have sent it back, but did not and ended up boxing it only to throw it out at home - what a waste. If you are looking for a good Spanish/Mexican option at a similar price point, head to Las Palmas on North Avenue instead!
(2)
Jordan V.

Great idea - a menu that could make anyone drool and an environment that makes you feel cool. However, the food was poorly executed. Overly breaded and fried milanesa, tough and tasteless eggplant, dry alfajor and a green salad that tasted a bit over-ripe. Handsome and friendly staff makes you want to like the place though.
(1)
Dan K.

First time there and had a really good meal. We ended up going during a street festival so can't really comment on how the atmosphere is 'normally' - but getting a chance to eat outside at the patio was terrific. You would think that the wait would be terrible b/ the bar was so packed but we got a table quickly and the Mojito's are perfect for a summer day ! We ended up with the chef's special for an appetizer - spinach, mushrooms, and a bisque sauce that was AMAZING. We used our bread to clean that plate...that good ! Beside a mix up with the order on who got the correctly cooked filet the place was great. I would go back again !!
(4)
Brian L.

This place is stunning. I loved the variants of ambiance here. It's definitely a first date place. I went here on a Friday night and it was very dark, intimate, cozy, and the only thing lighting up the restaurant were the candles. They have a full bar and the drinks are breath taking - I definitely want to go back to try the mojitos since I only got beer. My partner and I started with the pollo empanadas, and it was ok, a bit salty. Next, for our entree we got the grill with different meats (para dos) and it was delicious! The grill had steak, sausages, popcorn chicken thingys, and other cuts of meat! Yummy! The entree came with a cheap salad too, I wish they served you better salads since it is a pricey restaurant, I was not expecting iceberg lettuce with a slice of onion and tomato - come on! They also gave us complimentary potatoes wedges. We got full after a couple bites and we had leftovers to take home. The only thing I did not like about this place was the service. The staff was very slow, unorganized, and forgetful at times. Be sure to make a reservation, we had to wait for about 1.5 hours to be seated. In all, this place was an exception.
(3)
Dan A.

Very nice atmosphere, delicious appetizers, amazing drinks, but this place needs to make some improvements if it wants a good reputation like Tango Sur. Folklore has some of the best empenadas i've ever had and I would probably go back for them in the future. As a main course, I ordered the Churrasco, which is a traditional charcoal grilled sirloin steak. The meat was very well seasoned, but I had to send it back, as I asked for medium and actually got medium well. When they brought me my second steak, it was very rare and I couldn't even cut it with a steak knife. In short, the fact that an Argentinian steakhouse can't prepare a steak medium in two tries really gave me a bad first impression. I happened to throw the rare steak on my grill the next day and cooked it a perfect medium in around 12 minutes @ 400 degrees; it came out how it should have at the restaurant.
(2)
David H.

The food was really not good. The drinks were quite weak. We had appetizers and decided that the food was not good enough to warrant ordering an entree when there are numerous other restaurants up and down the street. Really not a good choice.
(2)
David A.

So I went here back in December, I heard some stories and was glad I was going to partake in this place. I will say I was disappointed! We had reservations and unfortunately, I guess that means you still have to sit at the bar for 30 minutes to get a table. I will say the service at the bar was good. Getting to our table, we were seated in an aisle where a lot of the servers were using this a way through the restaurant. As for the food, I had the Bone in Rib Eye and when I order a steak as Medium rare, I expect the meat next to the bone to be warm and red, that was not the case, the steak came out as well done throughout. I thought it was only me experiencing this, but a friend who was there the same night had the same issue. If you are going to pride your restaurant as an Argentine grill with great meat, please learn to cook a steak correctly. Besides being a bit overpriced, the food was mediocre at best. I would say stick to the original and go to Tango Sur. This place will need to figure out their snafu and hopefully in 6 months, its still around.
(2)
Susan P.

Could not have had a better experience than at Folklore on a Friday night. Walked right in around 7:15pm and were seated immediately. The waiter was perfect - around enough if we needed anything, but not hovering and bothering us all night. Drinks were good. A virgin passion fruit mojito had me not at all missing the real thing. Beer selection had some unique choices. The food was really great - if you're feeling like steak, this is your place. As has been said, the el filet was fantastic - two filets, done perfectly, and a huge side of spinach mashed potatoes. The sauce with the filet was the clincher - a red wine reduction that really complemented the steak well. My date had the skirt steak which wasn't quite as good or to my taste as the filet. Dessert selections are brought out on a tray, lots of interesting options to choose from. We went with a coconut dulce de leche cake concoction that was very tasty. We are definitely going back here. Lots of times!
(5)
Jin K.

folklore should be a folklore. This place is really not that good. I took a couple of my sales reps out here for a accomplishment dinner based on one of the sales rep's recommendations. Probably not a good idea to listen to other's recommendations unless you do a little reasearch first. Anyhow, as I sit down the waiter comes up and he's ready to take our drink orders and I order a Modelo. the waiter jots it down and then asks the next person for their drink order and that person turns to me to ask me did you get the modelo especial? I respond back, "No, the Negra.' after the watier takes our order. We wait about 10 mins for our drinks to get to the table to satisfy our long over due wait for a quenching drink and the waiter brings me the wrong beer. Delirium Tremens sounds nothing like Modelo!?! - I wasn't too upset because I also can enjoy a Delirium but when I pointed it out to the waiter, he implicated that I clearly stated that I wanted a Delirium Tremens. Instead of snapping on him, I simply told him that I would drink this beer but the next one I order will be a NEGRA MODELO and asked if this would be ok and if it was understood. without catching my annoyed sarcasm, he left without apologizing. the wait here for your food is pretty long... we ordered a few apps, stay away from the prosciutto and melon, it's exactly prosciutto and melon, no more no less, nothing cool about a piece of thinly sliced prosciutto covering a slice of melon. Seriously nothing. So after eating some of our appetizers we decided to go outside and have a smoke, the staff thought we were dining and ditching and I really don't blame them for thinking that due to their 'expectional service'. - the waiter chased us outside and we told him we were having a smoke, I think I might have asked him if he would like to join us for a quick cancer stick. After he declined to join us, he came back to inform us that our food was coming to the table, we said that we would be right in and told him to see if they could wait 2 minutes...he came right back and stated that they had to bring it out right now. After Not enjoying my cigarette, we walked back inside. We sat down to eat. I ordered the tilapia which was based in a citrus sauce over a bed of mash potatoes. The sauce was definately overbearing even for my cigarette caused deadened taste buds, to the point that I felt like I was eating an orange with a hint of fish. At this point, I wished that I had dined (kinda at least) and ditched. Well the other two obviously ordering something a little better than mine were enjoying their steaks but both claimed it to be so-so. We found ourselves comparing it to Las Tablas Colombian Steakhouse, which we dined at the previous month for our Quota Dinner and all agreed that place was much better than Folklore. I'm not sure if folklores are ever bad but I do know that they are mysterious. I'm going to leave this place in my mysteriously vanished memories section within my brain.
(1)
ric g.

i wish i could give this place 5 stars.....but i was seated at 9:40 pm on a recent saturday with a 9 pm reservation. i did not see the waiter for another ten minutes. also, they screwed up on the empanada order...we ordered chicken, they brought beef. now for the good stuff...the drinks are good, the beef was incredible and plentiful i have to been to argentina twice and this place measures up. the empanadas were good, and the provoleta was delicious. aestheticly it was an attractive place.
(3)
Kari J.

this place is so cozy and good! there isn't anything really like it in wicker park so this is a great addition to the hood! If you like meat (good meat) (lots of meat) this is the place. Plus the waiters are not bad to look at either! great for first dates, very intimate. One of my favorites!
(4)
Kelly H.

It took FOREVER for this place to open, so I was very happy to try it right away. I thought there might be some hang-ups given we were a group of six and came on their first weekend, but I was pleasantly surprised. The space is beautiful and I thought the food was a very good. It is also unlike anything else in the neighborhood (yeah! something other than a douche-filled sports bar!). My husband and a friend shared the dinner for two which seemed to be the best deal--lots of tasty meat on a hot platter for only $31. We had a few good bottles of $30ish Chilean red, great conversation, plenty of well seasoned food (though the salad that comes with dinner is really lame) and an adequate server. The empanadas, while a wee bit pricey at $2 each, were probably the best I'd ever had. They brought a free caramel flan since it was the opening weekend and we scraped the plate! Everyone in our party went home with leftovers and all said they would be back.
(4)
Jessica S.

Very long wait AFTER having been seated AND ordered. Many of the items that came were not what we ordered, and the ones that we received were mixed. Empanadas were awesome, sweet potatoes were two plain (not even a touch of butter or sugar or anything) steamed sweet potatoes on a plate, and procuitto and melon was a slice of procuitto just laid over a slice of melon. We weren't asked how we wanted our steak cooked, and one came medium and one came rare. Hopefully these are growing pains for a new restaurant and they will get themselves sorted out.
(2)
Anonymous. M.

What a nice place. The portions are generous and food is very good. Service was excellent. I have had better steak but with all of the other items we ordered I can say this is not just a meat and potatoes joint. They have some real interesting items. The host was very accommodating and they placed us at a favorable table. Will definitely be going back.
(4)
Chuck M.

It was Friday night and very busy. We did not have reservations but we were prepared to wait at the bar and have some drinks while we caught up with some friends from out of town. They told us the wait was going to be an hour, so we put our name in. A little over an hour later, the host taps my shoulder and says a name (it was very loud) and I asked him if he said "Stephanie", he shakes his head and motions for me to follow him. They seat our party of 4 at a table where there shouldn't be a table where two people are on one side, and then one person at each end (no one could be one side, otherwise we were blocking the aisle). It was hard to talk to each other, so I asked if we could be moved, and the host goes off on me. He accuses me of taking someone else's spot (he said he didn't say Stephanie) and tells me how he doesn't like liars. He must have called me a liar 3-4 times. I almost walked out, but since we were starving at this point and they did move us, we stayed. It was very unprofessional and we felt uncomfortable afterward. In hindsight we should have left. Since then I refuse to go back there ever again (which is a shame because the food was pretty good).
(1)
Pickle P.

My argentine girlfriend and I have been here a few times, and have always left in great moods. The service staff is wonderful, friendly, and accomodating, never missing a beat. The food is excellent - though a bit expensive, so I can't dine here often. I wish they had a website available online so I could refer to some of the food I've had - obviously a few different cuts of steaks, the argentina-famous potatoes, and some sort of a grilled cheese appetizer (a lot tastier than it sounds!) The flan for dessert is TO DIE FOR!!! They have a nice wine list - but it is a little small, and they do not offer many wines by the glass. Unfortunately my friend and I have different tastes in wines - I red and she white - so a bottle is usually out of the question (though it normally turns out that we should have EACH gotten a bottle ;)). Obviously they have magnificent malbecs. Grab your spot in this restaurant early on in the eve - they start to fill up come 7:30pm, and this is place you'll want to hang out for awhile.
(4)
Little T.

Ok, so first off...I liked this place, but my husband ordered the "wrong thing" and was underwhelmed to say the least. We went on a Friday night and it was crowded, about a 45 minute to hour long wait. Lucky for us, we're happy to wait and they were happy to call my cell when our table was ready. So, we went to Shambles (weird) and had a few beers while we waited. It was the two of us and my two brother-in-laws...three boys, ready for a good meat dinner....one who has spent time in Argentina and raves about the cuisine and the wine. Mr. Argentina was put in charge of ordering the wine and it was INCREDIBLE. Score. Another bonus - we were able to sit for a long time in the restaurant without feeling rushed to order or to eat and get out. That was nice. Mr. Bad Order chose the tortilla. Really? No steak huh? Came here for the steak and you're going to get the tortilla. Really? Ok. So, while Mr. Bad Order waited for his tortilla, my brother-in-law and I decided to split a steak. I mean, if I had ordered this alone, I wouldn't have even finished half. It's huge. Huge. Delicious, well seasoned, but huge. Oh, the tortilla order? Gross. He ate the remaining pieces of my half of the steak and got very sad about his order. Nothing some good Argentinean wine can't fix though...
(3)
Lindsay L.

I was so bummed, my friend told me about this place; she had gone for drinks the night before and said it was cute. I took my bf there over the weekend and we were seated right away, by the window (which was nice), and were very excited about trying a new place. A couple with a small child was seated next to us. At this point we had been seated about 10 minutes without anyone even acknowledging our presence. Next they get situated and I hear them say they were just going to get drinks and appetizers; basically came in out of the rain from Division fest, as did we, but we were starving and planning to order steaks and lamb... I was so appalled when the waiter came right up to them and took their order and still no one had even looked at us. My bf looked at me and said the rain has stopped and I said yes lets just get vendor food at least they want our money and business...We both were annoyed because we were geared up for Argentinean food. I have NEVER left a restaurant before in my life and worked many years in the restaurant/hospitality industry and never would have thought such poor service or lack of give a damn existed. Will never go back, but they seriously missed out on a large bill to get a family appetizers and drinks who had been seated 5 minutes compared to our 20!
(1)
Mary Beth K.

I'd venture to say Folklore has one of the best restaurant atmospheres I've experienced in the city. [This might have been influenced by the great night I had with fabulous company, so this could have swayed my opinion a smidge...;) ] You know what I love? I love when restaurants understand that lighting can make or break the ambiance. White candle sticks on every table apparently provide the perfect lighting. Who knew? They did. You can actually see the menu and your food but still catch the soft shadows on your companion's face. Cozy, inviting, intimate, sexy... The tables are all dark rich wood. The floor is a beautiful light wood in contrast. The decor is rustic, but contemporary. Full, thoughtful and finished, but not cluttered. The bar is even beautiful and the martinis well made. The ONLY reason it doesn't get 5 stars is the menu. Don't get me wrong, it is a steak feast and that's awesome... but for $18-35 per entree, give me a little more than some romaine lettuce as a salad... Entrees come with no side dishes either. You've got to fork over another $3 for mashed potatoes. They were extremely tasty, but how about just throwing those in for my $32... [p.s. we all know potatoes cost pennies]. Service was great and our wait wasn't bad since we went at 8:30 on a Thurs night. Street parking is decently easy in that area.
(4)
Timothy H.

As good as it gets. Simply amazing. Can't wait to return. Had a consultant in town this week from Atlanta, and he offered to take me and my fiance to a steak dinner to celebrate our engagement. He said he preferred to stay away from downtown, and he wanted to try someplace that would be new for me too ... so that knocked Kinzie Chophouse, Tango Sur, and Las Tablas (Irving Park location) off the list. Let me also preface the rest of the review by saying in the past 10 years, I've had maybe 4 steaks. First, the atmosphere. Way less crowded then big sibling, Tango Sur. Each table is candle-lit, which I found to be the perfect touch. The lights were very dim, but with candles everywhere, a mystical glow filled the dining room. SInce the tables are more spread out, it's way less noisy as well. Wine: $5 Malbec - Best $5 wine I've had a restaurant outside of Italy. Appetizer: Bereneja de Escabahe (sp?) - basically sliced eggplant marinated in olive oil and vinegar. The strips were tender and packed with flavor, and strips of red pepper complimented the eggplant nicely. Meat: I ordered the Filet after reading the reviews. I ordered it Medium to play it safe, I didn't want something too rare but I know that the more you cook a steak the more flavor it loses. The waiter clarified if I wanted it Medium Rare and I repeated myself that I wanted it Medium. It came out Medium Rare, but I couldn't have been happier. It was absolutely the best, most tender, flavorful steak I've had in my entire life. It came with a side of spinach mashed potatoes, which were creamy and buttery. SO GOOD! Desert: The lady and I split a slice of the 1000 layer cake, and our friend ordered something like peaches and cream pie. I tried both, and they were equally light, sweet and the perfect ending to an excellent dinner. The waitstaff was patient, friendly, and they must've filled my fiance's water glass 10 times, no joke. I know this place has received some mixed reviews on Yelp, and I don't know why. Tango Sur is one of the best restaurants in the city, and Folklore instantly tops it even without being BYO.
(5)
Christy Q.

I've always loved Tango Sur and now I can say the same about Folklore. I used to live in Lakeview right around the corner from Tango Sur and I loved the place! So how lucky am I that now living in Wicker Park Tango Sur's sister restaurant, Folklore, is just down the street?! My friend had a steak craving on Saturday and nothing else would do. I suggested we try Folklore. So we did! And on DAMN we were not dissapointed! One thing about Tango Sur that drives me insane is the wait for a table. It's ridiculous. And I hate that unless you have a huge group you can't make a reservation. My money should be just as valuable if it's a 2 top as if it's an 8 top. We got to Folklore early on a Saturday night- 6:30 or so and we were seated right away. Absolutely no wait. I love the ambience. Its similar to Tango Sur but in my opinion more updated. It's cozy and warm and dark and I really enjoyed it. We decided to share el filet- and with that we each got a yummy side salad. El Filet was just perfect!!! Cooked just as I wanted! We also got beef empanadas- I think they have the BEST empanadas in the city- if only they were bigger! And that green pesto/garlic sauce for the empanadas- oh dang! I LOVE that you get a bread basket as well- and it's WARM dinner rolls. WARM! That's what I'm talking about. And I gotta give a shout out to the spinach mashed potatoes!!! My friend also got an order of the sweet bread- which is apparently glands of a pig or cow or some animal. He (and our waiter) loved them. They weren't my thing though. All in all the meal was really fantastic! I can't wait for our next steak craving!!!
(5)
Brad B.

Went to Folklore Saturday night around 7PM for dinner with a group of five. Four of which are foodie-types who, while waiting for cocktails to arrive discussed which famous chef each of us would kidnap and keep at home, if we could (okay maybe not but, you get the point....I may or may not have said something about licking Anthony Bourdain tho). Appetizers were good. My steak (ribeye) was maybe the best steak that I've had in a resto, in a looong time (coulda been less done but, lets not pick nits, this place was damn busy). Everyone else seemed to be enjoying their food as well. Five deserts were ordered and partially consumed.... The bill arrived and was annoyingly paid by one of the others without consultation amongst the group, thanks and scowls were passed in his general direction...and then it happened: some frumpy woman came over to our table and sorta asked us to leave. Really? Are you serious? We'd only been there two hours. Its not like we weren't eating several hundred dollars worth of food and drink either. The nerve of some people. We left so they could turn the damn table. Annoying, that. I sorta doubt I'll be back.
(2)
Abigail L.

Amazing food! Decor is unique, modern, yet wine cellar ish, with interesting Argentinian artifacts throughout. The menu was great and cheap for what we got! We ordered a bottle of Malbec, Syrah, Bonarda blend, perhaps the best red wine I've ever had. For my dish, I had beef fillet, shrimp and mashed sweet potatoes. Salad came with dinners and our waiter treated us with caramel rice pudding, on the house. Not bad considering my meal was less than $30 not including wine of course. Great atmosphere, not too crowded. However, it was a Monday evening. I've heard it can be more crowded at times. I will definitely be coming back here! What a great find!
(5)
Kim J.

A meat-a-riffic joint in my neighborhood? Hooray! The fiance and I decided to head up to Folklore for an early-ish dinner on Tuesday night. We arrived right around 6:30 and were seated right away. The space is very nice - I enjoyed all the candlelight. We started off with the empanadas. I liked the spinach one, but the ham and cheese one was mostly crust, which I was kinda unimpressed with. We then split a beef dish for two - a big ol' hunk of meat seasoned with olive oil, garlic, and parsley, served with sweet potatoes. We also had a site of garlic potatoes. The meat was very well done - seasoned well, cooked perfectly to medium (as was suggested by the chef for this particular cut). The potatoes were good, but you can tell they were kind of an afterthought (as I think is typical at a lot of meat joints). Nice wine list full of South American wines, cocktails, and a short (but good!) beer list. Service was very friendly and quick, but the kitchen seemed kind of slow given that the restaurant was only half-full. Other than that - great place that I'll definitely be returning to (although probably not ever on a weekend based on the other reviews here - I'm not a big fan of long waits!).
(4)
Mihir P.

What a wonderful restaurant! And a steal to boot. I got a fantastic steak for only $18. My friends spinack ravioli was delicious as well. They didn't skimp on the lime in the mojitos. I am not sure how to describe the atmosphere except that there is a relaxing wind chime as you walk in. It is slightly dark and romantic and if I remember there is exposed brick which adds to the charm.
(5)
Kathleen K.

I was excited about Folklore as I had heard good things from several different people. Upon arrival our party was told our table wasn't quite ready so we meandered over to the bar. The drinks were fab and the only saving grace of the night! The bartender helped us pick out a few signature drinks. I would recommend the mojito, blueberry martini and any of the wines. While at the bar my party saw a Folklore employee chewing his hair while waiting for food to come up. Gross. If it had been up to me I would have left at this point however our party was quite large and finding anywhere else to take a party of 10 at 7pm on Friday would be near impossible. Once seated, we found out the hair chewer was our waiter. Service was terrible. Plain and simple. We placed an order for empanada's (yum) and didn't see our waiter for 40 minutes. We finally got our apps and then didn't see our waiter for another 30min. By the time I saw the waiter I had to ask if we could order. The response I received was, "Hold on." I was livid. We had already waited an hour. By some miracle, we finally ordered and got our food. The food was okay. A friend and I shared the Valcio Relleno. It was good however it was a huge portion of meat. The menu states that it is ideal for two people but it is probably more appropriate for 4. The rest of my party ordered steaks as well. The one critique everyone had was that the meat was cooked well, but it wasn't seasoned - at all. I would be willing to give this place another chance pending I didn't have the same waiter. However, it won't be my first choice when selecting a restaurant in the near future.
(2)
Jody B.

Here is a great place for steak. Big portions, flavorful, and tender. This is my favorite place for steak in Chicago. I have been to all the others, but I keep coming back to Folklore.
(5)
Nick S.

Service: Very good service. The wait staff is very friendly and very attentive Price: Extremely reasonable, great value. Ambiance: Rustic with dark interiors Food: I ordered the Para Uno, which is a huge serving sampler of all types of Argentinian bbq'd meats. It included two different cuts of sirloin steak, Chorizo and blood sausages, beef sweetbreads and short ribs. It also comes with potatoes. I found the one sirloin a little tough, not because it was over cooked, but due to the piece of meat itself. The strip steak was tender though and cooked perfectly medium-rare. The sweetbreads were very, very good and were probably the best I've had. For dessert I took a taste of the Flan and it was pretty good. Overall I would come back because the prices are very reasonable and the experience was pleasant.
(4)
Molly A.

I have been to Tango Sur and never got around to rating it, but probably would've given it 4 stars for bad service and just so-so atmosphere even though the food is great... but I went to Folklore last night and the menu is essentially the same, its much cozier than Tango Sur, it's in my neighborhood, and our service was fantastic. Definitely 5 star worthy. Knowing how much food they give you, my sister and I split the filet with spinach mashed potatoes and they literally bring you two filets for the price of one. Ridiculous portions and ridiculously delicious. Cant wait to have the rest for dinner tonight!
(5)
Alf O.

Fantastic empanadas. Unbelievable steak (some from Argentina, you have to ask which). The menu covers lots of territory and also price points. Trendy atmosphere, and not too crowded, but a little bit to loud. Great bread, but drop the salad.
(4)
Alia K.

I came here the other week with my parents who were in town and we ate outside. Everyone ordered steak of some sort and they were all grilled to perfection! I got the steak with Gorgonzola on top. For my taste, there was way too much Gorgonzola and the asparagus that came with it was a bit overcooked thus the deduction of a star. The wine they recommended was fabulous though! It was a 2011 Decero which held up wonderfully with the steak. I would definitely come back.
(4)
Leslie P.

I'm a huge fan of Tango Sur, but Folklore didn't quite cut it for me. We had a reservation for 7 ppl on a weeknight, and still couldn't a table outside. Bummer, but understandable. Unfortunately it was warm and stuffy inside, and the lighting was so poor we couldn't read our menus. I liked the decor from what I could see. The food was ok, and we ordered basic stuff. I enjoyed my chicken empanada as a starter, but others were not thrilled with theirs. We also shared the eggplant appetizer which is grilled eggplant with olive oil and garlic. Simple enough - but it tasted like they simply poured Wishbone Italian dressing over the eggplant. Not very good. In my book, it is never okay to send out the food before the drinks are served. We were nearly finished with our starters before our waiter brought us our wine. I ordered the el Filet special with spinach mashed potatoes. I enjoyed it, but the portions were way too big (although expected). I am sure I'll be back, but I'm not in a rush, and I'd rather make the trek up to Tango Sur.
(2)
Matt J.

Beef, beef, beef and pretty good drinks. We had a couple of pisco sours to start. I was disappointed as the bartender did everything she could to get out of making them with egg white (which GF let her get away with). I switched it up to caparinha and was much happier. Not the best I've ever had, but in the upper 80th percentile. We had one each of the empanandas, some molten cheese pool and sweetbreads. The sweetbreads were not the best I've ever had, but I've never gotten so many as I did here. I was happy with quantity over quality. We split the stuffed flank steak (can't remember the name of the dish, but I believe it was something in spanish) and it was fantastic. Perfectly done and melt in your mouth tender. GF remarked that it should have been called the steak for four instead of steak for two and, as always, she was bang on. I'm not sure how we managed, but we split a tiramisu which they also nailed. The whole shebang was reasonably priced for what you get and the service was excellent.
(4)
Phil F.

Steak: its really hard to make steak totally gross. Empies: SHOULD BE BETTER. Being privileged enough to have been to latin america a few times.......i feel their empies just need improvement. Kinda blandish and stuff. Good dough though, which tends to be elusive when were talking about baked ones (fried=easy and a total people pleaser method of cooking; i.e.people fry twinkies) The chimichurri is good though. Overall, I worry that this place will just be forgotten by many and revisited by people who just love steak.
(3)
Nicolas H.

Came back for dinner and the meal itself was very good. The hour wait however, was not so good, especially when we had a "reservation". As others have noted, the reservations aren't really reservations, so I'll let that minor setback slide (for now). The food was very good. We had the empanadas to start (one of beef and one ham&cheese but the beef was my favorite) as well as a small chirizo (which was good but not as good as I thought it would be) and the prosciutto with melon (which was great). The steak however was delicious and cooked to perfection. There are several good choices but I stuck with the ribeye and was not disapointed. I'd be back for sure, just with different expectations about what the word "reservations" actually means...
(4)
Alyssa L.

The most deliciously fresh margaritas I have ever had! And THE BEST EMPANADAS! The atmosphere is really great, as are the staff.
(5)
Lauren R.

this place is awesome! my husband & i ate here for his birthday. i made reservations for a wednesday night - totally not necessary as it was not crowded at all. we were seated immediately. love the dark atmosphere & ambience. very romantic! we started with a mojito. so fresh & delicious! we chose an appetizer of heart of palm w/prosciutto & an aioli spread. very light & delicious. we chose a meat dish for two. it was amazing. dessert - folkore cake. light & also, amazing. this place was fantastic & we will definitely be back. plan to go when the weather is better & can sit outside!
(5)
Lala S.

Ok first off, the correct adjective is ARGENTINE, as in the title of the restaurant's name. I was once corrected in high school by a native after I referred to the people of Argentina as "Argentinean." I have been waiting for this place to open forever and here it is, finally! I had been a patron of Barra Ã± for years and openly welcomed this addition to the 'hood (because I can stumble home in my drunken stupor). The drinks are superb and so is the food. All portions are rather generous, food and drinks alike. The decor is cozy and warm. I will be come a fixture at this place. Definitely order the empanadas, beef and spinach are my favorite. The sweetbreads are on point--the side order is plentiful. I haven't had the vacio here, but I'm sure it's just as good as Ã±'s or Tango Sur's. The procuitto with the hearts of palm and salsa golf is yummy, too. This family of restaurants also boasts some of the best, flavorful chimichurris in the city. Make sure to wash it down with some mojito-action. I tried the mango picado for the first time...a bit on the heavy side so I'd stick with the other drinks. At any rate, the staff is charming with plenty of familiar faces if you've ever frequented Ã± or Tango Sur. This place is going to be my new neighborhood hangout. I might look like an empanada by the end of the year.
(5)
Brandon B.

Finally getting out of work mode and seeing what happened to the neighborhood since last winter....this is probably the best thing! Very well detailed interior with more natural/candle lighting behind bottles at the bar as well as some interesting lamp fixtures; pretty big space overall. Tried a basic chicken and vegetables dish which was a good balance between home-cooked food but with enough touches to make it worth the moderate price range. Very nice bartender/?owner who seemed to have his hands full trying to keep the chaos together. I hope to frequent the place to try the rest of the menu! Preparation for Argentinian tours. Oh and the most amazing thick sugary raspberry beverage; fun to sit at the bar and watch them mix egg yolks with lime.
(5)
Andrea D.

Love the ambiance in this place, but do not order a steak here. Portions are large and sauces are good but the meat itself was very disappointing. I had the filet - actually it was TWO very large filets and I ended up taking half of it home. Bonus lunch the next day! Meat was cooked to order but chewy and just not of very high quality. Hubby also had another type of steak and was disappointed in the quality as well. 3 stars for the sauce and the ambiance and the service (awesome). Will be back to try something other than steak.
(3)
Matt C.

Great Argentinian food here. I've been twice so far and have been very happy both times with my meal. Huge portions so that you won't leave without leftovers unless you're REALLY hungry. Patio is nice is the summer, but indoor is just as nice. It's a great place to take a date because of the intimate atmosphere. Prices are decent for the portions as well. I will definitely be going back soon.
(5)
Henry S.

Buenos Aires is one of my favorite cities in the world. I'm glad that there is an Argentinian community in Chicago for those moments when one needs a quick fix. And when the craving for huge juicy slabs of meat beckons. The times that i've been at Folklore, it always seem to be someone's birthday celebration. This last time, there were at least 5 parties celebrating birthdays. They knew how to handle big crowds, and the prices were very reasonable for big parties. So to start, we had empanadas (with a choice of 5 different fillings). Their version of Pisco Sour, though not authentic, felt like a cool breeze for a warm evening. With entrees, majority of the choices were meat, which were served with a house salad, and various preparations of potato. My last visit, i shared the parillada with another friend. It's the traditional Argentinian preparation where they brought the meats out in a tabletop grill. Here, the grill barely warms the meat, which was great as this dish normally caused a lot of splatters. The parillada for 2 had short ribs, flap meat, chorizo, blood sausage, and sweet bread. Argentinian meats are grilled with lots of salt and herbs, so be ready for the assault. I particularly like the sweetbreads. It is rare to have sweetbread without any kind of breading. So this was a welcome change. For dessert, the options are pretty usual. The flan is very good. Why 3 stars? Folklore is definitely great for big parties celebrating special occassions. The prices are reasonable and you definitely get your money's worth. No one walks out of here without a doggie bag.
(3)
Lois A.

We got a weird vibe from our waiter right away, an evil vibe, as if he hated us. Having a mojito helped that situation in a major way and I was there to eat a lot of meat so I didn't dwell. The El Filet is awesome! So much wonderful meat and cooked exactly how I wanted it cooked. Since there are two filets that come with it I had to take half of it home. The spinach mashed potatoes were really good too. At first I wasn't thrilled about the salad but it has been so long since I've just had plain lettuce and tomato with oil and salt that I ended up eating every bite. My boyfriend got the chicken with the vesuvio potatoes and that was really incredible. I didn't eat much of the bread... it reminded me of the dinner rolls we always had on Thanksgiving that don't taste much like anything but Folklore is all about meat and they do meat right. I'd take off a star for our odd waiter but all the other servers were so nice and I so enjoyed my meal that there is really no point. Everyone can be evil.
(4)
Brad C.

Amusing: the one place in Wicker Park that's packed--like hour waits, yo--on a Tuesday night is a beef palace with no vegetables on the menu. (Sorry, folks: once you fry a vegetable, and that's all Folklore does wit 'em, it goes all Stephen Daedalus, k?) Not so much: a quasi-Argentine sort of tortilla espanola that was clearly nuked--like, thrice. Throw it back. The room is a straight-up fucking tin; good luck trying to hear your dining companero. The empanadas still taste like Hot Pockets. Ah, but the sweetbreads! Aye, mamacita, these haunt me: the first bite is like pure charcoal, and then it melts into a gelatinous dissolve that's slightly sweet and slightly mineral-y. Come back, mojilla! (Wait for it....AYE DIOS MIO!) If anything, the mixed grill here was better than the ones I've had at TS, particularly the blood sausage, which was crumbly and beautifully complex. I was dutifully impressed.
(3)
Natasha P.

As a Filipina woman (with a morsel of Spanish in her) who embraces and recognizes a lot of Mexico in herself, Folklore truly made me feel Argentinean as well. To call this establishment a restaurant/bar is an understatement, with its candlelit rooms and echoing Latin music, and intelligible waiters that make you swoon, you can't help but lose track of time. With previous yet failed plans to dine at Tango Sur, I dined at Folklore last night with my sister to celebrate my recent job offer, she lives in the neighborhood and walked past it during its soft opening - yes, all it took was a stroll past this joint and she immediately made reservations for last night's grand opening. I should preface this by saying that my sister and I are absolute foodies, we're not those women who order salads as entrees and steer clear of white bread, blasphemy! It may have been raining up a storm last night but upon opening the rustic, wooden door, we emerged into an atmosphere adorned with sexy lighting, beautiful people, cocktails up to par with the mixologists at Violet Hour and phenomenal steak. When you come to an Argentinean steakhouse by all means do you NOT order the chicken, though I'm sure it may be fantastic, you have to eat the steak here! We were greeted and immediately seated and our waiter, Alfredo, kindly and patiently guided us through the menu. For drinks, I ordered the Mango Picado, a tequila filled glass of amazing with a splash of Cointreau and fresh limes - there's a bit of spice to this drink and a little bite with those fresh limes but if you love tequila I highly recommend this. My sister ordered a lime mojito and let me just say that this lime mojito was so great it should be the mojito from which all mojitos are made. While catching up with one another's lives over fabulous cocktails and warm bread, Alfredo brought out our house salads (again not as entrees, but they came with what we ordered), lettuce with tomato, onion and a light coat of vinaigrette - it was a clean, well put together salad, we ate just a little though in preparation for our meat, meat, meat. I ordered the Bife Vesuvio, a grilled prime steak dish stuffed with spinach and cheese with Argentine style potatoes. Upon first bite I deduced that this is the dish I would like to eat if I knew I were about to die. It was brought out to me as the chef suggested, medium - and although I like my meat medium well, I'm glad I went with the chef's recommendation since it was a stuffed meat dish, perfection on a platter. Since the dish was also rather large I stood no chance at finishing it and brought the leftovers home with me. Awash in the memory of my fantastic dining experience last night, I can't remember the name of my sister's dish - it was a cut of prime rib, grilled over mashed potatoes. I can guarantee you that I'm not doing it justice, but she loved it. The service here is top notch, albeit a grand opening - everything flowed smoothly and if you dine here ask for Alfredo, he's soft-spoken, attentive and absolutely and effortlessly sexy. Folklore Argentine Grill will now be recommended to all of my friends and I cannot wait to return because guess what, we had no room for dessert...and dessert is always a must on my list.
(5)
Sian C.

Ok. Meat was tough. The empanadas were good.
(2)
Valerie H.

excellent meat, love the ambience, music a little too loud for my taste, great waiters!!!! love it for dinner and also sunday for lunch. Good starters are the provoleta, which is melted provolone cheese and you eat it with g=bread, the "mollejas" which are are my favorites. The tortilla de papa is pretty good too. As a main course I usually order the "vacio" which is a great piece of meat and comes w/ fries and salad. The portions are a good size, even good for sharing is you are not a huge eater. You can also get the parillada if you are a group and want to take different kinds of meat, it is like a mini gill with all kinds of cuts. Great flan con dulce de leche for dessert.
(4)
Barbara P.

Great food & vibe, definitely going back
(5)
Kwoky L.

Folklore is definitely a beef lover's paradise. You can't really go wrong with thick cuts of beef nicely seared and done just the way you like it. I had the Vacio, which is a THICK flap meat and it is freaking amazing. I love the seared crust on the outside and the meat is so juicy and tender. I wanted it medium and it came out perfectly - light pink in the middle and no blood. My coworker ordered the 12oz sirloin and it was equally huge as well but thinner. The pollo Milanesa also looked good. My caipirinha was served in a tall glass with LOTS of lime and cachaca. Service was good as well. My only complaint was the lighting and the salad. Like its sister restaurant, I felt that it was way too dim that I had difficulty seeing my food. The salad was uninteresting to say the least. It comes with the meal but it was still rather wet when it was served and we were expected to dress the greens ourselves with the oil and vinegar provided. Well, I don't they they realized that it's hard to properly dress them without a big salad bowl and a whisk to make the vinaigrette. The salad is simply a disaster. Overall though, given the price paid, the amount and quality of food is enough to make everyone leave the place happy and full. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Carlos V.

I am a fan. Great steak, awesome drinks and you don't have to wait 45 minutes to sit down.
(4)
smitha s.

Loved the service and the decor! Good place for dinner with friends .. however I'm not a huge meat eater (especially the chunky kind with no other side dish) and unfortunately there's not many choices for people like moi! I did enjoy the Beef Ravioli w/ Argentinian Tomato sauce and my friends did like the heavy meat dishes that they had .. ;)
(3)
Sarah J.

This is a wonderful restaurant. From the drinks to dessert, I've been fully satisfied by the time I leave Folklore each time. My favorite dish, though I forget the name, is basically meat and portabella mushrooms in a wonderful sauce. It's listed as a "serves two" item on the menu but I really think it could easily serve three or four, especially if you ordered appetizers or a side, too. This place is always busy so be prepared to wait. But since it's located on Division, there's plenty to do while you wait!
(5)
Julia Y.

Amazing coconut mojito, the best beef empanadas & great service!
(5)
Libby R.

Mmm-Mmm-Mmm... YUMMY! From the moment I called for a reso, I loved this place! Even though they don't take reservations, the guy who answered the phone said, "Give me your name and your number, and call me before you show up - I'll watch out for you..." Like he had my back or something... Family-style. Loved that! And when we got there (at 8:30 on a Saturday night) he did in fact have my name and number written down and our party of 4 was seated within 30 seconds. Nice. We brought two pretty expensive bottles of wine with us, and the ONLY reason I am giving this place 4 stars instead of 5, is that I thought their corking fee was ridiculous... It was $20 PER BOTTLE, which is higher than most nice restaurants in Chicago. (I used to work at Tavern on Rush, and their corking fee is $15)... They wouldn't budge on this, and I didn't love that. Tip would have been even bigger if they had cut down the corking fee. AAAAnyway..... Everything we ordered was absolutely outstanding. We sampled all four empanadas for appetizers... Most of my dining partners had steak of some sort, and even though I don't usually eat much red meat, I have to say that it was fantastic.... I ordered chicken rellenos, which were wrapped and stuffed with blue cheese, spinach, and finished with a mushroom cream sauce (if I remember correctly). Absolutely wonderful. And whatever the desserts were - me and a friend polished off two, while the guys sat back and watched us - were melt-in-your-mouth good! And I loved eating in their dimly-lit, well-decorated space. Just made it a nice place to eat with a small group of close friends on a Saturday night. Will I go back? Most definitely. And you should, too.
(4)
Stan W.

I used to go to Tango Sur quite a bit years ago, and I don't remember them giving me so much food. The portions are kinda silly - if you order the filet, you get 2 of them. They were like two 8 oz filets - eat one and bring the other home. Prices are great too. $25 for a bone-in ribeye with mashed potatoes? The thing was like 16 oz! It was crowded on a Friday night, but still workable. We showed up without a reservation during prime time (7PM) and put our name in - the guy said it would be 30 minutes and it was - we were seated 31 min. later. Service was great - we even had 2 waiters because they got confused. (we didn't have the heart to stop the 2nd guy from explaining what all the different steaks were about) I would say that I had hoped for a little more flavor with my beef - I felt it was a little bland - but it definitely was cooked just as I had ordered it. Definitely a fun place - but you better like beef. The plain, bland salad they give you with your meal is a good example of their dedication to beef - they just don't get it. Don't show up thinking you'll get the chicken or a vegetarian entree - the menu is pretty much beef, beef, beef (oh yeah, I think there was some lamb).
(4)
Ryan M.

Service - B+. Some might find it to be overly attentive, but we enjoy that. Bartender and Drinks - A++/Beyond Outstanding. Unbelievable and artfully made Pisco Sour, Mojito, Mojito Sour, and a great beer list. Ambiance - A. Food - B+. Portion sizes are very big. The steaks were juicy and well cooked. One complaint is that we found everything to be over-seasoned. The shrimp in the surf and turf dish were especially salty. We'll be back for the drinks and the ambiance.
(4)
Tony B.

I had attempted to check out Folklore a few times without a reservation since they opened with no luck; so decided on having dinner there last weekend to celebrate a birthday. The look and feel of Folklore is comfortable and inviting yet modern; the kind of place you would want to sit back and relax after a busy day. The food is what I was worried about since I had heard so many mixed reviews on this place, including from close friends who had been here. I also had spent several weeks in Argentina getting to experience the culture and food in Mendoza and Buenos Aires so Folklore was getting critiqued from a travel experience as well. I must say that Folklore passed the test with flying colors; the food was amazing. I disclaimed to everyone at dinner that evening if you want to enjoy your food get meat since that is what Argentina is known for and they all took my advice. We had the empanadas for appetizers which were good and then the provoletta which was quite tasty. Then for dinner I had pork which was some of the best I have ever eaten. My sister had beef vesuvio which was enough food for three people and was to die for! My mother had the filet which I don't eat when too rare but I tried the sauce and was sopping it up with bread from my mom's plate since it was so good. My mom even commented that she liked her filet better than Gibson's! My other sister had the lasagna appetizer as her meal, the waiter (who was so nice and accommodating) forewarned her that it's an appetizer which she was fine with. I have to say the sauce that the lasagna came in, a tomato cream, was perfect and that is coming from an Italian family so we know sauce! I will be returning for sure and I think it is a must for anyone who is a meat eater, or likes great cocktails, (yum to the caipiroska here so many places make it bad) or even just to relax and have an app with friends!
(4)
Laurice U.

Fantastic first time experience. The location is a definite plus and street parking is plentiful. Our server was very knowledgeable about all the items on the menu including the wines. We started off by creating our own "sampler" plate of the empanadas. My favorite were the corn empanadas. Second, was the salad. Nothing memorable. Just your typical lettuce, onion, and tomato with oil and vinegar. Then the main course. There were 5 of us. We each ordered a different entree: chicken, ribs, steak, blood sausage, and sweet bread. The food was delicious and savory. And did I mention...HOLY PORTION CONTROL!!! The sultry ambiance combined with great food, wine, and service made for a delightful and FULL evening. I definitely had good food coma sleep that night.
(5)
caroline e.

The atmosphere here is adorable, but not quite as cozy as Tango Sur. They also have delicious and reasonably priced cocktails (and $20 bottles of wine...not bad). The waiters are very friendly and helpful as well. The food: I'm not really a steak connoisseur, but I do know that my steak tasted really good. I just wish it came with some potatoes or a veggie or something. My steak looked so lonely on the big empty plate, and I found myself wanting a side dish to nibble in between bites of meat. It would have been better if they'd put the salad on the plate with the steak instead of bringing it out first. I've never been to Argentina, and maybe this is the authentic way to do it, but just not my style. All in all, I like this place and I'm cool with going here when the BF is craving a steak.
(3)
Rachelle G.

I really want to give them 4 stars; my first experience there was close to perfection; but after last night, I just couldn't. Seated quickly, perfect ambiance. Our server was a little off, he just didn't seem very inviting. Love the warm bread that is quickly brought to your table. Love the spinach empanada and even the simple salad; it's free, no reason to complain. Steaks, needs help; lots of it. I ordered a bone in rib eye medium rare. Came out well done. Sent it back; got a new one, came out super rare and this cut was super fatty. Seasoning wise, they were a bit salty. My friend got a special fillet medium well. The order comes with two small fillets; one was done correctly, the other was rare. We sent the other back twice to be cooked more and each time it came back medium rare. I don't understand how a restaurant who's main entree is steaks can't cook it to its proper doneness. I even brought it up to the manager and all he could do was mumble a half apology. I just don't understand how I can send something back twice to be grilled longer and it still comes out the same. I want to love this place but will now have to question coming back. I work hard for my money and while their menu is super affordable, why bother when they can't do the one thing they should do right?
(2)
Marissa S.

This place gets three stars for it's tasty meat, super great ambiance (if I owned an old farmhouse this is how I would decorate it), and good value. Mojito's were amazing if a little heavy on the mint leaves. The check for two people including two drinks, appetizers, and two huge plates of meat came out to under $60 -- the value here is huge. The service was attentive but not smothering. We were here on a Friday evening and it was packed. I was slightly disappointed with the chimicurri sauce -- I had been craving it and found this one to have a bit too much garlic and not enough fresh greens (parsley and cilantro) -- it was an adequate blend but certainly not the finest chimicurri I've had. The steak was cooked exactly as I wanted, my friend ordered ribs which were prepared beautifully and were enough to feed at least two people. The empanadas were delectable and bite-size...not greasy which is a big turnoff. We were too stuffed to have dessert but maybe next time. Some people on here complained about the salad being too basic...this is sort of standard in an Agrentine steakhouse...a crisp wedge of lettuce with fresh tomatoes and a little balsamic and oil is all you need to start the meal...you don't really want more than that if you're planning on diving into a juicy steak.
(3)
Joanna K.

Folklore is Tango Sur's sister restaurant and the menus are practically identical, but Folklore has their liquor license. I ordered the "El Filet" with spinach mashed potatoes and it was outstanding! Cooked to perfection. The BF ordered another steak dinner which was also good, not as great as the filet though :o) The portion sizes were HUGE! We tried each of the empanadas which were all great as well. For two steak entrees, two drinks, some empanadas, AND dessert and our bill still wasn't even $100...? The ambiance is romantic and cozy with candles lit at every table, dim lights, and a musician playing some soft music on his guitar....lovely!
(5)
Katy O.

My boyfriend and I both love Tango Sur, so we were excited to visit Folklore for a friend's birthday on Saturday. I really loved the decor and felt like Folklore looked like a more modern and upscale place than Tango Sur. My boyfriend felt that it was too dark, but I personally like the candlelight and low-lit atmosphere. The music was a little hipstery, but I think it contributes to the vibe of the place. The menu is similar to Tango. We shared a parillada for two (we got the vacio). It was excellent. The empanadas (and at our table we sampled all 5 kinds) were also delicious. Salads come out before dinner and are simple, but all you really need before digging into giant plates of meat. The prices for the food are totally reasonable for the quality of the food, in my opinion. If you like Tango Sur, you'll be happy with the food here. I was also surprised at the wine list- there were actually several yummy wines at $5 or $6 per glass, which seems to be pretty rare in Chicago at most restaurants. I didn't order one, but my friends loved their mojitos too. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was that the service was very slow. We waited a veeeeery long time to order- first with appetizers, then with dinner, then with desserts/coffees. Also, the night we visitd it was about 5 degrees outside. The restaurant was totally comfortable but the women's bathroom was so cold I was shivering while I was washing my hands! That said, I really liked Folklore and would definitely go back.
(4)
Marianne S.

I was probably expecting too much, having eaten at Tango Sur. Meat was dry. And I ordered medium-rare. And I think the place was too dark. Two stars because the caipirinhas were good and parking was easy.
(2)
Jessica C.

Overall, good food -not great, prepared well and delivered without delay. The chef's special appetizer consisting of mixed seafood in a creamy sauce was excellent. All of us had a variety of steaks and were pleased. This is not a Chicago steakhouse so do not come expecting $75 dry aged filets. The cuts here are flat iron, flank, skirt -along with ribeye and traditional cuts, but the idea is to enjoy the seasonings. It is a bit loud inside but the atmosphere is unpretentious. Corkage fee is $10 per bottle of wine and that is a great deal; the markup on their wine on the list was surprisingly high. I do wish they had valet, finding street parking is almost impossible in that area. Not the most memorable meal but all in all a pleasant experience.
(4)
Dennis D.

I could eat a whole bread basket to myself but that wouldn't leave room for the steak. They have amazing steak if a bit underdone - I had the bone in strip steak topped with caramelized onions. Mojito was a bit boozy and under-minted but refreshing none the less. Service was slow but knew their way around the menu. The patio is a must and isn't too crowded.
(4)
Craig S.

I've eaten here quite a few times and usually take out-of-town colleagues here. Drinks: Good mojitos. The wine list is limited but excellent (and reasonable). Food: The empanadas are out-of-this-world. My steaks have always been good sized and cooked well, though rare means black-and-blue here. Other stuff: Order off of the chef's menu that's included with the main menu.
(5)
Josh E.

I'll preface my review by saying that I'll give this place another try. That said, we were not impressed with this restaurant. To avoid a lengthy wait on a Saturday night, we got seated (immediately) at the table closest to the door. Not a good spot to be on a cold night with people coming and going. Also, this place is pretty damn loud so be prepared to raise your voice. We started with the antipasta which was pretty good. After a couple martinis (they're hefty and strong) we moved on to what anyone would come here for - the steaks. This is where I think this place fails. The meats were plentiful, but not very tasty. I ordered my steak (chorizco?) medium rare, only to have the waiter come back to me and tell me he recommended it to be cooked medium. Hmmmm -makes you wonder. Secondly, the steaks only come with a very measly looking salad. Lettuce, a couple tomato slices; and only oil and vinegar or balsamic for dressings. The desserts we sampled were really good. A good beginning and a good end, only to be squashed by a pretty weak middle.
(2)
Will P.

They get so many elements right, but what they get wrong, is SO wrong....that I just can't recommend it. The best I can do is...if you want a well-mixed cocktail and delicious empanada appetizers in a great atmosphere (inside or out) I would recommend Folklore without hesitation. If however, you want a full meal...especially a meal centered around meat...I can honestly think of fast food places I'd recommend before Folklore. We actually went back for a second try... convinced that, because the atmosphere, appetizers and cocktails had all been so good...that our first meal must have been an aberration. Sadly it wasn't. Two visits...four different steaks ordered (between my wife and I), and despite the fact that they were all cooked perfectly...every one was excessively tough & fatty. Two were borderline inedible! Most disappointing was the fillet. Why bothering serve TWO fillets for the price of one good one...when the two you're serving collectively only contain the meat of one good one? What's the upside? When I complained...I received a very nice (seemingly well rehearsed) lecture on the "superior quality" of their beef? LOL...all I could do was point at the remnants of inedible gristle on my plate and chuckle. I came to eat...not practice my butchering skills.
(2)
Rebecca Huicha K.

Folklore is basically Tango Sur with better decor and a bar. I havent been to Tango Sur in a while but for some reason I like Folklore a ton better. The only thing is that I wish this place was a BYOB. The menu is exactly the same as Tango Sur. Maybe it's cause it's new but the food tasted better. The space isn't as cramped as Tango Sur and it's not as dark so you can actually see what you're eating. My fiancee and I had the beef empanadas which were DELICIOUS and I had the filet with red onion sauce and spinach mashed potatoes while he has the ribeye. Both meats were tender and cooked perfectly. Not to mention $24 for each entree is SUPER CHEAP :)
(4)
Brian M.

The atmosphere of this place is outstanding. The decor, lighting etc are spot on. The menu also looks wonderful. Unfortunately, they don't seem to be very good at cooking the food. The meat we all had was pretty so-so, though the empanadas for the appetizer were good. What actually caused me to write this review was the end of our meal. My father and I both ordered a Cointreau to close out the dinner. We were with my family; he'd just dropped $200+ on dinner, and yet they bring out what appears to be a shot that was poured into a shot glass and then into a regular glass. There was next to nothing. Utterly shameful and the kind of nickel and dime crap that will cause me to never go back to a place and talk it down whenever I hear it in conversation. It's really indicative of the attitude of the place.
(2)
Andrew S.

Okay, the cocktails are great at this cute West Division eatery. I was optimistic, but then my food came. The food was just okay. The spinach mashed potatoes looked as if someone threw up on St. Patricks Day. Stick to drinking here.
(2)
K T Y.

nice outdoor patio, good drinks...the food was awful. There was no flavor, I mean no flavor at all with the flap steak and the skirt steak. It's just as blah as tango sur. One stand-out wierd thing: we asked for the para dos, but wanted to swith the sweatbreads. Not possible. Something about the arrangement comes pre-made and brought over for Tango Sur.
(2)
Jen G.

I liked this place a lot but didn't love it... We came on a weeknight without a reservation. Stopped by around 7:15 to request an 8pm seating (yes) and then wandered across the street for a drink at Small Bar. When we came back at 8 were immediately seated in the main dining room. Loved the lighting and ambiance. Like Tango Sur, it was loud but not too much that we couldn't hear each other across the table. For starters, we had a plate of melted cheese, olive oil and peppers. It was a little odd that it didn't come with toast points but was tasty nonetheless. Like other reviewers here, I could have skipped the complimentary "salad" that came with the meal. Onions, tomato and lettuce on par with iceberg--not worth it for me. Besides, a huge entree was yet to come... We both got versions of steak. Dining companion got the fillet, which came with incredible spinach mashed potatoes (er, butter-infused spinach potatoes.) It was overcooked, though, but not to the point that you'd send it back. My bife vesuvio was swimming in an oily garlic sauce--but in a good way. Like others have mentioned, we took about half of this home. Flavor overall was pretty good. In sum, I am not sure I would wait in line to eat here or come back on a weekend night. For a spontaneous beef fest, however, I'd come back in a flash. Final point: Excellent wine and reasonable prices!
(3)
Karen L.

I had read about Folklore and wanted to try it, so went there for dinner on Friday night. I knew it was new but I didn't know it was BRAND new! We were there on the third day of business. Well, you know what you get with a brand new, nice restaurant in Wicker Park... a long wait. We probably waited for about 1.5 hours (most of it over at Innjoy at least, where we could sit down.) But it was worth the wait! First of all, the drinks are yummy! I tried the mojito and this one drink with mango, tequila and hot sauce. Plus the drinks are a decent size, unlike at some restaurants. We also got a nice bottle of Argentinean wine that was SO cheap for a restaurant bottle of wine! And quite tasty! And the food was delicious! I have never been to Tango Sur, which is the original sister restaurant so didn't really know what to expect. I knew it involved a lot of meat though. I split a filet special with my boyfriend and it was more than enough food! The steak was very flavorful and tender and it came with a side of spinach mashed potatoes. Yum! Also got to try the beef empanadas... those were just ok. My friends got other cuts of steak and they really enjoyed theirs, as well. If you are in the mood for a lot of meat, I would highly recommend it. One minor thing I thought they should change... they should make their own flavored butter to go with their bread. It is a nicer restaurant and I always love the herb butter that nicer restaurants have. They just brought out little packaged pats of butter, like the ones you get at a diner. Oh, and about the atmosphere: cozy, dark, romantic... but a bit loud. It is a small restaurant so be prepared to wait on a weekend night.
(4)
Katie R.

i wasn't 100% confident in my restaurant choice after reading its reviews, but the food was great, aside from the obviously once-frozen dinner rolls and tomato/onion/leaf lettuce side salad. we shared a few empanadas, and i had a classic mojito (yum!) and the "bife vesuvio," a prime steak stuffed with spinach and cheese. it was a little tough, but the filling was tasty. my mom had the filet and boyfriend had the flap steak - both were tender and flavorful. we sat outside and didn't have any issues with service, but it was late on a sunday night.
(3)
Chris S.

Respectable. Went there on a Sunday with a friend. Place was candle lit -- too date-like for us. Good empanada appetizers. For dinner we split some crazy 2 person meat feast. The steak was OK, but a bit fatty. Best thing on the plate were the sausages. Could be a good date spot.
(3)
Kara E.

Awesome. If you love Tango Sur, you'll love it here. Word on the street is that Folklore is owned by the same Tango Sur peeps. Folkolore has all the best things of Tango Sur- great empanadas, awesome beef and a intimate atmosphere.. The bonus feature of Folklore is that they take reservations! So, no waitng for hours on end like its counterpart. Although Folklore isn't BYOB, they have really great, affordable wines. I'll most def' be back!
(5)
Nick S.

Went here for dinner one rainy night.. hadn't eaten all day and I was craving something hearty to satiate my hunger. Nights like these call for steak. I've had steaks of many preparations but nothing beats a nice, thick, juicy steak that's seasoned well and cooked to perfection. Folklore was a decent attempt of satisfying that craving. It was fairly busy the night I was there so I was expecting lagging of some sort during service. While I understand the concept of dim lighting to create a more intimate setting, I think it wouldn't hurt to utilize a little more track lighting.. I found it way too dark for my liking. I'll explain later why I felt more lighting was needed... We ordered Sweetbreads for an appetizer.. by our request we had then brown them so they were crisp rather than grilled. They were overall, a little lacking in flavor. Lemon was helpful though. I like the simplicity of a basic salad with vinegar and oil, salt/pepper. So that was appreciated. A decent assortment of breads to keep us going. I ordered the parrillada for one and also asked that the sweetbreads on that be prepared like we had requested earlier. Let me say the portions are INSANE. Parrillada for one can easily feed 2, maybe 3. Nice assortment of meats. and 2 types of sausage. I'm usually a fan of blood sausage, but I feel like they overdid it with the cumin - the flavor was kind of rancid and texture was more mushy than I prefer. The meats were good, some were a little underseasoned. Chimichurri was better than most places, but still lacked acidity that I personally like. One of my cuts were cooked longer than I asked for. I asked for medium rare, but the waiter insisted that I get it well done. So I took his advice, wasn't pleased. My sister got a ribeye, HUGE tastier than my steak. Pretty tender. I left with plenty for the next day from leftovers. I'd go again. They really do deserve a 3.5/5 It was the interior, inconsistency of seasoning, and some components of the dish that kept me from giving them 4 stars.
(3)
Gabrielle Z.

I wish more than anything I could review the food at Folklore, but alas, because of the piss-poor service and the fact that I walked out without being seated for the first time in my otherwise courteous life, I cannot. My boyfriend and I had a reservation. We were on time. The table was not ready. We waited for 20 minutes. A walk-in party of 2 got seated immediately, while my boyfriend stood in front of the host stand and watched. When we asked why our table was given away, the incredibly rude host told us a series of lies that we refuted one by one, then he said our table would be ready in five minutes, and asked, "Any other questions?" in the way that said, "Remove yourself from my sight immediately." He then proceeded to disappear from the host stand for 15 minutes. We walked out, while my boyfriend considered ripping the front page of his reservation book out. Not that it would have mattered, because he wasn't using the book anyway. We went next door to Crust, got seated right away, and one hour after our reserved dinner time, finally got something to eat. And had a nice server to boot (thanks JosÃ©!). If Folklore's plan is to keep the business booming at Crust, keep that asshole as host.
(1)
Angela W.

Our experience here was excellent. We walked in without a reservation on a Saturday night and got seated right away even though it was busy. Our waiter was very friendly and informative. The ambiance was great, cool lighting and decoration. It was a little dark for reading menus, and it is a long menu to read. It was loud, but fun. The food was excellent. We ordered a few steak dishes. The Filet Mignon was very tender and was a very generous portion. I also ordered an eggplant dish that was similar to an eggplant lasagna with a creamy red pepper tomato sauce. This and the spinach mashed potatoes were an wonderful compliment to the steak. Everyone really enjoyed their dishes. I also got a Pisco Sour cocktail that was very sweet and tasty. Love the dash of cinnamon on top!
(5)
Allison M.

Really well seasoned meat!
(5)
Katie M.

Get the Folk outta here!! This is definitely what our side of the city needed! It's fantastic...it's friendly...it's, it's YUMMY!!! I love me some beef...and this has a great assortment or your t-bone, your strip and, yes, the Charrasca!! Mmm..mmm.mmm....we had the Charrasca and the bone in rib-eye and it was amazing! We have been to Tango sur (same owner) multiple times and have waited and waited and waited to get into the crowded stuffy place where your arms are getting bumped at almost every bite...so Folklore is basically Tango Sur in a much better ambiance/ Basically meaning there is breathing room, not as hectic and the the staff is way friendlier. I do disagree that it's the same exact menu..yes some items are the same but I feel that there are many unique dishes that you will be very please to try! Anywho...you should definitely give it a try and perhaps call in and get your name on the list before you head over...that's what we did and the host called us as we were walking in...perfect timing.
(5)
Eliza R.

I've been here a few times. Enjoyed it each time. Delicious drinks, mojito- good, a blackberry martini with a name I can't recall- tasty, and a drink that had some hot sauce in it- surprisingly good. The empanadas are delcious! Personally, I'm a fan of the ham & cheese, and the spinach and cheese. The chimichurri makes them even more yummy. Love garlic. Our meal: we shared a parillada para dos (served with the simple salad) and had a tasty dessert to end the night. The place is dark and lovely. The service was friendly, especially the bartender who talked to me at the bar while I waited for my date (who was running late) with a drink. I'll be back again soon.
(4)
eden s.

Mikey likes it!! Had the tilapia special - wow, was that fantastic. Mojitos - one of the best I have ever had. Hubs had the rib eye which was also pretty good. Our group ordered the eggplant appetizer read: (garlic breath is good breath). Oh, and that chimichurro sauce, could take that intravenously. Super loud though. Next time I will bring my hearing aid. And there will definitely be a next time.
(4)
Krishna A.

I came here with my 2 carnivore buddies on a Thursday night. As a huge fan of Tango Sur, I was really looking forward to this place. It's in a great location and there a ton of great bars around the area if you're looking for a pre-meal beer. We had reservations so we were seated pretty quickly. Ambiance: Not as dark as Tango Sur, but very cool. There are tin ceilings with stone-colored concrete walls and steel beams. Cool if you're into that sort of stuff. It's also not as intimate as T.S. and the crowd is not as eclectic. Food: The bread here is great - soft and warm. We started off with the Empanadas for $2 a pop. They came with a great garlic-oil sauce. The menu is pretty much exactly the same as Tango Sur. I ordered the Filet medium rare. My one buddy ordered the Filet medium and buddy #3 ordered the prime, medium. The reason why I gave this place 2 starts is that they screwed up ALL of our orders. My filet came out well-done, and both of my friends' steaks came out medium-rare. I usually don't make a big deal of this, but when you are dealing with steaks, there really is only 1 variable - the extent of the cooking. We didn't send them back because: A. We were starving B. We aren't prick D-bags So this was kind of disappointing. Drinks: NOT BYOB like T.S, but still has a decent wine list and some great beers. Price: We each paid $40, which is honestly a great price for a steakhouse - but I guess you get what you pay for. All in all, I'd go to Tango Sur over this place purely for the BYO status, the atmosphere and the more consistent cooking.
(2)
Georg S.

I really want to like this place, but the food lets me down every time. Good looking place, great bartenders and drinks, but I seem to get a lousy cut of meat each time. If you're doing mostly steaks, the chimichurri shouldn't be the highlight every time.
(2)
Fabio S.

Love it. Great steak and more. Must get the "El Filet" plate with spinach mashed potatoes. Not sure if they talk nicely to the cow or what in order to make the meat so tender, but whatever it is, it's truly unbelievable. Why would you ever go to a stuffy steak house downtown, when you can be in a wonderful, family-owned, alive, neighborhood joynt with better meat, better prices AND personality? Maybe for a "wedge of iceberg" salad? but that's just so 90's!
(5)
Halleh C.

I was taken here a few weeks back on a date and I am still thinking about the food! The restaurant is dimly lit, has long candle sticks lit at each table, and live (?) music playing loud enough so that you couldn't hear the diners conversations next to you. I had the filet with spinach mashed potatoes and it was DELICIOUS! It came with this gravy all around it, the portions were obviously huge, and I couldn't have been happier with my dinner choice. A salad came out before the meal, but it was pretty plain with lettuce, tomato and onion (I hate onions on salads). We didn't touch our salads as we were more interested in our cocktails and conversation. The service was spot on. The servers and bus boys really knew how to get in and get out with minimal but very polite interaction, allowing diners to have intimate conversation without having to stop every time they came around. Before I knew it, we had been there for 3 hours, drinking and laughing, and no one was rushing us to get out. I had an amazing meal, date, time, etc etc. I hope to make it back here soon!
(5)
Shalin D.

Only two blocks from where I used to live, Folklore was always a place to stop by and grab a glass of wine. I never thought of it as a restaurant: too much meat and too much foot traffic on Division Street to have a quiet, relaxing meal. Also, having only recently converted from my twenty years of vegetarianism, my inclination to down a slab of steak wasn't that great... ... until recently. After failing to obtain reservations elsewhere, a friend and I went to Folklore for dinner. This was back in summer, so we managed to grab an outdoor table. We warned the server that we weren't into big slabs of steak and he was quick to walk us through the non-cow portions of the menu. I ordered a delicious Argentinean lasagna. My friend decided on the skirt steak. Both dishes were prepared perfectly. The lasagna had a crispy top layer with thin slices of sweet potato and herbed pasta. I tried the skirt steak: it was juicy and melted in my mouth. The kitchen listened when my friend specified medium-rare. We ordered a sublime Malbec at the server's urging. It was bold, juicy and complemented the lasagna and the steak well. Sitting there on the sidewalk in the breeze, I felt completely relaxed and happy and thankful that most other restaurants we tried to get into that night were fully booked. Five stars for Folklore.
(5)
Jessica D.

I've been here twice and I regret both times. I didn't feel like waiting at Tango Sur so went to this location. Not impressed. I gave it two stars for the empanadas...
(2)
Sydney F.

Much like waiting to send an emotional email, I like to sleep on my next Yelp reviews so that I have time to contemplate the entire dining experience. And Folklore went from a 3 immediately post eating, to a 2 the next morning. The good things going for this Argentinian restaurant are: a) huge portions (more bang for your buck) b) adorable ambience c)great outdoor patio d) extensive (& affordable) wine list There are all great things, but the food in general really left a lot to be desired. When I go out to eat, all the other little things are great, buy my main judgement is on the quality of the food. Folklore's menu is very long and almost overwhelming. But with 4 people in our party, we all got something very different. Our friends started with a chicken and a spinach empanada, and said they were very tasty. Collectively we had the tilapia, the roast chicken, el filet and the beef milanesa. The tilapia was alright, but I'm not crazy about sweet sauces on fish. The roast chicken was definitely my favorite, seasoned & juicy, but you only get a few pieces of potato and literally half a chicken on your plate, which is a little much. The El Filet was tender but had too much fat running through it for that cut of meat. It was also unseasoned and the red wine sauce did not help the flavor. The milanesa was just boring & uneventful. I will say the mashed potatoes were quite delicious, but that's just the side item. Salad was alright- just some lettuce, tomato & really strong onion thrown on a plate. Overall, ambience & a good wine list can't run a restaurant alone.
(2)
David B.

Went last night with a group of 8. Food was so-so. Greasy empanadas, cold potatoes, really low quality steaks! Drinks were not bad. Not inspired to try dessert. Service was fair to slow. Be warned- do not try the sweetbreads- they were frighteningly bad. Really loud too!
(1)
Mike N.

I really wanted to like it. It's one of the closest nice restaurants to my place and I love steak, especially Argentine steak (I'm looking at you el nandu). Everything started out great. Awesome atmosphere. Candle light. Great drinks (beer selection and wine). Attentive but respectful wait staff. Amazing appetizers. But eventually it all fell apart. The entrees were completely tasteless. I had the Veal t-bone with red chimichurri and my wife had the Churrasco (grass fed sirloin) with regular chimicurri. They both tasted like cardboard even when swimming in sauce. We tried to save the experience with dessert (which was fantastic) but in the end, it was too little too late. And, as a fun after-dinner treat, I got some serious stomach sickness (prob from the undercooked veal, but hey, that's how i like it). We will not be going back and I encourage everyone else to save their money.
(2)
Steve M.

Had to attend a birthday dinner at Folklore and after hearing that it was the sister restaurant to Tango Sur I became excited. Too bad there were zero similarities. I thought the food was ok, the place was boiling (little to no AC), and the restaurant was nowhere near as good as the original. The service and the location were the only good things plus the sweet ass parking spot I found on the street. We will not be back anytime soon.
(2)
Arian M.

Beautiful place. Rustic, very warm and welcoming atmosphere. The service was very good. Our server and busboy was very attentive but not overly. We ordered empanadas which was very tasty along with the sausages. I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass which was cooked to perfection. INCREDIBLE!!! Our friend ordered the Churrasco which was larger than the plate. Very tender and flavorful. I will definitely go back again very soon.
(4)
Mayari G.

For those who wrote, I'm spoiled b/c I like Tango Sur - helloooooo!!!! Same owners and same food! The best thing is the fact that they do not have the same snobby attitude some of the other Division St. restaurants have nowadays - especially when Division St. was not the "place to be" 10 years ago - there is no need for the "holier than thou" attitude. The other great thing is that the decor and size is much better than Tango Sur. So, if you want to skip that and head over to place that will open up your Americanized tastebuds-especially in the meat department, Folklore is the place!!! Make sure to order the FLAN!!!!! p.s. do not over order - if you get a parrillada for 1, it's really for 3.
(5)
amanda g.

all you need to know is: 1. proveleta 2. el filet awesome.
(4)
Lisa H.

This is just 5 minutes from our house and well worth the walk and the wait. The food is outstanding and ideal for people that want to share a meal. The place is fairly loud once it gets full and sometimes its a bit too dark that you can't read the menu but the wait staff will assist you with recommendations. The drinks are fabulous and made from scratch and the place often has live music (Argentinean guitar player, etc). There is no reservations so come early or be prepared to wait at least an hour on the weekend. Great spot for good food and a nice getaway to Argentina if you can't afford a real trip there.
(4)
Shawna B.

We stopped in because we happened to be in the neighborhood. It was a pleasant surprise from top to bottom. Fantastic drinks made with fresh juices and a great wine list. The atmosphere is totally deep and sexy, with just the right amount of energy. Our waitstaff was kind and accommodating from the moment we arrived to the second we left. What more can you ask for? We ordered an eggplant appetizer that was enormous and filling. So, we opted for splitting an entree. The menu is of course, red meat focused. The steak was flavorful and satisfying. I am don't eat red meat more than a few times a year so when I do, it better taste good. This hit the mark for a cowboy-style steak. Rustic and a nice sear. Overall, I am looking forward to going back and would certainly recommend this to friends.
(4)
Ingrid G.

The host was great and super accommodating and the restaurant was absolutely beautiful inside. The bartender was attentive and got us two glasses of malbec very quickly while we were waiting for our table. That's where our great service ended. Our waiter took forever to take our order to the point where the host had to go back in the kitchen to get him. Long story short, we got our entrees 1 and a half hours after we arrived. I was almost too tired to eat by the time we got our food. The food was good, my steak was a bit unevenly cooked. However, I have had better at other places. I don't know that I would go back to Folklore again and I definitely would not recommend it. Bummer!
(2)
Jay M.

Everything was delicious - the empanadas, the provoleta, and the Vacio Relleno were amazing. The portions were generous and the service was fantastic.
(5)
Thomas L.

This is by far Chicago sexiest restaurant I have been in yet. I kept thinking of the SNL skit 'The Antonio Banderas Show.' "NO NO TOO SEXY!!!" Order the rack of lamb you will definitely leave satisfied. You can pass on the desserts.... they need work.
(5)
Jennifer L.

Gave them another chance, and was still underwhelmed. Cocktails and empanadas are solid, but the rest was average, and the service was slow and borderline unfriendly.
(2)
Mindy S.

This is Tango Sur, except it is in Wicker Part, is not BYOB, and the insides are a bit more "upscale". If you love TS you will love Folklore, as this is the same menu. The food is incredibly tasty and the price is right for what you get. I will continue to bring out of town guests here.
(5)
Hugo E.

The atmosphere is amazing and service is great. Now lets talk about the food. The food is amazing. Parking sucks. I recommend you make reservations, the wait is kind of long but it's worth the wait. I would go back soon.
(4)
Aaron G.

For a steak place their steak was severely under par
(2)
Emanuel S.

I made reservations here for my girlfriend and I for Valentine's Day, and thankfully I did too! When we had gotten there, we arrived 15 minutes early. There was a bit of a line and everyone in that line hadn't made a reservation, so we were brought to our tables about 10 minutes after getting there. The place was extremely crowded, but we had enough room and our table wasn't really in the way of anything. The service is excellent, as we had ordered some appetizers as well as drinks and wine to go with our dinner. It's an extremely romantic setting to bring a date to and can be a bit pricey, but it is definitely worth it. We were then given chocolates upon receiving the check and afterward we hit up a local bar for a night cap. Overall, I would go here again as the steak is delicious. You must order it at LEAST medium rare to taste how great it is. The potatoes are amazing as well...and the appetizers we had were empanads...delicious.
(5)
Michael S.

I haven't actually been to this place under normal circumstances--I have, however, been in here to watch Argentina play a World Cup match, and that was a very, very good time--wall-to-wall with screaming Argentines, some of whom apparently brought drums (!), news crews interviewing people about the game, nothing but Spanish being spoken (which was a tad inconvenient for me, but I made do, and anyway on that day Folklore was probably officially considered Argentine soil, so it's fair), just total insanity, and they still managed to serve us copious amounts of excellent grilled meat (I think my steak was a kilo of meat, easily). When La Albiceleste is playing, in Chicago this is where you need to be--unless you're Brazilian.
(5)
Jonathan S.

We had a good meal but not one that I'd tell all my friends about. I think Folklore has forgotten what really makes Tango Sur great, namely, the atmosphere (and its BYOB policy). I like that there wasn't a 2-hour line for Folklore, as the quality of the food wouldn't explain one. My brother and I had steaks. I had the ribeye, which was even fattier than usual. My brother had a filet that he ordered "medium" yet came out rare (purple on the inside). Had to send it back. In Folklore's favor, the waiter recommended a nice Malbec blend, and the spinach potatoes accompanying the filet were delicious. Maybe Folklore and Tango Sur can find a balance that works for each, but until then, I'm still searching for a place to really remind me of Buenos Aires.
(3)
Sasha H.

I went here a while back and sat at the bar for some food and drinks. The food was yummy and the drinks were awesome--well made. The bartender was good looking and well dressed which counts for a lot--I hate going out and the staff looks like they would rather be in bed...The thing i really like about this place is the exterior--It is really warm and inviting--the wooden doors, pine sprigs and black painted front windows are reminiscent of an updated British pub. Hopefully Folklore will become a landmark on this hodge-podge strip of Division, setting the bar for surrounding businesses.
(4)
Justin B.

yum. Love Tango Sur and Love Folklore. Big bonus that they are near me and serve alcohol
(5)
Hadley B.

I went here for Mother's Day with my husband and mother. The service was fine--attentive and polite. The food, however, was completely underwhelming. I ordered a spinach salad and the antipasto. The antipasto was basically cold cuts--grayish pieces of processed lunchmeat rolled up with chunks of string cheese and canned red peppers. Blech. My mother had the short ribs, which had good flavor but were grilled (not slow-roasted) so they were pretty tough. My husband's steak was also veiny and tough. The wine list was fairly priced and had a nice array of Argentine options. All in all, it was unimpressive. It seemed as if the restaurant spent too much on ambiance (the decor was cozy but funky--pretty neat) and not enough on ingredients (washed-out, bland tomatoes; grocery-store deli meats, etc.). We probably won't be going back.
(2)
Jenny N.

Not sure if I would have even tried an Argentinian steakhouse if it weren't for my Argentinian boyfriend, but this restaurant has become possibly one of my favorite places in the city. I feel the same about Tango Sur, however this place just has a little something more that adds to the restaurant experience. Unlike some of the other yelp reviewers, I've always ordered my meat medium and it has never come out overdone. The ambiance is romantic and chic and it makes a great date spot. The wine list great, my only qualm is that I wish they added more "wine by the glass" options instead of mostly bottle ordering options. For a steakhouse with such good quality meats, I have to say that the price is just right. For two people, with an appetizer, wine, steak entrees and dessert, you can't beat $70ish. The waiters are always helpful and friendly (and cute) and I love the intimate feeling of eating by candlelight. I would recommend the Parillada para dos if you're on a date, its perfect for two and the different cuts of steak and chorizos are delicious. Also the chinchulines are an acquired taste, but really rich. I have been here on a few occasions, but definitely will be back next time I want steak and romantic ambiance.
(5)
Yvette L.

Great location and ambiance. We ordered the short ribs and it was a big portion for $15. Also loved the La Pina drink! They have an extensive menu and most of them didn't look like authentic Argentine dishes...they had fettuccine ??? Didn't care for the coffee but the peach cake was really good, light and not too sweet.
(3)
Isa B.

I cannot make an opinion on the meat, I'm a vegetarian, but I heard it was awesome. I ate a couple of corn empanadas that were delicious. The service was nice too, although the place was packed and it took a long wait for us to get our food. It's likely that I'll be back...soon.
(4)
Kahlea C.

Excellent service and great food. I'm not sure why is said it's not kid friendly because I was there on a Friday after work and there were four tables that had a child.
(4)
Jonathan W.

This place is good. Basically just Tango Sur ported over to Division. Really nice bar (with the standard Quilmes, Pisco and Fernet). Portions are huge - be prepared to share (it is $5 extra). They really shouldn't give that salad out with the meals, I always wondered what the point was. Just lettuce a few tomatoes and a couple white onion slices, vinegar and oil. Seems really out of place. Also, can someone in this town do baked empanadas?
(4)
Ginger L.

I love Tango Sur and didn't want to try Folklore because I didn't think it would have anything new to offer. I was wrong. For one, it has a liquor license. Like Tango Sur, it's dark but there is something about the ambiance that worked better. Maybe it's because there is more room between the tables here. We always try different appetizers. So far there has not been anything I didn't like except the tongue. It was served cold and was terrible. I often get the filet with the spinach mashed potatoes. It never disappoints but my new favorite is the churrasco. I think the chimichurri sauce can make anything taste delicious! I am still surprised that you can get as reasonable a bill as you do here and they serve organic beef.
(5)
Rhonda R.

The food was okay. The service was okay... there was one incident. Our waiter had his "assistant" bring our drink order. The drink order took a bit of time but the Blackberry Mojitos are - delish! Just as I was about to ask about our beverages there was a bit of a commotion ... 3 Blackberry Mojitos were being removed from a neighboring table. The server did not simply shift them from one table to ours but took them around the corner ... voila ... our drinks came around the same corner. I half jokingly asked if the server had at least given us fresh straws... the language barrier prevented him from responding appropriately. The large lip prints on my glass prevented me from drinking the concoction. Suddenly our waiter shows up with a gigantic slab of Flan. Tasty but too little, too late. They would have been better off leaving the drinks with the next table - making fresh ones for us comping them both. I will not go back. There are better steaks in this town.
(2)
Rachael T.

The best meat I have had in YEARS. Like BUTTA. The crowd is a slight pertinacious, lots of lawyer-y looking people with their Armani and Diesel jeans, but other than that I loved the decor, the bartenders where cool, waiter was extremely helpful with explaining the meat and answered every single stupid question I asked with a big smile, also helpful with the wine. The food tho is so well prepared and and was so mouth watering I can still remember every detail about it. It was one sexy piece of cow. I seriously am saving my pennies and dimes to go back here soon. yum, yum and YUM Only reason they don't get 5 stars is because they sat us next to the door (it was -20 outside) and it kept opening and closing and blowing cold air on me, and they had 3 tables that were not in use when we got there, plus I had a reservation and the host asked us to wait at the bar when there were 4 tables open, WIDE open. And when I asked to move (I didn't even wait to sit before I asked, the door is RIGHT next to the table!) he said those tables have reservations. Funny, I had a reservation too. And the other "funny" part is that we were there for an hour and half and 2 of the 3 tables never had ONCE been used. That really pissed me off.
(4)
Hans S.

Food was good but a bit pricey. The drinks are good but no draft beer. Very nice place with live music on Thursday evenings.
(4)
Magen R.

My boyfriend and I celebrated half a year of fun together at Folklore last week and we couldn't have asked for a better experience! This place is the perfect spot for a date night; the dark ambiance, candlelight, and tiny tables are perfectly suited for romance. We were also lucky enough to come on an evening when they were playing live music which further added to the experience. They do not normally take reservations for small groups but the awesome host bent the rules for us because we were celebrating. We were greeted quickly and offered a prime spot in the corner near the front windows. Our friendly waiter greeted us right away and helped me sort through their amazing cocktail program. I was totally torn but he steered me in the right direction in the form of a pomegranate mojito. Even though I'm not a rum girl I couldn't have gone with a better pick. When it comes to the food the choices aren't much easier... we struggled to sort through the vast menu which had so many awesome choices. We started off by splitting a corn empanada and the proscuitto with hearts of palm. I have to say both were great but the true standout was the empanada, so much so that I ended up ordering another one and while my boyfriend opted to order the chicken. Neither disappointed and it's also worth mentioning that the vinaigrette they serve these with is an unexpectedly awesome complement to the empanadas. As for entrees we both knew we wanted steak but choosing one proved to be a quite challenging endeavor with both of us ordering something we had not walked in the door expecting to. I went with the El Filet off of the Chef's Specials menu and was totally blown away. I was presented with two perfectly done filets drowning in an outstanding onion sauce along with a heaping pile of spinach mashed potatoes. It couldn't have been any more delicious and I was almost disappointed that I was full I couldn't eat more of it! My boyfriend's entree, the Costeleta, was also ridiculously great. I was glad he chose something so completely different than my entree and that I got to try a sampling of the awesome fare that Folklore has to offer.
(5)
Anthony C.

I though that the food and the ambiance were outstanding, however, the service is what caused me to only give it 2 stars. Quite simply, the service was just bad. My girlfriend and I got sat near the window in the dining room and were there for about 75 minutes in total. During that time our server only came by our table, without me flagging him down, 3 times. We were done eating our meal, and ready to leave, but waited for more than 20 minutes for someone to give us the bill. Had I not gotten up and flagged the server down I imagine that we would have waited quite a bit longer. In short, the restaurant has outstanding food. However, the owners should do some additional training with their service team if they really take the restaurant to the next level.
(2)
Beatriz R.

Pretty good place came here for my birthday order almost ever flavored empanada and they were amazing. My favorite was the ham and cheese one. Had a few cocktails and I must admit they were pretty strong!! Order the churasco and while the flavor was good it was a bit too chewy for me. I didn't even finish it but that's maybe cuz I over indulged in the empanadas. Other wise I wouldn't mind coming again and maybe trying a different cut of meat. The atmosphere was very nice perfect for a date night with a significant other.
(4)
Clara S.

I loved folklore! Amazing prices for what you get, which is a very nice restaurant and bar with a great cocktail list. Ambience is nice and romantic, but still fun. The candles were a nice touch, but this was not just a date spot because there were plenty of big groups. I'm so glad I found this place on yelp and loved the surrounding area as well. Food: complementary bread that kept coming warm and crispy but soft on the inside, house salads that come before most entrees- with all this you won't leave hungry for sure! Definitely get steak at this restaurant because the meat is very reasonably priced but still of good quality and flavor. I was very pleased with my sirloin medium rare. Drinks: a nice extensive cocktail list to choose from. Prices are expected of a nice restaurant ($10-12), but you can use the money you saved from the food. Overall a great find thanks to yelp reviews!
(5)
Tim H.

Good brunch option with outdoor seating. Pretty quiet at open and throughout my brunch. The chicken dish I had was pretty good...not cooked too dry, served with avocado and chimichurri sauce.
(4)
Jasmin T.

Folklore has some of the best drinks on division. This drink is all you need to get your night started right. They have generous sizes and the waiters give you recommendations for things to get with your food. The bread is warm and a great starter before getting your meal. Don't get full off of it though! We decided to get two separate meals even though we knew the portions would be huge. They were. I got the churrasco and that was heaven. It was made just right and came with wedge potatoes. My partner got a steak stuffed with spinach and cheese. This was a huge portion, but unfortunately it was not what we were hoping it was. It was a little on the dry side and we wished we hadn't gotten it. However, it did reheat well the next day as a side for our breakfast! Overall, check this place out, share your plates, and don't get stuffed steaks.
(3)
Kate G.

Protein overload. In a good way! The menu is extensive and everything on it is amazing. Most meals come with a fresh salad and some kind of potato. The bread beforehand came out very fresh and warm. The patio is perfect for summer! Portions are generous. The staff is very kind and attentive. Love this place!
(5)
Nikki K.

Went with a group of gal pals and we tried and shared several dishes. HUGE portions and everything was just ok, nothing stood out. The service was ok as well, however the ambiance is cute and romantic. It looks like they have a great patio for nice weather. My friends had several cocktails and said the drinks were tasty and the wine prices were good.
(2)
Sonia B.

Great atmosphere is what got this place the two stars. The food was absolutely lackluster compared to other South American establishments. I ordered one of the steaks well done and portions of it were cooked medium well while other portions were medium rare, and only the edges were cooked well. It was SO disappointing. And there was NO flavor! The spinach mashed potatoes is what saved my meal. The empanadas were pretty good. The sangria was ok. I was so sad leaving here because I was expecting WAY more! I think this place is a bit overrated...
(2)
Carolyn T.

I've been here twice now and I definitely have a favorable impression of Folklore. This place is really convenient, which is all the more reason to drop by more frequently! The first time here we dined in. The service was very attentive and I absolutely loved the romantic decor. It has a dark atmosphere with real tall wick candles lot at each table. There was complimentary bread service, which tasted delicious. The bread came out hot, light, and buttery with a slight crisp to it. We ordered a few empanadas to share and agreed that the corn was the standout. For my entree, I got the tortilla de papas. Honestly, it was a little disappointing and I would not recommend you order it unless bland, dry food is your thing. I probably just didn't order the right menu item that time. They also brought us complimentary salads, which was great! The second time here we carried out our meal. We arrived, told the host we wanted to order food to carry out, then he informed the guy behind the bar, who poured us water while we waited. For a little under $20, we got seven empanadas for $2.50 each. What a great deal! We enjoyed eating those from the comfort of the apartment. These are honestly the BEST empanadas I have ever had. The corn is still my favorite, but the spinach and cheese is also a leading contender. I don't eat meat, but my boyfriend does and he declared the beef is the best, complete with beef, egg, and cheese. We will absolutely be back for empanada carryout!
(4)
Abraham K.

Now this place is a hidden gem! Absolute fan boy here. Hands down, perfect place to get quality cuts and generous portions. Not to mention a generous price on these steaks. I've been to many steakhouses before, but was shocked to see the price! First timers: Get the El Filet or Costeleta Side note: Order the Stiegle Grapefruit Raddler, perfect balance with your steak! I hope you get your steaks Medium-rare! *Cough, Cough*
(5)
Ara O.

Great place for a steak and drinks. The food is fantastic. I had the ribeye steak medium rare and it was delicious. The staff is very nice, but the wait is very long and it took forever to get our food.
(4)
Kellie J.

Very nice environment. My boyfriend and I arrived on a Sunday at 6:30 there was no wait time however the place was packed. The table setting was romantic with a candle lit and nice decor. The menu was a bit Difficult to understand, we both ordered empanadas which were phenomenal! I had spinach ravioli with white sauce and it was pretty good. My boyfriend had tortia la tortia papa which was some potato thing that was very plain. Over all really good good, nice setting and staff, a little bit pricey.
(4)
Simone M.

Absolutely adore this restaurant! First place my boyfriend ever took me to as our first date. Started with some delicious mojitos, followed with the chefs special eggplant and some Argentinian steak. Lovely aura and sweet staff. It was also great that they let his dog sit with us on the patio! We love coming back on Wednesdays for their mojito special!
(5)
David C.

So, I literally live upstairs. I obviously had to try this place at some point! We finally had one of those nights where there was so much snow and I was THRILLED to have found a parking space that was already shoveled out without any pesky dibs chairs in my way. There was no way I was going to surrender my precious parking spot to go somewhere for dinner. Folklore was a no-brainer. We were seated right away on a Friday evening, which was great because I was hungry. I noticed the romantic atmosphere right away. There are tall candlesticks on every table. Our host lit the candle as we were taking our seats. Not to be cheesy, but gazing into my date's eyes over candlelight had a great romantic vibe to it. We were provided with a basket of warm, soft, fluffy bread to enjoy while we perused the menu. This was perfect bread. I couldn't tell if they make the bread on the premises, but I was impressed by it. There were little plastic containers of butter, also. We decided on two empanadas to share as a starter. The gf doesn't eat meat, so we were stuck with spinach and corn. The corn was definitely the stand-out; I highly recommend ordering that one. The spinach one was decent; it had a lot of spinach in it, but it lacked flavor. the braided crust was amazing, though--crispy and light. I ordered a dish with an Italian name (which confused me a little because this is an Argentinian place) that was basically a meat party in my mouth with ham, beef, and mozzarella. My meal was pretty darn good and I felt like I got a filling portion for $19. As hungry as I thought I was, I ended up bringing leftovers home. I guess that's what I get for filling up on bread. My girlfriend had some kind of potato tortilla, which looked like a massive solid omelet/skillet. I thought it lacked flavor, though. It could use some hot sauce! I wished they had some type of condiment options to add spiciness to the food. I'm definitely going to be back here. That corn empanada is the best one I've ever had. We identified Folklore as the perfect place to enjoy a drink, the aforementioned empanadas, and maybe even dessert. (I know they have it, but we didn't look at the dessert menu this time around because we were so stuffed.) This is a solid addition to the Wicker Park dining scene and is definitely worth a visit for a romantic evening.
(4)
Ari H.

This place is amazing!! I definitely recommend it. The mojitos are to die for! I went with my boyfriend on a Saturday night, we had to wait about 20 min to be seated but it went by so fast hanging out at the bar watching the bartender make drinks and listening to the music. We sat down, got really good warm bread with butter. For dinner we had a parrillada for 2, soooo good! And we got a free flan dessert, to die for as well! Service was good as well. Good little place :)
(5)
Ross B.

After having my reservation at another restaurant canceled, I called in a got a reservation for 15 right away. When we arrived they had the most beautiful table set up for us. The staff was welcoming and the interior is lovely. Drinks were great, food was great. We had a blast and got out of there for a good cost. Highly recommended!
(5)
Iaroslav M.

simply -WOW!!Steaks are the best I've ever had, so as margarita.Service is great and restaurant is very cozy and well designed. Highly recommended
(5)
Norm J.

I came here with friends to celebrate my best friend's birthday and while we don't tend to dine in Wicker Park...I can honestly say I am so happy we did. This was one of the best overall dining experiences I've had in my 8 years of living in Chicago. Environment: I really liked the set up of this place. The large communal tables mixed in with tables for parties of 2-4 and the soft lighting gives Folklore a real intimate feel. Drinks: Each drink we tried we thoroughly enjoyed (thankful for Uber on this night). I recommend you try: - Prickly Bear - Pisco Sour - Blackberry Mojito Food: The food was divine, delicious, damn good! I sampled each dish that my friends ordered and I liked all of them equally. MMM my mouth is watering because my taste buds are crying out to go back to Folklore Argentine Grill. We had: - Berenjena: some of the best eggplant i have ever had! If you don't like meat or feeling like you want to spare a cow...then try this dish. - Bife Vesuvio: utterly amazing! I mean the steak was filled with spinach, cheese, garlic and mar del plata. I mean who ever thought up this dish ranks in the top 10 of my favorite people. - Mar Y Tierra: 8oz filet with 2 jumbo shrimp. The steak was very flavorful and cooked to perfection. I love me some shrimp, especially when they word jumbo is involved. -EL Filet: filet served with delicious spinach mashed potatoes. I will be going back to Folklore again and again for sure!
(5)
Emily B.

Five star Argentinian dining! Truly a treat for a carnivore like myself. Everything was perfection. We ordered a parrillada para dos and a vacio. The most delicious side I have ever had was the spinach mashed potatoes.... Speechless!!!! We had a Chilean red wine which was also a very nice treat, pepper undertones which really complimented the steak perfectly. I could not have been happier with the selection.
(5)
RJ W.

GREAT outdoor setting. So if you are going there to have some drinks, which are also good, this is the place. But, bring patience. The staff, although friendly, seemed untrained and took forever, never really checked on us, and seemed more interested in hanging out at the bar inside. The food, however, was bad. Seriously, just really poorly executed. I think this is a classic case of having way too many items on a menu and being a master of none of them. Editing what they offer and concentrating on a few things would be a start. Overcooked and underseasoned empanadas. Lengua that was tough. A potato egg thing that was just... boring. Etc... We would go there for drinks if we had time to kill, but would absolutely not go back for the food.
(2)
tatiana c.

Amazing. Delicious. Cozy. Romantic. I can't say enough about how wonderful our experience here was. Our first trip last December was with friends visiting from Guam. They wanted steak so we took them here on recommendation from a friend. It was a hit. Friends said it was hands down one of the most delicious steaks they've ever had. Service was great and the drink and wine list extensive. We just happened to stumble in on a Wednesday night when they had live music. What a wonderful surprise. By the time we left, there were people dancing all over the restaurant in between the tables. Even we danced a little before leaving for the night. We enjoyed it so much that we have been back several times with other friends who have also loved it! I highly recommend Folklore.
(5)
Lis H.

La comida es deliciosa y deliciosa personal masculino! All seriousness, though - The food was superb. Argentinians know their carne! The prices are high, but the portion sizes are hefty and the quality is outstanding. (You get what you pay for!) The ambience is relaxing and comfortable, both inside dining and out. The staff is friendly, attentive, and accommodating. Wine bars, etc. within walking distance. I recommend the filet, spinach potatoes, and you must try the empanadas! Cons - As always in the great city of Chicago, the parking stinks, and this establishment doesn't offer valet. There are other restaurants in the vicinity that do, though. Finally, if street parking, watch out for residential permit parking and meter maids...They're abundant.
(5)
Johanna A.

This restaurant is amazing! The service was great even with a group of 10. Waiters, servers and bar tenders were all nice. :) I ordered a mango picao at the bar. This drink was perfection! I like a little heat in my drinks. :) We ordered the empanadas as our starter. These were crispy and so tasty. My fave were the spinach with cheese and the corn with cheese. I shared the vacio parilla with two others. Glad I did as the portions here are huge! The meat was tender. Roasted sweet potatoes were tasty. We also ordered a side of the spinach mashed potatoes - delicious!! I will definitely come back!
(5)
Stefanie A.

Argentinian food- I'm officially hooked. Went here this past weekend with husband and some of his fam. First off, I have to point out how absolutely awesome the decor is in here. A dimly lit restaurant with lots of candles on each table. Good for groups or a date. We had the empanadas and the provolenta to start with. Def recommend those! I had the "el Che" for my entree- one of the specials for the night. Delicious flank steak served with mashed potatoes and veggies. Huge portions, we all took leftovers home! Oh and make sure to get the dessert that consists of filo dough- not sure what it was but it was to die for!
(5)
Jennie T.

Everything here was good, just not great. As far as steaks go the prices were very reasonable. I had the boneless sirloin, which had a lot of fat to cut away. I also tried the 12oz which was much more flavorful. I recommend the empanadas as an appetizer. Had the flan for dessert. (I cannot not order flan when I see it on the menu!) It was very heavy on the caramel, more so than I prefer.
(3)
Randy H.

Good ambiance, good food, good drinks, good service. Perhaps not the ideal place for a vegetarian to go for dinner, but if you're not a veggie, I highly recommend it. Plenty of delicious food for less adventurous people, but I'm particularly fond of the sweetbreads and the beef tongue, and always excited to go somewhere with these more unusual menu items available. Also, THANK YOU FOLKLORE for having an normal menu on your web site, rather than forcing me to download some kind of PDF like all the other irritating restaurant web sites. That alone is worth 5 stars!
(5)
Margaret S.

I had been really excited to go to this place as I lived in Argentina a few years back. I finally had the perfect occasion and the restaurant ruined my night. I wish I had brought my out of town family to a better Chicago restaurant. We were here for dinner on a Friday night. It was kind of loud. Loud enough that you could only hear the person right next to you and it made it impossible for the 6 of us to couldn't carry on a conversation without yelling. The service was exceptionally slow. They didn't take our order until we had been there for about 45 min. They brought out only half of our drinks, and then the other half 10 min. later. We couldn't order dinner when we ordered our appetizers because our waiter rushed off. We ordered a series of steaks and pasta for dinner. Most of us got what we expected, the servings were larger than expected. One of us ordered medium rare steak and it came out medium well which was really unfortunate because if you're paying $30 for a steak you want it to come out how you prefer it. The main reason for this post is that they must have completely forgotten to put in the order for the last person (pasta with fish)! They brought out our 5 dishes and then a few minutes later came by to say that the sixth dish would be "just 3 more minutes". 15 minutes later, when they finally brought out the last dish the rest of us were finished eating. There was never any apology from the server/restaurant. This whole ordeal ruined our celebration and ended up leaving with a really negative feeling about the restaurant. I'm sorry, folklore, for the price we were paying, you should have gotten our orders right and had them all on the table at the same time. I won't be returning.
(1)
Sarah P.

The atmosphere in this restaurant is spot on. Gorgeous, warm, inviting, a tad dark in the evening as each table is lit by candlelight and the overhead lighting is minimal. It's certainly romantic, has great decor, and floor to ceiling windows at the front of the restaurant. It is also in a great location in Wicker Park, and offers a walkable neighborhood for after dinner. The food is the problem. The salad was so basic. Literally served with raw onion and a large slice of tomato, and although it is supposed to be served with mixed greens on this evening we received all kale. If you don't know about kale, it is bitter when eaten raw. I was not impressed. Hubby's steak was overcooked and not well seasoned. My stuffed chicken was ok, but not anything I would order again. The best part of my meal was the squash, the best part of hubby's meal was the potatoes. Our waiter did not come to our table for probably 15 minutes. The people seated after us had already placed their order before we even received water. Once our waiter finally came to our table he thought we'd already given our order for drinks and food. A tad too pricey for all that drama.
(2)
Denisse M.

Maybe if I get a fucking reservation and I won't waste my time, and get to try he food I might change my mind and edit my review. Please get new a host the one that was there yesterday at 7:30 pm doesn't know wtf he is doing, he is arrogant and likes to give dirty looks, MANAGER!! That host needs to be fired ASAP you really don want people like that working for you, he gives the place a bad vibe. Let me not forget when I called to make my reservation the host got annoyed with me only because I was asking him a question, he gave me a sigh and a groan on the phone. Tell me what kind of costumer service is that.
(1)
Alan S.

In this review, I am going to use the following criteria: Place/location, Hours of Operation, Pricing, Mgmt/Staff service, Food/Cuisine, Sanitation and Ambiance. I am not going to be biased in this review even though I do have extended relatives out in Argentina. Lol. Place of business/location: Restaurant has a location in the gentrified street called Division St. Division had been an impovershed area back in the 1990s. I am totally culture shocked by the rapid real estate development in this street area. Wow. Division may become the new "Rush" st of Chicago. Parking may be a frustration for first timers so please arrive early to get off street parking. The restaurant has a nice decor and can be seen on the corner street. You can get off from the I-94 expressway. I give a rate of 4 . Hours of Operation: Restaurant caters the dinner niche and opens late afternoon around 5pm-11pm. I give a rate of 4. Pricing: Pricing is moderate for this restaurant ranging from $10-$70. The restaurant has reasonable rates for the food compared to other places like Mortons or Gibson. They offer good quality steak at a competitive price. I give a rate of 5. Food/Cuisine: If you know a little bit about Argentina, the country has an european immigrant population. The restaurant will have familiar Italian dishes along with Argentinian foods . I had a 12 oz steak along with vegetables, garlic , and potatoes. I had ordered the steak to be medium and it was tender/juicy. You could taste the delicious steak from the sauce. I give a rate of 5. Mgmt/Staff service: The staff had delivered the food on time and always brought attention to any of our questions. I give a rate of 4. Sanitation: The restaurant had been clean and restrooms in proper sanitary condition. Tables had been clean as well. I give a rate of 5. Ambiance: The ambiance was good with the background music and environment. People had been very happy dining in the restaurant. The environment gives a great dining experience with a glass of red wine after a good steak. I give a rate of 4. In conclusion, I rate this restaurant a 4.
(4)
Jessica W.

Folklore gives a nice representation of Argentine cuisine right here in Chicago. I love eggplant, so I decided to order their berenjena that came layered with spinach, various cheeses and topped with a tomato-cream sauce. It did not disappoint!! I also tried some of their morcilla, which was delicious as well. We sat on their patio and received great service, would love to head back here to try more of their steak options!
(4)
Bonnie M.

Check out Paulo at the bar for the best Moscow mules you've ever had! Plus the empanadas are the best!!!!!
(5)
Matt E.

Um, delicious. Everything! We started with Chicken empanadas, had the mozzarella salad, and the stuffed chicken with mashed potatoes and mushroom sauce. Flan for dessert was amazing. Decor is rustically pretty, clean and welcoming. Staff was attentive and nice. Great place. Highly recommended.
(5)
Elaine M.

My husband and I stopped by here as part of the Christmas crawl, it was actually our very last stop. So glad we ended here! Folklore was certainly the highlight of what was already a great day filled with food and drink. The crawl was sponsored by Fireball whiskey so had already had plenty of tastes of it. What was great here was that Folklore made their own unique cocktails and they were stupendous! We sat at the bar and spent quite a bit of time talking with the bar manager. He was terrific! If we lived in Wicker Park I could see making a drink here a regular thing. They also had a sampling plate of empanadas, one corn, one beef, one chicken, one ham and cheese and one forgot. No matter they were all terrific and I say this when we already pretty full. Love love love this place!
(5)
Lisa H.

I've only been here four times since I moved to the city five months ago, but Folklore is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. I don't go out to eat very often, but this is the place I choose when I do. Some of the best steak I've ever had (El Filet medium rare). In fact, I will admit I enjoyed it more than my $85 steak from Chicago Chop House. Tender and succulent, served with lots of juice on the plate for dipping. The atmosphere is cozy and authentically Argentinian, and the service has always been impeccable as well. Last night, I went for my birthday with my parents who are from out of state. They loved it as well. And they gave me a free dessert for my birthday! :) Well, after dinner I realized I locked my keys in my car! So our waiter goes out of his way to contact someone to come unlock my car for less than half the price of a locksmith, even while he is busy serving other tables. It was so kind! So, to sum up Folklore: Delicious food, amazing atmosphere, great service, and genuinely caring employees!
(5)
Michael A.

Was able to stop in and sit outside for the last good evening of the Chicago summer. The outside heaters made it even nicer. Service was very good. Friendly and knowledgable. We had questions about the wine list and he was able to guide to a great bottle. Love servers who know there wines. You have to get the Fried Provolone as a delicious app. Since the steaks are so huge, we split one and it was more than enough! Cooked to right temp which can be difficult. Everything was timed properly and really made for a great relaxing evening. I will 100% return here.
(5)
Elisa G.

I really like this place. I have been here twice. Once with a HowAboutWe for Couples deal in a double date and once with my boyfriend. The first time the deal came with several items on the menu so we tried empanadas, pasta, gnocchi, filet and flan for dessert plus four different glasses of wine. The deal was a very good bargain! If they had it, I would do it again!!! The second time we had the parrillada para dos and nothing else. The meat was delicious. It comes with a nice salad which is a good complement to the meat. The parrillada included filet, ribs, sweatbreads, black sausage and chorizo. Everything was just great!!! I think for the two of us was way too much food. In fact, we couldnt finish. I guess that if you are not very hungry, just take a parrillada para uno and one or two appetizers. Portions are generous. I will definitely go back again!
(4)
Chary H.

The space is good for dates because of the low lighting. All tables are candle lit and overhead lighting is minimal. We were literally using cell phones to light the menu. The bar is nice, they have great drinks and the bartenders are friendly. The host on this particular Saturday night was a douche. Not friendly or accommodating at all. He seemed bothered that I was speaking to him. The servers were all great at least. We had the Russian salad, which was essentially a potato salad, it was pretty delicious. The empanadas were ok, I've definitely had better. The steaks are a bit on the pricey side and aren't that great. It's expensive and the quality isn't there.
(3)
Ashley C.

We stumbled to Folklore for a nice weeknight meal. (It is owned by the same folks that do Tango Sur which we have been to and like). Service was pretty good. Our waiter was helpful in pointing towards the favorites on the menu. We ordered a bottle of malbec and took advantage of the Tuesday special (half off bottles of wine). It was a good bottle of wine for the Tuesday special but I would have been disappointed if we paid full price for it. The food was solid. We started off with beef and chicken empanadas. They were really good and I liked the chimichurri sauce with them. For dinner, we split the half chicken and the skirt steak. It came with a basic salad which was okay. The chicken was nice and juicy from the white wine sauce. It was good but nothing to write home about. The steak was perfectly cooked and was very juicy. The portions were fairly large and we had a lunch in leftovers. We found ourselves comparing Folklore to Tango Sur finding that Tango Sur on top particularly because of the BYOB. With the half-priced bottle of wine, it was $100 with tip. We would go back, but for the price (especially with no wine special), other places are higher on the list.
(3)
Agustin S.

Making reservations is really easy once i got there they greet me very friendly ,they have awesome service and excellent food with big portions price is very reasonable. Must try the Mango Mojito and the Empanadas very delicious.
(5)
Heather R.

Fantastic food, especially after a night of drinking! The steak is perfect and service is friendly!
(5)
Veronica S.

Still love their version of eggplant parmesan, Berenjena, and their morcilla, but man! This last time we got it both were extremely salty, so salty I am actually resistant to the idea of getting them again, which would be sad because my husband and I both still think this is the best eggplant parmesan of any restaurant we've tried, including the many Italian restaurants in the city.
(4)
Eugene S.

I admit that sometimes I watch British television just for its covert celebration of small-mindedness. I think in the U.S., particularly within the PhD suspenders crowd (ho ho ho!) you'd be slated for reducing a the culture of a country to the two things middle Americans knew it for in the sixties. Anyway, it still happens and always makes me feel a bit weird - like that time I asked an Indian friend with genuine interest about what kind of food he makes when he gets home from work and his wife smacked him and started telling us about how to find a recipe for butter chicken. At least on the British TV, the mockery and knowledge that we should all know better just barely supersedes an acknowledgment of something pleasant and even endearing about that imbecile who packs a suitcase of crisps when traveling abroad (think: Karl Pilkington). So, the partner and I were watching a BBC culinary travel show where the presenter decides to visit Argentina. The entirety of the show afterwards basically involves him touring various numbers of strange tourist-trappy places in search of the perfect authentic beef experience all while remaining adorably ignorant. ("Gasp! The Argentines eat feedlot cattle!") Well, since there is a $160 reciprocity fee for entering the country and I don't have the BBC backing me to drive from Buenos Aires to Mendoza, this all left me feeling somewhat hungry for meat. Flash forward to me desperately searching the interwebs for a deal and we have Folklore. 20% off on Fridays for hospital or school employees. Perfect. Parking is street here, but not too difficult to find. The restaurant is very dark, but the waiters will light a little candle for you when you are seated, creating a perfect little bubble of privacy away from the three drunk nurses at the adjacent table. This isn't to say that Folklore is a dive - far from it. The restaurant definitely has an upscale style - brushed copper and wood - the house staff is friendly and attentive, but not intrusive, and in general, I felt well-cared for, but at ease. To wit, jeans and a T-shirt, and you don't spend the entire time trying not to look like an idiot in front of your waiter. We ended up sharing an empanada and getting a parrillada for two with ALL THE CHIMICHURRI. My favorites: the sweetbreads and short ribs. So much meat. Beef needs were met. We had leftovers. When we got in the car, we were already talking about going back. Only downside: could have probably used some salad because anticipating constipation is horrible. Then again, as long as we're talking about travel, this is probably about as authentic as the experience can get. TLDR: Ye Gods of Chimichurri smile upon us once more!
(4)
Jackie H.

Can't think of a reason not to love this place. I mean, if you have a fear of candles, I guess maybe it wouldn't be the best spot for you.. Awesome martinis, great food, cool vibe, friendly servers. I've been here several times, and each time, I'm happy. A great date spot!
(5)
Doug H.

There is really no reason not to give this place 5 stars (soooo rare for me). Best Sangria in my life....gigantic portions, steaks cooked to perfection and lovely outdoor patio. Ok, the dessert was good not amazing and the chairs not overly comfortable, but we sat on them for over 2 hours. GO GO GO - you'll love it!
(5)
Mark S.

Folklore and Tango Sur are owned by the same people and are almost identical, except that Folklore has a full bar whereas Tango Sur is BYOB. Our party of four tried to get a table at Tango Sur on Saturday night at around 7pm, but it was packed with a long wait, so we called Folklore, they had a little more availability, so we headed there. Neither restaurant accepts reservations for parties of less than 6 people, so if you want to be seated right away, you should get there by 5:30pm or go much later. For drinks, we had caipirinhas ($9) and pisco sours ($12), both were great and artistically made. The antipasto ($10) wasn't as good as we've had it at Tango Sur. The meats and cheeses were cut in thick chunks instead of thin slices. The four of us shared everything and ordered medium rare. We all received simple salads of lettuce and tomato, served with oil and vinegar before the entrees. The Vacio ($22 flap meat) was delicious. The Churrasco ($20 sirloin steak) didn't look very appetizing, but it tasted good. The Para Dos ($40 combo for 2 of short ribs, flap meat, chorizo, morcilla and sweetbreads) was awesome, except for the morcilla (blood sausage) which we never like anywhere. Don't be afraid of the sweetbreads, the texture is like crispy breaded and fried calamari, but more tender. The flan is the best I've ever had, order it even if you are stuffed! Overall, the service seemed a bit better than Tango Sur. All the food was plenty, even for 4 carnivores. We had leftovers to take home. If you want to bring your own wine, it's a corkage fee of $10. Our bill for 4 came out to $200 including the tip, which was reasonable considering all the food.
(4)
Rafael D.

For this review, I post no stars at all. I am going to make this review brisk. This place is complete shit! The food sucks! The place looks and smells like shit! The floor is so greasy that my chair slipped from under me! The last time that I was here. I was told that I was going to have the best steak I have ever had, little did I know that it was the worst! The steak I ordered was not medium rare, but well-done. It was mostly fat too! Also the salads and salad dressings tasted like shit. I do not recommend this place at all! NEVER GO HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO THROW UP!!!!!!
(1)
Andrew F.

I absolutely love this place. Spinach mashed potatoes anyone?!? The sirloin and mashed potato combination is y favorite. But sometimes you also go to a place for the atmosphere. This is that place. Center in the middle of two bustling neighborhoods, go here!
(5)
Aleah A.

If you want steak and only steak and you order the biggest best steak, you will be happy. Anything else not so much. The chicken was the worst i have had in years. So dry and no flavor. My friend who got a t bone also did not like his meal. The ravioli was ok, bread was good. This should really be 3 dollar signs
(3)
Anna Y.

The manager actually contacted me regarding my review and I was pleasantly surprised, I think that says a lot about dedication to changing what is wrong and humility I was happy to give them another try :) the waiter was very pleasant last time we came in although the host was still not so great, the food continues to have a good consistent presence so really it's a matter of getting good management for the staff and I think they are clearly moving into the right direction !
(4)
Jordan G.

I loved this place! I went with my boyfriend and another couple for a nice bite to eat. I was recommended by a friend who went to this place after actually going to Argentina, so I knew it would pull through. Although I happened to order wrong, and didn't like anything I ate, which was completely my fault, everyone else's food was amazing. All I am going to say is make sure you know you like La Lengua before ordering it. Everyone else's dishes were awesome. The empanadas were awesome, the steaks, chicken dishes, all of it was great. This place is definitely pricey, but the portions are huge! Even the empanadas are stuffed to the brim. The service was amazing, drinks were great, the dining room was super awesome, there was live music, overall great atmosphere. The Quilme beer was great, and apparently is the national beer of Argentina... mmm so good. Altogether, great and unique restaurant. I highly recommend.
(5)
Elizabeth S.

I went to Folklore for the first time last week to celebrate my husband's birthday and we are already looking forward to our next visit. I easily booked a reservation and when we arrived, we were asked if we'd like to sit in or outdoors and there was no wait at all. I like the very laid back feel of this restaurant as well as the guitarist playing live music. The dishes are very impressive and the empanadas ARE DELISH! I give Folklore a very firm 5 stars.
(5)
Sarah V.

Perfect! Just absolutely perfect! My first experience here was on a first date and I don't know if was the beautiful weather, the outdoor seating or the mojitos but Folklore really made it special. The chimmichurri was outstanding and the mojitos were some of the best I've ever had. Although Folklore has indoor seating, I highly recommend the outdoor tables. With summer around the corner Folklore is a perfect place for a nice dinner in the city!
(5)
Lucas K.

The sangria and empanadas were awesome! One of the best filet mignons I have had in a while!!! For sure will be going back!!
(5)
Dee M.

my husband and I came here a few weeks ago and got a great patio spot on a nice saturday evening. We started off with some Cava and empanadas. For the empanadas we had beef and chicken, both were very good. for the entrees we got the Mar y Tierra and the El Che. Both were great although I think I perferred the Mar y Tierra. We did a bottle of the Argentinean Pinot Noir which was also great at a decent price too. Overall a great experience with a friendly waiter, a place we will definitely return to.
(4)
Karen N.

Wow, their patio and mojitos saved us from going nuts at the crowded Division Street festival. You definitely need to be prepared to load up on meat. Our churasco is definitely enough for two if you order an app and also enjoy the complementary bread basket and salad. Also, the blood sausage on the side is excellent! Service is friendly and good. The overall pricing is execellent considering the portion size, we will be back soon!
(4)
Anna G.

Upon reading my former Yelp review of "Folklore Argentine Grill"; which mentioned a couple of bland food dishes, the manager Paulo invited me back to ensure that I had a better experience. I accepted Paulo's offer and went to Folklore with my boyfriend this Saturday. We had a lot of fun! To begin with, the host was very accommodating after we changed our initial reservation time. He fit us right in! When we arrived, we were served by a waiter named Esteban, who is from Argentina himself. We asked him to recommend us dishes and drinks that a real Argentine would enjoy. Esteban was really helpful and our food came out wonderfully. It ended up being a much better time than our initial visit. Everything was always as I imagined it should be!
(4)
Stacey O.

I had been to Folklore just once before for the drinks, which alone warrant a 5-star review. Tonight, we decided to order a few appetizers to go with our beverages and we were very impressed. The food: Empanadas - we ordered one of each, and while all of them were uniquely delicious, the standouts were the jamon y queso (ham and cheese) and the choclo (corn). We also had the provoleta, the argentine provolone cheese cooked with olive oil and roasted red pepper. It was amazing on its own or placed on their bread. The drinks: decent beer list for a bar that has so many specialty cocktails. The cocktails alone are worth the trip. The pisco sour is delightful, light, tart and sweet, but not overpowering in any way. I also had the pomegranate mojito, and I don't think I can order a mojito any other way now. The bartender Nico helped us navigate the menu and made excellent recommendations. We will indeed be back to enjoy the rest of the menu!
(5)
Marcus L.

I was in town for a few unexpected days. Rode the city bikes around multiple various neighborhoods checking out potential dining spots. Folklore Argentine Grill stood out as one of the more interesting possible spots. I made the decision to spend one of evenings dining here. And I'm so glad I did. The food was excellent. The service was on point. The interior was inviting and calming. If you enjoy Argentine style grilled meats, I'd totally recommend this spot. Two thumbs up.
(5)
Ruby D.

Ivan is quite the mixologist! I'm Very pleased with the cocktails, if you are a fan of gin try the La Sevillana. Once you witness and enjoy the making of one or two of those the wait for a table is a breeze. Luis was our server and he was a delight. My Sweetheart and I first enjoyed three of their delicious Empanadas(beef, cheese, and spinach). We both had El fillet topped with their red onion wine sauce and a side of spinach mashed potatoes. The music, decor, light commotion and candlelight followed by the great beverages and food made the romantic ambience all the more enjoyable. We will be back soon.
(5)
Kevin O.

The food here was delicious. The dessert wasn't quite on par with the main course, but it was still good. The ambience is dark and romantic, except for how incredibly loud and crowded it is. We felt like we were sitting in the aisle way. But overall, it was a great experience.
(4)
Lisa D.

I went here with my boyfriend last night after a friend of mine (from South America) gave it rave reviews. I used to live in Argentina so I was excited to try another Argentine restaurant in Chicago. The decor is very industrial-chic. To start we had 2 empanadas corn and beef. Both very delicious. For my entree I actually ordered to starters..chorizo and the tortilla de papa. The chorizo was awesome and came with great chimi churri sauce. The tortilla was a little dry so I didn't eat much of it (this is the only reason why I did not give a 5 star rating). I have had a lot of tortilla so I am familiar with it's consistency and what the "moisture level" should be. I wasn't too bothered because I ate so much during the other parts of my meal (the table bread was warm, toasted, and yummy)! One of the best parts was the pisco sour cocktail. It was frothy and sweet. I could have had about 10 of them but I settled for one. :) Overall, I would recommend Folklore and plan on returning. :)
(4)
Joshua S.

First, the food is great - good enough in fact to give this place another chance after having a misunderstanding with the service staff. Hopefully I'll be able to update this review with a better experience. Update: Just received a very sincere and thoughtful response from the manager; I may have misinterpreted their intentions during my visit. Whatever the case, its clear they take customer satisfaction very personally! I'll be back; and I recommend you give it a try too.
(3)
Rebecca R.

Stopped in here with my roommate to have a glass of wine on the patio. They had a simple but nice list of wines by the glass. We got a great spot out front and enjoyed a relaxing evening with polite staff and warm atmosphere.
(4)
Garret S.

The location is great, and makes this place really work for good reviews. The drinks were well crafted, and tasted delicious. We selected the food & meat appetizer, bone in ribeye, and seafood dish for our entrees. The appetizer was average, and the seafood dish was good. The steak was really tough, and seemed like it may have been frozen prior and wasn't thawed enough before grilling. The service was really great, and overall this place is worth a try. I would make sure to check the steak and send it back if it doesn't meet your standards.
(3)
FabriÃ§ia R.

Not so good as I imagined. I went one week ago to this restaurant with my friends. Was Thursday and the restaurant was not so full but The service was quite slow. All of us had an appetizer. I've tried the spinach empanadas. Good but not so far like same people says. The I had the churrasco. It was served cold and I had to ask to re-cook. I like the meat medium rare and when it came back was medium well done. I think that there are a lot of restaurant where eat meat better than this. Good but there is better. The price is not so hight like in other places but it's not a valid reason to come back for dinner again.
(3)
Patrice G.

I love the feel of this place. So warm and cozy with taper candles to light up your table. Good music too. Our table got several empanadas, which were a hit. The salad was very dull...Just green leaf lettuce with a few raw onion slices and soggy tomatoes. Not much effort. I ordered a boneless chicken breast with veggies. The best part of the dish was chimichurri sauce on the side, (which I believe is olive oil with lots of herbs). I just poured it on top of my chicken (it was rather tough) and the veggies and it made the dish so much better. I would definitely give this place another chance but would order something other than the boneless chicken.
(3)
Kelley C.

This is one of our favorite spots in Chicago. My husband LOVES the empanadas and I can't find better drinks in the city. We typically come for a bite and cocktails, but we've had dinner 3 or four time, too. It's always great. The service is unbeatable. Order the Primavera...you'll never find a drink that beats it.
(5)
M R.

I went to this place for the first time last night and was sorely disappointed by the customer service. We had reservations for 9:00. We called at 4pm and confirmed our reservation and spoke with the restaurant about how our party went from 8 people down to 5 people. The person we spoke with said it would not be a problem. We arrived a few minutes before 9 and checked in. The host had no record of our party being changed and then told us he would be able seat us in 30 minutes. We spoke with him explaining that we had called earlier about our reservation and were told not a problem. The server then told us he tells everyone 30 minutes because he does not like people coming up to him all the time checking on their table if he tells them a lesser amount of time. He said we would probably be seated in 5-10 minutes, but he says 30 minutes to be safe. He was quite arrogant and stuck up when talking to us which was unfortunate as we came to celebrate someone's golden birthday. We found spots to stand near the bar which was fortunate as the place was overcrowded. I am certain the place was over capacity. We waited quite a long time for our drinks, but they tasted fine. The entire time, we saw a table set for 6 sit empty. There were others waited to be seated besides us. We asked the host about the empty table and he said he was waiting to seat a party of 16 there. It was quite frustrating to be treated so poorly at a restaurant we had such high hopes for. The food we saw at other tables looked and smelled delicious. We finally left the restaurant and went down the block and found Mirai, a sushi restaurant. We were seated immediately, served drinks immediately and treated like royalty. The food was wonderful. Two members of our group had never tried sushi before and this was a great place to convince them to give it a try and they loved it. I will probably avoid this place and Tango Sur like the plague now. No one deserves to be treated like crap when you are willing to spend a lot of money at your restaurant.
(1)
Ronnie S.

This place is nice and cozy. The food is amazing & the prices are not bad at all. Empanadas with chimichurri is a must. The waiters are awesome & very quick and friendly. I truly recommend this place to anybody going on a first day.
(5)
Bethany M.

This was really good from the excellently made caipirinha to the steak and veggies. I really liked it.
(4)
Karolina S.

I think that Folklore doesn't get enough credit because of its sister restaurant, Tango Sur. Food wise, they are the same to me. Same prices, same quality, same amount of delicious goodness(helllooooo provoleta!!). It isn't byob so your bill will run a little higher. However, the wait time is cut in half or sometimes non-existant in this place. I rather buy a cocktail or glass of wine than wait an hour or two to eat. I love this place and everything it has to offer. I also prefer the space far more than Tango Sur. So if you hate waiting to get a table and love cheese, steak and chimichurri, please go. Let them muddle the crap out of a mojito for you as soon as possible.
(5)
Saro O.

I certainly didn't expect to find something so good in the ever-changing Division WICKER PARK corridor. Loved the look, loved the food. We had a taste for STEAK with flavor and FOLKLORE delivered. It did start to get loud as the night went on... glad we arrived early, so we could enjoy our meal. WORTH GOING BACK. Now if only there was parking.... ;]
(3)
Allison B.

This place is f*&$ing amazing. Had one of the top ten best meals our lives at Folklore last Saturday night. It was busy for sure, we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. But we knew it was worth the wait when the bread arrived to the table hot and fresh and tasting like it was made right on site. Our server, Esteban, was perfect - prompt, efficient and had great recommendations for wine and menu. We took him up on his advice for the corn empanadas. OMG. Please do yourself a favor - don't miss out on the corn empanadas! I had the filet with red wine sauce and spinach mashed potatoes. It was incredible, the meat was swimming in the wine sauce. My husband had some other type of steak with spiced potato wedges, I don't know what it was because I was too busy stuffing my face with filet goodness. BTW, most entrees come with a wonderful light salad of romaine, fresh tomatoes and sliced onions. Afterwards we had the dulce de leche cheesecake, which was also incredible. Did I mention they make great sangria too? We couldn't believe the entire tab came to less than $100 for a meal this incredible. My only complaint is that there isn't a great place to wait for a table. The bar is too close to the seating so you can't comfortably mingle next to the bar without your backside in a fellow diner's face.
(5)
Jeff C.

We kinda ignored this place for awhile even though it's right across the street. My girlfriend is a vegetarian and I didn't they'd have options for her. I was very wrong, they have plenty and her gnocchi was the best I've tried in awhile. My steak was perfection and I wanted to buy a liter of chimichuri. Cozy place. Great staff. We will be back.
(4)
Jill B.

Great food! Great service! Great music! Lovely date night place! I went there Thursday night for the first time with my boyfriend... It was quiet and the service was outstanding! We will come back very soon!
(5)
Jevita N.

I love this place! The drinks are great and the food is better!
(5)
Celena C.

Great atmosphere. Dinner portion size was excellent and the value was exceptional. For a party of 5 we paid $70 each for 3 drinks, 3 shared appetizers and dinner which was accompanied with salad and potatoes. The drinks and service was attentive and great! I'll definitely be back!
(5)
D S.

Oh man, I really really wanted to love this place. My boyfriend took me there for my birthday this past weekend. The service was good, the bathroom was clean, the beef empanadas were excellent, as was my caipirinha, BUT..... My steak was horrible. Basically inedible. It was seasoned perfectly well, but even the best seasoning cannot cover up the fact that a slab of fat is a slab of fat. I was able to eat about 10 percent of the steak. I didn't want to complain at the time, it was my birthday and I didn't want to be difficult, but now I regret not saying anything. Other things that were disappointing- the house salad that comes with the steak seemed pretty thrown together and the antipasto appetizer was skimpy and looked like the meats on it came from packages of oscar meyer sandwich meats. But in the grand scheme of things, I don't really care about these things being disappointing, since I was there for the steak. Folklore- if you read your yelp comments- Know that I want to come back, I really do. I could be a repeat customer but this is only going to happen if you improve the quality of the steak. What a disappointing birthday meal.
(2)
amy z.

Great ambience and service. Loved the Scottsman cocktail - it was perfectly balanced without being too sweet which is what every foodie hates about specialty cocktails. The food was good but nothing to rave about. The best thing about this place is the service, atmosphere and alcohol. We had the most amazing red wine (I don't remember the name but they sell it by the glass for $10)! And they also have a great selection of after dinner drinks. The one we had had hints of vanilla and went perfectly with the excellant flan. Emmanual was a great server with a million dollar smile - attentive and informative without being overbearing. I will return just for the atmospheric experience. There's nothing like leaving a restaurant after 2.5 hours talking with a close friend and feeling amazing for having been there. We often take atmosphere for granted but from someone who has worked in the industry, I know it's not an easy thing to conjure. Restaurants work hard to create atmosphere and Folklore has achieved it perfectly. If you want great service, excellent wine, good food and a welcoming ambience come to Folklore!
(5)
Kimberly S.

This place was great! I went on Friday for a birthday dinner. I had spinach/cheese and corn empanadas, shrimp entree. Everything was delicious!! I loved the live music too. I will definitely come back!
(5)
nikki s.

Highlights: -Loved the decor and design of the place. Sleek and sexy with all that mohagany wood. Absolutely beautiful. -The Latin waiters looked as delicioso as the food tasted! -Gimme some mo' of that fried cheese w/herbs please!!!!
(5)
Suzanne M.

Having already written a rave review for Folklore's sister restaurant, Tango Sur, I am somewhat disappointed that I can only give Folklore 3 stars. I have eaten here twice before writing this review so I am combining my experiences into this review. The great: Blood sausage (they call it "black sausage" - but yes, its blood sausage), the pollo medio (whatever they use for that sauce is amazing), and the spinach empanadas. I'm going to say that this is the best emapanada in the city, hands down. The sweetbreads that come on the parillada were small and tough on my first visit, but plump and perfect on my second visit. Having also had them at Tango Sur and knowing how delicious they can be, I'm confident in saying that they are one of the best things you can eat at both restaurants. The good: The steaks. I love MEAT and this is a full-on double-rainbow all-the-way-across-the-sky meat palace. That said, both meals were inconsistent in the quality of the meat. Some of the steaks were cooked perfectly and were tender and flavorful; others were tough, charred-tasting and, in the case of the short ribs we had on the parillada, mostly gristle and not a lot of meat. Overall though the meat is solid and reasonably priced. They also offer grass-fed/free-range and organic beef options for slightly higher prices. The bad: IT IS SO LOUD. I had a headache leaving the restaurant. There were people there on dates and in groups, and everyone had to shout to be heard over the music. On top of this the volume often fluctuated between "barely manageably loud" and "I am thisclose to walking out because I should not have to scream at the person sitting next to me." I even had my server ask me to repeat myself because it was so loud in there. Music should be just loud enough that you can't hear the conversation of the table next to you, but quiet enough that it doesn't intrude on your own table's conversation. Sadly for Folklore the overwhelming volume of the restaurant's music knocks what could have been a 4-star review down to a 3, and puts it in a category of restaurants I am not looking forward to returning to.
(3)
Laura G.

One word: Mojito. Seriously Delicious. Went here with the fam since my sister was in town. My mom can be.. well lets just say difficult. So I was a little worried at the reviews about the host kinda being a douche. But I was pleasantly surprised when we were seating right away. Ordered our drinks right away and got them before my dad even arrived. Awesome start to the meal. We order the rack of lamb and the el filet. Both were pretty good. I thought the filet ordered medium could of been cooked a little longer but it was still pretty good. Rack of lamb was good as well. Nothing spectacular but would come back. Oh the empenadas were delicious! So if you're in the mood for a drink and a app this is totally the place to hit on a nice summer night. They have a nice patio once this rain ends!
(4)
Sarah O.

Ambience: 5 stars! The candles and old-fashioned halogen light bulbs lent the room a beautiful (if not mysterious) vibe. Food: 4.5. We ordered the "Para Dos," which has enough meat to feed a small army, while the others we were with shared the Vacio Relleno. Both dishes were cooked to perfection and were the perfect prelude to our dessert of housemade flan and alfajor. Can't wait to return and accompany our meal with some decent red vino!
(4)
Ms G.

Crazy amount of meat. Short ribs were definitely fatty as warned. Datesy ambiance.
(4)
Kimberly N.

This is a great spot for a date (think: 2nd or 3rd date, not 1st or 100th), friends, or to take the parents. The food is pretty good, not amazingly great, but pretty good. The menu has a lot of safe options that are fancied up, so most people will find something they like while feeling adventurous--think: gnocchi in beef stew--however, if you are truly feeling adventurous, try some sweet bread. They have a pretty good beer selection (the Mole Ocho is a must), and seem to make good cocktails. To sum it up: large portions, steak options, decent cocktails; in-house DJ, dark atmosphere, and handsome servers.
(4)
Allison E.

Tango Sur's Wicker park sibling did not disappoint. I had a lovely dinner with assorted family. The menu is almost identical to Tango Sur's. However, Folklore benefits from being more spacious and having a full bar. I had a mango martini and it was wonderful. My dining companions loved their drinks as well and there were several delightful sounding options that I would have loved to sample on the drink menu. Our food was outstanding and we all sampled each other's plates. The lamb was especially good and my filet was a home run. Didn't seem to be anyone minding the front of the house when we came in, but that was the only complaint. Everything else; food, drink, service, decor was spot on.
(4)
Marianne G.

Why do I love Folklore? Let's start with the amazing staff... Somehow, even when they are busy, slammed even, they are always gracious and polite. They manage to find us seats quickly every time! I can't figure out how they do it. The service is always excellent. The atmosphere is romantic yet masculine at the same time so it appeals to both my husband and I. Have a tasty drink at the bar made by a cheerful bartender. I recommend the El Pepito - cucumber, basil, lime, and gin topped with champagne. Mmmm. Perfect on a hot day. I do wish they had more non-meat options (so I would eat here more) which I admit is a silly wish since the whole point is that the restaurant is all about Argentinian steak dishes. I just can't eat this much meat that often. Be forewarned that the food portions are a very large. I think 2 people can split one portion. Their "dinners for two" can easily feed a family of 4. It is a lot of meat. Don't go in expecting a standard steak dinner. This isn't what most Chicagoans expect of beef or steak. Folklore doesn't dry age beef but tends to slow cook many dishes in sauces. I'm guessing that the people that don't like Folklore were not expecting a true Argentinian steak experience but that's what you get.
(4)
Haley S.

Some friends took me here for dinner to celebrate my bday Saturday. Lots of fun for a group! Great mojitos, some inexpensive wines. Loved the provoleta (it's a plate of gooey melted cheese. Yum). Enjoyed our meat, my friend and I split the chimichurri stuffed steak for two. It could have fed four! Nice waiter, all in all a good time.
(4)
kelly c.

Brought to you by the makers of Tango Sur and Ã±, I've been pining after this spot for awhile. Walking by on a hot summer night, the atmosphere just looks sexy. Dark and sultry with flickering candles, and always a subtle live guitar session to put you in a relaxed mood. I had heard that Folklore was all about the Argentinian dining experience, and it would take some time, so I was ready to wait. I have to say, I didn't find any of the waits excessive. Drinks, appetizers, salads, meats came out all in a timely fashion with professional service. The drink selection is excellent - not extensive, but a fairly unique offerings that matches the fare. The meat was pretty much perfect. We had the Para Dos, which offers you a sampling of many different meats and comes out on a small grill. It even includes the blood sausage. The quantity is probably more like a Para Tres. I was less enthused about the other parts of the meal - the empanadas and the salad were fine, but nothing to write home about, imo. But, to be fair, by having really simple starters, the meat was able to take center stage. Everything was reasonably priced for what it is: empanadas $2/piece, dinners from $10-$36. Folklore is definitely a sexy date place for meat lovers. I do wish they had a website. But I found a full menu here: chicago.menupages.com/reâ€¦
(3)
emily h.

Ah! I can NOT say enough great things about this place! Love, love, love it! I don't even know where to start and could honestly go on and on forever so will try to pick my favorite things. 1) Their Fillet Mignon is amaze! Every time I have ordered it, it has been cooked to perfection! Beyond the way it is cooked, it has amazing flavor. Oh and I saved the best part about it for last, it is am amazing value! My husband and I can split this dish because they give you TWO fillets!!! The first time I got it and it came out, I thought they had made a mistake and had given me an extra one! But no, that's just part of the deal-io! 2) I love the atmosphere. When I sit inside, I love how it is dark and candle lit. However, I have really been enjoying sitting outside this summer. Their sidewalk cafe is adorable and has plentiful seating. When my husband and I went here last Thursday, they had a duo playing the guitar serenading the diners. We kinda felt like we were in Argentina- not that I have been!! 3) You have to try their Provelenta Appetizer if you like cheese! It is basically melted cheese, some delisho seasonings and a few red peppers. You then dip their homemade bread into this mixture!! MMMM!! I think about this appetizer more than is normal to think about an appetizer. Addicting! We probably come here once a month. Sometimes we just come for appetizers and wine (their wine list is great and very affordable!) but when we only come for appetizers it is hard to resist all the great meats!!
(5)
Kevin T.

Wandered into this place on a Monday night and were pleasantly surprised. Great DJ playing at the bar, nice mellow hip-hop/lounge music. Sat at the bar and were well taken care of by the bartender. Excellent recommendations and down to earth service. With some well balanced cocktails we sampled the many appetizers instead of going after the grill. They were delicious and made for a great experience. The lengua is a must (if you can get over eating small parts of animal), sweetbreads, veal wrap, provolone cheese bake, chorizo; they were all amazing. I'll definitely be back here. It was a great experience, one of the best in a long while.
(5)
J. K.

Mixed review. Service was terrible although no one was particularly rude. But they rushed us constantly, they grabbed my plate with food on it 3 times, I had to yank it back. Forget the etiquette on waiting to remove all plates at once. But they took forever to bring wine and dessert, but once they brought dessert, they rushed us out of there. Food was hit or miss, too. We got 1/2 chicken lemon ( vesuvio) to share ($5 extra for sharing), it was great and huge, we shared the plate and took half of it to go. Other people had different meats, some liked them, some got tough meat and didn't like it. Portions are huge and very reasonably priced, that's probably why they are busy. Mojito had lots of smashed mint and was great. But I wouldn't go back. The space is nice but you cant enjoy it when they rush you out of there. Lots of people running around and none of them provide personal service.
(2)
Michael S.

If you recognize you are going to an Argentinian steakhouse, and thus understand it is not the same as a prime steak from the likes of Morton's, you will not be disappointed. Apps: Get the melted cheese dish...it's like queso fundido -- Argenitina style (and really good). Otherwise, empanadas were ok, and not really anything to write home about (because I thought they were somewhat doughy and heavy). My strip steak came out perfectly charred and medium rare -- eaten with the chimichurri sauce, and it was fantastic! Drinks were ok, and I wish I had instead brought a bottle of wine. Both the mojitos and caipirinhas were good, but really way too sweet. Sit outside if you can -- while you can.
(4)
Carly G.

Great place. I love the atmosphere. Very rustic and welcoming. Dimly lit, and big. I went during the week and was surprised at how busy they were. It took a bit to have someone wait on us, but it was worth the wait. Malbec was very good and for $20 a bottle it was a good buy. The meat was tender and so tasty. I suggest this place to couples and to groups. Good drink selection and very good menu. I cant comment on the whole menu, cause I have only tried what I ordered, but it is so worth going back to try more. Cant wait!
(4)
nancy b.

i was fairly disappointed by folkore. i think for value, it's on par with its sister restaurant, tango sur, but the quality in both are just not my favorite that i find myself craving. one thing that irritates me in a dish is when garlic is used so heavily it masks any other flavors' chances of shining through. i like hints of garlic, or even a heavily garlic'd dish, but to just douse a gigantic piece of meat and its sauce in garlic seemed like the easy way out here. i would have liked to see my dish with more interesting flavor. i will say though, i wish i had the spinach mashed potatoes. i took a bite of my friends' and they were amazing! ambiance is very nice, woodsy but modern. it's not nearly as overstuffed as tango sur, which was a nice change. but that's about all that felt distinguishably different. oh and BYOB with a $10 corkage fee.
(2)
Justin F.

Cool Atmosphere, great drinks, huge portions Great Argentinian !
(3)
Tabitha G.

I hate to give this place 2 stars because I love N and the meat I've had there was amazing and love the owners but.... Good - love the space, empanadas (of course), mojitos (double of course), waiters (yummy), decent wait time for party of six walk in Friday night Ok - was not really in a steak mood but my beef was underwhelming and not many at my table thought anything but "meh" about the food Bad - the bar. Ok well the bartender had a nasty little habit of throwing down your change and then immediately scooping if back up and putting it in the tip jar. Oh probably just an accident you say? She did it to all 3 of us that ordered drinks while we waited. It was really an awkward situation and amazingly unprofessional.
(2)
Paul C.

Asked for my meat to be prepared medium rare, and it came out rare. We're talking blue, cold center rare. Sauces on my dish and my girlfriends' were completely flavorless. Not sure if we came on a bad night or what, but very disappointing considering we live a block away.
(1)
Mar Z.

The eggplant layered with ricotta cheese and basil with tomato cream sauce is fantastic and UNDERPRICED for the size. The scallop salad as well was amazing, a little shy on scallops but decent for the price. Also their spinach whipped mashed potatoes for $4 are great and serves 2.
(5)
Elvira G.

i loved it!! excellent dinner! excellent desert! awesome bartender! super sexy place!
(5)
Nicki W.

I thought Folklore was alright. Maybe the lack of stars was due to the migraine I had, making me finicky about everything. When we walked in the door, the lights were very dim, and the dining room was pretty much dark with the exception of candles on the tables. Very nice for a romantic evening I'm sure, but not very nice if you can't see well. The music was interesting. All I could hear was sharp violin sounds which were killing my head. The wine list seemed decent, but nothing caught my eye. Our server was very quiet and seemed scared to approach us and check up. I wish he had given us some ideas or told us what's good on the menu because we were lost. I did really enjoy the exposed brick walls and industrial windows. The tables were made out of this pretty wood, but ours was kind of sticky and needed a good wipe-down. We started with the Empanadas ( 2 Spinich, 2 Chicken and 2 Beef). They were good and were served with some kind of a garlic dipping sauce on the side which was never explained. For dinner my boyfriend ordered the Filet with the spinach mashed potatoes (amazing!!) Those potatoes were fantastic! Our other friends shared this fried chicken dish with these thin crispy and tasty potatoes. Is it bad that the potatoes tasted better than the chicken? Not much flavor there. I want to come back and try some other items, maybe when I feel better of course. Folklore is A-OK in my book.
(3)
Blake M.

My expectations coming to Folklore could not have been higher, and I could not have been more disappointed with the food. The first sign of trouble was that the waiter suggested the empanada appetizer and the breaded chicken breast entree. Hey waiter, we are looking for delicious and exotic Argentinian food, not recycled South American standbys. Ok, that is a bit harsh, empanadas are always good, and chicken is usually a safe choice. We were, however, looking for adventure, so we decided to split the sweetbread appetizer, veal t-bone, and entrana. The soup and salad came out first and followed the simple Argentinian tradition. Then the veal t-bone and entrana. Wait, where sweetbreads? Oh, he forgot to put them in, they would be out shortly and be complimentary. The veal t-bone came out and had a decent amount of flavor, although we were expecting it to be rich and full of taste. The meat itself, however, did not have any flavor to begin with or somehow lost all of the flavor on the grill. The entrana, which was recommended with the skin on (to seal in the juices and flavor), was equally as disappointing. Although we ordered it medium rare, it came out with just a hint of pink in it and it was unbelievably tough. The skin simply served to add a tough, flavorless, leathery layer on top, which we ended up cutting off almost immediately. I would say it failed to seal in the juices and flavor, since there were not much of either. The potatoes were ok, but they had that heavy, settled texture normally reserved for high school cafeteria potatoes. When the sweetbreads came out, they were somewhat bland, and we each ended up eating one before leaving the rest of the plate. When it was all said and done, we had eaten about half of each entree and 10% of the sweetbreads. The waiter, who was very friendly and attentive, noticed that we clearly were not enjoying our meal, brought out a flan on the house. This was a nice gesture, but neither of us enjoyed it, even after ordering a couple of cappuccinos to balance out the sweetness. What is so strange about our experience is that everything seemed like it should have been good. Good reviews, my Yelp friends liked (or loved) it, meat focused South American grill, enticing menu, and great atmosphere all caused my interest to be thoroughly piqued. That the food let us down this much came as a great shock. There were a few silver linings to this bad-tasting cloud. The drinks were pretty good, the ambiance was quiet and inviting, and our waiter treated us well after the forgotten appetizer and again after he saw we did not enjoy the entrees. All said, we may have just had one of the few bad experiences here, but it take a lot to convince me to come back.
(1)
Izabella d.

its not as special as tango sur. the menu is identical. the food is served identically. we always order the vacio relleno, at folklore they overcooked it, but it was still tasty. our friends ordered the para dos,, also overcooked. steak houses should be able to get this right... the corn empanada was a treat, super cheesy and gooey on the inside, good baked crust on the outside.
(3)
Kate W.

I'd been meaning to check out Tango Sur as I live almost right over the place, and word on the street is that Folklore is owned by the same people. Okay, full disclosure, those people are my landlords. I must love giving money to them or something, but hey- they put out a good product! Lovely restaurant. Romantic. Dark. Lots of nice wood and brick with large windows (which we were lucky enough to get to sit by, thank you date who actually makes reservations!). Being pro-Yelpers, we went with what came highly suggested: empanadas, filet, skirt steak. So.good. The empanadas were a wonderful, flavorful little appetizer. The filet is huge. HUGE. It's actually two filets. Literally, two. Two people could easily share as it also comes with spinach mashed potatoes. The skirt steak came recommended from the waiter and was amazing. And it gets better: complimentary flan! I don't normally order desserts after dinner, but I am so glad they gave us this little square joy of sweetness. I agree, service can be a little on the slow side. I'd say with the nice atmosphere and with good company you should be able to tough it out.
(4)
Sam J.

I've been wanting to go to Folklore ever since it opened - nay, actually way before that. You see, I live close by, and for YEARS that space sat there, vacant, with newspaper covering up the windows and building permits splattered all over the door. Not sure what took them so long, but it looks like it was worth the wait! The interior is dark, with awesome wood tables each topped with a real candle (not just one of those snowball things), which I thought was a nice touch. The service was above average - despite the fact that they were a wee bit slow to get to us at first after we sat down. After a decent empanada starter, I ordered the skirt steak, my date had the fillet (why would you NOT have beef at an Argentine grill?). I asked the waiter to recommend a wine pairing, and he did a great job selecting a great tasting Malbec. When the food arrived it was HOLY COW how are we going to finish all this!?? Seriously, just order the fillet and share it. I'm not kidding. Regardless, the portion of steak I COULD actually wolf down tasted fantastic. Oh - and we were delightfully surprised to get a free desert - a big plate of flan! That was a really nice touch. A definite win! Take your girl here - it's a great couples spot and Valentine's Day is coming up! And don't forget your doggie bag....
(4)
Vanessa R.

Amazing drinks and food! Excellent service and atmosphere! Took my husband there for his birthday---highly recommend!! The mussels with clams are very delicious for an appetizer. My husband and I split the Parrillada para dos for dinner. It includes a salad, potatoes, and a variety of meats. We also ordered a side order of mashed sweet potatoes (I am a huge fan of sweet potatoes and they lived up to my expectations.) There are tons of leftovers. Also, even though we ordered a lot, the bill was way cheaper than we expected--compared to other places that have similar atmospheres and food. Also, the place makes many seasonal, unique cocktails! Highly recommend!
(5)
John B.

C and I met our friend Ray at Folklore for dinner. C had the berenjenas as an entree. Ray and I shared a "Dos," which is a sampler of meat cuts and sausages. Everything on the grille brought to the table was tasty, although I will say that I've never eaten deep fried sweetbreads in Argentina. Everything there is grilled. The potatoes were very tasty. Among the cuts was a large hunk of beef tenderloin. It was exceptional. Service was good and the ambiance was especially nice. The menu, the decor and atmosphere, everything was distinctly reminiscent of Buenos Aires. The only thing that gave away that we were in the U.S. is that everything was more perfect. In BA, for example, the wall of the dining room would have a huge white split system unit hanging from the ceiling, marring the design. Here, the heating/cooling ducts were cleverly designed/disguised as a visual element. Two thumbs up and a high five to whoever was the designer. I don't recall the wine we ordered. It was a Pinot Noir for about $35. It was excellent. We don't hesitate to recommend Folklore. It has a more sophisticated and dramatic feeling than Tango Sur. Or course, it's at a higher price point.
(4)
Andrea L.

Folklore is the sister restaurant to Tango Sur, with 2 main differences. 1. It is not BYOB. 2. It does not have the 3 hour waits that you often find at Tango Sur. The food is great-I enjoy the El Filet and the empanadas. They also have very good drinks. Our servers have always been helpful and accommodating. Overall, it is a good value for the money, and a great place to go for delicious steak!
(4)
Christina P.

Sexy candlelit dinner + uber popular spot + mouth-watering food = as good as it gets! I loved my dinner here and could not be more excited to return. I'm surprised on the reviews for Folklore's food as I felt that it was much better than Tango Sur. Just as with TS, expect the very basic salad of lettuce, onion and tomatoes (though there are other salads you can order too). I had El Filet and it definitely exceeded expectations. Perfectly cooked, amazing sauce and those spinach mashed potatoes... oh me, oh my. The ambiance is downright sexy. Exposed brick walls, interesting art, candlelight, and a nice bar area to wait at. The service is as prompt as it can be on busy nights. Save room for the caramel flan... amazing.
(5)
Joseph F.

Second of all the food is very good. First of all, the two slick managers at this place are extremely rude and the wait even with a reservation is unacceptable. Perhaps you are taking too many reservations......
(3)
Sarah G.

This place is awesome! I have been to Tango Sur a couple of times and enjoyed it but my filet here was the best I have ever had (including any I had when studying abroad in Argentina). Everything was delightful. My boyfriend enjoyed every bit of his meal as well. I came on a Monday and they offer an industry discount which is great and the other days of the week they have great specials too. Luis was one of the best servers I have had in a while. I will be back!
(5)
Jennifer B.

After all the hype I've heard about this place and Tango Sur, we were sorely disappointed after a recent visit. We came in a big group of about twelve people. Our table was in a great location and we were seated right away, and that is where the good stuff ends. Our service was terrible. Awful. I can't say enough about how bad it was. Despite the large presence of servers everywhere, ours got orders wrong, was never available when we needed him, didn't refill water for hours, and on and on and on. The wine was good, and my cheap Malbec was especially good. The cocktails were bad, though- again, our waiter got orders wrong and almost nobody seemed to end up with what they wanted, but the special mojitos and daiquiris tasted like medicine. The empanadas were pretty tasty and came with a really good dipping sauce. The bread was fine. The free green salad was a nice addition to the meal. The much-hyped spinach mashed potatoes were good but nothing special. The entree salads were pretty bad, especially the mozzarella one. And the meat... nobody was thrilled with their order. My basically carnivorous fiance was completely disappointed with his big sampler plate, as was everyone else who got it. Just... overall meh. With bad service to boot. Guess I'll stick with the big-name steakhouses from now on.
(2)
Mari K.

Folklore Argentine Grill knows how to pack in quality service, amazing flavors, charm, romance, and affordability all into the NW pocket of Division and Hoyne*. Candle lit tables, neat windows that allow for the glow from the street, and tango nuevo sounds make for a perfect date spot, while the exposed brick and artifacts on the walls work at keepin' it real... or... Wicker Park chic. Oh, and I can't forget the axle-like machine part that held up the candle (which doesn't drip wax)... muy clever! Service is outstanding. We had 8 o'clock reservations on a Friday night and were seated immediately. Our server was polite, attentive, and did his job well. He even brought over another bottle of beer before my bf was done with his first. On to the food. The spinach empanadas with chimichurri sauce was perfect. We had a little bit of the sauce left over, which I wish I saved for my salad, since the only options for dressing were oil (not evoo) and vinegar. Ugh... I'm so sad it went to waste... next time. :) Moving on. I had read that the portions were ridiculous here, so we shared a steak that had cheese and spinach cooked in the middle. Our server suggested that we had it cooked at least medium in order for the cheese to melt. We went with medium-well, which was great for the spinach and cheese, but the steak was a bit tougher than I'm used to. Still, a very good steak! Dessert? There is no menu- they bring out the dessert tray. We chose a layered cake, which was decent.. a little too crunchy for my taste. No worries though; I will be back to sample the rest. :) * Be careful. Yelp describes it as being in between Hoyne and Damen, but it's actually on the NW corner of Hoyne and Division. You're welcome. :)
(4)
Jourdan S.

Good steak. On par with Smith & Wolensky? Nope. The salad and appetizer were sub par to say the least. The salad was obviously pre-fab and had been sitting around for a while. It looked like something out of a 1950's diner. One wedge of tomato, 3 red onion rings (raw), and a side of dressing over lettuce that was 48hrs away from wilting into the dark green abyss. My appetizer was melon wrapped prosciutto. It was served without the hint of care. the melon was sliced long and fat. And the prosciutto was old. It too like the lettuce had all the tell tale signs of sitting out far too long. The prosciutto had dried out almost completely! And mind you there were only 2 small pieces of prosciutto. Which can be fine, I'm not looking for a 1/4 lb of rich ass pork fat. But if you are going to serve only two pieces, then give me to thin filets of melon! Service was good, and the ambiance is nice, and dark. Some might say too dark but I liked it. Would I go back...eh, if someone else picked it, it was really cold out, and I was in a two block radius with a major hard-on for steak.
(2)
Mark V.

This would be a lot higher if they had cooked our steaks as ordered. But of the four steaks we ordered (all medium rare), three were badly overcooked (medium well to well done), and one was undercooked (rare). One of my friends sent his back, and to the waiter's credit, he was very apologetic and offered to bring out another one ASAP. But unfortunately, that steak was rushed and came back barely cooked at all. All of this was probably due to the fact that the Argentina-Uruguay soccer game was in penalty kicks at the time our meal was being prepared, leaving us to ponder that the chefs were watching the game instead of watching our food. A most likely explanation, but hardly an excuse. All in all though, it is basically the same menu as Tango Sur, but with a full bar instead of BYOB. Thus, the steaks (particularly the bife ancho) are still very good, and the chimichurri sauce is fantastic. With the alcohol, though, the tab comes in significantly higher. For this reason, I'll probably just continue to go to Tango Sur when I crave an Argentine steak.
(2)
GLORIA M.

Had a delightful dinner here last night. We had a party of 8 which can be a challenge, but the staff was up to it. Delicious cocktails on a sweltering night along with the eggplant appetizer, fried cheese and epenadas helped start the evening out right. The Good rolls with the dip would have been enough for me, but crisp salads cleared our palate for our assorted entrees of different meats, including filet, skirts, short ribs, sweet breads and chicken! Perfect atmosphere (tho bit noisy) and parking space right in front! Could not have been more perfect!
(5)
Janet L.

I came here for my roomie's birthday dinner. Very nice ambiance. Great grilled meats. I got the parradilla para dos to share w/my bf and there was way too much food. The chorizo was yummy, and we had plenty of food left over to take home. Other peeps got steaks and salmon w/pesto - I sampled bits and they were delicious too. Interesting decor inside, nice dim lighting with candles on the tables, and great brick interior. The staff was very polite and helpful. Cool music playing, and a neat place all around. I'd definitely come back here again to try out the other dishes. If only Wicker Park was more accessible...
(4)
Daniel C.

Whereas Tango Sur pairs well with a student's smaller pockets, Folklore is more stylish and trendy, perhaps better suited for those seeking to impress their meat-loving dates. Indeed, just like Tango, Folklore is a meat-lover's paradise. This place is all about meats. Bring a vegetarian if you wish to insult them. Folklore's menu selection is large, but to really savor the Argentine BBQ experience, one must get the parillada, which is an assortment of grilled items. Since I was with a group of people, we ordered the parillada for two. It comes with chorizo and blood sausages, short ribs, and sirloin. We also ordered the ribeye steak, along with a side of chinchulin, which is fried-and-then-grilled pork small intestines. The chorizo was delicious, though the blood sausage seemed a bit unbalanced. All the meats were great and very tender, especially the ribeye steak. My only complaint was that they were a bit salty. As for the chinchulin, it had good texture on the outside, and creamy on the inside (not sure if it can be attributed to our waiter's absolute assurance that they only serve it the 'natural' way, whatever that means). In case you are not absolutely stuffed after finishing the main course, Folklore offers a nice selection of desserts. The common theme seems to be that everything comes with dulce de leche, whether it is the cookie (with dulce de leche filling) or the flan (with dulce de leche on top). The one exception was the peach cake, which we ordered. It was light, making it a good choice after a heavy meal. We also had the flan, which was also good. The one thing that should perhaps be avoided is the coffee (either black, or with steamed milk), given that ours came out so watered down that it was almost devoid of any coffee flavor. So for those who crave tons of meat and want a nice ambiance, Folklore is the place to be.
(4)
Hailey M.

I have no complaints here. I really enjoyed my food and the atmosphere. I would definitely say I like it more than Tango Sur. Whoever mentioned the Antonio Banderas look alike as the host in their review was right on. I definitely didn't mind being seated by him! My bf and I started off with 3 empanadas - ham and cheese (favorite one), spinach and cheese, and beef and cheese. You would expect this to be good, it's deep fried. Then we both got the no-frills salad. I actually kind of liked the freshness of just the oil and vinegar dressing with the tomatoes and raw onions. I understand why some people are turned off, but given the amount of meat I was about to consume, I think my body appreciated it. For our entree we actually split the filet. I was tempted by the other options on the huge menu, but because I hadn't been able to view the menu beforehand (yes, I do that), I had decided on the filet before even getting there based on the reviews. I would like to see them make an online menu available or even get a website. Anyway, the filet was great! Cooked perfectly and the spinach mashed potatoes were a perfect pairing. Splitting was definitely the way to go with that one. I even took some home. Oh - I also got a side of steamed vegetables. I wouldn't recommend that at all. They had no flavor. I will come back here for another date with the bf. Any place that is all about meat and isn't dainty portions makes him happy. The wine was also really good and not overly expensive. Next time I'll try something else since I have now seen the rest of the menu.
(4)
Phil B.

Took the family here for a double birthday celebration. Very upbeat place. A bit loud but so are we. Strolling guitar was a nice touch too! Super helpful and polite staff. True Argentine cuisine. From the bar try a pisco sour. Empanadas for a starter is THE way to go. Rack of lamb outstanding. Served with mashed sweet potatoes done perfect! Waiter suggested tilapia over salmon and it was wonderful. Even my daughter ate a bite and said so. She hates fish. My son had a stuffed steak that stuffed him! Dessert. Share em! Flan, vanilla cake with coconut, peach cake. Coffee. Hey and with a few drinks...$200.00. I was ready to pay more. This is a great place for a party or a date!
(4)
Naomi N.

I came here in February 2010 for a friends birthday. Overall, it was ok. I don't eat beef so I was dissapointed that there were not any chicken or fish options and settled on a salad. It has a dimly lit atmosphere with exposed brick. Tables are a bit close together but we managed. Service was very quick, but I did get the feeling me and my three friends were being rushed out of there. My salad was ok and friends enjoyed their steaks. I gave it three stars due to their lack of menu options and the rushed feeling we got. I probably won't be back.
(3)
Dante M.

Now this is my kind of place. The drinks are outstanding and food is even better. First I had an assortment of empenadas (the ones with meat are the best), followed by the short ribs and filet. The filet I got, go medium, melted in my mouth and the short ribs flavor was second to none. I had one of the bet carphinha's I have ever had in Chicago. I'll be back!
(5)
Andrea C.

My husband and I went there to meet another couple. The atmosphere is very cool and cozy. The service we had was good as well. I ordered a mango martini which was excellent. Then we started off with the empanada's which were not that great. I had the sea bass with the mashed sweet potatoes which was so good, probably one of the best sea bass dishes I have had in a restaurant. My husband had the strip steak and he said the steak was tough and the portion was to large. We ordered dessert but they were good but nothing amazing.
(4)
Lisa S.

I love this place! The food is incredible and the atmosphere is fantastic. I loved Tango Sur, but I would choose Folklore now. Definitely go here!
(5)
Jason K.

Excellent filet! We've been there 3 times and the El Filet is so good I just keep ordering the same thing over and over. Good cocktails too but they can add up a little too fast.
(5)
Brenda V.

What a great little surprise. Excellent food, comfortable ambiance. Street parking is ok.
(5)
Lori L.

One of my favorite restaurants to go on a date with my bf. LOVE the ambiance. Sophisticated, yet you still feel comfy and cozy. It's one of those place that u can goto in jeans in a tee, or dress and suit and feel equally welcome and comfortable. Drinks are incredible. Try the 'la negra' a blackberry cocktail that is to die for. The empanadas are awesome. I love the ham and cheese or the spinach. I'd go here just for drinks, ambiance and empanadas. But the food is good to. :) One of my favorite places!!
(5)
Ruma T.

Review is mostly for the drinks and the ambiance. I've been here a few times now and got to sit outside for the first time today because the arctic chill is starting to thaw in Chicago. Mojitos. That is what you must get. They make 'em strong, full of minty goodness and a ton of lime. Its extremely flavorful, it can sneak up on you (mostly cuz you can't stop drinking them) and they're worth every penny. I had the regular and mango mojito and they were both delicious. Also had the mango margarita and caipirinha which were good. But the standout was the mojito. Great place to sit and people watch. Very attractive people coming in and out of this place. And the outside seating is just about perfect.
(4)
Rachel M.

I love this place. I will find any excuse to come here. This is my favorite place to celebrate anything romantic because of the low lighting, candles, music, and overall formality. The food is phenomenal. Unless you don't eat red meat, you have NO EXCUSE to not get a steak here. Argentina is famous for it's beef, and I've actually been to Buenos Aires- and this restaurant is like a step back into that trip. I also have to complement this restaurant on it's willingness to substitute items on entrees and appetizers. My mom has multiple food allergies that just developed in the last couple years, and they went above and beyond to accommodate her. If you've never had Mate Tea, try it. it's a unique and FUN authentic Argentine experience! The one thing I don't love- it's so loud in here when it's full. The ceilings are high and they have hardwood floors and they always crank the music up later in the evening. It's hard to have conversation with more than one person across the table from you. I love to start the meal with caprihinas or the blackberry mojito. Their drinks are masterfully crafted and delicious. They have an impeccable wine selection and the several Malbec's they have (Argentina's main exported red wine) are all fabulous. I recommend (by the glass) the 2009 Decero Malbec from Mendoza and the 2010 a Posta Cocina Blend. The antipasto and provoleta are both wonderful sharing appetizers. All of the steaks I've tried are wonderful. The Costaleta Organica is not quite as good as the regular Costaleta in my opinion because I love the olive oil, garlic, parsley and caper sauce covering it. The mashed potatoes side MELT in your mouth. nomnonmnom. The Filet Mignon is also fantastic but my favorite steak is the Bife Vesuvio because they fill it with spinach, mar del plata, cheese and garlic, and serve it in white wine sauce with Argentine style potatoes. Just a heads up though, it's a tad chewier than I expected and maybe more so than some would like. The desserts vary, and I love that they bring by a dessert plate so that you can see it and then have the name listed and choose one.
(5)
Ron V.

There was a bit of a wait for a table which is fine, however there is no comfortable place to wait inside the restaurant, which can be an issue during the winter. More importantly however, both the food and service were enjoable.
(3)
Casey F.

I had dinner here on a Sunday night. The ambiance is actually great for a date. It's dark and lit by candles, and the music is a good volume so as to avoid awkward silences but not too loud so you can still hear your dining companion talk. That being said, I was here with some of my in-laws, the youngest being 14 years old. I ordered the El Filet which came with spinach mashed potatoes. The dish came with 2 huge pieces of meat. It was so much food I was kind of grossed out. It was tender and really tasty though. The potatoes were unique however under seasoned. They did have salt and pepper shakers on the table to remedy that. As a side note- I don't like dining at places with shakers on the table. To me it indicates that the chefs cannot properly season food. Does that make me a snob? Maybe. But I'm ok with it. The highlight for me was the empanadas. We got one of each flavor and I was obsessed with them. I am not sure I'd come back for the steak. The empanadas, you bet.
(3)
EDILSA E.

I've been here a total of 3 times and the experiences are a 10 every time. This past weekend I came here with my husband for date night and again it was amazing. We made reservations earlier that week and received a call the following day to confirm. We arrived super late and the host was still very accommodating. I sneaked a peak at the reservation list and it was mighty long. We got in and were seated right away. Let me explain the ambiance. It's dark in there. The tables aren't too close together but I will say it is packed and loud on Friday and Saturday nights. There are candles at every table. It's super romantic but also a place you can bring kids to. Not too young though. We've been here with our 13 year-old son. We were given fresh, out of the oven, bread. Warm tiny little French breads and they are soft and warm. Did I mention they were warm? Our waiter popped our wine right away. Did I mention this place is BYOB??? Yes, it's amazing . There is a $10 corking fee per bottle. Not too bad at all considering we can bring in what we want. The drinks there are delish also. They have Argentinian beer which is nice and crisp and I enjoy. Our menus were open right away and we were ready to order! We had empanadas and an appetizer...not sure the name but it's of corn. It's nice and creamy corn. The outside is nice and crunchy. A salad is served before the main entrees. The salad is nice and simple. Romaine lettuce, 3 slices of tomato, and white onion. They bring vingar and oil to drizzle over it. Simple but delicious. Our main entrees were Mar y Tierra and Churrasco. Mar y Tierra is a 8 ounce filet mignon with huge shrimp. The shrimp is so big it looks like lobster. It has a tomato sauce with veggies in it. The seal is nice and tender. Churrasco is a 12 ounce filet mignon with mashed potatoes. I asked for them to change the mashed potatoes to their signature spinach mashed potatoes which are amazing! They brought us two orders. Dinner was nice and slow. We didn't feel rushed even though we knew there were people waiting. They even served us a fabulous, rich, and delicious flan with a sweet caramel on top. Dinner was $90. Nothing too crazy. Two appetizers, tow entrees, and two bottles of wine. Dessert was free! This place is a great experience every time. I love it!
(5)
Sean H.

My wife and I really enjoyed the food and service. We went by accident, CRUSTwas closed and I noticed in the window that they were part of Tango Sur. the menu is huge with lots of great options. The wines are tasty and the desserts are perfect. One gripe, the seating was awkward. We got stuck against the window and a couple that was breaking up blocked us in the corner. All in all, good food and service.
(4)
kathy r.

Atmosphere is great. Nice selection of wine. Service was REALLY slow and the place was not packed. It took an hour for us to get our salads. I am a true carnivore... I love a great piece of meat, mine was not cooked properly. I wanted medium rare and mine was obviously medium. Still, I ate it because I was starving and as slow as the service was, I thought it would take another 20 minutes or so before I got a new one. Either way, I might check it out again with my hubby... maybe it was just a bad night for the place. We'll see.
(2)
Teresa S.

Recently hit this joint with my foodie friends and it was a nice surprise. Excellent Wicker Park location offering pretty darn good food. If you like meat...this is the place for you. I enjoyed the sirloin...but be warned, I asked for medium well...and I was handed a almost raw piece. Oh my...of course, I sent it back and they cooked it more. The portion was huge! Enjoy the romantic low-lighting with a lover...and be sure to order the chimichurri's...there are 3 varieties to choose from! ENJOY!
(3)
Kelly G.

Wow. I have to say - I wasn't expecting something this good for a place we just randomly stumbled upon. We shared two empanadas - a spinach and a beef. Flaky crispy crust and delicious flavorful filling. Came with a sort of oil dip, maybe an olive oil with tons of herbs in it. Complimented very well. Totally awesome. I had the beef ravioli. I usually stay away from beef ravioli, since most of the time it tastes like nasty Chef Boyardee, but this was amazing. The sauce was more like a stew (large hunks of beef, smooth tomato sauce) but was very good and had a great wine flavor to it. Truly the BEST beef ravioli I've ever had. My dining companion had a steak, which was undercooked for what she ordered (medium well ordered, came out medium) but she still enjoyed it. I, personally, am not a big fan of chargrilled steak - and this didn't have any spices on it so I wasn't too into it. But I could see how this would be right up someone's alley. Overall, I would definitely be back to try some of the other menu items. My only problem is that the place is SO DARK. It is almost solely lit by really annoying tapered candles on the tables that always seem in danger of falling over. However, the service was attentive and made good recommendations. Outside of it being so dark, it is a great place!
(4)
Amy J.

Well Tango Sur has been an all time favorite for years so I was pumped to try Folklore. I ordered all the same dishes I love to get at TS and they were just the same at Folklore. Only difference is that the space is GORGEOUS it's really pretty and cozy AND they have drinks- no BYOB situation here. Amazing cocktails. If you've been to N- another one of their restaurants, you know how good their fresh cocktails are. Though it was a Tues. night in the middle of a Chicago blizzard, the Capiriska (sp?) transporting me right to Miami. SO good- fresh limes, fresh ingredients, wowza.
(4)
Susan F.

Deciding to skip the street festival food that was going on during one of the first fests of the season, my husband and five year old decided to give this place a try. Two things: Fantastic steak. Not so great service. My daughter loved the prosciutto. The cocktails sounded great. It was an early afternoon so there was a decent crowd considering how much activity was going on. We sat outside, which was nice. The inside is beautiful, but since the music was so loud, I wouldn't recommend it for larger groups.
(4)
C P.

This place comes highly recommened by friends so I thought I would give it a try. Very good mojitos, but not so great food. My boyfriend and I both ordered a salad and a filet. The salad was boring, and the steak was aweful. I ordered mine medium and it came out bloody. My bf ordered his steak medium-well and it came out bloody. We sent them both back and then the steaks came out burnt! The end result of this dinner was us leaving without eating. I'll stick to Tango Sur.
(1)
Elizabeth E.

Went here late night for drinks and had the best mojito I've ever had. My frieds were not crazy about their drinks so they made them new ones without a problem. Manager was there, introducing himself, making sure service was great. Bartender was amazing, knew exactly what he was doing. I lived in NYC and this place reminded me of a place you'd find in trendy SoHo. Can't wait to try the food next time!
(4)
kathy r.

Atmosphere is great. Nice selection of wine. Service was REALLY slow and the place was not packed. It took an hour for us to get our salads. I am a true carnivore... I love a great piece of meat, mine was not cooked properly. I wanted medium rare and mine was obviously medium. Still, I ate it because I was starving and as slow as the service was, I thought it would take another 20 minutes or so before I got a new one. Either way, I might check it out again with my hubby... maybe it was just a bad night for the place. We'll see.
(2)
Agustin S.

Making reservations is really easy once i got there they greet me very friendly ,they have awesome service and excellent food with big portions price is very reasonable. Must try the Mango Mojito and the Empanadas very delicious.
(5)
Heather R.

Fantastic food, especially after a night of drinking! The steak is perfect and service is friendly!
(5)
Veronica S.

Still love their version of eggplant parmesan, Berenjena, and their morcilla, but man! This last time we got it both were extremely salty, so salty I am actually resistant to the idea of getting them again, which would be sad because my husband and I both still think this is the best eggplant parmesan of any restaurant we've tried, including the many Italian restaurants in the city.
(4)
Eugene S.

I admit that sometimes I watch British television just for its covert celebration of small-mindedness. I think in the U.S., particularly within the PhD suspenders crowd (ho ho ho!) you'd be slated for reducing a the culture of a country to the two things middle Americans knew it for in the sixties. Anyway, it still happens and always makes me feel a bit weird - like that time I asked an Indian friend with genuine interest about what kind of food he makes when he gets home from work and his wife smacked him and started telling us about how to find a recipe for butter chicken. At least on the British TV, the mockery and knowledge that we should all know better just barely supersedes an acknowledgment of something pleasant and even endearing about that imbecile who packs a suitcase of crisps when traveling abroad (think: Karl Pilkington). So, the partner and I were watching a BBC culinary travel show where the presenter decides to visit Argentina. The entirety of the show afterwards basically involves him touring various numbers of strange tourist-trappy places in search of the perfect authentic beef experience all while remaining adorably ignorant. ("Gasp! The Argentines eat feedlot cattle!") Well, since there is a $160 reciprocity fee for entering the country and I don't have the BBC backing me to drive from Buenos Aires to Mendoza, this all left me feeling somewhat hungry for meat. Flash forward to me desperately searching the interwebs for a deal and we have Folklore. 20% off on Fridays for hospital or school employees. Perfect. Parking is street here, but not too difficult to find. The restaurant is very dark, but the waiters will light a little candle for you when you are seated, creating a perfect little bubble of privacy away from the three drunk nurses at the adjacent table. This isn't to say that Folklore is a dive - far from it. The restaurant definitely has an upscale style - brushed copper and wood - the house staff is friendly and attentive, but not intrusive, and in general, I felt well-cared for, but at ease. To wit, jeans and a T-shirt, and you don't spend the entire time trying not to look like an idiot in front of your waiter. We ended up sharing an empanada and getting a parrillada for two with ALL THE CHIMICHURRI. My favorites: the sweetbreads and short ribs. So much meat. Beef needs were met. We had leftovers. When we got in the car, we were already talking about going back. Only downside: could have probably used some salad because anticipating constipation is horrible. Then again, as long as we're talking about travel, this is probably about as authentic as the experience can get. TLDR: Ye Gods of Chimichurri smile upon us once more!
(4)
Jackie H.

Can't think of a reason not to love this place. I mean, if you have a fear of candles, I guess maybe it wouldn't be the best spot for you.. Awesome martinis, great food, cool vibe, friendly servers. I've been here several times, and each time, I'm happy. A great date spot!
(5)
Doug H.

There is really no reason not to give this place 5 stars (soooo rare for me). Best Sangria in my life....gigantic portions, steaks cooked to perfection and lovely outdoor patio. Ok, the dessert was good not amazing and the chairs not overly comfortable, but we sat on them for over 2 hours. GO GO GO - you'll love it!
(5)
Mark S.

Folklore and Tango Sur are owned by the same people and are almost identical, except that Folklore has a full bar whereas Tango Sur is BYOB. Our party of four tried to get a table at Tango Sur on Saturday night at around 7pm, but it was packed with a long wait, so we called Folklore, they had a little more availability, so we headed there. Neither restaurant accepts reservations for parties of less than 6 people, so if you want to be seated right away, you should get there by 5:30pm or go much later. For drinks, we had caipirinhas ($9) and pisco sours ($12), both were great and artistically made. The antipasto ($10) wasn't as good as we've had it at Tango Sur. The meats and cheeses were cut in thick chunks instead of thin slices. The four of us shared everything and ordered medium rare. We all received simple salads of lettuce and tomato, served with oil and vinegar before the entrees. The Vacio ($22 flap meat) was delicious. The Churrasco ($20 sirloin steak) didn't look very appetizing, but it tasted good. The Para Dos ($40 combo for 2 of short ribs, flap meat, chorizo, morcilla and sweetbreads) was awesome, except for the morcilla (blood sausage) which we never like anywhere. Don't be afraid of the sweetbreads, the texture is like crispy breaded and fried calamari, but more tender. The flan is the best I've ever had, order it even if you are stuffed! Overall, the service seemed a bit better than Tango Sur. All the food was plenty, even for 4 carnivores. We had leftovers to take home. If you want to bring your own wine, it's a corkage fee of $10. Our bill for 4 came out to $200 including the tip, which was reasonable considering all the food.
(4)
Rafael D.

For this review, I post no stars at all. I am going to make this review brisk. This place is complete shit! The food sucks! The place looks and smells like shit! The floor is so greasy that my chair slipped from under me! The last time that I was here. I was told that I was going to have the best steak I have ever had, little did I know that it was the worst! The steak I ordered was not medium rare, but well-done. It was mostly fat too! Also the salads and salad dressings tasted like shit. I do not recommend this place at all! NEVER GO HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO THROW UP!!!!!!
(1)
Andrew F.

I absolutely love this place. Spinach mashed potatoes anyone?!? The sirloin and mashed potato combination is y favorite. But sometimes you also go to a place for the atmosphere. This is that place. Center in the middle of two bustling neighborhoods, go here!
(5)
Aleah A.

If you want steak and only steak and you order the biggest best steak, you will be happy. Anything else not so much. The chicken was the worst i have had in years. So dry and no flavor. My friend who got a t bone also did not like his meal. The ravioli was ok, bread was good. This should really be 3 dollar signs
(3)
Anna Y.

The manager actually contacted me regarding my review and I was pleasantly surprised, I think that says a lot about dedication to changing what is wrong and humility I was happy to give them another try :) the waiter was very pleasant last time we came in although the host was still not so great, the food continues to have a good consistent presence so really it's a matter of getting good management for the staff and I think they are clearly moving into the right direction !
(4)
Jordan G.

I loved this place! I went with my boyfriend and another couple for a nice bite to eat. I was recommended by a friend who went to this place after actually going to Argentina, so I knew it would pull through. Although I happened to order wrong, and didn't like anything I ate, which was completely my fault, everyone else's food was amazing. All I am going to say is make sure you know you like La Lengua before ordering it. Everyone else's dishes were awesome. The empanadas were awesome, the steaks, chicken dishes, all of it was great. This place is definitely pricey, but the portions are huge! Even the empanadas are stuffed to the brim. The service was amazing, drinks were great, the dining room was super awesome, there was live music, overall great atmosphere. The Quilme beer was great, and apparently is the national beer of Argentina... mmm so good. Altogether, great and unique restaurant. I highly recommend.
(5)
Elizabeth S.

I went to Folklore for the first time last week to celebrate my husband's birthday and we are already looking forward to our next visit. I easily booked a reservation and when we arrived, we were asked if we'd like to sit in or outdoors and there was no wait at all. I like the very laid back feel of this restaurant as well as the guitarist playing live music. The dishes are very impressive and the empanadas ARE DELISH! I give Folklore a very firm 5 stars.
(5)
Sarah V.

Perfect! Just absolutely perfect! My first experience here was on a first date and I don't know if was the beautiful weather, the outdoor seating or the mojitos but Folklore really made it special. The chimmichurri was outstanding and the mojitos were some of the best I've ever had. Although Folklore has indoor seating, I highly recommend the outdoor tables. With summer around the corner Folklore is a perfect place for a nice dinner in the city!
(5)
Lucas K.

The sangria and empanadas were awesome! One of the best filet mignons I have had in a while!!! For sure will be going back!!
(5)
Dee M.

my husband and I came here a few weeks ago and got a great patio spot on a nice saturday evening. We started off with some Cava and empanadas. For the empanadas we had beef and chicken, both were very good. for the entrees we got the Mar y Tierra and the El Che. Both were great although I think I perferred the Mar y Tierra. We did a bottle of the Argentinean Pinot Noir which was also great at a decent price too. Overall a great experience with a friendly waiter, a place we will definitely return to.
(4)
Karen N.

Wow, their patio and mojitos saved us from going nuts at the crowded Division Street festival. You definitely need to be prepared to load up on meat. Our churasco is definitely enough for two if you order an app and also enjoy the complementary bread basket and salad. Also, the blood sausage on the side is excellent! Service is friendly and good. The overall pricing is execellent considering the portion size, we will be back soon!
(4)
Iaroslav M.

simply -WOW!!Steaks are the best I've ever had, so as margarita.Service is great and restaurant is very cozy and well designed. Highly recommended
(5)
Nikki K.

Went with a group of gal pals and we tried and shared several dishes. HUGE portions and everything was just ok, nothing stood out. The service was ok as well, however the ambiance is cute and romantic. It looks like they have a great patio for nice weather. My friends had several cocktails and said the drinks were tasty and the wine prices were good.
(2)
Sonia B.

Great atmosphere is what got this place the two stars. The food was absolutely lackluster compared to other South American establishments. I ordered one of the steaks well done and portions of it were cooked medium well while other portions were medium rare, and only the edges were cooked well. It was SO disappointing. And there was NO flavor! The spinach mashed potatoes is what saved my meal. The empanadas were pretty good. The sangria was ok. I was so sad leaving here because I was expecting WAY more! I think this place is a bit overrated...
(2)
Anna G.

Upon reading my former Yelp review of "Folklore Argentine Grill"; which mentioned a couple of bland food dishes, the manager Paulo invited me back to ensure that I had a better experience. I accepted Paulo's offer and went to Folklore with my boyfriend this Saturday. We had a lot of fun! To begin with, the host was very accommodating after we changed our initial reservation time. He fit us right in! When we arrived, we were served by a waiter named Esteban, who is from Argentina himself. We asked him to recommend us dishes and drinks that a real Argentine would enjoy. Esteban was really helpful and our food came out wonderfully. It ended up being a much better time than our initial visit. Everything was always as I imagined it should be!
(4)
Stacey O.

I had been to Folklore just once before for the drinks, which alone warrant a 5-star review. Tonight, we decided to order a few appetizers to go with our beverages and we were very impressed. The food: Empanadas - we ordered one of each, and while all of them were uniquely delicious, the standouts were the jamon y queso (ham and cheese) and the choclo (corn). We also had the provoleta, the argentine provolone cheese cooked with olive oil and roasted red pepper. It was amazing on its own or placed on their bread. The drinks: decent beer list for a bar that has so many specialty cocktails. The cocktails alone are worth the trip. The pisco sour is delightful, light, tart and sweet, but not overpowering in any way. I also had the pomegranate mojito, and I don't think I can order a mojito any other way now. The bartender Nico helped us navigate the menu and made excellent recommendations. We will indeed be back to enjoy the rest of the menu!
(5)
Marcus L.

I was in town for a few unexpected days. Rode the city bikes around multiple various neighborhoods checking out potential dining spots. Folklore Argentine Grill stood out as one of the more interesting possible spots. I made the decision to spend one of evenings dining here. And I'm so glad I did. The food was excellent. The service was on point. The interior was inviting and calming. If you enjoy Argentine style grilled meats, I'd totally recommend this spot. Two thumbs up.
(5)
Ruby D.

Ivan is quite the mixologist! I'm Very pleased with the cocktails, if you are a fan of gin try the La Sevillana. Once you witness and enjoy the making of one or two of those the wait for a table is a breeze. Luis was our server and he was a delight. My Sweetheart and I first enjoyed three of their delicious Empanadas(beef, cheese, and spinach). We both had El fillet topped with their red onion wine sauce and a side of spinach mashed potatoes. The music, decor, light commotion and candlelight followed by the great beverages and food made the romantic ambience all the more enjoyable. We will be back soon.
(5)
Kevin O.

The food here was delicious. The dessert wasn't quite on par with the main course, but it was still good. The ambience is dark and romantic, except for how incredibly loud and crowded it is. We felt like we were sitting in the aisle way. But overall, it was a great experience.
(4)
Jennie T.

Everything here was good, just not great. As far as steaks go the prices were very reasonable. I had the boneless sirloin, which had a lot of fat to cut away. I also tried the 12oz which was much more flavorful. I recommend the empanadas as an appetizer. Had the flan for dessert. (I cannot not order flan when I see it on the menu!) It was very heavy on the caramel, more so than I prefer.
(3)
Lisa D.

I went here with my boyfriend last night after a friend of mine (from South America) gave it rave reviews. I used to live in Argentina so I was excited to try another Argentine restaurant in Chicago. The decor is very industrial-chic. To start we had 2 empanadas corn and beef. Both very delicious. For my entree I actually ordered to starters..chorizo and the tortilla de papa. The chorizo was awesome and came with great chimi churri sauce. The tortilla was a little dry so I didn't eat much of it (this is the only reason why I did not give a 5 star rating). I have had a lot of tortilla so I am familiar with it's consistency and what the "moisture level" should be. I wasn't too bothered because I ate so much during the other parts of my meal (the table bread was warm, toasted, and yummy)! One of the best parts was the pisco sour cocktail. It was frothy and sweet. I could have had about 10 of them but I settled for one. :) Overall, I would recommend Folklore and plan on returning. :)
(4)
Joshua S.

First, the food is great - good enough in fact to give this place another chance after having a misunderstanding with the service staff. Hopefully I'll be able to update this review with a better experience. Update: Just received a very sincere and thoughtful response from the manager; I may have misinterpreted their intentions during my visit. Whatever the case, its clear they take customer satisfaction very personally! I'll be back; and I recommend you give it a try too.
(3)
Saro O.

I certainly didn't expect to find something so good in the ever-changing Division WICKER PARK corridor. Loved the look, loved the food. We had a taste for STEAK with flavor and FOLKLORE delivered. It did start to get loud as the night went on... glad we arrived early, so we could enjoy our meal. WORTH GOING BACK. Now if only there was parking.... ;]
(3)
Allison B.

This place is f*&$ing amazing. Had one of the top ten best meals our lives at Folklore last Saturday night. It was busy for sure, we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. But we knew it was worth the wait when the bread arrived to the table hot and fresh and tasting like it was made right on site. Our server, Esteban, was perfect - prompt, efficient and had great recommendations for wine and menu. We took him up on his advice for the corn empanadas. OMG. Please do yourself a favor - don't miss out on the corn empanadas! I had the filet with red wine sauce and spinach mashed potatoes. It was incredible, the meat was swimming in the wine sauce. My husband had some other type of steak with spiced potato wedges, I don't know what it was because I was too busy stuffing my face with filet goodness. BTW, most entrees come with a wonderful light salad of romaine, fresh tomatoes and sliced onions. Afterwards we had the dulce de leche cheesecake, which was also incredible. Did I mention they make great sangria too? We couldn't believe the entire tab came to less than $100 for a meal this incredible. My only complaint is that there isn't a great place to wait for a table. The bar is too close to the seating so you can't comfortably mingle next to the bar without your backside in a fellow diner's face.
(5)
Jeff C.

We kinda ignored this place for awhile even though it's right across the street. My girlfriend is a vegetarian and I didn't they'd have options for her. I was very wrong, they have plenty and her gnocchi was the best I've tried in awhile. My steak was perfection and I wanted to buy a liter of chimichuri. Cozy place. Great staff. We will be back.
(4)
Jill B.

Great food! Great service! Great music! Lovely date night place! I went there Thursday night for the first time with my boyfriend... It was quiet and the service was outstanding! We will come back very soon!
(5)
Jevita N.

I love this place! The drinks are great and the food is better!
(5)
Celena C.

Great atmosphere. Dinner portion size was excellent and the value was exceptional. For a party of 5 we paid $70 each for 3 drinks, 3 shared appetizers and dinner which was accompanied with salad and potatoes. The drinks and service was attentive and great! I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Ruma T.

Review is mostly for the drinks and the ambiance. I've been here a few times now and got to sit outside for the first time today because the arctic chill is starting to thaw in Chicago. Mojitos. That is what you must get. They make 'em strong, full of minty goodness and a ton of lime. Its extremely flavorful, it can sneak up on you (mostly cuz you can't stop drinking them) and they're worth every penny. I had the regular and mango mojito and they were both delicious. Also had the mango margarita and caipirinha which were good. But the standout was the mojito. Great place to sit and people watch. Very attractive people coming in and out of this place. And the outside seating is just about perfect.
(4)
Rachel M.

I love this place. I will find any excuse to come here. This is my favorite place to celebrate anything romantic because of the low lighting, candles, music, and overall formality. The food is phenomenal. Unless you don't eat red meat, you have NO EXCUSE to not get a steak here. Argentina is famous for it's beef, and I've actually been to Buenos Aires- and this restaurant is like a step back into that trip. I also have to complement this restaurant on it's willingness to substitute items on entrees and appetizers. My mom has multiple food allergies that just developed in the last couple years, and they went above and beyond to accommodate her. If you've never had Mate Tea, try it. it's a unique and FUN authentic Argentine experience! The one thing I don't love- it's so loud in here when it's full. The ceilings are high and they have hardwood floors and they always crank the music up later in the evening. It's hard to have conversation with more than one person across the table from you. I love to start the meal with caprihinas or the blackberry mojito. Their drinks are masterfully crafted and delicious. They have an impeccable wine selection and the several Malbec's they have (Argentina's main exported red wine) are all fabulous. I recommend (by the glass) the 2009 Decero Malbec from Mendoza and the 2010 a Posta Cocina Blend. The antipasto and provoleta are both wonderful sharing appetizers. All of the steaks I've tried are wonderful. The Costaleta Organica is not quite as good as the regular Costaleta in my opinion because I love the olive oil, garlic, parsley and caper sauce covering it. The mashed potatoes side MELT in your mouth. nomnonmnom. The Filet Mignon is also fantastic but my favorite steak is the Bife Vesuvio because they fill it with spinach, mar del plata, cheese and garlic, and serve it in white wine sauce with Argentine style potatoes. Just a heads up though, it's a tad chewier than I expected and maybe more so than some would like. The desserts vary, and I love that they bring by a dessert plate so that you can see it and then have the name listed and choose one.
(5)
Ron V.

There was a bit of a wait for a table which is fine, however there is no comfortable place to wait inside the restaurant, which can be an issue during the winter. More importantly however, both the food and service were enjoable.
(3)
Casey F.

I had dinner here on a Sunday night. The ambiance is actually great for a date. It's dark and lit by candles, and the music is a good volume so as to avoid awkward silences but not too loud so you can still hear your dining companion talk. That being said, I was here with some of my in-laws, the youngest being 14 years old. I ordered the El Filet which came with spinach mashed potatoes. The dish came with 2 huge pieces of meat. It was so much food I was kind of grossed out. It was tender and really tasty though. The potatoes were unique however under seasoned. They did have salt and pepper shakers on the table to remedy that. As a side note- I don't like dining at places with shakers on the table. To me it indicates that the chefs cannot properly season food. Does that make me a snob? Maybe. But I'm ok with it. The highlight for me was the empanadas. We got one of each flavor and I was obsessed with them. I am not sure I'd come back for the steak. The empanadas, you bet.
(3)
EDILSA E.

I've been here a total of 3 times and the experiences are a 10 every time. This past weekend I came here with my husband for date night and again it was amazing. We made reservations earlier that week and received a call the following day to confirm. We arrived super late and the host was still very accommodating. I sneaked a peak at the reservation list and it was mighty long. We got in and were seated right away. Let me explain the ambiance. It's dark in there. The tables aren't too close together but I will say it is packed and loud on Friday and Saturday nights. There are candles at every table. It's super romantic but also a place you can bring kids to. Not too young though. We've been here with our 13 year-old son. We were given fresh, out of the oven, bread. Warm tiny little French breads and they are soft and warm. Did I mention they were warm? Our waiter popped our wine right away. Did I mention this place is BYOB??? Yes, it's amazing . There is a $10 corking fee per bottle. Not too bad at all considering we can bring in what we want. The drinks there are delish also. They have Argentinian beer which is nice and crisp and I enjoy. Our menus were open right away and we were ready to order! We had empanadas and an appetizer...not sure the name but it's of corn. It's nice and creamy corn. The outside is nice and crunchy. A salad is served before the main entrees. The salad is nice and simple. Romaine lettuce, 3 slices of tomato, and white onion. They bring vingar and oil to drizzle over it. Simple but delicious. Our main entrees were Mar y Tierra and Churrasco. Mar y Tierra is a 8 ounce filet mignon with huge shrimp. The shrimp is so big it looks like lobster. It has a tomato sauce with veggies in it. The seal is nice and tender. Churrasco is a 12 ounce filet mignon with mashed potatoes. I asked for them to change the mashed potatoes to their signature spinach mashed potatoes which are amazing! They brought us two orders. Dinner was nice and slow. We didn't feel rushed even though we knew there were people waiting. They even served us a fabulous, rich, and delicious flan with a sweet caramel on top. Dinner was $90. Nothing too crazy. Two appetizers, tow entrees, and two bottles of wine. Dessert was free! This place is a great experience every time. I love it!
(5)
Ashley S.

Awesome! I took my mom here on a visit a week ago and it was exceptional. The food was incredible but the portions are huge. I ordered the filet and had it for three meals. The empanadas were my favorite. This neighborhood gem is one that I will be returning to.
(4)
Raymond S.

I feel scammed. Such high hopes for this place. Choose Folklore since the comments considered it a good date spot. Unfortunately, like most women do when you ask what kind of food they prefer, my date said anything. Of course she turned out to be a vegetarian. And of course an Argentinian grill is the opposite of vegetarian. She got pasta, which was your standard fare. Can't expect nothing to fancy from a place like this. I got the mix grill. For one the portion is smaller than you'd imagine. It may be a lot for a a small woman, but for a grown man there is a lot to be desired. The meat were all cooked unevenly. The short ribs were almost well done, the flap medium well. They were okay flavor wise, the flap was amazing but you just can't go wrong with it. The sweetbreads were gummy, it was my first time eating blood sausage and I will probably never again. The dishes came with some crappy salad and they gave a complimentary appetizer which literally consisted of a plate of melted cheese and bread. Nothing says date night like strings of protein hanging from your mouth as you talk about life.
(2)
Donika T.

I ordered a spinach and cheese stuffed steak with roasted potatoes and a passion fruit mojito. All were just perfectly cooked and prepared. The atmosphere was also really romantic and the service was great! I definitely will be returning!!
(5)
Marie C.

Wow I am really disappointed. This place was awful. I want to start off by saying that the hostess had no idea what he was doing. We put our names down he told us twenty minutes. Forty minutes later he kept asking me if I was jasmine party of eight after i said no he finally asked me how many we were I responded two. He proceeded to seat couples that came in after us while we were still waiting. The empanadas are the only reason I gave this two stars. They were absolutely amazing. Mojitos were good too but nothing too crazy. We both ordered the filets. We get steak dinners at least once a week more like twice or three times a week. I get a filet everywhere I go because of the tenderness. I would highly recommend NOT getting a filet from here. It was chewy and drenched in sauce like they were trying to hide something absolutely awful. We both took two bites of our dinner and had the bus boy take it out of our faces. The waiter was no where to be found as we were sitting in disgust. Finally he came back with our check and I mentioned that is was awful. He said it was the first time in four years he has heard that. I leaned over and asked the couple next to us what they ordered. They both said that they were not fans of the filet either. The waiter told the manager we were unhappy who took no part in trying to please us. As my boyfriend was signing out triple digit check he said "it was worth paying this much to never come here again". The atmosphere was loud and your sitting literally inches away from other couples. I didn't mind cause they were nice but not my cup of tea.
(2)
Lynne R.

Amazing drinks and empanadas. Flank steak ok but loved the filet. Slower service but very sweet staff.
(4)
Chris M.

Christmas Eve dinner in Chicago with family and friends. My brother and sister both reside in the Windy City, and I learned that my brother is a regular here at Folklore so he made the recommendation - which turned out to be an enjoyable experience. Ambiance is on the darker side but there's plenty of candles. Even though some tables are close together your conversations don't carry and stay within your realm. It can get a bit loud if the place is packed, but nothing too major. We started out w/ a few bottles of Malbec which was very good, then comes the bread. I liked their wheat / brown rolls, so warm and full of flavor, just be careful not to fill up! Many good choices on the menu, the theme is meat and potatoes but there are vegetarian, pasta and salad options as well. I ordered the Medio Pollo Al Jamon (grilled half chicken marinated w/ white wine & lemon sauce & potato wedges). Others got the popular El Filet w/ Spinach Mashed Potatoes and the Filet with large shrimp. My bro and sis got a special dish made just for them: grilled chicken breast w/ steamed broccoli and grated parmesan cheese. All the dishes looked fabulous and the portions were healthy. For appetizers we started w/ the Berenjena (egg plant layered w/ spinach, cheese, parmesan & ricotta w/ a tomato cream sauce). It was really good, the sauce is perfect for roll-dipping. The Provoleta came next (fried cheese w/ peppers), similar to the Greek dish (whopa!). The house salad was simple, lettuce greens and tomatoes, nothing too exciting, and dressing options were oil, red wine vinegar, and balsamic vinegar. You need the fiber so just eat up. My Medio Pollo soon arrives as it was massive and full of flavor. The seasonings were spot on and the potatoes had skins and were well seasoned. Good enough to share for two. Here comes the desserts, my brother ordered: carrot cake, chocolate cake, and Flan w/ a caramel sauce - - which was my favorite. They even added candles and sang Happy Birthday to moi - - for my recent mid November milestone (thanks for the love!). One bite of that Flan and I went back for more - - probably one of the top 5 desserts I've ever had. Customer service was spot-on, very attentive, drinks always filled. At peak times you may have to wait a little longer for your main course, but that's okay because it's worth it. I mean, what's the rush? Just have a cocktail and enjoy the moment at Folklore. I checked out other dishes around the room - - the steaks and grilled meats looked fabulous, some added incentive to make a trip back.
(5)
Allison E.

Tango Sur's Wicker park sibling did not disappoint. I had a lovely dinner with assorted family. The menu is almost identical to Tango Sur's. However, Folklore benefits from being more spacious and having a full bar. I had a mango martini and it was wonderful. My dining companions loved their drinks as well and there were several delightful sounding options that I would have loved to sample on the drink menu. Our food was outstanding and we all sampled each other's plates. The lamb was especially good and my filet was a home run. Didn't seem to be anyone minding the front of the house when we came in, but that was the only complaint. Everything else; food, drink, service, decor was spot on.
(4)
Marianne G.

Why do I love Folklore? Let's start with the amazing staff... Somehow, even when they are busy, slammed even, they are always gracious and polite. They manage to find us seats quickly every time! I can't figure out how they do it. The service is always excellent. The atmosphere is romantic yet masculine at the same time so it appeals to both my husband and I. Have a tasty drink at the bar made by a cheerful bartender. I recommend the El Pepito - cucumber, basil, lime, and gin topped with champagne. Mmmm. Perfect on a hot day. I do wish they had more non-meat options (so I would eat here more) which I admit is a silly wish since the whole point is that the restaurant is all about Argentinian steak dishes. I just can't eat this much meat that often. Be forewarned that the food portions are a very large. I think 2 people can split one portion. Their "dinners for two" can easily feed a family of 4. It is a lot of meat. Don't go in expecting a standard steak dinner. This isn't what most Chicagoans expect of beef or steak. Folklore doesn't dry age beef but tends to slow cook many dishes in sauces. I'm guessing that the people that don't like Folklore were not expecting a true Argentinian steak experience but that's what you get.
(4)
Haley S.

Some friends took me here for dinner to celebrate my bday Saturday. Lots of fun for a group! Great mojitos, some inexpensive wines. Loved the provoleta (it's a plate of gooey melted cheese. Yum). Enjoyed our meat, my friend and I split the chimichurri stuffed steak for two. It could have fed four! Nice waiter, all in all a good time.
(4)
Sian C.

Ok. Meat was tough. The empanadas were good.
(2)
Sarah J.

This is a wonderful restaurant. From the drinks to dessert, I've been fully satisfied by the time I leave Folklore each time. My favorite dish, though I forget the name, is basically meat and portabella mushrooms in a wonderful sauce. It's listed as a "serves two" item on the menu but I really think it could easily serve three or four, especially if you ordered appetizers or a side, too. This place is always busy so be prepared to wait. But since it's located on Division, there's plenty to do while you wait!
(5)
Julia Y.

Amazing coconut mojito, the best beef empanadas & great service!
(5)
Alyssa L.

The most deliciously fresh margaritas I have ever had! And THE BEST EMPANADAS! The atmosphere is really great, as are the staff.
(5)
kelly c.

Brought to you by the makers of Tango Sur and Ã±, I've been pining after this spot for awhile. Walking by on a hot summer night, the atmosphere just looks sexy. Dark and sultry with flickering candles, and always a subtle live guitar session to put you in a relaxed mood. I had heard that Folklore was all about the Argentinian dining experience, and it would take some time, so I was ready to wait. I have to say, I didn't find any of the waits excessive. Drinks, appetizers, salads, meats came out all in a timely fashion with professional service. The drink selection is excellent - not extensive, but a fairly unique offerings that matches the fare. The meat was pretty much perfect. We had the Para Dos, which offers you a sampling of many different meats and comes out on a small grill. It even includes the blood sausage. The quantity is probably more like a Para Tres. I was less enthused about the other parts of the meal - the empanadas and the salad were fine, but nothing to write home about, imo. But, to be fair, by having really simple starters, the meat was able to take center stage. Everything was reasonably priced for what it is: empanadas $2/piece, dinners from $10-$36. Folklore is definitely a sexy date place for meat lovers. I do wish they had a website. But I found a full menu here: chicago.menupages.com/reâ€¦
(3)
emily h.

Ah! I can NOT say enough great things about this place! Love, love, love it! I don't even know where to start and could honestly go on and on forever so will try to pick my favorite things. 1) Their Fillet Mignon is amaze! Every time I have ordered it, it has been cooked to perfection! Beyond the way it is cooked, it has amazing flavor. Oh and I saved the best part about it for last, it is am amazing value! My husband and I can split this dish because they give you TWO fillets!!! The first time I got it and it came out, I thought they had made a mistake and had given me an extra one! But no, that's just part of the deal-io! 2) I love the atmosphere. When I sit inside, I love how it is dark and candle lit. However, I have really been enjoying sitting outside this summer. Their sidewalk cafe is adorable and has plentiful seating. When my husband and I went here last Thursday, they had a duo playing the guitar serenading the diners. We kinda felt like we were in Argentina- not that I have been!! 3) You have to try their Provelenta Appetizer if you like cheese! It is basically melted cheese, some delisho seasonings and a few red peppers. You then dip their homemade bread into this mixture!! MMMM!! I think about this appetizer more than is normal to think about an appetizer. Addicting! We probably come here once a month. Sometimes we just come for appetizers and wine (their wine list is great and very affordable!) but when we only come for appetizers it is hard to resist all the great meats!!
(5)
Dennis D.

I could eat a whole bread basket to myself but that wouldn't leave room for the steak. They have amazing steak if a bit underdone - I had the bone in strip steak topped with caramelized onions. Mojito was a bit boozy and under-minted but refreshing none the less. Service was slow but knew their way around the menu. The patio is a must and isn't too crowded.
(4)
Tony B.

I had attempted to check out Folklore a few times without a reservation since they opened with no luck; so decided on having dinner there last weekend to celebrate a birthday. The look and feel of Folklore is comfortable and inviting yet modern; the kind of place you would want to sit back and relax after a busy day. The food is what I was worried about since I had heard so many mixed reviews on this place, including from close friends who had been here. I also had spent several weeks in Argentina getting to experience the culture and food in Mendoza and Buenos Aires so Folklore was getting critiqued from a travel experience as well. I must say that Folklore passed the test with flying colors; the food was amazing. I disclaimed to everyone at dinner that evening if you want to enjoy your food get meat since that is what Argentina is known for and they all took my advice. We had the empanadas for appetizers which were good and then the provoletta which was quite tasty. Then for dinner I had pork which was some of the best I have ever eaten. My sister had beef vesuvio which was enough food for three people and was to die for! My mother had the filet which I don't eat when too rare but I tried the sauce and was sopping it up with bread from my mom's plate since it was so good. My mom even commented that she liked her filet better than Gibson's! My other sister had the lasagna appetizer as her meal, the waiter (who was so nice and accommodating) forewarned her that it's an appetizer which she was fine with. I have to say the sauce that the lasagna came in, a tomato cream, was perfect and that is coming from an Italian family so we know sauce! I will be returning for sure and I think it is a must for anyone who is a meat eater, or likes great cocktails, (yum to the caipiroska here so many places make it bad) or even just to relax and have an app with friends!
(4)
Laurice U.

Fantastic first time experience. The location is a definite plus and street parking is plentiful. Our server was very knowledgeable about all the items on the menu including the wines. We started off by creating our own "sampler" plate of the empanadas. My favorite were the corn empanadas. Second, was the salad. Nothing memorable. Just your typical lettuce, onion, and tomato with oil and vinegar. Then the main course. There were 5 of us. We each ordered a different entree: chicken, ribs, steak, blood sausage, and sweet bread. The food was delicious and savory. And did I mention...HOLY PORTION CONTROL!!! The sultry ambiance combined with great food, wine, and service made for a delightful and FULL evening. I definitely had good food coma sleep that night.
(5)
caroline e.

The atmosphere here is adorable, but not quite as cozy as Tango Sur. They also have delicious and reasonably priced cocktails (and $20 bottles of wine...not bad). The waiters are very friendly and helpful as well. The food: I'm not really a steak connoisseur, but I do know that my steak tasted really good. I just wish it came with some potatoes or a veggie or something. My steak looked so lonely on the big empty plate, and I found myself wanting a side dish to nibble in between bites of meat. It would have been better if they'd put the salad on the plate with the steak instead of bringing it out first. I've never been to Argentina, and maybe this is the authentic way to do it, but just not my style. All in all, I like this place and I'm cool with going here when the BF is craving a steak.
(3)
Rachelle G.

I really want to give them 4 stars; my first experience there was close to perfection; but after last night, I just couldn't. Seated quickly, perfect ambiance. Our server was a little off, he just didn't seem very inviting. Love the warm bread that is quickly brought to your table. Love the spinach empanada and even the simple salad; it's free, no reason to complain. Steaks, needs help; lots of it. I ordered a bone in rib eye medium rare. Came out well done. Sent it back; got a new one, came out super rare and this cut was super fatty. Seasoning wise, they were a bit salty. My friend got a special fillet medium well. The order comes with two small fillets; one was done correctly, the other was rare. We sent the other back twice to be cooked more and each time it came back medium rare. I don't understand how a restaurant who's main entree is steaks can't cook it to its proper doneness. I even brought it up to the manager and all he could do was mumble a half apology. I just don't understand how I can send something back twice to be grilled longer and it still comes out the same. I want to love this place but will now have to question coming back. I work hard for my money and while their menu is super affordable, why bother when they can't do the one thing they should do right?
(2)
Marissa S.

This place gets three stars for it's tasty meat, super great ambiance (if I owned an old farmhouse this is how I would decorate it), and good value. Mojito's were amazing if a little heavy on the mint leaves. The check for two people including two drinks, appetizers, and two huge plates of meat came out to under $60 -- the value here is huge. The service was attentive but not smothering. We were here on a Friday evening and it was packed. I was slightly disappointed with the chimicurri sauce -- I had been craving it and found this one to have a bit too much garlic and not enough fresh greens (parsley and cilantro) -- it was an adequate blend but certainly not the finest chimicurri I've had. The steak was cooked exactly as I wanted, my friend ordered ribs which were prepared beautifully and were enough to feed at least two people. The empanadas were delectable and bite-size...not greasy which is a big turnoff. We were too stuffed to have dessert but maybe next time. Some people on here complained about the salad being too basic...this is sort of standard in an Agrentine steakhouse...a crisp wedge of lettuce with fresh tomatoes and a little balsamic and oil is all you need to start the meal...you don't really want more than that if you're planning on diving into a juicy steak.
(3)
Joanna K.

Folklore is Tango Sur's sister restaurant and the menus are practically identical, but Folklore has their liquor license. I ordered the "El Filet" with spinach mashed potatoes and it was outstanding! Cooked to perfection. The BF ordered another steak dinner which was also good, not as great as the filet though :o) The portion sizes were HUGE! We tried each of the empanadas which were all great as well. For two steak entrees, two drinks, some empanadas, AND dessert and our bill still wasn't even $100...? The ambiance is romantic and cozy with candles lit at every table, dim lights, and a musician playing some soft music on his guitar....lovely!
(5)
Katy O.

My boyfriend and I both love Tango Sur, so we were excited to visit Folklore for a friend's birthday on Saturday. I really loved the decor and felt like Folklore looked like a more modern and upscale place than Tango Sur. My boyfriend felt that it was too dark, but I personally like the candlelight and low-lit atmosphere. The music was a little hipstery, but I think it contributes to the vibe of the place. The menu is similar to Tango. We shared a parillada for two (we got the vacio). It was excellent. The empanadas (and at our table we sampled all 5 kinds) were also delicious. Salads come out before dinner and are simple, but all you really need before digging into giant plates of meat. The prices for the food are totally reasonable for the quality of the food, in my opinion. If you like Tango Sur, you'll be happy with the food here. I was also surprised at the wine list- there were actually several yummy wines at $5 or $6 per glass, which seems to be pretty rare in Chicago at most restaurants. I didn't order one, but my friends loved their mojitos too. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was that the service was very slow. We waited a veeeeery long time to order- first with appetizers, then with dinner, then with desserts/coffees. Also, the night we visitd it was about 5 degrees outside. The restaurant was totally comfortable but the women's bathroom was so cold I was shivering while I was washing my hands! That said, I really liked Folklore and would definitely go back.
(4)
Marianne S.

I was probably expecting too much, having eaten at Tango Sur. Meat was dry. And I ordered medium-rare. And I think the place was too dark. Two stars because the caipirinhas were good and parking was easy.
(2)
Jessica C.

Overall, good food -not great, prepared well and delivered without delay. The chef's special appetizer consisting of mixed seafood in a creamy sauce was excellent. All of us had a variety of steaks and were pleased. This is not a Chicago steakhouse so do not come expecting $75 dry aged filets. The cuts here are flat iron, flank, skirt -along with ribeye and traditional cuts, but the idea is to enjoy the seasonings. It is a bit loud inside but the atmosphere is unpretentious. Corkage fee is $10 per bottle of wine and that is a great deal; the markup on their wine on the list was surprisingly high. I do wish they had valet, finding street parking is almost impossible in that area. Not the most memorable meal but all in all a pleasant experience.
(4)
Josh E.

I'll preface my review by saying that I'll give this place another try. That said, we were not impressed with this restaurant. To avoid a lengthy wait on a Saturday night, we got seated (immediately) at the table closest to the door. Not a good spot to be on a cold night with people coming and going. Also, this place is pretty damn loud so be prepared to raise your voice. We started with the antipasta which was pretty good. After a couple martinis (they're hefty and strong) we moved on to what anyone would come here for - the steaks. This is where I think this place fails. The meats were plentiful, but not very tasty. I ordered my steak (chorizco?) medium rare, only to have the waiter come back to me and tell me he recommended it to be cooked medium. Hmmmm -makes you wonder. Secondly, the steaks only come with a very measly looking salad. Lettuce, a couple tomato slices; and only oil and vinegar or balsamic for dressings. The desserts we sampled were really good. A good beginning and a good end, only to be squashed by a pretty weak middle.
(2)
Will P.

They get so many elements right, but what they get wrong, is SO wrong....that I just can't recommend it. The best I can do is...if you want a well-mixed cocktail and delicious empanada appetizers in a great atmosphere (inside or out) I would recommend Folklore without hesitation. If however, you want a full meal...especially a meal centered around meat...I can honestly think of fast food places I'd recommend before Folklore. We actually went back for a second try... convinced that, because the atmosphere, appetizers and cocktails had all been so good...that our first meal must have been an aberration. Sadly it wasn't. Two visits...four different steaks ordered (between my wife and I), and despite the fact that they were all cooked perfectly...every one was excessively tough & fatty. Two were borderline inedible! Most disappointing was the fillet. Why bothering serve TWO fillets for the price of one good one...when the two you're serving collectively only contain the meat of one good one? What's the upside? When I complained...I received a very nice (seemingly well rehearsed) lecture on the "superior quality" of their beef? LOL...all I could do was point at the remnants of inedible gristle on my plate and chuckle. I came to eat...not practice my butchering skills.
(2)
Rebecca Huicha K.

Folklore is basically Tango Sur with better decor and a bar. I havent been to Tango Sur in a while but for some reason I like Folklore a ton better. The only thing is that I wish this place was a BYOB. The menu is exactly the same as Tango Sur. Maybe it's cause it's new but the food tasted better. The space isn't as cramped as Tango Sur and it's not as dark so you can actually see what you're eating. My fiancee and I had the beef empanadas which were DELICIOUS and I had the filet with red onion sauce and spinach mashed potatoes while he has the ribeye. Both meats were tender and cooked perfectly. Not to mention $24 for each entree is SUPER CHEAP :)
(4)
Brian M.

The atmosphere of this place is outstanding. The decor, lighting etc are spot on. The menu also looks wonderful. Unfortunately, they don't seem to be very good at cooking the food. The meat we all had was pretty so-so, though the empanadas for the appetizer were good. What actually caused me to write this review was the end of our meal. My father and I both ordered a Cointreau to close out the dinner. We were with my family; he'd just dropped $200+ on dinner, and yet they bring out what appears to be a shot that was poured into a shot glass and then into a regular glass. There was next to nothing. Utterly shameful and the kind of nickel and dime crap that will cause me to never go back to a place and talk it down whenever I hear it in conversation. It's really indicative of the attitude of the place.
(2)
Andrew S.

Okay, the cocktails are great at this cute West Division eatery. I was optimistic, but then my food came. The food was just okay. The spinach mashed potatoes looked as if someone threw up on St. Patricks Day. Stick to drinking here.
(2)
K T Y.

nice outdoor patio, good drinks...the food was awful. There was no flavor, I mean no flavor at all with the flap steak and the skirt steak. It's just as blah as tango sur. One stand-out wierd thing: we asked for the para dos, but wanted to swith the sweatbreads. Not possible. Something about the arrangement comes pre-made and brought over for Tango Sur.
(2)
Jen G.

I liked this place a lot but didn't love it... We came on a weeknight without a reservation. Stopped by around 7:15 to request an 8pm seating (yes) and then wandered across the street for a drink at Small Bar. When we came back at 8 were immediately seated in the main dining room. Loved the lighting and ambiance. Like Tango Sur, it was loud but not too much that we couldn't hear each other across the table. For starters, we had a plate of melted cheese, olive oil and peppers. It was a little odd that it didn't come with toast points but was tasty nonetheless. Like other reviewers here, I could have skipped the complimentary "salad" that came with the meal. Onions, tomato and lettuce on par with iceberg--not worth it for me. Besides, a huge entree was yet to come... We both got versions of steak. Dining companion got the fillet, which came with incredible spinach mashed potatoes (er, butter-infused spinach potatoes.) It was overcooked, though, but not to the point that you'd send it back. My bife vesuvio was swimming in an oily garlic sauce--but in a good way. Like others have mentioned, we took about half of this home. Flavor overall was pretty good. In sum, I am not sure I would wait in line to eat here or come back on a weekend night. For a spontaneous beef fest, however, I'd come back in a flash. Final point: Excellent wine and reasonable prices!
(3)
Karen L.

I had read about Folklore and wanted to try it, so went there for dinner on Friday night. I knew it was new but I didn't know it was BRAND new! We were there on the third day of business. Well, you know what you get with a brand new, nice restaurant in Wicker Park... a long wait. We probably waited for about 1.5 hours (most of it over at Innjoy at least, where we could sit down.) But it was worth the wait! First of all, the drinks are yummy! I tried the mojito and this one drink with mango, tequila and hot sauce. Plus the drinks are a decent size, unlike at some restaurants. We also got a nice bottle of Argentinean wine that was SO cheap for a restaurant bottle of wine! And quite tasty! And the food was delicious! I have never been to Tango Sur, which is the original sister restaurant so didn't really know what to expect. I knew it involved a lot of meat though. I split a filet special with my boyfriend and it was more than enough food! The steak was very flavorful and tender and it came with a side of spinach mashed potatoes. Yum! Also got to try the beef empanadas... those were just ok. My friends got other cuts of steak and they really enjoyed theirs, as well. If you are in the mood for a lot of meat, I would highly recommend it. One minor thing I thought they should change... they should make their own flavored butter to go with their bread. It is a nicer restaurant and I always love the herb butter that nicer restaurants have. They just brought out little packaged pats of butter, like the ones you get at a diner. Oh, and about the atmosphere: cozy, dark, romantic... but a bit loud. It is a small restaurant so be prepared to wait on a weekend night.
(4)
Katie R.

i wasn't 100% confident in my restaurant choice after reading its reviews, but the food was great, aside from the obviously once-frozen dinner rolls and tomato/onion/leaf lettuce side salad. we shared a few empanadas, and i had a classic mojito (yum!) and the "bife vesuvio," a prime steak stuffed with spinach and cheese. it was a little tough, but the filling was tasty. my mom had the filet and boyfriend had the flap steak - both were tender and flavorful. we sat outside and didn't have any issues with service, but it was late on a sunday night.
(3)
Craig S.

I've eaten here quite a few times and usually take out-of-town colleagues here. Drinks: Good mojitos. The wine list is limited but excellent (and reasonable). Food: The empanadas are out-of-this-world. My steaks have always been good sized and cooked well, though rare means black-and-blue here. Other stuff: Order off of the chef's menu that's included with the main menu.
(5)
Shawna B.

We stopped in because we happened to be in the neighborhood. It was a pleasant surprise from top to bottom. Fantastic drinks made with fresh juices and a great wine list. The atmosphere is totally deep and sexy, with just the right amount of energy. Our waitstaff was kind and accommodating from the moment we arrived to the second we left. What more can you ask for? We ordered an eggplant appetizer that was enormous and filling. So, we opted for splitting an entree. The menu is of course, red meat focused. The steak was flavorful and satisfying. I am don't eat red meat more than a few times a year so when I do, it better taste good. This hit the mark for a cowboy-style steak. Rustic and a nice sear. Overall, I am looking forward to going back and would certainly recommend this to friends.
(4)
Nick S.

Went here for dinner one rainy night.. hadn't eaten all day and I was craving something hearty to satiate my hunger. Nights like these call for steak. I've had steaks of many preparations but nothing beats a nice, thick, juicy steak that's seasoned well and cooked to perfection. Folklore was a decent attempt of satisfying that craving. It was fairly busy the night I was there so I was expecting lagging of some sort during service. While I understand the concept of dim lighting to create a more intimate setting, I think it wouldn't hurt to utilize a little more track lighting.. I found it way too dark for my liking. I'll explain later why I felt more lighting was needed... We ordered Sweetbreads for an appetizer.. by our request we had then brown them so they were crisp rather than grilled. They were overall, a little lacking in flavor. Lemon was helpful though. I like the simplicity of a basic salad with vinegar and oil, salt/pepper. So that was appreciated. A decent assortment of breads to keep us going. I ordered the parrillada for one and also asked that the sweetbreads on that be prepared like we had requested earlier. Let me say the portions are INSANE. Parrillada for one can easily feed 2, maybe 3. Nice assortment of meats. and 2 types of sausage. I'm usually a fan of blood sausage, but I feel like they overdid it with the cumin - the flavor was kind of rancid and texture was more mushy than I prefer. The meats were good, some were a little underseasoned. Chimichurri was better than most places, but still lacked acidity that I personally like. One of my cuts were cooked longer than I asked for. I asked for medium rare, but the waiter insisted that I get it well done. So I took his advice, wasn't pleased. My sister got a ribeye, HUGE tastier than my steak. Pretty tender. I left with plenty for the next day from leftovers. I'd go again. They really do deserve a 3.5/5 It was the interior, inconsistency of seasoning, and some components of the dish that kept me from giving them 4 stars.
(3)
Gabrielle Z.

I wish more than anything I could review the food at Folklore, but alas, because of the piss-poor service and the fact that I walked out without being seated for the first time in my otherwise courteous life, I cannot. My boyfriend and I had a reservation. We were on time. The table was not ready. We waited for 20 minutes. A walk-in party of 2 got seated immediately, while my boyfriend stood in front of the host stand and watched. When we asked why our table was given away, the incredibly rude host told us a series of lies that we refuted one by one, then he said our table would be ready in five minutes, and asked, "Any other questions?" in the way that said, "Remove yourself from my sight immediately." He then proceeded to disappear from the host stand for 15 minutes. We walked out, while my boyfriend considered ripping the front page of his reservation book out. Not that it would have mattered, because he wasn't using the book anyway. We went next door to Crust, got seated right away, and one hour after our reserved dinner time, finally got something to eat. And had a nice server to boot (thanks JosÃ©!). If Folklore's plan is to keep the business booming at Crust, keep that asshole as host.
(1)
Angela W.

Our experience here was excellent. We walked in without a reservation on a Saturday night and got seated right away even though it was busy. Our waiter was very friendly and informative. The ambiance was great, cool lighting and decoration. It was a little dark for reading menus, and it is a long menu to read. It was loud, but fun. The food was excellent. We ordered a few steak dishes. The Filet Mignon was very tender and was a very generous portion. I also ordered an eggplant dish that was similar to an eggplant lasagna with a creamy red pepper tomato sauce. This and the spinach mashed potatoes were an wonderful compliment to the steak. Everyone really enjoyed their dishes. I also got a Pisco Sour cocktail that was very sweet and tasty. Love the dash of cinnamon on top!
(5)
Allison M.

Really well seasoned meat!
(5)
Katie M.

Get the Folk outta here!! This is definitely what our side of the city needed! It's fantastic...it's friendly...it's, it's YUMMY!!! I love me some beef...and this has a great assortment or your t-bone, your strip and, yes, the Charrasca!! Mmm..mmm.mmm....we had the Charrasca and the bone in rib-eye and it was amazing! We have been to Tango sur (same owner) multiple times and have waited and waited and waited to get into the crowded stuffy place where your arms are getting bumped at almost every bite...so Folklore is basically Tango Sur in a much better ambiance/ Basically meaning there is breathing room, not as hectic and the the staff is way friendlier. I do disagree that it's the same exact menu..yes some items are the same but I feel that there are many unique dishes that you will be very please to try! Anywho...you should definitely give it a try and perhaps call in and get your name on the list before you head over...that's what we did and the host called us as we were walking in...perfect timing.
(5)
Eliza R.

I've been here a few times. Enjoyed it each time. Delicious drinks, mojito- good, a blackberry martini with a name I can't recall- tasty, and a drink that had some hot sauce in it- surprisingly good. The empanadas are delcious! Personally, I'm a fan of the ham & cheese, and the spinach and cheese. The chimichurri makes them even more yummy. Love garlic. Our meal: we shared a parillada para dos (served with the simple salad) and had a tasty dessert to end the night. The place is dark and lovely. The service was friendly, especially the bartender who talked to me at the bar while I waited for my date (who was running late) with a drink. I'll be back again soon.
(4)
eden s.

Mikey likes it!! Had the tilapia special - wow, was that fantastic. Mojitos - one of the best I have ever had. Hubs had the rib eye which was also pretty good. Our group ordered the eggplant appetizer read: (garlic breath is good breath). Oh, and that chimichurro sauce, could take that intravenously. Super loud though. Next time I will bring my hearing aid. And there will definitely be a next time.
(4)
Krishna A.

I came here with my 2 carnivore buddies on a Thursday night. As a huge fan of Tango Sur, I was really looking forward to this place. It's in a great location and there a ton of great bars around the area if you're looking for a pre-meal beer. We had reservations so we were seated pretty quickly. Ambiance: Not as dark as Tango Sur, but very cool. There are tin ceilings with stone-colored concrete walls and steel beams. Cool if you're into that sort of stuff. It's also not as intimate as T.S. and the crowd is not as eclectic. Food: The bread here is great - soft and warm. We started off with the Empanadas for $2 a pop. They came with a great garlic-oil sauce. The menu is pretty much exactly the same as Tango Sur. I ordered the Filet medium rare. My one buddy ordered the Filet medium and buddy #3 ordered the prime, medium. The reason why I gave this place 2 starts is that they screwed up ALL of our orders. My filet came out well-done, and both of my friends' steaks came out medium-rare. I usually don't make a big deal of this, but when you are dealing with steaks, there really is only 1 variable - the extent of the cooking. We didn't send them back because: A. We were starving B. We aren't prick D-bags So this was kind of disappointing. Drinks: NOT BYOB like T.S, but still has a decent wine list and some great beers. Price: We each paid $40, which is honestly a great price for a steakhouse - but I guess you get what you pay for. All in all, I'd go to Tango Sur over this place purely for the BYO status, the atmosphere and the more consistent cooking.
(2)
Georg S.

I really want to like this place, but the food lets me down every time. Good looking place, great bartenders and drinks, but I seem to get a lousy cut of meat each time. If you're doing mostly steaks, the chimichurri shouldn't be the highlight every time.
(2)
Fabio S.

Love it. Great steak and more. Must get the "El Filet" plate with spinach mashed potatoes. Not sure if they talk nicely to the cow or what in order to make the meat so tender, but whatever it is, it's truly unbelievable. Why would you ever go to a stuffy steak house downtown, when you can be in a wonderful, family-owned, alive, neighborhood joynt with better meat, better prices AND personality? Maybe for a "wedge of iceberg" salad? but that's just so 90's!
(5)
Halleh C.

I was taken here a few weeks back on a date and I am still thinking about the food! The restaurant is dimly lit, has long candle sticks lit at each table, and live (?) music playing loud enough so that you couldn't hear the diners conversations next to you. I had the filet with spinach mashed potatoes and it was DELICIOUS! It came with this gravy all around it, the portions were obviously huge, and I couldn't have been happier with my dinner choice. A salad came out before the meal, but it was pretty plain with lettuce, tomato and onion (I hate onions on salads). We didn't touch our salads as we were more interested in our cocktails and conversation. The service was spot on. The servers and bus boys really knew how to get in and get out with minimal but very polite interaction, allowing diners to have intimate conversation without having to stop every time they came around. Before I knew it, we had been there for 3 hours, drinking and laughing, and no one was rushing us to get out. I had an amazing meal, date, time, etc etc. I hope to make it back here soon!
(5)
Shalin D.

Only two blocks from where I used to live, Folklore was always a place to stop by and grab a glass of wine. I never thought of it as a restaurant: too much meat and too much foot traffic on Division Street to have a quiet, relaxing meal. Also, having only recently converted from my twenty years of vegetarianism, my inclination to down a slab of steak wasn't that great... ... until recently. After failing to obtain reservations elsewhere, a friend and I went to Folklore for dinner. This was back in summer, so we managed to grab an outdoor table. We warned the server that we weren't into big slabs of steak and he was quick to walk us through the non-cow portions of the menu. I ordered a delicious Argentinean lasagna. My friend decided on the skirt steak. Both dishes were prepared perfectly. The lasagna had a crispy top layer with thin slices of sweet potato and herbed pasta. I tried the skirt steak: it was juicy and melted in my mouth. The kitchen listened when my friend specified medium-rare. We ordered a sublime Malbec at the server's urging. It was bold, juicy and complemented the lasagna and the steak well. Sitting there on the sidewalk in the breeze, I felt completely relaxed and happy and thankful that most other restaurants we tried to get into that night were fully booked. Five stars for Folklore.
(5)
Jessica D.

I've been here twice and I regret both times. I didn't feel like waiting at Tango Sur so went to this location. Not impressed. I gave it two stars for the empanadas...
(2)
Sydney F.

Much like waiting to send an emotional email, I like to sleep on my next Yelp reviews so that I have time to contemplate the entire dining experience. And Folklore went from a 3 immediately post eating, to a 2 the next morning. The good things going for this Argentinian restaurant are: a) huge portions (more bang for your buck) b) adorable ambience c)great outdoor patio d) extensive (& affordable) wine list There are all great things, but the food in general really left a lot to be desired. When I go out to eat, all the other little things are great, buy my main judgement is on the quality of the food. Folklore's menu is very long and almost overwhelming. But with 4 people in our party, we all got something very different. Our friends started with a chicken and a spinach empanada, and said they were very tasty. Collectively we had the tilapia, the roast chicken, el filet and the beef milanesa. The tilapia was alright, but I'm not crazy about sweet sauces on fish. The roast chicken was definitely my favorite, seasoned & juicy, but you only get a few pieces of potato and literally half a chicken on your plate, which is a little much. The El Filet was tender but had too much fat running through it for that cut of meat. It was also unseasoned and the red wine sauce did not help the flavor. The milanesa was just boring & uneventful. I will say the mashed potatoes were quite delicious, but that's just the side item. Salad was alright- just some lettuce, tomato & really strong onion thrown on a plate. Overall, ambience & a good wine list can't run a restaurant alone.
(2)
David B.

Went last night with a group of 8. Food was so-so. Greasy empanadas, cold potatoes, really low quality steaks! Drinks were not bad. Not inspired to try dessert. Service was fair to slow. Be warned- do not try the sweetbreads- they were frighteningly bad. Really loud too!
(1)
Mike N.

I really wanted to like it. It's one of the closest nice restaurants to my place and I love steak, especially Argentine steak (I'm looking at you el nandu). Everything started out great. Awesome atmosphere. Candle light. Great drinks (beer selection and wine). Attentive but respectful wait staff. Amazing appetizers. But eventually it all fell apart. The entrees were completely tasteless. I had the Veal t-bone with red chimichurri and my wife had the Churrasco (grass fed sirloin) with regular chimicurri. They both tasted like cardboard even when swimming in sauce. We tried to save the experience with dessert (which was fantastic) but in the end, it was too little too late. And, as a fun after-dinner treat, I got some serious stomach sickness (prob from the undercooked veal, but hey, that's how i like it). We will not be going back and I encourage everyone else to save their money.
(2)
Steve M.

Had to attend a birthday dinner at Folklore and after hearing that it was the sister restaurant to Tango Sur I became excited. Too bad there were zero similarities. I thought the food was ok, the place was boiling (little to no AC), and the restaurant was nowhere near as good as the original. The service and the location were the only good things plus the sweet ass parking spot I found on the street. We will not be back anytime soon.
(2)
Arian M.

Beautiful place. Rustic, very warm and welcoming atmosphere. The service was very good. Our server and busboy was very attentive but not overly. We ordered empanadas which was very tasty along with the sausages. I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass which was cooked to perfection. INCREDIBLE!!! Our friend ordered the Churrasco which was larger than the plate. Very tender and flavorful. I will definitely go back again very soon.
(4)
Mayari G.

For those who wrote, I'm spoiled b/c I like Tango Sur - helloooooo!!!! Same owners and same food! The best thing is the fact that they do not have the same snobby attitude some of the other Division St. restaurants have nowadays - especially when Division St. was not the "place to be" 10 years ago - there is no need for the "holier than thou" attitude. The other great thing is that the decor and size is much better than Tango Sur. So, if you want to skip that and head over to place that will open up your Americanized tastebuds-especially in the meat department, Folklore is the place!!! Make sure to order the FLAN!!!!! p.s. do not over order - if you get a parrillada for 1, it's really for 3.
(5)
amanda g.

all you need to know is: 1. proveleta 2. el filet awesome.
(4)
Lisa H.

This is just 5 minutes from our house and well worth the walk and the wait. The food is outstanding and ideal for people that want to share a meal. The place is fairly loud once it gets full and sometimes its a bit too dark that you can't read the menu but the wait staff will assist you with recommendations. The drinks are fabulous and made from scratch and the place often has live music (Argentinean guitar player, etc). There is no reservations so come early or be prepared to wait at least an hour on the weekend. Great spot for good food and a nice getaway to Argentina if you can't afford a real trip there.
(4)
Ingrid G.

The host was great and super accommodating and the restaurant was absolutely beautiful inside. The bartender was attentive and got us two glasses of malbec very quickly while we were waiting for our table. That's where our great service ended. Our waiter took forever to take our order to the point where the host had to go back in the kitchen to get him. Long story short, we got our entrees 1 and a half hours after we arrived. I was almost too tired to eat by the time we got our food. The food was good, my steak was a bit unevenly cooked. However, I have had better at other places. I don't know that I would go back to Folklore again and I definitely would not recommend it. Bummer!
(2)
Jay M.

Everything was delicious - the empanadas, the provoleta, and the Vacio Relleno were amazing. The portions were generous and the service was fantastic.
(5)
Thomas L.

This is by far Chicago sexiest restaurant I have been in yet. I kept thinking of the SNL skit 'The Antonio Banderas Show.' "NO NO TOO SEXY!!!" Order the rack of lamb you will definitely leave satisfied. You can pass on the desserts.... they need work.
(5)
Jennifer L.

Gave them another chance, and was still underwhelmed. Cocktails and empanadas are solid, but the rest was average, and the service was slow and borderline unfriendly.
(2)
Mindy S.

This is Tango Sur, except it is in Wicker Part, is not BYOB, and the insides are a bit more "upscale". If you love TS you will love Folklore, as this is the same menu. The food is incredibly tasty and the price is right for what you get. I will continue to bring out of town guests here.
(5)
Hugo E.

The atmosphere is amazing and service is great. Now lets talk about the food. The food is amazing. Parking sucks. I recommend you make reservations, the wait is kind of long but it's worth the wait. I would go back soon.
(4)
Aaron G.

For a steak place their steak was severely under par
(2)
Chris S.

Respectable. Went there on a Sunday with a friend. Place was candle lit -- too date-like for us. Good empanada appetizers. For dinner we split some crazy 2 person meat feast. The steak was OK, but a bit fatty. Best thing on the plate were the sausages. Could be a good date spot.
(3)
Kara E.

Awesome. If you love Tango Sur, you'll love it here. Word on the street is that Folklore is owned by the same Tango Sur peeps. Folkolore has all the best things of Tango Sur- great empanadas, awesome beef and a intimate atmosphere.. The bonus feature of Folklore is that they take reservations! So, no waitng for hours on end like its counterpart. Although Folklore isn't BYOB, they have really great, affordable wines. I'll most def' be back!
(5)
Emanuel S.

I made reservations here for my girlfriend and I for Valentine's Day, and thankfully I did too! When we had gotten there, we arrived 15 minutes early. There was a bit of a line and everyone in that line hadn't made a reservation, so we were brought to our tables about 10 minutes after getting there. The place was extremely crowded, but we had enough room and our table wasn't really in the way of anything. The service is excellent, as we had ordered some appetizers as well as drinks and wine to go with our dinner. It's an extremely romantic setting to bring a date to and can be a bit pricey, but it is definitely worth it. We were then given chocolates upon receiving the check and afterward we hit up a local bar for a night cap. Overall, I would go here again as the steak is delicious. You must order it at LEAST medium rare to taste how great it is. The potatoes are amazing as well...and the appetizers we had were empanads...delicious.
(5)
Michael S.

I haven't actually been to this place under normal circumstances--I have, however, been in here to watch Argentina play a World Cup match, and that was a very, very good time--wall-to-wall with screaming Argentines, some of whom apparently brought drums (!), news crews interviewing people about the game, nothing but Spanish being spoken (which was a tad inconvenient for me, but I made do, and anyway on that day Folklore was probably officially considered Argentine soil, so it's fair), just total insanity, and they still managed to serve us copious amounts of excellent grilled meat (I think my steak was a kilo of meat, easily). When La Albiceleste is playing, in Chicago this is where you need to be--unless you're Brazilian.
(5)
Jonathan S.

We had a good meal but not one that I'd tell all my friends about. I think Folklore has forgotten what really makes Tango Sur great, namely, the atmosphere (and its BYOB policy). I like that there wasn't a 2-hour line for Folklore, as the quality of the food wouldn't explain one. My brother and I had steaks. I had the ribeye, which was even fattier than usual. My brother had a filet that he ordered "medium" yet came out rare (purple on the inside). Had to send it back. In Folklore's favor, the waiter recommended a nice Malbec blend, and the spinach potatoes accompanying the filet were delicious. Maybe Folklore and Tango Sur can find a balance that works for each, but until then, I'm still searching for a place to really remind me of Buenos Aires.
(3)
Sasha H.

I went here a while back and sat at the bar for some food and drinks. The food was yummy and the drinks were awesome--well made. The bartender was good looking and well dressed which counts for a lot--I hate going out and the staff looks like they would rather be in bed...The thing i really like about this place is the exterior--It is really warm and inviting--the wooden doors, pine sprigs and black painted front windows are reminiscent of an updated British pub. Hopefully Folklore will become a landmark on this hodge-podge strip of Division, setting the bar for surrounding businesses.
(4)
Justin B.

yum. Love Tango Sur and Love Folklore. Big bonus that they are near me and serve alcohol
(5)
Jenny N.

Not sure if I would have even tried an Argentinian steakhouse if it weren't for my Argentinian boyfriend, but this restaurant has become possibly one of my favorite places in the city. I feel the same about Tango Sur, however this place just has a little something more that adds to the restaurant experience. Unlike some of the other yelp reviewers, I've always ordered my meat medium and it has never come out overdone. The ambiance is romantic and chic and it makes a great date spot. The wine list great, my only qualm is that I wish they added more "wine by the glass" options instead of mostly bottle ordering options. For a steakhouse with such good quality meats, I have to say that the price is just right. For two people, with an appetizer, wine, steak entrees and dessert, you can't beat $70ish. The waiters are always helpful and friendly (and cute) and I love the intimate feeling of eating by candlelight. I would recommend the Parillada para dos if you're on a date, its perfect for two and the different cuts of steak and chorizos are delicious. Also the chinchulines are an acquired taste, but really rich. I have been here on a few occasions, but definitely will be back next time I want steak and romantic ambiance.
(5)
Yvette L.

Great location and ambiance. We ordered the short ribs and it was a big portion for $15. Also loved the La Pina drink! They have an extensive menu and most of them didn't look like authentic Argentine dishes...they had fettuccine ??? Didn't care for the coffee but the peach cake was really good, light and not too sweet.
(3)
Isa B.

I cannot make an opinion on the meat, I'm a vegetarian, but I heard it was awesome. I ate a couple of corn empanadas that were delicious. The service was nice too, although the place was packed and it took a long wait for us to get our food. It's likely that I'll be back...soon.
(4)
Kahlea C.

Excellent service and great food. I'm not sure why is said it's not kid friendly because I was there on a Friday after work and there were four tables that had a child.
(4)
Matt C.

Great Argentinian food here. I've been twice so far and have been very happy both times with my meal. Huge portions so that you won't leave without leftovers unless you're REALLY hungry. Patio is nice is the summer, but indoor is just as nice. It's a great place to take a date because of the intimate atmosphere. Prices are decent for the portions as well. I will definitely be going back soon.
(5)
Jonathan W.

This place is good. Basically just Tango Sur ported over to Division. Really nice bar (with the standard Quilmes, Pisco and Fernet). Portions are huge - be prepared to share (it is $5 extra). They really shouldn't give that salad out with the meals, I always wondered what the point was. Just lettuce a few tomatoes and a couple white onion slices, vinegar and oil. Seems really out of place. Also, can someone in this town do baked empanadas?
(4)
Ginger L.

I love Tango Sur and didn't want to try Folklore because I didn't think it would have anything new to offer. I was wrong. For one, it has a liquor license. Like Tango Sur, it's dark but there is something about the ambiance that worked better. Maybe it's because there is more room between the tables here. We always try different appetizers. So far there has not been anything I didn't like except the tongue. It was served cold and was terrible. I often get the filet with the spinach mashed potatoes. It never disappoints but my new favorite is the churrasco. I think the chimichurri sauce can make anything taste delicious! I am still surprised that you can get as reasonable a bill as you do here and they serve organic beef.
(5)
Rhonda R.

The food was okay. The service was okay... there was one incident. Our waiter had his "assistant" bring our drink order. The drink order took a bit of time but the Blackberry Mojitos are - delish! Just as I was about to ask about our beverages there was a bit of a commotion ... 3 Blackberry Mojitos were being removed from a neighboring table. The server did not simply shift them from one table to ours but took them around the corner ... voila ... our drinks came around the same corner. I half jokingly asked if the server had at least given us fresh straws... the language barrier prevented him from responding appropriately. The large lip prints on my glass prevented me from drinking the concoction. Suddenly our waiter shows up with a gigantic slab of Flan. Tasty but too little, too late. They would have been better off leaving the drinks with the next table - making fresh ones for us comping them both. I will not go back. There are better steaks in this town.
(2)
Rachael T.

The best meat I have had in YEARS. Like BUTTA. The crowd is a slight pertinacious, lots of lawyer-y looking people with their Armani and Diesel jeans, but other than that I loved the decor, the bartenders where cool, waiter was extremely helpful with explaining the meat and answered every single stupid question I asked with a big smile, also helpful with the wine. The food tho is so well prepared and and was so mouth watering I can still remember every detail about it. It was one sexy piece of cow. I seriously am saving my pennies and dimes to go back here soon. yum, yum and YUM Only reason they don't get 5 stars is because they sat us next to the door (it was -20 outside) and it kept opening and closing and blowing cold air on me, and they had 3 tables that were not in use when we got there, plus I had a reservation and the host asked us to wait at the bar when there were 4 tables open, WIDE open. And when I asked to move (I didn't even wait to sit before I asked, the door is RIGHT next to the table!) he said those tables have reservations. Funny, I had a reservation too. And the other "funny" part is that we were there for an hour and half and 2 of the 3 tables never had ONCE been used. That really pissed me off.
(4)
Phil B.

Took the family here for a double birthday celebration. Very upbeat place. A bit loud but so are we. Strolling guitar was a nice touch too! Super helpful and polite staff. True Argentine cuisine. From the bar try a pisco sour. Empanadas for a starter is THE way to go. Rack of lamb outstanding. Served with mashed sweet potatoes done perfect! Waiter suggested tilapia over salmon and it was wonderful. Even my daughter ate a bite and said so. She hates fish. My son had a stuffed steak that stuffed him! Dessert. Share em! Flan, vanilla cake with coconut, peach cake. Coffee. Hey and with a few drinks...$200.00. I was ready to pay more. This is a great place for a party or a date!
(4)
Naomi N.

I came here in February 2010 for a friends birthday. Overall, it was ok. I don't eat beef so I was dissapointed that there were not any chicken or fish options and settled on a salad. It has a dimly lit atmosphere with exposed brick. Tables are a bit close together but we managed. Service was very quick, but I did get the feeling me and my three friends were being rushed out of there. My salad was ok and friends enjoyed their steaks. I gave it three stars due to their lack of menu options and the rushed feeling we got. I probably won't be back.
(3)
Dante M.

Now this is my kind of place. The drinks are outstanding and food is even better. First I had an assortment of empenadas (the ones with meat are the best), followed by the short ribs and filet. The filet I got, go medium, melted in my mouth and the short ribs flavor was second to none. I had one of the bet carphinha's I have ever had in Chicago. I'll be back!
(5)
Andrea C.

My husband and I went there to meet another couple. The atmosphere is very cool and cozy. The service we had was good as well. I ordered a mango martini which was excellent. Then we started off with the empanada's which were not that great. I had the sea bass with the mashed sweet potatoes which was so good, probably one of the best sea bass dishes I have had in a restaurant. My husband had the strip steak and he said the steak was tough and the portion was to large. We ordered dessert but they were good but nothing amazing.
(4)
Lisa S.

I love this place! The food is incredible and the atmosphere is fantastic. I loved Tango Sur, but I would choose Folklore now. Definitely go here!
(5)
Jason K.

Excellent filet! We've been there 3 times and the El Filet is so good I just keep ordering the same thing over and over. Good cocktails too but they can add up a little too fast.
(5)
Brenda V.

What a great little surprise. Excellent food, comfortable ambiance. Street parking is ok.
(5)
Kelly G.

Wow. I have to say - I wasn't expecting something this good for a place we just randomly stumbled upon. We shared two empanadas - a spinach and a beef. Flaky crispy crust and delicious flavorful filling. Came with a sort of oil dip, maybe an olive oil with tons of herbs in it. Complimented very well. Totally awesome. I had the beef ravioli. I usually stay away from beef ravioli, since most of the time it tastes like nasty Chef Boyardee, but this was amazing. The sauce was more like a stew (large hunks of beef, smooth tomato sauce) but was very good and had a great wine flavor to it. Truly the BEST beef ravioli I've ever had. My dining companion had a steak, which was undercooked for what she ordered (medium well ordered, came out medium) but she still enjoyed it. I, personally, am not a big fan of chargrilled steak - and this didn't have any spices on it so I wasn't too into it. But I could see how this would be right up someone's alley. Overall, I would definitely be back to try some of the other menu items. My only problem is that the place is SO DARK. It is almost solely lit by really annoying tapered candles on the tables that always seem in danger of falling over. However, the service was attentive and made good recommendations. Outside of it being so dark, it is a great place!
(4)
Amy J.

Well Tango Sur has been an all time favorite for years so I was pumped to try Folklore. I ordered all the same dishes I love to get at TS and they were just the same at Folklore. Only difference is that the space is GORGEOUS it's really pretty and cozy AND they have drinks- no BYOB situation here. Amazing cocktails. If you've been to N- another one of their restaurants, you know how good their fresh cocktails are. Though it was a Tues. night in the middle of a Chicago blizzard, the Capiriska (sp?) transporting me right to Miami. SO good- fresh limes, fresh ingredients, wowza.
(4)
Susan F.

Deciding to skip the street festival food that was going on during one of the first fests of the season, my husband and five year old decided to give this place a try. Two things: Fantastic steak. Not so great service. My daughter loved the prosciutto. The cocktails sounded great. It was an early afternoon so there was a decent crowd considering how much activity was going on. We sat outside, which was nice. The inside is beautiful, but since the music was so loud, I wouldn't recommend it for larger groups.
(4)
Allison R.

Went for the first time last night and will definitely be back!!!!!! Our food was beyond delicious and prepared perfectly! I had the El Filet which melts in your mouth; my husband had the lamb chops which also were delicious; my two friends both got the ribeye and raved about it! Wines from Spain, Argentina, and Chile~ Cant go wrong with the Mojitos! Enjoyed the atmosphere although it was a little loud. Service was impeccable. Hosts were great. Waiter Emanuel(??) was on the ball....he had great recommendations and even helped my husband get his phone out of our valeted car!~ Everyone was uber friendly....We will def. be back....if you didnt find the same results, give this place a second chance!
(5)
Evangeline L.

Yip yip yeah! Finally, the long awaited Folklore has arrived! No more driving to Southport for me...instead just a quick jaunt down the street to meat heaven. We decided to stop in on the Sunday night after they opened and were nervous about the possible wait. However, we were seated upon arrival! The interior is familiar; candlelit tables that are close together but not too close, pushed tin ceilings, servers with seductive accents, sexy music playing in the background, and people making out all over the place. Ok scratch that last one but you know what I mean. The menu is almost identical to Tango Sur: empanadas, sweetbreads, antipasto for starters and meat for one and giant meat platters for two (or three). The main difference I noticed is that they have a section dedicated to grass fed beef-nice job Folklore! Also, they serve cocktails here and yummy ones at that. The wine list houses some excellent wines from Argentina, Chile, and Spain. I noticed one of my favorite Spanish reds for $38 a bottle which is almost half the amount other places charge for it. Score!! For an entree we split the (insert name I don't remember) duo which had perfectly cooked flap meat, sweetbreads, blood sausage, and short ribs which came with the ever so perfect chimichurri sauce. Oh holy meat! Everything was delicious but I think I prefer my old standby of the lomo relleno. The entrees still come with that random salad consisting of lettuce, onion, tomato and vinegar and the desserts still come out on a platter at the end of your meal. The reason why I'm knocking a star is because of the rushed service. After 5 minutes of enjoying our app's our salads came out and then 2 minutes after that our entree. Umm. I hadn't even gotten through the app yet. Their excuse was that medium rare doesn't take long to cook. Well, I think we all know that it wasn't the steaks fault! They kindly took it back and we enjoyed our meal at the pace we wanted. I left full, tipsy, and happy. Folklore, you serenaded me and I love you for that.
(4)
Deanna G.

Soooo freaking cute inside! This menu is very similar to Tango Sur - which for me, is a good thing. I love Tango Sur. I would probably give it a 5 if it was also a BYOB. Much bigger than tango sur, so the wait isn't as long, and just really cute ambiance. The service was really good. Food was amazing and the wine was decently priced. It's just a little too expensive to go unless special occasion. But if i was rich, or if it was a BYOB I would go much more often. :)
(4)
Beth H.

I had never heard of this place, but my fiance's family had a birthday party here. It was amazing. We had been told by another friend that the filet was better than the strip steak. There were several filet's ordered, one fish and one chicken dish and everything was amazing! I could not get over the size of the dishes. Each filet was actually 2 ginormous filets. Nobody could finish their dish, and everybody brought home leftovers. The empanadas that we had as an appetizer were so-so, and the deserts were dry and not that good (we had a cookie and some swirly dish, that tasted like a dry chocolate and regular pound cake) but for the price-the steak and portions were amazing. Definitely worth checking out-would be nice for a date. The same meal at another steak house would cost you $60, as opposed to the $24 for one filet (which was actually 2!). Also, the ambiance was nice. Dark, with almost industrial looking lighting-created a nice, sophisticated and intimate experience.
(4)
Mike V.

Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at Folklore; the only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five is that the service was a bit lacking. Granted, we were eating during an off time, but our server kept going MIA, leaving us sitting for 15-20 minutes at a time. With that said, the food was great, and I found it to be a good value. My girlfriend and I had a pretty casual meal- started off with a few empanadas and shared the filet parrillada- which was excellent. The filet parrillada (I believe they call it the Lomo) is basically a huge, untrimmed chunk of filet, surrounded with portabella mushrooms, all covered with an excellent chimichurri sauce- served on a mini grill at your table (seems kind of cheesy, but once you lay your eyes on the meat, it's all good). Anyways, cooked to perfection, and I thought this was a solid deal at $36, considering it was probably 1.5 lbs of meat... When it was all said and done, we were out the door for $57 (no drinks), so my cheap ass was pretty happy.
(4)
Becca F.

I'm still digesting my meal. We waited a bit for a table, but no longer than they estimated. The menu mimics Tango, which is why we went in the first place. No need to battle the Wrigleyville traffic or crowds. We had the Provolata (or glob of melted cheese), risotto special, and the Vacio Relleno, which is a pile of food for two on a grill right on your table. These 3 things were enough for the 4 of us to share. All was great. Glad to have them in the neighborhood.
(4)
David T.

Great food, great atmosphere, and great service. If the ear splitting techno music during dinner is turned down or better yet switched to something with a little more seductive then I will give it the 5th star.
(4)
Kristy B.

My boyfriend took me here for my birthday this past January. Aesthetically Folklore is gorgeous. The mixed drinks were fantastic too. We had a wonderful appetizer but when it came to our main dish I thought it was just so so. He left feeling the same way. It's worth trying but it wouldn't become one of my favorites.
(3)
Melissa S.

Had a great time here. Servers and bartenders were very polite and attentive, the employees there want you to have a pleasant experience and often thats hard to find at resturants. Food was cooked well and you definitely wont leave hungry. Would certainly recommend this resturant to others. However, be aware, they dont take reservations so expect to wait, the good news is they have a full bar.
(4)
Meaghan C.

Went to Folklore for the fifth time on Saturday night with the family and let me say, the best price and deal on Filet. My husband and I have been splitting the El Filet because it is two huge 8oz portions of filet, yes two in one order! We also order a small app, last Saturday was the shrimp in a tomato garlic sauce and that is also amazing. I have to say that my favorite thing at Folklore is the empanadas, definitely try the corn and the ham and cheese, try them all they are all good. Service is wonderful and it is very comfortable seating, not to loud. We go back for so many casual dinners with the family....
(5)
Thiago B.

I'm not sure you could really compare this place to a typical Chicago steakhouse. It's not, and based on the fact that it's much like Tango Sur, you're going to get the Argentinian version of a quality steak, not the American way, so it's going to be a less marbled, but more gamey beef cut. Gamey beef, yes, and the grilling technique to bring out the flavor of the beef, as opposed to the aging and fat we are so used to, make Argentinian steak a much more different experience. You've got to come here not with the typical steakhouse mentality, but a little more open-minded to how other countries view the same 'food', and how it is prepared. It's like expecting to taste fried fish at a sushi place. Fish, same type of meat Cuisine, different. I liked Folklore, and since I'm a Division St. snob, I like the fact that I can go not so far and not downtown to enjoy a cut of beef that I didn't grill myself. We needed a place like this to round off our selections. Now somebody needs to open up a Vietnamese noodle shop and an Indian restaurant.
(4)
Natasha M.

Folklore is a pretty fancy place that gives 28oz of meat of $36 dollar. If you share that 28oz fillet mignon, it's not expensive at all. It's enough for two to three people. It's a meat lover's place. The ambiance was dark, elegant and hip. The music was Gotan project, a electronic Tango fusion group. When my boyfriend and I explored the Buckton/Wicker Park neighborhood, we found this place being highly recommended on Chicago Tribune. We decided to give it a try on a Friday night. When we arrive at 9:00pm, it was completely packed and the wait is about an hour and ten minutes. We walked around the neighborhood and went to Adobo Grill to have a Guacamole appetizer while waiting. It was worth the wait. The meat was so tender and juicy. The sauce I thought was a little but heavy, but it doesn't cover the taste of the red and tender fillet mignon. It was seriously 28oz, no joking. We had to pack it at the end. The dessert - flan- was not as good as it looks when it's on other people' desk. We paid about $27 per person including tax, tips, drinks, dessert, and the big entree. Overall, this hot new place is worth going to, and will definitely become one of Chicago's top restaurants very soon.
(4)
Angie V.

GREAT food - especially an otherworldly/amazing flan. Inattentive service - kitchen forgot one of my friend's meals, and there was a sneaky $10 share fee, which seems unacceptable when the entrees are only slightly more expensive. Beautiful atmosphere- dining room was divided into two, which made it seem more intimate, and the bathroom was clean, eerily spacious, and with a tastefully beachy (?) look/feel.
(3)
Emily D.

LOVED it. Great atmosphere. Good food. Good service.
(5)
Nicole S.

This restaurant is only 1 block from my apartment and I've wanted to check it out for some time. Based on good yelp reviews my husband and I decided to take my mother here to eat on her 62nd birthday on a Thursday night. It was important to have an intimate and somewhat quiet atmosphere since it had been about a month since I last saw my mom. 15min after our arrival a large group of maybe 20+ arrived. The noise level was very irritating and I was extremely frustrated that I had to yell across the table to be able to have a conversation. This definitely spoiled the evening for us. It is also very dark in the restaurant. I understand this is for ambiance, but the only light..the flicker of one candle on the table made it difficult for my mom to read the menu. We ordered the berenjena eggplant entree for 3 of us to share as an appetizer....a lot of people rave about this dish, however it came to the table cold and unappetizing. The other entrees we ordered were ok...large portions, but I can't say that is was the greatest food. We were all starving, but after the cold eggplant dish...we barely touched our entrees and took them to go.....ate the leftovers for the next 2 days. Waiters/bus boys trying to take our plates of food several times even before we were finished was annoying. Prices were decent...spent about $130 for 4 beers, 1 extra salad and 4 entrees. When I called to make the reservation the person who answered the phone was very cold and not welcoming at all....no hello or thank you for calling. I should have taken this as a sign to go elsewhere.
(3)
AJ R.

Went Folklore last weekend for dinner--Fri night, called at the last min to make a reservation, and had no problems getting one for 6:30...not bad. Have been to Tango Sur numerous times (love it) and so wanted to try Folklore. Menu is basically the same as Tango Sur, and we like the food there, so we liked the food here--it would be nice if they had changed the menu up though...the atmosphere is "nicer" than Tango Sur--a little more upscale, not as dark, and less crowded. Service was good, and overall we really enjoyed the evening. Our favorites are the eggplant appetizer, empanadas, and the el Filet. At the same time I'd choose Tango Sur over Folklore--same menu, fun atmosphere, and closer to where we live.
(4)
Sam G.

Food was good but I do think Tango Sur is much better and unlike Folklore Tango Sur is BYOB. The service was also little lacking but not terrible. That being said the cocktails where really great and they easily accommodated a party of 15 which was a big plus. I would go back again for apps and cocktails for sure.
(3)
Sep E.

A lovely atmosphere with tasty food. I had the steak stuffed with spinach and cheese and it was delicious. The portion was huge, though, and the dog got lucky with some good leftovers that night. My boyfriend had the two filets with mashed potatoes and that was very good too. I would probably order the filet next time, but maybe to split. Empanadas were just okay. The spinach one was pretty tasteless and needed salt. Since the spinach was well-seasoned in the steak, it was a little odd it wasn't in the empanada. We also had the flan for dessert, and it was the best flan I have ever had. I would definitely go back!
(4)
WM P.

Nice little bar, fabulous service - in fact the staff in general was exceptional - the food? Well the two stars are for the staff and scene. The two appetizers we tried were weak. A plate of melted cheese with a couple sliced red peppers and a chorizo dish accompanied by their holy trinity of: ice burg lettuce, sliced tomato, and a red onion. This combo appeared with many sides, while also doubling as the house salad. It was oddly everywhere. Very reminiscent of a diner type salad. Note an average diner salad. I felt the cheese dish could have been salvaged with additional peppers or maybe caramelized onions. Some type of acid or sweet was needed to cut the melted fat. The chorizo was more akin to a bad bratwurst. Would have liked some spice. Two of our three steaks were passable. That in and of it's self is the problem. Not really looking for passable when I go to dinner. We probably all have a few friends who consistently knock a steak out of the park, on their Weber. No? Meat, salt & pepper, butter or olive oil - hey maybe both - add some fire and wallah. Now the third steak was smothered in some type of herb encrusted weed. I would guess at it as dried Thyme? Edible? I thought so, but I could muscle down anything. My friend. Well she skipped it and split my passable rib-eye. Desserts. I know what you are thinking. Why good man did you order dessert? Well I really can't help myself. I always order dessert, whether it seems wise or not. Alas all the desserts had some type of coconut. Unfortunately I despise coconut. A normal person may have been deterred at this point but I pushed on. It was some type of roll filled with chocolate and coconut. In all fairness this dessert would have had to be exceptional for me to like it, after the preceding dishes.... Thought it was dry. Did I mention the coffee and Baily's was spot on? Just to many steak options to give it another shot.
(2)
Deron N.

Love the space...the candlelit tables and the simple, rustic furniture creates a truly intimate ambiance. Problem is the food, particularly the steaks. I've been here three times, ordered steak twice. Both times it was super chewy and tough...barely edible. I will admit I ordered seafood once and LOVED it. Will go back as long I'm not in the mood for steak, because I like the vibe that much.
(2)
Vanessa M.

Folk this is good food!
(4)
Magda P.

Very good alternative to crowded Tango Sur. Good service, big portions of tasty food, great drinks.
(5)
Todd M.

I had a pretty enjoyable evening here. The food was quite good and I was not disappointed. I had pretty high expectations having spent a few weeks in Argentina a month or so before and the food was pretty authentic. The empanadas for an app are a must. The lomo para dos (essentially beef tenderloin for two) was cooked perfectly and although slightly different from what I had eaten in Argentina was delicious. I also really enjoyed the selection of Argentine and Chilean wines. I recommend this place if you like steak and are looking for something a little different than the traditional steakhouse.
(4)
Mallory G.

I would definitely go back to Folklore for appetizers & cocktails, but wasn't impressed with the main event. Their cocktail list is good, the caipirinhas are spot on and my dad was pleased that our waiter brought him 3 blue-cheese stuffed olives with his martini - yum. Empanadas were great and so was the roasted red pepper & cheese dip. However, I felt like my entree was quantity over quality - the plate probably weighed five pounds - impressive, until you taste it. I had some kind of steak that was stuffed with spinach & cheese, which sounded great in theory but lacked flavor. I ordered it medium rare, but somehow one side of the steak managed to be completely raw, while the other side was well done. I should have sent it back, but did not and ended up boxing it only to throw it out at home - what a waste. If you are looking for a good Spanish/Mexican option at a similar price point, head to Las Palmas on North Avenue instead!
(2)
Jordan V.

Great idea - a menu that could make anyone drool and an environment that makes you feel cool. However, the food was poorly executed. Overly breaded and fried milanesa, tough and tasteless eggplant, dry alfajor and a green salad that tasted a bit over-ripe. Handsome and friendly staff makes you want to like the place though.
(1)
Dan K.

First time there and had a really good meal. We ended up going during a street festival so can't really comment on how the atmosphere is 'normally' - but getting a chance to eat outside at the patio was terrific. You would think that the wait would be terrible b/ the bar was so packed but we got a table quickly and the Mojito's are perfect for a summer day ! We ended up with the chef's special for an appetizer - spinach, mushrooms, and a bisque sauce that was AMAZING. We used our bread to clean that plate...that good ! Beside a mix up with the order on who got the correctly cooked filet the place was great. I would go back again !!
(4)
Brian L.

This place is stunning. I loved the variants of ambiance here. It's definitely a first date place. I went here on a Friday night and it was very dark, intimate, cozy, and the only thing lighting up the restaurant were the candles. They have a full bar and the drinks are breath taking - I definitely want to go back to try the mojitos since I only got beer. My partner and I started with the pollo empanadas, and it was ok, a bit salty. Next, for our entree we got the grill with different meats (para dos) and it was delicious! The grill had steak, sausages, popcorn chicken thingys, and other cuts of meat! Yummy! The entree came with a cheap salad too, I wish they served you better salads since it is a pricey restaurant, I was not expecting iceberg lettuce with a slice of onion and tomato - come on! They also gave us complimentary potatoes wedges. We got full after a couple bites and we had leftovers to take home. The only thing I did not like about this place was the service. The staff was very slow, unorganized, and forgetful at times. Be sure to make a reservation, we had to wait for about 1.5 hours to be seated. In all, this place was an exception.
(3)
Dan A.

Very nice atmosphere, delicious appetizers, amazing drinks, but this place needs to make some improvements if it wants a good reputation like Tango Sur. Folklore has some of the best empenadas i've ever had and I would probably go back for them in the future. As a main course, I ordered the Churrasco, which is a traditional charcoal grilled sirloin steak. The meat was very well seasoned, but I had to send it back, as I asked for medium and actually got medium well. When they brought me my second steak, it was very rare and I couldn't even cut it with a steak knife. In short, the fact that an Argentinian steakhouse can't prepare a steak medium in two tries really gave me a bad first impression. I happened to throw the rare steak on my grill the next day and cooked it a perfect medium in around 12 minutes @ 400 degrees; it came out how it should have at the restaurant.
(2)
David H.

The food was really not good. The drinks were quite weak. We had appetizers and decided that the food was not good enough to warrant ordering an entree when there are numerous other restaurants up and down the street. Really not a good choice.
(2)
David A.

So I went here back in December, I heard some stories and was glad I was going to partake in this place. I will say I was disappointed! We had reservations and unfortunately, I guess that means you still have to sit at the bar for 30 minutes to get a table. I will say the service at the bar was good. Getting to our table, we were seated in an aisle where a lot of the servers were using this a way through the restaurant. As for the food, I had the Bone in Rib Eye and when I order a steak as Medium rare, I expect the meat next to the bone to be warm and red, that was not the case, the steak came out as well done throughout. I thought it was only me experiencing this, but a friend who was there the same night had the same issue. If you are going to pride your restaurant as an Argentine grill with great meat, please learn to cook a steak correctly. Besides being a bit overpriced, the food was mediocre at best. I would say stick to the original and go to Tango Sur. This place will need to figure out their snafu and hopefully in 6 months, its still around.
(2)
Susan P.

Could not have had a better experience than at Folklore on a Friday night. Walked right in around 7:15pm and were seated immediately. The waiter was perfect - around enough if we needed anything, but not hovering and bothering us all night. Drinks were good. A virgin passion fruit mojito had me not at all missing the real thing. Beer selection had some unique choices. The food was really great - if you're feeling like steak, this is your place. As has been said, the el filet was fantastic - two filets, done perfectly, and a huge side of spinach mashed potatoes. The sauce with the filet was the clincher - a red wine reduction that really complemented the steak well. My date had the skirt steak which wasn't quite as good or to my taste as the filet. Dessert selections are brought out on a tray, lots of interesting options to choose from. We went with a coconut dulce de leche cake concoction that was very tasty. We are definitely going back here. Lots of times!
(5)
Jin K.

folklore should be a folklore. This place is really not that good. I took a couple of my sales reps out here for a accomplishment dinner based on one of the sales rep's recommendations. Probably not a good idea to listen to other's recommendations unless you do a little reasearch first. Anyhow, as I sit down the waiter comes up and he's ready to take our drink orders and I order a Modelo. the waiter jots it down and then asks the next person for their drink order and that person turns to me to ask me did you get the modelo especial? I respond back, "No, the Negra.' after the watier takes our order. We wait about 10 mins for our drinks to get to the table to satisfy our long over due wait for a quenching drink and the waiter brings me the wrong beer. Delirium Tremens sounds nothing like Modelo!?! - I wasn't too upset because I also can enjoy a Delirium but when I pointed it out to the waiter, he implicated that I clearly stated that I wanted a Delirium Tremens. Instead of snapping on him, I simply told him that I would drink this beer but the next one I order will be a NEGRA MODELO and asked if this would be ok and if it was understood. without catching my annoyed sarcasm, he left without apologizing. the wait here for your food is pretty long... we ordered a few apps, stay away from the prosciutto and melon, it's exactly prosciutto and melon, no more no less, nothing cool about a piece of thinly sliced prosciutto covering a slice of melon. Seriously nothing. So after eating some of our appetizers we decided to go outside and have a smoke, the staff thought we were dining and ditching and I really don't blame them for thinking that due to their 'expectional service'. - the waiter chased us outside and we told him we were having a smoke, I think I might have asked him if he would like to join us for a quick cancer stick. After he declined to join us, he came back to inform us that our food was coming to the table, we said that we would be right in and told him to see if they could wait 2 minutes...he came right back and stated that they had to bring it out right now. After Not enjoying my cigarette, we walked back inside. We sat down to eat. I ordered the tilapia which was based in a citrus sauce over a bed of mash potatoes. The sauce was definately overbearing even for my cigarette caused deadened taste buds, to the point that I felt like I was eating an orange with a hint of fish. At this point, I wished that I had dined (kinda at least) and ditched. Well the other two obviously ordering something a little better than mine were enjoying their steaks but both claimed it to be so-so. We found ourselves comparing it to Las Tablas Colombian Steakhouse, which we dined at the previous month for our Quota Dinner and all agreed that place was much better than Folklore. I'm not sure if folklores are ever bad but I do know that they are mysterious. I'm going to leave this place in my mysteriously vanished memories section within my brain.
(1)
ric g.

i wish i could give this place 5 stars.....but i was seated at 9:40 pm on a recent saturday with a 9 pm reservation. i did not see the waiter for another ten minutes. also, they screwed up on the empanada order...we ordered chicken, they brought beef. now for the good stuff...the drinks are good, the beef was incredible and plentiful i have to been to argentina twice and this place measures up. the empanadas were good, and the provoleta was delicious. aestheticly it was an attractive place.
(3)
Kelly H.

It took FOREVER for this place to open, so I was very happy to try it right away. I thought there might be some hang-ups given we were a group of six and came on their first weekend, but I was pleasantly surprised. The space is beautiful and I thought the food was a very good. It is also unlike anything else in the neighborhood (yeah! something other than a douche-filled sports bar!). My husband and a friend shared the dinner for two which seemed to be the best deal--lots of tasty meat on a hot platter for only $31. We had a few good bottles of $30ish Chilean red, great conversation, plenty of well seasoned food (though the salad that comes with dinner is really lame) and an adequate server. The empanadas, while a wee bit pricey at $2 each, were probably the best I'd ever had. They brought a free caramel flan since it was the opening weekend and we scraped the plate! Everyone in our party went home with leftovers and all said they would be back.
(4)
Jessica S.

Very long wait AFTER having been seated AND ordered. Many of the items that came were not what we ordered, and the ones that we received were mixed. Empanadas were awesome, sweet potatoes were two plain (not even a touch of butter or sugar or anything) steamed sweet potatoes on a plate, and procuitto and melon was a slice of procuitto just laid over a slice of melon. We weren't asked how we wanted our steak cooked, and one came medium and one came rare. Hopefully these are growing pains for a new restaurant and they will get themselves sorted out.
(2)
Anonymous. M.

What a nice place. The portions are generous and food is very good. Service was excellent. I have had better steak but with all of the other items we ordered I can say this is not just a meat and potatoes joint. They have some real interesting items. The host was very accommodating and they placed us at a favorable table. Will definitely be going back.
(4)
Chuck M.

It was Friday night and very busy. We did not have reservations but we were prepared to wait at the bar and have some drinks while we caught up with some friends from out of town. They told us the wait was going to be an hour, so we put our name in. A little over an hour later, the host taps my shoulder and says a name (it was very loud) and I asked him if he said "Stephanie", he shakes his head and motions for me to follow him. They seat our party of 4 at a table where there shouldn't be a table where two people are on one side, and then one person at each end (no one could be one side, otherwise we were blocking the aisle). It was hard to talk to each other, so I asked if we could be moved, and the host goes off on me. He accuses me of taking someone else's spot (he said he didn't say Stephanie) and tells me how he doesn't like liars. He must have called me a liar 3-4 times. I almost walked out, but since we were starving at this point and they did move us, we stayed. It was very unprofessional and we felt uncomfortable afterward. In hindsight we should have left. Since then I refuse to go back there ever again (which is a shame because the food was pretty good).
(1)
Pickle P.

My argentine girlfriend and I have been here a few times, and have always left in great moods. The service staff is wonderful, friendly, and accomodating, never missing a beat. The food is excellent - though a bit expensive, so I can't dine here often. I wish they had a website available online so I could refer to some of the food I've had - obviously a few different cuts of steaks, the argentina-famous potatoes, and some sort of a grilled cheese appetizer (a lot tastier than it sounds!) The flan for dessert is TO DIE FOR!!! They have a nice wine list - but it is a little small, and they do not offer many wines by the glass. Unfortunately my friend and I have different tastes in wines - I red and she white - so a bottle is usually out of the question (though it normally turns out that we should have EACH gotten a bottle ;)). Obviously they have magnificent malbecs. Grab your spot in this restaurant early on in the eve - they start to fill up come 7:30pm, and this is place you'll want to hang out for awhile.
(4)
Little T.

Ok, so first off...I liked this place, but my husband ordered the "wrong thing" and was underwhelmed to say the least. We went on a Friday night and it was crowded, about a 45 minute to hour long wait. Lucky for us, we're happy to wait and they were happy to call my cell when our table was ready. So, we went to Shambles (weird) and had a few beers while we waited. It was the two of us and my two brother-in-laws...three boys, ready for a good meat dinner....one who has spent time in Argentina and raves about the cuisine and the wine. Mr. Argentina was put in charge of ordering the wine and it was INCREDIBLE. Score. Another bonus - we were able to sit for a long time in the restaurant without feeling rushed to order or to eat and get out. That was nice. Mr. Bad Order chose the tortilla. Really? No steak huh? Came here for the steak and you're going to get the tortilla. Really? Ok. So, while Mr. Bad Order waited for his tortilla, my brother-in-law and I decided to split a steak. I mean, if I had ordered this alone, I wouldn't have even finished half. It's huge. Huge. Delicious, well seasoned, but huge. Oh, the tortilla order? Gross. He ate the remaining pieces of my half of the steak and got very sad about his order. Nothing some good Argentinean wine can't fix though...
(3)
Lindsay L.

I was so bummed, my friend told me about this place; she had gone for drinks the night before and said it was cute. I took my bf there over the weekend and we were seated right away, by the window (which was nice), and were very excited about trying a new place. A couple with a small child was seated next to us. At this point we had been seated about 10 minutes without anyone even acknowledging our presence. Next they get situated and I hear them say they were just going to get drinks and appetizers; basically came in out of the rain from Division fest, as did we, but we were starving and planning to order steaks and lamb... I was so appalled when the waiter came right up to them and took their order and still no one had even looked at us. My bf looked at me and said the rain has stopped and I said yes lets just get vendor food at least they want our money and business...We both were annoyed because we were geared up for Argentinean food. I have NEVER left a restaurant before in my life and worked many years in the restaurant/hospitality industry and never would have thought such poor service or lack of give a damn existed. Will never go back, but they seriously missed out on a large bill to get a family appetizers and drinks who had been seated 5 minutes compared to our 20!
(1)
Sarah G.

This place is awesome! I have been to Tango Sur a couple of times and enjoyed it but my filet here was the best I have ever had (including any I had when studying abroad in Argentina). Everything was delightful. My boyfriend enjoyed every bit of his meal as well. I came on a Monday and they offer an industry discount which is great and the other days of the week they have great specials too. Luis was one of the best servers I have had in a while. I will be back!
(5)
Natasha P.

As a Filipina woman (with a morsel of Spanish in her) who embraces and recognizes a lot of Mexico in herself, Folklore truly made me feel Argentinean as well. To call this establishment a restaurant/bar is an understatement, with its candlelit rooms and echoing Latin music, and intelligible waiters that make you swoon, you can't help but lose track of time. With previous yet failed plans to dine at Tango Sur, I dined at Folklore last night with my sister to celebrate my recent job offer, she lives in the neighborhood and walked past it during its soft opening - yes, all it took was a stroll past this joint and she immediately made reservations for last night's grand opening. I should preface this by saying that my sister and I are absolute foodies, we're not those women who order salads as entrees and steer clear of white bread, blasphemy! It may have been raining up a storm last night but upon opening the rustic, wooden door, we emerged into an atmosphere adorned with sexy lighting, beautiful people, cocktails up to par with the mixologists at Violet Hour and phenomenal steak. When you come to an Argentinean steakhouse by all means do you NOT order the chicken, though I'm sure it may be fantastic, you have to eat the steak here! We were greeted and immediately seated and our waiter, Alfredo, kindly and patiently guided us through the menu. For drinks, I ordered the Mango Picado, a tequila filled glass of amazing with a splash of Cointreau and fresh limes - there's a bit of spice to this drink and a little bite with those fresh limes but if you love tequila I highly recommend this. My sister ordered a lime mojito and let me just say that this lime mojito was so great it should be the mojito from which all mojitos are made. While catching up with one another's lives over fabulous cocktails and warm bread, Alfredo brought out our house salads (again not as entrees, but they came with what we ordered), lettuce with tomato, onion and a light coat of vinaigrette - it was a clean, well put together salad, we ate just a little though in preparation for our meat, meat, meat. I ordered the Bife Vesuvio, a grilled prime steak dish stuffed with spinach and cheese with Argentine style potatoes. Upon first bite I deduced that this is the dish I would like to eat if I knew I were about to die. It was brought out to me as the chef suggested, medium - and although I like my meat medium well, I'm glad I went with the chef's recommendation since it was a stuffed meat dish, perfection on a platter. Since the dish was also rather large I stood no chance at finishing it and brought the leftovers home with me. Awash in the memory of my fantastic dining experience last night, I can't remember the name of my sister's dish - it was a cut of prime rib, grilled over mashed potatoes. I can guarantee you that I'm not doing it justice, but she loved it. The service here is top notch, albeit a grand opening - everything flowed smoothly and if you dine here ask for Alfredo, he's soft-spoken, attentive and absolutely and effortlessly sexy. Folklore Argentine Grill will now be recommended to all of my friends and I cannot wait to return because guess what, we had no room for dessert...and dessert is always a must on my list.
(5)
Valerie H.

excellent meat, love the ambience, music a little too loud for my taste, great waiters!!!! love it for dinner and also sunday for lunch. Good starters are the provoleta, which is melted provolone cheese and you eat it with g=bread, the "mollejas" which are are my favorites. The tortilla de papa is pretty good too. As a main course I usually order the "vacio" which is a great piece of meat and comes w/ fries and salad. The portions are a good size, even good for sharing is you are not a huge eater. You can also get the parillada if you are a group and want to take different kinds of meat, it is like a mini gill with all kinds of cuts. Great flan con dulce de leche for dessert.
(4)
Barbara P.

Great food & vibe, definitely going back
(5)
Kwoky L.

Folklore is definitely a beef lover's paradise. You can't really go wrong with thick cuts of beef nicely seared and done just the way you like it. I had the Vacio, which is a THICK flap meat and it is freaking amazing. I love the seared crust on the outside and the meat is so juicy and tender. I wanted it medium and it came out perfectly - light pink in the middle and no blood. My coworker ordered the 12oz sirloin and it was equally huge as well but thinner. The pollo Milanesa also looked good. My caipirinha was served in a tall glass with LOTS of lime and cachaca. Service was good as well. My only complaint was the lighting and the salad. Like its sister restaurant, I felt that it was way too dim that I had difficulty seeing my food. The salad was uninteresting to say the least. It comes with the meal but it was still rather wet when it was served and we were expected to dress the greens ourselves with the oil and vinegar provided. Well, I don't they they realized that it's hard to properly dress them without a big salad bowl and a whisk to make the vinaigrette. The salad is simply a disaster. Overall though, given the price paid, the amount and quality of food is enough to make everyone leave the place happy and full. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Carlos V.

I am a fan. Great steak, awesome drinks and you don't have to wait 45 minutes to sit down.
(4)
smitha s.

Loved the service and the decor! Good place for dinner with friends .. however I'm not a huge meat eater (especially the chunky kind with no other side dish) and unfortunately there's not many choices for people like moi! I did enjoy the Beef Ravioli w/ Argentinian Tomato sauce and my friends did like the heavy meat dishes that they had .. ;)
(3)
Libby R.

Mmm-Mmm-Mmm... YUMMY! From the moment I called for a reso, I loved this place! Even though they don't take reservations, the guy who answered the phone said, "Give me your name and your number, and call me before you show up - I'll watch out for you..." Like he had my back or something... Family-style. Loved that! And when we got there (at 8:30 on a Saturday night) he did in fact have my name and number written down and our party of 4 was seated within 30 seconds. Nice. We brought two pretty expensive bottles of wine with us, and the ONLY reason I am giving this place 4 stars instead of 5, is that I thought their corking fee was ridiculous... It was $20 PER BOTTLE, which is higher than most nice restaurants in Chicago. (I used to work at Tavern on Rush, and their corking fee is $15)... They wouldn't budge on this, and I didn't love that. Tip would have been even bigger if they had cut down the corking fee. AAAAnyway..... Everything we ordered was absolutely outstanding. We sampled all four empanadas for appetizers... Most of my dining partners had steak of some sort, and even though I don't usually eat much red meat, I have to say that it was fantastic.... I ordered chicken rellenos, which were wrapped and stuffed with blue cheese, spinach, and finished with a mushroom cream sauce (if I remember correctly). Absolutely wonderful. And whatever the desserts were - me and a friend polished off two, while the guys sat back and watched us - were melt-in-your-mouth good! And I loved eating in their dimly-lit, well-decorated space. Just made it a nice place to eat with a small group of close friends on a Saturday night. Will I go back? Most definitely. And you should, too.
(4)
Stan W.

I used to go to Tango Sur quite a bit years ago, and I don't remember them giving me so much food. The portions are kinda silly - if you order the filet, you get 2 of them. They were like two 8 oz filets - eat one and bring the other home. Prices are great too. $25 for a bone-in ribeye with mashed potatoes? The thing was like 16 oz! It was crowded on a Friday night, but still workable. We showed up without a reservation during prime time (7PM) and put our name in - the guy said it would be 30 minutes and it was - we were seated 31 min. later. Service was great - we even had 2 waiters because they got confused. (we didn't have the heart to stop the 2nd guy from explaining what all the different steaks were about) I would say that I had hoped for a little more flavor with my beef - I felt it was a little bland - but it definitely was cooked just as I had ordered it. Definitely a fun place - but you better like beef. The plain, bland salad they give you with your meal is a good example of their dedication to beef - they just don't get it. Don't show up thinking you'll get the chicken or a vegetarian entree - the menu is pretty much beef, beef, beef (oh yeah, I think there was some lamb).
(4)
Ryan M.

Service - B+. Some might find it to be overly attentive, but we enjoy that. Bartender and Drinks - A++/Beyond Outstanding. Unbelievable and artfully made Pisco Sour, Mojito, Mojito Sour, and a great beer list. Ambiance - A. Food - B+. Portion sizes are very big. The steaks were juicy and well cooked. One complaint is that we found everything to be over-seasoned. The shrimp in the surf and turf dish were especially salty. We'll be back for the drinks and the ambiance.
(4)
Teresa S.

Recently hit this joint with my foodie friends and it was a nice surprise. Excellent Wicker Park location offering pretty darn good food. If you like meat...this is the place for you. I enjoyed the sirloin...but be warned, I asked for medium well...and I was handed a almost raw piece. Oh my...of course, I sent it back and they cooked it more. The portion was huge! Enjoy the romantic low-lighting with a lover...and be sure to order the chimichurri's...there are 3 varieties to choose from! ENJOY!
(3)
Hans S.

Food was good but a bit pricey. The drinks are good but no draft beer. Very nice place with live music on Thursday evenings.
(4)
Lis H.

La comida es deliciosa y deliciosa personal masculino! All seriousness, though - The food was superb. Argentinians know their carne! The prices are high, but the portion sizes are hefty and the quality is outstanding. (You get what you pay for!) The ambience is relaxing and comfortable, both inside dining and out. The staff is friendly, attentive, and accommodating. Wine bars, etc. within walking distance. I recommend the filet, spinach potatoes, and you must try the empanadas! Cons - As always in the great city of Chicago, the parking stinks, and this establishment doesn't offer valet. There are other restaurants in the vicinity that do, though. Finally, if street parking, watch out for residential permit parking and meter maids...They're abundant.
(5)
Magen R.

My boyfriend and I celebrated half a year of fun together at Folklore last week and we couldn't have asked for a better experience! This place is the perfect spot for a date night; the dark ambiance, candlelight, and tiny tables are perfectly suited for romance. We were also lucky enough to come on an evening when they were playing live music which further added to the experience. They do not normally take reservations for small groups but the awesome host bent the rules for us because we were celebrating. We were greeted quickly and offered a prime spot in the corner near the front windows. Our friendly waiter greeted us right away and helped me sort through their amazing cocktail program. I was totally torn but he steered me in the right direction in the form of a pomegranate mojito. Even though I'm not a rum girl I couldn't have gone with a better pick. When it comes to the food the choices aren't much easier... we struggled to sort through the vast menu which had so many awesome choices. We started off by splitting a corn empanada and the proscuitto with hearts of palm. I have to say both were great but the true standout was the empanada, so much so that I ended up ordering another one and while my boyfriend opted to order the chicken. Neither disappointed and it's also worth mentioning that the vinaigrette they serve these with is an unexpectedly awesome complement to the empanadas. As for entrees we both knew we wanted steak but choosing one proved to be a quite challenging endeavor with both of us ordering something we had not walked in the door expecting to. I went with the El Filet off of the Chef's Specials menu and was totally blown away. I was presented with two perfectly done filets drowning in an outstanding onion sauce along with a heaping pile of spinach mashed potatoes. It couldn't have been any more delicious and I was almost disappointed that I was full I couldn't eat more of it! My boyfriend's entree, the Costeleta, was also ridiculously great. I was glad he chose something so completely different than my entree and that I got to try a sampling of the awesome fare that Folklore has to offer.
(5)
Anthony C.

I though that the food and the ambiance were outstanding, however, the service is what caused me to only give it 2 stars. Quite simply, the service was just bad. My girlfriend and I got sat near the window in the dining room and were there for about 75 minutes in total. During that time our server only came by our table, without me flagging him down, 3 times. We were done eating our meal, and ready to leave, but waited for more than 20 minutes for someone to give us the bill. Had I not gotten up and flagged the server down I imagine that we would have waited quite a bit longer. In short, the restaurant has outstanding food. However, the owners should do some additional training with their service team if they really take the restaurant to the next level.
(2)
Beatriz R.

Pretty good place came here for my birthday order almost ever flavored empanada and they were amazing. My favorite was the ham and cheese one. Had a few cocktails and I must admit they were pretty strong!! Order the churasco and while the flavor was good it was a bit too chewy for me. I didn't even finish it but that's maybe cuz I over indulged in the empanadas. Other wise I wouldn't mind coming again and maybe trying a different cut of meat. The atmosphere was very nice perfect for a date night with a significant other.
(4)
Clara S.

I loved folklore! Amazing prices for what you get, which is a very nice restaurant and bar with a great cocktail list. Ambience is nice and romantic, but still fun. The candles were a nice touch, but this was not just a date spot because there were plenty of big groups. I'm so glad I found this place on yelp and loved the surrounding area as well. Food: complementary bread that kept coming warm and crispy but soft on the inside, house salads that come before most entrees- with all this you won't leave hungry for sure! Definitely get steak at this restaurant because the meat is very reasonably priced but still of good quality and flavor. I was very pleased with my sirloin medium rare. Drinks: a nice extensive cocktail list to choose from. Prices are expected of a nice restaurant ($10-12), but you can use the money you saved from the food. Overall a great find thanks to yelp reviews!
(5)
Tim H.

Good brunch option with outdoor seating. Pretty quiet at open and throughout my brunch. The chicken dish I had was pretty good...not cooked too dry, served with avocado and chimichurri sauce.
(4)
Jasmin T.

Folklore has some of the best drinks on division. This drink is all you need to get your night started right. They have generous sizes and the waiters give you recommendations for things to get with your food. The bread is warm and a great starter before getting your meal. Don't get full off of it though! We decided to get two separate meals even though we knew the portions would be huge. They were. I got the churrasco and that was heaven. It was made just right and came with wedge potatoes. My partner got a steak stuffed with spinach and cheese. This was a huge portion, but unfortunately it was not what we were hoping it was. It was a little on the dry side and we wished we hadn't gotten it. However, it did reheat well the next day as a side for our breakfast! Overall, check this place out, share your plates, and don't get stuffed steaks.
(3)
Kate G.

Protein overload. In a good way! The menu is extensive and everything on it is amazing. Most meals come with a fresh salad and some kind of potato. The bread beforehand came out very fresh and warm. The patio is perfect for summer! Portions are generous. The staff is very kind and attentive. Love this place!
(5)
Kellie J.

Very nice environment. My boyfriend and I arrived on a Sunday at 6:30 there was no wait time however the place was packed. The table setting was romantic with a candle lit and nice decor. The menu was a bit Difficult to understand, we both ordered empanadas which were phenomenal! I had spinach ravioli with white sauce and it was pretty good. My boyfriend had tortia la tortia papa which was some potato thing that was very plain. Over all really good good, nice setting and staff, a little bit pricey.
(4)
Simone M.

Absolutely adore this restaurant! First place my boyfriend ever took me to as our first date. Started with some delicious mojitos, followed with the chefs special eggplant and some Argentinian steak. Lovely aura and sweet staff. It was also great that they let his dog sit with us on the patio! We love coming back on Wednesdays for their mojito special!
(5)
Carolyn T.

I've been here twice now and I definitely have a favorable impression of Folklore. This place is really convenient, which is all the more reason to drop by more frequently! The first time here we dined in. The service was very attentive and I absolutely loved the romantic decor. It has a dark atmosphere with real tall wick candles lot at each table. There was complimentary bread service, which tasted delicious. The bread came out hot, light, and buttery with a slight crisp to it. We ordered a few empanadas to share and agreed that the corn was the standout. For my entree, I got the tortilla de papas. Honestly, it was a little disappointing and I would not recommend you order it unless bland, dry food is your thing. I probably just didn't order the right menu item that time. They also brought us complimentary salads, which was great! The second time here we carried out our meal. We arrived, told the host we wanted to order food to carry out, then he informed the guy behind the bar, who poured us water while we waited. For a little under $20, we got seven empanadas for $2.50 each. What a great deal! We enjoyed eating those from the comfort of the apartment. These are honestly the BEST empanadas I have ever had. The corn is still my favorite, but the spinach and cheese is also a leading contender. I don't eat meat, but my boyfriend does and he declared the beef is the best, complete with beef, egg, and cheese. We will absolutely be back for empanada carryout!
(4)
Abraham K.

Now this place is a hidden gem! Absolute fan boy here. Hands down, perfect place to get quality cuts and generous portions. Not to mention a generous price on these steaks. I've been to many steakhouses before, but was shocked to see the price! First timers: Get the El Filet or Costeleta Side note: Order the Stiegle Grapefruit Raddler, perfect balance with your steak! I hope you get your steaks Medium-rare! *Cough, Cough*
(5)
Johanna A.

This restaurant is amazing! The service was great even with a group of 10. Waiters, servers and bar tenders were all nice. :) I ordered a mango picao at the bar. This drink was perfection! I like a little heat in my drinks. :) We ordered the empanadas as our starter. These were crispy and so tasty. My fave were the spinach with cheese and the corn with cheese. I shared the vacio parilla with two others. Glad I did as the portions here are huge! The meat was tender. Roasted sweet potatoes were tasty. We also ordered a side of the spinach mashed potatoes - delicious!! I will definitely come back!
(5)
Stefanie A.

Argentinian food- I'm officially hooked. Went here this past weekend with husband and some of his fam. First off, I have to point out how absolutely awesome the decor is in here. A dimly lit restaurant with lots of candles on each table. Good for groups or a date. We had the empanadas and the provolenta to start with. Def recommend those! I had the "el Che" for my entree- one of the specials for the night. Delicious flank steak served with mashed potatoes and veggies. Huge portions, we all took leftovers home! Oh and make sure to get the dessert that consists of filo dough- not sure what it was but it was to die for!
(5)
David C.

So, I literally live upstairs. I obviously had to try this place at some point! We finally had one of those nights where there was so much snow and I was THRILLED to have found a parking space that was already shoveled out without any pesky dibs chairs in my way. There was no way I was going to surrender my precious parking spot to go somewhere for dinner. Folklore was a no-brainer. We were seated right away on a Friday evening, which was great because I was hungry. I noticed the romantic atmosphere right away. There are tall candlesticks on every table. Our host lit the candle as we were taking our seats. Not to be cheesy, but gazing into my date's eyes over candlelight had a great romantic vibe to it. We were provided with a basket of warm, soft, fluffy bread to enjoy while we perused the menu. This was perfect bread. I couldn't tell if they make the bread on the premises, but I was impressed by it. There were little plastic containers of butter, also. We decided on two empanadas to share as a starter. The gf doesn't eat meat, so we were stuck with spinach and corn. The corn was definitely the stand-out; I highly recommend ordering that one. The spinach one was decent; it had a lot of spinach in it, but it lacked flavor. the braided crust was amazing, though--crispy and light. I ordered a dish with an Italian name (which confused me a little because this is an Argentinian place) that was basically a meat party in my mouth with ham, beef, and mozzarella. My meal was pretty darn good and I felt like I got a filling portion for $19. As hungry as I thought I was, I ended up bringing leftovers home. I guess that's what I get for filling up on bread. My girlfriend had some kind of potato tortilla, which looked like a massive solid omelet/skillet. I thought it lacked flavor, though. It could use some hot sauce! I wished they had some type of condiment options to add spiciness to the food. I'm definitely going to be back here. That corn empanada is the best one I've ever had. We identified Folklore as the perfect place to enjoy a drink, the aforementioned empanadas, and maybe even dessert. (I know they have it, but we didn't look at the dessert menu this time around because we were so stuffed.) This is a solid addition to the Wicker Park dining scene and is definitely worth a visit for a romantic evening.
(4)
Bonnie M.

Check out Paulo at the bar for the best Moscow mules you've ever had! Plus the empanadas are the best!!!!!
(5)
Matt E.

Um, delicious. Everything! We started with Chicken empanadas, had the mozzarella salad, and the stuffed chicken with mashed potatoes and mushroom sauce. Flan for dessert was amazing. Decor is rustically pretty, clean and welcoming. Staff was attentive and nice. Great place. Highly recommended.
(5)
Ara O.

Great place for a steak and drinks. The food is fantastic. I had the ribeye steak medium rare and it was delicious. The staff is very nice, but the wait is very long and it took forever to get our food.
(4)
Norm J.

I came here with friends to celebrate my best friend's birthday and while we don't tend to dine in Wicker Park...I can honestly say I am so happy we did. This was one of the best overall dining experiences I've had in my 8 years of living in Chicago. Environment: I really liked the set up of this place. The large communal tables mixed in with tables for parties of 2-4 and the soft lighting gives Folklore a real intimate feel. Drinks: Each drink we tried we thoroughly enjoyed (thankful for Uber on this night). I recommend you try: - Prickly Bear - Pisco Sour - Blackberry Mojito Food: The food was divine, delicious, damn good! I sampled each dish that my friends ordered and I liked all of them equally. MMM my mouth is watering because my taste buds are crying out to go back to Folklore Argentine Grill. We had: - Berenjena: some of the best eggplant i have ever had! If you don't like meat or feeling like you want to spare a cow...then try this dish. - Bife Vesuvio: utterly amazing! I mean the steak was filled with spinach, cheese, garlic and mar del plata. I mean who ever thought up this dish ranks in the top 10 of my favorite people. - Mar Y Tierra: 8oz filet with 2 jumbo shrimp. The steak was very flavorful and cooked to perfection. I love me some shrimp, especially when they word jumbo is involved. -EL Filet: filet served with delicious spinach mashed potatoes. I will be going back to Folklore again and again for sure!
(5)
Emily B.

Five star Argentinian dining! Truly a treat for a carnivore like myself. Everything was perfection. We ordered a parrillada para dos and a vacio. The most delicious side I have ever had was the spinach mashed potatoes.... Speechless!!!! We had a Chilean red wine which was also a very nice treat, pepper undertones which really complimented the steak perfectly. I could not have been happier with the selection.
(5)
RJ W.

GREAT outdoor setting. So if you are going there to have some drinks, which are also good, this is the place. But, bring patience. The staff, although friendly, seemed untrained and took forever, never really checked on us, and seemed more interested in hanging out at the bar inside. The food, however, was bad. Seriously, just really poorly executed. I think this is a classic case of having way too many items on a menu and being a master of none of them. Editing what they offer and concentrating on a few things would be a start. Overcooked and underseasoned empanadas. Lengua that was tough. A potato egg thing that was just... boring. Etc... We would go there for drinks if we had time to kill, but would absolutely not go back for the food.
(2)
tatiana c.

Amazing. Delicious. Cozy. Romantic. I can't say enough about how wonderful our experience here was. Our first trip last December was with friends visiting from Guam. They wanted steak so we took them here on recommendation from a friend. It was a hit. Friends said it was hands down one of the most delicious steaks they've ever had. Service was great and the drink and wine list extensive. We just happened to stumble in on a Wednesday night when they had live music. What a wonderful surprise. By the time we left, there were people dancing all over the restaurant in between the tables. Even we danced a little before leaving for the night. We enjoyed it so much that we have been back several times with other friends who have also loved it! I highly recommend Folklore.
(5)
Margaret S.

I had been really excited to go to this place as I lived in Argentina a few years back. I finally had the perfect occasion and the restaurant ruined my night. I wish I had brought my out of town family to a better Chicago restaurant. We were here for dinner on a Friday night. It was kind of loud. Loud enough that you could only hear the person right next to you and it made it impossible for the 6 of us to couldn't carry on a conversation without yelling. The service was exceptionally slow. They didn't take our order until we had been there for about 45 min. They brought out only half of our drinks, and then the other half 10 min. later. We couldn't order dinner when we ordered our appetizers because our waiter rushed off. We ordered a series of steaks and pasta for dinner. Most of us got what we expected, the servings were larger than expected. One of us ordered medium rare steak and it came out medium well which was really unfortunate because if you're paying $30 for a steak you want it to come out how you prefer it. The main reason for this post is that they must have completely forgotten to put in the order for the last person (pasta with fish)! They brought out our 5 dishes and then a few minutes later came by to say that the sixth dish would be "just 3 more minutes". 15 minutes later, when they finally brought out the last dish the rest of us were finished eating. There was never any apology from the server/restaurant. This whole ordeal ruined our celebration and ended up leaving with a really negative feeling about the restaurant. I'm sorry, folklore, for the price we were paying, you should have gotten our orders right and had them all on the table at the same time. I won't be returning.
(1)
Sarah P.

The atmosphere in this restaurant is spot on. Gorgeous, warm, inviting, a tad dark in the evening as each table is lit by candlelight and the overhead lighting is minimal. It's certainly romantic, has great decor, and floor to ceiling windows at the front of the restaurant. It is also in a great location in Wicker Park, and offers a walkable neighborhood for after dinner. The food is the problem. The salad was so basic. Literally served with raw onion and a large slice of tomato, and although it is supposed to be served with mixed greens on this evening we received all kale. If you don't know about kale, it is bitter when eaten raw. I was not impressed. Hubby's steak was overcooked and not well seasoned. My stuffed chicken was ok, but not anything I would order again. The best part of my meal was the squash, the best part of hubby's meal was the potatoes. Our waiter did not come to our table for probably 15 minutes. The people seated after us had already placed their order before we even received water. Once our waiter finally came to our table he thought we'd already given our order for drinks and food. A tad too pricey for all that drama.
(2)
Denisse M.

Maybe if I get a fucking reservation and I won't waste my time, and get to try he food I might change my mind and edit my review. Please get new a host the one that was there yesterday at 7:30 pm doesn't know wtf he is doing, he is arrogant and likes to give dirty looks, MANAGER!! That host needs to be fired ASAP you really don want people like that working for you, he gives the place a bad vibe. Let me not forget when I called to make my reservation the host got annoyed with me only because I was asking him a question, he gave me a sigh and a groan on the phone. Tell me what kind of costumer service is that.
(1)
Alan S.

In this review, I am going to use the following criteria: Place/location, Hours of Operation, Pricing, Mgmt/Staff service, Food/Cuisine, Sanitation and Ambiance. I am not going to be biased in this review even though I do have extended relatives out in Argentina. Lol. Place of business/location: Restaurant has a location in the gentrified street called Division St. Division had been an impovershed area back in the 1990s. I am totally culture shocked by the rapid real estate development in this street area. Wow. Division may become the new "Rush" st of Chicago. Parking may be a frustration for first timers so please arrive early to get off street parking. The restaurant has a nice decor and can be seen on the corner street. You can get off from the I-94 expressway. I give a rate of 4 . Hours of Operation: Restaurant caters the dinner niche and opens late afternoon around 5pm-11pm. I give a rate of 4. Pricing: Pricing is moderate for this restaurant ranging from $10-$70. The restaurant has reasonable rates for the food compared to other places like Mortons or Gibson. They offer good quality steak at a competitive price. I give a rate of 5. Food/Cuisine: If you know a little bit about Argentina, the country has an european immigrant population. The restaurant will have familiar Italian dishes along with Argentinian foods . I had a 12 oz steak along with vegetables, garlic , and potatoes. I had ordered the steak to be medium and it was tender/juicy. You could taste the delicious steak from the sauce. I give a rate of 5. Mgmt/Staff service: The staff had delivered the food on time and always brought attention to any of our questions. I give a rate of 4. Sanitation: The restaurant had been clean and restrooms in proper sanitary condition. Tables had been clean as well. I give a rate of 5. Ambiance: The ambiance was good with the background music and environment. People had been very happy dining in the restaurant. The environment gives a great dining experience with a glass of red wine after a good steak. I give a rate of 4. In conclusion, I rate this restaurant a 4.
(4)
Jessica W.

Folklore gives a nice representation of Argentine cuisine right here in Chicago. I love eggplant, so I decided to order their berenjena that came layered with spinach, various cheeses and topped with a tomato-cream sauce. It did not disappoint!! I also tried some of their morcilla, which was delicious as well. We sat on their patio and received great service, would love to head back here to try more of their steak options!
(4)
Ari H.

This place is amazing!! I definitely recommend it. The mojitos are to die for! I went with my boyfriend on a Saturday night, we had to wait about 20 min to be seated but it went by so fast hanging out at the bar watching the bartender make drinks and listening to the music. We sat down, got really good warm bread with butter. For dinner we had a parrillada for 2, soooo good! And we got a free flan dessert, to die for as well! Service was good as well. Good little place :)
(5)
Ross B.

After having my reservation at another restaurant canceled, I called in a got a reservation for 15 right away. When we arrived they had the most beautiful table set up for us. The staff was welcoming and the interior is lovely. Drinks were great, food was great. We had a blast and got out of there for a good cost. Highly recommended!
(5)
Elaine M.

My husband and I stopped by here as part of the Christmas crawl, it was actually our very last stop. So glad we ended here! Folklore was certainly the highlight of what was already a great day filled with food and drink. The crawl was sponsored by Fireball whiskey so had already had plenty of tastes of it. What was great here was that Folklore made their own unique cocktails and they were stupendous! We sat at the bar and spent quite a bit of time talking with the bar manager. He was terrific! If we lived in Wicker Park I could see making a drink here a regular thing. They also had a sampling plate of empanadas, one corn, one beef, one chicken, one ham and cheese and one forgot. No matter they were all terrific and I say this when we already pretty full. Love love love this place!
(5)
Lisa H.

I've only been here four times since I moved to the city five months ago, but Folklore is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. I don't go out to eat very often, but this is the place I choose when I do. Some of the best steak I've ever had (El Filet medium rare). In fact, I will admit I enjoyed it more than my $85 steak from Chicago Chop House. Tender and succulent, served with lots of juice on the plate for dipping. The atmosphere is cozy and authentically Argentinian, and the service has always been impeccable as well. Last night, I went for my birthday with my parents who are from out of state. They loved it as well. And they gave me a free dessert for my birthday! :) Well, after dinner I realized I locked my keys in my car! So our waiter goes out of his way to contact someone to come unlock my car for less than half the price of a locksmith, even while he is busy serving other tables. It was so kind! So, to sum up Folklore: Delicious food, amazing atmosphere, great service, and genuinely caring employees!
(5)
Michael A.

Was able to stop in and sit outside for the last good evening of the Chicago summer. The outside heaters made it even nicer. Service was very good. Friendly and knowledgable. We had questions about the wine list and he was able to guide to a great bottle. Love servers who know there wines. You have to get the Fried Provolone as a delicious app. Since the steaks are so huge, we split one and it was more than enough! Cooked to right temp which can be difficult. Everything was timed properly and really made for a great relaxing evening. I will 100% return here.
(5)
Elisa G.

I really like this place. I have been here twice. Once with a HowAboutWe for Couples deal in a double date and once with my boyfriend. The first time the deal came with several items on the menu so we tried empanadas, pasta, gnocchi, filet and flan for dessert plus four different glasses of wine. The deal was a very good bargain! If they had it, I would do it again!!! The second time we had the parrillada para dos and nothing else. The meat was delicious. It comes with a nice salad which is a good complement to the meat. The parrillada included filet, ribs, sweatbreads, black sausage and chorizo. Everything was just great!!! I think for the two of us was way too much food. In fact, we couldnt finish. I guess that if you are not very hungry, just take a parrillada para uno and one or two appetizers. Portions are generous. I will definitely go back again!
(4)
Chary H.

The space is good for dates because of the low lighting. All tables are candle lit and overhead lighting is minimal. We were literally using cell phones to light the menu. The bar is nice, they have great drinks and the bartenders are friendly. The host on this particular Saturday night was a douche. Not friendly or accommodating at all. He seemed bothered that I was speaking to him. The servers were all great at least. We had the Russian salad, which was essentially a potato salad, it was pretty delicious. The empanadas were ok, I've definitely had better. The steaks are a bit on the pricey side and aren't that great. It's expensive and the quality isn't there.
(3)
Ashley C.

We stumbled to Folklore for a nice weeknight meal. (It is owned by the same folks that do Tango Sur which we have been to and like). Service was pretty good. Our waiter was helpful in pointing towards the favorites on the menu. We ordered a bottle of malbec and took advantage of the Tuesday special (half off bottles of wine). It was a good bottle of wine for the Tuesday special but I would have been disappointed if we paid full price for it. The food was solid. We started off with beef and chicken empanadas. They were really good and I liked the chimichurri sauce with them. For dinner, we split the half chicken and the skirt steak. It came with a basic salad which was okay. The chicken was nice and juicy from the white wine sauce. It was good but nothing to write home about. The steak was perfectly cooked and was very juicy. The portions were fairly large and we had a lunch in leftovers. We found ourselves comparing Folklore to Tango Sur finding that Tango Sur on top particularly because of the BYOB. With the half-priced bottle of wine, it was $100 with tip. We would go back, but for the price (especially with no wine special), other places are higher on the list.
(3)
Maaya Y.

My boyfriend and I decided to go here for our one year anniversary date and at first, I wasn't so sure if I was content with this restaurant but I was SO WRONG. We started off eating outside but it got chilly so we transferred to a table inside. The waiters were very flexible and kind so that's a plus! I have never had Argentinean food or grill so I was kind of unsure how our food would turn out. Well, it was amazing!!! The meat was very tender and thick, just how I wanted it! Definitely worth the money! Another thing I liked was the atmosphere. The inside atmosphere was awesome. Not too simple but not too crazy with the decorations and it was very romantic. Definitely a plus for those who are trying to find a place to go out for a date. Overall, I had a very pleasant experience here!
(5)
Jorge M.

Great food and setting! I would go more often, but it's a little on pricey side if you are having drinks. Overall, definitely would recommend. Great spot for a date night!
(3)
Natalie A.

My go to place for steak and dinner with friends! Love this place, the decor is gorgeous, the staff is nice. I usually get La Negra Drink and el Churrasco with vesuvio potatoes and chimmichurri sauce! Thats the perfect meal! They have a facebook and announce their daily deals on there. Thursday is date night and they give a complimentary appetizer! Very romantic and great place to meet friends to catch up and have a nice meal. Reasonably priced, cannot go wrong for a date night ;) oh! And the music is heavenly! They play tango songs that can be catchy, some romantic, and some make you wanna dance. Some nights they even have an acoustic guitarist. One of those places you just gotta try, then your hooked.
(5)
Mina L.

Great food, great ambiance, and great price! My friend and i both enjoyed our dinner at Folklore. I'm glad I found this gem in my neighborhood. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Bryson H.

Short version: perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked grass-fed beef, huge portions especially for being in the city, great atmosphere, awesome food, awesome service. Best prices I've seen at a steak house, let alone one with grass-fed beef this size! Incredible! The couple that took us here are big fans of Tengo Sur, and this place is their sister restaurant (they even have a small Tengo Sur sign in the window), they said the menu was just the same and the food was just as delicious. The most mind-blowing part of eating here was the price. In Vegas, where I live, the steak alone would have been half the size and twice the price. For $27, I got the biggest strip steak I've ever had, a large side portion of potatoes, and a big salad. For $27. I saw the prices and expected tiny portions, which is par for the course with high-end steaks. I was shocked at the size of the food on my plate. While we're talking about the steak, let me take a moment to praise a restaurant for getting "medium" right. This slab of beef was over an inch thick and they nailed it: a great crust on the outside, no "well done" ring just inside the crust but instead perfectly warm pink all the way through. Just past the red stage, just like it should be. The seasoning was also done right: accenting the flavor of the steak rather than overpowering it, but not missing either. Just right. The potatoes as my side were good, they may have even been really good, but I was jaded by the spinach mashed potatoes that my fiancÃ© ordered. I had the option of them with my steak as well but got the normal potatoes as a hedge. I should have just gone with the spinach mashed like I wanted to in the first place. Again, not that my potatoes were bad, but the spinach mashed potatoes are just seriously good. Our appetizer was the Provoleta. A large platter of Argentine provolone cheese cooked on the grill with olive oil and roasted peppers. The cheese was pretty good on its own, but we ate it with the rolls, and asked for a side of sauce I can't remember the name of or find on their site. It's garlic, oil, parsley I think, and capers. This sauce, the cheese, and melting butter on the delicious bread rolls was just great. If I had to complain about one thing it would be the butter on the table for the bread rolls. The butter is cheap diner-style plastic packets in a bowl in the table, and it's quite cold. The rolls come out hot but spreading cold butter even on hot bread is a pain. That's my only complaint.
(5)
Holly W.

I rarely give 5 star reviews but folklore definite earned it! My boyfriend and I went for my bday and they were amazing, I was a little nervous when I read some of the recent reviews. The waiter (Luis) was awesome! He had forgotten to place one of our appetizers when he found out he asked if we still wanted it when we declined he brought 2 glasses of res wine to go with out steak(on he house)! The steak and potatoes were so yummy and did I mention the pisco sours were amazing! We ordered 2 desserts and they put a candle on the flan and only charged us for one dessert! Service and food were impeccable!
(5)
Sherlock A.

Have been to this delicious Argentinian restaurant several times so it's about time for a 5 star review. This last visit we had the pleasure of sitting at the bar while we waited for a table. It was quite a delight to watch the drink chefs create their awesome concoctions. One of the best mojitos I've ever had. My lady had a gin drink called La Sevillana. Very good and strong drink so don't let the smooth taste fool you. Dinner included a few tasty empanadas. My favorite is the beef. For the main entrÃ©e a perfectly cooked 10oz. "El filet". It's range grown filet mignon grilled, topped with red onion wine sauce & served with spinach mashed potatos. Love at first bite.
(5)
lesley r.

We came to this one because their sister restaurant, Tango Sur was full but it was still great. The service, decor, ambiance and price for everything that you get is pretty good. Definitely recommend for anyone who's in the area.
(5)
D O.

I really enjoyed dinner at Folklore! Everything was to my liking, from the decor, to the music, to the ENORMOUS juicy flavorful steak with delicious spinach mashed potatoes, to the magnificent whiskey drinks with cranberries, to the cake. Just lovely. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Dominic G.

Pros: Half off wine bottle on Tuesday More elbow room compared to Tango Sur Romantic atmosphere (candle lights) Good service!!!! Empanadas are good! (Get the corn) Cons: Street parking -- i dont think they offer their own valet service-- Salad is pretty boring Other: The steak we ordered was ok (not bad) i think tango sur is better. Overall, i will still come back to this restaurant to try new dishes. Tip: Be prepared to look for parking. Check out their specials offers on a specific day!!!
(4)
Patrick S.

Great food every time , meat quality is excellent, usually pretty busy, well worth any wait
(4)
Esteban L.

I had the pleasure of eating here yesterday and really enjoyed myself. Not sure if it was because I was with friends or the food??? Regardless, both were good. ARRIVAL: Our reservation was for 8:30 and got to our table around 8:45. I totally forgot the waiters name but I gotta say he was good and super friendly. He took our order and recommended some good items for the people that had dietary constraints. I'M NOT SURE but I think a decent portion of the menu was Gluten Free. THE ORDER: I ordered the Medio Pollo Al Limon with a Corn Empanadas while the others ordered: 2 Entranas(skirt steak), Para Uno (grilled short ribs, sausage, beef sweetbread and black sausage), Churrassco (12 oz sirloin steak cooked on the grill) & Asado De Tira (short ribs, cooked on the grill). All served with salad of course. THE BILL: $132 but take into consideration we did NOT order drinks with dinner. FINAL THOUGHTS: I really like this place. The atmosphere was nice and the table seemed to be sturdy(at least my table was). The host, bartender and waiter were all dudes but were still cool with us. I really do not have any negative comments about this place. If you're looking for a place to share a nice meal with friends or a date, check them out. until next time.....
(4)
Meredith B.

My boyfriend and I had a romantic al fresco dinner here on a warm night in May. Why do I say romantic? I'm not sure, because the patio isn't especially scenic, but the friendly and suave Argentine staff let me pretend we were at a corner cafe in Buenos Aires. Yeah, I've never been there. So I have no idea what I'm talking about. Servers with accents make dinner seem romantic. Roll with it. Anyhoo, we came on a Tuesday which meant half price bottles of wine, so we got all up on that Malbec. We started with an appetizer that I don't see on the menu right now - it was a stuffed calamari of some sort. Like a massive calamari. We liked it, though I find the texture of calamari to be fine when the pieces are small, but really freakin' rubbery when you get a huge one! Good flavor in the dish though. Then we went all in and got the Para Dos - $25 gets you grilled short ribs, flap meat, sausage, beef sweetbreads, and black sausage. For two. Obviously. It's served on a grill with a side of chimichurri sauce. Before you get ooooky about the phrase "flap meat," it's steak from the bottom sirloin. The word "flap" makes it sound like it's cut from some alien flying cow, but the only thing alien about it was how GOOOOOD it was! Delicious, juicy steak. Short ribs also outstanding. Sausage good but I let my boyfriend eat most of that because he didn't like the sweetbreads, and I did. Sweetbreads are glands. What more can you say, it's like fried thyroid. And it's SO GOOD! If you like crispy fried chewy things, you will like sweetbreads. I ate all of them except the one my boyfriend tried to convince himself to eat, to no avail. Though I generally am okay with blood sausage, it was not the star of the platter so I only had a few bites of it. If you like blood sausage, you'll like it. Flavorful. A little crumbly. It's a traditional part of mixed grill in this part of the world, but I see my boyfriend's point that with steak, short ribs, and sausage on the plate, blood sausage and sweetbreads sort of lose their luster. But ohhhhh that chimichurri sauce! Hubba hubba! I could not get enough. If you've never dunked grilled meat in this delicious herbal green sauce, you are missing it. Amazeballs. The Para Dos is a great deal, as were the Tuesday half bottles! They cook meat excellently here, and the food is authentically prepared with love and panache. Great place for a romantic date if you want to get your steak on!
(4)
Johnny B.

Excellent! Forget about Chop House or Morton's these guys stack up to all the hot shot steak houses in Chicago without all the posers
(5)
Rits M.

Not sure why this place has negative reviews. I liked all the food that I had. Went here with mum and sidmo. Place itself doesnt look like it would be tres awesome from the outside. It looks dark at lonely at best. However, the inside belies this. It has a long bar the moment you enter, but it reminds me of the bars in London - dark wood and sleek. Nice decor too. We got a table at the back near the patio. I liked the low lighting and they light a pretty bright table candle for you to read the menu. Good idea to come here for a date! We had the El Filet, the canneloni stuffed with ground beef and the Mil Hojas for dessert. For me, the canneloni was a little of a miss. But the meat made up for it, it was DELISH - came with tons of gravy, perfectly cooked and super juicy. Had spinach mashed potatoes on the side too - GET THIS DISH FOR SURE. The Mil Hojas was outstanding too. I'll be back Folklore, thanks for the meal!
(4)
Greg R.

I'm a bit surprised at seeing all the 4-5 star reviews of this place. I could see myself giving it 2 stars before I would 4. The location, decor, look and feel of the place is very cool. a nice casual vibe to the place. Although the argentine music playing from the concert speaker on the patio was a bit loud and got old after it looped a second time. Service is/was horrible for us. After being seated outside, we sat for 5-10 minutes and no one ever greeted us. We stopped a waiter and ask if we could order a couple drinks. Instead of 'sure, what would you like' we got 'let me find you waiter' 5 minutes later, I walked into the bar and bought two glasses of wine and walked back to our table....Then I met our waiter Our waiter was a nice enough guy and explained the menu well. In fact we got what he suggested as a couple of the more popular dishes.....You peeps that eat here have awful taste! Food - We got some gooey cheese plate that was all grease and cheese and an empanada that was dry as a catchers mit. They did take back our Empanada after they saw we each had a small bite and it sat there. We passed on order dinner. They were nice enough and removed the empanada from the check, so we tipped very well. all-in-all, it was a nice place to sit out side and relax, just not some place we'd go back to eat.
(3)
Olaf K.

Although I'm not a huge steak fan, I thought I'd try one at Folklore. It turned out to be a great choice! The "El Filet" was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The sauce was delicious. I requested an extra dollop of Chimichurri sauce which was excellent. Sides were delicious. The atmosphere is fun yet cozy. Service is friendly, helpful and efficient.
(5)
Mark D.

Holy Mary mother of God.....the bartenders and servers here look like they came out of a good porn scene. Where do they find so many delicious Latin American men? Enough said about that. The steak was delicious, the ambiance is amazing. The interior of this restaurant is very cool, and all of the wood they use is reclaimed lumber. Also, they serve the best mojito I have EVER had. Ever. I recommend the blackberry mojito, you wont regret it.
(4)
Bouchette J.

The food here is delicious I went with some Argentinians and they claimed that it was extremely authentic the service is excellent you might have to wait for a while but just get a drink at the bar as the wines are delicious while you wait my favorite is la lengua ( the tongue).
(5)
Moe f.

Tango Sur w/out the BYO, wait, and bad attitude. Good empanadas. Huge reasonably priced delicious steak. Nice atmosphere, decent service. Found the wines to be a little pricey but I guess that's the price of eating on Division these days.
(4)
Justine L.

Folklore's menu, decor, and overall style is just like it's sister restaurant Tango Sur. I thoroughly enjoyed every dish. This go around I had the El Novillo, which was three petite filets, zucchini, and mushrooms. El Novillo's filets were not as high quality as El Filet such that the meat was fatty and sometimes chewy for a filet. However, I did enjoy the sides of zucchini and mushrooms over the standard spinach mash potatoes, just to lighten the meal. One thing Folklore lacks compared to Tango Sur is that it is not BYOB. They do have a wide range of selection, but it is always great to bring your favorite bottle to dinner.
(5)
Crystal M.

What a disappointment. I just walked out and had to write this review. The service is horrendous. The empanadas were good. The sangria was decent. I ordered the rack of lamb and my fiance ordered the churrasco. They brought out his churrasco, it was ok. Minutes later they brought out a meal but it wasn't rack of lamb. It took the waiter ten minutes to return and check on us. By then my fiance had eaten half his meal and shared, but I was annoyed. Finally the waiter came out and I pointed out that I didnt have my rack of lamb. He laughed it off and took the flank steak dinner back in. When the rack of lamb arrived I was disappointed by the lack of flavor. Twenty minutes later we got the attention of the host because we never saw the waiter again. He wrapped my finances left overs. We waited exactly twenty more minutes for the check we requested. Finally my fiance walked in and asked for it. Ten minutes later it's still on the table. I had to hand it to the host who finally took it. Im usually a great tipper but today it pained me to leave even fifteen percent Never again! Nandu on Fullerton is better, cheaper, and with way better service. Try that. You won't be disappointed
(1)
Isa C.

Love! Love! Love! This place. I have been to folklore on several occasions and have never been disappointed. The filet is juicy and tender and the spinach mashed potatoes are amazing. Empanadas are fluffy and delicious. The drinks are also on par, not to mention the romantic warm ambiance. The staff is courteous and makes us feel at home. Can't wait to dine here again.
(5)
Iris T.

I absolutely love this place. We have been here multiple times and everything from the service, atmosphere, and food is top notch. The food is incredible. It is a twist on true argentine food. Start out with any of the empanadas with the chimichurri. My favorite meals are the El Solitario (chef's special) and the El Filet with the creamiest spinach mashed potatoes.
(5)
Ashley B.

Went here today and got the surf and turf and the bf got the fish. Both were pretty tasty and the sauces were on point. The salad is just a simple bed of lettuce with tomatoes and white onions with oil and vinegar, but they were pretty good too. I want to come back and check out the bar area and drinks, they looked pretty great!
(4)
Fabiola I.

Was here a couple of months back, I love the ambiance to this place. The food here is great! You HAVE to try their empanadas, they've very inexpensive but very satisfying.
(4)
Virginia T.

First, we've been to Argentina- and we loved the food there- so we were going with high expectations already. Folklore was awesome! We were a group of 9- ages 14 to 81, and everyone loved what they ordered. The empanadas were great, I had the beef and the corn- never having eaten "corn" empanadas, I followed the waiter's suggestion. They were creamy inside, crunchy outside, and perfect. The steaks were huge, and my sons and husband were quite happy. Try to leave room for the flan- it's big enough to share- and hands down the best I've had! The decor is cool industrial with exposed brick, etc. Very warm and casual- similar to Restoration Hardware style. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
Lizz T.

BEST SERVICE EVER! Not only is the food amazing, but my customer service experience was something to remember. I've been wanting to try this place forever now, so I ordered it take out. As I was waiting at the bar for my food it started POURING down rain outside. The bartender felt horrible for me, because I didn't have an umbrella and even offered to find me one. Fortunate for me I love running in rainstorms, so I was fine! But that really was very considerate and blew me away. On top of that, the food was amazing. (the seasoning and oils are absolute perfection!!) The atmosphere was trendy and classy. I go to a new restaurant once a week, so it's safe to say I never repeat places....but this is definitely a place I will come back to and recommend to others.
(5)
Jim M.

The food was outstanding and the price was right. I spent about $40 and that got me a steak and two cocktails.
(4)
Rebecca R.

Stopped in here with my roommate to have a glass of wine on the patio. They had a simple but nice list of wines by the glass. We got a great spot out front and enjoyed a relaxing evening with polite staff and warm atmosphere.
(4)
Garret S.

The location is great, and makes this place really work for good reviews. The drinks were well crafted, and tasted delicious. We selected the food & meat appetizer, bone in ribeye, and seafood dish for our entrees. The appetizer was average, and the seafood dish was good. The steak was really tough, and seemed like it may have been frozen prior and wasn't thawed enough before grilling. The service was really great, and overall this place is worth a try. I would make sure to check the steak and send it back if it doesn't meet your standards.
(3)
FabriÃ§ia R.

Not so good as I imagined. I went one week ago to this restaurant with my friends. Was Thursday and the restaurant was not so full but The service was quite slow. All of us had an appetizer. I've tried the spinach empanadas. Good but not so far like same people says. The I had the churrasco. It was served cold and I had to ask to re-cook. I like the meat medium rare and when it came back was medium well done. I think that there are a lot of restaurant where eat meat better than this. Good but there is better. The price is not so hight like in other places but it's not a valid reason to come back for dinner again.
(3)
Randy H.

Good ambiance, good food, good drinks, good service. Perhaps not the ideal place for a vegetarian to go for dinner, but if you're not a veggie, I highly recommend it. Plenty of delicious food for less adventurous people, but I'm particularly fond of the sweetbreads and the beef tongue, and always excited to go somewhere with these more unusual menu items available. Also, THANK YOU FOLKLORE for having an normal menu on your web site, rather than forcing me to download some kind of PDF like all the other irritating restaurant web sites. That alone is worth 5 stars!
(5)
Patrice G.

I love the feel of this place. So warm and cozy with taper candles to light up your table. Good music too. Our table got several empanadas, which were a hit. The salad was very dull...Just green leaf lettuce with a few raw onion slices and soggy tomatoes. Not much effort. I ordered a boneless chicken breast with veggies. The best part of the dish was chimichurri sauce on the side, (which I believe is olive oil with lots of herbs). I just poured it on top of my chicken (it was rather tough) and the veggies and it made the dish so much better. I would definitely give this place another chance but would order something other than the boneless chicken.
(3)
Kelley C.

This is one of our favorite spots in Chicago. My husband LOVES the empanadas and I can't find better drinks in the city. We typically come for a bite and cocktails, but we've had dinner 3 or four time, too. It's always great. The service is unbeatable. Order the Primavera...you'll never find a drink that beats it.
(5)
Karen M.

My husband and I went to Folklore yesterday evening, Saturday. We had a GREAT time. Food was amazing and portions were large. Wine was great. The bill was not bad, $126 for 2 empanadas, sausage, parrillada for 1, filet mignon, 1 bottle of wine, oporto and flan for dessert. There is NO valet parking available BUT the valet guy from Pizanos - which is next doors - is ready to help! Also the person at the door is not super friendly but you only deal with him for about 2 minutes until you are seated. Our waiter - Luis - was great. We had a fun time and my husband love the ambiance. We will definitely good back!
(5)
Jeannie C.

The empanadas are amazing! Can't go wrong with any of them. They were so good, I can't even remember what I ordered for my main entree. My husband's steak was a bit bland. We would totally go back for the empanadas though in addition to the mojitos!! I think this place would definitely be great for an after-work bev, especially after a long day.
(4)
M R.

I went to this place for the first time last night and was sorely disappointed by the customer service. We had reservations for 9:00. We called at 4pm and confirmed our reservation and spoke with the restaurant about how our party went from 8 people down to 5 people. The person we spoke with said it would not be a problem. We arrived a few minutes before 9 and checked in. The host had no record of our party being changed and then told us he would be able seat us in 30 minutes. We spoke with him explaining that we had called earlier about our reservation and were told not a problem. The server then told us he tells everyone 30 minutes because he does not like people coming up to him all the time checking on their table if he tells them a lesser amount of time. He said we would probably be seated in 5-10 minutes, but he says 30 minutes to be safe. He was quite arrogant and stuck up when talking to us which was unfortunate as we came to celebrate someone's golden birthday. We found spots to stand near the bar which was fortunate as the place was overcrowded. I am certain the place was over capacity. We waited quite a long time for our drinks, but they tasted fine. The entire time, we saw a table set for 6 sit empty. There were others waited to be seated besides us. We asked the host about the empty table and he said he was waiting to seat a party of 16 there. It was quite frustrating to be treated so poorly at a restaurant we had such high hopes for. The food we saw at other tables looked and smelled delicious. We finally left the restaurant and went down the block and found Mirai, a sushi restaurant. We were seated immediately, served drinks immediately and treated like royalty. The food was wonderful. Two members of our group had never tried sushi before and this was a great place to convince them to give it a try and they loved it. I will probably avoid this place and Tango Sur like the plague now. No one deserves to be treated like crap when you are willing to spend a lot of money at your restaurant.
(1)
Ronnie S.

This place is nice and cozy. The food is amazing & the prices are not bad at all. Empanadas with chimichurri is a must. The waiters are awesome & very quick and friendly. I truly recommend this place to anybody going on a first day.
(5)
Bethany M.

This was really good from the excellently made caipirinha to the steak and veggies. I really liked it.
(4)
Karolina S.

I think that Folklore doesn't get enough credit because of its sister restaurant, Tango Sur. Food wise, they are the same to me. Same prices, same quality, same amount of delicious goodness(helllooooo provoleta!!). It isn't byob so your bill will run a little higher. However, the wait time is cut in half or sometimes non-existant in this place. I rather buy a cocktail or glass of wine than wait an hour or two to eat. I love this place and everything it has to offer. I also prefer the space far more than Tango Sur. So if you hate waiting to get a table and love cheese, steak and chimichurri, please go. Let them muddle the crap out of a mojito for you as soon as possible.
(5)
Cathy K.

The menu had a good variety of choices and it was nice to sit outside with a romantic atmosphere. Ham and cheese empanada was really good. Beef was fine. The el filet came with 2 pieces and there was a lot of great flavor and it was tender. It came with spinach mashed potatoes which was good also. I ate about half my plate because it was a lot of food, but I love leftovers for lunch the next day! Our waiter Javier was very nice and we had great service. Definitely coming back to try more on the menu!
(5)
Andrew B.

EXCELLENT dining experience. After a car-buying trip with a friend, we came in for a late, late (4:15 PM) lunch, and had the place to ourselves. Sat immediately, served quickly. Could imagine street parking being a bit tough at a busier time. A little confused menu-wise -- the online menu doesn't seem to match the paper menu in the restaurant, and the chef's specials seem to overlap with the usual dishes. Almost seemed like more of a "this is what's available today" sort of menu. That said, the provoleta app was AWESOME. Maybe a tad heavy on the oregano, but otherwise a great complement to the Delirium Tremens I started with. My dining companion raved about the mojitos. The chorizo app had potential -- crisply done sausage, and amazing good raw sliced tomatoes on the side for being out-of-season. The sausage was a bit pink in the middle however, which did concern us a bit. Both feeling fine today however. My dining companion had the filet and shrimp special, and loved it. The shrimp were huge, the filet cooked perfectly as-ordered. I had the veal t-bone special with red chimichurri and was equally happy. Also cooked as-ordered, and thick as an old-school Webster's dictionary it seemed. Great char on the outside. Great food, great drinks, great service -- winner!
(5)
Allison C.

I saw this place pop up in the neighborhood a couple months back, and I kept meaning to try it out. Last night I finally went in for dinner, and I was very impressed. The interior is beautifully designed, the lighting is dim, and each table has a candlestick to provide a soft glow. The service was excellent, and our waiter kept our wine glasses full. We started with a bottle of the organic Malbec and the marinated eggplant appetizer. The Malbec was smooth, the eggplant light and flavorful. For my entree, I ordered the filet with two jumbo shrimp in a tomato-caper sauce. The steak was tender and cooked to perfection. The shrimp were very large and full of flavor.The sauce was light and incredible, and complimented both the steak and the shrimp. The entree was also served with a fresh romaine salad and a side of spinach mashed potatoes. Overall, it was an insane amount of food. My friend ordered the Para Uno, which included grilled short ribs, sausage, beef, sweetbread and black sausage. I'm not as much of a fan of the random animal parts as he is, but I did try the chorizo, and it was excellent. We both left satisfied, and agreed to return soon to try another amazing dish. I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Joann B.

Amazing service and great food. Staff makes sure you enjoy your food and leave wanting to come back for more.
(4)
Maria D.

Went here with my 9 year old son, we both wanted to try most exotic dishes traditional to Argentina. Our waiter was fantastic, he described everything to us in the terms we could understand and both of us truly enjoyed the dishes we had selected. It's hard to please a 9 year old in an ethnic restaurant, so I was even more impressed as he kept clearing his plates! The best part was desert! The waiter came out with a huge tray of choices. It was hard to choose and I extended the courtesy to my son. He selected a caramel cheesecake. He loved it so much that he asked to speak with chef and compliment him in person. The restaurant accommodated immediately which means their kitchen had nothing to hide. After the kitchen tour we both left happy and satisfied.
(5)
Abby M.

True story, I married an Argentine. This has entitled me to witnessing wildly uncomfortable family throw-downs and being the victim of perpetual lateness. It has also gained me entrance into the deliciously bloody world of the Parilla, otherwise known as Argentine BBQ. I am a sucker for blood sausage, sweatbreads and pretty much any other discard of our friend the cow. When I am in Chicago on a blood lust, I ALWAYS go to Folklore. Beautiful food and soft dim lighting that will disguise the enthusiasm in which you eat said beautiful food. Great cocktails (they even have fernet) and strong coffee. Comfortable volume for when you just want to lay back and fall into your inevitable food coma.
(4)
Frank L.

over price rude service Bad food low quality and tons of oil! Cold inside
(1)
Christine G.

I have been to folklore probably a dozen times or so. The atmosphere at Folklore is relaxing & laid back. The food is great, especially the empanadas. I would recommend it to a friend.
(4)
Brent W.

It's a 2.5 and I just didn't experience the ott wow factor many have attributed to Folklore. Came on a Monday evening and the place was fairly empty and borderline pitch black, save for the individual, occupied candlelit tables. Romantic, possibly, but function over form for me, esp when dealing w. an Argentine steak 'bistro'. The DT's: Good price for proportion. Quality lacked, esp the salad starter. Dry, undressed cut up greens w. tons of tomatoes. The red vinaigrette was on the table, and only after it was pointed out by our server were we able to discern (see above lack o lighting) that it was in fact our job to complete the "salad". We decided to split a Ribeye that was ginorm in size. Ordered Med-rare and it was basically rare. Normally I can deal but it was a very thick cut of steak so you're left w going from slight char to room temp red. At least they were consistent bc the flavor from bite to bite was either non-existant or way overly seasoned. It should be noted that even upon sharing this steak there was still enough to take home and eat a few steak tacos at home the night after. Service was adequate and overall a non-memorable dining experience. Tbh, i would would probably give Folklore another shot, strictly based on price point and all the positive reviews by ppl i actually know and highly regard opinions of.
(3)
Iris D.

Decor beautiful, service also good but I disliked Tango Sur, dislike Argentinean empanadas so why would I go here? My husband insisted. If you want steak go to a steak house. Argentineans don't know meat. Sorry. Meat was tough, lamb raw. Never again.
(1)
Megan M.

easily one of the greatest mojitos i've had. ever. & for $10, i wouldn't expect anything less (go with pom or blackberry). empanadas come with chimichurri (my fave), and are crispy, moist, and delicious (go spinach over chicken). grabbed the provolone plate as well. cant really go wrong with melted cheese. they feature a few items weekly, one of which was the solitario. 10oz steak w a red wine reduction. one of the better steaks i've had. the melted gorgonzola on top was pretty intense, but to be fair, we were warned by the server. downfalls? i'm a sucker for good bread, and folklore didn't deliver. they were reminiscent of a bag of store bought dinner rolls that were left open over night. the appetizer salad is also pretty depressing. few pieces of lettuce, 3 slices of tomato, and 4 rings of raw onion. the meal would have been better off without it. on a regular day, i'd dock a star for crappy bread, but that mojito really out did itself. ps. super romantic ambiance. and dreamy servers. great date spot. 1/2 price bottles of wine on tuesday, and $6 mojitos on thursday (steal).
(4)
Jelena Z.

Folklore, I've been waiting for you. I'm a bit obsessed with Argentinean wine, the Tango, the culture, and of course, the food. Last night's soft opening connected me with all of those elements + others thirsty for the same enlightenment. Hot on the heels of sister restaurants Tango Sur and Ã‘, Folklore fills the 'steakhouse with late-night hours' void. And unlike Tango Sur, there's alcohol. You'll find Latin libations such as mojitos, pisco sours and caipirinhas make the menu. I tried the mango mojito and was so enamored I had three of them (this coming from someone who doesn't usually drink cocktails). I believe I've found my favorite new mixologist and drink in the city: resident mojito maestro Marissa rules the coop! The restaurant is stunning with its hard-nosed rusticism meets wildly romantic feel: check out the tin ceiling! And, as my friend said, "it makes you want to make out". This alone guarantees my return for a full meal. Even the washroom is gorgeous with its spa-inspired stylings. Folklore isn't just another pretty face on the Divison scene, either. We were able to sample a wide menu selection including meat, meat and more meat! The beef here is the shining star (I couldn't get enough) and they also offer the organic, grass-fed variety. The service is excellent and complements an experience built on elegance, culture and flair for fun. Oh, and the music: SEXY. Urban chic at its best!
(5)
Luis C.

Nice decor, good environment, friendly staff. I went on a friday night with a party of eight, they seated us pretty quickly although we didn't have a reservation. I had the Entrana which I did not really enjoy too much. Luckily for me, my wife let me try some of her dish, definitely better than mine. They bring you bread before your meal, I enjoyed the bread more than my meal. We did see a cast member from Reno 911! who was also eating here. I dont see myself going back any time soon.
(3)
Brett F.

For once, believe the hype!! Folklore is Folkfabulous!! Wasn't quite sure what to expect aside from the fact that I'd be a) eating meat and b) hanging at one of the newest and hottest of hot spots. Fortunately for me, my expectations were met with flying colors and then some. This adorable new Argentine 'steakhouse' graces the Wicker Park Division Street strip with a welcomed brand of rustic elegance that only a few other neighborhood joints successfully bring to the table. Think exquisite dim lighting, tons of flickering candlelight, white-washed tin ceilings, authentic pastoral decorative touches... just a really warm, inviting, sexy surrounding. Perfect for date night - if you enjoy shoving meat in your mouth on your dates - I know I do! Ahem, moving on... While the environs are subtle, delicate and romantic, the menu? Not so much. Prepare for pages and pages of yummy, meaty gluttony... don't be shy, wanna dig into a rib-eye? How 'bout some sausages? Nah... veal or lamb more your thing? Take your pick, it's a veritable meat-a-palooza at Folklore with each item sounding more mouthwatering, scrumptious and delicious than the next. Loved the option of the 'parrilladas', individual tasting entrÃ©es that come served tabletop on an individual grill (impressive) and give you a smattering of a 'lil bit 'o everything. Perfecto! Oh and did I mention they're economy friendly, too? My 'para uno' tasting at $19 came with a starter salad, 2 juicy, perfectly prepared steaks (short rib and skirt steak), spicy chorizo sausage, an adventurous black sausage and a huge handful of crispy, fried, fabulous sweetbreads. Don't believe me? Check the photos, yo! It was enough to feed at least two (para UNO my ass!) hey, I'm not complaining, it was sooo very nice to have those yummy leftovers for days! Talk about recession friendly service without skimping on an iota of charm, taste and ambiance. Swoon. Additional dishes of free range filet mignon, the magnificent sweet mashes potatoes and a selection of empanadas - oh, those lovely, tasty, steamy pockets of joy - were all so very remarkable, really, but I gotta say the empanadas exceedingly stood out. Loved the sweet corn goodness and ubermelty ham & cheese, especially. Y-U-M. Folklore won me over with their alluring dÃ©cor, warm service, affordable pricing and amazingly tasty dishes... they'll keep me coming back, however, just to prove I can conquer that insanely extensive and alluring menu. Up next? Everything. Â¡OlÃ©!
(5)
Michelle M.

Location! Location! Location! This place is so pretty. I love the patio. Staff is friendly and nice but since this place is a hot spot their hard to get their attention. Food is good but I've had better. Here is what we had: corn empanadas, pechuga de pollo and medio pollo al lemon. Drinks:capirinha, mango picado and mangotini.
(3)
Lauren R.

this place is awesome! my husband & i ate here for his birthday. i made reservations for a wednesday night - totally not necessary as it was not crowded at all. we were seated immediately. love the dark atmosphere & ambience. very romantic! we started with a mojito. so fresh & delicious! we chose an appetizer of heart of palm w/prosciutto & an aioli spread. very light & delicious. we chose a meat dish for two. it was amazing. dessert - folkore cake. light & also, amazing. this place was fantastic & we will definitely be back. plan to go when the weather is better & can sit outside!
(5)
Andre W.

A complete and utter disappointment! I had very high expectations for this place as I have walked by for quite awhile. Me & my party of 5 met here this past Thurday evening to celebrate a friend coming to town. We were able to score seating on the outside patio for an al fresco experience. The menu looked great as it was so many dishes to choose from. My hunger grew as I looked over each item. While we all were deciding what we wanted, the very nice server asked if we wanted to start out with a drink...I went with the Chilean Riesling which was really good. It took quite awhile for the drinks to come out and it wasn't even a full house/patio. I decicded to go with one of the chef's special, Grilled Swordfish which came with a white cream sauce over rice, corn and bacon bits. Not even the bacon bits could over come the blandness of my dish. The swordfish itself was a pretty nice size, but did not include flavor. We ordered another round of drinks which again took awhile to come back to us. Some of my peeps went with the steak and they had the same issue I had: lack of flavor I would actually like to try this place again because I think its a cool joint, the wait staff was very nice and I see rave reviews on the empanadas. I wanna believe we caught them on an off night.
(3)
Adam W.

I am leaving this review because there is an appetizer on the menu that NEEEDS more recognition: Go here. Eat the special berenjena (hot eggplant / spinach / cheese layered). Do not go here without planning to try this dish. You will love it. It's like a vegetarian lasagna but better. It will blow you away. It's that good. I would honestly eat just this for dinner but that wouldn't leave any room for the el filet.
(4)
Natasha L.

I was here recently for a birthday dinner for a good friend. The other reviews don't lie -the portions are huge! We were pleasantly surprised when several of us ordered the Lomo (filet mignon) and got not one but two filets. The meat was cooked perfectly - nice and juicy. Needless to say the entrees were very filling so we brought leftovers home. Overall, I definitely enjoyed Folklore. I look forward to going back for more of the menu and possibly following up with an in-depth review.
(4)
Jelitsa L.

Loved it! Great food (the chicken was so flavorful)! My fiancÃ© had the ribeye and he loved it as well. The prices are reasonable and the service was great! Oscar was our server and he was wonderful. If you ever make a reservation, ask for him! The space was very inviting and romantic. I will come here again! So happy to have it in the neighborhood!
(4)
Nikki H.

Went here for date night last month. We came with a howaboutwe deal, which included a set menu for the night. I was really impressed not only with the food, but especially with the customer service. The food (empanadas, salad, pasta, el filet, and dessert) were all awesome - we left super stuffed and satisfied. They were so nice and attentive all night, which you don't always get when you come in with a deal voucher. I'd definitely pay full price to go back.
(5)
Jessica V.

If you bring someone here make sure you bring someone who appreciates you. You can bring your boyfriend, husband, wife, girlfriend, or your mother, but whoever you decide to bring make sure they are someone special. For me, I came here on my anniversary. I also came here when I was having a rough time looking for a new job. This is not the best place in the entire world but it is a place that means a lot to me. Sure, everyone is going to have their own opinions on this restaurant but take it from me who has been here twice.. they are VERY consist ant. First off, I need a good red. Every time I come here the servers do not disappoint with a good wine recommendation. I also always get cheese and spinach empinadas and Vacio to share. It is a plentiful and not bad for the price. You get great service and the food does not take long to prepare. The first time I came here I remember how hard it was for me find a new job. I was leaving a job I had put more than two years of my life into and moving to a new job was something I was not sure if I was ready to do. I looked for something different but was not successful. My man took me here and this place is so beautiful to me and the food was great I do not know what else could have put me in better spirits. The second time we came here for our anniversary and it could not have been better. Today, I have a new job with great people. All the hard looking and good food paid off. I appreciate coming here and that is why I said you should consider taking someone amazing here because they will appreciate it.
(5)
Jannelly D.

Thier empanadas are delish, the plates I have ordered are juicy and tender and the piÃ±as are to die for, hands down best place, better than other fine dining places that are over rated.
(5)
D D.

I wasn't blown away by the filet, I thought the empanadas were good but not amazing (we got 3 or 4 types and all four of my family members seemed to feel similarly), the mashed potatoes were excellent, the service was solid. All in all I would give it a B.
(3)
Angela L.

I went here for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I was very impressed! The atmosphere is wonderful. It's very romantic -- rustic decor, large windows that open to a patio, and burning candlesticks on every table. The service is great too -- They were very nice and attentive. My date and I had a couple of Mojitos -- Best mojitos I have ever tasted! We also ordered the "Para Dos", a meat sampler for two. It was served to us on a hot iron skillet and everything was so delicious. We ate until we couldn't eat any more, and there were still leftovers! It was a meatlovers dream. I recommend this place to everyone. I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Ela G.

Pretty goddamn delicious. Yes I'm sitting at their outdoor seating on Division street. But instantly I felt as if transported to another land, where dinners last hours (in a good way), your servers are hunky Argentines, and the food is flavorful and delicious. The quality of everything we ordered was great, and everything seemed very un-Americanized. They made no attempt to dull-down or cater to our American eating habits - there was a ton of flavor, garlic, herbs and seasoning on everything and it felt super authentic. The drinks, by the way, were amazing. Yes, they took a bit longer than I would have expected, but they seemed to have been crafted with care and thought. Not to mention, my Caipirihna was DELICIOUS and well-portioned well above my expectations.
(4)
julie q.

It's alright. My husband went with his friend and said it was excellent about three weeks ago. We went last night and even he said something was off from last time. I ordered the 8 oz filet (which was tough) with 3 jumbo shrimp (that could have been cooked about 2 minutes longer) and a bunch of mushrooms (that tasted only like butter). My husband had the ribeye and mashed potatoes (decently seasoned and appetizing). Will I go back? Probably. Will it be anytime soon? Probably not.
(3)
Kevin A.

IS THERE AN ARGENTINIAN WORD FOR 'MEH'? I'll keep this brief. Giant portions of less than ideal quality beef sloppily hacked off the cow, overcooked, and served with chimichurri to mask the imperfections. On the plus side, tasty empanadas. That is all.
(2)
Hanee L.

Very nice ambience, great interior, and a lovely patio..! had empanadas, para dos (bunch of meats!) and a bottle of Argentinian Malbec. My boyfriend liked beef sweetbread and black sausage,but I liked flap meat.. we are not big fans of meats, but we liked the restaurant. Next time when we visit again, we would like to try out their appetizers and cooked dishes. Since it was my bf's surprise dinner on one pleasant summer friday night, I was very happy regardless of the food.
(4)
Victoria W.

I love the dark, sensual atmosphere. Great food at very reasonable prices. The empanadas--$2--are amazing! I was happily surprised to see some good vegetarian options. There were a bunch of pastas and tapas-type dishes, but what I ordered was a layered eggplant dish ("Berenjena") in the Chef's Specials section ($9). It was great! My boyfriend was impressed by his giant meat assortment ($19) served on a tabletop grill. One time he ordered the lengua appetizer ($7) and it was HUGE--more lengua than if he had bought $7-worth at the local international grocer known for low prices. I would say Folklore's prices are closer to the two-dollar-sign range for the average person.
(5)
Casey Z.

If you love Tango Sur (as I do), you'll be very impressed with Folklore. The only difference is that Folklore has a full bar. Their food is consistently good. Have to try the empanadas!
(4)
Tracy F.

In the words of my husband: - The drinks were above average - The food was below average - The service was below average - It was too expensive for what you got - The ambiance was cool That pretty much sums it up. Drinks were fabulous. Food was not. I ordered the filet with Gorgonzola. I've had filet with blue cheese many times. This, however, was disgusting. It smelled like dirty feet. Luckily, when I scraped it off my plate, the steak did not smell. I ordered the steak medium and it came out medium rare, but that's what I expect from most steak restaurants. The meat itself was pretty good. However, my husband could not eat more than a couple bites of his steak. The sides for the most part were good. We had the beef empanadas for appetizer and it was served with egg whites. That was pretty odd. We also had the flame grilled cheese, which ended up tasting like a pizza topping. The dessert was pretty good - a complimentary flan. The service was very slow. After ordering our drinks, we had to call him back each time we wanted to order appetizers, entrees, get the check and get our receipt. Also, with an appetizer, salad and an entree, I asked if I could have a new fork before the entree. The busboy literally said "Only knives. We can't give new forks." I literally was not allowed to have a new fork. That pretty much sealed the deal for me. Won't be back, even for the great drinks and cool atmosphere.
(2)
Jesse B.

I personally thought it was over priced. Nothing really stood out. The bartender was friendly. He really made up for the food. My friend who I was with at Folklore lived in Argentina and was highly disappointed in the food.
(3)
Randy S.

No power? No problem! It is not how you act during prosperous times that defines you - it's how you respond to the adversity...and Folklore failed this test. I visited folklore recently with a very large group 10+ recently. We sat down and ordered drinks, and our appetizers. Everything was going smoothly. Once the appetizers were served we ordered our entrees. 20 minutes later were told that the power in the restaurant was out, and that there would be a slight delay in getting our food. We were assured the power would return, and to just sit tight. Instead of sitting with our hands in our lap the group decided to order another round. 20 more minutes pass before our waiter corners me on my way to the washroom, and tell me that the power is not coming back on any time soon, and that they will be sending our bill to the table. This is where things go afoul for me. It is now after 9pm on a Friday, we are starving, and the restaurant has charged for both rounds of drinks. No apologies, no compensation, and no dinner. Friends at the table did speak with management, but I am disappointed it came to that. It will be some time before I stop retelling this tale of folklore.
(1)
Chris D.

Still kicking @ss fellas.. :) The steaks seem to get better each time I go. Keep up the good work. Yeah I like to dip my steak in a bowl of warm garlic butter.. :) We only live once right.. LOL Service is still top notch. Wine selection has gotten better.
(5)
Hannah C.

Came here a few weeks ago with two friends. PRO: the appetizers are great; we loved the chorizo plate and we inhaled the empanadas, I would go back JUST for those. PRO: romantic ambiance, we sat outside and it was lovely. PRO: good cocktails, good beer and wine selection. CON: the salad that came with the main course was an undressed pile of lettuce and sliced tomato and red onion on a plate. It literally looked like burger toppings. CON: the main courses are hit or miss. We each ordered three different steaks, all done medium-rare. One came out medium-rare and was delicious, one came out half medium/half medium-well (clearly they have some grill problems), and one came out decidedly well-done and a pain to chew. We showed our steaks to the waiter and he brushed it aside, protesting that the well-done steak was difficult to cook and lost color easily. Lost color? It was so tasteless and chewy my friend didn't even end up finishing it. And I'm sorry, but the difficulty of the cut of meat is no excuse. At this price, and at a grill, every steak should be cooked to order. CON: the service was extremely slow from start to finish and the response to our complaint about the food was very disappointing. A person I can only assume to be the manager (he didn't introduce himself) stopped by after we spoke to the waiter and asked how things we going. We said, "Well, alright..." and he quickly said, "Great!" and leapt away from the table. It was ridiculous, it actually made us laugh! Were we supposed to play the part of the enraged customer and bring it up again before he got a word in edgewise? I guess so, because he never came back. Our waiter brought us some flan on the house (after staring at it for 30 seconds, we all admitted to each other that we didn't like flan), with no apologies for the botched steaks. I expected an apology from the manager for our meals and maybe even an offer for something on the house on another visit. As it is, I have no incentive to go back. In the end, EMPANADAS, go, get them. They're the only reason this isn't a two-star review. Choose your main courses wisely, as attention to detail doesn't seem to be a mainstay of this kitchen, and don't be expect to be served quickly.
(3)
Andrea H.

After perusing the Do Division fest, we decided on Folklore for dinner. My friends had been eyeing the place for hours, mostly because of the hot waiters, but I digress. Luckily we made it in just in time to beat the rain and snag a table for 5 in the dining room. The place was lively and definitely provided the right atmosphere to continue the party. When it was time to choose a beverage, I chose the mango picado. Now I'm always a little bit skeptical of these types of drinks since they almost always turn out to be watered down and super sweet. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Mango flavor, but a nice kick with the chili and not too sweet. I dug it. For food, I decided to share the parillada para dos with one other person. This dish has sweetbreads, short ribs, flank steak and two different kinds of sausage. When it came out, it was probably enough to feed an Argentinian village. Four steaks, three sausages and tons of sweetbreads. And boy, do I LOVE those. So delicious. Of course I had to wash it all down so I settled on the Mole Ocho. Little did I know it was a 20 oz bottle but I wasn't sorry. This beer has got some flavor! I loved it and was happy to see that New Belgium has branched out and started producing some great small batch beers. So anyway, we had a blast. Everything was great from start to finish. Check it out with friends, just be prepared to eat. A lot. For days after.
(4)
Mickey A.

"You say it's your birthday (nah nah nah nah nah), Well let's celebrate it at Folklore..." I know that last line isn't part of the Beatles' song, but that's what I wanted to do. Celebrate my birthday and eat like there's no tomorrow. Done deal. I was the first one in my party to arrive and was seated to wait at the bar. One of the bartendars handed me two drink menus: beer and cocktail list and then the wine list. I was sold as soon as I saw mangotini. But of course, as soon as I got my drink, my friends started pouring in and ordering their drinks. After paying for drinks, we were then seated to our table. Dark and cozy, the dining room was a-buzz with servers and a ton of food flying by. It took us awhile to study the menu and figuring out what to get. Our server (so nice but forgot his name) went through the menu with us and suggested some of the restuarant's popular appetizers and entrees. For appetizers, we went with (a) baked eggplant layered with spinach, provolone and ricotta cheese, and tomato cream sauce, (b) grilled provolone cheese and red pepper, and (c) empanadas (beef?). All were excellent in our minds (and stomachs). I didn't have the empanadas (1 per order), but the ones who did seemed to like it. The eggplant was the biggest hit. It was of a pretty good size to share. Note: the eggplant dish is actually under the Chef's menu and not in the appetizer section. You'd think we'd be goners with all that. Nope, we still had enough room for dinner. I ordered the rack of lamb with white wine sauce. It came with mashed sweet potatoes, which was a big plus for me. Holy mouthful of awesomeness! It's a very big dish that I ended up taking the rest home. Other dishes my friends enjoyed: el filet, para dos (probably good enough for more than 2 people), and four cheese ravioli with mushrooms. Summary: good food + drinks = fun. Again, our server was great as were the bartendars and host. Our server checked on us periodically and made sure we had enough to drink (and eat, not that there was much to add). Tip: if you make reservations and have last minute no-shows, let the host know. I felt bad for doing this when we arrived, but they were ok with it and shifted us to another table.
(4)
Jackie O.

Hot rum, ginger and cider with a citrus peel can just melt the winter chill right off your shoulders. If that doesn't - maybe the live guitar music or belly-filling mountains of meat will. This meal was fantastic! More importantly, it was reasonable yet sexy enough for a cool date night. The empanadas were my favorite. So crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Perfect! There is one big star knocked off because on a slow weekday, we still waited over 45 minutes for our entrees.
(4)
Courtney M.

Hubs and I went here for our second anniversary. I feel compelled to mention he grew up in Chicago and I'm a 10-year vet. So we're pretty much used to the portion sizes in the city. But the double filet they served - complete with salad and a side - made me do a double-take. We both agreed they were the best steaks we'd ever had. Service was awesome. Louie, our server, was friendly and checked in with us the requisite amount of times - not too many, not too few - and our water glasses never got below half-full. We were already planning a trip back over before we even left. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until some time after we make it through all the leftovers. Also, you have to have at least one empanada (chicken and beef were personal faves) and try the sangria. It's awesome.
(5)
Mahsa T.

Walking into Folklore is a bit like slipping into a sexy little black dress. It's dark, inviting, sensual, romantic, and makes you feel instantly hot.... My date and I were walking by on our way to another restaurant down the street one Sunday night, when we saw the pitch blackness of Folklore broken only by the flicker of candles through the floor-to-ceiling windows--and we literally stopped in our tracks. "What is this place?" I asked. "I don't know, let's find out," he replied. So we went in, were greeted warmly, and seated right away at a rustic wooden table. Argentinian tango music played in the background and soon I was under its spell. The exposed brick and unexpected items on display, like a Victrola, further added to the charm of this place. A very good-looking Latin man, who both looked like Antonio Banderas and was soft-spoken like Antonio Banderas, appeared to take our order. I ordered a flavorful Cabernet Sauvignon that went perfectly with my "el filet" which came with delicious spinach mashed potatoes and side salad. My date ordered the rib-eye. "HOLY COW," I said when our entrees arrived. No really, they bring you a cow-sized piece of meat, which is great for their relatively low prices. Mine came with 2 pieces of filet and my date's rib-eye was large enough to feed 3 people, seriously. We had to take most of it home. My only complaint is that they didn't quite cook the meat to my specification, I asked for medium well but it was definitely only medium cooked. But that didn't stop me from savoring the juicy goodness of my filet. I needed a little something sweet after eating all that meat, so we got a light dessert (it was not easy to choose from a tray of delicious options), but we went with a yellow cake with a layer of dulce de leche and coconut shavings on top--perfect way to end our meal. In case you didn't know, Folklore is the sister restaurant to Tango Sur and has been open for about 6 months. Unlike Tango Sur, Folklore is not BYOB, but they have an extensive wine list. I have personally never been to Tango Sur, but my date who has said that he prefers the seating and space here better, it's less cramped. So if you're looking for a romantic spot to indulge in a nice steak and great wine, head over to Folklore.
(5)
Ben M.

Meh - what can I say about this place. I love the aesthetic, thats true. The low lighting and the dark furniture really speak to my soul. The problem here is not that its bad, its just not a great value for the price. My steak was around $25, and sure, that is an acceptable price for a steak if it is something that you are going to write your mom about. But this was more like a shrug of the shoulders. I can see this place working out for you if you're going on a date and need some prices to impress the person you are with, and food that wont disappoint. Or maybe your a pompous Argentine who needs to tell others how much better it is down there. Either way, this place might be worth your while. Otherwise, I think you can do better.
(3)
Jeka M.

Dark wood details, labyrinthine pipe lines with dim lightbulbs, tall candles lit on each table, and traditional tables and chairs create an intimate and inviting atmosphere. Apparently Folklore was meant to be Folklorico or something in Spanish, but in spite of the name, this restaurant is imbued with Argentinian flavor both in the menu options, drink options (though these are South American in general), and in the apparently all male and coincidentally also good-looking waitstaff. Incidentally, the owners happen to also be the proprietors of Ã‘ which is clear when you see the advertisement in the bathrooms (which are nice and clean). :) I noticed that this got a $$$, however, my boyfriend and I got an appetizer (we got the Proveleto which is basically friend cheese. Imagine really cheesy pizza... without sauce or dough. Yeah, a little overwhelming) and then split an entree, and it was really doable. It's a great way to try new places without having to break the bank, and most split your meal without charge... some will add like $1 or $2 to your check, but we weren't that hungry so this was perfect for us. While I wouldn't get the Proveleto again, the Pollo Relleno was delicious! There was some sort of super light cream sauce, and the spinach inside the chicken was really well-prepared... sometimes spinach can be too flavorful, but here it was perfect, as were the delicious mashed potatoes. :) Overall, I def recommend as a romantic evening out.
(4)
Rachel K.

I have been living steps away from Folklore for the past year and can't get enough! Awesome place to hang out for a drink in the evening or for dinner - I always bring guests here when they are visiting. The vibe of the bar is laid back but classy and truly feels like you are in Argentina (well, as good as you can get being in the Midwest...) Empanadas are great, the chimichurri sauce is great, and the meats have turned me from a quasi-vegetarian to red meat lover! The Para Dos is a dish with a variety of meats with more than enough for 2 people (doggie bag!). As for the drink selection, in addition to an awesome wine selection, they have a nice variety of ''South American'' classics: Quilmes beer, Capirinha, Pisco Sour, etc... the Mojitos can't be beat! It's great for a date or to take the parents when they visit, and the prices are very reasonable, especially for the awesome amibiance!
(5)
Jason G.

Great space, great service, great food.Why will I probably never go back? No byo.I dont mind paying a $10 corkage if they had one, but I would rather drive up to the other location and byo.If it was byo I would probably be there 3 times a month, as would everyone I've talked to. Sorry I just want to drink my own wine with a good steak and I'm not a fan of wine from Argentina.
(4)
Suzanne M.

Having already written a rave review for Folklore's sister restaurant, Tango Sur, I am somewhat disappointed that I can only give Folklore 3 stars. I have eaten here twice before writing this review so I am combining my experiences into this review. The great: Blood sausage (they call it "black sausage" - but yes, its blood sausage), the pollo medio (whatever they use for that sauce is amazing), and the spinach empanadas. I'm going to say that this is the best emapanada in the city, hands down. The sweetbreads that come on the parillada were small and tough on my first visit, but plump and perfect on my second visit. Having also had them at Tango Sur and knowing how delicious they can be, I'm confident in saying that they are one of the best things you can eat at both restaurants. The good: The steaks. I love MEAT and this is a full-on double-rainbow all-the-way-across-the-sky meat palace. That said, both meals were inconsistent in the quality of the meat. Some of the steaks were cooked perfectly and were tender and flavorful; others were tough, charred-tasting and, in the case of the short ribs we had on the parillada, mostly gristle and not a lot of meat. Overall though the meat is solid and reasonably priced. They also offer grass-fed/free-range and organic beef options for slightly higher prices. The bad: IT IS SO LOUD. I had a headache leaving the restaurant. There were people there on dates and in groups, and everyone had to shout to be heard over the music. On top of this the volume often fluctuated between "barely manageably loud" and "I am thisclose to walking out because I should not have to scream at the person sitting next to me." I even had my server ask me to repeat myself because it was so loud in there. Music should be just loud enough that you can't hear the conversation of the table next to you, but quiet enough that it doesn't intrude on your own table's conversation. Sadly for Folklore the overwhelming volume of the restaurant's music knocks what could have been a 4-star review down to a 3, and puts it in a category of restaurants I am not looking forward to returning to.
(3)
Laura G.

One word: Mojito. Seriously Delicious. Went here with the fam since my sister was in town. My mom can be.. well lets just say difficult. So I was a little worried at the reviews about the host kinda being a douche. But I was pleasantly surprised when we were seating right away. Ordered our drinks right away and got them before my dad even arrived. Awesome start to the meal. We order the rack of lamb and the el filet. Both were pretty good. I thought the filet ordered medium could of been cooked a little longer but it was still pretty good. Rack of lamb was good as well. Nothing spectacular but would come back. Oh the empenadas were delicious! So if you're in the mood for a drink and a app this is totally the place to hit on a nice summer night. They have a nice patio once this rain ends!
(4)
Kevin T.

Wandered into this place on a Monday night and were pleasantly surprised. Great DJ playing at the bar, nice mellow hip-hop/lounge music. Sat at the bar and were well taken care of by the bartender. Excellent recommendations and down to earth service. With some well balanced cocktails we sampled the many appetizers instead of going after the grill. They were delicious and made for a great experience. The lengua is a must (if you can get over eating small parts of animal), sweetbreads, veal wrap, provolone cheese bake, chorizo; they were all amazing. I'll definitely be back here. It was a great experience, one of the best in a long while.
(5)
J. K.

Mixed review. Service was terrible although no one was particularly rude. But they rushed us constantly, they grabbed my plate with food on it 3 times, I had to yank it back. Forget the etiquette on waiting to remove all plates at once. But they took forever to bring wine and dessert, but once they brought dessert, they rushed us out of there. Food was hit or miss, too. We got 1/2 chicken lemon ( vesuvio) to share ($5 extra for sharing), it was great and huge, we shared the plate and took half of it to go. Other people had different meats, some liked them, some got tough meat and didn't like it. Portions are huge and very reasonably priced, that's probably why they are busy. Mojito had lots of smashed mint and was great. But I wouldn't go back. The space is nice but you cant enjoy it when they rush you out of there. Lots of people running around and none of them provide personal service.
(2)
Michael S.

If you recognize you are going to an Argentinian steakhouse, and thus understand it is not the same as a prime steak from the likes of Morton's, you will not be disappointed. Apps: Get the melted cheese dish...it's like queso fundido -- Argenitina style (and really good). Otherwise, empanadas were ok, and not really anything to write home about (because I thought they were somewhat doughy and heavy). My strip steak came out perfectly charred and medium rare -- eaten with the chimichurri sauce, and it was fantastic! Drinks were ok, and I wish I had instead brought a bottle of wine. Both the mojitos and caipirinhas were good, but really way too sweet. Sit outside if you can -- while you can.
(4)
Carly G.

Great place. I love the atmosphere. Very rustic and welcoming. Dimly lit, and big. I went during the week and was surprised at how busy they were. It took a bit to have someone wait on us, but it was worth the wait. Malbec was very good and for $20 a bottle it was a good buy. The meat was tender and so tasty. I suggest this place to couples and to groups. Good drink selection and very good menu. I cant comment on the whole menu, cause I have only tried what I ordered, but it is so worth going back to try more. Cant wait!
(4)
nancy b.

i was fairly disappointed by folkore. i think for value, it's on par with its sister restaurant, tango sur, but the quality in both are just not my favorite that i find myself craving. one thing that irritates me in a dish is when garlic is used so heavily it masks any other flavors' chances of shining through. i like hints of garlic, or even a heavily garlic'd dish, but to just douse a gigantic piece of meat and its sauce in garlic seemed like the easy way out here. i would have liked to see my dish with more interesting flavor. i will say though, i wish i had the spinach mashed potatoes. i took a bite of my friends' and they were amazing! ambiance is very nice, woodsy but modern. it's not nearly as overstuffed as tango sur, which was a nice change. but that's about all that felt distinguishably different. oh and BYOB with a $10 corkage fee.
(2)
Justin F.

Cool Atmosphere, great drinks, huge portions Great Argentinian !
(3)
Tabitha G.

I hate to give this place 2 stars because I love N and the meat I've had there was amazing and love the owners but.... Good - love the space, empanadas (of course), mojitos (double of course), waiters (yummy), decent wait time for party of six walk in Friday night Ok - was not really in a steak mood but my beef was underwhelming and not many at my table thought anything but "meh" about the food Bad - the bar. Ok well the bartender had a nasty little habit of throwing down your change and then immediately scooping if back up and putting it in the tip jar. Oh probably just an accident you say? She did it to all 3 of us that ordered drinks while we waited. It was really an awkward situation and amazingly unprofessional.
(2)
Paul C.

Asked for my meat to be prepared medium rare, and it came out rare. We're talking blue, cold center rare. Sauces on my dish and my girlfriends' were completely flavorless. Not sure if we came on a bad night or what, but very disappointing considering we live a block away.
(1)
Mar Z.

The eggplant layered with ricotta cheese and basil with tomato cream sauce is fantastic and UNDERPRICED for the size. The scallop salad as well was amazing, a little shy on scallops but decent for the price. Also their spinach whipped mashed potatoes for $4 are great and serves 2.
(5)
Elvira G.

i loved it!! excellent dinner! excellent desert! awesome bartender! super sexy place!
(5)
Nicki W.

I thought Folklore was alright. Maybe the lack of stars was due to the migraine I had, making me finicky about everything. When we walked in the door, the lights were very dim, and the dining room was pretty much dark with the exception of candles on the tables. Very nice for a romantic evening I'm sure, but not very nice if you can't see well. The music was interesting. All I could hear was sharp violin sounds which were killing my head. The wine list seemed decent, but nothing caught my eye. Our server was very quiet and seemed scared to approach us and check up. I wish he had given us some ideas or told us what's good on the menu because we were lost. I did really enjoy the exposed brick walls and industrial windows. The tables were made out of this pretty wood, but ours was kind of sticky and needed a good wipe-down. We started with the Empanadas ( 2 Spinich, 2 Chicken and 2 Beef). They were good and were served with some kind of a garlic dipping sauce on the side which was never explained. For dinner my boyfriend ordered the Filet with the spinach mashed potatoes (amazing!!) Those potatoes were fantastic! Our other friends shared this fried chicken dish with these thin crispy and tasty potatoes. Is it bad that the potatoes tasted better than the chicken? Not much flavor there. I want to come back and try some other items, maybe when I feel better of course. Folklore is A-OK in my book.
(3)
Blake M.

My expectations coming to Folklore could not have been higher, and I could not have been more disappointed with the food. The first sign of trouble was that the waiter suggested the empanada appetizer and the breaded chicken breast entree. Hey waiter, we are looking for delicious and exotic Argentinian food, not recycled South American standbys. Ok, that is a bit harsh, empanadas are always good, and chicken is usually a safe choice. We were, however, looking for adventure, so we decided to split the sweetbread appetizer, veal t-bone, and entrana. The soup and salad came out first and followed the simple Argentinian tradition. Then the veal t-bone and entrana. Wait, where sweetbreads? Oh, he forgot to put them in, they would be out shortly and be complimentary. The veal t-bone came out and had a decent amount of flavor, although we were expecting it to be rich and full of taste. The meat itself, however, did not have any flavor to begin with or somehow lost all of the flavor on the grill. The entrana, which was recommended with the skin on (to seal in the juices and flavor), was equally as disappointing. Although we ordered it medium rare, it came out with just a hint of pink in it and it was unbelievably tough. The skin simply served to add a tough, flavorless, leathery layer on top, which we ended up cutting off almost immediately. I would say it failed to seal in the juices and flavor, since there were not much of either. The potatoes were ok, but they had that heavy, settled texture normally reserved for high school cafeteria potatoes. When the sweetbreads came out, they were somewhat bland, and we each ended up eating one before leaving the rest of the plate. When it was all said and done, we had eaten about half of each entree and 10% of the sweetbreads. The waiter, who was very friendly and attentive, noticed that we clearly were not enjoying our meal, brought out a flan on the house. This was a nice gesture, but neither of us enjoyed it, even after ordering a couple of cappuccinos to balance out the sweetness. What is so strange about our experience is that everything seemed like it should have been good. Good reviews, my Yelp friends liked (or loved) it, meat focused South American grill, enticing menu, and great atmosphere all caused my interest to be thoroughly piqued. That the food let us down this much came as a great shock. There were a few silver linings to this bad-tasting cloud. The drinks were pretty good, the ambiance was quiet and inviting, and our waiter treated us well after the forgotten appetizer and again after he saw we did not enjoy the entrees. All said, we may have just had one of the few bad experiences here, but it take a lot to convince me to come back.
(1)
Kimberly N.

This is a great spot for a date (think: 2nd or 3rd date, not 1st or 100th), friends, or to take the parents. The food is pretty good, not amazingly great, but pretty good. The menu has a lot of safe options that are fancied up, so most people will find something they like while feeling adventurous--think: gnocchi in beef stew--however, if you are truly feeling adventurous, try some sweet bread. They have a pretty good beer selection (the Mole Ocho is a must), and seem to make good cocktails. To sum it up: large portions, steak options, decent cocktails; in-house DJ, dark atmosphere, and handsome servers.
(4)
Kate W.

I'd been meaning to check out Tango Sur as I live almost right over the place, and word on the street is that Folklore is owned by the same people. Okay, full disclosure, those people are my landlords. I must love giving money to them or something, but hey- they put out a good product! Lovely restaurant. Romantic. Dark. Lots of nice wood and brick with large windows (which we were lucky enough to get to sit by, thank you date who actually makes reservations!). Being pro-Yelpers, we went with what came highly suggested: empanadas, filet, skirt steak. So.good. The empanadas were a wonderful, flavorful little appetizer. The filet is huge. HUGE. It's actually two filets. Literally, two. Two people could easily share as it also comes with spinach mashed potatoes. The skirt steak came recommended from the waiter and was amazing. And it gets better: complimentary flan! I don't normally order desserts after dinner, but I am so glad they gave us this little square joy of sweetness. I agree, service can be a little on the slow side. I'd say with the nice atmosphere and with good company you should be able to tough it out.
(4)
Sam J.

I've been wanting to go to Folklore ever since it opened - nay, actually way before that. You see, I live close by, and for YEARS that space sat there, vacant, with newspaper covering up the windows and building permits splattered all over the door. Not sure what took them so long, but it looks like it was worth the wait! The interior is dark, with awesome wood tables each topped with a real candle (not just one of those snowball things), which I thought was a nice touch. The service was above average - despite the fact that they were a wee bit slow to get to us at first after we sat down. After a decent empanada starter, I ordered the skirt steak, my date had the fillet (why would you NOT have beef at an Argentine grill?). I asked the waiter to recommend a wine pairing, and he did a great job selecting a great tasting Malbec. When the food arrived it was HOLY COW how are we going to finish all this!?? Seriously, just order the fillet and share it. I'm not kidding. Regardless, the portion of steak I COULD actually wolf down tasted fantastic. Oh - and we were delightfully surprised to get a free desert - a big plate of flan! That was a really nice touch. A definite win! Take your girl here - it's a great couples spot and Valentine's Day is coming up! And don't forget your doggie bag....
(4)
Vanessa R.

Amazing drinks and food! Excellent service and atmosphere! Took my husband there for his birthday---highly recommend!! The mussels with clams are very delicious for an appetizer. My husband and I split the Parrillada para dos for dinner. It includes a salad, potatoes, and a variety of meats. We also ordered a side order of mashed sweet potatoes (I am a huge fan of sweet potatoes and they lived up to my expectations.) There are tons of leftovers. Also, even though we ordered a lot, the bill was way cheaper than we expected--compared to other places that have similar atmospheres and food. Also, the place makes many seasonal, unique cocktails! Highly recommend!
(5)
John B.

C and I met our friend Ray at Folklore for dinner. C had the berenjenas as an entree. Ray and I shared a "Dos," which is a sampler of meat cuts and sausages. Everything on the grille brought to the table was tasty, although I will say that I've never eaten deep fried sweetbreads in Argentina. Everything there is grilled. The potatoes were very tasty. Among the cuts was a large hunk of beef tenderloin. It was exceptional. Service was good and the ambiance was especially nice. The menu, the decor and atmosphere, everything was distinctly reminiscent of Buenos Aires. The only thing that gave away that we were in the U.S. is that everything was more perfect. In BA, for example, the wall of the dining room would have a huge white split system unit hanging from the ceiling, marring the design. Here, the heating/cooling ducts were cleverly designed/disguised as a visual element. Two thumbs up and a high five to whoever was the designer. I don't recall the wine we ordered. It was a Pinot Noir for about $35. It was excellent. We don't hesitate to recommend Folklore. It has a more sophisticated and dramatic feeling than Tango Sur. Or course, it's at a higher price point.
(4)
Andrea L.

Folklore is the sister restaurant to Tango Sur, with 2 main differences. 1. It is not BYOB. 2. It does not have the 3 hour waits that you often find at Tango Sur. The food is great-I enjoy the El Filet and the empanadas. They also have very good drinks. Our servers have always been helpful and accommodating. Overall, it is a good value for the money, and a great place to go for delicious steak!
(4)
Christina P.

Sexy candlelit dinner + uber popular spot + mouth-watering food = as good as it gets! I loved my dinner here and could not be more excited to return. I'm surprised on the reviews for Folklore's food as I felt that it was much better than Tango Sur. Just as with TS, expect the very basic salad of lettuce, onion and tomatoes (though there are other salads you can order too). I had El Filet and it definitely exceeded expectations. Perfectly cooked, amazing sauce and those spinach mashed potatoes... oh me, oh my. The ambiance is downright sexy. Exposed brick walls, interesting art, candlelight, and a nice bar area to wait at. The service is as prompt as it can be on busy nights. Save room for the caramel flan... amazing.
(5)
Lori L.

One of my favorite restaurants to go on a date with my bf. LOVE the ambiance. Sophisticated, yet you still feel comfy and cozy. It's one of those place that u can goto in jeans in a tee, or dress and suit and feel equally welcome and comfortable. Drinks are incredible. Try the 'la negra' a blackberry cocktail that is to die for. The empanadas are awesome. I love the ham and cheese or the spinach. I'd go here just for drinks, ambiance and empanadas. But the food is good to. :) One of my favorite places!!
(5)
Sean H.

My wife and I really enjoyed the food and service. We went by accident, CRUSTwas closed and I noticed in the window that they were part of Tango Sur. the menu is huge with lots of great options. The wines are tasty and the desserts are perfect. One gripe, the seating was awkward. We got stuck against the window and a couple that was breaking up blocked us in the corner. All in all, good food and service.
(4)
Jennifer B.

After all the hype I've heard about this place and Tango Sur, we were sorely disappointed after a recent visit. We came in a big group of about twelve people. Our table was in a great location and we were seated right away, and that is where the good stuff ends. Our service was terrible. Awful. I can't say enough about how bad it was. Despite the large presence of servers everywhere, ours got orders wrong, was never available when we needed him, didn't refill water for hours, and on and on and on. The wine was good, and my cheap Malbec was especially good. The cocktails were bad, though- again, our waiter got orders wrong and almost nobody seemed to end up with what they wanted, but the special mojitos and daiquiris tasted like medicine. The empanadas were pretty tasty and came with a really good dipping sauce. The bread was fine. The free green salad was a nice addition to the meal. The much-hyped spinach mashed potatoes were good but nothing special. The entree salads were pretty bad, especially the mozzarella one. And the meat... nobody was thrilled with their order. My basically carnivorous fiance was completely disappointed with his big sampler plate, as was everyone else who got it. Just... overall meh. With bad service to boot. Guess I'll stick with the big-name steakhouses from now on.
(2)
Mari K.

Folklore Argentine Grill knows how to pack in quality service, amazing flavors, charm, romance, and affordability all into the NW pocket of Division and Hoyne*. Candle lit tables, neat windows that allow for the glow from the street, and tango nuevo sounds make for a perfect date spot, while the exposed brick and artifacts on the walls work at keepin' it real... or... Wicker Park chic. Oh, and I can't forget the axle-like machine part that held up the candle (which doesn't drip wax)... muy clever! Service is outstanding. We had 8 o'clock reservations on a Friday night and were seated immediately. Our server was polite, attentive, and did his job well. He even brought over another bottle of beer before my bf was done with his first. On to the food. The spinach empanadas with chimichurri sauce was perfect. We had a little bit of the sauce left over, which I wish I saved for my salad, since the only options for dressing were oil (not evoo) and vinegar. Ugh... I'm so sad it went to waste... next time. :) Moving on. I had read that the portions were ridiculous here, so we shared a steak that had cheese and spinach cooked in the middle. Our server suggested that we had it cooked at least medium in order for the cheese to melt. We went with medium-well, which was great for the spinach and cheese, but the steak was a bit tougher than I'm used to. Still, a very good steak! Dessert? There is no menu- they bring out the dessert tray. We chose a layered cake, which was decent.. a little too crunchy for my taste. No worries though; I will be back to sample the rest. :) * Be careful. Yelp describes it as being in between Hoyne and Damen, but it's actually on the NW corner of Hoyne and Division. You're welcome. :)
(4)
Jourdan S.

Good steak. On par with Smith & Wolensky? Nope. The salad and appetizer were sub par to say the least. The salad was obviously pre-fab and had been sitting around for a while. It looked like something out of a 1950's diner. One wedge of tomato, 3 red onion rings (raw), and a side of dressing over lettuce that was 48hrs away from wilting into the dark green abyss. My appetizer was melon wrapped prosciutto. It was served without the hint of care. the melon was sliced long and fat. And the prosciutto was old. It too like the lettuce had all the tell tale signs of sitting out far too long. The prosciutto had dried out almost completely! And mind you there were only 2 small pieces of prosciutto. Which can be fine, I'm not looking for a 1/4 lb of rich ass pork fat. But if you are going to serve only two pieces, then give me to thin filets of melon! Service was good, and the ambiance is nice, and dark. Some might say too dark but I liked it. Would I go back...eh, if someone else picked it, it was really cold out, and I was in a two block radius with a major hard-on for steak.
(2)
Mark V.

This would be a lot higher if they had cooked our steaks as ordered. But of the four steaks we ordered (all medium rare), three were badly overcooked (medium well to well done), and one was undercooked (rare). One of my friends sent his back, and to the waiter's credit, he was very apologetic and offered to bring out another one ASAP. But unfortunately, that steak was rushed and came back barely cooked at all. All of this was probably due to the fact that the Argentina-Uruguay soccer game was in penalty kicks at the time our meal was being prepared, leaving us to ponder that the chefs were watching the game instead of watching our food. A most likely explanation, but hardly an excuse. All in all though, it is basically the same menu as Tango Sur, but with a full bar instead of BYOB. Thus, the steaks (particularly the bife ancho) are still very good, and the chimichurri sauce is fantastic. With the alcohol, though, the tab comes in significantly higher. For this reason, I'll probably just continue to go to Tango Sur when I crave an Argentine steak.
(2)
GLORIA M.

Had a delightful dinner here last night. We had a party of 8 which can be a challenge, but the staff was up to it. Delicious cocktails on a sweltering night along with the eggplant appetizer, fried cheese and epenadas helped start the evening out right. The Good rolls with the dip would have been enough for me, but crisp salads cleared our palate for our assorted entrees of different meats, including filet, skirts, short ribs, sweet breads and chicken! Perfect atmosphere (tho bit noisy) and parking space right in front! Could not have been more perfect!
(5)
Janet L.

I came here for my roomie's birthday dinner. Very nice ambiance. Great grilled meats. I got the parradilla para dos to share w/my bf and there was way too much food. The chorizo was yummy, and we had plenty of food left over to take home. Other peeps got steaks and salmon w/pesto - I sampled bits and they were delicious too. Interesting decor inside, nice dim lighting with candles on the tables, and great brick interior. The staff was very polite and helpful. Cool music playing, and a neat place all around. I'd definitely come back here again to try out the other dishes. If only Wicker Park was more accessible...
(4)
Daniel C.

Whereas Tango Sur pairs well with a student's smaller pockets, Folklore is more stylish and trendy, perhaps better suited for those seeking to impress their meat-loving dates. Indeed, just like Tango, Folklore is a meat-lover's paradise. This place is all about meats. Bring a vegetarian if you wish to insult them. Folklore's menu selection is large, but to really savor the Argentine BBQ experience, one must get the parillada, which is an assortment of grilled items. Since I was with a group of people, we ordered the parillada for two. It comes with chorizo and blood sausages, short ribs, and sirloin. We also ordered the ribeye steak, along with a side of chinchulin, which is fried-and-then-grilled pork small intestines. The chorizo was delicious, though the blood sausage seemed a bit unbalanced. All the meats were great and very tender, especially the ribeye steak. My only complaint was that they were a bit salty. As for the chinchulin, it had good texture on the outside, and creamy on the inside (not sure if it can be attributed to our waiter's absolute assurance that they only serve it the 'natural' way, whatever that means). In case you are not absolutely stuffed after finishing the main course, Folklore offers a nice selection of desserts. The common theme seems to be that everything comes with dulce de leche, whether it is the cookie (with dulce de leche filling) or the flan (with dulce de leche on top). The one exception was the peach cake, which we ordered. It was light, making it a good choice after a heavy meal. We also had the flan, which was also good. The one thing that should perhaps be avoided is the coffee (either black, or with steamed milk), given that ours came out so watered down that it was almost devoid of any coffee flavor. So for those who crave tons of meat and want a nice ambiance, Folklore is the place to be.
(4)
Hailey M.

I have no complaints here. I really enjoyed my food and the atmosphere. I would definitely say I like it more than Tango Sur. Whoever mentioned the Antonio Banderas look alike as the host in their review was right on. I definitely didn't mind being seated by him! My bf and I started off with 3 empanadas - ham and cheese (favorite one), spinach and cheese, and beef and cheese. You would expect this to be good, it's deep fried. Then we both got the no-frills salad. I actually kind of liked the freshness of just the oil and vinegar dressing with the tomatoes and raw onions. I understand why some people are turned off, but given the amount of meat I was about to consume, I think my body appreciated it. For our entree we actually split the filet. I was tempted by the other options on the huge menu, but because I hadn't been able to view the menu beforehand (yes, I do that), I had decided on the filet before even getting there based on the reviews. I would like to see them make an online menu available or even get a website. Anyway, the filet was great! Cooked perfectly and the spinach mashed potatoes were a perfect pairing. Splitting was definitely the way to go with that one. I even took some home. Oh - I also got a side of steamed vegetables. I wouldn't recommend that at all. They had no flavor. I will come back here for another date with the bf. Any place that is all about meat and isn't dainty portions makes him happy. The wine was also really good and not overly expensive. Next time I'll try something else since I have now seen the rest of the menu.
(4)
Mary Beth K.

I'd venture to say Folklore has one of the best restaurant atmospheres I've experienced in the city. [This might have been influenced by the great night I had with fabulous company, so this could have swayed my opinion a smidge...;) ] You know what I love? I love when restaurants understand that lighting can make or break the ambiance. White candle sticks on every table apparently provide the perfect lighting. Who knew? They did. You can actually see the menu and your food but still catch the soft shadows on your companion's face. Cozy, inviting, intimate, sexy... The tables are all dark rich wood. The floor is a beautiful light wood in contrast. The decor is rustic, but contemporary. Full, thoughtful and finished, but not cluttered. The bar is even beautiful and the martinis well made. The ONLY reason it doesn't get 5 stars is the menu. Don't get me wrong, it is a steak feast and that's awesome... but for $18-35 per entree, give me a little more than some romaine lettuce as a salad... Entrees come with no side dishes either. You've got to fork over another $3 for mashed potatoes. They were extremely tasty, but how about just throwing those in for my $32... [p.s. we all know potatoes cost pennies]. Service was great and our wait wasn't bad since we went at 8:30 on a Thurs night. Street parking is decently easy in that area.
(4)
Timothy H.

As good as it gets. Simply amazing. Can't wait to return. Had a consultant in town this week from Atlanta, and he offered to take me and my fiance to a steak dinner to celebrate our engagement. He said he preferred to stay away from downtown, and he wanted to try someplace that would be new for me too ... so that knocked Kinzie Chophouse, Tango Sur, and Las Tablas (Irving Park location) off the list. Let me also preface the rest of the review by saying in the past 10 years, I've had maybe 4 steaks. First, the atmosphere. Way less crowded then big sibling, Tango Sur. Each table is candle-lit, which I found to be the perfect touch. The lights were very dim, but with candles everywhere, a mystical glow filled the dining room. SInce the tables are more spread out, it's way less noisy as well. Wine: $5 Malbec - Best $5 wine I've had a restaurant outside of Italy. Appetizer: Bereneja de Escabahe (sp?) - basically sliced eggplant marinated in olive oil and vinegar. The strips were tender and packed with flavor, and strips of red pepper complimented the eggplant nicely. Meat: I ordered the Filet after reading the reviews. I ordered it Medium to play it safe, I didn't want something too rare but I know that the more you cook a steak the more flavor it loses. The waiter clarified if I wanted it Medium Rare and I repeated myself that I wanted it Medium. It came out Medium Rare, but I couldn't have been happier. It was absolutely the best, most tender, flavorful steak I've had in my entire life. It came with a side of spinach mashed potatoes, which were creamy and buttery. SO GOOD! Desert: The lady and I split a slice of the 1000 layer cake, and our friend ordered something like peaches and cream pie. I tried both, and they were equally light, sweet and the perfect ending to an excellent dinner. The waitstaff was patient, friendly, and they must've filled my fiance's water glass 10 times, no joke. I know this place has received some mixed reviews on Yelp, and I don't know why. Tango Sur is one of the best restaurants in the city, and Folklore instantly tops it even without being BYO.
(5)
Christy Q.

I've always loved Tango Sur and now I can say the same about Folklore. I used to live in Lakeview right around the corner from Tango Sur and I loved the place! So how lucky am I that now living in Wicker Park Tango Sur's sister restaurant, Folklore, is just down the street?! My friend had a steak craving on Saturday and nothing else would do. I suggested we try Folklore. So we did! And on DAMN we were not dissapointed! One thing about Tango Sur that drives me insane is the wait for a table. It's ridiculous. And I hate that unless you have a huge group you can't make a reservation. My money should be just as valuable if it's a 2 top as if it's an 8 top. We got to Folklore early on a Saturday night- 6:30 or so and we were seated right away. Absolutely no wait. I love the ambience. Its similar to Tango Sur but in my opinion more updated. It's cozy and warm and dark and I really enjoyed it. We decided to share el filet- and with that we each got a yummy side salad. El Filet was just perfect!!! Cooked just as I wanted! We also got beef empanadas- I think they have the BEST empanadas in the city- if only they were bigger! And that green pesto/garlic sauce for the empanadas- oh dang! I LOVE that you get a bread basket as well- and it's WARM dinner rolls. WARM! That's what I'm talking about. And I gotta give a shout out to the spinach mashed potatoes!!! My friend also got an order of the sweet bread- which is apparently glands of a pig or cow or some animal. He (and our waiter) loved them. They weren't my thing though. All in all the meal was really fantastic! I can't wait for our next steak craving!!!
(5)
Brad B.

Went to Folklore Saturday night around 7PM for dinner with a group of five. Four of which are foodie-types who, while waiting for cocktails to arrive discussed which famous chef each of us would kidnap and keep at home, if we could (okay maybe not but, you get the point....I may or may not have said something about licking Anthony Bourdain tho). Appetizers were good. My steak (ribeye) was maybe the best steak that I've had in a resto, in a looong time (coulda been less done but, lets not pick nits, this place was damn busy). Everyone else seemed to be enjoying their food as well. Five deserts were ordered and partially consumed.... The bill arrived and was annoyingly paid by one of the others without consultation amongst the group, thanks and scowls were passed in his general direction...and then it happened: some frumpy woman came over to our table and sorta asked us to leave. Really? Are you serious? We'd only been there two hours. Its not like we weren't eating several hundred dollars worth of food and drink either. The nerve of some people. We left so they could turn the damn table. Annoying, that. I sorta doubt I'll be back.
(2)
Abigail L.

Amazing food! Decor is unique, modern, yet wine cellar ish, with interesting Argentinian artifacts throughout. The menu was great and cheap for what we got! We ordered a bottle of Malbec, Syrah, Bonarda blend, perhaps the best red wine I've ever had. For my dish, I had beef fillet, shrimp and mashed sweet potatoes. Salad came with dinners and our waiter treated us with caramel rice pudding, on the house. Not bad considering my meal was less than $30 not including wine of course. Great atmosphere, not too crowded. However, it was a Monday evening. I've heard it can be more crowded at times. I will definitely be coming back here! What a great find!
(5)
Kim J.

A meat-a-riffic joint in my neighborhood? Hooray! The fiance and I decided to head up to Folklore for an early-ish dinner on Tuesday night. We arrived right around 6:30 and were seated right away. The space is very nice - I enjoyed all the candlelight. We started off with the empanadas. I liked the spinach one, but the ham and cheese one was mostly crust, which I was kinda unimpressed with. We then split a beef dish for two - a big ol' hunk of meat seasoned with olive oil, garlic, and parsley, served with sweet potatoes. We also had a site of garlic potatoes. The meat was very well done - seasoned well, cooked perfectly to medium (as was suggested by the chef for this particular cut). The potatoes were good, but you can tell they were kind of an afterthought (as I think is typical at a lot of meat joints). Nice wine list full of South American wines, cocktails, and a short (but good!) beer list. Service was very friendly and quick, but the kitchen seemed kind of slow given that the restaurant was only half-full. Other than that - great place that I'll definitely be returning to (although probably not ever on a weekend based on the other reviews here - I'm not a big fan of long waits!).
(4)
Mihir P.

What a wonderful restaurant! And a steal to boot. I got a fantastic steak for only $18. My friends spinack ravioli was delicious as well. They didn't skimp on the lime in the mojitos. I am not sure how to describe the atmosphere except that there is a relaxing wind chime as you walk in. It is slightly dark and romantic and if I remember there is exposed brick which adds to the charm.
(5)
Kathleen K.

I was excited about Folklore as I had heard good things from several different people. Upon arrival our party was told our table wasn't quite ready so we meandered over to the bar. The drinks were fab and the only saving grace of the night! The bartender helped us pick out a few signature drinks. I would recommend the mojito, blueberry martini and any of the wines. While at the bar my party saw a Folklore employee chewing his hair while waiting for food to come up. Gross. If it had been up to me I would have left at this point however our party was quite large and finding anywhere else to take a party of 10 at 7pm on Friday would be near impossible. Once seated, we found out the hair chewer was our waiter. Service was terrible. Plain and simple. We placed an order for empanada's (yum) and didn't see our waiter for 40 minutes. We finally got our apps and then didn't see our waiter for another 30min. By the time I saw the waiter I had to ask if we could order. The response I received was, "Hold on." I was livid. We had already waited an hour. By some miracle, we finally ordered and got our food. The food was okay. A friend and I shared the Valcio Relleno. It was good however it was a huge portion of meat. The menu states that it is ideal for two people but it is probably more appropriate for 4. The rest of my party ordered steaks as well. The one critique everyone had was that the meat was cooked well, but it wasn't seasoned - at all. I would be willing to give this place another chance pending I didn't have the same waiter. However, it won't be my first choice when selecting a restaurant in the near future.
(2)
Jody B.

Here is a great place for steak. Big portions, flavorful, and tender. This is my favorite place for steak in Chicago. I have been to all the others, but I keep coming back to Folklore.
(5)
Nick S.

Service: Very good service. The wait staff is very friendly and very attentive Price: Extremely reasonable, great value. Ambiance: Rustic with dark interiors Food: I ordered the Para Uno, which is a huge serving sampler of all types of Argentinian bbq'd meats. It included two different cuts of sirloin steak, Chorizo and blood sausages, beef sweetbreads and short ribs. It also comes with potatoes. I found the one sirloin a little tough, not because it was over cooked, but due to the piece of meat itself. The strip steak was tender though and cooked perfectly medium-rare. The sweetbreads were very, very good and were probably the best I've had. For dessert I took a taste of the Flan and it was pretty good. Overall I would come back because the prices are very reasonable and the experience was pleasant.
(4)
Molly A.

I have been to Tango Sur and never got around to rating it, but probably would've given it 4 stars for bad service and just so-so atmosphere even though the food is great... but I went to Folklore last night and the menu is essentially the same, its much cozier than Tango Sur, it's in my neighborhood, and our service was fantastic. Definitely 5 star worthy. Knowing how much food they give you, my sister and I split the filet with spinach mashed potatoes and they literally bring you two filets for the price of one. Ridiculous portions and ridiculously delicious. Cant wait to have the rest for dinner tonight!
(5)
Alf O.

Fantastic empanadas. Unbelievable steak (some from Argentina, you have to ask which). The menu covers lots of territory and also price points. Trendy atmosphere, and not too crowded, but a little bit to loud. Great bread, but drop the salad.
(4)
Alia K.

I came here the other week with my parents who were in town and we ate outside. Everyone ordered steak of some sort and they were all grilled to perfection! I got the steak with Gorgonzola on top. For my taste, there was way too much Gorgonzola and the asparagus that came with it was a bit overcooked thus the deduction of a star. The wine they recommended was fabulous though! It was a 2011 Decero which held up wonderfully with the steak. I would definitely come back.
(4)
Leslie P.

I'm a huge fan of Tango Sur, but Folklore didn't quite cut it for me. We had a reservation for 7 ppl on a weeknight, and still couldn't a table outside. Bummer, but understandable. Unfortunately it was warm and stuffy inside, and the lighting was so poor we couldn't read our menus. I liked the decor from what I could see. The food was ok, and we ordered basic stuff. I enjoyed my chicken empanada as a starter, but others were not thrilled with theirs. We also shared the eggplant appetizer which is grilled eggplant with olive oil and garlic. Simple enough - but it tasted like they simply poured Wishbone Italian dressing over the eggplant. Not very good. In my book, it is never okay to send out the food before the drinks are served. We were nearly finished with our starters before our waiter brought us our wine. I ordered the el Filet special with spinach mashed potatoes. I enjoyed it, but the portions were way too big (although expected). I am sure I'll be back, but I'm not in a rush, and I'd rather make the trek up to Tango Sur.
(2)
Matt J.

Beef, beef, beef and pretty good drinks. We had a couple of pisco sours to start. I was disappointed as the bartender did everything she could to get out of making them with egg white (which GF let her get away with). I switched it up to caparinha and was much happier. Not the best I've ever had, but in the upper 80th percentile. We had one each of the empanandas, some molten cheese pool and sweetbreads. The sweetbreads were not the best I've ever had, but I've never gotten so many as I did here. I was happy with quantity over quality. We split the stuffed flank steak (can't remember the name of the dish, but I believe it was something in spanish) and it was fantastic. Perfectly done and melt in your mouth tender. GF remarked that it should have been called the steak for four instead of steak for two and, as always, she was bang on. I'm not sure how we managed, but we split a tiramisu which they also nailed. The whole shebang was reasonably priced for what you get and the service was excellent.
(4)
Phil F.

Steak: its really hard to make steak totally gross. Empies: SHOULD BE BETTER. Being privileged enough to have been to latin america a few times.......i feel their empies just need improvement. Kinda blandish and stuff. Good dough though, which tends to be elusive when were talking about baked ones (fried=easy and a total people pleaser method of cooking; i.e.people fry twinkies) The chimichurri is good though. Overall, I worry that this place will just be forgotten by many and revisited by people who just love steak.
(3)
Nicolas H.

Came back for dinner and the meal itself was very good. The hour wait however, was not so good, especially when we had a "reservation". As others have noted, the reservations aren't really reservations, so I'll let that minor setback slide (for now). The food was very good. We had the empanadas to start (one of beef and one ham&cheese but the beef was my favorite) as well as a small chirizo (which was good but not as good as I thought it would be) and the prosciutto with melon (which was great). The steak however was delicious and cooked to perfection. There are several good choices but I stuck with the ribeye and was not disapointed. I'd be back for sure, just with different expectations about what the word "reservations" actually means...
(4)
Lala S.

Ok first off, the correct adjective is ARGENTINE, as in the title of the restaurant's name. I was once corrected in high school by a native after I referred to the people of Argentina as "Argentinean." I have been waiting for this place to open forever and here it is, finally! I had been a patron of Barra Ã± for years and openly welcomed this addition to the 'hood (because I can stumble home in my drunken stupor). The drinks are superb and so is the food. All portions are rather generous, food and drinks alike. The decor is cozy and warm. I will be come a fixture at this place. Definitely order the empanadas, beef and spinach are my favorite. The sweetbreads are on point--the side order is plentiful. I haven't had the vacio here, but I'm sure it's just as good as Ã±'s or Tango Sur's. The procuitto with the hearts of palm and salsa golf is yummy, too. This family of restaurants also boasts some of the best, flavorful chimichurris in the city. Make sure to wash it down with some mojito-action. I tried the mango picado for the first time...a bit on the heavy side so I'd stick with the other drinks. At any rate, the staff is charming with plenty of familiar faces if you've ever frequented Ã± or Tango Sur. This place is going to be my new neighborhood hangout. I might look like an empanada by the end of the year.
(5)
Brandon B.

Finally getting out of work mode and seeing what happened to the neighborhood since last winter....this is probably the best thing! Very well detailed interior with more natural/candle lighting behind bottles at the bar as well as some interesting lamp fixtures; pretty big space overall. Tried a basic chicken and vegetables dish which was a good balance between home-cooked food but with enough touches to make it worth the moderate price range. Very nice bartender/?owner who seemed to have his hands full trying to keep the chaos together. I hope to frequent the place to try the rest of the menu! Preparation for Argentinian tours. Oh and the most amazing thick sugary raspberry beverage; fun to sit at the bar and watch them mix egg yolks with lime.
(5)
Andrea D.

Love the ambiance in this place, but do not order a steak here. Portions are large and sauces are good but the meat itself was very disappointing. I had the filet - actually it was TWO very large filets and I ended up taking half of it home. Bonus lunch the next day! Meat was cooked to order but chewy and just not of very high quality. Hubby also had another type of steak and was disappointed in the quality as well. 3 stars for the sauce and the ambiance and the service (awesome). Will be back to try something other than steak.
(3)
Henry S.

Buenos Aires is one of my favorite cities in the world. I'm glad that there is an Argentinian community in Chicago for those moments when one needs a quick fix. And when the craving for huge juicy slabs of meat beckons. The times that i've been at Folklore, it always seem to be someone's birthday celebration. This last time, there were at least 5 parties celebrating birthdays. They knew how to handle big crowds, and the prices were very reasonable for big parties. So to start, we had empanadas (with a choice of 5 different fillings). Their version of Pisco Sour, though not authentic, felt like a cool breeze for a warm evening. With entrees, majority of the choices were meat, which were served with a house salad, and various preparations of potato. My last visit, i shared the parillada with another friend. It's the traditional Argentinian preparation where they brought the meats out in a tabletop grill. Here, the grill barely warms the meat, which was great as this dish normally caused a lot of splatters. The parillada for 2 had short ribs, flap meat, chorizo, blood sausage, and sweet bread. Argentinian meats are grilled with lots of salt and herbs, so be ready for the assault. I particularly like the sweetbreads. It is rare to have sweetbread without any kind of breading. So this was a welcome change. For dessert, the options are pretty usual. The flan is very good. Why 3 stars? Folklore is definitely great for big parties celebrating special occassions. The prices are reasonable and you definitely get your money's worth. No one walks out of here without a doggie bag.
(3)
Lois A.

We got a weird vibe from our waiter right away, an evil vibe, as if he hated us. Having a mojito helped that situation in a major way and I was there to eat a lot of meat so I didn't dwell. The El Filet is awesome! So much wonderful meat and cooked exactly how I wanted it cooked. Since there are two filets that come with it I had to take half of it home. The spinach mashed potatoes were really good too. At first I wasn't thrilled about the salad but it has been so long since I've just had plain lettuce and tomato with oil and salt that I ended up eating every bite. My boyfriend got the chicken with the vesuvio potatoes and that was really incredible. I didn't eat much of the bread... it reminded me of the dinner rolls we always had on Thanksgiving that don't taste much like anything but Folklore is all about meat and they do meat right. I'd take off a star for our odd waiter but all the other servers were so nice and I so enjoyed my meal that there is really no point. Everyone can be evil.
(4)
Brad C.

Amusing: the one place in Wicker Park that's packed--like hour waits, yo--on a Tuesday night is a beef palace with no vegetables on the menu. (Sorry, folks: once you fry a vegetable, and that's all Folklore does wit 'em, it goes all Stephen Daedalus, k?) Not so much: a quasi-Argentine sort of tortilla espanola that was clearly nuked--like, thrice. Throw it back. The room is a straight-up fucking tin; good luck trying to hear your dining companero. The empanadas still taste like Hot Pockets. Ah, but the sweetbreads! Aye, mamacita, these haunt me: the first bite is like pure charcoal, and then it melts into a gelatinous dissolve that's slightly sweet and slightly mineral-y. Come back, mojilla! (Wait for it....AYE DIOS MIO!) If anything, the mixed grill here was better than the ones I've had at TS, particularly the blood sausage, which was crumbly and beautifully complex. I was dutifully impressed.
(3)
Miss O.

this place is pretty good. perhaps my view is skewed because of my love for dry aged steaks. i like the atmosphere and staff. i definitely liked it enough to try again. i found that it gets pretty packed on the weekends so a reservation is a good idea before going.
(3)
Kari J.

this place is so cozy and good! there isn't anything really like it in wicker park so this is a great addition to the hood! If you like meat (good meat) (lots of meat) this is the place. Plus the waiters are not bad to look at either! great for first dates, very intimate. One of my favorites!
(4)
Michael S.

It was only supposed to be a quick dinner in the neighborhood on a Tuesday night... nothing fancy, but as we passed Folklore and it's outdoor seating (never realized how wide the sidewalks are on Division) we decided to try some Argentine food. It's really nice how it's away from the more noisy places of Wicker Park which leads to a much nicer setting. First off, there is a guy that does remind one of Antonio Banderas. His name is Alfredo and he is definitely a big factor in why Folklore is 5 stars. He was very helpful in making suggestions and had a charming way of saying thank you when we complimented his choices. He is one of those waiters that you know is there without being obtrusive. Cool guy. Now for the food. Loved it all so I will mention everything. Berenjena: An Alfredo pick... Eggplant done in a lasagna kind of style. It came with a tomato cream sauce that complimented the eggplant perfectly. It was a chef special so I don't know how often it appears. Really, really good starter though.. Lomo relleno: It says this is for two people, but in reality you can feel more people with this dish! It comes with a house salad which I shall not really comment on. It wasn't bad, but it was a regular salad. The meat is essentially a chunk of fillet (mmmm... beef) that is cooked to your liking. It came with an excess of portabello mushrooms which was very much appreciated. Also, there was a chimichurri sauce on the side which just made everything better. I am ready to go home now to tear into the leftovers after writing about this! Flor: After enjoying myself thoroughly, I was left in a great mood. Not really a sweets person, I was enjoying myself so much that I decided that we are splurging and going with a dessert to top off the meal. Doesn't hurt that the gf likes herself some dessert... The desserts came out on a tray and Alfredo explained all of them. Ended up choosing the flor per his suggestion and I was really pleased with it. Only had one bite as I've cut down on my carbs for wedding slimming, but it took a lot of willpower to not eat more. By the time we got our check (had to rush back home) the very full gf almost finished the dessert that she said she was going to take home. Also, I feel I should mention that they have some excellent craft beers in case you don't want to go the wine route. Didn't see the cocktails, but I was more than pleased with a gumball head to go along with my meal. The best place I've been to for Argentine food. Thanks Folklore!
(5)
Brent G.

Stopped in for a drink and a light meal with some colleagues. I started with a caipirinha and, while the taste and strength were about right, the limes (about six slices were used) were obviously not fresh and had brown edges all the way around. Yuck. In my opinion limes should be cut just prior to use, not the day before. I ordered antipasti which was nicely prepared and plated. The meats were a little on the bland side, but still not bad. My colleagues each had a steak dish and seemed pleased. While this specific experience was not my best here I will return...if for no other reason than it;s a five minute walk from the house.
(3)
Kathryn M.

Everything about this place is wonderful! Every time I go there it reminds me just why I love it so much. Not only are the cocktails delicious (I always get the Mojitos), but the empanadas are very good as well. My husband and I always get steak when we go here since we are big red meat fans and we are never disappointed. The atmosphere is very fun and relaxed and the servers are always polite and attentive. Overall, a great dining experience that I highly recommend!
(5)
Luan N.

Stepping into the new year, I like to let go of any grudges, but I don't think I can let this one slide until I get this off my chest. This restaurant's slogan should be: "Not your typical steakhouse, where chicken tastes better than beef!" My cousins were visiting just for the weekend, and I thought I could take a chance on taking them somewhere new, due to the great reviews and that fact that you can't really mess up the flavors of Argentinian steak. But this assumption was total folklore. First of all, the entrees finally came out after more than an hour wait, and there was a 15 min gap between when the chicken entrees and lomo relleno was served. I ordered a medium lomo relleno stuffed with chimichurri. I cut into the end of the big hunk of steak. Okay no red present, but I guess the edges cook faster. I kept cutting and cutting away, and in the dead center, there was about a dime size bit of red in the huge 3 inch slab of meat. I felt like a kid digging through cereal for the prize but in my case no red and no chimmichurri sauce to be found! To add insult to injury of my grief struck stomach, I pointed it out to my waiter. He gave me this incomprehensible explanation that the way the lomo relleno was cooked, you can't really get medium because the meat needs to cook longer. I think that's b.s. but, if that's the case I wish I was told that earlier when ordering! Maybe I would have ordered the lomo relleno "raw" and it would have come out "medium" I just felt like I ate a big piece of pot roast. I seriously would have rather shelled out a few extra bucks and ate at a quality steakhouse like Gibson's or David Burke. The chicken dishes, the empanada, and cocktails were enjoyed. But there is a valuable lesson to be learned. When you have visitors, stick to places you know! And when eating at Folklore, as Jennifer L states, "not to use confusing words like medium rare"
(2)
Izabella d.

its not as special as tango sur. the menu is identical. the food is served identically. we always order the vacio relleno, at folklore they overcooked it, but it was still tasty. our friends ordered the para dos,, also overcooked. steak houses should be able to get this right... the corn empanada was a treat, super cheesy and gooey on the inside, good baked crust on the outside.
(3)
Hadley B.

I went here for Mother's Day with my husband and mother. The service was fine--attentive and polite. The food, however, was completely underwhelming. I ordered a spinach salad and the antipasto. The antipasto was basically cold cuts--grayish pieces of processed lunchmeat rolled up with chunks of string cheese and canned red peppers. Blech. My mother had the short ribs, which had good flavor but were grilled (not slow-roasted) so they were pretty tough. My husband's steak was also veiny and tough. The wine list was fairly priced and had a nice array of Argentine options. All in all, it was unimpressive. It seemed as if the restaurant spent too much on ambiance (the decor was cozy but funky--pretty neat) and not enough on ingredients (washed-out, bland tomatoes; grocery-store deli meats, etc.). We probably won't be going back.
(2)
Carol K.

Folklore certainly lives up to the expectation that Argentines love their beef. Beef is king on this menu and given the amount of carnivores that were there on Saturday night- this place is a hit. We got there around 8:15 and the place was packed. We pulled open the ornate door and and stepped into the front bar area. The host said the wait was easily an hour and a half but we might be able to grab appetizers at the bar. Hmm . . . .that didn't seem possible as there were four people deep to even get to the bar. So we flagged down a bartender, snagged a hand muddled mojito and a glass of Argentine wine and stood back and checked the place out. The space is lovely. Large windows facing the street that are made more intimate by the metal mullions, cream colored tin ceiling, small down lights and exposed brick walls. Intimate seating areas. Nice. At that point, a couple got up from the bar to be seated and we were able to grab their seats. Crystal (bartender extraordinaire) came over with the specialty drink menu and asked if we were going to eat at the bar. While not a favorite of mine- this seemed like the best option not to have to wait as we had to be somewhere at 10- so eat at the bar we did. To start with, we had a couple of empanadas (the beef with cheese and the ham and cheese) both were good. And a perfect precursor of what was to come. You can't believe how big (and cheap) the entrees are. I ordered the beef short rib and I thought for $13 how big could this be, right? Wrong. This turned out to be 3 large pieces of steak, grilled perfectly and served with a simple salad of lettuce, tomatoes and onions (I ended up taking two of the steaks home -it was enough for two people to split). And my friend got the Parillida (only $19) which was was surely enough for three people! This grilled meat and sausage combo included short ribs, flap meat, crispy sweetbreads, chorizo and blood sausage. Unbelievable! Service was great! I felt bad having Crystal serve us dinner at the bar as she was going crazy trying to keep up with the requests for the specialty drinks. With all the muddling she was doing- she won't have to go to the gym, that's for sure. The food runner got our food to us quickly and was also quick to clear the area when we were done. If you drive, parking can be a hassle in this area on the weekends so valet parking is available for $10. Or you can try to find street parking just south of Division. It's known that the Argentine culture is about socializing and eating. Step into Folklore and you will immediately know that this new addition to the line up of restaurants on this stretch of Division is all about that culture. And who doesn't need a little more culture in their life?
(4)
Bella D.

Really, they accomodated us with such short notice!! First it was 5-6 of us, then the party grew to 12 of us!! Thank you for provoletta, Vacio steak and lovely potatoes/salad :) Mojitos were flowing all night!! Great service as always :) It was a great birthday!! :)
(5)
Tim S.

Finally a Steak Place down the street! Saturday night the place was filled up, thank goodness I had the foresight to make a reservation. Arrived on time and were told there was a few minute wait so we grabbed a Beer, "the most popular in Argentina", actually was nice and light. We liked the decor, after all these years of walking by the space when empty they did a phenomenal job on the place... As the lady said, "This feels like a Winter Restaurant, so cozy". For Apps we decided on the Empenadas, one Beef and the other Corn seasoned quite nicely. Ordered a bottle of wine looked forward to the main course. Salad, quite basic but more than enough to get you ready... for Meat. I had heard rumors about Tango Sur that you get MORE than enough on the plate... well it has carried over here. You could almost load up on some of the great looking apps and then split an entree. We way over-stood our welcome as we were enjoying a leisurely meal and they are the hot place in the hood. A polite request for us to head into the bar was heeded, can't blame em. Sorry guys.
(5)
Maegan M.

Delicious! My friends and I went to Folklore for the eve of NYE! It was great fun, the food was amazing and I thought pretty reasonably priced. We all drank and had full entrees and it came to $55 a person. The service was amazing. The server was delicious and very honest/knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
(4)
Karina A.

I adore this restaurant. I get soooooo nostalgic for Buenos Aires. Argentinian Desgin is very turn-of-the-century with a modern reconstruction. This restaurant is so authentic in this respect, and its what makes it so romantic. Wines are excellent. I am vegetarian but my carnivorous friends really enjoy the steak. The eggplant dish is AMAZING. roasted basil, drenched in a creamy red sauce... The empanadas melt in your mouth... I took home a tub of chimichuri sauce for home for $4. Score! Will return again & again...
(5)
Drew M.

Could possibly be named one of my favorite restaurants in the city. AMAZING food, great service and intriguing atmosphere. I was almost positive I was going to have to be rolled out the door after all the food I ate. I can't recommend anything in particular because it is all very tasty. I would, however, recommend sharing a few different plates unless you want to be uncomfortably full.
(5)
Nancy C.

Great food and service! I have been here several times and can't get enough of it. This place is a MUST!!
(5)
Joseph F.

Second of all the food is very good. First of all, the two slick managers at this place are extremely rude and the wait even with a reservation is unacceptable. Perhaps you are taking too many reservations......
(3)
Sarah O.

Ambience: 5 stars! The candles and old-fashioned halogen light bulbs lent the room a beautiful (if not mysterious) vibe. Food: 4.5. We ordered the "Para Dos," which has enough meat to feed a small army, while the others we were with shared the Vacio Relleno. Both dishes were cooked to perfection and were the perfect prelude to our dessert of housemade flan and alfajor. Can't wait to return and accompany our meal with some decent red vino!
(4)
Steve M.

The dining experience at Folklore is nothing short of mythically amazing! A group of 5 of us gathered here on Thursday night to get down w/ some steaks, and I'm super happy we did. The scene is dark and candlelit, with exposed brick, cool windows and a really great bar area. In my opinion, the atmosphere at Folklore beats that of Tango Sur by a landslide. We all split some ham and cheese, chicken and beef empanadas to get the meal started, and just like Tango Sur that chimmichurri is DAMN GOOD! I ordered the skirt steak, which had "flaps" on it, which were kind of weird, but I tried them. (Flaps are like extra skin around the skirt, and were kind of hard and chewy.) No big deal though, I just cut them off. Getting some extra chimmichurri for the steak wasn't such a bad idea either. (I'm sure my breath was pretty rough afterwards, but whatever. It was still so worth it!) My $5 Malbec was great too. It tasted like a far more expensive wine, but at an awesome price. I wish I had written down the "make" of that grape juice. Service was prompt and attentive. After reading some other reviews, some folks seem to have had issues with the waitstaff. I'm happy to report that wasn't an issue for us. Folklore, I'll definitely be back! One of my faves in Wickaaa Paaaaak.
(5)
Mari M.

Love it! Had dinner here.. food was DELICIOUS, bottles and bottles of wine, and with gotan project like music playing in the background= spot on. This place is sexy and i will be back again!
(4)
Julie V.

Really unique atmosphere and decor. Initially it appeared we had no waiter and were waiting a bit, but as soon as we asked - a server took us and was very apologetic. He also brought us a free dessert at the end of the meal. Therefore everyone was happy. The waiter was also just incredibly friendly and accommodating throughout the meal. This was very appreciated. I wish other establishments could learn this very simple art - be nice and compensate if there's a mistake. That's it! Simple formula, and works wonders. Overall, food was great, drinks were fantastic!! I would come back many times. Folklore wins.
(4)
Jorge C.

Went to Folklore a few weeks ago with some friends. Made a reservation which was good since it was pretty full. I had always wanted to try Folklore ever since I moved to the area. I finally made it a few weeks ago, after reading some of the Yelp reviews about this being in the Tango Sur family. I lived in Buenos Aires for a while, so when I go to an Argentine steakhouse, it better have solid classics: Bife chorizo and provoletta. they do and both were pretty good. We also tried some empanadas (which had pretty thick dough, not so good) And the best was the filet, it was perfectly cooked and super tender. They also had a good selection of beer ( I had a Quilmes for old times) and cocktails. I would definitely go back, although it is a bit pricey and abnormally dark
(4)
Seema A.

I celebrated my birthday dinner here outdoors with friends and family. Fantastic food, byob with a small fee for corkage. Loved the people who worked there (very warm and welcoming). I would def. go here again! Fantastic steak.
(5)
Pochi V.

Me and my husband were visiting the city so we choose this restaurant because the reviews were fine, but when we got there we were waiting to be served for more than 15mins, the drinks are awesome, matambre good but 4 thin slices for $10 dissapointed us. The argentinean sausage was excellent. But for the time of the entrees we waited 55mins for a "Milanesa ala Napolitana" and "capeletis".. I dont RECOMMEND "milanesa" in this place since is not milanesa thin cut, it was thick like a rib eye and it seem like they threw a pot of salsa on top of the milanesa, it tasted horrible. I got the "capeletis" and the sauce was sour and it tasted bad. We complain so we got a Flan for free, we were two and they just gave us ONE FLAN FOR FREE it was not even Argentinean flan it tasted like Mexican flan. For this horrible time we wasted 100$ dollars, and is not even tradicional Argentinean platters. Im Argentinean and I know about my culture and food. Dont recommend this place at all. Good luck
(1)
betsy b.

After having visited Argentina I need my steak fix now and then. Folklore didn't disappoint, although the meal I had would have been about half the cost in Argentina.....oh how I miss those amazing meals!!! We started with the chorizo and chimmichurri which was OUTSTANDING!!! I had the el filet which was a little under cooked for my pregnant a*s but I knew I'd never finish it so I just ate what I could and took the rest home. Others at the table had the shrimp and filet......the shrimps were ginormous!!! The spinach mashed taters were good but if I went back I'd substitute the veszuvio taters....mmmm they were way better!!! My only gripe would be the appetizer list is seriously lacking. Other than the chorizo and empanandas it wasn't that interesting. The bread basket was tasty but this isn't a diner, put out some real butter on a plate. The dessert tray they bring out is pretty nice. We went with the alfajore which wasn't as good as the ones we had in Argentina but it still brought me back. Sadly I didn't have any cocktails but they looked good. I look forward to coming back here post baby and having some good Argentinean wine!
(4)
Miss Bonnie B.

Okay... I have to confess, I actually wanted to go to Tango Sur. However, when I called a week prior, they said that their large tables were all booked and we weren't likely to get seated till after 10pm. THAT was not going to work. However, they told me to check out their sister restaurant... and I was able to score reservations! WEEEEEeeeee........... Except they weren't real reservations because a few days later... someone calls to say the person that answered was new and didn't know that they wouldn't be able to accommodate me. They bumped us to later and initially I agreed. However, at the end of the day... it was too much hassle to deal with their second fiddle location (especially after reading the reviews, it wasn't the Tango Sur vibe I was hoping for)... and so we didn't go at all.
(3)
Howard H.

Always have an excellent experience here. On my last visit I chose the veal t-bone and I am not particularly drawn to veal, but what the hell, right? The chimichurri was a perfect compliment to this cut and I would certainly order it again. The staff were friendly and extremely helpful and knowledgeable with menu questions and wine suggestions. Go. Enjoy. But make a reservation or arrive early because it can fill up quick, and rightly so.
(4)
cassie r.

I'm going to have to postpone my review of the excellent offerings at Folklore to wax poetic about the service we received here last Thursday night. Oscar E. was our server, and he was nothing short of phenomenal. It was obvious he knew the menu, and he provided useful insight and helpful tips on what we should order. He was attentive, without being smothering, and my mom and I couldn't stop talking about how NICE he was throughout our entire meal. He definitely made our experience there even better than it might have been. Now, Mahsa T. said it best below - walking into Folklore is definitely like slipping into a sexy little black dress. It has an appealingly cozy atmosphere, and the food is to die for. We ordered the beef and spinach empanadas to start, which were delicious, and shared the Vacio Rellano as our main course. This entree comes with a (pretty sad) side salad, and the menu says this is perfect for two, but I would say you could probably double that number and still have leftovers. The beef was nicely cooked and seasoned well, filled with a mix of olive oil, parsley and garlic. A side of perfectly cooked sweet potatoes completed the meal. Paired with the La Posta (a reco from Oscar - I highly recommend), there was little to complain about after this culinary experience. We ended the evening with the mil hojas - don't ask me what was in it, but it was amazing. Enough said.
(4)
Mrs. Z.

Forklore was an overall great evening with friends. Great place for a birthday celebration! It was one big meat Fest! Every dish was amazing and made your mouth water.
(4)
Liz W.

Oh boy did we eat a lot. Like an uncomfortable amount of food. And, wow, it was delicious. We had empanadas, the baked cheese (so amazing), lomo para dos, and some dessert that reminded me of tiramisu. The lomo para dos, however, could easily be para quatro. Would definitely recommend and return. And the pisco sours are a work of art. A delicious work of art.
(4)
Kris R.

sat outdoors on a somewhat chilly summer night. the service was great - he was very nice and attentive. ordered the appetizer special - the berenjena, which was awesome. it's like an eggplant lasagna all up in your mouth. creamy tomato sauce. and it was HUGE. i could have just eaten that and been done with it. the filet came out right after. it was...okay. nothing spectacular, which was sort of disappointing. maybe the ribeye would have been the better choice. it came out a little more cooked than what was expected. the green mashed potatoes were excellent, though. the wine was wonderful, too. i will definitely be back to try a different cut of steak. it's a good place to bring the lady - very romantic. maybe you could say it's a good precursor for sexy time. i dont know.
(4)
Elizabeth H.

I came here with my family on a Friday night and it was wonderful. Ambiance: 5 stars! The lighting is so interesting and there are white taper candles on each table which gives a great glow to the place. Also, they don't have TVs, which is so refreshing. Drinks: Delicious! I am usually a beer drinker but the cocktail list was too tempting. My mom and dad had the mojito, which was very good and very fresh. My sister had the caperania, which was really sweet but really good. I ordered the El Negra, which was a delicious berry cocktail. Yum! The bartenders were really skilled. Service: Great! The host was really good. We had a long wait but he kept us updated on when the table would be ready. Our server was also really friendly and knowledgeable. Food: We started with the empenadas. You have to order them! They were amazing. The steaks were perfectly cooked and had great flavor. However, everyone's was really fatty which made the meat hard to eat. Two disappointments: There was a huge group behind us who were so loud, like screaming and yelling instead of talking. We couldn't hold a conversation at our table because of it. Obviously this isn't the restaurants fault but I am putting it in here because sadly the Wicker Park crowd can be overwhelming. Also, the bathroom is super cute but was really messy. There were dirty paper towels everywhere. It was kind of gross. But overall, a great place. You should go!
(5)
Megan B.

One of the best steaks I've ever eaten. And the prices are reasonable!
(5)
Blake W.

I couldn't tell the difference from Tango Sur (other than the fact this place has its liquor licence). Due to the afore mentioned liquor licence we ended up with a much larger bill than our normal trip to Tango Sur. I had a very tasty stuffed chicken leg/breast over pesto -- also very tasty the next day cold :) As with Tango Sur, portions are huge, plan to go home with lunch for the next day. The service here although better than Tango is still pretty weak. The space itself is much improved over Tango Sur, but the parking is rather difficult on the weekend...
(3)
Brittany B.

Went to sit in their outdoor space during Do Division fest to people watch and avoid eating corn dogs and funnel cakes for dinner. Such a great decision! Despite the crowds, we were seated right away outside in a perfect location to mock hipsters' facial hair choices and listen to the music. The drinks were divine: my hubby had a Mojito (his favorite) and I had the La Negra, a blueberry compote concoction in a martini glass that was heavenly. Not too sweet, not too boozy. The service was wonderful, particularly considering how busy and crazy it was with Do Division happening. The food was amazingly delish. My only regret was that we couldn't take leftovers home because we had walked to the fest and had no plans on returning home immediately. My hubby was in meat and potatoes heaven! The Filet Mignon was just perfect and ginormous, with an amazing side of the creamiest mashed potatoes in the world and a perfect brown gravy/sauce. The steaks were as high quality as I've ever had and the food was very simple and "earthy." It felt like the kind of meal you'd have on a ranch in argentina, sitting at a long wooden table with a bunch of Gauchos after a long hard day on the range. Just so good. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Rosa C.

I came here Friday night with the family and we had a really great time! The ambiance of the place was perfect for a breezy, summer night in Chicago. The empanadas were delicious. Some of the dinners were hit and miss. The Costeleta dinner was very flavorful and tender, but the Entrana dinner was a bit tough. Great drink selection, La Negra cocktails were very tasty and refreshing. I didn't give this place five stars because of the American music in the background, I would have preferred something a little more Latin. The service was very good, waiters and host were all very accommodating. Lastly, we saw Cedric Yarbough dining here - nice treat for me because I am a huge Reno 911 fan.
(4)
Ian V.

I went here for a birthday dinner. It's not quite L friendly but if you don't mind a walk it's alright. Parking is along the street. We were walk-ins on a Sunday night and were able to get a table outside. The inside was tiny with a few tables and a bar, and it seemed the outside had more seating from what I saw. Maybe I missed some more tables in the bar or something. But the set up was dim and appropriate for dates both indoor and out. The service was good. They were timely with water refills and were attentive without being too obtrusive. They have a good wine list that had many selections that pairs well with meat, and a pretty good beer and cocktail list with Argentinian classics. I stuck with malbec since it is an Argentinian steak place. We started with empanadas. The chicken was nicely seasoned but the cheese and spinach one was unremarkable. The crust was alright but I expected it to be more flaky. Neither of the empanadas were overly greasy. I got the bife de chorizo which was perfectly rare. It was a little more fatty that i thought. The potatoes were nicely seasoned but a little burned. The chimichurri didn't seem flavorful at all though. We forwent desserts since we were fully before we even finished out entrees. If you're looking for a good argentianian place that has a full bar and not too long a wait, this is the place to go to. Though there are better BYOB argentinian places in the city but have a bit a wait to get in.
(4)
Trina J.

Pretty nice place but the food is barely seasoned. I ate a sirloin which was served with a salad and we shared a side of spinach mashed potatoes. Nice evening lighting for a night out with someone special. Parking is challenging but worth a try.
(3)
Nadine H.

Being a fan of Tango Sur in Lakeview, I decided to try out Folklore for the first time this week. Everything was great! I opted to try to the Free Range filet, the menu distinguishes between free range and range grown. I actually had my mind set on another item but started to feel a little guilty when I saw the "free range" option. However, I was not disappointed! My steak was cooked perfectly and was a huge portion for the price. Oh! And it came with a little unexpected starter salad. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Aurore L.

I was really craving blood. And had been for WEEKS. Before you think that I am so enthralled in the recent hemoglobin-sucker craze that I fancy myself as one of them sun and garlic haters, I have to add an important word here. SAUSAGE. I had been craving blood sausage for quite a while. Black pudding wouldn't do. What I really wanted was some French 'boudin' baked in the oven with melting apples but the closest thing I could think of was some Argentinean fare. So when Ruxbin told us that we would have to wait about 95 minutes for a table to celebrate the double birthday of our men, I didn't hesitate long before suggesting Folklore. Meat and guys?!?!?!? Ummm, hello!!! We walked our way up there on Division, settled for a nice table inside (cooler than outside and the decor makes it really worthwhile), perused the menu and settled on cocktails and a nice Spanish tortilla to share. And then the main event happened. Parillada para dos, mi amor, mucho carne y my beloved blood sausage flanked by these delicious little sweetbread suckers (this type, figuratively. Nothing to fear from them). I enjoyed my protein fiesta, slightly regretting to not have more bread, potatoes or any other kind of starch (preferably) or vegetables (if it has to be) to complete my delight. But it was still ok. I ate like there was no tomorrow, drank the same and celebrated the man of my life at the same time. Not bad for a Friday night. Be prepared to take home left-overs, these people don't mess around. And book your plane ticket to Buenos Aires because it's always best to get what you love from the source. Just a suggestion.
(4)
Eman S.

The elusive 5-star rating. I am a huge fan of Tango Sur and live just down the street from Folklore, but hadn't been there until last night...a perfect night for their really nice outdoor seating. Reservation for 2 started and ended with great service mixed with amazing drink and food. The $4 Argentinian beer was crazy to see on the menu and was delicious. For dinner we ordered the Saint Julia Malbec...$20...for the bottle. Since I don't have a refined palette yet, it tasted really good to me and it was organic (whatever that means). We started off with the empanadas. Amazing. I am going to start coming here before going out for the night for $4 beer and $2 per empanada. I had the chicken and the wife had the spinach-filled. Both were delicious. For dinner she had a pasta dish that I didn't feel like tasting because the sauce looked a little too heavy for me, but she really liked it. I got the "For 1" dinner, which was a ton of meat with potatoes. Sausage...2 of them and both delicious. Meat on a bone...a large piece and delicious. Something fried...put in the middle of the pan and ridiculously good. How about another steak...cooked medium rare to perfection. You'd think we were full by this point, but first time a new restaurant means trying the dessert. The waiter brought out the tray of 8 options and we choose and a multi-layered white with cream cake. So good.
(5)
matt w.

While I do dig this places sister restaurants BYOB feature, Folklore is right up the street from me.. so I usually end up here first. I dig the Argentine beer they serve and normally stick with that when I eat here. I have had a few entrees and all are top notch. Last time my lady and I did one of the large dinners 'for two'.. it was really amazing. Like a large uplifted tray with a huge steak roast and sweet potatoes. Service is always really good. Outdoor seating is nice.
(4)
D S.

Oh man, I really really wanted to love this place. My boyfriend took me there for my birthday this past weekend. The service was good, the bathroom was clean, the beef empanadas were excellent, as was my caipirinha, BUT..... My steak was horrible. Basically inedible. It was seasoned perfectly well, but even the best seasoning cannot cover up the fact that a slab of fat is a slab of fat. I was able to eat about 10 percent of the steak. I didn't want to complain at the time, it was my birthday and I didn't want to be difficult, but now I regret not saying anything. Other things that were disappointing- the house salad that comes with the steak seemed pretty thrown together and the antipasto appetizer was skimpy and looked like the meats on it came from packages of oscar meyer sandwich meats. But in the grand scheme of things, I don't really care about these things being disappointing, since I was there for the steak. Folklore- if you read your yelp comments- Know that I want to come back, I really do. I could be a repeat customer but this is only going to happen if you improve the quality of the steak. What a disappointing birthday meal.
(2)
amy z.

Great ambience and service. Loved the Scottsman cocktail - it was perfectly balanced without being too sweet which is what every foodie hates about specialty cocktails. The food was good but nothing to rave about. The best thing about this place is the service, atmosphere and alcohol. We had the most amazing red wine (I don't remember the name but they sell it by the glass for $10)! And they also have a great selection of after dinner drinks. The one we had had hints of vanilla and went perfectly with the excellant flan. Emmanual was a great server with a million dollar smile - attentive and informative without being overbearing. I will return just for the atmospheric experience. There's nothing like leaving a restaurant after 2.5 hours talking with a close friend and feeling amazing for having been there. We often take atmosphere for granted but from someone who has worked in the industry, I know it's not an easy thing to conjure. Restaurants work hard to create atmosphere and Folklore has achieved it perfectly. If you want great service, excellent wine, good food and a welcoming ambience come to Folklore!
(5)
Kimberly S.

This place was great! I went on Friday for a birthday dinner. I had spinach/cheese and corn empanadas, shrimp entree. Everything was delicious!! I loved the live music too. I will definitely come back!
(5)
nikki s.

Highlights: -Loved the decor and design of the place. Sleek and sexy with all that mohagany wood. Absolutely beautiful. -The Latin waiters looked as delicioso as the food tasted! -Gimme some mo' of that fried cheese w/herbs please!!!!
(5)
Ms G.

Crazy amount of meat. Short ribs were definitely fatty as warned. Datesy ambiance.
(4)

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Address : 2100 W Division St
Chicago, IL, 60622
Phone (773) 292-1600
Website https://www.folklorechicago.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:00 pm - 11:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Folklore Argentine Grill

2100 W Division St, Chicago, IL, 60622

Folklore Argentine Grill Menu

Ensaladas

Entradas

Pastas

Cocina

Parrilla

Parrillada

Chef's Special

Healthy Meal suggestions for Folklore Argentine Grill

Ensaladas

Entradas

Pastas

Cocina

Parrilla

Parrillada

Chef's Special

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