My frist time at Sawtooth was for a private event. The food was unbelievable!!! The Chicken Curry and the Shaking Beef were the two things I couldn't get enough of. The cocktails were phenomenal and had it not been that we had to leave for another engagement, my husband would have had to roll me out of there. The second time I went there was with a friend and again, I was impressed in the quality of their food. I ordered the succulent Shaking Beef (please note that I'm not at all a fan of meat) and some kind of strawberry cocktail that was amazing. For dessert I ordered some kind of a fruity mousse. I can't remember the name of it, but it was delicious. Our waitress was so delightful and sweet and our order came in promptly. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. It's definitely not cheap for Vietamese food, but you really pay for quality here.
(4)
Brian C.
On a positive note, I did thing the food was decent and the ambiance was quite good. The owner did a good job picking a location and designing a restaurant. But the service is pretty bad. And it should not be hard to get decent service in a small medium size restaurant that is half full on a Friday night. The other down side is the price. I would not go there without a groupon or other discount.
(3)
Bernadette N.
I always tell people that Chicago has a dinning scene equal to, if not superior to NYC. My husband has told me to stop saying that after we came her last Saturday night, around 8pm. The place was almost empty, so I was a little nervous initially, but there's usually a reason when that is the case. Then there were the typical "new restaurant" errors, no one knew where to seat us, the server was a bit delayed in coming to our table, the server had absolutely NO experience in service. But the decor was pretty cool, and I can get over a lot of the food is good. Unfortunately, it wasn't. We ordered drinks off the cocktail list, which were actually pretty good. They even made a "virgin" version for me, as I'm preggers, and it was really good. For apps we ordered the spring rolls (totally bland) and sawtooth wings. The wings weren't very exciting, but when my husband bit into a raw chicken wing, we told the waitress, and she just stood there - no apology. (they did end up taking it off the bill thought). For dinner we ordered shaking beef (the only bright spot in the meal), hot and sour calamari (the calamari steaks were so over cooked they were inedible) and bun thit nuong cha gio (bland again). Bottom line, this place is a joke as far as food goes - If you want good Vietnamese in Chicago go to Le Colonial. If you want a drink in a cool space, maybe try this place.
(2)
Asha V.
THIS REVIEW IS FOR VEGETARIANS - I went to sawtooth with a vegetarian and we ended up ordering the three veggie side dishes on the menu. Meh! They could have done better. The spring rolls were good...better than Thalia Spice. Its not super expensive so I would say give it a try to experience it on your own. The ambiance is really cool and the cocktails are good. I will go back there to try their seafood. Shrimp seems to be a really popular dish. PS: There is no valet available so give yourself some time to find parking if you're driving.
(2)
Dan A.
This place could be so fantastic. But as with all businesses, the people you interface with are the face of the business. The face of Sawtooth needs a complete and total overhaul. Ambiance here is fantastic. The clean, modern look of the space is very appealing, the outdoor eating area has a nice view of the interior (and vice versa, via a huge glass window). It's just cool. We had for appetizers: sugar cane shrimp (very good in both presentation and flavor), watercress beef (again, excellent in presentation and flavor, although very small portion for the price), spring rolls (pedestrian but certainly not bad - the accompanying sauce made them better than they were). For main courses we split: shaken beef (a must have - tender and flavorful), mango salad (above average in flavor and presentation), whole red snapper (I didn't have any but those who did reported excellence), and calamari (outstanding and perfectly prepared). Drinks - our female companion reported that both specialty drinks she got came out poorly and drank only half of each of them, and she's not too picky about these things, so that tells you what you need to know about the bartender, who wasn't very pleasant... segue... wait for it... Service - this is where I could have given a zero - or more appropriately, a negative 1,000,000. I can't begin to enumerate the service issues we experienced. We sent our house water back (it tasted funny - our server dumped all of it on a tree on the patio, which we thought was odd) and asked for bottles. They only had Ice Mountain water in plastic bottles which took 10 minutes to come out, but he had taken our glasses. We waited 5 more minutes for glasses without ice in them. We ordered our appetizers, which didn't come out, then he came out and started suggesting some appetizers, when we told him we'd already ordered those. At this time, he took our main course order... and the main course then came out before the appetizers, which we then ordered a third time. It goes on... we considered buying our server a Red Bull. Again, it was a comedy of errors I won't even continue to describe. The hostess, upon hearing the endless tragedy of our experience, said something about how she usually beats on this particular server so that's why he is desensitized to our complaining, and "he smoked too much weed before he came in tonight" and "he's Columbian, so, you know." - totally unprofessional and completely bizarre. She did try to make it up to us in a number of ways, but we asked her not to make any changes to our check. The chef here is OUTSTANDING. I really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, but my enjoyment was tempered by the complete incompetence of our server and the hostess. The bus staff was excellent, they were all over it... but the rest of this service experience was horrific. I will definitely give them another try - maybe it was just a bad night... but "hidden gem" type restaurants with expensive menus can't afford bad service experiences like this one.
(2)
Dhruva R.
I was a little underwhelmed with the Sawtooth Wings--they were kind of tough and cold (didn't think say anything to the waitress). That said, the menu was very imaginative (loved the Sugar Cane Shrimp). Tried the melts-in-your mouth Shaking Beef (may have to order that next time). The roasted quail was excellent. This place helps restore my hope that you can get a good meal in this town without spending a fortune.
(4)
Alan L.
Visited sawtooth for dinner with a group of coworkers and I must say that the place looks outstanding. Our bartender sergio was great and their extensive drink selection will satisfy any occasion. I don't really write yelp reviews but after reading some of the reviews that this place had prior to going i had to offer my experiences as they were nothing like those of the previous reviews. Our appetizers came out quickly as did the rest of our food for the night. I highly recommend the shaking beef, the fresh squeezed lime sauce is something of a new experience for me and i absolutely loved it. The staff was extremely friendly and efficient, i'm not sure if any changes had been made since the previous reviews but it was nothing like the errors being described by others. Overall i will gladly come back, it's a great place for pretty much anything from having a few drinks to enjoying a nice dinner.
(5)
Terry H.
This great little hidden gem is located at a very quiet and secluded part of the west loop. It also has a very large and comfortable outdoor seating area. Though a bit pricy but with great portion. The flavor of the dishes were great and very different from you typical asian restaurant. Shaking Beef = 5 stars! It might look like your typical stir-fried beef dish in a chinese restaurant, but the texture and the taste is so amazing that leave us wanting more after we finish. We also order The Salted Prawn, which is also another amazing dish, each prawn are large and fresh, fried and seasoned to perfection, you wont dissapoint. I strongly recommend this restaurant and would come back for more in the future.
(5)
Mario P.
This was a pleasant surprise. While we love Asian cuisine there aren't many chances to enjoy Vietnamese. There wasn't a flavor profile we didn't enjoy. Moreover, we took our 7 yr old daughter and her 7 yr old friend ... and they were able to enjoy the experience with us. Note: this is not a family restaurant ... my point is, you can you take your little one and they'll be treated with respect. There were plenty of appetizer options for them. The service was pleasant and attentive. The room is exquisite in a trendy and approachable way. While you're there take a look at the second level ... hot lounge set-up with an amazing private dining room. This is clearly one of Chicago's best kept secrets.
(5)
p g.
I rented the 3rd floor private room for a work function. The best Vietnamese meal I have ever eaten in Chicago.....and I have eaten on Argyle many many times and have been shopping at Tai Nam for years so I know a bit about Vietnamese cuisine. I thought it was way better than Pasteur's menu. I highly recommend the Shaking Beef and the seafood glass noodles. Dzuy (the owner) is wonderful to work with. I have already committed to several more dinners there. Yum.
(5)
Tracy W.
The service was worse than pathetic. We stopped by for a quick drink before our cooking class next door. We were the ONLY people in the place and it took the bartender 15 minutes to mix 2 drinks and pour a glass of wine. Then 2 other people entered and it took us another 10 minutes and asking 2 people before we got our check. On top of that, they were out of the wine that my friend originally selected; she opted to go with a different wine recommended by the bartender. The recommended wine was $5 more than her original selection and he charged her for it. Most places would have charged the same price as her original selection. This place is way overrated. I won't even consider coming back here.
(1)
Lizzie R.
I HIGHLY recommend NOT going to this restaurant. The food is below average. Its totally off the beat and path of Randolph street and for being a brand new restaurant there are very few tables taken. The staff does not know how to make any cocktails I had to sen my back twice. I highly recommend going to Hai Yen on Clark and Diversey or Le Colonial. You have to stick with what has done well in the past and been there for a while. I don't think think place will last very long. Oh well, gave it a shot and everyone I speak to feels the same way.
(1)
Kalinda L.
we were the only ones in the resturant, which worried us. but we were so very pleased with the food and service. i asked for spicy and the waiter brought over fresh thai chili peppers. OUTSTANDING. my date still rememebers the chicken fondly, and we ate there 2 mths ago!
(5)
cathy V.
They just opened last week so there is more to do but it's quite a lovely space. The food was wonderful. We tried several different items on the menu and not a morsel of food was left on any dishes once they were picked up. Very very fresh flavors! The calamari was nothing like the sometimes rubbery slices or tentacles you see at Italian restaurants! It was beautiful chunks enhanced with wonderful flavors and it melted in your mouth. Several dishes with beef tenderloin that was also absolutely melt in your mouth. With the soup you get a plate of fresh herbs, bean sprouts and pepper slices to add fresh at the table. Even the sides were tasty, eggplant was amazing. Everything tasted so light and sooo fresh. I would definitely return!
(4)
n l.
I can't decide between 3 or 4 stars. My siblings love this place....... It's really nice looking, but being Vietnamese,... I guess I and my Vietnamese friends just weren't fully satisfied with the meal... If it weren't soo pricey, I probably would have forgave them..
(4)
Karl A.
We went there on a Saturday for lunch several months ago. There were a couple people sitting outside, but we decided to sit inside. We were the only people there, which was strange b/c it was around noon. The place was very chic, but almost too fancy honestly, and definitely not worth the added cost because the prices were ridiculous. My wife (who is Vietnamese) and I ordered the beef pho because it was one of the few things around $10. The flavor was ok, but the bowl was so small, I was unsatisfied. A "Vietnamese" place that does not have a big bowl of pho that leaves you totally satisfied is terrible. The prices for everything else were so high that I was like, fuck this. If you really need a super chic environment and want to pay for it, then go here. If you want real Vietnamese food, then just go to Tank or one of the other places by broadway & argyle.
(2)
Amanda T.
Excellent food and cool setting. Got the red snapper, very good.
(4)
Amy C.
Great when it opened up - not that great now
(1)
Lauren P.
The quality and taste of this food is less than mediocre. I will not return. I also got sick about 4 hours after, but I'm not using that as a basis for my two-star rating. I came about eating here because my friend had a Travelzoo certificate, which allowed us two drinks, an appetizer, two entrees, and a desert. I rue the day that she purchased that certificate as I wasted a perfectly good Saturday night dinner eating crap. (And I got sick later, which prevented me from attending a Christmas party.) We started out with the calamari, which was by far the best thing I ate that night. It was decent - neither good nor bad. Let's face it; calamari is fried, so it's almost impossible to screw it up. We then moved on to the Cha Ca La Vong and the Clay Pot Catfish. Both were bland and uninspired. After a few bites, I was entirely bored with my dish (Clay Pot Catfish) and found myself just eating the rice accompaniment. I tried a bite of the Cha Ca La Vong, which was fairly tasteless. Eating only a quarter or so of the catfish turned out to be a blessing in disguise since two hours later I developed severe stomach cramps, and two hours after that, I vomited. I imagine it would have been a lot worse had I eaten the whole meal. For desert we shared a chocolate cake. Like the calamari, it was neither good nor bad. I can probably pick up something similar at Jewel. We left the restaurant and my friend apologized to me for taking me there. She was also unimpressed and disappointed. We both agreed that we will never return. I've read other reviews about the poor service, but I have no complaints in that regard. Our server was friendly and we timely received our food and drinks.
(2)
Ruth G.
Everything was really good. I would go back for a fresh and light dinner.
(3)
Linzie J.
The food...good....the service...well delivered SANS the fact that the owner is very rude and unappreciative of your dollar. If you are going for a quick bite, ok, however for private events or "club" atmosphere BEWARE. After purchasing 7 bottles for a private event and ordering multiple dishes of food and an additional bottle of champagne this venue DROPPED THE BALL! triple booked the room, filthy bathrooms (out of order sink in the man's room, with a huge black trash bag over it), non-working elevator, poor placement of speaker (cord hanging from wall, cross entry) and a very RUDE OWNER. once they have your money, the expectations of what's promised should go out the window along with your event and money. lastly, if you remember the E2 incident, its being replicated at this venue! over capacity with no exits on 2nd or 3rd floor with steep stairwells.
(1)
Natalia D.
We went to Sawtooth with a gilt city coupon and really enjoyed the experience. We ordered salmon rolls, chicken pho, seabass and seafood clay pot. All the food was delicious, and the service was excellent. I agree that the menu prices are on the high side, but they are justified by the taste and presentation. The atmosphere is very pleasant, with beautiful modern decor and nice eclectic music playing in the background. I would definitely come back.
(5)
Darren S.
Sawtooth provides a great blend of pleasant atmosphere (modern decor, high ceilings) and a creative twist on Vietnamese food. I ventured in with an open mind to try some more unique dishes (given there are plenty of places to have more common dishes, such as pho) and was very pleased with the experience. For appetizers, we shared sugarcane shrimp and some skewered beef rolls (wrapped in a leaf), each was served with lettuce wraps, fresh mint, cucumber, vermecelli, and fish sauce. I loved the fresh herb accompaniments that gave every bite a different flavor. Main courses were cha ca la vong (grilled fish with tumeric and dill), which was delcious crispy chunks of fish, moist and full of flavor, and the roasted quail stuffed with mushrooms, lotus seed, and lime sauce. The quail was delicious - plenty of meat on the bone to enjoy, but still a lean meat so very light and tasty. Service was friendly.. but sometimes a bit too efficient, as the entrees arrived as I was finishing my appetizer, which I thought was a bit awkward, but I'm not lowering my star rating because the food was excellent and the atmosphere was pleasant. Overall, I was quite plaesed with Sawtooth and look forward to coming back to try some more of the menu.
(5)
S P.
Amazing!! Got the grilled prawns appetizer and seafood claypot. The decor is beautiful! But the service was slow for not being super busy.
(5)
Hong I.
I went there with some of my girls tonight and we all loved it! The ambience and decor were amazing. The food was delicious!! Very authentic vietnamese food. We had the shaking beef, asparagus, the catfish, papaya salad, and chicken pho, and we all thought that they were all very good. The portion size is decent and the price is very reasonable. The staff were also really friendly and helpful. The cocktails were the best! Esp the Dalot Love! I highly recommend this place for a nice date or even with good friends looking for a nice place to dine. I will def. come back!
(5)
A R.
Top 3 healthiest food in the world. Chicago needs this restaurant!!! The owner (Zwee) and his wife (Kelly) used to own a furniture store, so imagine how amazing the decor is!!! Floating candles on the wall, a translucent bar run by a phenomenal mixoligist muddling fresh fruit (try the signature Summer in Saigon), chefs from Vietnam make the dishes more than amazing (Grilled Prawns, Sawtooth Beef, Seafood Claypot) and don't forget to ask for a tour...2 more floors of beautiful decor....date spot, meeting spot, birthday events, lawyers conferences, perfect for any event. 5 stars!!!!
(5)
Tom K.
Tasty and interesting take on Vietnanmese food. Enjoyed a seafood clay pot with brown rice for the first time. Good spicy soy sauce served with fresh spring rolls. Beautiful decor. Service was pretty rough but the attitude was nice which compensated. Will return.
(3)
Leslie P.
This place has a lot of potential. The decor is contemporary Asian (naturally), and I look forward to dining al fresco next year. The food was great. For starters, we shared the watercress beef and grilled prawns. I ordered the bun thit nuong cha gio. All three of these were amazing. The food and decor were 4 stars, but the rest brought my rating down to just average. The service was slow, which luckily wasn't an issue since the place was not busy, and we were not in a rush. However, my friend informed the waiter that she has a shellfish allergy at the beginning of our meal. When she ordered the bun thit nuong cha gio, she asked if it was prepared with any shellfish, and he said no. The menu description does not indicate any prescence of shellfish either, but when the entree came out, you could see there was definitely some shellfish in the eggroll. Luckily we thoroughly checked her plate before she dived in, but come on, that's ridiculous! I would think this allergy is common enough that the waiter would know whether there is shellfish in the eggroll. The owner/manager came out and apologized as well. By then it had put a damper on our meal since she had to wait for a new entree and we couldn't offer her any of ours. Good thing we got starters though. I love vietnamese food, and in that sense, this place did not disappoint (at least what we ordered). If they can straighten out the service then Sawtooth should do well, and I hope it does.
(3)
Bora U.
I had heard about Sawtooth's soft opening over the weekend, but hadn't had it in my mind to check it out anytime soon. The manfriend and I hit up a Factio Magazine event on Lake Street around 6:30 and walked right back out. We decided to walk over one block to one sixty blue for their Wednesday night Friday Chicken special but noticed Sawtooth on the way. A few of the servers who were hanging around close to the large window in front stared at us and in effect, lured us in. We walked along the lit path, past the patio seating area. One of the waiters opened the front door for us and we were greeted by a trilogy of wait staff. The space is chic for sure. Very similar to what Saltaus, it's predecessor looked like. A long bar with chairs lined up at an angle. Good looking and amicable wait staff. The menu looked decent - prices were high for Vietnamese fare, but also to be expected in the West Loop. We looked at each other and decided that we'd come back some other time and walked over to one sixty blue only to find that....it's under renovation until August 16th! Bummer...So back to Sawtooth it was. The servers welcomed us back and we decided to just sit at the bar to chat it up with the bartender - a good way to get a feel for a place. We perused the cocktail menu. All the drinks looked perfectly refreshing - especially given the humidity outside. I decided to go for the Summer in Saigon - a dressed up gin and tonic with muddled cucumber, Elderberry liquor and aloe soda! I thought it was really fantastic. The man friend just stuck with the Saigon export beer. We both weren't too hungry, so we just shared the filet mignon "large" pho and the seafood hot pot. Now, I know we're not on Argyle, and this is not a restaurant that specializes in pho and noodle dishes but...instant rice noodles? I've purchased frozen udon and rice noodles and they turn out the same way - clumpy and the noodles break more easily while boiling because they crack either in the packaging or when it touches boiling water. The flavor of the broth was okay - but really, the portion we received should've been the small which is priced at $5. Not the large for $10. Also, there was I think one slice of beef. A sprinkling of bean sprouts and basil on the platter that accompanied the pho. The seafood hot pot came out in a decent size bowl - but they really skimped on the seafood. Three pieces of shrimp, ONE scallop, a few slivers of squid, and a mix of shitake, black, and button mushrooms. I really tried to make the dish go far by adding some of the shriracha and dark brown sauces that should've gone into the pho, on my rice - which they definitely didn't skimp on. Flavor wise, the seafood was good, but for $16, I should've seen a lot more seafood and a lot less rice. I did go ahead and order another drink - the Dalot of Love. Fantastic cocktail! If I do come back to Sawtooth, it'll be for the bar and perhaps I'll try a few of the appetizers like the wings and green papaya salad. You can't really go wrong with appetizers...I think. It is a dressed up Vietnamese restaurant with lovely decor and service. I really, really want it to work out for Sawtooth so they don't see the same ending that Saltaus suffered. But they really need to work out the food situation. It's got to be a lot better than that.
(2)
Richard C.
We enjoyed our dinner at Sawtooth, but overall would have preferred a little more spice/heat to the dishes. Sort of felt that the dishes were purposely less spicy to "americanize" them. One suggestion would be to have traditioanal spices available on the able to allow diners to spice up their dishes if they want. Despite that, all of the food was very good. The whole Red Snapper and the Shaking Beef were especially nice. Having a few additional selections for dessert would have been nice; 2 similar fruit "tortes" and a lava cake did not offer much of a variety to choose from. Service was very nice and offered wonderful suggestions.
(3)
Justin F.
The atmosphere here seemed dead on a winter Friday night. The service was attentive, atmosphere and decor very upscale, but the food was unbelievably bland. All 3 dishes ordered had little to no taste. The prices are reasonable for a restaurant on Randolph but not reasonable for tasting only of ingredients I could mix together in a wok at home. The asparagus was also the larger less tasting variety.
(2)
lana v.
This place is terrible! We had a reservation for four on a Friday night. The place was pretty empty, so we got seated right away. We waited over 15 minutes for the waitress to come over after walking past us about five times. We ordered a bottle of wine and one person ordered an IPA beer. The waitress came back and said the bottle of white wine we ordered was warm, and there really isn't another wine similar. So...we choose another bottle. She also came back and said they were out of the IPA, so we ordered a different IPA. She came back with a Stella and said sorry, we were out of both IPA's and this is the closest thing we have. Really? Stella? We should have left right there but decided to stay. We ordered food and the appetizers were ok but the entrees were horrible. We all ordered seafood entrees and they were all terrible. I ordered the salmon which said it came with rice and vegetables. Well...there was a giant pile of plain white rice under the overcooked piece of salmon, about three green beans, and an entire separate bowl of plain white rice on the side. To top it off, as I was finishing eating, I noticed a giant hair in my rice...yup, I wanted to barf. We got our bill, which was $300 for four people for terrible service and horrible food. Plus, we got charged for a more expensive bottle of wine than we actually ordered! I will never be back and would recommend everyone stays away from this place.
(1)
MELMEL S.
I am really having a second thought of giving this restaurant a one star rating. I was planning to give zero star, but to give credit to the nice place, nice food presentation and good to accomodate our big group of 14 i decided to give them one star. The service was slow. Servers were inattentive. They serve the wrong order to half of the group. People working in the kitchen were as worse as the servers. One order was served very late. All of us were almost done with our meals when that one order was served. One order didn't show up at all. An apology of giving the group just one desert was not even enough to the worst service we experienced in this place. I have no plans of going back to this place. Not even recommending this place to those who want to go for vietnamese cuisine. There are other vietnamese restaurants in Chicago that are better than this place.
(1)
turn p.
I went there with my friends one night. I couldn't even remember what the food was because we were so disappointed by the service. Two of my friends were still waiting for their order when 8 of us were just finishing up with our dinner. The ambiance and food were ok but we definitely wont go back to this place anymore.
(2)
marc z.
Great bar, very good cocktails. The food is very good and flavorful .lots of variety at reasonable prices. The atmosphere is hip and trendy, very nice interior. The owner is caring and always looking to improve everything - I think this will be a successful west-loop hot-spot. Watch out Gilt Bar - prices are comparable, but Sawtooth's food, drinks and ambience are so much better then your crap.
(4)
Nilda R.
I feel the same as you Mario P. Surprisingly there are not many vietnamese restaurants in chicago, especially ones that impress me. This restaurant is phenomenal. Portions are rather generous. My friend and I enjoyed the smoked eggplant and the shaking beef, all I can say is yum-yum! Two very enthusiastic thumbs up. The restaurant is elegeant yet casual, I felt comfortable. The staff was also great. Very satisfied. Definitely will go back.
(5)
G G.
Beautiful Space, excellent service, and out of this world food. Really fantastic! Go now!
(5)
Lance B.
Dinner Saturday night. Bartenders were great, cocktails fantastic. Very solid wine list, good value. Had the jalapeno garlic chicken wings for app....great flavor. Chicken Curry for dinner...again nice spice and very tasty. We recommend and will be coming back.
(4)
Karen K.
I love this place - the decor is so pretty, the food, wine and cocktails are great. Their chicken wings have now wrecked me for life - they're so good and even if I don't eat them there, I'll order some just to take with me. I like the menu, the vibe, the noise level, and the price point. Can't wait to return
(5)
Brian D.
Some people are happy to go to restaurants for just the food. If I'm going to put down some serious cash, I want the whole deal - food, service and ambiance. Sawtooth offers all three. While Randolph Street needs another dining establishment like the Ike needs more road construction, the addition of a contemporary Vietnamese spot to "Restaurant Row" is a welcome one. I can't guarantee you'll be catered to as attentively as we were (went early on a Sunday evening before the crowd), but the staff was beyond helpful. My Cha Ca La Vong, a sensational grilled fish dish, was paired with a very good, reasonably priced New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, both recommended by the manager. Sawtooth offers more than fine cuisine; it's urban cool at its best - all concrete floors, dark wood furnishings and tasteful minimalist accents. If you want to impress a date, this is not a bad place to start (or even to finish - the bar is great too).
(4)
Jeanine S.
Organized a little birthday party for my husband here. The upstairs was lovely. This place knows it's way around drinks and appetizers, but as for my dinner, I liked it well enough but it was nothing special. Staff was wonderful too.
(4)
Thomas R.
First impression was awful.... the hostess last night was rude, unfriendly, and even though we had a reservation made on Opentable, we were offered a seat at a bar only -- told that all tables were taken, which they were not. The service was pleasant but untrained and disorganized. The food was average but by far the best part of the experience. I had been wanting to try this restaurant for a while and now that I have, there's no reason to return.
(2)
Nisha K.
The food was decent at best. Green papaya salad was bland and the wrapper on the pork spring rolls was too thick and chewy. The claypot fish wad actually really tasty and so was the vermicelli noodle dish my husband got. What pushed this from a 3.5 star review was the service. It was awful. It took the server 20 minutes after bringing us water to take our order. Just before our appetizers arrived we were asked to switch tables to make room for a large party. Just as we were settling in again our appetizers arrived. About two minutes later, so did our meals! There wasn't enough room for all of our food - we had to eat the appetizers quickly and had to flag down servers twice to have these taken away so we could eat our dinner. After we were done we again had to flag the waitress down (after 30 min of waiting) for the bill. We waited so long that we didn't want to wait another hour for a potentially "just ok" dessert. I drafted this in the mcdonalds drive through. We needed hot fudge sundaes to cheer us up.
(2)
Mani M.
My rating mainly reflects the food. Because when reviewing a restaurant ultimately the stomach gets the last say. It was our second time visiting and we decided it was probably our last. The decor is beautiful but it's a shame the food we ordered was so bland considering the the food is supposed to be bit exotic flavors. We ordered the grilled prawns, crispy noodles with seafood and the chicken curry. the flavors seemed comparable with my local chinese takeout (actually i think my last takeout was way better)
(2)
Mike Y.
I have been to this restaurant three times this month. this blows away argyle street. The beef cubes in wine sauce are the best. My date took a bite, closed her eyes and her eyelids fluttered as she chewed the beef cubes. Needless to say, she was so happy with the meal.... In addition, there are superb drinks. Try the cruzan rum punch. The aroma will make the wait for your drink feel like it is so long. Try this place you will love it as well.
(5)
Kym W.
Gorgeous restaurant - beautiful setting - and good food. I wanted to try more things from the menu than a party of two could reasonably attempt. Appetizers are especially generous as far as portions go. I want to love this place but our waiter was lame - so nice, but just not on the ball. Brought me a wine to taste - disappeared for a half hour afterwards, and it wasn't that busy. Was nowhere to be found when we wanted a second round of drinks. Pretty much was AWOL for most of the meal on a night when it wasn't even very crowded, so it was hard to be sympathetic. I want this place to succeed - I will try it again and hope for better service.
(3)
Sandy T.
Great looking space. The outdoor area is especially welcoming. The food was overall good with some things really great and others just ordinary. I thought the wine list by the glass was poor at best especially the red wine offerings. Patrons should have a full range of choices. What really lacked was offerings for those non alcohol drinkers. Only coke products not even tea either iced or hot. Would not rush back. There are so many grate places in the area to settle for less.
(3)
Audre L.
The food here is actually superb - too bad the place is a little empty and sends off mixed signals with it's lounge-club approach. What we ate: Bo Bia - Wonderful vietnamese summer roll Cha ca la vong - crispy catfish with a great dipping sauce. The "salad" is more like leaf lettuce an chunks of veggies, so you could make lettuce wraps with this. This was delicious Eggplant sidedish - smoky and tasty
(4)
Tavi J.
I want to give it 5 stars because I had such a good time, but the reason I had such a good time is because I always do with my girls and this place had nothing to do with it. Lol I came here for a day party and the dj's were good and great music. The thing I don't get is why they always try to charge people to come to a dead empty establishment. This place is always empty when I go but they always looking for $10 to $20. Lower your drink prices and maybe I wouldn't mind paying that much. With all that said the house sangria is excellent. Lol This wouldn't be the first place to go on my list, but once in while I would stop by if I was in the west loop and carried cash on me.
(3)
Kevin B.
Another overpriced restaurant that people go to because of location. Its 50 restaurants along Randolph in the West Loop and Sawtooth is easily at the bottom of my list. Admittedly Im not a fan of Vietnamese cuisine but for the price, I expected it to be better than it was. Drinks are overpriced as well. I've been to Sawtooth for private events that were somewhat better. Drinking outside in the courtyard makes the experience a little bit better. I also went on a Monday for MNF where they had $3 dollars. That experience was great. Needless to say as great as that experience was, I went 1 week later for MNF and without informing me, that same beer was $6 dollars. In fairness to Sawtooth, that probably was a promoter thing not the restaurant itself. But it would have been nice if they would inform you the specials they had were no longer active. Also advertising free food during a football game leads you to believe food will available the whole time, not only till exhausted which happened in 20 mins. Again most likely a promoter issue. Overrated. If you do go, go in the summer.
(2)
Sara T.
I had bought some sort of deal and was excited to try a new Asian place in the west loop (this was a couple years ago). All I remember is overpriced underwhelming food. Head over to Chinatown if you're in the mood for Chinese food. Also, I do recall that our server had attitude.
(2)
Delightful D.
This place gets zero stars. This place is discriminatory towards homosexuals so if you support gay people u will not support this place. My friend was told by a security guard named mike "ur a girl?" Girls have to wear heels? Clearly they have never met a tomboy. I will be reporting this mike after he not only said that and said we could wait on the corner like we were garbage, while we waited for a manager that never came. I made a police report cuz this is a hate crime. And I need to speak to management about them being against homosexuals. Please dont go to this ratchet establishment. Its 2014 not 1969. I have never experienced something so hateful in my life. It wasn't right, it brought me to tearS to see someone treated like that. DONT GO HERE EVERR
(1)
Fernando C.
This place gets one star for the type of demographic that is allowed to rent at night and cause havoc. Many times have fights broken out, shots fired because a certain group can't exercise restraint, conflict resolution skills, respect for themselves, respect for the law and respect for life. Business must really be financially hurting when they allow this type of unruly group to rent. I feel sorry for the workers and I even feel more sorry for the valet(dealing with such animation).
(1)
Paul K.
If you are looking for a great place to get shot...please come to Sawtooth!!! Yet ANOTHER SHOOTING at Sawtooth on 3/29/2015. This place needs to be shut down. They are bad neighbors and the place is filled with loser thugs.
(1)
Jill B.
I can't even comment on the food because we never even made it in the door. We tried to go for dinner around 6:00 and the doors were locked (and their hours say they open at 5:00). Ok no big deal, maybe they had a private event or something. However, the thing that really sent me over the edge is that the staff just stood in their floor to ceiling windows staring as us while we tried to get in. A simple acknowledgment instead of blank stares would have been enough to bring be back. However, this sub-par customer service will keep me away from ever giving Sawtooth a try.
(1)
Carol M.
Fried calamari, how I've missed you! I was stoked to hear that their calamari is made with tapioca flour, not glutens, so I could actually eat it! It was so good I'd be tempted to go back and just order that. Their cocktails were great too. Really nice service. I also had the chicken curry which left a little to be desired but overall, not a bad place. Great for a date night!
(4)
Belle L.
BEWARE! Do NOT purchase any deals/vouchers for Sawtooth as they will NOT give you the FULL amount of unexpired voucher. Sawtooth will find ways to only give you food that is close to the amount you paid. SCAMMER! The business method is deceitful. The voucher fails to mention NO SUBSTITUTION. Sawtooth runs deals to get people IN, NOT good deals to purchasers.
(1)
Jen D.
Somehow I've never heard of Sawtooth, but a friend in from out of town picked it out for a late Fri night dinner res. Great atmosphere - very nicely decorated. Before I get to the food - beware that this restaurant turns into a club on some (or all??) weekend nights. We had a 9:15pm reservation on a Fri night. The restaurant was pretty quiet when we came in. The server told us before we ordered that she would have to close out our check at 10pm since it turns into a club. Ultimately she didn't close it until10:30 which we appreciated and we were never rushed. That said, the club crowd started coming in and the music was starting to "bump" so the atmosphere shifted. The clubby'ish crowd was very young, early 20's and scantily clad. I am fairly sure we were about 1/2 inch away from seeing the cha-chas of a few ladies. The bouncers appear to aggressively manage the crowd, ensuring there is a line out front (even when it's not crowded inside). The food... The shaking beef is a real star - and take their advice to dip the beef in the mixture of lime/salt/pepper. I would probably go back just for that dish (keep in mind, I've had limited exposure to Vietnamese food). I also had a salad that had shrimp, orange wedges and a citrus vinaigrette. The salad was "the bomb.com" to quote the words of a RHoOC shady boyfriend. Cocktails were good, I loved the cucumber gin one. Service was fine, friendly and sufficient. I'll probably go back at some point, but on a weeknight.
(3)
Noreen B.
I am a neighbor and I am making it my mission to get this place shut down. I hear people screaming every weekend as a result of fights or shootings. There is always fights and or shooting and it makes our quiet neighborhood dangerous. I am afraid to go out at night cause I will be probably shot by one of their customers.
(1)
Cornelia A.
Had dinner tonight and it was AMAZING!! Christine our waitress was very nice and attentive. The Salmon Rolls are the Bomb!! I can't remember the names of our dishes, I think one was the shaky beef and seafood glass noodles!!! Oh yeah we had the rue la la voucher and had no problem!!! Highly Recommend this place!!!
(5)
Triet N.
Sawtooth is really more of a club than a restaurant. The first floor is anchored by a massive bar, with only a few dining tables surrounding it. The entire second and third floor are reserved for a dance club and private functions.The Vietnamese cuisine, from my perspective as a a first generation Vietnamese, is good but rather conservative and traditional, nothing you couldn't get for half the price on Argyle St. We were there early on a Sat night but you could tell that things can get really loud later in the evening when the club opens. The service was top notch though, very friendly. If you want to go out clubbing and want to grab a bite of some good Vietnamese food before partying, this is a great choice.
(3)
Krsna V.
This is the tale of three homigos (homo amigos) who gather at least once a month for boys night out. Homigo #1 has been worked to the bone by the government. Homigo #2 has been worked to the bone by his museum. Homigo #3, on the other hand, has been wandering around with his man across different countries, eating a lot, and getting chubby... almost to the point of his "vain homo" card being revoked. It just happens that Homigo #3 also had a birthday in May. So, homigo #1, being the generous friend that he is, decides to take #3 out for dinner. We finally find a date convenient to all three of us and decide to go to a place we have not visited before. Sawtooth with its allure of modern Vietnamese food and a trendy lounge-like space seemed attractive. Scored 8pm reservations for a Saturday night. The cocktails are quite delightful, but they ran out of ingredients for the ones we were drinking. My Mekhong Mojito - made with splash of Mekhong liqueur is quite outstanding and deadly. Mekhong tastes light going down, but it can get you drunk pretty fast. I saw the effects next morning. The food: everything we ordered was excellent. The Banh Xeo - saigon style crepe with shrimp, pork, fresh mint, and lettuce has a great medley of flavors. We ordered another appetizer - ground beef wrapped in vine leaves and grilled. Both apps were excellent. Homigo #1 ordered the clay pot catfish while homigo #2 ordered chicken curry. I ordered the Cha Ca La Vong - my test dish for Vietnamese cuisine. The clay pot catfish simmered in a deep caramel sauce and served in a clay pot with rice is a must-have dish if you like catfish and semi-sweet caramel sauce. The chicken curry was great as well. However, the winner is Cha Ca la Vong - Hanoi-style grilled catfish with turmeric, basil, and dill. Served with rice noodles and a salad, it is definitely my favorite of the lot. Since I've given up on being skinny after all these travels and delicious food, I ordered a dessert. We split the mango mousse cake, which was more like a mango cheesecake. Perfect ending to our great meal. Service was attentive even though it was a bit slow. We didn't mind because they were busy on a Saturday night, and we had a lot to catch up. Who did what in these two months, who "did" who in the past two months, etc. You know, the regular guy talk, only with a homo twist. A great place for boys night out... or girls night out.
(4)
Kamilah S.
My girls and I came here after we left Taste of Randolph, which was amazing, by the way. Anywho, Saw Tooth. We arrived around 8:40 or so. It was free admission and no dress code. This one girl had on a bathing suit and a cover up, majority of the guys looked as if they just finished playing basketball because they had on basketball shorts, shirts and gym shoes. The waitresses wore little booty shorts and very low cut tank tops. The one waitress, bent down real low to talk to her customer's and take their drink order and as she got up she took BOTH her hands and dug her wedgie out then came over to my party and asked us if SHE could get us anything, I politely said no thanks, we left shortly after that! Besides that the music was good, the staff is super friendly, the crowd was a bit young for my taste, we probably won't be back, but only time will tell.
(3)
John L.
Not the biggest fan. I grew up on vietnames food and I like american/vietnamese places like Hien Yien and Simply It. However, this was a bit of a disappointment. Price) Way too expensive for what you get. Small bowl of pho was $7 and catfish in claypot was $15. In addition to those we got the salmon eggrolls and passion fruit torte. Total was about $60. Quality) The crispy salmon eggrolls were my favorite, but the other stuff I would say you could find better on Argyle. Quantity) Very tiny portions for the amount you pay Atmosphere) If anything, this is what you are paying for. I personally don't like shelling out money for "ambiance". Staff) Had to wait a bit to get the waitress's attention. I don't think I'd go back...no pho-king way
(2)
Meredith K.
I gotta remove a star. We still like this place but it may have been our final time there. The service was fantastic. Our person was almost too attentive. I think maybe b/c the entire place was empty except for us. Not good for a Thurs night (although in their defense no TV and it was a Blackhawks payoff night) The cocktails are still interesting and refreshing. They change enough to remain seasonal. My boyfriend ordered the pork chop which he really liked. The only rub there is that you get a regular knife and that's not enough for a chop. He asked for something sharper and she said it was their steak knife. I went for the sea bass. The sauce it comes in is great. The fish however was too tough to cut with a fork and I wasn't offered a knife. That's probably b/c usually bass should be like butter. I couldn't do it. She very kindly offered to try again so I said sure. The second fish was just as tough. She could tell that I wasn't into it so offered to remove it from our bill. Super nice!!! But we were there on a Gilt City deal so I needed to get more food. I tried the veggie spring rolls which were very nice and the chicken salad which I really liked but it needs some kick to it. Maybe crunch and a little spice and acid. I hope this place makes it. I know we've had other seafood and chicken dishes there and they were great.
(3)
Jordan L.
Nice looking spot but the $25 cover is crazy. Although the women are beautiful that come here after waiting in a long slow ass line. I personally will not be back
(2)
Carol K.
Out of the ruins of once was Salthaus, comes Sawtooth. . . .a restaurant serving contemporary Vietnamese cuisine in a cool, contemporary environment. Open only a few days at this writing- they are obviously still working out a few of the "new restaurant blues", but the model seems to be set for success. First of all, the space. I have a lot of fondness for the old Salthaus space as I had some really memorable times there. The basic shell remains the same- although some of the opulence that was Salthaus has been brought down a level. Gone is the granite bar to be replaced by an under lit bar. Gone are the wood chairs, replaced by more contemporary plastic chairs that look like something out of the 70's but that seem to work in this space. Gone is the wall divider between the bar area and restaurant. All the rest is still there though. The floor to ceiling windows, bringing in light from Randolph Street. The outdoor patio (occupancy permit still pending as of this writing), the cool second floor with the lounge like feel and window to the city view and now a new third floor for private dining. So the ambiance is still terrific whether you are stopping in for dinner or for a night cap on your way home. The service was also quite nice. From the time I walked in- I was greeted, fawned over and made to feel like they really appreciated me coming in. It may have helped that I recognized the GM from another restaurant that I used to frequent, but whatever the reason- my friends were impressed with the attentiveness. If you go to check it out- check out the drink list. My friends were raving over a gin drink (it can also be made with vodka) that had cucumbers and lemons in it. Ben (the sommelier) will do wine pairings with your food, and talked up quite a few of the whites that he has on the list that would complement the food beautifully. So why only three stars? Sawtooth still needs to shore up a few things to make this the place that I am sure they are envisioning it to be. The biggest issue is that some of the food is not quite right yet either in taste or presentation. We tried a wide range of the menu items- from the spring rolls, calamari, filet mignon, red snapper and chicken wings (all quite good). To the shrimp sugar cane skewers, beef salad, and pork rolls (not so good). The conversation at our table was around the fact that usually in a place that we are going to frequent time and time again- there are things we cannot make up our mind about on the menu causing us to come back to keep trying other items. Not the case here. Not sure if it was the descriptions on the menu or what, but some at our table had problems choosing anything that sounded good so they defaulted to a salad. There were also a couple of service issues- the red snapper comes as a whole fish- head and tail on. And while delicious, it was served upside down and without a fish knife. If I am going to filet my own fish- the proper utensils should be provided. Or maybe the staff could offer to filet it for me. Also- the plate needed to be rotated for the right presentation. Again- some growing pain service issues that can easily be rectified. As an aside- I also thought the chop size on the vegetables was too big on this dish and the filet. The peppers and onions overpowered the taste of the proteins. I have been to Vietnam and tasted real Vietnamese food. Missing for me here was some of the Yin and Yang (mixing of hot and cool flavors) attributed to this style of cooking although maybe that is how they "contemporized" it. I did like that all the food came with fresh lettuce leaves to wrap the food in to eat and that the chef grows many of his own herbs to use in the food. Fresh is a big key to Vietnamese food as well. I would say that maybe we didn't order the more traditional items- but we certainly tried enough of the menu to get a feeling for it. Valet parking is available out front ($9) although you can usually find free parking on any of the side streets in this area. Drinks run about $9 each and the entrees were in the $20 range. I loved the space and the concept. I just think I am going to give Sawtooth a little bit of time to season the staff, and play with the menu before I'll return to check it out again. And maybe at that time- the patio will be open and you will see me out there- vodka and cucumber drink in hand.
(3)
Nishant G.
Excellent service, cocktails and food. Food may be a bit expensive but I've been here multiple times with Bloomspot or Gilt City deals so my bill has been very affordable. Shaken beef is excellent, and I absolutely love the green papaya salad with beef. The ambience of this place is great, but sadly, it's never crowded--regardless of what time or day of the week. It turns into an all-black club on Friday nights after 10pm...or at least it has on both times that I've been there on a Friday. Would be a blast to come back here in the summer and take advantage of their outdoor patio seating.
(4)
Jade T.
I must admit, I didn't have high expectations of Sawtooth. I've been invited several times to dine here and I've passed on each occasion. For Vietnamese food fix, I always go up to Argyle. However, on a Saturday, my boyfriend took me out to dinner and I obliged. He made reservations for 7:00PM, although they weren't necessary at all. There were plenty of open tables. They sat us at the table furthest north, which was possibly the worst table in the restaurant. It's located in front of the entrance and also next to a large side door. I didn't know what was going on, but it seemed like they were setting up an event upstairs and people had to enter from the side door. During our time at Sawtooth, I was pretty cold from people coming in and out from both doors. Yes, the restaurant is very swanky. I loved the sleek, minimalist decor. No doubt Sawtooth is a date destination with its dim lighting, low to medium noise level, and hip vibe. However, if you expect to get you and your date drunk, don't. The drinks, while yummy, were very weak. I had a muddled strawberry cocktail and David an Asian pina colada-like concoction, both very good drinks but with almost no alcohol. We had three appetizers: banh xeo (seafood crepe), chicken salad (with tofu instead of chicken), and bun thit nuong cha gio (tofu instead chicken with vermicelli). David ate his dish right up, but I thought my appetizers were average. The bun thit nuong was the tastier of the two appetizers, but the accompanying dipping sauce had no flavor. The tofu had the most amazing texture. It was chewy with a light, crispy crust. So good. The tofu salad reminded me of Thai larb gai, but the flavors were just not there. It was quite bland. The entrees came around, and David had the shaking beef (cubed filet mignon with lime sauce) and I had the smoked eggplant. Nay on the eggplant. Don't bother ordering it. It was so bland that I couldn't finish it. David enjoyed his dish. It looked and smelled good for having meat. Yeah, I'm skeptical about the other vegetarian entrees. The very few vegetarian entrees that they have. We skipped on dessert, as they didn't seem all that appealing. I agree that prices are a bit inflated for my tastes, but it's Randolph Street. I would not return to Sawtooth, unless someone invited me. I would say that I would go there for drinks because of the atmosphere, but the location is not very convenient and the drinks are not strong. I would give it a try but not expect too much.
(3)
Mike W.
This place is really great, It just sucks that it doesn't seem to get a lot of traffic since all the hot "big wigs" are less than 5 blocks away. Anyway the service was great (we were 2 of 10 people dining on a Friday night). The food was even better. To start we had the salmon rolls (delicious) and the bo la lot (nice herb-y grilled goodness). As an entree I had the shaking beef, super tender beef cubes in a tasty sauce. My friend had the egg basket or egg nest (something with egg in the name) which was also tasty and overflowing with fresh seafood. We were so full after the apps and entrees that there was no room for dessert. Which was some sort of chocolate cake. I don't like chocolate so I cant't comment on that. Would I go back? Probably for a special occasion. I got a GILT city dinner so I think it was $75 for 2 people to dine. The full tab was close to $130 which, I'm sorry, is a bit pricey for Vietnamese food when you can probably get the same thing on argyle street for 50 bones. Though I do have to say they have what seems like an amazing patio/ deck so summertime eating would be a blast with out of towners or a sexy date.
(4)
Ronnetta Y.
I had a lovely dinner here. First let me say going in, I was slightly concerned that we would be rushed b/c the other guest in my party didn't arrive until 9 and the dinner hours ends at 10 but the staff was delightful, I didn't feel rushed in any way. I started with a most lovely drink...can't recall the name but it was first on the cocktail menu. I could have had 5 of them easily were I not driving! We both had soup for an appetizer, I had the pho bo and he had the canh chua. Both DELIGHTFUL. The beef in my soup was so tender it was falling apart. I was unsure of what to order so I went with the server's suggestion which was seafood glass noodles, I dont eat shrimp and he gave me no problems about subsitituting another item which I appreciated. Saying I loved it would be an understatement! Aside from the fact that the presentation was adorable, it was delicious. My date had the egg noodles and he enjoyed as well. It's low lit and sexy, the music was really chill. I just give it two thumbs up all the way around. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Mallory R.
This place is hell on earth. The "restaurant" is basically a front for the space to turn into a club at night. My husband and I live across the street and are constantly woken up and disrupted by the "patrons" (if that is what you want to even call them...) getting into full out brawls in the street. When I say brawls -- I mean 50+ people gathered in the street attacking each other. It is the most absurd, terrifying thing I have ever witnessed. This place should be condemned.
(1)
Amoli P.
We went to an early bird dinner last night before catching a show at the Bank of America theater. Based on previous reviews complaining about long wait times for food and drinks (even when the restaurant is empty), I was worried we might put our show time in jeopardy. I had nothing to worry about. We were seated immediately for our 5pm reservation, and our server wasted no time coming by to get our drink orders. Service was friendly and prompt all evening. The cocktail selection was a little too tropical and summery for a cold snowy day, so we opted for a bottle of wine. The wine list isn't extensive, but that's to be expected at a Vietnamese restaurant. Since the place is kind of Vietnamese fusion, I had hoped they might have a sake list, but other than just listing the word "Sake" on the drink menu, there were no bottles to choose from. We mentioned our LivingSocial deal to the waiter right away and he said it was no problem at all. We started with the calamari appetizer and while many previous reviewers complained that there was nothing special about it, I still found it delicious. The cuts of calamari was generous, it was lightly fried and not over battered. And the best part was the accompanying scallions and garlic bits that it was sauteed in. We left no crunchy piece uneaten on that plate, and the flavor was excellent. The only downfall is that they just serve it with a side of Siracha sauce, rather than a sauce they made themselves. I think a chili ponzu or even a spicy mayo type of sauce would go great with this dish and add a bit of originality. For our entrees, my fiance took the overwhelming Yelp response and ordered the Shaking Beef and I took our server's recommendation and went with the Crispy Egg Noodles with seafood. The shaking beef was every bit as tender and flavorful as everyone else has described. The sauce is perfect and the lime salt/pepper mixture added a touch of Vietnamese flavor that kept this dish from passing for any type of Asian cuisine. My crispy noodles had a lovely presentation - the vegetables and seafood packed into a bowl made out of the noodles, with the sauce on the bottom. Very light and tasty without the heaviness from too much soy sauce, but still full of flavor. The vegetables were fresh and crisp and the seafood was cooked well and tasty. Nothing we had was greasy or oily, as I had read other reviewers complain about. And I'm very sensitive to oily food, so this was a pleasant surprise. The only reason that I'm giving 3 stars instead of 4 is because I thought they were a little shady with how they cancelled my OpenTable reservation. I had made the online reservation a few days earlier, and when we arrived, the host asked if I was Amoli and seated us based on the reservation. it wasn't until we were seated that I noticed the LivingSocial coupon said no OpenTable reservations. I told the waiter immediately that he had a voucher and he indicated it was no problem. Upon leaving the restaurant 90 minutes later, I received an email from OpenTable saying Sawtooth had cancelled my reservation. If that's the rule and they don't want to honor OpenTable reservations when you use a voucher, that's fine. But the restaurant was totally empty except for one other party of 2, so it's not like we were taking up someone else's spot. And more importantly, they didn't say anything to us about it. The manager could have simply walked up and said "By the way, based on our rule, we will need to cancel the OpenTable reservation since you're using the voucher." No problem. But instead the manager said nothing and waited until we left before going back and putting a cancellation in behind our backs. Not enough to ruin the dining experience, but just a little bit shady and kind of annoying. Overall, the food is tasty, the ambiance is fine (trendy but nothing original), and it's definitely worth giving a try. I don't know if it's a place we'll feel the need to go back to with all the other dining options in Chicago, but I wouldn't be opposed to a return trip either.
(3)
Sarah D.
This is not a review about the food. This is not a review about the service. This is a review about my entire inability to get any kind of return contact from Sawtooth so that I could make a reservation and pay them some of my hard-earned money to eat their food. Voicemails went unanswered. E-mails got bounced back. Open Table doesn't take reservations for them anymore. So I gave up, and I'm not going to try again. I can't be bothered with a place that doesn't want my business.
(1)
Tim H.
Good service, decent food, a bit overpriced. I enjoyed all the dishes I had for the most part. My only hesitation returning is that there are better values to be had for this type of cuisine and the fish in a clay pot was overly salty.
(3)
Steven N.
Been here for dinner, after party, and special private party - it's always a good time here. Good food, good DJ, good drinks and good people in general. This place is located in the trendy West Loop area, great local to make an awesome evening.
(4)
Leang E.
I bought a LivingSocial deal here, and came to redeem. From the outside the restaurant seemed like it would be a lot larger than it actually was inside. The restaurant has a modern trendy vibe to it, and I have to admit that it felt somewhat pretentious. Our waiter was just ok. He seemed young and maybe impatient with us. We were seated quickly, and though we were ready to order and eat the food seemed to take a little longer to get to us. It was nice to warm up to hot tea, and I had the Vietnamese Spring Rolls, the Chicken Pho, and I ordered the Bunh Rice Vermicelli Noodle dish to take home. I have to say the pho was disappointing. I got the large and it was the smallest large bowl dish I have ever gotten for pho. The pieces of chicken looked like they were picked off the bone like shreds of it, and I felt like it might have amounted to 1/4 cup of actual chicken if not less. The broth was okay, not as flavorful as I would like. It was a disappointment for sure - size/portion, taste, and cost. My cousin had ordered the Bunh and asked for no bean sprouts but still got them anyways. This was probably the best choice for the meal as I had it for leftovers the next day. The fish sauce was good. The ratio of vegetables to noodles was a bit excessive though. There was definitely a lot more cucumbers than anything else. I have had upscale at Le Colonial to the small and dingy pho restaurants in Little Saigon, but this would definitely not make it to the top of my lists for Vietnamese spots to go to any time soon.
(2)
Vee E.
Fast, efficient service, well-executed entrees and lovely decor. I'll come back! Free street parking and spacious patio are pluses. The drinks were delish! Side note: The air con was on max high, so bring a sweater.
(4)
Rahshonda K.
I had been wanting to check out Sawtooth for awhile now. Imagine my surprise when Bloomspot had a deal for $50 three course meal. I jumped on it. My BFF and I decided to partake in a Vietnamese adventure. It was well worth it!. 12.00 for parking...meh thinks not! We found a park right across the street and we did not have to pay for parking...yay!!! Once inside the decor is swank and super modern. We were seated and began to examine menu. We decided on the Bo La Lot I asked the server how is this dish..."Well its good but it may be out of your comfort zone because its a traditional Vietnamese dish" Uhhhhh OK. (Side Bar- How would she know its out of my comfort zone? Judging us) The Bo La Lot Pork wrapped in Vine Leaves it was divine. Moving on I decided for the Shaking Beef and my BFF the Catfish Clay Pot. My friend was torn so she inquired about the items on the menu...our servers response..."I have only been here two weeks" Uh...Ok. She walked away and we both looked like WTF...Next to us another server was explaining all the items on the menu so we were able to ask her to stop our table and give the same overview. Once our entree came we were glad we asked the other server for advice her recommendations were outstanding. The Shaking Beef was absolutely tender as she explained and out of this world. My friend did indeed go with the Catfish and after trying it...it was a winner for sure! On to the dessert we settled on something other chocolate and went with the Passion Fruit Torte. OMG So delish. Overall we both enjoyed the decor, atmosphere, and food. Definitely going back however note to owner. When hiring someone new let them sample the foods so they can properly explain your menu. PS. The Sand and Sea drink was very nice
(4)
Lulu R.
West loop! I am impressed. Located in the trendy West Loop I was invited to an event here. I of course being a faithful yelper, yelped it. I looked at the mixed bag of reviews and decided to do this myself. Being a lover of Vietnamese food and fancy things, Sawtooth fits the bill to a T. Glass everything-doors-windows-bar + innovative lighting= food for the eyes. The place was clean and very crisp looking and multileveled too! We sat at the bar and I left my night in the hands of the bartender. He worked wonders and made me a champagne gin martini that I have never even heard of before...and trust me I have drank my fair share of gin martinis. AMAZING! His creativity and friendliness drew me in and bravo to him for making me a tasty drink. I had the rice paper spring rolls with some siracha and hoisin on top was so fresh and tasted like there was a little party in my mouth. The steak with bell beppers and bacon wrapped shrimp were also a hit. I was impressed with thier Banh Mi sandwiches as well. I got the honor of meeting the owners and they were so inviting and friendly that they made me feel like family. So helpful tips: leave it to the bartender to invent you a drink, eat it all, check out the whole restaurant, and enjoy!
(5)
Linda. G.
I've never been here for dinner, but I have been here a few times for their Sunday day parties and it has become my new favorite Sunday Funday spot. The staff is friendly, the crowd is diverse, and the music is all hip hop. No strict dress code.
(4)
Johnny T.
Yes, you can get the same for cheaper on Argyle (or, in some corner of Uptown). Yes, you might have some service hiccups. Yes, the restaurants is still working out the kinks. But. The food is tasty. The drinks are interesting. The service is nice. And, the place is going to be hopping once it warms up. So, focus on the positives because there's no reason why Sawtooth shouldn't be sticking around for a while. I enjoyed the Banh Xeo and grilled prawns to start with. The bx was delicious. The crepe had the perfect texture and the combo of pork, mint and any crunchy green is always a winner in my book. The portion size was nice as well. Prawns are prawns and I will eat them all the day long. These were nicely seasoned and generously portioned. Normally, I would have gone for the scallops entree, but after seeing what those ugly mfs look like in the wild, I am done with them. Horrible. I settled on the bun thit. The pork was nicely marinated and the noodles were well-cooked. Was I blown away by innovation? No. But, Sawtooth has atmosphere a'plenty and that's what you're paying for. You're also paying for the inventive drinks. So as to hold on to my man card, I'll refrain from saying what I had but it probably wouldn't have been out of place in a Katy Perry song/video. Aaand, just like that, I probably lost my man card. Well, with that out of the way, I've gotta tell you to save room for a refreshing and healthy dessert of fresh fruit and orange mousse. The mousse was a surprise hit. It was delectable and I could have had another serving. It pairs well with fresh berries. Check out Uptown for function, good and cheap Vietnamese food in the winter months. Wear your hoodie and forget the makeup. Once the thaw comes, put on your flyest gear and hop over to Randolph Street for good food, fun drinks, stylish atmosphere (the upstairs and the outside patio will be packed; it's a sure thing), and a good night out with your people. Trade-offs... but worthy ones.
(4)
Adam B.
Well, what a pleasant experience! Highly, highly recommend. Started with the "bo la lot". Get it. No matter what. Delicious, and interestingly different for someone who has never really experienced Vietnamese food before. Then I had the "shaking beef" which was salty but delicious once you hit it up with the lime and salt/pepper mixture. Get that too. It is like the smarter, better stepbrother to getting Chinese beef delivery. The lady got the "crispy egg noodles" which was so unique and she LOVED. The shrimps were out of this world delicious. Polished it all off with the chocolate lava cake which was clearly pre-made but warm and gooey like it should be, with a nice selection of complementing fresh fruit around it to bump it up. I forgot to mention two things: the service and the cocktails. Service was outstanding. Cocktails were DELICIOUS. Go to the bar and ease yourself in. Also in full disclosure, we used the Travelzoo certificate as an entry-point to try this place. It was fairly empty on a Wednesday night but NOTHING lagged or lacked being maybe 15% full and using a coupon. I would go back, although a little off the beaten path and a couple dollars more than typical, because it was so tasty and so pleasant! Only complaint: chugging water through the night afterwards because of the salt. But I am sensitive to salt so there you have it.
(5)
Ashley C.
Since it had been about four months since their opening, we thought we might want to see how things were doing. Unfortunately, I wasn't impressed and while I had been generous last time, by now, they should have their act together. We came on Sunday for an earlier dinner at about 6:30. The food was average at best. We tried the Spring Roll appetizers this time around and were just okay. The Pho Ga was still good but now my palate has had more to compare it to. The big problem: Service. What a difference bad service makes. There was only one other couple was in the restaurant. Yet, somehow everything was REALLY slow. Even more frustrating, there seemed to be an abundance of staff around. Truth is, this review is now written after going to Argyle Street for the first time and well, my standards are higher. While this place is closer to us, I just don't they can cut it, particularly with their slow service.
(2)
David R.
I learned about Sawtooth from a WGN Midday newscast. My friend and I went on my second trip to Chicago this year. We arrived at a good time and found a good car park as someone was leaving from a place directly in front of the restaurant. The decor was good, IMO. We started with the sawtooth wings; they were good and well seasoned. I think they were served with a side of watercress. The watercress complimented the taste of the wings. I had the 'clay pot catfish'. I normally don't eat catfish, but I am willing to try it at most Asian restaurants. The presentation was in a pot with the fish and a caramel sauce. It comes with salad and steamed rice. She had the 'shaking beef'. I recall it came with a side of salt and pepper and lime. The lime juice was mixed w/ the salt & pepper to make a paste for dipping the beef. I tasted it; it was good also. I had two drinks a Caipirinha and a drink called Summer in Saigon - the latter one was a drink with muddled cucumber and Elderberry liquor. It was good! The cucumber was not overpowering and it had a good balance flavor, IMO. Caipirinha was ok; it had a grapefruit taste. Summer in Saigon was better, IMO. We shared a passion fruit torte! That was delicious! The taste of the passion fruit was there, but not overly tart. I recall reading a review about slow service, I have to say the same. I think it was more than 10 minutes before I got my drink after placing the order. Food and drinks were good; but slow service at times. We agreed on 3 stars for Sawtooth!
(3)
Kat C.
Will definitely return! It's so great to get great authentic Vietnamese food not on Argyle! Much better than Le Colonial in the Gold Coast, but just as pricey. It's a beautiful restaurant... The portions are a good size too. My friend and I had Bun thit nuong cha gio, bo la lot, pho ga, salty prawns, shaken beef, and the passionfruit torte.... the only thing I wouldn't get again would be the pho - the broth was weak and for the same price, you can get a big bowl up on Argyle. Fish sauce is a staple in Vietnamese cuisine, and if you don't like it - better to order something else since the dish is likely to be dry and bland with out it. Their mojito and Dalat Love (with muddled strawberry) cocktails were delicious. Apparently it turns into a swanky lounge in the evenings - we left before that crowd appeared.
(4)
Andrea R.
3.5 stars, but I'll be nice and round up since they are brand spankin new. They've still got some new restaurant kinks to work out like the slow service, order confusion (they seemed to have a bit of trouble getting the drink orders right) and simple things like including a pen with the check would be appreciated. However, once they get these kinks worked out I have no doubt this will be a popular dining destination. The contemporary decor is gorgeous and I look forward to eating on their patio once it's warm again. The food is quite good. Since we were a rather large party we started with a bunch of their apps and I enjoyed it all...favorites being the crepes (they had a fancier name), calamari and spring rolls. For my entree I went with some more calamari, this time the sweet and sour calamari entree. The portion could have been a bit bigger, but may have just been that I'm"m very pregnant and always very hungry these days. The dessert options were a bit sad...fruit plate or orange mousse, although have to admit that the mousse was way more appetizing than it sounds. I'm a big fan of Vietnamese food so I'm definitely rooting for Sawtooth!
(4)
Adrian J.
So I had a Travelzoo coupon to this place for a while but never got around to using it. I finally decided to use it and much to my surprise it says on the coupon, reservations are required 24 hours in advance. Wow what a place. It must be really busy. So we make a reservation for the same night and they say they can accomodate us because we're only two people. The decor is very nice. Everything is pretty tastefully done. As for the food we were able to sample the calamari, shaking beef, chilean sea bass and fruit torte. The dishes were not bad, especially the shaking beef. My chilean sea bass could have been a bit firmer as it seemed a little too mushy for me. The service is where everything gets interesting. Our waiter was friendly enough. But the staff is completely disorganized. It took 1 hour and 40 minutes to have a meal three courses for two people. Seems a bit excessive. It took nearly 20 minutes for us to place our orders and receive our drinks. They have one bus boy that clear plates that comes around every 25 minutes, maybe. The rest of the staff, just walks around tidying the empty tables (there were a lot). They see our empty dirty plates on the table and ignore it because I guess they're above that? Our waiter was pretty much nowhere to be found for most of the night, hence the extremely long dinner. I propose a vicious cycle of service and coupons/Groupon. Once they know you have a groupon, they give you bad service. Once you get bad service, you leave a standard tip. And so it continues. The wait staff at this restaurant need to learn that you need to give good service to break this cycle. Will not be returning because I could probably have a 10 course meal in the 2 hours that it took to have three at this place.
(2)
Phil W.
Loved this place. Food and drinks were great. It reminded me a bit like Slanted Door in SFO. The only reason I take a staff off is that I went with my wife on a Friday night at 7:00 and it was DEAD. The location is not bad, but very west. It is across the street from the tasting room and that is how we discovered it in the first place. I'd love to go again with a bigger group of people. I really felt bad for them b/c it seems like such a great place, but no traffic.
(4)
Jessica W.
Been here once on a Tuesday night, made a reservation for 7:30 and the place was dead until about 8:30 when we were getting ready to leave. Pros: The patio is super cute and protected from wind due to the way it's set up. Our server was awesome and the manager was also very nice, greeted us and thanked us for coming. Most importantly the food was YUMMY! Cons: overpriced...WAY over priced in my book. We did drink a few glasses of wine each (2 of us) and order 4 plates (all meant to share) but our bill was $170?! I guess the sea bass was $35 and I was not paying attention. It was my favorite thing we had but not worth $35! The seafood clay pot was so good and I also like that they offer brown rice (another up charge though). Overall it was ok, for the cost there are many other similar places I would rather go.
(3)
Shannon H.
Service was great and food was excellent. We had the Salmon rolls, watercress beef, sugar cane shrimp, and shaking beef entree. All items were very good!
(5)
Dayna R.
The "Spirit Masters" are AWESOME!!! Great food, drinks & ambience! Great place to host an event!
(5)
Kim H.
One star at a time! That is the theme for this review. So, I met a good friend tonight for drinks and dinner. From the time I sat down at the bar, I could tell that I liked the joint. Sawtooth has a lovely, soft, clean decor with classic crooners playing proudly in the background. For this, it earns one star. Bobby, our friendly and attentive bartender served us royally. Knowing it was our first time (pun intended), Bobby provided us with delicious recommendations for each course we enjoyed, including appetizers and our main course. We tried the calamari and king salmon rolls, both of which were smartly prepared and nicely presented. My friend had the shaking beef and I had the grilled pork chop. She expressed great pleasure and satisfaction to her selection, and I had to stop myself from picking the bones clean. For this, Sawtooth earns another star. When it came down to dessert, Bobby graciously allowed us to substitute a second appetizer in place of the sweet stuff. For the demonstration of flexibility and accommodation, Sawtooth ears a third star. Lastly, and most importantly, our drinks were a treat. Mt friend is partial to gin and I whiskey. She was quite pleased with her cucumber-infused gin drinks. Although there were no whiskey options, Bobby recommended a wonderful grapefruit and vodka cocktail for me. I was sold. And for that, Sawtooth earns a fourth star. With one star at a time as its philosophy, Sawtooth has earned itself a nice, fat 4-star Yelp rating
(4)
Tiffany L.
Came here with a big group of people, there was a slight mixup with our reservation but the friendly owner, Dzuy, graciously offered to put us in their semi-private room upstairs, and even chatted with us for a while and really made us feel welcome. The decor is contemporary but the food is AUTHENTIC vietnamese, the owner himself even stated that he did not wish to put up a fusion restaurant. The prices are reasonable, of course slightly more than the viet food in Argyle, but c'mon you are definitely paying for quality and ambiance. I thought paying $10 for a bowl of pho was ridiculous at first, however the meat is filet mignon and the broth is very tasty, and not overly salted and msg'ed like those Argyle joints. Other things we ordered: - Clay pot catfish: would be better if less oily, and had a more robust flavor. - Spring rolls, one regular, one pork, both just okay. - Calamari: so much potential in this dish, very much like salt pepper squid in Chinatown, but desparately needed salt. - Another catish dish -- it's the fried one, it's in vietnamese on the menu, also decent. - Sand and the Sea cocktail -- DELICIOUS! Lovely finish, but wish I tasted more of the basil. Honestly, nothing I ate was standout here, although I WOULD come back for the pho. It is much better quality than the pho in Argyle. But if you're a quantity over quality type of person, this might not be for you. The service still has some kinks to work through-- hopefully they will be impeccable by the time of their grand opening in a few weeks. I'm looking forward to the potential of this place!
(3)
Samika M.
DO NOT EVER HAVE A PARTY HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To make a long story short, I reserved a table & nothing went as planned. Supposedly I was allowed 15 in my party because of how much I spent for bottle service. Well I ended up paying an extra $100 at the door because they said promoters don't know what their talking about & I had too many people. Come to find out 3 out of the 7 "extra" people had already paid so I was clearly ripped off. On top of that the server had the worse attitude. I tried calling a manger today, but the person on the phone said the only way to get a response is through email because they do have a business to run(in a very condescending tone). Then he went on to say I probably won't get this resolved because everybody from that night would have to state their side, like I know the 3 ladies at the door personally. What ever happened to good ole customer service. You mean to tell me there are no records of that night, I mean I still have my receipt. I truly believe they are hiding behind emails & using that promoter line as an excuse. All I want is for someone to take ownership of these so called communication issues, rectify this by giving me my $100 back, and don't use condescending tones with patrons that spend money there.
(1)
Q M.
First of all, four stars for Bobby! Bobby the bartender was friendly, made a mean drink and was so accommodating that my friend and I decided to stay seated at the bar for our meal. Secondly, as other Yelpers mentioned, the cucumber/gin concoction is exceptional. Have one. Thirdly, the calamari and shaking beef were very good. Have those too. Will certainly be back to try more things on the menu.
(4)
Damon M.
Came here this weekend for a Roble and Co brunch that ran out of food half way through the event. We were disappointed but don't know who was actually to blame for this problem. Then we were asked to pay $20 for a "three drink ticket", for an event that was RSVP. (And still no food) time for brisk walk down the street to Porkchop. I know Sawtooth is a great restaurant and Roble and Co are excellent caterers but someone has to take the blame for this one.
(2)
Jeff R.
Every once in a while I get lucky, lucky that I don't have to choose the restaurant for an evening out. Eric and I made plans with friends Eric and Juliana but let them decide the location. Sawtooth had been on their list with many false starts, so it was an easy and natural choice for a Saturday night destination. Located on the far west end of West Town on Randolph, Sawtooth is a new Vietnamese restaurant and lounge. The decor is an interesting modern look with lots of whites and glass. They also have a nice outdoor patio area for the warmer months, the opposite of the rainy chilly night we went. The main dining room is on the first floor while the lounge space overlooks the bar area. It is a rather small dining room and a narrow space, but they have done a good job with separation between tables to avoid the feeling of eating next to strangers. Our first surprise came on the cocktail list. They have a nice and complete wine list, in addition to a number of beers on tap or bottle. But glancing at the specialty cocktails gave the impression of fruity beach drinks. There was nothing wrong with those options (i.e. dalat-a-love, Summer in Saigon, Mehkong Mojito, etc.), just unexpected, especially on a rainy fall evening in the city. The drinks came out great with high praise. We started the meal with three starters: spring rolls, pork rolls and banh xeo (Vietnamese filled fried pancake). My favorite was the spring roll served with delicious spicy peanut sauce. The pork roll was very similar, and I don't recommend order two rolls, just pick one. The banh xeo was the least enjoyed and least interesting. It resembles a large, fried hot pocket stuffed with vegetables. There wasn't a lot of flavor, too much fried dough and too difficult to share. Notice the thumb holes in the plates. All of the plates had unique or fun modern twists that were noticed by everyone. It was a nice touch that matched the environment and feeling. For my main course I was in a vegetarian mood and ordered the basil tofu and smoked eggplant dishes. I should have ordered a side of rice to help soak up the sauces and diffuse some of the strong spices. The basil tofu was very good, not overly cooked and served in a light sauce with broccoli and onions. I highly recommended that dish. The eggplant was not as good, but mostly because the flavors were too strong. After a handful of bites I had to stop and regroup, eat some rice and drink some sake. I know some people think eggplant is bland and in need of spices but this was too much for me. Erica ordered a very tasty grilled pork chop. She too did not finish her dish citing an exhaustion of taste buds. I tried a piece and thought it was very good, but I can understand not being able to eat an entire chop. Juliana said her seafood clay pot was bland throughout, and Eric's chicken curry was good but very spicy. Our experience at sawtooth was pleasant, allowing us to enjoy the good company of friends. I'm sure the patio is fun when it's open. While the value is good (main dishes ~ $15, starters ~ $8), the quality and flavors are inconsistent and volatile. We had no complaints from the drinks, though Eric and I tried to order a bottle of sake, which led to an interesting exchange... I would not rush back to eat at Sawtooth but could suggest checking out the "lounge" to focus on drinking and ordering small plates to snack.
(3)
Andrew M.
Nice decor, good layout, might be a "go-to" place for me but the Pho, although good, was a very small portion unless you "upsize" and then it is a very high price for what you get. I really can't complain about the price 'cause we were using a Groupon. Speaking of that, the Groupon said "expires on July 21". We went on July 21. At 8:00pm. When we presented the Groupon, a manager came back and said "these expired at 6:00pm tonight but as an exception, we''ll take it." I said "Really? Where does it say 6:00pm on the Groupon?" I was told "Never mind, boy are we glad this Groupon promotion is over!" If you didn't want customer to buy half-priced food (which is about the correct price for the portion you get) then you shouldn't have offered the Groupon.
(2)
Angela H.
I really wanted to like this place. It would be so nice to have a nice Vietnamese restaurant so close. Sadly, this place was nothing memorable. Every dish was too greasy, even the pho. Not sure how they managed to make the pho greasy, but they did. I'd just come back from Palo Alto and had amazing upscale Vietnamese food. It was so good, it left me craving shaking beef and seafood glass noodles for days, sadly this place left me wanting and paled in comparison to my meal earlier that week. I prefer Argyle both in terms of taste and cost.
(2)
Jeff M.
We made a reservation for this place about 3 weeks ago for last night. We arrived to find it closed and it looks like it is permanently closed.
(1)
Brian M.
I have been wanting to check this place out for some time. I finally got around to it with some clients. It has decent decor and food, but the service was pathetic. It was a slow night, and yet the waiter couldn't keep up, or even appear to try. Half the table was done with their drinks before the others even got theirs. Even better, the waiter took away one of my client's plates while he was in the rest room. Instead of being conciliatory about the mistake or offering to make any kind of amends he told my client that he had asked whether he was done. That didn't take place because he wasn't at the table. No one else told him to take the plate. It was really arrogant. Since it was a party of eight gratuity was included, but the waiter didn't deserve the tip he got. I'd consider giving it another try with a different waiter.
(2)
Mike H.
I enjoy my Vietnamese food b/c the cuisine mainly uses fresh ingredients and it's healthy. I've tried my fair share and Sawtooth just didn't do it for me or the lady. Service: Great even though we used a voucher. We went on a Wed evening and the restaurant was 33% full. Our waitress (we guessed she was Spanish) was very nice and even the other waiters were helpful & courteous. Ambiance: Trendy. Floor to ceiling windows and concrete floors. This likely works well in the summer months. We went in January and it was ~10 degrees (F) outside. I'm a GAM (Grown A.. Man) and don't mind things a bit chilly. I've never been cold like this before at a restaurant. 15 minutes after ordering and getting our drinks, we asked a waiter (not the Spanish lady) what could be done to increase the temperature. He asked if we wanted to move away from the windows. Sounded like a good idea, but didn't do much to help. I then realized the concrete floors were the main problem and kept the place like an ice box. My feet were freezing. And we weren't crazy. Many people were 'enjoying' dinner with their coats on. The Spanish waitress put on a sweater while we were there. My lady friend ate while sitting on her jacket and with my jacket across her lap. On to the food: Lotus Stem Salad - Very nice. This is the dish that most resembled a Viet dish that we had. Surprisingly had a lot of shrimp and calamari. Seafood Claypot Rice - Good flavor but too oily for our taste. I've had better claypot rice at Golden Bullin Chinatown. If you ask Golden Bull nicely, they'll actually cook the rice a bit longer and you'll find a crunchy, rice texture in the pot... Crispy Egg Noodles - Nice presentation and seafood was good but way too salty. Again, another dish you can find in Chinatown. There are authentic Vietnamese dishes on the menu that we didn't choose. Why you ask? B/c I can ring up Mom, drop by over the weekend, and enjoy those same dishes (no one cooks better than your own mother, right?) so we largely decided to go with Yelp recommendations. Cocktails were ok - nothing to write home about. Didn't have dessert b/c I've heard frostbite could become a serious issue. I couldn't wait any longer to leave the place. To the Asians: If you looking for true Vietnamese food, it'll be easier and cheaper on the wallet to go to Argyle or even a few Viet places in Chinatown. To the Westerner: This place reminds me more of Chinese than Vietnamese. It's a bit salty for my taste but my experience tells me most Westerners like food a bit saltier so you may be able to overlook that. To Everyone: Bring boots, a scarf, and light jacket if you're dining at Sawtooth when it's cold outside.
(2)
Haley S.
Had dinner with a group of girlfriends here. The drinks were awesome, for starters. Friendly service, the waiter was adorable. Everyone enjoyed their food, I had the quail, which was really tasty. All in all a fun evening, and near Market and Lumen and a few other fun places to go out.
(4)
M S.
Went here with a Travelzoo voucher. I would definitely go back for the full price meal and try more dishes. Tried the egg rolls which were fried just right--the wraps were crispy and the stuffing was flavorful. The seafood nest was okay, but not the best. Others in my group had the pineapple shrimp which was tasty and served spectacularly. Went on a Saturday night and it was pretty empty for dinner. The bar seemed hip and the place probably livens up later in the night...I might try it then next time.
(4)
F. W.
I was here this past Sunday for a day party. My friend and I arrived around 8pm. I was surprised there was no cover charge, however, the bartender charged $24 for 2 vodka/sodas(no specific vodka). I was a little thrown off but paid the bill via credit card and $5 cash tip. About an hour later, I headed upstairs, ordered the exact same vodka/soda and the bartender charged $9.60.(also tipped in cash)Hmmmm...ohhhkayyy. I looked at both receipts the next day, I was debating if I should contact management but I let it go. Today, I looked at my credit card statement to discover the bartender who charged $24 had FRAUDULENTLY tipped herself $4 on my credit card!!!ARE YOU SERIOUS girl??? I tipped you $5 CASH and you STEAL FROM ME! WOW. This is the very reason i should not have forgotten to cross out the tip line before signing the receipt! I have worked in the restaurant industry for YEARS! I know how greedy some people can get. You give a bad name to people in the service industry. I know exactly who you are because you work at numerous hip hop nights at various clubs/bars in chicago. You should be ASHAMED of yourself. I will NEVER come here again! All these bad reviews are 100% warranted.
(2)
Amanda M.
More of a 3.5. I enjoyed the decor, especially the wall of various vases of bamboo and the hanging umbrella lights. Service was great. Food was good too. Had veggie spring rolls and spicy lemongrass chicken. Felt the menu could have been more specific about the dishes because I didn't know mine came with rice, which was a nice surprise, but there were also giant lettuce leaves, that I thought maybe I was supposed to make wraps with the chicken? Pretty decent portions for a place like this. And they do have a considerable amount of veggie options. While the food itself were pretty good, it was nothing outstanding and while my spicy lemongrass chicken had good equal flavor of lemongrass and spice, it was a tad on the oily side. I did appreciate the abundance of scallions though. My sister had the veggie clay pot rice and it had fresh mushrooms, along with canned ones which is very annoying. This place def is more of a Viet-fusion place rather than authentic as it claims.
(3)
D O.
exceptionally bad experience... 30 minute wait to order drinks ( full-priced and watered down) 45 minute wait to order food 1 hour and 20 minute wait to get food. (We didn't have anything to eat, so we kept time to stay entertained.) Food was mediocre and the waiter walked away in the middle of taking our order. And the restaurant was really really cold.
(2)
Mandy A.
The husband and I walked over here on the third anniversary of living in our condo a couple blocks away. We sat outside on a nice summer night, there were a couple other tables out there and a DJ just setting up. We started off with some red wine and a fruity drink, it must have been good because I totally can't remember what it was made with. Fun glasses though, I only remember that because I took a picture of them. Total dork. We asked our server for suggestions on an appetizer and he suggested the charbroiled pork rolls with peanut sauce. They were fresh and light but the flavor was really mild and I wish it had a little more going on. For entrees, I got the seafood clay pot (in front) which was shrimp, calamari and scallops with mushrooms, broccoli, onions and baby corn cooked in a clay pot over rice and a very scalding broth. Everything was cooked perfectly, even the scallops which I was amazed at, but holy hell was that thing hot. It tasted good so all patience went out the window but my tongue was definitely not feeling well the next day. Husband got the shaking beef dish which was filet mignon in a lime sauce. I stole a bite and the steak was really tender and the sauce was flavorful. Looking back on our choices, I'm not sure we were really that adventurous. Everything was good, nothing was bad, persay, and we were full but we didn't get any traditional dishes. However, from what I've read here, if you want traditional, you should go up to Argyle to get it.
(3)
Dee C.
Wow. Such a good experinece which is hard to come by when using a travelzoo coupon. Had a great meal start to finish. Had the a lot of love drink and man. One of the bests drinks I have ever had. Felt like I was in strawberry heaven. Crispy egg noodles with tofu and mixed vegetables for my main entree and that was totally great. I loved how the noodles were shaped into a bowl. The tofu was cooked to the perfect firmness. My husband also loved his entree and drink. He had the cucumber gin drink and the cucumber tasted so fresh, making the drink amazing. For dessert we had the chocolate cake and that was the perfect ending to the night. The service was superb. The food was amazing. We can't wait to go back. This place can get pricey, so thank you to travelzoo for allowing us to find this gem.
(5)
Agnes F.
I probably should give Sawtooth another chance its really a nice restaurant, the decor is clean and simple, the service is friendly, the drinks are good and the appetizers (wings and sawtooth salad) rock but the entrees? a real let down i had the stuffed quail (real dry) and my fiance had the cod (fishy and tasted only ok) I'll try the shaking beef next time instead
(3)
Colleen C.
Trip #2 yielded an "AOK" from the crowd...and whilst I was willing to be generous on the first go (4-stars) when Sawtooth was newly opened...I'm afraid go 'round deux was just a tad less impressive. I opted for a convenient location for my mother's birthday dinner celebration, and Sawtooth is perfectly stationed. A reservation was secured, and our party of 5 was quickly seated for dinner in the West Loop, birthday commence! Drinks: all fine. Their cocktail menu could use some sprucing, but its certainly adequate. Beer and wine lists are above average, most definitely. Service: OK. Nothing incredible, and recommendations were lacking in depth. When providing service at a restaurant with a somewhat foreign cuisine, I think it appropriate to be VERY well-versed on each item as to provide insight and good pairings. This was not the case, but an AOK rating here as well...as food arrived promptly and dishes were cleared in the same manner. Water glasses remained full. There just wasn't that extra sparkle that I do wish for with a $200+ bill. The Food: This is where the real let down occurred. Spring rolls are pedestrian, at best. Chicken wings do not give the impression of being freshly made/rolled or fried. The Sawtooth Salad was quite good, the Shaking Beef entree a winner once again, and the small pho worthy of winter slurping. Yes, you can get better pho on Argyle that is 4x the size and 1/3 the price. But, we are on Randolph...thus, the price. The first soup I ordered with coconut and crab wontons was easily the least appetizing element. A runny green substance with zero flavor, two small wontons and tepid. A total zero. Unhappy. The pho was ordered to replace this dud...and thus, I paid over $22 in soups. Sigh. My parents split the red snapper, which looked appealing (and large) but happened to also resemble...pork? It did end up being fish, but I would guess well-cooked and prepped fish would never give off the radiance of a pig. Enough said. Desserts: Only 2 on the menu...a passionfruit tart was ordered. They are not made in-house. The server did not know how to describe it, but they did bring it out with a candle for the birthday girl, so all is forgiven. It was OK, but I think they can do better. Ambience: Stellar. The place is beautiful. When the patio opens, this will be a destination most definitely. This place is worthwhile. They could be outstanding. They need an overhaul of the menu, a jumpstart in service and some crafty cocktails. If they can achieve this by the time the patio reopens, they'll be money and I'll be back. But for now...just AOK.
(3)
MaryLu C.
I though for the ambiance, service, wine and food together. The place was great. We went on a quite Tuesday day with a groupon. When we arrived we were seated quickly and as soon as I pulled out my laptop since this was a working dinner, the manager ran out to offer the code. They admit they focus on white wines, but the ponot noir I had was fabulous. We both had fish dishes that were succulent and tender. The after paying the bill following an hour of intense conversation and two glasses of wine realized I forgot my groupon my briefcase, the voided it out and reran it. Would go again when I want Vietnamese food.
(5)
Jessica T.
My experience at this restaurant was a sign from God that my Yelp hiatus must come to an end. This is because Sawtooth was the first and only restaurant I have ever walked out of before I even ordered my food. I feel as though that is worth yelping about. My boyfriend and I made reservations here 2 weeks ago. It wasn't very busy when we came in, and our hostess and waitress seemed friendly. She took our drink order, and then we waited. And waited. And waited. She came back to our table once or twice and told us that she would go get our drinks from the bar. Then she would reappear several minutes later, sans drinks. After about 25 minutes, not only had we not received our drinks, but she hadn't even taken our food order. So we left. And as we were walking out, we explained to the manager what happened. He shrugged his shoulders and offered a barely audible apology. He did not offer to do anything to remedy the situation. Even though the menu was enticing, I don't think I will be coming back here as a matter of principle.
(1)
Adam K.
I went to Sawtooth on a nice Thursday evening to use a TravelZoo Voucher that I had purchased. I live in the neighborhood and have just never gotten the urge to go to Sawtooth even though it looks like a sleek, sexy and polished place to dine on some pretty exotic fare. The atmosphere is pretty modern. Polished concrete floors, dark varnished wood, and a low lit clubby type atmoshpere. The drinks were really good, and that says a lot considering I'm a person who usually takes Maker's on the rocks and will not tolerate cocktails that are essentially sugar and booze. They did a nice job of lettting the booze shine through instead of masking it completely. They also pack a good punch! We started with the Calamari. This was AWESOME. It was nicely and lightly tempura breaded and came with green onions mixed in. It had a fantastic flavor. My only complaint is that they really did not do anything fancy with the sauce...they simply served it with a side of Sriracha. Don't get me wrong, Sriracha is good, I was just expecting a little more creativity. For dinner we went with the fish. One of us had Salmon, and one had Seabass. They were both terrific. The salmon had a nice crusty peppery crunch to it, while still being cooked perfectly inside. The seabass was served in a chili-esque type broth that really highlighted the natural flavor of the dish. On the side we got Spicy Baby Bok Choy, and it was great....and spicy. Wine list focuses on whites and is really well thought out. Desert was pretty middle of the road. If you go here you should really focus on the apps, entrees, and sides. They really hit the mark in those departments. And get the vietnamese coffee...
(4)
benjamin m.
Okay, Contemporary Vietnamese better than Argyle Street for the same prices with the best cocktail(s) I've ever had and a level 2 Sommelier pairing the wines that are priced better than any restaurant I've seen, at the end of restaurant row? Ummmm Yes please. This is one of the sexiest spaces Ive seen The Main bar is a work of art (literally I talked to the Artist/Architect at the opening last night.) ' The food is amazing! Not dumbed down americanized vietnam...Anthony Bbourdain no reservations Vietnam. Start with a cocktail by Nam (Formerly of Sushi Samba) I suggest the "Sand and the Sea" rum, lemongrass, lime, coconut water and basil. I had two (All cocktails are only $9!) Then head upstairs with friends to the lounge and just start ordering. The sommelier will pair tastings with every dish you order. The list is really heavy on aromatic whites...very cool. The patio looks amazing but apparantly just waiting on an occupancy liscense (Cant wait for that) The waitstaff is friendly and attentive (also very good looking) I will be back ALOT! food ranges from $6-$12 for apps and $10 to $22 for very sharable size portions. (Get the shaking beef or the whole red snapper. Yay for sawtooth!
(5)
Mihir P.
Have you had bitter lemon soda???? Yeah, the stuff you get in the UK. They have it! I got the Soza drink - one of their signature drinks that has the coveted soda. I really love this place. The decor is multi-minimalist. Meaning the walls are different but each is modernistic. Is that Interpol I hear? Holy squirrel nuts! it is! Love it! That was the only artist I recognized on their playlist but I need to know the others. I give the food about three and a half stars: - Sawtooth wings - some of the BEST wings I've had. NOT TO MISS. - Sugarcane Shrimp - great idea but needs better execution - Shrimp & sweet potato cake - not cakes. Just one large orgy of tempura stuck together so it's one piece. And it only comes with two shrimp. - Shaking beef - some of the most tender and flavorful beef I've had. - Grilled pork chop - a valiant effort but a tad overcooked and the sauce was too sweet. Try a thicker cut chop and less sugar. - Asparagus - plentiful and yummy. - Smoked eggplant - Magnificent but quite smokey; that's the point, right? - Passionfruit Tort - amazing but ours had a hair in it. GROSS! They gave us a new one but still charged us. After I pointed it out, they took it off with ZERO argument. I'll be back. FYI I just knocked down a star since I didn't get my opentable points. I asked Sawtooth and they said they'd look in to it but it's been at least 6 months and nothing has changed. I get annoyed at this incompetence.
(3)
Jenn K.
Sawtooth- an Americanized Asian joint with not Randolph Street worthy food. Food Being a huge restaurant goer, I have only sent back a dish under a handful of times. This was one of them. I ordered the Cha Ca La Vong. The texture, taste and flavors were just inedible. The fish was overcooked and tasteless; the accompaniments instead of complimenting the fish made the dish more unpleasant; just awful. I dined with several foodie friends who all agreed that the dishes are just simply disappointing. And no one could eat this fish. If you must go for some reason I recommend: Seafood Clay Pot RIce: Definitely not the greatest Asian seafood dish, but the best thing here out of more than 7 dishes tried. Sawtooth Wings: Tasted very similar to Korean GhamPoongGee wings. Very good although in comparison a crappy version of Great Seas (best GhamPoongGee). Service I expect a certain caliber of service when dining in a restaurant like this. If I am unhappy with a dish, I expect for the dish to be replaced. Come to think about it, I think even Denny's would do that. In the end I will note that the server did comp the fish and brought me another dish, but this was not after first refusing b/c I had already eaten some of the dish. Um, you typically need to try something before you know you don't like it. Ambiance The restaurant is very beautiful & modern and for that is a great addition to Randolph's Restaurant Row. But the food and service need an overhaul before I would ever go back.
(2)
Kathy C.
We went to Sawtooth on a Tuesday night. Had read about the place, and were looking for a place to go and Sawtooth had a coupon on Restaurant.com , so three of us met for dinner. The place is very modern, very attractive interior. We got the calimari and the banh xao for appetizers. Both were very good. Then we got the shaking beef, salmon and seabass for entrees. All three were very good, nice presentations. We split a chocolate cake for dessert, which was just ok. They also had a nice wine list. I would definitely recommend the restaurant.
(4)
Teri Y.
I'm torn as to how many stars to give Sawtooth. My husband and I had a pleasant experience here but we saw couple other tables that had really slow service that we felt bad for them. So while I think I should be giving a rating based on my very own experience, I can't help but think that we could have very well been one of the unlucky tables that got very slow service. Well let's begin with our experience that night. Our server was pleasant and was definitely not in a rush to get our orders in. So if you're looking to be in a very relaxed environment where you want to spend alot of laidback time with your date, then this is perfect for you. Our server first came to take our order for drinks. I got the Sand and Sea cocktails and it is made with fresh coconut juice-- pretty good. Their beer list is pretty impressive given that this is not a bar, so plus points for that. They had Wittekerke (my favorite Belgium beer), Goose Island brews, etc. My husband asked our server about the different kinds of beer and what were they like (light vs hoppy) and she recommended a couple beers to my husband based on what he felt like having that night. After a while, she came back to take our order for dinner. She came back a couple times to check on us as well. Service was pleasant but like I said, we had to be patient as it wasn't quick. I had a small pho bo and goodness gracious, the fillet mignon that came with the pho blew me away. It was everything amazing: tender and soft. The filet mignon strips were also a little rare but the hot broth cooked them, just like the way it's supposed to be. The broth was also excellent that I finished every drop of it. Only thing was that the noodles weren't soft enough. Don't get me wrong, I like my noodles al dente but those noodles were more than al dente. But I'm wiling to let this go because the filet mignon and broth blew me away. My only regret was that I ordered a small pho instead of a large one. Their spring rolls were also good and pretty filling. The Cha Ca La Vong (grilled catfish) was not bad at all. Now on to what we saw other tables experienced: a couple were seated shortly after us. Our server (being not the very quick server) went over to them probably about three times to tell them that she would be right with them. After waiting for quite a long time, the couple got up, walked over to the manager to tell him something, and then left the restaurant. I actually felt bad for the couple as I agree that they waited for a quite awhile. The service could really be a tad bit quicker without giving up the relaxed atmosphere the restaurant is trying to create. Later on towards the end of our meal, another couple got seated and I saw their faces getting tired of waiting to order their food too. We didn't wait to see if another episode of getting-up-to-leave happened but for Sawtooth's sake, I hope it didn't happen because Sawtooth does have alot of potential. Like other reviewers mentioned, since Sawtooth is new, I'd give them another chance to work out their kinks as I understand that service gets better with experience. I'm aware that they do try their best as the whole time we were there, there was a manager there keeping watch on how the floor was going. So as long as they try to speed up their service and not disappoint customers with slow service, I'm sure they will be another success on Randolph Row as their food is wonderful. I'm looking forward to order a large pho bo the next time I'm there.
(4)
Paul M.
Food was awesome. Chicken Wings: delicious, could use a little more spice if you ask me, but the glaze on them is awesome (plus they're jumbo). Shaking Beef: Had me shaking it was so good. Extremely tender, well marinated, and smothered in veggies and a tasty brown sauce. Summer in Saigon (cocktail): awesome. Cucumber, lime, amazingness. I could knock down about four or five after an afternoon on the golf course. Very refreshing. Others in my group got the clay pot dishes. One was veggie and the other seafood. The scallops and shrimp are nice and big. Everything and everyone was very pleased. Ambiance was great. Very cool, modern lounge style. Would be great to hold a birthday party here in the upstairs. Music was a little too loud a little too early....shouldn't crank the volume until 9 or 10 in my opinion, but oh well. One thing to consider; this place opened in the fall last year, and it's hard to get butts in the seats over the winter, especially as far West as it is on Randolph. BUT it's worth the cab ride or drive (there is plenty of parking). They have some outdoor seating that I can't wait to take advantage of in the Summer. Give it a shot, I think you'll like it.
(4)
Ashley C.
Went here with a group of 8 women and they easily accomodated a large group. The interior design is shick and trendy with clean lines and nice lighting. The outside is very modern and will definitely get croweded in the summer. For the food, I was very disappointed with my order. I ordered the crispy egg noodles which had scallops, jumbo shrimp, squid and mixed vegetables. While the dish was very fresh, it lacked flavor and was very bland. I chalked this up to just bad ordering as others in my group loved the roasted quail and salted jumbo prawns. The Pho Ga and Pho Bo were good as well. They definitely also had a really great drink list. Now for the service. The other reviews are correct in that the servers are so unattentive. Our table wanted to order MORE drinks and it was like pulling teeth for him to stop by once our food arrived. He did not come by after our food was delivered until we had to flag hiim down for a check. I hope they work out the kinks of the waitstaff because I'd definitely like to come back, and often, as it is in the neighborhood.
(3)
Janet C.
I went to Sawtooth this week with a dear friend, after reading about it on-line. From the hostess holding the door open for me when I got there, to the Summer in Saigon drink at the bar, to the atmosphere, to the staff, and to the wonderful food- this place is fantastic! The Shaking Beef is the most tender stuff I've ever had, and so yummy- especially with the lime/salt/pepper sauce. The wings for an appetizer are better than finger lickin' good. And you won't want to miss the Smoked Eggplant- even if you're not normally an eggplant fan. And the employees- hostess, bartender, waitress, manager: these folks are the icing on the cake. So nice and friendly! The decor is modern, yet soothing. The music was totally appropriate, and not too loud or too soft. It was such a delight spending a couple of hours eating delicious food, getting great service, and being able to have a fabulous catch up conversation with my friend.
(5)
Marcia M.
Sawtooth has sooooooooooooooo much potential. Sorry to be annoying but I can't emphasize enough about how this place could be a 5 star establishment if they can make it through the learning curves in the first weeks of business. At this time, Sawtooth is a steady 3.5 stars in my book. Here's why: The space is absolutely gorgeous and sleek! Tall ceilings are anchored by various textures that remain harmonious. The majority of the space is surrounded by massive windows and the bar area is very eye-catching. House infused spirits and wine offerings were delightful to the palette and my liver approved as well! Food was good as they offered a nice range of prices and options. I chose the Spring Rolls ($8) and requested tofu instead of other proteins. They were light yet filling. As an entree, I opted for the Basil Tofu ($8) with broccoli, wok tossed in light & dark soy sauce. The portion size was good and the dish was flavorful. Let's just say that I didn't have any leftovers..... Here's why I had to deduct stars: Although the staff was friendly and attentive. There were several mistakes at our table that included a confusing game of "Musical Wine" when the waitress made errors with what wine went with who? I should also state that she did give us the "Odd Wine" out that was delivered to our table for free. Another instance is when our table of 10 ordered 4 plates of the "Spring Rolls", I asked 2 of the staff if the Spring Rolls that were placed in front of me included tofu or pork. The other side of the table ordered the pork option. I live a vegan lifestyle. He said that it was tofu but I found out pretty quickly that it wasn't so. I personally don't freak out about things like this because they can be rectified but many people are very devout with their vegetarianism/veganism or have strict food restrictions. This type of thing should be confirmed before giving diners the green light to nosh. Sawtooth is still the new kid in town so I think we should all give them a couple of more weeks to work out the kinks but after that....GAME ON!
(3)
Allison H.
Amazing food. Bad location. Even worse service. It's unfortunate that this place is in such a bad location so far west from all the other Randolph bars and restaurants. Otherwise I imagine it would be much busier. There were 3 people at the bar when we got there otherwise the entire place was empty at 7:30 on a Thursday night. It got a bit busier by the time we left to maybe 4 or 5 tables but that's about it. The food was so good that it is the reason for 3 stars - honestly i would have given it 1 just based on location and service alone. We were seated and no one even came to bring us water for maybe 10 minutes. Our server finally set waters down for us then immediately left before we could even put a drink order in. Maybe 10 minutes later he finally stopped over and we put our drink order and made sure to get our appetizer order in as well because who knew when we'd see our waiter again (at this point we were the ONLY seated table). Our drinks took another 10 minutes or so (I ordered a glass of wine and my husband ordered a bottle of beer - nothing that takes much time or really requires any preparation). For an appetizer, we ordered the spring rolls which were light and delicious. It came with a warm peanut sauce that was amazing. When ordering my entree, I made the bad decision to ask our server's recommendation for something, which he of course didn't even know what the dish was - go figures. I was hoping the chef at least knew what the dish was. I ordered the seafood clay pot and my husband ordered the shaking beef. My dish was great - I was so impressed and surprised. My husband's shaking beef was AMAZING. Order this if you go. It was the most tender, perfectly cooked beef I have really even had in a long, long time. For dessert we ordered the chocolate lava cake and it was just ok. Nothing great, nothing bad. Overall, the appetizers and entrees were great and probably the thing that keeps this place in business. The service on the other hand needs some work.
(3)
Meg L.
This is such a cool space, it's a shame the food isn't quite as dazzling. It seems that Sawtooth's minimalist approach to decor extends to flavor. Not that anything we tried was bad, it just wasn't especially tasty. The calamari, shrimp & sweet potato cake, and banh xeo appetizers were bland, as was the cha ca la vong (which is grilled catfish, not, as the name seems to indicate, the name of a Vietnamese drag queen). The exception was the shaking beef which was simply prepared with bell peppers and onions in a slightly sweet, citrus-y sauce. Also, living so close to Argyle and Broadway, I'm used to enjoying Vietnamese food that is accompanied by a garden's worth of fresh cilantro but absolutely none of the dishes at Sawtooth had so much as a leaf in sight. To end on a positive note, the plates are easily shareable making this a great place to try with a group (albeit one that cares more about the scene than the food) and the service couldn't have been nicer.
(3)
Jess V.
If you want good Vietnamese food, go to Argyle Street in Uptown. If you live in near west neighborhood and don't want to take the trip, then come to Sawtooth. The three stars are more for the bar and interior design than the food. The food earns two stars. Let's start with the positive. Sawtooth has a great bar, and the draft and liquor selection to back it up. The bar itself is long and can fit a decent amount of people. The draft beer list will please any micro-brew fan. The cocktails are good and standard prices ($9-10). I very much look forward to coming here in the summer for a cocktail or a beer and sitting in their front patio area. The food leaves much to be desired. The imperial rolls were average shrimp egg rolls. The basil tofu was larger than I expected-- enough for an entree for one or to share with several as an appetizer. The tofu was very fried but soggy. I was hoping for a sauteed tofu as one usually finds at Thai restaurants, but this was battered, fried, and soggy all at once. My fellow diners ordered the pho bo, which they said was okay, but again recommended Argyle Street restaurants for stellar pho. I may return for the bar and an appetizer if I'm hungry, but I won't return for dinner. Ultimately if I'm dining out, I want the food to be delicious and worth the extra calories and money. The food did not satisfy those preferences, but the bar was very impressive. I recommend it as a place for drinks and maybe apps but not for dinner.
(3)
Pete D.
Such a disappointment to see the regression here. To start, the service was way below average. Took about 15 minutes after we sat down to even get our waiter to the table. They refilled our water glasses twice while we waited, so that was ok. From there, the appetizer was pretty good (chargrilled pork spring roll). The wine was a bit warm. Why restaurants in general don't keep red wine at cellar temperature is a mystery to me. Next we ordered our entrees, but I also ordered a pho bo with the beef on the side so I could "cook" it in the broth as I wanted it. Well, the waiter brought everything at once. So I had to choose to let my pho get cold or my entree (shaking beef) get cold. The waiter was amazed that I didn't want both things at once. And the pho had the beef already well overcooked in it. Wow. The pho was average at best. The seasoning was bland, with the beef one large nearly inedible sheet. The lime sauce for the shaking beef wasn't even served and it took a while to get the waiter's attention to get it brought out. Again, seasoning lacked. No salt anywhere. Salt is a pretty important part of cooking, but they don't seem to use it at Sawtooth. I've given this place 4 stars in the past and the 2 star rating is generous really. It takes a lot for me to give a negative review to a restaurant, but I couldn't keep this one to myself...
(2)
Emil O.
Went here to catch up with a few friends. I was very skeptical at first because of the location (yes, West Loop restaurants can be very spotty and pretentious without substance). Sawtooth I have to say, with much relief, is a must-try place. The decor is very pleasing and comfortable. I specially love the entry way and the cozy front yard (a very classy, simple cement patio with two long wood benches). The interior is very well laid out and very conducive to friendly conversations and hanging out with friends. The bar has a good assortment of cocktails and beer. The bar staff is very friendly and pleasant. Oh, and extra points for the nicely chosen stemware and dishes! Now on to the food.... it is very good for what the place is trying to be! I would not call it authentic Vietnamese food (and I don't think this place is trying to be that) but it is a wonderful and refreshing twist on Viet food. The Sawtooth wings is a great app to start with and so is the calamari. They have a very unusual and very pleasant take on papaya salad. I had the grilled pork and it was delicious! The rest of the table had the seafood claypot, the grilled eggplant (a must, even for carnivores!) and the chicken curry - all very very good! Overall I was very impressed with this place - both as a meet up location and as a dining place option. I will definitely add it to my list of places to go to on a casual evening of dining out or when you are simply too lazy to cook your own food. Can't wait to come back here when the weather is nicer - the outdoor space is hot!
(4)
Scott C.
WOW! Great food, great drinks and phenomenal service! I highly recommend this restaurant and can't wait to go back. The atmosphere and design of the place is great as well. The food was amazing! We ordered the watercress beef, pho bo, cha ca la vong, and shaking beef. We ordered a lot with plans to take home, but the food was so flavorful that we sport ate and finished it all. The proprietors and bartenders were very friendly and went out of their way to accommodate us and were very helpful while ordering.
(5)
Lady L.
I've been a few times now, and it's just been OK. Nothing really stood out as an amazing dish, I would chose other places before this one, and am still crossing my fingers for a life changing Vietnamese restaurant to come to the W Loop.
(3)
Ccc C.
We went there for dinner and really liked it. There are enough space between tables where you don't feel like your sitting ontop of each other. They had music but it was not overbearing. We were able to hear ourselves talk which I appreciate and the food was delicious. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer and my friend ordered the salmon for his entree which I tried and was delicious. I had the sawtooth salad with pork and shrimp which was soooo yummy. I am definitley a fan and will be back!
(4)
Luis R.
The place is sick. All contemporary and dramatic. The food is great, love the mojito and the red snapper was fresh. Maybe the best viet food in Chicago
(4)
Rob M.
I loved my experience at Sawtooth Restaurant. The Clay Pot Cod was amazing! ...hands down, one of the best meals EVER! The Grilled Pork was also excellent.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Anne K.
My frist time at Sawtooth was for a private event. The food was unbelievable!!! The Chicken Curry and the Shaking Beef were the two things I couldn't get enough of. The cocktails were phenomenal and had it not been that we had to leave for another engagement, my husband would have had to roll me out of there. The second time I went there was with a friend and again, I was impressed in the quality of their food. I ordered the succulent Shaking Beef (please note that I'm not at all a fan of meat) and some kind of strawberry cocktail that was amazing. For dessert I ordered some kind of a fruity mousse. I can't remember the name of it, but it was delicious. Our waitress was so delightful and sweet and our order came in promptly. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. It's definitely not cheap for Vietamese food, but you really pay for quality here.
(4)Brian C.
On a positive note, I did thing the food was decent and the ambiance was quite good. The owner did a good job picking a location and designing a restaurant. But the service is pretty bad. And it should not be hard to get decent service in a small medium size restaurant that is half full on a Friday night. The other down side is the price. I would not go there without a groupon or other discount.
(3)Bernadette N.
I always tell people that Chicago has a dinning scene equal to, if not superior to NYC. My husband has told me to stop saying that after we came her last Saturday night, around 8pm. The place was almost empty, so I was a little nervous initially, but there's usually a reason when that is the case. Then there were the typical "new restaurant" errors, no one knew where to seat us, the server was a bit delayed in coming to our table, the server had absolutely NO experience in service. But the decor was pretty cool, and I can get over a lot of the food is good. Unfortunately, it wasn't. We ordered drinks off the cocktail list, which were actually pretty good. They even made a "virgin" version for me, as I'm preggers, and it was really good. For apps we ordered the spring rolls (totally bland) and sawtooth wings. The wings weren't very exciting, but when my husband bit into a raw chicken wing, we told the waitress, and she just stood there - no apology. (they did end up taking it off the bill thought). For dinner we ordered shaking beef (the only bright spot in the meal), hot and sour calamari (the calamari steaks were so over cooked they were inedible) and bun thit nuong cha gio (bland again). Bottom line, this place is a joke as far as food goes - If you want good Vietnamese in Chicago go to Le Colonial. If you want a drink in a cool space, maybe try this place.
(2)Asha V.
THIS REVIEW IS FOR VEGETARIANS - I went to sawtooth with a vegetarian and we ended up ordering the three veggie side dishes on the menu. Meh! They could have done better. The spring rolls were good...better than Thalia Spice. Its not super expensive so I would say give it a try to experience it on your own. The ambiance is really cool and the cocktails are good. I will go back there to try their seafood. Shrimp seems to be a really popular dish. PS: There is no valet available so give yourself some time to find parking if you're driving.
(2)Dan A.
This place could be so fantastic. But as with all businesses, the people you interface with are the face of the business. The face of Sawtooth needs a complete and total overhaul. Ambiance here is fantastic. The clean, modern look of the space is very appealing, the outdoor eating area has a nice view of the interior (and vice versa, via a huge glass window). It's just cool. We had for appetizers: sugar cane shrimp (very good in both presentation and flavor), watercress beef (again, excellent in presentation and flavor, although very small portion for the price), spring rolls (pedestrian but certainly not bad - the accompanying sauce made them better than they were). For main courses we split: shaken beef (a must have - tender and flavorful), mango salad (above average in flavor and presentation), whole red snapper (I didn't have any but those who did reported excellence), and calamari (outstanding and perfectly prepared). Drinks - our female companion reported that both specialty drinks she got came out poorly and drank only half of each of them, and she's not too picky about these things, so that tells you what you need to know about the bartender, who wasn't very pleasant... segue... wait for it... Service - this is where I could have given a zero - or more appropriately, a negative 1,000,000. I can't begin to enumerate the service issues we experienced. We sent our house water back (it tasted funny - our server dumped all of it on a tree on the patio, which we thought was odd) and asked for bottles. They only had Ice Mountain water in plastic bottles which took 10 minutes to come out, but he had taken our glasses. We waited 5 more minutes for glasses without ice in them. We ordered our appetizers, which didn't come out, then he came out and started suggesting some appetizers, when we told him we'd already ordered those. At this time, he took our main course order... and the main course then came out before the appetizers, which we then ordered a third time. It goes on... we considered buying our server a Red Bull. Again, it was a comedy of errors I won't even continue to describe. The hostess, upon hearing the endless tragedy of our experience, said something about how she usually beats on this particular server so that's why he is desensitized to our complaining, and "he smoked too much weed before he came in tonight" and "he's Columbian, so, you know." - totally unprofessional and completely bizarre. She did try to make it up to us in a number of ways, but we asked her not to make any changes to our check. The chef here is OUTSTANDING. I really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, but my enjoyment was tempered by the complete incompetence of our server and the hostess. The bus staff was excellent, they were all over it... but the rest of this service experience was horrific. I will definitely give them another try - maybe it was just a bad night... but "hidden gem" type restaurants with expensive menus can't afford bad service experiences like this one.
(2)Dhruva R.
I was a little underwhelmed with the Sawtooth Wings--they were kind of tough and cold (didn't think say anything to the waitress). That said, the menu was very imaginative (loved the Sugar Cane Shrimp). Tried the melts-in-your mouth Shaking Beef (may have to order that next time). The roasted quail was excellent. This place helps restore my hope that you can get a good meal in this town without spending a fortune.
(4)Alan L.
Visited sawtooth for dinner with a group of coworkers and I must say that the place looks outstanding. Our bartender sergio was great and their extensive drink selection will satisfy any occasion. I don't really write yelp reviews but after reading some of the reviews that this place had prior to going i had to offer my experiences as they were nothing like those of the previous reviews. Our appetizers came out quickly as did the rest of our food for the night. I highly recommend the shaking beef, the fresh squeezed lime sauce is something of a new experience for me and i absolutely loved it. The staff was extremely friendly and efficient, i'm not sure if any changes had been made since the previous reviews but it was nothing like the errors being described by others. Overall i will gladly come back, it's a great place for pretty much anything from having a few drinks to enjoying a nice dinner.
(5)Terry H.
This great little hidden gem is located at a very quiet and secluded part of the west loop. It also has a very large and comfortable outdoor seating area. Though a bit pricy but with great portion. The flavor of the dishes were great and very different from you typical asian restaurant. Shaking Beef = 5 stars! It might look like your typical stir-fried beef dish in a chinese restaurant, but the texture and the taste is so amazing that leave us wanting more after we finish. We also order The Salted Prawn, which is also another amazing dish, each prawn are large and fresh, fried and seasoned to perfection, you wont dissapoint. I strongly recommend this restaurant and would come back for more in the future.
(5)Mario P.
This was a pleasant surprise. While we love Asian cuisine there aren't many chances to enjoy Vietnamese. There wasn't a flavor profile we didn't enjoy. Moreover, we took our 7 yr old daughter and her 7 yr old friend ... and they were able to enjoy the experience with us. Note: this is not a family restaurant ... my point is, you can you take your little one and they'll be treated with respect. There were plenty of appetizer options for them. The service was pleasant and attentive. The room is exquisite in a trendy and approachable way. While you're there take a look at the second level ... hot lounge set-up with an amazing private dining room. This is clearly one of Chicago's best kept secrets.
(5)p g.
I rented the 3rd floor private room for a work function. The best Vietnamese meal I have ever eaten in Chicago.....and I have eaten on Argyle many many times and have been shopping at Tai Nam for years so I know a bit about Vietnamese cuisine. I thought it was way better than Pasteur's menu. I highly recommend the Shaking Beef and the seafood glass noodles. Dzuy (the owner) is wonderful to work with. I have already committed to several more dinners there. Yum.
(5)Tracy W.
The service was worse than pathetic. We stopped by for a quick drink before our cooking class next door. We were the ONLY people in the place and it took the bartender 15 minutes to mix 2 drinks and pour a glass of wine. Then 2 other people entered and it took us another 10 minutes and asking 2 people before we got our check. On top of that, they were out of the wine that my friend originally selected; she opted to go with a different wine recommended by the bartender. The recommended wine was $5 more than her original selection and he charged her for it. Most places would have charged the same price as her original selection. This place is way overrated. I won't even consider coming back here.
(1)Lizzie R.
I HIGHLY recommend NOT going to this restaurant. The food is below average. Its totally off the beat and path of Randolph street and for being a brand new restaurant there are very few tables taken. The staff does not know how to make any cocktails I had to sen my back twice. I highly recommend going to Hai Yen on Clark and Diversey or Le Colonial. You have to stick with what has done well in the past and been there for a while. I don't think think place will last very long. Oh well, gave it a shot and everyone I speak to feels the same way.
(1)Kalinda L.
we were the only ones in the resturant, which worried us. but we were so very pleased with the food and service. i asked for spicy and the waiter brought over fresh thai chili peppers. OUTSTANDING. my date still rememebers the chicken fondly, and we ate there 2 mths ago!
(5)cathy V.
They just opened last week so there is more to do but it's quite a lovely space. The food was wonderful. We tried several different items on the menu and not a morsel of food was left on any dishes once they were picked up. Very very fresh flavors! The calamari was nothing like the sometimes rubbery slices or tentacles you see at Italian restaurants! It was beautiful chunks enhanced with wonderful flavors and it melted in your mouth. Several dishes with beef tenderloin that was also absolutely melt in your mouth. With the soup you get a plate of fresh herbs, bean sprouts and pepper slices to add fresh at the table. Even the sides were tasty, eggplant was amazing. Everything tasted so light and sooo fresh. I would definitely return!
(4)n l.
I can't decide between 3 or 4 stars. My siblings love this place....... It's really nice looking, but being Vietnamese,... I guess I and my Vietnamese friends just weren't fully satisfied with the meal... If it weren't soo pricey, I probably would have forgave them..
(4)Karl A.
We went there on a Saturday for lunch several months ago. There were a couple people sitting outside, but we decided to sit inside. We were the only people there, which was strange b/c it was around noon. The place was very chic, but almost too fancy honestly, and definitely not worth the added cost because the prices were ridiculous. My wife (who is Vietnamese) and I ordered the beef pho because it was one of the few things around $10. The flavor was ok, but the bowl was so small, I was unsatisfied. A "Vietnamese" place that does not have a big bowl of pho that leaves you totally satisfied is terrible. The prices for everything else were so high that I was like, fuck this. If you really need a super chic environment and want to pay for it, then go here. If you want real Vietnamese food, then just go to Tank or one of the other places by broadway & argyle.
(2)Amanda T.
Excellent food and cool setting. Got the red snapper, very good.
(4)Amy C.
Great when it opened up - not that great now
(1)Lauren P.
The quality and taste of this food is less than mediocre. I will not return. I also got sick about 4 hours after, but I'm not using that as a basis for my two-star rating. I came about eating here because my friend had a Travelzoo certificate, which allowed us two drinks, an appetizer, two entrees, and a desert. I rue the day that she purchased that certificate as I wasted a perfectly good Saturday night dinner eating crap. (And I got sick later, which prevented me from attending a Christmas party.) We started out with the calamari, which was by far the best thing I ate that night. It was decent - neither good nor bad. Let's face it; calamari is fried, so it's almost impossible to screw it up. We then moved on to the Cha Ca La Vong and the Clay Pot Catfish. Both were bland and uninspired. After a few bites, I was entirely bored with my dish (Clay Pot Catfish) and found myself just eating the rice accompaniment. I tried a bite of the Cha Ca La Vong, which was fairly tasteless. Eating only a quarter or so of the catfish turned out to be a blessing in disguise since two hours later I developed severe stomach cramps, and two hours after that, I vomited. I imagine it would have been a lot worse had I eaten the whole meal. For desert we shared a chocolate cake. Like the calamari, it was neither good nor bad. I can probably pick up something similar at Jewel. We left the restaurant and my friend apologized to me for taking me there. She was also unimpressed and disappointed. We both agreed that we will never return. I've read other reviews about the poor service, but I have no complaints in that regard. Our server was friendly and we timely received our food and drinks.
(2)Ruth G.
Everything was really good. I would go back for a fresh and light dinner.
(3)Linzie J.
The food...good....the service...well delivered SANS the fact that the owner is very rude and unappreciative of your dollar. If you are going for a quick bite, ok, however for private events or "club" atmosphere BEWARE. After purchasing 7 bottles for a private event and ordering multiple dishes of food and an additional bottle of champagne this venue DROPPED THE BALL! triple booked the room, filthy bathrooms (out of order sink in the man's room, with a huge black trash bag over it), non-working elevator, poor placement of speaker (cord hanging from wall, cross entry) and a very RUDE OWNER. once they have your money, the expectations of what's promised should go out the window along with your event and money. lastly, if you remember the E2 incident, its being replicated at this venue! over capacity with no exits on 2nd or 3rd floor with steep stairwells.
(1)Natalia D.
We went to Sawtooth with a gilt city coupon and really enjoyed the experience. We ordered salmon rolls, chicken pho, seabass and seafood clay pot. All the food was delicious, and the service was excellent. I agree that the menu prices are on the high side, but they are justified by the taste and presentation. The atmosphere is very pleasant, with beautiful modern decor and nice eclectic music playing in the background. I would definitely come back.
(5)Darren S.
Sawtooth provides a great blend of pleasant atmosphere (modern decor, high ceilings) and a creative twist on Vietnamese food. I ventured in with an open mind to try some more unique dishes (given there are plenty of places to have more common dishes, such as pho) and was very pleased with the experience. For appetizers, we shared sugarcane shrimp and some skewered beef rolls (wrapped in a leaf), each was served with lettuce wraps, fresh mint, cucumber, vermecelli, and fish sauce. I loved the fresh herb accompaniments that gave every bite a different flavor. Main courses were cha ca la vong (grilled fish with tumeric and dill), which was delcious crispy chunks of fish, moist and full of flavor, and the roasted quail stuffed with mushrooms, lotus seed, and lime sauce. The quail was delicious - plenty of meat on the bone to enjoy, but still a lean meat so very light and tasty. Service was friendly.. but sometimes a bit too efficient, as the entrees arrived as I was finishing my appetizer, which I thought was a bit awkward, but I'm not lowering my star rating because the food was excellent and the atmosphere was pleasant. Overall, I was quite plaesed with Sawtooth and look forward to coming back to try some more of the menu.
(5)S P.
Amazing!! Got the grilled prawns appetizer and seafood claypot. The decor is beautiful! But the service was slow for not being super busy.
(5)Hong I.
I went there with some of my girls tonight and we all loved it! The ambience and decor were amazing. The food was delicious!! Very authentic vietnamese food. We had the shaking beef, asparagus, the catfish, papaya salad, and chicken pho, and we all thought that they were all very good. The portion size is decent and the price is very reasonable. The staff were also really friendly and helpful. The cocktails were the best! Esp the Dalot Love! I highly recommend this place for a nice date or even with good friends looking for a nice place to dine. I will def. come back!
(5)A R.
Top 3 healthiest food in the world. Chicago needs this restaurant!!! The owner (Zwee) and his wife (Kelly) used to own a furniture store, so imagine how amazing the decor is!!! Floating candles on the wall, a translucent bar run by a phenomenal mixoligist muddling fresh fruit (try the signature Summer in Saigon), chefs from Vietnam make the dishes more than amazing (Grilled Prawns, Sawtooth Beef, Seafood Claypot) and don't forget to ask for a tour...2 more floors of beautiful decor....date spot, meeting spot, birthday events, lawyers conferences, perfect for any event. 5 stars!!!!
(5)Tom K.
Tasty and interesting take on Vietnanmese food. Enjoyed a seafood clay pot with brown rice for the first time. Good spicy soy sauce served with fresh spring rolls. Beautiful decor. Service was pretty rough but the attitude was nice which compensated. Will return.
(3)Leslie P.
This place has a lot of potential. The decor is contemporary Asian (naturally), and I look forward to dining al fresco next year. The food was great. For starters, we shared the watercress beef and grilled prawns. I ordered the bun thit nuong cha gio. All three of these were amazing. The food and decor were 4 stars, but the rest brought my rating down to just average. The service was slow, which luckily wasn't an issue since the place was not busy, and we were not in a rush. However, my friend informed the waiter that she has a shellfish allergy at the beginning of our meal. When she ordered the bun thit nuong cha gio, she asked if it was prepared with any shellfish, and he said no. The menu description does not indicate any prescence of shellfish either, but when the entree came out, you could see there was definitely some shellfish in the eggroll. Luckily we thoroughly checked her plate before she dived in, but come on, that's ridiculous! I would think this allergy is common enough that the waiter would know whether there is shellfish in the eggroll. The owner/manager came out and apologized as well. By then it had put a damper on our meal since she had to wait for a new entree and we couldn't offer her any of ours. Good thing we got starters though. I love vietnamese food, and in that sense, this place did not disappoint (at least what we ordered). If they can straighten out the service then Sawtooth should do well, and I hope it does.
(3)Bora U.
I had heard about Sawtooth's soft opening over the weekend, but hadn't had it in my mind to check it out anytime soon. The manfriend and I hit up a Factio Magazine event on Lake Street around 6:30 and walked right back out. We decided to walk over one block to one sixty blue for their Wednesday night Friday Chicken special but noticed Sawtooth on the way. A few of the servers who were hanging around close to the large window in front stared at us and in effect, lured us in. We walked along the lit path, past the patio seating area. One of the waiters opened the front door for us and we were greeted by a trilogy of wait staff. The space is chic for sure. Very similar to what Saltaus, it's predecessor looked like. A long bar with chairs lined up at an angle. Good looking and amicable wait staff. The menu looked decent - prices were high for Vietnamese fare, but also to be expected in the West Loop. We looked at each other and decided that we'd come back some other time and walked over to one sixty blue only to find that....it's under renovation until August 16th! Bummer...So back to Sawtooth it was. The servers welcomed us back and we decided to just sit at the bar to chat it up with the bartender - a good way to get a feel for a place. We perused the cocktail menu. All the drinks looked perfectly refreshing - especially given the humidity outside. I decided to go for the Summer in Saigon - a dressed up gin and tonic with muddled cucumber, Elderberry liquor and aloe soda! I thought it was really fantastic. The man friend just stuck with the Saigon export beer. We both weren't too hungry, so we just shared the filet mignon "large" pho and the seafood hot pot. Now, I know we're not on Argyle, and this is not a restaurant that specializes in pho and noodle dishes but...instant rice noodles? I've purchased frozen udon and rice noodles and they turn out the same way - clumpy and the noodles break more easily while boiling because they crack either in the packaging or when it touches boiling water. The flavor of the broth was okay - but really, the portion we received should've been the small which is priced at $5. Not the large for $10. Also, there was I think one slice of beef. A sprinkling of bean sprouts and basil on the platter that accompanied the pho. The seafood hot pot came out in a decent size bowl - but they really skimped on the seafood. Three pieces of shrimp, ONE scallop, a few slivers of squid, and a mix of shitake, black, and button mushrooms. I really tried to make the dish go far by adding some of the shriracha and dark brown sauces that should've gone into the pho, on my rice - which they definitely didn't skimp on. Flavor wise, the seafood was good, but for $16, I should've seen a lot more seafood and a lot less rice. I did go ahead and order another drink - the Dalot of Love. Fantastic cocktail! If I do come back to Sawtooth, it'll be for the bar and perhaps I'll try a few of the appetizers like the wings and green papaya salad. You can't really go wrong with appetizers...I think. It is a dressed up Vietnamese restaurant with lovely decor and service. I really, really want it to work out for Sawtooth so they don't see the same ending that Saltaus suffered. But they really need to work out the food situation. It's got to be a lot better than that.
(2)Richard C.
We enjoyed our dinner at Sawtooth, but overall would have preferred a little more spice/heat to the dishes. Sort of felt that the dishes were purposely less spicy to "americanize" them. One suggestion would be to have traditioanal spices available on the able to allow diners to spice up their dishes if they want. Despite that, all of the food was very good. The whole Red Snapper and the Shaking Beef were especially nice. Having a few additional selections for dessert would have been nice; 2 similar fruit "tortes" and a lava cake did not offer much of a variety to choose from. Service was very nice and offered wonderful suggestions.
(3)Justin F.
The atmosphere here seemed dead on a winter Friday night. The service was attentive, atmosphere and decor very upscale, but the food was unbelievably bland. All 3 dishes ordered had little to no taste. The prices are reasonable for a restaurant on Randolph but not reasonable for tasting only of ingredients I could mix together in a wok at home. The asparagus was also the larger less tasting variety.
(2)lana v.
This place is terrible! We had a reservation for four on a Friday night. The place was pretty empty, so we got seated right away. We waited over 15 minutes for the waitress to come over after walking past us about five times. We ordered a bottle of wine and one person ordered an IPA beer. The waitress came back and said the bottle of white wine we ordered was warm, and there really isn't another wine similar. So...we choose another bottle. She also came back and said they were out of the IPA, so we ordered a different IPA. She came back with a Stella and said sorry, we were out of both IPA's and this is the closest thing we have. Really? Stella? We should have left right there but decided to stay. We ordered food and the appetizers were ok but the entrees were horrible. We all ordered seafood entrees and they were all terrible. I ordered the salmon which said it came with rice and vegetables. Well...there was a giant pile of plain white rice under the overcooked piece of salmon, about three green beans, and an entire separate bowl of plain white rice on the side. To top it off, as I was finishing eating, I noticed a giant hair in my rice...yup, I wanted to barf. We got our bill, which was $300 for four people for terrible service and horrible food. Plus, we got charged for a more expensive bottle of wine than we actually ordered! I will never be back and would recommend everyone stays away from this place.
(1)MELMEL S.
I am really having a second thought of giving this restaurant a one star rating. I was planning to give zero star, but to give credit to the nice place, nice food presentation and good to accomodate our big group of 14 i decided to give them one star. The service was slow. Servers were inattentive. They serve the wrong order to half of the group. People working in the kitchen were as worse as the servers. One order was served very late. All of us were almost done with our meals when that one order was served. One order didn't show up at all. An apology of giving the group just one desert was not even enough to the worst service we experienced in this place. I have no plans of going back to this place. Not even recommending this place to those who want to go for vietnamese cuisine. There are other vietnamese restaurants in Chicago that are better than this place.
(1)turn p.
I went there with my friends one night. I couldn't even remember what the food was because we were so disappointed by the service. Two of my friends were still waiting for their order when 8 of us were just finishing up with our dinner. The ambiance and food were ok but we definitely wont go back to this place anymore.
(2)marc z.
Great bar, very good cocktails. The food is very good and flavorful .lots of variety at reasonable prices. The atmosphere is hip and trendy, very nice interior. The owner is caring and always looking to improve everything - I think this will be a successful west-loop hot-spot. Watch out Gilt Bar - prices are comparable, but Sawtooth's food, drinks and ambience are so much better then your crap.
(4)Nilda R.
I feel the same as you Mario P. Surprisingly there are not many vietnamese restaurants in chicago, especially ones that impress me. This restaurant is phenomenal. Portions are rather generous. My friend and I enjoyed the smoked eggplant and the shaking beef, all I can say is yum-yum! Two very enthusiastic thumbs up. The restaurant is elegeant yet casual, I felt comfortable. The staff was also great. Very satisfied. Definitely will go back.
(5)G G.
Beautiful Space, excellent service, and out of this world food. Really fantastic! Go now!
(5)Lance B.
Dinner Saturday night. Bartenders were great, cocktails fantastic. Very solid wine list, good value. Had the jalapeno garlic chicken wings for app....great flavor. Chicken Curry for dinner...again nice spice and very tasty. We recommend and will be coming back.
(4)Karen K.
I love this place - the decor is so pretty, the food, wine and cocktails are great. Their chicken wings have now wrecked me for life - they're so good and even if I don't eat them there, I'll order some just to take with me. I like the menu, the vibe, the noise level, and the price point. Can't wait to return
(5)Brian D.
Some people are happy to go to restaurants for just the food. If I'm going to put down some serious cash, I want the whole deal - food, service and ambiance. Sawtooth offers all three. While Randolph Street needs another dining establishment like the Ike needs more road construction, the addition of a contemporary Vietnamese spot to "Restaurant Row" is a welcome one. I can't guarantee you'll be catered to as attentively as we were (went early on a Sunday evening before the crowd), but the staff was beyond helpful. My Cha Ca La Vong, a sensational grilled fish dish, was paired with a very good, reasonably priced New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, both recommended by the manager. Sawtooth offers more than fine cuisine; it's urban cool at its best - all concrete floors, dark wood furnishings and tasteful minimalist accents. If you want to impress a date, this is not a bad place to start (or even to finish - the bar is great too).
(4)Jeanine S.
Organized a little birthday party for my husband here. The upstairs was lovely. This place knows it's way around drinks and appetizers, but as for my dinner, I liked it well enough but it was nothing special. Staff was wonderful too.
(4)Thomas R.
First impression was awful.... the hostess last night was rude, unfriendly, and even though we had a reservation made on Opentable, we were offered a seat at a bar only -- told that all tables were taken, which they were not. The service was pleasant but untrained and disorganized. The food was average but by far the best part of the experience. I had been wanting to try this restaurant for a while and now that I have, there's no reason to return.
(2)Nisha K.
The food was decent at best. Green papaya salad was bland and the wrapper on the pork spring rolls was too thick and chewy. The claypot fish wad actually really tasty and so was the vermicelli noodle dish my husband got. What pushed this from a 3.5 star review was the service. It was awful. It took the server 20 minutes after bringing us water to take our order. Just before our appetizers arrived we were asked to switch tables to make room for a large party. Just as we were settling in again our appetizers arrived. About two minutes later, so did our meals! There wasn't enough room for all of our food - we had to eat the appetizers quickly and had to flag down servers twice to have these taken away so we could eat our dinner. After we were done we again had to flag the waitress down (after 30 min of waiting) for the bill. We waited so long that we didn't want to wait another hour for a potentially "just ok" dessert. I drafted this in the mcdonalds drive through. We needed hot fudge sundaes to cheer us up.
(2)Mani M.
My rating mainly reflects the food. Because when reviewing a restaurant ultimately the stomach gets the last say. It was our second time visiting and we decided it was probably our last. The decor is beautiful but it's a shame the food we ordered was so bland considering the the food is supposed to be bit exotic flavors. We ordered the grilled prawns, crispy noodles with seafood and the chicken curry. the flavors seemed comparable with my local chinese takeout (actually i think my last takeout was way better)
(2)Mike Y.
I have been to this restaurant three times this month. this blows away argyle street. The beef cubes in wine sauce are the best. My date took a bite, closed her eyes and her eyelids fluttered as she chewed the beef cubes. Needless to say, she was so happy with the meal.... In addition, there are superb drinks. Try the cruzan rum punch. The aroma will make the wait for your drink feel like it is so long. Try this place you will love it as well.
(5)Kym W.
Gorgeous restaurant - beautiful setting - and good food. I wanted to try more things from the menu than a party of two could reasonably attempt. Appetizers are especially generous as far as portions go. I want to love this place but our waiter was lame - so nice, but just not on the ball. Brought me a wine to taste - disappeared for a half hour afterwards, and it wasn't that busy. Was nowhere to be found when we wanted a second round of drinks. Pretty much was AWOL for most of the meal on a night when it wasn't even very crowded, so it was hard to be sympathetic. I want this place to succeed - I will try it again and hope for better service.
(3)Sandy T.
Great looking space. The outdoor area is especially welcoming. The food was overall good with some things really great and others just ordinary. I thought the wine list by the glass was poor at best especially the red wine offerings. Patrons should have a full range of choices. What really lacked was offerings for those non alcohol drinkers. Only coke products not even tea either iced or hot. Would not rush back. There are so many grate places in the area to settle for less.
(3)Audre L.
The food here is actually superb - too bad the place is a little empty and sends off mixed signals with it's lounge-club approach. What we ate: Bo Bia - Wonderful vietnamese summer roll Cha ca la vong - crispy catfish with a great dipping sauce. The "salad" is more like leaf lettuce an chunks of veggies, so you could make lettuce wraps with this. This was delicious Eggplant sidedish - smoky and tasty
(4)Tavi J.
I want to give it 5 stars because I had such a good time, but the reason I had such a good time is because I always do with my girls and this place had nothing to do with it. Lol I came here for a day party and the dj's were good and great music. The thing I don't get is why they always try to charge people to come to a dead empty establishment. This place is always empty when I go but they always looking for $10 to $20. Lower your drink prices and maybe I wouldn't mind paying that much. With all that said the house sangria is excellent. Lol This wouldn't be the first place to go on my list, but once in while I would stop by if I was in the west loop and carried cash on me.
(3)Kevin B.
Another overpriced restaurant that people go to because of location. Its 50 restaurants along Randolph in the West Loop and Sawtooth is easily at the bottom of my list. Admittedly Im not a fan of Vietnamese cuisine but for the price, I expected it to be better than it was. Drinks are overpriced as well. I've been to Sawtooth for private events that were somewhat better. Drinking outside in the courtyard makes the experience a little bit better. I also went on a Monday for MNF where they had $3 dollars. That experience was great. Needless to say as great as that experience was, I went 1 week later for MNF and without informing me, that same beer was $6 dollars. In fairness to Sawtooth, that probably was a promoter thing not the restaurant itself. But it would have been nice if they would inform you the specials they had were no longer active. Also advertising free food during a football game leads you to believe food will available the whole time, not only till exhausted which happened in 20 mins. Again most likely a promoter issue. Overrated. If you do go, go in the summer.
(2)Sara T.
I had bought some sort of deal and was excited to try a new Asian place in the west loop (this was a couple years ago). All I remember is overpriced underwhelming food. Head over to Chinatown if you're in the mood for Chinese food. Also, I do recall that our server had attitude.
(2)Delightful D.
This place gets zero stars. This place is discriminatory towards homosexuals so if you support gay people u will not support this place. My friend was told by a security guard named mike "ur a girl?" Girls have to wear heels? Clearly they have never met a tomboy. I will be reporting this mike after he not only said that and said we could wait on the corner like we were garbage, while we waited for a manager that never came. I made a police report cuz this is a hate crime. And I need to speak to management about them being against homosexuals. Please dont go to this ratchet establishment. Its 2014 not 1969. I have never experienced something so hateful in my life. It wasn't right, it brought me to tearS to see someone treated like that. DONT GO HERE EVERR
(1)Fernando C.
This place gets one star for the type of demographic that is allowed to rent at night and cause havoc. Many times have fights broken out, shots fired because a certain group can't exercise restraint, conflict resolution skills, respect for themselves, respect for the law and respect for life. Business must really be financially hurting when they allow this type of unruly group to rent. I feel sorry for the workers and I even feel more sorry for the valet(dealing with such animation).
(1)Paul K.
If you are looking for a great place to get shot...please come to Sawtooth!!! Yet ANOTHER SHOOTING at Sawtooth on 3/29/2015. This place needs to be shut down. They are bad neighbors and the place is filled with loser thugs.
(1)Jill B.
I can't even comment on the food because we never even made it in the door. We tried to go for dinner around 6:00 and the doors were locked (and their hours say they open at 5:00). Ok no big deal, maybe they had a private event or something. However, the thing that really sent me over the edge is that the staff just stood in their floor to ceiling windows staring as us while we tried to get in. A simple acknowledgment instead of blank stares would have been enough to bring be back. However, this sub-par customer service will keep me away from ever giving Sawtooth a try.
(1)Carol M.
Fried calamari, how I've missed you! I was stoked to hear that their calamari is made with tapioca flour, not glutens, so I could actually eat it! It was so good I'd be tempted to go back and just order that. Their cocktails were great too. Really nice service. I also had the chicken curry which left a little to be desired but overall, not a bad place. Great for a date night!
(4)Belle L.
BEWARE! Do NOT purchase any deals/vouchers for Sawtooth as they will NOT give you the FULL amount of unexpired voucher. Sawtooth will find ways to only give you food that is close to the amount you paid. SCAMMER! The business method is deceitful. The voucher fails to mention NO SUBSTITUTION. Sawtooth runs deals to get people IN, NOT good deals to purchasers.
(1)Jen D.
Somehow I've never heard of Sawtooth, but a friend in from out of town picked it out for a late Fri night dinner res. Great atmosphere - very nicely decorated. Before I get to the food - beware that this restaurant turns into a club on some (or all??) weekend nights. We had a 9:15pm reservation on a Fri night. The restaurant was pretty quiet when we came in. The server told us before we ordered that she would have to close out our check at 10pm since it turns into a club. Ultimately she didn't close it until10:30 which we appreciated and we were never rushed. That said, the club crowd started coming in and the music was starting to "bump" so the atmosphere shifted. The clubby'ish crowd was very young, early 20's and scantily clad. I am fairly sure we were about 1/2 inch away from seeing the cha-chas of a few ladies. The bouncers appear to aggressively manage the crowd, ensuring there is a line out front (even when it's not crowded inside). The food... The shaking beef is a real star - and take their advice to dip the beef in the mixture of lime/salt/pepper. I would probably go back just for that dish (keep in mind, I've had limited exposure to Vietnamese food). I also had a salad that had shrimp, orange wedges and a citrus vinaigrette. The salad was "the bomb.com" to quote the words of a RHoOC shady boyfriend. Cocktails were good, I loved the cucumber gin one. Service was fine, friendly and sufficient. I'll probably go back at some point, but on a weeknight.
(3)Noreen B.
I am a neighbor and I am making it my mission to get this place shut down. I hear people screaming every weekend as a result of fights or shootings. There is always fights and or shooting and it makes our quiet neighborhood dangerous. I am afraid to go out at night cause I will be probably shot by one of their customers.
(1)Cornelia A.
Had dinner tonight and it was AMAZING!! Christine our waitress was very nice and attentive. The Salmon Rolls are the Bomb!! I can't remember the names of our dishes, I think one was the shaky beef and seafood glass noodles!!! Oh yeah we had the rue la la voucher and had no problem!!! Highly Recommend this place!!!
(5)Triet N.
Sawtooth is really more of a club than a restaurant. The first floor is anchored by a massive bar, with only a few dining tables surrounding it. The entire second and third floor are reserved for a dance club and private functions.The Vietnamese cuisine, from my perspective as a a first generation Vietnamese, is good but rather conservative and traditional, nothing you couldn't get for half the price on Argyle St. We were there early on a Sat night but you could tell that things can get really loud later in the evening when the club opens. The service was top notch though, very friendly. If you want to go out clubbing and want to grab a bite of some good Vietnamese food before partying, this is a great choice.
(3)Krsna V.
This is the tale of three homigos (homo amigos) who gather at least once a month for boys night out. Homigo #1 has been worked to the bone by the government. Homigo #2 has been worked to the bone by his museum. Homigo #3, on the other hand, has been wandering around with his man across different countries, eating a lot, and getting chubby... almost to the point of his "vain homo" card being revoked. It just happens that Homigo #3 also had a birthday in May. So, homigo #1, being the generous friend that he is, decides to take #3 out for dinner. We finally find a date convenient to all three of us and decide to go to a place we have not visited before. Sawtooth with its allure of modern Vietnamese food and a trendy lounge-like space seemed attractive. Scored 8pm reservations for a Saturday night. The cocktails are quite delightful, but they ran out of ingredients for the ones we were drinking. My Mekhong Mojito - made with splash of Mekhong liqueur is quite outstanding and deadly. Mekhong tastes light going down, but it can get you drunk pretty fast. I saw the effects next morning. The food: everything we ordered was excellent. The Banh Xeo - saigon style crepe with shrimp, pork, fresh mint, and lettuce has a great medley of flavors. We ordered another appetizer - ground beef wrapped in vine leaves and grilled. Both apps were excellent. Homigo #1 ordered the clay pot catfish while homigo #2 ordered chicken curry. I ordered the Cha Ca La Vong - my test dish for Vietnamese cuisine. The clay pot catfish simmered in a deep caramel sauce and served in a clay pot with rice is a must-have dish if you like catfish and semi-sweet caramel sauce. The chicken curry was great as well. However, the winner is Cha Ca la Vong - Hanoi-style grilled catfish with turmeric, basil, and dill. Served with rice noodles and a salad, it is definitely my favorite of the lot. Since I've given up on being skinny after all these travels and delicious food, I ordered a dessert. We split the mango mousse cake, which was more like a mango cheesecake. Perfect ending to our great meal. Service was attentive even though it was a bit slow. We didn't mind because they were busy on a Saturday night, and we had a lot to catch up. Who did what in these two months, who "did" who in the past two months, etc. You know, the regular guy talk, only with a homo twist. A great place for boys night out... or girls night out.
(4)Kamilah S.
My girls and I came here after we left Taste of Randolph, which was amazing, by the way. Anywho, Saw Tooth. We arrived around 8:40 or so. It was free admission and no dress code. This one girl had on a bathing suit and a cover up, majority of the guys looked as if they just finished playing basketball because they had on basketball shorts, shirts and gym shoes. The waitresses wore little booty shorts and very low cut tank tops. The one waitress, bent down real low to talk to her customer's and take their drink order and as she got up she took BOTH her hands and dug her wedgie out then came over to my party and asked us if SHE could get us anything, I politely said no thanks, we left shortly after that! Besides that the music was good, the staff is super friendly, the crowd was a bit young for my taste, we probably won't be back, but only time will tell.
(3)John L.
Not the biggest fan. I grew up on vietnames food and I like american/vietnamese places like Hien Yien and Simply It. However, this was a bit of a disappointment. Price) Way too expensive for what you get. Small bowl of pho was $7 and catfish in claypot was $15. In addition to those we got the salmon eggrolls and passion fruit torte. Total was about $60. Quality) The crispy salmon eggrolls were my favorite, but the other stuff I would say you could find better on Argyle. Quantity) Very tiny portions for the amount you pay Atmosphere) If anything, this is what you are paying for. I personally don't like shelling out money for "ambiance". Staff) Had to wait a bit to get the waitress's attention. I don't think I'd go back...no pho-king way
(2)Meredith K.
I gotta remove a star. We still like this place but it may have been our final time there. The service was fantastic. Our person was almost too attentive. I think maybe b/c the entire place was empty except for us. Not good for a Thurs night (although in their defense no TV and it was a Blackhawks payoff night) The cocktails are still interesting and refreshing. They change enough to remain seasonal. My boyfriend ordered the pork chop which he really liked. The only rub there is that you get a regular knife and that's not enough for a chop. He asked for something sharper and she said it was their steak knife. I went for the sea bass. The sauce it comes in is great. The fish however was too tough to cut with a fork and I wasn't offered a knife. That's probably b/c usually bass should be like butter. I couldn't do it. She very kindly offered to try again so I said sure. The second fish was just as tough. She could tell that I wasn't into it so offered to remove it from our bill. Super nice!!! But we were there on a Gilt City deal so I needed to get more food. I tried the veggie spring rolls which were very nice and the chicken salad which I really liked but it needs some kick to it. Maybe crunch and a little spice and acid. I hope this place makes it. I know we've had other seafood and chicken dishes there and they were great.
(3)Jordan L.
Nice looking spot but the $25 cover is crazy. Although the women are beautiful that come here after waiting in a long slow ass line. I personally will not be back
(2)Carol K.
Out of the ruins of once was Salthaus, comes Sawtooth. . . .a restaurant serving contemporary Vietnamese cuisine in a cool, contemporary environment. Open only a few days at this writing- they are obviously still working out a few of the "new restaurant blues", but the model seems to be set for success. First of all, the space. I have a lot of fondness for the old Salthaus space as I had some really memorable times there. The basic shell remains the same- although some of the opulence that was Salthaus has been brought down a level. Gone is the granite bar to be replaced by an under lit bar. Gone are the wood chairs, replaced by more contemporary plastic chairs that look like something out of the 70's but that seem to work in this space. Gone is the wall divider between the bar area and restaurant. All the rest is still there though. The floor to ceiling windows, bringing in light from Randolph Street. The outdoor patio (occupancy permit still pending as of this writing), the cool second floor with the lounge like feel and window to the city view and now a new third floor for private dining. So the ambiance is still terrific whether you are stopping in for dinner or for a night cap on your way home. The service was also quite nice. From the time I walked in- I was greeted, fawned over and made to feel like they really appreciated me coming in. It may have helped that I recognized the GM from another restaurant that I used to frequent, but whatever the reason- my friends were impressed with the attentiveness. If you go to check it out- check out the drink list. My friends were raving over a gin drink (it can also be made with vodka) that had cucumbers and lemons in it. Ben (the sommelier) will do wine pairings with your food, and talked up quite a few of the whites that he has on the list that would complement the food beautifully. So why only three stars? Sawtooth still needs to shore up a few things to make this the place that I am sure they are envisioning it to be. The biggest issue is that some of the food is not quite right yet either in taste or presentation. We tried a wide range of the menu items- from the spring rolls, calamari, filet mignon, red snapper and chicken wings (all quite good). To the shrimp sugar cane skewers, beef salad, and pork rolls (not so good). The conversation at our table was around the fact that usually in a place that we are going to frequent time and time again- there are things we cannot make up our mind about on the menu causing us to come back to keep trying other items. Not the case here. Not sure if it was the descriptions on the menu or what, but some at our table had problems choosing anything that sounded good so they defaulted to a salad. There were also a couple of service issues- the red snapper comes as a whole fish- head and tail on. And while delicious, it was served upside down and without a fish knife. If I am going to filet my own fish- the proper utensils should be provided. Or maybe the staff could offer to filet it for me. Also- the plate needed to be rotated for the right presentation. Again- some growing pain service issues that can easily be rectified. As an aside- I also thought the chop size on the vegetables was too big on this dish and the filet. The peppers and onions overpowered the taste of the proteins. I have been to Vietnam and tasted real Vietnamese food. Missing for me here was some of the Yin and Yang (mixing of hot and cool flavors) attributed to this style of cooking although maybe that is how they "contemporized" it. I did like that all the food came with fresh lettuce leaves to wrap the food in to eat and that the chef grows many of his own herbs to use in the food. Fresh is a big key to Vietnamese food as well. I would say that maybe we didn't order the more traditional items- but we certainly tried enough of the menu to get a feeling for it. Valet parking is available out front ($9) although you can usually find free parking on any of the side streets in this area. Drinks run about $9 each and the entrees were in the $20 range. I loved the space and the concept. I just think I am going to give Sawtooth a little bit of time to season the staff, and play with the menu before I'll return to check it out again. And maybe at that time- the patio will be open and you will see me out there- vodka and cucumber drink in hand.
(3)Nishant G.
Excellent service, cocktails and food. Food may be a bit expensive but I've been here multiple times with Bloomspot or Gilt City deals so my bill has been very affordable. Shaken beef is excellent, and I absolutely love the green papaya salad with beef. The ambience of this place is great, but sadly, it's never crowded--regardless of what time or day of the week. It turns into an all-black club on Friday nights after 10pm...or at least it has on both times that I've been there on a Friday. Would be a blast to come back here in the summer and take advantage of their outdoor patio seating.
(4)Jade T.
I must admit, I didn't have high expectations of Sawtooth. I've been invited several times to dine here and I've passed on each occasion. For Vietnamese food fix, I always go up to Argyle. However, on a Saturday, my boyfriend took me out to dinner and I obliged. He made reservations for 7:00PM, although they weren't necessary at all. There were plenty of open tables. They sat us at the table furthest north, which was possibly the worst table in the restaurant. It's located in front of the entrance and also next to a large side door. I didn't know what was going on, but it seemed like they were setting up an event upstairs and people had to enter from the side door. During our time at Sawtooth, I was pretty cold from people coming in and out from both doors. Yes, the restaurant is very swanky. I loved the sleek, minimalist decor. No doubt Sawtooth is a date destination with its dim lighting, low to medium noise level, and hip vibe. However, if you expect to get you and your date drunk, don't. The drinks, while yummy, were very weak. I had a muddled strawberry cocktail and David an Asian pina colada-like concoction, both very good drinks but with almost no alcohol. We had three appetizers: banh xeo (seafood crepe), chicken salad (with tofu instead of chicken), and bun thit nuong cha gio (tofu instead chicken with vermicelli). David ate his dish right up, but I thought my appetizers were average. The bun thit nuong was the tastier of the two appetizers, but the accompanying dipping sauce had no flavor. The tofu had the most amazing texture. It was chewy with a light, crispy crust. So good. The tofu salad reminded me of Thai larb gai, but the flavors were just not there. It was quite bland. The entrees came around, and David had the shaking beef (cubed filet mignon with lime sauce) and I had the smoked eggplant. Nay on the eggplant. Don't bother ordering it. It was so bland that I couldn't finish it. David enjoyed his dish. It looked and smelled good for having meat. Yeah, I'm skeptical about the other vegetarian entrees. The very few vegetarian entrees that they have. We skipped on dessert, as they didn't seem all that appealing. I agree that prices are a bit inflated for my tastes, but it's Randolph Street. I would not return to Sawtooth, unless someone invited me. I would say that I would go there for drinks because of the atmosphere, but the location is not very convenient and the drinks are not strong. I would give it a try but not expect too much.
(3)Mike W.
This place is really great, It just sucks that it doesn't seem to get a lot of traffic since all the hot "big wigs" are less than 5 blocks away. Anyway the service was great (we were 2 of 10 people dining on a Friday night). The food was even better. To start we had the salmon rolls (delicious) and the bo la lot (nice herb-y grilled goodness). As an entree I had the shaking beef, super tender beef cubes in a tasty sauce. My friend had the egg basket or egg nest (something with egg in the name) which was also tasty and overflowing with fresh seafood. We were so full after the apps and entrees that there was no room for dessert. Which was some sort of chocolate cake. I don't like chocolate so I cant't comment on that. Would I go back? Probably for a special occasion. I got a GILT city dinner so I think it was $75 for 2 people to dine. The full tab was close to $130 which, I'm sorry, is a bit pricey for Vietnamese food when you can probably get the same thing on argyle street for 50 bones. Though I do have to say they have what seems like an amazing patio/ deck so summertime eating would be a blast with out of towners or a sexy date.
(4)Ronnetta Y.
I had a lovely dinner here. First let me say going in, I was slightly concerned that we would be rushed b/c the other guest in my party didn't arrive until 9 and the dinner hours ends at 10 but the staff was delightful, I didn't feel rushed in any way. I started with a most lovely drink...can't recall the name but it was first on the cocktail menu. I could have had 5 of them easily were I not driving! We both had soup for an appetizer, I had the pho bo and he had the canh chua. Both DELIGHTFUL. The beef in my soup was so tender it was falling apart. I was unsure of what to order so I went with the server's suggestion which was seafood glass noodles, I dont eat shrimp and he gave me no problems about subsitituting another item which I appreciated. Saying I loved it would be an understatement! Aside from the fact that the presentation was adorable, it was delicious. My date had the egg noodles and he enjoyed as well. It's low lit and sexy, the music was really chill. I just give it two thumbs up all the way around. I will definitely be back.
(5)Mallory R.
This place is hell on earth. The "restaurant" is basically a front for the space to turn into a club at night. My husband and I live across the street and are constantly woken up and disrupted by the "patrons" (if that is what you want to even call them...) getting into full out brawls in the street. When I say brawls -- I mean 50+ people gathered in the street attacking each other. It is the most absurd, terrifying thing I have ever witnessed. This place should be condemned.
(1)Amoli P.
We went to an early bird dinner last night before catching a show at the Bank of America theater. Based on previous reviews complaining about long wait times for food and drinks (even when the restaurant is empty), I was worried we might put our show time in jeopardy. I had nothing to worry about. We were seated immediately for our 5pm reservation, and our server wasted no time coming by to get our drink orders. Service was friendly and prompt all evening. The cocktail selection was a little too tropical and summery for a cold snowy day, so we opted for a bottle of wine. The wine list isn't extensive, but that's to be expected at a Vietnamese restaurant. Since the place is kind of Vietnamese fusion, I had hoped they might have a sake list, but other than just listing the word "Sake" on the drink menu, there were no bottles to choose from. We mentioned our LivingSocial deal to the waiter right away and he said it was no problem at all. We started with the calamari appetizer and while many previous reviewers complained that there was nothing special about it, I still found it delicious. The cuts of calamari was generous, it was lightly fried and not over battered. And the best part was the accompanying scallions and garlic bits that it was sauteed in. We left no crunchy piece uneaten on that plate, and the flavor was excellent. The only downfall is that they just serve it with a side of Siracha sauce, rather than a sauce they made themselves. I think a chili ponzu or even a spicy mayo type of sauce would go great with this dish and add a bit of originality. For our entrees, my fiance took the overwhelming Yelp response and ordered the Shaking Beef and I took our server's recommendation and went with the Crispy Egg Noodles with seafood. The shaking beef was every bit as tender and flavorful as everyone else has described. The sauce is perfect and the lime salt/pepper mixture added a touch of Vietnamese flavor that kept this dish from passing for any type of Asian cuisine. My crispy noodles had a lovely presentation - the vegetables and seafood packed into a bowl made out of the noodles, with the sauce on the bottom. Very light and tasty without the heaviness from too much soy sauce, but still full of flavor. The vegetables were fresh and crisp and the seafood was cooked well and tasty. Nothing we had was greasy or oily, as I had read other reviewers complain about. And I'm very sensitive to oily food, so this was a pleasant surprise. The only reason that I'm giving 3 stars instead of 4 is because I thought they were a little shady with how they cancelled my OpenTable reservation. I had made the online reservation a few days earlier, and when we arrived, the host asked if I was Amoli and seated us based on the reservation. it wasn't until we were seated that I noticed the LivingSocial coupon said no OpenTable reservations. I told the waiter immediately that he had a voucher and he indicated it was no problem. Upon leaving the restaurant 90 minutes later, I received an email from OpenTable saying Sawtooth had cancelled my reservation. If that's the rule and they don't want to honor OpenTable reservations when you use a voucher, that's fine. But the restaurant was totally empty except for one other party of 2, so it's not like we were taking up someone else's spot. And more importantly, they didn't say anything to us about it. The manager could have simply walked up and said "By the way, based on our rule, we will need to cancel the OpenTable reservation since you're using the voucher." No problem. But instead the manager said nothing and waited until we left before going back and putting a cancellation in behind our backs. Not enough to ruin the dining experience, but just a little bit shady and kind of annoying. Overall, the food is tasty, the ambiance is fine (trendy but nothing original), and it's definitely worth giving a try. I don't know if it's a place we'll feel the need to go back to with all the other dining options in Chicago, but I wouldn't be opposed to a return trip either.
(3)Sarah D.
This is not a review about the food. This is not a review about the service. This is a review about my entire inability to get any kind of return contact from Sawtooth so that I could make a reservation and pay them some of my hard-earned money to eat their food. Voicemails went unanswered. E-mails got bounced back. Open Table doesn't take reservations for them anymore. So I gave up, and I'm not going to try again. I can't be bothered with a place that doesn't want my business.
(1)Tim H.
Good service, decent food, a bit overpriced. I enjoyed all the dishes I had for the most part. My only hesitation returning is that there are better values to be had for this type of cuisine and the fish in a clay pot was overly salty.
(3)Steven N.
Been here for dinner, after party, and special private party - it's always a good time here. Good food, good DJ, good drinks and good people in general. This place is located in the trendy West Loop area, great local to make an awesome evening.
(4)Leang E.
I bought a LivingSocial deal here, and came to redeem. From the outside the restaurant seemed like it would be a lot larger than it actually was inside. The restaurant has a modern trendy vibe to it, and I have to admit that it felt somewhat pretentious. Our waiter was just ok. He seemed young and maybe impatient with us. We were seated quickly, and though we were ready to order and eat the food seemed to take a little longer to get to us. It was nice to warm up to hot tea, and I had the Vietnamese Spring Rolls, the Chicken Pho, and I ordered the Bunh Rice Vermicelli Noodle dish to take home. I have to say the pho was disappointing. I got the large and it was the smallest large bowl dish I have ever gotten for pho. The pieces of chicken looked like they were picked off the bone like shreds of it, and I felt like it might have amounted to 1/4 cup of actual chicken if not less. The broth was okay, not as flavorful as I would like. It was a disappointment for sure - size/portion, taste, and cost. My cousin had ordered the Bunh and asked for no bean sprouts but still got them anyways. This was probably the best choice for the meal as I had it for leftovers the next day. The fish sauce was good. The ratio of vegetables to noodles was a bit excessive though. There was definitely a lot more cucumbers than anything else. I have had upscale at Le Colonial to the small and dingy pho restaurants in Little Saigon, but this would definitely not make it to the top of my lists for Vietnamese spots to go to any time soon.
(2)Vee E.
Fast, efficient service, well-executed entrees and lovely decor. I'll come back! Free street parking and spacious patio are pluses. The drinks were delish! Side note: The air con was on max high, so bring a sweater.
(4)Rahshonda K.
I had been wanting to check out Sawtooth for awhile now. Imagine my surprise when Bloomspot had a deal for $50 three course meal. I jumped on it. My BFF and I decided to partake in a Vietnamese adventure. It was well worth it!. 12.00 for parking...meh thinks not! We found a park right across the street and we did not have to pay for parking...yay!!! Once inside the decor is swank and super modern. We were seated and began to examine menu. We decided on the Bo La Lot I asked the server how is this dish..."Well its good but it may be out of your comfort zone because its a traditional Vietnamese dish" Uhhhhh OK. (Side Bar- How would she know its out of my comfort zone? Judging us) The Bo La Lot Pork wrapped in Vine Leaves it was divine. Moving on I decided for the Shaking Beef and my BFF the Catfish Clay Pot. My friend was torn so she inquired about the items on the menu...our servers response..."I have only been here two weeks" Uh...Ok. She walked away and we both looked like WTF...Next to us another server was explaining all the items on the menu so we were able to ask her to stop our table and give the same overview. Once our entree came we were glad we asked the other server for advice her recommendations were outstanding. The Shaking Beef was absolutely tender as she explained and out of this world. My friend did indeed go with the Catfish and after trying it...it was a winner for sure! On to the dessert we settled on something other chocolate and went with the Passion Fruit Torte. OMG So delish. Overall we both enjoyed the decor, atmosphere, and food. Definitely going back however note to owner. When hiring someone new let them sample the foods so they can properly explain your menu. PS. The Sand and Sea drink was very nice
(4)Lulu R.
West loop! I am impressed. Located in the trendy West Loop I was invited to an event here. I of course being a faithful yelper, yelped it. I looked at the mixed bag of reviews and decided to do this myself. Being a lover of Vietnamese food and fancy things, Sawtooth fits the bill to a T. Glass everything-doors-windows-bar + innovative lighting= food for the eyes. The place was clean and very crisp looking and multileveled too! We sat at the bar and I left my night in the hands of the bartender. He worked wonders and made me a champagne gin martini that I have never even heard of before...and trust me I have drank my fair share of gin martinis. AMAZING! His creativity and friendliness drew me in and bravo to him for making me a tasty drink. I had the rice paper spring rolls with some siracha and hoisin on top was so fresh and tasted like there was a little party in my mouth. The steak with bell beppers and bacon wrapped shrimp were also a hit. I was impressed with thier Banh Mi sandwiches as well. I got the honor of meeting the owners and they were so inviting and friendly that they made me feel like family. So helpful tips: leave it to the bartender to invent you a drink, eat it all, check out the whole restaurant, and enjoy!
(5)Linda. G.
I've never been here for dinner, but I have been here a few times for their Sunday day parties and it has become my new favorite Sunday Funday spot. The staff is friendly, the crowd is diverse, and the music is all hip hop. No strict dress code.
(4)Johnny T.
Yes, you can get the same for cheaper on Argyle (or, in some corner of Uptown). Yes, you might have some service hiccups. Yes, the restaurants is still working out the kinks. But. The food is tasty. The drinks are interesting. The service is nice. And, the place is going to be hopping once it warms up. So, focus on the positives because there's no reason why Sawtooth shouldn't be sticking around for a while. I enjoyed the Banh Xeo and grilled prawns to start with. The bx was delicious. The crepe had the perfect texture and the combo of pork, mint and any crunchy green is always a winner in my book. The portion size was nice as well. Prawns are prawns and I will eat them all the day long. These were nicely seasoned and generously portioned. Normally, I would have gone for the scallops entree, but after seeing what those ugly mfs look like in the wild, I am done with them. Horrible. I settled on the bun thit. The pork was nicely marinated and the noodles were well-cooked. Was I blown away by innovation? No. But, Sawtooth has atmosphere a'plenty and that's what you're paying for. You're also paying for the inventive drinks. So as to hold on to my man card, I'll refrain from saying what I had but it probably wouldn't have been out of place in a Katy Perry song/video. Aaand, just like that, I probably lost my man card. Well, with that out of the way, I've gotta tell you to save room for a refreshing and healthy dessert of fresh fruit and orange mousse. The mousse was a surprise hit. It was delectable and I could have had another serving. It pairs well with fresh berries. Check out Uptown for function, good and cheap Vietnamese food in the winter months. Wear your hoodie and forget the makeup. Once the thaw comes, put on your flyest gear and hop over to Randolph Street for good food, fun drinks, stylish atmosphere (the upstairs and the outside patio will be packed; it's a sure thing), and a good night out with your people. Trade-offs... but worthy ones.
(4)Adam B.
Well, what a pleasant experience! Highly, highly recommend. Started with the "bo la lot". Get it. No matter what. Delicious, and interestingly different for someone who has never really experienced Vietnamese food before. Then I had the "shaking beef" which was salty but delicious once you hit it up with the lime and salt/pepper mixture. Get that too. It is like the smarter, better stepbrother to getting Chinese beef delivery. The lady got the "crispy egg noodles" which was so unique and she LOVED. The shrimps were out of this world delicious. Polished it all off with the chocolate lava cake which was clearly pre-made but warm and gooey like it should be, with a nice selection of complementing fresh fruit around it to bump it up. I forgot to mention two things: the service and the cocktails. Service was outstanding. Cocktails were DELICIOUS. Go to the bar and ease yourself in. Also in full disclosure, we used the Travelzoo certificate as an entry-point to try this place. It was fairly empty on a Wednesday night but NOTHING lagged or lacked being maybe 15% full and using a coupon. I would go back, although a little off the beaten path and a couple dollars more than typical, because it was so tasty and so pleasant! Only complaint: chugging water through the night afterwards because of the salt. But I am sensitive to salt so there you have it.
(5)Ashley C.
Since it had been about four months since their opening, we thought we might want to see how things were doing. Unfortunately, I wasn't impressed and while I had been generous last time, by now, they should have their act together. We came on Sunday for an earlier dinner at about 6:30. The food was average at best. We tried the Spring Roll appetizers this time around and were just okay. The Pho Ga was still good but now my palate has had more to compare it to. The big problem: Service. What a difference bad service makes. There was only one other couple was in the restaurant. Yet, somehow everything was REALLY slow. Even more frustrating, there seemed to be an abundance of staff around. Truth is, this review is now written after going to Argyle Street for the first time and well, my standards are higher. While this place is closer to us, I just don't they can cut it, particularly with their slow service.
(2)David R.
I learned about Sawtooth from a WGN Midday newscast. My friend and I went on my second trip to Chicago this year. We arrived at a good time and found a good car park as someone was leaving from a place directly in front of the restaurant. The decor was good, IMO. We started with the sawtooth wings; they were good and well seasoned. I think they were served with a side of watercress. The watercress complimented the taste of the wings. I had the 'clay pot catfish'. I normally don't eat catfish, but I am willing to try it at most Asian restaurants. The presentation was in a pot with the fish and a caramel sauce. It comes with salad and steamed rice. She had the 'shaking beef'. I recall it came with a side of salt and pepper and lime. The lime juice was mixed w/ the salt & pepper to make a paste for dipping the beef. I tasted it; it was good also. I had two drinks a Caipirinha and a drink called Summer in Saigon - the latter one was a drink with muddled cucumber and Elderberry liquor. It was good! The cucumber was not overpowering and it had a good balance flavor, IMO. Caipirinha was ok; it had a grapefruit taste. Summer in Saigon was better, IMO. We shared a passion fruit torte! That was delicious! The taste of the passion fruit was there, but not overly tart. I recall reading a review about slow service, I have to say the same. I think it was more than 10 minutes before I got my drink after placing the order. Food and drinks were good; but slow service at times. We agreed on 3 stars for Sawtooth!
(3)Kat C.
Will definitely return! It's so great to get great authentic Vietnamese food not on Argyle! Much better than Le Colonial in the Gold Coast, but just as pricey. It's a beautiful restaurant... The portions are a good size too. My friend and I had Bun thit nuong cha gio, bo la lot, pho ga, salty prawns, shaken beef, and the passionfruit torte.... the only thing I wouldn't get again would be the pho - the broth was weak and for the same price, you can get a big bowl up on Argyle. Fish sauce is a staple in Vietnamese cuisine, and if you don't like it - better to order something else since the dish is likely to be dry and bland with out it. Their mojito and Dalat Love (with muddled strawberry) cocktails were delicious. Apparently it turns into a swanky lounge in the evenings - we left before that crowd appeared.
(4)Andrea R.
3.5 stars, but I'll be nice and round up since they are brand spankin new. They've still got some new restaurant kinks to work out like the slow service, order confusion (they seemed to have a bit of trouble getting the drink orders right) and simple things like including a pen with the check would be appreciated. However, once they get these kinks worked out I have no doubt this will be a popular dining destination. The contemporary decor is gorgeous and I look forward to eating on their patio once it's warm again. The food is quite good. Since we were a rather large party we started with a bunch of their apps and I enjoyed it all...favorites being the crepes (they had a fancier name), calamari and spring rolls. For my entree I went with some more calamari, this time the sweet and sour calamari entree. The portion could have been a bit bigger, but may have just been that I'm"m very pregnant and always very hungry these days. The dessert options were a bit sad...fruit plate or orange mousse, although have to admit that the mousse was way more appetizing than it sounds. I'm a big fan of Vietnamese food so I'm definitely rooting for Sawtooth!
(4)Adrian J.
So I had a Travelzoo coupon to this place for a while but never got around to using it. I finally decided to use it and much to my surprise it says on the coupon, reservations are required 24 hours in advance. Wow what a place. It must be really busy. So we make a reservation for the same night and they say they can accomodate us because we're only two people. The decor is very nice. Everything is pretty tastefully done. As for the food we were able to sample the calamari, shaking beef, chilean sea bass and fruit torte. The dishes were not bad, especially the shaking beef. My chilean sea bass could have been a bit firmer as it seemed a little too mushy for me. The service is where everything gets interesting. Our waiter was friendly enough. But the staff is completely disorganized. It took 1 hour and 40 minutes to have a meal three courses for two people. Seems a bit excessive. It took nearly 20 minutes for us to place our orders and receive our drinks. They have one bus boy that clear plates that comes around every 25 minutes, maybe. The rest of the staff, just walks around tidying the empty tables (there were a lot). They see our empty dirty plates on the table and ignore it because I guess they're above that? Our waiter was pretty much nowhere to be found for most of the night, hence the extremely long dinner. I propose a vicious cycle of service and coupons/Groupon. Once they know you have a groupon, they give you bad service. Once you get bad service, you leave a standard tip. And so it continues. The wait staff at this restaurant need to learn that you need to give good service to break this cycle. Will not be returning because I could probably have a 10 course meal in the 2 hours that it took to have three at this place.
(2)Phil W.
Loved this place. Food and drinks were great. It reminded me a bit like Slanted Door in SFO. The only reason I take a staff off is that I went with my wife on a Friday night at 7:00 and it was DEAD. The location is not bad, but very west. It is across the street from the tasting room and that is how we discovered it in the first place. I'd love to go again with a bigger group of people. I really felt bad for them b/c it seems like such a great place, but no traffic.
(4)Jessica W.
Been here once on a Tuesday night, made a reservation for 7:30 and the place was dead until about 8:30 when we were getting ready to leave. Pros: The patio is super cute and protected from wind due to the way it's set up. Our server was awesome and the manager was also very nice, greeted us and thanked us for coming. Most importantly the food was YUMMY! Cons: overpriced...WAY over priced in my book. We did drink a few glasses of wine each (2 of us) and order 4 plates (all meant to share) but our bill was $170?! I guess the sea bass was $35 and I was not paying attention. It was my favorite thing we had but not worth $35! The seafood clay pot was so good and I also like that they offer brown rice (another up charge though). Overall it was ok, for the cost there are many other similar places I would rather go.
(3)Shannon H.
Service was great and food was excellent. We had the Salmon rolls, watercress beef, sugar cane shrimp, and shaking beef entree. All items were very good!
(5)Dayna R.
The "Spirit Masters" are AWESOME!!! Great food, drinks & ambience! Great place to host an event!
(5)Kim H.
One star at a time! That is the theme for this review. So, I met a good friend tonight for drinks and dinner. From the time I sat down at the bar, I could tell that I liked the joint. Sawtooth has a lovely, soft, clean decor with classic crooners playing proudly in the background. For this, it earns one star. Bobby, our friendly and attentive bartender served us royally. Knowing it was our first time (pun intended), Bobby provided us with delicious recommendations for each course we enjoyed, including appetizers and our main course. We tried the calamari and king salmon rolls, both of which were smartly prepared and nicely presented. My friend had the shaking beef and I had the grilled pork chop. She expressed great pleasure and satisfaction to her selection, and I had to stop myself from picking the bones clean. For this, Sawtooth earns another star. When it came down to dessert, Bobby graciously allowed us to substitute a second appetizer in place of the sweet stuff. For the demonstration of flexibility and accommodation, Sawtooth ears a third star. Lastly, and most importantly, our drinks were a treat. Mt friend is partial to gin and I whiskey. She was quite pleased with her cucumber-infused gin drinks. Although there were no whiskey options, Bobby recommended a wonderful grapefruit and vodka cocktail for me. I was sold. And for that, Sawtooth earns a fourth star. With one star at a time as its philosophy, Sawtooth has earned itself a nice, fat 4-star Yelp rating
(4)Tiffany L.
Came here with a big group of people, there was a slight mixup with our reservation but the friendly owner, Dzuy, graciously offered to put us in their semi-private room upstairs, and even chatted with us for a while and really made us feel welcome. The decor is contemporary but the food is AUTHENTIC vietnamese, the owner himself even stated that he did not wish to put up a fusion restaurant. The prices are reasonable, of course slightly more than the viet food in Argyle, but c'mon you are definitely paying for quality and ambiance. I thought paying $10 for a bowl of pho was ridiculous at first, however the meat is filet mignon and the broth is very tasty, and not overly salted and msg'ed like those Argyle joints. Other things we ordered: - Clay pot catfish: would be better if less oily, and had a more robust flavor. - Spring rolls, one regular, one pork, both just okay. - Calamari: so much potential in this dish, very much like salt pepper squid in Chinatown, but desparately needed salt. - Another catish dish -- it's the fried one, it's in vietnamese on the menu, also decent. - Sand and the Sea cocktail -- DELICIOUS! Lovely finish, but wish I tasted more of the basil. Honestly, nothing I ate was standout here, although I WOULD come back for the pho. It is much better quality than the pho in Argyle. But if you're a quantity over quality type of person, this might not be for you. The service still has some kinks to work through-- hopefully they will be impeccable by the time of their grand opening in a few weeks. I'm looking forward to the potential of this place!
(3)Samika M.
DO NOT EVER HAVE A PARTY HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To make a long story short, I reserved a table & nothing went as planned. Supposedly I was allowed 15 in my party because of how much I spent for bottle service. Well I ended up paying an extra $100 at the door because they said promoters don't know what their talking about & I had too many people. Come to find out 3 out of the 7 "extra" people had already paid so I was clearly ripped off. On top of that the server had the worse attitude. I tried calling a manger today, but the person on the phone said the only way to get a response is through email because they do have a business to run(in a very condescending tone). Then he went on to say I probably won't get this resolved because everybody from that night would have to state their side, like I know the 3 ladies at the door personally. What ever happened to good ole customer service. You mean to tell me there are no records of that night, I mean I still have my receipt. I truly believe they are hiding behind emails & using that promoter line as an excuse. All I want is for someone to take ownership of these so called communication issues, rectify this by giving me my $100 back, and don't use condescending tones with patrons that spend money there.
(1)Q M.
First of all, four stars for Bobby! Bobby the bartender was friendly, made a mean drink and was so accommodating that my friend and I decided to stay seated at the bar for our meal. Secondly, as other Yelpers mentioned, the cucumber/gin concoction is exceptional. Have one. Thirdly, the calamari and shaking beef were very good. Have those too. Will certainly be back to try more things on the menu.
(4)Damon M.
Came here this weekend for a Roble and Co brunch that ran out of food half way through the event. We were disappointed but don't know who was actually to blame for this problem. Then we were asked to pay $20 for a "three drink ticket", for an event that was RSVP. (And still no food) time for brisk walk down the street to Porkchop. I know Sawtooth is a great restaurant and Roble and Co are excellent caterers but someone has to take the blame for this one.
(2)Jeff R.
Every once in a while I get lucky, lucky that I don't have to choose the restaurant for an evening out. Eric and I made plans with friends Eric and Juliana but let them decide the location. Sawtooth had been on their list with many false starts, so it was an easy and natural choice for a Saturday night destination. Located on the far west end of West Town on Randolph, Sawtooth is a new Vietnamese restaurant and lounge. The decor is an interesting modern look with lots of whites and glass. They also have a nice outdoor patio area for the warmer months, the opposite of the rainy chilly night we went. The main dining room is on the first floor while the lounge space overlooks the bar area. It is a rather small dining room and a narrow space, but they have done a good job with separation between tables to avoid the feeling of eating next to strangers. Our first surprise came on the cocktail list. They have a nice and complete wine list, in addition to a number of beers on tap or bottle. But glancing at the specialty cocktails gave the impression of fruity beach drinks. There was nothing wrong with those options (i.e. dalat-a-love, Summer in Saigon, Mehkong Mojito, etc.), just unexpected, especially on a rainy fall evening in the city. The drinks came out great with high praise. We started the meal with three starters: spring rolls, pork rolls and banh xeo (Vietnamese filled fried pancake). My favorite was the spring roll served with delicious spicy peanut sauce. The pork roll was very similar, and I don't recommend order two rolls, just pick one. The banh xeo was the least enjoyed and least interesting. It resembles a large, fried hot pocket stuffed with vegetables. There wasn't a lot of flavor, too much fried dough and too difficult to share. Notice the thumb holes in the plates. All of the plates had unique or fun modern twists that were noticed by everyone. It was a nice touch that matched the environment and feeling. For my main course I was in a vegetarian mood and ordered the basil tofu and smoked eggplant dishes. I should have ordered a side of rice to help soak up the sauces and diffuse some of the strong spices. The basil tofu was very good, not overly cooked and served in a light sauce with broccoli and onions. I highly recommended that dish. The eggplant was not as good, but mostly because the flavors were too strong. After a handful of bites I had to stop and regroup, eat some rice and drink some sake. I know some people think eggplant is bland and in need of spices but this was too much for me. Erica ordered a very tasty grilled pork chop. She too did not finish her dish citing an exhaustion of taste buds. I tried a piece and thought it was very good, but I can understand not being able to eat an entire chop. Juliana said her seafood clay pot was bland throughout, and Eric's chicken curry was good but very spicy. Our experience at sawtooth was pleasant, allowing us to enjoy the good company of friends. I'm sure the patio is fun when it's open. While the value is good (main dishes ~ $15, starters ~ $8), the quality and flavors are inconsistent and volatile. We had no complaints from the drinks, though Eric and I tried to order a bottle of sake, which led to an interesting exchange... I would not rush back to eat at Sawtooth but could suggest checking out the "lounge" to focus on drinking and ordering small plates to snack.
(3)Andrew M.
Nice decor, good layout, might be a "go-to" place for me but the Pho, although good, was a very small portion unless you "upsize" and then it is a very high price for what you get. I really can't complain about the price 'cause we were using a Groupon. Speaking of that, the Groupon said "expires on July 21". We went on July 21. At 8:00pm. When we presented the Groupon, a manager came back and said "these expired at 6:00pm tonight but as an exception, we''ll take it." I said "Really? Where does it say 6:00pm on the Groupon?" I was told "Never mind, boy are we glad this Groupon promotion is over!" If you didn't want customer to buy half-priced food (which is about the correct price for the portion you get) then you shouldn't have offered the Groupon.
(2)Angela H.
I really wanted to like this place. It would be so nice to have a nice Vietnamese restaurant so close. Sadly, this place was nothing memorable. Every dish was too greasy, even the pho. Not sure how they managed to make the pho greasy, but they did. I'd just come back from Palo Alto and had amazing upscale Vietnamese food. It was so good, it left me craving shaking beef and seafood glass noodles for days, sadly this place left me wanting and paled in comparison to my meal earlier that week. I prefer Argyle both in terms of taste and cost.
(2)Jeff M.
We made a reservation for this place about 3 weeks ago for last night. We arrived to find it closed and it looks like it is permanently closed.
(1)Brian M.
I have been wanting to check this place out for some time. I finally got around to it with some clients. It has decent decor and food, but the service was pathetic. It was a slow night, and yet the waiter couldn't keep up, or even appear to try. Half the table was done with their drinks before the others even got theirs. Even better, the waiter took away one of my client's plates while he was in the rest room. Instead of being conciliatory about the mistake or offering to make any kind of amends he told my client that he had asked whether he was done. That didn't take place because he wasn't at the table. No one else told him to take the plate. It was really arrogant. Since it was a party of eight gratuity was included, but the waiter didn't deserve the tip he got. I'd consider giving it another try with a different waiter.
(2)Mike H.
I enjoy my Vietnamese food b/c the cuisine mainly uses fresh ingredients and it's healthy. I've tried my fair share and Sawtooth just didn't do it for me or the lady. Service: Great even though we used a voucher. We went on a Wed evening and the restaurant was 33% full. Our waitress (we guessed she was Spanish) was very nice and even the other waiters were helpful & courteous. Ambiance: Trendy. Floor to ceiling windows and concrete floors. This likely works well in the summer months. We went in January and it was ~10 degrees (F) outside. I'm a GAM (Grown A.. Man) and don't mind things a bit chilly. I've never been cold like this before at a restaurant. 15 minutes after ordering and getting our drinks, we asked a waiter (not the Spanish lady) what could be done to increase the temperature. He asked if we wanted to move away from the windows. Sounded like a good idea, but didn't do much to help. I then realized the concrete floors were the main problem and kept the place like an ice box. My feet were freezing. And we weren't crazy. Many people were 'enjoying' dinner with their coats on. The Spanish waitress put on a sweater while we were there. My lady friend ate while sitting on her jacket and with my jacket across her lap. On to the food: Lotus Stem Salad - Very nice. This is the dish that most resembled a Viet dish that we had. Surprisingly had a lot of shrimp and calamari. Seafood Claypot Rice - Good flavor but too oily for our taste. I've had better claypot rice at Golden Bullin Chinatown. If you ask Golden Bull nicely, they'll actually cook the rice a bit longer and you'll find a crunchy, rice texture in the pot... Crispy Egg Noodles - Nice presentation and seafood was good but way too salty. Again, another dish you can find in Chinatown. There are authentic Vietnamese dishes on the menu that we didn't choose. Why you ask? B/c I can ring up Mom, drop by over the weekend, and enjoy those same dishes (no one cooks better than your own mother, right?) so we largely decided to go with Yelp recommendations. Cocktails were ok - nothing to write home about. Didn't have dessert b/c I've heard frostbite could become a serious issue. I couldn't wait any longer to leave the place. To the Asians: If you looking for true Vietnamese food, it'll be easier and cheaper on the wallet to go to Argyle or even a few Viet places in Chinatown. To the Westerner: This place reminds me more of Chinese than Vietnamese. It's a bit salty for my taste but my experience tells me most Westerners like food a bit saltier so you may be able to overlook that. To Everyone: Bring boots, a scarf, and light jacket if you're dining at Sawtooth when it's cold outside.
(2)Haley S.
Had dinner with a group of girlfriends here. The drinks were awesome, for starters. Friendly service, the waiter was adorable. Everyone enjoyed their food, I had the quail, which was really tasty. All in all a fun evening, and near Market and Lumen and a few other fun places to go out.
(4)M S.
Went here with a Travelzoo voucher. I would definitely go back for the full price meal and try more dishes. Tried the egg rolls which were fried just right--the wraps were crispy and the stuffing was flavorful. The seafood nest was okay, but not the best. Others in my group had the pineapple shrimp which was tasty and served spectacularly. Went on a Saturday night and it was pretty empty for dinner. The bar seemed hip and the place probably livens up later in the night...I might try it then next time.
(4)F. W.
I was here this past Sunday for a day party. My friend and I arrived around 8pm. I was surprised there was no cover charge, however, the bartender charged $24 for 2 vodka/sodas(no specific vodka). I was a little thrown off but paid the bill via credit card and $5 cash tip. About an hour later, I headed upstairs, ordered the exact same vodka/soda and the bartender charged $9.60.(also tipped in cash)Hmmmm...ohhhkayyy. I looked at both receipts the next day, I was debating if I should contact management but I let it go. Today, I looked at my credit card statement to discover the bartender who charged $24 had FRAUDULENTLY tipped herself $4 on my credit card!!!ARE YOU SERIOUS girl??? I tipped you $5 CASH and you STEAL FROM ME! WOW. This is the very reason i should not have forgotten to cross out the tip line before signing the receipt! I have worked in the restaurant industry for YEARS! I know how greedy some people can get. You give a bad name to people in the service industry. I know exactly who you are because you work at numerous hip hop nights at various clubs/bars in chicago. You should be ASHAMED of yourself. I will NEVER come here again! All these bad reviews are 100% warranted.
(2)Amanda M.
More of a 3.5. I enjoyed the decor, especially the wall of various vases of bamboo and the hanging umbrella lights. Service was great. Food was good too. Had veggie spring rolls and spicy lemongrass chicken. Felt the menu could have been more specific about the dishes because I didn't know mine came with rice, which was a nice surprise, but there were also giant lettuce leaves, that I thought maybe I was supposed to make wraps with the chicken? Pretty decent portions for a place like this. And they do have a considerable amount of veggie options. While the food itself were pretty good, it was nothing outstanding and while my spicy lemongrass chicken had good equal flavor of lemongrass and spice, it was a tad on the oily side. I did appreciate the abundance of scallions though. My sister had the veggie clay pot rice and it had fresh mushrooms, along with canned ones which is very annoying. This place def is more of a Viet-fusion place rather than authentic as it claims.
(3)D O.
exceptionally bad experience... 30 minute wait to order drinks ( full-priced and watered down) 45 minute wait to order food 1 hour and 20 minute wait to get food. (We didn't have anything to eat, so we kept time to stay entertained.) Food was mediocre and the waiter walked away in the middle of taking our order. And the restaurant was really really cold.
(2)Mandy A.
The husband and I walked over here on the third anniversary of living in our condo a couple blocks away. We sat outside on a nice summer night, there were a couple other tables out there and a DJ just setting up. We started off with some red wine and a fruity drink, it must have been good because I totally can't remember what it was made with. Fun glasses though, I only remember that because I took a picture of them. Total dork. We asked our server for suggestions on an appetizer and he suggested the charbroiled pork rolls with peanut sauce. They were fresh and light but the flavor was really mild and I wish it had a little more going on. For entrees, I got the seafood clay pot (in front) which was shrimp, calamari and scallops with mushrooms, broccoli, onions and baby corn cooked in a clay pot over rice and a very scalding broth. Everything was cooked perfectly, even the scallops which I was amazed at, but holy hell was that thing hot. It tasted good so all patience went out the window but my tongue was definitely not feeling well the next day. Husband got the shaking beef dish which was filet mignon in a lime sauce. I stole a bite and the steak was really tender and the sauce was flavorful. Looking back on our choices, I'm not sure we were really that adventurous. Everything was good, nothing was bad, persay, and we were full but we didn't get any traditional dishes. However, from what I've read here, if you want traditional, you should go up to Argyle to get it.
(3)Dee C.
Wow. Such a good experinece which is hard to come by when using a travelzoo coupon. Had a great meal start to finish. Had the a lot of love drink and man. One of the bests drinks I have ever had. Felt like I was in strawberry heaven. Crispy egg noodles with tofu and mixed vegetables for my main entree and that was totally great. I loved how the noodles were shaped into a bowl. The tofu was cooked to the perfect firmness. My husband also loved his entree and drink. He had the cucumber gin drink and the cucumber tasted so fresh, making the drink amazing. For dessert we had the chocolate cake and that was the perfect ending to the night. The service was superb. The food was amazing. We can't wait to go back. This place can get pricey, so thank you to travelzoo for allowing us to find this gem.
(5)Agnes F.
I probably should give Sawtooth another chance its really a nice restaurant, the decor is clean and simple, the service is friendly, the drinks are good and the appetizers (wings and sawtooth salad) rock but the entrees? a real let down i had the stuffed quail (real dry) and my fiance had the cod (fishy and tasted only ok) I'll try the shaking beef next time instead
(3)Colleen C.
Trip #2 yielded an "AOK" from the crowd...and whilst I was willing to be generous on the first go (4-stars) when Sawtooth was newly opened...I'm afraid go 'round deux was just a tad less impressive. I opted for a convenient location for my mother's birthday dinner celebration, and Sawtooth is perfectly stationed. A reservation was secured, and our party of 5 was quickly seated for dinner in the West Loop, birthday commence! Drinks: all fine. Their cocktail menu could use some sprucing, but its certainly adequate. Beer and wine lists are above average, most definitely. Service: OK. Nothing incredible, and recommendations were lacking in depth. When providing service at a restaurant with a somewhat foreign cuisine, I think it appropriate to be VERY well-versed on each item as to provide insight and good pairings. This was not the case, but an AOK rating here as well...as food arrived promptly and dishes were cleared in the same manner. Water glasses remained full. There just wasn't that extra sparkle that I do wish for with a $200+ bill. The Food: This is where the real let down occurred. Spring rolls are pedestrian, at best. Chicken wings do not give the impression of being freshly made/rolled or fried. The Sawtooth Salad was quite good, the Shaking Beef entree a winner once again, and the small pho worthy of winter slurping. Yes, you can get better pho on Argyle that is 4x the size and 1/3 the price. But, we are on Randolph...thus, the price. The first soup I ordered with coconut and crab wontons was easily the least appetizing element. A runny green substance with zero flavor, two small wontons and tepid. A total zero. Unhappy. The pho was ordered to replace this dud...and thus, I paid over $22 in soups. Sigh. My parents split the red snapper, which looked appealing (and large) but happened to also resemble...pork? It did end up being fish, but I would guess well-cooked and prepped fish would never give off the radiance of a pig. Enough said. Desserts: Only 2 on the menu...a passionfruit tart was ordered. They are not made in-house. The server did not know how to describe it, but they did bring it out with a candle for the birthday girl, so all is forgiven. It was OK, but I think they can do better. Ambience: Stellar. The place is beautiful. When the patio opens, this will be a destination most definitely. This place is worthwhile. They could be outstanding. They need an overhaul of the menu, a jumpstart in service and some crafty cocktails. If they can achieve this by the time the patio reopens, they'll be money and I'll be back. But for now...just AOK.
(3)MaryLu C.
I though for the ambiance, service, wine and food together. The place was great. We went on a quite Tuesday day with a groupon. When we arrived we were seated quickly and as soon as I pulled out my laptop since this was a working dinner, the manager ran out to offer the code. They admit they focus on white wines, but the ponot noir I had was fabulous. We both had fish dishes that were succulent and tender. The after paying the bill following an hour of intense conversation and two glasses of wine realized I forgot my groupon my briefcase, the voided it out and reran it. Would go again when I want Vietnamese food.
(5)Jessica T.
My experience at this restaurant was a sign from God that my Yelp hiatus must come to an end. This is because Sawtooth was the first and only restaurant I have ever walked out of before I even ordered my food. I feel as though that is worth yelping about. My boyfriend and I made reservations here 2 weeks ago. It wasn't very busy when we came in, and our hostess and waitress seemed friendly. She took our drink order, and then we waited. And waited. And waited. She came back to our table once or twice and told us that she would go get our drinks from the bar. Then she would reappear several minutes later, sans drinks. After about 25 minutes, not only had we not received our drinks, but she hadn't even taken our food order. So we left. And as we were walking out, we explained to the manager what happened. He shrugged his shoulders and offered a barely audible apology. He did not offer to do anything to remedy the situation. Even though the menu was enticing, I don't think I will be coming back here as a matter of principle.
(1)Adam K.
I went to Sawtooth on a nice Thursday evening to use a TravelZoo Voucher that I had purchased. I live in the neighborhood and have just never gotten the urge to go to Sawtooth even though it looks like a sleek, sexy and polished place to dine on some pretty exotic fare. The atmosphere is pretty modern. Polished concrete floors, dark varnished wood, and a low lit clubby type atmoshpere. The drinks were really good, and that says a lot considering I'm a person who usually takes Maker's on the rocks and will not tolerate cocktails that are essentially sugar and booze. They did a nice job of lettting the booze shine through instead of masking it completely. They also pack a good punch! We started with the Calamari. This was AWESOME. It was nicely and lightly tempura breaded and came with green onions mixed in. It had a fantastic flavor. My only complaint is that they really did not do anything fancy with the sauce...they simply served it with a side of Sriracha. Don't get me wrong, Sriracha is good, I was just expecting a little more creativity. For dinner we went with the fish. One of us had Salmon, and one had Seabass. They were both terrific. The salmon had a nice crusty peppery crunch to it, while still being cooked perfectly inside. The seabass was served in a chili-esque type broth that really highlighted the natural flavor of the dish. On the side we got Spicy Baby Bok Choy, and it was great....and spicy. Wine list focuses on whites and is really well thought out. Desert was pretty middle of the road. If you go here you should really focus on the apps, entrees, and sides. They really hit the mark in those departments. And get the vietnamese coffee...
(4)benjamin m.
Okay, Contemporary Vietnamese better than Argyle Street for the same prices with the best cocktail(s) I've ever had and a level 2 Sommelier pairing the wines that are priced better than any restaurant I've seen, at the end of restaurant row? Ummmm Yes please. This is one of the sexiest spaces Ive seen The Main bar is a work of art (literally I talked to the Artist/Architect at the opening last night.) ' The food is amazing! Not dumbed down americanized vietnam...Anthony Bbourdain no reservations Vietnam. Start with a cocktail by Nam (Formerly of Sushi Samba) I suggest the "Sand and the Sea" rum, lemongrass, lime, coconut water and basil. I had two (All cocktails are only $9!) Then head upstairs with friends to the lounge and just start ordering. The sommelier will pair tastings with every dish you order. The list is really heavy on aromatic whites...very cool. The patio looks amazing but apparantly just waiting on an occupancy liscense (Cant wait for that) The waitstaff is friendly and attentive (also very good looking) I will be back ALOT! food ranges from $6-$12 for apps and $10 to $22 for very sharable size portions. (Get the shaking beef or the whole red snapper. Yay for sawtooth!
(5)Mihir P.
Have you had bitter lemon soda???? Yeah, the stuff you get in the UK. They have it! I got the Soza drink - one of their signature drinks that has the coveted soda. I really love this place. The decor is multi-minimalist. Meaning the walls are different but each is modernistic. Is that Interpol I hear? Holy squirrel nuts! it is! Love it! That was the only artist I recognized on their playlist but I need to know the others. I give the food about three and a half stars: - Sawtooth wings - some of the BEST wings I've had. NOT TO MISS. - Sugarcane Shrimp - great idea but needs better execution - Shrimp & sweet potato cake - not cakes. Just one large orgy of tempura stuck together so it's one piece. And it only comes with two shrimp. - Shaking beef - some of the most tender and flavorful beef I've had. - Grilled pork chop - a valiant effort but a tad overcooked and the sauce was too sweet. Try a thicker cut chop and less sugar. - Asparagus - plentiful and yummy. - Smoked eggplant - Magnificent but quite smokey; that's the point, right? - Passionfruit Tort - amazing but ours had a hair in it. GROSS! They gave us a new one but still charged us. After I pointed it out, they took it off with ZERO argument. I'll be back. FYI I just knocked down a star since I didn't get my opentable points. I asked Sawtooth and they said they'd look in to it but it's been at least 6 months and nothing has changed. I get annoyed at this incompetence.
(3)Jenn K.
Sawtooth- an Americanized Asian joint with not Randolph Street worthy food. Food Being a huge restaurant goer, I have only sent back a dish under a handful of times. This was one of them. I ordered the Cha Ca La Vong. The texture, taste and flavors were just inedible. The fish was overcooked and tasteless; the accompaniments instead of complimenting the fish made the dish more unpleasant; just awful. I dined with several foodie friends who all agreed that the dishes are just simply disappointing. And no one could eat this fish. If you must go for some reason I recommend: Seafood Clay Pot RIce: Definitely not the greatest Asian seafood dish, but the best thing here out of more than 7 dishes tried. Sawtooth Wings: Tasted very similar to Korean GhamPoongGee wings. Very good although in comparison a crappy version of Great Seas (best GhamPoongGee). Service I expect a certain caliber of service when dining in a restaurant like this. If I am unhappy with a dish, I expect for the dish to be replaced. Come to think about it, I think even Denny's would do that. In the end I will note that the server did comp the fish and brought me another dish, but this was not after first refusing b/c I had already eaten some of the dish. Um, you typically need to try something before you know you don't like it. Ambiance The restaurant is very beautiful & modern and for that is a great addition to Randolph's Restaurant Row. But the food and service need an overhaul before I would ever go back.
(2)Kathy C.
We went to Sawtooth on a Tuesday night. Had read about the place, and were looking for a place to go and Sawtooth had a coupon on Restaurant.com , so three of us met for dinner. The place is very modern, very attractive interior. We got the calimari and the banh xao for appetizers. Both were very good. Then we got the shaking beef, salmon and seabass for entrees. All three were very good, nice presentations. We split a chocolate cake for dessert, which was just ok. They also had a nice wine list. I would definitely recommend the restaurant.
(4)Teri Y.
I'm torn as to how many stars to give Sawtooth. My husband and I had a pleasant experience here but we saw couple other tables that had really slow service that we felt bad for them. So while I think I should be giving a rating based on my very own experience, I can't help but think that we could have very well been one of the unlucky tables that got very slow service. Well let's begin with our experience that night. Our server was pleasant and was definitely not in a rush to get our orders in. So if you're looking to be in a very relaxed environment where you want to spend alot of laidback time with your date, then this is perfect for you. Our server first came to take our order for drinks. I got the Sand and Sea cocktails and it is made with fresh coconut juice-- pretty good. Their beer list is pretty impressive given that this is not a bar, so plus points for that. They had Wittekerke (my favorite Belgium beer), Goose Island brews, etc. My husband asked our server about the different kinds of beer and what were they like (light vs hoppy) and she recommended a couple beers to my husband based on what he felt like having that night. After a while, she came back to take our order for dinner. She came back a couple times to check on us as well. Service was pleasant but like I said, we had to be patient as it wasn't quick. I had a small pho bo and goodness gracious, the fillet mignon that came with the pho blew me away. It was everything amazing: tender and soft. The filet mignon strips were also a little rare but the hot broth cooked them, just like the way it's supposed to be. The broth was also excellent that I finished every drop of it. Only thing was that the noodles weren't soft enough. Don't get me wrong, I like my noodles al dente but those noodles were more than al dente. But I'm wiling to let this go because the filet mignon and broth blew me away. My only regret was that I ordered a small pho instead of a large one. Their spring rolls were also good and pretty filling. The Cha Ca La Vong (grilled catfish) was not bad at all. Now on to what we saw other tables experienced: a couple were seated shortly after us. Our server (being not the very quick server) went over to them probably about three times to tell them that she would be right with them. After waiting for quite a long time, the couple got up, walked over to the manager to tell him something, and then left the restaurant. I actually felt bad for the couple as I agree that they waited for a quite awhile. The service could really be a tad bit quicker without giving up the relaxed atmosphere the restaurant is trying to create. Later on towards the end of our meal, another couple got seated and I saw their faces getting tired of waiting to order their food too. We didn't wait to see if another episode of getting-up-to-leave happened but for Sawtooth's sake, I hope it didn't happen because Sawtooth does have alot of potential. Like other reviewers mentioned, since Sawtooth is new, I'd give them another chance to work out their kinks as I understand that service gets better with experience. I'm aware that they do try their best as the whole time we were there, there was a manager there keeping watch on how the floor was going. So as long as they try to speed up their service and not disappoint customers with slow service, I'm sure they will be another success on Randolph Row as their food is wonderful. I'm looking forward to order a large pho bo the next time I'm there.
(4)Paul M.
Food was awesome. Chicken Wings: delicious, could use a little more spice if you ask me, but the glaze on them is awesome (plus they're jumbo). Shaking Beef: Had me shaking it was so good. Extremely tender, well marinated, and smothered in veggies and a tasty brown sauce. Summer in Saigon (cocktail): awesome. Cucumber, lime, amazingness. I could knock down about four or five after an afternoon on the golf course. Very refreshing. Others in my group got the clay pot dishes. One was veggie and the other seafood. The scallops and shrimp are nice and big. Everything and everyone was very pleased. Ambiance was great. Very cool, modern lounge style. Would be great to hold a birthday party here in the upstairs. Music was a little too loud a little too early....shouldn't crank the volume until 9 or 10 in my opinion, but oh well. One thing to consider; this place opened in the fall last year, and it's hard to get butts in the seats over the winter, especially as far West as it is on Randolph. BUT it's worth the cab ride or drive (there is plenty of parking). They have some outdoor seating that I can't wait to take advantage of in the Summer. Give it a shot, I think you'll like it.
(4)Ashley C.
Went here with a group of 8 women and they easily accomodated a large group. The interior design is shick and trendy with clean lines and nice lighting. The outside is very modern and will definitely get croweded in the summer. For the food, I was very disappointed with my order. I ordered the crispy egg noodles which had scallops, jumbo shrimp, squid and mixed vegetables. While the dish was very fresh, it lacked flavor and was very bland. I chalked this up to just bad ordering as others in my group loved the roasted quail and salted jumbo prawns. The Pho Ga and Pho Bo were good as well. They definitely also had a really great drink list. Now for the service. The other reviews are correct in that the servers are so unattentive. Our table wanted to order MORE drinks and it was like pulling teeth for him to stop by once our food arrived. He did not come by after our food was delivered until we had to flag hiim down for a check. I hope they work out the kinks of the waitstaff because I'd definitely like to come back, and often, as it is in the neighborhood.
(3)Janet C.
I went to Sawtooth this week with a dear friend, after reading about it on-line. From the hostess holding the door open for me when I got there, to the Summer in Saigon drink at the bar, to the atmosphere, to the staff, and to the wonderful food- this place is fantastic! The Shaking Beef is the most tender stuff I've ever had, and so yummy- especially with the lime/salt/pepper sauce. The wings for an appetizer are better than finger lickin' good. And you won't want to miss the Smoked Eggplant- even if you're not normally an eggplant fan. And the employees- hostess, bartender, waitress, manager: these folks are the icing on the cake. So nice and friendly! The decor is modern, yet soothing. The music was totally appropriate, and not too loud or too soft. It was such a delight spending a couple of hours eating delicious food, getting great service, and being able to have a fabulous catch up conversation with my friend.
(5)Marcia M.
Sawtooth has sooooooooooooooo much potential. Sorry to be annoying but I can't emphasize enough about how this place could be a 5 star establishment if they can make it through the learning curves in the first weeks of business. At this time, Sawtooth is a steady 3.5 stars in my book. Here's why: The space is absolutely gorgeous and sleek! Tall ceilings are anchored by various textures that remain harmonious. The majority of the space is surrounded by massive windows and the bar area is very eye-catching. House infused spirits and wine offerings were delightful to the palette and my liver approved as well! Food was good as they offered a nice range of prices and options. I chose the Spring Rolls ($8) and requested tofu instead of other proteins. They were light yet filling. As an entree, I opted for the Basil Tofu ($8) with broccoli, wok tossed in light & dark soy sauce. The portion size was good and the dish was flavorful. Let's just say that I didn't have any leftovers..... Here's why I had to deduct stars: Although the staff was friendly and attentive. There were several mistakes at our table that included a confusing game of "Musical Wine" when the waitress made errors with what wine went with who? I should also state that she did give us the "Odd Wine" out that was delivered to our table for free. Another instance is when our table of 10 ordered 4 plates of the "Spring Rolls", I asked 2 of the staff if the Spring Rolls that were placed in front of me included tofu or pork. The other side of the table ordered the pork option. I live a vegan lifestyle. He said that it was tofu but I found out pretty quickly that it wasn't so. I personally don't freak out about things like this because they can be rectified but many people are very devout with their vegetarianism/veganism or have strict food restrictions. This type of thing should be confirmed before giving diners the green light to nosh. Sawtooth is still the new kid in town so I think we should all give them a couple of more weeks to work out the kinks but after that....GAME ON!
(3)Allison H.
Amazing food. Bad location. Even worse service. It's unfortunate that this place is in such a bad location so far west from all the other Randolph bars and restaurants. Otherwise I imagine it would be much busier. There were 3 people at the bar when we got there otherwise the entire place was empty at 7:30 on a Thursday night. It got a bit busier by the time we left to maybe 4 or 5 tables but that's about it. The food was so good that it is the reason for 3 stars - honestly i would have given it 1 just based on location and service alone. We were seated and no one even came to bring us water for maybe 10 minutes. Our server finally set waters down for us then immediately left before we could even put a drink order in. Maybe 10 minutes later he finally stopped over and we put our drink order and made sure to get our appetizer order in as well because who knew when we'd see our waiter again (at this point we were the ONLY seated table). Our drinks took another 10 minutes or so (I ordered a glass of wine and my husband ordered a bottle of beer - nothing that takes much time or really requires any preparation). For an appetizer, we ordered the spring rolls which were light and delicious. It came with a warm peanut sauce that was amazing. When ordering my entree, I made the bad decision to ask our server's recommendation for something, which he of course didn't even know what the dish was - go figures. I was hoping the chef at least knew what the dish was. I ordered the seafood clay pot and my husband ordered the shaking beef. My dish was great - I was so impressed and surprised. My husband's shaking beef was AMAZING. Order this if you go. It was the most tender, perfectly cooked beef I have really even had in a long, long time. For dessert we ordered the chocolate lava cake and it was just ok. Nothing great, nothing bad. Overall, the appetizers and entrees were great and probably the thing that keeps this place in business. The service on the other hand needs some work.
(3)Meg L.
This is such a cool space, it's a shame the food isn't quite as dazzling. It seems that Sawtooth's minimalist approach to decor extends to flavor. Not that anything we tried was bad, it just wasn't especially tasty. The calamari, shrimp & sweet potato cake, and banh xeo appetizers were bland, as was the cha ca la vong (which is grilled catfish, not, as the name seems to indicate, the name of a Vietnamese drag queen). The exception was the shaking beef which was simply prepared with bell peppers and onions in a slightly sweet, citrus-y sauce. Also, living so close to Argyle and Broadway, I'm used to enjoying Vietnamese food that is accompanied by a garden's worth of fresh cilantro but absolutely none of the dishes at Sawtooth had so much as a leaf in sight. To end on a positive note, the plates are easily shareable making this a great place to try with a group (albeit one that cares more about the scene than the food) and the service couldn't have been nicer.
(3)Jess V.
If you want good Vietnamese food, go to Argyle Street in Uptown. If you live in near west neighborhood and don't want to take the trip, then come to Sawtooth. The three stars are more for the bar and interior design than the food. The food earns two stars. Let's start with the positive. Sawtooth has a great bar, and the draft and liquor selection to back it up. The bar itself is long and can fit a decent amount of people. The draft beer list will please any micro-brew fan. The cocktails are good and standard prices ($9-10). I very much look forward to coming here in the summer for a cocktail or a beer and sitting in their front patio area. The food leaves much to be desired. The imperial rolls were average shrimp egg rolls. The basil tofu was larger than I expected-- enough for an entree for one or to share with several as an appetizer. The tofu was very fried but soggy. I was hoping for a sauteed tofu as one usually finds at Thai restaurants, but this was battered, fried, and soggy all at once. My fellow diners ordered the pho bo, which they said was okay, but again recommended Argyle Street restaurants for stellar pho. I may return for the bar and an appetizer if I'm hungry, but I won't return for dinner. Ultimately if I'm dining out, I want the food to be delicious and worth the extra calories and money. The food did not satisfy those preferences, but the bar was very impressive. I recommend it as a place for drinks and maybe apps but not for dinner.
(3)Pete D.
Such a disappointment to see the regression here. To start, the service was way below average. Took about 15 minutes after we sat down to even get our waiter to the table. They refilled our water glasses twice while we waited, so that was ok. From there, the appetizer was pretty good (chargrilled pork spring roll). The wine was a bit warm. Why restaurants in general don't keep red wine at cellar temperature is a mystery to me. Next we ordered our entrees, but I also ordered a pho bo with the beef on the side so I could "cook" it in the broth as I wanted it. Well, the waiter brought everything at once. So I had to choose to let my pho get cold or my entree (shaking beef) get cold. The waiter was amazed that I didn't want both things at once. And the pho had the beef already well overcooked in it. Wow. The pho was average at best. The seasoning was bland, with the beef one large nearly inedible sheet. The lime sauce for the shaking beef wasn't even served and it took a while to get the waiter's attention to get it brought out. Again, seasoning lacked. No salt anywhere. Salt is a pretty important part of cooking, but they don't seem to use it at Sawtooth. I've given this place 4 stars in the past and the 2 star rating is generous really. It takes a lot for me to give a negative review to a restaurant, but I couldn't keep this one to myself...
(2)Emil O.
Went here to catch up with a few friends. I was very skeptical at first because of the location (yes, West Loop restaurants can be very spotty and pretentious without substance). Sawtooth I have to say, with much relief, is a must-try place. The decor is very pleasing and comfortable. I specially love the entry way and the cozy front yard (a very classy, simple cement patio with two long wood benches). The interior is very well laid out and very conducive to friendly conversations and hanging out with friends. The bar has a good assortment of cocktails and beer. The bar staff is very friendly and pleasant. Oh, and extra points for the nicely chosen stemware and dishes! Now on to the food.... it is very good for what the place is trying to be! I would not call it authentic Vietnamese food (and I don't think this place is trying to be that) but it is a wonderful and refreshing twist on Viet food. The Sawtooth wings is a great app to start with and so is the calamari. They have a very unusual and very pleasant take on papaya salad. I had the grilled pork and it was delicious! The rest of the table had the seafood claypot, the grilled eggplant (a must, even for carnivores!) and the chicken curry - all very very good! Overall I was very impressed with this place - both as a meet up location and as a dining place option. I will definitely add it to my list of places to go to on a casual evening of dining out or when you are simply too lazy to cook your own food. Can't wait to come back here when the weather is nicer - the outdoor space is hot!
(4)Scott C.
WOW! Great food, great drinks and phenomenal service! I highly recommend this restaurant and can't wait to go back. The atmosphere and design of the place is great as well. The food was amazing! We ordered the watercress beef, pho bo, cha ca la vong, and shaking beef. We ordered a lot with plans to take home, but the food was so flavorful that we sport ate and finished it all. The proprietors and bartenders were very friendly and went out of their way to accommodate us and were very helpful while ordering.
(5)Lady L.
I've been a few times now, and it's just been OK. Nothing really stood out as an amazing dish, I would chose other places before this one, and am still crossing my fingers for a life changing Vietnamese restaurant to come to the W Loop.
(3)Ccc C.
We went there for dinner and really liked it. There are enough space between tables where you don't feel like your sitting ontop of each other. They had music but it was not overbearing. We were able to hear ourselves talk which I appreciate and the food was delicious. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer and my friend ordered the salmon for his entree which I tried and was delicious. I had the sawtooth salad with pork and shrimp which was soooo yummy. I am definitley a fan and will be back!
(4)Luis R.
The place is sick. All contemporary and dramatic. The food is great, love the mojito and the red snapper was fresh. Maybe the best viet food in Chicago
(4)Rob M.
I loved my experience at Sawtooth Restaurant. The Clay Pot Cod was amazing! ...hands down, one of the best meals EVER! The Grilled Pork was also excellent.
(4)