Juicy Wine Company: User Reviews

The CIty's Secret
By MandyB from River North, August 4, 2008

Overall rating:

This place is the City's Secret to great wines and shek Lounge feel with great people. I was impressed to view the extensive wine list, cheeses, and meats - whatever budget, whatever palette Juicy is truly the place. The outside patio is most desirable and the weekend Lounge is the perfect place to listen to tunes from great DJ's. We bought bottles and took a few home, but this is the place. Juicy gets a 10 from me!!!

Juicy Brunch
By MandyB from River North, August 4, 2008

Overall rating:

What a great value, what a great Space, what an Experience! I go to Juicy Wine often with friends to relax upstairs on the outdoor deck to have a bottle of one of their unique wines. I was informed of the Brunch and decided to give it a try - it was incredible. The waffles and chicken are better than any restaurant, the egg sandwich was incredible, and the drinks will certainly keep me coming back. The service is so personal, Saturday is the best day to go - I had to just stay awhile and enjoy the music and atmosphere - a must go to, and bring friends - inexpensive but incredible!

Not worth it
By gc from Loop, July 11, 2008

Overall rating:

The food was ok, the service horrible, unless you like attitude and blank stares.

Totally Disappointed
By EY from Roscoe Village, June 23, 2008

Overall rating:

My friend reserved the upstairs for a Sunday brunch/birthday celebration and was completely disappointed. I can't even write a review on food because we never got any! We reserved the room for 11:00 and it was supposed to be a $20 all you can eat and drink brunch. So we started with some mimosas, bloodies, and bellinis. The atmosphere was relaxed and we were enjoy good quality time together.

Several drinks and an hour-half later we still had no food. Grant it, their waffle iron was not really worknig and the one mini stove for eggs was on the fritz, or the chef didn't have eggs. Either case, it was not churning out any fried poultry products. When my friend went to complain to the manager he was told we would get food from the main kitchen soon but they had to clear out some of the downstairs crowd first.

Now first off, this was reserved several days in advance so they knew we were coming. Secondly, there was a $200 deposit put down so you'd think we should get some priority over the rest of the crowd that showed up a few minutes ago especially since the upstairs "cooking station" was down.

So about another half hour passed when the chef came to tell us that they ran out bagels, (the Harold's chicken that some guy went to go get) Harold's was out of chicken, pastries, and some other stuff that is on their small brunch menu. So after two hours we only had some drinks and a couple slices of fruit. Completely p.o.'d, we left without another word.

Luckly, we were able to salvage the day by going to a friends house and making our own food for the entire party.

Supposedly, their food is good but I'll never know. Never going back. Utterly disappointed!

Worth the trip
By Sara from Streeterville, April 15, 2008

Overall rating:

First things first--arrive early and by early I mean 11am when they open. If you can manage to do that you're likely to get a table rather than wait the hour or so those who show up later (I mean 11: 15) are destined to do. The atmosphere was lovely, quick and efficient without rushing the client. The food was great, yummy waffles, unbelievably good pastries and oh and salmon! My only critique would be the Bellini’s, while it was alright and they used a cheap but none-the-less good sparking (cristalino—ignore the horrible name) its nothing like the real thing. Best advice try the bloody mary with beer chaser and the salmon plate.

A pretty solid experience...
By MichaelJ from MichaelJ, March 8, 2008

Overall rating:

I hit up Juicy Wine Company and Vintage Wine Bar last night. It is clear to me that one of these places is actually interested in serving good wine and the types of accompanyments that usually go with it. The other is more interested in capitalizing on the trendiness of wine. In case you do not feel like reading this entire review, in summary, if you want good wine and cheese, Juicy Wine Company is the place for you.

First the negative:
The DJ. Oh, god, the DJ. I guess this place is trying to turn the upstairs into more of clubby type atmosphere. For me, that is not what I am after. I can see where some would like it. If/when we go back, I will be sure to sit downstairs where the music is somewhat less overbearing, although it is still the same bump-bump-bump that is being played by the DJ upstairs.
The location. There is not a ton to do on Milwaukee that far south. There are some other bars/etc., but the density of things to do is not that high.

Then the positives:
The wine list actually has some descriptions of the wine so you can choose something that sounds good to you based on the description rather than just relying on the type of grape or country of origin.
The wait staff projected an air of confidence about the wine and food. Not cockiness, just that they knew what they were talking about and would be glad to help.

And my favorite: The cheese & food list. This is the kind of things that should be offered by an establishment interested in wine. They have numerous actual artisan cheeses which were served with dried fruits and nuts and bits of bread. They have a flight of salt and butter which is pretty unique and quite tasty. They have many specialty meats that are served sliced paper thin and which are very good.

In summary, if you are looking for good wine and fine foods to go with it, I highly suggest heading to Juicy Wine Company. See my review for Vintage Wine Bar if you are interested in knowing my thoughts on that place.

Favorite wine bar in Chicago.
By jammyzin from Chicago, February 24, 2008

Overall rating:

This is my first review for Metromix so forgive me if I ramble on too long.

First thing's first: If you're a true wine lover and have been to other wine bars in Chicago, you will appreciate the insanely low bottle prices at Juicy Wine Co. Basically, any bottle they sell retail, just add $15 (kind of a corkage fee) and you can drink it on premise. So, a $25 bottle of wine that would cost at least $75 at any Chicago restaurant will only cost you $40 to drink at Juicy. I can't understand the reviews that complain about Juicy's prices being excessive. That's ridiculous. By the glass, their prices are the same as every other wine bar. By the bottle, their pricing is unmatched in the entire city. (As a matter of fact, I don't know of any other establishment that doesn't mark up their bottles at least 100%, if not 200%.) The only thing I can think of that might cause this misinformed reaction is the size of their wine glasses. They're huge! As a result, if you're drinking by the glass, a standard pour looks a bit tiny. But all that extra room is for swishing and swirling! Rest assured, it is a standard pour. Yes, I asked.

As far as the food goes, it's all about the meat. Juicy has the best selection of cured meats I've ever tasted. Yeah, they're a little pricey, but that's because they're, literally, the best you can get in the country. The meats are from Salumi Artisan Cured Meats, which I believe is run by famous chef Mario Batali's father in Seattle. The Lomo is out of this world, as is the Mole. But I think the Culatello is my favorite. Juicy slices the Salumi so paper thin that it practically melts on your tongue, almost like good sushi. Absolutely amazing. The guy that prepares the plates is obviously passionate about his work. Every order is adorned with goodies like hazelnuts or almonds, dried figs, honey, all kinds of olives, etc. Beautiful and delicious. (By the way, Juicy features Vosges chocolate, which is great by itself. But if you order some to eat there, you'll get some wonderful, flavorful surprises on your plate, like honey and black sea salt. I recommend the Vosges bacon chocolate bar. Trust me. Now I want to sprinkle sea salt on every bit of chocolate that I eat.)

If you are a cheese lover, Juicy won't disappoint. Just don't think you're going to find Velveeta on the menu. But if you're adventurous, and you like cheese that tastes like real, European, old-school, barn yard, STINKY cheese, you will be in dairy heaven. There are several cheese flights to choose from. Ask the staff for recommendations. Tell them what you like, or what you don't like, and they'll help you find something you'll love. There have been a few times when they ran out of a selection, but they always let me know that there will be a substitution before I lay down any cash.

I have to say, service was a bit spotty when Juicy first opened, but I guess that's to be expected with just about any new bar or restaurant. Rest assured, all the wrinkles have long been ironed out. The wait staff is relaxed, friendly and knowledgeable without being condescending or snobby. Not sure if you'll like a certain wine you're thinking about ordering? Ask for a little taste. Have a question? Ask. If they don't know the answer, they will find someone who does. This is not a stuffy wine bar. There are plenty of those in this city. Juicy is more on the irreverent, fun side, which is quite refreshing to say the least. I should mention that although Juicy is all about fun, that doesn't mean that they don't take wine seriously. Sure, they carry some super-inexpensive wines that are just ok. But they also carry some real gems, and at great prices to boot. (As far as their retail prices go, Juicy is usually a couple bucks more than, say, Sam's, but I don't mind that at all. This is a tiny place and I don't mind spending a couple extra bucks on a beloved local shop.)

Let's see, what else. Oh, the music is always great. Juicy brings in great local DJs on the weekends. So, Friday and Saturday nights are usually a little louder and more gregarious than weekdays. Weekends, after, say 8 or 9pm, are REALLY fun. If you're looking for some wine and quiet conversation, I'd suggest sticking to weeknights or weekends before the DJs start. (Or, you can always stay downstairs where it's a little more laid-back and chill.) I've often gone to Juicy for a quiet evening with a friend, but we wind up enjoying ourselves so much that we stay for hours and watch the place transform into an intimate party. And I love that.

Juicy is officially my favorite wine bar in Chicago. So much so, that I can't order a bottle of wine anywhere else without feeling like a chump. Why pay $100 for a $35 bottle of wine? Oh, one last thing. Juicy's wine tastings are more like super-fun parties than stuffy wine-rep events. They usually have a fun theme of some sort, and are always reasonably priced. And I think that's what it comes down to. I want to spend my money at a place, discover some fantastic wine, have a great time and not feel like I paid too much for it all. And I get that there. I always leave Juicy Wine Co with a smile on my face. And being a bit of a pessimist, that's saying a lot.

Over priced and full of itself
By foodiegirl from River West, February 3, 2008

Overall rating:

Truly not worth the time it takes to get there. The prices are too high, the food offerings are mediocre, and the owner is ridiculously full of himself.
Go to The Tasting Room on Randolph... much friendlier staff (and management), better atmosphere (read: no stench when you walk in), and a much wider selection of wines in ALL price ranges.

I am by no means...
By TM from Chicago, River West, IL, August 7, 2007

Overall rating:

I am by no means a wine expert, but my wife and did enjoy this place. We went for a snack and a glass or two of wine and are glad we did. The wine selection by the glass is not that extensive in quantity, but it was executed well. We had two half glasses each (two reds, two whites)-which were as generous as some full glasses of wine that we have had at other places. We also had the small plate of Italian cheeses, which was impressively garnished as well as delicious. The atmosphere is upscale, modern, but cozy. If you are satisfied with the Chardonnay or Merlot served at a typical pub, this place might not be for you. If you appreciate quality vino and want to try some new varieties, you'll be thankful that you came.