Pops for Champagne: User Reviews

Great!
By Phentremine from Brooklyn, March 18, 2009

Overall rating:

It was just wonderful!

ick!
By Cotton from Midwest, October 20, 2008

Overall rating:

Went with a friend on a Saturday night. Even though we knew it would be crowded, the clientele were pushy and nasty. Was told that Friday night was better, and should have gone then. The greeter at the door was wonderful. We didn't even stay for one drink, since it was impossible to get to the bar through the posers. This place just had a very bad vibe.

Terrible Customer Service
By silly2008 from loop, August 18, 2008

Overall rating:

Dont expect to go here if you want good customer service - doesn't matter ifyou have a reservation or not. Our large group was told to stand and wait for 30-45 minutes before we could be seated (we had a reservation and confirmed it many times). Not a place we will recommend, nor will we take people, for a long, long time. By no means did we expect any type of red carpet treatment, but we certainly didn't think we deserved a cold shoulder from every employee we spoke to...

Trendy and High Rent
By LRC from NW Burbs, July 17, 2008

Overall rating:

No flights I was told. I had to order a bottle, half bottle, or by the glass. By the glass had about 7 to choose from. The atmosphere was cold. Ultra modern furnishings, no music being played, and the service was rough. I visited the old Pops and loved the piano, flights, and cozy atmosphere. My bottle of Moet Chandon Nectar Imperial sells at the grocery store for $35 and I paid $119 at Pops. The food wasn't anythig to write about. I wouldn't recommed Pops.

awesome place!
By chicagofoodie from river north, April 4, 2008

Overall rating:

just moved to chicago from nyc and gotta say this is my favorite place i've seen in the windy city so far! awesome champagne & sparkling wine selection; great small plates & high energy crowd. place was packed with an attractive crowd that looked like the after work set. very refreshing to see a place so chic and fun like pops here in the midwest!

not that bad or improved
By ajawa from little italy, March 22, 2008

Overall rating:

I almost decided against going here after reading all the reviews here, but i'm glad i went. Either i was lucky, or the place has improved. The friday night jazz room was full or tourists, yes, but no rowdy youngsters. The manager very explicitly demanded quiet and respect before the music started, and the musicians didn't seem displeased to be there. The staff were generally friendly. I don't know how well acoustics work for people sitting in far corners, but in the middle of the room by the bar, the sound was fine.

i must concur, though, that the decor is awful. it seems like professional designed half the place (two out of four walls are nicely stony, candle patterns and colors lights in various nooks, elegant tables), but the other half resembles a high-school gym more than anything (the other two walls, including the one behind the stage; the very low ceiling; warehouse doors; chair around those elegant tables). and upstairs was quite loud.

bottom line is, it's not a bad place to listen to jazz, though you will be surrounded by tourists and ugliness.

Service leaves a lot to be desired
By Mimi from Chicago, November 14, 2007

Overall rating:

I recently stopped by Pops with friends for a pre-dinner drink after work. The place was practically empty, so conversations were easily heard and the ambiance and atmosphere was relaxing. Pops operates in a nice-looking space. However, the arrogant, smarmy and flippant attitude of our server was not just annoying, but confusing. I have absolutely no idea why he felt the need to be so completely pretentious, but his demeanor was literally enough to prevent me from ever setting foot in this place again. At any rate, we ordered cocktails (which were very good, actually) instead of champagne, downed them quickly and left so as not to be in his irritating little presence any longer! I won't be back.

Wow, I can't believe all...
By Kamila from Lindenhurst, IL, August 28, 2007

Overall rating:

Wow, I can't believe all the negative reviews. My husband and I came here last Saturday and couldn't have enjoyed it more. We sat at the bar and the very friendly bartender helped us pick out an awesome bottle of bubbly. We told him we wanted something that was good but didn't break the bank and he found just the thing. We eventually headed downstairs for some jazz and altough the cover charge was a bit high, we still had a great time. Very attentive service throughout the night!

LOUD!!!! Not the music,...
By lalaha from Chicago, IL, July 19, 2007

Overall rating:

LOUD!!!! Not the music, but people talking ever louder to drown out their neighbors' conversations -without a soft, muting surface to be found. For a champagne bar, the By the Glass list is minimal and the bottle prices are pretty high. The J at $56 seemed the best deal (I refuse to overpay for champagne just to show off), but 15 minutes of waiting for the bartender to take our order convinced us that we could not stand that relentless din. This is SO not what a Champagne Bar should be - it's about as romantic as pit row at a NASCAR race!

Sucks. Dead jazz room...
By M.K.H from Chicago, IL, July 4, 2007

Overall rating:

Sucks. Dead jazz room the atmosphere is tacky and fad-oriented. The drinks are way over-priced (I was a liquor rep for 6 years), and the service... don't get me started. Reading the other reviews, I nod in disgust, the waitstaff is by and large overtly arrogant, condescending and totally inconsiderate of the patron's needs. Last night was my LAST visit. They were out of the wine THEY recommended, and brought the wrong wine after that, they put another person's drink on our bill and then seemed put out by having to ammend their mistake. We tipped 40 percent and were not even THANKED as we departed. The waiter actually never even came back to ask if we needed change! Outrageously rude management. River North/downtown in general offer far better wine venues: CRU, SWIRL (who presents an AMAZING jazz singer on Tuesday nights) and even Bin 36 is a step up in many ways.