Americano, Lincoln Park — Restaurant in Chicago

Not food allergy friendly (and not nice about it)

I was so excited to dine here since the physical space is beautiful, but am disappointed in both the service and the food.

I have celiac disease and noted this on the reservation. When the waitress first came by, I nicely explained that I was gluten free for medical reasons and asked what on the menu could be done gluten free. She gave exactly four options so we ordered those, and I asked if she could please mention to the chef when putting the order in that I had celiac. We also asked for there to be no bacon in one of the appetizers because my friend doesn’t eat pork.

The food came out (cold) and was a mess. There was still tons of bacon in the appetizer and the salad had crusted cheese things on them. We didn’t even bring up the issue with the bacon because I didn’t want to come off as unnecessarily high-maintenance, but I really nicely noted that they looked like they might have gluten (because that’s a serious health issue) and asked if they did. She shrugged. I then asked if she mentioned to the chef that I had a gluten allergy and she said she didn’t. I explained to her again that I could not eat gluten and nicely asked if we could please re-do the salad so it was gluten free. She picked up the plate, walked to the corner, removed the breaded pieces and brought it back. I saw this whole thing happen and asked if it was the same salad just with the bread removed and she said it was. I explained again that I had a health condition and that just removing the bread would still cause me to be sick because of cross contamination. She finally took the salad back and returned with a different one that had so much dressing on it that it was inedible. A few minutes later, she came out and said that one of the other items we ordered wasn’t actually gluten free, but then a server brought it anyways and then got upset when we said that we couldn’t eat it because we’d just been informed it had gluten.

Having fully lost my trust in them, I walked out having paid for three dishes and having eaten none of them because it was quite clear that they couldn’t care less about me getting sick from gluten and I didn’t know what was safe for me to eat.

I’m not exactly sure what’s going on in this restaurant, but at the absolute minimum I would expect the wait staff to be understanding about food restrictions, pass that information on to the chef, and treat patrons who have food issues with respect.

All to say: if you have an allergy, this isn’t the place to go… which is disappointing, because visually it has potential...

Americano was incredibly welcoming when we first got there. We had spent the day at the Lincoln Park Zoo and the beach.. so we had our double seated stroller for my 5 month old and 5 year old. The hostess went above and beyond to make sure we were able to come inside with it and allowed us to store it by the front desk while we ate. The food was delicious. I will say the menu itself had very limited options to choose from (in my opinion) but I did enjoy what I ordered as did my sister and mother. They were out of many drink options that night so I went with the classic aperol (as it appeared so did many others.) All of the drinks we had at the table seemed to be rather strong. That can be a good or bad thing, it just depends on your preference. My 5 month old (as babies do) reached into my water cup and accidentally spilt it all over me and the table. One of the workers/managers saw, shook her head, and walked off. Nobody came over with napkins or anything to clean up. Thankfully I had baby wipes on me. I did feel at that point that perhaps the children weren't as welcome as I originally thought. We left not long after. Overall, the experience went well. The atmosphere was light and friendly, but I would say there's other locations in the city that are more worth seeing/dining at if you have those as options. However, for the location to the beach/Lincoln Park area, it was very nice, in walking distance, and I'm still very thankful for the hostess that worked with fitting us in. I would go again if...

As I settled onto the high bar stool, the ambiance enveloped me—a blend of laughter, clinking glasses, and the tantalizing aroma of grilled meats and spices. The bartender, with a welcoming smile, took my order, and I could feel the anticipation building.

Moments later, the chicken sandwich arrived, perfectly golden and crispy, nestled in a soft brioche bun, topped with crunchy pickles and a zesty sauce that promised to elevate every bite. I took a moment to appreciate it before diving in. The first bite was a revelation; the chicken was succulent and bursting with flavor, the sauce adding just the right kick.

To complement this culinary delight, the espresso martini arrived, its rich coffee notes mingling with the smoothness of vodka. The combination was divine—each sip was a perfect contrast to the savory sandwich, invigorating and indulgent all at once.

As I savored my meal, I couldn’t help but strike up a conversation with the couple beside me. They, too, were raving about the menu, sharing their favorites and tips on what to order next. It felt like a community of food lovers, all gathered to celebrate the simple joy of a good meal.

With the sun setting outside, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, I realized this was more than just dinner; it was an experience, one that would linger in my memory long after the last bite was gone. I made a mental note to return, not just for the food, but for the connection and warmth that filled the air.

Oh let’s not forget that...