Bar Mar — Restaurant in Chicago

We dined here for a late lunch as a party of 4 and had a marvelous time and a phenomenal meal.

The restaurant is immediately striking when you enter, a seemingly impossible combination of vaulted spaciousness and effortless comfort and coziness. Bright colors and great lighting make the space pop and the variety of tasteful details can overwhelm your urge to not just stop and look around, all without ever feeling too busy.

We sat out on the patio, which was well apportioned with cute umbrellas to floral partitions to block the sun and obscure the traffic without compromising the cool breeze or your sight of the river.

The meal... I don't even know where to start. Our first round of cocktails, perhaps, with the star (possibly of the entire meal) being the Salt Air Margarita; the base cocktail was perfection, a full bodied and delicious drink with the right edge of booze wrapped up in it, but rather than the traditional salt rim, you instead get a scoop of salty foam on top, ensuring a perfect briny finish to each sip, and all without the mess! Brilliant. We also got a Lavender Cloud, which came with a wonderful smoke show that sadly couldn't stand up to the gusty Chicago winds of the patio, though the drink was still great. The World's Best G&T was pretty underwhelming, while the Nitro Caipihrinha was a viciously tasty little thing.

It felt like it would be hard to order wrong, but it still seemed like we hit particular winners with our meal choices. The Hamachi Cones were a delightful salty bite to kick things off, while the Neptune's Pillows were a perfect little crunch of a bite with a lovely little layer of heat to finish off the beautiful slice of raw tuna on top. The Asian Tacos (a loosely inspired name) were fun and tasty little bites of dried seaweed as the 'shell', with a bit of cured hamachi and caviar as the yummy meat. We finished the appetizers off with a fantastic Tuna Ceviche, bathed in a zesty citrus sauce and partnered with some avocado and jicama for perfect bites.

The octopus was a standout, just ace presentation, flavors, and textures. The chimmichuri secreto Iberico Pork was tasty, but a bigger hit with the rest of the table than it was with me. Lastly, we had a paella inspired dish that was a hot.

The only miss we had was the Sloppy Joe, which was... Blah. Very little meat stuffed in a lobster roll bun, it was tasty but could have been a fancy Manwich. We ordered it mainly because it seemed to stick out like a sore thumb on the menu and figured there must be a reason it was there, but I'd skip it. Patatas Bravas made for a yummy interlude, though I wish the exterior had been a bit more crisp. And the actual lobster roll, while delicious, was a bit thin and bread heavy.

To wrap the meal, we looked at the four dessert options on the menu, exchanged glances between the four people at the table, and followed destiny by ordering them all. And as a testament to the quality of the array, all were enjoyed and each person had a different favorite. The deconstructed key lime pie was the clear winner though.

Can't...

It took me a long time to choose a luxurious restaurant for my birthday until I decided on Bar Mar this restaurant for me won my heart ♥️ when I arrived the valet parking took the car key we arrived and the reservation was ready right at my time I arrived only 10 minutes before my reservation quickly they greeted me they congratulated me and received me between smiles they took me to my table, when I sat down and saw the restaurant in detail I was very impressed it is a very glamorous restaurant everything very nice clean everything perfect after 3 or 5 minutes approximately arrived The waitress introduced herself as Mia a decent girl educated excellent service she gave me with some names of appetizers that I had doubts and ordered after a short time my champagne rose arrived and to toast and enjoy also in a matter of minutes arrived the starters arrived that I ordered everything very delicious what I liked most was the caviar cone I had ordered 3 and when I liked it so much I ordered 3 more I enjoyed this restaurant to the fullest then I ordered more drink GL Dom Carneros Brut Rose and meat Washugyu Ribeye and Filet 7oz while waiting for my meat the manager approached He introduced himself as Martín politely congratulated me and said that as I had made my reservation at 8:30 pm and ordered the meat at almost 9:30 pm it was going to be a little late since I should have lost the one before since it was delayed so if you ask for meat do it together with the starters so you avoid waiting a long time as it happened to me well to the manager to tell me I told him don’t worry we will wait for the meat minutes later I arrived and I loved it I loved the 2 meats that I had ordered very delicious then to order the dessert And I ordered the traditional Sticky Toffee Pudding and Key Lime Pie very delicious both desserts I loved it

When I finished, I ordered the bill and paid

This was my experience I left very happy definitely my birthday night I had an incredible time in a restaurant that is worth every penny I pay

Yes, I would go back, yes, of course I will return many times since I love to dine in luxurious restaurants and that provide good service and that dinner is delicious

If you are thinking of going to this restaurant for a business dinner or romantic dinner with your partner or a birthday celebration like me, do it, this place is perfect

Thanks to the entire Bar Mar team for their excellent service

If you got here and read my reservation and liked it please a heart ♥️ to continue recommending more restaurants...

There's a place in Chicago where the sometimes mundane act of eating transforms into an extraordinary sensory journey. It's not just a restaurant, it's a gastronomic theater where the star of the show is the food, and the director is none other than José Andrés. Welcome to Bar Mar, a place where the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

The moment you cross the threshold, you're not just entering a restaurant, you're embarking on a culinary adventure. The ambiance is a symphony of warmth and creativity, a tangible testament to the passion that fuels every dish that comes out of the kitchen.

The food at Bar Mar is a revelation. Each dish is a work of art, a culinary sonnet penned by José Andrés himself. The ingredients are fresh, the flavors are audacious, and the presentation is nothing short of a visual feast. It's not just food, it's a gastronomic experience that leaves you yearning for more.

But let's not mince words here. Quality like this comes with a price tag to match. The cost reflects the time, effort, and skill that goes into creating each dish. But let me tell you, it's a price worth paying for a dining experience that's truly unforgettable.

The menu at Bar Mar is a gastronomic tour de force, a collection of dishes that cater to every palate. From the succulent seafood to the decadent desserts, there's something for everyone. But it's not just about the food, it's about the experience. The service, the ambiance, the attention to detail, it all adds up to a dining experience that's truly memorable.

What sets Bar Mar apart is its unwavering commitment to innovation. José Andrés is a culinary pioneer, a chef who isn't afraid to push the boundaries of what's possible in the kitchen. His creativity and passion shine through in every dish, making each meal at Bar Mar a culinary adventure.

So, if you find yourself in Chicago, with a hunger for good food and a thirst for a good story, make a stop at Bar Mar. Just be prepared to pay for the quality. It's a price worth paying for a dining experience that's truly unforgettable.

In the grand scheme of things, Bar Mar is more than just a restaurant. It's a celebration of food, a place where culinary dreams come to life. It's a place where the past and the present come together to create a dining experience that's truly unique. It's a place where you don't just eat, you embark on a culinary odyssey. And trust me, it's a journey...