Moe's Cantina - River North — Restaurant in Chicago

I recently visited Moe’s Cantina in River North with a group of friends, and the experience was nothing short of amazing. From the moment we walked in, the vibrant atmosphere set the tone for a fun and memorable evening. The space is spacious and lively, with an aesthetic that combines rustic charm with a modern twist. Whether you’re there for a casual dinner or a celebration, Moe’s Cantina offers a setting that makes every visit feel like an event.

What truly made our evening exceptional, however, was our server, Monica. She went above and beyond to ensure we had a great experience from start to finish. Monica greeted us with a warm smile and immediately made us feel welcome. She was incredibly attentive without being intrusive—a skill that not all servers manage to master. From recommending menu items to making sure our glasses were never empty, Monica truly elevated our dining experience.

Her knowledge of the menu was particularly impressive. When we were deciding what to order, she offered thoughtful suggestions that matched our tastes and made sure we ordered just the right amount for our group. We ended up trying the queso fundido and the tacos, which were absolutely incredible. The queso fundido was rich and gooey, paired perfectly with the freshly made tortillas, while the tacos were flavorful, well-seasoned, and beautifully presented. Each bite felt like a celebration of bold and authentic flavors.

The drinks were another highlight of the evening. Monica recommended the house margaritas, and they did not disappoint. They were perfectly balanced—refreshing, not overly sweet, and strong enough to make an impression without being overpowering. We also tried a couple of specialty cocktails, and it was clear that the bartenders at Moe’s take pride in their craft.

Throughout the night, Monica made sure everything was running smoothly. She checked in at just the right moments, ensuring that we were happy with our food and drinks, and she handled every request with ease and professionalism. Even as the restaurant got busier, Monica never seemed rushed or overwhelmed, which made our experience feel seamless and relaxed.

The combination of great food, drinks, and service is what makes Moe’s Cantina stand out, and Monica’s dedication to her role exemplified the high standards of the restaurant. It’s rare to find a server who genuinely cares about creating an enjoyable experience for their guests, and Monica went above and beyond in every way.

Moe’s Cantina River North is the perfect spot for a night out, whether you’re looking for a casual dinner, a place to share small plates with friends, or a vibrant bar scene. The quality of the food and drinks is reason enough to visit, but the exceptional service, especially from Monica, will make you want to return again and again.

Rating: 5/5 Highly...

Moe’s is NOT a queer friendly club. As a genderqueer individual who does not identify with gender and is gender-fluid in my expression, it is tiring being refused my right to go to bathrooms I feel comfortable in. I went into the men’s bathroom yesterday and was threatened to get kicked out of the club if I didn’t leave the bathroom (even though I was just going to use one of the empty stalls and leave because there was essentially no one in there anyways.) The security guard pushed me out, putting his hands on me, violating my personal space and gender identity before a different guard came up to me and redirected me to the women’s bathroom. His reasoning was that because men are drunk it’s for my protection that they won’t let me use any other bathroom, but if they were really concerned about my protection, they would let me use the bathroom that I see fit and deal with any threat to my safety accordingly which is their job. If I do not identify as a woman, then you cannot force me to use the women’s bathroom - period. If I went into the men’s bathroom without makeup on or in pants instead of a dress, I know they wouldn’t have forced me out of a bathroom which is not fair because genderqueer and nonbinary folks do not owe ANYONE androgyny because gender expression and gender identity are two different things and we should not have to give in to gender-based respectability politics to be accepted. Club scenes are already not super inclusive but this is the first time I ever had this issue when going out to any club because VLive and Tunnel wouldn’t and have never treated me like that before. I hope no other trans or gender nonconforming people get silenced, talked over, and go unheard like I was on a night that is supposed to be fun. If you have security in your bathrooms, their job isn’t to police my gender, it's to protect me regardless of my gender. Don’t worry about my appearance or my genitals because that doesn’t dictate my gender. Moreover, the state of Illinois allows people to use the bathroom of their choice that corresponds to their gender identity - not the choice of what others think is best for them or the gender that others assign to them. The Illinois Human Rights Act supports these protected rights of transgender individuals as it’s been proven in the case of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Sommerville. I’m highly disappointed and won’t be coming back. Also, next time an employee tries or even thinks to put their hands on me again, you can expect to hear from...

Been here plenty of times and I’ve never had an issue. This weekend my friends and I decided to go for brunch. Security checked our ID’s and sat us at a table. Waitress approached us and asked if we “were already told” when we asked “told what?”waitress laughed in our face and walked away. Waited another 5 mins for her to return to let us know they were not “serving us liquor due to being too intoxicated.” We were all confused, we were trying to order our meals. (Mind you there was people at the bar sloppy wasted and one even fell out her stool). We asked why they weren’t told anything and they all kept laughing while starring at my friend who has a speech impediment saying she “looked” intoxicated. We didn’t even try explaining to them her situation because they were just starring at her the whole time and had walked all the way from the parking garage blocks away in heels. Nobody got loud or had attitude towards them. We kindly let them know we were not spending our money there and that we were leaving, all the workers there just starred at us as we were walking away, super weird and felt very discriminated as we were a group of mixed races. A couple stopped me to tell me happy birthday and that they liked my outfit and security came right behind me as if I were doing something, and starred until we walked out the door. Would never recommend this...