Pinched on the River — Restaurant in Chicago

We were a group of five, two couples with one adult child. This is important for later events. We came to the restaurant at about 1 PM on a Saturday. We had to stand for about 7 minutes to be seated while the greeter spoke to customers at other tables and fumbled around at the podium for a few minutes, even after seeing us standing there.

We were seated, given several minutes, and then asked what we would like for drinks. Drinks were served, and several more minutes passed before we were asked for our orders. Orders were placed with no issues. `

Dishes were slow in coming to the table. We waited for a good 35-40 minutes. Our party was all saying how hungry we were becoming. When the dishes were served, the portions were minuscule! Portion size is something I never complain about. Usually, I am more critical about the portions being too large. That was not the case in this situation! Additionally, the added toppings followed the name of the restaurant… they were pinches that were hardly visible. My wife did not even get her Roasted Red Pepper Hummus.

Shortly into the meal, the hostess who seated us came by and told me I was supposed to be eating my Pita Roll as a sandwich. Had the Beef Chavaps been tender, I might have been able to do just that! They were tough and needed to be cut with a knife. Additionally, I found it a bit annoying that I was being told how to eat my meal. I have lived on multiple continents and had countless kebaps and Mediterranean meals across the globe. While she may have been trying to be helpful, it was insulting and not appropriate.

When the bill came, we told the server that we were two parties. The gentleman of the other couple told the person he and his wife were together, and my wife, daughter, and I were together. The server asked what we wanted her to do…. It would seem pretty obvious! Her tone and attitude were unacceptable!

When we finally helped her understand that were wanted the bill separated, she resentfully did so with attitude. When I looked at my bill, I discovered that they had added a mandatory 20% gratuity because we were a group of 5 people! Technically, we were a group of 2 and a group of 3 that chose to sit together. Come on! This is a restaurant… I have never dined at a restaurant where they forced a gratuity for so few people. Obviously, they are trying to pinch every nickel, dime, and penny out of the customer that they can.

In summary, this dining experience was overpriced, the service and attitude of the staff were poor, and a mandatory 20% gratuity for that experience was unacceptable. My best advice for anyone considering this eatery would be to move on, pass it by, and don’t...

I went here for a group dinner on a Wednesday night! It wasn’t super crowded and the tables had a good amount of space between them so when they did fill up when dinner service was in full swing - it didn’t feel crowded.

It’s part bakery. You wouldn’t know there was a restaurant because it’s on a different floor. So walking in and not seeing anyone, I thought this is weird, but they have a giant arrow and sign that you can see from the front door saying dine-in and pointing to go downstairs. Once is downstairs, it’s so nice.

The weather was perfect that night. It has the cutest set up right by the river with some boats and docks. They also have fairy lights that come on once it gets dark on the trees. It truly is a really nice romantic hidden gem. And where it’s located is far enough away from Lake shore drive that you can see the fireworks if you are there dining around around 9 PM.

They do mocktails and they have a peach or pineapple flavor. I got both and I was very happy with it. It tasted similar to a mojito, very refreshing and fit nicely with dining al fresco.

Onto the food, I liked a lot of what we got!

-3 flavors of hummus (poblano, red pepper and original) on cucumbers -bruschetta -Mediterranean Fish Tacos -Mushroom Pesto Flatbread -Falafels -chicken skewers -jumbo shrimp -baklava -Nutella crepe -beignets

My faves were… The shrimp was juicy and jumbo for sure and the chimichurri sauce was so flavorful!

Falafels were not dry at all! It kinda ate like a potato ball and I love me some potatoes! The outside was crispy and inside soft.

Fish tacos! They got a lot of flavor in it. I wouldn’t think mediterranean and tacos, but they made it work.

Mushroom pesto flatbread was delish! It didn’t look like a ton of stuff on it but I think simple was the way to go. The flavors shined and the pesto on top is what brought it together.

I’d come back and try more of the menu because what I did try really hit the spot so I’m confident I’ll find some...

A friend and I went to try and get a table as Robert's Pizzeria which was full (which is down the sidewalk) and we were given an approximate hour wait. So then we innocently sauntered down to Pinched on the River, curious of the wait, fully aware that it's the night of fireworks at Navy Pier and can be pretty full. I live right next to Robert's and have always wanted to try Pinched. As soon as we got to the front I asked for a table for 2, host asked 'ok do have your information?'. I replied "You mean reservation? No I have none set.' He made such a face of disdain and almost disgust, as if I was at that moment in time, an inferior human being for asking for a table sans reservation. I initially wanted to argue or stand up for myself but I just took it as a battle lost within many battles one can face in one's lifetime of hosts feeling empirically superior to us uneducated peasants. Mind you I was a hostess myself for many years in high school and in college. So a couple right after us asked for a table, I then heard they did not have a reservation and ironically the same host did not ask for their information, just politely suggested they could sit at the bar, grinning ear to ear. I am unware if it's in fact a racial thing, I'm half white/half Hispanic so I'm unsure as I try not to harp on such things..but to see such a difference in treatment among 2 respectful groups of people...it was greatly and beyond disheartening. I'll never try and get seated at this establishment, if not for my own respect but also for respect of establishments that try and treat their respective patrons as equal human beings, no matter one's ethnicity and/or demeanor? Not sure how I offended such an angry/mean person by politely...