RAISED | An Urban Rooftop Bar — Restaurant in Chicago

Upon arrival to Raised (3 minutes before our reservation time), we were greeted kindly, informed of the restrictions (including the 90-minute time limit for tables), & asked to wait. We waited patiently & were sat 5 minutes AFTER our scheduled reservation. We waited to be greeted at our table for several minutes. We were able to make our decision on cocktails, which we ordered from our waiter upon his initial "greeting". Cocktails arrived promptly & were delicious (3 out of the 4 of us work as bartenders & waiters at a wonderful, fluent & high-end, tequila bar in our hometown - so the Mezcal cocktail on the menu definitely left a great impression). We were able to order the charcuterie board as a starter, which arrived in a timely manner. After receiving our starter is when we started to notice how little our "navigator" was making his appearance to us. We had pushed our water glasses to the end of our table to hopefully get his attention. As we waited, we thought he was probably in the weeds somewhat (business seemed slow - it was a Tuesday) & that he would come out of them and attend to us. We watched as he passed our abode several times, not even glancing over to our table which had empty glasses & confused faces. Eventually, at least halfway through our "time limit", he showed himself & we were able to order another round of drinks as well as entrees. Again, the drinks arrived promptly, & were delicious, but I was only halfway through my first drink so I decided to wait until the food arrived to order my second. The food arrived in a timely manner & was dropped off by, again, whoever was running the food (not our waiter). We ate our meals & waited on our waiter. Like I mentioned before, I decided to wait to order another drink with my meal which would have been easy to do if our waiter was following standard, easy, steps of service. We did not receive a timely check-in, so I did not get my second drink. When our server did come back to the table is was 15 minutes before we reached our 90-minute time limit (not including the 5 minute delay of us being seated). He arrived to our table ready to get the checks situated (really?). We told him we would like to order a round of shots. He pointed at his wrist & reminded us of the time limit (WE HAVE 15 MINUTES STILL?!). We tried again, he did the same thing. We, again, gently expressed our understanding of the time limit & explained to him that we still have 15 minutes. We ordered 4 pours of Don Julio 1942. He left. When he came back with our shots, his mood seemed to have changed (Hm?). We honestly did not expect the tequila to be that expensive ($42 we charge $24 for an ounce at our tequila bar that houses over 250 types of tequila). He set them down & we requested the BILLS (with a plural S) immediately. He returned quite swiftly with our ONE check. It took us the rest of our "time limit" to decide how to split the massive check (that we planned on being massive - did I mention we were celebrating a birthday?). While we were discussing, one of the managers came to our table (I'm assuming to kick us out because we were riding our 90 minute mark?). From here, we had wrote on the back of the receipt how much to charge each card (2 cards). The checks were returned & as we were gathering our things to leave our server returned (WOW) to claim his "gratuity". Here is the thing. We come from the industry ourselves. We arrived fully prepared to enjoy our 90-minute stay with a couple rounds of good drinks, food, & great conversation. Instead, we, as servers & bartenders ourselves, were left discussing how HARD PRESSED we were to leave him anything (& usually, we are VERY generous with our tips because we UNDERSTAND). We were sat late, not accommodated, & rushed. Our server did NOT deserve the gratuity that was left - & that is TOUGH to say coming from generous industry workers ourselves. Needless to say, we are sad to say we will not be returning, & we will definitely not be recommending Raised Rooftop Bar to any of our friends...

If you're looking for a Chicago experience that combines stunning views, delectable food, and a vibrant atmosphere, look no further than RAISED rooftop bar. Located in the heart of Chicago, this place is the epitome of urban chicago. From the moment we stepped onto the rooftop, we were greeted with breathtaking views of the city skyline. The modern, stylish décor seamlessly blends with the panoramic backdrop, creating a picture-perfect setting for an unforgettable evening. The ambiance is electric, and it's evident that RAISED takes pride in providing an atmosphere that's both upscale and inviting. Now, let's talk about the star of the evening,The RAISED Burger. This culinary masterpiece is a must-try. It's clear that the team takes great pride in their craft. The presentation of the burger was a work of art, with each ingredient thoughtfully arranged on the plate. The first bite was a revelation of flavors and textures that danced harmoniously on the palate. The Raised Sauce, added a tantalizing depth to the burger. Its creamy, slightly tangy profile complemented the robustness of the gibbsville creamery 3 year cheddar, which was generously melted over the perfectly cooked patty. The Grilled Onion brought a sweet and smoky essence, harmonizing with the rich, salty notes of the Pancetta. The Pickle Planks offered a refreshing contrast, while the butter lettuce contributed a crisp, clean crunch. As if the burger wasn't enough, we couldn't resist ordering a side of TRUFFLE FRITES. These golden fries were dusted with just the right amount of truffle seasoning, making them an irresistible companion to the burger. Each bite was an explosion of truffle goodness. The cocktails were expertly crafted, and the menu offered a diverse range of options to suit all tastes. RAISED is more than just a place to dine, it's an experience. The views, the ambiance, and, of course, The RAISED Burger and TRUFFLE FRITES, left us with memories we'll cherish. If you want to elevate your evening in the Windy City, make a reservation at RAISED. You won't be disappointed. We can't wait to return and savor more of their...

Raised is a rooftop bar I first heard about a few years ago and have been interested in checking it out since. Luckily, I got the chance to do so this past Saturday with my wife and a friend of ours.

We stopped by for after-dinner drinks to complete the night and ordered a couple of appetizers as well. The rooftop bar can be seen from the outside of the Renaissance Hotel, as it is on the third floor; do not expect the same view as other bars on high-rise buildings, such as LondonHouse. We took a short elevator ride up, and were greeted by a host who was checking our vaccination cards along with our ID to make sure the names matched. I appreciated the seriousness by which they are enforcing the new mandates. After checking in, we were able to go inside and seat ourselves anywhere. There was some hip-hop and pop music playing at above average volume, but nothing resembling the noise level of a club. We seated ourselves at a table near the patio in the back, and wish we could have sat outside by the fireplaces they have it is was a bit less cold. The view that you get is of the Chicago River, which is still pretty nice.

Our waiter promptly came to our table, and after looking at the menu, we ordered a beer, cocktail for me (Queen of Kentucky), and a glass of rose along with the cheese curds and truffle fries. My cocktail, their take on an Old Fashioned, tasted good and was above average. The cheese curds came out first, and they were also pretty good. They battered them instead of breading, giving them a nice crunch and good cheese pull. The truffle fries came out next, and they definitely tasted of truffle. The accompanying sauces were serviceable, and were a rung above normal bar food.

All in all, we were happy to have stopped by for drinks here. The place was not super packed, the music was good and not loud enough to prevent conversation at the table, and the drinks and food were good. My wife and I will definitely go back once the patio is open on a warmer day to get the...