Volo Restaurant Wine Bar — Restaurant in Lake View Township

Volo is my new favorite place in the city. I honestly can't recommend it highly enough. The food, drinks, service and atmosphere are all outstanding. The food is refined, classy, and unique without being pretentious, and it stands out on its own instead of playing second fiddle to the excellent drinks as it would at many other trendy spots. The dishes are outstandingly done, with a wide variety of small plates of all different types (and bigger portions as well), each of which are unlike dishes you would find anywhere else. The management and chefs’ love and passion for what they do stand out in every aspect of the restaurant: The attention to detail and sheer amount of small touches throughout every aspect of the menu, the atmosphere, etc. are what really make Volo special. The menu changes seasonally, making it always worth a return trip. They are known for their excellent varieties of wine, but all their drinks are great (and any level of wine lover certainly won’t be disappointed). The atmosphere is lovely, both inside and out, and the rear patio and coach house area feels like a quaint garden oasis in the middle of the city. The whole place has a welcoming yet refined atmosphere that makes it a perfect spot for anything from a casual glass of wine to a nice sit-down dinner. Volo is one of those places that you know you’ll come back to over and over the minute you step foot in the door. Whether for drinks, dinner or events, Volo deserves your patronage and you’ll have a wonderful time.

Most importantly, Jon and the Volo staff made our wedding the most beautiful experience that we will remember for the rest of our lives. It’s impossible to overstate how thankful we are for their dedication to ensuring every aspect of the wedding went perfectly and how much it meant to us. Volo was the only venue we considered whose staff made us feel wanted and valued and didn’t just see us and our event as an excuse to make a buck. From the start, throughout the planning process and the day itself, Jon was personally invested in making the event a success. He welcomed our input and suggestions whenever necessary, but also ensured that he would take care of whatever aspects of the evening we didn’t want to plan. He and his staff did a better job coordinating and decorating the event than any wedding planner could have, and Jon personally stuck around to run everything the day of. During the event, the bartender, wait staff, bussers, and everybody we dealt with could not have been nicer or more helpful. Every last touch was meticulously planned and well-executed. Throughout the entire process we shared the overwhelming feeling that we were cared for and that our experience was valued. Our guests raved about the venue, the food and drinks, the service and atmosphere. We would not have changed a single thing about our wedding day and are forever thankful to Jon and the folks at Volo for making it the best day of our lives. THANK YOU! (And book your wedding or event with them—you’ll be...

Volo Wine Bar is a chic spot in Roscoe Village serving a rotating list of small plates, specials, salads, charcuterie, and more! They even have Happy Hour specials from 4pm to 6pm with $7 Spritz, $6 wine on tap, and $1 off craft beer, sangria, flatbreads, and chilled oysters.

They also were voted the number one Hidden City Patio in Chicago and after visiting we completely agree. Tucked behind their stylish storefront is a bricked backyard garden featuring cabana-style alfresco dining. There are white lanterns hanging from the ceiling, flowers and greenery all around, and a fountain in the middle. When the weather isn’t nice, they can also enclose this beautiful space.

Living up to their name, Volo Wine Bar has over 50 boutique wines, up to 30 of which are available by the glass and even in flights on select nights. Their goal is to make enjoying high quality wine accessible and easy. Check their website as well for any wine events they host in the future!

To go with your wine, their menu offers the perfect pairings. Whether you want light bites, charcuterie, or main dishes highlighting chef specials, there are many options to enjoy. Don’t miss the dessert either, we loved both options!

SMALL PLATES

Chilled Oysters: served with cocktail sauce available by the piece or by the dozen

Chicken Yakitori: gouchang chili chicken, pickled vegetable, coconut aioli

B.M.G. Flatbread: bacon lardon, shiitake mushroom & goat cheese

4 Piece Artisan Cheese Plate: Cow, goat, and sheep's milk farmhouse cheeses, French brandied-cherry jam

HOUSE-MADE DESSERTS

Salted Caramel Chocolate Mousse

Flourless Chocolate Cake

COCKTAILS

Aviation Spritz: Prosecco, Violette Liqueur, Fresh Lemon Juice, Seltzer Water, Brandied Cherry

Campari Spritz; Prosecco, Campari, Seltzer...

I’ve lived in Chicago for almost 15 years, and this is officially the first negative review I’ve ever left. The first thing I noticed when I walked into this restaurant, was the stagnant, uncomfortable air, and the strong smell of food from the kitchen (not in a good way). Yes, the weather has been a little labile - but the feeling of humid, tepid air and smoke from the kitchen does not make for a pleasant dining experience.

The food: hands-down, the worst food I have ever had or been served at a restaurant. The prices that they charge almost feel offensive. My friend and I were joking when we saw our beet salad that “this had to be a prank”. Advertised as a fresh “greens” salad with beets and delicious goat cheese… what we were served was a plate of dry, frisée lettuce, minced beets (that looked like raw beef) and maybe 6-8 thin shreds of apple that had a negligible amount of goat cheese on them.

We laughed as we ate because of how ridiculous this was, trying to make light a bad situation while repressing the amount of money we were giving to this place at the same time.

Our drinks were empty for at least 25 minutes before we were asked if we would like another. Often times, our waitress would go undetected for more than a full course.

We got the fried green tomatoes, which were nothing short of disgusting. They were piping hot, wet, and tasted like rotten pickles.

I seriously cannot say enough to steer people away from this “restaurant”. It pains me after so many years to write my first negative review, but after a couple of days of letting this sink in, and for the amount of money spent here, I feel that it is my duty to warn others of the total scam...