Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant — Restaurant in Niles Township

Ambiance : * Service: * Food: *

Walking through the wine bar to get to the host stand feels lively, with people sitting at the bar, enjoying tastings. We asked if we could have a booth but realizing on NYE, it could be impossible. They were able to accommodate and gave us a lovely booth in the middle of the restaurant. We had a great view of the kitchen at the far end, through glass, the beautiful wood beams in the ceiling, and funky, warm overhead lighting. A mirror partition separated us from the other half, giving it a cozy feel.

The host who seated us explained that they can give us tastings of any of the wines before we commit to a glass or a bottle. Our server, Jacob, was amazing. He came immediately after we were situated and was wonderful at helping us decide. He listened to what wines I like, and brought two samples. Throughout the meal, he checked in at the appropriate times, never in the way, but always cheerful and adding to our festive NYE. We wavered between the flatbread and the Brussels sprouts. He recommended getting both, and after we saw the flatbread, we realized he'd been right and not trying to upsell us. The flatbread is quite thin so not overly filling - perfect app. We appreciated that he boxed our food for us - I haven't seen any place do that in decades. I felt cared for throughout the meal. We will definitely be asking for Jacob next time we come!

And the food!! Wow. Every single thing from our drinks to dessert was top notch. Husband had a Manhattan which we frequently get elsewhere. This one came with knob creek (although Jacob asked which spirit he'd prefer, he went with the knob creek), orange peel, and two cherries. Jacob also asked if he wanted it on the rocks or straight - nice to have the choice! My husband thought it might have been the best Manhattan he's ever had and I'm tempted to agree. I had the Pinot noir which was excellent. My husband hasn't tried a dip of wine in years due to the headaches he gets from them. But he drank half my wine, with no headache.

Jacob asked if we wanted bread for the table, explaining that everything, including the butter, is made in house. The bread is a pretzel roll, perfectly flaky crust with airy, soft insides, served still steaming. The salted butter is soft and spreadable. I could have made my meal just on that!

The mushroom flatbread special was perfect. Thin enough not to wreck our appetite, with strong flavors of fontina and mushrooms perfectly balancing each other.

We decided to split the salmon and chicken giardiniera. Jacob asked if we'd like them on split plates. That was such an accommodating extra that we were impressed. Both were excellent. My favorite was the salmon, cooked perfectly with just enough sauce to be interesting but not overpowering the taste of the salmon itself. The wasabi mashed potatoes had a wonderful flavor but not at all spicy. And a lovely creamy, yet fluffy consistency. We both loved the Asian slaw - more finely shredded than I've seen before with flavors that complemented each other and the rest of the dish but not coated in sauce. Not mayo based nor vinegary. The chicken was so thin and moist. The breading was crispy but not greasy and perfectly melted in our mouths. My husband loved both meals but slightly preferred the chicken.

We don't usually get dessert but with everything being so good, we had to try the special: caramel macchiato brownie with pistachio gelato, chocolate biscotti crumble, and espresso anglaise. So many flavors and textures but all working perfectly together. The smooth ice cream against the chewy, moist brownie, mixed with the creamy anglaise, with a satisfying crunch of the biscottti nut crumble. The sweetness of the kuhlua crema was balanced by the nuttiness of the ice cream and the slightly bitter espresso anglaise.

This was an amazing New Year's Eve meal. Now we can't...

I recently dined at Cooper's Hawk, a restaurant my wife and her friends had recommended to me. We visited the Morton Grove location to celebrate my birthday and arrived for our 4 pm reservation. We were promptly seated within five minutes, which was a great start.

Unfortunately, our experience quickly deteriorated from there. It took 10-15 minutes for us to receive water, and our bread didn't arrive until 30 minutes after we were seated. Our waiter explained that the bread was still in the oven, but we noticed that other tables were served bread and water immediately upon being seated. Our waiter also failed to acknowledge my birthday or provide information on monthly wine or chef specials.

We ordered the Brussel Sprouts and South of the Border Egg Rolls for appetizers. The Brussel Sprouts were disappointing, as we barely received any actual vegetable and were left with more crispy leaves. The Egg Rolls were decent but lacked seasoning and could have benefited from some chili flakes. After our appetizers, we waited 20 minutes before the waiter finally came to take our entree order. I even had to flag him down to do so. Additionally, I had requested a raspberry iced tea with my meal, which I didn't receive until the end of our meal.

Our entrée was the Surf and Turf, which consisted of two Churrasco steaks, vegetables, mashed potatoes, potato au gratin, shrimp, fries, and a kids meal of Mac N' Cheese with fruit. Unfortunately, the vegetables were not charred, but rather burnt and bitter, with lots of soot. When I brought this to our waiter's attention, he stated that all the vegetables come out like that, which was unacceptable for a restaurant of this caliber. The mashed potatoes had an odd sweetness, suggesting the use of sweet cream instead of butter. The shrimp wrapped in bacon had an off taste, potentially indicating they were past their expiry date. The Mac N' Cheese was dry, and the use of tortiglioni pasta instead of elbow, cavatappi, or cellentani was not ideal for a kids meal. Additionally, the fruit for the kids meal was never served, and our waiter failed to inspect the food prior to serving it.

In addition to the issues with the food, I must also mention the poor service we received from our waiter. He was incredibly slow and inattentive, failing to offer basic courtesies such as refilling our water glasses or checking on us throughout the meal. We had to wait far too long for him to take our orders, and he did not seem to be aware of the details of the dishes or the menu in general. Overall, his lack of attentiveness and slow service only added to our disappointment with our experience at Cooper's Hawk.

The total bill came out to $180, which was far from worth it given the overall quality of the food and service. I would go as far as to say that this was the worst birthday meal I have ever experienced in my life. I implore the management to pay attention to these reviews and make changes to the restaurant's cooking staff or practices. The only redeeming quality of our meal was the...

My niece and I had the pleasure of dining at Cooper's Hawk Morton Grove today, with a reservation for 2:30 PM on a Saturday. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted warmly by the staff, setting the tone for what would be an unforgettable experience. The restaurant was impeccably clean, and the inviting aroma made the ambiance even more delightful.

Shortly after being seated, we were introduced to our waitress, Sonja, whose exceptional service made our visit truly extraordinary. Sonja approached our table with a warm smile and exuded patience, attentiveness, and professionalism throughout our entire meal. She was not only knowledgeable but also communicated with such ease that we felt completely comfortable. Although I’ve visited several Cooper’s Hawk locations and have always encountered friendly servers, Sonja’s service was on a whole different level. She didn’t just serve us; she created a personalized and memorable experience that felt like dining with family.

Sonja’s ability to connect with her guests is unmatched. She has a unique way of making you feel valued, as if your visit is her top priority. She thoughtfully introduced us to a new sparkling wine, which had delightful almond notes and a semi-sweet flavor. As someone who usually sticks to the same wine choices, I was hesitant at first but trusted her recommendation. I’m so glad I did! My niece and I fell in love with this new discovery and even left with a couple of bottles to take home. It’s rare to come across a server who not only understands the menu and wine list so thoroughly but also takes the time to share that knowledge in a way that feels inviting and personal.

What stood out the most was the care Sonja took to ensure our experience was perfect. She checked on us consistently without being intrusive, always ensuring that our needs were met and that we were enjoying every aspect of our meal. Despite tending to other tables, Sonja made us feel like we were her only guests. Her ability to balance professionalism with a personal touch is a skill not everyone possesses, but Sonja truly excels in this area.

The experience she provided made me reflect on how rare it is to find someone who genuinely cares about creating memorable moments for their guests. Sonja brought warmth, joy, and a family-like atmosphere to our visit, transforming what could have been just another meal into a cherished memory. Cooper's Hawk made an excellent decision in hiring her—Sonja is not just an asset to the team, but a shining example of what exceptional service looks like.

Thank you, Sonja, for making our day so special. Your passion for what you do is evident in every interaction, and it elevates the entire dining experience. You are a gem, and I look forward to returning to Cooper’s Hawk Morton Grove to enjoy your outstanding service again. Please know that your efforts do not go unnoticed—you truly embody the standard...