Alter Brewing + Kitchen — Restaurant in Oak Brook

Alter Brewing + Kitchen in Oak Brook offered a pleasant respite after a day of running errands. This local hub was lively upon my Friday evening visit, yet it managed to maintain a comfortable atmosphere without descending into the realm of the overly crowded or noisy—a commendable feat for a bustling weekend night.

Locating a spot was a breeze, with an open seat at the bar and several high tops available, suggesting a well-managed space that accommodates a good flow of patrons. This detail is worth noting for those who dread the typical weekend night scramble for seating at popular spots.

Once seated, I noticed the service was a touch dispassionate. The staff, while not overtly unfriendly, could have infused a bit more warmth into their interactions. Nevertheless, the service was functional, and the drinks more than compensated for this slight shortfall.

The specialty cocktails were a highlight of the visit. The Cherry Cordial martini I sampled was an embodiment of their mixological prowess. This cocktail was a delightful dance of flavors, skillfully balancing booze and sweetness with a sophistication that elevates it beyond a mere drink—it was a liquid dessert with a kick. The richness of the earthy coffee undertones provided a warming counterpoint to the sweetness, creating a layered drinking experience. While it leaned towards the sweeter side, it did not overwhelm, remaining a sumptuous treat for the palate.

The establishment's commitment to variety and quality was further evident in their extensive selection of beers and seltzers. It's clear that Alter Brewing + Kitchen takes pride in its craft, catering to a diverse range of tastes. The seasonal Cherry Seltzer I tried was a testament to their inventive seasonal offerings. Light, refreshing, and with just the right hint of fruitiness, the seltzer was an excellent choice for those looking for something less potent than a cocktail but still desiring something with character and a unique taste profile.

Although the kitchen's offerings were tempting, time constraints and the kitchen's busyness led me to defer a culinary exploration to a future visit. Yet, the bustling atmosphere and the array of dishes I observed heading to other tables suggest that the food would likely be on par with the high-quality drinks I enjoyed.

For anyone seeking a vibrant spot for bar food and drinks, Alter Brewing + Kitchen seems to hit the mark. It's a good option for those in the Oak Brook area looking for a place that balances an upbeat environment with the ability to maintain a sense of space and comfort. I would recommend it for a casual meet-up or a spontaneous drink after work, with a mental note to return when there's more time to sample the...

We visited this pub on 18th Jan Sat, 7:45 PM to celebrate a friend’s birthday and had reserved a separate shared section for our group of about ten people. Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing due to several issues with the service.

Firstly, after the first hour the service was sluggish and inattentive. Simple requests, like water, took multiple requests, over fifteen minutes to fulfill, and when it finally arrived, it was delivered with an unpleasant attitude, as though our request was an inconvenience. Dirty plates were left on the table throughout our 2.5 hour visit, even as new food was served, which added to the frustration. In fact the assignee serving lady was not seen in our area but busy other section of the restaurants with small tables with apparently enthusiastic mood.

Despite gratuity (20%) being pre-added to our bill, the service was not reflective of the twenty percent we paid. We felt neglected compared to other sections of the pub, which seemed to receive better attention, likely because tips in those areas weren’t prearranged.

We managed to order more foods/drinks whoever passing by. We literally gets frustrated and asked for the manager and surprised to discover she always was around and well aware of the situation. Instead of addressing our concerns constructively, she focused on criticizing us for what she described as “yelling,” despite the fact that we were speaking in the natural volume of a noisy environment. The manager saw the heap of the dirty plates and did say the words “I apologize,” but it felt more like a formality than genuine regret. At one point, she also mentioned the assignee server’s age, stating she was just twenty-four years old, which seemed irrelevant to the situation. Age should never factor into the quality of service, whether from the server or the customer. Professionalism is what matters, and unfortunately, that was lacking here. The manager even suggested that we might find some other restaurant if we are not happy to the service.

While we understand it was a busy night, the lack of attention to basic customer service, combined with the dismissive and unprofessional tone of the staff, left us extremely disappointed. We hope management considers this feedback seriously to ensure a better experience for future customers. Also lesson learned for us that, for pre-arranged gratuity, we should have been clearly communicated the basic quality of attentiveness and quality of the restaurant service!!! See few pictures when food served and not cleaned...

Yesterday was about the third time we went to this place. We went when they first opened, which was actually nice at the time; great food, and great service. The next time the food was definitely not as good as the first time... And then came yesterday... We sat at one of the high tops, and within a reasonable time, one of the servers asked if we were ready to order, which we were not. Once we were ready to order, we waited, and waited, and waited. Then finally, a second server showed up. She was as rude as it gets, no personality at all, and took our drink order from behind my back, instead of at least walking around our table, with me having to turn all the way around just to talk to her... But, it gets better... We got our drinks, and no one ever came back to even take a food order. We decided to try one of their cheesecake specials. Totally fed up, and I finally got up to the bar to see if I could flag down a server. With no luck, I sat back down. In a short while, someone asked if they could help, and I placed the order. Meanwhile, we noticed the second server laughing it up with people at the bar. After waiting again, she finally came out of nowhere to give us our check. As we sat and talked, she kept hounding us, and stopping at the table to see if we had set down any money or a credit card. After about the fourth or fifth time, I finally asked her if she can give us a break, let us talk, and leave us alone. She then told me she needed to check us out. With that, I told her she was a horrible waitress, that she never came back to take our order, and now suddenly it's all about the check? With that she left. But, it even gets better... Then, the manager came up to me, told me that the waitress went in back crying, and that I used abusive language!!!!!!!! What a LIAR! I couldn't believe it! Not only was this person a horrible employee, she had the gall to LIE and say I swore at her!!! And, to make matters even worse, the manager had a smirk on her face as she spoke to me, obviously protecting her completely insolent employee !!! Unbelievable... Save yourself from this awful, horrible place, do yourself a favor, and head down the street to the Yardhouse. The service, wait staff, food, atmosphere, are top notch... Alter Brewing Is THE...