Phlavz Bar & Grille — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

I only gave this place 1 star because you couldn't give them 0 stars.

A friend suggested that we try this place on a Saturday evening, since it was new, black owned, and played music with food and drinks which meant we would not have to bounce around to get both. When we arrived there was a line, which was no biggie - its Covid, its Saturday, and its nice outside. We waited in line for about 30 minutes (with mask ons) and socially distanced. Once we finally got inside the waitress informed us AFTER taking our cocktail orders that the kitchen was closed - which immediately made us confused because when the hostess sat us they specifically asked if we wanted to sit at a bar stool table and we said no because we were eating. Nevertheless here we were 5 minutes later being told the kitchen was closed. The waitress then brings over a gentlemen whom i assume was the manager or Owner (who could of stayed where he was ) but she was trying.. He then tells us the only 3 items on the menu he could get made for us "last minute" ...

In an attempt to again support my people - I agree, to the dislike of my sister who at this point wants to leave. But the place is new and 'black" so I am trying to give them a chance. The drinks come .. they are liquorless, even though they are $16 each... & my sisters Margarita is so sweet I think the entire mix was used. Sooo drinks are horrible. But SWV is playing so I try to just enjoy the tunes. After all, its Saturday night!! As I snapping my fingers, I notice that another man is sitting in a high chair over the kitchen food window looking over the plates come out. Mind you this man is glove-less, apron-less, mask-less, and hairnet-less. I pay attention to how the plates are touching his hands, shirt, and he has an ink pin and paper that he is constantly touching in between the plates that are being passed literally directly under is nasal passages and maskless mouth!! As the disgust literally takes over me ... I watch as the contaminated plate is handed to the waitress and you bet she brings it to my table. At that point, IM OVER IT! I tell the waitress the issue, refuse the food, and ask for the check, and against my sister's approval I pay the entire meal even tho we did NOT eat ANY OF IT! I tip the waitress in Cash as she was the nicest thing about the entire place because she really was trying... the owner or Manager never came back to the table to apologize or address the issue. In fact he became Stevie Wonder and suddenly acted like the table was invisible. I paid, we left and went and had Mexican food (you can always count on the Hispanics to be open, and on point) .. but I was overly disappointed with Phlavz and I will not be back, or try them again, or recommend them. I would hope that people understand that being in the hospitality business requires you to be hospitable, service driven, and have great pleasant...

I visited this spot on a very rainy day before Juneteenth, particularly to kinda celebrate but really due to having some free time. Upon entering, no one greeted me or even acknowledged my presence so it was UNclear if I would be seated or to seat myself....I chose an empty seat at the bar. There was quite a span of time that passed before the bartender even noticed I was there...so again not a word spoken to me as a customer. I thought to myself, here we go with MY people, where's the basic customer service?? The only reason I did not leave is for the pouring rain outside. The decor appeared nice, there was some new age youngster music playing, NOT of my personal interest but I guess better than silence. Finally, I was approached by the bartender and told about the daily special, absolutely NO water in hand.... perhaps I didn't look thirsty since it was raining outside? Again a significant amount of time had passed before she came back to ask if I was ready to order. I had to ASK for a glass of water.... perhaps grown folks only drink alcoholic beverages nowadays and not many partake in H20? Maybe the bartender could sense my annoyed energy and she had apologized for the wait on my food and assured me that it would not be too much longer. Upon receiving my food, I had to (again) ASK for BOTH napkins and utensils.... perhaps we've reverted back to eating with our hands and wiping them on our clothes? The food was actually decent, but did not make me wanna slap my momma.

PHLAVZ if you would kindly work with your staff to improve BASIC customer service...greeting patrons, provide a glass of water prior to taking their order along with napkins and utensils....these kinds of things should be AUTOMATIC and NOT per customer request!! I would like to visit again someday once these changes have been implemented. I really appreciate that you are a black-owned business in a nice high-traffic area of the city BUT keep in mind that you're competing with other similar food and bar serving restaurants in the area. Additionally, it's difficult to find parking AND Chicago parking is NOT FREE! So at the least, I would definitely WANT to feel like my visit is worth my time and money. I can cook my own food at home and it's quite tasty...but when I go out to eat, I 'm really paying...

My husband and I went to this location on a Sunday at about 4:30 when we entered we were nicely greeted by a young lady at the front door and security gave us our nice sticky menus. After sitting for a small amount of time a young lady came and simply said what can I get for you to drink. We gave her our drink order and also ordered jerk fries. The fries were pretty good. We later ordered salmon egg rolls jerk tacos, fried tomatoes and a jerk Burger. The salmon rolls and the fried tomatoes were a bit overly seasoned for my taste but that was just me. My husband was not impressed with the tacos but he absolutely loved his Burger. When I was given my salmon rolls and my fried green tomatoes they both were on broken plates. How could they not see that the plates were broken all around. We did need a bit more assistance from our server but she appeared to be doing multiple things. Which I understand. I later went to the washroom just to see that the garbage can was filled to the top with trash and the toilet and sink were disgusting! The restaurant open at 1:00 p.m. and it is about 5:00 p.m. at this point how could the garbage be this full I immediately thought within 4 hours and the restaurant was not full at all. The food in my opinion was basic but the service was absolutely horrible no hi my name is such and such no how is everything going no apologies for my food being served on broken plates they just brought everything out on plastic containers as well as plastic forks with actual real utensils not being an option which is not something I would prefer at a dine-in restaurant. In my opinion the black-owned restaurants that I have visited with the gratuity already included the staff does not attempt to do the basic things to earn earn the tips they receive as in my opinion they will get the tips regardless as gratuityis included. I will not visit this location again and I would not recommend it simply from the service and lack of Integrity within the...