Provare Chicago — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

My experience at this restaurant recently took place on a Saturday evening in April 2024. My friend and I had heard so many great things about the food so we decided to dine here before a night around the city. We did not have reservations and were told by the doorman that the wait would be an hour (although it ended up being about a 15 min wait for bar area seating to become available). The doorman stated that we could wait a half hour in the car and a half hour inside; however, it is first come first served without a reservation. Thus, if a party had come while we were waiting in the car, that party would be seated before us. My friend suggested to me that we should just wait at least 20 mins inside before we decided to leave, so we were asked to wait against a wall. While waiting, the doorman mentioned how he was ‘just trying to do us a favor since we’re the ones that arrived without reservations.’ He went on to add that we should have been smiling while he works with us on getting a seat. My friend smiled and replied that we’d wait. The doorman said ‘nah, your friend has to smile, too’ (I was a bit ready to go because we had timed plans that evening). I did not smile and my friend said ‘I’m smiling for the both of us’ to which the door man replied ‘I don’t move off that kind of energy.’ I don’t know, it just seemed like a bit much for a party of two simply needing a dining table. I would have left, had I been dining alone.

Food: 3/10 ; I personally ordered a Caesar salad and an order of salmon egg rolls. I wanted to eat on the lighter side and all of the other options didn’t seem to fit that. I thought the salad tasted a bit watery as if the lettuce had been washed and not properly drained before being served. The shaved parmesan cheese on top also did not seem proportionate to the salad (see pic). The salmon egg rolls were okay, but did not seem all the way fresh.

My friend ordered the ‘drunken pasta’ and a single lamb chop. She shared that the lamb chop tasted really good and she wished she had just got a full order instead of adding the pasta. The pasta, on the other hand, started out tasting delicious. After a few bites my friend shared that it started tasting too garlic-y. She kept trying to stomach the pasta until she finally decided to just eat the rest of the shrimp in her bowl. Once she ate all of the shrimp in her bowl, it was very evident that she had a bowl full of garlic. I mean, it looked like the top to the garlic came off while her food was being made- that’s how much garlic there was (see pic).My friend asked our waitress if her dish was supposed to have that much garlic in it, or if it typically came with that amount of garlic. The waitress looked at my friend and replied verbatim ‘if that’s how the cook made the pasta, then that’s how it’s supposed to be’. I was wow’ed that the waitress had the audacity to imply that cooks don’t f^ck up sometimes.

Service: 2/10 ; Doorman was too aggressive and waitress was rude/dismissive when my friend asked a simple question about her food. Menu’s could use a cleaning between patrons as evidenced by the dirty menu I was given.

Value: 2/10; I do not mind paying top dollar for top tier experiences; however, the experience and the price I paid for what I had here was well unbalanced.

Please note: 20% gratuity is added to all checks. Yes, this means that even if you are dining alone, you will automatically incur a 20% gratuity fee.

Ambiance: 8/10 ; Really lovely decor and lighting fixtures. Played R&B music in the background. Bar area near the entrance, a dining area, and a speak easy on the lower level. Would make for great ‘Instagram photos’.

Location: 9/10 ; located on the west side of Chicago. Street parking only which can be a hassle.

Overall, I won’t be mad if I never dine at this place again. I’m finding that a lot of places (similar to spots like these) are gaining large publicity through social media, but are easily overrated. I call them ‘Tik ToK restaurants’.

Try it for yourself, but check out...

I usually have lower expectations when social media hypes up a restaurant with 10/10 consistent reviews. However, in this case, believe the hype!

I was here earlier today, Sunday. I had a reservation for 1pm. They opened the doors a few minutes before 1. Upon entering, you immediately walk into another realm. The ambiance and decor transport you into another world. Everything is decorated so beautifully. The green couches/chairs, chandelier lighting above the bar, mirrors, touches of gold...all chef's kiss! Check-in was quick. I got a notification that my deposit was being refunded as soon as I sat down. I had to pay $5 per person deposit when booking.

Our waitress was sooo nice and attentive. She went over the menu and made some recommendations. She also made sure that we knew there was a 90-minute seating limit. We received 2 complimentary shots. I also ordered LSD(Lake Shore Drive) for my drink. For appetizers, we got spinach artichoke dip with added chicken and salmon egg rolls. The dip came with ½ loaf of garlic bread. The spinach dip was creamy and delicious. My daughter said the egg rolls were ok. I didn't try them. The drink was great, tequila base. I kept the drink menu because I intended to order another. I only needed that 1 because I was definitely feeling it. I was in an empty stomach, btw.

Our main courses were the trio with an added lamb chop, lemon pepper chicken alfredo, and a side of house corn. The lemon pepper Alfredo was definitely different from the regular Alfredo. The lemon wasn't too much. The chicken was cooked perfectly with nice flavor and still juicy. I'd order again. The house corn was a spin on elote, aka Mexican corn. It didn't taste like elote, similar but not the same taste as the street corn. I'd order again. I tasted a bite of the lamb chop. It's my 1st time having lamb chop. They set a high bar. It was juicy, tender, and seasoned... very similar to steak but also a pork chop. When I return, because I will, I'll be ordering my own, lol.

DO NOT SKIP DESSERT! Our waitress gave my daughter a complimentary butter cake because we were there celebrating her graduation. I'll be dreaming about this butter cake. I've only tasted something similar once before. It has very similar profiles to a Kentucky Butter Cake I once had. This was much better, though. The crunchy outer crust was a perfect balance to the moist, buttery insides! Every bite got better. I almost got 1 to go, but taking it home wouldn't do it any justice! It has to be fresh, hot, and enjoyed at the restaurant.

The experience as a whole, was great. We even got free street parking because it was Sunday. Everyone on staff was great. They were nice and attentive. If a dish was emptied, they were there to take it off the table. If the water glass was low, they were there to fill it. My daughter needed a small container for her sauce. She asked one of the bussers. He brought it. He didn't say, "Let me get your waiter." Bravo to great customer service!

I can't wait to go back to try more of their drinks and, of course, for dessert. If I had a complaint, it'd be the time limit. We were there for a special occasion but caught ourselves stopping the conversation so we could eat our food before time ran out. Eating on a clock gives a bit of a rushed feeling. I understand why they have a time limit, though. There is 20% gratuity added to your check automatically. It's split between the staff. It all doesn't all go...

Provare is a captivating venue—less a traditional restaurant, more a stylish hybrid between upscale dining and a nightlife lounge. With its dark, sultry aesthetic—black walls, elongated corridor-style seating, and a noticeable lack of natural light—the atmosphere leans heavily into club-like chic. While visually striking, it also carried a rather subterranean, almost basement-like vibe that may not suit all preferences.

Adding to the ambiance, or perhaps overwhelming it, was the volume. The music and crowd noise reached such levels that holding a conversation became a challenge. We often found ourselves repeating or gesturing to be understood—hardly the ideal setting for a relaxed meal.

As for service, while the overall structure felt a bit strained and inattentive at times, our server was an absolute delight. Warm, gracious, and sincerely eager to guide us through the menu, she did her utmost to provide a fulfilling experience despite the logistical shortcomings.

We began with two appetizers. The Crab Cakes, delicately fried and artfully plated, offered a bold seafood flavor—perhaps a touch too fish-forward for some palates. What truly stood out was the scallion aioli: bright, velvety, and utterly addictive. We found ourselves wishing the dish included more of it—it was unsung hero of the dish.

The Crabby Fries, though they arrived fashionably late, quickly won us over. A generous heap of waffle fries crowned with pepper jack cheese, fresh crab meat, pico de gallo, and that same irresistible aioli. Rich and indulgent, they were playful in concept and deeply satisfying in execution.

For mains, the Seafood Trio was the undisputed star. A decadent Cajun-spiced Alfredo laced with shrimp, lobster, and crab, twirled into rotini pasta—flavorful, balanced, and beautifully seasoned. A near-perfect dish that lost just a touch of its shine toward the end due to an excessive amount of butter pooling beneath the pasta. With a lighter hand, this would be a signature worth raving about.

The Ala Vodka, made with pancetta, marinara, vodka, and cream over rigatoni, also impressed. Rich and velvety with a lovely hint of smokiness from the pancetta, it was robust without being overpowering. Like the seafood dish, however, it too leaned a bit heavily on butter, tipping the richness scale just a hair too far.

We ended our evening with the Butter Cake, served warm with vanilla ice cream, caramel drizzle, and strawberries—a sweet, comforting finale. Personally, I would have preferred a touch less sugar to let the cake’s warmth and texture shine more clearly, but it was still a fitting end to the meal.

In sum, Provare delivers bold flavors in a glamorously moody setting—but it’s not without its flaws. The sound levels bordered on overwhelming, the atmosphere felt more nightclub than restaurant, and the kitchen’s generous use of butter could use a little restraint. That said, the culinary potential is evident, and the experience—despite a few missteps—was thoroughly enjoyable.

I was a bit torn when it came to rating this place. It’s far too good for three stars, yet still a few refinements shy of five. But with a touch more balance—on the plate and in the room—Provare could easily earn its place among the...