The Pearl Club — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

UPDATE: Owner reached out privately, explained developments in staffing. Updating to full five stars because it appears that the only issue we experienced has been resolved and the rest of our experience was top-notch. Also appreciate management engaging reviewers honestly and taking feedback to heart.

Original Review: Been here three times. - really wanted to give this place a 5. Every time the drinks have been great (haven't tried the food), bartenders great, wait staff mostly great, DJs amazing, but the hostess extremely abrasive and unfriendly. It's been the same person every time over the past year or so. Not sure what the deal is, but every time, my group (not always the same group) has gotten passive aggressive comments, odd and unnecessarily rude behavior, and an unwelcoming demeanor with forced or sarcastic smiles and just an overall bad vibe from this person, which is too bad because she's the first person you interact with when you walk in the door.

First time we went with no res and asked to stand by the bar - "You can try! (sarcastic laughing)"... OK we will, and did, and the bartenders were great and the drinks very good. At the time I thought it wasn't an appropriate response but blew it off since we had fun and the rest was great.

Second time had a res and were admittedly late but arrived within the 15-minute grace window stated on their site/Resy. She told us we're late (not a necessary comment from a hostess, honestly - we know!) and she gave the table away. We said OK, but we're within the grace window... she told us to wait by the bar and she'd "see what she could do", then disappeared for a couple minutes (we were obviously bothering her). We waited 20(!) minutes at the bar and actually ordered (and finished) drinks anyway, but she never came back to get us. we left and on the way out told her she blew us off and she didn't seem to care one bit. I reiterated the policy on the site and she gave us an insincere apology and went back to checking other people in.

Tried a third time, thinking maybe we got her on a couple bad days. We had a res for 4, one person couldn't make it which we didn't know until we arrived. Told her we lost a person and only had 3 total now, at which point she literally walked away and upstairs without saying a WORD to any of us. We had no idea what was even happening, if we were going to be seated, or what. We tracked her upstairs as she brought down another staff member (manager? don't know). They hurriedly rearranged a small table for us, moving one of the seats away, etc. I said thank you even though she was huffing and puffing her way through our interaction (bothering her again, I gues), and she closed with "3 is a LOT different than 4". OK, sorry my friend had a last minute problem, and sorry we still came in to spend $20+ per drink.

Totally inappropriate behavior from this person on every visit and have no interest in bringing any more people over there. Unfortunate because everything else about the place is phenomenal and it's a good time once (if) you get past...

This is a glamorous velvet draped cocktail lounge on the corner of Milwaukee & Grand. The entrance is elegant, the interior is thoughtfully designed, gilded, and covered in mirrors, lavish decor, carved facades, and plush seating. There are some areas where attention to detail dips, with some overly manufactured pieces feeling a bit out of place and marring the illusion of an otherwise pretty meticulous adherence to early 1900s art deco elegance.

The food was quite good, and their kitchen is creating some really fun bites for a night out with drinks. I was a big fan of the gochujang maple karaage.

Then you get to the drinks. This is a cocktail lounge, so one would expect the highlight of the visit to be incredibly crafted cocktails that stand out in a city that is becoming center stage for a growing cocktail culture. These cocktails are unfortunately mediocre, even by the standards of a typical restaurant bar program. The specialty cocktails in particular suffered from an overabundance of acid and a lackluster imagination. We tried the clarified Ube Colada, whose pervasive meyer lemon addition drowned out the unique sweet vegetal characteristics of the Ube. The Stay Breezy did a poor job showcasing its star studded cast of ingredients, which seem to be more for show than for cohesion. This was the case for each drink we tried. All flashin', no passion.

They certainly need to step up their game to hold their own in this city, where just blocks away you can visit the absolutely classic and iconic Aviary or the illustrious newcomer to the scene, Kumiko (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). Just stops away on the L you can find two of the best bars in the city, Meadowlark & Best Intentions, you can pop over to the perennial classic (if slightly stale) Violet Hour, and new spots like Lemon & Estereo FM.

At many of these places the vibes are just as on point and the cocktails astound and surprise in their innovation or their beautiful adherence to classic tried &...

Our recent Happy Hour at The Pearl Club was an unforgettable experience, thanks to Matt and his exceptional staff. From start to finish, they created an atmosphere that was nothing short of hospitality gold.

Taylor, in particular, was a breath of fresh air. She jumped right in, working with us to craft a custom drink menu that was both creative and personal. She even went the extra mile to name the signature cocktails after the specific issue types that our team deals with daily—such a fun and thoughtful touch! It was clear that Taylor put a lot of effort into making sure the drink menu was a reflection of our team's personality and needs, and we all appreciated it.

The staff (Nina) at The Pearl Club was incredibly attentive throughout the event. The timing of everything—from the drinks to the small bites—was impeccable. The food was perfectly paired with the drinks, and the music set just the right tone. Everything was executed with precision, creating a warm, welcoming vibe that made it easy to relax and enjoy the evening.

I cannot express enough how much my team and I enjoyed every moment spent at The Pearl Club. The level of service and attention to detail was second to none. Matt and Taylor truly worked their magic, and I know we'll be back to host another event in the future. If you're looking for a place with exceptional service, a unique atmosphere, and delicious food and drinks, look no further than...