Warlord

My journey to Warlord, located in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood, began with a long commute from the Gold Coast. Arriving at 5:39 pm, we were met with the unfortunate news of a 3-hour wait. After returning home and headed back, we waited an additional hour (4 hours). For that, Connor, a true man of his word, secured us the coveted chef's table seats. Nick, our server, was both friendly and accommodating, adding to the overall positive experience at the chef's counter. The atmosphere at Warlord is truly captivating, creating a memorable dining experience. However, while the service and ambiance were exceptional, the food itself fell short of expectations. The steak was "earthy," and left something to be desired. The burger, lacking cheese and failing to surpass the renowned Au Cheval offering, was also disappointing. Even the toast with truffle, while decent, only managed a mediocre rating of 7/10. While the staff and atmosphere create an unforgettable experience, significant improvement is needed in the food department to truly match the outstanding service and ambiance.

3 hours wait on a Friday night. They had a heated patio to wait for your table. All menu items are available at the patio except the main dishes. The burger is a must try but everything else is nothing special.

Good interesting spot that provides a unique experience but definitely big overhype that seems unjustified. Waiting: Honestly not worth waiting for more than 30-minutes for a table. Food: Okay so the quality of the ingredients especially the meats and seafood is excellent. The burger is cooked phenomenally and rich with Maillard flavors (if you are not into that and burger that is red all in the center then it’s not for you). I must say though the food overall was pretty salty including the pasta. Portion to Price ratio definitely not worth it. Atmosphere: Sick atmosphere with great music selection played loud and an open kitchen with a fire. You will smell like the smoke after having dinner there as the smell/smoke will get stuck to your clothes but isn’t that all part of the experience? For me it was. Service: Nice friendly staff but Messy, and disorganized, they lack the level of awareness of staff at restaurants with a similar price point, but I think that’s part of the challenge of running a concept restaurant like Warlord. Drinks: Drinks were fantastic and the menu was really interesting, these are not your standard cocktails they are definitely a step above. Conclusion; I would return here for the vibe and atmosphere, also for the drinks and the burger but waiting longer than 20-30 minutes is not worth it as there are plenty of great drinks and food places in Chicago that offer that without the wait or premium prices. So I wouldn’t go back considering how much we paid for the overall quality of everything and the long waits and the party with me had even harsher opinions towards this place.

The smoke filled room and metal music give warlord a different vibe compared to most other fine dining options. I loved it, but don’t come here expecting quiet conversation. Get the burger! It looks underwhelming against so many other great options but it holds up. The menu changes daily but just order anything and it will probably be great (4.7/5)

Considering the hype, the place does not deliver. The best part is the atmosphere - cool rock music, candlelights, and a smoking smell that makes you feel like you are in a different "world". The food is excellent but "boring" and forgetable - I personally think Chicago has more interesting food options. The portions are small considering the price and there are no sides (not even to order from the menu). It's hard to feel satisfied by the end of the dinner. The highlight is the burger, which is particularly good and less overpriced than other items. Honestly, I would only suggest this place if you are looking for late night food (they are open until 2am) and go there to a get a good burder in a cool atmosphere. Any longer wait around dinner time is not worth it (especially since there are AMAZING food options in Chicago). I also agree with other reviews that the service is not as knowledgeable and prepared as you would expect in a restaurant with this price point. Edit: I almost forgot! They run out of the only dessert on the menu by 11pm. Again, this wouldn't be a big deal in a "normal" restaurant but considering the hype and price point, it's disappointing

Awesome place

Great food! Menu changes daily! We loved everything we ate! Dietary restrictions: They asked if we had any dietary restrictions/allergies. Parking: Metered street parking right outside or free, not far, on Avers Kid-friendliness: We saw one kid. It's dark and loud.

This place is mostly hype. After waiting four hours for a table, you will leave unsatisfied. The food tastes good, especially the burger, but you will leave unsatisfied because the food isn’t meals. Atmosphere isn’t food. It is nearly impossible to find vegetables or carbs on the menu. They ran out of dessert very early in the night. All four people in my party said “I’d never come back.” I’ll give you 20 restaurants off the top of my head in Chicago that aren’t the hype of this place, but you will leave happier.