Botanero

This place is such a hidden gym! A cozy contemporary Mexican restaurant with thoughtful service and amazing flavors. Really loved the complementary bisque that was provided at the start of the meal. The complimentary bisque at the start was a lovely touch. The barbacoa was the star - tender, well-seasoned, and perfect with their house tortillas. Other highlights included the refreshing aquachile, flavorful octopus tacos, and a beautifully balanced pisco sour. A modern take on Mexican cuisine that’s memorable from start to finish.

I was really excited to try Botanero and made a Valentine’s Day reservation a month in advance and me and my boyfriend had studied the menu and knew what we wanted to order. So we were disappointed to come in only to be offered a preset menu for Vday that was 3 courses and $65 a person. When I booked the reservation there was nothing about a preset menu otherwise I would not have come here because I was excited to try their regular menu, and if I was going to choose a preset menu this would not have been the place I would have chosen. We weren’t impressed by the preset menu options and the portions were small. After 2 dinners, 2 drinks, tax and tip my boyfriend paid over $200 and we left hungry. So much so we went next door to Mott Street to get more food. At Botanero the food itself was adequate but I wish there had been more of it or another course, even then I don’t think it was a $200 meal (also the dessert was a shared piece of cheesecake which felt like a slap in the face for the price because really it’s a 2.5 course meal for $65!). Overall it was a disappointing first experience. Some pros: cute and intimate atmosphere, attentive and friendly staff, food presentation was pretty

The virgin drink Berry Simple was delicious. I had two! Very pretty. I had the chicken empanadas. There was also a spinach and chese option. I should have got one spinach because my friend said it was delicious. The other people I dined with had great looking dishes. Everyone seemed satisfied with their food. Dainty and presentable... not a full meal...overly full on the bill. Great meet up spot. Had a DJ. Service was great. I think price wise I am not too gong ho about. It was also frustrating trying to find street parking. Broke adventurous girl... to me I could find a similar place cheaper and be just as happy. Overall great experience. I take nothing from them. Great establishment.

We really enjoyed our dinner. The carrot hummus was delicious, and both the brisket and gnocchi were very tasty. The cheesecake was a perfect finish to the meal.

This awesome new spot has a chill vibe and the most delicious food.Went in on a Sunday for brunch.We went with the bottomless option with the most amazing Micheladas and refreshing mocktails. We got the dip tray as an appetizer and my two favorites were the carrot hummus and the guacamole tartare. The highlight was the chilaquiles with house-made chips and salsa verde, along with a perfectly cooked omelet with the best seasoned potatoes I've ever had. We also tried the horchata french toast and it blew my mind. Chef Yani Sanchez knocked out the park. Will definitely be coming back.

This place is a perfectly hidden gem! I met some friends on a Tuesday and had a pretty great time. I didn't get a chance to try food so I'm excited to visit again and give it a go.

My partner and I recently attended the Bar X Chef Pop-Up at Botanero—a 10-course tasting menu paired with 10 mini cocktails—and we had a great time! Out of the 10 dishes, 3 were truly outstanding, 4 were solidly good, and 3 were just okay. What really elevated the experience was the chef personally presenting each course and sharing the inspiration behind every dish—it added a thoughtful and personal touch. As for the cocktails, most leaned a bit too sweet for our taste, and they didn’t receive the same level of explanation or spotlight as the food, which felt like a bit of a missed opportunity. Still, at $75 per person, it’s an experience I’d definitely recommend. We’re looking forward to coming back and exploring more of Botanero’s regular menu!

I’ve visited twice—once with a friend and once with a group—and each time, the hospitality has been consistently impressive. As a former server myself, I naturally pay close attention to service, and this place truly stands out. Our server was fantastic and even took the time to tell us about the fun events they host, which definitely makes me excited to return. The food was just as great—I’m a big fan of the smaller, tapas-style plates that make sharing easy and enjoyable.

I recently visited Botanero and tried its three course tasting menu with cocktail pairings. I can highly recommend this restaurant. First, the food was creative, delicious and inventive. The first course was elote costillas that was paired the la piña. It's a play on the traditional Mexican street corn. The corn was left in the Cobb, but the Cobb was cut so twisted in spirals. The second course, and my favorite, was the barbacoa. It came with a few tortillas so you can make tacos if you want. The meat was super tender, pull a part and delicious. This course was pared with the PPP. For third and dessert course, I got the caramelized popcorn panna cotta paired with gold carajillo, a play on an espresso martini with eatable good flakes. If you like sweet desserts, this is the one for you. Not only was it beautiful, but the panna cotta was yummy and flavorful. Second, the vibes and ambiance are amazing. The restaurant is small, and intimate, but not noisy. The low light with red accents gives it a playful, but relaxing atmosphere. Third, the service was excellent. My waiter was friendly and very knowledgeable about the dishes and drinks. Also the courses came out at with perfect timing. In sum, Botanero is a must visit spot.

Disappointing Experience - Poor Food Quality I had high hopes for the restaurant since it was highly recommend by a friend who was having his birthday party there. But, unfortunately, my experience was underwhelming. The food quality was far below expectations. I ordered the "grilled octopus, tamale" it was a very soupy, not grilled octopus. My husband ordered the New York strip and ended up getting a totally different piece of meat that our waiter confirmed and apologized for. The touch of the chef coming out and engaging with the customers and serving you each individual dish is a great touch. She was very kind and very attentive . The owner is a great guy very friendly and I wish him the very best. I just hope that moving forward they improve their menu descriptions. The ambience is quiet and elegant. With very little lighting. You cannot see your food. We had to pull out our phones so we could see what we were eating.

Amazing dining experience, if I could give a sixth star I would. The interior is chic but cozy; dimly lit so perfect for date night but definitely lively enough for a group of friends. Service was awesome, the chef even came to the table. Now to the delicious food and beverages, which were perfectly executed. Margaritas were tasty, potent, and clearly made with fresh ingredients and homemade syrups. The food was so good I forgot to get photos, but everything we tried was awesome. Highly recommend the sharable dips. This isn't your typical chips & salsa. All of the items had a special little creative twist to them, I don't want to play spoiler so I will just say check them out yourself!

We live around the corner from this spot and were so excited to try it out. It did not disappoint! New favorite neighborhood spot. We've visited twice now and haven't tried a single cocktail that wasnt unique and delicious. The staff is incredibly kind and fun! The food is equally phenomenal -- the trio of dips and the short rib curry was amazinggggg. Really looking forward to trying their brunch.

I've gotta say - this was an unexpected discovery. There's nothing I love more as a foodie, to experience food through the lens of chef and understand their take on a dish. Botanero provided me a wholesome experience and immersion of flavors that captivated my palette. Served tapas style by hand of chef, this dining experience far exceeded any expectations and the food was so well balanced in aromatics and flavor. I was highly impressed with this place and would surely recommend it further

Great ambience the second you walk in. You feel like you're transported to somewhere outside of Chicago. Music's great and the food is even better. The complimentary soup in the beginning is phenomenal - still dreaming about it. Everything else was delicious - the sikil p ' ak dip, elote, and flautas. Can't forget the margaritas, they make them how they're supposed to be and without all the sugary bs. Will be back!

So happy we chose this new spot for a date night! Unique dishes, drinks, and flavors + our server was incredibly attentive and made great suggestions. Favorite dishes were the shared dips (especially the sikil p'ak and carrot hummus) + flautas This would make a great date/first date spot. We truly have zero negatives to say, and can't wait to come back and try brunch!

The food, service, and ambiance was all great! I got the barbacoa and it was absolutely delicious. So was the goat cheese cheesecake! The chef brought out all our food and was so nice! The drinks were fun and delicious as well. Highly recommend. We will be back!

We had a great experience at Botanero! The staff was so thoughtful -- they gave us a little soup as a complimentary amuse bouche. All the food was fantastic. We shared the dip platter as an appetizer, which was delicious, though if you're sharing between two people, it is filling, so you may want to box some of it so you can save room for entrees. I had the barbacoa, which was amazing -- perfectly cooked, perfect flavors. And the drinks were fab! Everything was presented beautifully. Will definitely return.

Stopped into Botanero without a reservation and they were very accommodating. The restaurant is in a beautiful space, has delicious & creative cocktails & delicious food. Service was excellent. Will definitely be back.

awesome spot; vibes were super chill - Jorge is the best bartender to get serve by, he's super friendly and accommodating and attentive! definitely would recommend swinging by for a drink or dinner, food is absolutely amazing!

Truly a terrible restaurant. Very rude staff that felt shocking how poorly they could treat a dinner guest. Be wary booking reservations here.

Wowwowow stumbled in here last night after not being able to get a seat at Mott St and I am so glad I came here instead! My friend and I sat at the bar and only had drinks but I will definitely be back for food. Our bartender was so sweet and knowledgable and the cocktails were delicious. Also, really love the vibes and energy of the space. I can't wait to go back and try the food!

Fantastic place!! Perfect service and cocktails with chill vibe! I will definitely recommend this bar to everyone