Cultivate by Forbidden Root

Cute space, perfectly friendly staff, the service is fine! Nice wine list, really enjoyed their cocktails as well. The food is just so underwhelming which is particularly frustrating because the menu sounds interesting and the dishes look lovely. The flavor is simply not there. We had the roasted carrots as a starter, they were beautifully presented but very dull flavor wise. They needed some acid and/or sweetness to balance out. I had the mussels which were a huge portion for the price but very bland. The sauce sounded great but there wasn't enough of it and it wasn't flavorful enough. The fries are super basic, not absorbent for the sauce. These really should be homemade, it's a shame they're not. My friend had the pasta which was also underwhelming and not flavorful. What the heck guys! Rounding up to 4 stars and hoping it's better in the future

Stopped by for happy hour which turned into dinner. I went back in 2023 and only tried beer flight & wanted to return to try their food. Love the open space and also opportunities to try different beer, thanks to their 5oz options. hearth roasted cauliflower $22: debated over shishito peppers or cauliflowers. Glad I got cauliflowers because it had a smokey flavor that I really enjoyed. The black rice, not so much. At first, I thought it wasn't good but as I kept going for it, it was addictive! Spanish octopus $28: looking forward to a good octopus dish, but wasn't impressed. It was overcooked & chorizo was too airy for my taste. Wouldn't order again. beer braised short rib $29: meat too dry. eggplant dip and naan were ooook. Wouldn't order again. Food was disappointing but I'd try other dishes before ruling it out. Service, space, and beer were good, so 4 stars it is.

The cocktail was different and interesting. The food was good. I had Duck and dumplings. It’s a bit salty to my taste. I was a bit disappointed that duck confit tasted more like duck jerky. Service was good. Overall we had a good time there. I would still go if we are in the area and try other dishes.

A great place to grab some good food and try some new beers. The food and beers both rotate pretty regularly, so you can almost always get something new here. The cocktails are great too!

Drinks were really good! , the presentation of the food was beautiful but the food lacked taste. Maybe they were the dishes that we ordered ( Spanish Octopus and Duck dumplings), I would love to come again and try new stuff but I was disappointed by the dishes that we order for the price that we paid, Desert was really good!

The ambiance was very nice, good service, but overall, it was not a great experience with the food. The three cheese plate was laughably small; literally a tiny cube of cheese. The chicken sandwich was the best thing we had. It came with a fresh, tasty salad on the side. Overall, I felt like this place had potential, but our dinner was, unfortunately, disappointing and very overpriced.

We recently visited Cultivate by Forbidden Root and had an amazing dining experience. The ambiance was warm and inviting, perfect for a relaxing meal. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, making sure that our needs were met throughout our visit. The menu offered a great variety of dishes, and everything we tried was delicious. I particularly enjoyed the Fire Roasted Prawns, which was cooked to perfection. The flavors were rich and well-balanced, and the presentation was impressive. Overall, Cultivate exceeded my expectations in every way. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great meal in a pleasant setting. We will definitely be coming back!

This was an absolutely great experience. The duck dumplings where out of this world. The server at the bar Antonio made a fantastic mojito(2x)..... also was very attentive, before he served me he tasted it was up to his standard. The chef Isaiah had the duck and dumplings at perfection. This location is the flagship Forbidden. Great, service, drinks, and food. I will be back religiously after that duck and dumplings plate and excellent mojito.

Cultivate has become my favorite restaurant for many reasons. Eating out is a huge treat for me, and many restaurants now serve mediocre food. I was so impressed by cultivate. My compliments to the chef!!!! I have now dined at cultivate 4 times and the food had not disappointed. The flavors of everything are so complex and delicious. WOWY WOW WOW is how I would describe the food. Service is excellent, cocktails are crafted to perfection and the atmosphere is super chill. The burger-delicious The lamb chops-delicious The beer braised short ribs-delicious and my favorite! Carrot cake-delicious S'mores tiramisu-delicious I can't wait to go back and try everything on the menu. Everything tastes fresh and homemade. Wishing this hidden gem continued success.

We stopped by on a sunny weekend afternoon to grab a bite to eat and a flight of beer. We ordered the Duck and Dumplings after seeing it mentioned in other reviews, and it was incredible! It is a very rich dish, so we were very happy to have shared it. The duck was cooked perfectly and the "dumplings" (more like gnocchi) were very pillowy. Really beautiful space - plenty of tables to accommodate parties of all sizes! Service was pretty quick and friendly.

Seated right away on a Saturday. Large dining area with a few outdoor seating options. Wide selection of beers and food. They offer a beer flight or you can get small ounce pours or regular size. We tried a few small plates and the burger. Food was delicious and came out in order with plenty of time to eat our small plates. Service was attentive and staff knew the menu.

Have been here a couple of times for beers and snacks. Love the beers, some really interesting and tasty beverages! Bartender is chatty and friendly. I also love the layout and interior of this place, it's easy to move around in. Bathrooms are SPOTLESS. I'm coming back for that Monday BURGER SPECIAL, that looks legit.

A great spot on Ravenswood. Our server was great, very prompt with service. I tried the personal bubble beer and it was very good. We were starving when we sat down and immediately ordered soup, definitely a good choice. I think I would have liked it better without the fried leeks, but still very good. I did not try the burger but the fries were good, cook perfectly. The broccolini was very good, had a smokey flavor. The lumache was interesting, the sauce taste like corn which is something I didn't expect. In the lumache was sweet potatoes and had quite a bit of chili pepper. My entree was the duck, it was more of a stew than I was expecting. The carrots were cooked but the celery was not really and it was very crunchy and a bit off putting. I ended up picking it all out and would have liked the dish better without it. The duck had great flavor, the gnocchi was a good pairing. Would certainly return, pretty sure there's a season menu here so different items likely with the next visit.

Came back last night to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary and we're so pleased we came! The food, service, and drinks are still of upmost quality. Everyone on staff is super friendly and accommodating and made great recommendations on food and drinks.

Love Cultivate! They have the best burger special in the neighborhood on Mondays; burger, beer, and bourbon.

Surprised by the quality of food here. Service is perfect timing. Ambiance is cozy and elegant.

Interesting menu. Not what you normally find at a typical brewery - menu items here are just more sophisticated than the typical brewery ( don't worry there is still a burger on the menu ). You can approach this place by getting a bunch of items to share or order individually. We decided to share. We started with the mixed olives ( quite good) and selected some cheeses ( good), and then shared 2 veggie dishes ( broccoli and leeks both good although a bit too much sauce on each for my liking). We then shared the muscles ( good) and the Peruvian chicken thighs ( very good). Lots of drink options. Casual feel but menú a little pricey for a brewery. Easy parking right in front and attentive service. Good choice if in the neighborhood and not so budget conscientious

Fantastic drinks and food! Beer menu looked impressive (flights and all)! We ordered cocktails, which were creative, well thought out and perfectly executed. The food menu was thoughtfully separated into sea, pasture and garden section. Do yourself a favor and order the Stracciatella. Just a banging, creative, delicious combination of a burrata-like cheese with wild mushrooms and marmalade. All came perfectly together. The duck and dumplings had excellent flavors. I would skip the mussels next time and try another amazing option. The service was solid. The waitress described the dishes and drinks well and service was timely. Ambiance is interesting and engaging. A bit on the louder side but can definitely have a convo going.

Absolutely amazing time here at Cultivate! First of all, the space is so cool and a perfect mix of modern and cozy. The beer menu is extensive with in depth descriptions, which I appreciate as someone who isn't super familiar with beers. I decided to try the gingerbread wheat and it was the perfect winter time beer that wasn't too heavy! I really enjoyed it. I tried my husbands too, the Curb-A-Peel, and was a huge fan of that as well! The dinner menu was small, but all the options were thoughtfully curated. We started with the chicken skins which were served with beer cheese. So crispy and flavorful!! I would definitely order these again. For my main, I went with the burger and wowwwww this was the move! The tangy pickles complimented the savory burger perfectly. The fries were incredible. We were truly so impressed by our visit! Our server was very efficient and we were in and out quickly. Can't wait to make this a regular spot in our new neighborhood!

Cultivate is a great local spot within the Ravenswood neighborhood! This has become a new staple and it's a restaurant by Forbidden Root which is one of my favorites. We always have a wonderful experience whenever we dine here and the service is always on point. The space and decor is eclectic, they even have a throwback decor- lava lamps. The beer and drink menu have tons to choose from and I usually select the house flight because I love their draft beer selections and it changes seasonally. For the food, there are two standout winners that I would highly recommend for everyone to try. The Forbidden Root Burger sits on top of my list. I love the smash patty, giardiniera mayo, and white American cheese. On Mondays, they have the burger special where you get the burger, fries, shot of bourbon, and 16oz beer for only $14 for a single or $17 for a double, which is a steal! Another must try is the duck & dumplings, which has duck confit, ricotta gnocchi, mirepoix, duck jus, and crispy duck skin and is just delectable. This is mostly the two dishes we always order but have also tried other seasonal dishes they've offered. I have yet to try their desserts but one day I will make room for them with my meal. They have happy hours from Monday to Friday where you get the bar snacks for half off and $10 for the Cultivate house flight. I'm such a fan of Cultivate and highly recommend for everyone to try. They have formulated all the things I look for in a brewery- unique food & drinks, and great service.

Cultivate takes over the previous Band of Bohemia space which was a rare Michelin Star gastropub. They certainly have chose to stay with elevated dining but grounds it a bit more. Which was perfect for us as we started with a delicious appetizer of fried chicken skins and pimento cheese. Oh man, I would go back just for that. Not too many changes to the previous space, still industrial chic with very accommodating and friendly service. Truly delicious cocktails, ok beer and great entrees. The porchetta French dip was a surprise of spicy and savory pork. Overall very good gastro pub to add to Ravenswood/Andersonville's impressive lineup!

Really good food and drinks! Great ambiance and great service! The pasta was delicious and the bartender was so attentive!

This is a beautiful establishment. If you've ever been to the Forbidden Root on Chicago avenue and like the popular dishes there, you can get them here as well. The service was fantastic and attentive at the bar where they have a good amount of libations to select from. We enjoyed our time here.

Wow- what a totally pleasant surprise. I was fully expecting your typical pub grub with some generic microbrews on tap- I thought this place would get 3 or 4 stars just judging by pics, but I was totally pleased from start to finish. We were sat and had a big bottle of water in front of us within 30 seconds (no wet-dog smelling glasses)- and our server was no-nonsense but somehow really made it feel like we could ask for anything. Drink orders were in within 4 or 5 minutes and brought out shortly after. The Curb A Peel is an unbelievably refreshing banana beer- and the Gingerbread Wheat is a little more beer-y without the oppressive flavor. Chicken Skins with beer cheese were perfection and the Burger was cooked to order with tangy pickles and a slaw concoction that was really unexpectedly good. The fries were a 10/10. Tl;dr: will 100% be back here. Wow.

Cultivate offers an extensive beer menu, an upscale, thoughtful limited menu in a very relaxed atmosphere. The beer selections were good and prices were reasonable. The good menu is not extensive and a bit pricey, but the food was very good. We shared the Smoked Ricotta Appetizer. It was whipped and topped with cubes of pickled eggplant, pine nuts and onions and herbs. It came with 3 slices of toasted bread, but there were 2 of us, so we had to ask for an additional slice, which we were charged for. Considering the appetizer was almost $20, we felt it should have been at no cost. We shared the FR Burger. It was a double smash patty, topped with cheddar, onions and mayo. It was very good. Overall, we would go back, the atmosphere is nice, food wad very good, but a bit pricey.

Really enjoyed our time at Cultivate! The beer flight was a great option if you want a sample of the variety offered. Great cocktail menu as well. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and had suggestions based on our tastes. We went on a Friday evening at 5 and it was a bit busy, but definitely not too loud for a conversation. Service was still great even though it was busy!

My love and I were wandering in the Ravenswood area checking out a "freecycle" community event last weekend and that eventually made us thirsty. My love suggested that we check out Cultivate by Forbidden Root, and boy are we glad that we went there. It is a visual treat to look around the cavernous urban chic interiors. Stare longingly at the colorful "scoreboard" of their current beers that can be changed at a moment's notice thanks to a system of pulleys and gears. The displays of beer cans and branded merchandise are fun to check out. The individual use unisex bathrooms seem enormous as if they belong in a spa. We did not try any of the food, but something smelled good in the kitchen (was it grilled meat?). We did enjoy several of the beers, including the featured Cultivate Flight with five fantastic beers. Quite a few of their brews feature a tinge of fruit, which my taste buds really appreciate. They also added a Ukrainian-collaboration Bread Basket beer (tasty!) while we sat at the bar, with some of its proceeds going to the Ukrainian cause. The refreshing beer selections, the overall kind and knowledgeable service, and the cool ambiance will lure us to a return visit soon enough

On a recent spontaneous Saturday afternoon, my husband and I popped in here for some libations. We were beyond pleased with their impeccable service in an atmosphere that pulls off an impressive blend of casual vibes and upscale ambiance. The place is simply gorgeous, and we enjoyed all beers tasted. Note, the fifth beer on their current flight (Mainstream Exotic) is very tart, and I let my husband tackle that one after a sip. I normally shy away from a beer including any sort of fruit. However, the Strawberry Basil was simply amazing. Definitely do not let their fruit beers give you pause if you normally are not a fan. They brew these in a way I have never experienced before, and, outside of the more tart beers, I would try anything on their menu. We will definitely be going back. They sell many of their beers in four-packs, alongside a small collection of logo'ed merch. I read on their website that they donate 100% of their non-consumable merchandise profits to charity. That's pretty awesome. They also have tap #16 as their dedicated "Love Handle." This means it's a collab with another local brewery, and $1 from every glass is donated to a mutually selected charity.

Located in the former Band of Bohemia space, I tried Cultivate for the first time last week. I had always wanted to try Band of Bohemia, but never had a chance to get there before they sadly closed after filing for bankruptcy and other notorious allegations. Located in a quiet area along Ravenswood Avenue, Cultivate has two spaces...a restaurant in front and a dedicated bar (with board games and bar snacks) in the back. Both spaces are beautiful and inviting. Because it was a beautiful night, and due to continuing covid concerns, we opted to sit in their small outdoor space on the sidewalk in front of the building. Service was friendly and attentive and we quickly settled in to look at the menu. They have an excellent cocktail and beer menu. And although Cultivate brews its own beer, we're more into cocktails, so that is what we ordered. I had the Patagonian Summer cocktail and my husband ordered the rum-based Forbidden Old Fashioned. My drink was delicious. I loved the pretty and generous sprig of mint, and the crushed ice is summery, but the spiced flavor profiles reminded me of a December holiday. My husband's rum Forbidden Old Fashioned was good, but he was hard pressed to distinguish it from a bourbon-based Old Fashioned. In fact, that is what he thought may have been brought to the table instead of a rum cocktail. In any case, he did enjoy it. They have an excellent food menu, but we both opted for their simple FR burger. You can order it with fries or a very nice looking and delicious side salad. The burgers were good (although not as flavorful as the ingredients used would suggest), and the fries I had were crisp and hot. Cultivate is a great place to chill, have a beer and a bite. We will be back and I would recommend it.

I loved everything about my experience at Cultivate by Forbidden Root. We live in L.A. and crave after Chicago's food scene and are lucky enough to be in town once a year...we typically stick to downtown but a birthday celebration brought us to Cultivate and we couldn't have been happier. Both my wife and I have diet preferences. I'm a vegetarian, she's generally vegan and gluten-free. We love small plates, artfully prepared food both visually and taste, and equally artfully prepared drinks. We got all that here. I was especially excited about the house shots menu...I've seen this a couple other places...not full cocktails, but shot glass sizes of special mixes...perfect for those of us who can't decide (and who might no the in town long enough to try more than one.) I had the Smoke and Flame House Shot, and the Closer House Shot. These were flat out delicious! The Smoke and Flame with it's Mezcal and Chili Liquor was the perfect blend of sweet and smokey. The Closer (which I did indeed close with) was bold and desserty. (Yea take that spell-check, I'm leaving "desserty" right where it is.) I love a good cheese plate and the 4 we got gave a great range of cheese experiences. The Bing Bread which I think is always vegetarian but rotates was filled with greens and was quite hearty. The bowl of olives was delicious...the roasted cauliflower was delicious...the porcini lentil soup was delicious. I could go on. I mean usually we're lucky enough at a place like this to really love a couple things and think everything else was pretty good...We really LOVED everything they brought us. As vegetarians (and just lovers of things that taste good) we had plenty to choose from and enjoy and will DEFINITELY head out of the confines of downtown to experience this place again next time we're in Chicago.

Cool spot to get drinks! Last night in Chicago, so my sister and brother in law took me out to check out this new spot. Apparently this used to be a brewery that didn't quite make it through the pandemic. Good to see the space getting a second life with the new owners. The place is food forward and their beers are pretty tasty. I started with a Saffron Martini which was intriguing in the menu. It was okay and easy to go down, but I transitioned to beers after the one cocktail. Their triple IPA (lazer pants) was very smooth. I was expecting something super boozy but I see why they limit the glass size here (easy drinking). After the laser pants I switched to a double IPA (smoochies boochies). Just as good! But just not the 10%abv that laser had. Although some may say 8% is still pretty high. The chips are not overly bbq, just a hint and there's a kick that builds over time. Good for snacking. The Bing Bread rotational stuffing was quinoa. I think our server said couscous but I give him a pass because the stuffing does change and he was running his butt off in the restaurant. Vaxx cards and IDs checked at the door and struck mask policy when you are not consuming at your table. Kitchen closes early as well as the dining room 10pm, I totally get it since the place is nestled in more of a neighborhood area. Small parking lot was full but street parking on Ravenswood was plentiful.

We love Forbidden Root and were so excited when we learned that they were opening a new location in the former Band of Bohemia building. We finally stopped by today and loved it! We were pleased to see that many of the staple food and drinks options from the original are still there, plus some exciting new options. I really wanted to try one of the new sandwiches, but ended up getting the burger. My one critique is that Forbidden Root should really offer fries with other sandwiches! The burger was delicious. It had all the flavors of the original location, but with its own location twist! And the fries were also delicious, but with a more peppery twist. Yum! I was so excited about the food that I totally forgot to snap a picture before gobbling it down. Whoops! To drink, my spouse got the #13 Double IPA and loved the unique flavors. I tried the Cultiveren cocktail and found it super delicious and refreshing! Staff were friendly and helpful. Prices are great! And I LOVE how Cultivate kept the integrity of Band of Bohemia in-tact through the decor. All-in-all, a fantastic experience! We hope to return again soon. It is super close to the UP-N Ravenswood Metra stop AND has its own parking spot, so super accessible! See you next time!

A great relaxed vibe with tasty food and a continually rotating selection of interesting tap beers (and mixed drinks). Get the duck and dumplings. It's like a deconstructed chicken pot pie. So good.

The service was good. The beer was cold. I had the tuna tartare and it was terrible. It was mostly hard rice with very little tuna. I felt like I was eating dry cereal. My fiend had the burger and said it was good.

Really cool and big brewery and dinner spot! The ambiance and service are on point. Recommend making reservations. The drink menu is extending and so good! #8 Icarus and #9 Strawberry Basil were 5/5! The food menu is pretty big too. Nothing really jumped out at me so I got the burger. Glad I did cuz the portion size was really good and the fries were PERFECT.

Stopped by with some friends up from the Loop. Two of us dove into the Duck & Dumplings with an amazing sauce. One into an apple salad and one into their Muscles , which were a bit of a disappointment. All in all a good time, great space, and a nice vibe.

Had no idea that the former Band of Bohemia space reopened as a new brewery and restaurant. It was shockingly good! The menu is enticing; we wanted all of it! We landed on the kale-apple salad and we're not disappointed. The snapper was super complex and even better than what I have come to expect for Lincoln Square joints. Our server was attentive and gave great drink recommendations. Go with the 5 oz pours so you can try even more of them. Great date spot. 5/5 all around.

If they have duck on the menu get it. Enough said. Arguably the best dish of food I've had all year. Bravo. Especially at a $20 price point. Healthy portion of food also. The pork djp sandwich was a 6/10 bud the side salad was a 9/10. I highly recommend the rum old fashioned even if it's $14. The server was extremely polite, but she tended to disappear mid meal and when we were trying to close out to make it to a concert on time. The place got full and I just don't think they had enough wait staff. Will return to try the beer. New favorite Chicago restaurant.

The vibe of this place is: the relaxed brother of a well todo family moves off the grid, meets a bunch of artisans/craftspeople and joins together to reappear, use his inheritance, and open a brewery. You walk in and the place is large, brightly lit, yet cozy from the wood and fabric elements, and decorated with artistic industrial elements that look like they were made by someone else in the ravenswood industrial corridor. The whole thing smells clean but at the same time wood fired Smokey. It could be pretentious with the quality of the food but the vibe is very down to earth- all of the staff feel professional, friendly, and casual. The cocktails are strong and fancy but the beers are herbaceous (the botanical element) - how our main character pays tribute to his mother who liked to garden and his dad who liked a stiff drink after boating. (Is this true? no fucking idea) The food itself again is also classy but with surprisingly casual options- you can get a meal of beer cheese and ritz crackers followed by pate and trout rillete. Should also mention that every dish is stunning. But again, beer cheese and ritz crackers? Wentworth III who now goes by Thirdy is having a little laugh.

Neat space! Underwhelming menu--consider your audience. Our first waiter was lackluster--he had an opportunity to engage/teach us, but couldn't have cared less. Tyler appeared as our new waiter and was personable, nice, and took time for a brief chat about brewing--this is who you want representing! Unbeknownst to me, I accidentally was behind the hostess counter picking brews to take home from their cooler, and got scolded by not one employee but two, which really soured me. Always use kindness when speaking to your customers--the goal is never to make them feel awkward or dumb. The ULTIMATE goal is for your customer to have a fab experience beginning-to-end so they come back AND they in turn tell their friends--Marketing 101.

Sat at the bar on my visit. I appreciate that can order small taster sizes, not just full pint. Customer service was excellent.

I've been here a couple times, and now that my son lives a 5 minute walk away, I'm sure I'll be here more often. The interior is very relaxing and chill. I love the high ceilings and open garage-type door window, letting in all the fresh air. The menu isn't extensive, and pretty pricey... but it is Chicago, right?? We love the FR burger. It's thick, juicy and sort of spicy with the giardiniera mayo. It's a must have! The beer flight was pretty good, as well as the cheese and cracker appetizer. It has some sort of sweet jam or sauce on top that went well with the Ritz crackers. Like I said... I'll be back!

Outstanding! Food, service, and ambiance were so incredible. Highly recommend especially if you're vegetarian. Beer is really flavorful and the flight is a great deal! Corn pasta is a must. Super bizarre flavors but so good! Summer squash and cauliflower were al dente with great spice flavors without being hot. Carrots had a lot going on. All good for babies, they loved those carrots! Burger and French dip were good but both people felt the vegetarian options outshined the meat. Beautiful interior, can't wait to come back!

Loved everything about my first visit! Nice, relaxed space with an expansive selection of house crafted beers. Not your typical pub grub, but elevated dishes & fresh ingredients. Love the Duck & Dumplings & couldn't stop eating the sweet potato dish. Excited to return and try the rest of the menu.

We had our wedding rehearsal dinner in Cultivate's tap room and it was absolutely perfect. Everything from the food and service to the environment was great. We had 27 people which was a great size for the space, but it could also handle a slightly larger or smaller crowd. Our guests raved about how delicious the food and drinks were. Would highly recommend for wedding rehearsal dinners!

Everything is excellent here - the cocktails, the beer, the food. For cocktails I started with I believe a riff on a Rob Roy - it is no longer on the menu but I seem to recall scotch and amaro - and ended the meal with their Old Fashioned. Both are superior whiskey cocktails that all my noble bourbon boozers will love. For food I had the beer cheese, the beef jerky, the chicken liver mousse, and the duck and dumplings. The beer cheese was creamy, and paired with Ritz crackers is entirely addictive. The beef jerky was also excellent, a collection of good sized chewy slabs of cured meat. The chicken liver mousse is a bit of a let down only because most of the dish is a big hunk of bread, on to which the mousse is pre-coated. I always prefer to have the mousse appear on its own in a bowl or on a dish, so I can admire its independence and mainline its gouty goodness sans accoutrement. Having said that, the mousse is still quite good. The duck dumplings dish has loads of shredded duck confit along with crispy duck skin on top of pillowy soft gnocchi suitably coated in a rich duck jus. It was amazing. The sauce was eye-rollingly good and the duck skin was crispy perfection. A stunner of a dish. All of it paired well with the Free Town Rye Lager, which was crisp, caramelly and toasty. The service is very friendly, and the space is full of energy. Which means that it is bright and loud, although mid-meal we were treated to a bit of mood lighting. In any event, be sure to arrive with friends and bring your pub voice.

Excited to have Forbidden Root in Ravenswood! It was their opening weekend, and we'll plan to be back often. This is in the old Band of Bohemia space and the open, eclectic decor, bar and booths are all the same but the food is more approachable and a much better value than its predecessor. Service was great and very friendly! Food was solid, with an emphasis on hearth dishes. Standouts were the duck and dumplings (ricotta gnocchi) and the pineapple date cake! As fans of Forbidden Root in west town, we're hoping to see some more of our favorites added to the menu like the schnitzel sandwich or chicken sandos! Living around the corner, we'll definitely be regulars. Cant wait to come back. We need a spot like this in the neighborhood!

Mixed reviews on food. The cheeses are terrific, and the tuna, burger and tomato items rated well. Plus the EXCELLENT skinny fries. The cucumber dish was surprising and had a bit of heat. The leeks had great flavor, but were incredibly chewy and difficult to cut into mouth size pieces. Atmosphere is nice with an option to sit outside (if your group is small). Service was nice and enthusiastic caring for our group of five.

The food was OK, nothing to rave about. The ambiance was pretty regular, somewhat boring (and honestly a disappointment for anyone who remembers the fabulously quirky but tasteful Band of Bohemia at this location). What unfortunately made this restaurant stand out was the insanely rude service. The bartender was fine and the server was OK, but the woman in charge of closing up (presumably the manager) was appalling. We had an 8 pm reservation and they close at 9:30 pm, which we didn't know because it was our first time there. (Also, 9:30 pm...? But I digress). As soon as 9:30 pm hit, this woman started to push us to leave, and her demeanor was so belligerent, you would have thought someone was playing a prank on us. I don't remember the last time someone was this ridiculously rude at a restaurant. Meanwhile, the staff was still busy cleaning up, so the drill sergeant attitude really didn't seem necessary. No way in hell I am coming back. (And to be clear -- even if this woman hadn't been so awful, the restaurant experience wasn't good enough for me to want to go back).

Great beers and ciders-we expected those. What we didn't expect was very good food! Inventive dishes, beautifully presented. The decor and the place settings were creative and enjoyable. Servers were attentive and friendly -and very thoughtful in their menu suggestions. What a cool place, tucked away where the crowds don't venture

Besides an amazing beer selection, it's the food. I venture to say some of the best fries in the city! Burgers are amazing I mean darn good. Had the duck and dumplings awesome, Service always outstanding.

We are new to the neighborhood and love dining at Cultivate. What a fabulous vibe, friendly and exceptional staff, and last but not least excellent food and beer (they also have great cocktail and wine choices). Tonight was burger/beer/bourbon night. My husband loved his burger and salad. I chose the cauliflower soup which was scrumptious and their tuna crudo which was fabulous!! Truly this is a gem in Ravenswood! What a great job Forbidden Root is doing!

Don't sleep on the taproom Fridays and Saturdays! Go through the parking lot and up the first staircase to get 16 unique brews on tap, wine, cans and liquor. Some of the beers are unique to the taproom--don't miss out. It's a cute space with board games. They have bar snacks (popcorn, dill pickle chips, jerky, olives) and dope bartenders.

So happy a delicious alternative replaced the former (also delicious) option in this beautiful building. As everyone else notes, the duck and dumplings is incredible, I can't stop raving about it. The beets and burrata salad and grilled octopus also delish. Atmosphere is perfect, bar seating is comfortable and attentive. A fantastic experience and we will be back undoubtedly!

Great new spot in Ravenswood! The short ribs were great. Sweet potato slaw was good but a bit sweeter than I'd expect from a slaw. I had a great cocktail (I don't remember what it's called but it was rosemary genever, balsamic fig syrup, and lemon). I'm not a big beer person but my friends are and loved their selection.

Welcome addition to the 'hood! Delicious food and beer. Beautiful space. I thought it was a great value for the quality of everything we had. Note to management: Find better background music. This place is better than the Muzak you had on Saturday night.

Another gem by Forbidden Root. Location - The venue is GORGEOUS. Great bar seats, a solid 8 person high-top, and seating looking into the kitchen. Great mix in feeling of warehouse/industrial and artsy. Similar in concept to the Chicago Ave location, but entirely different in feel. Beers - In addition to the standard FR beers, they have some really interesting ones that are brewed on site. Good mix of beers for the layman and the beer geek. Food - Solid menu. We had a group of six and got the short ribs (top notch), the liver mousse, trout rillette, deep fried cauliflower (another favorite), porchetta french dip, a couple burgers, and the scallops. No one left hungry or wanting.