Scott V.
Yelp
To celebrate the holidays, we recently tried Felix for the first time with friends. They are big fans of Bites Asian Kitchen + Bar--located a few doors north--and also happen to be the owners of Felix.
You enter through a front room with a long bar before moving into the main dining area, which is lined with large windows. Warm wood paneling and colorful graphics give the space an inviting, energetic feel.
Our server was excellent--friendly and attentive--and both the owner and a manager stopped by during the evening to check in, which was appreciated.
Felix has an extensive cocktail menu, and servers were busy delivering trays of beautiful drinks throughout the night. I ordered the Windy City Sunset mocktail, while my husband chose the Smokey Old Fashioned. Both were very good.
The food, however, was more of a mixed bag.
We started with the meatballs for the table; unfortunately, they were overcooked and hard, and even the marinara sauce couldn't save them from being dry and unappetizing. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger, which was delicious and generously sized--easily enough for two meals. My husband ordered the chicken Parmesan with a side of pasta and found the chicken somewhat dry. Our friends ordered a pasta dish to share, though they didn't eat much of it while tending to their very well-behaved six-month-old.
While the bar and dining room are attractive, the bathroom was a major disappointment--dirty and unkempt, especially considering it was early in the evening (around 6 p.m.), not late enough to excuse the condition.
The owners and staff are genuinely kind, and the menu shows a lot of promise. At the moment, though, the food doesn't quite live up to what they're serving at Bites. I hope Felix can work out some of the inconsistencies and find success--it certainly has the potential.
I would like to give Felix 3.5-stars, but Yelp does not accommodate this option.