Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery
Chicago
Check the seasonal beer offerings for unique flavors that rotate throughout the year.
Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery, located in Chicago's West Town, is a distinctive venue known as the city's first botanical brewpub. The restaurant offers an intriguing blend of naturally brewed beers and eclectic dining options, ensuring a multi-sensory experience for visitors. The interior exudes a relaxed yet modern vibe, making it an inviting space for beer enthusiasts and foodies alike to gather and savor a range of flavors.
The brewery is noted for its inventive approach to beer-making, incorporating botanicals into its brewing process. This unique style results in a diverse selection of brews available year-round, featuring both classic and seasonal varieties. The culinary offerings complement the beer selections, emphasizing thoughtful pairings crafted to enhance each flavor profile.
Forbidden Root caters to a wide audience, from solo diners to those planning social gatherings or private events. The venue promotes a community-focused atmosphere through its involvement in local and charitable activities. Its West Town location makes it accessible to residents and visitors looking for a distinctive dining and drinking experience in Chicago.
Reviews
The food was so incredible that I felt I had to share my experience. From the moment I walked in, I loved the décor and the overall atmosphere. The open windows letting in the sunshine created such a bright, comfortable, and inviting setting. But the real highlight was the food—it was absolutely delicious! Every bite was packed with flavor, and the entire experience was one I'll remember. Great atmosphere, amazing dishes, and a place I would happily return to again.
Stopped in for dinner, really nice that they have the patio set up for summer! Unique selection of beers on tap. Servers have always been friendly. Unfortunately, the food missed the mark for us this time. I’ve been coming here for several years and hadn’t gotten food in a while. Portions and quality just seemed lesser than it used to be. I’d still recommend this place for the atmosphere and drinks, but will probably skip the food in the future!
We had such an incredible dining experience here! 😍 Everything from the food to the service was top-notch. The complimentary beer was a really nice surprise 🍺✨ and paired perfectly with the meal. We ordered the house-made chorizo, Duck & Dumplings, Schnitzel, and finished with the Strawberry Basil sorbet 😋🍓. Every dish was beautifully prepared, full of flavor, and honestly better than expected. Each bite felt thoughtfully crafted and well balanced. Our server was also amazing — super friendly, attentive, and very knowledgeable about the menu 👏😊. He gave us excellent beer suggestions and really helped us choose drinks that matched our food perfectly. Overall, a fantastic experience from start to finish. I would definitely recommend checking it out, especially if you’re into great food and craft beer like Forbidden Roots 🍻✨
Really nice looking spot with a large bar and an inviting, comfortable atmosphere that makes it easy to settle in and enjoy your time. The beer selection is solid, and the DIPA stood out, bold, balanced, and full of flavor. It is clear they take pride in both what they serve and the space itself. The food was just as impressive, fresh, flavorful, and clearly well prepared. Customer service was amazing from start to finish, friendly, attentive, and welcoming the whole time. Overall, a great experience and definitely a place worth coming back to.
We finally got to try out this city gem. There we a lot of great beer choices. Including at least 4 hazy ipa's. Most brewery have either good brew or good food. The food was very good and the service was above average. They were helpful, but didn't hover. The beer cheese soup exceeded my expectations. Everything we ate and drank was a pleasure for the senses. Also love the historic building, the former HUB Theater!
