This was the second time we went to Corner Bistro. The first time our service was not very good. My husband's soup came after our meal was served and that was only because we kept asking the waitress about it. We decided to give it another chance. Similar service. They are clearly understaffed. My husband had to go track down someone to come seat us and another family that was waiting. Our food took a very long time and the restaurant was not busy so it could not have been a backup in the kitchen. And our waiter seemed uninterested. This is a service business. Be overly attentive to your customers! We will not be going back for a third time!
KBut
I hate writing negative reviews but this was very subpar. We had a 7pm reservation, were sat at a table for 15 minutes and still no one had come over. Once our server did appear, there were no apologies or greetings and he dropped a specials card that would've been useful prior to us reviewing the main menu. We decided to ask to be reseated since we were next to an extremely loud couple doing work on a laptop and were unhappy with our server. We were comped first round drinks for the trouble and our new server was fantastic. We opted to sit in the front bar area since it was very lively in the other section. We started with the arugula grain salad which was great. I went with the filet mignon and my husband opted for the truffle chicken. The filet was obviously less than 6oz as advertised and extremely overcooked. The frites were overly salted and underwhelming. My husband enjoyed his meal but said the chicken was dry and the sauce subpar. Drinks were good but that's about it. I can't see this place lasting long if they're understaffed but continue to take reservations beyond their capacity. In addition, I was expecting a much more upscale vibe considering their menu items & website. We won't be returning.
AnnieO
Food was very good, and service was great. I hope business picks up for them, it wasn't very crowded. The only thing that was strange was I did not receive my receipt via Toast app. I emailed the restaurant, requesting it for expensing purposes. Hopefully they'll get back to me.
Jonathan
There was nothing overtly bad about the place but I expected more from the service and food given the vibe their website and menu are trying to portray. The food was okay, but nothing to write home about. The server was polite but was hard to hear and never came back after the initial round of drinks and food order until we got our check. Even after the check they never returned to take our payment. I would understand if there was a large crowd but there was only a few other tables and one person at the bar. Again there was nothing egregious - just an okay experience. Unfortunately it's tough to survive long-term with "just okay" for the prices on their menu and juxtaposed to a ton of more options in the area.
TerriW
Nice atmosphere & brunch menu had several options. Food was just average though, nothing special. What was strange is that we wrote down a $12 tip on our receipt & I kept a copy. However the amount charged to my card was a $13.50 tip. Not a big difference; however, it was annoying to have the server give themselves a bigger tip than we had indicated. Our tip was over 20% of the total bill with taxes. We weren't demanding or difficult.
DMT111
This was my first visit since Evanston Corner Bistro took over from formerly Thomas & Dutch and I must say that they hit a home run! I love the new decor and layout and had a wonderful time dining there and celebrating my friend's 90th birthday. We both enjoyed a delicious brunch (Eggs Benedict with homemade bisquit and Avocado & Goat cheese breakfast sandwich with a fried egg) The food was served quickly, looked great and tasted even better. The portions are generous and provide excellent value for money. We were equally delighted with our server and the friendly and welcoming hostess. I will definitely be back soon to try their lunch and dinner menu. This is a great new dining venue in the heart of Evanston!
JillS
Hidden gem! This is a great spot for consistently good food and friendly wait staff. Their dry rubbed wings and Caesar salad are one of the best! Make sure to sample their pickled items and maraschino cherries. Great location, ambiance is modern and friendly.
lrb64
We were not thrilled with our experience at Evanston Corner Bistro. Food was expensive and only OK. Service was friendly but slow and not very attentive. We had 8 people and they seated us in a place where the light fixtures hung very low. A couple of the guys hit theirs heads in the fixtures, one got a cut above his eye brow. It was not great. We will not go back.
Evanston Corner Bistro is a hidden gem. The food is delicious and high quality. The service is consistently impeccable. Sky is a server and complements the food, atmosphere and vibe to the nth degree. In short, this is a wonderful restaurant with phenomenal service.
GigiS
Terrible service!!!! Servers need intense training. We ordered a bottle of wine and she brought us 3 times wrong bottle of wine . We ordered steak frites medium rare but it came out well done. We asked for port after dinner drinks if they have any but She didn't know what port is . Her answer was hilarious . . She answered us as “ we don't have any portable charger” With this kind of food and service I don't think this place will last long .
Great new spot with interesting menu. Wonderful cocktails and wine choices as well. Prices are great too compared to many other Evanston restaurants that think they are in the city, not the suburbs. Check it out!
MJWMJW
Unfortunately the brunch was not ok. The food was lukewarm and over salted. The Bloody Mary seemed was doused with hot sauce. The host was a bit creepy y calling older women ‘babe'. Going to try Frida across the street
PhilG
We were seated and served pleasantly and promptly for our Thanksgiving dinner. The table we were given in order to accommodate one wheelchair would have been a bit cramped for four but was too small for five. We ordered from the prix fixe menu which read deliciously. The quality of the meals, however, did not stand up to the prose of the menu. because of the crowding at the table, we were forced to eat from plates teetering on the edge of the table, and the discomfort took away from the overall experience. Our waiter was excellent, but as seems to be standard for most restaurants at peak times, our check arrived only after we were able to catch the waiter's eye, who obviously had finished with us in order to focus on new arrivals. I will give the restaurant another chance in non-peak time before I fully form an opinion.
The food was mediocre. We went for brunch and the bacon was SO dry. When I broke off a piece, it looks like a puff of dust came out of it... gross. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone - the price is not worth it.
LisaL
Excellent food - might have been the best chicken breast I've ever had. Loved the confit potatoes and the fries. Great beverage selection. Loved our waiter. My only complaint is that we were seated near the door next to the window - it was cold and felt like we were in a diner, not the actual restaurant. My recommendation is that they just put a hi-top there and not seat dinner patrons in that area.
This was the second time we went to Corner Bistro. The first time our service was not very good. My husband's soup came after our meal was served and that was only because we kept asking the waitress about it. We decided to give it another chance. Similar service. They are clearly understaffed. My husband had to go track down someone to come seat us and another family that was waiting. Our food took a very long time and the restaurant was not busy so it could not have been a backup in the kitchen. And our waiter seemed uninterested. This is a service business. Be overly attentive to your customers! We will not be going back for a third time!
I hate writing negative reviews but this was very subpar. We had a 7pm reservation, were sat at a table for 15 minutes and still no one had come over. Once our server did appear, there were no apologies or greetings and he dropped a specials card that would've been useful prior to us reviewing the main menu. We decided to ask to be reseated since we were next to an extremely loud couple doing work on a laptop and were unhappy with our server. We were comped first round drinks for the trouble and our new server was fantastic. We opted to sit in the front bar area since it was very lively in the other section. We started with the arugula grain salad which was great. I went with the filet mignon and my husband opted for the truffle chicken. The filet was obviously less than 6oz as advertised and extremely overcooked. The frites were overly salted and underwhelming. My husband enjoyed his meal but said the chicken was dry and the sauce subpar. Drinks were good but that's about it. I can't see this place lasting long if they're understaffed but continue to take reservations beyond their capacity. In addition, I was expecting a much more upscale vibe considering their menu items & website. We won't be returning.
Food was very good, and service was great. I hope business picks up for them, it wasn't very crowded. The only thing that was strange was I did not receive my receipt via Toast app. I emailed the restaurant, requesting it for expensing purposes. Hopefully they'll get back to me.
There was nothing overtly bad about the place but I expected more from the service and food given the vibe their website and menu are trying to portray. The food was okay, but nothing to write home about. The server was polite but was hard to hear and never came back after the initial round of drinks and food order until we got our check. Even after the check they never returned to take our payment. I would understand if there was a large crowd but there was only a few other tables and one person at the bar. Again there was nothing egregious - just an okay experience. Unfortunately it's tough to survive long-term with "just okay" for the prices on their menu and juxtaposed to a ton of more options in the area.
Nice atmosphere & brunch menu had several options. Food was just average though, nothing special. What was strange is that we wrote down a $12 tip on our receipt & I kept a copy. However the amount charged to my card was a $13.50 tip. Not a big difference; however, it was annoying to have the server give themselves a bigger tip than we had indicated. Our tip was over 20% of the total bill with taxes. We weren't demanding or difficult.
This was my first visit since Evanston Corner Bistro took over from formerly Thomas & Dutch and I must say that they hit a home run! I love the new decor and layout and had a wonderful time dining there and celebrating my friend's 90th birthday. We both enjoyed a delicious brunch (Eggs Benedict with homemade bisquit and Avocado & Goat cheese breakfast sandwich with a fried egg) The food was served quickly, looked great and tasted even better. The portions are generous and provide excellent value for money. We were equally delighted with our server and the friendly and welcoming hostess. I will definitely be back soon to try their lunch and dinner menu. This is a great new dining venue in the heart of Evanston!
Hidden gem! This is a great spot for consistently good food and friendly wait staff. Their dry rubbed wings and Caesar salad are one of the best! Make sure to sample their pickled items and maraschino cherries. Great location, ambiance is modern and friendly.
We were not thrilled with our experience at Evanston Corner Bistro. Food was expensive and only OK. Service was friendly but slow and not very attentive. We had 8 people and they seated us in a place where the light fixtures hung very low. A couple of the guys hit theirs heads in the fixtures, one got a cut above his eye brow. It was not great. We will not go back.
Evanston Corner Bistro is a hidden gem. The food is delicious and high quality. The service is consistently impeccable. Sky is a server and complements the food, atmosphere and vibe to the nth degree. In short, this is a wonderful restaurant with phenomenal service.
Terrible service!!!! Servers need intense training. We ordered a bottle of wine and she brought us 3 times wrong bottle of wine . We ordered steak frites medium rare but it came out well done. We asked for port after dinner drinks if they have any but She didn't know what port is . Her answer was hilarious . . She answered us as “ we don't have any portable charger” With this kind of food and service I don't think this place will last long .
Restaurantji Recommends
Great new spot with interesting menu. Wonderful cocktails and wine choices as well. Prices are great too compared to many other Evanston restaurants that think they are in the city, not the suburbs. Check it out!
Unfortunately the brunch was not ok. The food was lukewarm and over salted. The Bloody Mary seemed was doused with hot sauce. The host was a bit creepy y calling older women ‘babe'. Going to try Frida across the street
We were seated and served pleasantly and promptly for our Thanksgiving dinner. The table we were given in order to accommodate one wheelchair would have been a bit cramped for four but was too small for five. We ordered from the prix fixe menu which read deliciously. The quality of the meals, however, did not stand up to the prose of the menu. because of the crowding at the table, we were forced to eat from plates teetering on the edge of the table, and the discomfort took away from the overall experience. Our waiter was excellent, but as seems to be standard for most restaurants at peak times, our check arrived only after we were able to catch the waiter's eye, who obviously had finished with us in order to focus on new arrivals. I will give the restaurant another chance in non-peak time before I fully form an opinion.
The food was mediocre. We went for brunch and the bacon was SO dry. When I broke off a piece, it looks like a puff of dust came out of it... gross. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone - the price is not worth it.
Excellent food - might have been the best chicken breast I've ever had. Loved the confit potatoes and the fries. Great beverage selection. Loved our waiter. My only complaint is that we were seated near the door next to the window - it was cold and felt like we were in a diner, not the actual restaurant. My recommendation is that they just put a hi-top there and not seat dinner patrons in that area.