etc.
etc. — honest american in Loop, where the salmon is worth ordering. Sleek and intentional, with the aesthetic dialed in. There's real intention behind the cocktail list. Kaaron Johnson: "The avo was fresh and luscious, and those chili flakes on top? A spicy little wink" [$$]
What 213 diners keep saying
What 213 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“I came here for an early dinner. This place is down the street from me and I've been dying to check it out. I came solo so I sat at the bar. The setup is not; not super big but that tables are spaced out so you don't feel cramped. The bartender was attentive and make great drink recommendations. I started with a whiskey sour and for the main course I went with their burger. The sour was solid, and that burger was real good. It was packed with meat and several toppings, so I recommend eating it there (instead of takeout) so the bun doesn't get too soggy I washed this down with an espresso martini, but here's the thing: it's the first time I've had one made with whiskey. When I ordered it after my wishes sour, the bartender suggested that since I started with whiskey. I'm glad I went with his recommendation because that sucker was FIRE. Highly recommend this place”

“I missed the food but was absolutely what I needed Music by Craig Elliot made the vibe. Good people good energy. Brunch day party type”

“It’s a beautiful, modern, and cozy place with delicious food, a DJ, and very friendly staff. They have a couple of TVs, and when one of the staff noticed we were watching a soccer match on our phone, he kindly offered to put it on the TV for us. That gesture was amazing—he approached us on his own and really tried to make it happen. The game involved a Turkish team and required additional digital support, but even though it didn’t fully work out, we truly appreciated the effort he made.”

“Where do I start? 10s across the board. This place was a whole vibe. From the moment we walked in, we were instantly greeted. First impression beautiful, spacious, and chic decor. We were seated right away, which was a plus. Our waitress was super sweet and helped us decide on drinks and food. The espresso martini was absolutely delicious. I’m very picky about my pancakes, but no complaints here. They were perfect even with nothing on them. I also had the steak and eggs with a salad, and the portions were more than enough. The DJ was jamming and I honestly didn’t want to leave. I will definitely be back soon. Plus, they are part of the inKind rewards program. Highly recommend.Where do I start? 10s across the board. This place was a whole vibe. From the moment we walked in, we were instantly greeted. First impression beautiful, spacious, and chic decor. We were seated right away, which was a plus. Our waitress was super sweet and helped us decide on drinks and food. The espresso martini was absolutely delicious. I’m very picky about my pancakes, but no complaints here. They were perfect even with nothing on them. I also had the steak and eggs with a salad, and the portions were more than enough. The DJ was jamming and I honestly didn’t want to leave. I will definitely be back soon. Plus, they are part of the inKind rewards program. Highly recommend.”

“This place is INCREDIBLE! The food, the staff, the ambiance - everything was on-point. We had dinner here for my Sister's birthday, and the staff did everything they could to make her feel celebrated. We had the deviled eggs, the burger, the cajun pasta, red snapper, and everything was done sooo good, but the real winning dish were the Oxtails and Grits. SO tender, and flavorful, you have to try them! If you're a fan of whiskey, the old fashioned here is also worth the trip! Planning to go back soon for brunch. Please support this place!”

“ETC Chicago was a great experience from start to finish. The food came out fast, everything was fresh, and the flavors were on point. What really stood out though was the service. Syeda H took care of our table and she was excellent the whole night. She was attentive without hovering, knew the menu well, and checked on us at the right times to make sure we had everything we needed. You can tell she actually cares about the guests. I’d definitely come back and would ask for her again.”

“This cajun pasta was ok. I was expecting spaghetti noodle nor the dark meat. However the Dj, staff, and the drinks were great.”

“Went on a non busy Saturday night. The ambiance of the entire space was great. First downer was the oxtail wasn’t available; we were told it just sold out (this was extremely disappointing for a restaurant that only has a few main dishes) You would think the smaller menu, has its advantages with what’s in stock, however this can be remedied by adding 1-2 more items on the menu as once an item it out you feel your options are limited. Tip for the owners: since the prices of everything is going up; maybe move the oxtail and grits to a ‘seasonal’ section or offer another type of meat and grits dish(short rib 👀👀) We wanted to leave after we heard the ox tails were out but didn’t want to go to the trouble of searching for another spot. I ordered the sirloin steak dinner. It was decent but not worth $50. Especially since the oxtail dinner was $42 and usually a more expensive cut of meat. Stead dinner would have been clutch at a price of $37 or if kept at $50 add more veggies or a more prominent sauce. I think mine was cooked in a mushroom sauce which I don’t know if it was in the steak but the steak was browned, so that may be due to the mushroom sauce it was cooked in but no sauce was on the plate. The mashed potatoes were ok, would have been better if it didn’t spend so much time under the heat lamp and needed a bit more flavor. The mashed wasn’t bad, just could have been better with a lil more flavor. My other pain point was the $15 glass of wine. Most places that have a $15 glass you get somewhat of a decent amount; unfortunately that wasn’t the case here. $12 would have been a better price point. Overall it was a good experience, atmosphere, would have been a better value if the prices weren’t as high or the food taste matched the current price. I seen a few reviews that mentioned their happy our is great. I’m willing to try the happy hour menu in the future. TLDR: good restaurant some menu items quality may not justify the prices. This place can add value but expanding the menu by 1-2 items. Service was great; no long wait times for anything. On a scale of 1-5 if I’d return (5 being want to go back soon) I’d give it a 3. Would I tell other people to stay away? No I’d recommend trying it out; just check out the menu to temper yourself before going.”

“I was extremely excited to visit here to support a black owned business but I think I will not return. The music is far too loud for a Sunday morning brunch. I could not hear the person sitting next to me. The food was underwhelming and lacking flavor. We were a party of 6, one person received their food and then the remaining orders arrived 15 minutes later. I have never had that happen anywhere. The lemon pancakes were just ok.My sister had a breakfast bowl that was lacking any substance.The food portions were small for the price and I and my guests left disappointed. If you want repeat customers, I think the food needs to be worth coming out for.”

“My friend and I dined at Etc and unfortunately, my experience didn’t live up to expectations. I originally came in excited to try the oxtails and grits I saw featured on TikTok, along with their signature drinks. However, I was told they were sold out for the night. I then asked about the whole red snapper, which also wasn’t available. At that point, the menu felt very limited, with only a few options left. My friend ordered an espresso martini, and it was very underwhelming—both in taste and presentation. It lacked the richness you expect and didn’t even have a basic garnish. We both ordered pasta (I added chicken). While the seasoning was actually good, the food itself was not hot. It was barely warm. When we sent it back, it seemed like it was just placed under a heat lamp rather than properly reheated, and it came back the same way. Service was also lacking. Our waitress didn’t check in on us throughout the meal, and overall there was little attention to the table. I was really looking forward to this experience, so it was disappointing on multiple levels. Between the unavailable menu items, lukewarm food, and lack of service, I don’t see myself returning.”
Sounds like your kind of place?
Star it — your hit list is where dinner decisions get made.
One email a month — new openings, hidden gems, and where locals are actually eating.
More American in Downtown & River North
See the ranking →In the same lane · American, mid-range
If it's packed, walk to…
More good rooms in Loop, minutes away.










