El Nandu - Chicago

The staff was visibly stressed and it's clear this place needs more waitstaff or to pause Grubhub at moments when the kitchen is getting overwhelmed. We were a group of 12 and had to wait an hour to even get a menu- drinkless. Literally had to chase waitstaff around like a beggar! The worst part of this visit was the owner- she literally looked annoyed at every turn, every request, and it took another hour before we could get our food ordered (again met with her snarky comments the entire painful time as she struggled by the bar). If she was at all nice about anything we could have felt better about the experience- but she literally felt entitled to our money and looked irritated every time we asked for a drink or to order food! At the hour and a half mark I got up to the bar and literally begged someone to take our food order bc we had left the kids with sitters to have a relaxing night out. Took over an hour to get drinks- we got there at 7 and left at 10:30 and not because we were lingering with drinks in hand enjoying the evening. We would have ordered more drinks if someone could have come by the table and we didn't have to get up to order them. Food came without utensils, empanadas came without chimichurri even though we asked for some like 5 times! It came out when everyone finished with the empanadas. We felt like things were thrown at us just to have something on the table. 1,000$ later, and one mediocre extremely long meal later, we got out of there with the owner still stressed and snarky, even though we were nice and didn't complain once, trying to be positive. This may be better suited as a date night out rather than a night with a big group. Also if the owner had been kinder- this review would probably not have been written. But we literally felt like by being there ordering, we were ruining her night and we could not have been a friendlier, more understanding group. Advice: Up the staff, kill the Grubhub if it's busy, and keep the owner in the back managing the books and not waiting on tables! Her irritated looks and comments are the only thing that I truly remember about the night. The waiter tried his best and was the only friendly face there- thank goodness for him!

Visiting from out of town and stumbled upon this restaurant as we were in the area. Good food although those around us (larger parties who ordered after us) were served before us. Drinks were a hit and loved all the decor. Please remember to order dessert!Food: 5/5

El Ñandu is my favorite Argentinian restaurant. The beautiful, artsy space and amazing empanadas, churrasco encebollado, flan, sangria and great service...I've been going to El Ñandú for years and it is always consistently good. They even have live music on the weekends! A very quaint, cozy place with phenomenal food make this the BEST Argentinian restaurant in Chicago. Yum, yum, yum. ?

Food was delicious anddefine! Cab house wine is devine!Food: 5/5

Churrasco was delicious, tender, and juicy. Service was good, had their cheese cake, also yummy.Food: 5/5