Bistro 110   

I have had two luncheons on visits to Chicago at Bistro 110. I can't understand the low ratings I've just read. We had a delicious meal, a delightful server, and the pace of the meal was just right.

I took some friends here for Sunday brunch as the location is fantastic and the reviews appeared to be good. We had a reservation so there was no wait for a table. The brunch started out well with delicious bloody marys. However, after this the service went completely downhill. A long wait for the wrong starter, followed by a 1 hour wait for the main courses, which were a huge disspointment. My voodoo benedict may have been good had it been warm. It tasted like it had been sitting around for a while. Then 30mins for the bill to come and to add insult to injury we had been overcharged for certain items. I have rated it fair as it could have just been that the overcrowding slowed things up, however, I myself will not be returning. There are definately better value places in Chicago.

A colleague and I dined here after work last night and were really under whelmed by Bistro 110. We sat in the bar where we were subjected to seeing an employee of the restaurant arrested by the police. We don't know the details of why he was arrested and we didn't ask. We do however wonder why, given he was clearly a member of the kitchen staff judging by his appearance, why the goings on had to take place in the middle of the restaurant! The staff where all snickering, including both floor managers who continued to joke with their staff after the man had been handcuffed and escorted out of the restaurant under what I would consider humiliating circumstances. Surely any issues of this nature could have been dealt with "back of house" and in a professional manner. Given we were sat by the door we were also subjected to at least 3 waiters - who were "guarding" the front door - conversations and gossip about the incident while it was taking place. A really unpleasant way to spend an evening!! As for our meal - the mussels were nice but the ravioli was under done - not al dente - underdone. My friend ordered one of the specials of the house - the guinea hen - and asked our waiter how the dish was prepared. He was told it was served with garden vegetables. What he got was a hen served in BROTH of vegetables which had he been told originally that was how it was prepared he would have ordered something else. Oh and to top it all off half way through our entree the host decided to carpet sweep under our feet!!!! For a Thursday night in downtown Chicago one doesn't expect unprofessional, ignorant and rude staff. Probably one of the worst dining experiences ever.