Penumbra Wine Bar Reviews

I liked Penumbra from the minute I was introduced to its colorful and thoroughly informative website. I love restaurants that turn their websites into Hollywood productions and display everything on the menu with pictures and descriptions, from appetizers to entrees to dessert. If everything tastes as good as it looks, I said to myself, I'm in for a very satisfying fine dining experience. It did and it was. Located at 3309 West Fullerton Avenue, in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, between Kedzie and Kimball, Penumbra Wine Bar is a Latin-inspired steakhouse and wine bar that also offers seafood, beer and cocktails. Open from 5 to 10 on Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 11 on Friday and Saturday and 5 to 9 on Sunday, it is classy, romantic, intimate and upscale. So the Three Amigos decided to see if it is as good as the pictures. We started with Shadow Shrimp, sauteed jumbo shrimp with the chef's special seasoning brushed with garlic butter; scallops seared in butter and served over roasted serrano avocado sauce and dolloped with house remoulade; and crispy jumbo lump crab cakes pan-fried and served over remoulade accompanied with a miniature house salad. For our entrees, we chose a 10-ounce ribeye steak rubbed in cracked black pepper with roasted potatoes and grilled vegetables' a 10-ounce New York strip steak rubbed with roasted garlic peppercorn with roasted potatoes and grilled vegetables and pan-seared salmon smothered in the chef's special caper butter reduction accompanied with roasted poblano potato puree and grilled asparagus. For dessert, we indulged in home-made vanilla flan with chocolate drizzle, New York-style cheesecake and chocolate lava cake with infused chocolate inside and topped with a raspberry Grand Mariner sauce. Yes, Penumbra Wine Bar is as good as advertised.

My wife, 2 teenaged boys and myself went here for a Mother's Day dinner. The boys each had steak, i had the chicken breast, and my wife had a salad. The boys also got mango mixers, less the alcohol, of course! Everything about this place was excellent...the food (taste and quality), ambience and service were all top notch. You can just tell they go the extra mile to make your experience great. My chicken and broasted potatoes were EXCELLENT, the boys reported their meals were excellent too....little to no fat on their steaks, which is unusual. My wife loved her salad, tho the couldn't finish it. For dessert, we got cheesecake and a lava cake to share....all good. Also, the complimentary potato/cilantro soup was excellent...we got a takeout so we could enjoy it at home. While price wasn't cheap, it's wasn't crazy expensive for relative fine dining... We recently ate similar meals at a nice place in Maui and for around the same total bill, give or take, Penumbra was much better. This is not the type of place we'd go to on a regular basis, but for special occasions, it checks all the boxes. So, in conclusion, we all concur Penumbra is an excellent restaurant all the way around and i highly recommend it.

On our last visit to Chicago, I searched for a less known, romantic restaurant and found this wonderful gem. The restaurant is owned by a chef who uses his Latin background as an influence on the fantastic steaks that he serves. I had the rib eye and it was fantastic, with wonderful spices and flavors. My husband and I split a desert of a chocolate lava cake. It was fantastic. Wine list is nice, but not huge. The service was wonderful and the ambiance is beautiful. Go for your next romantic get-away.

My friends and I were a little desperate. Our reservation at another restaurant in the same neighborhood had been lost. It was pouring rain, and we were on foot. Penumbra came to the rescue. We were greeted warmly, brought a tasty corn chowder amuse bouche and it just kept on going great from that point on. We had the chartoucerie and crab cake appetizers, yum! I had the ribeye steak, which was fantastic. Flan for dessert topped everything off. Also, we had an excellent Tempranillo wine at a very good price. Our server was very helpful with choices, and the owner was very welcoming and attentive as well. I hope this place does well. Highly recommended!

Three of ate here for dinner. We had ceviche and scallops for appetizers, salmon, and two kinds of shrimp for entrees, an Argentine white wine, and a warm, gooey flourless chocolate cake that we shared for dessert. All was perfectly prepared, I hate it when seafood is over cooked. Shrimp and scallops were succulent and fresh. Nice seasonings. We ordered seafood, but it is not a "seafood restaurant"' they serve other typical steak and chicken entrees too. We just like seafood. A little dark inside, I would turn up the lights just a bit. Prices were very reasonable, which you might expect for not being immediately downtown. So many places to eat in Chicago, my "foodie" son said he would return to this one, and so would I. A wine bar, so pretty good wine selection.

My husband and I, our son and son's girlfriend ate here last night. EVERY SINGLE DISH we ordered was really exceptional. we ordered the charcuterie board, bocaditos and jalapeno shrimp as apps. The bocaditos are the most amazing quesadilla I've ever had. Stuffed with peppers and adorned with avocado cream...sooooo delish. The shrimp were wonderfully seasoned and the pineapple salsa that came with it was the perfect compliment. The charcuterie board had an awesome selection of different meats and cheeses and came with a wonderfully grilled bread. I ordered the salmon which was cooked perfectly. My husband ordered the flat iron steak, my son ordered the NY strip and my son's girlfriend ordered the ribeye. Each steak was cooked exactly as requested. Each dish came with poblano mashed potates YUM!. We had the most amazing warm chocolate cake for dessert! The had a great cocktail selection and ample wine list. I can't say enough about our server, Sebastian. He was perfect in every way. Spot on with his recommendations, attention to detail and personality. He really knows how to treat clients. We can't wait to come back. The entire evening was a really wonderful experience. We can't wait to come back, what a delightful find!!!

We ate dinner here with two other couples on a Saturday night. On the plus side, the restaurant is very affordable. That is about the only plus. In a city full of delicious places to eat, I would skip this one. Service, while polite, was amateur. For instance: we were presented a different bottle of wine than the one ordered. Then, when splitting wine for 6 guests at our party, the server ran out on glass #5. Her suggested remedies were to create a sixth glass by pouring some out of the other five, or to order a second bottle. We did not make a scene, but that is completely amateur: if the server messes up the wine pours, glass #6 should be on the house. Similarly, despite a reservation on the early side, they were out of one entree. The atmosphere is poor. It feels like a high school prom: a gym-like ceiling with gauzy curtains and twinkly lights everywhere to hide the ugly. Furniture felt no nicer than an Applebee's. Our table, positioned immediately in front of the bathrooms and separated from them by one of the gauzy curtains, smelled like bathroom cleaner throughout the meal. The meal was disappointing. We started with a cheese and charcuterie board; it felt as if they had run to Target and purchased some some cheddar, pepper jack, and salami. The cheese and meat was not restaurant-grade; most of the cheese tasted like rubber. My main was the NY strip; it was cooked properly, but I had to spit out a few pieces due to gristle. The vegetables with which it was served were oily, and the mashed potatoes (served in a heart shape) were fine, but did not have the promised spice from pablano pepper. Nice people, trying hard, but I cannot recommend this place in a city, and neighborhood (Logan Sq), full of fantastic places to eat.

Met friends last night, for a birthday dinner, and I was immediately impressed with the decor. You walk in to the lounge area, which has ample space to sit at the bar, or they offer more private seating areas as well. Once our entire party arrived, they walked us to the backroom, which had an elegance that I wasn't expecting. Tables are spaced out amongst the center of the room, for a normal dining setting, as well as couch areas along the walls. The couch areas are very romantic, with sheer curtains hanging from the ceiling, to offer just the right amount of privacy. We ordered crab cakes and creole jalapeño shrimp as appetizers, and while both were very good, the creole jalapeño shrimp is a must order (they were delicious). The eight of us dining ordered several different entrees, and although each of us couldn't stop raving about who's was better, I personally think mine was the best. I ordered the Ribeye rubbed with cracked black peppercorn, and not only was it one of the most tenders steaks I have ever had, it had the perfect amount of char along the edges. As a side, the poblano mashed potatoes are another must order. They only offer two deserts, so we ordered both the molten brandy truffle, and the Penumbra ice cream (homemade wine & rum raison ice cream topped with a light caramel drizzle). The ice cream was out of this world! Overall, the entire meal was phenomenal; we will definitely go back! Pros: - DELICIOUS FOOD - Nice drink selection - Elegant ambiance/decor - Nice staff/great service Cons: - The only con I can list is that there is no designated parking, but we did not have any issues finding street/meter parking on a Saturday night.

We had a family Father’s Day dinner at Penumbra and were very impressed with the food, wine, service and value for our experience. The salads were great, as was my salmon. Both my husband and son had the steak and loved it. It is romantic and has privacy dining seating for couples, if desired. Highly recommended.

Superlatives all apply here!!! Decor is nice (dark and romantic with plenty of shadows as the name implies) and service was courteous and informative; no annoying hovering but always there when you need something. :) Playlist is refreshingly sensitive -- no 60s/70s/80s oldies for misplaced nostalgia. Instead, Nuevo Flamenco (a la Ottmar Liebert), Bossa Nova, some Latin Jazz... You can still have a conversation with your dinner partner! But the reasons to come here (plural on purpose) are the food and the drinks: cocktails are interesting and tasty variations -- I've only seen these here -- on stuff you could otherwise get many other places, like an old fashioned with a floater of rosé for a bit of summery astringency, or a mojito with coconut milk for a crisp creaminess (if that isn't a contradiction in terms). We were given an amuse-bouche of corn-courgette soup that had a tiny bit of jalapeño/serrano kick to counterbalance the natural sweetness of the corn. Delicious. Both the scallop and crab cake appetizers were perfectly cooked, which would also characterize the main courses. Always a balance between sweet and spicy and savory/umami. Creole jalapeño shrimp were outstanding. My salmon was *perfectly* cooked: crunchy pan-grilled crust with the middle still pink and moist and juicy. Jamie Oliver would approve. Luxurious caper butter sauce. Thoughtful riffs on potatoes and veggies as partners on each plate. We liked everything so much we were tempted into ordering the flan at the end even though we knew it had already been a superb meal. The flan was rich and ultra dense and not a bit was left on the plate. Definitely coming back and telling friends to check Penumbra out. We had second rounds of cocktails (different and again delicious) but the wine list is pretty extensive for by-the-glass choices and that will be a focus next time.

If you visit Chicago put this restaurant on your list. Located in the Logan Square area well worth the visit. Not a large restaurant but not small either plenty of room between the tables that it makes you feel like you are having dinner alone, great atmosphere. The food was outstanding, we ordered two appetizers and five different entrees. Everyone's dinner was tremendous. They have specialty drinks fused with different wines, very creative and excellent. The service was great and the owner came over to our table and she was great. A must !!!!!

Nice, but not what I had in mind when I wanted to have a Chicago steakhouse dinner on my holiday visit. Certainly stands apart from other commerce in Logan Square with a sophisticated and dimly lit interior. Tables were nicely spaced wide apart. As for food, it was lacking overall. Creole shrimp appetizer was delicious and quite ample for $17. Two of them could had made a very nice entree. However, the quality of meat in the rib eye steak entree was lacking as was the portion size. Tangy sauce atop the rib eye was very good but that only goes so far with a slender and slightly fatty piece of undistinguished meat. Included potato puree and salad were very good. Side order of "grilled" vegetables were good although not grilled. Negroni cocktail was well prepared. Server was pleasant but meek and uninformed. Overall, we were underwhelmed although appreciative of the local effort. As for our own expectations, we should had gone to a more pricey steakhouse, as Penumbra has a weak footing billed as a steakhouse.

Let's begin with the positive. The food is excellent. We were there on a Sunday evening. The three appetizers sampled were all delicious. I had the creole shrimp which had a perfect tang especially when combined with the sweet relish accompaniment. My wife had the crab cakes. My wife and daughter raved about them. The other member of our party had the scallop appetizer. Again very good. All and all I would give the food a five star rating. Now for the ambiance. Music was playing, which seems ubiquitous these days, the volume was tolerable. An annoyance but you could carry on a conversation easily. The second point regarding ambiance is the lighting. It is impossible to read a menu. The management apparently is aware of this issue as a flashlight was brought to the table without a request on our part.

The location did not look very promising, but the moment we entered this restaurant, we knew it might be special, and it was! The lady who greeted us seemed like a loving aunt. She brought us to a table with curtains separating us from the other diners. Each booth seemed to have these separators which made it quiet and cosy. From the small amuse of a tasty garlic soup, to beautiful drinks, to our delicious meal, everything was just right. The wait staff was very attentive, making us feel at home. This restaurant has only been open 8 or 9 months, but it is truly a treasure.

Beautiful restaurant with a bar up front and romantic restaurant in the back. Definitely a date place. It is a little on the dark side, but they have little flashlights for you, and can add lighting to your table. It is so quiet....it feels like you are alone even in a restaurant filled with people. You can tell this is a local establishment. Lots of love in this place, including the food! Menu notes which food contain dairy or gluten. I ordered the Harvest meal with chicken added. So delicious. My friend ate the salmon which was spectacular. The avocado crema with my dish was so tasty. Sebastian was our server and he was great. Wine list is substantial, although we did not have any. Great ambiance with excellent food. I highly recommend this place for a romantic date!!

When you enter the restaurant there's a bar area and then a large dining room, both with dim lighting (hence the name). There's also additional low seating on the side for more conversation - we had coffee and dessert there, which was fun. The owner is from Ecuador and was totally charming, as was all of the staff. We had wonderful Creole shrimp; several of us had well-prepared steaks; and there were beautiful grilled vegetables and also mashed potatoes with poblano peppers. Really a nice meal.

A proverbial hidden gem. Great steak at an even greater price. Perfectly cook medium rare. Perfect setting for a date or a group of friends. It’s refreshing to go to a restaurant where you can have a conversation and not sit elbow to elbow with other tables.

This restaurant was absolutely amazing. We are here visiting from St. Louis but we were treated like home. The woman who sat us(I believe may have also been the owner) was kind and generous. Our server Salvador was amazing, knowledgeable and made our anniversary perfect. The food was awesome and the atmosphere is perfect for a romantic evening. If you live here and haven't been then you are missing out! We will definitely come back when we visit! Also the bartender was awesome as well and made sure we enjoyed everything as we were leaving. Thanks again for making our night amazing.

Nice ambience & customer service Curtain-closed sitting. Cute bar setting Owner gave me a tour. Thks Date night spot to impress/romantical Fresh quality tasty food

Located on Fullerton Blvd.between Kedzie and Kimball,with available street parking(was free on sunday),in a building with other bussineses,it really carries it's name,it's dark,or romantic in there,but you can easily see everything in there.We were met at the door by the owner,she seemed relaxed,and flexible,we had arrived there before our reservation time,no problem ,she took us to our seats.Our server was Jonathan,like the other patrons have already mentioned,he was attentive,explained the menu to us,gave us recommendations when we requested.The food was fantastic,We enjoyed the poblano-potatoe soup,the creole jalapeno shrimp,the scallops,the ribeye steak,and the flan.

Wow this place is so much nicer inside than one would expect! Lovely bar area & cabana style tables in dining area. Great for a date night. Super empty on week nights, sadly, so hope they add a live band or other attractions so they can be a viable business. Food was Great & service was most enthusiastic from Laura who truly enjoys working there. Prices very reasonable for the food too. Loved the Salmon with wonderfully crispy seared skin moist inside & Liked the Creole Jalapeno Shrimp, but could have used much more spice & preferred if they kept Tails on for prettier presentation.

Lovely food and service in an intimate, quiet atmosphere. Small but elegant menu focusing on grilled meats and seafood, served with beautiful sauces that perfectly compliment the entree. I highly recommend the scallops and shrimp appetizers and the rum raisin ice cream. Service is attentive with a gentle touch. Large wine list and great signature cocktails. Menu is clearly marked with gluten and dairy ingredients and staff is helpful and knowledgeable about removing gluten ingredients. This is a great find in the Logan Square neighborhood, especially for those with a food intolerance.

Took a long cab ride out to try this place on our recent visit to Chicago and it was worth it. So romantic! The food, wine and service were top notch. Best part of the meal was dessert; the flan was out of this world! Never had it so good and I've had it in South America!

The food here is exceptional, truly. They have done a masterful job of creating unique tastes with their sauces. The menu is narrow but if the other entrees are anything close to the salmon I had, which was the BEST salmon dish I have ever had....ever. My son and I loved this place and I cannot imagine that we won't be going back at least one more time before he graduates this spring. I would highly recommend this. You'll be pleased.

Met friends last night, for a birthday dinner, and I was immediately impressed with the decor. You walk in to the lounge area, which has ample space to sit at the bar, or they offer more private seating areas as well. Once our entire party arrived, they walked us to the backroom, which had an elegance that I wasn't expecting. Tables are spaced out amongst the center of the room, for a normal dining setting, as well as couch areas along the walls. The couch areas are very romantic, with sheer curtains hanging from the ceiling, to offer just the right amount of privacy. We ordered crab cakes and creole jalapeno shrimp as appetizers, and while both were very good, the creole jalapeno shrimp is a must order (they were delicious). The eight of us dining ordered several different entrees, and although each of us couldn't stop raving about who's was better, I personally think mine was the best. I ordered the Ribeye rubbed with cracked black peppercorn, and not only was it one of the most tenders steaks I have ever had, it had the perfect amount of char along the edges. As a side, the poblano mashed potatoes are another must order. They only offer two deserts, so we ordered both the molten brandy truffle, and the Penumbra ice cream (homemade wine & rum raison ice cream topped with a light caramel drizzle). The ice cream was out of this world! Overall, the entire meal was phenomenal; we will definitely go back! Pros: - Elegant ambiance/decor - Nice staff/great service - DELICIOUS food Cons: - The only con I can list is that there is no designated parking, but we did not have any issues finding street/meter parking on a Saturday night.

Hospitality was great, from the bartender to the owner's son to the owner. Owner was gracious to give me a tour. It's a sleek, romantic setting with quality, delicious food and drinks. The right place to impress anyone.

This place is a gem. The drinks are well made, service is stellar and the food ...oh my. The menu is not overly large--which is a good thing. They stick to what they are good at, and don't mess it up by trying to offer too many dishes. Our meal started with a small cup of the best soup I've eaten in years. The appetizer was even better than the menu made it sound, and the entrees were good enough to be on the food network. If this place doesn't have a Michelin Star, it is only because they haven't gotten around to it yet. The atmosphere is perfect. Comfy yet upscale. Chic yet inviting. The family who owns and works the establishment are friendly, funny and make you feel like a dear friend visiting their home. The prices are extremely reasonable. I would recommend Penumbra for girls night, date night, friends get togethers, business dinners, etc.

Great service delicious food Great atmosphere great location easy to find parking, prices are ok. Highly recommend the revers are polite and friendly

We went to Penumbra for dinner on Saturday night --it was surprisingly empty when we arrived at 7 pm. The dining room in the back is decorated really well with candles, low lighting, good music --it was very romantic. The service was outstanding --everyone was welcoming and the owner stopped by 3 times over dinner to check on us. I had the salmon and my husband had the steak--both were very good with sides of mashed potatoes and vegetables. I would highly recommend this place -the service, food and care for the customers is excellent.

The facade is nondescript, but hides a low-lit, private atmosphere great for couples. Our server, Jonathan, was attentive and knowledgeable - bilingual too. Tasty food, reasonable prices. My only complaint was that my chocolate dessert was way too sweet. Not high-end luxury, but a good option if you are in the neighborhood.

Had a wonderful dinner here! They have a charming dimly lit dining room. The cocktails and the food were all yummy. The scallops appetizer was especially good (even for those of us that aren't big on seafood). The service was very friendly and attentive. Would definitely recommend to our friends. The restaurant name has "wine bar" in the name, but they have plenty of other libations on the menu. The beer list is decent but not extensive. We had tried to make a reservation for 4 for Saturday evening but we waited too long and they were booked up, so we took a chance and got a table as walk-ins, which was nice. But we saw several empty tables during our dinner, so maybe that means that the reservation system is messed up somehow or maybe their limitation is based on staff and not number of tables(...?)

The perfect place for a romantic date. We asked to sit at a booth table and it was the most perfect and intimate setting you could find. Everything we ordered was amazing. We ordered cold cuts and this paired with drinks was perfect. Highly recommend.