I had just scored an internship job and was feeling great, so I decided to celebrate with a little drink next door. Well, a little $10 drink, but there you go. When I walked into the Martini Ranch, there was just one other customer and two workers. Not a huge food selection, but the quesadilla was really good and filling. The martini list is huge! I couldn't decide what I wanted, but finally settled with a chocolate-cherry concoction. It definitely knocked me on my ass and I thank the bartender for not laughing too much when I could barely form words from just one drink. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone who likes a good martini.
Review Source:Long time fan of this place. I've seen it go through a lot of high and low times. The martini selection is big, but as another reviewer stated, it's vodka-heavy.
The place has definitely evolved through the years, but it's outlived countless bars and clubs that competed with it in the river north area. I think the only place that may compete with it for longevity in that area is Spy Bar.
I hope the place makes a revival, it's usually a great late night/afterhours place.
Went there last year for the first time. Bought two Martinis. Payed with my card. Later I try to buy something to eat at potbellys and my card gets denied. I called Chase. Three two hundred dollar transactions to my card from Martini Ranch.. That is $600 dollars. The grungy bartender thought I was stupid or something but luckily Chase knows what it's doing. I would suggests that if you ever go there pay with cash....
Review Source:Martini Ranch happens to be right between my work and the train... some times its a necessary evil after a hectic work week.
$5 mango martinis were the special that Friday night, just okay, but they have lots of other options! $2 sliders and you got three which is unheard of.
There were tables available the whole time we were there though the atmosphere was still very fun and lively.
This is no longer directly on my way home from work so I won't be stopping by, but if you work at 600 W Chicago or anywhere in the vicinity Martini Ranch is good for a cheap drink and a quick snack.
Not too much to say about this place that would be positive. It's small. The drinks are overpriced and they do not taste good. The service is slow. The ladies bathroom makes me feel like I'm at some biker bar about to get mugged in there. Nasty. Basically thats all.
I know a few years ago it used to be a good spot to hang out with the industry crowd and good DJs. But not anymore, I guess.
Chicken quesadilla with ranch dressing - ORDER IT!
I approve of the food here... if you want a big yummy quesadilla that requires a takeaway box and costs less than $8, this is definitely the place for it.
Three stars because the service is so slow, though - when I came here, there was one waitress handling the tables and she informed me that my quesadilla would take a bit longer because a table next to me had just ordered food as well. Apparently they can only make one quesadilla at a time.
This place is right off the Chicago/Franklin brown line stop. I'd come here with friends after work or to grab a quick bite if I realized my fridge was empty, but that's about it. Definitely not a good date place - too dive-y.
Thai Peanut quesadilla thingy, YUM. Â LIke SUPER duper yum.
Tons of yummy martinis that they can make as a drink "on the rocks", which is YUM. Â Like I said.
Casey was the bartender the night we went, and she was really awesome. Â My boyfriend remarked "she is the nicest bartender I've ever seen", and that is saying a lot since he goes to A LOT of bars.
They also have a super cool dance floor area in the back that looks like something you'd find on the moon. Â You'd have to see it to know what I mean. Â I think I will have to visit later in the evening to see what that is all about.
We will be back!!!
Great music, weird configuration. There was plenty of unused space in the back. Although we may have gone on an off night since it was the night before Halloween.
Standard drinks, kinda divy, mixed crowd.
As others have mentioned, the ladies room is a minus. Good place for dancing though!
I miss the old days of when Tuesday nights were the night to come to Martini Ranch.
Ah, the good old days of showing up around 2am & partying it up til 5am with everyone else who came out for an industry night full of some of the banginest and jackiest house music.
I miss those days, but times have changed, and so has the vibe at Martini Ranch. :(
I've been there different days of the week, and I must be honest, I was a lil dissapointed. It no longer gets packed, some of the DJ's are decent, and that awesome atmosphere that brought so much life into this long and narrow venue has kinda faded away.
I'll go there to visit one of the bartenders that I know, but that's pretty much it. Some nights, they do old school nights, so if you're into that, you might wanna check it out, have some drinks, and maybe get something from their menu, since the kitchen is open super late.
Hopefully, somebody can get me up to date on which night is the best night or which promoter has been consistantly bringing in some serious talent--I guess I'll have to wait and see :/
Had this been a few years ago, I would have given Martini Ranch 5 stars, but, unfortunately, right now I can't. If I give Martini Ranch anything more than two stars I'd be lying to myself, Martini Ranch, and fellow Yelpers.
Holla!!!â„¢
I went here with coworkers for after work drinks, in the middle of the week, and it was a terrible experience.
There was only 1 person working the entire bar, which I know was abnormal as I heard the normal wait staff broke her leg earlier, but they should have found a replacement. Â
We also ordered food, but that was a miserable experience too. We would order something only for him to come back 5 mins later and say they didn't have that. Â He did this with about 5 different dishes. Â I ordered mozzarella sticks which took 20 mins to come out, and then he gave it to the wrong person, who ate it, so I had to wait 20 more mins for mine to come out. Â
Overall, totally not worth it, not even just to get a drink nearby after a bad day's work.
Went here for Halloween.. The place was pretty decent.. Place and atmosphere looked nice.. Very disappointed with the music there.. I was hoping for some good house music as everyone had reviewed about the place on Yelp, but to my disappointment, they played typical "shake your underage booty" music that I could of heard anywhere else.
The only thing bringing me back was the Blue M**her F**ker that i ordered that night.. bartender hit the spot with the mix... I'll maybe give this try again if they weren't so shady about the cover.
P.s.- the girls bathroom is disgusting... there's only one stall so there was a line out the door for a cramped stall. Â Yuck.
Martini Ranch is cute. I've never been a house music fan, but I was bopping my head after a while. They almost got 4 stars...ALMOST.
Then I tried the Lemon Drop martini. Ohhhhh no. I've had a few of their other martinis and they were fine, but this one ended my drinking for the night. I hope I just got a bad glass and they don't always taste like that!
And apparently this place has a selective cover charge because I've never paid to get in. Hmmm.
Nothing to write home about ...
Having been here on a night when they ask if you are on the list I expect something phenomenal ...
Not the case!
I visited this place around 8PM on a Friday and ordered two different martini's ... One was their dirty martini with blue cheese olives ... Uckkk. I could have made a better martini at home with olives from Dominicks. Yes, Dominicks. I didn't even say Jewel, you catch my drift. Nothing special! The other was so blahhh I don't even remember what the name of it was. Regardless, I was bummed that this was the standard coming out of my "bar next door."
Despite the dislikes many people have of martini ranch being a "clubby" place, make sure you give Friday Happy Hour a try! Â Music's not too loud, the lights are still on, bar stools and tables are available. It's a nice, cozy, friendly atmosphere at the front bar...best of all, NO COVER!!!
Take in a few cold beers or martinis and enjoy with some awesome app's...BBQ Chicken, Thai Peanut, or Philly Quesadillas, chicken fingers, mini burgers or mini bbq chicken sandwiches are all great. Â I've only eaten them a few times in fear of having a heart attack at the bar, but the gravy fries are awesome.
We love Ana and will keep coming back on Fridays!!! Â
PS - I will agree with the comment about bad olives, you guys GOTTA fix this fast!!
Ok so I just recently started goin' out, I'm a bit of a shut in.
On FB a friend of mine got an invite here for the Pacquaio vs. Cotto fight, saying there was a $5 cover, I also called ahead to make sure. Â After looking this place up on Yelp and reading about a decent DJ with good house music I was excited about the night.
Alright we get there and guess what? The cover was bumped to $10 all of a sudden! Since we didn't have a plan B and the fight was just about to start we decide to pay the extra. Which I wouldn't have minded since there was a PPV Â fight but the dudes at the door were soooo rude I felt as if I were being robbed. Â And I also thought the red rope entrance was a bit much.
Ok so the place is packed the atmosphere is dark, and everyone is more dressed up than I expected...more clubby with the slutty dresses, hooker shoes, and guys with too much hair product & tight shirts. eweee...
We grab a menu and I spot the Sidecar Tini which my man orders and the Bartender takes the order walks away and doesnt comeback for another 10mins., only to tell us theyre out of Brandy, Â from reading the other reviews I can see this happens often, but we didn't get the free drink courtesy as other yelpers did. Â So she takes our substitue order and disappears...
She ended her shift without telling us and didnt even give the new bartender our order! we were pissed! So after the fight we went across the street to Bar Louie where our drinks were taken with a smile and made stiff!
Martini Ranch is one of my favorite night life spots in the city. Â It's great because you can listen and dance to some good house music and chill and eat at the same time. Â They usually have good drink and food specials. Â They have $3 domestic bottles and $1 personal pizzas which you can't beat for the price. Â I love their quesadillas especially the Thai Peanut, but try them all!
For all you Canadians this place serves Poutine!!!! Â It's actually called "Gravy Fries" on their menu, I actually just got back from Toronto and tried the Poutine from the Blue Chip Truck and I'd have to say that the Poutine at Martini Ranch comes close. Â The only thing is that they use fried cheese curds instead of fresh melted cheese curds, but still very yummy!
aaaah, martinis!!! Â I am a martini fan and can only drink them in certain atmospheres, not sure why. For some reason, drinking a martini in a sports bar doesn't feel right, therefore every now and then I designate a martini night for my friends and I to enjoy. Our martini night was last saturday at Martini ranch, and it was great. Every martini I had was DELISH!!! Â We also had some appetizers, chicken fingers were good, not dry, we had mozzarella sticks, potato skins with salsa and some breaded raviolies stuffed with mexican cheese and jalepenos. All good to fill your tummy for a martini filled night. I should mention, Â appetizers were buy one, get one half off!
Should also mention, I am a House head and the house music at this place last saturday was so great. Couldn't keep my feet still!
5 words: eight dollar top shelf martinis!
This place is rockin' when it comes to a fun atmosphere. It's definitely more than I expected and more than I think most would expect from the outside decor. The bartenders are decent (though try to remain with the main bar by the entrance- they seem to have it together more).
I went to this lounge about 2 months ago, and it was a 10 dollar cover charge, and that was okay i guess.  The decor of the club was great! It was dark with nice artwork and candles. Unfortunately,This lounge was so small and  the music was terrible..Some sort of techno mix beats and it was loud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Its difficult to mingle with the terrible, loud music!!!!!! I had a chocolate martini, and it was terrible!!!!!
The crowd was classy though. Some people had on jeans, but the others were pretty well dressed.
2.5 stars.
The decor is dark and mellow but I swear my ears were going to bleed as the music was so loud. Martini Ranch isn't a nightclub either. No dance floor or funky lighting.
The server (actually host playing server was really nice). They have at least 20 different martinis. I ordered a Side Car and they were out of brandy so my alternate choice was free! We got a bit hungry and ordered probably the BEST waffle fries I've ever had. My friend ordered a mini pizza which looked quite sad and it didn't taste too much different either.
This could be quite the perfect place for conversation and meeting people but the music is just excruciatingly loud. I had to ask them to turn it down at least four times. The staff is either deaf or doesn't use Q-tips.
I could have been the first to review if the internet had been INVENTED! Â
YEAH! I have always been treated  well, including when I had to vouch for a well known someone from a popular tv series that got in because he was with me.  Apparently, I AM A FUCKING LEGEND HERE!
DON'T PROVE ME WRONG!
(This review is from an experience I had here in December so maybe it has gotten better)
This place is awful.
We went here one night because on of my boyfriend's friends lives near by and he likes the cute shot girls here. Â I was happy to go because I enjoy me a few good dirty martinis from time to time.
The atmosphere is weird in a clubby, loungey kind of way and really dark and loud.  The have crushed ice all the way around the  bar with the martini glasses upside down in it- the only cool thing about the place.
So, when we walked in, the guy the goes there often and I walked straight to the bar, while to doorman stopped my boyfriend and a girl we were with, who were right behind us, and made them pay a cover. Â I have a HUGE problem with bars having a "selective cover charge".
Ok so to the worst part of the evening:  I ordered a dirty martini and they guy apologized and said they were out of olives, and  had been since last night.  WTF?!  Seriosuly? A MARTINI BAR WITH NO OLIVES?  And they had been out sine the night before (we went there on a Saturday night mind you)  I do not understand what prevented then from running out to the store and picking up some more in the previous 24 hours.  I mean wouldnt you even be embarresed if you worked there to say that- "Sorry we are out of olives"?!
I don't get it. Â Maybe they just depend on sales of yuppie frufru martinis to make their money. Â Non the less I won't be back.
I love this place, although I understand what some have said about the clientele...
My recommendation is to get here early, set up camp at the bar, soak up some quality house music and get yourself ready for the night ahead. Â When the place starts to fill up and they take away the bar stools, it's time to drink up and leave.
I would venture a guess that 60-85% of the patrons here were out-of-towners on a business trip.
Not that there's anything wrong with that; they need a place to go, too.
Now I am a fan of bands & while I certainly won't critique tooooo much, let's just say that I hope it's the crappy sound system that made them sound bad.
But seriously, the sound system is extremely bad. Â In the bar, you can barely hear the vocals & the mix is all muddy. Â In the bathroom, all you can hear is vocals.
One bottle of beer (Miller Lite) was $6. Â I about pooped my pants when I heard that. Â Which is why I know about the sound system in the bathrooms.
I'm kidding.
Anyways, I dread coming here with friends who suggest it. Â I think next time I'll opt out.
PS: Â Door people ... pssst ... this isn't Studio 54, k?
Hmm. Where to begin? I went there with a friend on a Friday night after work. The place was 1) Dirty. Our table looked like it had not been wiped off - ever. And the "outdoor patio" is no such thing. It is a 2 foot by 2 foot slab of concrete with two old chairs and a disgusting, mildewy, broken fountain that looked like it had not been cleaned out in decades. 2) Terrible service. I think the bartender was trying to act "cool" but she came across as very rude. I prefer places with less attitude. 3) Worst of all - BAD martinis! My friend's "extra dirty" was hardly extra or dirty - and they use the crappy little canned olives! Come on, if you are a place with "Martini" in your name, you should at least use decent olives. My gimlet martini was okay but nothing spectacular like you'd expect from a place with such (surprisingly) good reviews.
The only saving grace was their Thai chicken quesadillas, which were tasty. But don't make the trip just for those. This place is just not worth it, in my humble opinion.
Ok, I'm going to get old on your ass. . . .
WHAT HAPPENED?
I remember Martini Ranch when it was a mostly unknown, sit down, moody, minimally crowded "cheatin' bar". Â This describes the type of place that is so long and narrow, if you sat in the back booth no one would ever see you and you can see everyone coming in. You could actually hear your booth mate and not fight for elbow space-I liked it much better then.
I should have known when they put a red rope setup outside that the format had changed (about 5 or 6 years ago). They also at that time stopped granting access to people in cutoffs  (clue #2). We got turned away and it wasn't until now that I've been back.
I recently went there for a family member's bachelorette party and I can say that it is not my thing. One of the bartenders was self-important and rude. Don't be in the service industry if you are not interested in serving people and making them feel welcome. I don't care how hot or important you think you are.
The DJs are talented, though.
Martini Ranch is one of my favorite places because it has always felt a little unknown to the rest of chicago. (although the last couple times I've gone it's gotten pretty crowded) If you go a little earlier it is a great place to grab martini's and take in the scenery (the ladies, not the view) and then enjoy some good DJ's when they switch into the "nightclub" atmosphere.
My only complaint was that last time we were here the music was way, way too loud. The dance area is the size of my hallway, so I don't need the tunes cranked so loud that my ears ring into the next morning...
They serve martini's here! Â Been twice both times most were sipping beers. Â Pricey beers.
I was there for this artsy thang. Â Two artists going to town' on the fly with paint and/or spray. Â After reading other people's reviews just now, I think I may go back to sample the martini's. Â If you stick to the front area you can find a few approachable hotties. Â The back is spacious for standing. Â Parking can be a bitch. Â Hey.. its right across the street from Enclave.
Martini Ranch is a great time. Â Saturday nights are a blast. Â The DJs are awesome, especially DJ Sheik, Alex Peace and Mixin' Marc. Â The house sets are sick and it gets the crowd going. Â The servers serve the best martinis, however they are a bit overpriced. Â But they are definitely worth the price. Â Their martini menu is extremely extensive (you name it, they have it...). Â The bar now has valet parking, as the next door parking lot has been torn down and a residential development is being erected.
The bartenders and staff are great and anyone that visits Martini Ranch will have an awesome time.
I love the door guys. I wish I could remember their names. They always remember mine, and they are so hot and funny and clever.
The Martini Ranch has great ambience. There are a few alcoves and out of the way spots, tables here and there, three bars, and usually a  trendy crowd.  Trendy, but fun and nice. There is a big, sexy fireplace and the music is good. Not so loud that you can't find pockets for intimate conversation, but loud enough to get your groove on in other spots.
Pricy, but definitely worth a once-in-a-while splurge once in a while.
This was one of my favorite bars for a long time. Â I used to come here and both busy and slow nights. Â Unfortunately I don't remember what music they play on what nights but the place is really great looking. Â They have a large seating area w/ glass tables. Â Then theres another room in the back w/ another bar and lower couches. Â
I like the bartenders too, they usually get your drink w/o waiting for it a long time. Â They do have waitresses for those who don't feel like taking a walk to the bar. Â There are a lot of good looking people if you want to go for some eyecandy.
I used to go here quite a bit on Fridays. As the name suggests, the Martinis are incredible. try the chocolate one.
can get a bit of a young/underage pretentious crowd, but theyre well behaved here =)
Its shaped like a hallway, and is always packed on fridays, so expect to get bumped into and your drink spilled on you, so dont wear white!
The woman working in the bathroom needs to find a more fitting career, like writing parking tickets, she is heinous!
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