Mandrake 201 South 3rd Street, Geneva, IL 60134

"Lovely experience here tonight. Our server, Sarah, was excellent and the chef, Jared is kind, humble and going to be a star. I really hope they bring one to the city, although I like that this gem is in cute area where it’s a bit unexpected. The ONLY thing I will say is I didn’t feel welcome by the man at the door, Adrian at all and neither did my friend. Judging by the attitude he exhibited he’s the one responding to unfavorable reviews here in a poor manner. In any case, I’ll be back."

"Mandrake is a `city experience` without going to the city. When we saw Mandrake on Instagram we decided to go there without hesitation. We made a reservation for Sunday evening but the place was not that busy as I would imagine on Friday and Saturday dinners. We were welcomed, our coats taken and we were seated right away. Restaurant decorations are awesome with branches and mirrors on the ceiling. Our server Austin explained to dishes to us and we got a bottle of white wine for starters. The selection is very pleasing and prices affordable , I was happy they got an awesome wine from Portugal. The plate positions are meant to be shared so we chose five and one dessert: Chili Roasted Broccoli--for me usually broccolis are boring but this one was very delicious with a nice kick of chili and pine nuts dukkah. Butternut Squash Arancini--we both agreed it was one of the best Arancini we have eaten. Ideal crispiness, well seasoned, served with lemon aioli was a perfect set. Cornmeal dusted Skat Wing--that is a perfect fish for me and I was pleased to have a Skate Wing which is a superb tasting fish but not very popular, served with mushrooms and pickled cippolini was a perfect pairing for the wine! Grilled Baby Octopus--very refreshing, light, ideal to finish the course. Chia Panna Cota--an Italian stable and chia version, very warming yet subtle, ideal for the winter dessert. We were told that Mandrake will be changing menu as the seasons come which is also a great information and understanding of farm to table concept. The dinner was great, service was great, atmosphere was great, we will definitely visit again!!"

"Mandrake is an absolute winner and such a welcome addition to the region. This is small plates fine dining done right, while still accessible. We ordered four plates and a dessert and everything was incredible, bursting with lush flavors and textures, and portions were quite generous so we left stuffed. Favorite dishes on the winter menu included the butternut squash arancini, the duck, and the boca negra chocolate cake with pomegranate ice cream, but everything was delicious. The cocktails were also very tasty and unique. The atmosphere is sexy and upscale but still cozy, and the service was perfect. Of course, it’s not going to be for everyone and every occasion but no great restaurant should be. If you’ve been curious and wanting to check it out, don’t delay."

"I would give The Mandrake 4.5 stars. I never went in the restaurant that was previously housed at the Geneva location, but what they’ve done with the interior is marvelous. It’s really beautiful. The host was incredibly friendly and our waitress was great. We tried as much of the menu as possible. The French cheese plate was a real standout for us. My husband said the grilled baby octopus was some of the best he has ever had, with a perfect char. The burrata was tasty. The butternut squash arincini was tasty. Unfortunately, both the salmon and the pork belly were unevenly cooked, with some bites being over cooked and some bites being perfect. The chocolate desert was surprisingly large and dense. I didn’t love it, but my husband said the pear tart was quite tasty. While it’s a small plates restaurant, I thought all of the portions were generous. I was stuffed at the end of the meal! The Mandrake is known for their sizeable wine menu, though we didn’t get any wine. We were impressed at the selection though! My husband tried two of the old fashioneds and liked them both. I had the seasonal mocktail, which was delicious. (I’d love to see more mocktails on the menu!) A couple of notes: I’ve never been to a restaurant that’s such a stickler for “you place your food order all at once and eat in the order the kitchen makes the food.” For example, I don’t eat octopus so asked if I could get the arincini when the octopus came out and the waitress said she would try but it may not be possible. I’m sure there’s a reason for this, but it would be nice if they’d explain it. Finally, the Mandrake Wellness Program, where they add 20% to your bill to better support their staff, is a fine idea, but it needs to be better highlighted and/or explained. There is a page about it on the back of the menu, but we didn’t read it (our fault, I guess) and we still didn’t really know what to do when the bill arrived with the 20% charge. We tipped on top of it, so we had our bill + 20% + 20%. It’s just a lot, especially since we didn’t know about it ahead of time and the prices are about what you’d expect to pay at a fine dining establishment. Overall, Mandrake is a welcome addition to the Geneva dining scene."

"We decided to stop in for drinks and were not disappointed. The cocktails are amazing. The bartender is very personable. He suggested a Gin drink, and even though I don't typically like Gin, it was outstanding. We can't wait to return next week to try the food. The decor is moody and upscale, and feels like a comfortable speakeasy. Everyone is very nice and Talkative. The Mandrake is a wonderful addition to Geneva."