Indigo Lounge

Wonderful dining experience tonight! Our server, Simon, was very attentive, friendly & accommodating. Food was delicious! Drinks were divine (follow his recommendation for marshmallow vodka in your chocolate martini)! The atmosphere was perfect for relaxing after work – comfy high back chairs & mellow music in the background. We’ll be back!

Indigo Lounge is a nice after-​work, low-​key place to knock back a few cocktails in a comfortable setting. It’s usually not very crowded, the drinks are good, and they have a few happy hour specials. The service, well, that needs a little work. The lounge opens for business at 5:00, and on more than one occasion I’ve been there at 5:00 — 5:30 to find that they’re not quite ready for customers. The bartender appeared flustered, and somewhat surprised that people were there to drink. Umm, it’s a bar, you advertise happy hour specials, it’s happy hour…
I was there last month for a holiday get together with a handful of friends, and we had a great time. Many martinis were had by all, including me. Fast forward to last week, when I met a friend for drinks, and attempted to order the same martini I’d had before:
Me: I’d like the _​_​_​_​martini.
Bartender: Umm, okay, that’s not a martini.
Me: It isn’t? It’s on the martini list.
Bartender: It’s a cocktail, not a martini.
Me: (Confused) Oh, because I was here last month and ordered, this, and it was served as a martini.
Bartender: If you REALLY want to have it as a martini, I can make it that way for you, but, it’s not meant to be a martini. I mean, you know, whatever.
Me: So, is this a new thing? I’m just confused bc when I ordered it before I didn’t get a long explanation about how it isn’t a martini. I just ordered the drink and it was served as a martini.
Bartender: It must have been a special order.
I guess the bartenders change the drink preparation as they see fit? I didn’t really appreciate being made to feel stupid for ordering a drink that may or may not exist, even though I’d had it before. Whatever. It’s close to the office.

I had about 20 friends meet me here for a birthday drink (or two) we had a great time and ended up staying until close. Seating was good just wish there was music.

Indigo Lounge IS OPEN! OPEN! OPEN! They have a 9-​piece band rockingat 8:30 pm on Friday the 13^th! Yah!

Had a colleague stay here while interviewing for graduate school at Northwestern and I came out for munchies and drinks at the Indigo Bar & Lounge. They had live music and little appetizers. Their mini Kobe burgers and smoked beef carpaccio was fantastic. He told me that I had to try Narra — their latest addition to the hotel — which is a new swanky steak joint which definately looked appetizing. He was also telling me how great the fitness center is. The Orrington has undergone a recent $ 32 million renovation and it shows! The hotel is fully loaded with a business center, banquet area, conference rooms, The Globe Café (breakfast, lunch & dinner), Narra (lunch & dinner), and on week-​ends — they have four different tea menus (about $ 12 per person) that is offered from 2−5pm which is always something fun and different to check out.

Great place to get an after-​work or after-​dinner drink. This sophisticated lounge at the Hotel Orrington is a nice change from the abundant bar options in Evanston. You can sit and relax, have a great martini, hold a conversation, and get table service (including appetizers and dessert). Only thing– it closes a bit early during the weekdays.