Love this place. The food is always good. It's a bit pricey imo. Service is great. It's loud and fun ambiance. I love bringing out of towners here! read more

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fun and colorful restaurant with delicious food. came here with some colleagues and immediately loved the fun and colorful decor. food was good! I really enjoyed the ceviche sampler which was so tasty and unique - not like anything I've ever had. guacamole was fantastic! carne asada was also tasty, but the chocolate cake was too decadent for me. on the whole a good experience. would definitely recommend to other! read more

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Went there for Easter Buffet and was highly disappointed. They were out of so many items and food and condiments were not replenished at the late hour of our reservation. all of the food was cold. The service was terrible and had to hunt down our server for utensils water plates and drinks. I have been going to Carnivale since it opened 20 years ago and was surprised at how bad the bufget was. For $100 per person including taxes and tip this was an insult. Never again. read more

Visited Carnivale for the first time in 13 years. My wife and I visited in 2010 because we found a great Chicago travel deal that we couldn't pass up and we found Carnivale on yelp. Since then, their menu has changed, but they still have the menu item that we love - Arrachera. The prices have also changed. On this visit, we requested three ceviches, just like last time. They were delivered in very short time, were delicious, and very satisfying. Our waiter, Oscar, was fast and friendly. For dinner, we shared the arrachera, mac n cheese, and a filet. Shockingly, our food was delivered in less than 10 minutes. The arrachera was superbly delicious. This has to be one of the best menu items, hands down. We got some extra chimichurri sauce with it. The filet was very tasty, but undercooked. The rice was tasty, but I think it would be better without the cherries. I had an amaretto sour with my dinner and the drink was perfectly balanced. We were very please with our meal and Carivale remains one of my favorite restaurants of all time. I really want to go back and try some other menu items. read more

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Had made reservations for this place in advance to celebrate my partner's belated birthday. I figured it would be a unique experience given that they had a live performance starting at 6:30pm on a Thursday and this place is extremely colorful and not your typical restaurant. Our server was extremely nice, professional, and courteous throughout the entire experience. We some drinks to start (which were decent), but I wasn't blown away... and then the fold we ordered was alright! I feel like it's one of those places you come to where you pay for the experience and ambiance and not so much the food? Maybe we didn't order all the right things, but I wasn't blown away by the food. It was pretty mid (average) if you ask me. Because of the good service and amazing performances by the Brazilian carnivale type dancers, we would recommend it still for a date night or celebrating with friends for an occasion! read more

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We were a large party and as a part of team outing, we had a reservation for early dinner at Carnival. I always wanted to visit this place as it looked so vibrant even from the outside. This place had a very colorful, festive vibe to it. The ambience had a peppy Latin American music playing in the background which instantly lifted our mood. We were seated promptly. However, the food and drinks both were below average, should have been much better given the cost. The guac was good, but nothing impressive after. The food options weren't conducive for vegetarians nor was the food good. The vegetable paella was not at all up-to the mark, it was very dry with almost no rice. There were too many veggies to the point it felt more like a stirred fry dish with no flavors. I ordered a margarita and a mezcal based cocktail. Margarita was okay for but they mixed up mezcal for a LIT (I'm sure of that, coz it didn't taste anything like mezcal) Upon confronting, they kept saying it was a right drink, which was bizarre. Only reason I'm giving 3 stars is in-spite the large party the service and ambience was good. But I wasn't pleased with the food and will not be visiting again. read more

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still going strong... it's been years and life changes ago that i've been here. this latest visit was with my family (2 young boys included). they devoured the ceviche, shrimp quesadillas and chimichurri steak...and of course the cotton candy finisher. i devoured the mushroom croquettes. loved my beet and apple salad and although wasn't in the mood for anything heavy, really appreciate that they offer vegan paella and a vegan lentil entree. it is so easy to get away with a beans/cheese/plantain dish for latin cuisine but they step it up! the only reason why i knocked off the star was for service -- it was spot on when present but the issue was actually being present :( read more

I've always loved Carnivale. It's been a while since I've been back to Chicago and I just had to dine here. It's always good to go with a group of friends, and those I brought had never been here. The food and drinks are excellent, and so reasonably priced! My boyfriend and I split the Argentinian Parrillada (grilled meat platter) because we couldn't decide what to get, might as well try it all. It says it's for two, but this could feed four! It was so good. Highly recommend, and take the rest for leftovers, or just invite more friends! Will be back next time I'm in Chicago. read more

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Very vibrant place with fun colors and decorations! I think the decour was very impressive, they even had a pet parrot upfront. The food was as good quality, being more upscale given the price. It was all very filling. read more

Carnivale Chicago - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Colorful and vibrant atmosphere. This lively restaurant definitely brings out the fun for our large party. My friend held a private birthday party in one of their rooms and we couldn't ask for better service from the bartender to the sever. Food was exceptionally. We got the ceviche, calamari and Caesar salad for starters. I really enjoyed the ceviche which I didn't get a picture. The paella was pretty good. There was a good amount of seafood in the paella. They had a cotton candy Cosmo which was very sweet. I did enjoyed the old fashioned. read more

Great restaurant for small groups! I took my wife here for her birthday and we enjoyed our meal. All of the entree's are Caribbean inspired dishes and they are all delicious. I wouldn't say that this restaurant is kid friendly. read more

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Our waiter was pretty busy and the bar was "backed up" - took a while to get a drink. Took a while to get our waiter's attention. Overall, food was delicious and restaurant was vibrant and decoration. read more

My date and I had an amazing time at Carnivale. Peter our server was truly awesome. His suggestions on the menu where honest, descriptive and accurate. The atmosphere was on point; fun yet classy. We had the braised beef appetizer, carne asada and the shrimp quesadillas. All three where amazing. Peter was fun, energetic and hooked us up with a sweet treat at the end of the night. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a fun date night! read more

Reel featuring Carnivale Old Fashioned https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpIouvfpSKT/?igshid=MDM4ZDc5MmU= Carnivale is a great group-friendly restaurant located close to where most people stay in Chicago - The Loop, River North, and/or West Loop. Walkable to many places, too. The food and service are good, just pricey. If that's no matter, enjoy some sangria, the smokey show of an old fashioned, and the tasty guacamole in addition to the entree of your choice in their beautifully colorful space. read more

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I was here for Sunday brunch and really enjoyed myself! The ambiance and decor are 5 stars all the way. It's such a fun and colorful place and it really put me in a great mood, it's beautiful and sets the tone for a good time. Hubs and I were spoiled!! We were seated in the most perfect spot in the main dining area - center of the room however against the wall with seats for a queen and king. Even though we were surrounded by others it still felt very intimate and private, that's a plus in my book! The staff is great - very accommodating and helpful. The perfect amount of attentive without hovering. I did not feel rushed to order or leave. I felt very welcomed and at home. Food and drinks were also great - I do wish they would serve their dinner cocktails during brunch as well. I wanted to try the emerald city but didn't get a chance to. I'm planning on coming back for dinner soon! Thanks for everything Carnivale! read more

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The picanha entree steals the show. Fantastic. It literally melted in my mouth. The ropa vieja app was ok but really mushy and not that special. The drinks were very strong and the decor/ ambiance was so cool. We went on a night with the samba dancers and they were neat. They visited every table in costume after their dancing. I was there for my birthday and I got a complimentary dessert- tres leches of some kind I think, with a cute cotton candy and caramel corn side. My husband got the filet which was very good, but my dish was better. Super fun venue and not the most expensive place- about $50 a plate if you skip apps and drinks read more

This review is on the food. Our waitress was great! I do not like to post one star ratings but if you deserve a one star rating, you're going to get a one star rating!! Disappointed and disgusting with our meal!!! It was very underwhelming and overpriced! We ordered the Seafood Paella and it was terrible!!! Everything was overcooked, rubbery, mushy and not fresh tasting. I have had Paella several times and this was not Paella!! We also ordered the plantains and again we were disappointed... They were greasy tasting and tasted like gas from the grill. Thursday night is supposed to be the entertainment (the reason we booked on a Thursday) and we saw one act of juggling!! We were out the door within 45 minutes and we are now taking a 7 minute walk to a burger joint!!!! Stay tuned. The review on the burger joint is coming soon!!! read more

Carnivale Chicago - Plantains - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have been to Carnivale many times, but not sure why I have never written a review. Oh well, that time has come. The Doctor, Queen and BFF #1 decided to go here for Restaurant Week 2023. Normally I try to hit places I have never been before, but Carnivale does a great menu in my opinion and the portions for the entrees are pretty substantial. We did them last year as well and this year did not disappoint. The décor is crazy wild with colors and so much fun....I always have the feeling that I have stepped into Alice in Wonderland or Willy Wonka's place. It is a very whimsical environment. There is a large open bar area as you walk into the restaurant, then you go through a doorway into the loud and beautiful space. There is the main dining room as well as off shoot areas for seating. We sat in one of these areas. I love sitting here as the four top tables are much larger and you are separated from the main crowd in the dining area. For my meal I got the Chicken Croquettes (Pickled Butternut Squash, Parsnip Puree, Smoked Garlic Aioli, Greens), Beef Shank Birria (Jalisco Style Beef Shank, Tomato Rice, Pickled Onion, Carrot-Radish Escabeche, Smoked Salsa) and the Coconut Cheesecake. The Chicken Croquettes were just ok for me, I wouldn't recommend them as they didn't really taste like much of anything. Honestly if you had not told me that they were chicken, I would not have know. Beef Shank Birria made my soul leave my body! That dish was amazing and although they brought out a huge knife with the dish, there was no need for one. The beef was very tender and a fork was all that was needed to tackle this dish. The tomato rice delish and the Pickled Onion, Carrot-Radish Escabeche was a nice compliment to the meat. To give you an idea on the size of the entrée, I had plenty to take home for a brunch dish the following day. No idea about the Coconut Cheesecake as I got that to go in favor or the Chocolate Cigar. This is a dessert that is more for the presentation, but it also ain't short stopping on taste. It not only looks good but it tastes good too. Everyone else got the Carne Asada (12 oz. Prime Hanger Steak, Rice & Beans, Blue Crab Salad, Avocado, Guajillo Sauce, Grilled Corn)and I would say that there were no complaints as the the dishes became members of the Clean Plate Club. Staff was nice and accommodating. In the room we were sitting in, there were two top tables next to the wall. Have to say I would not recommend them as they are small! There was a couple that was being seated by the hostess and as soon as the woman saw the table, she shook her head and said nope! The hostess did not flinch and took them to another table, a four top. Same thing happened when a different couple was placed at the table, they asked to be moved and they were. I know there is a lot of hype around this place and that has kept folks from going there. Yes it is a party vibe and some patrons can be loud, but overall the food and service and the décor outweigh that for me. read more

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Amazing place to visit! It was totally a carnival in there. Food was fantastic and drinks were so fun! Service was friendly and super attentive. Would totally go back. Don't forget to check out the basement level bathroom. read more

What a treat for the eyes and palette. You walk in to the restaurant and it's huge and colorful with a hangout area to grab drinks and plenty of dining areas on multiple levels. We were seated almost immediately having a reservation. We came to celebrate two birthdays in the family. For appetizers we ordered calamari, which had a slight sweet tangy sauce served over peppers and shrimp quesadilla. Both very tasty. We decided to order family style so we could try more items. We ordered seafood paella, braised short rib served over creamy grits, and a mixed grill platter that had a variety of meat and potatoes. The variety of chicken and meats were yummy, paella was one of the best we've had. And while dining the dancers came out walking around the tables creating excitement and a fun atmosphere. They brought us two complimentary desserts for our birthdays. read more

Carnivale Chicago - Calamari - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I went yesterday, a Friday night, which was a few days after their 20th year anniversary celebration! The atmosphere is lively, colorful, and perfect for a night out. The service was attentive without being rushed. We happened to go on Samba Night and it made the evening even better. Two dancers performed throughout the night, adding so much energy and excitement to the dining experience. It really felt like a celebration from start to finish. read more

Ambiance: This place is very cool. Lots of places where you can take candid photos. There is a lot of indoor seating and the staff is very friendly and patient with large parties. Taste test: Honestly everything was great! The flavors of all the dishes were on point. The drinks were also fun. The portions are big so definitely worth sharing. Enjoy! read more

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Just left Carnivale on Fulton Market and dang, what a ride. The place is massive, colors pop, music pulses, feels like a fiesta every time. Cooked food came out sharp, flavors layered - not one thing blended into the next. read more

This is definitely one of our more memorable restaurants. There is a convenient pay parking lot behind the restaurant if you don't want to go searching for street parking (be aware of the potholes!) - the lower tier parking doesn't have potholes. The outside of the building is painted with bright multiple colors and the signage is quite festive. The inside was equally quite festive in decor and abundance of colors. There appears to be a bar and dance hall to left of entrance and then the formal restaurant to the right. The building appears to have been converted from a very open prior establishment. The dining area had high ceilings, and the decor was consistent with the theme of Carnivale. We had traditional Cuban mojito and nonalcoholic mojito. For appetizer, we shared the 4 Ceviche sampler. Wow. All had distinct authentic flavor and spices. I especially loved the spicy Ceviche. Then we had the Lobster paella - that is very original as we frequent South American and Cuban restaurants, and this is not a common find in restaurants. The presentation was unique, and that dish was delicious. Full of flavor. We also had the chicken dish that was seared well on the outside and juicy on the inside. The fried Yucca was perfectly seasoned and complemented with a tangy side sauce. Finally, we shared the Puerto Rican Tembleque - the cream tasted clean and fresh with a topping of delicious fresh fruit. They gave us a cotton candy after dinner treat for free. The serving sizes were quite large, more than enough to have a second meal at home. Our server was pleasant and attentive; and our plates were promptly taken away when done. read more

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Carnivale is hands down one of my favorite go-to dinner spots in West Loop. I have been here probably about 5 times, and I'm writing my first review on behalf of the amazing experience I have had each and every time! This time around I went to Carnivale for my best friends birthday. She asked about a good birthday dinner spot, and I think Carnivale is exactly that, mostly for the lively, loud, fun, environment they create with the lights, artwork, and music We were seated in the back of the restaurant in a room with a few other tables, but I've also had dinner in the main dining room and had a great experience there too. For drinks, I tried the Naked and Famous cocktail which if you like mezcal (I know, an acquired taste), you will love. For app, you can't go wrong with their guacamole. Since we were going out to a bar after, we chose to split the calamari, fish tacos, and ropa vieja among a group of 5 and it was honestly perfect. I was enough to be filling but not too much to make me feel bloated before drinking. I think I could eat like 5 orders of the stewed beef and plantain it was. that. good. read more

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I visited with family on Easter Sunday, so I wasn't really in a position to take lots of photos and videos. It was busy and loud! It wasn't bad. It just wasn't for me. They had an Easter buffet setup, so service from a waiter wasn't needed other than for drinks. Speaking of which, my mimosa was bland. The bathrooms are in the basement. There are far too many stairs to get to them. They stink badly. The restaurant is HUGE - it has two sides. My senses were overloaded. It was busy and packed and lots of people bumping into each other, and because it's buffet style, the food was nothing to write about. So, I don't know... maybe I need to come on a boring Thursday. Ha! read more

Carnivale Chicago - Entrance. I was told that the walls are updated often! - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I moved to the West Loop back in July and I have never tried Carnivale before. Carnivale's been here for a very long time since 2005 and me and my friend decided to try it out on a Saturday night around 7pm. The place was packed so a reservation in advance is highly recommended. We walked in and we were seated almost immediately. The vibe was colorful with music playing loudly and I definitely felt like I was in Latin America. Apparently they have dancers going around as entertainment on the weekends , which is something I did not expect whatsoever. Some people dressed up, but you can definitely get away with casual attire. There was a decent amount of families with children as well. We started off with drinks. I ordered the Carnivale Old Fashioned, which was mid, and my friend ordered the mojito. My Old Fashioned was very mid, which I kind of expected, but the mojito was very good. The mojito had a good balance between refreshing and mint. Carnivale is kind of like tapas style and shareables. As shareables to start, we had the Smoked Mushroom Croquettes & Colombian Arepa & Pork Belly. Both dishes were very good. They were distinct, had solid flavor, and had a decent portion size. I don't like mushrooms, but they were good. They were fried so that is probably why I liked it. Our main dish was the Seafood Paella. The dish was humongous and you could have definitely split between 3 people as splitting between the two of us was a lot of food. I am not the biggest fan of Paella as I think it usually lacks flavor and the rice becomes too crunchy; however, this was definitely one of the better versions (correct way) that I have had. The rice was super fluffy and it came with a ton of seafood. Lastly, we saw every other table order some cotton candy, so of course we had to bring out the kids in ourselves and order it. It also came with some caramel popcorn (not Garrett's and more like Boy Scouts of America), which was a nice added touch for your sweet-tooths out there. Overall, the food was good; but I just don't think it was anything really spectacular. Cabra would be a good comparable in regards to food and this was definitely better for families and bigger groups. Prices were pretty average for Chicago. $14-$18 cocktails, $12-$20 apps, and $40/entree, but big enough for at least two. Service was adequate and we were definitely there for a long time. Tables don't really turnover much there so that is why I highly recommend a reservation. Overall, I see why Carnivale is such a popular spot in Chicago and it's definitely worth a visit if you like Latin American fare with some entertainment. read more

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Bon appétit at Carnivale What better way to start off restaurant week than at Carnivale! We had the tastiest dinner and each got different dishes so we got to try 6 different menu items! We tried: *Shrimp Empanadas & Chicken Croquettes * Drank a cotton candy martini & old fashioned *Spanish Style Vegetarian Paella & American Red Snapper *Coconut Cheesecake & Peanut Butter & Jelly Bar All the menu items did not disappoint, don't forget to check out restaurant week! Super worth it! The service is kind and quick and they checked in a lot and the ambiance is such a PARTYYYYYYY!!!!!! read more

Such a fun and colorful place to celebrate a birthday or event! We celebrated my birthday here with lots of fun cocktails, shots, and delicious food! The menu is quite large as are the portions! Our server was great and brought us "fun shots" by request. read more

Carnivale Chicago - Argentinian Parrillada - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is super cool - my fiancé picked the place and I didn't look into it much. I was blown away by the ambiance, decor and characters. This place would be a fun, unique birthday spot. We are vegetarian and there were quite a few options for us. We tried the empanadas, kale salad and the vegan paella. The empanadas were my favorite because they were so fresh and flavorful. The vegan paella was great quantity but wish there was more flavor. Lastly, the salad was refreshing but didn't love the avocado dressing. We also ordered the cigar chocolate dessert which was really good and rich. read more

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Ambiance, food and friendliness of staff is second to none :) Wpuld bring friends and family back there again and again! Super fun venue, yet classy! read more

Carnivale did not disappoint! From the moment we walked into this colorful atmosphere, I knew it'd be a nice time! We caught their restaurant week that comes with different options for an appetizer, entree, & dessert. See pictures for reference. It was my first time coming and I'd say it's an atmosphere for birthdays. Catch them on Thursdays where they have live shows that are so dope! Service was pretty good - he was able to explain all the food/drinks to us and give recommendations. read more

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Second time visiting. Came for the Cinco de Mayo celebration and although disappointed that there wasn't many celebratory specials (as advertised), we still had a delightful lunch experience. There was a show of multiple dancers and service was spot on. So spot on our waiter basically recited the entire menu to us. We started with guac and chips, the guac does have a tiny kick to it, and I ordered the beef empanadas and crispy potatoes. The empanadas were great, the potatoes I might have ate one and can do without in the future. The vibe was fun and exciting, but getting there at 2pm we expected more liveliness, but overall it was good. read more

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Wasn' sure what to expect food wise, I thought it might be just another aesthetic IG worthy restaurant with mid food. I was blown away!! The food was so amazing, everything we had was so delicious, especially the ropa vieja appetizer. Cannot wait to go back!!! read more

This is just a really fun place to go eat at. I've been here several times now, and the ambiance is always lively and colorful. The food and drinks are good. The 92$ meat dinner for two is a lot of food and fun to share. They do charge a cake cutting fee if you bring your own cake in (just fyi). They offer cotton candy and popcorn at the end with desserts as a fun twist. read more

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Huge restaurant and perfect for large parties however very average food. I'm vegetarian and was really excited they had a vegan paella option however was incredibly disappointed. It felt like I was just a plate of sqush and sweet potato and there was little to no forbidden rice. If I came back it would be for the Luz Empanadas but definitely not for the paella. read more

Carnivale Chicago - Luz empanadas - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What an experience we've had at Carnivale! I haven't been back for years and never had dinner just drinks but let me tell you this place is such a vibe! A live show about every 20 minutes which makes the experience even better. The ambience is colorful and very inviting. To start order yourself a mojito, made with perfection that's sweet but not overpowering.Now let me get to the best part,the food ! For appetizers we had, ropa vieja which was like a braised beef that had pickled onions and this queso fresco with some aioli but let me tell you that was 10/10. Don't hesitate and order it. You will thank me later . We also had chicken empanadas and mushroom croquettes , the chicken empanadas weren't like the regular empanadas you get but overall I probably wouldn't order it again not saying they were bad just didn't wow me like the other two appetizers.However the mushroom croquettes I was loving it up! It does come with black truffle so to each its own taste buds but this was right up my alley . Dinner we had the Brazilian Churasco that comes with yuca fritas that's fries. The Oxtail Paella omg was so delish !!! I almost wanted to change my plates. Braised Oxtail had mushrooms carrots rice forgot what else but all the best combos . I wish I knew what my friends steak name was but it's the video where the waiters putting on my friends plate . She said she loved every single bite. After dinner we obviously had to order some desserts, we did the carnival cotton candy that comes with popcorn, the ice cream with 3 flavors, pistachio, passion fruit, and raspberry and the 19 layer cake. The cake was the winner . Great experience and would dine again when I'm in Chicago . read more

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Wow, what a great place! First impression walking in, was all the bright decor and he spacious the restaurant is. We came here for a friend's birthday party. They rented out a private room. When we walked into the room the staff offered us drinks , which was great! I started off with Smokey old fashion. It was so good! They had a set menu . For appetizers we had crispy calamari and shrimp ceviche. I love the pickled jalapeños on the calamari. Ceviche was very fresh. Then we had Ceaser salad which was great. Then for the entree I had Steak De Palomilla. Wow! The wagyu sirloin was cooked perfectly, very juicy and delicious. And for dessert I had the passion fruit cheese cake. It basically look like fruit tart . The staff were great through the whole night! The bathroom decor was interesting. Lots of pictures of random celebrities and very colorful. It was a great experience. Will definitely be back. read more

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The customer service is horrible, they need to train their staff on becoming personable. This is the hospitality industry, and when you're working around people, you don't need to have an attitude. The food is subpar and not quality. This place has really fallen off. read more

Went here for a company-sponsored dinner. The menu was set, but gave everyone a sense of the awesome food. The empanada appetizer was solid. I could eat that by itself. The flatbread was decent with the roasted eggplant and mushrooms on top. Not a big fan of flatbread, but was enjoyable. The salad was okay. Nothing fancy here. I got the seafood paella. This was packed with seafood. Could have used a little more spice perhaps, but I definitely enjoyed this. For dessert, the banana pecan toffee cake was a great ending to a solid meal. The servers were awesome and refilled our waters and drinks. read more

Carnivale Chicago - Seafood paella - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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