I've done a few more since my last review and it's still really good. The breakfast is incredibly well-balanced and yummy if you're not feeling that that adventurous. If you are, go for the duck hash. The duck is juicy and the pairs really well with the potatoes and the egg. Coffee beans were a little overdone this time so keeping it at four stars. read more

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I've been to the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago over ten times. They always have eclectic art showings, which are a wide and diverse range of art mixing elements from different genres, time periods, or styles. The exhibit we saw today was Yoko Ono's conceptual and performance art. After walking through her entire exhibit us four were ready for lunch. With it being 34° (feeling like 22°) outside we decided to go downstairs to MCA's cafe called Marisol. It's a lovely restaurant in a quiet environment with a pretty fantastic menu. Everything look great, so great, none of us could make up our minds? * I ordered their Trout "BLT" with crispy rushing waters trout, sauce gribiche, bacon, tomato, Werp greens, seeded rye - and WOW was it good. I'll come to MCA just for this sandwich! * My wife had Sunchoke Caesar with tuscan kale, golden raisin, pecorino toscano, calamansi caesar - she LOVED IT * One friends had a Seasonal Soup (there from L.A. and were cold) and they loved their soup! Who would of "thunk [sic]" one of my best lunches here in Chicago would be at a museum - but it certainly was! read more

Marisol - The inside of Marisol - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love the MCA, this restaurant is okay. The food was mid, same with the service. And the ambiance was lovely. We got there at 12pm with a reservation (I definitely think we needed it). We got the beignets because they were recommended by many. They were not traditional beignets and didn't resemble a beignet at all... they were doughnut holes. They came with, what seemed to be, a pistachio sauce. I didn't like them because they were not beignets. I also got the breakfast burrito, it was good, very similar to the LuLa burrito. More of a breakfast wrap, less of a burrito. This place has a nice kids menu, good options for kids and they have to go coffee cups they give kids drinks in, smart. My child got a PBJ and it was well received. My partner got the green Shakshouka, he said it was good, seemed very dill and cilantro heavy. read more

Marisol - PBJ - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went for lunch before visiting the MCA. Brunch menu was on point and so was service. The staff were accommodating to us with our 4 month old baby in a small stroller, and were attentive throughout our meal without being overbearing. The decor was chic and fitting for the MCA, love the contrasting line work on the walls and mirrors. It gave the dining room this open, dramatic atmosphere. Our food was delicious, fresh, and felt like a solid value. Avocado latke was well prepared and beautifully accompanied by the fluffy eggs and crisp greens. The rye crepe hit all of the flavors, tangy dressing on the greens with pickles, a savory cheese, sweet tones and kale that worked well together. The biegnets were a little heavy, imagine instead the best donut holes you ever tried. With ground pistachio and espresso sauce for elegant style points. Plus it came with like 8, felt like a great value. I'd order everything again. read more

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Very underwhelming food for overly priced rates. Visit the MCA and view the views but the restaurant is really avg. Was really disappointed. read more

Marisol - View from the MCA - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It's a typical museum restaurant in that it's decent quality, open / airy atmosphere / largely forgettable meal. I ordered the Marisol salad w/chicken and a Sauvignon Blanc. I enjoyed the salad and the chicken was perfectly done. Others at the table had mixed feedback on their entrees. Service was friendly but had "slow night" vibes where they seemed a bit bored. Overall, a good option if heading to the MCA or theater at water tower place but there are probably better restaurants/ more memorable meals in the local area. read more

Really carefully created food that's delicious at a really great spot. You can walk the park or the museum after too. The service is good and the restaurant is really well lit and kind of mirrors the museum with clean strong lines. Plenty of healthy dishes too read more

What a great happy hour deal! I got myself a glass of wine and enjoyed the burger with their homemade chips. The burger is honestly on my top 10 burger list. The lettuce and tomato were perfectly crispy, the patty was cooked to perfection, and the chips were perfectly seasoned. Service was quick and easy. The restaurant itself is nuzzled under the MCA with a laid back feel. Pro Tip: Stop by on a Tuesday when it's free admission to the MCA for Illinois Residents. Browse the museum and then stop by downstairs to Marisol read more

Marisol - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had dinner here before a show. Food was tasty, service was excellent. We didn't feel rushed, unlike most restaurants nowadays.

We ate brunch at Marisol for Restaurant Week, and I could not be more thrilled with our time there. Ian was our server, and he was incredible - he really made the experience. But the food was incredible as well. The smoked trout toast and the cilbir were to die for. Loved the touch of the complimentary immunity shot at the end of the meal. Moreover, we were seated in the separate room with the colorful mural, which was the perfect ambiance for our meal. Would 100% recommend! read more

Marisol - Smoked Trout Toast - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Myself and a friend had the most delicious lunch! it was also restaurant week.My friend had the restaurant week special, 3 course's for $30..All three courses ( salad , entree & dessert ) were delicious . I had their burger. It was so good and similar to a Smash Burger. It was cooked perfectly and on a toasted brioche bun! We ordered their French fries as an appetizer and they complimented our meals and came with a delicious, creamy garlic sauce. What really impressed us was our server Ian! He is a stand out! He is so warm & fun. He checked in several times and didn't rush our leisurely lunch. He also made great recommendations and made our time there so enjoyable. The host was also lovely. Not sure of her name but she has long light colored hair and very cool retro glasses. Highly recommend you dine here and very reasonable for the area! read more

Amazing brunch and the beignets are so scrumptious! They are great to share and come with an espresso creme sauce. I was here the other day and got the breakfast plate. The crispy house potatoes are really good. Marisol is a nice spot to dine, especially if you are also going to visit the museum or the gift shop. Overall great experience! read more

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Just went for brunch again. Delicious We love the little Gem salad. The lardon dish we had with eggs was creamy and delicious. I'm normally not a fan of very soft cooked eggs, but the texture really added to the dish. Potatoes were good but a bit salty. Service was friendly but pretty slow Definitely a good choice in the area. read more

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Disappointing Weekend Brunch Service: average for museum; poor for stand-alone restaurant Drink Program: mid. Worst Bloody Mary (even after corrected) and ok cocktail (needed some brightness). Wine selection fair quality. Food Program Decent Overall Find somewhere else read more

So I tried to sit at the bar was told it's fully booked. Never been to a bar with 10 open seats and not allowed to order a drink before. Then I just tried to order a drink to stand in the lobby and they still wouldn't serve me. Sat around for more than 30 min in the lobby and no one else sat at the bar.... I could have ordered and been done before anyone else even showed up. Pretty sad when you can't even order an overpriced drink. read more

Very cool location inside the museum! I was surprised at how flavorful my tofu scramble was! The tofu was cut up into cubes which is not typical for tofu scramble but it felt very substantial. I ordered a side of bread on the side, which would be very good as an addition to the dish. I would be back if in the area! read more

Located in same building as Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. We were served by the wonderful Matty. He was amazing, attentive and helpful. Answer our zillion questions with patience and kindness. Crispy fried chicken sandwich with calamansi aioli. MCA burger is cheesy havarti on challah bread with their secret sauce. Steam Mussels is fresh in tomato and pancetta. Delivered fresh daily. read more

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Food = Meh I expected more considering it's supposed to be a food menu designed from Chef Jason Hammel. Granted, I had the Breakfast plat. $18 for eggs scrambled hard into pebbles, burnt bacon and no offer of toast? The only thing edible was the smashed potatoes. Service = horrific Very slow service, had to flag food runners to get items. No Sal/pepper nor offered condiments. While you should t have to ask for spices and condiments, this bland food needed help and getting a server to help was futile. Lula Cafe is one of the best places in the City, so when you "co-brand" an establishment with the great Lula name you better be careful. Marisol can and should do better!! Ambiance = excellent At least that part remains to live up to its name. read more

I had made plans to come here right before covid came. Marisol stayed closed throughout the duration of the pandemic, and I honestly didn't think Marisol was going to reopen. Covid came and gone, and Marisol reopened. We made reservations but it seemed like we didn't need one. The dining area is very spacious with a lot of empty tables and remained that way throughout our meal. My wife ordered their Burrata dish. It came with Burrata cheese, pomegranate, kumquat and greens with a side of sourdough toast. Not what I would call a traditional breakfast or brunch type dish, but it tasted fresh and delicious. A perfect way to start a day to be honest. Not too heavy, and very healthy. I ordered their breakfast sandwich. Now this is on the heavier side and was defeated with this sandwich. The button bun was too moist to pickup and eat like a regular sandwich. Had to use a knife and fork. But it was a very delicious sandwich. It came with sausage, eggs, harvarti, cheddar cheese, and apricot pepper jam. I'm glad I finally made it down here. I'm not quite sure when I'll make it back, but I'll definitely keep it on my list. read more

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We were a bit disappointed by the long wait for the food but everything tasted great nevertheless What we ordered: Breakfast burrito: bigger than we expected. The burrito was stuffed with fluffy scrambled eggs, cheese, avocado and potato Breakfast sandwich: me fav! i like the sweet and savory flavor combo. the apricot pepper jam wasn't too overpowering and the challah was the fluffiest burger bun i've ever had Cilber: interesting and delicious! i wish it came with a bigger piece of toast read more

Marisol - Cilber - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Despite the usual stereotype of museum cafes selling overpriced coffee and stale pastries (no, just me?) Marisol quickly dispels these potential preconceptions of artistic pretentiousness (although it is indeed quite nicely decorated!). My friends and I came for an early brunch on a Saturday, and we were warmly greeted and promptly seated by the welcoming front of house. I ordered the breakfast sandwich - at first I was a little hesitant, since it seemed like a very generic (even boring) option, but I'm really glad I did! The bread was very fluffy and tasty, and I was pleased with the quality of the cheese, egg, and sausage. Very tasty overall, and definitely would recommend this. One of my friends ordered the french toast - also delicious! The toast was light and perfectly sweet (but not too much), and the nice touch of toppings like diced pears added a very interesting texture and flavour. She ultimately was too full to finish, so I didn't hesitate to help wolf down the leftovers :) We also got the salmon tartine, which was surprisingly refreshing. The focaccia tasted fresh and complemented the yummy salmon and cucumbers really well. Portion size for this was also better than I expected. Overall a great meal - don't be intimidated by the fact that it's in a fancy schmancy art museum. I'd love to come again soon! read more

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Marisol is located inside the Museum of Contemporary Art. I had been to the outdoor jazz a few Tuesday nights in the summer and enjoy the vibe around the MCA, so I was excited to try it. I was with a few friends, and we were seated by the colorful murals which was enjoyable. The staff were very friendly and gave good recommendations, but it was SUPER busy the Saturday we went. I think they forgot to put in the order because we kept getting told "a few more minutes" until almost an hour and a half had passed. We also ordered 2 appetizers but they never came so we just canceled the order. When the main course ultimately arrived, the staff apologized for the delay. I was relieved that the food was delicious. I ordered buttermilk pancakes, which had an incredibly fluffy texture and flavorful cinnamon butter on top--some of the best I've had in the city. I tried the breakfast plate as well which was okay overall but a tad overpriced for what you get. The potatoes were crispy and flavorful. I would've given this place a 4.5 for the food, ambiance, and staff but unfortunately the huge delay was a nuisance. read more

Marisol - Buttermilk Pancakes - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you aren't Caucasian don't bother. You'll be ignored while others who arrive before and after you will be greeted and attended to. We sat for a while then opted to leave. read more

Private room is a great place for a group dinner. Staff is amazing and the food worthy of the art museum setting. I think the first course- with sunflower hummus and incredible crackers may have been my fave. Roasted carrots, no longer on the regular menu, were also amazing. Soughdough pasta was freshly made, perfectly cooked, served with yummy hen of the wood mushrooms which seem to be showing up on menus more often lately. Marisol salad and branzino were just ok. But the kitchen came back strong with an incredible chocolate-passionfruit tart topped with crunchy crumbles and a honeycomb cookie- wow, just wow. read more

I don't like drinking wine or coffee out of plastic or paper cups, especially when the glassware and mugs are literally right there on the counter. Yet the barista insisted on the policy, saying someone might "break the glass." It's such unnecessarily inflexible logic for a café or bar. Nobody wants to drink wine from plastic just because they're so worried someone might break a glass. Pointless and ridiculous. read more

Marisol is located on the ground level of the Museum of Contemporary Art. The space invites a connection to the building function through fanciful wall illustrations that had been commissioned to contemporary British artist Chris Ofili. It is a convenient location to take a break with a light meal and refreshing drink while visiting the museum or shopping on North Michigan Avenue. Counter service with limited takeaway items is also available at the restaurant's entrance. Although this was my first encounter with Marisol, past reviews suggest it was a beloved spot before the pandemic and only reopened recently after two years. Hopefully it will make its way back to where it had been next time I visit Chicago. read more

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TERRIBLE SERVICE! After visiting MCA we were recommended to come here by the MCA store employees. They spoke so highly of this restaurant. Well, my sister and I went. First we were not greeted by the 2 hostess's that were standing there blankly staring at us. Once we took it upon ourselves to ask if we can be seated 1 of them said, "oh yeah, I can seat you"...thanks. Once at the table we patiently waited, waited, waited. 15 minutes later, I noticed people that came after us were waited upon. WOW! Ok, we may not look like we belong there but at least acknowledge us. There were waiters standing behind me commenting on how busy it was and how it was good for the business, apparently our presence was unwelcomed. So we decided to get up and leave and take our business elsewhere. read more

The ambiance was really nice! I loved the booths and the service was friendly. The burger was quite enjoyable with a good mix of cheeses and the rigatoni was interesting in that it was small and the broccoli pesto was new for me. Would come again to try their brunch menu read more

Marisol - Marisol Burger, Rigatoni - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had the place to myself for an early dinner. All the servers were very attentive and kind. The food was light and delish- exactly what I was looking for after an afternoon at the museum. Fun people watching. I appreciate that they have orange wine in their menu! read more

Marisol - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I don't think I've left a bad review yet. Marisol left me wanting much more. The customer service behind the lunch/cafe counter was unsightly. A young "woke" gal approached my friend and i at 12:15pm on Tuesday, July 12. I asked her if there was a non-vegan burger as I have read the rave reviews online about Marisol's menu and esp this burger. She said "I think it's on the normal menu" I asked her if I could see a menu she didn't acknowledge me and a minute later pulled out a menu. Then asked for it back quickly as if i was going to run off with the food-smudged paper menu. Weird. Then she said she didn't know what the roast beef looked like or if it was good ...like just lie to me, then, dude? My word! She didn't know ANYTHING but her response to every question was condescending and made me feel like an outcast. I walked away feeling out of body and really quite upset. As i reassessed the situation and went over the communication all day I couldn't find the pieces that perhaps were my fault for warranting such an distasteful unwelcoming response from the gal. If this "artistic" confusion is common amongst their staff and service professionals I would be super concerned about their future. To management: please hire and please train better! read more

Beautiful restaurant located on the ground floor of the Museum of Contemporary Art. Lovely murals and color-scheme accenting the airy space. The menu is wide and varied and includes choices For everyone. There's chicken, seafood and vegetarian options. The dishes are plates attractively. The only thing keeping this restaurant from a five rating is their shortage of servers, who sometimes are bartender's too. They are very friendly and knowledgeable about their food, but stretched too far read more

Marisol - Dessert - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First impression was not great as the hostess was preoccupied on his phone as I tried to talk to him. However, Ian our server was incredible! Super helpful, kind, and seemed happy to be there! The food was great! We especially loved the salmon and breakfast sandwich! read more

This is like a neighborhood restaurant but it's almost hidden in the Museum of Contemporary Art. It's a Mediterranean small plate's menu that is fun to explore and share. The 4 of us started with something as simple as olives. They were in a celery salsa verde and delicious. The sunflower humus is a favorite with the flax seed crackers. The pomme frits with the feta creme fraiche and dill keep us reaching for more. We tried the celery root gnudi and it was a pleasant surprise. Kind of like pasta balls in an apple, cauliflower, sour cherry and brown butter sauce. The poblano blanco was another delight. As you can see we small plated our way through the menu. We tried their 2 desserts, scoop of ice cream and the chocolate semifreddo. What a treat! read more

Do you go to MCA for the art, well you also have to go for the food. Marisol to start with had excellent service. Ordered the pancakes, sausage and a fruit bowl. The pancakes were light and fluffy with a cinnamon butter that was a great accent to the smoothness of the pancake. read more

Marisol - Espresso Martini - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ouch, too many brand new employees all at once. First positive: they honored our reservation time. First negative: was shown to a table for two in a little side room crowded with a large/loud group meeting when there were plenty of lovely seats in the main dining room. A bunch of positives and negatives after that. The second person we had contact with after the hostess was the busboy filling our water glasses; I greeted him in a friendly manner and was barely responded too, kind of rude. Then came the loud clang of silverware dropping only to discover that that was to be our server dropping the silverware. I'm sure they will improve their serving skills over time, a bit awkward now. Then someone else brought us the wrong meal, she politely explained it was her first day on the job. When the food was delivered we were lacking spoons for our soup. Said soup was, at best, lukewarm. The bread served with the soup was too hard and crusty and it would've been nice if it came with a pat of butter. Each of the salads were very tasty which is why I gave 4 stars... also the service will surely get better with experience. Our server also dropped more silverware as we were leaving. read more

Marisol - Pea soup - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A hot mess for a group of 6. Long wait to get served and also a long wait for the food to come out once ordered. They messed up our order (didn't know which salmon was more cooked, forgot to put something on the side, forgot a drink order). Food itself was okay but a bit subpar. Really enjoyed the hummus (especially with the cracker) though! read more

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Waited at the host stand for a few minutes only to be told that we just missed last call for food a couple of minutes ago. The employee was very rude and I would not recommend. read more

Heads up- this restaurant is in the lower lobby of the MCA. It's not really separated from the crowd. We went here for lunch during restaurant week but weren't that impressed by the menu. So we opted for the normal menu. I got the Panzanella salad and my friends got the BLT and Ham+Cheese. All of them looked sooo yummy. The service was great. And even though it's close to the loud people in the lobby, the ambiance was very cool sleuth interesting line art on the walls. read more

Marisol - Panzanella salad - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tried the fixed price menu for restaurant week. Excellent lentil soup (very creative) filling and tasty; Perfectly cooked cod with a flavorful sauce and shaved fennel on top. Chocolate dessert with a crema base very good. Table service was very excellent and pleasant. They got busy around 12:15. Make a reservation. read more

This place is criminally underrated. I came to experience its brunch menu for restaurant week and was blown away. The food was spectacular for an amazing price. The cod with its mild flavor soaked all the richness and savory deliciousness of the braised butter bean. Each bite was delightful with a hint of fennel and the tartness of the green apple mojo was tantalizing and compelled me to savor every moment. Honestly this might be the first time that I could genuinely feel the food dancing on my tastebuds. I'd love to come back here and try their full menu, and the fact that it's tucked inside the MCA makes it a perfect date on Tuesdays. read more

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