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    Recess

    3.7 (453 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Recess Takeout or Delivery

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    RECESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    DJ
    Live music
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Recess

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    Crystal Z.

    Ambiance - modern, offers indoor and outdoor seating, can also do private events, love that they have giant jenga Service - staff checked on us often & food came out fairly quickly Food - drinks were super good (know it all stood out the most), served typical bar type food

    Christina V.

    Service was 10/10! Everyone's very helpful & friendly. Ambiance is nice with great weather. However, food was subpar & a bit on the pricey side for its taste. Wouldn't come here to eat if you're starving! Drinks were good however!

    Outdoor lower area
    Jacqueline O.

    Context: Reviewing as an EDM show venue! We did not have any of the food here but they were offering a decent menu even during a show. We saw SIDEPIECE here. It's a super nice outdoor space but it's kind of weird as an EDM venue. Sound quality was mid, it was loud enough that I need ear protection in, but somehow not enough to fill the space and feel the bass over people yapping in the audience. Honestly either is fine but it was a weird in-the-middle level. The view is NON-EXISTENT lol. Which like is not the end of the world, it made it easy to find space wherever to dance, but it's kinda a let down when you're there for a show. Even if you were in the raised area where the decks were, you couldn't see anchoring because the DJ setup was literally the same level. Once you fill the space, anyone in the lower area doesn't have a chance to see anything at all lol. A bunch of people resorted to climbing up the railing a little and holding their phones up really high which is honestly kinda dangerous when people are partying and inebriated. The video below was airdropped to me from one of the more adventurous girls lol. The safety was a bit of a concern, even beyond the rail climbing. SIDEPIECE had to stop the show because of a safety situation and it honestly took way too long for help to get to the person. The artist literally had to direct people where to move and ask the crowd for narcan. As someone who works in live events professionally, I was shocked that (1) the artist had to do all of that instead of venue staff and (2) the venue should have narcan handy and ready to go IMO. Not sure what ended up happening but was definitely a scary situation. Otherwise, vibe was pretty good, bathroom lines were pretty short, and bar service was quick. It's not making my favorites list as far as venues go, but I also was not mad about it.

    Partially dranked espresso martini
    Kat L.

    Fun place for a group. They have games that you can get play at the table. There's also giant junga and a photo booth. Good selection of beer and cocktails. Non-alcoholic beverages also available and most cocktails can be made without alcohol. Only down side is that iIt can get a little loud.

    Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings*chicken
    Cassie T.

    Recess is a really fun place to go to pretty much any time of year. Summer time they have the patio and doors open, you can bring your dogs. Still fun during winter even when the patios are closed. Lot of tvs and games, board games, patio games, etc. It's great for groups and could make for a date spot but it gets loud here. Food is alright, your typical sports bar food quality. The service is pretty good and workers are friendly, I've only ever had good experiences here until this past Saturday. My friend and I bought some clothes and had our shopping bag with brand new, sealed bags of Garrett popcorn inside our bags. The security guard told us we couldn't bring food in and to leave it by the front. Where....? We asked if we could leave it with the host stand inside at least. He said no food inside and instructed us to "hide" the popcorn on the side near the bunch of retractable barrier poles. We asked if it would still be there when we left, he said yes. Lo and behold, we're leaving and don't see it there. Asked the security guard where they were and he pretty much laughed it off saying he didn't know. Absolutely no remorse. If there's a no food policy then at least have somewhere secure or reliable for people to store it???? Please do better

    Huevos Rancheros
    Victoria S.

    Recess was not very busy during our time which was nice. The place is great in the summertime but wintertime it's very quiet, at least for brunch. I got the huevos rancheros and I was a bit disappointed. Usually at brunch places dishes come with pancakes or toast or specifically huevos rancheros it come with more toppings like beans or avocado. My dish came with two eggs and bean paste and the dish just tasted like the paste. I would not get this dish again. The service was nice but we were here for a birthday and we brought our own cake and they said we had to pay a $3 cutting fee per person so we didn't cut the cake.

    Tequila Totter
    Aleena V.

    I was here a while ago for brunch and bottomless mimosas which was super fun! Came back yesterday after a couple years and the vibes, drinks, food, and service were just as great! We shared the waffle fries between the three of us and it was perfect!

    Michelle T.

    5 Stars for Cafeton (Suenos Pre- Party)! It was the party of the year! I had a blast that day and almost had more fun there than I did during Suenos '25! Lol!

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    Page 4 of 12

    Recess Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Recess

    Is this venue outdoor only?

    No there is a large indoor space open year round in addition to the outdoor space

    Is the outdoor patio open right now?

    The patio is not fully set up yet. However, it is more weather dependent than set up at this time of the year.

    Is there live music every weekend or a dj?

    We have a DJ Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday

    Do you need to make reservation beforehand or can we do walk-in?

    They aren’t required, however they are encouraged. Without a reservation, we cannot guarantee a table. The bar is open for bar service as well though.

    Can my 18 year old niece go for dinner?

    Yes she can.

    Is there any birthday treatment?

    Are there Gluten Free options?

    Do you have valet parking?

    I am sorry, but we do not. There is free street parking all around us and a lot across the street that is $5 after 6pm.

    What are the vegetarian options?

    They have pizza, a Beyond Burger option, salads, avocado toast, tater tots. I think there's more but this is what I remember at the top of my head.

    Can you reserve a seat on the patio or are reservations for inside only?

    We offer both inside and outside. Admittedly, less have requested the patio as the temperature has adjusted here in Chicago.

    Are there heaters on the patio?

    Yes

    Is this 21 and up, similar to Home Slice or good for any mixed age groups?

    21+

    Is it dog friendly?

    Yes bar is dog friendly

    View All 21 Questions

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    4.0(70 reviews)
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    We originally came to Ghost Donkey as paranormal investigators, after being hired to locate the…read moremissing ghost donkey belonging to a local agave farmer. The case had gone cold--or perhaps mezcal-hot--until we received a clue pointing us toward River North. Ghost Donkey is spacious, colorful, and full of energy, with plenty of bar seating and tables. The music can get loud, but it fits the atmosphere perfectly. The bartenders were constantly interacting with guests, swinging the lights, encouraging the crowd, and turning the entire room into a neon-lit fiesta. They do have a food menu featuring items such as tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and guacamole, but we mostly came for the drinks. Many of the cocktails are tequila- or mezcal-based, which is exactly what we enjoy. The menu is creative, the drinks are strong, and the bar does an excellent job making agave spirits approachable--even for guests who may not consider themselves mezcal experts. After two drinks and an argument with a decorative donkey, we finally found the missing spirit hiding behind the bar. He was translucent, smelled faintly of roasted agave, and appeared to be carrying a tiny map. We followed him through a glowing hallway, down a staircase, and into a secret chamber where he revealed the legendary piñata of Quetzalcoatl, the ancient feathered serpent god. Naturally, we attempted to break it open. Instead of candy, it released a cloud of mystical dust, three lime wedges, and a receipt for nachos. The ghost donkey brayed with laughter, the lights began swinging, and the entire bar erupted in applause. The bartender handed us another drink and told us this happened all the time. Ghost Donkey is a fantastic place to hang out, pregame, and enjoy inventive tequila and mezcal cocktails in a lively setting. Just be warned: you may arrive looking for a ghost donkey and leave having helped recover an ancient Mexican god's piñata. That's simply the sort of evening this place encourages.

    What a cute little "find" we were totally NOT going here until a simple "A" frame sidewalk sign…read morepiqued our curiosity.. and boy I'm glad it did. What a great vibe & ambiance . Great cocktails (I love mezcal) and great food! And to top everything off..WONDERFUL HAPPY HOUR Specials. Definitely a must visit spot.

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    Gus' Sip & Dip - The Original Wagyu Beef Dip

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    4.5(186 reviews)
    1.0 miNear North Side
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    We sipped and we dipped!…read more What an energetic little spot. The vibe throughout was so positive. Diverse crowd and lots of smiles. With prices like these, I can see why! Cocktails are $12. Yes, $12. We are used to paying Philadelphia prices which nears $17+. And by the way, the drinks were fantastic! Dirty Martinis and Pinky Gonzales's all around! For our appetizers, we split the Warm Rosemary Potato Chips, Shrimp Cocktail, and Mini Maine Lobster Rolls. Entrees included the Roasted Turkey Dipped Sandwich, the Wagyu Beef Dipped Sandwich, and the Pot Pie. These simple dishes packed a powerful punch. SO GOOD! Of course, we enjoyed the Chocolate Fudge Cake for dessert. This was reminiscent of the birthday cakes our moms would bake for us growing up. Delicious and nostalgic! This place is difficult to get into, but if you're open to a bar spot, you may be in luck. Esq and I would dine here once a week if we lived in The Windy City. Thanks, Gus!

    The hype about Gus' Sip and Dip is real, especially because they are on the top 50 bars list and…read morethey offer $12 cocktails. I have tried going here a couple times and had to leave cz of the long times, but we got lucky and got a table for 5. We got the cheese curds, fries, and bunch of different cocktails. I got the breakfast martini. It was sooo well made and delicious. It even came with a small toast with marmalade. My friends tried a bunch of different whiskey cocktails, milk punch, pinky Gonzales, etc. All the cocktails were really great. The service was fast. The ambience is moody and cozy. Really liked the cheese curds, but the fries were very salty and the spinach artichoke dip was ok. I will definitely be back for more!

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    Ila's - Happy Hour bites at the bar

    Ila's

    4.9(74 reviews)
    1.1 miNear North Side

    When I was planning my sister's bachelorette party, I wanted to find a restaurant near our hotel…read morethat could accommodate different dietary preferences (i.e. no pork, vegetarian/halal, etc.). I found Ila's on Google and liked the variety of menu items. The food appeared to elevate comfort food from multiple cuisines, such as American, Italian, South American, Asian, and Southeast Asian. I reached out to the restaurant and was assisted with a reservation for 14 people. Our table was set and ready to go as soon as we arrived at 8:30pm on a Saturday. Overall customer was excellent. Thank you to the hostess for making my sister, the bride, feel special. She complimented her and hyped her up for the night, which was really sweet. Our server was awesome too. He was friendly and highly attentive. Loved that our food and drinks also came out in a timely manner. I enjoyed everything I ate. I had a few bites of the appetizers including the scallops, fried paneer, and 2 kinds of empanadas (corn and chicken). We also got lumpia and a mixed bread platter for the table. Though I didn't have any of the latter, they were a hit at our table. I got the burger as my entree, and it was such a redemption from a crappy burger I got elsewhere earlier in my trip. The double smashed patties were juicy and flavorful. I devoured the burger and loved the thin cut fries. All-in-all, we had a lovely dinner at Ila's for my sister's bachelorette party.

    Last minute after-work HH at Ila's and it didn't disappoint. The Gin Blossom was shaken to order…read more(love a fresh craft cocktail over a pre-batched one), and it showed. We also tried the chicken & corn empanadas and the cheese pesto flatbread--all solid. The only downside was that it is super quiet with only a 3 parties including us, so don't expect a buzzing happy hour scene. The space is absolutely gorgeous though, with beautiful interiors, comfy high-end furniture, and great service. Hoping this place gets the love it deserves.

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    Bunny Slope

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    Really nice places for a group outing. The room was perfect size to move around, drink and dance…read more It was 12 of us in the room. I like that we had our own personal bartender. Drinks were very reasonable price. Tequila and cranberry was 8, 12 for a double. The jacuzzi was perfect temperature. Everything seemed sanitary and clean. I really like that they provide FREE lockers to hold our things in. They also provided a speaker so we could play our own music. Free towels but I'd bring your own sandals. I don't think they serve food. It was in the basement of a hotel but I'd definitely recommend to go.

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    Recess - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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