Experiences with the food at recess, thus my main concern is service. CONSISTENTLY* they are taught to meet client needs and, overall, be the ultimate asset. read more

Honestly was pleasantly surprised at this venues food. The food menu is small but it's really good! Add on the cocktails and it's even better. The environment is great even on colder days there's fire pits and lamps everywhere. The service is equally great too. Looking forward to returning this summer read more

Such a fun atmosphere! The staff is super friendly. The starters were delicious (loaded tots & chicken and waffle fries). The brunch entrees were just ok (Nutella French toast & Cuban sandwich). Would definitely go again! read more

We started off as a party of 10 which quickly escalated to a party of about 25 people. From hello to goodbye, our waitress Rosie was awesome. She moved us to the center patio so that we were more comfortable when the rest of our party joined, so 5 star for our pretty server Rosie and minus 1 star for the host who said she couldn't accommodate that many people "without a reservation".... Rose told us not to worry, she would take care of us. We could tell she was a bit busy with other tables but still made the effort to check on us several times and even stay to chat with us when time allowed. If something was missing, she apologized and got right on it. Some of of food took a while to come out but she was very apologetic. The only con is not being able to modify a couple things on the menu but that wasn't a really big deal. She made great drinks/food recommendations.. She recommended a cucumber martini for my wife (which she loved).. We will definitely be back for the food, drinks, atmosphere and rosie! Recess was a great hangout atmosphere, great food and great drinks but it's the server that makes the experience worthwhile! It's a-shame she couldn't have shots with us! We made sure we added her shots on our tip (: GO RECESSSSSSS! read more

My friends and I visited on 05/19/2022. Our waiter advised he was so busy but would check back with us as soon as he could. Food order and drinks were placed. Both were just ok. The bill was split between three of us with three different bank cards. He used a handheld card reader machine. It was a little cumbersome and he was impatient. He placed the cards in the reader and advised we could tip (go figure) and asked if we wanted our receipts via email. We all selected email. Fast forward. My card was charged twice. One of the charges was correct (20% tip included of course). The other charge was erroneous. I called the restaurant on 05/20/2022 to inquire about this. To date, my call has not been returned. I am now disputing the charge with my financial institution. By the way, none of us received an receipt via email. I will not be returning. read more

Was here on Sunday. Food was not good, service was poor. I ordered a Ruben and a mixed drink. The Reuben had hardly any meat on it and it was rubbery, the fries were cold for $16, then my mixed drink came to me as a shot and a coke. They charged me $4 for the coke and $12 for the shot. Probably never going there again! Interior was nice, I did like that. read more

Impromptu date night lead my boyfriend and I here and needless to say it was super cute! Loved the vibe, the drinks, and the food. It was so good I forgot to take pics of it :( our waiter was attentive and super nice. If you're in the west loop definitely check this place out super fun and nice . read more

So I have a reservation for 5 people, for a birthday a week in advance. When we get to the front there is a line and security yells at us that it doesn't matter if we have a reservation, that we have to wait in line. No biggie. We get seated are greeted and then drinks take 30 min. Again no biggie. We wait 20 min to order food, then drinks. The part that blew me is friends that have a separate reservation, that came 1 1/2 hours after us sit down and they added all of their stuff to our bill. Then they act like they can't give us the proper check. Its how you talk to people and how you deal with them when under pressure. I'm industry too and this is ridiculous. Short staffed, cool. Bar backed up? Cool. You trying to school me about who sat at my table and you didn't even bother to ask if they were apart of our reservation before you took orders....thats unprofessional read more

This is a great bar to go to if you are looking for a fun environment and to have YOUR DEBIT CARD GIVEN AWAY TO A STRANGER and then be lied to about the situation and not be given a solution. My friends and I were having a great time and enjoying our drinks and the atmosphere, until we went back for more and my friend asked to close out her tab and get her card back, but couldn't because her debit card was signed for by a stranger and given to someone other than herself. The bartender (who I will not name) lied about giving it to her, despite myself being a witness that they hadn't. The manager, who was not around for the situation, was quick to defend and slow to offer us a solution, despite the witnesses to the card being given back outnumbering the people who were sure they did. In conclusion, this establishment does not care about it's non-white patrons and is not able to take responsibility for the major mess-up that is misplacing a debit card. Photos attached are proof our drinks. The night ended horribly and I would not recommend this place to anyone non-white. read more

Recess - Drinks. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had a terrible/weird experience at recess. We were sitting dow and waited 30 minutes before a waiter came to see us. After the waited took the order from everyone on the table, we did not get served for about 45 minutes. Thats a total of 75 minutes without nothing on our table. We then inquired about what was going on and the managers and rest of the staff had no response other than apologies, but it really seemed as if they were terribly disorganized and could not handle what was on their plate. We decided to leave. This was the worst display of service I have came across and Ive been going out alot for 20 years. Why did I give it two stars and not only one? Because the staff was at least friendly and polite. read more

The front desk at Recess saved my Saturday. I thought I booked reservation for my friends and me to go and after putting in my credit card information I forgot to tap reserve. Saturday comes and we're driving over and they're saying they have no reservation under my name and as I'm looking at me screenshot of the reservation I too had noticed that I did not tap reserve. They knew I was in distress but allowed my friends and I inside. Last minute. On a Saturday. I could rave on and on about the food or the atmosphere but the kindness is what'll keep me coming back time and time again. Thank you so much. read more

Lucia was our server and she was INCREDIBLE! She made our friend's birthday party amazing. She was so attentive to our group and made our experience great. read more

Awesome place to hang outdoors w friends. They have firepits all over the patio & awesome drinks! You can even make your own s'mores Yum!!

Came here in early December with an old coworker. Failed to check the weather before we left, but they were super accommodating with hot drinks, shots, and a heater. The drinks and food were amazing. I came back a few weeks later and got take out simply because I was craving the beet salad so much. Kaci was our server and she was super sweet and attentive. I can't wait for it to be warmer out so I can come back! If you do decide to brave the weather right now definitely bring a blanket and some gloves and make sure to tip your server accordingly! read more

Great food and atmosphere! Celia was especially amazing and our server Cindy was amazing we had an amazing time we will def come back !!

Such a cute fun concept. Covid compliant and fire pits to keep warm. The warm cider drink was delicious and sweet. The spinach pesto pizza was great. Bolognese and kbbq steak was also delicious but the portion was on the small side. I would definitely come back again for the atmosphere. read more

Okay, I didn't expect to like it. I consider myself super lame. I've never been hip to the newest trend and I'm guilty of perpetually doing my own thing no matter how outlandish. Somehow, I felt comfortable at Recess? Maybe it's because I was drunk? Anyway, my friend and I came here after our reservation at another restaurant fell through. It turns out Recess has a 2 hour time limit on tables (smart) so your reservation WILL be honored. I made my reservation through OpenTable and I had to put my credit card down which made me ever-so-slightly nervous until I found out about the time limit. We were starving by the time we got there and our server got to our table with lightning speed. Did I mention we were sat before our reservation was actually supposed to start? That gets this place 5 stars in my book instantly. I wish I had caught our server's name because she was so personable and helpful. My friend and I mostly ordered appetizers and were so impressed by the quality of the food. I also ordered a bottle of wine which came in a nice ice bucket. This wouldn't be so remarkable if my previous dinner reservations hadn't fallen through. I'm glad my friend and I ended up at Recess because we had a fantastic time. Our tater tots were definitely made in the kitchen, the hummus was delectable, and the guacamole was NOT too salty (a pet peeve of mine). I'm not mentioning the most obvious thing - the atmosphere. To me, that isn't necessarily a draw because I'm a total square, but I will say it was much appreciated. The tables are certainly spaced out enough that you feel safe and considering the entire restaurant is open-air(ish) it's a safer bet than most other places. I guarantee I will be back. read more

Service was 2/10 as my group was told to drink more water with our bottomless mimosas. RUDE. Food was good portions were huge. Nice atmosphere. Would be back with hopefully a different waitress read more

I came to this lovely place lastnight and I had Rose as a server. She was gorgeous and gave me many recommendations that I loved. She had such a great welcoming personality and came back to check on us several times. I give my experience 10 out of 10. read more

I feel bad for the servers and bartenders, especially since I worked in the industry for over a decade, but it's horribly run. Food and drinks are great. But these managers need to get their head out of their a$$3$ and help out their staff. read more

I don't even want to give the satisfaction of 1-star. Our group made two reservations to abide with the COVID guidelines. Another group had 3 giant tables put together (about 18 ppl). The little brunette bouncer had no issue saying something to one of our friends about keeping a mask on when speaking to our and the patrons (other table) was mingling with 20+ people, maskless. Our waitress also pulled her mask down every time she spoke, forgot an entire order, and never gave us a new glass of water. I know these might be red flags to anyone else but I felt so uncomfortable during my visit. Not sure if was just an off day for the staff but...if you're a POC, take your business elsewhere. :-) read more

This was a great place to go with the pandemic going on right now. It's a very cool atmosphere in general with GREAT music, but also we were seated outside with no tables next to us by at least 9-10 feet. The waiters and staff all wore masks and they had security guards walking around to make sure people wore masks from their tables to the bathroom or if they were walking around at all. Love this place and will go again. read more

We wanted to check out Recess and it was an awesome experience, social distancing protocol was being enforced properly. The security & hosts were able to seat us right away without reservations but I would definitely book reservations for our next visit. Karli our server was friendly & efficient. The drinks & food were so flavorful, we will be back! read more

Recess is a must visit place in Chicago for some good outdoor food and cocktails in a very hip open air concept spot. The courtyard of tables in surrounded by the shipping containers makes for a fun and interesting place. When the weather is really nice and you are craving some really fun cocktails this is the perfect place. The bourbon and mezcal cocktails seemed to be a hit and the craft beer selection was plentiful. The menu is set up in a fun was as if it it was a tax form. For a really really fun experience this is your place to go. read more

Got the Buffalo chicken rolls and they were FLAME! Five stars for the cool ambience and great food at a fair rate.

They did their best at accommodating our large party. Although we weren't at the same table they helped to make due during COVID. The service was excellent ant the food and drinks were great, especially the water cooler (liquor license). May own was out server and she was so attentive. Def will be back. read more

Recess - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Go for the people watching and decor, stay for more people watching. Food was good, not necessarily rememberable, and service was great for such a vast place. But you go here for the scene and to be scene, right? :-) read more

Since Chicago is starting to open back up me and 6 friends were looking for an outdoor patio we could have some drinks and food at on Saturday. The patio is massive and they did a very good job at with following the social distance rules. We got a couple drinks each which were very good then ended our day with the liquor box thing that serves 10-12 people which was also good. The food was better than expected as well. I got the Reuben and my friends got the steak sandwich, chicken tenders, and the chopped salad. Overall great experience and recommend this to anyone if they're looking for a weekend day drinking spot. read more

This is a great spot for a socially distanced date! The patio is huge and the lights and the shipping containers really add a cool element. I enjoyed both drinks I got, and they were definitely a bit strong! They have a decent cocktail list as well as wine and beer. We didn't eat but the food looked good too, I would definitely return. If the business doesn't already have a brunch menu, I would highly recommend it as they have an ideal day drinking spot! read more

Really nice place. Good food, cool vibes, and great drinks. It's made of railroad cars which was super cool! The ceviche was okay, the chicken strips (garlic Parmesan) were yummy, and I liked the cheese tots. The drinks were awesome. Overall, I loved this spot and would return. read more

Perfect outdoor patio space that is set up well for social distancing. Felt safe the entire time, fun atmosphere, and great drinks & appetizers. We will definitely be back! read more

Cool atmosphere, and we liked the burrata, but the good stops there. Service was slow and a little all over the place. It took our waitress 10 minutes to acknowledge us. She wasn't particularly friendly, either. We ordered and appetizer and an entree each (two of us). The appetizer arrived the same time as the entrees. Sandwiches weren't great. I had the fried chicken sandwich. It was too bread for a piece of chicken that was pounded to oblivion. French dip sandwich was just okay. Cocktails were fine but not great for the price tag. Overall, just a lackluster experience for what you pay and the hype. read more

Super cute atmosphere and great vibes!! Drinks (albeit a bit expensive) were really tasty and there were so many options. Will definitely be coming back! read more

This place is super cool. Big public parking lot across the street is very convenient. The most amazing outdoor space that welcomes dogs!!!! Cool atmosphere. Great beer selection and tasty food. We made a reservation online. Definitely going back. Maybe later in the evening when it is cooler after the sun is down. read more

I'm visiting Chicago, my sister made the reservation here tonight and I was very surprised at the experience I had. Shelby was our waitress and she was awesome, 10/10. She made our experience top notch. Definitely would come back!! read more

The service here was SO accommodating. We brought a big group and they catered to us while following COVID guidelines. Whoever was hosting and serving tables 1208/09 on 10/11/20 from 4pm-6pm deserves a raise. Thanks, your hard work was definitely noticed! read more

Large and creative space. Air conditioning was plentiful on a hot summer day. Cocktails were delicious! They have beer, cocktails, wine, and large format pitchers. I think it gets a little wild as the night gets later but it was great for after work drinks and food! read more

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I showed up here on a Sunday afternoon and they asked if I had a reservation. I said, "No, are you at capacity?" (the place is enormous) and they said "No, but if you don't have a reservation, you'll have to wait, but you can book a reservation online now." I looked on my phone, saw that the next available reservation wasn't for an hour, shared that with the bouncer, he started mumbling something about how he'd hook us up, but I couldn't totally understand him and it seemed like a shake down for a tip. A big party left, and he said we could go in. The place was maybe at 50% capacity. The space was fun, but I'm not sure what was going on at the door and not sure I'd go back and deal with that headache. read more

Recess has an amazing vibe and the overall atmosphere between the menu design, beer/drinks options, and restaurant theme is perfection. It's definitely one of the most unique restaurants I've been to and is probably the most COVID-safe restaurant in town. Best of all, the service is EXCELLENT! I thought I had been overcharged (turned out that it was 100% my mistake) and left a voice mail about the situation. I was contacted promptly by the general manager Andrew and he was extremely helpful and went above and beyond to resolve it. I'll definitely be coming back for the 5-star ambiance and customer service. read more

The french dip was great and the had gluten free buns! The outdoor seating is fun and they had good drinks. The alderman's choice was awesome but I didn't like the roykos revenge. The ceviche was ok read more