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    The Bongo Room

    4.0 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Order The Bongo Room Takeout or Delivery

    The Bongo Room Photos

    THE BONGO ROOM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Bongo Room

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    Reviews With Photos

    Deconstructed Lobster Roll Benedict
    Dorothy S.

    Writing an updated review for Bongo Room bc I'm always impressed w how the quality of food never drops. Walked in and got a table around 915 on a Saturday. They had two special drinks of the day, an orange/pineapple/mango juice and a watermelon mint lemonade. We got both and both were fuego. The juice was freshly squeezed and you can tell. We each also had a coffee, which was great. The lemonade was so refreshing too. I had the deconstructed lobster Benedict, he had the tomatillo scramble. The lobster Benedict is always good, and today was no different. The pancakes are such a treat and still just as good as ever. The tomatillo scramble was so fresh and tasty too. Service is excellent. The interior is inviting and clean. Bongo room still never misses. Easy pay to park right out front in the am hours.

    Lemon Blk Pancake Caramel Pretzel Pancks Chicken Sausage Side Bacon
    Ines D.

    Excellent breakfast menu. A variety of delicious sweet pancake options as well as many other non-sweet options.

    Jane Y.

    Oh how I wanted to really like bongo room. maybe their weekend brunch is better? Service was really great but the food lacked in flavor. The omelette didnt taste like much and was a bit dry. The lavender matcha was okay. Overally an okay experience but I wouldnt come back except maybr weekend brunch. I just happened to be in town so I wanted to try bongo room because i have been hearing about it over the years.

    Deconstructed Lobster Roll Benedict
    Natasha B.

    Still hits the spot. Wish there were more locations still. The cremini omelette was so so good. We got one piece of a French toast with apple/pear- it was amazing. Def a perfect end to a meal.

    Molly C.

    Cool art, cozy vibes, and incredible service! The food was a bit hit-or-miss, but Lola was a total rockstar and took great care of us. Worth a stop for the atmosphere and the friendly staff alone.

    Stack of Blueberry Pancakes
    Tanya R.

    The Bongo Room was a hit for us for brunch! The service was excellent and the servers were attentive and checked in on us frequently (we never ran out of water) without seeming overbearing. We were seated in a booth towards the back of the house near the service area, but the noise level was perfect, allowing us to chat and still hear one another. My chai latte came in a double walled coffee mug, so it stayed warm for the duration of breakfast (really appreciated this!). It had the perfect amount of sweetness and spice. My avocado toast on sourdough was exceptional! I get this dish as often as I can when I'm traveling and eating breakfast out, and this was one of the best! Fresh sprouts, radishes, and arugula, made for the perfect bite! My friends ordered the blueberry pancakes and although I'm not a fan of sweet pancakes, I had to indulge. The pancakes were fluffy enough to take on all of the sweetness and were packed with flavor. This dish is one I'd definitely only be able to share, but it was quite impressive! I loved the quirky artwork and the flare that the Latin music added in the background-it me happy dance with each delicious bite! Overall, one of the best breakfasts we had while we were in Chicago!

    French Toast with Pear
    Chalandra G.

    Had the French toast with pear and it was 10/10! I'm not usually a hot fruit type of person. But the meal was perfectly balanced between fresh and sweet. I was worried it would be too sweet, but it honestly tasted so fresh and light! Will definitely be getting this again next time I come!

    Breakfast Burrito

    I purchased a breakfast burrito and a latte for $35 (I was desperate for both) and unfortunately I won't again. The latte was standard and cost $6.50. The burrito... I thought I put no cheese but I must've forgotten. The cheese is on the outside. So unless you want greasy cheesy fingys I recommend eating this burrito with a fork and knife (I peeled it off). As for the contents. I paid an extra $5.50 for chicken sausage. And $1.50 for mushrooms. Perhaps the tortilla shouldn't be as big as it is so the quantity of the contents of the burrito isn't humiliated. The more I wrestled with the looseness of the flimsy wrap- the more it felt like I was eating a glorified quesadilla. I'm just thinking about how, if I had the time, I could go to the store and buy all the ingredients and make 3 fully loaded, stuffed taught, breakfast burritos for the same price. Also, what's a burrito without beans? The burrito could've used some greens as well, an arugula would be nice. There was no crunch, just a decent amount of smashed avocado (I prefer sliced). I will say, the mushrooms had great flavor. The beige cream dill sauce did not have great flavor. It's a little funny, because looking at the sauce, it seems like there are plenty of spices blended into the sour cream. I had to do a double taste to see if it was my taste buds or if it was the sauce that deceived me. It was the sauce. All in all I'm unfortunately unsatisfied with my burrito purchase.

    Deconstructed Lobster Roll Benedict, mango iced tea
    Devona S.

    Service was top tier. Server was so attentive and the bussers were even more attentive. They were quick to give us napkins and help clean off the table due to a spill that was our fault. Food was PHENOMENAL. I can't even express how this might have been the best poached eggs on an eggs Benedict that's I've ever had. The portion size was huge. And I wish I would've just shared the plate. It was a super clean and welcoming and warm environment. Felt extremely welcomed.

    Italian Breakfast Sandwich
    Bianca V.

    Bingo room never disappoints and is considered my favourite breakfast restaurant in Wicker! I enjoy their fresh juices, cappuccinos, breakfast and lunch items. I have had business lunch meetings here and dates with friends. The wait staff works as a team and the atmosphere is adorable and cozy. I have yet to have a dish I did not like. My all time favorite guilty pleasure is the white chocolate & caramel pretzel pancakes.

    Vegetarian Croissant Sandwich
    Antoine W.

    A Wicker Park staple that I finally got the chance to try. Though a little bit of a wait, great service overall, with us seated in front of one of the windows so we could people-watch while we ate. A varied menu with great choices and multiple adult beverage options. The Vegetarian Croissant Sandwich, my order, was delicious! Buttery croissant, fresh ingredients, and a great portion for brunch. Definitely will return!

    Breakfast Burrito, Pear & Apple French Toast

    We had brunch - burrito and French toast were great, but the cocktails were amazing! Perfect view of the street while we ate.

    2 Egg and meat
    Paige K.

    Update 12/11/23 - I'm afraid this place is just a bit overrated. I like that they have fun pancake options and they're pretty good but $15+ and you can't make them into combos so if you want a balanced breakfast, you have to order two entrees. This time, my husband got the lobster Benedict and I got the ham and eggs and we shared the ube pancakes on special. They charged extra for ham and for egg whites. Our total after tip was $77 for two for breakfast, just kinda insane. My ham and potatoes were cold. Our potatoes were mushy and unappetizing. Especially after asking for extra crispy. Possibly the worst bfast potatoes I've ever had. The redeeming qualities: the ube pancakes were fun and different. Not super flavorful but good texture. My husband enjoyed his lobster Benedict.

    Breakfast Burrito

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    4 months ago

    The best pancakes I've been going to this place for a long time bongo room has the most amazing and delicious tasty pancakes

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    4 months ago

    Nothing much to say, I was not very impressed with the location and the food was average at best.

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    Page 1 of 44

    The Bongo Room Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Bongo Room

    Do they take reservations?

    No, walk in

    Do they have a gluten free menu?

    No they don't.

    Is there parking?

    Just street parking!

    Do they take reservations? If so is there an app or website?

    They do not take reservations. I usually try to call ahead and ask how long the wait is.

    Any vegan options?

    No vegan substitute eggs, meats or cheeses, but fresh vegetables and home fries.

    Is it byob?

    No. They serve liquor. Two out of three locations serve liquor. The one that doesn't, doesn't allow liquor inside either as far as I'm aware.

    I love the Bongo Room BUT why does the website menu read "Winter/ Spring 2017" at the Top???? What is the current menu offerings?

    You have to go in to see updates menus

    Do they take reservations on st. Patty's?

    No. They don't take reservations at all

    Are the entrance/bathroom accessible?

    Entrance is a little tight especially when it's crowded. I don't know about the bathrooms though.

    Gluten free pancakes?

    Probably not.

    View All 12 Questions

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    Gretel

    4.5(479 reviews)
    1.4 miLogan Square
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    This is my third time at Gretel and the food was even better than I remembered it! We came around…read more5pm on a Sunday and there was only about a 10 minute wait. They sat us downstairs. I had only sat upstairs at the bar and outside, so I was happy we were able to see the downstairs. It's very intimate down there with only a few tables, while the upstairs is a lot more of a lively bar atmosphere. Service was good and fast. They are known for their burger but I am not a huge burger fan. Their other food is amazing though! Even my boyfriend who loves burgers agreed that the chicken sandwich was one of the best and maybe even better than the burger. Definitely get the mac & cheese, chicken sandwich, and french onion soup. The french onion soup was super cheesy and the mac & cheese was so creamy and perfect. Typically I don't like bacon in mac & cheese, but I love that they don't overdo it here where it overpowers the entire dish. It was only some tiny pieces of bacon just for the flavor.

    Came for the burger, but stayed for the drinks. Maybe I chose a bad night, but I thought the burger…read morewas disappointing based on its hype and Gretel's reputation. Hands down, the saltiest burger I ever had in Chicago. At least, they were generous with the fries. Laidback vibes and cool space, I would come back to try the other cocktails on the menu with friends.

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    Boka

    Boka

    4.3(1.9k reviews)
    1.4 miLincoln Park
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    We planned a family dinner at Boka, and this was one of those meals that was worth every penny…read more We sat outside, which was much more casual than the intimate atmosphere inside. The patio did come with a couple of uninvited guests - mosquitoes, and at one point a spider stopped by my plate. Thankfully, these visitors did not dampen our overall experience. We started with cocktails and tried the Avant Gardener - gin with sorrel, bay leaf and lemon - and the wonderfully named You Go Glen Coco, made with rum, ube, coconut, lemongrass, cacao nibs, honeysuckle and ginger. Two very different and creative cocktails that fit nicely with the experience. We tried quite a bit of the menu. The dry-aged duck was my favorite. The beef tartare was incredibly tasty, and the scallops and Boka's signature roasted chicken were right up there as well. Presentation was clearly part of the experience - every dish arrived looking as carefully thought out as it tasted. We finished with dessert, and the Sweet Corn Custard was the winner for me. Service throughout the evening was good and attentive, and we walked away with a highly satisfied experience. Next time, though, I'm choosing a table inside - and leaving the spiders to enjoy the patio.

    Boka and Alinea are perhaps the most iconic Michelin star restaurants in Chicago, and it would be…read more"embarrasing" that a person who visited Chicago for over 15 times has not try either one. So, I finally made a reservation for Boka. There are several reasons that Boka looks attractive to me: a fine-dining restaurant opening on Monday, creative New American dishes, and importantly, they allow customers to order à la carte. I went there at 7:45pm on Monday and at that time the restaurant was about half-full. I tried the following dishes: 1. Bluefin Tuna Tart. A bite size app. The tart was filled with cherry puree/sauce, finely "minced" tuna and yuzu jelly, from bottom to top. Very rich in texture, and had a good balance of flavors. 2. Tortelli. Italian Dumplings filled with ricotta+tarragon, cooked with maitake and sweet corns, and topped with shaved goat gouda. The dumplings came with 6 pc, all generously filled with cheese. There was also lots of shaved goat gouda. These absolutely made the dish very rich in flavor, but a large amount of cheese also means it could be salty. The corns, luckily, added some refreshing sweetness to it. 3. Black Truffle Chicken. I ordered it mainly because I wondered how well a Michelin star restaurant cooks chicken, which could easily be made too dry. Surprisingly, the chicken was so tender and juicy that it required little effort to slice it! Moreover, interestingly, the chicken breast was stuffed with some sausage (the layer you see between the skin and the meat). Unfortunately, the dish was too salty for me: the chicken was brined, the sausage may had been cured, the jus and zucchini puree were also salty. I tried to finish it but could not, so I asked a bartender to send it back to the kitchen. 4. Roasted Hokkaido Scallops. Another creative dish. The seared scallops were paired with pickled & grilled cucumber slices, diced seaweed & radish, cauliflower puree, perhaps some puffed rice, and garnished with tarragon infused oil. I really liked the smoky and sour cucumber slices and the umami seaweed & radish. The puffed rice added some delightful crispiness to the dish. But the taste of cauliflower puree was more or less over-shadowed by the other ingredients. 5. Dinner rolls. Potato rolls with sunflower seeds. Served with fennel pollen+sea salt butter. Bread service was free. Service was, overall, top-level. I was greeted warmly by the reciptionist and the bartenders (I sat at the bar). The staff all had a good knowledge about the ingredients in the dishes, as well as how they are prepared (actually it seems that they had a book to record these, because I saw two of them reading and discussing such). When I complained about the chicken, they apologized to me and offered to cook something else for me for free. I might come back in the future if I see something interesting on their seasonally changing menu.

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    Boka
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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4(9.6k reviews)
    2.2 miWest Loop, Near West Side
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    One of the best burgers I've ever had. The bone marrow was really tasty too, I've never had it…read morebefore

    Au mother Fugging Cheval -- A Burger That Actually Lives Up to the Hype…read more The Spot itself has major aura and swagger. Hard to describe but you just know you're at a very important place but that doesn't take itself too seriously. There are burgers that are good, burgers that are great, and then there's Au Cheval. I went in with pretty ridiculous expectations considering this place has been called one of the best burger spots in the world...and somehow, the burger still delivered. That's rare. The patties were insanely juicy and perfectly cooked, with that beautiful crispy, caramelized edge you want from a great griddle burger. The combination of the melted cheese, creamy sauce, onions, pickles and that ridiculously buttery brioche bun was borderline unfair. Rich, messy, salty, savory and completely indulgent in the best possible way. And that bun deserves its own mention. Soft enough to absorb all that glorious burger juice without completely falling apart. The whole thing is constructed like someone actually understands what makes a burger great. Is it the best burger I've ever had? I DONT FUCKING KNOW. but I completely understand why people put Au Cheval in the conversation for best burger in America, if not the world. The hype is real. This is a fucking burger. 9.7/10

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    The Bongo Room - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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