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    The Bongo Room

    4.0 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    THE BONGO ROOM ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Reviews With Photos - The Bongo Room

    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.

    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.

    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!

    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.

    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.

    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
    Abby M.

    My husband and I came for brunch with our 10-month old. There is no room for strollers so may not be an ideal spot if you have a younger baby. It was very loud inside and packed but there was no wait which was great. We got our food and drinks pretty quick. The best items were definitely the ube latte and ube pancakes. They were not too sweet and had a nice ube flavor. The cappuccino and breakfast burrito were good but nothing special. The potatoes were okay. If you come here, I would recommend just going for the specialty items.

    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.

    Identical twins Golden Birthday breakfast, 6 on the 6th celebration
    Tim L.

    Great but expensive, pancakes are tastey, omlette was excellent. Will come again on a special occasion

    Mocha

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    3 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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    3 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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    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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    Girl & The Goat

    Girl & The Goat

    4.4
    (10.7k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$$

    Recently, my husband and I celebrated the anniversary of the day we met. We don't always mark the…read moreoccasion, but this year it was a milestone worth celebrating. We chose to dine at Girl & the Goat in Chicago, a restaurant we had never visited before. The acclaimed restaurant by renowned chef Stephanie Izard truly lived up to its stellar reputation! One of the first things we appreciated was the convenience of the restaurant's valet parking, located right by the front patio. At $22 for up to four hours and $26 for four to eight hours, the rates were quite reasonable for the area. As soon as the three of us stepped inside Girl & the Goat (we had made a reservation for 6:30 pm on a Friday), we were warmly greeted by one of the two friendly hostesses, and were promptly led to a comfortable four-top table with a banquette and two chairs along the wall. We felt fortunate to have one of the better tables in the dining room, as some of the others were positioned very close together. The nearby two-top tables, in particular, were quite small and placed only a short distance from ours. The restaurant's rustic-industrial décor was dark but trendy and stylish, the lively and vibrant vibe was warm and welcoming. However, I have to mention that it was really loud in the dining room, as guests seemed to be enjoying themselves and talked loudly.  It was hard to hear our server and the staff who delivered and explained the dishes to us.  Our server, Yazmin, was extremely friendly and attentive.  It was very sweet of her to wish us a happy anniversary both in the beginning  and at the end of the meal.  She also checked in on us several times during the evening.  Now, on to the food and drinks. I started with a glass of the NA Sparkling Rosé ($17), which was light, crisp, and quite refreshing. My husband ordered a glass of Le Colture Prosecco ($18), while our daughter chose the Sun Kid ($18). She enjoyed her drink, although she felt the portion was a bit small, as the glass was filled with a lot of ice that took up much of the space. Since the restaurant offers small to medium plates which are shareable, Yazmin advised us to get 5 to 6 dishes for 3 people to share.  We decided to get 5 savory dishes and 3 desserts to share: Savory dishes: - Chickpea Fritters ($20), goat yogurt, green chutney, sev spice crunch, pickled rhubarb. - Pan Roasted Halibut ($37), miso-Marcona almond butter, spring onion blueberry nuoc cham. - Roasted Pig Face ($28), sunny side egg, tamarind, cilantro, red wine-maple, potato stix. - Goat Empanadas ($24), smoked tomato-corn salsa, roasted poblano crema queso fresco. - Confit Goat Belly ($38), strawberry goat braise, smoked yogurt drizzle, pickled strawberries. Desserts: - Vacation, Please! ($16), toasted coconut crunch, lemon passion fruit sorbet, rum-soaked pineapple cake. - Berry Yummy Par-tea ($16), earl grey soaked sponge cake, yuzu curd, spiced blackberries. - Chocolate Basil Brownie Bash ($16), olive oil semifreddo, chocolate fennel crunch, basil granita. The meal was just phenomenal!  All the savory dishes were cooked perfectly with bold flavors; the meats were tender and full of flavors.  There were dishes that we normally would not have ordered if we saw them on menus of other restaurants.  Here, we tried them and were delighted that we did!  Our consensus is that Roasted Pig Face is our most favorite! It is everything we love in a comfort dish -- crispy on the outside, meltingly tender inside, and packed with rich, balanced flavor.  We will definitely order this again!  The Confit Goat Belly is a close second, with buttery, fall-apart meat and just the right balance of richness, acidity, and crunch. For dessert, "Vacation, Please!" is the one that we will always come back for. The toasted coconut crunch adds texture, the lemon passion fruit sorbet brings a refreshing tang, and the rum-soaked pineapple cake ties it all together with just the right amount of sweetness.  The other two desserts that we ordered were also very good.  The staff even brought out a scoop of Chocolate Ice Cream on the house, with two lit candles to celebrate our anniversary - a thoughtful touch that made the evening even more memorable.  This dessert spread was the perfect ending to an incredible meal. I'd like to mention that the restaurant added a 4% surcharge to the bill, which the customer may request to have the surcharge remove if you choose.  We let them keep it. We spent about two hours at the restaurant. The savory dishes came out very quickly, the pace probably was even a tad too fast, but the desserts made up for it by taking a longer time.  We did not mind as we were still full, and had time to enjoy the ambiance more.  I would say it is a restaurant great for group gathering and celebratory functions, but not so much for intimate romantic date night.  All in all, it was a wonderful dinner, we look forward to returning again.

    I was there the other week (I've been here at least five times before), and a busser--not our…read morewaiter--started clearing both of our plates before we were finished eating. We each only had a couple of bites left, but it definitely gave off an "okay, you're done now" vibe. Then he went to take the green beans (arguably the cult classic on the menu), and we still had more than half of them left. I had to stop him and say, "Yeah, we're not done with those. We paid for them. Can you put them in a to-go box instead?" For context, it was about 20 minutes before closing, but we ordered with plenty of time and were already eating with a "get in, eat, and get out" mindset. I've just never had someone at a restaurant start clearing plates while we were still actively eating--without asking, "Are you finished?" "Can I clear this?" or "Would you like a to-go box?" It was just... "You're done, these are leaving now." We were there for less than 45 minutes, left about 15 minutes before closing, and spent over $200 (not including the tip). With so many options in Chicago, I don't see myself coming back here.

    Photos
    Girl & The Goat
    Girl & The Goat
    Girl & The Goat

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    Boka

    Boka

    4.3
    (1.9k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$$$

    2026: Came for a business dinner and was more blown away than last time. The bluefin tart, the Dry…read moreaged tartare, the scallops and the short ribs were all so well put together I am still thinking about them. Highly recommend Boka 2022: What a great experience. The short ribs were unlike anything I have tasted before. The service, the food and all elements of the meal were a memorable experience.

    My wife and I live in Seattle. But when we come to Chicago to revisit some of our old stomping…read moregrounds, Boka is, without question, on our list of places to revisit and reminisce. Hands down, and I don't say this lightly - Boka is one of my favorite restaurants in the country. I don't think it's too wild to say it may certainly be my FAVORITE restaurant in the US of A. This past week was my second pilgrimage to Boka, and I was stoked as ever. We ordered some non-alcoholic drinks, a few appetizers, and our entrees (duck and black truffle chicken). We had a nice discussion with the waiter and shared our enthusiasm and excitement with him. We shared that this was our return to my safe culinary haven, and I was prepared to be dazzled again. And dazzled I was. The chicken was phenomenal. The flavors were amazing and so poignant, and the tenderness of chicken made you really question if you were eating chicken at all. Everything was so moist and tender, and each bite was a ballet of flavor in your mouth. The duck, although not the star of the show, was hearty and delicious as well. The parsnip puree added an earthiness complexion to each slice of duck. The kicker of the night was when our server brought us our bill at the end. He gifted us complimentary menus of what we ordered that night, paired with a generous "Welcome Back" and the date of our wonderful evening. That small, but mighty, gesture encapsulates Boka in a nutshell. Fine dining, excellent quality of food, topped with service that was personally catered to make our meal enjoyable. It's about the experience, and every aspect of our experience at Boka was met with extraordinary marks. I'm dreaming already of round 3 at Boka. When? I don't know. But I'll be ready to tango again.

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    Boka
    Boka
    Chocolate Angel Food Cake

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    Chocolate Angel Food Cake
    Yardbird Table & Bar

    Yardbird Table & Bar

    3.8
    (457 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Gluten-free friendly

    Dropped into Yardbird in Chicago for their happy hour, and it proved to be a great choice. The…read moreatmosphere was lively, but what really elevated the night was the exceptional service. Our server, Miguel, was phenomenal. She was attentive, fast, and gave us some spot-on recommendations. Per her advice, we ordered the deviled eggs with jalapeño, hands down the highlight of the table. The deviled eggs with paired with that subtle jalapeño kick was absolutely perfect. For the mains, the chicken and waffles were good, carrying that solid comfort food flavor you expect. The waffles were a bit soft for my taste. To drink, the sidecar was mixed perfectly, well-balanced, crisp, and hit the exact right note. Giving it 4 stars only because while the mains were good, the starters and the outstanding service from Miguel were what truly stole the show. I'll definitely be back to hang out at the bar again nest time I am in town!

    Very first time visiting Yardbird's while visiting Chicago since it was on our to- try list. We…read moredidn't have a reservation but were able to be sat immediately. We were greeted by the host in which I believe to be the manager. He was pleasant and welcome. The restaurant itself is aesthetically appealing and it gives an upscale vibe. We sat and didn't have to wait too long for the waitress. She was nice and assisted up accordingly! I ordered the bottle of champagne for mimosas with pineapple and orange juice and was pleasantly surprised by the $35 price since we're used to paying twice that back home. The food came out pretty quick and was hot and ready to eat. All of our food was good well and we all enjoyed our dishes. My only takeaway would be if guests ordered bottled water and/or champagne, the waitress should poor them into the glasses for you. From my experience, this is something that I thought was a norm. Overall, great place to eat!

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    Yardbird Table & Bar
    Yardbird Table & Bar
    Yardbird Table & Bar

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4
    (9.5k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Absolutely insane experience. Make sure you get a reservation because this place gets booked up…read morequickly and rightfully so. My wife and I ordered the bone marrow to start and shared a single cheeseburger with the bacon and egg add on. The bone marrow with the marmalade on the side was amazing. I loved the thick toast they gave on the side. It was the perfect balance for such a rich dish. The burger is probably one of the best burgers I've had in my life. The bun was nice and fluffy, the burger was juicy, the bacon was thick and flavorful, and the egg was cooked to perfection. For a couple of bites, we threw a little bone marrow and the marmalade on the burger and it took it to a whole new level. The restaurant was small and comfortable. A tad loud with the music, but I didn't mind too much. I would gladly trade that for the delicious meal we had. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great burger. Just make sure you get a reservation early.

    Au Cheval is definitely worth trying if you're a burger fan. I ordered the single burger (which is…read moreactually two beef patties) and added the fried egg. The quality of the beef was excellent, and you can tell they use great ingredients. The burger was juicy, cooked well, and very rich. That said, this might be a hot take, but I felt like it was missing something. For all the hype, I was expecting more flavor. Personally, I think it could have used a little more sauce to tie everything together. While the beef shines, the overall bite felt a bit one-dimensional to me. It's still a very good burger and I'm glad I tried it, but based on the expectations, it landed in the "good, not life-changing" category. I'd absolutely recommend giving it a try and deciding for yourself, but for me it was just okay compared to the hype.

    Photos
    The cooks were very attentive!
    The cooks were very attentive!
    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash
    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash
    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

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    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

    The Bongo Room - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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