Steak sandwich, and chicken sandwich were delicious so was the rice YUMMMMM! I will be back !!read more

Uhhh ohhh... Dominican food and I am here for it…read more I ordered the mangú, which is basically mashed plantains seasoned really well, and it definitely made up for my choice of rice. The bistec encebollado was cooked to perfection with grilled onions and that nice vinegar-based flavor that gives it the right kick. We also ordered arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas) and carne guisada, and everything was very well seasoned. You can tell the food is made with care and real Dominican flavor. Now I'll be honest. Is this a fancy spot? Absolutely not. In fact, it reminds me of some of the little mom-and-pop places I've been to in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. There are only about three tables for four people and a couple of small tables. It's not the prettiest restaurant, but honestly that shouldn't matter because the food is the real winner here. The prices are very reasonable and completely worth it for the flavor you're getting. If you're looking for authentic Dominican food and don't mind a simple setting, you'll be very happy. I'm here for it, and I'll definitely be back. You won't be disappointed.

If you don't want to run for your life don't go to this place, there are many nice places to go for…read moreCaribbean food without risking your safety, they have three security guys doing nothing at the door, nothing but hood ambience, The street is full of prostitutes making it one of the worst areas in Chicago, especially for women who leave this place at night or daytime risking their live & safety.

This review aims towards the perception of its weekend night life. So I went on a Saturday night…read moreand literally walked in then out in an elapse time of 5 minutes. Im new to Chicago, moved from Miami about 3 weeks ago of this post. Born and raised in NY Washington Heights (Central of the Dominicans). Upon walk-in its a small open area then a bar. It was like 1am and Im like "Why is this place so empty? Like less than 10 people. I notice other people walking in towards the back and behold...thats where the dance-floor was located. WELCOME TO THUG CENTRAL. Hoodies, fitteds, bandanas, sneakers, 17 yr olds....Im Like oh hell no. The DJ had tracks from 1995. This was a major embarrassment. Since the population of Dominicans here is 1.5% it makes sense. Ill return to try the food at another time setting. **Yelp should have separate El Sitio accounts (One to rate it as a Restaurant Non-Night life hours and another account to rate it as a Bar-Club nightlife. The ratings would be more accurate.

Really hit. Garlic took it over the top. Quick efficient service in the take out location 10…read moreminutes before closing. Did not disappoint.

Just purchased a large order of pastel from this location and they were all burnt…read moreThey were sticking to the foil, and the banana leaf was sticking to them huge waste of money I'm very surprised because you usually have very good pastel.

Havana absolutely lives up to its reputation! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with…read morewarm smiles and amazing service. We came for the mojito flight, and it did not disappoint--it was so good! We also ordered the steak plate and the Torta Cubana, and everything was delicious. I honestly cannot rave enough about this place. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and service were all excellent. A special thank you to Ixchel, who was absolutely amazing and made our experience even better. I love this place and definitely recommend it!

Umm no thanks…read more There was a smashed cockroach on my glass. It was huge. One of the people who worked there saw me holding up the glass to look at it and quickly took it away. Margarita was pretty gross. How do they not have guacamole. This was a big mistake.

I wanted to reach out after my very first visit for your Sunday brunch yesterday. Getting started…read morewas a tiny bit confusing we had a reservation and initially headed inside, but then found out brunch was actually next door and upstairs. It was a small detour, but we eventually found our way to the lovely setup. Once we were upstairs it was clear how popular your brunch is. the place was absolutely buzzing. It felt like the team might have been a little overwhelmed with how busy it was which led to a bit of a slowdown in service. Also, I noticed some of the food trays didn't have labels which made navigating the buffet a bit tricky. Trying to uncover each tray while holding the lid and juggling a plate in a busy line was quite a challenge. I do need to mention a couple of things that stood out during the food service. I was a bit surprised to find a long hair on top of a fresh batch of potatoes. The cook at the omelette station was very responsive and removed it and then impressively replaced the whole tray. A little while later I noticed a short, curly hair in the maduros which was a bit off putting. These were definitely unexpected moments that I wanted to bring to your attention as I know cleanliness is so important. On a slightly different note, while the plastic tables and chairs upstairs were functional, I think a little sprucing up of the stairwell and windows could really enhance the overall ambiance and make the whole space feel even more welcoming and clean and perhaps a quick suggestion regarding footwear for the staff interacting with guests and food, closed toe shoes like sneakers might present a more professional and hygienic appearance than crocs. I really hope this doesn't come across as critical. I'm just sharing my observations in a constructive way. Now, for the absolute best part THE FOOD Wow, seriously everything we tasted was incredibly delicious and such great value. The pernil was perfectly fresh and incredibly tasty and I absolutely adored the arroz con gandules. The avena de coco. A definite must try so good. The gentleman at the omelette station was not only a fantastic cook but also a really friendly person. Your potato salad was a revelation. I've never had anything quite like it and the bacon and sausage were spot on. especially that crispy bacon. The coquito latte was heavenly just a touch sweet, but in the best possible way and let's not forget the chicharrón utterly divine. The sweets table was a true highlight, so beautifully decorated and truly on point. Those homemade pastries were incredible, and my absolute favorite was what I think were coconut balls seriously wow. There was also this delightful dessert in a small clear cup with cinnamon on top that was just exquisite. Beyond that the pastelon, carved ham, waffles, and French toast were all equally delicious. Honestly, the culinary experience you're providing is exceptional, and it's clear you put a lot of passion into the food. I truly hope you take this feedback as it's intended as friendly suggestions to make an already fantastic place even better. The potential here is huge and I can't wait to see what you do next.

I had heard great things about this place for years, so I was really looking forward to trying it…read morebut unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. The first time I visited, there were three of us. My friend and I chose the buffet, while her wife ordered from the menu. After we had already gone up to the buffet twice, her wifes food still hadn't arrived. I eventually spoke with someone who identified himself as the ownerto address her food not bring ready. He apologized and mentioned they were short-staffed, and said her food would be out soon. When the food finally came, it was just okay.While we waited, we noticed a steady stream of takeout orders going out, which seemed to be prioritized over dine-in guests. I don't enjoy leaving negative We decided to give it another try this past weekend with a group of friends, hoping for a better experience. Most of us chose the buffet again. For me, the only items I really enjoyed were the rice and the avana. I don't eat pork, so I was excited to try the chicharrón chicken, but it was a letdown the chicken was over-fried, dry, and difficult to eat. It also took about 20 minutes just to get water for the table, while we watched other guests be seated and served water right away. When I asked the waiter staff ejy it took so long for the eater, I had once agin told they were short-staffed staffed. I don't like leaving bad reviews, but I do hope this feedback is taken constructively. With some improvements in both food quality and service, this place could live up to its reputation.

Such a coolly decorated place!…read more Had a work dinner event and happy hour place and was blown away when I walked in. The design is very in your face, with bright colors and large fixtures. Super cool. Staff was amazing, both the bartenders and servers. Very attentive and out of their way to accommodate. We had a coursed dinner. Apps were good. Shrimp ceviche was not my fav, but the smoked mushroom croquettes were flavorful and good. Carnivale Salad was great with little cheese bites and great dressing. I got the filet. Didn't ask for temp, but the crust was flavorful. Not a cake person, but the chocolate dulce de leche cake was one of my favorite things. Would come back for a drink, salad and dessert.

Stopped by Carnivale on my last trip to Chicago. When you arrive parking can be a bit difficult as…read morethis restaurant is located in the West Loop. You'll need to either street park or find your taking in a nearby garage. When you walk in you'll feel like your transported to a festival like, bright, and colorful atmosphere. Several people had mentioned that you need to stop by Carnivale if you ever visit Chicago. It felt like there were different themes in each room with different people murals/themes and a great spot for taking instagram photos. I ordered the Gaucho Steak (12 oz. 45-Day Dry-Aged Creekstone Farms Ribeye, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Chimichurri) which was excellent and packed with flavor. The restaurant is so beautiful, definitely recommend exploring the different rooms if you stop in.

We visited 1492 this week while visiting from out-of-town, and found it to be in the top 3 of Cuban…read moreplaces we've tried anywhere! We tried the empanada trio with pork, chicken, and ham-n-cheese, and all were tasty; the lechon [pork] was especially great. For mains, my spouse ordered the masitas de cerdo (fried pork) and I got the pollo a la plancha (grilled chicken). We both opted for congri and maduros for sides. The flavor of everything was delicious! The meat was slightly on the dry side, and the maduros were SO sweet that we wondered if they were bananas rather than plantains, but overall we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The portions were plentiful. If we weren't staying in a hotel with a fridge but no microwave, we definitely would've had enough to take home for a whole other meal each. We would definitely be regular patrons if we didn't live hours away!

We ordered a variety of dishes to try 1492 as a first time customer. Empanadas, steak salad and a…read morecouple of the entrees to try different proteins and dishes. We also got the cuban sandwich. The Cuban sandwich was good but lacked any real flavor. Not sure if it's because it was delivered (so not as hot off the grill). But it was good, just not great. Next time I'd reheat it first. The empanadas were very good. We enjoyed a variety. My favorite was the pork. The steak and chicken entree's (both grilled) were ok and were both closer to 3 stars at best, maybe 2. The meat was tender but was a little bland, and as a to-go dish, the presentation is just unappetizing. I wouldn't order those again. The sandwiches are good to try in the future.

Janik's Cafe was a great breakfast stop in Wicker Park. They had a covered outdoor patio, but we…read moreended up eating inside. My latte was good, but the food was even better. It was a huge portion and came with corn tortillas. Our server was also very friendly. The food came out super fast, and we had no trouble getting a table on Saturday morning around 9:30 AM. Highly recommend for a breakfast or brunch!

Janiks cafe is a great family owned spot offering great options for breakfast and brunch. From…read moreomlettes, sandwiches, soups, salads. There is something for everybody. You will find plenty of indoor dining area with patio seating available as well.

Fantastic, larger location now. Four dipping sauces for fresh pockets of yummy! Both recommended:…read more Beef - the uniquely Latin flavor profile of ground beef, olives, raisins Al pastor - pork, pineapple, and cilantro

Clean. Service was Sweet and Quick…read more Food is DELICIOUS. The small details are such a nice touch. The way they "stamp" the empanadas. #love City Parking.

I have drive past this colorful place and finally go to try it. Sat outside on their dog friendly…read morepatio. Clean and spacious outside. Food is amazing. The empanadas were the best. The chicken one was great. The best one was the seasonal shrimp. Amazing and so much shrimp and the sauce was bomb. Service was good. Server came many times to fill water and all staff were nice.

Great Cuban inspired restaurant. The food is amazing! The restaurant is welcoming and the staff…read moreis very friendly