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    Vermilion

    3.1 (795 reviews)

    Vermilion Photos

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    VERMILION ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Vermilion

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    Suhani A.

    The food was really great (I'd been craving indochinese food and this hit the spot!) I loved that they offered complimentary masala fries in the beginning--they were the highlight! The place had a fancy ambiance with quick service and great food, however, it's definitely on the pricier end. While the food is good, it doesn't necessarily feel worth it for the price thought it could be a fun experience!

    SZECHWAN FRIED RICE
    Cali K.

    Everything was unique and yummy. Presentation was on point. Place seemed empty and we can't understand why... really nice service and good food.

    Smit P.

    Food is amazing but service is not very great. Also was very shocked with the ambiance - it is below average. I guess will not visit again because of the boring ambiance.

    KOLKATA STREETS, Mango Mint Mojito Fizz, and Masala Fries
    Arwa A.

    This restaurant is interesting to say the least. I was surprised because it presents itself like it's a hot place but when my friend and I walked in, there was no one. They do require reservations and you have to put your card down. Canceling less than 24 hours also results in being charged per person, and that seems unnecessary considering it was empty on a Friday evening. The service was nice, except that we were told it was happy hour and drinks/apps were half off but they were full price on the bill. I ordered a mango mint mojito fizz mocktail and my friend got an alcoholic beverage he said was good. Kinda weird they don't have just like classic mango lassi? For apps, we shared the Kolkata streets which was a chaat and it was really flavorful and with a great kick. If you don't eat spicy food, don't get this. The masala fries were good too. The presentation on the apps is very cute. For entrees, my friend got the Manchurian Gobi and I got the Hakka chili chicken. For whatever reason I assumed it came with noodles but it didn't. The server did recommend steamed rice so we got that to go with our entrees. The food was good., I think portion size was good for one person but not necessarily good if you're sharing. We didn't try the dessert but it seemed like it would be really good. All the names of the menu items were funny. The draw to coming here was the indochinese fusion because my friend and I love that. Also, it had good vegan options available which was good because my friend is vegan and it's surprisingly hard to find good mixed restaurants here in Chicago. Overall, it was really pricey though, considering what we got, and because they weren't entirely honest about their happy hour or lack thereof. Also it seemed like the restaurant was very try hard and just..stuffy? I liked the music though -- solid playlist. Food: 4/5 Knocked down 1 star because of the pricing inconsistencies and weird vibes

    Chaat canteen tiffin
    Khadijah H.

    My friend and I came here tonight for restaurant week 2022. We both have never been here, heard of Vermilion and wanted to knock it off our to go list. So what better way than restaurant week, right?! They open at 5:30pm and we came at 5:22 and the nice gentleman seated us. We were given water immediately and menus were already there. He was kind and knowledgeable about the menu. We order our prefix meals - I got the Indian inspirers vegetarian plate and my friend got the Latin inspired seafood plate. The wait was short but that's also because we were the first ones there. Lol Chaat canteen tiffin - this is a 4 dish meal. One of the menu items isn't on the regular menu so that was a plus! It felt exclusive. The okra veggie patty was super small and dry. The kale salad was salty unfortunately. It was kale chips and not fresh kale so too much of it was over powering. The white liquid dish was dessert and I was not a fan of it. For the presentation, it was alright but with the poor season quality of the food, they could've done a better job. Latin cantina seafood platter - my friend stated that the best part of the dish were the shrimp. Which I could imagine. The mussels and broth were amazinggggg. As a tip, add in the rice - super filling. The flan was a nice twist on a dessert item. We ordered two drinks. I got the mock tail version of her mango drink and it was like drinking an Aha or Bubly. Nothing to wow about. I was surprised they didn't have mango lassi on the menu though. Viewing the menu, it's interesting that they pride themselves on a Latin/ Indian cuisine because there aren't meat dishes that are blended. Rather, the menu is kind of split in half (more Indian dishes but still). Would I return? Maybe... but the prices for the meals do not match that of quantity or quality. I would need more and different.

    Bucket List Pani Puri Margarita
    Shalmali P.

    Very disappointing and way overpriced! We went there for dinner but there was barely anyone else. To start off, we ordered Pani puri margarita - it was too bitter and strong and seemed to have a lot of different flavors. Next, we ordered kolkata streets, an appetizer that was too spicy. We also ordered Hakka Chowmein with chicken as the mains. The chicken seemed a bit stale and smelly. Service was prompt and we were able to redeem our check-in offer of a free dessert- mango flan. Overall experience was not pleasant. Note- 20% gratuity is added by default for everyone dining in, including party of 1

    NOT YOUR KFC
    Cameron F.

    Came here on a Tuesday night, and it was wide open for availability. I got the lamb and the fried chicken. I thought the lamb was excellent, the chicken was also pretty good (spicy) but I probably would get the lamb again and skip the chicken.

    Vivian H.

    Three and a half stars for a really unique menu. They have an indo -Chinese menu for their 20th anniversary and it was my first time rating the cuisine. Flavorful, cocktails were strong, but I didn't enjoy the margarita. The Indian flavors were too prominent in this one for my liking. Everyone loves the fries and they're seasoned very well

    Two CRAZY HOT ASIANS
    Brandon L.

    Had a great experience at Vermilion. We arrived earlier on a Friday and it was empty, however it quickly filled up. The gobi Manchurian was very flavorful and some of the best that I have had. Would have appreciated a few more cocktail choices, something unique to the restaurant, not mojitos and margs. Lobster dish was good but hard to take out of shell. Looked at the low reviews, restaurant week reviews should be ignored as non standard people come and the menu and quality are altered. In addition, I didn't notice any credit card service fees.

    Danielle A.

    I came here during restaurant week and the way it was set up between multiple people didn't really make sense to me. You pay $49 a person for the menu but they say they portion it by party size but I'm unsure how true that is. The food was decent. I don't think I would come here if it wasn't discounted. Also, the sangria was disgusting. Some of the worst I have ever had.

    Empanadas
    Michelle S.

    I would like to start off by saying that I post honest reviews and I try not to come off harsh because I know how much the pandemic has affected businesses. I never ever want to hurt a business, but the food here was nothing to write home about. My girlfriend and I came here after making a reservation pretty early in advance. Upon walking in, we were the only other party in the restaurant, there was another table of four people. We were seated on the far left side by the booths. We were able to order our food in a pretty timely manner, but service was slow. We were given the empanadas, which were just OK, nothing particularly spectacular. The masala fries on the other hand, were phenomenal! I really love the dipping sauce that it came with. The panipuri was a let down because it was so soggy sitting in the sauce. Lastly the crispy kale chaat was unremarkable. They did give us a free dessert, which I really appreciate, but overall I do not see myself returning. I am Indian and I understand that this is a fusion restaurant, but the food was very mediocre.

    Bucket List Pani Puri Margarita
    DrDamini S.

    I went here with my husband and we both agree that this is the best place to dine. The ambience was beautiful and the food options were great. Bar menu was absolutely amazing. Had the pani puri cocktail. Mussels were too good and the lemon rice was yummy. We got to speak to the chef who was very friendly and shared few things with us about the concept of the restaurant and how it was inspired from a Tody bar in South India. A must try for those who love fusion since it's Indian + Latin

    Ch
    Bindal S.

    The resturant has a great ambiance and food presentation. The drinks were great! The srevice was a bit slow as there was only one server for the entire resturant. The food was okay, but nothing too spectacular. Had better Indian fusion food!

    SPICY chaat

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    Delicious! Lots of vegan options! Highly recommend!! The food is incredible and the employees are great!

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    Vermilion Reviews in Other Languages

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    Tzuco - Cochinita Pibil | Guerrero-style pork shank, black bean purée, pickled red onions, habanero salsa. Served with tortillas.

    Tzuco

    4.2(816 reviews)
    0.4 miNear North Side
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    This is exactly my type of Mexican spot. Elevated without feeling too stiff and every dish had…read moreamazing flavor and presentation. Chef Carlos Gaytán was the first Mexican-born chef to earn a Michelin star and you can really tell there's so much technique behind everything. The vibes were super nice too. Dim lighting, warm wood interior, and one of the prettiest bathrooms I've seen in Chicago It starts off loud but calms down throughout the night. 8.5/10. Service was really good. Our server Leslie was sweet and gave solid recommendations. The check-ins slowed down later in the meal, but people were constantly refilling our waters which I appreciated. The steak tartare was delicious. Loved the flavor and the seed texture throughout it. Only thing I'd change is softer toast. 9/10. The tetela was INSANE. Perfect crunch on the shell and all the flavors worked together perfectly with the chicken. 9.5/10. For mains we got the barbacoa and costillas de res (we ignored the recommendation of getting only one main haha). Both were super tender with amazing texture and came with great garnishes, sauce, and tortillas. The short rib was my favorite. 9-9.5/10. Now the Maiz dessert... WOWWWW. One of my favorite desserts ever. Hard white chocolate shell on the outside with so many different textures going on. Ice cream, toffee sauce, brownie bits, flaky corn wrapper, caramel popcorn... every bite was perfect. 9.9/10. Overall this spot was chef's kiss Amazing food, beautiful space, and one of the best Mexican meals I've had in Chicago.

    Food: overall good and flavorful! We ordered: - guacamole…read more- papas zamoranas - mayan ceviche - tlacoyo - pollo con mole - barbacoa - Drinks I got the ultimo palabra . I was nervous I'd be disappointed because I had recently visited CDMX but everything was good. The maya ceviche was a red sauce and not what I was expecting, was hoping it'd be a bit more refreshing. Service: no complaints Ambiance: we sat in their covered patio area and it was pretty loud

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    Entrance decorations for Day of the Dead Celebration

    Tzuco - Cochinita Pibil | Guerrero-style pork shank, black bean purée, pickled red onions, habanero salsa. Served with tortillas.

    Cochinita Pibil | Guerrero-style pork shank, black bean purée, pickled red onions, habanero salsa. Served with tortillas.

    Tzuco - Doña Margarita | Don Julio tequila, Dos Hombres mezcal, grapefruit and lemon juice, agave syrup.

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    Toro By Chef Richard Sandoval - Ceviche Amarillo: mango melcocha sauce, arugula, chili powder

    Toro By Chef Richard Sandoval

    3.9(101 reviews)
    0.5 miThe Loop

    I have had this place on my wishlist as a follower of Chef Sandoval. Fortunately, Toro was RIGHT…read moreacross the street from our friend's wedding venue at the Radisson Blue Aqua in Chicago so we had a nice Ftiday lunch in April of 2026. First of all, it is absolutely gorgeous inside! I am in awe of the fine details and want to meet the interior designers! Our waiter, Moe, was personable and friendly and offered us great recommendations. It was about half full at the time we were here - I saw a lot of people ordering the plantain chips! They must be good! We didn't order them, however. My boyfriend and I each got the weekdays meal deal where, for $29 a person, we get our choice of a salad or soup, then our choice of the entree, and a drip coffee and dessert. Since half the entrees cost nearly $29 to begin with, this is a great deal! I chose the kale salad with dressing on the side. My boyfriend chose the butternut squash soup. In our relationship, sharing is caring! So we each tried each other's food. My salad was unique - I liked the dressing and I LOVE when fresh fruit are in salads! We both liked the soup as well and finished both our appetizers. As is my tradition, I had to get their cubano. It is a very large portion, but I love cubanos! The pulled pork was pretty fatty but like, the perfect amount of fatty for the unhealthy sandwich that is a cubano! My boyfriend got the kimchi salmon entree. I'm not big into salmon, but he liked it! The dish is gorgeous, by the way. Chef Sandoval is a master in the art of making a dish very colorful. Look at that avocado! So fresh! The drip coffee was fine. And my side of French fries were the least interesting part of our meals. We didn't feel the need to finish the fries. Our meal deal dessert was a large chocolate chip cookie. My boyfriend ate his chocolate chip cookie right away. I had a bite to see how it was fresh, learned it tasted fine, and saved the rest of my cookie for later in the day for a nice afternoon treat! In all, after tax and tip, we left full and happy for about $75! Not bad for Chicago!

    Solid hotel spot! This was a nice place to grab some drinks and snacks pre-dinner. We were able to…read moresample a few of their tacos (happy hour) and a margarita tower. The food took a bit to come out and they graciously provided us with free guac, which was a nice bonus and a testament to service! The food was good, nothing I'm craving days later but a nice place to grab a bite. The atmosphere was nice as well, the place felt warm even in the very cold wind. Overall a good spot especially if you're a hotel guest, or you're heading for their great happy hour deals.

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    Toro By Chef Richard Sandoval - Welcome to Toro by Chef Richard Sandoval

    Welcome to Toro by Chef Richard Sandoval

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    Toro Guacamole

    Toro By Chef Richard Sandoval - Celebrate your special moments with us at Toro

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    Carnivale Chicago

    Carnivale Chicago

    3.9(2.7k reviews)
    0.9 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    I went here with my best friend and my hubby to celebrate my birthday with a great birthday dinner…read more We were in the Chi already visiting Atlas Stationary as a self-proclaimed station and fountain pen freak so we figured why not?!? I had heard great things about Carnivale prior to so please note that prior reservations were already made but regardless, it was all our first times there and we were stoked to finally try this place out. When we first got there, the outside was very unassuming. Some awesome graffiti on the wall (yes, angel wings included) and lots of color which made me so happy! As we entered, we were greeted by lots of colored flora on the walls and the floor. It led to a beautiful lounge where we checked in. The hostess was quite kind and they escorted us to another room that had multiple floors, two I believe. We were sitting in the main dining area where dining tables were set up and the ceiling lights and decorations were super-duper colorful. It was brightly lit and festive. Seriously, the colors alone could make anyone happy and do a serious dopamine overload which was fine with me. We sat down, was introduced to our server, Oscar and then given menu's. I genuinely thought that this place was pretty small initially because it looked small from the outside but boy was I wrong! This place was MASSIVE. But! I digress, now that we had our menu's-- Let the party begin!! We started with the ceviche tasting which included four types of ceviche; shrimp, Yucatan style hamachi, salmon and tuna. All were really good with their own really distinct flavors but our top favorites were the salmon and the tuna. The salmon had a kick while the tuna had a great balance of heat and sweetness. Great way to start of this dinner! My bestie ordered coconut shrimp and smoked mushroom croquettes for her main meal. My hubs ordered the carne asado while I ordered the lechon asada. I also want to add that we ordered Mexican street corn on the side alongside mashed potatoes and Peruvian Jalea. Ah and before I forget, we also ordered our drinks which consisted of a: sangria, margarita, Cotton Candy Cosmo and Salva Honduran Pilsner. All were spectacular and made the night that more enjoyable as well! When we received our food. We were all really enjoyed it as we all shared our bites amongst one another. The coconut shrimp was well breaded and you tasted the coconut as well. The shrimps were large and juicy. The smoked mushroom croquettes were good with a smokey flavor and good breading, however, the breading may have a been a little thick because you couldn't really taste the mushroom,m unfortunately. The carne asado was the star of the show. Well seasoned steak, cooked medium rare which was juicy and succulent. The lechon asado was good. Although I'm not used to eating lechon asado that is covered in sauce, the sauce was super tasty so I didn't mind the tender, juicy pork that was covered in it. I really enjoyed it. I think the only thing that I wish was different with regards to my lechon asado is that I wish it were hotter because it was luke warm when I received it. Other than that, it was....*chef's kiss*. The Mexican street corn was alright, it honestly just tasted like regular corn with mayonaise in it with some cheese. Didn't add anything significant to the meal. The mashed potatoes were soft but not too soft and buttery. They were really good and then the Purvian Jalea was another favorite, super good! The calamari, fish and shrimp with the Purvian Jalea were absolutely delicious; fresh, tasty and well breaded. It was absolutely yummalicious. To top the night off, they gave me a little birthday treat of cotton candy and carmel popcorn. We also had some tres leches which was so yummy because the fruit was fresh and you could taste the milk in the tender cake and then we had the chocolate cigar. The chocolate cigar was also really good, everything except the label was edible, It was smokey, chocolately and delectable. It's presentation was also so creative. We all loved it. Overall, this restaurant is SUPER PRICY but SUPER WORTH IT. I am so glad that I was able to go there to celebrate a special occasion because it would not be a place that I could go to on a regular basis but as much as I wish I was, ya girl ain't rich like that. The service was superb, the employees were kind, the food was fire and drinks were scrumptious. If you're looking for a fun, Latin cuisine inspired, creative, yummy way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion with a fun Latin twist--look no further, that is it! Check it out and you won't be disappointed. Now, I'm sorry for my novel and you may now go back to your normal programming schedule. If you do end up coming here and loving it -- i told ya so ;)

    I'm not sure how long it was when I first visited Cranivale but it was definitely before yelp…read morereviews and it definitely wasn't this big so fast forward to maybe 20 years it's definitely more beautiful. Very nice and what a great entrance it has. The rooms and the different feeling each one gives is pretty awesome. The upstairs is where we were invited to attend the party bc of the invite and it was very lounging and nice. There's a Latin room where we wanted to go but next time we will. Then there a bigger room with lots of dinner tables and another upstairs.

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    Carnivale Chicago - Rumba Bar

    Rumba Bar

    Carnivale Chicago
    Carnivale Chicago - Ropa vieja - a must!

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    Ropa vieja - a must!

    Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Seafood Paella

    Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!

    4.3(5.2k reviews)
    2.2 miLincoln Park, DePaul
    $$

    First time coming to Chicago and all my friends told me I had to check this place out! Located in…read moreLincoln Park, it is away from the hub-bub of downtown Chicago. The menu features a variety of Spanish tapas, pintxos, small plates, and Paella. You are meant to order plates to share with table. Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba really prides themselves in serving authentic Spanish food and providing guests with a unique experience. The restaurant itself is very cute and has a fun vibe about it. There are plenty of seating options and a gorgeous bar as well. Service was wonderful! Our server did an excellent job checking in on us, refilling waters, and just making sure we were satisfied with everything. We did get a reservation via OpenTable, this is always necessary, but I would recommend doing this, especially on the weekends. We ordered a couple plates to start and the ended up ordering more throughout our meal. I really love that you can do this, it paces the food and allows you to enjoy the experience more. We put in orders for 2 of the goat cheese baked in tomato sauce, a patatas bravas, Spanish olives, and Spanish meatballs (Al Jerez). The food came out in a timely manner and was served made to order. We dove right in! The goat cheese was luscious and perfect on that cold afternoon. It's baked in their old world Spanish oven and served with house garlic bread. This dish was super creamy, with a nice tang from the tomatoes, and just phenomenal. The patatas bravas were just divine! The spicy potato's were cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and yet soft on the inside. They paired perfectly with sun-dried tomato aioli they were served with as well. The Spanish Meatball were decent as well. They had great texture and I really enjoyed the sherry tomato sauce they were served in. For our next round, we had to order more patatas bravas because they were just that good! We also got some calamari and extra bread for the remaining baked goat cheese. The fried calamari comes with tomato crudo and a jalapeño aioli. It was nice and crispy, nothing too special but still hit the spot nonetheless. Overall, I was so happy my friends and I came here! The food was amazing all around, no complaints at all. The service was great as well. They are very accommodating and do a great job taking care of guests. Loved the interior of the restaurant, it was super cozy! I will definitely have to return next time I'm in the area to try more tapas. Highly recommend!

    V wanted to come here, so of course, here we are. We've dined here before, once together, and each…read morewith our respective work-groups in the distant past. Parking is sort of a pain, you have to find street parking, might have to pay, or you can use their $20 vallet parking. V made me drive, and I misjudged how far we'd have to walk. Not a good start. We arrived at 8:20pm on a Sunday, while they close at 9pm, they serve until 9pm, and the place doesn't clear out until 10pm, so we were good. We were greeted and seated quickly in a fairly crowded dining room. My aging eyes found the menu difficult to read with small print on yellowish paper, so I used the light on my phone. It's not pretty, but neither is ordering food when you can't see what it is LOL. Our waiter greeted us promptly, and took our drink order, and offered up a specials menu. As I'm driving, I just got iced tea, V ordered a pitcher of passion fruit Sangria. He said the Sangria wasn't great, I tried some, and I thought is was drinkable. It definitely has a kick as V got a bit giddy as the night progressed. V ordered the Seafood Paella (takes 45 minutes), so as a starter, we ordered the Fried Calamari, which was sadly overcooked. It was half crumbs, though the sauce was tasty. With time to kill, we followed that with Lamb Brouccetta (no seasoning, just lamb), on a bed of French Fries (star of the night), grilled potatoes (yummy dipping sauce), and grilled peppers, which were quite tasty and unique. The Seafood Paella arrived, and it was massive. Food for two and then some. We didn't need all the appetizers except for killing time, so we ended up with a lot of Paella to go. I don't like Paella; it always tastes fishy, although this Paella was at least edible, unlike what I had in Barcelona. The waiter was attentive and had a spark of personality. Vigilio thought the bar area where we were seated was loud, but I didn't have any issues talking.

    Photos
    Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Tapas for dinner.

    Tapas for dinner.

    Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Butternut squash soup, Spanish Meatballs "Al Jerez", Deviled Egg with Crispy Serrano Ham

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    It looks like a mini corn dog

    Boleo

    Boleo

    4.0(234 reviews)
    0.7 miThe Loop
    $$

    Happy hour on a Saturday? Sign me up!…read more We landed on Boleo as our option for early dinner for four of us before a tango concert and performance because it's South American, and we love a theme. We never expected happy hour to be relevant for us, but our wonderful server pointed it out. Since none of us had tasted pisco before she brought us a pisco sample to try. Three of the four of us ordered pisco cocktails, and they were great! The chilcano is a pisco variation on a Moscow mule. I'm not a big fan of mules, but I liked the chilcano a lot. Whenever I'm back, I'll probably go for the pisco sour, which one of our party had and also really enjoyed. The arroz chaufa was a nice satisfying dinner that wasn't too heavy for the early hour. The loma saltado and vegetable saltado were both very much enjoyed as well. Flan was just okay. The orange was a wonderful touch that probably saved something much too custardy for me to think of as flan. Service was absolutely great. Everyone we interacted with was super professional and easy going. We didn't know what to expect for the space, and when we arrived before sunset, it felt weird how bright it was in there. After sunset, the whole space felt a lot more swanky. Prices are a good value, even apart from the happy hour offerings. This is a great option for pre-show dining in the loop.

    Recently had the opportunity to try this restaurant located in our hotel. Upon walking in, you are…read moreexposed to a dim, romantic atmosphere with a beautiful skyline view. When it snows, you'll see the magic come down during your dinning experience. Based on what we heard, they at times, have a DJ playing jams and people can dance to the tunes. Sometimes, they even have a live band is what I've heard. Sounds like a really cool spot for major events or holidays, like New Year's Eve. Staff was attentive and great with recommending options to us. We love it when they engage and share their thoughts on current dishes. From a food perspective, everything tasted decent. There are areas of opportunity that could have been better. Octopus was a bit overcooked and you can definitely taste the chewiness of it. Flavor is ok but text for this dish did not come through. Ceviche "Jipijapa" de Manabi was a bit salty also, but not to the extreme. Scaling back the sodium level to achieve balance would made this a good dish. If sodium is needed, salt can be introduced afterwards. Lomo Saltado was paired with an aioli sauce instead of the green Aji verde sauce. It would have been a better pair with the verde sauce to balance out the savory profile. Overall meal was ok. Love the vibe which made it a great place to catch up or go on a date.

    Photos
    Boleo - Beautiful view!

    Beautiful view!

    Boleo
    Boleo - Chicago Restaurant Week 2024 menu @veefoodlife

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    Chicago Restaurant Week 2024 menu @veefoodlife

    Vermilion - indpak - Updated May 2026

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