Overall this was a good experience...however...does it truly deserve a Michelin star? Based on my one experience...sadly I would say no. The staff (on the most part) was friendly but it depends on whom you are interacting with that night. The food had some amazing highlights...but overall if you are planning on ordering a La carte...pass on this experience. Perhaps the 7 course tasting would have been a better experience...but unfortunately all at the table have to try it in order to participate. And usually I would do the tasting...but my companion was not up for it after a long travel day. I would def try the lightly cured kampachi and parsnip agnolotti if you do go. Do NOT get the whole roasted dry age duck. As much as I liked Jamal (our server) who recommended it, this duck was over cooked and cold cold (I have no clue how that can happen). When they asked if I wanted to pack the rest (common sense would have told you that I hardly touched it bc it was not good). It was so bad...I wouldn't let my maltipoo eat it. The ambiance of this place was nice...not too crowded for a Friday. It is very dark...so it could be considered romantic. However, if you are older...it is hard to read the menu with the sparse lighting. read more

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With a 4.5 star average on Yelp and a Michelin Star, maybe I came expecting too much? Pros: -The man serving the bread was awesome -The 2 types of bread he served were yummy -Great ambiance for a date -Food was plated nicely and generally tasted good -Complimentary birthday dessert -Drinks were creative Cons: -Showed up early for our 8:15PM reservation, and ended up waiting over 30 minutes past our reservation time to be seated -Once we were seated, staff made no efforts to apologize -Very short menu -Striped Bass had a fishy flavor -While food tasted "good", I expected to be more wowed given the prices -Waitress mentioned that they cut plate portions in about half, looks like they forgot to cut the prices in half too... Perhaps I went on an off night, but this place just wasn't up to the standards I've seen held by other Michelin starred restaurants. read more

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Overpriced for the food. Got the duck for two ($90). And to be honest, it was only a little better than the duck you can get at any Chinese restaurant. Except instead of $20 it's $90. However giving it 4 stars and not 3 because I ordered the laughing face (whiskey drink similar to an old fashioned) and it was probably the best old fashioned style drink I've had. my girlfriend got the short rib which was also amazing. I only had a bite too. Boka also gave us complementary appetizers (carrot tartare) and complementary dessert. Both great. Tbh just a little sad the duck wasn't impressive. read more

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All around exceptional. The hostesses were friendly and highly accommodating. Our server Ryan perfectly balanced being available to provide information on menu items and ingredients, ensuring our wine was refilled and table kept up, while still giving us plenty of time and space to enjoy. The interior is highly romantic with a very cool natural, artistic vibe. We shared the cucumbers (fresh and bright), the agnolotti (unreal, must order) the chicken (best I've had) and the duck. The strawberry dessert was outstanding, light and so flavorful. We will absolutely be back to do the tasting menu. 10/10 dining experience. read more

Service- phenomenal. They were pleasant to talk to and not overly formal, and even the people refilling your water seemed like they really enjoyed working there. There was a woman there that came to provide us silverware and she was raving about the beef tongue and how it reminded her of how they cook it in traditional Latin American dishes. Food- each course was perfectly executed. My boyfriend and i were in a dream state after they took away each plate, and were trying to figure out how to potentially recreate a few at home. From the first course to the dessert there wasn't one dish that we didn't like. Special occasions- we went for my boyfriends birthday, and they presented him with a chocolate bar and candle besides our normal desserts. I'd say this place is definitely suitable for special occasions read more

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Went here for a work dinner and was blown away with the food! Obviously it's a Michelin restaurant so was expecting greatness (and $$$$$), but I can confirm it lives up to the hype. The menu is seasonal so expect to have amazing dishes that showcase the best ingredients. I ordered the slow cooked Tasmanian and ocean trout and it was TO DIE FOR. Never have had a fish dish melt in my mouth (in a good way) quite like this one did. Vibes and service were impeccable. read more

Came in for the chefs tasting menu and left incredibly satisfied with a meal that was both delicious and interesting (lately it seems to be one or the other)... Won't ruin the surprise of the course progression, but will say it was heavy on the seafood (which I like ) with a few favorites being the egg white foam amuse bouche that was light and herbaceous served with a mini citrus cocktail, the shima aji with bright citrus flavors that really highlighted the taste of the fish, and the scallops that were in a heavily (perhaps a tad overly) seasoned sauce but were expertly prepared... All the courses were well sized portions that left me satisfied but not overly full at the end of the 9 courses... The service was excellent, the decor was cozy, and the tasting menu was well priced given the quality of the dishes. Will definitely be back for a repeat! read more

Boka - Shima Aji - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Another great restaurant in Chicago. The food here is making me love this city even more. We had a reservation at 8pm on a Monday and had to wait till 8:15pm because the place was packed. All of the dishes were perfect with the exception of the asparagus soup which was a bit salty to my taste, although my wife disagreed with me. We started with the soup as an appetizer and then had both the ricotta dumplings and the octopus dishes as secondary appetizers. They were both delicious but if you had to order only one I would recommend the ricotta dumpling. For our main dish we ordered the duck which serves two. It was our best choice!!! The chef created three different styles of dishes from the duck. All of them were great. Finally we finished off with both the hazelnut and the banana desserts. Both of them were delicious. The banana dish highlight was the chocolate flakes. Would highly recommend Boka as one of your Chicago must do restaurants. read more

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I did their 8 course tasting for my anniversary celebratory dinner and everything was pretty great!! Of the 8 courses 3 were phenomenal I'd say! Specifically there was a duck with strawberry course that was amazing! The dessert was delicious! Service was pretty good. I love that they have indoor and outdoor seating!! Great for a dinner/lunch with friends or something very intimidate! Will for sure be back! read more

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I'm really enjoying the Boka takeout weekly meal. They have a weekly meal for 2 and it's available Monday thru Friday. This week we tried the jambalaya with rice, shishito peppers, collard greens and a great dessert. It packed up perfectly and ready to eat! read more

My husband and I went for date night and had a great experience. I am giving a 4 star rating because two of the savory dishes in the tasting menu were a miss for me. We both got the tasting menu, which overall was very tasty and we highly recommend. The starters were all great and the food starts off light, building to stronger flavors as the meal progresses. We were served duck and venison for two of the courses, and both of our duck pieces were very chewy. The venison was better for my husband, and he enjoyed his, but I also had a chewy bit in the middle. I ate around the chewy part of the venison, since the rest was well cooked and tender. We both thought this was odd for a high end restaurant. We have had dry aged duck at another restaurant in Chicago and loved it there. So I was very disappointed by the duck at Boka. Nevertheless, the dessert courses were amazing and knocked it out of the park. I have difficulty digesting dairy, and they were very accomodating by making non-dairy desserts for me. I sincerely apperciated this. The service was impeccable and attention to detail superb. I watched the staff throughly disinfect the tables and chairs after each customer left. The servers switched out utensils after each course, and wiped off bread crumbs even between courses. Never needed to wait for water glasses to be refilled. Five stars for service! read more

I absolutely loved my time at Boka. The service was above and beyond! The food was amazing, and the drinks were yummy! Although it's an expensive place, it is worth the price. The attention to detail, the kindness of the staff and the overall experience made a date night feel so special! read more

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Maybe greatness rubs off close by from Alinea, but Boka is an amazing restaurant that offers fine dining to an unpretentious crowd. If you have the opportunity, try to book a seat within the glass ceiling courtyard that offers black and white tile and green foliage that's reminiscent of alice in wonderland. The shaved foie gras was pure joy. The shavings were the right to melt in your mouth. It tasted like crunchy peanut butter and blackberry jam. But then the aftertaste was like pepperoni because of the fennel. It has the vibe of stoner food, but in such an elegant fashion. It really took me by surprise. The Grilled Beets actually took me by surprise. They had this low tone meatiness to them that didn't feel watery or gritty. Marinated Cucumbers felt like what would have been made for King Solomon. It had a crisp, juicy refreshingness, while having some arid spiced creaminess thrown in the mix. Ricotta Dumplings were comfort food for sure. Super creamy and melts in your mouth goodness Dry Aged Duck was some of the best Ive had. If you come here with more than two people, this is a must. Crispy skin, consistent fat, and tender meat leaves me craving for more. I didn't have a single thing I didn't like. Everything was a treat and I highly recommend everyone plan a reservation here. read more

Amazing service!! Food was also excellent- the chicken dish was literally the best chicken I have ever had in my entire life!

overall a somewhat decent experience.. made reservations but still waited 15 min to be seated.. 4 courses for restaurant week and the food was overall enjoyable (some dishes less complex and balanced than others).. maybe just our table but we were freezing in a corner near the windows. read more

I've gone here for restaurant week and a regular dining. I've been highly satisfied both times! This place feeds you the right amount of full palette satisfaction without the bloated tummy feeling. I usually don't go for beef tartar but got it because of my friend and there are no regrets! The foie gras was to die for. I was hoping for the buttery fatty kind, but ended up with the spread on your toast kind. The foie gras combined with the jam was amazing. The pork was flavorful and tender. The halibut was just ok. Probably my least favorite dish. Additionally had the goats milk pavlova for dessert and it was a good combination of texture, taste, and aesthetics! I recommend getting a cocktail with your meal here too. The service is excellent. I just wish the food was brought out sooner in between courses as I was there for about 2.5 hours read more

So I'll start by saying that the experience wasn't bad, it was just not memorable. I think the food was ok and the atmosphere was also ok, but this isn't a restaurant I would bookmark. Especially when you're shelling out the big bucks for a nice place, you should be selective about which to go to, and I have to say, for me at least, that I don't think I'd return here. To start if you take a look at my pictures, you'll see that the size of the dishes far exceed the size of the food. Ok, that's not bad if it tastes good, right? If I'm being honest, I couldn't tag the name of the appetizers because I forgot what they tasted like and what they were. The bread they serve you is really good, however. Try to ask for more pieces if you can. Now, the two dishes I do remember were the entrees. My boyfriend and I both shared a short rib and an order of the roasted chicken. Both were.... again, ok at best. I like the tenderness of the rib, but for around $40 that is possibly one of the tiniest portions of an entree I've ever seen. The chicken although good (and what Boka is known for) was ok by chicken standards. I mean I have to say that I prefer chicken elsewhere for a much cheaper price. Overall, an ok restaurant food-wise but when you tack on the price, I'd say your money is better spent elsewhere. read more

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I truly don't know if anyone could say a bad thing about BOKA. My husband and I came here a little over a week ago to celebrate our anniversary and we were blown away. We did the 5 course tasting menu as well as the drink pairing. All of the food we had was absolutely fantastic and we were blown away by the drink pairings as well. Even more than the food, the service was above and beyond. We haven't been out much since COVID, and we could not have felt more comfortable at BOKA. At the end of our meal, our server even printed us each a menu of everything we had tried that evening - food and drink as well as a take home treat. We had a perfect evening and cannot wait to go back again. If you want a special evening, there's no better than BOKA. read more

Had a great meal at Boka recently. Stopped in on a Sunday night early for my reservation and was sat immediately. Service overall was very good - attentive, knowledgeable, lots of staff working to make sure water is refilled, plates are taken, courses are explained, etc. Very little wait time between courses. For the food: The amuse bouche was a tempura squash with furikake, sesame, black garlic aioli, and I can't remember what else. It was a delicious bite to start the meal (although a bit hot). The bread course was also amazing (I had a second order) - the sourdough is good, but the buttermilk sage rolls are next level. I could eat 10 of these. Served with butter topped with sea salt and fennel pollen. Yum. I started the meal with a special white alba truffle tagliolini. This was soo good, so rich, so delicious. Every piece of it was great - pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce was creamy and delicious, and there was a huge portion of white truffle shaved on top. A steal at $40 I would order this every time I could. For my main, I had the whole roasted dry aged duck. This again, amazing. The duck breast was perfectly cooked and juicy, and the skin was crispy and delicious. The foie gras sausage was also very good. Other elements on the plate - a puree that complimented the duck well, and roasted grapes that added an acidic and sweet note to the plate. The side of duck confit was almost overkill - super rich and creamy, but nonetheless I left none of it. I didn't have room for dessert this time around, but the two little bites at the end were a great finish to the meal (spiced almond cake & dark chocolate truffle). read more

This review is for restaurant week 2018 - 4 courses for $44. Overall, the experience was good. However, the portions were too small and the food not impressive enough for me to justify the price. And if you're coming during non-restaurant week, you'll definitely be spending more than $70/pp without drinks. So while it was great to try, I won't return as long as it's on my dime. The restaurant itself has a lovely ambiance, just-dim-enough lighting, and great for a (expensive) date. If possible, I'd recommend requesting a table in the room with the green/foliage wall - I wish I had dined in there! As for the food, I liked the following, in order of preference: 1) seared scallop 4.5/5 - perfectly executed and deliciously sweet scallop 2) dark chocolate 4.5/5 - with chocolate mousse and a caramel ice cream, this was a decadent closure to the dinner 3) vanilla bean 4.5/5 - just tried a bite of this but it's a yummy and a good portion size for dessert 4) grilled salmon 4/5 - nicely cooked but not too special 5) heirloom carrots 3.8/5- really delicious sauce on the carrots Friends also liked the slow poached egg with cavatelli, tagliatelle, and venison (they had replaced the pork neck that's on their website menu) Skip the marinated hamachi - it was slightly fishy. All other dishes I wish I had more of, but I barely wanted to finish the 3 pieces of hamachi I got, despite the small portion. read more

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This 1 michelin starred restaurant deserves 2 stars, in my opinion. They exceeded our expectations and after visiting other 1 michelin stars in the Chicago area, they blow them out of the water in terms of food and professionalism. I will let the pictures speak for themselves, but every dish was impressive. From the over-the-top amuse bouche, to the complimentary dishes from the chef, our 7 course meal turned into an 11 course and we were stuffed like foie gras geese at the end of the dinner. Service was great. My favorite dish was the shaved foie gras, which was so unique but maintained the umami of the foie gras in the dish. My husband's favorite was the frog leg pasta, which was savory and tasty. read more

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Just can't. I just can't get enough of Boka! Came here twice in a row for my birthday during the Chicago Restaurant Week. From the bustling ambiance, quirky dog coat hangers, to every dish having been thoughtfully prepared with creative flavor profiles--this place is solid gold. My favorites of the CRW menu would be their heirloom carrots, lamb tartare, venison sausage and coconut dessert. FAVORITE ALERT: Heirloom carrots. Garnished with pieces of pistachios, roasted bulgar, and smoked feta cheese, every bite is blossoming with unami aroma. The title may be unassuming, but mind you it's quite an euphoric crunch to your sweet senses. read more

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Oh. My. God. So. Good. I will start off by saying restaurant week is an unreal deal for how much you get to try. We basically got everything between my husband and I (beet salad, crudo, rigatoni, bass, chicken , pork belly, both desserts) and they were seriously all amazing . The bass was actually both of our favorites of the entire evening , and the chicken was surprisingly so so good too . I'm usually kinda meh about chicken but it was fantastic. The service and ambiance were top notch. I think I'd put this in my top 3 restaurants in the city , and by far the best Boka group restaurant I've been to. Portions are smaller so we had apps at our place before we came. Overall, 10/10 recommend ! Will be back for restaurant week and just in general ! read more

Straight to the point menu, food is good and tasty. The staff was very professional and friendly. Entrees were delivered very quickly. I do recommend the beef tartare. The duck and chicken mains were tasty and cooked well! They do have COVID-19 measures in place, keeping you and the staff safe. read more

A nice, intimate setting with great food. We opted for a la carte, though I think they had a prix fixe menu as well. It was our only meal of the day, so we got 2 starters and a main each. I had the hamachi crudo (fresh and not a fatty cut) and the tartare (kind of a sweet flavor, not typical but tasted good), while my wife had the agnolotti (very tender pasta) and octopus (tender and crispy on the outside). I think my wife's starters were overall better, but we enjoyed them all. My short rib entree was super tender and had a nice, deep flavor, while my wife's duck course was a great duck breast (akin to Peking duck) with a confit duck leg on the side. I think we'd definitely go again if we visit Chicago in the future. read more

We had an incredible experience. First, the staff here are wonderful. Our server (Jeff?) and back waitress were so friendly and made our dinner fun. Our server did an amazing job making us feel welcome and cared for. The gluten free bread he brought out for my husband surprised us and it's one of the very few gluten free breads he enjoyed eating. The restaurant was lively, and we were thankful to be placed at a more private table for our date. Every course and every dish was beautiful and just as delightful to eat. We felt our tongues went on an adventure, tasting combinations new to us. There were unique combinations of flavor, and to elevate it, there were varieties of texture and every bite was like an Awakening. We are big oyster fans and the innovative way Boka did their oysters with the sweet twist on it was so delicious!! I could go on and on about every single dish, so long story short, we highly recommend Boka to everyone. From the appetizers to the drinks to the desserts, you can't go wrong with any item off the menu, and it's friendly to those with gluten allergy. We're already looking forward to the next time we return. read more

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Boka Restaurant Group's roster has some pretty heavy hitters like Girl & the Goat, Momotaro, and Swift & Sons etc. but for some reason, Boka itself flew completely under my radar. Which is kind of unfortunate because it has easily provided one of the best meals I've had in Chicago. I only wish I had stopped living under a rock sooner. TL;DR do the tasting menu, you won't leave hungry, service is excellent, if you go for an occasion you'll get some free shit I asked for a meal at a Michelin star restaurant for my birthday this year, hence how I ended up here. The atmosphere is chic yet casual. Our servers Ronan and Carlos had every opportunity to be pretentious but they just weren't. They were kind and even folded our napkins for us every time we left to use the restroom. And ladies, as far as outfits go, you could easily show up in an all black look or jeans and a nice sweater. No need to go full on fancy here, but if you're feeling it go for it. We skipped wine and went with drinks instead, highly recommend the Dragon Eyes, Squad Goes to Sicily, Turn Down Service, and It's Not Too Sweet. If you have the opportunity, absolutely do the tasting menu. Seriously. Keep in mind it's seasonal so what's listed below will most likely change. We went 12/21/19. They customized the menu to say "Happy 26th Birthday". You will definitely leave satisfied unlike some of the other options out there. We were more than full towards the end of our meal but there was no way we were leaving anything on our plates. We're not quitters. 1. We started off with 2 amuse bouche: -Buckwheat Sabayon served in an open egg shell. Salty, refreshing, sweet. Gone too soon. -Carrot on seeded rye with smoked mussel, and furikake. Also gone too soon. 2. Complimentary house made rolls with butter. Sourdough and some kind of sage roll? (save them to mop up sauces later on in your meal) Food stomach space first, then carbs. Don't make the rookie mistake of housing bread before your food arrives. 3. Shima Aji Crudo, apple kohlrabi, fermented onion, horseradish - my boyfriend will not shut up about how good this was. Couldn't agree more. 12/10 would eat an entire filet of this. (pretty sure the tasting menu we brought home said this was supposed to be a scallop course instead but I don't care, we LIVE for the fish and it's on the main menu as of now) 4. Foie gras, quince, rye, celery root. THE FOIE GRAS WAS SHAVED. like little chocolate ribbons but foie. they melted on your mouth it was sweet, savory, fatty, acidic. never had anything like it. Fam. remember when I said save your bread? Ration it for this course and the following savory courses. 5. Maine lobster, shiitake, sea urchin, daikon. There. is. a. butter. foam. 6. Turbot, fennel, puntarella, finger lime. (I know some of you are asking yourself what turbot is, it's delicious fish) a wonderful segue into the richer courses to follow. 7. Squab, plum, sunchoke, beet. Now I know this is a nicer establishment, but I used my hands to pick up the little drumstick. How they get so much depth into that sauce is beyond me. all I know is my soul left my body. (cue bread ration) 8. Venison, turnip, fermented cabbage, salted peppercorn. So tender, and rich without being over the top. 9. Quince, frozen goat yogurt, cajeta, grains. A nice not overly sweet first dessert. Refreshing after the richness of the squab and venison. 10. Dark chocolate tart, coffee mousse, date caramel. If you don't like dark chocolate send me your piece. This is one of those 80-90% cacao chocolate tarts. The texture and crust were phenomenal. We were gifted Pates de Fruits as a birthday treat, 2 loaves of cinnamon orange bread to heat up the next morning (15 seconds in the microwave, tastes great with coffee), a copy of our tasting menu as a memento, and were also brought housemade chocolate truffles & a speculloos macaron along with the bill. I felt spoiled rotten. It was a thoughtful, comfortable yet special dining experience. Make up a reason to go here asap. Sorry for the lack of photos. We were too busy eating and my phone certainly was not going to eat first ;) read more

Boka - Complimentary pates de fruits - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place exceeded my expectations from start to finish. The ambiance was intimate and welcoming. The service from all the staff was impeccable and the food made for a great well-rounded experience. We were celebrating my girlfriends birthday and they printed out menus that read "Happy Birthday!" on the front. How much more detail-oriented can they be?! Definitely returning soon. read more

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Quite possibility the best Michelin star tasting menu I've ever had. Lots of those places can get too fusty, or attempt dishes that are too cerebral. This is NOT the case at BOKA; the food is innovative and exciting, without diverting from classic flavor profiles that play well together. Highlights from our tasting menu were: Diced cucumbers with trout roe and an egg sabayon Ricotta dumplings w/ broccoli puree, fried garlic, and goat cheese (the texture of these dumplings were impossibly airy and light) Lobster w/ garlic and black lime Beef tongue w/ sour cherries and a horseradish cream Duck breast w/ parsnip puree and a duck liver toast The wine pairings were also quite excellent, and our fantastic server had a heavy hand on a few of the ones that we mentioned we liked. Service in general was great and not overbearing at all, simply seamless. I wish the recessed lighting was a little bit dimmer, but that's REALLY splitting hairs. read more

Fun birthday night out! We went for my husband's birthday and did the tasting menu with wine pairing. It was really a neat experience! They started us with some birthday champagne, and that set the tone for the night! The food was really tasty and the wine was really nice as well. They brought out a birthday candy with a candle and sent us home with some banana bread. Service- this is true Michelin Star service to me. They walk you to the restroom, fold your napkins, know your name, explain the dishes, refill drinks quickly, etc., start with an aperitif Food- mostly really, really good. They accommodated my dietary needs with the tasting. I really liked a lot of the dishes. Of the two desserts, only one was a hit for us though but we were sent home with amazing banana bread Space- dimly lit and cozy; we had a cozy booth We went to blackbird for my birthday, and I'd recommend both. I did enjoy the openness and being near the kitchen for blackbird, and they explained the wines more which I enjoyed. The service and environment here made it an intimate experience though. Both are great for a special occasion! read more

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The fact that you can come here and eat amazing meals is an unforgettable experience. The purpose of our coming here was a simple family gathering to celebrate a birthday. It just so happened that this was my first visit to this restaurant. Because we were driving along here, we were fortunate in that parking was easy to find. My first impression of the restaurant was how vast and sophisticated it was as soon as we entered. Following the placement of our order, it was processed within a short period of time. Eating here was an enjoyable experience. Aside from the short ribs and a course tasting, we got gently cured Kampachi, creamy cauliflower soup, and hazelnut and coffee - and we also had a cocktail to wash it all down. The majority of the time, everything went smoothly. You should guys try it out, b group of friends, relatives, or your s , or special someone. The time you spend here will be unforgettable! read more

Had the best, most incredible experience at Boka! 5 stars all around for both food, drinks, and service. We came to celebrate my mom's birthday and did the tasting menu - so many creative flavors and different textures. I loved it. My mom was really freaked out by the beef tongue and refused to eat it. Our server noticed and brought out a substitute course. I was very appreciative of this! This has been one of my favorite dining experiences, and I definitely hope to be back! read more

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I did not realize It has been over five years since I dined here until I was updating the review. My daughter and I had a great time dining here again recently. We shared foie gras torchon, ricotta dumplings, sea bass, short ribs, and Concord grape. Everything looked beautiful and delicious. We enjoyed everything however, the dishes were on the heavy side for my diet and I could have used some fresh vegetables or salad with it. Excellent service. read more

Came for restaurant week - candidly, was underwhelmed. While the service was great, the duck ravioli was dry, the pork neck was super dry and not very flavorful, and the steak tartare was nothing to write home about. Chicken was delicious and the hazelnut dessert was very good, but was really expecting bigger flavors and to be wowed...not the case at all. A lot of great restaurants in Chicago, don't really see how this one makes the top of so many lists read more

ME: a 60-something, well-traveled world diner with an "arty" genderfluid fashion sense; a white cane due to ebbing but working eyesight & a hankering for a gustatorially grand aquatic entree preceded by an amuse-unmasked-bouche & cute craft cocktail (for my first adult dinner "out" since early 2020. My night at BOKA: Needing to dine early, I asked Open Table for "a table for 1 for a special occasion." Arriving as the restaurant opened, I was kept waiting in the entryway while several deuces & parties of 4 who came in with or after me were were shown into a charming, Moorish-tiled, skylit winterized "courtyard" with distanced fourtops & inviting incandescent globe lights. When MY name was FINALLY called, the host led ME to a two-top in a DARK, TOTALLY EMPTY (!) BARROOM that looked like every watering hole in Wrigleyville). After demurring & being offered a seat in another dim alcove, I was allowed in the courtyard --BUT NOT GIVEN A TABLE. INSTEAD, STAFF SEATED ME IN AN ODD, ENORMOUS CORNER BANQUETTE FOR 6-8 (facing the room; I felt like Lily Tomlin's Edith Ann in her great big chair). The little brioche was delicious. Cocktails & food sounded fabulous as menu copy but certainly didn't scintillate. Spices & ingredients were either so muted or offhandedly combined they failed to even "show up" on the palate. Such as the trout the kitchen swapped for disliked Cod, which came-not adjusted for the different fish family-but sans spice altogether in a lazy bland brown butter. And, while I gravitate to smoky, tannin-y botanical gin & tea portables, their version is made with Earl Grey flavored SYRUP better suited to a Starbucks drink. Service was attentive, pleasant, professional and non-attitudinal. But after the seating weirdness I was unsettled. Overall, I found Boka disappointing despite the props they get. (Note to house managers: a red stripe in the middle,--not bottom--of a white cane means the user can still SEE!) read more

This is hands down the best meal that I've ever had in my life. we went for my husband's birthday, which I mentioned when making a reservation, and they printed a personalized happy birthday menu with his name on it as well as giving a complimentary dessert and glass of champagne. I think that I will dream about the ricotta pillows every day for the rest of my life. Great sommelier service, knowledgeable waitstaff, and delicious food & wine. read more

I've been to Alinea, just next door to Boka, and while the experience at Alinea is unmatched, Boka is a place you'd feel welcomed to come back again and again. Our service was excellent, keeping our water full, checking in at the perfect moments and making us feel like we were meant to be there. The only thing I wished from the service was to have a "tasting menu" at the end of the meal (we had the 8 course taste). Half the time I couldn't hear what was being served (granted I love the surprise better than knowing) and I wish I could have taken a memento home to understand what I just ate. As for the food? You take one bite, then another until you realized you finished your plate. Each bite is refreshing and new, and when you think you discovered what makes it so good, you finished. I'd love to come back here again with my family. It was a treat! read more

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Absolutely amazing. Was concerned things could have changed due to the health crisis but Boka still delivers one of the most delicious meals in the city. We did the tasting menu, and everything delivered, with the duck & lamb standing out above and beyond. Truly the top tier of one of stars in Chicago. Standing head over shoulders over others in the pier set like Parachute and Elske, whose stars are questionable. I would highly recommend Boka to anyone looking for an amazing tasting menu experience. read more

Boka - Lamb - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We've wanted to try Boka for a long time, and it exceeded my expectations. Everything about our dinner experience was flawless. The decor is unique and classy. The staff was welcoming; our servers were knowledgeable about each course and provided an excellent wine recommendation to begin the evening. We had the chef's tasting menu and were in awe of the unique, masterful flavors and textures, with everything prepared to perfection. Our favorites were the Osetra caviar, ricotta ravioli, dry-aged duck, lamb loin, and the black sesame/dark chocolate dessert. I will be daydreaming about this dinner for a long time! Don't miss an opportunity to enjoy this Chicago dining experience. read more

Beautifully decorated interior with a 1920s vibe. We got the tasting menu and their cocktail. Cocktail was very strong, I didn't really care for the flavor. 1st course: uni - one of my favorites of the night. The flavor combination was brilliant 2nd: diver scallops, very fresh, delicate sauce to complement the delicate flavor of raw scallops 3rd: cod. This was perfectly cooked, just flaking off with a good sauce. My fear with cod is that it's usually tasteless and very hard. This was the opposite, perfectly cooked, juicy, flaking with slight pressure from the fork with a tasty sauce 4th: duck. Another highlight of the night. Long perfectly cooked strips of duck breast with a crispy skin, with again a perfect complement of sauce 5th: grape ice-cream, fromage, and concord grapes. This was EXCELLENT. Flavors were on point and the fromage paired perfectly with the ice-cream 6th: Chocolate sorbet? With chartreuse cream. This was my least favorite dish of the night, the flavors simply didn't pair well together. Pumpkin bread to take home. We had it the next day with coffee and it was excellent. An excellent experience all around. This place shines in terms of how flavors are paired - really thoughtful and exquisite. read more