So fun here!! Staff were accommodating when we called and came in on the day of. (We were a group of 9). They offer drinks (coffee,tea, wine, etc) and small bites. My fav was their sticky toffee cake - so delicious. The staff recommended us a few games and were friendly when asked for instructions/clarifications. If you love games, come enjoy with your friends!! read more

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Go for the games! Servers were very friendly and helpful with games and rules. Really enjoyed playing a new variety and even bought one of the games we played. I would just order snacks. We didn't finish the sandwiches and wish we had just run somewhere else close for a sandwich beforehand. read more

Bonus Round Game Cafe - Buffalo chicken grilled cheese - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My bf and I went here on a weekend, and we were able to get a table. We asked the staff for a game recommendation, and he brought back 3 games for us to choose from. We picked Royal Visit. The staff member explained the game very well and even explained some of the tricky parts of the rules that come up during game play. We had a blast and wound up buying our own copy of it (they also sell it at Bonus Round)! For food/drinks, they have a $10 minimum, so I got the bbq jackfruit sliders which were quite good and my bf got root beer and snack mix. He was quite envious of my food, which I think was a better bang for your buck, and a great vegetarian option! read more

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Even though I've been following Bonus Round since before they opened, I haven't yet been here. Before the pandemic I was a little shy to go but now I'm looking forward to once I feel comfortable hanging out with others. I did visit a couple week sago because I saw they were selling dice with the Chicago flag and I needed to buy them. The dice are really cute! They also have other types of dice but these are the ones that caught my eye. They have a good number of games, one I purchased because it's not like I have enough (that was sarcasm, and actually it was an expansion). They have several tables and a sitting area with couches, and they have light food and refreshments for purchase. I'd like to come for an event sometime, probably starting with POC Mixer Night. The person working when I was there was friendly. Parking is not really plentiful in this part of town. If you're not using public transport, plan to leave early so you can drive around and find a spot. read more

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Good selection of tea, snacks, and sandwiches. Perfect to eat while playing games. A lot of game cafes have loud music playing in the background and it's hard to hear others when they talk, but the setup in here is good for playing games. read more

Great place with so many game options! Deirdre was so helpful in picking out games according to our specific preferences! We had so much fun and will definitely be back. read more

Great experience here! The food was excellent. The service was even better - it included game suggestions that were perfect. The owner brought three game suggestions and we loved all of them. Highly recommend! read more

Service was friendly, and the staff were the best part of the experience, along with the games of course. There's a bunch of interesting board games to choose from, and the staff are real game masters. You can ask for their recommendations and they will happily assist! We asked for more light-hearted games using little brain power as it was a Saturday after all. Five people including myself had hours of fun with the suggested games--especially enjoyed Hues and Cues! You can play unlimited for $7 if you spend $10 per person on food, which isn't a bad deal. I ordered a drink and snacks for the group. The hot chocolate was a little too sweet, and the snacks were okay; the dip to veggie/cracker ratio was definitely off. Overall a good experience and would totally check out some of their events. read more

Lovely spot to spend an afternoon or evening with friends! Knowledgeable and friendly staff (shoutout to Deirdre!) who can steer your group to a game that fits your vibe, then explain the rules of the game. They also stock new games for purchase, we bought two expansions of Everdell to play at home. Book ahead of time as they can get busy, and take advantage of their happy hour! read more

A chill place to have a light dinner and play some board games! This was my first board game cafe experience. Went here on weekend in the middle of the evening, and they had a great spot with two couches to seat a large party. There is a $10 per person minimum and each person is charged a game pass. There were about 6 main menu options, but there's also a selection of shareables and a menu of drinks. Great selection of board games. Staff can recommend board games to your party and explain the rules (they're all super knowledgeable!). Ended up playing Betrayal (with the help of the staff) and Codenames while eating my buffalo chicken quesadilla. Quesadilla was as expected; casual food, nothing too fussy in order to fit the vibe of the cafe. Definitely would come here again! read more

This place is SO MUCH FUN! I came here with a group of 6 people on a Friday night and it was a super chill cafe with tons of game options!! We stayed for probably 2 hours and played over 4 games. They have a variety of beer options, coffee, baked goods, and more! They do charge a $5 game pass per person to play, however. Just an FYI. I would definitely come back! The service was awesome, the cookies, and the vibe!! Great experience overall. read more

Bonus Round Game Cafe - Game table ($5 game pass) - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great date night spot! My partner and I love to go here and they have a great happy hour deal on weekdays! So much fun, great selection of games, and incredibly friendly staff that are able to give great recommendations and easy to follow instructions for the games :) read more

This is a local coffee shop and they also have food! A few people around us got sandwiches and they looked really good. The service is outstanding, the staff somehow know all about the games and help you learn and make great suggestions. We love board games so I'm so glad we found this! The suggestion our host made was King of Tokyo and I will be purchasing it for my home. They're really friendly and helpful with all their recommendations! The amount of games is definitely overwhelming but so cool! So many options and they list staff favorites. It wasn't crowded on a Sunday afternoon so it's definitely a fun activity! read more

Bonus Round Game Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great spot to come with friends to play familiar games, learn about new games, and buy games! The employees were all so kind and patient while explaining games and asking what games were were interested in. My friend and I enjoyed both games that we were introduced to. On the other hand, I didn't love the drinks. Love the concept of this shop and wish there were more of these around! read more

Wow, what an amazing place this is! Wish I had one of these in my hood. I came here with my wife and two of our close friends after a New Year's Day lunch, and thankfully they were open. We were given seats at the two large couches near the front, and I immediately started perusing their board game selection. It's pretty large, and pretty much any board game I've heard of they had along with several expansions. We managed to fit in games of Legendary, One Night Ultimate Werewolf and Superfight while we were here. As we played their kind staff came by to take our snack and drink orders. We ended up with a bit too much sugar and caffeine in our systems after, but I guess that's on us for ordering the mug of M&Ms. They also recommended games and expansions to us as we played - they definitely know their stuff. There is a small cover charge, but hey, they need to make their money somehow. The facilities were clean, well lit, and just overall really friendly. The only thing to be wary of is they don't really have duplicates of any game, which is great since it means they have more variety, but if someone is sitting on the game you want to play you may need to pick something else. Overall great place, and if I knew they had a NYE party I may have just made the trek up here instead of the local bar we did go to. Definitely will return! read more

Fun games and friendly staff. Food was a bit pricey and they have you order a minimum dollar amount but I liked the games and environment

Fun full-service board game cafe with knowledgeable employees to recommend games. I came here on a Saturday with 3 friends around 3pm. We were seated at the only open table. We grabbed Ticket to Ride from the extensive selection of board games and ordered lattes. After that game ended we decided to try something new. Board game and drink-wise. An employee, or should I say a board game connoisseur, recommended 3 games to us based on our request that it be competitive and not too difficult to learn. We decided on Dikit which is a pretty quick visual game that relies on creative thinking and reminded me of Apples to Apples. Beer, wine, and a caramel apple were ordered. The friend that ordered the caramel apple raved about it since it was delicious and cut in an easy-to-eat way. After that game, we wanted more! We played another new game for us called Letter Tycoon which is scrabble+monopoly, so Scrabble for capitalists. Great game. We stayed in total around 4 hours! We met the food and beverage minimum pretty easily. The food and drinks are average-priced and very solid. While it's not a cheap outing, it is a fun one and it's worth it if you try new games. read more

Went here on a Saturday afternoon with a couple of friends. They have a great variety of games, new and old, and employees that are more than willing to help with set up and explanation, which was super helpful. There is a $5 game pass charge for just using their board games and then also a food/drink minimum of $10. If you're a board game fanatic you can get a membership of $14/month or $39/quarter. I ordered beer to hit my minimum since I had just eaten lunch and wasn't hungry, but they were out of my first two drink choices so it was kind of annoying to be forced to buy something I didn't really want. Overall, it was a great atmosphere and we got to try out some really fun, new board games! read more

As a non board game player this place is great! The servers not only get you your drinks (both the alcoholic and non alcoholic ones are delicious) but also help you choose a game (collaborative or competitive? Social deduction?). They are like board game sommeliers! Place has very hipster nerd chill vibes. As a nerd-who-pretends-to-be-normal, I felt comfortable here. read more

This board game cafe is my newly discovered hidden gem of a cafe! New favorite hangout spot to bring friends. For experienced board game players and the beginner as well, this cafe has something for everyone. The space is very homey and welcoming, with wooden tables and couches set up for small and large groups. Great board game selection too. The more surprising aspect for me was how attentive the staff was in greeting us as we came in, giving us the laydown of how the cafe and board game selection worked, asking us our board game preferences, and doing a great job at personally selecting board games that he thought we would enjoy. That level of attention to detail is something that someone can't get elsewhere, of game selection pros and cons, explanation of game rules, and time-to-time check-in of our progress and for any questions we might have. On our first visit to the cafe, we played Okey-Dokey, which is a numbers card game that the staff member said was a very popular choice and easy to learn. We stopped by here incidentally when we had 2 hours to spare before heading over to the Krypton VR Lounge for some virtual reality games. There is a cute drink and snacks menu that is pretty affordable. I'm not entirely sure what their pricing model is, and it's not clearly shown in the café. I do know that by the end of 1.5 hrs, it was $5 per person for a 2-person table and I paid $3 for a chai latte. I do wish that their pricing is more transparent at the beginning, or there was clear signage available when you walk in to show that. read more

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Really fun atmosphere with a ton of games. Came here with a group of friends on a Sunday afternoon. They have a massive selection for games and are happy to provide recommendations. The staff will introduce you to the game to get you spun up. The expectation is that you will spend about $10/person/hour. The food options were mediocre but there's a nice drinks range at reasonably prices so I'd go that way next time. While it would be more cost effective to buy a board game and have people over, this is a great option if you: 1) Don't have the space 2) Want a convenient meet up location 3) Don't have that many board games/want to try something new read more

I've been visiting Bonus Round for a few months now. They are absolutely fantastic. They go above and beyond for their customers and really try and create an amazing experience every time. A fantastic selection of games that they take the time to carefully learn so they can share with others. On top of that, that they have a simple and great menu. Fun choices and an awesome selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks! If you're looking for a unique cafe experience like no other, this should be your first stop! read more

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If your looking for a group activity and some fun while in Wrigley area check this place out. It's got a great selection of board games. The team is very attentive and also knowledgeable. Enjoyed it. Spent to much time at this spot. read more

Bonus Round Game Cafe - Hot chocolate - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The owner is super rude to the customers and very wrapped up in saving money as opposed to running a business and making people feel welcome. Both instances we've been here, my friend and I have felt very unwelcome by the owner. Telling us we can't sit somewhere because it's meant for larger groups--which okay buddy, it's a Sunday morning and no one is here--and sitting us right next to another group instead of an open space where we are not cramped. He also made a big deal about my friend being the only one at our table trying to order a mimosa. He made a big stink over the fact that he'd have to open a bottle of champagne JUST for her and what a waste it would be if no one else from the table orders one. I mean??? If you're concerned about something like that then maybe don't serve it or just don't run a business! Just overall a very miserable and rude person, who by the way deleted my last negative review! Which is fine considering that there are other reviews demonstrating the owner's rude behaviors. read more

Bonus Round makes a wonderful hobby accessible for everyone while also building an inclusive community. The staff are kind and helpful, the food selection is good, and the games they have are just fantastic -- they have games for newbie players who want something light all the way through to heavy strategy Euro-style games. My spouse and I have made a point of searching out board came cafes when we travel (one of our favorites is Game Haus in Glendale, CA), and when we decided to try to find one near home we were happily surprised at what we found in Bonus Round! Whether we've gone just the two of us or invited friends to join, we've always had a great time. During the pandemic they have made modifications to be able to continue serving the board and tabletop gaming community even when we can't go hang out in their shop. Their pandemic programming has included figurine paint alongs, D&D games, and more. Anyway, to sum up: this place is great. Go there. :) read more

Love Bonus Round! Such a welcoming atmosphere. Solid food and really fun drinks to keep you going through your gaming. There is an incredible variety of games available and the staff helps pick some out based on what vibe you're looking for. Super fun for a date night or to hang out in a small group. read more

We had a small group come in here on a Saturday. Great experience all around. We ranged from someone who plays a fair share of board games to someone who never does, and they were great about recommending games that may appease the whole table. Service was friendly. Solid snacks/food (grilled cheese, quesadillas, cookies, etc.) and drink options. The layout is nice, too, because it's open enough that you can sneak a peek at what other people are playing but spread out enough that you feel like you've got your own little section where everyone isn't up in everyone else's business. read more

So much fun! My boyfriend always talks so positively about BRGC but I hadn't gotten to try it yet. So glad we went last night! Very friendly (and knowledgeable!) team, incredible selection of games --all around a great time. Can't wait to come back! read more

Amazing fun place to relax and play games! And I love that they really care about customers health and safety. Thank you to Courtney the owner! read more

I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a friendly local gaming store. If I lived in Chicago, I would be here all the time. This was on our itinerary as part of a bachelor party weekend, and the staff was great. They gave us a congratulatory surprise, which went above and beyond our expectations, and everyone was all around very nice, laid back (but not inattentive), and happy to help select or teach games. Our group of board game geeks was very satisfied. The space is really nice, with very good light, and the tables aren't crowded together at all, so you have room to breathe (and to get up and walk to the bathroom without sidling past a dozen people). I also love that they stock ladies' products in the bathroom. I've never seen that anywhere. Overall, a great experience, and I would definitely come back. read more

The idea of this place is very good, and it is a pity that it has some rude people working there. I'll tell you some of my experiences. This past month I have been going regularly (twice a week) to the place and gaming for two hours (sometimes just one game that lasts for that long), taking a coffe and paying the game fee which is 5 dollars (I would assume that it covers the time that you game but they do not think that way). Appart from many rude behaviours (not explaning games, or talking with all the lack of interest I've ever seen in a waiter) and many pushes to consume their food/drinks (pricey for what it is btw), yesterday we had one of the most embarassing situations I've seen in my life. The waiter came and said basically that he didn't want us to ever come back, that our tips wasn't good enough and he used some terms that made him go from rude to stirrer. I have to say that I always tip them with 15-20%, even being a student and I've tried to be as friendly as I could be, because I loved the place. On the other hand, there are some members of the crew that are very friendly. But all in all, it is a place where you have to pay game fees + pricey drinks/food every two hours + outstanding tips (even getting terrible service sometimes) if you do not want to be kicked out. I will take the piece of advice of the waiter and never come back. read more

Owned by a local couple, incredibly warm and adorable cafe where you can nerd out on board games and have delicious coffee and sandwiches to boot. I go in at least once or twice month and am always greeted as a returning customer :) Oh and they have wine and beer!! Nothing better for a group! read more

The staff here were awesome - they really know their games and were so helpful in getting us started on our first. Two of us popped in one night and got to play two new games for us - Century Golem Edition and Patchwork Doodle (because we both enjoy Patchwork.) It's the perfect place to test out some new games or just to relax. We enjoyed their coffee/tea selection and got the last slice of pumpkin pie (from Bang Bang Pie, no less!) to split while we played. Such a nice relaxed vibe, and the perfect choice for winding down your night or on a rainy day. read more

This place is GREAT. The staff is really nice and has tons of game knowledge. The game library has hundreds of games (many of my personal favorites, many I've always wanted to play, and some I've never heard of). The atmosphere is super relaxed and there was no pressure. Boyfriend and I came in to scope the place out and were EXTREMELY pleased with our experience. Can't wait to come back from some game nights with friends! I'm so glad this place is open and exists!! read more

This is one of my favorite places in Chicago. The owners, Drew and Courtney, are so welcoming and helpful. They give great game recommendations based on your preferences. They are genuinely passionate about what they do and it shines through. I will be coming back very, very soon. read more

This place has so much on Guthrie's, which I previously thought was the only place around with board games. You pay $5 to play whatever game you want. You can describe the type of game you're interested in (sorry, they don't have boggle), the amount of time you want to spend playing, and the level of difficulty. They have food, beer, wine, tea (which was perfect for the chilly night we went there). We played Santorini...sort of, and then a comedy show started. It was hard for us to play and pay attention, and the comedy didn't quite rival second city, but this definitely made my list of date places to frequent. read more

I enjoyed visiting here very much, the game selection and the staff was so friendly. I had a bit of a hard time doing anything unfortunately because I'm hard of hearing and the acoustics make it so loud there. I really did have a good time, and sadly they can't help how sound travels in their space. read more

This place has: - Excellent selection of games for everyone; - Excellent service. Their staff can recommend a game and explain the rules; - Excellent coffee, beer list and snacks. It's also clean, bright and welcoming. Go play a game and support this business! read more

I stopped in with a friend of mine and we had a great time here. We had our server choose a couple games for us and both of them were a lot of fun. The staff was very friendly and super attentive while also not interrupting our games too many times. I've been addicted to board games for a few years now and their selection of games is really great. They had plenty of games for pretty much every comfort level. In my quick browse of their games I noticed Ticket to Ride (with expansions), Dominion (with expansions), Carcassone, Isle of Skye, X-Com, Star Wars Rebellion, Mysterium, Arkham Horror, and many many more. There's a small one-time fee you pay for the games when you arrive (I believe it was 7 dollars), but that fee was waived for their first month, so hurry in and try it out! They serve sandwiches, snacks, and drinks and the prices were pretty good. The menu noted that they will be adding beer, wine and cider soon, so that will make a great cafe even better. Can't wait to stop back in. read more

Let me start by saying that this review is more directed towards the guy that runs this place as opposed to any of the other employees that work their: they do a great job and the other times I've been there they were very kind and helpful. The owner, however, was nothing short of rude to my friend and I the moment we walked in--so this one star rating has to unfortunately be representative of the entire cafe. We sat down on the couches when we walked in and he said he had to move us since it's for bigger parties. Okay no problem--but he seats us next to a really loud and rowdy group of people! He could have sat us down in the other vacant tables, but he herded us in to this spot. He also came back with an empty glass and told me that I need to pour in my drink into the glass, and snapped at me that they make money off selling their drinks and food. I do understand that outside food is a huge no-no when patronizing a cafe or restaurant, so it is my mistake, but geez! If it bothered him so much I could have stepped out and finished my coffee. So I just said I'd buy something. I bought my friend a coffee and we played a game together; it was one that we picked on our way in and no one walked us through it or anything. Also, they don't bring waters over which is kind of annoying. Afterwards, he brings the bill over and it's something like $15. We asked why it was that high since we only ordered a coffee. He got super aggressive and said it's because we played games and that's what we pay for! Jeez, this guy should learn how to manage his emotions and learn how to explain things in a friendlier tone. I thought this place would be cool and chill, but he totally ruins it; never going here again. read more