I went here with my best friend and my hubby to celebrate my birthday with a great birthday dinner. 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 ;) read more

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I'm not sure how long it was when I first visited Cranivale but it was definitely before yelp reviews 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. read more

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This restaurant has been around Chicago for about 20 years and after revisiting recently I remember why lol I hadn't been here in about 10 years, even though I pass it all the time and I recently got to check the place out with one of my girls; we had like a girls dinner date night out. It was all the vibes and more! I highly recommend the cotton candy drink - they're famous for it, and everyone loves it, but every single drink that we had was really good. Appetizers were great as well - we tried the coconut shrimp and the Jalea platter, which was a few different fried seafood and yucca. The main courses were great as well. I had the breaded chicken with the fried egg and my girl had the steak. We loved our food and the desserts. Oh my goodness the coconut cream cake was delicious, but my friend got the butter, pecan toffee cake and it came with dulce de leche ice cream on top. It was warm and just wow. I want to go back just for that. And of course, the decor in here is just always so inviting it makes you feel like you've transported out of Chicago just for a little bit. Definitely can't wait until my next visit! read more

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Went for their happy hour drinks and some appetizers with a friend recently and it was pretty good. Selected drinks are 50% off so I tried the cotton candy cosmo, loved it! The appetizers were good as well, they need to add them to the happy hour menu too. The restaurant is so colorful, fun, and full of culture. We were enjoying our second drink when dancers came out to perform, so amazing! read more

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Loved this. Brought a group of ten here last weekend for a going away/birthday party, and every single person in the group said they'd driven by and never made it in and everyone was happy to try :) Honestly, exceeds expectations for me. The staff was friendly and accommodating, we got a super cute table right off the main bar, seemed cozy and private. Food was excellent!! Started off with guac and it was delicious!! I'm picky about guac, and loved it. Generous portions too! I got the octopus and the ceviche tasting and was overjoyed. Excellent, on all accounts. I always order octopus, and this one was pretty standout. I did get a drink (something purple, cannot remember the name now) but it was quite good. Friend got the cotton candy martini and loved and it everyone loved their margs. They were wonderful about making our celebrations special, and just had an overall great time! Would definitely go back and recommend. read more

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This was our first time back to this restaurant in 16 years!! My husband and I first came here on our first Valentine's day date as a couple. This time, we came to celebrate both our birthdays, as we are born in the same month. The restaurant is still just as beautiful as the first time I saw it, but it definitely was brighter and more lively even though it was not overly crowded or busy. Our waitress was friendly and kind and very sweet and made sure we were well taken care of, and was nice enough to take a couple of pictures for us. The dinner and drinks were great and they really spoiled us both with the delicious desserts and espressos. Over all, it was a great experience and we both really had a great time celebrating our birthdays. Thanks for the memories. Would highly recommend. read more

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Beautiful colorful atmosphere. Delicious dinner. Valentines Day dinner was a great surprise!! Server was experienced and knowledgeable. Will remember to take more pics next time because both steaks were phenomenal and salads etc, but only remembered to take pics of appetizers and dessert read more

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Carnivale is such a fun, unforgettable dining experience. The ambience alone is worth the visit--colorful, lively, and artsy with bold decor, glowing lights, and a buzzing energy that makes it perfect for a night out. It feels like a celebration the moment you walk in. The calamari was excellent--light, crispy, and perfectly cooked, with a flavorful sauce that complemented it so well. But the shrimp... OMG. Absolutely standout. So juicy, so well-seasoned, and honestly the kind you think about after you leave. The cocktails are creative and beautifully presented, but the dessert was like a brick. Don't get that banana Carmel brick with ice cream it will disappoint I thought I may break a tooth. The Mac n cheese was meh and the fat fries were not good. read more

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The first thing that you will notice about this restaurant is that is very colorful. There are a bunch of murals outside as well as inside. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance. The restaurant is huge. You will find a lounge area and bar with seating in the front of the bar. There is also a decent sized patio area out front. The restaurant's dining area is huge and very colorful. The staff there were friendly. The chef even came to my table to see how my meal was going. The restaurant serves what they call Latin fusion food and their menu includes seafood, empanadas, steak, salad, chicken and paella. They also have a full bar with signature cocktails and daily specials available. I ordered the lamb rack pinxto. It took about 15 minutes for my food to be prepared. The presentation was picture perfect. I was so delicious. I really enjoyed my meal. Surprisingly it was filling. I also got an order of the plantains, and they were really good too. They were sweet and covered with some cheese, which surprisingly went well with them. I was very pleased. I will admit, the food is a bit pricier than average, but was worth it. This place is well deserving of all the hype that it gets. read more

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Carnivale is a beautifully decorated restaurant at the West Loop. The restaurant is very spacious and vibrant and if you come in Thursday and Friday nights there will be samba dancers performances. Unfortunately we came on a Saturday and did not get to experience the performances but we still had an amazing time. My girlfriends and I ordered the ceviche platter which had 4 different types of very fresh delicious ceviche. The seafood paella was delicious but the serving size is a bit small, like an individual size. We also ordered the gaucho steak which was perfectly cooked to medium rare as we requested. We also enjoyed the Mexican corn and fried plantain sides. The cocktails were very delicious especially the cotton candy one that was like a show when they poured the liquid to melt the cotton candy. We ordered the Carnivale ice cream cake to share and the flavors were delicious. We also got complimentary cotton candy with popcorn. This is a really fun place for dinner with great vibe and food! read more

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Carnivale - Chicago Bottomless mimosas + bold Latin eats Chicken & waffle sammies hit all the sweet + savory notes Celebrated my birthday here a couple years ago + they surprised us with giant cotton candy towers for dessert 5/5 The energy + décor = unmatched. Bright colors, festive vibes, and live atmosphere made the whole night feel like a party. The food was delicious, and the experience is a must when in Chicago! Check out my Instagram for the full review @ratedbyaleena read more

Carnivale Chicago - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Visited on a Friday night and the vibe was great. Unfortunately, it took about 20 minutes for our server to acknowledge us, and he mentioned he hadn't been told we were seated. On the bright side, we tried all four ceviches and they were outstanding. The octopus, however, was a bit disappointing- very chewy. I also had the cotton cocktail, which was extremely sweet and not really to my taste. Overall, still a good experience. read more

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Food was ok. Steak could have been better flavor wise. Only thing that made it pop was their mushroom with the steak. Their Fries were good. Salmon was plain but coconut rice was good. Probably wouldn't come back to be honest. Their service was great and server was attentive read more

We showed up without a reservation and were able to be seated right away. They had brazillian samba dancers to entertain us during our meal. the restaurant is colorful and lighting isn't super bright. the bar area is huge (we came here after a bar crawl once with a large group and they were able to accommodate us). If you like meat and chimichurri sauce - who doesn't? - then you should definitely get the Argentinian Parrillada. All of the meat is soooooo flavorful. They also have so many delicious drinks and a ton of desserts. I always love going to chicago and eating here. read more

Came with my wife for dinner a few months ago. The restaurant has a bright, colorful ambiance with very unique decorations that made it fun to gaze while awaiting our food. we were seated pretty quickly and our server saw to us pretty quickly as well. The menu had a good amount of options but we opted for the Argentinian Parrillada for 2 along w/ a side of yucca fries since we were fairly hungry and I usually tend to like more meat heavy dishes. It came out in a sizzling pan and looked great. Most of it was pretty good but some of the meat was just okay. I wish there was a little more flavor. The yucca fries were excellent and crispy. Overall, we had a fun time. The ambiance was great and added a lot to the experience. read more

Carnivale Chicago - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Carnivale is a fun Brazilian themed restaurant with a nice selection of food and drink options. Came here with a group and everyone really enjoyed their meals. The guacamole was fresh, the yuka fries were unique and tasty, and the sangria was strong and flavorful. My vegan paella was great. I added chicken but it really didn't add much to the dish. The arrachera was excellent as well, but it's a bit heavy since it's just meat and rice. The mango sorbet at the end was so good. It had chamoy and ginger which helped balance the sweetness. The waiter mentioned they have acrobatic performances Thursday and Friday night. read more

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The food was excellent. We were with a large group and we ordered a lot of different things and everything was excellent. The servers were excellent and the entertainment was great!! read more

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First time at Carnivale! My friends at do "dinner club" and this was a perfect restaurant to experience! There were so many pretty lights and decorations and it was very colorful inside! Our waiter was attentive, which was nice, especially since it was busy. Toward the middle/end the service was slightly slower but again it was very busy so definitely give it a pass! We ordered drinks, my sangria was yummy, a bit on the dry side though. We had an array of delicious appetizers including pork belly, ceviche, and coconut shrimp to name a few. I ordered the charcoal roasted chicken which was delicious. I was not the hugest fan of the potatoes it came with, but there was so much other food it didn't matter. My friends enjoyed the tres leche cake to end our meal. All in all a great experience! read more

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Amazing food and service. My husband I came to celebrate an early Valentines dinner and wow, we were both impressed. It's both of our first times here and we will be coming back. From the moment we entered, everything has been top notch. Laura is an amazing server and attentive to all our needs. The food is filled with flavor and each bite is mouthwatering. Ropa vieja was a suggestion and it melts in your mouth as for the Picanha, order it! No second guesses on that entree. As for the location, it's a humongous place that is filled with color and the music has you jamming in your seat. read more

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Colorful, energetic, and definitely a fun spot for a night out -- just be warned, it gets very loud, so not the place if you're hoping to catch up over conversation. The apps were excellent -- we had the Luz's Empanada with roasted corn, manchego, and poblano crème (SO flavorful and perfectly crispy), and the Smoked Mushroom Croquettes with truffle and garlic chips, which were rich and indulgent in the best way. Easily the highlight of the meal. I got a pineapple-based cocktail that was super refreshing and well-balanced. The paella was just okay -- decent but not super memorable. Great service, beautiful space, and definitely a good pick for groups or celebratory nights -- especially if you're going for drinks and small plates over a long meal. read more

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Suuuuuper yummy food and so cute inside!! I split the seafood paella, lobster ravioli, and beef tenderloin. They were forreal great:) The service was awesome - shout out to Angel read more

Carnivale Chicago - Lobster Ravioli - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Vibrant colorful decor meant for all sorts of celebration gatherings. The seafood paella and short rib pupusa were our favorite dishes. They will bring you a dessert for bday celebrations and cotton candy with popcorn is always served. I enjoyed the fun cotton candy cocktail as well. Servers were very friendly read more

If you're looking for a restaurant that delivers more than just amazing food, Carnivale in Chicago is the place to be! This vibrant, Latin-inspired hotspot isn't just about dining--it's an experience. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a lively, colorful atmosphere that instantly sets the tone for a night of fun. Whether it's live music, dancers, or performers, there's always something happening. No two nights feel the same! Packed menu! Perfect for birthdays, date nights, or just a spontaneous night out with friends I have gave a 4 because they were a bit busy and the service was great depending on the server. I don't like to much confusion and sometimes it can get like that with them!!!! read more

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Went there for Easter Buffet and was highly disappointed. They were out of so many items and food and condiments were not replenished at the late hour of our reservation. all of the food was cold. The service was terrible and had to hunt down our server for utensils water plates and drinks. I have been going to Carnivale since it opened 20 years ago and was surprised at how bad the bufget was. For $100 per person including taxes and tip this was an insult. Never again. read more

Now, we went on a Sunday night, but it was dead. The food came out quick, and I mean concerning quick. The server was nice and attentive. The ropa vieja tasted like sloppy joes on soggy plantain and the coconut shrimp was lacking. The guac was ok but nothing to write home about. The decor was fun and I'm sure it's a great atmosphere when more people are there or when there is something going on but the food is not what you would come here for. read more

We visited carnivale to celebrate a friend's birthday. The ambiance, food and service was amazing. Our waiter Valentino gave us great suggestions for food and drinks. Overall a wonderful experience, special thanks to waiter Valentino for a memorable time. read more

Carnivale Chicago - Birthday dessert - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Roberto and Kody were absolutely amazing I've been coming for 20 years and I am pleasantly surprised the service is consistent and pleasant read more

Carnivale Chicago - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a fun restaurant! It felt so festive! The service was great. Refilling water glasses, checking back to see if we needing more drinks, double checking with the chef to make sure everything I ordered was gluten-free... Etc. I believe our server was Roman. He was very good. We will definitely go back again. Next time we might try to go when they have a show. We all kind of shared our food with our party of four. We started with the guacamole and I had a separate basket of gluten-free chips. It was very good. It was mild, but there were peppers on top if you wanted to heat it up a bit. Our friends had the lobster paella. It was very tasty and had just a little bit of a kick to it. They said it would be good for one hungry person or two people to split. Our friends split it and still ended up taking some home. They also had a Caesar salad salad that everyone liked. My husband and I split the meal of chicken, salad and french fries. He also had a side of the street corn. Everything we sampled was very good. Highly recommend. read more

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Simply can't say enough good things about this place. The atmosphere is spectacular. You can have a nice casual dinner in the bar area, or have something a little more formal(not in dress, just experience) in the main dining room. They have great music and live dancers that move through the dining room and put on a fantastic show. They started a Conga line with the whole room that was a lot of fun! My wife bought the chefs experience for my birthday. WOW. Easily one of my top few restaurant experiences of all time. My wife, myself and three others sat at a small bar in the corner of the dining room. A perfect place to watch all the action. The executive chef, Carlos, was the emcee and the head chef for the meal. He and his staff made a tremendous 13-course meal right in front of our eyes. The theme was traditional Cuban dishes with a modern twist. Carlos didn't just prepare and present; he was very personable and talked with all of us. Not just about the food, but about life, movies, comedy. We were all over the place. But the icing on the cake happened the day before. He called my wife and said, "We see it's your husbands birthday tomorrow. Tell me about him; what does he like?" She gave away all my secrets. He served us all my favorite veggie: a Japanese sweet potato. He went to seven different liquor stores, found my favorite beer and served it. My wife told him how much I like cookies. He baked six snickerdoodle and six salted caramel cookies! They were incredible; the salted caramel cookies were unlike any others I've had. This was all a surprise to me, and, of course, made it all the more special. Definitely my favorite birthday meal in memory. Carlos and his entire staff were warm, friendly and blew me out of the water! If you want to give someone a truly unique and memorable birthday gift, get the chefs experience. Or if youre just looking for a great meal, come to Carnivale! read more

This is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Chicago. I have celebrated so many special moments here with the people I love in my life over the past 15 years. They recently renovated the bar area decor, which was really fun!! The new update is a neon tropical Vibe, totally in sync with me!! I'm a huge fan of their steak w/ chimichurri sauce. So that is definitely what I had. I'll visit again before I leave the city. Yummy!! The Service was slow, so I definitely felt like staffing and timing needs to be improved. And there was an issue with one of the desserts that we ordered. It was missing two of the key ingredients cacao nibs and blueberries. Other than that, I had an amazing time and it's still on my topGo to spots when I'm in chicago. Let me know if you check it out ! read more

Ordered the calamari, chips and guacamole, seafood paella and braised short rib. Everything was delicious and portions are shareable. Easy to make reservations online, lots of tables insides, and very festive with loud music. Service was subpar. read more

Carnivale Chicago - seafood paella, braised short rib - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The vibes were immaculate! We came by for dinner on Sunday night and were seated immediately. We were one of the first few groups there, but it quickly filled up as the night went on. The atmosphere is bright and colorful just had the names. No corner left uncolored. Bathrooms are downstairs all the way at the end of the hall, and down the hallway there were various artworks and murals to keep you fascinated while you make your way to the bathroom. For my drink, I have the mango aqua fresha and it was delish! It tasted refreshing! My husband got the old fashioned which tbey smoked in front of us, which was cool to see! To start we got the Brussel sprout salad, and the arepas. The Brussel sprout salad was quite a surprise as it didn't have very much Brussel in it, but it was delish! The arepas had enough short rib on them to be an entree alone, not that we are complaining but certainly a plentyful app! For my entree I got the lechon asado, and it was incredible. It came with grits. The pork was moist and flavorful, and each bite made you want to eat more no matter how full you got. The desserts were rather disappointing, the panna cotta's texture and flavor didn't quite match up it tasted a bit plasticy because there were a few too many flavors happening on the plate. All in all, we had a great experience and can't wait to come back! read more

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Love this place. The food is always good. It's a bit pricey imo. Service is great. It's loud and fun ambiance. I love bringing out of towners here! read more

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fun and colorful restaurant with delicious food. came here with some colleagues and immediately loved the fun and colorful decor. food was good! I really enjoyed the ceviche sampler which was so tasty and unique - not like anything I've ever had. guacamole was fantastic! carne asada was also tasty, but the chocolate cake was too decadent for me. on the whole a good experience. would definitely recommend to other! read more

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What an experience we had at Carnivale! The colors and decorations set this place apart from anywhere else and you can feel the exciting Latin energy as soon as you walk in. There is a cocktail lounge, plenty of spots for pictures and a large main hall with two floors of seating. On Friday night, they have Samba Dancers which got all the guests clapping and dancing, making the experience even more enjoyable. As for the food, all of our dishes were delicious! They are large portion sizes so best to get a few entrees and split at the table so you can try many different dishes! We started with calamari and shrimp quesadillas, both of which were excellent. For our mains, we got the seafood paella which was rich and flavorful. We also ordered the braised short rib which was tender and served on a bed of warm grits. The Argentinian Parrillada was a large platter of different meats and potatoes, and they had no problem substituting the pork for more steak and chicken. All three entrees were excellent and the five of us left feeling very full. Carnivale is a great place to come for a celebration, you can't go wrong when the food and vibes are 10/10! read more

Carnivale Chicago - Shrimp Quesadilla - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Our waiter was pretty busy and the bar was "backed up" - took a while to get a drink. Took a while to get our waiter's attention. Overall, food was delicious and restaurant was vibrant and decoration. read more

still going strong... it's been years and life changes ago that i've been here. this latest visit was with my family (2 young boys included). they devoured the ceviche, shrimp quesadillas and chimichurri steak...and of course the cotton candy finisher. i devoured the mushroom croquettes. loved my beet and apple salad and although wasn't in the mood for anything heavy, really appreciate that they offer vegan paella and a vegan lentil entree. it is so easy to get away with a beans/cheese/plantain dish for latin cuisine but they step it up! the only reason why i knocked off the star was for service -- it was spot on when present but the issue was actually being present :( read more

I've always loved Carnivale. It's been a while since I've been back to Chicago and I just had to dine here. It's always good to go with a group of friends, and those I brought had never been here. The food and drinks are excellent, and so reasonably priced! My boyfriend and I split the Argentinian Parrillada (grilled meat platter) because we couldn't decide what to get, might as well try it all. It says it's for two, but this could feed four! It was so good. Highly recommend, and take the rest for leftovers, or just invite more friends! Will be back next time I'm in Chicago. read more

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Visited Carnivale for the first time in 13 years. My wife and I visited in 2010 because we found a great Chicago travel deal that we couldn't pass up and we found Carnivale on yelp. Since then, their menu has changed, but they still have the menu item that we love - Arrachera. The prices have also changed. On this visit, we requested three ceviches, just like last time. They were delivered in very short time, were delicious, and very satisfying. Our waiter, Oscar, was fast and friendly. For dinner, we shared the arrachera, mac n cheese, and a filet. Shockingly, our food was delivered in less than 10 minutes. The arrachera was superbly delicious. This has to be one of the best menu items, hands down. We got some extra chimichurri sauce with it. The filet was very tasty, but undercooked. The rice was tasty, but I think it would be better without the cherries. I had an amaretto sour with my dinner and the drink was perfectly balanced. We were very please with our meal and Carivale remains one of my favorite restaurants of all time. I really want to go back and try some other menu items. read more

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Very vibrant place with fun colors and decorations! I think the decour was very impressive, they even had a pet parrot upfront. The food was as good quality, being more upscale given the price. It was all very filling. read more

Carnivale Chicago - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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