I recently celebrated my graduation party for my Doctorate degree at Gala Banquets on August 16th, 2014. We had about 110 people that were a mix of Polish and American descent. We chose the Diamond package for the event. To start, there was a hostess that told my guests where to sit, I found this very helpful to keep tables full and allowed all family members to sit together even if they were running late. They were greeted with cold champagne and then enjoyed a cocktail hour with speciality vodka mojitos. There were passed hors d'oeuvres and I noticed that he added an additional hors d'oeuvre to the three I already chose. Additional things provided: free valet parking, lighting around the venue ( I chose pink), linens ( I chose white table and seat covers with blush pink napkins),fake flower centerpieces are offered but I ordered real centerpieces, big candelabras by the champagne and sweet table, and candle votives on each table. Food: Fantastic! All of it! True home cooking and delicious! When I went around to all the tables to ask how things were, everyone raved about the food! There was plenty of it too. Tables were able to ask for additional entrees if they wanted more of a dish and we were also able to take leftovers home as the hosts. Sweet table/ midnight food: There was an abundance of sweets. I unfortunately did not get to enjoy it as I was too busy on the dance floor but I heard they were delicious! Mini pastries, mousses, and fruit. The midnight food was also really great! Being of Polish descent, usually the only time I will eat tatar or borsch is at a Polish event and it did not disappoint! There were 7 items I chose for the midnight food and all I know is that no one left hungry! Music:Konrad recommended DJ Leon (Polish DJ that plays both Polish hit songs and current Top hits). The dance floor was constantly busy which included all the older Polish individuals and the younger crowd. He played everything from traditional Polish wedding music we all grew up loving to the current hits on B96 or KissFm. Drinks: Strong and good! I think they got stronger towards the end of the night. All I know is that everyone left feeling great! There was also wine and champagne on the table while the bar was open during dinner. The specialty vodka mojito drinks were perfect, strong but delicious and not syrupy or too sweet! Bathroom/cleanliness: The bathrooms are updated, clean, and overall really nice. I am picky about bathrooms because I think they are usually overlooked when it comes to venues, however it is very important to look nice and they sure did! With planning a wedding in the past and have attended many other Polish/American events, I can say that Konrad does an amazing job and really cares to make the event as special as can be. When he said, "trust me, everything will be great" I trusted him and am happy I did! My party was two weeks ago and we are still getting text messages about how great of a party it was! This was one of the best nights of my life and I am happy I chose Gala Banquets to host the event! I will definitely choose Gala again! read more

This past weekend my husband celebrated his 50th birthday at Gala Banquets hall. It was probably one of the best events we've ever hosted; and let's just say we have hosted plenty in our day! From the tasteful decor, to our compliments to the chef, and the hospitable staff, Gala Banquets is where you should be booking your next event! From the very beginning Konrad was extremely professional and didn't miss a detail: from the centerpieces, to the envelope box, to the seating chart, to the table arrangements, the dessert bar and the open bar; he had everything covered. There was not a single detail left out or that he allowed us to miss. Along with this the cleanliness of the banquet hall itself was immaculate. I am a person with a very keen sense for cleanliness and this most definitely exceeded my expectations (i.e. the women's bathroom of course was above and beyond the cleanliness of any other place I'd been too and let's face it we all know how those can be). As soon as we had arrived (which was early because it was our event) the staff was putting the last minute touches on our hall and doing it very efficiently, professionally and with such care as if it was their own event. Having a daughter in the service industry for the last eight years it goes to show the type of service we received when even she was blown away with how polite, kind, and efficient the serving staff was. This leads us into the dinner part of the evening which was delicious, hot, and fresh. Being very avid in our Polish culture; we very much critique our heritage when it comes to the cooking and this food was magnificent. Not only is it made fresh to serve we chose the family style as opposed to individual plates and there was more than enough food. Yet, as dinner unraveled they were offering to make more if we ran out of anything at all at any table. Servers bussed and pre-bussed the table with much urgency and were very efficient to serve the next course again very fresh and hot. Not being a very avid drinker myself; although for the rest of my family and the guests, were very satisfied with the bartender. Drinks were poured quick, with copious amounts of liquor, and cold; not anything anyone could complain about. All of my guests were just raving about the food , service, cleanliness, and the Gala Hall itself and how pristine it looked for the evening. We were fortunate enough to have our own live band that is part of the family but Konrad was very quick to suggest many people as soon as that topic arose when planning our party. Who can say that the owner and party planner is such a well organized person that not only helps you plan a party; but ensures the atmosphere and everything about it flows together well for you and your special event! Book your event with Konrad and at his amazing venue if you're looking to revel in some class! Everything will be covered from the moment you start planning, each component that goes into a successful event is taken care of, and you get to enjoy a stress-free time of making memories and exuberance! read more

Quinceañera Celebration I'd like to give Konrad & his staff an A+++++. Konrad is AMAZING! He is very polite, profesional, & ensures to make his clients 100 percent HAPPY. My husband & I were beyond satisfied with everything!Konrad & his staff exceeded our expectations. Konrad just remodeled the hall & OMG it looks GREAT!It's so fancy & elegant. The lighting is stunning. The food was DELICIOUS!The spinach salad was the BOMB!!!The variety of high quality & refreshing drinks was GREAT too! Angela the bar tender was EXCELLENT! The waitresses & waiters were very attentive, professional, & warming. They really made my daughter's special day EXTRA SPECIAL.Her Quinceañera (15th Bday) was so much fun for her & everyone present!!!!! My family & friends were AMAZED with everything! The hall can fit about 130 people. I had about 110 (11 tables) with a photo booth, DJ, main table, a backdrop, & even with all of that we had enough space to move around & dance. I am so glad I found Gala Banquets! Konrad & his staff are really the 5 stars they are given on most if not all of their reviews!!! THANK YOU Konrad & staff for EVERYTHING!!! I look forward to booking more SPECIAL events with you! Best, Yasmin & Family Celebración de Quinceañera Me gustaría darle a Konrad y a su personal una A +++++. ¡Konrad es INCREÍBLE! Es muy educado, profesional y se asegura de que sus clientes estén 100 por ciento FELICES.Mi esposo y yo estábamos más que satisfechos con todo! Konrad y su personal superaron nuestras expectativas. Konrad acaba de remodelar el salón y OMG, se ve GENIAL! El salón es tan bonito y elegante. La iluminación es impresionante. ¡La comida estaba DELICIOSA!La ensalada de espinacas estaba para "chuparse los dedos"! La variedad de bebidas fue de alta calidad y refrescante. Angela la encargada de la barra fue EXCELENTE! Las camareras y los camareros eran muy atentos, profesionales, y tiernos. Realmente hicieron el día especial de mi hija EXTRA ESPECIAL. Su Quinceañera fue muy divertida para ella y todos los presentes!!!!! ¡Mi familia y amigos estaban ASOMBRADOS con todo! El salón tiene capacidad como para unas 130 personas. Yo tuve alrededor de 110 personas (11 mesas) con una cabina de fotos, un DJ, una mesa principal, un telón de fondo, e incluso con todo eso, teníamos suficiente espacio para movernos y bailar. Estoy muy contenta de haber encontrado el banquete Gala. Konrad y su personal son realmente las 5 estrellas que se dan en la mayoría si no en todos sus comentarios !!! GRACIAS Konrad y personal por TODO !!! Espero poder reservar más eventos especiales con usted! Atentamente, Yasmin y familia‍‍‍ read more

6/13/14 I am very glad that we chosen GALA BANQUET HALL for christening party for our son. We have been there twice before. One time on the christening as well and a second time on The New Year and each time we were leaving as a last quests not having enough fun and delicious food. We didn't interviewed any other banquet halls because every time we were there - we were very satisfied and you will be as well if you try it. But just to give you some more details please read below. Firstly, we were very happy with the interior design of the place! It is very elegant and classy ( you can check pics online). They offered us to chose favorite color of lighting, chairs covers and napkins ( they have over 15 colors to chose from - which surprised me a lot!), flowers arrangements and all other details. We also have a package with an open bar for entire night where they served the best mohitos (with a fresh mint) and martinis. Secondly, we have so many complements regarding delicious food that it's hard to count it. You have try a GALA SALAD and pineapple chicken when you get there. I think tasty dinner is one of the most important factors in order to have satisfied guests and successful party! Third, service was very friendly and professional assisting us all the time and paying attention to all details like: empty glasses and dirty plates. Another thing that impressed me was that every quest was offered a glass of champagne at the entrance by a waitress in white gloves! and then every person was nicely walked to specific table and chair. Thanks to that we could focus on other things and everything was so well organized. This was not our first party like that so we could compare to other ones we have in other places in the past and I know one think. I never will do party anywhere else other then Gala and I can't recommend it more highly. We also appreciate that entire room where we have a party belongs only to us! Not like other banquet halls where you have to share room with another party. I also appreciate presence of the owner on the entire party. He was watching if everything if fine from the beginning to the end. We really couldn't ask for more! If you looking for the best food in Chicago, elegant interior and professional service - Gala is the place to be! Trust me - you won't regret it. It's worth each dollar! read more

My husband and I just had our second party at Gala Banquets; a Christening party for our daughter Olivia. It was an amazing night thanks to the great food and entertainment provided by the owner Konrad and the rest of the staff of Gala Banquets. The area is spacious and elegant. We had approximately 90 people both Polish and American attend with children and there was still plenty of space to eat and dance the night away. This is an excellent place for all events. I especially appreciated the changing table in the bathrooms. Finding parking in the city can be rough. However, Gala Banquets offers free valet parking and has arranged overflow parking across the street. The food was amazing! We got the Platinum Package and the food never stopped coming. My personal favorite was the mushroom soup, but we also had a full dinner complete with Pierogis, Salads, Meats, and Ice cream. Additional appetizers of Salmon, Tatar, Galareta , various meats, deserts and others were severed after the meal. The staff was very friendly and courteous ensuring all our guests were happy and well taken care of throughout the night. Our friends and family were talking about the style and class of the banquet hall for days after. An open bar is a must at most parties and Gala Banquets will not let you down. It is a full bar including top shelf liquors, wines and beer. DJ Leon, recommended by Gala Banquets was amazing. During the meal he entertained the kids with music, games, and gifts. He played a variety of music that kept everyone on the dance floor. I cannot say enough about Gala Banquets and DJ Leon. Thanks so much for a wonderful night filled with food, dancing, and celebration. We will definitely come back for future parties. read more

I just had my wedding here on 9/19/14. Since the first day I came in to see the venue, Konrad, the owner, was always attentive to detail and very professional. He helped us pick the right package and made it even better than what I had imagine. Planning the reception was made so easy thanks to Konrad. This was one less detail I didn't have to worry about. He kept telling me, " I will take care of everything, don't worry about it. It will be perfect." And it was!! Every time I went in to talk to Konrad, the venue had something new added to it: led lights, new stage, paint job, etc. He was always updating it. The food was incredible, and I kept getting compliments from all of my guests through out the night about it. No body left hungry. The wait staff was so professional and very attentive, down to the hostess at the door greeting my guests. The free valet parking was a huge help with my guests. The venue looked beautiful the day of my wedding. Everything was how I planned it to be and much more. I did not have to do a thing at the reception; Konrad was there the entire night to ensure that nothing went wrong.He was on point the entire time bringing out the cake, the food, the sweets table, etc.I even got a glimpse of him in the kitchen prepping the soup bowls. I was impressed. I HIGHLY recommend Gala Banquets for any event. I was very impressed by the level of service and professionalism from Konrad and his entire staff. He made my wedding reception one to remember and my guests say the same. I will be having all of my future events at Gala Banquets and continue to tell my family and friends to check this place out for their events. Thank you Gala Banquets for making my reception memorable and beautiful! read more

This is a great place for a party! We had attended a birthday party back in November and the experience was so good that we considered it as an option for our 8th grader's graduation party. This place is a great niche for those parties that are between 25-100, or so it was the ideal size for our party of 80+ people. When we booked with Konrad, we were pretty specific about what we wanted and he was very accommodating. During our meeting with him, we found out that they would be doing some remodeling prior to our party (even though the place already looked good as it was). Wow! The remodeling looked great. Very clean, new lighting to accent our party-theme colors, updated bathrooms that are very clean, exposed brick for an urban-contemporary feel, new flooring throughout, etc. Acoustics are superb for a DJ and the huge disco ball and dance lighting adds a fun feel to the party. You can tell they really invested some time and money into upgrading this place, well done. Food is excellent (the Gala salad is amazing), location is fairly busy at rush hour (when our party began), but was easy for our guests to get there. There is ample parking available across the street (they have a parking deal worked out with neighboring businesses) but the really awesome thing is that they offer FREE valet parking for your guests. Very cool. Last but not least, I really can't say enough about the friendly staff and quality service. These are good people that work hard to accommodate your requests and serve your guests. The rate was very reasonable for the quality and value we received. We will be booking again, and highly recommend this place. read more

I held my graduation party at this venue over the past weekend. I could not have picked a better venue!! The owner was very accommodating and listened to all of my requests, including incorporating a surprise at midnight for my parent's anniversary. He is very detail oriented and very professional! He was present during the entire event to make sure that everything ran smoothly. I cannot give enough compliments regarding the food - it was exceptional!! The meal was served family style. The waitresses frequently circled the table asking if anyone wanted more of a specific dish, no shortages whatsoever! (The Gala salad dressing = phenomenal!!!) The snacks and desserts served at midnight were wonderful as well; a large assortment and very tasty as well! The drinks served at the bar were top notch! (my suggestion: the mojito...delicious!!) The venue recently underwent a renovation of the bathrooms, some interior redecorating and an update of decor for each table. There is a wide selection of flowers, napkin colors and uprights to choose from. Everything was professionally and neatly presented during our meetings before the event date, as well as very well decorated the day of my party. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone! Very warm and inviting atmosphere, delicious food, attention to detail and wonderful service. I will be returning with future events! read more

Had the Baptism party for our son on the 19th of October, 2014. Gala Banquets came highly recommended by a friend and I think that was the best choice there was! Conrad, the owner, is very approachable and easy to deal with. Deals are a clean cut, no hidden expenses/surprises. The staff is so nice and intelligent, that it's hard to believe. Common sense is a key play in running this place the way it is ran! They do everything before you even ask! Food was great (their house dressing is simply amazing!). Bar-open during the entire party and no lines, nor back ups! Bartenders are great, generous and fast----which is a plus, so you don't have bar lines up to the door. Decor-very clean...cozy...almost feel like at home..most important...see their bathrooms...nicely decorated and spotless! A glass of champagne with a cute raspberry welcomes each guest:-). If you are doing seating arrangements-they could not make it easier...you don't need to bother with printing labels, etc...just give the welcoming person your list of guest and table assigned and they make sure the guests are escorted to the correct table. I am not a person to write reviews left and right, but this one definitely deserved to be complemented! Such service is so rare these days! Most importantly...the guests were impressed!!!! Thanks, Conrad and Staff! All of you need a GOLD STAR:-))). read more

After attending my friend's bridal reception at Gala the month before, I have just hosted my 40th birthday party there. It was simply great! Konrad (the owner) was easy to work with. The place was very elegant and pristinely clean, which was noticed by my guests. The food looked great, was fresh, very delicious and plentiful, drinks as well. The strawberry adorned champagne flutes waiting for the arriving guests at the door were a really nice touch and did not go unnoticed by them. The staff was super friendly and attentive. My guests complemented me on the wait staff serving food in white gloves. The venue is very tastefully decorated, even the restrooms are very nice and more importantly, very clean. Another good detail that wasn't that important to me being a guy and the reception being a birthday reception, but might often be important to customers looking for a bridal venue is the chairs. Chivari chairs are the standard chairs in Gala and other venues often charge extra for ordering this type of chairs for the event. Last but not the least, the free valet parking was a nice convenience for my guests. My b-day reception took place on Friday after Thanksgiving, two days ago. My guests were raving about Gala and I kept hearing complements from my guests throughout the rest of the weekend. read more

My wife and I had our wedding reception at Gala last Saturday for 118 guests. We've looked at many other venues in the city and suburbs before choosing this venue and I'm glad we held out for Gala. This was best priced venue with many extras that everywhere else would be an additional charge. The hall was gorgeous, our package included full open bar for an entire reception, decorations, chair covers, lighting, and free valet parking. Conrad offered us a huge selection of colors to choose from for the table cloths, napkins and chair covers. Conrad also offered us several hall lighting options, including dance floor lighting. Conrad and his staff are very helpful, professional and polite. They kept everything going, clean and fresh. Their bathrooms were squeaky clean, all night long. The food was served family style, initially we were hesitant, but it turned out amazing as it got guests to mingle and quality of the food was great. Each table had champagne, wine bottles and candles, all included! We got our own cake from Oak Mill bakery, and the staff was happy to serve it for our guests and wrap it up for us. The bartender was great, she even served mojitos (my wife's favorite). We can't say enough great things about this place. read more

We had our wedding at Gala Banquet Hall in August of 2012. I work for a major hotel chain, so I was on the look out for cleanliness,atmosphere,great food and drink, at an affordable price.We were not disappointed. The hall was had a classic look and very, very clean.The food was delicious,and fresh, and plentiful!!! The bar never closed,and served drink of all kinds.The DJ (Leon) was awesome.He played music of all kinds for all ages. Our guests ranged from age 15 to 80.Between the food ,music,and service,we were all very pleased. The owner more than went out of his way for us. He even ordered a birthday cake for me. I was married on my birthday. What a nice surprise from Konrad. My thanks to Konrad and his staff, from the parking attendant,seating host,servers,cook,dishwasher,bartender. and DJ Leon. Thank you all for helping us celebrate our special day. Konrad knows how to treat his guests with a warm welcome,he treats his staff with respect,while running a great business!!! read more

This Place is Fantastic, we had 3 of our christening at this location. No one around could beat the affordable packages that Konrad - the owner was offering. He answers all of our question, and offer very valuable input on anything we asked. All of our guests could not stop talking about the quality of the food! Words cannot explain just how good it was. You just have to try it for yourself. We never ran out, of food. From the main course to the sea food assortment that was offered after dinner, along with a full sweet table, and sometimes even more. Include in the price we had a full bar service. All of the waitresses and bartenders are so nice and attentive to everything and everyone. Making sure that everyone is having a good time. Including the DJ that we had playing at the ceremony- whom Konrad also suggested. Family and friends keep on calling us for the phone number to the Banquet. A huge plus for Gala is that the owner-Konrad is there though out the entire event to make sure everything runs smoothly. Also the guest love the complimentary valet. read more

Gala Banquets helped make our wedding day perfect. We had our wedding reception here on September 29th and are very happy with all aspects of our special event, from the venue, to the food, to the service. During the planning process Konrad (the owner) worked closely with us to ensure we chose options we were happy with, he was attentive, professional, and very knowledgeable, making this process much easier. He made great suggestions including some interesting choices for our menu which were truly unique and a big hit with our guests. On the day of the event the hall looked stunning. We are still hearing compliments about the decor and their attention to detail. The food was delicious and well presented. The service staff was excellent and attentive to our guests, always asking if there was anything else they needed. The hall is located in a convenient location and they offer free valet parking. We highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an elegant banquet hall for their special day, we sure are happy we chose this place for ours. read more

We had our daughters first communion party at Gala Banquets this past weekend. We couldn't be more thrilled with EVERYTHING! The venue is immaculate, recently updated, freshly painted, and beautifully decorated. The bathrooms are clean, modern, and spacious. The gorgeous granite bar was fully stocked and the bartender kept the drinks coming all night. The complimentary valet was very convenient along with additional free parking across the street. From the delicious appetizers (passed out butler style) to the generous portions of freshly prepared food, everything was wonderful! We received dozens of compliments from our family and friends afterwards. The owner Konrad is amazing to work with. He is very knowledgeable, experienced, and made our party a huge success. He recommended DJ Leon, who kept everyone up dancing all night. We will definitely have future parties at Gala. It is the best banquet hall in the city. We were beyond impressed with every aspect of the entire night. Just wish we could give them 10 stars! read more

We recently hosted a baptism party here and there is absolutely nothing bad I could say about this place!!! The owner, Konrad, was extremely helpful, nice and professional. He advised on food options, he was willing and wanting to work with us and help accommodate all our requests. He made the party planning smooth and not stressful. The day of the party, the banquet hall looked amazing. The tables and the sweet table were beautifully decorated, the entire room was nicely lighted. The staff was friendly, professional, helpful and very hardworking. The staff catered to everyone's requests. But the best part about the place was the food. My guests were amazed with how presentable and how delicious the meals were. The owner did a great job advising us menu options. The hit of the party was the strawberry-spinach salad (I highly recommend- people who do not eat salads- loved this one and asked for seconds). Overall, I am extremely pleased with the place and we will be gladly returning to host our future events here. read more

The first time I have been at Gala Banquets was more than 6 years ago at a wedding. Absolutely fell in love with this place. I have recommended this banquet hall to all my family and friends for all of these years and will still recommend it. I was honored to attend many fabulous events and even have my own wedding reception this year in April. Everything was absolutely wonderful from delicious food to the best service ever. Konrad was great to work with from the very beginning to the end. He has great recommendations and makes sure everything runs smoothly. He also knows some great DJs, which he suggested one for our reception. All of my guests were VERY happy, stuffed, and danced all night long. I wish I can give more than 5 stars. He and his staff definitely deserve more. I can honestly say that I have never been to a better wedding than my own. To this day I still hear great compliments. Gala Banquets = 2 thumbs up !!! read more

We just had my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary 11/16/14 at Gala and we couldn't be happier. Konrad the owner was very accommodating, easy to get a hold of and even stayed for the whole event to make sure everything was running smooth. We had almost 100 people and not one had anything bad to say. Everyone raved about the food especially! Huge portions, homemade, and it all came out hot and tasty! Appetizers 5 star, Dessert 5 star as well. The servers were very polite and on top of things, taking care of each table efficiently. The bartender was friendly, fast , and made sure everyone was having a good time. Lightening and decorations were classy and very modern. Free VALET parking also a huge plus! We will definitely be doing more events at Gala in the future. Thank you for allowing my Grandparents to relive being a Bride & Groom all over again. The whole staff made it very special for them. read more

Couple of years ago we went for New years eve party to Gala banquets and we had a lot of fun. We chose this place for our wedding remembering how great it was. Our wedding party was spectacular. First of all Conrad the owner is so helpful with all the planning. The staff was very professional, friendly and caring about every single gest. Bartender did not let anyone wait for drinks for a minute. Food was the best you can imagine and my gests have never seen that much food being served. Gala is very clean, nicely decorated and elegant place for every occasion. Our Dj. Leon that was recommended by Conrad did not let anyone sit for a second. The dance floor was full all the time. We are already planning to go there for New years eve party this year and I just called to have catering with them for Halloween party that we are hosting. Highly recommended !!! read more