We had a really bad experience here. The hostess and one of the managers (don't know her name) were very rude to many members of our party given we asked to have our group seated together at a table. We expected slower service given COVID but being outright rude to paying customers is not a great way to be operating. One positive was our waitress and one of the managers (Andrew?) treated us nicely and confirmed we could move outside so our group could be seated together. What made the experience even worse was the mean woman manager wouldn't leave us alone and kept sending security and other staff over to our table to ask what we were doing outside even after we had spoken to Andrew. Our time spent here was awful and we couldn't wait to finish our drinks and leave. See the attached pics for the lovely quality of cocktails we received and metal nail/screw that ended up going all the way through my friends shoe. Thanks for a shitty experience!!!! Fellow yelpers- this place ain't it, go anywhere else. read more

Recess - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Had so much fun! Perfect for a girls brunch - ate food, had bottomless mimosas, and played for corn hole. Great for big groups!

Did Recess get new management? I am not sure what happened from my previous visit here. To recap, I came precovid and the food was great, staff was inviting and the place and my experience was incredible. This time around, the only thing that was good about Recess was the fun atmosphere and cool decor. The good food and the fantastic crew were no longer around. We came in during the day and there were only room to stand by the bar. I am okay with that. Annoying part is that you have to talk to the bartenders which seem very bothered by that. Anyway we ordered the burrata, green goddess salad, loaded tots and shrimp ceviche. The burrata was okay, the tots were tots, salad was not good and the ceviche was the worst thing i had ever eaten. It was an overwhelming amount cocktail sauce that just ruined the taste. I ordered ceviche, not shrimp cocktail. Anyway if return, and it will be awhile before I do, I will make sure to stick with the drinks. Some advise for my fellow yelpers, dont bother. There are a lot of cool places in the west loop right now. Read that last sentence again. read more

Recess - Loaded tots, burrata and shrimp ceviche - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

You aren't coming here for quality food or drinks. But as patios go, there aren't any bigger and this has a great South Beach/warehouse feel in terms of the shipping container walls, loud music and flashy servers. It's a good time, even if it took a while to get a sazerac (and that's on me for even ordering a sazerac at a place like this), and the people watching is tough to beat. read more

Best Bar/ Restaurant I've been to in awhile! The staff is great! The food- solid 20/10! The drinks are one of a kind- nothing I've ever heard of and satisfy any craving- whether you want something savory, bitter, sweet, bubbly.. you name it! They're very accommodating and will work with any number of people you have in your party! This is a really fun spot! Life size connect four, old school boxing toy games, bean bag tossing and supersize me beer pong! Check them out! And try the skirt steak sandwich! Don't forget to tip your waitress! read more

Recess - Skirt steak on ciabatta bread! It comes with pickled red onions, and fried onions- - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The drinks were amazing! I had the alderman's choice and it was so good! First drink in a while that I liked in the city. The music was perfect for the mood & pizza was delicious and filling. I would go here with friends. staff was nice and helpful read more

Recess - Mushroom & pickle Pizza! Great for 4 people. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came for brunch, got food and bottomless. Everything came pretty quickly and they were good about refilling the mimosa carafes at the table! Good vibes, big area and lots of little games around. read more

Recess - Breakfast Burrito - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Had a good time with coworkers here on a summer night. Despite the cold weather, I loved the vibe and the DJ's music choices. There was just the right amount of energy but not enough to overpower a good sit down conversation. I wish they had heat lamps outside by the tables, but they are available closer to bars/restroom. Food and drinks were good but on the pricier side - the 'za is definitely best bang for your buck. Decent beer selection and yummy ahi tacos. read more

Really nice outdoor patio that is dog friendly. The service here left little to be desired unfortunately. Our server disappeared 20-30 minutes at a time and had forgotten drink orders at least on two occasions. Honestly I understand restaurants are busier now so I was able to exercise patience. However the food and drinks were just okay, so it didn't really enhance the already subpar experience. Seems like a fun place to hang out and people watch, but It's not somewhere I'll rush to go back to. read more

i love recess!! been here twice now for bottomless brunch and loved it both times! the atmosphere is great and the patio is beautiful. they have a few different games like giant uno to keep you occupied while you're dining there. bottomless mimosas were plentiful and never empty. i am also a freak for some good biscuits and gravy and it seems they're hard to come by in chicago. These biscuits and gravy were so delicious. i got them both times i came. I love u recess read more

Recess - Nutella French Toast Biscuits & Gravy - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Honestly had no issue until I literally only ordered a little food and tipped 5 dollars... I don't know how someone would assume that I wanted to tip 50 dollars when I clearly wrote 5 dollars. Obviously someone thought I was "drunk" enough to not notice... when I was completely sober and aware enough to know I wrote what I did .... I'm NEVER coming back here again. read more

Overall, a fun place. There was a huge drink selection. We ordered frosé (hot pink colored!) and the pink lady. Both delish with fun presentations! Not cheap but typical prices for cocktails in west loop, $13 each. The food was solidly good. We ordered the loaded tater tots, chicken strips with sweet bbq, and Bob's sausage pizza. The tater tots weren't quite as "loaded" with cheese as expected. The chicken strips were good with a nice coating of the chosen sauce (Buffalo, bbq, Parmesan garlic). The pizza was good as well! It was 16" and had sausage and pickled onions on top. Nothing was bad, but nothing was incredibly unique. I appreciated their COVID precautions. There was plenty of outdoor seating available, and the inside was large with high ceilings and open windows. Seating was very spaced out. They requested that patrons wear masks when servers came to the table. This was also the night of the first presidential debate, and they passed out "debate bingo" pages, which made a messy debate more fun to watch. read more

See all

This was my first dining experience in 15 months and I felt so safe! There is a ton of outdoor seating, and the servers were all wearing masks. The clientele was respectful too. I had the sliders and tots - both were really great, and the Pink Lady cocktail, so tasty! I can't wait to come back! read more

Recess - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

5 star for ambiance/ vibe, 4 star for food! This is the best place to day drink- very cool outdoor space concept and natural light indoors. Would recommend- hummus starter, chili lime fries, and the Alderman's choice cocktail. Only get the butternut squash if you are very into goat cheese. Tula (the GM) is the best!!! read more

Recess - Alderman's Choice * - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

My friend told me about this place just opening, and of course I was down to try out a new restaurant in West Loop. The entrance is confusing because there is a building at the listed address that looks like an event venue, and the restaurant/bar is through a side door that's not very noticeable--the bouncer had to help the confused, wandering me find the entrance. But upon walking in, I was impressed by the big outdoor seating area which looked like the perfect chill hangout spot for large groups. Because it was shortly after the soft opening of the restaurant, the majority of the food and drink menu was unavailable. Further, they were out of the IPA my friend picked from an already-limited menu. Not given many options for food either, I ordered the fried fish sandwich, but it was quite greasy that I couldn't finish it due to the richness even though I wasn't full yet. Bottom line, the ambience and the outdoor area are the biggest pro of this place. The service was average, and I was not satisfied with the food, but I will most likely come here again for just drinks in the great outdoor area. read more

See all

I would say this is a cute spot for a group brunch since the restaurant is pretty massive. We sat outside where they had lots of cute outdoor games to play as you waited for food. Service was ok, but the unlimited mimosas and tasty brunch options were great! read more

Spent the afternoon at Recess with a 4:30 reservation. Make sure to reserve a table because they are busy. Drinks were a little on the small side for the price ($13 for a small cocktail). Beer was fairly priced ($5 for a Coors Light can). Food was decent, we had the chips and guacamole and we each got a chicken salad wrap. Guacamole was bland, and needed more flavor like jalapeños, tomatoes, and lime juice. The chicken salad wrap was really good and fresh. The atmosphere was really chill and relaxing. Music playing in the background, people talking, eating, and just enjoying being outside. Our server, Maybeline, was really great making sure we were doing well, and always had what we needed. She enhanced the overall experience. Only one issue while we were there was that the table we had was a bit uneven and would rock back and forth. I would definitely come back again with friends. I've got to try one of those water cooler cocktails (10-12 servings). read more

See all

Can't wait to go back! Great, attentive service. We sat in the outdoor beer garden made out of containers. It was amazing to see these containers come to life and serve as restaurants, bars, seating, etc. The murals on their were beautiful and complimented the vibe of the outdoor beer garden. The menu had a array of options. We ordered a few items and all were great! The drink list was awesome and ready to provide you with many fun, tasty drinks for a hot day. Great place to meet friends and enjoy a shared bucket of beer, seltzer, etc. Such a cool space. Definitely make reservations... but thats most all places in Chicago so plan accordingly. read more

I've been here a few times and it's been great. I finally tried some food from here so I deceived I can write a real review! Made a reservation online. Pretty easy. We arrived and temps were taken and we were promptly seated. It's all outdoor seating so while there are a lot of folks there at any given time, they do a nice job of having tables distanced. Totally feels safe. All our staff had masks on. My guest and I both ordered drinks which came out pretty strong and delicious. We shared an app then each had individual meals. For it to be your average bar food offerings, the flavor and quality of food is very nice. I got some basic chicken tenders and tater tots but the chicken tender quality was really nice and flavorful and the tots were crispy and seasoned. The only thing that irritated me was that the group next to us had a dog who kept coming around begging for scraps. That was super annoying even as someone who likes dogs please keep your dog by you LOL. I would def come back whether its just for cocktails or for some simple food. read more

Went there yesterday for a mid-afternoon meal and let's just say we had the best service we have ever experienced in the city of Chicago. Given the weather circumstances yesterday, we were incredibly late to our reservation (think we got there close to an hour after our table was supposed to be given up). The maitre'd greeted us with a smile and let us know that since we called ahead to let him know of the situation, they saved a table for us!!! They also re-seated us when we felt a bit chilly near the door! Truly, we didn't deserve this kindness as we were so late. As far as the food is concerned, they worked their hardest to accommodate our diets. Being that we're vegan, which I also called ahead to ask about, they were incredibly thorough in explaining the menu down to the ingredients in their buns! We ended up getting beyond burgers, fries, tots, and hummus! I highly recommend this place for anyone who is wanting a good and high-energy time! read more

I was quite excited to check out recess- but it fell flat for me and was just ok. Admittedly, I went in thinking it was going to be more of a game bar then what it turned out to be. Which given the name felt misleading and for me, made me wonder what the niche is here. I've been to better bars on a games front in much smaller cities. I will say it does offer a large patio so if you want to be outside eating- this has a lot of tables to do that. And had I thought that was what I was walking into- may have enjoyed it a little more. Drinks: they have a solid beer, wine, and cocktail menu. I went with a 312 and my friend had a cocktail which was good. Service: I waited about 20 minutes before I had my drink order taken- and then another 10 for a can of beer to be opened. Our waitress was quite busy and apologized for the delay so maybe this is an outlier? But that was my experience. Overall- if someone wanted to go I'd come back with them but of all the bars it's not one I'd offer up as a suggestion unfortunately. read more

Recess is a good atmosphere for warm weather and a large group! They serve junk food (in the best way) and they also serve Bob's pizza which is the BEST. It's definitely a place to drink and enjoy happy hour or a bottomless brunch. read more

See all

Went on a Saturday night with friends. It was very loud but the food and service was good. I had the chicken and waffle fries and the donut. The donut was weird and had an odd texture, kind of like a cake that was raw. The food was pricey for the "bar food" vibe. The guy checking our IDs was a TOTAL DBAG. He was very rude and condescending and disrespectful. Its a fun place to hang out, but wouldn't go specifically for the food. read more

Recess - Glazed Donut Bread Pudding - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A friend and I came here at 11:45 a.m. on a Saturday with a reservation put in the day before. The ebb and flow of entering and exiting is straightforward. Hand sanitizer welcomes you at the check-in counter, along with a bouncer. We were seated within 3-5 minutes which is quick. All the staff that we encountered were kind and helpful in answering our questions. I tried their cold brew with a shot of Bailey's and let me tell you: tasty. Total was $10 for that drink. My friend got their bottomless mimosa and they confirmed that they make them strong which is a plus! I got their burger of the week and substituted meat for a Beyond Meat patty. Total of that burger came to around $18 with a side included. Note: they DO NOT have fries here. Instead, they have tater tots which is on-brand in my opinion. The outdoor space is big compared to others I've seen which is why they're able to fit a lot of people in a safe manner. I noticed that the high chair tables upstairs didn't have heat lamps next to them. My friend and I were a bit cold when we went but the sun was out and that helped. read more

I went to Recess in March of 2021 right after work for small bites and drinks. The space is huge and all "outdoor". There is an area that's more enclosed and there are TVs. We ordered the sliders, fries, and Buffalo chicken rolls. Of the three, the buffalo chicken rolls were the star. They are a decent size and full of flavor. The bites are delish but recommend ordering two orders (they come in a set of 3) if you plan to share with someone else. We also ordered the Moscow mule and spiked apple cider. It's not quite warm yet but they have fire pits that serve as tables. Warning: if you plan to eat then the fire pit isn't the best seating option, it doesn't leave room for plates. Love this place, can't wait to go back in the summer! read more

Recess - Warm Apple Cider - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Nice vibes! Great place to hear music, meet people, watch sports, play games and have some great drinks. Staff was awesome!!! Make reservations if you would like to be outdoors. :) read more

Recess - Para empezar - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Such a fun spot! Great views and a huge outdoor patio. Our service was great and felt very covid safe. 10/10 recommend if you're looking for a fun bar in West Loop! read more

Recess - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came as a group on Memorial Day and were seated immediately but groups of 5+ were indoors only. We only got cocktails but they had a great selection of cocktails and frozen cocktails. The frozen Aperol was great! Overall good ambience and played multiple games on the TV so great for a game day. read more

Recess - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Coke for the drinks, not the food. I feel that everything lacked flavor. I had the pretzel for an app, the crispy chicken sandwich, and the Mac and cheese as a side. read more

Wow what amazing place food was outstanding the staff was super nice and very helpful. the drinks were on point. if you don't stop here while chicago your missing out big time. everything about them screams return customers five stars is not enough to tell you how amazing my experience was here. for sure will be back when in town. read more

Recess - Two huge indoor bars - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ok so I always thought only Karen's would leave a one star review and i don't want to be a Karen but guys - this place is awful. First our hostess forgot she was seating us and we followed her to yell at another table (she's also a Karen and also happened to be an owner) Then my boyfriend got a Bloody Mary and It was CHUNKY like I'm pretty sure they poured a can of progresso tomato basil in a glass Then i Found a pubic hair embedded in my hummus Then my boyfriend had a dog hair in his water I hope none of my friends ever try making a group resi here again - it's great in theory but.... read more

Came for a weekend brunch with friends and really enjoyed the ambiance. Our staff was super kind and attentive especially given our party size. My friend and I were debating ordering the loaded tots and are glad we gave in because they were so delicious and exactly what we needed on a Sunday morning. The only thing stopping me from a 5 star was the chicken sandwich we ordered. It was really dry and hard to eat, my friend and I had to order Mayo and hot sauce apart to try and finish it. All my other friends enjoyed their meals I think next time I'll try something not chicken sandwich related. read more

Recess - FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Cool vibes and the food/drinks were on point! I dream about the brunch BLT and French dip from there! Definitely will be back and can't wait for the summer to enjoy their patio. read more

See all

Really really enjoyed this place. The ambiance was everything!! That was a beautiful late summer day and this was the perfect spot to brunch!! The food here was good as well but I think it was the Food+Ambiance that really made this a great dining experience. We had the sliders which were bomb! The Buffalo rolls were good too, hummus was a little too oily and I would've preferred more veggies to dip with it. Frozen Aperol was mighty tasty! I would definitely come back. My server (forgot her name) was pleasant as well. My only downside was towards the end of our dining experience the umbrella fell on my daughter (she wasn't hurt) but there was no urgency on anyone's behalf to help. A few of the staff saw it and didn't offer to help. We tried flagging someone down and eventually our server came over and sent someone over. Pretty wild there was no help. And no real apology. Luckily no one was hurt but I would've expected a check in from management or an apology for the inconvenience. Anyway, it was at the end of our meal so it was not a real deterrent. I would still love to come back with my friends to really enjoy the place. read more

See all

This has been my favorite spot this summer. Its the perfect place during Covid ( I've been 6 times) because it's large outside space with tables 6ft apart, great people watching, dog friendly, 21 and up, free parking on the streets, fair priced menu, delicious food (garlic parmesan chicken) with good size quantities, versatile cocktail menu, good service, and nice size clean bathrooms. Louis G. the guest manager is always amazing and kind. Andrew one of the manger on the floor always ask us how we are doing and making sure our time soemt is running smoothly. Will definitely be back. read more

Recess - Outdoor patio - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Service is the worst. Don't come here if you want servers that know what they're doing. I had a very mediocre time here during the pandemic and that's exactly how my night turned out when our wedding party wanted to try this place out again. Worst of all - The incompetent night staff at the main bar to the right of the venue when you come in (these guys have no training and were probably filling in for regular bar tenders - they appeared to have maybe been kitchen staff or filling in at the main bars). He could barely understand orders and was accusatory and quite frankly crazy and defensive: - (this is at the main bar that serves food until late in the night) I was drinking at the farther bar by the inner area which actually had really nice bar tenders. I asked for a food menu and they directed me to the main bar closer to the entrance. The incompetent bar tender handed me a 3 inch x 9 inch menu with drinks on top and a few food items on the bottom including the last one which was a sampler platter for $21 ( it said it came with 2 sliders, nachos, waffle fries etc). I pointed to that one and ordered it and figured all would be good. Instead, he handed me a patty melt with tator tots when I asked for my food - and when I explained that's not what I ordered he mentioned that I said I wanted tator tots ??? And said that's what I ordered. I have never eaten patty melts and don't even like them. I told him I wanted to speak to a manager and he got all defensive saying I was drinking too much ( oh I had 2 beers but bought drinks for others at this place). He said " I asked him about wanting tator tots and how I ordered the patty melt. How crazy is this guy. I simply ordered the Sampler platter and even told everyone in my wedding party what we were going to get - they were excited. I tipped him 25% off of the sampler platter to have him getting all defensive. This place needs to retrain the guy or fire him. Absolutely unacceptable. The manager did refund my credit card when I explained the situation but then mentioned oh you have the patty melt and got a refund. No we never got the patty melt - never touched it - he quickly snatched it back when I said I wanted to speak to a manager or get a refund. Service like this is unacceptable - if this continues this place will probably go out of business in 8 months to 12 months most likely as people won't spend money here for subpar service. read more

Great outdoor space! The service could use improvement though. Right from the person who checked us in to our server- they were all unfriendly. The girl who checked us in was borderline rude in her tone. Had the chicken wrap and it was pretty good! Good place to be outdoors while still maintaining social distancing! read more

Great place to hang out, so scenic & modern hideaway. Menu is kind of basic maybe lacking a lot, but what they do have is edible. Tots seem to be topping the charts so I tried them, along with a glass of house wine and a Slice Hazy beer, yum. All of the warmers will make this place fantastic to visit as we enter deeper into fall and the winter season AND CoVid continues to exists. Love the decor, our server was great, would love to know whose the genius behind this gem. read more

See all

Kalika is amazing - great table level conversation - went above and beyond - she brings the heat ! Literally she brought the heating to Adam And I read more

Recess - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Came here for bottomless mimosa brunch last month and they delivered! For under $25, it's VERY worth the deal. 3/5 of us got the BLT&E and it was delicious. The buffalo chicken strips were great too- not too much breading or sauce. Would love to come back when the weather is nicer. read more