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Recess

3.7 (458 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
Updated 2 months ago

Order Recess Takeout or Delivery

Recess Photos

Business Info

RECESS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
DJ
Live music
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Recess

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Reviews With Photos

Trice T.

This place is so awesome. We had an event here for my board and it's such a fun place. They have larger than life Jenga, board and card games and different things each day like karaoke Thursdays. The food was really tasty including yummy tater tots. The service was really efficient especially with such a large crowd. They have plenty of outdoor and rooftop space. Really fun and I will be back. They are also ready for the World Cup

Crystal Z.

Ambiance - modern, offers indoor and outdoor seating, can also do private events, love that they have giant jenga Service - staff checked on us often & food came out fairly quickly Food - drinks were super good (know it all stood out the most), served typical bar type food

Lineup
Lakeisha H.

First and foremost the food was good. We had 3 in our party and everyone enjoyed what they had. Our server was great attentive and got everything right. I didn't enjoy the bus boys every one minute coming by like "are you done". That was too much for me. I otherwise will return it's in the neighborhood.

Outdoor lower area
Jacqueline O.

Context: Reviewing as an EDM show venue! We did not have any of the food here but they were offering a decent menu even during a show. We saw SIDEPIECE here. It's a super nice outdoor space but it's kind of weird as an EDM venue. Sound quality was mid, it was loud enough that I need ear protection in, but somehow not enough to fill the space and feel the bass over people yapping in the audience. Honestly either is fine but it was a weird in-the-middle level. The view is NON-EXISTENT lol. Which like is not the end of the world, it made it easy to find space wherever to dance, but it's kinda a let down when you're there for a show. Even if you were in the raised area where the decks were, you couldn't see anchoring because the DJ setup was literally the same level. Once you fill the space, anyone in the lower area doesn't have a chance to see anything at all lol. A bunch of people resorted to climbing up the railing a little and holding their phones up really high which is honestly kinda dangerous when people are partying and inebriated. The video below was airdropped to me from one of the more adventurous girls lol. The safety was a bit of a concern, even beyond the rail climbing. SIDEPIECE had to stop the show because of a safety situation and it honestly took way too long for help to get to the person. The artist literally had to direct people where to move and ask the crowd for narcan. As someone who works in live events professionally, I was shocked that (1) the artist had to do all of that instead of venue staff and (2) the venue should have narcan handy and ready to go IMO. Not sure what ended up happening but was definitely a scary situation. Otherwise, vibe was pretty good, bathroom lines were pretty short, and bar service was quick. It's not making my favorites list as far as venues go, but I also was not mad about it.

Christina V.

Service was 10/10! Everyone's very helpful & friendly. Ambiance is nice with great weather. However, food was subpar & a bit on the pricey side for its taste. Wouldn't come here to eat if you're starving! Drinks were good however!

Fire fries
Matthew B.

Cool vibes for footy. The place gets packed and has a lot of energy. Food is good, drinks are good, and the staff is nice

Partially dranked espresso martini
Kat L.

Fun place for a group. They have games that you can get play at the table. There's also giant junga and a photo booth. Good selection of beer and cocktails. Non-alcoholic beverages also available and most cocktails can be made without alcohol. Only down side is that iIt can get a little loud.

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings*chicken
Cassie T.

Recess is a really fun place to go to pretty much any time of year. Summer time they have the patio and doors open, you can bring your dogs. Still fun during winter even when the patios are closed. Lot of tvs and games, board games, patio games, etc. It's great for groups and could make for a date spot but it gets loud here. Food is alright, your typical sports bar food quality. The service is pretty good and workers are friendly, I've only ever had good experiences here until this past Saturday. My friend and I bought some clothes and had our shopping bag with brand new, sealed bags of Garrett popcorn inside our bags. The security guard told us we couldn't bring food in and to leave it by the front. Where....? We asked if we could leave it with the host stand inside at least. He said no food inside and instructed us to "hide" the popcorn on the side near the bunch of retractable barrier poles. We asked if it would still be there when we left, he said yes. Lo and behold, we're leaving and don't see it there. Asked the security guard where they were and he pretty much laughed it off saying he didn't know. Absolutely no remorse. If there's a no food policy then at least have somewhere secure or reliable for people to store it???? Please do better

Huevos Rancheros
Victoria S.

Recess was not very busy during our time which was nice. The place is great in the summertime but wintertime it's very quiet, at least for brunch. I got the huevos rancheros and I was a bit disappointed. Usually at brunch places dishes come with pancakes or toast or specifically huevos rancheros it come with more toppings like beans or avocado. My dish came with two eggs and bean paste and the dish just tasted like the paste. I would not get this dish again. The service was nice but we were here for a birthday and we brought our own cake and they said we had to pay a $3 cutting fee per person so we didn't cut the cake.

Tequila Totter
Aleena V.

I was here a while ago for brunch and bottomless mimosas which was super fun! Came back yesterday after a couple years and the vibes, drinks, food, and service were just as great! We shared the waffle fries between the three of us and it was perfect!

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Reviews are mixed. Many highlight the lively group-friendly atmosphere, fun games and activities, and good drink selection. Most enjoy the food, though some report it as mediocre or lacking variety.

Read the full review summary in the app

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4 years ago

Will is the most charming server & provided an extremely memorable experience! Cant wait to come back to see them!!

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Recess Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Recess

Is this venue outdoor only?

No there is a large indoor space open year round in addition to the outdoor space

Is the outdoor patio open right now?

The patio is not fully set up yet. However, it is more weather dependent than set up at this time of the year.

Is there live music every weekend or a dj?

We have a DJ Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday

Do you need to make reservation beforehand or can we do walk-in?

They aren’t required, however they are encouraged. Without a reservation, we cannot guarantee a table. The bar is open for bar service as well though.

Can my 18 year old niece go for dinner?

Yes she can.

Is there any birthday treatment?

Are there Gluten Free options?

Do you have valet parking?

I am sorry, but we do not. There is free street parking all around us and a lot across the street that is $5 after 6pm.

What are the vegetarian options?

They have pizza, a Beyond Burger option, salads, avocado toast, tater tots. I think there's more but this is what I remember at the top of my head.

Can you reserve a seat on the patio or are reservations for inside only?

We offer both inside and outside. Admittedly, less have requested the patio as the temperature has adjusted here in Chicago.

Are there heaters on the patio?

Yes

Is this 21 and up, similar to Home Slice or good for any mixed age groups?

21+

Is it dog friendly?

Yes bar is dog friendly

View All 21 Questions

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We originally came to Ghost Donkey as paranormal investigators, after being hired to locate the…read moremissing ghost donkey belonging to a local agave farmer. The case had gone cold--or perhaps mezcal-hot--until we received a clue pointing us toward River North. Ghost Donkey is spacious, colorful, and full of energy, with plenty of bar seating and tables. The music can get loud, but it fits the atmosphere perfectly. The bartenders were constantly interacting with guests, swinging the lights, encouraging the crowd, and turning the entire room into a neon-lit fiesta. They do have a food menu featuring items such as tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and guacamole, but we mostly came for the drinks. Many of the cocktails are tequila- or mezcal-based, which is exactly what we enjoy. The menu is creative, the drinks are strong, and the bar does an excellent job making agave spirits approachable--even for guests who may not consider themselves mezcal experts. After two drinks and an argument with a decorative donkey, we finally found the missing spirit hiding behind the bar. He was translucent, smelled faintly of roasted agave, and appeared to be carrying a tiny map. We followed him through a glowing hallway, down a staircase, and into a secret chamber where he revealed the legendary piñata of Quetzalcoatl, the ancient feathered serpent god. Naturally, we attempted to break it open. Instead of candy, it released a cloud of mystical dust, three lime wedges, and a receipt for nachos. The ghost donkey brayed with laughter, the lights began swinging, and the entire bar erupted in applause. The bartender handed us another drink and told us this happened all the time. Ghost Donkey is a fantastic place to hang out, pregame, and enjoy inventive tequila and mezcal cocktails in a lively setting. Just be warned: you may arrive looking for a ghost donkey and leave having helped recover an ancient Mexican god's piñata. That's simply the sort of evening this place encourages.

Food: ok -- we got a carne asada quesadilla to share and we were glad we were able to customize it…read morea bit to meet allergens/preferences Drinks: not for me AT ALL -- the paloma was okay at best, the chispa was AWFUL (worst drink I have EVER had, had two sips and left it there), and the spicy drink was also not our cup of tea Service / Ambiance: i loved the LED lights, and staff was friendly. The music was good but kind of all over the place in terms of genre, vibe, and order The best thing about Ghost Donkey in my opinion is that it has a cute photobooth

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Rossi's Liquors

Rossi's Liquors

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Friendly and lively dive bar (4/5 Green Stars) Waiting for…read moretake-out from nearby Lou Malnati's, we wandered into Rossi's for a quick drink. It's a reasonably-priced busy dive bar in the heart of Chicago. I asked the bartender if she had a beer + shot deal and she said "no, but you can order a beer and shot." And so we did! Noise level is fairly high, thanks to a lively crowd plus a jukebox. They don't normally serve food but I think are fine with customers bringing in your own food, and you can also place an order from a nearby restaurant (I don't recall which one). And yes, it's cash only so bring some money if you don't want to pay ATM fees! 4 out of 5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. I like bars that allow customers to bring (or order) their own food - it allows for all diets! The one thing I'd like to see is more beer on tap - even just one good rotating local beer (e.g., Goose Island). Draft beer has smaller environmental footprints compared to bottled or canned.

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Rossi's Liquors - Nightcap

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Ila's - Assorted Savory Kabobs: Paneer, Chicken & Leek, Pork Belly

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Recess - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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