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    The Bongo Room

    4.0 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order The Bongo Room Takeout or Delivery

    The Bongo Room Photos

    Business Info

    THE BONGO ROOM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Bongo Room

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    Molly C.

    Cool art, cozy vibes, and incredible service! The food was a bit hit-or-miss, but Lola was a total rockstar and took great care of us. Worth a stop for the atmosphere and the friendly staff alone.

    Stack of Blueberry Pancakes
    Tanya R.

    The Bongo Room was a hit for us for brunch! The service was excellent and the servers were attentive and checked in on us frequently (we never ran out of water) without seeming overbearing. We were seated in a booth towards the back of the house near the service area, but the noise level was perfect, allowing us to chat and still hear one another. My chai latte came in a double walled coffee mug, so it stayed warm for the duration of breakfast (really appreciated this!). It had the perfect amount of sweetness and spice. My avocado toast on sourdough was exceptional! I get this dish as often as I can when I'm traveling and eating breakfast out, and this was one of the best! Fresh sprouts, radishes, and arugula, made for the perfect bite! My friends ordered the blueberry pancakes and although I'm not a fan of sweet pancakes, I had to indulge. The pancakes were fluffy enough to take on all of the sweetness and were packed with flavor. This dish is one I'd definitely only be able to share, but it was quite impressive! I loved the quirky artwork and the flare that the Latin music added in the background-it me happy dance with each delicious bite! Overall, one of the best breakfasts we had while we were in Chicago!

    French Toast with Pear
    Chalandra G.

    Had the French toast with pear and it was 10/10! I'm not usually a hot fruit type of person. But the meal was perfectly balanced between fresh and sweet. I was worried it would be too sweet, but it honestly tasted so fresh and light! Will definitely be getting this again next time I come!

    Breakfast Burrito, Pear & Apple French Toast

    We had brunch - burrito and French toast were great, but the cocktails were amazing! Perfect view of the street while we ate.

    Deconstructed Lobster Roll Benedict, mango iced tea
    Devona S.

    Service was top tier. Server was so attentive and the bussers were even more attentive. They were quick to give us napkins and help clean off the table due to a spill that was our fault. Food was PHENOMENAL. I can't even express how this might have been the best poached eggs on an eggs Benedict that's I've ever had. The portion size was huge. And I wish I would've just shared the plate. It was a super clean and welcoming and warm environment. Felt extremely welcomed.

    Italian Breakfast Sandwich
    Bianca V.

    Bingo room never disappoints and is considered my favourite breakfast restaurant in Wicker! I enjoy their fresh juices, cappuccinos, breakfast and lunch items. I have had business lunch meetings here and dates with friends. The wait staff works as a team and the atmosphere is adorable and cozy. I have yet to have a dish I did not like. My all time favorite guilty pleasure is the white chocolate & caramel pretzel pancakes.

    Vegetarian Croissant Sandwich
    Antoine W.

    A Wicker Park staple that I finally got the chance to try. Though a little bit of a wait, great service overall, with us seated in front of one of the windows so we could people-watch while we ate. A varied menu with great choices and multiple adult beverage options. The Vegetarian Croissant Sandwich, my order, was delicious! Buttery croissant, fresh ingredients, and a great portion for brunch. Definitely will return!

    Breakfast Burrito
    Abby M.

    My husband and I came for brunch with our 10-month old. There is no room for strollers so may not be an ideal spot if you have a younger baby. It was very loud inside and packed but there was no wait which was great. We got our food and drinks pretty quick. The best items were definitely the ube latte and ube pancakes. They were not too sweet and had a nice ube flavor. The cappuccino and breakfast burrito were good but nothing special. The potatoes were okay. If you come here, I would recommend just going for the specialty items.

    Identical twins Golden Birthday breakfast, 6 on the 6th celebration
    Tim L.

    Great but expensive, pancakes are tastey, omlette was excellent. Will come again on a special occasion

    2 Egg and meat
    Paige K.

    Update 12/11/23 - I'm afraid this place is just a bit overrated. I like that they have fun pancake options and they're pretty good but $15+ and you can't make them into combos so if you want a balanced breakfast, you have to order two entrees. This time, my husband got the lobster Benedict and I got the ham and eggs and we shared the ube pancakes on special. They charged extra for ham and for egg whites. Our total after tip was $77 for two for breakfast, just kinda insane. My ham and potatoes were cold. Our potatoes were mushy and unappetizing. Especially after asking for extra crispy. Possibly the worst bfast potatoes I've ever had. The redeeming qualities: the ube pancakes were fun and different. Not super flavorful but good texture. My husband enjoyed his lobster Benedict.

    Mocha
    Miguel M.

    Our server was pleasant and friendly Our food was good and just know most dishes are not on the healthy side The plates are big so feel free to share

    Carrot Cake Pancakes

    Medi was our server and they made our day. Along with the food this service with amazingly delicious. As always bongo room was 10/10

    Coffee
    Araceli C.

    I like their pancakes..... Party of 3 Food was ok Staff mmmm slow afther third person came she order coffee then the server forget bring coffee for her Wasn't busdy just 4 tables and I have to waited to get the server atencion so he can bring the check........

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    2 months ago

    The best pancakes I've been going to this place for a long time bongo room has the most amazing and delicious tasty pancakes

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    2 months ago

    Nothing much to say, I was not very impressed with the location and the food was average at best.

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    Page 1 of 44

    The Bongo Room Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Bongo Room

    Do they take reservations?

    No, walk in

    Do they have a gluten free menu?

    No they don't.

    Is there parking?

    Just street parking!

    Do they take reservations? If so is there an app or website?

    They do not take reservations. I usually try to call ahead and ask how long the wait is.

    Any vegan options?

    No vegan substitute eggs, meats or cheeses, but fresh vegetables and home fries.

    Is it byob?

    No. They serve liquor. Two out of three locations serve liquor. The one that doesn't, doesn't allow liquor inside either as far as I'm aware.

    I love the Bongo Room BUT why does the website menu read "Winter/ Spring 2017" at the Top???? What is the current menu offerings?

    You have to go in to see updates menus

    Do they take reservations on st. Patty's?

    No. They don't take reservations at all

    Are the entrance/bathroom accessible?

    Entrance is a little tight especially when it's crowded. I don't know about the bathrooms though.

    Gluten free pancakes?

    Probably not.

    View All 12 Questions

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    Girl & The Goat

    Girl & The Goat

    4.4
    (10.7k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$$

    I had a splendid dinner at Girl & The Goat. Was seated promptly when I arrived for my dinner…read morereservation and my seat had a view of the kitchen. It was so fun to chat with the chefs and watch them prepare dishes. I ordered the roasted "pig face" potatoes and the famous sautéed green beans. While waiting for my food, the chef surprised me with complimentary chickpea fritters to try. All of the dishes tasted incredibly delicious and this was the best restaurant I ate at during my trip. The atmosphere was cozy and romantic. I would definitely dine here again the next time I am in Chicago.

    After so many incredible lunches and dinners while visiting Chicago, dinner at Girl & The Goat…read morestole the entire show. Every single dish was so good, cocktails were incredible, our waiter was a delight... this review is about to be a rave if you couldn't already tell. We were searching frantically for a patio we could have dinner on because the weather was too perfect to be inside and somehow, Girl & The Goat had space available last minute. After a quick wait, we were seated with menus in no time. We started off with the tropic like it's hot cocktail which was the most refreshing and delicious cocktail I've ever had. Dangerously delicious but also weirdly felt like I was drinking a healthy green juice. For dinner, two of us split a bunch of different plates like the roasted asparagus, salmon poke, shrimp salad, and kohlrabi salad. Each dish they brought out was more incredible than the last, and those four dishes were plenty of food. We left perfectly full but the food was so fresh and light, we didn't feel too weighed down. From the list, I honestly can't even say what my favorites were, but our server recommended all of them so we have him to thank. The salmon poke was delicious and so fresh and honestly such a solid choice. If you only get one thing (don't. get like 2 plates per person prob) that is the one. Only thing to note is that the patio is on a kind of busy street and if you go on a weekend night it can get crazy loud when those weird quad bikes drive past blasting music at an absurd volume. Go here, you will love it. Get all of the amazing food and at least one cocktail bc they are delicious.

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    Girl & The Goat
    Girl & The Goat
    Girl & The Goat

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    The Purple Pig

    The Purple Pig

    4.3
    (9k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$$

    Awesome food!!! Fancy Environment!!!! And Friendly Staff!!!!…read more Yay! Wonderful experience here, I was just visiting and after I finally found parking, I asked to be seated but did not have a reservation, the hostess said if I could be about an hour she could squeeze us in. So I was thankful for that, we were not looking to stay for a long time just wanted to try the place out. Once seated we were waited on and served fast. The food was mind blowing, we loved everything!!! My favorite was the duck appetizer puffs, wow they were good. Everything though was elevated and delicious. I'd come back in a heartbeat. Thank you for the wonderful experience to add to our trip to Chicago!

    Terrible. I am honestly not sure how people are recommending this place. I was excited to come here…read moreand had very high expectations, but unfortunately the food was extremely disappointing. Let's start from the beginning: the bone marrow. What on earth was going on? Why would you cover bone marrow with fig, bacon, and so much cilantro? Bone marrow is a delicate dish. You are supposed to taste the richness and subtle flavor of the marrow itself. The cilantro completely overpowered it, and the fig and bacon made it even worse. Chef, where did you train? This dish made no sense. Then came the agnolotti. I have no words. Just look at the photo: full of oil. I mean completely swimming in oil. Then the chitarra with seafood. Horrible. Spicy for no reason. Again, why are you trying to cover the ingredients instead of letting them speak for themselves? Also, the fish tasted frozen, not fresh. The pork belly, supposedly the signature dish, was another disappointment. Again, so much sauce that the actual flavor of the pork belly was completely lost. The staff were nice, the ambiance was okay, and the wine selection was good. But please, stop covering the taste of the food you cook. If you need to hide the ingredients under excessive sauce, spice, cilantro, oil, bacon, or sweetness, the only explanation is that the ingredients are not good enough on their own. I will not be coming back. Not even for free. Sorry. PS. Why so much bread on each dish? So much buttery horrible bread that you will trash, because it's impossible to eat all of it.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Chicago style hot dog
    Chicago style hot dog
    Squid Ink Chitarra

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    Squid Ink Chitarra
    Gretel

    Gretel

    4.5
    (468 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Stopped here after dinner for some drinks in their downstairs lounge. I've never gone downstairs…read moreand when I entered it gave speakeasy vibes, I loved it. I had one of the best espresso martinis here and enjoyed sitting on their cozy couches while chatting to my friends. The atmosphere downstairs was really calm and relaxing. Service was quick and our server was very polite.

    My friends and I have started a burger crawl throughout the city, and we had to have Gretel on the…read morelist! First time here for all of us, but definitely will not be our last! We started with a bunch of cocktails (I wish I remember the names.. but they were all so good!). Food to start, we ordered the Charcuterie, and the House Made Pretzel. We were obsessed with both! The charcuterie did not skimp out like some cheese/meat plates do.. it was a satisfying amount that we kept going back for more. The pretzel was outstanding, twisted and hot, perfectly soft and salty. To eat, I split the Gretel Griddle Burger and the Fried Chicken Sandwich with my friend because although we were there for the burger, I kept reading about the chicken sandwich being fantastic. Booyy they were not wrong!! As much as I loved the burger, the chicken sandwich was my favorite! Perfectly crispy, with this sweet and spicy glaze and the crunchy Asian pear slaw... OMG. I'm still dreaming about this! One thing we were excited about were the Elote Riblettes.. but I wouldn't order these again. I accidentally bit the whole thing and didn't realize they kept the core in, and I had to spit it out. And even after eating it properly it didn't feel like I got enough of it from those little bites. Loved the fries though! We didn't see a dessert menu but we would have definitely been interested in that. After all the drinks apps and the chicken sandwich I was feeling so full so I couldn't finish the burger so I got it wrapped to go. But let me tell you even when I reheated that burger the next day.. it was fantastic!! Overall we may have been the loudest and most obnoxious group (we get a bit excited haha) our waiter and the vibe were all matched! Genuinely loved this place, and looking forward to coming back soon.

    Photos
    Flowers
    Flowers
    Outstanding butter & brine oysters from portsmouth maine
    Outstanding butter & brine oysters from portsmouth maine
    Beautiful italian orange wine with great minerality

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    Beautiful italian orange wine with great minerality
    Yardbird Table & Bar

    Yardbird Table & Bar

    3.8
    (451 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Gluten-free friendly

    Dropped into Yardbird in Chicago for their happy hour, and it proved to be a great choice. The…read moreatmosphere was lively, but what really elevated the night was the exceptional service. Our server, Miguel, was phenomenal. She was attentive, fast, and gave us some spot-on recommendations. Per her advice, we ordered the deviled eggs with jalapeño, hands down the highlight of the table. The deviled eggs with paired with that subtle jalapeño kick was absolutely perfect. For the mains, the chicken and waffles were good, carrying that solid comfort food flavor you expect. The waffles were a bit soft for my taste. To drink, the sidecar was mixed perfectly, well-balanced, crisp, and hit the exact right note. Giving it 4 stars only because while the mains were good, the starters and the outstanding service from Miguel were what truly stole the show. I'll definitely be back to hang out at the bar again nest time I am in town!

    Huge disappointment compared to the Miami location. We came here for lunch and while the deviled…read moreeggs and skillet cornbread appetizers were great, the mains and service were a disaster. We both ordered the 1/2 fried chicken (he ordered the chicken and waffles and I ordered the Llewellyn fried chicken), specifically requesting all dark meat. Round 1: The chicken arrived as all white meat. We sent it back. Round 2: My boyfriend's plate was corrected, but mine came out with two thighs and two wings. Ready to eat at this point, I just sent the wings back. Round 3: They finally brought out the correct drumsticks. The excuse given by our waiter was that someone in the kitchen couldn't read English, causing a language barrier. I'll leave it to others to decide how they feel about that as an excuse. But what I will say is that a language barrier in the kitchen is a management problem, not a customer problem, and it should never result in a guest sending their plate back twice. While mistakes happen, the food itself was a letdown once we finally ate. My boyfriend's cheddar waffle was completely uncooked and raw in the center, and both the waffle and his fried chicken thighs had a strange, off-taste to them. What really ruined the experience, though, was the lack of management. The manager was actively walking around the dining room the entire time but never once stopped by our table to apologize for the multiple mix-ups or the raw food. For the price point, the service and quality control here need serious work. I'll stick to the Miami location.

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    Yardbird Table & Bar
    Yardbird Table & Bar
    Yardbird Table & Bar

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4
    (9.5k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    After what felt like 5 years to try this place, I FINALLY got to try the famous burger here! Spark…read morenotes: this place is definitely worth the wait! My friend and I dedicated a day where we would just put our name down and however long it took we would wait haha. We drove into the city which took and hour and we put our name down and waited an hour before we were called. The weather was great so we just walked around the west loop area. We started with a half size of the green salad and a half size of the roasted bone marrow. The house salad is super refreshing. A lot of vinegar in the dressing which I personally really like. Also tasted some fennel which was an interesting flavor. The roasted bone marrow is the winner of the night. I would come back to Au Cheval for this alone. It was paired with a thick slice of Texas toast and a beef cheek marmalade and it is seriously the PERFECT balance of flavors. Fatty. Sweet. Buttery. Literally insane and this is a must order! Then came the famous burger. My friend and I each ordered a single cheeseburger with the egg and bacon added. Something to note is that the single cheeseburger actually has 2 patties and the double cheeseburger has 3 patties (3/4lbs of beef). The presentation itself is beautiful and makes you just not want to eat it haha. The burger itself is so decadent and hefty with the burger patties, cheese, egg and bacon. I'll be honest, I needed some more pickles or just something to cut all the fattiness of the burger. There were pickles in the burger and it is served with a huge pickle spear. But I still was itching for some more bitterness/acid to balance the flavors. It was so decadent, I couldn't finish it all. All in all, I would definitely come back and order the burger again and would recommend it to anyone! We ordered a side of fries which came with their garlic aioli. The fries were cooked to perfection. Super crunchy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside and piping hot! The garlic aioli is perfect and have no notes for it. We also were treated to a vanilla scoop with chocolate sauce which was the perfect cap to our meal! Our waitress was so friendly and my friend and I loved her! She was so sweet and genuine. Hog Salt restaurants never fail with their service!

    Au Cheval is likely the most coveted restaurant destination for out-of-towners…read more "Best Burger" "it's so delicious with the egg" "I'm glad you're ending your trip with Au Cheval". I'd like to throw in my own quote into the gauntlet: "it's ok". It sounds harsh but Our burger patty was noticeably dry. The bread... was also dry. The egg and bacon add-ons were good but as a whole, the burger was missing the core aspect. The bread being dry I can justify by knowing that Au Cheval makes it a point to make everything gluten-free (or so someone told me). I think that's cool but not necessarily what I came looking for. I actually noticed prior to our trip from photos that the buns looked noticeably arid but I gave them no heed because of all of the praise. And I can give them the benefit of the doubt that we were there on a Sunday night, so potentially not the most quality inventory (although I personally don't think that's a great excuse). The service and the ambiance were on point! If you're wondering if there's a required attire (no shorts or flip flops) I wouldn't fret, the atmosphere is a lot more casual despite self-describing as an "intimate" setting. It's definitely more intimate than a normal burger restaurant, with dim lighting and isolated booths but what you're wearing isn't going to dictate how other guests and staff feel. I would cover up anyways just cause there was ac running. I told my friend who moved from Nyc to Chicago and he said he felt the same. And one of our couple friends were surprised to hear the patty being dry, so... off day?

    Photos
    The cooks were very attentive!
    The cooks were very attentive!
    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash
    Crispy Fries & Potato Hash
    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

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    Wings (very sticky so they come with hot towels)

    The Bongo Room - newamerican - Updated June 2026

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