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    The Bongo Room

    4.0 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order The Bongo Room Takeout or Delivery

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    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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    Reviews With Photos

    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!

    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

    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

    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.

    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........

    Aanchal B.

    The vibe for this location is cozy and it's easy to get to from the blue line! Great food, especially the Ube pancakes (tasted like the latte) and their juices. The service was good, we were able to put our name down and they were very accommodating when some of my party was running late and I could sit at the bar as well. Surrounding the restaurant are so many stores in wicker so you can easily kill time while waiting for your table.

    a bar with wooden chairs

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    18 days 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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    18 days 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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    Cindy's Rooftop - Prawns Nayarit

    Cindy's Rooftop

    (2.8k reviews)

    $$$

    The Loop

    I made a reservation to celebrate my partner's birthday. When we got there they said they'd text us…read morewhen our table was ready but to feel free to have a drink at the bar and check out the views, which are beautiful. We got a drink then the text came through and we sat at our table. For appetizers, we had a dozen oysters. They were so fresh and flavorful. For dinner, I had the mushroom risotto with chicken and he had the duck pot pie. Risotto is something I have been looking for since I tried many years ago at the now closed Pompeii Orland Park location. They had an amazing risotto. Well, Cindy's I have to say is even better. The risotto was so creamy and rich in flavor. The mushrooms were delicious and the chicken was the perfect addition. The pot pie was full of duck meat and veggies. It was very delicious and would definitely recommend it! We also had the broccolini as a side to share, it is a very big order and very very flavorful. The char gave it such a unique, great test. I was surprised to have finished our food completely it was that good . The server brought out a small slice of cake to celebrate the birthday. The perfect dessert. I would definitely come back to try out their brunch menu.

    My friend and I were in Chicago recently and stayed at the Chicago Athletic Association. Our…read morereservation was made using The Hotel Collection, and it came with a credit, which we used in part for a late night snack and drinks at Cindy's Rooftop. While I wasn't a big fan of the taste of my drink and dessert, my friend enjoyed both of theirs. Rather, the service was excellent and the views were amazing. My friend ordered The Rocher for dessert, which includes hazelnut cake, mascarpone chantilly, and smoked maldon salt. I ordered a Baked Alaska, consisting of citrus cake, lemon cream, toasted meringue, and salted white chocolate crunch. We both also ordered cocktails. I cannot recall the name of the drinks. I asked for my drink to be fruity and sweet, but it wasn't enough of either for me. The Baked Alaska was fine but too much of various flavors. I wouldn't fault the restaurant for the drink or dessert taste as I know others really enjoyed theirs. Our server was most attentive and very helpful. We found that making a reservation on Open Table only offered a certain number of time slots, and all of them involved having dinner and not just drinks or a dessert. Reservations can also be made on their website though we chose to speak to the front desk about a reservation. Going up to the bar is first come, first serve though. We ended up making an Open Table reservation and were told it was okay to only order drinks and desserts. Cindy's is named in honor of Marian "Cindy" Pritzker, a beloved Chicago philanthropist. It sits on top of the 13th floor of the hotel under a glass atrium and offers views of Millennium Park, Lake Michigan, and beyond. Cindy's Rooftop is open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 11 PM, Friday from 11 AM to 12 Midnight, Saturday from 10 AM to 12 Midnight, and Sunday from 10 AM to 11 PM. Go to https://cindysrooftop.com to see a live terrace view, menus, private dining information, and more. If you're staying at or in the area of the Chicago Athletic Association, definitely go up to Cindy's Rooftop for the experience.

    The Dearborn

    The Dearborn

    (2.7k reviews)

    $$

    The Loop

    Being a California boy (born and raised) my only way to get a Fish & Chip meal was at a fast food…read morefranchise called H. Salts Fish & Chips; and it was fairly good. Several golf trips to the U.K. (Britain, Scotland, Wales) I got my fair share of excellent Fish & Chips; the best being in Ullapool, Scotland at The Seafood Shack I have never had better! But, leave it to Chicago to deliver some of the best fish and chips I've ever had in the USA, here at The Dearborn restaurant in the Chicago loop. Everything about The Dearborn's signature dish just worked in every way: The fish was fried perfectly The fish itself was moist and delicious The chips (fries) were excellent The coleslaw was the perfect side dish The tartar sauce was scrumptious My Krobacher Pilsner paired perfectly with my dinner The service was spot on And sitting at the bar watching the NBA playoffs didn't hurt either. I did have a scoop of delicious salted caramel gelato that finished this meal perfectly. Having such delicious fish & chips a few blocks away from where I live is certainly better than flying "over the pond" (a British term for the Atlantic Ocean).

    This is an excellent spot for a special occasion! I visited recently with a large group for brunch…read moreand we had a great experience all around. Regardless of the time of day and especially during peak hours, I would definitely recommend making a reservation to air on the safe side. The staff prepared our table super quickly and was very attentive- they really went above and beyond throughout the meal. I do not recommend skipping the drinks! I ordered the seasonal Si Se Puede, Tia mezcal cocktail, which was quite spicy and perfectly sweet. For appetizers, we shared the parkerhouse rolls. The rolls were soft and buttery with a delicious whipped butter spread. For the main dish, I ordered the Dearborn Burger. It was solid overall and the portion size was very generous. I tried the fish and chips as well which were excellent. Would definitely order this next time! For dessert, we tried the sticky toffee date cake. I liked that it was not too heavy, and the Heath bar crumbles added a nice crunch. My only wishlist would be to have more of that delicious sauce to scoop up! We left with ample leftovers and in high spirits. Definitely looking forward to visiting again and trying more of the menu!

    Gretel - elevated! butter chicken curry soup with cilantro + crispy paratha

    Gretel

    (459 reviews)

    $$

    Logan Square

    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.

    I don't know, maybe I'm just a hater, but I've given Gretel a shot twice now and left disappointed…read moreboth times. It was mainly about the service. Disclaimer that both times we sat at the bar. So this has nothing to do with servers at the tables. It just felt cold and not at the level I would expect for the prices and reputation. For example, we ordered the smoked trout caesar salad once at the recommendation of a friend, and didn't love it. It was very, very fishy. Like not just the smoked trout itself, the dressing also tasted way heavier on the anchovies or something than we're used to. And we love caesars! We didn't say anything about it because it's literally in the name that it may be fishy. The issue was that it was so obvious we only took one bite that the bartender commented on it when he was clearing our plates. "Too fishy?" We confirmed. And then he took the full plate of food away that he himself had just agreed with wasn't great, and returned with our bill that still charged us $20 for a salad. I mean, it's fine. But it's just an example of the kind of service you get there. We were barely checked on, even when drinks were empty. Even when making eye contact. Even when we were obviously done eating for several minutes and the bartenders were staring at our plates.Even after asking for a check and watching conversations happen leisurely behind the bar while we sat there. I know sitting at the bar is a different style of service, but it ventured more into inattentive than spacious. The space is cool. The food is fine. It just doesn't make up for feeling like a burden when I'm paying $100+ for lunch for two.

    The Bongo Room - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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