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Category: Asian Fusion
Neighborhoods: Gold Coast, Near North SideClark/Division (Red)
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Listen here, Yelpers. I know how you feel about chains. I hear you. Loud and clear. But Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises is a local company, babies. It's still stimulating the sweet spot to go here. So don't feel like you sold out, even if you're just paces from the ol' Viagra Triangle.
I really, really liked my food. The potstickers were flavorful, a touch greasy, and the food was spicy magnifique. The mochi ice cream was adorable. I wanted to pet it. It looked like pet rocks.
I had the kung pao chicken with noodles and ate the whole thing. Which sucks, because I was going to spread that bitch out over a couple days. "In these tough economic times. . ."
Hubs had a special with shrimp and lots of fresh red peppers. Fresh is precisely how I would describe BB. Everything had zip and zeal and zest. It was musical.
We would go here again, but not ready for monogamy just yet. Carry out, yes, but we're not staying the night with Big Bowl. Too many other stir-frys in the sea.
The stir fry bar at Big Bowl rocks!
Plop your veggies of choice into a bowl
Pick your sauce
Choose chicken, beef, or fish
Whal-ahh
It's custom stir fry baby!
It's fun, casual atmosphere in the heart of the Gold Coast is the perfect prelude to a night out on the town.
Great food and I left the place stuffed. Good and lively atmosphere, it was a little noisy but not too much that you couldn't have a normal conversation. I was able to snag a first-come-first-served high top on the street side, so I didn't end up waiting 20 minutes for an inside table.
Starting with the chicken potstickers, five of which which came on a plate with three sauces - one was a mustard-based, another sweet-and-sour and the third was plum wine based. The flavors were just a little too subtle for me though. I'd try something else next time.
For the main event, I chose the ginger sea scallops and shrimp. With a big scoop of white rice, there were enough vegetables and sauce to be scooped up. I thought that the plate was a little light on the seafood, with only four medium sized shrimps and two halved scallops. Again, it was good but I'd recommend something else.
Good beer selection with Stella and 312 on tap as well as others. It was pretty good. I think that in this neighborhood, there are plenty more to try before I would return.
By no means authentic ... but, still satisfying. So we ventured out to see the air and water show. Unfortunately, we were chased off by the the weather. With empty tummies: we decided to make a dash for it and grab something to eat. Our criteria, something relatively close and inexpensive. We stumbled upon Big Bowl; so Big Bowl it is. This was something new for the both of us. For some reason, I expected it to be more of a Noodles and Company experience with a heavier Asian inspiration.
We sampled two apps neither of which did much for me. The pot stickers were really greasy - I make better at home. I do want to note that both of the apps were cooked to order which was nice to see. Piping hot - that's worth something.
Our waitress was extremely friendly and attentive. She was chock full of knowledge about each dish. The main dishes consisted of large portions and had a decent flavor, but they seemed too saucy. Too saucy, what does that mean ... well they lacked that authentic flavor infused entirely throughout the dish. It seemed all the flavor was concentrated in the sauce.
Overall, it was a decent spot. Nothing that tempts me to have repeated visits. But, if starving, and in that area, nothing that will keep me away. Just A-OK.
Yes, it's Americanized Chinese/Asian food, but this doesn't mean I don't enjoy the various dishes these sorts of places serve! I've heard some decent reviews about Big Bowl from some friends, but for me, the taste was average and that was about it. Maybe it was because we went on a busy night? Or I could just be making up excuses for them. I'd probably have to try it again to see if it's any better, but it did satisfy my hunger!
Not a bad spot to people watch while chowing down on some Americanized Chinese/Thai food. There was a fun energy and it was nice to watch the crowds pass by on a warm summer day.
I had the penang curry which was pleasantly spicy and super creamy with a hint of lemongrass and basil. The chicken pho was such a disappointment. If anyone has ever had a real bowl of Vietnamese noodles knows its usually a huge portion. At BB its child size. What a rip. We had to order another serving of rice so my sweets could get sated. The pho was also a bit too citrusy so that was a minus as well.
I like the pomegranate ginger ale, but next time i might just stick to the regular. The ones at wow bao are better in my opinion.
All in all its not bad for a chain and I would find myself going back again to try some new dishes.
Yes, it's a chain. But California Pizza Kitchen or Cheesecake Factory it is not.
The food is very good and fresh - not mass produced. Fiery dumplings - mmm! Lettuce wraps - I've had some BAD ones, and these are good! Pad thai - veggie, chicken, shrimp, love em all. Again, this is a dish that can miss at some places. I've had a bunch of other things like the different curries and I've never been disappointed!
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. A surprise as Big as its Bowl? No.
I had set my expectations accordingly... chain, Asian fusion, huge red bowl lingering over you as you walk in, lots of seating, lots of children (I think they are on the up rise in Chicago, they used to not exist in these areas), and lots of.... white people (like me). Now, don't call me a racist, but you can usually judge a place based on how many people tied to the "ethnicity" of a restaurant eat there, and this place pretty much belongs on the http://stuffwhitepeopl... site.
It tries to still hold some sort of ties to its origins, however you can tell it's been sorta Americanized. The food was good, not amazing, and I thought mildly overpriced for what you got. My drink was a pomegranate ginger cocktail that ended up not being that good, the server told me a lot of people ordered it, probably because it has pomegranate in it, but I wouldn't get it again. That damned red berry gets everyone going...if only I could be as popular.
Yummy...this has got to be the best Chinese chicken salad ever! The dressing is so delish and the won tons are so very crispy, be aware the portion size is huge a small salad is the size of a dinner plate and can easily be shared!
the downside is the parking
This is Asian done WRONG. I liked the ambience and idea of the place, but it did not live up to the expectations I had (which weren't even very high.)
I had the vegetable potstickers, which were pretty bland... and then ordered the red hot pepper chicken noodles because the waiter recommended them. Sure, it was a big bowl, I'll give them that... but spaghetti is not the right noodle for this quasi-Asian dish, and the flavors were all wrong. Cilantro does not go with thai flavors (although those were almost non-existent anyway) and it wasn't hot/spicy in the least despite it's rating as one of their hottest dishes.
My friend also ate a meteoker hot and sour soup (why was there also cilantro in this?!) and the summer shrimp rolls. Altogether our meal was $30 and we also waited way too long for a dumb noodle dish. Won't be heading back.
Okay. So. Yes, it's a chain. Yeah, this is way Americanized. Yes, it's average food. I feel it's overpriced for what it is.
That said, the food is fresh and definitely edible. The service is excellent. The house ginger ale is pretty awesome. The atmosphere is nice. The people are seriously sociable and cool. The music is awesome.
We ordered the veggie potstickers, which were pretty good. They come with a trio of sauces: a chinese mustard, a plum sauce, and a soy garlic sauce. Before we got these dish, though, one of the managers came over with a little sample dish and was cool and chatty and we discussed what neighborhood he should move to.
The green tea ginger ale was pretty fabulous. The green curry tofu was tasty, but totally inauthentic. Just think of it as a tasty tofu stir fry rather than a specific Thai dish. The string beans in the curry were awesome, but a lot of the things you expect in curry weren't there (eggplant, bamboo, baby corn, etc.). My partner had the shrimp pad thai and said it was fantastic.
What really made the meal for me, though, was the atmosphere. Everyone was friendly and happy. The space was clean and open. They had a giant abacus as part of the decor (so dorky, so cool). They played David Bowie, Placebo, The Clash, Foo Fighters, and Bon Jovi during the meal. These things pretty much sealed the deal for me because great food in a horrible space means take out time, but average food in an awesome space means I'll be back. It may not be perfect, but it's FUN and that's sometimes what you want from your restaurants.
Big Bowl, Big Bowl. It's hard not to notice you with your obnoxiously large red bowl monstrosity hovering over the pretty people of the Gold Coast.
Now, born and bred in South East Asia, I get very huffy and uppity about these yuppie-infested fancied out places, where the plates are annoyingly square and the decor can be likened to that of a trendaholic bar. In fact, nothing is less appealing to me than the term 'Asian Fusion Cuisine'. But you know.. once in a while, I'll give it a chance. So I did.
Walked in one Monday afternoon. Was wondering why in hell the waiters had the Chinese character for 'BIG' embroidered on their uniforms, then remembered, "Ahhh, BIG Bowl". Decided to go with the the crispy orange chicken (which my boyfriend also had) and beef satay as an appetizer.
Crispy orange chicken: so so so so good. Cannot even begin to describe how good it was. Sweet and sour and salty and chickeny and crispy-- best ordered with brown rice (I like to pretend I'm being that slight bit healthier when I'm ordering deep fried chicken doused in a sweet sauce)! A+.
Beef Satay: not so good. A mingy 3 sticks for $6.. really? Come on, Big Bowl. You can't make such deliciously marinated beef satay with that delectable peanut sauce, only to provide THREE per order! That just creates an awkward situation: where you've both had 1 stick and you both secretly want the remaining 1 but you want to be nice and ~selfless~ and.. well.. the other person ends up eating it anyway.
All in all, pretty good. I suppose I could have ordered two orders of the satay, and I suppose the yummy orange chicken deserves at least four stars, but if Big Bowl is going to give me 3 sticks, then I too will give it 3 stars. Whatever.
i had orange chicken here and it was DELICIOUS. it could just be the best orange chicken i've ever had... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!! it was nic eand crispy and well flavored.
my subtraction of a star is b/c its too pricey. (yes, that's a consistent complaint in my reviews. i can't help it)
Regarding a previous review regarding chains-- I hear ya.
Everything is fresh, the drinks are A+.
We have tried a few noodle dishes there, none have dissapointed.
For quality and price, wonderful. We will be back.
Have dinned in and picked up, both very good experiences.
I have been to this place couple of times and every time my experience is better than the one before. On every visit i indulge myself with freshly made ginger-ale. umh umhhhh good. that in itself is worth the trip. I was introduced to stir fry restaurant concept via here and have been in love with this place since than. the decor is chic, food is outstanding is service is wonderful. The place is always packed so expect to wait. I had penang curry which has a very flavorful creamy sauce. Highly recommend this place
I've been to pretty much every restaurant in the city, and big bowl is still a fave, regardless of its chain status. My girlfriend and I like to go and sit at the bar and order dishes to share. The bartenders are great and have definitely sent plenty of desserts on the house.
For a vegetarian, this place is a dream. I LOVE going to the stir fry bar, loading up w/tons of veggies and cooking it kung pao w/brown rice. yum.
back when I still ate meat, would always get lettuce wraps, chicken egg rolls, or potstickers.
This place is cheap and you get huge portions. Two thumbs up.
Everything was either sweet or spicy. Everything tasted the same. If you're going to order something, try the curry - that was the best dish of the night.
The sangria was just ok - I guess I shouldn't expect great sangria from an Asian-themed restaurant.
If you're looking for VERY westernized Asian food, come here.
I am truly surprised by the food's tastiness at a *gasp* chain restaurant. Everything tasted and looked really fresh and the spicy was surely spicy (sometimes food cannot be hot enough!). My favorite visiting Texan and I went for a Monday night, low-key dinner. We ordered the Thai Beef Lettuce Wraps to start and they were fantastic. I enjoyed the spicy-hot-sauce chicken noodle dish and my buddy had a make-her-own chicken noodle dish with the garlic sauce. We were both pleased.
But alas, Big Bowl IS a chain and with that fact comes the cold hard reality of super-perky, in your-face, full-o-flare waiters and hosts. Our waiter calmed down after he got our "leave us alone before I slap you with one of these eight menus" vibe.
All in all, Big Bowl has really tasty Asian food. BUT, it is a chain right by the Viagra Triangle. Not what I would call "original" but similar to those fiesty 40-year-old single men, I can see how it would be amusing on occasion.
Blech! Asian fusion from hell. The set up looks like the food court at Water Tower Place. The food is so boring and Americanized.
This is another Lettuce Entertain You restaurant that just doesnt do Asian very well.
Its best to go to a real Asian restaurant. This is on par with Pei Wei.
Living a mere 5 minutes away from Chinatown, I'm usually hardpressed to dine outside of the vicinity if I want authentic Asian food. I'm all for the Taiwanese appetizers and high tea offerings at St. Alp's Teahouse, the steaming plates of dim sum at China Cafe, the scrumptious xiao long bao and delicate Shanghai dumplings at Lao Shanghai, and I'm even game for the 3 AM spareribs over rice meal at Seven Treasures.
With all the authentic offerings in Chinatown, it's hard for me to justify spending my hard earned cash at Americanized Asian restaurants. I'm a consistent and loyal Asian food diner in this respect.
However, I have my moments of 'sluttiness'. I'm a harlot sometimes, you see. I'll have the occasional one night stand with that outside agent that seems to be, in Marc Darcy's words from Pride and Prejudice, "tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me". Ostensibly though, because there's one reason for me to cheat on my rolodex of 'old faithful' Chinatown staples. It's in the form of a dish called Scallop and Shrimp Citrus Curry.
Let me tell you what's in it:
http://1.fresh sea scallops
2. gulf shrimp
3. finely chopped water chestnuts
4.citrus peel
5. kaffir lime
Over white jasmine rice.
6 simple ingredients. A deceptive explosion of culinary genius. Iron Chef, much?
I liken this dish to that boy in my high school algebra class who didn't catch my attention at first glance, but then I started talking to him and then I realized how totally Chuck Bass** he was. Then...well, you know,...MAJOR crushing. : ) This dish and resturant is like that. Beautiful and intriguingly alluring inside although ostensibly generic on the outside. This is seriously one of the best dishes I've ever had in my LIFE.
Piggybacking on my algebra theme, at first glance, you may not know the answer to why you are so intrigued by this boy (dish) so much. It's like a factorial equation. Sometimes the answer isn't right there, staring at your face.
But then you deconstruct the equation, take it apart, factor x out, and then you KNOW.
e^2x - 5e^x + 6 = 0
(e^x)^2 - 5(e^x) + 6 = 0
(e^x-2)(e^x-3) = 0
If (e^x -2 )= 0 , then e^x = 2
Ln(e^x) =Ln(2)
And so therefore, x=?
No, not 0.69314718, my friends. x= LUUURVVVEE.
Love that is so holy and true you were meant to be together and get married and have tons and tons of BABIES.
I've been thinking about it so much today I might have to go for a lunchtime rendezvous tomorrow just to get it out of my system! I want to bite softly into the perfectly seared scallops. Nibble gently on the shrimp and then devour it with carnal desire. Let myself become totally enraptured by the fragrance of the citrus peel and kaffir lime. Let it all melt on my tongue and chase it down with exotic rum and mango cocktails.
So yeah, I learned it's ok to be a little slutty sometimes. If you're gonna cheat on someone, make sure it's going to be at Chuck Bass-grade level, right?
**Side note: when I first started watching Gossip Girl (ok yes it is a silly show but very well written and really good actors...it is my guilty pleasure...please don't hate!), I really didn't think Chuck Bass was hot. Dan Humphrey blows him out of the water in terms of raw physical attractiveness. I totally thought GG should've cast someone else hotter rather than Ed Westwick. But he protrays the archtypical lothario and 'resident bad boy' with such conviction, he totally started doing it for me.
Swooooon. I'm such a girl. :-)
Chuck Bass for your viewing pleasure: http://www.youtube.com...
I went here with my family and the boy on the first warm Friday night in April. We walked up and down Rush St, looking for a place without a wait and reasonable prices. Yeah right. A noble but futile goal. Not happening. So I grudgingly said to my parents "Well....I guess we can go to Big Bowl. But it's a chain. I'm sorry I brought you to Chicago and took you to a chain, forgive meeeee!"
Inside, I was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was pretty sexy and sleek, and I even saw people dressed up and drinking bottles of wine like it was a special occasion. hmmmm. Our server was a little overly enthusiastic, with a somewhat creepy smile and eagerness, but service was fast and I suppose that is what matters. I would've had a delicious looking cocktail, but I had spent the afternoon drinking a homemade mango-strawberry margarita and watching the rainbows in the sky after the storm. How cool does THAT sound? But my other three dining buddies got gingerales and said they were quite tasty.
I ended up getting the Kung Pao Noodles and Spinach with Tofu. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food! The portion size was actually edible (gasp), even for a person who wasn't totally starving. the noodles were big and soft, the tofu was seasoned and spicy, and the only thing I avoided about the dish were the blackened chilis. I took a little bit of one and it scared me. The dish was definitely spicy enough without them! I fear how spicy their actual dishes marked "spicy" are! I think they might kill a person. The food was a bit salty, heavily seasoned, as chain food tends to be. It has to appeal to the masses. BUT there was a page in the menu about how they support sustainable agriculture, which is very un-chainlike. Gotta dig that.
All in all I was pleasantly surprised, but I think I'd probably seek out some new restaurants before returning. Good bet though if you're in the Gold Coast and don't want to wait forever or spend $100, and want something fresh and tasty!
The salads are very large, the pot stickers weren't so good, and the pad thai wasn't as greasy as I've had at Thai restaurants.
A friend and I went there around 8pm on a Friday night. We sat at a small table by the bar and our server was attentive and quick. The price is average for the area and a salad will cost you around $13.
If in the area, and not given any other options, I would come back. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't suggest it and choose something else.
not good.
I've always enjoyed this concept and especially this location. The food is consistent and reliable. Potstickers are delish and they use high quality meats in all of their dishes. Interesting drink list but nothing spectacular on the wine list.
Service at this location can be hit or miss. It is generally a busy place but sometimes the servers just aren't on their game. Kitchen is always spot on and doesn't have a problem modifying to help with dietary restrictions.
Bar area is usually pretty hopping and its a great spot to meet someone for after work cocktails in the area, if you actually are meeting them to have a conversation....
My boyfriend and I are all around fans of the Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants. We had a gift card and figured we would give this one a shot. This restaurant is one that we agreed we would definitely come back to.
I had the pomegranate ginger ale (their home made ginger ale is a specialty of theirs). It was definitely delicious! My boyfriend had the raspberry lemonade. That was a little bit on the too sweet side for me. As an appetizer, we had the chicken potstickers. With the three dipping sauces, they left you craving more! Also, a previous yelper was right...if you ask for an even number to share they will accomodate you :) We both had the create your own stir frys. I had the chicken with teriyaki and egg noodles. I LOVED my dish. My man had crunchy chicken, beef, peanut thai sauce with egg noodles. I didn't really care for his chicken. His chicken tasted a bit too americanized for my taste. If you are going to get chicken, stick with the regular grilled. I also didn't really care for his peanut sauce, but he seemed to like it just fine. So, maybe it just wasn't my cup of tea.
The ambiance is very appealing. Its darker but not TOO dark. Its all very fitting to the theme of the restaurant. Also, the price is pretty nice as well. You definitely get a large and generous portion for what you pay for. With our two drinks, appetizer, and two stir frys the bill came out to be about 45 dollars. (Keep in mind, he added extra meat and a drink re-fill!).
You definitely get what you pay for. Overall, I am very satisfied with my experience at Big Bowl.
Goddamnit. Sometimes, I hate being a "discerning eater" (anyone else not like to call themselves a foodie?). On the plus side, I have kept up my end of the bargain on not eating at excellent places when I travel (see: http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
Big Bowl is just not a good idea for anyone who has spent any significant time on the west coast, especially SF, because you know how good Asian food can taste. The "Thai-style" green curry dish was salty and had some heat if you ate a pepper, but other than that had none of the Thai flavors I know and love. The Thai Basil Shrimp was in what looked like a mayo-based sauce - yuck. It was also bland and...creamy. I couldn't get beyond a bite.
If you must go, I'd go with the build your own bowl option - those ingredients looked fresh and you could create something tasty if you know your stuff. Also, the potstickers were tasty, and the chicken noodle soup (Pho-style) had excellent flavor and the chicken was all white meat and cooked to perfection.
Was looking to grab a quick decent bite. Their menu is the type that is so big that it has something for everyone. The quality is decently satisfying.
What made it was the bit in their menu describing how they unexpectedly made the restaurant more and more green. Organic produce when possible, organic/biodynamic wine, Niman Ranch meats, energy-saver bulbs, composting, etc. etc.
Cheap and green because it's easy, not because they're shoving it down your throat.
As everyone has said, this is a chain. I would not call it 'Disneyfied' as some have said. I think that's an exaggerated use of the term. Does a chain make it bad? Do we feel lower eating at a chain restaurant? Fresh and cheap.
Bring a big appetite for the big servings at BIG BOWL. My first visit wasn't that memorable for some reason, but the second time was fantastic. The Kung Pao dish is the best I have ever had and the portions are satisfying.
Definitely will be back!
I should have known better. I didn't trust my gut instinct and reluctantly walked in. I sat down and ordered a salad which was fresh, but bland. Then came the Pad Thai which was a decent portion but sopping with grease. I forced myself to stomach it because I needed some substance to carry on with my afternoon. I made it somewhat bearable by globbing on extra hot sauce in an attempt to mask the nasty. Let's just say my lunch break went on a bit longer than expected because on the way back to the office I had to make a pit stop to use the restroom at another establishment (sorry folks)....
I should start by notifying you that I am quite critical of restaurants. I do not give out 5 stars to every place that I eat at like other people do.
I'm also not usually a fan of American Chinese food or fusion cuisine, but I am new here and haven't yet found the good spots to go to yet. I find that most 'chinese food' that you find in this country is actually American food [i.e. deep fried candy corn: orange chicken, general tso's, etc. (although I must admit I do in fact like the Panda Express orange chicken... I know, I know)]
Summary:
I wasn't terribly hungry and so I decided to just order an appetizer: Thai Curry Chicken Lettuce Wraps: $7.95. You build the wraps yourself. At most restaurants, the appetizers usually include just enough food to feed about two cultured pigeons. I felt they provided a decent amount here. The staple of the wrap included a mixture of finely diced chicken pieces, and an array of colorful vegetables. The taste was pretty good, albeit they could have been a little less greasy.
This place has the decor of a higher ended restaurant even though the average entree price seems to be about $13. I found it quite pleasing. I mostly only drink water at times when I eat, so I soak up of a lot of it like a camel. This is one of my most critical moments when it comes to my impression of service. If I have to wait for refills, the tip starts magically evaporating. However, the waiter was quick to replenish my water about 3 times.
One downside to the experience is that you need a token to use the restroom and you have to go through 2 doors to get back.
Food Quality/Taste = 4 Stars
Portion Size Given Price = 4 Stars
Price = 3.5 Stars (maybe slightly better than the average for a place like this)
Service = 5 Stars
Experience with Staff = 5 Stars
Decor = 4.5 Stars
I agree with Emily D. that there's a lot to be said for Big Bowl as local company (even if it is a chain) that I can feel good about supporting. My favorite part if the veggie bar where you can pick out all of your own toppings for your rice/noodles. I'm crazy about this veggie bar! If only they would let me buy to-go containers of veggies as part of my doggie bag... The food is really good and the service is always friendly.
I'm over Big Bowl.
Do I think the food is good? Yes.
Do I find the waitstaff overbearing? Yes.
Do I think the prices are slightly ridiculous for what I get? Yes.
One time here I ordered a spicy chicken dish and was given something that had seafood in it?? It was awful. If a friend suggests going here, I quickly try to dodge it with a different option.
big bowl is my go to for lunch and dinner
the soup is fantastic from this place..any kind..they are huge bowls and really good..the shrimp summer roll is very light and really good..its shrimp wrapped in soy paper with lettuce and some sort of peanut sauce..good stuff..
the main meal..chicken pad thai extra spicy and make sure to add pineapple. The pineapple holds all the flavor of the meal and really makes it. Dont go up to the make your own...thats silly since the chefs make a better meal..if you want to make your own go to flat top..not here
i have tasted pretty much every meal at this place as i use to go here for lunch almost everyday for some odd reason for at least 4 months..everything is very good and miss it now that my office moved
if you are ordering big bowl from http://diningin.com then your extra spicy order will be made with extra red chili's making your eyes water..its pretty fantastic
The best part of Big Bowl is the ginger ale. I LOVE ginger; I throw it in almost all my stir fries and I eat the candied stuff for fun. So I was excited to try their homemade concoction. You can really taste the fresh ginger flavor, and it's not too sweet. I had the pomegranate ginger ale - a perfect refreshment for a nice warm afternoon.
Now, for the food. It is decent fare. Not authentic Asian food by any means, but the flavor is there. I ordered the Kung Pao tofu and spinach noodle dish, and asked them to make it spicy. There was a good amount of heat to it, but I added some of the red chili sauce that's on the table for a teeny bit more. The spinach was lightly tossed in near the end, so it wasn't wilted. There were way too many peanuts and I ended up with a giant pile of them on my dish when I was done. Also, this is a stir fried noodle, so expect quite a bit of oil. Also, I think there is MSG in this particular dish. There was an unmistakably sweet, yet savory flavor, and I was absolutely parched at the end. Two good signs of monosodium glutamate, though I can't be sure.
Service was good. Our server showed up at just the right times.
A solid Chinese/Thai restaurant.
I went there on a Friday night with a date and got a table right away. (Good)
But the table still had bits of food and half-finished drinks on it. (Bad)
I had the Mongolian Beef. (Good)
But I think I would have preferred straight white rice to jasmine rice. (Bad)
I enjoyed the fresh ginger ginger ale I had. (Good)
But I think my server brought me the lemonade ginger ale accidentally. (Bad, but still Good)
I enjoy the dark and inviting decor. (Good)
But if you want to use the bathroom, you have to go through a door that takes you into the Corner Bakery next door, down some stairs and to locked doors that require a token. A token? What the hell is this, Chuck E. Cheese? (Very bad)
Considering your food options in the neighborhood, you can usually go slum or super-high end. This is a nice option in-between. I'll be back.
Really nice atmosphere: comfy lighting, private feeling enough, fun ambiance.
The ginger ale-lemonade was really awesome: fresh and zingy, zangy, yeah!
I really enjoyed the Hot & Sour soup as well! The mushrooms are the best, and it's got a good woody/dark taste undertone to match the flavorful zam.
Service was very good, I felt.
Entrees were so-so leaning towards good. My Orange Chicken was super spicy, which I LOVED. My companion found a bit of pink chicken meat in his: buyer beware.
We got a warm brownie & vanilla ice cream free dessert. Soo delicious! Like the nearby chocolate factory smell outside!!! But in the tastebuds!
sure sure it's a gimmicky kinda thing, but for _what it is_ I found it to be a delight!
Great food
Awesome Waitstaff
Ive been to both Big Bowl locations downtown, and have had a consistently great experience over numerous trips. Any one good trip could be a fluke, but its clear to me that they hire and train some solid waitstaff.
Example:
I go went there once with one of my best friends who was in town for the weekend, and I felt like trying something new, so I got a recommendation from our waiter, it was a tilapia with a curry sauce or something to that effect. He brings it out, i start eating it ( quite tasty ). the guy comes back like a minute later, apologizing because he just found out they were out of the sauce that was supposed to be on the fish and had made a substitution. He pre-empted any anger on my part, and could've as easily said nothing, since I was enjoying my meal already. But the fact that he made a point to tell me and offer to take my food back is damn good service. And hes gotten the largest tip I have ever given any waiter.
Things to try on the quick:
Their potstickers, Ginger ale ( with actual ginger! ), orange chicken
My SO and I were wandering around the Gold Coast looking for someplace that wasn't a bar or steakhouse for dinner and came across big bowl. Neither one of us had ever been so we decided to check it out.
The service was really bad in the beginning - we waited about 15 minutes before anyone came over at all (no water, no nothing). I feel like this happens to me all the time in Chicago, do I just put out bad waiter vibes?
Anyway once the waiter did come over he was very friendly and attentive. I was happy to see lots of veg items on the menu, and he told us that we could get a free app since it was our first visit and suggested one to try. I order the kung pao tofu and spinch, and my boyfriend did a DIY stir-fry with coconut curry sauce.
The food was outstanding, I loooooved the tofu. Flavorful and the texture is perfect. I also noticed that the spinach in my dish and the veggies in my boyfriend's stir fry tasted much fresher than what you generally get at an asian restaurant. (I know, I know, this is lettuce entertain not a real asian place!) This would be an excellent place for groups because of all the variety in food, including many vegetarian and vegan options. I will definitely be back next time I'm in the neighborhood.
When I asked Mom what she wanted to eat while she was in Chicago, she (in typical Midwestern fashion) replied, "Ooo we haven't had Oriental in a while!"
I thought that Chinese &/or Thai were what she meant by that, so I figured Big Bowl would be the place, based on reviews & suggestions of fellow Yelpers. I personally had never been there.
It ended up being exactly what the parents were wanting. Thank God.
Our server was magnificent. Quite possibly, he was one of the best servers I've ever encountered. We had many questions regarding the menu, which he answered expertly & without attitude. He pointed out to me that the pad thai was made with fish sauce, then recommended the vegetarian Kung Pao option (which was very tasty ... & spicy!).
We started with drinks. Dad had the raspberry lemonade, I had the pomegranate ginger ale (fresh ginger!), & Mom wanted hot tea. When asked what kind, she said, "I dunno. Pick for me!" Our server was awesome. He chose the jasmine tea, which she loved (claimed it "smells like Mesa!").
Our appetizer was the combo potstickers. They came with three sauces: a mustard, a soy, & a sweet. All were tasty in their own right, but we all agreed we liked the traditional Chinese soy the best.
Dad ordered the beef fried rice (he was safe & gobbled it all up). Mom ordered something with shrimp, rice, scallops, mushrooms. She liked it a lot & said it was equally as good as a leftover later that evening. Like I said, I ordered the veggie kung pao.
The only thing we noticed about our meals is that Mom & mine were spicy! I'd hate to try one of the ones that was specifically marked as spicy. In the immortal words of one Keanu Reeves ... WOAH! We made sure to not eat the blackened chilies (thanks to our server pointing them out), otherwise we'd have been in trouble.
For dessert, we had the raspberry cheesecake. It was delicious.
At the end of the meal, we were brought fortune cookies. Imagine our surprise when they had actual fortunes in them (instead of something like, "You are nice." --- that's not a fortune).
We had such a nice time there, we decided to try our good luck & our fortune cookies' lucky numbers on the Mega Millions. I suppose we'll find out soon enough if our good fortune in finding places to eat will carry through to the big bucks!
Normally, I think I'd rate Big Bowl at 4, but with the exceptional service & the fact that BOTH of my parents AND I were sufficiently satisfied, I gotta go with the all 5 stars.
Well done!
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Restaurants
Schaumburg, IL
Category: Chinese
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: French
Neighborhood: Gold Coast
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Restaurants
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