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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Lincoln ParkNorth/Clybourn (Red)
Mon-Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Chili's® Grill & Bar is as bold and flavorful as the food it serves. The energetic, fun atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a... more »
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I could go on and on (as is usual with me) about every aspect of my first visit here, but the reality is I am mainly thinking of only two things at this place.
Mac and cheese with edamame (exquisite and the perfect amount of truffle essence)
Whatever "old fashion" style drink they offer at the bar (masterfully done- the cocktail is prepared almost like a show for you to watch)
So- if there was any advice I could give to anyone, who like me, obsesses over things like mac and cheese and good drinks is come here. Best part is, you can sit at the bar and order your drink and your sides/appetizers and just load up on the good stuff.
Trust me on this- the BEST mac and cheese you will find anywhere!
The rest of the meal was amazingly good too- but these two things are haunting me.
I went here for my birthday this year, and couldn't have been more satisfied with my experience. From a food point of view, everything is done right. Even the bread, which is served with a simple mixture of butter and sea salt was memorable. I think we stopped the guy carrying the bread platter every time he walked by.
For our appetizers, we ordered the pork belly and black truffle and apple risotto with chamomile dusted chicken thigh. Pork belly wins for being the most delicious.
For our entrees, we ordered the rabbit leg confit and the salmon with edamame mac & cheese and baby spinach & gruyere gratin for our sides.
For dessert, they brought out 3 different plates all with a candle on them for me to blow out. Don't remember what any of them were called, but if I close my eyes, I can still remember what they taste like!
The wait staff is extremely polished as well as friendly and accommodating. Exactly what you should expect from a restaurant of this caliber.
Elegant, beautiful decor, beyond excellent service, beautiful presentation and unbelievable food is how I've been describing Boka since my visit. I went in a little uneasy and came out a believer in everything that is Boka.
Walking into the restaurant is jaw dropping. It is beautiful inside and out. I'm a beer guzzling, football watching asshole that usually never notices things such as nice lighting and Feng shui or whatever the hell they call it these days. This restaurant is beautiful and you feel like you are eating somewhere truly special.
The service is excellent, our server really knew his craft and you could tell he loved and believed in the food. We had a person in our party who needed gluten-free dishes and this was taken care of with great care. I can tell service is a top priority for the restaurant.
The food is just gorgeous on your plate and tastes even better. I started with the beet salad and once we were done everyone was jealous that I had ordered it and they had failed. If all I had were the salad I would still say my visit was a success, but it only got better from there. The chef sent out a complimentary First Course of stuffed squid. I was a little apprehensive at first, because I'm not a big squid fan, but I was happily surprised. The squid is stuffed with shrimp and lobster and served with spinach, spicy pineapple (who knew?), and black tapioca. Everything worked well together and it was delicious. My main course was the Angus strip loin served with a glazed short rib. Cooked to perfection and one of the best cuts of meat I've been able to devour.
Boka is a special occasion restaurant that I wish I could eat at once a week. I truly want to stand up right now and give them a standing ovation, but that would probably be weird. Hopefully my review gets you to go here and try Boka for yourself. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
So I went to Boka with hubby after a long day of work. Delicious!
The staff was friendly and quick and very attentive. We have been there a few times and one of the waiters that has served us in the past remembered us and came over to say hello. Very personable environment.
Excellent selection of appts and main courses. The trout was excellent but the best of the best hands down was the mac and cheese edamame!! I mean who thought of that!
Great presentation of dishes too.
Great job Boka!!!
My favorite restaurant in the neighborhood.
The room is at the same time elegant, comfortable and inviting.
The cocktails are creative, exciting and delicious.
The dishes present interesting components that work together to create a marvelous and truly unique dining experience.
Don't miss out on the edamame mac and cheese side dish!
The desserts are/were some of the best in the city, although I heard there's a new pastry chef now. I'll forever associate Boka with the first place I ever really experienced the "savory dessert."
Consistently great service, atmosphere, food and drink. Boka has the complete package. It's a special night out.
Beautiful and delicious food, friendly and attentive staff, and entrancing ambience.
I have been to Boka many times, and it is my and my fiance's favorite place to eat in Chicago. I first tried Boka with my mom a year or so ago, and it was the most delicious meal I had ever eaten in this city. My mom, fiance, and I have eaten at many places and in many different countries, and we all agree that Boka's food is outstanding.
On my most recent trip to Boka, the food was absolutely delicious form start to finish. My fiance and I both had the raw sampler to start. It was extremely fresh and served at the perfect the temperature. We both ordered fish entrees as well. My Lake Trout was cooked perfectly and was also very fresh and flavorful. I don't normally go for dessert, but I would never pass on it at Boka. Almost all of the dessert components are made in-house by someone who knows what they are doing.
The food is also just gorgeous; each plate is like a work of art. The portions are perfect, which is an area that I believe some restaurants of this caliber under-deliver in an effort to make the food too "pretty."
I can't thank Boka and the staff enough for consistently enhancing my special occassions. I will be back!
I went here with my family for my birthday. It is definitely a special occasion place. We went on a Tuesday night and sadly, the place was almost empty. I had heard about it on Check Please and been by it several times, but never inside. We sat outside, which was nice, although we didn't get the full ambiance of the restaurant.
The service was great and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. All of us were impressed by the incredible presentation. I got the salmon, which was prepared with two types of sesame seeds. It was a sizable portion for a sizable price. We also shared some sides, including the green beans, tomato and watermelon salad, cucumber salad, and mac and cheese. None were particularly amazing, although I had read the mac and cheese was great. Overall I was impressed by the thought and elements of each dish. There were so many components that went well together. It also seems they change their menu seasonally, which would encourage me to go back...although I hate to go to the same place twice!
I lived in Chicago for three years, and I have to say that my meal at Boka was-- by far-- the best dining experience I have had there. We had Steppenwolf tickets and so came in early, but we didn't have to worry about time because our server was keeping track of things and timing the meal such that we weren't late, but also weren't rushed.
The new mixologist they hired (about two weeks ago?) has created some marvelous cocktails, some of which are infused with his own home-made liquors. We went back after the play ("Fake": so-so) for more drinks and were treated to a few off-the-menu concoctions and complementary drinks.
But the best part was the food. Lots of people have already mentioned the pork bellies, which were fantastic. They have brave gustatory combinations-- seared tuna with watermelon? hamachi, applesauce, and jalepeno "pearls"?-- that really work; they aren't random shots in the dark just to be different.
Because we ordered so many appetizers/firsts, my girlfriend and I decided to share the tenderloin entree, which they split up for us in the kitchen and doubled the peripherals. They also gave us a complementary side of mac & cheese. All of it was wonderful.
I know some Yelpers have bagged on this place because it is expensive and the portions are small. Two responses. First, compared to many high-end places, the prices are entirely reasonable (even in Chicago). But second and more importantly, these people are not coming in with the right expectations. If you are used to a "good meal" being Buca-di-Beppo or Cheesecake Factory portions of standard unimaginative dishes, then don't come here and waste the space for others. If you really appreciate fine dining, trust me-- you get more than you pay for.
My wife and I were hosting some out-of-towners last night and had Steppenwolf tickets. We were super hungry but didn't have a lot of time to grab food, so as we sat at the corner of Willow and Halsted waiting for the light to change we had a choice to make. Boka or a little pizza counter. We made the right decision and went to Boka.
So, we went into a great restaurant and told the hostesses that we only had about 40 minutes to serve us and get us out the door or we'd miss our play. It's a real jerk move to rush a chef and server like that, but they rose to the challenge in a big way. We were in and out in 35 minutes after eating great dishes off of the first course menu.
Gazpacho = Spicy and delicious, plated at the table with a wonderful island in the middle of the plate of fresh greens.
Pork Belly = Savory treat with a great pork flavor shining through the delicious sauce
Stuffed Squid = I wasn't able to sample this dish, but it was beautiful on the plate and was reviewed mostly by Justin's "oohs and aaahs"
Diver Scallops = Perfection in scallops. Delicious dusting of green tea leaves on the outside and cooked perfectly. The best scallops I've had in years.
I'm going back... soon. Our server was a champ and was very upbeat about our time limitations. He not only earned his nice tip, but I want to go back and give him a shot to provide the great service on his own terms. We had a light first course and our bill for 4 people plus a gin 'n' tonic was $80 including a 25% tip.
Love it.
Kirk out.
Fancy dancy restaurants, listen up.
It's time to get your shit together. Seriously....take note of what the chefs at Boka are doing--because what they pull off in that tiny kitchen in Lincoln Park is incredible.
On my most recent visit with my friend, we went strictly for desserts and drinks. Summer desserts are my favorite since all fruit components are in season. We shared the creme fraiche tart with blueberries and sweet corn ice cream. Along with the choc ganache fritters with cherry sorbet. Both presentations were gorgeous--vibrant colors and arrangements. And the flavors were outta this world---normally I steer clear of anything cherry, but I'm so glad we chose it. The pastry chef here is also the pastry chef at Landmark (and you all know how much I loved her creations over there). Her Boka desserts are a bit more sophisticated and very sexy.
If you've been to Boka and were "too full" to get dessert....I'm disappointed in you. Embrace your dessert stomach!! Head on over asap before she changes the menu!
My review for Boka is long overdue. I have been there 4-5 times within the past 2 years and have… Read more »
Time to move Boka up to 5 stars. Well-deserved.
I'm not a fan of chemistry-class cooking (15 courses, 120 ingredients, and so many tastes combined in small amounts that you miss most of them). I still haven't had a dish where the foam added much to the taste. Boka's Chef Giuseppe Tentori pushes his dishes in that direction. But he halts far enough away that the dishes are complex but still enjoyable, with different bites combining different flavors that don't get lost. The servings are large enough to be able to taste and savor the ingredients on the plate in different combinations a second and third time.
On our recent visit we had the summer menu. It has lots of awesome choices. I started with the fennel dusted sweetbreads, with creamy quinoa, watermelon radish, fennel salad, and tomatillo sauce. Tender, not crispy, sweetbreads - delicious. And a generous serving for a starter. For my main course I had the braised short rib ravioli, with a prawn and sweet corn ragout, and a useless goat milk foam. The dish was not dominated by the short rib, but rather was two dishes blended: the generous serving of tender pieces of prawn mixed with the sweet corn, and the ravioli filled with modest portions of short rib. It was a terrific dish, not just a bowl of meat-dominated ravioli.
I sampled my wife's pork belly appetizer, again excellent as their various pork belly dishes always are.
Boka's wine list is always a fun venture. We've made discoveries here of reasonably-priced wines that we later found for consumption at home. This time we tried the Peter Lehman "Layers," a white blend from South Australia. Unique, and perfect with a meal.
Service is always exceptional at Boka. We've probably had five different servers over the course of about ten visits - all both friendly and efficient.
We've now eaten in all three of their different dining areas. They're all pleasant, although the front room has the best natural lighting.
This is a regular stop for us, since it's across the street from Steppenwolf Theatre. Interesting… Read more »
Oh Boka. You are a well oiled machine like almost nothing I have ever seen before. The seamless communication between the staff is impressive, to say the least, and results in an effortless and gentle kind of service that completely unburdens the patron.
Every time I have dinner at Boka, I find that I leave happier than I was when I arrived. You would think this would be what you should expect at all fine restaurants, but it is actually rather extraordinary.
They change the menu frequently, so we almost always get to try something new when we go, and they are very accommodating to our pescatarian diet.
Boka is a guaranteeed win for me every time - I'd recommend it to anyone.
It was delicious. We found it on yelp (thanks everyone!) and headed over in jeans and a nice shirt (dress jeans). There were 3 of us. We ordered the diver scallops (AMAZING), the oysters (good, but nothing too crazy) and the beet salad (huge portion, enough to share) to start with. Then two of us ordered the rissoto with portobella, and the 3rd person ordered the chili white fish. All 3 were incredible.
Our server was fantastic. He knew everything about the menu, was able to recommend a great wine, and was very thoughtful. Since two of us ordered the beet salad and the 3rd person was waiting for dinner, the chef didn't want him to be left out, so he brought out a small tasting plate for him to try of something different (I can't remember what it was now).
The lemon verbena sorbet was out of this world, and the water was always filled. 5 stars, we will definitely go back.
I'm not sure if it was our very large bill that we wracked up after the 2 bottles of wine, or the fact that he just liked us, but they also brought out a tasting of fudge type brownie bites and some other type of soft cookie while we finished our wine. Very thoughtful.
Great date night, wonderful ambiance, and a meal that showed skill in the preparation as well as beautiful presentation.
I didn't even know this place existed until I was surprised with a wonderful dinner here. This place does a great job of being warm and welcoming and at the same time making you feel a little fancy shmancy.
We sat outside and their courtyard is perfection with a few tables, beautiful trees creating a makeshift roof, and lighting that illuminated the entire area elegantly. Our server (Peter) was fabulous; soft-spoken, witty, and very knowledgeable with the menu and wine list.
We started with the oysters and a salad with pears, grapes, goat cheese, and this delicious fruit/nut bread chips. For the main course I enjoyed the rib ravioli with this amazing corn and lobster hash and goat cheese. My boyfriend had the lake trout with escargot tortellini and eggplant puree. We also had a delicious red wine that was suggested by our waiter...so helpful. This place pairs flavors together that I wouldn't initially think should be combined, however they turn out very tasty.
The food was delightful and the setting was charming. I would definitely suggest going here for a nice meal out or if you are trying to woo someone...because it worked on me.
I just love this restaurant. I have eaten here several times and have never been disappointed. The only problem is that I usually ove rorder since everything looks so good. Last time I went I ordered a salad, main course and dessert and that was perfect.
This is a very nice place to have a cocktail too. Usually when I eat here I try to set it up so that we have a drink first. The mixologist is really good and is also good at recommending drinks.
My husband and I just got an invite to test Boka's new prefixed menu. The service was above excellent, the food was amazing, and the management went above and beyond. You will love the ambience of this restaurant. Modern, intimate, and quiet. But not stuffy. My favorite part of the menu was the rice pudding cake with basil ice cream. Very fresh and lovely!
As a vegetarian and often-disappointed attendee of fine dining establishments, I was a bit concerned over my friend's insistence that we would love Boka. She was right -- we loved Boka.
Staff is super friendly, atmosphere is refined but not too stuffy -- experimental drapery and leopard print upholstery under elegant, back lit, wall mounted candlelight, for example
There aren't a huge range of vegetarian options, but between our party of three we had to pass a couple by -- which we hope to try on our next trip.
Our server understood our vegetarianism needs -- no meat broths, bacon fat etc in our food.
Portions are entirely reasonable -- always a concern for me.
Salads and first courses were solid.
We ordered a round of sides as a second course -- generous, delicious sides
We'd love to see a few more vegetarian options --particularly in the entree category (current online menu has just one), but were nonetheless very happy with offerings.
The wine list drops into the mid-30s dollars a bottle range (and tops in the 600ish range), offering respectable wines at swallowable prices.
The cocktail list is awesome -- arrive early and grab a seat at the bar. You will be rewarded with super creative, interesting drinks.
Dessert was super. Apple empanadas topped our list from the award-winning pastry chef.
Certainly not cheap, but as a special place that really delivered -- I'll be back.
Where do I begin!
One of the most amazing dinning experiences I've had in Chicago! 5 drunk ppl on a Friday night 8:00pm. They sat us in the middle of the dining room around all these upscale conservative Lincoln Parker's. Not a good idea....
Our bar bill was about 50% of the dinner tab.
The mixologist on staff did a great job on all the Martini's, Chopin and Soda's with Lime. Service was perfect, timing was spot on and unobtrusive. The food was out of this world delicious, mouth watering and just the right amount of everything. Pork Belly appetizer, Field Green Salad, Bouillabaisse seafood, sides of Mac and Cheese with Edamame, Cauliflower and artichoke with truffles.
We were getting a little to loud, so we opted not to have desert.
The chef trained under Charlie Trotter and it shows!
Boka is a true gem in Chicago fine dining.
I took my girlfriend there after not seeing her for 3 months and it was the most appropriate setting for that occasion.
A quiet, dimly-lit patio, as well as the faint sounds of independent music made the experience quite nice.
The wait staff was attentive, courteous and conversational, but not to the degree of annoyance. Perfect.
I had the Veal, which was the most succulent, mouth-watering Veal I've had in some time. Then the dessert!
If you don't mind dropping some larger numbers for a nice date, this is the place. It is sure to impress both you and your company.
I went to Boka with a friend for my birthday and had a great time. I would strongly recommend Boka. And thank you for Chris B's review, that is what convinced me to go.
The atmosphere is wonderful in the restaurant. It is an upscale yet casual feeling space. I felt like it could be a great neighborhood spot if I lived in that neighborhood.
We started with the tuna & hamachi sashimi platter. From there we shared an appetizer but I cannot rememeber which! I had the lamb chops which were a little over cooked. I went to the bathroom in between courses and my GUESS is that my food was in its way out and I was not at my seat so they had to take the plate back to the kitchen and it sat in the window for an extra 2 or 3 minutes. That's a guess.
The service was excellent, we were very well taken care of. The thing I liked the most was that the server never pushed us into ordering more than we wanted and he didn't push us into a more expensive bottle of wine.
It was a great experience and I will most certainly be back.
Culinary heaven and euphoric ambiance but, I hate to say it, an extremely rude server. I worked in the industry for 8 years and I would have been fired on the spot if I showed anywhere near the attitude our server showed my mother and I at Boka. I've had friends dine here and had completely opposite experiences so this one shouldn't stand as the rule, just noted.
Went there with a party of six for the very first time and our experience was as good as we expected based on the ranting & raving we've heard from our friends that have eaten there before.
Started at the bar as we waited for the rest of the party to arrive and our bartender was very attentive and the atmosphere was very relaxed.
Once we got seated the dining pleasure really started. I had the octopus appetizer which is one of, if not the best I've had. The portion is substantial and the accompanying mussels and barbecued eel and the overall presentation made the starter a 10. I also tried the scallop appetizer and it was perfectly cooked. Off to a good start.
Now the main course: Ancho Chili Dusted Whitefish, Sweet Corn Sauce, Maitake Mushroom, Nettle Gnocchi w/ Black Garlic Emulsion... need I say more?
The Trout plate (which was also phenomenal) had escargot-stuffed tortellini that were so good we ordered more as a side for everyone.
Our server was also stupendous and recommended a bottle of white Bordeaux that complimented the seafood plates throughout the table perfectly (and it was $50.00!!)
Had the panna cotta for dessert and it was also one of the best I've had. I am a huge fan of Perennial's panna cotta and I believe this one was superior.
Valet parking is $10, otherwise you will have to deal with finding a meter spot on Halsted (and across the street from Steppenwolf).
I went here for my 24th birthday, last September, with a medium-size group of family members.
First of all - the service was tremendously impressive. Everything was explained in great detail, and the waiters were kind and attentive. The plating was gorgeous, in the very "fancy" sense where all the dishes have dollops of foam and swirls of brightly colored sauces.
I began with the tomato/basil appetizer. The tomatoes were very fresh, but the basil was found only in "pearl" form, and it seemed to me that the gourmet aspect took away from the taste.
The peach salad was excellent, with fresh fruit and wonderful manchego cheese that had been breaded and fried.
I did not care for my trout - my boyfriend tasted it and said it was excellently prepared, but I think it is just a fish that I do not care for. A shame, I'm sure, that I wasn't able to appreciate what was undoubtedly a delicious dish.
They had promised my mother in advance to make me a cake for my birthday, but the chef apparently forgot. Instead they offered us 5 desserts that they chose from their menu. The steamed cake was tremendous - incredibly moist and flavorful. I can't even remember what the other desserts were, since we didn't order them by name, they were just brought to us. Everything was really tasty though, and had some really great flavorful accents. I also had two kiwi cocktails that were outstanding and unique.
Nice fine dining experience! I went there with my boyfriend when we first started dating and I was impressed (with both him and the restaurant of course!)
Everything we ordered was exquisite! From the appetizers to our entrees, I had the salmon which was amazing.
Great way to impress a date.... or out of town friends for a special occasion. Just make sure you have lots of money on you.... the bill was pricey, but well worth it!
Definitely a good ambiance as well. Service was impeccable!
Boka is definitely a fun place to go. The servers were as good as I've ever experienced- attentive, enthusiastic... when my girlfriend and I couldn't decide between 2 desserts they gave us both and only charged us for one. The food was good not great. We started with the diver scallops and the arugula salad. The scallops were delicious and cooked just right, however we found the accompanying sauces/flavors to be a little strange. The arugula salad was very good, but the highlight was definitely the fruit which I wish there was more of.
For our meals- I had the duck breast, my girlfriend had the beef tenderloin. I thought the duck was very good, but benefited most from the cooked macadamia nuts in sauce than the actual duck. I thought her beef tenderloin was cooked perfectly and of great quality but found it pretty plain. It did also come with a piece of braised short rib, while pretty tasted pales in comparison to that of Carnivale. We also had the mac n cheese with edamame that she liked a lot, I was mixed on it. I think the quality of the cheese used is very good which gives a great flavor. Some people might enjoy the contrast in texture between the macaroni and the edamame, I found it kind of weird.
The chocolate mousse dessert was very good, the crepe was OK. The bottle of wine we had was one of the most modest on the menu and was still $55, and definitely not one of the better cabs I've drank.
I think Boka is a very unique, fun place with great service. The main ingredients of every dish are very fresh and tasty, however some of the sauces and garnishings felt forced to me in an effort to be overly creative.
While I would recommend Boka to people, I honestly think you can get better meals elsewhere for $250 for 2 people.
Mmmm, so good I had to go back a second time.
I had originally been here in January of 2008 for a birthday celebration, where we were treated well and the overall experience was fantastic. It was so good we decided to go again last night. I was able to make a reservation on OpenTable (free money for using their free service? Sure!) for 8pm, and managed to find a free parking spot on Halsted (which is VERY rare!).
The staff was just as I remembered - kind, attentive, and very courteous. Boka prides themselves on their intensive customer service, almost anticipating the next move.
My first and second courses were a little on the salty side, but my duck was fantastic. The desserts were wonderful as well. The bill was definitely hefty, but we knew to expect that.
The earth tones and easy jazz/electric music made for a romantic and almost zen-like mood. It was quite easy to forget the outside world for a couple hours and focus solely on my dinner, and my company!
I heard so many great things about Boka, that my expectations may have been too high. The service was good overall, but our server was pretty uninvolved. If we had a question, she answered, but didn't offer any suggestions for sides or appetizers...or anything for that matter. The appetizer we ordered was beautifully presented, but about the size of a mini-wheat. We all enjoyed our entrees...Rack of Lamb, Duck and a fish dish that did not look too appetizing (but, my husband liked it). For me, the menu lacked some items of simplicity for balance. With the richness of the Lamb dish, for example, it would have been great to have a side choice of something lighter...maybe a veggie... simply prepared.
Overall, I enjoyed the meal, but would not head back in the near future.
One other note...5 stars to the host and greeter when we entered the restaurant. They were great!
I love this place! I went with 3 other girlfriends for a friend's birthday dinner and what an incredible experience!
Carrie Bacon was our server and she made the dining experience luscious - made great recommendations, accommodated the vegetarians at the table and just was fantastic. The bartenders made us the Pomm Fizz cocktail and were super friendly!
I had the Vidalia Onion soup, a friend had the beet salad (this was amazing) and another friend had the Ricotta first course - this was great for the vegetarians. For our main course, I had the duck with was perfect and the rest of the table ordered the Fluke - they were raving about how delicious it was. Dessert - let's just say we literally had one of everything - HA!
Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or just out for dinner, Boka will meet and exceed every expectation. Can't wait to go back!
Well, went to Boka with a few friends and we had a great experience. We tried their Big Eye Tuna -… Read more »
I very rarely am moved to write a review, but we recently went to Boka on a whim on a Monday night, had dinner at the bar, and my wife and I agreed the meal was the best we've had in a long time. And we eat out almost every night. We found out when we got there that the chef used to be at Trotters, and it showed. We've recently been disappointed by Blackbird, and thought Boka was MUCH better. The fish was the best we've had since eating at Le Bernadin in New York. The cocktails were phenominal. The new bartender made our night. Very nice/chill guy, very talented mixologist. We had a wonderful night. We ordered the trout and salmon. Started with the beet salad. All outstanding...
Delightful.
Some of the best dining I've enjoyed in Chicago. The food is really well executed--very balanced flavors, and excellent plating. However, the real treat is dessert. Elizabeth Dahl, the pastry chef, is a genius. Although it is no longer on the menu, the tarragon cake with candied fennel and citrus, accompanied with olive oil ice-cream was probably the best dessert I have ever tasted. The staff here are very pleasant and helpful, and there is an extensive wine list with a lot of reasonably priced offerings.
I have been here twice, once last week and once 3 years ago. Quite simply, the place rocks. My only concern is that it will be a casualty of the recession. It was a Saturday night and the joint was 1/3 full. Just another reason to hate Wall Street (like you needed another one).
The Meal - I am not a big fan of octopus, but I was strangely compelled by the menu description. Either subliminal messages were piped through the speakers ("Eat more cephalopods! Eat more cephalopods") or the preparation figuartively spoke to me. Served among chopped celery, purple potato, and mussels, it was drizzled with an herb infused oil. This dish was exquisite. The octopus was tender and sauteed to perfection.
The main course was rack of lamb in japanese vegetables and lentils, finished with a dijon sauce. It was handled flawlessly. A chef better have his junk together to pull off fusion. I get the feeling Boka's kitchen could do this in its sleep.
The Space - Boka is sheik. Dark, candlelit and enclosed by an angular canopy in the back. Nobody does this in my neck of the woods. I am generally happy when I do not have to slip a matchbook under the table to prevent it from rocking.
The Service - Good service is all about the ease of the server with his guests. Some servers have it, and some do not. Our waiter and greeter were pleasant, knowlegeable and accomadating. They had manners. Too many places these days push you, rush you and send waves of 20-something-looking androids at you relentlessly. I prefer to dine while not re-living the Terminator trilogy!
This is one of the best all around dining experiences I have had in recent memory.
Decided to try this place based on the reviews I read on Yelp as I love to find secret gems while travelling on business. While the quality and attention to flavor combination is stellar, some of the plates are overly deconstructed. I had the field greens salad as well as the rack of lamb. Both were good, but not dishes that I would return for. My friend and I shared a few deserts but unfortunately they were all disappointing.
The real stand-out's for me with Boka were the service and the bento box that we received compliments of the Chef. If we hadn't had the chance to tast the small apps that were not on the regular menu, my rating would be much lower.
Wowee wowee!! I haven't been so excited about a dining experience since Michael Mina in Vegas last month! The four of us came here to celebrate post wedding - this place came highly recommended by Michelle E. and man, was she ever right!!
Upon making a reservation, I did ask them to note that we were celebrating our marriage and would be eating with my brother and his wife. I think they took note of this because we received THREE amazing dishes on the house!!
First off, the service is EXCELLENT - Our waiter, Robby was super attentive. Each time you get out of your seat, you get a new napkin, pronto.
The Manager, I believe is Matt - (dark haired, not so tall guy with a black suit and tie on) was a perfectionist and SO friendly. You can tell that he will not let you walk away until you are 100% satisfied!!!
Here goes nothing:
Kumamoto Oyster - I'm a sucker for this sweet and tiny oyster. they served me an oyster that was perfect - it had a deep cup-like shell holding a perfectly plump little oyster that was so fresh - and sprinkled with a little kick! Nothing like cocktail sauce was used to ruin this bad bay....
Hamachi - Beautifully presented on a plate of green art, drizzled with cilantro oil and topped with crispy chips - all the textures of soft and crispy, sweet and mild, somewhat tangy, all came together like the colors of a kaleidescope inside my mouth - separate but together.
Big Eyed Tuna served rare and with a quail egg - I think of all the dishes we tried, this was the BEST - the presentation again was superb, with different kinds of dishes used on our table to offer a playful look. I can't even describe how good this was - you just have to try it
Smoked Octopus with mussels - this was my brother's dish so I didn't want to attack his food too much. I skipped the mussels, but the octopus was pefectly smoked - the texture was like "al dente" soft yet crunchy to the touch - it didn't need anything else to add to the flavor - it seemed as though the smoke and natural brine of the octopus was perfectly enhanced.
Butternut squash soup - ok, personally, I think $14 for butternut squash soup is insane and I didn't try this dish at all, but sis-in-law gave it a 3-star.
Diver Scallops (freebie) MAN WAS THIS GOOD! I love seared scallops just by themselve, but when you top them off with yummy goodness sauce, even better! These scallops were SO fresh - so sweet and tender. Cooked with a gorgeous brown and crispy exterior and on the inside, milky and translucent - just the way I like them.
Stuffed Squid (freebie) OMG this was also pretty darn incredible. The presentation alone will make you wanna dance! Four baby squids was split into pockets containing baby spinach and splashes of tangy grapefruit juice. The sensations penetrating my salivary gland were almost orgasmic. The dish was prepared with squid ink tapioca which looked like black caviar. I was surprised at how much flavor these little things had!
Pistaccio encrusted Mahi Mahi served with Kobe Beef - Unfortunately, I think this entire dish was forgettable. The mahi mahi was cooked through but didn't taste overcooked - it was good, but I wasn't blown away. The kobe beef was wrapped in a crispy skin - also forgettable. Maybe when I think of short ribs, I wanna see a full piece of short ribs like at a korean restaurant where I can eat if off the bone. It was good, but you won't see me craving it like the other dishes above.
Pork Belly - Flavors were delicious. I loved the presentation - colorful! I'm used to pork belly braised the Chinese way where it is tender, soft and fatty - the way it was prepare here was different. I enjoyed it. It was crispy on the outside and mostly tender on the inside. LIke a giant slab of bacon that has been smoked then tossed in a pan ful of oil to crisp.
Trout Done Two Ways (freebie) was served two ways, on a bed of brussel sprouts puree (I love brussel sprouts!!) This was a very good dish, but I thought it was a little over cooked - oh well, it was FREE and still VERY good!! One trout filet was pan fried and the other was topped with puffed rice which offered a generous smoky flavor. I enjoyed the crispiness of the fish with more crispiness of another kind on top of it.
After the main part of our meal was served, we were talking to the manager discussing some seasonal ingredients. He mentioned a vegetable described as "Chinese Artichokes" - I said that I had never heard of such a thing and we went back into the kitchen and brought us out a sample which was large enough to share. They are called "crosnes" (pronouced crones) and what a strange vegetable! never had anything like it. It had the flavor of very mild onions but the texture of uncooked potatoes.
Overall food was excellent - a solid 4.5 stars and I can't wait to go back! The Chef Guiseppe even game out to greet us and made sure we were ok! I really can't wait to go back again!
*WOW*
Went here for dinner after Steppenwolf, primarily because it was 400 feet away.
Barely know where to begin, but it was gooooooood, to the point we talked about it repeatedly the next day. Service is topnotch, interior is really pretty/unique, although a bit dark and "cozy" (close quarters). but, the food...
We got the "baby octopus, eel, mussells [ bunch of other seemingly random things ]" as one of our starters. Really great. Oysters were really great. Big eye tuna app was great. This is kind of where I lost track. I don't eat pigduckcowchickenFOOTEDTHINGS, they were flexible as far as fish dishes that normally had ribs or bacon, and also flexible with bringing us additional delicious dishes that we didn't even order, compliments of the chef, or our waiter, or the bussers I think. Spiraling through dessert into our glasses of wine that accompanied our bottle of wine.
man. can't wait to go back.
Need a fancy, yet cozy night out - Here's your place! After much deliberation of where to go for a nice birthday meal, my husband and I decided on Boka. Originally we were to go on a weekday, but at the last minute changed it to a Sunday night...easy enough, we called up and changed it and an hour later were sitting in an enclosed nautical like tent sipping on some rich Portuguese red, and savoring fresh seafood bits combined with all kinds of creative techniques.
I suck about writing about fancy places, mainly because I'm very rarely disappointed at a restaurant this caliber. They had it all right ... handsome, attentive waiter - whom seemed to read our minds when it came to wine and suggested one not even on the menu!
Each course perfectly presented and the taste combinations impeccable...extra bonus for plating our shared plates on separate plates! We didn't even ask or expect...it just happened.
The interior is so interesting, we sat in the partially enclosed area, and again, it was like being transported to a different place and time. Look to your right a cute sparkley outdoor garden, look to your left - a simple elegant walk up to the restaurant adorned with candles out to the street...and I was sitting next to a tree!
So, I won't get into each dish, as you can check out their website menu for that...just know, they did each dish perfect, fresh, and delicious!
Expensive - yes, but well worth it!
Our evening at Boka was good, not great. While the food was inventive and delicious, the service was snobbish.
I highly reccomend the beet salad, and the pork belly. They also had a nice list of cheeses. If you go this route, definitely try the truffle tremor. It's divine.
Boka has, thus far, been the best dining experience I've had in Chicago...and it's been consistent each time I've dined with them, so that's quite the heavy statement from this dining whore.
From the moment you walk into the front door and are greeted by the hostess, smiley and friendly....to the wait staff greet at your table...to their wine pairing and first course recommendations all the way to dessert.
Ambiance is cozy yet modern and gives you the feeling that you're sitting in the middle of the ocean...something about those white draped "masts" spins me off to sea. I haven't dined outside on their patio but it looks like it would be amazing as well. Love the dark blues...
The wait staff and service is always impeccable. Their servers truly know their wines and will help guide you through your courses should you feel overwhelmed. Each time I've dined at Boka my date and I each started out with a first course and followed up with our entree selection - and every time the Chef sends out additional appetizers (usually the ones we were torn over) on the house...seriously I don't understand how anyone can leave unsatisfied. I've never been able to finish my entree because what started out as two appetizers quickly turns into four or five....delicious and amazing presentation! Seriously, I am in love with Boka I have decided. That's it.
I can't say enough good things about Boka. Just go, it's worth every penny, nickel, and dime that you can scrounge together (and you may need to, it's not inexpensive by any means - but what can you expect?!) - go now!
Amazing food!
We pretty much had everything on the menu....
The sashimi tasted like the fish just jumped out of the ocean and placed on your plate!!
The oysters were delicious!!!!!
The duck was "to-die-for". Very tender, and flavorful!!
Overall, the food was really heavenly!
But, the service was even more spectacular. The waiters were very friendly, and the bartenders were "on point" with the drinks! If it's one thing I've always complained about, it's the fact that there's never enough alcohol.... but in this case, there was toooo much alcohol! I had to have the waiter dilute it more! my BF and I ordered almost one of every drink! and each was better than the one before!!
Will definitely go back, as I'll never refuse food, let alone GREAT food
Well, I have nothing further to add to the aforementioned positive reviews except the following.....
1. do try the mac 'n cheese;
2. save room for dessert; and
3. grab your honey and snuggle up for dinner service at the subtly-lit bar, which oozes an intimate zen ambiance and is pleasantly uncrowded even during peak times. Piped with chillout music that gives me fond flashbacks from the turn of the century, the bar is casual and low-keyed yet far more romantic and fun than sitting at a standard table....if you're with the right person ;)
3 Course Thanksgiving Meal!
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Weekend Specials
Neighborhood: Irving Park
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: American (New)
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