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Categories: Nightlife, Latin American [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near West SideClinton (Pink, Green)
Grand (Blue O'Hare)
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"This is one of my favorite places in the city. It's good for all of the 3 Ds: drinks, dinner AND dancing! Drinks: Their Corazon drink is…" read more »
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Pretty darn delicious!
I had passed this place at least 673 times before actually making the effort to check it out... and I'm not sure what took me so long! I absolutely love Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Carnivale is my "happy place" :)
We walked into an extremely large dining area, filled with bright colors, oversized art and lighting, and great smells coming from the kitchen. My husband thought the decor was cheesy, but I liked the loud colors for a change.
We were totally impressed to see so many of the Spanish wines on the wine list that we enjoyed so much while on our vacation in Spain. While we didn't order a glass of wine, he ordered Estrella Damm and I had the Cairpirinha--a cross between a mojito and a margarita. A dry rum from Brazil... And boy was it good.
Oh the Manchego! We ordered this cheese with drinks and were very happy we did. Ever so tangy and satisfying. I found it interesting that it was served with blueberry jam--but what a perfect flavor combination it was.
For dinner, we ordered the Costilla De Res (braised short ribs) and the Churrasco (beef tenderloin), and we were very happy we did! We each shared a bite with one another and decided we weren't willing to share more than that. My Churrasco was prepared with goat cheese mashed potatoes and drizzled with a green arugula sauce and pickled beet salsa. Those flavors totally worked it!
For dessert, Flan. Garnished with a white chocolate whipped cream, it was the best damn flan I've ever had.
I've been to Carnivale only periodically but every time I wonder why I don't go more. The food is unique and fantastic. In particular the steaks are usually done properly. There are quite a few interesting plates (like the shredded chicken and plantain dish) that really are out of this world.
I've never had an issue with the service and I really enjoy the atmosphere. It's a fun party feel with one giant room and I truly enjoy the loud "carnival" (yes I'm aware that's cliche) atmosphere.
Highly recommended.
GF and I met 4 friends here tonight. We spent some time in the bar and had a couple of caipirinhas. Good, but didn't strike me as good at what I've had a Cuatro.
We got seated promptly and got good service. We had guacamole for the table which was outstanding. I switched it up to the mojitos and they seemed more in the groove. Everyone really enjoyed their meals and their were no complaints. I'd love to tell you all the names of the dishes, but I can never remember. I got the beef something and it was really good. GF got the tuna something, also good.
Wrapped it up with blueberry tres leches and espresso infused sippin' tequila. The tres leches was excellent, but the tequila tasted like kahlua, so i was kind of disappointed. Not bad, but not the tequila fueled adventure I was looking for.
The valet situation was utter anarchy. It is only $5 but there were tons of people waiting on there vehics. I don't know that it's representative. Had more of the feel that someone (or someones) didn't show up for work. Regardless valet demand far outstripped valet supply.
This is the third time I've been here and gotten a great meal every time. Go here (but take a cab).
I really wanted to love this place. I love latin cuisine and it is 2 blocks from my house and always smells amazing and looks beautiful. But... I am sad to say that I found the food to be just ok. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. The interior is so beautiful and festive that I will probably still go back... maybe for drinks.
I ordered the fish tacos appetizer and kona ceviche. First of all, nothing tasted spicy to me! Second, the flavors were just ok-- simple, a little bland, although fresh. For the price you pay here, I'd rather go to Nacional 27 or a Rick Bayless restaurant. Fun decor, though. And decent mojitos.
I absolutely loved this place. Recently visited for the first time and loved that we did not have to wait long to be seated.
I was looking for something light so I ordered their empanadas de pollo with rice and beans. It was surprisingly filling and delish!
The main dining area had superb lighting, high ceilings, but tacky and clashing decor. I didn't think that was very reflective of Latin American culture, but otherwise lovely restaurant. I hear they have live music on the other side which was dimly lit and near a small bar.
I saw several large groups so it appears to be accomodating to parties, but I can attest to a chic cocktail sip with girlfriends.
I would defintiely go back for their empanadas!
Ventured to this Latino hot spot on a Friday "Date Night" with my foodie partner in crime. The experience started off on the wrong foot with a 30 minute wait for a table for 2 - even with our reservation and a call ahead that evening to confirm. Luckily there is a comfortable car area with plenty of seating and great views of the West of the Loop sky-line.
Once we got seated in the festive main dinning room, with changing lights and 3 story ceilings, things were looking good. We did the red wine flight, goat cheese, and guacamole with corn chips to start. The chips were thick and wet with oil, but the guac was creamy and chunky. Goat cheese and red wine flight were average, although the fig jam and interesting nuts made a nice compliment to the firm and pugnant goat cheese.
For entrees, we did the pork shoulder with plantains and the Mariscos with lobster broth. The pork shoulder a but dry and served with a heavy rice. I couldn't taste any rum glaze that was listed on the menu. The other dish also came with a heavy rice, which had soaked up only potential broth and left this dish with more like a paste. Everything had tons of flavor but less than half way into the meal, our stomachs felt like we had eaten a lot more than we thought. Not sure if it was the grease in the chips or the half pound of butter used to cook the rice. Both feeling sick at this point, we skipped desert and signed the check.
I went here just before my gigantor crash in March 2009. We had reservations but still had to wait a pretty long time on fairly uncomfortable seating. The waiting was in the bar area which was *packed* with hipsters and people clearly there to "be seen". They were very grumpy about making any accommodations for me in my highly weakened state, but at least they finally showed me the bathroom on the same level on which we were (eventually) seated - I estimate we waitied for an hour and a quarter past our reservation.
So, the first thing they did was apologize for the wait and comped us an appetizer. It was tasty, though I remember feeling as though they should have done more. Anyway, there were five of us at dinner, and we just ordered a bunch of food and shared it all family style. Although I got shafted on ordering anything I personally wanted, I found most of the dishes quite tasty. Some, however, were inedible past 2 bites due to sodium levels (I wasn't under strict restriction at that point, but I was watching it pretty carefully anyway). The drinks were apparently good, and the non-alcoholics (Mojito Smoothie) were really nice - something I appreciate greatly.
Anyway, if salt doesn't bother you, and if you like hip scenes, this is a great place to try. The waits are long, but the food is tasty and a fun time can be had by all.
Is seems like its own city in there. It's like each section of the restuarant is a neighborhood within the city. I felt like I was voyaging through some type of catacombs when I was downstairs looking for the bathroom. Man, this place is huge.
Let's call the host desk city hall cause they sure do hammer down the rules. Another restaurant with the funky "no seat you til your entire party arrives" tariff. Yea, yea I've heard the excuses for this practice but it's beyond annoying. I was with yet another birthday group, sigh, and half our party was very late but en route. We were very hungry and wanted to at least order appetizers while waiting, but nooooooooooo, Carnivale city hall don't play that. I was so not amused, and neither was my growling belly.
When we were finally cleared for entrance to the city, we were guided to our neighborhood for the evening which was located right behind the bar closest to the city gates. While the city has a universal inside-one-of-my-crayon-splattered-nightmares theme throughout, it was cool how this little neighborhood (section; in case I lost you) had it's own little vibe. I'm not a fan of big wide open restaurants so this made me feel a little better. Our city official (waiter), damn I wish remembered his name, was perfect. He was an above and beyond type, which I hope is what can be expected of the other city officials as well.
I had a frozen mango margarita which was decent, but nothing more than what I get at like Red Lobster. For my entree, I got one of the specials for that day which was a 1/2 chicken (and it really seemed like just 1/4) stuffed with manchengo cheese wrapped in bacon on a bed of mashed potatoes. All that was left was bone after I was done with it. I mean, had I been less than a lady I might have licked the plate. It WAS bangin, but. . . . . I honestly didn't feel it was $27 bangin. Talk about over-taxing the villagers.
I have to say that I don't think Carnivale is worth its prices. I feel like what I'm really paying for is the wads of money it must take to pay the utilities of that township and the Pee Wee's Playhouse-meets-Crate&Barrel decor that is actually borderline disturbing if you ask me. I've been in my share of Latin restaurants and the color overload here is just way too much. While I don't dislike the restaurant, I wouldn't go back of my own accord. However, if I have to come back to this city for another birthday, which I just KNOW I will, I wouldn't be doing it begrudgingly. Does that make sense? I'm sure it does.
For those who might remember...everytime I step into Carnivale I remember the days when it was The Drink. Music bumping, people dancing, dark corners. Well that's all gone now. Now its this explosion of color's...kinda like a bucket of skittles.
I love the decor of this place its so fun. I've been here several times but haven't come around to writing a review until today. I had a blast with the partner in crime. We signed up for the tequila 101 and it was a fun cool thing to do...SINCE WE BOTH LOVE TEQUILA!
However when we do make it out to have a sit down dinner at this location I must say that my favorite dish by far is the ropa vieja and I have to add that they have killer empanadas. I'm getting hungry as I type my review.
Staff at the bar is super cool and friendly. Decor is colorful and fun.
So one time I came here for a friend's birthday. It was late, we were a party of over 16 and I don't think anyone had made a reservation. But they were very nice and accommodating and put together a giant, long, medieval King Arthur-style feast table for us as quickly as possible. We ordered sangria for the group and I added a side of Carnivale Margarita. Here's how the evening went:
8:00pm: "This cocktail is so good. The sangria is so good. This guacamole is amazing!"
8:30pm: "Thish cocktail is so good. The sangria is so good. The remolachas are amazing!"
9:00pm: "Thish cocktail is sho good. The shangria ees sho good. The churrasco is to die for!"
9:30pm: "Theesh cocktail is shooo.....Eh......Forgot what I was going to say. I love the pernil. Pass me the rice, please."
As you can see, the food is so incredibly delicious you'll remember it even if the alcohol, colorful decor and salsa music make you forget everything else.
OK place for drinks after work but they didn't seem to like the party of 10 that walked in. It was early enough that there was one other couple there.
I noticed that as diners came in that they kept putting them all in tables next to each other as opposed to spreading them out. That seemed a little odd to me.
Food (appetizers) was just OK. Not stellar but not great. The drink menu seemed heavy on the wine and sangria, not beer. The beer was all imports, craft, or Miller Lite. A few fruity drinks listed. There is a full bar, though.
Decor was open and very bright (pink). The service seemed put out by us and the group but it was early enough before the dinner crowd so why not make a few easy bucks by just drinks and apps? Guess not.
Well, someone has made me smile. *wink* *wink* Carnivale.
I actually was surprised that I was as pleased as I was when I left last night. I had been here before, about a year or 2 ago and we did not have a good experience. (I wasn't Yelping then) So when my friend picked this place to celebrate the 3 birthday dinner, I was a little concerned. "Oh no, our drinks and food are going to suck" I thought. Props to the staff last night. We arrived at 8 and my friend told us reservations were for 830. They were actually for 930. Luckily, they hooked us up with a table quickly. The drinks were perfect. The red snapper I had was so tasty. I don't normally eat fish that looks like fish but I put all my reservations aside, went for it and guess what? It was so tasty that it made me smile. =)
Carnivale won points for decor, but lost in other areas. The dining area is large and spacious, and feels whimsical with bright colors everywhere. I like the focus on sustainable foods and local farmers.
We started with the guacamole. Mmm mmm, tasty. The guac has a chunkier consistency rather than a smooth one, which I liked. I ordered one of the specials: barramundi served over a sweet potato puree, with a crab salad on top. I really enjoyed the slightly spiciness to the dish, and I liked the salad and sweet potato, but the fish itself was just ok. I had a hibiscus iced tea, which was a tad on the weak side and only got worse as the ice melted. For dessert, four of us split the carnivale cake. It is gigantic, with three thick layers of guava, mint, and mango ice cream with chocolate cake in between. They also drizzled fudge on top of the whole thing. Quite indulgent, but it wasn't too sweet. The guava layer was my favorite.
Our server was quite courteous, but spent a lot of time chatting with us, when I'd rather have him cut down on the small talk. The bus boy accidentally knocked over a glass of water, which luckily missed all of us. However, as he and our server were trying to clean it up, they managed to push all of the water onto my lap, which I saw coming miles away, but my brain couldn't tell my muscles to move away fast enough. So, -1 for lack of common sense.
Carnivale is the perfect place to splurge for dinner. On my income and budget, I only go on special occasions. That said, it is hands-down one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. The decor and service are impeccable, as is the food.
My first visit was during lunch hours, and though it is no longer on the menu, I had a chicken-based paella that was wonderful. I also sampled the guacamole and empanada appetizers. They were equally tasty. For my most recent visit, I had the Pernil at dinner, which is extremely delicious. It is the most tender, flavorful pork I've ever experienced. The plantains are also a nice accent to the meat. The drinks are also wonderful: great sangria, margaritas, and mojitos.
I highly recommend going on a night with live music. Also, check out the website for information on events featuring special foods. Be prepared to pay a pretty penny, but it's well worth it.
I am told the decor is quintessential Jerry Kleiner. Since I am acquainted with neither Kleiner nor his decorating predilections, I cannot comment on that. Though the decor was very lively- if not a wee bit over done- so that must be Kleiner's signature. 'Nough said.
On to the vittles! On that note Carnivale does a sound job. We dined here last week with a group on a work related function. So it was a round of cocktails, apps, main courses and desserts. We sampled the menu from beginning to end. I was actually impressed.
We started with a sampling of ceviches- which were fresh and well seasoned in relation to their inherent flavor. Score on that point. For the main course I had starters- jumbo shrimp and a beet salad. The shrimp were jumbo in every sense of the word, and the beets (red and yellow) were presented with a nice selection of goat cheese. I also sampled some of the skirt steak a colleague ordered and that was fantastic too. Usually I am not a steak person, but this was excellent. Desert was a sampling of cheeses.
All told I was impressed and would return with a professional or personal crowd.
A birthday dinner brought me here over the weekend. Birthdays are supposed to be fun and festive, and that's exactly what this establishment exudes upon entry. We vacation annually on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, and with the slight chill in the air on this October evening, it was nice to fell like I had started my vacation early.
The menu was loaded with a wide variety of Cuban/Colombian/Latin American specially prepared meats and seafood that made the decision process quite challenging. We had the Guacamole Appetizer, Camarones Al Ajillo, Arrozo con Mariscos, Churrascos (nicaraguan style wood-grilled beef, malanga goat cheese, arugula chimichurri, spicy beet salsa), and a long look at the Tequila Menu which broght back many memories. This restaurant promotes Tequila like Baskin Robbins does ice cream. I threw up after doing shots of Tequila long ago on a Spring Break to South Padre Island, Ixtapa, Cozumel, or somewhere and I haven't had a taste since. But if that's your drink and you and your crew want to take things to the next level, I can't think of a better place for you to go.
In closing, to any gentlemen reading this review, if you are bringing a significant other on a date, I'm telling you up-front you will be bringing sand to the beach in your exotic 3 hour Latin American getaway. The girl to guy ratio was easily 4 to 1 in one of the most bizarre eating experiences I've been a part of. I was actually looking around for cameras thinking that I was candidly starring in a Reality Show. I can only dream as there weren't any to be found. Seating-wise, I had a table with my back to the majority of the restaurant. That was good, it kept me out of trouble. Go to Carnivale, especially if you haven't been and want to try something new.
We tried this place for lunch today. We walked in with no reservation as the lunch rush was kicking off and were seated quickly. As everyone else has mentioned the decor is amazing, and it's shocking how big the place is.
I ordered the Jibarito sandwich while others went with the Chivito. I was jealous. Definitely go for the Chivito, the Jibarito was quite lacking in comparison.
This is a quintessential Jerry Kleiner creation. Read any reviews of Park 52, Club 33, etc and you'll have a great feel for the decor. That being said, its a good look. I guess if "ain't broke don't fix it"?
As always, the food is excellent. The ropa vieja appetizer was incredible. The salty/sweet mixture with the plantains melted in my mouth. My steak was perfectly prepared as well. The drinks were interesting, if slightly girly. I loved the Caparinia though, and it is very hard to get a good one in this city. Each element was well paired and surprising -- a great meal all in all.
The service left something to be desired, as in many Jerry Kleiner places. Snobby, aloof and unavailable (if seriously hot) are the words I would use to describe our waiter. Why the 'tude when we're downing drinks and ordering like there are 4 of us instead of 2 and your restaurant is empty? I just don't get it, don't you want to earn money?
Absolutely delicious! My experience was a bit nostalgic since I haven't been to this place since 00' or 01' when it was called "the Drink" and my intentions were to dance my sock off (not literally). The ambiance was pleasant, modern, very bright and colorful, with extremely high ceilings (no way you'll claustrophobic in this place). I order braised short ribs, may I just say , the meat was so soft it fell apart with the softest touch of my fork. The mixture of potatoes, nuts, corn, and what ever other deliciousness they included was amazing and very impressive. I highly recommend this place for a tasty meal or an evening out with a large group (so long as ppl don't mind spending extra on a yummy meal).
Love the food at this place! Must try:
- Churrasco (beef tenderloin, potatoes, goat cheese puree). The meat was extremely tender, and I burned my tongue on the potatoes (more than once) because I was too eager to stuff my face.
- chips and guac: fresh guac, but the chips actually stole the show. So fresh, so crispy!
- mojito: I'm not a huge fan of raspberries, but the rasp mojito was pretty good.
The only thing is, this restaurant is fairly loud, so it's hard to have a free flowing conversation if your table's more than like 4 people. It was hard to hear the waiter at times too. Service was okay, but the food is what's really yelp-worthy.
Black and white checked floor tiles. Fluorescent lamps in every color of the rainbow hanging from… Read more »
I find it interesting that no one I have ever met has a bad word to say about this place....So first off I must claim favortism: I coach Jerry Kleiner's son, and he will be a basketball-playing stud in a year (hear that, college recruiters!). So I put the word out that I wanted to finally try out Carnivale after turning down numerous invites last year, as the gf and her roommate and i enjoyed a fun nite out before hanging with The Kingfish band. The place looks amazing...I love the decor and the fun, festive atmosphere. Our server, peter, was the bomb! Do people still say that? Even still, peter rocked, gave us enough time to pick items off the menu and explained them, kept our water glasses and drinks full, and even folded the roomie's napkin when she was awau at the restroom. Nice. We got free app's which was unexpected but great: we were given chips with gac - i do not eat many food items that are green, including gac, so trying it finally: fantastic. The chips were different than any chips I've had at any other place in the city. We were also given fish tacos - Mikey does not like fish, and two words that definitely don't belong together are "fish" and "taco". Even still after trying it....not too shabby. If you love fish you'd probably love it. I don't like fish at all and still thought it was edible if not tasty. The girls had the steak dinners and loved it. The roomie said it was easily the best meal she's ever had and can't wait to come back. i had pollo, because I'm a big fan of chicken and potatoes. I felt like I was in the movie Blues Brothers as the waiter arrived with a whol;e chicken (minus the loaf of bread). The smell of this thing makes your mouth water, even the day after. It was amazing....amazing. You definitely get your money's worth here. For desert we had a the brownie, which I should have expected was anything but average. It was soft, had that not yet cooked thoroughly amazingly tasty feel to it....so moist and chocolate with caramel....get it! Seriously, get it! Again, I expected to be treated like a king when I arrived, and come to find out everyone gets that treatment...this place is easily tone of he best in the city.
My dinner here was okay, had this quiontta? dish, it was a vegetarian dish, I should have just gotten the fish tacos in the appetizer section!
We did have the shrimp ceviche appetizer, which was really good and the raspberry mohitos were really good!
I guess I would stick with the apps and drinks!
My husband had the dish that was like paella, but I felt like the creole seasoning was way to strong..so did he!
oh yeah forgot it was my b-day so the waitress did bring out a dessert, it was a brownie with some pineapple, it was okay, the dulce de leche ice cream was more enjoyable than the brownie...
the waitress was nice and the service was good...
I kept thinking about trying this place but was always put off by their menu that didn't have anything vegetarian. I finally landed up at this place tonight for a friend's birthday and actually quite enjoyed it!
The people there are a little snobby, but the decor is beautiful and the food is surprisingly good. We had everything from the salads to guac to cheese (not so good) to pasta to sides like corn and mac 'n' cheese (also not so good). Their dessert - yummmm...
It was quite vegetarian-friendly, although none of their beans are.
Can I hear an AMEN for all those who have tried the Rasberry Mojito! My prayers have been answered for the perfect Mojito...
On another note - the food is to die for. I had the pork (the first dish on the menu) and it was so tender it practically melted in my mouth. The waitress was very knowledgable about the menu.
Best part - in the beginning of the dinner the waitress asked if we were celebrating something and I happened to just get a teaching job (thankyouverymuch). At the end of the dinner she brought out an awesome cake with ice cream. So sweet and unexpected.
Such a nice experience.
This is the BEST Latin restaurant that I have been in all of US.
Wow! That's a big statement.
No I don't work for them or have any association whatsoever.
But I have to say I was about to cry after my dinner and it wasn't because of the spices.
Let's see... I have been in every joint in Miami and none of them compares to this place. And I wonder; why from all the cities, would they have the best food in chico.
Ok enough with the sales pitch. I wonder if they would give me free dinners after writing this.
First of all I thought this place was a tourist trap. I mean look at the giant poster they have on the side of the highway. I thought that's gotta be a big disappointment.
So I have these gringos (hey this is not a bad word, go to any latin country and they call americans, gringos) from out of town who didn't even know what guacamole was, and they say, buddy take us to that place next to the highway. I couldn't say no.
Outside this place they have valet and 2 big bouncers, although they didn't notice us.
Waited at the bar for our table which was packed. One of the bartenders was a douche, I asked him for the bar menu and he looked at me with the most annoying look. I was like chill out what's his problem. Whatev. We ordered to an Asian looking dude who was much nicer.
Mojitos. Man! This is the place that had the best so far in the city. I mean, you have to put lots of sugar in a Mojito, I guess nobody else in Chicago knows this. And for those who say "this is too sweet", they just don't know any better.
Our table was ready and I ordered the "camaron al ajillo" (i dare you to translate it) and the "ropa vieja". That was so friggin good. and the presentation of the plate. I never thought of ropa vieja served like that. For those who are still like, "ropa what?". Basically this is threads of meat, with some spices.
Ay Dios Mio! this ropa vieja is the best I had in my life.
Then another mojito, this one missed an ounce of sugar. didn't care. I mean I should be grateful already.
Moved on to the skirt steak with black beans and rice. Some people call this rice "pinto" or "moros". This rice was awesome. Cubans and Nicaraguans in Miami just don't know how to cook this rice. And they eat it all the time. They must have slept in rice-making class. Steak was amazing too.
Ayayay. Pero gracias dios mio gracias.
Went into dessert. "Tres leches". Cmon where is your basic spanish, I wont give you a clue on this one. I just gotta say that people usually make this so sweet that you cannot even take more than 2 bites before you want to give up on sugar for life.
This people has the best 3 leches I had in my life. The sugar level was just too perfect. I finished that one and I wanted another one. But I didn't want to look like I was a huge pig.
Hey these guys were so happy, that I basically became their best friend overnight. They said wanted to marry hispanic girls to cook for them. It was crazy.
Carnivale you just became my favorite restaurant in town.
PARRRRTYYYYYYYYY.
I have had my eye on this restaurant for THREE years.
THREE YEARS!
Do you know how much facebook photo album stalking that equates to?
I must have looked at a few hundred brightly colored and festive photos before finally taking the plunge and making a reservation of my own.
I gotta tell ya- hopping off my plane from NYC to Chi and being driven straight here to dine with five of my great gfs? Pretty fucking fabulous.
The ambience is incredible. Beautiful colors, high ceilings and a vibrancy not easily duplicated.
The food was great! Although they are heavy on the meats, they sure know what they are doing. The braised short ribs were IN-CRED-I-BLE!
The drinks are innovative and they even have wine flights. Hands down, one of my favorite Chi restaurants.
Fun, fun, fun! That is the atmosphere that Carnivale conjures. We were visiting Chicago and a friend of ours from college took us here for dinner. We loved it. The ceviche was really tasty. I split the fried deboned fish with my husband and I had some of our friend's ropa viejo. Everything was delicious. If I live in Chicago, I'd definitely celebrate my birthday here. And by the way, I love the decor. Now, the only thing that is missing are samba dancers. lol.
After 2 visits to Carnivale, I'm ready to write my review.
We had a reservation for 4 people and I was told we'd be seated when our whole party was there. Fair enough. Once our whole party was present they handed us a buzzer and said we could wait at the bar. Confusing, since we could see open tables for 4, probably just a ploy to get you to spend more money on their drinks.
Good thing they have good drinks!
We had a cheese tasting platter, very good accept one of the cheese was not one that we ordered. We didn't want to make a big deal about it, so we tried it anyways.
We shared 2 appetizers. Their portions are really quite large and perfect for sharing. Hands down favorite is the Ropa Vieja. SO good.
For our entrees 2 of us got the Arrachera and 2 of us got the Atun. Everything was equally delicious.
The place was packed with what looked like all business people. Great place for large groups and even for a date.
Will be back.
Went to Carnivale on a Tuesday night. As soon as I walked in, I was in love with the decor. Very happy and colorful, but not overdone. Once seated, a few members of our party ordered the drink which was on special, which was the Caipirinha. When the drink arrived, it was PACKED with ice, so much so, that it was almost impossible to stir, and was nearly finished with two sips! I will say that the drink was tasty though. . . it was a pretty much an limeade cocktail! I love limes, so this was plus for me.
As an appetizer, we ordered the Ceviche Tasting of 3, and the Shrimp was definitely the most flavorful! As the main course, I ordered the Pollo Estilo Billy... which is a chicken breast rubbed with spices. I must say it was some of the most flavorful chicken I have ever had. But, the side for this dish was papas fritas (french fries), which were somewhat disappointing, very blah. I did get to taste the rice and beans that came with the Arrachera, and they were delicious!
For dessert, the Tres Leches was ordered. I must say it was disappointing. Not only was it not very flavorful, but it also came topped with blueberry sauce (not a fan) and with this strange basil-cream sauce on the side. I must say it was also the driest tres leches I have ever had. On the upside, the ice cream dessert I tasted was very good.
Overall, I like this place, because I believe it has potential. I may have just ordered the wrong dishes this time. I will be back, and hopefully will be wowed my my meal next time.
I think this is my 5th time at Carnivale so again I feel I have enough visits to give a rounded review. The moment you hand your keys to Valet you get a good vibe from the building. Step inside the foyer and as you make your way, the decor lures you in further. Once inside the bar welcomes you to a spacious area to enjoy a Mojito or other. Once you step inside the main dining area, you cannot help but look up & all around at more funkiness in decor.
The food does not disappoint either. The dish I had this weekend was actually a spicy linguine. No it's not an Italian restaurant, this had a Latin flair to it. They offer some tasty Ceviche as well.
I absolutely love going to Carnivale. Driving on the highway the first impression you get of Carnivale is their massive sign which is colorful and full on the side of their building.
Once we were inside Carnivale, we saw that the massive sign fit right into the atmosphere and ambiance. Everything is colorful and right from the start puts you in a GREAT mood. We went to the bar and got drinks while we waited for the table and the sangria was delicious, you can never go wrong with a good glass of sangria at a place like this.
After we were seated and had looked over the menu we decided on ordering the guacamole as an appetizer and boy were we right! The guacamole and chips are to die for. It was probably the freshest guac I have ever tasted. After having such a good appetizer we were afraid we were going to be let down by the meal but thankfully we were wrong. The Arrachera (grilled skirt steak with rice, beans, sweet red onion and a chimichurri) was unbelievable. I had been told to order this dish ahead of time since I am such a fan of skirt steak and in no way was I disappointed. If anything I am saddened that no other skirt steak may live up to Carnivale's preparation of it. When cooked correctly, skirt steak is an amazing piece of meat.
Unfortunately we were way to full to have dessert which from the looks of other table was really good. That just means next time I go I will have to save room.
The service was great, in no way did we feel rush or forgotten about, it was perfect. The only criticism that I have about the wait staff is their ties. They were like mini ties only about 1/4 of a normal tie. While I understand why they wear them (so the ties don't move around as much and get in the way of the food) it is rather unattractive looking.
Oh well, if the worst thing about the restaurant is the ties, I will go back any day! Can't wait to get back there again and try something new!
Love. Love. Love.
Service was great, drinks were strong, and dinner was awesome. Plus the dining room is bright and colorful without making you feel like you're at the circus.
Do not come here and NOT order a raspberry mojito!! They are literally to die for. As far as food goes, I'm a huge fan of the rum-glazed pork shoulder, the ceviche and the beef empanadas.
Seriously, even the rice and beans that come with the pork shoulder taste like they are infused with something as addicting as crack, and I can't wait to go back and get myself another fix.
Carnivale has been a favorite of mine since my first encounter with the skirt steak! Although, this may seem a bit boring to order from a menu with so many things to choose from, it still stands #1 in my book! The steak, sauce, onions, rice and beans make the perfect lunch or dinner entree. You can't complain about the sangria either! TASTY! Not only does this restaurant provide you with good food but the ambiance and decor is wonderful. Talk about colorful!
The great food and environment had me thinking, What an awesome place for my rehearsal dinner! And we did just that. With many different rooms to choose from we had our rehearsal dinner in the Tango Room and everything went off without a hitch! I can't say enough good things about this place.
JUST GO!
TRY.
LOVE!
I had dinner here as a member of a group from work on Wednesday of last week. We had a private room and eight of us were there. The semi-private room was nice because the curtains let you see the rest of the room and keep it from feeling close, while it still feels as though you are in a more intimate setting.
We presented the service staff with a challenge that they seem adroit in handling: a broad range of arrival times. Three or four people arrived first around 5:30, I got there a little after 6:00, another joined at nearly 7:00 and the eighth (who was arriving from the airport and was not expected given the need for last-minute travel) arrived sometime between 7:00 and 8:00. The staff was attentive the whole time, bringing fresh hors d'oeuvre happily around and never making us feel hurried. The thin-cut steak that was offered as one of our two entree options was excellent, as were the hors d'oeuvre. I would recommend Carnivale for a celebratory dinner like we were having, but not one where negotiations or deliberation would be involved, as the room was not private enough for that.
Gorgeous atmosphere and great food.
I had the Ropa Vieja, braised beef on plantain. Absolutely delish. Sampled my dinnermates' seared ahi tuna and also the shrimp. All was excellent.
I really don't like the tv's in the lounge, very distracting during dinner.
The bathrooms are beautiful. However, us ladies feel jipped. The guys said they had photos of naked girls in theirs. However, I do love that there are enough stalls here that you'll never be left waiting in line.
A Party in My Mouth, that's what Carnivale is. And any place that has plantains, well, it has my heart.
We had the luxury of having a party of 5, hence getting a good sample of Carnivale's dishes.
The best of show is the braised short ribs with mash potatoes and peanut and corn salsa ($25) , followed by the wood grilled Berkshire pork chop, bacon-plantain fufu, caramelized onion broth, pepper escabeche ($24). Third in line would be grilled skirt steak, rice and beans, sweet red onion, chimichurri sauce ($19) -- not the most tender of steaks, but the flavor was delicate and balanced. The Mama Mendez -- Sofrito rice, shrimp, mussels, clams, squid, chorizo, peas, chicken, lobster broth round up the night's top dishes. I had the Pernil ($19), rum-glaced pork shoulder with olive rice and beans. Sadly, the pork shoulder was dry and I barely detected the rum glace, which has caramelized to the point of charred. But the pan-fried plantains as usual earned my good graces.
We also indulged in the Ropa Vieja appetizer -- five big offerings of braised beef shredded atop sweet plantains in spicy mayo, queso fresco. The best $9 ever spent on small mouthfuls of delight.
For another $7, we had the side of mac and four cheeses with herb bread crumbs. Heavenly.
Sadly, none of us had any more room left for dessert.
However, I shall not despair. Carnivale calls for another visit and another and another ....
5 stars... hell yeah!
The waiter told me all the most popular order from the cheese, appetizers, dish to dessert. One of my best experience in Chicago so far. The food is def flavorful and original. I know this place is good because i had high expectation reading the reviews and usually high expectation leads to disappointment in my case. But I was NOT at all.
I had the blue cheese to start with (it was perfect to open my appetite), then had Ropa Vieja (plaintain + beef), Camarones al Ajillo (jumbo shrimp), Costilla De Res (short ribs) and that enormous Carnival Ice cream cakes (not recommended if you're lactose intolerant).
I'm going back to try that ceviche and plenty of their other dishes!
I love it and plan to go there one day once i recover from my tab! jk
Mmmm, good. I had my birthday dinner at Carnivale because I love Latin food and this place's reputation precedes it. The reputation is well earned by great food, great decor, great ambiance, great service, and great cocktails. I was impressed and I will be back.
Delicious food, nice knowledgeable wait staff and a good experience at lunch time. I was working, meeting an employee nearby when we broke for lunch. I wanted to try Carnivale since it was right there before us.
Even when its location is out of the way for me, the reason for the missing star, on a noisy road through town, we sat out on the deck for lunch during a nice day of sunshine with a gentle breeze. It was a great time. One of the few summer days this year I thoroughly was able to enjoy!
The food was fantastic. It was a good value for quality dishes. The drinks were perfectly prepared. I chose from exotic flavors from among the mainstays. I left thinking of a return visit. I'll be going again. Maybe it's a good place to party like it's 1999 too.
I went to Carnivale for my birthday. To start, we shared the halibut cevice as an app which was delicious. I ordered the Arrachera and could not get enough of it - I cleaned the plate off it was soo tasty.
My friend ordered a mixed fish dish (I cant remember what it was exactly) and it was good.
We shared some mixed drinks, they were ok, fun to try, and then had dessert on the house. We had the huge ice cream cake but it was a little disappointing - I was expecting a lot more flavors based on the description in the menu.
Overall I would recommend this place and would go back myself! Enjoy.
Groupon Alert!
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Saturday, Sunday & Monday…
Neighborhood: Gold Coast
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Dance Clubs
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: French
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Near Southside
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Asian Fusion
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