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Categories: Dance Clubs, Mexican
Neighborhoods: Near North Side, River NorthMerchandise Mart (Purple Express, Brown)
Clinton (Pink, Green)
Don't Just Wish Someone A Good Holiday, Give Them One With Chili's.
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Ok. So, I have to caveat this review to begin with, as we intended to do a full night here, but didn't really make it.
What we did was stop for pre-dinner drinks here on a Saturday night. Just walking into the place, it was impressive. The decor and general setup was very well done, and immediately gave you the impression of being pulled into somewhere at the same time tropical and Latin. Stepped up to the bar and ordered a couple of drinks... a mojito for the wife and a caparinhia (sp?) for me. Both, despite the fact that I've no clue as to how I should spell the latter, were very good. Bartenders were very friendly and attentive (though I should mention we arrived before the mass rush of 11pm.
Overall, this place had a great atmosphere. And if the band was any indication (they were awesome), the dancing later has to be amazing.
We'll definitely be back, next time with our dancin' shoes on...
TRUE story coming your way... highly irrelevant, but true!
Just knowing I'm going somewhere Latin-inspired puts that special spring in my step... the special something being extra confidence!
So I'm walking to Rumba one evening and chatting with my best guy friend on my cell. I notice a handsome guy in a suit (maybe) noticing me too, and after a block or so, he taps me mid-conversation and asks, "excuse me, but can I talk to you? You are ADORABLE!"
::::slowly snaps Blackberry shut uttering something nonsensical resembling,"Bye, Bryan, something came up!"::::
I turn to gaze at him with my best coy look, eyelashes fluttering and introduce myself. Guess what? He's hot. And smart too. You can deduce quite a bit in a 6-minute walk.
He walks me to my destination (don't worry, we're in River North with dozens of others walking next to/in front of/and behind us) and says he'd love to join my friends and me for a drink. Nice! Assertive. Then he asks, "is this a dance club?"
"Yep, sure is... salsa, later?"
The guy literally freezes and then runs off grumbling, "I can't dance!"
Ah well, his loss! I love to dance. But it wasn't always that way. A few months ago I quelled my dance nerves at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio and I've been a-twirlin' ever since. Or something like it!
This particular evening I visited Rumba for some Alex Cuba. I wasn't drinking, I already had dinner and we didn't end up practicing our salsa moves. Sounds boring, right?
Nope. Still fun. Even sans mojitos. And sangrias. And every yummy Latin libation under the South American sun. Remind me again why I was denying myself one of life's delicious pleasures? Not doing that anymore... um, drinking is good fun :)
Everyone else enjoyed their drinks. I enjoyed the show and the pretty scenery. Really, Rumba is a looker. Four stars for now 'til she proves me wrong. But the crowd, the insides, and the one baby sip that I had? All spectacular.
To be continued. With alcohol, and minus the guy with two left feet, natch.
I'm a bit torn as to give Rumba a three or four star review, but I decided four is the most fitting for a place that is a glimpse back into the days of supper clubs, nightspots, ballrooms, and the like.
I was here with a group for a birthday party on a Saturday night. To begin, there are going to be far more people over the age of 35 here than you might think. Just because it's in River North doesn't mean it will have the typical River North crowd of aging ex-fraternity members and cougars-in-training. You're more apt to see well-to-do adults from many nationalities, plus some young adults as well.
Dress up here! You won't find athletic shoes, t-shirts and tank-tops at Rumba. The place is decorated and laid out just like fancy nightclubs from years ago, with a 21st century vibe.
The salsa dancing is a blast, but the small dance floor completely fills up completely, depending on what kind of dancing is being done. Open tables are nearly non-existent here on a Saturday, so make reservations.
This place bring you back to the 50s Mambo Cuban club, Palladium style! Congas, pineapple, palm trees...
I love the decoration of palm trees and congas inside. You will feel like Tito Puente or Perez Prado is about to come out. They have salsa dancing every Fri and Sat night. The dance floor was definitely too small, so real good salseros are unlikely to go there. It's good for romantic couples who want to have a taste of "Latin night" that involves some sort of exotic dancing and live Latin music. Great for Valentine's Day.
For the food, it's not worth it to order an entree, as it could be smaller than an appetizer. I ordered this appetizer combo that made me too stuffed to dance. It was a very exotic-looking dish. The taste was ok, but the overall value was good.
Great food (ropa vieja) , great drinks (mojito) , great decor, great music, and great dancers. Another one of my "Let's go get our groove on at _______" places.
Honestly, a place that is a hang out for the older, latin dancing gentlemen is a place for me. A lot of the older men are great dancers and can move me like I've never been moved before, not to be biased. This place has a good ration of young-old and draws in folks from all cultures. The dance floor is roomy, the bar is large and is surrounded by a couple of TV's. In case you're having an off night.
Oh, Rumba! ...how I wish you hadn't disappointed me. :( Your atmosphere was kind of pleasant, dim lights, dark furniture, huge red booths that made you look sort of glamourous, live smooth latin music, and even a dance-floor --but you didn't quite add up, regardless of how much I had wanted you to be this cool, hip, swank place. The music got to be too loud and really dim lighting can only do so much for an establishment. Your $26 shrimp paella was worth more like $6 and your Volcanic Seafood Explosion for the nice round $30 wasn't quite so volcanic. The music was far too loud for it being before 9 and more of a dinner hour than night club grind time. And damn it, can I say once again how pissed I am to have spent $60 on food that was slightly above the par of Chilis!? ...I won't even get started on your alcoholic beverages.
+ Salsa remains excellent.
Now onto the food:
+ Ceviche trio (especially the red snapper) was great at $13. Plenty for two to share, comes with a schmear of super tasty guacamole. The chips accompanying it had good flavor but were bottom-of-the-bag broken. Server brought out more ceviche scoopworthy chips, no problem.
+ First tres leche cake I've ever liked. For those of you following the saga, I have some deep-seated issues with wet bread. Thus tres leches cake, incredible in theory, has evoked some serious retch issues in the past. Somehow, Rumba has managed a fragrant, flavorful tres leches that is moist as all get out but remains firm and substantial and is just exactly what I've been waiting for all my life. Fantastic.
+ The pitcher of Rumba punch remains an excellent choice for your liquor needs, delicious and filled with fresh fruit. $30 for at least 7 full glasses-- I know we got more than that out of it, but at that point things get hazy, you see?
+ The other advantage to eating at Rumba: a dinner reservation gets you in without having to pay cover. For an evening of live music, great salsa, sexy people, and great service, take the $10 you save at the door as a downpayment on some grub.
We went drinking & dancing over the holday, so I can't vouch for the food, but the salsa was quite… Read more »
This place was quite fun. I came with friends for the complimentary salsa lessons, and had a blast. I am a complete klutz, so I felt the instruction moved a little quickly, but I think that was just me. Everyone else seemed to be keeping up just fine. My friend had an appetizer that was quite delicious, although I can't remember what is was. I had a mojito that I didn't really like, but then again, I'm not a big mojito fan.
Okay, so first and foremost, I'm going to come upfront and say that my review will be a bit biased because my good friend is the Manager here and his creative idea is why I give this place an additional star. (Normally I would give this four).
Marty is the Manager, and he's a great guy who will definitely be going around and introducing himself to everyone in the restaurant (and this is something I love about a lot of the restaurants I go to!).
Food: Its pretty damn good. I mean, I tried the appetizers only. But the Chicken Nachos were great, even the few burnt chips that they gave. Lots of chicken and lots of FLAVOR!!! My friend ordered the Chicken and Beef empanadas, and we all tried a little and...WOW! Good food. Definitely plan on going back for an actual dinner.
Drinks: They got Sangrias, they got Cervezas, they got many South American specialty drinks and hard liquor. The best part: The drinks are nice and STRONG! Also...talk to Nadia, cuz she makes a mean Mojito.
Music, etc: They have instructions for Salsa and Cha Cha with real bands that play on the weekends with authentic instruments. They also plan on having a world music venue where they will be showcasing music from around the world in the next few upcoming weeks.
Explanation for the additional star: Tuesday nights. From here on out it will be called Tuesdays with Marty. 1/2 price drinks and 1/2 price appetizers. Which is awesome! If anyone wants to ever meet up with me, this is where you'll find me on Tuesday nights!
Saturday night salsa dancing here is a blast. They're open until 4 a.m. so grab a few drinks, you've got time to dance them off. The bar is large and easy to get service from. The dance floor can get a little cramped but that's only because there are so many people loving the beat and vibe. However, the cramped floor cost me a smashed up toenail, ouch! If you're not going to dance you can feast on some really authentic Latin yummies and enjoy watching the dancers. Tables are set up around the floor and each one has a great view of the dance floor.
Don't waste your time. Reservations at 7:15 on a Saturday night no problem sitting down place was empty. Waited and waited and waited for someone to acknowledge we were there. Waiters actually walking around all over the place. Finally caught attention of one and he said he would find someone.....we waited and waited and waited. At least 20 minutes not even a drink or menu. WE WALKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Salsa, food and mojitos equals a winning combination. I attended my bf's coworkers birthday party this past Friday and fell in love with the place again. I visited Rumba a couple of years ago, but this time I really got the experience.
Rumba is a Latino restaurant that also becomes a salsa dance club. They have a full band and the music is playing while you're enjoying your meal, it felt like a Puerto Rican wedding. The main reason is because they also have a large dance floor, so people can salsa the night away.
Food: We only went for drinks and appetizers I really can't talk about the entrees in more detail. We ordered the beef empanadas and a couple of mojitos. Wow, the mojitos were made perfectly, just the right amount of rum, mint and sugar. The empanadas were large and very flavorful, especially with the garlic sauce. I'll definitely be returning to eat a full meal, other people in the group were raving about their dishes.
Service: The waiters are extremely attentive and on their A game. They made sure dishes were removed and when your drink was low to ask if you needed another.
Note: There is a $5 cover charge to get into Rumba after a certain time because it's also a salsa club.
Music and Dance: The greatest salsa hits from the olden days to the most current main stream songs. You can dance the night away and they also teach you how to salsa. Everyone seemed to be having a great time.
I wouldn't go here on a date because its loud and busy, but it'll be a great place for a group event, like a birthday.
Yeah Rumba!
I went here about a year ago for a group birthday dinner. The food was absolutely delicious and to die for! The service was perfect and the place was very clean and up-to-par.
Towards the end of the dinner, they opened up the floor for dancing and everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun. This is a nice place to go for a dinnerdate or even w/ a group of girls to just dance the night away.
This is the type of place that dares you to frown, dares you to walk away unhappy, and will flat out laugh in your face if the music doesn't have you moving in some kind of way. It's hard not to have a great time at Rumba because the atmosphere requires it.
The Band (Mambo 7) is awesome! They play traditional music but also bring in American old school classics like Stevie Wonder with a Latin flare and I must say that this is done very very well. The singers and the musicians alike are so talented and quality of their sound was incredible. The band was so energetic and into the music that you can just tell how much they enjoy what they do.
On the dance floor you have the pros and the Novice's, the old and the young (baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y) all dancing together and having a great time. Of course it's a small dance floor and everyone wants a piece of it so you may get bumped into...don't fret, it happens. It's amazing to watch some of the more skilled dancers "do their thing" on the dance floor...just watching makes you want to dance.
The staff was very attentive and our server was great. we had a large party and he did his best to make sure that we had everything we needed.
Now, the food!
I must say that the food was spectacular ! I have eaten a lot of Latin cuisine at various restaurants and usually nothing really separates them or makes them stand out. Rumba was the exception on this evening.
Our appetizers were served family style and some of the more memorable were the empanadas, mashed potatoes, fried calamari and chicken skewers. My entree included shrimp and scallops and coconut rice, and tostones and everything was great, I couldn't even finish everything. My boyfriend had the chicken with Puerto Rican rice and tostones, again awesome! Dessert was also served family style and included flan, tres leches, and another unfamiliar dessert.
Rumba is definitely a place worth checking out. If you have never been then you should go. If you have been then you should definitely go again...you owe it to yourself.
AZUCAR!
Since this is my favorite spot to burn the floor salsa dancing, I'm a little biased. 'Twas about time the downtown area got another restaurant that caters to Puerto Rican/Cuban fare.
Parking is iffy. You can get meters around and do the parking boxes that aren't far away, but there's always valet for $10 too.
When it first opened, I wasn't a fan of going there for dancing b/c it got waaay to crowded, the crowd was too young and there were too many non-dancers standing /fumbling around on the dancefloor. It was more of a tourist pit to me and my allegiance was to the Buzz. I believe they raised the cover a bit and the scene changed for the better. I like how they have a Latin mix . I believe Thursdays are for Samba, although I've never been.
Have dined there several times, and the food is pretty good, although pricey. No complaints from me; I'll pay for a good dining experience. I love the rich reds of the decor with the bongos edging the booths. Service is typically good, although it may take skill to flag down your waiter when things get going for the evening.
Don't come for conversation, as it can get a little conversation challenged, but by the time the live band comes on, I'm ready to dance, not chat. If you expect to dine on Friday or Saturday around 10:30 and have a problem with people dancing in front of your table, Rumba's may not be the best place for you. Get an earlier reservation before the tables are moved away and the place turns into a club.
There are a lot of dance levels that show up on the weekends, but I think the dance lesson is kinda silly, as there's usually not enough room and the instructions can't be heard that well over the buzz of the crowd dining.
I wouldn't recommend this place for beginners coming to learn to dance. It could be intimidating and it gets really crowded. Hence, getting "heeled", bumped and elbowed.
Have been caught up in the salsa "matrix" for so long now, I'm comfortable going there solo to get my salsa fix. There's the usual "circle" of dancers that I know or typically dance with and I can typically find good partners. I wish the live band stayed on longer (I think they stop around 11ish), but the DJ keeps it moving.
Lately, something wacky is going on with the air conditioning system so it's been like dancing in a heat wave up in there. Also, the crowd is changing and more folks are heading to Alhambra when they have Salsa. For the first time, Rumba has a little competition for the crowd. More options for us dancers is a good thing!
Somehow this weekend, I managed to eat dinner at two latin inspired restaurants, Nacional 27 on Friday night, followed by Rumba on Saturday night. I was a little nervous that I would end up eating similar meals. Rumba's menu is actually very different than Nacional 27 and their list of appetizers/entrees is very electic. I wanted one of everything! I ended up ordered the first chicken entree listed on the menu, I forgot the name but it was a two chicken breast with shredded white cheese in this delicious spicy citrusy sauce, it came with spanish rice and a little side of roasted veggies, the chicken was moist and flavorful and I finished ALL of my chicken! Also, Rumba has amazing bread, I am a sucker for hot warm bread and Rumba brings out baskets of piping hot bread rolls that are crispy on the outside yet warm and soft on the inside, plus the rolls come with this garlic herb butter - so delicous, the smell of warm bread was totally antagonizing as I was trying really hard not to eat a second or third roll so I would have room for my entree! I had a bite of my friend's porkchops - WOW! It was so tender and moist, that when I cut through it, it was almost like cutting through butter, and it was very tasty. My other friend ordered the sirloin steak which was a little disappointing since it seems a bit over cooked. The tres leches cake was very wet as I noticed another reviewer had mentioned, it is typical for a tres leches cake but I was kinda suprised that even with all of the liquid it tasted a little dry. Not the best tres leches I have ever had but still decent enough. Our waitress was super friendly and after dinner was over, my friends stayed to dance and they clear out all of the tables so people can dance on the dance floor. We had about a table of 10 and our waitress offered to reseat our table so we could have somewhere to store our stuff while we danced. I really loved my entree..and I would like to go back and get the porkchops! oh ps this place is for serious salsa dancers after 11pm...so if you don't know what you are doing, (like me) I would not recommend coming here for dancing!
I came for dinner, not dancing.
The food was alright. For such a high sticker price, I was moderately dissapointed. Nothing was amazing. We got a bunch of different appetizers including : Empanadas, crab cakes, mussels, shrimp thing, and a combo appetizer with a funny name (I want to say it's called the destroyer, but something tells me I'm wrong). Nothing really stood out although I liked the mussels the best.
I do like the ambiance/decor in this place! It's really cute. Also it seems like it'd be a fun place to dance. Maybe next time....!
I love love love to salsa dance and for that i like me some rumba! the food isn't all too good but not the worst i've had either. it's a nice romantic-esque atmosphere. we bought a moderately priced bottle of vino and that made it a little better and helped me throw some inhibitions to the wind as hubby and i danced. ah the dancing! nice sized dance floor and a great live bands. nothing ever beats live. don't come to rumba for the food. come for the drinks, the music and the dancing!
As a passport unlimited card holder Rumba was my second choice of restaurants that accepted the card, Moto required a 2 week in advance reservation.
Fortunately, I stumbled across one of the most entertaining restaurants ever! Hello dancing with the stars salsa. We ordered steak and lobster among 4 different appetizers all delicious, the drinks were expensive, and desert was perfect. The service was good.
When it comes down the whole package the bathroom must receive a review as well if you can make it there. The bathroom was cramped, but who cares and make sure you shut your eyes on the way out. You might get spray in the eye with Aqua Net extra hold.
The atmosphere is great here. I can't comment on the food because I've never eaten here...I'm more of a cheeseburger and fries kind of girl.
The music is great. They usually have a live band on the weekends and a dj comes on after the band. Even if you can't dance you'll have a great time. The drink prices are normal for the area, which means not cheap.
One thing to watch out for: The small dance floor. There are a lot of "regulars" that act like they have the whole floor to themselves. So if you're on the dance floor be prepared to be bumped into a lot.
We wanted to find a place with dinner and dancing. AND we found it. I loved this place and when I visit Chicago again, I'm going back. The food was great and the punch was good. One down fall the small dance floor but everything else was great.
I went to Rumba recently to celebrate a friend's birthday. We went on a Saturday night at 11:30pm purely to dance. At the door we each paid $10 cover, even though we were in a group of girls all dressed up. That was strike one as I believe that no group of girls should have to pay cover when going out. We went inside and dropped our coats off at the coat check - another $3. We were then given passes to come back for free another time, but in my book that's too late unless it's a place I love.
There was a decent sized crowd in the bar upon arrival. Having said that, it wasn't my normal crowd (20s) but a more mature crowd instead. Ladies, if you arrive without a date you will be asked to dance by MANY older guys. Fellas, if you arrive without a lady then you probably will have a lot of competition here in terms of sheer number.
The people who come here know how to salsa and are very pushy about it. If you don't salsa, I suggest either going somewhere else or making it up as you go along. I chose the second option and had an okay time with my friends. I won't be going back seeing as though it was just an okay time and I'd rather hangout with people closer to my age.
On salsa-dancing night, I came here with some of my lady friends for a "girls night out." We heard the mojitos were good and they lived up to their expectation. We felt like we were in an episode of Sex in the City, sort of. It was fun to go and hang out with the girls but I didn't really like mingling with the "regulars." My friend said that this seemed like the type of place to have a "classy" bachelorette party and I would agree. This isn't really my type of place but I had fun regardless. If I had to pick, I wouldn't be back. However, if my friends wanted to go again, I would go along for the ride.
Went here for a holiday party with my boyfriend's company. It was last year, so I don't remember it too well, but I do remember that the drinks and appetizers were good, but the meals were overpriced and bad.
I don't think I'll be back, but if I do, I'll stick to drinks and appetizers (also, the dancing and live music is fun, but gets pretty crowded and loud on the weekends).
I always have fun at Rumbas. There was a fun Inauguration Party here last Tuesday for Obama. Great drinks and space for an event and dinner. Good job Rumbas!
I have been here a few times and the salsa live music nights were fabulous. There was a marketing… Read more »
ATMOSPHERE
Pretty much what you'd expect from a "nicer" restaraunt. Dark wood, dim light, well dressed staff, tuxedo'd maitre de. There's a good sized dance floor in the center and a stage for a live band. The band is excellent, and the professional dancers they have are entertaining. I'm left wondering if "we" are actually allowed to dance on the dance floor though.
SERVICE
Distant but decent.
FOOD
Excellent! The portions were larger than I was expecting. The wine offerings were slimmer than I hoped, but they have Chilean varieties which are always a treat.
TILT
Its a good place to take a date, but an even better place to take a party. They have a private room for large parties with the biggest table I have ever seen.
INTERESTING
There's no signs to the washrooms. The doors are marked with a small "M" or "L" halfway down the door and to the side.
Alright - I had to write a review of Rumba because I try to visit it every time I'm back home... I had my wedding reception there and we could not have PRAYED for a better place. Our priority for a reception was a big ol' party to celebrate that we just tied the knot. We didn't do the typical bridal party intros, garter toss, etc. F that noise. We wanted a fiesta! And it was one hell of a party... Rumba was amazing to work with - so many places completely try to nickel and dime you because it's your wedding. Not Rumba. They were gracious and completely accommodating. I would have no hesitation recommending them for a private party.
I still get told that people had more fun at our wedding than any other they'd ever been to. We had sangria and mojito stations, their band played during cocktails and dinner, we had a flamenco dancer show and they let our dj plug into their sound system (which is pretty good since it's a salsa club).
The. Food. Was. Amazing. Period. I'd put their flank steak and manchego mashed potatoes up against any. And they had no problem bringing our own cake and dessert (a friend's mom is a professional baker...). Their pina colada cheesecake is amazing.
And their valet is just as cheap as the garage on the corner so unless you find street parking, go for convenience.
If you haven't gone, get your party hat on and your hips moving to the latin rhythm. Unless I'm in town - then stay out of my way.
I used to go here all the time (once a week) for my salsa fix, but haven't been back lately. The dance floor is small, but once the wait staff clears the tables (at around 10:30pm) there is usually enough space to get your groove on. The live band starts off the evening and then they switch over to a DJ later on.. I forget what time. 2 left feet? They have lessons at 9 (or is it 9:30?)
Cover is $10, parking is limited.. AND if you're lucky enough to find a spot, you still have to dish out a few bucks to pay for your lucky spot... lucky you. =)
I've eaten here once. It was good.. though nothing to rave about.
I almost gave it three stars, but thought I should give it a little more respect. I can only like the place so much because I can't salsa. I can fake it, but that's not good enough in a place like this. The girls can see right though you.
The booths are cool! I wish we had one as its a good place to watch some talented dancers and listen to the band. When the band's not playing it seems like there's more room on the dance floor, but it didn't seem all that crowded to me on a Saturday.
Keep in mind that I didn't have dinner there, so I can't comment on food or service, but I've read some bad things.
So my four stars are based on the music, the scene and people (most everyone was friendly, there for the band and open to talking to this strapping devil).
$10 to get in is lame though. I'm taking dancing lessons, going back and gonna cut one.
QUE RICO!! I like this place alot, haven't been in a while, but I've been here enough times. It has a Caribbean flare to it. The food is delicious a bit pricey, but worth it!
I personally love the band playing while your enjoying your dinner!!!
It's also a great option for a date!! :-)
Had a great time at this place with my boyfriend and some friends. The decor is awesome and the band was really great. We tried our hand at dancing a bit and while we are are nowhere near as good as others on the floor we had a blast. They offer lessons if you get there earlier enough which is nice in case you have no clue how to salsa. Their mojitos are really good, but pricey. All their drinks are pricey but I think its pretty standard for the neighborhood.
Me+Salsa Dancing=Disaster! So you just gotta take advantage of their delicious, potent Mojitos. Yes, they are $10, but that's nothing compared to the pricey food items. Yet, quality is up there. The Discovery appetizer makes up for its dumb, conquest driven name with delicious beef empanadas, jerk chicken, coconut shrimp, and vegetable rolls with tomatillo, pineapple ginger lime sauce and mango glaze. Delectable! Fancy Latino-fushion lounge to hang out in, or go out for a dance, whether you have past experience or not. The live band always makes the place vibrate....RUMBA!
ok, I wanted to hate this place. I had been there before with my boyfriend and had a mediocre to bad experience when it came to the price for the food, drinks, and service. But, I went again last night with the bf and my parents and I had to say it was a lot a lot of fun.We ordered full on dinner this time instead of just appetizers.
APPETIZERS
We actually ended up getting the same appetizers because my parents picked. "The Discovery" is a bit of a sampler with grilled chicken skewers, some sort of egg roll looking thing, an empanada, and coconut shrimp. It was pretty good, still not great in my book. The trio of ceviches was very very good. It had a lot of good flavors, and wasn't overloaded with fillers, the seafood could really shine through.
DINNER
I ordered the Shrimp Diablo, I was warned that this was incredibly spicy, made with habaneros. The dish came, it was very flavorful, but there was literally no spice whatsoever. I'm ot saying oh i'm a badass and this didn't phase me, I actually think they forgot to add the hot peppers to the dish. That being said it was still very tasty, the shrimp were cooked well, the veggies and rice it came with were good too.
My mom ordered the scampi dish and hers was spicier and she said she enjoyed it very much.
My dad ordered the chicken limon and he enjoyed his as well.
My boyfriend ordered the Volcano Mofongo- if i didn't have a thing about ordering the same dish as someone else I would have ordered this and I wish I had. His dish was AWESOME. I was skeptical about seafood with mofongo (a dish of seasoned mashed fried plantains for those not familiar with it) which i'm used to having with chicken or pork. But OMG it was soooo good. There was just enough garlic and a touch of crispiness in the plantains. I would go back just for this dish
SERVICE
Our waiter was great, especially considering we sat around for close to 4 hours. He was attentive, but not smothering or pushy. Funny and friendly, everything a waiter should be A+++ for him.
AMBIANCE
Very romantic lighting and decor, but once the music gets going you're going to have to be sitting in your dates lap to hear them. We actually had a table on the dance floor directly in front of the stage, they took me seriously when i asked for a good view of the band, lol. It was nice until people started dancing, then it obviously got crowded. People definitely come her to dance. And there are some serious dancers here. You've got your native dancers, who grew up doing it and look great doing it. You've got the people who took lessons and look silly as hell doing choreographed routines of the same moves over ad over, and then you have the people who may not know what they're doing, but are out there having fun anyways. but it is VERY CROWDED.
MUSIC
The music was AWESOME!!! Now, I must disclaim: it was my brother's band, Afinca'o. But i promise you people were having a blast and i heard one girl say as she walked by our table, "That band is incredible!" They do three sets and speed up each one. Piano and congas only during standard dinner time. Next set they bring in trumpet, trombone, sax, bass, and timbales for some latin jazz. last set is the full band with singer doing dance your ass off salsa, cha cha, merengue, etc. SO FUN!
OVERALL
The music, service and food were all great. I still think that the food is overpriced. But when they are on, they are really on. And even if its silly to pay $30 for a plate of mofongo, if you want to have a fun night of latin flavor and amazing music i would definitely go back to RUMBA
I am a frequent patron at Rumba. After dining there numberous times, I think I must have enjoyed the service once overall.
I go for my salsa friends really - to support my dj buddies, to listen to the live music and to dance the night away. Salsa dancing there is great. It's also very non-threatening if you are a beginner, which most of my friends are who accompany me.
But as far as the staff, well, that's another story altogether. The staff is unaccomodating and anal. It's almost as if they feel they are doing you the favor by allowing you to eat at their establishment. When you make reservations, whether on the phone or even over http://OpenTable.com, prepare yourself. When you ask for a specific eating time, say 7 PM, expect not to sit down until 8:30 - 9 PM. They are never on time. They tend to overbook themselves for their tables and expect you to understand why they do this.
The food is expensive and not nearly large enough to get full, so prepare to pay at least $30 - $50 per person depending on your entree and drinks. It's expensive!
The good thing though is that the food is not bad. The flavor and originality of the recipes are great. Unfortunately, that's not enough to keep you coming back. So if you are a salsa dance addict, this is the place for you, but if you are looking for an intimate, unique dining experience, well you may want to reconsider.
I shot a wedding here the other night, and while I would not attempt dancing to save my life or anyone else's the place seemed relatively fun. The decor is cool, the food we had was good, and service staff was very nice. You have to want to hear loud latin music from a live band all throughout your dinner when you dine here. Because if you are looking for a quiet intimate experience it is not. Also for as large a place as it was the bathrooms are way too small. And seriously what is up with bathroom attendants? I can't tell you how opposed to them I am... I do not need help washing my hands, nor do I want to feel guilted into tipping someone for using the restroom. Rumba... seriously, get rid of this practice!
Very cool latin restaurant. I had no idea what to expect and we had an extremely fun night.
We didn't eat entres and instead, we ordered appetizers only and shared with our friends (another couple) as if it was a Tapas place. Delicious food: ropa vieja, croquetas, mussels...
The best part was when the latin dancing started. Some people there are regulars and they dance so well, it would make Patrick Swayze and "Baby" look pretty lame.
There's not enough places in Chicago where you can get Puerto Rican food, so that's what drew me to Rhumba. I actually had a pretty good time here. Liked the ambiance, the band was great, dancing was fun. The food left me underwhelmed. Paying $20+ for a plate of arroz con pollo seemed a bit harsh. Especially since my grandma can make me an entire chicken for less than that, and it'll taste better too.
went here for dinner on a friday...
very cool atmosphere...awesome band (but way too loud)...great drinks...tasty food
waiter was soso...a bit flighty really...busboys were very attentive
as others have said if u come here be prepared to drop a pretty penny...drinks are about $10 a pop dinner is $25-30
it may not be the best food uve ever tasted (but how many places around here sport puerto rican fare?) also i think people need to realize that when u come here ur not just payin for the food...theres the live band...dance lessons (around 9)...and ambiance...not to mention the price u pay for simply enjoyin some grub in this part of the city
side note...get there to eat before dance lessons start as its a bit distracting and hard to eat if u have a table on the edge of the dancefloor also u can avoid payin that $10 cover hehe
***id like to see what its like later on in the evening (when its a 'club')but honestly i think id be pretty intimidated cause i dance like the white girl i am :)
I am not really a fan of this place. The food did not leave any impression on me---- which means I thought it was pretty crappy. The drinks are very expensive and service sucked.
As the live music and dancing started --- my enjoyment decreased. The dancers were inches from my plate and at times would bump into my table. It was hard to enjoy the meal ---even though the meal was not that good.
Do not patronize this business! There are far too many other places in Chicago that actually want you back as a repeat customer and will treat you with the respect you deserve. I hate writing a review like this but the incident that occurred and the way it was handled leave me no choice.
We went here on a Saturday night to celebrate the birthday of a friend. The group had reserved two tables and agreed to purchase a large appetizer platter (@$75) for each. People in the group could buy a wristband (@$24) for all-you-can-drink for about 2 hours. The service was spectacular- our waiter was very responsive, efficient, and on a couple of occasions, brought a new drink before you could ask or finish the previous one. Unfortunately, there was a discrepancy between the number of people we had in our party (15) and the number of wristbands they charged us for (18). I'll try to spare you some of the minutiae, but in trying to hash this out with the manager, we were told at one point that the manager himself came by and personally counted the number of people in our group. Here's the problem with that: *if* he came by, I never saw him and I was at our table the entire time. Second, we had allowed some people at a neighboring table to sit at the seats at the end of one of our tables because their group was a bit larger than anticipated. Despite explaining this to the manager, he refused to budge or even admit he may have miscounted. Then at another point, he tried to tell us that we had drank enough for 25 people so we should be glad we were only being charged for 18. Here's the problem with that: don't offer an all-you-can-drink and then complain when people drink a lot... especially when the waiter was Johnny-on-the-spot with bringing new rounds. I'm not complaining about that, but his efficiency did contribute to how much was consumed.
The waiter was extremely free and easy with handing out the a-y-c-d wristbands to people that arrived; as soon as someone joined the group he'd slap on a wristband. We believe he made a mistake and people a wristband in error and charged us for it. The manager refused to acknowledge the possibility of this mistake because he had allegedly counted the number of people in our group.
During this time, the manager sent someone to have at least two of his bouncers stand behind him, apparently in order to intimidate us. The bouncers were actually pretty cool though and probably wanted no part of this disagreement. Plus, the majority of people in our party work in the service industry and were extremely keen on how to work this out with the manager without letting the dispute escalate. Ultimately, one of the people in our group paid the entire bill in order to prevent further ruining our friend's birthday. Nevertheless, the manager refused to admit the possibility of a mistake or to make any kind of offer to meet us halfway. In fact, he threatened multiple times to have our group's organizer (the b-day girl's sister) arrested. I tried to intervene and explain to him that the organizer loves her sister more than life itself and it was killing her that this dispute had ruined her sister's birthday party, and his unwillingness to make any attempt to reconcile the overcharging was the issue. Furthermore, I told him that the majority of people in our group are in the industry and have no reason or desire to bilk his restaurant out of any money. Nevertheless, he starts carrying on about how he told so-and-so about this-and-that five times, and I told him flat out that I didn't care; we were being overcharged and he could be doing more to reconcile the situation. I think it's important to note that the same manager was also dealing with another pair of angry customers; the coat check had lost her $800 coat and the manager refused any responsibility or restitution to her.
We did finally leave, but all in our party promised to relay the story of this overcharging and poor customer service to anyone and everyone we can. If the restaurant makes restitution to the organizer or some effort to reconcile the situation, I will be sure to update my review, but until that time, my review will stand as currently written. I realize large groups present problems for restaurants but I'll hand it to them- they were doing a great job of serving us and all were having a great time- it was when the dispute arose that everyone's time was ruined. Again, my suggestion is to not patronize this restaurant; you may have a terrific time but if/when they make a mistake, be prepared for them to make it your problem.
UPDATE 12/3/07: We received a response to our e-mail to the restaurant. They agreed to meet us halfway and refund an amount equal to one and a half of the three disputed AYCD wristbands. This is a step in the right direction but everyone in our group is still edgy about the way we were treated that evening.
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