The Bongo Room
Categories: American (New), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: Wicker Park1470 N Milwaukee Ave
(between Evergreen Ave & Honore St)
Chicago, IL 60622 (773) 489-0690
- Nearest Transit:
Damen (Blue)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Sat-Sun 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Breakfast
- Alcohol: Full Bar
93 reviews
Neighborhood: Lakeview
"I'm still dreaming about the mac and cheese and the scallops. Right now, right this very second as I was thinking about them, a little bit…" read more »
193 Reviews for The Bongo Room
finally had a chance to eat the burrito at the Bongo Room. Have to admit it was very good but...oh my... so filling. Some of my friends go here after an all-nighter and said its the fix for any hangover! I think they are right. Also, the pancakes were first class. Fluffy and very light.
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GO HERE! Yes you'll have a wait if you don't go the moment the open but its worth it. The food is always good and there isn't one bad thing on the menu. The staff is great. The pancakes can be ordered in singles by the way so you still get this yummy treat and enjoy the other great food too!
I'd give it a 3 1/2 if I could. I'd probably rank this place higher if I didn't have to deal with people telling me it's the best brunch place in Chicago. Jeez, it's not! Today was visit #3.
Yes: graham cracker encrusted banana pancakes with vanilla cream, fresh bananas and raspberry sauce was excellent. My friend's breakfast burrito looked good too. The service was pretty good.
No:
Home fries are NOT hash browns. Do not call them hash browns if they're not.
Iced coffee tasted bitter in a bad way, but I'm used to drinking cold brewed so I'm spoiled.
I totally failed to see the point of the vat of shitty fake syrup they placed on my table, it would have just ruined my excellent pancakes. Save the aunt jemima crap for IHOP. I'd rather have a tiny pitcher of real maple, and truth be told, nothing they serve demands additional syrup.
$3.50 side of bacon? No way.
I admit I'd be less critical of this place if I didn't have to listen to people rave about it all the time. It's not bad, just not as good as everyone thinks it is.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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01/04/2008
This place gets so much hype, but it didn't blow my mind. I went on a weekday morning and managed to… Read more »
THE BEST BREAKFAST I'VE EVER EATEN!!! This is my favorite spot. I no longer go anywhere else. First, let me say that any place that serves eggs benedict with REAL HOLLANDAISE SAUCE is #1 in my book. No powdered, just add water, at this establishment! How people can say the food is mediocre is beyond me. It's always fresh and hot, and the creativity with the pancakes and French toast selections blows me away. Plus, the menu changes with the seasons, so there's always something new for excitement.
Yes, the wait is LONG if you get there after 10am. BUT, the food is so worth it, and Wicker Park has so many cool stores in the neighborhood to check out, that it doesn't much matter to me.
Oh, the "rude host" is actually the owner. And, he's actually VERY NICE!! (and, no, I do not know him personally....)
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I've been here twice now, and the food is very very good.
I would not say this is the BEST in Chicago, however. i would also not go on a weekend, because I do not wait in line for an hour to be fed when I am hungry.
If you want to wait an hour for a phenomenal brunch you will never forget, go to Lula's.
I haven't been in years but I've sent other people here and they come back pleased. So good. No need for more words.
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Listen, if you go here...you will have to wait. For probably around an hour. Why? Because it's good and thus, it's popular. This seems to annoy a lot of people, and it often annoys me too. However, you can't blame the restaurant for this! It just is what it is.
Moreover, there is nothing vegan offered (as mentioned by someone below). But guess what, breakfast is basically the most difficult meal to offer anything vegan for, and since they don't claim to have anything for you, you shouldn't expect them to! Someone with strict dietary restrictions needs to take responsibility for the bizzare choices they have made in life, and call ahead!!
That said, I love the food here, and since I am a regular, the hosts always recognize me and write my name down without me having to say it. I find that touching. I also think that contrary to some other people's comments, the service is pretty darn good considering how busy this place is. The food is consistent and the brunch beverages are amazing.
This place isn't cheap or fast, but the food is delicious if you have time for it. So take a deep breath and head over there to get your name on the list BEFORE you realize you are starving.
Great staff, decent food, excellent juice.
Any place that serves $7 Bloody Marys so large that I could wash my hair in one is just fine by me. I always take out-of-town friends here, and the Bongo Room always impresses. The Chocolate Tower French toast is sublime, and don't be fooled, the $6 two egg, hashbrowns and chicken sausage plate is massive for the price, especially if you're looking to do brunch, cure a hangover and forget about the fact that you spent most of your paycheck on champagne cocktails the night before.
Their eggs bennies are really good, if pricey, and yes, everything on the menu is over-the-top delicious and over the top-calorie wise as well. But if you're one of those painfully dull human beings that has to be a bore and order an egg-white omelette when everyone else is slurping up hollandaise, you don't deserve the Bongo.
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Mmmmmm Mmmmmm Mmmmmm I do love me some brunch at The Bongo Room. My one caveat to that statement, is that I will only attempt to have brunch at The Bongo Room on a weekday, as the weekends get ridiculously packed with wait times often over an hour. I can't wait an hour for breakfast. But on a leisurely weekday like today, brunch with the husband and child is a divine activity.
I've never had anything that wasn't spectacular. The omelettes and breakfast burritos are always delish and satisfying, but the true genius of The Bongo Room is in their AMAZING pancake confections. Luckily for us, my son ordered the banana pancakes topped with fresh strawberries, bananas and a small mountain of flavored whipped cream. The little guy finished less than one full pancake and then the husband and I pulled the plate between us and devoured the rest, after finishing our own breakfasts! It was like warm banana bread and so good we couldn't stop ourselves. This is the kind of place I want to spend all day at and just eat and eat. From past experience I can also testify that the lemon ricotta pancakes and the purple Oreo and raspberry pancakes [for serious people] are also heavenly. Really good Intelligentsia coffee, too! Yum!
I'm taking one star away though because of the stupidly long wait times on the weekend and the resulting rude staff when it gets packed. But, for a weekday treat, there is none better.
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damn those pancakes covered in the white chocolate made me feel sick an i didn't even eat them only watched them come out time and time again as I sat at the bar.
i ordered the beef tenderloin salad but after waiting about 10 minutes they came back and told me no beef. fuck.
so in a fit of panic i stuck with the basics and ordered a club sandwich with a side salad. excellent flavors and loved the bread.
the place is laid back and was really busy for 2:30 on a Tuesday.
the iced tea is not like your regular iced tea at all but has a nutmeg flavor maybe? took me a minute but I really enjoyed it.
i would never ever ever come here on a weekend morning i can already imagine how quickly the ulcer would form from the crowd.
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Eggs Benedict are sick, owner is nice guy. I enjoy the weird selection of breakfast here.
Can you believe it had been 10 years since I last ate here? Crazy, I know!
My roommate and I had her family in town and we were looking for something fun and different than our usual diner for a Saturday breakfast. And since we're all early-ish risers, we figured our party of 6 would be OK hitting Bongo Room so long as we got there when it opened.
Well, by the time we got there at 9:30, the joint was already full, but lucky us! Even though they told us there were two big parties in front of us, we got seated in less than 5 minutes! We were fortunate because we were all present AND because someone vacated one of the large booths right when we got there.
I'd warned everyone that the portions were large--and we had two under-10 appetities with us--but we couldn't resist ordering our own entrees. The kitchen had regular french toast for the kids and the rest of us enjoyed the raspberry-oreo swirl cakes (so much better than I could have imagined); BLT benedict; omelet and an eggs dish with chicken sausage.
Everything was great and I was really impressed with the experience. Our waitress (Lani, I think?) was very calm and efficient and just, well, nice. My roommate's niece skinned her elbow on the walk over and she easily got us a band-aid. She was completely unobtrusive yet helpful in a way that makes for a great service experience.
Anyway, I won't let 10 years go by again before I return. I will, however, be there at the stroke of 9 next time I visit on a Sat or Sun.
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We stumbled on the Bongo Room after a trip through Myopic Books needing an iced coffee. The inside is quite charming with great details. The menu is very inventive with a breakfast featuring an array of delectable items such as chocolate and caramel pretzel crusted pancakes, rhubarb and pineapple french toast, and Oreo and white chocolate pancakes. In addition, all items can be ordered in half or by the piece. I had the rhubarb pineapple french toast topped with candied ginger gelato. It was allot to take in for breakfast, but was delicious. My boyfriend loved his egg-white omelet with mushrooms, chives, and asiago cheese.
Overall a great little find!
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The second-best thing about vacation is going to brunch on a weekday. While all reviews pointed to an hour-long wait (or more) at this trendy Bucktown joint, we waited just five minutes for a table around 11 am on a Friday.
I ordered the breakfast burrito with a side of bacon . Full of fresh avocado and topped with a layer of melted cheese, Bongo Room's version was delicious and quite satisfying. My friend had the breakfast sandwich and a side of sausage. Basic and tasty.
So, what's the best thing about vacation? Day drinking, of course. And to start the day out right, we both ordered mimosas with our food. At $7, they were a little pricey -- until I saw our waitress make them. Approximately eight ounces of champagne, one ounce of juice. Bonus!
We ordered two rounds, drank about five cups of coffee, stuffed ourselves, and then immediately went for a walk through Wicker Park to another bar.
And I repeat, my kidneys fucking hate me.
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Holy crap! I love this place. Their brunch is to die for. I could eat their pancakes all the time. We're not talking your basic buttermilk pancakes here. We're talking cool flavors and a-mazing sauces! The menu changes with the seasons, which I like, because it means more exciting deliciousness for my taste buds.
In addition to the breakfast/brunch menu, they have a great lunch menu during the week. I had a grilled chicken breast sandwich with avocado and melted Swiss here that was really good.
The service is good and even stays that way when they are busy. The environment is laid back, somewhat chic, and very comfortable. Quarters can be a little tight when it's crowded, but nothing too obtrusive.
The one drawback is that everybody loves the Bongo Room, so if you go during peak times (10am-2pm Sat/Sun) your expected wait time will likely be around 45 minutes. Don't get discouraged, though. There are plenty of shops you can mosey on over to while you wait, or you can hang around outside and people watch. If you do that, though, can you please not take up the whole sidewalk? It makes walking by there kinda annoying. :o)
The wait is long and the food is ok. I think all the hype surrounding it really ruined it for me. Plus I like savory food for breakfast and their specialties are very very very sweet things.
Most likely I'll end up going back, but I really think there are better places in the city that I would rather spend my time and money at.
I once saw someone faint while waiting to be seated. Seriously, after about an hour of waiting, she just keeled over and her head hit the pavement. And she still had to wait a bit longer once she came to! So don't think fake fainting is going to get you a table sooner. If they tell you an hour wait--they mean about an hour and fifteen minutes.
So yeah, the food is really good. Really good. Well worth some road rash.
The service ain't always so great though. On very busy days after about an hour of waiting, you still might have to wait 20 minutes for someone to bring you some coffee.
Here's my tip for enjoying the food: If you're there with others, make a deal with someone to switch plates 1/2way through. One person can get one of their delicious benedict dishes and someone else can get the pancakes. I feel like the pancakes are a bit too sweet to eat in one sitting but a 1/2 order of both is a great breakfast.
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I think the person who wrote the descriptions for the Bongo room menu also wrote the descriptions for the classes in my college course catalog because in both instances, the description sounded so much more appealing than the actual item/class.
The sandwiches and lunch items are just average. You really only want to come here for the breakfast food. Sort of tune out the hype though because you'll enjoy yourself more if you don't come in with high expectations.
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I've seen the people lined up outside, so I can just imagine how bad the wait must be, but since I tend to go alone, I usually get a seat at the "bar" right away. They don't have a very vast breakfast selection, but it's a decent place for the neightborhood. The service is okay, too. Word to the wise: don't take your parents, and old friend you're trying to catch up with, or a first date. It is N-O-I-S-Y.
Let me start by saying that you should expect a long wait no matter when you go. So starting with that thought I decided to brave the wait and went with my girlfriend for only the second time in the 5 years I've been in Chicago. I remembered the food being really good and tasty so why not.
Upon arrival I was told 45 minutes. Okay thats fine. We could look around at some shops, etc to pass the time and hopefully not pass out from hunger. I saw two seats at the bar. "could we just sit there", I asked and was quickly told it was included in the wait time. Ok. So we will wait. no biggie.
Came back in 30 minutes... a little longer. 20 minutes later we were called. Wouldnt you know it, we got put it the same two seats at the bar area that I had asked about just 45 minutes earlier. It was evidently included in the wait.
Upon sitting down we quickly got our drinks and then we ordered. Not to much later the food came. My girlfriend got the pretzels pancakes and I ordered the "chocolate tower thing". Oddly some sort of french toast with berries was put in front of me. I sent it back and waited while eating some of the Pancakes she ordered. Minutes later the waitress came and said "all I heard was french toast." I just sat in amazement at her explaination. What happens if she hears someone say pancakes, would she get clarification since there are half a dozen different kinds or would she just choose what she wanted to serve you. Also, how does one mix up "Chocolate tower thing" and the words french toast.
Anyway. it didnt stop there because another 10-15 minutes went by and they still hadnt brought me what I ordered. So I called over to the waitress and cancelled the order, which she had no problem doing. She didnt say, I'm sorry, or can I get you something else, or its almost ready let me put it in a to go for you and take it off your bill, because of the trouble and my horrible waitressing abilities.
So the feeling of it being just an extreme privalege to just be in the place and be served at all didnt sit well with me.
So after almost 2 hours of my time, I had some iced coffee (25 cents more than regular,,,, I guess the ice there is expensive) and one pancake that had crushed up pretzels in it with some sort of cream on top of it. I believe I could crush up pretzels into my own mrs butterworths pancake mix at home.
I will never go back and if I ever think about going again I'll just read this.There are just way too many other places to go for brunch then to waste it on this one.
Raspberry Oreo Pancakes...Lemon Ricotta Pancakes...White Chocolate Covered Pretzel Pancakes. Inventive and delicious, and I'm not even a "sweet person." (Pun intended)
The "build your own" egg white omlettes are well made, and they don't skimp on the fillings. The bacon was OK, but I wish I'd ordered the Thai chicken sausage with ginger. I'm still kicking myself for playing it safe.
I went on a Thursday morning, which seems the time to go, as I didn't have to wait for a table, and other reviews talk about waiting hours for a table. Since patience isn't one of my virtues, I don't know if I'd have been as impressed if I'd had to do that. But apparently, if you want to eat a good brunch in Chicago, that's price of admission.
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The best brunch place I have ever been to. That's a bold statement coming from me since I eat my body weight in food.
The pancakes were decadent and delicious. Bongo Room changes their menu seasonally but when I went, I remember ordering single pancakes in a variety of flavors (hazelnut, pumpkin, lemon) each with custom toppings (fresh bananas, hot fudge and even gelato).
And if you're not in the mood for a sweet breakfast, don't worry -- their salty dishes are just as good. I had a BLT benedict and my bf had a breakfast burrito with sweet potato and black beans. Even though the burrito was vegetarian, it was full of flavor and was just as satisfying as its meaty counterparts.
I love Bongo Room and I would make it a must-stop if you're in the Chicago area. But if you're coming for brunch, get there early and be patient. Believe me... its worth the wait.
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I was really looking forward to brunch at Bongo Room this weekend. according to reviews, if one likes m. henry, they'll love bongo room. i dig m. henry, so i figured i'd enjoy Bongo Room. I totally effing did not, Bongo Room provided me the worst brunch experience i've ever had.
My friends and i planned to meet there at 9am, when this place opens and i was running late. Because they opened to a slow start, the host sat my friends even though i wasn't there yet. apparently in my 5 minute absence the server was giving my friends a hard time, pressuring them to order, and even asking them to call me to see what i wanted so she could get the order in. Since this all happened before i got there, i won't base my poor review on it, however, they sucked enough without considering this rudeness to still only get one star.
there was NOTHING VEGAN on the menu. after getting over this mild shock that a hip Wicker Park brunch spot can thrive without offering at least one item on their menu a vegan can eat, i asked the server what she would recommend. I ended up ordering the vegetarian sandwich, without the egg, the cheese, the mayo and on toast instead of a croissant and with a side of fruit instead of the buttered hash browns.
My friends and i were seated in a cozy booth in the back, but the place was so loud, probably due to the high ceilings or something, that i couldn't even hear what the other people in my party were saying. The servers and bussers were way on top of refilling coffee cups which, even though i don't drink coffee, i did appreciate for the sake of my friends.
when they brought our food, my sandwich has cheese melted on it, so i had to send it back. i'm not just vegan to be cool , i'm also lactose intolerant. then, on the second try the sandwich had pesto mayo on it. at this point my friends are all half way through their breakfasts and i'm hungry so i just took off the mayo-ed bread and started eating the rest of the sandwich. then another server, noticing the mayo-ed bread i didn't want to eat sitting on the table, came by to offer me another piece of toast in sympathy. it was a nice thought, but she offered me a blackened piece of toast that was not exactly appetizing so i said no thanks.
in the end i paid $13 (w/ tax and tip) for a piece of bread with some lettuce, sprouts, tomato slices and scallions on it with a side of some sliced fruits (which by the way i was charged $1.75 for the substitution).
Nothing about this experience was pleasant and i have NO plans to return.
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Funny that Kate W. mentioned M Henry (my favorite breakfast place in the city). I've been here twice and it doesn't come close to measuring up to M Henry. Creative, slightly upscale breakfast fare? Done more inventively and far more deliciously at M Henry. Plus M Henry is less expensive and boasts superior service. Then there's the infamous wait. Not even CLOSE to being worth it. You could drive up to Andersonville, eat a stupendous meal at M Henry, and drive back, and you still wouldn't have been seated at Bongo Room. I'll pass, thanks.
Get sausage on the side. I had the brioche french toast and my boyfriend had the breakfast burrito. I love breakfast in Chicago. The portions are big enough that you can skip lunch. There was no wait.
Best breakfast in the city by far! They have a unique and delicious menu. Any of the Eggs Benedict is delicious and the awesome variety of pancakes and french toast. The atmosphere is chill and hip and the wait staff is so on top of things. My coffee and water cup were never half full it was always full! The coffee is awesome. The overall Bongo Room experience is a must...I will definitely become a regular here.
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This is a weekend brunch review: I hate the Bongo Room. That is not true. I actually really enjoy the Bongo Room, but the prohibitive wait and obnoxious cloud of people out front waiting for one of the tables inside really rubs me the wrong way. I imagine that people wait in line over night, or send an ambassador for their brunch party to stake a claim on a table as soon as the restaurant opens its hallowed doors.
The food is really good, so if you have 2-3 hours to hang out in front of the Bongo Room waiting for a table, awesome.
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Delicious. The eggs benedict and chocolate pancakes were so damn good. The worst part is the wait ... it's terrible, I won't lie. But I actually think that if you're not ready to gnaw your foot off already, it's worth the wait.
I'm going to assume that you've never been to the Bong Room. So you're reading these reviews, going 'some people really love it. Some reallly hate it. WHAT IS UP???'
I will make it simple. The space is small, and a little crammed. the servers are... not always that nice. And the wait is long. Really long. Like, 2-hour wait long.
WHATEVER. Plan ahead. Plan for brunch at 1, get there at 11, and go shop (at mojo spa!). It is WORTH IT.
NOW for the important stuff. SO. The chocolate tower french toast looks good, right? But so do the eggs benedict!! One salty and one sweet... what to do!?? I'll tell you. Grab a willing (or bribed/threatened) friend. She'll order the chocolate tower french toast, and you order the beef tenderloin benedict (unless you don't eat meat. And if you don't, consider changing that for this dish.) WITH spinach, and SPLIT IT.
Heaven. That's all- heaven in your mouth (and on your clothes and face if you're like me).
And don't be a wimp. None of this 'I'll get the rest to go' BS.
EAT IT ALL THERE.
I've been there several times over the past year. They never disappoint! Expect a long wait when you decide to visit during the rush period.
LOVE IT HERE! Went for my second time this weekend, and for the second time got the egg/bacon/cheese crossaint sandwich. YUM! It could not be more delicious! Wait staff and hostess were very pleasant. Service was wonderful and speedy- my water glass was filled like every three minutes. And I like my water glass full:)
Decor is very hip. We got there really early- 9 am- the place was packed with people waiting outside by the time we left!
I can see why this place is usually packed to the brim- it is fabulous!
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I love the Bongo Room (the food!)
I hate the Bongo Room (the wait, the rush, and some of the people).
So, I guess I have mixed feelings about this place. The food is really great, I love the seasonal specials and the hash browns and the breakfast burrito and the coffee and all that stuff. Waiting for an hour or more on the sidewalk with a herd of North-Face clad, blonde-highlighted, huge-sunglasses-wearing ladies (HUNGRY ladies!) to get my breakfast, only to be stared down by those same (GETTING HUNGRIER) women while I eat really puts a damper on the overall experience here. The Bongo Room might be great for a weekday brunch, but for weekends I'm kinda over it. I'd rather go up the street to Rodan.
seriously, SO GOOD. although - CLEAN UP THE REVOLTING GARBAGE & CIGG.BUTTS ALL OVER THE FRONT OF YOUR STOREFRONT - vile. YOU ARE lazy!!!!!
but... once you're inside.... YUM, so good. best reuben I have EVER EVER had, and I only had it because I was tring not to indulge in the incredible RIDICULOUS!! breakfast/dessert they have. pancakes are incredible.. if someone seated near me gets it, I have to get it!! veggie sandwich on a croissant w/melted meunster YUM. I have to stop writing - they are closed now & I'm CRAVING IT. guy taking names in the front needs to get over himself a little bit! uh- you are a HOST at a LUNCH PLACE. not the secret service but yum :)
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I have eaten at many breakfast places in Chicago... and I'll take public transpo on a Saturday morning to wait in line here. Hands down, my favorite "food" breakfast place in Chicago. I'm definitely not a fan of the line... but it ends up being worth it!
The menu is always the best part of the anticipation of breakfast! The group I weekend brunch it up with, we always order one of the specials for the whole table to share, along with our own special entrees. We love the veggie/egg combos, but the pancakes and french toasts - that are sweet and have bold interesting flavors are always top of our list to share and love (but we couldn't handle a whole meal of it)!
Mimosas & Bloody Mary's are great... stay away from the Bailey's - as they only have mint to put in the coffee and it didn't go over very well.
The Bongo Room was the first Chicago restaurant I ever patronized. I loved it! We had just arrived by train and were famished. We each ordered croissant breakfast sandwiches- my bf got the egg & bacon one and I got the veggie. The veggie was excellent, according to Jim the egg one was just OK.
Then we decided we had to have round 2 because the pancake selection looked so intriguing. The waitress (very nice) let us know that we could order them individually, so we got one caramel white chocolate pancake and one slice of the ginger pineapple french toast. The pancake was good, but the french toast absolutely blew it out of the water. It was like...revolutionary. It came with a scoop of ginger ice cream. I wish I didn't live so far from this french toast! I want more.
It's rare that a place lives up to all the hype, and all my girlfriends had hyped this place up so much, that I really expected to be disappointed.
But one bite into the toffee banana pancake smothered in creme anglaise, and all my wildest dreams had come true.
This is a big deal, because I hardly ever like:
A.) Sweet things for breakfast
B.) Anything with toffee
C.) Pancakes that weren't made by my mom.
So you can imagine my delight and surprise when the bite of pancake in my mouth was the single most delicious bite of brunch food I've put in my mouth EVER.
I was there on a Sunday with two of my girlfriends, and we did have to wait 45 minutes (which I expected, based on other Yelp reviews), so I brought along my Patience Cap and it was no biggie.
We ordered a single toffee banana pancake and a single pear french toast for the table (brunch appetizers - unorthodox, but highly recommended), and then for my ACTUAL meal, I had the sweet potato and black bean breakfast wrap.
WHOA MOMMA! It was a fiesta of flavor dancing the cha-cha on my tongue. Cilantro, sweet potato, egg, cheese, chipotle sour cream, all living in perfect harmony.
Another thing I don't like, potatoes for breakfast (hashbrowns, or as you Yankees call them, homefries), are just not my bag, but the ones at Bongo Room were fantastic - not at all greasy, just full of fresh dill and LOVE.
Believe me, this place is worth the wait, especially since you can browse the nearby shops - but be careful, don't spend all your brunch money on vintage shoes!
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Since I have a sweet tooth - my favorite item on the menu would be their chocolate chip pancakes with bananas. Thinking about it right now is making me salivate. The french toast here is also kick ass.
If you are coming to visit on the weekend -- be sure to wait at least an hour for seating. Totally well worth it though!!
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Do you like candy for breakfast/brunch? If you do than the Bongo Room is the place for you. Unfortunately for me, I do not. It is O.K. though, because they offer some blander fair like the egg, bacon, and cheese sandwich I had. It was delicious.
Some of the other items that may tickle your sweet taste buds are the variety of mimosas, think raspberry and champagne, the banana creme brulee stuffed french toast with shaved dark chocolate, and french toast that is swimming in strawberry compote.......... Rich, Rich, Rich!
Since I usually love breakfast spots, especially ones that leave my mouth gaping as I watch the plates go by to neighboring tables. The Bongo Room gets minus one star for the wait. I don't mind waiting for a seat in Chicago on a nice Sunday morning, but you need to get your guesstimation right. Don't tell me an hour when it is actually two.
That said, if you have not tried the Bongo Room for breakfast, you are missing out.
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Ok so The Bongo Room was pretty much everything I expected. Super duper decedant everything-the food is freaking awesome-the wait staff is superb..they manage to stay friendly and accomodating amidst the chaos...and let me tell you there was chaos.
It was incredibly busy for breakfast--had to wait--but not too long (about 15 to 20 minutes). Got the sense that this is (or was) a total indi/laid back breakfast nook that has since been overrun by wicker park's stuffy new residents (yuppie lincoln park transplants)-- I really don't care who I offend by saying this because it is true--And for all you Lula devotees--it's only a matter of time! Anyway--came with two other people--we're somewhat ragtag--but we certainly felt jome cold hard stares from a few prada bag wearing customers.
All that said...I will be back--the food is amazing--the wait staff is great-
but next time I think I'll wear some old time--ankle sinched sweatpants just to piss some people off.
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