Boka Restaurant - Chicago, IL

Boka

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Address:
1729 North Halsted
Chicago, IL 60614

Neighborhood:
Lincoln Park

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Cuisine:
Contemporary American

Price: $31 to $50

More Details ›

Boka Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.bokachicago.com
Phone: (312) 337-6070
Hours of Operation: Open daily at 5PM
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Contemporary American
Executive Chef: Lee Wolen
Dress Code: Business Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Smoking Area, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Affiliations: Dine Originals - Member Restaurants
Catering: Boka Catering Company is available for holiday parties, private dinners at home, weddings of all sizes and corporate functions. Award winning Chef Giuseppe Tentori can design a custom menu to fit your needs. Please contact Abby at 312.238.9896.
Special Events & Promotions: To request more information, please visit http://www.bokagrp.com/eventsandcatering.php
or call 312.337.6070

Getting there

Cross Street: Willow
Public Transit: Red Line "El" stop at Clyborn & North Ave
Parking: Valet
Parking Details: Street parking also available.

A word from Boka

Michelin starred Boka Restaurant has been a fixture in Chicago dining since 2003. A new chapter of the restaurant begins with the acquisition of new Chef/Partner Lee Wolen. Lee who honed his skills at both El Bulli and Eleven Madison Park, was recently awarded a Michelin Star and 4 stars from… Chicago Magazine for his work at The Lobby.He was also named Breakout Chef of the year by Time Out Chicago in 2013. Boka’s space was given a complete re-design by acclaimed designer Simeone Deary (Elysian Hotel) in January of 2014. In its 10 year history Boka's Chefs have received both Food and Wine’s coveted Best New Chefs in 2008 and Best New Pastry Chef in 2013. Boka's food features contemporary, American cuisine, focusing on seasonality and sourcing as many local ingredients as possible. Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerBest Service
Diners' Choice WinnerContemporary American

Boka - Best Restaurants in Lincoln Park

Diner Reviews

"The ambiance is fantastic Walking in in almost breathtaking"
Dined on 7/5/2014
"There are two tables for 6 in the back courtyard that are lovely!"
Dined on 7/4/2014
"Great ambience, beautiful presentation, attentive service, but food was all a bit salty. Not sure if it was an off night due to July fourth. Also was told to get three courses which was way too much. Skip the salad course."
Dined on 7/4/2014
"Lee Wolen has a great style and cuisine and knows what he is doing when it comes to putting a menu together. Exceptional, everyone should come here!"
Dined on 4/1/2014
"The experience was overall quite good, but i felt that they try to hard to be "creative", rather than focusing on the quality of the ingredients. The octopus, for example, had a unnecessarily rich sauce and yet, it was a bit hard. the rabbit was fine but nothing memorable"
Dined on 6/30/2014
"We were a four top and were seated in the Terrace Room. Food was fantastic, light and very enjoyable. Can't wait to return as the chef is amazing!"
Dined on 6/28/2014
"TWO OUT OF THE THREE ENTRES WERE TERRFIC BUT THE PORK WAS VERY BLAND AND UNINTERESTING"
Dined on 6/28/2014
"Renovations are lovely, there appears to still be an outdoor patio, but further back behind what is now a kind of enclosed porch, very attractive. Food, as always, was excellent."
Dined on 6/22/2014
"From the food to the service, we were very impressed with Boka and will definitely be back. We shared the Beet Salad and Grilled Spanish Octopus. My wife ate the Cauliflower dish and I had the Short Ribs. Both were delicious and expertly presented. The octopus, especially, was perfect. Highly recommended"
Dined on 6/28/2014
"disappointing. great food but service was terrible. left before dessert. does get noisier as evening goes on but this was a Saturday night"
Dined on 6/28/2014
"From the first hello and "welcome to Boka"...this restaurant was an absolute gem. the two servers were spot on with friendly advise and food recommendations. the food was inventive, beautifully presented and outstandingly delicious"
Dined on 6/27/2014
"Our great dinning experience started with our waiter. Drinks were ordered and served while we looked over the menu. He knew the menu and explained the dishes with mouth watering descriptions. When asked he was happy to provide recommendations. All were right on and provided a wonderful experience. Great food, drinks and a great evening."
Dined on 6/27/2014
"Been dining to boka since they first opened. Like a fine wine, it has gotten better with age. Love this place"
Dined on 6/26/2014
"Even after the redesign and new menu, Boka is still an amazing place to dine in. We celebrated our anniversary there last night and had a blast. Food was incredible and the atmosphere was great. We'll definitely come back"
Dined on 6/26/2014
"We had the Hawaiian Marlin, Grilled Octopus, rabbit loin, pork loin and salad that I cant remember then name of. We were honestly amazed with not only how beautiful the presentation was, but how it almost conceals how much food is actually on the plate. You will be full. Everything is done so simple, but packs such a depth of flavor. The ingredients used in the dishes shine. I can't say enough about every aspect of our experience. Do not hold out on this place. Chef Wolen deserves the accolades. Go dine with him!"
Dined on 6/24/2014
"Our party was seated in the main part of the dining room, which was bustling but not quite full. But it became clear that we were not entirely welcome. While ordering, we were sneered at by the server for having the temerity to suggest sharing the foie gras appetizer among two people - something that ultimately would have been entirely reasonable given the generous portion. My wine was dumped unceremoniously into my glass without even letting me taste it, we were largely ignored by the server who deigned to come by perhaps once every ten minutes, and later in the evening I was cut in the foot when someone dropped a tray full of cutlery on the floor, for which I didn't receive so much as an apology. That being said, the food was excellent."
Dined on 6/23/2014
"So worth the $$. Delish. Salt cod ravioli and octopus are still on my mind!"
Dined on 6/21/2014
"Tried the new boka pre theater. The room is beautiful. We sat in the garden room with the most beautiful tile floor and living wall ever. Unfortunately the food disappointed. Small portions on huge plates. Coyly pretty but not so tasty. Strange butter. Rolls and bread just okay. Fish was too fishy, short rib too fatty. Only saving grace was fun dessert of frozen yogurt. But where was the promised coconut and buckwheat? In short, off my list."
Dined on 6/17/2014
"We dined at Boka over a year ago, and found it a little too exotic for us. But after learning there was a new chef, we gave it another try. We were not disappointed. The menu is creative, yet simple. We tried the beet salad and the asparagus salad for starters. They were a nice portion and so beautiful and delicious. The main courses, halibut, chicken, Loup de Mer, Quinoa plate were all superb and creatively presented. Our waiter was helpful and willing to ask the chef to accomodate our special requests, which he did. We did not have dessert, but enjoyed the unique house made chocolate mint that was brought with our check. Overall, it was a great dining experience for a special occasion."
Dined on 6/15/2014
"Great food and terrific service. We let our server know we had theater tickets and they manged to serve us well ina shorter time without us feeling rushed. The food was top notch and a beautiful interior. Highly recommended."
Dined on 6/10/2014
"We celebrated our sons graduation from the University of Chicago and had one of the best meals ever. Perfect cocktails, attentive staff, delicious food and nice ambience made this a wonderful evening. Highly recommended for a special occasion or spontaneous splurge!"
Dined on 6/13/2014
"Delightful evening, excellent service, superb food. Very accommodating well trained staff. Planning to return."
Dined on 6/13/2014
"We were in Chicago just for one night and wanted a nice dining experience. The food was delicious and the presentation of it was beautiful. Friendly attentive staff in and the chef even came out to greet us. We usually like to try different restaurants every where we go but this is a place we WILL be back!"
Dined on 6/12/2014
"I went with a small group for a graduation dinner. The food was phenomenal, the service was impeccable, and the decor/ambiance of the restaurant was very trendy and interesting. The menu is on the pricier side, so for most people this isn't a great 'everyday' restaurant, but its a perfect choice for a special occasion."
Dined on 5/23/2014
"Very nice place with excellent food and wine. Modern vibe and well appointed. However, the food, while good, was not extraordinary."
Dined on 6/8/2014
"My spouse and I had 9:00 p.m. reservations. Although our table wasn't quite ready we enjoyed a drink in the courtyard near the front entrance. Two people came to lead us to our table. One with a tray to carry our yet unfinished drinks. Nice touch! Amuse bouche of cool zucchini soup with mint oil was a bit salty for my taste, but otherwise a creative start. I had a roasted broccoli salad that contained the accompaniments of yogurt, Parmesan cheese, lemon, almonds and ham. My spouse had the heirloom carrot salad with similarly creative accompaniments. For entrees we had the halibut and scallops. The scallops were among the tenderest I've had. My spouse enjoyed her entree. Desserts were excellent, the best part of the meal!"
Dined on 6/7/2014
"Went here to celebrate a new job and I was not disappointed! The food was so good that you had to close your eyes on every bite!"
Dined on 5/2/2014
"Everything about our experience at BOKA was fantastic. The food was perfect - many tastes within each dish, each taste standing on its own. The food was perfectly prepared, well served and well explained. Very interesting and eclectic. The roasted chicken was particularly good! As far as service, couldn't have been better - the wait staff was as excellent as the kitchen staff. Also, compliments to the bar staff - outstanding drinks served with confidence and finesse. Thanks to BOKA for a memorable evening and dining experience."
Dined on 6/8/2014
"I chose Boka to celebrate my husbands birthday. On arrival we were impressed with the decor and had high expectations due to its Michelin star accolade. The food does not live up to its one star status and the service is inconsistent and lacking. Very disappointing"
Dined on 6/10/2014
"Delicious food and a great ambience. A bit loud for a super romantic time but not too bad. Hip and trendy decor. A hot spot for sure."
Dined on 3/21/2014
"We went Sunday evening, taking our daughter, along with other family, out for her birthday. Food was excellent. rave reviews for the loup de mer and scallops. I thought the marinated marlin was a great starter. We all loved the desserts. Lots of spoons and forks passed around the table. Service was attentive and personable. Michelle was our lead wait person and the other staff all seemed to work well together. They know the menu and answered questions about different choices. Would definitely return."
Dined on 6/8/2014
"Our first visit & very sorry we waited this long to try it. We wanted to try lots of starters. The server offered to split everything to do a tasting type menu. Marlin, wow! Roasted carrots, very good. Broccoli, who knew it could be this good. Chef threw in Salt Cod Ravioli that we were debating over and decided not to order. Also delicious. Ricotta Gnudi, heaven!! I enjoyed the rabbit, although the one preparation was more minced than shredded. Husband order Loup de mer. The fish filet was surprising small and overwhelmed by the olive, caperberry, calamari relish. For dessert, we shared the strawberries. I would go back just for this dessert. Dried strawberries, poached or macerated pieces, sorbet, w/marscapone + cakes. Yum!"
Dined on 6/7/2014
"For the amount of money you spend at this restaurant, diners should not be seated by the bar. The gnudi was very salty and when we told our waiter, he did not even comment on it."
Dined on 6/7/2014
"I can't wait to go back to Boka. Amazingly, had never been there, and decided to finally go after the decorating redo. The food was stellar...we were most happy with the 2nd courses. Two of us had the Broccoli, two of us had the Ravioli, and all four of us argued over whose was more awesome. The vibe, design and energy were great. The only complaint I would have would be the wait for our RESERVED table, which is way too common these days, but they do have a great patio area out front and it was nice out so we didn't mind. Bravo."
Dined on 6/7/2014
"Fantastic experience - food was incredible, dessert phenomenal and the decor is fantastic. Ask for seating in the room next to the living wall, check out the painting of Bill Murray, and be inspired by the overall ambiance of the place. I am a tried and true carnivore but the vegetarian dishes were outstanding. My only slight complaint is that the acoustics are such that at times conversation was a little difficult due to noise level. The dining room was only moderately full so I anticipate this would be a problem if it was a busy Fri or Sat night, or a particular holiday/special occasion (eg Mothers/Fathers day, Valentines etc) "
Dined on 6/2/2014
"We liked the old Boka...we love the new Boka! Great cocktails, good wine, and beautiful, flavorful, creative food. Every course, and we had 3, was excellent. Timing of courses was perfect and the staff's suggested wine pairings were spot on (not easy when you are having a single glass across multiple courses)."
Dined on 5/24/2014
"Beautiful space. Love the living moss wall and great chandlers. Service and food was impeccable. We hadn't seen our friends in months. They had just returned from a special trip in Italy. Waiter let us visit before ordering and guided us to his favorite dishes with humor and genuine warmth. Thank you. "
Dined on 6/1/2014
"I loved Boka and I was worried it would be too different after the reopening. Bottom line is that it is a different experience but a very good one. Food was excellent. The menu seems smaller but the options were varied. The service is friendly and efficient. Looking forward to returning and trying one of the specialty cocktails."
Dined on 5/31/2014
"We enjoyed a dinner here in April before a Steppenwolf production and it was just lovely. The restaurant design was overhauled in anticipation for Chef Wolen's arrival, and it has a nice touch and feel - sort of a more earthy GT Fish and Oyster, a restaurant also owned by the Boka group. But casual surroundings should not belie the fact that diners receive top notch cuisine prepared at a very high level of execution. They did a great job in allowing us plenty of time to enjoy dinner and still make our theater engagement but this is a dinner out that could be savored and enjoyed and not in the rush of getting to the theatre. Our cocktail wine pairings were spot on - hope to get back there again, without a theater curtain time looming... "
Dined on 4/15/2014
"Delicious, fresh, seasonal food & attentive, knowledgeable, friendly service. Pretty decor in the renovated Terrace space. I'll be back!"
Dined on 5/12/2014

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