BokaAs advertisedThe 7 course tasting is great and the staff is very helpful w the menu6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe 7 course tasting menuThe 7 course tasting menu with wine tasting was outstanding and would highly recommend it!6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMBokaAwesome food with very creative pairings. The wine list is exceptional. It takes a moment to adjust to the atmosphere and the elegance, which can detract from the meal, but after some time this feeling goes away. The service is crazy good, you'll never have to worry about flagging a server for anything, they are already there. And did I mention the wine list? Because its good enough to mention twice.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect eveningWe started with the raw prefixe...delicious and lovely presentation. The bison loin for my main was also notable. Overall great experience for a special occasion.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food!Our group had a wonderful meal at Boka, with exceptional service.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place for the adventurousWe wanted to end our girls' weekend with something special, unique, and expensive. No sports bars or fries. BOKA was perfect. The wait staff was very indulgent (not at all snooty) of our elevated moods and lack of familiarity with many of the ingredients listed on the menu. They greeted us with complementary bubbly and made good wine recommendations since we already weren't sure of the ingredients in our food selections. The dinners were a work of art; it was a shame to have to actually eat them, but when we did they were terrific. We especially loved the desserts. We'd have to be careful of recommending it to anyone we know, though, because most of them just don't want to branch out and try new things. Too bad for them!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMAs Good as it GetsThis was my tenth visit to Boka and the consistency of this venue is amazing; on each occasion we have received phenomenal service, had outstanding cocktails and wine, been wowed by the food and loved the overall ambiance. Boka is comfortable, approachable fine dining. The experience is worthy of a special occasion but at this price point it is also the perfect option for a date night or for an upscale dinner with friends, family or colleagues. Boka has outstanding chefs, mixologist and front of the house staff. Creative, beautiful, tantalizing food with fresh seasonal ingredients that is perfectly executed. Boka is truly the total package.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMMmm good!The food is delicious and so are the cocktails. The service is attentive and friendly. I have been here twice and will return.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMI brought my girlfriend andI brought my girlfriend and friends from out of town and we were all impressed with the service and awesome food. We were seated right away, background noise is minimal, waiter interruptions were also minimal, service was outstanding. This is one of the best restaurant experiences6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMDeja vuBack again after a year. Food still excellent, especially the Mac & Cheese. Innovative menu- loved the sorbet.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazingI loved it! We did the seven course tasting menu with wine pairing. It was an adventure in sensuality, beauty and deliciousness. I am planning on taking my husband there for our five year anniversary. Cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat ExperienceThis place certainly lives up to its Michelin Star rating! Comparatively, the tasting (and especially the pre-theater 3-course dinner) menu is much less expensive than other's in the area, and does not disappoint!5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMFavorite All-time RestaurantI first visited this restaurant three years ago. It was the BEST meal and service I ever had. Recently I was back in Chicago and made reservations here. It lived up to my expectations. Not only is the food the best, the service is outstanding. I would eat here every night if I could.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMUnpretentious yet amazing food.Calm, modern decor, but not cold or austere. Very friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff. It was almost full, but conversation was easy, and the food is amazing. Beautifully presented, and creative in the pairings.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experienceOur arrival was superb, we were welcomed and showed right to our table. The service staff was so unobtrusive, whisking in and out to clear your table or refill your drink.. We did the tasting menu and it was exquisite. We left comfortably full, but not overstuffed . One comment about attire, this is listed as dressy on yelp, but there seemed to be a wide range of dress. We were probably overdressed in comparison to a little more than half, but weren't uncomfortable. I think trendy dressy is a better descriptor.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat spot for a romantic dinnerI take my wife to a romantic dinner for our anniversary every year. After 38 romantic places, this one easily ranks in the top 10. The menu was diverse and interesting. The presentation elegant. The service was excellent without being overbearing. The food tasted wonderful and the atmosphere was quiet and romantic.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMDinner SpotIncredible spot. Great place for a date or small group. Food and service were top notch.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellentWhat a restaurant! Best dessert I've had in years. Every course was perfect. Well done Boka!5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMquite the mealWe went for the taster menu and we were both very happy. The service was excellent too, we baulked at getting the matching wines, and our server was very accommodating, recommending a white and a red to go along the way.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThird visit in 5 years orThird visit in 5 years or so. This restaurant has remained consistent in all ways - food, service, and decor. The food and service have always been excellent. I am not a wine connoisseur, but there is an extensive list with selections from multiple countries. very attentive service. One star off for the noise level.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful EveningThe nuances of taste found in my duck preparation made this evening memorable. The service was also excellent. I look forward to another meal there with great anticipation.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMComments about restaurantWe had a delicious meal and the service was spot on. Will definitely come back. Our wait staff was outstanding!5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Michelin star restaurantFood nicely presented, decent size portions, chef also sent us two complimentary dishes, including a dessert for my boyfriend's birthday. After 4 appetizers, two main courses and one dessert to share in between two people, we left Boka really full and satisfied.It is definitely one of the best restaurants in Chicago.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMReliably deliciousBoka never fails to deliver a fresh take on classic dishes. Paper thin sliced mango complimented the saltiness of oysters on the half shell. Their take on foie gras was sorely missed during the short-lived ban. And my duck was cooked to perfection. Highly recommended.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMBoka has stepped up their gameThis was a good restaurant before but I think they've improved a bunch. It's been months since we dined here & the menu seems all new. Each dish was tasty, interesting, well prepared and original. The wines were good and so was the dessert. A great spot in the neighborhood or as a place to eat before going to the theater. I would definitely recommend it.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMHighly Recommended!Our experience at Boka was fantastic! Everything was on point: delicious food, knowledgeable and pleasant wait staff, and a great atmosphere to enjoy dinner. They also took very good care of my girlfriend for her birthday, which was very nice of them do. I highly recommend Boka!5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing DinnerBoka has become one of my favorite venues in Chicago; meal-after-meal has consistently been memorable with exquisite food, drink, ambiance and service. Be sure to opt for the tasting menu; Boka always has so many amazing dishes you will want to sample as many as possible. Speak up about any dietary preferences and aversion you may have as they personalize the tasting menu just for you. I also highly recommend opting for the wine pairing as I have found this really enhances the overall dining experience at Boka. Boka is the perfect spot for a romantic date, celebration of a special occasion or just a wonderful night out.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMBirthday celebration at BOKAI flew in from DC to celebrate my boyfriend's 31st birthday- & we were nicely surprised by the complimentary prosecco and appetizers. The service from the moment we walked in was excellent. They had wished him a happy birthday as soon as we entered and he was again wished a few times. That made for a very special personal feel, very heartwarming gesture.I was highly impressed with not just the service that was top-notch but the food- I LOVED my rack of lamb. He loved his bison. They were both tender and flavorful. Our next door neighbor was throwing a party with the loud music that was certainly heard through the walls, but that did not spoil the ambience one bit. Superb restaurant, will certainly recommend for a special night out!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMI wish I could give Boka moreI wish I could give Boka more stars...but we were all disappointed with the food. The service is outstanding...attentive but not overly so. But none of the dishes were "wow"...the raw sampler was beautiful, but only a few of the bites were special. Short rib agnolotti with lobster - the meat inside was very dry, and the lobster was so minimal as to barely add to the dish. In fact, could hardly find it. The other purees didn't seem to add much. The mac 'n cheese which everyone raves about on yelp - tasted to me like too much Kraft cheese powder mixed with a lighter version pasta. Sorry to be so critical...we just were disappointed.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went on a monday nightWe went on a monday night and it was not very crowded. We had the tasting menu and although inconsistent, it was overall very good.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMInnovative cocktails, beatifulInnovative cocktails, beatiful presentation. Small menu and small portions, yet everything was delicious. A bit pricey.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Anniversary with BokaWe visited Boka last weekend for our wedding anniversary and simply had an incredible experience. Every aspect of our meal was outstanding, and we were blown away by the outstanding service in which everybody--from the excellent servers to the kitchen that sent us out a few special items--seemed to know that we were celebrating a special occasion. Simply blown away and looking forward to returning soon.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was creative andThe food was creative and prepared beautifully. Service was helpful, friendly, and not overbearing. We had a great meal and a great time.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and service. TheyGreat food and service. They asked if we had plans for a show after, when we said we did, they did a phenomenal job of balancing the food experience with the need to keep us on schedule.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food, great service.Wonderful food, great service. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMUnique Flavors For SureFrom the get-go, Boka offered unique tastes, starting with my tobacco-infused rye cocktail to the bee pollen spaetzle to the vinegar gelee (brilliant). But I found the raw tasting a little skimpy -- even a sliver more would make it feel worth the money. And the best complete dish at our table was the least expensive Hay Roasted Rutabega Cannelloni. I would go back again -- but it's definitely a special occasion kind of place.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMUnique food preparations.Unique food preparations. Excellent combinations. Dishes are artfully presented. Desserts a bit weak. Quiet and easy to talk. No loud pounding music.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a business dinner thereHad a business dinner there and the ambiance was a little on the romantic side but the food was delicious. Unique flavors and ingredients but the portion size is a somewhat smaller than expected4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMI had dinner at Boka lastI had dinner at Boka last weekend and had a wonderful experience. We were very impressed with the restaurant as a whole. There service was wonderful and all the waiters were very knowledgable and helpful. The menu offers something for everyone and I wish i could have tried each and every thing. The highlight of Boka for me, were all the special touches that the chefs and staff added the make the experience extra special. The dessert also was phenomenal. I highly recommend the Milk Chocolate Cremeaux and the Grapefruit Parfait. These desserts were full of unique flavors, and were outstanding. I highly recommend Boka and hope to return soon .3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent quiet and romantic dinnerDecor was contemporary, spare but inviting. Service was excellent, friendly and prompt but not hurried at all. Server was knowledgeable and helpful. Food was elegantly served and very tasty. Because the food had many different flavors all working in concert, the size of the dishes was reasonable. In fact, the rich tastes had us leaving food on our plates. The chef sent out a tasting of the sides for us which we enjoyed also. All of these were excellent.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had the 7 course tastingWe had the 7 course tasting menu with paired wines. We have been spoiled by having the 11 course tasting menu at Per Se in New York which was truly spectacular. However, back to Boka. This was a good effort. We enjoyed the food alot. The wine pairings a little quirky but actually we did really enjoy them and the food. We also enjoyed the service.
We should finish though with the cocktails, which again are a little unusual but the one we chose Vodka, Pimms, Cucumber and Grapefruit oil was a perfect start to the evening.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMI was so excited to try thisI was so excited to try this place, given the reputation. The service and ambiance really delivered. We were really made to feel welcome and the waitstaff were attentive.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMBOKA worth a visithad a good dinner at BOKA
the food was superb, cocktails were well-made, the service was top notch.
BOKA is certainly worth a visit, try their foie gras its all about the details3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and service.Excellent food and service. Well deserved Michelin star.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMTook my wife here for ourTook my wife here for our anniversary. The rock music playing in the background (but not too loud)made for a nice ambiance so that it didn't feel 'up tight' like some nicer restaurants sometimes do. We decided to go with the Chef's tasting menu, and we both enjoyed trying all of the dishes they brought out to us. The food was very good and the service was great.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our fourth trip toThis was our fourth trip to Boka and the food, as always, was superb. We did the chef's tasting menu and all 9 courses were beautiful and delicious. I won't go into detail, since the menu changes regularly, but if you are a foodie and like everything from Sushi to game meat, don't hesitate to give it a go. The wine selections to accompany the tasting menu were adequate. Each pairing worked and the wine did it's job of clearing the palate and complementing the food, but none of the wines was particularly interesting in and of itself. This could well be a deliberate - and perfectly valid - strategy: showcase the food rather than the wine. However, if you want a wine with more "wow" factor, there are many on the excellent wine list.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat time and experienceThis is only my second time going to Boka and after my wonderful dinner I am wondering why I hadn't been back sooner. The food was outstanding even with my food restrictions (no dairy or gluten). The server was knowledgeable and not phased by any request for information, suggestions or last minute additions. I got the Raw tasting which was outstanding and beautifully presented in a bento box. My partner had the mixed green salad in a cranberry vinaigrette - Yum! and the bison which he loved. For a main course I got the Salmon with clams on black rice. This dish was cooked perfectly, the clams were briny and plump while the wild salmon had a little crisp skin on it while the meat was moist. Only issue is the booth isn't that comfortable.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and service at BokaThe food and service at Boka were amazing! We will be back!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMOUTSTANDING!Every time I come here it's an amazing experience from start to finish!
WINE
One of the best wine lists in town (desert options are especially impressive). I still learn more about wine after my visits to Boka! Some so-called wine bars with trendy names cannot come close to their selection and understanding of their staff!
SERVICE
You are always surrounded by the most knowable staff, everyone genuinely passionate about food & wine even boss boys! You feel like the world revolves around you with their level of service.
FOOD (basically art)
Best in town oyster presentation, crudos are out of this world. You haven't been here before - you must order a raw sampler and this will be the most memorable foodie experience ever!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMDo not miss this restaurantOur dinner during Chef's Week was nothing short of amazing, it was hard to choose which was better, the Hen's Egg or the Monkfish, however the Rabbit special was the best I have ever had, but it was rivaled by the Grilled Octopus we added off the main menu. While there was no specific wine pairings our server offered a number of excellent suggestions that truly enhanced the meal. My wife and I are looking forward to return trip very soon.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AM