BokaComments 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 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 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 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 AMServer was attentive. NiceServer was attentive. Nice spacing around foods. Had the three course introductory dinner. Monkfish, Mahi-mahi, and chocolate cake. All excellent. My wife had the short rib dinner. Fantastic tastes.Plan on spending some moey, it is not cheap, but worth it. Would reccommend and go back ourselves.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWas our first time for chefsWas our first time for chefs week and it was delicious !3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall good, if only forOverall good, if only for prix fixe chefs week dishes. Oysters great, other raw food not too impressive. Very pricey for what you get, but some excellent flavors.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMwe took advantage of chefswe took advantage of chefs week and really enjoyed it. it was an intimate setting with excellent decor. the banana praline dessert was exceptional. I'll gladly return3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMDeliciousTook advantage of Chef's week Prix Fixe dinner menu to try this restaurant. Everything we had was beautifully presented and very tasty3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThe dishes here are pure artistryThe dishes here are pure artistry and the cocktails are worth exploring.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat serviceI had a great time with my girl friends. Our server was very friendly and nice. I forgot his name. The only downfall was that the Mahi Mahi was too salty. It was cooked perfectly though. The praline mousseline dessert was ridiculously delicious. I cleaned up my plate. Overall, the decorations were beautiful and modern and I will certainly return.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went for Chef's week andWe went for Chef's week and thoroughly enjoyed our meal.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMBOKA'S REPUTATION DESERVED ThisBOKA'S REPUTATION DESERVED
This sophisticated Lincoln Park eatery is a culinary treasure. Sumptuous, creative combinations of flavors and artful presentations contributed to a memorable dining event. Service was generally excellent with the exception of a small misstep re the tap water. Unfurled sails and soft lighting add intrigue to the decor.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was great and theThe food was great and the atmosphere was wonderful. Had a great time and I would recommend it to my friends and family.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMdelicious food ... large platesdelicious food ... large plates which make portions seem small but satisfying.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe tasting menu was veryThe tasting menu was very creative and excellent. Wine pairings were spot on.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWell Worth ItWe were visiting out of town and looking for a restaurant to celebrate my colleagues' recent accomplishments. This turned out to be the perfect place. The food was delightful, the staff thoughtful and attentive without being overly present or instructive. The wine list was good and the cocktails were subtle, not cute. We all left happy, and my collegues felt properly celebrated. Thank you.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMBest meal we've had in Chicago.Best meal we've had in Chicago. Period. Comes in second overall (in meals of a lifetime) to K Paul's in New Orleans. Outstanding service, cocktails, apps, entrees, desserts, the whole experience. Will go back!2/26/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of my Best Meals!Boka is truly one of Chicago's top several restaurants. I have dined here on three occasions and been wowed each and every time. From mixologist Ben Schiller's top notch cocktail program (be sure to try the Weston, my favorite beverage in Chicago), to the extremely warm top notch service, the wonderful ambiance, to the incredibly delicious and interesting food - this is without a doubt a world class restaurant. I highly recommend the six course tasting menu priced at $85 (optional wine pairing for $55); they will tweak the menu based not just on dietary restrictions, but also on preferences and aversions. The octopus and venison courses were my favorites tonight, but everything was fantastic. We will definitely be back to Boka soon!2/2/2013 12:00:00 AM