Carnivale Chicago Reviews

The atmosphere is wonderful, sangria was delicious,but the food was fabulous! I highly recommend the brisket skillet!!!

I came here for drinks and appetizers only. I am in love with the decor. Their attention to detail when decorating makes for a really fun environment. The drinks menu was cool and different. Great night at Carnivale.

This was such fun! A hidden gem! The food was amazing in a crazy cool space - they apparently have salsa dancing on different nights - we didn't see it, but I will definitely come back! Service was great and had fun drinks too!

Great place to visit for drinks and if you like Latin food make sure to eat. The drink selection is awesome and if you have the liver for it try as many as you can. I have not had a bad one yet. As for the food I recommend doing the same thing. They have a lot of small plates and its fun and filling to try as many as you can fit in your belly. After all that make sure you finish it off with there special cotton candy.

Wonderful dinner and atmosphere. Attentive wait staff. Loved the special lobster paella. The cotton candy martini was so creative.

We were here for my friends 50th birthday celebration. The restaurant is beautiful and festive, the live entertainment was phenomenal and the food was good.

Ate here twice over the course of a business trip and both times, I was very impressed wit the attentive service and the quality of the food. The calamari to start was pretty standard, but the Peruvian Chicken entree was fantastic.

By far our favorite place to eat in Chicago; great Latin food and drinks; our favorite drink is the Caipirinha, our favorite appetizer is the Ropa Vieja and the favorite dish is the Apprecherra Skirt Steak. The place is beautiful inside; looking a lot like Rio de Janiero, Brazil. The staff is always friendly and if you get there early sit by the bar for some great Latin drinks. By far our favorite in Chicago, of the thousand great places to eat.

We went for Valentine's Day lunch; it was my first time. What was great: 1) the fun, colorful vibe and ambiance in general; 2) the guacamole and chips; 3) the super friendly (and apologetic) server 4) they comped our entire lunch because they thought it took too long to get it to us. Honestly, while it did take longer than average, it wasn't horribly long, and we didn't even complain about it!! We even declined the offer, but they absolutely insisted** What wasn't great: 1) the ceviche - while the portion of shrimp was generous, the sauce was heavy and too sweet; 2) the cucumber lime "mocktail" - waaaay too much cucumber and not enough lime, and too expensive 3) the cuban sandwich - was absolutely dripping with grease, the whole bun was soaked through rendering it inedible, and big chunks of fat in the sandwich ** I would have asked for the sandwich to be taken off the bill if they had not already comped the entire meal I can't say enough about how the staff apologized for the snafus and how generous they were in offering to void the bill. While unnecessary, we found it so professional and proactive and refreshing. I would probably give it one more try because it sounded like they were just scrambling with the Valentine's Day rush, and I see a lot of very positive reviews overall.

Ya know, Carnivale has been on my list for years. Finally getting the opportunity to visit, I was not that impressed. Service was great but almost robotic. The food was average for the price., it was overwhelming like I was expecting. The experience was great but I wouldn't recommend. Sadly, since we had a 5 year old with us, we got stuck in the side room. When folks make reservations, can you please ask if there are kids? I know they are not common at a place like this, but would have been nice to know.

A group of 10 went there for a pre Christmas office get together . I liked the atmosphere with bright bold colors adding to the ambiance. Food was excellent as was the wait staff. I would go there again. We sampled the majority of the appetizers. I especially like the coconut shrimp.

Although you don't get the full experience for lunch, it is still an awesome unique time. Food is very good and presentation is lovely, but for the price I wouldn't put it above expectations. Our server, Luis, was phenomenal and attentive. We will definitely come back for a dinner happening sometime.

Good food; we felt rushed out; we weren’t asked if we were ready for the bill, I was in the middle of my meal; we paid and then ordered more drinks and the waiter rushed our bill one again; very pricey and sone of our dishes were bland in flavor. Not sure to return any time soon.

Well Carnivale is what you hear, a place to be, or be seen, but is there real value?, is the service outstanding? I would give the location a "b" in Chicago true style of having high standards, they are more factory then funny filled event! Ive been 4-5 times as clients have requested, better places in chicago than here

Came here for dinner with a group of 15 people. The service was quick and the environment was like a carnival. They had a large option of food choices along with drinks.

Haven't been for a few years so we came for dinner early Friday when they opened. The only downside was we showed up a few minutes after our reservation time which was their opening time and they needed over 10 minutes more to seat us as the main dining room wasn't ready. Maybe they should just change their opening time. Now the good stuff. The food was very good better than I could remember from before. The mixto ceviche was a great combination of shrimp, octopus, fish in a slightly tangy marinade. Amazon salad was good but nothing special. The skirt steak was incredibly tender and very generous serving on a rice bean sofrito which was neither too dry or soggy. Wife had a scallop in pastry. 3 huge scallops done perfectly with an excellent sauce. Get the chocolate dome desert it's a very generous mound of sorbet, fruit, marscapone coveted by a thin chocolate shell on which they pour hot chocolate which melts a hole in the shell. Besides being delish it's quite a unique sight! This is definitely big enough for two people. Server was excellent very attentive and personal. There's a nice big open air lot just across the highway literally a 50 yard walk. Valets park your car there too. It's pretty much a wash price wise after you tip the valet.

Amazing amazing amazing service. Loved the food loved it all. Deserts were amazing! Coconut mojitos is a must

Location is kinda ok, more like an industrial factory block. Decor - Impressive, sort of South American theme, Seating - Multiple seating areas, large main dining room, a smaller lounge , another small sitting area and small enclosed sitting area similar to cabanas on the sides of main dining area. Reservations - Not recommended, though it can get busy sometimes especially on weekends. Drinks - Very mild, like 2/5 Food - Appetizers lacked flavor but fancy presentation. I had Skirt Steak which was really bad, not to mention, very small portion, to make it look a large portion, skirt steak was on top of lot of rice. Desserts - Decent and large portions Overall experience - If you wanna impress someone with decor, this place fits that criteria. But for food, at the price, very overrated. NOT recommended.

The atmosphere of the restaurant sweeps you away! It's lively, colorful, and unique. The service is exceptional from the moment you enter to the moment that you leave. The food is a mix of South American, Cuban, Puerto Rican and other Latin cuisines - outstanding! Great for a couple or large parties - the night we were there it was a mix.

Let me start with positives- we love this place and dine regularly here as food is good and place funky so we thought lets book NYE as our kids visiting from UK, We were informed the show was Greatest Showman theme with champagne toast , balloon drop , DJ, Performers etc WOW what a disappointment , we were shown to our table , it was in a separate room , right up against a wall in the corner, no view of anything and as we were being shown to our table the lady was apologising for the location , i asked what about the show and was told you are not paying for the show and just have to go to main area when informed We were never informed , could not here what was being said as place was packed Server was ok, food was good , but service was appalling , we couldn't reach main floor as there was always people trying to exit/enter this room, This was really the worst experience i have had and will never return to this place, I felt they wanted to cram as many people in as possible, scam you with the greatest showman themed night !!!

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals at Carnivale. I messed up the reservation so we ended up seated in the bar area, which was a bit loud to start, but that didn't diminish our experience. My daughter's ribs were excellent, as was my skirt steak and the sweet plantains were sooooo yummy that an order to go was placed for them. My mojitos were tasty with enough alcohol and not too much simple syrup. Will be back, I'm sure!

We had an extremely disappointing experience at had an extremely disappointing experience at Carnival Restaurant. We ordered a variety of seafood dishes—including lobster—and an appetizer that fell short of expectations. The seafood had an off-putting odor, and it was evident that the ingredients were not fresh. When we informed the waitstaff, the chef came over and acknowledged there was an issue in the kitchen with the mussels. Adding to our frustration, we paid $250 for three people, yet the quality of the food did not match the price. The situation escalated when my husband became seriously ill after our meal and had to be hospitalized. We definitely will report this incident to the local health authorities. I hope the restaurant takes these concerns seriously and makes the necessary changes to ensure the safety and quality of their food. Carnival Restaurant. We ordered a variety of seafood dishes—including lobster—and an appetizer that fell short of expectations. The seafood had an off-putting odor, and it was evident that the ingredients were not fresh. When we informed the waitstaff, the chef came over and acknowledged there was an issue in the kitchen with the mussels. Adding to our frustration, we paid $250 for three people, yet the quality of the food did not match the price. The situation escalated when my husband became seriously ill after our meal and had to be hospitalized. We definitely will report this incident to the local health authorities. I hope the restaurant takes these concerns seriously and makes the necessary changes to ensure the safety and quality of their food.

A great dinner spot with character. We came for a special dinner after graduation. Caribbean color and vibe is definitely going here; amazing food is too. Our tasty drinks included fresh fruit mojito and Spanish gin and tonic. Tables around us were getting other interesting libations including one with cotton candy. Ceviche, coconut shrimp and guac were excellent starters (the shrimp are huge but there’s only 4 in an order and our waiter didn’t warn our table of 5 about that). Steaks, Peruvian Chicken and gnocchi were all great mains - creative and very flavorful. Definitely recommended and will come back.

Beautiful, quirky and very spacious restaurant. They have two floors, with the upper one offering more intimate experience. Walking distance to revitalized West Loop, one of Chicago's currently great neighborhoods.

Very nice meats and vegetables for a reasonable price. Good wines list from all over Europe. And Rose has been a great waitress!

We had dinner at Carnivale for my cousins bachelorette party. There were about 18 of us. We heard that they are sticklers on reservation times, giving tables away if you are +10minutes late. Lick for us, half our party was early and the other half was only 5 minutes late. Since we were such a large party, we had a pre-set menu. Everything was delicious, even the dessert, and the drinks were good too. It was a fun and lively venue. I wouldn't mind coming back again.

good food, interesting décor, not a lot of premium liquor choices, cool seating areas; you can take the blue line and transfer at clark for either a pink or green line to Clinton 4 blocks away from the train station

My wife was not with us when we went to Carivale before and I wanted her to experience it. It is west of town in and old warehouse- the old meat packing district, I am told. The theme is Carnivale- Mardi Gras in Brazil. The food is South American flavors and recipes. The service was very good. There was a private birthday celebration and wedding party in private rooms near our table and they seemed to enjoy their parties. We got wine and a beer to drink and a variety of foods to share. We got empanadas (cheese, etc filling) and a Tuna ceviche, fish tacos, an Amazon salad (vegetarian), the Yucatan Salmon and Vegetarian Taco Taco dish. Everything was delicious. We also shared three desserts although we could have skipped dessert as we were full. The apple pie with ice cream was very good. The Chocolate Dome was incredible- chocolate and raspberry sorbet with hot fudge poured over it. We also got the "chocolate cigar" which we did not like- it tasted not only smokey but also strange. Otherwise I recommend the place. Fun...

Food and atmosphere was good. Service was spotty. They were out of a number of items on the menu. It appears they only do the entertainment on special days which was disappointing. Would go back for a dinner when they have entertainment. It is pricey without entertainment

We had reservations for two on a Tuesday night and glad we did because the restaurant was full. The menu had creative food with a South American influence. We had been to Lima and was familiar with ceviche. We ordered the tackle box seafood meal for two for $50. Our server explained that the poached seafood would be served on ice and would be considered an appetizer. There were six oysters which were rather small and average in taste. The 1/2 pound lobster was good but I do prefer warm lobster with butter. There were quite a few shrimp in the tackle box. We liked one of the three ceviche which was more traditional. One ceviche had considerable aioli so it was more like a fish salad. The appetizer could easily serve three people. My margarita was perfection, the only downside was the large amount of ice in the glass. Even though the restaurant was packed, the servers were very attentive. The atmosphere was really fun, had creative drinks on the menu but felt the food was probably a bit lacking. Perhaps, we should have ordered something else.

My faith in the Restaurant industry has been restored thanks to Carnaval restaurant Chicago. Complex flavours, great atmosphere and knowledgeable staff.

Had a wonderful evening at Carnivale. Waiter was extremely helpful and we selected quite a few starters to share between us without going for a main course. The mixed ceviches were great as were the rest of our dishes. We then went for a couple of desserts, the highlight of which was the Cuban Cigar. Would recommend this dish as it rounded off the whole evening in great style.

Food was okay at best but the atmosphere is amazing. It looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book!

What a great place for couples, friends or parties! The space we enjoyed was a large room for a couple hundred of us, but we also saw intimate settings too. The entertainment was aerial in our case and delightful, show stopping, talented ladies exhibiting strength and poise. The food was outstanding! We enjoyed ceviche, ropa Vieja, maduras, salads, mariscos, chickens, spinach and skirt steak. The coconut flan was great and the mojitos and margaritas were delicious. We appreciated the family style for our big full tables too, but you can also order off the menu.

This was our first visit to Carnivale. It is a colorful dining room with a smaller men. We visited for lunch. My husband had the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. I had a bite. It was good. I ordered the seafood mariscos. I liked the chicken sandwich better. Our server was friendly and efficient.

What a fun evening with friends at Carnivale! Loved the cocktails. We had steak-excellent. Great Latin American food-festive atmosphere-super fun!

Had appetizers and dinner here with several work colleagues. The food and drinks (mojitos) were excellent! We had a private room and the service was very good. Cotton candy for dessert too.

We reserved a table for around 7:00 pm but our group arrived at the restaurant almost 15 minutes before, at 6:43. We were seated in the big dining room which was quite busy with overlapping music and people talking. While it was noisy and we had no choice but to talk louder while we were there, I thoroughly enjoyed the vibe of the music and the atmosphere of the place. The restaurant itself is gorgeous! You could stare at the walls for hours and not get bored. And not only that, the service is impeccable. The waiter knew the menu very well and also chatted with us about other things. He was very friendly and funny. Onto the food, I had ordered the charcoal roasted chicken which I must say was a pretty daring order for a former vegetarian. I don’t say I regret it for the sauce, vegetables, chicken (aka the whole meal) were really good. I could not finish the chicken unfortunately. Doesn’t have anything to do with the food; I’m just really annoying and cannot fathom the experience of meat in my mouth again after 3 years. I must say, it was a really nice first meat experience again. Dipping the chicken piece I had just cut into the nice garlic sauce below was the best experience my mouth has ever had. After the chicken, I was still not full amazingly enough, so I ordered the banana toffee pecan cake which I do not regret at all. That cake was the best thing I have ever tasted. It was warm, spongy, gooey. Perfect for the morning. Unfortunately, it was not morning and was about 11:00 pm (4am where I live and I was severely jet lagged) so we had to cut our experience short. Would absolutely return! My friends also said they would return regularly. Service was very good, dinner was very good, dessert was excellent, and the entire atmosphere was very excellent.

Everything was great aside from where we were seated. Our seats were inside a restaurant inside the restraunt. You miss all the action. The manager came to notify us once of an impersonator, but we were not interested. All the food was delicious, but service was slow.

This place is great ! Food is awesome. Appetizers are good, entrees are also good. Authentic food with great service ! Will definately return

Carnivale is a Central and South American restaurant and is located about 1.5 miles directly west of Millennium Park. It is also located directly above I-90 and you can see all the traffic below you when you are walking up to the restaurant. Carnivale is open Monday – Friday for lunch and dinner and is open on the weekend for brunch and dinner. I dined here with a co-worker on a Thursday evening in mid-March and thought the place was really cool but the dining experience was just average. The ambience is really interesting with all the colors and oversized and interesting looking furniture and lighting fixtures. I ordered a ribeye steak and a side of smashed potatoes. My ribeye steak was pretty good (not great) but the smashed potatoes were extremely dry. The steak was $49 so I was expecting more than an average tasting Outback type steak. We shared a half dozen east coast oysters and they were pretty good (they tasted a little fishy though). There were interesting deserts being ordered by the tables near us but we decided to skip the extra calories (they looked really good though). The service was below average as he forgot about us while he helped a large table across the room. We did not talk to him for about 20 minutes. This was unfortunate since I was missing an important condiment and I was thirsty. Overall I thought this place was really cool and am glad I tried it. I do not plan on returning on my next visit to Chicago as the food, service and the overall experience were average.

This is a fun decor place, quite large with a nice, small bar and limited outside seating. We ordered oysters on the half shell to start but before ordering them, I asked what kind they had. All the waiter could tell me was that I had my choice of east coast or west coast…. Ordered west coast and they were fine, but waitstaff should be able to provide a selection with names. We had the seafood paella. I have had this dish many times at other places in Europe and in the states and this was BLAH…. Dry and not great. Disappointed. The bar and bartender are the redeeming factors! Great drinks, great bartender. This is a popular place though! Make reservations.

Went to this very cool place today with my Mom and brother for the Sunday brunch. The food was excellent with a great variety of choices. Great prices too! The place is huge with plenty of rooms around the tables. The decor fabulous. I will Be back.

Awesome restaurant! It is so much fun- there is live music or dancing on Friday nights. The food is outstanding. The entree portions are pretty big- easily sharable. Definitely try the ropa viejo appetizers- you will not be disappointed. The mojitos are also delicious- they are famous for them.

Ate brunch here Sunday with family and friends. I had low expectations, as I live in Texas, so Mexican/Latin Food in Chicago ... hmm. Really good food! My daughter loved her steak and eggs! Chiliqueles (sp) looked good. Excellent guacamole. My egg white omelet was delicious, as were the potatoes that came with it. Large burrito looked good. Salmon toast delicious. Bloody Mary bar wonderful! Fun, interesting decor. But, excellent food too!

We visited this restaurant for the first time and were impressed with the ambiance, the food, the servers and entertainment. I look forward to returning.

I've been to Carnivale before and very much looked forward to this return visit with my co-workers so they could experience the fabulous food, service, and atmosphere at Carnivale! Everything was as wonderful as ever!

Last night in Chicago, Sunday night, almost nobody, we had booked for 8:30. We settle down and the waiter tells us (or rather he looks at my husband because apparently he does not talk to women) and warns us that the kitchen closes at 9pm. We choose a mixture of ceviche to taste and then octopus grids. In the end they bring us all of a sudden. Octopus very good but we would have preferred to eat it after the ceviche because hot ... Regarding ceviche disappointment because 4 kinds (shrimp, tuna, salmon and crab) with 4 different seasonings for me industrial, They should close on Sundays rather than shipping customers. And especially we talk to women by looking at them

Amazing vibrant decor, delicious latino-infused food, and very cool presentation! Did you know a whole new menu got rolled out? Guess what tried it yesterday, it’s very delicious! On a side note highly recommend Angel the waiter he is so comical, knowledgeable, caring, understanding and one of the Best servers I’ve had at a Chicago dining experience yet! Definitely recommend the charred octopus appetizer, the seafood tower with butter, and an appetizer of buttered corn. Be sure to try the cool cocktails from cotton-candy to so many unique selections. The tres-leches dessert was absolutely superb. If you like espresso, try the espresso martini as a desert drink totally delicious! Carnivale is a great place for date-night, birthdays, first-time in Chicago, and really any time.

This place was so unique. We had the Peruvian chicken, blackened bass and ribs. They were awesome as was the ice cream cake for dessert. The super high ceilings with the giant lamps make for a memorable supper. Our server was also great. I felt like it was pretty good for the money. The only thing was as we sat literally hundreds of people kept walking by to go into somewhere else in the restaurant. I sort of wondered where were they all going? It must be an absolutely enormous restaurant and really made it feel like an exciting place. But it was also sort of just a bit too busy... like I-94. But we will definitely want to go back if we can.

Booked one of their Salons ( side rooms) for a group of c.20 attending a big convention. Big of a mix up over timings, but we were looked after well and the food was really nice.

I love this restaurant given iota wonderful food and dramatic ambiance. Great place to take friends and/or family for a special meal. The food is marvelous and the desserts are exquisite! Their presentation is like no other. Don’t miss this place for a special celebration!

We were celebrating our daughter 23rd birthday on June 23rd... 😀 Was a really Special Day!! We reserved a table 1 week before. We arrive 10 minutes before the reservation time and we were offered one 4 seats table in the corner next to a very busy passage. My wife pointed to a 4 seats table available in the middle of the room, but was turned down by the restaurant personnel saying that the table was reserved for a 5 ppl party.. In about an hour we noticed that they placed on that table a 3 ppl party, exactly like us!!! When we started to us questions, one guy came by (without presenting himself) and started to offer other options for seating.... Overall was a BAD EXPERIENCE considering that the food is OVER PRICED also... (one plate is close to $40). Including the drinks and tips you drop easy there like $200...

Good place for a gathering of a large group of people. However the spread of dinner was limited. It was a fun place and we enjoyed a lot.

We took some friends here, and they fell in love with this unusual and fabulous restaurant, The food is excellent with a ton of options from which to choose, (Leave room for the unusual desserts!). The service is also great - our server Ramon was very attentive, And the venue is unique and fun. This is a pricey restaurant, but it's worth it for a special occasion,

We stopped here on a girls night out. The food was really good considering I could only understand what the meat choices were... the sides were foods I had never heard of, but quite delicious. I had the shrimp, clam, and calamari with rice dish. FANTASTIC! I cleaned my plate and almost started licking it clean. LOL. Price was as expected for city dining. Atmosphere was fun and very large area to accommodate a large amount of people. Drinks were also made well.

I don't know where to begin.... the drinks, appetizers and entrees were all amazing. Everything had unique and tasty flavors, highly recommend the scallops. Also, I loved the cotton candy martini, not sweet like you would think! Our server made great suggestions and we tried and loved everything he recommended. ( Shrimp ceviche is a must) This was a girls night out, I will definitely return with my family in the near future:)

The carnival vibe is present in the dining room -- complete with a (rather lame) acrobat show during dinner. Somewhat noisy for our taste. The food is very good, the service good as well. We felt a bit old for the mainly 20-30 something crowd that filled the place, but were treated very well by the waitstaff. If you're older, take your starving kid there for a good, fun dinner. If you're younger, have fun!

The food was really good at Carnivale. Great twists on Latin cuisine. We had the scallops and the beef churrasco special for the night. Both were cooked perfectly. The drinks are innovative, well portioned and not that expensive. I had the perfect caipirinha (not too sweet - many places add way too much syrup). Deserts are really unique. It's tough to come up with a desert that is different but they have multiples. We had the cuban cigar. I won't put a picture up so as not to spoil the surprise but it's a truly heavenly combination of ice cream and hazelnut mousse in a package that has to be seen. All this said, the tables are a little close but that does give you a chance to see what others have and maybe start a conversation. It's a little noisy but not too bad. Bill ran about $220 for four drinks, an appetizer, two entrees, desert, and espresso. High, perhaps, but worth it. Also, the decor is really eclectic and fun.

We just ate at Carnivale again tonight for another birthday celebration, this is probably the forth or fifth birthday celebration we've done here. The food is so good, our server tonight was great as well. I don't think we've ever had anything that wasn't excellent from this menu.

We visited this property in a small group of six without reservation. As it was early in evening, 6pm, was able to get a table with minimum wait. An hour later the restaurant and bar were packed with several people waiting. I would say food has a Latin American slant, with some steak dishes reminding of Brazilian steakhouses. We had good service and well satisfied, although different.

Carnivale has excellent food, good service and an amazing decor with a wild assortment of colors and shapes that somehow work great together. So what is the problem? They have added a fish bar with a neon sign toward the middle right of the main room. It is glaring, and does not fit into the decor at all. The K-Mart blue light special sign would be an equally good fit. Worse, the extremely loud House music, rap, and (much better) occasional classic rock is jarring and better suited for a post-teen clothing store than a sophisticated Spanish/Mexican themed restaurant. The owners are ruining this once-excellent establishment.

I love this place so much! The food is outstanding. The drinks are delicious and creative. The decor is so vibrant and fun. They are always playing great music in the background and it has great energy. Great place for a date night or a group party.

I always drive pass this place and I'm so glad my best friend chose it for her birthday. We had tickets to Copa Carnivale a 90 minute dinner show. It was awesome. The Brazilian dancers were amazing. The singing and live band was delightful. Food and drinks were delicious. I definitely want to recommend this place it's a whole vibe.

I went to Carnivale for brunch! They had a back to school theme with a balloon making clown. The environment was delightful. Jerry, my server, was amazing! He had a great attitude and made superb recommendations for me. What a unique and fabulous experience!

If you're looking for an experience that's different and one you'll remember, go to Carnivale. The ambiance is incredible and immediately takes you out of Chicago and into Latin America. From the plants to the lamps, the place is teeming with excitement. The big room is fun and the colors and lighting are great. There is a great bar and there was live music the night we were there. The only drawback in terms of space is it may be a bit loud if you're wanting a quiet space. The food also did not disappoint. We started with the smoked trout dip and totally loved it. I had the scallops, which came presented on a polenta with a flaky crust and a bed of roasted corn. It was absolutely delicious. My date had the shrimp quesadillas which she raved about. It's a great place for big groups, first dates or special nights. You won't regret or forget your visit.

Very cool place to go. Delightful, enchanting South American vibe. But very popular, so make your reservations early. What we liked: -The ambience in the main dining area was off the chart. -The staff. Pleasant and efficient. There's always someone close by. -The food. Great selections, perfectly prepared (although my pork chop lacked flavor). What we didn't like: -Don't let them take you into a side dining room. It's devoid of anything remotely resembling the main dining area. Bland and claustrophobic. They seated me there once before, and they tried again this time, but I didn't allow it. They don't even ask. -Pricey. Bottom line: Great for a special occasion. Avoid the dull side rooms.

I love this restaurant decor. You feel like Alice in "Alice in Wonderland" Food ...They can offer a better menu for this amazing atmosphere. You can not go wrong with Newyork strip steak. Pina coladas and margaritas are good. I would not order bomba seafood rice again. If you are having a birthday they bring you cotton candy and caramel popcorn. Fun:) get Cuban Cigar ice cream...pretty interesting You need Xiomara as your server! She made our evening really special.

I took my daughter here for her 21st bithday, expecting a fun and festive evening and we weren't disappointed. It was a cold and rainy night so the warm and colourful interior was a perfect antidote. We were seated in a back dining room which I actually preferred over the very loud two-story main dining room. It is a very colourful and unique space with interesting art. The music was a little disappointing - in a space like this, we expected latin music but the play list was old r&b - good just not right for the room. Our waiter Jorge was great - attentive, let us order at our own pace, made good recommendations when asked. We started with the ceviche mixed plate - small serving of 4 different ceviches. We loved the tuna ceviche, but all were very good. Our only complaint was that only 2 came with something to put them on. We then ordered 2 appetizers and one main to share and we were disappointed when all 3 dishes came out at once. But the food was absolutely delicious - shrimp quesadillas, ropa vieja and arroz con mariscos. The seafood in a dish like that is often overdone, but it was perfectly cooked here. The cocktails were great as well. Last, but not least, we shared the chocolate dome for dessert which turned out to be a ridiculously wonderful choice - a large chocolate dome is brought to the table, the server pours hot chocolate sauce over it, melting parts of it to reveal the raspberyy gelato-white and dark chocolate mousses inside. SO GOOD! Jorge then brought my daughter cotton candy and homemade caramel corn with a candle - compliments of the house, not necessary, but very nice. A great way to spend a birthday!

I celebrated my 60th birthday at Carnivale, and it was the perfect place to be. This restaurant is so colorful, cool, and interesting. (It used to be a disco in the old disco days.). The place is huge, comprised by many small rooms, so it feels intimate even though they can accommodate many many parties, small and large. Our sever Oscar was very attentive and eager to please. Our food was fabulous, interesting, and absolutely delicious. From the appetizers (shrimp cocktail and guacamole with chips) to our dinners (scallops, rack of lamb, and chicken with a side of grits with mushrooms that was so much better than you’d imagine) and then the piece de resistance- dessert. For my birthday celebration, I was given a tall glass of Carmel corn topped with a giant serving of pink cotton candy. And my table mates ordered “The Cigar,” a huge serving of chocolate-covered Hazelnut ice cream shaped like a huge cigar (complete with a cigar label and “burning end” of red sprinkles). It’s served in an ashtray shaped dish. And the best- it’s bright to the table in a cigar box that smokes when it’s opened. So cool! This is a great place - highly recommended for a special occasion!

A small group of us ended up getting a last minute reservation on Saturday night. I've heard about the restaurant before and finally had the opportunity to go. The food was really good. We tried a few appetizers and for a meal, I had the lamb rack and also a good martini. It's a pretty large restaurant and busy. With a mixture of families eating, people celebrating birthdays, and others having a good night out for dinner. Our waiter was great and attentive. Good dinner option.

The furnishings are festive and unavoidable (huge colorful banners ceiling to floor, mammoth piniata like light fixtures maybe 15 feet tall), the staff is very friendly and helpful, the food is standard higher end fare but with a punch (like Emeril's POW), and the place is spotless. Great place for children, teens, and young adults (or older adults who are young at heart).

Fabulous evening with family, all over 50 years of age. All of us world travellers and all totally 'blown away' by our experience, with ALL aspects of this wonderful restaurant. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Decor is fun & beautiful, food is mediocre, front staff not friendly at all, waiter was good but we left after appetizers!

Very nice and special atmosphere. Food was amazing, tried sea food tackle box, pulpo and ARROZ CON MARISCOS, all tasted great!

We attended a rehearsal dinner at Carnivale over the weekend. Great food and atmosphere. Staff was very polite. It was impressive to see the seafood paella come in on huge pan.

Visually engaging, eclectic menu, upbeat music, pleasant valet and wait staff, trendy northwest loop area. I definitely recommend checking this place out.

In Chicago for a conference. Heard about Carnivalle and Ubered over. They were not busy and we 3 were seated immediately. Everything took time after we were seated. Where's the waiter? Where are our drinks? And so on. We ordered Heirloom beet salad and calamari to start. Fabulous calamari, tiny portions of beets but tasty. For our entres: Arroz con Mariscos with a side of hot sauce (very tasty and well portioned) Amish chicken (nice but not remarkable) and the scallops (very good). The beer selection is good as is the wine. But when we got the check we all three decided that if we lived in Chicago we probably would not be regulars at Carnivalle.

Food was okay; entertainment was not very entertaining. About 10 minutes of a “guitar player” - like guitar karaoke - he really didn’t add anything to the music. About 40 minutes later we got the airealist (sp?) who last about 5 minutes. That was it. Service also wasn’t great - maybe they were short on staff. It’s a very colorful place and I’m glad we tried it but no reason to go back

Great atmosphere, colorful decor and delicious food. I️ subtracted one star because the server didn’t relay a special request that I️ had asked for. Overall, it was a great dining experience.

What a great night of fun. Our waiter, named Ryan, was so great. It was his birthday on Saturday night. WE had the best time because he was such a good waiter.

The restaurant decor was beautiful. The food was great. There was only one problem. I had made reservation for 4 two weeks in advance. We was seated immediately to back of the restaurant and the entire restaurant was mostly empty. We suggested that they move us near front of restaurant. Our seating was corrected right away. The atmosphere was fun and festive.

Took my team here for a celebration on jobs well done. Five of us enjoyed full course meals during Hispanic Heritage Month. I loved the seafood paella and the desert cigar. It came in a smoke filled box, decadent chocolate cigaduon top of chocolate hazelnut ice cream. Yay for all tastebuds!

I had a very good experience, everyone was super friendly starting from valet, host to waitress. I love the decor. Bright and loud. Even though the place is large, ambiance is still pleasant. Waitress was friendly. We had ropa vieja and shrimp appetizer, all good. Main was churrasco and it was really soft and flavorful. Drinks were also good. Overall a good experience.

having never been to Carnivale, Mrs Willie & I decided to give it a try prior to seeing "Linda Vista" at the Steppenwolf (go by the way, Tracy Letts has done it again) Started out with drinks on the patio as it was near 80 degrees, just crazy warm. I had PISCO PASSION - Pisco brandy, passionfruit, fresh lime juice, egg white. I'd order again easy. Mrs Willie the RUNNING OF THE BULLS - Pinnacle vodka, pink guava puree, fresh lime juice, Red Bull Yellow Edition, this is not the type of drink she or I normally order, it was good but the Pisco was much better as was the OLD CUBAN - Flor de Caña 7 year rum, fresh mint, lime, angostura bitters, cava, which I had later during the meal. Started out with the CEVICHE TASTING MIXTO -Poached shrimp, calamari, octopus, glass noodles, poblano citrus sauce, peanuts BLUE CRAB - Avocado, key lime, red onion, cilantro, aioli, soda crackers TUNA - Cucumber, red onion, cilantro, beech mushrooms, coconut, fish sauce, ginger, tostada SHRIMP - Lightly poached gulf shrimp, watermelon, gochujang, basil, sesame We really enjoyed these ceviche with the star being the Tuna & the shrimp SPANISH OCTOPUS - Garbanzo purée, crispy potatoes, frisée, Spanish paprika, Kalamata olives Very skimpy on the octopus serving, cooked perfectly though, very good. EMPANADA DE VERDE - Crispy green plantain crust, artichoke, spinach, mushroom escabeche Empanada was all grease, not good at all, ate less than 1/2 of it. Mushroom escabeche was quite tasty. Server was very nice & took this off the bill for us as we clearly didn't enjoy it overall. ARRACHERA - Wood-grilled skirt steak, rice and beans, bacon sofrito, sweet red onion, chimichurri sauce Steak was oddly cooked, some just barely rare and other parts near well done. The few pieces that were MR were quite tasty. Rice & beans were not that appealing. So overall we had a good time and enjoyed, we'd go back for the ceviche and to try some other items, just won't be in hurry.

Many options for gluten diary free dietary concerns without lack of flavor. Sexy restaurant. High vaulted ceilings without a cold atmosphere.

We went there on a Saturday night with friends. Food was GREAT. Atmosphere lively (but not too loud) and fun. Corkage fee was quite reasonable. Service was spotty and is the only reason that this is only rated very good. Otherwise, it would have been excellent. All four of us were exceptionally pleased with our food. The Heirloom tomatoes (grown on the roof) were the best we had tasted all year. The tuna ceviche was so good that one person ordered it as an appetizer and again for dinner. The other dinners (Yucatan Salmon, Tacu Tacu, and Arrachera) were equally wonderful. And the Chocolate Dome for dessert took our breathe away. We will return for another Carnivale wonderful food adventure.

Fun place to go with kids in their 20s. Food is great with fantastic service Dishes are unique and well paired

Went for a Sunday celebration brunch with family. Large high ceilinged main seating,with a live band playing in the gallery. Colourful walls,pictures murals creating a carnival atmosphere, At the entrance is the bar where you can customise your Bloody Mary. Waffles with chicken,salmon avocado toast were outstanding. Chocolate dome and cake tres leche served with pineapple compote were sinful. Service was knowledgeable and non intrusive. Great experience!,

We had a large group of girls and went as part of a bachelorette weekend trip. This place will certainly make you happy upon entering due to its lively decor! I tried a couple of the cocktails and enjoyed them- interesting and flavorful. The food was very good, and everyone had a great night. Seems like a great place for anything from dates to large groups like ours!

This very large restaurant is very impressive and eclectic in decor. When you walk in, there is a very nice bar area that has a very impressive liquor selection. The main dining room is two stories with incredible light fixtures, very cool art work that some of which is painted by one of the waiters. Then the food came and it was just as impressive as the restaurant itself. Very interesting menu that has something for everyone. The skirt steak was amazing and the cotton candy at the end of the meal was a really nice touch. Also has multiple private rooms upstairs. A must visit when in Chicago.

Interesting menu selections, something for everyone. It's a fun place at which to be, you feel good entering, the decor is alive and thoughtful and fun, lots of varieties of food...can get tastings which I like a lot...

Ate a late dinner on a weeknight! Food was good. Decor and ambiance was great! Very attentive service!

Came here to check it out as a potential venue because it is so incredibly unique that I couldn’t not at least see it in person. It. Is. INCREDIBLE! Unfortunately, it will not fit with our specific needs but I would most definitely consider it for a rehearsal dinner or possibly a work event. They have so many different side rooms and ways they can separate rooms. Each side room has such a different feel or vibe as well. When we went to look, the whole restaurant was being rented out for a company outing. While we went to look at it as a venue this is still on my top list of places I need to check out for dinner when I get back. They host different events for dinners like live entertainment, Sunday brunches as well as holiday themed events so it is more of an experience than just a place to go for dinner. And I am obsessed with the Carnivale theme and fun colors throughout the whole interior. Obviously the cuisine & craft cocktails is yet another point on my list of why I want to come for dinner, I am assuming those too will be more of an experience then just a meal and drinks

Loved loved the atmosphere here--very hip and cool décor. The food was phenominal with the Spanish, Caribbean, and South American flair. Ordered the Arroz con Mariscos--fantastic. My friend had the flank steak with chimichurii---OH MY GOD good. The drink did NOT mess around--great sangria, and margaritas. I loved the Havana Breeze. Host--waitress--and even the manager were all amazingly friendly and attentive. Definitely recommend to check this place out.

I love this place. Its so colorful with such a amazing environment. If someone is visiting Chicago for 1-2 days trip please do visit this place for lunch when there is live music or Friday nights for Samba. Sangria & cotton candy are so fancy here.

We have been here for dinner but never for lunch. Unfortunately, lunch is served in the bar area not the amazingly decorated dining-room. We were seated before our reservation (the place wasn't that busy) and were served water immediately. It took a little while for our waiter to appear but he was friendly enough. I ordered a glass of Malbec and the Cuban sandwich with fries while my wife had a Mojito and the arroz com mariscos. The food was very tasty - there was a variety of seafood on my wife's dish. We shared a Cuban cigar for dessert - it is served as ice-cream and oreo crumble (cigar ash?) in an cold metal ashtray and then our server produced the frozen cigar (hazelnut sponge cake wrapped around roasted hazelnut mousse, with a "glowing" tip) from a fake cigar box! Another table had the key lime pie and the enormous ice-cream cake and they said both were delicious. All the lunch desserts are only $5 - a real bargain! My only gripe is that the bathrooms are down a relatively steep flight of stairs, way at the back of the basement

definitely very pricy, but the vibe and food makes up for it. my husband and i got the argentinian dinner for 2 (i forgot the name) but it was like $92. it was pretty good but i feel like there’s probably better things on the menu. it came with a green sauce (also forgot the name) along with other sauces and they were delicious. for appetizer we got the mushroom one (forgot the name) and it was delicious and the presentation was good. they shred the black truffle mushroom in front of you and the weird balls (i forgot what they are) came in a glass dome which was smokey and smelt good when he opened it. the place has wonderful service and is very professional. my server was wonderful (i forgot his name). the restaurant is beautiful i was very surprised. very good for special occasions and has a wide assortment of drinks and dessert. there’s definitely a little something for everyone.

I was there with 2 friends last weekend. I've wanting to go to this restaurant for the longest time. I made a reservation for 9pm, we were there 5 minutes early and we got a table 40 minutes later. Decided to get a drink at the bar while waiting, bartender was extremely rude. When got seated, waiter took 15 - 20 minutes to greet us and to ask us if we were ready to order (he was very nice though). Waited a long time for the food and when I ordered dessert, it took another 25 minutes, not to mention when he brought the dessert, part of it was missing so he had to go back to the kitchen. Took a long time to get out check as well. Not very impressed with the menu either. Restaurant decoration is amazing but the service is a failure.

I think this restaurant has come of the best Cuban food. Each time I go I realize that the service and food is top notch

Let me start off by saying the decor and atmosphere is second to none! LOVED it! I was a bit disappointed that there weren’t people performing in the air like I’d seen in pictures, but no big deal there. Second, our waiter was the absolute best! However, both food and drink left much to be desired. The coconut shrimp was pretty good but my entree, the LECHÓN ASADO was unfortunately my least favorite meal in Chicago by far. The meat was dry and overall the flavor was not for me. The cotton candy martini was okay but i was not a fan of the blueberry snow cone. However, i did not say anything to our waiter so perhaps i have no right to complain. Just not a place i will be returning to.

Absurdly noisy and they make you sit in the front room where the bar is, instead of in the large room where dinner is served. SOOOOO NOISY that we could not hear each other talk. Not just loud BASS throbbing music, but kids running around wildly everywhere and screaming and a table of 8 that was outrageously loud and other than that, maybe 3 other tables had guest and yet, it was a HORRIBLE place for a business lunch. We all left with a headache and got very little business done and although the food was good, NEVER AGAIN for a business lunch - not in the least bit relaxing or conducive to conversation.

My husband and I wanted a special place to celebrate our 39th anniversary with our good friend and decided on Carnivale. The decor is vibrant and festive and seems to attract all ages for celebrations. Our reservation was for 7:00 p.m. and we were seated immediately. We began with glasses of champagne for our anniversary toast and moved on to "el Nuevo Anos"---a smokey Mezcal and sparkling wine martini with notes of vanilla, passion fruit, and hibiscus---unique and addicting! The menu is extensive and appeals to everyone. The boys chose the Faroe Island salmon with quinoa, double cut pork chops with mustard mojo and sweet plantains, and I ordered the paella de mariscos. Each dish amazing in its own way! And I know because we tried each! For dessert my hubby and I shared the colorful layered ice cream cake presented with a festive sparkler and our friend had the carrot cake---each sinfully rich and decadent! Oscar made the evening perfect with excellent suggestions and exceptionally attentive service. We couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable time! The only thing missing was the "entertainment" I had read about. While they did have upbeat music playing, there were no live entertainers that night. (We were informed that they have "shows" on Thursdays) Still, we had a great time. Carnivale is truly a fun and festive food experience.

This place has gone way down in quality. Food, drinks, and service were very disappointing the last two visits. When I emailed them to discuss it they never responded. Won’t be back till things improve which is too bad because it used to be great!

Took several customers to dinner and the the place wasn't too crowded. Everyone had a variety of items from the menu; guacamole, mini tacos, several varieties of the ceviche and a few of the main courses. The specialty drink of the restaurant was a mojito made several ways. All the drinks were very good and the food was prepared exactly as described. The wait staff seemed a little flustered and forgot several items having to go back to the kitchen a few times but for the most part did a good job. reasonable prices and a very interesting atmosphere. Two thumbs up and would go back again when in Chicago.

This place is amazing!!!!! I cannot say enough how much we loved it. All the pictures!!!love love love

Came for a friends birthday. We were a few minutes "Tardy for the party". lol The ambiance is fun, if say you were 12 years old and wanting to experience Mardi Gras. It's like a very overexcited Carnival theme. Moving on...The group already had some appetizers to share on the table. I didn't have any. Ordered a Sangria, which was okay, an Orchid as decoration, which are actually native to tropic regions of Asia and Australia such as the Himalayas and the Phillipines (Not Latin America lol). It's the little things. Our server Vana had an attitude from the moment we were given menus. She was rushing us from the second we sat down saying that we HAD to order now because she didn't want to have anyone order out of line. I thought this place was supposed to be a fun Carnivale atmosphere, not a strict nun appointed Catholic school! She was distant and rude, when asked about separate checks, I thought her eyes were going to roll out of her head similarly to a Looney Tunes character. My first dish was awful. Chicken Milanese (as we yelped quickly to get a good idea of what to order, unbiased). $24 of pure salted overcooked plastic-like garbage. I ate three painful bites and downed the mustard greens. Overheard that the Chef was off that night. Maybe we were there towards the latter part of the evening, but there were plenty of people still dining, and the cooks in the back are seriously f-ing up. My boys' Arrachera (wood-grilled skirt steak) was dry and chewy like tasteless beef jerky. The sweet onion was too sweet and inedible. My fellow diners told me to order something else, as I clearly looked like someone had ran my palate over and my face showed it. My second dish was mildly better. Yucca gnocchi with tomato arribata, squash, shrooms, and parm. It looked better than it tasted. The gnocchi itself was a little gummier than I'd like. It was SPICY. I asked Vana if it would be, as I have an allergy, and she said no. Ugh... As the roof of my mouth became inflamed, and rather than interrupt my girlfriends birthday experience.... I just stopped eating. The busser was in a rush to clear our plates, sometimes before we were done. After my friends funny Cotton Candy on a popcorn cob moment and a sparkler (not designed to blow out, as they contain both fuel and oxidizer and burn at upward of 2k degrees). Dessert. The ever popular and overplayed chocolate dome, that disintegrates when hot chocolate is poured overtop. What do we have underneath, white and chocolate mousse, so OBVIOUSLY made from a powdered mix. Ask me how I know. Yeah, well.... gross. The strawberry sorbet, way too much sugar, the strawberries, overripe, bruised and should NOT be used as a garnish. $105 for 2 people, completely and utterly dissatisfied. Darrell, the assistant GM, who my bf contacted about the meal, was supposed to send us gift certificates and never did. Don't waste your money, the food and the experience is like Chucky Cheese for grown-ups. It may have been good when it opened years ago, but it's become an abandoned circus....

My wife and I aren't into Latin American cuisine but friends persuaded us to have dinner at Carnivale because it is a "wow your senses" type of restaurant with a lively atmosphere, colorful decor, original artwork, festive vibe, food from Spain, Mexico, South America, Central America and the Caribbean and one-of-kind desserts. How about cotton candy and caramel popcorn? It reminded me of carnivals in the 1950s with Ferris wheels and bingo games, a throwback to the good ole days and a great way to end a wonderful dining experience. Located at 702 West Fulton Market Street, in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood, Carnivale opened in 2005 with a fresh approach to dining out, a Latin fusion cuisine that promised something new and different but altogether satisfying. Open from 1 to 8:30 on Sunday, 5 to 9 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 9:30 on Friday and 4 to 9:30 on Saturday, it offers everything from quesadillas and empanadas to several versions of traditional paella. We started with beef empanada, shrimp quesadillas with wild-caught shrimp, Qaxaca cheese, greens and Chipotle aioli and Caesar salad with Romaine lettuce, sourdough croutons, home-made Caesar dressing and parmesan cheese with salmon. For her entree, my wife chose lamb shank with Spanish style fava bean stew, Piquillo pepper, spicy peas and pickled onion with mashed potatoes. I thoroughly enjoyed an order of Ox Tail paella with braised Ox Tail in Spanish sherry, baby carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, spinach, roasted mushrooms, pepper, bone marrow and bomba rice. The cotton candy and caramel popcorn dessert made a couple of 80-year-olds feel like teenagers all over again.

I was looking forward to the Mother’s Day brunch, especially since it was our first time attending and the price of $60.00 seemed reasonable. However, the experience was extremely disappointing and did not live up to expectations. First, the food quality was subpar. The eggs were saggy, the tomahawk steak was cold, and several desserts that were listed on the menu were missing, just to name a few. The orange juice tasted awful (expected fresh squeezed), and to make matters worse, coffee was the only other beverage option available (no Espresso, Latte, etc…) The overall station organization was poor as well. The service was slow, and the staff seemed overwhelmed and unprepared for the number of guests. All in all, it was a letdown, and I wouldn't recommend this brunch to anyone looking for a special Mother's Day experience. Spend more money and go somewhere that truly values quality and service.

Interesting decor, live entertainment, but food was just OK. Great service, but the food did not match it. The specialty drinks were not good and made extremely weak, but very high priced. This is a one-time visit for the decor and live dancers, don't go for the food or drinks.

Stumbled into Carnivale by accident while on our way at somewhere else. What a happy accident. The service was excellent from the entire staff Friendly, professional and very competent. The food was incredible and portions are plenty. Our waiter was Pete, he comes highly recommended. Enjoy…

It is excellent restaurant for formal family occasion. The restaurant one of the oldest place in downtown Chicago , used to be a bar in older days. They have kept the ambiance, colorful ceiling. The food is also outstanding , everybody was happy with their dinner , I would highly recommend the steaks . The best part is that beef is halal. Service is very professional and fast. The place is busy make sure you reserve a table . The price is on the higher side but worth it for special occasions. It was great evening .

Attended an upstairs group event for business. The upstairs bar was handled by one bartender, not accommodating the large group of attendees. Half way thru dinner the water was leaking from ceiling and the servers had to move our table to the side. The lighting was so bright we felt like we were in an interrogation room as we ate. Not a fan of the family style for group events. Super awkward to pass food around without making a mess. Would not recommend.

We stopped here just for desserts and weren’t disappointed, we had the limoncello flight it was so yummy! We also had the coconut cake with mango sorbet that was not overly sweet and so good. One of us had the cotton candy martini it was super fun and a new experience

We went here for a business dinner and was not disappointed. Our waiter was Oscar and he helped us with our choices. I had some ribs that were a great choice, others had the scallops. We all went away pleased with our choices.

Latin fusion. Yummm!! The menu is creative, as is the decor. It just feels lively and festive, but in a somewhat chic and grown-up way. Perhaps slightly whimsical describes it best. Food was very tasty with very fresh ingredients. Margaritas were good. Desserts, amazing! Did not give it a 5 only because it is a bit pricey for every day eating out, but did not feel like a specifically "special ocassion" place either.

We enjoyed five amazing meals! We had the opportunity to meet Chef while we enjoyed the delicious atmosphere. Definitely recommend!

The servers were very attentive. We were in a semi-private room. The artwork was terrific. The food was delicious.

We came here for dinner on a Saturday and it was fantastic! We had a reservation and I'm glad we did, because they were super busy. Very eclectic decor and lots of bright colors everywhere! They have a lot of craft cocktails and speciality drinks, including cotton candy!! The main dining room is massive, with huge ceilings and massive wine storage in the walls. Server was attentive, they were busy so drinks were coming a little slow. We tried a bunch of different menu items, including the ceviche sampler, (shrimp, blue crab, tuna) guacamole and chips, and a few different entrees. Their desserts are out of this world!! Their presentation is everything!! The cigar dessert is wonderful, as is their dome cake. 5 stars all the way! We will definitely be back!

First appearance walking in was wow. Beautiful place. Nice ambience. Kind of a romantic sultry yet fun vibe with the dim lighting and popular latin artist music playing. I came here for my birthday dinner because I was craving latin food and Carnivale did not disappoint. I had the Calamari for appetizer, the Arrachera for my entree and the banana pecan toffee cake for dessert. It was all just amazing. The cake and the Cotten Candy I was given for my birthday was the highlight of my night. Best birthday dinner ever! Especially for my first time in Chicago. Definitely recommend this place and will be back!

We went with a couple of friends to carnivale The ambiance is very nice... the appetizers are excellent..... the entrees..... mmmhhhhh were a little dull I had a bottle of Malbec that was good The drinks and wine selections are great... The servers, Busboy's and staff are fantastic The main entrees were not as tasty as I expected The desserts were superb! But I will go again and let you know how was this next time

Empanadas delicious, all varieties. Exceptional service from Geneva our server and Alejandra our busser. Cavatappi in the Mac & Cheese was a nice surprise. Music was awesome and the vibe was spot on.

My daughter and I took the hubby to Carnivale for his birthday. We were immediately greeted by a manager (Marcus). Marcus was extremely pleasant and friendly. He swiftly escorted us to our table & we were greeted by our 2 servers. The restaurant has a very nice ambiance, the music was great, with a variety of genre's and artists. The food was really tasty & delicious. My husband & I ordered the Rack of Lamb (medium well) and it was very tasty. Our daughter ordered teh Baby Back Ribs and they were literally falling off the bones. The appetizers were good as well. Our servers wer very attentive and spot on. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and festive. I would recommend this restaurant and look forward to dining here again.

Carnivale was fun, Drinks were great, entertainment was awesome, food was okay. The environment is so fun!

Exciting dinner with my sweetie. Great Mexican food and tequila flights DELICOUS DELICOUS DELICOUS. Very wonderful night out with my sweetie pie. We’ve been there multiple time never a bad moment. BOOYAH

The concept and decor of Carnivale are fabulous. The food is good too. What I found lacking in my recent visit was service and value. Our waiter was attentive enough but failed to inform us of happy hour specials which had been mentioned to us upon arrival. We specifically got seated in the bar in order to take advantage of those prices. Had to ask. Also, waiter pushed most expensive menu items on us. In Chicago, one expects to pay more but the prices were not reasonable even for this location. Had a pleasant enough experience (ambiance had a lot to do with that) but will probably not return as we felt the prices were out of line for a west loop locale.

I made a reservation this morning but I was unable to make it for the correct amount of guests. I called but I was unable to reach anyone till 3:30. Whomever I spoke with was very RUDE. The fact that she told I didn’t call really grind my gears. Thnx for the rude awakening, I’ll take my business elsewhere from now.

This year we decided to celebrate new year in a restaurant with a group of friends, and chose Carnivale. I was told that the theme would be the Greatest Showman, there will be performances and DJ afterwards, $85 prix fix menu with a champagne toast, table reservations are limited to 2 hours and max people at a table would be 10-11. We chose 10:15 pm time slot for 11 people, and I gave my card number for reservation. I was told multiple times to be on time, and that we would lose our spot if we are more than 15 min late - fair enough. The day comes, we come at 10pm just to be safe, check in at 10:05, and I'm told to wait for the message on my phone. Another couple we know had a reservation at the same time (for 2), and we ask if it's possible to combine the tables, it's ok if not, but just checking. After a bit of hesitation the answer is YES. Great! 15-20 minutes later I come by the front desk to ask how much longer we have to wait, they tell me that the restaurant is extremely busy (on New Year's Eve? no way!). The woman in black (looking like a manager) says she will go check on the table we are waiting for and will come back and tell me. OK, no problem. We stay by the bar - there are A LOT of people and it is pretty hot, but oh well, we suck it up and order drinks while we wait. I see the woman in black and she walks past me with no updates. OK, she's busy. 15 more minutes pass... It is 10:35, and since we were told that we only have a 2 hr window for the table, and the restaurant closes at midnight, we are now worried that we will have to rush during dinner, + we really want to do the countdown at the table and not by the bar... I go to check again: I'm told that the table we are waiting on is having dessert and they are taking a bit longer than expected. Umm, isn’t there a 2 hour window for each reservation? Oh, we just want everyone to have a pleasant experience. Well, we aren't having one already. You should've planned better, 2 hours for a new year's dinner is a bit ridiculous. Meanwhile, I hear 2 (!!!) parties of 10 people who arrived later than us being called in. Another trip to the reception station: why are people getting called in before us? Because you have 13 people, and not 10 in your group. Wait, didn't you say that it was possible? 50 minutes into our wait, everyone is visibly upset as it's past 11 pm now. People go to the reception to check and get the same answer I got 10-15 minutes ago - our table is finishing dessert... at this point everyone is fired up, and we ask for manager. Manager never comes. 11:15 - we are promised that they are setting our table and it will be another 2 minutes. 11:25 - we are told the people just left the table (doesn't make sense, I know), and they are now starting to set it up, but we can go sit down (and see it with our own eyes) if we'd like. Yes, we would like to go sit down. We are taken to the table on the 2 floor in the very back of the room where we can't see anything! so, no performances for us... The only positive thing about the night was our server, Angel, who really tried to make things better. We got free champagne for the ~1.5 hour wait... OK, thank you. We are also told we don't have to do a pre fix menu anymore since it's late (no joke) and we had already had our champagne, and can just choose what we'd like. As soon as we place the order, the countdown begins… We get our appetizers after midnight at different times. Food is very mediocre, ceviche lacks lime juice and salt, the meat orders were completely screwed up (I got well done instead of medium rare, etc.) and were barely warm when we got them. Entrees come when 80% of the people had already left the restaurant, closer to 12:30 am, desserts follow. Everyone gets checks: ours had $57 service charge instead of $27, we ask for corrected one. We feel rushed to finish, pay and leave. All in all, horrible new year celebration experience, awful organization, pretty bad food, and no effort in making it better (except for a glass of champagne). Will not return.

Had brunch today at Carnivale with 16 members of my family. Great visit today!!! Called earlier in the week to see if I could get a reservation for 17 people and Jaime was very polite and helpful over the phone. I had asked about private dining and she transferred me to Molly. Molly was great and very helpful in me changing my reservation from the open restaurant into one of the salon rooms. No upcharge either to get one of these rooms people!!! Showed up at 11 and was escorted to the room. Beautiful room vibrant colors cool artwork amazing music played throughout the restaurant. The live music at times made it hard to communicate across the table but we just moved around freely speaking to each other because we could in the private room. I wouldn't change it though because the music was fun. When the band took a break the communication flowed freely across the room. Javier was the lead man in taking care of us with 2 other servers. Service was just excellent. Javiar is a true professional and attended to any and all of our needs. He was on top of his game. We ordered off the menu and had about every item offered. Everything was delicious. Ropa viejas were ordered 2 additional times they were so good. My daughters Ricotta pancakes were awesome. Desert wise the chocolate dome was cool. They poured hot melted chocolate over the top of the dome and the dome melted before your eyes. Really neat. The menu items all sounded good and we ate them all up with a smile. I have already commented to numerous people about our good experience and look forward to returning in the future. Do not hesitate to book a party here, you will have a good time.

I loved the whole experience! Visually stimulating, the music takes you to another place, our server, Ramon, was charming and attentive, and the food was exceptional. Appetizers: ropa vieja served atop fried plantains- the meat was deep and rich with a hint of spiciness which was balanced nicely by the savory sweetness of the plantain. A must! And the coconut shrimp were divine. Crunchy and sweet. Our main courses came out promptly and perfectly executed. Lamb chops, fideos, and Brazilian Churrasco- tender, skewered beef accented with garlic and smoke served with chimicurri. The lamb chops were a work of art. Visually, the presentation was stunning and the taste matched! We had to share the 16 layer chocolate cake... I am convinced the cocoa they use to make it comes from another world. It is not overly sweet, and there is something (dare I say) almost light about this delicious cake. Honestly, I could not have been more impressed!

I took my wife to Carnivale last night for her birthday dinner. We did the Ceviche tasting and both had Arrachera for our main course. Excellent drinks and very attentive service.

What a fun and festive place to have a nice dinner. The food was fantastic however when one orders a 1/2 chicken they do not get any dark meat, only white meat. If you like dark meat you may want to ask about it before ordering. The portion sizes are good but the portion sizes for the sides are quite small. Nice place to eat, better than boring, over packed and loud steak houses.

The waiter pushed some menus on us saying the foods were the best menu for the day. We were gravely disappointed because my whole family was there to celebrate a birthday. Most of the foods were like leftovers. The quality of food served have gone down to zero from what it used to be. Our evening was ruined.

Decided to splurge a little on my last evening in Chicago. I ordered the rack of lamb. Delicious! Service was great! Can’t wait to visit Chicago again.

Fun location for a meal with vibrant decor and great food. Extensive cocktail list and lots of seafood dishes.

This was a great restaurant. We attended a small family wedding here and then the reception in a different room. Everything was fantastic. The servers were very attentive and friendly and the food was great as well. We had various appetizers, salads, main course and dessert. We all were part of the 'clean plate' club. The family member that hosted the event has been going here for years and we can understand why. If we lived closer, we would definitely return. Parking was convenient at the garage across the street and we reserved a space via Spot Hero. Couldn't have been easier. They also offer valet parking. When we left, it was very crowded, so I'm assuming this is a favorite of many people. I can't say what price range the food is, as it was a wedding reception, but if you go, I don't think you will be disappointed.

CARNIVAL Restaurant April 14, 2018 Music and food- food and Music combine with Roc, a wonderful early evening of dining. We started with the photo booth and then finding a table. From a wall for two, to a balcony for two, we are ready leave, and Roc point to a table on the main floor. Away we went. The appetizers were very good although the calamari was very good, not hot. The guacamole was very good GUACAMOLE Chunky avocados, cilantro, chilies, onion, garlic, lime, fresh corn chips also without the tomato cumin,and onion that graces our guacamole at home. The conversation with Maria was over the top. We talk about Red Light, Vivo(17 years) and Marché former restaurants on west Randolph. She worked at all of them. Then we speak Tim Griffin the general manager about the decor that reflected Red Light. The ceiling in the main area is 25-30 feet. The main course was a real dining with Baby kale, house-made caesar dressing, gochujang paint, sourdough croutons, shaved parmesan cheese kale Cesar salad Leonard had rack of lamb (Wood-grilled lamb rack, pastel de yucca, lamb ragout, butternut squash, Closed Loop Farm greens)..... Now to the end the meal was the key lime pie. To top off the night Brandon Ramsey knows my neighbor for high school ..... Brandon worked with use to find the table .. We will reruns with the posse ..... The music really move the event.... the music was high energy..... This was a wonderful, uplifting , and great time.. Woooooooow...💎💎💎💎💎 Shalom

From the time we walked in and sat at the bar we were happy. When our out of town guests arrived we were all impressed with the decor and the knowledge of our server. We all ordered a variety of appetizers and entrees and one was better than the other. Extensive creative cocktail selections, and a decent wine list.

Great spot for something authentic and innovative in Chicago. Service was wonderful and the ambiance is unique and engaging. Food was a mix of South American, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and other latin Cuisine and everything we ordered was great!

Several large brightly decorated rooms with a mix of comfortable chairs are set for dining and the large group I was with fit in well eating and then dancing. A fine composition of appetizers, including shrimp ceviche, empanada de elote and baked goat cheese were followed by a smart selection of entrees including arrachera, salmon, Peruvian chicken, cheese arepa, all served family style. The empanada, arrachera and Peruvian chicken were particularly winning. The sides, roasted potatoes and roasted seasonal vegetables did not add any significance to the selection. The kitchen staff was in fine harmony with the party guests. Well worth another dip.

Great wedding venue for a smaller party, out of the norm venue , exotic decorations,great food that has a Latin American theme ,great staff and accommodations, do it again in a heartbeat. We have been previously for New Year's Eve and totally enjoyed the restaurant experience.

We took the time to carefully read reviews and contact the staff via their website. We were given inaccurate information about the Samba dancing, which was a major reason for our going. Beware, the website is not up to date on events or Salsa dancing. The food was adequate at best, tasteless at worst. We had really hoped for experience all around. The venue is very colorful. We wanted to do the chef's table/Komal but after this 1st experience cannot see that happening.

I went to this restaurant for a business dinner. Fun atmosphere and good quality Latin American food. The ceviche sampler was particularly tasty. For dessert we tried the "Cuban cigar" (see photo). It is literally services in a "smoking" (not real cigar smoke, of course) box.

Carnivale is decorated in upscale art deco motif. Fun. Nuevo Latino food - latin with a modern twist. Food was delicious though it upset the tummy a bit. Still, would dine here again.

Phenomenal restaurant! So much fun! Dancers dance through the restaurant in latin clothing!!!! Food excellent. Desserts are amazing.

Carnivale was much touted for good food for Halal foodies as it uses creek stone beef and Amish chicken both are known to be halal. Well, the food was good, but the service was slow to non existent. The server just didn’t to want to bother with us, and it was tough to get the attention of anyone on the wait staff. The carnivale ambience is nice but the music too loud for me. Only redeeming thing is the food.

We chose this restaurant for its atmosphere and it did not disappoint. The menu is Latin infused and the food is excellent. The atmosphere is high energy with great music. Can’t wait to return!

Fantastic crab cevechie. Great atmosphere. A winner for sure if you're alone or on a date or dinner with friends.

We went to dinner at the recommendation of an acquaintance and we liked it. They served us, and the food is delicious and the menu is varied. We ordered ceviche, old clothes and churrasco, and a pina colada pound cake and a children's menu. The restaurant is nice and colorful.They also gave our son some coloring waxes. Highly recommended if you visit Chicago and want to try a different restaurant.

Carnivale is a South American influenced restaurant with a great menu including seafood and meat. The array of cocktails and wine was impressive and good quality. The food was a broad menu but everything ordered looked delicious and the rack of ribs I had was excellent. The staff and service was as ever really good. I would definitely go back.

Our party of four adults and one child of 6 visited Carnivale for dinner and we were delighted with our experience. Our drink order included mojitos, caipirinhas and mayahuels (none for the youngest guest) and all were excellent. Our starters included a large order of guacamole for the table and an order of the daily ceviche, and again, both were excellent. Moving on to our entrees, there was a quesadilla and fries for the young one, which were rapidly devoured. Adult entrees were the lechon asado (pork shoulder), scallops and two orders of the paella, one of the latter including a whole lobster that was shared. Marvelous, all of it. The finishing touches were cotton candy, the Cuban cigar and a Spanish coffee for me. Throughout the meal, the service was very professional, attentive but not intrusively so. And the added bonus was the delightful entertainment, a top notch guitarist, followed by a pair of dancers who wowed their audience. But for the fact I live far from Chicago, I would likely make this place a regular stop. It truly is Latin fusion at its finest and I highly recommend it. Valet parking is available in front of the restaurant.

Our family chose to dine at Carnivale on Christmas. It was a terrific evening! Our server was upbeat, informed and helpful even though the restaurant was quite busy. Every item was well prepared and delicious! Our server suggested the Ropa appetizer - delicious! The Senator’s chicken was perfect as were the steak dishes. We were too full to consider dessert

Whether you like Carnivale depends on what you're hoping for in a dining experience. The decor was flamboyant, to put it mildly, and the noise level was high enough that I had difficulty following conversations at my table, but I can see coming here for a date. (All standard disclaimers apply: I'm not their target clientele, nor do I like noisy venues.) On the plus side, the diners were a mixed group: largely couples, but a family with two school-aged girls was sitting nearby. That said, the food was delicious. There were twelve of us in my group, and all of us were delighted with what we ordered. Calamari, short ribs, arranchera, scallops, paella marisco--all plates were cleaned. One of the other students' birthday was that week, and the hotel brought out a complimentary dessert: berry-flavored cotton candy anchored in a tumbler of caramel corn, decorated with a sparkler.

Great atmosphere from the moment you walk in - wish we had more time to spend at the bar before dinner! The food was amazing - try the pulpo! And drinks were also great! Wonderful service as well! Thank you!

We chose this restaurant because of its proximity to our second destination. We loved everything about this place. Our table was perfect for viewing the entertainment. Our dinner, drinks and service was outstanding. We would definitely return!

Formerly “Drink” nightclub where I was kicked out the last time, it is now “Carnivale.” What a special place this has now become. The decor is festive. The atmosphere is loud and fun. Nobody is stuffy even though the food is upscale. Drinks are tasty. Service is good. Get whatever dessert they recommend. Have fun.

This place is only nice for aesthetic. Parents surprised me (birthday) but we will never go again. Bathrooms are so disgusting. Went with reservations it took 45min for them to even seat people. We were the second to be seated and yet everyone was getting there drinks and food before us. Three families were sat, they ate and left before we could even get our apps. They gave my sister a completely different dish then what she ordered. Had to wait so long to send my food back twice it was so red. When I let the waiter know, they acted offended telling me they didn't cook it. Since it was my birthday my family wanted to do a dessert they were out of almost everything. At that point I just wanted to settle for cotton candy and go home. I don't understand what was the point of having the owner walk around it was absolutely useless.

I've been to this restaurant a few times. This was my sister's first time for her birthday. I made reservations and requested a table where she could get a decent view of the restaurant. We were sat in a smaller room in the back with no view of the restaurant and it was freezing. That bugged me a bit. Our server was friendly, but very busy and didn't come around very often. We had a round table of 5, but could barely hear one another. The appetizers and entrees were really good. I don't recommend the Blueberry Sno-cone drink. It's quite messy. The birthday guest gets a nice cotton candy display for dessert. This place is really pricey when all said and done.

Liked that they had valet. Many facets to this restaurant. Was there for an event, so we were able to taste a few different things. The food did not disappoint. A was not impressed with the service. Got hit in the head twice by the water jug and had a tong dropped in my lap.

We tried Carnivale with a large group colleagues for a business dinner and it was absolutely a wonderful experience. I have made the reservation with Open Table and we were seated on time. The place is very colourful and amazingly pleasant, had a great selection of oysters, ceviches and mini tacos. Skirt steak and Lamb chops were definitely great and I also recommend trying limoncello. Overall it was a great evening, thank you. 👍👍👍👍

We ended up at Carnivale one evening we were in the area & there were no reservations available anywhere else. When we walked in, it is a REALLY cool space - definitely has a Latin flair, with so many eye-catching pieces of furniture and decor. The service was great. Our waiter recommended an awesome drink that wasn't on the menu (wish I could remember what it was called!) and gave us some food recommendations. We followed his recommendation for our appetizer and went with the crab ceviche. I LOVE seafood, and love ceviche, but this was incredibly "fishy" - so much so, that I couldn't eat it. The waiter was understanding and took it off the bill, which was very nice of him. Again - can't say enough about the service. We also got the goat cheese, which was delicious, but nothing out-of-this-world. I ordered the tenderloin churrasco. It was just ... meh. Not bad, but not great, and for the price, definitely not worth it. My boyfriend had the pollo crimollo, and same thing - it was just okay. My friend got the scallops, and same consensus - just, "okay". Overall ... not bad if this meal was $100 for the three of us, but for $300 ... I'd definitely go somewhere else.

The restaurant is really fun looking and has a cool decor vibe. Very colorful. Food was very nice and service was good. In the waiting area there was a fun selfie booth to help pass the time while we waited for the rest of our group to arrive.

made a reservation for 1pm sunday brunch; had a drink in bar beforehand and service excellent; restaurant is colorful but poorly staffed and we waited long time to place orders as well as receive them. Smoked trout dip best of what we ordered. Rojo viejo very good, brisket way too loaded with hot chilis without being described that way. went back to bar tables afterwards and again, service far superior to restaurant. I recommend eat in bar area. Probably will not return

This was a black tie affair, held in a private room. There was a bar. We had passed hors d’oeuvres, and there was guacamole and chips on tables, which was delicious. The bartender was great and private entertainment which was a lot of fun. Dinner was also very good. Choices of seafood, ribeye, steak, vegetarian, etc. My husband and I had the ribeye steak, which was outstanding with garlic mashed potatoes. Pick up little desserts. The door to the private room needed to stay closed as the music outside the room was very loud.

Such a wonderful experience for our party of five. We did not have reservations but were able to eat in the lounge area which worked out great. The decor is fantastic, be sure to check out the bathrooms! The food is equally wonderful, be sure to get the bison dish and the cotton candy martini.