Boka

"This Restaurant Is Temporarily Closed We all have short attentions spans. Remember “The Simple Life” with Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie? Of course not. That show is a poor man’s Keeping Up With The Kardsashians. Remember how the Kardashians got famous? Probably, but we overlook it these days. Our short attention spans also fail us when it comes to Balena. One second it’s all the hotness, then suddenly it’s an afterthought. But unlike Paris Hilton’s beloved dog Tinkerbell (RIP), Balena hasn’t gone away. In fact, Balena is still a very useful restaurant for a lot of occasions. It offers comfort and simplicity in a modern way with familiar yet still interesting Italian food. Date Night? Do it. Co-workers, parents, or friends in town? Yup. Salmon breakfast pizza for brunch? Told you it was versatile, and it’s even reasonably priced. We like to make shared pastas, like cacio pepe and rigatoni ragu, the backbone of any meal. But pizza, small plates like burrata and lamb meatballs, or a personal steak or chicken are acceptable. The shared plates and pastas are also plenty of food so you’re not fighting over the last bite. That’s not always the case at modern Italian restaurants, so while Balena feels new-age Italian, you never feel like you’re served three noodles and getting screwed. The restaurant itself is also a great place to sit, which is where a lot of the comfort factor comes into play. The ceilings here are huge in a cathedral-like manner with giant wood beams. It helps give Balena a sense of action without ever being too loud. We might choose to ignore how the Kardashians became famous*, but don’t ignore Balena, because that would be a mistake. *A sex tape and a father who defended OJ. Never forget. Food Rundown Arugula Salad Get some greens in the mix because you don’t want to be a disgusting human being. We like the arugula salad with pine nuts and lemon. Burrata Di Panna Burrata, olive oil, sea salt. Never a bad way to start. Lamb Meatballs Get them. They come in a pomodoro sauce with pecorino and pine nut. Maybe get two if you have more than four people. Cacio Pepe Yes, yes, and yes. A perfect balance of cheese and pepper. Our favorite of the pastas. Hen Egg Tajarin A plainish pasta with brown butter and sage. Based on the name, we wish it had a much richer brown butter sauce. Rigatoni Rigatoni with a pork ragu. Simple and delicious. Tagliolini Nero Squid ink pasta with crab, sea urchin and mint. Not bad, but it’s heavy on the mint and light on the seafood. We wish it was the other way around. Potato Gnocchi Potato gnocchi with mushroom and parmesan. Another of our usual pasta orders. Spicy Pepperoni Pizza The pizza is thin crust, the pepperoni definitely has a spicy kick, and there’s a hint of sweetness to it. Our go-to pizza order, but any of them are good. Skirt Steak If you’re looking for some meat on the table, then skirt steak all the way. It comes with raw mushrooms and a porcini mustard, and it’s delicious. Brunch Balena is always a strong brunch move. You can go the smoked salmon pizza route, which is great, or go the egg route with something like the the scrambled egg bruschetta or crispy polenta hash." - Sam Faye

"Boka makes for a fancy-yet-still-cool night on the town. It’s ideal for a big date once you’ve gotten to know each other, and a good option for dinner with the parents as well. The food is creative, and even boring-sounding things like grilled and glazed beets are impressive. You can order a la carte, or try the tasting menu for $175 if you really want to go all out." - sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"At Boka Restaurant Group’s flagship one-Michelin-starred restaurant in Lincoln Park, chef Lee Wolen doles out imaginative savory dishes with a Mediterranean flare. For the spring season, diners will delight in dishes like tagliolini with buttermilk whey, ramps and bottarga; grilled bass with radish, shiitakes and Chinese broccoli; and Colorado lamb loin and neck with black garlic, artichokes and olives. Sweet tooths will revel in a new dessert of a black lemon/chamomile pavlova featuring goat’s milk lemon sherbet, olive oil cream, buckwheat, cajeta and mint."

"Chef Lee Wolen’s Michelin-starred mainstay in Lincoln Park has raked in numerous accolades throughout its 21-year tenure. Adored by diners and critics for its contemporary, seasonal culinary style, the restaurant is also noted for its lush patio spaces in the front and rear of the restaurant." - Naomi Waxman, Eater Staff

"Arguably the crown jewel in James Beard Award-winning Boka Restaurant Group’s pantheon of Chicago restaurants, Boka has reigned over Lincoln Park for nearly 10 years and secured a Michelin star under the steady guidance of lauded chef Lee Wolen, a veteran of Eleven Madison Park. Noted for his thoughtful treatment of produce and proteins (think black truffle roasted chicken and grilled lion’s mane mushrooms with lapsang souchong), Wolen offers an eight-course tasting menu." - Ashok Selvam, Naomi Waxman