Punch Bowl Social

"MAD Social, run by Gina Stefani, recently closed last month in West Loop. It was another restaurant by the Stefani family." - Ashok Selvam

"A 1950’s style diner, a bowling alley, karaoke rooms, and an arcade room are all under one roof at Punch Bowl Social, a 30,000 square-foot adult playground in the West Loop. It’s a little kitschy but fun when you’re in the mood to let loose. Even if a round of bowling or belting out a few karaoke tunes isn’t in the cards, it’s worth a visit for the food alone, which leans towards comforting staples, like buttermilk-brined southern fried chicken and big burgers made with grass-fed, hormone-free beef. Otherwise, healthier, lighter fare is available too, including a superfood grain bowl, loaded with quinoa, kale, radishes, sprouts, roasted carrots, pickled chiles, and shiitake mushrooms. "

"The Denver-based chain Punch Bowl Social filed notice with the state in February that it could lay off as many as 50 workers. The gaming-and-dining brand declared bankruptcy in late December, but a power struggle among former executives had previously left the fate of the Chicago outpost unknown." - Naomi Waxman

"MAD Social, another venture by the Stefani family, opened by Gina Stefani in the West Loop, offers brunch service with creative takes on dishes like chicken and waffles. The restaurant targets a youthful demographic similar to Bar Cargo." - Ashok Selvam

"Punch Bowl Social is opening its first Chicago location on March 10. The two-floor, 30,000-square-foot space will offer food, drinks, vintage arcade games, Skee-ball, private karaoke rooms, a bocce court, bowling, sports TVs, and virtual reality gaming. The venue features a custom-designed 360-degree bar and a vintage laundromat-inspired design. The food menu, developed by celebrity chef Hugh Acheson, includes playful pub favorites like lobster bacon fries and roasted cauliflower nachos." - Ashok Selvam