Carnivale - Chicago

First time at Carnival and really impressive restaurant. Great vibe and character. We were celebrating our anniversary and thought that this looked just right for dinner and drinks. Antonio our server was extremely friendly and took great care of us. It was a pleasure to have our table off the main floor which made it a little more intimate for us. Cocktails were awesome, food was delicious and we were surprised with an excellent anniversary dessert. Nicely done!

Celebrated a Birthday! Highly recommended for any celebration or larger group of 5 or more. Food & drinks were Delicious! Our server Valentino was so attentive and friendly. The service at the restaurant was outstanding! We had not been in over 15years and honestly I think the restaurant has gotten even better! This restaurant has stood the test of time and that’s an accomplishment in Chicago! People keep returning! Not to mention is a beautiful space !

From start to finish we had an excellent experience. Went for my and my father's birthdays and our server, Valentino, was fantastic. Gave excellent recommendations and was so much fun to chat with! We both ordered the beef tenderloin which was cooked perfectly, and the dessert, the tres leches, was delicious. They even comped us the dessert for the birthday, which we didnt expect. Overall a great experience that I highly recommend for a special occasion.

Carnivale is a fun, high-energy spot with a lively South American vibe—music and Brazilian dance performances make it feel more like a celebration than a quiet dinner. We did the Komal chef tasting menu ($149/person). A few dishes stood out, especially the charcoal-grilled prawns, the yuca con mojo (almost like grilled fries), and the vaca frita beef which was surprisingly tender. However it’s not amazing enough for me to think it’s worth the price. Service was attentive, and the chef was genuinely accommodating—he listened to feedback and adjusted to our preferences. However, it’s a bit too stressful for people who just want to enjoy food without too much talking.

The food was good, but nothing spectacular. I expected more atmosphere-wise. Of course it wasn’t very busy when I was there. The service was excellent. And there were live dancers, which was fun. They mostly hung out in the private rooms.

We visited Carnivale on a weekday and arrived at 4:50 p.m. for our 5:00 reservation. Despite being early, we were told we couldn’t be seated and were asked to wait at the bar. A group that arrived after us was seated right away, and we ended up waiting until 5:15 before being shown to our table. Our server felt pushy from the start. Within minutes of sitting down, he asked if we were ready to order drinks. We requested a little more time, and when he returned he rushed through a long, rapid rundown of the menu. Although, he may have wanted to be helpful, it seemed as though he was running out of patience. We eventually ordered appetizers—the pupusas and yucca fries—which were both great. For our entrée, the server recommended the seafood paella, mentioning (unprompted) that it was large enough to share. We went with his suggestion, but the dish was disappointing. The rice tasted scorched—not in a socarrat, crispy-bottom way, but as if it had been part of a large batch left on the flame too long. It was somewhat soupy, and although the seafood on top was decent, the rice carried that burnt, blackened flavor throughout. For dessert, we had the pound cake. It was just okay, with a slightly bitter note, even though the server assured us there was no rum in it. Overall, the experience was mixed, with some good appetizers but several service and food issues that left us underwhelmed.

Host (short female) greeted us with no energy or smile...then we were sat cramped between tables with 20 other tables open in the dining room Server was nice & polite, but service was slow...noticed him serving 4-5 tables. Food flavors were ok, not great as I expected No manager interaction or visit at the table...spent $300 and didn't feel worth it

Overall unique experience. Food was a bit underwhelming. Steak was a bit chewy for it being cooked medium and for a skirt steak that should be a good cut of steak.

I think they should bring new shoes in! Not sure what day they have the rope entrainment but that would be nice to see. The food was good and there is a lot to look at. The venue is huge. Service was good but a little on the slower side so if you need your check ask for it while they get you dessert. It smells a little mushy not sure if the vents need to be cleaned out.

We started our meal with some promising appetizers, ordering the ceviche tasting and calamari. While the ceviche was enjoyable, the calamari truly stood out as the highlight of our evening. Unfortunately, everything that followed was a total disappointment. We ordered a kids’ spaghetti for my four-year-old, but to our dismay, it arrived with macaroni noodles instead of the expected spaghetti. As any parent knows, children can be quite particular about their food, and this was a significant issue. When the correct dish finally came out, the pasta was undercooked, and the sauce tasted like it came straight from a can—splattered across the plate without care. It was so unappetizing that we asked for it to be removed from our bill. Adding to our frustration, the Gaucho dish we ordered medium came out completely overcooked—well done. We had to request a replacement to ensure it was prepared correctly, which only delayed our meal further. Next came the Parrillada for two, which we anticipated with excitement. However, we were let down once again. The dish lacked enough meat, and several key items were missing. When we pointed out that the bone marrow and some cuts of beef were absent, the server brought out a piece of bone marrow—but it was completely empty. Although the chef generously offered additional short ribs, they were overly salty and tough, adding to our disappointment. Not worth a $92 dish. To top off this unfortunate dining experience, our waitress—who had witnessed the continuous issues throughout our meal—presented us with the bill, which included a 3% surcharge along with an automatic 20% service tip. This felt excessive, especially considering our party was only five—one of whom was a small child who hadn’t even eaten. Overall, the experience was overpriced and far from what we hope for in a dinner outing. I rarely leave negative reviews, but my frustration and disappointment compelled me to share this. If you’re reading this, I hope it helps you avoid a similar experience.