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Recess, Chicago, IL

Recess

4.5
4.5
1464 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 5 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Hot spot
  • Good for groups
Located in Chicago’s West Loop, Recess (838 W. Kinzie St.) offers a vibrant, playful, escape to the daily grind. Home of Chicago’s largest patio, Recess encourages guests to adult…like a kid, while serving up delicious American food and drink. The Recess menu taps into the cravings of everyday life, offering casually elevated dishes with playful Chicago swagger, while our beverage program takes a bright, ingredient-driven approach with cocktails both classic and original. In addition to the energetic adult playground vibes and menu offerings, Recess also offers a nostalgic array of indoor and outdoor activities including giant Jenga and Connect 4, all of your favorite board games.

Recess is a 21+ establishment.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Contemporary American
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Wed 16:00–00:00 Thu, Fri 16:00–02:00 Sat 11:00–03:00 Sun 11:00–22:00 Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00–15:00
  • Phone number
    (312) 801-1181
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Boo Kim
  • Private party facilities
    Our sister venue – City Hall – is an unparalleled choice for weddings, private functions, live events, conferences, product launches, commercial video & photo production, and fundraising galas. The building’s industrial character is preserved with touch points inspired by historic municipal buildings, while classic details and finishes, enhance the space’s timeless decor. With your vision, our team is ready to expertly host your event of a lifetime. Learn more about City Hall at their website: https://thecityhall.com/
  • Area
    West Loop
  • Cross Street
    Green Street
  • Parking details
    A paid parking lot is available across the street on Kinzie.
  • Public transit
    Green or Pink Lines to Morgan StopBlue Line to GrandI-90 to Racine (right off of the exit)
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Dancing, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Black Wednesday Pajama Party

    US$30.00 per person

    Prepaid

    27 Nov 2024 only
    Multiple times
    Join us for our fourth annual Black Wednesday Pajama Party! On the night of Wednesday, November 27th, come in your PJs and house shoes and bring your besties for a night of fun group games, drinking, bar food, and DJ Greg Corner! $30 ticket includes a 2 hour drink package*, all attendees must be 21 and over with valid ID. *drink package includes beer, wine, seltzer, and standard drinks.
  • NYE

    US$75.00 per person

    Prepaid

    31 Dec 2024 only
    20:00
    Join us this New Year's Eve for the return of the RECESS HOUSE PARTY featuring a 4 hour food and drink package, games, DJs, and dancing! Come as you are! Dress up, dress down, (hell, dress in a toga for all we care) this is your party and we'll be there to make sure you have everything you need to ring in 2025. Package is from 9pm - 1am. Doors Open at 8pm

What 1,464 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Recess offers a dynamic atmosphere perfect for group gatherings and birthdays. Enjoy "great drinks" and a lively outdoor space, ideal for sunny days. While some reviews note inconsistent food quality, many praise the "stellar service" and engaging games. A pet-friendly venue, it's a fun choice for casual meet-ups and vibrant evenings.

1,464 Reviews
  1. Michelle

    Chicago

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a great place to spend a Saturday brunch! I was celebrating my birthday and it was perfect. The games on the tables made it even more fun with everyone!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Ismail I

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 10 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience at Recess !!! Good food , drinks , atmosphere and the service was impeccable.

    Is this helpful?

  3. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 20 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had so much fun as we always do. Took friends who were visiting from out of town and they loved it!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Sherrie

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 5 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience to gather with a group of friends

    Is this helpful?

  5. LionelL

    Minneapolis

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 5 October 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great experience and nothing new here. Would like to see a dog menu at some point since it’s such an animal friendly spot

    Is this helpful?

  6. Chloe

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 September 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    great spot for a large party, shareable portions and the marg tower was delicious

    Is this helpful?

  7. Sandeep

    San Francisco

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 September 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Poor overall experience wont recommend to anyone in the future

    Is this helpful?

  8. Marc

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 1 September 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    It took insanely long to get a waiter to take our order. Once ordered the food came out reasonably quickly and it was tasty, but our drinks were forgotten.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Angela

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 1 September 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderdul first time experience. It was a bit cool and windy outside very lucky that there's an inside option

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  10. Meryem

    Dallas

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 31 August 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    I was over there yesterday and we celebrated our birthday with 12 people. Foods are delicious and the ambiance was amazing. We played the game and we enjoyed being there. I gave only 3 points. We could not able to find our waitress. Some of us went through the bar and ordered our drinks. Plus It was not crowded. Half of the table was empty. I think about crowded and table controlitneesa to be better. Plus if restaurant charging service fee around 18%.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Recess does offer delivery in partnership with Uber Eats.

Recess is rated 4.5 stars by 1464 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 5 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Recess

838 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60642-6532

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Green Street
  • Area
    West Loop
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Wed 16:00–00:00 Thu, Fri 16:00–02:00 Sat 11:00–03:00 Sun 11:00–22:00 Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00–15:00
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    A paid parking lot is available across the street on Kinzie.
  • Public transit
    Green or Pink Lines to Morgan StopBlue Line to GrandI-90 to Racine (right off of the exit)
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Boo Kim
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Dancing, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (312) 801-1181
  • Private party facilities
    Our sister venue – City Hall – is an unparalleled choice for weddings, private functions, live events, conferences, product launches, commercial video & photo production, and fundraising galas. The building’s industrial character is preserved with touch points inspired by historic municipal buildings, while classic details and finishes, enhance the space’s timeless decor. With your vision, our team is ready to expertly host your event of a lifetime. Learn more about City Hall at their website: https://thecityhall.com/
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