When I called to make a reservation for a birthday party, the owner, Eric, was so gracious and accommodating. The service was fantastic. The servers were so attentive and friendly. The cocktails were fun and paired well with the food which was also really delicious. The jibaritos and beef pastelillos were our favorites. Even the toddler in our party enjoyed trying everything. Our group had such a great time there. We'll definitely be back!
Jimmy C.
Not sure if they are going for fine dining, but it's seriously over priced!! The food was good, the inside ambiance seemed lively. But I ordered something to go. It was the lechon asada. I gave a $2 tip. Total came out to $23 and this is what I got. I thought it was a mistake, I thought it came with other sides. She said it looks small but it really isn't.
R P.
Finally tried a new neighborhood restaurant that was featured on a morning newscast. Maria's ambiance is very nice, bright, up-scale and reminiscent of Puerto Rico albeit very small and intimate. Being a solo walk-in for take out, the host service was immediate, friendly and very welcoming. The host helped explain the menu and took an order for a lechon jibarito sandwich that comes with a choice of rices. I chose arros y guandules. Deciding to have a drink, while awaiting my take-out order, I was escorted and introduced to the bartender at the bar. She was very engaging explaining the cocktail offerings, their constructions and my alcoholic preferences. Finally settling on an extremely tasty piña colada, it arrived in a partially coated TOASTED coconut rimmed glass! It was so nutty and sweetly good, I wanted to eat the glassware...needless to say, all the coconut was eaten from that glass! The only thing that would made it epic, would've been a piece of sugarcane substituting the leaf garnish. The jibarito was delicious, reminding of similar in PR and Humboldt Park. The lechon was flavorful and juicy. All in all, a good size plantain sandwich with the lettuce, tomato and cheese. Would have liked a side of the oily garlic condiment that I've had in other places, but it doesn't take away from what was presented. The arros y gandules was fragrant, light and very well executed...could definitely eat that rice every day! So glad this is in my neighborhood and truly looking forward to returning for a dine-in experience with neighbors and friends!
Ari C.
My my my GAWD!!!! Have you ever had a cocktail made with SourSop??? Me either, until today, here at Marina's and is was Amazing!I cannot tell you how happy I am that I stumbled upon this place! I love puerto rican food, but we've never had a spot in Uptown - and Marinas has certainly set the bar extremely high. First off the staff is spectacular! Anna & the Chef/owner Are so sweet and super down to earth, warm people. The space and the vibe is so refreshing - intimate & extremly clean. Now let's get to the food: One word- Flavorful!I had the pork chop with puerto rican rice and a side of this mashed root vegetable (i forget the name but it was good.) Everything is cooked to perfection - you don't even need salt and pepper!! This is rare, especially on the Northside:/ You literally won't even look for a salt/pepper shaker! You also get excellent portions for your money.Anyway, I love this restaurant. I love the people and the energy. I highly recommend it and I will definitely be back. #instantcommunityP.s. The Guava Butter- WHAT!!???? I wishthey sold it by the jar. I would put it on everything.One of the best things I have ever tasted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Catering Arroz Con Gandales Puerto Rice with Pigeon Peas, Plantain Chips with Side of Guava Butter, Mashed Malanga
Dory Padilla
Absolutely delicious!!!!! Jibaritos, drinks, apps, honestly 10000/10. This is a hidden gem and one of the best restaurants in Chicago! Hands down. If you haven’t been, you need to make it a point this week and have lunch, dinner whatever!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Jibarito
Fredith Nunez
The staff was friendly, hands on attentive, and everything we ordered from the menu was perfect from top to bottom will definitely be returning
Garrett Cunningham
Fun, tropical ambiance. Cocktails were quite good takes on classics, but with rum. Food was excellent, and tastes like something your grandmother would make for you: warm and comforting. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Plantain Chips with Side of Guava Butter
Eddika O.
2nd time in one week. Service is amazing. Food is right on point and drinks are amazing. Ambiance is brilliant, gives such tropical feel.
Miguel S.
2nd time here and the place is amazing. Seating is limited so either make reservations or try and show up a little early in the evening. Service is impeccable, food and drinks are def something to brag about. Both times there we've caught the owner here putting in work and honestly that's so dope to see. The low music makes the perfect ambiance to enjoy your meal and have a good convo. 10/10 highly recommend
Eddie Johnson
Great music and food, the drinks are amazing. Don’t walk run to this
This spot is so needed in the area and glad it is here! As a Puerto Rican, the food reminds me of what I grew up eating. The crew is awesome and have brought several people there because of the food and people.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jim Pirman
Great food, great drinks, great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Samantha R.
Would put this place in the hidden gem category because i'd never expect a cute cocktail bar like this in a strip mall, but the drinks were DELICIOUS as was the food! Had the ham & cheese croqueta and the beef pastilillos and left very happy. All the drinks we had were great! very cute and vibey place, good service, will be back!
Philip Bontrager
Friendly service, tasteful music, and a thoughtful menu lead the way, but the star of the show is the vibrant flavors in these beautifully executed Puerto Rican dishes and cocktails. The guava butter alone is worth your visit, and it only gets better from there. Don't let the strip mall location fool you - this place is a hit!Vegetarian options: Vegan dishes that don't feel like an afterthoughtDietary restrictions: Most of the menu is gluten free and everything is well labeled to make ordering easy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lechón Mofongo, Aguacate Avocado and Tomato Salad, Plantain Chips with Side of Guava Butter, Gandules Puerto Rican Rice, Flan
Jennifer Moreno
Simply amazing. this is as fresh, authentic, creative as you can get without going to the island. I ordered a little bit of everything because I live far from the city now. This is the best Puerto Rican food in the city and I’ve had food from everywhere. The croquetta (relleno de papa) was very creative and delicious- The chuleta (pork chop) was perfecto! Quite honestly, everything was simply amazing, rice, beans, guava butter, mofongo, Lechon, the drinks were perfection. I wish this restaurant all the success. It’s about time our cuisine is presented and highlighted like this! I’ll be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lechón Mofongo, Pastelillos De Carne, Mojito
When I called to make a reservation for a birthday party, the owner, Eric, was so gracious and accommodating. The service was fantastic. The servers were so attentive and friendly. The cocktails were fun and paired well with the food which was also really delicious. The jibaritos and beef pastelillos were our favorites. Even the toddler in our party enjoyed trying everything. Our group had such a great time there. We'll definitely be back!
Not sure if they are going for fine dining, but it's seriously over priced!! The food was good, the inside ambiance seemed lively. But I ordered something to go. It was the lechon asada. I gave a $2 tip. Total came out to $23 and this is what I got. I thought it was a mistake, I thought it came with other sides. She said it looks small but it really isn't.
Finally tried a new neighborhood restaurant that was featured on a morning newscast. Maria's ambiance is very nice, bright, up-scale and reminiscent of Puerto Rico albeit very small and intimate. Being a solo walk-in for take out, the host service was immediate, friendly and very welcoming. The host helped explain the menu and took an order for a lechon jibarito sandwich that comes with a choice of rices. I chose arros y guandules. Deciding to have a drink, while awaiting my take-out order, I was escorted and introduced to the bartender at the bar. She was very engaging explaining the cocktail offerings, their constructions and my alcoholic preferences. Finally settling on an extremely tasty piña colada, it arrived in a partially coated TOASTED coconut rimmed glass! It was so nutty and sweetly good, I wanted to eat the glassware...needless to say, all the coconut was eaten from that glass! The only thing that would made it epic, would've been a piece of sugarcane substituting the leaf garnish. The jibarito was delicious, reminding of similar in PR and Humboldt Park. The lechon was flavorful and juicy. All in all, a good size plantain sandwich with the lettuce, tomato and cheese. Would have liked a side of the oily garlic condiment that I've had in other places, but it doesn't take away from what was presented. The arros y gandules was fragrant, light and very well executed...could definitely eat that rice every day! So glad this is in my neighborhood and truly looking forward to returning for a dine-in experience with neighbors and friends!
My my my GAWD!!!! Have you ever had a cocktail made with SourSop??? Me either, until today, here at Marina's and is was Amazing!I cannot tell you how happy I am that I stumbled upon this place! I love puerto rican food, but we've never had a spot in Uptown - and Marinas has certainly set the bar extremely high. First off the staff is spectacular! Anna & the Chef/owner Are so sweet and super down to earth, warm people. The space and the vibe is so refreshing - intimate & extremly clean. Now let's get to the food: One word- Flavorful!I had the pork chop with puerto rican rice and a side of this mashed root vegetable (i forget the name but it was good.) Everything is cooked to perfection - you don't even need salt and pepper!! This is rare, especially on the Northside:/ You literally won't even look for a salt/pepper shaker! You also get excellent portions for your money.Anyway, I love this restaurant. I love the people and the energy. I highly recommend it and I will definitely be back. #instantcommunityP.s. The Guava Butter- WHAT!!???? I wishthey sold it by the jar. I would put it on everything.One of the best things I have ever tasted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Catering Arroz Con Gandales Puerto Rice with Pigeon Peas, Plantain Chips with Side of Guava Butter, Mashed Malanga
Absolutely delicious!!!!! Jibaritos, drinks, apps, honestly 10000/10. This is a hidden gem and one of the best restaurants in Chicago! Hands down. If you haven’t been, you need to make it a point this week and have lunch, dinner whatever!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Jibarito
The staff was friendly, hands on attentive, and everything we ordered from the menu was perfect from top to bottom will definitely be returning
Fun, tropical ambiance. Cocktails were quite good takes on classics, but with rum. Food was excellent, and tastes like something your grandmother would make for you: warm and comforting. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Plantain Chips with Side of Guava Butter
2nd time in one week. Service is amazing. Food is right on point and drinks are amazing. Ambiance is brilliant, gives such tropical feel.
2nd time here and the place is amazing. Seating is limited so either make reservations or try and show up a little early in the evening. Service is impeccable, food and drinks are def something to brag about. Both times there we've caught the owner here putting in work and honestly that's so dope to see. The low music makes the perfect ambiance to enjoy your meal and have a good convo. 10/10 highly recommend
Great music and food, the drinks are amazing. Don’t walk run to this
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pastelilos Empanadas
Restaurantji Recommends
This spot is so needed in the area and glad it is here! As a Puerto Rican, the food reminds me of what I grew up eating. The crew is awesome and have brought several people there because of the food and people.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food, great drinks, great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Would put this place in the hidden gem category because i'd never expect a cute cocktail bar like this in a strip mall, but the drinks were DELICIOUS as was the food! Had the ham & cheese croqueta and the beef pastilillos and left very happy. All the drinks we had were great! very cute and vibey place, good service, will be back!
Friendly service, tasteful music, and a thoughtful menu lead the way, but the star of the show is the vibrant flavors in these beautifully executed Puerto Rican dishes and cocktails. The guava butter alone is worth your visit, and it only gets better from there. Don't let the strip mall location fool you - this place is a hit!Vegetarian options: Vegan dishes that don't feel like an afterthoughtDietary restrictions: Most of the menu is gluten free and everything is well labeled to make ordering easy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lechón Mofongo, Aguacate Avocado and Tomato Salad, Plantain Chips with Side of Guava Butter, Gandules Puerto Rican Rice, Flan
Simply amazing. this is as fresh, authentic, creative as you can get without going to the island. I ordered a little bit of everything because I live far from the city now. This is the best Puerto Rican food in the city and I’ve had food from everywhere. The croquetta (relleno de papa) was very creative and delicious- The chuleta (pork chop) was perfecto! Quite honestly, everything was simply amazing, rice, beans, guava butter, mofongo, Lechon, the drinks were perfection. I wish this restaurant all the success. It’s about time our cuisine is presented and highlighted like this! I’ll be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lechón Mofongo, Pastelillos De Carne, Mojito