Coobah

01/23/09

Something Special on Southport

by ofhisspace78 at Citysearch

Let me start by saying, if you haven't been to Coobah you need to check it out. A couple friends and I wondered in on a Thursday for dinner. What a pleasant surprise! They had a cuban jazz band playing live music throughout our meal, which just added to the already cool ambience. The decor is warm and inviting and the staff was very friendly. The bartender was quick with a couple recommendations--try the Caipirinha with strawberries or the delicious Pisco Sour (wasn't on the menu, but the manager mixed us up one). Oh, and Thursday is $5 mojito night. So, needless to say, we sampled all of their variations. Food was outstanding. I'll be jonesing for the Clam and Chorizo Chowder until I can get back there. We had a jerked chicken and plantain dish and spicy mussels for appetizers(both great). For entrees we had the Hanger steak with chipotle mashed potato, the pork tenderloin with shrimp and bacon, and a chicken dish with chilaquiles. They were all so good, we just passed each dish around the table and sampled.

For dessert, a spicy chocolate mousse infused with Patron XO tequila--Awesome!! I will most definitely be back.

• Pros: Ambience, Cocktails, Food, Live Music, Service, Parking lot,
• Cons: I want a Coobah in Wicker Park.

11/01/08

Real, Chicago, Cuba, Yummy

by danm900 at Citysearch

As someone who frequents Chicago restaurants I am not easily impressed. Coobah really strikes the chord on all the notes. The older you are, the earlier you should arrive. There is a 'happening' quality to the experience. Sure you can get a great drink and a great meal, but there's also something going on in every corner that provides its own unique entertainment value.

I never liked plantains but Coobah's plantains were cooked so skillfully that I couldn't get enough. The service is true Chicago, if you like them-they like you. If you bring it, they're entirely capable of returning the favor. I like that. It feels very real. So real that you completely forget that you're on Southport Ave.

From the start, any place that refills your water glass quickly maintains a certain level of training and professionalism, I use that as a baseline for quality service. It is clean yet comfortable. Overall the service is observant and acts appropriately for each table's situation.

The food is quite good. I would highly recommend the place, bring your own party.

• Pros: Food, service, bar creations, wine list
• Cons: parking, although I hear they have a lot in back

01/23/08

lackluster

by lburro1 at Citysearch

The atmosphere at Coobah was incredibly unique and tasteful. However, the food was lackluster and disappointing. Their signature dish, the pork, was unimpressive and flavorless. I do not understand why it is receiving such rave reviews.

01/21/08

Amazing food!

by jetsetter9 at Citysearch

Went to Coobah a few nights ago with a party of 5 and LOVED it! The appetizers and entrees were amazing! Their pork tenderloin is out-of-this world...a great fusion of flavors that leaves you wanting more. In general all the dishes were unique due to the combination of spices and flavors. I thought the sangria was too sweet, but besides that I will definitely be coming back soon!

• Pros: yummy food
• Cons: parking

11/08/07

Horrible Service

by cmark82 at Citysearch

I booked a reservation for fourteen for a friend's birthday dinner about two weeks in advance. I asked if it was ok to bring in my own cake and the woman on the phone said sure. When I arrived with my cake I had to ask if they could put it in the back for me. The server then asked me "There will be a cutting fee do you still want me to take it in the back?" When I asked how much the fee was he said he didn't know. I said fine and told him when I made the reservation the cutting fee was not mentioned. As guests arrived I had to track down our server and ask if we could order appetizers. Our drink glasses were empty on several occasions. Our server was taking care of other tables and our large group in the back so I had to track him down several times. When our server attempted to cut and serve our cake he made a mess out of it and stated sorry I'm not so good at this. When we partied at the bar one one of the bartenders asked if I was sure I wanted fourteen shots of patron after he stated the price. Offending me, as if we did not have the money to pay for it. We then took our party somewhere else. Food is great but the service was horrible.

• Pros: Food
• Cons: Service

08/07/07

Yummy Latin "Fusion" Cuisine

by vegitoboi at Citysearch

The first time I went here was with my (ahem) "ex gf" when we couldn't find the restaurant we were originally looking for. At first, I thought that place was cramped and old (which it is). But after tasting their food and drinks, I looked passed their cramped interior and indulged in their yummy offerings. I've been here 2 times after that and I continue to like what I taste. If you're looking for that Latin cuisine "redux", then this is a place you want to be. They have remade dishes from around the world (i.e. Mexico, Cuba, Spain, Brazil, and even Philippines) adding "traditional Latin twists" to their dishes hence making their cuisine "Latin Fusion". Although everything on the menu sounded appitizing to me, I stuck with their seafood. I'll be honest with you, THEE BEST seafood stew I've EVER had was their Shellfish Stew "Zarzuela". If you like shrimp, muscles, and scallops then this IS a must try. Sure, they have beef and chicken, but try the seafood. Let's not forget the drinks. They make their mojitos the traditional way and their Caipirinha (Brazil's answer to Cuba's mojito) with REAL cachaca (pronounced ca-sha-sa) (Brazilian rum). If you find yourself on Southport Ave by the Brown Line stop, stop on in. This place is great for a "pregame' dinner or a late night hangout, possibly after seeing a movie at the Musicbox Theater just down the street. I'm sure you'll find your Latin side here =)

• Pros: Good Latin "Fusion" cuisine, good drinks, close to the Southport Brown Line stop, close to Musicbox Theater and Julius Meinl cafe, open late
• Cons: parking is VERY limited, cramped

07/09/07

No one knows what's going on here

by horsepills at Citysearch

I have no idea how long this place has been here, but the level of service makes me think that I came here during the first week. The highlights of our bad experience involved: not being seated until 45 minutes after our reservation, having to ask for refills on drinks/more beverages as the waitress was walking away, small tables and waitress bringing appetizers and entrees out at once, undercooked food and extremely crowded.

The drinks however we're good and of the three things we ordered, one of them was fantastic. We will not be returning.

• Pros: drinks
• Cons: service

06/19/07

Perfect atmosphere!

by jiggat23 at Citysearch

My girlfriend and I recently made a trip to Chicago and included Coobah on our list of must-try restaurants, it didn't disappoint. The atmosphere of the restaurant itself captured the environment you would expect to eat this kind of food in. On a warm night with a nice breeze the open air style was perfect.

Onto food -- The Sangria was nothing short of great, just make sure to keep the ice coming with the pitchers or else it might get a little warm with the temperature. For appetizers we had the Spicy Mussels and Pork Skewers. Both were exceptionally well prepared and everything from presentation to texture was spot on. For our entrees we had Chicken Negra Modelo and the Sandwich "Coobah". Both were also quite well prepared and the plantains were great.

All in all a great restaurant you should definitely check out if you enjoy Latin food and a unique atmosphere.

Service was also great as our waitress couldn't have been more friendly and knowledgeable, even giving out vintage shopping advice!

05/05/07

Awesome food, awesome service

by jsp8878 at Citysearch

I was recommended to this place as it incorporated so many different foods: Spanish, Cuban, Brazilian, and Filipino. Sooooooo good. I had 2 appetizers and a speciality drink. The "jibarito" is a pile of shredded chicken with sweet bananas layered in between -- and it's spicy! The saltiness of the chicken, combined with the sweet bananas, and the crisp radicchio which leaves a fresh taste in your mouth, is awesome. I also had the pork skewers which were also spicey -- three of those with a pile of sticky white rice. This appetizer was good too but the jibarito is awesome if you want something different and exotic. For a specialty drink, had the "caipirinha". The rum was pretty strong, drink is full of tiny limes, and you can add strawberries for a $1 -- avoid using the straw that comes in this drink. The pulp from the limes clogs it up. Overall, this place is AWESOME. We went right around dinner time although I've heard it gets really crowded at night.

• Pros: Exciting and interesting food, attentive service
• Cons: Crowd may consist of drunkards coming from Wrigley Field or yuppies who keep banging the wooden menu

01/13/07

This is the REAL

by foodman2161 at Citysearch

Wow - this place is amazing. Great to find a locally owned and operated restaurant that strives to be different. The eclectic menu with influences from Spain, Cuba, Mexico and the Phillipines is unique and is so much more than just Latin. Been to every nominated Latin restaurant on CIty Search's Best of and completely blown away that Coobah didn't win - let alone place in the top 10. Shocked. It's a shame as the little restaurant that's doing it right doesn't have the "money" and "big names" behind them to solicit votes.

Regardless you NEED to check this place out. Intimate, funky, great music, relaxed service, Eclectic wine list and some of the best cocktails in Chicago - especially the Mojito.

A real "foodie" tired of the "big names" and "big boys" somehow winning with sub par food, plastic atmospheres, etc...

Try it you'll love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Pros: WOW - Food; WOW cocktails; WOW wine list
• Cons: If you aren't looking for imtimate and lots of energy - wrong place