09/13/08

The Best Fondue and very romantic!

by MassageGirl21

This is the only way I'd do fondue, and I've gone to Gejas a number of times and I definitely would highly recommend getting a booth because it's definitely much better than the tables. Every time that I've gone I've had good service and the food has been good as well. Just be careful if it's your first experience to watch out for the oil because when it does get really hot it does kind of crackle and pop. The first time my brother went there he was mad and couldn't stand it because he couldn't keep track of how long his food was cooking and kept on losing the food off of the little forks. The forks are color coordinated, and it can be tough to keep the food on them, especially with lobster and the patatoes. It was rather dimly lit, but hands down the most romantic place I've ever been to. I agree that if you have noisy people behind/in front of you you can hear their conversations, so going later can help with that. This is the only place where I'll eat lobster and actually the first place I tried it, and I just love it! (and I'm generally not a seafood fan, plus, the shrimp is good too). Everything is top quality food, and I'll be coming back here again and again because it's a fun, and unique experience every time.

• Pros: Very romantic, amazing food, great experience.
• Cons: Dimly lit, hard to see at times, gotta ask for a booth

07/15/08

Perfect for couples

by tnoves

I went here with my boyfriend on a monday night to celebrate our one-year anniversary, and it was the best choice we could have made. First off, the valet was the great at only $9. We chose to wait for a booth (which I HIGHLY recommend doing). It definitely isn't a bad wait if you aren't pressed for time. They have a decent outdoor patio with little tables and candles, and the hostess calls you in when the booth is ready. Despite what some people may have said, I completely adored the restaurant's decor and atmosphere. It wasn't too dim, as the windows are a nice size for the "cellar vibe", and there are candles, and warmly lit lamps in the booths. There are old wine bottles covering all of the walls, and wine-style oil paintings. It isn't one big room like some restaurants, but has a few walls dividing the doorway, seating area, and bar. Not all the tables in the center were extremely close, and I could tell that they had done their best spacing people out, but on a busy night it would be best to wait for a side table or a booth if you don't want to feel like you're a joint party with another table.

The food was simply delicious. They are quite generous portions, and the fruit and vegetables were very fresh. The waiters were very professional and elegantly dressed. The guitarist was also great. He sits on a raised chair in the corner of the dining area. It took just over two hours for us to finish our premier dinners: salad, cheese fondue, meat/vegetables, chocolate fondue, and coffee. Since we only chose to have chicken and meat, as opposed to seafood as well, the whole dinner was only $36/person. For some reason they charged us for our cappuccinos, so I'm assuming that just plain coffee is included in the premier dinner price. So overall our bill was $88, and with a tip we paid just over $100. Definitely worth the money. You also get a $25 off certificate with your bill, always a nice way to recieve a check.

• Pros: ambience, perfect for special occasions, great fondue
• Cons: if you have louder neighbors, you can too easily hear every word

04/16/08

My favorite restaurant when I visit chicago!

by ascholten

I discovered this place 4-5 years ago when visiting chicago (I am from MI), and no fondue experience has ever been the same. Everytime I return to chicago it is a must that I dine here! If you have ever been to a chain like the melting/pot - it doesn't even compare to the experience here. The atmosphere is small, cozy, romantic. I DO recommend that when calling in for a reservation that you specifically ask for a booth. If you get a table, you will find that you may be sitting on the laps almost of the table next to you. Also, I would suggest coming a little later - say 8:30-9ish as things will calm down a little more.

I will say I had one minor bad experience here the last time I visited this x-mas of 07. I took my fiance here for the first time (his first time in chicago as well). I won't make this long, but watch out for the exploding potatoes! My fiance got minor burns on his hand from the hot oil, and I got oil all over my new shirt I had just bought. While the staff made sure to frequent our table more, the manager only comped a couple glasses of wine, he didn't offer anything for my ruined shirt, and we still had to pay for the dinners in full. Considering how great of business this place gets (and how much I frequent it for not even being a resident of the city) I would think that the least they could have done was comped our meal for this time. If you are someone that can't laugh an experience off like this I would suggest not going as apparently this does happen from time to time.

However, b/c of how much I love this place, the experience, and the food I will visit again the next time I am in chicago. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time (2-3 hours), and come with an empty stomach!!!!

• Pros: Great ambience and food
• Cons: Poor management

12/10/07

So Cozy and Romantic...

by aayars

As first timers at the Geja's Cafe I didn't know what to expect. I found the cafe in the Fodor's guide, with the words Romantic catching my eye. I called on a Thursday night making reservations for that Sunday for 7:00pm for two people. They were very nice on the phone. I let them know it was our first time at the cafe and it was my boyfriends birthday, so could we be put down for a booth(Fodor's recommendation).The receptionist said it was a first come first serve basis with the booths, but she would make a note by my name. We arrived at 7:00pm, didn't have to valet park ($9)since we found parking not even a half a block away. We only waited a few minutes after checking our coats and we were seated in our requested booth. Our waiter was nice and explained the menu to us and how the courses worked. He was even kind enough to bring two hot pots for us to cook the main courses in, because I don't eat meat/fish and didn't want my veggies tasting like fish. The first course cheese foundue was so rich and creamy, my boyfriend and I will be back for just that! The main dishes were fun to cook, and they even give you 8 different souces to dip you meat or veggies in. By the time we reached the end and the melted chocolate was brought out, we didn't think we would be able to eat it, but we forced ourselves to nibble. A great choice for a date or a group of people. We'll be back!

A word of advice... don't were heavy clothes(even in winter) and sweaters, unless you have a shirt underneath, it can get a bit warm with all of the fire on the table! You may also get a little grease on your clothes-it can jump from the pots, so wear something you can through in the wash.

• Pros: Sweet, romantic, and fun.
• Cons: Can get a warm at the table with the fire.

11/08/07

One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago!

by natsmacks

Yeah, so you smell like oil when you leave. And yeah, sometimes the smell of sterno is bad. But, I have been here for dinner at least 10 times and I loved each experience. I tell the host at the beginning that I would rather wait for a booth than sit at a table in the center of the room... or when you make the reservation (I believe weekdays only) ask specifically for a booth. The wine selection is fantastic and I have loved everything I have tried there. The meat portions are small but if you ask for more veggies, they are more than happy to oblige. The service is usually very good.

• Pros: Fun dinner, good service, fantastic wine list, romantic setting
• Cons: Can get super crowded and no reservations on the weekends

08/21/07

I go to restaurants so someone else will cook my food!!

by eatinginphilly

I made a reservation at Geja's based on several recommendations from people who had previously lived in Chicago. While I enjoyed the experience, I wasn't as thrilled with the food as I thought I would be. First of all, while the ambience is interesting, it can be a bit claustrophobic with the very dim lighting and low ceilings (it's in a basement). I would recommend requesting to be seated at a booth-- some of the 2 person tables are tiny and very close to the adjacent tables. The menu is a bit confusing, but the waitress did a great job explaining how the whole thing worked. I loved the cheese fondue, but I was dissapointed with the whole cook-your-own-food-in-oil deal. Besides being way too much work, the food didn't even turn out that great once I cooked it. I found the lobster to be a bit chewy, and the sauces offered on the platter were less-than-interesting. I also found that I quickly tired of the oily flavor that accompanied everything I cooked, and as a result I didn't finish all the items on my platter, not because I was no longer hungry, but because I couldn't take that oil taste any more! The chocolate fondue was very good, and I liked how they lit the liquour on fire when it arrived at the table so that you could roast marshmallows until it burned off. In conclusion, Geja's was an interesting dining experience-- it was cool to be actively involved in cooking your meal at the table, but be warned that the results might not be as good as hoped. Or maybe I'm just not a fondue person...

• Pros: interesting experience, great cheese & chocolate fondues
• Cons: cramped, oily tasting food, too much effort, not a great value

07/04/07

Gone Downhill. Overpriced, and undersized dishes now.

by mrjustice

Now that we recently moved back to the City, I ate at Geja's again after a 15 year hiatus (used to dine here about 3-4 times year then). Unfortunately, we were very dissappointed. Prices, of course, have gone up considerably - probably more than the rate of inflation. That would be ok, if the dishes and service were at least as good as when I last dined here. But, they have gotten smaller (less meat/shrimp/lobster, less veggies, and even less dipping sauces). Cheese fondue was also smaller and dipping bread wasn't even very good. Service wasn't great either - but, we understand that can vary with the waitress (ours was a real Ditz). Of course, it remains a romantic spot -- IF you're lucky enough to get a roomy & private booth (on this occasion despite advance reservations, we were not). Long ago we learned to make our own complete Fondu Dinners - even better than the Geja's I remember; so, I think we'll stick to making our own for the future.

• Pros: Always Romantic (IF you are lucky enough to get a private roomy booth).
• Cons: Gone downhill over the years. Overpriced; Dishes too small now.

05/28/07

NEVER AGAIN!!!

by ajf_in_chi

So I made reservations for 2, looking forward to a very romantic date, and ended up being seated at a convertred 4-top which they split into two 2-tops 2 inches from each other. The person seated next to me (other couple) was twice as close to me as my date across the table. I heard their conversation more easily than I could hear my own (and I imagine vice versa).

When I POLITELY AND DISCREETLY asked the host for a table for 2 people, the host, visibly agitated at my audacity to desire a romantic dining experience with my date, quite rudely replied that it would be another hour wait (I knew better, and called him on it - he stammered and stumbled but wouldnt' reseat us). Plus, he knew what I was going to ask for before I even asked, which indicates I wasn't the first to have a problem with this. Granted, he did apologetically come up to our table 5 minutes later and offer to seat us at a better table if one came available, apparently recognizing how inappropriate his earlier behavior was (SORRY BUDDY, too little, too late, and another admission of guilt).

Needless to say, we weren't re-seated in spite of the fact that half the restaurant opened up within the next half hour. Plus we were right seated next to the kitchen - I can't tell you how many times I was bumped by the waitstaff running by. The table was small and was unable to handle our dinners and a bottle of wine. I had to carefully navigate all night just to keep from knocking something over. How can ANYBODY enjoy a romantic dinner at "the most romantic restaurant in Chicago" under such circumstances?

ADVICE TO GEJA'S - Don't take reservations for 2 at a time when you don't have a table for 2 available just so you can cram more sardines into the can. I would much rather have had reservations a half hour later and actually ENJOYED my dinner. If you get a good table, you'll enjoy this restaurant. However, this isn't a given so DINE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

• Pros: Good food, generally romantic ambience
• Cons: Rude, snotty hosts - very full of themselves

03/31/07

Best Fondue in Chicago

by dosters

Every time I go to Geja's it is a wonderful dining experience. There is usually a wait (20-30 minutes, usually), but well worth it. During the meantime, you can whet your whistle at their bar, which serves up the best sangria this side of the Atlantic that I have tasted.

The atmosphere is incredible, with low romantic lighting, live flamenco guitar most nights, and wrought iron fixtures everywhere. Once you are at your table, you can choose from either a la carte options or choose an entree, which is actually a 4 course meal. If you order an entree, the first courses come out together: the salad and the cheese fondue. The cheese fondue serves breads and fruits for dipping and the salad is refreshing. Waiters serve everything with a flourish and are very attentive. I have never once had a poor experience with the wait staff, as some others have noted. The entree serves a combination of meats and vegetables. They are cooked in hot oil (not water, you ignoramus!). The dessert is a flaming chocolate fondue with marshmallows for roasting and fruits and cake pieces for dipping. I have never left this restaurant hungry, as some others have noted. In fact, I have to make sure to save room for dessert, and am usually full for some time afterward. This restaurant is no more cramped than any other busy restaurant in downtown Chicago. Those who complain about cramped conditions and small portions are probably the type to conclude most restaurant orders with "Can you SuperSize that for me?" Also noteworthy is the fact that while the pricing here is listed as $$$, there are coupons available for repeat customers who sign up for their mailing list. All in all, one of the premiere dining establishments in the city of Chicago.

• Pros: Sangria, ambience, Live Music, wonderful service, Valet Parking

11/16/06

Romantic! Wonderful wine & Fondue!

by monicalang

Great restaurant for a special occasion. Very romantic setting- great wine list too. The setting is in the basement of the building so it is dark and cozy.

• Pros: Romantic! Great wine list!