Marina's Bistro and Rum Bar

Review summary

1. M

   Michael

   VIP

   Chicago

   10 reviews

   5.0

   10 reviews

   Dined on October 18, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The food and drinks are delicious. It reminds me of my mom’s cooking. The staff is fabulous and very friendly. This is a must stop when I have friends in town.
   

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2. F

   F Javier

   VIP

   New York City

   8 reviews

   5.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on October 5, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Marina’s is a beautiful restaurant with incredible service and DELICIOUS food! Run, don’t walk to make your reservation at this neighborhood gem!
   

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3. J

   Jose

   Chicago

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on October 1, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Was my anniversary and right away they came to our table with 2 cups of champagne in the house.we were exited about the treatment then food was really good those pastellillos and tha avocado spice was amazing I had in En mi viejo San Juan cocktail…yummmmmmm
   

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4. L

   Lydia

   VIP

   Chicago

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on September 21, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We tried four different cocktails and they were all SO good. They brought me back to the beach. 10/10 for every food dish we had. Service was phenomenal!!!! The staff is so fun and friendly and knowledgeable. The owner is very engaged and enthusiastic about his restaurant, he was with his staff helping out. New favorite restaurant.
   

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5. M

   Meredith

   Chicago

   29 reviews

   5.0

   29 reviews

   Dined on September 13, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This was my third time eating at Marina's Bistro, and each time I've loved it. The restaurant is unassuming from the outside, but don't let the strip mall location fool you--inside is vibrant and intimate. Soon after sitting down, you'll receive plantain chips with the most delicious guava butter. Everything we've tried has been flavorful and thoughtfully prepared, but some favorites are the chicken thigh mofongo and avocado salad. My husband is a vegetarian and loves the mushroom mofongo. I'm gluten-free and there are plenty of options, even two desserts. The drink menu has so many enticing options that it's hard to choose. I've enjoyed Marina's Punch and El Viejo San Juan. I ordered a La Roxana mocktail last time and was pleasantly surprised. Often mocktails are too sweet, too tart, or just off. This was wonderfully balanced--I didn't feel like I was missing alcohol. The owner and chef, Eric, stops by to welcome guests and check in after you've been served. Staff are friendly and attentive. I highly recommend booking at Marina's Bistro!
   

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6. B

   Brent

   Cincinnati

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on September 8, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great food, location and prices. Great mofongo! Very friendly service!
   

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7. K

   Kristina

   Washington DC

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on September 8, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great cocktails and food and super friendly service!
   

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8. L

   Luis

   Chicago

   22 reviews

   5.0

   22 reviews

   Dined on September 6, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Phenomenal Puerto Rican food and excellent attentive service. I keep bringing new people every time I go. I had th bistec encebollao con el mofongo de plátano y yuca - DEVINE!
   

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9. R

   Rafael

   Detroit

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on September 1, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Great food! Best Mofongo I have ever had. Service (Anna) was so warm and welcoming.
   

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10. D

    Diego

    Chicago

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 30, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Marina's Bistro and Rum Bar was an okay and fair experience. The ambiance and the service were outstanding. Being from Puerto Rico (recently moved to Chicago), it gave me the sense that I was in a cozy restaurant in the metropolitan area of the island, which was nice. When it came to the drinks, it was one of the best things about this restaurant. The Tres Casas, Calle Loiza, The Old San Juan, and La Playita were really great drinks. The starters (croquetas, Queso frito, and Pastelillos) were okay. What really let me down was the main dish. I was disappointed with the Mofongo with Lechon asado. The yuca mofongo was really good, but the lechon asado tasted plain with barely any seasoning. It was unfortunate that one of the delicacies of puertorican cuisine, such as lechon, was a big letdown. Overall, it's a good and okay restaurant to inmerse yourself as a first-timer trying puertorican cuisine. I would return for their amazing drinks. Other than that, I would think carefully when choosing the right main dish.
    

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