Group-Friendly Chicago restaurants offer everything from tapas to tequilla drinks

Explore Chicago

Save This Page +

Photo courtesy of Carnivale

Carnivale

Item: Carnivale
Author: Jamie Bartosch

Cuisine: Cuban, Latin

Price Range: $$

10Best Says

Colorful, loud, and festive, this Nuevo Latino eatery serves up flavorful, spicy food with an extra emphasis on flair and presentation. Start with a tequila drink from their huge cocktail list, and one of their fresh ceviches. The menu is huge, with South American and Latin influences. A solid choice is the herb-crusted Bolivia Lamb Rack, or the Arrachera, a wood-grilled skirt steak, rice and beans, bacon sofrito, sweet red onion, and chimichurri sauce. For dessert, customers rave about the chocolate dome, made with white and dark chocolate mousse, topped with strawberry sorbet and fresh strawberries. The restaurant's open late, so it's fine for groups to linger after their meal.

Address:

702 W Fulton St
Chicago, IL 60661
312-850-5005

Hours:

Restaurant: Mon-Thu 11:30am-10pm; Fri 11:30am-11pm; Sat 5pm-11pm; Sun 5pm-10pm
Bar: Mon-Tue 11:30am-11pm; Wed-Thu 11:30am-Midnight; Fri 11:30am-1am; Sat 5pm-1am; Sun 5pm-10pm

Website:

carnivalechicago.com

EXPERT TIPS BY: Jamie Bartosch
Chicago Local Expert

Group Friendly: "Have some cotton candy! A huge stick of cotton candy comes either as a dessert, or with a cocktail."

Best for Group Friendly Because: This large restaurant has a fun, festive vibe to it, and the food is top quality.

Brunch Menu
- Starters
  
  Ropa Vieja
  
  Braised skirt steak, sweet plantains, malanga, aji amarillo aioli, queso fresco ($11.00)
  
  Bacon Wrapped Dates
  
  Marcona almond stuffed date, red endive, Fuji apple, romaine lettuce, lavender honey vinaigrette, blue cheese sauce ($10.00)
  
  Calamari
  
  Green papaya, carrots, malanga, cilantro, smoked hazelnuts, sweet and sour adobo ($11.00)
  
  Ham and Cheese Empanada
  
  Handmade baked empanada, house chimichurri, frisée, heirloom tomato, sherry vinaigrette ($10.00)
  
  Guacamole
  
  Chunky avocados, cilantro, chiles, onion, garlic, lime, chips ($10.00)
  
  Smoked Salmon Flatbread
  
  Sourdough flatbread, herb ricotta, tomato red onion relish, fried capers ($10.00)
  
  Smoked Trout Dip
  
  House-smoked lake trout, pickled chiles, red onion, preserved lemon aioli, plantain, corn chips ($11.00)
  
  Fruit and Granola Parfait
  
  Greek yogurt, seasonal fruit, house made granola ($6.00)
  
  Classic Caesar
  
  Organic romaine hearts, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, sourdough croutons ($8.00)
- Eggs
  
  Skinny Pablo Omelette
  
  Egg whites, spinach, tomatoes, avocado, parsley, queso fresco ($11.00)
  
  Gringo Omelette
  
  Diced peppers, onions, mushroom, spinach, aged cheddar ($11.00)
  
  Carnitas Omelette
  
  Maple Creek pork shoulder, onions, roasted poblanos, cilantro, salsa ahogada ($11.00)
  
  Huevos Rancheros
  
  Corn tostada, beans, avocado, Oaxaca cheese, chipotle salsa, cilantro, farm fresh eggs ($13.50)
  
  Chi-Town
  
  Farm fresh eggs, tater tots, English muffin, homemade smoked bacon or homemade pork sausage ($11.00)
  
  Fried Egg Sandwich
  
  Two farm fresh fried eggs, homemade smoked bacon, sliced tomatoes, romaine, aged cheddar, toasted sourdough bread, served with tater tots ($11.00)
  
  Pork Belly Benedict
  
  Bays English muffin, spinach, poached eggs, red eye hollandaise, papas braves, smoked pork belly ($14.50)
- Savory
  
  Chilaquiles
  
  Fresh corn tortillas, farm fresh eggs, tomatillo, Oaxaca cheese, cream, choice of carnitas or pulled chicken ($14.00)
  
  Tripleta Burrito
  
  Chicken, steak, chorizo chimichurri, congri, cheddar cheese, refried beans, romaine, tomatoes, guacamole ($15.00)
  
  Skirt 'N Eggs
  
  Wood grilled skirt steak, two farm fresh fried eggs, chimichurri ($17.00)
  
  Prime Burger
  
  Farm fresh fried egg, homemade smoked bacon, sliced tomatoes, brioche bun, served with potato sticks ($14.00)
  
  Chicken 'N Waffles
  
  Cuban-Korean spiced crispy chicken, waffles, chipotle maple syrup ($13.00)
  
  Braised Brisket Skillet
  
  House tater tots, sweet peppers, chihuahua cheese, eggs any style ($13.00)
- Decadent
  
  Banana Nutella French Toast
  
  Banana Nutella stuffed French toast, fresh whipped cream, brown butter, pineapple syrup ($12.00)
  
  Croicinnaroll
  
  Mashup of a croissant and cinnamon roll, Mexican Chocolate, cinnamon sugar icing ($11.00)
  
  Ricotta Pancakes
  
  Fluffy pancakes, whipped cream, fresh berries, Wisconsin maple ($12.00)
  
  Carnivale Waffle
  
  Macerated berries, fresh whipped cream, Vermont maple syrup ($11.00)
- Sides
  
  House Tater Tots
  
  ($4.00)
  
  Homemade Candied Bacon
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Homemade Pork Sausage
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Side of Eggs, any Style
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Sourdough or Multigrain Bread
  
  ($3.00)
  
  Bays English Muffin
  
  ($4.00)
Lunch Menu
- Appetizers
  Guacamole
  Chunky avocados, cilantro, chilies, onion, garlic, lime, fresh corn chips
  
  $8.00
  
  $16.00
  Ropa Vieja
  
  Braised brisket, sweet plantains, malanga, aji amarillo aioli, queso fresco ($11.00)
  
  Baked Oxtail Empanada
  
  Cuban-style oxtail, butternut squash purée, valdeón blue cheese chimichurri ($12.00)
  
  Calamari
  
  Green papaya, carrots, malanga, cilantro, smoked hazelnuts, sweet and sour adobo ($11.00)
  
  Smoked Trout Dip
  
  House smoked lake trout, pickled chiles, red onion, cilantro, fresh corn chips ($11.00)
  
  Vegetable Coca
  
  Herb ricotta, vegetable ragout, arugula ($11.00)
  
  Tacos De Pescado
  
  Tempura cod, vigoron slaw, chipotle aioli ($10.00)
- Salads
  
  Classic Caesar
  
  Organic romaine hearts, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, sourdough croutons ($10.00)
  
  Varadero
  
  Watercress, frisée, cherry tomatoes, candied almonds, golden raisins, queso fresco, champagne vinaigrette ($10.00)
  
  Carnivale Salad
  
  Romaine, iceberg, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, English cucumber, vigoron, chorizo, lemon sherry vinaigrette ($11.00)
  
  Amazonian Chopped Salad
  
  Local greens, hearts of palm, dates, queso fresco, avocado, cherry tomatoes, spiced cashews, champagne vinaigrette ($11.00)
- Large Plates
  
  Arrachera
  
  Grilled skirt steak, rice and beans, bacon sofrito, sweet red onion, chimichurri sauce ($18.00)
  
  Criollo Half Chicken
  
  Creole marinated chicken, Roasted vegetable and arugula ($15.00)
  
  Arroz Con Mariscos
  
  Saffron bomba rice, shrimp, mussels, clams, calamari, tomato sofrito ($15.00)
  
  Lomo Salteado
  
  Beef tenderloin chunks, peppers, onions, french fries, sofrito rice ($13.00)
  
  Arrachera Sandwich
  
  Arrachera a la plancha, green papaya slaw, pickled jalapeños, chili aioli, cucumber, cilantro ($12.50)
  
  Prime Burger
  
  Prime beef, Wisconsin aged cheddar, charred onion, brioche bun ($13.50)
  
  Amish Chicken Sandwich
  
  Grilled chicken breast, Wisconsin aged white cheddar, smoked bacon, tarragon aioli, arugula, avocado, sesame brioche ($12.50)
  
  BB Burger
  
  Black bean patty, tarragon aioli, blue cheese crema, arugula, pretzel bun ($12.00)
  
  Crispy Atlantic Cod Sandwich
  
  Preserved lemon remoulade, homemade coleslaw, brioche bun ($13.50)
  
  Cuban Frita
  
  Chorizo burger, brioche bun, aged cheddar, aji amarillo aioli, shoe string fries ($13.00)
- Sides
  
  Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Corn, Iberico Bacon Vinaigrette
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Rice and Beans, Bacon Sofrito
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Hand Cut Fries, Smoked Ketchup
  
  ($6.00)
Dinner Menu
- Seafood Bar
  Grand Seafood Platter
  
  6 East Coast oysters, 6 West Coast oysters, 1lb. poached Maine lobster, ½ lb. poached shrimp, 2 oz. Alaskan king crab legs, ceviche tasting ($98.00)
  
  Seafood Tacklebox
  
  3 East Coast oysters, 3 West Coast oysters, ½ lb. poached Maine lobster, ½ lb. poached shrimp, ceviche tasting ($50.00)
  
  Shrimp Cocktail
  
  Classic shrimp cocktail ($16.00)
  
  Oysters
  East Coast or West coast. Served with lemon, cocktail sauce, champagne mignonette, red wine mignonette
  
  Half: $12.00
  
  Dozen: $24.00
  Daily Ceviche
  
  ($13.00)
- Appetizers
  Guacamole
  Avocados, cilantro, chilies, onion, garlic, lime, fresh corn chips
  
  $10.00
  
  $17.00
  Ropa Vieja
  
  Braised veal cheeks, sweet plantains, malanga, aji amarillo aioli, queso fresco ($13.00)
  
  Calamari
  
  Crispy calamari, sesame achiote adobo, red cabbage, Poblano peppers ($15.00)
  
  Coconut Shrimp
  
  Aji panca glaze, frisée, pineapple chutney ($15.00)
  
  Shrimp Quesadilla
  
  Baby arugula, chipotle glaze ($13.00)
  
  Empanada
  
  Poblano peppers, corn, pepper sherry vinaigrette, fennel, Marcona almonds ($12.00)
  
  Spanish Octopus
  
  Octopus a la plancha, papas bravas, chorizo cantimpalo vinaigrette, lemon zest, preserved lemon aioli ($14.00)
- Salads
  
  Caesar Salad
  
  Ramoine lettuce, house-made Caesar dressing, sourdough croutons, shaved parmesan cheese ($12.00)
  
  Beet Tartare
  
  Heirloom beets, avocado, lemon, cornichons, shaved egg yolk, everything cracker ($13.00)
  
  Amazonian Salad
  
  Local greens, hearts of palm, dates, queso fresco, avocado, cherry tomatoes, spiced cashews, champagne vinaigrette ($12.00)
- Steaks
  
  45-Day Dry-Aged Prime Ribeye
  
  14 oz. Wood-grilled Creekstone Farms ribeye with choice of side ($49.00)
  
  Prime New York Strip
  
  16 oz. Prime Creekstone Farms New York strip, bone marrow butter, house chimichurri, onion rings ($50.00)
  
  Churrasco
  
  10 oz. Wood-grilled beef tenderloin, parsnip puree, brussel sprouts, chimichurri, crispy potatoes ($45.00)
  
  Arrachera
  
  Wood-grilled skirt steak, congri, bacon, sofrito, chimichurri ($29.00)
- Entrées
  
  Scallops
  
  Argentinian short-rib ravioli, parsnip puree, roasted corn chimichurri ($32.00)
  
  Rum Cured Salmon
  
  Quinoa, edamame, beech mushrooms, beurre monté ($28.00)
  
  Arroz con Mariscos
  
  Saffron bomba rice, shrimp, mussels, clams, calamari, chicken chorizo, tomato sofrito, peas ($33.00)
  
  Lechon Asado
  
  Braised Slagel Farms pork shoulder, Hazard Farms grits, plantain mojo ($28.00)
  
  Lamb Rack
  
  Wood-grilled lamb rack, acorn squash puree, pastel de yucca, squash seeds, baby mustard greens ($36.00)
  
  Peruvian Chicken
  
  Marinated Amish chicken, fingerling papa guisada, pickled vegetables ($25.00)
  
  Senator's Chicken
  
  Cracked-black-pepper-rubbed Amish chicken, hand-cut fries, baby kale, beurre monté ($25.00)
  
  Tacu Tacu
  
  Crispy rice & lentil cake, chickpea stew, baby vegetables, marinated chutney, crema ($21.00)
  
  Yucca Gnocchi
  
  Tomato arrabbiata, forest mushrooms, roasted acorn squash ($22.00)
  
  Chef Selection of the Day

Disclaimer: Always check with the business for pricing and availability of menu items. SinglePlatform is not responsible for menu or pricing changes, but the information is believed to be accurate when posted. Listing of a menu does not mean that there is any affiliation, endorsement or sponsorship between SinglePlatform and the listed business.