Blanco Cocina + Cantina - Oak Brook

Review summary

1. C

   Caroline

   VIP

   Chicago

   11 reviews

   2.0

   11 reviews

   Dined today

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

   Not a great experience. Food came out like it was sitting under a heat lamp and we were there for almost 2 1/2 hours which is crazy because by the time we got our bill, we were the last ones there.
   

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2. M

   MARISOL

   Chicago

   4 reviews

   2.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

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

   Food was average and not worth the price. Server not attentive as well and made our first experience uncomfortable.
   

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3. K

   Kristina

   VIP

   Chicago

   48 reviews

   4.0

   48 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

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

   Superior and thoughtful margarita choices. Changes with the season. I have been here for lunch several times and feel that the food at lunch was somehow better. I had the mahi tacos. Fish was excellent but the tacos were very bland. Same experience with the shrimp tacos my husband had. Ceviche was good. Not great but good. Service was excellent - and the place was jumping.
   

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4. M

   Megan

   VIP

   Chicago

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

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

   Service was very slow and it was hard to get a servers attention. Maybe not enough staff?
   

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5. N

   Nichole

   Chicago

   7 reviews

   3.0

   7 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

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

   This is our third time at Cocina Blanco and will be our last. Each time we have left with the same feeling. We want to like this place because the ambience is spot on, but the food and service are sub-par. Let me preface that we are extremely low key with service. The service industry is over-worked and under-paid, and we give wide leeway for all service, and we tip heavily. That said, we cleared our own table (and deposited on empty table next to us, which was never cleared as well) when we had no more room for additional drinks and appetizers. We often had to flag down our server to ask if we could order drinks or appetizers. I had to re-order my diet-coke on 3 different occasions, because it never came. After drinks and appetizers had long since been completed, we waited for 30 minutes without a server checking on us to order our meal. We finally had to flag down our server (again) to ask if we could order our dinner (1.5 hours into our evening) as we had an event to attend. The chicken fajitas "looked" like they would be amazing, but the chicken had zero flavor. The mahi mahi tacos were good, not great. The carne asada burrito, chimichanga and beef tacos my friends ordered were all described as average, but not worthy of the price. The large guacamole we ordered for the table was about a cup of guac that was watery and super salty. Actually, much of the food was very, very salty, seemingly an attempt to add flavor. I really wish they would invest in kitchen talent and servers to match the ambience and location. Sadly, I can't recommend Cocina Blanco.
   

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6. D

   David

   Chicago

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

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

   Food was hot, prompt and delicious. Server Celeste was very sweet, polite, efficient and accommodating.
   

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7. A

   Andrielle

   Chicago

   6 reviews

   3.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on 16 February 2025

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

   I really love Blanco Cocina but I have to say that their reservation system and timing for seating is always frustrating for me being that there will be tables open with a reservation. Today, out of curiosity I asked why they operate that way and the two girls up front gave me a sub par answer. Part of it being that if they sat us down too quickly there was a risk that we’d be waiting at the table without the servers knowing we were there for a while. Then one of them tried to use the fact that we showed up during the cushion time after the reservation as if that had any meaning. I didn’t appreciate the sass especially considering that happens 80-90% of the time when I make reservations at Blanco. The food is great but I will likely not return for a while considering the consistency’s in the disappoints in their customer service. Side note, had a Paloma for the first time there and it was great.
   

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8. k

   kayt

   Chicago

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on 15 February 2025

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

   I believe Cesar was our waiter and we never went without chips, drinks, new plates/silverware... we didn't have to ask for new plates. He just brought them. Our food came out so fast we could have been in and out in under and hour (party of 3). But it was a table of friends catching up and we were welcomed to stay as long as we liked. Ordered a few more Margaritas-- their frozen Marg was fantastic. Perfectly blended so there wasn't any chunks of ice! I had their Taco salad and not only was it delicious-- I took more than half of it home because the portion size was really big which contributed to the great value. Will absolutely be back!
   

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9. P

   Patrick

   VIP

   Chicago

   35 reviews

   5.0

   35 reviews

   Dined on 14 February 2025

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

   I had the short rib bowl. The meat was very tender and tasty and the surrounding ingredients were also tasty and fresh. The service was spot on. Our server was friendly and attentive (I wish I remembered her name). I topped off my delicious lunch with a drink at the bar. I had the Mezcal Old Fashion. Very good. Maria was very nice and she knew her mixology. It was a very nice experience. I look forward to my next visit.
   

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10. F

    Fernanda

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 11 February 2025

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

    Top tier service, the team work among the staff was amazing and the food was fresh, hot and delicious. Let me not forget the great cocktails.
    

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