Bolat African Cuisine

The food here is fantastic. I had a yam starter, tilapia entre, and a yama-... something beef dish that was very good. Bottom line, the food here is really good. That being said, the service is very friendly but horribly slow. The specialty drinks are rediculously over priced and weak tasting. A long-island-ish iced tea was $12 and I'm still not convinced there was a drop of alcohol in it. (Maybe thats not a horrible price if you're getting premium booze, but it might as well have been a Snapple) My advice is definitely try this delicious food! But order take out, or just drink beer while you are there. If you go to Bolat, be sure to bring a few friends for good conversation (and maybe a board game) while you wait for the slow service.

Absolutely amazing experience. i have read many reviews about this place and i was a bit hesitant to go in, but i am very happy i did. judging from all this comments i was expecting bad service and mediocre food, but i was also hoping much as changed because of how old the reviews are and i was right. The food was very taste and the service was much improved from what i have read. so here are the goods and the bad: goods: The salmon couscous was absolutely delicious The nyama choma was very tasty and the burst of cilantro that hits your face when it arrives was also wonderful. The belder beer was totally impressive for a signature in house beer. the palmtini was one of the best cocktail i have had in a very long time. The bad: The time factor was about 25 minute which i thinks is a bit long, but not too bad for an African restaurant serving food this good. The parking situation was also a bit hectic, so take a train or a cab as there is no valet either. OVERALL: Great food, decent service, and even better drinks, but don't be in a hurry when you go this place.

Jollof rice, Efo and Iyan.

The food is very good, but on the whole, far too spicy for the average American palate. People leery of eating spicy food should go elsewhere, The problem is the service. The staff shares each others responsibilities, gets mutually distracted, gets sidetracked very easily and forgets about the customer. One often has to wave or flag down their server to get service. Orders are forgotten or screwed up. One moment the woman behind the bar is tending bar, the next moment she is busing trays the waiter then starts working behind the bar, then buses trays. Sometimes there is a second waiter for the same table. All work behind the cash register as well. All disappear into the kitchen. Are you getting the picture? They also look a bit dazed and confused when you come in, sort of like a deer caught in your headlights. They don't know what to say, and act surprised that anyone comes in at all! The operation seems poorly managed at the server level. The African beers are very good and worth trying.

We tried an oxtail dish at the Taste of Chicago that was pretty good. So we decided to give the restaurant a try. Boy, what a big mistake. It didn't taste anything like what we had at the Taste. Service was slow too.

Bolat has the best atmosphere in all nigerian reasturants!!!!!!!!!! no questions asked...these other reasturants need to get on their job! Bolats food is fresh tasty and "Tantalizing"! The food even looks appealing. Everyone can enjoy the food and the environment as well...they have customers from different parts of the universe! I am Nigerian andd Bolat is my first choice to dine alone or with friends before or after a study group! They're GRRREATTT!

Oh my god... I've found my new favorite food. African. Everything was so agreeable. So simple. So wonderful. We ordered the house special which comes with meat or fish, I got Goat, and Plantains, Jollof Rice, Steamed Rice, and Yam Porridge. All very very good. *Someone in this 'rate/review' complained about the goat being tough in a previous review... umm... goat is SUPPOSED to be a tough meat. You want soft? Get lamb.* The Goat in my Pro-Foodie opinion was great. Chewy with a good smoky flavor. I also ordered the Snail in a elegant spicy red sauce and it was amazing when paired with their palm wine. Flavor and texture heaven. Atmosphere was very cozy. Small place but nice and cozy. The bathroom was in a stinky basement but it's pretty typical for that area of Chicago. No surprise there. It was clean though. The service was a bit slow and apprehensive but after a few smiles and food compliments from our party, they warmed up. But I agree, they could be a bit more attentive. In total I'd give Bolat a 4 and I will make it a staple of my foodness in the city of Chicago. Go. eat there and enjoy.