The Best
I had enjoyed the food here many times. We had great service, wines and freshly prepared, best tasting, appitizers and main entrees. Love the decor and the ambiance.
Food: 8
Service: 8
Ambiance: 8
Overall: 8

My Worst Dining Experience
I really feel bad for my friends, because I recommended we dine here, and it was a disaster! The Sangria is awful! I sent it back and replaced it with a pitcher of Mojitos. They taste good, but I drank half the pitcher and only caught a sugar buzz. $28 for lemonade is ridiculous! We drank and ate appetizers, then we ordered at 8pm and they were already out of the dish recommended by the waitor. The waitor did not know the menu at all and made up answers to my questions--which I discovered were wrong AFTER the food came. I told him that I wanted protein and vegetables, so he suggested their 'award winning' dish featured in some recent magazine: scallops and stir fry vegetables. It took them over an hour from the time we ordered our meal to bring it to us. When I got my meal, there were 5 scallops and a tiny pile of pasta with a few onion slivers in it. Even if I wanted pasta, I would have gone hungry. It looked like an appetizer. Thank goodness I got some fuel from all the sugar water I drank before the meal! The Coconut creme brulee had no coconut in it, nor did it taste like it did. On top of all of this, the waitor asked consistently if everything was OK and we consisitently gave him kind feedback, but he could have cared less and did nothing about it, except not charge us for the pitcher of so called Sangria--which I had requested anyway. I like the atmosphere, but he music is repetative and too loud--it is difficult to have a conversation. The food was presented very well and tasted decent (not authentic, but they don't claim that it is), but the dining experience as a whole was horrendous. To sum it up: there was no rum in the Mojito, no vegetables in the stir fry, no coconut in the coconut creme brulee and no service in the restaurant. I know you are probably thinking that I am one of those who complain about everything, but, let me tell you, when I was in the ladies room after the meal, I heard another woman say, "That was the worst meal I have ever had. I'm not coming back here." I knew it was not me! You have been warned! Please bring back the Copa Cubana to Naperville--it was wonderful!
Recommended: plantain chips and black bean salsa
Food: 4
Service: 2
Ambiance: 8
Overall: 2

Recent changes aren't for the better...
I used to absolutely love samba room but within the last few months they have had a menu change to more fried foods and reduced portions and quality of preparation. Overall I wouldn't go back now.
Recommended: I used to like the sashimi tuna but no longer!
Food: 4
Service: 8
Ambiance: 8
Overall: 4

Nice blend of different influences
By looking at the menu, I thought the restaraunt's influences were Carribean/South American, not strictly Cuban. (which I believe is a good thing)Hard to compare since I think many of the flavors were a unique blend. I thought the wine list was a nice offering. Overall experience was very good.
Recommended: Fish
Food: 8
Service: 6
Ambiance: 8
Overall: 8

wonderful blend of flavors
This has become one of our favorite restaurants. The red snapper is absolutely delicious and the presentation in great. It's a fun atmosphere with out being over the top. In warmer weather it's a great place to sit outside and enjoy yourself. Also the iced coffee is really good.
Food: 8
Service: 8
Ambiance: 8
Overall: 8

I thought it was great!
Nice atmosphere, my dinner was wonderful and came out hot, the service was great. I wonder if some of the other reviewers here went to the same place?
Food: 10
Service: 10
Ambiance: 10
Overall: 10

I agree - I love it.
My husband and I have been to the restaurant four times in the past year and we've had fantastic food each time. The ambiance is great; the service is really nice. I highly recommend the Samba Room and I'm a picky person when it comes to dining out.
Food: 8
Service: 10
Ambiance: 8
Overall: 8

Do they really think they are food critics?
I have taken the time to read all of the above reviews and I have to ask, "do they really think they are food critics?" Where do they come off criticizing the most trivial facets of the dining experience. The Samba Room is fantastic...food, drinks, ambiance, service, etc. This is a nice restaurant designed with Cuban flair and should be absorbed accordingly.
Recommended: Any fish entree is delightful
Food: 8
Service: 6
Ambiance: 8
Overall: 8

It was lovely...
The food was good. The service was good. The atmosphere was nice. We all had terrific meals. The Sangria was the only disappointment.
Recommended: The Plantain encrusted Mahi-Mahi
Food: 6
Service: 6
Ambiance: 8
Overall: 6

The Worst!
Absolutely the worst "Cuban" cuisine I have ever had. This is just another "theme" restaurant. Avoid at all cost.
Food: 2
Service: 4
Ambiance: 6
Overall: 2

Try it, you might like it!
Samba room was nice. It was a pleasant change instead of going to downtown Chicago, so that was an experience in itself. The place was nice, the food was good. I recommend the "Churrasco". It's NY steak with rice and beans, but it's much better than I'm describing it. Also the platanos are good, although we thought they would be a good side dish and actually they make a good dessert. They have brown sugarr and cinnamon, so, you may want to hold off until after the main course. The only complaint is the music. Ok, I know the theme of the restauran is Cuban, and I know Gloria Estefan is Cuban, but that doesn't mean you have to play her CD ALL night LONG! There are many other great Cuban artist that they could have played, and they didn't even have to be Cuban to give it a Latin flavor. Overall, good! I put down minor flaws for ambience cause believe it or not, the chairs we were sitting in were probably the most uncomfortable I've sat in ever!
Food: 6
Service: 8
Ambiance: 8
Overall: 6

P-YOOOO, Yuck Yuck!!!
This is Cuban food made for Anglos, no flavor what so ever. I'd recommend Copa Cubana before the Samba room, but even that place is lame.
Recommended: N/A
Food: 4
Service: 4
Ambiance: 4
Overall: 2
- P-YOOOO, Yuck Yuck!!!
- May Day Brotherhood