Neon Gardens

We made a reservation for a table for Harry Potter trivia. When we arrived, we were seated in the bar area. What we didn't realize at the time is that the trivia is conducted in another room. From where we were seated, we couldn't see the screen or hear the trivia host. This meant I had to leave my food and drink and go stand in the other room to participate. This was extremely frustrating. After an hour and a half, and us only just beginning the second half of trivia, we decided to leave. When you book a seat at trivia, you expect you're going to be able to play while seated. I don't understand why with all the screens they have they couldn't have it on one in the bar area as well, or put a speaker back there so we could listen, or just pass around a sheet of the questions. At the very least, the host could have walked back and announced the questions to everyone. Also, their fryer was down so the only food options were pizza or salad. We had a $38 pepperoni pizza and a "butterbeer." The pizza was okay, but it was the kind that's best when hot. The "butterbeer" was decent. The bartenders were really great...very friendly and personable. Overall, I wouldn't bother going back. I went specifically for the Harry Potter trivia night and it ended up being a disappointment. Note: Reservations are required as it gets very busy. They charge a pop up fee per person and automatically add a gratuity to your bill.

Kyle was a great server and made our first experience wonderful. The food was delicious! And the drinks were good as well. The arcade was cool too (though the dig dug control stick needs adjustment). I like how they have different theme throughout the years. Well come back when they change for their new theme since we’re not Taylor Swift fans.

Since the theme changes every few months, this review will focus on the current Jurassic Park World in the Summer of 2025. All the TV’s were playing different JP movies. Great looking dinosaurs and other displays abound. Speciality cocktails and pizzas (some by the slice, all from adjoining Slice Hut) have cute names (Stego Sausage, The Laura Dern). Drinks run sweet but or very friendly and helpful bartender customized mine and even offered to continue tweaking it after I tasted it. Pizza is mainly NY style with a couple Sicilian options. Most available by the slice which is 1/6 of an 18” pie. A bit pricey but sauce and toppings are good quality. There’s a game room with some free and some pay video games. Large patio. Sunday late afternoon is family overload so be forewarned. All in all, will keep up with the themes and go again.

I have to say this was my first time coming here. It will not be my last. The food is really good. Courtney was our waitress and she was very knowledgeable on the food. She recommended the chicken wrap. It did not disappoint. I also tried the Milk Stout there it was delicious as well. One thing I really hope they put on the menu is burgers. The amount of detail put into the place was really impressive. They change themes and this time the theme was Jurassic Park. I heard about this place when they had a Harry Potter theme. Sadly , I didn’t have a chance to go to the Harry Potter one but seeing Jurassic Park makes me not ever want to miss another one. The game room was ninja turtle themed. They have tons of photo opportunities as well! I recommend you go early before the crowd shows up so you can take photos. They have two rooms , the dining room and the game room. The game room has old fashion arcade games that are free to play. This place is kid friendly before 9pm. I totally recommend this place! Follow me on instagram & tik tok kidkaren0893

I brought my entire family to this restaurant because I absolutely loved the theme. We were a big group who should have made reservations but I forgot 😭😭 they made accommodations as quickly as they could. It was my daughter’s fifth birthday, and they really made us feel welcomed and special. Loved the wings and drinks and absolutely love the creativity of the menu. The games had all the parents stuck.

We visited during the week with our girls who LOVE Jurassic Park. Unfortunately, the service was lacking and both the host and waiter seemed annoyed we were there even though the restaurant was half empty and we had a reservation. We wandered around ourselves looking for the photo ops, and when we got our food the only hot thing was the pizza which was actually really good. Skip the Caesar wrap and appetizers. Go for the pizza.

We visited the Harry Potter pop-up at Neon Gardens, and it was such a fun experience for everyone! The decor was magical, and there were so many great photo opportunities. We tried some of the themed food, and while it was good, it took a long time to come out—and unfortunately, it was cold when it arrived. That was the only downside to an otherwise great night. The butterbeer was a highlight, and the atmosphere is perfect for Harry Potter fans of all ages. Definitely worth checking out!

I absolutely love the idea of this place. A rotating theme thats kid friendly with free arcade games in a room separate from the dining area. But the execution of being a restaurant fails. We read reviews of bad service before going and thought "hey maybe those are just picky people". We're pretty patient and understand people get busy, but no.. the service was terrible. Server was not very attentive, wasnt overly busy, slow to put in food, slow to bring food, overall not good. Food was nothing great. Not terrible, but nothing to brag about. Jurassic theme was pretty cool though. Good photo opportunities for the kids.

It's extremely bizarre for an establishment to have a very active social media presence, then fail to let the public know when a sought after event is cancelled. After seeing Neon Gardens was closed before their promoted trivia event, we went to another bar down the way. They said they were getting calls asking if Neon Gardens was closed too. Do better, you're a well known business in a big city. It was so sad to see the TV's going and the decor up while we were stranded outside. We were so excited :(

I have never been to this restaurant but saw that they do seasonal pop ups which in this case was the Jurassic Park theme. My son is really into dinosaurs and thought this would be fun. I must say the props were spot on and made the dining experience real cool and eye appealing. Our server was great; attending to our questions and offering suggestions as this was our first time there. The food was good and big, we took leftovers home. I wasn't quite satisfied with the fishbowl drink which says it can serve 4 people but our server was polite enough to switch it out. This was a great experience!

Stopped by on a Thursday evening after dinner for the Harry Potter pop up. The decorations were awesome. My friends & I all ordered butterbeer which was a little sweet for my taste but still delicious. The staff was super friendly. The space is very spacious so this would be a good spot for larger groups. There was also a hidden pizza spot & games in the back of the bar!

You need to check out Neon Gardens! The decor is so colorful, you will feel like you are on vacation. It's a casual place where you can meet friends or family and everyone will have a great time. From the food menu to the drinks menu, there is truly something for everyone. Don't forget to check out the artwork from local Chicago artists in the front bar. Our favorite drinks were the Summer in Sicily and Palermo Paloma. They offer a great variety of New York Style Pizza, Chicken Tenders, Meatballs, and more. Check out the game room that has lots of cool throwback games. If you don't have time to sit and eat, you can always grab a slice or two from the Slice Hut on the corner, to go! Can't wait for warmer weather to experience their open air atrium and outdoor patio.

Fun New Venue Alert!!!!!!! Where can you find great food and drinks, an eclectic atmosphere and games all in one place? @neongardens is the place! We had a fun night at the grand opening of @neongardenschicago in Lincoln Park We enjoyed drinks in their front bar with artwork from local Chicago artists. Try the Summer in Sicily or Palermo Paloma drinks,  you will thank us later. We had fabulous food and more drinks in their open air atrium: We feasted on Calamari, Chicken Tenders, Meatballs, and a huge variety of New York Style Pizza! Next time, we will sit in their cute outdoor patio! Don't forget to visit the 90's inspired game room for lots of fun! If you're in a hurry,  visit the The Slice Hut for New York Style Pizza to-go! To say that we were thrilled with our visit to Neon Gardens Chicago is an understatement Neon Gardens, it's soooo slice to meet you!

Came here with my college friends and their kids for the Nickelodeon 90s pop-up and it didn't disappoint! It was nostalgia galore! I think I had more fun than my nephews did! There's a full bar when you walk in and the main dining room is next door. Both were decked out in full 90s Nickelodeon decor. They even had Arnold's stoop in the back (IYKYK). There was also an arcade in the back that my nephews really enjoyed in between waiting for our food. The food itself was decent for this type of place. Nothing spectacular, but tasty. I'd be back if they had another pop-up. I can't say much about the service because I spent most of my time in the arcade away from the table, but our food seemed like it came out in a reasonable time, despite having a large party.

I Visited The Neon Gardens Last Night For The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pop-Up. While The Event And Service Were Quite Slow And Disorganized, The Staff Was Amazing And Worked Hard To Ensure Everyone Was Taken Care Of. It Seemed Like They Might Have Been Short-Staffed, But Our Waiter, Rory, Was Fantastic. Despite Being Swamped, He Was Calm, Welcoming, And Attentive. We Never Felt Rushed, And His Kindness Really Stood Out! To Start, The Manager Offered Us A Complimentary "Raph" Drink To Make Up For The Long Wait, Which Was A Nice Gesture. For Food, I Had The Chicken Tenders, Which Were Surprisingly Delicious--Crispy, Not Dry--And Served With Crinkle Fries. My Partner Had A Slice Of Diavola Pizza. He Said It Wasn't The Best He's Ever Had But Not Terrible Either. As For The Pop-Up Itself, It Was A Bit Underwhelming. The Highlights For Me Were The Master Splinter Sewer And The Life-Size Raphael, But Overall, The Instagram Reels Made The Place Seem Much Cooler Than It Actually Was.

Swung by on a Friday night for a second round of drinks! Neon Gardens is currently doing a Nickelodeon popup. They definitely went all out on decor from the wall art, giant papier mache sculptures, and so many photo ops! We did not have a reservation but were able to be seated right away. It is 21+ after 9pm I believe. I ordered The Reptar cocktail which was appropriately Nick slime green! It's a gin drink but was a bit too flowery for my tastes. We also ordered cheese curds to share and slices of pizza. Props to whoever's idea it was to put ziti on pizza.... it was exactly what I needed! Service was attentive and quick. Can't wait to see what theme they decide to do next!

Well let me start with I was a bit scared going here because my brother and sister came here a day before and they were treated bad with horrible service well the saying service is too much they wasted about an hour and half with no drinks or food and the server was rude to them so they left and didn't even eat. So that being said we came in around 2 pm Sunday today and we got seated quick and our server was friendly and nice. I was surprised that our order came out quick actually. Food was good pizza topping are of good taste. The place was clean so I like that and restrooms as well. Cool place to eat and chill for a bit watch the game or hang out with family and friends. I would go back for sure. I just hope they can redeem them selfs with my sister and brother one day so they can give them another shot. But I do recommend it for sure

What a great experience! Before I get to the good parts I do have to mention I tried to book a reservation so I could have a table but the website wouldn't let me book a table for just myself and told me to call. I called and no one answered so I had to leave a message. No one called me back, that's terrible if they're not calling people back especially with the predicament I was in. Def recommend but not sure about the reservation thing. I had to walk in and sit at the bar which I absolutely HATE. The only reason they didn't get 5 stars. I LOVE the pop up they're doing. It felt like my childhood. It wasn't just like paper characters and themed drinks, they went all out. It was insanely cool. The pop up is there until the end of May 2025. The Kell Loves Orange Soda I got without the whipped cream. It tasted just like Orange Fanta and nothing else. The music and staff were great. I asked some of the waitresses if they wouldn't mind taking a picture of me and she did, and did a GREAT job.

Neon Gardens is exactly what the neighborhood needed. Ever since they opened last summer, it's become my go-to spot for everything from casual dinners with friends to family outings--and even spontaneous date nights. The vibe is fun, inviting, and just the right amount of funky. The pizza slices are great, crispy, cheesy, and packed with flavor. Their salads are crave-worthy, and the cocktails? So fun and creative, I've started bringing out-of-town guests just to try them. They also host pop-ups that keep things fresh and exciting, whether it's a DJ night, local maker market, or food collab. You can tell they really care about being part of the community. Can't wait to see what they do next!

Great Service , great food. Went with family (family friendly til' 9pm) and had a blast. Will be coming back.

I wanted to love this place. I even went TWICE. The idea, the theme, the ambiance is all very cool....BUT the food is absolutely horrible. I tried different things each time. Everything is microwaved except the pizza. The nacho fries were amazing the first visit (a month ago) and then not so much on Friday. This time the food looked like it was leftover from other tables and reheated. It was foul. The smashin nacho fries were a nice portion a month ago and this time it was a single person bowl with about 15 fries in it and some nacho sauce squeezed on top and a table spoon of Italian peppers. The meatball sub was actually edible with 2 meatballs. But the fries, pizza, and lack of refills on beverages to wash it all down was hard. I had 2 empty drinks in front of me for almost the entire meal. The person who was running the food and bussing the tables (same gentleman) was so kind, polite, smiled and interacted with people. I have no idea why that wonderful man isn't serving tables! The host was also an incredibly friendly and kind. Really was excellent with the kiddos. The games are a great escape in the back room. I actually love how that is set up. This place has amazing potential but needs a little extra help in the serving area and food quality. And maybe have someone who is just checking beverages bc the servers are very busy. Also, I keep reading about non alcoholic fun drinks there but there is no mention on the menu anywhere about any beverages. Not even "we serve coke/pepsi" products and they won't tell you. The pinwheels on the menu are also not available anymore. That was something I was excited to try. (We tried to order and the tables next to us). Would love to come back but nobody will go with me after two groups I brought were unappeased. There are also no booths like in the photos. It's all table tops and picnic tables.

4/5 for the Nick at Neon theme 1/5 for the food 2/5 for the service. Contains a mini arcade, no ticket games, mostly purchase and play. The theme of 90's Nickelodeon cartoons was prepared adequately with temporary nickelodeon wallpapers and good quality props on the walls and the ceiling. On one wall a large TV (Approx. 90~100in.) was playing SpongeBob episodes via Netflix, while on the perpendicular wall a smaller TV (Approx. 30~40in.) was showing gameplay for "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" videogame. The wait time for the drink ordering was not long after I had been seated. I did not order a drink, mostly because there was no drink menu but that is mostly my anxiety talking. I then requested the Caesar Wrap which would come with fries. I would've personally gotten one of the spicy pizzas but they did not come in individual slice orders. The waiters were both appreciable and friendly. While waiting I examined the napkins and condiments on display in between watching snippets of the SpongeBob episodes being played. Each table was given set of one Pizza Parmesan and Pizza Pepper Flake shakers and a small 20oz ketchup bottle. The ketchup bottle felt full while the parmesan and pepper flakes were slightly below half in volume. The wait time for the food was even charitably from the busy restaurant very long. I had to wait nearly thirty minutes for my food to arrive while watching a quarter of the restaurant leave without having those seats be replaced. The food that arrived after my wait did not help matters. The food I was given after my wait did not look particularly appetizing from first glance, but after a more thorough inspection the overall quality of the ingredients looked decent. The fries looked nice, but the crunch and temperature of them were completely random. These would've been smaller problems had I actually gotten my caesar wrap, when instead I had been given the Chop Zone wrap instead. I had chosen not to order this because the texture of cucumbers and tomatoes are awful for my brain, so I was unable to eat the main part of my meal. I was ultimately too nervous to ask a waiter to get a new wrap and just paid and left. I still paid extra because the caesar cost $3 more than the Chop Zone. If you want to come to this restaurant before they rebrand as a different theme next month, just stick to the pizza and drinks.

Went with the kids for the Harry Potter pop up. It was cute, staff were friendly and the pizza was good. However, we ordered 2 non alcoholic butter beers and 2 with alcohol. Somehow the drinks got mixed up and the kids had the one with alcohol. Lucky, they kids said "it tastes weird" so I drank it and tasted nothing but alcohol. When discussing with the waitress she said "I don't know why people would order butter beers for their kids" obviously she doesn't knows anything about Harry Potter and has never been to universal studios because "butter beers" is a classic alcohol free butterscotch drink for Harry Potter fans. When trying to explain to the waitress about what butter beer is I felt dismissed as if it was my fault for mixing up the drinks. The manager came to apologize and provided free gelato for the kids. However, with this experience I will never go back.

Environment was cool, drinks were alright. Came on back to back nights, both nights were slow traffic wise but getting a drink was a long wait on both nights. Second night left early after server came to us one time in a 2 and a half hour span total of 3 shots 3 drinks (drinks were done within the first 15 mins btw)

The Harry Potter pop up was super cool! The menu was so clever and interesting. I loved my 2 drinks of Butterbeer and Dobby is Free. Besides the drinks, the food and service was not great. Took about 15 minutes just to be seen and get water. Do not recommend salad or pizza roll.

Customer service was trash. Employee behind the counter told us to go into the dining area and we'd be taken care of. The first waitress seemed drunk and told us to sit at a booth she "thought" was open. Never asked us if we had a reservation. Servers walked past us several times and never greeted us, gave us menus, asked for our drink order- nothing. We finally overheard them ask another family that came in after us if they had made a reservation. They said no and was able to still get drinks and their order taken. My husband had to leave his seat to ask a waitress to bring menus. She never did. Finally after 30 minutes I went up to a gentleman working there and he asked if I had a reservation. I said no, but not one person even asked us or told us about needing one. And he said "oh I'm sorry" and walks away! I told the employee at the front that we'd been waiting for 30 minutes and not one person came to take our order and he said "ok". It seemed as if nobody even cared. I've never had this type of service anywhere. Also the decor was not the greatest for the ninja turtle pop up which was what we came in for.

Ordered a Caesar salad with chicken. Paid the $4 up charge for chicken and received 3 small bites of chicken. No toppings on the salad either. Seriously a waste of money.

We went to the Harry Potter pop-up. Family loved it, fun casual atmosphere. Great service!

This place is so cute! Seems new, but has so much potential. The food smells and looks so amazing and it's attached to a pizza shop. The atmosphere is so cute and they have a game room, too. Deffffinitely worth the trip, especially for Bears games. Check it out before it gets too popular!!!!!

So pleasantly surprised at how good the pizza was! You can mix up your slice choices which was a fun way to try different pizzas. Glen was our server and did a great job. The Ninja Turtle pop-up was what brought us in from the suburbs. Fun date night location.

We RSVP'ed for the "family friendly" Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles event and much to our surprise the space was closed from 2-6 on a Saturday for a private party even though the online scheduling tool allowed us to book our spots during that time. Boo, not so family friendly after all!! Also, the attractions on social media are nothing compared to what they actually have which are total crap - the radioactive sewer is only like 3 feet long if that and the turtle decorations look cheap, they have like 3 old school TVs playing reruns and some TMNT arcades but that's it. Nothing to write home about.