Frances B.
Yelp
My 45 minutes of Friday rush hour gridlock had me irritable when I arrived late to meet my sister. Opening the door, Stay and Play seemed to transport me into an island party, immediately erasing my annoyance as if it had never existed. I had not expected the beautiful interior - clean lines of light wood tables and chairs with plenty of open space between them, met with oversized vibrant murals on the walls. In between, and over the bar are lush green plants, making me feel as if I were outside in a summer garden. The Puerto Rican music warmed me, despite the Chicago winter outside, and the owner's genuine welcome to me, from behind the bar, made me feel like a regular, despite it being my first time there.
Already, within the first 30 seconds, I felt this is my new favorite place. But things continued to be amazing. The server came immediately to take drink orders. I'd read reviews that the beer selection is limited. I didn't find that the case. They have an IPA but unlike so many Chicago restaurants, they had more than just IPAs and I was thrilled to see a local dark lager on tap I'd not tried: Twisted Hippo puffy Parka. Turns out, it's rich, creamy - perfect for me. We split a chicken quesadilla which came quickly and was heavenly, as cheese tends to be. But I was impressed that it wasn't greasy - just nice soft flour tortilla with cheese and chicken. Simple. We also split a vegan sandwich which was surprisingly good and impressive that they even had a vegan option. The veggies were crunchy and flavorful. Would love to see that expanded with a hummus dip or something but already quite good. The sandwich took a little time - and our server came to tell us the kitchen was backed up and it'd be out in 5 minutes. It still seemed speedy but I appreciated being kept updated.
We played a couple games which of course was the main point of the place. If expected that to be fun and it was! Made more exciting by the groups of game players around us - it felt like being at a party with everyone laughing and having a good time.
I can see why this is my sister's fav place. Despite the commute, I plan to start going regularly. Whether you want good food, good service, opportunity for games, island warmth and- you'll find it here.
Quick note: bathroom is helpfully a single for all humans, regardless of gender. Thank you!
Ambience: *****
Service: *****
Food: *****