Am a big fan of this place. Have purchased little knick knacks, here and there, but recently had them create boxed lunches for a business luncheon and I was so pleased. The wraps were HUGE and filled with all sorts fo fresh, delectable-looking things (working, so did not have an op to taste). They also provided a really fresh couscous salad (able to eat because didnt' smear makeup) and what my clients described as "DELECTABLE" cheesecake....all for like $15.
(4)
D J.
Raising a toast here to my co-workers who came up with the idea of hosting a holiday party for our group at Cooking Fools - great concept, scrumptious results! This bucktown gourmet kitchen seems to be a popular venue for corporate cooking events and was a perfect locale for a fun, low-key social activity for a small group. In a relaxed, almost domestic setting, with our aprons donned and with some expert chef instructions, we chopped,stirred and sauteed our way to produce some pretty good stuff and had a lot of fun doing it. I probably won't be trying to make pumpkin custard profiteroles on my own anytime soon, but I was pretty darn pleased with my maiden maki roll! If you're looking for creative ways to plan a party, Cooking Fools is certainly worth consideration.
(4)
Monica Z.
We went to the pasta cooking class because we had a groupon. It was such a great time. Easy instructions to follow and the chefs were awesome. Location was clean and spacious. Def want to go again! Great for dates and groups of friends.
(5)
David S.
Very tasty take-out sandwiches and salads, and rarely crowded.
(4)
Angelica P.
I went here with my boyfriend because we got a groupon for a pasta making class. It was a fun time the teacher was excellent teacher, very informative and explains not only what to do but why. The only thing is they mix everyone's food together and serve it family style. Coming kind of a person who doesn't like other people's germs or them touching my food, I'd rather eat my own food and see the end result of what I made. Plus we didn't get to make our own sauces or fillings, and we didn't get to cook our own food which kind of took away from the experience.
(3)
Maria G.
They did a nice job with there set up and everything was well organized. We used a groupon and it was awesome. I loved the pasta class and the best part was that we get to eat it. I really liked that it was hands on. I like that it was vey detailed and i feel that i can make this at home. We also made sauce to go with the pasta it was really good. I recommend going here for cooking class.
(4)
Madeline K.
come in and stay a while... have a cup of mushroom soup! it's AMAZING!
(5)
Rosie S.
Really cool place. I bought my boyfriend a Groupon to the pasta making class for Christmas and we both thoroughly enjoyed the two different types of pasta we made along with the sauces and salad we ate afterward. Great place to take a date. The only downside was I wish the pasta making instructions were a little more broken down. I know it was a big class but I could barely keep up with the chef. Overall, would go again.
(4)
Simone M.
The tamale making class at Cooking Fools is amazing! I never dreamed that I'd be able to make a tamale but the wonderful staff broke down the steps in a very clear way so that we can ALL make tamales! Thank you Cooking Fools for a wonderful evening.
(5)
Erica H.
We hired Cooking Fools at work to cater a fundraiser. When making arrangements before our event, the staff was responsive and courteous. At the event, the chef and bartenders were attentive, professional, and sincerely cheery. Plus, the food was delicious!!! I definitely recommend using Cooking Fools.
(5)
Nikki H.
I've been here a few times to pick up lunch - great sandwiches - flavorful and interesting combinations - and very friendly service!
(4)
Stephanie E.
I have lived about a block away from Cooking Fools for almost a year now, and last night was the first time I tried it - boy was I mistaken for waiting so long. I got the Seitan Gyros Pita (vegan) and it was fantastic. I actually had to question if the meat was not real meat as it had such good texture and taste. Plus the yogurt sauce was the right amount and the perfect balance to the warmth and taste of the pita sandwich. Plus, for $1 more I got sweet potato chips. Great job, and I will definitely be back!
(5)
Halisa V.
I came here once with my friend for the Pasta Making Techniques class and we had a blasttttt! It was such a random thing for us to do on a random Wednesday night but the randomness made it even more fun! The instructor was easy to follow, everything was well organized and the finished product tasted amazing! We made two kinds of pasta with two kinds of sauces. After taking this class I felt 100% confident in my pasta making skills. I recommend this class for all you homemade cooking foodies out there and even those of you who would like to learn a thing or two about homemade cooking. Pasta making is definitely a random skill to have but it just makes you a little bit more awesome!
(5)
Helen G.
Let me start off with saying that the chef-teachers are really nice and know their stuff. The meh review is because of two things:(1) the BYO situation and (2) the hygiene concerns. You can buy wine and beer there, the prices and selection aren't that great. Just wish they were a little clearer on that. But more concerning is the lack of any information that this is a "family style meal." During the class I saw one girl repeatedly playing with her hair and not washing her hands. I also saw a number of people not removing their jewelry for kneading the pasta dough. I removed my rings. I wear my rings every day -- even with hand washing there is stuff left on my rings that would love to get mixed into sticky pasta dough. I would love to not eat that. So I took them off. Plus I don't want dough stuck in my rings. Lots of other people seemed good with gross hygiene. So there was no way my date and I were sticking around to eat someone else's gross food. Had they just gotten hot plates and let us cook and eat our own pasta I would to there again. Yes they have a fancy convection hot plate or something neat that they used for the demo, but I don't think fresh pasta and sauce needs too much fancy equipment.
(2)
Amy V.
The store next door to the cooking class area seemed nice and provided good service. However, you have to spend at least $5 to use your card. We went yesterday to the sushi making class and were very disappointed. They overcrowded the workspace (there wasn't any room to work), the fish had been sitting out for over an hour, we had to share supplies and to top it off the bowls of rice were shared (gross!). Toward the end of the anticlimactic class there were flies buzzing around and the chefs lost the attention of the majority of the audience. We were really looking forward to this class and disappointed, I won't be going back anytime soon.
(2)
Jack A.
I've only had a limited tasting of what seems to be a fabulous selection, but given the prices -- which are at times, rather out there -- I can't give it a whole 5 stars. With that in mind, the saving grace of this place for me, what will keep me coming back for as long as they keep dishing it out the way they do, is their chocolate. Specifically, their Guiness Stout Chocolate cake. I can't even describe it in a way to do it justice, it's just so unbelievably moist, so rich, so airy... and lucky for me, they're also open late during the warmer seasons.
(4)
Ben B.
Attended the pasta class via Groupon. The first thing to know about this place is that it is NOT BYOB. You will want to drink while you cook because cooking is hard and drinking makes you not care. You can buy wine in the attached shop, but I advise you to buy one bottle of wine per person BEFORE your class begins. Between learning, cooking and eating, you will be there upwards of three hours. We showed up at 6:30 and didn't eat until 9:15. By that time, our one and only bottle of wine was empty. And guess what. The shop that sells wine closes at 9:00. They're total dicks about selling you another bottle past 9:00. And no, they won't let you run next door to get a bottle and bring it in because of their stupid liquor license. This will cause you to RAGE OUT. While we had wine glasses, we had to search high and low for water glasses. There's a cabinet full of glassware that says "Display Only." It feels like this is just a dumb oversight on their part. Here's my 3-part plan for making the hydration situation less stupid: 1. Announce when the shop is closing, so people can run and grab another bottle of wine. 2. Just be BYOB, because the alternative is annoying. 3. Provide water glasses and carafes throughout the room. I mean, come on. If you prepare by getting your liquid situation on lockdown before the class, you will have fun. You watch the instructor run through the entire pasta-making process, then you're turned loose to do it yourself. PAY ATTENTION while she talks because she won't repeat herself and you're bound to forget something. The instructors do come around periodically and basically shrug and say, "Yeah, you got it." After making our dough, we turned it into ravioli and pappardelle. Once you're done, they haul off everyone's pasta and they cook it for you. It's kind of a bummer you're not assured of getting YOUR pasta. Everyone's pasta is jumbled together and served on a big platter. If you want to take some home, grab a container and set some aside as you go through the line the first time. When we went to take some leftovers, the platters were empty. Bummer. This is a really good activity for couples or groups with multiples of two. You'll have fun and learn something you'll probably never try at home. But seriously, stock up on wine. It's a long night and they are dicks about their stupid rules.
(4)
Selena A.
I've worked across the street from cooking fools for a little over 3 years and they are my go to spot when I am hungry! their food is always fresh and delicious and I love the people who work there. I would definitely recommend the tomato basil soup with a grilled cheese in the fall/winter. they also have a really good mango mint smoothie for those hot summer days. I pick and choose from the food in the glass fridge. some stuff I like and some stuff I could pass on. the desserts are really good too. especially the cheesecake with chocolate and the carrot cake. I'm not a huge beer or wine drinker, but if you are they do have a wide arrange of beverages to choose from!
(5)
Dave M.
We took a pasta class here for my birthday after getting a deal on Groupon. The instructors were very good both in showing how things need to be done in front of the class and in coming by while we were making the pasta to make sure we were on track. All of the dishes ended up being very good, and there were lots of leftovers for people to take home. It was a fun night. The only negative comment I have is that I probably would not pay full price for the class. But if you can get a deal on it, definitely do it!
(5)
Angelica C.
We discovered this place via Groupon, we attended the pasta making class. Do yourself a favor and buy it! I highly recommend purchasing a bottle of wine to enjoy during your class! We made two kinds of pasta and two sauces: ravioli with ricotta cheese & roasted red tomato filling covered with a basil pesto sauce and parpardelle with a vodka sauce (my favorite)! The teachers went through their demos first, then we'd execute at our own tables while they walked around to make sure we were on the right track. They are there to help should you make a mistake, don't be shy to call them over. I learned quickly that making pasta is a time sensitive matter! The event space was well spaced and lit, it really should be only two to a table, otherwise it's too tight with little wiggle room. The teacher selects 2 volunteers, one to help make each sauce, so get your hand up in the air FAST! It smells so fragrant in the classroom too! At the end, you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor while mingling with your fellow classmates. The taste of fresh pasta is so much lighter and airier. They even teach you a faster method than hand kneading it, but you'll have to attend to learn the secret! ;) You can grab a to-go box, which I suggest eating same night or the next day to fully appreciate the freshness of the pasta. We also met a couple who also happened to be engaged, so we hit it off right away! Since I enjoyed myself so much, I am now looking into doing my bachelorette party here! NOTE: Parking can be a bit difficult with all the zoned areas surrounding North Ave, so just give yourself ample time to park before your class. I don't recommend the metered parking as it's maxed out at 2 hours and these classes are 3 hours+ long.
(4)
Cinthya Q.
Such a fun way to learn how to cook an entire pasta dinner. The class itself is about 90 minutes long and you make the pasta and sauce in that time. Each couple has a table and tools for their own use throughout the afternoon. The instructor shows you what you will be doing and then allows you to go back to your table to attempt to do what he did. First you make the dough, then the sauce, and lastly you make the pasta (ravioli and pappardelle noodles). Along with the pasta we made an almond pesto sauce for the ricotta and red bell papper ravioli and a vodka sauce for the pappardelle noodles. When you're done making the pasta the instructor and his assistant cook the pasta for you. You get to hang out and drink wine; total win! When dinner is ready the instructor brings it out; a salad and the two huge platters of ravioli and pappardelle pastas. What's best? You eat a delicious meal you made and you have no dishes to clean.
(5)
Lily Z.
Boy surprised me with a pasta making class on Sunday. He bought the tickets on Groupon, which I highly recommend! The instructors were very nice, polite and patient. The atmosphere was relaxed with music in the background while we rolled out the dough. You can buy drinks from the store and sip on them while you work. There were plenty of leftovers to take home after lunch! It was a great experience and now I know how to make ravioli! I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to try something new. But just remember to get the groupon! It's quite expensive without it.
(4)
Jennifer L.
Now, I will preface this review by saying that I'm a terrible cook. I can't even prepare food correctly and I've been known to use the microwave incorrectly. For example, I once forgot to add water to microwavable oatmeal and made Easy Mac wrong. I am the type of person that can burn water. My boyfriend, on the other hand, enjoys cooking. So, I saw a Groupon for the pasta making class and bought it as a Christmas gift. Deep down I was terrified since my cooking skills are beyond subpar. First of all, for the sake of your other class members, please try to get there on time! Our class started at 11:30, but we waited for some latecomers to show up. You can park on North or Milwaukee Avenue, but I'd recommend coming early and trying to snag some free parking on the side streets. They sell booze, non-alcoholic drinks and snacks in the deli. You can't BYOB. I highly recommend coming in with an empty stomach since a lot of pasta is made! You start by picking out your station. There's an upper level too so you can have an aerial view of what's going on. Then you wash your hands and weigh your ingredients. You can choose to pick up a prepared tray of ingredients if you aren't confident in your abilities to measure them out. (Spoiler alert: I took a prepared one.) Then the chef demonstrates how to make the pasta dough. After that, it's all hands on deck! Don't fret if your dough doesn't look like everyone else's! The chef and another chef will come around to assist you if you need it. (Spoiler alert: I didn't since the boyfriend was there to bail me out!) Eventually, your dough will be shaped into a ball that you put on a pan to rest. Three volunteers helped the chef make the vodka sauce for the pappardelle, basil sauce for the ravioli and red pepper ricotta filing for the ravioli. After that, you roll out your dough using the machines at your station. The pappardelle is more of a free form noodle, which is what the chef recommends that you make if your dough is less than perfect. The chefs then take the pasta into the back to cook it. You don't get to eat what you made, which may or may not be a good thing. The pasta is served with a salad. You also get to take home what you made. In terms of taste, the pasta was good, but you could tell the inconsistencies since multiple people made it. I really liked the basil sauce and the almonds were a nice touch. The vodka sauce was just OK and needed some more flavor. Overall, great class and I definitely recommend it for a date night or good time with friends. We got a deal for 40% off another class as well so we may do that.
(4)
Kim G.
Both my husband and I enjoy cooking and are pretty comfortable in the kitchen. I didn't know what to expect with this pasta class when I signed up but hoped that I would walk away with added knowledge. I was not disappointed! The class not only taught us new techniques but we had a great time. Afterwards a huge fabulous lunch was served. THIS CLASS DOES NOT DISAPPOINT. We did purchase a Groupon for this class.
(5)
Jenny K.
My husband and I bought the groupon for the pasta making class and it was a blast! The instructors were friendly, atmosphere was fun and you're able to chat with the other participants. And then! You get to eat what you made:) fun for a date or with friend
(4)
Michael N.
Mama didn't raise no fool, but she did raise a fool when it came to cooking. Because of this, my beautiful fiance reserved two spots for us for the pasta cooking class. We got an awesome parking spot on Wood St (the free parking street in Wicket Park that I love oh so much), and were the first to arrive for our 10:30am class. When you walk in, it looks like a little wine and cheese shop. But it opens up into a larger room with about 12 cooking stations. We thought 10:30am was a little too early for a bottle of wine, but then we remembered that no time is too early for wine when you're cooking pasta. We threw back a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc like it was a banana peel out of the car window, and started the class. Cooking pasta from scratch is long, tedious work! But our head chef made it really easy to follow along and even cracked a few jokes here and there to keep our minds off of our growling stomachs. We made ravioli with roasted red pepper ricotta, and some other broad, flat pasta that I can't remember the name of. It was delicious. There was so much food. I ate two huge plates, and even brought some home. Yes, I am that guy who takes way too much when other people haven't had their second helping yet. People in Chicago are too worried about appearance to take seconds anyways, not me. This suburban boy has a suburban appetite. Cooking Fools offers other classes too. So if pasta isn't your thing, then you're an idiot and I feel sorry for you.
(5)
Shyrene P.
My boyfriend and I used a Groupon and went to the pasta cooking class on Monday. Overall, we loved it! The atmosphere was cool, it had a great setup with a great mix of music playing; everything from today's hits, some house/edm music, and hip hop! The instructor was awesome (I feel like an ass, but I forgot his name!) He made it fun, almost felt like a friend! The other chefs walking around were really helpful as well. We bought a bottle of wine in the little liquor/wine store attached to the classroom which we were able to drink during the class, and they even offered a bucket of ice to keep it chilled! The street parking, however, was scarce... Because someone was leaving as we were circling for the 3rd time, we found a decent spot, but otherwise it may have been a challenge. I suggest a cab or public trans. The true reason for only 4 stars rather than 5 is because we felt a little rushed. We were supposed to watch the instructor demonstrate everything, then try to do it on our own, and for someone who has never made homemade pasta before (and has the attention span of a 2 year old), I found this somewhat difficult. By the time we had finished preparing our Ravioli, we completely forgot the steps to make the Pappardelle (which was the easy one to make...). We attempted it for a bit, but since we were running so behind, we literally skipped it and threw our dough away. Which was a bummer. (I think my competitive boyfriend was a little frustrated that we were the last ones to finish, and we hadn't even actually finished lol). It would be easier if they demonstrated one pasta at a time, especially for inexperienced cooks like myself. But that might mess up the feast flow.... So if they had a little cheat-sheet with a list of the steps at the tables, that would be just as helpful! But, like I said, we loved this place, the instructor/helpers, the music, the food (was so delish!), and the experience, and we would definitely come back for another class!
(4)
Erin B.
Nick and his team here are so great! I started with a groupon for the pasta making class, and have been addicted ever since! An added bonus is that you can buy the alcohol that's in the front of the house and carry it to the kitchen where you'll be making dinner! While the pasta making class was SUPER crowded, my boo and I had so much fun! Everything was demonstrated in a step-by-step manner, and we had the opportunity to watch the demonstration before diving in the mound of flour! Even though it was a full house, there was PLENTY of food for everyone to eat at the communal dinner AND plenty for take home too! (Also, I was able to recreate the pasta making experience on my own at home! So, SUPER thumbs up to that class!) Since the groupon experience, I have taken a tamale making class, and that class was less full, which meant a lot more opportunity for individualized attention and questions! There was maybe 8 of us in that class. Again, we made our own tamales with whatever we wanted to put in them (hooray for no beans in mine!!! ICK!) and we had a communal dinner with everyone in class. A nice perk is that Nick sends out the recipes from class so you can recreate on your own at home! My boyfriend and I just signed up for our THIRD class here today! We're going to learn how to make dumplings in December! Can't wait!! PS--never have had any of their food available for purchase in the front of the house, but it all looks delicious!
(5)
Janie C.
Pasta making class was so informative without being dry. They give a lot of tips about the science of food and Very hands on --the 2 teachers do a short demo then let you dive in! I had never used a pasta machine and now I want one. You buy drinks there but it was reasonable. The dinner was great and I have leftovers. I would do it again!
(5)
Ann K.
I pop in and outta Cooking Fools for lunch-to-go pretty often when I'm working in the neighborhood and the food and service has always been wonderful! BUT I'd like to ask, why offer pour overs for your coffee service and use Starbucks coffee! I seriously want to know! With all the great local roasteries to buy from (Dark Matter, Bridgeport, Metropolis...) Starbucks?! Get outta here with that! My cup of coffee from Cooking Fools was so awful I couldn't even finish it, a first for me! I'll be walking the extra three blocks to Goddess And Grocer from now on.
(3)
Christine C.
I had a really fun time at the pasta-making class! The instructors were readily available to help you if you had issues with the process. The pastas we made were pomodoro (the easy one) and ravioli (slightly more difficult one). Two volunteers made a vodka sauce (unfortunately, you don't get tipsy- lame) and a pesto sauce. They were delicious! There was a great ambiance with a variety of age groups and skills. The age range was between 10 and 60. Everyone had a partner, either a friend, significant other or family member. A few of us were drinking throughout the course, which obvi made it much funner. (Not BYOB, they sell the sauce there). After we finished making the pasta, the instructors cooked it while we sat down and mingled with the other students. After we finished eating, they provided us with take-home containers because there was a ton left-over. The only reason I knocked off a star was because everyone's creation was cooked in the same pot so you don't know whose pasta you're eating. I had a problem with this for two reasons: 1) you don't know if the person whose pasta you're eating washed his/her hands (eeww) and 2) if you're competing with your friend (as was I) for whose pasta came out better after it boiled, you couldn't because everything was cooked together. I would definitely come back again, despite the aforementioned reason. P.S.: there is also a market for freshly-made foods and other stuff like pre-packaged goods, dressings, soups, and alcohol/wine (and maybe beer).
(4)
Jonathan C.
CORPORATE EVENT REVIEW Fun place for a cooking event. We made a TON of food! There was a great variety of food for our event empnadas, mini pizzas, bacon wrapped dates, thai beef salad skewers, desserts, etc. They setup 4 stations so there was plenty of options and they had people signup for what they were interested. It was pretty casual, they started off with a MASSIVE MALCAJETE of GUACAMOLE!!! XD yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… Great way to start off. Everything was timed very well so people could casually mingle but they do put you to work, cause you're basically assembling all the food. That's a pro but also a bit of the con. My gripe is that you're not really doing the cooking, just the assembling of the dishes. yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… A lot of the flavors and ingredients are already put together so you don't really get to learn how much to put. I assume if they provide the recipes that will work. The flavors were definatley robust, but several of the dishes were on the salty side (3 of the 9 dishes) Not as satisfying for those who like/want to learn to cook but overall it's a great experience for casual cooks and coorporate events. Food pics MINI PIZZAS yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… CHICKEN and MANCHENGO EMPANADAS yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… GOAT CHEESE and BUTTERSQUASH QUESADILLAS yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… FIRECRACKER SHRIMP yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… MEETBALLS STUFFED with CHEESE yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… Fun even for first time and I would do it again with a request for less salt in the food and recipes for guest to take home.
(3)
Shradha A.
Hosted a 25-person company cooking event and everything went off really well. The chefs were well prepared and good with their instructions. Food turned out really great and in very large quantities too. Spacious, clean and easy to bring your own AV.
(5)
Dario I.
Okay let me start by saying that the class is great!!! You will learn a lot about pasta making as well as making sauce for it the overall experience was awesome and they instructors are very nice. They are there for you to guide you every step of the way and at the end everything was delicious. Now, why did I give it two stars? I have been to MANY cooking classes and this is the very first time where they literally combine everything that everyone made and cook it all together so you do not know whose pets you will be eating and wonder whether or not that person washed his/her hands. I took my sweet time and put so much love making my pasta just so somebody else could eat it and I ended up some stranger's who I have no idea whose pasta I ate and never will. I am not the type of person who is always all about killing germs and staying away from them, however, when it comes to food I really do not somebody else preparing my food and if they do I would rather not watch them do it. Let me start by saying that one of the guys in the class got there after us and he NEVER bothered to visit the sink and wash his hands. I was very disgusted at the end by it but I was like YOLO so I tried the pasta. I strongly suggest that they get some sort of small individual kitchenette for every table so you cook your own hand made pasta and not worth about other people's germs. I will definitely not go back nor recommend it to friends unless they change the way they cook the pasta at the end. If they can't afford to buy all the individual kitchenettess then at least have people use gloves. Not to metion that is VERY expensive just so at the end you eat somebody else's bad pasta such as mine where I found a big piece of egg shell in one of my raviolis.
(2)
Liana R.
Utterly delightful in the equally delightful Wicker Park neighborhood. Favorite new find is mango habanero sorbet. I could have eaten the whole container at once. The tilapia is a tasty and tastefully, tender fish. Jamaica jerk chicken tastes different from what I've had in other places but amazing. If you like bbq chicken, try the morroccan chicken: it's much lighter.
(4)
Antaash U.
Thanks to Groupon, I had the opportunity to learn how to make my own pasta from scratch. The class begins with choosing a station for yourself and party where you can easily watch a trained professional demonstrate what you will shortly be doing on your own. Once the demonstration is over, the fun really begins. Don't worry, if you're not a quick study, because two professionals circulate through the room to help you with any questions or problems you may have giving you a true hands-on-learning opportunity. For my class, we were taught how to make ravioli and pappardelle. Unfortunately, we could not make our our sauces and filling for the ravioli. 3 volunteers were asked to come up to the class (I was one of them) to make the vodka sauce, the roasted red pepper filling for the ravioli and the pesto sauce. While the three volunteers took charge of the sauces/filling, the rest of the class could only watch. Once the demonstrations were over and our pasta dough had some time to rest, we began the task of rolling out the dough using the pasta press machines at our stations. Then we were able to stuff our ravilio and cut our pappardelle. I really wish there was a way to taste our own creations, however it was not meant to be. The pasta the class makes is collectively whisked away and boiled in a big pot in the back. The class ends with a dinner of the pasta that was created along with salad. We were allowed to take home any left overs if we wished. All in all, it was a good experience and worth the $45 I paid.
(3)
Dianne S.
I absolutely love to cook, but I've still got a thing or two to learn. After a trip last summer to Italy, I cannot bare to eat anything but fresh pasta! So I was extremely excited to drag my husband to the pasta making class at Cooking Fools. Spacious, clean working areas. Each work area is designed for two (we shared a bench knife, pasta machine, pasta cutter, and stainless steel work space). If you happen to like the equipment you're working with, they sell most of their kitchen tools (I picked up a handy dual pasta cutter that had a smooth blade as well as a fluted one for $9.95...cheaper than William-Sonoma prices). The class lasted about 3 hours and was taught by Nick who was assisted by Nate. Great little tid bits during the class...why vodka in vodka sauce?-the alcohol allows you to taste certain components of the tomatoes that can only dissolve in alcohol versus water. We lined up buffet style to two huge plates of pasta as well as delcious salad that I'll soon be copying. We were allowed to bring home leftovers and they were still delicious the day after for dinner. Unlike most cooking classes, Cooking Fools is NOT BYOB since they have a liquor license. But no worries, wine and beer is sold at a reasonable price. Only downside, I have yet to receive an email copy of the recipes that we were promised.
(5)
Polly S.
Cooking Fools - you know I'm such a fool for you. You got me wrapped around your finger. Do you have to let it linger? Boyfriend got a pasta maker for Christmas so we thought we'd take the pasta making class in the new year before we did any serious damage. So glad we did! During the 3 hour class we learned an immense amount. Nick and Nate were our instructors and they kept the class informative, enjoyable, and running at a good pace. The kitchen facility was clean, well lit, and professional. Great indie music playing in the background . A perfect environment for pasta making! There were about 30 participants and we all worked in pairs. Most everyone purchased beer/wine at the store front before the class started and we enjoyed our beverages throughout (note: it's not BYO, the policy only allows for beverages purchased from their store). The class cumulates with a family style dinner (which includes salad) using the pasta we all just made. Overall, a fantastic experience and I know I definitely learned some techniques and tips that I would never have known had I only looked in a book or researched online. Take a class - it's a worthwhile experience!
(5)
Ann O.
We took the pasta making class with their Groupon offer. We really had a great time! We purchased a bottle of wine at the shop to take with us, and were all set to learn to make pasta. The class was about 30 students - not too big, and just enough personal attention from the instructors. We made two types of pasta with two different sauces. The instructors would demonstrate how to make the pasta, and then walk around the room as we all made it ourselves. At the end, we sat down to eat everything, and everything was fresh and amazing. We can't wait to try some of our new skills and recipes at home, and are looking forward to taking another class!
(5)
Christina F.
What a cute little place! Great for enjoying some good food, coffee, and friends! They even sell liquor. Coffee was average, but I can't wait to go back to try the dill parmesan chicken salad. That sounds amazing! What really got me about this place though was the cashier. He was the nicest guy! Very helpful and friendly. The whole place really has this friendship/homey feel to it!
(4)
Stephen S.
I came here for the tamales class and had a fantastic time! It demystified the whole tamale making experience for me and although I still think it's unlikely that I'll ever make tamales at home I did learn a couple tricks that will follow me into my kitchen. Although they kept mentioning that they would often take longer on steps if done at home with more time I was actually super impressed by how quickly and simply delicious salsa could come together. It really convinced me that I should be doing this stuff on my own more often. The class is followed by a delicious spread of your own tamales alongside some rice, salad, and salsa. I should mention that I paid a discounted rate using a special offer. I don't think I would go back for the full rate but if I saw another deal I'd consider another one of their classes.
(4)
Matt M.
Great place for an event. We held a small birthday party at Cooking Fools for a my wife. Everyone had fun cooking and relaxing in the event space above the main location. The team from Cooking Fools was great - we'd do this again for other occasions.
(5)
Christina M.
I hate to give Cooking Fools two stars, but the food was incredibly underwhelming and I can't justify rating it any higher than a 2.5. I notice a lot of the reviews here are about the cooking classes offered at CF. I have never been to their classes and can't speak to them, however, given the taste and quality of my food I can tell you that I have no interest in attending one. My bf got a non-vegetarian sandwich and I got the vegan gyro (sans the non-vegan sauce). We both found the taste of our meals to be underwhelming and lacking of flavor - especially the vegan gyro...which I'm super-bummed about because I had wanted to try CF's vegan gyro for 2 years now. Cooking Fools is a cute place and its run by the friendliest of employees, but the taste of the food is what will keep my bf and I from coming back.
(2)
Katherine P.
Cooking Fools was the main event for a Girls Night/Bachelorette party this past weekend. While I've been to many cooking schools through the years, Cooking Fools is the perfect place for a private party! When we first walked in, the loft space was so welcoming and felt like home. We popped in our iPod playlist and the night took off. Friends were saying they wanted to rent this place out with their work friends before the night began! We had the space from 6-10p with a self-serve open bar and private chef. Nick Silver was our chef and host. He had a great personality and kept the night moving along nicely! Our customized menu was Mexican -- guacamole appetizer, empanada, rice, butternut squash quesadilla (amazing!), 2 salsas, etc. The kitchen is large with great work-space but managed to feel like home. Picture all your friends standing around your Mom's kitchen island - it's not one of those too "commercialized" with the big mirrors cooking schools. The worst part is that eventually we had to leave! I'm sure I'll be back and this will now be my "go to" place to host parties. Thanks!
(5)
Michael M.
My review is based on experiences both with Cooking Fools' classes and with their lunches. I went to a work function at Cooking Fools that involved cooking classes, which I must admit I was not especially excited about. I had previously gone to a cooking class elsewhere with a previous employer, and was bored, hungry, and overall extremely dissatisfied. However, the class at Cooking Fools was great. It was a fun environment where I (and everyone else) got to do the majority of the cooking of the food and I actually learned some useful techniques. There was also plenty of time to socialize with coworkers, which was important and something that I have seen lacking at other classes like this. The food that we made was also plentiful and delicious, which made for a fun time eating it after the cooking class. Lastly, I really liked Cooking Fools' upstairs loft kitchen space. More recently, I have eaten a number of lunches at Cooking Fools or carried food out, and I have been thoroughly satisfied each time. Their sandwiches and wraps are excellent and use high-quality, fresh ingredients. Although there is not tons of seating space, I do find the storefront a pleasant place to sit and eat. Lastly, I think the sandwiches are a great value, especially considering that they come with chips and a drink. Various of the fish sandwiches as well as the chicken pesto are among my favorites.
(4)
Maura S.
Take a cooking class at Cooking Fools- you will NOT regret it! I used a Groupon to take a pasta making class here last weekend and had a fantastic experience. Upon arriving, you can purchase wine, beer, or soda to drink during the class... which I thought was great. There were about 30 "students" in the class, but it didn't feel overcrowded. And from what I could tell, everyone could see the demonstrations easily. First, we all had a chance to make our own pasta dough. The head chef doing the demonstration was informative and clear with his instructions. While our homemade pasta dough rested we watched classmates make two different sauces and one ravioli filling. Afterwords we had the chance to make two different pastas, including ravioli. When we had all finished our pasta, the chefs whisked away our noodles and cooked them in the kitchen. I liked that they combined all of our efforts to make one big meal. As a class, we got to sit down and enjoy the pasta we had just made together. It was pretty fun to eat with our "classmates" and bond over imperfect noodles we had created together! From the moment we walked in the door, until the moment we left, the staff was kind and helpful. Plus they emailed us a PDF of all the recipes we created. Now I can make them at home! I will not hesitate to take another cooking class at Cooking Fools in the future. It was a great experience!
(5)
Kristina N.
I took the pasta making class the other night and had a lot of fun, but the experience left me wanting more. I purchased the class through a Groupon for $40 and felt I got my money's worth. If I had paid the full amount for this class, I would have been disappointed. The class description states that we will learn to make hand cut and filled pastas; however I would have really liked to practice with the cutting attachment on the pasta machine. Because you cut and fold the ravioli by hand, cutting the second batch of pasta seems a little redundant. In my opinion, $80 is very steep for this class. I think somewhere in the $50-$60 range would be more appropriate. Other than that, I have nothing bad to say. The class was organized, the space was clean, the staff was friendly, and overall I had a good time.
(3)
Valicia B.
Had a great time with friends and cooking fools. I went because I had a groupon deal. Chopping Block is better than Cooking Fools. Not to say the cooking fools is bad they are just not as good as the chopping block. We made our own pasta but did not make our own vodka sauce or ravioli filling. One person out of group was selected to make those. Then once you made your pasta it was boiled as a group. Therefore you were not eating the pasta that you individually made. I was a little disappointed in this. I was also a little disappointed that we didn't actually get to cook the pasta. Overall good fun night out but definitely doesn't compare to the Chopping Block. Being that I got the deal with a groupon I was satisfied but if I would paid full price I would have been highly disappointed. The Cooking Fools gets a three eatin because we didn't cook the pasta that we individually made.
(3)
Danny M.
I also bought the Groupon and did the pasta making cooking class. While the sushi class intrigued me, I figured I had a better chance of making pasta in my lifetime. The class was $50, reduced from the $84. You can now call me a resident Mario Batali, sans the tacky red boots. During the class, we were all able to make our own pasta dough from scratch and roll it out into ravioli and fettucini. However, that was about it. Dont get me wrong, that was challenging and interesting to learn. However, I was hoping to get in there and make some sauces. Well, we did not. But we did get to watch the chefs do it! The best way to learn is to watch, and not do, correct? :) The instructors were helpful ...The one that did the cooking had a creepy molest-ache that was difficult to look at and reminded me of the guy from Ace of Cakes. They made a ravioli filling with ricotta, Parmesan, lemon zest, and sauteed mushrooms. They made a pesto sauce to go on top of the ravioli that had basil, garlic, pine nuts, EVOO, and parm (no surprises here). We also got to see a vodka sauce being made, which did smell tasty. They said they will e-mail us the recipes, but I have yet to see those. Good thing I have some sort of memory! At the end of the class, they cook all of your pasta and everyone gets to eat! They also serve salad with it, which was nice and necessary because people were scarfing down those raviolis. You can roll out after you eat ...No reason to sit around and make awkward convo. As people have said, you can get beer and wine from the store, if you enjoy a healthy price mark up on your alcohol. I would check to see if its BYOB, or just go alcohol-free, which I dont typically say. I didnt drink and I had a great time (and I went alone!). The side streets are available for parking without permits. Just be sure because not every street is that way! For$50, I enjoyed the class. For $84, I would have asked for some money back!
(4)
Jen S.
I purchased a Groupon for their pasta making class and just took a class last weekend. The teachers were fun and helpful. There was about 30 of us in the class, but it wasn't too many people. Afterwards, we enjoyed the pasta we made, and all left happy! Great experience!
(5)
Lori G.
I took the pasta making class I bought through Groupon at Cooking Fools with my fiancee. Overall, I loved the class. I thought it was well worth my $45. Nick (the instructor) was very helpful in making the class lively and entertaining, while still providing instruction. He showed us how to make noodles and ravioli, and did a demonstration of pesto and vodka sauce. However, the demonstrations used people from the class so it wasn't boring to watch. After everything was done, everyone got to eat the wonderful meal, which included a salad from Cooking Fools. The only suggestion I have for Cooking Fools is to do smaller classes, as my 30-person class felt a little cramped. But overall, great class and I will want to try out some more classes at Cooking Fools!
(5)
Allison B.
This review is regarding catering services. We were looking for a small catered Thanksgiving dinner for four and Cooking Fools did not disappoint. We left a voice mail message and they promptly called us back the next morning to take our order over the phone. Picked up the food the evening before Thanksgiving and it was ready as promised. Then reheated the dishes as per the instructions on their website and it was divine. Everything was delicious - great turkey, traditional stuffing, fantastic gravy, yummy potatoes. We're considering again for Christmas dinner.
(5)
Bethany R.
Love this place! Everyone needs to try it :)
(5)
B B.
Great food and excellent customer service. Super friendly staff. Even the owner came by to say hi. Food is fresh and it's always a great selection! They're also really efficient, so I'm there all the time!
(5)
Lois A.
They have this basil parmesan chicken salad sandwich that is out of this world. I have to have it every so often or I start to go crazy with longing. I also really like the steak sandwich they have and the crab cakes. The sorbet is pretty good. I'd love to try a class but I haven't had the chance yet. Argh!!! Just writing about that chicken sandwich is making me crave one. I knew I shouldn't have started thinking about it!!!
(4)
Danielle M.
I love this place! I get lunch here almost everyday. Service is great and food is amazing. Everything is always fresh and they have a lot of healthy options.
(5)
Amanda G.
Cooking Fools is a cute little gourmet foodstore that also serves wine and beer. A couple weeks ago my boyfriend and I did a sushi making class here that we bought on the GroupOn website. I was very impressed with the class, the space and the teachers and we learned how to make some basic rolls (seaweed outside, seaweed inside and some more interesting rolls too) The ingredients we had to work with were also pretty good and you can buy beer/wine at the store to drink while you are doing the class. You can eat your rolls along the way too. The sushi making class was a fun experience and I would definitely come back for another class here.
(4)
Paige V.
This was the first cooking class I've ever taken and the experience makes me want to try more! Like many others, my boyfriend and I took the cooking class using the Groupon. Pasta making was extremely enjoyable and quite yummy! The instructors were helpful, informative and ensured that they walked around to help everyone equally. I'm even thinking about purchasing a pasta making machine. (Can't wait to get my emailed PDF with all the recipes we completed). Like most things on Groupon, it was an incredible deal, but I'd happily pay for a similar experience with another class that I'd personally find useful. In my opinion, there's nothing like telling friends and family that you've made something from scratch. We also had a pleasant conversation with the people who ate lunch with us. Perhaps new friends... I will definitely keep my eye on cookingfools.net for new classes!
(5)
Timothy T.
I live in Wicker Park and frequently stop into Cooking Fools for snacks and everything is always delicious. I recently attended a tamale cooking class and had a great time. I got some Tecates and some vino and headed over to the cooking school side to make tamales. The instructing chefs were great- very helpful and taught us about some general food and ingredient properties in addition to how to make tamales and salsas. I'd really recommend trying one of their classes.
(5)
Wendy G.
I want to love this place, and the food is great, but it seems like something is always a little off. Like the time I ordered their specialty quesedilla... they apparently hadn't tried making it on the grill before. It took two tries before they had to give up and ask me to order something else. I got a sandwich, and they gave me a free side of some salad and apologized profusely but still...
(4)
Jacquelyn G.
I hadn't heard of Cooking Fools until they ran an offer with Groupon, so a friend and I decided to give it a whirl. We took the pasta class and I had such a great time. The class is three hours long which, for $40 or whatever I paid for the Groupon, is quite a deal (not sure what the regular price is). I think it was a class of 30 or so people, and it felt like just the right size. All but a few of the work stations are on the main level, and the others are up on the split level but also overlooking the demonstrator, so there isn't a bad spot in the house. Nick and Nate were the instructors for the class and they both seemed pretty knowledgeable, especially Nick, who mainly led the glass and did the demos. When he started talking about molecular bonds I figured he knew his stuff (and then some)! They came around to offer help and check how everyone was doing throughout the class. We all made our own pastas which consisted of spinach-stuffed ravioli and pappardelle. The spinach filling and vodka sauce (for the pappardelle) were done by two volunteers, not the entire class. Still, I felt like making the pasta along was enough hands-on for me for one class, and was happy to have a volunteer do the fixins'. I had a hard time remembering what, exactly, I was supposed to do to make the pasta anyway... After we cooked everything, we had the pleasure of eating it. There is such an insane amount of food at the end that there's really no need to eat beforehand. Some people had snacks during class but a friend tipped me off that the portions are gargantuan, so I knew to save myself for the pasta. And it was worth it. Everything tasted so yummy (pat on the back). The event is BYO but you must purchase it in their shop next door. There's a decent selection of wine and beer, though, and a variety of prices so no worries about spending an arm and a leg. All in all a super fun night and I just might even make the recipes at home. I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Melissa W.
Bought the Groupon with a few girlfriends of mine. Tough choice between the pasta and the sushi - but after much discussion, decided on the pasta. Happy we did! But curious about the sushi... hmmmm..... Ok - I can't cook. At all.. I mean the microwave and I are like best friends. And I was a little unsure of two things. One, if this was activity was WAY out of my league, i.e., my friends actually chuckled when I told them I was going to a cooking class and made various comments about buildings burning down. And two, if going thru the effort of making your own noodles actually is worth it. I mean - throwing the ones in the box directly into the boiling water is just so easy. To the first: class was fun, easy to follow and I actually produced some great noodles. And to the second, I'm a convert - cooking from scratch is worth the resulting taste. YUMMY!!!!!! I would definitely recommend it and will consider going back for additional classes. And it was BYOB - so my girlfriends and I were able to cheaply enjoy a couple bottles of wine brought from home. The staff is really friendly, even took pictures for us, and the chefs were walking around helping when needed, laid back, etc. The only thing is they aren't completely on their A game when it comes to the admin part of it. We had some challenges getting in touch with staff prior to the event, and they said they would email the recipes. Unfortunately, haven't received so I'll have to follow up to receive them. But, loved it. Highlight of my week.
(4)
Rebecca M.
I took the pasta cooking class at Cooking Fools last weekend and was unimpressed. For the most part the class was done well but I have an issue with their hygiene standards. My husband I did not eat the food we prepared, we left as the food was cooking. Once we found out that all of the food was going to be cooked together and served family style turned me off the food. We had a large class of 30+ people and cooking fools did not ensure every participant washed their hands prior to preparing the food nor did they provide gloves for the participants to use while preparing the food. I know no announcement of hygiene was made to anyone as I was one of the first people there in a class of 30+. The fact the none of the above items were done prior to the class is unacceptable to me. I would not go to a restaurant or any other establishment and eat food without the prep cook or chef washing their hands or wearing gloves. I am highly disappointed in the careless Cooking Fools has taken with hygiene in the food that was prepared and would recommend anyone taking this class ensure hands are washed or gloves are used.
(2)
Kristen K.
This place is awesome! The classes are great and the atmosphere makes it fun. I definitely recommend checking it out either for a class, takeout, catering, or they also offer team bonding opportunities for work groups! Chicago is lucky to have Chef Nick and his team opening their doors and letting us learn with them. Cheers!
(5)
Bree F.
I also attended the pasta making class offered with the Groupon. It was a really great time and I would recommend it to anyone and would love to do another class with them. There is one key difference between a class at Cooking Fools and a class at a cooking school, however. Cooking Fools does not have a stove set up at each work station. Therefore, all heated items need to be done as a demonstration at the front of the class. They do use volunteers from the class, but it is not the same as everyone making all of their own dishes. Each class member did make their own pasta dough and then rolled it out into raviolis or pappardelle. The ravioli filling was also made as a demo in the front of the class and then portioned out for each work station. The other disappointment I had was that all the pasta and raviolis are put together in one big pot so you really don't know if you are having your handmade pasta or someone else's. I understand it is not logistically possible, but the raviolis were different sizes and I was really excited to try my own. I guess I'll just have to make it at home. Regardless, the night was very fun, the staff was great and the food was good. It is BYOB and you must purchase it from their store, but we found a bottle of wine for $10 so prices are pretty reasonable. I will definitely check out their other class schedules and take another one soon.
(4)
Nana H.
Its good to treat yourself to cooking fools once in a while- but not all the time, as its pretty expensive! I love their skinny salad. I wish i could sometimes get their prepared hot foods, but its always so hard to tell if it is worth, $9.95 bl for roasted vegetables. I can not justify that. I'm pretty excited about their late night menu though! If i still lived in the neighborhood and stayed out into the early morning hours, I would love this alternative to shitty flash tacos.
(4)
Zach W.
Looks like most people experience the cooking classes at Cooking Fools. Unfortunately I have not had the pleasure of these. My experience here is just lunch. They offer a refrigerator of delightfully prepared foods. A couple things that I am very fond of are the lentil feta salad with a cumin vinaigrette and parmesan chicken salad. Made to order stuff includes daily soups, which are delicious during these cold winter months. The best two thus far are a vegan lentil and a fennel tomato. All the sandwiches are served on a baguette and the grilled vegetable with goat cheese is very good. The best buy at cooking fools is probably the personal European pizzas. Last and probably the most noteworthy, the desserts! For the everyday oreo lover, please try the homemade oreos. They are awesome. At only $1 a piece, it's the perfect meal closer. For the summer months the offer homemade popsicles. The most interesting combination i've had was a cucumber watermelon. It sounds very weird, but it is light and freshing.
(4)
Donna C.
Unfortunately, I reviewed this in another place (I'll have to delete it!) Love their iced tea, wasabi peanuts and sandwiches. The staff is very nice and helpful, too. I'm in there at least once or twice a week. Much less overwhelming than The Goddess and the Grocer. I do want to try the cooking classes someday.
(4)
Alexis H.
Cooking fools is a great option for a gourmet "convenience store". They have prepared foods galore as well as yummy sandwiches and all sorts of side items to go with your meal. I've picked up a sesame trail mix with puffed rice and wasabi peas as well as the to-die-for strawberry basil popsicles. Their concoctions seem to be made with odd food combos, but they've never done me wrong. I always find myself appreciating the flavors and wanting to try even more of what they have to offer. My roommate swears by their sandwich offerings when you're in need of something different (i.e. way better than Pot Belly's or Jimmy John's). One plus: They offer cooking lessons, so you too can be a cooking fool. One minus: It's pretty expensive, but you do get what you pay for in terms of flavor.
(4)
Su B.
Vegan gyros and a good selection of beer and wine is all I need to like this place. All the food I've gotten here has been great. My only problem is that they took the fries off the menu!
(5)
olivia k.
late night vegan gyros!? apparently this is a new feature of their menu and it's pretty good. their fries are also excellent and satisfy that after-party food craving. careful though, the vegan gyros are in short supply and high demand. there wasn't enough to go around for all the customers when we went late on a saturday night. i thought it was tastey but on the small side for the price. haven't tried any of the non-veg items there but i heard many of the customers say good things about them.
(4)
c w.
this is a nice little place with lots of wine, beer & ingredients that are fun to look over. once in awhile they do wine tasting nights and put out snacks which is always a plus. also, they also have a freezer full of interesting looking homemade sorbets & fruit bars i'm looking forward to trying when it gets warmer out. the only food ive had here so far was the vegan gyro (but the sauce they want to give you with it isn't vegan for some reason). it was really tasty and the pita was nice and soft. only thing was that to me it tasted like taco filling in a pita. which definitely tasted good but wasnt what i expected.. i would go back if i was craving mexican and didnt want a veggie burrito. if i want a gyro i'll go back to lake side cafe.
(3)
Ryan P.
Another lunch time treat. They have this amazing dill parmesan chicken salad and some delicious looking frozen sorbets.
(5)
Doug p.
Cooking Fools really has impressive, and varied menu items. Plus they carry some interesting fresh, newer products. They offer cooking classes, catering, and lunch!
(3)
Rachel A.
All of the entrees and sides that I've eaten from here have been delicious -- full of flavor and well-prepared. I sadly have to disagree with the good reviews about the ice cream -- I tried the mint chocolate chip on Saturday and it was horrible. Barely any mint flavor whatsoever. I've made far better with my cuisinart ice cream machine. I should've saved the money and bought a pint of ben and jerry's instead.
(4)
Not J B.
Their grilled panini are made to order and are very far from processed. If you've eaten somewhere like Cosi, you'll definitely be able to taste the difference in a good way and it's worth coming back to taste them a few more times just to be sure.
(4)
Ren H.
The food here is really great! Its "health conscious" which makes me feel not as guilty for indulging! Their homemade ice cream and french bread are delicious!
(4)
Angela S.
Catered Hors d'Oeuvres platters are a horrible value and the customer service is just as horrid. I wish I could give them negative stars, and I signed up on Yelp just to give them this review to warn you all! I live in Wicker Park and am wiling to pay a little more to support our local businesses, but never again for this one! I ordered several platters for my husband's birthday party. I took a risk in ordering food based on the staff's brief description and without a picture, and it backfired. When I picked up the food, no one bothered to open up the sealed packages and present them to me, and I was naive enough to accept their word that the sealed packages were complete, and that I need not get them cold by opening them up. I ordered a tray of several dozen chicken roulade. They were TINY and very bland tasting. I ordered the meatballs on sticks. They were literally the size of lollipops and the sauce was missing. When I later complained the sauce was missing, they accused me of LYING! They made no apologies and said it was MY mistake! I also ordered a tray of smoked salmon and brioche canapes. They too were so tiny that we could barely taste the salmon and there was no noticeable caviar. The morsels were not all that tasty. The food at my party was an embarrassment and not one person said it was good and my friends agreed that I received very little for my money. I would have been better off ordering fruit and vegetable platters from the local Jewel! My husband was also very upset, and when we each spoke to the manager about it, he completely dismissed everything we said, claiming we lied about the two missing sauces, and that our expectations of the sizes of hors d'oevres is inaccurate. He offered no solution to rectify the situation. I guess he thinks that paying $3 for each mediocre bite smaller in size than a golf ball is good business. Whatever happened to customer service? I found NONE..
(1)
Michelle H.
I brought my company to Cooking Fools for an evening out together. Nick and his team did such a fabulous job. The event is hosted in the upstairs loft, which is very, very cool. We were wined and spent the right amount of time socializing before we were reighned in and brought to the classroom to learn how to make stuffed chicken breasts and great sides. We dined fairly late, but that is because Nick let us do our thing and enjoy each other's company. Nobody felt rushed, nobody left hungry and we all had a great time.
(5)
kiki h.
I love the food here and it's even better that it's healthy! I agree with Renda that the homemade ice cream is incredible!
(4)
Michelle W.
I definitely want to take one of their classes, they all look so interesting. The food is really, really good and it is nice that you can take it home and look like you slaved away all day in the kitchen to your significant other. I might have just blown my cover.
(4)
Cara B.
Took the pasta making class through Groupon and had a great time. The two instructors, Nick and Nate (I think), were excellent! They were very helpful and made sure everyone was on track. Demonstrations of making a vodka sauce and a pesto sauce were well done and easy to follow. At the end, we dined on our pasta and a salad provided by Cooking Fools. I would definitely take another cooking class here!
(5)
rebecca b.
I had a wonderful time at the pasta making class this past Sunday! Jared was not only informative, but also very entertaining. Although making fresh pasta is considered to be a more basic process- Jared gave many useful tips that I wouldn't have known by just following a recipe (for both the pasta and sauce). As previous reviews state- They first demonstrate and then you're hands on - making your own pasta (that is later shared). The sauce is demonstrated for the whole class using just a few volunteers, but you have the opportunity to ask questions etc. If I lived in Chicago, I would sign up for many more classes here. Thanks Cooking Fools for a fantastic experience!
(5)
Amina D.
I'm surprised I haven't reviewed Cooking Fools sooner, this is one of the first places I starting going to when I first discovered Wicker Park. Whenever I'm in Wicker Park I'm always sure to stop at Cooking Fools for lunch or sometimes dinner, as my mom can testify by looking at my monthly credit statement. If your ever walking down North Avenue, you'll be sure to see me reading a magazine while munching on a chicken salad sandwich, key lime cupcakes, house-made tortilla chips w/ mango salsa and washing all that down with a pink- lemonade soda from France. This place is a class act with great food and service.
(5)
Betty S.
The reason I stopped by this place if I was in Wicker Park taking a look around the shops, and there was a sign that said fruit smoothies. They had different gourmet products available for purchase. In the freezer case, there were things like strawberry basil popsicles, but it was obvious these specialties sold out each day. (I came around 6 p.m.) I had a pomegranate blueberry peach smoothie which was very good and my friend had the mango mint smoothie which was delicious.
Marie B.
Am a big fan of this place. Have purchased little knick knacks, here and there, but recently had them create boxed lunches for a business luncheon and I was so pleased. The wraps were HUGE and filled with all sorts fo fresh, delectable-looking things (working, so did not have an op to taste). They also provided a really fresh couscous salad (able to eat because didnt' smear makeup) and what my clients described as "DELECTABLE" cheesecake....all for like $15.
(4)D J.
Raising a toast here to my co-workers who came up with the idea of hosting a holiday party for our group at Cooking Fools - great concept, scrumptious results! This bucktown gourmet kitchen seems to be a popular venue for corporate cooking events and was a perfect locale for a fun, low-key social activity for a small group. In a relaxed, almost domestic setting, with our aprons donned and with some expert chef instructions, we chopped,stirred and sauteed our way to produce some pretty good stuff and had a lot of fun doing it. I probably won't be trying to make pumpkin custard profiteroles on my own anytime soon, but I was pretty darn pleased with my maiden maki roll! If you're looking for creative ways to plan a party, Cooking Fools is certainly worth consideration.
(4)Monica Z.
We went to the pasta cooking class because we had a groupon. It was such a great time. Easy instructions to follow and the chefs were awesome. Location was clean and spacious. Def want to go again! Great for dates and groups of friends.
(5)David S.
Very tasty take-out sandwiches and salads, and rarely crowded.
(4)Angelica P.
I went here with my boyfriend because we got a groupon for a pasta making class. It was a fun time the teacher was excellent teacher, very informative and explains not only what to do but why. The only thing is they mix everyone's food together and serve it family style. Coming kind of a person who doesn't like other people's germs or them touching my food, I'd rather eat my own food and see the end result of what I made. Plus we didn't get to make our own sauces or fillings, and we didn't get to cook our own food which kind of took away from the experience.
(3)Maria G.
They did a nice job with there set up and everything was well organized. We used a groupon and it was awesome. I loved the pasta class and the best part was that we get to eat it. I really liked that it was hands on. I like that it was vey detailed and i feel that i can make this at home. We also made sauce to go with the pasta it was really good. I recommend going here for cooking class.
(4)Madeline K.
come in and stay a while... have a cup of mushroom soup! it's AMAZING!
(5)Rosie S.
Really cool place. I bought my boyfriend a Groupon to the pasta making class for Christmas and we both thoroughly enjoyed the two different types of pasta we made along with the sauces and salad we ate afterward. Great place to take a date. The only downside was I wish the pasta making instructions were a little more broken down. I know it was a big class but I could barely keep up with the chef. Overall, would go again.
(4)Simone M.
The tamale making class at Cooking Fools is amazing! I never dreamed that I'd be able to make a tamale but the wonderful staff broke down the steps in a very clear way so that we can ALL make tamales! Thank you Cooking Fools for a wonderful evening.
(5)Erica H.
We hired Cooking Fools at work to cater a fundraiser. When making arrangements before our event, the staff was responsive and courteous. At the event, the chef and bartenders were attentive, professional, and sincerely cheery. Plus, the food was delicious!!! I definitely recommend using Cooking Fools.
(5)Nikki H.
I've been here a few times to pick up lunch - great sandwiches - flavorful and interesting combinations - and very friendly service!
(4)Stephanie E.
I have lived about a block away from Cooking Fools for almost a year now, and last night was the first time I tried it - boy was I mistaken for waiting so long. I got the Seitan Gyros Pita (vegan) and it was fantastic. I actually had to question if the meat was not real meat as it had such good texture and taste. Plus the yogurt sauce was the right amount and the perfect balance to the warmth and taste of the pita sandwich. Plus, for $1 more I got sweet potato chips. Great job, and I will definitely be back!
(5)Halisa V.
I came here once with my friend for the Pasta Making Techniques class and we had a blasttttt! It was such a random thing for us to do on a random Wednesday night but the randomness made it even more fun! The instructor was easy to follow, everything was well organized and the finished product tasted amazing! We made two kinds of pasta with two kinds of sauces. After taking this class I felt 100% confident in my pasta making skills. I recommend this class for all you homemade cooking foodies out there and even those of you who would like to learn a thing or two about homemade cooking. Pasta making is definitely a random skill to have but it just makes you a little bit more awesome!
(5)Helen G.
Let me start off with saying that the chef-teachers are really nice and know their stuff. The meh review is because of two things:(1) the BYO situation and (2) the hygiene concerns. You can buy wine and beer there, the prices and selection aren't that great. Just wish they were a little clearer on that. But more concerning is the lack of any information that this is a "family style meal." During the class I saw one girl repeatedly playing with her hair and not washing her hands. I also saw a number of people not removing their jewelry for kneading the pasta dough. I removed my rings. I wear my rings every day -- even with hand washing there is stuff left on my rings that would love to get mixed into sticky pasta dough. I would love to not eat that. So I took them off. Plus I don't want dough stuck in my rings. Lots of other people seemed good with gross hygiene. So there was no way my date and I were sticking around to eat someone else's gross food. Had they just gotten hot plates and let us cook and eat our own pasta I would to there again. Yes they have a fancy convection hot plate or something neat that they used for the demo, but I don't think fresh pasta and sauce needs too much fancy equipment.
(2)Amy V.
The store next door to the cooking class area seemed nice and provided good service. However, you have to spend at least $5 to use your card. We went yesterday to the sushi making class and were very disappointed. They overcrowded the workspace (there wasn't any room to work), the fish had been sitting out for over an hour, we had to share supplies and to top it off the bowls of rice were shared (gross!). Toward the end of the anticlimactic class there were flies buzzing around and the chefs lost the attention of the majority of the audience. We were really looking forward to this class and disappointed, I won't be going back anytime soon.
(2)Jack A.
I've only had a limited tasting of what seems to be a fabulous selection, but given the prices -- which are at times, rather out there -- I can't give it a whole 5 stars. With that in mind, the saving grace of this place for me, what will keep me coming back for as long as they keep dishing it out the way they do, is their chocolate. Specifically, their Guiness Stout Chocolate cake. I can't even describe it in a way to do it justice, it's just so unbelievably moist, so rich, so airy... and lucky for me, they're also open late during the warmer seasons.
(4)Ben B.
Attended the pasta class via Groupon. The first thing to know about this place is that it is NOT BYOB. You will want to drink while you cook because cooking is hard and drinking makes you not care. You can buy wine in the attached shop, but I advise you to buy one bottle of wine per person BEFORE your class begins. Between learning, cooking and eating, you will be there upwards of three hours. We showed up at 6:30 and didn't eat until 9:15. By that time, our one and only bottle of wine was empty. And guess what. The shop that sells wine closes at 9:00. They're total dicks about selling you another bottle past 9:00. And no, they won't let you run next door to get a bottle and bring it in because of their stupid liquor license. This will cause you to RAGE OUT. While we had wine glasses, we had to search high and low for water glasses. There's a cabinet full of glassware that says "Display Only." It feels like this is just a dumb oversight on their part. Here's my 3-part plan for making the hydration situation less stupid: 1. Announce when the shop is closing, so people can run and grab another bottle of wine. 2. Just be BYOB, because the alternative is annoying. 3. Provide water glasses and carafes throughout the room. I mean, come on. If you prepare by getting your liquid situation on lockdown before the class, you will have fun. You watch the instructor run through the entire pasta-making process, then you're turned loose to do it yourself. PAY ATTENTION while she talks because she won't repeat herself and you're bound to forget something. The instructors do come around periodically and basically shrug and say, "Yeah, you got it." After making our dough, we turned it into ravioli and pappardelle. Once you're done, they haul off everyone's pasta and they cook it for you. It's kind of a bummer you're not assured of getting YOUR pasta. Everyone's pasta is jumbled together and served on a big platter. If you want to take some home, grab a container and set some aside as you go through the line the first time. When we went to take some leftovers, the platters were empty. Bummer. This is a really good activity for couples or groups with multiples of two. You'll have fun and learn something you'll probably never try at home. But seriously, stock up on wine. It's a long night and they are dicks about their stupid rules.
(4)Selena A.
I've worked across the street from cooking fools for a little over 3 years and they are my go to spot when I am hungry! their food is always fresh and delicious and I love the people who work there. I would definitely recommend the tomato basil soup with a grilled cheese in the fall/winter. they also have a really good mango mint smoothie for those hot summer days. I pick and choose from the food in the glass fridge. some stuff I like and some stuff I could pass on. the desserts are really good too. especially the cheesecake with chocolate and the carrot cake. I'm not a huge beer or wine drinker, but if you are they do have a wide arrange of beverages to choose from!
(5)Dave M.
We took a pasta class here for my birthday after getting a deal on Groupon. The instructors were very good both in showing how things need to be done in front of the class and in coming by while we were making the pasta to make sure we were on track. All of the dishes ended up being very good, and there were lots of leftovers for people to take home. It was a fun night. The only negative comment I have is that I probably would not pay full price for the class. But if you can get a deal on it, definitely do it!
(5)Angelica C.
We discovered this place via Groupon, we attended the pasta making class. Do yourself a favor and buy it! I highly recommend purchasing a bottle of wine to enjoy during your class! We made two kinds of pasta and two sauces: ravioli with ricotta cheese & roasted red tomato filling covered with a basil pesto sauce and parpardelle with a vodka sauce (my favorite)! The teachers went through their demos first, then we'd execute at our own tables while they walked around to make sure we were on the right track. They are there to help should you make a mistake, don't be shy to call them over. I learned quickly that making pasta is a time sensitive matter! The event space was well spaced and lit, it really should be only two to a table, otherwise it's too tight with little wiggle room. The teacher selects 2 volunteers, one to help make each sauce, so get your hand up in the air FAST! It smells so fragrant in the classroom too! At the end, you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor while mingling with your fellow classmates. The taste of fresh pasta is so much lighter and airier. They even teach you a faster method than hand kneading it, but you'll have to attend to learn the secret! ;) You can grab a to-go box, which I suggest eating same night or the next day to fully appreciate the freshness of the pasta. We also met a couple who also happened to be engaged, so we hit it off right away! Since I enjoyed myself so much, I am now looking into doing my bachelorette party here! NOTE: Parking can be a bit difficult with all the zoned areas surrounding North Ave, so just give yourself ample time to park before your class. I don't recommend the metered parking as it's maxed out at 2 hours and these classes are 3 hours+ long.
(4)Cinthya Q.
Such a fun way to learn how to cook an entire pasta dinner. The class itself is about 90 minutes long and you make the pasta and sauce in that time. Each couple has a table and tools for their own use throughout the afternoon. The instructor shows you what you will be doing and then allows you to go back to your table to attempt to do what he did. First you make the dough, then the sauce, and lastly you make the pasta (ravioli and pappardelle noodles). Along with the pasta we made an almond pesto sauce for the ricotta and red bell papper ravioli and a vodka sauce for the pappardelle noodles. When you're done making the pasta the instructor and his assistant cook the pasta for you. You get to hang out and drink wine; total win! When dinner is ready the instructor brings it out; a salad and the two huge platters of ravioli and pappardelle pastas. What's best? You eat a delicious meal you made and you have no dishes to clean.
(5)Lily Z.
Boy surprised me with a pasta making class on Sunday. He bought the tickets on Groupon, which I highly recommend! The instructors were very nice, polite and patient. The atmosphere was relaxed with music in the background while we rolled out the dough. You can buy drinks from the store and sip on them while you work. There were plenty of leftovers to take home after lunch! It was a great experience and now I know how to make ravioli! I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to try something new. But just remember to get the groupon! It's quite expensive without it.
(4)Jennifer L.
Now, I will preface this review by saying that I'm a terrible cook. I can't even prepare food correctly and I've been known to use the microwave incorrectly. For example, I once forgot to add water to microwavable oatmeal and made Easy Mac wrong. I am the type of person that can burn water. My boyfriend, on the other hand, enjoys cooking. So, I saw a Groupon for the pasta making class and bought it as a Christmas gift. Deep down I was terrified since my cooking skills are beyond subpar. First of all, for the sake of your other class members, please try to get there on time! Our class started at 11:30, but we waited for some latecomers to show up. You can park on North or Milwaukee Avenue, but I'd recommend coming early and trying to snag some free parking on the side streets. They sell booze, non-alcoholic drinks and snacks in the deli. You can't BYOB. I highly recommend coming in with an empty stomach since a lot of pasta is made! You start by picking out your station. There's an upper level too so you can have an aerial view of what's going on. Then you wash your hands and weigh your ingredients. You can choose to pick up a prepared tray of ingredients if you aren't confident in your abilities to measure them out. (Spoiler alert: I took a prepared one.) Then the chef demonstrates how to make the pasta dough. After that, it's all hands on deck! Don't fret if your dough doesn't look like everyone else's! The chef and another chef will come around to assist you if you need it. (Spoiler alert: I didn't since the boyfriend was there to bail me out!) Eventually, your dough will be shaped into a ball that you put on a pan to rest. Three volunteers helped the chef make the vodka sauce for the pappardelle, basil sauce for the ravioli and red pepper ricotta filing for the ravioli. After that, you roll out your dough using the machines at your station. The pappardelle is more of a free form noodle, which is what the chef recommends that you make if your dough is less than perfect. The chefs then take the pasta into the back to cook it. You don't get to eat what you made, which may or may not be a good thing. The pasta is served with a salad. You also get to take home what you made. In terms of taste, the pasta was good, but you could tell the inconsistencies since multiple people made it. I really liked the basil sauce and the almonds were a nice touch. The vodka sauce was just OK and needed some more flavor. Overall, great class and I definitely recommend it for a date night or good time with friends. We got a deal for 40% off another class as well so we may do that.
(4)Kim G.
Both my husband and I enjoy cooking and are pretty comfortable in the kitchen. I didn't know what to expect with this pasta class when I signed up but hoped that I would walk away with added knowledge. I was not disappointed! The class not only taught us new techniques but we had a great time. Afterwards a huge fabulous lunch was served. THIS CLASS DOES NOT DISAPPOINT. We did purchase a Groupon for this class.
(5)Jenny K.
My husband and I bought the groupon for the pasta making class and it was a blast! The instructors were friendly, atmosphere was fun and you're able to chat with the other participants. And then! You get to eat what you made:) fun for a date or with friend
(4)Michael N.
Mama didn't raise no fool, but she did raise a fool when it came to cooking. Because of this, my beautiful fiance reserved two spots for us for the pasta cooking class. We got an awesome parking spot on Wood St (the free parking street in Wicket Park that I love oh so much), and were the first to arrive for our 10:30am class. When you walk in, it looks like a little wine and cheese shop. But it opens up into a larger room with about 12 cooking stations. We thought 10:30am was a little too early for a bottle of wine, but then we remembered that no time is too early for wine when you're cooking pasta. We threw back a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc like it was a banana peel out of the car window, and started the class. Cooking pasta from scratch is long, tedious work! But our head chef made it really easy to follow along and even cracked a few jokes here and there to keep our minds off of our growling stomachs. We made ravioli with roasted red pepper ricotta, and some other broad, flat pasta that I can't remember the name of. It was delicious. There was so much food. I ate two huge plates, and even brought some home. Yes, I am that guy who takes way too much when other people haven't had their second helping yet. People in Chicago are too worried about appearance to take seconds anyways, not me. This suburban boy has a suburban appetite. Cooking Fools offers other classes too. So if pasta isn't your thing, then you're an idiot and I feel sorry for you.
(5)Shyrene P.
My boyfriend and I used a Groupon and went to the pasta cooking class on Monday. Overall, we loved it! The atmosphere was cool, it had a great setup with a great mix of music playing; everything from today's hits, some house/edm music, and hip hop! The instructor was awesome (I feel like an ass, but I forgot his name!) He made it fun, almost felt like a friend! The other chefs walking around were really helpful as well. We bought a bottle of wine in the little liquor/wine store attached to the classroom which we were able to drink during the class, and they even offered a bucket of ice to keep it chilled! The street parking, however, was scarce... Because someone was leaving as we were circling for the 3rd time, we found a decent spot, but otherwise it may have been a challenge. I suggest a cab or public trans. The true reason for only 4 stars rather than 5 is because we felt a little rushed. We were supposed to watch the instructor demonstrate everything, then try to do it on our own, and for someone who has never made homemade pasta before (and has the attention span of a 2 year old), I found this somewhat difficult. By the time we had finished preparing our Ravioli, we completely forgot the steps to make the Pappardelle (which was the easy one to make...). We attempted it for a bit, but since we were running so behind, we literally skipped it and threw our dough away. Which was a bummer. (I think my competitive boyfriend was a little frustrated that we were the last ones to finish, and we hadn't even actually finished lol). It would be easier if they demonstrated one pasta at a time, especially for inexperienced cooks like myself. But that might mess up the feast flow.... So if they had a little cheat-sheet with a list of the steps at the tables, that would be just as helpful! But, like I said, we loved this place, the instructor/helpers, the music, the food (was so delish!), and the experience, and we would definitely come back for another class!
(4)Erin B.
Nick and his team here are so great! I started with a groupon for the pasta making class, and have been addicted ever since! An added bonus is that you can buy the alcohol that's in the front of the house and carry it to the kitchen where you'll be making dinner! While the pasta making class was SUPER crowded, my boo and I had so much fun! Everything was demonstrated in a step-by-step manner, and we had the opportunity to watch the demonstration before diving in the mound of flour! Even though it was a full house, there was PLENTY of food for everyone to eat at the communal dinner AND plenty for take home too! (Also, I was able to recreate the pasta making experience on my own at home! So, SUPER thumbs up to that class!) Since the groupon experience, I have taken a tamale making class, and that class was less full, which meant a lot more opportunity for individualized attention and questions! There was maybe 8 of us in that class. Again, we made our own tamales with whatever we wanted to put in them (hooray for no beans in mine!!! ICK!) and we had a communal dinner with everyone in class. A nice perk is that Nick sends out the recipes from class so you can recreate on your own at home! My boyfriend and I just signed up for our THIRD class here today! We're going to learn how to make dumplings in December! Can't wait!! PS--never have had any of their food available for purchase in the front of the house, but it all looks delicious!
(5)Janie C.
Pasta making class was so informative without being dry. They give a lot of tips about the science of food and Very hands on --the 2 teachers do a short demo then let you dive in! I had never used a pasta machine and now I want one. You buy drinks there but it was reasonable. The dinner was great and I have leftovers. I would do it again!
(5)Ann K.
I pop in and outta Cooking Fools for lunch-to-go pretty often when I'm working in the neighborhood and the food and service has always been wonderful! BUT I'd like to ask, why offer pour overs for your coffee service and use Starbucks coffee! I seriously want to know! With all the great local roasteries to buy from (Dark Matter, Bridgeport, Metropolis...) Starbucks?! Get outta here with that! My cup of coffee from Cooking Fools was so awful I couldn't even finish it, a first for me! I'll be walking the extra three blocks to Goddess And Grocer from now on.
(3)Christine C.
I had a really fun time at the pasta-making class! The instructors were readily available to help you if you had issues with the process. The pastas we made were pomodoro (the easy one) and ravioli (slightly more difficult one). Two volunteers made a vodka sauce (unfortunately, you don't get tipsy- lame) and a pesto sauce. They were delicious! There was a great ambiance with a variety of age groups and skills. The age range was between 10 and 60. Everyone had a partner, either a friend, significant other or family member. A few of us were drinking throughout the course, which obvi made it much funner. (Not BYOB, they sell the sauce there). After we finished making the pasta, the instructors cooked it while we sat down and mingled with the other students. After we finished eating, they provided us with take-home containers because there was a ton left-over. The only reason I knocked off a star was because everyone's creation was cooked in the same pot so you don't know whose pasta you're eating. I had a problem with this for two reasons: 1) you don't know if the person whose pasta you're eating washed his/her hands (eeww) and 2) if you're competing with your friend (as was I) for whose pasta came out better after it boiled, you couldn't because everything was cooked together. I would definitely come back again, despite the aforementioned reason. P.S.: there is also a market for freshly-made foods and other stuff like pre-packaged goods, dressings, soups, and alcohol/wine (and maybe beer).
(4)Jonathan C.
CORPORATE EVENT REVIEW Fun place for a cooking event. We made a TON of food! There was a great variety of food for our event empnadas, mini pizzas, bacon wrapped dates, thai beef salad skewers, desserts, etc. They setup 4 stations so there was plenty of options and they had people signup for what they were interested. It was pretty casual, they started off with a MASSIVE MALCAJETE of GUACAMOLE!!! XD yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… Great way to start off. Everything was timed very well so people could casually mingle but they do put you to work, cause you're basically assembling all the food. That's a pro but also a bit of the con. My gripe is that you're not really doing the cooking, just the assembling of the dishes. yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… A lot of the flavors and ingredients are already put together so you don't really get to learn how much to put. I assume if they provide the recipes that will work. The flavors were definatley robust, but several of the dishes were on the salty side (3 of the 9 dishes) Not as satisfying for those who like/want to learn to cook but overall it's a great experience for casual cooks and coorporate events. Food pics MINI PIZZAS yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… CHICKEN and MANCHENGO EMPANADAS yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… GOAT CHEESE and BUTTERSQUASH QUESADILLAS yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… FIRECRACKER SHRIMP yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… MEETBALLS STUFFED with CHEESE yelp.com/biz_photos/cook… Fun even for first time and I would do it again with a request for less salt in the food and recipes for guest to take home.
(3)Shradha A.
Hosted a 25-person company cooking event and everything went off really well. The chefs were well prepared and good with their instructions. Food turned out really great and in very large quantities too. Spacious, clean and easy to bring your own AV.
(5)Dario I.
Okay let me start by saying that the class is great!!! You will learn a lot about pasta making as well as making sauce for it the overall experience was awesome and they instructors are very nice. They are there for you to guide you every step of the way and at the end everything was delicious. Now, why did I give it two stars? I have been to MANY cooking classes and this is the very first time where they literally combine everything that everyone made and cook it all together so you do not know whose pets you will be eating and wonder whether or not that person washed his/her hands. I took my sweet time and put so much love making my pasta just so somebody else could eat it and I ended up some stranger's who I have no idea whose pasta I ate and never will. I am not the type of person who is always all about killing germs and staying away from them, however, when it comes to food I really do not somebody else preparing my food and if they do I would rather not watch them do it. Let me start by saying that one of the guys in the class got there after us and he NEVER bothered to visit the sink and wash his hands. I was very disgusted at the end by it but I was like YOLO so I tried the pasta. I strongly suggest that they get some sort of small individual kitchenette for every table so you cook your own hand made pasta and not worth about other people's germs. I will definitely not go back nor recommend it to friends unless they change the way they cook the pasta at the end. If they can't afford to buy all the individual kitchenettess then at least have people use gloves. Not to metion that is VERY expensive just so at the end you eat somebody else's bad pasta such as mine where I found a big piece of egg shell in one of my raviolis.
(2)Liana R.
Utterly delightful in the equally delightful Wicker Park neighborhood. Favorite new find is mango habanero sorbet. I could have eaten the whole container at once. The tilapia is a tasty and tastefully, tender fish. Jamaica jerk chicken tastes different from what I've had in other places but amazing. If you like bbq chicken, try the morroccan chicken: it's much lighter.
(4)Antaash U.
Thanks to Groupon, I had the opportunity to learn how to make my own pasta from scratch. The class begins with choosing a station for yourself and party where you can easily watch a trained professional demonstrate what you will shortly be doing on your own. Once the demonstration is over, the fun really begins. Don't worry, if you're not a quick study, because two professionals circulate through the room to help you with any questions or problems you may have giving you a true hands-on-learning opportunity. For my class, we were taught how to make ravioli and pappardelle. Unfortunately, we could not make our our sauces and filling for the ravioli. 3 volunteers were asked to come up to the class (I was one of them) to make the vodka sauce, the roasted red pepper filling for the ravioli and the pesto sauce. While the three volunteers took charge of the sauces/filling, the rest of the class could only watch. Once the demonstrations were over and our pasta dough had some time to rest, we began the task of rolling out the dough using the pasta press machines at our stations. Then we were able to stuff our ravilio and cut our pappardelle. I really wish there was a way to taste our own creations, however it was not meant to be. The pasta the class makes is collectively whisked away and boiled in a big pot in the back. The class ends with a dinner of the pasta that was created along with salad. We were allowed to take home any left overs if we wished. All in all, it was a good experience and worth the $45 I paid.
(3)Dianne S.
I absolutely love to cook, but I've still got a thing or two to learn. After a trip last summer to Italy, I cannot bare to eat anything but fresh pasta! So I was extremely excited to drag my husband to the pasta making class at Cooking Fools. Spacious, clean working areas. Each work area is designed for two (we shared a bench knife, pasta machine, pasta cutter, and stainless steel work space). If you happen to like the equipment you're working with, they sell most of their kitchen tools (I picked up a handy dual pasta cutter that had a smooth blade as well as a fluted one for $9.95...cheaper than William-Sonoma prices). The class lasted about 3 hours and was taught by Nick who was assisted by Nate. Great little tid bits during the class...why vodka in vodka sauce?-the alcohol allows you to taste certain components of the tomatoes that can only dissolve in alcohol versus water. We lined up buffet style to two huge plates of pasta as well as delcious salad that I'll soon be copying. We were allowed to bring home leftovers and they were still delicious the day after for dinner. Unlike most cooking classes, Cooking Fools is NOT BYOB since they have a liquor license. But no worries, wine and beer is sold at a reasonable price. Only downside, I have yet to receive an email copy of the recipes that we were promised.
(5)Polly S.
Cooking Fools - you know I'm such a fool for you. You got me wrapped around your finger. Do you have to let it linger? Boyfriend got a pasta maker for Christmas so we thought we'd take the pasta making class in the new year before we did any serious damage. So glad we did! During the 3 hour class we learned an immense amount. Nick and Nate were our instructors and they kept the class informative, enjoyable, and running at a good pace. The kitchen facility was clean, well lit, and professional. Great indie music playing in the background . A perfect environment for pasta making! There were about 30 participants and we all worked in pairs. Most everyone purchased beer/wine at the store front before the class started and we enjoyed our beverages throughout (note: it's not BYO, the policy only allows for beverages purchased from their store). The class cumulates with a family style dinner (which includes salad) using the pasta we all just made. Overall, a fantastic experience and I know I definitely learned some techniques and tips that I would never have known had I only looked in a book or researched online. Take a class - it's a worthwhile experience!
(5)Ann O.
We took the pasta making class with their Groupon offer. We really had a great time! We purchased a bottle of wine at the shop to take with us, and were all set to learn to make pasta. The class was about 30 students - not too big, and just enough personal attention from the instructors. We made two types of pasta with two different sauces. The instructors would demonstrate how to make the pasta, and then walk around the room as we all made it ourselves. At the end, we sat down to eat everything, and everything was fresh and amazing. We can't wait to try some of our new skills and recipes at home, and are looking forward to taking another class!
(5)Christina F.
What a cute little place! Great for enjoying some good food, coffee, and friends! They even sell liquor. Coffee was average, but I can't wait to go back to try the dill parmesan chicken salad. That sounds amazing! What really got me about this place though was the cashier. He was the nicest guy! Very helpful and friendly. The whole place really has this friendship/homey feel to it!
(4)Stephen S.
I came here for the tamales class and had a fantastic time! It demystified the whole tamale making experience for me and although I still think it's unlikely that I'll ever make tamales at home I did learn a couple tricks that will follow me into my kitchen. Although they kept mentioning that they would often take longer on steps if done at home with more time I was actually super impressed by how quickly and simply delicious salsa could come together. It really convinced me that I should be doing this stuff on my own more often. The class is followed by a delicious spread of your own tamales alongside some rice, salad, and salsa. I should mention that I paid a discounted rate using a special offer. I don't think I would go back for the full rate but if I saw another deal I'd consider another one of their classes.
(4)Matt M.
Great place for an event. We held a small birthday party at Cooking Fools for a my wife. Everyone had fun cooking and relaxing in the event space above the main location. The team from Cooking Fools was great - we'd do this again for other occasions.
(5)Christina M.
I hate to give Cooking Fools two stars, but the food was incredibly underwhelming and I can't justify rating it any higher than a 2.5. I notice a lot of the reviews here are about the cooking classes offered at CF. I have never been to their classes and can't speak to them, however, given the taste and quality of my food I can tell you that I have no interest in attending one. My bf got a non-vegetarian sandwich and I got the vegan gyro (sans the non-vegan sauce). We both found the taste of our meals to be underwhelming and lacking of flavor - especially the vegan gyro...which I'm super-bummed about because I had wanted to try CF's vegan gyro for 2 years now. Cooking Fools is a cute place and its run by the friendliest of employees, but the taste of the food is what will keep my bf and I from coming back.
(2)Katherine P.
Cooking Fools was the main event for a Girls Night/Bachelorette party this past weekend. While I've been to many cooking schools through the years, Cooking Fools is the perfect place for a private party! When we first walked in, the loft space was so welcoming and felt like home. We popped in our iPod playlist and the night took off. Friends were saying they wanted to rent this place out with their work friends before the night began! We had the space from 6-10p with a self-serve open bar and private chef. Nick Silver was our chef and host. He had a great personality and kept the night moving along nicely! Our customized menu was Mexican -- guacamole appetizer, empanada, rice, butternut squash quesadilla (amazing!), 2 salsas, etc. The kitchen is large with great work-space but managed to feel like home. Picture all your friends standing around your Mom's kitchen island - it's not one of those too "commercialized" with the big mirrors cooking schools. The worst part is that eventually we had to leave! I'm sure I'll be back and this will now be my "go to" place to host parties. Thanks!
(5)Michael M.
My review is based on experiences both with Cooking Fools' classes and with their lunches. I went to a work function at Cooking Fools that involved cooking classes, which I must admit I was not especially excited about. I had previously gone to a cooking class elsewhere with a previous employer, and was bored, hungry, and overall extremely dissatisfied. However, the class at Cooking Fools was great. It was a fun environment where I (and everyone else) got to do the majority of the cooking of the food and I actually learned some useful techniques. There was also plenty of time to socialize with coworkers, which was important and something that I have seen lacking at other classes like this. The food that we made was also plentiful and delicious, which made for a fun time eating it after the cooking class. Lastly, I really liked Cooking Fools' upstairs loft kitchen space. More recently, I have eaten a number of lunches at Cooking Fools or carried food out, and I have been thoroughly satisfied each time. Their sandwiches and wraps are excellent and use high-quality, fresh ingredients. Although there is not tons of seating space, I do find the storefront a pleasant place to sit and eat. Lastly, I think the sandwiches are a great value, especially considering that they come with chips and a drink. Various of the fish sandwiches as well as the chicken pesto are among my favorites.
(4)Maura S.
Take a cooking class at Cooking Fools- you will NOT regret it! I used a Groupon to take a pasta making class here last weekend and had a fantastic experience. Upon arriving, you can purchase wine, beer, or soda to drink during the class... which I thought was great. There were about 30 "students" in the class, but it didn't feel overcrowded. And from what I could tell, everyone could see the demonstrations easily. First, we all had a chance to make our own pasta dough. The head chef doing the demonstration was informative and clear with his instructions. While our homemade pasta dough rested we watched classmates make two different sauces and one ravioli filling. Afterwords we had the chance to make two different pastas, including ravioli. When we had all finished our pasta, the chefs whisked away our noodles and cooked them in the kitchen. I liked that they combined all of our efforts to make one big meal. As a class, we got to sit down and enjoy the pasta we had just made together. It was pretty fun to eat with our "classmates" and bond over imperfect noodles we had created together! From the moment we walked in the door, until the moment we left, the staff was kind and helpful. Plus they emailed us a PDF of all the recipes we created. Now I can make them at home! I will not hesitate to take another cooking class at Cooking Fools in the future. It was a great experience!
(5)Kristina N.
I took the pasta making class the other night and had a lot of fun, but the experience left me wanting more. I purchased the class through a Groupon for $40 and felt I got my money's worth. If I had paid the full amount for this class, I would have been disappointed. The class description states that we will learn to make hand cut and filled pastas; however I would have really liked to practice with the cutting attachment on the pasta machine. Because you cut and fold the ravioli by hand, cutting the second batch of pasta seems a little redundant. In my opinion, $80 is very steep for this class. I think somewhere in the $50-$60 range would be more appropriate. Other than that, I have nothing bad to say. The class was organized, the space was clean, the staff was friendly, and overall I had a good time.
(3)Valicia B.
Had a great time with friends and cooking fools. I went because I had a groupon deal. Chopping Block is better than Cooking Fools. Not to say the cooking fools is bad they are just not as good as the chopping block. We made our own pasta but did not make our own vodka sauce or ravioli filling. One person out of group was selected to make those. Then once you made your pasta it was boiled as a group. Therefore you were not eating the pasta that you individually made. I was a little disappointed in this. I was also a little disappointed that we didn't actually get to cook the pasta. Overall good fun night out but definitely doesn't compare to the Chopping Block. Being that I got the deal with a groupon I was satisfied but if I would paid full price I would have been highly disappointed. The Cooking Fools gets a three eatin because we didn't cook the pasta that we individually made.
(3)Danny M.
I also bought the Groupon and did the pasta making cooking class. While the sushi class intrigued me, I figured I had a better chance of making pasta in my lifetime. The class was $50, reduced from the $84. You can now call me a resident Mario Batali, sans the tacky red boots. During the class, we were all able to make our own pasta dough from scratch and roll it out into ravioli and fettucini. However, that was about it. Dont get me wrong, that was challenging and interesting to learn. However, I was hoping to get in there and make some sauces. Well, we did not. But we did get to watch the chefs do it! The best way to learn is to watch, and not do, correct? :) The instructors were helpful ...The one that did the cooking had a creepy molest-ache that was difficult to look at and reminded me of the guy from Ace of Cakes. They made a ravioli filling with ricotta, Parmesan, lemon zest, and sauteed mushrooms. They made a pesto sauce to go on top of the ravioli that had basil, garlic, pine nuts, EVOO, and parm (no surprises here). We also got to see a vodka sauce being made, which did smell tasty. They said they will e-mail us the recipes, but I have yet to see those. Good thing I have some sort of memory! At the end of the class, they cook all of your pasta and everyone gets to eat! They also serve salad with it, which was nice and necessary because people were scarfing down those raviolis. You can roll out after you eat ...No reason to sit around and make awkward convo. As people have said, you can get beer and wine from the store, if you enjoy a healthy price mark up on your alcohol. I would check to see if its BYOB, or just go alcohol-free, which I dont typically say. I didnt drink and I had a great time (and I went alone!). The side streets are available for parking without permits. Just be sure because not every street is that way! For$50, I enjoyed the class. For $84, I would have asked for some money back!
(4)Jen S.
I purchased a Groupon for their pasta making class and just took a class last weekend. The teachers were fun and helpful. There was about 30 of us in the class, but it wasn't too many people. Afterwards, we enjoyed the pasta we made, and all left happy! Great experience!
(5)Lori G.
I took the pasta making class I bought through Groupon at Cooking Fools with my fiancee. Overall, I loved the class. I thought it was well worth my $45. Nick (the instructor) was very helpful in making the class lively and entertaining, while still providing instruction. He showed us how to make noodles and ravioli, and did a demonstration of pesto and vodka sauce. However, the demonstrations used people from the class so it wasn't boring to watch. After everything was done, everyone got to eat the wonderful meal, which included a salad from Cooking Fools. The only suggestion I have for Cooking Fools is to do smaller classes, as my 30-person class felt a little cramped. But overall, great class and I will want to try out some more classes at Cooking Fools!
(5)Allison B.
This review is regarding catering services. We were looking for a small catered Thanksgiving dinner for four and Cooking Fools did not disappoint. We left a voice mail message and they promptly called us back the next morning to take our order over the phone. Picked up the food the evening before Thanksgiving and it was ready as promised. Then reheated the dishes as per the instructions on their website and it was divine. Everything was delicious - great turkey, traditional stuffing, fantastic gravy, yummy potatoes. We're considering again for Christmas dinner.
(5)Bethany R.
Love this place! Everyone needs to try it :)
(5)B B.
Great food and excellent customer service. Super friendly staff. Even the owner came by to say hi. Food is fresh and it's always a great selection! They're also really efficient, so I'm there all the time!
(5)Lois A.
They have this basil parmesan chicken salad sandwich that is out of this world. I have to have it every so often or I start to go crazy with longing. I also really like the steak sandwich they have and the crab cakes. The sorbet is pretty good. I'd love to try a class but I haven't had the chance yet. Argh!!! Just writing about that chicken sandwich is making me crave one. I knew I shouldn't have started thinking about it!!!
(4)Danielle M.
I love this place! I get lunch here almost everyday. Service is great and food is amazing. Everything is always fresh and they have a lot of healthy options.
(5)Amanda G.
Cooking Fools is a cute little gourmet foodstore that also serves wine and beer. A couple weeks ago my boyfriend and I did a sushi making class here that we bought on the GroupOn website. I was very impressed with the class, the space and the teachers and we learned how to make some basic rolls (seaweed outside, seaweed inside and some more interesting rolls too) The ingredients we had to work with were also pretty good and you can buy beer/wine at the store to drink while you are doing the class. You can eat your rolls along the way too. The sushi making class was a fun experience and I would definitely come back for another class here.
(4)Paige V.
This was the first cooking class I've ever taken and the experience makes me want to try more! Like many others, my boyfriend and I took the cooking class using the Groupon. Pasta making was extremely enjoyable and quite yummy! The instructors were helpful, informative and ensured that they walked around to help everyone equally. I'm even thinking about purchasing a pasta making machine. (Can't wait to get my emailed PDF with all the recipes we completed). Like most things on Groupon, it was an incredible deal, but I'd happily pay for a similar experience with another class that I'd personally find useful. In my opinion, there's nothing like telling friends and family that you've made something from scratch. We also had a pleasant conversation with the people who ate lunch with us. Perhaps new friends... I will definitely keep my eye on cookingfools.net for new classes!
(5)Timothy T.
I live in Wicker Park and frequently stop into Cooking Fools for snacks and everything is always delicious. I recently attended a tamale cooking class and had a great time. I got some Tecates and some vino and headed over to the cooking school side to make tamales. The instructing chefs were great- very helpful and taught us about some general food and ingredient properties in addition to how to make tamales and salsas. I'd really recommend trying one of their classes.
(5)Wendy G.
I want to love this place, and the food is great, but it seems like something is always a little off. Like the time I ordered their specialty quesedilla... they apparently hadn't tried making it on the grill before. It took two tries before they had to give up and ask me to order something else. I got a sandwich, and they gave me a free side of some salad and apologized profusely but still...
(4)Jacquelyn G.
I hadn't heard of Cooking Fools until they ran an offer with Groupon, so a friend and I decided to give it a whirl. We took the pasta class and I had such a great time. The class is three hours long which, for $40 or whatever I paid for the Groupon, is quite a deal (not sure what the regular price is). I think it was a class of 30 or so people, and it felt like just the right size. All but a few of the work stations are on the main level, and the others are up on the split level but also overlooking the demonstrator, so there isn't a bad spot in the house. Nick and Nate were the instructors for the class and they both seemed pretty knowledgeable, especially Nick, who mainly led the glass and did the demos. When he started talking about molecular bonds I figured he knew his stuff (and then some)! They came around to offer help and check how everyone was doing throughout the class. We all made our own pastas which consisted of spinach-stuffed ravioli and pappardelle. The spinach filling and vodka sauce (for the pappardelle) were done by two volunteers, not the entire class. Still, I felt like making the pasta along was enough hands-on for me for one class, and was happy to have a volunteer do the fixins'. I had a hard time remembering what, exactly, I was supposed to do to make the pasta anyway... After we cooked everything, we had the pleasure of eating it. There is such an insane amount of food at the end that there's really no need to eat beforehand. Some people had snacks during class but a friend tipped me off that the portions are gargantuan, so I knew to save myself for the pasta. And it was worth it. Everything tasted so yummy (pat on the back). The event is BYO but you must purchase it in their shop next door. There's a decent selection of wine and beer, though, and a variety of prices so no worries about spending an arm and a leg. All in all a super fun night and I just might even make the recipes at home. I'd definitely go back.
(4)Melissa W.
Bought the Groupon with a few girlfriends of mine. Tough choice between the pasta and the sushi - but after much discussion, decided on the pasta. Happy we did! But curious about the sushi... hmmmm..... Ok - I can't cook. At all.. I mean the microwave and I are like best friends. And I was a little unsure of two things. One, if this was activity was WAY out of my league, i.e., my friends actually chuckled when I told them I was going to a cooking class and made various comments about buildings burning down. And two, if going thru the effort of making your own noodles actually is worth it. I mean - throwing the ones in the box directly into the boiling water is just so easy. To the first: class was fun, easy to follow and I actually produced some great noodles. And to the second, I'm a convert - cooking from scratch is worth the resulting taste. YUMMY!!!!!! I would definitely recommend it and will consider going back for additional classes. And it was BYOB - so my girlfriends and I were able to cheaply enjoy a couple bottles of wine brought from home. The staff is really friendly, even took pictures for us, and the chefs were walking around helping when needed, laid back, etc. The only thing is they aren't completely on their A game when it comes to the admin part of it. We had some challenges getting in touch with staff prior to the event, and they said they would email the recipes. Unfortunately, haven't received so I'll have to follow up to receive them. But, loved it. Highlight of my week.
(4)Rebecca M.
I took the pasta cooking class at Cooking Fools last weekend and was unimpressed. For the most part the class was done well but I have an issue with their hygiene standards. My husband I did not eat the food we prepared, we left as the food was cooking. Once we found out that all of the food was going to be cooked together and served family style turned me off the food. We had a large class of 30+ people and cooking fools did not ensure every participant washed their hands prior to preparing the food nor did they provide gloves for the participants to use while preparing the food. I know no announcement of hygiene was made to anyone as I was one of the first people there in a class of 30+. The fact the none of the above items were done prior to the class is unacceptable to me. I would not go to a restaurant or any other establishment and eat food without the prep cook or chef washing their hands or wearing gloves. I am highly disappointed in the careless Cooking Fools has taken with hygiene in the food that was prepared and would recommend anyone taking this class ensure hands are washed or gloves are used.
(2)Kristen K.
This place is awesome! The classes are great and the atmosphere makes it fun. I definitely recommend checking it out either for a class, takeout, catering, or they also offer team bonding opportunities for work groups! Chicago is lucky to have Chef Nick and his team opening their doors and letting us learn with them. Cheers!
(5)Bree F.
I also attended the pasta making class offered with the Groupon. It was a really great time and I would recommend it to anyone and would love to do another class with them. There is one key difference between a class at Cooking Fools and a class at a cooking school, however. Cooking Fools does not have a stove set up at each work station. Therefore, all heated items need to be done as a demonstration at the front of the class. They do use volunteers from the class, but it is not the same as everyone making all of their own dishes. Each class member did make their own pasta dough and then rolled it out into raviolis or pappardelle. The ravioli filling was also made as a demo in the front of the class and then portioned out for each work station. The other disappointment I had was that all the pasta and raviolis are put together in one big pot so you really don't know if you are having your handmade pasta or someone else's. I understand it is not logistically possible, but the raviolis were different sizes and I was really excited to try my own. I guess I'll just have to make it at home. Regardless, the night was very fun, the staff was great and the food was good. It is BYOB and you must purchase it from their store, but we found a bottle of wine for $10 so prices are pretty reasonable. I will definitely check out their other class schedules and take another one soon.
(4)Nana H.
Its good to treat yourself to cooking fools once in a while- but not all the time, as its pretty expensive! I love their skinny salad. I wish i could sometimes get their prepared hot foods, but its always so hard to tell if it is worth, $9.95 bl for roasted vegetables. I can not justify that. I'm pretty excited about their late night menu though! If i still lived in the neighborhood and stayed out into the early morning hours, I would love this alternative to shitty flash tacos.
(4)Zach W.
Looks like most people experience the cooking classes at Cooking Fools. Unfortunately I have not had the pleasure of these. My experience here is just lunch. They offer a refrigerator of delightfully prepared foods. A couple things that I am very fond of are the lentil feta salad with a cumin vinaigrette and parmesan chicken salad. Made to order stuff includes daily soups, which are delicious during these cold winter months. The best two thus far are a vegan lentil and a fennel tomato. All the sandwiches are served on a baguette and the grilled vegetable with goat cheese is very good. The best buy at cooking fools is probably the personal European pizzas. Last and probably the most noteworthy, the desserts! For the everyday oreo lover, please try the homemade oreos. They are awesome. At only $1 a piece, it's the perfect meal closer. For the summer months the offer homemade popsicles. The most interesting combination i've had was a cucumber watermelon. It sounds very weird, but it is light and freshing.
(4)Donna C.
Unfortunately, I reviewed this in another place (I'll have to delete it!) Love their iced tea, wasabi peanuts and sandwiches. The staff is very nice and helpful, too. I'm in there at least once or twice a week. Much less overwhelming than The Goddess and the Grocer. I do want to try the cooking classes someday.
(4)Alexis H.
Cooking fools is a great option for a gourmet "convenience store". They have prepared foods galore as well as yummy sandwiches and all sorts of side items to go with your meal. I've picked up a sesame trail mix with puffed rice and wasabi peas as well as the to-die-for strawberry basil popsicles. Their concoctions seem to be made with odd food combos, but they've never done me wrong. I always find myself appreciating the flavors and wanting to try even more of what they have to offer. My roommate swears by their sandwich offerings when you're in need of something different (i.e. way better than Pot Belly's or Jimmy John's). One plus: They offer cooking lessons, so you too can be a cooking fool. One minus: It's pretty expensive, but you do get what you pay for in terms of flavor.
(4)Su B.
Vegan gyros and a good selection of beer and wine is all I need to like this place. All the food I've gotten here has been great. My only problem is that they took the fries off the menu!
(5)olivia k.
late night vegan gyros!? apparently this is a new feature of their menu and it's pretty good. their fries are also excellent and satisfy that after-party food craving. careful though, the vegan gyros are in short supply and high demand. there wasn't enough to go around for all the customers when we went late on a saturday night. i thought it was tastey but on the small side for the price. haven't tried any of the non-veg items there but i heard many of the customers say good things about them.
(4)c w.
this is a nice little place with lots of wine, beer & ingredients that are fun to look over. once in awhile they do wine tasting nights and put out snacks which is always a plus. also, they also have a freezer full of interesting looking homemade sorbets & fruit bars i'm looking forward to trying when it gets warmer out. the only food ive had here so far was the vegan gyro (but the sauce they want to give you with it isn't vegan for some reason). it was really tasty and the pita was nice and soft. only thing was that to me it tasted like taco filling in a pita. which definitely tasted good but wasnt what i expected.. i would go back if i was craving mexican and didnt want a veggie burrito. if i want a gyro i'll go back to lake side cafe.
(3)Ryan P.
Another lunch time treat. They have this amazing dill parmesan chicken salad and some delicious looking frozen sorbets.
(5)Doug p.
Cooking Fools really has impressive, and varied menu items. Plus they carry some interesting fresh, newer products. They offer cooking classes, catering, and lunch!
(3)Rachel A.
All of the entrees and sides that I've eaten from here have been delicious -- full of flavor and well-prepared. I sadly have to disagree with the good reviews about the ice cream -- I tried the mint chocolate chip on Saturday and it was horrible. Barely any mint flavor whatsoever. I've made far better with my cuisinart ice cream machine. I should've saved the money and bought a pint of ben and jerry's instead.
(4)Not J B.
Their grilled panini are made to order and are very far from processed. If you've eaten somewhere like Cosi, you'll definitely be able to taste the difference in a good way and it's worth coming back to taste them a few more times just to be sure.
(4)Ren H.
The food here is really great! Its "health conscious" which makes me feel not as guilty for indulging! Their homemade ice cream and french bread are delicious!
(4)Angela S.
Catered Hors d'Oeuvres platters are a horrible value and the customer service is just as horrid. I wish I could give them negative stars, and I signed up on Yelp just to give them this review to warn you all! I live in Wicker Park and am wiling to pay a little more to support our local businesses, but never again for this one! I ordered several platters for my husband's birthday party. I took a risk in ordering food based on the staff's brief description and without a picture, and it backfired. When I picked up the food, no one bothered to open up the sealed packages and present them to me, and I was naive enough to accept their word that the sealed packages were complete, and that I need not get them cold by opening them up. I ordered a tray of several dozen chicken roulade. They were TINY and very bland tasting. I ordered the meatballs on sticks. They were literally the size of lollipops and the sauce was missing. When I later complained the sauce was missing, they accused me of LYING! They made no apologies and said it was MY mistake! I also ordered a tray of smoked salmon and brioche canapes. They too were so tiny that we could barely taste the salmon and there was no noticeable caviar. The morsels were not all that tasty. The food at my party was an embarrassment and not one person said it was good and my friends agreed that I received very little for my money. I would have been better off ordering fruit and vegetable platters from the local Jewel! My husband was also very upset, and when we each spoke to the manager about it, he completely dismissed everything we said, claiming we lied about the two missing sauces, and that our expectations of the sizes of hors d'oevres is inaccurate. He offered no solution to rectify the situation. I guess he thinks that paying $3 for each mediocre bite smaller in size than a golf ball is good business. Whatever happened to customer service? I found NONE..
(1)Michelle H.
I brought my company to Cooking Fools for an evening out together. Nick and his team did such a fabulous job. The event is hosted in the upstairs loft, which is very, very cool. We were wined and spent the right amount of time socializing before we were reighned in and brought to the classroom to learn how to make stuffed chicken breasts and great sides. We dined fairly late, but that is because Nick let us do our thing and enjoy each other's company. Nobody felt rushed, nobody left hungry and we all had a great time.
(5)kiki h.
I love the food here and it's even better that it's healthy! I agree with Renda that the homemade ice cream is incredible!
(4)Michelle W.
I definitely want to take one of their classes, they all look so interesting. The food is really, really good and it is nice that you can take it home and look like you slaved away all day in the kitchen to your significant other. I might have just blown my cover.
(4)Cara B.
Took the pasta making class through Groupon and had a great time. The two instructors, Nick and Nate (I think), were excellent! They were very helpful and made sure everyone was on track. Demonstrations of making a vodka sauce and a pesto sauce were well done and easy to follow. At the end, we dined on our pasta and a salad provided by Cooking Fools. I would definitely take another cooking class here!
(5)rebecca b.
I had a wonderful time at the pasta making class this past Sunday! Jared was not only informative, but also very entertaining. Although making fresh pasta is considered to be a more basic process- Jared gave many useful tips that I wouldn't have known by just following a recipe (for both the pasta and sauce). As previous reviews state- They first demonstrate and then you're hands on - making your own pasta (that is later shared). The sauce is demonstrated for the whole class using just a few volunteers, but you have the opportunity to ask questions etc. If I lived in Chicago, I would sign up for many more classes here. Thanks Cooking Fools for a fantastic experience!
(5)Amina D.
I'm surprised I haven't reviewed Cooking Fools sooner, this is one of the first places I starting going to when I first discovered Wicker Park. Whenever I'm in Wicker Park I'm always sure to stop at Cooking Fools for lunch or sometimes dinner, as my mom can testify by looking at my monthly credit statement. If your ever walking down North Avenue, you'll be sure to see me reading a magazine while munching on a chicken salad sandwich, key lime cupcakes, house-made tortilla chips w/ mango salsa and washing all that down with a pink- lemonade soda from France. This place is a class act with great food and service.
(5)Betty S.
The reason I stopped by this place if I was in Wicker Park taking a look around the shops, and there was a sign that said fruit smoothies. They had different gourmet products available for purchase. In the freezer case, there were things like strawberry basil popsicles, but it was obvious these specialties sold out each day. (I came around 6 p.m.) I had a pomegranate blueberry peach smoothie which was very good and my friend had the mango mint smoothie which was delicious.
(4)