Boka was where we first bridged my Trotters connection with Giuseppe into a regular routine. He treated us like we had been friends since kindergarten, giving our daughter a glimpse into a world of fine dining and exceptional service (Molly Glover was always our favorite). Sometimes, we would just grab a drink before Steppenwolf just to say hello. Since then, the garden room has become one of our favorite destinations under Lee, offering a quiet ambiance that feels like no other in town.

Twenty years ago, I walked into Boka and saw Kevin Boehm behind the bar. I came back a second and a third time — ha —and just never left. My most moving memory was five years ago when I had a challenging accident. The employees at Boka signed this wonderful card for me — and all wore red glasses! It brought tears to my eyes.

Boka will forever hold a special place in my heart. In 2016, I mentioned to my then-boyfriend, Chris, that I wanted to get married at Boka, where we had our first "real" date. He was taken aback, understandably, as I declared it unprompted while we were cooking dinner at home and watching TV. When we got engaged in 2019, I reminded him once again. Deep down, I knew it was the perfect venue for us. We desired exceptional food, great wine, and a beautiful setting. After visiting the location together, he agreed. Originally, we had chosen October 3, 2020, as our wedding day, but due to the pandemic, we rescheduled it to September 25, 2021. However, we still wanted to mark the significance of the original date with Boka. Therefore, we ordered approximately 150 hot chocolate "bombs" from Boka and included them with our save the dates. This resulted in receiving numerous delightful photos from future wedding guests and their children enjoying the hot chocolates at home.

Finally, the awaited day arrived, and it was perfect—from the ceremony to the food to the dancing. We continue to receive compliments on the delicious food, exquisite wine, and the Dave Grohl portrait. We extend our gratitude to the entire Boka team for creating so many incredible memories!

I met Kevin as he was opening Boka, and we have been dining there ever since. We even celebrated my husband's 60th birthday with a party there and were thrilled that Chef Lee could join us for cake. After so many wonderful meals, you would think we couldn't be surprised anymore. However, the duck dinner last year was absolutely one of the best meals we have ever had anywhere. We look forward to another 20 years of great meals.

Since Boka first opened, and before we met, my husband and I had each been to the restaurant several times separately. Then, on a Monday in July 2016, we wanted to go out in our neighborhood for a drink. We ended up at Boka and had a delightful time at the bar, enjoying our drinks and conversations with the bartenders. From that night on, we returned regularly, averaging once a week, either having dinner or getting a cocktail after dining at other restaurants. We became such regulars that Jon Leopold added our names to the bar. We were thrilled! Unfortunately, in March 2020, the pandemic forced a pause in our regular activity. However, our attachment to Boka remained. We contributed money and stayed in touch with our favorite servers. We made sure to have reservations on the first night of patio dining and then the first night indoor dining resumed.

Simply put, Boka is our favorite restaurant! So, when we decided to get married, there was no doubt that we would have our wedding at Boka. Obviously, the initial draw of the restaurant is Lee's amazing cooking. Additionally, because we've spent so much time there, the servers have become people we care about and look forward to seeing. Lee's food is always spectacular, and being the foodies that we are, we wouldn't have wanted anything less for our special day. And, of course, complementing the food is the amazingly wonderful staff at all levels. What Lee and the magicians in the kitchen offered exceeded our highest expectations, and all of our guests raved about the food, the wines, and the service.

Our wedding was everything we dreamed of. Now, each time we return to Boka, we enjoy the evening at hand and reminisce about the perfect wedding we shared there.