Zentra

by Mel F.

First, I dont know why Yelp has Zentra listed twice. Weird. Anyway, this place kinda blows. Cover, yeah no. There's no way I'm paying $20 to get in anywhere without live music. The fact that I never pay cover when I go here is irrelevant. I'm just surprised that people actually do. The crowds are eclectic at best and the only thing that I imagine they have in common is their love for bad music. The drinks are always overpriced but sufficiently strong enough to dull the senses. In all, it's kinda bad. I have no idea why people come here. This place used to be great about 4 or 5 yrs ago on industry night. Way better music too. It's gone down hill since then. Too bad. I'd say don't waste your time here. You can always find a place that blows that's way more wallet friendly.

by Heather M.

So, here's the deal: Four other people and myself roll up on a weeknight; it's feezing, but there's still a line outside for this place. None of us want to wait/freeze in line without knowing what we are going to be charged, so one of us (temporarily) usurps the line to ask the bouncer what the cover will be to get all 5 of us in, proceeding to negotiate. The bouncer then turns to look over at the remaining members of our little group, and says "30 bucks". Cheap or not, the whole thing made me uncomfortable. So there's your scene in a nutshell, before even walking in the door. Why go to a d-bag place like that? This brings us to a couple of ethical concerns: 1. If there is a cover charge, everyone should be charged the same. Otherwise, people who pay more feel devalued, and those who pay less feel unjustly socially superior - yet may still get ostracized by those asked to pay more. 2. There really should never be a cover charge without live music. Venues such as Zentra make more than enough profit off of drinks alone to compensate their DJs - who see very, very little of that money.

by Niki C.

I thought this place was over in the early '00's, but apparently Michael Jordan was just here last night, so maybe his appearance will breathe some life into it.

by Jen H.

This is not my usual kind of place..in any uncertain terms. About a year and a half ago though, went there to see a  friend of mine, DJ Bryan Zentz headline a set here on snowy January evening...and met the love of my life (and current fiance').  If a couple of indie kids can find love here, it must have some redeeming qualities..right?P.S. Now we hang out Smartbar (when the cover is free) and Sonotheque (Dark Wave Disco nights).

by An P.Clara P.It's The F.Victor L.Lady T.

Lured by Broke Hipster!After seeing online that there would be free champagne, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at Zentra to celebrate their tenth anniversary on top of Derrick Carter spinning, I could not help myself and organized a crew to roll up to the club and RSVP'd +3 and another friend RSVP'd +4. Rolling up to Zentra we got in no problem and they literally had a live camel standing outside while being tended by two farmers from Wisconsin wearing sheik costumes. Cinder blocks were put in front and the side of the camel and a pile of sand was under him so he could sit down. Ridiculous!After going inside, I asked what the drink special was and the bartender said Pomergrante Smirnoff for the first hour, so ordered myself a drink served in a midget class. I quickly finished and ordered myself a complimentary champagne. On my third trip the second bartender had no idea what I was talking about then I had to yell since it was so deafening loud.Other than being the only people in the club, the deafening nature of it soured my mood along with a bartender who seemed angry I was trying to get free booze that was advertised! I still tipped the angry girl who shot me a dirty look. There were no hors d'oeuvres and the music was not getting anyone dancing.A little while later, a few girls came up offering more free cocktails featuring sparkling liquer, tequila and vodka also served in teeny tiny itsy bitsy eenie weenie midget glasses yet again!  Our other friends showed up and the doorman would not let them in without paying $10 cover even though we had RSVP'd and said that they had to come in with us. My friend reported the bouncer first told him $20, but when we came out he said $10, then when we went back inside to get our stuff he told them $5. Sorry, but sliding scale cover is ridiculous, especially when the damn club is empty! Epic fail, Zentra - good luck surviving another ten years!Ok, so I am new to yelping, but I couldn't wait to write my review on this place. As a new yelper I wish there was a zero star option. This place is God awful, service wise.  My friends and I enjoy a good spot for house music and every now and then Zentra hosts a house night. We used to go whenever it was a house night, but since our last horrible experience, we have yet to go back and it's pretty safe to say we will never go back. Long story short, my friend and I arrived there, went to the bar that was located at the outside patio and ordered 2 drinks. Bar tender started out friendly enough, well  she uses the glass to scoop ice from the ice box, placed both glasses on the bar, started making our drinks when I noticed a huge piece of glass from one of the glasses missing, she then noticed too cause whatever she was pouring into that glass started to spill out due to the large piece of glass missing. She looked in the ice box and pulled a few glass pieces from that ice box. We figured, no big deal, she'll get new ice and make new drinks. She dumped the broken glass out, pulled out broken pieces of glass that was in the ice box, thinking that would be enough and continued to make a new drink, but GET THIS, she was using ice from the very ice box that contained broken glass.  I told her no, I did not what ice from that icebox.  She continued to say she pulled all the broken pieces out and the ice was fine.... I mean honestly, how dumb is this girl? My friend who was with me is in the restaurant industry and told her that protocol is to destroy the ice in the ice box, clean the ice box to make sure it is rid of any glass particles. She wouldn't listen, she still wanted us to pay for these crazy drink that chances are could have had glass particles in it.  We honestly tried to talk sense into her... hello... BROKEN GLASS in ICE.  Instead she called security, security was rude as hell, but honestly, I'm a fiesty latina, I wasn't leaving until I got my cover back and I did!I later called emailed the manager to file a complaint, he never returned my call, email or whatever else. Honestly, I am easily irked by lack of common sense and that bar tender lacked some serious common sense.Uhm someone said its a hit or miss????We TOTALLY missed it this past Friday! I am so pissed that it was 50.00 total for he and I to get into a place that advertises diverse music rooms but had all teh same music playing in each freaking room! I was expecting house techno or whatever to stay UPstairs and the Hip Hop to be in the main floor......it wasn't, why?There was a birthday corner for RSVP's and the freaking crazy latinas started stuff and it just got out of hand.....smh....they wear freaking tennis shoes to the club! The girls and guys! They wear t-shirts....I mean for 50.00 I could have went to the hood and had the music to tap my foot too......I am just disappointed and won't ever be going back....I would rather hit Joe's across the street or any damn where but hereThis club is not what I expected. The music is not that bad, the bouncers are some what rude but i guess they are just doing their job. If you like a little diversity and are into a crowd of mostly Asian and Indian this is Your kinda place. From the last time I went most of the girls seem "uptight" and are not willing dance.Overall the good things are that my boy has the "hook-up" and knows a couple of bartenders, so we don't need to pay a cover price and we don't really pay for drinks.I've never found this place as awful as everyone made it seem to be. Note that I've been here far too many times in the past 3 years (sometimes by choice and sometimes because of a birthday). Although my last time had been about 6 months ago, my usual visits tend to land on Saturdays. I like the area itself, mainly because there are plenty of bars/clubs around Weed St. in case you're not feelin' one or the other. The bouncers never seem to piss me off like other places; they're reasonable. However, if you come on a bad day, you might encounter some bad ones. The club is always bumpin'. Rarely do I see it vacant or people anxious to go home. I must admit that the quality in music choice has gone down significantly since Zentra's early days. It's a bit disappointing because the DJs used to play amazing house and hip hop music, but now I find it almost boring. There's a handful of rooms at Zentra: the main bar/dance floor (which is to the left after the entrance), a small techno/trance room (to the right), a small patio area where you can relax and have a smoke, and there's the upstairs dance floor, which is complete with its own bar. The worst part about this is that Zentra will unexpectedly close off a few of the rooms. Yep, that's where another star for Zentra gets reduced. There are several couches/booths to sit in that aren't part of the "VIP." Anyone is welcome to sit there. Drinks are fairly priced and the staff is just average. Cover is usually $10, unless they hiked up the price over the last 6-8 months. If you find the right party promoter or RSVP'ed on the guest list, it should be free. Other than that, Zentra is just average. Bring some good people, and it's got potential to become much more.

by Matt S.

So I am not a club goer by any means but I went to Zentra to celebrate a friends birthday. I can pretty much sum up this review. The drinks are too expensive, the dress code is only enforced if the door man doesn't like you, and there were people RAVE DANCING upstairs. I felt as if I was sent back in time as some form of punishment to one of the shittiest clubs of the 1990's. Beware Zentra!

by Bianca P.

Wack!  My friends and I went on a Sunday night.  The placed was packed.  Too packed.  I have to say it was Gettwah.  Not my crowd.  I have definitely grown up.  We looked at hood dance lesson (thanks http://MTV.com) before we left the house so we could fit in.  It was a little too hood.  Wanna be pimps walking around with fur coats on, inside of the very hot club.  Give me a break.  Chicks with the brick stiff hair styles.  What ever happened to flow and bounce, wasn't that the goal for hair?  The bouncers acted surprised when we left as things were getting started.  If anyone knows where the classy black people in Chicago hang out, my friends would love to know.  And another thing.  Expense.  The beers were $7, which is pretty standard for big cities.  $25 minimum at the bar for debit/credit cards or an ATM on the 2nd floor with a $3.98 fee!  I didn't want to stay long enough to spend $25.  This receives a "Don't Do It."

by Ricardo G.

DON'T GO HERE...Everyone is rude as he'll from the Bouncers to the Bar tenders and even the promoters...The music is weak and the crowd is less than tasteful... If you want to experience a miserable night out on the town go to this pathetic so called nightclub...!!!! If I could stack this place up to others I would say that this is the worst nightclub in Chicago...!!!!

by It's The F.

Uhm someone said its a hit or miss????We TOTALLY missed it this past Friday! I am so pissed that it was 50.00 total for he and I to get into a place that advertises diverse music rooms but had all teh same music playing in each freaking room! I was expecting house techno or whatever to stay UPstairs and the Hip Hop to be in the main floor......it wasn't, why?There was a birthday corner for RSVP's and the freaking crazy latinas started stuff and it just got out of hand.....smh....they wear freaking tennis shoes to the club! The girls and guys! They wear t-shirts....I mean for 50.00 I could have went to the hood and had the music to tap my foot too......I am just disappointed and won't ever be going back....I would rather hit Joe's across the street or any damn where but here

by Hannah Y.

If you're wasted enough before you walk in this place, you might find yourself to have a good time and not be aware of how much the music sucks, the lack of space for movement whatsoever, and the odor of pits stuffing your nasal passages.  Even if you gave me the 'secret word' to get in without a cover, I'll pass without hesitation.