One of the best restaurants I've been to in years. Service and food were absolutely fantastic. If you haven't been, it's an absolute must.

The mezze menu is hands down the best dinner date you can go on. For the price that you would pay for any old dinner, you can get a tasting menu absolutely FULL of delicious meals. 4 courses is more than enough to leave with leftovers. The spreads are exceptional and would have brought us back on their own. After scooping up every bite with the fluffiest pita, we got the roasted Brussels sprouts and the beef tartare. We were so full we barely put a dent in our roasted leg of lamp and chicken keftah. We took it all to go with our creme brûlée and chocolate cake to eat the following day. 10/10 would recommend read more

This restaurant is unreal. I brought my family here on a Friday night while they were visiting from out of town and it was one of the best meals we've ever had in Chicago. The outdoor patio is so relaxing. The layout seamlessly blends the lounge areas with comfy chairs and fire places with the dinner tables. The greenery makes you feel like you're secluded in a private backyard. The food was fantastic. We asked our waitress to recommend her two favorites from each section and none of them disappointed. I would love to come back again soon! read more

Great ambiance and delicious food and cocktails Eggplant Spread is amazing - I don't normally even like baba ghanoush. And the service has always been great! read more

I absolutely love the plates here. Can't say there was a single dish I did not enjoy that we tried. LEYE does it again !! Beef Carpaccio Shrimp scampi Grilled octopus Beef tenderloin Muhammara Crispy short rib hummus halibut I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Blame it on the negronis and old fashioned. All said and done. We ate, enjoyed the stunning skyline from the patio, and were indulged. read more

One of the if not the most aesthetically pleasing restaurant you can go to in the chi. Gorgeous rooftop and located in west loop, one of the best areas to dine. Service is good, food has beautiful presentation. It's a shame that there wasn't a dish that stuck out, about average to me. Still worth the visit. read more

See all

This is absolutely one of the best restaurants in West Loop. I have been twice and every single thing we ordered was a 5/5. The whipped feta and short rib hummus have a big hype for a reason. The beef tartare is also EXCELLENT. I'm not usually a huge falafel fan, but when a friend wanted to try it I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe I'm only a fan of GOOD falafel like this one. I can't imagine being disappointed with anything on the menu and can't wait to keep coming back! read more

Excellent gluten free menu, no reactions. Highly recommend the whipped feta and the short rib hummus. (See pictures) Wait staff was extremely accommodating and quality of service deserves 5 stars. Ambiance and decor was the icing on the cake. read more

Great atmosphere. We visited for a department Christmas party. It's a bit pricey for the portion size. The drinks were delicious and well balanced. read more

Had high expectations from yelp and was not disappointed at all. I reserved ahead of time and had to change my reservation and they were flexible. Food was so worth it, we ordered four dishes and they did not skimp out on the servings. We ordered the beef + lamb kebab, salmon kebab, whipped feta, and green falafel. read more

Aba - Lamb and Beef Kefta and Grilled Salmon - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great service, decor, and food! Wide selection of food for all kinds of dietary preferences. Staff gave us a little birthday treat and a free dish when they brought it by accident. Sweet corn and spicy hummus are SO yummy! Must try the shrimp! Falafels are great, even our middle eastern friends said they are to die for! For rice options, there are chicken and salmon kebab . Finally the cold hamachi dish was pretty nice! Comfy couches on the patio are perfect. Definitely recommend trying Aba's! read more

We had to book two months in advance for a prime time reservation on a Wednesday. From the time we began dining until we left at 9:00, every single table was taken and it's no wonder as the food is just incredible. The view is awesome if you are lucky enough to get a table outside. FYI, when you make your reservation, you can include in the notes if you prefer to sit indoors/outdoors. There were people that showed up without reservations and I do not know how long they had to wait, but if you really want to visit, show up and try your luck. Another tip: they will not seat you until your entire party has arrived. We requested a table outside and was told their was a slight wait. No worries, as they have two bar areas to accommodate you while you wait. Even though the hostess was on it, I still found myself double checking to make sure she did not give our table to someone else while we were at the bar. The fire pits are a nice touch to the patio and while we dined on a perfect clear day, I am sure the pits are much needed on a slightly cooler day. Aba offers so many choices and I cannot wait to go back to try the other dishes. This time, we went with the following... Whipped feta Spicy hummus Jerusalem bagel Salmon kebab Lamb & beef kefta Octopus Shrimp Scampi Creme brûlée pie All of the dishes were amazing, but the whipped feta, shrimp scampi, salmon kebab, Jerusalem bagel and creme brûlée pie stood out as the top favs. Even my gf's that do not normally eat dessert could not stop dipping their spoon into this pie. read more

TL;DR make dinner reservations for a table at dinner time, the ambience is lovely, the fresh appetizers are great, but the cooking execution for meats is completely lacking and it would be hard for me to trust them again with that. First things first: if you're wanting a sit down dining experience, make reservations. At least a month in advance. We tried to get reservations for about a month for our fifth anniversary with no luck (calling and on open table). On the day of we decided to just chance it. There was seating on the patio, but it was 90+ degrees and we had been walking a good bit so it wasn't ideal. Also, the couches weren't exactly what I'd want for eating a full meal. We ended up leaving and coming back earlier in the day on the following day (3:00 on a Saturday) and were able to get a table when the restaurant was relatively slow. Ambience: this space is beautiful. The greenery, the lamps, the big beautiful bars--it's all aesthetically lovely. The music isn't too loud that you can't have a conversation. The patio is a great environment for an apperitivo with friends--grab one of the group drinks, a few small plates and enjoy the rooftop. Service: our service was good and prompt. There was a slight lull in the middle of our meal as staff had a community meal before the wild later hours, which I loved because food service is no joke, y'all. Food: aesthetically all the plating is lovely and colorful. Ingredients are fresh and crisp, unfortunately as we got more of our dishes the meal went in decline. Classic hummus: very much Israeli style in that it is extra smooth (almost whipped consistency), it had a good, nutty, balanced flavor and the vegetable crudités were perfect crunchy vehicles. Village salad: this might have been our favorite dish--the tomatoes were SUBLIME, the dressing is perfect, and the feta is fluffy perfection. We could have eaten three more bowls of this and it would have rescued our experience. Grilled octopus: this dish is really beautiful to look at. The octopus was a hard dish for me, because on the one hand, it was SO tender and there was great care to not overcook it, but there seemed to be no grilled part to it. I personally like a little char on the exterior of my octopus for a textural contrast, but this did not have it. The romesco was lovely. Beef and lamb Kefta: I loved the lemon dill rice here. Basmati tends to be a dry rice, and the oil added to it really made it sort of luxurious. It was definitely on the citrusy side. Unfortunately the kefta were overcooked--they were crumbly, dry, and underseasoned. I feel kefta should be juicy and have a bit of a zing to them (paprika, oregano, salt) and these just did not have enough of that. Combined with being overcooked, it just wasn't enjoyable. Lamb Chops: here was the cardinal sin--the lamb chops were WAY overcooked. Like, well-done overcooked. This had been the dish I was most looking forward to, and it just fell flat. I can understand if that happened in the rush of busy hours, but there were only about three other tables dining at the same time as us, and overcooking lamb by that degree (and not checking the doneness before serving) was just unforgivable. Especially for being the most expensive dish we ordered. In the end our plates were whisked away, and no one asked how our meal was before we paid as it was starting to get busy when we finished. It was unfortunate to end a meal we had been looking forward to for so long in that way. Overall I would come back to the rooftop for the lovely bar and some light apperitivi, but if meats are overcooked when it's slow, I wouldn't trust it to get better as it gets busy. read more

Wow wow wow. After some serious hype, I had been wanting to try this restaurant for quite some time but was nervous it would disappoint. Believe the hype. Going to focus mostly on the food here because, let's be honest, that's what's important but a few bonus points go to the atmosphere (cool plants, nice lighting, marble tables, leather bound drink menu) and the service (I'm a big water girl and never once lacked water or was searching for our server... shout-out to Brian) The food is served mainly tapas style which is fun for a group and allowed us to try so many things. As a vegetarian I was pleased with the amount of meatless offerings on the menu. We got the lamb and the classic hummus. The classic was the best hummus I've ever had. It was served with warm seasoned pita which was *chefs kiss*. I wish they had a hummus flight option so I could have tried them all! Next we got some of the hot and cold mezza which I will rank below: 1. Grilled hallumi - so delicious. The sauce was incredible. 2. Stracciatella - delicious burrata with fresh tomatoes 3. Crispy potatoes - these were OK. Too much crisp and not enough potato. Nothing to write home about. 4. Falafel - honestly wasn't feeling this one. Was super crunchy. Could barely stick my fork into it and hurt to chew. My only real critique of the night. Next we ordered some kebabs. At this point I was so full I could have done without them but I tried the cauliflower and it was done nicely. To round it out we ordered the creme brûlée pie (...are you kidding me?!) and frozen greek yogurt. The greek yogurt polarized the group - some liked the tart yogurt with the flakes of sea salt and olive oil but others found it off putting. Everyone agreed the creme brûlée pie was one of the best bites of the night. All around AMAZING food and can't wait to come back and try more! An absolute must for anyone in Chicago. read more

We were able to try this restaurant out last week while we visited Chicago. Our friends made a reservation for a party of 6 on Friday evening at 5pm. The place was fairly empty at that time but began to fill up. Ambiance: Very cool vibe. Located upstairs and had a rooftop patio (it was raining that day). It is an open dining area with ample lighting but great mood. The noise level was moderate. We were seated at a nice big table. Service: Great throughout. Server made some nice recommendations. Food came out at a great pace. Menu: Menu was online like everything else. We started off with the hummus and lamb ragu. Both were very good. I was impressed with the richness of the ragu. We also had the STRACCIATELLA. I had never tried anything like it before. The cheese was not overly strong. Very delicious with the bread. The other standout was the calamari steak. Very meaty but cooked perfectly. I would definitely order that again. But my favorite dish was the lamb and beef Kefta. It was juicy and went perfectly with the rice that it came with. Great dining experience and I would return. I would want to try more seafood next time. read more

Excellent meal last night with two friends. Booked a reso far in advance! Really great food, cocktails, and atmosphere. Recommend the short rib hummus, and whipped feta ! Also loved the tuna, and brussels! We had the lamb and beef dish wish was just okay! read more

Super fancy super clean server was so nice love the environment and food amazing! Love it

This was one of the best meals I've had. Short rib hummus is as good as people make it out to be. The chicken and lamb kebabs on rice were so good. Even the Brussels sprouts were good enough to be a meal in themselves. Portions were fairly ample and four people could share most courses. Enjoyed the vibe of the rooftop and it seemed as good as things might have been before the pandemic. Service was excellent and they observed COVID precautions very well. read more

Aba - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

If you order one thing at Aba make sure it's the short rib hummus. My boyfriend and I came here for some afternoon cocktails during a recent trip to Chicago and made a reservation for one of the lounge tables (more like a low sofa and coffee table as pictured). Despite our table not being ready and having to wait 15 minutes, we really enjoyed our experience. The space was absolutely stunning and a great mix of city views but garden/greenery. Our waitress immediately told us the top sellers (short rib hummus and Aloe There cocktail) and they did not disappoint. The aloe cocktail was refreshing and unique without being odd. By the end of the evening we had tried all of the cocktails except the passion fruit g&t and reserve cocktails. My personal favorite was the Mediterranean Mule. The almond flavor added a unique sweetness and I want to recreate it at home every weekend. The short rib hummus was absolutely to die for. The meat was falling apart tender and flavorful and the hummus was the perfect creamy smooth texture. The pita bread was fluffy with nice firm bottom. We ended up ordering classic hummus after it because we enjoyed it so much and wanted a bit more food. The portions were great, we were just enjoying ourselves so much that we stayed longer than expected. I would definitely recommend coming here if you want a beautiful rooftop with even better food and drinks. read more

The food at Aba is second to none. Our table probably ordered one of every dish and I didn't have one singular unenjoyable bite of food throughout the meal. More importantly, however, the service we experienced was nothing short of inspired. David N was charming, authentic, informative and an all around delight to have with us at our table. Every visit he made to us felt like a breath of fresh air. If you happen to be reading this before making a reservation, I encourage you to request a table in his section. His presence defines the dining experience at Aba and I know that I, nor any of my colleagues, will not consider eating at Aba without the warm and glowing company of David N. Thank you, David, for a wonderful experience! read more

I came to Aba to celebrate my 3 year Anniversary with my boyfriend. We randomly chose Aba from googling "date-night restaurants" and we absolutely LOVED IT. We had a fantastic dining experience. The food and beverages were super delicious and we had an amazing server with us for the night who really outdid himself! The ambiance indoors does a great job with transporting you into feeling like you are somewhere in the Mediterranean and is all around just beautifully put together. We will be returning to Aba very soon! read more

Aba - Primitivo Rosato (10/10 recommend if you like Rosé) - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Went to Aba for brunch. Pros: Service and ambiance. Cons: Hostess (Victoria) refused to seat us despite the abundance of available tables. We were asked to sit at the bar for an hour looking at all the empty tables. read more

Will not go back. We arrived 10 min early for a 7:15 reservation, and the hostess told us we could be seated right away at a high top or wait for a regular table. We asked to wait since we were early. 30 minutes later, and we were brought to a high top table. When we asked for a regular table, we were told it would be a longer wait. Our waiter was not great. Took 25 minutes just to get wine glasses and over 30 minutes for a nice bottle of wine we ordered. Did not acknowledge my birthday and seemed to want to get us in and out. As a Lettuce Entertain You gold member, I am thoroughly disappointed in the service and will not be back. read more

Never had a meal I didn't like here. The ambience is great and the food is delicious shareable portions. Their mocktails are some of the best in the city and their Creme brûlée pie is a highlight. read more

Good food and beautiful location. Enjoy the ambience and service. I recommend Aba forsure

For far the best restaurant in town. Great ambiance, attention to details, and service. The Brussels sprouts are from another planet they wine selection is pretty good too. read more

This is the coolest restaurant. The short rib hummus was to die for, as well as the ceviche and lamb skewers

Fancy modern Mediterranean with a unique play of flavors!! One of my favorites in the city!

I enjoyed each & every second of Aba. My only complaint would be the "chicken cutlet" lacked flavor & was a rather boring dish in comparison to the other flavors of dishes. With that tidbit aside everything from the decor to the service was quite enjoyable. We started with the "whipped feta" & tbh this restaurant has ruined feta & naan bread for me as this is the best rendition I've had of both dishes. What followed the ricotta was the "black garlic shrimp scampi" (very small but delicious) & "chicken cutlet". The "HOUSE-MADE STRACCIATELLA" was full of flavor but it was served cold which gave it a weird aspect but stil didn't take away from it being tasty. Twas like a giardiniera & cheese plate. We concluded dinner with the "crème brûlé pie" which was tasty & I have to mention that the drinks here also have a great balance to them & could steer anyone from going to a bar in addition to dining here. I'll definitely be returning especially for the rooftop in the summer. read more

See all

Haven't posted a review in a while, been to a bunch of restaurants -alot of good ones, but Aba deserves a post because Aba's food is way more than just good. We got ten dishes - all were awesome - so i recommend the followingl: short rib hummus, eggplant whip, lamb chops, beef and kefta kabob, shrimp scampi, creme brulee, and babka are all winners. the grilled octopus was good but I've had better. read more

We have been trying to come here for soo long! So when we heard that Aba was curating take-home dinners during the COVID-19 pandemic we were really excited! We order a meal for 2 people and it came with more than enough food for both my husband and me with leftovers for a third meal! Everything we received was amazing we couldn't stop eating the spreads and adding it to all the plates. We can't wait to order it again and we're also dying for the day we will be able to dine-in there! read more

Ambiance is great, service was VERY slow, although staff did make up for this and accommodate, but the food itself was just ok. We had the crispy short rib hummus (was not crispy) crispy chicken thigh, potatoes, and maybe one other dish. The flavor profile was a unique one, but not one I personally enjoyed. I'm giving 3 starts because I do think it's an acquired taste, and either you'll love it or you won't. I'd still say give them a try but try to go outside of peak hours. read more

This place for sure exceeded my expectations and I cannot recommend it enough. My husband and I went here for the first time and our server was so knowledgeable and was able to make great recommendations of what we should try. We tried the grilled chicken and kefta kebabs, felafels, and the shawarma spiced skirt steak. All of the food was delicious but the steak blew us away. It was so delicious and so tender and the mushrooms fit it perfectly. I could go on about how good the food was but a reservation is an absolute must here unless you want to wait for an area at the bar to open up. We will definitely be returning. read more

Food was amazing I would deff go here again! They have great food, drinks and service is amazing. Al was helpful in explaining the menu, and refreshing drinks. If you're in Chicago looking for great tasting medeterrian food this is the place to go. read more

See all

Aba has great food and a wonderful atmosphere, but the experience with the hostess staff is downright disrespectful. Upon arrival, the hostess gave us an attitude and was guilting us about trying to sit our two reservations next to one another. The hostess insisted on going on a power trip and was incredibly rude while we waited for our table to be set. We had some friends who were at the bar and asked the hostess if they had any availability for later in the evening and were immediately met with a cold, non-committal response. The entire situation was enough to comment here on it so hopefully someone sees this and speaks to the hostess staff about not being so snooty and stop fulfilling the hostess on a power trip stereotype. read more

Five stars for the ambience and drinks we had here the other evening with clients. Love that their outdoor area had heat lamps (hint hint other Chicago establishments). We sat out and had drinks for awhile and the wait service was good even though it was relatively busy for a Wednesday evening. They gave me a solid pour for my vodka soda and clients said the wine was good. We didn't eat anything, so I can't comment on the food, but we saw a few dishes being brought out and they looked good. read more

Loved the food and the atmosphere. It kinda reminds me of Hampton Social, chic and trendy. The olive tree in the room is at ally 3D printed! Definitely a great place for first dates or a girls night out. Loved everything we ordered - short rib hummus, Hamachi, olives, mussels as lamb chops. And PLEASE please make sure you get the Greek Froyo for dessert. It's so yummy and not overly sweet. Our waitress Jana is so sweet though read more

See all

Went to Aba for the first time last night. Absolutely loved it! My friend and I sat on their rooftop/patio area and it was beautiful. The heaters they had outside definitely keeps everyone warm and the view of the city was amazing. Their food was also amazing, It's just really hard to get a reservation here. Definitely will be coming back. read more

See all

Will not return!!!!!!! Heard great things, decided to check it out, didn't have a reservation, so we called to see how long the wait would be. They refused to give me a wait time until we were in the restaurant. After spending considerable time finding parking, we arrived and were told the wait was 90 minutes. We didn't stay, wasted parking $ and went elsewhere. Had they informed me of the long wait, i wouldn't have wasted the parking cost.... very disappointed. Won't return! read more

One of my favorite spots in Fulton Market district. The food is like tapas style with shareable plates. And I've never really had a cocktail I didn't like. As for the clientele - it's a bit normal during weeknights. For it being summer, the crowd today on a Saturday was a bit pretentious and waaaaaayy too many 45+ cougars dressing like 20 year olds (and acting like one). Yikes. read more