Went here for a girls brunch and the restaurant kindly printed out signs for all the girls with some kind words! We went during an awkward time so their brunch was finishing but their lunch was so delicious! The service was quick and efficient for a bit party- we started with the Brussels, hummus and the potatoes. They were able to make some accommodations for gluten free The food was incredible but the ambiance makes it all worth while! It's very chic and in the summertime, their patio windows open. The food feels very light and delicious at the same time. If you are planning on having a great dinning experience I recommend this place! read more

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I had at least two people recommended me this spot for my first time in Chicago so I knew I had to try it. We got complimentary hummus and pita for waiting on our table even though we had a reservation, and I thought they were good appetizers to start with. We got the artichoke tapenade which none of us were a fan of; I would recommend skipping that one. I regret forgetting to order the short rib hummus that my friend recommended because it sounds so good. The steak frites were pretty good. The pork belly was mediocre. However, the best part of dinner was the chicken kefta, that packed the most flavor! I got the Hugo's day off as my drink of choice and I was not disappointed. The restaurant was beautiful and our outdoor seating was a vibe. Even though I felt like we didn't have to wait that long for our table, I appreciated that the staff prioritized our comfort and emphasized their hospitality. read more

Aba - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is exceptional. Was able to get seated fairly quickly as they have lots of indoor end covered patio seating. The design of the greenery and lighting along with the decor is incredibly welcoming and chic. The servers and host staff were so kind accommodating and borderline flirting, lol Now on to the food. There's definitely some strong flavors in here that I could see being pretty aggressive (the topping on the crispy chicken thighs, for example). The cauliflower soup wasn't my favorite flavor profile, but my friends loved it. However, everything else that we ordered was a slam dunk. We only wished we had more space to be able to eat more. Prices of the food are also pretty reasonable. Careful with the drink prices, they'll definitely drive up the bill very quickly. (my friends drink was $20, and she got two). Special mention for the sticky cake, absolutely incredible, one of the best I've ever had. read more

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Ema's sister restaurant so I knew I had to go here; absolutely worth the hype. Aba is GORGEOUS! The rooftop is so beautiful and the interior of the restaurant is so pretty too. Food is amazing too. I love going here for a fun girls brunch and big group because it's all family style. read more

So glad we decided to try Aba. Best Mediterranean we have tried in the city so far. They serve shareable plates, tapas style. But don't be fooled, they are somewhat big if you are someone who doesn't eat a full normal entree somewhere else. 3 to share between 2 people is a good start. The short rib hummus is definitely a must! DELICIOUS! Chicken was really good and Brussels too. Tuna was a cool twist and way better that expected! It was really good, actually. For dessert, we got the passion fruit semifredo. It was truly amazing... but I do love passionfruit. If you don't love passionfruit, do not order. But it was my fave! Very cute space. Love the nature aspect. Service was good, would just say I wanted the server to come over a couple of times and we could not see her anywhere. But she was very nice! read more

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We decided to reserve a table at Aba for our New Year's Eve dinner this past December. It's a beautiful restaurant located in the heart of Fulton Market District, on the third floor of the same complex containing The Dalcy, Beatrix, and Punch Bowl Social. Aba's website describes it as a Mediterranean restaurant with California influence. We noticed many similarities in the food and atmosphere to the other Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, Ēma. Come to find out, this is intentional, and they are sister restaurants, as Ēma means "mother" in Hebrew, and Aba means "father." Just like Ēma, the menu includes small plates that are meant to be shared, creating a true Mediterranean experience. We gradually ordered different things to share throughout our dinner and this worked out just fine for us, our server attentive as ever in between plates, despite how busy the night was. We started with the Japanese Sweet Potato spread, which had the balance of sweet and savory that was definitely interesting to try. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it--maybe an acquired taste! We also tried the Grilled Halloumi, and you can't go wrong with warmed cheese. It was addicting. For any tomato lover, the House-Made Stracciatella was rather simple but tasty, and I loved the hint of sherry vinaigrette. The Crispy Short Rib Hummus was delectable and absolutely delicious. It had a hint of sweetness that I loved. So good! All of these spreads and dips were served with warm pita bread for dipping. We ended with the Shawarma-Spiced Skirt Steak Frites, and while I've had better steak frites, these hit the spot, were cooked well, and were a unique enough preparation from what I'm used to that I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. Also, the cocktails are exceptional. I especially loved the Thirst Trap, which comes frozen and contains Aperol, prosecco, orange, strawberry, and rhubarb. Beautiful presentation. We had a great time at Aba for our NYE dinner, and I'm glad we gave it a chance. read more

Incredible food, quick service, and beautiful ambience! There's lots of natural light if you choose to eat out on the patio, but our initial table almost had too much so we had to switch tables haha. The food portions were regular sized, but filled me up pretty well! What I ate: Smoky garlic hummus: UNREAL. The bread served w it was also incredible. Loved the bursts of crispy chickpeas throughout Wild Mushroom hummus: good but nothing crazy, probs would just order the garlic hummus again instead. Blackberry Drop Biscuit: Tender and slightly crumbly (as I usually like a biscuit). However the real stars were the dipping blackberry thyme jam and butter which took the whole thing to the next level!! Chocolate Babka French Toast: VERY delicious and chocolatey but didn't taste anything like a French toast & the maple syrup was not really necessary given how sweet the babka was. Khachapuri: a table favorite; so so flavorful and the bread boat was also very flavorful. However, I personally wished the egg was a bit more cooked as parts of the white were still runny. Green harissa chicken: super refreshing- the cilantro flavor reminded me of pani puri! The chicken was also very tender- only note to be aware of is that it didn't taste like a brunch dish (more of a lunch vibe) Avocado and spinach frittata: really flavorful but was a bit too salty for my taste. read more

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Great food and awesome atmosphere. Went for lunch and also had great lunch drinks. The spreads are always phenomenal. We got the whipped feta and the crispy short rib humus. Steak frites was a highlight, we paired this with the brussel sprouts. Honestly mixing things with the spreads was the best part. We will be back! read more

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This was the perfect place for our galentine's day dinner! It's dimly lit and nicely decorated, you can dress up or dress down. We started off with some appetizers and drinks, then tried their lamb and beef kebab dinner and skirt steak frites. Delicious! read more

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Absolutely worth the hype!!! Finally tried the infamous short rib hummus and it was absolutely incredible. The shrimp, the steak frites, and the shrimp were SO good! The restaurant itself is stunning, I'm sure the patio is gorgeous during the warmer weather months. Even with it being pretty busy, our waiter was very attentive through our reservation. read more

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Second visit. Booked a reservation 2 weeks in advance. Got a seat on the inside vs outside last time. Ambiance felt classy with service that's on point! Started with the classic short beef hummus and Greek salad. Entrees were lamb ribs and truffle orzo. Tried something new, crispy potatoes - did not disappoint! It was fluffy on the inside and extra crispy on the outside. Everything was absolutely amazing! I usually never book reservations, but for Aba, I will. Note there's a 3.5% surcharge fee. read more

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This place will always be a 10 no matter what time of day. I came for brunch and tried the SHORT RIB SHAKSHUKA, a garlic hummus with garlic naan, brussel sprouts, and hamachi. Everything was tasty. I will continue to come back. Service was excellent as usual. We sat outside on the patio and it was lovely. Don't remember the drinks I had, but I enjoyed them. read more

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Took one of my best friends who was coming in from out of town. She has never had Mediterranean food, so essentially let me pick off the menu. As always the short rib hummus is theeee best. Also got the chicken kefta kebabs. Can't go wrong with any choice here! Service was ok for a busy lunch and the decor is beautiful! Makes you feel like you're not in Chicago! read more

Aba Restaurant review -- Fulton Market, Chicago This was my husband and I first time visiting Aba Restaurant, and we left impressed on every count. From the moment we arrived, the service stood out. We had an 8 PM reservation, but since we were in the area early, Chris B. kindly accommodated us for an earlier seating. We settled on the rooftop deck, which set the mood with a vibrant, buzzy vibe. The service was outstanding throughout. Our waiter greeted us promptly, with a trainee at the table. (My apologies for forgetting their names). Both were exceptionally pleasant. The trainee did a superb job walking us through the menu, explaining the concept of ordering. We decided on a variety of dishes, and Aba delivered: - Wild Mushroom Hummus: A smooth earthy dish with roasted mushrooms folded into a creamy hummus, finished with truffle oil and herbs. Yummy! - Tuna & Watermelon: A refreshing pairing of tender tuna balanced with juicy watermelon, cucumber, pomergrant seeds and mint. Loved it! - Green Chili Shrimp: Served in a metal dish used for escargo. The shrimp were covered by breadcrumbs and lots of butter with a slight kick to it. Great for dipping your bread in. It did not disappoint! - Pan Seared Halibut: A perfectly seared, delicate fillet, moist and flaky that highlighted the fish's clean, buttery profile. And from the cocktail menu, the Aloe? It's Me. It has a kick to it. Loved it too. Everything was excellent--the food was inventive and delicious, the service was great and the rooftop ambiance added a memorable layer to the evening. Highly recommended for a refined yet relaxed Chicago dining experience. read more

Our bartender Jenny was awesome. She knew and explained the menu great. The wines were awesome!!! The Lamb was like being in Greece!! read more

Aba - Main dining room - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Chose Aba for my birthday dinner and absolutely loved the food, service, and ambience. Restaurant was really busy on a Friday evening so reservations are a must. Every dish was so delicious and the beef short rib hummus was easily our favorite. The menu is similar to its sister restaurant Ema which I've dined at several times and also enjoyed. Service was friendly and the tableside wine holder to keep the bottle chilled was a nice touch. read more

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Overall : an excellent 3rd date spot. Trendy and impressive ambience, decent prices, good service and cocktails. Apart from the mahammara, some dishes we felt were more flash than substance. Ambience and service : 5/5 We were told this restaurant is extremely difficult to get a reservation at, and were asked to wait 1.5hrs for walk-in. Miraculously a spot opened for us in 20mins and we hustled back. Our expectations were high. Take the elevator up, very stunning modern ambience and outdoor patio. Trendy music, with plenty of plants mixed in w/ decor. It's got the 'wow factor' in terms of where the new age millennial wants to be seen eating at. Server was very friendly, comped us a dessert. Mahamarra : 5/5 you must order this. Do it, and do not look back. A divine pairing with tableside bread. A category on its own. Food : 3/5 The food was good but not quite worth waiting the 1.5hrs we were estimated. The restaurant came highly rated on Yelp/ChatGPT and given the supposed difficulty to eat here, we were sad none of the dishes apart from the mahammara met the hype. The short rib hummus leaned salty and the beef au jus + creamy warm hummus reminded me of mashed potatoes and gravy from your local fried chicken shop. The crispy potatoes were seasoned with what reminded me of crushed up Sour Cream Onion Pringles. The halibut was too firm texture-wise and the pomegranate helped to mask the fishiness. The falafel was fine.. just very safe and ordinary. The chicken kefta tasted great and was perfectly spiced and tender, my 2nd favorite dish of the night. Value : 5/5 All things considered, for the price we paid, taste was sufficient and portions were larger than we expected! For our group of 4, we originally ordered 7 tapas, cancelled 1, and still felt 6 was too much. 5 is probably the sweet spot. read more

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I LOVE it here. I'm from San Diego but come to Chicago for work and whenever I can I make sure to eat here. They specialize in Mediterranean style dishes, tapas style. Really fun to come with a group and split all the things! Must try: all of their dips, I love the hummus, feta dip...basically any of them. The pita bread is to die for. Kebabs are also a solid choice. Basically anything I've eaten here is always so good. I will say MAKE A RESERVATION. Only when I eat alone am I usually able to snag a bar seat. This place is popping every night of the week. The inside is so beautiful, and the vibes are good. Service has always been excellent. 100000/10 recommend!!! read more

Aba - Menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Aba means "father" in Hebrew, and the restaurant lives up to the name with food that's confident, comforting, and memorable. If your father was not like that, maybe you can relate to Rodney Dangerfield's memory of his father..."My father carried around the picture of the kid who came with his wallet." Whatever your paternal memories are, Aba is a winner. We started with the Greek Village Salad, a generous mix of ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, olives, and a big wedge of feta--fresh, crisp, and briny in all the right ways. This is an authentic Greek Salad meaning no lettuce but other excellent fresh vegetables. The Avocado & Fava Bean Spread was smooth and bright with just enough jalapeño kick, perfect with warm pita. The Big Eye Tuna & Watermelon was a standout: ruby cubes of tuna paired with sweet melon and citrus, light and refreshing without being fussy. For the main, the Grilled Chicken Kebab came out juicy and well-seasoned, rounded out with sweet pepper and zhoug sauce that gave it a little edge. The food is yummy but the patio is the story here if the weather is good. Eater, Thrillist and other reviews agree. Think lush greenery, airy vibe, and sun/shade with some tables and some sofas make it feel like a Mediterranean getaway in the middle of Chicago. Kudos to our server Rebecca. Take my fatherly advice and go, especially if the weather is great and you can sit outdoors. read more

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Such a delicious spot for Mediterranean food! Every single dish was delicious. The short rib hummus was so good. The crispy potatoes had a nice crust and paired well with the dipping sauce. The kafta was nice and juicy. The pita was nice and fluffy as well,. read more

From the moment you walk in, you are welcomed by a lush, beautifully designed space that immediately sets the tone for a special dining experience. Be sure to make a reservation in advance since this spot fills up quickly. We were advised to order 2 to 3 plates per person and chose the hummus, muhammara, green chili shrimp, salmon kabab, crispy chicken thigh, and passionfruit semifreddo. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared and well balanced, but the highlights were the green chili shrimp and the crispy chicken thigh, both of which I would highly recommend. The muhammara came with sugar roasted walnuts that added the perfect crunch and sweetness to balance the tang of the balsamic dressing. The salmon rice was bright with lemon and beautifully garnished with parsley, which tied in nicely with the crispy chicken dish. The chicken itself had perfectly crisp skin, paired with smooth mashed potatoes and a deeply flavorful gravy. The green chili shrimp were buttery, tender, and bursting with flavor. For dessert, the passionfruit semifreddo was the ideal finale. It was light, refreshing, and struck a lovely balance of sweet and tart. On a warm evening in the 80s, it was the perfect cool finish to the meal. Overall, this restaurant offers a truly delightful dining experience with vibrant flavors, thoughtful presentation, and a welcoming atmosphere. I would absolutely recommend it. read more

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Aba is such a gem! The food is so delicious. The rooftop is definitely a must. The service is really good. All the recommendations are a must try so be prepared to eat a lot! Ambiance is so sexy and quaint. read more

Came here for a work celebration, the service is impeccable, a little too loud and I wish they didn't play background music because we can't hear each other talk. ugh. Goat cheese hummus was amazing with fresh pita, The chicken kabobs were just so juicy and flavorful, the beef was heavenly, the roasted brussel sprouts were great but a little too over cooked. Enjoyed the falafil as well. I would definitely go back. read more

The space is absolutely beautiful, and the service was kind and welcoming. I really enjoyed the overall environment. It's a lovely spot and a nice place to meet up with friends. Unfortunately, the food was underwhelming. Nothing stood out as particularly memorable, and I felt the dishes lacked flavor overall. It wasn't bad, just not great, and at this price point I think you can find better Mediterranean food elsewhere. Because of the food, I'd rank this place a bit lower despite how nice everything else was. It's a good spot to try once for the ambiance, but I wouldn't personally go back. read more

Every time I've gone to Aba, the service has been amazing. The staff is always welcoming and attentive, which makes the whole experience even better. They do take walk-ins, but I definitely recommend making a reservation if you don't want to wait since it's usually busy. The dips are the highlight here the garlic and classic hummus are delicious, but the charred eggplant dip is my absolute favorite. Paired with their fresh, warm pita, it's perfection. I've also tried the falafel and crispy potatoes; both are decent (though the potatoes are a bit too chunky for my taste), but the dips are what truly stand out. The ambiance is beautiful inside and the patio is fantastic open year-round and always a great vibe. Add in a fun happy hour with good drinks and bites, and Aba easily becomes one of the best spots in the city. read more

Aba - Charred Eggplant - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The service and ambiance are good but the food is really overhyped. Nothing particularly stood out to me. The crispy potatoes were kind of bland. The hummus was probably the best dish. But there are a lot of good restaurants with the same type of food in Chicago. For example, I think their sister restaurant, Ema, is lot better. read more

They were just ok. We ordered various items to share. Unfortunately, none of it was memorable or anything to write home about. Service was pretty good. The environment is trendy and vibey, but all of the dishes were cold or Luke warm at best which gave precooked vibes. Not a fan of Luke warm foods. Drink were just ok. I guess I came, I saw, I conquered. $300 later! Lmmfao read more

Believe the hype. Everything was wonderful. Beautiful room, excellent service, stellar food. The top highlight was the straciatella with grilled peaches. Don't skip this dish! It's like everything you love about dinner and dessert rolled into one. It was also absolutely gorgeous. I've never had such a beautiful plate outside of a Japanese restaurant. Next favorite was the charred eggplant, rich and smoky. The short rib hummus was over the top, almost too unctuous. It's like the hummus equivalent of Joel Robuchon potato purée that's 50% butter. Warm, dense pita brought everything together. At that point our table of three was almost stuffed, but we still enjoyed the curry-scented cauliflower kebab. The sweet dates made this plate special. The lemon and salt on the kebab was a little heavy handed. Still, a delicious dish. The waiter brought a free frozen Greek yogurt with a candle in honor of our anniversary. The yogurt was good, but I'm not a big fan of the olive oil and salt sundae. A honey drizzle and some ketaifi would have hit the spot. Our chosen desserts were the carrot cake and crème brûlée pie. The carrot cake was more interesting than the standard versions, dense and with intense spicing (cardamom?). The ketaifi was dry. The crème brûlée pie was just plain yummy. Perfect eggy custard and a sweetly saturated crust. A rare mistake here: the menu promised strawberry rhubarb compote with this, and it came with underripe peaches instead. Aba will be a favorite special occasion spot for us. read more

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Aba is fabulous every time! Updating my review since I've been back a few more times and have my opinions on best dishes. Must orders: -short rib hummus (lifechanging, I love the pita bread so much) -muhammara (super unique and flavorful! Also vegan) -Brussels sprouts (some of the best in the city) I also loved the asparagus, the beef kefta kabob, and the Greek salad. Only things that have been meh to me were the crispy potatoes and the cauliflower steak. read more

Aba - Crispy Short Rib Hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ava is without doubt one of the best Mediterranean restaurants I've ever experienced, Every dish was beautifully presented - each plate looked like artwork-and the flavours were absolutely incredible. The service was exceptional as well: friendly,atentative and welcoming without ever feeling overbearing. read more

Aba is my go to place everytime I have friends or family visiting! Aba has everything to offer - delicious food, fantastic atmosphere, and great service. This place is perfect for a date night or for celebrations with friends and family. The Smoky garlic hummus and Muhummara were my favorite. I would skip the Harissa Chicken, it wasnt what we expected based on the description in the menu. The chocolate cake was absolutely out of the world. read more

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My friend was able to make a 9pm Saturday night reservation. We sat on the rooftop patio. It was so beautiful! Atmosphere 9/10, just needed more light. I like to see my food lol. Service was rocky at first due to shift change I guess but then we had a wonderful server. It's too bad that I don't recall her name. Foodwise, the short rib was delicious. I just wish there was more meat and that it wasn't so shredded. I would have like some nice chunks instead. The polenta it came with was so creamy and delicious too. Brussel sprouts were nice and so was the cauliflower. The shrimp were the bomb and were cooked well - juicy and had great flavor. I loved it here! read more

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just WOW. this is one of the best meals i've had in a minute. first of all, the restaurant itself is stunning, and you must secure an outdoor rooftop table if it's a nice night. the inside of the restaurant is equally gorgeous. the food is exquisite and the dishes came out surprisingly fast (we were starving). the whipped feta and pita literally melt in your mouth (i think that was the best pita i've had in my life) and the brussel sprouts are just so perfectly done. the greek froyo is the perfect way to end your meal (not too sweet). i need to make another trip to chicago just to relive this experience read more

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Popular for a reason but if you go right at opening it's completely empty and the service is incredible! The hummus and pita was my favorite, super flavorful and even the pita was seasoned well. The ceviche was also fresh and citrusy with a good amount of fish for the price. As a sticky date cake fiend, I loved the accompaniment of the cream on the side to cut through the richness of the cake. Only the main - short rib was just ok - tender but not very flavorful. Overall, really great experience and the restaurant is stunning!! read more

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Enjoyed a lovely family brunch on the rooftop patio during the winter and it was warm. The Mediterranean decor was a refreshing look as always. Service lagged at points but overall everyone was super polite. The food was delicious. We ordered the crispy short rib hummus and the wild mushroom humus. The latter was a crowd favorite. The Brussels were also delicious and crispy. We sampled several kabobs including chicken, salmon, lamb and beef. The short rib shashuka came out really salty and they were gracious about switching it with the steak and eggs. The green harissa chicken was delicious. We were too full for dessert that day but the sticky date cake is one of my favorites. read more

Aba - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A beautiful space with greenery and twinkle lights. The food was amazing. We ordered too much and ate too much. There wasn't a single dish we didn't like. We had the whipped feta and the muhammara dips. It's served with tasty, seasoned bread but they will bring crackers if gluten/wheat is a problem. The crispy potatoes and the brussels sprouts were delicious. The short rib on polenta was outstanding. I cut it into tiny bites and took my time to savor it. The chicken kebab was good but nothing special. The only thing that didn't wow me was the frozen yogurt dessert. But to be fair, I was stuffed by then! Excellent service. Attentive to special dietary needs. read more

WHAT AN AMAZING MEAL! 10/10 -- I LOVE THIS PLACE. The food was excellent and we had a nice waiter. The ambiance of this restaurant is PERECT and it's truly a great place to go for date night, a girls dinner or a post work meal. read more

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I love Aba because it's stayed consistent through the years of the constantly changing west loop restaurant scene. Reservations are almost always available with no deposit even though it's always busy, the food isn't going to blow you away but it's always good and reasonably priced, service is quick and professional, ambiance 10/10 no matter the season. It's the perfect place to take a group for dinner or brunch and never have to overthink it. read more

Aba - Shawarma-Spiced Steak Frites - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food was amazing. LA native and celebrating the weekend in Chicago. Restaurant was beautiful and our server Dulce was amazing!! read more

Stunning. Beautiful. Delicious. A local friend made our reservation in preparation for our trip to Chicago. We definitely recommend making a reservation in advance, as you likely will not be able to walk in. The menu is so creative. We especially loved the short rib hummus. In fact, nothing that we ordered here was bad. For our friend's birthday, they also gave us a complimentary dessert! As for the service, this is definitely a restaurant where they expect you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the vibes. Our dishes were taking longer than expected, and our waiter even apologized for the wait. Nonetheless, we weren't in a rush so we were happy to enjoy the scenery. read more

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