I am quite surprised I've never reviewed Andies! I hve been eating here for years & it's always been delicious. We've come for dinner, the weekend buffet, & had delivery. My favorite remains the spinach, feta, & chickpea entree & the dip sampler. They recently re-did the menu, and it looks like they are going for more of a comprehensive mediterannean vibe (there re osso bucco & risotto on the menu now). It's also a little more expensive. It does pain me to spend $14 on a simple dish like the one I mentioned above. The did have an amazing soup on special: a roasted yellow heirloom tomato soup. I hope they keep it! read more

(See pic) Food is okay here. And while it is a restaurant it's pretty casual with outside seating that is nice even when there were people walking through the seating area. Service is courteous and friendly and the prices are quite reasonable. read more

Andies Restaurant - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I regret giving this place another chance. I used to come here all the time years ago and it was always great. Then the service, quality, and quantity of food changed and I just stopped going. I came in on a Friday night by accident...so we decided to stay for dinner. The service was 2 stars, maybe 3 because of how they handled the following described experience. The food was 0.5-1 star. We ordered hummus and calamari for appetizer then the combination kabob. We received the hummus and pita...pita was stale and hard, hummus was ok but I noticed they only skim a thin layer of hummus on the plate then thicken it up around the circumference on the plate....so you don't get much hummus it just looks like a lot lol. The waitress asked if she should put our order in now because the calamari takes a long time to make. Which confused us because as soon as she walked away another waiter came to give us the calamari. The calamari was the worse I have ever had. It looked like it was fried in a ball, it looked awful on the plate and it tasted that way too. The calamari was hard, chewy, and tasted very fishy! I refused to eat the rest because I was scared to get sick. The waitress asked how we liked it and we shared our opinion. AND she admitted that most people say the same thing lol Then she asked if we wanted another one.....we said no. Our kabobs were ok. The steak kabob was hot and done to our liking. The veggies and rice were cold though. The dill rice seemed like they had regular long grain rice, went to their backyard to rip some dill leaves, then without chopping it just toss it together with the rice. I've had so much better from the restaurant next door to this place. The manager handled the situation well and offered desert on the house and took out the calamari off our order. When the waitress came with a platter of all the deserts they offered, my BF chose the tiramisu. 7 min later she came back and said they actually don't have any tiramisu. She offered something else and at that point we just really didn't care for desert and asked her for the check. She came back with the check and insisted we take a brownie to go. I'm just never coming back here again because of the food. I felt like I was on an episode of Hell's Kitchen lol read more

Andies Restaurant - Fried Calamari - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Unimpressed. Guy at register had mask on wrong. Not covering his nose. And touched it repeatedly. Guy who brought my food out had no mask. I had to ask for utensils. I had to ask for my drink. The food wasn't bad. But wasn't fantastic. It did fill me up. read more

If you want one of the best Gyros in Chicago Andies is the place, they also deliver beer and wine if you and your girl don't feel like going out into the cold. read more

Andie's Restaurant was a place a gal pal of mine and I decided to try last night due to the fact we didn't feel like dining at Reza's Restaurant. We were in the mood for some good Mediterranean food and wanted to try a new place for once. And we were pleasantly surprised the food was really good. My friend ordered the lamb chops and I had their trio entree with basmati rice. My entree had chicken kabob, beef kefta and filet mignon kabob and it was delicious as well as filling in my tummy. We also tried their hummus and their falafel it was very good and their pita bread was soft and yummy too. I would return to this establishment with my husband next time. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants, I've even driven from MN to eat here for my birthday. Stopped in first because it was near Too Much Light, a nearby theater. The Saganaki is good (I always order it), and I'm obsessed with their Pomegranate Chicken. They used to have an amazing Pomegranate Cheesecake, but I was told last time that it was taken off the menu. However, our waiter got the kitchen to make it for me anyway! (I once ordered 7 slices, one for their, and 6 for presents/later!) I've had their Glogg, which is also super good (and has pomegranate, ha). I also like their Avgolemono, though I like mine better (theirs is second best). Everyone I've brought here (save my picky boyfriend - he said it was OK) loved the food, my Israeli friend commented that while good, a lot of it is stuff you can just get from carts in Israel, at which point I said "Yeah, but I'm not IN Israel, how does it fair with comparative stuff in the U.S.?" He admitted that it's better than most. I've gotten to meet the owner's son, and it's his parents' interesting and eclectic background that influences their restaurant's style. He was super nice! I only wished I was closer to the city! read more

Ms T and I went to Andies for dinner while house sitting in A'ville. It sounded good and came well recommended. There was no problem getting a table even though it was a Saturday evening. I started with a seasonal soup offering; Yellow Tomato with carrot threads and faro. I found it harshly sour and one dimensional but it kind of grew on me and I did eat it all. It just needed some balance. I did like the texture that the faro added. Ms T had a cup of the lentil soup, very simple. She found it to be fine, nothing exceptional. We shared a plate of Fried Calamari as we are wont to do. Ms T thought it needed salt. The calamari were fairly predictable except for the harissa that was almost like wing sauce, with vinegar in the chile. I liked the change from the typical marinara that accompanies marinara. Ms T likes gyros and ordered the platter this time. She ordered without onion, but it was delivered with onion anyway. Fortunately the onion was extremely mild and did not stink up the table. The serving of sliced meat was generous. We both found it to be sliced too thin and dried out. It was also too salty. Flavor was rated OK, but this would be 2-1/2 stars on the gyro scale. It was served with couscous. I decided on Chicken Breast Curry. I do not know if curry in the Med area is typical, if so and if this is representative, it is certainly not like Indian curry. It was in a clear-ish broth with lots and lots of the mild onion. It was billed as being cooked with green and red bell peppers, but they were almost nonexistent. There was a little summer squash. It was served on the same couscous and the gyro platter. This dish was also one dimensional, this time, just salt with some cumin. To be honest, it was boring. We may always be expecting Greek style and flavors when we hear Mediterranean. I wanted richer flavored dishes, kind of like when you want Hunan cuisine in a Chinese restaurant and get the Chicken in Snow Peas with the clear sauce. I have it on good authority that this is a good place to eat and it warrants more sampling. This meal was a weak three on the enjoyment scale. read more

It was Labor Day and I was starving for some food! I love Mediterranean food and it's honestly one of my favorite places to eat. Walking in I was greeted by a host who seemed to maybe own the place who was extremely nice! We were sit at a nice window by the table and was promptly brought drinks by our server. The service through the whole meal was actually great, compared to a lot of Andersonville places that tend to lean more towards the calm, uninterested hipster vibe. This is sadly the best that it was, was the host and the waiter. The food options all sounded amazing and I actually was highly impressed with the options. I have been in the mood for a decent gyro lately so I ordered the lunch special. They were out of fruit so I opted to go for fries. The dish came out and it just looked so sad and underwhelming. The chicken was dry, the pita bread was hard and I had to drown it in tatziki to get any flavor added to it. When I went to eat my French fries I was actually nervous that I was going to chip a tooth from how hard they actually were. I didn't honestly bother to see if they had dessert because I just wanted to be done. You can get much better Mediterranean food throughout the city at a much higher quality and at the same price If not even cheaper throughout the city. read more

So there're a few non-raving reviews mixed in with the raves. Let me try to be balanced here. It was a toss-up between Reza's next door and Andies. And don't let the menus posted outside Andies deceive you. It isn't complete. According to our waiter, the takeout menu prices are slightly cheaper that the restaurant menu. That's a headscratcher to me. I didn't bother asking. Firstly, I'm glad there were 4 adults and a child in the group for us to try a few dishes. I shared an original mojito with a friend since I'm such a light drinker. It's so refreshingly fresh that I could easily down the entire drink had I not been feeling so unwell from the night before. Our waiter, Jesse, was fabulously attentive, and not excessively so. He recommended the Moroccan eggplant and we enjoyed every healthy bit of it. It was cooked to the point of it falling apart but not mushy. Jesse was also paying attention to the generous pita basket and was replenishing it before the last slice was snatched off. I would like to give it 4, based on my schwarma/gyro dish, and eggplant, alone. But I had to try the other dishes and get the assessment of them from my group. Here it goes: Avgalemono (chicken, lemon and rice soup): It's easy to like the soup. It's hearty. But I couldn't quite place the flavor of the broth -- it tastes like it comes out of a can, the husband begs to differ. It's salty, and it's the first dish out, so the table couldn't get enough of it. Greek salad: The dressing is nicely flavored but what I love the most is the long chunk of feta that comes with it. It's tempting to eat it by itself. Labanese steak gyros (Schwarma): Great flavor. The husband and I had a fabulous schwarma at a Wichita, KS mediterranean restaurant when we lived for a while, and had never since found any schwarma that rivals it. We got it here at Andies. But we disagree on the sauce that accompanies it. I prefer the yogurt sauce he had with his kabobs, and he likes the tahini that comes with this dish. Combination kabobs: The husband asks for medium and they are well-done. But the basmati rice is wonderfully fluffy and fragrant. Spinach with dill rice: The spinach is sauteed in olive oil, topped with feta. Unlike my companion, I'm not impressed with it even though I love spinach and feta. Tunisian chicken and artichokes: Not my favorite but the rest of the table enjoys it. Is it good for children? My picky nephew devoured everything placed before him. I was stunned. Furthermore, his overexuberance got the attention of the manager who returned with a gift for him -- a portable radio cum flashlight. Will I return? Probably. But there are so many options along Clark Street. Prices for entrees start at $9. *Photos shot read more

See all

The place was pretty empty for a Wednesday night but the mural on the outside was what drew us in. We were very pleasantly surprised with the fresh complimentary pitas and prompt service. The waiter had excellent suggestions and advised against ordering too much. Quite a few vegan options, and the waiter was careful to be sure we ordered soups or apps that were also vegan. The meals come with soups and some come with sides. I had the vegetarian curry couscous which was delicious with nuts, cooked veggies and dried fruit and my husband had the cheesy baked moussaka which was so rich and creamy I made him switch with me for a while. They only had one selection of Chardonnay but it was good and I liked it. Definitely would go back. Mediterranean paintings on the walls and large enough for a big party. read more

First time customer. We won't be ordering from there again. All we ordered were gyros sandwiches. The food arrived cold for one. Next the pita was small similar to a small taco. It contained little meat which was dry and overdone, one sliced tomato and a couple of onions. We asked for sports peppers and didn't get any. Needless to say we wound up throwing it all out. Just won't give them a second chance. read more

Ordered take out from here tonight and am super happy with it! I got the dip sampler and everything tastes and looks amazing, and I had the gyros dinner and I'm just really happy with the quality of the food! Delivery was fast and I will for sure be eating from here more often! read more

See all

The decor is a little out dated. It's like going to your Aunts house who bought in the 90's with the latest trends but hasnt updated since. That being said, the atmosphere was cozy and fun on the bustling Saturday evening that I dined. If they dimmed the lights and gave the place a make over I might give it five stars. The one thing that is constantly excellent here is the service. From the host, to the bartender to the server and food runners/bussers. Rock. Solid. The food itself is good too, though I would say I've had as good of falafel, shawarma, pita and basmati rice at some fast-foody type middle eastern places. I must also disclaim that I don't venture too far out of the box when ordering mediterranean food, I stick with my staples because I'm fussy. Like I used to cry in a Chinese restaurant as a child fussy. Though my taste buds have expanded since then. Somewhat. Lastly I love how they offer wine-flights, as I enjoy variety and sampling new things. And in closing I had the baklava - oooooh the baklava. Its a must have. read more

A most disappointing experience. Leaving aside the fact that the dishes served here are not even remotely authentic, the food is simply not tasty or well-executed. Of the 8-9 dishes our group ordered, most were less impressive than "meh" and a couple were outright inedible. Chunky, almost chalky paste should not be called hummus, and raw onion should not overpower the smell of chickpeas. Baba ghanoush should taste of eggplant. If tomato sauce is used, it should not a cake. What is advertised as shawarma could not be helped by any alteration of the recipe. If you are seeking Mediterranean, please consider looking elsewhere. read more

Andies has always been a favorite of mine for quality Mediterranean food in the neighborhood. I always start with a delicious starter of hummus and pita. The pita bread comes out of the kitchen warm and toasted which adds to the yummy-factor. They are known for their kabobs which is not exactly my favorite in their kitchen. I always get their salmon which is coupled with a beautiful medley of buttered vegetables - usually root vegetables. The fish is perfectly cooked, tender and herbed correctly. Their Sangria is always something to go for as well - especially in the summer months. I am not sure if I have ever had Sangria that I do not like; however, theirs is usually pretty solid and full of fruit. I know that people always have to make a choice between this place and Reeza's next door. Pretty much, they offer the same kind of thing. For some reason, I enjoy the food and experience better than Reeza's. The place is a little less corporate feeling and genuine. read more

I love that when I am lazy, they deliver! My usually get the baba ganoush and the shrimp and chicken kabob. with couscous. They are really nice and I like when I don't feel like meat, they have 3 veggie platter combo to choose from. It's affordable, good, and they deliver. read more

Always a fan. Delicious food, friendly staff who make you feel welcomed like an old friend, and great catering too (so much food!). Lots of vegetarian options as well. Definitely a winner in my book. read more

Eaten here twice, very good both visits! Fresh ingredients, and well prepared Mediterranean meals at low prices. Outdoor and open air seating in front of the restaurant was a real bonus. The only minus we encountered was a waiter who wrote his name on the table paper (cheeeesy, which Bennigan's did you come from?) and rather slow service. I enjoyed Andies and plan to go again. read more

Andies Restaurant - mmmmmmmmm. Lunch offerings, gyro & vegetarian sampler - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is a rip off. Came here a week ago and I am still mad about the money they took from me for my "salad". They upcharged me $6 for an already full sized salad that was listed as around 13 bucks. Which made it $19. This salad consisted of a half of a roughly chopped cucumber, a roughly chopped tomato that they left the stem on and served me, and a roughly chopped red onion. I paid an extra $6 for four medium sized shrimp( which is fine). The feta was flavorless, the tzaziki was chunky and watery and flavorless, and the whole thing was just horrible. For the $23 I paid for this excuse of a meal I expect some care into chopping the vegetables, and how about some quality ingredients? Horrible . This place went down hill bad. Also they deleted my last review that I made with my boyfriends account. read more

I recently had dinner at Andies, and everything was wonderful. I was impressed with their menu and how clearly gluten-free and vegetarian options are marked. I have Celiac Disease and can't eat gluten, so sometimes I find it difficult to go out to dinner. Andies has so many gluten-free options, including gluten-free pita bread. The service was great, as well. I will certainly be coming back. read more

Love the food here. The service is good too. It's a pretty chill atmosphere in a decent neighborhood. read more

The worst Thanksgiving buffet I have had in 50 years. Half of the food was not available. Menu description cards did not match the food. The items were not replenished in a timely fashion. Desserts listed were not available. No Greek omelet yes as states. Lousy. The restaurant should be ashamed. I've been a chef for 40 years and have never seen such garbage. The menu has a disclaimer to not expect what they list on their buffet. They state they won't have the foods you're looking for. No pumpkin pie as advertised. Stay away from this mess read more

Disappointing experience - although the servers / bus staff are nice and we did enjoy the sampler app (Hummus and Falafel were tasty): First, there was a hair found with the mint of my Mojito. I didn't want to make a fuss, since I was nearly done with my drink before I discovered it. The Mojito itself tasted a bit watery. Second, my friend was served the wrong soup that was ordered. Third, our entrees' sides were mixed up. My Filet Mignon Kabob was served over basmati rice instead of potatoes (as ordered), and the other entree was over potatoes instead of rice... We wish the food would've made up for this mistake but the Trio Kabob was quite bland. The basmati rice tasted like microwaved store-bought rice in a box. We appreciated the free dessert to make up for the mishap(s), but overall, food was too mediocre to us to return. read more

Excellent place to sample Mediterranean food. We had a group of 7 and the staff was very accommodating, helpful, and service was quick. The price is a bit higher but the portions are fairly large. I ordered the veggie sampler #1 and everything was tasty. read more

Andies Restaurant - Veggie sampler #1 - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is amazing! Andie's has been a neighborhood "Go To" for my wife and I for over 10 years, and it has been consistently great, so this review is (ahem) WELL overdue. We went most recently on Saturday to celebrate my wife's birthday. We had requested a table outside not knowing they no longer have a patio, but Sarah (our server) was gracious & amazing and sat us at the bar where we had cocktails while waiting for a window table to open up. Service was impeccable and the food was (as always) incredible. Gil, the GM even stopped by & was gracious and incredibly professional & welcoming. BIG kudos to Sarah, Gil, and the whole team-- we will keep coming back for a long time. read more

This is a go to place if you are really in the mood to eat drink and enjoy yourself, Andie's is the spot. The food was the best, I had burek spring rolls as my appetizer and my entree was Pumpkin Ravioli. It was amazing how the kitchen had great timing, as soon as I finished my lentil soup my food came. I had a Spiced Old Fashion and it came with a cinnamon stick and for dessert I told my server Aysha I was kind of full. All of those desserts were tempting so she instead told me I could get it to go and wrapped it up for me as well, she had a sweet personality and great smile. The manager I believe came out to a couple tables including mine to make sure everything was going smoothly. I really felt taken care of so service made everything "Awesome" ! I will be back with my friends real soon! read more

Had the basil chicken dish & shared a baklava for dessert. Both were EXCELLENT. The meal was so good I'm going back this week to try something else! Service was great as well. read more

After encountering a wait at a nearby establishment for Saturday brunch and time on the parking meter, we decided to give Andies a try. The mostly empty restaurant should have been an indication. The fireplace was nice and the waitress was attentive. She did go out for a smoke break but only had one other table. The service did not suffer since we had just placed our order. Our water was constantly refilled. As for the food, the complimentary warm Pita bread basket was great to nosh on while we waited for our entrées. The Gyros plate had a good amount of meat and the meat had some nicely charred edges. It wasn't the best but a pleasant change from Kronos and had good spicing. The shoestring fries were just fine but I should have gone for the rice. For the price, an included cup of soup would have been appreciated. My dining companion got the crab cake Benedict and it was nothing special. However, I wouldn't expect the best crab cakes from a Greek restaurant. I would expect the English muffins to be toasted though so that was a bit of a disappointment. The price was right. I would not rush back but the meal was average, hence the three stars. It's definitely not destination dining with much better restaurants around the city and burbs that represent Mediterranean cuisine. read more

Amazing....amazing...amazing....stumbled into this place cold and tired after a long days work outside in Chicago winter...hoped to get a quick bite to go...ended up with an amazing hot GLogg to sip during my wait...exactly what I needed :)) would absolutely recommend to anyone! Tasty! Amazing service! 5 shiny stars :)) Update: I tried the food! I had the falafel avocado wrap! AMAZING :) read more

Andies Restaurant - GLoggs :)) - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Mmmm... wrap me up, Andies! It was lunchtime, and I hadn't even had breakfast, *growl*. I'm a huge fan of wraps at lunch because I can eat adequately without incurring the dreaded food coma and its ancillary bundle of joy, the food baby. On the lunch menu I spy a wrap that has my name on it: Falafel Avocado. Full of healthy goodness-- organic mixed greens, feta cheese, tomato, red onions, julienne carrots and tahini sauce (and of course, lots of perfectly ripe avocado and spicy falafel). The presentation? Impressive. The wrap was grilled and surrounded by fresh fruit, chips, and extra tahini sauce made for dipping. See for yourself: http://www.twitpic.com/32aum/full And best of all... my veggie afternoon delight only set me back $6.95. My server Matthew brought a basket of warm pita over when I first sat down and kept my ice tea a-comin'. I've never ordered wraps for delivery, but I fear I've developed a new fixation. read more

I really wanted to like Andies. The few times I have made it that far north it has always looked like a fun place to grab some yummy and fresh Mediterranean food. Sadly I was not impressed. I feel badly sitting here trashing the restaurant but, except for the friendly service and prompt busboys, everything was just mediocre. We had the taramasalata, mango salad and stuffed artichokes. Out of everything our favorite was the side dish of basmati rice which came with the artichokes. I even found the pita bread at the table to be stale, not warm and soft as I would have liked. Maybe we came on an off day . . . ? I should have listened to Kellie, but I had to learn the hard way. read more

Douchebag service. Friday afternoon. Three of us sit down at approximately 3:30 pm. There is no one outside, at the tables in front, except us and there is almost no one inside, either. 15 minutes for a waiter to show up. Another 15 minutes for one bowl of soup, two Watermelon Mojitos and a Kiddy Cocktail. Upon serving these items the server asks: "how is everything?" The kid quips: "you just gave us this stuff." Douchebag service. read more

NEVER AGAIN.... Used to to be an AVID fan of Andies. Great food, seemingly good people, good bang for your buck, etc. Until I decide to dine there NYE with my fiance' & Son. Called to make a reservation for dinner, asked about parking. Was old that the restaurant had parking available in the US Bank parking lot, would be valid if dinning at the restaurant. So I parked there, dined with my lady & infant, and when I returned to get my car, it was gone. Called the towing company, they gave me a line about not parking in the designated spots within the lot, something not explained by the restaurant. There were plenty of spots available on the street, and the meters were FREE...but I took the word of the establishment thinking they had their patrons best interest in mind and wouldn't lead them to a private lot where semantics would be an issue, leading me to believe... ANDIES & LINCOLN TOWING ARE IN CAHOOTS! If there was responsibility that I could be towed when using the lot that YOU recommended I use, why tell patron that you have a lot?! Why not advise us to take our chances on the street? Lincoln towing company give me a line about blocking areas for bank usage, even though by definition, no one should be allowed to use this lot...it's a bank parking lot. But the restaurant told me they couldn't help me either, after having a $100 meal. Tough that you're with a 2mos old. At the very least, the towing company offered to 'expedite the processing on your car, to minimize you wait;.... How civil of them to think of me, the poor little man.... so now I'm $197.00 poorer. Thousands of restaurants to choose from, and I pick the one that likes to play games with it's patrons,, instead of being honest and saying 'You take you chances when you park in the lot we have 'appropriated' for the people that pay to dine at our restaurant'. I don't appreciated being swindled by the people I pay for good service. And now, I cannot trust this establishment of persons of their word read more

Went for lunch. Ordered spinach pies as appetizer. It was good. Ordered lamb eggplant tangine was good and house combo kabobs was good except not enough lamb meat. read more

See all

I don't love this place as much as I once did, but I still like it well enough. Yeah, that's lukewarm, and I'm stickin' by it. Andies used to be a true hole-in-the-wall. It was about 1/4 of its current size, and it was the Little Engine That Could. The menu was limited, but the food kicked the ass of big bloated Reza's next door (which also used to be much smaller -- but that's for another review). The waiters were all older and ethnic, and knew what they were talking about. I'm happy that Andies is doing well enough to expand. I don't need time to stand still. The drawback, as other reviewers have mentioned, is that the menu and service have both suffered. I will say that I've never had bad service here. The place is big, so I can imagine that food might take a while to come out. But every server I've ever had has been competent at least. The owner (Andie himself) spends enough time in the restaurant to keep an eye on things. But there's much more turnover in wait staff these days, and the servers are no different from what you'd encounter at any mid-sized restaurant, so you can't count on them being knowledgeable. The menu has changed and gotten away from its roots. I still mourn the loss of my beloved spinach bulgur soup. And Andies is not the place I go for blackened salmon or seafood linguine. They still serve falafel, but it isn't very good -- it's usually pretty dry. And whatever became of the grilled octopus salad? But there are still some good traditional items on the menu. I've always been a fan of the kibbie, and the hummus and baba ganoush are both first rate. The braised lamb, the stuffed chicken breast, and the Moroccan eggplant are all good bets. I tend to order delivery from here more often than I eat in, and delivery is usually pretty quick. But I'm not that far away. The menu is indeed much more expensive than it was "back in the day," especially when it comes to entrees. And Andies has always been more of a Mediterranean blend than strictly Middle Eastern. (Greek-Lebanese is how they used to describe themselves.) So be aware of that going in. read more

I've removed a star. I'm annoyed. This time around, no wine. Just whining about the visit. Did things vastly different, this time around beers with late night dinner and that too, slowly. Two bottles of Hoegaarden ($13.50), large hummus and a plate of chicken and beef biriyani. WTF was I thinking. This fusion style biriyani was not intriguing, it contained sliced figs, golden raisins, chopped yellow peppers and something else. The menu says it served with aromatic basmati rice, which is how typical biriyani is made. You allowed a side dish, which I requested couscous. Order bungle! Biriyani mixed with couscous not at all yummy, to me anyways. Too much flavor, too much spices, not hot spices, flavor spices. Three bites in and I was thinking about the $13.95 price tag and whether 1 or 2 whoppers junior would get me home with a satisfied appetite. Service lacked and alone I'd racked up to $45 bucks with the tip - unsatisfied & annoyed! After writing this and posting it, I came back to edit, both friends which joined me last evening had bad belly aches. Both had the gyros plate and think it must be the gyros sauce that did them in. read more

I never usually have a problem deciding what I want to order from a restaurant. I pick up the menu, glance it over and something usually pops out at me and says, "Order Me!" Whomever wrote this menu and the item descriptions is a genius! I had the most difficult time deciding what I wanted to order as everything sounded delicious. I finally decided on shrimp and steak kabobs. I was not disappointed in the least. It was amazing. I sampled some of Lara's Schwarma and that was also amazing. The flavors were not overpowering, and made for a delicious meal. I really liked the atmosphere here also. It was tastefully decorated and somewhat dark and the music was playing at a perfect level. Now that I think about it, I don't think I have ever had a such a complete experience like this at any restaurant that I have ever been to. It seems as if everything was just right. I am looking forward to my second, third, fourth, etc... visits! read more

I got the worst falafel sandwich here. The part that pisses me off is I can tell by the way it was put together that they just didn't give a rat's ass about quality. The falafel, feta (which I paid extra for) tomato, onion, hummus (which I paid extra for) were all thrown in there in big chunks and not mixed up or chopped or anything, just thrown in so that the pita was already completely broken and soggy and I had to spend 10 minutes preparing the sandwich myself. When I paid extra for the hummus on the sandwich I figured they would spread it on the pita bread, not just glop it into a giant ball at the very bottom of the sandwich. I have had falafel all over the world and I would say this is the worst I have ever had. Whoever made my sandwich seemed to put no thought at all into the fact that someone would eat it. read more

Short version: Bad food, poor service - I've had better in small towns in Indiana! Having looked over the reviews other people have written, it seems that you either have a great experience here or a crappy one, with no in-between. Unfortunately for us, we were here on a crappy night, with bad service and mediocre food. I hate to write a bad review, but this experience was so unusual for most of my experience dining in Chicago that I feel compelled to share it. The pita bread was good, but it was dropped off well in advance of the hummus we'd ordered as our appetizer, which meant that by the time the hummus arrived it was no longer warm. The hummus itself was okay; it was a little lumpy (not necessarily a bad thing) and the flavors were boring (I actually squeezed the lemon slice over it in an attempt to liven it up a bit). Maybe a little salt would have helped, but there were no seasonings on any of the tables, so I guess this is a no-salt sort of place? For dinner - which took a while to order, as our waiter was somehow responsible for both the outside tables and for us, and kept disappearing - my husband had the chicken pastry (b'stilla, I think it was called?) and I had the pomegranate chicken. Both were... okay. His pastry seemed fine (I tried some) but the couscous that came with it was pretty blah, although the cucumber-yogurt sauce was good. Mine? Oof, where to begin. The chicken itself was pounded into a flat piece of meat that tasted a bit overdone, and was slathered in a thick layer of pomegranate sauce with raisins and some almond slices. It was mostly just thick and sweet, and lacked the tanginess I was hoping for. It was okay. The mashed potatoes - which the waiter had warned me would be "garlicky" - were lumpy and not very flavorful at all. Again, having some salt might have helped. (Is the chef on a low salt diet or something?) But it was the "seasonal vegetables" that were the worst. In August, when the farmers' markets are full of all kinds of interesting things, the "seasonal vegetables" were nothing more than broccoli and carrots. Worse, they were badly cooked broccoli and carrots; the broccoli was grey and looked boiled _and_ burnt, and all of it was spiced with some African spice that overwhelmed without actually being tasty. I ate one bite and couldn't bear to try another. And then it was more waiting, first for the bill, then for the waiter to return to pick up the card, and then to return with the card and credit slip. And no one checked in to see how we were doing, leaving us to just sit there, bored and still somewhat hungry, until we could escape. Honestly, this is the worst meal I've had in a Chicago restaurant in several years of eating out in the city, and it was disappointing to have it come at a price point that led me to expect something not only better but much better. We did not, needless to say, stick around for dessert, and I do not plan to eat here again. If you choose to take a chance on this place, hope that you get them in a good moment, because if you don't, it is awful. read more