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    Anelya

    4.2 (75 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Order Anelya Takeout or Delivery

    Anelya Ukrainian Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    ANELYA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Anelya

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    Reviews With Photos

    Chicken Kyiv
    Tara Lynn O.

    Food was all very good! Service was great as well. All of the food we tried were really good and unique. I would definitely come back!

    Medovik Honey Cake
    Amanda G.

    From the first impression, this Ukrainian spot was absolutely adorable, very charming interior. Staff were very kind, especially considering my table was a little boisterous! Hey, we had a great time! The shared plates were on the small side, so round up. There was a bit of a upsell vibe, so get separate tabs if you are trying to be budget conscious. They bring the apps out on a cart which is neat because you get to see everything and order with your eyes rather than your imagination. Of everything I tried, I was the biggest fan of the soup (but I am a big soup person). I easily could have ordered both the mushroom and the borscht myself and called that dinner with maybe a little left over . Very adventurous drink menu, both for As and the N/As among us. They have an infusions menu which are the cutest little sippers you ever did see.

    Big breakfast with chicken sausage
    Hanna S.

    We came for the Mother's Day brunch and were not disappointed. It's lovely to have food this special and festive in a room so relaxed and easy. The staff likewise made it feel like an uncrowded neighborhood place, with no pretension. Wins: luscious, buttery bread pudding balanced by sweet and sour candied kumquats; a rich egg-and-sausage plate balanced by crunchy salad and beets; a fresh-currant scone with delicious, tender crumb; poppy seed roll with gently sweet cream cheese icing. The cabbage hand pie was the single best feature in a great meal. How can pie crust and cabbage become ethereal? Just trust me and get one (or several). I will be dreaming about that buttery crust. A couple of nitpicks: the salad on the big breakfast was a bit over-salted; the syrniki were dense and chewy when I was expecting them to be light and tender. That's the only dish we didn't devour. But this is a fantastic place, and I can't wait to come back.

    Rohan D.

    While there is Venn diagram overlap between the categories, authentic and delicious, it's an important distinction for me. Thanks to the invasion, I've come to be pretty familiar with traditional Ukrainian food from fundraisers. Although the Ukrainian people are the toughest on Earth, they are very gracious and generous hosts. I wanted to come here wearing my heart on my sleeve so to speak so I wore one of my Ukrainian St. Javelin shirts, a Ukraine trident hat, and I practiced how to say hello and thank you all day. This sort of outfit always elicited a welcoming smile and open appreciation from Ukrainian Americans and refugees. Not here. The hostess looked me up and down in disdain, as I took in the upscale environment and realized I was under dressed. I'm never under dressed, so I was embarrassed. Still my "Privet," and "Dobri Vechir" were also ignored, my pronunciation wasn't even corrected. Instead, what I got was a curt "you won't be seated until your whole group arrives." We had reservations for four, we were moments ahead of the second couple and THERE WAS NO ONE SEATED AT ANY TABLE. The place was empty. I've been asked to wait until all of the reservation guests were present, but that was at Red Lobster on a Saturday night. At my age, hostesses never tell me to wait for the rest of my party, and then walk away. This did happen at a steak place in Milwaukee where the hostess apologized for not being able to seat me right away and escorted me to a seat at the bar and bought me a drink. When we were seated were were scolded with " No coats on chair backs." Okay, so I'm underdressed, but if you're such a classy restaurant, get a coat and hat check room or at least a coat and hat rack. And, I want to stress, we were so early in the evening, there wasn't anybody here for our coats to get in the way. It's all in the way you ask people, it was rude, not a polite request, more like an order for misbehaving children. The waitress arrived promptly and very helpfully recommended a bubbly from Ukraine that went very well with all of our dishes. She then "explained the menu" but left out one very important detail, the dishes had traditional Ukrainian names but were not the traditional Ukrainian dishes. The chef, a brilliant and creative type, used his grandmothers recipes as inspiration but the cuisine was all new and invented. This affected how I enjoyed my meal. nothing ordered was what I expected even though all of it was delicious. Disappointing delicious food. Good but not authentic. I should have realized when the waitress pronounced Chicken Kiev with two syllables like the Russians. I had also spent all day practicing the proper pronunciation of Kiev, which wasn't time wasted because I'm ready for the next authentic Ukraine situation. In spite of not seating us early, the waitstaff was clearly in a hurry to get us out of there, they brashly interrupted conversation, brought out and cleared dishes at a rude and rapid rate, and kept taking silver ware out of out plates and placing them back on the table. Maybe I'm old, heck not maybe, I know I'm old, but in my day in a classy restaurant, ALL the silver ware for all courses was laid out at each setting. Nowadays high class places replace the silverware with each serving. The place reminded me of another restaurant that was presented as Korean, but not authentic Korean, rather Korean inspired original new cuisine that had a very rushed service just down the block and it turns out the chef here is the husband of the chef there. At Parachute the waitstaff is pretty oblivious to Korean culture, but the food is inspired and truly delicious but disappointing if one is expecting traditional Korean. We asked if the food here was presented family style or if we were ordering our own dishes and the waitress encouraged us to share. One of us, skeptical of a place serving tapas style but not, asked if the plates were served cut up into divided portions and the waitress said she would bring extra plates and knives. As it turned out, the appetizers were easily shared, but not the main dishes. Very expensive for the rushed and pompous service, prices are commensurate with the quality of cooking, but you will have a hard time enjoying if you're expecting traditional Ukrainian cuisine and hospitality. This was one of my three birthday meals. The food wasn't quite as good as Milwaukee's Lake Park Bistro, where the service was impeccable. Lake Park Bistro was not quite as expensive, but that's comparing mangoes and papayas as Milwaukee is less expensive than Chicago. The service was better at Merenda and Miss Katie's Diner in Milwaukee, which reminds me, I need to up the rating I gave at Merenda as the service there was quite a bit better than here. The décor here is lovely and upscale, kind of a contrast to the curt service.

    The Muse
    Bri R.

    Hits all the marks. Great food. Great service. Great ambiance. The hostesses, bartender, and servers were all kind and helpful. Tip: there's a coat check so you don't have to keep your bulky winter items with you at the table. Everything: drinks, appetizers, soups, mains, sides, desserts were phenomenal. Fresh, flavorful without being overpowering, and nothing was too heavy. The lighting is nice and dim with small lamps on some the tables so reading the menu is no problem. The decor is cool- plenty to look at!

    Dessert
    Nata A.

    Anelya is elevating the long neglected cuisine of Ukraine to the heights of what we'd expect from the French or Japanese dining experience. People who expect cheap prices and giant portions will be disappointed. There are plenty of greasy spoon options for Ukrainian food in town. Anelya is not one of them and I love that for us in Chicago.

    Borscht with duck
    Nicole S.

    Delicious! Everything tasted fresh with crispy bits on fried dishes and great texture combinations. Loved the wine list from countries surrounding Ukraine as well.

    Borsch
    Anna K.

    Let me start by saying we came to Chicago over the weekend with a purpose of visiting Anelya and it didn't disappoint! The ambience is very cozy and hip, we loved how they bring you a cart with appetizers in the beginning so that you can pick what you want. We got trout roe, salo, pickled carrots and mushroom and herring and they were all really delicious and perfect to enjoy with some of the infused Nastoyankas they have. For alcoholic drinks I recommend boozy Uzvar and pyanaya vishnya infusion, those were my absolute faves . For the main dishes we got borsch with duck ( very delicious) and lokshyna. Lokshyna was smth unique I've never tasted before, it's similar to lasagna but the noodles are more fried which I loved. We got Pyanaya Vishnya cake for the dessert and it was amazing as well. We are coming back today for the dinner as well to try some more dishes and that should tell you how much we've liked it !

    Halushki
    Jose C.

    We wanted to celebrate St Patricks Day across the street and planned out perfectly to dine at Anelya before the festivities. We were able to enjoy a nice meal and then walk across the street for some more fun. We arrived for our 5pm reservation and were able to get seated right away. We were one of the first arrive, but the dining area was pretty much full by the time we finished our meal. The service was gear. Very friendly, quick and efficient. Although they're a tiny bit pushy by suggesting 3-4 plates per person. We walked out full by just ordering four total plates. They start you off by bringing you a tower of already prepared appetizers. Whatever looks good to you gets put on your table immediately. We were set on their Sunflower Seed Hummus and Bread by PQB. It's honestly my favorite bread in the city. In it went perfectly with the hummus. We also ordered their Pampushky, a Ukrainian garlic bread. The picture made this look bigger than it actually was. It was a tiny little thing but still very flavorful. The bread inside was so soft and had just the right amount of garlic on top. Would definitely order this again. For our entrees, my wife order their Halushki an Easten European dumpling served with braised short ribs and huckleberries. The dumpling were really good and the short ribs were cooked perfectly. I got a lot of Asian flavors out of this dish. It tasted like something I've had before but can't really remember. But a really savory dish. I ordered their Lokshyna. A layered pasta with farmers cheese and served with a black truffle broth at the bottom. The pasta was a little but crispy on top and on the edges but very soft and creamy in the middle and tasted phenomenal with the cheese and truffle. I would definitely order it again. Overall a very delicious meal from beginning to end. It sucks that Beverly Kim closed Parachute, but really glad she stuck around with this Anelya opening. Will definitely be returning.

    Restaurant interior
    Layna L.

    We dined at Anelya for Valentine's Day dinner. It was relatively easy to get a reservation for a weeknight (we booked around 2 weeks ahead of time). The interior decor is funky and warm, which I liked a lot. The space is definitely cozy, with darker lighting and close-together tables. We ordered the trout roe tart, borsch, varenyky, lokshyna, holubtsi, and pampushky for dinner, and medovik for dessert. Every dish was warm and comforting-it tasted like something you would eat at your grandma's house. I would describe everything as "small plates sized," which I actually preferred, since that meant that I was able to try everything. My favorite was the varenyky. Servers were very helpful in recommending how many of each dish to order. I would come back to try more dishes!

    Dining area

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    3 months ago

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    3 days ago

    Great food! Good service! It's located on Elston Ave. across from Chief O'Neills. We even sat outside. I highly recommend this place!!

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    7 months ago

    Beyond amazing. A complete gem. Delicious food and cocktails. Chill vibes. Honestly, one of the best restaurants in Chicago.

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    Ask the Community - Anelya

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    Kitchen 17

    4.1(644 reviews)
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    Where do I even start! I wish I lived here because I would come all the time…read more When we walked in we were the only people there which at first worried us but it ended up being the best dinner of our vacation. The food was amazing. We got the "frychos" which were like loaded fries and it was the probably one of the most flavorful and fun vegan dishes I've ever had. Ofc we also had to get the vegan deep dish and it was also really good. Since we were the only ones there we chatted quite a bit with the bartender and he was super friendly. We ended up putting a movie on the bar tv and watching that while we ate. They also had boardgames and free pinball and we played battleship while waiting for our pizza. If you have the chance to check this place out, you definitely should!! The bartender said they were usually busier because it's also a concert venue, but it was a nice day so we think people were going places they could eat outside. But quiet or hoppin this place would be an 11/10! :)

    Totally 100% vegan, but I heard they were closing before the end of November…read more We came here on a Friday night around 5pm. They do allow children and have live shows at night. I got a beer, Maplewood IPA, and vegan nachos with "beef". They were very wet, they also had mixed greens on top which were nice but weird. For my main meal I got a fried chicken sandwich which had tempeh as the protein. It was very thick and dense but tasty. It came with French fries. My partner got a sour beer, and a chicken parm sandwich with French fries. He reported his was also very thick / dense.

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    4.5(464 reviews)
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    Stopped here after dinner for some drinks in their downstairs lounge. I've never gone downstairs…read moreand when I entered it gave speakeasy vibes, I loved it. I had one of the best espresso martinis here and enjoyed sitting on their cozy couches while chatting to my friends. The atmosphere downstairs was really calm and relaxing. Service was quick and our server was very polite.

    My friends and I have started a burger crawl throughout the city, and we had to have Gretel on the…read morelist! First time here for all of us, but definitely will not be our last! We started with a bunch of cocktails (I wish I remember the names.. but they were all so good!). Food to start, we ordered the Charcuterie, and the House Made Pretzel. We were obsessed with both! The charcuterie did not skimp out like some cheese/meat plates do.. it was a satisfying amount that we kept going back for more. The pretzel was outstanding, twisted and hot, perfectly soft and salty. To eat, I split the Gretel Griddle Burger and the Fried Chicken Sandwich with my friend because although we were there for the burger, I kept reading about the chicken sandwich being fantastic. Booyy they were not wrong!! As much as I loved the burger, the chicken sandwich was my favorite! Perfectly crispy, with this sweet and spicy glaze and the crunchy Asian pear slaw... OMG. I'm still dreaming about this! One thing we were excited about were the Elote Riblettes.. but I wouldn't order these again. I accidentally bit the whole thing and didn't realize they kept the core in, and I had to spit it out. And even after eating it properly it didn't feel like I got enough of it from those little bites. Loved the fries though! We didn't see a dessert menu but we would have definitely been interested in that. After all the drinks apps and the chicken sandwich I was feeling so full so I couldn't finish the burger so I got it wrapped to go. But let me tell you even when I reheated that burger the next day.. it was fantastic!! Overall we may have been the loudest and most obnoxious group (we get a bit excited haha) our waiter and the vibe were all matched! Genuinely loved this place, and looking forward to coming back soon.

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    Luella's Southern Kitchen - Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles

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    This place is small and quaint with so much charm. I absolutely loved walking in and hearing…read moreold-school music playing on a record player -- it felt like my daddy's music and instantly gave me a wave of nostalgia. The service was great. Our waiter was friendly, attentive, and more than happy to answer any questions we had about the menu. And the food? EVERYTHING we ordered was amazing. The pancakes were fluffy with just the right amount of crisp around the edges. The chicken and waffles were perfectly crunchy and packed with flavor. Such a cozy spot with great vibes and even better food. I'll definitely be back!

    This is a place where you order in front and sit down and wait to get your food. I felt a little…read morerushed to make a choice due to other customers and decided on the breakfast sandwich. My brother got the shrimp and grits. I will say it felt like the service was a bit slow and we waited a bit for our food and even our drinks. Some people around us ordered the chicken and waffles which looked so good, it kind of overpowered what I was actually eating. It wasn't until I got home and ate my leftovers that I realized the breakfast sandwich was delicious. The egg was fluffy and the jam was yummy! My brother also enjoyed his food. We shared a side of Mac and cheese which I also thought was good. I would definitely return to try other things.

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    Daisies - Stracci

    Daisies

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    Daisies continues to prove why it's one of the best pasta spots in the city -- creative, seasonal,…read moreand comforting without feeling heavy. The meal started strong with crispy, golden flatbread paired with creamy ricotta. The ricotta was silky and lightly tangy, topped with olive oil, shaved cheese, herbs, and a sweet-savory jam that added depth. The bread had that perfect crunch on the outside with a slight chew inside -- simple but elevated. The pasta was the star. Wide ribbons cooked perfectly al dente, coated in a rich, slow-simmered ragu that tasted deeply savory and comforting. The sauce clung beautifully to the noodles, and the generous sprinkle of parmesan tied everything together. It felt rustic but refined -- the kind of dish you keep going back for.

    This spot had reservations gone in minutes and I get why, but it didn't fully blow me away…read more Vibes were just alright. We sat in the back so it was quieter, but still kinda loud overall and felt more casual than expected. Better for groups than a romantic dinner. 6.5/10. Service was great though. Our server was funny, super attentive, and paced everything perfectly. Loved the little details like switching plates and checking in at the right times. 8/10. The sweet onion toast was sooo good. Reminded me of Au Cheval's bone marrow + jam combo. Crispy & flavorful. 9.5/10. All the pastas were cooked perfectly al dente and not oily at all which I LOVED. The strozzapreti was super comforting with great duck flavor. 8.5/10. The beet agnolotti was really unique, tasted like a cream cheese lox everything bagel. 8/10. The cappelletti was more mid for me, good filling and sauce but nothing crazy. 7/10. The pork collar had an interesting texture like medium rare steak, but I'm just not a big pork fan. 6/10. Now the desserts... BEST part of the meal. The chocolate pavlova was insane. First time trying it and the textures were crazy good with the sorbet, mousse, and crunch. 9.5/10. The cookie dough brownie ice cream was also one of the best flavors I've had. 9.5/10. They also gave us a free chocolate cake for our celebration which was a nice touch, but it tasted pretty basic. Overall, really solid pastas, amazing desserts, and a great app, but a litttttle overhyped for me.

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