We hadn't been & decided to go here for dinner on a Thursday evening Cute place, on the small side, not too busy at the time we went. We were welcomed & seated. Their menu is billed as 'new Mediterranean' or something like that, but I didn't get that vibe from the menu offerings. We enjoyed a nice cocktail before dinner & then shared the apple Gorgonzola salad that was generously portioned & very fresh & nice. My two companions both had the lamb shank, their specialty & said it was extremely good; tender & falling off the bone. I had the salmon which was very good read more

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So we have been to Black and caspian for 2 other new years dinners and we chose to come again for this new years dinners- and we expected it to be as great as unit normally is, but unfortunately this year was different. We were sat quickly and greatly warmly- which was great. Overall the start of our meal was good, the server who helped us was very nice, and the ambiance was great! The first thing that happened was the server asked us to move tables to make room for another group that needed a bigger table- they mentioned "we'll compensate you greatly" but of course we were happy to move. Then we ordered another drink and that drink was forgotten about. Food came on time and looked over for the most part- I ordered the steak and shrimp plate that was on a a hot plate (this is the second time I ordered this)- and the steak was very overcooked and much thinner than before. I mentioned this to our server and was met with "well did you remove it from the hot plate" - which I didn't have a plate or place to put it, nor was offered one or directed to do so (I didn't remove it in the past or need to) but it should have either been directed or cooked correctly. We were asked if we wanted dessert but we did turn it down as we preferred drinks - and were told the dessert was "free" since we moved tables- but we didn't want the dessert. Then the payment process came- we decided to split the check, but didn't get a chance to look at it review the bill, so we did pay- but after review we saw we were overcharged for drinks (multiple extra) and then charged 2 times for the app & no comp anything for moving tables.. the process for fixing the check also seemed like a chore/ and just stressful. We love this place and very sad we had this overwhelming bad experience here for NYE. We recommend and frequent this restaurant a lot and now we may not as much due to this experience now, unfortunately. read more

Black & Caspian - Steak and shrimp - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After a mid-week concert, we wanted a spot of good food to enjoy our after-show good feeling. We found B&C Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere. Great hours. We went with two shared entrees and a we're-not-sure-we-should-have-dessert dessert. Plate sharing makes good sense given the myriad taste treats offered. And definitely give into temptation when dessert is offered. Advice: fake some hesitation, but only fake it. Get the dessert! read more

My friends and I came here for dinner last night and it was delicious. We ordered the grilled octopus, chicken kebab, surf and turf and Kevin's Cheesecake. Shoutout to Alvin for taking good care of us. He also is the pastry chef so make sure to not skip put on dessert! read more

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I ordered the scallops. They tasted fishy and had a very stringy/overcooked texture. Cocktails were good, as expected for $15-$17. The beef fillet mignon was cooked properly and tasty. read more

BEAUTIFUL place. GOOD food. BIG portions. I love CHOCOLATE CAKE, but unfortunately it is a SEASONAL item and only available in the Summer (so I will be back). We came in on a weekday (Tuesday night) when the place wasn't so busy and it was nice because our server gave us a lot of attention. read more

Black & Caspian is a super cute and small Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar. There's probably 10 or so tables in total. The food is absolutely fantastic. I had the mixed grills and every bite of meat was so tender. After closing it out with the trio baklava, I was very happy with all of my food decisions. The only knock I have is that the service is a bit lackluster. At times, it feels like you're forgotten about and we spent a long time waiting for a bill after we finished eating. As I said, it's not a huge restaurant, and maybe they were just a bit understaffed, but when the meal is over it's nice to be able to get out quickly. read more

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Cross contamination. raw meat stored with ready to eat food. can spread bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. Improper storage hierarchy. All proteins at same level raw. juices can drip onto foods that are cooked. Moldy rotting food being used?direct health hazard. Gas leak and grease buildup. fire explosion risk I have already been burned once from lighting the pilot where my face and both arms. This is serious concern. Dirty dishes, chipped plates, contamination and physical injury risk. Temperature and sanitation issues in cold storage, rapid bacterial growth. read more

Cozy woozy vibes. The food was delicious and the service was ON POINT. They make you feel at home. It is also BYOB! read more

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This restaurant is truly a gem in Lakeview East. I came here with a friend for some after-work snacks and wine tonight and found that this restaurant would be perfect for so many special occasions. We decided our meal would just be appetizers and charcuterie, but their menu otherwise looked delicious too. We ordered the charcuterie platter with 5 cheeses and added prosciutto and salami. It was a plentiful spread, and if you were having an entree also, then it would probably be too much for just 2 people. We also ordered the grilled octopus and salmon tartare appetizers, which were outstanding. Their wine and cocktail menu had many great options, but it was certainly not the longest wine list I'd ever seen. I chose to have a glass of Sauvignon Blanc for the evening. Our server was fantastic, and the ambiance would be perfect for a date. The price is reasonable for the area, food/beverage quality, and type of dining. I hope to come back soon and try more of their menu! read more

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The ambiance here was amazing, small place but really nice inside. They had a good wine selection and cocktail selection which was nice. The charcuterie board was awesome!! Good service too read more

Black & Caspian - Charcuterie - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

EVELYN WAS A STAR!!! She really is so hardworking and such a gem. She made my friend and I's first visit here a memorable time!! Thank you so much for serving us! We came in on a weekday for dinner and sat at the patio. I reserved online through OpenTable. Evelyn greeted us warmly and gave us some bread to start with! We got a salmon tartare and some white wine for our appetizer. The salmon tartare was very fresh and well-seasoned! All the flavors were a party in your mouth, and the bread and salad complimented it! Next, we asked Evelyn for some recs for entrees. I ended up getting lamb chops for my entree! I wanted to switch it up a bit and try a different protein. It was bigger than I expected, but Evelyn explained how she got it at the butcher and that was the size of it! I didn't mind the size at all, and I really appreciated how she explained and did the buying process! I usually am not a big fan of lamb, but WHEW! These lamb chops were tender and oozing such good flavors! I loved the sauce and pasta that came with it as well. It was perfectly al-dente, and the sauce coated it well! We also tried some cocktails! We ordered a lychee cosmo which we enjoyed a lot! Then Evelyn had us try her special chocolate martini, and IT WAS BOMB! I still think about it to this day! For dessert, we tried the trio baklava! It was moist and just the right sweetness. All of it was divine, but my favorite probably had to be the chocolate one! Highly recommend this neighborhood gem in Lakeview! Memorable and lovely staff and service and great fresh food! read more

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The service was wonderful! Kevin is honest and sweet; he made outstanding recommendations! He's also responsible for the tiramisu and crème brûlée; they're to die for!! The zucchini pancakes are well seasoned and crunchy on the outside! They're soft enough in the inside to really get that squash texture. The dill elevated the sauce for them too (and not in a basic ranch way). The lamb shank is a must try. My boyfriend loved the chicken kabob as well! read more

Dined on 3/18. This was my second time at Black and Caspian and the experience was terrible. I informed the waiter that I was gluten-free and asked about the sole dish. He informed me that it was battered, but that they could prepare it without the batter. As I was pouring the sauce over the fish, the waiter informed me it might have gluten! He checked with the kitchen and confirmed it had gluten. I told him I would not be able to eat it / he asked if I wanted something else - I ordered the mixed grill. A few minutes later, the server returns to inform me that he is going to have to charge me for both dishes! I told him that this was unacceptable; why would they charge me for a dish that had gluten after I told them that I was gluten-free? He insisted that he had to charge me. A few minutes later, the cook comes out and I think he's going to apologize and resolve the situation. However, he informs me that almost all of their meat is pre-marinated using gluten.... I assume they use soy sauce. He also tried to tell me that I did not tell the waiter I was gluten-free. Duh, how did they know not to put batter on my fish? I could go on and on with what a disappointment the whole evening was. They have no consideration for people's allergies, the menu has no designation regarding gluten, dairy, etc., and the staff is clearly not trained about menu and ingredients. Gluten allergy patrons beware! read more

Went for dinner for the second time. First time my date had the lamb shank which was delicious. I had the kefta kebab. I enjoyed it so much I had it again tonight. This time my date had the lamb chops. I really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. This place is not too loud and the server gave us just the right amount of attention. I work in the area and forget about this little gem. They are on my radar now. Give them a chance it's worth it I left so satisfied. Oh we shared the strawberry cheesecake with the homemade raspberry whipped cream on top. Yummy yummy. read more

I hosted my 40th birthday at Black & Caspian and this review has been sitting in the back of my mind for several months since. It felt a little too painful to write at first because it was unfortunately a dark cloud over what was a celebratory weekend for me. While my event was a success, my experience with Black & Caspian was not a good one. The owner, Evelyn, was late or a no-show to our final meeting which we confirmed the day prior and she was also late to our agreed upon time for setup the day of my event, which made me run late. The restaurant had also been re-set for dinner service the day before even though we had agreed on a floorplan so I had to rush to move furniture and clear dishes in order to complete our setup. Asking your customer who has paid for a full buyout to move furniture is simply unprofessional. I had to provide all of the disposable dishes and cutlery for my event and then Evelyn did not use them in the ways as we had discussed. And while we had agreed to have her serve champagne that I would pay for, she didn't order it so I had to go to Jewel on the day of my party and buy 20 bottles myself. The servers the night of my event were NOT experienced enough to handle the event. One of the bartenders was so painfully slow and made each drink differently and/or incorrectly. Some with one ice cube, some full, making shots instead of drinks, etc. At the end of the night we realized they had opened more than one tab for several of my guests and then they asked my family to pay for the tabs that had been unknowingly left open. Absolutely outrageous to ask my guests to pay for other people's tabs because they were disorganized. Honestly the list goes on... but I will leave you with this: I do not suggest hosting your event at Black & Caspian as you are sure to leave disappointed like I did. read more

I came here on a weeknight for dinner with fairly neutral expectations and while the food was ok and the service was attentive, not sure I need to come back. The menu is fairly extensive but feels quite random. The Ezme was quite delicious, the lamb chops were ok, not sure I've ever had lamb chops served with pasta and the Baklava was a little on the sweet side (which is a lot coming from a guy with a sweet tooth). Good. Not great. Not bad. Just good. read more

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Went here to celebrate an anniversary and was pleasantly surprised with how affordable it was while also being amazing quality. Kevin was our waiter and he took such nice care of us, he was very personable and we will go back and request him next time! read more

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We have lived around the corner from this place for over a year and finally decided to stop in and were incredibly pleased. We started with a charcuterie board that was pretty standard, but had a delicious glad of Chardonnay with it as well. I had the the seafood risotto which was creamy and full of flavor. It was the perfect portion and I was very pleased overall! We finished the meal with some plum wine, which was sweet but delicious and the trio baklava! The baklava was incredibly moist and had some unique flavors! Overall, we were very impressed and hope to be back soon! read more

Black & Caspian - Seafood Risotto - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I stumbled upon Black & Caspian a few days ago when I was taking a walk in the neighborhood. I am always looking for new places to try. The inside looked pretty cool and had a some what Parisian feel. I saw that they had tables outside and decided to stay for brunch. The waiter and waitresses were very nice. But, I felt bad for them wearing all black on a warm day. To drink: I had a mimosa, which tasted pretty good. Entree: The Salmon Tartare, which came with a few slices of toasted baguette slices and an arugula salad with a citrus vinaigrette and tomatoes. The salmon had capers, lemon juice, avocado, and red onion. The waitress even offered to bring me more bread, if I wanted. The portion is small, but I highly recommend this dish since it tasted so good. I am looking forward in coming back to try the rest of their menu. read more

Black & Caspian - Mimosa - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We love this place. We started coming here two years ago and have left reviews in the past. We LOVE Kevin and his desserts. Desserts you say....Kevin makes them all and they are Fantastic!!! Crème Brûlée great and the creamy cheesecake priceless. A must eat at restaurant on Broadway in Lake View East!!! read more

Darling! Delicious food and even better service. Our host- Kevin was the best. Thank you! Highly recommend the arugula beet salad and any of their wines. Deliciousness! read more

Black & Caspian was such a beautiful restaurant. Family owned and operated. You can see the love they put into their restaurant, food, and service. We stopped in for a evening snack of charcuterie and dessert. The smoked Gouda board was great. And the newly added creme brûlée was amazing. We also got to sample some of their original handmade cocktail recipes, The Queens Rose was very light and floral and their old fashioned was smoked beautifully. They also have a great wine selection and their servers are very knowledgeable about tastings and recommendations! They support other local businesses with their traditional Turkish baklava and invite local artists to play live music. It's in a great spot to stop in for a wine tasting or food and walk around to see the vibrant art and culture that is available near lake shore drive. read more

Did Valentine's Day here with my girlfriends and was blown away by the quality of the food and the kind and generous service. We had several appetizers - I'd say of which the cheeseboard stood out the most. It was excellent and paired so well with their wine selection! My entree was a filet mignon served with grilled shrimps and wow -- it was bursting with flavor, steak was juicy yet charred perfectly. I enjoyed every bite! However what sticks with me the most was the welcoming atmosphere and kind service. Our waitress really made us feel at home and we had such a roaring fun time on our galetines day celebration. Would definitely return without hesitation! read more

Black & Caspian - Heart shaped surf & turf for Valentine's Day 2022! - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We just had dinner at Black & Caspian, and we loved it. We had grilled salmon and steak respectively, plus crème brulée for dessert. The food was delicious: creative, fresh, and reasonably priced considering the quality. The service was thoughtful and well-timed, and the waiter knew the menu. We also appreciated the ambiance, which was quiet and pleasant. This place is a real restaurant, where we enjoyed a terrific meal and could carry on a conversation at the same time. We can't wait to go back. read more

We spent a very nice evening in this restaurant. many thanks to the staff of the institution. The food was great. read more

Black & Caspian - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is a gem! You could easily look past it walking down the street but worth a stop. On this particular night they had a violist playing that created great ambiance. The wine selection is decent especially with luring for dinner. The simple cheeseboard selection was the perfect amount for 2 persons and the smoked Gouda - by far the best I've had in a while. My grilled salmon was delicious, actually no complaints atop of split plate of rice and tomato reduction. The ambiance to great, small location but big favor. read more

Black & Caspian - Grilled salmon - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Unassuming and pretty damn good. Came here for a birthday dinner. They were incredibly gracious to accommodate our party. We thoroughly enjoyed our time, never felt rushed, and had excellent service throughout our experience. We each had an appetizer sampler. I nearly licked my plate clean, everything was so good. I ordered the lamb shank. Fall-off-the-bone tender and so much food I had to share. Just excellent. They are BYOB with no corkage fee (to my understanding; we shared the bill), which always adds points, for me! I feel like 5-star reviews aren't taken seriously, so allow me to deduct one star for the interior atmosphere. It's quite small and doesn't add (or detract) to the dining experience. And, sometimes a girl just wants a little pomp and circumstance. Happy to return for a quiet dinner in Lakeview East. read more

While looking for light bites and a good glass of wine, and after a quick Yelp search, I was connected with Black and Caspian. A wonderful new addition to Lakeview. The interior is dark and intimate, and has an elevated wine bar feel to it, with only about 10 tables. They also have a nice outdoor sidewalk patio. This would be a great place for a first date or catching up with a friend or two. I took a glass of the pinot noir. Two friends each tried one of their cocktails, and both seemed a bit off and were served in stemless wine glasses, which was strange. Their food though was amazing! The gnocchi comes out boiling hot in a stone dish on top of a wooden platform. Creamy, cheesey, tomato-y, deliciousness. The calamari was amazing and served as two whole pieces of squid (not the fried little rings/squigglies) and in a warm tomato sauce. Highly recommend. And last, but not least, we tried the zucchi pancake - lightly fried and in a garlicky dill sauce. We only tried these few shareable apps, but it was enough to give us a taste of their menu, and I'm excited to come back and explore more! Our waiter was nice and attentive. I look forward to returning. read more

Amazing food! And phenomenal service! Make sure to get the Mix of House Grills plate! read more

Black & Caspian - Bakhlava - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I visited this restaurant over a year ago and it was a restaurant that I bragged about to everyone. The food was wonderful and authentic. The service was amazing. We had a great experience and everyone at our table had fabulous food. The wine was great. However, when I returned with a friend to celebrate her birthday recently, the restaurant looked like the ownership had changed. The staff was completely different and certainly not Turkish. That was no big deal, just different than before. We ordered our food. I tried the special. The description said it would be in a tagine. It came out on a plate. When I asked where the tagine was, the waiter stated that the chef thought it didn't look nice in the tagine. That seemed odd. It was also too salty to eat. They accommodated me by offering any other dish that I wanted on the menu. They agreed that it was very salty. I decided to go with my stand-by, the Filet Mignon in the Tagine. Now the last time I had this, it was the winner at our table. The flavors of cumin, cardamom, and cinnamon were so wonderful. It was also spicy. It was truly amazing. This time, the dish looked like beef chow mein. I was flabbergasted. Once again, there was no tagine. And because I cook with tagines, I know for a fact that neither of those dishes were cooked in a tagine. None of the flavors were turkish at all. And then I noticed that they added the word, "oriental" on their website, which would explain a lot. From the moment I entered the place and including all of the food I received, I got the distinct impression that either ownership had changed, or the owner had switched cuisines. I can say that the service was excellent. They were very nice and attentive. I can say that the chow mein wasn't bad. The wine was decent. But, when people go to a Turkish restaurant, they expect Turkish food. You guys might fool some of the people some of the time, but you didn't fool me for 5 seconds. Not a bad restaurant for what it was. read more

Black & Caspian - This is the Filet Mignon in a Tagine 2022 - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here for brunch during the "Dine Out on Broadway" weekend. The restaurant immediately caught my eye. It looked elegant yet approachable as the outdoor dining arrangements featured dark wood tables with gold finishings...very chic! The brunch was amazing...simply delicious. I've been to almost every East Lakeview restaurant on the Broadway and can say that Black & Caspian has claimed one of the top spots on my go-to brunch list. Note that this is not a party spot nor does it try to be It focuses on delicious food (and at a very reasonable price) All the dishes that came out looked amazing and was presented so well. I ended up getting the French Omlette with roast beef. Perfectly seasoned with juicy, decadent bits of roast. The side of crispy potatoes were a great match. To be completely transparent, the service was incredibly slow. Im willing to bet this was because of the outdoor event combined with the fact that they are trying to safely navigate serving food during the COVID-19 climate. The wait staff were attentive to this, however, and offered us complimentary mimosas which I thought was a very kind gesture. I definitely will be coming back here again! So happy that there's finally an amazing brunch place so close by. read more

Black & Caspian - French Omlette with roast beef, potatoes, and fruit - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We've been looking for a new dinner place with which we can bring our puppy. We were able to sit outside with her in the dining area in front off the sidewalk. Our servers were so friendly, and we enjoyed the array of options. I chose the lamb shank and my husband chose the sea and land (shrimp and filet). It came out on a black sizzling rock, and we loved the smell that exuded the entire meal, and the fact that the meat was cooking during the meal. My lamb was cooked amazingly, so much aroma. There was a good amount of mashed potatoes and veggies. My husband's dish was so large (a HUGE filet), we may have to split it and double up on appetizers next time. I loved the prices, and the wine recommended to me was a $12 glass. Excellent service and we'll definitely be back! Can't wait to return read more

My date and I were looking for a place to get dinner and found this last minute. I didn't know what to expect but ended up loving the place. The staff was very friendly and the food ending up being amazing. We started off with shots of Titos vodka and the server gave us bread with cheese on it while we waited. I had ordered a Mai Tai which was amazing which came out next and a bottle of sparkling rosé wine which my date ordered. We also ordered salads, gnocchi, charcuterie and some other items and had a lovely feast. I loved everything I had! I found a new favorite restaurant. It was later in the night and we had the restaurant to ourselves which was really nice, too. The place had a nice ambiance and I'd definitely come back again and would recommend checking this gem of a place out. Such a great experience! read more

Black & Caspian - One of the charcuterie boards, and part of a salad. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A new Chicago favourite! Beautiful interior and live band music. Friendly waitress who gave us good recommendation. Love the braised lamb shank and the zucchini pancakes. Arugula salad is of a huge portion. Great Turkish wine. Will come back for brunch! read more

Black & Caspian - Braised Lamb Shank - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Was able to visit during one of Broadway's dining in the street weekends, otherwise this restaurant does not have outdoor dining. Great new find in the neighborhood - small wine bar with food. Great service, knowledgeable wait staff Never tried Turkish wines before, the Cankaya White was perfect on a sunny day We only shared the meat & cheese platter but will be back for more read more

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Black & Caspian is a great restaurant for many different occasions. Whether you are grabbing a drink or enjoying the full menu, I am sure that this intimate spot will not disappoint. We enjoyed a bottle of the Sea Pearl Sauvignon Blanc which complimented our entrées very well. The Creamy Chicken Curry had subtle flavors (for a curry) and the chicken was so tender it just fell apart in my mouth. The Caspian Platter is a hearty meal that always hits the spot (and leaves you very full). This restaurant is located on broadway which is a great spot to go shopping if you are looking for fun things to do before your meal! Try it out! read more

Black & Caspian - Creamy Chicken Curry - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm obsessed with the ambiance and design of this restaurant! The food was good enough, although some of the seafood we ordered came out a little charred. Nice wine selection and nice staff! read more

Black & Caspian - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been here twice now and had great experience both times! The portions are huge and the food is always tasty. We've tried the mixed grill plate, the seafood risotto, lamb chops, and pasta. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu here. They also have great cocktails I love the ambiance - dimmed lights and soft music is always playing. It takes you away from the hustle and bustle of Lakeview east. In the summer, they sometimes have live music. read more

I love black caspian I've been many times. I live in Lake View. What I don't appreciate is the rude waitress with short curly hair who told us we had to leave to make room for other reservations. First off no one has been that rude. Number two I had half a glass of wine because I'm at a wine bar so I'm drinking wine. If you have a table reservation for X time you need to list it on the company website and at the table on paper. If not, 90 min at a table is reasonable. Shame. read more

Black & Caspian - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois