This is one of the best and unique meals I've had in my life. We tried a bunch of their foods through a work dinner. The hummus with added pomegranate tastes very good and refreshing. The lamb kabobs were so moist and delicious. The imeruli is probably the best of their cheese breads with a super crusty layer on top that was really yummy to eat. Lastly their honey cake was amazing. I am a chocolate dessert lover but I could not get enough of this cake. Can't wait to go back and try more of their dishes. And also it is worth noting that we placed a rather large delivery order and everything was delivered so nicely and promptly. read more

Diplomat Cafe is absolutely delightful, and I'm kicking myself for not trying them sooner. I went last night with my my parents and brother for my birthday. None of us were familiar with Georgian cuisine, but we all have pretty experienced/diverse palates and we love trying cuisines that are new to us. Based on recs from dad's Georgian acquaintance, recs from reddit, and our own hungry perusal of the menu, we ordered: khinkali (huge soup dumplings), pkhlovana khachapuri (thin pastry filled with cheese, spinach, and fresh tarragon), ojakhuri salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, herbs, walnut sauce), pork mtsvadi (grilled pork chunks), and lobio acquaintance (bean stew with bacon and herbs, comes with pickled veggies). I could not pick a favorite if you paid me. They were all incredible. The walnut sauce/dressing on the salad was addictive. The grilled pork (with onions and a sour plum sauce) was absolutely delicious. I want that sauce on everything. The lobio was so incredibly hearty and comforting. The khachapuri was rich and salty, but the spinach gave it good vegetal flavor and the fresh tarragon sent it to the next level. The khinkali came to the table last, and despite all the food we'd already eaten and the fact that khinkali are BIG...we had no problem fitting those into our full bellies, because they were SO GOOD. Each dish came out with good staggered timing, fresh from the oven. Also tried Georgian wine, which was fantastic. Service was great, too. Our lovely waitress was attentive, friendly, and helped us navigate the menu with descriptions of each dish, as well as traditions surrounding how they're eaten and fun stories about them. She really represented a love of sharing her culture. Ambiance is warm and unpretentious. I look forward to coming here many more times, and trying more of the menu. Really a gem. read more

This was fantastic! We ordered the chicken stew and the apsandali and both were great.

I was lucky enough to come with four people and have a feast. Unluckily, I was traveling alone when I was in Georgia back in 2018, and was never really able to eat in my favorite manner, which is to graze from a tableful of dishes at once. Chicago Diplomat gave me back what could have been. Because really, since I left Georgia, I haven't found that many restaurants that do it justice. This did. First and foremost, you gotta have the big, crazy-rich, unfinishable bread boat (adjeruli khachapuri). I would say that this one landed on a cheesier (rather than butterier) side and the cheese was stretchy like a pizza, not crumbly like a feta. I could have taken or left the beet salad - it seemed like it was just beets out of a can covered in a metric ton of cilantro - but their version of eggplant/walnut salad (also covered in a metric ton of cilantro but I think it worked better here) was really good, not dry like it can easily be. The real stars of the show were the two stews: lobio and chakapuli. The chakapuli was impossibly rich, stuffed with lamb meat, overgrown with tarragon, and this strange part-meat-part-fat-part-oil-part-soup texture that would have been perfect with dipping bread had a) it come with it and b) we been able to fit any more food in our stomachs. The lobio was bacon-heavy and tasted like it, but it was herby enough to not weigh you down. This I ate leftover with a roll of paratha, which worked very well. We finished the meal with honey cake and another pastry I can't remember the name of, neither of which I initially had any interest in because I'm not much of a bread heavy dessert person, and also, see above re: not being able to fit any more bread in. But some of us ordered it anyway and I ended up eating three slices of the honey cake because of the grainy, sprout-y heartiness and the sweetness of the layers of honey. read more

I ordered delivery from this place via uber eats. The food was absolutely delicious. Cannot wait to try and visit in person next time I am in Chicago. read more

We went for a late lunch and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! Asap and Luka were both very hospitable, welcoming, and provided excellent and prompt service. The food was fantastic. We had the cold appetizer dish with bread (delicious), khinkali (yum!), imeruli (tangy cheese we loved!), ajaruli (rich and perfect for a cold day... definitely a favorite!), khabitzgina (the favorite bread for several in our party), lobiani (good to try but not a must), chkmeruli (delicious and garlicky... definitely a must if you like garlic), honey cake (a must! This is made by the grandmother and was a dense and delicious cake sprinkled with powdered sugar. Save room for this because it can't be missed!), pear soda (this was very sweet and we ended up cutting our water with it. It was good!), and tarragon soda (so unique and a must try when trying Georgian food and drink. This was our favorite of the two sodas.) Overall, I would definitely recommend the Chicago Diplomat Cafe! It's a family affair and everyone is involved from the grandmother down to the grandchildren. We love supporting family businesses and this fit right in. It is a bit pricey but it was very authentic and, although the family is from Tbilisi, people from different regions work in the kitchen and all of the food is well made. Would definitely recommend! read more

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We really enjoyed The Diplomat. How wonderful to journey to the tastes of Georgia and not leave Lakeview. The space is lovely and our waiter attentive. We had the beets which were fantastic and of course we like beets. Seasonings just a little different than we are used to but so good. We also ordered the Ajaralui which went so well with the beets and it was so good. We ended with pork kabobs which were tender and tasty but expensive. We have to say overall it was more than enough food for us and we took some home . It was good to also try some of the Georgian wines by the glass read more

Wonderful service! Amazing Georgian food. Actual Georgian food. We went there to celebrate my sister's birthday and were happy we went there. The atmosphere is so great. They speak Russian tooThey gave my mom a rose as a present for Mother's Day Thank you, thank you!!!! read more

Chicago Diplomat Cafe - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Yum!!! The food was delicious and reminded me of my time in Georgia:) my friends and I came after an assembly meeting and the staff was great and very accommodating. Even though some of our party came late they made sure we knew to order before the kitchen closed. The wine was great and we tried a bunch of things. The lobiani, mtsvadi, eggplant and tarragon soda!! All were delicious and loved the decor and Georgian music playing. It's a little pricey but worth a stop. read more

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I recently dined here, what a fantastic place! Service was good and food was divine! I recommend Diplomat Cafe to anyone and everyone wanting a great dining experience. read more

Ethnic restaurants abound in Chicago and while there's familiar countries represented there's also some less known ones. If you've never tried Georgian cuisine, from the country of Georgia, you can come here and try. Chicago Diplomat Cafe is the only restaurant I know that has food from this area. Getting here can be hard because of the limited hours. The prices are pretty high but so is quality. After noticing this place on a walk along Paulina, we wanted to try it some time in the future. It had to be another time, because it was closed, which turns out to be something it is often. They're only open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Finally we got here one day for dinner. The menu had unfamiliar sounding names of dishes, but these had more familiar ingredients. Prices are high. Quite pricey. It's about $10 for a basic cocktail. Save money for the food, which is expensive but fantastic. It's about $18 for an entree. Many places are just as expensive if not more, and their food isn't as good. Has a few vegetarian choices. There's not a lot but there are some. I had the Vegan Lobio. This is a pot of pinto beans with herbs and spices, with a side of pickled vegetables. Nice contrast of cold and hot. Of the vegetables, these provided a crisp appetizer before the hot bean soup. Good flavor in the beans. The soup came out a bit too hot, but as time went on it thickened. A nice hearty meal even though it didn't look like much. She had the Mushroom Ojakhuri. It's $20 for not a lot. This was mushrooms, onions, and potatoes with Georgian herbs in a clay pan. Good but expensive. There certainly wasn't a lot. For sure would come back if the prices weren't a concern. It's high quality and deserves to e expensive. This is just too expensive to make it anything more than a special event or other fancy occasions. read more

Chicago Diplomat Cafe - Gin With The Vegan Lobio - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is simply amazing! The restaurant perfectly conveys the atmosphere of Georgian culture, and their details are endless. We were met by a very polite server and served until the end of our stay. These were the most delicious khachapuri and khinkali in my life. The khachapuri was full of delicious cheese, and the khinkali had a very tasty, rich broth. The place left a very good impression, we were full and very happy. Thank you! read more

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Great place to meet friends and enjoy abundant and delicious food .we had a terrific time and will return

Fantastic meal. The young waiter, I think his name was Luka, was so good at explaining the food and wine selections. Be prepared for a tasty culinary experience. I had the stuffed egg plant, soup dumplings, and grilled pork. The egg plant was next level good. Luka explained how to eat the soup dumplings. I had a great meal and left with a bottle of wine Luka gave me a sample of at dinner. read more

We went for lunch while spending a few days in Chicago for Christmas. The food and atmosphere were both great; however the service was a little slow considering we were the only people in the restaurant. I hope they do more business at dinner and would highly recommend! read more

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We're trying to eat around the world in Chicago and we came here to try Georgian cuisine. Without a doubt it's fantastic! Our waiter was super nice and helped us order, we shared everything (there were 5 of us) The restaurant offers many items for you to buy and bring home. Different condiments and wine. If you're on the north side it's a must! read more

Beautiful Deco, Nice Mild Perfume Smells, Great Ambiance and Vibes. We ordered two wines, One Kachapuri, Soko Ketsze,and one Georgian spiced potatoes and a traditional coffee. The food and portions were all great and we enjoyed it all. The only reason I could not give 5 is because the prices are very high and it makes it a hard decision to choose here over any other ethnic restaurant. Overall we enjoyed the time here and you should definitely try it once. read more

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Amazing food. Staff is amazing Great place to switch up from the regular Italian, Hispanic, American food around the area. Must try read more

Georgian food is delicious and hard to compare to other cuisines. But I can tell you that you must visit the Diplomat Cafe. The food is fresh and abundant, the staff is gracious, and the ambiance is airy with touches of Georgian culture. Try a version of katchapuri, of which there are several varieties. We had the imeruli, which is flaky pastry stuffed with Georgian cheese. Pastry, cheese, need I say more? We also had a traditional salad with walnut cilantro dressing. Delicious. Walnuts appear in a lot of dishes so if you have tree nut allergies take care. The service was gracious. That was my second visit and I'll be going back. read more

Chicago Diplomat Cafe - Katchapuri- this is the Imeruli version. Filling! - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time trying Georgian food. We started with the meat crepes and the meat filling had a texture that I can't explain, like really thinly grated meat; it was really good. Next we order the ajaruli which was the star dish for sure. It was oozing with cheese and the dough was crispy. I cant describe how good this dish was. The pklovana is filled with cheese and spinach. I didn't like how the spinach tasted at all it was sweet in a way, just not my taste. My dad ordered chakapuli, which is a lamb stew. At first it seems to be in a small bowl, however it was a never ending pool of lamb. 10/10. Although the stew was highly enjoyed, it was ordered bcuz they were out of khinkali which is why we came here. It's like going to an Italian restaurant and them saying they're out of pasta... They only had Napoleon cake which was just ok, you can definitely skip it. read more

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Very disappointed in our experience, particularly because I had read such positive reviews and had never had Georgian food before! We even discussed options with our waiter, who gave us some recommendations which we tried. Overall, all of our dishes were severely lacking in flavor...it was very strange. We honestly didn't enjoy a single dish and I can't help but wonder if they were just having a really really off night? Our server was also very bad. One of our dishes was supposed to be served with sour cream, but only after they brought out the dish were we told they didn't have sour cream after we inquired about it missing. So we asked if they recommended anything else for a dip--this dish, I believe it was the meat crepes, really needed some sort of topping--to which they didn't have anything to recommend. I found that extremely disappointing, not only because would the dish have been better with sour cream, I didn't enjoy it at all without it. I don't think we'll ever return unfortunately. read more

Within the past 3 weeks, we visited this wonderful restaurant twice. The food is always great, and freshly prepared from the high quality ingredients. Special thanks not only for the artfully prepared appetizers, and the main courses, but also for the best fries in Chicago. I think , they bake their potatoes in the clay pot in the oven, which allows to preserve its juiciness and texture. Also, I love their compot (fresh fruit drinks). But the most important part of the experience at the Chicago Diplomat Cafe is genuine friendliness and hospitality of all the people working there. I feel their warmth, love, and hospitality. Thank you, friends! read more

What an awesome neighborhood spot. I loved every dish, such unique flavors and great wine. The smell (and taste) of the chicken tabaka is heavenly. read more

Chicago Diplomat Cafe - Ajaruli, Chicken Tabaka and Vegetarian Chakapuli - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely AMAZING restaurant. Alex, our server, was so happy to give us our first Georgian cuisine experience. We ordered a little bit of everything but our favorites were the ajapsandali and the khachapuri. The restaurant has a very homey feel to it and the owners / employees really do their best to make you feel welcome. We're excited to come back during our next visit to Chicago! read more

I absolutely adore this restaurant. The food is fantastic, and everything tastes fresh! The Khachapuri was so delicious and tasted exactly like the ones I ate while traveling abroad. My waiter was also very friendly and funny, and provided excellent recommendations. The aesthetic of the restaurant is beautiful and feels very authentic and inviting. I highly highly recommend giving this place a try, even if you're not familiar with Georgian cuisine! You won't regret it :) PS - the honey cake is incredible. Definitely order it if you have room for dessert!! read more

A fantastic dining experience--would highly recommend it to anyone who would like to try Georgian food! Came for dinner on a Saturday around 5pm and was seated immediately. During COVID there is socially distanced indoor seating. The servers were friendly and informative! They took the time to introduce my party to the menu and taught us how to eat each dish. Really made the meal a special experience. Below are the dishes ranked: 1) The pkhali in the cold appetizer mix was by far my favorite dish! The minced veggies combined with the walnut sauce and herbs made a creamy, savory, refreshing topping for the bread, almost like a better version of a spinach dip. And the pomegranate on top added a crunchy, sweet pop of flavor! 2) Ajaruli khachapuri. You break the raw egg yolk and mix it in with the hot melted cheese before digging in. So much cheese. Reminded me of deep dish pizza without tomato but with a tastier cheese. 3) Chkmeruli. You are hit with the overwhelming smell of garlic when the dish is brought to the table. The star of the dish is the sharp and creamy garlic sauce. The chicken is tender with crispy skin but a bit dry. 4) Chashushuli. Pretty similar to some other beef stews I have had. Huge portion size. The cuts of beef are pretty lean and wouldn't have been as dry if there was more sauce. Great value with a Groupon deal that they have since discontinued the deal. Would definitely come back to try the other dishes on the menu, since all the ones I've tried so far have been delicious. Would get the pkhali again and the ajaruli khachapuri if dining with someone who hasn't had it before! read more

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Great service and ample vegetarian menu. Food was hearty and filling. The waiter gave his recommendations since the menu is generous. read more

Chicago Diplomat Cafe - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Do you enjoy delicious food? If the answer is yes, the Diplomat should be on your short list of places to try. It's Georgia the country, not the state. Don't be intimidated by the menu. There's no mistakes. Everything is phenomenal. Pro tip... get a bottle of the amber wine. It's what an actual Georgian would order. Actually, get a few and toast to everything that's beautiful in your life. read more

We came in with a group of four on Valentines night. None of us were impressed with anything we tried. Portions sizes were quite small for the price. I paid $25 for the chakapuli (lamb stew). It came out in a small clay cauldron that held about 2 cups worth of stew, meat and veggies and all. It was very salty and had an interesting spice blend that I was not used to, but was tasty enough, just different. No rice, no bread, no sides at all. A side of rice is $10! For rice! My vegan friend got a bean based stew, same portion size, no side, for $21. Another friend ordered the Georgian Kebabi (beef) for $20. This is basically a beef kebab wrapped in a thin homemade tortilla-like bread, roughly the size of a hotdog. No side. $20! She did not finish hers. The meat eaters each tried a khinkali dumpling speciality. They are $4 each. While delicious, only about half of the dumpling is really edible as most of it is the "knob" of dough. A little steep at $4 each. Another friend ordered the mtzvadi that looked delicious and the portion looks somewhat decent, no side though, but she said the chicken was dry. For $20, we need juicy chicken. Service was good. Ambience was cute. We were all so excited to try our first Georgian meals and, based on the reviews, we were anticipating a great experience. Unfortunately, the food was all quite underwhelming, disappointing even, and portion sizes were meager compared to prices. We won't be returning, but are happy to see a popular Georgian place in the area! read more

Loved our dinner at Diplomat! Service was wonderful and food tasted authentic and very soulful. Must tries are Megruli khachapuri (georgian cheese pie), lamb stew and lobio (bean stew). Khinkali (soup dumplings) were great too but I prefer when there is a little more broth inside. The place is pricey but very worth the visit. We will certainly be back because Georgian cuisine rocks and the Diplomat Cafe knows how to make it right! read more

Chicago Diplomat Cafe - Lobio - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The best meal I've had in YEARS. Seriously. Their eggplant rolls are amazing, the pkhali is killer, the garlic cream chicken divine, fried potatoes with garlic crisp on the outside and creamy in the middle, the lobio beautifully seasoned, the pickle plate delicious... don't get me started on the khachapuri. It was simply PERFECT, not to mention HUGE. I cannot possibly say enough good things. My favorite Georgian restaurant in NYC just got kicked down in my personal rankings, 100%. The three friends who came with me had never had Georgian food before and it's now their new favorite. They were texting photos to friends during dinner and making promises to bring them there next. I will be here the second I'm in Chicago next. Please open a restaurant in Cleveland! PLEASE! read more

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Wonderful restaurant and service. The food tastes very authentic and we love that it's a family owned business. Call ahead to make sure they have khinkali! read more

First time trying Georgian food, was so delicious. Food has a lots of herbs to it. Quality of ingredients was excellent. Staff is attentive but doesn't bother you. Very simple interior. Great for big groups. Portions are on the larger side. read more

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Very delicious fresh/ authentic Georgian food. Very nice ambiance inside i can't wait to return to try more new foods off the menu.

During our visit we had one friend with us who was more familiar with Georgian cuisine, and I'm glad that we had her along: she made sure to get the bread with cheese and egg whose name -- Ajaruli Khachapuri, I think? (It was delicious.) Two members of our party were vegetarian and at least one had a dairy sensitivity, but the vegetarian stew and appetizers went over very well and everybody ate to contentment (and we had leftovers to take home). The staff were gracious and charming in their recommendations to us about trying dishes which were new to us, and in pointing out (for example) that the highlight of the garlic chicken dish is the sauce that goes with it, such that I made sure to have some of that sauce with each bite of the chicken. We also enjoyed the ambience and the fact that we were able to carry on conversations with each other without interference (there wasn't, for example, loud background music or loud patrons). The comfortable setting would be good for people who are there to conduct diplomacy and break bread -- I don't know if that's the basis for the name of the place, but it was a great setting for having an in-depth conversation! We're planning to go back and to introduce new friends to their food and beverages, even though it's across town from us. read more

You gotta come try Cafe Diplomat. Consider me a HUGE fan. My friend took me on Friday and I am glad she did. I have never tried Georgian food, so my friend walked me through the menu. Here's what we got: Cold Appetizer Mix - really good, loved the Pkhali on top of the bread. The bread was better than I expected. Chashushuli Soko - my girlfriend loved this. I like mushrooms, but usually like them a little more cooked. These were still pretty rubbery imo which is not my preferred texture, but I loved the flavor. Ajaruli Khachapuri - this is the best thing I ate all night and the best thing I've eaten in awhile. It's tough to go wrong with bread, cheese, and butter topped with an egg yolk. Meat Khinkali - pro tip, make sure to call ahead and reserve the khinkali. You have to do this early or they will be out. I thought these were fantastic, and my friend who has had these before confirmed they were good ones. Lamb Mtsvadi - it was decent. A little overcooked, but still somewhat tender. All in all, love this place and can't wait to come back. read more

This is the most authentic Georgian place in Chicago. Get the khingali. All the meat entrees are solid, but garlic chicken is one of my favorite dishes. read more

I attended a small wedding here recently and the whole dining experience was rewarding, from the food, soups, appetizers, drinks, right down to the honey cake. Being Polish and Russian, I had never had Georgian food, but a lot of the dishes were very similar to the old country manner in which both my grandmas used to cook on the holidays. The bride & grooms' parents brought in a small 3 tier wedding cake with a Polish bride and groom on top from the south side. It's a great place for small celebrations. Probably a nice place for a first date, too. "ahem..." ;) read more

Georgian food -- yumm!! I highly recommend khachapuri (omg!), mtsvadi. This place is great! Come check it out especially if youve never tried Georgian food before. Khinkali were good but not my favorite. One concern I do have is the Entertainment coupon. It shows up on the app but the cafe didnt accept it. Please, fix this! read more

Chicago Diplomat Cafe - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you're a fan of Yelp food reviews, you're probably one of those who believes it is always exciting to taste something you've NEVER tasted before. In which case, let me point you straight to Chicago's Diplomat Cafe. We were ordering vegetarian--but we had SO many choices. The appetizer combo, shared by two, had a beet, a spinach, and a walnut spread. Though there were two of us, it would easily have "appetized" a group of four or more. Then we chose one of the Georgian stuffed breads--the one with the most cheese. If you're a fan of the Greek saganaki, this was equally rich, and tasty--though not on fire. The portion was so generous, we are both taking extra to work. Everything tasted (and our server, Sarah, confirmed that it was) home made. Our main dish, a mushroom and tarragon stew, was a complete novelty for us. The tarragon was abundant, fresh, and tasted wonderfully fragrant. Again, an order for one was more than enough for two. We arrived towards the end of the day, but found everything sparkling clean, charmingly decorated, and welcoming. Sarah (the above mentioned server) told us that Chicago Diplomat Cafe uses mostly organic, fresh ingredients, and almost everything is made from scratch. We will start bringing friends as soon as we can. (The only people we can't bring are those who don't eat salt. It is a very savory menu.) read more