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    Cira

    4.1 (604 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Cira Takeout or Delivery

    Cira Photos

    CIRA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Classy

    Recommended Reviews - Cira

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    Reviews With Photos

    Menu
    Lauren A.

    Went to grab brunch. Enjoyed the experience. I just didnt like the number of dogs I saw at the front area. I had the cream cheese stuffed blintzes, maple sausage, and emperor elixir. I enjoyed it. Cute spot. Service was good.

    Rice pudding, salted tahini ice cream
    Cody L.

    Beautiful restaurant located inside the Hoxton Hotel in Chicago, and the space itself sets the tone right away. The atmosphere is lively yet intimate, perfect for a date night or a special dinner without feeling stuffy or overly formal. Service was great - attentive without being intrusive, and our server checked in just enough to make sure everything was going well. Hummus: 9/10 Not much to say other than it was incredible. Smooth and flavourful Falafel: 9/10 Perfectly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. It was paired with pickled ginger and carrots, which complemented the saltiness of the falafel beautifully and added a nice brightness. Lamb Kofta: 9/10 So much depth of flavor with a great texture. Somewhat firm but not dry with a nice bounciness that made it really enjoyable to eat. Pistachio Ravioli: 10/10 my favourite dish of the night. The ravioli was cooked al dente with just the right amount of filling and paired with an orange blossom sauce that surprisingly worked perfectly with the nuttiness of the pistachio. Steak Skewers: 8.5/10 Cooked to perfection and incredibly tender. The beans served alongside were amazing as well. My only complaint is that the steak was slightly lacking in flavour, it could have used a sauce to elevate it but it was still excellent on its own. Lamb Chops: 9/10 Perfectly cooked and packed with flavour. Came with a lamb sausage spanakopita that was delicious. My only disappointment was that there were just two small chops. Rice Pudding Brulee: 7/10 Not bad. I'm not a big dessert person in general, but this was decent. Not too sweet, and the texture of the rice was really well done. Salted Tahini Ice Cream: 7.5/10 A mild, nutty flavor that was unique and interesting.

    Lee L.

    We dined here recently as a group of eight for a milestone birthday celebration. It was a very good meal in a lively but noisy atmosphere. Since we were a larger party with a variety of dietary preferences and restrictions, we had the opportunity to try a broad range of their offerings. There were some hits and a few misses, but in the end everyone came away quite happy. Appetizers: Hummus - fairly standard, topped with a pumpkin seed relish and served with pita. Baba ganoush - flavor was a little understated, could have used a little more spice. Seared octopus - tender and flavorful with a delicious za'atar relish; one of the favorites of the evening Mushroom skewer - I didn't personally try this (the vegetarians among us finished this off), but it was well-liked by those who ate it Pastas: Squash mezzaluna - cooked in brown butter and served with an agrodolce sauce, this was really excellent. Good thing we got two orders of this. Pistachio ravioli - orange butter saffron sauce topped with garlic bread crumbs, this was another favorite of the table. Mains: Grilled dorade - cooked with the skin on and topped with panzanella and a caper relish, this was one of my favorites but it was less well-received by others. The fish was well-prepared and moist. Chicken confit - prepared with a pepper and mushroom cacciatore, this was a miss for most of us. The tomato-based sauce just didn't seem to work, and it was hard to get the chicken off the bones in a clean manner. Tuscan steak skewers - we asked for medium rare but they came out medium, but it was still tender and flavorful. This was served on a bed of beans that looked odd but worked well. Desserts: Apple mille-feuille cake - caramel and mascarpone and thinly sliced apples; really very good Baklava with berry compote - it seemed like a good idea, but in the end it just didn't work. The baklava rolls were a little dry and hard to cut as well. Service was excellent. It is very loud in here and it's hard to have a conversation with anyone who isn't seated right next to you. The restaurant has also bought into the trend of keeping the lights at a very low level, which I guess is done for ambience but sometimes it would be nice to be able to see your food a little better.

    Vibe
    Becca K.

    Came here for breakfast! Coffee was pretty decent but loved the avocado toast! Probably one of the best I've had in a while and the potatoes were perfection. Had some bacon on the side too but it's pretty standard. The space is so open and very much giving West Loop vibes.

    Ankit S.

    This place gets really busy on a Friday or Saturday night. It takes a while to order at the bar and I wouldn't blame the bartenders but some of them just plainly ignore you and go to the person who come after us. The drinks were alright got their tequila sunrise and it was so bad. Ambiance and music is Great and it seems like it's first come first serve for seats after a certain time. There's a photo booth around the corner and lazy bird right downstairs.

    Shakshuka**
    Andi P.

    5 Stars for a beautiful dining area and lounge, fantastic breakfast, and kind service. We arrived for brunch (without a reservation) on a Saturday and were excited to see they had room. The hostess took us over to the main dining area (there's also a lounge area closer to the entrance that looks like a lovely place to hand for drinks and bites). Shah was our server and he helped us pick the fluffy pancakes, the shakshuka, and crispy breakfast potatoes. All three were perfect. The shakshuka had a bold, rich, and deep flavor. The spices in this really shone and we were grateful for the crusty toast served alongside. The pancakes were such a delight!! Fluffy and almost like little soufflés! The compote and syrup gave us a perfect tangy/sweet combo and the side of crispy potatoes gave me the crunch and salt I desired. We were thankful for Shah's guidance and loved chatting with the chef who also stopped by. Overall, a definite repeat-worthy spot!

    Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta  Crispy Falafel
    Allisen J.

    Super impressed with this spot. The ambience was an EASY 5 stars: massive restaurant and beautiful decor and natural lighting. We came for dinner after drinks at lazy bird downstairs. We ordered wine, which was excellent and falafel and bruschetta to start. Very fresh and good flavor. We ordered gnocchi for the main and it was pretty good but not the star of the show. Would def come back to try more of their well balanced menu!!

    Interior
    Anthony D.

    The restaurant is in the lobby of a hotel. I believe it is also a coworking space, but it's a pretty great spot to grab brunch. This time I ordered: - Cold Brew - Breakfast Burger The burger was great, a little on the tall side which made it a little messy when trying to eat it. The fries were nice, but it seems like a few were stuck together during the frying process so a little chewier.

    Their version of kids buttered pasta
    Jim D.

    Came here after a failed attempt at thanksgiving dinner elsewhere. Flavors were bland, overpriced & despite it being the food holiday of the year there were no special incentives. Fireplace is aesthetically pleasing but that's where the compliments stop.

    Gem Caesar (add falafel)
    Heather F.

    Opted to have a last minute brunch at Cira while walking around the neighborhood with friends earlier this fall. I had never been before, so was a blank slate in terms of expectations. As others have noted, the restaurant is situated in the Hoxton Hotel lobby. There were a number of people hanging out with laptops when we visited, and not so many patrons focused on social dining, which left the vibes pretty flat. Along those lines, the service also felt a little disengaged. Acknowledging it can be tough when a group is being social to know how much to intrude, it still felt like there were moments where we were definitely left waiting for some time, namely to place our order and get our check. We ordered the mezze platter to start, and it was very colorful and enjoyable. The pita it came with was good, but did not go far, so I would consider ordering an extra piece depending on your group size. I was feeling something fresh, so I went with the Grain Bowl Tabbouleh. The description emphasized quinoa and kale, so I had figured some heft, but ultimately what jumped out was the cucumbers and tomatoes, neither mentioned in the description, and the feta. The kale was very scant. I added an extra falafel as I was hungry, which proved to be fine, but it wasn't terribly interesting (a little undercooked in the center and overdark on the exterior), compared to a standard mediterranean plate of the same. A friend of mine got the Gem Caesar, which was more vegetable forward, and another the smoked salmon and hashbrown dish, which was pretty and composed, but not out of the ordinary. I certainly wouldn't say anything was problematic, but given the price point and the other takes online, I did feel like brunch was definitely a more middle of the road experience.

    Seared Octopus and Lamb Kofta
    Victoria S.

    Loved this place! It's spacious, yet welcoming! Almost feel like a library. We ordered an assortment of dishes. Highlights include the octopus, broccoli, and grilled chicken. The star of the show was the blueberry baklava. Just get it, trust me! The drinks were very very good too. Well made. I want to return and go to the downstairs area? I believe it's a go-to spot in the evening. I'll be back for sure!

    Fluffy Pancakes
    Amisha R.

    I ordered the short rib benedict which was a bit dry, but I did enjoy the hash browns that came with the dish. The service was quick, but not as attentive as you would hope. I asked for something and it took the server a reminder to remember to bring it to be me even though it wasn't that busy. You definitely are paying for the ambiance though, which is classy and elevated.

    Vibe
    Leyang Z.

    Second time dining in this restaurant. Main dish was good, service was disappointing. I ordered the "Green" salad and Sea Trout. Salad had very little asparagus inside -- only several thin slices. The trout was grilled to perfection -- very crispy skin, and very juicy, meaty flesh. What interested me most was, however, the sprouted lentil side served with the trout, where they put pickled beets, sprouted lentils and a light hint of sauce. It had an earthy, slightly sour flavor. Paired greatly with the fish. Service, however, was disappointing. The server gave me a salad with dressing for the first time (I asked dressing on the side). But what really annoyed me was that lots of people came to my side to order drinks as if they did not notice that I was dining at the bar. Someone even touched my plates! The servers and bartenders just overlooked it; no one informed the customers to be careful. In fact, they should have asked them order the drinks at the side of the bar.

    Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates

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    7 years ago

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    Page 7 of 16

    Ask the Community - Cira

    Hi, is the restaurant dog friendly?

    Yes. We welcome dogs in our lounge area. We serve food and drink throughout.

    Are you open for Christmas dinner?

    Good Afternoon, Susie, We will be open for Christmas dinner! At this time we will not be offering… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Aba

    Aba

    4.4
    (2k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    Probably a 4.5 but overall - a great stop…read more I had dinner with friends here and appreciated the stylish space and shareable plates style menu. It was HOT AS BALLS out, and the big garage doors were open meaning the whole space was sweaty. No. We had the short rib hummus (100/10), whipped ricotta (10/10), Greek salad (8/10) and various mains. Everything really seemed fresh and flavors are in point. Service was absolutely great - very attentive. The fact that he looked like Chris Isaak - bonus points.

    Went to Aba for my husband's birthday. Reservation was for 8pm we waited a little bit to be seated…read more We grabbed drinks while we waited. I had the freeda vita I really liked that it was refreshing and great for a hot day. I also had a expresso martini but it was not as good as some other local restaurants in the area. Our favorite dishes were the green chili shrimp, whipped feta and garlic hummus. The falafel and taziki was good. The beef and lamb kabob was dry the rice was delicious. I think the dips could be better if they had crispy pita bread or chips vs soft pita we needed texture. The sticky date cake was burnt at the bottom. Had a bad taste. The short ribs were just okay. The ambiance was okay I didnt like the music and it was just super loud. Overall I al happy I tried it but will likely not go back. They also charged us for a birthday dessert which I wasn't expecting. The waiter was not excellent he was pretty average didnt do anything to wow me.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Frozen Greek yogurt
    Frozen Greek yogurt
    Braised Braised Beef Short Rib

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    Braised Braised Beef Short Rib
    The Purple Pig

    The Purple Pig

    4.3
    (9k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$$

    Awesome food!!! Fancy Environment!!!! And Friendly Staff!!!!…read more Yay! Wonderful experience here, I was just visiting and after I finally found parking, I asked to be seated but did not have a reservation, the hostess said if I could be about an hour she could squeeze us in. So I was thankful for that, we were not looking to stay for a long time just wanted to try the place out. Once seated we were waited on and served fast. The food was mind blowing, we loved everything!!! My favorite was the duck appetizer puffs, wow they were good. Everything though was elevated and delicious. I'd come back in a heartbeat. Thank you for the wonderful experience to add to our trip to Chicago!

    Terrible. I am honestly not sure how people are recommending this place. I was excited to come here…read moreand had very high expectations, but unfortunately the food was extremely disappointing. Let's start from the beginning: the bone marrow. What on earth was going on? Why would you cover bone marrow with fig, bacon, and so much cilantro? Bone marrow is a delicate dish. You are supposed to taste the richness and subtle flavor of the marrow itself. The cilantro completely overpowered it, and the fig and bacon made it even worse. Chef, where did you train? This dish made no sense. Then came the agnolotti. I have no words. Just look at the photo: full of oil. I mean completely swimming in oil. Then the chitarra with seafood. Horrible. Spicy for no reason. Again, why are you trying to cover the ingredients instead of letting them speak for themselves? Also, the fish tasted frozen, not fresh. The pork belly, supposedly the signature dish, was another disappointment. Again, so much sauce that the actual flavor of the pork belly was completely lost. The staff were nice, the ambiance was okay, and the wine selection was good. But please, stop covering the taste of the food you cook. If you need to hide the ingredients under excessive sauce, spice, cilantro, oil, bacon, or sweetness, the only explanation is that the ingredients are not good enough on their own. I will not be coming back. Not even for free. Sorry. PS. Why so much bread on each dish? So much buttery horrible bread that you will trash, because it's impossible to eat all of it.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Chicago style hot dog
    Chicago style hot dog
    Squid Ink Chitarra

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    Squid Ink Chitarra
    Avec - Chicago

    Avec - Chicago

    4.3
    (2.6k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$$

    Overall experience was great! Made a reservation online and sat at a shared table. Went for a…read moremid-week lunch date, which was a really nice and easygoing experience. The entry door is a little fun, just push where the pig is. The hummus is an absolute must. We got an extra pita (one per person) and I would recommend getting the extra. For the lunch menu -- the prix-fixe is a really great option. It's only about $26 for the stuffed date, sandwich & chips, and rolled baklava. Service was great, our server was amazing (thank you Marlee)! Waters were consistently refilled, timing was great, atmosphere was enjoyable. Will be going back!

    I went to Avec for my birthday and from food, service, and ambiance the entire experience was a…read moredisappointment. The endive salad was warm and not cohesive at all. Nothing really went together and it was warm, which didn't make sense and made it worse. The steak was cooked how I asked, but the sauce was extremely oily and had this strange burnt flavor which likely was from the onions? The onions were extremely burnt, nothing like a typical caramelized delish onion. The chicken had the same issue, everything had that same burnt tasting oil and the chilies sitting in it just made it more intense. It was honestly just edible and nothing I would come back for or recommend. I love middle eastern food and know that even with a midwestern there are some considerations to take with the flavor profile but the burnt onions, burnt spicy oil in the chicken, and a warm salad are all indications for poor execution. As for the actual ambiance and experience it was my birthday and there was no acknowledgment at all not even someone to check in on whether the food was okay. I did not want to order a dessert after the salad, steak, and shawarma all missing the mark. The seating was very uncomfortable. It is cramped and communal and at this price point I expected a much better experience. Will admit I should have looked into the actual dining set up before booking a late night reservation but even still there are so many better places in Chicago where you can get better food and actually feel comfortable. Overall it just was not worth it. I would not return or recommend this spot.

    Photos
    Restaurant view from bar
    Restaurant view from bar
    Roasted Corn & Freekeh Tabbouleh
    Roasted Corn & Freekeh Tabbouleh
    Whole roasted branzino

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    Whole roasted branzino

    Cira - mediterranean - Updated June 2026

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