The food arrived in a reasonable time and was still warm. Portions were decent and everything tasted fine, nothing extraordinary but no complaints either. Delivery was smooth and the order was accurate. Overall a solid experience for a regular meal. read more

Perhaps it's because I've had way better Mediterranean food, I felt that these dishes were just average or slightly above average. However, the octopus was overcooked, too charred, bitter and chewy. While they took the charge off our check, it overshadowed the rest of my experience. We started off with eggplant spread and pita. It's above average, pita bread was very good, but the spread was ordinary to me. We also ordered the watermelon tuna crudo which was very light and refreshing, and we fully enjoyed. The octopus as mentioned above was very disappointing. The lamb and beef kebab was above average good but nothing out of the world. Overall, the food was okay, service was great, and the place does have pretty nice and relatively quiet ambience for a date night. I would come back again to give it a second try but this first visit I was certainly a bit disappointing. read more

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I decided to come here after a mediocre dinner at another restaurant and Ema did not disappoint. The service from start to finish was absolutely amazing. The host was sweet and our server was phenomenal. My coworker and I were looking for a nice quiet place to enjoy a drink and catch up and Ema was the perfect place. We had an old fashioned and a pineapple mezcal drink which were both absolutely delicious (especially the old fashioned). We also ordered hummus and while the hummus was tasty, the pita was cold and almost hard to chew. We decided to try the Greek yogurt with olive oil and sea salt (yes Tik-Tok influenced us on this choice). Although I was not a fan of it, my coworker found her new favorite ice cream! I will definitely be coming back for a proper dinner. read more

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Had lunch there recently. I got to know about this restaurant because of the popular Aba (see my review before). I got the pulled sumac chicken bowl. Basically it was a protein bowl with a pita. The ingredients were fresh. The chicken was cooked perfectly. Another highlight of this bowl was its artichoke and asparagus, which had a special, tasty seasoning. The food was also served pretty quickly. Finally I would like to give a compare&contrast about Aba and Ema. 1. Both restaurants had fantastic dining areas that would make you feel as if you were eating in Mediterranean, possibly sitting around a tree and the sea not far from you. 2. They have similar menus for dinner and brunch. For brunch menu, only Aba has short rib shakshuka and only Ema has lamb shakshuka. 3. The indoor dining area of Aba is more formal than Ema. It also has a rooftop. 4. Aba does not serve lunch, and all of its dishes seem to be most appropriate for sharing. 5. Another thing to keep in mind is that Aba is more crowded than Ema, so expect longer waiting time there:) In general, Aba is better for several people eating a large, good meal together, while Ema is more suitable for individual dining-in (like me), or a casual, relaxing meal. read more

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Best brunch ever. The food was so delicious. Best hummus, chicken lamb etc that we've had. Everything we ordered was amazing. The lamb shakshuka was sooo tender and flavorful. Staff was very friendly. The decor was very zen and inviting. We had a great time. read more

Visiting from LA and had a friend take me for my BDay. The place is beautiful yet cozy. The food was definately a 10! Our waiter was ok, but a bit overbearing. It is Mediterranean but upscale. Will definately put this on my list of Chicago favs. read more

Came here on a Sunday for brunch and were luckily seated without a reservation. The interior was cute. The dishes are served family style, so it's best to come with a group to try a variety. As a standout, I'd recommend the potatoes because of its crispness. Other than that, most dishes were okay in flavor but pretty in presentation. read more

Ema - Grilled Chicken Kebab - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been to Ema twice and both experiences were great! Food is flavorful and fresh. The interior is beautiful. They do a great job at food presentation. I love the cocktails here- they get pretty unique with flavors. read more

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Dropped in for a quick lunch with my wife looking for a light, bright meal before heading to the airport later in the afternoon. Located right in the middle of the River north district, Ema is a cute, welcoming establishment whose airy ambience foretold a vibrant menu We both love Mediterranean cuisine and we found ourselves quickly overcome with delight looking at the varied options on the menu. We needed to be quick so we tried the Mediterranean chopped salad (add Salmon) and the Salmon kebab. Both were spot on. Light, well seasoned, and tasty. We added a side of sliced just to keep with the theme of the meal and the combo of olives (with Marcona almonds and pepitas) added just the right added flavor/texture component we needed. Our stay at Ema was too short. We will definitely be back to explore more of the menu! read more

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Mediterranean-vibes type of place. Came here for brunch and were able to try a few different things. Brunch was very good. The place was packed, so servers got a bit overwhelmed but nothing out of ordinary read more

Ema - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pretty good brunch menu- we got the crispy potatoes, almond/garlic hummus with pita, a gin/passion fruit cocktail, and the chicken kabob. The crispy potatoes and the aoli or yogurt dressing on the side was tasty , it lacked a bit of acidity but ask for lemons on the side and it should taste scrumptious. The chicken kabob was a bit dry and lacked seasoning, would probably get the kefta next time but the chimichurri sauce on the side was really tasty and refreshing. The hummus was delicious and the pitas were warm and had great texture. The cocktail was sooo refreshing and delicious and paired perfectly with the meal. The ambiance was gorgeous and lovely as well. Interested in trying their dinner menu in the future! read more

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DELICIOUS!!! One of the best meals of my life honestly. I've never had better pita, ever! The seasoning on it was incredible and it was the perfect combination of soft but sturdy enough to dip with. The food came out SO fast! The rice was very cilantro-limey but done so much better than any cilantro lime rice I've had before. The chicken was delicious, though maybe a little pink... didn't make me sick though so we're good! Their spin on pesto which came with the kebab was unique and a great spin off of what I'm used to! read more

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Should be 3.5 stars: So I tried to make a reservation on their open table but it said it wasn't working so we just walked in. We waited for so long, and honestly almost left. They were packed for Tuesday (not sure if this is the norm). The restaurant itself is gorgeous and when we finally got seated and got our food I was happy, but to be honest the food took a long time too. The spicy hummus was delicious and I loved the salad. Our waiter was nice. If you come here, just be sure to have a reservation I would say. read more

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Overall, WOW. The place is beautiful, both inside & the patio area. I definitely recommend you make a reservation. We didn't, but thankfully they were able to accommodate us outside without having to wait. It's a great date night spot btw. All of the food was delicious but my top favorites had to be the Brussel sprouts, labneh, hummus, & the bread that they bring out with the spreads tastes absolutely amazinggg. There wasn't a single thing that we ordered that we did not like. This was in my top 3 favorite meals & restaurants that I had while visiting Chicago. I will be recommending this place to anyone who visits, that's how good it was. Our server was nice & answered any questions. He got busy quickly with several tables but handled it very well & we didn't feel like the quality of service went down even when he got busy. The one thing is.. they don't seem to have their own restrooms. We had to walk out & into the attached lobby of a hotel & use the restrooms back there. It was a bit inconvenient. read more

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I'm not sure how I haven't reviewed Ema yet?! One of my favorite restaurants in the city, for sure. They are a sister restaurant of Aba, with the same great food but easier to get a table! I love the happy hour as well, although it must be enjoyed at the bar and not at a table. I've always loved the labneh with grapes and a crunchy nut, however they have changed it and looks like maybe they change the toppings on the labneh with the season :). Either way all of the spreads are incredible. The pita, is the BEST pita in Chicago, hands down. I love the seasoning and how soft and warm it is.... I could eat this pita for breakfast lunch and dinner! You also can't go wrong with the kebabs, crispy potatoes, brussels (yum!) and don't forget to save room for dessert. I've even visited Ema solo and sat outside on the patio, with a friend for happy hour at the bar, or even with a group in the dining room for brunch. This place is just consistently good, and if you haven't stopped in I definitely recommend it. read more

Came again over the weekend for brunch and overall we enjoyed everything. The patio was very pleasant outside and the service was great. We enjoyed the Halva Toast, Falafel, Potatoes, blueberry clafoutis, and the eggplant spread. However the portions have gotten smaller and it appears some recipes have changed. Not a horrible thing but I prefer the original dishes. Specifically the eggplant dip that is now made with walnuts and a much smaller portion. With a walnut allergy, this was sad to see since the original version was my favorite spread here. Luckily they were able to accommodate the walnut allergy and bring out the the dip without walnuts but the consistency was thicker and not as tasty. Just make sure to read over all the ingredients when ordering even if you have been before since some recipes have changed. read more

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My wife and I went here on a date night this past week and EVERYTHING was EXCELENTE'!!!!.... First our server was VERY knowledgeable about the menu and suggestions were on POINT! We started with the spicy hummus. It was sooo flavorful. The piquillo peppers, lemon and basil all played very well together. On the first taste we both looked at each other like, WOW.... That is good. The spiced pita bread they gave really worked well together, we just wished they were like actual chips to you could get that mouth contrast. But, nonetheless, it was quite yummy. Next, we had the watermelon & English cucumber salad! AGAIN, another hit! It just had burst of flavor, then the feta road along top of it! We almost ordered one to go! Very refreshing and just the right amount for sharing. The honey-lime vinaigrette was ridiculous!. Next, the pan-roasted cauliflower with house yogurt. I don't even like yogurt, but the char on the cauliflower and underlining honey; we just shook our heads. Next, we had the crisp potatoes and mushroom "escargot"! O.M.L. Crisp and seasoned potatoes along with the creamy, bursting with flavor mushrooms was maddness! Again, another one that we almost ordered for home. Lastly, I had and shared the faroe island salmon kebabs!!!!... Salmon was well seasoned, cooked correctly, moist, etc,etc,etc,. It is VERY rare that the entire meal is EXCELLENT from start to finish! After we finished, we told our server and the floor manager who stopped by to ask how everything was; we BOTH said to give our "Compliments to the chef"!!!!!... We will definitely be back! A+++++++++++ AND another PLUS! -Gone. read more

service was good and some of the food was good. The crispy potatoes were delicious and so was the lamb hummus, the rose Paloma was also good. But when our main courses came I was very disappointed. The salmon was salty and the beef and lamb kebab was nothing special. The rice was also hard. The food took a long time but they gave us free dessert for waiting. Still would only come here for appetizers and drinks. read more

Love everything about this beautiful restaurant. They play great music as well. Service is typically slow and unattntive. 50 % of the time I have to go get a waiter to take my order or bring the bill but the food is worth the longer wait. read more

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Beautiful restaurant inside and very lively with lots of people inside. The specialty drinks are top teir. You have to get the crispy potatoes they are so good. And I really enjoyed the lamb kafta. read more

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Went on a weeknight for my birthday dinner and it's probably been one of my favorite meals in a while! Ambiance is so cute and the service was decent too. Got the Passionfruit G&T which was delicious and the spreads were amazing. The charred eggplant had a great smokey flavor and I enjoyed the mushrooms with the creamy hummus. The pita was yummy too - not very traditional but nice and thick. Then got the crispy potatoes which were fairly basic - still good though. But the Farro was a delicious surprise - very creamy and the pumpkin gave a nice balance to the dish. The grilled octopus was probably my favorite though - I've never had octopus this meaty before. The toothpick lamb was spicy and charred, more great flavors too. For dessert we got the sticky date cake which was the perfect amount of sweetness and a nice end to the meal. Overall a great experience and can't wait to come back! read more

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What a fun atmosphere at Ema, lively and full of energy. Eric our server was amazing. He was attentive, offered suggestions and exceeded all our expectations. The food was superb and flavored perfectly. read more

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Pronunciation: Ēeemah. Brunch and the service was INCREDIBLE! I couldn't believe one of the small plates was toasted almond and garlic, the shakshuka is always my go to for brunch (I tried to make it once and failed ). I LOVE Mediterranean the Kabobs were inhaled before a photo was taken. When a server is able to tell a story about a menu, I love it. I'm the type of person that asks questions and am genuinely interested in the menu, and what the restaurant has to offer. Drink list was good, and I love the cactus queen. Located inside of a hotel, beautiful shaded patio in the heart of river north. Parking garages are close by. I saw babies inside, a few children, very pretty too. Can't wait to return for dinner! Xoxo, Lexi read more

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Great server, loved the food and drinks! The prices were amazing for the location, atmosphere and portions! read more

Ema - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had a great lunch here, really liked the chicken sandwich. The kebab meat is tender. You can't go wrong with hummus and the lamb ragu.

Ēma (not Emma) is a Mediterranean tapas restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You in Chicago's River North. I recommend making a reservation on OpenTable far in advance because they get busy! The perfect meal includes sharing: Spreads - Hummus w/ Lamb Ragu with braised lamb & spicy harissa ($17.95) served with the option of pita bread or gluten free crackers. Raw - Hamachi with avocado, rhubarb, serrano, sesame, & cilantro. ($16.95) Cold Mezze - Greek salad with romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, red peppers, and dijon vinaigrette. ($14.95) Hot Mezze - Crispy potatoes with mizithra, rosemary, and scallion crema. ($11.95) Hot Mezze - Brussels sprouts with crispy shallots, pumpkin seeds, and sweet sherry glaze. ($13.95) Kebabs - Lamb & Beef Kefta Kebabs with lemon, olive oil, tzatziki, and rice. ($18.95). We went with the lamb kebabs but next time I'd want to try the toothpick lamb! Dessert - Sticky Date Cake read more

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Q I visited this restaurant several times over the years. The ambience is wonderful. It's an awesome little restaurant attached to the lobby of in Abraham hotel. The service is always great and the food is pretty good. It isn't traditional Mediterranean, but it definitely stays true to the Mediterranean flare. Portions are not huge, although they are meant for sharing. Overall, a consistently good meal in a pretty local. read more

If you're looking for an upscale-ish and reasonably priced Mediterranean place, Ema is your spot to check out! When it comes to dining out, I always have the urge to try a lil bit of everything--and thanks to the sharable tapas portions, you can do just that. The staff was also friendly and I felt very taken care of. The hummus was one of the bests I've had, and enjoyed how it came with different vegetables on the side. The pita bread was airy and was killerrr (we've even asked for a second batch!). The cauliflower was well done too, but it wasn't my fav compared to the grilled chicken kebab. The chicken kebab was moist and peeled off the skewer so easily--and the rice was a flavorful addition that balanced out the dish all together. read more

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Great restaurant in River North. We came in for lunch without a reservation, and although it was very busy, we were seated in less than 15 minutes. Our server made recommendations and was very attentive to our table of three. The food comes out as it's ready, so we ordered to share. The ambiance was relaxed. Everything was great, and the portions were bigger than expected! The salads are easily a full entrée. I will definitely go back for lunch or dinner. read more

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The ambiance is super chill & quiet. Food is amazing. Staff is nice. Can't go wrong with the toasted almond and garlic spread. It is addictive!! 10/10 recommend. read more

Ema has a great ambience, especially lively for a Thursday night. We ordered three dishes: Charred Eggplant, Pan-Roasted Romanesque Cauliflower, and Green Falafel. The Charred Eggplant was delicious and paired perfectly with the naan bread. The Green Falafels were almost perfect--crispy on the outside, though a bit too crunchy for my taste. A softer texture would have made them ideal, but they were still incredibly flavorful inside. Unfortunately, the biggest letdown of the night was the Pan-Roasted Romanesque Cauliflower. It wasn't well-cooked and was difficult to cut into bite-sized pieces. The eggplant spread helped a bit, but overall, the natural flavor of the cauliflower was the only redeeming part of the dish. For drinks, I tried the Slow Cheetah, a Mezcal-based cocktail. It didn't quite hit the mark for me--too many competing flavors and a bit too smoky. The restaurant also adds a 3.5% surcharge the restaurant adds to the bill, which they say can be removed if you ask. It seems like an unnecessary practice for a business of such high standards. I'd rather they just include it in the price of the items. I'd prefer to tip extra rather than pay a surcharge, but maybe there is a reason to why so many of them do this nowadays. Overall, I'd give the food 3 stars, but the ambience is definitely worth an extra half star. read more

Ema - Ambience - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here for a work dinner last Wednesday and enjoyed the variety of food. Some of my favorites were -hummus with lamb ragu -house made stracciatella -blistered sugar snap peas -brussel sprouts -spicy toothpick lamb -grilled octopus -lamb and beef kefta -faroe salmon -pistachio froyo -sticky date cake Meh -Tiger prawns -Charred eggplant -Labneh -Spicy tomato campanelle -lemon poppyseed cake (very dry and disappointing) After hosting so many work dinners that lately have ben very meat-centric, I was happy to have more vegetarian options. Plus, shout out to my server-in-training (sorry I don't remember your name) who provided great service. FYI - Restaurant is dog friendly with their outdoor/sidewalk patio! read more

after eating here my whole table felt gaslit by ema's good reviews and reputation. everything we had was just okay. the only really good dish was the eggplant dip with pita bread. all the meats were dry and needed sauce to make up for a lack of flavor. service was nice if unmemorable. food was also slow coming out, which we would have been fine with if the food itself wasn't so disappointing read more

Ema - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a great ambience, we sat outside and weather was great off popular river north roads. Definitely sit outside if you can as they take reservations. We did not want to drink but pineapple ginger soda was a healthy alternative: tasted fresh and reasonably priced . The labneh was the best as fresh hot hot naan was given and free refills. We used it for dipping our chickens and falafels for our meals. I didn't know Aba was it's sister but makes sense, if you can reserve Aba I would go here as it was tasty. Falafel wasn't dry like other places, it was juicy and crispy. read more

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The food was fantastic! Beautiful interior, and great service! Flavors were big and bold, seasoned perfectly. Will always eat here when I'm in town. read more

Ema - Greek Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Spent an amazing evening enjoying many plates with friends. The ambience was really buzzing. It was filled with many couples and groups enjoying the space. It was incredibly warm and comfortable. The staff were super friendly and helpful. The menu had many yummy options and were very accommodating for allergens. Food was delicious and unexpected. Drinks were very refreshing and tasty. Check it out if you are nearby. read more

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A very beautiful ambiance which makes for a lovely date! Came here with my husband on a weekday, just missing happy hour but in time for a nice dinner with him. We decided to share a bunch of different items. We started the meal with their housemade labneh yogurt and bread which was delicious. Then we had the oro king salmon which I would have passed on. The portion on that dish was really small and the flavor wasn't too good. For our entree, we had the beef/lamb kebab and that dish was a winner. The meat was juicy and the rice was rich and delicious. We ended our meal with a slice of their honey pie and that pie was to die for! Soooo Good! I would go again just for that pie. read more

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Chip in my martini glass, the table that I had was wobbly and I had to put a napkin under it. The hamachi was extremely salty. The two kebabs were terrible chicken especially they were burnt with no flavor and the rice tasted like box rice store bought. Was offered desert but by that time we just wanted to leave. Ambiance didn't fit the dishes served. read more

Beyond amazing! From service, to ambiance, to food this place is awesome. The place it warm and inviting the moment you walk in. They have a lot of different options and we had some favorites but our server helped us narrow it down to her recommendations and she was right! We shared a ton of different small plates and truthfully they were all great. There wasn't a single dish I didn't enjoy. The Bhel hummus and wild mushroom hummus were both delicious and it was interesting how the hummus itself had different taste and consistency between the two. This was served with their own unique take on a pita bread which I really enjoyed. The chilled cucumbers were a nice fresh option and I never turn down a falafel and beet tzatziki they were served with was the star of that dish. The delicata farro was a rich risotto-esque plate and I kept going back for more. We had both the frozen yogurt and sticky date cake. The date cake was warm and delightful for a caramel lover like myself. The yogurt was a perfect addition for some palate relief. They also give a pretty hefty portion which I enjoyed. I cannot wait to come again and try other dishes! read more

A colleague recommended Ema on a recent work trip. We were looking for a place that was delicious, reasonably priced and good for a client meeting/dinner. Ema delivered on every expectation...and more! The client and I ordered 3 appetizers to share and a bottle of delicious wine. We started with the charred eggplant (baba ganoush), which was beyond yummy. Served with the most perfect bread with a zaatar spice topping (we asked for more!) We then ordered the roasted cauliflower - perfect, except the red pepper flakes made it a teeny bit too spicy for my liking. The final plate was the chicken kefta kabob (we subbed brussel sprouts for the basmati rice.) We left with full tummies, wonderful conversation and plans to return as soon as possible. read more