Great service and lovely atmosphere Many gluten free choices available Kids friendly read more

Ema - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very beautiful restaurant, but slightly cramped for space. Upon arriving, me and my guest confirmed our reservation, which we thankfully had given the restaurant was packed full with several parties waiting. To eat, we had the original hummus as an appetizer, which had an incredible pita bread accompaniment. Then, me and my friend split the lamb kebabs and octopus mains, which were each fairly small plates, but it was fine since we weren't overly hungry. I thought the lamb meatballs were okay, the octopus was pretty good. Nothing blew my socks off, but it was all solid. read more

Ema - Interior lighting - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing place for this type of food and while we were there during the week in the early afternoon, there was no wait. Service was amazing and knowledgeable on what to try. For the dishes see below: Hummus spread Sampler: 5 of 5 and worth every penny. We had the spicy hummus, which was my absolute favorite, labneh, and the toasted almond and garlic hummus. This was the first time I have had lebnah and it won't be my last. However, each was super fresh and the ingredients mixed together to make you want to order it again. Lamb and beef Kefta 5 of 5: Not much to say but succulent and delicious with that great flavor of lamb shining. Fried chicken sandwich with beet Tzatziki 5 of 5: Perfection of the fancy chicken sandwich. Can't recommend it enough. The beet Tzatziki mixed so well with the juicy fried chicken, pickles and challah bread. Farro Rissoto 2 of 5: Not a great flavor here. Very subtle and compared to everything else was a let down. The Rissoto was cooked nicely, but that's about it. I'd recommend those other dishes. Regardless of the one bad score, the others definitely make up for it. Just give this place a try and look no further. read more

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If there's one thing you come to Ema for... let it be the hummus with lamb ragu!! We were looking for a spot close to our hotel that was open for an early lunch and landed on Ema since the restaurant's ambiance seemed super nice. We were seated promptly after opening and landed on two things to share: + Hummus w/ Lamb Ragu ($18.95) (5/5): The hummus was super rich and savory!! I loved how tender the ragu was and how well it paired with the bread. I would've ordered a second one if I wasn't so full lol. + Chicken Kefta ($19.95) (3.5/5): The portion was a good size! I think I just wasn't too big of a fan because the chicken was a bit dry. This dish just felt like it was missing something, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what. Our server was super nice, but our food took quite some time to come out. Maybe it was because we were there when they opened? Either way, it was a great experience and I'd return!! read more

Ema - Chicken Kefta - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We ate outside and had a lovely meal. We had a reservation but waited for over 30 minutes. The manager was very nice and comped out appetizers which was very nice. The tuna with melon was incredible. The melon was perfect and the taste was incredibly paired with the tuna. The lebnah was great as were the Brussel sprouts. The Spanish octopus was amazing. Everything we touched, we were excited for! A return trip will happen! read more

Ema - Tuna and Melon. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was one of our regular go to lunch places when we had lived in Chicago for over 20 years and recently moved. Came back for a 2 month vacation, and had to return to Ema. We have been here 3 x already and their food was as good as we remembered. We love this place for its light Mediterranean options, and very relaxing atmosphere at the bar, dining room, or outdoor patio. Don't know why I haven't left a review before now, but due to excellent service from Jared today, and the Halibut Ceviche I couldn't not share how great this restaurant is. Came for brunch today and my husband ordered Kefta & Eggs. We ordered the Halibut Ceviche as our appetizer. Both were very good and memorable. I even ordered a second helping of the Halibut Ceviche as my main meal. Can't say enough about the service we received from Jared. I was looking to order items that we had ordered 2 years ago but unfortunately was no longer on the lunch menu or were on the dinner menu. He was very patient and offered suggestions. Service was spot on. We will continue to dine here whenever we come back to Chicago. read more

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This is always a solid dinner place! Every time I've gone the food has been great, atmosphere is a vibe, and service is attentive as well. It's family style so very fun to go with a group as well. It can be hard to get a rezzy at times but other times I've been able to walk in easily with just one other person. read more

This is a solid restaurant for a date night or work event. I've been a few times over the years and went again last night. I recommend the almond/garlic spread as a starter and the prime rib polenta for the main. The drinks were good as well. I also enjoyed yelps's menu vision to decide what to get read more

Ema - Cocktails - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm shook that this place is rated this high. I do not think the food was that good. I think the service was nice. But the food was very disappointing. Came on a Thursday night around 5pm. We were a party of two. We ordered the following: Green falafel Halibut Lamb ragu hummus The falafel was a little dry but came with pickled raddish which was a great compliment. Halibut was meh. Thought it lacked flavor. And wasn't flakey. The hummus which the wait staff explained was a fan favorite was good. But 20 dollars good? Ehhhh ... The ambiance was pretty. Overhead lights were nice. It was nicely spaced out. We sat inside by the bar but it wasn't terribly noisy or busy / distracting with the staff going back and forth. There's an outdoor patio as well. I had the Lebanese red wine and that was delicious. Adding it to the list of bottles I must have at home. Overall a little disappointed with my experience. Reviews gave me high hopes. Instead ended up down the street for pizza to make up for the night. read more

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Food was great, wouldn't recommend spiced chicken thighs because portion was super tiny. Not worth it as an entree for restaurant week. But loved everything else. Dessert is a must. Place was very cute and would be great for like a cute girls night/yap sesh night. Wait for food was also reasonable and servers were nice. read more

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Ema won their last star from me! Stumbled on my old review of them, lamenting their slow service. Glad to say service was efficient and friendly today! (G)o or no go - Go! Outstanding Mediterranean food and pretty reasonable prices (W)ow - wowed by the house made labneh with strawberry and the hummus with lamb ragu (A)mbiance - fast service, delightful patio, calming interior decor full of natural colors: wood panels and lots of greenery (M)enu - Best item was the hummus with lamb ragu. So savory and surprisingly filling. The house made labneh with strawberry, peanuts, and hints of mint was also a delightful mixture of sweet and refreshing. Runner up was the juicy braised short rib sandwich and grilled oishii shrimp kebab slathered with fresh green sauce. Can you tell I'm a huge fan of protein heavy meals? But Ema wins me over with their carbs too. There's something about Ema's rice (which comes with every skewer), it hits every time. It's probably the generous amounts of olive oil they anoint it with. Honorable mentions go to brussel sprouts and crispy potatoes, two sides that add depth to every meal. The charred eggplant hummus was also my cup of tea although some found it sour. Also pictured are the hot honey halloumi (a little chewy for my taste and could have upped the hot in hot honey), salmon kebab, and chicken kebab. read more

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The food was so good I had to come back the following week. The menu and ambience are similar to Aba (its sister restaurant). Highlight of the meal was the salmon kabob, so tasty and cooked perfectly. The crispy Brussels sprouts were another favorite that I reordered at my second visit. The only dish I wouldn't recommend was the "crispy" potatoes - underseasoned, dry, and not crispy. A bit surprising since fried potatoes are rarely a miss. For desert, there's plenty of options and the 3 we tried were all hits! The sticky date cake was my personal favorite and my friends really loved the chocolate torte. Service was quick. We ordered a lot and were told things would be coursed/spaced out but everything came out back-to-back pretty fast. We didn't mind though since we were hungry and shared everything. My overall experiences here have been positive and I plan to come back soon. read more

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Food was stellar! A group and I tried this for restaurant week and loved it. The menu includes a drink and the "do not disturb" was great! Will absolutely come back for the normal menu. read more

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Oh em geeee. So delicious. A little on the pricier side but worth to try at least once. We got the charred eggplant, brussels sprouts, hot honey halloumi, spiced chicken thigh, and lamb & beef kafta. Everything was perfection. Delicious flavors. Honestly, I can't even name a favorite because everything was so good. Most importantly, can't forget about the delicious pita with herbs. We also got some drinks. we tried the Strawberry Rose Paloma, Slow Cheetah, Cactus Queen, and Rhubarb Stinger. Again, very yummy. Attentive service and beautiful environment. I'd definitely come back! read more

The DO NOT DISTURB cocktail was the star of the show, with my entire party ordering the beverage. We were able to get seated right away, and the decor inside really is fun and relaxing. It was a little difficult ordering Gluten Free - not for lack of options but for lack of menu descriptors. Luckily my server was very knowledgeable and was able to redirect a couple different times to ensure I avoided dishes with hidden gluten. The Brussel Sprouts were amazing (with no fried shallots) and were a great side for us all to share. I also ended up ordering just regular scrambled eggs and added them to the crispy potato's which was fantastic. read more

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Went here for restaurant week and loved it. The place had kind of a date vibe. Everything on the menu was good. We will be back. The part I liked best was how well marked it was for gluten free items read more

Yesterday was a very chaotic meal. We had gotten there early for a 8oclock reservation. Not only were we not able to sit early but also we were seated 15 minutes late. Then we had picked up our dishes and it appeared that the waitress had forgotten about us when we put in auditions. It was a good 2025 minutes before she came back and said that they ran out of a particular dish that we were interested in therefore she was going to complement us one of the other ceviche raw fish dishes that we were interested in. Also, when the food arrived, one of the managers or supervisors offered us a free dessert. So overall, it was a very long dinner. It was very busy, but we appreciated the gesture that they try to make up for service recovery. read more

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Beautiful ambiance. Appetizers were 10/10. Main course was good, but not the best. The hummus was our favorite. read more

Ema - Hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went there for lunch, during my break. I ordered a salad, waited a full hour, one hour. Had to call the server to check on the order. It never arrived. Had to leave to go back to work with an empty stomach. read more

From service to food to ambiance, Ema has it all!! Had the most delicious brunch here, the hummus is to die for, and you can't ask for a more aesthetically pleasing restaurant. Both the interior design and food presentation was absolutely gorgeous. It was busy when we came in but the service was spectacular and food came out quick. I also love their express shop next door. Always go for $1 Friday froyo during the summers. Can't beat this place! read more

Ema - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

ORDER Faroe Island Salmon - super impressed by the flavors from the sweet peppers and zhoug! The rice tasted so flavorful especially with the sauce. Salmon was cooked medium rare (?) with a tad bit of raw which made it nice and juicy. Mockingbird Zero Proof Cocktail - has ritual bitter aperitif, pineapple, hibiscus, pomegranate. There is only a slight bitter taste which is reminiscent of an alcoholic beverage so it feels like you're drinking when you're not. Super refreshing and light! Loved it! VIBES This place has a cutesy interior and definitely gives more elevated casual vibes. The lanterns and wooden tables, tans and plant interior give a nice natural feel to the place. It's dimly lit and perfect for a nice lunch or dinner. Very crowded! Seating consists of bar, table, booths and normal tables and chairs. SERVICE Service was great! Definitely book a reservation in advance if you want to get a good spot. Luckily I went with only one other person, so they had some high seating that was available. Food came out quickly and no complaints with service. read more

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The drinks were great but the service was subpar. We were told 20 minute wait for patio seating and waited 45 minutes at the bar. We were then told it would be at least another 20 minutes. Not cool - would have just ordered food at the bar had we been given a realistic wait time. read more

Ema - Do Not Disturb & Slow Cheetah - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

food: everything was yummy and had nice flavors, the chicken kefta was a bit dry for me but everything else i would order again. seemed pretty authentic. the main standouts that i would get again next visit are hot honey halloumi, short ribs, onion dip, and the pistachio froyo service: the service was immaculate, really liked our waiter and he comped our desserts without us saying anything because the kitchen messed up and missed some of our orders ambiance: really nice vibe, great for dinner and chats, apparently very Cali, did a birthday dinner here and couldn't ask for better atmosphere read more

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I was really craving something light and fresh and this place really hit the spot. The almond spread was a bit surprising. It was kind of crunchy like the almonds weren't fully pureed but it added a unique texture that was oddly satisfying. The kebab was delicious and everything I was wanting. I ate it all in one sitting and didn't feel overly full. The rice was fluffy and flavorful and meat was well seasoned a juicy. The service was nice but slow despite it not being busy. The restaurant itself is cozy and well decorated. We requested bar on our reservation as that's the only place that does happy hour, and they put us in the back of the back corners by the kitchen which honest is the worst seat in the house despite the fact that we got their early and no one was at the bar yet. So that was disappointing, but not enough to diminish the deliciousness of the food. read more

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Great food! It seems their menu may have changed a bit from the last time I was there. We had a variety of dishes that my friend and I shared. The brussels sprouts were very flavorful and cooked to perfection. We also really enjoyed that chicken kebab with rice. They make a great hummus and gave us vegetables as well as gluten-free crackers for me, and pita for my friend. A little pricey but love the ambience and the service is very good. read more

My friends and I had dinner here one Saturday and it did not disappoint. The ambiance was cozy, yet modern. Beautiful. The service was top notch. We decided to order various small plates for the table, which is the way to go. The pumpkin hummus was SO good. It tasted like a more mild sweet potato puree. The pita that came with it was also delish. The crispy potato's were amazing, super crunchy and huge. The Moroccan onion dip was the perfect ratio of onion and date. Super interesting. The kale Caesar was perfect, with a great crunch to it. Lastly, the salmon kebab was cooked perfectly. I think it's hard to get salmon right, but they did it. And then the chicken kefta was amazing too. Highly recommend. read more

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Stopped by for happy hour on Friday and they were almost completely booked! Very glad to have gotten the last high top so that was could enjoy the happy hour snacks. The brussel sprouts, almond and garlic spread with pita, and crispy potatoes were delicious. And sizable portions for the price. Great vibe and attentive, hard working servers and bartenders. Thanks for a nice evening! read more

We came to celebrate a birthday. We decided on Ema a little over a week out and they were already booked up so we ended up with 5:15pm reservations. When we arrived we were seated right away. There were not many other groups around at the time but by the time we left the place was packed. The decor gets a 10/10. The restaurant merges with a hotel lobby but you would never know. We started with the classic hummus which came with a basket of pita bread. The pita was so fresh, warm, and flavorful. The hummus was also so good and came with a few fresh veggies on the side. Next, we tried the falafel, which didn't disappoint. It was so crispy and flavorful. I'm going to be dreaming about the beet tzatziki for a while. We also ordered the halloumi cheese (which came with more pita) and the lamb stew. For the birthday boy, they served us a complimentary frozen yogurt topped with olive oil and sea salt. It was an...interesting combo. At first it tasted a bit icy but the flavor is a delayed effect. I'm not sure I would order this dessert otherwise though. Overall, food was great! Our waitress also made great recommendations. We ended up staying for almost two hours since we ordered our meal one dish at a time. It felt so nice to slow down and not feel rushed by the staff. read more

Ema - Green Falafel - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We went to Ema last night while on a work trip with over 30 additional people. We had a set menu with our reservation. To drink, I ordered a cocktail called the Cactus Queen. It was nicely portioned and had a great sweet flavor. Our set menu included apps, shared mains, and dessert. Our apps were charred eggplant spread, hummus, crispy potatoes, and a Greek village salad. My favorite was the eggplant. It had just the perfect amount of spices and flavor. For our mains, we had the salmon, lamb and beef kefta, and the chicken kefta. The lamb meatballs and the salmon were the stars of the show. I did not partake in the dessert because I was so full but my colleagues enjoyed the honey pie and the triple chocolate torte. The triple chocolate torte was a crowd hit and had a mousse consistency on the inside. I would come back and would recommend if anyone is in the mood for Mediterranean. The overall vibe was nice and modern. read more

Had a reservation for two and were sat immediately. Server was great, attentive but not bothersome. We ordered the spicy whipped feta, crispy potato's and chicken ketfa. All were pretty good but the chicken and rice were a bit oily. I got the do not disturb cocktail which was really yummy and my friend got the Paloma which was just okay. Overall good experience would come back read more

Fresh food, great variety of medditeran dishes in different portion sizes. Great place for sharing. Cocktails were flavorful and packed a punch. Ambiance is lovely and staff attentive. 100% will go again! read more

Stopped in for a quick drink and the kale caesar with chicken and it was a great experience at the bar during happy hour. Quick service even when they were busy and good happy hour prices. The salad was filling with the chicken added and the Amber Road drink tasted just like an 'elevated green tea shot' as the bartender said it would! read more

Ema - Amber Road - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ema has a nice ambiance and is a decent spot for Mediterranean food, but overall, our experience was just okay. We tried a good mix of dishes, some of which were great, while others fell flat. We started with two zero-proof cocktails--the Pomegranate Backsplash and Say Less. Both were refreshing but nothing memorable. For appetizers, the hummus and house bread were solid, but nothing that stood out. The green falafal was flavorful but a bit dry, while the brussel sprouts were delicious with a nice char. The crispy potatoes were a hit at the table, well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. For the mains, we got the Chicken Kefta and the pan-roasted Romanesque cauliflower. The kefta was well-spiced but a little on the dry side. The cauliflower was tasty but felt a bit overpriced for what it was. Dessert was probably the best part. The warm sticky date cake was rich and comforting, and the double chocolate crisp was a chocolate lover's dream. Definetly the highlight of the meal. Overall, it was a decent meal, but nothing that would make us rush back. The flavors were good, but some dishes lacked that wow factor. Service was friendly but a bit slow at times. For the price point, we expected a bit more. read more

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So disappointed. I came about 5 years ago and loved my meal, especially the sticky date cake, which lingered in my memory as my favorite all time dessert. This year I was so excited to bring my family and Ema was the only restaurant in Chicago I couldn't wait for them to try. I booked it as our final meal in Chicago and lay awake at 4am being so disappointed in my choice. Our server's greeting was monotone and emotionless, which I realize now, would be foreshadowing the meal to come. Ordered the following 1) Smoky eggplant- arrived appearing as an unappetizing curdled purple grey mush. This was the worst tasting baba ghanouj I have ever eaten. It was acidic and had the texture of cottage cheese. The only redeeming thing about this appetizer was the warm naan. 2) house made stratciatella with side of green falafels- The stratciatella was bland and stringy. I would not order this dish expecting the creamy interior of typical burrata. However, if you like string cheese mixed with heavy cream- you may enjoy this dish. The tomatoes and basil were good. 3) chicken kefta- kefta was bland, rice even blander . 4) short rib with polenta- bland and the meat and polenta had the same texture, which seems impossible but somehow the plating was over complicated by the addition of mushy dates and grapes. 5) buttered noodles- my 8 year old ordered this. It was decent with a good amount of Parmesan and cooked perfectly al dente. By the end of the meal, I was so shocked by how terrible the food was I didn't even want to order the sticky date cake that was my main purpose for returning to this restaurant. Ema, what happened to you?! read more

Solid place for brunch in river north! Definitely even better when the windows/ patio are open. We tried the sweet corn hummus brussel sprouts - wish they were a bit crispier crispy potatoes - very crisp and i love the crema mushroom escargot - unique dish comes with 6 individual stuffed mushrooms. my favorite dish of the meal read more

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Super cute restaurant! They did a fabulous job with decor! I would suggest making a reservation as it was packed. I really enjoyed how fresh everything was. Despite our server telling us portions are small, I respectfully disagree as we found the portions to be quite large. We shared the hummus, the Greek salad, and the beef and lamb meatballs which also came with a large portion of rice and were stuffed! read more

Ema - Inside - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything was SO GOOD. The service was quick and my waiter checked up on my table often. The inside is very pretty and cute. Good for a date or a girls dinner. I will definitely be back. read more

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Cute place but the food wasn't anything outstanding. Smaller portions and the octopus was either overcooked or didn't taste fresh. The service seemed like a casual diner more than a trendy spot. read more

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Food: Highly recommend the Bhel Hummus--fresh, tasty, and especially delicious with the hot, flavored pita. The combination gives off a pizza-like vibe, in the best way. The Salmon Kebab had a slightly fishy aroma at first, but once paired with the side sauce and a squeeze of lemon, it became a perfect match. The Chicken Kefta was a bit salty on its own, but dipping it in the creamy sauce balanced the flavor beautifully. Service: We noticed the Charred Eggplant didn't look like the photo on Yelp and the taste wasn't quite what we expected. We brought it up with our server, who was incredibly kind and understanding--offering to take it back without hesitation. We ended up ordering the amazing salmon instead. Big thanks to the server for turning things around and making our experience so enjoyable! Ambiance: I loved the interior--it gave me a sense of freedom, like a bird dining in nature. A lovely and refreshing atmosphere to enjoy a meal. Price: $70 for 2 after tax for what we order, added on a 22% tips for the cute server. read more

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Oh Ema, you have failed me. Yes, I was late for my reservation by 15 minutes and apologized profusely when checking in. To be honest, I felt like we were punished. After being seated at the worst booth in the restaurant things really fell apart. First off we were seated right next to the kitchen and area is so narrow and busy I was constantly being bumped into. After our server finally arrived (after a long wait) she took our appetizer order and we asked her to come back to take our drink order. After twenty minutes, no apps, and no server. So we left, very poor service from Ema. Will never go back to waste my time again and DO NOT Recommend this establishment. read more