Aba Restaurant review -- Fulton Market, Chicago…read more This was my husband and I first time visiting Aba Restaurant, and we left impressed on every count. From the moment we arrived, the service stood out. We had an 8 PM reservation, but since we were in the area early, Chris B. kindly accommodated us for an earlier seating. We settled on the rooftop deck, which set the mood with a vibrant, buzzy vibe. The service was outstanding throughout. Our waiter greeted us promptly, with a trainee at the table. (My apologies for forgetting their names). Both were exceptionally pleasant. The trainee did a superb job walking us through the menu, explaining the concept of ordering. We decided on a variety of dishes, and Aba delivered: - Wild Mushroom Hummus: A smooth earthy dish with roasted mushrooms folded into a creamy hummus, finished with truffle oil and herbs. Yummy! - Tuna & Watermelon: A refreshing pairing of tender tuna balanced with juicy watermelon, cucumber, pomergrant seeds and mint. Loved it! - Green Chili Shrimp: Served in a metal dish used for escargo. The shrimp were covered by breadcrumbs and lots of butter with a slight kick to it. Great for dipping your bread in. It did not disappoint! - Pan Seared Halibut: A perfectly seared, delicate fillet, moist and flaky that highlighted the fish's clean, buttery profile. And from the cocktail menu, the Aloe? It's Me. It has a kick to it. Loved it too. Everything was excellent--the food was inventive and delicious, the service was great and the rooftop ambiance added a memorable layer to the evening. Highly recommended for a refined yet relaxed Chicago dining experience.

Aba is in Fulton market and has outdoor and indoor seating! The restaurant is open and bright. I…read moreloved the olive trees that made the room feel like I was outside! The plates are shareable so this is great because you can share a few dishes! I tried the smoked garlic hummus (comes with pita bread), short rib Shakshouka, crispy potatoes, and the beef and lamb kofta! This was for two people and we had left overs. The hummus was fantastic! I highly recommend getting the crispy potatoes as well! I have never tried shakshouka with meat in it before and didn't love the texture. However, the flavor was sweet and savory! The only thing that was not ideal was that an optional surcharge was on the receipt, when we tried to get our server to help remove it per instructions on the receipt no one was to be found. That was disappointing and potentially strategic? I would have rather just tipped. I'm not sure how others feel about the surcharge?

The food is incredible here. The Lamb Ragu specifically is a must try!…read more The vibes are very fun as well. A great place to have drinks or a meal with friends. Very great visuals for pics of you want. The service was mid. That was the only drawback. I would go back for the food but it was if we were a bother to the server. We made a reservation and were seated at the bar area. Our server forgot our wine. It was just the worst service I had of any of the places visited while I was in town.

We had a reservation at 1PM Sunday and were seated outside. I have always walked past Ema, so it…read morewas a delight to be able to try it for the first time. Our server was kind and great at showing recommendations. They suggested that each person has 2-3 plates since the menu was full of small-plate style food. And honestly, I think we could have gone away with 1-2 plates per person since we were very full by the time we finished eating The interior is absolutely gorgeous. Part of me wishes that we got the chance to sit down inside, but maybe that will be the excuse to come visit another time. The Blueberry Clafoutis was my favorite dish. The blueberries were sweet, and it was like eating a blueberry crepe/pancake. The sweetness level was not overpowering, which was what made this dish so enjoyable. The "Bhel" Hummus and Spicy Whipped Feta were both very tasty. I loved the fruitiness of the "Bhel" Hummus and loved how the Spicy Whipped Feta had its pomegranate bits. Each were so unique, and it was an adventure with each bite. Excellent service and food overall. It was a pleasant new experience.

Out beyond ideas of wrong and right, There is a field…read more I will meet you there. Food was great, prices were fine and the quality of the meal made it worth it, cool interior, kid behind the counter was helpful could maybe take off the headphones but that didnt really make or break my pickup experience.

I got delivery from here, interesting take on middle eastern food. I go the falafel wrap, with…read morehummus, it did not come with many veggies on it, the falafel itself was quite dry and the hummus was not very flavorful. My partner got a falafel plate. He liked the meal. He also got a salad, which he reports was good. I also got some French fries with tahini and extra garlic sauce. Overall average.

"We stopped at The Purple Pig for lunch and we were pleasantly surprised at how great everything…read morewas. From the impeccable service to the great food, ambience and extensive wine list, we couldn't have been more pleased with our dining experience.

Just an amazing experience all around!! The tuna tartare was exceptional as well as the sorbet with…read moreBailey's. A little tight on seating but no complaints!!

Tried Roti for the first time this past week after walking by it a million times and wanting to…read morecheck off another fast-casual Mediterranean spot in the city. Overall, it was just okay for me. Chicago has a ton of strong options in this category, and I don't think this one stands out as the best. I ordered the Mezze protein bowl with steak, chicken. The lettuce wasn't great so I mostly picked around it, and the steak was a bit more well done than I'd prefer. Everything else was solid and what you'd expect from a classic Mediterranean fast-casual setup, but nothing that really wowed me. Not a bad spot by any means, just one where I'd probably choose a few other places in the city first before coming back.

Shout out to the catering team! I ordered for a group, and everyone loved it. The food was…read moreflavorful, well-prepared, and packaged nicely for sharing. The only small improvement I'd suggest is labeling the sauces it would make things even easier. Overall, a fantastic experience and a reliable choice for group orders!

We stopped by as a group of 5 for dinner Sunday night and we were promptly seated. We visited…read moreChicago for St. Patty's, but my two Persian friends were eager to show us some authentic food and Kabobi did not disappoint. The food was absolutely delicious and I particularly loved the Shami and Koubidehs. The koubidehs were so tender and juicy. The service was phenomenal and they even brought us some tea and dessert (bamieh) for free. Kabobi is open late and was the perfect spot to chat while the rain died down. Definitely coming back when I'm in Chicago next time!

Ordered: Caspian Mix Grill (~$25) with Albaloo Polo (~$6): 1…read moreskewer boneless chicken breast, 1 skewer filet mignon marinated in a pomegranate walnut sauce, with grilled onion, raw onion, and butter Bamieh & Balava (complimentary) Aya's take: I was really craving Persian food before leaving Chicago and decided to place an order for pickup to take on my way. I arrived 25 minutes later and they hadn't even made my order. From there, 3 different people told me it'll be another 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes. I ended up waiting 20 minutes and during that whole time there was no apology. One of the workers handed me a tea and later I saw they included dessert in the bag. It was a nice gesture but I was frustrated that it wasn't acknowledged by the staff at all and part of my order was still missing. I paid $2.25 for a Yogurt & Cucumber Sauce which I never received. The Caspian Mix Grill with Albaloo Polo was very good. The filet mignon & chicken breast were both juicy and well-seasoned. The Albaloo Polo is plain basmati rice mixed with saffron, caramelized onion and sauteed sweet & sour cherries. I liked the rice but it felt like they just threw the cherries on top rather than incorporate it into the rice. It was very filling, enough to share with 2 people, and good value. The Bamieh & Balava were also fresh, sweet, and a nice bite to end on. Ultimately, I would give the food a 4/5 and the service a 2/5, hence my 3/5 rating.

Fast and friendly service! All of the food we ordered tasted so fresh (make sure to get the Chicken…read moreShawarma Sandwich). Makes for the perfect lunch pit-stop between thrifting in Wicker Park!

I forgot how good this place is!! Came by tonight around 9pm and was provided friendly service and…read morea fantastic meal. The kofta kebab was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Baba Ghanoush was delicious as well. They were a little heavy handed with the oil on top, but it still tasted great!

I've been hearing for a long time that Al Bawadi Grill had some of the best Middle Eastern food…read morearound, so I finally had to give it a try. From the moment you walk in, you can smell the food cooking. The atmosphere was great too. The music playing in the background, the decor, and the food videos on the TVs all came together and made the place feel lively and welcoming. The staff was super nice and made us feel welcome right away. I decided to order the Filet Mignon Kabab, which came with grilled onions, tomatoes, red and yellow rice. The meat ended up being cooked well done, which wasn't my choice, but honestly it was still packed with flavor. From the first bite, all the seasoning came through. The outside had a nice char from the grill, while the marinade added a savory blend of spices that soaked deep into the meat. Even though it was cooked more than I normally like, every bite still had a rich beefy flavor. The rice was amazing too, richer flavor that paired perfectly with the kabab. I can definitely see why people talk about this place so much. I'd definitely come back and try more from the menu.

4.5/5 Food is good…read moreKababs are ok but still pretty good Fish is also good Bread is fresh Good eat in Great service

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.

This place is good. Legit good food. Went for the first time the other night and was very happy w…read moreservice, food, atmosphere etc. Will be back for sure.

Delicious Turkish breakfast! Would definitely return. Amazing menemen with soujouk, tbh amazing…read morefries, amazing honey with the lil butter YUM. Waiters were very nice and also lots of space for a weekend brunch