Service + Interior: 4 Price vs. Quantity: 3.5 Food Taste: 3 Nesh is pretty decent. The food tastes fresh, they give you a decent amount, and the price is reasonable. The downfall is you're limited on the amount of sides/toppings you can put on your plate (3 sides/toppings) and the food isn't very consistent in quality. I would never try and convince anyone to not try out Nesh, however. The first time I ate at Nesh I got the chicken shwarma plate with pickles, Jerusalem salad, and hummus. I wanted more of the other toppings but you're limited to the 3. I had to pass on the pita unfortunately (gluten problems) so I didn't get to try it out. When I took a bite of it, I thought it was delicious. The rice (I think, maybe chicken?) has a citrus flavor in it which was refreshing and unique as far as I've come by. It was cooked well, not dry. The chicken was moist, but not a whole lot of flavor. The pickles were plentiful and tasty. The hummus was very tasty in my opinion and the Jerusalem salad was fresh. All of it combined made a satisfying meal. Fast forward to the next time I ate there. I ordered the same plate as before because I really liked it. I went with a coworker, and there was some sort miscommunication. He was given a combo platter even though he doesn't eat beef. So I gave him half of my chicken for his steak. I was actually excited to try to the steak. Unfortunately it was disappointing. The flavor was fine, but the steak was very tough and a little grisly. It wasn't enjoyable to eat. My chicken shwarma was dry, the Jerusalem salad was a little mushy, I was given a much smaller helping of hummus, and the food was just warm. That meal was nowhere near as satisfying as the first time I ate there. The difference may have been going before the lunch rush the second time around, so I received food that was sitting around for longer instead of the freshly made stuff during the rush. I am willing to go back and try it a third time in hopes of obtaining the satisfaction from the first meal. read more

I went to Nesh the other day for the first time and there may have been something wrong with their bread that day. Something like that... because I didn't order anything related to eggplant, but the wrap bread itself smelled strongly of it. It really made the taste of the rest of everything quite unpleasant. I would add to that - the falafel were quite dry. The place itself is nicely done inside. Well-designed, etc. read more

This place is basically the Mediterranean version of Chipotle. I visited during the lunch hour and the line was out of the door, but it moved very quickly. They mainly have a build your option, starting with your style (flatbread, pita, rice or a salad), then you choose your protein, toppings and side. I ordered a chicken shawarma pita & the mint lemonade. Get the lemonade! It's so good!! Also, grab plenty of napkins before you sit down to eat. Things will get messy. The meal and the service was great. This place is a good, quick, Mediterranean option. read more

I discovered Nesh while I was an undergrad at DePaul University since they used to be located in Lincoln Park. That location has since closed and is now around the corner from my office. It's like we are growing up together. The food has always been fresh and full of flavor. The Taste of Nesh is a great dish if you are really hungry and want to try everything. Also, I would recommend the chicken shawarma over the steak because there is a lot of gristle in the steak. And the salmon kabobs are delicious and a great add-on if you're extremely hungry. When they opened a few years ago, I was excited and recommended it to all of my co-workers and even to my boss. We now have Nesh cater our lunch meetings with their lunch boxes which comes with a shrock (think Mediterranean burrito), pita chips with hummus, and a brownie. The brownie is fantastic btw however, the hummus is quite bland. The food is good, but with all of the other Mediterranean options nearby (Roti, Benjyehuda, Mezza, iDOF, GRK, Naf Naf, etc.) it is hard for Nesh to differentiate. The salmon kabob is the only reason that keeps me going back to Nesh. read more

Nesh Mediterranean Grill - Chicken Shawarma Shrock - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Met a friend for lunch and wanted to try something different. Pros: Fast! It was so fast! and the food was really good! I was a little worried based on the other reviews and sure, it isn't like the guy in the back came from Lebanon but for fast-food Mediterranean I was pleasantly surprised. Clean inside with plenty of seating. Cons: The "pita bread" was disgusting. It's like bread that has been grilled to look like pita. Skip it. I know this is silly but the trays were really small and kind of flimsy- I was worried my tray was going to break when I was carrying it. Overall: I wouldn't necessarily come here often, especially with so many options in this area (west loop) but I wouldn't be disappointed to come again if someone suggested it. read more

The food is pretty decent. I think the customer service could be better. One of the ladies is very quick and doesn't really wait for you to say your choice and almost starts putting something else until u correct her. I found it kind of weird because it was like she was assuming my choice of toppings before I even said it lol. She started another order from beginning to finish while mine was waiting there ready to go because I saw another server notice it was done and take over. Food is decent though. read more

Great lunch spot!! I tried the falafel and steak schwarma and both were delicious! The falafel was perfectly crispy and the steak was nice and tender. Their rice also has a lot of flavor which was a nice surprise (I feel like the rice at most Mediterranean restaurants is very bland). I will definitely come back!! read more

Best Mediterranean in the Loop!! Staff is amazing and always welcomes me and my colleagues with a smile. Get the Shawafel Shrock, you can thank me later! read more

Of all the good fast casual mediterranean you can get in Chicago, this is not the place to go. It's not fresh and there's nothing unique about it. Their lamb gyro meat continues to taste undercooked to me and I do not like their tzatiki so I am going to stop going read more

Nesh has great value. Delicious food, great seasoning on the chicken and beef, and generous portion sizes. I recommend the Taste of Nesh, because you get a little bit of many things they have to offer. It includes steak shawarma, chicken kabob and falafel, along with hummus, rice and Jerusalem salad. I also love their lentil soup. Anyone looking for tasty fast casual Mediterranean food won't be disappointed. read more

Was on my way to Naf Naf and stumbled on this place. It's always a good sign when the pita is warm and tasty. Such was the case and all trended up from there. Schwarma couscous, hummus, falafel. All good! Thanks for saving me a longer walk! read more

The food is good. I love their wraps and pita is good quality that doesn't fall apart. I also love that they carry Kibbeh! You can add any kind of ingredients you wish on sandwiches and salads. read more

Not sure why a Mediterranean cuisine has hot sauce and chipotle sauce. Pros: Falafal was exceptionally good. Cons: The chicken kabab was very dry, chicken shwarma was bit on the raw side. May not be the best choice for Mediterranean food. read more

I went to Nesh today for lunch and it was divine! The service was great and the food was fresh! I cant express how good this place really is! Its like the Chipotle of Mediterranean food, but fancier plates. You get to pick and choose what you want on your plate, and its made right in front of you. I got the chicken kabob, sided with their amazing hummus, kuskus and red cabbage and olives. I just posted a pic check it out! Everything was flavorful and fresh. OHHH YEAH the best part, fresh baked pita while you wait in line! All for under $10 bucks with a drink!!! Yelpers you cant beat that! Great quality food without making you broke! But definitely full! read more

The food was okaish. I loved the falafel but everything else was pretty average. Staff was nice and the location is very nice. It's just a local Mediterranean restaurant without any special effects ! Oh but you can try the mint lemonade ! It's awesome read more

Quick and delicious, moderately priced. I had the chicken shawarma salad with all the fixings. I loved the red cabbage and Jerusalem salad, didn't much care for the other toppings. The fatoush dressing was delicious. I left feeling light and not overly full. I'd recommend. read more

I was recently handed a coupon postcard to try Nesh, so being a good and hungry citizen I tried them out for the first time earlier this week. I ordered a chicken kabob rice plate, and selected hummus, couscous and mixed tomato / cucumber as the three sides. The girl behind the counter asked if I wanted bread, and I said sure since it comes along with the meal. Everything about the rice plate was fine, but the flavors pale in comparison to Roti. The big slab of pita bread was more bread-like than pita-like. The staff seemed friendly enough but a bit slow, not that I was in a great hurry to take my lunch to go. I did not dislike Nesh, but I'd need another coupon or some similar deal to lure me back. They have outdoor seating on Wells alongside the lovely and loud CTA tracks. read more

I can't believe the reviews are so low for this location. I've previously reviewed the LP location, but feel like I owe it to these guys to write a few words (as I frequent this location at least 3x a week). First off, the staff here is great. Everyone is friendly, the manager goes out of his way to say hi and strike up a conversation every time I'm in there and they love pushing a soup or fallafel sample on you (who am I to say no to that?). The food is awesome, I think its a notch better than the rest of the Mediterranean in the loop (most of which is pretty good). Some of the best steak Shawarma is the city, it has a nice char to it (which I prefer), while still remaining flavorful and tender. Big fan of the fallafel and their sauces too. I tend to go with the salad which they top with plenty of toppings and provides a filling lunch for under $10. I am also partial to the shrock wrap which I think they roll (stretch?) in house. Its basically like a burrito, but the texture is so much better. It is thinner, with an almost gummy chew to it (I know that description isn't doing it justice in the least, but trust me on this). And the pita bread, almost always fluffy and freshly baked, also one of my favorites out there. A cup of lentil soup for a buck too, come on. Don't let all the negative comments dissuade you, give this spot a try. read more

My company ordered out from here. I ordered the Taste of Nesh and a side of humus and pita bread. The food was cold, chicken was cold and dry. The rice was bland and dry like it was day old rice being reserved. Steak shawarma had grisle but actually did have some favor. The falafel was small hard dry and cold perhaps overcooked or yesterdays falafel. The pita bread was stale and tough. The only thing that was ok was the humus. I ended up throwing out most my plate because I was questioning how fresh it or if I was eating leftovers. I will never eat at this place again. Check it out for yourself and tell me If I am wrong. I am not...look at the other reviews of this place. I am not alone in this review. read more

The food was ok. Nothing to write home about. Some of the worst falafel I have had. I was eating there when it was not too busy and heard one of the managers yelling orders at her employees. Not very professional for a new restaurant opening up. Best Mediterranean food I have had is in wicker park. It was 4 dollars for a pita and they have sriracha. read more

Before this place goes broke, they might want to fix this. Today, I ordered a fetoush salad (south Wells Street). I got a dry, tasteless salad. No Sumac, no dry pita, no lemon juice, no olive oil. Nothing. I know what the salad should be....this isnt even close. These guys have a lot of competition in the area. Just a heads-up. I hope they're not mangling other Mediterranean foods. I left them a Facebook entry to try and tell the management. Their website gave me an error when i tried to leave a message. Good luck to them. They will need it. Back to Roti and Mezza! read more

I really don't understand all the horrible ratings. This is such a great lunch spot if you work in the Loop - tasty food at awesome prices. I had the Chicken Shawarma Pita and the rice plate and both were delicious. My favorite thing about this place is that the food is not heavy, I don't feel guilty when I eat their food. Very sad to see this place with such bad ratings, but I do hope they stick around for awhile. I suggest you look pass all the negative reviews on this place and try Nesh! read more

Solid 3 stars here. The pros: -like chipotle, pick a plate, salad, burrito/wrap deal -cheap lunch at under $8.00 -patio -yummy baba gonoush The cons: -lots of bland rice, little protein -the bar of tzchotskies for the toppings is served by employees -the herd you through here quick! So you better know what you want. -patio is under the el-- gets loud Overall a solid lunch option in the loop for half of what I spend at Pret close to the office. read more

Great people, making great food! Today is my last day working in the loop (off to new adventures!), and I'm going to miss having this loop lunch staple so nearby! The falafel is always crispy and moist, not too dense or dry, just perfect! It goes perfectly with the garlicky baba ghanouj. Not to mention, the yummy lentil soup has been my saving grace in this cold, bitter winter. Seriously, I'd eat this by the vat. SO GOOD. I'm going to miss this place! read more

Nesh's food is good enough. It won't blow your mind but will hit the spot when you're hungry and want something quick. Their signature shrock (with steak and falafel) is tasty and a sizeable portion. What I really, really dislike about Nesh is how you are rushed down the line even when they are not busy. This happened to me on the only two occasions I've been there. First, a very grumpy woman that was adding the toppings just kept rushing us along saying, "Next! Next! Next" when a friend and I were deciding on the toppings we wanted. There was no one behind us! Today, what appeared to be the chef/manager had just taken the order of the person in front of us and was preparing that when he was yelling at both me and my friend for our order. We just walked in and were clearly looking at the menu above and were not ready. And again, a grumpy dude putting the toppings on rushing us along. No...one...behind...us. Even at their busiest, similar locales nearby (benjyehuda, mezza, IDOF, Roti) do not ever make me feel like they are doing me a favor by serving me my lunch. Good customer service goes a long way with me. Nesh's bad service coupled with their quite average fare will make them my last choice for my mediterranean cravings. read more

I'm surprised by all of the bad reviews. This place just opened up a few weeks ago, and is well organized, nicely decorated and squeaky clean with a friendly staff. Great lentil soup! Best in the area actually. Their Mediterranean food is pretty good, but there are a lot of places in the area that offer the same things. I was a little disappointed that this place doesn't have fries like it's sister location. Their falafel is the same as most places around here: just ok. It's spicy too. I've had their steak shwarma and the tenderloin kebab, both were good. It's the soup. My go-to for a cheap lunch out. read more

Stopped by here for lunch and ordered Taste of Nesh (Steak Shawarma, Chicken Kabob, Falafel, Rice, Hummus, Tahini Salata, and Pickles). This is all assembled in a made to order fashion akin to Chipotle. I asked for the spicy sauce and some marinated red onions. They tried to charge me 50 cents extra but I refused. Not sure how you can charge extra w/o disclosing such fees anywhere. In either case, I got my marinated red onions. Dont try to be a Chipotle concept and then try to arbitrarily nickle and dime customers. Everyone has different tastes. I really liked the hummus and the pita provided at checkout went well with it. The chicken kabob was quite tasty and meat was moist, not dry. The steak shawarma was real beef and not that gelatinous crap they put on a stick and rotate cook at the cheap fake Mediterranean places. It was a really good and refreshing meal, probably one of the better ones I had for lunch while in Chicago. The whole mean cost was just a tad under 10$. Decent value. I would have given 4 stars if it wasnt for the service I received when asking for the marinated red onions. read more

I don't know what other reviewers are complaining about, but this is the best Middle Eastern food restaurant in the loop. Right now, you are asking, but have you been to [x] restaurant? Yes, I have and it was probably ok. My Middle Eastern friends and I agree on this point. As a bonus, the portion sizes are also fairly substantial. Another reviewer gave this place a ding because the line moved too quickly. In my book, if you work in the loop, that's a positive and not a negative. read more

One of the other yelpers said it best...this is just run of the mill Medi food. I'd take Taza, IDOF, or Roti over this any day. The food was mediocre at best. The only redeeming factor was the warm, puffed pita. However, with only a measly dallop of hummus, I was not able to dip and chew as I normally do. The meat portion was paltry and kind of dry and overcooked. The heaping pile of rice overwhelmed my plate. If I wanted a plate of rice I'd have gone to some chinese joint. I felt rushed through the line, and as a new place you'd think they'd be going above and beyond in the CS area. The only redeeming factor here was the nice girl helping ring me up asking if I wanted a soup sample, per my question of what the soup was (it was not listed anywhere on the menu). Sorry, but I won't be back. read more

Loved it! Needed a quick bite before headed to airport. Employee working line and register was very friendly. I ordered a chicken wrap, filled with various ingredients and it was delicious! I'm so glad I stumbled upon this place. read more

I am sorry to agree with the other reviews- Nesh really isn't as good as the other Mediterranean lunch options in the area- I would choose Roti over Nesh any day of the week. I can't quite put my finger on what makes this place so sub-par, but the flavors and quality of the ingredients definitely are below standard when it comes to lunch in the Loop! I had a make-your-own steak salad with hummus yesterday (remembering my lovely, identical-looking salad from Roti the week before) and the only thing I really enjoyed ended up being the pita. It's too bad really, but I recommend you to avoid this one if you can! read more

The outside has some kind of construction. But the food was still good. Fresh and worth the walk in the rain. Seating was a bit hard to find. We went during the lunch hour rush, it was a good find. read more

I left one star before and now I realize why. Went here again and ordered the chicken shwarma half rice half salad plate. I goty toppings and got all the toppings and then paid $14 at the cashier!! I didn't realize why until I got my receipt...I got charged for my six extra toppings. My friend behind me got told she could o ly have three or pay extra. That wasn't communicated to me. She said it was $10 and she got three pieces of chicken and her three toppings and left hungry and there was no salt and no flavor. What med restaurant these days charges for extra toppings??? We won't be back and I've got the two one star reviews to remind me. read more

It would seem I have made it my own personal goal to eat every falafel within a 1 mile radius of my office...So today I decided to pay a visit to Nesh crappy Yelp reviews be damned! Overall, Nesh was just unremarkable. It wasn't bad, but I've had better. My initial plan was to get the falafel shrock, but upon actually seeing the flatbread, I opted for the pita instead. The flatbread looked like a giant tortilla, and I prefer my flatbread with a little more fluffiness and chewiness. From a texture stand point, I actually really enjoyed my food. The pita was soft and chewy. The hummus was creamy and smooth. The falafel was crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and not too dry. From a flavor stand point though, everything was just kind of meh. Everything was bland and the flavors all seemed to meld together into nothingness. And either the girl forgot my onions or they were the weakest onions on the planet because I didn't taste them at all. As for the restaurant itself, like every other Medi place I've been to in the Loop, this place is clean and modern with assembly line style ordering (aka the Chipotle food production model). The first girl on the assembly line looked like she had no interest in being there. There was a guy standing behind her that I think was an owner or manager or someone in charge. He was kind of rude, yelling at the first girl to hand out lentil soup samples while also trying to get customer orders started and practically forcing said samples on the customer. I love a free sample as much as the next guy, but sometimes I'm just not interested. Everyone else I encountered was quite pleasant. Service was kind of slow, but I actually think that had more to do with the people ahead of me in line than it did with the staff. And Nesh was still faster than the nearby IDOF. Overall, I think there are better options in the loop, and with a BenjYehuda location opening in my office building and Mezza in the building next door, I don't seem much reason to return to Nesh except maybe the lentil soup becasue that sample I was forced to take was actually pretty outstanding. read more

A coworker swears by this place and will order falafel and soup for lunch regularly. On a middle eastern/Mediterranean kick while I'm in the Loop, I decided to follow her lead. The set up is a little "chipotle" where you pick the type of meal and then choose your 5 included garnishes. For about $12, I got a salad with 2 meats and a cup of lentil soup. You can also choose a plate with rice or a shrock or rolled flatbread. My toppings were pickles, red cabbage, Jerusalem salad, hot sauce, and tzatziki to go with my steak shawarma and chicken kebab. The kebab is all white meat chicken, cubed, marinated and grilled. It had a really nice, subtle flavor and stayed a bit moist despite being white meat and sitting in a warming tray. I favored it over the steak shawarma. Not that the steak wasn't tasty, because it was, but I picked out too much cartilage and hard bits of fatty vein to really enjoy it. I suppose that's the hazard of shawarma. The toppings are meh. The red cabbage seemed to be simply dressed in olive oil and herb so it didn't add much flavor, pickles were nice, and I didn't care for the cucumber in the Jerusalem salad. It just seemed off in the salad. I could say the same with the tzatziki. I didn't get much cucumber out of it. Maybe I'll try the spicy hummus next time. The lentil soup I added for $1 was the big winner for me. It's heavy on cumin and black pepper and you can actually see the lentil in it. I can see how my coworker can make that a meal so often. I hear the mint lemonade is awesome but I skipped it today. Sounds like it would be great on a hot day...with some rum. read more

Nesh Mediterranean Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My sister took me here today to try out the food and I loved it! I just started working back in the loop and it's nice to get variety. When it comes to a restaurant in the loop there are a few things I look for: - Prices - Service (Are they fast? Is it friendly?) - Quality of Food - Does it cater to people who work? This place was inexpensive, the service was great and fast, and the food was fresh and tasty. The dining area was fairly big with quite a bit of seating. I's great spot to get some good fresh fast food. I will definitely be back. i read more

I do like the Chipotle-like concept, but was very underwhelmed by my experience at Nesh. I got the flatbread wrap (forgot the term) with falafel and many fix-ins. The falafels were indeed delicious, and I really liked how one of the clerks gave us a falafel to munch on while we were making our decision in line. The portion was very big (I was only able to eat half of the wrap) but there wasn't much flavor, and the wrap got soggy (despite all of the fixins being dry, except for the tzatziki sauce). I might've just had a bad experience with the flatbread wrap, but I most probably will not be returning, especially considering the other Mediterranean food-turned Chipotle concept that can be found all over the Loop. read more

The manager contacted me and offered a free lunch to make up for my first experience. I appreciate this and the food had improved from when they first opened. It's not so bad, but I still feel there are better options near by. Many of my coworkers really like nesh though. read more

After my first/poor experience at Nesh, the manager invited me and a friend to give it another try. He explained that they take customer suggestions to heart, and even revamped the way they charge for add-on items - which is pretty cool! Now they only charge for "premium" items, like their imported olives. Makes sense. So I brought a friend to give Nesh another go. We both had salads, mine with grilled veggies and hers with chicken. All of the ingredients were fresh and had a nice blend. I thoroughly enjoyed the veggies and wished I had more. My friend said the chicken was just right. Overall, they offer a decent plate. One thing I don't love is their cous cous, but can't have 'em all. Overall, I appreciate Nesh's efforts to show customers they care and have a lot to offer. With that said, they're a solid establishment and I'll be back. read more

My work caters from here all the time. Probably a healthier alternative to all the other fast food joints--relatively healthy and light. I've definitely had better mediterranean food but it's decent! Love their rice, falafel, and hummus. read more

Nesh Mediterranean Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois