Everything was delicious. Lentil soup was piping hot, like I like it. Falafel could have been more flavorful but it was crispy enough. I will be going back for the shwarma. read more

Came here prior to visiting the nearby theater. I've always seen this place but never knew what it was. When we arrived on a Friday evening, it wasn't really crowded. We were seated right away on the outside patio. The ambiance was a very stunning little escape from the hustle and bustle of the area. The menu was robust but my partner and I knew that we were crunch for time, I ordered the lamb chop kebab & I believe he ordered the steak. Mine came with a house salad which was good. Our entrees came out quickly and were delicious. The waitress and staff was friendly, it made for a lovely date night. read more

See all

For decades, the Nile was a reliable source of tasty, healthy Middle Eastern food in Hyde Park. Then the University sponsored their move to a bigger location on 55th Street. Suddenly, with mass production the quality went down. Today most of the food is carelessly prepared, often dried out and tasteless. The hummus, formally a standout for years even after the general decline is now a soggy watered down tasteless mass. In tonight's order, the baklava was left off and though I live literally 4 blocks from the restaurant when I called, they said well we'll just give you a free one the next time you order. Well there probably won't be a next time. A restaurant that actually valued its customers and wanted to keep them would say hey let's send you two baklava to make up for it. But no. I was hoping for one good thing out of this order, but they failed to deliver it. Sadly, I think I'm done with this place. read more

My 13-year-old son and I have officially made this "our spot". We absolutely love The Nile for its consistency, nice portion sizes, and lowkey vibe in Hyde Park where you can also find parking without the usual hassle. read more

I moved away from Chicago some years back, we happened to visit the area for the first time in years, and happened upon one of our old favorites - The Nile... and, they've still got it! The food is still on-point. Great food, great service, generous portions for a good price, and lastly the same chill, cozy ambience. And the main server is still there! We left extremely happy and nostalgic. 5/5 stars always. Never a bad moment. read more

One of the most consistently delicious restaurants in Hyde Park. Never misses and you can't go wrong if you're looking for authentic Mediterranean food. I usually do take out, but is a nice atmosphere for dining in as well. read more

The food at the Nile is wonderful! I suggest the Mezze appetizer and the Steak in a Sack entree. Since moving to their new location some years ago, there is much more dining space with a more modern design. The wait staff is ok, could be better for my taste, however, considering there are only 2 of them, I would stick with adequate. read more

Great portions, excellent service and I find midday or evenings are great. The ambiance is quiet and an amazing atmosphere.

The food was ok I enjoyed the lentil soup especially. Not the friendliest service to be a large restaurant that probably has alot of dining in. There was no warm greetings and a little hurried service and there was only one other person in there other than our party of three. But my friends also liked their food so it was ok. read more

We did not have a great experience, most notably because of poor service. The waitress slammed every course down on the table, even spilling my soup not only to the layering plate but onto the table and then did not even acknowledge it. They rushed us to order, to pay, and then we felt pressured and left despite it being before closing time. When we first sat down, the table and chairs were so wobbly that we both swapped our chair with one from another table because it was so distracting. They were out of grape leaves, which happens, but I feel like should've found a way to make up for it on the mezze platter. Both the falafel and hummus were good but somehow did not taste anything like chickpeas. The vegetarian maklouba was incredibly underwhelming, primarily in terms of flavor but also texture. I would not order it again. I'd be willing (and honestly curious) to give Nile another chance, but to be honest, if I had this same experience again, I would not recommend it to anyone. I hope for their and the Hyde Park community's sake that this was a one-off. read more

The food is low quality, the meats are disappointing, and the flavors are bland. Some people may think it's good simply because they don't really know what authentic Mediterranean food is supposed to taste like. read more

Ordered dinner for 10 several weeks ago. Annual party with past coworkers. Asked group what they would like (loads of choices in Hyde Park), and they said, "The food we had last year". So, The Nile it was! Ordered a large variety of dishes. Owner (who is ALWAYS fabulous, helped me plan the menu. Hummus, falafel, lamb, shrimp, salmon, shawarma, salad and Mediterranean rice. Food was FABULOUS and portions were generous. Everything was perfectly packaged and delivery was on time and perfect. THEN....Family from out of town came to visit this week and what did they want??...food from The Nile. It was delicious! This remains one on my FAVORITE restaurants. So happy it is right here in Hyde Park. read more

Solid, no frills option for middle eastern food. Very casual, service is helpful and direct. As others have noted the portions are very large. My friend ordered a vegetarian rice dish she loved. We shared an order of falafel which was pretty good. The hummus looked great- I regret not ordering some. I had a kebab plate with chicken and beef which was very good and great quality. I think the prices are very fair and comparable to other similar restaurants like Kebobi up in Albany Park. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area but likely wouldn't go out of my way if I wasn't in the neighborhood. I look forward to returning and trying a wider range of menu items the next time I'm nearby! read more

Portion sizes are great and the food is tasty. However, the service was extremely rude the last time I dined in. I wonder how this place stays open given how empty it looks most nights. read more

I love the Nile. Have been going there for 40 years and it's still excellent. Their hummus is the absolute best in Chicagoland and I always order the shish tauok. Never been disappointed! read more

I love the food here especially the Shish Taouk Chicken. The portion to price ratio is great- it's essentially two meals.

Extremely high quality middle eastern spot in Hyde Park. Everything we had was delicious. Baba is a standout along with their lentil soup and kabobs. Place was pretty empty on a Sat night but they were doing a lot of delivery and takeout business. Service was professional and friendly. No liquor license but that is fine - you can go next door to Woodlawn Tap afterward! read more

With a yelp rating of only 3.9 we only ate here because it's close to the Court Theatre, but it turned out to be the best Middle Eastern food we have ever had. We had the mezze appetizer with falafel, stuffed grape leaves, baba ghanoush, hummus, , homemade yogurt, and middle Eastern, olives, and pickles and everything was fantastic. The falafel, which is usually too dry for our taste, was crispy on the outside and moist and flavorful on the inside. We split an order of the Maklouba, which consists of layers of eggplant, potatoes, cauliflower, chicken, garlic, rice, and spices braised in a pot, which is then flipped over leaving a layered cake of delicious ingredients on our plate. With the Jerusalem salad (which was also very good) our total bill only came to $45, and we took home lots of leftovers. Wow ! read more

such an affordable dining option in Hyde Park!!!! The portions are giNORmous and the food comes out so hot and fast. I'm always so excited when the Nile caters events on campus because you already know it's gonna hit but you guys should check out the actual restaurant too. It's bright and the conversation fills up the room to the high ceilings. I always share the Mezze, an appetizer sampler, and any of the meat dishes are so juicy and yummy tbh. Truly a Hyde Park gem! read more

Nile Restaurant Hyde Park - Inside - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Among the best Mediterranean food around is located on 57th in Hyde Park in this awesome establishment. It always has had great service and food. Nile is a longtime favorite among locals and students. Maybe prices are kind of high on some things, but for around here they aren't bad. There's lots of healthy food for meat eaters and vegetarians alike and most people here should be happy. Got here recently and had lunch. It wasn't too busy in spite of it being in the middle of the week and UC students all around the place. The service was pretty fast too. I wanted to get a lot more but of course, budget. We had the Hummus. It's $5 for the appetizer. This is creamy and garnished with paprika. Good stuff and even though the portion wasn't large we got satisfied anyway. I had the Falafel Sandwich. This is $7.50 and is a pretty good size. Has many good things to choose from. It has quite a few meaty entrees but there's plenty that are not. This has some great things for vegans and vegetarians. read more

Nile Restaurant Hyde Park - Hummus And The Falafel Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My team and I ordered lunch from here. I ordered the chicken shawerma. I chose to have rice instead of potatoes. It comes with soup or salad and I chose the Lebanese salad. I also ordered the hummos. The salad was ok, the hummos was delicious, and the chicken shawerma was tender and tasty. The veggies that came with it were a little overcooked for my taste, but they were seasoned well and went well with the rice chicken. read more

Nile Restaurant Hyde Park - Chicken Shawerma, Lebanese salad, hummos and pita - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food, fast efficient service, nice ambiance, great for catering too! The Nile has been our longtime go to eatery for many years. Nice comfortable seating great for family, friends or meetings! read more

Why? It's 2024 "The salad tasted like it was prepped in the backseat of someone's car. The lettuce was drowning in vinegar, and by the time I got to the soggy croutons (which might've been fresh...a week ago), I was ready to call it quits. The bread? Old, dry, and sad. If you know your way around the kitchen, this place will have you clutching your pearls. But if you can't boil water without burning it, you might think this food is a masterpiece. Trust me, the 'flavors' are doing too much, and none of it in a good way." read more

Awesome Chicken shawarma! First time here and I'll be back! Also got some of the hummus that was very good as well!

Great food and great prices. Excellent customer service. Great location . Timely service also

Although I haven't here in a while, I would still recommend this restaurant. The service is great and the food was always good. I will be visiting again soon because they are a neighborhood staple! read more

This place is amazing. Enjoyed my food. The service is outstanding, and pretty good atmosphere. Recommended 100% read more

Good service and a nicely priced lunch special was my experience at the Nile. For $10 I had choice of two items from a satisfactory list of options. I chose lentil soup and chicken shawarma. Because the lentils had been so finely puréed the soup lacked much substance but I enjoyed the flavor. The chicken was much like a gyro. The top of a round pita loaf was pinched off and the inside stuffed with grilled chicken chunks, onions, and tomatoes coated with a thin cream sauce. Street parking only for this large, open space. read more

Nile Restaurant Hyde Park - Chicken Shawarma. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

A good time! The service was diligent but not interruptive. The entrees did come a bit late but they give you delicious pitas and lintel soup before hand that offset the wait. I got the beef and lamb shawarma and enjoyed it. The decorating seemed a bit dated on the inside, but good for a casual or semi formal occasion. read more

Delicious food! I got a combo of delicious yellow rice with shrimp kebabs with vegetables on the side. It also came with a salad and bread. This fed me for 3 meals! The leftovers are equally delicious. My cousin and friend ordered lamb and chicken shawarmas. Everyone loved the food. The lunch and dinner deals are great. My meal was pricier than what they got, but its so worth it. One con would be how my kebab stick was just bent in the box. There were splinters of wood inside my shrimp and rice. If that gets improved it would make this a 5 star experience. read more

See all

Baby Friendly: 2 stars Kid Friendly: 4 stars It's about time I update my review, I eat here all the time. The Nile has good food, comfortable seating, helpful staff, reasonable prices, and everything is quick! The outdoor patio is great. We eat outside anytime we can. This is one of the better outdoor patios in Hyde Park. It isn't along the street. I have had most of the food on the menu (if not all). I can't think of anything that I didn't like, but here are our favorites: -Hummus (their hummus is the best! it has a bit of lemon juice and some other liquid that make it fantastic!) -Lentil soup -Lebanese salad -Chicken shawerma entree with potatoes -Shish Taouk entree with potatoes -Mo Jadara They are still BYOB The restaurant is kid friendly. There's enough space to bring in a stroller, they have high chairs, no one looks at you funny if the kids make a little noise, the food is kid friendly, and everything comes out pretty quickly. However they don't have a changing table for a baby. read more

Nile Restaurant Hyde Park - Great outdoor patio! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Always so good and fresh! Came home to Chicago and this is the first place i came! Authentic, healthy, satisfyingly delicious!! read more

Nile Restaurant Hyde Park - Hummos Tabbouleh Salad Chicken Shawerma - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you are looking for good Mediterranean food in the Hyde Park area, this is the place to go! The price is decent for the large portions they give you. You will end up taking some leftovers home unless you are really hungry and can eat the whole thing in one sitting. My friends and I ordered the hummus (3 kinds), and falafel. The falafels are made fresh so it's warm and not too oily. The hummus with eggplant (I believe) had a little kick to it and it was flavorful. I ordered the beef and lamb shawarma and chicken shawarma platter and I wanted to try both since it was my first time. The chicken is way better since the beef and lamb was more dry. The platter comes with the Jerusalem salad, pita, and rice. The Jerusalem salad had more sauce than the vegetables itself so it was more soupy. The appetizers itself was very fulfilling especially with the pitas. I ended up taking my main course home since i couldn't finish it. They also give you a lot! I definitely will come here again if I'm ever craving Mediterranean food. read more

Nile Restaurant Hyde Park - Combination platter: beef and lamb shawarma and chicken schwarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was in the area looking for a location to eat food, and I found Nile Restaurant. I found it to be nothing spectacular upon entrance, the atmosphere of the restaurant being that of a stereotypical hole-in-the-wall. I ordered a Vegetarian Makloub because the Makloub was marked as "Chef's Favorite" dish. Service was fast and efficient, and the waitress was very nice. Water was brought out, and then pita bread in a basket that sat on the table for around 10-15 minutes. It was hot when it arrived, but because it was a side for the Makloub I waited until my entrée was given to me to eat it, and in the time I waited it became pretty cold. When the dish arrived, I began to taste it. I'm not sure why, but had very little flavor. I was expecting an abundance of spices, which I feel would've elevated the dish considerably, but those spices were untastable on my dish. Perhaps it was because I ordered the vegetarian option, which contained none of the traditionally-included meat, but if a lack of meat makes the dish bland, why include that option on the menu at all? I must say, though, that all the vegetables were very well cooked, and if I'd been able to try the dish with tastable spices I think it would've been fantastic. Nile Restaurant has a lot of potential to elevate their dishes, and I jolly well hope they harness it. My experience at that restaurant wasn't negative in the least, but it could have been better. read more

Nile Restaurant Hyde Park - Vegetarian Maklouba - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very bad service. Wait nearly an hour to get entree. Soups were spilled. Rushing us to finish even when the restaurant is not that busy and even when we started the entree for 15 minutes. read more

Always great food any option you get, good service too! Setting is nice too, always very chill in here read more

Nile Restaurant Hyde Park - Middle Eastern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

When we arrived, there were only 2 other diners in the restaurant, and yet someone from behind the kitchen counter motioned at us to sit down, and we had to take our own menu. We ordered a large red lentil soup, a fattoush salad, and a chicken shawarma wrap. The red lentil soup was yellow and only lukewarm. I explained to the waitress that it was yellow, not red, like the menu said, and she tersely informed me that it's the only lentil soup. The salad leaves were soggy, and the fattoush had pickles in it but no radishes. It needed feta and some flavor. The homemade chips were alright, and the chicken shawarma wrap was better than Cedars. At the end of the meal, the waitress brought us some to go containers after having to explain our request a couple times and a crumpled check. She was working all of the tables in the whole restaurant (it filled up to over 50% capacity as we were there), and she seemed a little frazzled. I think they can improve their hospitality, food quality, and communication. Maybe we will order a larger entree next time as those platters looked better than what we ordered. read more

I love their food! The staff are always friendly and so are the delivery people. Whenever I need comfort food, I order from Nile Restaurant Hyde Park. read more

Regarding the food, I have one word - Yummy!!! I'm always greeted with a warm and genuine smile when I come to pick up my carry out order. Great customer service. read more

We ordered takeout from here and it was very bland and I was regretting that I hadn't read my friend Alida's review first. The beef dumplings were soggy and mushy. The chicken shawerma was right on the verge of being dry. The red lentil soup was flavorful, but it was a humid day and I wasn't in the mood for soup. I know it's been a month, but I clearly remember thinking damn, I want zankou (Armenian/Mediterranean chicken place in LA). read more