Great little restaurant. Clean and servers were attentive. Food was excellent and price was fair for the portions.

Really great Mediterranean food and cocktails! I recommend sharing the mushroom pesto flatbread for starters! The bowls are delicious too! Loved the outdoor seating on the river with the boats going by, So peaceful...I Went with friends but definitely recommend it for an afternoon date on the patio. The service was great too! Everyone's friendly and welcoming. Finally, you gotta try the ice cream upstairs before you leave! read more

I enjoyed my experience dining by the river on a Thursday evening just after 6pm. I may just be lucky and was able to walk in and grab a patio seat. It seems like this place is usually more busy. Note that they also have a happy hour menu of drinks and bites from 3-6pm Monday-Friday. It's a serene spot, not loud so you can can relax and chat with the person next to you. The menu is straightforward, pick your base, protein and up to 4 toppings. For drinks, we went for Aperol Spritz and the Maui Coconut Porter, thumbs up on that. Love the food and vibe, and it's a nice change to have a healthier meal on the trip. If you don't happen to score a patio seat, inside is not shabby at all, it's modern and sleek. We finished with beignets and coffee. The beignets are okay but fell a bit flat for us. The coffee was also lukewarm, and we had to ask them to heat it back up for us. They have sweets and cake pop shop upstairs as part of this restaurant so it's perhaps a better bet to end your meal on a sweet note. If you're not feeling that there's also a nearby cupcake shop that was on Cake Wars nearby. read more

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Best Mediterranean food I've had in quite a long time along with just an overall cute space. The indoor dining area has exposed brick and kind of a wine cellar vibe. I stopped by for a solo lunch on a weekday, there was not outdoor seating available so I sat inside which wasn't an issue because it was rather cool inside. I ordered a customized chicken shawarma with pita, feta, olives, and a spicy sauce. It was some of the best tasting Mediterranean food I've had for quite some time and was a definitely worth the walk over. The ingredients all tasted fresh and the flavor was good, I really liked the sauce. Service was friendly and they were super good with drink refills, I only got water but they came by regularly. I didn't see any desserts on the menu so I ended up going to Molly's Cupcakes right nearby and it was the perfect way to end the meal. read more

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------ATMOSPHERE------ Pinched on the River is located near the river. The ambience is perfect for a summer day lunch or dinner. ------FOOD & DRINKS------ Veggie Pita - The veggie pita came with 4 falafels on a bed of pita and lettuce along with hummus. I changed the tahini sauce for garlic sauce. The falafel were soft and some of the best I have ever had. . ------PRICE------ The total price for the meal came out to around 17 dollars. It is not a bad price for the ambience of the restaurant and how big the meal was. WOULD I COME BACK? Yes, it is a great place for fresh Mediterranean food with a great view of the boats and river. read more

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Perfect little hid away place by the river. Great drinks and amazing food! Super friendly staff! read more

Pinched on the River - Peaches and Mezcal - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food was delicious and made me wish I still lived in Chicago so I could eat there once a week!

We really liked it. A little hard to find from Illinois (you go in through a shop and then downstairs) but easy to find from the river walk. Happy hour starts at 3 :) We shared a Victory plate and a spicy kalamata hummus. Enjoyed them both. The pita was good. Tabouleh was very fresh tasting (although husband felt there should be a somewhat higher portion of wheat in it). A delicious slaw. The rice was moist and fluffy. It turned out our server was from Ukraine and things were slow so we spent some time hearing her take on the war. Such a terrible situation! read more

Pinched on the River - Outside by river - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The hostesses was amazing, very kind and welcoming. She made sure we felt welcome and checked on us as we were leaving. It is located downstairs hidden on the river and a sure gem! The food was amazing. I would recommend the bowl to share with an appetizer or on your own. read more

Pinched was recommended by a friend when we were leaving the Duck Derby a few days ago, and we are so happy for the recommendation! The service was great, very attentive and helpful! We ate outside on the river, it was a sunny day and there was shade so the vibe was perfect! I got the chicken shwarma rice bowl with sautéed onions, slaw, black beans and corn, feta with Tzatziki sauce! The meal was super flavorful and filling! I could've had some leftovers if I wanted but I ate every single thing on my plate! It was a really good size portion! The only thing that I would probably not get again is the black beans and corn. The waiter recommended it and said it was very popular there, but it tastes a little bland. Next time I would order the exact same thing but just replace that with greens, just to get a little more veggies in! Also if you're deciding whether or not to get the cabbage slaw, GET THE CABBAGE SLAW!! read more

Pinched on the River - Shwarma Rice Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Chicken shawarma was delicious. Chicken kabob was great also. Fast friendly service. We had a beautiful view by the river. read more

Pinched on the River - White wine and Great Garrison. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wow, you MUST come here if you enjoy Mediterranean food. The food, service, and the location are all phenomenal! There are 2 entrances to Pinched. You can go in through the river walk or you can go in from the street. If you go in from the street, you just have to pass the delicious bakery with cake pops and make your way downstairs. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, and you cannot go wrong with their food. Everything was incredible. Perfectly cooked and perfectly seasoned. **If you want to sit outside by the river, get a reservation.** otherwise, a reservation may not be necessary. read more

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The entrance doesn't look like much as the ice cream counter is in the entry with the restaurant downstairs. The ambiance was great once you entered the tell restaurant. The service was spot on and the food very tasty. They have a gluten free pita that is not as soft as the regular homemade pita but still good. The servings were good sized and the flavors were fresh and tastI enjoyed sitting at a table on the river walk as well. read more

Pinched on the River - This is the bowl with customized items picked. The pita is gluten free - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What a great hidden gem on the river. We came for their happy hour which is from 3-6. They have a host of different items and drinks on the menu to choose from. My boyfriend chose a Moscow mule which was really good and I opted for a beer. We ordered the veggie flatbread pizza, the sliders and the fries with feta. It was the perfect amount of food. I really enjoyed the ambiance of being outside by the river. It was peaceful! Definitely a different vibe than going out to eat on the main river walk. Also, our friendly server surprised us with a birthday treat. We were celebrating my boyfriend's birthday! We'll share this place with our friends and will definitely be back. read more

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Great food and service. Lovely seating right on the river. Inside tables have a great ambiance as well.

It's last meal good I didn't expect to find such excellent Mediterranean food in Chicago, but wow, the chicken shawarma was excellent, seasoned perfectly, the brown rice had a nice spicy flavor, the pita tasted freshly baked, and the beef patty was superb. The spicy homemade red sauce is a must and even the cabbage slaw was over the top. Healthy, delicious, fresh. Can't go wrong here. read more

Pinched on the River - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped here for a quick bite to eat in-between meetings. The gazpacho soup, which is served slightly chilled, was perfect on this hot and humid day in Chicago. The texture of the tomato based soup was medium-bodied so it wasn't soupy nor was it thick. The taste was sweeter than I anticipated but not overwhelming. And the finely chopped vegetables were cooked al dente so there was a bit of a crunch to it. Despite being a small portion I found the gazpacho to be very filling and satisfying. The location of Pinched might be one of my favorites in Chicago. When sitting outside you can enjoy the view of the river, the beautiful trees and foliage. It was so moving that during my brief stay I often forgot I was sitting at a restaurant in Chicago. For a minute I thought I was sitting in a very peaceful small town on the East or West Coast. read more

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We stopped over in this little restaurant for lunch. We entered through the coffee shop you need to continue on down the stairs and wait to be seated. It wasn't crowded for a Sunday. We were able to get seated almost immediately. I ordered the salad bowl with chicken shawarma, hummus, Mediterranean salad, tabouli, and caramelized onion. It was a good cleanse from all the food we were eating during this Chicago trip and it tasted good! The restaurant was neat and there were lights hanging outside on the tree. Kind of wish we could have sat outside but it was raining and snowing. read more

Pinched on the River - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The hummus taste like Potatoes Salad's cousin, it's odd. The chicken and proteins were good though. The service was fine. But the BEST thing about this place is definitely the views. Gorgeous views. Sit outside on a beautiful day and get your life. read more

Unlooked Streeterville spot! Located on the canal next to Robert's Pizza, Pinched offers excellent Mediterranean food in generous portions. I busted with a large group during a work event. Everyone raves about their food. The waiter took his time explaining the menu, and helped each person make a decision with thoughtful suggestions. Most of use went with a rice bowl or salad bowl. I highly recommend the Spicy Beef Chevap! When the food first hit the table, I was convinced I'd need a doggy bag, but then I inhaled it. It was so good! read more

Pinched on the River - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wow!!! What a find!!! Mediterranean - yum! Wine bar - yes, please! The wine list was concise, and each of us loved our wine. I have no idea what I ordered (a Serbian white wine), but it was fantastic. A very well curated selection of wines. I'd go back just for that! The food menu is also decently concise, while offering plenty of options. We each chose to build-a-bowl, and each of us were thoroughly enamored with our food. We talked about it for days! I wasn't impressed with the falafel as an appetizer (it was just falafel and sauce), but it was fine. In the future, I'd be inclined to add falafel to my bowl instead. Ambience is really nice. Our dining felt pretty private, and we could enjoy our conversation. We went at a slow part of the day, and service was very attentive & friendly. Food was quick to come out. And overall we were all extremely happy to have eaten here, and I can't wait to go back! read more

Pinched on the River - Fun sign at the entrance from the street. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great atmosphere right by the river! Super cute lights with their patio and they have fire tower heating lamps that keep you warm on a chillier evening. They have options for wraps, salad bowl, rice bowl or couscous bowl - make your own or choose the specials. Food was fresh and filling. Servers were all great and attentive. The hidden star was the hot chocolate which wasn't on the menu and I forgot to take a picture but it was thick and creamy and not too sweet! read more

Pinched on the River - Salad bowl with chicken shawarma, onions, feta cheese, and red pepper hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pinched on the River is an absolute gem in Chicago! The food is so flavorful--you can really taste the quality in every bite. I highly recommend trying their sangria, which was perfectly refreshing on a warm day after strolling along the riverwalk. The service was quick, and the staff was super friendly. Plus sitting right on the river made the whole experience even better. While we were there during the day and enjoyed the peaceful views, I could tell it must have a great vibe at night, too!! If you're looking for a spot with tasty food, great drinks, and an amazing atmosphere, this is the place to go. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Found Pinched by accident and I am thrilled that we did! The food was delicious - had a rice bowl with a pita + the fish tacos. All excellent. The pita was legit perfect - so freshly made! The hostess and our server were both very friendly and personable. Both excellent! Loved the location with the twinkly lights and the trees along the river. Just an absolutely delightful, low-key, delicious meal. I put this place on "the list" to go back again and again. read more

Loved this place! Great river view and my pet was able to join me at an outside table. Food was wonderful and felt very healthy and filling. I highly recommend the Poseidon Bowl with salmon and other terrific flavors. The hostess was gracious and followed up at the end of the evening to ask about our experience. Server Maryna was very knowledgeable about the menu and answered all our questions and was able to describe the dishes and flavors well. She was attentive and lovely. Two enthusiastic thumbs up! read more

Second time coming here. Love the cultures of Greek, Middle Eastern, and Bosnian mix! I also love that they have healthy options like brown rice. The bowls seem small, but they're very much filling. Bowls will cost about $20 plus tax and tip. Our waitress was a sweetheart and we loved sitting outside. It was a cool day so they brought us blankets to use. So nice! You're right next to Navy Pier, so it's nice to have a nice place to eat away from the crowd. read more

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We made dinner reservations (recommended) and arrived post movie viewing at the nearby AMC. I ordered a make-your-own bowl, with salad as a base, chicken shawarma as a protein, and hummus, black olives and feta to complete it. The salad is served with their vinaigrette, which was fine, and a choice of sauce on the side; I opted for tzatziki. The shawarma was dry and overly salty, so much so that I only ate about a 3rd of it. The olives, which were listed as a combo of Kalamatas and black olives, were about 90% black olives, which I'm almost certain are the tasteless California variety that aren't even black olives at all, but olives picked green and chemically treated. Seriously, read about it. They taste of nothing at all, except a little salt, and have no business on a serious Mediterranean restaurant's menu. The feta was fine, and I liked the hummus and their homemade pita bread, which was delicious. Overall, my plate reminded me of food that you get at a quick lunch counter place, with nothing really extraordinary to elevate it, save the above average bread. The side of sauce and vinaigrette were served in minuscule plastic to go cups, which does nothing to raise the ambience, nor are they good for the environment. I wonder, given their great location and beautiful space, why they don't upgrade the menu and buy a better product. Someone in the kitchen is obviously not clueless, so elevate the food a bit. And please, change out those damn olives. I will give them another try, as my husband ordered the falafel sandwich and really liked it. He's not easily impressed, so I feel like some of the food here is better quality than what I ordered. Service was good, if somewhat confused with the number of people who visited our table, and the space is nice, kind of dark and mellow. It's the dead of winter right now, so we couldn't take advantage of their lovely riverfront location, but I'll return when it's warmer to do just that. read more

Mezze plate, grilled shrimp were delicious! Falafel, all the fixings were flavorful and maybe the best I've ever had. The Athens bowl was healthy and chicken kabob was perfect. Sat outside which was charming. Waiter was personable and manager was helpful. I would highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Pinched on the River - Lovely weather outside enjoying lunch. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was amazing and the outdoor patio is so beautiful! Great place to go that's on the River but also not impossible to get a reservation at. I recommend the victory plate and the mezze plate. read more

Pinched on the River - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pinched was a wonderful and delightful experience. Food was very delicious and the hostess provided excellent service. The ambiance was very romantic. My girl friend and I will be coming back soon. read more

Pinched on the River - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here after repeatedly seeing their $6 All Day Menu ad on instagram! We ordered the Personal Veggie Pizza, Greek Fries for Two topped with Feta, and the Small Pita Roll. I thought the food was a little on the oily side, but still good for being $6! Would love to come back in the summer when the weather is warm enough to sit outside by the river! read more

Pinched on the River - Greek Fries, Personal Veggie Pizza, and Small Pita Roll - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very nice place with excellent service. My friend and I dropped by on a cold blustery evening for dinner at Pinched on the river. We sat in an enclosed porch with fire lamps, snug and warm. My buddy had a Mediterranean bowl, I had the Shakshuka chicken. It was delicious! Grilled chicken on the skewer perched on top of a small skillet with thick red flavorful, tomato sauce and a fried egg floating on top. It was very good. Reasonable prices too. Our server Sheena was extra friendly. We had a great time. read more

Hidden gem on the river . Great views , outside tables . Super friendly staff abs amazing food . The service is always great and the food is fresh . Vegetarian abs vegan options and this is such abs little hidden gem in the neighborhood! read more

Pinched on the River - Beignets - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We found this spot on Yelp. We were in the area walking near Ohio Beach and wanted a pet friendly patio to enjoy an early dinner. So happy to found this restaurant/wine bar. We sat outside overlook the river. The patio was nicely spaced out and our server (Morgan) was very attentive. Our Chiweenie absolutely loved the patio. So many dogs to see walking by and he loved how friendly the staff was. One of the managers promptly brought him out a bowl of water. The customer service here was really great. The manager maybe even owner came over to our table discussed the menu with us. He had previously lived in AZ so we had something in common. Based on his description of the Chicken Shawarma, my husband had to get the Rice bowl. I ordered the wings. Food: so good...so flavorful. We devoured our meals and ordered dessert. My husband has never had beignets before so this was a treat. As a person that has been to Cafe Du Mont several times, I was utterly impressed. Loved this restaurant. Love the fact that our chicken has 12 different spices. Next time we come, get wings as appetizers and then both get bowls. Yum yum yum read more

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Stopped by Pinched before heading to the Shakespeare Theater. The All-Day $6 menu is a great deal and the ambiance was nice for a date while still friendly for families. The hummus trio had just the right amount of cucumber, the pepper and feta spread had the perfect amount of pita and the Greek fries had the right balance of cheese and fries. The white bean soup didn't disappoint and we really enjoyed the fish tacos. A great value. read more

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Agree on the negative comments regarding service. When they first opened, the service was good. But then it quickly got so bad. I think there was some girl by the name of Maria. I don't know if she still works there, but she was absolutely horrific. So rude. And same goes for some of the other staff. Food is way overpriced. Especially for the quality, or lack thereof. Really supported this restaurant during the pandemic and thought they would be supportive of their customers post pandemic, but they're definitely not. While the restaurant has a very nice location, there are much better restaurants in the city for service and food. read more

Great place to eat especially by the river. Even though it was cold when my friend and I came, we definitely want to come back again to sit by the river. This is a cute place and has a little shop upstairs. The staff was very friendly and made sure to check up on us. We ordered hummus and pita, fish tacos, and the build your own rice bowl. For the pita and hummus, we definitely needed more pita to finish the hummus, although we were definitely getting full eating the appetizer. I really enjoyed my rice bowl and it was a lot of food. I loved the falafels and picking 4 toppings was more than enough for this bowl. It was a great blend of food altogether. My friend enjoyed her fish tacos as well and I took a bite and agreed that it was really good too. I really enjoyed my time here and the food was great! This is a great place to go especially if you want a nice view of the river. It's definitely very cute and a great place! read more

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Very nice patio ambiance, food was delicious Had the chicken schwarma on piano with toppings! The watermelon margarita was delicious The server was attentive and our waters were filled promptly. It started to rain during dinner on the cute riverfront patio and we were promptly moved indoors! The bigness were served warm and sugar coated- delicious read more

Pinched on the River - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We spent one night in Chicago next to Navy pier. We couldn't go out to eat because our kid was sick so we decided to order takeout from the nearby restaurant. So glad we did! We ordered one make your own salad bowl and one Athena bowl and both were phenomenal. I think the Shawarma was cooked better than the kebab, but all of the sauces and all of the vegetable sides were super fresh and tasty. The tabbouli was great, and the spicy olive hummus that I tried was great, and best of all the pita is outstanding. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others and would come back again. My only complaint was that we tried to order online through their website and were told that they were too busy. When we called the restaurant, we were told that they were too busy but then were able to place a take-out order. When we went to go pick up, there was only about two tables occupied in the entire restaurant so that part was a bit confusing. read more

We arrived without a reservation which is a silly thing to do during the pandemic... we had a 25 min wait despite a table available which was odd . One of the bus boys who was waiting tables was kinda rude maybe he is not familiar with customer service. The hostess was however such a dear she was Courteous, the food was okay we had 2 orders of fish tacos, pita with hummus, chicken shawarma, beef something, I had 2 sangrias both white and red which were good. The outdoor seating by the river was fabulous and romantic with the lights. The bathroom were not clean maybe because of the crowd . We did get free beignets which were devoured by the kids. read more

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