I LOVED my meal here! Ēma (Ay-mah) brings some glamour and glitz to the Mediterranean dining scene,…read morewith an airy, elevated hotel-lobby feel that still doesn't demand a dress code. Dresscode: Smart Casual / Casual Noise Level: Medium (it gets buzzy after 5:30pm) Thursday night Happy Hour was lively, so it took about 10-15 minutes for someone to come around, but service was attentive once we got going. The food is where Ēma really shines. From the Happy Hour menu, the Charred Eggplant Hummus and Crispy Potatoes were generously portioned and great for sharing. On the main menu, the Indian-Mediterranean fusion Bhel Hummus was a party for my taste buds, while the Hot Honey Halloumi and Chicken Kefta rounded out the table nicely. The halloumi is more of a side than a main, but that sweet-and-salty hot honey combo was chef's kiss. For our finisher, the Chocolate Torte knocked us out. Decadent, delicious and chocolate with lots of depth. Overall, Ēma is an excellent spot to order a bunch of dishes for the table and get an elevated meal without feeling stuffy, and delicious without taking itself too seriously. DO's: - Make a reservation ahead, especially for happy hour 4-6pm - Treat apps like small plates, order 2-3 to sample - Entertain their wine list, they have a lot! - Bring vegetarians here, there are plenty of options DON'Ts: - Dismiss the desert menu. It's fantastic and shareable! - Forget to ask for extra pita with the hummus! - Miss out on the LettuceEats loyalty points (check-in with your server before paying your check)

Came for a late lunch. Split a meal: *Whipped spicy feta -…read moreVery tasty. The pita was warm with lots of za'atar. Enough to share with 2-3 people *Braised short rib sandwich - In a pita stuffed with cabbage. The beef was extremely tender. Unfortunately there was several large pieces of cabbage core vs shredded. The fries were crispy and seasoned with za'atar. The au jus provided, tasted it had a bit of red wine vinegar. That was a winner! Would order both items again. The decor is beautiful. Sat at the bar and the bartender wasn't in the best mood. Minus one star for the combination of the large pieces of cabbage core and sat at the bar for about 15 minutes - no one was there to serve us.

Amazing ambiance. Great service. Great food. We sat inside and will definitely be back on a nice…read moreday to sit outside.

This restaurant space is beautifully done inside and you can also sit out on their balcony patio,…read morewhich is such a nice option as well. They have the decor down to the details. We got the smoky garlic hummus, whipped feta, brussel sprouts, and lemon meringue bar for dessert, and honestly everything was amazing. The harissa honey on the brussel sprouts was so good, and the lemon meringue bar with the citrus crema and graham cracker crust was the perfect sweet item to round out the meal. They bring complementary pita with your hummus and dips and the bread with za'atar itself was delicious. They recommend 2-3 share plates per person, but we ordered 3 plus dessert for two people and still had leftovers. So I'd say it definitely depends on how hungry you are! We went for lunch/brunch and were pretty much the first people there, so service was super fast. Our server was lovely and incredibly attentive with topping off water and clearing plates. Definitely would come back to try some of their larger plate options.

Good food, eclectic environment but too small to be comfortable. A lot of patrons jammed in to a…read morerelatively small dining area. Usually long lines and some wait time.

This was such a life changing experience from a flavor perspective! We were in town for the…read moreweekend and stopped by because we'd heard amazing things about what The Purple Pig does with pork and we were not disappointed! We started off with the bone marrow; it was incredibly flavorful, paired nicely with a nut jam and some greens and bread. We also got the Agnolotti pasta, and this was our favorite bite of the evening by far. The beef short rib, paired with more marrow and the butter sauce were absolutely incredible and we will be thinking about them for a long time to come. We ended with the pork tenderloin and it was a lovely ending dish. The pork was cooked to perfection and paired with sautéed oyster mushrooms and corn. Service was exceptional and quick! We will come back with a bigger group the next time we are in the city!

Came for happy hour with a group of people and it was the perfect place for it. They have three…read moresangrias on happy hour (red, white, cava) which are $5 a glass and I definitely recommend getting one! They also have other beverages on the happy hour menu if that's not your thing. I loved the options for food on the happy hour menu, they have your classic tapas including the patatas bravas which were perfection. You can also order singular deviled eggs, chorizo wrapped dates, and sliders which I think is such a great option and something I don't see many places doing. There is a large amount of space inside the restaurant and outside on their patio. The decor is fun and interesting and our server (despite bartending at the same time) was so great the entire night. Definitely recommend stopping by for happy hour or otherwise!

Kari's Rating 7.5/10…read more TLDR: -Beautiful outside patio -5 plates for 2 people was perfect -Chorizo Dates are a must Came with a friend around 6:30 and it was really packed but I'm so happy we were able to sit on the terrace outside. I was such a beautiful night out. The special was a peach salad that was a little bit spicy, but also great combination with the pecans and the shredded feta. Wonderful rotation summer option! Definitely recommend. The dates were an absolute star of the show. I remember them being so good from last time I came here that we already ordered a set of four. They were perfectly salty and naturally sweet and the cheese was absolutely incredible. If I could only get one plate I would get this! The potatoes were perfectly crisp and perfectly spicy. They had the perfect crunch when you put into them, but the spicy mayo that was underneath a few of them did make the texture of those soggy which I avoided, but that's also just a me thing. The garlic shrimp was very fresh and cooked perfectly, however, I do wish the garlic was minced instead of sliced because you had to eat a very large piece to get a taste of it, and it was very overpowering. There also was a lot of oil at the bottom, which I don't think needed to be there. I remember the garlic bread and the goat cheese marinara to be very good and it did not disappoint as it was the last round. The goat cheese mixing with the marinara on top of the lightly toasted bread with a little hint of garlic was the perfect way to finish off this meal as it wasn't too heavy, but also left us with a satisfying crunch. I'll definitely be back but probably not on my own accord as I've been here so many times!!

We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

(Kari's Rating 8.75/10)…read more Came with a friend late on a Friday night after dinner time We were able to be seated almost immediately at a nice little private Cove table. We ordered a flight of whiskey sours, which contained whiskeys from Japan, Vietnam, and Wisconsin. I also was able to order an amaretto sour, which they made with freshly hand beaten egg whites, which was a nice cherry on the top. As far as the whiskey flights go, I think the best one was the Vietnam flight because it had a slightly lemongrass twang and was a little bit lighter than the other two. The heaviest one was the Wisconsin which came with a little bit of a bite at the end, but it still wasn't bad if you're trying to blackout on a $15 budget. I would definitely come back with a larger group this seems like a great place, but is a little bit loud- so if you be prepared to yell or wear earplugs. The bathroom took my a second to find, which should have been intuitive considering it was on the opposite end of where you come in. I blame the lighting as things are already pretty hard to find in the dark, but eventually I made it there-Pat myself on the back.

One of my favorite restaurants in the west loop. They always have fun items on the menu, wonderful…read moredrinks, and the service is great. We sat outside on the patio last night and it was lovely. The patio had a moody romantic vibe to it and was well maintained and taken care of. Chairs were comfortable and tables spaced apart nicely. Plus, being on the patio is great for people watching. I would highly recommend reccomend the tropic like it's hot and sun boy cocktails. Both full of flavor and make sure to try the chickpea fritters and splurge on the pork shank. Well worth it and portion was perfect to share. The only negative comment I have to mention being interrupted 3 separate times by children trying to sell flowers at our table. I would be nice if the staff did a better job of keeping the soliciting out of the dinner area.

Big space inside. Make reservation for weekend. Service was fast…read more Review for vegetarian food out of 5 Pita and dip - 5- Good taste Tomato stone - 3 - was expecting tofu cubes, quiona crunch was good but its on sweet side for me Roasted corn - 2 - do not like caramelized sweet on top Chipped fritter - 4 - like the twist on the indoan dish but little dry for my taste Mushroom salad - 2 - Mushroom and pita are good but do not like sweet taste on everything Corn bread - 4

We went there for a quick bite to eat at lunchtime. We sat at the bar. The host, the servers, and…read morethe bartenders were friendly and helpful. Our drinks were outstanding!!! The bartender, Carlos, is definitely a mixologist. He knew exactly how to make what we asked for - a Mexican martini We had 5 dishes. All of them were outstanding. My favorites were: The artichokes (such good flavors), the bacon wrapped dates, the queso de cabra, the steak with carmelized onions and horseradish sauce (outstanding), and the pincho de limon (which wasn't our favorite, but it was still good)! Such a great experience. I seriously considered going back for dinner. Well done Tapas Valencia.

The food here is absolutely delicious! I was impressed with the Remolacha (beet salad) and the…read moreChuleta de Cerdo. Table next to me got paella and I will definitely be back for that. Service was friendly but a little slow. I had to wait for the host for more than 5min and for the waiter as well once I got seated. Could be that I was solo dining but overall too long of a wait time in my opinion. It's a lovely location and I sat indoors where there was a live musician which created a Spanish plaza vibe. I recommend dining here!

We've been in Chicago for three days and, until now, hadn't found a restaurant we could honestly…read moresay was truly delicious. Café Ba-Ba-Reeba finally changed that. The patatas bravas were flavorful. The garlic shrimp was cooked perfectly. The fried calamari was the only dish that missed the mark for us, as it was a bit too greasy. The highlight of the meal was the seafood paella. Both the shrimp and scallops were cooked perfectly, but what really impressed us was the rice. Paella can be difficult to get right, and the rice had excellent texture and flavor, making the dish a pleasure to eat. We ended with the butterscotch custard which was perfect and the almond caramel bar. After several disappointing dining experiences during our short trip to Chicago, Café Ba-Ba-Reeba finally delivered a meal that left us satisfied. The service was great. She was attentive and efficient. We'd gladly come back.

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba is a famous tapas restaurant in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Is it the…read morebest tapas I've ever had? No, but it's pretty damn good and doesn't disappoint. Highlights included the deviled eggs, bacon-wrapped dates, and tuna tartare. All very good! The layout itself goes very deep and is decorated very fun, plus it's in a great neighborhood with lots to do. For sure recommend stopping by here.

In an area packed with casual food spots, Figo is spicing things up! It's upscale but not…read morepretentious- perfect for meeting up with friends when you want to feel a little fancy without going through hoops getting ready. The staff was super attentive and kind, checking on us frequently. My friend and I stopped by for happy hour, and this should absolutely make it onto the list of the best in town. They have delicious wine, cocktails, and bites for nearly half of the regular price. I opted for the happy hour prosecco to drink, which was light-bodied and not too sweet. We split the meatballs and dates for bites and both were outstanding. I was super impressed with how tender the meatballs were, and they did not skimp on the flavorful marinara and cheese! The dates, which were topped with a white wine cheese sauce, were mouth-wateringly delicious and a must order. There was also complimentary focaccia with olive oil, which was greatly appreciated. With sea salt on top and a crispy exterior, I could easily have eaten a whole loaf. The only note I have is that the portions are small, so if you don't come during happy hour the prices are a bit steep for what you get. Will 100% be back soon to try more of the menu and highly recommend making the trek over here!

My roommate and I came to Figo to celebrate our first week of work and it did not disappoint! We…read moreordered two glasses of white wine, an order of two types of cheese (hard and soft), the burrata, the meatballs, and the tuna crudo. Our waitress was very sweet and made our experience amazing. Will definitely be back because the atmosphere of the restaurant was perfect for a nice dinner

If you like beer, you should be able to find one you like here. There are plenty to choose from…read moreand the descriptions are accurate. My beverage/beer order was the Night Moth Oak-Conditioned Hazy IPA | 7.2% | 12oz/8 - 5oz/4. I recommend this if you are a fan of Hazy IPA's. My food order was the Beer braised, short rib with roasted root vegetables, polenta, swiss chard, and sweety drops. Tender and tasty short ribs. I will be craving the sweety drops for sure. Bar seating, regular tables and high top tables available here.

Wish I could give a 3.5 stars. I applaud the true creativity. But every order was a mixed bag…read more Fried chicken sandwich - 3.5/5. Pickles are the star. Cut through heaviness. Magical first few bites. But chicken gets boring. Crispy Brussels sprouts - 3.5/5. Solid fry level. Cheesy bites are delicious. But quickly bland. Raisins is an unexpected addition but unsuccessful in my view. Kids grilled cheese - 4/5. Tasty and simple, though my kid wasn't willing to try. Duck and dumpling - 3.5/5. I can see how this is someone's favorite dish. Lovely rich broth. Crispy skin. But there was a heaviness that didn't totally work for me, especially with the bigger duck chunks. Definitely better fresh than leftover. Chocolate beer cake - 3.5/5. Slightly dense cake. Nice frosting. Beer aroma and flavor definitely comes through. Hazelnuts a nice crunch. Fun and glad to have tried, but not reaching for the next bite.