This place is absolutely wonderful and is my go to restaurant while in Chicago! I found this place last February, during my last trip business trip to the city. I wish I had pictures and could remember everything I sampled when I first tried the place, but all of it was fantastic. I remembered to take pictures of the dishes I tried tonight - the spinach dish under the cold appetizer section and the sautéed lamb dish. Neither of them disappointed! Even though it's right off Michigan Ave., it has a locals only type of vibe to it, which is nice. The owner, Rueben or Roupen (my apologies for misspelling/mispronouncing), was at the bar as well this evening. He was a very nice person and very interesting to speak to. I wish this restaurant had a location in New Orleans! Unfortunately, my next business trip to this city likely won't be until August or September...2 - 3 months too long until I can get my next fix from this place. read more

See all

Being from California, I have missed my Armenian connection, and finally I walked in to Sayat Nova. It was so great to walk in and hear Armenchik blasting on the speakers. An Armenian man at the bar discussing Armenian history with inquiring non- Armenians. It was such a joy to share some Kotayk and my culture with my friends. I can't wait to come back! read more

Wonderful food. We sampled everything and loved it all. Low key ambiance until you let your eye wander over the decor, which is unobtrusive but rich in details of color, line, texture, and design. The walls of our booth carried in a natural way to the ceiling where the color patterns connected to the adjacent booth. The light fixtures would have been at home in Lebanon, Greece or Morocco. The staff relaxed, attentive and unobtrusive. We left, with happiness, a good tip. read more

I stopped for lunch and ordered a Lulla Kebab pita sandwich lunch special. For $14, it's very poor value. I got a lamb and beef meat patty (think kid's meal hamburger patty) in a pita with some tomatoes and onions, along with a small side of rice and a side of greens (literally chunks of greens with dressing). I also got their mint tea which was very nice since they steep mint leaves and serve in a tea pot. Unfortunately based on this experience, I am not super stoked to return. read more

Loved the food and atmosphere. I tried the chicken kabobs and they were cooked well. The appetizers were also equally good. Will come back again. read more

University of Chicago students come here for "house" dinners in hordes and a select few "in the know" hit it up for the afterhours night scene. Believe it or not, this place turns into a bumping club at night with fabulous music. But only on the right nights though....one time a friend and I got our signals crossed and walked upstairs into what was clearly a 50 year old men's gay bikers bar night. Being 21, female, straight and decked out in BCBG, my friend and I were *fierce*...and totally out of place. We glanced at each other and did the polite thing: rotated 180 in unison and made a beeline for the door. One of the better-kept secrets on the Mag Mile, Sayat's right off Michigan and if you didn't know to look for it, you'd probably walk right past it. It's not quite a hole in the wall. It certainly doesn't have the glamour that most downtown restaurants radiate, but it doesn't have the ridiculous wait, either. To sum up, Sayat Nova totes: Traditional Armenian - I've gotten thumbs up from various cultural foodies across the board. their meat is *delicious* and no, that wasn't dirty. they do their vegetarian well also. hummus is a little lacking though. Dim lighting - very intimate and cozy, good for a romantic dinner where you want all the attention on yourselves Reasonable pricing - about $15 a plate read more

I can only say good things about our experience at Sayat Nova. The restaurant was a peaceful refuge from the crowded Magnificent Mile. It was just a few yards away from the strip but it felt hidden away. Cozy crescent-shaped booths, pendant lights, and candlelit tables set with flowers gave the room a romantic mood. Each of our entrées came with a soup or salad served with warm pita triangles. The Red Lentil Soup was like a hug in a bowl--so smooth and comforting. I didn't taste the House Salad but apparently their vinaigrette was excellent. The two lamb entrées--Lamb Chops and Lamb Couscous--were well-spiced and tender without being fatty. The fluffy couscous in my dish was moistened with a light tomato broth and served with a homemade hot sauce. The Chicken Couscous was served on a bed of couscous in tomato sauce with sautéed spinach. All three dishes were flavorful. For dessert there was the Mahalabeya, a custardy pudding mold topped with walnuts and soaked in syrup. I ordered the Knafi, a shredded philo filled with a creamy custard. It looked like a giant shredded wheat biscuit but tasted like the top of crème brulee. There was also the Chocolate Mousse Cake, which was a winner judging from the clean plate. They have live jazz every Tuesday and we were treated to the sounds of the Erin McDougald Quintet, a guitar, drums and upright bass. The singer and instrumentals were so good that other customers were pulled in by the sounds wafting out through the open door. I loved the food, the entertainment and the mellow atmosphere at Sayat Nova! It's a great place for a date or to enjoy a laid-back meal. read more

See all

Sayat Nova is one of my favorite restaurants in the country. Even though I live in Austin I travel to Chicago a good deal and spent two years flying back and forth for business school. Sayat Nova was (and is) a regular stop for me. I'm Armenian and much of this food is similar to what I grew up with - cheese boureg, lahmajoon, and kebabs are very similar to foods my family made. I've read several reviews in here that say that the food isn't authentic armenian. I think that depends on where your family came from. This is very much like the food that I grew up with - my family came from the village of Moosh in the old country. Many armenians come from Persia, Georgia, or other countries and the food IS very different. Not better or worse, just different. Bottom line, the food is excellent, the prices are reasonable, the location is great (Ohio and Michigan), and the ambience is dark but comfortable. Definitely worth a visit. Wish I could give six stars. Note: I have NOTHING to do with this restaurant. I just love it and have for several years. read more

Sayat Nova has been a fixture off Michigan Avenue for years, but I had never been here until recently. The two of us were seated at one of the cool niche-like booths, which is definitely where you want to be. We ordered the lamajoun as an appetizer. It is supposed to be sort of an Armenian thin-crust pizza (that's how I remembered them while visiting Turkey a few years ago), but it came out looking more like quesadilla wedges. It came with a lemon slice, which added something to the ground lamb and vegetables inside. We split an Armenian Combo, so in a sense we ate all appetizers. This combo had sarma (stuffed grape leaves with lamb), boereg (cheese phyllo), kufta (lamb meatball), and eggplant (self-explanatory). We enjoyed the variety, although nothing stood out to me. If you have had Turkish food, you will probably like the Armenian food at Sayat Nova (but don't mention the genocide). read more

Sayat Nova - Sayat Nova - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hmm Armenian food? Coming from Albany Park, it's truly difficult to find good Middle Eastern that can pass the sniff test. On a business school dinner we loaded the place up with 25 of our best and were able to get a prix fixe featuring almost every one of their wonderful entrees. I got to the bar and noticed a few of my friends sitting there - I went and indulged in some Armenian beer and enjoyed the company. It was dim lit - a really cute venue. The beer was at downtown prices, but I doubt anyone else carries Armenian beer. We were seated once more of our party arrived and the ordering frenzy began. For appetizers, we split some good hummus and a friend of mine decided to order some raw kibbee. Raw kibbee if you didn't know is a raw beef and steak tartar dish that features some chopped onion and parsley! We also got some lamajoun which was a lamb pizza and I went with a kabob combination. How was the raw kibbee? It was raw and I was frightened to try, but valor won the day and I found myself diving into raw meat that was interesting but I probably wouldn't try it again. The lamajoun was a good snack for waiting for our entrees. I found the salad with red cabbage a bit pedestrian and was not thrilled. Eventually our party was bigger than we anticipated so we started taking over a booth nearby. The restaurant was full and there was a great buzz going on from everyone having a good time. When I woke up that morning I had a great want of grilled meats and magically it appeared on my plate! Grilled kabobs of beef, chicken, and ground lamb landed on my plate. Heavily marinated and grilled this was exactly what I wanted. The rice pilaf was tasty and all of the food was excellent. The service though was a bit lacking, my water glass was only filled once and I found myself thirsty the entire evening. The accommodations for our large group sufficed, we all had a good time, and the food was great. Three cheers for Sayat Nova read more

See all

Either we caught them on an off night, or Sayat Nova has taken a step backwards in the last three years. This time I did visit with my wife and enjoyed one of the booth alcoves. Unfortunately that was the highlight of the meal. The service was lackadaisical and confusing; our waitress didn't show any cheerfulness and her pacing was odd. The food was mediocre too. Bland and refrigerator-cold baba ghannouj started the meal, followed by a tasty but limp and lukewarm lamajoun. The trout with fine herbs was good enough, but not as interesting as the menu described. It was served with standard-issue rice pilaf. My wife's chicken kebab was flavorful but dry. Probably the best thing that I ate all evening was the grilled onion and green pepper that came on the side. I think that Sayat Nova is still a better Streeterville/Mag Mile option than the chains in the area, but maybe next time we will go a little further west into River North or down into the Loop for dinner. I'm rounding up from 2.5 for the memory of good times past. read more

I had dinner here in a Tuesday night recently while in Chicago on business. I was walking down Michigan Ave. looking for a place to eat and saw this place. I noticed immediately they had to things I enjoy, Mediterranean food and live jazz! I had a great experience here, the ambience was nice, the food was fresh and had great flavors and the Jazz trio plus singer were very good. Dinner service was a little on the slow side but I really didn't mind since I was enjoying the music. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and will go again when I'm back in town. read more

Sayat Nova - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was great! My boyfriend is Armenian so we went for traditional foods. We went pretty early (around 5), and the place was empty. I though it was a nice environment though, besides that you could hear the kitchen staff blasting the radio in the back. I'd go back for the food. read more

Sayat Nova - Hummus and Sarma appetizers. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The restaurant looked nice from outside. It's cozy inside. We did carry out and the food is OK, a bit bland, compared to other places.

I've been going to Sayat Nova for a while now - but only for their desi (Indian parties) on Saturday nights, never for their food - until today! First, this place is really not vegetarian friendly and secondly, armenian food is very different in that it's mostly kebabs. There is no falafel et al. The hummus we had was on the dry side and the pita bread was a little too thick. The red lentil soup was neither red nor spicy. I think I'll save this place for desi parties and get my hummus elsewhere! read more

When someone suggested this as a place for a lunch meeting the other day, I just couldn't place it. How is that possible given the huge sign out front and the fact that it's just steps off of Michigan Ave? Well the good news is I have been here now and know that it will just be a matter of time before I stop back into this cute little place where the staff go out of their way to take care of their guests, the food is quite tasty and the wines by the glass don't disappoint. We were only one of about 3 tables on this weekday lunch visit. But no problem as they seated us in a cozy round booth and we ordered some hummus to munch on while we looked at the menu. As an aside, these booths sit "tall" so if you are short of stature, you may be more comfortable at another type of table. As for me? My tall frame loved the elongated higher seat! My friend is a regular here so with a little coaching from her and our excellent server, I ended up with lulla kabob which was basically a pita filled with lamb, beef and onions and was quite tasty. My friend had cous cous with chicken which was equally as good. Our server told us that on Tuesdays, there is live jazz which I think would be a nice experience given the way this place is set up. Go enjoy some wine, and dinner and have live music as well. I laugh when I see the tourists lined up to get into the more popular places on Mich Ave, when just around the corner with no wait is a place as good at Sayat Nova. read more

This place has apparently been around for 25 years so maybe I just caught it on a really bad day. But that day would have had to be an anomoly for food, service, and ambiance to justify going back. I stumbled on this place completely by accident as I crossed under Michigan Avenue on Grand (getting slightly lost) and found myself kicked out on St. Clair Street. "What luck," I though to myself turning north, "an Armenian restaurant and close to my doctor's appointment." And there was a Yelp users recommends sticker in the window to boot. This promise quickly turned to disappointment. I was at first amused and excited by the size of this place and how "intimate" it was (just off Michigan Avenue). And the bathroom seemed to be authentic eastern European. The stall wasn't a hole in the ground but it did have the oddly high off the ground door for how low it was. There were also interesting tapestries on the wall. That seemed to be where the authentic ended, unfortunately. I've never had Armenian food to compare this to but this place makes it seem to just be poor person's Greek food. The vegetarian combo consisted of cheese (though I could have gotten spinach) boereg (stuffed filo dough similar, if not the same, as Greek spinach pie), taboule, plaki (lentil beans in olive oil), rice, and green salad. If this is how Armenians eat than I'm never venturing that far east into the former Soviet Union. The rice was basically minute rice (at least the Greek recipe throws a little basil on it). The plaki's beans were not blended well with the sauce. The taboule, well, I couldn't tell if it was a garnish, a side, a dip for the pita bread, or an actual part of the combo. Some of it tasted decent but I kept hoping for something to blow me away with flavor and nothing ever did. And the $8.95 for this combo just blew my mind. Had it been good it would have been a bargain, as it was, it was a ripoff. Maybe this place works just off the Maginificent Mile with its lack of choices of southern and eastern European extraction, but I don't think it would survive a minute on the other side of the loop against similar mediterranean area choices, let alone 25 years. read more

Sayat Nova - With a slight view of Michigan Avenue. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The BEST and most authentic Armenian food in Chicago! My boyfriend (who is Armenian) and I absolutely love this place. He takes his Armenian family here and they all agree that Sayat Nova does it right. The food is incredibly fresh, flavorful and never disappoints. The staff is very attentive and we are always pleased with our experience. Would highly recommend!!! read more

Sayat Nova - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I can't believe I never reviewed Sayat Nova. I've been to this place for some after hours parties in the past and those were fun. Didn't have anything to do with the restaurant, though. So a group of friends went here for dinner once. I have to say, NONE of us was satisfied. First of all the vegetarian options were quite limited. I'm not picky... in the sense that as long as there's 1-2 decent options I won't complain. It's been so long, I don't even remember what I ordered, but I do know I didn't really like it. And the price?! This place was way over-priced. So solely based on that experience, I wouldn't give them 1 star. Paired with my own experience, I know none of my friends (none of whom are vegetarians, by the way) enjoyed what they had either. It was the same comments from everyone - too expensive and food could've been better. Service-wise, it was fine. Nothing out of the oridinary - either in a good way or bad. read more

Authentic Mediterranean fare with an intimate atmosphere. Truly one of my favorites in the near north/Michigan Ave area. read more

One of our favorite work places to eat lunch downtown off Michigan Avenue and for a moderate price. We have our favorite waiter (with the mustache - excellent excellent to dine with) and the food is wonderful. We love the number 8 and 9 (chicken and rice/lamb with rice) and we go there quite often. It's quiet, on the dark side (unless you sit by the windows) and extremely comfortable. Everyone that works there is terrific and very friendly. We love this place, hands down. The hummus is great (as are all of their other appetizers) and if you ask they'll bring you fresh veggies to dip in addition to pita bread. The Armenian coffee is a great pick-me-up before going back to work and basically everything they have is really good. I love the fish (with lemon and cilantro). And if you ask they will substitute grilled veggies for their signature rice (which is also great). I highly recommend this place for lunch, dinner, for a group, etc. They have a nice wine selection and their mojitos are terrific too. Try it... you'll like it... Trust me. read more

Fantastic food and service! Great variety of dishes, knowledgeable and friendly staff, and love music on Wednesdays. Definitely try the dessert and brandy! read more

Sayat Nova - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

SERVICE: The service was super attentive and very personable. The owner came out to canvas the restaurant and we talked for quite a while. We spoke about politics, the economy, and personal issues. It's clear he takes a great, personal interest in his business and his customers. He was super friendly and casual. talking to him felt like talking to an old friend. FOOD: I had the hummus and pita, as well as a red lentil soup. Both the hummus and the soup were delicious. I was actually surprised by how much I loved the soup. I would definitely come back here for a lunch break. DRINKS: The drinks weren't super strong, however they were incredibly tasty. I couldn't decide on what to get, so I asked the bartender, David, to surprise me... which he did. Both drinks that he made tasted like they were made with very fresh ingredients. Bot to mention, they were reasonably priced. LOCATION: The location is perfect, right in downtown Chicago, not a far walk from my job. This place is conveniently located near bars, so it makes for a great before or after food spot. read more

Food and ambiance were great, but service was a little on slow side. Would definitely go back.

I got the beef kebab dish and I thought it was way overpriced for the amount given but it was good. I thought the service was ok, the lady waitress was nice, the guy behind the bar seemed busy talking to a group of people the whole time. The menu is basically middle eastern so if you had any Lebanese/Palestinian/Jordanian it's the same. Didn't seem like they had sodas if they did it wasn't on the menu or offered, but overall the food wasn't bad read more

Excellent traditional Armenian restaurant. Wide selection of favorites, Armenian drinks, and traditional desserts. Light on spice. But worth the trip. read more

See all

The Good: Fantastic food, great service, and great atmosphere. Cosy, feels like you are almost in an underground sanctuary. The wait staff was knowledgeable and quick and attentive. The food was absolutely delicious. Hearty, healthy, and what you would expect. The bad: The inside was freezing! The "patio" seating is very limited. Also, it bugged me that the kitchen door was right there in the open, and was very noisy and bright. Overall: A fantastic, semi-romantic restaurant that doesn't break the bank. Atmosphere: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 9/10 read more

Restaurant update They now serve lunch specials as per below at 9.95 from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM M-Friday. Prices are now better or comparable to other restaurants as the cost of food has gone up. Dinner includes red lentil soup or house green salad with mint vinaigrette. Kebabs are served with rice pilaf and garnished with pepper & onion. Overall if you crave Mediterranean in the gold coast, your options for fine dining are limited so this can be a good option. Monday Chicken Cous Cous Tuesday Topped Breast of Chicken Wednesday Grilled Pork Chops Thursday Traditional Cous Cous Friday Catfish Kebob read more

I have been going here for most of my life with my family, since we are Armenian. This place always reminds me of the food I got at my grandmas and at church. It's located in the middle of River North and when you walk in, the atmosphere is very intimate and inviting. I have tried almost everything on the menu, and the majority is delicious and what I would expect from an Armenian kitchen, and I especially enjoy the boeregs and shish kabobs. I have brought numerous people here over the years including friends and coworkers, and no one has ever had a bad thing to say. The staff is so great as well. They are very helpful and fast and will work with large parties and several forms of payment. read more

Went there on week night. Place was packed with conventioneers from the Marriott just down the street. Long narrow place. Roaring with noise. People in close packed tables shouting to be heard. Looked like one waitress for the front third of the place. To much for one person to have any hope of a decent job. * had the feel of a downtown lunch place. Furniture, number of tables etc. * asked for more bread for hummus, waitress said sure, hustled off and that was that. * could not get a second round of drinks. 4 glasses for 4 people and basta. Considering the red was 12 bucks a glass and the white 5 you would think they would have a guy with a goat skin assigned to each table. Decent enough wine. Just not enough of it. Not talking about huge glasses here. * food was vaguely middle eastern, nothing particularly Armenian. * my kebab was cold, well warmish, trout was watery and to long under a heat lamp. When I ssked my guest how was the food they said, " great", when they asked, I said, " great ". So I can only comment on my food. *Mint tea was 3 bucks a cup, no chance of a second cup but by then with the noise and the condensation running the window onto my guest's coat I was ready to go. Tiring. Merlot and S Blanc ok Cheese Boeregs, squishy Hommos, ordinary Babba Ghannouj, ok Trout, meh, cold, watery Kebab, ordinary, cold, toughish Cheese cake, was ok, long time coming Tea, was hot 4 people, 182.06 plus tip. Suggested tip helpfully printed on bottom of receipt 27.31 Oh, the restrooms are down a suicidal set of stairs. Three drinks and you might not make it down. read more

The place is cute, clean, and staff are friendly. I loved the idea of Armenian food until I tried it. The plate looks great, but it just didn't deliver in taste the way I wanted it to. Overall it was a decent experience, I just don't think I would come again. (This is a combination number 3) read more

Sayat Nova - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A wonderful resturant that would make for a nice date spot. We walked right in on a Saturday night and were able to be seated immediately. Atmosphere and decor was wonderful. They had nice Arabic music in the background. I had the kabab and rice plate. It was very delicous!! It's hard to find good Middle Eastern food in Chicago and I think I finally found my go to spot for kababs. read more

Sayat Nova - Loved the decor and atmosphere! - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food and great drinks. The beef was so flavorful and cooked perfectly. Had the Baklava for dessert which tasted amazing. Must try if you're in the area. read more

This place is the bomb. I had the Kufta and it was heavenly. Cheese Boreg is awesome and get the red cabbage.

I had a great experience. The food was very nice. I love the environment. They have a great location. I was alone this time, so my food had to keep me company. So it was quite important to have a great taste. The server was very sweet. Definitely recommend! read more

Sayat Nova - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best food in town. You can't go wrong with this place. Food with an Armenian kick. My to-go in Chicago. The kebab is phenomenal and their drinks as well. It feels like you're at home. Great service, food and ambiance! As an Armenian from LA it feels as though I'm in my homeland. Shnorakalootyoun. read more

The Service was okay. The place was a little bit dark. The food was below average. Definitely not worth the prices!

This place was pretty good. If you do eat here make sure you order something specific to the area. I'm talking names you can't pronounce. I had the three kebab plate. It was pretty good but it definitely wasn't a $22 kebab platter. Service was excellent and the food was pretty good just not $100 dinner for two good. read more

I really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately the food didn't meet my expectations. The appetizers were great, the service was great, however the main entrees were lacking flavor and juiciness. I had the vegetarian kebob and hummus, eggplant. The hummus was fantastic however the eggplant was a bit bitter. Also it didn't help that they didn't have updated music playlist, but it was rather from early 2000s. The service was great and if I could, I would give them 3.5 stars. I hope all those things improve so that when I get back to Chicago I can try them again. read more

See all

Found this gem about 3years ago and it was a first time trying Armenian food - I've been back every since. It has an intimate vibe which is super cute & cozy for a date night. They also have live music regularly throughout the week. Always get the soup!! read more

See all