I found this restaurant by chance and am so happy I did. The restaurant is so quaint, a great quiet…read moreplace for a date. Aisha was a very attentive wait person and provided great suggestions of dishes to order. The restaturant and the staff are all very welcoming. But it is the food that is the real star....it was delicious! I shared the hot appetizer, Hot Mezze, the potatoes were delicious. So was the roasted cauliflower. After tasting the appetizers, my friend and I decided were definitely coming back to eat there again. The kefta kebobs were delicious although I would have liked the chicken kebabs to have had more flavor. Once you go there, you will make this a regular stop. The prices are competative and the freshness of the food will win you over.

This Lebanese restuarant has been on my list for quite a while. Finally gave it a try and it did…read morenot disappoint! For food I tried the Adis Bil Hamod and Masdgouf. The first one was (non-pureed) lentil soup with swiss chard, onnions, potatoes and cilantro. The ingredients made the soup rich in flavor. Meanwhile, the stewed potato slightly thickened the soup to richen the texture. I wish there could be more swiss chard, though. The Masdgouf was a hit: unlike traditional Iraq Masdgouf, they pan seared the cod (well, cod is quite tender so searing is actually a better idea), then topped it with a mixture of finely diced veg, peppers and tamarind paste. Served with Lebanese rice, grilled bell peppers and grilled Roma tomatoes. Compared to the Lebenese rice I had in Atlanta, the rice in this one was longer and drier, while the vermicelli in it was softer and more moist. Overall it tasted savory, sweet, sour, with a hint of spiciness. They did a good job in balancing these flavors. I also got some pita -- not those thin, balloon pita but tasted fresh and good, and not salty at all. Serice was friendly and quick. After the meal the chef asked me about my dining experience and I praised highly of the two dishes. She told me that while Masdgouf was not originally from Lebanon, she tried to add some Lebenese element to it, e.g., the tamarind paste. I really appreciate her effort to do something unique and delicious! The only thing I (seriously) hope they could do better was about handling the smoke from the kitchen. At first I was seated near the kitchen and the smoke made my lung uncomfortable; needless to say how it would affect the restaurant staff. If they could get a better range hood it would do good to both the staff and customers' health! I will try more dishes the next time I visit Chicago.

Pretty great food throughout. Our party tasted a decent chunk of the menu and the only item I…read morewasn't fond of was the tabbouleh sardine salad. Everything else was delicious. Also Olivia on the cocktails was excellent- she offered us some unique choices. Will return.

The hummus and pita were spectacular. If I'd just quit there and went home, this would be a five…read morestar review, but I stick around for other stuff and was consistently disappointed. The wagyu shawarma was a joke. Five tiny bites of average, even slightly mealy (over marinated?) beef. And it wasn't cheap. The sardines were completely blah. Tasted like something out of a can. Way too salty. The third dish we had was, I think mussels, but it was so chintzy and forgettable (a thimble full of sauce) that I've really forgotten it. At the end I felt thoroughly bamboozled. Way too much money for a ho-hum meal that wasn't even filling.

Memorial Day. Great first visit…read more It won't be the last. Why? Fresh ..every thing. Hummus heaven. Meats , fish ,and vegetables. Grilled to perfection. Great service. Super deserts. Clean restrooms. So good.

Yelp Review Very…read moredisappointed, especially since this was our first time here. We arrived around 12:00 PM, and there were only about three tables seated. Since we wanted to try several dishes, we politely asked if we could sit at a larger table. Unfortunately, our request was refused, even though there were plenty of larger tables available. As first-time customers, we expected a more welcoming experience. It was disappointing to feel like our request was inconvenient when the restaurant was barely busy. We ended up leaving with a very negative first impression.

Yum yum yum yum--this place is a palace of flavor! Authentic cuisine in a warm atmosphere with…read morefantastically friendly folk; Anthony said the entire menu is based on his mom's recipes--so it makes a lot of sense why everything has that only heart-warming flavors that only a home-cooked meal can have. Everything tastes exceptional from the dolmas to the Arabian coffees

Cedar Palace was absolutely hands down some of the best Mediterranean food I've ever had! Do NOT…read morepass this up if you have the chance to dine here! The place is so cute and cozy, and the chandeliers are so beautiful! It does seem to fill up pretty quickly as there isn't ample seating, so check them out a little early if you plan to dine in. The staff were awesome. The way they move through the restaurant, take orders, and how they interact with guests just shows how much pride they have in this place. We decided to get the combo, and it really was enough for two! The hummus was delicious, the salads were so perfectly seasoned, and the meat was absolutely perfect. Definitely check this place out!

A Hidden Gem in Chicago - Taste of Lebanon Restaurant…read more Taste of Lebanon Restaurant 1509 W Foster Ave Chicago, IL 60640 If you're looking for authentic Lebanese food, Taste of Lebanon is an absolute must-visit! Every meal we've had here has been fresh, flavorful, and made with care. You can truly taste the quality and tradition in every bite. The lamb shawarma is outstanding--perfectly seasoned, tender, and packed with incredible flavor. The chicken shawarma is just as delicious, juicy, and cooked to perfection. But the true star of the menu is the lentil soup. It is hands down the best lentil soup I've ever had--rich, comforting, full of flavor, and worth coming back for on its own. It deserves to be the #1 item on the menu! What makes this place even more special is the amazing customer service. The entire staff is welcoming, friendly, and professional, making every visit feel like you're dining with family. A huge shoutout to Ali, who consistently goes above and beyond to make every customer feel appreciated. His kindness, professionalism, and genuine hospitality are second to none. He takes the time to make sure everything is perfect, and his positive attitude truly elevates the entire dining experience. Whether you're stopping in for a quick lunch or picking up dinner, Taste of Lebanon never disappoints. The food is authentic, the prices are incredibly reasonable, and the service is exceptional. I highly recommend Taste of Lebanon to anyone in Chicago looking for some of the best Lebanese food in the city. Thank you, Ali and the entire team, for your outstanding hospitality. We'll definitely be back again and again!

A red awning with a cypress tree covering the entrance to one of Chicago's famous…read more"hole-in-the-wall" urban eateries and all that announces the presence of one of the city's best Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurants. This place has all the staples you expect in Levant cuisine, and best of all, they do everything well! I love this place because it's no frills, inexpensive, quick, and SO GOOD. The hummus is fantastic, and the falafel is some of the best I've had, but my hands down favourite item is the Chicken Shwarma Wrap. That's the winner for me. The crew here was very accommodating with catering when we had a company event... and I watched a huge tray of wraps disappear in what seemed like minutes, so I can attest they were popular with our attendees. This place is truly are more than meets the eye.

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.

Delicious, flavorful food!…read more Got the family platter for 3 and it was great and a lot of food. (It was more than enough for a table of 4)

This was amazing food Maybe the best Persian and middle…read moreeastern I have ever eaten This can compete with noon o kabob Great kabobs good rice great service and cool inside 4.7/5

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.

The whole concept and aesthetic of this restaurant completely wowed me!! It feels so well thought…read moreout. The service was amazing too, super professional, friendly, always on top of everything without being overwhelming. And the hummus was especially good, and creamy, which I loved!! The food overall was great. Such a cool experience from start to finish.

I really liked this place. They have parking in front of the restaurant and back. I highly…read morerecommend a reservation on Friday-Sunday even if you are just one person. I called them because I wasn't sure if the online version would be too slow. We were a group of three that came in Saturday night at 7 pm. It was moderately busy. The staff were all welcoming with smiles on their faces and attentiveness. Prices were fair for the amount of food you receive. Food portions are colossal so I would recommend one appetizer and one entree if you are a couple. They give you a complimentary dish. We ordered arayes with meat, meat toshka, mixed grill with baba ghanouj, fillet of basa fried, and mint lemonade. They also offer you fresh Arabic coffee before you leave. This is about a 4.5-5. -arayes with meat 4 - this was not bad. It's like a tamer version of the meat toshka. -meat toshka 5 - I prefer this over the arayes because they add the Syrian cheese. This one was bursting with flavor the moment you took a bite out of it. The minced beef and lamb just melt in the mouth. -mixed grill 5 - this came with 3 big skewers (shish kabab, kufta kabab, and chicken tawook. It also has tomatoes and onions to help cut down the meat when digesting. There are two heaping portions of biryani and saffron rice and baba ghanouj. The baba ghanouj was creamy and flavorful. It goes well with the pita bread. The meats were cooked medium well unless you want something. I think next time I'll ask for the shish kababs to be cooked medium rare or medium for a more juicy taste. The chicken tawook and kufta were both succulent. -fillet of basa fried 5 - the two pieces of basa fillet were astronomical. It also comes with two different kinds of rice. The fish was flaky, moist, and seasoned. Make sure you add the lemon and eat it with the sauce. -mint lemonade 5 - this was very refreshing after eating a heavy meal.

Loved this Place!! Food Delicious!! Very Generous Portions!! I had leftovers for like 2 days too!!…read moreVery Informative, Very Nice Waitor!! Very Knowledgeable too!! Jorge! Love him!! My Date even gave me 8 Red Roses! Oh my Goodness!! Love this Restaurant!! Gorgeous Decor!! Love, Julie. Xoxo

This is a wonderful place with some great food. It's in a convenient location with its own parking…read morelot. Inside, there was one room with basic tables, and another with linen tablecloths (choose which you prefer). You order at the counter, get a number, get your own utensils and such, and they bring the food to your table. I went with some friends who got the lunch special (very good), but I couldn't resist the Spring Lamb Shank. Oh, that was so good. The lamb shank had incredible flavor, good seasoning, and tons of jus. The carrots and onions on that platter were perfectly cooked - just enough, but still with a crunch (onions) and a bite (carrots). It comes with a platter with rice (I got both kinds), hummus (could have used a bit more of that), sauce, onions, pickled turnips (perfect for balancing the richness), and bread (lavash?) that is great for making a wrap. They have very good to-go containers (it's a lot). This is a flavor-bomb and great food.