The atmosphere and the way the dishes look is pretty chic! We got the Japanese eggplant which is so good. Lamb ragu also great! Really nice combination of the flavors from lamb, spice and pita bread. I loved the braised short rib except the mushroom is a bit weird (feels like if substitute with a different vegetable would enhance the dish). Overall speaking really nice dining experience.

Amazing ambience and quick service. We ordered the charred eggplant and grilled halloumi, grilled eggplant is flavorful and the bread with it was fresh, the grilled flavor of the Halloumi was amazing, tasted fresh and perfectly cooked. However the accompanying rice tasted a bit undercooked. The quantity is good and fulfilling. I found the tables to be a bit cramped up and the restaurant had an odd rag odor when we entered, luckily we couldn’t smell the odor at our dining table. Also we were charged 3% surcharge, for just 2 people seems unreasonable.

The foods are excellent. It comes in small dishes so you can order several things with out burden you stomach too much. Everythings that we ordered were so good. The waiter was so nice.

I really enjoyed lunch here! The interior is comfortable and tables are far apart giving a quiet atmosphere great for conversation and mid-sized groups. The food was good overall and I found no faults in the service. My one complaint was that the chicken sandwich, which tasted wonderful, was a little too small (much smaller than a fast food chicken sandwich) and the side salad was underwhelming. I recommend the kebab entrees and for dessert, the date cake.

The food at Ema lives up to the hype, it is wonderfully cooked and delicious. We ordered the hummus as an appetizer, which was fresh, rich and herby, probably the best I have ever had. For our mains we got the grilled octopus and the lemon poached shrimp, both of which were fresh and tenderly cooked. My only complaint was that we had a 9:15PM reservation (on a Thursday) and came in around 8:50PM. While we did not expect to be seated right away, the restaurant was only half full and the hostess led us to believe we would get seated a bit earlier than our booking. However we were made to wait almost half an hour before getting seated, which took away from the experience.

Mom, daughter lunch and at exhibit. It was so fun, starting with lunch. We sat outside under the tent on a beautiful day. We enjoyed our time at Ema thoroughly. The food was very good! Our server was pleasant and just the perfect amount of attentiveness. Thank you Scott!

Food here is amazing! The spicy hummus and king crab taramasalata are a must try! They go really well with their pitas. The brussel sprouts is sweet and vinegary, probably the best brussel sprouts I've ever had. Everything else is good too you can't really go wrong with anything on the menu. Service is great I'd definitely come back again! Make sure to make reservations before you come, a lot of their tables are reserved for credit card companies, so even if the restaurant looks empty but you still won't be seated.

Gorgeous ambiance and terrific food! I can’t stop thinking about the charred eggplant dip. It is not what you would expect, truly whipped and creamy, but absolutely phenomenal. The grilled branzino may have been one of the best entrees I have ever had. It was so fresh and light.

I recently dined at this restaurant, and I must say it was a unique and enjoyable experience. The concept of Middle Eastern sliders meant for sharing intrigued us, and we decided to try a variety. We selected the hummus, falafel, and kafta kebab. One important tip is to communicate your preferred level of doneness for the meat with your server; it ensures you get exactly what you like. During our visit, we encountered an issue with our food, but it was swiftly resolved thanks to our attentive waitress, Rebeca. She handled the situation with grace and was genuinely apologetic. The manager also came over to apologize and offered us something extra as compensation for the wait. This exceptional customer service left a positive impression on us! Speaking of Rebeca, she was not only responsive to our concerns but also incredibly helpful with food allergies, which we greatly appreciated. Overall, it was a good dining experience, and the restaurant's commitment to customer service stood out. Thank you!

Beautiful ambience with warm and friendly staff.. Scrumptious Mediterranean food. Has vegetarian options, small shareable plates like 3-5 plates for 2 people. Low noise levels, comfortable seating. Overall it was a very good dining experience.

Enjoyed this place more than Aba. Really nice and cozy interior with comfortable chairs and lots of seating. I noticed the low noise levels, which was refreshing! Didn’t need to shout across the table or strain to hear anyone. Pumpkin hummus was my favorite as was the beet salad. Everything was so good!

Very romantic night vibes at this restaurant and our main server was very inviting. A nice spot for a date night and highly recommend a seat indoors if you can to enjoy the lighting and decor. The food was good, mainly ordering several small plates to share. Despite its appearance, we filled up quickly with our selection! Of what we ordered, the octopus was absolutely delicious and the highlight of our meal. We saw many people order the falafel, and given the restaurant‘s Mediterranean theme, we did as well but it was a little too over cooked for my liking with an almost burnt taste and very tough to eat with your fork or even cut with a knife. The flavors were good but the doneness did it injustice. Because we ordered several plates we thought that the wait staff would clear off the empty plates but it took them longer than expected and we needed to ask once.

THE BEST Mediterranean food I have ever had in my life!! And I have tried a lot… believe me!! The spicy hummus, almond hummus with pita was out of the world.. You can try Chicken kebab as well. Its good. Do try this restaurant without fail if you are in downtown.

Excellent Mediterranean food and the best hummus I've ever had. We've already been three times in one month. We've almost tried the whole menu and loved everything we ordered. Probably the most mediocre dish was the roasted potatoes, otherwise we were happy with each item we tried. Even the cocktails are delicious. Will definitely be back soon!

Today was my first time at Ema and the atmosphere, food, music and service hit all of the right notes. The staff is friendly, made great recommendations, and they really set the tone for a pleasant dining experience. I selected the crispy potatoes, brussel sprouts, toasted almond garlic spread and the pomegranate backsplash. The crispy potatoes has the perfect amount of crisp and seasoning, the brussel sprouts are served charred with a hint of sweet flavors and savory spices, and the almond garlic spread is a great accompanying dish for dipping the potatoes, sprouts or their herbed thin, crispy crackers. Although the pomegranate backsplash is a non-alcoholic beverage it is just as enjoyable, well-balanced, and delicious. I would definitely visit Ema again and recommend as a go-to in the River North area.

Had an absolutely amazing lunch here this week! I've heard of Ema before but had no idea it would be this good. Everything we had tasted amazing and the atmosphere was really enjoyable. I'd recommend the Farro risotto, the spread sampler, and the grilled chicken sandwich! Finally, the honey pie for dessert was TO DIE FOR. Seriously had the best lunch here.

Fantastic!!! Everything was delicious Brussels sprouts, the short ribs were fantasticccc!!!! and the kebabS too Small portions though! The restaurant is beautifully decorated and the service is good My only complaint is that their lemonade was not tasting good. Overall a great and unique experience

Sooo good!! Definitely try it out for lunch or dinner, will not disappoint. The mushroom kebab blew my mind. Tasted better then my chicken kebab.

First time visit, based on great reviews and recommendations from our hotel. Food is delicious, out of this world! Great presentation is a plus. Mediterranean Greek is my favorite. Great service, in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. Would go back again. Highly recommend.

Tasty food for a casual Mediterranean experience, but we aren’t dying to go back. Spicy lamb toothpicks were filled with flavor. Greek salad was nothing memorable, and heavy on the lettuce and lacking the rest of ingredients. Salmon kebab was also acceptable but lacked a unique flavor. Frozen Greek yogurt was delicious. Staff was super nice and the beer they recommended was just what we asked for.

Ema, nestled in the heart of Chicago, offers a culinary experience that tantalizes the taste buds with its Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. My visit to this charming restaurant was marked by a warm, inviting atmosphere that set the stage for a delightful dining adventure. The standout dish of the evening was undoubtedly the octopus entrée. Perfectly grilled, the octopus was tender yet crisped to perfection, creating a harmonious balance of textures. Each bite was a melody of flavors, enhanced by a blend of aromatic herbs and spices typical of Mediterranean fare. This dish was not just food; it was a testament to the chef's expertise in bringing out the best in seafood. For dessert, the 'milk and cookies' was a revelation. This wasn't your ordinary milk and cookies. The cookies were decadently rich, yet not overly sweet, perfectly complementing the creamy, chilled milk. It was a nostalgic dish, elevated to gourmet standards, and it ended the meal on a high note. Ema's ambiance was both chic and comfortable, with decor that mirrored the lightness and freshness of its cuisine. The service was impeccable, with attentive staff ensuring a memorable dining experience. Overall, Ema stands out as a culinary gem in Chicago, perfect for those seeking a blend of exquisite flavors, cozy atmosphere, and top-notch service. The octopus and the milk and cookies dessert are must-try items that will leave you yearning for more.

Went for restaurant week! Although there are lots of tables, the music volume and configuration of those tables lended to a pleasant ambiance. Dare I say - we liked it better than aba?? Only missing the whipped feta! It’s all very similar food (if not the exact same). Really enjoyed it. Eggs were super creamy and too salty. I wouldn’t order that again, but there’s plenty more that I’d try.

I was absolutely blown away by everything we have ordered. Everything was a 10/10. My friend is celiac and our waiter gave us a dedicated gluten free menu. Everything we ordered was so flavorful and fresh - it was a shame we didn't have room to order more. The atmosphere and vibes were also emaculate and the staff attentive despite it being pretty busy. A really solid brunch/lunch spot for sure and I would 100% come back.

First impression of this place is definitely the ambience! Super cozy and the food was amazing; Hummus was full of texture and the Lamb was cooked to perfection. Chicken skewers in combination with their tzatziki was fantastic! Highly recommend

Very tasty food. We tried chicken Kefta(Kebab), Green falafel and Sticky Date Cake. Everything was pretty good. Only two things - portions are too small. We ordered 3 main course item plus desert and still finished all. Drinks are pretty good as well. Again downtown VS suburb differences in terms of meal portions. Overall great ambience and experience

Awesome location!!! So many delicious gluten free options, and they were super accommodating with my dairy free requests as well. They even brought out gluten free crackers to eat with the hummus, even though I hadn’t thought about ordering that (wasn’t even on the menu)- so thoughtful!! The salmon kebab with the rice was amazing, as was the Bhel Hummus (omg), the green beans were great and the falafel also very tasty. Felt like a lot of food for two people but we ate it all, of course!!! Service is awesome. Highly recommend!

Obsessed. I can’t wait to go back. Our server was so kind and funny, and the food-oh goodness. We couldn’t wait to devour every dish. The short ribs are melt in your mouth delicious, Brussels sprouts are full of flavor, I could go on and on and on. Just go, and order everything. They have an extensive gluten free menu. for the dips (which were all amazing) there are these delightful gluten free crackers with rosemary you can sub in.

Another gem in Chicago. Their Hummus was good, and Lamb Shakshuka was phenomenal—it tastes amazing and there’s plenty lamb meat in it, so every bite was satisfying and comforting. Fried Chicken was boring though, don’t order it. Date Cake was ordinary. If you swap the whipped cream with goat cheese it might be better. Overall a nice place and I’ll definitely come back.

Amazing place with a good selection of preparations on the menu. I highly recommend making a reservation if you plan to dine in on a weekend. A good selection of cocktails, my recommendation would be to try the “WAKE UP CALL”. We loved how tender the octopus and chicken was in the grilled octopus and grilled chicken kebab. Definitely recommend them!

The food here was very good however the service was awful!! We made reservations and sat at the table for 10-15 minutes past our reservation time for our waiter to say what do you guys want to order? Never introduced himself our welcome us here. ( this was our first time dining here). Waiter never checked to see how our meals were or refilled our drinks. I am re-thinking about revisiting here.

The food, service and the ambience was top notch. We liked the Chicken Kefta more than the Grilled Chicken. Make sure you plan ahead and reserve a table. It's so busy that you won't get a reservation using Open Table easily. Oh, don't miss the cocktails!

Really neat fusion of Middle Eastern flavors with modern cuisine. Some of the dishes are a little over done but in all, excellent food and presentation. Service was good. They did forget one of our entree and apparently it was dropped off to the wrong table? The server did offer to fire a new one but it was too late.

I gave it 5 stars because the food and service was amazing, but would definitely change the $$ to $$$. Otherwise the atmosphere was very pleasant, the staff was friendly and answered any questions we had on the menu, the food came out quick, but they also timed the order of the dishes coming out perfectly so you could enjoy the appetizer, first dish etc. without feeling rushed.

Wonderful Mediterranean restaurant with huge outdoor seating. Each dish is almost tapas size so plan on ordering 2-3 per person.

It felt like I stepped into a serene spa, the natural environment felt quite welcoming and allows one to focus on the company and food. We felt well taken care of by the attentive and friendly host and staff who were helpful with the menu options. I recommend ordering 3-4 small plates for two people. It was more than enough to feel satiated. Presentation was appetizing, but the food left me wanting more to round off the palette. The grilled octopus was nicely seasoned almost oscillating between sweet and savory flavors. The kebobs were tender although the rice needed a little more time steaming/cooking; It was a flavourful dill rice but oddly dry, with an unwanted crunchiness. We also ordered a small salad to share but i managed to pick out what tasted like a wilted, rotted red pepper. Lastly, the sea bass which was the star of all the dishes for me; seasoned and cooked to a buttery finish...so tender and tasty.

Ema is a delightful Mediterranean spot for brunch or any meal of the day. There are a variety of options on the menu so there is sure to be something for everyone. The flavor profile of each dish is immaculate and the service is great. Our table ordered a few dishes with the starter being a trio of dips with pita bread. All of the dips were absolutely delicious so I'd highly recommend ordering this to start off. Next, we got this dish that resembled risotto but i cannot remember the name. It was so good that I'd come back just for that dish. Lastly, I had the falafel sandwich which was good but a bit dry. I would have liked there to be more sauce included so I ended up ordering some on the side. My main entrée did not stand out the way the starters did but I still left satisfied nonetheless. If you're in the River North area and would like to try some Mediterranean food then I'd highly recommend stopping by for a nice lunch. Bonus: I saw the mayor of Chicago the day I went, so that's cool.

Late on a Friday night it was wonderful to find Ema open. Being alone, I perched at the bar, where service was polite if slightly chaotic at first (as several seats were checking out and hitting the end of their meal). Service smoothed out, and the bartenders were hospitable and friendly through the duration of my meal. The atmosphere is chic and refined, and the clientele are dressed nicely, if semi-casual. The vibe is therefore warm and friendly, which is great for the Mediterranean menu. Despite the later hour, the octopus I ordered was amazing. The cook left it tender and moist with just the right amount of char, while the preserved lemon made each bite pop. The fingerling potatoes were perfectly cooked with a pleasant amount of bite. The amount of octopus was also shockingly generous. Moving from surf to turf, I enjoyed the Lamb & Beef Kefta. While the rice looks plain, the lemon and olive oil make it burst with flavors that compliment the richness of the meat. Paired with a glass of Chardonnay, the entire meal came to over $70 after tip. This feels reasonable for two people sharing these plate, although one more side or dessert would help round things out, and out the total closer to a more reasonable $50ish dollars per head. All things considered, the food is well above average, and the atmosphere and service are very good. Definitely worth a try if you can get in.

Hands down the best meal I've ever had. My husband and I tried 6 different things off the menu (small plates and 2 shared desserts) and there was nothing I could complain about AT ALL. Can't wait to go back

Came here for lunch and we were very impressed with the small plates. We started with the tomato bisque soup (Picture) which was one of the best soups I've ever had! The bread served with it was perfect for dipping into the soup. We followed that up with the hummus trio, and squash risotto which was great and perfect for a fall lunch. I also tried the So-Cal Sour and it was a great fall whiskey drink. Overall if you go for lunch I'd recommend no more than two plates per person, but def get the soup! Server was very attentive and food came out very quickly which was perfect for lunch. Food: 5/5 Drinks: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 3/5

I joined my wife and her coworker while they had literally over 3 hours of talking before I arrived 😂 Seems like a good place to have a chat with friends and have something to eat and drink. I had Eggplant and Octopus dish. The eggplant was tasted great but the octopus was tasted a little bit burnt taste.