I didn't even finish eating before I wrote this review. That's how good this place is. If you find yourself craving some Lebanese food, this is the perfect option. I was treated like family from the moment I walked in. Everything was perfectly prepared. I left in a much better mood than when I came in. Plus, once their patio is back up and running, it is the perfect weekend spot. Do yourself a favor, and get in here.

Such an amazing place! Honestly some of the best, most authentic, middle eastern (Lebanese/ Syrian) food I’ve ever had in Chicago! The staff and owner (Silva and her family) are so kind and welcoming! They treated us like family! We will definitely be back soon!

Very friendly and family owned restaurant. Visited them while taking a walk by Lincoln Park. Would come again. Highly recommend the taboleh. It tasted fresh.

Greatest service I’ve had in a very long time! The family that runs the restaurant are very friendly. The food was delicious. It’s a BYOB, so make sure to remember to bring your own alcohol!

A hole in the wall on Lincoln Park’s W Armitage Ave, this Middle Eastern restaurant serves exceptionally tasty, flavorful, affordable food. A friend and I stopped by on Saturday for lunch and it wasn’t too crowded— only 2 other parties seated. The interior is pretty small and intimate and the tables seat 2-4. The decor is cohesive and tidy. I ordered the Shish Tawook sandwich and shared a bowl of french fries for the appetizer. The Shish Tawook sandwich was so delicious: the chicken breast was extremely tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. I was a also big fan of the sandwich wrap: it was so crispy and well-toasted, and overall really added to the freshness of the entire sandwich and eating experience. The sandwich prices are reasonable and affordable too— $10.99 for such a well-sized sandwich. The fries were also great and had excellent texture. they had a really crispy exterior while maintaining a warm and fluffy interior. The service was quick and friendly, and you pay at the front counter after you’re done (just a note that credit cards have a 3.5% surcharge). Overall, I highly recommend this spot for a quick, casual, affordable lunch. I will for sure be back to try the other items on the menu— they all looked so good, it was hard to choose!

I recently dined here and I must say, it was an exceptional experience. The food was truly amazing, and I was particularly impressed by the flavorful meats. The owner proudly mentioned their ranking among the top 100 Mediterranean restaurants in the Midwest, and I wholeheartedly agree that they deserve such recognition. In my opinion, Cedar Place Restaurant is the best Mediterranean restaurant I've tried so far in the Midwest. The delicious flavors and welcoming atmosphere made it a memorable dining experience. Will be back soon for their garlic sauce! Bring cash to avoid the 3.5% credit card fee. Limited Street parking.

It’s a shame, while the place is very nice and the service was great, the food was not. The falafel and kafta kebab were both dry and lacked any flavor, the bulgur wheat and rice pilaf also had almost no flavor. The lentil soup was fine but not great, again with very little flavor (mostly salty). On the other hand, the vegetarian combo appetizer was great. The people were really nice but the food just wasn’t very good.

When I saw this place was rated 4.9 stars I couldn’t believe it, so I had to try. Turns out they were wrong, this place deserves 10 stars out of 5!! Absolutely incredible! The food was delicious *chefs kiss*, the shawarma (chicken and beef) both cooked to perfection. Rich of flavour, and very authentic Middle Eastern type cooking! The service was phenomenal, huge thanks to Ankito who is probably the nicest server ever, and not mention the atmosphere and decor of the place was really well thought of. I am definitely coming back here and I cannot wait. Highly recommend!

Great service and tasty food! This BYOB spot is casual with great authentic Lebanese cuisine. The lentil soup is so flavorful yet simple and made me feel warm. Already thinking about the next time I’d get to go here. I want to try their baklava so bad!

5 star experience. Phenomenal food, some of the best Mediterranean I’ve had. VERY generous portions. The service is so friendly, they really care about their customers and community. The patio is the cherry on top, such a relaxing and nice ambience to sit and catch up with friends. Verdict - would go back & recommend to family and friends.

Cedar Palace is hands down the best Mediterranean restaurant in Chicagoland. There is no food as fresh or tasty, no atmosphere as cozy or welcoming and no staff as kind. The staff at Cedar Palace truly makes you feel like family and they always love to hear about your experience. The food is cooked fresh by Silvana and her family every day and I’m telling you this food is to DIE for! Thank you to the entire staff for welcoming me, treating me like family and giving me a second home away from home. Until next time!

Phenomenal family-owned restaurant. Owned by a Syrian family who treats you like family. They are gracious and friendly. And the food is amazing. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening meal. Great location and I have heard -- their patio is phenomenal. Silvana, I can't wait to return. Diane

The food was super delicious. Hummus was creamy and well seasoned. The meat was great. The portions did not look appealing but it was enough food to make me feel full.

Nice little spot with good food. The food and service were really lovely and the space is a bit small, but cute and down to earth. I enjoyed the lentil soup, hummus, side salad, and shish tawook. The shish tawook chicken was cooked well and was juicy on the inside. The rice was quite tasty as well. All straightforward dishes on the surface that I would definitely eat again, especially when looking for lighter food options.

10 stars easily! Beautiful intimate ambiance, fresh flavorful food and one very dedicated thoughtful owner! You can taste the integrity of real ingredients, recipes passed down generations and authentic flavor in every single bit! The lentil soup is a must, and try the combination dinner to experiences a good sampling of their menu. Then ending with dessert is a must! Definitely have a new regular spot and we’re excited to try their breakfast!!

This will definitely be a frequented spot going forward! The food did not disappoint… they have Lebanese/Syrian cuisine and the family-owned aspect added a special touch. For just having moved to Chicago, I wanted to find a restaurant that reminded me of home and Cedar Palace did just that. All of the food is amazing and greatly portioned, along with the owners son being incredibly welcoming and charismatic. The photos speak for themselves- we also got beef and chicken shawarma sandwiches (not pictured).

We are visiting from Texas and decided to stop in Cedar Palace to get a bite to eat. We were greeted with friendly staff that made us feel like family. We placed an order for some hummus, they brought it out right away. The pita bread and hummus were excellent! We placed our order and I got the Lunch Combination plate. It was amazing!!! For dessert we ordered some of the Baklava. It was delicious! Cedar Palace is a must try place to eat!

Delicious, authentic Lebanese food. The garlic sauce was a perfect accompaniment to the tender shish tawook chicken. The beef kibbeh appetizer was certainly handmade in-house and it showed in the taste.

Our first time at Cedar Palace - we went as two couples at 6pm on a Saturday evening. We were seated quickly in a very warm and cozy setting. Not glamorous but very friendly. The food was great across the board, and the owner came to talk to each table, offering us some dessert recipes that have been handed down from her great-great grandmother! She was a delight to meet, and made the night a bit more special. We love to support family restaurants, adn this is a good one. Highly recommend!

This post is long overdue considering how long I have been going to CP. If you live in Chicago and have not be to Cedar Palace yet, you are doing yourself a disservice. The food is absolutely epic… it’s unique in its own way made through years of family recipes. It’s a family owned and run business that truly care about their customers and their experience. They take care of each table and treat them as if they were their own. The patio and ambiance are top notch. But most of all its a family that truly wants you to experience their cuisine and appreciates the people that walk through their doors. Bar none, my favorite restaurant in Chicago after living there for six years.

Finally got to try this place and it did not disappoint! We picked up takeout and we were immediately greeted by the sweet owner Silvana. She insisted on throwing in some rice pudding and pumpkin pie bites for us to try ahead of their Thanksgiving offerings. Everything we had was absolutely delicious! Authentic and fresh ingredients. Can’t wait to be back and dine in next time. They have a cute patio year round and they are BYOB!

We had a lovely dinner here the other night. The food is absolutely fresh and delicious. The portions are generous and everything is clearly carefully made. Coming from an Armenian family, I'm so glad to have somewhere here to get a taste of home! The patio is really lovely and calming to sit out on. The owner stopped by and spent a while talking with us and we really loved the conversation and appreciated the personal touch at this restaurant - all of the servers were so friendly and helpful as well. Will definitely be returning to Cedar Palace!

My boyfriend & I went here for a casual dinner, and when we looked at reviews we were so shocked. Over 400 reviews and nearly a perfect 5 stars?! But after coming here, I totally get why. I was running late (per usual) so we got there later than we planned for, around 8pm, and there was about a 15-20 minute wait for a table. We stepped outside to wait when we realized they actually close at 9. I feel like a lot of restaurants would stop taking reservations an hour before they close, but they were so accommodating and didn’t even mention they close soon! Realizing this, we went back in and apologized, asking if we can actually order to go. The hostess/cashier was SO sweet, and she was like oh my gosh yes no worries! And they threw in a little discount and baklava to show their appreciation. Food was phenomenal, but it’s really the customer service and the warm, family-like environment that is the cherry on top. I typically don’t leave reviews, but I feel like I had to since I was so happy about our experience. Now I get why they have so many reviews!!

This place is easily the best Mediterranean food I've had in the Chicagoland area. Don't let the hole in the wall look fool you, these people know how to make some Shawarma, WOW. I had some of the best lentil soup I've ever had. The hummus is also incredible. It is a family owned restaurant. The son is very friendly & kind., Making sure patrons are well accommodated. Pair the food with some Sri Lankan tea or Arabian coffee and WOW. The pricing is also right. 5 star food. Excellent service. This place is a must try.

AMAZING, AMAZING food! Flavorful, delicious- the juiciest chicken with so much flavor. feels like eating a warm, home cooked meal. And all of the staff is incredibly nice. Like eating with family. Cannot recommend enough.

Food tasted good. But was a bit pricey. Beef , lamp and chicken Swarama was really good. The bread served wasn’t great and cold.

Amazing food and staff. We ordered a handful of dishes and loved everything. The hummus is incredible and the falafel is a must! Our server Anthony was attentive and kind during our entire meal. You can tell the staff genuinely wants every person that comes in to have a good experience. We’ll be back soon! Thank you for making our welcome to the neighborhood so wonderful!

Great food and excellent service. This is a family run business and the food is freshly prepared everyday from scratch.

This is by far the best Lebanese food (and Mediterranean food) in the city. No question about it. There is a reason Cedar Palace has 4.9 stars and over 700 reviews. I recommend the lunch or dinner combo. Great value. Lot of food and so fresh. The falafel is great as well. This place is also BYOB, can’t beat that! Oh, and the staff is fantastic. So accommodating. It’s family owned, and you really feel like part of the family when at Cedar Palace. Located a few minutes walk from the Armitage Brown Line stop, so very accessible by train. They have street parking in front for those with cars.