Ema
Chicago
Consider visiting Ema during weekdays for a quieter dining experience.
Ema is a chic Mediterranean restaurant located at 74 W Illinois St in Chicago. Known for its contemporary ambiance, Ema offers a warm yet modern setting that attracts a varied crowd. The decor is minimalist and stylish, providing an inviting atmosphere that complements its light and fresh menu.
The menu at Ema focuses on the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean, presenting a selection of dishes that emphasize fresh ingredients and balanced seasoning. Diners will find options suitable for both sharing and individual enjoyment. The culinary experience is enhanced by a selection of wines and crafted cocktails that pair well with the menu offerings.
Offering a casual yet refined dining experience, Ema is suited for those seeking an approachable taste of the Mediterranean in a bustling urban environment. The restaurant's central location makes it easily accessible for both locals and visitors to Chicago, providing a delightful retreat for anyone interested in exploring flavors beyond the ordinary.
Reviews
I had lunch here yesterday and i’m still thinking about how amazing and flavorful everything was. Firstly, the ambience and overall vibe of the restaurant’s interior are super cool and relaxing, and the staff were also attentive and helpful. To start we got a spicy whipped feta spread with pita to dip, which was absolutely phenomenal and PACKED with flavor. I highly recommend getting this spread, even if you’re not huge on feta cheese (this will change your mind). Then we got two hot mezze plates: the green falafel and the mushroom “escargot,” both of which were amazing. The falafel was super light and fresh with a crisp exterior and a moist fluffy inside, paired with a delicious beet tzatziki. Although, the mushroom escargot dish truly stole the show with an extremely delicious, deep buttery flavor, giving an interesting vegetarian take on a french classic, with a little mediterranean spin. We ended off the lunch with an order of the Chicken Kefta kabob, featuring ground chicken packed with intense flavor and spices, cooked perfectly on the skewer. Overall, our lunch experience at Ema was fantastic. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in some super high quality, delicious mediterranean cuisine. We will definitely be returning soon for a full dinner experience here.
The restaurant’s interior is beautiful, but the tables are packed too close together, making the space feel crowded. While our server was excellent, the food taste unfortunately missed the mark for us. We ordered the Hummus w/ Lamb Ragu, Chicken Kefta, Green Falafel, Spiced Chicken Thigh and the Cactus Queen drink. None of the dishes felt worth the bill we received. Having been to Aba, I definitely prefer their flavors, experience, and overall value.
Beautiful place and great tasting food all around. My only issue is that these dishes are pricey especially for the amount of food you’re getting. For 3 people we ordered 6 dishes and we were still decently hungry by the end but decided it wasn’t worth the price to get more food. Hummus was great but not enough pita bread to hummus ratio. The Greek salad was delicious and the feta was amazing. The thai chicken was really really good but I was expecting a lot more chicken then there actually was 😆 The crispy potatoes and mushrooms were probably the only dishes that had decent portions The kebabs were decently sized as well and tasted decent. We did the vegetarian one.
I planned a bridal brunch for my daughter-in-law to be. Everything was really so well done. The food was tasty, the servers were courteous and kind, and the quiet Back Nook location was perfect. We felt like part of the restaurant vibe but also private at the same time. I loved the personalized menus. Thank you for accommodating the bride with her special menu. I would highly recommend your restaurant for any special occasion.
