I hate writing bad reviews. It's a local business and I want everyone to succeed, but as I sit here on the toilet, holding on for dear life, I decided I needed to free up a hand to write this review. My partner and I went in for restaurant week. The service was quite poor. Everything was rushed to the point where we were feeling pressured to get in and get out, except when we needed the check to leave. That process took just as long as the entire meal. Overall, the food was very bland. Not terrible, but I don't think it deserves more than a "meh". Unfortunately, both my partner and I had our digestive systems wrecked by our dinner there.. We both felt miserable toward the end of our meal and we're both praying that there's a merciful God out there somewhere to end our bathroom based suffering. It never feels good to spend $150 to feel this bad. Before today, taco bell was where I'd go if I wanted to make a bad decision. But let me tell you, Taco Bell ain't got nothin' on anelya. read more

Was so good! A very cozy place with an atmosphere where you want to stay longer. The dishes are like at home, but on a higher level: everything is fresh, beautifully presented and with soul. The salmon was perfectly cooked, and the dessert was delicate and not too sweet. A separate plus for the service: important, calm, humane. People come back here for a reason. read more

Loved the food and wonderful hospitality! Highly recommend! Went was a large group - we tried a lot of dishes and they were all delicious. The staff was knowledgeable and kind. The ambiance is intimate. read more

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I loved the appetizers. The dinner dishes were a little bland and seemed loaded with sour cream. I would prefer less sour cream and a little more flavor. read more

I'm torn on 4 or 5 stars but my gut is saying 4.3/5. Mostly awesome, especially the food itself. However the service/style rubbed me the wrong way a bit. Part of me thinks that the restaurant industry in general needs to be as efficient as possible to make it out there, which I get. But 2 times they just swiped our dishes with a last-bite remaining, and didnt even ask. I love that final bite! It was also just very quick. Server came quickly, didn't include any small talk, straight to the point. Stuff came out, plates were swapped, all a bit too fast. To sum it up, it was missing a sense of warmth in the service. Above was the only notch against them, the rest was great. Walking in there we were both taken into a world of their decor and really funky music bumping the entire meal. Really unique, fun, and not over-powering. And the table arrangements were well-spaced, and comforting (so that exceeded expectations). On to the food: 1. Carrots (come around on the cart) - didnt think it would be much but really good. Not spicy. Slightly pickled and in some oil. Nice and light. 2. Broccoli - wow-ed me. Also light. It reminded me of a slaw, but also had some curry-ish flavor. 3. Varenyky (dumplings) - the fact that they had a fruit in them was different and great. The sour-cream (ish) sauce also great. But I would have loved to have this to dip other dishes in! And they didnt even ask, just took them plate. 4. Lokshyna (layered noodle) - hyped up, and worth the hype. Heavy though, on the tummy. 5. Potatoe pancakes - nothing crazy, but still really good. 6. Beef cabbage rolls - I liked a lot, my wife didnt. Maybe could have used more meat in it. As mentioned, it was a great place minus some of the service notes. I'd come back for sure, especially as the menu changes often. read more

Beyond amazing. A complete gem. Delicious food and cocktails. Chill vibes. Honestly, one of the best restaurants in Chicago.

Anelya was a miss for me. We did restaurant week menu which ended up being a poor value for $60 a head. The pickle course was a couple small bites per person. The rolls were good but the restaurant wouldn't give us an extra (you know how usually restaurant will give u extra chips or bread or whatever to finish a starter up esp. if it's $60 pre fixe). The borscht was good no complaints. I wasn't partial to the dumplings. Meat course was good but small. There was a snafu with payment at the end that took the restaurant 20-30 minutes to figure out on an un-busy Sunday night. They were not particularly sorry about it which rubbed me the wrong way. I was very excited for this dinner based on the hype but overrated IMO. Cute decor / lighting. read more

Had a wonderful meal just after Christmas here. Growing up Georgian I had SOME point of reference for some dishes we share but the versions presented here were amazing. Highlights were all the Zakusky, brought out on a small cart (love this approach to let people who are unfamiliar with some dishes SEE the product and order something they might not have) including the pickled herring, fried olives, and the trout roe tart that wouldn't be out of place as a fine dining tasting menu canapé. Borsch was incredible, and I hate beets. Beautiful flavor from the smoked pears, soft/garlicky Pampushky bread on the side was a great suggestion from our lovely server. Varyneky from the dumplings great as well. Chicken shashlik was a good main, not our favorite but still solid. We'll do the kovbasa next time. Broccoli salad was a nice refreshing side. Cocktails were excellent, mine (forgot the name) felt like an herbal, less sweet negroni riff. Dessert was a highlight, loved the plum dish which was light and refreshing and JUST sweet enough. This is a special restaurant and I'm glad we did it while we were in town for just a few days. I'll be back next time. read more

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Highlights: The appetizers were presented to us on a beautiful platter, and we were able to select what we wanted immediately, rather than ordering them. We loved this way of serving appetizers. We were able to see what we were selecting, and the presentation was impeccable. We started with the Korean carrots, pickled tomatoes, trout roe tart, and the bread. Everything was outstanding. I furiously started taking pictures of the food in preparation for a few Instagram posts. We especially loved the tomatoes and the carrots. The flavors were amazing and vibrant. Low points: The character limit here restricts me from sharing the email I sent to the restaurant, but to recap: Customer service from the server right up to the manager, Rodrigo, was utterly abysmal. Zero explanation of the menu, majorly delayed food, manager tried to blame the server for the issues then changed the story later, and a dismissive server who is clearly uninterested in her role. Such a disappointment - this restaurant has so much potential if the appetizers are anything to go off. But the service ruined my trip to Chicago. read more

We had high expectations, being from that corner of the world and traveling to Ukraine on many occasions. I am quite familiar with Ukrainian food and dishes, and this "modern Ukrainian" is, unfortunately, hit ot miss. I give it 3.5 out of 5, but closer to 3 than 4. Quite cozy and pleasant place, warm and inviting decor. Ukrainian touches are tasteful, and authentic. Service is quite friendly and cheerful. Everyone is smiling and glad to be there, as far as I could see. Now back to the food, and it is definitely overhyped and overpriced, big time. Some of the "zakuski" (appetizers) on the cart are not authentically Ukrainian, and some prices were just raising eyebrows. Perhaps, we know too much about the origins of these dishes, hence, it was difficult to enjoy it. We did like sunflower seed hummus, I enjoyed trout roe tart (for $12). Bread was delicious, BTW. We passed on principle $20 borsht, as we eat very good home made borsht at home. Never seen $20 borsht in my life, for standard portion, and had it at least 100+ times in different restaurants around the world. Draniki (potato pancakes) were disappointing, as they were overfried and very salty. Serving it with feta cheese is a weird touch. I like draniki and feta cheese, but not together. I didn't particularly like sturgeon balls with mashed potatoes, less than inspiring. My wife thought that her chicken shashlik was too fatty and not flavorful. Wine list is purely Eastern European, eclectic and overpriced. We found decent bottle of Georgian wine from Imereti, Qvevri red, if you know what it is. If you don't, please find Qvevri Georgian wine, and try it! Nastoika called Pyanaya Vishnya (Drunk Cherry) wasn't very good, $9 shot. I had very good one in Riga, Latvia last year, and no comparison, alas. I doubt that we will be back, but you gotta make your own impression. I would recommend other Ukrainian restaurants in Chicago area, more authentic, and more approachable, and whole lot less expensive. read more

Everything is small to medium size so you can try different dishes all at once! Not completely like traditional Ukrainian dish but it's very tasty! read more

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The portions were tiny and expensive and I can find this food at an Eastern European deli for a fifth of the price... I think if you ve never had food from this part of the world it could wow you and fool you into paying this much.. but I was embarrassed for begging my significant other to take me here for our anniversary. We literally got a sliced pickle on a plate to share as one of our courses when I have a whole jar of them at home that I got at a Polish deli for 1.99. Total meal with 3 drinks and tip cost me a quarter of a grand. read more

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Reserved a counter table, which was literally two seats facing a blank wall with a 6 inch shelf to eat off. Fortunately there were seats at bar. Very standoffish staff greeting and food service. No placemats and food served on these tiny plates making it impossible to share the tiny portions. Overpriced and tiny drinks for 16 dollars. I would recommend the local Polish market. read more

I have gone here three times now, and have been thoroughly impressed each meal. The food is phenomenal, our particular favorites are the sunflower seed hummus, borscht, holubtsi (vegetarian cabbage rolls), and pampushky (it's kind of like Ukrainian garlic bread). The staff his helpful and able to walk newcomers through Ukrainian cuisine. The ambiance is energetic but good for conversations and the mushroom lighting is a phenomenal touch. I also have to recommend their drink menu which is very creative. read more

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One of the best Ukrainian 'gourmet experiences' of my life, & I'm from there originally:) Johnny Clark- Chef owner is the sweetest & certainly mastered his approach to elevating traditional Ukrainian dishes in the most creative way!! The smoked ribs with tartar sauce were SO delicious & super unique. Every dish was impressive! The pashtet (pate), sunflower seed hummus & broccoli salad were absolute perfection too! I'm salivating as I write this. Excellent service from Galina & entire staff! Very cool ambiance, retro, high-end yet cozy. Can't wait to return. read more

Everything was "ok". Cool looking place, so for ambiance I'd give 4 stars but the food and service were just ok. The service was rather cold but we can give that a pass under the assumption of cultural differences. My recommendation is to slow down the service. You have a team of very attentive and quick to serve team but the food keeps on coming without consideration of whether the guest is done eating the previous course. We received our last dish 28min after our reservation and we had 3 apps, 2 mains and 1 side. I think if the service and pace get fixed, this place can easily become a 4.5 star location. read more

The ambiance is wonderful. Great colorful booths, plants and lighting. The food was remarkable- we tried almost everything. Favorites (not using the proper names): the chicken dumpling, chicken liver pate, pork ribs, potato pancakes, trout row tart, both soups, and pasta like lasagna. It was all so good. The waitress was attentive and also made a wine recommendation that was a perfect pairing. Unique cocktails too. I'll be back read more

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Great intimate and eclectic joint. Wasn't too sure I would know what to order as this was my first trip to a Ukranian restaurant. Boy oh boy it will not be our last. Lovely way to enjoy with a small party. Plenty of small plates to share getting a variety from the country's cuisine. Interesting combos and drink selection and that is a compliment to the establishment and chef. Servers were polite and helpful when explaining the dishes to my naïveté. We ended up ordering and extra bread basket-so good. I think we ordered about 75% of the menu and not a single thing was less than a 10. I found my new weekend joint. You should too. read more

Very cozy restaurant with great authentic Ukrainian cuisine. Top notch service. Will come here again read more

Anelya - Oyster mushrooms shashlyk - Ukrainian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Utterly amazing experience from the moment we walked in. We'll be back to try everything we missed the first time!

I came here with my mom for dinner and really enjoyed my experience! I liked the idea of the cart coming around with appetizer options, especially since many of the dishes were new to me. The star of the show was the Lokshyna, but I enjoyed everything we had (I would also recommend the Kyiv Cake for dessert!). The staff members were kind and prompt, and I liked the ambiance--it felt unique. I will be back! read more

This was one of the most unusual dining experiences I've had in Chicago (in a good way!), which is why it's taken me a minute to write this review since I've needed to get my thoughts in order about Anelya. Overall, it was an excellent experience with some truly memorable dishes. The best way I can describe it is like an elevated version of home cooking, where a lot of the food was quite familiar, but the dishes had special touches that brought the flavors to another level. The two highlights of the night, the seemingly humble varenyky and the borsch, exemplified this, where saffron and herbs made a simple pasta dish feel extravagant with the varenyky, while duck and smoked pear added fantastic depth to the borsch, to the point where our dining companion proclaimed it was better than his mother's! I'll grant that not every dish was a winner (the broccoli felt like it was missing something), but nothing felt like it was thrown together or grudgingly put on the menu because it *had* to be there. Dessert was no exception; the napoleon was fantastic and not something I've seen on a Chicago menu in a long, long time. In terms of service and ambiance, my party is generally pretty relaxed, so no complaints with either. Just be aware that the restaurant can get a bit boisterous and post-COVID staffing issues means you won't have a server waiting on your every beck and call, so please be patient and courteous. There is a service fee with the bill, but considering there are people working there supporting family back home in active war zone, there's a special place in the afterlife for those of you who'd throw a fit over it, particularly given that the prices are actually fairly reasonable for what you get. One last recommendation if you enjoy your vino. Before going, do a bit of research on the wines on the wine list. Don't be afraid to ask your for recommendations. The wine list is fantastic, but it features a lot of wine from central Europe and Georgia (country, not Peach State) that most people won't recognize. The wine is excellent and reasonably priced, but ask before ordering if you're unsure. read more

Best food I ever tried would come again 100%, staff were very nice too. The environment was very cozy.

This Ukrainian restaurant is a very welcome addition to Avondale. Ate here with party of 6 and the service was excellent. Server was very knowledgeable and attentive. The cost, hassle, time to eat out these days is burdensome so one wants to experience something you can't make better at home and want to feel welcome. This place fits the bill. the small plates are excellent . I can honestly say every plate was really excellent. (especially smoked carrots). The atmosphere is relaxing taking 2hrs to eat made it an event not just a meal. Will certainly be back. Could sense the pride of the staff on the way out and rightly so . Anxious to test the patio . Memorable . read more

A culture forward experience for sure. The Ukrainian menu has to be something you are expecting and ready for, it's unique and done very well. Service is creative and attentive, we appreciated the tower of dishes brought to the table to give an idea of what the dishes looked like which made ordering a lot easier. The dining room was cozy and intimate. We tried the horseradish vodka because duh, but wouldn't get it again. But you gotta try it! Perfect for a last first date. :) read more

Spectacular food. Imagine Ukrainian tapas with a midwestern twist. This restaurant was fantastic from the first moments, when the appetizer cart came over and we could select the different items. Perhaps the best pickled herring I have had, do not miss out on the roe tart either. As for the larger dishes, they were all very solid and worth a try. A group of four is perfect to get to share and try many items on the menu. read more

Delicious Ukrainian food! Love the ambiance and decorating as well. Cannot wait to return!

First of all, ambiance is crazy. The space is so cozy and every detail seems so immaculately curated, from the lighting to the flatware, to the presentation. I got a chamomile flavored cocktail, which was delicious and unique. Food is wonderful, they bring out all cold apps on a tiered silver cart, make sure you really try a few things, they are all interesting and tasty. Mains are wonderful as well, wonderfully elevated Slavic cuisi read more

Anelya - Apps and drinks - Ukrainian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fun food, great service, great atmosphere, decent cocktails. I'd never had Ukrainian food before and was very pleased with Anelya.

This is a treat! Amazing food and vibe. Excellent Cocktails. Really cute. Such an incredible gem in the neighborhood

Minimalistic yet elegant cafe with delicious Ukrainian cuisine. The rolling cart with zakusky is helpful, the borsch is fantastic, the cherry infusion is phenomenal along with all kvas! read more

Food is really good and the service matches! Great ambience. Go crazy on the appetizers and sides.

Food is wonderful, infused vodka is superb, and service is efficient. Awesome music in the background. The only complaint is that the portions are microscopic (one appetizer was served on a glass coaster, and didn't even fill that!). This is definitely not in the spirit of Ukrainian plentiful hospitality. Ended up ordering multiple times, multiple appetizers and entries, and still did not feel satiated. read more

The food is at another level from what you might expect from your mother's cooking. The flavors were not overwhelming , they all left you a subtle hint at the back of your palate. Plates were small but enough to share. The borscht was extremely good, make sure you order the garlicky pampushky (very light and delicious rolls). They compliment the borscht. The zakusky or appetizers were very good and tasty. Many to choose from. Recommend taking at least one of everything. Cabbage rolls melt in your mouth as do the varenyky (Ukrainian pirogies). Be brave and have a shot of the vodka infused with horseradish - really good. For dessert don't pass up the napoleon or the Kyiv tort - a real delight. It's crusty, wafer-like with a terrific hazelnut buttery cream layer. The service was outstanding. Caring and not overly intrusive. Our server Halya was very helpful and made sure our orders were to our liking. Room is not quiet but not loud where you can't have a normal conversation. I would probably recommend some Ukrainian music to go along with the Ukrainian food, but hey, the music was good. Can't wait to come back read more

Delcious food but very pricey. Our bill was $230 for the 3 of us with no liquor! Tight quarters! Small plates.

If this spot doesn't earn a bib gourmand, Michelin star or James Beard nomination it would surprise me. Fills a culinary niche the great scene in Chicago was missing. Great tasting adventure into the nuance of Ukrainian/Russian cuisine. Bring your taste buds and your appetite. Extra points for their drink infusions. Particularly enjoyed the pairing of a horseradish martini with the Cod roe and mayo egg with anchovy. And that was just the first act. 5 stars. But don't be on a budget. read more

We visited this restaurant for the first time. The atmosphere and service are wonderful, very welcoming. The portions are very small for $18-$20/plate, but very tasty. Enjoyed borsch, vareniki, garlick bread, galushki and the best part - Kiev cake (exactly as I remember from my youth time). We ordered Romanian Pino Noir and expected for $15.00/glass to get a good wine. Unfortunately, the wine was terrible (more like grape water). I would recommend to the owners to have California wines as an option. But, parking is free (on the street). read more

An incredible experience! The combination of phenomenal food, wonderful owners sharing stories, impeccable service, and a wow-worthy dessert - it was the perfect recipe for an unforgettable business holiday party. LOVE LOVE LOVE read more

All four of us agreed we won't be running back here. The food was at times bland or simple and the portion sizes were too small for the price. When we did find something interesting, there wasn't enough of it. The first courses were the size of ramekins. Bread for the dips and spreads was sold separately as if we could somehow eat dips and spreads without bread. The alcohol pours were stingy. We spent $100 per person with tip and still snacked when we got home. I expected more. The service was good and the presentation was attractive but it seemed like presentation was prioritized above content. read more