I went to Apolonia with a group of 8 for my friends bachelorette! I made a reservation the day before so it was rather last minute but they were able to easily accommodate us. Our group was seated right away and our server was very friendly and helpful. Half of us ordered drinks and we ordered many of the different pastas. I ordered the Calamarata pasta (pictured below) and it was delicious! They even brought out a vegan sorbet for our friend at the end which was a nice touch. My pasta was very flavorful and well portioned. They were also accommodating for our group which included vegetarians and vegans. We heard the truffle bread was good but we didn't get a chance to order it. We'll have to come back! read more

Apolonia - Calamarata Pasta - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A quaint little spot in South Loop that is bright and airy inside. My family was immediately greeted upon arrival and we were escorted to our seats immediately. The service was fast and the food was prepared in an open kitchen. It was a fun night full of delicious food and drinks! read more

Apolonia - Cod served on Spanish rice with pickled peppers and clams - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I don't get excited by many restaurants and did not have SUPER high expectations. I was blown away by every dish we ordered. WOW. -Branzino (just do it) -Pasta with pork sausage (do it) -black truffle bread (you must) -lamb skewers (good but can be skipped if you must) I think I said "this is SO good" and "im SO happy" 100x while there. I thought about going back for lunch the next day but didn't get a chance to, but will. I'm also dying to try their desserts which I know will be good. LOVED MY MEAL. read more

Food was awesome. We went with the chef's tasting menu and added on that black truffle puff bread. Not a bad bite in all those courses. Highly recommend it. And can't wait to return and see what the next chef's choices will be. read more

A south loop favorite!! Come here for nearly every birthday/anniversary. Absolutely love their pistachio ice cream

This was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had in Chicago. Went with a girlfriend on a weeknight around 6:30pm and were seated immediately. Plenty of metered parking available along Michigan Ave. After eating here, I cannot believe they are not booked up months out. The inside is beautiful - open concept, neutral colors, minimalistic design. Service was excellent, and everything on the menu was so, so good [insert fire emoji]. Cocktails - I got the Striped Umbrella and my friend got the Curried Away. Both were unique and delicious with so much depth to their flavor profile. My friend also got a Vermouth with dessert (can't recall which one, but Sam, our server, made an excellent recommendation) Food - Black Truffle Puff Bread is as good as everyone says, came out hot and beautiful with wonderful texture. Yellowtail Crudo was delicate and delightful. The Toothpick Lamb was so damn delicious and a must get in my opinion. Warm Heirloom Tomatoes with goat cheese was good but not as standout. It did help balance some of the heavier dishes though. We shared the Fiorentini Al Sugo (smoked tomato, catalpa grove pork sausage pasta), which was a tasty and solid pasta dish. Dessert - Not typically a chocolate person, but we shared the Alto el Sol Chocolate Cake, and I could shed a tear thinking about how delicious it was. It comes with risotto gelato, tonka bean, and malt, and there is some salt sprinkled on top of the cake. Please get. Can't wait to go back and try some more items on the menu. Chef's kiss to literally the whole menu. read more

See all

If you are looking for a variety of different foods and flavors, then I highly recommend coming here. This is a nice corner, location where there are plenty of views of the outside. while you enjoy an explosion of foods and tastes inside. We began the dinner with the "pumpkin King ". It's a frothy, petita bourbon pumpkin spice cocktail with chocolate bitters, topped with whipped egg whites. Very unique flavor but not a heavy drink. We went primarily with a bunch of apps to share and try out. The Black truffle puff bread was outstanding. It's a light fluffy pastry with sprinkled.garlic and herbs on top. Roasted peaches are the best. Hearty peaches with figs, prosciutto and roquefort. Order this. Spring lamb, Bucatini is spiced ragu pecorino and fennel drizzled with basil. Super tasty. The Yellowtail Crudo with black pepper gastrique was also very good. Light, not fishy slices of yellowtail. The only entree we ordered was the Grilled Branzino. This was suggested by our server and it did not disappoint. It was served with marinated olives, dill, and fennel. I would be remiss without mentioning our server, but unfortunately, I cannot remember his name. He was fantastic with the pace of the meals and all the recommendations made. read more

Short version: food is excellent - 5 stars. The service was not great at all: 3 stars. Thus the 4 stars average. If you are staying near McCormick Place for a conference, Apolonia is a great option; It's walking distance from the Hyatt and Marriott and the food is excellent. It's bright and airy with good spacing between the tables. We were there for an early dinner, and so the place was empty (only 2 other tables). We started by each ordering a Catcher in the Rye shortly after we were seated as the "black walnut" caught our eye. It took 20 minutes for us to get the drinks. Did I mention that there were only 2 other tables? When the waiter came by to ask about orders, we asked where the drinks were and we were told they were coming. So we ordered the black truffle puff bread and some chilled oysters to start and told the waiter we'd order entrees in a bit. The puff bread came out 10 minutes later, and still no drink. When it was served by a runner the waiter came over to ask if we were ready to order entrees. We said no, and again asked about the drinks. We were again told they were coming. Which they finally did, 1/2 way through the puff bread. The cocktail was outstanding. But the wait was inexcusable. The puff bread was unusual, and very, very good. It was a great start. One it was cleared the waiter again came to ask if we wanted to order entrees and we said not yet. Then came the oysters. Properly chilled, clean, and tasty. Immediately after those were cleared the waiter came by and we ordered entrees. And we each ordered another of the same cocktail. The place had 6-10 additional tables filled by this point. I ordered the Fiorentini al Sugo. It was outstanding. Every item on the plate worked together perfectly, and it was exactly the right portion size. When it was brought to the table we asked about the drinks. They were coming (it had been sent 10 minutes). The dunks didn't show up until we were almost done with the entree. I ordered a coffee and the Pistachio dessert. The dessert came in about 10 minutes, but no coffee. I had to flag down the waiter to ask about the coffee, which he seemed put out to go and get (it wasn't very hot or good). The pistachio dessert was excellent. This is a Michelin mentioned restaurant, so I'm really surprised by the terrible service. The waiter never asked how our meal was and only stopped by to inquire about us ordering. It's a shame. As the food was outstanding. read more

Apolonia - Pistachio dessert - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went to Apolonia several times during a work trip. Let me tell you, if you have not tried this place, it is a MUST. The food was amazing, I almost tried the whole dinner menu, cocktails, vermouth and desserts during my 2 weeks there. I am not a fish person, so when I tried the Grilled Mediterranean Branzino, I was in completely in disbelief of how amazing and flavorful it was I wanted to cry... the Black Truffle puff bread was 100/00, Roasted Mussel Toast 100/100, Octopus de Bourgogne 100/100, the Fiorentini al Sugo was delicious and a great portion. I am telling you, I am not a fish person but I put my trust in them and tried the Katafi Crusted Salmon... wow... the presentation was beautiful and the flavors were amazing. So I wanted to try more and got the Roasted Atlantic Cod, and it did not disappoint. I went for lunch and had the Apolonia Cheeseburger and it hit the spot ... The desserts were all amazing and my all time favorite was the cheesecake baklava with the green apple sorbet which was to die for (I wanted to buy a pint of it to take home ) and of course the pistacho dessert was so good, I got it twice. The Vanilla Pain Perdu was the best elevated French toast I had ever tried in my life.... I wish I had tried the Aperitif Tiramisu, so next time I go for sure will get it... I literally did try all the cocktails and had no complaints. They were all well balanced and so good. The service, staff and chef's were all so welcoming and treated me better than family. They were all friendly and accommodating, and they were amazing at giving recommendations and explaining what each item consisted of. I cannot thank them enough for the wonderful dining experience I had at this restaurant. I will definitely be coming back to Chicago just to eat here. And the restaurant aesthetic is so calm andIt is worth every penny I spent. Here are some pictures, I wish I could post everything but this app only allows 10 items. read more

See all

We were looking for a nice lunch place near the convention center. I usually don't expect much since they have a captive audience, but Apolonia was a well-rounded dining experience and a pleasant surprise. The first thing you notice at Apolonia: this place is C H I C. It's flooded with an insane amount of natural light, and the modern chairs with birch and white neutrals gives off upscale minimalist vibes. The silverware and plates are so beautiful as well... it's food porn / aesthetics galore. The menu has nice variety, and most items are creative flairs based on otherwise simple ingredients. (+++) Warm Calamari Salad ($14): I feel like calamari is always the same old fried appetizer, but this warm salad was a completely different take. The calamari was cooked to a perfect al dente had a lemony zing. Overall, the dish was an interesting mix of textures and flavors; the crisp greens were tossed with a boldy tart citrus vinaigrette, contrasting the creamy avocado. (++) Tarte Forestière ($16): I feel like you can't really go wrong with a 3-cheese flatbread with mushrooms and egg, but this was indulgent and heavenly. The mushrooms added a sophisticated umami. Service was friendly (perhaps a little too friendly--our server was too sweet and polite, and I felt rude in comparison!) The verdict? Apolonia is a great lunch or dinner spot, especially if you're in the area. It's a bit pricey for what it's worth and I wouldn't say it's the best food I've had in Chicago. I don't think I would go out of my way to dine here, but it made a light and satisfying meal. read more

See all

All of the food tastes fresh and the pistachio dessert is divine However we did have to wait over an hour to be seated even with a reservation. read more

The food was excellent. Nice modern layout. Staff friendly and attentive. Cocktails were delicious and very well balanced. Ok prices, but portions on medium to small size. read more

Came here last week and the food was everything and more! Everything from the starters my table and I chose, the main dishes, and dessert were all spectacular. As for the setting, when I first walked in I fell in love with how minimal yet classy the restaurant was. Our server was lovely and the staff was always friendly. My favorite dish from here was the Octopus de Bourgogne. read more

See all

We were lucky enough to grab lunch here before our flight. Friendly prompt service. Waitress was Latina very kind and attentive. Food was delicious! We had her recommendations and she did not steer us wrong. Yellowtail Crudo I can't recall the rest of the items as we went a month ago but I have pictures. It was very quiet when we went. read more

See all

We made a reservation here the evening before the Chicago Marathon and it certainly hit the spot! The location was perfect as it was right by our hotel, so only a short walk away. The ambiance inside was perfect: plenty of windows and everything felt very bright, clean, and well put together. Our server was lovely and really made our experience perfect. I'm so glad she suggested the black truffle puff bread as this was a great way to start our meal! Truffle can be really overpowering, but this was perfectly subtle and savory. It is fried, so it can be a little greasy, but it was overall a really good pick. I had the Fiorentini Al Sugo for my main and it was pure heaven. The plating was perfect, the pasta cooked well, and the sauce was delectable. I loved the sausage they used and how they crumbled it into the sauce. The dish is really cohesive and a great option prior to the race! We didn't try any of the alcohol they had on the menu, but it seemed that they had a fairly generous offering. Overall, I'd highly recommend this spot for a date night or if you're visiting Chicago! read more

Apolonia - Fiorentini Al Sugo - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We went to Apolonia and had reservations at 8p. We were told that our table wasn't ready so we went to the bar. We waited a few minutes and service was slow. Before my husband got his old fashioned we were called to our table. The drinks were good. We got oysters as an appetizer and they were good. Nice presentation. We ordered the Apolonia burger. We waited for ketchup for our fries. The problem is that they brought a small bowl for the two of us. Needless to say the fries were cold by the time the ketchup came and I had already finished half of my burger. Then for dessert my husband and I wanted an espresso with a shot of Jameson. They didn't have Jameson and brought a lukewarm drink in a glass. Plus she just brought one espresso. The environment was nice but the chairs are not very comfortable. We didn't think it was worth the cost. read more

Went to brunch at Apolonia on Sunday morning. A nice mix of sweet and savory items for a upscale meal. Quality: A striking thing about the brunch menu is the number of sweet items. There is a section dedicated just to pastries, and it makes sense because they are delicious. The Warm Cinnamon Roll and Citrus Croissant were both excellent bites. The Black Truffle Puff Bread, a signature item, is good and beautiful, but honestly one of the more forgettable bites. The Devil Eggs were a great snack. The Tarte Forestiere was a nice dish, I loved the mushrooms, though it could have used a sauce to bring it together. Both pastas were tasty, I preferred the Bucatini Carbonara over the Fiorentini Al Sugo. Quantity: Plates made to share for two or three people. Value: $12 for a Bloody Mary. $6 for the Warm Cinnamon Roll. $5 for the Citrus Croissant. $19 for the Black Truffle Puff Bread. $9 for the Deviled Eggs Florentine. $16 for the Tarte Forestiere. $23 for the Fiorentini Al Sugo. $16 for the Bucatini Carbonara. Ambiance: Apolonia is a restaurant located in the Near Southside neighborhood of Chicago. The space looks like it may have been a mattress or furniture store previously, with a huge open space and large windows along the walls. An open kitchen stretches along the back wall and there is a bar area near the entrance. Some couches can be found near the front as well, not sure if it is meant to be lounge seating or just a style choice. Pop rock music played in the background. Crowd: A busy brunch crowd, but a last minute reservation can be secured. Service: Friendly and fast service, they paced out our meal well. Parking: Lots of nearby street parking. read more

Apolonia - Black Truffle Puff Bread - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I can't believe I'm only trying this now! I've been a huge fan of chef Gillanders after trying SKY and have been stalking him as he opened new places around the city. Apolonia has been on my list since before it opened but the location is not somewhere I'd go regularly so haven't had a chance to try until now. And boy was it worth the wait! The hype around the truffle puff bread is real. So crispy outside and chewy inside, and the flavors of the parsley & truffle and cheese melded perfectly. The fiorentini was al dente and the slight kick in the sauce made me want to lick the plate! The frittata espagnole was light and fluffy, although I have to admit it still doesn't measure up to my no 1 (Jaleo's version). The tarte forestiere was delish too. Since this was brunch, we didn't get any drinks but I'm totally gonna come back to check out the beautiful & inviting bar! (And for more of the puff bread. No sharing this time!) read more

See all

Apolonia is an awesome addition to the South Loop restaurant scene. It's one of a handful of dining options at the newly opened Hilton Hotels on Michigan & Cermak, adjacent to McCormick place. They have a full bar with a good wine & bourbon selection and several original cocktails. In my three visits, I have tried the truffle bread (a crowd favorite), the toothpick lamb, the scallops with pasta, the grilled Branzino and the banana budino cake. Other than the lamb, which was meh, I recommend everything else that I've had. Portions are meant to be shared. They can work on 'decorating' the space a bit more since it's stark and the high ceiling lends to the noise & acoustic complaints as listed by several folks. But this is still a must go try now spot. read more

Hi Apolonia! I didn't know it was you that was right next to Hidilao hotpot!! Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no visible signage saying it's Apolonia??! The space is very minimal and reminds me of the Kardashians LOL I love the open kitchen, bright white walls, and huge windows. The seating was a bit uncomfortable. They don't have a coat check so my coat kept falling off the seats and my purse kept sliding off bc the seats don't have backing... Food wise, all pretty tasty!! Cocktails were delicious, oysters super fresh! The pastas were all cooked perfectly. Skip the potatoes and cauliflower. A must is the truffle pastry, scallop pasta, and the spicy bucatini. However- I was a bit confused as to is this a Mediterranean restaurant or an Italian restaurant?!! We all thought it was heavily pasta influenced. Will definitely return when the kinks are worked out! read more

See all

Stunning restaurant with delicious food. I enjoyed every part of my experience here. I'm rarely in this neighborhood in Chicago so I'm glad Apolonia got me down there!! The ambiance and design of the entire space is very sleek, minimalistic, modern and clean (see pictures for reference). I had the Cab Sauv from South Africa which was really tasty. All of the food was AMAZING. The menu is the perfect size, not overwhelming at all. It's almost like they made the menu to address all of my favorite food needs. The truffle puff is a great go-to -- definite table pleaser. Other highlights include the mussel toast, beet salad, yellowtail crudo, local burrata, Florentini al sugo, and the Branzino. Will definitely be going back here to try the other handmade pastas as well as the warm calamari salad. The server recommended to get 2 plates each as menu is designed to share. They were very accommodating with food allergies and had a great rapport with us. Excellent experience! Can't wait to go back read more

See all

How lucky we are to have such a wonderful restaurant in our neighborhood! After having dined at Apolonia more than 3 times now I can tell you with certainty: whatever you order , you'll be pleasantly surprised. My favorite is Boursin Cheese Ravioli and Roasted mussel toast . Great selection of wine too! Another thing that I love about this modern restaurant is the minimalistic design ( bare walls , beige color palette in furniture, light wood and concrete- that sort of thing) and the friendly, attentive service. The people who work at Apolonia bring the place alive and make it cosy . Highly recommend! read more

See all

South loop mediocrity strikes yet again. I'm beginning to think that my beloved south loop has a dark cloud hovering over it in regards to there not being a single awesome dish in the entire neighborhood. The truffle puff bread was good but far from groundbreaking. Twas equivalent to garlic break with truffle paste. The pasta was way too oily & cheesy. The fries were ok, cooked to perfection but could use some seasoning the but the accompanying lemon aioli leaves them slightly. The mimosas were also pretty standard & not worth mentioning any further. It reminds me of slightly elected hotel food. There's some interesting combinations/flavors here but I doubt this is their full potential & this still doesn't make me want to dine in my own neighborhood. read more

See all

Great addition to South loop! The dining area is very spacious and airy. Love the minimalistic feel. We came here for brunch and ordered a few things. Some items stood out more than others including the black truffle puff bread (must order) and fiorentini al sugo. The other dishes we ordered were fine, nothing to write home about. We had high expectations knowing that S.K.Y is their sister restaurant. Overall, would give them a 3.5 but rounded up being that they are still new. read more

See all

This restaurant never leaves me disappointed. The food is always so fresh and delicious and the servers are so great. I came here with my boyfriend for an anniversary this past Sunday and they called him ahead of time to see if there was anything I liked in particular to surprise me with including if they would like us to play our song!! They brought us a glass of champagne when we sat down and they sat us at such a nice table. Vicente (so sorry if this isn't how you spell it) and Luisa were so kind. Vicente brought a bunch of wine over to recommend to us and try some of his favorites. I came here last year for New Year's Eve too and honestly I'm disappointed in myself I hadn't been back since then because it's amazing. Highly suggest the visit read more

See all

Minimalistic decor with clean and clear table seating . The open kitchen is great and the food presentation is excellent! I had a really good bubbly rose to kick start the evening, the kids got mock-tails and hubby got a beer. I loved the flavors of all the dishes , right amount of spicy kick to it very different from the regular fusion places . We had the burrata with date sauce , lamb skewers, my son got the tasting menu and I really liked the mussel toast . I had the cod, hubby had pasta and my daughter had the lamb chorizo pasta . My next drink was a mezcal ,desert rose one which i really enjoyed. The desserts were meh. The pistachio gelato was very eggy , the blueberry preserve on a Donut wouldn't order again and the chocolate cheese cake was so different that I didn't take a second bite. It was an expensive dinner @ 75/perperson plus tip. Not sure I want to come back since the location is really really busy right off Cermak and Michigan. Our server was a polite French guy with lots of interesting tattoos and most of the server/ staff had tattoos. There was one female server banging into everyone while walking around the tables which was funny and careless. read more

See all

Came here for our fourth anniversary, and with it being on a weekday we didn't want to go too far from our place, especially with rideshare being flaky lately. We'd heard good things about Apolonia, so while the White Castle across the street from it was particularly tempting, we headed on in. We started with the toothpick lamb and truffle puff bread - the lamb was good, but you must get the truffle bread. Like, after we finished our entrees, I was considering just getting more truffle bread for dessert. I've argued that at lots of restaurants the bread is the best thing to get (see Outback, Red Lobster or Parachute) and this bread belongs in that god tier echelon of foods. Kind of obvious a creamy umami bomb would be so good. We each got pastas for our mains, because why not carb it up to celebrate. I ordered the scallop tagliatelle, and while I feel like the scallops were a little smaller than some of the other pics I saw of it, the sauce somehow tasted like rich seafood infused butter instead of your basic tomato sauce. I was pleasantly surprised by it and really enjoyed it. For dessert we ordered The Pistachio, which is pistachio cake, pistachio gelato, pistachio oil, and uh...pistachios! An obvious choice for any pistachio fan, it was packed with nutty flavor and a great combo of textures. The only real downside I remember was some long waits between courses and getting our check. I can only assume it's due to being short staffed as our server was running around a lot, which is totally understandable but led to us trying to see where he'd disappeared to at times. Overall it was a great choice by the wifey and a great addition to the South Loop area. I'll still be hard pressed to turn down a Crave Case, but maybe I can find a way to stuff a slider inside Apolonia's truffle bread. read more

Beautiful restaurant, good food. Staff were attentive. Get the black truffle toast for sure; it will not disappoint. They were able to offer a "kids pasta" dish for our daughter which was delicious (perfect pasta with butter and parm; we inquired about a combo of protein and a vegi which they accommodated without pushback). We love when we can experience a tasting menu when out of town. You can tell each dish was made with thought and flavor in mind. Only suggestion--We enjoy hearing the description of each dish upon serving (which we feel presents knowledge and pride behind each dish)--this was not done here. read more

Amazing higher end meal in an unassuming neighborhood! While most restaurants like this are found in West Loop or Lincoln Park, Apolonia really adds to the near south side. I'm happy that things are expanding to different neighborhoods of Chicago! Having recently been to S.K.Y and being extremely satisfied with my meal there, I had high expectations. I was not disappointed to say the least! Everything was so so so delicious. We got the truffle puff bread (a staple and the main reason I wanted to come here after seeing it all over Instagram!), roasted mussel toast (one of my faves of the night), toothpick lamb, fiorentini al sugo (pasta with pork), branzino, chorizo and ended with the pistachio dessert (another must). The mussel toast was scrumptious and I found myself scraping every last bit off my plate. Toothpick lamb was tasty and the mint yogurt sauce added the perfect amount of refreshing tarteness to the dish. The pasta was amazing with large pieces of melted cheese dispersed throughout that very nicely complemented the pork. I personally was not partial to the chorizo but my boyfriend absolutely loved it. The branzino was probably my least favorite out of everything we ordered! My taste buds were quite confused by the smokiness of the fish and the sourness of the accompanying fennel and olives. This is definitely personal preference as I can see how some people would like these flavors! The pistachio dessert was absolutely amazing and would 100% recommend leaving room for this. It's super light and doesn't leave you with that hefty feeling in your stomach. This was the perfect amount of food for two people and my boyfriend and I left very satisfied but not overly stuffed. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated with high ceilings and large windows and minimalistic furniture that provide an airy feel. They did a really nice job of setting a Mediterranean ambiance and really takes you away from the city right outside. Needless to say, I'm very excited to go back and try the other items on the menu. read more

See all

I visited Apolonia and had high expectations, as it's Bib gourmand. We came for a special occasion. The ambiance is nice and service was quick, but overall our meal was underwhelming. With that said, I do think the price point is fair. We had the puff bread, which for all intents and purposes, tasted just like a stuffed pizza crust with no truffle to be found. We had high hopes for that one, as several articles had sung it's praises. This was the only ridiculously priced dish at $21. The crudo had pickled shallot and dressing that completely overwhelmed the fish and was stinkingly unbalanced, and the Brussels salad had no cohesion, with an attempt at sour, sweet, salty flavors that were a big miss, with kale that was overly raw and crunchy (and hadn't relaxed in the dressing beforehand). The gnocchi WAS a standout (I recommend this) and the corvina was nice, though I had a very weird bite that tasted spoiled, but that was likely more due to the fish than preparation. We also had a riff on the Tiramisu which was not for me, the sour mascarpone was overwhelmingly sour and not chilled, which I did not care for. All in all, likely won't return. Mediocre food experience. Enjoyable ambiance and attentive service. read more

I am laying down in my hotel bed in pure ecstasy as I write this review. Ok. Before we go further, to whomever is the manager.... what is up with the restaurant front-logo and name? It does not at all represent the restaurant. The logo is actually confusing and the name or the type of food served is not visible or clearly communicated. (Yesterday, as I was searching for a place to eat, two businessmen were completely confused by the signage and if they were in the right place). This is a jewel in Chicago in an area that has a dearth of good restaurants. I sat at the bar and Heiden (I hope this is his name) was extremely attentive and professional. I came in, after reviewing the online menu, with two items in mind--the puff bread and the toothpick lamb. I asked him if these were good choices and he told me that they were the perfect combination. I then asked, regardless of the combination, what is a must have item in the appetizer menu. He beautifully described the mussel toast and how much he enjoyed it. (I appreciate people like Heiden(sp?) who know the menu and can recommend their favorite options; there is nothing more annoying than asking someone who works at a restaurant what their favorite dishes are and the answer be 'it depends on what you like!'; really?! off course that it depends on what I like.., but if you have tried the menu, you know what is good, and I trust your taste, or you can share what is most commonly ordered!!!!). I changed my mind and went for the lamb and the mussel toast. I am glad I did. The mussel toast was not on my original list, but if you have any appreciation for mussels, this dish should be on your list. These are mussels prepared in a way you have never tried before. So here is my framework, which I use in every review: -Did I learn something new (I love to cook, did I learn something I would want to replicate at home?): yes! Yes! Yes! The mussel toast is a unique presentation of mussels. When you order mussels, they come in their shells with a piece of sourdough bread. Why not just bring both together?! They take the mussels out of the shells, place they on top of the bread with a smoked tomato paste, and top them with a spicy butter sauce(which adds a needed touch of fat to the dish!). This is good. This is really good. I learned that mussels can be served in a different way. And I do hope to replicate it at home. -Is the food beyond my skill level? I think everything I tasted here is within my skills level. But it was perfectly executed. -Does the food tickle the brain?The presentation of the mussels and how they perfectly balanced acidity, with the spiciness of the peppers and the fatness of the butter, certainly tickled the brain. I expected more from the lamb. The last piece was so chewy I had remove it from my mouth. The tzatziki sauce missed that typical tingling sensation. A bit of sauce would have brought it to another level. Does the food make me happy? The mussel toast certainly did, and so did the overall experience. That mussel toast made me trust in the future of humanity once again. The food was amazing and well presented. The ambience is modern and welcoming. The service is superb (I come from NYC, so any act of kindness goes a long way-- the woman who served me the wine was extremely nice. This lady approached me at the end and asked about my experience... you won me right there!) read more

Apolonia - Toothpick lamb - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Hip spot in South Loop - and probably some of the best pastas I have ever tasted in Chicago. I think Apolonia is a great place for date night or for dinner with a small group of friends. Our hostess (I forgot her name) was attentive without being overbearing - and really improved our dining experience with her friendliness. The black truffle puff bread and mussels toast were also wonderful, and seemed to be popular dishes for other diners as well. I loved them both - but I would say that the black truffle puff bread is a tad overpriced for what it is. The only "flaw" that I would point out is that parking can be difficult on Friday and Saturday nights - there were no street parking spots available when we went, so we had to park in an adjacent garage which turned out to be inside a residential building - it took us ages to find the entrance after dinner when we went back to the car. read more

See all

Nice start Apolonia, only a few bumps in the road. 1st, let's get the elephant out of the room. Doesn't the name Apolonia remind you of Prince's band Apollonia6? (sorry not sorry) Ambiance; 4 stars, beautiful clean minimalist appearance with 30 ft windows and glass sliding doors which open directly onto the street, giving dinners a beautiful breeze throughout dinner. However, as others have stated, the sound level is right up there, almost too loud but tolerable. Sound issues could be resolved by adding a handful of tall potted palm trees, the space is begging for something green anyhow. Then add sexyAF solar shades in sand or oatmeal, material equal to 5% or lighter for sheerness, to the top half of the window panes, then add sheer curtains in the same color to the lower half. Both will help with sound and make the place feel less sterile. Food; 3.5, this is where things get tricky. As others have said, the menu is a tad sporadic; Local Burrata; sweet pea, frisee salad, chili oil. Delicious - the burrata was extremely fresh, not sure if the salad and peas were necessary, but options are good. However, we could have used more of that fresh toasted & buttered sourdough bread. I don't think our waitress returned in time to request. Spicy Bucatini Pomodoro; ricotta salata, espelette. This homemade pasta dish was EVERYTHING! Completely made my night, this plus dessert. Spaghetti cooked just right slightly, al dente. Sauce was rich with flavor yet light, with a nice kick of heat at the finish thanks to espelette (dried chili). Ricotta added creamy texture and flavor. Wild Swordfish; piperade, prosciutto,rapini. The swordfish was flavorful yet on the verge of being overcooked. The rapini was too al dente and crazy bitter, not in a good way. Fresh Chorizo Sausage; "apolonia" blend, braised onions. Full of flavor, more of a side dish, fyi. And for my birthday -- Banana Budino Cake; bourbon, granola, vanilla. Amazing!! Still dreaming of this cake! caramelized bananas, vanilla bean-cake, crunch from granola, served with bourbon gelato . Bravo!! Service: let's just give this place some more time..that's all. read more

Apolonia - best "bday cake" ever! Banana Budino Cake - Modern European Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

South Loop is terribly lacking in good food, so I was glad to come across Apolonia a few weeks ago. When I found out that S.K.Y. was Apolonia's older sibling, I knew that I had to check it out. The restaurant is enormous with plenty of door to ceiling windows, allowing natural light to fill the space. My friend and I shared a handful of dishes including the black truffle puff bread, roasted mussel toast, roasted mushrooms, and scallop tagliatelle. The bread was perfectly fluffy, and the mussel toast was richly flavored. The mushrooms were great, and the scallop tagliatelle had a spicy kick to it. We finished the meal with the banana budino cake which was so yummy, but unfortunately we were too full to eat even half of it. I'm so glad that South Loop has a new fine dining spot and would absolutely come back for more! read more

See all

I sat on writing this review for a full 24 hours to settle my thoughts...but nothing has changed: my dinner at Apolonia was the most disappointing dinner I've eaten out this year. This is not to say that the experience was bad, mind you. This is to say that as someone who is a HUGE fan of this team--S.K.Y., Somerset--I came in with expectations that might have been too high. (Full disclosure: I have eaten at S.K.Y. at least 14 times.) And the space is fantastic; the kitchen, the seating, the windows, the random musical tracks all worked well for our group. Sure, the acoustics on a crowded Saturday night will be a problem, but at 8:30 PM on a Thursday, not too big of an issue. And the desserts by Tatum Sinclair are amazing...the great work she brought to S.K.Y. continues at Apolonia. (Second full disclosure: I love the desserts at S.K.Y. so much that I worked with Tatum to set up a dessert tasting menu for a dessert-only dinner with family and friends a couple of years ago; I believe she is the best pastry chef in Chicago, and awards like her 2020 Jean Banchet Award for best rising pastry chef make me feel pretty good about that statement.) This dinner at Apolonia was a bust because it was so shockingly inconsistent...and for the price--$393 for a four-top, before tip--I'm going to wait a few months before trying it again. My wife and two friends came to Apolonia for dinner last night, and we tried 12 different dishes. The black truffle puff bread, the stonefruit and cream dessert, the Apolonia cookie, the fiorentini pasta dish and the scallops--just the scallops, not the bed of tagliatelle those scallops resided on--were all pretty good. Nothing from that group was special, but it was all solid. $16 for a bread dish is hefty, but the puff bread did have some great flavors. And kudos to the staff for proving me wrong: these pasta dishes gave me the feeling they would be half portions, but for the most part, you could get away with any of the four pastas on the menu as a full-blown entree. But that's where most of the kudos end. Let's back up a bit, and start with the service. Amber was excellent and she brought a lot of energy to the description of all of our dishes, and even though her "favorites" ended up being about two-thirds of the menu, she seems to really love all of the dishes and seemed keen to get our feedback on some of those dishes throughout our meal. So, this was a plus. But then, we got a minus: all of the dishes are served family style. Fine. That means I'm going to need clean plates regularly because so many different flavors are moving from the serving dish to get to my individual plate. But we didn't get our first round of new plates until after dish FIVE. Another ding: with the initial apps and salads, we at one point had five of them on the table at once. The tables are great at Apolonia but I wouldn't call them spacious, so I would have been fine slowing down the speed of when each dish hit the table. Sometimes, our drinks came out fast, particularly glasses of wine. This was also the first time I can ever remember ordering my standard-issue glass of prosecco to kick off a night and I was offered the chance to taste a sip before getting the full pour. Apologies to Amber for looking so confused when this happened! However, cocktails were a different story. I ordered the Not So Melancholy cocktail, and it took nearly half an hour to arrive. Coffee came out quickly, though, in what have to be the biggest coffee cups we have seen in months, maybe ever! I get it; every restaurant in the city is short-staffed right now, so I'm building that into my expectations. Still, at the point of the night when I ordered this cocktail, there were maybe 8 tables of guests left in the restaurant. Back to the food. The yellowfin crudo? So-so. The tagliatelle under those scallops? Tasty, but not amazing. I enjoyed the flavor of the spicy bucatini pomodoro; some nice back-door heat, which worked well. Then we have to address the dishes that missed: 1. The warm heirloom tomatoes? The biggest surprise of our night, this dish just didn't work at all. The tomatoes were buried under goat cheese, and the flavors just didn't ring with our group. 2. The green goddess wedge? Bathing in dressing. I don't know what happened here; maybe it was plated and sat too long before being served to our table? Lettuce just doesn't work when drenched this way! 3. The ravioli? Oh boy. We left about a third of these in the bowl; limp, and not much in the way of flavor. 4. The pork confit? Surprisingly bland, but worse, not nearly tender enough. 5. The lamb tenderloin special? I'm going to take some of the blame here--when I hit a new place, I never get the specials. We rolled the dice here and lost. Beautiful presentation, but for $52, I need something special to happen and that was not the case here. I'll be back for dessert. Dinner? Let's talk next year. read more

Finally a sophisticated restaurant in south loop. Last night we headed over to Apolonia for dinner. The decor is minimalistic, white and light woods. It can be kinda loud inside because there are no room buffers to support everyone's chatter. Reminds you of church basement dinners, just saying. He said Why does it look like a cafeteria in here? Ba Ha! I liked the decor but maybe some music in the place would help? The food did not disappoint. All that we ordered was delicious! Everything is shared plates so 5 or 6 dishes will get two people full. Here's what I ordered: Toothpick Lamb - basically that gyro meat you get at the carry out only this is seasoned well and toasted. Complete with the tzatziki sauce. Mussel Toast - runner up favorite dish of the night. This is delicious ! The toast is buttery and has the right crisp. There's a red sauce with a kick to it. They pour a butter based sauce over the toast right at the table for you to indulge. Pretty cool. Cauliflower Caponata - a mean when have you ever had cauliflower that was amazing? Me neither. This ain't that earth moving either but it is good. Grilled Branzino - the dish came out and it was ugly. Like a portion of fish grilled that has black, gray, silver stripes. The side of olives were a different shade of green. BUT THIS DISH WAS AMAZING!! Perfectly prepared the Olives were amazing with the fish. Definitely pleasantly surprised by this one. Spicy Bucatini Pomodoro - fresh bucatini pasta with the spicy pomodoro red sauce with sausage and espelette peppers in the pomodoro sauce and little scoops of ricotta cheese. Best dish of the night not kidding. And you get a ton in a bowl! I would love to return! read more

Well cooked and the pork sausage was tender and juicy. The sauce was a bit watery so hard to catch all that flavor. Fioratini pasta with smoked cheese is what I got. The portion size was kind of underwhelming. read more

See all

Came on a Thursday night, the setting is modern, server was attentive, food was delicious. For appetizers, we had the bread, lamb, oysters, yellowtail. Scallops pasta was amazing, as was the pork main dish. Would definitely come back! read more

See all

Favorite restaurant we've tried in a long while, and I think it'll go on to be one of the best openings of the year. (Of course, we are all starved for new dining experiences after Covid!) Started here as part of a dinner crawl for our anniversary, and very soon realized that we'd have to come back to sample more of the menu. Open, modern space with lots of light. Very minimalistic. Sat at the bar with a bartender that was a little too fond of himself, but that's okay. The menu is packed full of tempting options. We got the crudo (very good), mussel toast (unbelievable--seriously noteworthy dish), and the fried bread with truffle, which we had high hopes for (it was good but not great). We also ordered the pistachio dessert, which is light and nutty and topped with an unexpected drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. We don't often repeat restaurant meals. There's just too much to try! But we will definitely be back here soon to sample more. In fact, I just made another res for later this month! read more

See all

3.5 stars, rounded up because they're new. I'll also say I am biased because S.K.Y. is one of our favorite spots and we had very high expectations. TLDR: Good food, a bit all over the place from an identity. The chicken and hanger steak make me think more latin, the red sauce more strictly Italian. I expect the evolution of Apolonia to be a great adventure and we already have reservations to try the brunch. My feedback below is a bit nit picky because we are such big fans of Chef Stephen. Ambiance is big and airy, the music was too loud, and we ate early so the sun coming in from the west was invasive- these are simple adjustments. What we had: Truffle puff bread: a definite winner, if you like bread, this is a must have. If you don't like bread, wtf are you doing with your life??? Tuna Crudo: tasty but could have lived without. The tuna was fab, and is presented well but it's a thin slice of tuna. Mushrooms: a nod to sky's amazing mushroom salad. Just steal the SKY version, it's that good. This dish is too close to not remind me of SKY and then it falls short. Roasted carrots: the carrots are done well but the rest of the dish is disjointed. The endive is too bitter and the pickled strawberries just add to the sharpness. The dish is also confusing as to how it's intended to be eaten. My suggestion, either pair the ingredients as they're intended to be eaten together or replace the endive with a green and ditch the pickling on the strawberry. Loved the carrots, didn't care for the dish. Baked Calamari: tasty, light, honestly kind of boring. Would much rather had it as a calamari steak. Good for the calamari enthusiast but a 1 and done for us. Fiorentini al Sugo: solid house made pasta cooked perfectly with a tasty red sauce and rustic ground pork. This dish was hearty and filling and was tasty, but underwhelming. I believe I got a lot of fresh oregano and the sauce hinted of pizza sauce, I got no smoke. Rugoso Torta Tenerina: the cake and homemade cookies was fantastic. Decadent, rich - the bold blast of chocolate we wanted. The fudge puddle was meh, it was fudge. The coffee gelato was not a hit; it begged for sweetness. Even when paired with the cake the bitterness took over and didn't mesh. Something salted or a touch of sweetness would help. Also, the presentation was funny, I couldn't help but see a cartoon face in the way the dish was arranged. read more

See all