Apolonia
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Once again discovered a restaurant in Chicago that I know I'll be returning to. Apolonia was a delightful meal with a curated menu at a great price. The calm, bright Mediterranean interior welcomes you into what feels like a cool summer day. Started with the black truffle puff bread -- felt like eating a cheese pizza with anchovies, deep and umami and honestly some of the best bread I've ever had. Would come back just for that alone. The tasting menu delivered from start to finish. The Manchego cracker came out crispy with a light creamy interior from the cheese and a hint of saltiness from the ham on top. The roasted mussel toast was next abundant mussels paired with Calabrian chili butter that took it over the edge, one of my favorites from the meal. The pasta was fresh and light with a deeply flavored sausage that complemented it well. The prime picanha closed out the savory courses perfectly tender, juicy, and the romesco sauce alongside brought a nice lightly sweet and smoky balance. Dessert was the pistachio which I don't typically gravitate toward but this one was well balanced and a nice finish to a great tasting menu. Shoutout to my server Peter who doubled as the bartender exceptional service throughout. -Mr.
The food here was excellent. Lunch did take two hours in total so this isn't a speedy place to go. The staff were nice but seemed overwhelmed. It's a cool vibe.
I had a great lunch at Apolonia! From my conversation with the waiter, their specialty is their homemade pastas, so I knew I had to try one. The location is right by McCormick Center, and the restaurant itself is bright, modern, and sleek. I made a reservation for a weekday lunch, but there were a decent amount of open seats. I got the blue crab bucatini ($24) - the pasta was cooked perfectly, and it came in a wonderful crab sauce with a decent amount of crab and asparagus. I thought the portion was a little small, but the dish was really really tasty. Dinner prices looked a bit higher, but consider Apolonia a great choice for a nice meal out!
I went here for restaurant week and thought the food was really good! I especially loved the hummus and thought the tiramisu was really unique. It didn't taste like tiramisu at all, but was still very good. Overall, I loved the food!
I was in the area for a convention and saw that they had a chef tasting so I gave it a try. I was able to make reservations on Open Table which was much appreciated by the staff since it was a very busy Saturday night. I was seated by the kitchen so I was able to have their "kitchen table" experience and I enjoyed seeing the chefs preparing all the food. It was a five-course tasting and every bite was delicious. I really liked that they had this offering because it was a great way to experience their menu and what Apolonia is all about! The room was nice and open with soft lighting. The staff was wonderful despite it being a very busy night. I had been on a Manchego kick so was very pleased that the first course was Manchego! It was unique and I liked the flavor combinations. The smoked oyster course was also very delicious. Their pasta course was probably my favorite savory entree. The sauce was tasty and the pasta was cooked to perfection. The picanha was another great course. It's hard to say no to steak. The meal ended on a very high note with their pistachio dessert. That was so good; I know I will be thinking about that dessert course for a while. It was a pistachio cookie topped with pistachio ice cream. It was incredible! This spot is definitely worth a detour if you're in the area.
Tried here for the first time and the space is so nice and classy. It was open concept with a modern feel and an open kitchen so it kind of looked like an LA mansion haha! One funny thing I noticed was that every plate had a little chip in it. At first I thought it was part of the aesthetic but I asked the waiter and he said nope just a coincidence. The waiter was super friendly but I do wish he checked in more often. It was hard to flag him down when we wanted to order more or grab another drink and it wasn't even that busy. We were there during dinner and there were maybe 7-10 people total in the restaurant. The food was great!! Highly recommend the fluffy bread, octopus appetizer (so buttery and yummy), any of their pastas, and the pistachio dessert!! I would definitely come back to try the chefs tasting menu!
Modern Mediterranean vibes. Simple ingredients with complex and beautoful flavors. Gin Tonica was refreshing on this summer afternoon. We started with Red Prawn Carpaccio, Mussel Toast, Black Truffle Puff Bread and Brussel Sprouts Brava appetizers shared between five of us. For our mains we had Grilled Branzino, Alaskan Halibut, Yogurt Harissa Chicken and Blue Crab Bucatini pasta for our mains. The portions dont seem like it, but there was plenty for all of us to dine family-style. Musts: Gina Tonica, Black Truffle Puff Bread, Mussels Toast. Of the mains the favorites were Yogurt Harissa Chicken (this sauce with properly prepared chicken were a great flavorful combo), Grilled Branzino (say less! Order 2! Delicious!). The other dishes were delicious, but these mentioned were the super stars! We closed with Tiramisu, Sticky Toffee Pudding & The Pistachio. Hands down: Sticky Toffee Pudding was just excellent!
TLDR : lovely meal! A must visit in Chicago. I made a reservation on a whim while trying to find a nice meal for me and my team visiting the convention centre for a conference. How lucky for us! The place is nice and inviting with simple, nice interiors. The servers were super nice, ready with recommendations and just generally pleasant. I started with a spirit free drink : the honeybee. Honestly, one of the better non alcoholic drinks I've had in a long time. The tartness of the olives combined with yuzu was just weird but delish! The team and I shared a bottle of wine, and the food kept on coming, each dish better than the one before. We tried the : 1. Gambas al Ajilio: ooof, what a delicacy! Brought me back to my time in Spain! 2. Black truffle puff bread: another great item. The bread was fluffy, the crust wasn't too hard and the loaded black truffle on top was just phenomenal. 3. Yellowtail crudo: melt-in-your-mouth goodness. So simple, nicely seasoned. 4. Kale and Brussels sprouts salad: had to add a 'healthy' item and everyone loved it. 5. Slow roaster pork collar: I usually try to avoid red meat, so I just had a couple of bites and I wasn't disappointed. 6. Confit chicken thigh: nice and juicy meat, gnocchi and veggies were a nice addition. Huge portions! We tried the tiramisu and a couple gelatos as well. All in all, lovely food!
A really beautiful restaurant with some cool ideas that unfortunately didn't live up to the hype flavor-wise for me. I tried the mushroom bed which was covered in a truffle sauce. Which yummy I found it a bit oily and heavy. I then had the short rib pasta which was filling up lacking the richness I was anticipating. The standouts were the desserts. My friend and I tried the pistachio ice cream which was yummy and lightly nutty alongside the lemon cheesecake which was the perfect balance of sweet and tart. A great spot for dessert and wine!
When you walked in, you are stunned by the beautiful, modern simplicity of Apolonia. After only the truffle puff bread and the mussel toast, my friend and I declared that we would definitely be returning to Apolonia because w-o-w that was a flavor explosion. We shared the bronzino and saffron pasta as our entrees. Both were delicious! Charred fennel with the branzino was unique and tender yet crisp, and a great compliment to the flaky fish. The pasta was very fresh and had a bright saffron flavor. Next time I go back, I look forward to trying more small plates and desserts!
Stopped here for brunch and the food and service was impeccable. The portions are huge and if you live in Printer's Row, South Loop or Bronzeville this is a neighborhood gem so please Come in and support! Also love the minimalist Scandinavian interior and laidback ambiance.
Food was decent. The tasting menu definitely worths the price. My favorite is the mussel toast. The garlic bread is soaked with the tomato/onion sauce, and with the mussels, so tasty! I liked the slight spice added to it, kind of opened up your sense of tasting. One thing to be noticed: the seasoning style from the chefs are on the sour side (which I personally enjoy) and also each dish (except the dessert) contains a tiny bit of spiciness (which I also personally enjoy). I may have some "bias" based on my personal taste for my following comments. The sauce on salmon crudo actually tasted very much like a Chinese sauce - the red oil sauce on Sichuan chicken, if you know what I mean. Especially with the peanut crunches lol. It's a bit weird but actually tasted ok. The texture of the pasta was actually some of the bests I have had in the Chicago area, very well al dente. (Most of the Italian restaurants in the area either have it too soggy or too chewy that's almost half-raw. ) Sauce was fine. Branzino was good. I liked the sourness of the green olives mixed with lemon juice. I was surprised by the fennel! It was so good, like its natural aroma mixed so well with the char and the sauce. I think the pistachio flavor was rich for the dessert. There's a certain taste of almond syrup (?) that's kind of strong which I didn't personally enjoy, but if you enjoy Marzipan chocolate, you probably will like it because it's the same flavor of the filling of Marzipan. I ordered honeybee as a non-alcohol drink. It was fresh! Again I like sour flavors, so. Service was very attentive and they changed cutleries for each dish. Water was filled several times and the plates for hot dishes were warmed. I came in around 5:45pm at a Saturday night. There weren't many people at all. It did get a little more crowded but I don't think you definitely need a reservation unless it's a large party. I personally like the ambiance a lot. The music choices are light but relaxed, so I think it's a good dating spot or if you prefer somewhere chill but not too "clubby".
Amazing experience on Valentine's Day. The food was great I would highly recommend you get the black truffle puff bread. The gnocchi was next level good. The ragú sauce was so hearty and delicious. The gnocchi was long which added a fun texture to the dish. The steak was delicious as well, cooked to a perfect medium rare. The sauce was bit overpowering when paired with the streak. Not in a bad way, but if the streak was smothered in the sauce, I could only taste the purée. Desert was the highlight of the night. I highly recommend either the chocolate tart or the baklava cheesecake. Both my boyfriend and I agreed that this was some of the best desert we have had in a while.
Reviews are largely positive. Diners highlight the inventive Mediterranean dishes, modern and welcoming atmosphere, and attentive and friendly service.
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6 years ago
This is an upscale Medi (Mediterranean) restaurant. Had the B.T.P.B. (Black Truffle Puff Bread) which was nice and tender. The best bread I ever had so far which was spectacular! Also had two cocktails and they were the Fight or Flight and Rye So Serious. I like the Fight of Flight which has a light tart. Everything was very great including the staff and service. I'll be back for that dessert! PS. I was the first person to review for the restaurant even though the other yelper was the first to do the preview. read more
5 years ago
Absolutely a delicious endeavor. Every dish we ordered was delicious!! Uploading my two favorite dishes: homemade Fiorentini al Sugo and Hearth Baked Calamari. Only drawbacks: restaurant is very large and the sounds echo. Even though they spaced the tables out well, and it wasn't super packed, it was difficult to hear my friends at the table and the waiter. The second drawback is limited parking. I suggest using Spothero to get a parking spot at a lot nearby. Everything else, from cocktails to service was amazing as expected! Absolutely worth a try AND a repeat! read more
1 year ago
I came here for brunch, so can't speak on the dinner menu, but from my brunch experience, I'd love to come back for the dinner menu! I love the design of the interior. There is a lot of open space, great for distanced dining, and the color scheme has this really modern and clean beige warm tones. Everything about the interior is very aesthetic. The brunch menu is very reasonably priced. Nothing really over 20 if I remember right. My pasta was 18 and there were plenty of cheaper options. It's also pretty empty for brunch which was nice since since we were seating a party of 6. The waitresses were also pretty attentive (could be bc not that many people) but came and refilled coffee often. read more
5 years ago
Came here for brunch with my family and we absolutely enjoyed the food and service! COVID tips: felt safe considering all tables were spread apart, staff always wore their masks and checked for vaccination upon entrance. The food: excellent! The best things we had were the truffle bread (excellently baked, good truffle flavor, and garlic), and bundino cake (dense, sweet and salty). I had the frittata and the pork pasta- also very good and portions big enough to share, too! Everything was perfect. Tip: parking was easy on Michigan! Highly recommend! Oh and did I mention all the natural light the restaurant fees and the modern minimalist feel? Loved the vibe! Great spot for brunch. Also a long list of cocktails (mimosa was a nice complement to the meal too) read more
3 years ago
I didn't do any research before coming here. The server was nice, the food was delicious. We ordered: Lamb skewers, Fiorentini al sugo, flat steak, lamb chorizo mafaldine. dessert we had burn honey ice cream. We had such a great experience we came back 2 days later. Maybe it was July 4th and they didn't want to work. The server took our order, serve the food and before we finished, he handed us the dessert menu. The whole time, he was giving off "I don't want to be here vibe". I didn't want to be there any longer so we didn't order any dessert and went some place else. Food was still good. But the service was terrible. It is a shame chefs in the kitchen worked so hard to cook delicious food and the service staffs would ruined the experience for their customers. So 5 stars for the food, zero star for the service. read more
3 years ago
I chose Apolonia as our last meal living in the city and I'm glad I did because it's now my favorite new restaurant. Their whole menu looks delicious, so it was hard to narrow down our order. We ended up getting the black truffle puff bread, roasted mussel toast, warm calamari salad, fiorentini al sugo, grilled organic chicken and the pistachio for dessert. read more
5 years ago
Outstanding in every way. Got a reservation for Mother's Day brunch with my wife and her parents, and it was an excellent experience. The truffle puff bread can't be missed. I had the special of the day, their spin on a classic shrimp and grits - really good. My wife had the fried mortadella which was incredible as well. We're almost a year sober from booze, so it was incredible that the bar had a mocktail selection special for the day, which was delicious and made the meal even better. Our server was outstanding as well. But if there's anything that sets this place apart in the kitchen, it's the pastry chef. She and her crew put out some intricate, delicious, and visually stunning desserts. We had the pistachio cream special and the 'cannoli", which had a spectacular flavor combo. She's a powerhouse and can't wait to see what she does next time we're there. A great experience - get a reservation while you can. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
We went on a week night. Truffle bread, lamb skewer and the pistachio dessert were all really good. A little gem in this part of the south loop! Recommend as a nice dinning venue if you live in south loop or visiting for a conference read more
3 years ago
Food and service was great, we ordered drinks and they were great too. Unfortunately we couldn't get the main table and were made to sit on the bar but the real issue was for more than an hour we stayed there and whole time half of the tables were empty. Didn't understand why we were treated like that. read more
2 years ago
Our server was SO SWEET. The food came out at such a nice time (not too fast, not too slow) and everything was so intentional and flavorful. The inside was beautiful and I would love to try brunch. I loved everything but the pasta and mussel toast was exceptional. read more
3 years ago
We didn't have reservations so we sat at the bar. The bartender, Vincente, did an amazing job with the food and drink recommendations. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
Fantastic shared plates and attentive service. We tried the mussels toast, yellowtail crudo, octopus (served escargot style), lamb skewer, dry aged hiramasa (new and unique dish!), fiorentini al sugo, and multiple desserts. Friendly and knowledgeable server and tableside delivery by the chef! Highly recommend every bite. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Very fresh and flavorful dishes. The ambiance is calm, clean and comfortable and the service was excellent. I absolutely loved my selections. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
I got the Lamb Chorizo Mafaldine and it was incredible! It was so flavorful and the pasta was delicious. Everyone at my table loved everything they got. Can't recommend this restaurant enough. read more
4 years ago
Absolutely delicious, great ambiance, excellent food and service. Hope this places sticks around read more
4 years ago
Prime location for McCormick conference attendees. I was surprised this place wasn't busier, but I couldn't complain to have a quieter setting for a superb dinner. Service was very attentive and friendly. Harissa lamb skewer with tzatziki, grilled branzino, and pistachio dessert were all excellent and so delicious it makes me want to come back and try more! read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
6 years ago
All of the dishes were especially unique and full of flavor. I really enjoyed the pasta and the pistachio icecream. I'll have certain dietary restrictions, and the restaurant had no problem work around them. The black truffle puff bread was as exciting and fun to eat as it sounds. The foirentini was very well made and the sauce was fresh. I would highly recommend it. The pistachio gelato was a last minute add on that was worth it. The chef has some kind of relationship with a pistachio farmer, so it's a unique offering: all pistachio gelato with a cake/cookie at the bottom, topped with candied pistachios and pistachio oil. It sounds strange, but the oil made the dish much more decadent. read more
4 years ago
While looking for a place for date night we stumbled upon Apolonia and decided to give it a shot. We ordered: Oysters - Delicious. Not fishy whatsoever and the lemon/mignonette was very good. Fly North Cocktail - A savory cocktail made with duck fat, very unique and tasty. Honey I'm Home Cocktail - Tiki-esk which I loved. Highly recommend it. Crudo - Sweet and delicate. In terms of texture, the cherries went really well with the yellowtail. The little bits of onion and black pepper rounded everything out and the sauce was lovely. Stracchino Cheese - The cheese itself is very unique - mild but pleasant. I liked the pop of blackberry against the cheese on the cracker. Unfortunately it wasn't as balanced as other plates we tried and felt like it was lacking something. Lamb Toothpicks - Very spice forward in a great way. The acid from a squeeze of lime really made it all come together and the lamb was really tender. Fiorentini al Sugo pasta - Pasta was cooked well and the sauce wasn't too acidic. The sausage and cheese were the stars of the show for sure. I liked that the sauce wasn't super thick yet full of tomato flavor. Just wished it was spicy and it would have been perfect. Roasted Duck Breast - BF thoroughly enjoyed his duck. It was cooked well and the skin was nice and crispy. The tabbouleh salad, sauces and artichoke paired well with everything and he enjoyed mixing up the flavors. Curried Away Cocktail - Delicious cocktail. Subtle curry taste that went perfectly with the pineapple. Striped Umbrella Cocktail - another unique cocktail but it was my least favorite. The grappa was interesting and paired well with my pasta but just not the best compared to the others. Peaches and Cream Dessert - Beautifully plated, not too sweet aside from the caramel. We really wished there was more pecorino cheese on top because that was the most interesting combination and added a great saltiness. Some bits tasted metallic toward the end but I am really sensitive to that taste. read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
Beautiful spot tucked in south looo for a fine dining experience. Ambiance was beautiful, menu was diverse and created to share. Loved the freshness of everything and the seasonal items that always change. Truffle puff bread is a must! read more
5 years ago
3 years ago
4 years ago
4 years ago
This place has the best tapas I've had in Chicago or New York. The setting is elegant. The sommelier was very knowledgeable regarding Spanish and Barcelonian wines and how to pair them with meats and dessert. We had a eight course meal for seven people at around $400. I highly recommend the truffle bread, calamari pasta, and pistachio dessert! read more
Apolonia was good, not great. The menu selection was delightful, certainly an option for everyone. The atmosphere is warm and open, a good setting for old friends to catch up and grab dinner or even to go with a colleague. the steak was a bit overcooked and I ordered it medium rare. the dishes were flavorful and fresh but missing a certain je ne sais quoi. would come back, perhaps for brunch rather than dinner next time. read more
4 years ago
Everything was incredible!! The mushroom bread is a MUST and the service was top-notch. Very well-balanced cocktails and great wine list, as well. This is a new neighborhood favorite for us now, and I can't wait to try more of the menu. We will be back!! read more
Great place! Had breakfast with friend here on a Saturday morning. I was able to find parking easily on Michigan Ave but shortly after 1130am it started to get busy. There seem to be a conference at McCormick Place that may have brought in the crowd. It's a modern environment. I had the mushroom tarte which was good but felt a little too salty for my liking. My friend had their steak and egg dish which she enjoyed. We also had fries and salmon tartare. Salmon tartare was so good!! Food was good. Service was good- our waitress was kind and explained what the dishes were when asked. read more
4 years ago
Absolutely EVERYTHING was a hit on this menu that we ordered. Great service and delicious wine. This is great to go with friends who like to share so you can taste everything. Portions aren't huge (which is what I prefer) but left feeling very satisfied read more
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