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    Avaspi

    4.8 (96 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Avaspi Photos

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    AVASPI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Avaspi

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    Babaganoush
    Megan F.

    Went to Avaspi last Sunday for brunch with my boyfriend and his sister, and we absolutely loved this place! The interior was beautiful, and the service was excellent. Our server, Ozgur, was amazing -- super friendly, accommodating, and checked in on us often. We got the Babaganoush, Stuffed Dates, Sarma, Stuffed Mushrooms, Goat Cheese Tomato Dip, Kurdish Coffee, Watermelon Juice, Coconut Cake, and Baklava. The Goat Cheese Tomato Dip and Coconut Cake were our favorites -- both so flavorful and well-balanced. Can't wait to come back and try more of their tapas!

    Whiskey sangria
    Jenny C.

    Decor is beautiful and staff were EXTREMELY attentive. I was apologetic because I ordered the sangria without fully reading the description and missed that it was mixed with whiskey. I ended up having to send it back because it was so strong, but I am not a whiskey drinker. If you like whiskey, this was probably delicious and so I wished I liked whiskey. Everything else was OK. Everything was beautifully pleaded. I did feel like it all lap a little bit of flavor and depth. The lamb could use more seasoning for sure. The whole meal was fine. The grape leaves were good. I would be curious to visit for happy hour to try the food at a cheaper price point but it's all still reasonably priced. It's worth a visit.

    Avaspi bar
    Melissa S.

    THIS PLACE IS SO GREAT!!! What a gem. Avaspi is absolutely beautiful inside: swanky, stylish, velvet chairs, etc. I love the ambiance. Service was fabulous at every touchpoint, but special shout-out to our sever, Emin, who was amazing: so kind and courteous and helpful throughout the entire experience. Let's move onto the food and drink! Our table started with a round of cocktails, and everyone loved what they ordered. I got an old-school cosmopolitan: exceptional! We shared a bunch of dishes for dinner, including babaganoush, stuffed dates, grilled halloumi meze, mushroom tava, and the chicken kebab. Everything was OUTSTANDING! We enjoyed wine with dinner and split a dessert, the katmer, which was wonderful (and not too sweet). The value considering what we had was exceptional. This is a truly outstanding restaurant and I cannot wait to return!

    Enas B.

    My husband brought me here last night to celebrate my birthday. We ordered the halloumi cheese, the BBQ platter for two, and kunafa. The halloumi and kunafa were definitely the highlights for me! The halloumi cheese was absolutely heavenly, and the kunafa had just the right balance of sweetness and texture. However, I was disappointed with the BBQ meat. It was undercooked, and the server didn't ask how we'd like it prepared. The flavor was also lacking, there was no seasoning or salt, which made it feel quite plain. On a positive note, the environment was lovely! The space was clean, beautifully decorated, and the Christmas decorations added a festive touch to the experience

    Halloumi salad
    Anita P.

    Really enjoyed this restaurant! It was my first time trying stuffed grape leaves and halloumi and I loved them both. The portions are a bit on the smaller side, so probably get +1 dish than the number of people at the table. The drinks were all really tasty as well- my favorite was the avaspi lemonade it was perfect for summer

    Halloumi salad and the calamari on a bed of crushed olives.
    Michelle Z.

    Avaspi on Belmont is, quite simply, a standout. From the moment we walked in, it struck that rare balance between upscale ambiance and warm, unpretentious hospitality. You feel welcomed, not watched--something a lot of "high end" places never quite master. The food? Absolutely incredible. We started with the stuffed eggplant, and I'll say it plainly: it was out of this world. Rich, balanced, and deeply satisfying. Then came the calamari meze, and this dish deserves its own shoutout. I don't like calamari--at all--but somehow I couldn't stop eating this. There was an umami depth I couldn't quite name, but it hooked me. I've never been more pleasantly surprised by a plate. Next was the halloumi salad. It's rare that a salad makes it into the highlight reel of a meal, but this one did. Fresh, vibrant, and anchored by perfectly grilled halloumi, it held its own against the heavier dishes. The star of the show, though, was the Avaspi Mixed Plate for two. It came out sizzling and aromatic, and every bite of meat was shockingly juicy and packed with flavor. We kept exchanging looks like, How is this even real? Service was top-tier--attentive without hovering, gracious without being stiff. Portions were generous, pricing felt more than fair, and we left already talking about when we'd be back. If you're in Chicago and want a meal that hits every mark--food, service, atmosphere--Avaspi is your spot.

    Grilled halloumi meze is yummy
    Terri K.

    Really good food! A bit pricey but because service & food was great I gave them 5 stars. Mixed meze appetizer $25.95. Everything was yummy especially the babaganoush. They gave me some gluten free bread (toast) as well as the regular bread. The grilled halloumi meze had great flavor. The calamari meze was very tender & had a bit of a kick to it. The stuffed mushrooms in the tomato sauce were very good as well.

    George O.

    Wonderful atmosphere, great music, excellent service from the super nice guys there, and food was incredible! Also tried the Kurdish coffee and it was great. Look forward to many more times at Avaspi!

    Betty C.

    Five of us had dinner on a Sunday evening. The service was very professional and the food was pretty good however, I don't think the pricing is warranted. We ordered the sautéed calamari, the five meze appetizer and the goat cheese with tomato sauce as starters and then the lamb chops and beef avaspi as entrees to share. Everyone had two drinks and the bill totaled $353 - it felt like a $250 to $275 value at most. The five meze app was seriously priced at $24.95. It was five very small bowls - barely a quarter to a third of a cup of each dip and a plate of bread. One of the dips was hummus - it was standard, no special flavor, the second was ezme - a sort of Anatolian pico de gallo - fresh and flavorful, the third was baba ganoush -= a very tasty version, good smoky flavor, the fourth was haydari - a thick yogurt with mint garlic etc reminiscent of tazaziki, and the fifth was muhammara - a smooth red pepper spiced dip. The baba ganoush and muhammara were the best of all five. The bread was interesting looking but really a big pillowy ball with an egg wash and topped with white and black sesame seeds however it had no real flavor of it's own and was basically a carrier for the dips. Had the bread been interesting the combo meze dips might have been worth the price. The goat cheese with tomato sauce was disappointing as the tomato sauce lacked flavor and spice. It was fairly watery and although the goat cheese was light and fluffy - the grilled sticks of the same bread were not interesting enough to carry this into the very good category. The calamari appetizer was drenched in olive oil and spices so it has plenty of flavor however the multiple sauces and olives seriously overpowered the calamari - which were tender. This was when the plain bread was useful to dip in the sauces! The Beef Avaspi with rice was flavorful and tender and almost as good as the grilled lamb chops which were very well seasoned. All in all the meal was decent however the prices are too high for me.

    Madeleine G.

    What a gem. We were overblown with how great this place was. The food, service, price, absolutely fantastic. Could have been the highlight of my summer. The brunch was so worth it. Please don't sleep on this place. It's my new happy place in Chicago.

    KT O.

    Amazing. Every dish was delicious. We orderedthe following: ezme , muharamma, sarma, octopus, grilled halloumi, and chicken kebabs. We ordered everything but the kebab during happy hour. The servers were really nice. I'm looking forward to my next visit.

    Menu
    Adriana F.

    I chose Avaspi because is located right across from the play that we were attending. I called for reservations since we were driving from the west burbs and explained we had limited time for a meal because of the play (and my friends taking their sweet time lol). Great choice! I scored. A burst of flavors in a great atmosphere, unique decor, and black walls with red accents looked great. Service was also great, they attended to us quickly knowing our time limitations. The food was fantastic. The perfect fusion of East and West in this Anatolian tapas concept with rich flavors. We tried multiple things: - tomato and goat cheese dish that was fantastic - Meat sampler for 2: tender lamb chops, chicken and beef - Hummus and Babaganoush - Grilled Halloumi Meze (I love Halloumi so I was happy to see it on the menu) I had an Old Fashioned, it was okay, but it would benefit from being served with one big ice cube instead of traditional little pieces. They have a respectable wine and cocktail selection as well as several beers. We all enjoyed the flood and our time at Avaspi. Sadly we did not have time for a sweet treat as we had to dash to the theater. I will definitely return!

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    1 month ago

    Amazing. Love this place. Breakfast for two is fabulous. Goat cheese and tomato dip is amazing. Staff is great. Love love love

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    Delicious food and drink, pleasant ambiance, and kind and flexible staff. Highly recommend!

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    4 months ago

    We sat at the bar in comfy seats. Excellent food!! Excellent service!! Def will be back!

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    Buzzed by Zea - Espresso Martini

    Buzzed by Zea

    (19 reviews)

    Lakeview

    I have been frequenting both the salon and the bar here for quite some time now…read more I have never met a more community-minded business than Buzzed by Zea and it is all on account of Jerry and Lee and their friendly and welcoming staff - all of them willing to go above and beyond to support their friends, neighbors, patrons, and emerging businesses. Truly a wonderful place to get your style on over drinks. After Salon hours this place turns into a cozy little bar with wonderful cocktails and excellent service where you can actually have a conversation with friends. How old fashioned is that!? The venue is also an event space! Our theater company has now done two amazing benefits here and - wow, what an amazing event space this is. Three bar service locations, ample seating space, a cozy atmosphere, welcoming staff, and an upscale, luxurious feel to the whole place. We never get tired of coming here. But all of that together does not measure up to the heart and soul of the space brought to it by Jerry and Lee. Go. You'll fall in love too.

    What a usual experience! I'm standing at the door, trying to determine if I'm even in the right…read moreplace. It seemed as though I were standing in front of a salon. I entered, and an greeted by a salon smell. It was not overpowering and was arguably pleasant, and but I see a bar to the left, so I am in the right place. Fair enough, I have a seat. This isn't them being cute with a theme, there is a bona-fide salon here, though it does not operate as late as the bar and was tucked away behind a curtain. Speaking to a regular, it is possible to have a cocktail while having your hair cut (or maybe waiting at some point in the process?) But I digress. I ordered a Taxi Dancer - an extremely pleasant whiskey-based drink that was spirit forward without being overwhelming (though I drink whiskey neat, so take this with a grain of salt). It had a perfect level of sweetness, and a little spice (not heat). The vibe here is upscale, modern, and bright. The bar staff is friendly and welcoming to newcomers and regulars alike. I also love that their prices seem to be reasonable, all things considered. The aforementioned cocktail is $16, which is fair considering the quality. While on that particular night I only had the one, I will be happily adding Buzzed by Zea to my cocktail bar rotation when I feel like going out for a night on the town.

    Elixir - Montage of images from Elixir

    Elixir

    (119 reviews)

    $$

    Lakeview

    We have been to Elixir a few times and it is always a great choice for unique and delicious…read morecocktails! It is a cozy little bar with dim lighting perfect for a date night drink. The bartenders are always very friendly and check in often which is always appreciated. You're always immediately given little pretzels to snack on which I love as a unique touch. This time we both chose a more standard cocktail, but they also always have very unique and delicious seasonal cocktails which are always amazing! I would definitely recommend Elixir to anyone looking for a spot to grab a quick and delicious cocktail!

    On our first night in Boystown, Jamie W and I were pretty overwhelmed by the crowds at Sidetrack…read moreand Roscoe's, so we ended up coming here to make Jamie's virginal gay bar debut. It was the right move because it had the kind of chill vibe we were seeking after a long flight from SFO. Fortunately there were two seats at the bar with our names on them. Figuratively speaking. They had quite a signature cocktail list on hand, and we felt it was our obligation to try as many as we could. At least that was what we said to ourselves as the evening wore on. Each cocktail was $14. We started with a couple of familiar libations. Jamie ordered the Mint Julep, a delightfully Deep South mix of bourbon, simple syrup, and fresh mint (photo: https://yelp.to/u-td8LdPLj). I went further south with the Pineapple Margarita which was emboldened by a tropically potent mix of pineapple infused tequila, lime juice, and agave (photo: https://yelp.to/V-Sf6Q_2qK). We got a bit bolder with our second round and found mixed results. Jamie had the Not Your Mom's Daiquiri which amped up the margarita by blending pineapple-infused tequila with Bacardi 8-year rum. Along with fresh lime and simple syrup, this one definitely had more of a kick (photo: https://yelp.to/1ZijDf6wMV). However, my order, the Pontiac Pony, was a spicy miss for me. It was a rather oddball mix of apple-cinnamon infused vodka, pear liqueur, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and ginger beer (photo: https://yelp.to/5dQoFdzG98). There was just a harshness that didn't sit well on my tongue. Oh well, the mellow vibe was cool. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...three out of four cocktails were aces, just one clinker AMBIANCE - 4 stars...very chill, fairly quiet for Boystown SERVICE - 4 stars...cool bartenders TOTAL - 4 stars...check it out when you take a break from your Boystown cruising RELATED - Exploring Chicago? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/44c4CZO

    Lost Never Found - Meatballs

    Lost Never Found

    (207 reviews)

    $$

    Lakeview

    This is a bittersweet review as this establishment recently closed. But I still feel the need to…read moregive them their props as I was definitely going to add Lost Never Found (LNF) to my rotation of places to hang out at. I happened to discover LNF during a Yelp Event when LNF turned into Rudolph's Bar, a jolly holly Xmas Extravaganza! I do not believe there was a single spot in the bar that had not been covered in Xmas decorations. It was total sensory overload to the point I did not put up any directions 2025 because I had seen enough at LNF. HAHAHAHAHA! On the strength of the food and drinks that night, I decided to go back once all of the Xmas hoopla was over. Going back in 2026 was a more subdue, but enjoyable time for me. As I mentioned in my 2025 review, even with all the Xmas decoration, the overall vibe was a step up from the typical bars around the Cubs playground. I would have loved a regular girls night out there instead of the last hurrah of me and The Queen. I had mentioned to her about the cocktails and the pizzas I had during the Yelp event and we decided to stop in before heading to the Alamo Drafthouse for a movie. Me and The Queen go the Spicy Sausage pizza and those fries, since I talked about the food to her. Again it was really good, with the crust still being nice and thin. The Queen did not think it was all that spicy, but she eats Hell Ramen Level 4, so I do not look to her for confirmation of hotness when it comes to food. We had cocktails and The Queen (because she was driving) had a Margarita made with a zero proof Tequila. I have to say it was not that bad and I got one and added Prosecco to it...delish. Me and The Queen had a great time chatting, eating and drinking at LNF, but were both sad that we were going to miss out on the opportunity to turn this into one of our rotation hangouts. But I will always be grateful for them introducing me to their Red Bull Winter Spritz. Since that Yelp Event, I have bought three cases of Red Bull Sugar-Free Fuji Apple and Ginger Winter Edition Energy Drink to make the cocktail. Not sure if it is exactly how they did it, but it works for me. So long LNF, it was good knowing you, even if it was for a short time. Deuces!

    My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025!…read moreRestaurant: 63/50 Month tried: November Favorite dish: I would not eat here again Woooof. We had a reservation for 9 am the day of the Michigan/Northwestern game at Wrigley Field. Figured we would have a quick brunch then go enjoy the pre-game atmosphere. Well, when we had been sitting for nearly 30 minutes with no server to be found, we started to get nervous. She finally came over and while she was sweet, really just nothing went right. A food runner brought out a tray that appeared to have all of our orders, but then only served one plate before walking away. It was a solid 10-15 minutes before anyone else's meals were brought out, and even then it was one plate at a time every few minutes, not the rest of the order at once. And everything was cold. Every single item. The chicken and waffles felt like it came out of the fridge it was so cold. And the worst part - we had a member in our party with a severe nut allergy, who told the server 3 times. She noted it, and made sure he would get white toast instead of wheat. When his meal came, there were two huge pieces of wheat toast with visible nuts across his ENTIRE plate. Touching every piece of food. He said again that he was allergic, and they just removed the toast and handed the plate back. It had already touched everything! Since at this point we had to leave soon for the game (and because we now couldn't trust a kitchen that doesn't understand a nut allergy), we just had them remove his order from the check and he didn't get to eat. The server did take 20% off the total bill and gave us a gift card to make up for our terrible experience. Like I said, she was very nice and trying her best. She was just at the mercy of the kitchen being behind and screwing up. But as a Wrigleyville restaurant, you MUST be able to handle lots of customers on a game day. That's like the one thing Wrigley bars need to be good at. This is just not an environment I would choose to be in again, especially for the steep prices. We'll use the gift card for drinks at the bar on a non-game day, and wipe our hands of Lost Never Found.

    Avaspi - salad - Updated May 2026

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