My husband and I came here for his birthday. We came for a 5pm reservation which being so early, meant that the restaurant was pretty empty, maybe 6 tables were taken. No one acknowledged his birthday which was a bummer, but no biggie. Now on to the service and food. Our waitress was great, had awesome energy and made good recommendations. We ordered drinks and those took about 15 minutes to come although as I mentioned, the restaurant was pretty empty. The drinks were delicious, I had one with ginger, it was yummy without it being overpowering. My husband had one with cucumber and gin that was incredibly refreshing. For food, we ordered the hummus appetizer, I had the salmon shish and my husband had the beef one, and we shared a side of rice. This was plenty of food for the 2 of us without any leftovers. The salmon was out of this world, it was perfectly seasoned and cooked, it literally melted in my mouth. The beef was delicious and perfectly cooked/seasoned. The rice was almost buttery and came with chick peas which I've never seen. We ordered another round of drinks, a Turkish delight and their take on an old fashioned. Both were good but the Turkish delight portion was pretty small. After dinner we both had the Turkish espresso which was strong and delicious. I would recommend this place for the food and the great service from staff but the restaurant needs to work on the bar service and get those drinks out quicker. I can't imagine how long it would have taken if the restaurant was full. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated and lighting is great. Music was a tad loud for me to be able to have a conversation sometimes. read more

Elia - Salmon Shish, hummus appetizer, Beef Shish, Rice - Turkish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My husband surprised me with what was supposed to be a fun romantic evening at a great Mediterranean restaurant he'd heard about on Instagram. The ambiance and food did not disappoint, and soon we were enjoying ourselves. Our servers were pleasant and had a good sense of humor. As the courses progressed, my husband noticed a man (who appeared to be the manager) dressed in all black, with a connected mustache, a red something pinned to his shirt, and a long ponytail, who greeted all of the guests except us. The restaurant hadn't gotten busy yet, and though I thought it was odd that someone would greet everyone except us, I optimistically assumed that he would make his way over. As dinner progressed, the restaurant became crowded, and I watched my husband's face turn from happiness to disappointment as he saw the employee (presumably the manager?) repeatedly walk past our table to visit, greet, shake hands, and pour wine and water for every other patron except us. I began to feel increasingly uncomfortable When I noticed that the only difference between the other patrons and ourselves was that we are African Americans, and the other guests were Caucasian in appearance. It pained me to see the surprise, frustration, and disappointment on my husband's face as this realization weighed in on us. So much so that I asked him if he would take me home. We hadn't finished our meal. After our server gave us the check, we quickly hurried out of Elia's, feeling hurt, disappointed, and upset. I was shocked to experience service at such a beautiful establishment where treating all patrons with courtesy and welcome wasn't something that would be done automatically. read more

Literally the worst service I've ever experienced at a restaurant. Menus and dirty dishes left on our table until i move then. No forks or napkins given when we sat down. Had to hunt down waiter to get check after sitting for 20 minutes waiting for even the slightest notice given to our table. Food was ok. Not good enough to offset the horrendous service. Don't Go! read more

Went for the first time and the food was seriously amazing! Loved the Cretan feta dip, the Babaganush, the Octopus Ceviche, the Pide with Pastrami and the Mix Grill Platter. And the cocktail I ordered was awesome- I think the name of it was Turkish Delight. The problem is that no one at my table of four could hear each other or hear our server. And our server could not hear us because of the really really loud, pulsating techno beat playing during our entire time in the restaurant. Food this amazing does not need nor deserve this techno beat. I would definitely come back if they could lower the volume and maybe choose some different music. Otherwise, maybe getting food delivered from here is the solution for someone like me. read more

Absolutely NOT recommended! The service and food quality are nowhere near worth the price you pay. Moreover, they actively delete all critical comments and block anyone who voices a complaint, including me. Do not be fooled by the ratings; they are simply silencing the truth and filtering out negative feedback.‍‍‍ read more

Our taxi driver suggested we try this place if we like Mediterranean food. Well, we do. We've dined extensively in southern Europe and the US and Mediterranean food is our go to favorite. Well, we were not disappointed. We dined on a Thursday and the place was slammed! Service was slow but staff was attentive, apologized, and threw in a couple of perks as thanks for our patience. The food however, made it worth the wait. The dishes we ordered were outstanding in flavor, quality and quantity! This was our favorite meal over our 5 night visit to Chicago. Highly recommend! read more

I've been coming to this location since it was Sea and Olive (prior to rebranding), which I loved and would bring my out-of-town guests to dine. I came to Elia for brunch with my other Yelp Elite Squad girls crew! The location is so cute. Lots of gold/brass details. The bar is a central piece of the decor, and is truly stunning. I loved the Passion Lover cocktail. Though the drink came out in a pretty small glass, it packed a huge impact - low volume, high impact. So tasty too. For appetizers we had the muhammara spread (very dry, more like a falafel paste texture than a spread), and the zucchini fritters (delicious). I had the corn risotto plate- which was plentiful and I couldn't even finish it! Overall, the menu is very eclectic, there is something for everyone. Plus, I think that everyone could appreciate the decor. I'll be back :) read more

Service is great. Food is delicious! My only suggestion is to have the "ALL YOU CAN EAT" on a separate menu.

OKAY okay long time no see besties but im BACK and ready. anyway, this place is so cute!!! very chic and Aesthetic. My food was v yum, the plating for the chicken was a little silly- it felt like I was at a glorified Medieval Times with this dish BUT overall quite yum. Service was attentive and gentle? that's the best way I can describe it but very nice people. I'd like to go back and get something a bit fancier than chicken to really give this place a fair judgement! 7.8/10 overall :) read more

Elia - GRILLED CHICKEN THIGH Handmade Papardelle with Calamari - Turkish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Drinks and ambience were good, it was a quiet for a Friday night. There were not too many vegetarian entree options however the lamb chops were so good. The Brussels sprouts were just okay along with the hummus and dip. They were basic to us and lacking a little more flavor. We've had better food. Appetizers took a long time to get to us and we were starving. We try not to judge but maybe they were understaffed as it wasn't even a busy night as most of the other tables were empty. read more

Elia - Brussels Sprouts, Spicy Hummus, Warm Spinach & Artichoke Dip, - Turkish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Denied a dining experience promoted by your social media page to a friend of mine. Completely unnecessary, unprofessional, and uncalled for.

A friend of mine was seated and then denied service for something they had reserved, with no prior disclosure of any minimum-party policy. They were also the only Hispanic guest at the time, which understandably made the experience feel uncomfortable and targeted. This could have been avoided with better communication. read more

Excellent Mediterranean cuisine in Wicker Park! The place has a really cool vibe with a nice selection of craft cocktails and small plates. We ordered the truffle saganaki , the hummus, the baba ghanoush and the chicken shish. Tasty food and good service! read more

Amazing food staff and ambience. 10/10 Ebrar is great, very friendly and courteous. Food quality is superb this is one of the best in Chicago surely will recommend to my friends and family read more

My Assistant chose this place for a lunch meeting. When I arrived, I was greeted by the friendly and Natalie, who was also our server. She was very attentive and made the best recommendations when he came to the food. The restaurant was pretty emptied, so I felt like I had the place to myself, but nevertheless, I'm sure that this place in the evening is packed. Loved the way they prepare their salmon dish. Stop in, you won't be disappointed. read more

We got the Chefs Mezze platter and the grilled octopus and it was amazing!!! Everything tasted great and the portions were more than enough for the two of us. We met the chef and he was so nice and also makes the ceramic plates for some of the dishes. It was a great experience. I really recommend coming here if you want quality Turkish/Mediterranean food in a beautiful relaxed setting. read more

Elia - Chef's Mezze - Turkish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a wonderful experience! Not only was the food delicious, but the staff was absolutely incredible. We had a large party with a set menu. The selection of the menu was outstanding (wide variety of apps and entree's) and accommodations were made for both vegetarian and gluten free diets without taking away from the experience. Not only did our birthday girl have a fantastic time, but we left ALL feeling celebrated (and very full!). The kindness and genuity of the staff truly elevated the evening, leaving it a birthday to be rivaled and hard to top. read more

I paid $70 for lunch for two. The chicken kabob was burned outside and pink inside. Flavorless. Even if I were to return it and ask the cook to fix it, the chicken pieces were way too big to cook in a grill. That's a problem of whoever designed this menu item and not just the way it was cooked. The appetizer I ordered came with these carrot pieces that reminded me of what of what I give my dog for snacks. Having been to Turkey before and really enjoying the food there, the whole meal was very disappointing. Now I understand why the restaurant was empty. Not coming back here. read more

THE BEST Turkish restaurant in chicago, END OF THE STORY!!!!!! I have tried every Turkish restaurant around the city. I have been in Istanbul 2 times, and believe me when I say this was the best in chicago. Highly recommended read more

Very sheik atmosphere, went for drinks & appetizers. The wine selection & drink menu were delicious. We ate the octopus ceviche, absolutely amazing!! Labra was a waiter he was so kind, attentive & shared a few of his favorite dishes! We will be back! Yum read more

Let me just start with-- we were so excited to try this place! That being said-- it was awful. We went as a group of 3 and everyone liked their drinks-- I loved my non alcoholic bubbly rose! First they brought bread to the table that was absolutely awful.. We got two apps first being the aubergine-- it was served cold on purpose and that's fine but it just felt like it came straight out of the freezer it was COLD COLD. and lucky us they brought more of that terrible bread to eat it with. Then we had the Mediterranean crispy dumplings-- I wanted to like these but their was hardly any filling in them and it felt like they did it so they could serve more of them, they should have added more filling and served less but I digress... Then dinner came. The pappardelle was basic, the fish was sub par though the couscous was great And finally something we all agreed was delicious-- the lobster ravioli! If you're going to order anything-- get that! Then we ordered the penna cotta and omg it was horrific. The top had like an inch thick layer that the spoon could hardly make it through it must have been in the fridge for like 3 weeks. The whole thing tasted like solidified powdered sugar. It was awful. Our server hardly spoke to us, rarely checked on us and after we ordered dessert- she never came back. We waited at least 25 minutes hoping to close out and had to flag another server down. I wish I could say I'd come back and give it another go but it's gonna be a no for me. read more

Elia - Gruvi non alcoholic bubbly rose - Turkish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place has an awesome welcoming, elegant vibe. The service is amazing and the food is even better. I ordered the spicy Turkish red pepper dip with feta cheese. It was so good. The kebabs are also seasoned really well. My husband had the lamb and I had the salmon. We really enjoyed them. I definitely would recommend this restaurant. read more

I went to Elia by myself on a weeknight and sat at the bar. The dinning room is stunning. It's one of the prettiest restaurants on division. I had the horiatiki salad with chicken and the grape leaves. Food was amazing. All the ingredients felt really fresh. Everything on the menu sounded delicious. Deffenitly coming back for the beet hummus. Only knock I'll give is on the service. The restaurant wasn't very crowded when I went and it took longer than I would have liked to get my check. Hope they are just still figuring things out though, excited to come back. read more

Elia - Horiatiki salad and grape leaves - Turkish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

overall experience was a lot of waiting and complications. we spent most of the night trying to flag down someone to take our order/check, they forgot almost everything, (waters, silverware, sides, boxes) didn't interact with our table much, the bartender dropped and broke up to 7-ish glasses that made a really loud shattering noise about every 10 minutes, the food was great but they were also out of almost everything we tried to order. great food and location though! read more

Elia - mixed Mix Grill Platter for Two - Turkish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic food, creative plating, beautiful atmosphere, and great service. I will absolutely return to Elia.

Visited for a friend's birthday dinner as someone who usually doesn't love Mediterranean food. I had an incredible evening! The food was great but the service was above and beyond. We did the pre fixed menu and our waiter Cetim was fabulous. He made the evening so fun, continued to check on us and brought over Baklava and candles for the birthday girl. Would 10/10 recommend! read more

Food was amazing and Eb our waiter was awesome. We're out of town visiting but definitely will come back next time. Highly recommend.

Went for date night here since my partner and I love Mediterranean food - and it absolutely did not disappoint! Both the Chicken Thigh and Salmon were incredibly juicy and tender. Crispy dumplings melted in your mouth and the beef inside was cooked to perfection! read more

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Amazing food, decor and service. Seriously, amazing! Can't believe I've never been here before! Opened by the same owners of Turquoise Cafe in Roscoe. Had the Baba, Atom (Very garlicky but not for the timid on the spicy level, guess you can ask them to leave off the dried peppers, I loved the heat) fresh bread and the chicken shish was super tender and flavorful. Mustafa was an awesome waiter, they were closing but we kept talking to him. Great food and great service, will definitely be back! read more

The food is amazing, beautiful place, good service, only 4 stars bc the desert menu is poor

Fix your yelp reservations. I reserved a table for 2 to have dinner at 10. When I got there was told the kitchen was closed. Boo. This is my hanger talking. So sorry for bad review. read more

Didn't have rice and didn't tell us until we were served and also didn't have cucumber. Made fun of a more exuberant member of our party who had only had one glass of wine by making faces and lifting up her glass. Was actually stunned by the odd behavior. read more

Wow, everything here is amazing! An authentic Turkish experience all the way through, the staff couldn't have been nicer and warmly walked us through some killer recommendations. We went with the mixed platter for two which was an impressive slab and everything we could need and more plus the grilled octopus which was excellent! Really can't say enough about how great the whole experience was. Our server even gave us complimentary Turkish tea with dessert. Would definitely come back for more! read more

We really liked the food here. What we didn't care for was the service! At the start of dinner (on July 3rd, a Monday right before a holiday) service was quick to take our orders. Our starter (roasted beet hummus) arrived first, and we were nearly finished with it by the time we received our cocktails. The twisted Negroni was good, but the Wicker Mule was watery and a little weird. It made me wonder if it was sitting on the bar for a while waiting to be brought to us. I will say I loved the beet hummus, I scraped it off the plate in order to get it all. The octopus was also very tasty, I've never had it with tomatoes and beans before but it was really good. We also got the crispy dumpling and the bulgur croquettes. We enjoyed both of them with the yogurt that they came with. Elia's service is just a major weak point. Our drinks were always pretty late, and at one point they forget my sparkling rosé and had to be reminded twice, only to bring me non-sparkling rosé. I went to the restroom and passed the bar, noticing there were two bar staff looking at the manager (or owner?) as he looked around in the wine fridge, likely looking for rosé as I got mine soon after. I will say the rosé was comped off our check. We waited for our check for a long time, though servers and the manager passed us by many times. Eventually my husband had to go up and ask for the check. The manager or owner took our order and was running drinks constantly, so I can only assume this is a staff issue. I really hope this is fixed, because the food is good but we won't come back if we continue to spend half our time at Elia waiting for service. read more

Elia - Octopus, bulgur croquettes, dumpling - Turkish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing food and service! Ambiance was incredible too. Got the fix menu which is normally 55 pp but on Tie it is 35 pp. they give you so many sides to try. It's a wide range. They accommodated our one vegan lady while still serving pork lamb chicken and gyro meat included in the fix menu. All was just perfect read more

Food was really good. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Good options for everyone with multiple price points

Everyone was professionally dressed and I was greeted with smiles. It's a chill place, with flowers hung up, everyone is just so cherry. Also the smell was so familiar to me! Lastly, the Turkish food selection was wide. Me and my friends ordered the all you can eat. Amazing selection, of flavorful foods, truly delectable. read more

Myself and two girlfriends had dinner here recently and were overall satisfied! I think my "true" rating would be somewhere in the 3.5 star range, but the food was yummy so I went for the 4. I think there is merit to some of the other reviews that mention the hummus issues (it not being served with bread and us having to ask for some bread a few times.. which is certainly strange for a hummus dish, and doesn't scream "outstanding service") and waiters standing around chatting, but in general, we found the food to be delicious and reasonably priced. We split the saganaki (so good we ordered it twice - lol), pesto hummus, salmon, brussel sprouts, zucchini fritters, and Mediterranean dumplings. Yes, the saganaki was very salty... but it's saganaki. I'd be more concerned if it were bland! The zucchini fritters weren't so fried that you lost the taste, and the salmon might've been the star of the show with that truffle sauce and veggies it was served with - YUM. I think the brussel sprouts were delicious but it was a smaller amount than what you'd expect to see in an order of them. Strange we needed to ask for bread several times for our hummus, but it wasn't a deal breaker for the meal. I think part of the service mishaps just come from the fact that this place is brand new and has only been open for a month. I'd still definitely come back and try other things on this menu! read more

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The food was great and very nice staff! The manager was super nice. I will definitely go back!

Ehh. I'd skip saganaki was yummy although nothing compared to places in Greek town. Beet hummus. Very delicious but only 3 chips for a gallon of hummus. The bread was sub par. Salmon was yummy but how lazy are you to use baby carrots in a veggie medley? So lazy Lobster ravioli was good according to my BIL Tagliatelle was a huge portion. The mushrooms were good but other than that it was just fine. Lamb chops. Tastey but did not cook them to the temp I asked for. Wanted medium and they were well done. The plate was also screaming for some color. What did garnish ever do to you?!?! read more