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    Ema

    4.1 (201 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Recommended Reviews - Ema

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    Grilled Chicken Kebab
    Shelah S.

    So, my family and I decided to give a Ema another try despite my previous experience... My! My! My! What a change regarding customer service! This time around, we decided to head down there for dinner with our 7:15pm reservations. First off, it was super busy but we were promptly and warmly greeted by Ms. Ava who told us that they were clearing some tables for us. The interior decor remained absolutely stunning and I love the sounds of hustle and bustle alongside ambient lighting. When we got seated, our waiter, Taha, introduced himself and immediately put in my request for two Strawberry Rose Palomas, Lemonade, Moroccan Onion Dip in addition to the Hot Honey Holumi. Taha was kind and our drinks and small plates and hot mezze were delivered at the speed of light. I also want to note that we were constantly being checked up on, our empty drinks were filled up again, empty plates were taken away without us having to say anything. This alone deserved a gold star from me!! But I digress. The Strawberry Rose Palomas were strong but sweet at the same time. They weren't so watered down and were light and refreshing. My mom loved her lemonade although the caveat here would be to be a little lighter on the ice. Mmm.....the Moroccan Onion Dip was fantastic per usual. Tangy, succulent, all the same. The pita bread was so good as well. It was fresh and warm and we couldn't get enough. The Hot Honey Holumi was alright but I wasn't big of a fan. Besides the topping, it didn't really taste of anything and I think I could have done without it. When it came to the main meals, my dad and i ordered the grilled chicken kabob plate and my mom got the grilled branzino. When we received our food, my dad could not stop raving about how good the chicken kabob was. The rice was plentiful and the chicken was juicy, well portioned and big. Seeing as though I'm definitely a spicy girl, I ordered some extra harissa and it was delicious. Spicy and added a great kick to the chicken kabob plate. To continue on this savory journey, my mom absolutely loved her grilled branzino. It was so flaky and flavorful. It had been deboned and with the additional squeeze of lemon, it was absolutely delicious. It made my heart huge to see how satisfied my parents were with their meals. I, of course, loved my grilled chicken kabob. The chicken was cooked well with it being juicy, succulent and tender. It paired well with the rice which again was plentiful. The harissa was the perfect compliment. **Chef's Kiss** We finished the night off with the warm sticky date cake which was not too sweet but sweet enough. It was soft and gooey all at the same time. It paired nicely with the whipped cream on the side. I, as well as my parents, enjoyed it. With my overall experience this time around compared to my previous one was night and day. Honestly, the customer service this time around was light years different from my first experience which was not great and very unfortunate. Because of tonight, I could tell right away that this was an establishment who actually cared about the dining experience of its patrons. To me, a place could have the best food in the world but if the customer service lacks, your whole dining experience is lost. Although my initial experience here was not the best, this experience showed me that errors can be rectified and experiences can be turned around. Our overall experience tonight was great and I will definitely be back, bringing along others with me. The price here is pretty up there but like I always say; you get what you pay for and this experience is definitely A1 and well worth it. Shoutout to Jordan, Taha, Ava and the rest of the crew! Thanks for turning our dining experience around and we hope to see yaall again soon! Highly recommend coming here if you're into a modern, classy and high end dining experience with a fun little Mediterranean flair!

    Classic Hummus
    Annette M.

    This time we visited on a Saturday afternoon when they serve the brunch menu. Jose was a most excellent and attentive server. I enjoyed the food that I ordered. My husband's short rib sandwich looked terrible and he couldn't even eat it but brought the meat home for the dogs. Management called and reviewed this with him. The restaurant has such a beautiful ambiance that I really love.

    Saturday Lunch/ Brunch
    John M.

    Updated review. Went on a Saturday afternoon for lunch since we had a few gift cards that were expiring. This is our second time at this location and luckily we had a reservation since it was very crowded. They serve their brunch menu till 3pm on weekends but we stayed with a few of their classic entrees as well as a few new menu items Our server Jose was fantastic. I received an email from Ema for a complimentary Classic Hummus for joining their email club. It was amazing. They even had GF crackers for my wife We also had their Sweet Potato Latkes (GF) since we enjoyed them so much the last time . For our main entrees we tried something new..my wife had the Grilled Halloumi which is Greek Cheese with dates and red onion covered in a spicey Red Zhoug sauce served with basmati rice.They only give you 1 kebab tho for 19.95. I had the Braised Short Rib sandwich with hummus and purple cabbage. I would not recommend this at all! The meat was not short rib. Basically overcooked pot roast with no flavor. I didn't taste or see any hummus and the purple cabbage was just thrown on top of the pita. The za'atar fries tho were amazing. If you are looking for small plates with an emphasis on Hummus and Spreads in a beautiful setting,give Ema a try.

    Ema dinner energy!
    Joseph L.

    Exceptional Mediterranean in River North While on a Chicago college tour, my daughter made the executive decision for dinner--and it turned out to be a great call at Ema. The Food The kitchen is doing some truly creative work. We started with the Honey Crisp apple dish with Urfa pepper oil; it's a really interesting mix of flavors that worked surprisingly well. The pan-roasted cauliflower was excellent, and the grilled octopus was cooked just right--I really love octopus! The lamb and beef kefta was flavorful and satisfying, easily one of the standouts of the night. Also worth mentioning--the bread was fantastic. The Vibe & Service It was a busy Thursday night and the place was packed, which gave it a lively, energetic feel. Even with a reservation, we waited about 5 minutes for our table, but it wasn't a big deal given the crowd. Service was friendly and welcoming throughout. Drinks took a little longer than expected, but the staff stayed positive and attentive, which made a total difference. The Verdict Overall, a really solid dinner and a great atmosphere. Apologies for the lack of food photos--we were too busy enjoying the meal!. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

    Kesha B.

    We came by for lunch during restaurant month but shockingly enough didn't hear anything about it. But we got a few dishes to share and enjoy. To start we got the Moroccan onion dip, it was much sweeter than we anticipated but on the alternative we got the lamb ragu hummus. The onion dip was delicious, as was the hummus. The pita had pistachios and various spices on it so a fair warning for anyone with allergies. We got a side of the Brussels sprouts and the vegetables to share along with the spicy halumi and the short rib sandwich. The Brussels were delicious, the potatoes came with a small container of sauce but we weren't sure what it was. It was rather dry as well. The halloumi was delightful, we devoured that dish quickly. The short rib sandwich was also really dry, and a bit salty to our taste. But we brought it him to give it a second try and still thought the same. Overall the restaurant was stunning, and most of the dishes we tried were delicious. For the prices I would say we'd probably come back to try other dishes.

    Jesse M.

    I had such a great experience at Ema! The food was really good. We ordered the chicken kefta kabobs and the chicken kabobs, and both were packed with flavor, perfectly cooked, and honestly some of the best I've had. On top of the food, the restaurant itself is beautiful inside. The atmosphere is warm, modern, and just a really nice place to sit and enjoy a meal. You can tell a lot of thought went into the design. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to. Highly recommend if you're in the area!

    Marina B.

    This place randomly popped up on Google Maps while I was looking for somewhere to meet my friends. The photos were so beautiful that I saved the location and went there at the first opportunity to see what it's like in person. The place is truly beautifully decorated. It reminds me of some other spots I've visited that have a tree in the middle of the restaurant. The service is excellent--the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. And now the most important part--the food! I have no complaints at all. We ordered a few appetizers just to try things out, and I can say they were amazing! I especially loved the mushroom escargot--it was absolutely delicious. For my main course, I had the Faroe Islands salmon, and it was excellent. The flavor was a bit unusual, but truly phenomenal. All in all, a very lovely place, and I would highly recommend it to everyone.

    Aiya J.

    Loved the experience here! Food was great and the space was beautiful. Hope to come back again soon.

    Crispy potatoes
    Seth K.

    Beautiful restaurant! I was there with 10 office mates for a retirement dinner. I enjoyed a Double Clutch Brewing Company Hefeweizen. Then came the food including charred eggplant, crispy potatoes, blistered green beans, and chicken kefte. Charred eggplant delicious. Crispy potatoes were entire quarters of baking potatoes beautifully crisped and salted. Blistered green beans very tasty. Chicken kefte is ground chicken on skewers with herbs and spices, succulent.

    Monic L.

    I've heard great things about Ema and finally checked it out during restuarant week. A group of friends and I had reservations and our table was ready around the reservation time. Parking is easy as they have their own lot. Once you step inside you are transported to a classy, lowkey Mediterranean vibe. Our server was very attentive. I ordered their mocktail, spinach and feta dip and the spicy brisket kefta. The pita that comes with the dip had me from the go, it was so delicious. I tried a few of the hummus because they have small plates which are meant to be shared. From start to finish service was great and food was well done

    Winnie C.

    I came here with my parents and ordered from their restaurant week lunch menu ($30) which came with one appetizer and one plate. Ema is the sister restaurant of Aba so everything resembles the restaurant in Fulton Market. We ordered a bunch and honestly the food is fine but all lack wow factor. My parents thought the chick shawma was a little dry. I personally liked the spicy corn hummus and pita bread as always but could use a larger portion. The servicer was a little slow, and no body checked on us for the first 10 minutes until I grabbed someone. But once we got our server, it was all good. There's a parking lot in front of the restaurant given it's in suburb.

    Nikhita T.

    I've been to the downtown Ema location, but this one is even bigger and the ambience is beautiful. We were a party of 25 people, and it was great because they have a private area that easily fit our large group. The service handled us perfectly. Everything was delicious. We started with the spicy hummus and the housemade labneh (which was so good!). I'm usually not a fan of eggplant or Brussels sprouts, but Ema's versions were actually really tasty. The sweet potato latkes and green falafel were also highlights. Since I only eat chicken, I tried the chicken kefta kebab, and it was definitely my favorite! The grilled halloumi kebab was also excellent. My coworkers loved the shawarma-spiced skirt steak, too. We ended with the honey cake and warm sticky date cake, both were amazing. They have a lot of Greek wines that paired perfectly with the Mediterranean food. I absolutely recommend this place for a group dinner or just a nice night out!

    Matea P.

    We headed to Ema for my birthday. After our first visit last summer, a return trip was long overdue. The drinks here are amazing. I love their cocktails. The food is good, some dishes were better than others, but the food is very expensive for such a small portion. This is not the place to go to if you want a full meal. The ambiance and service is wonderful, but I'm thinking Ema is more of a place to have drinks, and maybe one or two appetizers if you're wanting to snack a little.

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    Ask the Community - Ema

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    Elly's Pancake House

    Elly's Pancake House

    4.0
    (433 reviews)
    2.6 mi
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    I kicked myself since last night but wanted to take out my mom for Mother's Day lunch…read more We got there and it was crowded, but went to the front desk to get a table (parking lot was full, but had allot of space, btw) - surprisingly, they said give us 5-10 minutes, and yes it won't take long. WOW! To make a long story short, we got seated, our drinks, and orders taken, and after 15 minutes, our food was hot and piping and fresh. And it was tasty - my steak quesadillas and my mom got a house Cobb salad. Both were tasty and looked great. Our server Miriam was awesome with our orders, she came by to check on us and not too many times, and was there to help us with leftovers and leaving stuff. She struck a nice balance of not being there vs being here too often, so that's Ace's in my book. Since it was Mother's Day, it's crowded and a bit loud but not too loud where it was too obnoxious, except for a few people who had no manners at all on dress, but that's another topic I won't go to, for now. Tables, plates and silverware were clean, and one can still get around, even with one table behind us with a handicapped person, it didn't crowd up much at all - it was all very reasonably spacious. Definitely will come back here, though I do miss that older lady who was our server the last time before today, who was very nice - had a bit of an attitude to her personality but not too much to make it tasteless, some sass makes for an interesting day. (Hope you are doing well, ma'am!)

    I continue to go to Elly's once every month or two. My mother is in an assisted living facility…read morenear this location. She loves going there, so we do every so often. They have an extensive menu. I can't remember a time where I was not satisfied with a meal there. Service is also always excellent. The food is consistently good. I do recommend Elly's if you haven't been to one of their locations before. Note that they are only open for breakfast and lunch.

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    Interior
    Interior
    Veggie Omelet
    Veggie Omelet
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    Walker Bros Original Pancake House

    Walker Bros Original Pancake House

    4.1
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    1.1 mi
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    We were in the area looking for a good brunch spot and stumbled upon this gem: Walker Bros…read more Original Pancake House The place has charming old-school diner vibes, with decor that feels straight out of the early '60-70s in the best way possible. Cozy, nostalgic, and super inviting. We were seated quickly, and our server took great care of us throughout the meal. We started with fresh orange juice and coffee, which was the perfect way to ease into brunch mode. I ordered a small stack of pancakes with spicy hash browns and bacon, while my husband kept it classic with scrambled eggs and toast. And wow...the food absolutely knocked it out of the park. The hash browns were insanely good. I never realized hash browns could pair so perfectly with pico de gallo, but now I'm convinced. The pancakes were fluffy and delicious, and the bacon was thick-cut and cooked just right. This is definitely a spot we'd come back to. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the food somehow manages to be even better.

    If Walker Brothers has something going for it, then it's the cuteness and charm of the interior -…read moremore on that later. Walking in, the setup is confusing. While there is an "in" and an "out" door, it seems that the host stand and cashier station are one and the same, resulting in a bunch of people queuing. Thankfully, one of the hosts/cashiers noticed, asked if I was waiting for a table, and I was promptly seated. It is perhaps a blessing that the menu lists calorie counts, for I would have ordered the Apple Cinnamon Pancake without a second thought. Only it is 1,880 calories, and that's before the ice cream upgrade that's still tempting me as I read their menu. I ordered the Blueberry instead. What I liked about these is that they weren't overly sweet, and had a hearty amount of blueberries within. I'd also like to recognize that biting into them, I didn't encounter a spray of blueberry-gut-lava that's burned me when I attempted blueberry pancakes at home. However, while not bad, I found them in no way remarkable. Neither the textures nor flavors were anything to write home about. Rather than a gently crisp exterior and fluffy interior, they were instead similar to something between custard and cake. In terms of the service: I thought it was friendly, polite, and once the order was placed, the food came out in no time. Otherwise, the service felt a little inattentive. For example, after I said I needed just a minute to decide, the server did not stop by in longer than expected. Also, towards the end of the meal, it didn't click that I was to pay the cashier rather than the waiter... a little "D'oh" on my part, but a reminder would have been appropriate and welcome. As for the vibe: there is so much wood, if you dumped the restaurant into the lake, it would float! Adding to the vibe are some lighting fixtures with stained glass, and others are decorative, but mismatched, if not outright missing. Staff wore uniforms reminiscent of those seen in old movies. Final verdict: While I appreciate what Walker Brothers is trying to do, and their prices are reasonable, I do not feel the experience was enjoyable enough to warrant a return visit. Okay pancakes, and service that could use some polish are not enough, especially with many fantastic breakfast spots in Chicagoland.

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    Receptionist's booth.
    Receptionist's booth.
    Table at Glenview branch.
    Table at Glenview branch.
    Walker Bros Original Pancake House

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    Greenwood Grill

    Greenwood Grill

    4.3
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    1.2 mi
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    We continue to be regulars are Greenwood Grill. Located in Glenview off Glenview Road, it is a…read morediner with great breakfast/brunches, lunch, and dinner. The service has always been outstanding. They know us there and greet us when we come in, and if our usual table is available, they seat us there. Their prices are very reasonable, and the food is consistently good, as is the service. I generally go with my elderly mother who lives not too far from the Grill. She usually orders something simple. I try to select different things on the menu when I'm there, but if I get anything more regularly, it would be their taco dinner. But I've had breakfasts and various lunches there. We've never been there for dinner. If you have not tried the Greenwood Grill, give it a try!

    Came to greenwood grill today for an after party graduation they took all 20 of us and it was the…read morebest service for that amount of people that I've ever been involved with those people in that restaurant are professional, and the food is not too shabby either everything was good. The only problem that I had was that they put a lot of lettuce on the burrito other than that everything was wonderful. got a little hole in the wall, literally but it accommodated all of us. It was a little tight, but we all managed if I was ever on their side of town and in Illinois, I would come back to this restaurant by the way, they have Mexican food and American food. I now wish I took pictures of the food to show how good they prepare the food.

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    Flan
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    Grandpa's Place

    Grandpa's Place

    3.5
    (147 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Really, good place. Comfortable friendly. Traditional (Irish pub) the food is better than average…read morepub food. The owner Scott and staff Charlie are really good. The atmosphere is extremely comfortable. Enjoy the place. Relaxing, comfortable, enjoyable.

    What can improve? Everything…read more Apparently Grandpa's Place has been around for years. My dad had an office and n Glenview when I was younger and this place was there and he had never heard of it. I guess if you were local or took the Metra, then you knew. I made a reservation as there were twelve of us coming in. We arrive for our monthly Burger Club with high hopes. It's a cute place. They have a nice outdoor deck area and the inside has a nice wooden bar with tables around it with two or three additional rooms of seating, too. We asked for separate checks, and our server told us it was no problem (it was). They have a lot of burgers to choose from so we thought that this would be a great place to go. I'll say this, our server was wonderful. Super nice, really friendly, always refilling drinks. Just a wonderful experience with her. And that's where it ends. My burger came our perfectly prepared (they ask what temperature you want and I wanted medium rare). The patties are insanely thin and toppings, while fresh, are overly abundant. Fresh lettuce, tasty pickles, etc. the burger had no flavor. No salt or pepper to season it or anything. And mine was the best of the group. Others received burgers that were overcooked, had the wrong buns, came with caramelized onions, but were raw -were sent back and came back raw again - and the sides were underwhelming. I don't like ketchup, so I asked for ranch and it was thick and had a funky flavor to it. Then bills came and they were all wrong. She had mixed up every bill. Thankfully most burgers cost the same, but drinks and some side upgrades don't. We will never go back here. I have no idea how they stay in business.

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    Chicken kabobs with rice
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    Omega Restaurant & Bakery

    Omega Restaurant & Bakery

    3.4
    (851 reviews)
    2.5 mi
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    I've been looking for great diner type food and I finally think I found it. At first I was…read moreskeptical because I didn't think the freebees were great but I still remained hopeful. Then I tasted my hot beef sandwich. It was delicious and plentiful and even the mashed potatoes were acceptable. My sister had the special pot roast with egg noodles that was also great tasting with a lot of meat. Our server (I forgot his name) was excellent. He was concerned when we didn't like the soup or salad but was glad we liked our entrees. They also have a large case of desserts. We tried the baklava which was also delicious. We will definitely be back.

    5 stars for Omega Restaurant and Bakery…read more This is a huge restaurant that is open 24 hours every day - they have breakfast, lunch, dinner and a full service bar & bakery and a video gaming area if you want to gamble! The menu is massive - they have so many different choices, you might be looking at it for a while if you don't know what kind of food you want when you come in! We tried the corn beef omelette and the pesto flatbread with Cesar salad - both were excellent and huge portions! We also tried the baked French onion soup - a big portion and the melted cheese on top was excellent. Our server was very friendly as well. 24 hour anything's are a rare thing nowadays post COVID, so this was a nice, convenient find. I highly recommend a visit to Omega Restaurant if you want a good place to eat anytime - day or night!

    Photos
    Bakery counter in center of the restaurant.
    Bakery counter in center of the restaurant.
    Greetings! Have some cake! Brought to the table before I ordered.
    Greetings! Have some cake! Brought to the table before I ordered.
    Holiday decor in the foyer.

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    Holiday decor in the foyer.

    Ema - mediterranean - Updated June 2026

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