Do not go here! These prices are KRAZY!! $400 for two? ...no alcohol on our tab. Pretentious, offete, food is whattheheck? They throw "everything" into puzzling dishes and it is a mess. Noisy! You can't hear yourself think or have any sort of conversation...There are many, many, excellent Mediterranean places in Chicagoland... go there. I have extensive experience all over the middle-East, am US but have Israeli citizenship. Nothing tasted like anything I have ever tasted... none of it. Bread was good...Waitstaff? Smug...arrogant. read more

Disappointed with the 2 extra "service charges" for "benefits" and just "service" I guess? Guess it's hard to make money at $94 per plate. read more

Galit - 2 extra "service" charges. Disappointing. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place was really good (but not great). Because of all the hype around how great it is I kind of expected more. The starters and pita bread were spectacular but I felt like the rest of the meal was good but again not great. Service was good, atmosphere with the open kitchen was really fun too. And for the price it was a good deal to get your full meal for $78 a head. I added the lobster which was +$10 but totally worth it read more

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Delicious dining experience and great place for a small group! I went with a group of 3 which was a perfect size to try a little bit of everything. We started with the brisket and tehina hummus both of which were delicious. I particularly loved the tehina and the amazing olive oil that surrounded it. A great dish to enjoy with the delicious pita bread. The salatin was a great mix of dips and pickled veggies. We all shared the carrots, knish, and malfouf as our first course. The carrots were beautiful but a little underwhelming in terms of flavor. I was very pleasantly surprised by the knish and the malfouf. The knish was sweet and savory and the malfouf was very bright and fresh. We then shared the bass, lamb kebabs, and the honey nut squash entrees. I am typically not a huge fan of lamb but this dish was the best of the three. The flavors were warm and the spices were strong on a good way. There was more delicious pita to soak up the broth of the dish. We finish with the phyllo apple cake and the pretty cool colab desserts both of which were delicious. The service was very good overall but our server could have been more friendly. The meal was great overall and was nicely paced. We enjoyed ourselves! Highlights: tehina hummus, pita, knish, malfouf, apple phyllo cake read more

Took the wife for our anniversary. All I can say is this place is wow. The service the place itself and the food are all top top notch. Everything we had was fire. Highly suggest you try this place. You won't be disappointed. read more

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TL;DR - I wholeheartedly recommend Galit without hesitancy. You will not be disappointed. Long version: We booked a large party graduation dinner for my college graduate daughter here, and enjoyed a wonderful evening this past weekend. The restaurant was recommended by a relative, who lives just around the corner in Lincoln Park. Setting up the options, menu, and wine selections was easy, informative, and staff was very very helpful throughout the entire process (which was, of course, conducted entirely over email). We had one guest who was a vegetarian, the rest were not, and guest liaison Josh was patient and kind with each of our requests. Wine specialist and FOH manager Scott was likewise helpful with wine selections and pairing suggestions. And to be honest, I'm not really experienced with middle eastern cuisine and so didn't know fully what to expect. Thus, we're flying into Chicago based a lot on trust that this venue will do us right. Indeed they did! We enjoyed an extraordinary evening. The food was remarkable in variety, flavors, textures, presentation - the entire gamut. Course after course just blew our collective minds. It bears mentioning that Scott, the FOH manager, served as our guide and host for the evening, providing wonderful descriptions for each wine he served - descriptions that provided insight into the wine we were enjoying without ever straying into that pretentious territory we sometimes encounter. We were made to feel welcome, at ease, and well seen after the entire evening, and as a result my daughter had the best of evenings and is still talking about the wonderful time she had. Thanks for making our experience over and above all expectations, and you can trust we will return during out next Chicago trip. read more

Food was delicious, came out hot and fresh. Went there on a Thursday and had their holiday pre course. Served was knowledgeable and went through the menu thoroughly. read more

Galit - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely wonderful! Such a welcoming spot with friendly staff and food that just speaks for itself. Loved the way they course their menu and allow you to pick and try different things. Such a fun way to enjoy and eat with friends. We were very full after dinner so I'd say we enjoyed it and felt like it was priced right! One of my favorite bites of the night was the fresh warm pits with labneh and ezme! They were very accommodating for my vegan friend as well, pointing out what was vegan or could be made vegan, which we appreciated! We ordered a bottle of middle eastern wine and were not disappointed- in fact, we ordered a second bottle :) Go here in groups of 2 or 4 and you won't be disappointed with all the food you'll get on your table!!! read more

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Overall, disappointed in this Michelin starred restaurant. The hummus apps were great and so was the pita but the entrees fell way short. The lobster was just okay. It was two bites of lobster. The lamb was not good, nor did we care for the pastrami. I didn't eat the smoked Turkey but my family said that was the best entree out of the items we got. 4 people and two bottles of wine cost almost $800. The waitress never once asked how our food tasted. She was great at pouring wine, but overall not a good experience. Save your money and go elsewhere. read more

Galit - Brisket hummus and traditional hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Can't say enough about the food here. My husband and I are still talking about the food 2 weeks later. For the hummus, get the lamb one (Bubbe's brisket)! It's phenomenal. Love all the spices and flavors in every dish. For the main entrées, we got the rainbow trout and lamb merguez. Both were so delicious and each had several flavors that would waft over your tongue. Such an amazing tasteful experience. I'm addition, our server Danny, was the best. He listened to my food concerns and let us know the ingredients in every dish, as well as warning which foods may have dairy or eggs (which I'm highly reactive to). For any dishes with cheese, he was sure to bring it on the side. We really appreciated Danny's attentive service. Can't wait to visit Chicago again and eat at Galit once more! read more

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Went to dinner at Galit. Food was outstanding. When we were leaving waiter asked if we would like various items to go. We said yes. There was half eaten pita loaf he asked if we wanted said sure. While he was away a bus person came by, I asked if there was any fresh pita he said of course and promptly brought us a hot fresh pita bread. Waiter needs to be trained how to do customer service and satisfaction read more

I wanted to book a reservation as I can understand how busy this restaurant is I didn't want to walk in my group and take a chance of a long wait. I was doing my best to reserve a table for six when I simply could not get through. Several times I called and got a busy signal. When the phone did ring it simply didn't stop Nobody answered! I checked the hours to make sure they we're open I called after 5:00 and nobody would answer the phone. Not even a voice mail. I wonder if their phones we're working? I called at least six times and finally gave up. Why don't they answer their phone? I called another restaurant they answered after the second ring and we're nothing but kind and considerate. I booked a table for six without any issues. I don't know what's going on with Galit but I guarantee I would never call of attempt to book a reservation with them again and I encourage others to do the same. read more

Zero. This place had more than 60% tables empty and they told us we can't be sat. We wanted to order 3 plates. And go. Food hop. 2 seats only from the 40+ available. Don't come here. At 6pm. Wow read more

This is my first Michelin star restaurant and a great experience! I would still give it a 5/5 but there's some things I want to mention. You get more bang for your buck if you go with 3 people because you share/can only pick a lot of dishes such as sharing one appetizer and dessert between 2 people. But if there are 3 people then you get to choose 2 appetizers and 2 desserts. Just something to note. Food: I loved the hummus but I wish there was more short rib. The bone marrow presentation was so pretty but in my mind I was expecting the whole bone. It tasted so creamy and rich though! The bass and pastrami was amazing. I love the flakey bread that came with the pastrami and it allowed you to create your own sandwich. The bass had hint of acidity and really clean yet hearty. My boyfriend especially loved the dessert with the pylo dough which I could not agree more with. Definitely felt super full walking out. Service: Everything came out really timely and the whole experience was close to 2 hours! Staff was super nice and welcoming as well. Would recommend! read more

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First and foremost, the food was incredible. The kubbeh was the best I ever had, falafel was fantastic, delicious kataifi dessert, and the opening course of pita with hummus and salatim was a true delight. I loved the Foie gras on challah, with a nice hint of cinnamon and smooth Foie gras. The turkey and pastrami mains were novel and delicious, with deep smokey flavor. What really added to the dinner was the impeccable service. Not only was the entire FOH kind and gracious, they really went above and beyond in their hospitality. They even ran a full block after us with our to go bag of food after we'd forgotten it after leaving. They didn't need to track us down, the meal was over, but that extra step really showed how much they cared for our experience. They also added extra pita in our to go bag to finish off our extra hummus! The room was lively, and the open kitchen was a joy to watch. The fantastic smells of smoke, herbs, and spices really set the mood, along with the sounds of the kitchen's well oiled machine of a team. All in all, a great restaurant! read more

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Excellent food and service here! It's a 3course meal and all the food was so delicious! The brisket hummus and pita to start, amazing! Don't worry if you're not familiar with items on the menu. I wasn't either but you will not be disappointed. I really loved the Turkey Shawarma and the phyllo pie for dessert. Hard to go wrong here. I highly recommend. read more

Great place. I would say 4.5 stars because some of the dishes were salty... Reservations a must during popular eating times. Service was great. Everything we ate was delicious. Portions are great! We actually walked away quite full. read more

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I've been here once and will definitely return. The place is spotlessly clean, with an open kitchen that is really cool to look in on while dining. I can for Chicago restaurant week and tried multiple different dishes, all of them a bit unique compared to other Mediterranean places I've been. The hummus and pita while simple are fantastic. I also really enjoyed the turkey shawarma and my date loved the falafel. We ended the night with something sweet and coffee, which came with some unique spice bland was really cozy. read more

Alright, Galit has the supreme takeout experience going on right now! They're running it like a shop through Toast- you can get merch, pantry goods, cocktail kits & booze... plus food a-la-carte or fixed "for two" meals. I got the chicken meal for two with a friend, and boy was it a fun 'n' flavorful takeout experience! We each got a dece sized piece of chikky, plus dipped into the million sides that come with it. The roasted potatoes are fire, espesh when wedged into one of their super-floofy pitas with some chicken, hummus and pickles. The labneh (yogurt cheese) is so dense and goes amazingly well with the spice-heavy meat, potatoes & sauces. I am also obsessed with their take on tabouli (herby/grain-y salad)- they use kale and delicious delicata squash and apples. Hearts for eyes. I loved the meal so much that I got it a second time, just for myself to eat over a few days... every single part was consistently perfect. Everything is super oil-based, but not in a greasy way... so it feels decadent but still healthy/satisfying! I also tried the Hyssopatonicus Cocktail Kit & holy crap! It was stellar- such a distinct, refreshing cocktail and super fun to make from home. Really gets ya feelin like a bartender. Aaaand their Halva (tahini) Chocolate Chip Cookie slaps. Basically, thanks Galit, ILYSM. read more

Galit - Don't judge me but this is what fine dining in 2021 lewks like. Friggin get messy with it, it's dope ok? - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Insane that this place is so highly reviewed. Food very hit and miss, portion size infinitesimal, and price despicable. Reservation practices are completely unclear, unscrupulous, poorly worded, and essentially force you into attending. I cannot recall a post Covid dining experience that felt more predatory and deceitful than this one. I grew up eating this food and seeing it so adulterated and price gouged is disgusting. I shouldn't be paying 300+ dollars to eat falafel. Fine service and great ambiance. read more

My hubby and I had reservations on 9/3 at 5PM. We were looking to try a unique restaurant while in Chicago and I found Galit in the Michelin Guide. Galit had great service, excellent food and presentation in a casual atmosphere. I choose bar seating so we can watch the kitchen work. The menu consists of four pre-fixe courses starting with hummus/bread/dips, appetizer (choose one pp), main entrée (choose one pp) and dessert. We ordered the Bubbe's brisket surrounded by hummus. The pita bread was HOT right out the stove serve in 2 round pieces. We shared 1 as we did not want to be overly stuffed. There were four side dishes that came out including the Piyaz, Labneh, Ezme, Pickles all with their own aroma and spices. The pita bread as we were told were to mix and match between the hummus and all the side dishes. You dip and eat! The appetizers we choose consists of the Carrots (glazed with feta and hazelnut duqqa) and the Cucumber Salad (galia melon). Both were fresh and light! Our mains were the Pastrami and the Lobster. I enjoyed that the pastrami comes with side lettuce you can wrap over the meat and veggies. The lobster was 2 small pieces and comes over a bed of corn and lime flavor. We finished with the peaches dessert. It was the perfect amount of food and we left feeling full with happy bellies. The inviting and friendly staff did not disappoint. They came out from the kitchen and explained every dish and what was in it. We had our dishes cleared, table cleaned and water refilled promptly. Well deserving of their 1 star. read more

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Our experience at Galit was absolutely incredible! Having a party of 6 turned out to be the absolute perfect group size for Galit because we got to try basically everything on the menu. All the hummuses were delicious, I was obsessed with the babaganoosh (and I don't even like eggplant!), the turkey shwarma to die for. It really was also a lot of food even with a $65 price tag. We left absolutely stuffed. We loved the experience of a multicourse dinner to share. But what really put this visit over the top was the **absolutely exceptional** service! Jessica was our server and we truly fell in love with her during our dinner. A friend of ours had a sesame allergy, which can be difficult for a middle eastern spot where sesame could be in a lot of things. The galit staff took the menu and spelt out exactly what she could have, what could be modified to put sesame or sauces on the side, and only a few things that she absolutely couldn't eat. Usually places like this are sooo uptight about substituions or modifications but they truly wanted her to be able to enjoy the experience and food. When we mentioned, very casually, that we were sad to be out of pita to enjoy more hummus, they immediately brought 2 more! (free of charge) The rest of the staff was also absolutely delightful. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and the interactions. It's worth all the hype! read more

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Fancy date night coming right up! We decided to treat ourselves to some fine dining and were impressed. At first we weren't sure we would be full but as the food kept coming, we realized we had more than enough food with leftovers. We stuck to the vegetarian options and was pleasantly surprised by how tasty everything was. The carrots were hands down the best thing on the menu. Since we were celebrating my fiancé's birthday, the Galit staff all signed a card for him gave him a cookie as a gift. It was a sweet gesture and we really appreciated it. read more

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What a wonderful experience! So Galit has a semi-set tasting menu. We went for a 2-person experience. The first course is one of 3 humus dishes served with fresh bread. We got the tehina. The humus was subtley flavored but creamy and drenched in olive oil, which helped keep it from being too dry. The bread was very fresh, but a little dense for my liking. Make sure not to fill up too much with the bread! The next course was all 4 of their salatin dishes which included a tomato jam, pickled veggies, a dry yogurt and a mixed bean salad. All 4 were delicious. The third course was the appetizer, which each person could choose one. We got the falafel and carrots. The falafel was the best I've ever had. So crispy on the outside and beautifully moist and tasty on the inside. The sauce and pickled turnips were both amazing too. The carrots were probably my least favorite. The whole dish was too overpowered by the hazelnuts. The orange glaze flavor couldn't poke through. The next course was the entrees, of which we chose the Turkey schwarma and the lamb kabob. The Turkey schwarma had a great texture and was crispy on the outside and tender inside. I preferred it without too much of the beet sauce it was served it. The kebab was probably one of the best parts of this meal. Flavorful and so incredibly tender that I couldn't even fork it. Had to use a spoon! Finally, the dessert we chose was the coconut tapioca with spiced melons. It was colder than expected but absolutely amazing! The flavors complimented each other perfectly. They also sent us home with 2 chocolate chip sesame cookies which were soooo good. Overall, highly recommended. Reservations can be hard to cont by but I've noticed that they have last minute openings often. The service was also solid. read more

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This was one of those"remember one of your best meals ever" experience. The waiter, Linus, had my wine before I could blink ... always a good start. They prefer to serve family style and Linus was very helpful with the selections. Each bite was unique. The pita bread was dreamy, hot and puffy and chewy ...fresh out of the oven. The starter dips were unusual spins on familiar favorites . The falafel , a personal favorite was crispy on the outside and soft and flavorful inside. The main courses were outstanding. I tend to prefer seafood to meat but in this case , everything was so tender and well seasoned, I ate it all. Dessert is spectacular and I loved the vegan coconut milk and fruit dessert the best. I cannot think if even a small detail that wasn't perfect. My only concern is that after this review anyone may have unrealistic expectations. So just go with a blank and open mind and let the staff take care of you. A solid 5 stars PLUS. read more

great service and ambiance. the food is really well presented and the fish dishes were excellent. Some of the other dishes were just average tasting. three major issues: - I don't want prix fixe; i like to choose what and how much i want to eat - the prix fixe is backwards; it's too heavy and dare i say very ordinary at the beginning then super light on the back end - i don't like the concept of 5% employee wellness before tip; just raise the prices read more

Great food & experience-- the Michelin star is deserved. The flavors are great and pair well throughout the courses. Hummus & salatim come out for the table to share together so it's nice to go with a medium-sized group (like 4-6) that is comfortable with sharing, so you can try all the things :) Wish I had taken more photos of the spread but we were too busy eating! read more

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I'm actually not sure how this place has any one star reviews- it's absolutely fantastic- I can't complain about a thing. I'm completely pleased with this restaurant and everything on the menu. This 4 course menu fills you up and the drinks are fanatics. No wonder they have a Michelin star!!!!!! I would go back a million times over read more

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I couldn't add all the photos because there was so much food! Went with 6 people and the portions were incredible! We all shared and it was more a family style meal. You are able to pick a few different items and the more people you go with the more things you are able to try! The hummus was by far my favorite and I would go back for just this! The ambiance seemed a little simple for a michelin star restaurant, but you can definitely see the difference in the quality of the ingredients they use! read more

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A pleasant date-night experience at a pretty approachable tier (as far as Michelin-starred spots go, anyway). Reservations seem tight to come by at this buzzy spot, so I suggest setting alerts for a few dates on Resy and options should open up, which luckily worked out for us! We were a little unsure about counter seating at first, but it's cool to watch the kitchen at work, so don't sweat it if that's the only option. As far as the food goes, it's generally good, though at times uneven. (1) Hummus: the bubbe's brisket is definitely the move (our waiter said it was by far the crowd favorite). I hadn't enjoyed brisket this good since a relative brought some back as a gift from the Middle East. Way, way good, especially when served with some delicious bread for dipping. (2) Salatim: an array of light bites as a mid-dinner interlude. The labneh and ezme were solid, but the piyaz and pickles were pretty average, a bunch of pickled and borderline soggy veggies. (3) Mezze: we went with the carrots and falafel. The carrots were among the highlights of the night: well seasoned, and they had a great crunchy, nutty texture with the duqqah. The falafel was decent, but not particularly a standout vs. other non-Michelin starred Mediterranean spots I've been to. Definitely get the carrots and skip the falafel. (4) Mains: we had the bass and lamb, and found both generally underwhelming. The bass was served over a nice sauce, but itself could've been seasoned better. The lamb kebab was purely 'okay', again personally found it lacking flavor. Portions were pretty small on both of these, too. Pacing of these dishes also seemed off. In my experience, restaurants of this caliber usually hold off on serving next courses until guests are mostly done with the last, but these came out soon after the mezze, causing them to sit out for longer than ideal. At $78 per person, this is a decent value tasting experience, and both the price point and cuisine are pretty accessible (in relative terms, obviously) if you're searching for a nice night out. It was a cut below some of the best and most memorable restaurants we've visited so far in Chicago, and it's likely toward the lower-tier end of the 1-star restaurants we've tried to date. That being said, it's good enough that it's worth trying at least once, and it's nice to see recognition of this caliber for a Mediterranean / Middle Eastern restaurant rather than yet another 'New American' spot. read more

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Definitely a place that deserves the Michelin star. This place has the best tasting menu and great cocktails. I highly recommend going here - the hummus starters are incredible and so is the service. Not a bad seat in the house. 10/10 for Galit! read more

This place is way too expensive and has driven us away. The 20% automatic tip and 4% employee benefits and the $94 dinner (without tax) is just absurd. I wish it was a la carte & I could provide my own tip like a Aba or Etta. We live a block away so this is very disappointing read more

Food was excellent. Favs were the turkey shawarma, hummus, and the olive oil cake. Service was attentive and they have an interesting wine list. I thought the kibbeh and pastrami were just OK. read more

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Our server John was perfect! If you're lucky enough to have him take Il his recommendations. The food was outstanding..I have to say that the foi gras was really amazing..one of the best things I have had EVER. Everything was just delicious. Can't go wrong . What a great experience. read more

I've eaten my way through Chicago, and Galit is truly my favorite restaurant in this city and definitely the best Mediterranean food I've ever had. I was so ecstatic when I found out that they got a Michelin star this year--so so well deserved. Since COVID, they started doing a pre-set menu and it's honestly such a good deal because you get FULL. It's not one of those restaurants where they serve you tiny little portions. In fact, we have to tell ourselves not to stuff ourselves during the first few courses because it's so much food, but this is soooo hard because all the courses are so good. They start you off with a hummus course with so many sides. I truly have never had such good dips. They switch up the other course offerings often, but you really can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Their drinks are unique and really good. The wait staff is also just absolutely amazing. They're so attentive every time. Could not recommend this restaurant enough. Just make sure you pace yourself. read more

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Good service, although the waiter was trying a little to hard to connect with us. Most of the food was great, but the whipped foie gras left a terrible aftertaste and had a weird consistency. read more

Food was great. Ambiance the same. Service better than the above. Nothing to complain about. But, it's done. I wasn't left with the feeling I want to come back again. Cheers! read more

Galit - For two - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing experience, cost does add up quickly though. Still, for a Michelin starred restaurant, it's not expensive I suppose. Far less assuming than other Michelin starred restaurants I've been to in the past. Really appreciate the more casual vibe. They start with a variety of hummus and salatim which are all great. The pita is superb as well. The pita is light but somehow rich and bready at the same time. We then had the foie gras blintzes which were light, rich, delicious, smooth, flavorful. Just incredible. One of the highlights of the meal for me. The carrots were good but not great. Felt like the carrots themselves almost played second fiddle to everything else on the plate. Pastrami WAS the highlight of the meal. It was incredible. The rub was good but actually just the meat itself was excellent and surprisingly not fatty either. Comes with some bread and is basically a deconstructed reuben. I was so full after this but kept going. The seabass was probably the only disappointing part of the meal, it was just kinda plain, with no real flavor. Well cooked but nothing on the plate really had flavor to it. We ended with some peach dessert which was light and tasty and would definitely recommend. Can't wait to try again. We each got a cocktail or two and the final cost did strike me as a little high, but I guess you gotta pay for that michelin star. read more

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Wow. This was an unbelievable experience and I cannot recommend it enough. The menu is a 4-course choose your own adventure tasting menu for $68, which in my opinion is extremely affordable for a Michelin star restaurant, plus I was STUFFED after eating here so you're getting real bang for your buck. To be honest I don't think you can go wrong with a single thing on the menu, but I'll walk you through our orders and what I recommend. Since there were 4 of us, we got to start with 2 hummus options - we went with the tehina (my favorite, UNREAL, you could really taste the quality of the olive oil) and the masabacha. You get all of the salatim along with your hummus, and if you want some advice I would say the potential perfect bite of food is pita bread, labneh, and ezme. For mezze, we got TWO of the falafel and it was delish, plus the Iraqi Kubbeh Halab, and tabbouli which it looks like they don't have anymore since I believe their menu is seasonal. When it comes to the "over coals" portion, everything was also delicious. We got the walleye, the smoked turkey shawarma, and the pastrami. I would say the walleye was the best, followed by the pastrami, then the shawarma. These were my favorite parts of the meal because everything was so unique and different from anything I've ever had at any similar restaurant. Dessert was the carrot cake cheesecake which was so good it was actually the first cheesecake I've ever liked. Anyway, you need to book a reservation here immediately. You will not regret it. I'll probably come back soon because this was the best meal I've had in Chicago. Amazing job Galit. read more

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We went for our anniversary and had a good experience. Some of the best tasting food we've had. It seems you can't wrong with anything from the menu. My wife (the more foodie of the two) was very pleased and so was I. They even gave us two special cookies to-go to celebrate our special date. Street parking was the worst. It took me 20 minutes to find parking and I had to call the restaurant to let them know I was running late so they would not cancel our reservation. So plan ahead for parking. There was a 5% surcharge on the receipt to contribute to an "employee insurance". Not sure why the restaurant management doesn't provide health insurance to its employees regardless. This was a first for me, do not know what to make of it yet. read more

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