TL;DR - It's amazing, You definitely need to try this place. My partner and I spent a long time planning out our itinerary for what we would do in Chicago as we are from south Florida. The day we were set to eat here at Galit, everything went wrong. My partner was so upset that he had pretty much given up on the day. I decided to make a note of it in my reservation and everyone in Galit took a moment to come by and chat with us. In essence, just that small kindness really changed our entire day. We sat at the kitchen counter and it was such a great spot to sit. To watch how everyone works together to bring out these dishes was incredible to witness. We had the brisket hummus, amazing. I ordered the saffron crust lamb, amazing. My partner ordered the falafel, amazing. I ordered the other lamb dish for the next choice, amazing. My partner ordered the pastrami, amazing. We added a tomato dish, phenomenal. It was actually my favorite dish if you could believe that. We then had two desserts because we were gluttonous at this point. Both absolutely delicious as well. We both ordered the wine pairings for the meals. It was definitely different. I'm trying to study wine and have most of my experience in california wines. Being able to try Middle Eastern wines was very impressive. With the check they gifted us a nice note and cookies with special spices in it. Our dog got into our luggage and deemed it his own so we might have cried a little over not being able to enjoy those. But hey, my dog had michelin star cookies! (That punk). I can't remember the name of our server and I feel so bad about that but she was amazing. She was patient with us and made sure to answer every single question. Even when she didn't know the answer, she would make sure to go ask and find the answer for us. We want to say thank you to her, Scott, Andres, Hannah, and to the heart of house. You all were a part of a beautiful experience for us and we are eternally grateful. read more

We celebrated my birthday at Galit. From reservation through dinner the staff was helpful. They were accommodating to allergies. Each course was delicious. We particularly loved Bubbe's Brisket Hummus, the mushroom tagine, walleye and turkey shawarma. A birthday card, signed by the staff was a nice, unexpected, touch. read more

I can not say it loud enough- if you love bold and spiced dishes this is the place for you! I did the 4 course meal and it was AMAZING. The waitress (Misty) was super helpful and explained everything on the menu and also gave edits for my sister who is dairy and gluten free. If you want to taste delicious food that exceeds your expectations this is place to go. If I could rate it 10 I would. It was a little pricey but SO worth it. I will be dreaming of the Lobster dish! read more

This is a delicious middle eastern restaurant with a James Beard award winning chef & co-owner Zachary Engel! The presentation was gorgeous & you will not go home hungry! Their stone oven pita bread is to die for! read more

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Celebrated my 26th birthday a couple days early and chose Galit as the place I would like to have a meal at. I think as a stand alone restaurant, Galit is pretty good. Their tasting menu has something for everyone's dietary restriction and their wine/cocktail menu isn't intimidating. (Milk punch cocktail complemented all 4 courses btw). Now as a place that has a Michelin Star, I just don't know how they got awarded. Food was good but not blow your socks off amazing. It's not that I didn't like the food, but I was expecting more flavor. Out of the four courses, I didn't experience a euphoria when taking a bite out of a dish. Did this place get a star because the midwest needs a special quota of stars, idk. Service was also good, but not great. When I think of a Michelin Star restaurant, I think of both food and service above and beyond as long as the requests the guest makes are reasonable. Maybe I got spoiled in Europe when I tried my first couple of Michelin star places. read more

This meal had me (almost!) speechless. I'm still dreaming about that fluffy pita + creamy hummus combo - and that's just the beginning! My boyfriend and I came to Galit for our anniversary dinner. It had been on my list of places to hit for quite some time, especially because he has incredibly high standards for Middle Eastern/Israeli food. Galit definitely lived up to them. To start, we got the tehina hummus, which came out along with fresh pita and the salatim. Without a doubt, it was some of the best hummus I've had in my life. Any fans of Samin Nosrat know that good olive oil should be drinkable, and that was exactly how I felt about our hummus that came smothered with a delicious olive oil. For the mezze course, we got the falafel and turkish salad to share, since both are vegetarian. I'm usually not a fan of labneh, but the creaminess balanced the heaviness of the falafel so well. The falafel itself was beautifully done, with an astonishingly crispy exterior. For the entree, I got the wood roasted cabbage, while my boyfriend got the turkey shawarma. We were both amazed by the meatiness they managed to achieve with a cabbage head. The layers of cabbage melted in your mouth while imparting a rich flavor that completely transformed it from what you would imagine of the vegetable. On the inside, the oyster mushrooms and mujadara were an enchanting surprise to cut into and just as equally as flavorful. Finally, for dessert, we couldn't resist the phyllo pie. Just as you would expect, phyllo dough meets apple die is an irresistible combination. The dessert was buttery with a sweet caramel that was the perfect end to an incredible meal - and made me very glad I saved room for dessert. The staff was incredibly attentive and kind, making for an amazing anniversary dinner. We were stuffed by the end with some of the most unique, high quality Israeli dishes in the city, making the $65 prix fixe menu absolutely worth it. We cannot wait to go back! read more

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Galit is what I hope the future of fine dining looks like: a delicious and genuinely fun experience. It just feels like everybody from the servers to the somm to the chefs are just psyched to share awesome food and wine with you, and anything you're curious about they are happy to teach you more about. The food is unbelievably delicious, thoughtful, plentiful, beautiful, and well-balanced. It's amazing to see seemingly simple foods like pita and hummus cooked so perfectly that they feel as luxurious as the lobster or caviar on the menu. Some other big highlights were the kubbeh, the cucumber/melon dish, the pastrami, and the lamb kebab. For wine lovers, it's an enormous treat because they serve a list of almost entirely middle-eastern wines with grape varietals and wine regions that most people have never tried like Lebanon or Armenia. For the quality/rarity of the wine they are serving, it's also an incredible value, since a lot of these bottles aren't available anywhere else in the state. *Full disclosure: I work at restaurant in another state and spent some time learning from the Galit team as a kind of sabbatical. I can honestly say that I have never in my life seen a restaurant team treated so well both in material ways like benefits (healthcare, retirement matching, paid time off, etc.) but also in interpersonal ways (celebrating each others' successes, regular professional development opportunities, open and transparent management, etc.). If you're wondering where that 20% service charge goes, it's to make a restaurant that is genuinely good for everybody who works there, and for me that is way more impressive and important than a Michelin star. read more

This review is long over due. We came here months ago (before covid even was a thing... I know crazy, right? - I'm finally getting around to all these review drafts). All I can say is the food lives up to the hype. We shared the tahina hummus, salatim, falafel, and lamp chops. Everything was lovely! Let me tell you Galit is the real deal for Mediterranean shared plates. The pita alone was too die for - so fluffy and straight from the oven, paired great with the hummus. I probably could have just eaten that and been satisfied. Service was incredible, some of the best I've encountered. Galit is definitely on my list of top restaurants in Chicago. read more

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Food is excellent! Service was pretty good, I enjoyed how the server explained how the menu worked to everyone so we understood what was going on. Tried a variety if item my favorite was prob the spread of appetizers we got. We had a vegetarian with us and it was easy for her to get food as well as everyone else. It is pricey but I would go back! read more

I visited Galit for the first time this past weekend and had a wonderful experience. It was apparently the first day they started offering indoor dining again, but they still had seating available outside. The tables were adequately spread out and the staff was attentive while still maintaining distance. We definitely felt safe and the service was great! They were offering a fixed menu that included four courses for $55, and my friend and I shared everything that we ordered. In addition to the pita bread and hummus that were served at the beginning, we chose falafel and shepherd's salad as our mezze, trumpet mushrooms and fish wrapped in grape leaves as our entrees, and shared the crispy phyllo pie for dessert. The shepherd's salad was one of the best I've ever had, and I thought both entrees were delicious and unique. We were STUFFED and of course super satisfied by the end of the meal. This is absolutely a place I'd be excited to come back to. We were able to call to make a reservation earlier the same day, but the earliest time they had available by then was 8pm -- so I'd suggest booking ahead of time, especially when it starts to get colder outside. read more

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One of the best meals and service we've ever had. Our server Erika was so knowledgeable, friendly and guided us through the menu with ease. The Tzora Judean Hills Chardonnay has to be one of my favorite wines I've ever had. You thought you liked Falafel? Get ready for falafel that could not taste any better. Pastrami and Lobster entree's were both outstanding and the Chocolate Tahini Mousse was fire. Thank you Galit for making our anniversary dinner so memorable and cannot wait to see you again. read more

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A solid 4/5 experience! Service was fabulous. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, service was prompt, professional, and friendly. We were seated at the kitchen counter area and it was impressive to see the chefs and staff work so seamlessly together. We started off with the Masabscha (5/5) which was creamy, herby, and delicious. The best hummus we've ever had. The pita is piping hot so I recommend poking it with a fork to let some heat out before diving in. The salatim (4.5/5) were all wonderful-my partner and I enjoyed different items more than others but all were solid options! The pickled vegetables are a bit one dimensional but a nice pause from the richness of the other flavors. We moved on to Mezze and ordered the malfouf and knish. The malfouf (3/5) was interesting but I wouldn't get it again. I enjoyed the 'filling' but the raw or lightly steamed cabbage on the outside was kind of boring and not pleasant to eat. The knish (4/5) was a bit better to me-the creaminess of the potato with the flaky dough on the outside and the mustard (?) sauce. Good! The 'over coal' section...I had the delicata squash (5/5) which is the only vegetarian option at the moment. This was a lovely dish. My only desire while eating was to have a bit more of the greens that were on top but it was a nearly perfect dish. My partner got a large order of falafel (they offered this as an alternative to us both getting the delicata squash) and it was okay. He wished he had gotten my dish instead. The falafel (3/5) were good but nothing special and the dish of course was a bit redundant. The ambiance was nice, it was not super pretentious feeling so I appreciate that. I believe I'd return if they bring back their a la carte menu. read more

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I didn't know Hummus could be so smooth! Every dish was very good. My favorite dish was the carrots. The service was very friendly, but I did not feel like it was an experience. For the price I would probably not return or recommend it to family/friends. I honestly can't say if it was the ambiance or what that didn't give a wow factor. I am still very happy we came and gave it a try! read more

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Big fan of Galit! I had seen all of the articles raving about Galit on Eater and knew I had to try it when I was in town for a week. I booked a reservation online easily a few weeks before my visit and was seated promptly. I went with Bubbe's Brisket Hummus, Foie Torchon, and Balkan Stuffed Cabbage. The hummus was incredibly creamy...probably the best hummus I've ever had in my life, paired with the unbelievably pita bread. Topped with flavorful brisket, this was probably the most expensive hummus I've ever had at $16. I love foie gras anything and the Foie Torchon did not disappoint! Loved the sweet tangy flavors that complemented the creaminess of the foie gras. The Balkan Stuffed Cabbage was super filling and had lamb kebab, harissa, and labneh. The dish get very heavy after a while but I was already stuffed from the first 2 dishes. Service was great! Can't wait to be back. read more

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We recently ordered take out for their "meal for two" which includes tahini hummus, ezme, labneh, olives, falafel, Balkan lamb-stuffed cabbage, saffron rice, and 4 pitas. For the two of us, it was more than enough food! Everything was perfectly seasoned and absolutely delicious, but the real stars of the show were their falafel and their stuffed cabbage. The falafel was crisped perfectly and had a more herby flavor than what I am used to. Their stuffed cabbage had a pickled sourness to it, that was perfectly balanced with the richness of the lamb. I highly recommend you try both of these dishes! In addition to their outstanding dishes, Galit also really puts in the effort to show their appreciation for their customers. When we went to pick up our food, there was a lovely thank you card stapled to our delivery bag and because it was Halloween, they threw in some sweets with our meal, which was very thoughtful! These small gestures left a wonderful first impression on me and I will definitely be back to try more of their menu soon! read more

Galit - Meal for two - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Galit being a Michelin 1-star restaurant was decent. Food was average but nothing that blew our mind or taste buds. Been to several Michelin 1-star restaurants or non Michelin star Mediterranean restaurants that were better. The hummus was prolly the best out of the pri fix meal. Pastrami was average...had better pastrami. Wasn't as juicy or flavorful as expected. Chocolate mousse was average. The other most important thing was our service. Was quite disappointed with our server. Not as friendly as expected..when I asked a specific question about a certain item in the menu, she regurgitated the menu..no information or extra details. Server did not ask if food was ok and was not attentive. Overall it was disappointing for a 1-star Michelin restaurant and will not be back read more

One of our new fav places! We went to celebrate a birthday and it did not disappoint. I am not a huge experimenter when it comes to eating out, but anything on this menu is definitely must try. They cook everything so well and combine such interesting flavors/textures. They also have us ice cream with a candle for the birthday, and a birthday card! Great service!! read more

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I was super excited to try out Galit, as it has topped best restaurant lists in Chicago for a while. It was pretty hard to get into, and we had to make a reservation for a Tuesday at open a month in advance. The restaurant is super cute and pretty casual with indoor and outdoor seating in a great Lincoln Park location. We started out with some fun cocktails before ordering our dinner. I had never really tried Middle Eastern food before, so I was super excited to try a bunch of new flavors. Not sure if the menu operated the same way pre-COVID, but you get to select a certain amount of options from a set menu for $65 pp. We started with the Tehina hummus, then got everything from the "Salatim" section. From the "Mezze" section, we got the carrots and the falafel. Then from the "Over Coal" section, we got the mushroom kreplach and the grilled walleye. We ended with the baklava, which was delicious. I do wish there was an option to choose from an a la carte menu, as the set menu was way too much food for two people. The dishes were really interesting and yummy, but I thought they were a little overdone with sauces and spices and could have been simplified. But, really fun, delicious meal overall! read more

Galit - Baklava - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent use of wood burning oven and everything from pastrami to beef, chicken - love the use of different flat breads - cumin braised carrots with yuca read more

Amazing staff! Everyone was very friendly. Good vibes, good food, good company = Great Night! The manager was very attentive and staff was very attentive! Food was very good, be prepared to feast! read more

Galit - Mezcal - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We went for the Michelin experience. Cozy environment and mostly good food. The protein portions are rather small. Servers are very detailed on what utensils to use for some reason and in comparison not as much on providing food information. read more

This place was so good we didn't even take pictures. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the smell of fresh pita mixed with cooking meat. You start your dinner with your choice of hummus- we picked the tahina with "too much olive oil". Each of us got a pita that was steaming. I love hummus, I've made my own hummus I've never had anything that good. It came with four salatin dishes. My favorite was the tomato jam that you could pair with this yogurt or the hummus on the pita it was absolutely amazing. Our server was so kind and helpful in a very approachable way. While this place has a michelin star it's homey and doesn't feel pretentious. Our next course was the fois gras and malfouf. The fois gras was sweet on top of challal bread almost like a doughnut. Our main course we got the lamb and halibut both delicious. Overall my thoughts are the drink list is amazing. Lots of wines from the middle east which is something I've never tried. The food is plentiful so come hungry and come ready to share. And definitely this is the place to come to if you are celebrating something. It was our anniversary and we got a complementary glass of champagne and a card signed from the staff- which was so lovely. This place made us feel so special. read more

Overrated. The dishes were small, layered in sauces and crème's which make them feel heavy but the actual protein and or vegetables suggested in their descriptive menus are small. You'll feel full from the breads, sauces and crème. If you want to pay a crap ton of money for that, go here. Or you can save your money and just eat bread, butter, and olive oil at home. The drinks, service, and ambiance were good but nothing I haven't gotten anywhere else. Skip this place. read more

This will go into the books as one of the best meals I've ever had. I randomly found out Chicago had 4 new Michelin restaurants while visiting on a work trip. The restaurant serves Middle East and Israeli food and their chef is Zachary Engel, a James Beard Award-winner. My expectations were very high and I can tell you this did not disappoint. I visited in April when it's still chilly and as I waited for the train I wondered why would anyone want to live in Chicago when it was so cold. As soon as I finished my dinner I knew the answer, eating at this place makes it worth it. Menu is fixed however you do have a few choices you can make. You start with your choice of hummus which I got the brisket, the meat was so delicious and tender. You also get Salatim (salads in Hebrew) to share which are cold dips or salads meant to be eaten with others at the beginning of the meal. These were so flavorful and paired amazingly with freshly baked pita. I picked the Iraqi Kubbeh Halab for mezze and the flavors were simply fantastic. For the main course I went with the Turkish shawarma, this was the dish that surprised me the most as I had imagined it to be like a traditional shawarma but it was most similar to a rib. Dessert was tres leches cake with pistachios and equally delicious too. I went by myself so at the end had a lot of leftovers but I can tell you this was an amazing deal. This meal is definitely best shared among family, friends or a special date. Since my visit it seems their price has gone up but I still think the value is incredible. To top it all of you get a sesame cookie to go. Service was good. The ambiance of the restaurant was very warm and pleasant. I look forward to coming back again and with no hesitation would recommend this to anyone thinking about going. Congrats to the chef for putting such a lovely meal together. read more

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Went here on a date night and had a wonderful meal. The staff were very attentive and gave great recommendations. Overall was a good experience. read more

I had the most wonderful dinner at Galit that I had to rush to Yelp and tell you all about it! To start, this place has the most friendly and warm service that I've ever experienced in a Chicago restaurant. From the hostess to the bartender to our excellent waiter Annie, we felt completely at home from start to finish. The ambiance is my favorite kind: modern but comfortable, with an open kitchen where you can observe the chefs hard at work making their masterpieces. On to the food: man, it is good. Galit is the real deal for Mediterranean shared plates. We started with the homemade pita (fluffy and hot from the oven) and the smorgasbord of small dishes, which ranged from creamy cheese to pickled veggies to a pumpkin purée with spices. We also had the hummus "with too much olive oil," although I beg to differ-- that olive oil was so good I would drink it. I would bathe in it. This review is getting a little off track. Next, we had the falafel and kale tabbouleh salad. The falafel was just ok but the tabbouleh salad was very good. As our entree, we shared the lamb chop, stuffed cabbage, and rice pilaf. The lamb was incredible, tender and beautifully paired with an herb sauce and roasted sweet potato. I honestly didn't have more than a bite of the cabbage because I was so stuffed, but it was delicious (and my husband said it made a great lunch for him the next day). We will be back soon, Galit! Save me a spot at the chefs counter, overlooking the open kitchen. read more

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Not your standard tasting menu but in a good way! The portions are generous and you will leave very stuffed! Highlights of the restaurant include: *A lively atmosphere (the energy makes you excited to be in Chicago). *Our server was excellent. He expertly managed our table's various dietary restrictions and specific allergies, walking through each menu item and explaining which item each person could have and which could be modified, all while wearing a mask and reading the menu upside down. Impressive! *The pita is the best ever. It's made with a proprietary yeast that they've been growing and feeding for years and it's the most fluffy yet chewy and insanely good bread I've ever eaten. *All the vegan and vegetarian options were amazing. Silky, light fluffy hummus and dips. The falafel was excellent too. Really liked the asparagus too. I don't eat meat, and my party members didn't love all of the meat dishes. But overall, the experience, ambiance and food were excellent, especially at this price point. And love that there are so many options for vegans and vegetarians. read more

Did the two person tasting menu and loved it - a non-conventional menu but everything was fantastic. It's set up prix fix, so you pick 1-2 items per category, and they bring them out accordingly. It was a fun meal to grab different combinations of food across the different small plates. Tons of flavor and variety - well worth it, grab a reservation. read more

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As other reviewers have mentioned, this place is WORTH THE HYPE. I have been trying to dine here for the better part of 6 or so months, but unfortunately, finding reservations are almost impossible. Finally, my friend told me to come here right when they opened. Even though it meant a 5 pm dinner, it was well worth it. This is also one of those places where my only regret is that we didn't come with more people so we could order more food. Literally everything we ordered was fantastic!! Let's start with the cocktails. I personally am not a fan of sweet cocktails. My friends ordered the Here Lassi Lassi and Raman Blvd. The Lassi was too sweet. I loved my cocktail (Going going Gan), but I also LOVE cumin. Now for the food: Hummus: we opted to try the Trumpet mushroom hummus. The hummus was some of the smoothest I have ever seen/tasted. I loved the texture the mushrooms added. Halloumi: nothing better than having salty cheese paired with pops of sweet and spicy. My only slight critique would be to ensure the cheese was warmer. Schwarma potatoes: these potatoes make you not miss meat (which is hard for me to say). The potato provides that hearty base that holds up to the strong schwarma flavors. Lamb chop: this was one of my favorite dishes. When lamb is cooked perfectly, it is some of the best meat ever. It was so tender and made you want to shamelessly suck the meat off the bone Chicken: I almost never say chicken is my favorite or that I love it, but this had to have been some of the best chicken I have had in the city. Dare I say my least favorite word, moist??? The seasoning was on point too. We all agreed we could have ordered two plates of this alone. In all, I can't wait to come back!! read more

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Laid over in Chicago for the night and decided to try this restaurant. It was amazing! My husband and I did the tasting menu for 2 and enjoyed every single dish that was served. We started with the Bubbe's Brisket (hummus) which was quite possibly one of the best things I have ever eaten. The salatin spreads were delicious- each very unique and could be combined to make a whole new flavor. The pita was a warm bubble of bread which was the perfect thickness and flavor. For the mezze dishes, we tried the Tabouli- an almost fall inspired dish which was fresh, light and perfectly balanced with sweet and tart. We also tried the Iraqi Kubbeh which was lightly breaded and fried and came on top of a sauce that I decided should be spread all over- it was incredible. Finally, for our main courses we ordered the Smoked Turkey Shawarma and the Pastrami, both delicious and unique. At this point I was very very full but dessert came out which was Galit's rendition of a tres leche and gosh it was truly amazing- once again (much like the rest of the meal) unique but in the best way possible (and I have had A LOT of tres leches in my life). I have to mention the incredible service. Our server, Jess, was truly wonderful. She was perfectly attentive and gave the best suggestions. We were welcomed by one of the owners, Andres, and the manager, Parker, both of which were extremely professional, welcoming and kind. All in all, our experience was one to remember and I would highly highly recommend trying this place. read more

Galit - Bubbe's Brisket and salatin spreads with pita. (This is the only picture I took because as each plate came out we just dug in) - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pretty average overall experience. Only open reservation was close to closing so maybe that contributed. The smoked turkey "shawarma" was 2 dry pieces of poorly seasoned Turkey thigh which we were very disappointed with. The Turkey breast I had for thanksgiving was more flavorful and tender. The lamb was good. The hot and cold mezze (falafel were great) were good, although some of the portions were a little lacking. The desserts were probably the best part of the meal along with the fresh bread which was not replenished. It's a no thrills environment (which is fine), but it seems like they're trying to do too much without getting some basics down first. We all thought it was not worth the Uber ride, and would not return. read more

We managed to snag a reservation to one of the hottest new restaurants in the city, and I'm happy to say the hype is real and warranted. We started with a couple cocktails which were ok, but the food's the real star here. Our first course was the masabacha hummus and the salatim - you know something on the menu's going to be good when it lists five items and just says "all of these" next to that list. The hummus was extra thiccc with three Cs, and while I didn't know what salatim was going in, it's almost like the Israeli version of banchan - a bunch of tasty little dishes like pickled veggies, tiny onions, and pureed pumpkin. All were great, and I don't even like gourds normally! They were served with some piping fresh pita. We then got the bright green crunchy falafel, and the hazelnut spiced carrot, which was alright. Something about this city and fancy carrots... By the time the main dishes came out, we were already pretty stuffed, but we had to push through. We got the lamb stuffed cabbage and chicken thigh. I was kind of in a food haze in this point, but I'm pretty sure these were both really good too. The lamb was my wife's favorite of the night. Ah, and baklava still too! Oh lawd... We were entirely stuffed and happy at the end of it all, and despite downtown having way too many Mediterranean restaurants, Galit is a place that truly elevates the cuisine. Go here. read more

Galit is an easy five star review. It's impressive to have a menu with this many components and have all of them be good, with lots that are excellent. My partner and I recently enjoyed dinner at Galit, selecting Bubbe's brisket hummus, carrots and grape leaves for the Mezze course, smoked turkey shawarma and lobster, and cake for dessert. I also enjoyed the pawpaw daiquiri, which I really enjoyed and found sweet without being cloying. The pacing and service overall were excellent, attentive and informative without being pretentious. Mario was a delight, and we felt that all of the staff cared about our experience there. I was also pleased to enjoy a meal with what ends up being a LOT of food from a Michelin starred restaurant for less than $100 per person--I've certainly paid more for less impressive and less delicious food elsewhere. Definitely check out Galit! read more

Went to Galit for restaurant week with two friends and the 4 courses were more than enough!! Next time I go I think I would ball out on salads/hummus/small plates, because after I ate those I could barely take in the meat. I think the hummus stood out most to me - really haven't had hummus that good since I went to Israel - had the tehina hummus which is the basic kind but you can't go wrong with a classic. Def need to try the others next time though they did give us all a coupon for free tehina hummus for future use! :) Beet salad and falafel were too fire. Grade A use of truffle with the tahini. Stuffed cabbage and chicken were good but at that point I was already satisfied. Baklava was also great flavor and not dry at all - I think their desserts arre seasonal and I'm dying for them to bring back kenaffeh!!!! (Please) Only reason I hit 4 stars is bc they were more focused on turning tables than service and one server was coughing ??? Hi it's corona virus season, we don't need that ! Also the beverages too expensive.. $8 for tea? Not in this life Def coming back! read more

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It's been a long time since I've been to a place like this and can honestly say that it wasn't over-hyped. The pitas and hummus and especially the salatim are key -- honestly you could make your meal largely of those things and be very happy. I also especially loved the carrots and the haloumi. The most disappointing thing was the foie gras, which was perfectly ordinary foie gras, on a good piece of challah. The only thing that holds me back from awarding five stars was the opinionated service. I don't mind having a server who makes actual recommendations, and when they have good judgment I am ecstatic. Alas, this server was the opposite of helpful. He tried to guide us to the price fixe menu, which we didn't want. And then when we placed an order, he insisted we'd ordered too much food and coerced us into removing some of the dishes. And he was wrong. We were still hungry and wished we'd ordered the omitted dishes after all. He also disappeared for crucial stretches making it harder to order a second drink. Maybe this was some karmic commentary on our group's appetites, but it was annoying enough that it diminished the experience. And I still really wish he'd let us order that shakshukah. read more

The food was too delicious and we ordered too much of it! Everything had unbelievable flavor that we could not get enough of. It's worthy of a visit anytime! read more

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I have been lucky enough to visit Galit twice in the last month after hearing nothing but amazing things about it. And let me tell you, it lived up to the hype!! Although there is a fixed price menu, we chose both times to order off the a la carte menu in order to try some better options for the same price. Definitely calculate out the price before you go to see if the fixed price is the best choice. I want to break down everything we had because nothing deserves to be left out here! Drinks: We had cocktails and wine and both options were great! I thought the cocktail options were unique and beautifully served. The servers are knowledgeable about wine as well and helped us select a Palestinian white wine that was perfect! Masabacha hummus: the green sauce is amazing and the whole chickpeas really upped the texture Tehina hummus: AMAZING. The olive oil was super high quality and really added to it Salatin: EVERYONE MUST GET THIS. All the sauces and dips are incredible and the fresh-baked pita is to DIE for. Pro tip: mix the Labneh and the onions together on your pita. Carrots: a highlight of the meal! I know it seems insane to pay $13 for carrots, but these are seriously incredible and worth it. Halloumi: super flavorful but this is a really large portion and it's hard to eat that much cheese! Falafel: the best falafel I have ever had. End of story. Fried fish: I am OBSESSED with this. It is fried so delicately that it basically melts in your mouth. The 3 sauces it comes with are incredible as well, especially the African hot sauce - I literally got a takeout container just to bring this sauce home! Balkan Stuffed Cabbage: I don't eat lamb but my boyfriend really loved this and still talks about it! Based on feedback from meat-eaters, this is a must order. It's really difficult to get a reservation here but I am positive that I will be back. Thank you, Galit, for two amazing meals! read more

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This restaurant had been on our list for a couple years. We were excited when they re-opened for dine in. The ambiance of the restaurant is lovely. We were immediately seated & our server walked us through the menu. We ordered drinks; a beer & a cocktail (Clarified Milk Punch). The drink tasted like cough syrup. I didn't have more than 2 sips, but was never asked if something was wrong or if I would like another drink instead. First course was Tehina hummus & Salatim. Served with hot pita. These were wonderful & the highlight of the meal. We ordered falafel & beets as our mezza. These were good, beets especially. There was only 1 vegetarian entree, the cabbage. This was half a gutted cabbage stuffed with rice/mushrooms in a turmeric sauce. It was very dry & lacking in flavor. Carrot cake cheesecake for dessert, also okay. We left full but not satisfied. Additionally they charge a 5% employee insurance fee, which is becoming annoyingly common these days. We will not go back there, especially for the $200+ price tag. read more

My friend from out of town really wanted Mediterranean food and she found this place. So glad we went here because the food is AMAZING. Being rated one of the best restaurants to try in Chicago in 2019, finding reservations were hard the week of. Persistence paid off because we got one for a Saturday evening for 5. The place has cute decor. While we were looking over the menu, the manager came over to greet us and he gave us an extensive overview of the menu. It was extremely helpful because we all ended up changing what we originally wanted. He was so welcoming and helpful with everything! I got the lassi lassi cocktail and my sister got the flowering fox. Both were amazing I could drink it like water. We shared a Bubbes Brisket hummus amongst the table and it was gone in about 30 seconds. It was so smooth and full of flavor. I then shared a Smoked Lake Trout and Steak with my sister and boyfriend. Both dishes were phenomenal. We definitely will be coming back as the service and food were exceptional! read more

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Really enjoyed our restaurant week trip to Galit. Did not have a reservation so got there right at 5pm when they opened. For $48 each we received multiple courses. The hummus with fresh pita and dips was my favorite. Second favorite was dessert (baklava). The intermediate and main courses were also delicious. Cabbage / lamb, rice, falafel, and salad were great. Really enjoyed the yeast on the salad. The dessert liquor - Arak - was pretty cool. It starts clear but turns milky white upon addition of water and ice. Does taste like licorice so a distinct flavor. Probably will return in a few months but it is quite pricey for portions and cocktails. read more

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