We came here on a date night Saturday night. I have a super weak spot for good Mediterranean. The place has a bit of a diner vibe, bright lights, tile floor, huge long bar where you can see the chefs. We were sat right away. We shared the mezzo platter which was so good it made me wonder if the owner was Arab. The labne was so tart and fresh with zaatar on top, The hummus with summac the way it's supposed to be and of course the fresh baked pita bread. My husband got the blintz which was less amazing and fell a little flat. I got the fish which was delicious and light. My husband got the meat pie which was very rich but a little too much for him. I finished with the chocolate mouse which I loved and found perfectly bitter with a nice sesame finish. Overall loved the food. Ambiance and service were good for Chicago. We will probably come back. read more

Over the last few years, I've probably had my worst Chicago dining experience yet at Galit. While some dishes were great (would recommend the masabacha and lobster), I was dissatisfied with the service and condescending attitude, in particular. 1. Although I was seated promptly, it took 15-20 minutes until my server came over. I was genuinely wondering whether they remembered to assign me a server. I understand that weekend nights are busy, but customers should not have to wait that long for service to start, especially at a restaurant of this standard 2. I personally disliked the sunchokes dish and could barely touch it, as I felt that the sauce had an overpowering bitter, almost "woody" taste of sorts. I let the team know but was essentially told that my palate was not sophisticated enough to enjoy it 3. After the meal ended, I asked the hostess if I could directly leave feedback. She made a face and looked irritated that I had requested to do so; this was evidently very disrespectful to me. While she ultimately directed me to the manager, he too brushed off my concerns. Apart from simple platitudes thanking me for the feedback, they were not apologetic and did not offer anything to rectify the situation 4. The manager eventually reached out over email the following day, but I felt this was too little, too late. You can write that you value my honest feedback, but my time at the restaurant did not reflect this at all. It's telling that they said we are on the "same page in terms of our expectations" but never owned up to not fulfilling them in the first place Considering all of Galit's accolades and otherwise stellar reviews, I was highly disappointed in the overall experience. Hope nobody else goes through the same experience I did! read more

A fairly new Lincoln Park spot that opened in 2019, Galit does not fail to impress on a first try. I've been on a middle eastern spree lately having recently gotten back from Philadelphia where I tried this year's James Beard winner Zahav where chef Engel once worked, so I was very eager to see what Galit had to offer. The restaurant is spacious inside, with good views of the oven. The restaurant comes with a tasting menu, but we went a la carte this time. Started with the Tehina hummus which was an excellent blend of mint, sumac, and olive oil. The Salatim was also quite decent; the labneh and ezme in particular were delicious paired together with the freshly made pita bread. They did not hesitate to bring us extra pita bread when we asked for no extra charge. From small plates we tried the halloumi, an interesting combination of squares of the cheese with ani dulce chilies and pecans. The falafel stood out and was absolutely excellent. For our main dish we tried the Tunisian style fried fish which came with several excellent dips especially an avocado one. Wow for two people we were stuffed! This restaurant does an excellent job of bringing middle eastern fine cuisine to Chicago, a must try! read more

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Worth the hype. Our server Queeny was so helpful. They helped us figure out the perfect amount of food to order. Everything was flavorful and unique compared to the plethora of Mediterranean small plates restaurants out there. Yes, there's olive oil on just about everything, but nothing is overly greasy. Would love if they upped the amount of pita per order. It's so good, please make it 1 whole pita per person instead of 1 per 2 people. I'm here to indulge, let me live my best life. But still, love you Galit. Also labneh is cheese made from salted strained yogurt and it's delicious. Made a reservation a couple weeks in advance. The 4 of us went on a Thursday night and chose the a la carte menu. If I went back with a group of 4 again I'd do "the other menu". You'll save a little bit going that route and probably get just as much if not more food. We got drinks to start which were all delicious. I got the Raman Boulevard which I think is great, but if you're not a fan of bitters skip it. We switched to wine by the time our mains had arrived, and I wish every restaurant had the little descriptions after each wine on their menu. Funny but helpful if you still don't know too much about wine (raises hand). Apps: 1. Trumpet mushroom hummus - divine. I couldn't stop eating the collard greens, and their hummus is as light as a cloud. Please tell me how you do it 2. Salatim - a must order when you're here Mezze: 3. Halloumi - there's a smokiness to it that makes it different from others I've tried, and the kohlrabi is wonderful with it 4. Citrus salad - nice to break up the richness, but not a must order in my opinion. add it if you have a bunch of heavy stuff. 5. Carrots - loved these, wish all carrots were prepared this way Mains: 6. Tunisian fried fish - the red dip with this one was phenomenal and the fish was very light 7. Lamb - it was a little too charred on the outside and slightly overcooked for parts of it. this was the only dish that was too salty and fell a tad short. 8. Steak - you MUST get this. it's perfect in every way. wish I didn't have to share this plate. It came out to be about $88 per person splitting food, 2 drinks each, tax & tip. Not the cheapest but I can't wait to come back, and will try to get a spot by the kitchen to watch the chefs! read more

Delicious! This is a shared plates 4 course menu type of place, not a dainty bite-sized plates kind of place. Tip: you maximize your food choice options if you go in groups of odd numbers. Of tasting menu restaurants, this is one where you will leave absolutely STUFFED because the food is delicious and they give you a lot of it! read more

I was really impressed by my recent visit to Galit. Weekend dinner reservations are pretty hard to come by, so I had to make mine a few months in advance and even then, it was for a 5:15PM spot on a Sunday. After agonizing over the menu, my friend and I ended up sharing the Salatim, carrots, and Shakshouka. The waiter had recommended that we order two shareables per person on top of the Salami, but that seemed like too much food so we took our chances with three items total. The Salatim came with a warm, freshly made pita, along with 5 different side dishes/dips. The ezme was my favorite. They only give you one piece of pita at a time, and it's tempting to eat more than one per person, but make sure you save some stomach for the rest of your meal. The carrots were divine, with a sprinkling of hazelnut duqqa for texture, and the orange glaze on top was really delicious. I usually don't order shakshouka in restaurants because it seems fairly simple to make at home, but the Galit version was more complex in flavor, with a variety of herbs and roasted sweet potatoes for more heartiness. It was definitely on the salty side, so make sure you chug some water before bed or you might wake up at 2AM parched. As we predicted, we had plenty of leftovers at the end. Would definitely come back to try some of the other dishes like falafels and fried fish. read more

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Awesome atmosphere, even better food. Took my wife here for her birthday. I made a note of the occasion on the reservation...the staff had a card for her and a candle with our dessert course. To top it off we saw Rick Bayless dining in the restaurant the same time we were there. That should definitely tell you something about the food! Highly recommend this place for anyone that can appreciate great cuisine! read more

I'm not usually a fan of "elevated" cuisine but Galit may have changed my mind. Their execution of Middle Eastern dishes was excellent. Our party of 5 tried almost everything on the menu. My only complaint is that they encourage sharing and that is fairly difficult with the smallish sized portions of most items. Favorites were the Bubbe's Brisket, Ezme, Labneh, Carrots, Falafel, Bass, Lobster and the Peaches dessert. read more

This is a Michelin one star? I was looking forward to this meal with my friends on my visit to Chicago this weekend, but ultimately left feeling disappointed. While the starters - the dips and little snacks and pita were all very good, the mains were only okay (the sausage was not great, the pastrami/make your own reuben was good but gimmicky, and the fish was okay but lacked a vibrant flavor). Desserts were unremarkable - flavorless cheesecake and some chocolate babka rif whose only remarkable feature was the fresh raspberries accompanying the pastry. The starter falafels were the true highlight, while the foie gras dish was overly sweet and cloying, and the heirloom tomato salad somewhat flavorless. Service was okay, though slow to bring drink refills when requested, and we were seated in a backroom that had little character. My friends who I went with had been before and loved it - back when it was an a la carte restaurant. They walked away from this meal disappointed, as did I, given the hype. Honestly, for the price point, this was disappointing and the quality/ quantity of food was not up to snuff. I'm surprised this is a Michelin one star place, as I've been to several others and found the service/ food superior at similar price points. It was expensive and not quite worth the price point, though there were some high points, as discussed. read more

Absolutely deserves every accolade it has received. Food, service, atmosphere are all exceptional. Will keep coming here as often as my wallet allows for something special read more

I was so excited to try Galit that I decided to host my 30th birthday dinner here. I reserved a table of 5 on a Saturday at 5pm weeks in advance. When the date approached, 4 of my friends decided to come into town to celebrate. I reached out to Galit to see if they would be able to accommodate the additional 4 guests making it a party of 9. The day before the reservation, Friday at 1pm, Josh from Galit replied saying "we do have space to increase your party size to 9 guests. The availability is at our high-top table, which we typically leave open as a communal table for walk-ins, however the table seats 9 so you would have it all to yourselves. For a party of 9 we do require a deposit of $565 to hold the table, and a food and beverage minimum of $1,125." I told him that this was great and I was happy to put down the deposit. When reviewing that contract, it was actually a minimum of $1,583 which included an administration fee and an employee insurance contribution fee. At a pre fix menu of $84pp it would be awfully difficult to hit that total. $1,583/9= $175.89pp. When I called the restaurant I spoke to Hannah who had a terrible, belittling demeanor and did not want to help from the jump. She asked me if I wanted to cancel my reservation of 5 but it would result in a $25pp cancelation fee. Really??? I asked if we could come at opening to secure the "communal table used for walk ins" and she told me its possible but not confirmed. We arrived at the restaurant at 4:50pm, 10 min before opening. When we walked in there was a line of 8 employees and I asked to speak to Josh or Hannah. Hannah denied that there was ever a communal table reserved for walk ins and denied telling me that we can come at opening to try to secure that table. Again her tone was argumentative, brash and uppity. From someone who has been in this industry for 10 years, I am so turned off from this customer service. I'm not sure if they thought we were young or wouldn't tip 20% or if it was a stubborn power trip but if your party is bigger than 6 I say avoid these weasels at all cost. read more

This is a must-go. The food is the best in its category in the city, it's super cute and intimate on the inside, wait staff was very friendly. Couldn't get enough of their pita! The specialty old fashioned-like cocktail was pristine and they surprisingly had a lengthy cocktail menu too. Must must try Galit will definitely be back. read more

Galit - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Incredible all around! We had incredible service, delicious drinks, and the tastiest plates of food!!!

Had an amazing experience for our first time at Galit and we have Casey C. to thank for laughing with us, being patient, and showing us a great time. For a party of 5, the suggestion to try The Other Menu was perfect for us! For hummus, we chose the king trumpet and bubbe's brisket and they were both delish. The salatim options paired with the pita bread was amazing. The bread was so good, that we ordered a second helping. For Mezze, we selected the foie torchon, falafel, and beets...again, all choices were delish. All of the plates to share were equally as good and we also added on the fried fish Tunisian style, that was fried to perfection and not greasy. We were underwhelmed with the cookie that came with the prix fixe menu, so we added on the rice pudding and Persian pumpkin and they were both great choices. read more

Small-ish, crowded and noisy Lincoln Park restaurant. Table and bar seating. Middle Eastern small plates. Everything we tried was delicious. Our server, Erika, was attentive and patient. Her suggestions were spot on. 3 of us shared hummus (2 kinds), falafel, steak and fried fish. Two of us were celebrating birthdays and we ordered desserts and both came with candles and birthday cards signed by the staff. The only reason I did not give it five stars is because parking is difficult and there is no valet. Otherwise I would definitely go back. read more

Galit - Steak. - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Go reserve your table right now. I'll wait...... Ok. Now that you've got your table secured, lets get to the good stuff! My friend and I had a nice time at Galit. We were sitting near the door and it was quite chilly so be prepared for that. Our server wasn't the most friendly after I told her we'd only be ordering a few items, as we'd been grazing all day. Oh well. We started with cocktails. I had The Flowering Fox, as i am still on a mezcal kick (thanks a lot Rick Bayless!) and it was delightful. I got to sample my fiends Here Lassi Lassi, which wasn't what I expected, but still very nice. The Salatim was prefect for sharing. The pita was so warm and pillowy! We were only served one piece (hahahahaha) for 5 different dips/spreads/pickled veg. They did bring out another pita. The beets dish was fantastic. We loved the crunchy contrast of the pumpernickel bits. It was a very thoughtful (and beautiful) dish. The lamb chop was great. Equally delicious was the accompanying sweet potatoes on the side. Overall, the food was artfully plated and was so flavorful. This was plenty for two people to share, without feeling like an elephant waddling out the door at the end of the night. Note: you'll probably want to take the CTA here. Parking blows. read more

Somehow managed to get a reservation for 2 here the day of (on a Saturday night)...must've been a cancellation! My friend and I did the tasting menu which is definitely the move here! We basically got to try a little bit of everything and it was divine. We split a bottle of wine and had ourselves a delicious meal. The pita was fabulous, the mushroom hummus was perfection and everything else was amazing too. The restaurant is so cute and trendy and the service rocks. We loved it here! read more

Honest review: place is good just needs to fix some issues. Ambiance; its really cute n big if u dont have a reservation its cool, cause the bar area u see the kitchen staff at work n its comfy n not to jammed packed. service: it was good but can be better just give new plates n describe dishes they did good though. Food: foods good but if they fixed their issues theyd be great. Menu is way to big felt if they made it smaller it be more flavorful n consistent like do u really need 4 different types of humus? Another issue that needs to be fixed is balancing dishes, some dishes are not balanced n come off as off putting. Alot of dishes needed texture. The desserts were really good keep making more complex desserts not just icecream or a chocolate candy. If they made more composed dishes like the carrot dish, food would be a lot better. Instead of just like the squash witch is just squash and a sauce. Best things: Bubbes brisket/ carrots/ falafel/ apricot dessert/ rhubarb dessert Bubbes brisket Humus: this was amazing. Humus was supper smooth and flavorful like its not bland or has a bitter taste to it. Just tasted supper fresh The brisket was really tender n flavorful no complaints Pita: i have to talk about the pita it's amazing. Its so fluffy n hot n has a wonderful flavor n its not burnt. Wish you could buy pitas to go. Carrots: i hate carrots but this was really good. The carrots were cooked perfectly not mushy not hard. The texture or this dish was amazing it was so crunchy. The sauce on the carrots was so flavorful n complex. Loved the feta for saltiness n a cooling affect from the sauce. Falafel: really good. Falafel was really crunchy without being greasy, the inside was really fresh moist n flavorful. The components were good it was really acidic however felt if it was paired with humus it taste a lot better. Foiegras good but can be better. Loved the sauce thought it was flavorful but could have beens sweeter figs would have been amazing. didnt love the topping felt it took over the flavor of the richness of the foie. Another issue would love if the foie was a better quality didnt get that richness u expect from foie. Butternut squash: this was alrite felt it could be better. The squash was cooked perfectly. Was expecting more flavor from the sauce. Stuffed cabbage: this was the worst dish of the nite. Felt there was a lot of conflicting flavors that contrasted just wasnt balanced was overly seasoned n was really burnt. It was really tender though. Apricot dessert: this was amazing best dessert i ever had. The icecream was so refreshing n unique it made the dish. The hazelnut sauce was amaizing just put more. Loved the apricot it added sweetness. My only complaint was the pastry was a lil dry n hard. Rhubarb dessert: amazing dessert. Wasnt to sweet wasnt to acidic was perfect. Cake was flavorful but was really dry n dense. The rhubarb on top added texture n acidity the cream was amazing just make it fluffier something was wrong with the texture. drinks: both drinks were good, coffee is really good its a must have. read more

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Best meal I've had this year. They had a choose-your-own 4 course menu. We tried the Tehina Hummus, all of the Salatim dishes, the Carrots and Falafel Mezzo dishes, and the Lamb Kebab and Wood-roasted Cabbage. The flavors were all delicious and will definitely come back. read more

My new favorite restaurant in Chicago! Daniel my server was super friendly and helpful in deciding what I should order. The appetizer was amazing as well as the Humus with mint. The pita bread was piping hot and fresh (even smelled delicious)! The salads on the side were so yummy I was too full to eat my main course! The Turkey Shwarma was fantastic! I took home the desert ( for later)! Can't wait to come back with my family! Atmosphere was perfect as well as the music! read more

Snagged a last minute reservation for dinner. Food was very delicious. I'd recommend the brisket hummus for sure, and the option that comes with all of the dips/toppings for pita bread. Falafel was on point as well. Our waitress was nice and helpful, very attentive. Atmosphere was really cute, great spot for a date night. Definitely recommend! read more

The food is fantastic, the service outstanding and the atmosphere is warm and inviting! I loved it but wish it was also in LA!

I came here recently and shared a few things with my husband. We sat at the kitchen area and it was really fun to see everyone cooking! The food was great but a little pricey. read more

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First off, the atmosphere here is incredible! I really loved the decor and the friendly waitstaff. We ended up sitting at a counter overlooking the open kitchen, which was a lot of fun. They were great at helping us pick out a wine we would enjoy. We ended up going with the coturri which is a "funky Cab." It wasn't my absolute favorite wine, but I did like it and it definitely aligned with the type of wine I typically enjoy. To eat, we started with the salatin - pita with a taster of 5 different dips/sides. I wasn't a big fan of the cold pickled vegetables or the onion with feta. But the perfectly soft pita bread was heavenly, and I enjoyed the yogurt/oil dip. For entrees, we ordered the carrots and the shakshukah. The carrots were undoubtedly our favorite dish. The combination of the carrot, feta, and nut crumble was so unique and delicious. We also liked the shakshukah and particularly appreciated the variety of vegetables included in the sauce. However, I felt like the massive amount of herbs on top actually took away from the dish. Overall, it was a very enjoyable dining experience. While I prefer Ema/Aba for the price point, I would definitely consider coming back eventually and trying some other dishes! read more

Galit was a great dining experience, albeit a little on the more expensive side. The waiter was friendly and gave us good recommendations. Our order included a hummus, grilled asparagus, chicken thigh and and lamb kebab. The hummus and the asparagus came out first along with some freshly baked pita. The pita was probably some of the best I've ever had. The hummus was rich, yet light and the dressings added to it gave it a complex flavor profile. The asparagus was cooked perfectly and paired well with pea tendrils. Delicious! The mains arrived shortly after. I feel the portion sizes were a bit small. The chicken thigh had crispy skin and was paired with a harissa paste and wiped feta. The combination was excellent and the chicken was juicy. The lamb kebabs were interesting. They were deep fried with a mince filling and had some sauce on them which I could not figure out. Although I enjoyed it, I can see people who might not. For dessert we each got the chocolate, marshmallow and sesame cracker option. It was a bite sized dessert that really didn't have much going on for it. It wasn't bad, but compared to everything else I'd rather have gone to the Dairy Queen right outside. I might try the pre fixe menu next time. read more

We have been waiting anxiously for the opening of Galit and we were not disappointed. We have a son at Tulane in New Orleans and we have been to Shaya numerous times, where Galit's Zach Engel was a James Beard award winning chef. We arrived at 6:00 pm as we were attending a concert right across the street. This place was bustling and by the time we left there were no empty seats and this restaurant only opened 15 days ago! The decor was simple, modern and chic and there were many couples sitting and eating at the bar. The kitchen was completely open and visible to the patrons. The menu options may change from day to day as there was a comment about Passover next to the matzoh ball soup entry. Our waitress was excellent and very helpful in advising us on amount and selection of food. There were lots of vegetarian options and we easily found things that four of us could share. (They like you to order everything from start to finish at once so they can pace how they bring out your meal.) We started with the masabacha hummus which was creamy and delicious and it was served with the most fluffy amazing pita bread. That was followed by the salatim (also served with the amazing pita) The salatim consists of small little dishes (Israeli style) consisting of pickles, Brussels sprouts, labneh, etc. While they were all outstanding, the labneh was my absolute favorite. We then shared the kubaneh which was a loaf of bread that you tear with your hands. We got it with the spicy chiles (very spicy but SO good) and it also came with an egg with a yellow coating on the outside (maybe from turmeric) and this green spreadable herb mixture which I think was schug. The schug was super spicy and so good. For our main meal, we shared shakshuka, beets, falafel and the fried fish Tunisian style. Again, everything was just so good. My personal favorites: beets, Tunisian fish and shakshuka. We ended the meal by ordering every dessert on the menu(there were three). The two desserts I can remember were a tiny chocolate marshmallow treat that was very good and a pastry type dessert with what appeared to be pistachio ice cream on top?(our favorite part). If you want to try this place, you better hurry up. I think it is going to be extremely difficult to get a reservation there as everyone has already discovered this neighborhood gem! read more

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This resturant is a top tier Middle Eastern resturant in the middle of LP. The food was superb! We already booked our next res there. Must get: Mushroom hummus Steak entree Apple pie desserts read more

One of the greatest food experiences I've ever had. Middle eastern food is already exceptional for the amount of spice and flavors, and Galit makes sure to maximize that experience in the most incredible way. read more

It's a bit pricey, but oh boy it is worth it! Everything is amazing down the detail and service. You need to try Bubbes Hummus and the Halab! I would eat here every weekend if I could. read more

The tasting menu! Just wow! Everything was amazing! No pics to share but will have to go again to do so!

One of the best meals we've had in a long time. I don't say that lightly. We get out to eat...a LOT. Some are good, some are memorable - this was outstanding. I hope others don't know or hear about as I want to keep it all to myself. The place is in a great location. And when you walk in, it's warm and inviting. You feel instantly calm. We started with the brisket hummus. Chef Engel - you have forever changed my hummus needs. Simply fantastic. We also ordered: carrots: must have falafel: so light yet crispy. Even my boyfriend that doesn't eat falafel, found them irresistible! cabbage: ridiculously outstanding, spicy and flavorful fried fish: our least favorite only because it tasted a bit overcooked foie: so yummy on the bread and the cherry specks - YUM desserts: small "whoopie" pie and an almond cake. Cake was delicious. I could take or leave the chocolate bite. Our server was super helpful with navigating the menu, making sure we didn't order too much or too little. And the Sommelier made sure that I found a great wine, based on my likes/dislikes. It was a truly memorable meal. Everyone is so nice and inviting. I love going to place where they seem happy to have you, whereas other places make you feel like you are bothering them. We're already scheduled to go back with our supper club! Keep up the great work! read more

The hostess has been absolutely rude and was giving us attitude the second we walked in. She claimed the wait was 30 minutes, but we saw several empty tables. I am very disappointed by this interaction! Definitely a bad way to start out experience with this restaurant. read more

I love Shaya in New Orleans, the restaurant that sprouted this like-minded offshoot, but my experience here left something to be desired. I found the criticisms in previous reviews to be mostly fair and accurate, as with a couple of drinks each, 4 of us paid almost $200 for the trouble and we still had plenty of room in our bellies for truffle fries at our next stop. That said, the flavors here are mostly good--the brisket hummus was fantastic--but we each had just one small cube of the meat to the order. I could have eaten that all day. Instead, I got about 2 minutes of enjoyment. The shakshukah was good but it is covered in a carpet of fresh herbs that hide that sexy egg yolk, and the fact that the food itself is portioned out to a layer that is nearly as thin as the greens. The wood roasted asparagus was fine, but the Butternut Bazhe just left an impression of grey. Yep, grey. The cocktails were good to very good, and the liquid certainly helped fill us up some. One other thing that was irksome, they insisted that we order everything we wanted at once. Normally, I like to order a few things to start then see how I feel before I order some more. Had we been allowed to do that, I'd imagine that we would have had a chance to actually feel sated before we were done with our meal. Then again, I'm sure our bill would have been nearly twice as high. Maybe they saved my wallet. I'll be in New Orleans again in a few months, and I'll surely be back at the mother-ship before I wander into Galit again. That said, I wouldn't be opposed to a light snack at the bar before a concert across the street if I'm in the neighborhood. read more

Excellent excellent excellent. I've been to Shaya and Saba in New Orleans and I think this restaurant is on par - which is impressive given that they've only been open for a short time. We started with the brisket hummus - the brisket chunks were the right amount without any tract of grizzly fat. We then had the Tunisian Fried Fish which was a very welcome option compared to other high-end places like this. Tons of flavor and fried to perfection, tightly coated to the redfish / catfish. It came with 3 flavor popping sauces. Finally, we ended the night with the steak which my wife said had similar notes to 'jerk' seasoning. Well marinated and surprisingly soft for sirloin. Tip - Ask for the green hot sauce on the side as it accompanies all dishes well. Also, I had the best Pet Nat wine I've ever had here...I believe it was called Meinklang. read more

Do not attempt to go without a reservation. They will rudely turn you away despite their website saying they accept welcome walk-ins. To not even take my name and tell me 2 hours at 6:30pm on a Friday is outrageous. We would have happily waited at the bar and spent money on cocktails while waiting for someone to cancel, no show or for a table to shift. Your host stand is the first and last impression a guest will have at your establishment, I would reassess their procedures to be more welcoming. read more

Great food and a happening place. My husband and I didn't get a reservation but were able to sit at the bar. The bar tender was able to give excellent recommendations and she knew enough about the menu that she helped us decide. She knew it all!!! We had the brisket hummus which was unique and very flavorful. The hummus was some of the best I've ever had. We then had the salatin followed by the falafels and the Iraqi Halab. Everything we had was so flavorful and you can chef took time in preparing our meal. read more

4.5 Star Galit recently earned a star and we had to try it when friends are visiting out of town. Reservation was not horribly hard, maybe because we were aiming for an early dinner. We snagged a 5:15 dinner res on a Friday night couple days beforehand. Galit's menu was a choose your own adventure type of situation, so we were able to get an assortment of dishes without stressing too much on making decisions. Dinner was a 5 course setup, and we also ordered a couple non-alcoholic iced tea. The tea was great for a hot summer evening. We came as a group of 5, so we were lucky to try all of the hummus. We each got a pita bread fresh out of the oven, and we were all amazed on the quality of them. The table's favorite was for sure the Brisket hummus. Brisket was so tender and full of flavors, I have never had hummus mixed with brisket, but Galit had executed this one very well. For accompanying salads (salatim), you get all of them to share. We were given 2 of each, my favorite was no doubt the labneh. I am the biggest fan of all yogurt, and this one was no exception. It went incredibly well with the pita to offer a refreshing taste break. We also enjoyed the ezme & piyaz, it was our first time ever trying them, and we found them paired with our pita and hummus smoothly. Pickled veggies were the least liked one, it was too overly pickled that did not go well with the other dishes. For Mezze, we picked Fattoush, falafel, bone marrow, cucumber salad, and carrots. Here is the table's ranking: bone marrow = carrots, falafel, cucumber salad, then Fattoush. Bone marrow was presented as a jam for perfectly grilled bread, and carrots were grilled to be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. We never had carrots so layered in flavors! Falafel was one of the dishes that were the hype, and I do think it lived up to it- it was moist, crispy, and steaming hot. Salads were a little bit disappointing, mostly the Fattoush. It was just simply too salty for our taste, we tried one bite and could not continue. For main, or mostly over coal as stated on their menu, we chose pastrami, lobster, bass, lamb, and the turkey shawarma. They all performed well, my favorite was the bass and turkey shawarma. Bass was very tender and sitting in zucchini baba was a unique presentation. Pastrami came like a little combo with a crispy flatbread malawach & salad, we actually enjoyed the malawach more than pastrami itself. I had very high hope for the lamb. It was good with the fava beans & shiitake in a broth. Maybe I was expecting something more aromatic when taking my first bite, but it just tasted like lamb. Lobster was an extra $10 to order, but I did not find it stand out all that much. Plus the portion size was a little disappointing given it was the main dish. The mains were the part I looked forward to the most, but also found it the most underwhelming. For dessert, we tried all three granita, peaches and labneh, and chocolate tahini mousse. I really liked the granita! I imagined fancy dessert to taste, look and smell like it - pretty on the eyes, pleasant on the tongue, and you have no idea what is in it. The coconut tapioca was the perfect base, and the addition of urfa biber was so interesting that my brain could not comprehend but just sent me the signal of "this is yummy". I also enjoyed the peaches and labneh. Semifreddo's frozenness with peaches gives this dessert a melty texture. Chocolate mousse was exactly what it sounds like, but the tahini added an extra layer of profile that you don't see very often. The caramel cream was too much for us, I would much rather go with the mousse alone. Service was decent, as our plates were changed constantly between courses and water was refilled. It was a busy time, so I did not expect our server to really spend time to check in on us. Our basic needs were met so I had nothing to complain about. Overall, I think it was a wonderful & entertaining experience at a Michelin starred restaurant. Based on the value and quality of the meal, I am not necessarily eager to visit again. It's more of a "tried it and I am good" restaurant for me. I do think they will be able to keep up with their starred status, and it's a beautifully constructed dining experience. read more

Galit is a wonderful addition to the Chicago food scene which doesn't have many Israeli or Middle Eastern type cuisine restaurants at this level. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, fair warning this place is loud. Everyone around you is having the best time, talking and laughing. If you're looking for a quiet meal, look elsewhere. The kitchen restaurant is centered around the open kitchen in which you see sparks flying from the wood burning pita oven. Speaking of, you may have some of the best pita in your life here. Warm, fluffy and straight out of the oven - it's the perfect vehicle for spooning the luxurious brisket hummus and other side dishes included in the salatim. When you run out of pita, the staff will bring you another and from what I've told another until you're satiated. Don't eat too much though because you'll want to save room for the other dishes. The menu was a nice balance of traditional and modern with dishes like the stuffed cabbage (excellent flavor, a tad too salty for my palette) and the foie torchon which was a whipped foie with sour cherry jam on challah. Be generous with the foie and use the sour cherry sparingly so it doesn't overpower the foie. With the right proportions, the dish is the perfect balance of salt, fat, and acid. To balance out the carbs, we chose the carrots dish which was a lovely and bright dish with whipped feta and duqqa for a nice textured crunch. Definitely get a drink, the drink menu itself is filled with witty puns and fun to read. I recommend the "Here Lassi Lassi." We shared 6 dishes between two people and couldn't finish all of the food, 4-5 would be enough but to try everything you want, come with a group. I'd strongly recommend starting with the hummus, non-negotiable. We loved the brisket one but they all sounded equally amazing. I could've gone without the salatim, but I'm glad we tried it. I would skip the cabbage and maybe try the chicken thigh or fried fish next time. Not taking any stars off but the service wasn't the best, especially for a restaurant at that level. Our waitress seemed overwhelmed and while she checked on us frequently when we actually had our food, it took 10 minutes from when we were handed menus to when she circled back to ask about our order and another 15 minutes for her to pick up the check. read more

After a long anticipated meeting we finally got the chance to check out this restaurant. We were unable to snag reservations for Saturday night but arrived right at open and were able to easily get seated at the bar for two of us dining. Winning! Note : there was a line outside when we arrived just before open at 4:58pm. I did my research before visiting, so I had a good idea of what food my husband and I would order. Allie was not only a fantastic bartender but her service for dining was top notch. The experience she provided really set the dinner over the top. Allie expertly crafted our cocktails then provided a brief explanation of the menu and helped us decide on our food order. We had the olive oil hummus and pita, the kale tabouleh (one of the best salads I've ever had), falafels (best we've ever had and well worth the price tag) and the Shaksukah which we were told is their largest item on the menu. The food was insanely delicious and flavorful. A few other yelpers have mentioned the pitas coming out one at a time, but it should be noted the pitas are substantial and filling. We ate two between the two of us but left feeling very full. The flavors of the dishes were all incredible and seeing chef Zach in the kitchen was wonderful! What a great addition to Chicago and a place that has easily become one of our favorite restaurants in the city. Don't miss this one! read more

Nice atmosphere, great wait staff, EXCELLENT FOOD! Everything and I mean EVERYTHING was as fresh as fresh could be! Multiple flavors in every dish! Melt in your mouth pita, the best hummas you will every have bar none, falafel to die for ! We had 5 appetizers and 2 meals Lamb Chops and Steak! The flavors are amazing, the drinks are great, the service is wonderful! Don't miss this place if you like the freshest of middle eastern food read more