Love this place for lunch! The lunch specials are great and the portions are huge!…read more This is a pretty good deal. You order at the counter and then sit down. Please know that if you pay with card you pay extra fee, which I didn't know. This is a pretty big portion so I did have leftovers. For one of our lunches we upgraded to the dill rice which wasn't as different from regular rice as I wanted. But when you add sumac it's perfect! This place is bright and airy.

I needed this meal so bad. So delicious and great hospitality. This place is located on a busy…read morestreet but I was able to find street parking no problem during rush hour. When you walk in, you are brought to the dining room to your table but are instructed to order at the counter. The space is big with tons of tables. Vegetarian sampler: We got this to share. Comes with hummus, tahini sauce, falafel x2, persian salad, baba ghanoush, and dolma. Something nice to sample for the table. Everything tasted great. The falafel could've been more crispy. The platter also comes with a basket of pita bread! Combo mix grill #1: For my entree I got the mixed grill and chose both beef and lamb koubideh as my proteins. I really couldn't tell which meat was which since the meat is ground but both were super delicious otherwise. Great flavor. Got the half & half rice (basmati/dill) which is a great choice and I highly recommend. The platter also comes with red onion, a whole roasted tomato, and some butter. If you've been here before, you already know the portion sizes here are massive!!! So great for sharing!

This is a wonderful place with some great food. It's in a convenient location with its own parking…read morelot. Inside, there was one room with basic tables, and another with linen tablecloths (choose which you prefer). You order at the counter, get a number, get your own utensils and such, and they bring the food to your table. I went with some friends who got the lunch special (very good), but I couldn't resist the Spring Lamb Shank. Oh, that was so good. The lamb shank had incredible flavor, good seasoning, and tons of jus. The carrots and onions on that platter were perfectly cooked - just enough, but still with a crunch (onions) and a bite (carrots). It comes with a platter with rice (I got both kinds), hummus (could have used a bit more of that), sauce, onions, pickled turnips (perfect for balancing the richness), and bread (lavash?) that is great for making a wrap. They have very good to-go containers (it's a lot). This is a flavor-bomb and great food.

I ordered the Beef & Lamb Koubideh with dill rice. Good flavor, not dry, not juicy either. Dill…read morerice was properly cooked but wasn't particularly flavorful. Great portions. Friend's chicken kebab was a little dry. Bread and veggies were fresh and tasty. Service was good and friendly. Plenty of seating inside.

Wonderful light meal at Bereket. Warm hospitality. Quiet, casual atmosphere. The food is stunningly…read moregood. Everything is made fresh and in house. Started with freshly made bread. Was treated to the lentil soup which was smooth, not too heavy on the tomato, and a slightly minty - a delicate flavor. I had the Sampler 4. The best falafel I have ever had. The eggplant salad was smokey and a bit like baba ghanoush. The shakshuka was slightly spicy. The ezme was slightly carmel flavored. The dolma were tender and tasted of lemon and mint. My husband enjoyed the manti, small dumplings filled with ground beef. For dessert, we had a delicious cup of tea that they blend in house. And kunefe, which is made from finely ground filo with cheese in the middle, fried and topped with simple syrup and chopped pistachios. Truly outstanding. The owner and staff were attentive and kind. This has just become one of our favorite places to eat in the Loop.

I look at Turkish food as Greek food with less ocean and more land…read more Maybe that's incorrect, but it works for me. What I mean is, it's way more meat-forward, and there's usually less focus on seafood. Anyway, this place has lots of delicately spiced meat dishes, which is what I come to a Turkish place for! Service was also very good, we were able to get in-and-out on a lunch break!

Knock me over with a feather! What I thought of myself as a…read moreworldly guy, who has eaten just about everything, had my first, ever "Döner" sandwich ever! What's a "Döner" you ask? It's an incredibly popular Turkish sandwich, loved and adored in the city of Berlin, Germany of all places. Our son, visiting us here in Chicago (from New York) was taunting the virtues of this rather large and tasty sandwich and of course, the city of Chicago has a restaurant making this; just right up the street. Döner 97 on Clark Street adjacent to Lincoln Park is serving up this delicious, sloppy (in a good way) sandwich with all of the fixings. I had their Combination Döner Sandwich a combination of both beef / lamb and chicken kebab sandwich with tender, seasoned meat, fresh veggies, and flavorful sauces in warm flatbread. I really liked it. We also bought a Chicken Döner Sandwich with delicious chicken döner kebab sandwich: tender, seasoned chicken, fresh veggies, and flavorful sauces in warm flatbread. Also very good. These Döner sandwiches are huge like a massive Mexican burrito, messy like a sloppy Joe sandwich, but fun like French Fondue. Döner 97 was a first for me and I was pleasantly surprised!

My cousin Mickey and his wife, Minnie, drive from Skokie twice a month because of their love for…read morethe place. It's more fast food than dining room, even though there are tables and chairs, if you prefer. The döner sandwiches are something special. It's clear they use fresh ingredients and put a little tlc in every one they prepare. If you're into baked potato check out the build your own Kumpir. Butter drenched potato with your choice of veggies and proteins added. A meal in itself! I sampled and loved their Red Lentil soup and Bulgar dishes. The big winner this night was the Ćevapi sausages in their special flatbread. Pro Tip: consider splitting something. The portion size is impressive. If you like leftovers, ignore my tip and get two completely different dishes that you can share the next day. Actually, that's two tips in one. So Pro Tips! The cost was fairly reasonable and the waitstaff very efficient. Cousin Mickey (his name is Michael, her's is Amelia; they DID have the nicknames before meeting each other) spent two years traveling back and forth between Germany and Turkey and he claims this fare to be very authentic. 09/25

I've been meaning to try this place for months and regret not coming sooner! You already know the…read morefood will be good when you see the sign and pictures outside. I got the kabob platter and it came with a house salad, hummus, hot pita, and so much rice. The saffron in the rice really stands out and makes it taste delicious. It was served hot and I enjoyed every second of dining in. Their service was great, a little slow but thats because theyre making your food on the spot so I have not problem with it. This is my new go to place for tasty middle eastern food!

Ordered the chicken shawarma sandwich. Came in one long sandwich and its Delicious. They gave us…read moreblack tea while we waited. Restaurant was empty

This place is beyond welcoming and such a refreshing spot to eat at. The food is delicious,…read morefilling, and so affordable. It's your typical kind of ambiance for a place like this--clean but not at all sterile. A welcome quiet spot in the chaos of Wicker. Aside from the delicious, comforting food, the service is incredible. It is rare to find spots like these nowadays and I sincerely hope the CAVA heads (don't get me wrong, I love CAVA!) try this out, too. We were accidentally charged for two orders of dolma when we ordered one, but I didn't realize. The person who took the order--wearing a propellor hat, by the way (hello whimsy!)--walked over to our table to let us know and asked if we'd like a refund and apologized. This already took me by surprise, so while I was fine without it, I said "sure." Next thing I know, they walk over with still two orders of dolma and the refund. I looked for a tip jar to put it back but couldn't find one. It was such an act of kindness and generosity. The kind of small interaction that reminds you of what being human is all about. Any time I'm in Wicker, I will try and stop at this place. Reminds me so much of Bulgaria and the "" I'd always beg for as a kid. 10/10 -- please support this independent restaurant!

I got delivery from here, interesting take on middle eastern food. I go the falafel wrap, with…read morehummus, it did not come with many veggies on it, the falafel itself was quite dry and the hummus was not very flavorful. My partner got a falafel plate. He liked the meal. He also got a salad, which he reports was good. I also got some French fries with tahini and extra garlic sauce. Overall average.

Good "bang for buck" would be an understatement when describing this place. The quality of the food…read moreat Falafel & Grill is absolutely OUTSTANDING, and comes at a beyond reasonable price. As typical for a counter serve, this facility is no thrills but it's kept very clean and the service is straightforward and great. We've gone back here a few times and have never had an issues with wait time, which is impressive as it can get pretty busy with orders. We've tried both the Chicken Kabob Plate and the Kifta Kabob Plate and both were fantastic. They truly make the meat here the PERFECT tenderness - probably the softest and juiciest chicken I've had in the city!!! The hummus and falafel that the Plate meals come with are also delicious. 10000% recommend for a casual Mediterranean meal or takeout

Falafel and Grill has become a neighborhood favorite for my little family. The falafel is soft and…read morefluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Large selection of vegetarian and gluten free options on the menu. Prices are good and the food comes out quickly every time. Though it's a casual place, it's clean and pleasant inside, with a decent amount of seating. The falafel platter is where I'd start, but return to get a gyro sandwich.

The wait was worth it. We got their shawarma wrap and it was filled with flavors. There are plenty…read moreof seating inside the restaurant and three tv on the walls. They have an extensive menu you can choose from and some drink options as well. Located near United Center which is great for lunch or dinner. Adding the fire sauce makes it so good if you like that extra kick to your wrap.

Had the Crave bowl with biryani rice, babaganoush, spicy hummus, chicken kabobs, Arabic and…read moreJerusalem salads, and tahini/garlic sauce. The chicken was juicy and grilled perfectly. The babaganoush was smoky just how I like it. The rice wasn't exactly what I think of for biryani, but I liked the unique twist for a Middle Eastern bowl. Atmosphere is clean and casual. Maybe I'll try the baklava cheesecake next time.

Great spot in Chicago. The food had amazing flavors, the space was beautiful, and the overall…read moreexperience felt special without being too formal. A place I'd gladly visit again.

Ambiance was great, food was quite good, and service was good. I recommend for the ambiance…read moreespecially, since the decor is so nice!

I LOVED my meal here! Ēma (Ay-mah) brings some glamour and glitz to the Mediterranean dining scene,…read morewith an airy, elevated hotel-lobby feel that still doesn't demand a dress code. Dresscode: Smart Casual / Casual Noise Level: Medium (it gets buzzy after 5:30pm) Thursday night Happy Hour was lively, so it took about 10-15 minutes for someone to come around, but service was attentive once we got going. The food is where Ēma really shines. From the Happy Hour menu, the Charred Eggplant Hummus and Crispy Potatoes were generously portioned and great for sharing. On the main menu, the Indian-Mediterranean fusion Bhel Hummus was a party for my taste buds, while the Hot Honey Halloumi and Chicken Kefta rounded out the table nicely. The halloumi is more of a side than a main, but that sweet-and-salty hot honey combo was chef's kiss. For our finisher, the Chocolate Torte knocked us out. Decadent, delicious and chocolate with lots of depth. Overall, Ēma is an excellent spot to order a bunch of dishes for the table and get an elevated meal without feeling stuffy, and delicious without taking itself too seriously. DO's: - Make a reservation ahead, especially for happy hour 4-6pm - Treat apps like small plates, order 2-3 to sample - Entertain their wine list, they have a lot! - Bring vegetarians here, there are plenty of options DON'Ts: - Dismiss the desert menu. It's fantastic and shareable! - Forget to ask for extra pita with the hummus! - Miss out on the LettuceEats loyalty points (check-in with your server before paying your check)

Mixed feelings on this place. Really pretty decor and nice vibe, but portions have greatly…read moredecreased in the last few years. The food is good, but I don't like that the portions have gotten smaller with the price staying the same. I've added pictures to show the difference. Their spicy hummus is probably my favorite hummus I've gotten from a restaurant, but it isn't always on the menu. The Kefta kabob is always good.