my first time here and my significant others third. He came home mesmerized by the eggplant. we went there the waiter Maria was so helpful. I let her know I love crab cake and she began letting me know about the additional dishes. Now the crab cake is in my top two. my boyfriend says ABSOLUTELY. also the meatballs were delish read more

Mahari in Hyde Park welcomes you with a vibrant celebration of Afro-diaspora fusion cuisine and culture. From the moment you walk in, the hospitality is warm and inviting, while the beautifully curated décor creates an intimate, relaxed atmosphere that makes you want to settle in and enjoy the experience. I started with the Pineapple-Brined Wings, which were packed with flavor and grilled to perfection. The brining brought a noticeable depth to the chicken, while the accompanying sauce added another layer of sweetness and spice. I was thoroughly impressed. My only suggestion would be to serve grilled pineapple alongside the wings--it would complement the dish beautifully. Next came the Stuffed Plantain with Ground Spiced Beef, served over rice and peas. This dish delivered a wonderful sweet-and-savory contrast. The plantain was cooked perfectly, with just the right texture and sweetness, while the seasoned ground beef provided a savory, aromatic counterpoint. The rice and peas were equally well executed and brought the entire dish together. The Caribbean Lamb Burger was another standout. I ordered it well-done, and it arrived hearty, flavorful, and exceptionally well-seasoned. The grilled pineapple added a subtle sweetness that balanced the richness of the lamb beautifully. Each bite was savory, satisfying, and difficult to put down. I ended the evening with the Bread Pudding, which was recommended by my waitress--and I'm glad I took her advice. Served warm and beautifully presented, the pudding was rich and comforting, with layers of flavor that paired wonderfully with the sweet cream sauce. The sauce was an excellent finishing touch and brought the dessert together perfectly. My experience at Mahari was truly one to remember. There is a genuine sense of culture, creativity, hospitality, and intention behind the food and atmosphere. I'm grateful to have discovered such a remarkable restaurant and look forward to returning to see what else Mahari has to offer. read more

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- 20% gratuity on parties of 2 or more tells me they don't trust customers - they charge a fee if you cancel your reservation within 24hrs - it was quite humid inside, much like outside - waiter was slow coming to the table, despite it being slow in the restaurant, but he was cool - paper menu, I would suggest using a QR code or laminating the menus. Since it's a new restaurant they could be menu testing still, but we received a double sided menu with the same thing on both sides on 1 of the papers -/+ the HH food isn't discounted, it's just a smaller portion (1 less salmon ball, less wings) -/+ I put in the reservation that we were there for my husband's bday, the hostess acknowledged that, but they didn't do anything special. No free dessert or anything -/+ $7 for a lemonade (I didn't order it). Is it fresh squeezed with ginger or something? That's expensive. + food was amazing + the stuffed plantain is why you go eat at restaurants (to eat food diff than what you make at home). I'm so glad I ordered this! + Brussels were crispy and flavorful + portions were great + BEAUTIFUL interior, although a bit small. I saw a woman store her double stroller outside + 10% discount if you went to the Obama presidential center + outdoor seating read more

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We visited this incredible restaurant right after our mind-boggling visit to the Obama Presidential Center. This restaurant offers a 10% discount upon proof of entry at the museum. We ate outside and the food was fabulous! Service was superb and I enjoyed the Citrus Salad with salmon and my wife got the linguini. We also ordered the naan bread. What an amazing feast we shared with absolutely no food complaints! The portions were generous and we left more than full! We give this a very high recommendation and it makes a perfect compliment to an Obama Center! read more

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Wonderful experience! Let's put that out there first. Wanted to treat hubby to dinner and I recently saw a YouTube video from a food blogger give a positive review about this place so on 6/21/26 we went. We thought it would be empty due to the inclement weather. NOPE! Full house! You walk in and the colors and decor are very inviting to make you feel like you are in Africa. Staff that checked us in were friendly. Our waitress Ivory was a sweetheart, very helpful and kind. Started off by ordering the house lemonade which was good. Hubby had an alcohol drink which he thought was okay, wanted it to be more sweet. We were deciding what to order - many things were sold out. I ordered the Jollof platter with steak - even though they were out of jollof rice, they substituted with rice and beans. I ate everything, it was good - steak I wanted more as it was tender and the sauce on top was yummy. I will admit, it didn't make me entirely full but that maybe because I love healthy portions of food. Hubby got the Rah-Sta Pasta with the addition of shrimp. We waited for our food to come out. Food was flavorful and good. I loved hubby's pasta and wished I had gotten that - the cream sauce is marvelous in that dish. Our waitress Ivory recommended the bread pudding for dessert. I told her I'm picky when it comes to that particular dessert. She assured me it's good and she was right. It was delicious, moist and came out warm with a wonderful creamy sauce on top of it. Practically all the staff came to talk to us to either say hi or wishing us a good experience. That in itself had me because most establishments need to have staff be more guest attentive. We even got to meet the Assistant General Manager who personally came over to talk with us and ask us how our experience was going. Doing that has me giving major cool points, do you hear me? All in all, a great time. There was a famous politician in the house that night also. We were there to luckily get to see their staff entertainment which we loved (see video). Even the Assistant General Manager was a part of it! Definitely will be back. A+++ in our books and highly recommend. Thank you Mahari for a wonderful experience. read more

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I love when the sheer amount of times you've heard about a restaurant almost forces you to go check it out. Mahari was one of those places for me. It's a nice, intimate spot in the HP Shopping Center and it's beautifully decorated! I decided to get the jollof rice platter so I could try multiple things and it was so good. The steak was well-seasoned, the plantains were nice and sweet, and oh boy, the jollof was everything I wanted. The desserts were simple with the bread pudding taking first place. We'll be back because I hear the brunch is good too! read more

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Overall excellent service and experience. We came here on a Friday was seated immediately. Love how they explained the decor of the restaurant. They are super intentional with everything. The food was good. I am not really a lamb person but it was good love the pineapple it compliments the burger. The pineapple wings were so delicious and cooked perfectly. The joloff rice was good but temperature was on the cold side. The cocktails were terrible definitely not spirit forward. I dont know if the bartender doesn't follow the recipes or what. We also had the key lime pie 10/10. Overall I definitely recommend and would go back. read more

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I LOVE THIS PLACE! Came here during restaurant week with my cousins and was blown away. The food had a blend of flavors, nothing tasted like what you've eaten before. The service was great and was accommodating of my tree nut allergy. The restaurant is very nice and they even had a band that came around and played music. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Great ambiance, creative dishes and tasty sauces best describes Mahari. We enjoyed the eclectic vibe, cozy atmosphere and friendly service! Overall, we enjoyed our entrées; however, found the salmon/rice fritter entrée lacked salmon, and one of the chicken wings was slightly undercooked, in the chicken wings entrée, although the flavors were great! We also tried the jerk veggies and plantains, yucca fries and berbere honey naan, both delicious! We may revisit and try their dinner menu if in the area and found lunch prices were reasonable for an upscale Hyde Park restaurant. Gratuity is automatically added to your bill for 2 or more dining guests, and free parking is conveniently available in the adjacent parking lot. read more

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I went to Mahari on a weekend to try out one of the new restaurants in Chicago! It fairly surprised me, the food was delicious and the service absolutely top-notch. Our server was also one of the co-owners of the restaurant and she explained that Mahari was a family owned business and this is their attempt to bring in Jamaican culinary culture to Chicago. For food my friend and I ordered mushroom satay to share along with yuca fries and we ordered a stuffed plantain and lamb burger. Everything that we ordered was absolutely delicious. The mushroom satay along with the dressing was my fav! We ordered spiced tea to complement our food and it was a good choice. I'm not usually in the Hyde park neighborhood so this was a refreshing change for me. I'll recommend this place for the warmth of people and good food! The only thing that I did not like was an automatic gratuity of 20% added to our bill for a table for 2. Like that makes no sense! read more

Mahari - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Between the food, the vibe, and the energy, Mahari definitely delivers. The Pineapple Wings were crispy with a sweet & tangy heat And the Lamb Burger was.Juicy, flavorful, and unforgettable The stuffed plantains were too spicy for my liking but if you like heat, these are for you Don't skip this one when you're in Chicago! read more

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I was introduced to Mahari on Tik Tok and it def peaked our interest. We visited on a Sunday night. Surprising parking wasn't hard to find at all. Which is rare for Hyde park. I'd never been to this little cove of businesses. We had a warm greeting at the door. Walking inside I felt like I was at a Rich Aunties house. IYKYK. Super warm decor with hints of culture all around. The food overall was good. We started with the pineapple wings. They had a balanced flavor. The amount of protein was a bit disappointing for the price. We received 5 winglettes for $18. Even with the sauce and fresh fruit.... At least up it to 6 pieces to equate 3 whole wings. The steak from the platter appeared to be a skirt steak or a similar cut. It was seared pieces. The jollof was good and not too spicy AT ALL. I'd get the dish again. The Pollo and beans... beans were great... I want to try and make mine like that. The chicken was charred toooooo much. A large portion of the skin was too burnt to eat. Again, the amount of protein didn't match the cost. Although it was a hearty thigh. It was just one thigh with the meal, I feel a 1/4 chicken would be better received the price point. For dessert we ordered the sorbet snd the key lime pie. The sorbet was good! Not too sweet at all and pinch of kick. The keylime pie was RICH Our waitress Ivory was super kind and very knowledgeable. Overall - Will I visit Mahari again? Yes, most definitely...that Rasta Pasta is next on my list....but so far I'd pass on the chicken dishes. read more

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Food was pretty good but this place is far from fault. Service is extremely slow & the prices are high to say the least. Almost every dish has an aspect to it & albeit me having children with me the staff didn't warn us. I'd be prepared to spend $100 pp when drinking. Flavors are somewhat exotic but not so much that people will be turned away. read more

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I'm so glad we tried Mahari! The atmosphere felt familiar and welcoming. The aroma of incense floated throughout and the smiles and kindness also per rated the building. Victoria took our drink order and we got the Maharita and a Spiced Pear Sidecar. I will day that cocktails were decent but definitely not the highlight of the night. Louisa was our server and we ordered the pineapple wings and they were piping hot and well balanced. The pineapple was not over powering at all. We also had the jollof platter with salmon and the house salad with salmon. I feel like a few items were missing from the salad but it was still bright and filling. The platter was on point as well. We finished with a key lime cheesecake that was the perfect touch of sweetness and creaminess. Overall The food was great and the service was immaculate. I'd definitely check them out again and they give a 10% discount if you visit after touring the Obama Presidential Library, which we did of course. read more

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We tried this place for our wedding anniversary as we wanted to try a cuisine new to us. We made a reservation ahead in time and we were greeted with a warm smile at the entrance and the hostess wished us a happy anniversary. Our server was also very sweet, educated us about the cuisine and helped us choose our order based on our preferences. Looking around, there were a few African couples and families dining there which assured us that the food is liked by the people who know the cuisine well. I did however feel that the food was a bit on the pricier side. All in all it was a good experience and we were happy with the food and the service. I cannot say with high confidence that we will return, primarily because we live quite a distance away. read more

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My Mahari experience was unbelievable! Prior to visiting, I had heard nothing about this establishment, but my buddy wanted to try it during Black Restaurant Week. Every employee in that space gave us a smile from the moment we walked in. We were seated quickly upon entry; the place isn't big but the layout is a pleasant vibe. For those who just want adult beverages, they have a small bar area in the back, but we stuck to the dining room for this trip. For restaurant week Mahari offered a 3-course deal for $60. Every dish that touched my mouth was phenomenal. My starter was the naan; I didn't know naan could be savory, but they drizzled it with something (honey?) and it was ridiculously tasty. Next was the mushroom satay (solid) and the main course was the steak jollof (super tasty.) For dessert I had the bread pudding, and I'm still dreaming that tasty moistness. I washed this down with two drinks: the first was the afrodisiac (soooo good) and the next was a edelberry infused beverage (not bad.) As an FYI - my homie tried the okra, and that was the best okra I've ever had (and I didn't usually care for it.) Another thing I tried was this fried salmon ball dish... It was super good Listen when I was done, I was so full that I could barely move. A member of the staff came over and mentioned that when you order a la carte the portions are a tad bigger. At that point I cried tears of joy, because it ensured my return visit. Highly recommend. read more

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First impression are very important and when I arrived there was no greeter at the front and therefore I waited 15 mins for someone to come and seat me. I also call the phone and no one answered. However once seated things ran smoother and more pleasant. The food was very yummy, flavorful & fulfilling. Great vegan options. My favorite was the rice and peas. I could eat an entire bowl by itself. Very relaxing ambiance and I love the Afro beats music playing in the background. If you are in the city and you're visiting, please stop by and enjoy this awesome restaurant hopefully one day they'll move to Dallas Texas. read more

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I will not recommend this place, the service is very bad. The drinks were very sweet. The steak wasn't cooked well my friend chicken came out cold and I cannot reiterate how slow the service was. read more

I had been trying to dine here since they opened (had to cancel 3 previous reservations). I finally was able to dine here when I took my cousin to lunch for his birthday in March. One word review....... EXCELLENT!!!! The service: Excellent! The atmosphere: Excellent! The owners: Excellent! The culture: Excellent! The education: Excellent The art: Excellent! Last, but NEVER LEAST.... The FOOD: Excellent! I can't wait to try their Brunch and Dinner menus! I 100% recommend Mahari and would give it more stars if I could.... and I will be back! EXCELLENT! read more

The best thing about this restaurant was the decor and the company I brought with me because the food here was just alright. I asked the waitress to recommend something and when she did I asked her why she was recommending it and she didn't seem too well versed on the menu so I ordered what she told me was the most popular item. Sorrel juice was lovely. I had the jollof platter with steak. The jollof rice was a bit too firm/overcooked for me (coming from a person who ate jollof rice for 7 years straight from actual West African recipes). The steak was nice and the sauce that came with it was also quite nice. The salad that came with it was so generic it tasted like lettuce out of a bag with store-bought bottled salad dressing sprinkled on top. Nothing fancy about that salad at all, which was okay, but could have been less generic. Plantains were nice, though. My food came out significantly later than the rest of my party of 4 and one of them had the same thing I did. My experience here was just okay. The thing that put a bad taste in my mouth is after we walked in and sat down, someone immediately took our water requests, then we had a new waitress come shortly after and she began to take our drink orders. But that wasn't the issue; the problem for me is that after the woman who took our water orders first tried to inform her coworker that she had already taken our orders. Then the waitress brushed her off and said to us "I don't know what she was talking about". I had to tell her that she was probably trying to communicate that she already took our requests. But why dismiss your coworker and not try to hear what she was saying to you when it most likely had to do with the guests you are serving? I'm a guest and we already told them we had visitors from out of the country and I hadn't explored the Chicago dinner scene in Hyde Park for over a decade-- why she tampered with my experience with coworker drama, I don't know. It was unprofessional to me. I don't think I'll be back for anything other than the Sorrell juice and plantains and maybe if I could have it at the bar so I don't have to deal with staff drama, lol. read more

Mahari - Jollof platter with steak - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Update on Mahari...went solo this time and it was a whole vibe. I sat at the bar and had an amazing experience again. The bartenders were great, especially Kenzie she was attentive, friendly, and clearly knows what she's doing. I wasn't even planning to drink, but she made me a Sidecar that was so good I ended up ordering two. One of the best I've had. They also brought out a special dish that isn't on the regular menu, and I need them to add it permanently. It had a coconut, curry-like undertone with peppers and red snapper (though it almost gave salmon vibes), topped with crispy onions. Every single bite was divine...easily one of the best dishes I've had there. I even ended up chatting with someone else at the bar, and the whole atmosphere was just easy, warm, and fun. The team does their signature drum performance and toast, and the owners are always welcoming. This was my second visit...the lamb burger was great before, but this special dish topped everything. Highly recommend checking out Mahari. When they have specials, go. You won't regret it. read more

Mahari - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I wanted to enjoy this place. I really did. Let me start with the positive: our waitress was EVERYTHING. She was polite, attentive, patient, and honestly the only reason this review isn't even worse. Now...let's get into it. I came with friends, and apparently this establishment automatically adds a 20% gratuity to parties of TWO or more. So unless you're dining alone, you're paying gratuity? Interesting choice. We sat down, met our amazing waitress, and she walked us through the menu and gave recommendations. I ordered the Seafood Étouffée, a side of beef bacon (don't judge me ), and a mango mimosa. That's when the Hunger Games began. First, there was no beef bacon. Would I like chicken sausage instead? Sure. Then...there was no Seafood Étouffée. They handed me a brand-new menu with it removed. (Their menus are printed on legal-size printer paper, so I guess updating them is easy.) Unfortunately, nothing else really appealed to me, so I settled for an omelet. You think we're done? Absolutely not. Then they informed me they were out of mango for my mimosa. Would guava work? So...I ended up with NONE of the items I originally ordered. At this point, I figured a manager or owner would stop by with the standard, "We're so sorry," maybe offer a dessert or something. Nope. Not a soul. And that was just my order. One of my friends ordered a mojito. You know...the drink with a few fresh mint leaves? Baby... They brought out what looked like swamp water. There was practically a half-bundle of mint--stems and all--floating in the glass, with some of the stems already turning black. She sent it back. Still no manager. While we waited for our food, another server randomly dropped off a plate of chicken sausage links (the menu says patties) and walked away. The three of us just stared at each other. "...Whose are these?" Since none of our food had arrived, we decided to leave them sitting there. A few minutes later, our wonderful waitress came over, apologized, and took them back so they could be served with the meals. Which leads me to another issue... Apparently, someone missed the memo that a table's food should generally arrive together. Now here's where things really went left. Both of my friends ordered the French Toast Flambé. Based on the menu, it sounded amazing. Huge slices of bread arrived... But apparently the flambé happened somewhere in another zip code because there was zero presentation. One friend took a bite and immediately asked, "Why is my French toast spicy?" The other friend tasted hers. Same thing. I tried it too. Clear as day... Cayenne pepper. On French toast. I'm not exaggerating. Back it went. Still... No manager. One friend had eggs with her meal. Our waitress had already asked whether she wanted the eggs immediately or with the corrected French toast, and she chose to wait. Then another server walked over and asked... "...Do you want your eggs now or with your food?" Our waitress looked confused and said, "I already asked them that." The server replied, "I just wanted to make sure." Girl... What? It turned into a small disagreement right at our table. Completely unprofessional. At that point, one of my friends gave up and canceled her French toast altogether. Eventually, the replacement French toast came out... And THIS TIME it arrived with the actual flambé presentation. Which naturally made us wonder... Why wasn't it done correctly the first time? Eventually, we all ate our lukewarm food and focused on enjoying each other's company. The manager? The owner? Still nowhere to be found. Then the check arrived. Not a single item was discounted. No complimentary dessert. No apology. Nothing. They charged us for everything... Including that automatic 20% gratuity. I don't know if this is a new restaurant or if they were just having an exceptionally bad day, but they have A LOT of room for improvement. The waitress deserves her flowers because she handled a situation she didn't create with grace and professionalism. Unfortunately, great service from one employee couldn't overcome everything else we experienced. 0/10. We won't be returning, and I can't recommend it. read more

Yesterday, 7-12-26, I made a 9:00 p.m. reservation. Arrived to restaurant at 8:30. After some scrambling, the hostess said, "The kitchen is closed, but you are free to sit at the bar for drinks." They close at 11:00 p.m. according to their website. Everything was very matter of fact with no apparent regard for a major blunder on their end. This is my 2nd disappointment with Mahari. I stuck around to allow them to work through the kinks often associated with a new business. I am done. read more

Mahari - Hyde Park, Chicago (4/10/26) 3.5/5 (7.1/10) The food at Mahari was the highlight--bold, layered flavors that kept building with each dish. You can tell there's real creativity coming out of the kitchen. Unfortunately, the service didn't match the quality of the food. On a busy Friday night, it felt like the staff was overwhelmed. Long waits for both food and drinks, little to no communication, and basic things like water refills were completely missed. One of the waitresses, Ashley, did try to step in and improve the experience, which was appreciated--but by then, the overall experience had already taken a hit. Hoping this was just an off night, because the food alone makes this place worth another shot. read more

Mahari - Menu - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First off the small family restaurant vibe was awesome!! It's always a good sign when the staff can tell you their favs in detail. As the daughter of a Southern woman from Louisiana the food here absolutely appealed to my palate. Etoufee of any kind is usually delicious but their Seafood Etoufee has now became one of my favorites. Highly recommend! read more

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OMG! I have to start with the service. Chifea was a dream--so helpful describing every dish. My mouth watered as she spoke so passionately about the all of the homemade Cajun/Haitian inspired dishes. We shared the Bayou Garden Omelette and French Toast Flambé. The spiced honey paired perfectly with the caramelized plantain. Can't wait to come back to try the Lamb Burger! read more

Mahari - Brunch - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My first impression walking in was cute decor and quaint. I suggest reservations due to no waiting area if you walk in. The music selection was spot on but very loud so it made everyone else talk louder. My friend and I shared plates one of us ordered the seafood etouffee with chicken sausage and the other ordered the platter with steak. The presentation of the food was perfect. The etouffee had good flavor but it was more of a gumbo/soup. I'm used to etouffee being in a thicker sauce similar to jambalaya. The platter with medium well steak came out cooked to perfection and tender, unfortunately it was lacking flavor. There was also salmon on my dish about 2oz. I ate a small piece and when I went to cut into the middle I noticed it was not cooked all the way. I informed the owner Lisa and showed her, no type of compensation. They also add a 20% gratuity to parties of 2+. read more

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Mahari is a Kenyan restaurant serving African fusion items. I came in with a group of friends and were seated quickly. The menu has items inspired from foods all around the continent and you could tell the chef was well versed in all the different flavors. Everything we had was amazing. 10/10 for everything we had. The food took a little while to come out but overall the vibes were good and the music was good. The chef ended up coming to our table and introduced himself and asked our opinions of everything we had. He listened to everything we had to say and even brought out dessert for us on the house. Needless to say, we will definitely be back! read more

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I highly recommend mahari one of the newer restaurants in Hyde park. Bringing a fusion of African flavors under one menu. It is a wonderful and we got excellent service from when we walked in, to the wait staff, and when we left. It's a great blend of soul food, creole, Caribbean, while blending fine dining techniques. Joloff platter was delicious it comes with your choice of protein, rice, Mann bread, and plantains. A great dish with excellent flavor I really loved the plantains. I also tried the rah-Sta pasta. It had some unique flavors to it in the coconut cream sauce. This was a great culinary experience and they also make great and unique drinks. This is a wonderful neighborhood spot in the Hyde park area featuring an overall great menu with a great dining experience. read more

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So glad Mahari has come to Hyde park! We get take out- one day soon I hope to dine in. It's always been easy to order and wait for food. The staff are all wonderful. The food is divinity. I can still taste the sweet-savory-slight kick spiciness of the food. The bread pudding is a must try. Must. There's so much on the menu for people with different preferences. There's really something for everyone! Writing this review makes me want to go back pronto. See you soon Mahari :) read more

Mahari - Bread pudding - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have dined at Mahari at least five times, and the food is always phenomenal. The drinks are pricey but they are also strong and really good. On very busy evenings, the service can be slow. But, again, the food is fantastic and the decor is gorgeous. Also, regardless of speed, the service has been friendly every time I've been there. Mahari is a great addition to the neighborhood and I really hope it sticks around for a long time. read more

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A lively, cheerful spot that was nearly packed with two rounds of customers -- one for happy hour and another for dinner -- and I am always happy to see that in Hyde Park. The drinks were stiff (I had some sort of tasty mezcal concoction, the "maharita"), but the food was more even. There was some nice flavor in the beans, but a lot of other things (pineapple wings, chicken, etc.) could use some more depth. Still, a bustling and seemingly successful restaurant adding a new option to Hyde Park dining is always welcome. read more

The atmosphere and service were impeccable. I wasn't able to try the jollof rice the day I went and the dish I had was just okay. I'll go back again to see if I can get my hands and taste buds on their jollof to turn my maybe into a yes I'd recommend. read more

Mahari - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Where do I begin? When you make a reservation here, you have to provide a credit card in case of no-shows or cancellations. While I was out on a Wednesday night, I noticed a $75 charge from the restaurant. I called several times and left a message, then followed up with an email to Hanae (Director of Operations). She responded quickly, refunded the charge, and even came to our table that night to introduce herself and give me a hug. That gesture stood out and was truly appreciated. When we arrived, the restaurant was fairly empty. The male host with braids acted as if we had seating options, but when we requested not to sit by the door--which was wide open and letting in pollen--he made it seem like we couldn't be accommodated, even though we pointed to a similar table away from the draft. Two of us have bad allergies, so this was important. He also told us the left side of the restaurant was closed, yet not long after, we saw another group seated exactly there. That felt off--strike two. Our server was wonderful--attentive and warm. However, it was uncomfortable to keep noticing the host staring at us and whispering. We dine out often, and this was definitely an odd vibe. On the plus side, the drinks were strong (how we like them!) and delicious. My friends enjoyed the sambusas, and I had the lamb burger. It had a nice flavor, though the sauces leaned on the sweeter side. Also note: they add a 20% gratuity for parties of two or more. Free parking is always a bonus in the city. There were definitely highs and lows--customer service from management was top-tier, but the front-of-house energy left something to be desired. read more

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Mahari was an absolute experience! From the warm and beautiful welcome from the GM (we felt so seen) to our amazing server all the way to Chef Ra'Hiim stopping by the table, it was a whole vibe and I'm so happy that's where we chose to dine. Now the food!! Oh my goodness we started with the pineapple wings, absolutely delicious! They are generous with the portion, and the wings are a good size. Then my drink, the Aphrodisiac was so good I needed seconds. And finally my meal, the Mahari platter with steak, mouthwatering, amazing flavor, the plantains amazing and the naan oh my goodness delicious. And dessert was the banana pudding, and we had to summon the chef again just to tell him personally it was to die for!! Then in the middle of dining a celebratory drum and march through the restaurant by the staff, solidified that Mahari is that place!! I will be back again and again. It's my new favorite!! Oh and it's so cute in there read more

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This is a really cool spot to go to the vibes are great and it is in Hyde Park so a really cute neighborhood spot to go to if you want to get the same downtown field but stay local. They do have a lot of food that is spicy so be aware of that as well as if you have a coconut allergy, I have a coconut allergy but they do offer modifications. It can get really packed so I definitely recommend making a reservation and yeah, I think overall the great experience I wish the bar was a tiny bit bigger but only just because that's how great the atmosphere is and the ambience is. read more

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Perfect restaurant. Great food and cocktails, thoughtful decor (much of which was made by local artists), fabulous wait staff, and many caring touches. I love going somewhere I can taste something totally new to me-- this was that place. read more

Ambiance is quaint, colorful and charming. I knew nothing about this place nor its reputation so I approached with an open mind. It was a Sunday afternoon and the menu looked like breakfast/brunch. I was a bit shocked at the prices! Shrimp & grits was $44! I ordered scrambled eggs with chicken sausage and "potatoes"... if they had coffee I didn't notice that, but I got a glass of wine... no menu to indicate choices but I was told they'd see what they had. The eggs were well prepared and that's where it ends. The chicken sausage was more reminiscent of polish sausage and the potatoes were small roasted potatoes that rolled off the plate when he set it down... tasteless. Don't see any "Kenyan" influence in this plate. Perhaps brunch isn't their strength, debatable if I'll return to try dinner... it's lacking cohesion and not a particularly comfortable place... no waiting area yet there's a hostess station for just a handful of tables. Doesn't live up to its pricing, sorry! read more

This was my second time visiting this establishment, and unfortunately, this experience was nothing short of horrible. The wait time for our food was extremely long. Other guests who arrived after us received both their food and drinks before we did. When my order finally arrived, it was incorrect, which required me to wait even longer for the correct order. At some point, we were approached by someone I assumed was a manager, who asked how our visit was going. We provided honest feedback about our experience, and she advised us that she would have something taken off of our bill. However, when I received the bill, nothing had been removed. When I questioned the waitress, she explained that because someone in our party had requested Brussels sprouts, they decided to provide the Brussels sprouts instead of taking anything off the bill. What made the experience even more disappointing was that one of my guests ordered water, and we waited more than 15 minutes to receive it. Meanwhile, we watched as a bowl of water was promptly brought out for a dog at another table. While I understand that pets are welcomed, it was frustrating to see a dog receive water before a paying guest who had been waiting for over 15 minutes. Overall, the service was extremely disappointing, the communication was poor, my order was incorrect, and the resolution that was promised was not honored. As a returning customer, I expected much better service. Based on this experience, I would seriously reconsider returning and would not feel comfortable recommending this establishment to others. read more

Mahari has a beautiful ambiance and smells pleasant. Mocktails and Cocktails are good. I would have liked to rate it higher, but due to the lack of communication, wait time, and the shift in energy at the end of my dining experience, I have to give a low rating. My husband and I were greeted and seated quickly. We had a reservation. Our waitress introduced herself and gave us menus and water. We ordered our food and drinks. We both had a Mahari Safari Platter (chicken for my husband and steak for me); my husband had the Spice Route Tea, and I had the Monhattan. We waited longer than expected for our drinks and meal. Our waitress never came back to update us. One of the owners checked in because she noticed we were waiting. She gave us an ETA for the meal and drinks. She even brought them to us. My steak was fatty but tasty, and the portion compared to the chicken was small. These platters are $32; they should be more robust in protein. The chicken was tasty but a little dry. The salad, rice, plantain, and naan were tasty and very good. As mentioned before, drinks were good. I ordered the ginger sorbet to go, and I was told by the waitress it didn't travel well, which was fine because I planned to eat it in the car. Our parking time was almost up, and we had no reason to extend. After 15 minutes, no sorbet; we were told it was being prepared when we asked why the wait. We assumed it was being made from scratch. I went to the restroom and came back; my husband was at the host station, and he informed me management told him no it didn't need to be made; someone just needed to go down to scoop it, and it would be out shortly. The manager offered to walk it to the car, but that wasn't really satisfactory for us because no one came to us with an update. It was like once we paid, the generosity ended. In total, we waited about 30 minutes. I asked my husband to have it refunded, but even that request was met with a lack of communication. The owner came with another waitress with the sorbet and finally said she had already refunded it. It would have been nice to know that, as we were ignored. I declined the sorbet because it really made our experience uncomfortable. I can't see us ever returning, but we want the establishment to continue to improve, so a review seems necessary read more

Mahari - Monhattan - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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