Very cozy and intimate for our party of 4. They have some cool booths that sort of sink into the walls with back lighting in the walls themselves which was cool. The food was quite tasty too - no complaints from anyone in our group. I would say the only reason it didn't make a fifth star was the service, which I would describe as merely adequate. They weren't overly attentive and at one point I waited for a while to get an opportunity for a second drink. But the food and atmosphere made up for quite a bit of the lackluster service. read more

In the heart of the overcomercialized jungle that is Michigan Ave, it is refreshing to find good food that is not from a chain restaurant. This place is excellent. The food is authentic and delicious and the atmosphere is welcoming. I am a big fan of kibbeh and grape leaves. Both were excellent. read more

The food here was divine. We couldn't have asked for a better meal, more stellar service, or a more welcoming environment for a long early-evening dinner. The vegetarian options I tried were delicious, and my husband's kibbeh was just like his Lebanese uncle used to make on the holidays - both of us were incredibly pleased with our experience and will return as soon as we're able. read more

Love the ambience and food. The prices are slightly on the higher side. Their appetizers and kabobs are very good. I have been here a couple of times. On our last visit my husband ordered a lamb entrée and they gave him beef instead. He realized after he had a few bites. He told our server that they gave him the wrong entrée and they didn't do anything about it. Entrée and appetizer portions are also small. read more

I've never eaten here but the place is definitely a hole in the wall. If you dont pay attention you will completely walk by it, without knowing it. I've been here on two occasions for parties where the crowd is very diverse and they host different ethnic events. read more

Hospital cafeteria food took a wrong turn and landed at Sayat Nova. We sat for about ten minutes before our server realized we where about to get up and leave. There was one other table in the place. He half heartedly apologized. I can say he was nice but more of an order taker than a server. We ordered three glasses of wine and three entrees. Half way through we stopped eating and took a look around. The clientele, was older Gold coast. We realized the place has been around so long thanks to people with out taste buds. We told the server it was bland city and asked for the check. No effort was made to recover our experience. Save your self and saya No ! read more

We have eaten here a couple of times and I really like it. Everything we have tried has been really tasty. I have eaten at plenty of Armenian restaurants in So. Cal. and this one definitely holds it's own (despite being one of the few or only Armenian restaurants). The Lamajoun is really good, tabbouleh, shish kabob and lula kabob are also super tasty! If you are partial to spicy food ask for some hot sauce- it is amazing! Most of the stuff will be familiar to Middle Eastern food fans but is served with an Armenian twist. The wine list is nice and full of affordable bottles. The service has been good- maybe a little awkward since we have been in early when it is not crowded and the staff tend to cluster around the bar and gossip a bit... Also, the new facade makes the restaurant much more approachable and shows off the cozy interior. For great fun- come in on a night when the weather is terrible. You too may get to witness some of the less worldly tourists from across the street looking at the menu in confusion and demanding cheeseburgers or some "normal" food -also claiming that the other restaurants down the block, specializing in cheeseburgers) are too far......Kudos to the server for handling those wretches with grace, dignity and the patience of a saint! read more

Not my favorite. Lackluster flavors and options. Wouldn't go back here to eat. Nice ambiance though--would be a nice place for a drink.

Whatever greatness this place once had is now sadly lost. Still not bad but I really can't recommend it with so many other better options nearby. read more

Went to Sayat Nova with a group of people for dinner last night. The meal was very pleasurable, but by no means did it blow me away. Starting with a Mezze sampler is definitely a good call - we picked Hummus, Baba, and Labneh (a sort of yogurty dip with mint), served with grilled pita. This was probably my personal highlight - the bread is relatively fresh, and the mezze are all great. Most of us sampled the Armenian combo, which has nice variety; the plate has Sarma (grape leaves stuffed with ground beef in garlic sauce), boereg (phyllo puff pastry with cheese), kufta (Armenian meatball in a yogurt sauce), and eggplant. The selections are hit and miss; sarma is the star, as the sauceis actually light as advertised, and the filling is sumptuous. Kufta is alright; flavorful, but cooked half to death and served with way too much sauce. The eggplant is also filled with overcooked yet interestingly spiced meat; boot I couldn't really tell what I was eating while eating it. For me, the boereg completely bombs - the filling is way too liquidy, and the crust component is too thick. Not nearly as good as the Lebanese/Israeli borekha that I'm used to. Pricing is a little steep (entrees bottom out at $16) for ethnic food, but hey, it's in Streeterville. Service is very pleasant. All in all, Sayat Nova offers a pleasant meal and easily accommodates groups. I'd definitely come back, but it wouldn't be on the tip of my tongue for recommendations to others. read more

Very good from start to finish. Tasty dinner salad. Trout special was light and tasty. Grilled vegetables substituted for rice--a good and healthy choice. Phyllo dough desert a great ending. read more

Fun restaurant. Nice atmosphere - staff looked uninterested, especially the owner. Food was delicious but the way it was presented on the plate and served looked sloppy. Good place to hang out with friends for something different and drinks. But not where I go for quiet indulgence. read more

Armenian coffee is my new favorite thing. I have energy for days after one of those little cups. Food was delicious and interesting, and portions were generous. read more

Not the best. Food is about 2 and a half stars. My buddy asked for a corona, and they brought him a mixed drink. Looked at the waitress and said "is this a corona?!" She goes "yep! That's a corona!" Lol. It was not even beer! I had the Armenian Combo. It was good enough to finish but kind of meh. The lentil soup tasted like it was made of chicken broth and it was watery. Nothing here that would make me want to return. Well except we were seated in 5 minutes at 10 PM on a Friday night. Much better than a 1-2 hour wait every where else. read more

I've never had Armenian food before, so I can't really comment to its authenticity. However, I was really surprised with how good the food was! I came in with a party of 4 on a Friday night without a reservation. The restaurant was lively but we were still seated right away (+1!). We started with an appetizer sampler - hummus, babaganoosh, and Armenian spinach. None of it was really mind-blowing or the best I've ever had. I would also say to skip the Armenian spinach next time. However, the best part of the meal had to be the shish kebab (lamb) and the sautéed shrimp. We also ordered chicken kebab which tastes the same wherever you go, I'd assume. The rice was seasoned to perfectly. Buttery, garlicky, and just so addictive. I would totally recommend the sautéed shrimp (the only detraction being that only 4 pieces of shrimp came with it), and the lamb kebab which was soft and tender, and so flavorful. I would totally come back! read more

I saw this place on Check Please a while back and was in the neighborhood so stopped in for dinner. For an appetizer, I had philo wrapped cheese, which was good. I was a little disappointed in my kabob though. I had the veggie kabob but I thought it was a pretty bland. And the the vegetables were not cooked through (mostly the onions and I hate raw onions). I remember the Check Please people raved about this place so I was a little disappointed. I would probably go back but would get something different. read more

Good food. Friendly service. Come when you have plenty of time.

Lovely, romantic atmosphere, with cozy booth alcoves. Stopped in for lunch and the portions were perfect. Tried the kibbe, shwarma, shish kabob, baba and hummus. All fresh, tender and tasty. read more

Charming and yummy. We will come back. Great food, good service, and warm, inviting atmosphere.

YUM! Can I say amazing and reminds me of my mother's cooking? Warm, friendly, and family like atmosphere. I had a beautiful glass of sancere and enjoyed my beef shawarma. This is a must have in the city especially for Armenian food. read more

The Armenian food here is just wonderful. I miss this now that I am in Phoenix AZ. The menu is very distinct Armenian.

How is it possible that I have never written a review for Sayet Nova??? MY family has literally been coming here for three decades. It's my mother's favorite restaurant and she has lived all over the world. I have never had a bad time here, ever. I love the ambiance, the family-ownership, the intimacy, the deliciously authentic food and the exemplary service. Favorite dishes include hummus (I make my own, Lebanese style, and this rivals it), the amazing lentil soup, shrimp kebabs and the truly thoughtful wine selections. For dessert, try the custard. It's a bit like flan, but better. And don't miss the mint tea! If you are a meat eater, which I am not, I have heard only good things about the lamb. I'm very thankful that in a world of crappy chains and rising rents, Sayet Nova has persevered! read more

Really enjoyed the food. Different flavor from other Middle Eastern cuisines. The appetizers and kabobs were great. We'll be back!

I absolutely love this place and come in every time I'm in the area. The things I love are all vegetarian (as am I, most of the time). I'm shocked no one has mentioned the amazing plaki-- a gigante white bean appetizer that is amazing. I've had a lot of hummus in my day and I think this is really delicious, similar to what I've had and loved in Israel. The tabouleh is fantastic and I usually avoid tabouleh. Fresh, flavorful, full of finely diced tomatoes that give it a slightly acidic kick that I find tabouleh which is primarily chopped parsley lacks. The red cabbage is lemony and delicious-- this coming from someone who usually doesn't order cold dishes. And the spinach boureg are mouthwatering, just the right balance between the spinach and cheese. I don't like the cheese boureg as much-- too cheesy for me-- but with the items I've listed above, I don't think you can go wrong. read more

I absolutely love this place! Family owned, Armenian restaurant with fresh home cooked food. The food is great and the service is on point. The sautéed lamb is my favorite dish. read more

I haven't had Armenian food before so I may not be the best judge but everything I had was very good. I tried the pomegranate wine; it's a sweet wine with a hint of pepper. I had the red lentil soup which came out with a warm pita. For dinner, I had the Armenian Combo so I could try several dishes. Everything was great. I only wish I hadn't eaten so much so I could have tried dessert. read more

A hidden gem in Streeterville. Food is good and prices are reasonable. Service is great and it isn't crowded during lunch.

I took my coworkers there on a work trip. Some were apprehensive, thinking it'd be too out-of-the-ordinary. But in the end, I think even the holdouts thought it was really good. The sauces aren't too unusual, and the meat is good. read more

Sayat Nova - post-conference coworker dinner - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The restaurant had a nice decor, staff was nice, they have fresh flowers and real candles at every table. The food was ordinary. The lamb chops were one of the best I've had though. Overall, an OK place. Come for the ambiance not the kabob. read more

A beautiful romantic restaurant to spent a lovely evening. Good food and lots of drinks to enjoy.

Always good! Cozy and food is authentic, tasty and reasonably priced. Good date night spot!

I visited this weekend and was very impressed with the quality of the food, although I do think it is a bit over priced for the size of the portions, and the service was not great. I recommend the kebabs - we had several varieties at our table and all were impressed. read more

I enjoyed the quiet ambience which allows good conversation. I ordered the appetizer sampler and despite being a vegetarian, there was a good sampling of dishes! The Armenian spinach was flavorful and comforting, as was the Labneh which is actually made from strained yogurt. The eggplant was delicious too. A big disappointment was that the lentil soup is not vegetarian, as I was really looking forward to that on a cool Chicago fall evening. The pita bread and hummus were not particularly good. I was hoping for more vegetarian options on the entree menu. Otherwise the server is pleasant and the ambience cozy. read more

The food was quite mediocre and the service was slow and inattentive, albeit friendly. The plaki (beans stewed in tomatoe sauce and olive oil) tasted like canned beans with canned tomatoes, and it didn't improve much from there. Most dishes were on the bland or watery side. Prices were in line with that area but way too high for the food quality. Still grateful for a lovely dinner with old and new friends, but the people were far more memorable than the food. *Disclaimer: I only tried vegetabnle dishes, no meat. read more

I would have given this place 1 extra star before. I seem to recall the portions were once more generous--considering you are paying about $15 for hummous, baba ganoush, etc, you'd think there would be something more on the plate than great presentation. Oh well. On the plus side, the atmopsphere is awesome...you get to eat in your own private cave! While the wine list is not extensive, all their wines are about $30 bucks, which is good for this area. The service can be spotty...sometimes it is hard to flag down your guy. The food is pretty decent, but once again, I'm not sure if it warrants the price tag. I would recommend the borek especially. Good place for a first date, or valentines. read more

This place is mellow and nice. It is kind of like Cheers....where everyone knows your name. The place has nice food and service. I have never had a gross meal there. The prices are decent too. It is a fun place to chill out at and maybe drop a few pennies behind the wall with the wholes while no one is looking. read more

Food was good. I couldn't say if it was authentic, but I know that both my date and I enjoyed everything from appetizers to desert. The service was solid but not great (the only thing holding it back from the 5th star) as our waiter was difficult at times to get a hold of and the restaurant was not busy. BEST mojito I've ever had! read more

The food is great! Lentil soup was amazing, the stuffed eggplant and kebab's were all great as well. However, if you're hungy and are expecting a huge traditional style middle eastern dish to satisfy your hunger, I don't recommend this place. Price was a bit much for the small portions. read more

My girlfriends and I visited Chicago from LA for the first time and had dinner at Sayat Nova on a Friday. The restaurant was packed which is always a great sign. The place had a very intimate feel and we liked it right away. The service we received was outstanding as well. We ordered the mezza sampler; hommos, labneh and taboule (the best taboule I've ever had.. and I'm Armenian!), the cheese boereg (crispy, creamy and oh so good), the trout with fine herbs (fresh, lemony and buttery), and the chicken/beef/shrimp kebabs (all great). we ended up reordering the taboule and boereg at the end of our meal.. we couldn't get enough. It was overall a great culinary experience and I look forward to having a meal there again when I return in April. read more

I really love Mediterranean -and thought this is technically Armenian-- you'll find a lot to love here if you like hummus and kebabs, and food with a lot of garlic and flavor. The prices are excellent for the portion sizes and quality and everything on the menu is top notch. read more