The food was excellent. The lamb/shrimp kabob entree with lentil soup was wonderful. The lamb was tender, juicy, and very flavorful. The shrimp kabob was a nice surprise. The service was a tad slow, but overall this Armenian restaurant was quite good and leaves you full and satisfied. Also a good option is to share entrees since they are quite large and filling, but nothing wrong with leftovers right? They've been in Chicago for 55 years, and the recipes have made their way here from the diaspora. A great downtown option. read more

I had a great experience at Sayat Nova. I appreciate their menu not bending to fatty, oily, dull American palettes. I ate here with two girlfriends; we were in the mood for Mediterranean food and we know we can't get it in the city we're from. Chicago didn't disappoint! We started with the mezza sampler: Armenian spinach, yalanchi sarma and hommos. Nice starters; all delicious, all chilled. Nothing was overpowering over anything else, so I think we chose 3 complimentary dishes. I ordered the red lentil soup as well, and I'm really glad I did. Kinda hard for me to describe, but if I had to choose a word it'd be "pure." It was such a small bowl of kapow. The lentils, the carrot, the onions. A perfect meld of flavors and textures. For dinner, I got the trout with fine herbs. This was an interesting dish. The fish looked delicious, but I found it a tad bland which was surprising as it had tons of herbs on it (mainly parsley). Squizzing the lemon on it and eating it with bites of the charred onion helped it a lot. It was till a good dish, I was jut expecting more flavor. Wonderful, respectful service. A little flirty, which I'm 100% down with. Nothing like a smile, a blush, and a giggle to go along with your meal. Two cons: the seating was pretty low. We sat in a booth (with a chair on the end). One of my friends is 5'1" and petite and she had a hard time scooting in her seat because her thighs were right under the table. I had the same issue getting in my chair on the end (I'm 5'7" and hefty). The other con is it was pretty dark in here. I appreciate ambiance, but we had to use our cell phone lights to even see the menu. Other than that, excellent experience! read more

Great little restaurant. Wish there were a lit more Armenian cuisine restaurants in the heart of the Chicago River area. Can't wait to try again. read more

It was ok. Pretty dead inside with not many customers. It always looks empty when I walk by... Food was good but not worth $25 a plate with only one side. Feel like you can get a better meal for the amount we spent on hummus, 2 glasses of wine and and 2 entrees. Service was ok too. Not amazing, nice but the staff looked bored. read more

I was excited to try this restaurant and left supremely dissatisfied. The service was poor: food took a long time to leave the kitchen, "hot" items arrived to the table cold, the waitress never refilled our drinks, the waitress came by maybe 4 times total over the course of 2 hours, and when we expressed dissatisfaction with the service the staff seemed unconcerned. The restaurant was mostly empty when we arrived so these issues were not excusable to me. The food was okay: the lamb was dry/overcooked, the rice was bland, the beef was the best item on the menu, the portions are astonishingly small considering the price The ambience was beautiful. Makes you feel transported. This place might be an nice spot to visit the bar, grab a drink with friends, and enjoy the ambiance. Would not recommend going for dinner though. read more

Sayat Nova is a spectacular restaurant! They have great food, excellent service, and amazing atmosphere! I've been several times and highly recommend! read more

i would give it a 7/10 food was decent, a little expensive. Vibes were nice for a couple cute little booths. read more

Sayat Nova - Inside - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I and my partner just had dinner here. We had walked past Sayat Nova a couple times the over previous few days and after checking the yelp photos of the food, we decided it looked good enough to try, and I'm really glad we did. We happened to go on a Tuesday; relevant because apparently on Tuesdays bottles of wine are half off! ...since we didn't need to drive, we got a bottle of dry red (it was an Armenian wine too!) which went well with our food. We got the appetizer sampler with baba ghanoush, the vegetarian sarma (grape leaves wrapped around rice with stuff, like dolma/dolmades), and the assorted pickled vegetables. All three were very good, and slightly different from their similar counterparts I've had before at other "mediterranean"/"middle eastern" restaurants. For our entrees we both got different items, the sauteed lamb for him, and I got the lamb cous cous. He really liked his dish, and I really liked mine. Pictures will be uploaded, too, naming which dish was which. The cous cous in my dish was well seasoned, the lamb was very tender, and the overall balance of flavors was delicious; it came with veggies cooked with the lamb, namely zucchinis, carrot, potato and onion from what I could tell, all perfectly tender and thoroughly cooked (but not mushy, they really did them well). It came with a kind of hot sauce on the side, I tried it, but it was too spicy for me. It was nice that it was served on the side, perfect for trying and adjusting to your tastes. Anyways, if I went back again I would probably order another cous cous dish (and split it with a friend, for I was too full after appetizers to get even close to finishing it!), because I really loved it. I can't say much about the sauteed lamb dish my partner got since I did not try it. My partner does not really wax poetic on food... but I can say he ate all the meat + vegetables and most of the rice pilaf and he said it was good! Both of us agreed that we really liked our server. He never let our water run dry (but he didn't hover-- he just had good timing/was attentive), and was nice and able to help us select a wine. Overall will definitely come again the next time we're in Chicago. We were far too full to try the desserts, but next time I want to come during the day so I can get some coffee after our meal and sample some desserts. I love baklava, and my partner loves knafi (shredded phyllo/filo which sandwiches or surrounds a custardy filling), and they have both at this restaurant! Maybe we'll stop by tomorrow for coffee and desserts in the afternoon... Mmmm. - - - - - Restrooms: nice. Womens' restrooms had two stalls, two sinks, was well lit, and pretty clean. It's downstairs from the restaurant main room but clearly marked and easy to find. Big plus for me, having good restrooms! read more

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The lighting is a little bit dark. However, the atmosphere is nice with great music too. The waiters and waitresses are awesome. Freevo is accepted here. They have a great menu. In addition, the Armenian ale is great. It has a nice robust flavor. read more

Sayat Nova - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place was delicious! I've lived in Streeterville for years, and always walk past it but never went in. Well that was a mistake - Should have entered years ago! I had my daughter with me, they made it so easy to get the stroller situated where it was out of the way for everyone but easy for me to tend to her should she have woken up. So kind! The decor is lovely and very relaxing. The food was so good and the setting was perfect for a lunch book club. The whole staff was so kind and never rushed us through lunch. I'll definitely be back and need to bring my husband for a family night out. read more

Sayat Nova is frozen in time, and that's a good thing. When my long-time friend Karen suggested we have lunch at Sayat Nova "for old-time's sake" I readily agreed. From the mid-1980's through the early 1990's, I spent many an hour here, eating kabobs and beoregs and tabouli, and drinking way too many vodka tonics. It was a regular lunch and after-work hangout, until work took me away from downtown. When we walked in at lunchtime, we stopped in shock. The place looks exactly the same. Still kind of dark, the same arrangement of tables and booths . . . only the bar area looked like it had been updated a bit. Sayat Nova still feels like an oasis from the craziness of North Michigan Avenue and the relentless tourist traffic. No vodka tonics anymore -- just ice tea at lunchtime. An order of delicious hummus to share, spinach beoregs for Karen, and a vegetable kabob for me. Everything was delicious and cooked perfectly. The people who work at Sayat Nova have worked there for years, some for decades. They know the menu intimately. The systems are smooth and efficient. Food is still cooked to order, so it doesn't come out as fast as your Big Mac does through the window. That's as it should be. You can still eat quickly and get out quickly at Sayat Nova, but if you've got the time, linger for a bit. Have a couple appetizers. Relax into a booth. Soak in the quiet atmosphere. Enjoy a leisurely meal. You'll be glad you did. read more

Sayat Nova - Vegetable Kabobs with Rice - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Sad to say watching an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians made me curious about Armenian food as they were eating some awesome dishes on a particular episode...sigh LOL I came by recently and walked into very nice, cozy and dim lit place. I knew from the look and feel of the place we were going to have a nice meal. It was around 6PM on a Friday when we showed up and the place wasn't very populated. This was good because so many booths were available and we got the one near the back in the corner...quite romantic! We started out with the Armenian Spinach which was crazy delicious. We shared it but I wanted to hog it all by myself because it was so good. The spinach is sautéed in onions and olive oil and comes along with a lemon wedge. My entree was even better as I got the Sautéed Lamb which is pieces of lamb sautéed with onions, tomatoes and green peppers along with rice pilaf. I enjoyed every bite! My dining companion got the sautéed shrimp and it was equally as good. Same dish except there was shrimp instead of lamb. Service was really good and music went well with scenery. I think its awesome that actual Armenians work here which assures you authenticity...awesome! read more

Sayat Nova - Sautéed Lamb dish...really good! - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What a great find. Trusted my fellow Yelper's for this location and I was not let down. Small dining area by great service and food. It was right off Michigan Ave and easy to find. We always enjoying non chain location and this was a great find. Make sure you give them a chance. read more

A smattering pricey for the portion sizes - from the wine pours to entrées - but we would certainly try them again, especially since they're in our neighborhood (...but only after they fix the air conditioning.) We started off with cocktails, including the Armeni-tini ($11) a light and refreshing pomegranate and vodka martini, and the Chili-Dilly ($10), a tart and mildly spicy chile vodka concoction, served up with a huge sprig of dill. Certainly craft drinks worthy of the price. We started with the Mezza Sampler, which was delivered mere seconds after ordering. The long, three-sectioned plate featured labneh - a "farmer's cheese dip"- which tasted like plain cream cheese with a fruity olive oil drizzle and a light dusting of paprika. There were two ice-cold, but flavorful, yalanchi sarma - grape leaves stuffed with raisins, almonds and chopped herbs. The trio was rounded out with a decent portion of baba ghannouj, the famously roasted eggplant dip, all served with a basket of rocket-hot pita bread. For $10.95, the offering was a decent way for two people to sample some of their traditional fare. The dining space itself is long and very (very) dark, with several small, semicircular cubby-holes that easily seat two, maybe three, with a third chair. On a recent Saturday night, the back of the room had been set up for a table of 20 when we arrive, but during our 90 minute meal, there were only about a dozen people in the restaurant. There were a few dining tables outside, and the bar can easily seat six to eight people. The bathrooms are down a steep flight of stairs, and were absolutely spotless. One thing we noticed half way through our dining was the temperature in the restaurant was rising rather quickly - despite being directly under an airduct, we could feel no air flowing. Some of the guests around us pointed out the room's temperature to their waiters, and it sounded like the restaurant was having some problems with their air conditioning. Feeling the heat, we opted for a glass of the Armenian wine ($9), a fresh and fruity pomegranate-based red, and a glass of one of their summer special white wines, a Pierre et Papa ($9) - sadly, the pours in the small goblets were rather miserly for the money. Much like the appetizers, our entrees arrived very quickly after ordering - the shish kabobs ($20.95) featured perfectly seared cubes of herbaceous lamb, cooked to exactly medium rare and sporting a nice, evenly charred crust. The flavors were spot-on, but the bed of white rice underneath was utterly flavorless. Our second entree, the Armenian Combo -was billed as "a generous serving of sarma, boereg, kufta and eggplant", but was woefully lacking in generosity at $17.95. The three piece sarma (stuffed grape leaves) were stuffed with minced meat and spices, unfortunately they were covered in a rather tasteless, cheese-like sauce we couldn't identify. The kufta, a lone, golf ball-sized meatball, was nicely flavored with spices and came swimming in a lemony cream sauce. The boereg was the only real stand out - a perfectly crispy filo-wrapped portion of spinach and cheese. The roasted eggplant was nothing more than a non-pureed version of their baba ghannouj. By now, it was rather stifling inside the restaurant due to the lack of airflow, so instead of ordering desserts and coffee, we opted for our check - just over $104.00, before tip. read more

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10/10 experience! Great friendly staff & amazing fresh food!!! Very satisfied with our visit here!

I had the beef kebab -- flavorful, savory perfection. The restaurant is very cute. I'll be back! read more

Sayat Nova - Beef Kebab - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Reasonably priced Armenian/Middle Eastern food in a cosy, intimate setting. We shared the baba ghannouj and labneh, served with warm pita, which were good but unspectacular. The lulla kebab was delicious, served with rice pilaf and a very tasty red lentil soup (it's a thin, but not watery soup). Then we had the Armenian combo, with stuffed grape leaves, cheese boereg, kufta, grilled eggplant, and the soup. The grape leaves and eggplant didn't have a lot of flavor, but the cheese boereg (phyllo stuffed with cheese) and kufta (Armenian style meatballs) were quite good. Overall, we shared four dishes with four people. The waiter divided the soups into four cups because we were sharing, which was appreciated. The food was good, but none of us thought it was particularly outstanding. read more

Honestly I'm quite surprised it's only got 3 stars because this place is really good. I got the chicken cous cous and usually I like it traditional with 7 vegetables and slow cooked chicken, but this place prepared it perfectly. It was so good I came back the second night lol. I will say it's pretty expensive for the food. $20 for chicken cous cous with a side of soup. Idk. It's worth the splurge every once in a while but I wouldn't choose this as your everyday dinner place. Ps owner is very friendly! read more

Came to Chicago from Los Angeles; I am Armenian and was looking for an Armenian restaurant. I ordered a lula kebab and tabouleh salad, and so the rice was overcooked, the salad was delicious. But only the name of the restaurant is Armenian, and the food is more from the Arab countries read more

Flavorful food at reasonable prices. Appetizers could be a meal in themselves, so much diversity in tastes. The kabobs were outstanding as well, especially the lamb and steak. Friendly, helpful service. read more

Most of the items I tried at Sayat Nova were fine, but not stellar. The hummus appetizer was a bit grainy but okay, and it was served with fresh warm pitas. The number 2 combination at lunch features a nice assortment. I really liked the salad dressing, and the stuffed eggplant was good. the Plaki was pretty thin and rather flavorless. But the Spinach Boereg was phenomenal--a perfectly flaky philo triangle filled with scrumptious sautéed spinach. I would definitely go back just for this one item, and probably try some kebabs or other items, too. Service was very friendly, and the decor is neat, although I ate on the sidewalk because it was a beautiful day. read more

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Based on the yelp rating I wouldn't eat here but I was given a gift card so I tried. The food was rather bland. I don't think it is worth the price. read more

Food was outstanding, service was excellent! Have been going to Sayat Nova for over 40 years and they never disappoint.

I've walked by this place many times over the years I finally had an opportunity to stop in for a quick drink and a meal while I was there the owner stopped by to say hello and see how everything was and made some recommendations he recommended the sautéed shrimp minus the tomatoes it was so good I cannot wait to go back and get another one and try other items on the menu check it out read more

I discovered this when I worked at the Chicago Tribune and became a regular! I always ended up taking visitors here who wanted something different than the Michigan Ave fare. The booths inside can easily accommodate a work lunch or date night. I really loved their house salad since it was finished off with a mint vinaigrette. I'm a huge fan of the kebob, I've had the chicken and lamb which were char-broiled to perfection! They were a wonderful flavor of spices without being spicy. read more

Great food - authentic preparations. When I want to connect to my heritage and eat the food my grandmothers made - this is where I go.

The food is delicious, the service is exactly what you need without being overbearing, and the ambience is perfect, in my opinion. If you're a coffee enjoyer, you NEED to try their Armenian Coffee. read more

Highly recommend the cheese boureg, eggplant appetizer, lulla kabob, shish kabob, khafi dessert (delicous!), and armenian coffee - can not go wrong with any of these! Will definitely be back, perfect ambiance for a date night! read more

I staying next door and grabbed takeout. There was a bit of a wait, but the food was good.

Wow. This place is really special. Excellent. The chilled, vegetarian sarma were incredible (preferred them to the hot meat ones), and the lamb & rice dish with tomatoes was absolutely exquisite. The portion sizes were quite generous as well. Everything was so flavorful, and cooked perfectly. Plus, the ambience was beautiful, and the staff was extremely friendly. My dad asked the server what spice was used in the sarma because he liked it so much, and the waiter came back with a list of every ingredient written down by the chef. You will not be disappointed. read more

Unfortunately, we felt as though the food we ordered suffered from being take-out. The cheese boureg was a winner, flaky and gooey. The lamajoun was very salty and the meat was of the combo kebab was good, but would have been better straight off the grill. It made me wish that restaurants gave re-heating instructions with take-out. read more

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I can't say how much I love Mediterranean food, but it's at the top of my foodie list. I'm 1/2 Syrian descent and I appreciate the home feels I get when I eat really authentic Mediterranean food. This place was sooooo good. Best Samra (grape leaves) I have ever eaten. Raw Kibbeh was the best. Hummus and tabouleh was just like my grandma's! So please stop by this place and sit back relax and enjoy their delightful food and hospitality! read more

This gem-of-a-looking place doesn't have the wine, food or service staff to continue its sparkle. I ordered an Armenian wine that literally tasted like chalk and when I brought it to the bartender's attention he became surly, and for what reason??? I ordered the sampler plate because it was late and I just wanted a nibble--for $12.95 I got 2 teaspoons of Baba Ghanoush, 2 grape leaves, and a tablespoon of white beans and tomatoes that was suppose to be sautéed. There was no value here in terms of the ratio of food that is cheap to make (Baba Ghanoush, Hommos, beans etc.) to quantity! And waitress did not seem like she wanted to be there! It's too bad because this place could be a diamond if they just cared more about their customer and the power of word-of-mouth!!! read more

The vibes were super cozy, service was great and the food was delicious! Definitely recommend

Eats: -chicken/shrimp kebab -chicken cous cous Drink: Kilikia armenian beer - light and refreshing. Went well with dinner Service: polite and efficient Atmosphere: exotic feel; perfect for date night Tips: sit at one of the semi-circle booths -- so comfortable Overall, delicious food. Would return in the future read more

Sayat Nova - Mediterranean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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One of the best restaurants I've been to in some time. Rupert and his Staff were gracious hosts, and the food was excellent. Sayat Nova has set the bar for Armenian cuisine. Looking forward to visiting again the next time I'm in Chicago. read more

4 stars for food and service, although it could easily get a 5th for being a place near the Magnificent Mile that was reasonably priced and had a free table on a Friday night. We had three dips, the combo plate, and the sauteed lamb, and everything was at least solid, mostly better. Special call-out to the Jajic--a cucumber salad with an outstanding garlic yogurt; the very flavorful lamb; and the extra-buttery philo of the Boereg. read more

This place was amazing! Friendly staff and quick service. We loved everything from the stuffed eggplant to the kebabs and our paklavah dessert with coffee. I highly recommend this place. In addition to making reservations because it gets busy around 6:00, I recommend asking for extra sauces for the main dishes. read more

Wow! I had a nice meal here early April. Found out the waiter altered my tip...added $23.00! (My bill was $40.00 and I have copies of my cc receipt ). This was on my company credit card. I've called the business and they said they would refund the money but it's been over a week and that hasn't happened. I cannot recommend this business given the shady activity by the staff. . read more

We were in the NRA show in Chicago and decided to try Armenian food , We found this place close to our hotel and the experience was wonderful, Beautiful food and drinks, the manager Robin sat with us and explained about his food, he's very welcoming and humble gentleman, We've tried the hummus, babaganoug, lahmajoun, kibbeh nayeh and grilled beef , lamb and chicken, We really enjoyed it, I'll definitely return every time I visit Chicago. read more