We stopped by as a group of 5 for dinner Sunday night and we were promptly seated. We visited…read moreChicago for St. Patty's, but my two Persian friends were eager to show us some authentic food and Kabobi did not disappoint. The food was absolutely delicious and I particularly loved the Shami and Koubidehs. The koubidehs were so tender and juicy. The service was phenomenal and they even brought us some tea and dessert (bamieh) for free. Kabobi is open late and was the perfect spot to chat while the rain died down. Definitely coming back when I'm in Chicago next time!

Kabobi was such a good pick for iftar. We came about 30 minutes before iftar and even though it was…read moresuper packed, everything came out right on time, which I really appreciated. They also have a Ramadan special going on, which made it feel even more festive. The food came out warm, fresh, and full of flavor. Everything tasted really good and satisfying after fasting. The service was also great despite how busy it was, and the staff handled the rush really well. Definitely recommend making a reservation the day of, especially during Ramadan, because it gets busy fast. Overall, a really solid spot for iftar with tasty food, good service, and a nice Ramadan atmosphere.

We always have such a wonderful time on the more elegant side of the dining area, which offers a…read morewarm and beautiful setting that is perfect for a fine dining experience with friends and family. To match the sophisticated atmosphere of the sit-down section, I would definitely suggest dressing business casual. The casual side in the pictures is more for carry out and a some dining space although it could be full; it depends on the evening. Because the restaurant is a favorite during peak hours, it is a good idea to book your reservations in advance and ensure you arrive on time to keep your table. While the space is consistently great for a party of two and can comfortably handle groups of three or four, the popularity of the spot means the local parking is very limited. I highly recommend carpooling in a single vehicle if you're coming with a group to make your arrival as smooth as possible. It is always a fantastic experience here, and following these quick tips will ensure your night is perfect from start to finish!

The best Persian food I've had. The steak and chicken kabobs along with the dill rice are amazing…read moreand always cooked to perfection! I love ordering the hummus and babaganoush as appetizers as well Service is friendly. Ive personally never ate in the restaurant, I just order ahead a pick up.

I went to Maman Zari for their restaurant week menu! For reference, my partner and I love Middle…read moreEastern food and have never tried Persian food, so we were really excited to check this restaurant out. Also, for your reference, 5/10 is average to me. Service: Upon arriving, they took our coats which I liked! The hostesses were both very amiable, making small talk before seating us. In between courses, they cleaned the table and provided us with new utensils. Also, the server would explain the dish which is always a nice refresher of what unique combinations of ingredients were used to prepare your dish. Overall: 9/10. Ambiance: I liked the decorations & especially liked the dishes the food was presented on. There is only one dining room, so it felt a bit more intimate since you can usually spot your server in the room attending other guests, waiting to serve others, or assumedly in the kitchen. The one bad thing I will say is that the bathroom door lock is tricky- it's a small button that didn't make a sound when it clicked so the whole time I was using the restroom I was paranoid that someone was going to walk in on me. Overall: 5/10. Food: Kashk-e Bademjan (roasted eggplant dip): Out of the two appetizers offered this was the more flavorful choice. The eggplant was roasted to a smoky flavor, which I loved, and was also contrasted by the cool yogurt dressing. The texture was somewhat chunky. 7/10 Zeytoon Parvardeh (olive tapenade): The olive tapenade was great; flavorful and salty. The aesthetics of the dish were also pretty, but I think this stands in the shadow of the Kashk-e Bademjan. 6/10 Salad-E Shirazi (cucumber salad): I loved the presentation of this dish. They drizzle on the dressing in front of you, which I think really highlights how fresh this dish tasted. The aesthetics alongside with the taste was very bright and refreshing. 8/10 Ash-E Anar (split pea soup): This one really floored us. The umami of the dish was amazing; very earthy and savory and cut by the sweetness of the pomegranate. If I could have a whole pot of this, I would. 10/10 Ozonboron (sturgeon): I loved the aesthetics of this dish with the browned butter saffron cream being contrasted by splashes of green. The flavor of the cream was so delicious and subtly fragrant. The potato croissant was delicious but I barely tasted the impact of the caviar on the croissant, so a little bit more caviar could've sufficed. I will say that I thought the fish was missing a little bit of salt to enhance the flavors (which was supported by my partner too). 7/10. Shishlik (lamb chops): This tasted AMAZING! Grilled to a subtle char on the outside and incredibly juicy and tender on the inside. The pistachio herb sauce reminded me a bit of chimichurri enhancing the smoky flavor of the meat. The rice was nicely flavored too but the star of the show was definitely the lamb chops. 10/10. Tiramisu Zafaran Va Pesteh: I love tiramisu, but this one unfortunately missed the mark. Felt intensely sweet due to the syrup the ladyfingers were soaked in. I would've loved to see the sweetness cut with something bitter or rich, but it was overwhelmingly sweet for my taste. I liked the presentation and the flavor was unique. 4/10. Overall: 8.7/10. I really liked the aesthetics of the dishes and the flavors presented. Service was phenomenal. I would definitely come back here.

My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025!…read moreRestaurant: 8/50 Month tried: January Favorite dish: Ozonboron (sturgeon fish) We came to Maman Zari for restaurant week, having never heard of it before, just because the location was halfway between us and our friends' apartments. We were not expecting a tasting menu experience! Quite a nice surprise. The staff were awesome, really friendly and helpful. However, we did leave hungry as the portions were tiny and there were fewer courses on the RW menu. The kashk-e bademjan (eggplant spread) was very good, as was the ozonboron (sturgeon). The sturgeon came with a potato croissant that was excellent and cooked so well. Definitely my favorite bite of the night. I'm glad we tried Maman Zari as I doubt we'll find ourselves in the neighborhood often to go back. I hope they do well.

They've made me a customer for life and I will tell everyone to go to their restaurant for as long…read moreas I talk about Chicago. This restaurant is 50+ years old and has been in the same location for that long too. The inside is a bit darker and there are very few windows but they have ambient lighting and music playing that doesn't make your really realize it. There is a lot of seating for smaller and larger groups. The service is some of the best I've had. The owner, Max, personally comes to take your order depending on the rush and he is so sweet to recommend dishes. The food itself is so flavorful and all of the proteins fall right off the bone. They were also able to accommodate a big group and were so kind to play music and serve cake for my birthday! Truly one of those spots where you will leaving feeling full in your stomach and your heart

How can a restaurant be both cozy and dungeon-like at the same time? The unusually shaped,…read moreunconventional-looking Pars Cove somehow managed it! This is just a provisional review, as I've only eaten here twice. The hummus was good and the pita was delicious (unlike most American restaurants, where the pita tastes like cardboard.) The main dish, lamb shank in walnut and pomegranate sauce, was somewhat disappointing. The lamb was fairly tender (though not on par with Greek-style lamb) but I couldn't taste any walnuts or pomegranates whatsoever. It came with a big heap of flavorless rice. I'll update my review when I try some other dishes. I'm a little worried about this place. They've been around forever, but the two times I've been here, it was almost deserted.

I've come here with my boyfriend a handful of times and we love it. We like to try different…read morecocktails every time. The mimosa on a nice summer day on the patio is my happy place. The entrees are amazing too. The rice with the chicken skewer is my favorite so far and my boyfriend loves the beef and lamb skewer. The service has always been great as well. We've had the same server a couple times now and she's friendly and gets the job done. (Wish I could remember her name!) The ambience is great. With natural light coming in and the soft lamps, it's calming. Truly a beautiful restaurant.

So disappointed. I…read morecame about 5 years ago and loved my meal, especially the sticky date cake, which lingered in my memory as my favorite all time dessert. This year I was so excited to bring my family and Ema was the only restaurant in Chicago I couldn't wait for them to try. I booked it as our final meal in Chicago and lay awake at 4am being so disappointed in my choice. Our server's greeting was monotone and emotionless, which I realize now, would be foreshadowing the meal to come. Ordered the following 1) Smoky eggplant- arrived appearing as an unappetizing curdled purple grey mush. This was the worst tasting baba ghanouj I have ever eaten. It was acidic and had the texture of cottage cheese. The only redeeming thing about this appetizer was the warm naan. 2) house made stratciatella with side of green falafels- The stratciatella was bland and stringy. I would not order this dish expecting the creamy interior of typical burrata. However, if you like string cheese mixed with heavy cream- you may enjoy this dish. The tomatoes and basil were good. 3) chicken kefta- kefta was bland, rice even blander . 4) short rib with polenta- bland and the meat and polenta had the same texture, which seems impossible but somehow the plating was over complicated by the addition of mushy dates and grapes. 5) buttered noodles- my 8 year old ordered this. It was decent with a good amount of Parmesan and cooked perfectly al dente. By the end of the meal, I was so shocked by how terrible the food was I didn't even want to order the sticky date cake that was my main purpose for returning to this restaurant. Ema, what happened to you?!

Aba is an outstanding dining experience from start to finish. The atmosphere is beautiful and…read morevibrant with a warm Mediterranean-inspired design that makes it feel both lively and elevated without being overwhelming. The food is consistently impressive. Dishes are full of flavor, well balanced and made for sharing which makes the experience feel interactive and fun. Everything we tried tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared, with a few standout plates that we would order again without hesitation. Service was attentive, friendly and well-paced. The staff did a great job explaining the menu and making recommendations that actually added to the experience rather than just upselling. Overall, it is a place that feels special without being pretentious. Perfect for a night out, group dinner or celebration. Would absolutely return and highly recommend it.

Food was amazing. LA native and celebrating the weekend in Chicago…read more Restaurant was beautiful and our server Dulce was amazing!!

Absolutely outstanding kebab spot! From the moment I walked in, the aroma was incredible and the…read morestaff were warm and welcoming. The meat was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and cooked to perfection, while the fresh vegetables and soft, fluffy bread tied everything together. Portions were generous and the sauces added the perfect finishing touch. The place was clean, efficient, and had a great atmosphere. Easily one of the best kebabs I've had in a long time. I'll be coming back again soon. Highly recommend it to anyone craving authentic, flavorful food.

The food is delicious.The service is fast.They have a big servings.I"ll come back again.read more

I'm very happy that I closed out my visit to Chi-City at this amazing gastronomy destination! Made…read morea last minute reservation, and the magic unfolded. Beverages: 5/5. I don't see the drink I ordered online and I forgot to take a picture of the menu. That said, it was a superbly blended craft cocktail with whiskey. Cuisine: 5/5. The stuffed chicken was recommended by the waiter and it was superb! Flavorful, filling, and just the perfect meal after walking miles around the city. The milk pudding was a solid closer, but I'd probably order one of their other desserts next time. Service: 5/5. Efficient, which was impressive, given the dinner rush. Ambiance: 5/5. Classy space, nothing to dislike. Buen provecho.

I have since returned twice for dinner. We had a lovely meal 3 years ago and returned lat night…read morereminiscing about it. We found the service to be incredible - warm, sincere, helpful. The staff genuinely cared to deliver a positive dining experience. Our water glasses were always refilled (so many restaurants these days don't do it). The menu is marked so well for allergens - my friend is vegan and I am vegetarian gluten-free - I was able to enjoy the soup, appetizers, and salads. They prepared a vegan cous cous for my friend. I recalled the salads being better - it was mostly greens with very little of walnuts/ beans, etc - the other ingredients that had previously made these wholesome and enjoyable. I might suggest cutting back on overall size of the salad but not on the ratios of the recipe. The soup was flavorful and they provided me with gluten-free bread. And my friend absolutely loved the cous cous - generous portions, flavorful spices. My husband had had the lamb shank last time which he found a bit dry. Last night he gobbled up the stuffed chicken delightedly.

Just an amazing experience all around!! The tuna tartare was exceptional as well as the sorbet with…read moreBailey's. A little tight on seating but no complaints!!

This is my 2nd sniff in at the Pigster…read more.. Today "sniffed in" at 4.5 stars... BREAD: -- great texture -- LOVE that it is NOT sourdough -- oily, buttery -- fantastic for dipping into our residual sauce on the plates RATING = A+ SPANISH OCTOPUS: -- ultra-tender -- perfectly cooked -- marbled potatoes, jalapeno, sambuca, chimichurri, Spanish chorizo -- visually stunning and colorful -- amazing flavor RATING = A+ AGNOLOTTI: -- I do not eat this pasta often, almost never but WOW! -- thin sheet pasta brilliance on display here -- beef short rib, creamy bone marrow, brown butter and wine au just RATING = A+ PORK BELLY: -- I did not love the ginger glaze, but I am sometimes not a fan of the use of ginger -- I found this dish too sweet and too sour and the combo and boldness of each did not work for me on the nose or palate RATING = B STAFF are exceptional and the dining space is pleasing. Not pretentious or fancy but beyond casual. This establishment is consistently legit per our friend, wife and me. We love staying at nearby hotels so this will always be on our list.

Shokran Moroccan Restaurant is proof that a place does not have to be fancy to be unforgettable…read more The restaurant is a simple, comfortable space filled with Moroccan decor, and the entire experience feels rooted in authenticity. The owner, who is directly from Morocco, has a straight-faced demeanor but is genuinely one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Now let's talk about the food: next level. The Lamb Casablanca and Lamb Marrakesh are absolute standouts and easily some of the best dishes on the menu. This is home-style food made with real care. Every bite tastes intentional, proud, and full of heart. This is a great spot whether you are eating alone, on a date, or with a group of friends. Anyone who appreciates thoughtfully prepared food will leave happy. Just keep in mind it is cash only and BYOB. Bonus: you can also order it on Uber Eats.

Best food in the world, they should get a bigger location or expand the one they haveread more