Aly M.

I love the ambience and design on the inside. Clearly carefully and thoughtfully designed to create a unique warm, clean and comfortable atmosphere. Service was good. Food overall was Greek forward with Mediterranean flavors. Mushroom dish was excellent and charred eggplant was also very good.

Tray

This was my first time ever having a Mediterranean style breakfast and I genuinely didn't know breakfast could taste this good and look this elevated. The croque madame was insane. Perfectly soft, buttery toasted bread with gravy layered throughout. I've never had anything like it. The croissant was so amazing that my husband finished the entire thing before I could even go in for a second bite. The pancakes were great. I did like the cinnamon flavor and appreciated that they weren't drenched in syrup. The vibes were amazing. Such a beautiful space inside The Godfrey Hotel, perfect for a chill, elevated breakfast moment.

Mark T.

Everything I had the opportunity to try was good or great. However, the sheer structure demands that Yasemi likely wouldn't be appropriate for even two people. Mark my words... do not go here with any less than four people, all of whom don't mind sharing. The Heirloom Tomato Salad is a great example. This is a simpler dish, tomato, cucumber, olives, feta, oil, maybe a few things I'm forgetting. The bowl is tasty and fairly large, however, it is better as a side salad rather than a main. If four people each take a little, great! Conversely, one or two people working through this, they'd stuff themselves with something a little boring, leaving less room for the good stuff. I also had the pleasure of trying: Beef Carpaccio: Perfection! The ingredients were of the highest quality, and everything worked together stupendously. Dressing, mayo, cheese, even the potato chips for just a little extra crunch, salt, and fat. Beef Kofta: Unexpectedly great! Not only was the beef flavorful and well-spiced, it was also great friends with Louis Camille Maillard, for it has a fantastic grill flavor. The accompaniments were well thought out also, offering extra flavor and moisture without overpowering the dish. Crispy Potatoes: The one I stole (with permission) off a colleague's plate showed that these were cooked perfectly, spiced well, and served with a delightful crema. Ceviche: I see what they were going for, but I think they went a little too hard. Seemingly: fish, corn Leche de Tigre, another acid (lime?), spices, and veggies. All of this led to the dish being too busy, with the key note being acid rather than having any ingredient stand out. Pita: We are back into great territory. The pita bread seemed to be home made, fresh, and had gentle and not overpower use of spice. Just the right thing to go with everything else on the table. Dessert (who's name I don't remember): This is another great example of why one or two people is too few. A very simple (also, dare I say, boring) combination of cream, graham cracker dust, caramel, and something a little more solid (apologies, don't recall what). The first couple of spoons are great... after it becomes a little bit of a drag. With several people munching... much better. Blood Orange Paloma Mocktail: Out of left field, the standout thing about this drink was the oregano and aleppo on the side of the glass. Otherwise, it was a little sweet, a little tart, and had some bubbles. Alas, I did not pick up on the Ritual Spirit-Free Tequila, for i didn't sense those earthy, cactus-y notes this tequila claims to have. Service: This was an area where Yasemi needs to improve. It is not only that it was a little slow, but they also forgot the main of someone in my group. Worse still, I had to ask for water three times (with the third being "hey, this is my third time asking") before water was refilled. Thus, having it be more diligent and attentive would make the experience better. Vibe: I'd describe the vibe as upscale, comfortable, modern Mediterranean. This is the kind of place where I'd love to spend some time, or even bring a date (ignoring that part about having 4+ people). Thus, while there are some areas of improvement, Yasemi delivers on a quality meal in a great space. My friend group in Chicago is not yet developed (heck, it doesn't yet exist beyond organized events), however, when it comes about, I would be happy to return and give Yasemi another shot.

Debangana S.

We went for dinner on New Year's Eve. Although the restaurant offered a set menu for the occasion, we decided to order à la carte. We tried the three-sample spread with pita bread, shrimp kebab, maitake mushrooms, and a half portion of chicken shawarma. The kebabs were served with a side of spiced rice. The spreads were enjoyable, but I felt the kebabs, especially the chicken, could have used more spice. My idea of shawarma is also a bit different from what was served, so it didn't quite match my expectations. Our server was kind, and the restaurant itself has a lovely ambiance.

Adam K.

On a lonely stretch of west Huron is a wonderful restaurant called Yasemi. Walking in you are greeted with soft lighting, and an interior that looks like California 1950s modern. Sparse, tasteful and waiting to be filled. We sat in a very comfortable booth that was well detailednear the bar. The bar area is beautiful and well designed. I would drink cocktails all-day there. We ordered two cocktails: Kiwi Kefe and the Athens Sidecar. Simple, flavorful. Then we ordered the hummos and very fresh and hot pitas (they only provide one so order two more). Excellent. We moved to the Beetroot Burrata with wonderful pickled beets. Excellent. Finally we ordered Lamb Kbobs and crispy potatoes. Well made. The service is excellent and we plan to go back and try their brunch.

Joneice B.

Lovely Happy Hour experience at this restaurant. We came on a Saturday evening to have a few drinks and appetizers. For food we grabbed whipped feta, pita, beef kofta (x2). The beef kofta was really good and the fresh warm soft pita was delicious too. Wasn't the biggest fan of the whipped feta. On this occasion we also grabbed drinks. My husband had old fashioned and I grabbed the white wine but then also tried the KIWI KEFI. Cocktail was good with Gin, kiwi, lime, oregano, honey, mint, sumac rim. I wished that J would have tried the Paloma. Next time as I would return, want to try the kebabs and hummus.

Kara G.

We came here tonight with a Resy for 8:30. When we came in, we instantly noticed the vibes and the great ambiance which was a mix of modern but warm. We ordered as a group of the 3 spreads, lamb kebabs, and the lamb shank. I ordered the Aegean Sunset. It was super good and is seen in the picture. I enjoyed the service by our kind waitress. She was knowledgeable and didn't rush us to make a decision. My favorites of the night were the lamb shank and the tzatziki avocado spread. I could order that again and again! We also shared a dessert, the BOUGATSA. I didn't care for it at all. Otherwise it's a 4.75/5 for me!

Kayla P.

This is an excellent happy hour spot! We came in on a Tuesday around 5 and were seated right away since it wasn't too busy. We tried the hummus, whipped feta, cheese pies, and crispy potatoes. The hummus and whipped feta came in huge portions. We even had to order extra pita and still had leftovers to take home. The cheese pies were delicious and the drizzle of honey was the perfect touch. The potatoes were just okay, I wish there had been a bit more of the cheese sauce with them. I also tried the blood orange Paloma, which was light and refreshing. The ambiance was lovely with lots of plants and natural light, and the service was great. Would definitely come back!

Ashley C.

I stopped by Yasemi last Saturday, and I enjoyed my experience! To start off, the restaurant surprisingly wasn't crowded on a Saturday evening. We were seated quickly and started off by ordering drinks. I ordered their new strawberry fields cocktail, and I loved it. It tasted very sweet and just like strawberries! I would definitely order this again. We also ordered the pick 3 spread options (hummus, whipped harissa feta, & tzatziki avocado) and ordered extra pita bread. Afterwards, I ordered the chicken kebab. The spread & pita bread came out first. I loved that you got to try several spread options. They were all delicious. My favorite certainly was the tzatziki avocado--it was light, savory, and almost tasted refreshing. I also loooved the hummus as well. It paired very well with the vegetables they also serve. If I were to come back, I would likely just order one or the other. The chicken kebab was also pretty good. They serve it differently from most Mediterranean restaurants that I've been to as the rice is served separately. The chicken kebab came with my favorite spread (the tzatziki avocado). Beside that, the kebab tasted a bit standard? Nothing too extraordinary that would make me want to come back and re-order it. Overall, I had a great time at Yasemi! I am not too sure that I would return based on the food alone, but the vibes were great.

Mark W.

Recommendations: #1: Braised Lamb Shank #2: Beef Kofta My friends are leaving the city and we visited Yasemi for our farewell dinner. We were so excited to try the Mediterranean cuisine. There are not many people when we arrive at 7 pm, and we were assigned to one of the booths by the window. The decor of the restaurant is stunning, very modern with a natural look. We started with the Spread Sampler that came with three flavors: Charred Eggplant, Whipped Harissa Feta, and Tzatziki Avocado. All of them were excellent. This dish came with two pita breads, but it was not enough for four of us, so we put in another order of pita. The house-made pita was soft, warm, and perfect for dipping. They came out hot. For mains, the Beef Kofta was paired with tomato confit and spiced yogurt. The beef was tender, and blended with the yogurt it created a perfect balance. The Chicken Kebabs were juicy and came with herbed rice. The Half Deboned Chicken was well-seasoned but a bit dry. My favorite dish was the Braised Lamb Shank. It was nicely executed with perfect heat and spice. The bone was easy to cut, falling right off, and it was served on a bed of tender chickpeas. Overall, the service was great, the food came out quickly, and the waitress checked in with us once in a while. Quick note: if you pay with the inKind app, you can save 20% off the bill (excluding tips and tax).

Ashley H.

Yasemi is not quite yet getting the hype and attention it deserves- I've had the chance to visit several times and it is truly one of my favorite Chicago restaurants! Every experience I've had has been exceptional. The decor is beautiful and the staff is always very friendly. It's a great place to celebrate an occasion or catch up with friends at reasonable prices. They also have an excellent happy hour daily with inventive drinks and food. I highly recommend the kiwi kefi cocktail, which is delicious and very unique. For appetizers, favorites have been the hummus and the cheese pies. This is hands down the best hummus I have ever had- the earthy chickpea flavor comes through beautifully with very high quality olive oil. It's really hard to return to store bought spreads after trying Yasemi's. And, of course, the pita is wood fired in house. The cheese pies are also a must- the creamy whipped feta and honey enveloped in crispy dough is truly addicting. The salmon entree, however, is a truly unique dish that I still think about regularly. While the fish itself was cooked very well, the sauce and lentils really shined. The dressing contains some kind of sweet and spicy citrus sauce with sesame oil and chili paste. Definitely recommend. I will absolutely be back soon- this spot is definitely worth making a trip out of the way!

Andrew D.

I have been here three times now. A few things I love about this place firstly. One are the booths. They are so nice and spacious. Seriously, when I think of awesome seating in Chicago like RPM Steak, BLVD Steak and now Yasemi I always get a warm feeling knowing the setting will be right. I prefer the last two booths on the right. They also have a very nice bar. I live that they do happy hour 7 days a week too. 4-6pm. A mix of food and drink specials. I have tried a number of things and find the Eggplant Spread, Humus, Salmon and Beef Kufta to be what I am most drawn to. The service has always been friendly and on par, from the hosts, to the servers. One of the trips I had an Orange Wine from Lebanon. It was pretty good! I had never had Orange Wine from there. The Paloma was very strong one time I had it, and seemingly weak the next time. The Espresso Martini is quite nice though. The two things that I am a less wild about is that this place closes at 9:30 on weeknights. So it really is a place to come early. Also I find the 4% Restaurant Surcharge offensive. I'm aware it's all to common in Chicago, but 4% is on the higher side. Pluses and minuses aside, overall it's a good addition to River North, and I'm sure I'll be back.

Anthony D.

Located in the The Godfrey Hotel, the restaurant has great vibes and friendly staff. The food, unfortunately, is underwhelming. It wasn't bad by any means, but it didn't live up to my expectations. We ordered: - Pick 3 Spreads (Humus, Whipped Harissa Feta, & Charred Eggplant) w/Pita 7/10 - Chicken Kabob 7.5/10 - Pork Kabob 8/10 - Cheese Pie 8/10 The spreads were underwhelming but the Pita was really good. The kabobs were tasty, but the rice was lacking. Surprisingly, the Cheese Pie was the star of the show. A crispy pastry filled with feta cheese and had a drizzle of honey. It was a good experience but wouldn't go out of my way to come back.