Ema - River North

Name: Ema - River North
Address: 74 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL, United States, 60654
Telephone: (312) 527-5586
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.7

4.7

4532 Reviews

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Make a booking

2 people

24 Nov 2024

7:00 pm

Booked 99 times today

Good for special occasions
Lively
Vegetarian-friendly

A Mediterranean & California-inspired restaurant featuring small plates & Chef CJ Jacobson's lighter style cooking in Chicago's River North.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Californian
Hours of Operation
Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(312) 527-5586
Website
http://www.emarestaurants.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
CJ Jacobson
Catering
Enjoy Ema Catering for your next event at home, in the office, or for your next celebration! Contact emaparties@leye.com for more information.
Private party facilities
The open and inviting dining room features reclaimed wood, rustic white brick and an indoor ivy terrace with operable windows. The dining room accommodates groups up to 150 guests and may be custom configured for your next family-style dinner, business lunch or cocktail reception event.

Location
74 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Area
River North (Chicago)
Cross Street
Clark & Illinois
Parking details
Valet parking is located just east of Ema on Illinois Street at the Hyatt Place/Fairfield Inn valet. Valet costs $25 for 3 hours, no validation needed. Regular rates apply after 3 hours.
Public transit
Red Line Stop at Grand / Blue Line Stop at Clark
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Popular dishes

ClassicUSD 13.95
za'atar, vegetable crudite, california olive oil
SpicyUSD 14.95
piquillo pepper, lemon, basil
"Bhel" HummusUSD 15.95
pineapple, avocado, pomegranate, tamarind, crispy rice, mint chutney
PumpkinUSD 16.95
brown butter, toasted pumpkin seed, nutmeg
Hummus w/ Lamb RaguUSD 18.95
slow-braised lamb, spicy harissa

Spreads

Charred EggplantUSD 14.95
aleppo, mint, olive oil
House-Made LabnehUSD 14.95
mick klug cranberry, cinnamon, orange, pistachio
Toasted Almond & GarlicUSD 15.95
castelvetrano olive, fresh herbs
Moroccan Onion DipUSD 15.95
medjool date, tamarind chutney, crispy leek

Raw

Truffled Salmon*USD 18.95
roasted garlic, chive, crispy leek
Hamachi*USD 19.95
pineapple, charred avocado, ginger-scallion relish
Big Eye Tuna & Honeycrisp Apple*USD 21.95
pomegranate, moroccan mint, yuzu nigella vinaigrette

Salads

add green falafel / $6.95, add grilled chicken / $7.95, add faroe islands salmon* / $10.95

Greek VillageUSD 16.95
romaine, tomato, cucumber, kalamata olive, feta, red pepper, dijon vinaigrette
Brussels Sprouts & Honeycrisp AppleUSD 15.95
pomegranate, marcona almond, honey dijon vinaigrette
Mediterranean ChoppedUSD 15.95
arugula, romaine, cauliflower, caper, date, parmesan, olive, red pepper
House-Made StracciatellaUSD 18.95
mighty vine tomato, crouton, sherry shallot vinaigrette, basil

Vegetables

Feta & OlivesUSD 14.95
marcona almonds, sweety drops, lemon zest, middle east spice
Brussels SproutsUSD 14.95
crispy shallot, pumpkin seed, agrodolce
Pan-Roasted Romanesque CauliflowerUSD 15.95
house yogurt, local honey

Hot Mezze

Crispy PotatoesUSD 12.95
mizithra, rosemary, scallion crema
Green FalafelUSD 13.95
beet tzatziki, tahini, lemon zest
Hot Honey HalloumiUSD 14.95
crispy garlic dukkah
Delicata Squash FarrottoUSD 16.95
brown butter, crispy sage, squash vinaigrette

Sandwiches

served with mesclun greens or za'atar fries

Green FalafelUSD 15.95
tomato, hummus, purple cabbage, tzatziki
Grilled ChickenUSD 16.95
hummus, purple cabbage, sweet & spicy peppers
Braised Short Rib*USD 18.95
beef jus, hummus, purple cabbage, crispy shallot

Kebabs

served with basmati rice

Grilled HalloumiUSD 17.95
greek cheese, red onion, date, red zhoug
Chicken KeftaUSD 18.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Grilled ChickenUSD 19.95
yogurt marinade, sweet pepper, zhoug
Lamb & Beef Kefta*USD 19.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Faroe Islands Salmon*USD 24.95
sweet pepper, red onion, lemon, olive oil, zhoug

Surcharge

As a way to offset rising costs, we have added a 3.5% surcharge to all checks. You may request to have this taken off your check should you choose.

What 4,532 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Chicago
Mediterranean

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Ema in River North offers a delightful Mediterranean dining experience with "amazing food" and "excellent service." Guests rave about the modern atmosphere and fresh, flavorful dishes like hummus and kebabs. While some mention slow service, the overall experience is praised for its vibrant vibe and friendly staff. Perfect for a special occasion or a fun night out.

4,532 Reviews

C
Carole
Grand Rapids
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The hummus (the one with pineapple) was fab, as were the brussel sprouts. Kebabs and Keftka were ok. Service and ambiance were wonderful.
Is this helpful?
M
Marc
Chicago
16 reviews
4.0
16 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
The bass was excellent, and the Kofta was tasty. However, the humus was a disappointment—not better than what one can buy in a grocery store. The cauliflower/broccoli dish was a good surprise. Overall, the food was good, but not surprising. The place was full (on a Friday night) -- crowded and noisy. Service was slow.
Is this helpful?
a
alicia
Chicago
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our waitress made wonderful recommendations. Each dish was fantastic. I appreciated the option of creative zero-proof cocktails. Wonderful!
Is this helpful?
A
Andrea
New York City
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 16 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious food and knowledgeable waiter. Lovely dinner!
Is this helpful?
A
Amy
Milwaukee
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 15 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Incredible food. I have allergies. the manager came over to talk to us and take our order and make sure everything was OK. So excellent service excellent food !
Is this helpful?
HC
HanselC
Houston
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on 15 November 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
For a mediterranean restaurant, I’ve had better. The hummus was very watery. The octopus was very salty but as tender as jerk chicken. The lamb ragu was okay. The flat bread was probably the only phenomenal food there. Maybe also the drinks. Great bartender…they need better chefs…
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K
Ken
Chicago
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on 15 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Wonderful place to celebrate my birthday! Our server was exceptional.
Is this helpful?
B
Beth
Kansas City
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on 15 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and fun atmosphere! Lots of good choices for shareable dishes. Highly recommend.
Is this helpful?
J
Je
St. Louis
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 15 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The service was impeccable! Our server Eric G. was so attentive and assisted me greatly as someone who has celiac and cannot eat any gluten. He made sure any glutenous toppings were removed and on the side for the other guests and repeatedly came back to check and make sure I knew what was safe to eat. I cannot thank him enough. The food itself was delicious and the restaurant had a lovely ambience.
Is this helpful?
M
Mary
Chicago
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 13 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great place for a wonderful meal before a play downtown.
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FAQs

Ema - River North offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (312) 527-5586.

Ema - River North is rated 4.7 stars by 4532 OpenTable diners.

Ema - River North does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

24 Nov 2024

7:00 pm

Booked 99 times today

Order delivery or takeout

74 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654

Additional information

Cross Street
Clark & Illinois
Area
River North (Chicago)
Hours of Operation
Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Mediterranean, Californian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Valet parking is located just east of Ema on Illinois Street at the Hyatt Place/Fairfield Inn valet. Valet costs $25 for 3 hours, no validation needed. Regular rates apply after 3 hours.
Public transit
Red Line Stop at Grand / Blue Line Stop at Clark
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
CJ Jacobson
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.emarestaurants.com/
Phone number
(312) 527-5586
Catering
Enjoy Ema Catering for your next event at home, in the office, or for your next celebration! Contact emaparties@leye.com for more information.
Private party facilities
The open and inviting dining room features reclaimed wood, rustic white brick and an indoor ivy terrace with operable windows. The dining room accommodates groups up to 150 guests and may be custom configured for your next family-style dinner, business lunch or cocktail reception event.

Featured in

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Ema - River North

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

50 Chicago Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

The Diner Reviews Are In: 100 Best Restaurants in America

Gift card

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts & Honeycrisp Apple

Chicken Kefta

Hummus

ClassicUSD 13.95

SpicyUSD 14.95

"Bhel" HummusUSD 15.95

PumpkinUSD 16.95

Hummus w/ Lamb RaguUSD 18.95

Spreads

Charred EggplantUSD 14.95

House-Made LabnehUSD 14.95

Toasted Almond & GarlicUSD 15.95

Moroccan Onion DipUSD 15.95

Raw

Truffled Salmon*USD 18.95

Hamachi*USD 19.95

Big Eye Tuna & Honeycrisp Apple*USD 21.95

Salads

Greek VillageUSD 16.95

Brussels Sprouts & Honeycrisp AppleUSD 15.95

Mediterranean ChoppedUSD 15.95

House-Made StracciatellaUSD 18.95

Vegetables

Feta & OlivesUSD 14.95

Brussels SproutsUSD 14.95

Pan-Roasted Romanesque CauliflowerUSD 15.95

Hot Mezze

Crispy PotatoesUSD 12.95

Green FalafelUSD 13.95

Hot Honey HalloumiUSD 14.95

Delicata Squash FarrottoUSD 16.95

Sandwiches

Green FalafelUSD 15.95

Grilled ChickenUSD 16.95

Braised Short Rib*USD 18.95

Kebabs

Grilled HalloumiUSD 17.95

Chicken KeftaUSD 18.95

Grilled ChickenUSD 19.95

Lamb & Beef Kefta*USD 19.95

Faroe Islands Salmon*USD 24.95

Surcharge

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Ema - River North offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Ema - River North restaurant rated?

Does Ema - River North offer gift cards?

Is Ema - River North currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

50 Chicago Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

The Diner Reviews Are In: 100 Best Restaurants in America

Gift card