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

4549 Reviews

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Make a booking

2 people

23 Dec 2024

7:00 pm

Booked 87 times today

Good for special occasions
Lively
Charming

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 4,549 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 / Illinois
Mediterranean
Chicago
Mediterranean

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Ema in River North impresses with its delightful Mediterranean-inspired menu and vibrant atmosphere. Guests rave about the "amazing food," highlighting the salmon kebab and sticky date cake. The restaurant's attentive service often shines, though some mention occasional delays. It's a "great spot" for celebrations, offering a mix of shareable plates and refreshing cocktails.

4,549 Reviews

M
Meredith
VIP
Raleigh
20 reviews
4.0
20 reviews
Dined today
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a lovely evening at Ema. The food was great, although the serving sizes were modest, given the prices. Our server was extremely attentive and helped to make our experience very enjoyable.
Is this helpful?
s
sheetal
VIP
Chicago
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved the dishes and experience here! Everything was absolutely perfect! Our kids enjoyed the meals. We had the charred eggplant, avocado toast, crispy potatoes, hot honey halloumi, grilled chicken kefta, and Greek yogurt granola. We finished it all! So good and worth coming back!
Is this helpful?
D
Dan
VIP
Los Angeles
31 reviews
4.0
31 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Really good food and drinks. Service was good as well.
Is this helpful?
A
Amy
VIP
Houston
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Very nice experience. Food was delicious. Service was excellent. Very nice space. Will go again. Worked for our family dinner (all adults) but would be a great date night spot as well.
Is this helpful?
M
Mark
Chicago
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
An outstanding lunch in every way. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable , and efficient. The food was great. We had delicious hummus, 3 different varieties, a Greek salad and brussels sprout and apple salad were fresh and tasty, crispy potatoes with tzatziki sauce were unique and left us wanting more, and lamb and beef, and salmon kabobs were seasoned in a way that was different than the usual Mediterranean restaurant kabobs and we loved them. We finished with a honey pie and vanilla bean panna cotta deserts. It was a fabulous experience.
Is this helpful?
B
Behrnt
Chicago
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great lunch spot - menu is amenable to small individual meals or large family style eating.
Is this helpful?
M
Maureen
Chicago
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our server explained the entire menu. Suggested various items. She didn't bug us to order another item. Food sharing was a great experience. The chicken kabobs were dry. Our server immediately notified the chef and it deducted from the bill. $33 person no drinks.
Is this helpful?
K
Karna
Seattle
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable! The food was delicious!
Is this helpful?
J
Jerome
Tampa
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on 13 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great neighborhood and good food . Local beer was nice to try . Greek salad very large , enough food for 2 or 3 .
Is this helpful?
J
Jude A Gary
VIP
New York City
14 reviews
3.0
14 reviews
Dined on 10 December 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Service was excellent but food was subpar. It was not the food experience I’ve had in the past. Portions were smaller and not as culinary. After $115 for 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and a coffee, we went to Sweetgreens.
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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 4549 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

23 Dec 2024

7:00 pm

Booked 87 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

Chicken Kefta

Lamb & Beef 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