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

4536 Reviews

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Ema - River North

4.7

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

River North (Chicago)

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 4, 2024

8:30 p.m.

Booked 116 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
Neighbourhood
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, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Popular dishes

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

Spreads

Charred EggplantUS$14.95
aleppo, mint, olive oil
House-Made LabnehUS$14.95
mick klug cranberry, cinnamon, orange, pistachio
Toasted Almond & GarlicUS$15.95
castelvetrano olive, fresh herbs
Moroccan Onion DipUS$15.95
medjool date, tamarind chutney, crispy leek

Raw

Truffled Salmon*US$18.95
roasted garlic, chive, crispy leek
Hamachi*US$19.95
pineapple, charred avocado, ginger-scallion relish
Big Eye Tuna & Honeycrisp Apple*US$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 VillageUS$16.95
romaine, tomato, cucumber, kalamata olive, feta, red pepper, dijon vinaigrette
Brussels Sprouts & Honeycrisp AppleUS$15.95
pomegranate, marcona almond, honey dijon vinaigrette
Mediterranean ChoppedUS$15.95
arugula, romaine, cauliflower, caper, date, parmesan, olive, red pepper
House-Made StracciatellaUS$18.95
mighty vine tomato, crouton, sherry shallot vinaigrette, basil

Vegetables

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

Hot Mezze

Crispy PotatoesUS$12.95
mizithra, rosemary, scallion crema
Green FalafelUS$13.95
beet tzatziki, tahini, lemon zest
Hot Honey HalloumiUS$14.95
crispy garlic dukkah
Delicata Squash FarrottoUS$16.95
brown butter, crispy sage, squash vinaigrette

Sandwiches

served with mesclun greens or za'atar fries

Green FalafelUS$15.95
tomato, hummus, purple cabbage, tzatziki
Grilled ChickenUS$16.95
hummus, purple cabbage, sweet & spicy peppers
Braised Short Rib*US$18.95
beef jus, hummus, purple cabbage, crispy shallot

Kebabs

served with basmati rice

Grilled HalloumiUS$17.95
greek cheese, red onion, date, red zhoug
Chicken KeftaUS$18.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Grilled ChickenUS$19.95
yogurt marinade, sweet pepper, zhoug
Lamb & Beef Kefta*US$19.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Faroe Islands Salmon*US$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 4,536 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 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.

4,536 Reviews

P
Parker
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Great food, incredible atmosphere. Server seemed inexperienced but very very kind.
Is this helpful?
S
Sam
Chicago
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a fantastic meal with a wonderful server. I didn't catch his name, but he was a smaller guy who was running all over the place at 8PM on a Saturday night. The sea bass was the best thing that we ate, but the crispy potatoes were also great. Don't miss the labneh too.
Is this helpful?
T
Tess
New York City
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Lovely experience, wish the tables were slightly bigger since sharing dishes took up so much space. Staff was great
Is this helpful?
R
Ryan
Las Vegas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great environment and staff. Quality and freshness of food is fantastic. The environment and menu is great for an elevated relaxing brunch. The brunch menu is in keeping with the Mediterranean theme, but offers a wide variety of options for dietary preferences. The staff took great care to handle food allergies and label servings in an obvious manner. Looking forward to a second visit.
Is this helpful?
s
sally
Chicago
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on November 27, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was delicious, and our server was wonderful!
Is this helpful?
C
Carole
Grand Rapids
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on November 23, 2024
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 on November 23, 2024
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.
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a
alicia
Chicago
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2024
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!
1 person found this helpful
A
Andrea
New York City
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 16, 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 November 15, 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 !
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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 4536 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.

Ema - River North

4.7

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

River North (Chicago)

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 4, 2024

8:30 p.m.

Booked 116 times today

Order delivery or takeout

74 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654

Additional information

Cross Street
Clark & Illinois
Neighbourhood
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, Takeout, 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

Ema - River North

Make a reservation

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

ClassicUS$13.95

SpicyUS$14.95

"Bhel" HummusUS$15.95

PumpkinUS$16.95

Hummus w/ Lamb RaguUS$18.95

Spreads

Charred EggplantUS$14.95

House-Made LabnehUS$14.95

Toasted Almond & GarlicUS$15.95

Moroccan Onion DipUS$15.95

Raw

Truffled Salmon*US$18.95

Hamachi*US$19.95

Big Eye Tuna & Honeycrisp Apple*US$21.95

Salads

Greek VillageUS$16.95

Brussels Sprouts & Honeycrisp AppleUS$15.95

Mediterranean ChoppedUS$15.95

House-Made StracciatellaUS$18.95

Vegetables

Feta & OlivesUS$14.95

Brussels SproutsUS$14.95

Pan-Roasted Romanesque CauliflowerUS$15.95

Hot Mezze

Crispy PotatoesUS$12.95

Green FalafelUS$13.95

Hot Honey HalloumiUS$14.95

Delicata Squash FarrottoUS$16.95

Sandwiches

Green FalafelUS$15.95

Grilled ChickenUS$16.95

Braised Short Rib*US$18.95

Kebabs

Grilled HalloumiUS$17.95

Chicken KeftaUS$18.95

Grilled ChickenUS$19.95

Lamb & Beef Kefta*US$19.95

Faroe Islands Salmon*US$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 reservations?

Ema - River North

Make a reservation

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