Ema

Excellent Mediterranean food and the best hummus I've ever had. We've already been three times in one month. We've almost tried the whole menu and loved everything we ordered. Probably the most mediocre dish was the roasted potatoes, otherwise we were happy with each item we tried. Even the cocktails are delicious. Will definitely be back soon! Vegetarian options: Plenty of vegetarian choices

Better than we expected! Coming into the restaurant I had low expectations because the menu and food pictures looked bland. However, every dish we tried at this restaurant was very well seasoned and full of Mediterranean flavors that reminded me of back home. I can’t say we had a favorite dish because each one was equally good in their own way. Would definitely come back again, but my only critique would be that their cocktails are not strong and slightly watered down.

The atmosphere and the way the dishes look is pretty chic! We got the Japanese eggplant which is so good. Lamb ragu also great! Really nice combination of the flavors from lamb, spice and pita bread. I loved the braised short rib except the mushroom is a bit weird feels like if substitute with a different vegetable would enhance the dish. Overall speaking really nice dining experience.

It felt like I stepped into a serene spa, the natural environment felt quite welcoming and allows one to focus on the company and food. We felt well taken care of by the attentive and friendly host and staff who were helpful with the menu options. I recommend ordering 3-4 small plates for two people. It was more than enough to feel satiated. Presentation was appetizing, but the food left me wanting more to round off the palette. The grilled octopus was nicely seasoned almost oscillating between sweet and savory flavors. The kebobs were tender although the rice needed a little more time steaming/cooking; It was a flavourful dill rice but oddly dry, with an unwanted crunchiness. We also ordered a small salad to share but i managed to pick out what tasted like a wilted, rotted red pepper. Lastly, the sea bass which was the star of all the dishes for me; seasoned and cooked to a buttery finish...so tender and tasty. Dietary restrictions: Dairy and gluten friendly but not a dedicated gluten free kitchen.

Beautiful ambience with warm and friendly staff.. Scrumptious Mediterranean food. Has vegetarian options, small shareable plates like 3-5 plates for 2 people. Low noise levels, comfortable seating. Overall it was a very good dining experience. Vegetarian options: Yes

Ema is a delightful Mediterranean spot for brunch or any meal of the day. There are a variety of options on the menu so there is sure to be something for everyone. The flavor profile of each dish is immaculate and the service is great. Our table ordered a few dishes with the starter being a trio of dips with pita bread. All of the dips were absolutely delicious so I'd highly recommend ordering this to start off. Next, we got this dish that resembled risotto but i cannot remember the name. It was so good that I'd come back just for that dish. Lastly, I had the falafel sandwich which was good but a bit dry. I would have liked there to be more sauce included so I ended up ordering some on the side. My main entrée did not stand out the way the starters did but I still left satisfied nonetheless. If you're in the River North area and would like to try some Mediterranean food then I'd highly recommend stopping by for a nice lunch. Bonus: I saw the mayor of Chicago the day I went, so that's cool.

Their hummus and bread is stellar. Also highly recommend the brussel sprouts and lamb kefta. Probably won’t reorder the crispy potatoes and falafel as they were a bit too dry. White chocolate rice pudding was the perfect dessert to finish the meal. Service was pretty bad though. Our waitress was pretty disengaged. We waited at least 20 minutes for her to collect the credit card because she forgot about us. The worst service I’ve had in a while but the food was good enough to get me back.

Mom, daughter lunch and at exhibit. It was so fun, starting with lunch. We sat outside under the tent on a beautiful day. We enjoyed our time at Ema thoroughly. The food was very good! Our server was pleasant and just the perfect amount of attentiveness. Thank you Scott!

THE BEST Mediterranean food I have ever had in my life!! And I have tried a lot… believe me!! The spicy hummus, almond hummus with pita was out of the world.. You can try Chicken kebab as well. Its good. Do try this restaurant without fail if you are in downtown.

Enjoyed this place more than Aba. Really nice and cozy interior with comfortable chairs and lots of seating. I noticed the low noise levels, which was refreshing! Didn’t need to shout across the table or strain to hear anyone. Pumpkin hummus was my favorite as was the beet salad. Everything was so good!