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Ema - Ema - River North, Chicago, IL

Ema - River North

4.7
4.7
4608 Reviews
$31 to $50
Mediterranean

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2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 129 times today
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Vegetarian-friendly
A Mediterranean & California-inspired restaurant featuring small plates & Chef CJ Jacobson's lighter style cooking in Chicago's River North.

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    CJ Jacobson
  • Delivery & takeout
Gift card

Gift card

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What 4,608 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

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Mediterranean

  • Chicago

    Mediterranean

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Ema in River North offers a delightful modern Mediterranean dining experience, celebrated for its "absolutely delicious" food and "impeccable" service. The warm, welcoming ambiance enhances the enjoyment of standout dishes like salmon kebabs and hummus. The venue caters well to dietary needs, making it a versatile choice for varied dining occasions.

4,608 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    Houston1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food and service were excellent. We were looking for something that had a bit healthier menu and Emma’s didn’t disappoint. Very nice atmosphere.

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  2. Jorge

    Chicago14 reviews

    1.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Very poor service. Did not explain entree options and quantity of food for the price was just a bad deal. Waitress had a poor attitude to our questions.

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  3. Lindsey

    Kansas City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Had a great experience with Ema. Staff was friendly and flexible with me adjusting our reservation. Our waitress was patient with us ordering a few different courses. She took the time to explain the menu to us as well. Would definitely come back here!

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  4. Laura

    Chicago8 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Our food took one hour to show up. We waiter was never around. We have to leave without having coffee or dessert as it was getting later for our other commitments.

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  5. Rebeca

    Houston22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This restaurant was a wonderful discovery! The food was outstanding! Our waitress was super helpful and we had a great experience.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Raleigh5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious! Gluten-free and perfect! The chicken keffa and halloumi kebabs were terrific, and the hummus, falafel and Brussels sprouts were fabulous too, all presented with incredibly fresh vegetable garnishes. Wonderful relaxing atmosphere. Great service—they brought me scrumptious gluten free crackers without me having to ask. I’ll definitely go again and enthusiastically recommend to friends.

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  7. Mathew

    St. Louis18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of the best. Food is so creative and tasty.

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago1 review

    4.0

    Dined on March 8, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was great, but it felt very crowded, with many tables crammed in. We had a 5:30pm reservation and we're seated immediately. The wait staff were very attentive and refilled our water several times during our meal which was appreciated.

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  9. Elizabeth VIP

    Chicago6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food, as always, was delicious and the service great.

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  10. Janice

    Chicago12 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 6, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    All good, had a nice lunch! Will be back soon. Love the decor!

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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 4608 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 reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 129 times today
Google Map for Ema - River North

74 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    CJ Jacobson
  • Delivery & takeout
Gift card

Gift card

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

Send a gift card
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