Ema - River North

4.7

4544 Reviews

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 21, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 102 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
Neighborhood
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

Featured in

Gift card

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

Send a gift card

Popular dishes

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

Spreads

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

Raw

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

Vegetables

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

Hot Mezze

Crispy Potatoes$12.95
mizithra, rosemary, scallion crema
Green Falafel$13.95
beet tzatziki, tahini, lemon zest
Hot Honey Halloumi$14.95
crispy garlic dukkah
Delicata Squash Farrotto$16.95
brown butter, crispy sage, squash vinaigrette

Sandwiches

served with mesclun greens or za'atar fries

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

Kebabs

served with basmati rice

Grilled Halloumi$17.95
greek cheese, red onion, date, red zhoug
Chicken Kefta$18.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Grilled Chicken$19.95
yogurt marinade, sweet pepper, zhoug
Lamb & Beef Kefta*$19.95
lemon, olive oil, tzatziki
Faroe Islands Salmon*$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 4,544 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
4.5Service
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.

4,544 Reviews

B
Behrnt
Chicago
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 1 day 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 3 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 5 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 December 13, 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 December 10, 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.
Is this helpful?
J
Jaime
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 10, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing restaurant, delicious food, great atmosphere!
Is this helpful?
e
ellen
VIP
Chicago
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on December 9, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious food- great mocktails. The pita bread is so delicious
Is this helpful?
J
Jean
VIP
Chicago
68 reviews
5.0
68 reviews
Dined on December 6, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was great! Food was creative and delicious!
Is this helpful?
H
Howard
VIP
Chicago
178 reviews
5.0
178 reviews
Dined on December 4, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent food and service, Ema is a fantastic place for lunch. Our server, Ciana, was very attentive and personable.
Is this helpful?
S
Shamim
VIP
Chicago
31 reviews
3.0
31 reviews
Dined on December 4, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I am a longtime Lettuce Eats reward member, but had never tried Ema. I was really looking forward to it. We went to celebrate my parent's anniversary. The service was excellent, and the restaurant has a great ambience. What was really disappointing was the portion sizes, especially the meat dishes. The lamb stew was a tiny portion (essentially an appetizer portion), yet was $30. The chicken kabob (one skewer only) was similarly surprising. If we had not ordered multiple mezze appetizers and eaten lots of bread, we would probably still be hungry afterward.
Is this helpful?

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 4544 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

Dec 21, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 102 times today

Order delivery or takeout

74 West Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60654

Additional information

Cross street
Clark & Illinois
Neighborhood
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

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

Chicken Kefta

Lamb & Beef Kefta

Hummus

Classic$13.95

Spicy$14.95

"Bhel" Hummus$15.95

Pumpkin$16.95

Hummus w/ Lamb Ragu$18.95

Spreads

Charred Eggplant$14.95

House-Made Labneh$14.95

Toasted Almond & Garlic$15.95

Moroccan Onion Dip$15.95

Raw

Truffled Salmon*$18.95

Hamachi*$19.95

Big Eye Tuna & Honeycrisp Apple*$21.95

Salads

Greek Village$16.95

Brussels Sprouts & Honeycrisp Apple$15.95

Mediterranean Chopped$15.95

House-Made Stracciatella$18.95

Vegetables

Feta & Olives$14.95

Brussels Sprouts$14.95

Pan-Roasted Romanesque Cauliflower$15.95

Hot Mezze

Crispy Potatoes$12.95

Green Falafel$13.95

Hot Honey Halloumi$14.95

Delicata Squash Farrotto$16.95

Sandwiches

Green Falafel$15.95

Grilled Chicken$16.95

Braised Short Rib*$18.95

Kebabs

Grilled Halloumi$17.95

Chicken Kefta$18.95

Grilled Chicken$19.95

Lamb & Beef Kefta*$19.95

Faroe Islands Salmon*$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?

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