Aba Reviews

Enjoyed everything about Aba! The service, food and ambiance all outstanding! I do wish the wine list had better mid price selections but that aside we enjoyed our dinner immensely and can’t wait to come back again!

We had a great meal at Aba. It gets a very young and attractive clientele. It is very high energy and very sexy. The décor is very romantic. It has a terrific indoor and outdoor area. The food is Mediterranean and very good. The prices are very fair. The wait staff are very charming and efficient. The location is in the new Fulton Market District. It is a "lettuce entertainment restaurant". We highly recommend Aba.

We had late reservations but came early hoping to be seated early. Fortunately we sat at the bar and met Andy our bartender who led us to having Muhammara and Straccialtella for appetizers. Absolutely wonderful. For 2nd course, we left the bar area to meet Lisa and we had leg of lamb wrapped in eggplant and chicken kefta. Both definitely keepers. Desert was kulfi. Again outstanding. Aba has been rated highly and deserves it. Much thanks to Andy and Lisa for there great service and suggestions. Great restaurant and dining experience.

Aba is fantastic! Five stars for the great vibes, amazing menu, and incredible food. The chocolate babka French toast is a must-try—absolutely delicious. Perfect spot for a memorable meal!

This place is very imposing! It is located on the 3rd floor sharing the same building with Beatrix and Punch Bowl Social. We came to Alba two times already on Saturday evening to find out that this place is always crowded and the only chance to grab a table without the reservation is to wait on the outside patio, where to lounge couches are first come first serve basis, or try your luck at any of the two bars they have. We got lucky with the bar option on the first visit but our second was not that fortunate. We will definitely get the reservation next time we plan to go there again. This spot has a great patio outside connected with indoor seating and very impressive decorations making this place awesome in every inch. This restaurant serves delicious Mediterranean fares varying from hummus through butcher cuts, seafood and desserts. We tried few of their dishes and all of them were remarkable: Avocado and Fava Bean Hummus---very interesting composition. Lovely al dente fava beans with mashed avocado and spiciness from jalapeno was a perfect starter. Marinated Olives and Feta---high quality olives, not pitted, with feta and marcona almonds. Another mezze staple. Charred Lamb Tartare---this dish bought me completely. This is probably the third time I had a lamb tartare and so far the best. Served endive lettuce ideally combined the flavors of salty, citrus and bitter coming from endive. We will for sure have it again. Grilled Octopus---very tasty dish. I loved the concept of grilled potatoes which were flavorful like the came right out of camp fire. In my personal opinion it should be a little bit less tender (my guess it was sous vide before grilling) but more charred but still splendid. Sea Scallops---perfectly done and browned and the plating was impressive. Crispy Potatoes---similar to patatas bravas. Tasty young potatoes, fried, and served with rosemary and scallion crema. Definitely a perfect addition to above seafood plates. Everything was enjoyed with BOBAL, BODEGAS DE MUSTIGUILLO, VALENCIA, SPAIN, 2015 which was very good bottle of wine they offer. Our server which was a bartender was very nice and prompt. Thank you Aba.

Once again LettuceEats hits a home run. This time it’s a Mediterranean small (not really) plates restaurant. Plates are meant for sharing We ordered the spicy hummus and Muhammara, a roasted pepper spread. Both of these were served with grilled pitas. I would highly recommend both of these. We ended up taking some of the hummus home with us as we were trying to pace ourselves for our other courses. Next was the roasted root vegetable salad. This was good but none of the veggies were roasted. I’d pass on this next time unless I was dying for a salad. I was torn between the Chicken Kefta kabob and the black garlic shrimp scampi. Waiter suggested the shrimp was the better option and it didn’t disappoint. The garlic flavor is very subtle My friend ordered the Grilled Cauliflower kabob which she said was delicious. We also got the Everything Jerusalem bagel which was very tasty. The creamy dip definitely makes the dish. It’s not a traditional thick bagel. Sadly we were too stuffed to get dessert. We couldn’t finish the kabob or shrimp but that’s what take home bags are for. The cocktails are somewhat unique. I enjoyed the Winter G&T and I’m not normally a G&T drinker.

I had been recommend this restaurant from friends and decided to give it a try for my birthday dinner. The staff was incredibly kind and welcoming and the atmosphere was so cool. The food was far past what I had imagined and I honestly wish I would have visited Aba a second time on my trip to Chicago. Will continue to recommend to people and will definitely be back!

Pedestrian - seating is way too low to be comfortable and service was average - don’t bother.... we do love the neighborhood and enjoyed the street festival.

We wanted a nice atmosphere to catch up while having lunch and stopped by Aba for brunch. Atmosphere and decor: Excellent Service: we arrived without a reservation however the staff immediately seated us which we appreciated; the only drawback was that it was adjacent to the kitchen so the server traffic was busy and a bit off putting. Food: nice, light, tasty and well seasoned and refreshing with average to small portion sizes. We had the: Chicken Kefta* (lemon, olive oil, tzatziki) served with a nice garlic and olive oil seasoned basmati rice; and Grilled Chicken* (yogurt marinade, sweet peppers, zhoug) Drinks: the Slippery Slope ( Sauvignon Blanca, fresh lemon and spritzer) was refreshing, light, summery and well balanced. Would I return: possibly during warmer weather just to dine in the balcony seating area while nibbling on appetizers and drinks.

This is the best Mediterranean restaurants I've been to in Chicago. A bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. We got the short rib hummus, hammachi, big eye tuna, black garlic shrimp scampi, grilled cauliflower, and lamb and beef kefta. Black garlic shrimp and short rib hummus are must order and the best thing we had. The others were good, not as great. The lamb and beef kefta was the least flavorful, but the rice it comes with was very good. Great drinks too, downtown prices. I asked the server for a gin cocktail and the bartender did not disappoint. Delicious herbal gin drink with no bite. Great for $13.

Very nice restaurant with a very nice ambience and terrace. The food was very delicious. Since we are from the Mediterranean region, I was amazed how well the chef Eric Santoyo cooked the taste here in the USA.

One of the trendier spots in the Fulton Market area, Aba does elegance and delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere. The rooftop area has awesome views of the Willis tower and Fulton street. 100% make a reservation in advance ! While initially I found its clandestine entrance to be unnecessary. It does add to its charm in and that those who know know. And I can appreciate that. Worth the visit if you’re in the area. I had the grilled chicken kebabs with rice and loved every bite !

Fantastic food, drinks and service. Modern Mediterranean. Excellent ambience. New Fave. Huge value for Chicago Restaurant Week at $48 each for a glass of wine, 2 apps, 1 entree and dessert. Didn't skimp on portions either.

I am writing this review while sitting with 2 friends at Aba right now. 65 minutes ago we ordered grilled chicken and grilled salmon. This us supposed to be a "restaurant" where you order food and they bring it. This is not a restaurant. You order food but they don't bring any. I am still here, at Aba right now. 1 hour and 10 minutes. No chicken. No salmon. Go here if you want to order food but not get any.

I did not have a reservation and was short on time so I sat at the bar which I was told had a full menu. My server was quick and attentive. The ice coffee was delicious and very welcome on a 90 degree day. I came for the falafel and ordered the eggplant spread to go with it. The falafel balls were crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside=perfect! The garlic sauce they rested on was very tasty. The eggplant was smooth and smoky=perfect also! They came with warm soft pitas made in house with zatar, delicious!!

Located in a trendy street with lots of restaurants, cool design, nice atmosphere. Nice crowd. Staff is very friendly. Sometimes it takes some time to get things or they forget, but they all are friendly and try their best to accommodate you. Food is excellent, Hummus, chicken, cauliflower, pasta, etc - all dishes taste great and are good quality. Also dessert was excellent. Food did really convince me. I was worried before getting there because often trendy places disappointed because there is no substance, but Aba did a great job and convinced me, I will go back.

This is by far the best restaurant that serves upscale Mediterranean food. The combination of spices and fresh ingredients were absolutely exquisite. We tried several dishes, the Jerusalem bagel was fresh from the oven and the turmeric cream sauce with fried Halumi cheese was by far my favorite. The fresh hot Babka was worth every calorie and the run I had to take this morning to burn it off!! Thank you GREG and team for a pleasant evening . You made our last night in Chicago tasty and memorable!! This is the view from the rooftop

Located in the West Loop of Chicago. Great design and atmosphere. Very trendy! The food and service was amazing! Excellent options to share - Hummus, hamachi, lamb chops, great side dishes. The Greek yourt was delicious! 👍👏

Overall a good experience. Some dishes we liked more than others but most would concur. The good was between good and very good, B to B+. Wait staff was fair. Needed more training and refinement. A bit abrupt. Also be aware of the quantity of good you order. They clearly try to sell you more than you need.

It was raining when we went, so we didn't get the full rooftop experience, but it was still a very pretty restaurant. We started with the short rib hummus, which was excellent. Tender short rib with creamy hummus and grilled onions, warm, soft pita bread. We also had the sea scallops, which were very good, as was the beef tenderloin with fingerling potatoes. I was not a fan of the creme brulée pie (I prefer the traditional kind). Our server was very friendly and the food came out quite quickly for such a crowded place.

This restaurant opens at 4 pm. The meals are truly great - meditation and Arabic cuisine which I personally love. The wine collection is great. Please pay attention that this place is very famous - when we came exactly at 4 p.m. many tables have been already book everywhere and it was hard to get a place. We must say that probably being very popular some hostess behave rather arrogant but it is not bothering to get the satisfaction this place can bring you. The music is stylish, meals are great. The interior is luxury and very stylish. It is for sure fancy and trendy place. Will definitely come back. Dress code.

I went with my daughter for CRW dinner; what a d(st)eal. We had so much food that my daughter took home the leftovers; I would definitely come back here again. I couldn't finish my wine that's how much food we had. I love the ambiance too, yes some noise but not overly noisy as other restaurants are. Don't miss this place.

Office holiday party - we had a group of 10. Warm, professional and welcoming. A great additon to the Fulton Marketr area. We had a drink at the bar while the table was being prepared. Wide array of one's chosen poison - very impressed with the wine list. The food was delicious. We had a wide variety of appretizers and all were excellent. Spicy hummus was great. The server was very attentive and ensured that we were well taken care of. I was surprised at how buys the place was on a Tuesday evening. It was a little loud but that was to be expected.

Pleasant and restful restaurant setting. Mezzes or small plates, good for sharing.Nothing extraordinary in terms of taste experiences, but a decent kitchen that turns out to be reliable.However, it offers a talented menu that most people find interesting choices.

Food plates are so small that its difficult to share them. Pork belly mostly fat and very overpriced. Other selections nothing special. This is a place for young people to be seen for the atmosphere and the drinks. Went home and ate another meal, left hungry. Forget the food, go there for a drink. Hard to believe that its owned by Lettuce Entertain You. Would not wait to get in... its not worth it!

Go early or expect to wait for this rooftop. Nice staff who doesn't rush you, good views and good drink/food selections.

Aba is a gem! Me and my husband both really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The hummus and crispy potatoes are to die for!

I came here for a work event and had a lovely time. Aba has a beautiful third floor patio space that’s perfect for a cool summer day. The service was absolutely outstanding with delicious bites coming around constantly. I particularly liked the chicken meatballs. The cheesecake for dessert was also lovely. I really enjoyed coming here and hope to come in my personal capacity in the future.

I wanted a nice restaurant for my birthday. We live in the West Loop and despite the recent mixed reviews, chose Aba from a list of Michelin-rated restaurants and a neighbor's recommendation. We have also traveled to both Greece and Egypt in the past two years and enjoyed the cuisine so both my daughter and I are familiar with the tastes. Pros: Was able to get a weekend reservation day of - that might have been a clue. The server noted and communicated to the chef an ingredient allergy The wine steward was able to give insights into the wine. The Stracciatella, classic hummus, and charred eggplant spread were 10/10. Cons: The grilled halloumi and Faroe Island Salmon were borderline awful. The Halloumi tasted like grocery store cheese sticks in turmeric sauce and the garnish for the salmon lacked a taste direction. Worse of all the server after she took the order and figured this was only a $40 tip was MIA. In typical LEY fashion ignored the two-person party and gushed over the larger groups of which there were several. I did not realize this was a LEY restaurant until we paid the bill, I swore off this group after two other similar experiences. Their line is set up so kitchen staff brings the food, this leads to couples getting ignored and servers going all out for large groups. So for happy hour - yes, full meal, no.

Wonderful atmosphere and decor. Decor much nicer than Ema. Tasty food, albeit not small dishes were done to perfection. Whipped feta and hummus, as well as meat dishes did not disappoint. However, house bread and stracciatella with tomatoes paled in comparison to Ema's preparation. Overall, a nice meal. Will go back, but to Ema. While we love a great decor, ultimately, Ema's food reigns supreme.

We loved our meal at Aba...and I liked the concept of sitting on the rail if you pop in without a reservation. That being said, our server was fantastic, but the service left something to be desired. Two rounds of drinks were wrong or forgotten, as was one round of small plates. It seemed like the rail was somewhat overlooked in terms of service. What we received (when it was brought correctly) was excellent: the skirt steak was possibly my favorite, though the falafel, lamb ragu, and roasted root vegetable salad were also excellent. The grilled octopus was good, but our least favorite. I am certainly going back, but this time getting a reservation at a real table.

Be sure to book way in advance -- just simply wonderful - delicious food - unusual pairings - try the Moroccan wine - located in the Fulton Market - take a little time to wander around-- our waiter was very very good -- highly recommend

The ambience is very inviting, excellent food and service is impeccable. Social distancing and cleanliness is strictly followed

Superb food. Authentic Middle East flavors. Superb drinks and excellent winds. Wait staff are amazing. Add in great people watching and you have a new favorite!

Though difficult to get a table, this restaurant is certainly worth the wait. The staff is gracious, the decor is comforting and the food is wonderful. I could eat there every day.

Great new Lettuce Entertain You restaurant in Fulton Market. Beautiful interior with trees, cool bars, and a nice rooftop. The food is the real winner though. It’s small plates, but with a generous portion size. We tried the artichoke hummus which was probably the best hummus I’ve ever had. The red pepper Muhamara (sp?) was also really good. The house bread (warm pita) was out of this world and a great vehicle for soaking up the spreads. The village salad was great and had a really tasty dressing. Recommend the octopus and crispy potatoes as well. Drink menu was pretty extensive. I had the Mediterranean Mule and enjoyed how smooth it was. Creme brûlée cheesecake for dessert. Great way to close out this wonderful meal. Can’t wait to come back.

I wish I could give them 10 stars. From the moment we contacted Aba/The Dalcy, the staff was helpful, friendly, knowledgeable and professional. We hosted about 85 people at my son's rehearsal dinner and they made us look like heroes. The space is warm and cozy, the food was off the charts awesome and the staff were really great to work with. I highly recommend The Dalcy for your next event.

Awesome food. Great ambiance and. Good service. Little pricey for the quantity, but worth the try. Good choice.

Checked in on Saturday at 11:05 for a 11:15 reservation only to be told sorry your table request was unavailable. really unbelievable seeing that they just opened. I was starting off a date day downtown with my wife celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary. I checked in and instantly was told sorry but the table you requested was taking. I would understand if the restaurant was totally full but the option we were offered was in a three quartered filled restaurant. Food never disappoints but next time don't take the time to reserve a table if you never intended to reserve it. The hostess was more than happy to inform me that sorry couldn't seat you at the table you requested. NOT COOL!!!!!!

Such a great vibe in here! We loved the lush decor, you really feel like you are sitting in restaurant somewhere in the Mediterranean. The food is my favourite type of cuisine (a mash-up of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fusion) and the flavour profiles were excellent. There was a really fun, trendy crowd in the restaurant and we left super happy! Service was slow but we didn't mind because we were there with another couple and didn't want the meal to end it was so fun and tasty!

My daughter brought me here; thought I would love it...she was right! Grilled octopus, the hummus, the falafel, everything was so delicious!

This place has a great buzz and if you like mid-Eastern food this is the place to go. Food is outstanding and reasonably priced. Extremely attentive service. A must go to in Chicago.

Dined here to try restaurant and celebrate a birthday. Middle eastern food served tapa style is the vibe. Food was good not great. Pumpkin hummus with warm pita bread was excellent. Hamachi and chicken were good. Crispy potatoes and lamb chops were very good. Drinks were good also. Service is attentive and helpful. Ambiance is nice. Food doesn’t have me rushing back, but we had a good dining experience overall.

The interior design was immaculate!!! Also the food was delicious. Glad I stopped by. Definitely need reservations for a table but it’s worth it. It feels like you are sitting in a garden.

Manager wouldn’t give me my 20% discount. Even after showing proof i work for a lettuce restaurant. food was decent. Won’t go back

Loved the ambiance of this place. The food was yummy also! The service was also good! This is a perfect date place! Their sister place is Ema. Aba is much much nicer and better food!

Visited the much hyped up ABA on a Friday night. Spectacular room. Out doors looks even mor gorgeous. Great cocktail menu. My friend said the best old fashioned was the best he ever had. The service started out pretty good but went down to about zero. The food is good. We had both the short rib hummus and the tamarind short ribs. Chef needs a refresher on how to cook short ribs. Both were way to dry. The accompanying hummus was simply perfect as was the pitas that came with them. The roast potatoes (which are waiter told us were the best vegetables on the menu) were bland and average at best. Fried flavourless chunks of potatoes. The charred eggplant was as advertised as smooth delicious dish with lightly smoked eggplant. Very good. The falafels were slightly above average. Large green crisped balls. But the service was simply horrific. Our waiter started out great. On top of it and attentive. But after the first round of food he disappeared. We told him we would order some lighter dishes to start with cocktails and then order some more food and wine. The cocktails were long gone with no sight of the waiter. Overly anxious bussers repeatedly came by offering to clear the not yet finished food. The waiter eventually returned. Took forever for him to bring the wine list. The second round of food and wine was delivered. No knives that had been cleared earlier. Had to hail down another staff member to bring them. No further check in by the waiter. After finishing our meal (not seen from our waiter for well over a three quarters of an hour) we wanted the check but our waiter was no where to be seen. We stopped another waiter and he said he would get our waiter who did show up about 10 minutes later. No offer of dessert. No apology but said he would get the us the check. I wondered if he had a part time job he went to. Then he went into the abyss again. So much so the waiter we had hailed down apologized for him. Eventually he plopped the check on our table and someone else came by to process payment. I would give his service level a 0 and pink slip if I was the owner. Would never go back until I read multiple reviews that they have a new manager or something who is running the service.

What a treat from start to finish. Our server was attentive and helpful. The menu and wine list is fantastic. Every item we chose was amazing. Lamb skewers May have been my favorite but very hard to say. If you can get in, you must go!

Surprisingly cool ambiance under the circumstances! Very good food, sized to share. Friendly service all around.

I went with a few friends for brunch during restaurant week and it was everything we expected & more. Great ambiance, incredible food, and friendly service. Will be returning!!

We had an early dinner at this location. The atmosphere is really good with nice decorations. There is also very comfortable outdoor seating. What I do not like at such restaurants is when you walk in, they say they are very busy and wait time is about 40 minutes, although you see many empty tables. Then in literally 5 minutes they get you seated. I never understood the logic. Anyway, the menu has many Lebanese dishes. The display is good, the service is quick, however, the taste is good but too edgy on the creative side. I love Mediterranean food when it is simple. Anyway, we tried but not sure if I come back.

Make a reservation: getting a table is tough. The patio is gorgeous, as is the inside dining room. Start with the hummus (the spicy wasn't too hot; the lamb ragu was delish), with warm, flavorful, thick pita. The housemate stracciatella was excellent, as the heirloom tomatoes were still in season: sweet. flavorful. DO order the crispy potatoes. Yum! The kebabs were hearty, with rice. You can skip the Jerusalem Everything bagel; just so-so. And the beef short rib was mediocre. But the service and room are exquisite.

Excellent food, even better service and reasonable pricing, a very enjoyable experience and one of Chicago's best options.

This venue provides a wonderfully cozy atmosphere, perfect for a romantic date! The cuisine we experienced was absolutely incredible. Every dish was prepared with fresh ingredients and was incredibly delicious. I highly recommend this establishment!

Highly recommend a visit to Aba! We went for a quick girls trip to Chicago and spent part of our evening enjoying a few dishes and cocktails. One bite and your tastebuds will come alive - seriously, it was the most impressive meal of our entire trip. The ambiance is beautiful, stunning decor and wonderful service. Side note, if you can book a rooftop/patio table you’ve got the best set up for your meal. I recommend making reservations ahead of time.

Two couples and a friend dined on Saturday Night. The reservation was tough to obtain as ABA is extremely popular right now but the restaurant was by the end of the day able to accommodate a request to increase the res to 5 because a friend flew in from out of town to dine there and unexpectedly brought a guest. Yet you should not expect this as the restaurant was very busy and the only empty table c we saw at 10:20 pm was a small cocktail table in the bar. We were sat in at a Five next to the bar which was on the perimeter of the “scene” but also quiet enough to talk and hear everyone. Our reservation was ready upon arrival. The format is smaller, shared servings. The food to me is a Mediterranean fusion take on mss as many american dishes. If you are picky, check the menu first. Per choices on my other reviews, I am personally somewhat picky though my wife and most friends tend not to be. The lamb hummus $15, Salt & Pepper broc $9, and feta 9$ starters were delicious and best options on the menu for those that are them. With one exception we shared entrees and we loved the following, which we at least large enough to be an entree if you had eaten a few apps: 6 shrimp scampi $15, grilled halibut $25 (very tender middle with crispy outer layer), cauliflower kebab $13, and $16 grilled octopus. The skirt steak $22 and salmon kebab $18 were very tasty but nothing unusual so I’d skip them (though a second order of a skirt steak served as one line Diner’s entire meal, served with delicious fries. The big eye tuna $15 was ok. We shared one dessert, choc babka $8 for a relatively large piece (think pan fried large cookie size). It was delicious but was the single item that appeared to arrive either overcooked or perhaps sat for 5-10 min and continue cooking in its pan. The cocktails included Prosecco, Tatomer, Giuliana, Hendricks, Aronias, and Hendricks, each $12-13. One guest slipped and no less than 3 employees checked on the guest. The restaurant dedicated $60 from the bill, which was not solicited. Service insofar as our food and drinks with the singles exception of the babka was excellent. It is my impression that the family off the owner of Let Us Entertain You have taken over the biz; this restaurant demonstrates that they learned well from the parents about providing Both great food and service. The meal was not cheap but also not expensive for a trendy stop in the trendiest neighborhood. It was $320 with tip for 5 before they deducted $60. Parking and traffic are awful in Fulton Market. Construction, one way streets, and lots of taxis and shared ride vehicles. $16 valet reasonable but the traffic may make you crazy. Find a spot on spot hero in advance and walk the market area, or take a taxi/shared ride. The restaurant entrance is on Green, just north of Fulton, and East to miss. There is a black canopy over the door. The valet stand is at the NW corner off Green/Fulton. Can’t wait to go back or try the sister restaurant Ema.

great new restaurant in Fulton Market Tried a range of dishes and all were great and flavorful Rooftop was great and the restaurant and bar are really well designed although busy was not overly noisy Would recommend highly Courtney was a treat at the bar and one of the best servers I have had the pleasure of spending time with during drinks and dinner in some time Well done to all

Three couples from around the country meet in Chicago to enjoy food, fun and the Art Institute. We really loved our food at Aba. The hummus, the eggplant spread, shrimp & lemon, halloumi but especially the broccoli! Really impressed with the tastes and the quality. We all agreed it was a winner. Cristina was a knowledgeable and personable server.

I went there for brunch with 3 others and we sat on the rooftop deck outside. The decor and atmosphere is nice (lots of plants everywhere) and the view of the Chicago skyline is nice. However, the food was just okay. We had the kebabs (both Chicken and Lamb/Beef) and they were just okay. I've had better at various other restaurants. We also had the Jerusalem Bagel which was good but the salmon spread was too much cream cheese and not enough salmon. I will not be going back to Aba. There are too many other good restaurants in Chicago.

I had been trying to get a reservation for months. This is my new favorite. The wait was totally worth it. Started with 2 types of hummus: spicy and mushroom truffle. Pita was great, hummus creamy and to die for!! Next was a salad of tomatoes, feta, onions, kalamatas, and a beautiful dressing. It literally melted in your mouth. Hot potatoes mezza followed (addictive). The meats were delicious chicken kebab and delicate roasted lamb chops (small but delicious). Desserts were Greek frozen yogurt, creme brullette pie, and home made halvah plate (which was AMAZING). Can't remember a more spectacular meal!!!!

Excellent ambience, very friendly service and quick too. Food was amazing! Lot of options for vegetarians! I would definitely visit again!

I had an awful experience with this restaurant. this is the third "lettuce entertain you" restaurant I have been to, and each experience has been worse than the last. My food was overcooked. and the service was bad and slow. I'm pretty sure it's a management problem because everything seemed really disorganized. At this location when I was walking through the restaurant, I saw people in the kitchen handling food without gloves or hairnets. that is disgusting. Imagine the person handing you your food had been touching raw meat amongst other things. My underaged cousin was served someone else's alcoholic beverage. what in the world. Awful experience. I don't really blame the servers or the cooks it is managements job to ensure that food is handled properly and that the servers don't have to much to do.

Always awesome for dinner, drinks and of course for their wonderful patio and now for brunch too! Many of the same great dinner items, with additional delicious brunch items including the kefta and eggs, which was great with salmon too. Service is always excellent and special thanks to Artis, Madisyn, Michael and Nina for their fantastic hospitality on our most recent visit. Looking forward to coming back soon and highly recommend!

A great restaurant to try lots of sharing dishes. My favourite was the Big Eye Tuna. Also delicious was the short rib hummus, falafel and the shrimp scampi. The restaurant itself has a cool vibe. Service was attentive to the timing of dishes and filling water etc but they tended not to come back in between dishes to see if we needed anything.

Terrific small plates. Great vibe but slightly overpriced for what is served. Service was good and hostess was inattentive and unfriendly.

I'm sad to say I was incredibly let down with my experience at Aba. I went with a large group on Saturday night for my birthday. I planned this a month in advance. For weeks I was checking the reservation list every morning to try and get a large table for my birthday dinner. I have read great things about Aba and was extremely excited to try it for my bday. In the time span of 90 minutes, our waiters only came TWICE. I had a friend getting up to chase down waiters for us. When they finally did come, they took forever with our orders. We probably would have ordered much more if the service wasn't horrific. On top of that, the cocktails were MEDIOCRE. This really surprised me, part of what called me to the restaurant were the high reviews and the high prices made me think it was more upscale. But our cocktails tasted like any other cocktails from any chicago bar. Nothing fancy about presentation, nothing fancy about taste. My green cocktail even tasted watered down. Our expensive $13 each tequila shots tasted like the cheapest tequila. We decided not to even attempt to order food because of how long we were awkwardly waiting between orders. I made a reservation for a lounge table. I literally looked at a bunch of pictures to decide where the best seating was (lounge vs. table vs. indoors). We were sat in the most unattractive area. Right in front of an entrance, right in front of the area all the waiters were entering orders. I was gemuinly shocked by this experience. I really care about planning my birthday to be a great experience for myself and the people I love. I had friends travel from different cities for this. Aba severely brought the experience down. I felt slightly embarrassed for having hyped it up. Overall the service was horrible, I didn't feel like we were treated very kindly, the quality of drinks felt mediocre and way too expensive to be mediocre, and the wait times were absurd. I'm not sure if this was due to some sort of prejudice because we were a large diverse group of mid-twenty year olds, or if we just came at a bad time, but I don't think I will be coming back. I'm genuinely confused how they have such high reviews, I felt mislead.

This place has unique ambience and pretty good cocktails. The food however is on the pricey side so Be prepared to spend at least $30 per person. This place gets crowded easily so you should try to go early.

The setting is perfect for a meal in the summer! Beautiful greenery and comfy seating with fabulous drinks and small plates. Highly recommend the octopus

If you are looking for Quality and flavor at the same time this is your place for sure. Fast service with great kindness will amaze you.

Found this spot walking thru the Fulton Market on this chilly December night. Sipped my wonderfully made Maker’s sour in cozy comfort. Dined on an excellent FAROE ISLANDS SALMON*GF with roasted cabbage, carrot puree, pickled coriander and concord grape.

The first thing you notice when you enter Aba is the vibe. It really jumps. It has two bars on opposite sides of the room which were both full. The look is clean and modern. The food -- mostly small plates -- was excellent, and the choices were extensive. The wine list was quite good too. Our waiter was helpful in picking out dishes for us to try, but only when asked -- that's good. Great evening. We will go back

Wow! We celebrated my son’s 21st birthday on the beautiful terrace at Aba. Everything was excellent. We loved the food, drinks, service, and views. Can’t wait to return.

We just had friends over and everything was top, service quality and ambiance! From appetizers to dessert all good!

Aba is THE hot new restaurant since opening this summer. We finally scored a reservation for a semi-reasonable hour on a weeknight. When we arrived at 6:15 we overheard the hostess tell the folks in front of us that without a reservation, to expect a 1-1/2 hour wait for a table. But we were seated within a couple minutes of the time of our reservation. The room is big and open with a huge skylight, trees in planters, interesting light fixtures and a bar at each end of the room. Very attractive. The music is very noticeable. The small-plates menu skews to the eastern part of the Mediterranean with dishes like felafel, pita with hummus or spreads of whipped feta or Muhammara (peppers, walnuts, etc). kebabs and a couple different lamb dishes, among other offerings. We ordered 5 dishes for 2 persons to share; 4 would have been sufficient. I loved my "hybrid sour" cocktail. The standout dishes for us were the braised eggplant lamb and the Muharrama spread which I would not have ordered except that our waitress said it was her favorite starter. They comped our creme brûlée pie (I have no idea why except we were very enthusiastic and made the waitress laugh). Service was brisk, water glasses were refilled promptly, the waitress checked on us a couple times to make sure we were happy with our dishes. There was one minor mishap; the runner knocked over the candleholder on our table in his haste to deliver the food, causing melted wax to spread across the tabletop. The tea light inside went rolling and almost ignited the napkin of the breadbasket. Fortunately, the wax didn't spill on any clothing and nothing caught on fire. The mess was quickly cleaned up, with apologies. We enjoyed our experience and thought the food was creative and well-executed. Aba is a fine addition to the booming Fulton Market District.

This is a very happening place! We all loved our food. Vegan options are available. We showed up on a Thursday around 8:45pm without a reservation. It was packed and the only seating option available was outside on the couches. The ambiance is great both inside and outside. The night we were there was quite chilly. We each had a blanket to use to keep warm, which was nice. I'm surprised they didn't have heaters outside.

Unless you’re familiar with this cuisine and menu (we weren’t) I recommend going with the server’s suggestions. The additional benefit is getting to talk to their very friendly staff. We loved the lamb ragu, eggplant spread, and double chocolate babka dessert.

Very fun with excellent service. It was during happy hour and we did enjoy some of the cold mezzo. Smoked eggplant was to tie for but the regular hummus was just fair. Short ribs were very good but the pork belly was not great. The pistachio cake for dessert was great but the coffee was bland. Atmosphere inside was very nice and outside probably better

Another great Lettuce entertain you spot. The service was superb, atmosphere was wonderful, but food just a bit underwhelming. The spicy hummus had a good taste, but no spice and the chicken kebab was quite bland. The octopus was a definite winner in all of our food selection with the tender texture and great flavor. We will be back.

Always amazing. The best Mediterranean with great food, drinks, and service. Third visit. Can’t rave enough and always come back!

OH yeah!! Summer rooftop with beautiful people, sunglasses in the shade and always ready cell phones. If coolness was steam this place would be a locomotive!!

Pros-We loved so much about Aba. Michael, our server, was spot on with recommendations for dinner. We loved the pina colada cocktail, and we'll definitely be back for the short rib hummus! BEST dish of the evening. Cauliflower kebobs were meh; skip the tuna. Michael really made our evening, with his attentive service and knowledge. Cons--hostess was a bit clueless. She sat us, when only 8 table in the restaurant were filled, right next to a single diner. Awkward! Especially when the rest of the dining room was empty. Even an hour later, it was only half full. Clearly, the wait staff made up for the hostess. Also, the plates provided were way too small to eat from. Ridiculous. And we only had a change of plates and utensils once throughout the evening. Hopefully the Lettuce Entertain management can tighten things up.....and definitely ask Michael how it's done!

If you like Mediterranean / Middle Eastern food, this is definitely worth the trip. Having spent a lot of time in California, I always found this type of food in Chicago to have too much of a heavy hand.... but not at Aba. I went with my wife and friends for the cool roofdeck and drinks, but ended up sampling half the food menu. If you enjoy a more authentic Mediterranean food experience, definitely give this place a try. Oh, BTW, some of the best cocktails in Chicago also.

Another great meal at Aba. My wife and I are doing a downtown foodie tour. Recommend the corn humus, Brussels sprouts, and falafel. Mideastren food with modern kick. Lots of action in the streets around there

Went there last night and absolutely loved everything about it from the location to the atmosphere and certainly the food.

Let's start with all the great things I like about Aba....loved the ambiance...the place is beautiful...we sat on the balcony which was lovely, great weather, coming from humid Houston. Our server was excellent, very attentive, food came out quickly...it is tapas style...so we ordered quite a bit for 4...we started with the crispy short ribbed hummus ...yummy, and the whipped feta...those were my favorite. The muhammara was ok, the lamb kabob was ok too, the halibut was delicious, and so was the Hamachi...the potatoes were good too...It has some great and not so great dishes, but the vibe and energy is fun, plus great part of town.

Fabulously tasty hummus was shared with a Chicago friend. Served tapas style, the only negative was that we ran out of the pita - which was served warm and the perfect accoutrement. Ordered feta, garlic based, and eggplant dips. My favorite: the feta. SO SO yummy!

Fantastic environment. Food is served to share. It's hard to say what was better. The truffed salmon is of the gods. The cave of bulls cannot be described. The Lamb I ate on my knees. I think one of the best restaurants I have ever been to, and located in a top gastronomic region. I indicate a lot!

Spectacular restaurant in the Fulton Market district. Embiance was wonderful, and the food was absolutely incredible. Mediterrannean tapas and not a bad dish on the menu. Beef carapccio melted in your mouth, pork belly was beautifully crispy. Many excellent vegetarian options for someone in our group, which were amazingly tasty. A real gem. Cannot wait to come back.

I definitely recommend this place, particularly if you like tasty food and enjoy sampling a number of items. We were there with our family and enjoyed every dish. i recommend starting with a reasonable number of items, even if the waiter suggests more.

We had a delicious & reasonably priced brunch for 4 with excellent service and the food was amazing. Loved the atmosphere & vibe.

This is a wonderful restaurant, had worried that it might be cool on the enclosed heated roof top but it was perfect! The food and service were excellent, as was the customer service. We had left our credit card in the folder and before we even left the building, Aba staff called my phone to tell us! Great busy spot, book early!

I went there for dinner and it was fantastic. The place is beautiful and the service was excellent. The food was really amazing. Enjoyed all the flavors. The muhammara and the beef short ribs were my favorite. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

This place has been on my list of places to try for awhile. We were here on a Friday night for a 4:25 reservation. The outdoor patio was packed by 5 PM. The rooftop deck is gorgeous with all different kinds of seating. They had low and high top tables as well as couch groupings which would seat anywhere from 4 to 11 people. They have arbors and umbrellas so if needed you can find a place in the shade. There were also 6 ceiling fans to keep you cool on a hot day. The inside of the restaurant was as beautiful as the deck. Lots of plants on both. Music was low enough you could have a conversation. The food is Mediterranean small plates and everything we ordered was delicious. Service is impressive. We had the tomato salad, hummus, grilled octopus, slow cooked lamb wrapped in eggplant and Moroccan spiced chicken cutlet. All were beautifully prepared. Meals are served with delicious warm pita bread.

We loved it! We went on the 4th of July and got there at 4 pm right when it opened.Which is great because there was a huge line after. My favorite drink was the blueberry spritz and we ordered a bunch of appetizers and two big dishes for the 4 of us. Our favorite was Muhammara spread, we loved how spicy it was at the end. The lambchops were great two but it only brought 2 so we were dissapointed. The artichoke hummus was ok.

My friend and I visited for Sunday brunch and we were both so impressed. The food was excellent - so fresh, so full of flavour - the short rib hummus was amazing! Great cocktails, great atmosphere and great service makes this a place to definitely visit. I had to set a diary reminder and alarm to book a spot as soon as reservations opened but it was well worth the effort!

We enjoyed dinner at Aba, a lively restaurant that is worthy of the praise it has received. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and had just the right level of attentiveness. We ordered several small plates, including the short rib hummus, Brussel sprouts with pomegranate molasses, octopus, whipped feta and lamb and beef kafta. All were terrific; the octopus was a real stand out.

All the food was outstanding. The crispy short rib hummus was phenomenal as was the spicy chicken thighs. As was all of it. Our server who’s name I cannot recall was great. The sommelier was spot on when helping with our wine selection. All in all the entire experience was wonderful. Thanks to all the Aba team. We would come more frequently if we lived closer.

Extremely flavorful yet approachable food is what you’ll find here with a backdrop of one of if not the most gorgeous dining rooms in all of chicago. The staff is warm & one of the best parts is there is absolutely no rush while dining nor listening to the staff explain dishes. I can’t wait to return for the summer...

food was very good mediterranean....got there at 4 when it opened ...As time went by noise level and crowd was difficult... ALLin all very good

Really beautiful modern space in the Fulton Market area. Food is meant to be shared. Portions are plentiful. We loved the spicy hummus, smoked fish and biscuit. Bartenders were friendly and created some fun cocktails.

We were so excited to try Aba as it’s really hyped, but it definitely did not meet our expectations. We ordered the hummus, chapped eggplant, crispy chicken and kebab. The kebab was the only dish we thought was okay, we had to return the chicken (as it was soft and jelly) and the eggplant had a really weird taste. The food felt really pre-prepped and greasy, like they didn’t use fresh ingredients. The atmosphere and staff were really nice though, I bet it’s better to sit in the bar and grab a drink.

My family and I went for my birthday dinner on 02/26/2024. The place looks amazing with beautiful decorations and nice greenery. Unfortunately food was not up to the same high standards. My husband and both sons had stomach problems , nausea and vomiting after our meal. They ordered the skirt steak and grilled lamb chops. Food was cold , meat was old and chewy. Even vegetables were soggy. Fair to say appetizers were good but main courses were extremely disappointing.

Aba is one of Fulton Market's trendy restaurants, and it's easy to understand why it's so hard to get a reservation here - wonderful food, terrific wine list and highly professional service in a warm and inviting atmosphere. The heart of the menu is Mediterranean food with a strong tilt toward the Middle East. The dishes are inventive without being fussy and all are delicious. The dishes are highly flavorful without being heavy. I particularly enjoyed some of the hummus dishes, especially the starter that combined hummus with lamb ragout and the crispy short rib hummus. The starters offer several dips, and I highly recommend the muhammara, a walnut, pomegranate and roasted pepper puree. Lamb wrapped in eggplant is a dazzling main course, as is black garlic shrimp, pork belly with orzo and a kebab of grilled salmon. Add in a very well curated wine list and you have a wonderful meal in store.

We had to book our reservation two months in advance but it was worth the wait. The setting of Aba is hip, well executed, and interesting. Four of us shared seven items: crispy short rib hummus, muhammara (spicy red pepper spread), roasted root vegetable salad (included fruit as well), hamachi (raw), crispy potatoes (don't miss these), the most tender grilled octopus I've had in a long time, and halibut. Even the pita was good. One dish was better than the next. The menu items we did not have looked equally appealing. Drinks were creative and nicely done. The service was attentive and excellent. We will be back.

Really enjoyed everything about Aba: the food is good, the portions sizes are perfect for sharing, the atmosphere is nice. I like that they have a patio which is nice and heated in the winter. The patio feels more spacey vs the indoors dining area -which is way too close and claustrophobic for me. The service is great too, with the right balance of attention. Will be back in warmer weather.

As guests invited to a party of eight, I couldn’t protest the horrific table we were led to.... despite having reservations for weeks and the place 2/3 full. My (3 of us actually) entire evening consisted of looking into the open door to the kitchen with the service area to the left of that..... had I been the host, I’d have walked out before accepting it.... Thereafter, it was a nice experience. Attentive service, very tasty food and decent spirits. One complaint is they only had a half dozen beer choices..... given all the local breweries that’s a joke and a way to push you into their pricier cocktails - not appreciated. The food we enjoyed included four different hummus plates, the short rib humus being best but they were stingy with pita to spread them on. We also had the shrimp, spicy salad, falafel, beef and chicken kabobs. The chicken needed two minutes more on the grill..... and the rice with it was dry. Dessert was creme brûlée cake and it was top notch. Decor was pleasant and ambient noise was not so bad and allowed conversation at a larger table. We tried eating outside with a view of the city, but they have only one table for eight.... so we were banished to the kitchen view table. I’d return but this time I’d actually find it on the first try (2 separate cars drove past on first approach), given the near total lack of signage on Green Street. I’m surprised it wasn’t full on a beautiful weekend evening .......

By far the most beautiful roof top space I have spent time in. The outdoor patio, teeming with live plants, was full when we arrived at 4:15 on a Friday afternoon. So we saddled up to the indoor bar which is a space also stuffed with plants all under a giant skylight. With the air conditioning running, we were quite comfortable and ready for a cool cocktail before dinner elsewhere. Despite a menu of lively libations, I asked the bartender to make me something vodka-based. In no time, she made we a refreshing vodka drink with a nice balance of fruit flavors, without being fruity. My friend, who is expecting a child, asked for a virgin cocktail and the bartender came up with a flavorful concoction for her too. We ordered the avocado and fava bean appetizer, which was a nice snack to complement the overall ambience of the space. My only complaint, alot of the outdoor tables had "Reserved" signs on them, which gave the restaurant a bit of a snotty, elitist feel. I also noticed on my way out that some of the indoor plants were faux, which took a bit of the polish off the experience.

Pretty, open and airy interior space with rooftop patio. Everything we tried was delicious and photogenic. Friendly and efficient service. Reasonable prices. Full bar.

Best middle eastern food in Chicago in a gorgeous venue with great music and wait staff. Every entree and side was spectacular. We especially loved the salmon kebabs and chicken kefte, but the whipped feta, hummus, stracietella, and pita. The special drinks menus is a little expensive but the old fashioned were spectacular, as was the Arak. And don't skip dessert - especially the pistachio cake - even if full. We loved it.

Aba offers a very good experience with great food, great drinks and a beautiful setting. This restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. Appetizers were very good, entrees were ok. The waiter forgot about us for a while and a lady who knew nothing about the menu stepped in to help us. Service is not the strong suit of this place. The environment is superb; music, decor, lighting, smell…excellent. My 4 circles review is based on this. The food and drinks are a 3 circles and the service a 2. It is easy to get to the restaurant by metro if you choose so. A short walk from nearest station. Area around the place is beautiful. We sat inside. The patio is ok, we had the chance to walk around and sat for a few minutes. We liked the inside of Aba much more. Outside you loose part of the experience.

Amazing ambiance couple with out of this world dishes. Perfect for sharing if you are willing!!! Service was friendly, professional and interested! Can’t wait to go back! Book early and enjoy the outdoor patio!!

there were several issues. First, we arrived early (6:15) for our dinner reservations (6:30). It was my husband's birthday. We hoped to sit outside & were told that it might be as long as a 30 minute wait. No problem, we were happy to have a cocktail while waiting. Because we kept being told that we should be seated very shortly, we did not order appetizers. 90 minutes later we were seated. By that point we were tired of waiting & hungry. The festiveness we felt upon arrival had gone away, & now we were just hungry. It took another 15 minutes for our waitress to come over, who took our drink orders. She did not tell us about the menu or how many dishes to order. The drinks were delivered by a server. It's 8p now. We've been there since 6:15 & still have have not ordered. We asked the server to send our waitress over. We asked about the menu & placed our order. The food was really quite good & inventive. The outdoor setting was beautiful. The service was mediocre at best. The staff could take lessons from the staff at Girl & the Goat or ANY of the Peninsula restaurants, who consistently have outstanding service. While it was a Monday night, it was quite busy, so that likely plays a roll in the slowness of the seating & the slowness of the waitress. That said, whatever the reason, the restaurant should be prepared for busy evenings, as none of this is acceptable for a restaurant of this stature, & certainly didn't make for a fun celebratory evening.

I was really looking forward to Aba after hearing all the hype. I had recently been to Shaya in New Orleans which was fabulous, and I hoped that Aba would be similar. It is not at all in the same. Our meal was marginal at best. I visited with 2 friends on a Saturday night. I wanted a wine from Israel to go with the ethnic theme. The sommelier recommended one. At the tasting, we were not convinced and said we would let it breathe. It did not get better, and he did not come back to check. The food was not much better. The bread was marginal, the eggplant spread was too garlicky. The hummus was ok. The village salad was very good. The falafel was hard as a rock. The lamb kebab was over done. One of my friends ordered the Passover tasting menu, the highlight was the salmon, but it was a bit oily. The rest was ok. The service was good except for the sommelier. The ambiance was nice. In the summer, it will have nice outdoor seating.

we visited this excellent restaurant and everything we had was amazing: whipped feta spicy hummus village salad grilled cauliflower kebab look forward to visiting this place again!

Food and service are both very good and the vibe is fun. Beautiful views from the terrace but get there early- the place gets packed!

I love the atmosphere and swanky vibe here. The interior space is lovely. The outside space also looked nice. We went during the week, (because reservations are hard to get), so I’m sure it wasn’t as crowded as usual. The waiter was attentive and engaging. The food was good. I haven’t had anything quite like the Muhammara. It was delicious. The drinks were mixed well. I’d definitely recommend going, but know it’s a hot spot.

Had dinner with family first time for us and it was great Sam our server had wonderful suggestions and they were on point. The cream feta, tuna, short ribs, pita bread, and pistachio cake were my favorite. We sat indoors and the ambiance was beautiful. Hope to return on our next travel to chicago.

I was recently at aba with my family and we ordered many appetizers like family style as the waiter suggested. I attended aba with my family including my sister who is gluten free and they had a great variety. The service was good and our server was nice. They had a large variety of well flavored hummus that was very smooth and tasty. The atmosphere of the restaurant is nice and green and a little modern. To end the night I had a cappuccino which was very nice. I recommend this as a night out to Chicago. -Yc

This is a Mediterranean restaurant. It was just my husband and I. We started with the artichoke hummus, which was devoid of artichokes and was a beige, tasteless blob (with some micro greens) on a plate. The beet tzatziki was basically chopped beets with horseradish. Tasty, but not exceptional. The oddly named Charred Lamb Tartare was good. The lamb shank wrapped in eggplant was the best dish of the evening. Why this is the hot, new restaurant was beyond us.

$49 pp (times 2) then add $40 in fees, taxes, tips, delivery, kidnapping ransom etc. It was plenty of food in nice plastic see-through delivery containers and Doordash left it at our door, contact-free, during these Covid times. A card containing reheat/cooking instructions was included. Some things like Matso Ball soup were new to me (as I am not Jewish). A ball of soft bread with not a lot of flavor but the broth was fine. The proteins- braised short rib (melt in the mouth delicious) and Za'atar roasted chicken were Home Runs. Good quality meats as we have come to expect from Aba. Accompaniments included Parmesan, Potato and Brussels Sprouts Latkes, crisped up in our oven with scallion cream and apple compote. They were small-not your massive Manny's Deli potato pancakes-but tasty. The short ribs were embellished with spring onion sauce and tomatoes, heated in a sauce pan as was a tasty ramp puree. The chicken had some (very little really-boo hiss) sauted veggies including broccoli rabe. Apart from that there was a nice green salad with some fresh tomatoes and a crudite plate served with hummus and crispy Matso crackers. All worthy. Flourless chocolate cake with a dollop of whipped cream rounded out a fine meal. Something different for a special occasion. Aba gets our business once again.

Let me start by saying of everything we ordered - nothing disappointed! The portion sizes were good - especially for two people. We totally want to come back with more so we can order more things. But between the Smokey Humus, the Beef Tartar, the Greek Village Salad, the Green Falafel and the chicken kabobs - I'm not sure I had a favorite. It was all very good - and VERY affordable. The dining room is nice and earthy and as always with LEU the service was great. Really enjoyed the vibe - definitely coming back with family & out-of-town guests!

While the food was good (although couple dishes heavy on the salt), at the end we asked for coffee (w dessert) and it was horrible, like from a bottom of the pot, barely warm. But what really “killed it,” was the waitress, after we mentioned that it was not good, with a reply “it’s the end of the night.” 🙈 I’d recommend Emma instead, good food and service.

We had reservations for dinner at Aba on New Year's Eve. The place was full but we got our table almost immediately. We ordered several dishes to share and all of them were pretty good - for example, the hummus, the octopus, the orzo and the desserts as well. Service was really good ... timely. As to the ambiance... even though it was full, we didn't feel at all cramped. So overall a fantastic experience... we perhaps should have stayed thru midnight but we had reservations elsewhere.

Popped in to Aba on a whim for a drink with a friend. The rooftop area was beautiful! Very comfortable seating for large or small groups - note that this area runs on a first come first serve basis. The pergola provided decent shade on a beautifully sunny afternoon. While we did not dine inside, that area was very cute and made to look like the outdoors.

Was so glad to get a chance to dine at Aba this week. This whole area puts NYCs Meat Packing District to shame. Here this Fulton Market/West Loop area is clearly the place to be. So vibrant and full of energy. Aba is set on the second floor above Beatrix with a small sign about its entrance. The staff are very welcoming and friendly and the servers know their sh*t and just want to be sure you feel accommodated. I ordered the salmon kebab which comes with rice. Priced well and absolutely delicious. The sweet corn Hummus is tremendous. Loved this place and I will be back once I’m in town again. Beautiful open design complete with an outdoor deck and bar.

After hearing from plenty of people that I needed to give this restaurant a chance, we finally were able to get a reservation on a Sunday evening. We were promptly taken to our table and I felt incredibly comfortable with the ambiance and the environment. The service is tapa style with several variety of dishes to go with. I really enjoy the Charred Eggplant but also enjoyed the Halloumi - these are definitely dishes that I would order if I visited the restaurant again. The falafel as well as the Spicy Hummus are a solid option that I really enjoyed. The octopus we tried was probably the best cooked octopus I have ever tasted but didn't come with much flavor. The most expensive, and the least impressive dish we had was the lamb, which came burnt and with little flavor.

Came here for restaurant week and was pleasantly surprised by the food! Everything was really terrific taste wise! Service was not quite as immaculate but it was restaurant week and they were certainly not slow.

Came with family for dinner on the patio under outdoor heaters. Great ambience. Outstanding service. Wife liked her cocktail. Excellent tapas-style dishes. Would come again. Pretty hip young crowd. We were dressed more like hikers but nobody gave us a hard time;)

Great experience! We had a hard time getting a reservation but it was worth it. A very trendy fun spot. Loved the chicken kebab. We also loved the restaurant week deals

This is a busy, noisy, happy and bustling place. In the heart of the newly gentrified restaurant district, on the second floor, the large dining room has high ceilings, plenty of indoor and outdoor (terrace) seating. The large bar is a favorite of many guests and the busy waitstaff is kept busy, since the place is usually full. Make reservations: otherwise you'll have to wait or, sometimes, will not get in. The menu offers classic Mediterranean fare, with some American twists. The Eggplant spread was fabulous! The Crispy Short Rib was very tasty, but a bit dry and chewy; The Octopus alone is worth a visit and the Pork Belly was excellent. The eggplant lamb was a generous portion, so we were glad we didn't order more dishes. The wine list is good and service was efficient.

Food was insanely good!! Highly recommend the short rib hummus, hamachi, lamb kefta, brussels, halibut, whipped feta, creme brulee pie, date cake. Desserts are decadent and DELICIOUS! Prices are a bit high given that these are small plates, but honestly it was worth every penny. My advice is to order a bit at a time. We put our entire order in at once and everything came out so quickly. We felt a bit rushed. The waiter did say that he would pace the foods, but the pacing was much too fast. It is a beautiful restaurant with a lovely atmosphere. We wanted to linger a little longer. Cannot wait to go back and try all of the other fabulous things on the menu.

We were able to get a table on the 3rd floor deck overlooking some of Chicago's skyline. The menu os rich in variety, and is designed for sharing. We shared seven items for three...more than enough. Drinks were good. The deserts were also great. Highly recommend, but need reservations. Valet parking really helps.

Nice spot with special menu. Service was top. Maybe the wine list needs to be a little more special, in particular with the foreign wines.

Humus, falafel and bread were amazingly good. Solomon was a oily and the rice was way much too oily! Lamb beef Kebab was good.

Ava is one of the best places for takeout in the area. The octopus is my husband’s favorite and it’s always perfectly cooked. I usually go with salmon kebabs which are moist and delicious! The hummus is good ... the short rib version is especially rich so be prepared. The felafel was the only thing that disappointed as it was very dry and I wish the prices were more reasonable... it’s quite expensive for how much you get but the quality is there.

This restaurant is very beautiful, especially the outdoor seating is amazing. Service could have been better, we almost finished our plates and the kids were still waiting for their food. They had the chicken and rice bowl , which was kind of dry …. The hummus was great, as were the cocktails.

To my understanding this is a fairly new restaurant. The concierge at my hotel recommended it and I'm glad she did. The ambiance has this chic, romantic feel but still comfortable. The food here is excellent its a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern mix done very well. I had the grilled octopus & shrimp scampi both of which were delicious. The space is large & is probably amazing in the summer. Great for a date night or hanging out with friends.

My friend and I went to Aba tonight. I made the reservation a while ago, and we looked forward to seeing what all the hype was about. It didn't disappoint. Our server, Taylor, was wonderful. She explained everything and made good recommendations. We started with the roasted root vegetable salad, which was every good. The seasoned pita bread was tasty. Next we had the shrimp scampi. It was a bit spicy, but nicely presented. Then we had the lamb chops, which were delicious, and the king salmon, which was totally amazing. My friend said that it was the best salmon she ever ate! For dessert we had the double chocolate cake, and it was fabulous! The portions were not as small as we thought they would be, and we were both satisfied without being stuffed. The decor is lovely. Unfortunately we didn't see the roof deck because winter has come prematurely, but I've heard that it's very nice. The music is not my first choice, but since we were probably the oldest people in the restaurant, they must cater to the majority. I don't think it was too loud, and we were able to carry on a nice conversation. In fact, we were there for three very pleasant hours. Our wonderful server told us that there was no problem in lingering after dinner. I look forward to going back and trying some of the dishes that we didn't have, but I will definitely order the salmon again!

Hanging out in Chicago we went to Aba for a late breakfast. It was great all around. Service was friendly and helpful (a one yr old was part of our group). The table on the terrace was perfect. But the food was the best all, in particular the muhammara. We had several dishes to share and all, no exceptions, were tasty and well-prepared. Gotta go for dinner next time.

My partner and I made reservations for an early New Year’s dinner at Aba. What a way to ring in 2019! Our meal was quite possibly the perfect combination with each dish topping the last. Our server affirmed our choices along the way - there were several. He did not lead us astray. Roasted mushroom hummus, grilled octopus, salmon kebab, black garlic shrimp scampi, slow-braised leg of lamb wrapped in eggplant. Aba provided a beautiful space, delicious dinner and excellent service. We couldn’t have been happier. To top things off, this was one of the few times we could remember being shocked by the bill - for all the right reasons. For the amount and quality of food, Aba is for sure one of the more reasonable top-line restaurants and a new favorite for this Chicago foodie.

Warm, professional, and welcoming service offering excellent (and reasonably priced) cuisine delivered in a super cool environment makes for a dining trifecta. Highly recommended and we'll be back. Our wait for our table was made very pleasant by the bartender - her enthusiasm was contagious!

This was a wonderful dinning experience with our friends. We tried many things on the menu and found them all delicious. The spreads were wonderful. The kabobs were great and do not forget desert.

What a glorious summer supper dining on Aba's lush rooftop garden! Small plates meant for sharing meant we had the opportunity to try a variety of dishes: beet tzatziki, lamb tartare, octopus and lamb/beef kefta followed by the most remarkable take on creme brûlée....all delicious, beautiful and gloriously garnished. Served by the delightful Jess who made sure we were well cared for, she made our experience perfect!

On my actual birthday my husband surprised me with a nice intimate and romantic dinner at Aba. Due to Covid, they do take your temperature at the door and you must wear a mask unless you’re eating. The restaurant’s ambience is romantic. They had individual igloos setup up outside to dine in as well as a tent over the bar area section. Our table for 2 was directly at the bar. The host and our waiter were friendly, attentive, and timely. To drink, my husband had the hot buttered rum pineapple and I had the Island Matador. The drinks did not disappoint at all. Our appetizers were falafel and short rib hummus. Both dishes were delicious. For our main meal, my husband had the salmon skewers and I had the chicken kefta. The plate portions were just right and served tapas style. The food is reasonably priced. Since it was my actual birthday, I did get creme brûlée cake on the house. We also ordered a slice of pistachio cake and a slice of brownie cake. Thank you to this establishment for a delicious birthday meal. I enjoyed celebrating with you all.

We liked the hummus appetizers a lot. Super creamy and intense flavors. Best was the insanely smoky creamed eggplant. The octopus was also pretty good. Service was excellent, and they even turned down the music a little when asked. Unfortunately for us, most popular restaurants like this are much noisier than we would prefer. Interesting and extensive wine list. No great bargains, but not super overpriced either, as are far too many Chicago wine lists.

Loved it. We have visited Turkey, Israel and Jordon. Aba takes these flavors and makes them other worldly. We had 6 different dishes and they are all amazing. Friendly service as well. Tapas middle eastern style.....

I had higher expectations for this restaurant. I had heard much about it and it was hard to get a reservation. The space is incredible, inside and outside. The ambience is warm and friendly and cozy. The front desk staff are welcoming and cheerful and on top of it. The waiter was upbeat and likable. The menu is full of surprises and all are served as small plates. The price points are a bit high for the plates. The overall quality of the food is below average and not what I would expected for this caliber of restaurant. The wine list has variety yet many wines are on the very pricy side and greater than $100/bottle. We started with French sparkling ($78) and then had 2 nice Spanish wines that were $96 and $43/bottle. I was disappointed that after the first glass of each bottle was poured we had to pour of own from there. That is the waiter’s responsibility in a restaurant of this caliber. The music was noticeable and hip and the energy level in the restaurant is “energetic” (likely loud by many standards). All in all, I am glad to have had the experience and somewhat recommend it to others just for the experience. A better recommendation would be to go for drinks and maybe try a few dishes.

"No cooking a big turkey at home for this Thanksgiving!" we cried although no one was listening. The downside- no leftovers. The upside-no slaving away for hours in a hot kitchen prepping and cooking. Hooray!! Eating indoors wasn't an option due to Covid restrictions so I won't be commenting on ABA's decor, service or vibe as I never set foot in the joint. Based on the meal we took home to prep ourselves we will definitely be dining in there when possible. They were offering a Mediterranean Thanksgiving dinner. We ordered a couple of weeks in advance for pick-up the day before TG. What a lot of food! It took us 2 nights to eat it all and we were taken by surprise at the quantity. It was $100 for the two of us (then tax) and money well spent! The meal was perfectly packaged in clear plastic boxes which you could wash out and re use over and over for storing leftovers at home (photo attached). Each box labelled and reheating instructions included. Both proteins-chicken and beef kebabs had been partially cooked so no handling of raw meats. 10 minutes was the total oven time needed for the dishes. Our menu was the following array of tasty delights; House made pita bread (oven). I wish I had some right this minute! A salad of lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, olives, Feta, cucumber and watermelon radish. Fresh produce all the way. We crunched and munched. Pumpkin hummus (yummy!) pan or microwave. Garnish of Nutmeg, Pumpkin Seed Oil and toasted Pepitas included. Green bean salad. Garnish of mushroom aioli, lemon Kosho (?) vinaigrette and Marcona almonds. Can be served warm. Truffled baked Orzo (add your own cream or milk) Pan then oven once breadcrumbs are added. This is a very filling dish! Add lemon zest once baked. Brussels Sprouts-we would have had these with our turkey. Oven-baked or microwaved. Garnished with a Sherry glaze, crispy shallots and toasted Pepitas. Add lemon zest to make the dish sing (not supplied). It sang at the top of its voice! Chicken and Beef kebabs-Oven then add the supplied Souvlaki vinaigrette. Salt to taste. Good quality proteins. Lemon Dill rice-pan or microwave. We sprinkled Sumac with abandon all over the loaded plates and with a nice cold lager set about the Herculean task of eating half of the food we had unpacked. The dessert- a Pumpkin Creme Brûlée was demolished on night 2 as we were too full on night 1 . Everything we ate was noteworthy, unctuous and flavorful. We agreed that is was the best Mediterranean meal in recent memory. Nothing disappointed, rather quite the opposite. Conversation was mainly "yummy!" and a semaphore of thumbs-up and tummy-patting. I think I heard "deeelishus" but it wasn't me, honestly. It was contact-free. We pulled up at the restaurant just off Fulton at the appointed time and a staff member brought out a huge bag and placed it on the back seat. We were all wearing masks. More food than we expected. Really good menu and produce/proteins. A memorable belly-bustin' meal. A winner all the way! Thanks ABA for being on top of your game!

Loved the food! We sat outside beautiful night. We started with the lamb ragu with warm pita. We had the bone marrow, falafels and octopus. The flavors of all the foods were great. The bone marrow with the hints rosemary absolutely delicious. We had the chocolate bar to finish the meal.

lovely spot with excellent food. my 2 friends and I ordered several dishes to share and everything was stellar! we got there just as brunch was ending, so no problem getting a table.

Small group / business dinner - had a reserved table w semi private space. It was a beautiful environment and a great evening. We had a prearranged menu and it was ok — don’t think it as the best Aba had to offer. Service was pretty good and we will definitely be back.

Fist time at ABA.. a lot of friends recommend me to try it.... The food is very good...the drinks are amazing.... and the restaurant vibe is one of the best in Chicago. The hummus was one of the best I have tried (very creamy) with the lamb on it was super tasty (tomato-spices). A must to order is the "EVERYTHING JERUSALEM BAGEL" If you like shawarma spice... order the "GRILLED SKIRT STEAK" I recommend to make reservation..or be patient ...

We went to Aba for drinks before dinner and wish we could have stayed. The atmosphere was full of energy and fun. The cocktail selection was nice....we loved the Green Street Manhattan! Overall a great experience we will be back.

Meditation at its best Can compare it to Bayrout restaurant in Mumbai india All things are freshly curated good hospitality

Aba is a fun and festive atmosphere that serves amazingly delicious Mediterranean cuisine. The staff is friendly and professional. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

There were three of us for dinner during Restaurant Week and we had an excellent meal with awesome service. We started out with whipped Feta, charred eggplant and spicy humus spreads along with the salt and pepper broccoli. All of the spreads were delicious and the broccoli was extremely good with an fabulous texture. For our entrees, we chose the skirt steak, braised leg of lamb and octopus and we were all pleased with our choices. Our deserts included the Kulfi and crème brulee pie. Everything was delicious and we'll definitely come back again.

My family and had dinner here and were definitely not disappointed. The food was delish, the cocktails were enjoyable and the ambiance was very desirable. The waiter was amazing. Would definitely go there again.

Excellent service and food. Great tastes on everything. Server new their food and wine. Excellent, excellent!

Aba is not worth the hype. My friend and I tried for months to get reservations so we were really looking forward to it. We were very disappointed. The waiter took our drink order and recommended two plates per guest. After delivering the wine and taking our order, he disappeared. We asked bussers to refill our water and take away plates. The chicken kebab was overly salted, the cauliflower kebab bland, the warm Brussels came cold, and the pumpkin hummus was just okay. We would have ordered more wine and tried dessert but our waiter never returned. We asked a hostess for boxes and our check. That’s when the waiter reappeared asking if we wanted anything else. Just the check, please. Won’t be back.

Service started a bit slow, but the bar was bustling for Saturday brunch. The chicken kefta was delicious-seasoned just right and comes with rice and tzaztiki. Decor was nice with both indoor and outdoor seating.

This was a very good dinner out. The restaurant was busy and had a really nice atmosphere but the service remained good throughout. Cocktails were tasty and the food delicious. Great selection of veggie friendly dishes, with creativity and flavour. Excellent!

We loved this hip and happening restaurant in the West Loop. On a nice night, patio seating is a wonderful choice. Aba has an extensive food sharing menu. We had the rib hummus, a house speciality, and an avocado & fava bean spread to start. The ribs in the hummus were a little tough but the avocado & fava bean spread was fabulous. The tuna was good. Both the village salad and the house made salad were delicious but they were very similar so I would pick one or the other. We preferred the House Salad with the burrata, tomato & homemade croutons. The black shrimp and octopus were amazing. The marinated chicken shish kabob was a little dry. Everyone enjoyed the pork. Portions were a good size. Beautiful presentation. Meal was coursed at a good pace...not to fast and not to slow. Great selection of drinks. Friendly waitress. Looking forward to another meal there.

Middle Eastern food has been a staple of my diet for 45 years so it is a rarity that I am surprised or impressed by it. The food at this place is a fusion of Middle Eastern and western food. The hommos with short rib app was excellent. Three of us ordered the leg of lamb wrapped in eggplant, it was perfectly prepared. Prices are reasonable for Chicago and the quality of the food. I'd go again the next time in Chicago. I highly recommend.