Old Lviv Reviews

We wanted a Ukrainian restaurant in Ukrainian village where our son lives. We found Old Lviv and we were very impressed. We parked by a Ikramian deli and bakery which added to the fun! And we were amazed when we saw all the wonderful food on the buffet. Beef stroganoff and borscht were excellent! And our waiter offered us an excellent Georgian red wine for only $5 a glass!! We ll be back w family and friends

great ukranian food

I was so excited to find this restaurant and this part of town to visit while in Chicago for the weekend. I had been craving my grandma's food that I grew up eating, with her being older she hasn't made for awhile. She is from the Ukraine. So I chose this place based on reviews and so glad I did! It's a buffet style restaurant with foods you can order on the sides such as perogies, which my family calls peteheh. We all ordered the buffet and it included so many favorites, cabbage rolls, beet salad, cucumber salad, borcht etc..all of it spot on, made with love. I ordered peteheh on the side, one order for the table and then 2 orders to go. I brought one home for my grandma, they have them frozen to go. I kick myself I should have ordered 10 dozen to go!! They are SO good, just exactly like my grandma would make. I got the potato and cheese version. They came with onion and oil to cook with. And sour cream of course! The borscht was also just like grandma's. My grandma made a dish we call holeshke which is dough flavored with dill and wrapped with beet leaves in a cream sauce, but they didn't have an item like that when we were there. Which is fine, everything else was so delicious. I will for sure go there again when we are in Chicago!! And everyone there, including the patrons, spoke Ukrainian. It just felt right.

We loved the food: everything was authentic and home-made. We ordered borsch (it comes separately from the buffet), and sampled pretty much everything from the buffet bar: staffed chicken, beef, liver with onions, salads. The price was very reasonable, around $11 per person. However, the service was somewhat poor: borsch was not brought to everyone at the same time (we had to wait about 10 min for 2 other portions, while the first 2 were served almost immediately). Moreover, the place is very small (6 tables), and it is hard to find seating during the busy lunch time. If you do not mind these idiosyncrasies, overall, this is the place to try good home-made Ukrainian food.

What a great little spot! The mom does the cooking in the back and her son runs the front. The buffet is fairly small but they get some good variety in! We were the only ones there when we got there but by the time we left, there were 2 other tables sat (there are only about 5 tables total) and there had been several people in for take-out orders. So they do a good business. The food really made me so happy. I have lived in and worked in the former Soviet Union and have a familiarity with the cuisine but don't get to eat it very often unless I make it myself. I would happily go back anytime we are back in the area and recommend to anyone!

I am Ukrainian who has been in Arizona for over 8 years. Boy, do i miss some Ukrainian food. This place was amazing. My American husband and i both had vareniki and shared a beer from Lviv. What a treat!!! Coming back to Old Lviv every time i am in Chicago. Thank you!

The food was tasty and very authentic. My only criticism is not a very big choice of food, and almost no choices without pork.

Very small place, home cooking, owners are very nice. Buffet.

Had lunch here for the second time. It's a small space with nothing to rave about interior but the Ukrainian home cooked food is freshly made, very tasty and you can't beat the price. Service is really laid back, so if you're not in a hurry just sit back and relax. Soups are delicious! Our favorite is the beet borscht. Mainly there's a buffet and an a la carte menu of soups and pierogies.

Old Lviv is pretty small, maybe 6 tables and a bar. They are not open every day, so double check before setting out. They have a buffet, soup, and you can also order pelmeni, piroshki, or vareniki. We all got the buffet and I ordered borscht. Sweetie liked the chicken and ribs and had seconds of the salad and potatoes. One of our gals said the potato salad was just like her mom's. The borscht was delicious, with big chunks of potato and slivers of beet and a dollop of sour cream. The buffet also has fruit and slices of cake. The wait staff was very attentive, removing empty plates. Ukrainian songs played in the background, but the atmosphere is a bit muted, I felt like I was in an aunts home and didn't want to raise my voice.

this place is terrific. i had never tried ukrainian food before, and have only had russian a few times, and i absolutely loved this place. i went with a friend who's traveled a bit in Ukraine and swears this place is authentic. for me, having grown up eating a bit of polish food, i found it to be somewhat similar, at least for some of the dishes, like the stuffed cabbage, but other dishes were completely new for me. Old Lviv had at least five or six different meat-based dishes which were all outstanding. and some really good side dishes too. i think the thin cut, boness pork chops, which might have been pan fried after dipped in some kind of egg sauce, might have been my favorite dish. but the best part is that this place is very cheap (ten bucks for dinner, and even less for lunch) for an all u can eat buffet. inside it's small - only several tables and a small bar, but it seemed like a lot of their business was from people from the neighborhood (Ukrainian Village) stopping by for take out. most of the time we were there, we were the only sit down customers they had, so it was a great, quiet atmosphere. i would strongly recommend this place for anyone - whether you're a big fan of ukrainian food, or never had it before, it's worth the trip.

Great food and cozy place to go. I love Ukrainian food. Whenever in town, i always stop by to either eat inside or get food home.

Good buffet. Lots of eastern european stuff to munch on. Went there with a good friend and had wonderful time.

Came here on a whim because I’ve never had Ukrainian food. Took #66 bus west from my hotel in downtown area. If you’re looking for atmosphere, hip young clientele, or flashy nouveau cuisine, this is NOT your place. If you want excellent home cooking by a frowning Ukrainian grandma in the back, this is for you. Dinner was buffet style and everything was delicious. A local lady who knew the staff came in and was literally moaning over the potato pancakes, which were really good. Warning: this place closes early (7:00 on the Sunday I went) and the buffet seems to thin out near closing time.

Loved the traditional Ukrainian flavors and selection at Old Lviv (Staryi Lviv) restaurant. Must try: Borshch soup (included in the price of Buffett) We also tried Ukrainian varenyky (pierogis) with meat (not included in the buffet but worth it — homemade by the restaurant) Buffett that day was a selection of pork and fried white fish, as well as a variety of salads and fruits. The restroom was clean and stocked. Most tables were taken at lunch time. Wait staff was quick and polite. Would return again.

The food was excellent. I had my first taste of Ukrainian food. It filled me up for the entire day! My only issue was the fact I felt decieved at the end because I was told soup was included with the buffet yet I was charged a few extra bucks at the end! No big deal but next time I dine I will have to pass on the soup. But I will definately dine in the future with my friends. The server was good too. I would recommend putting labels on top of the buffet though so we dont have to ask what everything is if we are not familiar. These are the type of restaurants we need more of!

The food at Old Lviv is authentic Ukrainian cuisine. For those who don't want to enjoy the wonderful buffet, there is an a la carte menu. Paid parking is available on Chicago Ave.

Cozy space, with few tables. Has a bar and delicious authentic Ukrainian food. Locals and visitors have been eating here since the 1980's. Wonderful pink borscht with dill and sour cream garnishes. Other soups, chicken dishes, mashed potatoes, mushroom sauce, cheese nalysnyky, cabbage rolls, multiple salads and fresh fruit, e.g. watermelon, available in season on buffet. Quiet un-obtrusive service. Cash only.

The buffet isn't huge but what they do they do well. It has something to accommodate most people, even if they aren't huge fans of Eastern European food. My Russian husband loves eating here whenever we are in town.

Freaking best food I have ever tasted...shhh... Told tell my mother. It's only 10 bucks and it's fresh homemade food. Workers are really quick and nice. And their imported alchaol is to die for!! I will be visiting every time I come from now on!

I live in Ukrainian Village, and have been meaning to visit Old L'viv for several years. My wife's Grandparents made the suggestion we go there for lunch after church. We are all of Russian & Ukrainian decent - and are no stranger to this type of food .. In fact, we make many of the dishes ourselves. The restaurant is small, but has a quaint and cozy atmosphere. We had the Borsch and Vareniky as side dishes, and we all got the buffet. All the buffet food was very authentic and tasty. They clearly make their own vareniky themselves, and they were great. The buffet is highlighted by the chicken cutlets, the pork stew, and the blini. Overall a great experience. We all lefte stuffed and happy!

A very tasty AUTHENTIC Ukrainian restaurant in the Ukrainian area of Chicago. It's served via buffet. Unfortunately the buffet is not kept very well stocked so you need to make return trips to see what has been brought out since you last sat down; however that does mean you're getting fresh hot food. It's a very small place (maybe 7 tables plus the bar) so it's a bit of a surprise when you walk in expecting a large place; however, it was quaint and pleasant and interesting; and again, authentic and local. Very nice service and a great price. $12-$13 per person for the buffet and about $5 for a Ukrainian beer. Also, it's in a very interesting area of town so be sure to walk a few blocks East of the restaurant too to check out numerous other stores, restaurants, and pubs.

Stopped here on the way to the Ukranian National Museum and enjoyed a very nice lunch. Hubby and one of the kids opted for the buffet and enjoyed everything they tried. Our other kid and I opted for the potato and cheese varenyky which were made fresh and the taste and texture were perfect.

We visited the Old Lviv Restaurant in Ukrainian Village-Chicago on a Friday afternoon. It is located in Chicago's Ukrainian Village and offers truly authentic Ukrainian cuisine. A family owned restaurant, Old Lviv is three generations deep, and offers wonderful food at reasonable prices. If you want only a taste, try some Ukrainian soup....you will love it! A bowl of soup is only $2.50 and it is wonderful......wonderful.....wonderful. Want a little more? The Ukrainian buffet is $10.00 all you can eat, but I couldn't manage more than one pass through the buffet line. I've spent about 6 months in Ukraine, on 8 different trips and this is Ukrainian food at its best! My wife is Ukrainian, so I eat Ukrainian every day, back home in Michigan. Old Lviv Restaurant also passed the Ukrainian wife taste test....with flying colors. For an authentic Ukrainian meal, try Old Lviv, you won't be disappointed. My only disappointment is my wife and friend went back on Sunday without me, as I had to take the train back to Detroit to visit ailing family members. NOT FAIR! :)

I planned to enjoy their buffet as my final meal in but at noon on Tuesday they were closed. Based on earler reviews this unexpected closure has become the norm. I called the phone number on the door but I don't speak Ukranian andshe apparently did not speak English. Maybe it's a Ukranian thing but two nearby business were also closed despite signs that indicated they should have been open. Tried another Ukranian restaurant which was also closed before eating at a Polish deli a few blocks closer to downtown.

oh nazar thank you........

Took a chance and so glad we did! The buffet line looks small, but the quality of the selections and taste were extraordinary! A family owned business that is somehow better than your grandmother’s Christmas dinner. Mashed potatoes and delicious pork and cream sauces, cabbage rolls, incredible chocolate cherry cake, and the best cucumbers and sour cream I’ve ever had. And they let you take home a to-go box by the pound. Mark was an excellent host. Thank you for Old Lviv for an extraordinary meal!

We took the kids to Old Lviv to prepare, gastronomically, for an upcoming trip to Ukraine. It's a small place, but (at noon on a Sunday) we didn't have to wait to sit down (and there is a bar, if you need to wait). You can either order 1) the potato dumplings, or 2) the buffet. I know some people who just can't stand the idea of a buffet at a restaurant (said sniffily, "I want it prepared fresh!") - if that's you, you shouldn't go to Old Lviv. You also shouldn't go if you are cabbage-intolerant; probably half of the items on the buffet have the vegetable in some form or another. Just about everyone else will enjoy the selection. My wife and I enjoyed everything we ate: stuffed cabbage, sauerkraut (there is probably a Ukrainian word for it, which I don't know), blood sausage, chicken in a paprika sauce. My guess is that it's pretty Ukrainian-authentic, as we were the only non-Ukrainians in the joint. For a longer version of this, see: http://traveldiaryofamadman.com/ukrainian_village/