Apolonia
Steven Parsons · 198 Google reviewsApolonia — top-tier mediterranean in South Loop. Sleek and intentional, with the aesthetic dialed in. Cocktail menu runs deeper than expected. "From entering the door to leaving the door, the service was phenomenal" — Zhar z [$$]
What 767 diners keep saying
What 767 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. Got the broiled oysters, shrimp carpaccio, truffle puff bread, blue crab Bucatini with caviar, halibut, Cacio E Pepe sorbet. I tried 3 of the 5 cocktails from the menu and they were all perfectly concocted with unique flavors. The red wine options were also great. The open kitchen and ambience is great for a dinner date. We went on a Friday evening around 8 PM and were surprised it wasn’t busier. Definitely a sleeper and highly recommend.”
“Rarely do I ever give out five stars but it’s like this place gave me no other option lol Atmosphere: the atmosphere and vibe were great. We loved the decor, the open kitchen, the lighting, etc. the service was phenomenal. Service: the server made excellent suggestions, seemed really passionate about the restaurant and was really sweet! We did have a minor hiccup with the food, which I’ll get into below, but the server and the manager handled it with enthusiasm and grace. I overheard the manager speaking with the chef as well and seemed to give really thoughtful (and very polite) constructive criticism for the dish which I thought he handled very graciously. Food: the most important part lol the pictures don’t do it justice 😭 I should’ve taken videos too!We went for dinner so it’s a standalone menu. We had the Black Truffle Puff Bread and Garlic Chili Shrimp for appetizers, the White Truffle Tagliatelle and the Grilled Mediterranean Branzino as entrees, and The Pistachio for dessert. Everything had excellent flavor. Our food came out hot and fresh and there was a lot of care and attention put into the details of the flavor pairings and overall presentation. The only hiccup we had was that the garlic chili shrimp appetizer was very, very salty. The other flavors were amazing but it was too salty to eat, so they prepared that dish for us again. I’m sure that was just a fluke because everything else was perfect. My husband and I have resolved that we need to go back at least 3 more times to try everything on the menu 🤣 I would definitely give this place a try if I were you! If we go back and they switched up on us, I will most certainly edit my review lol but I think it’ll be amazing again! Happy eating everyone 🤩 Update: I’ve gone back at least five times to try the whole menu and not a single thing has disappointed, EVER. it’s worth it lol”
“I had dinner at Aplonia after a friend recommended the place. Overall, it was nice and good value for money. They offer a selection of appetizers, pastas and entrees. We shared the toast with mussels, truffle tagliatelle, gnocchi in ragu, halibut and steak. We really liked tagliatelle and halibut. If you’re into seafood, you’d enjoy the toast with mussels. We didn’t finish the gnocchi and I surely had a better steak. The ambiance was simple but cozy, and the staff was friendly.”
“Trust the bartender. I got a honeybee, a mocktail, and the menu recommends adding vodka. The bartender added gin instead, and the cocktail was so delicious. I also got the blue crab bucatini, which was delicious. The pasta was very al dente (a plus for me) and the dish had a lot of blue crab. It was so nice to have a good meal after days of conference food. It goes to show that some things are worth paying for.”
“Best kept secret in Chicago. Apolonia is a masterclass in flavor and service. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. The service is top notch.”
“We have lived in the south loop area for many years and we finally got to try this former Michelin Bib Gourmand Mediterranean restaurant after a friend's recommendation. Everything was exactly as expected for a nice restaurant in this area including great service, decent food, and a friendly atmosphere, but I would probably only come here for special occasions since the prices would not be considered Bib "accessible" by many people nowadays (which might be exactly why they lost that distinction).”
“Wow! Great food. Everything was so good. Wonderful Atmosphere. The service was excellent. Try the octopus and calamari ceviche. Herb Puff bread.”
“The Branzino ia the best fish dish I've ever had, must try with their Albarino Spanish White wine, excellent dessert, server was very nice”
“This was such a surprising and fabulous find! We walked from McCormick place after the Chicago Auto Show, on Valentine's Day, starving, with no reservations anywhere. We went looking for tacos, but the spot we googled ended up being a window instead of a sit down restaurant. Oops. So we stumbled in here after seeing the cute little candles and open kitchen from our street view. We were sat immediately with no waiting and the menu was so unique and exciting! Everything was phenomenal; we ordered the mussels on toast and tzatziki lamb skewers, skirt steak, a blue crab and lobster pasta, THE pistachio and tiramisu. Our waitress, Sofia, was so much fun, and all the staff who stopped by were so friendly. My husband and I had the best time. I'd recommend this spot to anyone! Enjoy!”
“One of my favorite places in Chicago. Always an excellent atmospheric and food experience. The cocktails are excellent, and the food is mouthwateringly delicious and unique.”
“The food was delicious and out of the ordinary traditional pasta you don’t usually try at Italian restaurants. Angel, the server was very informative and attentive. I will be coming back just for him. Try the Calamari Calamarata for lunch menu. The sauce is delish.”
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