SIFR
SIFR — honest middle eastern in River North, where the Hummus is worth ordering. Clean, design-forward interior throughout. Strong pours and a bartender who takes pride in the work. Rakhshaan Ali: "The roasted red pepper soup was so rich and the chicken kababs were spectacular, highly recommend" [$$, patio]
What 565 diners keep saying
What 565 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Such a lovely meal. Or two meals because we came two days in a row (the roasted strawberry dessert brought us back). Favorite dishes were the chicken kebab, roasted strawberry dessert, and the date cake. Service was also excellent— Bojana was so kind and made me & my friends feel very welcome! Yay!”

“The desserts were fantastic. Roasted strawberries with cream was one of the most creative flavour profiles I’ve encountered. Generally we did the chef’s tasting menu and it was so good we came back the next day and JUST GOT THE DESSERTS. Bojana B our server was so friendly and made us feel so welcome. This restaurant has such generous staff and I would totally recommend for a great dining experience.”

“Everything was amazing. One of the best restaurants I have eaten.”

“From the moment we sat down, Bojana was absolutely incredible and made our experience feel special right away. She did an amazing job guiding us through the thoughtfully curated drink menu and helping us choose drinks we all enjoyed. We decided to order à la carte and genuinely loved every dish we ordered, but the Batata Harra potatoes were easily our favorite item of the night. Everything was flavorful and beautifully prepared. To top off an already great experience, Bojana surprised us with a complimentary round of champagne at the end of our meal, and even thoughtfully brought a nonalcoholic version for my boyfriend who wasn't drinking. That small gesture meant so much and really showed the level of care and attention she brings to her guests. We loved our dinner and will absolutely be back. Thank you for such a memorable evening!”

“Our friend group wanted to experience a dinner without our kids so we chose to dine in at Sifr. Heard good things prior to our visit so we knew we had to give it a try. From the drinks to apps, and entrees to dessert, we enjoyed everything we ordered. We didn’t come across anything we didn’t like, which was a very good thing when trying a restaurant for the first time! There was a small error with one of our appetizers and I did get upset, but our waiter apologized and I know it wasn’t intentional. The Manager, Nigam, approached me apologizing and went above and beyond. I understand small mistakes happen, but I was impressed with the professionalism and the way they were able to rectify the situation right away. Due to the excellent service and the great food and drinks, I would highly recommend this place. Will definitely be back!”

“Great staff, there wasn’t an outdoor table available when we arrived and the hostess said she’d try to move us when one opened up- I though she was humoring us but she remembered and moved us to a beautiful spot on the patio when it became available. We did the tasting menu which includes the most incredible humus . All of the courses were delicious and their tasting menu seemed like really good value!”

“Had a wonderful experience at Sifr. Thoughtful execution, beautiful presentation, and a menu that balances creativity with bold flavors. The attention to detail throughout the experience was impressive, making for an elegant and memorable meal. Kudos to Chef Sahil Sethi and the entire team for creating such a refined and enjoyable dining experience.”

“We did the 4 course and it was delicious. The hummus, angus beef kebab, and lamb shank were all highlights. The meat was incredibly flavorful, the lamb shank fell off the bone, and the beef was tender. The date pudding was also the perfect dessert Agustin C was our server and was incredible. Extremely attentive, personable, offered to take photos for us (we were celebrating a wedding anniversary), and gave insight to the menu options. An amazing server and made the experience even more enjoyable.”

“Lebanese/Syrian cuisine with extensive menu choice, including vegetarian, showcasing high quality ingredients. Staff was kind and overall above expectations Top recommendation: Lamb shank and chicken hummus”

“Food was delicious and service was excellent. Our waiter Khalid was Amazing.”

“Tried their Mezze Wednesdays last night and got the Seafood Mezze. It was fantastic- so fresh, flavorful and not too heavy. It was packed for a Wednesday and vibes are amazing here. Live-fire cooking too. Cocktails were great like their Wahid and that warm date pudding. Helmed by two power Chefs so makes sense!”

“Bojana B was more than just a friendly waitress, but soon became a food and travel adviser and honestly genuine friendly human being. The food here was very impressive, heightening even the simplest of foods such as pita bread, and adding something special that left me wanting more. Bojana’s recommendations included the scallops, branzino, and date pudding with salted caramel ice cream…. As I was fed plate by plate, I was left dreaming of eating this food and traveling the world to find these flavors. This was a God given experience and pleasant surprise! Thank you!”
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