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Semiramis

4.5 star rating
based on 79 reviews

Category: Middle Eastern  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Albany Park
4639 N Kedzie Avenue
(at Eastwood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 279-8900
  • Nearest Transit:

    Kedzie (Brown)

  • Hours:
    Mon-Thu 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
    Fri-Sat 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
  • Price Range: $$
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Street
  • Attire: Casual
  • Good for Groups: Yes
  • Good for Kids: Yes
  • Takes Reservations: Yes
  • Delivers: Yes
  • Take-out: Yes
  • Waiter Service: Yes
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: No
  • Good for: Dinner
  • Alcohol: None
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79 Reviews for Semiramis

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Photo of mary e.

 

38

82

mary e.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
07/25/2008

Small menu of middle eastern classics like kabobs, chicken scawarma, falafel, baba ghanoush, etc.  The menu is small but they do everything super incredibly well.  The inside is very cute and relaxing, airy and bright. And they have Arabian coffee - a necessity after stuffing myself silly.

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6

35

Lauren G.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
08/19/2008

I live in Albany Park. Oh, you've never heard of it? Fine, let's keep it that way because I love my neighborhood the way it is. Today I walked all 300 feet to Semiramis after a less-than-pleasant experience with Pick Me Up's falafel left something to be desired.

I walked in and was greeted by a really friendly cashier and ordered a falafel sandwich and some french fries to go.  In the short time I was sitting on their couch in the waiting area, I took in the scenery which was surprisingly nice, as Albany Park is more about goods than aesthetics. Within 10 minutes, I was back home enjoying my food. While it wasn't the best falafel I've had, it was better than others, and the balls were wrapped in mint which was an interesting flavor combination.

I got a huuuuge portion of fries that I will not be able to finish, accompanied with their infamous garlic mousse. I love garlic, so naturally, I love it.

I will definitely return and am glad to live a 2 minute walk away from this gem.

Now I have to go breathe in my friends' face.

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Photo of Steven M.

 

0

40

Steven M.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
07/06/2008

Not sure I can add anything new that hasn't been said below.  Semiramis is a jewel of a place.  Great food, attentive and very friendly service, cozy interior  and awesome prices.  

Only annoyance for me was that it's BYOB but I know a lot of people LOVE that (When I eat out,  I don't want to have to go pick up stuff on the way.  I'm happy to pay the extra margin for the convenience.  Also a lot of good places put real thought into their wine and beer selections which is one of my favorite aspects of eating out.  But the #1 reason I don't like BYOB, is I ALWAYS forget which places are bring your own which leads to the inevitable mad dash down some random street looking for a liquor store that sells more than just dusty bottles of Boone's Farm!)

Highly recommended in the highly unlikely chance that you find yourself in the Albany Park area.  ;-)

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Elite '08

156

636

Erika G.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
06/30/2008

Ohhhhhh, habibi. Yallah, THOUM!!!

Oh yes. Sweeetheart. GARLIC! They have a garlic "mousse" here that I could eat like ice cream. Or roll around in a vat of it. Wait. That would be gross, right? I'd only suggest going here on a date if both people eat plenty of this garlic goodness to cancel each other out.

That said. The Chicken Kofta sandwich - with aforementioned garlic mousse - I was dipping my sandwich in with wild abandon. The falafel is great too - and if you read my Salaam review, you'll know that I know good falafel, ye estaaz! - it almost rivals theirs.

The restaurant is neat, bright and clean - simple decor, but very nice. Nicely designed logo and menu (yes, this stuff matters to me). Cute kitchen staff (ditto.). Charming, hardworking owner. I'll be back here for sure . . . habibi hayatee!

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1

KimmyKat K.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
08/12/2008

Chicken shwarma, Chicken Borat  appetizer, the garlic mousse , I could go on!  Experiencd Semiramis for the first time tonight and absolutely loved it. Will be back for certain. Extremely friendly service , and genuine care on what she recommended and our satisfaction with it.My only regret is that I didnt save room for dessert , baklava trio sounded great, and a cousin to the cannoii seemed to be the ones to try. Two appetizers and an large entree (that we shared) was under $25!  Beware, the garlic mousse is not for the weak1

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Photo of deb s.

 

14

37

deb s.

IL

5 star rating
07/18/2008

Solid. Great hummus, nice staff, byob & near the train.  have been back 2x since first time!  Totally worth the visit!

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Photo of monique g.

 

0

4

monique g.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
08/11/2008

Tasty food, generous portion sizes, price is right, BYOB, super friendly staff.  Best baba ghanoush I've ever had. And the dolmeh is mouth watering.   Ask for it heated up...   Love the chicken kabobs as well.

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Photo of Sarah A.

Elite '08

41

127

Sarah A.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
Updated - 07/03/2008

Came here the other night with some friends. I had to do an update since I tried different appetizers and such. Started out with the Baba Ghannouj and the fries. Holy hell, you have got to try the fries! The garlic mousse is to die for. It will wreck havoc on your taste buds all night long but damn, so good! Never had Baba Ghannouj before and I enjoyed the smoked eggplant taste.

I had the chicken kafta sandwich, that was killer. It was flavored so well and I was so stuffed I had to roll my self out of there. They also have very tasty baklava. The pieces are nice and small because it's hard to eat anything else after you finish eating the main course. I haven't had take out yet because I just love this quaint little gem on Kedzie. Our waitress was such a sweetie too!

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating 05/22/2008

    Oh wow, yummy! You must try this place if you're in Albany Park. I came here last night for dinner.… Read more »

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Photo of Thomas A.

 

17

71

Thomas A.

IL

5 star rating
07/10/2008

Love it - we've eaten here a bunch just over the last 6 months - on our own, with a few friends and with a good sized group. All the staff are wonderful, talkative and most of all honest - not everything is always the waiter's favorite thing on the menu. I enjoy the chawarma over hummus. This dish was my "regular" dish at one of my favorite spots, the now long-gone Gilgamesh, a Syrian restaurant in Bucktown. Semiramis does a very tasty version of the same. All together we've eaten most of the menu and always walked away happy. When you're in Little Persia you have plenty to choose from, but you can't go wrong at Semiramis.

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Photo of William N.

 

6

79

William N.

Saint Joseph, MI

5 star rating
07/08/2008

Wow, the food here is top notch.  Had a Falafel sandwich and side salad.  Sampled other plates of people I was with and everything was really tasty.  6 of us went to dinner on a Saturday (including a 18 month old toddler) and they sat us immediately.  The only downside is that the servers, who were all very friendly, seemed to take a little time in between visits.  Overall, I'd come back here again in a heartbeat.

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42

Emily K.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
07/10/2008

I really love Semiramis- we've been coming here for a few years now, before they were in Check, Please! and noticed a few differences, but mostly all for the better.

My girlfriend is vegan and the only option really for her is the falafel sandwich but she doesn't care because it's so delicious she doesn't miss having any other options (besides the "mixed veggie" platters that are kind of boring). The food is delicious and the wait staff is always really friendly and attentive.

And it's BYOB!

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Photo of Darlene R.

 

1

14

Darlene R.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
07/06/2008

I was considering giving this place 4 stars because there was an hour wait, however, it was worth it.  i really wish i had been able to try the french fries, but they were out the night i went.  the falafel sandwich was amazing and even good the next day.

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Elite '08

55

237

Luke S.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
06/25/2008

This delicious treat is tucked away in a neighborhood I rarely frequent.  Even though I was skeptical about the location, the food was outstanding.  The hummus was flavorful and the meat was cooked to perfection.  There was just the right amount of spice and seasoning on the lamb.  I carried out and the woman at the front was very helpful.  My only complaint was it was like a sauna in the main room.  For a fairly pricey experience I would have liked a little air conditioning.  I'll have to keep this place in mind when I'm craving very good middle eastern food.

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Elite '08

197

450

Dave S.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
05/01/2008

I was really not knocked off of my feet here at all. I like a good meal as much as the next guy but my food was very disappointing.  

Our waitress was good. She was very friendly and very well knowledgeable about the food and could describe the entrees in a way that would make you drool. It seems that she disappeared after we received our food for a very long period of time.

We started out with the falafel appetizer. I have had falafel at a couple of different places and I really liked the sauce they served on them. I have never noticed much difference in any falafel I have ever had to make me say one is my favorite over another.

They had a special of baked Kibbe with a side salad which is what I ordered because it sounded really good. This is where I was the most disappointed. I took a fork full of my salad and my mouth was instantly overwhelmed with the most potent, most pungent and probably the worst flavored anything I have ever put in my mouth. Since the salad was on the same plate as my Kibbe, the nasty flavor infested half of it.  Unfortunately, the lingering flavor of the salad just hung there in my mouth and I was unable to get the true taste of my meal.  I was very disappointed.

The place is not very big but the acoustics were very odd in here. It seemed like it was really loud in here and it was difficult to talk to each other across the table in a normal tone of voice.

I do have to give them major kudos for their Arabic coffee. with cardimom. It was rich, flavorful and delcious. It was definatly the highlight of my meal.

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17

Kristin D.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
05/19/2008

Fantastic service and delicious food.  

Two servers and the manager gave us lots (but not an annoying amount) of attention.  The special was delicious - encrusted salmon with spinach and goat cheese salad.  The best!

I've not had any better falafel in Chicago.  Their hummus was great, as was their fattoush (though I'd recommend more cucumbers).

Definitely a great Med. place.

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Elite '08

55

306

Lara S.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
05/02/2008

There are only a handful of things that the fabulous Dave S and I simply will not eat; beets and olives are two of them.  As soon as we were seated, out comes a bowl of both - pickled.  Yuck and p-u!  Not off to a good start, but I can't knock a place for not knowing our aversions.  I've gotta stay objective, man...

Quality (40%): 3.5
The falafel appetizer was adequate but not outstanding.  (Sultan's is better falafel, IMO.)  I had the lamb & beef schwerma, which was served with grilled onions in a circle of hummus.  The schwerma was good, the hummus was great.  My dashing fiance had the day's special: baked kibbe, which was a layered thing resembling lasagna but with potatoes instead of pasta & no sauce.  I don't think either of us would walk across the street to taste it again.  And his salad was ridiculous; more on that below...

Atmosphere (20%):  2.5
This place is small, and it seats less than 50.  The first time we tried to come here was for my birthday on a Saturday night & it had just been shown on Check Please, so the wait was 90 minutes.  Ugh!  We ended up going elsewhere that night, but on this particular Thursday evening we were seated right away.  It's simply decorated but cute.  My only complaint with the atmosphere is that the acoustics are wonky and it sounds like every person at every table is SCREAMING through every conversation.  I could hear most everyone in the restaurant perfectly well -- except for the handsome gent across the table from me.  It was very annoying.

Service (20%):  2.5
Our impossibly-beautiful server was friendly, courteous, & welcoming, as was everyone else who worked there.  She described the schwerma in such a way that I *had* to have it, although I feel that she really should have done a better job telling us about the special - especially the mint dressing on the salad.  I love fresh mint, but this was overpowering and hindered my sexy companion from enjoying any part of his meal.  Also, he ate very little of it, but no one stopped by after our meal came to see how things were.

Value (20%):  3.5
Prices for sandwiches were about the same as most fast Middle Eastern places, and entrees were all less than $15.  Portions were on the larger side, and it's BYO (with $3 corkage) so you could definitely have a nice meal here for a good price.

Overall: 3.1
It was OK.  I wouldn't come back on my own, but I wouldn't turn down an invitation if it was good company.

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Photo of Emma C.

Elite '08

18

81

Emma C.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
06/03/2008

Wow.

I am a huge fan of this restuarant. It's a cool place with neato artifacts on the walls, lights and that mediterranean feel. My suggestion: try the fries with cumin powder and some garlic dipping sauce, hummus, and domas (grape leaf rolls), and the beef and lamb shawrma special sandwich... you'll never want to eat another normal sandwich again!!!!!! Prices range from about $8-$15. I have had the roasted chicken too, which is really tasty.

Don't be sketched out by the neigborhood either--- it's only Albany Park. Take the brown line to the kedzie stop and it's right next to it. You might be tempted to try Noon O' Kabob on the corner there too, but it's overrated!

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Photo of Lola L.

 

2

24

Lola L.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
07/17/2008

lovely atmosphere. good service. good food. the baklava and pastries are excellent. i ended up buying them from the bakery across the street to take home. my only complaint: the corkage fee.

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Photo of Kelly G.

Elite '08

27

51

Kelly G.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
04/30/2008

I'm so happy that this place is only a block from me.  I've been coming here since they opened, and it's one of my favorite restaurants in the city.

The food is excellent and the prices are extremely reasonable.  As far as service is concerned, I have to say that these guys are some of the friendliest in the biz.  

If you don't have the luxury of living as nearby as I do, don't fret; it's directly across the street from the Kedzie brown line station, and street parking in the area is fairly easy to come by.

I'm taking one star off just because they're not open on Sundays - which happens to be the day that I usually want to grab lunch from there. =(

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Elite '08

60

104

Julee M.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
04/28/2008

I had been wanting to try this place ever since seeing it on Check Please. My friend and I decided to go on a weeknight. Much to our surprise we still had to wait for a table. Luckily the waiting room is very cozy. About 30 minutes later we were escorted to our table in the lovely dining room.

Our server was very friendly and quick. The only bad thing was that she forgot to bring my coffee however it turned out I didn't want it anyway, so no biggie.

My friend and I got the hummus appetizer which was very, very good and the fries with the garlic mousse. YUUUUM! I think my friend had the chicken kabob and she really liked it. I had the falafel special sandwich was was out of this world. Now I don't have much experience with Middle Eastern food but I can see why everyone loves this place. And so cheap!

I will be back for sure! Lots more on the menu I want to try!

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Photo of Tom A.

 

0

25

Tom A.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
07/10/2008

all around a fine place to go, but I often take issue with places taking ethnic food to 'the next level.' I LOVE middle eastern food, and so tend to be quite critical, and we liked most of what we had, but there's just this sense of loftiness about the place-- the hummous app was small, spread thin, and carefully decorated with pickles and paprika, and it was not exceptional (but OK).  the majjadra was a little dry, but again, well presented.  the deluxe falafel seemed a good way to go and was, in fact, pretty tasty.   Beasty Boys and Sublime on the stereo? hmmm... a couple nice textiles on the wall, and friendly, knowledgeable service.  byob appreciated, and we got stuffed for about $17 a person .  i guess it comes down to it neither being here nor there-- if 'the next level' is the target, ratch it up a notch and get more creative; if not, give generous portions.  I see good potential but the overall delivery was only OK.

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Photo of Tiffany S.

 

20

58

Tiffany S.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
04/28/2008

I really liked this place... I haven't yelped in a while, but homegirl is back with a vengance!!!  The BYOB part was really cool, even though they charge a $3 fee...

Also, the wait was really long, so the host came out and brought us these delicious fries with paprika.

The food was really fresh, the waitresses and staff were cool.  Overall, well done!

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Elite '08

44

215

Angela P.

Elgin, IL

3 star rating
06/21/2008

I would actually give this place a 3 1/2 stars because I think it was a bit better than average.  We went there last night (Friday night) at about 7:30 and the place was dead, which was good for us because we got seated right away, but it made me think about why there weren't more people here!  Our waitress was very nice but wasn't our waitress for long, it seemed like all the waitresses share the tables and each do their own things for them.  We ended up ordering the falafel and baba ghannouj, both of which were very good!  I also loved the pickled beets and olives they give you in the beginning.  We then ordered the chicken chawarma and the mixed grill plate that came with beef and chicken kabobs meat and lamb/beef kafta.  The chicken chawarma was VERY good, it just had a lot of flavor and was very juicy.  And the mixed plate was good too, except I am not a huge fan of kafta but I like to try it out anyways, and here, it was very dry and not to my liking at all.  But the rice was very good and flavorful and I asked for a side of house made hot sauce which really complimented everything very well!  We both only ate about half of our meals because we got so full on the apps, so we have some for today to munch on.  Overall, we would probably go back after trying all the other Middle Eastern restaurants around Albany Park, but probably not before that because I want to see what else is over there before saying I would definitely not come back!

PS...IT"S BYOB! =]

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Photo of Bryan H.

 

1

51

Bryan H.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
04/07/2008

Semiramis has become a staple for places I take out-of-towners to. Every meal has been excellent. The corkage fee is ridiculous $3, but it's worth it to eat here.

The service is top of the line. It is probably in the top 10% of all restaurants.

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2

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stephen r.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
03/19/2008

I didn't mean to go to Semiramis on Monday night.  I meant to do taxes.  However, my wife was watching a tivo'ed (I love new verbs) episode of Check Please and I saw this place.  "Do you want to be spontaneous?", I asked at about 7 o'clock with two pounds of chicken defrosting in the sink.  "Yes."  And off we went.  
I had a lamb and beef kafta sandwich, we shared the hummus (which was light and fluffy and well plated!) and had the fries.  Fries right?  Yes.  They were long slices of thick potato fried up and then doused with paprika - served with a sumac and garlic mouse for dipping.  We also shared another appetizer.  So, two sandwiches, 2 appetizers, fries and a couple drinks for about 20 odd bucks...plus extra friendly service!  You can spell that one out for your self.  Try it.

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23

Lisbeth D.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
04/21/2008

I love BYOB!  It's even better when it comes with excellent food and friendly service.

My husband and I stopped by on a Saturday night around 5:45 without a reservation, hoping that it wouldn't be too crowded yet.  We only had to wait a few minutes but by the time we left there was a large mass of people waiting outside for a table.  Next time, we will be sure to make a reservation, especially on the weekends.

Our server greeted us warmly and as it was our first time told us to feel free to ask any questions.  She did a fantastic job making sure we had everything we needed through the meal.

We started with the Dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) that we incredible, and not oily in the least like we've had at some other places.  It came with a delicious yogurt sauce that my husband gobbled up.  I ordered the vegetarian plate (hummus, baba ghannouj, tabouleh, falafel and yes, more dolmas.)  Both the hummus and the baba ghannouj were unbelievably light with excellent flavors.  My husband ordered the lamb special...all I can say is that he completely devoured every bite!  I can only assume that it was as delicious (if not more so) than my dinner.  For dessert, we shared a trio of baklava (pistachio, walnut, and pecan.)  It was the perfect amount for us to share after a filling meal.

We can't wait to come back here!

FYI:  If you forget to BYOB, there is a liquor store just south and across the street.  The table next to us forgot to bring wine and ran to the store.  I swear, he was back in two minutes flat.

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Elite '08

143

108

Liz M.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
02/17/2008

YUMMY, YUMMIER....YUMMIEST!!!
My husband and I saw this place on "Check Please" a couple of weeks ago and  being in love with "Middle Eastern" cuisine, we dared to give it a try.

We were VERY smart and went EARLY on a Friday evening.
Around 4:30 p.m.
It was our "date night" and were planning to go to an early movie also. No wait!!
Our server "Adrianne" was excellent and adorable!! The atmosphere was warm and cozy. The place was very clean.

Immediately tasty olives and and vinegared beets were brought to the table.
We split the Veggie Plate Entree: hummus, baba gannouj, dolmas, and excellent falafel,
The Mixed Grill Entree: beef & chicken kabob, lamb kafta, rice and veggies)
and the best french fries ever!!
We are no means small eaters and brought alot of our dinner home with us!

Can I describe to you in mere words how FRESH everything was... the hummus, dolmas(stuffed grape leaves)...how MOIST the chicken was...how tasty and perfectly cooked the meat was!?!?!
BUT the fries..oh my the fries...they came sprinkled with paprika and served with the most amazing garlic dip/spread.
Our breath stunk to high heaven...but ohhhh was it good!!!
We finished off with a Baklava trio and tea with fresh mint.
YUM...YUM...Oh sweet YUM!!!
All for less than $40.00!!!!!

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5

19

Duyen D.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
06/28/2008

We decided to try this place last night after hearing about it on Check Please.  It is a little bit of a trek to get to Albany Park for us but it was well worth it!  We order the special chicken appetizer (which is like a fried chicken egg roll) served with yogurt sauce, hummus, chicken swarma and the mixed grill.  Everything was very tasty and fresh.  Ask for the garlic sauce to eat with your meat dishes.  It's very good.  We didn't try the famous fries but most other tables around us ordered it and it looked delicious.  Plus it's BYOB so dinner here makes for a cheap night.  Check it out and see what you think!

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2

3

Meg O.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
03/16/2008

Fantastic experience all-around. We had no reservations on a Friday night at 7, and we only waited about 20 minutes to get a table, and it was more than worth it. Our waitress was one of the nicest we have had in the entire city, and her recommendation for the catfish was right on target. Everything we got here was excellent and for me, service counts just as much, and every person we dealt with was wonderful. I wish we lived in the neighborhood or had a place like this down in Ukrainian Village. Loved it!!

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59

33

Katie B.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
03/10/2008

I love Semiramis for lunch!  The staff is very friendly and even when I run through to grab the lentil soup to go, they always give me extra bread and are just very pleasant.  I also like the decor.  The entrees are fabulous for dining in as well.  Everything I have had here has been very tasty.

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3

13

Alicia H.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
12/12/2007

went here last night for dinner and we were pleasantly surprised! my boyfriend and i split one order of hummus (unlimited pitas...so great!) and the "mixed grill". The waitress kept insisting that we would not be full, but at $16 a plate for our Entree, we were okay with not ordering two. And boy were we right....the entree came with TONS of delicious rice, a strip of kafta (it was eh...would like more kabob), and some kabob mean and veggis. After our large portion of hummus and then this, we were totally fine with a bill of $23 and our tummies full.

Note: the menu says Lebanese Coffee and the waitress says Turkish. They are the same, and not very good for $3. But DO try the tea with the mint leaves in it...they'll know what your asking for. THAT is only a dollar, free refill, and DELICIOUS.

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13

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Jenna D.

IL

5 star rating
01/05/2008

My boyfriend and I consider ourselves to be connoisseurs of Middle Eastern fair...we really love it and always enjoy trying out a new place.  Upon the recommendation of his barber Mike who owns the shop next door to this place, we headed right over and we will be doing so again and again without a doubt.

Our great waiter John recommended we get the mixed grill and the vegetarian entree which is a crazy good deal....we basically got to sample 50% of the menu for $27 and we were totally full and happy by the end of it.  All the food has fresh, bright flavor with distinct and pungent spices and herbs.  Each thing we tried was like a little taste surprise.  Mmmm.

I recommend you go there before they appear on Check Please at the end of the month...no doubt things will get busier after that ;)

Sidenote: the tabouli salad is completely amazing.

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AJ W.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
11/04/2007

This place is one of those little gems that you stumble on and it just becomes the place you just go to again and again.  My Lebanese friends all love this place as well.  The beef and lamb hummus is FANTASTIC.  The prices just recently went up but they are still relatively cheap. BYOB with a corkage fee.  They got rid of the really dingy waitress that they used to have, so I will say GREAT wait-staff.  I've always had great meals and it is OUTSTANDING food.

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8

Joseph M.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
11/06/2007

This restaurant is really fabulous.  The dolmas are to die for, the staff is incredibly sweet and friendly (and they remember you, which is really cool).  Every dish I've tried has been quite flavorful, and I really like the coffee with cardamom (although not many other people I've been with seemed to share my enthusiasm for it).

This is a great local restaurant, and one of the few in Albany Park with pretty nice graphic design.  I just ordered delivery and I cannot wait.

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2

Lisa B.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
04/30/2008

I love this place.  In fact, I wish there was a pneumatic tube that went from their kitchen to my house.  As a vegetarian I'm pretty much limited to the standard falafel-hummus-dolmades triad, but heck if that's what you're craving then get it from the best.

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5

15

Brooke B.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
11/27/2007

Go!  Now!!  The food, the owner, the atmosphere is perfect!!  They're going to be featured on "Check, Please" early January and will be inundated with business.  This place is absolutely fantastic and addictive; try it now!!

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allie S.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
05/12/2008

Luckily, we live right around the corner from this neighborhood restaurant! Semiramis is a fabulous Lebanese restaurant with the greatest falafel, hummus, and even tea that I've ever had. Everything is very reasonably priced. They only bummer is that it's BYOB, and I love a glass of wine with dinner. I've been twice, and both times the service has been very knowledgeable about the food they serve, and very amicable. The decor is great -- tapestries and mirrors on the walls, pillows strewn about. Very authentic and unique.

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2

5

Megane F.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
02/12/2008

Do you LOVE falafel, chawarma, and all things Lebanese? If you're like me, you live off of the stuff and this is the place to get it! I have been frequenting this charming restaurant for more than two years and they offer consistently delicious and fresh food with friendly and attentive service. As a busy student, I normally order for delivery or pick-up but I am also pleased to announce that the dine-in experience is also exceptional. The menu is fairly priced and the portions are extremely generous.

My advice for an introduction: you can't go wrong with any of the falafel or chawarma 'special' sandwiches which include some surprising extra ingredients which have added a whole new dimension to the dish; but beware, they're huge! The house salad is simple but addictive, as is the lentil soup, and try the 'fresh-squeezed' lemonade for a tart and sour accompaniment. If you dine-in, follow it up with an Arabic coffee with cardamom.

Normally, they are extremely fast to prepare pick-up orders, but due to their influx of popularity from being recently featured on 'Check Please,' you might want to call your order in advance or make a reservation!

Oh yeah, and 'big-ups' to Jon, the hardest working man in Lebanese Cuisine!

BYOB + $3 corkage fee

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53

Carl G.

IL

5 star rating
11/29/2007

The rotisserie chicken is amazing as noted, but this place also has some of the best dolma and hummus I've had in a long while. Try the Lebanese (NOT Turkish although it tastes very similar with the cardamom and whatnot) coffee, if you'd like.

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Lindley E.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
08/06/2007

Dang I love this place. Casual, comfortable, tasty and reasonably priced. The day we were there the rotisserie chicken was gone...sad...so we ordered a ton of other stuff - hummos, beans, kebab,  lentils...and those pickles. Mmmm.

Hummos was, hands down, the best I've had in a restaurant in years. It had the right texture and flavor balance, and was drizzled with olive oil. I couldn't stop eating it...ah, self control can be such a bugger. The kebab was a bit dry, but the pilaf accompaniment was delicious.  Everything else was fresh-tasting and bright.

The service can be slow because there's only one server, at least during the week. She's incredibly friendly and helpful and cheery, so you forgive her if she doesn't come to your table as much as you'd like.

Mmm. Favorite Lebanese in the city. No contest.

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