Ema/Aba
Annie and I had been trying to get into Aba all last summer. The West Loop restaurant has achieved it's fame through great mediterranean food, and an even better rooftop. It is so popular we were unable to get a reservation until November. By then the weather turned, and the rooftop was closed. Looking back, my co-worker had given me some really good advice. She explained Ema was the same and to just go there. At the time, I thought she meant similar. Turns out, Ema and Aba are literally the same. The owner, chef, and menu (mostly), are all shared. The only differences I observed were Aba having a fancier interior design, and Ema being a lot easier to get into. Below are plates we ordered over the two restaurants.
Hummus - smooth, flavorful, and served with delicious house bread.
Hummus with lamb ragu - basically BBQ pulled pork (I know it says lamb) on top of the hummus. I would vote to pass and just stick with the original hummus. It's cheaper and less filling.
Green falafel - amazing texture, and cooked to perfection. A must if you are at a mediterranean restaurant.
Greek Salad - the best greek salad I've ever had. Period. A lot goes into a greek salad, and it's usually messy, or has an imbalance of ingredients. This was wonderful and done right. Not available at Aba. I REPEAT, you can only get this at Ema.
Crispy Potatoes - nothing special. They are filling, and typical of something you can get anywhere. The scallion crema dipping sauce was a nice touch, but I don't think it's necessary with the many great things on the menu.
Ora King Salmon - I felt it was overcooked and overridden with budding flavors. This is only available at Aba. Important note, Aba has a greater seafood selection.
Chicken Kefta (Kebab) - meat cooked perfectly, but the lemon was a little overpowering. Rice it is served with is amazing; my wife was cleaning the dish.
Lamb and Beef Kefta (Kebab) - I enjoyed this more than the chicken. Again, meat cooked perfectly; juicy, cut with a fork.
Double Chocolate Cake - I was very enticed by the man that walks around Ema with a giant chocolate cake and serves it. So they sold me on marketing alone. Overall, the cake was just ok. I thought the mousse would have given it a nice texture, but it's really just your run of the mill chocolate cake.
Overall, I would recommend both restaurants. Good price points, and nice portions of sharable food. Ema will be easier to get a reservation and is closer to the downtown area of Chicago (sits in the bottom of a hotel). I have still not experienced the wonder that is the Aba rooftop. I plan to make a reservation next spring, so I will have it ready for summertime :)
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Hummus - smooth, flavorful, and served with delicious house bread.
Hummus with lamb ragu - basically BBQ pulled pork (I know it says lamb) on top of the hummus. I would vote to pass and just stick with the original hummus. It's cheaper and less filling.
Green falafel - amazing texture, and cooked to perfection. A must if you are at a mediterranean restaurant.
Greek Salad - the best greek salad I've ever had. Period. A lot goes into a greek salad, and it's usually messy, or has an imbalance of ingredients. This was wonderful and done right. Not available at Aba. I REPEAT, you can only get this at Ema.
Crispy Potatoes - nothing special. They are filling, and typical of something you can get anywhere. The scallion crema dipping sauce was a nice touch, but I don't think it's necessary with the many great things on the menu.
Ora King Salmon - I felt it was overcooked and overridden with budding flavors. This is only available at Aba. Important note, Aba has a greater seafood selection.
Chicken Kefta (Kebab) - meat cooked perfectly, but the lemon was a little overpowering. Rice it is served with is amazing; my wife was cleaning the dish.
Lamb and Beef Kefta (Kebab) - I enjoyed this more than the chicken. Again, meat cooked perfectly; juicy, cut with a fork.
Double Chocolate Cake - I was very enticed by the man that walks around Ema with a giant chocolate cake and serves it. So they sold me on marketing alone. Overall, the cake was just ok. I thought the mousse would have given it a nice texture, but it's really just your run of the mill chocolate cake.
Overall, I would recommend both restaurants. Good price points, and nice portions of sharable food. Ema will be easier to get a reservation and is closer to the downtown area of Chicago (sits in the bottom of a hotel). I have still not experienced the wonder that is the Aba rooftop. I plan to make a reservation next spring, so I will have it ready for summertime :)
Aba (rooftop views)
Ema
Review: 4/5
Restaurant Details:
Aba:
302 N Green St (3rd floor)
Chicago, IL 60607
Ema:
74 W Illinois St
Chicago, IL 60654
Resides in the Hyatt Hotel - I walked by it 2x not realizing where it was. Signage is small.
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