Chicago Restaurant Week | SIFR Middle Eastern Cuisine Review

In short: The hype started the moment the Uber driver praised the place, and it lived up to it — my first Middle Eastern dining experience was truly impressive… though it was definitely $$$ 😅 Love-hate feels real! For Restaurant Week, SIFR only offers a $60 dinner menu (set menu), though whether they have their regular menu available too would require in-person inquiry. 🍽️ The Food: Shared Appetizers — hummus with pita and pickles, served per person. The hummus was incredibly smooth, layered with cilantro olive oil for depth. Freshly baked pita was fragrant, and the pickles balanced the richness. Course 2 — we chose the Middle Eastern grilled platter with chicken and lamb. This course alone made me fall for Middle Eastern cuisine — tender, flavorful meat served with cilantro sauce and sour cream. A must-order! Main Course — Branzino (Mediterranean sea bass) was fresh and well-prepared, though the portion was on the smaller side. We also added the Duck Leg Rice (+$12) — even as someone who doesn’t often eat duck, I was amazed by the rich aroma and perfectly rendered fat. Middle Eastern cooking really knows how to highlight meat flavors! Dessert — the highly anticipated Date Pudding was a 10/10! Dense, moist date cake served warm with ice cream and caramel drizzle. The other dessert was Passion Fruit Sorbet — intensely tart, perfect for sour-lovers with pure passion fruit flavor. 🌿 Ambience & Service: Walking in, you already sense it’s upscale 😌 Tableware features beautiful traditional patterns, and service was attentive — they constantly refreshed cutlery and cleared the table. 💰 Restaurant Week Cost: ~$110 per person (includes tax, tip, and one cocktail). Though a bit pricey for Restaurant Week with modest portions, the experience was five-star ⭐ Cocktails are also a SIFR highlight — many are whiskey-based #ChicagoRestaurantWeek2025 #ChicagoMiddleEastern #ChicagoRestaurantRecs #SIFRChicago