Apolonia — Restaurant in Chicago

UPDATE: Returned here for a third time on April 7th and this place has gone from a good option to a great option. One of the best steak tartares with a nice solid beef flavor and great compliments. Not usually a fan of swordfish (usually too dry) but this version was great. Pasta (we did the lamb chorizo) was perfectly cooked. Puff bread remains amazing. If you haven't tried it, go now!

We were here on the second day of the restaurant's opening. We began the meal with two fairly interesting cocktails--When Life Grills You Lemon (the foam on top is deceptively thick) and Rye So Serious (my wife stole this one from me despite not normally liking whiskey but she liked this one. She thought her drink was too sour despite the lemon being in the name).

Our waitress, whose name sadly eludes me, was very friendly and knew the menu and the details of the dishes extremely well.

The food was excellent especially the black truffle puffed bread, which is worth coming here just for that. We followed the puff bread up with grilled octopus (portion size seemed small at first but it was delicious and the paste with it is very rich). We had mixed opinions on the Fiorenti el Sugo (my wife likes her pasta over cooked and it was perfectly al dente), but we both agreed the sauce was amazing. Our final dish was a slow roasted lamb and spring vegetables, which my wife found dry but I appreciated the slight char and despite traditionally snubbing lamb that's not medium rare I found this to have a nice flavor and was very tender (the lemon sauce was slightly over powering to me, but I'd still suggest trying it if it returns although it was by far the most expensive dish we sampled).

For dessert, we had the banana bundino cake which is definitely big enough for more than two. This is also the one area where I'd ding them slightly as our decaf espresso came out much earlier than the dessert, and in watching the kitchen the pastry area was having trouble keeping up despite 2-3 (couldn't quite tell) working in that area (again, only their second night being open so one hiccup isn't an issue). Not a big deal since otherwise everything else flowed to us smoothly, and I appreciated the slight passage of time in between the separate dishes to reflect, converse, etc.

It didn't bother me, but my wife did also complain a bit about the smokey smell from the kitchen. They had their vents running but our table was next to the kitchen so if you have concerns about this maybe ask for a table further from the kitchen.

Overall it is a nice addition to the neighborhood and with really good food we hope to...

Star 1: My husband, and son went opening night and while I was hesitant to take the 6 year old the server and chef were eager to offer accommodating options for our picky eater.

Star 2: We also didn’t have a reservation but since we’re locals and have been waiting for them to open we tried our luck. With a packed book the team happily made space for us, introducing themselves and making us feel welcome. Not rushed or out of place for not being the smart neighbors to make a res.

Star 3: THE MENU! The options were beautiful! The Black Truffle Puff Bread was a sensory explosion. Crisp, warm, with an end of that beautiful earthy truffle flavor that warms ones soul. The Fresh Chorizo Sausage on the bed of onions was warm And tender with a hint of spice. My only advise, make sure you have a heaping fork full of the onions with every bite because that pairing is one of a kind. Now to the star: simple but packed with flavor was the Spicy Bucatini Pomodoro. All I can say is save the bread or ask for more because you won’t want to leave an ounce of this sauce behind. While the pasta was perfectly cooked the ricotta and sauce stole the show.

Star 4: I’ve worked in the restaurant industry as an oops professional for 20 years and I’ve been part of many opening nights. This one was smooth, seamless and the team knew what they were talking about. One of my biggest pet peeves is a team who can’t offer suggestions, pairings and history of the establishment. Or server (It took me too long to write this so her name escapes me but she has red hair, I believe it was Kara. 🥴) She shared that this was part of a group and their other location; which now I can’t wait to go to. I told her the things we liked and she took the liberty of offering for us. I selected the wine but she was able to share the profile and region. She Checked on us, but not too much and genuinely made us feel good about the overall experience.

Star 5: Apolonia hit the mark! Beautiful minimalistic aesthetic, warm and friendly service, diverse menu options, beautifully crafted wine list, and for us, a hop skip and a jump from our house.

We will be back!

Thank you for being a bright spot in the...

This is Chicago's best kept secret, and it is astonishing that reservations are not booked out weeks/months in advance.

Context: I have been here 3 times in the past 3 weeks and 4 times in the last 1.5 months. I have brought my family, friends, and colleagues because it is that good.

From top to bottom, the menu is full of great breadth and depth and can fit any dietary restriction that you have. The service is immaculate as well; my water glass has never been below 1/2 a glass, the table is wiped in between courses, the utensils are replaced, and you are constantly being checked on and cared for (don't worry, not too much, just the right amount).

In regards to the food, the tasting menu is the best I've had in the city, highlighted in my opinion by the Mussel toast and the Fiorentini. The Pistachio desert is in a league of it's own, and is far an away the best desert I've ever had.

To start your meal, the puff bread is warm, buttery, savory and delicious; a must have. I also love the cauliflower for the complexity in flavors as well.

That said, having tried the majority of the menu, there are not any misses. You might have a preference for some dishes over others, but there is not a bad dish. Additionally, the wine pairings are great as well.

The one critique is out of the restaurant's control, which is the parking situation. During an event at Soldier field, Wintrust, or McCormick, parking is quite the endeavor since everything is sold-out. In turn, take this into consideration if you're driving (add in extra time if street parking, or spothero), or opt to take public transit since the Red & Green Lines are pretty close.

Otherwise, this restaurant is a 10/10, and deserves all the flowers. Every single person I've brought here (myself included) can do nothing except shake their head in disbelief at the culinary greatness which is presented in each bite.

I've been there 3x in the past 3 weeks, and you can guarantee I will continue coming back in the future. Much appreciation to all who keep this restaurant running at such...