MAHARI — Restaurant in Hyde Park Township

I love a good African diaspora fusion spot so figured I'd try this place during my recent visit. Inside looks nice, and the hostess and our server were friendly. But, things started to devolve from there; I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. From ordering, it took about 25-30 min for the appetizer I ordered to come out. It was a take on a mushroom suya skewer. It was neither suya spiced nor on a skewer, but it didn't taste bad. Next, it took about 40 min from ordering for the one beverage I ordered to come from the bar, partially because when it was made (late), it ended up getting served to the wrong table and had to be remade. Then we waited and waited and waited. And, 70-75 min after ordering, the entrees finally arrived. By this time, Mahari had officially been closed for at least 15-20 min. (Mind you, Mahari says patrons' dining experience should be done within 90 min, which by their clock, we only have 5-10 min left to eat.) There were issues with the entrees. In one entree, a seafood stew, the mussels didn't open and there was no crawfish as stated on the menu so the kitchen subbed it with shrimp but no one alerted us to the substitution. In another entree -- their take on a surf and turf -- they first said the dish was delayed because they were waiting on the salmon to be cooked, then it was delayed because they ended up serving the dish to another table, and then it finally arrived but the "turf" and the sweet potatoe puree were cold. There were other culinary errors, too, that really just made for a poor experience. When I brought these grievances to the manager, she offered to just make the dishes over again, which was absurd because it was 25-30 min after closing at this point. She said "okay, I can just take these items off your bill" but she also wanted to take the food away after we had waited over an 1.5 hrs to eat; she looked confused when I told her I still wanted my food because it's late and I need to eat something. I had to ask her for a discount -- to comp the meal -- cuz the (many) errors were theirs as a restaurant. She took back one side dish and said she would comp the cold dish. But, when the check came, the cold dish, which cost about $40+ with tax, wasn't comped. She gave me a 15% discount on the entire ticket, which amounted to $17, on a bill that was $110+. Mind you, gratuity is added automatically on top of that for any party TWO and bigger, and the food, service, nor the experience merited the amount on the bill. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant because they don't actually value the patron experience. Kitchen issues happen but, as a restauranteur, you eat that and are gracious to patrons when your team falters. I got none of that and even a slight annoyance that I expected better customer service and the comping of my meal after all of those missteps and very long wait. Sucks because I really wanted to like this place and add it to...

We visited Mahari on a Thursday evening (8pm reservations). Only about four small groups seated (including ours) in the entire restaurant.

We ordered one mocktail, water, one appetizer, two entrees, and a side. 35 minutes passed before we received an appetizer. The mocktail didn't make it to our table until almost an hour after we initially sat down. We were told that the waitress gave our drink to another table by accident. We didn't get our food until after an hour and twenty minutes (it's now almost 9:30pm).

When the entrees arrived it was evident that one plate had been sitting out while they took longer to prepare the other. Essentially, one plate of food was hot and the other was cold.

I ordered the cazuela mariscos. The dish was not served with crawfish, as described, and was a bit too salty. My partner had the salmon and filet mignon, which was cold by the time it arrived at the table. The mushroom satay was very tasty! The charred okra was undercooked (lacked actual charring).

After waiting so long for our food it was simply too late for them to refire the cold plate of food. We expressed our disappointment, quickly ate what we could and left. By the time we walked out it was almost 10pm!!!

I share this to say the service was incredibly SLOOOOOOWW. They were by no means busy. Every table waited well over an hour for entrees AND drinks! The part that truly pissed us off is that the place has the AUDACITY to add an automatic 20% gratuity!!!

I believe in tipping and paying workers fairly. But I expect GREAT service in return. This place wants to be a five star restaurant. However, they have a lot of work to do. The price does not match the quality of food nor service.

If appetizers and cocktails are going for $20 STEP UP YOUR SERVICE AND QUALITY OF INGREDIENTS!

If you feel you DESERVE 20% gratuity, STEP IT UP!

I encourage the entire Mahari restaurant staff to go shadow the workers at Virtue Restaurant (also in Chicago). Take some notes. That's how you do a 5 star...

Mahari offers an exceptional dining experience with its intimate atmosphere and attentive service. The staff goes above and beyond, making every guest feel special. The food is a true standout, with every dish showcasing fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and a touch of love in the preparation.

For drinks, my friend and I started with the Afrodisiac Island and Birds of Paradise cocktails, both of which were expertly crafted and tasted just as good as they looked. The presentation was as impressive as the flavors—smooth, refreshing, and vibrant.

For appetizers, we indulged in the Honey Berbere Naan and Pineapple Wings, both of which were packed with savory goodness. The naan had a perfect balance of sweetness and spice, while the wings were tender, sweet, and bursting with flavor.

For the main course, we opted for the Graze and Bayou alongside the Prawns and Polenta, and both dishes were nothing short of amazing. The Graze and Bayou was a delightful medley of flavors that had us savoring every bite, while the prawns paired with the polenta were a beautifully balanced dish—rich, comforting, and satisfying.

To end the meal, we treated ourselves to the Sandia Cheesecake and Monmon Bread Pudding. Both desserts were incredibly fresh and delicious, with the cheesecake being light yet indulgent and the bread pudding offering a perfect blend of sweetness and texture.

Overall, Mahari Restaurant offers a remarkable dining experience with top-tier food, drinks, and service. It’s the perfect spot for a cozy, flavorful meal with a touch of elegance. Highly...