Amaru — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

We attempted to email for support by referencing other poor reviews here and using the email Amaru provided on 6/8. We have not heard back, and I want to ensure others do not have the experience we did. Absolutely uncomfortable and awkward for the entire hour and a half A summary of our experience below:

Dear Amaru Team,

I’m writing to share some honest feedback following a recent visit to your restaurant, as I believe in giving establishments I value the opportunity to address concerns directly.

During our visit, my party of four was seated at a center table and kindly asked to be moved to a booth for more comfort. Linda informed us that no other tables were available, as there was a party with a child coming in. However, shortly after, we observed her accommodating another party of 2 with the same request. This inconsistency felt dismissive and disappointing. We asked Paula why we weren’t allowed by Linda to move. Paula admitted she didn’t know or understand and apologized.

Unfortunately, the experience was further soured by discovering two hairs in our food. We were unable to raise our concerns to Linda, as she became noticeably avoidant—spending extended time in the kitchen and later standing at the bar, speaking with other staff while glaring in our direction. Her behavior gave the impression that our presence and concerns were being intentionally disregarded.

At one point, a song came on that we loved and we made a comment (within earshot of where Linda was hiding in the kitchen) amongst our table that it was “our song” and we were so happy to hear it. Within 15 seconds, the song was skipped— the first and only song skipped in the entire hour and a half we were there, not to be played again.

The table we were denied sitting at was never used and the restaurant was not at capacity, further insinuating that Linda did not care for our party for reasons unknown, as we’ve never been to this establishment or met her.

On a positive note, our server Paula was wonderful—attentive, kind, and professional throughout. Her service stood out and was deeply appreciated.

I’m sharing this feedback in the hope that it will lead to a reflection on consistency in guest treatment and food handling, and to ensure that future diners can fully enjoy the warmth and quality Amaru is known for. We’re sad to have paid $200+ for a meal and spending the entire time feeling like our presence was a problem to Linda and her crew at the bar.

We are kindly requesting the charge to the card for our bill be returned.

Thank you for your time and...

Best Friends Birthday 5pm Sunday Party of 4 (3 adults 1 toddler)

Server (Extremely spunky and warm. Attentive and had good suggestions)

Ambiance (Good American/Spanish Hip-Hop music, chill atmosphere, casual wear)

Food (South American/Latin fusionesque)

Botanas Orejitas (Thin long cut strips of pig ears in a sweet/spicy sauce. Crunchy yet fatty) (Keep in mind it's an extremely strong dish, so it might go well with the yucatan fries) (Liked it but would not order again unless it was to compliment drinking or by itself)

Botanas Piononos (3 pieces of chorizo stuffed sweet plantains wrapped in bacon. Flavors go well together) (Easy to eat and exactly what's expected. Solid appetizer shareable)

Chicos Ceviche (Too little fish for my personal liking, and the sauce and surrounding vegetables were overpowering. It looks beautiful though when served)

Chicos Escargot (On the house from the chef) (3 pieces of toasted bread along with the snail pieces and sauce. Went well together, snails have a similar texture/taste to mushrooms) (Favorite of the small dishes/appetizers)

Grandes Cuban Oxtail (Main course of tender oxtail and few pieces of ravioli. Mixed in is corn, snow peas, and kale topped with some cheese) (Definitely recommended)

Green Matcha Pisco cocktail (Egg whites make this drink come together so smoothly) (Would come here just to try this cocktail again)

Old Cuban cocktail (Different by having a fruitier taste and carbonation pep because of the Dibon Cava)

Coconut Tres Leches (Super moist and tasty cake with some great texture mixed in)

Note: They just started brunch again May 2nd. Separate menu.

I wrote a long review because the place deserves it. Extremely attentive staff that brought out some edamame beans for my toddler and got her water in a coffee cup so she doesnt spill. The chef gave us the escargot appetizer to try out as its something he is experimenting with, and the whole table loved it. The birthday dessert was brought out with a candle and was unexpectedly taken off the bill which I thought was nice of them. Loved the place and atmosphere and would come here for brunch, dinner, or strictly drinks....

We walked in without a reservation for a weekend dinner and fortunately were able to get seated at the bar 20' after putting our names down. Hence, I really recommend getting a reservation beforehand if possible. Between the two of us, we ordered 2 chicos (requeson, ceviche) and 3 medianos (jerk pollo, mole y leon, and pulpo a la plancha) to share.

Requeson: The tamarind saba and pasilla chili honey were sure a lip-smacking combination. Homemade Spanish soft cheese did not taste cheesy but was closer to firmer creme fraiche for me. The sourdough left a lot to be desired with neither tang nor crust. The texture was identical to normal bread.

Ceviche del dia: The fish tasted fresh and tender. I loved how the matchsticked apples, jicama, and cucumbers added textural intrigue to the dish and intensified the flavors of the sauce. The use of dill and cilantro brought such an herb-y vibe to round everything out.

Jerk pollo: extremely flavorful, juicy, tender chicken skewers went so well with the cucumber pickles. I didn't really care for the huancaina sauce and the potatoes because the dish was already rich so more fatty flavors would do more harm than good.

Mole y leon: mushrooms were cooked to juicy perfection but the star was definitely the mole. Its texture was definitely not silky as expected but the its flavors were so complex and layered. The broccolini were also seasoned and cooked extremely well. I also loved the garnish they had on top of this dish.

Pulpo a la plancha: this might have been the best bite of the night. The octopus was so tender, well-seasoned, and tasted deliciously smoky. The broccolini was also excellent here. The fermented poblano sriracha sauce truly complement the octopus very well and brought the dish onto another level for me. I wish there were more octopus though.

The plating was undoubtedly gorgeous. Food came out very fast and we both...