EmbeyaVery good food,especiallyVery good food,especially liked the Asian fruit (rambutan, durian) for dessert. Pricey but worth it, would also work as pre-Lyric Opera dinner spot (but would not suggest durian for dessert in that case, unless you are well-supplied with breath mints).5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWOW!!!Embeya is the total package; beautiful modern space, friendly and attentive staff, interesting and delicious well prepared food, outstanding beverage program (even the French press coffee), generous portions and affordable pricing. After my first meal at Embeya today it instantaneously became one of my favorite restaurants! We already made reservations to return next month as part of my wife's birthday week celebration. Embeya is affordable fine dining with a relaxed atmosphere. Worthy of a special occasion but inexpensive enough just for a fun evening out with friends or a date night; wonderful lunch menu available on weekdays to boot and the Simple Sunday dinner is a steal. Nice outdoor patio set to open any day now. Highly recommend!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat spotWe went for mothers day brunch. I have also been there for dinner as well. The owner was there to greet us when we came in. He was very passionate anout his business. The restaurant itself is very classy, the food was inspiring, and the overall feel in the atmosphere was elegant. They were very welcoming to our two young children which you wouldn't expect at this high level of a restaurant. I love this place.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food + Great Service = WinThis was the perfect place for my out of town friend and me to enjoy an energetic scene, and really delicious food & perfectly made cocktails (try the SATO ZUKE). Our server was very knowledgeable and made some great recommendations. There were some interesting items on the menu we tried and loved them all. I recommend the banana blossom and quail. The hostess was really friendly and inviting and made a point to talk to us as we left to ask us about our meal. She even hailed a cab for us.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat and somewhat unusualThe food and service are consistently very good to excellent. Friendly staff. Food choices are somewhat different which is refreshing.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAdventure in new flavorsA wonderful evening of new flavors to experience. Great recommendations of fried oysters, halibut and rabbit lived up to the servers praise.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMFrom Vancouver BC CanadaRead about you in the Conde Naste Traveller magazine; we had a rough start, but all was made up with complimentary desserts! The menu on-line changes, even though I had my heart sent on the menu online, the new updates were delicious and did not disappoint. I would recommend this to anyone visiting Chicago, a real winner! (A better assortment of tea's would be great).5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMRelaxing Dinner SpotWith a similar ambiance to a resort spa, it was no surprise that the entire dinner experience was very relaxing. I went on a Sunday night, and thankfully the restaurant wasn't crowded. Some of the table seating used very plush couches -- incredibly comfortable! Service was attentive and polite. We opted for the Sunday tasting menu which was a great value. While the food was good, I did notice the cuisine was all over the place. Fish, curry and ribs with a little Asian flavor. I'd recommend this for the culinary adventurous types.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food quality.
TheyExcellent food quality.
They do not pour a good drink (highball) - I ordered vodka on the rocks - they poured a one shot drink.
Wine list - no Cabernet's - great for Pinot Noir's.
Excellent service.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMSO good! Everything was incrediblySO good! Everything was incredibly fresh and delivered with such care. It truly was a perfect combination of Asian fare with French fare. The ambiance was cool and inviting and the servers were more than happy to answer all of our ridiculous questions. It was a really neat dining experience.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMfabulous!we fancy ourselves as great appreciators of good food...but there aren't enough superlatives to describe our dinner here...just great on ALL fronts. space is beautiful, service is exceptional, presentation of food excellent, and creative cooking is the highlight of our memorable meal.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMI enjoyed taking my boyfriendI enjoyed taking my boyfriend out there for dinner. Interesting food choices and decor.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMBirthday LunchWent to Embeya for a birthday lunch. The staff was great. The food was delicious! The owners came over and and introduced themselves and were so warm, welcoming and appreciative. The owners helped us celebrate the birthday by serving a comp bottle of excellent chardonnay. They also served beautiful desserts complimentary also. Our group had a great time and we all look forward to trying dinner.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMThoroughly enjoyed my experienceThoroughly enjoyed my experience at Embeya. The ambiance is sophisticated and chic and the food is delectable. I definitely recommend Embeya to any one looking for a new & exciting dining location in Chicago.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWe love our barista Daniella!We love our barista Daniella! She is amazing! My girlfriend and I had reserved a table. Since I got there earlier, I sat at the bar. We ended up eating there We love beacuase of Daniella. She made us feel like being at home, or visitng with old friends! We loved the food and the drinks she recommended to pair with our meals.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThis place has nailed it.This place has nailed it. Attention to detail, great ambience/decor amazing food & drink all with first class service.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMTasty,but don't go if you're hungryWe loved the ambiance, the service was great and the food was very tasty. Only problem was the portion sizes were minute. I loved the wine that was recommended, but the value for the money is just not there.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWent there for my day's bday;Went there for my day's bday; he and everyone enjoyed the ambiance and thought the food was superb. The halibut was amazing and the sauce on the mussels was so tasty. Will definitely be returning soon.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMreally liked the looks ofreally liked the looks of the place and the food. Great place to share!
The owner was a delight and came over to welcome us and help with the wine selection. Also brought over the ribs which we hadn't ordered, but wanted us to try, which were delicious. Would order next time.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, service and ambiance.Great food, service and ambiance. Great food combinations that are new and different.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMlunch was great-but servicelunch was great-but service was a little slow-don't come here if you need to get in and out within an hour4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMSimple SundayBeen To Embeya before and loved it, went on Sunday for Simple Sunday which was a great relaxing way to spend a Sunday Evening. Excellent wait staff, friendly, observant and not omnipresent.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWelcoming new hot spotThe ambiance is welcoming, interesting, and energetic. The owners personally invite you into their experience. The menu pulls together a variety of influences into combinations that work: the food was great (especially the green papaya salad). Highly recommended for a good time and slightly adventurous dining.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe fare here is a bit different,The fare here is a bit different, which is likely why you would come. There is a prix fixe menu that we learned of beforehand from the Goodman Theatre web site, and this turned out to be a good sampling of the cuisine. The entrees - mussels in a coconut sauce and tangy ribs - were both delicious. Luckily, we ordered an additional side of bok choy because the dinner was light on the green veggies. The dessert was a tasty trio of exotic fruits - very unique.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMIf you're a foodie, go here!Everything excellent, starting with the greeting from multiple staff: sincere, not formulaic. Seated by one of the owners, but she didn't play "owner"....that info had to be dragged out of her because she is welcoming and humble, despite having a restaurant of which she could be understandably proud.
Excellent food, good guidance from our server.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMYou won't go wrong with EmbeyaOverall, I would recommend Embeya as a good place for a business lunch/dinner or as a good stop after work. I thought the food was very good, but not earth shattering. What really stood out for me was the impeccable service. Our waiter had the perfect amount of attentiveness; he stopped by to check on us but never rushed us nor gave up on us because we were taking too long. Additionally, he was very educated on the wine list and had great input on wine suggestions and food offerings. The support staff attending our table was also great. We never had an empty water glass or empty plates sitting on the table. Embeya is a strong contender for your business. The food is solid and the degree of service is superior.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMsophisticated space, exquisite foodExecutive Chef Thai Dang produces not just beautifully presented dishes, but tastes that are exquisitely subtle, balanced and memorable. Ingredients are fresh and paired in interesting, sometimes surprising ways. Director Attila Gyulai has created a dining environment that is sophisticated but welcoming. The cocktails and wine list are superb. We will return, again and again.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMFantasticAmazing and interesting food, both unique and delicious. The service was simply fantastic, at all levels. They treat you like you are the only ones there, and make sure you experience the food and drink the best way possible. I would like to have taken our server with us so he could take care of us at other restaurants.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMWow! One of the best newWow! One of the best new restaurants in Chicago!! Definitely worth a return trip. Out-of-this world flavors. The green papaya appetizer and lobster entree are not to be missed.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMOkay not be have the familiarWe were warned through other reviewers to expect unusual combinations and not the familiar and that was what we got. We had a little trouble understanding how to order when the server said the food was served family style, i.e. we were not sure how many small and large plates to order, but the server provided recommendations and it worked out perfectly. Everything was tasty and well prepared. The dining room was strikingly beautiful. I would recommend this for a special occasion and when you are looking for a different dining experience.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGlad We Finally Stopped InVery knowledgeable and attentive staff, relaxed but upscale atmosphere. Overall great experience. Will be back. Fish curry and noodles were stand outs. Well served cocktails.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFABULOUS place! We will beFABULOUS place! We will be back and we'll bring friends. Wonderful food (and we're foodies)! GREAT and affordable wine list. Friendly, fun staff that makes you genuinely feel welcome. How soon can I get back there?4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant is awesome.This restaurant is awesome. The food was amazing and creative and would fit in asian fusion. I would recommend the whole deep fried sea bass. Amazing. They are new and the Owner and his wife are extremely warm and friendly.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe feel SO fortunate to haveWe feel SO fortunate to have this wonderful restaurant nearby! It's perfect for an early dinner before seeing an opera performance. Everything we have tasted has been exceptional. The food offerings are definitely Asian in origin, and several different "portion sizes" are available. The wait staff is quite knowledgeable about which dishes can be shared between 2 or more diners. Ordering several "small plates" will give your party a chance to sample lots of interesting, new things.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMi gave the food rating a 3i gave the food rating a 3 only because we had 9 dishes, and there were at leat 3 that we good, not great. The green papaya salad with beef jerky and the kona kampachi were excellent. The crab with salad was a disappointment. The spring rolls wrapped in lettuce and dipped in a spicy sauce gave great crunch and taste. The baby octopus was good, but the portion was remarkably small. I can't even remember the 3rd hot app, so I guess it was just OK whatever it was. For main courses the boys won out and we got ribs, lamb shank and monk fish. Both meats were incredibly fatty - the monk fish with a yellow curry sauce was tasty, but again a very spare portion. My favorite thing about the restaurant was the cocktails & decor!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMawesome food, drinks and wineawesome food, drinks and wine were not that great, but all of the food was super awesome, so we will be back3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMI have been here twice. MyI have been here twice. My favorite is the Green Papaya salad which is delicious. The menu changes and is meant to share, but the portions are not too large. Definitely a new favorite for lunch or dinner.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMso many appetizers that lookedso many appetizers that looked great to try. Wish I had a bottomless pit!3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMThe name must mean "YUMMMMMMMMMMM"From the top down, this restaurant hit all the right notes. We can't afford to go to these types of places on a regular basis so anything that falls short really stands out. But the service was amazing and the food mores. And I am all an=bout the cocktails and these guys have a great twist on some classics as well as new ones they have created. All around, PERFECT!3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMFrom the moment we walkedFrom the moment we walked through the door I felt special. The space is just beautiful and the staff gracious. The food was beautiful and so delicious. We went early and had a perfectly unrushed meal. I will be certain to return.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a little mixup withWe had a little mixup with our group but the director, Attila, in good fashion, overcame it by sending special dishes to our table throughout the night, he checked in with us several times.
The timing of our servers was impeccable,the server was helpful with the wine selection & of course the sommelier was spot on.
We had been looking forward to this experience for quite some time and it was a run thru for future business dinners i intend to book here.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat new spot in the West LoopAbsolutely loved the food. My wife and I tried the tasting menu and there was nothing we did not truly enjoy. Presentation and preparation were outstanding. Will definitely go back. Two issues - I felt the waiter and staff were rushing us, and for a restaurant that has a good wine list - those available by the glass were really limited.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was fantastic. TheThe food was fantastic. The crab small plate is a must - it was delicious and creatively prepared. Same for the octopus small plate. The monkfish large plate was extremely tasty. I highly recommend it - same for the lobster. Desserts are definitely different but don't let that scare you - the cream puff and pineapple desserts are great. Every dish was delicious. Our server was friendly and helpful - even when I asked him to basically describe nearly every dish on the menu. We felt very welcome by the staff. This is a gem of a restaurant that you should not miss. I definitely will be back soon!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMVibrant food scene...incredibleVibrant food scene...incredible service and knowledge of the food3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMI thought the food was outstandingI thought the food was outstanding and the prices were in line with the food. I will be back many times this summer.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMDishes were amazing, venueDishes were amazing, venue was inviting and staff could not have been more gracious3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and service wereThe food and service were both great. We had a pre-theater menu and will be back to try more dishes from the regular menu. The wine list is very well thought out with many selections that are not necessarily offered at other restaurants.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWarm Atmosphere & Wonderful FoodMy girlfriend and I had dinner at Embeya last Wednesday night and had a terrific experience. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable and helped us pick just the right number of "large plates" and "small plates". We ordered the grilled Quail, the cauliflower with a poached egg and red chile, fried rice and monk fish - all were fabulous.
Attila Gyulai and his wife are the hosts and part owners and came over and engaged us in a conversation - they are very warm and charming. All in all we had a delightful experience and can't wait to go back with some friends.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMI've now been there many timesI've now been there many times and can highly recommend it. It's one of the best new restaurants in the city, in my opinion, and a little different from all the rest.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMRemarkable menu, and greatRemarkable menu, and great service. A little loud . . .lot's of folks dining.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AM