Apolonia

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 neighborhood.

Food was phenomenal! I am also glad to have a place that serves west coast oysters in Chicago. However there were some major timing issues with service such as not receiving our 2nd glass of wine until after we were done with our dinner. Noticed that bookings were also very tight. Seating 5 tables back to back with limited servers. Didn’t feel like my server was well versed in the food we ordered to the extent I have experienced and worked in before with this price point. There was also a major ventilation issue with the wood burning oven. I came out smelling like smoke but it was eventually fixed during service. Overall 5 stars because 1. It was their 3rd day of service and we all need some grace 2. It was very apparent based off the type of service they were trying to do that they were short staffed (just like the rest of Chicago trying to find workers right now) and 3. The food is that spectacular!! I am excited to come back after some kinks have been worked out.

Man, what a night. The food was phenomenal. I highly recommend the Tuna crudo and the Steak. The service was amazing.

Had the Black Truffle Puff Bread which was nice and tender. The best bread I ever had so far which was spectacular! Also had two cocktails and they were the Fight or Flight and Rye So Serious. I like the Fight of Flight which has a light tart. Everything was very great including the staff and service. The prices are upscale. I'll be back for that dessert!

Amazing!!! Incredible menu, with lots of fantastic tasting shareable plates. The wine list is truly one of a kind, with amazing pairings from around the world. The service is top of the class, and the surrounding atmosphere is light and inviting.

I would highly recommend this spot for your special occasion, date night, or just a nice night out with friends!

PS get the Truffle Puff bread, you won’t regret it!