Apolonia: An Upscale Mediterranean Experience in Chicago

We had an exceptional experience from start to finish. The spacious minimalist ambiance is perfect for a relaxed and enjoyable meal. The open kitchen is a nice touch, adding an element of excitement to the dining experience. I also love the giant windows that they have, makes it even more spacious. Our server was very attentive and our food came out relatively quickly. The truffle puff bread is a must-try. It's airy with a strong truffle flavor that's absolutely delightful. Another standout is the shellfish tagliolini, which has become my favorite pasta dish. The generous amount of crab in the oily yet flavorful sauce that perfectly coats the noodles is divine. Despite its richness, the dish does not feel heavy at all because of the subtle acidity. To start, I recommend the yellowtail crudo. The fresh yellowtail paired with cherry is a surprisingly perfect combination, making for a light and refreshing appetizer. The mussel toast is another highlight; it's loaded with fresh mussels and drizzled with a delicious broth that soaks into the toast, making it absolutely mouth-watering. We also tried the dry aged fish for two, which was sea bream that day. The fish was flaky, with crispy skin that wasn't burnt, and it was served with a generous portion of vegetables underneath. The Atlantic cod was another winner, perfectly cooked and flaky, accompanied by a delicious risotto. Lastly, the drinks here are both delicious and strong. I would recommend Apolonia for a cute date night.

apolonia was good but not rave-worthy (outshined by the haidilao right next door ) best items were the octopus (weirdly served in escargot dishware) and blue crab tagliolini as someone who typically isnt a fan of the texture of gnocchi, i really liked their "hand-torn" potato gnocchi with wagyu short rib black truffle puff bread had a deep truffle flavor and great crispy texture - maybe a drizzle of something sweet to balance the saltiness of the shaved parmesan would elevate the dish further? the grilled branzino had an incredible crispy skin and the fish was cooked perfectly; the marinated olives added a certain brininess to the dill oil but were very salty. however the fennel was cooked beautifully and a great add to the dish dishes were a little salty across the board but desserts (pistachio ice cream and tiramisu) made up for it! ambiance was nice but service was a little lacking!

Sat at the bar a few weeks ago. Restaurant was jam packed due to a concert downtown. Service at the bar was a bit slow, but the food was good. A bit artsy kind of place if you like minimalism. Prices seem a bit high it it is downtown Chicago near McCormick Place.

We stumbled upon this place after checking into our accommodations. Our server was amazing! We had great service and she was so helpful and provided great recommendations. The cocktails were great. We got the beets, cauliflower and verde pasta. The beets were delicious. The cauliflower had a great sauce but was very oily. The pasta was tasty but a bit too salty for our liking.

Came here for brunch with my parents - the truffle bread was heavenly. The vibe is very light and airy and swanky, very luxe. Service was good and attentive. The steak and eggs in purgatory were a little off, which was surprising to me, probably a fluke. The mushroom brunch flatbread was yummy. We surprisingly didn't get pastries, but the pastry menu looked top tier and I definitely want to try it.

Came here back in February to try. I was always intrigued since it looked like fine dining. The ambiance of this place is calm and relaxing. It's a great place to have dinner/lunch with friends. The service was quick and attentive. They clear off plates and refill your drinks quite fast. The food was amazing of course! I don't remember the name of it but I have a picture uploaded... this was so good! The ingredients blended together so well and created a symphony in my mouth.

Came for dinner and had a 4 star experience with incredible gnocchi, fun drinks and good service to overcome a few misses in food and dessert. Potato Gnocchi - 5/5. Melt in your mouth. Complex and full brisket ragu. Nice gnocchi. Bit of heat from the chilies. Black Truffle Puff Bread - 3.5/5. Seriously puffy. Nice herbs. Solid, but not as spectacular as I remembered. Mafaldine Verde - 3.5/5. Well made pasta, fun twist to have boursin. Yellowtail crudo - 2.5/5. The fish itself was only OK, didn't feel super fresh. The gastrique was one-noted with a sweetness that was off balanced. I got a tasty mocktail with chipotle and my wife got a solid IPA. Got the cheesecake baklava - not fair to rate since we had it for leftover later, but the flakes lost their crispiness so it fell a bit flat.

Stopped by for a quick lunch before a conference. I ordered cod roe creamy pasta and my coworkers ordered the chicken main dish. They seemed to enjoyed their dishes. My pasta was cooked well and had a nice seafood-y creamy texture. If I were to try it again, I would try to order something else that would help cut the richness of the pasta. Service was great and the ambience was nice as well. Not too busy and an easy spot to walk in for lunch.

I was recently in town for work and we had dinner as a group at Apolonia. When I walked in I was blown away by the beautiful atmosphere and aesthetic. We had reservations and were seated immediately. I took particular notice of the amazing bar area. Our waitress was very attentive, friendly and patient with our large group. The only hiccup was my coworker was served my cocktail and I her mocktail as she's sober. Honest mistake and not on the waitress but remedied quickly. We ordered almost all of appetizers for the table and we enjoyed them all. Everyone raved about their entrees as well. The star was the shellfish tagliolini! It was super delicious and full of flavor!! My friend regretted not ordering it when she tasted mine lol. Everyone enjoyed the desserts as well. I will definitely be visiting again whenever I am back in Chicago!