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Alhambra Palace Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Moroccan Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Halal Moroccan, Middle Eastern, Halal [Edit]
1240 W Randolph St(between Elizabeth St & Willard Ct)
Chicago, IL 60607
Neighborhoods: Near West Side, West Loop
(312) 666-9555
- Nearest Transit:
-
Ashland-lake (Green Line, Pink Line)
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Thu, Sun 4 pm - 10 pm
Tue, Fri 4 pm - 2 am
Sat 4 pm - 3 am
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Trendy, Touristy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
218 reviews for Alhambra Palace Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The belly dancer was fantastic." In 36 reviews -
"Although, the entertainment is awesome." In 60 reviews -
"The dance floor is highly democratic, and an absolute blast." In 23 reviews
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218 reviews in English
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Review from Sara K.
Chicago, IL
4/28/2012
I came here on a friday night for my birthday dinner a few months ago and had a blast with my friends. It was my first time at Alhambra and everyone there was helpful. I liked the food and entertainment a lot. My friends and I even got up to dance on the main floor. We all had a good time and enjoyed the food. The hookah wasnt overly priced either even tho the other dishes were kinda pricey. They also brought out a mini tray with desserts with a candle for my bday.
The only reason why im giving it 4 stars is because it was pricey and the outside does not match the inside. Also, they tried charging us almost $10 to enter the club located above the restaurant which had salsa music playing that night. My friends and I were told it was free to enter since we had a receipt to prove we ate at Alhambra but the people at the door denied the offer. There were hardly any people (maybe 15 tops) there dancing so it seems like a joke. -
Review from Gus D.
Lockport, IL
5/3/2012
I came here on a Thursday evening to see a special Flamenco show that was taking place in the back room.
The place itself has a nice decor, the Alhambra ballroom is beautiful, however for some reason that evening the sound system had some glitches in it.
The show which is independent from the restaurant was very powerful and nicely put on. They do charge a 10.00 per person cover charge to enter.
Ok now for the bad. The server was friendly however she must have been very busy we only saw her a total of 3 times. I think we saw more of the bus person. We ordered the Ahlambra special which was 56.00 plus tax and here is the good part they automatically add 20% gratuity without warning you. I can see if I was a party of 5 or more but there were only two of us! When I asked the server why this did this, her answer was because it was a special event. Really??? You charged me a cover charge for this special event.
the dish itself was ok nothing really special. The Rice was not fresh, the beef kabob was over cooked and the only good thing was the chicken and the beef (and that is questionable).
Would I go back? For food no! The show maybe and I think that the management team should let it be known they are adding the gratuity automatically! The service really did not warrant the 20 % this might explain why the service lacked why go out of my way if I am guaranteed a tip? -
Review from Val S.
Chicago, IL
4/25/2012
Went here last Saturday night with a few of the girls from work. Outside is really grand looking. Made me excited to go here for my first time. Once inside it's very beautiful to look at - the atmosphere was definitely middle eastern without a doubt. We had to give our name and were told abt 30 minutes for a table on the main floor since there 2 levels. The main floor is where the action is at because of the live music and dance floor. We grabbed some drinks at the bar...ehhh $9.50 for a jack & coke is kind of stiff..but i was here for the ambiance not to get drunk.
So we were only standing around by the main floor for at most a minute and then a hostess asked if we were waiting for a table..she then escorted us to the second level. The other girls in my group really wanted to sit on the main floor but I guess without prior reservations..that can be difficult on a Saturday night. No biggie.
We were seated so we could look out over the main floor and could see the stage easily. I did ask our waiter several times about the possibility of getting a table downstairs, but it became apparent that couldn't happen. We ordered some appetizers and a hooka pipe. It took several tries to get the waiter to actually take the order and then he came back to tell us the tabouleh salad & another item we ordered was out and then he brought our order with something we did not order.
The food was ok, nothing fabulous. I would go back for the entertainment tho.
Last thing - when he brought us the check - there was a 20% gratuity already added to the bill. We were a bit shocked because normally that is reserved for tables of 6 or even more depending on the restaurant.
So I'm basing my rating on the entertainment and ambiance purely. I would take someone here for that alone - not the food or drinks. -
Review from Jane K.
Buffalo Grove, IL
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is BEAUTIFUL!!! From the outside-in this place is decorated.
The entertainment was interested, I like how they kept you interested with different belly dancers and singers.
The food was okay.. I expected a little more but it was not bad.
I would defiantly come back for another birthday =) -
Review from Julie B.
3/8/2012
I would give this place 3.5 stars. My first visit here left much to be desired, but my second visit made up for it.
Visit #1: A random weekday night - seemed like no one else was in the restaurant. Friend and I both ordered entrees and were not impressed. Maybe it was my mistake for ordering seafood at a Middle Eastern restaurant, but the fish stew was just too fishy. I would give it 2 stars for this experience (mainly because I like the decor).
Visit #2: I came back on a bitterly cold Saturday night with a date and another couple. We didn't want to go bar hopping due to the weather, but wanted something cozy and fun to do where we could be entertained, relax, and have a little something to eat. My friends were already at the restaurant, so despite visit #1, I decided to give it another whirl. This time, I stuck to ordering only appetizers that were traditionally Middle Eastern. I was happy with that decision - they were really good. We also got hookahs which was fun. They had singers and a belly dancer. 4 stars for this visit.
I can't say I'd recommend this for a single's scene or for a big night out, but if you're looking for something different on a Saturday night, this is a great alternative.
I'll be back... but not on a random weekday, and probably will just stick to ordering appetizers. -
Review from Annie W.
Calumet City, IL
4/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Both experiences was good and the belly dancers were funny..
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Review from Andrew L.
Chicago, IL
1/1/2012
It was the first NYE with my wife and because it was our first one we thought this place was going to be great since it had live entertainment and salsa dancing. We get there at 830pm and the hostess tells us to go upstairs to the second floor and talk to someone there to find our seats. We get up there and no one is in sight to help us. We had to reach out to the bartender who then talked to a waitress who bitched the whole time and got a table with a decent view.
We order and both the appetizers and dinner shows up at the same time. We were fine with this since service was slow and craptacular. So we ate dinner which was good, that's why it gets one star. The entertainment was okay, mostly just the same dancers over and over. The whole time our waitress came to our table she bitched about why no one else was waiting on us and she should have help.
11pm came and we decided to go to the salsa room. I had to show the security guy my ticket on my phone (the stupid hostess took it) and after five min of explaining things he let us in. I attempted to order a drink and the bartender told me I needed a wristband to order. I then talked to the security guard and he had no idea what I was talking about. I went back and just said give me my drink here is the cash. The drink was terrible, the guy was using a cell phone in order to make the drinks. Not a very good bartender. I had to find the manager again to get our champagne since we left our table (which was now occupied) the server forgot about us.
12am came and we drank our champagne, we saw them giving party favors in the other room where we ate dinner. I tried to find the manager again and no luck. After an hour I saw our waitress and told her how we didn't get any. She bitched and never returned. I told another waitress and she gave us some crappy ones.
All in all this was the worst NYE ever. We ended up fighting because of this shitty place. Do not go here if you value your relationship with your loved one. Only bring your enemies here. Seriously! -
Review from Hina Q.
Chicago, IL
2/6/2012
First off, HALAL food.
Secondly, the atmosphere is amazing and grande. The decorations are very beautifully done. It definitely gives off the Middle-Eastern feel. I didn't get a chance to sit in the balcony each time that I went. The first couple of times, we sat in the higher sitting area next to the wall. The next few times we sat on the floor. There are salsa/mediterranean dance shows happening through out the night. It's very entertaining. One time we did a birthday party there with a group of 10 people and the waitresses along with the manager treated us very well. The live band came up to our table and sang to the birthday person. The live dancers also did the same.
The food is not as authentic as Middle-Eastern food but still very tasty. I had the chicken stuffed the first time and it was tasty but a bit dry. The second and third times I had the beef strips and it was good. It didn't seem as cooked thoroughly as it should be but had the taste. The hummus is very good here. The kibbeh were also very tasty. Overall, I had a good experience every time that I visited them. I admit that they are slightly overpriced but when you see the portions of the food, you will understand. Plus, the live band and dancers also make it entertaining. -
Review from Lyndsay M.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2012
I visited this restaurant for dinner and Swing Dancing. Interesting deco and dimly lit. Comfortable seating. I could see it's a good atmosphere for a date night. (If you are not in a hurry.)
I had the Lobster Tail plate and my friend had the Salmon. Both were pretty good, but not worth the $$$ they priced them as. Plus our waiter was extremely slow for being such a dead Wednesday night. He would leave us to figure out our order or get our drinks, but we wouldn't see him again for about 15-20 minutes each time! We arrived at 7. Our plates finally arrived at about 8:30. As we were not in a hurry, this is the least of my worries tonight.
I opened a tab at the back bar. The night progressed and I continued to drink. I don't normally open tabs at bars, so of course I leave before retrieving my card by accident.
So naturally I call back the instant I remember. I was greeted by a man with an accent and was reassured they would hold my card until I can make it back to pick it up 2 days later.
It was Saturday morning that I realized my card had about 6 fraudulent charges on it. I called the bank and handled it. So either way, I say dishonest employees are running the restaurant. I'll probably be back for swing dancing, but I'll never trust the staff again. -
Review from meesha p.
Chicago, IL
3/25/2012
The service sucks, the food is okay and it's overpriced but I had the time of my life! I went on a Saturday night with friends and enjoyed the live entertainment and dancing. We danced so much and laughed it was just a great time! I can't wait to go back but it will have to be for a special occasion!
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Review from Basel T.
Rolling Meadows, IL
Updated - 2/4/2012
Over priced menu, LOW QUALITY food, BAD Service, BAD Attitudes from the management down to the waiters. It was the worst experience that I have EVER had. The decor was nice (little Gody, but OK). The food was so bad, I could not sleep all night. It took forever to get served, and their drinks are even worse than their bad food. When you don't think that things could get worse, the photographer showed up to sell us some ugly pictures that she took with her $50 digital camera for $20 per picture. That was the scam that topped it all. I was shocked to see a place like this is still in business. Their client's reviews are all very bad, and theu don't seem to care. What a shame for Chicago to have a place like this.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/31/2011
The worst experience I have ever had. I made reservation to spend New Year's eve over there. I made… Read more »
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Review from Ashley M.
Chicago, IL
1/6/2012
If you're a fan of aestetics--you'll be a fan of this place. The place is beautifully decorated, very grand. I appreciate that.
Unfortunately the bf and I didn't get to experience any of the shows or dancing, we actually were the only people in our section. We didn't mind that.
Our waitress was attentive and very nice. The hostess was very sweet--and this other guy, maybe the manager? He was quiet, but also very nice.
I ordered lamb--I won't do that again. Not because it wasn't good--because it was good, but I just won't. The bf ordered the chicken kabob but he barely ate so I don't know if it was bad or he wasn't hungry. Oh yeah...bring your back up wallet--this place is not cheap.
I can't really explain how great the atmosphere is though. Thats worth 3 stars alone.
Point off because I had to ask for a steak knife and for a refill on water...and because I shouldn't have ordered a big ole lamb lol! Picky? Of course. But its my star. -
Review from John B.
Chicago, IL
8/2/2011
This place lost about 800 people's coats on NYE for a party and didn't compensate anyone for it.
This aligns pretty well with all of the previous comments about the shady employees and scam tactics. -
Review from Myrem D.
9/14/2011
Came here as a guest of the city and I wasn't expecting anything big, except that I was really craving middle eastern cuisine.
The place is in an industrial area and parking is a bit ways. There's a tent outside covering the entrance, making you feel like your entering some important chancellors house. Its very loud and in your face. The inside was screaming just as much as the outside was. With heavy curtains at every corner, rugs,pillows all playing well into the middle eastern feel. The main dining room is a circle with the stage facing the end of the room. All around the corner is a balcony step up with more private booths. The chairs are NOT comfortable in the least bit. You would think with that many pillows, comfort wouldn't be a question. Oh , was it ever. I was either sinking or slanting in some corners. Finally I just grabbed some pillows from the neighbouring booth and eventually got comfortable. Still, the back is hard and extremely stiff to sit on. Ughh.
The service wasn't bad. The drinks came almost right away. The hummus was very delicious but they skimp on the bread. The beef shawarma plate wasn't the best but the presentation was impressive.The portions are large so you will be stuffed.
There is a show that is put on most evenings with belly dancers and such. This particular evening there was a band of Spanish singers and dancers. Which was excitingly new for a middle eastern place.
Slowly people started to dance in the centre and the belly dancer would do the standard routine of dancing around the venue to get audience participation. wouldn't totally danced with her but she didn't bother coming to me. My breathe probs stank.
After than the lights dimmed again and people resumed to socialise and/or enjoy the music in the background.
I didn't get to visit to bathrooms and didn't even get a glimpse of the bill.
Over all, it's not a bad place to bring out of towners but no sense of hyping this place up. It's really not THAT great unless your just looking to stuff yourself while you watch a show.
xoxo
M. -
Review from Derek C.
Wheeling, IL
9/30/2011
came here for a party and this place definitely ruined the night. we started the night sitting at the bar since we were waiting for some friends to arrive for dinner. The bartender was nice and attentive and we had some decent drinks there.
next we sat for dinner and it took about 30 min before the waiter would take our orders. he didn't even stop to give specials or ask if we needed more drinks (since we brought a few from the bar). it was a pre-fixed menu that night so we ordered off of that. it took 30 min for the first course to get to us, and we were starving by that point. the salad we got was bland and I did not enjoy it at all. we then got our next course 30 min after that, which was our appetizer. which was actually kind of tasty, but it came out cold. probably would have been pretty decent if it was hot.
Our waiter wasn't around very much and I went to speak to the manager and he said that he would take care of us from then on since it had already been an hour and we hadn't gotten our main course yet.
we then got our main course 30 min after that again... and it was definitely nothing special and I dare say it was bland as well, for something that should have had spice and kick to it.
so we finally finish our meal and the waiter is again no where to be found, so we ended up waiting again for him to bring us the check. and oh, since we had 8 people, the gratuity was automatically charged. I was furious, especially with the terrible service we got. luckily we had good company with us so it made the time much less brutal, but this was a time I was definitely considering walking out on the check.
all in all, the food was meh, the service was terrible, and the price for it all was definitely not worth it. my friends didn't want to walk out since they didn't want to ruin the night, but I think Alhambra definitely did that for us. I will definitely let others know to AVOID this place. -
Review from Katarina X.
Chicago, IL
8/28/2011
It's a party! Belly Dancers! Fan Dancers! Fire Dancers! Sword Dancers! Salsa Dancers! And I don't have to dance! YES- you read that correctly- I get to sit, stuff my face, enjoy another glass of wine and enjoy the show!
Speaking of food- try the Spicy Hummus! Yes, they have spicy food here. Real Spicy. And it isn't that faux "spicy" some places serve- I come from Texas where spicy means habaneros, jalapenos... fire... this Hummus is spicy and good!
My Boyfriend is always trying to get me to dance, meanwhile I memorized all the lines to Frank Sinatra's "I Don't Dance" and am greatly amused by any distraction where I don't have to sing all the lines! Leave it to the professionals- I was mesmerized by the dancers- guys, girls- all talented and so much fun to watch!
Boyfriend loved the spicy hummus as well and the baba ganoush especially. He forgot to ask me to dance. All in all, awesome.
The decor is lavish, over-the-top and makes you feel good to dress up and get out. The staff was attentive, cheerful and not at all invasive- they were even nice when I mispronounced everything (I made the effort!) -
Review from emily m.
Chicago, IL
1/2/2012
My husband and I went here for new years eve with two other couples. First, we prepaid $75 each for balcony seating, a show, a four course dinner, champange toast and favors. Each couple in our group booked seperately online about two weeks before e event. When we called to request a table together we were told to obtain the cc #'s of the cards we used to book and call the next day. The following day we were asked to obtain the last names of the cc's used and call the Wednesday before new years eve to obtain a table together. We did as instructed, and they promised a great time and that there would be no problem reserving our table.
We arrive at the rest at 7:30 and let them know we are there. The hostess has no idea that the six of us are going to be seated together, we wait for the other couples and are taken to our table. Our table is the far back corner of the balcony, with absolutely no view of the show. After requesting a new seat, we are taken to ther other side of the balacony, to a similar table. We take it upon our selves to find our own table since nothing is labled reserved. After sitting down our waiter puts the order in for appetizers and some drinks. After which the manager comes over and tells us people paid extra money for the seats we were in and that we cannot sit there. This was a complete lie. He also said we could not sit close to the show because those tables only seat 4ppl. Regardless that people right in front of us had six on one table, he ignored this when we pointed it out. After twenty minutes of complaining, and our appetizer plate coming and being taken away, they agreed to sit us downstairs for and extra 25 pp. We accepted, because we had no other option. They proceded to put us on the main floor, in the far corner, where we still could not see the show without bending, turning, or leaning over eachother.
After the appetizers the waiter comes over for our entree order and more drink orders. The waiter apologizes for the slow service and informs us that the servers had only a 5 minute briefing before the place opened for dinner! He then tells us that we are better off ordering a bottle of something because the bar is so backed up that any mixed drink would take quite a while. After taking our entree order he tells us that the kitchen is backed up and we would not have our salad until after the entree. Our entrees arrived at the table about 10pm. We had six in our party and only 5 plates came. The food was cold, and the rice was dry. The sixth member our our group recieved her plate 30 min after us.. with coucous instead of rice. No real explanation, and she hates couscous.
We never recieved our salad, or our desert, or our favors.
The balloon drop at midnight consisted of a big netted bag of ballons falling on our heads on the dance floor and people clawing at the bag to release the balloons.
Champange toast came at 12:30am, with four glasses. We had 6 people in our party.
It was a complete joke, every time the waiter came to our table it was to tell us something else went wrong. I am suprised we even recieved a our entree!!!! -
Review from Celeste W.
Chicago, IL
7/13/2011
Oh my lord.
Came here with a group. Seated immediately, but drinks were pressured (we were a no-alcohol event, and didn't really appreciate that). Ordering took about 45 minutes, the food was fairly prompt, the waiter messed up our coffee order (three coffees after dinner. they brought two. and then two more. i don't even know.) and took about an hour to bring the check after we asked for it. The food wasn't worth what we paid - flavorless and the meat was tough.
the belly dancing was nice, but a bit strange with the spanish folk dancing that was an hour before. -
Review from Erick N.
8/13/2011
Alhambra has a somewhat unique (at least for Chicago) ambiance as you walk in; it apparently is an old theater converted to a restaurant and has the vibe of a Las Vegas strip hotel venue. The set up is pretty cool, but unfortunately the meal, service and overall experience are subpar and disappointing.
The menu is uninspiring and the food is priced just a smidgen below what some fine dining venues charge. While the food is not bad, it is certainly nothing more than mediocre at best, yet most entrees run $22 and up. Interestingly the appetizers are far more reasonably priced; the Falafel was actually pretty good. The wine list is poor and, as with the food, woefully overpriced.Nothing priced $10 or under per glass is anything better than a glass of Two Buck Chuck. At the least the pour was a decent sized pour, but both wines I tried were rather vinegary.
Shockingly Alhambra was rather packed, so they must be doing something right, though it was a Friday night. The entertainment consisted of some rather scary looking belly dancers (i.e. envision a husky, heavily tattooed man with lots of facial hair dressed up in a belly dancing costume waving a scarf around (and kicking up dust from the floor with the scarf) a few feet from your table. Not exactly what most people envision when they think of a belly dancer. At least it was somewhat amusing to watch, though more in the manner of watching a train wreck. The worst part was my ears are still ringing two hours later from the ridiculously loud background music and blaring bass; it was my first time in a restaurant where I wished I had ear plugs with me. Forget trying to converse with your tablemates while the music is playing.
The service was not horrible, but was poor. The server asked a couple people in our party if they wanted drinks and when they said no, he automatically assumed nobody wanted a drink and walked away. After ordering appetizers he took the menu away, which was odd. While he was not overtly rude, he generally seemed disinterested. This is neither a venue I will be returning to nor that I would recommend. Walking in I was expecting far more from Alhambra than was delivered based on the ambiance and price point, but the experience fell flat. -
Review from Sam N.
Chicago, IL
9/9/2011
CAN U SAY THIS PLACE IS HUGE?
The Lamb Kabob is awesome.
It looks like a morrocan palace if you would take a trip there...
I have found the staff very attentive -
Review from Michele M.
Chicago, IL
4/30/2011
I'll be brief because this place doesn't deserve the full use of my brain. I have NEVER personally been discriminated against because I'm black. I guess I should say I HAD NEVER been discriminated against. That all changed at Alhambra. I witnessed black people being turned away and I personally had additional charges hand written on my check...the check that was eventually thrown at me.
I will NEVER step foot in this place again. Never. If I'm not good enough to eat somewhere and be treated with respect, then the place is not good enough for my money.
Side note. The food wasn't great either. -
Review from Kim N.
New York, NY
10/2/2011
A lot of hype about this place from people who recommended it to me. But unfortunately, I did not experience that, nor did the 11 people from my table.
The decor and place itself is very grand, and does give you a "wow" factor when you walk in. However, the ambiance was ruined once people started smoking cigarettes INSIDE and right at their tables. How can you try to enjoy your food when someone is puffing smoke towards you?? But then the food, for what it's priced, did not meet the expectations.
A star for the entertainment though. The belly dancers and the female singer that Saturday night were amazing and very talented. The music was uncomfortably loud! Don't expect to have conversations with friends here. The whole time I was conversing with them through texting!!!!
I thought it was interesting that there were some bachelorette parties going on. Funny how the belly dancers pulled these bride-to-be ladies out in the center dance floor for their moment in the lime light. Props to them for being brave, attempting the dance moves, and having fun like no one is watching! I only hope that my future bachelorette party will not take place here. -
Review from Matthew S.
Skokie, IL
4/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food: Awful and overpriced
Service: Awful
Atmosphere: Like nothing I have ever seen before. In a good way. It gets two stars for the wow factor inside.
Entertainment: Great if you like fat guys belly dancing.Listed in: Matt's Reviews that make you…
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Review from Valerie M.
Matteson, IL
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went for my sister's birthday. We previously went to a turkish restaurant in Atlanta and saw a belly dance so I wanted to do it again here in Chicago. We had a group and we ordered a few appetizers and shared. The entree's are huge so I would recommend sharing with another person. The show is about an hour long and it was pretty good. They do invite the crowd to come onto the floor and dance and if you sit next to the stage. My sister got a nice round of applause when she went out in the crowd. We brought some cupcakes and our server held them until after dinner and gave us some candles. The decor is absolutely gorgeous, a lot of rich colors, and eye catching elements. I loved it and would definitely come back again.
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Review from Neline S.
12/27/2010
I met up with a friend for dinner and when she suggested this place, I was pretty excited about Middle Eastern food.
So when we drove up to this opulent, palatial place, I went WHOA. We went inside after a near slip and fall miss in front of the doors and we were seated immediately.
I took a sneak peak of the online menu so I had an idea of what I wanted. I usually opt for lamb dishes but this time the Beef Swarma won me over.
According to the menu's description, the beef swarma is marinated in the chef's secret recipe served with seasonal vegetables and Alhambra's rice. Based on that, I was salivating since I was expecting a savory, juicy dish with basmati rice. (Never assume).
The plate was opulent since the helpings could have been split between two people. However, after the first helping of the Alhambra rice and the beef, I was sorely disappointed on how bland the dish was. The beef was cold and I didn't taste any of the spices usually served with it. Furthermore, I truly, enjoy basmati rice but no seasonings were added as well. The vegetable serving consisted of two measly grilled carrot sticks. (I think this was all I remembered).
The wine list was also disappointing since most of them came from California. Nothing wrong with California wines but I prefer a cabernet sauvingon from Italy. They did have a Barolo bottle but my friend wasn't willing to split a $55 bottle.
I have to admit though, the drinks and dessert that I ordered made up for the sub par meal. I ordered a Lebanese Blond which consisted of absolut citron vodka, cointreau, sweet and sour, and fresh lemon juice with a sugar rim. It was mixed to perfection and ideally not one liquor overwhelmed the other.
I also had a chocolate mouse pyramid served with whip cream and two strawberries on the side. It was a tiny dessert for $8 but the chocolate mousse sweetness was not overwhelming as well.
It was great to catch up with an old friend over dinner, drinks and dessert. However, the next visit, I would just recommend drinks and dessert. -
Review from Stef M.
Updated - 12/13/2011
Went here again to celebrate a special birthday with a group. I got to try more the of menu, everything was awesome, and a big thumbs up to the belly dancing. This made the guest of honor feel very special! Stepping in here is quite the unique experience. And you get free entertainment with dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, so why not?
Listed in: Chicago Bucket List (not for…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/23/2010
I would definately give this place a try again!
Its all about the entertainment and the atmosphere.… Read more »
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Review from Zain K.
6/25/2011
As Matt K pointed out, it all depends on what you're coming here for. We came for dinner and salsa dancing on a Tuesday night, and my 4* rating is effectively an average of the 3* I would give Alhambra as a restaurant and the 5* I'd give it as a dance venue.
Dinner: We had the lentil soup, cucumber and tomato salad, lamb tagine, and seafood martini (this was basically a few items of seafood in a martini glass). The soup and salad were simple and good, the tagine was just okay, and the seafood was boring and overpriced at $12. Overall, the meal wasn't bad, but I've had better Moroccan food elsewhere. Also, we ordered glasses of sangria, and they were pretty small and generally impressive.
Dancing: Alhambra is beautiful, and makes for a lovely place to dance. Many people in the know say that Tuesday night here is Chicago's best dance night, and I can see why The floor is excellent and spacious and the music is solid. I didn't find the dancers to be as friendly and open to strangers as they as in most places, but neither here nor there as far as this review goes. -
Review from Tracy B.
Chicago, IL
5/4/2011
I was nervous about this place because of the mixed reviews but really wanted to take my friend for some yummy Middle-Eastern food and belly dancing for his birthday. This place is incredible, decorated with such ornate detail it takes you away to another world upon entering. I had requested a table with a good view of the show and was not disappointed. We were seated along the railing of the second floor balcony and although the place is cavernous our table for two felt intimate and romantic. The show was great and the dancing was highly entertaining but the music was a little too loud which made hearing one another speak very difficult.
The food was tasty, and there was so much! My complaint, and it's a big one because they hit one of my biggest pet peeves: they brought all the food at once, appetizer, salad, and entrée. Terrible! I like my special occasion meals (actually most meals) to be leisurely food experiences not a giant buffet of everything at once. It drives me crazy when I am hardly finished with my salad and they bring out the main course, in this case they brought it all out together. If I go back in the future, I will be sure to order each course one at a time.
Other than that, I can't complain about the meal itself. We started with hummus and dolmeh, shared a salad and some potato dish with garlic aioli, and then each ordered lamb kabobs. The stand outs were the salad with super-fresh veggies, the garlic aioli potatoes with the... well, garlic aioli, and the lamb. I wouldn't recommend the dolmeh, they were a little mushy. In the end, my lamb kabobs were done as requested and the meat was flavorful and tender - and that's all that really matters to me. -
Review from Eric D.
Evanston, IL
12/23/2010
On Dec 22, 2010 I took my wife here for her birthday with friends; it was our first time and last.
The service was terrible it took us almost 2 hours to get our food and we had to ask for everything including water and when we asked for water it took at least 15 min to get that.
I should have read the reviews 1st -
Review from Mary H.
Manhattan, NY
1/11/2011
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE.
Not sure if that word was written enough to describe the service and my dissatisfaction with this place.
Went here for a late night party and checked our coats. I have never seen worse service. We checked our coats and once we went to get them (30 minutes later), there was a 1 hour wait. After we get to the front, give our tickets, the one completely unable attendant that was there states that our coats are gone.
Apart from the coats, the management has no clue about quality customer service. They avoided the insanity of the night and had no apologies for those that were present. -
Review from Adam M.
12/5/2011
Food-wise this place isn't anything special. We started with the Baba Ghanoush and the Grilled Sea Scallops. I realized that I do not like Baba Ghanoush but glad I tried something new. The Sea Scallops were pretty tasty. For the main course I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass. This meal was the definition of mediocre which was pretty disappointing. All-in-all the food is not worth the high price you'll pay but Alhambra is more about the experience. The show was pretty cool, but something I wouldn't need to experience more than once. If you're interested in the show I would recommend giving this place a try for something different, but if you're looking for a good meal I would recommend you to search elsewhere.
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Review from Nadia K.
Chicago, IL
11/13/2011
Alhambra is a very unique and lovely place. My first time there was with a guy I really liked on our 1st date. He took me there on a Friday night. His friend was our server and basically ordered for us so our service was prompt and good. The entertainment was great but a little loud. I couldn't hear my date very good. At times I would just nod my head even when I had no idea what he was saying lol Don't take a 1st date there on Friday bc its too loud. The little food i did consume was pretty decent. I went there with some friends on a Tuesday night when they have salsa night which is really fun. I would recommend going for the entertainment. I didn't experience bad service like many people say they experienced. Although, I really like this place, I wont go back bc It reminds me of that guy I don't see anymore
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Review from Sandy R.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2011
BEAUTIFUL restaurant is the only positive comment I have about this place. HORRIBLE service, from the host, to the dry bartender, and most importantly to the TERRIBLE server. He never came to check the table, we were constantly trying to flag him down, and just seemed bothered by any request. The food was not any better. Everyones plate was COLD- not luke warm but COLD. I was highly disappointed- the worse part was that we had guest from out of town and they experienced the same.
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Review from MyChau N.
Chicago, IL
1/17/2011
Went here with a group on Saturday night for a birthday dinner. Would not come back...the food was underwhelming and the service sucks. No refills on our drinks and waiter never came back. I guess that what you get when going to a restaurant that seats 1000. However, the atmosphere was nice: great belly dancing show at 8:30pm and it is beautifully decorated on the inside. However, it was so dark that i was afraid to eat my meal since I couldn't see it! Had to use my iPhone as a light for my food. My husband and I had:
Beef Shwarma: Dry and salty. Not worth the money.
Seafood Tagine: Moist, but skimpy on the seafood and okay tasting.
Tasted a friend's fallafel and it was dry and horrible. Tasted a friend's lamb and it was fatty (blech).
Overall, great show but you are paying for the "free" show with overpriced, yucky food. Would recommend Andalous in Lakeview area for better Moroccan food! -
Review from Dulce J.
Berwyn, IL
12/7/2011
I went there impromptu last weekend not expecting too much since it was close to 1am but I was pleasantly surprised. First of all this definitely beats those 1 am tacos! It certainly looks so nightclubby and that's what I thought it was at first. I also felt a bit underdressed but did feel comfortable. The service and the entertainment was great and I'll definitely be back because I only tried a couple of appetizers so I'll be back with extra cash cuz those entrees are $12+! But I'm a fan!
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Review from Maram K.
Chicago, IL
3/16/2011
My family took me here for my birthday.
It was later in the evening on weekday and more or less empty. It was nice since we had a big group and had a great time with loud conversation.
Service was attentive and kind. Waiter had a way of inconspicuously refilling water without us knowing.
Food was large in portions and delicious. Their kabobs were delicious, especially the Monte Carlo that included seafood. Their shawerma was incredibly well-seasoned and the falafel was authentic, like it is in the middle east. They lost 1 star from me because I think it is a bit more expensive than necessary.
It was a great experience. -
Review from Boones K.
Vernon Hills, IL
11/16/2011
My review is a little late coming, but I was here with several friends for a birthday a few months ago. This is definitely a place you would come to more for the atmosphere and entertainment rather than the food. Also probably best suited for a group rather than a date. They do a good job managing larger parties. We ordered a the platters to sample different things and for those that didn't want to get a full dinner. Those of us that did get a dinner weren't as thrilled. It seems ordering the small plates is a better option than getting a dinner. The entertainment was fun and a perfect distraction for some in the group but you could still carry on a conversation with others. I'd go back again if I had to plan another group dinner. Having the built in entertainment takes takes the pressure off of you.
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Review from Hala A.
Chicago, IL
7/18/2011
Judging solely by its amazing ambiance, I had high expectations for Alhambra. Unfortunately, I was unpleasantly surprised with almost every aspect of the establishment including high prices, customer service, and entertainment.
We received incredibly slow service; I had to ask our waiter if it was okay to order entrees after we had finished our appetizers, and I also had to get up and ask for our bill a while after we had finished our meal. Asides from that, free drink refills evidently don't exist there. My sister and I had to ask to get our Diet Cokes refilled (at $3 each) which our waiter did NOT inform us would be an extra 2 orders on the bill. I just find this flat out ridiculous- it's rare that a place would charge for refills for soft drinks, and if that is the case, patrons should be informed. Not doing so comes off as sneaky, in my opinion.
For appetizers, we ordered falafel, kibbeh, and hummus which were brought out promptly and met expectations. I had shrimp kabob and rice for dinner. I enjoyed my meal, overall.
The bathroom was clean but hit a pet peeve mine. An employee greeted me at the sink with a bottle of soap in her hands. I asked her if the soap dispenser was empty, to which she responded, "The soap dispensers are ALWAYS empty!" Clearly, she was there for tips for squirting soap into people's hands and handing out napkins, time she could have used to fill a soap dispenser instead. I would really rather have privacy and not have to awkwardly leave a bathroom without tipping someone for handing me a napkin.
The entertainment started at about 8 with a guest Spanish folk group. . . at an Arabic restaurant. I wouldn't really have had a problem with it at all if it were enjoyable. The Flamenco dancers and musicians were talented, but I have no idea who told the singer she should perform in front of anyone, ever. Additionally, and this whoever was in charge of audio's fault, all I could hear was her booming voice for two hours which made dinner conversation nearly impossible. We told our waiter that we had been under the impression there would be Arabic dancing/music and he told us, "Yeah, there will be. It's starting at 8:30." It was 9:30 when we asked him.
The bellydancing and Arabic music didn't start until around 10:30, a while after we had finished dinner. The dancers were talented and raised everyone's spirits, but it was a little too late to change our overall opinion. Alhambra's atmosphere does not make up for its inattentiveness and disregard for customer satisfaction. -
Review from Jane C.
Chicago, IL
1/1/2012
I went there with friends to celebrate NYE 2011. OMG! We have to wait half hour to get seated. The tables were not labeled reserved but was given the worst seating place. Waited half hour for food to arrive, the problem is Entree was served before Appetizers. Had to wait 1 hour later for the Appetizer to show up. After that had to wait 1 hour to get champagne to be served before midnight. The best part is that the dessert was served at 1am! had to wait an hour for it to arrive after several times asking the server for the dessert. Before I bought the NYE tickets, it says party favors were included but none of us get any party favors and they ran out of it. It was completely unacceptable, service, food, worst place ever.
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Review from Peter B.
Chicago, IL
5/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
My lady and I wanted a romantic evening out where we could learn how to Salsa dance...or in this case, attempt to learn. We decided to check this place out. Cool atmosphere, very laid back. Everyone seemed to be having fun. We're going back in couple weeks for more toe-crushing, Salsa...
The instructor was highly reputable and came highly recommended, she was very animated and extremely helpful....made it look so easy! I spent most of the night trying to avoid getting stepped on by my girl, but it was a fantastic night nonetheless.... a great time!
My only gripe was with the bar. Although they made our drinks stronger than average, I thought they were still too pricey considering they weren't being served by topless women. How long does it really take to mix a captain & coke? Especially when you're the only person standing there...
