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Category: Middle Eastern [Edit]
Neighborhood: Albany ParkKedzie (Brown)
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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The falafel is awesome! It came out hot and fresh with a tasty yogurt sauce. I could have probably left after the falafel and complimentary pita bread but a true glutton would never leave after an appetizer...pish tosh!
So moving right along I had the chicken kafta sandwich on pita bread with veggies and yogurt sauce with a small garnishment of red potato salad. I also got fries with sumac and garlic mousse. The potato salad and fries with garlic mousse were my favorite parts of the meal.
BYOB but sadly I didn't have a B so I had some W instead.
The staff was also very attentive and service was pretty quick.
Definitely not expensive but I don't think the pricing is totally comparable to similar places in the area. That being said, I would go back because I really love the laid back feel of the place, kind of cute and dare I say almost romantic (though more sectioned off seating would make it a more date appropriate place).
Stumbled into this place without knowing how they rate on Yelp. Shame on me! However, my hunch that the cute, clean place is a knock-out was right on.
Friendly service, good variety and TASTY food. We ordered the vegetarian plate which included much more food than it originally appeared and the kabob plate which came with beef, chicken, and lamb. For $29 with tax, we left with 2 full bellies and a full to-go box for the next day.
Also, BYOB and directly across the street from an awesome sweets store! Can't go wrong with this one...
I hate to jump on the haterade bandwagon for our evenings Girls Night Out at Semiramis. I even hate rating only 2 measly stars. I signed on today fully prepared for a generous 3 but honestly, it just didn't seem appropriate. Le Sigh.
GNO (our series, not the movement) gives us ladies the opportunity to try new restaurants, eat delicious food and go out on an off night early in the week giving a) these restaurant owners business where there might not necessarily be much, b) the chance to really WOW us by putting their best foot forward with taste and value and c) they get tons of generous Yelp buzz in return.
Sadly, none of those things ever really came together... I agree with the ladies, the value provided by Semiramis was just not there. I eat this style of food often and love the value to portion ratio... I mean come on, traditionally speaking falafel, hummus, kabobs, etc lean more towards street food, not molecular gastronomy. I get that Semiramis is a 'nicer' establishment, but the skimpy portion of dishes and the neglect to bring out more (or really just what we paid for) felt... well... like they really cheaped out on us. There should have been food overflowing from the tables, hanging from the walls, going home in doggie bags (ahem, remember HB, gals?!)... but unfortunately, it just wasn't in the cards this time.
I can't say things weren't tasty... they were! I loved the mixed grill and veggies... especially when the yogurt sauce, harissa and tahini were brought out for dipping. Yum. I'd go back again and give Semiramis another round in the ring sans group - I'd like to see how they perform under regular conditions as most Yelpers seem to love this joint. Hey, I know you can't win 'em all, but at least my diet sure did with this one!!
In a word: underwhelming. Had I not been there with such a lovely group of ladies (three cheers for Yelp GNO!), the experience would have been all the worse.
So, the way GNO works is that a fearless leader (Angie M. this time) makes arrangements so that we have a prix fixe menu. This time said menu even came with a Vegetarian option! Hip, Hip, Hooray! ...err, not so fast.
Appetizer: Hummus and falafel. Now, in fairness, I arrived a little late (about 5 minutes) so I missed the plates actually being brought out to the table and thus can't judge the original quantity of food served. By the time I sat down, there was one falafel ball left, and looking around, I felt bad taking the entire thing. Did everyone get some? Should I inflict some self-punishment for being late and abstain? Oh, Catholic Guilt!
(I went for it - decent, but a bit dry.)
Main course: Now, here's where the vegetarian option kinda failed me. I was asked when I sat down if I wanted the "vegetarian plate" (presumably the hummus, babaganoush, tabbouleh, falafel, and grape leaves advertised when the GNO was being arranged) and a new "rice and lentils" dish. Seeing as how the appetizer would cover falafel and hummus, I went for the rice and lentils. Mistake.
[I will now pause in my review to reflect the long wait before the main course was brought out. Thank goodness for yelpette chitchat and BYOB'd wine!]
When the server brought out our food, there was a little confusion. I was sitting by another non-meat-eater who'd also gone with the rice and lentil dish. Hers arrived, and then they tried to give me the other vegetarian plate. I explained that I'd also ordered the rice and lentils, and the server replied that when I said "Rice and Lentils" she was thinking "Vegetarian Plate" so she put in the order wrong with the kitchen (or something - honestly, I have no idea what was going on here). We ended up with three vegetarian dinners split between two girls. And all the better, because honestly, the rice and lentils plate was an enormous letdown. I could have made it myself (trust me, I'm no whiz in the kitchen).
Overall, my favorite thing was probably the fun, comfy booth I got to sit in while chatting with Yelp lovelies.
As I opened my wallet and shelled out well over $20 for a BYOB prix fixe dinner, I thought to myself that the only things that made it a good night were the fantastic company and the wine.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not being cheap. Sadly, Semiramis's mediocre food and lacking service hardly make it worth shelling out my hard-earned dollars.
I joined several lovely yelpers for another installment of a GNO dinner. We were tantalized with a prix fixe menu that promised tasty falafel, hummus, chicken and beef kabobs, rice, veggies, and so on. In my experience at previous GNO choices, as well as other Lebanese places, I envisioned satisfying portions worth every penny. Not so here.
I missed most of the appetizer platter, but from what I saw I didn't miss much, literally. One(ish) falafel ball per person and a disappointing amount of hummus graced each table. I managed to taste the last scraps of each and the falafel wasn't bad (certainly not the best), the hummus was dull, and the pitas tasted just a bit better than warm cardboard.
After a long wait, the main entrees came out. Just one plate each of veggies and kabobs for each large table of hungry yelpers. Was there more? No. Am I disappointed? No. The meat was a bit on the dry side and nothing better than a "quick fix" type thing I could pick up at Trader Joes. Even after the harissa I requested was brought out (many, many minutes later...), I still sought flavor and moisture.
When almost all hope was lost, a plate of bite-sized baklava was brought to each table. Again, it just didn't seem proportionate to our group size. The baklava was a hit, though I later heard that it wasn't even made in house.
On top of portion size debacle, I don't know whether we overwhelmed them or that they just weren't prepared to serve such a large group. Regardless, the service was seriously lacking. Even though we had ample time to take full advantage of the BYOB option, there were still water glasses left empty for far too long. I got the impression they just wanted to get us in and out of there as quickly as possible.
For the amount I paid for dinner, I'd just as soon walk a few blocks to my favorite neighborhood place and have enough food to last me for days. Save yourself a few dollars and do the same. I wasn't impressed enough with Semiramis to warrant another return trip soon, if ever.
I was a member of a party of 20 ladies who dined here last night. We were offered a prix fixe meal for $22 each, with tax and tip it totaled $30.
Although the food was flavorful, the portions were anything but generous. For the appetizer, it was a plate of humus, a plate of falafel balls, and pita bread. One plate for a table of ten hungry ladies (our party was sat at two tables.) The pita bread was plentiful, but when you run out of hummus, it isn't worth eating.
The entree consisted of chunks of beef and chicken (on the same plate) and a plate of rice with vegetables. Again, one plate of each food, for each table.
For desert, each table had a plate of baklava cut into tasting sized pieces. The baklava was very good, but again, the serving size could use an increase.
Comments were made about how there was no way we were served $600 worth of food. Yes, I know we are also paying for the service, but I take exception to paying $30 for a meal and all I have is some hummus, three pieces of chicken, two pieces of beef, and a tasting bite of baklava. I can only imagine what $30 would have gotten me off of the regular menu.
You should have a lunch special - every restaurant around you in Albany Park has them during the week!
Regardless, the chicken kabob sandwich was excellent. So marinated, juicy and tender, topped with fresh onions and cucumbers. Yum. I would definitely come back to eat this sandwich or other entrees but really, you guys should get a lunch menu - then your restaurant would be filled with people, instead of just our party of 3.
So I feel like I attended a completely different dinner than everyone else; I guess it just goes to show just how subjective a dinning experiences can be.
From the warm pita (wheat or white), pickled beets, olives and hummus to the tender and well seasoned steak and chicken kabobs with grilled veggies and rice- I found everything to be wonderful, satisfying and relatively healthy (which was a big plus!). I did let myself indulge in two different types of bakalava at the end of the meal; a normal pistachio one and a cigar shaped pecan one. Can you say sugar coma? Luckily bakalava is small so you don't overdose!
Service was also very friendly and happily brought more veggies out to the table when the grilled ones disappeared quickly. (I felt that there was more than enough food but maybe my side of the table had a different experience than the others?)
I left quite full, satisfied and happy, actually calling my sister and boyfriend to tell them how amazing the meal was and that I needed to return with them soon. This great meal was more than enough encouragement to head all the way up to Albany Park for seconds! Can't wait to return!
Disclaimer: I came here for a girls night out with a group of twenty for a prix fixe. The company was fabulous, but the meal, not so much.
First, the food. We started with hummus and falafel which were good, but sorry, I don't think the best in the city. Then I had a vegetarian plate, and I did not care for the grape leaves (too tart) nor the baba ganoush (I normally like both these items). For dessert, the pistachio baklava was delish.
Second, the value. A table of 10 was given 2 plates of hummus and 2 plates of falafel. Then 8 of them (2 had ordered vegetarian plates) had to share 1 plate of beef and chicken and 1 plate of rice and veggies. So basically all the carnivores got only a few mouthfuls of entree. The baklava were small and everyone only got 1 or 2 pieces. $22 plus tax and tip for this. We would have been better to each order off the menu, because I feel this deal was a rip off (especially for the meat eaters).
I love Middle Eastern food, but the whole place underwhelmed me. Perhaps dining with a small group would be a better experience, but I don't think I would bother to go there again to find out.
A total fala-fail.
At least for group dinners that is. I came here with the lovely yelpettes for the monthly GNO dinner - it's been months since I've really shown my face around yelp parts here, and since falafel is my favorite thing on this green earth, it seemed like the perfect event to show my face around yelp parts.
The falafel was good, but not the best in the city. The portion sizes were stingy, in that none of us left fala-full. Hummus was bland.
Worst part? I paid $30 to be provided with lackluster service and sparse servings.
A Yelpette GNO is always a fabulous time, even if the meal falls flat. Sadly, despite the awesome Angie M's planning, I feel like that's what happened here.
We were split into 2 tables because of space constraints, which not everyone liked. I, for one, didn't mind the set up because it's usually hard to talk to more than 4 people when sitting at a very long table. It also can make allowing people in and out for bathroom trips and smokes an ordeal.
I don't regret not eating meat, but sometimes I feel like I get a raw deal when I get a veggie plate. Not this time, this time I drew the long straw, sorry my carniverous lovelies. The owner even discussed 2 veggie plate options and gave us the opportunity to choose.
We started off strong with plates of hummus, falafel and fresh, warm pita. The portions of falafael were skimpy, about 1 ball per person. The hummus was amazing and went in lightning speed and our quickly barren baskets of pita were frequently replenished, but once it was done we waited and waited and waited...
When the main course was finally ready I was stunned to see the server put down only one of the two platefuls of meat kebab (beef and chicken) in her hands on our table. It doesn't take a carnivore to tell the meat and the similarly-sized plate of rice and grilled veggies wasn't very much to feed the 8 non-veggie ladies at the table. The veggie diners hit the jackpot with the veggie sampler; I got a nice-sized plate with hummus, babaganoush, tabbouleh, 2 falafel balls and 2 grape leaves.
The big winners on my plate were the hummus, tabbouleh and falafel. I don't know that I would go so far as to call it the best falafel in the city, but it was tasty. I wasn't wild about the babaganoush or the grape leaves; they weren't awful, just the weakest players on the plate with the grape leaves having too much lemon in them. I actually had more than enough food, I was able to take home leftovers and stretch it out to another meal.
I skipped dessert, baklava not really being my thing, but it garnered high praises from the table. However, again the portions were stingy.
Semiramis is BYOB, but I decided to opt for lemonade instead of bringing my own booze. The lemonade is freshly made and contained sparkling water and a sprig of mint. It was good, but too tart for my liking.
Having looked up the menu on the website, I can say with certainty that the value for the price of our meal was WAY out of line. Usually, at a GNO there is no shortage of food, many times the opposite problem is had.
Like another Yelper suggested, ordering off the menu instead of the prix fixe package almost definitely would've been a better value. Per the website the veggie platter I got was $11, my lemonade $2 and I can pretty much guarantee that 1/10 of a appetizer portion of hummus, falafel and baklava dessert wasn't another $10 (price before tax and tip). The same holds true for the meat-based options.
Bottom line: Food 3.5 stars, value for the price 1 star. Like someone else noted, it may be good for smaller parties, but for larger groups dining family-style not so much (unless your peeps eat like birds).
P.S.: Other reviews mention complimentary pickled beets/horesradish (?) and olives, where were ours?
Semiramis you naughty boy you. You know that I have been eating healthy for sometime now...why do you temp me with your fried ball goodness. You know my weakness. Falafel. Why do my knees tremble every time I smell your garlic, herb sweet sweet scent?
Sadly you knew that I couldn't eat all of you. Oh yes. I wanted to. But I chose to be strong--so I split one with my friend Angie. It pained me to do so, but I just had to.
When I put you in my mouth it was an explosion of flavor! So good...ohhhhh Mr. Falafel. Why do you do this to me!?!?
Will I be back? Yes. The hummus was great--plus the pickled beets & olives were sooo yummy!
Went here for the GNO last night (for those who aren't aware, GNO = girls night out). And to be clear, this is entirely a review of the restaurant. Were there a listing for it, the GNO itself (and it's organizers/hostesses) would get 5-stars. But anyway, on to the restaurant. Because we were such a large group, we indulged in a prix fixe meal served family style. That is the primary focus of this review.
For $22 (not including tax and tip) we had hummus and falafel to start, chicken and steak kabobs with rice and grilled veggies for an entree, and baklava for dessert. Honestly, this deal sucked. And I place the blame squarely upon the restaurant. For what we paid, it was a terrible value. We could have had so much more food had we ordered off the menu. For $22, I could have had my own plate of hummus plus my own entree plus baklava and been left with leftovers for lunch the next day. Instead, I shared the hummus with 5 other people, had maybe 1/2 or 1/4 of an entree (there's no way there were 8 servings of kabobs and rice on our table), a piece of baklava and no leftovers. Lame. The only people who got a good value were those who ordered the vegetarian plate. Way more food + ability to bring home leftovers.
Service was spotty and slow (though you could tell that they were really trying) and I guess I can't hold that against them too much since we were a gigantic group. However, the wait time between courses was way too long - especially since they knew our order in advance.
The food was good. And the BYOB was great (though I'm never a fan of corkage fees). I may go back sometime to order off the menu - there were certainly other things I would like to try. But honestly, this experience just left a bad taste in my mouth.
We had another great girls night here yesterday. The food was good and the company was good.
About the food. The food was delicious! I heard they have the best falafels in the city, and I would believe that. For desert we had the best baklava I have ever tasted!
So if they food was great, you're probably wondering why I only gave them 3 stars. It's because the restaurant didn't work particularly well for a big group. We ordered a group meal family style, and there just wasn't enough food. I have never had that happen before! We polished off every dish on the table and easily could have eaten more.
We had reservations for a group of 20. We were split up into 2 tables of 10 (which was kinda odd, but I understand. The restaurant was just trying to adapt to the situation the best they could). Each table received 2 plates of hummus and 2 plates of falafels (1 falafel per person) for an appetizer, 1 plate of chicken and beef kabobs and 1 plate of rice with vegetables for the main course, and 1 plate of baklava with 2 tiny pieces per person. This meant that most of the table couldn't reach any food at any given point. It was also a lot less food per person then the plates for individual entrees that were being served to other tables.
I'm sure none of this would be an issue with 6 or less people, but overall it didn't work very well for 20. The food was still great, and the staff was friendly. So if I had been there with a much smaller group, I probably would have had a much better experience and given this place more stars.
Oh, the BYOB factor is nice!
Oh and I should say thanks to Brett and Angie for organizing another fun GNO!
I am staying upbeat and attempting to be positive- despite the fact that I left hungry- and really drunk due to lack o food!
I was with a group of women for a Girls night out. As responsible adults- this was pre planned, the establishment was well aware of how many were coming, a prix-fixe was set!
We had 2 large tables of 10 women each. I had a great time catching up with old friends and meeting a couple of new ones!
The place itself was cute- nothing special. It did get pretty noisy, but hey, that could have had something to do with the company I was keeping!
The food. Yeah. Not much of it. I had one felafel's for an app. Yup- 1. A bit of hummus. For dinner, rice, a bite of meat and a couple of small bites of chicken. Not much. They passed a plate of rice and meat around the table for all of us to share. REALLY? No refills, nada. For dessert- I felt like the queen. I got to pick a number, I picked 2. That meant our table SCORED and we got the pistachio baklava plate. Meaning we each got 2 TEENY TINY pieces of baklava.
So- for 30$, I left pretty hungry and incredibly drunk. Granted, at this point in time I am a cheap date. 2 beers, I am swimming. IA friend and I had a couple before we went, expecting to have a huge meal. Not so much. Nope, really, not at all. A couple more beers, and well, yeah. With very little food, I was boozy.
The servers seemed a bit perturbed. They never checked back on us, did not refill the platters of food, hardly refilled the water.
What gives the place the second star? The company. I had a blast despite the meal.
Thanks ladies for a wonderful night!! Seramis- I do not think I will see the inside of you again.
Sadness. Food-blocked on a GNO - what in the hell? The menu was super promising, and for my first little foray into Lebanese food - or maybe second or third, sometimes alcohol makes things hazy - I tried everything and I have to admit it was good. There just wasn't enough of it.
And...my pathetic auditor ass took the time to add up all the prices off the menu, and I basically could've ordered the hummus, falafel, beef kabobs, and baklava all for myself and be just over the $22 I was charged. The thing that sucked the most is that I was one of the first people sitting at my table - and it took me awhile to realize that the apps were never going to be replenished. So...I thought nothing of digging in to the hummus, or grabbing a falafel - when it was only a plate of 6. And I will admit I felt like a total ass when I realized that was all we were getting - for a table of 10. Next came the way too long wait for the beef and chicken kabobs - which were tasty, but my allotment of four or five pieces of beef was never gonna be filling. Oh, and my tiny bitch piece of baklava was good. But seriously, Semiramis, help a chick out - no one wants to head to their first GNO and be labeled the pig of the table.
To all the all (seemingly) fat/gluttonous white ~yelpettes~ that were displeased with "stringy" servings and other ridiculous claims -- we don't want you here, anyway. ;) Your banal yuppie chatter probably would have killed my appetite. Why don't you guys stick to Sultan's in Wicker Park, yeah?
That being said, I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS PLACE.
Seriously, each time I go back to Semiramis has me thinking even more highly of the establishment. I always leave here very full, very happy and very relieved that my wallet isn't looking emaciated. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful, the food is absurdly inexpensive considering how delicious and generous the portions are, and the restaurant itself has a very chic yet cozy vibe to it. To date, I've tried every sandwich on the menu and 2 entrees. I've never had better falafel, shawarma or kafta in my life and yes, I have eaten all of the above at a number of other places in Chicago. They do put their own little twist on everything, but in the best way possible. I'd tell you to get my own personal favorites the first time you go here, but you can't really go wrong with anything on the menu. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the chicken kabob sandwich, but then again I'm not a fan of grilled food in general and theirs had a very distinct charred taste. As for appetizers, I love their fattoush but like to switch it up between that and their sumac fries, dolmas and hummus (of which you get a TON). I would ask for the pita bread in the fattoush to be put on the side, however, as it tends to get soggy from the dressing.
So don't let a bunch of snooty middle-aged women dissuade you from coming here; it's freaking amazing! If only I had the time to come here more often... -wistful sigh-
They add a bit of a western edge to traditional Lebanese food (this is not a complaint), but ohmygod are those sumac steak fries with garlic mousse completely mouth-wateringly delicious! 'nuff said!
(so there's more to be said but I'll leave it at this for now)
Worth the hype for once. Best bang for you buck in Chicago.
I'm normally a meat eater but lately we've been getting the vegetarian plate. The baba ganoush is amazing with a great smokey flavor. My favorite is the tabbouleh. It has a refreshing taste that really sets it apart from all the other flavors on the plate. The falafel is the best I've ever had. The hummus is the most mediocre item on the plate but still good. I'm not a big fan of stuffed grape leaves so I'll abstain on reviewing those. My wife and I share this plate and an extra side of falafel and we have not been able to finish it.
We've tried all the other main dishes on the menu, everything is delicious and the portions are large. I'm convinced the rice is laced with a narcotic. Get the rice with whatever you order.
Another great thing about this place is a BYOB $3 corkage fee. What a deal. Drop by the liquor store down the street and pick up a bottle or better yet bring a great one from home. It's easy to leave this place stuffed, happy, and a little woosy for under $30 for two.
I love Semiramas. I know what my friend Mike is talking about when he said he craves it ALL THE TIME. It is just really delicious. I can't say I've had too many menu items, because I just keep getting their vegetarian platter. And then I'm stuffed.
The things that put it over the top from four to five stars, is the room is so pretty, just really nice sunshine coming in. And the staff is so warm and knowledgeable. They never seem annoyed if you just split some platters of food. And it's BYOB.
Always a great, casual, friendly experience. Oh, I almost forgot!! The pickled beets and olives when you sit down. Deadly good.
since moving to chicago i have been disappointed with the falafel scene ,, i know that everyone raves about sultans,, but seriously its kind of a watery jerusalem salad and there just isn't that much flavor over all. semiramis on the other hand has a great falafel special sandwich -- its so complex with the crunchy purple cabbage, the tahini sauce, the grilled eggplant, crunchy pickle, the yum falafel balls -- all wrapped in the classic thin pita. and lets not forget the side of potato salad. seriously great. and its huge! i usually eat one over two meals, this is the only thing that i order when i come,, but im planning on sampling the hell out of the menu in the future. oh did i mention they are right across the street from my most favorite baklava shop Jerusalem sweets?? it doesn't get any better.
Well, crap. I know how difficult it can be to plan a large group event at a restaurant. Angie did an excellent job of planning and getting everyone excited about Semiramis. But I have to agree with the other Yelpettes about the lack of quantity in the food. I was one of the lucky ones, as I ate the vegetarian option. But still, I was surprised by the lack of food on the table. 20 people paying $22 a piece should get you more than what was on the table. The food was good, but I have definitely had better. BYOB was also a major plus, as there seemed to be more than a few us needing some wine. But the food? Eh. I don't think I'd want to come back. There are plenty of other options around.
I have been to this place at least 4 times. The best thing there is the lentil soup!!! it has some rice in it and it's perfectly seeasoned..
the vegetarian plate is to die for. The best stuffed grape leaves in town are found here!!! It does suck that it's closed on Sunday though.. def will go back here!! go check it out
I might be in an overly-generous mood, but I'm giving 5 stars.
I'm new to Albany Park. I love shwarma. This should be easy, yes? Well, yes and no. There are a multitude of options. The problem is...there are a multitude of options. Where to start?
A few weeks ago, I went to Noon O'Kabob. It was delicious. But last night my fiance and I were in the mood for something different, and certainly something cheaper. Enter Semiramis.
We shared the hummus, which might be the best hummus I've ever had. Fresh, creamy, delicious, served with warm pita bread. I had the chicken shwarma sandwich, he had the falafel sandwich. They were served in delicious pita-wrap things and came with a scoop of some sort of tasty orange potato salad-type thing (help me out, Yelpers). I had homemade lemonade. Our total check? $17.
Everyone was really nice, and the restaurant was clean and neatly kept.
My bf and I went on slightly hungover stomachs after celebrating his bday the night before, so we expected a really hearty and delicious main course. Major disappointment. We ordered all the apps and the mixed grill to share. I thoroughly enjoyed all the appetizers we ordered. The falafels were as delicious as they've been hyped by magazines and yelpers. Both the hummus and baba ghanoush were phenomenal. I really loved the pickled radishes and olives offered at the beginning of the meal.
The mixed grill came with 3 pieces of chicken, 2 pieces of steak and a beef/lamb kafta, a few pieces of grilled veggies and a crapton of overcooked rice. The steak was cooked well but barely any flavors, the chicken was suuuuper bland and also kind of overcooked and the kafta was mediocre.
The meal was pretty cheap, about $40 for 2 but with all the middle eastern places around Chicago, I probably wouldn't go back
This is one of my "go-to places". I have never been let down. The service is good, the staff are genuinely friendly and the food is outstanding (I've only had sandwiches though). They have the best falafel sandwich that I've had. The meat is also really good, juicy and flavorful. I'm fond of the chicken kafta, but really they're all excellent. The chicken kabob was a little too charred for my taste, but it was still pretty good. I also really like the little thing of sweet potato they give you. The dolmas are great, as is the hummus. Overall, I would highly recommend this establishment.
eaten there two or three times and never been disappointed. first time i didn't know if i was going to enjoy it. I'll be honest, i was a little hesitant but they won me over. and it's a byob so go the liquor store down the street and pick up a bottle of wine or a six pack and enjoy.
I was worried when we got to our table and there was a small dish of those little devil balls...olives. Damn olives. I swear, I want to love them, but they make me want to hurl. Sick little salty balls of sick. I hate 'em. But, I took a deep breath, positioned them out of my range of sight, and busied myself with wine consumption. Ooooh, my boyfriend picked out a wine called "Delight"...and I was thusly distracted...(Oh yes, BYO, don't forget that lovely little treat.)
Our server was gracious enough to point out ordering the vegetarioan platter was a good way to go with a group for a variety. She didn't steer us wrong. So we started with the meatless wonder-platter (which was initially what I had planned to order for my entree, but I made a game-time decision change). Dolmas, falafel, baba ganoush and hummus rounded out this platter, great for party-sharing. However, two falafels was not nearly enough for our falafel-loving bunch so we ordered another serving.
And...OH. My. God. The falafels were good. Heavenly, not in the least bit dry or greasy, they were simply divine. I wished that I had an order all to myself. Creamy hummus, flavorful baba ganoush. Yum.
So, I decided to go meat-a-licious for my entree. Mixed grill? Yes please. And let me tell you, it was like sexy in my mouth...flavors, perfectly grilled, seasoned to perfection, and delicate rice that perfectly accentuated my mixed grill of lamb, beef and chicken.
Service was friendly, ambiance is good. I dig the pillows along the benches that give it that more mediterranean/middle east vibe. My party had brought our own birthday cake and they were kind enough to bring us plates and extra forks.
So, Semiramis...I love you. I will be back. (Despite those damn olives you just MUST put on your table.)
We were here for lunch after watching it on Check Please for lunch.
Baba ghanouj: good
lamb and beef chawarma: good
lamb and beef kafta: good
The experience overall was good, but it was one of the first times we had Middle Eastern cruisine, and have found better since.
This is a great place to go get some cheap but good middle eastern food. The meat plate was big enough that I took half of it home and had two meals. It was brimming with rice and had delicious kaftka as well as very tender chicken and steak kabobs.
If you just want a sandwich (shwarma / kebap / etc), you can easily get in and out for around $10 or less. I've been there a couple times and I'm pretty tempted to try the vegetarian plate next time since that looked delicious on the table next to mine.
Excellent wraps, but I still swear by the lentil soup.
I love Semiramis for lunch! The staff is very friendly and even when I run through to grab the… Read more »
Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum. I wish I knew how to say "damn tasty" in Lebanese. I think I'll be hanging out a Semiramis alot in the future, so I suppose I'll ask.
We stopped in for a late lunch on a Saturday and the place was pretty much empty. The staff was so friendly and helpful. We ordered the veggie plate and the mixed grill to share. It was too much food for these two girls, but it was delicious.
The hummus was light and flavorful and the baba was one of the best I've ever had. All of the meats were tender and full of tasty goodness!
I'm so excited that I'm moving to the neighborhood because I'll be eating several meals a week there!
It took me FOREVER to get to this place, and I'm so glad I made it! I love shwarma, and it's been hard to find a decent shwarma place in the city....until now.
Ladies and gentlemen, I've found the shwarma.
Yes, it's a hike from where I live, but it was worth it.
We started with the salad, which was delish. Then we ordered the french fries seasoned with sumac with a garlic/potato dip. We were warned that we should have the fries come with the entree so that we wouldn't "gorge" on the fries. I appreciated that bit of advice.
I had the shwarma sammie, which was awesome, then the husband had the dinner plate with shwarma, kabobs and the beef patties. The shwarma was so good, my husband wanted to order more shwarma to take home (but sadly, the kitchen was closed).
The service was excellent, and any place that plays hip hop is awesome to me. Also, they indulged us in a conversation about sumac, and even gave us some sumac to take home!!! How awesome is that?!!!
I love places that are laid back, where the owners and employees like to smile and laugh, and where the food is great. So, go here...you'll enjoy it.
I haven't had good Middle Eastern food since I moved to Chicago two years ago, so I was excited when I heard about Semiramis. I grew up in Detroit so my standards for Lebanese food are pretty high. That said, I liked Semiramis, but they were missing some little things that make a Lebanese five star in my book.
To start off we ordered the vegetarian platter with fattoush in place of tabbouleh. The hummus was smooth and creamy but a little light on the olive oil flavor. The fattoush was very fresh and well seasoned, but the pita chips were too plain (I love them real crunchy and salted!). The baba ghanoush was a stand out, smokey and smooth and just enough lemon to bring out the eggplant flavor. The grape leaves were excellent, not too oily, better than most I've had in restaurants. The falafel might have been the best I've ever had, fresh out of the fryer but not dripping with grease. Overall some of the dishes were just OK and some were outstanding.
For an entree we split the kabob platter. This was fairly weak overall. All the meat was under seasoned across the board. Kofte should be loaded with cumin and pepper and the kabobs weren't marinated long enough so they were a little chewy. Compared to most restaurants the meats were pretty good, but Lebanese places make some of the best meat dishes I've ever had and these kabobs just didn't live up. Even more disappointing was the "garlic mousse" also known as toum which we received upon request. Most toum I've had is very creamy and full of sweet garlic flavor. This mousse was bitter and pungent, like the garlic was overprocessed with not enough oil to even it out. There are few foods that stand up to lamb kofte or juicy chicken kabob dipped in creamy toum, and on this account Semiramis came up short.
I really wanted to love Semiramis, but it just didn't blow me away. Compared to my favorites in Detroit I would give it three stars because it did do a lot of dishes well, but since it's the best Middle Eastern food I've had in Chicago it gets an extra star. Next time I'll get a big plate of falafel and baba and skip the kabobs (maybe the roast chicken is better).
Tea with fresh mint was the perfect compliment to tasty, flavorful and moist falafel sandwich. The falefel sandwich itself was slightly minty, which was actually good, but I can see how that might turn some people off. I bet it would be even better with the works (falafel special). It came with a scoop of some sort of cold orange potato mash, which tasted quite good. The interior is very nice; seems like a good place to go on a date. I definitely want to come back with a group of people and try lots of different things.
I threatened you all in my Sultan's Market review that I'd go to Albany Park next time I wanted a falafel! Look at me now.
I went here for lunch today and ordered the Falafel Special, a mere $6. Everything was very fresh and tasty, down to the little bowl of olives and mysterious vegetable dyed mysteriously purple.
The falafel itself was excellent, full of fresh veggies and a little spice. I haven't had enough falafels in my life to throw any superlatives in here, but I will say it was delicious.
Excellent food, great staff and beautiful decor.
The only reason I can't give 5 stars is because I'm a vegetarian and wish they had more vegetarian options amidst all the traditional meaty ones. I would definitely go here more often if there were more veggie dishes for me to eat!
The falafel sandwich is outstanding. I usually don't even like falafel!
While Semiramis is your standard little Lebanese restaurant in Albany Park, it boasts some kickin' falafel and awesome deals. So let's get down to business.
1. Best Falafel in Chicago - Well, at least according to Chicago Magazine. The falafel has a TON of garlic and herbs, which I love, but you definitely won't have kissable good breath after chowing down on these little balls of chick pea fried goodness.
2. Dirt Cheap Options - While the seafood is a bit pricey, Semiramis boasts some absolute steals on their menu. My falafel sandwich was five measly bucks. It's a few falafel balls wrapped in a pita-esque bread and includes lettuce, tomato, pickle and tahini sauce. Add a scoop of Lebanese potato salad on the side and you've hot yourself a great meal... for a steal!
3. I can never, ever underestimate the power of a BYOB restaurant. I think the corkage fee is just a few bucks.
4. Friendly service. It was a bit slow from time to time, but I've waited enough tables in my day to know that one gal working the whole restaurant is not easy. I cut her some slack. She didn't seem lazy. Just uber busy.
Minus one star for the loud-ass kid screaming and crying through my ENTIRE MEAL. Someone needed to give that kid some candy. Or take him outside. I seriously wonder how parents think it's okay to let their kid scream and carry on in a restaurant. This isn't Chucky Cheese.
The baklava, while amazing, is actually from Nazareth Sweets right across the street. Save yourself a few bucks and walk over there after dinner for your dessert.
Ahh-mazing.
What a lovely place. I feel more and more satisfied after each visit. The ambiance is really warm and relaxed, the staff is friendly, it's BYOB and the food is just phenomenal: inventive, fresh and consistently delicious. It's a great place for a laid back meal with friends or family. A really nice place to bring visitors from out of town.
I will admit that I was a wee worried when I saw that all three employees were Caucasian women. Nothing against them but I heard this was one of those authentic joints. On the other hand, they could probably pronounce the name of the restaurant while I search for the linguist in me by breaking it up into syllables: [sem-ira-mis].
Now I look back and want to kick myself while asking "why am I just now discovering the unique flairs and flavors of Albany Park?!" After all, it's only 4 stops away on the Brown Line and across the street from the Kedzie stop. Semiramis is BYOB (yet charges a $3 corkage fee) and freshly makes all the items that same morning.
I started off with Sumac french fries with garlic mousse due to its popularity. I almost wish the garlic was cooked with the fries versus being a paste on the side, but still simply delicious. Makes a great appetizer.
Both my friend and I got the Vegetarian Plate which was $11 for a large platter of Hummus, Baba Ghannouj, Tabbouleh, 2 Falafels and 2 Dolmas (picture in business profile photos). It's truly a steal for heaps of color and healthy, tasty options.
The best part about eating here is you don't feel guilty, even after stuffing yourself! I'll definitely be back.
Neighborhood: Albany Park
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: Albany Park
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: Albany Park
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: Albany Park
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: Middle Eastern
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