Spreads, Salads & Kebabs

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So, a few weeks ago, my sister Toni and I were indulging in a little retail therapy. (Hey, sometimes you need to treat yourself, right?) After exhausting ourselves navigating the Mag Mile, we decided that we needed a little lunch before we fainted. And what better place than Ēma? The Mediterranean gem located in the heart of River North that was calling our name like a siren of hummus.

Now, if you’ve never been to Ēma, let me set the stage: their menu is designed for sharing, which is perfect when you’re with someone like my sister, who can’t help but over-order like she’s planning a feast for a small village. More on that later.

We started sensibly (or so we thought) with a glass of Assyrtiko, a crisp and clean Greek white wine that might just be my new therapy. It paired like a dream with the Mediterranean dishes we were about to devour. Shopping and sipping wine in the middle of the day—don’t mind if I do!

our dishes

To kick things off, we dove into the Spicy Hummus.. This wasn’t your average hummus; this was hummus with a PhD in flavor. Piquillo peppers, lemon, and basil gave it just the right amount of heat to wake up the taste buds without making you reach for the fire extinguisher. Their house-made pita bread? Addictive. It’s the kind of bread you’ll start daydreaming about mid-conversation. Warm, soft, and salty—everything a pita should aspire to be. 

Next came the Greek Salad. Now, I don’t usually get excited about salads. I mean, it’s salad, right? But Ēma’s version? Oh, it’s rave-worthy. Picture this: fresh romaine, juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, kalamata olives that scream “authentic,” and a generous amount of feta, all tossed in a tangy Dijon vinaigrette. It was so good that I forgot for a minute it was technically “healthy.”

Then came the part of the meal where my sister’s eyes got bigger than her stomach. Does this happen to anyone else when dining with a sibling? She was convinced we needed more food because apparently she hadn’t eaten in a decade (spoiler: we had). So, we ordered the Faroe Islands Salmon, which, I have to admit, was an excellent decision despite the slight overindulgence. It came beautifully grilled, skewered with sweet peppers and red onions, and drizzled with olive oil and lemon. The real star, though, was the Zhoug sauce—a parsley and cilantro concoction- so good.

As if we weren’t full enough, my sister, in her infinite wisdom, also insisted on getting the crispy potatoes. I protested briefly but gave in because, well, crispy potatoes. And let me tell you, these were potato perfection. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and dusted with just the right amount of salt. Oh, and they came with scallion crema. Did we need them? No. Did I regret a single bite? Absolutely not because most of them came home with us.

So, if you’re looking for a place that does Mediterranean cuisine right, whether it’s for a casual lunch, a romantic date night, or even a solo bar snack, Ēma is it. Just bring a friend who knows how to order responsibly… or don’t, because then you get crispy potatoes.