Aria: User Reviews

aria is a must visit
By maddog from elmhurst, July 30, 2008

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aria is a wonderful concept that must be one of your summers must visits. The naan bread with the great dipping sauces was a great start to our culinary adventure. I also recomend the Pad thai as it was AMAZING. Do yourself a favor and go try it tommorow. Afterwards you can stop by the aria sushi club/bar next to it for a night cap. A very trendy and sexy club as well.

Enjoy everyone, see you there.

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Great Dinner!
By gaotu from Lincoln Square, July 15, 2008

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I recently went to aria with my mother for her birthday and wow! were we impressed. This restaurant was excellent. We were seated in the front section of the restaurant facing a small open kitchen area that was postioned around a beautiful tandoori oven which produced some of the best restaurant bread the both of us have ever had. It was served with 4 different spreads. It is so nice to get something besides stale french bread and butter. This was the beginning of a great night. We continued on to their "famous" rock shrimp appetizer which was piping hot and so tastey. Our server suggested a glass of riesling, a kabinett, I believe which paired very well with the starter. Then we had a wonderful chef's special foie gras, pan seared. It was so good. I can't believe some idiot alderman wasted our time and tax payer money to ban such a wonderful food. I'll remember aria restaurant during the next voting session. Anyway, I had the Hong Kong Chow Mein with Lobster and Duck. It was very good; my mother had the pork chop which was amazing. Cooked to perfection, which to us has still a touch of pink, so moist and mouth watering. AMAZING! we finished off with the sans rival dessert which my mother commented as one of the best desserts she had ever had. Thank you aria for making my mother's birthday so perfect. The service, the attention to detail and food make this a spot worth coming to again and again.

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Great Experience!
By mogo from lincoln park, July 9, 2008

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What an incredible meal we had last night! This was my first time dining at aria and my only regret is not going sooner! The atmosphere was lively, yet my girlfriend and I still felt like we had a sense of privacy. The menu, was creative and fun, however, we opted for the "Chef's special Roasted Chicken."

Our waiter explained that the chef was inspired by a childhood meal cooked by his grandmother as we were treated to a 3 course meal, served tableside! The chicken came out beautifully roasted and our server actually carved the bird right in front of us. It was served with smooth and buttery mashed potatoes with gravy and organic green beans. To top it all off, and what really put our meal over the edge, was the incredibly huge and delicious chocolate cake with whipped cream and strawberries served to us for dessert. Though we took more than half of it home, it was an awesome ending to a fantastic meal.

I can't wait until our next visit. The hostess was kind enough to let us take a menu home so we can plan out our next meal at aria.

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WOW ! ! !
By chowhound from streeterville, June 14, 2008

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We had never been to this restaurant even though it is in our neighborhood. We just assumed it was a typical hotel restaurant. Last night, after a hectic week for both of us, my wife and I decided "why not"? I did not even know what non (sp?) bread was until last night. I certainly do now, and will be back for more. The food was fabulous (as was the hostess in the cool dress) and service was timely and paced. We will be back.

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Agree with "What Happened"
By Gio from Rogers park, May 23, 2008

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I also frequented aria alot, despite it's high prices it was an amazing place and was well worth it. However, I have to agree with the other review "What Happened" is right! aria is no longer what it used to be. The food is ok although VERY inconsistent, the service which was my favorite part has changed so so much for the worse. It seems the servers manage the restaurant as there is no one who cares,; servers are eating, chatting and who knows what else. Anyway, I never write reviews, but I spent a lot of time and money at aria and really want to know what happened. I never thought I'd say it, but it is now terrible, beautiful place without substance or care. Seems like new or different owners took over, and they don't care, how sad! Now I go to the south loop, still miss aria's great days. Oh well... I also say goodbye to aria.

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What Happened?????
By Greg from Loop, April 29, 2008

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Used to love aria, have been there many many times. I came in early January and had a bad experience (the first). It could happen to any place, right, so I passed it off as a fluke occurance.. However I have been back twice since that day and it is... can I say AWFUL! The food is mediocre, and without passion. The service which was amazing before has lost its luster, as if they dont care. Servers seems frustrated and annoyed almost angry. Managers are non existant. The place substituted what matters with a very nice new decor, however what counts are food and service, then appearance. I hate to say that I have heard similar from my colleagues at AON. It was good while it lasted. Au revoir, aria!

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A flawless dinner for ten
By outnabout from Evanston, March 3, 2008

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The other reviews sum up the highlights of this place with great detail, so I will only add that my attempt to impress some NYC clients went off perfectly and I could not have been more pleased with every aspect of the experience from the welcome up front to the incdredible private room they gave us without being asked. Most of all, our waiter, whose name escapes me, but lives in Skokie, went beyond service and never flinched or expressed anything but certainty from a fairly demanding crowd. I can stop searchng for a top flight place for client dinners.

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Such a nice treat!
By ChicagoCubFan from Lakeview, December 30, 2007

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What a nice surprise! I had no idea that Aria existed until a friend highly recommended it this week. I couldn't of been happier with my meal. I had several special requests that the chef handled with ease. Great atmosphere and can't wait to go back!

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Wow! The service was...
By Katie from chicago, il, February 14, 2007

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Wow! The service was wonderful, the mix of food unexpected and something you don't find often. For my birthday, my husband couldn't have picked a better spot. Hip drinks in the bar, nice calm, but upbeat atmosphere in the restaurant that didn't rush you through. Can't say enough about the food. Not too often that you find 5 or 6 meals that you want- at the same time! We'll be back to try more. JJ was a great server.