I wanted to like this place. Husband and I love Latin food and unfortunately we will not be returning. Nothing was horrible however nothing was great either. Food presentation was really pretty, taste was very bland. The drinks were also bland. We had the Inca salad (most flavorful), ceviche (a slice of raw fish on a bed of cucumber- the least flavorful), octopus (one very small tentacle- flavorful however small and did not care for the beans it came with), oxtail (shredded with potato stuffed ravioli- just ok), and pernil (also just ok). We didn't finish any of our plates and left dissatisfied. Drinks - flat soda in mojito and Caipirinha was sweet which was different. Also did not enjoy. Service was good, attentive.
Shannon
Great date night spot. Had their special cocktail for the night, and it paired well with everything. Food was fresh, hot, quick, and delicious! Would like to go back and try more options :)
Simon
Very interesting selection of focusing on Latin American dishes in a tapas type setting. Very pleasant staff and service.
Scott
Wonderful evening with exceptional food, really good drinks, and fantastic service. After this first time visit I will be back again soon!
Izzy
We absolutely loved Amaru! The service was incredible and everything we tasted was delicious. The ceviche of the day and the chicken were our favorites. Jordi was our server and he made the experience memorable by taking excellent care of us.
Jeesu Choi
Had an amazing dinner at Amaru! The food was absolutely delicious, and I’m already looking forward to coming back. The standout dish for me was the Lomo Boliviano — perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. The coconut fried rice was a dream, with just the right balance of sweetness and texture. And the sourdough served with fresh Spanish cheese and honey was a delightful surprise, such a perfect mix of savory and sweet.
One of the highlights of the night was the Holy Water cocktail. The presentation was next level, with the fruit set on fire at the table — definitely a showstopper. The octopus, shrimp, and bacon-wrapped bites were also on point, each dish so well-executed.
Amaru is definitely a spot worth revisiting, especially for anyone who loves bold flavors and creative presentations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Piononos, Pulpo a La Plancha, Coconut Fried Rice
Leah Steans-Gail
wonderful service and food!!! made the best of our portlandia sketch of dietary restrictions
Diana Clark-Rodríguez
Great place for drinks and food. We went there a few days ago and liked it so much that decided to come back today. Small place, pleasant atmosphere and good service. We have had branzino (wonderful!), oxtail (meh), Inca Salad (good), Ceviche (it was good but I still prefer Tanta’s), requeson (delicious but I wish it had more cheese and less bread), yuca frita, sweet plantains, shrimp chicharrón (did not like it), and my favorite: piononos.
This place is phenomenal! The food was delicious and exquisite. The service was impeccable. The music was on point. The decor was such a vibe. I'll definitely be bringing my family here when they visit Chicago. Shout out to the amazing bartender Sabrina- I told her what I liked and she concocted the most spectacular cocktail for me! ???
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Espresso Tres Leches, Sweet Plantains
Jennifer Jacot
The ceviche special was ? Sea Bass, dill, crunchy quinoa ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ceviche Del Dia
Ana M
Expensive, over rated, and the food quality itself is poor/overcooked for what you’re paying
Mia S
I recently had dinner at this restaurant, and while my experience with the food was okay, it didn’t meet my expectations. The portion sizes were quite small, and overall, the meal was underwhelming. Here’s what we ordered:
Ceviche: This dish was not what I expected. It consisted of a few slices of fish placed on top and sliced apples and some sauce.
Oxtail: Unfortunately, this dish was not enjoyable.
Mole: I have to say, it was the least pleasant mole I’ve ever had.
Mussels: The plate was mostly empty shells with only a bit of sauce.
The dishes were served with bread, which felt excessive compared to the portions.
One positive note is that the Paloma cocktail was well-made and enjoyable.
However, I did find the service concerning. When the server changed our plates, he took all the utensils and replaced them, but placed the new utensils directly on the bare table, which lacked a napkin or any protection. Given that people place their hands and phones on the table, this struck me as unhygienic and unprofessional. And last the bill was very generous $400
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Georgena
The food was overall pretty good, but did not live up the the high reviews I read. . We had the beet salad which was very good, the octopus which was a bit chewy, the Lions Mane mushroom which had a good sauce but the mushroom was too spongy and the trout which was good.
I wanted to like this place. Husband and I love Latin food and unfortunately we will not be returning. Nothing was horrible however nothing was great either. Food presentation was really pretty, taste was very bland. The drinks were also bland. We had the Inca salad (most flavorful), ceviche (a slice of raw fish on a bed of cucumber- the least flavorful), octopus (one very small tentacle- flavorful however small and did not care for the beans it came with), oxtail (shredded with potato stuffed ravioli- just ok), and pernil (also just ok). We didn't finish any of our plates and left dissatisfied. Drinks - flat soda in mojito and Caipirinha was sweet which was different. Also did not enjoy. Service was good, attentive.
Great date night spot. Had their special cocktail for the night, and it paired well with everything. Food was fresh, hot, quick, and delicious! Would like to go back and try more options :)
Very interesting selection of focusing on Latin American dishes in a tapas type setting. Very pleasant staff and service.
Wonderful evening with exceptional food, really good drinks, and fantastic service. After this first time visit I will be back again soon!
We absolutely loved Amaru! The service was incredible and everything we tasted was delicious. The ceviche of the day and the chicken were our favorites. Jordi was our server and he made the experience memorable by taking excellent care of us.
Had an amazing dinner at Amaru! The food was absolutely delicious, and I’m already looking forward to coming back. The standout dish for me was the Lomo Boliviano — perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. The coconut fried rice was a dream, with just the right balance of sweetness and texture. And the sourdough served with fresh Spanish cheese and honey was a delightful surprise, such a perfect mix of savory and sweet.
One of the highlights of the night was the Holy Water cocktail. The presentation was next level, with the fruit set on fire at the table — definitely a showstopper. The octopus, shrimp, and bacon-wrapped bites were also on point, each dish so well-executed.
Amaru is definitely a spot worth revisiting, especially for anyone who loves bold flavors and creative presentations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Piononos, Pulpo a La Plancha, Coconut Fried Rice
wonderful service and food!!! made the best of our portlandia sketch of dietary restrictions
Great place for drinks and food. We went there a few days ago and liked it so much that decided to come back today. Small place, pleasant atmosphere and good service. We have had branzino (wonderful!), oxtail (meh), Inca Salad (good), Ceviche (it was good but I still prefer Tanta’s), requeson (delicious but I wish it had more cheese and less bread), yuca frita, sweet plantains, shrimp chicharrón (did not like it), and my favorite: piononos.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Piononos, Inca Salad
Stellar place for a full Latin experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Espresso Tres Leches
Delicious small plate shared food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
This place is phenomenal! The food was delicious and exquisite. The service was impeccable. The music was on point. The decor was such a vibe. I'll definitely be bringing my family here when they visit Chicago. Shout out to the amazing bartender Sabrina- I told her what I liked and she concocted the most spectacular cocktail for me! ???
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Espresso Tres Leches, Sweet Plantains
The ceviche special was ? Sea Bass, dill, crunchy quinoa ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ceviche Del Dia
Expensive, over rated, and the food quality itself is poor/overcooked for what you’re paying
I recently had dinner at this restaurant, and while my experience with the food was okay, it didn’t meet my expectations. The portion sizes were quite small, and overall, the meal was underwhelming. Here’s what we ordered:
Ceviche: This dish was not what I expected. It consisted of a few slices of fish placed on top and sliced apples and some sauce.
Oxtail: Unfortunately, this dish was not enjoyable.
Mole: I have to say, it was the least pleasant mole I’ve ever had.
Mussels: The plate was mostly empty shells with only a bit of sauce.
The dishes were served with bread, which felt excessive compared to the portions.
One positive note is that the Paloma cocktail was well-made and enjoyable.
However, I did find the service concerning. When the server changed our plates, he took all the utensils and replaced them, but placed the new utensils directly on the bare table, which lacked a napkin or any protection. Given that people place their hands and phones on the table, this struck me as unhygienic and unprofessional.
And last the bill was very generous $400
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
The food was overall pretty good, but did not live up the the high reviews I read. . We had the beet salad which was very good, the octopus which was a bit chewy, the Lions Mane mushroom which had a good sauce but the mushroom was too spongy and the trout which was good.
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