Everything that we got was amazing, no cap! The curry sauce on the polenta and prawns is crazy. The stuffed plantains were delicious. The star was the pineapple wings for appetizer, and the bread pudding for dessert. Literally chef’s kiss. The service was top tier too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
ke cossia
this restaurant was legit!! delicious! definitely coming back this weekend!
Brandon Culp
Highly recommended 😎. The stuffed plaintain was delicious. The birthday celebration is one of a kind. 10/10 from the DMV.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melanie Guthrie Sanders
The food at Mahari was tasty, and the interior has a nice ambiance. However, the service left much to be desired. Our server, Grant, was personable and friendly, but unfortunately, he missed the mark on several fronts. Both of our orders were incorrect—my husband ordered French toast and was brought pancakes, while I requested suya with cheese eggs but received eggs without cheese. These kinds of mistakes could easily be avoided if servers took a moment to write down orders instead of relying on memory.
Service was also extremely slow. We asked for our check at 1:05, followed up at 1:22, and didn’t receive it until 1:35—even though there were only two other parties in the restaurant. That kind of delay is frustrating, especially when a 20% gratuity is automatically added to the bill.
Pricing felt a bit steep as well. Bottomless mimosas were $35 per person, which is significantly higher than the $19 offered at the brunch spot next door. It would be great to see Mahari adjust pricing to be more competitive with neighboring restaurants. We decided to just order a bottle of Prosecco for $48 instead, and I’m glad we did due to the poor service times.
On a positive note, the host was a standout—engaging warmly with people passing by and encouraging them to check out the menu. He was a great ambassador for the restaurant and helped create a welcoming vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
Ms Campbell
Greetings. I graced this establishment yesterday evening after a long day for the first encounter. I was with my sister and my day was stressful to say the least. She ordered an array of food and I was there for the WOW!!!!! This experience was exceptional! The food was most excellent. However, that DAMN sorbet was DISRESPECTFUL! OMG!!! When you have preconceived notions of what you expect food to taste like is one thing yet when you actually put it in your mouth and your taste buds go into cardiac arrest! This sorbet is better than ! Thank you for the fine dining and I will return expeditiously.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Patrice Patterson
My group and I had a great experience. We went for brunch. The food was different from what I've experienced in a restuarant before. The ambience is really cool. The decor is beautiful. The staff is beautiful. The staff honored my son's girlfriend (birthday and accepted to Yale) with a drum session and best wishes. I had the French toast flambe and it was really good, not too sweet and just the right amount of savory. I also had the jerk roots hash and I enjoyed the flavors of the veggies: avocado, grilled veggies, crispy okra dressed with a really flavorful sauce and to top it off... I had a non- alcoholic Pina colada. The flavors were smoky and good, different but very delightful. Our server Amber was very nice and made some great recommendations. Looking forward to going back for dinner.
Jeanelle Hope
We visited Mahari on a Thursday evening (8pm reservations). Only about four small groups seated (including ours) in the entire restaurant.
We ordered one mocktail, water, one appetizer, two entrees, and a side. 35 minutes passed before we received an appetizer. The mocktail didn't make it to our table until almost an hour after we initially sat down. We were told that the waitress gave our drink to another table by accident. We didn't get our food until after an hour and twenty minutes (it's now almost 9:30pm).
When the entrees arrived it was evident that one plate had been sitting out while they took longer to prepare the other. Essentially, one plate of food was hot and the other was cold.
I ordered the cazuela mariscos. The dish was not served with crawfish, as described, and was a bit too salty. My partner had the salmon and filet mignon, which was cold by the time it arrived at the table. The mushroom satay was very tasty! The charred okra was undercooked (lacked actual charring).
After waiting so long for our food it was simply too late for them to refire the cold plate of food. We expressed our disappointment, quickly ate what we could and left. By the time we walked out it was almost 10pm!!!
I share this to say the service was incredibly SLOOOOOOWW. They were by no means busy. Every table waited well over an hour for entrees AND drinks! The part that truly pissed us off is that the place has the AUDACITY to add an automatic 20% gratuity!!!
I believe in tipping and paying workers fairly. But I expect GREAT service in return. This place wants to be a five star restaurant. However, they have a lot of work to do. The price does not match the quality of food nor service.
If appetizers and cocktails are going for $20 STEP UP YOUR SERVICE AND QUALITY OF INGREDIENTS!
If you feel you DESERVE 20% gratuity, STEP IT UP!
I encourage the entire Mahari restaurant staff to go shadow the workers at Virtue Restaurant (also in Chicago). Take some notes. That's how you do a 5 star Black-owned restaurant!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Barb T
I made my first visit to this restaurant to celebrate my birthday with 4 friends. It was a great evening and the first visit for all five of us. The restaurant is lovely. Small and cozy. Hand-made furniture and other items that gives the restaurant a beautiful atmosphere. We ordered a large variety of food, small plates and entrees. They were good and BEAUTIFULLY presented. A few people from our group had the lamb burger, which I DEFINITELY plan to order when I return. This spot is a good addition to Hyde Park and since it is in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking. I will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Sara
I would rate this place 6/5 stars if I could. Great service and amazing food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bonnie Kisielowski
Amazing dining experience.b l have been multiple times and each time is an experience. A must visit!
My daughter has been dying to go to Mahari. We went today, Sunday, June 22, 2025. Our reservation was for 5:00 p.m. From the time we entered, we were greeted and well taken care of. Our waitress's name was Love; she is outstanding. The food was excellent and the service was top tier.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sam Spitz
“Mahari” means gift in Swahili — and that’s exactly what this lovely restaurant is: a gift.
I’ve been twice now. The vibes are undefeated — every worker cares for each guest like their own — and the menu is full of consistent favorites.
This definitely was a typical black business experience....soon as we walk in the door the braided up g of a host surveys the damn near empty restaurant and says we're trying to seat you somewhere you'll be most comfortable =yall big..now they have booths but one side of the restaurant was allegedly closed so he proceeds to seat us in the front of the restaurant right in front of the door where we asked not to be seated but he goes on to state this is the only place he can seat us ...then proceeds to seat a couple behind us on the closed side of the restaurant...they had the front door ajar thee entire time so bugs and pollen were everywhere. The waiter was amazing 👏 after we had already ordered our food we then were offered the menu with the specials.I guess they didn't have enough menus so they snatched ours off the table. The food was actually good but the day before we even came to the restaurant they accidentally charged my friend a $75 no show fee before our reservation day even came the lady who made the mistake came over and introduced herself but didn't offer anything for the inconvenience just a black azz experience..All this on Juneteenth..but feel to try it out
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sincere Mendoza
My girlfriend (Cindy) had her party here tonight and the service was exceptional, and the food is on point. The staff is friendly accommodating and making sure you feel right at home. I had diet restrictions and the staff made sure to accommodate me asking the chef if he could make a special meal. I will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
dennis boston
The portions were small and overpriced, the same with the drinks. After seeing a video review on YouTube, I thought I would give it a try. The service was great, but the food was just okay. I won’t be going back and would not recommend.
Everything that we got was amazing, no cap! The curry sauce on the polenta and prawns is crazy. The stuffed plantains were delicious. The star was the pineapple wings for appetizer, and the bread pudding for dessert. Literally chef’s kiss. The service was top tier too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
this restaurant was legit!! delicious! definitely coming back this weekend!
Highly recommended 😎. The stuffed plaintain was delicious. The birthday celebration is one of a kind. 10/10 from the DMV.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food at Mahari was tasty, and the interior has a nice ambiance. However, the service left much to be desired. Our server, Grant, was personable and friendly, but unfortunately, he missed the mark on several fronts. Both of our orders were incorrect—my husband ordered French toast and was brought pancakes, while I requested suya with cheese eggs but received eggs without cheese. These kinds of mistakes could easily be avoided if servers took a moment to write down orders instead of relying on memory.
Service was also extremely slow. We asked for our check at 1:05, followed up at 1:22, and didn’t receive it until 1:35—even though there were only two other parties in the restaurant. That kind of delay is frustrating, especially when a 20% gratuity is automatically added to the bill.
Pricing felt a bit steep as well. Bottomless mimosas were $35 per person, which is significantly higher than the $19 offered at the brunch spot next door. It would be great to see Mahari adjust pricing to be more competitive with neighboring restaurants. We decided to just order a bottle of Prosecco for $48 instead, and I’m glad we did due to the poor service times.
On a positive note, the host was a standout—engaging warmly with people passing by and encouraging them to check out the menu. He was a great ambassador for the restaurant and helped create a welcoming vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
Greetings. I graced this establishment yesterday evening after a long day for the first encounter. I was with my sister and my day was stressful to say the least. She ordered an array of food and I was there for the WOW!!!!! This experience was exceptional! The food was most excellent. However, that DAMN sorbet was DISRESPECTFUL! OMG!!! When you have preconceived notions of what you expect food to taste like is one thing yet when you actually put it in your mouth and your taste buds go into cardiac arrest! This sorbet is better than ! Thank you for the fine dining and I will return expeditiously.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My group and I had a great experience. We went for brunch. The food was different from what I've experienced in a restuarant before. The ambience is really cool. The decor is beautiful. The staff is beautiful. The staff honored my son's girlfriend (birthday and accepted to Yale) with a drum session and best wishes. I had the French toast flambe and it was really good, not too sweet and just the right amount of savory. I also had the jerk roots hash and I enjoyed the flavors of the veggies: avocado, grilled veggies, crispy okra dressed with a really flavorful sauce and to top it off... I had a non- alcoholic Pina colada. The flavors were smoky and good, different but very delightful. Our server Amber was very nice and made some great recommendations. Looking forward to going back for dinner.
We visited Mahari on a Thursday evening (8pm reservations). Only about four small groups seated (including ours) in the entire restaurant.
We ordered one mocktail, water, one appetizer, two entrees, and a side. 35 minutes passed before we received an appetizer. The mocktail didn't make it to our table until almost an hour after we initially sat down. We were told that the waitress gave our drink to another table by accident. We didn't get our food until after an hour and twenty minutes (it's now almost 9:30pm).
When the entrees arrived it was evident that one plate had been sitting out while they took longer to prepare the other. Essentially, one plate of food was hot and the other was cold.
I ordered the cazuela mariscos. The dish was not served with crawfish, as described, and was a bit too salty. My partner had the salmon and filet mignon, which was cold by the time it arrived at the table. The mushroom satay was very tasty! The charred okra was undercooked (lacked actual charring).
After waiting so long for our food it was simply too late for them to refire the cold plate of food. We expressed our disappointment, quickly ate what we could and left. By the time we walked out it was almost 10pm!!!
I share this to say the service was incredibly SLOOOOOOWW. They were by no means busy. Every table waited well over an hour for entrees AND drinks! The part that truly pissed us off is that the place has the AUDACITY to add an automatic 20% gratuity!!!
I believe in tipping and paying workers fairly. But I expect GREAT service in return. This place wants to be a five star restaurant. However, they have a lot of work to do. The price does not match the quality of food nor service.
If appetizers and cocktails are going for $20 STEP UP YOUR SERVICE AND QUALITY OF INGREDIENTS!
If you feel you DESERVE 20% gratuity, STEP IT UP!
I encourage the entire Mahari restaurant staff to go shadow the workers at Virtue Restaurant (also in Chicago). Take some notes. That's how you do a 5 star Black-owned restaurant!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
I made my first visit to this restaurant to celebrate my birthday with 4 friends. It was a great evening and the first visit for all five of us.
The restaurant is lovely. Small and cozy. Hand-made furniture and other items that gives the restaurant a beautiful atmosphere. We ordered a large variety of food, small plates and entrees. They were good and BEAUTIFULLY presented. A few people from our group had the lamb burger, which I DEFINITELY plan to order when I return.
This spot is a good addition to Hyde Park and since it is in a shopping center, there is plenty of free parking.
I will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I would rate this place 6/5 stars if I could. Great service and amazing food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing dining experience.b l have been multiple times and each time is an experience. A must visit!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
My daughter has been dying to go to Mahari. We went today, Sunday, June 22, 2025. Our reservation was for 5:00 p.m. From the time we entered, we were greeted and well taken care of. Our waitress's name was Love; she is outstanding. The food was excellent and the service was top tier.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
“Mahari” means gift in Swahili — and that’s exactly what this lovely restaurant is: a gift.
I’ve been twice now. The vibes are undefeated — every worker cares for each guest like their own — and the menu is full of consistent favorites.
My top 3:
— Kutkoota Sambusa Trio
— Beef Stuffed Plantains
— Bread pudding
S/O to Christina Mighty for putting me on!
(Beef stuffed plantains pictured)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This definitely was a typical black business experience....soon as we walk in the door the braided up g of a host surveys the damn near empty restaurant and says we're trying to seat you somewhere you'll be most comfortable =yall big..now they have booths but one side of the restaurant was allegedly closed so he proceeds to seat us in the front of the restaurant right in front of the door where we asked not to be seated but he goes on to state this is the only place he can seat us ...then proceeds to seat a couple behind us on the closed side of the restaurant...they had the front door ajar thee entire time so bugs and pollen were everywhere. The waiter was amazing 👏 after we had already ordered our food we then were offered the menu with the specials.I guess they didn't have enough menus so they snatched ours off the table. The food was actually good but the day before we even came to the restaurant they accidentally charged my friend a $75 no show fee before our reservation day even came the lady who made the mistake came over and introduced herself but didn't offer anything for the inconvenience just a black azz experience..All this on Juneteenth..but feel to try it out
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 5
My girlfriend (Cindy) had her party here tonight and the service was exceptional, and the food is on point. The staff is friendly accommodating and making sure you feel right at home. I had diet restrictions and the staff made sure to accommodate me asking the chef if he could make a special meal. I will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The portions were small and overpriced, the same with the drinks. After seeing a video review on YouTube, I thought I would give it a try. The service was great, but the food was just okay. I won’t be going back and would not recommend.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 5
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