by Crystal L.

I will admit I was a little skeptical about going to Tizi.  Mediterranean food isn't exactly on my top 5 fav list.  I am happy I did though b/c its now in my top 5 =)  The happy hour specials here are absolutely amazing!  I have not found a place that can beat this!$3 martinis$3 steamed mussels$3 hummus/pita breadand possibly more..The martinis are not watered down or diluted in any way.  The steamed mussels are pretty good by itself but the key my friend told me is to order the mussels that are not on special (Fire-roasted Prince Edward Island Mussels), keep the dip and continue ordering the steamed mussels for $3.  Isn't she a genius?

by Vivian H.

Came here 40 mins late for our reservation, but we were still seated right away. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The atmosphere at Tizi is nice and intimate, with very fitting decor for a mediterranean/greek restaurant. We came here with a party of 7, and it was still busy around 9pm. I had the braised lamb shank with couscous, and it was good and tender but had a strong flavor to it--the kind of dish I would order once, and probably never try again. The scallop appetizers, roasted duck and rainbow trout were also okay too, but nothing amazing.

by Stacey H.

Tizi melloul had great ambiance, and I loved the crescent room. I went on a Sunday night for their $25 wine and appetizers special which included a belly dancing show. Great deal, right? Not if some of your mussels taste like manure! No exaggeration, every few mussels tasted awful. Also, for the first belly dancing show, my boyfriend and I were the only ones there. Sorta awkward.** Ok, so the owner sent me a message apologizing for the mussels. Personalized attention definitely gains stars. I'd give it a 3.5.   Overall, it was a chill place with good service. i'd go back regardless.

by Erika V.

The best thing about Tizi Melloul is it's atmosphere.  Vibrant colors, exotic decor... this is the place where even a t-shirt jeans girl like me wants to get dressed up.  There are 3 different sections to this restaurant - the main dining room, the Crescent room, and the bar/lounge. The main dining room is perfect for larger parties.  We enjoyed food from the a la carte menu.  The Crescent room is smaller, more intimate, with its own 5-course menu.  Great for smaller groups and couples.  The bar/lounge is also very cool.  I've had cocktails and appetizers at the bar.  I recommend getting the Rockin Moroccan (vodka, lime, mint, soda) and the Fizi Tizi (sparkling wine pomegranate juice).If Sex the City was based in Chicago, the gals would probably go here  :)

by Kim E.

Ahh Tizi... you made my bday a day to remember. $5 Martin's $3/4 Appetizers. I believe thats how it went. I brought it a group of 20 people... there was a bit of confusion about the bar deals and how it worked in the restaurant but after a brief heart to heart talk about how it was my bday the Manager understood. I came with my clan for the $5 Martin's we had a big group. He catered caved. CAUTION: find out where the specials are - bar or restaurant specific... SERVICE: my guy was new and a bit flustered but we were a big group but he was attentive. Definitely. AMBIENCE: fabulous. Like Fushia? You'll be in love. Big fan of curtains? You'll like it. You'll be in for some Chicago Middle Eastern/Mediterranean memories. And on your way out... make sure to sit in the chair in the entrance for for kicks!

by Carolyn S.

I had a fantastic night a Tizi Melloul last night! The decor of the place is awesome and I love that even though it is fine dining they still have the floor cushions.  It adds such a cozy and comfortable feeling to your dining experience.   My boyfriend and I were relaxed and snuggled up in the Crescent room and enjoyed a very delicious dinner.  My boyfriend is Lebanese and isn't very forgiving when it comes to poorly done or unauthentic middle eastern cuisine.  Everything we had, he happily reported, was spot on.  The most memorable part of the dinner was the seared scallop appetizer.  Although, my dijon and herb crusted lamb loin was a close second.  (just writing about each of these dishes is making me hungry!!)Highly recommended!  It will likely be one of my new favorites!!

by Gabriel W.

Awesome place. I mean the food is great, in my opinion, but the service was better.We ordered the best mussels I've ever had ($10), the Tizi Mellou with some type of chip, hummus, olives, etc ($9), some bacon wrapped dates ($5) and some goat meat balls ($4).  The two glasses of red wine were good ($14 total).All in all, it was a very romantic date for my girlfriend and me since we went out to celebrate my job offer.  Cool vibes and awesome ambiance makes this place a keeper in my go to list of restaurants.

by Jenna R.

I definitely won't put this place on my list of go-to spots.  I met some friends here last night after the Yelp party and it was super crowded, which was very off-putting.  My friends had snagged some seats and I rushed off to get a $3 martini.  I asked for that menu and was given one, so I ordered a dirty and it turns out it was $5.  I asked the bartender (who was very cute but apparently not listening very closely) about the $3 martinis advertised on their Yelp page and he said I was looking at the wrong menu.  But that was the one he gave me when I asked for the $3 menu!  I was a bit peeved, but a dirty martini for $5 is still a good deal.  I also had to wait a bit too long to be served because the bartender took my order after giving me the menu (I didn't peruse very long).  He then helped another customer (what?!) and then came back to me and asked "Dirty Martini, right?"  Well yeah, dude, I ordered it before you took someone else's order.  I didn't get it.  I was also displeased when I tried to return to the nice, cushy seats my friends had when I arrived only to find them hovering near me at the bar.  It turns out everyone got kicked out of the area with any seats in it because they weren't eating (or so that was the explanation given).  My stay at Tizi Melloul went downhill from there.  We weren't allowed to sit anywhere, there was no seating near the bar at all, so it just turned in to an awkward standing situation between me and about 50 other people (Yelpers and non-Yelpers alike).  I definitely wasn't comfortable and I wasn't impressed that we were ushered out of the seating area completely as if we weren't paying customers of the bar (I definitely was).  We high-tailed it out of there as soon as I was done with my Dirty Martini which, by the way, was nothing to write home about.  I will say, though, that I enjoyed the vibe of the place.  I love me some lounges and this place was definitely lounge-y.  I'm willing to give Tizi Melloul another try, but I won't come back here any time soon.

by Eric M.

I live near here and walked past it for four years before I finally stopped it.  The entrance always intimidated me for some reason (and I dine out at nice places a lot, so I'm not sure why).Anyway, I was really glad I finally ate there.  I have to admit I haven't been back, but only because I've gotten busy and haven't had time.  The food was really nice.  Even things I wasn't sure I'd like, I did like.  The service was very good.  I'd like to go back and try it again so I can write fuller review.

by Jillian G.

You know how people always say how your probably really good at things you haven't tried? Like, "You might be the worlds best sky diver Jill, you just have to try it", or "What if your really amazing at snowboarding, you have no idea!"I am probably really shitty at sky diving, as well as snowboarding. HOWEVER, it turns out after visiting Tizi Melloul and trying something new.... am amazing at drinking Cucumber Martinis. I had no idea! If they add this to the XGames I am pretty much guaranteed to win. Delicious!

by Erika G.

Friends that know me, know that I am the queen of Stylish Frugality. Which is why you'll find me here now on Monday nights for $3 Martinis. Myself and my frugal protege also enjoyed a chicken skewer/pesto rice appetizer for $3 (one of three $3 appetizers available). Our check was $18. with tip - that's third world-esque!What a value before heading up to Big Chicks for $1 burgers. "I've loved this restaurant for years. The food is great, and while the food is not 100%…

by Andrea H.

I had been wanting to eat at Tizi Melloul for quite some time.  We ate in the main dining room.  The atmosphere is very warm and inviting and good people watching if you are seated by the floor to ceiling windows.  I was hoping that the menu would match the unique and exotic ambiance, but sadly, I found it uninspired.  We started with the Tizi Mezze, which was delicious, but unfortunately, the highlight of the meal for me.  I ordered the Traditional Moroccan Pie because it seemed to be the only dish on the menu that I couldn't order at any number of restaurants in the area.  The presentation was not at all like the photo on yelp.  It was sliced up chicken and a separate little dish of the components of the "pie".  I found it to be kind of bland.  Good, but not a standout.  The ice cream selection was unique and good, but I tried three different kinds and they all had a very similar taste.The experience was good, but not great, and I couldn't help but think of the other places I've been to that have done it much better.

by Tim H.

I was believing all the positive reviews on Tizi Melloul, but came away disappointed.  Worth one try, then you make the call of whether you will be back.Food: 3 stars.   This is unscaled, Americanized, Mediterranean cuisine.   The lamb and chicken dishes I had were well cooked.  The meat was not overdone and it was very juicy.   It is tough to cook chicken breast and leave it very juicy, but they did that.   On the negative side though, the lamb and chicken dishes were lacking sauces and authentic Mediterranean flavors.   I was looking for some authentic ethnic flavors and got very Americanized flavors.  When I am looking for Mediterranean food, I need to see rice and flat breads and sauces.   I didn't appreciate their take on the cuisine! The chocolate fondue dessert with spiced cake, strawberries, apricots, bananas, and marshmallows was my favorite dish.  For expensive American cuisine, I will go elsewhere.Service: 4 stars (service without the host: 2 stars).   The waitress was slow and all over the place.   The host gave us dish and drink recommendations on separate trips to our table.Ambiance: 4 stars.   Trendy, romantic, lively.Value: 2 stars.  Food here is pricey.   Portion sizes are adequate.

by b. b.

Tizi was Fabulous!!Had a wonderful b.day dinner their with family friends, was Great!

by Bella E.

I really enjoyed my time here last night. The martinis were fantastic, and and the Monday special for $3 martinis and $6 appetizers really can't be beat. The staff here was simply perfect. They were all working so hard to make sure that the guests were as comfortable as possible, and that everyone was having a great time. The food that I tried was great. and very well presented. I especially enjoyed the scallop "ceviche" and the anchovie stuffed olives.I'll absolutely be back with friends!

by Barbara P.

Four of us went here after seeing a Chorus Line on Saturday. The interior is warm, inviting, and attractive. Our server, Alex, was very attentive throughout the meal. We started off with appetizers - mussels, scallops, and foie gras. They were all yummy, though the mussels were a real standout. Two of us had the poached pear salad this was the only real disappointment with the food. The pear itself was yummy, but the salad dressing was really bland and flavorless. The roasted beet salad was the superior salad choice. For main dishes we had the Chicken Bizteeya, the Monk fish, and the Lamb Shank. The chicken was tender and had great spices. It has what looks like a little birds nest around it that turned out to be made from filo - very pretty and tasted great, too. The monk fish was excellent and cooked perfectly. The lamb shank was huge falling off the bone tender. Everything was presented beautifully. For dessert we shared the chocolate fondue. They were very generous gave us 4 of each dunking item, though we could have fought over those home made marshmallows. Gratis they brought a small bowl of home made ice cream. The most interesting was buttered popcorn it really did taste like buttered popcorn. The wine list is laid out strangely it took some perusing to figure out that CA wines were grouped under the Global heading when Italy, France, and Spain had their own headings - strange. We ended up with a Vieux Telegraphe for $90 - a bit steeply priced, but an excellent wine. Overall we had a fun, festive time I would recommend checking it out.

by Suzanne E.

Tonight's tapas menu included a fish stew. $3 for a bowl of saffron-suffused fishy treats including soft shell crab?  What is this, 1970? Nicely offset by a very potent $3 martini and a view of the El snaking behind the buildings from the sidewalk terrace (empty of everyone but me, because the bar is admittedly very cool, but it was a lovely night). I'm worried that if more people find out about the $3 martinis and tapas on Mondays and Tuesdays,…

by Peter G.

Maybe I'm lame, but I tend to end up at places that have no flavor.  Tizi Melloul is like what you'd expect from a really good restaurant with a lot of flavor, but it's just much more fun and reasonable than you'd expect!  Even when your date is late, sit back on a pillow and drink some gin and know you're gonna have a great meal.Wait, let me rephrase...

by Amanda C.

My experience with this restaurant is only limited, as my boyfriend and I went on Valentine's Day to enjoy their special four-course V-Day meal. So keep that in mind as I write the review.The good: Amazing ambiance. Beautiful, luscious decorations that provide a decadent yet sensual atmosphere. Low-lit candles. This is the perfect place to take a date and feel "in the mood" just by your surroundings. The hostess and maitre were professional and courteous. Valet drivers efficient and non-evasive. Creative cocktails (the cucumber martini was delicious) and good, albeit small, beer selection (try the Turkish Pilsner).The bad: The V-Day dinner consisted of a four course meal, one version with meat and one for vegans. I am a vegetarian, not vegan, but I was more than happy to try the fare. My disappointment: This 'vegan' menu was not thoroughly thought-out and mostly consisted of regular menu items sans meat and cheese. This is not filling, nutritious, nor pleasing to the palette, and I especially don't appreciate paying the same $50 that my boyfriend paid for lamb and seafood for greens on a plate. I appreciate the attempt, but I think doing some homework about vegan diets (i.e. including a proper protein) would have been greatly appreciated. On another note, the 'coat check' could use some improvement.Overall conclusion: This is an excellent date place and would definitely recommend it for omnivores. My boyfriend said he had one of the best meals of his life. Vegans/vegetarians may want to look elsewhere, for the price.

by Kim W.

Well with all the reviews already posted they hardly need my accolades.  However... aside from the insanely amazing smoked mussels with super yummy crack laced sauce that we will ALWAYS order upon return, we had a fantastic waiter.  It was crappy out and it was early (for dinner - like 5ish).  Our server (Alex) was so fab.  He made sure we didn't feel like we were hanging out alone - we want for nothing.  Drink refreshment, food recommendations,  whatever we needed he was on point.  A fantastic reminder of why eating out is so nice once in a while.  You get waited on,  you eat really well and in the end you aren't stuck with the dishes.  I have to add this is a great place to take a date.  The decor is very dark with red hues and exotic music soft in the background.  You can eat at a table or curl up on cushions somewhere.  It comes off (IMHO) as upscale and pricey, but we thought the menu was totally reasonable.Topping it all off we a $10 off card from a program we joined called "A La Card".  It's a deck of cards (52 cards) each one is $10 off a meal at a different place every week. The deck costs $30 but in three nights its paid for itself and the rest of the year is fun and free.  Who doesn't like free?We'll be back.  I'd even call ahead to see if Alex is working to ensure another great dining experience.

by Karl H.

Big thank you to Tizi Meloul for having the yelp community out and I look forward to having dinner here in the very near future.Drinks were potent and creative.  Sangria had a slight chocolate hint to it that at first caught everyone off guard and then we couldn't get enough of them.  Well enough about our group alcohol problem.Hors d'œuvre were very unique so it you where there looking for you favorites you prob lost out to the people who were loving something new.  By the look of the menu that also is what you would get from your main course.I personally can't wait to get back there and get away from the ordinary..Thanks again

by Caitlin T.

My boyfriend and I went to Tizzi Melloul last night because it was one of the $10 off cards we got from our deck of A La Card (52 $10 gift certificates to restaurants around the city).  The food was pretty good (had the Tizzi appetizer, the blue marlin and chicken tagine) and the waitress was attentive, knowlegable and nice.We learned upon arrival that is was 1/2 off bottles of wine night with the purchase of two entrees.  Perfect!  Or so we thought.  We got our bill and they charged us full price for the wine.  When we pointed this out to the waitress, she said that was the responsibility of her manager to apply to discount so she would have the manager revise our bill, however, we couldn't use our $10 off card if we wanted to get the 1/2 off the bottle of wine!  Unreal.  I realize that the small print on the card says you can't combine with other promotions, but it's only $10!  I was so disappointed that an expensive restaurant would be more concerned with their $10 than with the satisfaction of their customers.  Our bill, after tax and tip and the 1/2 off wine, was nearly $100 for two people.  It disappointed me that a restaurant like Tizzi Melloul would nickle and dime their customers.  Additionally, the fine print on the card says the card does not count towards alcohol purchases--you must spend $25 worth of food to qualify to use the card.  I find it interesting that suddenly the restaurant couldn't accept this card when the deal was ONLY on alcohol and we spent about $50 on food.  Convenient how this policy can be changed for whatever works best for the restaurant ...The waitress recommended that we save the card and come back to the restaurant to use it another time--this is unlikely.  It looks like that while the card was the reason we came to restaurant, it will now be the reason we never return.Bottom line, the food was good but didn't blow me away, so it's not worth the price.  I would have considered returning if I felt customer satisfaction was a priority, however I learned our business is not worth $10 to Tizzi Melloul.  Thankfully, we've had other restaurants accept the cards when they have drink specials, etc, so I still find great value in the cards and look forward to using them at less stingy restaurants!

by N M.

We were visiting from California and found this restaurant on one of the books from our Hotel. The service was Great, starting with making the reservation and then the host sitting us down and our server.The host explained us the menu and suggested what to order, which was an amazing choice, "MUSSELS" for appetizer.The Tagines for 2, is really a good size for 2 and tasted yummy. We didn't like the duck, seemed uncooked, but I personally like it cooked better.The crowd was real fun, the decoration and atmosphere was great.Oh and the bar/lounge seemed fun to hang too, we went straight to our dinner, but seemed nice, but looks totally different from the restaurant.We definitely had a good experience and will go back when visit Chicago later :)

by Tricia L.

I read in a magazine recently that when you're dining with people that you like, you will eat 30% more food than you would normally consume.  So... I either really liked the company of my dining companion tonight or Tizi Melloul does Mediterranean right because I definitely consumed more than 30% of what I usually do.  Or both.Service was stellar.  The red interior is calming, fierce, and exotic all at the same time.  Red chairs, pillows lining the booths, and bead curtain = great ambiance.  Never mind that the space is dim and tables rather tightly packed.A Restaurant Week 5 course meal for $32?  Can we say awesome deal?  I snarfed everything from the flatbread starter with hummus and baba ghanouj to the fresh feta salad and mussel appetizer.  Might I add I don't even really like feta or mussels?  The salmon skewer-veggie medley-lamb stew entree was delicious.  The lamb was gamey, but that's lamb for you.  And who needs the Melting Pot when you can get a plate of pumpkin poundcake and fruit dippers with chocolate fondue here?I am in dire need of my stretchy pants now.  That is all.

by stacy y.

Like many other reviewers I also attended a recent Yelp event here. Like Julee M. my friend and I accidently sat in the dining room thinking we could partake in the $3 martinis and $6 tapas. That was not the case. We decided to make the best of our evening and enjoy some appetizers! I am SO happy that we did!After enjoying various passed appetizers during the party I was ready for more! Steven, the owner, was a doll and bragged that their mussels were the best...ever and we had to try them. So we did.OMG!!!!!!!! Hello foodgasm! Is it wrong that I wanted to lick the shells? These bad boys are in some secret combination of approximately 30 different spices and were just heavenly. At this point I was ready to have a cigarette, roll over and go to sleep. *sigh*In addition to most glorious mussels that ever passed my lips we enjoyed the scallops and dick** sausage. The scallops were just divine and perfectly cooked. The dUck sausage was very rich and equally delicious.My dining companion and I were ooohing and ahhhing through our dinner. The flavors, textures, freshness - a definite delight to the senses.I had no idea this gem of a place existed and I am so glad that I know now. I will be back soon and often!**This type-o is too funny to fix! ;) "i" and "u" are right next to each other in the keyboard!!

by Jess C.

Seems like I'm the only one who's missing something....The good:Service was great, venue was beautiful. The bad:The food. Unfortunately, it was overly salty, and considering the quantity and caliber, on the expensive side.My order:The Beet Salad: Disappointment. Small, stingy on the beets, nothing special.The Mussels: Generous, but bland. Maybe only worthwhile during Happy Hour.The Polenta Dessert: Bleh.I'd maybe give it another shot, but only for Happy Hour.

by Thamara D.

I could live on Fire  roasted  mussels from here, the best I have ever tasted. Spicy and cooked to perfection and served with warm Harissa butter, heavenly !!!!!I was here for  a group event a few months ago and was very impressed and wanted to try the place in a more intimate occasion before I wrote this. This has become one of very favorite places to dine and I highly recommend it.First,  the room...Just breathtakingly beautiful. Perfect fusion of traditional Moroccan decor with modern touches of designer Suhail. Love the Moroccan Crescent Room, perfect room for a intimate special occasion gathering.Second, the food and drinks...During my first visit I was able to taste a sampling of their small plates, just delicious. My second visit included 2 servings of their fire roasted prince Edward mussels and bacon wrapped dates, again truly impressed. My friends loved their food as well. The cocktails are just right....Third, the serviceExceptional. They do not miss anything yet never intrusive or pushy. I loved being here during the large event and my evening with the girls.Check out their recession proof Monday nights for $3 Martinis and a $6 Tapas.So just in case if you were wondering where you should take me on that romantic date, keep this place in mind :-)A beautiful romantic venue, looking forward to going back soon.

by Aurore L.

Tizi,(now that we met we are on a first name basis. It's how it rolls in my world)I was looking forward to our date all week. It was set and printed on Open Table ink: Friday at 8:30. 4 of us and you, the star of the night.Meeting you was the little light that kept me through my mono misery. (Don't get me started on how ridiculous I feel for getting mono when I am way beyond my 30th birthday)I was excited and salivating (moderately though to keep my virus for myself - I may be sick but still have manners) and thinking about which dress I was going to seduce you with.Almost butterflies in my stomach...I should have known that romance was not supposed to happen that night.The sure sign of failure: I did not have time to prepare. Left home with my cutie dress but without even trying to camouflage the facial ravages of two weeks of non-stop cough, sniff and watering eyes. Ouch.We were already out onto a bad start.I felt inappropriate at first on my arrival and you delighted me with your clingy decor, subdued atmosphere and dim lighting. Then you deployed some pieces of your arsenal I couldn't resist: baba ganoush and hummus galore, rich and pungent cheeses, tapenade, dried sausage and warm bread - you put all your Mediterranean charm out there, right on the table. For all to see and savor. The oh-so-awaited mussels then arrived: a sizzling platter of dry-rubbed treasures that were only waiting to be dipped in a warm and fragrant clarified harissa butter.............a nice and unusual surprise. Things were getting real hot.I was almost conquered.And then you lost it: the salad was overdressed and insignificant, the main dishes plain and forgettable and the dessert....oh the dessert.... you teased me with your semi-sweet chocolate fondue, made me drool at the delicious thought of sweet pleasures just to leave me wanting more...........1 slice of banana, a quarter of a strawberry, a cube of pound cake, half a marshmallow and a dried apricot was all you gave me.Skimpiness is unforgivable, in lovers and friends alike.End of deal for me.

by Jane T.

What an experience ...With 2 days left until my friend's birthday, I was asked for opinions on where to go.  After lots of Yelping, we opted for Tizi Melloul.  As the pictures suggest, the decor is fab!  The host was extremely friendly as well, who we later found out was the owner as well.  He actually chatted with our table for a while and even sent over a complimentary birthday treat.We ordered a pitcher of the white sangria, which was perfection on such a humid night.  Our appetizers were appealing - try the foie gras, calamari and mussels!  I could've probably eaten just appetizers for my meal.  Onto our main course, I had the skirt steak - the goat cheese and potatoes were the highlight of my dish.  As I was getting full, I opted to finish my potatoes and handed off the rest of my steak.  I had a bite of the monkfish (yummy, not overdone and perfectly seasoned) and the duck.  Let me just say, this duck is the way duck should be cooked.  The duck I'd ordered at another "trendy/upscale" restaurant was just awful - but this ... ok I'm drooling right now.We capped our night with complimentary chocolate fondue and champagne for our entire party.  The owner was so friendly - Thank you for making my friend's birthday amazing!

by Lauren F.

A group of 18 came for a friends birthday and the highlights were the atmosphere and service. Our waitress was really accomodating and kept her cool for such a large group. Now onto the food:Apps: The mezze plate was decent. The babaghanoush was kind of bland and had a pasty texture. Ive had better but some people liked it. The feta in filo was really good. The bread they gave with the tapenade sucked...it wasnt totally baked and had no flavor. The mussels were pretty good, they had a spicy flavor and Im not usually a fan but I ate a few. Entrees: In a word-SALT. Although cooked well, the food was so damn salty I needed an IV of water. My friend got the salmon and was tempted to send it back but everyone was half way through so she didnt. The waitress said that they put a salt crust on it which I guess explains it all. To compensate she got her another cocktail on the house and some cous cous to cut it but still she barely touched it. I got the chicken pie with really wasnt a "pie" It comes with one piece of grilled breast (with a salt crust), and then a stew like chicken dish. The flavors and textures were good but it was covered up by the salt. Others got the skirt steak which they received too well done and the unlucky ones who got lamb shank were unhappy with that dish as well...can you guess why? SALTY. I think the only happy camper was my friend who had the Marlin. Totally not worth the high prices..Id go back for drinks and maybe an appetizer because the place is really cool and decorated well, but for sure no dinner next time!

by Bette M.

I try not to review places where everyone and their mom has been.  But given how desolate Tizi was last night (on $3 martini night, nonetheless!) it behooves me to write of the exemplary experience we had.I arrived before my date, waiting at the bar and sipping on a delicious--and surprisingly strong for being on special--peach martini.  I held my book on my lap to catch the light from under the bar lip, which was lined with florescence.  The maitre d' saved my eyes by promptly lending a book light to me, making a comical display of attaching it to my book for me.  My companion arrived, and we and the remainder of my drink were whisked to an outdoor table.  (Yes, I made sure to return the booklight.)I sampled the bread--after a drink, I have a harder time saying no to gluten.  Perfect texture, and the sundried tomato dipping oil words cannot describe.  We split the beet salad--red and white beets served with greens, almonds, feta cheese, and pink peppercorn vinaigrette, creating a perfect balance of tart, peppery, earthy, and sweet.Entrees--asjdfka;fnguaghiy!  The chargrilled tofu comes with a side of grilled asparagus, ratatouille, and mustard sauce.  This should be the new national dish, but don't waste time with my hyperbole--Go.  Try it.  Now.Date had one of the chicken dishes, with a side of mushrooms, peas, and currants served in a nest of crispy noodles, almost too cute to eat.I also tried one of the classic martinis, but it merely reminded me that I should stick with gin instead of vodka.  Personal preference, of course.We ordered dessert, but immediately realized that we were already close to being late for a movie and canceled the order.  Our server was super nice about it.  I still regret skipping that course, because the options were quite promising.  I will update once I've had the sweet stuff.The decor indoors almost made me regret sitting outside.  The bar looks vaguely space age, and the dining area should have a harem sitting in the corner.  Even the restrooms are gorgeous.

by Andrea R.

I've enjoyed myself at Tizi at many cocktail parties in the past, but I finally just got around to enjoying the full dining experience.  I came here with 7 of my friends to ring in the big 2-9 bday last week!  I had requested dining in the beautiful Crescent Room, which may just be the coolest private dining room in our Windy City.Tizi's fabulous manager Michael and his incredible staff took care of us from the minute we walked in.  They even printed "Happy Birthday Andrea" on my menu, which put a smile on my face...even if the big 3-0 is rapidly approaching! And my smile got even bigger when they brought out some complimentary dips with pita chips- yum.The menu here isn't very big, but I still had trouble deciding between a few delicious looking items.  Fortunately, my friend Ali A helped me out and we decided to share the mussels and the bass.  The mussels should be renamed on the menu "messy mussels" because we soon had mussel juice all over our hands, napkins, and even clothes! But the drycleaning bill was well worth it because these were SO good...especially when tipped in the unhealthy, but I don't care cause it's my bday sauce that came with them.  The bass was great too, even though my mouth was on fire from the spiciness of it after just a few bites.After this delicious meal this bday girl was about to call it a night, but my friends insisted on dessert...and so we ordered the fondue! Bananas, cake, marshmallows....oh my! And all dipped in chocolate! And the folks at Tizi were sweet enough to bring a round of shots and champagne to our table.  I had to remind them it wasn't my 21st bday, but a gal can still have fun at 29...right? Full Disclosure: I haven't actually eaten at Tizi Melloul (YET), but did attend a recent private…

by Lindsee R.

My sister and I were the only people in here at 6 o'clock on a tuesday. The decor is adorable and the music was hip shake in my seat worthy. But, hands down my favorite part of my tizi melloul experience were the mussels and that butter...mmmm. We also had the calamari 2-ways which was tasty, but be prepared for lots of say on the fried and lots of heat in the other. For our main course we had the chicken tagine for 2 , which was solid, but I probably won't order it agian. My sister described it as chicken cacciatore, and that's exactly what it tasted like...over lemon saffron couscous ( that has actually lemon chunks, so be prepared!). For our main course, this review should be a 2, but honestly I like the the vibe and the appetizers so much that it's bumped up to a 4!

by Andre W.

Me and my entourage decided to select this place to celebrate a friend's birthday last night. Tizi Melloul and I had actually met before thanks to a Yelp party back in the early part of the spring. As we walked in, we were greeted by the host and we found out our online reservation did not go through, but he accomodated our party of 8 anyway. We were escorted to the very attractive, middle eastern inspired dining room. We started with 3 appetizers: Seared Scallops (really good), Cured Meat Cheese Platters (mixed feelings) and the Two Way Calamari (delicious). The bread with sun dried tomatoes was really good and actually as good as all of the appetizers. To drink I went with the Rockin Moroccan which is basically a mojito, but it is one of the best mojitos I have ever had. I had two of them before my entree arrived and three total. They really went down fast if you know what I mean.For my entree, I went with a Tangines for Two which was Lamb, Braised Shoulder, Dates, Apples, Celery, Onion, Saffron Cous-Cous . I actually shared that dish (the first time I shared a meal with a man, LOL!) It was more than enough for the both of us. The lamb was very tender and the onions really enhanced the flavor (yumfest)! The service was great as our server helped us with all of our questions about the menu and she was very attentive as well. Tizi you now have a new fan in the AW!!!!

by HungryChicago M.

It was on a warm summer night that my boyfriend and I visited this place. At first, the price on the dinner menu was pretty high, but then the manager came out and gave us a great deal for two since we visited it for the first time.We were seated in the blue vaulted room on the right side. The decor and ambiance were unbelievable. The music was great, too. We ordered a lamb dish,  a pork appetizer, a lemonade, and a chocolate fondue, and everything was $25 in total. The lamb was delicious and juicy and the pork was spreaded over some very crispy noodles and vegetables. Normally a dish would be $25, but we got everything for that price per person.We had an amazing time there and will go back for the belly dancing nights on Sundays.

by Candice R.

I'm bumping them up to three stars just for their customer service. The owner of this joint contacted me and asked if he could refund my money, since we were so dissatisfied with the food. I really appreciate that kind of customer service, especially when the owner made it a point to say that he didn't expect me to change my review. Well, of course I would after that kind of generosity, and my boyfriend and I both agree to give this place another shot, but definitely not the crescent room - we'll try out a couple of drinks and an appetizer at the bar. I was here with my boyfriend on Saturday. I read such great reviews of this restaurant that I was…

by Jasmine L.

I was really excited to try out Tizi Melloul, especially with all the reviews from fellow Yelpers. However, my night out at this Middle Eastern restaurant wasn't exactly spectacular.My mom, sister, and I ate dinner here tonight to (belatedly) celebrate my birthday. The service was awesome. The maitre'd was very helpful, and prompt, and our server was discrete, while efficient at taking care of refilling our water goblets and clearing out plates and all waitress-y responsiblities.We were ushered into the Crescent Room, I think. The room was a lot smaller than I expected, but very cute. There was only one other person there (we came early, about 6 PM). The room was darkly lit and very quiet. I liked the plushy seat cushions that I could lean against while eating. There are two bathrooms, and the women's is very clean and smells really good. Anyway. The food. The only reason I'm giving this place 3 stars is because of my awesome steak. We ordered the mussels, the steak for me, the vegetable tangine for my sister, and the grilled tofu for my mom. We had complementary goat cheese creme brulee for dessert. OH MAN! My steak was awesome! A healthy dose of goat cheese was slathered on the crispy potato fingerlings, and the perfectly grilled (medium rare) steak was artfully arranged onto delicious pesto and arugula. I seriously wiped my plate clean! That pesto was out of the world! Best steak I've ever had. Ever. My mom really liked her grilled tofu, but I was so-so on it. It had a crust of tandoori or something that didn't really appeal to me. It came with deep-fried green beans which were cool, and the tofu was nestled in a pool of spicy sauce. My sister said it tasted like less-spicy siracha...which is weird. But my mom really liked it. Oh, the vegetable tangine. I had high hopes for you. My sister was really excited about the tangine, because she'd watched The Next Iron Chef on the Food Network and thought it would be like it. Blegh. The rice was mushy, there was no flavor at all, and the vegetables were overcooked. But. The best part of the meal? The goat cheese creme brulee. SO GOOD! I love goat cheese, but my sister and mom aren't great fans, and we all really enjoyed it. The caramelized sugar on top was a bit burnt, but other than that, it was a scrumptious, creamy delight. It came topped with a very tart sorbet that I don't remember what it was, which I personally didn't like, but was gobbled up by my sister and mom.Final verdict? The prices are a little bit high for the quality that came out (except for the mussels. HOLY CRAP! There were like 30 mussels, spicy and yummy, for just $9). I probably won't come back here again, but it was a good experience.

by devyn c.

DO NOT GO!!!!!I had my friends birthday party here on a friday night, 11/13/2009.  The food is mediocre at best and the service was HORRIBLE!!!  The waitress mixed up our credit cards, which I don't know how you can do when there are only two, and charged us the wrong amount.  We called back the next morning to dispute the charges and were told that we had to wait until Tuesday to be refunded.  FOUR DAYS!?  Well guess what?  Still haven't been refunded!!!  I called back, the manager/owner then chewed me out because I got an attitude.  Yea, I'm sorry.  You overcharged my account by a hundred dollars and we tipped your server $60...  Save yourself the headache and money and go some place else

by Candyce P.

for our regularly scheduled "date night", i decided on a new place to try. i'd read about it quite a bit, and was excited about it, just by looking at the menu.the place we went to wastizi melloul, a moroccan restaurant in the heart of chicago. it's near a lot of other cute, trendy restaurants, like sushi samba rio.our first impression - kinda small... but the decor is just so very-near-authentic, we were blown away. if i didn't look out of the window at the fanny-packed tourists trekking by, i would have thought we were in some faraway land.the place is beautiful, classy, sexy.the food is just the same. we ordered steamed mussels as a starter, which i had read about online, and which our server also recommended. everyone around us was getting them too.they arrived sizzling hot, and the smell... yum! they even smelled spicy and exotic. they mussel shells hold all the seasoning... it's pasted with what must be a mixture of paprika, and masalas, kosher salt? who knows, all i know is that it's delicious. probably the best mussel dish ever. EVER.so you pick the mussels out of the shell, rub it on the shell's seasoning a bit, then dip it in the harissa butter sauce. so so so good!then it was onto the entrees. i ordered the grilled hanger steak, while e got the lamb loin. i am a huge lamb fan, but i wasn't thrilled with this one. e loved it though. and i loved my hanger steak. and i also love that it came with french fries... which i lovingly dipped into the accompanying sauce.dessert was... eh. this is not a dessert place. if you want something yummy, get the fondue from sushi samba rio up the street.our server suggested the poached pineapple brulee. while the brulee'd pineapple slice was delicious, the rice pudding was the blandest i've ever had. it seriously needed sugar, or syrup, or molasses! lol.oh well... due to my lack of interest in my dessert, she could tell i wasn't impressed. but the complimentary champagne was a nice touch.the customer service at this place is just on point. they make sure you're attended to (e.g. it was a busy night, but the*manager*came over to take our orders)... they check back on you at the perfect times... the manager makes rounds to ask about the food and service. at the end of the night, you leave knowing that you're going to visit again, and indulge in those mussels.

by Candyce P.devyn c.Jasmine L.

for our regularly scheduled "date night", i decided on a new place to try. i'd read about it quite a bit, and was excited about it, just by looking at the menu.the place we went to wastizi melloul, a moroccan restaurant in the heart of chicago. it's near a lot of other cute, trendy restaurants, like sushi samba rio.our first impression - kinda small... but the decor is just so very-near-authentic, we were blown away. if i didn't look out of the window at the fanny-packed tourists trekking by, i would have thought we were in some faraway land.the place is beautiful, classy, sexy.the food is just the same. we ordered steamed mussels as a starter, which i had read about online, and which our server also recommended. everyone around us was getting them too.they arrived sizzling hot, and the smell... yum! they even smelled spicy and exotic. they mussel shells hold all the seasoning... it's pasted with what must be a mixture of paprika, and masalas, kosher salt? who knows, all i know is that it's delicious. probably the best mussel dish ever. EVER.so you pick the mussels out of the shell, rub it on the shell's seasoning a bit, then dip it in the harissa butter sauce. so so so good!then it was onto the entrees. i ordered the grilled hanger steak, while e got the lamb loin. i am a huge lamb fan, but i wasn't thrilled with this one. e loved it though. and i loved my hanger steak. and i also love that it came with french fries... which i lovingly dipped into the accompanying sauce.dessert was... eh. this is not a dessert place. if you want something yummy, get the fondue from sushi samba rio up the street.our server suggested the poached pineapple brulee. while the brulee'd pineapple slice was delicious, the rice pudding was the blandest i've ever had. it seriously needed sugar, or syrup, or molasses! lol.oh well... due to my lack of interest in my dessert, she could tell i wasn't impressed. but the complimentary champagne was a nice touch.the customer service at this place is just on point. they make sure you're attended to (e.g. it was a busy night, but the*manager*came over to take our orders)... they check back on you at the perfect times... the manager makes rounds to ask about the food and service. at the end of the night, you leave knowing that you're going to visit again, and indulge in those mussels.DO NOT GO!!!!!I had my friends birthday party here on a friday night, 11/13/2009.  The food is mediocre at best and the service was HORRIBLE!!!  The waitress mixed up our credit cards, which I don't know how you can do when there are only two, and charged us the wrong amount.  We called back the next morning to dispute the charges and were told that we had to wait until Tuesday to be refunded.  FOUR DAYS!?  Well guess what?  Still haven't been refunded!!!  I called back, the manager/owner then chewed me out because I got an attitude.  Yea, I'm sorry.  You overcharged my account by a hundred dollars and we tipped your server $60...  Save yourself the headache and money and go some place elseI was really excited to try out Tizi Melloul, especially with all the reviews from fellow Yelpers. However, my night out at this Middle Eastern restaurant wasn't exactly spectacular.My mom, sister, and I ate dinner here tonight to (belatedly) celebrate my birthday. The service was awesome. The maitre'd was very helpful, and prompt, and our server was discrete, while efficient at taking care of refilling our water goblets and clearing out plates and all waitress-y responsiblities.We were ushered into the Crescent Room, I think. The room was a lot smaller than I expected, but very cute. There was only one other person there (we came early, about 6 PM). The room was darkly lit and very quiet. I liked the plushy seat cushions that I could lean against while eating. There are two bathrooms, and the women's is very clean and smells really good. Anyway. The food. The only reason I'm giving this place 3 stars is because of my awesome steak. We ordered the mussels, the steak for me, the vegetable tangine for my sister, and the grilled tofu for my mom. We had complementary goat cheese creme brulee for dessert. OH MAN! My steak was awesome! A healthy dose of goat cheese was slathered on the crispy potato fingerlings, and the perfectly grilled (medium rare) steak was artfully arranged onto delicious pesto and arugula. I seriously wiped my plate clean! That pesto was out of the world! Best steak I've ever had. Ever. My mom really liked her grilled tofu, but I was so-so on it. It had a crust of tandoori or something that didn't really appeal to me. It came with deep-fried green beans which were cool, and the tofu was nestled in a pool of spicy sauce. My sister said it tasted like less-spicy siracha...which is weird. But my mom really liked it. Oh, the vegetable tangine. I had high hopes for you. My sister was really excited about the tangine, because she'd watched The Next Iron Chef on the Food Network and thought it would be like it. Blegh. The rice was mushy, there was no flavor at all, and the vegetables were overcooked. But. The best part of the meal? The goat cheese creme brulee. SO GOOD! I love goat cheese, but my sister and mom aren't great fans, and we all really enjoyed it. The caramelized sugar on top was a bit burnt, but other than that, it was a scrumptious, creamy delight. It came topped with a very tart sorbet that I don't remember what it was, which I personally didn't like, but was gobbled up by my sister and mom.Final verdict? The prices are a little bit high for the quality that came out (except for the mussels. HOLY CRAP! There were like 30 mussels, spicy and yummy, for just $9). I probably won't come back here again, but it was a good experience.

by Candyce P.devyn c.Jasmine L.Candice R.

for our regularly scheduled "date night", i decided on a new place to try. i'd read about it quite a bit, and was excited about it, just by looking at the menu.the place we went to wastizi melloul, a moroccan restaurant in the heart of chicago. it's near a lot of other cute, trendy restaurants, like sushi samba rio.our first impression - kinda small... but the decor is just so very-near-authentic, we were blown away. if i didn't look out of the window at the fanny-packed tourists trekking by, i would have thought we were in some faraway land.the place is beautiful, classy, sexy.the food is just the same. we ordered steamed mussels as a starter, which i had read about online, and which our server also recommended. everyone around us was getting them too.they arrived sizzling hot, and the smell... yum! they even smelled spicy and exotic. they mussel shells hold all the seasoning... it's pasted with what must be a mixture of paprika, and masalas, kosher salt? who knows, all i know is that it's delicious. probably the best mussel dish ever. EVER.so you pick the mussels out of the shell, rub it on the shell's seasoning a bit, then dip it in the harissa butter sauce. so so so good!then it was onto the entrees. i ordered the grilled hanger steak, while e got the lamb loin. i am a huge lamb fan, but i wasn't thrilled with this one. e loved it though. and i loved my hanger steak. and i also love that it came with french fries... which i lovingly dipped into the accompanying sauce.dessert was... eh. this is not a dessert place. if you want something yummy, get the fondue from sushi samba rio up the street.our server suggested the poached pineapple brulee. while the brulee'd pineapple slice was delicious, the rice pudding was the blandest i've ever had. it seriously needed sugar, or syrup, or molasses! lol.oh well... due to my lack of interest in my dessert, she could tell i wasn't impressed. but the complimentary champagne was a nice touch.the customer service at this place is just on point. they make sure you're attended to (e.g. it was a busy night, but the*manager*came over to take our orders)... they check back on you at the perfect times... the manager makes rounds to ask about the food and service. at the end of the night, you leave knowing that you're going to visit again, and indulge in those mussels.DO NOT GO!!!!!I had my friends birthday party here on a friday night, 11/13/2009.  The food is mediocre at best and the service was HORRIBLE!!!  The waitress mixed up our credit cards, which I don't know how you can do when there are only two, and charged us the wrong amount.  We called back the next morning to dispute the charges and were told that we had to wait until Tuesday to be refunded.  FOUR DAYS!?  Well guess what?  Still haven't been refunded!!!  I called back, the manager/owner then chewed me out because I got an attitude.  Yea, I'm sorry.  You overcharged my account by a hundred dollars and we tipped your server $60...  Save yourself the headache and money and go some place elseI was really excited to try out Tizi Melloul, especially with all the reviews from fellow Yelpers. However, my night out at this Middle Eastern restaurant wasn't exactly spectacular.My mom, sister, and I ate dinner here tonight to (belatedly) celebrate my birthday. The service was awesome. The maitre'd was very helpful, and prompt, and our server was discrete, while efficient at taking care of refilling our water goblets and clearing out plates and all waitress-y responsiblities.We were ushered into the Crescent Room, I think. The room was a lot smaller than I expected, but very cute. There was only one other person there (we came early, about 6 PM). The room was darkly lit and very quiet. I liked the plushy seat cushions that I could lean against while eating. There are two bathrooms, and the women's is very clean and smells really good. Anyway. The food. The only reason I'm giving this place 3 stars is because of my awesome steak. We ordered the mussels, the steak for me, the vegetable tangine for my sister, and the grilled tofu for my mom. We had complementary goat cheese creme brulee for dessert. OH MAN! My steak was awesome! A healthy dose of goat cheese was slathered on the crispy potato fingerlings, and the perfectly grilled (medium rare) steak was artfully arranged onto delicious pesto and arugula. I seriously wiped my plate clean! That pesto was out of the world! Best steak I've ever had. Ever. My mom really liked her grilled tofu, but I was so-so on it. It had a crust of tandoori or something that didn't really appeal to me. It came with deep-fried green beans which were cool, and the tofu was nestled in a pool of spicy sauce. My sister said it tasted like less-spicy siracha...which is weird. But my mom really liked it. Oh, the vegetable tangine. I had high hopes for you. My sister was really excited about the tangine, because she'd watched The Next Iron Chef on the Food Network and thought it would be like it. Blegh. The rice was mushy, there was no flavor at all, and the vegetables were overcooked. But. The best part of the meal? The goat cheese creme brulee. SO GOOD! I love goat cheese, but my sister and mom aren't great fans, and we all really enjoyed it. The caramelized sugar on top was a bit burnt, but other than that, it was a scrumptious, creamy delight. It came topped with a very tart sorbet that I don't remember what it was, which I personally didn't like, but was gobbled up by my sister and mom.Final verdict? The prices are a little bit high for the quality that came out (except for the mussels. HOLY CRAP! There were like 30 mussels, spicy and yummy, for just $9). I probably won't come back here again, but it was a good experience.I'm bumping them up to three stars just for their customer service. The owner of this joint contacted me and asked if he could refund my money, since we were so dissatisfied with the food. I really appreciate that kind of customer service, especially when the owner made it a point to say that he didn't expect me to change my review. Well, of course I would after that kind of generosity, and my boyfriend and I both agree to give this place another shot, but definitely not the crescent room - we'll try out a couple of drinks and an appetizer at the bar. I was here with my boyfriend on Saturday. I read such great reviews of this restaurant that I was…