by Eddy C.

I can now say I've tried Armenian food.  Verdict: it's kind of like Middle Eastern food, with a little bit of Swedish, German and Polish influence as well.  I had dinner with my cousin and we ordered the following:* Labneh (dip made with yogurt, olive oil and mint) - so so, resembled cream cheese mixed with olive oil* Lamajoun (thin crust pizza with ground lamb, onions, tomatoes and spices) - tasty, sort of like a lamb quesadilla* Lamb Cous Cous (chunks of lamb cooked in a tomato broth) - my cousin enjoyed it, said it had a lot of flavor* Armenian Combo (lamb grape leaves, Armenian meatballs, baked phyllo stuffed with cheese, and eggplant) - the meatballs and phyllo were terrific, not so keen on the grape leaves and eggplantThe entrees come with a red lentil soup or salad.  We both ordered the soup and were quite pleased.  We also got the Armenian Coffee at the end of our meal.  Thick and rich -- I was a fan.  Service was decent, though I did not appreciate our server immediately recommending the most expensive dish when my cousin asked "What's good?".  It's worth a try if you've never had it before, though I don't think I'd go back to Sayat Nova any time soon but only because I don't think I especially care for Armenian food.

by Scott O.

Sayat Nova is a quiet, refreshing oasis steps away from the tourists and vehicles bounding along the Mag Mile. I've visited the restaurant 6 or 7 times over the past 5 or 6 years, and although the service and food have been consistently good, Sayat Nova not quite worthy of being a primary destination. I give it four stars primarily because of the modest prices of the menu items, particularly for Streeterville.There is a full bar, but the selection is suboptimal. I brought a bottle of wine in several years ago, and I recall that the corkage fee was modest.I recommend stopping in for lunch or an early dinner while shopping and/or sightseeing, as you'll have a better chance at securing one of the cozy alcoves.

by Escape C.

Seriously obsessed!!! I love love love this place. I have taken all my friends and family here. It really is just soo tasty. I am not saying I am an Armenian food connoisseur or anything of that sort, but this food is just sooo good. I really think they put something addictive into whatever they marinate their kebabs with. I can never get enough, and sometimes I am just full on craving them. I also love their cous cous. The plaki and eggplant are both just melt in your mouth amazing. I could go on and on, I'm telling you, this place is just great.  Also the atmosphere is very neat. I love the little romantic booths.

by Double L.

I walked by this place last week on the way home from the film festival and check it before heading back to a flick on Friday night.I don't think we will be going back there.  Nothing was bad, however, nothing in particular was good.  If you have never had Armenian food, we hadn't, it is a mix of Greek, Persian Mediterranean fair.  Since we eat all of those types of food often we were looking forward to trying this place and broadly got what we were expecting, sort of.Almost everything we had was extremely bland.  The Babganosh was lacking garlic and had a strange flavor, I thought it was Hummous at first.  The cheese appetizer we got was also flavorless and not at all like similar dishes I have ordered else where.  Think yogurt with oil on it, bland yogurt.  The Red Cabbage Salad was actually tasty but again most lacking a bit more lemon and vinegar.  The soup the lady got was pretty tasty.  The kabob we order was by far the best thing we got and had decent flavor, however, came with what appeared to be instant rice.  That and the fact that we only got a quarter of a piece of chopped, grilled green pepper and the heart of a white onion for our $13+ was a bit disappointing.On a whole everything was extremely average.  We were the only dinners in there for a bit, it was very early when we arrived, so the vibe in the restaurant was sort of weird.  The staff was very friendly and the place is well decorated.  The booths are not very comfortable at all.  The wine listed is limited but decent.  Prices were o.k. for restaurants in the area but nothing we had really popped.Sayat Me's Thinks NotRrL

by chloe r.

What a wonderful place for a snowy friday night dinner party. Came with an Armenian so I felt in good hands.  I mean I love Mediterranean food but  was  in the dark on Armenian food?We arrived as a party of 6 and had the oddest table set up (1 square table with 1 circle table). Then I realized the booths are not big enough for 3. They are more like 1/2 booths and there was a huge party in the middle of the room using all the square tables.  The cheese boereg and tabbouleh to me were the highlights in the round of apps.  The fresh parsley and lemon in the tabbouleh really makes a difference.. light and refreshing. Perfect to have after the sinful richness of the boereg.... is that dill in there?The kabosh were all a hit although my lamb was a bit dry.  My boyfriends' lamb chops (3 to a plate) were perfectly cooked and just melted in your mouth.   But the real star of the night was the coffee!  Rich, dark and thick... meant to be sipped. And don't forget about the grinds so take a minute to let them settle and leave that part in there at the end. Our wait staff was great and let us take our time... we closed that restaurant down that night.  Can't wait to come back!

by Michael G.

This place has apparently been around for 25 years so maybe I just caught it on a really bad day.  But that day would have had to be an anomoly for food, service, and ambiance to justify going back.I stumbled on this place completely by accident as I crossed under Michigan Avenue on Grand (getting slightly lost) and found myself kicked out on St. Clair Street.  "What luck," I though to myself turning north, "an Armenian restaurant and close to my doctor's appointment."And there was a Yelp users recommends sticker in the window to boot.This promise quickly turned to disappointment.  I was at first amused and excited by the size of this place and how "intimate" it was (just off Michigan Avenue).  And the bathroom seemed to be authentic eastern European.  The stall wasn't a hole in the ground but it did have the oddly high off the ground door for how low it was.  There were also interesting tapestries on the wall.That seemed to be where the authentic ended, unfortunately.I've never had Armenian food to compare this to but this place makes it seem to just be poor person's Greek food.  The vegetarian combo consisted of cheese (though I could have gotten spinach) boereg (stuffed filo dough similar, if not the same, as Greek spinach pie), taboule, plaki (lentil beans in olive oil), rice, and green salad.If this is how Armenians eat than I'm never venturing that far east into the former Soviet Union.  The rice was basically minute rice (at least the Greek recipe throws a little basil on it).  The plaki's beans were not blended well with the sauce.  The taboule, well, I couldn't tell if it was a garnish, a side, a dip for the pita bread, or an actual part of the combo.Some of it tasted decent but I kept hoping for something to blow me away with flavor and nothing ever did.  And the $8.95 for this combo just blew my mind.  Had it been good it would have been a bargain, as it was, it was a ripoff.Maybe this place works just off the Maginificent Mile with its lack of choices of southern and eastern European extraction, but I don't think it would survive a minute on the other side of the loop against similar mediterranean area choices, let alone 25 years.

by Lexy B.

This place gets 2 stars because I feel cheated in terms of my expectations. One of my biggest pet peeves when eating at a restaurant is feeling suckered into paying for more than what I get. I don't mind if I try a new dish and just don't like the flavors- you have to expect that will happen, but I absolutely hate when I feel like I paid for more than I should have, and that is how I feel about my dish at this restaurant.A dish that was described on the menu as having rice, vegetables and lamb, but I was bummed because the 'vegetables" consisted of only a grilled onion and tiny piece of green pepper. It was really more of a garnish than part of the dish. The rice was tasty, but  the lamb was mega dry. I felt like this dish's price was too high for what I got, because it didn't have that much complexity or flair. For the record too, I like Armenian food, just not this restaurant!The service like the rest of my dining experience was "meh" as well. The waitstaff was not friendly, just kind of indifferent to us. Neat ambiance, but it didn't quell my anger after getting the bill.

by Kai Z.

I am in love with the interior of this place.  It is so intimate, cozy, and romantic that I kept trying to snuggle up and play footsie with my Fiance the entire time.The kebabs were pretty good, but a little bit salty.  The real treat is the lambchops, which are tender and flavorful.  I don't even like lamb, but I kept sneaking bite after bite of my Fiance's order because it lacked a lot of the gaminess that usually puts me off.  I ordered the knafi for dessert and that was also heavenly, with a load of honey and crispy phyllo.  I will definitely come back next time I'm in the mood to 1) eat a lot of meat and 2) get laid.

by Lizzy G.

First of all, I don't know anything about Armenian food. It appears to be in the style of Mediterranean/ Middle eastern food. Regardless, it's delicious. As for Sayat Nova, I must have seen the sign for this restaurant a million times while working downtown and I don't know why I waited so long to go inside. (Seriously I've sent people here on blind recommendations and never went in, what's wrong with me!) This place is truly a hidden gem right off the mag mile! It looks a little sketch from the outside with the random tarot card reader on the second floor but once you step inside, the doubts will slip away. The interior is so cozy and even a little romantic with the perfect little booths in their own private half shell coves. The lighting is soft but the music we experienced can afford to go. I didn't expect mariachi music from an Armenian restaurant. It's not bad, just misplaced... As for the food, it was delicious. I went for lunch and after looking at each menu, think I need to return for dinner. I had the hummus to start and it was appropriately creamy with an indulgent amount of spice and olive oil. The pita was fresh and warm and the perfect accompaniment. My boyfriend had a wonderfully creamy cheese filled filo pastry called a boereg. ( I think I could have eaten a half dozen!). He ordered the Kibbee and I had the veggie combo. They each came with a side salad and his came with a yogurt sauce that was delicious. The veggie combo was tabbouleh, beans(plaki), rice and salad. Both dishes were plenty of food considering it was only lunch! We left stuffed to the gills! I will say, for the price, the appetizers could include a little more food but the main courses make up for the price gap, easy!When we walked in, we were the only table. That changed as we ate (which appears to be a trend when we dine out) and I am glad we didn't let the potential awkwardness of the moment get to us. I would definitely recommend trying Sayat Nova for lunch (or maybe dinner if your a veggie-they have a few more options.). I can't wait to go back and try the lentil soup! This place is an excellent pit stop for an affordable Michigan Avenue pit stop!

by Kara B.

This place is a great secret lunch spot. It is regularly frequented by Tribune employees. The restaurant itself doesn't look like much from the outside, but that just hides the cool interior.They have fabulous sunken booths, with great Armenian lighting -- often made of colored glass in an antique middle eastern looking metal container. The food is consistently good, but I have to say I usually went for the hookah. This is the only time that I get annoyed with the smoking ban in Chicago. But, their lentil soup is one of the best in the city and the meat dishes are excellent.UPDATE: Went there for dinner last night and the quality seems to have gone downhill. They told us they had a new manager. The prices are a little steeper and you get less for your dollar. The Location is still beautiful though, so maybe try it for lunch?

by Tony S.

I decided to go to this place after seeing it reviewed on Check Please on cable, I thought great its local and I need to try more places too.I went with my partner and found it to be just OK.  The menu really didn't do much for me, I ordered an entree which comes with a red lentil soup o r a side salad included.Personally i like food to be piping hot when served, not everyone is like this of course.  The soup was bland and could have been the same as the one my mother in law makes i.e. nice enough but nothing out of the ordinary.  I don't know but when I go out to dinner I want to have something taste like effort has gone into it or that I couldn't make it myself at home.  We also ordered a Bauoreg or filo pastry puff with cheese in it.  My partner loved this but I always consider him easily pleased and me a whiney old bitch.  I dunno but I seem to find fault with everytthing.   This would have been pretty nice if it had been hot. It was tepid so really didn't do much for me.The main course I ordered was a chicken and Shrimp kebab type thing.  This wasn't bad it was just not very memorable, I mean I get a tiny lemon wedge that felt like all the juice had been squeezed out of it although it hadn't.   4 bits of chicken which was more than enough and 3-4 shrimp, nice enough but nothing out of the ordinary.  The chicken tasted like it might have been marinated in something but you know who could tell, it was nice enough.  The rice was pleasant enough but nothing out of the ordinary.Overall the $16.95 I paid I felt like it was too much for what I got to be honest.  My partner had the lamb chops which at $24.95 was again too much for what he got although he loved them.  I think Lamb is quite expensive in Illinois though.The decor I liked, the temperature was perfect, service was good we were there monday night about 6:30 so it was empty.   I found the music irritating as it was french and it seemed they were playing the radio as commercials or news kept coming on which is unacceptable and I found it bloody irritating.  So ambience would be good with decent music as the booths are quite comfortable.So I give this place 3/5 which is my rating for average, nothing special would probably not go back in a hurry as it's not even a bargain really either.

by Ericka A.

An Armenian restaurant isn't exactly the kind of thing you find too easily in the Twin Cities, so I was rather surprised to run into this as I was job searching today. The menu had just the type of food I was looking for, so I decided to stop in for lunch before I went back home.The hummus was OK, but not very impressive. I didn't enjoy the flat bread served with it and even adding salt and pepper didn't save the taste. With that as the starter, I was a little worried about what the entree would be like. But I was pleasantly surprised. The rice pilaf was plump and flavorful. I don't know what seasoning they use for the peas and carrots, but I ate it right up and I don't even like peas! Best part of the meal was the cheese and spinach covered chicken. Some of the best chicken I've had in ages!

by E. P.

Love this place. A little cozy spot hidden away from the crazed shopping district where you can have a quiet lunch of lentil soup, hummus, boreg, etc. Stick to the appetizers, they are the best.

by Karen T.

University of Chicago students come here for "house" dinners in hordes and a select few "in the know" hit it up for the afterhours night scene. Believe it or not, this place turns into a bumping club at night with fabulous music. But only on the right nights though....one time a friend and I got our signals crossed and walked upstairs into what was clearly a 50 year old men's gay bikers bar night. Being 21, female, straight and decked out in BCBG, my friend and I were *fierce*...and totally out of place. We glanced at each other and did the polite thing: rotated 180 in unison and made a beeline for the door.One of the better-kept secrets on the Mag Mile, Sayat's right off Michigan and if you didn't know to look for it, you'd probably walk right past it. It's not quite a hole in the wall. It certainly doesn't have the glamour that most downtown restaurants radiate, but it doesn't have the ridiculous wait, either. To sum up, Sayat Nova totes:Traditional Armenian - I've gotten thumbs up from various cultural foodies across the board. their meat is *delicious* and no, that wasn't dirty. they do their vegetarian well also. hummus is a little lacking though.Dim lighting - very intimate and cozy, good for a romantic dinner where you want all the attention on yourselvesReasonable pricing - about $15 a plate

by Da J.

Thanks, Yelpers, for directing me to the kabobs. I knew this was where the group chose, so I did a quick scan for the gem of the menu. I ordered the shish kabab, served on rice, and it was delicious! Marinated just so!The appetizers we ordered were not very memorable, though. The lamajoun was tasty, but I'll probably try something else next time. The hummus was average or average-good for a restaurant. However, the ambiance was great! Very cozy little place with lots of these alcovy seating - appropriate for 2-4 people at each.

by Ashley V.

Another Check Please recommendation that truly hit the mark! After a long evening of Mag Mile shopping my mom and I decided to try this place for dinner. 8pm on a Saturday night and it was only a 15 minute wait. We managed to grab a few seats at the bar and ordered an excellent bottle of Syrah/Grenache for a reasonable $30. The menu (and friendly owner) mentioned that all the wines served at the restaurant were from small family owned farms. Loved the concept. For appetizers we ordered the hummus and the phillo wrapped cheese dish. Both were simple dishes done really well. For dinner we decided to split the Kufta meatballs and the combo Kebab. I was truly impressed with the Armenian specialty Kufta meatballs. They were HUGE meatballs filled with ground spiced lamb and in the most delicious lemon cream type sauce. Both me and my Mom were blown away by them. We also enjoyed the kebabs, which I thought were not only well-seasoned but also had an excellent grilled flavor. The staff is small and the crowd keeps them busy but they all managed to stay friendly and deliver great service. The owner was also very friendly and chatted with us for a few minutes about the place. This restaurant is truly a gem in the mix of the tourististy Cheesecake Factories and TGI Fridays of Michigan Avenue. Go, order the meatballs, drink a bottle of wine and thank me after.

by Katie H.

Pretty damn tasty. The place is cozy, the service was good and the food was excellent, yet I somehow left feeling like it wasn't quite perfect. Maybe because of the prices? We had a half-carafe of the hosue cabernet which was $16 (the full was $30; there were no bottles of wine under $30). We shared a plate of rice, the armenian pizza (which is more like a quesadilla) the farmer's cheese and some stuffed grapes leaves. It was all pretty tasty (Dan said he'd had better grape leaves, but I loved the farmer's cheese) and filling, but we still left feeling like we didn't get the best value at 4 apps and some wine for $40. (most entrees were about $15 so maybe that would have been the better way to go) Maybe we've just been hitting too many budget BYOs lately? It's kind of off our beaten trail so I doubt I'd be back any time soon, but if you want to try something different, this is a pretty good option.

by Andrew T.

I came in at around 5:30, noone was there.  The host was on the phone and stuck a figure up to indicate that I should wait for him and he continued on the phone as he decided to seat me later.The food is actually pretty good, but the prices are a little on the expensive side for what it is. Chalk it up to the location.  You get warm pita at the table.  The stuffed grape leaves are great, for the appetizer dish you get 4 of them for 5 bucks.  I had the ground sirlon/lamb kebab dish and it was tasty albeit a bit pink inside, with 4 hotdog sized kebabs and pilaf rice and a grilled piece of onion and green pepper.  I also asked for yogurt sauce to accompany the dish.

by Lori L.

Romantic, romantic, romantic!Do you get that?  This place is romantic.  Dark, cozy coves with rounded booths and candlelit tables, and what I can best describe as Moroccan influenced decor.  Now on to the food.I've never had Armenian food so dining here was definitely a trip out of my comfort zone.   I ordered the Armenian Combo which consisted of  sarma, boereg, kufta, and eggplant.  The boerg (cheese stuffed phyllo) was a cheesy pastry heaven.  I really enjoyed the kufta which is a meatball stuffed with diced lamb and spice and served in a hot yogurt mint sauce.  This was by far my favorite portion of the dinner.I wasn't a fan of the sarma and that doesn't mean it was bad.  It just wasn't my cup of tea.My boyfriend had the Kabob Combo.  The beef and chicken were oh so delicious!  Like, mouthwatering delicious.  We opted for the Mahalebeya for desert.  I liken it to flan in regards to its consistency.  It was good and big enough for two to enjoy.A side note:  This place was recently reviewed on Check Please, so get there before its overrun with Check Pleasians.

by Jin K.

This place is awesome for Lamb Chops.  If you like taste and you can enjoy lamb...definately go for the lamb chops. - the portion is 3 large chops - which is quite satisfying but because it's so tasty it will leave you wanting more.  The wine selection is a little limited but they definately have all the other spirits there that will satisfy your palate. All the appetizers are solid choices and I would recommend getting at least two.  The ambiance is definately of the romantic sorts. A great place to take a date and have an evening of conversation over scumptious food.

by Gayle G.

I don't know anything about Armenian food.  I used to work with an Armenian lady who made the best baklava though.I have a friend in town at a conference downtown and we decided to have dinner down there.  Since I don't spend much time in the loop I was at a little bit of a loss, but when we drove past this place I remembered having seen it on Check Please!  We walked in with absolutely no wait.  We started with a 1/2 carafe of the house red for $16 and an Armenian flatbread pizza. It was made with ground lamb and was kind of a cross between a pizza and a quesadilla without the cheese.  All meals come with your choice of red lentil soup or a salad, we got one of each.  The salad was fresh and crispy, but the soup.  Oh the soup!  It was delicious.  I'd come back just for a vat of that fabulous soup!!!  I'm tempted to give an extra star just for the soup.We had a lamb cous cous and a kebab combo for our meals.  Both were very nice.  On to the service....it was interesting.  When we knocked over our carafe of wine shortly after we arrived, it was replaced very quickly and the bartender came over to help us clean up.  We waited a really long time to place our orders. We received our app and still hadn't placed our dinner order.  We waited and waited.  I swear, they were playing a game of "don't make eye contact" with us.  It was almost weird.  The place was only about 25% full and there appeared to be plenty of staff.  It wasn't bad service, just inattentive.I don't think that I'd make my way downtown just to eat here, but if I'm in the neighborhood and have a hankerin' for soup, this is where I'm going.

by Bill M.

Sayat Nova has been a fixture off Michigan Avenue for years, but I had never been here until recently. The two of us were seated at one of the cool niche-like booths, which is definitely where you want to be. We ordered the lamajoun as an appetizer. It is supposed to be sort of an Armenian thin-crust pizza (that's how I remembered them while visiting Turkey a few years ago), but it came out looking more like quesadilla wedges. It came with a lemon slice, which added something to the ground lamb and vegetables inside. We split an Armenian Combo, so in a sense we ate all appetizers. This combo had sarma (stuffed grape leaves with lamb), boereg (cheese phyllo), kufta (lamb meatball), and eggplant (self-explanatory). We enjoyed the variety, although nothing stood out to me. If you have had Turkish food, you will probably like the Armenian food at Sayat Nova (but don't mention the genocide).

by Andrea N.

I really like this place and have ventured here a few times with an Armenian who was satisfied with the dishes.  It's very cozy and quiet inside.I believe their specialty is the lulla kebob.  Their lamajoun and raw kibbee are their top appetizers.  Their rice and soup is extremely lacking.  If you are really hungry, be prepared to order more appetizers.

by Michael W.

My wife and I were in Chicago for our first anniversary and I was looking for a quiet neighborhood Middle Eastern restaurant for a dinner on Saturday night. Sayat Nova fit the bill perfectly. All the previous reviewers who describe the restaurant as romantic and intimate are right-on. The place isn't large, but it has a lot of quiet charm. The half-shell booths are cozy, and have interesting geometric patterns cut into the wall that are lit from behind - a nice touch. And this might seem like a small point, but the place was quiet! We were able to talk and chat without shouting to hear each other - I really appreciated that. It helped that the restaurant wasn't full when we were seated. In fact, we didn't have to wait at all for a table (this at 8 pm on a Saturday night!). Our waiter was friendly and helpful when we asked questions about the menu items we weren't familiar with. We started with hummous, which was creamy and exactly to my liking. It was served with pita bread still hot from the oven. For the entree, I went out on a limb and ordered the Kufta Dinner, which is Armenian-style meatballs stuffed with diced lamb, spices, hot yogurt mint soup. The hot yogurt soup gave me pause, but it was delicious! And to top it off, the desserts were outstanding. My wife ordered the Mahalebeya - a rice flour custard with crushed walnuts and cinnamon that she couldn't stop raving about. I had the chocolate mousse, which rivaled the best I've had anywhere. Bottom line, it was a great experience, and just what I was looking for. We'll definitely come back again.

by Myrl B.

So, there we were - a country boy and his slightly more urbanized wife - hungry, helpless in the big city, and recoiling from the prices of the restaurant in our hotel, the Caliterra of painful memory.  Fortunately, our cab had taken us past the Sayat Nova Restaurant, subtitled Armenian Food.  Neither of us had ever eaten Armenian food, so it seemed like a good bet - if we didn't fancy the dinner, we could at least regard it as a worthwhile culinary adventure.  As it happens, the food was excellent - similar to Greek food, but with some sort of subtle twist I couldn't identify.  Be sure to try the red lentil soup.  The menu included items we knew, as well as some mysterious entries we may try the next time we happen on an Armenian restaurant.  The wine list was good, too, and had plenty of choices in the price range of normal mortals.  The service was efficient - not warm and fuzzy, but adequate.  The décor was, well, a little odd - suggesting a cave, perhaps, or maybe a restaurant in Armenia - I've never been there.  We walked in the door, were greeted politely, seated immediately, served with reasonable dispatch, and then left to ourselves to enjoy the food and wine.  Thus my summary - what's not to like?  If you find yourself trapped in downtown Chicago without a corporate expense account, this is the place for you!

by Flawed E.

Sayat Nova did a great job the second time around; I arrived in a large party on a Sunday afternoon for an early dinner and was seated right away.  Our appetizers came swiftly and we didn't wait long for our entrees.  I tried the Lamajoun appetizer and shared the Stuffed Breast of Chicken (the rice was a little too salty, but the chicken itself was perfect).  I also tried their Pomegranate Wine, which was very sweet.  With this good experience and a couple of dishes that I like on the menu, this place gets a solid 4 stars from me. My partner and I were seated right away in a cosy booth that was dimly lit; it was just enough light…

by Jeanne L.

Any classy looking place that will allow me to walk in wearing an oversized hoodie, shorts, and flip flops (like a true American tourist in a 3rd world country) gets at least 4 stars in my book.The outside isn't much to look at, but the inside is quaint - nice romantic lighting, cozy half-shell booths, ambient (Armenian? possibly Spanish?!) music.The food was tasty.  The price was good considering the area, and the fact that ... this is the ONLY Armenian restaurant in the city.Food recommendations:  Get the salad instead of the soup.  And try the Armenian Combo... mmmm.

by J. F.

This is my favorite restaurant. Armando is my favorite waiter. The Red Cabbage salad is my favorite salad. The boreg (sp?) both cheese and spinach are my favorite appetizers. I have had almost every entree on the menu. I take everyone I like to this restaurant. It's never crowded, and the ambience is quiet, dim, and romantic at night. During the day, sit in the front by the window. Love it.

by Shradha A.

I've been going to Sayat Nova for a while now - but only for their desi (Indian parties) on Saturday nights, never for their food - until today!First, this place is really not vegetarian friendly and secondly, armenian food is very different in that it's mostly kebabs. There is no falafel et al. The hummus we had was on the dry side and the pita bread was a little too thick. The red lentil soup was neither red nor spicy. I think I'll save this place for desi parties and get my hummus elsewhere!

by Dan D.

I've come here years ago and loved the food... big portions,  great food,  intimate atmosphere.   I came back just the other day and here's what i think....The food is still superb.   Hands down, it is really delcious.   However, the portion sizes decreased and the prices went up a tiny bit.  Maybe that is expected with inflation, but it still is a letdown to get less for your money. :-(    Anyways,   the booths are a win win for a great convo and bigtime comfort.    Would I come back to Sayat Nova?  Well,  maybe... but I'd like someone else to pay my tab.  Hehe.

by Tera H.

We have eaten here a couple of times and I really like it. Everything we have tried has been really tasty. I have eaten at plenty of Armenian restaurants in So. Cal. and this one definitely holds it's own (despite being one of the few or only Armenian restaurants). The Lamajoun is really good, tabbouleh, shish kabob and lula kabob are also super tasty! If you are partial to spicy food ask for some hot sauce- it is amazing! Most of the stuff will be familiar to Middle Eastern food fans but is served with an Armenian twist. The wine list is nice and full of affordable bottles. The service has been good- maybe a little awkward since we have been in early when it is not crowded and the staff tend to cluster around the bar and gossip a bit... Also, the new facade makes the restaurant much more approachable and shows off the cozy interior. For great fun- come in on a night when the weather is terrible. You too may get to witness some of the less worldly tourists from across the street looking at the menu in confusion and demanding cheeseburgers or some "normal" food -also claiming that the other restaurants down the block, specializing in cheeseburgers) are too far......Kudos to the server for handling those wretches with grace, dignity and the patience of a saint!

by Tim H.

Good food at reasonable prices in a casual atmosphere.   Most apps are around 5, and most entrees are 12-20.   This location is right off Michigan avenue and easy to miss.     All the dishes I had were very good.  I will be back!-steak tartare-grape leave with ground lamb appetizer-lentil soup - probably the best version of lentil soup I have had anywhere -lamb meatball entree - you get three tasty meatballs in a lemony garlic sauce.   my only complaint was there wasn't some rice to absorb the sauce and maybe a side of vegetables.

by Jenna S.

I've been past this place a million times, without any urge to actually eat there...until last night.   It was late, almost 10:00 PM on a Thursday night.  They had a few tables and patrons at the bar, so I figured...they must be doing something right!We were immediately seated in a half circle booth built into the wall with a beautiful lighting above and behind our seats.  The music and atmosphere was airy and romantic.Service was a little slow....but the food makes up for the lack of attentiveness.  Everything we ordered was delicious!To top it all off, the prices were so reasonable!  For two people, a total of $40! WOW!

by B.D. K.

so, first of all, we called in a reservations hours before showing up, got there on time, and still had to wait ten minutes for a table. I let it go, knowing it's a small place, and a busy night downtown on friday. The floor manager waited our table most of the night, the hostess actually waited us a couple times, the server finally showed up somewhere near the end of the meal, and then, after paying, some old guy gave me the receipt to sign... huh?...wtf is going on here? I realize when I go Eastern and Indian I might be waited on by multiple people, but this was a little much. I ordered the lamb cous-cous which I believe is what I got the first time I went there with a friend, but I had the distinct feeling the lamb made me sick. My girl got a beef kabob with rice pilaf, and I liked it more than my dish. Also, I am more impressed with the Baba ganoush at Whole Foods than here. Overall, I was kinda disappointed but maybe the service put a foul taste in my mouth.

by Karen N.

The food is pretty good.  The hummus was excellent, the meat balls in yogurt sauce was moist and tasty.  I would order any of the lamb dishes there.  3 stars for food.Really, where else can you get Armenian food and this restaurant is in my neighborhood.  But the service is cold and the pita bread was the oldest pita bread I have ever chewed on. Minus 1 star.

by Leigh R.

Finally stopped here for lunch after FOUR years of working around the corner. The food is really good. Honestly, I've had better, but this is pretty darn close. The lunch portions are very healthy, the price is right, and the service is attentive and prompt. You can walk right in and get seated.The hummus was just okay - i've totally had better - see Couscous for the best hummus in Chicago (at least that I've found so far). If you are in the area it is way more low key than anything else. Definitely NOT a tourist trip like scary Grand Lux. Steer clear of michigan ave restaurants except this place. It really should be in a more chill neighborhood.Owner is cool!

by HungryChicago M.

A very exotic and unique place in Chicago!It is probably the only Armenian restaurant in Chicago on such a fancy scale and location. I went there twice and was very satisfied overall. The ambiance was amazing as you can sit under the decorated cave-like booth. The candles glowing behind you make you feel like a caravan stop  in Black Sea region. The decors look Turkish and Persian, but definitely has very strong Russian influence.The food tastes above average, but the portion could be bigger. The recommended drinks are Ginger Ale. The entree is a hit or miss. Kebab combo is good. NY Strip is not good (my fault, I should not order NY Trip in an Armenian place). Sauteed Lamb is great. The desserts are all good. I tried two of them before, and they never fail!It is somewhere I would take my family and friends when they visit Chicago! Great location!

by Mike E.

After years of walking past Sayat Nova, I realized I needed to give it a try. I am fortunate in that my business associates enjoy trying different foods. We ordered 3 things and split them so we could try several items off the menu. Aren't you jealous?We had the cheese boureg and sarma for appetizers, both were delicious.  The sarma had a nice tart sauce.  The boureg was artistically scorched and yes there was butter involved in its making.Not only did we choose 3 meals from the menu, but one of them was combo kebabs so we could try chicken, beef, and lamb.  So this was the equivalent of sampling 5 meals. Clever, huh?  The other 2 choices was kufta (lamb meatballs) and lamb cous-cous. Can you tell my co-workers aren't afraid of lamb?  All were good, if you can pick several I can recommend these, if you're only picking 1 I would go with the kebab, but I like grilled meat. Considering that Lamb was tender but the combo gives you more tastes makes a hard decision.And yes, you should try dessert. Malabeya was good as was the knafi, but the knafi was fairly similar to flan/custard.Wait staff wasn't perfect.  We thought he forgot the beers, they showed up after the appetizers and it took a while to get the bill, but not the realllllly bad experience others have related.$30 per person including tip. Definitely on our list for return trip.

by Joe C.

We saw the review of this restaurant on Check Please, and it looked and sounded really incredible.  I have never had Armenian Food, so I have nothing to compare it to, but if this is the best that Armenia has to offer, I will probably remove it from my list of places to go. We had a selection of three appetizers, the kebab combo and salads. The Hummus was OK, nothing to write home about, but decent.  The Raw Kibbe which was raved about on the show, was bizarre, and had very little taste.  It was better when you poured a lot of olive oil on it, but otherwise it had the look, and texture of cat food, but without the Fancy Feast flavor.   I really didn't "get it" and nobody at the table seemed to either.  The Kabob combo was decent, but again, not special.  The rice that came with it was actually tasty, and helped make the dish.  The cabbage "salad" was basically chopped up cabbage with some vinaigrette.  It really wasn't much of a salad, but more of a side dish to go with the meal, or perhaps a garnish?  It tasted OK, but again, it was strange.  The one thing I did love was the atmosphere.  It is warm, inviting, and feels very comfortable.  Maybe they were having and off night, and I just happened in at the wrong time.  In general I was disappointed.

by Keith T.

Try to sit in the back where the booths are carved semi-circles half embedded into the walls, dark and private. This place is a treasure.  There's a gay bar on the second floor and a fortune teller on the third, Sayat Nova exists in a small 100 year old 3 story building between an enormous, recently built condo building (I miss Cambridge House) and a Gap in downtown Chicago, a block east of Michigan avenue.This place is a treasure, my favorite is the Shwarma plate, a marinated beef dished, served over a bed of rice pilaf, with a side of pickled red cabbage and a tahini sauce on the side.  The jajik and hummus are great and the pitas are always warm and fresh.

by Keith T.Joe C.Mike E.

Try to sit in the back where the booths are carved semi-circles half embedded into the walls, dark and private. This place is a treasure.  There's a gay bar on the second floor and a fortune teller on the third, Sayat Nova exists in a small 100 year old 3 story building between an enormous, recently built condo building (I miss Cambridge House) and a Gap in downtown Chicago, a block east of Michigan avenue.This place is a treasure, my favorite is the Shwarma plate, a marinated beef dished, served over a bed of rice pilaf, with a side of pickled red cabbage and a tahini sauce on the side.  The jajik and hummus are great and the pitas are always warm and fresh.We saw the review of this restaurant on Check Please, and it looked and sounded really incredible.  I have never had Armenian Food, so I have nothing to compare it to, but if this is the best that Armenia has to offer, I will probably remove it from my list of places to go. We had a selection of three appetizers, the kebab combo and salads. The Hummus was OK, nothing to write home about, but decent.  The Raw Kibbe which was raved about on the show, was bizarre, and had very little taste.  It was better when you poured a lot of olive oil on it, but otherwise it had the look, and texture of cat food, but without the Fancy Feast flavor.   I really didn't "get it" and nobody at the table seemed to either.  The Kabob combo was decent, but again, not special.  The rice that came with it was actually tasty, and helped make the dish.  The cabbage "salad" was basically chopped up cabbage with some vinaigrette.  It really wasn't much of a salad, but more of a side dish to go with the meal, or perhaps a garnish?  It tasted OK, but again, it was strange.  The one thing I did love was the atmosphere.  It is warm, inviting, and feels very comfortable.  Maybe they were having and off night, and I just happened in at the wrong time.  In general I was disappointed.After years of walking past Sayat Nova, I realized I needed to give it a try. I am fortunate in that my business associates enjoy trying different foods. We ordered 3 things and split them so we could try several items off the menu. Aren't you jealous?We had the cheese boureg and sarma for appetizers, both were delicious.  The sarma had a nice tart sauce.  The boureg was artistically scorched and yes there was butter involved in its making.Not only did we choose 3 meals from the menu, but one of them was combo kebabs so we could try chicken, beef, and lamb.  So this was the equivalent of sampling 5 meals. Clever, huh?  The other 2 choices was kufta (lamb meatballs) and lamb cous-cous. Can you tell my co-workers aren't afraid of lamb?  All were good, if you can pick several I can recommend these, if you're only picking 1 I would go with the kebab, but I like grilled meat. Considering that Lamb was tender but the combo gives you more tastes makes a hard decision.And yes, you should try dessert. Malabeya was good as was the knafi, but the knafi was fairly similar to flan/custard.Wait staff wasn't perfect.  We thought he forgot the beers, they showed up after the appetizers and it took a while to get the bill, but not the realllllly bad experience others have related.$30 per person including tip. Definitely on our list for return trip.

by Keith T.Joe C.Mike E.HungryChicago M.Leigh R.

Try to sit in the back where the booths are carved semi-circles half embedded into the walls, dark and private. This place is a treasure.  There's a gay bar on the second floor and a fortune teller on the third, Sayat Nova exists in a small 100 year old 3 story building between an enormous, recently built condo building (I miss Cambridge House) and a Gap in downtown Chicago, a block east of Michigan avenue.This place is a treasure, my favorite is the Shwarma plate, a marinated beef dished, served over a bed of rice pilaf, with a side of pickled red cabbage and a tahini sauce on the side.  The jajik and hummus are great and the pitas are always warm and fresh.We saw the review of this restaurant on Check Please, and it looked and sounded really incredible.  I have never had Armenian Food, so I have nothing to compare it to, but if this is the best that Armenia has to offer, I will probably remove it from my list of places to go. We had a selection of three appetizers, the kebab combo and salads. The Hummus was OK, nothing to write home about, but decent.  The Raw Kibbe which was raved about on the show, was bizarre, and had very little taste.  It was better when you poured a lot of olive oil on it, but otherwise it had the look, and texture of cat food, but without the Fancy Feast flavor.   I really didn't "get it" and nobody at the table seemed to either.  The Kabob combo was decent, but again, not special.  The rice that came with it was actually tasty, and helped make the dish.  The cabbage "salad" was basically chopped up cabbage with some vinaigrette.  It really wasn't much of a salad, but more of a side dish to go with the meal, or perhaps a garnish?  It tasted OK, but again, it was strange.  The one thing I did love was the atmosphere.  It is warm, inviting, and feels very comfortable.  Maybe they were having and off night, and I just happened in at the wrong time.  In general I was disappointed.After years of walking past Sayat Nova, I realized I needed to give it a try. I am fortunate in that my business associates enjoy trying different foods. We ordered 3 things and split them so we could try several items off the menu. Aren't you jealous?We had the cheese boureg and sarma for appetizers, both were delicious.  The sarma had a nice tart sauce.  The boureg was artistically scorched and yes there was butter involved in its making.Not only did we choose 3 meals from the menu, but one of them was combo kebabs so we could try chicken, beef, and lamb.  So this was the equivalent of sampling 5 meals. Clever, huh?  The other 2 choices was kufta (lamb meatballs) and lamb cous-cous. Can you tell my co-workers aren't afraid of lamb?  All were good, if you can pick several I can recommend these, if you're only picking 1 I would go with the kebab, but I like grilled meat. Considering that Lamb was tender but the combo gives you more tastes makes a hard decision.And yes, you should try dessert. Malabeya was good as was the knafi, but the knafi was fairly similar to flan/custard.Wait staff wasn't perfect.  We thought he forgot the beers, they showed up after the appetizers and it took a while to get the bill, but not the realllllly bad experience others have related.$30 per person including tip. Definitely on our list for return trip.A very exotic and unique place in Chicago!It is probably the only Armenian restaurant in Chicago on such a fancy scale and location. I went there twice and was very satisfied overall. The ambiance was amazing as you can sit under the decorated cave-like booth. The candles glowing behind you make you feel like a caravan stop  in Black Sea region. The decors look Turkish and Persian, but definitely has very strong Russian influence.The food tastes above average, but the portion could be bigger. The recommended drinks are Ginger Ale. The entree is a hit or miss. Kebab combo is good. NY Strip is not good (my fault, I should not order NY Trip in an Armenian place). Sauteed Lamb is great. The desserts are all good. I tried two of them before, and they never fail!It is somewhere I would take my family and friends when they visit Chicago! Great location!Finally stopped here for lunch after FOUR years of working around the corner. The food is really good. Honestly, I've had better, but this is pretty darn close. The lunch portions are very healthy, the price is right, and the service is attentive and prompt. You can walk right in and get seated.The hummus was just okay - i've totally had better - see Couscous for the best hummus in Chicago (at least that I've found so far). If you are in the area it is way more low key than anything else. Definitely NOT a tourist trip like scary Grand Lux. Steer clear of michigan ave restaurants except this place. It really should be in a more chill neighborhood.Owner is cool!