TOP BRUNCH SPOTS / RESTAURANT GUIDE
Ema River North
River North · Chicago
Ema’s River North restaurant offers Mediterranean brunch dishes, including lamb shakshuka and soft scrambled eggs with tomato harissa. Blueberry clafoutis and strawberry ricotta toast provide sweet alternatives.
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THE DINING BRIEF
Plan Your Restaurant Visit
- Good For
- Shakshuka And Sweet Brunch In River North
- On The Menu
- Lamb shakshuka, blueberry clafoutis and strawberry ricotta toast
- Budget
- The brunch menu lists lamb shakshuka at $21.95, blueberry clafoutis at $13.95 and soft scrambled eggs at $14.95. A 3.5% surcharge is removable on request. Drinks, tax and gratuity are separate.
- Plan Ahead
- Saturday and Sunday brunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Select Chicago River North, not Glenview. Groups of nine to eleven should call, and larger events use the group-dining inquiry.
Menu And Visit Research · October 13, 2026 · View Source ↗
GET TO KNOW THE PLACE
About Ema River North
Ema’s River North restaurant offers Mediterranean brunch dishes, including lamb shakshuka and soft scrambled eggs with tomato harissa. Blueberry clafoutis and strawberry ricotta toast provide sweet alternatives. Choose the Illinois Street location for its Saturday and Sunday brunch, and use the Chicago reservation details rather than the separate Glenview venue.
Description: Official Restaurant Menu And Visit Information ↗ · Checked October 13, 2026
Brunch Service And Opening Hours
Ema Chicago publishes weekend brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM. Weekday lunch and Rotisserie Ema are different services. Reserve the River North dining room at 74 West Illinois Street and confirm final brunch orders if choosing a later table.
Source ↗ · Checked October 14, 2026
Brunch Booking And Arrival
Use the Chicago branch’s official reservation link, not Glenview or Austin. Call 312-527-5586 if your group cannot fit the online table choices. Review the chosen booking’s cancellation terms and request removal of the 3.5% surcharge if desired.
Source ↗ · Checked October 14, 2026
Cuisine Brunch Menu And Cost
Lamb shakshuka, blueberry clafoutis and strawberry ricotta toast. The brunch menu lists lamb shakshuka at $21.95, blueberry clafoutis at $13.95 and soft scrambled eggs at $14.95. A 3.5% surcharge is removable on request. Drinks, tax and gratuity are separate.
Source ↗ · Checked October 14, 2026
Dinner Service And Opening Hours
Ema Chicago publishes dinner from 3 to 10 PM Sunday through Thursday and 3 to 11 PM Friday and Saturday. Lunch and weekend brunch are separate menu windows. Confirm the final food order when booking close to the service endpoint.
Source ↗ · Checked October 14, 2026
Dinner Booking And Arrival
Use the Chicago restaurant’s Reserve link for 74 West Illinois Street, not Glenview or Austin. For a party that will not fit the online table choices, call 312-527-5586 and ask about regular dining or event arrangements. Review the booking’s cancellation terms and request surcharge removal if desired.
Source ↗ · Checked October 14, 2026
Dinner Menu And Cost
Rice-accompanied grilled chicken kebab, lamb-and-beef kefta, green falafel and hummus. Chicago dinner menu: grilled chicken kebab $22.95, lamb-and-beef kefta $23.95 and green falafel mezze $14.95. Kebabs include basmati rice; falafel is a different small-plate format. A 3.5% surcharge is removable on request. Drinks, tax, gratuity and additional plates are separate.
Source ↗ · Checked October 14, 2026
Group Dinner: River North Mezze With A Published Group Dinner Menu
Ema River North asks groups of nine to eleven to call (312) 527-5586. Private dining and parties of more than twelve use the events inquiry or emaparties@lettuce.com. The wording does not clearly specify the route for exactly twelve, so confirm it directly. Glenview is a different branch. Group dinner spreads; hot mezze; chicken and lamb/beef kebabs; shared desserts. Regular dinner chicken kebab $22.95 and lamb/beef kefta $23.95. The River North group Mezze Dinner is listed at $69.95 per person, with two spreads, three mezze, three kebab/main choices and two desserts; some choices carry supplements. Confirm event minimums, tax, drinks and service/gratuity charges. Regular checks have a removable 3.5% surcharge. River North dinner runs 3–10 PM Sunday–Thursday and 3–11 PM Friday–Saturday. Call for nine to eleven guests; use the official group-dining inquiry for more than twelve, and confirm exactly twelve directly. Request a menu proposal, room or table layout, minimum spend, deposit and cancellation terms. Published Mezze Dinner: $69.95 per person before supplements, beverages and the quoted event charges. The host selects two spreads, three mezze, three mains and two desserts. Confirm the current menu and total with the River North events team.
Source ↗ · Checked October 14, 2026
Mediterranean Spreads And Kebabs In River North
Choose Ema River North when you want to build dinner from spreads and mezze, or order a kebab with its included rice. The menu supports comparing a shared starter with separate mains rather than assuming every small plate is a complete dinner. Request the Chicago venue and a table for two through its own booking link. Classic hummus; green falafel; grilled chicken kebab; lamb-and-beef kefta with rice. Dinner chicken kebab $22.95, lamb-and-beef kefta $23.95, classic hummus $13.95 and green falafel $14.95. Kebabs include basmati rice. Two chicken kebabs total $45.90, or about $47.51 with the listed 3.5% surcharge, before tax, drinks and gratuity. The surcharge can be removed on request. Dinner Sunday through Thursday 3–10 PM and Friday and Saturday 3–11 PM. Select Chicago River North at 74 West Illinois Street. Book a table for two and review the current cancellation terms; ask about a preferred seating area without assuming quiet or guaranteed availability.
Source ↗ · Checked October 14, 2026
What To Order And What It Costs
Lamb shakshuka, blueberry clafoutis and strawberry ricotta toast. The brunch menu lists lamb shakshuka at $21.95, blueberry clafoutis at $13.95 and soft scrambled eggs at $14.95. A 3.5% surcharge is removable on request. Drinks, tax and gratuity are separate.
Source ↗ · Checked October 14, 2026
Service And Booking
Saturday and Sunday brunch, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Select Chicago River North, not Glenview. Groups of nine to eleven should call, and larger events use the group-dining inquiry.
Source ↗ · Checked October 14, 2026
River North With A Direct-Contact Threshold
Ema tells groups of nine to eleven to call the restaurant and provides a separate larger-party inquiry. That clear threshold is useful for organizing a mezze-oriented meal, but the group’s actual brunch menu, charge conditions and availability need confirmation. Lamb shakshuka, blueberry clafoutis and strawberry ricotta toast. The brunch menu lists lamb shakshuka at $21.95, blueberry clafoutis at $13.95 and soft scrambled eggs at $14.95. A 3.5% surcharge is removable on request. Drinks, tax and gratuity are separate. Nine to eleven call 312-527-5586; private dining and larger parties use the event inquiry. The page says more than twelve; exactly twelve should also be confirmed directly. Ask for the brunch-specific package and charges.
Source ↗ · Checked October 13, 2026
A Children’s Meal With Fruit And A Drink
Choose Ema River North when children want a complete listed child meal and adults prefer Mediterranean kebabs or shared spreads. Fresh fruit and a choice of beverage are included in the children’s menu. Larger extended families should use the restaurant’s party-size instructions rather than assume online availability. Adult grilled chicken kebab; children’s hummus bowl, buttered noodles, chicken kebab and tenders. Adult grilled chicken kebab $22.95; children’s listed meals $8.95 with fruit and a choice of beverage. Two adult chicken kebabs and two child meals total $63.80 before tax, extras and gratuity. A 3.5% surcharge is removable on request. Confirm age eligibility and any other charges. Dinner Sunday through Thursday 3–10 PM, Friday and Saturday 3–11 PM. Select Chicago River North. Parties of nine to eleven should call; more than twelve use an event inquiry, and exactly twelve should confirm the booking route. Ask about child facilities and last seating.
Source ↗ · Checked October 13, 2026
QUICK ANSWERS FOR YOUR VISIT
Questions About Ema River North
Where Is Ema River North?
Ema River North is listed at 74 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654.
Source ↗What Is The Phone Number For Ema River North?
312-527-5586. Contact details were checked against the restaurant website on October 14, 2026.
Source ↗Sources & Fact Check
Visit details checked October 14, 2026.