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Name: Aria
Address: 200 N Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601
Telephone: (312) 444-9494
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.24

Aria

200 N Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601

(312) 444-9494
Store is closed

Aria Menu

Small Plates - Cool

Garden Greens

Sweet Pea Chawanmushi

Summer Salad

Spicy Tuna Tartare
Small Plates - Hot

Bacon Miso Ramen Soup

Miso Soup

Cape Ann Razor Clam Gratin

Pork And Shiitake Dumplings

Mongolian Lamb Rib

Quail Egg And Pork Belly Kimchi Stacks
From The Wok

Prawn & Bbq Pork Pad Thai

Kung Pao Chicken

Prawn Singapore Vermicelli

Vegan Singapore

Indonesian Nasi Goreng
From The Sea

Steamed Halibut

Grilled Branzini

Cape Breton Scallops

Jjampong Noodles With Seafood
From The Farm

Cumin Lamb Loin

Braised Short Ribs

Strip Steak
Sides

Cold Sichuan Cucumber Salad

Peas And Wild Mushrooms
Desserts

Valrhona Equitoriale Pot De Creme

Coconut Panna Cotta

Chocolate Caramel Mousse

Pineapple-honey And Thai Chili Granita

Ice Creams And Sorbets

Healthy Meal suggestions for Aria

Small Plates - Cool

Garden Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Pea Chawanmushi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Summer Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Tuna Tartare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Small Plates - Hot

Bacon Miso Ramen Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miso Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cape Ann Razor Clam Gratin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork And Shiitake Dumplings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mongolian Lamb Rib [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Quail Egg And Pork Belly Kimchi Stacks [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
From The Wok

Prawn & Bbq Pork Pad Thai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kung Pao Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prawn Singapore Vermicelli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegan Singapore [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Indonesian Nasi Goreng [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
From The Sea

Steamed Halibut [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Branzini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cape Breton Scallops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jjampong Noodles With Seafood [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
From The Farm

Cumin Lamb Loin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Braised Short Ribs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Strip Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Cold Sichuan Cucumber Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peas And Wild Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Valrhona Equitoriale Pot De Creme [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coconut Panna Cotta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Caramel Mousse [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pineapple-honey And Thai Chili Granita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ice Creams And Sorbets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Alan R.

Great food, quick service, better than most Hotel restaurants. I got the NY steak, it came with a salad and fries for less than $30. It was all top notch. I didn't originally want to eat there, but I was very surprised
(4)
Jeanine R.

This place has the freshest sushi I ever tasted! I love this place and would come back next time I visit Chicago!
(5)
Marc M.

Good for business lunch. Food is well prepared, but does not inspire, which is ok for lunch.
(3)
Shan D.

I notice a lot of reviews about the bad service, but I probably avoided that problem since my buddy and I chose to sit at the bar. The service can affect your dining experience. So if you want good food, just sit at the bar. When I called to make a reservation, we asked for two seats at the bar and the staff was ok with it. Sitting at the bar is a lot more fun anyway. The mussels were fantastic. They come in a flavorful curry broth that we didn't want to send back after the mussels were finished. We instead asked for bread to dip into the curry. I had the sea bass which was cooked perfectly.
(4)
Jim L.

My wife and I really loved our dinner at Aria tonight. They have an upscale vide and menu with an asian fusion/americana flair. For omnivores there is a great selection of sea food, steak and lamb. For vegans, like my wife and me, there are a few options apparent on the menu, and they were delicious! The surprisingly tasty beet salad was great. The nan with house made hummus was outstanding (and we vegans know our hummus. This was super garlicly and satisfying). And there were other options, like the vegetable sushi and pea/edamame soup, that we didn't try, but that looked great. But here's the deal, if you let the waiter know you're vegan, the chef seems very happy to accommodate, indeed, seems to enjoy the diversity and challenge. We shared a noodle/vegetable dish that had some of the freshest tastiest vegetables imaginable from an obviously local source. Outstanding. Also, a roasted tofu with ginger/something fried rice was bright and satisfying. Our waiter, Nick, was helpful, knowledgable and had just the right touch, attentive but not intrusive. Make sure to ask if there is any fresh fruit sorbet, yum! Can't wait to go back.
(5)
J P.

This review comes after staying at the hotel for a conference and dropped in for a nightcap. The decor is beautiful. The cocktails were standard, but doesn't have some of the fresh ingredients you find at bars and lounges where you would find a mixologist. Some munchies are provided if you belly up to the bar. The scene has the restaurant-attached-to-the-hotel feel, and wouldn't necessarily be the sushi bar you would want to visit if you were a foodie sampling what Chicago has to offer. You would find guests in their Ã¼ber casual day clothes with kids in tow here. A single nice local who lives downtown seemed to be enjoying a drink and having a friendly conversation with the bartender. The Fairmont location is in the heart of downtown, so no easy parking without a little walking. There of course is valet for the hotel, which you can use as well. In summary, not a bad place if you are looking for something walking distance and convenient when staying in the area hotels.
(3)
Plamena G.

Came here for lunch during restaurant week. This restaurant is really cute and has nice decor. They even have NambÃ© salt and pepper shakers on each table! The food was okay, nothing amazing. I started off with the french onion soup - it was good, but I've had better. I got the vegetable pot pie for the main course - again, nothing special. For dessert I had the snickers & the lemon pot de crÃ¨me. They were both really rich and indulgent, probably my favorite part of the meal. I might go back, just because the place was so cute, and try their regular dinner menu.
(3)
Greg P.

Excellent Sushi for a Quick Meal I had to grab dinner before a meeting (which was not going to have much food). I stopped by the sushi bar at Aria upon the recommendation of the hotel staff. I was seated promptly. The menu had an assortment of sushi and other pan-Asian offerings. I stuck to sushi because the fish looked fresh. I started with some salmon and hamachi sashimi. Very fresh, both were buttery and delicious. The cuts were reasonably sized although not big. Then I had the spicy tako roll which had delicious fresh avocado to cool the spice of the octopus. It was excellent. Next, I had the double crab roll which had tempura crab inside and lump crab meat on the top. This was delicious. The service was excellent. I was able to eat within 30 minutes and was well fueled for my meeting. I was very impressed!
(4)
Bobby B.

Used to love this place but the constant terrible menu changes probably won't have me coming back and I live across the street
(2)
Kevin B.

So OK it's New Years Day and concierge at Ritz recommends this place for sushi. So cab it over to the Fairmont and -- main restaurant is closed. In a hotel! But bar and sushi bar still open so I camp out at bar to watch Rose Bowl and hopefully eat some good sushi as promised. Don't see edamame on the menu but -- once someone paid attention to me -- asked and they said sure. Turned out she wasn't bartender so next the real bartender came in and asked what I want. Edamame. Great. 20 minutes later it showed -- all oiled up and garlicky. So I guessed they didn't have regular steamed edamame. I order a roll to get started then I decided to ask bartender questions about sake, other rolls, appetizers, etc. terrible mistake as she decided to be challenging, argumentative. She clearly didn't want to be here on New Years Day not to mention she had raging cold or sinus infection so I really didn't want her anywhere near my food, in the off chance I could talk her into taking my order. After much jousting with her finally picked another roll and -- they started vacuuming. At 5:30! Closing time? There's nothing like a vacuum cleaner 15-20 ft away to make perfect ambiance. When I asked about it bartender said (really), "well it's not bothering me but if you insist I'll ask him to stop." As I'm trying my best to finish and get out (rolls were decent, but hum-drum) she challenges me about my not eating edamame. "Would you have preferred our regular steamed and salted edamame?" Well yes but no one gave me that choice. So if you're staying in this aging Fairmont and get stuck in snow storm and are starving, good luck at Aria. Otherwise you are crazy to eat here in a great restaurant town. When I next see concierge at Ritz going to punch him out.
(1)
Aaron T.

My family and I had the Thanksgiving dinner special Food: pumpkin bisque (very good and flavourful), Turkey (not dry, very good, stuffing was ok), prime rib (good but not amazing), Arctic char (very good, perfectly cooked), sides (vegetables etc, well seasoned and good, although the Donut that came with the prime rib wasn't necessary or good), bread pudding (very good!), pumpkin cake (not as good as the former but still good) Service: friendly, fun to talk to, checks on food periodically: expectations met but no surprises that impressed me Environment: dim lighting, classy, tables well spaced and there is a sense of privacy Verdict: worth a try! Was one of the few places open on Thanksgiving so props to that.
(4)
Tennille T.

I ordered my signature drink (margarita) & it was decent. However I had an issue with the California Roll. First off for $10 they have the audacity 2 use limitation crab meat. Really???? I could have gotten the same thing at a grocery store for $6.
(2)
David B.

A friend and I had Sunday brunch at Aria recently. The only reason we didn't bail before the waiter arrived was that each of us thought the other would have found it rude. (Note to self: communication is key.) My friend got strong recommendations from other friends, who are now suspect in our eyes. Principally, we couldn't believe the service. Vice-principally, we found the food not worth the price. And dean-of-studentsly, the table was sticky. Specifics: When we arrived at 11:15 (for an 11:30 reservation), we found only two other parties in the restaurant. One party, an older couple, kept looking meaningfully between the credit card folder on the table (which sported a credit card) and the service station where a busser desultorily dried off some water glasses. The other party was a young family with a screaming baby. Fortunately, we had nothing scheduled for the day except spending some time catching up with each other. Unfortunately, this describes the waitstaff as well. We waited a solid 15 minutes to be acknowledged, got water and caffeine another 10 minutes later, and sometime around sunset got our mimosas. Months later, someone arrived to take our order, which was delivered to us in time for me to give ParkChicago.com another paycheck. Once they brought us food, we understood Cervantes' maxim "el hambre es el mejor salsa." ("Hunger is the best sauce.") And yet. We tucked in, got a few bites down, and looked across the table to see if maybe the other person had gotten something better. No, sadly. Though I'm loath to admit being able to make the comparison, we could have gotten food of the same quality at Applebee's. Then the check came. My friend paid, but in our debrief on the way to the car it became clear to us that the bill was not appropriate to the experience. Bottom line: if you want a really good brunch near Millennium Park, go to The Gage three blocks away.
(2)
Christy C.

During a recent trip to Chicago, we stayed at the Fairmont Millennium Park. I'm not usually big on eating at hotel restaurants, as they tend to be overpriced, but we were pressed for time on one of the evenings of our trip. We decided to get semi-dressed up for fun and check out the sushi at Aria. The restaurant was fairly empty, save for some people near the bar area, but we decided to sit right at the sushi bar. For as much sushi as I've consumed in my life, I've never really sat at the bar and observed the art that goes into it! Our server and sushi chef were equally attentive and the sushi chef explained what a couple of the rolls she was already making were. We ordered three rolls, all of which were delicious. But my absolute favorite was the fried lobster spicy tuna roll. I don't know what kind of magic dust they put in this thing, but it was by far one of the BEST sushi rolls I've ever had. Inside the roll was avocado and deep fried lobster meat. The chef used a fancy blowtorch, that I would surely end up burning my house down with, to finish off the top of the roll. I was surprised at the smoky flavor this gave the roll! It was so so so yummy! Our bill was around $43 for the 3 rolls, but honestly, the portion sizes, service and taste were well worth it. I will definitely be back for the lobster roll next time I'm in town!
(5)
Kristin R.

The food was absolutely amazing. Went here for a girls dinner for Chicago Restaurant week. We were a little disappointed with the service, though. There weren't that many people in the restaurant, and the waiter took a long time to take our order. The decor seemed outdated, and as my friend said, looked similar to a bowling alley with the colors; it was a sleepy sort of atmosphere, but it would be great as a romantic date night. Parking was easy to find, since it's not in a very busy area. We ordered naan, Brussel sprouts, the lamb shank, endive salad, and creme brÃ»lÃ©e. The cocktails were so-so (I had the katan, which was good but seemed lacking in substance - it just tasted like any other cocktail in a bar). The endive salad was our least favorite, since it was difficult to eat the endive as it was presented in whole pieces. However, the lamb shank was amazing - the meat was so tender it came off the bone easily. The Brussel sprouts were perfectly cooked and not soggy. And most of all, the creme brÃ»lÃ©e was an excellent finish and made up for the service and ambience. I would definitely come here again, but for a date night and not a group.
(3)
Tiffany G.

Had lunch with a friend last week at Aria. The restaurant is nicely decorated and visually pleasing. I ordered steak salad ($29) and friend ordered the Thai Shrimp Noodle Salad. Both were good, but what I enjoyed the most was the Naan and Baba Ghanoush brought to the table after we ordered. Service was good and as expected.
(4)
Helen Y.

Went here for lunch in the restaurant week. The service sucks: the waitress barely smiled at us. The apple/date salad was a 'wow'. I ordered pork for main entree and it turned out to be a bad bad choice. My friends had salmon and they liked it. The mixed 'shot' size dessert was just so so. But for restaurant week, we paid less than $30 for 3 courses, so what to complain?
(3)
Mike K.

Stayed at the blu Aqua radios on across the street so we walked across to check it out. Service was horrible had to ask for menus waited forever asked for a kids menu and was told they weren't printed . We ended up ordering a pizza and grilled cheese for the kids . The food however was pretty good just terrible service.
(2)
Eric B.

I enjoyed my meal here but wouldn't say it was outstanding. I had the seasonal menu which consisted of butternut squash soup, which actually was outstanding. The main was beef ribs, which I found a bit dry despite the sauce. Dessert was the highlight - a pumpkin cake. Service was great - our server reminded me of John Leguizamo. He smiled the whole time and was courteous and prompt. Worth a try, but nothing exceptional.
(3)
Christina C.

Horrible service. Waited over an hour to receive our entrees. Three people at our table. The table next to us was not happy with service either. The manager responded to their complaints immediately. When we inquired about our entrees, she said she would check. Did not see her for another 25 minutes. I had suggested Aria for some business lunches coming up. When I returned to the office, I told them that they needed to go elsewhere.
(1)
Kimmie R.

Whew......I love aria restaurant and bar! It's so romantic, clean, classy, and oh my god...*sigh* places hand on chest* The food was delicious! I love.... -- The seating options for booths or tables -- Awesome liquor section and pricing -- beautiful presentation of food delicately and artistically laid on the plate -- Great food options -- classy, clean, knowledgeable waiters -- The lighting is even great - total mood enhancer! Five stars....five stars....spreads arms out in enthusiasm! (giggles) I love this frigging place. I hardly ever give five stars.. Perfect place to impress someone....trust me!
(5)
John T.

This could be one of the worst run restaurants in Chicago! Beware! I live across the street and eat out frequently. I also order "to go" quite a bit from local restaurants. I called Aria the other day as I have never eaten there; and was told they do not do "to go" orders. Now, is it just me or does that seem like bad business? lol. I've ordered "to go" at some of the classiest restaurants in the city, so not sure what they are trying to say there. After speaking to the woman on the phone who really did not want to help me; she finally said "We'll we don't normally do "to go" orders and we are busy in the restaurant. So i can take your order give it to the bar and have the bar call you when its ready to come pick up. I can't give you a time frame because we have to take care of the people in the restaurant first and then when we have time get to your order." Needless to say; I would not be surprised if this restaurant goes under strictly on service. It would seem to me having locals order food from you is something you would hope to have in the restaurant business. A side note; if oyu are in this area; Filini (restaurant) in the Aqua building across the street has great food and service. Oh....and you can order "to go" without any issue.
(1)
Erin D.

Our group wanted some late night sushi, ok well...mid evening sushi so stopped in at 9:30 on Saturday night. I'm going to start off by saying it wasn't that busy. People were popping in and out to check the basketball game scores but as far as tables and people eating..not busy. We sat at the sushi bar and a few seconds later our server comes up, gave us menus and left because we weren't ready to place a drink order yet. Fine, water will do. She comes back, we place our order and never bothered to ask us if we wanted anything from the bar. Ok fine, I'll stick with water, no biggie. Before I go any further, I'm going to say this. If this review was based purely on food...five stars hands down, hell six. The service, just plain sucked it was awful. Thank GOD we sat at the sushi bar, we got our sushi right off the bat. Our group also ordered wings, that never came. We got our bill, the wings were on there and when we had to hunt down our waitress, to ask her were the wings were she said..."oh, they must still be making them".....45 mins for wings?!?!? We were dumbfounded. Just be honest, if the kitchen screwed up, you screwed up I don't care...just tell us, don't give us a dumb ass excuse. The best service we got was from the lady behind the sushi bar. Our server came by a total of four times, to take a drink order, to take our food order, bring us the bill and to bring us the corrected bill. Like I said the sushi was fantastic the service was awful. I wonder what happened to that plate of sushi that sat waiting to be picked up for another table......
(3)
Liz K.

Not sure how recently this happened, but Beverly Kim is no longer the chef at Aria - that role belongs to Brad Parsons. I wouldn't necessarily describe the cuisine as "new world asian" as it does on the menu/entrance way, and it certainly doesn't fit the "asian fusion" idea that it was before. The main changes, and things that I found to detract from the experience are: - No gratis bread/naan with the three sauces to start; this is now $6 - The bread that is free comes with a flavorless dipping sauce - Service felt rushed and, when we weren't ready to order when he checked back, he told us to flag him down when we were ready - and then we couldn't find him - Serious case of identity crisis with the menu. Goose Island fish and chips? Sure, it sounds great - if I'm at Goose Island. Flatbreads? Burgers? What happened to all the Asian fusion options that were so wonderful? Now the only option I see is kung pow chicken. - Sushi menu is strange - three or 4 roll options on the main menu, and then they tell you there's a full sushi menu but they'll only get it if you ask. Why not just provide it in the first place? Overall, I feel like it's gotten a lot stingier with the price/quantity ratio, and it really just doesn't offer the same quality or variety of Asian food I loved from Aria before.
(2)
Sally K.

Waitress was nice. Food was good, but nothing special and WAY over priced. One crab roll, one salmon roll, a beer and a small bottle of sake... bill was $83 before tip!
(3)
Ophelia D.

Very disappointing. We booked this for a Moms Night Out - all of us live in the local area and many wanted to try out this restaurant. Initially all seemed well, but once our Main course had arrived, the waiter entirely lost interest. We were left for nearly an hour with no wine left, no offer of dessert or coffee and no sign of the waiter. The tortuous process of getting the check had 9 of us standing at the desk trying to get out of the place (the other 3 had sneakily bailed, leaving cash). Service was included (I'm not surprised - we didn't have the energy left to have it removed from the check and just paid and left). In summary: avoid like the plague, there are SO MANY good restaurants nearby (YumCha, III Forks, Mezcalina, Filini) that you just don't need to waste your time here!
(2)
Kayla S.

Traveling on business, and I'm tired, hungry and the weather is not great, so I decide to grab some sushi at the hotel sushi bar. Big mistake. This was the worst sushi I've ever eaten. The tempura shrimp roll had the shells still on the tails, no cucumber as indicated on the menu, and the shrimp was so over fried that I could not discern the meat from the breading. The unagi would have been okay, but it was so over-powered by the wasabi that I could barely taste the eel. I won't eat here again.
(1)
Jessica G.

Another one that makes me wish we could use half stars. Anyway, we came in for lunch and it was a pretty decent experience. The service was just above average - a bit rushed but I guess that is better than not having someone come to the table at all. I tried the monkfish and the fish was delicious but I wish the sauce had a bit of heat and salt to it. The flavor was good, it was just a bit more subdued than I would have wanted. Others in my party enjoyed their sushi and I did notice that the vegan curry was a huge portion. Not sure if it is somewhere I would seek out but if you are in the area, it might be worth taking a peek.
(3)
Zorin D.

I have to give fair warning for the next stop for restaurant week. It is really good food. The Google directions to get there are horrid. I parked to eat at Aria about 30 minutes before my reservation and was 15 minutes late. Aria is in the Fairmont hotel, and it was pretty much dumb luck that I ended up finding the place. Once I got there, they were closing up from the lunch service but seated me anyway. The place is very flashy yet elegant. The first thing you'd probably notice would be the marble tables with peach accents. The person who designed this place wasn't afraid of color and shows it with the vibrant black and red carpet up to the red overhead lights contrasting from the dark brown curtains. The decor definitely fits with that Asian mindset and I must say I was reminded of my travels to Hong Kong by the warm and inviting atmosphere. The Thai Ginger Kitana, immediately jumped out at me from the cocktail menu. The drink was one of those dangerous types where the presence of alcohol goes completely undetected. All you get is the tangy taste of sweetness combining with fresh lime juice and a little spice from the ginger. Think of it as a limeade with a little bit of a kick. The naan, is the bread offering there. The naan is some of the best I've had and a welcomed change from the normal bread and butter that you normally get before a meal. The naan stands up on it's own but it would be foolish to pass on the four tasty accompaniments. The spicy spicy tomato chutney was my favorite, followed by the curry lentil. The spinach and yogurt sauces were also good but not as memorable. The beet salad scored extra points for presentation, displaying the bright colors of the beet are easily noticeable The sweet beets go well with the spicy arugula. The candied walnuts at sweetness and crunch and the tangy vinaigrette. Next up was the short ribs. In this dish the star of the show was the greens. They were tender but not cooked to death, had a porky taste to them that reminds me of the greens I enjoyed in my childhood (and still do today). The subtle soy flavor in the background added something that made these greens probably some of the best that I've ever tasted. For me, the greens stole the show, which is a pretty tough feat to accomplish considering how good the perfectly cooked and shaped little spheres of potato were. Not to mention how aggressively seasoned, yet tender the short ribs were. For desert, I was served a platter of truffles. One garnished with sesame that was made with dark chocolate that was so decadent that you could feel the richness of it before it hit your palate. The other dark chocolate truffle had a rich fruit flavor to it. My favorite had notes of coffee cinnamon and you guessed it caramel with milk chocolate. The only truffle I didn't care for was the white chocolate which was overwhelmingly sweet and tasted like a Hershey's cookies and cream bar minus the cookies. It was the only thing of the day that completely failed for me.
(4)
Matt G.

I am reviewing the Aria bar. I didn't dine at the restaurant. Great sushi when going for the special maki rolls... I mean REALLY nice! Artesia Pinot is spot on. Attentive service, cool decor. If I have a gripe it would be the choice of what to my ears is pop chart music instead of something more chilled that would work better
(5)
Justin B.

I had heard a lot of great things about this place - in magazines, online and through friends - so I was pretty stoked when my friend suggested we meet up here after work for drinks. It was a Monday and snowing terribly. Good night for a drink. We sat at the bar, which was comprised mostly of hotel patrons (business travelers) who came in for a drink...laptops included. We ordered martinis, which were good and did the job. I was only slightly disheartened when I first ordered a dirty vodka martini and it didn't come with blue cheese stuffed olives (my friend got them with her gin). Granted I didn't ask for them specifically. The second round, I asked for them and all was right in the world. The atmosphere took on what I'd call a "streamlined, upscale Asian" theme. The area was dimly lit, black and grey backdrop with beautiful red accents. Our bartender was quite pleasant. Expect to pay upscale hotel drink prices. We had four martinis and it came to $64 without a tip. Although we didn't order food, I looked at the menu and will definitely return (especially since it's right next door to my office)!
(4)
Elle G.

Loved the Aria! We had a meal in the main restaurant one night and then one in the bar another night. The first night we had their burger with fries. It was great -- came with cheddar and the meat was so flavorful and cooked perfectly. They actually ask how you would like it done! The fries were perfect too -- lovely and crispy on the outside. Also, for dessert if you just want a bite of something sweet you can get truffles or macaroons to go! Clever! This is just right for those of us that just want that bit of something to finish. Great coffee too! Waiter was attentive but not over the top. Check it out -- you won't be sorry!
(4)
Jessica B.

Aria is a sushi bar with an extensive menu in a hotel. I don't know if I had a meh time because of my dining companion, so I am trying to take that into account. We started with flatbread and then ordered sushi. The flatbread wasn't that good, and by the time we ate it I was too full for the sushi. Which is why I have created this edict: Thou shall not serve nor order pizza and sushi at the same time. Ever. The drinks were quite good, I had a couple of Laphroaig on couple of rocks. The nice part was that you could eat in the restaurant or the bar. The bar had nice cushy, cushy seats with pillows. That part was swell. Next time, I'd just go for the drinks. Eating can be overrated.
(3)
Laura C.

Swanky Asian fusion, delectable cocktails, but no more Beverly Kim :( Starting with housemade flatbread, three spreads were displayed before us. A feast for the eyes and tastebuds, I was excited for more to come. We started with the pickled beet salad and the oxtail wonton soup. Not a fan of the soup, although presentation wise, I always appreciate when they pour your serving at the table. Next up was the sous vide wagyu short rib and black grouper. The rib texture was a bit off, not exactly fall apart as I expected, but the grouper was perfectly cooked with a nice crust. Dessert was sorbet, served in an elegant martini glass with hibiscus. Cocktails are not to be missed.
(3)
Eli G.

Burger #257: Bev's Burger Funny enough, I didn't even know this was a Top Chef spot until the day after when I saw a huge poster of Bev in the elevator coming down from my room advertising this place. I guess that's why the burger had kimchi on it. This was to be a "snack" before a night of pizza ecstasy and it almost was a great burger. Topped with a duck egg, kimchi, and ssamjang mayo, it had all the right parts. But, there's always a butt, it was served overcooked and under-seasoned. A minute less on each side and a dash more salt would have made this the best Korean burger I've ever had. yelp.com/biz_photos/OqJiâ€¦ I really wanted to love that burger. Even more so the next day, as I was a Bev lover for her season on Top Chef. The fries were above par and some of the better sweet potato fries I've had in a while. Probably due to the perfect amount of salt. Overall it was okay-ish. Should I be back in that hotel and in need of a snack, I'd give it another shot.
(3)
Tian Y.

Went for restaurant week last march. It was a nice meal. Though review might not apply anymore... Bf got lamb and bibimbap from their prix fixe and I got salad and kung pao chicken. He definitely got the better of the options. The salad had very bright tones and was nice, but nowhere near as good as the lamb. Bf said his miso soup that came with the bibimbap immediately reminded him of his childhood days in Japan - think Ratatouille moment! It had a more pronounced fish taste, definitely different from the dashi miso paste you can buy at any Asian market. That was probably the highlight of the meal. Best moment was when we saw Chef Beverly though.
(3)
Libby V.

Perfect days are few and far between in a lifetime, but I managed to have one in Chicago. Traveling with a group, they all wanted to head to Navy Pier, ride a Ferris Wheel and eat. Not me. I broke from the group and headed back to the Fairmont Hotel. Usually, I shy away from hotel food. We've all been there, done that. I just needed to eat. So I walked into Aria and I gotta say it was impressive looking, airy and just hip enough. What I didn't know at the time was this is run by a Bravo Top Chef, Beverly Kim. It was like hitting the jackpot. Donny was my waiter, and we hit it off. He sat the drink speciality and wine menu down, and mentioned a Mango Cosmo. Did he read me, or what? I have to say this is probably the BEST martini of my entire life, and you know I'm the Martini Bandit! yelp.com/biz_photos/OqJiâ€¦ Then he brought complimentary naan with 4 sauces, each one better than the last. My fave was the cumcumber mixed with the jalapeno (turns out that was Donny's fave as well) How often do you click with a wait staff like that? Damn, I'm having fun. yelp.com/biz_photos/OqJiâ€¦ I asked for a entree recommendation and he said "let me surprise you" Trust...it's all about trust. He brought me Singapore Prawns. Lot's of noodles, chicken (?), sweet pork, fresh vegetables and prawns. OMG good. yelp.com/biz_photos/OqJiâ€¦ Even though I was full, checked out the dessert menu. Chocolate mousse bomb, carmel sauce, tablespoon of ice cream and a crumbly chocolate/nut mixture. Who could turn that down? Couldn't eat half, but they packed it up for me and the kids finished it off before bedtime. Me...I was sent back to the room with the most wonderful glass of wine comped by Donny. Life is good!
(5)
Romana Y.

Upon arrival, the hostess was incredibly dull and inattentive. After finally deciding to communicate Wth us, she spoke to us while looking down at her stand/shoes. Bizarre. I don't think she ever looked us in the face. The decor and furnishings are very funky. From the colors to the odd fixtures and pictures all throughout. It made the space feel cheapened. The lighting was just right for a date night, although I'm sure many would find it to be too dimmed. Aria has a restaurant/lounge/bar... so the space is allotted as such. The walls are curved, and the spaces/rooms flow uniformly. The layout was my favorite part of Aria. We started with hummus and naan, a beet salad, and crab cakes. The bread was good; the crab cakes were great; the beet salad was not that tasteful. We went with the sushi for 2 plate: all of the sushi was very good, but some rolls were better than others. With this plate, you get a combo of all rolls, and was satisfying for just two. Mixed drinks were decent, but not great.
(3)
Nick J.

Pathetic. Thats all can say. The only thing this place has going for it is its food, if it wasn't for that this place would be out of business tomorrow. We got there and the hostesses were rude, snotty and inattentive. We can come from 60 miles away and make there or time for our reservation but they can't make sure a table was free for us at the time we reserved it. The hostesses had no courtesy to make sure that we were I comfortable while we were waiting for our table to open up, they just pushed us off to the side and told us to have a seat outside till our table opened up. We finally get to our table and didn't get any service for 10 minutes (meaning no contact, no drink menu, nothing). Then our Princess of a waiter finally arrived at our table, looking like the world just ended all frantic and unprofessional. He was huffing and puffing all night running around like a chicken with his head cut off and apologetically forgetting peoples orders and the other staff was void of any type of communication bringing the wrong food to the wrong tables (on multiple occasions) Took our drink order and there went another 10 mins before our drinks came, because the bar was too busy. IM NOT KIDDING YOU WHEN I TELL YOU that a 19 year old Denny's waiter/ess could have handled half that restaurant with their eyes closed. The waiter then took another 5 minutes to find his book so he could write down our order. This was the most unprofessional service I have ever received and worse off it was on Valentines Night, the most special night for my wife and I to share time alone together but rather, I has to deviate my attention form my wife to deal with the lack of service. The 5 course meal, by the end of the night took an epic and record breaking 2 hours for us to fully get through. Then on top of all this they screwed up the order of the courses. The manager finally realized that they were understaffed (or in this case incorrectly staffed) and started assisting. He did take care of us for our disappointing experience. If Yelp allowed me to give 0 stars I would have but the manager and the food earned them that 1 star. I am not wealthy by any means and to pay $75.00 per person is something we only do on special occasions. I could not find one reason to pay anything over $40 but if I didn't pay the $112 was charged (this was after the discount for our bad service) they would have called the police, but on the contrary I can't call the police for bad service, capitalism at its best. I hope I didn't leave anything for your imagination and after a review that would qualify as a dissertation you would understand why going to this place would be a complete and utter waste of money!
(1)
Michelle K.

My husband and I went to Aria over a month ago to celebrate our recent nuptials. We deliberated a bit on whether to give it a try: On the one hand, it's a dreaded "hotel restaurant" and the reviews are kind of a mixed bag; on the other, the environment fit what we were going for (fancy, romantic, trendyish) and the Asian-inspired menu looked intriguing, so why not? We started with drinks: I with a raspberry champagne cocktail that was a bit on the "too sweet" side, and he with some kind of hoppy beer. (We declined to order second drinks because they were expensive and not really worth it.) The naan with four dipping sauces was a fun way to start the meal. We also shared a small plate of pork and shiitake dumplings, which was a tasty combination of flavors and textures, sweetened just slightly by tiny mango pieces and bourbon soy sauce. But our entrees were the real standout: I ordered the seared diver scallops with pork belly, winter kale, chinese mustard spÃ¤tzel, and parsnip puree. I love every one of those ingredients on their own, and combined, they were magical. The diver scallops were buttery and perfectly complemented by the smoky pork belly, leafy kale, creamy puree, and the comforting, starchy spÃ¤tzel. I ate EVERYTHING and wanted to lick the plate afterward, but decided to restrain myself in front of my new husband. (Decorum, or whatever.) He got a fish entree with some kind of Thai basil sauce, which was also delicious. We topped dinner off with a delicious chocolate pot de crÃ¨me. It was really rich and indulgent, a perfect way to end the meal (and our post-wedding weekend). Brava, Aria!
(4)
Vince L.

The Bay Scallops were among the best I've had. &, their twist on the calamari appetizer was out of this world.
(4)
P S.

Some restaurants just don't know what they want to be, but they really want to appeal to you. Really appeal. No matter what. Burger? Sushi? How about a hangar steak salad or perhaps Kung Pao chicken? Umm... salmon? A $16 house Dragon roll? That's a bit how Aria's menu reads. It clearly wants to be a modern, Asian restaurant. and has not a big menu but is alllllll over creation. On one hand, as a hotel restaurant, you have to appeal to a lot of people but on the other, you should have your own distinct voice. If I walk in and see a beautiful sushi bar but am seated in the main dining room away from it, and am then handed a menu with burgers, Chinese food, items verging on Tex-Mex but have to ask for the sushi menu separately, then we have a problem. Service was friendly if not a little sloppy and forgetful. My hangar steak salad desperately needed a steak knife but I was more than halfway through before the server came back to check on us. Have you ever tried to get through hangar steak with a glorified butter knife? It's a sad, sad sight. A few other items of note: don't call a lady in a cute polka dot dress and her collared shirt and tie-wearing companion, "guys". If my iced tea sits empty for more than a few minutes, refill it. C'mon, y'all. I suspect those hotel rooms above you are pushing $200 a night, step it up. Figure out what you want to be and own it, even if it means being the only weirdo on Columbus serving spicy tuna rolls using Sriracha. We were enticed by the light board showing an in-and-out lunch (hee!) for $35 and done inside of an hour but when we got in, didn't see that menu anywhere. We ordered a Diet Coke and an iced tea, the salmon, spicy tuna roll and hangar steak salad - know that it's really, really not cheap (typical for most hotel restaurants). $75 for lunch for two including tip and without booze.
(2)
Vanessa B.

Aria was actually the first sushi I ever had in Chicago after moving from sushi heaven - aka L.A. I have no idea why, but I haven't been back in threeish years. But in my constant quest for good sushi I decided to head back to Aria this week. So happy I did. We ordered the Aria, Tokyo, Crab Squared, and Dragon rolls along with some nigiri. First, however, the waiter brought out some fluffy but crispy on the outside nan with a quartet of sauces that were great (cilantro, cucumber tzatziki, something lentil, and tomato jam) which was a great start. I loved the Tokyo and Dragon Rolls (the shrimp in the Dragon roll is soooo good), and the others were pretty good I just didn't like them as much. I had a really fantastic piece of salmon nigiri too. I would've given this place five stars, but we waited a REALLY long time for the sushi to come out. We waited at least 35 minutes after ordering to get the rolls, if not longer. To make matters worse, after already waiting a while the waiter told us it would be coming right out and it was probably another 15 minutes after that. I don't know why it took so long, but I wish they would have just brought out one roll at a time or something to not keep us sitting there for 40 minutes without our food. Regardless, finding good sushi in Chicago is like finding a needle in a haystack so I will definitely be back.
(4)
Alyssa K.

Ordered the Bibimbap with trout for lunch and it was excellent, but this place is expensive and in my opinion not a good "value." The next lunch we shared a sashimi plate - came with about 5 slices. It's ok, but I wouldn't recommend unless you were staying at the hotel and needed something quick or didn't feel like going out.
(3)
Jiwon M.

I kept comparing it to Aria Atlanta. I was a little disappointed. Service slow. my food was cold. and my gosh my lunch was NOT as exciting as I was hoping. Overall OK. I'll give it a good 6-8 months before I return. But I will be BACK!
(3)
Alfreda D.

My friend took me here for lunch on my birthday. So my review is specific to weekday lunch. We sat on the bar/sushi side of the house. It was very informal and relaxing. You can choose your own seating and the servers will come find you. We chose a couch near the window and sure enough, a server was with us immediately. The maki rolls are pretty standard and were good. It's very pricy tho... the cheapest specialty roll was $15 and I don't know who pays $9 for a California roll... does that even count as sushi? LOL. Anyway, I was being treated and I didn't choose the place so I was happy. Like I said the rolls and service were good so no major complaints.
(4)
Rahshonda K.

Went back to Aria and I have to say I was again very impressed. The sushi was so awesome and the drinks OMG was delicious. The atmosphere was a little uptight however the people at the sushi bar were a blast to converse with. Will definitely be back!!!!
(5)
shivi d.

Lunch is always great. Pricey but a good option for special events like client entertainment or a birthday. The naan bread they serve w the different dipping sauces is always my favorite part.
(4)
Mike O.

TYPICAL HOTEL LOBBY RESTAURANT THROW AWAY FOOD. Starter: mushroom soup with cream and truffle oil --is it possible for cream to curdle? --mushrooms ground into a gritty blech which feels like oatmeal --truffle oil sits atop in shame at being paired with this mess Main: filet of salmon over white beans --beans so overcooked, the whole thing feels like a can of pork and beans --filet of questionable quality and slathered with some thick nastiness from a jar Dessert: lemon tart YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES --hard as a supermarket sugar cookie left in a plastic snap container for a week before being sold --absolutely no flavor (especially after I've broken my tooth) --raspberry goop wasn't even from a jar, it had to be from a can, left in the fridge over several days. FIRE SOMEONE. GODDAM IT. --Service is terribly slow. Host stand doesn't seem to coordinate well with the other staff. 10 minutes to table marking. Ugh! --Decor is trendy with touches of 60's lines, sepias, goldenrods and olives --thanking the heavens they're not looping "breathe" overhead. Low rock makes for a refreshing change. Overall MISS. Drinks only!
(1)
Shauna M.

I went here for a business dinner. The place looks nice and many people that I was with enjoyed what they got. I had some VERY salty scallops and a super over priced old fashioned (if I spend $20 on an old fashioned, it better have a hand-chipped ice cube and a fancy artisan cherry, or something. This one had a slice of orange and good bourbon, but was not worth the price). I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Sam L.

The food is good asian fusion, but on the rich side. The kimchi brussel sprouts with egg is very good. Her signature dish from Top Chef of short ribs is very tender. The scallops were perfectly cooked and has a sauce that pairs very well.
(4)
Sam N.

did you know that they sometimes have a dj spinning after 9 or so on fridays and saturdays? You would know that only if you went. Its like they are trying to keep it a secret...Anyways come here you will have a good time and some good food which is what you probably came for
(4)
Lu H.

I'd give it a 2.5 if it's possible. We came here for lunch during restaurant week. Everything was pretty average. We had beet salad/lamb rib to begin with, then Kung Pao chicken and bibimbap for entrees. The food was good, but maybe because I am picky and have high standards for any Asian-related food--the Kung Pao chicken was good, but it's not spicy at all. When it's called "kung pao" something, it's assumed to be spicy. Otherwise use something else, like stir fry chicken. The bibimbap had pretty presentation, and the flavor was there, but it's not the best bibimbap I've had. The biggest letdown was the dessert, and it's the main reason for this low score. Four truffles and you call it the dessert course? We were amazed when the waiter brought out the chocolate and said here's your dessert. I mean I understand it's the restaurant week, but this just makes it feel so cheap! There are plenty of good restaurants out there that offer an amazing dessert course during restaurant week. Show me something that's worth the name of the restaurant! And to be honest, the truffles weren't even on the same level as Vosges truffles...
(2)
Faye B.

Aria was my Restaurant Week pick this year and I totally forgot that this was the restaurant that Top Chef Beverly Kim works at. I have heard great things about the restaurant anyway. I definitely did not leave disappointed and also thought the meal was filling enough. Ryan and I did the wine pairings with the meals when in Rome, right? We made sure to get different things so that we can taste from each others plates. The naan with sauce sampler was a nice spin on 'bread for your table'. How geeked was I that Top Chef Beverly Kim brought out our first plate? Very :) She was so sweet and explained our first course. I went with the beet and goat cheese salad and Ryan went for the lamb rib. Oh, they tasted so good. Of course I liked the rib better and the crunch to it. My second course was the braised short rib and Ryan had the scallop. Both were equally tasty. I am not a big fan of kimchee, but I liked the one here. The puree with the peanuts was so delicious. The scallops were also quite tasty. I loved the mushrooms with the mascarpone polenta was yummy. The desserts were great. Ryan's chocolate mousse was a choco lovers dream. I couldn't really taste the pomegranate gelee but that didn't take away from the dessert. I went with the pineapple chili granite and liked the idea of sweet with a bit of heat. The cookie with fig and the sorbet did help to cut out some of the bite. I don't have a super fancy palate, but I loved pretending like I did. Everything there was delicious. Not only was I impressed with the food, but equally impressed that Top Chef Beverly Kim took the time out to come out to each table and greet people. She seemed super sweet and very humble. If I want to go for fancy eats I would definitely want to come back here.
(4)
ellen r.

We went with a group of 8, to celebrate a birthday. It was also restaurant week. Pulling up to the Fairmont Hotel (which is one of my favorites), the door staff were fantastic. They let us pull up no problem, and were so very nice. That was a good sign. We walked in, and the hostess was very nice, attentive, engaged. She checked our coats, and we were lead through the restaurant, to a private, back room, how cool was that.....with an incredibly large, round table, more suited to a board room than a restaurant. Still fun. Our server was all smiles and friendly, but so insincere. When asked about the wines, he said, "well, I'm not a wine person, I'm more of a beer person, but I'm thinking of learning more..." He did offer to get the wine manager The so called wine pairing offered with the meal, was not a pairing....white wine with beef? really? They brought out the extra sides we ordered, not with the appetizers, and not with the meal? They did keep my water glass full, but spilled it all over, and didn't clean it up. The food was tasty, don't get me wrong. But not worth the hype. And the portions? I had a 1" square of short rib....that's not an entree, that's an appetizer. The waiter had an undercurrent of attitude, not sure if it was because we were there for restaurant week. I think the missed the boat on cultivating new clientele. While the food was good, I feel we've been there and done that, and no need to go back.
(3)
Leang E.

I came here for pick up for NYE dinner. Everyone else wanted pizza, but I was craving sushi like no other. We had gotten a suite and was throwing a little bash amongst a small number of friends. The place looked very trendy and swank. There were a lot of windows and curved walls. The staff seemed kind of formal. I was able to place my order and pick up not too longer after. There was a little confusion as to how pick up orders are arranged here as I was told to go to the bar, waited for a few minutes and then was finally told that it was probably at the host station. I got two of the signature rolls one in which was the fried lobster and the other was the arial. Both were delicious, but for some reason I was still hungry afterwards. It's kind of pricey, but a nice spot to treat yourself from time to time.
(4)
Patrick D.

Pretty darn good, rolls, nigiri all fresh and flavorful Like many hotel restaurants, you're paying for convenience, so it was a bit expensive
(3)
Luke S.

I can not believe the bad reviews of this place! I went here on my "Groupon Excursion Day". I had $100 to spend at Aria and I am really glad we were given this Groupon as a gift! I think it would be easiest to break out the positives and negatives: +Service was out of this world! Our server was funny and extremely helpful. He even threw in desert and a neighborhood discount card. +Naan!!!! +Extremely creative menu with an interesting fusion between Thai, American, and Indian. +The Lobster, pork, and noodle mish-mosh that I ordered was the bomb! At $35 it wasn't horribly priced, but I might have second guessed that if I didn't have the Groupon. +Halibut was also perfectly cooked and the "forbidden" risotto was very unique! +Naan!!!! +The decor is really unique with pillows and comfy seating throughout the restaurant. My only negative comment on this place would be that they charged $4 for a 8.5 ounce diet coke. Other than that I would love to come back and try some of their other menu items.
(5)
Johnny T.

It sort of sneaks up on you. I didn't expect a chic Asian-styled restaurant to be hiding in the austere Fairmont. This just goes to show that there are always surprises to be found in Chicago. I enjoyed how the restaurant (and windows) followed the curvy bend of the hotel's first floor. For some reason, artificial right angles bother me. I know it's weird. Maybe I am innately attuned to feng shui. In any event, I appreciated the layout... and the design. Think deep reds, blacks, lacquers, banquets, and the like. I can see how this would be a fun group night out dinner or a good second or third date (not a first). Speaking of firsts, my group started with a basket of naan and several sauces. The spicy green sauce was best suited for my taste buds, but all the options were good ones. I had tuna tartare on the brain, so I ordered that and the shrimp tempura maki. My tartare was missing the blood orange and didn't taste as fresh as I was hoping. Don't mistake me; it didn't make me ill... but it didn't quite sate my craving. The maki was, likewise, serviceable but not memorable. In fact, my favorite portion of the meal was my pink lemonade. Yes, I ordered a pink lemonade with tuna tartare and shrimp tempura maki. I might be pregnant. Our waiter was helpful, chatty and very pleasant. Aria was a decent experience, but not one I would rush to repeat or tell others to do so. It was a food cousin to white noise. I mean that in the nicest way possible.
(3)
Lindsey S.

I had dinner and drinks here on Christmas day and had a very good experience for the most part. The bar side was a bit of a disappointment because it was so dark and people from the restaurant kept wandering over to smoke, which really didn't contribute to the atmosphere. However, dinner itself was outstanding. All of their dishes were very original and well prepared and the menu has such a variety which makes it difficult to choose. I'm usually not a big fan of naan, but the stuff they serve was delicious, as were all of the dipping sauces accompanying it. I had the chestnut soup which had little bits of poached pear in it and the stuffed sweet and sour rock shrimp which were seriously amazing. Service was decent, although our server even apologized for things being a little slow at the end of the meal because the place was packed, but I really didn't see any major problems. I did wish that the atmosphere had been a bit more in tune with our meal. With a place that serves such exotic and innovative food I would have hoped for more visually exciting decor, but the restuarant itself was fairly boring.
(4)
Leigh R.

We checked out Aria during Restaurant Week. My immediate impression was that the lounge outside the restaurant is very funky, with a sushi bar. Didn't get to try it but the atmosphere was pretty chill. We were seated and given the regular menu and the Restaurant Week menu, which my group was very disappointed to see that it had no choices for the entrees other than fish. But, given the bang for the buck, 3 out of 4 of us went for it. I really really really really (can I stress that enough?) loved our server. He truly *hearted* his job. When we chose a bottle of wine, he recommended another one, a favorite of his, that was not only delicious but cheaper than our original selection. His recommendation to my husband to choose the pork belly over another entree was spot on - this thing was enormous and tender and juicy and all things a piece of pork should be. The salad and desserts were good - the fish entree was so-so. We all actually enjoyed the gnocchi that it was served over much better, but alas, it is fine dining and we each only rec'd 4 gnocchi. I could have very easily eaten a whole plate. The meal came with nan and several spreads and during the main course, a selection of funky potato salads came out as well. I like extras!! In all honestly, we prb won't go back. It is, at its heart, a 'hotel' restaurant - slightly above average food at higher than deserved prices. There are plenty of other places in this city to have an expensive meal.
(3)
Sara S.

rich. my gosh it was rich. and just when you think you've destroyed your diet for the month and may not be able to push off from the table they bring you a basket of thin, crispy butter cookies. pure trouble. the steak was fatty - though delicious. the sides of mashed potatoes and polenta were decadent, but a bit overwhelming. i'd have liked to see a vegetable somewhere. the bowl of naan and adventurous dipping varieties they present pre-dinner were fabulous. great spot if you want to spend a lot of money to get your comfort food on. in your comfort pants. with your comfort car waiting to carry you home to your comfort bed.
(3)
Cherrie S.

Meh about sums this whole place up. Our service was TERRIBLE. Probably the worst I've ever had at a place that offers a tasting menu. There was 3 of us and the big round table we sat at was so huge we were yelling to have convo across the table. We all ordered the tasting menu and the portions are huge for a tasting menu so by the time the last course came around (5th) we were already stuffed. The food is really good and the ambiance is pretty romantic. But I will never go here again because the service was worse than McDonalds. The waiter got many of our courses wrong from what we actually ordered and we had to try and remember what we ordered for each course (there were options for each one) because the server had no idea what went where. The person serving the food had no idea what dish was what or what was in them which made our confusion even worse. We opted for the more expensive tasting menu that had wine parings with them. We didn't get our first wine paring until the 2nd course and our 2nd wine paring didn't come until after we were done with the 4th course. So we drank red wine with our desert. Totally not a pairing I would suggest to anyone. The server tried to make up for it by giving us some desert wine as well, but it fell short because that stuff is too sweet and I don't drink it. Plus the chocolate deserts we ordered- way too much sugar. And the service of our desert came 30 min after we were done with our final main course. S-L-O-W. And to top it all off, we had to ask them to clear a bunch of dirty plates that were piling up at the corner of the table. Come on Aria- stop charging 5 star prices and giving up 1 star service. Overrated and too expensive is what this place is.
(2)
Mike P.

My employer owns the Fairmont, the hotel in which Aria is located, so naturally, they catered our holiday party. A great blend of traditional items and non-traditional items, such as sushi. The sushi was quite good by the way. Wanted to try the restaurant out, the last few times I've stayed there, so this is the next best thing, I guess.
(4)
Anj S.

We got the groupon to come here for dinner and were pretty excited. However we went on February 11th and they had a mandatory $55 dollar pre-fix valentine's menu which we didn't know about. We called ahead of time and checked out their menu and were not told about this. Also had them spill an entire pink cocktail on me and break a glass - for this kind of restaurant, we expected to be treated better after this but sadly no. The food was only pretty good, not worth the price we paid. They had a clubby astmosphere. We would not return given the poor service, high prices and average food.
(2)
Marilyn L.

We went for the dinner menu during Restaurant Week. We chose the wine pairings as well. The beet salad, scallops and desserts were delicious. The service was excellent. Chef Beverly came to say hello. The only thing to keep it from a 5 star is the seating. The booth side of the table is so low I had to switch with my husband and sit on the chair side of the table. He is 6'4" and was shorter than me when in the booth. The couple coming in next to us switched seats after a minute as well. That is a little poorly thought out. But otherwise everything was an enjoyable dinner.
(4)
Sue L.

I was absolutely famished, terribly hungry, incredibly starved, and quite possibly insanely ravenous when I stepped foot into Aria. On my recent trip to Chicago, I skipped breakfast because my shuttle came at 7am sharp and the driver gave me exactly 3 minutes to get downstairs. When I arrived at the airport, I did not feel like paying $7 for a dinky bagel. My flight was 4.5 hours long and I totally forgot that they don't even serve peanuts on American Airlines anymore. When the stewardess came around to serve the drinks...I was asleep. I woke up a tad hungry and rather pissed because they missed me and forgot to bring me my water when I specifically asked them to. The second time they came around serving drinks...I was asleep again...arghhhh... By the time the plane landed, it was already close to 4pm and my stomach was growling. I caught a cab to the Fairmont expecting the ride to be a mere 30 minutes. Nooooooo.....it started to rain and we hit rush hour traffic. My 30 minute cab ride turned into 1 hour and 45 minutes. At that point, I was so hungry my eyeballs were bulging out looking for chip crumbs or leftover m&m's on the dirty Chicago taxi cab floor....ugh.... When I finally arrived at the hotel and was checked in, I nearly knocked over the poor bell boy shooing him out so I can go downstairs to Aria and satisfy the voracious beast. I ended up ordering the tempura roll, unagi roll, and the shrimp and scallop curry udon. The sushi was, eh, just okay--not extraordinary and not bad. However, the udon was to die for. It was so good I devoured the 70 billion calorie coconut curry broth. Overall, 3 stars for food that satisfied my hunger, but didn't quite "wow" me.
(3)
Rob C.

so maybe the food used to be better, but it's not very good now. didn't like anything even that the menu had promise like rock shrimp tempura. the boar shortribs had weird flavoring. the scallops were overdone and dry. asian fusion, tough sell.
(2)
kinke s.

i had lunch and dinner there with family friends couple of times, I have to say this place is a very chic and beautiful designed place, all dishes look and tastes beautiful & great, but the waiting service really not that great. 1st time, there were 15 of us, the waitress only gave us 14 menu, and one of them was still a breakfast menu, i have to walk over to their working station to ask for extra menus. Another time, Server brought our appetizers to the table and left, we asked twice for extra plates so we can share different items with each other, we waited at least for 20-30 minutes but never actually got them before we finished our appetizers. on the day after Christmas this year, we had our meal for about 2 hours in Aria, but only get our water glasses filled up once during the meal. It's never too crowed in Aria, but couple of times it took 20mins for the waiting staff to get our checks after we had asked.
(3)
Laura A.

My husband and I went here for our anniversary. The atmophere is nice and we were far enough from others to have some privacy (not always the case around downtown where they tend to pack the tables close). Our server was attentive and the food was good, but not good enough at these prices to warrant a return visit. Also, I would drop the Indian flavors from the menu, they do not marry well with the other Pan-Asian items, and the naan was dense and not very good.
(3)
Sarah S.

I came here with a friend since she had a groupon. We made a reservation, got seated right away, and waited. Finally the waiter came and took our drink order. Then we waited. Finally our drinks and nan came. The best part of the meal was the nan with all of the dipping sauces. They were delicious and we ended up asking for more. However the waiter took forever to even take our dinner order. Then we waited forever for them. I ordered the gnocchi and it was so salty I could hardly finish it. Since there were only 6 anyway I managed to. The waiter was absent the whole time we ate and never even asked how the food was. Our table with empty bread plates and glasses wasn't cleared until dessert. We split the chocolate cake which was good, but standard. Finally we asked for the check and had to wait another 15 minutes. Everything was incredibly overpriced as well, especially since nothing was fabulous. If it weren't for the nan this place would get one star. I will not be returning.
(2)
Olivia L.

My boyfriend and I went there for our third date or so prior to going to see CHICAGO. We made a bit of a night out of it, and Aria was certainly a part of the success of the evening. The decor is very nice--modern but not pretentious, and the dining area is in a sort of separate room past the nice lounge/bar area, which was nice for privacy. We had a wonderful server (I nearly wrote a note after dining to compliment his service), who was very attentive, helpful, and relaxing. As my date and I were still in the slightly nervous, getting-to-know-you stage, our server was instrumental in creating an atmosphere that was romantic and memorable, while being uncliched, non-pressuring, and still laid-back. I had the cod, which was very good. Presentation was beautiful, with mashed green sugar peas and tiny mushrooms. The server brought out many side dishes/complements that I believe come with every meal--fancy breads to start, with a potato trio during the entree course (included in the trio was the best sweet potatoes I've ever had...it's worth going back just for that). We finished with the lemongrass brulee which was also presented well and was delicious and delicate. Better restaurants in Chicago for the price, but we had a lovely time and it would certainly be a nice option if you are in that area.
(4)
Fred M.

Went to Aria for dinner with 10 business colleagues who were staying at the Fairmont in addition to being there for business meetings and seminars. We chose the restaurant based on convenience, up scale decor and being seated in a separate room. We were seated immediately, and food and drink orders were taken efficiently. The food was pretty good, though it took about 40 minutes from the time we ordered despite the restaurant being not that busy. They would not provide separate checks, which is surprising in a business hotel as colleagues on per diem not hosting clients often need to do this. Too many choices in Chicago to go back.
(2)
Paul C.

I ate here on Christmas Day with my mother. We expected the special dinner listed on the website for dinner and a movie ticket, pretty sure that was in the reservation, however, we did not mention this and were served the normal menu. So, we probably should have mentioned that from the get go so I totally take responsibility for that. However, the regular menu was way better than the special menu. I had the Thai Chili Prime Ribeye and my mother had some sort of tilapia. The steak was super moist and pink in the center, I like medium. Had just enough kick to please me while being tender enough not to need the knife. Our server was very expedient and apologized for the misunderstanding on the movie tickets but was unable to accommodate us. Really, I don't care. I had a very pleasant dinner with my mother and that's all that counts. I'd like to come some time in the future and try the sushi bar. Looked very fresh! Thanks for a great Xmas.
(5)
Andrea R.

I've heard great things about the bar food menu at Aria so I was very excited to check it out tonight before seeing a dance show in the area. I really liked the trendy atmosphere when we first walked in and liked the casual aspect of taking a seat anywhere in the lounge. My friend and I split the thai chicken flatbread pizza and a shrimp tempura roll. I thought the pizza was very good, although my friend found it a little spicy. The shrimp tempura roll was good as well, although not the best I had. This with 2 glasses of wine came out to approximately $60, which isn't too bad for a good meal, but then again we were sitting in the bar area. I would definitely go back if I was in the area.
(4)
Gladys C.

There are two parts to Aria in the Fairmont Hotel - there's the actually restaurant and then there's the bar/lounge area. They are both very good. The restaurant is pricey, but the food is definitely DELICIOUS. I've been here for both breakfast and lunch. It's a great place for business meetings and the clients love the fancy, but causal feel. The food is always presented creatively and most of the lunch items have an Asian flare. The portions are good size and I always end up with a take home box for later. The bar/lounge area is very cool. It's dark and trendy and it gets pretty packed after work hours. They have an extensive martini menu that just AWESOME. My favorite is the Second City Sangria martini. YUM! They also serve lunch with the menu consisting of burgers, pizzas and sandwiches. But don't be fool - the food is still super fancy. The pizza is a big flat bread topped with exotic ingredients. The service here is superb. All the servers are super attentive and extremely professional. **4 stars because they are pricey and I can't afford to come here unless it's for business**
(4)
Lu C.

I've been here once with my bf, but I loved it! We were initially attracted to the music on the website- some trance music or something that made us think, "this place must be pretty baller to have this website (try it)." The atmosphere was trendy and cute, with lots of ppl, and the food was a mixture of all ethnicities- I got dishes that mixed korean with american and chinese- CAN'T beat that. I'd definitely go here for a date or a night out with the girls!
(4)
Andrew E.

I love how this place takes Asian fusion to a new level. It seems like other fusion places dabble with Thai and China and/or Japan. Aria throws in more exotic locations like India, Korea, and Vietnam. And yet it's all still accessible - I bet it is because the restaurant is in a hotel so they have to cater to a wide range of tastes and travelers...including ordinary Mid-westerns! Other bonuses are their kitchen is very accommodating of special allergies and other requests, and their sommelier is very good at matching wines.
(4)
KT O.

My mom and I went here last night to use my expired Groupon, which they honored for full value (very much appreciated). It was a slow night for them, which turned out great for us. Our server was great, offering to pour a couple of wine samples to help us decide what to order and providing a complimentary dessert. The hamachi appetizer was fantastic! The fish itself was among the best I've had in the city. The sauces were great. I will say, when they say 'spicy,' there isn't much heat (which I like, but if you really like spicy, you may need to ask for more kick). The naan sauces are great, though the naan itself gets hard pretty quickly (maybe they should put a towel over to keep them warm). For dinner I had the delicious halibut with the addictive black rice cooked in a coconut sauce. It was almost perfect (a little salty, though that could be adjusted next time). My mom's scallops were really good, too (though I liked mine more). Again, a little too salty, particularly since there was bacon in it. Our desserts were interesting and tasty. The first was called yin and yang. At first, I found it an interesting dish though not something I thought I would order. But when I put all the elements on one spoonful (the main part with the sauce and--the kicker--the crisp), I loved it and would definitely order it again. Our other dessert reminded me of gingerbread. I'm looking forward to trying the sushi bar.
(4)
Emerson C.

I went here for the Chicago Restaurant Week and I must say. The service is outstanding. From the moment we got there, we were accommodated at every moment. I had the Mushroom Soup Your Mother Never Made and the way it was prepared was very exceptional. It really is something your Mother will never make. It's the best mushroom soup I've ever tasted. The main course was Pad Thai and it was not too overwhelming how some other places prepare it. Not too moist, not too dry.. just about right. Even the portions weren't too huge or too small. Everything was just right. Even the music was going on. They were playing Salsa, R&B, Hip Hop. It was very appealing. Also a note.. the lounge has a sushi bar. Not bad if you're getting drinks and just waiting around. A must go....
(5)
Nicole O.

We went to Aria with a travelzoo coupon, which was a great deal, but unfortunately the meal was nothing special. The menu is not very extensive and the majority of the entrees had curry which is not one of my favorite spices. We decided to go with the sushi menu, but I've enjoyed the sushi at most small BYOB places in the city much more than here. The pork and shiitake dumpling appetizer was very good, but other than that everything was just ok, so for the expensive prices it definitely would not be worth it to me to return.
(2)
logan j.

I have eaten at Aria twice. I was excited to try Brad Parson's take on Asian fusion and I have heard good things. The ambience of Aria is beautiful. Bright reds and romantic lighting coupled with a quiet dinning room make for a nice experience. I was waited on by the same man both times I was there (2 months apart). He was a very nice, very slow waiter. It took about 10 minutes until we were asked if we wanted anything to drink with our meal, we then recieved our drinks about 15 minutes later... We placed our order for appetizer and entree at that time and even though our appetizer showed up quickly our main course took a very long time to recieve. It took me getting up and walking to the waiter to ask for another round of drinks why we waited. I would have understood if the place was packed but it was early and it appeared we were one of the waiter's 3 tables. The 4 different entrees I sampled in my two visits were good in taste but I was surprised by how they were cooked. The Wagu was dry, the scallops were rubbery, and the veggies were way over cooked and mushy. For a chef that worked at Tru and some other big named restaurants I was disappointed to say the least. I wouldn't say don't eat at Aria because conceptually the food is very good, I would just caution any possible diner to not get their hopes up that much.
(3)
Julio B.

First off, there are 2 sections of Aria, Bar and the actual restaurant. Bar section was okay. Nothing that separates itself from other trendy bars, drink selection was typical. As for the restaurant, Food was good but for the price, ehhhh the ratio didn't match. I'm basing this review off the price of the food and I've been to other places in Chicago that were way better than this place. Maybe its the location, don't know but it should have been better. Our waiter/Host was awesome, explaining the dishes etc... If you're into the whole interior design, then Aria you may be little disappointed:( Way too bright and the colors were "blah" If you drive to Aria, make sure you don't drop your car off under the bridge (Lower Wacker), its a long and confusing walk through the hotel.
(2)
Anju R.

Severely overprice for the food that you get. I was really disappointed with the main course. The sushi was good, but overall just not happy at all.
(2)
A M.

I found this to be a perfectly acceptable mid level to upper mid level hotel bar. If I weren't staying at the Fairmont I wouldn't go out of my way to visit, but since I was there it was a good option for early or late drinks and some small plates. The atmosphere is pretty nice located conveniently by the elevator and main entrance. The sushi bar is pretty large given the overall size of the restaurant and the quality was exceptional. It was a bit pricey, but the seafood tasted as if it was pulled from the sea moments earlier. I found the sushi chefs to prepare excellent generous rolls and cut the sashimi properly. The bar was also okay with better than average service and plenty of hitop seating.
(3)
Evann G.

One of my favorite parts about living here is that, if I absolutely must have sushi, we can just pop next door to Aria and have some. The maki isn't the best ever, but it's decent, although I do wish they had more of a selection. We've only ever eaten at the sushi bar, and every time we go we polish off a couple bowls of the very addictive snack mix they bring you. I like the sushi bar, it's plush and has a nice atmosphere. Though we've never eaten at the actual restaurant, we have sampled one of their appetizers, the hot and sour baked rock shrimp -- and let me tell you, you have GOT to try it. They are like little balls of shrimp and CRACK. So good. And I don't even like shrimp!
(4)
Tess G.

Im not sure how to rate this because I previously ate at the restaurant side and LOVED it. My boyfriend and I recently went to the lounge for drinks and sushi. I would go for drinks and not the sushi. If you want a good drink and a good meal, eat on the restaurant side.
(3)
elizabeth n.

I had heard that Aria had really good food, but I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was! I went for lunch with my mom, and we enjoyed every minute of it. It is located in the Fairmont Hotel, so you know it's a classy place, and the service is top notch. They start you off with the naan bread which was so salty and delicious, and then we both had the chicken and shrimp pad thai, which was absolutely amazing. I've never had pad thai like that before! It was served in your own personal wok, and had a side salad with cucumbers. It was so good, that I have been craving it ever since!
(5)
Jennifer S.

okay, here goes another one of my hotel food entries. i promise, i'm not no hotel binge freak but i guess, when i want good food, i will totally take advantage of it. located inside the fairmont hotel... prices were quite bleh, for a piece of sushi, it was like $3. when one looks at sushi, sushi does NOT look fresh AT ALL... i'll post a pic, but felt extremely retarded with people around, so this will have to do. came here for an early dinner before i called it a night. damn, how cold can chee-cago get??!? i wouldn't come here for sushi, but i would totally come to lounge around, and if i had the $ to splurge... service - exceptional. thanx for an awesome dinner to my dearest friend, B!
(3)
G G.

New menu keeps this from what had been four star review. Ask questions and follow suggestions. Wait staff is top notch.
(3)
Steve M.

One of those restaurants where you pay a lot, the food is good, as you would expect for the price. BUT THE SERVICE IS TERRIBLE. I've been there three times. Three times it was atrociously bad. The kind of bad that ruins your meal and makes you want to talk to a manager. Like you've been waiting so long you just want to leave. And the worst part is, the staff never says sorry or seems to care. They think you won't notice.
(1)
Kelli B.

Went to a show at the Chicago Theater on Valentine's Day and was lucky enough to get a last minute reservation at Aria. Gorgeous decor, great service, delicious food, great lounge area. We will be back, we couldn't decide what we wanted to eat because everything sounded good! Next time, we'll try our second choices. They serve bread with four different spreads when you sit down, they were all excellent. With our meal we got three different potato dishes to share, couldn't decide which one was the best! I would definitely suggest Aria if you love Asian food or fish, haven't tried their sushi but I plan on it!
(5)
Jamie W.

I went to Aria for dinner last weekend and had one of the best dining experiences I've had in Chicago. The staff was incredibly friendly, especially the sommelier, who offered excellent wine pairing suggestions. The naan at the start of the meal was an excellent surprise,and all of the dipping sauces were delicious. We had the tempura crab appetizer, which was excellent. I also had the duck breast, which was one of the best cooked duck breasts I had ever had. The dessert was phenomenal. I definitely recommend this place and will be back soon.
(5)
Maria C.

This is a great place! My husband and I went on Saturday and had an outstanding experience. The menu has so many different options, from so many different cuisines that it will always have something for everyone. I had the Churrasco Argentino which was great but remember to order it medium and my husband had a great fish - can't remember the name. Their creme brulee came with a scoop of passion fruit sorbet and everything was delicious. The service was phenomenal.
(4)
Liliana S.

I would give this restaurant 4 stars based on the decor alone but the food, for the price, was mediocre. I expected more, yet I was disappointed. I think that's the problem. I shouldn't have ANY expectations and perhaps the food would be amazing. I'm a huge fan of sushi and their sushi was average. I liked the drinks, then again, I am an alcoholic so of course I would like the drinks. The bartender was cute and friendly. His name is Jaime I believe. I don't recall. I think he's gay so doesn't matter. He was nice to look at.
(3)
Scotty L.

Ate dinner here on a whim tonight as there's a new patio available and it was the PERFECT day in Chicago. Really just looking for a bite and a glass of wine, but Whoa were we surprised at the caliber of fare: we ended up eating THREE courses of food! Service was great, not rushed and the food was like an exercise in balance: try Thai bouillabase (sp?) and the gnocchi. We had dessert too (which I never do) and it was out of control!
(5)
Katie W.

I've only been here for work-related lunches but the food is yum-my. Trendy Asian-fusion(ish) menu that is pretty heavy on the seafood. Their equivalent of a bread basket is awesome, with naan bread and a bunch of tasty dipping sauces. They also have a sushi bar area that I have never eaten at (not sure if it's open for lunch). Prices are a bit on the high side, especially for lunch but hey, I wasn't paying! Service is impeccable and portion sizes are generous. If you work in The Loop, it's a fun, quality place to eat with a bit more flavor than your typical steak house-type joints.
(4)
Carmen K.

for the past 3 years, this has been my fav chicago restaurant but last weekend was my last time dining here. the naan and rock shrimp appetizer were both very good as usual but our entrees (chi gae and chow mein-the chow mein) were so bad and overly cooked, I'll never go back here again. my noodles were overcooked and stuck together.
(3)
Elizabeth C.

A pretty nice meal. The menu and allover experience needs some consistency. Although they do describe themselves as "worldly". It's a decent place to eat... if you're staying in the area and want an expensive meal.
(3)
LaSha G.

I am so glad I didn't write this place off as just another boring, overpriced hotel restaurant! I was staying at the Fairmont, so I easily made reservations 15 minutes beforehand and was greeted by a group of professional and friendly waitstaff when I arrived downstairs. I was impressed that the waiter knew and referred to me by my last name all night, without me telling him. The dinner started out with a complimentary basket of fluffy naan bread, complete with 4 different dipping sauces which could have been the basis of main dishes themselves. Based on our server's recommendation, we ordered the hot and sour baked rock shrimp stuffed with a dungeoness crab dressing, which was an unbelievably tasty dish served in a iron skillet right out the oven, so it also very hot, which I love. Our server also recommended two fish dishes and we went with his suggestion, given our success with the appetizer. The main entres were wonderful. My dish included steamed carrots and hand mashed green peas, which was a bright orange and green pile of visually appealing nutrious goodness. And to boot, or server brought out a complimentary assortment of side dishes from the chef: rich and cheesy au gratin potatoes, buttery mashed sweet potatoes with melted marshmallow, and roasted new potatoes. We ate everthing and were so stuffed by that point, that we passed on the dessert menu, but our server brought us out a complimentary dessert anyways (which we ate of course). How could I not love this place??? If my waiter or the chef that night is reading this right now -- I love you both. I'll be back.
(5)
Tyler S.

Ate dinner in the lounge on 11/8. The food was decent - not the best sushi, not the worst - but what was really outstanding were the cocktails. They had the most amazing seasonal pumpkin martini - it was really fantastic. I'd go back just for that. The atmosphere was pretty good - typical lounge. It was kind of a strange Japanese/Indian/antique yet modern fusion, but it was cozy enough. We didn't stay for the late night scene, so I'm not sure how that is, but it's a decent dinner destination.
(3)
Chloe M.

I agree with Olivia that Aria was truly a great dining experience. I expected it to be wonderful since it's connected to my favorite hotel- The Fairmont. I've been here a few times and gotten fish each time- it's always delicious and the presentation and service is outstanding as well. It's an expensive restaurant, but worth it once you taste the food.
(4)
Jina R.

I happened to be on business in Chicago and was staying at the Fairmont Hotel. I ventured downstairs to grab a quick bite to eat at Aria. It's a pretty nice Asian-inspired restaurant with a big variety of food. Upon being seated, the waiter brought me a basket of naan bread with 4 dipping sauces. The naan wasn't too bad but I thought the dipping sauces could have been more flavorful. I ended up ordering the Aria burger which was cooked just the way I had requested it be cooked. Instead of the fries, I requested a side of veggies which were superb. Hence 4 stars - had the naan and dipping sauces been better, it would have been a 5.
(4)
Tony G.

Kind of an 'uppity' hotel bar, as far as hotel bars go. It's probably good if you like sushi - it's definitely good if you just want to stop in for a quick drink or if you've got a few minutes to kill. The appetizers that we had were all really good and the beer selection, though limited to maybe a dozen options, was excellent. I wouldn't make it a point to go here, but it's just fine if you find yourself in the area.
(3)
Roxanne C.

I just got back from Aria and wanted to write to say how great it was. It started from the beginning - the bread they brought to the table was very tasty - it was homemade pita bread with four different spreads. The waiter was very helpful and knowledgeable when explaining the various wines and what makes a "biodynamic wine." He even brought over the different wines for a makeshift tasting. I ordered the pike with buttered gnochi. My husband had the cod. Both of our fishes were perfectly cooked. We also received a complimentary tasting of potatoes prepared three different ways. My favorite was the sweet potatoes with honey and cream. We shared the German chocolate cake for desert. It was almost a dark chocolate nougat, very refined and hitting the chocolate spot! Overall, it was a great place. Very comfortable and relaxing. It is the perfect place to go to after going to a concert in Grant Park, shopping in the Loop, or just after work. I really liked the place!
(5)
caroline r.

disappointed. for those prices we should have been impressed and our meal was pedestrian at best. the highlight of the entire meal was the bread (similar to naan) and dipping sauces (curry, lentil, yogurt sauces, all very tasty) they bring to your table when you sit down. after that our meal went downhill and so did the service. we didn't get menus when we sat down and it took 15min to get a cocktail. not to mention THE COCKTAILS ARE $13!!!!! ...not even The Violet Hour has such steep prices! I got a bellini, and the champagne was flat. The scallops I had were $30 and overcooked. My boyfriend ordered Steak Frites and ate less than half of it, not even worth finishing. unmemorable food & slow service aside, the ambiance and decor is SO CHEESY and dated. Not sure if they cannot update because they're inside the Fairmont Hotel but something needs to be done. There are florescent red track lights on the ceiling, bright red carpet and terribly upholsered chairs. Many other places this kind of thing wouldn't bother me or even occur to me, but this is one of the more expensive restaurants in Chicago. And finally...my boyfriend and I were both so disgusted with how dirty the floor was and the servers' uniforms were stained & looked to be years old. There were crumbs all over the floor (very apparent on a bright red carpet). For this amount of money, take your business elsewhere--this place is SO OVERRATED!
(2)
Jennifer S.

This is a really great restaurant that gets "ignored" b/c its at a hotel. But, its worth trying, the menu is so interesting. Its world cuisine and ranges from Indian to Thai. We were married at the Fairmont Hotel so just being there makes me very happy! But, seriously--this is a really incredible restaurant, their nan (flatbread) is incredible, they make it in the open kitchen and its out of this world. They even sell the cute things that they use in the restaurant, for example- the salt & pepper shakers, the water pitcher (if you go, you will notice how unusual they are)..so, if you love it......you can buy it on the way out. I def. rec. this place if you're looking for something different in a nice, relaxing spot.
(4)
rebecca f.

a group of four of us checked out Aria for restaurant week, and were underwhelmed. the bar was bustling and full, but the restaurant was virtually deserted (we were one of 2 tables during our seating) and we were sat directly next to the door and hostess stand. it felt VERY odd. in the end i was wondering if they sat us there to make the restaurant look more full those those walking up? our server, who's name escapes me, was really nice and excellent at answering our few questions. i had the mushroom soup (good, but a little salty) chicken and shrimp pad thai (average) and sorbet (fine). overall, everything was okay but not _wow_. i'm hoping this was b/c of restaurant week, and perhaps on a usual night things would be more lively.
(2)
Dee W.

Even though it's in a hotel - it still pulls off its own atmosphere. The pomegranate sauce on roast duck was a surprisingly good fit. The fish wasn't bad but my favorite part of the meal was the four types of sorbet in my dish - they had a white tea honeydew one and some strawberry plus another fruit. Service was decent.
(3)
Alisa N.

I actually really liked this place. Our server was magnificent, recommending an amazing syrah for our table. The naan was unexpectedly good and could have been my meal for the night with all of those condiments! I loved all of the dishes me and my 3 friends ordered (yes, we shared!). My only complaint is that the restaurant is in a part of town not really near much else. It is too bad--more people should try this place out!
(4)
Cassie B.

only been here for lunch, but the food is very good. the bread basket, as others have said, is awesome with fresh naan and dipping sauces. the lunch entrees are pricey but good. the entrees come with little sides - bread, potatoes, etc. that make it a lot of flavors (which i love) rather than just eating one thing.
(4)
Michelle X.

My friends and I tried Aria for Chicago Restaurant Week and frankly, all 4 of us were disappointed. While the decor, ambiance and service were all great, the food itself was only mediocre, and we were disappointed that the prix fixe menu didn't give any choices. The naan/bread served in the beginning was delicious (came with 4 different spreads, which were all tasty), but sadly, that was the highlight of our meal. Next came a salad (farmer's market organic salad) -- which was tasty and light, but nothing too special. Then came the main dish -- pan seared fillet of walleye pike served with gnocchi. The fish was way too citrusy, yet totally bland at the same time. My friend's fish also had bones in it, which was messy/ annoying to deal with. There were only 2-3 pieces of gnocchi that came with the fish (seriously??), and since they were soaked with the sauce that came with the fish, they were way too citrusy and soggy as well. They served us 3 different potato dishes with our main course -- a scalloped potato with chives, a bacon/sour cream potato blend and a sweet potato puree. They were just okay, at best. Finally came the dessert - a carrot cake, served with a cream cheese ice cream, which was decent but not stellar (the ice cream was a bit too rich). Overall, probably not worth the $32. However, I should note that a lot of other dishes on the menu sounded very tasty. I may go back sometime just to try some of their other stuff.
(3)
Kelli M.

Aria is located in a hotel, but on the main floor with a separate entrance. It's a nice atmosphere and not crowded. I went on a Friday night and we got a table immediately and there were several empty tables. The food is upscale Thai and is good, but definitely not worth the money. Aria is very overpriced.
(3)
Steve J.

excellent and friendly service; saki list too short and very, very overpriced; sushi good but not excellent
(2)
nicole r.

The poor reviews really surprise me, because Aria is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in the city, and I've never found the service to be anything except outstanding. (Particularly if you get Hugh). The food, also, is fabulous, starting with the unlimited naan and sauces that they give you in the beginning. My favorite appetizers are the mushroom soup, which is out of this world, and the baked rock shrimp, which have a bit of a kick! I usually order the fish with the gnocchi, which is delicious, but I have also had the pad thai and people I have eaten with have had filet, chimchurri, and other things on the menu, all of which were delicious. And the free orange cookies that they give you at the end are the best! I don't know if other people went on an off night, but I have never had anything but completely positive experiences here. I just wish the prices were a little lower so that I could eat there more often.
(5)
Laila C.

this place is pricey. $140 for 2 people without drinks. BF's tiny glass bottle of regular club soda was $3.50. CRAZY. Although the food is pretty good, I can't actually justify coming here again. The cilantro/jalapeno chutney is awesome! We got 3 apps and an entree to share. tuna tartare is mediocre-skip quail eggs with pork belly-amazing! mussels-AWESOME, make sure to sop up all the broth rib-eye entree with side of grilled asparagus-tasty but definitely not worth $42 Tao of chocolate: the dense chocolate cake is actually the most amazing thing I've ever put in my mouth. There is a hint of spice that lingers after the bite but everything on that place works perfectly together. YUUUM Overall...good food, nice service NOT worth the money
(3)
Aubrey T.

This is a MUST TRY during restaurant week. Phenomenal deal for the $33 price fixe, since they really put top notch items on the menu. The naan with dipping sauce that comes out instead of bread was tasty. I had the beet salad, scallops (see photo), and the chocolate caramel mousse (see photo). Normally the scallops alone would be $34, so fantastic deal. The beat salad app was delicious, as was the lamb rib app a friend ordered. The absolute standout was the scallop entree - accompanied with a salty, decadent wine sauce and mascarpone polenta with a nutty pea topping. Absolutely amazing flavor combination. Similar to other dinners Chef Beverly came out to say "hello" at 10pm as we were finishing our dessert. She is incredibly sweet. Service was fine - a little on the slow side but attentive. I personally don't love the all red look in the restaurant, but my friends thought it was great.
(4)
Bradford G.

Hotel sushi? Aria proves it's possible. Granted, it's not awesome, but it was highly convenient as I was attending a conference in the hotel. I could pop in, have a few pieces of Unagi with a little sake, and then back up to the general session. Which amazingly was now interesting... Later in the evening, this is a place to pick up lonely travelers looking for a single night of romance. Not that I would know, just an observation. ;) If you're staying at the hotel, give it a try. If not, you can do better elsewhere in Chicago.
(3)
Justine L.

I came to Aria for a team lunch. My two co-workers got the Kung Pao Chicken, and I got the trout. The Kung Pao looked pretty decent with a lot of fresh veggies, but as a Chinese, I don't ever order that. It looked like something I would make at home on a lazy day. The trout was okay- pan fried on both sides and with a bit of zucchini. Flavors weren't bad, but it was literally a whole trout and like three pieces of thin zucchini. Overall, I'd call Aria subpar. A lot of the dishes sound innovative, which is very appealing, but based on what we ate, I can't imagine how innovative the other dishes get. At the end of the day, Aria is a hotel restaurant which by definition is not good no matter how nice the hotel. A few misc comments - (1) The staff was weird and almost too casual. For a white tablecloth restaurant, they did not know their menu well and couldn't describe the dishes better than the menu. They also did not come around often for drink refills and the place was very slow. (2) The best part of the meal was the orange bark as dessert. Awesome like a Chinese eggroll biscuit things (that was a bad description, but someone prob knows what I'm talking about) but with bits of almond.
(2)
Chris D.

Quite literally one of the best Ribeye's I have ever eaten. But, it was just so freaking expensive for a 12oz steak. But I did savor every last bit of it though. The sides were small as well. But hey, the service was top notch and the ambiance speaks for itself.
(3)
Jeff G.

Not pleased at all with the food. Nice ambiance, but the restaurant was over priced and the food was just mediocre. Nice presentation, but no so much taste. You can find much better elsewhere.
(2)
Andy C.

Linked to my hotel stay, here are some pictures of both: facebook.com/album.php?aâ€¦ I have nothing poor to say about Aria Bar (unfortunately I couldn't find just the "Bar" portion in Yelp), and this review ONLY pertains to the bar/sushi bar, and not the actual restaurant. The decor is something interesting, inspired by middle eastern lounges with ottomans and exotic looking fabrics. Do I actually know if they were exotic, or if they were expensive? No, for all I know - they got them from Target or Ikea. It's dark in the bar area, so you must note that all of the pictures I took had a shutter speed of at least 1/13 of a second all the way up to 8 seconds. The actual sushi bar itself is well inviting enough. The obligatory clear display with the fish and condiments, little soy dispensers, and some creative lighting. Nothing too great, nothing too bad. Service was excellent, I thought. I called down from my room at around 830 to see what time food stopped, and the person who picked up addressed me by name. Sure, she had caller ID, but it was a nice touch. My server was also very attentive. I ordered something traditional - the Aria Sushi Sashimi platter: tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and shrimp. I wouldn't call the place pretentious - presentation was simple and it wasn't gaudy, and the freshness of the fish was just fine. Nothing negative to say about the quality of the fish either. Alas. Pricing causes the 3 star rating. My 8 oz bottle of Diet Coke was a whopping 3.50 (more expensive than six flags) and my platter (see pictures) was 28$. Had the platter been 15, 18, even 20 - I would have been ok, but close to $30 was a little exorbitant. However, since it was a holiday, I splurged on myself just a little bit. I wouldn't do it again, but it was a different experience at least for one night.
(3)
Hope K.

Wow to Chef Beverly Kim!!! and to Aria for allowing her to be as open and as creative with her cooking! This is my very first 5 STARS!!!! We went in for restaurant week lunch menu, and I'm REALLY glad that we chose Aria! Take advantage of the restaurant week menu since their regular menu is pretty pricey... but what do you expect? Aria is located at the Fairmont Hotel! Ambiance is pretty romantic and intimate. Very attentive service. FOOD: Since there were 3 of us, we decided to get all of the items on the prix fixe menu so we can all taste different things. -hay roasted baby beets truffle tremor goat cheese / hazelnut / prosciutto / apple -mongolian lamb rib cumin / orange hoisin / fennel / edamame-mint purÃ©e -beef short rib bibimbop sunnyside egg / kimchi / sea beans / gochujang -kung pao chicken black bean chili / heirloom tomato / peanut -truffle assortment dark chocolate sesame / milk chocolate with curry and peanut white chocolate coconut banana / dark chocolate with earl grey tea (We also ordered an entree off their regular menu.) -korean spicy bouillabaisse nantucket cod / scallop / clam / braised radish / rice cake Initially, one may think the portion size is a bit on the smaller size, especially for the price. But trust me, after you are done with the complimentary naan basket with the 4 sauces , plus your appetizer and then your entree, you will be full. I know this is lame, but we actually ended up taking the truffles to go. TRUST ME, your visit will be totally worth it !!!! Definitely take advantage!!! All 3 of us were just amazed at HOW good everything was!!!! Chef Beverly was able to take a simple dish as a bibimbop to the next level with so much flavor... In my lifetime, I've had A LOT of bimbimbops, but never like this! .... but I'll stop now... I don't want to make anyone drool on their electronic devices as they read this... All I have to say is, Just GO and EAT and ENJOY! Savor every bite!
(5)
Warner C.

Slow service and very small portions with the sushi. My spicy tuna was about the same width as a nickel or quarter. Don't ware your time or money.
(2)
Christal H.

honestly, just don't bother! the presentation is beautiful but the taste, not so much. I ordered sea bass....and found that it had roasted vegetables underneath with pesto on the side (seasons were totally confused!!!) I read so many good things and sadly, I feel totally cheated!
(1)
Alan L.

When I'm in Chicago always head here for sushi and the bartenders ..
(4)
Ashley C.

We used the groupon deal to try the drinks and sushi bar. The atmosphere was nice and had the potential to be very romantic but still modern. The service was good and friendly, but sometimes slow. I was surprised that it was empty on a Friday night. I had a mojito cocktail and it was very good and still packed a punch - very good. For food, we did the salmon roll and another whitefish roll. I was not very impressed with (prefaced by the fact that I am new/unsure about sushi). Yet when my boyfriend (who is used to excellent sushi) thought it was average and overpriced, that is enough for me. Overall, I was just not very impressed and would not go back without at least some sort of a deal.
(2)
Jeff W.

I visited Aria during Restaurant Week and it did not disappoint. I'm very surprised at it's 3 star rating on Yelp, which I believe does not reflect the food. Of course, we were excited to see Top Chef Beverly Kim, but left more than impressed with our entire meal. I'll sum up the entire night, from beginning to end. I'd recommend Valet Parking at the Fairmont Hotel, but it's not absolutely necessary. We opted for a parking garage, which led us to an interesting route through the Aon Building to get to the restaurant. Not a big deal and probably saved us a few bucks. We arrived at the restaurant through the lounge. We had no idea we were in the lounge/sushi bar area, and were not greeted by any hostess. This was awkward, which led me to ask a server where to check in. She directed me to the actual restaurant. This was a rough start, and really my only knock on Aria. Once we were seated, the ambiance of the restaurant was really nice and good for a date spot. The food was the star, however, so I'll recap out entire meal. We came for Restaurant Week so we did the 3 course pre fixe menu with the addition of the Quail egg and pork belly kimchi stacks. These can't be put into words words. Simply Incredible! The kimchi is made in house and the combination of flavors exploded in your mouth. We were later told this is Chef Beverly's signature dish and you can tell she puts a lot of love into this. It shows her Asian roots. The naan that comes out first can't be overlooked. Came with 4 sauces. The fresh tomato was my favorite and there was a good curry lenitl(?) dipping sauce that was also good. The others were a yogurt tzatziki sauce and a cilantro jalapeno sauce. It was a nice, light start. For the rest of the meal, I started with the Hay Roasted Baby Beet Salad. I would never order a salad, but my friend opted for the Mongolian Lamb Rib so I wanted to try as much of the menu as possible. I've never had Beets, but these were awesome. Really nicely marinated and the goat cheese spread had me scraping my plate with the bread. Her Mongolian Lamb Ribs were the star appetizer, however. Really tender and the glaze on top was delicious. Great start. For our entrees, we had the Cape Breton Scallops and Braised Beef Short Ribs. She cooked the short ribs on the show, so these were a must try. They did not disappoint as my ribs were perfectly cooked and really tender. The apple kimchi was a delicious pairing when eaten together, and the whole dish had a slight kick to it that was great. It was really good. The scallops that we shared were also perfectly cooked and delicious. It seemed small for an entree with only 2 scallops, but maybe that's just because I could have eaten 10 of them they were so good. Again, our plates were completely empty. For dessert, we had both the pineapple thai chili granite and the chocolate caramel mousse. The thai chili granite was interesting. It was a pineapple sorbet kind of, which was sweet with a spicy kick from the thai chili. I'm not a huge spicy fan, so that was unexpected, but we were just trying as much of the menu as possible. It was still a nice dessert. The mousse, however, was the perfect ending. It was definitely for chocolate lovers so beware. Roasted almond ice cream that came on the side was the perfect pairing. We were pretty much fighting over the last bite. Lastly, Chef Beverly Kim stopped at our table and was really sweet. She was really nice and humble for her recent exposure on Top Chef. She was busy working throughout the night and we watched her prepare some dishes at the salad station (I think) and you could see her put the same love into her dishes that she did on the show. She took a pic with us to end the night and tweeted at us to thank us for coming. Overall, it was an excellent experience.
(5)
Annie D.

3.5 stars. Of course while in Chicago, we decided to be team Bev after watching Top Chef. Complementary- Naan and dipping sauces were our bread, the naan was a bit too crispy for my taste. The dips were average, mint was the best. spicy tuna tartare- avocado mousse,rice "chicharron", watermelon-shiso- small pile of tuna, the watermelon went well with the dish, overall it was okay, nothing stood out from other tartares. Miso Ramen- this was well flavored and had a good amount of other little items to make it a full on experience with every bite. quail egg and pork belly kimchi stacks-house kimchi, mung bean blini, black garlic aÃ¯oli- this was a very good dish, everything went well together, probably my most favorite dish. north atlantic grilled swordfish- miso-mustard , bacon swiss chard, sunchoke purÃ©e- fish was cooked well, fish wasn't dry, everything went well together, but I thought the flavors were too suttle, it needed something more. braised short ribs- red curry, thai basil potato purÃ©e, apple kimchi, peanuts- the meat was cooked well, the potato puree was good, tasted like pesto. The apple slices gave it a good texture, overall, it was an okay dish, I thought the flavors were all over the place. Didn't go well eating it all together. Complementary- Almond crispy sweet chips of some sort with powder sugar- this was given to us at the end and it was pretty tasty, would have gone well with some ice cream! Overall, the meal themselves weren't bad, everything was cooked nicely and well flavored for most dishes. Service was good and Bev was actually cooking the meals fyi. I can't say I'll come back, nothing stood out for me to want to try everything else on the menu, but definitely worth a try!
(3)
Leslie P.

I enjoyed Aria. I came here for lunch during the week, and I had a good experience. Every table starts off with the naan that was extremely yummy and doughy with three different dippers. One was a cilantro sauce, one was fresh tomatoes, and the last one was a cream sauce (can't remember what it was). The cilantro was delicious! I could have eaten a whole plate of it! We also had the tuna tartar, which was equally great. For the entree, I had the bouillabaisse, and it was also really good. There were mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, and white fish. All cooked very well with a flavorful broth. I few others ordered the kung pao chicken, and it looked a little small. At the end of the meal, Beverly Kim came over and thanked us for visiting. She seemed very humble and grateful. I'd vote for her and Aria on Top Chef!
(4)
Sundar V.

Being a vegetarian, my rating and review is solely based on the vegan Singapore noodles and beet salad! The noodles are to die for... and the day we went, master chef beverly kim stopped by! very friendly
(4)
Ari N.

I am writing this review while sitting at Aria. That is while having brunch with my girlfriend. So, who writes a review while at a restaurant? Well you would too if you had to wait 30 minutes between each service. I am not kidding, it's been 2 hours since we got in, we are still waiting for our second round of drinks. Our waitress never came around. Worst dining experience ! Food was good , but definitely not worth the wait. Never again. We just decided to walk out, canceling the drinks. Read my lips- AVOID
(1)
Jon S.

My friends and I went to Aria for restaurant week. What a mistake. The hostess seated us immediately, but that is where the good service ended. We sat at the table for 20 minutes without so much as a hello from a waiter, we weren't even given a drink or wine menu. I finally waived down what appeared to be a manager, since he was wearing a suit, and asked him if we could order drinks. He brought us drink menus and took our drink orders. It took the drinks 15 minutes to get to the table. Our reservation was at 7:00, we didn't even order food until 7:45. 20 minutes after the drinks came they brought bread to the table, appetizers followed. The only decent thing was the naan bread they brought to the table. The appetizers were terrible. I had Ox tail wanton soup and my wife had a beet salad. Her salad greens still had the branches on them, and there was no seasoning. The salad tasted of nothing. My soup was so salty I could barely eat it. Then we waited for the main course. We didn't get our main course until almost 9:00. I had short ribs and my wife had curry shrimp. I have eaten plenty of short ribs during my time in Chicago, and I can say what ever piece of meat they served me was not short rib. It was tough and tasteless, no seasoning what so ever. My wife's shrimp was just spicy and mush, no seasoning. The desserts came out almost as soon as they cleared the table. The desserts were one of the better things we had. I had some sorbets and my wife had a chocolate banana cake. They were good, but nothing special. The manager finally made his way to our table to ask us how our experience was and I told him honestly that it was terrible. He apologized and said our second round of drinks were free. He went on to explain that they get busy and backed up for restaurant week. That night, the place wasn't half full. If that was busy for them, I would hate to see the service and food on a night when the restaurant was actually full. Overall Aria was the worst dining experience I have ever had in Chicago. The restaurant can't decide if it wants to be American, Japanese, Sushi bar, Indian, or Greek. It seems to be having an identity crisis. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this place. Chicago has so many wonderful restaurants that I find it amazing this place is still surviving. I can assure you one thing, if the service and food continue like this, Aria won't be around too much longer.
(1)
Linda B.

It's actually hard for me to review this place: the service was absolutely fantastic. Everyone from the host to the waiter was attentive and made it a great experience for me. The food...eh...it was all right. Everything was just a little off: either a little too salty, or a little too chewy. But, it's a romatic space and I enjoyed my moscow mule so I'd probably stop by again for a drink. Oh, I had the shortrib appetizer (too salty) and the duck entree (too chewy). And they start you off with naan but mine wasn't warm enough.
(3)
Lindsay G.

Poor service. It took over 30 minutes for salads that were average at best. The only reason this place was chosen is because my friend was at a conference located in the Fairmont and needed to be close due to time constraints. Unfortunately, she had time for a few bites. The waiter watched her leave shortly after receiving her lunch and waited at least ten minutes before he came back to check on me. Then, it took twenty minutes on top of that to get my check. Did I mention I was one of five others in Aria at the time?! I'd advise that Aria is a bad choice.
(1)
Eric Y.

I was a fan of Bev on Top Chef and was looking forward to eating at her restaurant. Unfortunately, she was not there but the food did not appear to suffer for it. The restaurant is quite large, and wraps around from a bar to casual lounge to dining area. The decor is contemporary Asian, with wood, stone and bamboo. The entire place is bathed in a soft red light. It's really quite sexy. There were 6 of us and we were seated at a nice, semiprivate round table. There is a nice cocktail, wine and beer selection. The Hemingway daiquiri is quite nice, with a (housemade?) maraschino cherry that is to die for. We shared a few appetizers. The pork belly w/ kimchee and quail egg was delicious, as was the soft shell crab and the razor clam gratin. The sweet pea chawamushi (egg custard) w/ sweet shrimp was weird but not in a bad way. The entrees were also very good. I had the cumin crusted lamb loin. The lamb was cooked very nicely and was very tasty. It was served with puffed wild rice that was also delicious but there needed to be more of that. Pad Thai was good, but Pad Thai at a place like this? That's like seeing Spaghetti-Os at Spiaggia. The Singapore vermicelli is an upgraded version of this tried and true noodle dish; it was good. The short ribs, famous for making a winning appearance on Top Chef, did not disappoint. Desserts were the highlight of the meal. Outstanding. The dessert choices were traditional Western desserts with an Asian twist. Our favorite was the pineapple-honey granita with coconut ice cream. The coconut panna cotta was garnished with a "chip" made from carrot cake. Unique and tasty. The chocolate pot-de-creme came with housemade Pocky that was flavored with Sichuan peppercorns. Interesting and delicious. Service was informative and attentive. There were a few gaffes - some of our food was overly salted and we had to send back but overall, a nice place for modern Asian food.
(4)
Isaac S.

Yum! Ate here when I stayed at the Fairmount hotel and I love the fact that the majority of their dishes use organic foods. The taste definitely stands out with some great mixtures.
(5)
Jessica B.

Awful service, below average food. It took 1.5 hours to get some basic dishes during lunch hour. Will NOT be going back.
(1)
Palak Q.

What a magical place to have dinner at! My best friend selected this place because he had been there several times before and thought it would be the perfect place to celebrate my new job at Groupon. And so right was he! We were two couples, and were seated at a very comfortable table. I ordered the Asian chicken, my best friend ordered a meat entree and the other couple ordered sea food. The food was impeccable. I wasn't happy with the smaller portions though. Their desserts are to die for, especially the chocolate mousse one. Oomph! I'll most definitely go back on another special occasion.
(5)
Steve S.

My wife and I watch the chef shows on Bravo and thought maybe Beverly got the short end of the spoon. She did. Our meal was AMAZING. I'm pretty sure the Tuna Tartar was the best we've ever had. The dumplings were savory and sweet with just a hint of truffle. DELICIOUS! I got the Braised Rib and my wife got the Indonesian Nasi Goreng. I forget I'm not a big fan of braised. I see 'rib' and I get excited. But this was actually really good. It lays on a bed of thai basil potato purÃ©e. It was great, very tender. The Goreng had a bit of heat on the bottom. It was also very tasty. Beverly was not there. And I wouldn't expect her to come out. But what this meal exceptional was the waiter. Nick. He knew EVERYTHING. He was able to list the ingredients, how they were added, and when. He was able to explain the preparation and why it worked best. His command and enthusiasm for the menu added to our culinary adventure. Further, he brought out the Brussel Sprouts for us try. Whoa, these were EXCEPTIONAL! The egg that came with it felt totally right. I may have to add brussel sprouts to my Sunday breakfast regimen. Also, I had made the reservation a few weeks ago for my wife's bday on opentable. I forgot I had said it was her bday (we'd had a long week). So I was surprised and delighted to see another dish brought out after I thought we were done. Chocolate mousse, and sorbets - and 'Happy Birthday' written out in chocolate on the plate. Brill! There are a bunch of stellar restaurants in Chicago. My wife and I usually try one every month or two. Rarely do we go back because there are so many. But we'll be making it back to Aria.
(5)
Sarah L.

Absolutely amazing - I can't wait to go back!!! I am half-Korean myself and to see Korean cuisine prepared in such an elegant way makes me cry a little pride tear. I made a reservation for a group of 8, so we got the fancy separate dining room in the back. The service was excellent, I barely even noticed they were there, but they were always there at the right time making sure we had what we needed. The atmosphere is romantic and modern, and the food was amazing. I got the Korean short ribs, which were arguably one of the best plates of food I have ever had. Delicious cocktails, appetizers - the whole meal was amazing and well-priced for the value. I will definitely be going here again the next time I'm in Chicago. Also, Chef Beverly Kim came out and visited our table - she was so sweet and genuine and meeting her just made the whole evening and meal very special. Thanks Aria!
(5)
Portia I.

The service was terrible, although the many waiters were sweet and good-natured they rarely came to our table and took forever to remove finished dishes. The food was mediocre, more confusion than fusion, and very expensive. We had 2 appetizers and split a main dish, 2 glasses of wine and one dessert. the bill was about $100 without the tip. For this price I expect superb food and service.
(2)
Shanti N.

I don't understand some of the reviews stating that Aria at the Fairmont is pretentious-- I have always felt welcome, whether as part of a group or coming here solo for a drink at the bar. The sushi is fresh and inventive, and the selection of drinks, including wine by the glass, is solid. I am what would be considered a neighborhood regular, so my review might be biased. On a particularly slow Thursday night at the bar, when it was only me and one other customer, the bartender was super attentive, making conversation and seeing that I was being taken care of, when she just as easily could have checked out.
(4)
Anthony L.

Yeah, sorry to pile on, but this place was crap I actually thought the place looked good, and I enjoyed the live DJ. But the service and food left a lot to be desired. My girl found a Groupon-type deal for this place and I was happy to partake, as there we drinks and food included for half price. I'll use a bullet point format so I don't waste your time. We had a 12:45 reservation, showed up at 12:45, and weren't seated until 1:10. What's the point of reservations then? Our server was very slow. It took us 20 minutes to get our first round of drinks, and an additional 20 to get our second round. We could see the bar from where we were sitting. I wanted to go back there and make them myself. The specialty drinks were terrible. Watered down, improperly made, you name it. I ordered a maker's on the rocks later, and that was the only drink that was made properly. The bar ran out of ice, and we waited over half an hour for ice water! The food was just okay. I'll recommend the Vietnamese sandwich and cinnamon rolls, but the rest I could take or leave. The chicken on the chicken and waffles was bad, The sushi didn't seem fresh, and the sliders were dry and were brought out cold after an extended wait. We flagged down our server after 10 min and told her the burgers were cold and asked for new ones. Five minutes later she brought out the same sliders, now luke-warm and obviously fresh from a microwave or burner. My girl got a stomach ache from something she ate there and now hates this place with a passion. I was just glad I got a decent drink finally. Needless to say, I will NOT return.
(1)
K M.

Love this place! The food is amazing! I love the sauces and the fresh naan! Every dish is a masterpiece! The atmosphere is wonderful! And if you have to wait, the bar is just as good, and a great sushi menu to go with it!
(5)
Milly P.

My boyfriend and I went to Aria for dinner last night and we were pleasantly surprised. I don't think the overall 3 star yelp review is really fair. The decor of the restaurant is nothing to write home about, but it works. It's not distracting in anyway. The service staff was fine, as well. The dinner started with naan and 4 sauces. This was a fun twist on your typical bread starter. The naan was great and the sauces were as my boyfriend said "tastes from around the world." We then had the egg drop soup which was good. My boyfriend had the halibut and I had the scallops for our main entrees. Both were very well flavored and extremely fresh! For dessert we had the ovaltine dream and instant karma. The karma being more yummy than the ovaltine. In sum, we had a very delicious meal. The ingredients they used were very fresh and we have nothing bad to really point out.
(5)
Giselle F.

Luanne C. would like to update this with a classy retort, since she believes I am remembering her cheesecake incorrectly. So, to be fair, here it is. Oh, and by the way, no matter how you slice/describe it, the cheesecake is still no good. 6/1/2010 New! Luanne C.Chicago, ILSend Message For your review of: Aria The cheesecake is lined with a pretzel crust, you douche bag. And for your information it wasn't glazed with ganache, it was glazed with a hard dark chocolate glaze to replicate the candy bar. Get a clue!
(1)
Emily G.

Went here for bunch using a travelzoo coupon for 2 for brunch. On Sunday mornings they have a live DJ which was pretty cool! The coupon we had allowed us 2 cocktails each and 5 small plates between the two of us. I ordered sushi for one of mine which was to die for. We also got to sit at the sushi bar and it was nice to sit and watch the sushi being made while we ate. My friend and I split angus beef sliders which I would not recommend, they were pretty bland. I finished off my meal with delicious churros and mexican hot chocolate. The one complaint I have is the servers an hosts were a little short-staffed and seemed a little flustered but the waiter was extremely friendly had made up for it with his service. After great service for the entire meal we had to wait quite a while for our check but he even acknowledged this, apologized and brought us each a complimentary glass of wine. Overall, the food was pretty good and we had a great relaxed bunch I would love to go back but not for the full price (our brunch would have been over $100 for two people). They seem to have a lot of Groupon, LivingSocial, Travelzoo, etc deals so I would suggest keeping an eye out for those - I know I will!
(3)
Kelsey K.

Very few places earn the distinction of being despised by yours truly but this one worked very hard at it. Let me start at the beginning: we saw this coupon come across for brunch at a place close to Grant Park and valid for the weekend of Lolla. Awesome, we're in. First off, the location sucks. In a hotel such as this, they could at least put it on a higher floor so that the views don't consist of concrete, cars, and passers-by. Not only that, but what were they thinking when they hired that decorator!?!? It is Indian, with couches and all different heights of tables and, seriously, I have never sat at a more awkward table in my life than the tall tables there. They leave about thismuch space for your knees so you're left sitting side-saddle or straddling the table the whole time. One of which is weird and the other is entirely inappropriate for an expensive meal. ...and there's no host stand when you walk in from the street side. So you're not entirely sure if you came in the wrong way or if anyone even knows that you're waiting to be seated or what the hell is going on... so there's awkwardness all around at first. AND there's a DJ and 3 of his friends spinning records in the corner, and the music is pretty inappropriate for the crowd. I mean, let's be real about this, I'm kind of a floozy with my reviews. Honestly, I LIKE to like places... just look at my star distribution, I'm not lying. We finally get a table and we are handed a menu with a few random dishes that don't appear to have any continuity whatsoever... like Chicken N Waffles and Sushi... How do those belong together?!?! Maybe those are just the chefs specialties... I don't know. But I digress... after 20 min of waiting to be greeted we finally flag down the ambiguously hosty guy to ask him for our server. He stated that he was more than happy to get our drinks for us so I ask him for a drink menu. He states that there are drinks on the back of the food menu. When I thank him but ask for the complete drink menu he proceeds to point to the bar and state that they have a full bar and that he can make whatever I want. After explaining to him 3 times that I really just want to see the COMPLETE MENU OF HOUSE SPECIALTY DRINKS, he finally reaches behind him and grabs the menu, places it in front of me and then says he'll be by in a few minutes to get our drink order. Wait, where is our server this whole time? MIA, that's where. SO we finally order drinks with our server after another 5 minutes, but, don't worry, you can't specialize any of the breakfast drinks on the menu because they're already PREMIXED. $10+ for a premixed drink?!?! Are you kidding me?!?! That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a while. Once we finally got the remiss server in front of us, we order our first round of food. Chicken N Waffles and fish tacos... because I would call those New World Asian Cuisine. The drinks and tacos were fine but I don't think that my dog would eat that crap. The chicken was fried WAY too long and it was hard and dry, plus the flavor was horrible. There was some orangey glaze that just further pointed out the flavorless nature of the waffles. Tacos, fine... the first time. Oh yeah, we got the same dishes twice. They were embarrassed so they told us to just eat them anyway. We took them up on the taco offer but refused the chicken and waffles. We were subjected to that torture once, no thank you on round 2!! Then they took my husband's silverware and didn't refresh our drinks or water. Second course comes out, but not before the people next to us asked us to let the server know that they left because they hadn't been greeted for 30 min. They brought us sushi with no chopsticks that was far from fresh and some other unmemorable dish. My husband asked for coffee, which was lukewarm. Yes, apparently you get cold coffee without even having to specify it here, way to anticipate our needs on a warm day such as this!! Then we got some cinnamon rolls that were actually... wait for it... wait for it... good. I know, hard to believe, right? On a side note: the wrong food was served to EVERY table around us. Instead of letting it slide and taking one for the team, the server proceeded to run over and, in a tsking tone, take the food off of the table and serve it to the appropriate table. Okay, so here's the final score: -Ambiance: 2 -Service: -1 -Menu: -1 -Presentation: 1 -Value: -3 Yeah, I wouldn't come back here if someone paid me. If anyone from Aria reads this just know that you should be ashamed of yourselves for preying on tourists with your sub-par food, dismal service, and utter misrepresentation of the Chicago culinary scene. Revamp your menu, pay attention to your dishes, and treat your customers with an ounce of respect if you expect to survive in this market. Oh yeah, and refill waters during the course of a meal!!!
(1)
Daisy S.

I love Aria! I went for the first time to this restaurant with my husband and can honestly say i have found the best sushi joint in Chicago! I lived in San Francisco for four years during my college days & there I fell in love with sushi. In Frisco they have fresh with creative sushi rolls anywhere you go. After going to Blow Fish (the best sushi in the Bay Area) I thought i would never find such an outstanding sushi place. When i came back to my hometown, Chicago, I was desperate to find a local sushi bar that can satisfy my cravings. Hitting sushi bar after sushi bar (Tamarind, hot Woks Cool Sushi, Oysy, Restaurant Thalia etc.) I always came out unsatisfied. I was astonished to find that not only was Aria the best sushi I have ever had, It also was not expensive like I expected it to be(sushi between$6- $13)! Although if you are not going there for sushi expect to pay decent price for their entrees ($20-$30). As a huge sushi fanatic I def. recommend this restaurant for delicious sushi. I ordered the Dragon Slayer and even brought home 2 extra rolls. Each bite was orgasmic like eating sushi should be! I also tried the duck and if you like indian spices and flavors you will like the duck. My husband ordered the Steak and that had some Thai flavors. For desert we had the Instant Karma and Chocolate cake with Coconut Sorbet. The Instant Karma was delicious! It is a cheesecake made with mango and kiwi fusion. I enjoyed the Coconut Sorbet much more than the chocolate cake. The chocolate cake was loaded Caffeine. The Coconut sorbet was the perfect combination of creamy and frosty! The service was fantastic! They gave us complimentary naan( with five unique dipping sauces), spiced cookies and roasted walnuts to go along with a 20% discount card that can be used for the restaurant, spa and hair salon at the Fairmont hotel. The food wait was what i expected for fresh food. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
(5)
Linnea E.

I ate here twice, and was pleased with both experiences. The food was very tasty, and the drinks even better! They make a grapefruit martini that is super yummy! The potstickers are also excellent. I had something else that wasn't as good. Menu is a bit small - very limited in choices. And the restaurant side they are snotty at the front desk. I had no reservation... it was a last minute idea to go there. They looked like I had slapped them across the face. How dare I have no reservation... "maybe they can accommodate you in the bar." Uhm... the restaurant is damn near empty? oh well... they were very nice in the bar. But the snottiness at the restaurant side cost you a star for sure. Oh... expensive. very.
(3)
Osmond S.

Meh....it's okay. Typical hotel food (it's part of the Fairmont) Good ambience, good service, and conveniently located in the loop. For work-related "meetings" it works fine. That said, I personally don't think the food is worth the money. I've been here for breakfast and lunch so that's all I can speak to, but neither times did I find myself wowed by the food. Earlier today I tried the Wagyu Beef Burger which looked a lot better than it tasted. The fries were pretty good but the burger was average at best. And at $17, it's not really a place I'll come back to of my own volition.
(2)
Michael G.

Anywhere that causes me to have a Spinal Tap moment is somewhere that I can't get behind. How much more dark could this place be? In the words of the fictional Nigel Tufnel: "none more black"! I've never understood places that basically turn the lights off to create an atmosphere. Usually because the darker a place is, the more they raise the prices. It's something that New York City hotels specialize in but they're followed in this sin only by upscale sushi places. And Aria amps that trick up to 11! I also want to mention, and this is an important consideration in the winter, there is also none more cold! Aria hosted the Thank Goodness It's Over event for the Chicago region of National Novel Writing Month. We weren't in the apparently ultra private back room and the back bar area they provided us didn't provide that much privacy for a group of 30 or so. Though excusing that, Aria does get props for going all out for us in some ways. They created event cards and two cocktails specifically for the occasion (or at least they themed two drinks for it). One thing they didn't bother to create was a special menu. It was their usual sushi menu - which contains not a single vegetarian choice. They will make an avocado, cucumber, or asparagus maki upon request for $6. Which was much cheaper than their normal, very average (according to the meat eaters of the group), sushi. And the maki was nothing special either. If I didn't know better, I would think this was just an mediocre, albeit expensive, hotel bar. Though come to think of it, to hide that fact might be why they keep the lights so low.
(2)
Ashley M.

I had a LivingSocial coupon to use here the other night and I was glad that I finally had a chance to visit this restaurant. The Duck dish was very tasty and the seasoned walnuts they gave you as a snack to take with you was a great touch. I'm also a sucker for the frog pitchers they used to serve you water in. I need to get one for my house. My only complaint was that it took ~25 minutes for me to get my car from the Valet (Which was run by the Fairmont Hotel). It was Saturday night and a few weddings were wrapping up, so make sure to allow some extra time to get your car in case you are in a hurry. Definitely can't wait to go back.
(4)
Anna P.

What a complete waste of $$$. I went to the cocktail lounge/bar with a group of co-workers for our holiday party and have rarely been so disappointed. First of all, we showed up and told the hostess we had a reservation and she nodded and just pointed to the lounge - we wandered around wondering what that meant, looking for someone to help us, and then finally I had to go back and ask her where we were supposed to sit - are you kidding me?!? This is the Fairmont?!? Things only got worse...our waitress was friendly but it took 20 minutes for her to come over and take our order, another 20 for half of us to get our drinks, and another HALF HOUR for her to bring the rest of the drinks - which only happened after we saw them sitting on the bar for 15 minutes and pointed it out to her. These cocktails were $13 a piece, mind you. Forget ordering another round. Took another hour to put in food orders, which all came at different times, which was okay since we were sharing. As a result I tried a lot of different things and besides the specialty sushi rolls, nothing tasted great. The only good thing about this place was the decor - I thought it was classy and nice. However, this could not make up for the terrible overall experience with no reason or apology given - the place was only 1/3 full at best. If you work hard for your money, which most of you do I am sure, skip this place and spend it somewhere else.
(1)
C J.

Herb and pistachio crusted grouper...um hell yeah. Delicate and fricken delicious! Service was great, and all the food was awesome. Habanero crab cakes highly recommended.
(4)
Elizabeth H.

I would give aria one star, if not for the service and the complimentary naan. That being said, the food sucked. We ordered the mussels, the lobster chili and the crab Rangoon to start. The mussels were undercooked and thus inedible. The crab Rangoon was nothing special. And you''d think that a lobster chili would at least be interesting, but nope that was boring too. However, the naan that they bring to the table was delicious- buttery and warm, accompanied by four dipping sauces that were all good. For my entree, I ordered the steak. Ugh. It was a salt lick. Too much sickeningly sweet soy sauce and something that was allegedly a wasabi crust but tasted like lowry's, and a whole bunch of it. Yuck. Two of my dining companions ordered the monkfish which they said was under seasoned. And the chickpeas that accompanied their dish were so undercooked that they were crunchy. Very disappointing. Needless to say, I won't be returning. If you are thinking of dining at aria, I would recommend that you think again.
(2)
Evelyn R.

After a first try a couple of months ago, we came back during restaurant week. Both times, the food was amazing! I had the oxtail wonton soup and short ribs, both very delicious and beautifully presented. Aria also has a nice cocktail list and you're surrounded by a beautiful serene decor. Highly recommend for those nights you want some more glam in your life.
(4)
Trent P.

Partaking in Chicago's Restaurant Week, my cousin suggested Aria's. Being new to the city, I said, "Sure", not knowing what a gastronomic pleasure I was about to enjoy! We started our courses with the Yuzu Pickled Beet Salad which consisted of candied walnuts, aerated chevre, petite citrus greens, and a soy balsamic reduction. I am a beet fan, so this was certainly to be good. There were several varieties of beets, red and yellow, citrus grass that was not overbearing, and the balsamic reduction and the aerated chevre were an amazing combination. Having food allergies, I informed the waiter. He was so accommodating and knowledgeable of menu, he quickly assured me that I would have no problems at all. Chef de Cuisine, Tommy Greer delivered my salad to the table and introduced himself. An amazing culinary genius, he told us about the evening's menu and made suggestions on which dishes would alleviate any concerns due to my allergies. For our entree, we both selected the Thai Curry Shrimp, which consisted of red curry, local vegetables, honshemeji mushrooms, and hearts of palm over a bed of basmati rice. I can not boast enough about the wonderful layers of flavor and texture this culinary masterpiece contains! The red curry was not overbearing, a hint of sweetness and smokey goodness. The vegetables were perfectly blanched, not al dente, just the right tenderness without being "mushy", and full of flavor! Each bite to the bottom of the dish, provided an explosion of amazing flavor! I truly did not want to reach the end of the course. For dessert, my cousin had the flour-less chocolate cake over a caramel and banana mixture. She said it was wonderful! Again, with my allergies, I was not able to eat it, so the waiter suggested another wonderful supplement. I had a scrumptious chocolate mousse with green tea ice cream. Service was wonderful. The staff was warm and inviting - we were even an hour and a half early for our reservations! They promptly accommodated us, and told us it would not be a problem! So, if you want an incredible dining experience, and an excellent meal, do not hesitate to eat at Aria's! You will not be dissapointed!
(5)
Mihir P.

Without a doubt, Aria has the BEST potstickers. As they arrived at the table I could smell the delicate smokiness that wafted toward me. My mouth began to water. The skin was thin and crisp while the meat was soft and moist giving it a mix of textures. The generous amount of shiitake mushrooms and light dashi-bacon broth was the perfect accompaniment. FYI, the mushrooms are not in the dumpling. For the entree, I took the ribeye steak. I think it was actually a filet. It was a generous but tougher cut. The Thai chili rub was amazing as were the maitake mushrooms but if the steak was less tough it would have been sensational. The fingerling potatoes were bland and pointless. My friend got the shortrib pad see eew which was delightful. However, the shortrib was too chewy and had some unedible bits. The service was OK. Our server was a bit weird and wasn't knowledgeable about the drinks. He was also a bit socially awkward. I'd still go back to try some other items on the menu and of course to eat.more potstickers.
(4)
Yang B.

This place is Over rated. The small plates were not impressive. The pho was salty and not the real deal, although the duck meat was tender. Kind of disappointed after reading all the good reviews about the chef and the fact this restaurant is located within the Fairmont hotel. Did not try the sushi though.
(3)
Jessica C.

We took our 12 year-old son to Chicago for a last-minute grown-up adventure. With every restaurant within a mile-radius sporting a two-hour wait, we made a reservation with OpenTable and sauntered down to Aria on the recommendation of a friend. The place was only about 1/2 full, offering plenty of four-tops, yet they sat the three of us at a round-table suited for 6-7. Feeling like it was to keep the kid away from the couples out for a romantic evening, I didn't say anything. However, it's also not like we brought a toddler along. I would have appreciated it if they'd treated us like a three-top of adult diners. Our server was personable and professional and he treated our son like an adult, which we all appreciated, but the service was a bit slow - even for a high-end restaurant where it's to be expected. Some of the food was quite good. The appetizers we had (dumplings and tuna) were the highlight of the evening, along with the naan and dipping sauces. My husband will eat anything, but he enjoyed his fish and my son liked the sushi. However, my kung pao chicken was nothing to write home about. In all, it was a fine night, but it seems like there are better options in Chicago for the same price. Next time we'll make a reservation for one of those places before venturing out on a Saturday night.
(3)
Shawn C.

I went here for my birthday. It was quite the experience. We were seated quickly and our server came over to take our drink orders. We also ordered a couple of apps. The tuna tartare was quite memorable. Loved every piece of it. For dinner my companion had the scallops and I had the pappardelle. Both were just simply delicious. We couldn't find anything wrong (not that we were looking). We ate all of it and were quite full. We also had dessert and it was a nice birthday display plate (nice touch). I can't remember what it was, but we ate all of it. Ok, I would give this place 5 stars if it weren't for the bar...sigh. Ok, the bar itself looks VERY cool. I would love for this place to become my new after work bar, but the prices are simply ridiculous. I ordered a manhattan and a jack and coke, nothing fancy right. The jack and coke was 14 and the manhattan was 12. None of these drinks require a mixologist (new term for fancy bar chef). I laughed when I got the bill and told my friend, we are out of here. I will never pay over ten bucks for a jack and coke again...ever. And for that Aria, goes your 5 star review. Otherwise I will definitely come back for dinner again. The food is delicious, it really is!
(4)
Kristy N.

I had friends in town for a wedding and they were staying at the Fairmount. I met them at the bar for a late dinner and came away underwhelmed. The atmosphere is great, very dimly lit and sexy without being cheesy. The wine was very overpriced (I know its a hotel bar but c'mon - $11 a glass is the best you can do?). I opted for the miso soup and california role since the server said that I could get fresh crabmeat instead of crabstick. The miso was a bit bland for my taste and served with a very awkwardly shaped spoon. I'm all for aesthetics but the spoon made it hard to eat the soup. The roll was good but the strongest taste I got from it was cucumber which is fine for a salad but not for sushi. The server was very nice and the place started to fill up around 10. If you are in a real pinch (or your company is footing the bill), then this place is fine but I will not be back given the plethora of other options available.
(2)
Cindy H.

Sat in the bar for sushi. Their cocktails are way overpriced so we switched after one each to a bottle of wine. Service was very, very, very slow. The poor waitress was the only one assigned to the one whole side of the bar and was slammed. Sushi was just OK. Had the Chicago Fire roll, which was good but nothing amazing. The mussels to start were all right but a tad "fishy" in taste. (And I know they're mussels so they will be fishy, but it was an odd flavor that made me wonder about their freshness.) Overall, there are definitely better places for people-watching and sushi in the neighborhood. Atmosphere and decor are very nice, though. Review would have been better too if service hadn't been so incredibly poor.
(1)
Boon K.

The sushi bar, this is my favorite place to go when I just want to relax and catch up with my girls. I love the intimacy here and the plush couches. The service is always wondering. The maki are all tasty and the drinks are just want I needed with a little asian twist, I love the silk pear or the passion fruit. Sadly I have tried them all and all the maki.
(4)
Amy L.

Overview: Went here for Valentine's Day dinner ... good ambiance, yummy food, slow service. The prix fixe menu was a little limited, but the food we got was tasty and well presented, EXCEPT the dessert. Food: My boyfriend ordered the lamb with chimichurri - sooooooooo good! I had the ricotta gnocchi, which was tasty but a little boring ... also, very small portion compared to my boyfriend's lamb. We had the fondue dessert, which looked like a haphazard collection of random shit that may or may not taste good dipped in chocolate ... I think my boyfriend described it best as, "It looks like something a kid would bring their dad to eat - look what I made! It has fruit and brownies and rice krispy treats on it!" Ambiance: The lighting and decor is nice, but the clientele was a mixed bag of drunk arguing couples and extreme PDA ... I've been to Aria once before back in November, and it was the same thing, so I can't attribute the craziness to just Valentine's Day :) Service: Really friendly staff but slow to serve. I ran out of water, which should never happen at a nice restaurant. Also, no one was there to get our coats at the end of dinner and we had to find a bus boy to find the keys to the coat check! It took forever.
(3)
Colleen D.

Meh. I eat on Argyle all the time and nothing here was worth the increased price and the trip, even with the Travelzoo coupon.
(2)
Alex A.

Chef Bev shines. Even though it was restaurant week, the service, cocktails, and food were amazing. The scallops were mouthwatering. The short ribs did not require a knife, they were so tender. This is fine dining at its best.
(5)
Justin B.

Maybe my experience was slightly jaded by the dude who committed suicide from the hotel about 15 minutes before my wife and I arrived ... No, that isn't it. This place is just not good. Decent food for a hotel, I guess, but Chicago has so much to offer and this isn't one of the restaurants that is doing the city justice ...
(2)
Andrew T.

I went to Aria this past weekend for the first time to celebrate with my wife. It was our 1st wedding anniversary, so we wanted to ensure we had a nice cozy setting. Having heard great things about Aria and the culinary team, we were excited to take a look at the menu and make our selections in advance of our meal. Upon first glance, neither of us was over impressed with the menu, but what did we really know. =) We arrived and had no issues getting seated (our reservation was at 7PM). We were greeted by our waiter quickly and started looking through the menu. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu, methods of preparation and ingredients used to create each dish. We provided some stellar recommendations and the meal was delicious. For an appetizer, we sampled the special Maki roll for the evening. Fresh, light, tasty. We moved onto the pork and shiitake mushroom dumplings, which sat in a pork broth. Also delicious, delicate and easy to take down. While waiting for our entrees, we were brought some warm flat bread with a sampling of sauces. For the entrÃ©e, my wife had the salmon special for the evening and I had the sake-glazed black cod. Our evening ended with an amazing desert with the words "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate across the top of our plate. Looking forward to coming back!.
(4)
Charles S.

place could be better, food is excellent. Service is terrible.
(3)
Rajiv H.

I have no idea why there are so many poor reviews for Aria. The food, drinks, service, and decor were all excellent. We went to celebrate my wife getting a new job which the Maitre'De and our waiter continually congratulated us on. Why thank you good sirs. I have no transition here, but I'll just say that the decor is gorgeous in a way that's not at all gaudy. Seeing as how we were celebrating, we decided to start with some wine and a couple appetizers. The wine selection is sufficient with many quality choices that won't break the bank. The cilantro-cured salmon carpaccio was good, though I'll admit I've never particularly been a fan of cold appetizers. The wild boar ribs on the other hand were spectacular. Part of the ribs were like pork belly, which I love, and the rest of it were tender fall-off-the-bone meat with a great sweet bbq flavor. For the entrÃ©es we got a wide spread. The more fusion oriented thai chile smoked rib eye, which was a bit salty to my taste, but a nice cut of meat, to the star of the show: my wife's Michigan venison with beets (sorry, I can't recall the full dish name). The short rib pad see eew was much more traditional Asian (yes, I know how ignorant and ridiculous that sounds, just deal with it) and just as delicious and well prepared. We ended the night with a couple complimentary desserts. We were very pleasantly surprised by the crispy light almond wafers courtesy of the chef. We ordered a chocolate cake with coconut ice cream and cocoa dusted..something I can't remember. It was nice and rich, the flavors were all excellent, and the textures were very complimentary. Aria is honestly a little pricey for what it is, and I'm sure being at the Fairmont and in Lakeshore East has a great deal to do with all that. Luckily, you can almost always find a great deal on the web that makes it more than worthwhile to stop on by.
(4)
Terris A.

My boyfriend and I went to Aria as apart of their Travelzoo promotion for their brunch. We made a reservation online and were seated pretty quickly. However this is where any quickness stopped, after that everything was sloooooow. We were seated in this very awkward table near the bar where the servers at to practically sit on our table to get to the register. Suggestion to management: get rid of that table. Next we sat there for a total of 6 minutes before we were approached by anybody and this includes one of the busing staff to give us water. Two times, one of the men that looked he was in charge walked by our table and noticed that we looked annoyed and did nothing. Finally our waitress arrives and we order our drinks. We sit there and are digging the DJ and the vibe. However we sat for god knows how long before our drinks arrived. At this point, we have been at the restaurant for half hour and we are just getting our drinks. We ordered our food from a pretty interesting and decent menu. Nothing too exciting but it was creative. I had the lobster rolls and those rolls alone saved me from absolutely hating this place. Don't ask me how long we waited for the food to arrive. Never at any point did our waitress make a point of coming to check on us, or apologize for the wait or seem interested in us at all. Well we dared to order some more drinks and waited and waited. (oh and did I mention the drinks were watered down and not good.... ) We then reminded our waitress about the drinks and she acted shocked they weren't there yet. Since we were sitting so close to the bar, we overheard her going to the bar to inquire about our drinks only to find out they never received the order for them.... Anyways we waited for the bill and got the heck out of there. The service is what killed this place. Bad drinks can be forgotten but slow and uncaring service cannot.
(2)
Adam J.

Very good food. Fresh made flatbread comes with 4 different sauces. My girlfriend and I split a tuna tartare app which was excellent. I had the venison loin and she had the duck breast. Both cooked perfectly. It's pricey, but worth it. I will say that the ambiance was a little pretentious and not exactly my style, but it was worth it when the food came out
(4)
Linna C.

Checked in at the Fairmont pretty late on a Friday night; I was hungry, Aria was convenient - but little did I realize that the excessive decor, while beautiful was merely a means to cover up the horrendous subpar food that they serve. There is no debate that the space itself is lovely, but seriously if your going to serve sushi or asian food, at least know and understand the flavors. DON'T PUT VINEGAR IN MY UDON and call it ASIAN! That is just plain stupidity! The prices are also outrageous, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE FOOD IS DISGUSTING! Also, get competent servers, my waitress not only forgot one of my orders but mischarged me for a menu item that was clearly identified by a specific price!! UTTER DISAPPOINTMENT!!
(1)
Jen B.

This review would have recieved one star, but the restaurant redeemed itself when we were comped for the poor food and experience. We had dumplings, crab salad, wild boar ribs, and beef pad see ew. Unfortunately, the best part of the meal was the naan and dipping sauces in the very beginning. Each dish was so complex in flavors that I had a hard time figuring out what exactly I was eating. The main course of beef pad see ew tasted like all the others blended together. Yuck. The worst part of the experience was that we didn't know sushi was an option. After viewing others sitting at their tables eating sushi, we inquired about how to do that. We were told that we should have asked for a sushi menu because that'a just a bar menu. Really? That was our first time at Aria. How would we know to do that? We had a groupon for the "bar" I guess...but when we went to the bar, they sent us to the restaurant. When we went to the restaurant, no mention of the bar option. Hello?! The topper came at the end of the meal when we recieved the bill. There were multiple taxes...food tax...food and beverage tax...mineral tax...carbonation tax...all this for three apps, one main dish, and a diet coke. Go figure. The place was dead for a Saturday night and WAY darker than the pictures on their website show. In fact, the couple next to us asked the waiter for a flashlight so they could read the menu. Just plain weird.
(2)
Bill C.

My wife and I stopped by here the other night, and I was surprised by the quality of food and level of service. We had the Duck and the Gnocchi and both dishes were extremely tasty. The prices were also reasonable ($20 - $30 for most plates) for this quality of food. I will definitely check it out again next time I'm downtown and need a nice place to go.
(4)
Jeffrey M.

It's 8pm-ish on a Friday night and the restaurant is at about a quarter capacity. I take this as a sign that I'm watching a restaurant going through it's death throes. The service was very friendly. I had a couple cocktails, one was pretty good the other hardly palatable. Both of my dates cocktails were overly sweet. The crab rangoon appetizer was pretty good while the peking duck dumplings were a disappointment. When I think peking duck, the first thing that comes to mind is that crispy cracklin which was completely absent in the dumpling dish. I feel they should be incorporated somehow. The real disappointment of the night was the duck pho. Pho with seared foie gras, duck leg-foie meatballs, and spiced duck breast priced at nearly $30 a bowl should be out of this world. Instead it was somehow pedestrian. The one bright spot of the evening was dessert. My date and I shared the pot de creme and it was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was really awkward. I just sort of felt bad for the place.
(2)
Samuel C.

I love Chef Beverly! Her cuisine is authentic and delicious. Cool kinds of sushi to try and even rolls for the kids. A Peanutbutter and Jelly roll...LOL. Anyway, this place is great for a quick bite or a romantic meal. Parking is a breeze at the Fairmont. Sometimes my wife and I spend the night :-) Get adventurous, you won't regret it.
(5)
Randy T.

I came here to try the Restaurant Week menu for lunch. I didn't know what was going to be served but I checked their a-la-carte menu and thought there would be several options to choose from. Alas, there was only one item to choose from for each course. The mushroom soup was tasty. Definite 'shroomy taste. The texture was silky smooth because there was some micro chunks of mushroom but that was fine with me. Appreciated the texture of the soup. The next course was the shrimp pad thai. It was decent. I've definitely had better but I was glad there were a few gi-normous shrimp incorporated into the pad thai. Finally came dessert which was the selection of sorbets, which was an individual scoop of blueberry, mango, pineapple, and passionfruit. Every flavor was great except for the passionfruit. Definitely lacked the sweetness for some reason. There was some gnarly tartness to the passionfruit. The service was great and attentive but I wish there were more options to choose from. Had I known that there would be only one choice I'd have chosen a different place with more variety on their Restaurant Week menu.
(3)
Agnes F.

I guess Aria recently had a change of chef so the menu was overhauled. Gone was the mushroom bisque, replacing it is young coconut soup that my boss really enjoyed. I had the trout for entree (lunch) and was very happy with it. I can't believe i am saying this but its the best trout i ever had, perfectly crispy skin and the meat was still moist. The cauliflower that came with was delicious as well. Glad Aria is able to spruce things up, the old menu was getting a little tired and too familiar.
(4)
Amy T.

When you go to a restaurant that specializes in Asian cuisine, especially in an expensive part of Downtown Chicago, you expect the sushi to be superb. First off I ordered Ikura which IS salmon eggs, and it has been salmon eggs at every single sushi place I've ever been too, and that is a lot. They gave me masago instead, and the server didn't get it at all when I tried to explain what Ikura was - large orange salmon eggs. The dragon roll was also lacking in eel, and very mundane, as was the boring, flavorless spicy tuna roll. They reminded me of the kind of sushi I could buy at the grocery store. In fact, I've had much better sushi at a Japanese grocery store I frequent. I ordered jiambhong, which is a Korean spicy seafood soup, but it wasn't spicy, and rather bland and the noodles were a little raw. I asked for spicy sauce on the side to liven it up. My husband ordered short ribs and loved them, so all was not lost. I heard that chef Chan left Aria the day before we came (bummer!!), so that was depressing. I hope the new executive chef gets things right. We did have very good service despite the fact that our server had no clue what Ikura was, but he was very nice, attentive, and even got our parking ticket validated. We also enjoyed the free orange bark dessert, and the flat bread that came before the meal, although the toppings left much to be desired. Nice atmosphere, although the repetitive music was a bit annoying.
(3)
Kate S.

My husband and I checked this place out tonight during restaurant week, and overall we were pretty happy. The biggest negative of the night, actually, was when we sat down. I planned to take my husband out, and set aside enough money for the $33 per person restaurant week menu, and some extra for wine and a hefty tip. However, when we sat down, we were only given the regular menu, which is much pricier. Entrees alone would have eaten up what I had brought to pay. Needless to say, this made me awfully nervous. (We were not the only table this happened to. I heard several other customers having to ask for the restaurant week menu.) I awkwardly asked about the restaurant week menu, and we were given one. So situation solved, right? Well, yes and no. It sort of put a negative spin on the whole evening. It made me feel like some sort of moocher to have to beg for the cheap menu, even though that's what was advertised to us. So, on to the positives of the meal. The food was actually fabulous. We began with the homemade naan, which was lovely, as were the sauces. I especially liked the green chutney, which tasted so herbacious and fresh. Mmm! Appetizers were also quite good, especially the coconut soup. The rice in it was a really nice touch. Entrees were also satisfying. I thought the gnocchi was just delicious, and the edamame in it actually worked really well with the cheesiness of the gnocchi. The sake cod was also really nice. The broth was lovely, though it would have been great if we'd been given a spoon to finish it! The apple caramel dessert (which was a trifle, though not advertised as such) was very nice, but I though the chocolate dessert was a little dense. It was basically a big rectangle of chocolate ganache, which is too rich for me. The chai was lovely though. Perfectly spiced, and you get a whole French press, which made me feel cozy and comfortable. All in all, a very nice meal, especially at restaurant week prices. I would hope the portions would be a little bigger off the regular menu, because though I was quite full at the end of the meal, I may have felt a little overcharged if I had paid full price.
(4)
Katelyn J.

Aria has some really creative and delicious menu options. The Aria signature roll was amazing. The ambience was nice, but really dark and our server Ozzie was friendly.
(3)
S. G.

Simply but beautifully prepared, thoughtfully sourced food. Worth every nickel -- bring your bag of nickels. We note that we went on a slow night, but received supremely attentive service. The chocolate cake dessert is really a soufflÃ©. The wasabi crusted steak was delicious and impossible not to finish. Venison medallions, intensely gamey yet delicate all at once. They invited us to come again, and we will!
(5)
Tara F.

Pluses: Well-designed atmosphere, live DJ on Sundays for brunch, free tastings of mixed cocktails and fresh churros. Not-so-pluses: Confused, allbeit polite, service (we were asked several times, by multiple waiters, if we had ordered what they were carrying--we hadn't and it took four requests for water before it was delivered) Cold food (two of our dishes were room temperature when we received them) and most disappointingly Burnt Pancakes (which I must mention, we were not charged for). Perhaps it is better for lunch? However, I do not believe I will give it a go.
(2)
Carole M.

Went to Aria, the restaurant, as opposed to sushi bar, on a recent trip to Chicago. It's not something I would repeat. The ambiance is fine -- dark, quirky. Seems like the Fairmount is trying to out-W the W which is a little annoying but, okay, whatever. Service was perfectly fine, attentive without being cloying. And the wine list is very good. In fact, the wine was the best part of the evening. We had the spicy tuna tartare and the quail egg pork belly stack for our appetizers. The former was high quality but not very interesting and the latter was the best thing all night -- an interesting blend of flavors and textures. For our entrees, we had the short ribs with thai basil potato mash and apple kimchi and the halibut with tomato broth and succotash. The short ribs were nothing special but certainly edible. The halibut offered a large portion of fish but the broth was strong and almost unpleasant. I spent most of the meal attempting to fish out the cooked portions of succotash (the asparagus was almost raw). Really too bad.
(2)
Shradha A.

This is really not the right place to bring clients for a breakfast meeting .. it's too empty, inattentive and slow. I'd rather recommend Geneva at Swissotel for breakfast meetings.. although, should add in all fairness, food quality is not bad here at all...
(2)
Carole E.

Overpriced, but decent enough. The drinks were easily the best part and the main course was only mediocre. Dessert (carrot something?) was practically unpalatable. The carrot sorbet tasted like mushed up cold carrots.
(3)
Joyce C.

This restaurant had been on my list for a while. The groupon deal pushed it to the top of the list. The location of the restaurant is odd since it's not really in a noticeable spot like most downtown eateries. There was some confusion when we first entered as to whether it was a full-scale restaurant or just a bar. That was resolved when the waitress stopped chatting and pointed us to the dining side of the restaurant (unfortunately, we stood waiting for a concierge, waiter or manager of some sort for several minutes before this happened). I was surprised it took a while for us to be seated as we made reservations far enough in advance and the restaurant was not crowded at all. Once seated, the service was slow but the food was soooo good, I overlooked it. The waiter, of his own volition, made up for it by bringing us dessert on the house. The dessert was not on the menu, and we had only not ordered dessert because our drinks, appetizer and entrees were filling enough. However, the crisp, lightly sweetened, tortilla-like dessert was the perfect finish! I will definitely go back.
(4)
Melanie B.

Did this for resto week lunch. Had the beet salad, then the bibimbap. Both were tasty, but the bibimbap won. The short ribs were succulent, and the whole dish felt delicate even as it was filling, and so flavorful, bordering on spicy. Dessert was four truffles, which were fine. Overall, it was a great lunch. The space is big--almost too big--and it does feel like a hotel restaurant. The location isn't ideal either, about as far east in the loop as you can go. I think that affects the experience, like somehow the food would be more beautiful in some small space somewhere in the West Loop.
(3)
Ria C.

Aria-I'm ashamed part of my name is included in yours...I don't even know where to start with this review as the whole experience was nothing less than bizarre. First-off, our waiter seemed to have come from a weird Seinfeld episode of a hell date or awkward run-in with a stranger. You know, one of those characters who is socially challenged and talks like a martian and a little cross-eyed? Yes, this was him. He started us off on the wrong foot trying to promote this distilled diamond vodka that he was trying to pawn off for $15 a glass which he tried to convince us was a steal. Ummm, no thanks. This is where I think Aria went wrong. The decor and clientelle were both upscale and the bar looked inviting; however the staff just tried too hard where they were almost pretentious; but at the same highly untrained, unrefined, and clueless to the point where they made the whole experience feel tacky. The entire night continued with our dinner interrupted by this yahoo refilling our wineglasses when refilling was not needed, if only to eavesdrop in on our conversation. He would then slur something inaudible and skitter away and I think fart, because it smelled kind of weird the entire night. The food was not entirely all that bad; however, I would not come back given the lack of attention to detail and cost. $225 for 4 of us, with a glass of wine each. Housebread: Naan-like, hearty and warm. Very good actually especially with the 4 dipping sauces. Mushroom Soup: Very good and just like homemade; therefore made with at least a stick and a half of butter. Citrus Calamari: Too saucy which caused the entire dish to fall flat. The sauce overpermeated the squid and caused the batter to become soggy. Shortrib: Had the bubby's and was pretty impressed by the complexity of flavors and the flaky moistness of the meat. Chow Mein with BBQ Duck and Lobster: I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of lobster in this dish, and the duck was tasty but slightly dry. I would like to see this with udon noodles and a bit spicier for the entire umami balance. Fiery Noodles: I didn't get a change to sample this dish but my friend said the meat tasted like dog. Creme Dessert with Crumbs: Very good, but a little heavy. Will not return.
(2)
Soyon L.

Sushi was great. service was exceptional. Also got miso ramen too. Ramen tasted horrible so salty and noodle texture was so soggy.
(4)
Helen C.

Food: 4 stars Service: 5 stars Value: 3 stars, 4 stars with the Groupon discount A Groupon enticed us to stop at Aria for lunch during our weekend visit to Chicago. For the most part - the food was delicious. We had the Big Eye Tuna Tartare Appetizer, Pork/Shrimp Dumplings with Shitake Broth, Thai Bouillabaise, and Korean Shortrib Sandwich. The Thai Bouillabaise is a small dish and pretty mediocre - I wouldn't order it again. The Korean Shortrib sandwich was definitely the winner from our group - it comes with a huge plate of fries, kimchee, and was cooked really well. Both of the appetizers were great. We had stellar service - and I don't say that easily. Water was filled without us asking. Recommendations came easily - and the servers split meals without us asking because they knew we were sharing. This may be because we came in right when they opened and there were very few others in the restaurant. With the Groupon, this was a pretty good value restaurant. I wouldn't come here without it!
(4)
Viviana R.

An evening well spent! My guest and I had dinner here on a Saturday evening, using the Travel Zoo coupon. I enjoyed the entire experience. Free valet, great service and good food. Our waiter was like a ninja! When we needed him, it was like he'd appear out of thin air. The food was good. We were impressed with the dumplings, the pad see ew and the complimentary cookies. My bf was disappointed with the flat iron steak, though. He said the quality of the meat was great but the sauce killed it. I never tried it so you be the judge. I'd read on their website about how the restaurant had i-pads and that's how they presented the menu to you, so I was a little disappointed when they handed us traditional menus and never breathed a word about i-pads. Still, I left the restaurant quite happy with the service and food.
(4)
Jessica S.

Avoid. I came here with one other person and the service was so slow our meal took over 2 hours. The food was incredibly salty as well. I would have complained, but the server had disappeared again and I didn't want to wait another hour for anything else. With such poor service and mediocre food the prices are ridiculous. I would rather eat at Taco Bell.
(1)
Ray K.

Went to Aria on Sunday for brunch. I normally don't do hotel restaurants but a sister was in town visiting and staying across the street from the fairmont hotel, so we decided to check it out. I'll cut to the chase. the food was good but not nearly worth the prices on the menu. we felt cheated in fact. To the restaurant's credit, there were 2 service mishaps over the course of the meal (that reinforced the sense of a poor experience) but the staff took care of it and made it right after the fact - otherwise, I would've given Aria 1-star.
(2)
Larry F.

Aria has changed over time and while it is still a good restaurant, it is not as good as it once was. In particular, I miss the terrific cream of mushroom soup. Despite the changes, Aria still offers a creative menu, good service, and an attractive room. Recently, I started with a crab salad wrapped in tuna with a slightly spicy sauce. It was cool and refreshing. For my main course, I had the quail, which came with some sort of grain (I wish I could remember what it was). The meat was perfectly cooked and flavorful. My wife started with the salmon carpaccio, which she says was excellent. For her entre, she had a Thai inspired lemon grass bouillabaisse. It was full of seafood and the broth was good, but not great. We finished up with a blueberry tart with candied ginger and tapioca. That might have been the best part of the dinner. Aria also has a chic looking sushi bar, which can be busy and noisy at lunch. I know this is going back a few years at this point but I still miss the simple bar food and sandwiches that used to be available.
(3)
Robert D.

Stay away. My party walked out after 10 minutes. The dining room was an organizational disaster. No greeting, no menu, no waitperson. Six or so patrons lined up at reception waiting to be seated in a half-empty dining room, no receptionist anywhere to be found. The food at this place may be great but out front something is profoundly amiss.
(1)
Tony B.

We stayed at the Fairmont in late March and dined here one night. Amazingly enough of all the places we went to eat in the city, my favorite 2 places were right in our hotel! The service lacked promptness as we were in the back room in front of the large cauldron oven, but the food made up for it. I was impressed with the way they cook their Indian flat bread in the large cauldron oven, and how they use sponges to put the flat dough in the oven. We ordered several types of sashimi which was really fresh - I ordered the tuna sampler that offers several types of tuna sashimi. For my main course I ordered the shrimp and chicken pad Thai and fell in love with it. My only regret was that it was our last night there and I would have to try to find a substitute pad Thai in San Diego - I haven't found it yet.
(4)
Scott S.

Amazing food! Had the ribeye with asparagus and mushrooms. The naan and dipping sauces were good. About the only thing that I didn't expect was the service being slow. It took 25 minutes to have someone just get our drink order. And then another another 1/2 hour to get our food order taken. It wasn't crowded, either. But, I would go back in a heartbeat to try other dishes.
(4)
Jen M.

the food was AMAZING. a group of four of us went here yesterday night for dinner and the food was truly delicious. i had the prok belly ramen soup special for the night and the miso glazed swordfish and both were done creatively and very delicious. the ambience is nice and the restaurant was packed. our waiter was very knowledgable about the menu and helped us with the best choices. the only downside is that we were there for such a long time because there was a lot of downtime in between courses. the fact that the food was so delcious and that we were a group of chatty girls i guessmade up for that, but i did expect the service would be a bit better. not sure if this was the waiters fault or the kitchen. also- because my friend had ordered the sea bass and they had sold out, it was nice that beverly kim herself came out to break the news. she had stated that dessert was on her- which was great for us- except that was not reflected in the bill at first, and we were charged for the sea bass that my friend did not end up getting. all slightly minor details but irritating none the less and we ended up adding more time to our already long dinner. would have given this place 5 stars, but still had quite the enjoyable experience.
(4)
Brad B.

Meh. For $250 we could have done much better. The service and atmosphere were perfect. The food was commonplace. There was a dull pall over everything; under seasoned and just sort of blah. We ate a non-sushi dinner so can't speak of the bar. Really. That peanut butter panna cotta was just plain weird. It resembled nothing of the panna cotti I've ever known. The "grape froth" or whatever it was, made the whole thing taste like peanut butter and jelly on white jello. It was just weird. For $250, I want something memorable in my mouth.
(2)
Jennifer K.

I very rarely write reviews here, unless it is something that was either extremely good or bad. In this case, my husband and I unfortunately thought the entire experience was BAD. We came here thinking it was going to be a romantic place for Valentine's Day. First we waited for an hour despite our reservation for 830pm. Then after complaining we finally get seated and start off with what they called sashimi, which to us looked like some raw fish thrown on a plate. The service was slow and we were unable to order anything other then the prefixed selection off the Valentine's Day menu. Most other places will allow you to order off prefixed or the original menu such as during restaurant week. I have an allergy to certain foods in which I told the waitstaff about and was told they could substitute pesto for something else. Well when I got my main course, it was lacking the substitute and much else like any taste at all. When it came to dessert , we had two choices, because we were told they ran out of a chocolate dessert!!!! Seriously on Valentine's Day!!! So we got the fondue, which consisted of a cup of chocolate and two marshmallows, and two strawberries, two cookies, and something else piled around this bowl of melted chocolate. No creativity, poor service, long wait, and terrible food all for an enormous amount of money!!!! Never eat here again, and strongly suggest that you don't either, unless all you are looking for is disappointment! Thanks btw, I love eating out, and trying new places, and have never given this type of review.
(1)
Lou R.

Had one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. My visit was together with my family for a birthday party. From a pre-set menu, every course came out perfectly on time and each was enjoyed shortly after. The app tray had an item I've never had, and have now begun to try my hand at making: fried calamari. I honestly believe I could've had 4 courses be fried calamari. I admit, my mind just blanked due to thoughts of the hints of lemon, crunch, mmm. To finish, my entree was the fiery beef wok (beef pad thai), and from the steak to the veggies, it was all quite fresh and well balanced. The "fiery" peppers and sauce served on the side DO add quite a bit more kick. The service was amazing, and even snuck in a few jokes into a table full of reminiscing Puerto Ricans. I've actually begun to arrange my New Year festivities there and have my dinner @ aria... Also, do check out the bar. The bartenders that served me during my two visits between courses were AMAZING,.
(4)
Michelle N.

My girlfriend and I met at the bar last night for some pre-theatre libations. The sushi was fantastic. The drinks menu (cocktails, wines by the glass, sake) is full of delicious options but not overwhelming. Ambiance is pleasant; not overcrowded but buzzing, the kind of place you can have an actual conversation. Servers went out of their way--my friend accidentally left our theater tickets on the bar as we left, and the bar manager found them and followed us down the street three blocks to get them back to us, just in time for the performance.
(5)
Max M.

Christmas Day fell on a Thursday this year and I just started my new job. So I would be spending 2008 Christmas as an "orphan." Thanks to bad weather, flights at O'Hare were all canceled before X-Mas Eve. As a result, some of my friends ended up as "orphans" too. We all decided to celebrate X-Mas Eve at a restaurant. Naturally, I Yelped Chicago restaurants. I made a couple of suggestions (Aria was on the list) and the group decided on Aria. I was slightly concerned because Yelp reviews on Aria were extremely divided. We arrived early for some cocktails. The place was dead silent. A funeral parlor has more energy. Now, this is what happens when you dine on out X-Mas Eve--defintely not Aria's fault--the city was also quiet. However, it does kill the celebration part when you are the only patrons. The server was polite. We shared a bottle of warm house sake. Pre-dinner drinks turned out to be a good idea. Thankfully, there were a few other tables by the time we sat down for dinner. Dinner is where I start to understand the mixed reviews on Aria. The cuisine is characterized as "culturally inspired" American food. The chef's food, however, is not culturally inspired. In fact, I question whether he has indeed even traveled outside the US both physically and spiritually(based on his food). So you can imagine what his interpretation of "culturally inspired cuisine" might be. France, Korea, India, and Japan are just a few of the countries represented on the menu. Avoid them. Stick with the American inspired menu items. Cause it's not Aria, it's America. Aria is an entirely different food experience when it comes to the American menu items. Unfortunately, my friends chose not to heed ex-Chef Max's advice and chose Chi Gae and Mezze as main courses, respectively. They were both disappointed. The Chi Gae was overwhelmed by Kim Chee. Should it surprise you that a non-Asian chef doesn't know how to deploy Kim Chee properly? The Mezze platter tasted bland and the portions were too small. The naan bread came with four dipping sauces--all were extraneous. I, on the other hand, followed my own advice and ordered the one American item on the menu: Pork Chop. The grilled Berkshire Pork Chop with Braised Belly came with an intensely flavored luscious Parsnip puree. The texture was excellent. The chop was beautifully cooked and hot. Our table waited a bit too long for our main courses so the chef sent out a complimentary trio of side dishes in cute cast iron pots: truffled polenta, spiced yam puree with coconut foam, and cheddar yukon mashed potatoes with savory crumble. These were all winners at the table. As I sat there, I couldn't help but wonder the potential of this restaurant. It boils down to basics. Aria wants to be something it's not. It's the white person with Chinese character tattoos that doesn't even know where China is. It's the SoCal Asian with blond hair and colored contact lenses that doesn't speak her own language. And Aria is that creative wanna-be don't call us fusion even though we ARE FUSION restaurant. As a result, the place lacks the very thing it strives to be: individual. In the end, it should just be.
(3)
Steve L.

Jeez. Where to start on how Aria gave my family the worst Christmas dinner ever. How about from the beginning? We made reservations weeks before Christmas to do their Asian Prix Fixe menu for $45/person that also came with a movie pass for the AMC River East. Three, 3, THU-REE times they called to confirm our reservation and our menu selection and every time we said yes. When we arrived at the restaurant, guess who had no reservations listed for us? That's right. Aria. 3 confirmation calls and no reservation in the system. As a result, we also received no movie pass since they had run out. Fortunately, they had a table for us...a giant round table in the center of the restaurant where you could comfortably seat six but could only awkwardly seat 3. Either 2 people could sit next to each other with one person far on the other side of the table, or all three of us sitting next to each other giving some other table the opportunity to watch us as if we were their Christmas dinner theatre. I spoke to the manager to see if we could move, and he moved us without a problem and promptly apologized. No apology necessary, just needed the move. Either way, we were visibly disappointed with our experience so far which is the prime chance for the server (who saw this whole thing go down) to redeem the place. Think that happened? No way. We were given our menus as we switched tables, but didn't approach us for a drink order (more on that in a minute) nor for a food order for 10 minutes (we timed it), yet he was setting up a giant round table in a room next to our table and was at every other table in the section. Let's start with the drinks: The water was fine....and that's all I can speak for because NOT ONCE during the entire meal did the waiter provide us with a drink/wine list nor ask us what we'd like! The only drink we were offered was a sip of "bubbles" out of some novelty sized champagne bottle to celebrate the holiday by the restaurant "wine pro" - NOT EVEN OUR SERVER! While the Prix Fixe option was still...well, an option for us (minus the cost of a movie, but f*ck me if a movie costs $8 in this city), we examined the full menu as well. My mother chose the turkey dinner option for a whopping $28 and when she brought up her nut allergy, asking if anything in the meal contained nuts because of her allergy, our server...wait...this is getting it's own paragraph... When my mother asked if anything in her meal contained nuts BECAUSE OF HER ALLERGY, our server scoffed and said, "I don't know what in that meal could possibly contain nuts." Considering the amount of stuffings we've encountered in our lives that have, we kindly asked him to check anyway. The turkey dinner was ok. Let's get to my meal: Appetizer - Veggie spring rolls with a spicy brown mustard. The veggies were bland and ALL you could taste was the mustard. And, yes, it was quite spicy. ***NOTE*** This is when the bread, an awesome (and the only redeeming meal point) nan was delivered. Yup - AFTER my appetizer. Dinner - Basically Duck in an orange sauce with bok choy and "fried rice." Gross. The duck was barely warm, and the bok choy and fried rice REEKED of fish. I asked the server if there was any shellfish involved in this preparation as I too have food allergies, and he said, "I don't know. I think it's just our brown rice." So the MUSHY, watery, "fried" rice and the soggy bok choy were nothing special. Dessert - Honestly, by this point, I had asked for dessert to go and for the check because the whole meal was terrible and the server NEVER answered my question about the possibility of nuts in my pumpkin cheesecake. Meal verdict: Save your money. You see your busboy and food runner more than your server (whom, to their credit, were working very hard). Now, you might be thinking, where was the manager in all of this? Well, I'll tell you. Nowhere. At the END of the meal he came to see how we were doing, and obviously we were doing bad... So I spoke to him on our way out. I thanked him for moving our table, but calmly expressed my disappointment (and I NEVER complain - I've been in the industry for a while) in the meal and the service. His immediate two responses were: 1) telling me "he's been having a lot of problems with that server," and 2) giving me a business card saying it was his, even though the name on the card is Robert Warsaw and he said his name was Scott (so did his name tag) and promising me free dinner the next time I go back. Honestly, it's going to take a lot to bring me back there but for a free meal from either Robert or Scott a return might not be the worst thing. Let's just see if they can keep my reservation.
(1)
Chris W.

Varied experience here, Christmas dinner 2008. The ambiance of this place is pretty nice, in my opinion - not too dark, as at least one reviewer noted. Maybe they changed it. I like the overall look and feel of this place. I had a great prime rib at Aria - but I believe they gave me the medium rare, and gave one of my dining companions the medium, reverse of what we ordered. It was very good though. But, one big problem - they had a special Christmas menu claiming a foie gras app - it was pate. I tried a mushroom bisque, pretty good, a little smoke to it, not too thick. The menu is interesting overall, a sort of Indian - Asian - contemporary American fusion. They have a pad thai, and some Indian influenced dishes. They served nice nan as a bread starter, with some nice sauces. If it wasnt for the pate bait and switch, and the incorrectly cooked steak, I would give this place 4 stars. For a hotel restaurant, its not bad, but its not really a destination in itself - close, very close, but not really there.
(3)
Jose V.

Aria.. What I can I say? Came here for brunch, live DJ, great food and ambience! (Try the angus sliders!) They were understaffed, the line to be seated reminded me of a DMV, the service was slow. In conclusion, you can do better in Chicago!
(2)
Vanessa H.

I was a tad concerned that this would turn out to be like PF Changs, with its tagline "Culturally influenced, comfortably American" (that is to say, watered down). Which the waiter assured us that the heat was "turned down" for American palates but still with authentic ingredients. The upshot: it was delicious, if a bit unfocused in its selection of dishes. There was crisp naan, savory scallops, Argentine steak, escolar in Thai red curry sauce -- and the chefs sends over three kinds of potatoes: southern style with lavender honey and cream, a cheesy potato gratin, and one made with blue potatoes. The decor was lovely, with fresh flowers and Asian influenced design.
(4)
Joyce T.

Had a wonderful meal last night as part of restaurant week. The chef visited our table to explain the preparation and service was excellent.
(4)
Kelly F.

I visited Aria for the 2nd time last night. I was really disappointed. The first time I was there was about a year ago and is was a great experience! But this time I had a lackluster. The service was terrible for what you pay. I think management is falling down a bit or something. The atmosphere is superb especially in the bar. The drinks are really great. The menu is spectacular but the food and service need to be brought back up a few notches. I'm relatively low maintenance I hate having to ask for things, a place like this is shouldn't have to ask. Our server sucked -- he was really, really slow, a bit creapy and lacked the refined service skills that you'd expect at a place like this.
(2)
K. S J.

One word: Gross I haven't been all that moved to write a review before, but I felt it was my duty to warn future diners. First, the service was fine, nothing really wrong there. The Naan with multiple dipping sauces was fun, but nothing too exciting. The appetizers were the best part: potstickers and mussles. The entrees were horrible:The duck w/coconut polenta and short rib pad ew something or other. The duck was rubbery and had a weird blood taste..I love duck and this was a duck catastrophe. The coconut polenta was sorta baked into cubes, which dried it out, not that it was particularly flavorable anyway. The short rib was super salty. It tasted like a bowl full of hoison sauce. We had the groupon so we decided to order dessert to use up the rest of the certificate. Had chocolate cake with bacon icecream. The chocolate cake was fine, nothing special. The bacon icecream was wayyyyy to bacony and had a smokeyness that I don't want a cold treat to have. Overall, I HAVE experieinced much much better. I am glad we had a groupon otherwise I would have been pissed to have wasted so much money.
(2)
Gretta H.

We went there for Valentines Day this year, which is also my birthday, therefore, the meal is on a very high platform. While I was a bit disappointed with the service and decor, our waiter-recomended wine selection and meals were phenomenal. Asian inspired and incredibly well-prepared and presented plating's. Unfortunately, the poor service was enough to keep me from returning. It has the potential to be topnotch but the decor is so distracting I could not focus on much else. Examples of the poor service: We stood at the hostess station for way-too-long before we were seated, when we were sat we were left with only the food menu for 20 minutes before the waiter came and asked us for our drink selection, which is difficult to make without a drink menu and wine list, and we were terrified to ever ask our waiter to give us a minute because he often considered a minute equivalent to 30. It is in a lovely hotel, The Fairmont, and Aria should be remodeled and restaffed (with exception of the busboys because they were perfect) because ultimately it could really effect their business.
(3)
Anna R.

We came here during restaurant week and had an okay experience. We had reservations and had to wait 10-15 minutes for our table, but that wasn't a big deal. The food was decent- I really liked the coconut soup, and the gnocchi and cod were both pretty good. The service was not very friendly. Overall it was fine, but considering the great restaurants Chicago has this really isn't anything special. It definitely would not be worth paying the prices on the regular menu.
(3)
Susan E.

Nothing about this place was good: 1. Had 8:30pm reservation and waited 20 minutes to get seated. 2. After being seated, waiter did not come by for 20 minutes. Asked manager twice for my waiter. 3. There was a pre-fixe menu for Valentine's Day weekend; was not informed of this before I came and would not have gone if the regular menu was not available. 4. The waiter was not pleasant and we waited 15 minutes after we placed our drink order for him to come back. 5. The food was okay - nothing extraordinary. 6. When I mentioned the spotty service to the hostess, she just said "yeah, well it's Valentine's day weekend." So, you don't have good service if there is a large crowd? Ridiculous. Not sure what the hype is about this restaurant.
(1)
J W.

This place is a trainwreck. If I could give zero stars I would. I thought it would be a nice upscale place for Valentines Day. I was so wrong. I don't even want to spend too much time railing on this place so here's a list: 1. We were seated in an area far from the dining room in a bay window overlooking the hotel lobby that was pretty much IN the hotel bar. About 4 other couples asked to move from this bizarre section. Who knew that at a place like this you would be stuck listening to J-Z and Christina Aguilera? 2. We had the price fixe which was a complete ripoff. I ordered the gnocchi and the taste of it was not just bad, it was TERRIBLE. I ate one bite and could not get the taste out of my mouth. I was completely inedible. It was the chef needs to pack his knives bad. 3. Dessert was a pudding cup in a glass. The desserts looked nothing like the descriptions - absolutely no texture to either of them. The "red velvet cake" was a layer of pudding, then a spray of whip cream and repeat. Seriously, these things would be great in a nursing home. 4. Nobody seemed to care that our experience was terrible. When we first arrived the hostess was too busy counting menus to be bothered to look up at us. The ONLY good thing about this place was the Naan and some of the dipping sauces. Other than that, it was terrible in every regard.
(1)
Mary M.

Beautiful ambiance and great food!
(5)
Sharon C.

This is a review for the bar...didn't eat in the restaurant. Monica and Maya made our night. Thank you for turning around an aweful day.
(4)
TK K.

I ventured to Aria yesterday for the first time. I was amongst 17 people with a 1230 reservation. Upon our arrival, we had to wait for more than ten minutes to be seated. This was curious, as we had reserved the private dining room. The reservation was originally for 15 people, so we had two additional diners. There was a big deal made about the extra people and it took more than 10 minutes for three restaurant employees to figure out the seating, while the two extra people waited. Once everyone was seated, it took more than 15 minutes to receive our bread. It was naan, that was slight burned and it was accompanied by a selection of four sauces. Having spent all morning at a graduation ceremony, most of us were very hungry. The servers brought out four small baskets of bread, which were emptied in several minutes. After placing our appetizer orders and requesting additional bread, it took forever. After inquiring about the wait, we were informed the bread was made fresh. Considering how large our group was, the restaurant should have been prepared. I started off with the market green salad with carrot and ginger vinaigrette dressing. It was delicious. Next, I had the gomae maki roll, which was okay. My companion had the kung pao chicken and enjoyed it. In between every course, we had to wait an excrutiating amount of time. Though the service was slow, the staff was very friendly. Unfortunately, I would not be back.
(2)
Melissa K.

This place was terrible. We had won a gift certificate from an auction and I had high hopes. We stayed the night at the Fairmont and went down for breakfast. Breakfast is my favorite meal so I had high hopes and I expected it to be great because it's in the Fairmont. Boy was I wrong. First let's talk about the service. It's probably the worst service I've had in a very, very long time. When we first walked in the hostess was anything but friendly, but fine she sat us. Of course she gave us dinner menus and I know that's pretty hard to confuse breakfast menus with dinner menus at 9:45 in the morning. My boyfriend went up and got us breakfast menus and she looked at him like it was an inconvenience for him to come up to her. The waiter took forever to get to our table and wasn't very on top of his game. Our food took forever to come out. At least the waiter told us that and suggested that we go to the buffet and get a muffin or something. He said the kitchen was backed up. I'm not quite sure how that could happen since there were only 6 tables in the whole place. But whatever, the service could have most certainly been better. Next, let's discuss the food. It was average at best. Once we finally got our food, my plate was super hot. The only reason my plate was as hot as it was because it sat under the heat lamp waiting for my boyfriends food to finish. I knew this because 1) I worked in restaurants for 6 years and 2) the hollandise sauce was the same consistency when you let cheese sit and you need to stir it again. I was pretty disappointed, but it had taken so long to get it I didn't want to send it back. Well that and the eggs were not poached correctly. It was awful. The only good thing I can say about the food was that because our food was taking so long and the waiter suggested we go back to the buffet, they had fruit and nutella, now that was cool. Finally, let's talk about the atmosphere. Okay we're at a nice, expensive place, I would expect it to be clean. There were so many spots on the glasses I was in shock. I mean sure you can have one or two, but there were so many that some of the glasses looked foggy. There is no way that the staff didn't see that. Plus the silverware was so bizarre, it was super long as, but whatever I'm sure it's because Aria is supposed to be trendy. But the part that really got me beyond the ridiculously long silverware and the spots all over the glasses was the dust on counter that I know during the evening houses the bread and wine glasses and water. There was so much dust that I could see it in the light. Clean your place Aria, you should know better. So as you can imagine, I was extremely disappointed and will not be back.
(1)
RJ W.

I have had dinner here twice and found both the food and service exceptional. It has a great atmosphere, the staff was friendly and the food great. I am at a loss to understand how others gave it a one or two star... particularly if they had been there before. I would highly recommend it.
(5)
Carly C.

Aria is stylish in an off-putting, pretentious and annoying way. Service is slow and prices are high. The sushi is okay, but the selection is very limited. The highlight is the bar. The waitresses are very good at suggesting drinks and the variety is pretty expansive. I'm sure you could find a better place to go in the Loop, though. Aria is a bit out of the way from most transportation and other establishments. However, if you're staying in the Fairmont, this is a very good alternative to the other Asian in-hotel restaurant.
(2)
Crystal L.

First, I want to say the ambiance at Aria is really nice. There is not one part of the entire restaurant that is flawed in appearance. Many of the executives at my company bring their clients and/or vendors here for lunch since its like right next door to us. Perhaps, I had high expectations since our VPs eat here. I had a 3-course prix fixe meal during Chicago's Restaurant Week that consisted of mushroom soup, pad thai, and sorbet. All of which tasted alright. I've had better pad thai elsewhere for significantly cheaper. I recommend the Thai restaurant "Ma & I" in south loop for pad thai. No doubt the display of their food and drinks are impeccable. Portion sizes are decent too. However, I didn't find the food to match. I can see why our executives bring their guests here though. It's more for the presentation. It's great for lounging and drinks but not for meals.
(3)
Walt W.

Great food and service. The restaurant was full, lively and fun. The food was very authentic and very high quality for the price. Absolutely love chef Beverly. She is incredibly talented and has a heart of gold. I totally respect her as a chef and love her restaurant.
(5)
J D.

**This review pertains only to the sushi bar portion of Aria.** Holy hell, this was an expensive meal for sushi on par with what I bring home from the grocery store. Nothing was bad and no one got sick or anything, but the quality here left a lot to be desired. Skimpy rolls and a heavy hand with the wasabe didn't help either. The beer/wine list was pretty good, but again, expect to pay through the nose. The only positive features I can report are that the service was good and the bar environment is a very nice and relaxing place to hang out while getting ripped off.
(2)
Francesca R.

Two Words: Bacon Ice cream! Surprisingly good, smoky, and terrific with the warm chocolate cake. We dine regularly on Argyle and Devon so we chose dishes that you would not see in traditional asian/indian restaurants. Excellent Lamb appetizer, the large arugula salad had lovely beets and a slice of goat cheese, perfect Halibut and the Wagyu steak was exceptional. Well chosen accompaniments, and appropriate portion sizes. Quite a nice experience - not extraordinary, but pleasant, varied choices, and delicious. I would visit again.
(3)
Kate S.

The food was heavenly!!! Chanterelle mushroom edamame gnocchi was a vegetarian's delight as was the awesome naan + dipping sauces that come out for all dinner guests. Loved the asparagus side- it was cooked and seasoned to crisp perfection. The almond joy dessert had me melting in my seat and they finish all meals off with this delicious spiced waffle crisp stuff. It's pricey, but wonderful food. Service was great and they really let you take your time and make an evening of it. so good.
(4)
Tom D.

Sushi was very good. My wife isn't s sushi fan so she had a very interesting pulled pork sandwich plate that she said was fantastic. We weren't there when it was busy so we had the whole place to ourselves. The food came out fast and the sushi was fresh. I really liked the parking. We parked in the hotel lot and Aria validated our parking ticket so it cost us $9 to park even though we were there for about 6 hours. We took advantage of it and walked to north on Michigan avenue, had desert at another spot and did some other site seeing. We walked back and valet pulled our car around.
(4)
Celtic B.

Had a solid dinner here. Some of the portions were quite generous, such as the Pad Seew. The dumpling app was ok, but not great, same for the coconut soup. it is so dark that I could barely read the menu. Decorated like an upscale Thai bordello.
(3)
Puja D.

I went here for a business lunch one day. The place is really nice, and the food is very 'fusion'. I If you like to try expensive fusion food with with a creative presentation - then this is an excellent place for you. I absolutely adored the 'naan' bread (indian style flat bread) they gave us at the beginning with a assorted variety of different indian and medditerreanean sauces. YUM. The salad's and entree's all had a fusion kick to it. A very different and creative place - but didn't blow me away. I would only go there again for a business lunch or if I was celebrating a special occassion and wanted to feel all 'fancy'. =) I would highly recommend it as a restaurant to take your parents too as well.
(3)
Abhist D.

My wife and I came here for dinner just for the heck of it because I had heard so much about this place. And I have to say that everything great that I have heard about this place is not enough to do justice. The decor is absolutely amazing and beautiful. The wait staff was one of the best that I have ever encountered, better than Signature Room (who, in my opinion, have one of the best around). They started us off with naan, so being Indian, we loved having this traditional dish. They had an excellent wine list. My problem is that there are very few places that I actually enjoy because the food is usually bland. But it was the food that completely blew me away, every morsel that I tasted had so much flavor and on top of the great food, the chef kept sending over small dishes to dine on that weren't part of our order. Overall, this had been one of my absolute best experiences at any restaurant and I would recommend this to anyone celebrating a special night. They also have a lounge and sushi bar that I am interested in checking out.
(5)
Cece C.

The sushi was fantastic! The yellowtail and pear relish sashimi was out of this world!
(5)
Eric M.

I love restaurants that take risks on their menu. The options here are daring and work out great. The silverware alone will make you laugh. The meal starts out with nan, instead of the normal bread, and a sampling of many different spreads. The entrees themselves are eclectic and fun to share. The staff is also very personable and know their wines. The bar in the front also has a very cool sushi table and looks like a great place for the happy hour drink.
(5)
Candace M.

After a great evening in Millennium Park recently, my friends and I walked over to Aria for sushi and drinks. I thoroughly enjoyed the fried lobster roll, which was tempura lobster, spicy tuna, avocado, thai chile, miso mustard. Anytime I am downtown and want a light meal to end my night, I will head on over to Aria.
(4)
Troy H.

Had a work event here in their private back room and was pleasantly surprised. The food was better than good (but not great) and even their higher end wines were reasonably priced. The atmosphere seemed ok, but (as mentioned) we were in their back room.
(3)
Laura L.

I sat at the sushi bar with a girlfriend and we had a fabulous time! The ambiance was lively and very hip. The sushi was some of the best I've had this side of the Pacific. If you go, definitely try some of the high-end glasses of sake ($11-$15/glass). They were worth every penny!
(4)
K C.

My husband and I went to Aria for lunch on a Sunday during Restaurant Week. Why lunch? Because it was $22 cheaper and essentially the same menu as dinner. The Restaurant Week menu is what we chose from, so my food reviews relate to that. Food: Excellent - Coconut Soup appetizer: Delicious. Great blend of sweet and tart. - Arugula Salad: Great mixture of tastes. Arugula is not my thing, but husband loved it. - Beef Shortrib Pad See Eew: To die for! Noodles were melt-in-your-mouth, tender meat had a great smoky flavor and veggies added crispness. - Golden Trout: Buttery goodness. (No actual butter, just perfectly cooked.) I wasn't a cauliflower fan until I had their curry version - yum! - Both desserts were decadent and amazing. (Almond Joy and Caramel Apple) Atmosphere: Modern Asian Fancy - Dim lighting, marble tabletops (no tablecloths), frog water pitchers... Service: Close to perfect - We had lunch around 2:00PM, so there weren't many people there (two other couples, actually). Menu was explained well, waiter was very attentive. All in all, we had a wonderful experience. Amazing food and a nice atmosphere.
(5)
Amy S.

We went here for lunch one day and I have to say I was quite dissappointed. I ordered the hong kong bbq duck and lobster chow mein. My boss's were raving about it for days and days. The lobster was chewy and the duck was slimy. The other problem was with the water. Half our table ordered sparkling and half ordered good ol' chicago tap water. The guy couldn't keep it straight and by the end we all had a weird mixture in our glasses. The one good thing was that the naan they put on the table was really good and all the sauces were great. I honestly have no plans on ever returning here.
(2)
Fawn D.

Love Aria's breakfast! Try the waffle sampler, it's delicious! The only problem is that breakfast ends at 11 AM so get there early.
(4)
Adriana S.

I went for restaurant week and enjoyed my experience. The food is more 3.5 stars but it is creative and beautifully presented. The waitstaff was highly attentive, friendly, and accommodating. I enjoyed the ambiance and would likely go back
(4)
Aileen O.

Two friends and I lunched at Aria on our first restaurant stop during Chicago's Restaurant Week. For $21.95, we were treated to a delicious three course meal. I was a tad disappointed that Aria didn't give us any options on the Restaurant Week menu, but thankfully the three dishes were all very good. We had Mushroom Soup Your Mother Never Made for our first course (yes, that's the real name). My friends enjoyed the soup very much - they finished their bowls - but as someone who normally doesn't tolerate mushrooms, I was only able to eat half. It was creamy and the mushrooms were finely processed. I loved the goat cheese toast that came with the soup. Our main dish was the Shrimp and Chicken Pad Thai. The pad thai was yummy - the noodles weren't clumpy and the peanut sauce wasn't overbearing. I appreciated that I didn't get the greasy feeling after I finished. For my favorite course - dessert! - we had four sorbets - mango, pineapple, blueberry and passionfruit. The sorbets were nothing to really write about. It tasted like any sorbet you could pick up at the grocery store. What I did love was the orange-rind waffle cones that were served with the sorbets. I could have eaten all of them, but I didn't have any more room in my belly. Plus my black shirt made it difficult to eat them without making a powdered sugar mess! For $21.95, the meal was a deal. I'm sure they shrank the portions, but I definitely feel I got my money's worth. Only tiny complaint was related to the service. Our waiter didn't refill my water glass nearly enough. Plus it took the valet about 15 minutes to get our car. I had a great time eating at Aria and catching up with good friends. Decor, ambiance and food were above par. They even played some solid R&B/hip hop music. I'd definitely like to come back one night to check out the bar/lounge.
(4)
Joy L.

The Dragonslayer rules! Service is slightly lacking midafternoon.
(4)
Rachel G.

The food was excellent, our waiter was friendly and charming, and Chef Beverly came by our table to talk to us. Unfortunately, I'm not particularly fond of waiting 30 minutes to be seated when we have a reservation.
(3)
Meredith K.

I was also there for Restaurant Week last night but seemed to have a different menu. We had the salad with the herb crusted cheese. It was good but paled in comparison to the naan with 4 sauces. Yum!! Our waiter was Hugo. He was great! I ordered a glass of wine that he helped me select and then they were out so he offered me a tasting of 2 others. The Argentinian Malbec that I ended up with was outstanding. We had pike which was ok but again paled in comparison to the potato trio that they served. Delicious! Then we had the carrot cake with cream cheese ice cream. That was a great ending to a great meal. I like the decor, the vibe, the music, the food. I will definitely be back. I would like to try the sushi louge/bar.
(5)
Prosper W.

We enjoyed celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary at Aria. Ambiance was modern, sleek and beautiful. We were seated by the host promptly. The free garlic bread with 4 dipping sauces was tasty. We had the wild boar ribs to start; good flavor, not a lot of meat. I had the grilled wagyu flat iron which was cooked to a perfect medium rare and was excellent. My wife had the Thai bouillabaisse which she said was very good. The restaurant treated us to the almond joy dessert which was also quite good. Service was attentive but not overbearing. We used a Trip Advisor coupon purchased for $50 that gave us $100 worth of food and drink in addition to valet parking. Being a good value definitely added to the experience.
(4)
David M.

Entertained a group of business associates at Aria once again. I've taken groups from two to twelve here, and I am pleased to say it is consistently a favorite (of guests and mine.) The food is eclectic and inspired. The menu changes regularly and the staff are some of the most knowledgeable I've ever known. I would highly recommend the beet salad as a first course. Don't miss the flat bread, with the new tomato jam topping. The "almond joy" dessert taste-alike, with luscious chocolates and coconut ice cream is the perfect ending to a meal at Aria. This is a restaurant for sophisticated and adventurous tastes. It is inside the Chicago Fairmont hotel so check it out if you are in the area.
(5)
Hal P.

We have been 3 days here in Chicago eating at places that get really good Yelp ratings and this was by far the best dinner we had. I had Kung Pao Chicken and others in our party had swordfish and Nasi Goreng. The food was just outstanding and quite interestingly prepared. The presentation was snazzy without being contrived. The staff was also extremely friendly and helpful (they made one small mistake, bringing sea bass instead of swordfish, but instantly and uncomplainingly rectified the mistake.) I will definitely eat at this place when I return to Chicago.
(5)
M S.

Went in for lunch and to escape the heat outside. The confit fried rice was delicious with lots of different flavors melding together. The fried lobster roll was very tasty and nicely presented, although the lobster flavor was light. The spicy sushi in top was very nice. The tuna tartar was fresh and tasty. The rice was a bargain at $7, the tartar at $14 and the lobster roll at $15 were a little pricey but not for the Fairmont, where Aria is located. A nice respite for a hot day!
(4)
Joe R.

Went to Aria recently for a fancy night out in the big city. The drinks were very good, but awfully expensive so I had to limit myself to just one. The food portion of the meal started off great with some excellent Indian style bread with various sauces. The spicy tuna roll appetizer was average, but sushi can be that way sometimes. For the main course, I had the Hong Kao chicken which was awesome and my wife had the Pacific Cod which she very much enjoyed. I would recommend Aria to someone who is looking for a good meal out on the town, but just make sure you are ready to spend some money for the evening.
(4)
Dan B.

I like to think I'm all about the food and things like atmosphere are "nice to haves". Aria proved what a poser I really am. The food here is phenomenal. The flatbread to start came with four spreads: cashew, lentil, spinach, and yogurt with cardamom. We followed with organic salads which were good enough and then I had a garbanzo-dusted Scottish salmon with an olive tapenade and a hummus sauce. Never seen something like that listed on a menu. It was cooked perfectly. My wife had the Argentinian steak and the fries were gluttonously good. So why not five stars? The place just didn't energize me. It was very nice looking and the staff was polite, even if they were overly stiff. It's sort of like the Fairmont Hotel (where this is located) tried desperately to create a hip, young restaurant and instead ended up with a stuffy fancy-hotel spot that happens to have cooler decor. Come here one of those nights when you want a well-cooked meal and ambiance falls a little lower on your wish list.
(4)
Sean D.

The service here is impeccable. The waiter was gracious and accommodating, even opening a bottle of wine for us just to pour a glass to taste before we settled on a selection. The food here was great the first time I ate here, but the second time I came down with a random fever during dinner and couldn't finish my meal. Nothing tasted good at this point so I really couldn't attest to the quality. But I'm sure the sudden lightheadedness wasn't related to the food ;) I love the naan and the various sauces that accompany the bread. The food selection is very diverse and really offers something for everyone. The space however, leaves much to be desired. While I like the open tandoori oven in the front, it just feels like you're in a hotel lobby restaurant, even though you're pretty far out of the way. The decor is subdued, and the lounge next door to the restaurant was on the gross side. I definitely would not eat sushi from that bar. The fish looked nasty. Given the somewhat inconvenient location, this is not a restaurant that we visit often. But definitely worth a try!
(3)
Brian M.

I really enjoyed Aria. My wife, a couple of friends and I dined on a Saturday night (April 14th). Beverly was in the house and came out to see how we were enjoying our dinner. She is an amazing chef and an even better person. She really wants her customers to enjoy their experience at Aria. We did!! Everything we had (fresh fish, scallops, ribeye) was excellent. The deserts and wine were great also. The total bill, including a $50 bottle of wine came to $225 for the four of us. The staff is friendly and totally informed - the food is excellent and there was actually more than you could finish - and the atmosphere is calm and unrushed. You should try it, but due to how popular Aria has become, reservations must be made well in advance.
(5)
pramod p.

The food here is what stood out most. We went for dinner during restaurant week.The fresh naan bread was such a treat and the 4 dipping sauces were so fun and satisfying to eat. The beet salad was one of the best salads I have eaten in a long time, every bite had a different and delightful element. The lamb appetizer fell apart author a knife and the various sauces complimented perfectly. The scallops were beautiful and cooked perfectly. My singapore noodles were my least favorite, they were a little to rich but the shrimp was good. The dessert was something special and very unique..while I didn't enjoy they pineapple dessert as much, the caramel was to sure for. Service was a tad but slow but the food made up for it.
(4)
Christopher S.

Love, love, LOVE this place. Had a client right around the corner for 8 months - this was our favorite Wednesday-night after-work spot. We would regularly close the place down (not kidding)... yes, kids, we'd get there at five and have such a good time we'd stay all night. Service first (since it's a lounge)... always great. Awesome waitstaff who is always friendly and puts up with my drunk ass bumming cigarettes and slurring compliments at them. Service is quick, too, which is key. The decor of this place is fantastic. Very eclectic - try sitting in a different place each time you go! Plenty of space for big groups, so bring the whole gang! Small plates are always on tap for me. Everything here is so good I don't like to stick to just one dish. The seafood (most of the menu) is consistently delicious. Cool people, great food, awesome drinks (Grey Goose martini up, dirty). Gotta stop by!
(5)
David K.

You walk into the place and think you'll have a nice meal....well, don't be so sure. The place was almost empty at 7pm, and yet the service was very slow, and they messed up almost every single one of the 9 orders my party placed. The food was barely average. For the price, the sushi was skimpy and mediocre. The waiting staff was very low caliber. The place was quite dim, and the music they played was terrible. If you're in Chicago, stay away from this place.
(1)
Babs H.

My roommate's birthday was Friday so her dad wanted to take her and I out for a nice sushi dinner. He said this place has reviews for being the best sushi joint in the city. Naturally, I looked up the reviews on Yelp and it seems as though my fellow Yelpers feel otherwise, Mostly based on service though. We were early for our 9pm reservation so we sat in the bar and had a few drinks. My roomie had a cucumber and pomegranate mojito and I had the bubbles and raspberries. MMMMM! The "mixologist" was friendly but not too tentative, especially being that it was pretty quiet in the bar. And we ordered a round of shots, but they were more like triple shots in tumblers. We were absolutely starving so my roomie still had a little in her glass that she did intend on finishing, but the barkeep took her glass away! I kind of wanted to say, "pay attention!" Anyway, we went into the dining area which I have to say doesn't look nearly as nice as the sushi bar and drinks lounge. Very plain! I was surprised at how limited the menu was but then I read at the bottom that all of their meats and vegetables are provided locally and they pride themselves on having nothing with trans fats. Hmm. Ok. Our party ordered a variety of rolls, so I'm not totally sure all that I ate, but I know I had the asparagus and spicy shiitake tempura roll and it was AWESOME. The chef's special was pretty good, but I was a little put off by all the cilantro. It kind of over powered all the other flavor. The miso was the best that I've ever had. The spicy beef tataki was excellent. Our server was pretty good, but he kept trying to upsell everything in an obvious way to someone else who also works in the food and liquor hustling atmosphere. If we picked a bottle of sake he'd go, "Oh that's good, but you should really try this one, it compliments this and this much much better." So my friend's dad would go, "Ok!" then you look at the menu and it's $30 more expensive than the bottle that we had originally picked. Don't get me wrong, it was a good dinner and the drinks were delicious, the service wasn't bad, but the prices were absolutely outrageous for what you receive and I have definitely had better sushi.
(3)

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Address : 200 N Columbus Dr
Chicago, IL, 60601
Phone (312) 444-9494
Website https://www.ariachicago.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :6:00 am - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street, Private Lot, Validated
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Quiet
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : Yes
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Aria

200 N Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601

Aria Menu

Small Plates - Cool

Small Plates - Hot

From The Wok

From The Sea

From The Farm

Sides

Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Aria

Small Plates - Cool

Small Plates - Hot

From The Wok

From The Sea

From The Farm

Sides

Desserts

Alan R.

Jeanine R.

Marc M.

Shan D.

Jim L.

J P.

Plamena G.

Greg P.

Bobby B.

Kevin B.

Aaron T.

Tennille T.

David B.

Christy C.

Kristin R.

Tiffany G.

Helen Y.

Mike K.

Eric B.

Christina C.

Kimmie R.

John T.

Erin D.

Liz K.

Sally K.

Ophelia D.

Kayla S.

Jessica G.

Zorin D.

Matt G.

Justin B.

Elle G.

Jessica B.

Laura C.

Eli G.

Tian Y.

Libby V.

Romana Y.

Nick J.

Michelle K.

Vince L.

P S.

Vanessa B.

Alyssa K.

Jiwon M.

Alfreda D.

Rahshonda K.

shivi d.

Mike O.

Shauna M.

Sam L.

Sam N.

Lu H.

Faye B.

ellen r.

Leang E.

Patrick D.

Luke S.

Johnny T.

Lindsey S.

Leigh R.