Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Elmwood Park

Sifr has been our radar for quite a while and we were very pleased we were able to finally dine there. It's located in west River North with ample parking on Erie St adjacent to the restaurant which is a plus. Service: Outstanding from the moment we walked in with our elderly friends. The hostess was so polite and accommodating when I told her one of our friends was very hard of hearing. She suggested a table upstairs but we found out that it was actually that patio with outdoor heaters and it was too cold for us so we needed to go back to the main dining room which the hostess gladly reseated us. We can's say enough about our server, Jorge. He was courteous to a fault, attentive and so engaging. He was particularly careful in addressing the food allergies of our friends and even spoke to the chef to determine the dishes that would work for them which we thought was really going the extra mile. Also, when I asked if the music could be tuned down a bit to allow for better conversation he didn't hesitate to address it. The meal was paced perfectly with other servers helping to clear the table constantly. Food: Excellent. We tried the Fattosh Salad, Chicken Shawarma Hummus, Charred Carrots, Scallops, Branzino, Batata Harra and Persian Berry Pilaf and ice cream for dessert. All were delicious as evidenced by our empty plates. Ambiance: The room is modern, bright, with very high ceilings and open.floor plan and bar. Tables are spaced moderately but since the ceilings are so high the noise level can be challenging when the music is turned up. However, when we asked if the music could be turned down to a more comfortable level they seem to be happy to accommodate. A second floor patio is used for extra dining with space heaters but it can be cold if seated near the windows during the winter. However, it must be great during the summer months. Overall, we had a wonderful experience at Sifr and will definitely be back with other friends.

Good food and service. Restaurant was fairly quiet for a Sunday evening.

The experience was great. We enjoyed the food and the variety show. It was our first time at a place like this and we could have used a little guidance from the server but she was slammed and not super available. I'd definitely go back though!

The appetizer sampler plate was so filling that we almost didn't order anything else--but we managed a couple more things. Food was great, and the service was non intrusive--like dining in Europe, the servers gave us space and time to enjoy our meal.