Apolonia

Verdict: Book It; But Time Your Visit Right

Seats at Apolonia move. Chef Stephen Gillanders runs a tight Mediterranean operation at 105 E Cermak Rd in Chicago's South Loop, the restaurant's back-to-back recognition from Opinionated About Dining; Recommended in 2023, ranked #354 in North America in 2024, #393 in 2025, has put it on the radar of serious diners citywide. If you're visiting for the first time and want a Mediterranean meal that earns its keep in a city loaded with creative dining options, Apolonia is worth securing. Book a few days ahead at minimum; this isn't a walk-in situation.

What to Expect as a First-Timer

Apolonia sits in Chicago's McCormick Place corridor, not a neighborhood you'd wander into by accident, which means the room skews toward intentional diners rather than casual drop-ins. That works in your favor: the kitchen isn't distracted by a revolving door of tourists. For a first visit, the format rewards attentiveness. The Mediterranean frame gives the kitchen room to pull from a wide pantry, think grains, preserved ingredients, bright acids, proteins from both land and sea, without the rigid constraints of a single-country cuisine. It's a useful format if you have mixed preferences at the table, since it accommodates a broader range of palates than, say, a tightly focused omakase.

If Apolonia's OAD ranking is your entry point into the conversation, the relevant context is this: the Casual North America list covers a competitive range of restaurants where the value-to-quality ratio is the primary lens. Being ranked in the mid-300s across the continent places Apolonia comfortably in the tier of restaurants where the cooking is taken seriously but the room doesn't ask you to dress for a tasting menu. That's a useful positioning signal for first-timers deciding how formally to approach the evening.

Counter Seating: The Right Way to Sit

For a first visit, counter seating is the better call if it's available. At a restaurant where the kitchen is driving the experience, sitting at the counter gives you visibility into how dishes are composed and paced, the kind of low-key interaction with the kitchen team that turns a good meal into an informative one. This is particularly relevant at Apolonia given the Mediterranean breadth of the menu: being close to the pass helps you track what's coming and ask questions about ingredients or preparations without interrupting the flow of the room. The counter also tends to pace better for solo diners or pairs who want engagement rather than a self-contained table experience.

Lunch vs. Dinner: The Saturday Call

The optimal visit is Saturday lunch. Apolonia runs weekend brunch service from 10 am to 3 pm Saturday and Sunday, with dinner from 5 to 10 pm every day. The weekday lunch window (11:30 am to 2:30 pm) is available Monday through Friday but the Saturday mid-morning start gives you more time and a less hurried atmosphere than a weekday midday slot. Booking difficulty is rated Easy. Hours: Monday–Friday 11:30 am–2:30 pm and 5–10 pm; Saturday–Sunday 10 am–3 pm and 5–10 pm. Address: 105 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616. Dress: No dress code data available, smart casual is a safe default for a restaurant at this OAD recognition tier. Budget: Price range not listed in available data; Mediterranean restaurants at this recognition level in Chicago typically run $40–$80 per head at dinner without drinks. Confirm current pricing directly with the venue.

How It Compares

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Mediterranean Dining Elsewhere

• Forma, Mediterranean in Los Angeles
• Ottolenghi, Mediterranean in London

Other Acclaimed Dining Worth Knowing

• Le Bernardin in New York City
• Lazy Bear in San Francisco
• The French Laundry in Napa
• Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg
• Providence in Los Angeles
• Emeril's in New Orleans

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I order at Apolonia?

• Specific menu items aren't confirmed in available data, so dish-level recommendations would be speculation. What the OAD recognition and Mediterranean format do signal: the kitchen executes well across both seafood and vegetable preparations. Ask the server what's driving the menu that week, at this level of OAD recognition, the team typically has clear opinions about what to steer you toward. Chef Stephen Gillanders leads the kitchen.

Is lunch or dinner better at Apolonia?

• Saturday lunch is the stronger first visit. The 10 am–3 pm weekend window gives you more time, a calmer room, better conditions for first-time navigation of the menu. Dinner on Thursday or Friday works if evenings work better for your schedule, but weekend brunch is the standout timing for anyone coming in without prior context on the restaurant.

Is Apolonia good for solo dining?

• Yes, counter seating is the move. Solo diners get the most from Apolonia at the counter, where proximity to the kitchen adds context to each dish. The Mediterranean format is also well-suited to solo eating because the menu tends to support ordering two or three dishes rather than requiring a full table spread. The South Loop location means you won't feel like the odd one out in a couples-heavy room.

How far ahead should I book Apolonia?

• A few days to a week covers most weekday lunch slots. For weekend brunch or Friday/Saturday dinner, 1–2 weeks ahead is the safer window given the OAD recognition driving consistent demand. Booking difficulty is rated Easy overall, so you're unlikely to hit a wall unless you're chasing a specific high-demand time. Check availability online and confirm hours before you go.

Can Apolonia accommodate groups?

• Seat count isn't confirmed in available data. For groups of four or more, contact the venue directly before booking, the South Loop location and the restaurant's format suggest a mid-size room, but table configurations for larger parties should be confirmed. Phone number is not listed publicly; use the reservation system or website inquiry if available.

Does Apolonia handle dietary restrictions?

• Mediterranean cuisine as a format is generally accommodating, the pantry typically includes substantial vegetable, legume, seafood options alongside meat. That said, specific dietary accommodation policies aren't confirmed in available data. If you have strict requirements (gluten-free, severe allergies), call or message ahead. Don't assume; verify directly with the kitchen before you arrive.