Best Mediterranean Restaurants in Loop (60606)
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Bereket Turkish Mediterranean Restaurant
Downtown Turkish kitchen where charcoal-grilled kebabs and mezze feel closer to a neighborhood restaurant than a Loop lunch line.
Notable Picks
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Business Lunch Power Players
Hidden Gems Heaven
Bereket is a Turkish-focused Mediterranean spot in the heart of the Loop where grilled kebabs, mezze, and house-baked breads draw both office regulars and destination diners. It balances counter-ordering ease with sit-down comfort, so you can treat it as a quick lunch stop or a fuller dinner with shared plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Iskender kebab, Mixed grill platter, Kunefe dessert
What makes it special: Downtown Turkish kitchen where charcoal-grilled kebabs and mezze feel closer to a neighborhood restaurant than a Loop lunch line.
#2
Taza Cafe
8.2
Taza Cafe is a long-running Loop counter-service spot for Palestinian-leaning Mediterranean plates, falafel, and shawarma that stay firmly in the affordable-lunch zone. Regulars lean on it for freshly cooked platters and wraps that feel homemade compared with the larger fast-casual chains nearby.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma plate, Falafel platter with hummus, Lentil soup with warm pita
What makes it special: A quietly enduring Franklin Street café serving Palestinian-style shawarma, falafel, and daily-cooked specials at true Loop-budget prices.
Worthy Picks
7.8
Beatnik On The River is a boho-chic cocktail and Mediterranean-leaning restaurant perched over the Chicago River, known more for transportive decor and views than for purist regional cooking. Guests mix mezze, globally inflected mains, and elaborate drinks on patios and lounges that feel designed for date nights and group hangs.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken musakhan, Branzino al pastor, Baba ganoush with warm bread
What makes it special: Riverfront, plant-filled rooms and patios that frame mezze, Mediterranean-influenced plates, and cocktails against one of the Loop’s most theatrical backdrops.
Sila’s #2 brings a newer, build-your-own Mediterranean format to Madison Street, with customizable bowls, wraps, and plates that skew protein- and veg-forward. It functions as a healthier-feeling Loop lunch option where you can dial in spice, grains, and toppings without losing the comfort of shawarma and dips.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma plate, Hangover sandwich, Falafel wrap with baba ghanoush
What makes it special: A modern counter-service Mediterranean spot where you can build substantial bowls and wraps with shawarma, grilled veggies, and house dips instead of defaulting to salad chains.