Best Business Lunch Mediterranean Restaurants in Chicago
16 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Apolonia
Bib Gourmand Mediterranean restaurant balancing ambitious small plates with convention-friendly polish.
Notable Picks
#1
Apolonia
8.6
Apolonia is chef Stephen Gillanders' contemporary Mediterranean dining room at the edge of McCormick Place, blending Northern Mediterranean flavors with a European-leaning small-plates menu and a focused wine list. Guests come for dishes like black truffle puff bread, branzino, and pastas, plus a Bib Gourmand–recognized experience that works for both conventions and date nights. The minimalist, high-ceilinged room can run loud, but it feels like one of the South Loop's most polished Mediterranean options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Black Truffle Puff Bread, Mediterranean Branzino, Fiorentini al Sugo
What Makes it Special: Bib Gourmand Mediterranean restaurant balancing ambitious small plates with convention-friendly polish.
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.
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Comfort Food Classics
Business Lunch Power Players
Quick Bites Champions
A high-volume Persian/Mediterranean anchor where the grill lane stays dependable—juicy koobideh, well-seasoned chicken, and rice that holds up even on busy nights. Order with restraint: one signature skewer set plus a bright dip spread, and let the smoke-and-saffron flavors carry the meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Koobideh (ground beef) kabob, Chicken koobideh or chicken barg, Dill rice with grilled meats combo
What Makes it Special: Massive, sustained local validation for Persian grill classics done reliably at scale.
8.6
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Date Night Magic
Business Lunch Power Players
A full-service Greek taverna with table-side energy and a menu built for big, classic hits—grilled seafood, lemony soups, and shareable starters that reward ordering family-style. The room feels like a special-occasion default for locals, backed by the kind of high-volume consistency that keeps it in steady rotation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Flaming saganaki, Avgolemono soup, Grilled octopus
What Makes it Special: A high-volume Greek taverna where classic dishes land reliably at scale.
8.5
Avec River North scales up the beloved West Loop original into a larger wine-focused space serving rustic Mediterranean-inspired small and large plates. Chorizo-stuffed dates, flatbreads, and paella-style pastas lead a menu that works as well for a bottle-heavy date night as it does for business dinners and group celebrations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chorizo-Stuffed, Bacon-Wrapped Dates, Taleggio Flatbread, Fideo Noodle Paella
What Makes it Special: Second-generation Avec with a larger room and Mediterranean-leaning small plates built for sharing.
8.4
Opened in 2024, Nora Restaurant & Bar brings a modern coastal Mediterranean menu with Sardinian influences to a polished Streeterville dining room. Cocktails, seafood, and pastas draw both hotel guests and locals looking for a newer, design-forward spot a short walk off Michigan Avenue.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tuna Tartare, Pulpo a la Gallega, Prime Hanger Steak
What Makes it Special: A newer Streeterville dining room pairing coastal Mediterranean cooking with a cocktail-first bar program.
8.3
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
Business Lunch Power Players
Birthday & Celebration Central
A Greektown classic where the best meals are built around grilled seafood, bright salads, and the kind of crowd-pleasing plates that keep big tables happy. Go for the signature starters, then pick one main lane—whole fish or a hearty baked dish—and let the room’s lively energy do the rest.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mediterranean grilled octopus, Flaming saganaki, Moussaka
What Makes it Special: Big-room Greek cooking built for classic starters and grilled mains.
8.3
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Business Lunch Power Players
A Bridgeport-area Mediterranean counter that leans on big, sauce-forward plates—shawarma, falafel, and grill staples that travel well and stay satisfying even as takeout. It’s at its best when you order one hearty protein plate plus one fresh side (salad or hummus) so the meal stays balanced instead of heavy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma plate, Falafel wrap, Hummus with pita
What Makes it Special: Portion-forward shawarma and falafel plates with reliable, takeout-friendly execution.
8.2
A made-to-order Loop lunch counter that leans on bright, spice-forward plates and wraps that taste like someone’s actually cooking, not just assembling. It’s best when you treat it as a focused, fast Mediterranean meal—pick one signature protein, load it with the fresh toppings, and keep the order tight so everything lands hot and clean.
Must-Try Dishes:
7 Spice Wrap, Beef Plate, Veggie Wrap
What Makes it Special: House-style spice blends and fresh toppings that keep plates tasting vivid.
#10
Brandy's Gyros
8.1
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Comfort Food Classics
Business Lunch Power Players
A Norwood Park Greek fast-casual standby where the move is straightforward: order a gyro, add a salad, and keep the sides simple for a clean, satisfying meal. It’s built for speed and repeatability—an easy default when you want familiar Mediterranean flavor without a sit-down commitment.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gyro sandwich, Chicken kabob plate, Greek salad
What Makes it Special: Fast Greek classics that stay dependable when you order the staples.
8.1
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Business Lunch Power Players
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
A long-running Hyde Park Middle Eastern restaurant built around comforting standards—shawarma, falafel, kebabs, and hearty soups—served in a straightforward, no-frills setting. It’s best as a reliable lunch-or-dinner anchor where you commit to one platter and one starter rather than turning it into a sampler flight.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma, Falafel, Lentil soup
What Makes it Special: A Hyde Park institution for classic Middle Eastern platters and sandwiches.
Yasemi sits off the lobby of the Godfrey Hotel as a modern Greek-leaning Mediterranean dining room with plenty of natural light and a flexible all-day menu. Open since 2025, it runs from breakfast through dinner, giving River North visitors and office workers a sit-down option for mezze, grilled seafood, and braised lamb without leaving the block.
Must-Try Dishes:
Whipped Harissa Feta with Warm Pita, Grilled Octopus, Youvetsi Lamb Shank with Orzo
What Makes it Special: Hotel-attached modern Mediterranean spot with full-day service and a spacious, comfortable dining room.
Worthy Picks
#13
Mezza Grill
7.6
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Healthy Haven
Business Lunch Power Players
Located inside the Merchandise Mart, Mezza Grill functions as a lunch-focused Mediterranean grill for building pitas, bowls, and salads on the go. It isn’t a destination restaurant, but for Mart tenants and nearby offices it delivers fresh, customizable plates that skew lighter than typical food-court fare.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mediterranean Salad, Chicken Shawarma Pita, Falafel Plate
What Makes it Special: Merchandise Mart’s primary Mediterranean counter, geared toward fast, customizable lunch orders.
#14
Roti
7.6
A fast-casual Mediterranean bowl-and-pita stop that wins on speed, customization, and lunch-hour reliability. It’s best when you keep the build tight—one protein, a clean sauce strategy, and a short topping list—so flavors stay distinct instead of muddy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Roti & Tahini Pita, Classic Falafel Street Pita, Harissa Chicken Bowl
What Makes it Special: Fast Mediterranean bowls and pitas with build-your-own control.
7.6
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.
7.5
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Business Lunch Power Players
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A workday-friendly counter spot for build-your-own plates and sandwiches, with a menu built around shawarma, kabobs, falafel, and dips. It’s strongest when you order like a lunch engine—one protein-forward main plus one dip—rather than stacking too many sides.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Shawarma Sandwich, Falafel, Hummus
What Makes it Special: Fast Mediterranean plates with a reliable build-your-own format.