Little Bucharest Bistro

This place is fun… in a Romanian kind of way. The food is good, the waitress was very nice, and the owner is an absolute hoot. I’ve been there three times and each time, he’s been out at the end of the night with his special liquor giving shots to the patrons. It’s a little pricey to go every weekend, but I’ll definitely go back.

The food was good – the owners were nasty, rude and unpleasant to us and to their own staff. It was also too expensive. We won’t go back there ever again!

Great food, great prices. Friendly owner and staff. If offered, say yes to the Holy Water. I love this place.

My husband and I wanted to do something special for our 8^th year Anniversary, so we decided to drive 3+ hr to Chicago and indulge in some delicious Romanian food and get pampered at a luxurious hotel.
The food was divine, started with «Mititei» Charbroiled Sausages and Eggplant spread (my absolute fav dish in the world, have to say it’s not as perfect as when eggplants are in season but OMG, yummy)
For Entrees we got Sarmale/​Stuffed Cabbage with polenta and Pork Schnitzel with mashed potatoes and a separate side of mixed pickles (I am a sucker for pickled green tomatoes, haven’t had them in ages — not for everyone but I absolutely LOVE them) all paired with a Murfatlar Merlot and Borsec sparkling water.
The Sarmale were perfect, the Mititei were as great as my mom makes them, they don’t get better than this, mouthwatering and delicious, so delicious that we ordered another serving to go.
I was like a kid in a candy store, food so delicious I just wished for a bigger stomach to fit it all in, we had 2 leftover containers, I wasn’t going to waste one drop of goodness.
I almost forgot how good the food was, totally worth the 3+ hour drive, definitely have to come more often.
They had live music and some of the other guests even started dancing the «hora», very entertaining!!!
Very cozy restaurant with authentic Romanian foods, definitely give it a try, my husband is an EXTREMELY picky eater and he loves the Mititei, Sarmale and chicken or pork schnitzel. Looking forward to another trip to explore more foods off the menu!
A tad bit pricey but so worth it!!!
Previous time we were here we got free limo ride to the hotel but this time they had a packed night so call ahead and you may get spoiled even more!!!

Definitely need to try this Romania home feeling restaurant. Food are absolutely delicious. People there are lovely and treating you like a family. Holly water at the end is a must try if you come with your significant lover.

Great food. Personalized service from owner. A must visit place. I tried the award winning stuffed chicken thighs. Really great experience

Love eating here! The Romanian food is delicious, it reminds me of the food my mom used to make. My favorite is the sarmale with the mamaliga. But I’ve tried many other dishes here as well, and all taste wonderful. My husband likes the stuffed chicken, and we always get an order of the mititei. We never skip the desert, the crepes are fantastic, and the perfect end to a great meal. The owner is usually there, and he is very nice and welcoming. I’ve even turned a couple friends onto this place that have never had Romanian food. I will be back again and again!

Phenomenal true European food. Homemade bread, perfect vegetables and salads and huge delicious entrees. Will make the trip over here again! Ask for the holy water at the end of the meal

My first time in Romania many years ago, I was on a bus from Bucharest to Sinaia and the bus stopped in the middle of nowhere at a little roadside stand almost buried in the snow. The shoppe sold me a big can of beer and out front was a little girl grilling mititei. I didn’t know what it was but it smelled awesome, so I got two of the little sausages wrapped in warm soft bread with mustard, and I have been hooked ever since. When I saw Chicago had a Romanian food restaurant, I had to give it a try. I was very pleased with the offerings. The sarmale was excellent, as were the mititei and the pork. They didn’t have Toba, but that is OK by me. Definitely brought back fond memories and it is a must every time I return to Chicago.

This place is amazing! Good food, sweet staff and warm atmosphere! On weekends you may find yourself in the middle of a dance floor while eating your dinner but that’s super fun :)

Really good sausage (mititei)! My niece lived in Romania and said they have pretty authentic sarmale and mamaliga. Great place to go!

Amazing food, great reception, The guy there is the soul of the place, we had such an amazing time, and the food is superb!
I had braised short rib goulash and I am gonna go back for more!
Make sure you start with Palinka and go hungry!

First time here after living in the neighborhood for a long time. The food was really good some of the best calamari I have had. I thought everything we tried was pretty top notch. The wait staff was attentive and good. And yes the owner is a character but the Holy Water routine to me is bizarre. I really don’t want someone pouring alcohol down my throat. No thanks. In wathching the Holy Water routine unfold at other tables we comented that we could hear in our heads either Robert Irvine or Jon Taffer screaming «What? Your pouring alchohol down the throats of your guests?»
But other than that great food.

I love this place. The food nourishes my soul. In the winter when you just want to hibernate, it warms you like a comforter. In the summer you can eat lighter fare on the patio serenaded by musicians and firelight. Everyone is welcoming, it’s like eating in their own home, and they have always gone above and beyond in any little aspect.
I’m going to eat here for thanksgiving this year, it’s that lovely of an experience.

We always have an amazing time here. The food is always good and so are the drinks! Bring some friends and you will have a great time

Fantastic Euro fare, warm and genuine service punctuated by an engaging owner, there is nothing not to like here.
Ask about the holy water!

Great little place to come and eat tasty European food. The Vegetarian Eggplant Goulash was supper yummy.
Very nice staff and the owner is a funny guy!
Well enjoyed time!

This place has become a good delivery spot, as of recent. I get tired of the same old delivery options, so I order from here to change it up.
I really like their stuffed cabbage rolls with polenta and topped with crème fresh service in a light tomato sauce. Holds up pretty well for delivery.
I am still wanting to visit for a dine in experience. I’ll follow up…

Excellent service. Lovely servers. Great attention, hence the two stars.
Food, nothing to write home about.
I really wanted to love this place. Last few days I have been wondering if I should go to Moscow for a few days or Bucharest, so I have been longing for Romanian food.
I was on my way to Nelly’s Saloon and saw the Little Bucharest — which I had wanted to try for a while…
Bread, felt warmed up in the microwave.
Village salad was loaded with balsamic vinegar, and the tomatoes did not taste good.
The cabbage dish has so little cabbage in it and no flavor. The polenta was good.
The chicken paprika was ok.
Strudel was soaked and felt microwaved too.
Another desert was OK.
Overall I think food wise, Nelly is much better and more down to earth. Little Bucharest seems to have some music events and such which I am sure make it desirable.
I certainly wish them the best but I doubt I’d go back.

Little Bucharest Bistro has an airy, spacious interior and thanks to plenty of large windows, the setting isn’t dim. For those who wish to sit outside, there is outside seating, but having arrived early, indoor seating next to a window worked perfectly for me. Although Eastern European food is something that I prefer mostly when the temperatures are chilly, I asked my server for recommendations, while informing her that vegetarian is my first preference and seafood is my second. The offerings that I got had exceeded my expectations.
For a starter, I had borscht. At Little Bucharest Bistro, there was definitely a flavouring of cooked beets from a garden that didn’t leave an overpowering taste. It was also nice that the soup was full of beets and not just beet juice. Second to the table was the village salad, which consisted of red bell peppers, green bell peppers, red onions, cucumber, feta cheese, tomatoes, and olives. Drizzled with a nice balsamic vinaigrette, this was rabbit food I would welcome anytime.
A light appetizer that I got next was a plate of eggplant, prepared much like baba ganoush, that was served with pita bread, a small salad, and a mélange of pickles, crepes with cream cheese, and salmon. What an offering and this small platter still packed a flavourful punch that I would gladly indulge on future visits. And in keeping with vegetarian dishes, there was the vegetarian goulash. This was a hearty dish of grilled eggplant, cabbage, peppers, spinach, and garlic couscous in a tomato sauce. I was expecting something along the lines of a spaetzle, but the goulash was a classic example of different being outstanding.
This first experience is definitely all the more reason I shall have to return again very, very soon to see what other menu items they have to convert me into a regular customer.