Restaurant

Apolonia

Name: Apolonia
Address: 105 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL, 60616, US
Telephone: (312) 363-2431
Price range: value

Mediterranean•Bridgeport•value

Apolonia is one of the best mediterranean restaurants in Chicago for dinner, especially if you want a strong option in Bridgeport.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

Chef Stephen Gillanders named his second restaurant after his Filipino grandmother — the woman who first put a wok in his orbit and lit whatever spark became a career — and that personal gravity gives Apolonia a grounding that a lot of South Loop dining lacks. The address (2201 S Michigan Ave, right at the edge of what most people call Bridgeport) puts it in a neighborhood that doesn't usually get restaurants with this level of intention, and the wood-fired oven anchors the kitchen in something tactile and specific rather than just globally eclectic. The concept is global in the truest sense: Filipino roots, Mediterranean technique, a wood fire that ties it together. At price level one, this is an overachiever in a field of underachievers. The Black Truffle Puff Bread has developed a genuine reputation — described by more than one source as a contender for the best garlic bread in the city, which is a specific and contestable claim, which is exactly why it's worth believing. The method is the point: deep fried, then baked, then finished with truffle butter, garlic, and fried parsley. That's not garlic bread, that's a project. The Fiorentini al Sugo is handmade pasta with pork sausage in a smoky tomato base finished with chili oil — the wood-fire influence shows here, and it's the kind of dish that makes the room feel earned. The Harissa Spiced Lamb Skewer leans into the Mediterranean thread, paired with tzatziki to temper the heat, and the Octopus de Bourgogne — octopus in butter sauce — signals that Gillanders is willing to move freely across traditions without asking permission. The move is to anchor the table with the Truffle Puff Bread early and let the wood-fired dishes drive the rest of the order. Apolonia takes reservations on OpenTable, and given the size of the room and the neighborhood demand, booking ahead — especially on weekends — is the practical call. Start there.

Carlos Mendez, Food & Drink Editor

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

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Taste ID

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Taste Score 8.0/10

Rating (Google) 9.2

743 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

8.0/10

Taste Score

Google 9.2 from 743 reviews

Best for

dinner and neighborhood

Price and pace

Good value

Neighborhood

Bridgeport | 105 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616, USA

Price

Good value

Taste Score

8.0/10

Phone

(312) 363-2431

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Apolonia

1 photo

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Apolonia on video

Short: WorldViewSuperStar (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Video: Darius Cooks (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Menu and ordering

Apolonia menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Apolonia is listed in the Good value price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Black Truffle Puff Bread

Fiorentini al Sugo

Harissa Spiced Lamb Skewer

Octopus de Bourgogne

Check the current menu

Why go

What makes Apolonia worth the move

Apolonia is a clean first click in Bridgeport in Chicago when you want a mediterranean option you can trust. Black Truffle Puff Bread and Fiorentini al Sugo also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 743 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.2 from 743 Google reviews

Best for

dinner and neighborhood

Style

Mediterranean in Bridgeport

Spend

Good value

Best for

neighborhood dinner local

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.2 from 743 reviews

Price point: value

Popular dishes: Black Truffle Puff Bread, Fiorentini al Sugo, Harissa Spiced Lamb Skewer

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Carlos Mendez for Apolonia

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Google snapshot

9.2 from 743 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by Carlos Mendez

No diner notes for Apolonia yet.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Visit Website Menu Directions

Address: 105 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
Phone: (312) 363-2431
Price: value
TastyPals score: 8.0/10
Google rating: 9.2 (743 reviews)
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Neighborhood: Bridgeport

Read guide

Restaurants in Bridgeport

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Apolonia serve?

Apolonia is a Mediterranean restaurant located in Bridgeport, Chicago. Chef Stephen Gillanders named his second restaurant after his Filipino grandmother — the woman who first put a wok in his orbit and lit whatever spark became a career — and that personal gravity gives Apolonia a grounding that a lot of South Loop dining lacks.

What is Apolonia best for?

Apolonia is best for neighborhood, dinner, local. Apolonia is a clean first click in Bridgeport in Chicago when you want a mediterranean option you can trust. Black Truffle Puff Bread and Fiorentini al Sugo also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 743 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Apolonia?

Apolonia is in the Good value price range (value). Google rating: 9.2 from 743 reviews

What should I order at Apolonia?

Start with Black Truffle Puff Bread, Fiorentini al Sugo, Harissa Spiced Lamb Skewer and Octopus de Bourgogne. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Apolonia worth visiting?

Apolonia holds a 9.2 Google rating from 743 reviews. Apolonia is a clean first click in Bridgeport in Chicago when you want a mediterranean option you can trust. Black Truffle Puff Bread and Fiorentini al Sugo also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 743 Google reviews.