Old Lviv

Heaven is a place on Earth, and that place is Old Lviv in Chicago's Ukrainian Village.To a random person walking down the street, would their mind be blown completely by the food? No. But I am a different case. I have Ukrainian heritage, and almost everything here is extremely similar to what my mom makes at home. Considering that I am looking at a relocation to Chicago, leaving mom 1,000 miles away, having something which so closely reminds me of home is pretty much priceless. Now, of course I have to say that there is no borscht in the galaxy, nay, the universe , that holds a candle to my mom's. Thus, I have to be careful here: I can tell you that to me, the borscht was a little on the sour side and lacked meat... but that's because of the impossible comparison being made.So, if I am to remain impartial, I will say this: everything in Old Lviv was 100% authentic, 100% delicious, and 100% approachable. To those with Ukrainian heritage, you may find yourself in the same boat as me, where it's terrific but not like mama used to make. However, if you do not have that background - you should 100% get on the 66 bus and try it out!Bonus for friendly service, a cozy vibe, and a very reasonable prices!

Old Lviv is such a lovely place. It took me back home to Ukraine. The food is traditional and wonderful. Such a soul soothing and body warming selection. The service was great, and I was so happy to come here.

Delicious freshly cooked food. Buffet is fresh and has many choices. The young man who runs the front end is friendly and accommodating.

What a wondrous and wonderful place.While it may be next to impossible for a Ukrainian restaurant to outdo New York's Streecha, Old Lviv certainly comes close. This cozy restaurant houses only a handful of tables, but the buffet and its selection certainly befit a grandiose establishment.Although I am generally hesitant of buffets, I was particularly intrigued by this one as less common genre in the country at large. And no disappointment was found in the experience. The buffet offered a wide assortment of dishes: meat in mushroom sauce, stuffed cabbages, filled mlyntsi, potatoes, vegetables, beef, various salads, fruits, and more. The buffet also includes soup, where I opted for the borshch. The meats were tender, the chickens juicy, the vegetables flavorful, and the horseradishes potent. There is truly nothing more one could ask for.There is also a full bar, although I did not explore its offerings.As for the cost, the weekday buffet at the time of my visit, July 2022, was $17. In my mind's eye, this is an exceptionally reasonable price for the variety, quality, and location. The service is very good as well.I will absolutely come back, and would recommend that you visit too.A note to the vegans of the world: this place is not for you.

Absolute gem! The borscht was DEVINE ... the best borscht I have ever had. Savory and sweet with delicious potatoes and cabbage and the service was warm and attentive. The varynyky (or Ukrainian peroigies) were also delicious and were balanced with flavor and deliciousness. The decor is authentic Ukrainian cultural pieces that made the place so cozy and inviting. I highly recommend this place especially on a chilly day. Will go back every time I'm in the neighborhood. Please go and treat yourself!

The food at this tiny storefront restaurant did not fail to please. We arrived for lunch and were offered beverages and some borscht. We took the waiter up on the offer of borscht, and were served a good sized bowl. Ukrainian borscht differs from its Russian counterpart, as it's often vegetarian and served hot. It's a simple, warming bowl of goodness. The buffet was still being filled while we ate our soup, so we waited a bit; a warning if you're planning on arriving just as they open. They had a few cold options on the salad bar, and I sampled most of them. The shredded beets were very good, and I also liked the cucumber salad, which had lots of dill. My favorite item from the cold side was their purée of beets and horseradish. I'm not sure what this condiment is intended to go with, but I ate it with everything and went back for more. The hot buffet is comfort food central, with stick-to-the-ribs choices like stuffed cabbage, pork stew and mushroom gravy with mashed potatoes. There were also two chicken dishes, a fish dish with vegetables and a beef liver stew. The stuffed cabbage here is different from the Polish and Hungarian varieties I'm familiar with. It was stuffed with ground pork and rice and served in a delicious creamy tomato sauce. I'm fact, much of the food on the buffet had dairy in it. A vegetarian couple came in as we were eating and interviewed the waiter on the options open to them on the buffet. They ended up staying, so, while Ukrainian food is typically very meat-centric, vegetarians (not vegans) can find enough to eat here. There are only 5 tables, so the space is small. They have a full bar and some Ukrainian wines that I'll try on a future visit. Yes, I'll most definitely be back.

Loved my experience at Old Lviv. Cute, small family-owned joint with delicious food. Tried both the meat and cheese & potato pirogies and loved both (especially the cheese & potato!). Came with sour cream and perfect caramelized onions. Tried my friend's borscht as well and that was also on point. The folks here are really nice and the place has a lot of character. Definitely want to come back to try the buffet ($17, or $19 on weekends).

We drop by during lunch and it was a small cozy restaurant. My son tried the Buffet and he loved it. We tried the chicken soup is was simple but surprisingly delicious along with the amazing bread. Would definitely come back.

buffet for $18very yummy warm foodclearly made earlier, so get there relatively early (we got there at 5:40p- they stop making food at 6p)borscht isnt very intensely beety (which was good for me- but to each their own)

After a perfectly awful start to my Chicago visit, this place was much more than a 'welcome respite.' When I walked in, I was knocked over by the fact that it literally smelled like my grandmother's kitchen. Simple, hearty, wonderful Ukrainian food...that literally tastes like your grandmother made it. Fantastic. My family comes from Lviv...so stepping in here? Heart, soul...and most importantly, BELLY...were thrilled to tears.