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Walking into Anelya is like wandering into a fever dream. Flower-shaped light fixtures dangle from the ceiling, basking the dining room in lava-lamp-like colors. Smiling vegetable sculptures leer at you from the open kitchen. Servers push sparkling zakusky carts around the tables to synthpop that’s one decibel away from belonging in a European discotheque. It’s all very surreal—and the perfect backdrop for Anelya’s captivating Ukrainian dishes. This playful Avondale spot from the Parachute team is not only an exciting addition to the city’s Ukrainian restaurant lineup, but to Chicago’s entire dining landscape.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
photo credit: John Ringor
The fun begins when the aforementioned zakusky cart arrives, with three tiers of appetizers. Ordering from here is a suggestion, but should be a requirement. Buttery slices of cured pork with garlic and spicy horseradish are simple yet satisfying. Creamy deviled eggs have little anchovy hats that add saltiness. Trout roe tarts with scallion cream cheese manage to cram the flavors of a lox bagel in a single bite with impressive efficiency.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
The larger dishes keep the momentum going with back-to-back hits. Housemade kovbasa paired with apricot and blueberry sauerkraut deftly balances salty, smoky, tart, and sweet. The lokshyna, with layers of farmers cheese and egg noodles, is the comfort you want from a stack of pasta and cheese. And don’t be surprised if you decide to book a follow-up reservation between your first and last bite of the flaky, floral Napoleon.
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Eating at Anelya is simultaneously intimate and communal. Tables are close together, but neighboring conversations won’t interrupt your own—unless you’re invested in the nearby group’s journey through vodka pours flavored with dill, rose, and citrus. And similar to the house-infused booze, touches like decorative Ukrainian plates and the custom-made zaksusky carts make dinner here a uniquely charming experience. Under the neon lights of Anelya, we’ve never been more excited to dive into a bowl of borscht.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Trout Roe Tart
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Lokshyna
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Halushki
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Mushroom Yushka
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Kovbasa
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Banosh
photo credit: Kim Kovacik
Napoleon