Siunik Armenian Grill in Downtown Skokie

As I was driving to work last week, I caught the 'NOW OPEN' sign at Siunik on Oakton St. in Skokie. So today I took one for the LTH team & tried their lunch special ($4.95) and Armenian lentil soup ($1.99). The Lunch Special consists of 1 lula (like a kefta), 2 pieces of chicken, 2 pieces of steak with rice pilaf, salad, hummus & Armenian bread. For the price, it's an excellent deal & I would imagine it's priced that way to compete with Pita Inn, to which this cuisine has multiple similarities. And compared to downtown Skokie ethnic competition De-Jred, Tub Tim Thai, Libertad & Kabul House, it's the cheapest on the block.

First thing I noticed with the great rice pilaf & the lentil soup was the lack of oversalting, which I suppose plays into the owner's mission statement on the menu of 'simply using the freshest & healthiest ingredients'. It was somewhat refreshing not to be reaching for a Coke or a water bottle with every bite from the saltiness. The lentil soup was brothy, possibly a tad undercooked due to my early before-noon arrival, but was redolant of dill & tasty nonetheless.

The lula was a little less tightly-packed than a Pita Inn kefta, but almost identical in taste except a little less parsley, good to very good rendition. The steak & chicken kebab chunks can use some work, however, being somewhat overcooked and a little tough. The hot sauce they serve is almost a chili sauce of sorts, not nearly as complex as Pita Inn's nor as incendiary--I could've used more heat. The accompanying hummus were mild in taste but certainly decent as a dip for the soft, spongy bread. Salad with a light viniagrette consisted of crunchy Romaine pieces & slivered red onion, all of it very fresh.

I will have to try some more of Siunik's interesting, extensive Armenian menu before calling it a slam-dunk. It's very close to my office & the $4.95 special is an extremely good value. I am hoping that the Village of Skokie Technology Park (formerly GD Searle) can support all these luncheon venues.

Siunik Armenian Grill
4839 Oakton St.
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 329-4200

http://www.siunikarmeniangrill.com

At my lone visit, I enjoyed the food at their original, Glenview location (the former fRedhots space) and wrote a bit about it here. Glad to have confirmation that the Skokie location is now up and running, as it's very close to my office, too.

=R=

Siunik Armenian Grill
1707 Chestnut
Glenview, IL 60025
(847) 724-7800

The Glenview location of Siunik's was featured on Steve Dolinsky's Hungry Hound segment on ABC7 tonight, and mention also was made of the recently opened Skokie location.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sectio ... id=8539888

Edited to add link.

Reporting that Siunik has definitely upped their game since the first of the month. I've had their pork kebab plate ($7.50) twice since then, and both times the meat was tasty, juicy, aggressively spiced and well-portioned. I'm working my way through the pilafs & kasha, and the mushroom is my favorite so far. Hummus is solid, tabouleh is fresh, cabbage salad a little meh. But the cold eggplant topping (served as a side on the plate) was really wonderful. And I've developed an affinity for their hot chili sauce, which is only slightly spicy, but as a counterpoint to their homemade cool yogurt it's excellent dipping for the meat.

I saw wraps being made while waiting for my order, and at $5.25, to be able to pick the proportion of everything that goes inside--kind of like an Armenian burrito, only a little thinner--that might really hit the spot in the summer for something healthy.

Pictures of the new Skokie location look much nicer than Glenview. Hopefully they will be successful enough to get rid of the plastic bucket chairs.

I tried both the Glenview and Skokie location and I find the food bland with little to no flavor. The meats are all simply spiced and have a homemade taste. My other issues is the 2 types of sauces both tomato based taste almost identical.. no heat and more like European version of marinara sauce. One thing I give Siunik a thumbs up for is the fresh vegetables and salads...Although also bland in taste.

I had lunch here today, and I like it, especially at the price point. Granted, I nearly got soup-nazi'd out of the place when I asked if I could swap out on my lunch special cabbage for lettuce salad AND eggplant for hummus and then asked for sauce too--the sauce one, however, I did not get. Why would not the lunch special also come with sauce. Anyways safely back in my seat, I very much enjoyed all that I ordered. Is it it great-great? OK, not really, but is it great for the price great, I think so.

To add, one of my daugthers go them to sub the potatoes for the rice pilaf, and based on a taste or two, I really liked. On the other hand, based on a taste or two, I was not well impressed with the hummus, finding it on the watery side.

Between this, Naf Naf, Fresh Farms and a nearby Salvation Army store, my daughters are wondering why we don't live in Skokie.

Passing through Glenview today, I hit the Siunik outpost there.
The lunch special rivals Pita Inn's as one of the better deals around.
I took an upcharge to swap in hamov for hummus. This place's hamov, an Armenian cold ratatouille, may be my favorite side anywhere. I think I may have to get a plate of it next time.
The seasoning on the meats and rice is more aggressive than I prefer, but I am an outlier in preferring less salt in general (blood pressure + palate). That said, the quality of the kabob meat (lula, steak, chicken) was quite good; the meat was not dry like the pork kabob I had previously at the Skokie location.
I like the family that runs Siunik and was glad to see their Glenview operation busy at 1 p.m.

TomInSkokie wrote:Passing through Glenview today, I hit the Siunik outpost there.
The lunch special rivals Pita Inn's as one of the better deals around.
I took an upcharge to swap in hamov for hummus. This place's hamov, an Armenian cold ratatouille, may be my favorite side anywhere. I think I may have to get a plate of it next time.
The seasoning on the meats and rice is more aggressive than I prefer, but I am an outlier in preferring less salt in general (blood pressure + palate). That said, the quality of the kabob meat (lula, steak, chicken) was quite good; the meat was not dry like the pork kabob I had previously at the Skokie location.
I like the family that runs Siunik and was glad to see their Glenview operation busy at 1 p.m.

Siunik has grown into one of my top choices for lunch, actually schlep worthy from Oak Park (usually combined with Fresh Farms and/or Barnes & Noble to leverage the drive). As an added bonus, the red bean option even makes it vegan friendly for my wife. All the food is made with much care, and as they brag, by their hands.

Part of what put me over the top is the sheer gluttony of the place. There's so much food on the plate, between the meats, the grains, the sides and the sauces, but what absolutely sealed the deal: those prior experiences of begging for subs for the lunch special. Gone. In my experience, you can pretty much get anything you want as part of the special, and yes, I totally want that hamov. Wait, there's more. Now, they ply you with sauces. Want to have a little house made yogurt. What, we won't tell (woops, did I?). It is such an amazing deal.

Granted, about 1:45 is not primo meal time in Downtown Skokie on a Saturday afternoon, but I know if we had gone to Pita Inn instead for lunch it would have been packed. And granted, the $7.50 for a plate of lula kebabs is probably---scratch that, I just googled the menu and Pita Inn is not cheaper AT ALL. Really, why aren't more people here!

Like I say, I'm nothing if not a fan of portion control. Siunik is one of two places I know, who since opening, have increased the amount of food they give you for the same amount of money.* Since they've opened, they've added these huge (I bet Ikea) plates that allow them to ply on the pilafs. There's way enough room to have 2 on your plate, so do ask/go for it. Sure, it's not the most explosive of flavors, yet the stuff is comforting and multi-varied in its approach. I actually find the "mild" red sauce a little zestier than the one called spicy. It all tastes so good, that as much food that's on the plate, I managed to finish it all.

Save this restaurant.

*The other place being Falafil.

As I walked past this morning - windows papered over, State of Illinois green sticker on the front door indicating that the premises are closed and business license revoked.

http://siunikarmeniangrill.com/find_us - only shows the Glenview location.

A shame. I am assuming the closing was lack-of-business-related rather than anything untowards. In their first year of operation, when my office was literally a stone's-throw from Siunik, I would visit there at lunchtime, just after opening, and kibbitz with the proprietor while waiting for my order to be filled. Seemed like a nice guy.

I know Skokie is trying hard to revitalize downtown in that there have been rumors of restaurant lessees getting rent discounts from the village, but you still gotta bring in the business by making it comfortable for patrons to dine on Oakton St., even at night. Kabul House & Libertad have persevered, but it can't be easy.

New paper sign in the door - "Closed For Remodeling - Opening Soon - NIU Armenian Grill"
Windows still papered over. Green IL Dept of Revenue sticker still on the door.
A quick Google search of NIU Armenian Grill shows the same address and phone number of Siunik.

Vital Information wrote:Granted, about 1:45 is not primo meal time in Downtown Skokie on a Saturday afternoon, but I know if we had gone to Pita Inn instead for lunch it would have been packed. And granted, the $7.50 for a plate of lula kebabs is probably---scratch that, I just googled the menu and Pita Inn is not cheaper AT ALL. Really, why aren't more people here!

Like I say, I'm nothing if not a fan of portion control. Siunik is one of two places I know, who since opening, have increased the amount of food they give you for the same amount of money.* Since they've opened, they've added these huge (I bet Ikea) plates that allow them to ply on the pilafs. There's way enough room to have 2 on your plate, so do ask/go for it. Sure, it's not the most explosive of flavors, yet the stuff is comforting and multi-varied in its approach. I actually find the "mild" red sauce a little zestier than the one called spicy. It all tastes so good, that as much food that's on the plate, I managed to finish it all.

Save this restaurant.

*The other place being Falafil.

Can't say I did not warn you!

This place was so great. It was not just that they did the simple so well, a hearty pilaf, grilled meats; it was their generosity, both literally in portion size, and in spirit. The way they'd carefully sprinkle a bit of parsley on your plate at the register, drizzle some olive oil, fill up your sauce cup again and again. It all made the food taste that much better.

I only dream that the new place, if it comes to be, is as good.

Vital Information wrote:

Vital Information wrote:Granted, about 1:45 is not primo meal time in Downtown Skokie on a Saturday afternoon, but I know if we had gone to Pita Inn instead for lunch it would have been packed. And granted, the $7.50 for a plate of lula kebabs is probably---scratch that, I just googled the menu and Pita Inn is not cheaper AT ALL. Really, why aren't more people here!

Like I say, I'm nothing if not a fan of portion control. Siunik is one of two places I know, who since opening, have increased the amount of food they give you for the same amount of money.* Since they've opened, they've added these huge (I bet Ikea) plates that allow them to ply on the pilafs. There's way enough room to have 2 on your plate, so do ask/go for it. Sure, it's not the most explosive of flavors, yet the stuff is comforting and multi-varied in its approach. I actually find the "mild" red sauce a little zestier than the one called spicy. It all tastes so good, that as much food that's on the plate, I managed to finish it all.

Save this restaurant.

*The other place being Falafil.

Can't say I did not warn you!

This place was so great. It was not just that they did the simple so well, a hearty pilaf, grilled meats; it was their generosity, both literally in portion size, and in spirit. The way they'd carefully sprinkle a bit of parsley on your plate at the register, drizzle some olive oil, fill up your sauce cup again and again. It all made the food taste that much better.

I only dream that the new place, if it comes to be, is as good.

New place has opened this week "NIU Armenian Grill Skokie"... I did not try it but drove by and they had a Grand Opening sign in the window.