In the heart of vibrant Chicago, where streets sing with jazz and skyscrapers compete for the sky, there is a place where a completely different music reigns — the melody of the Ukrainian soul. Old Lviv is not just a restaurant but a living corner of Lviv, preserving the taste, warmth, and spirit of traditional Ukrainian cuisine far from the homeland.
The name of the establishment is no coincidence or marketing stunt. Old Lviv is a thoughtfully created replica of old Galician coziness, where every detail of the interior breathes authenticity: wooden benches, clay pitchers, embroidered towels, photographs from the past century. Here, there is no play-acting — here, they live in love for the native. Stepping inside, you find yourself as if in a Lviv café at the beginning of the 20th century — only instead of cobblestones outside the window, the lights of Chicago flicker.
The restaurant’s menu is a gastronomic journey through Ukrainian regions, a stop in each house where you are awaited with a full bowl of borscht and bread on an embroidered towel.
Among favorites of guests:
Borscht with beans and pampushky — rich, fragrant, with hints of garlic and family warmth.
Varenyky ( dumplings) — with potatoes, cabbage, meat or cherries. Generous fillings, soft dough, and sour cream — like grandma’s.
Golubtsi (stuffed cabbage rolls), deruny (potato pancakes), pelmeni (meat dumplings), mushroom soup, homemade sausages, banosh with brynza — everything so needed by the emigrant’s heart.
Herring under a fur coat, “Olivier” salad, blood sausage, liver Lviv-style — dishes that have become part of the cultural DNA.
And for dessert — a true paradise for connoisseurs:
Raisins cheesecakes, honey cake, “Napoleon” cake, poppy seed rolls and the signature “Lviv Pletz” — a dessert that unites flavors of several generations in one slice. An ideal accompaniment — Lviv coffee or uzvar, which warms not only the body but also the soul.
Old Lviv is a place of gathering and communication. Here, they celebrate Ivan Kupala, sing carols at Christmas, read Lesya Ukrainka’s poetry, organize charity evenings for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The restaurant supports the Ukrainian community, helps preserve identity, and provides a sense of home even to those who have long lived on another continent.
Who is this for?
For those who miss Ukraine.
For those who want to introduce American friends to genuine Ukrainian cuisine.
For those tired of trendy restaurants and looking for something real, warm, and dear.
In a world that is constantly changing, Old Lviv remains a island of stability, memory, and love. Here, they do not rush, here they eat with gratitude, remember with a smile, communicate with an open heart. Every lunch here is not just food, but a little celebration of the Ukrainian soul.
Entering Old Lviv, you do not just have dinner — you return home, even if thousands of kilometers separate you from it.
Current information:
Address: 2228 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States
Phone: +1 (773)-772-7250
Hours:
Tue-Sun 11:00–19:00 (11:00 AM - 07:00 PM)
