06/11/25
Warm Calamari Salad at Apolonia in Chicago, IL. I can count on one hand how many salads around the country I would go out of my way to eat - the Tea Leaf Salad at Burma Superstar in SF, the Greek Tomato Salad at Milos in LV, and this Warm Calamari Salad at Apolonia in Chi-Town. This pic does not even come close to doing justice to how wonderful this salad tastes. A generous portion of super fresh calamari is mixed with lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, and olive oil and tossed with arugula in a carrot and shallot vinaigrette. The result is a medley of refreshing flavors. The lemon zest (the outermost layer of the lemon when peeled) provides an especially unique flavor, as it adds a sweet, citrus-like flavor to the dish. Apolonia is located down the street from Wintrust Arena in the South Loop. Their menu changes periodically and the Warm Calamari Salad (also called the Warm Seafood Salad with octopus added) is typically only available at Brunch, but Chef Joe Spretnjak and Chef Mike Flores were both kind enough to make it for us at lunch when we went several times during the week. I also love their Yellowtail Crudo, Branzino, Fiorentini al Sugo, and Broiled Oysters. One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago, don’t miss this dish or this place if you’re in the Windy City!