Raffi’s On Fifth

Hear, ye, hear ye, and with this new format goodness knows who will actually see, or read, this update.
I still love Raffi’s food and service but I am sad to let everyone know they are closing on September 29, 2012. Which means, those Groupons you purchased last week expire LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG before the May 22, 2013 date on them.
Make your reservations and head over for your celebrations (early birthdays, half birthdays, anniversaries) whatever the occasion may be and enjoy it for one last time.
Let’s hope they are able to find a new home. Fine dining is very limited in Naperville.

My wife and I tried Raffi’s last night because we had a Groupon that was about to expire. We got there right at 4:30pm (when their dinner starts) because we had some other things to do that evening. It can be a bit difficult to find at first because it’s not a stand alone building nor very restaurant looking. Just look for the big brick factory.
We were the first two in the place. The atmosphere is very neat. As mentioned in other reviews, it’s an old furniture factory that has been converted into a «mall» of sorts. In the main dining room are the old boiler units that powered and heated the factory. They’ve got plaques up around talking about the history of the place which is a nice touch. But enough about the building.
We started off with two appetizers — the pei black mussels (in a tomato and hot pepper broth infused with garlic, lemon, and basil) and the goat cheese fondue (grilled asparagus drizzled with goat cheese fondue sauce). Both of these were very good and the portion of mussels was very large. The fondue sauce was drizzled over asparagus and pieces of bread and it had that wonderful rich, creamy taste of goat cheese that went well with the asparagus. If anything I wish they would have done more than just drizzle. It needs to coat the bread and asparagus if you ask me — but what do I know?
For the main dish, I had the pescatore (spaghetti, shrimp, mussels, and clams served in a tomato sauce with fresh basil). The pasta was cooked to perfection, the sauce was very tasty, and the amount of seafood in the dish was generous. Good choice overall. My wife ordered a bowl of the cream of artichoke soup (which was the soup du jour) and the warm goat cheese salad (menu: with baby frisee, walnuts and golden raisins, served with goat cheese toast points, and a white wine vinaigrette). The soup was a good sized bowl and was different than imagined. It wasn’t as creamy as you might expect a «cream of…» soup to be. It was more like tomato soup but the color of artichokes. It had a good artichoke flavor and had some nice pieces in there as well. The salad, while very good in terms of flavor with the dressing and goat cheese, was a little skimpy for my liking — especially for a $ 10 salad. Perhaps I don’t know what «baby frisee» is selling for now?
The service was good but it’s hard to judge this when you’re the only people in the place to start. It was starting to fill up when we were leaving and it was a Monday night so take that for what it’s worth. Our bill with two appetizers, two drinks, one entrée, one salad, and one soup was $ 70. Not bad for this atmosphere.
All in all a nice place to eat with a nice menu. Thanks to Groupon and Raffi’s for giving me a chance to try a new place to eat that I may not have otherwise tried.

First I was impressed the main dinning room with the three story high ceiling. All exposed brick and a side of metal wall reminded me the old factory days. Very unique and interesting décor.
Only one table was occupied when we was seated which made me a bit uneasy. We started with the Triple Dip, one lentil soup, one creamy artichoke soup, and sharing a lamb sandwich.
The Triple dip was fine. I liked hummus but didn’t care much about eggplant purée nor cucumber with yogurt. This was my first time trying creamy artichoke and I didn’t like it much. The lentil soup was pretty good but a bit salty for me. At this point, I was thinking this place was totally overrated by the Unilocal reviews.
The waiter was very nice to put our lamb sandwich with pita bread on two plates with side salad and rice. I ate one big chuck of Lamb first. It was soooooo good. The meat was sauteed perfectly to medium well. Tender, juicy and flavored just right. It tasted even better when I eat the meat with veggie and the pita bread as the delicious sauce was contained in the pita bread. The half portion was just perfect for me. Yes, go for the lamb if you are up to it. you will enjoy it.
The waiters was polite and attentive. As it was a slow Monday lunch, we got the chance to talk to the waiters a bit. They only have lunch on weekdays not on the weekend. They don’t open on Sundays. And it is better to have a reservation on Weekend nights because they are usually packed.
Lucky me have one more Groupon with Riffi’s. I will be back really soon.

This is going to be my new favorite place! A wonderfully unique location. The ambiance was so nice and quaint .
On top of that, the service was outstanding and so was the food. Both my husband and I loved our meals, and we will definitely be back!

Very good but not great. Although I should say that I was only there once and that was for lunch (the whole building was as quiet as a graveyard).
The Triple Dip a trio of hummus, (bean and sesame), baba ghanouj (eggplant purée), and jajic (yogurt and cucumber), served with hearth baked pita was just OK. The hummus was a little bland and corrected with a little Tabasco on our part. Nothing was a ‘WOW’.
Three of the four at our table ordered the chicken kabobs and found them «good». Again, no one was raving. I had the fish of the day, Grouper, and found it worth ordering again but nothing I would go out of my way for.
To be fair I really needed to try the lamb but did not. Perhaps I need to go there for dinner.

Excellent food but only one waiter so it was kind of slow. But it didn’t effect our experience. We had the chicken panini and the sauteed chicken and the grilled atlantic salmon for lunch. Nice décor and very clean. Price was good too. We’ll definitely come back. Would have given 5 stars if not for only the one waiter making it a little slower than it had to be.

I’ve dined a couple times — it’s a good mid-​way point for my two families. The restaurant is at the northwest entrance of the Fifth Avenue Station building, a former furniture factory. When you first enter, you pass a bar, but the main room was a nice surprise the first time I went. Exposed brick, giant ceiling height, and remnants of the factory days. I don’t know what the giant contraption is on the west wall, but it sparked my imagination of the life of the average worker early in the last century.
Their food is DELICIOUS. The lamb is spectacular. Seriously, if you’re a fan, do try it. I’m not a usual lover of lamb, but I make an exception when at Raffi’s. The pasta with the four cheese sauce is splendid. Kabobs are tender and wonderful. They’ve never served anything I didn’t enjoy.
I always consider this place for a special dinner with the home folks, because they have no problem fitting ten of us around a table and taking wondering care of us. Always a pleasure to visit.

I think I have a new favorite restaurant in Naperville. First of all, the space itself is really neat. Super high ceilings, exposed brick walls, and dimly lit. The only thing I didn’t really like we’re the tables and their layout. No booths, just a bunch of tables in a rather uninteresting layout. It almost seemed temporary.
The food though… Oh the food. We started with the sautéed shrimp (shrimp in oil, garlic, and dried chili peppers, along with a bunch of other spices). This was very similar to the Shrimp Diablo at the now demolished Key Wester Fish & Pasta House… But spicier, and better.
That was followed with a caesar salad (good, but not great… Needed croutons instead of black olives), and the main course. I had the lamb chops and my wife had the ribeye. Both plates were licked clean. She even liked my lamb chops, and she rarely likes lamb.
For desert we had the profiteroles and the bourma (like baklava, but tubular and served with vanilla ice cream). Both were very good, and each by themselves were more than enough for one person.
The wine list was huge, and there was a small bar that was fully stocked. The place was also packed on the Saturday evening we came here, so reservations are probably a good idea.
For one cocktail, 4 glasses of wine, an appetizer, a salad, two of the most expensive entrees on the menu, and two desserts, the total damage was $ 139. Good thing we had a $ 40 groupon (which ALMOST covered the bar tab).
This is not an every-​weekend type of place, but it is definitely a place we will try to get back to, often.

I’m happy to say I’ve finally been here! What a unique location for a restaurant. I loved the high ceilings and feel of the place!
Chicken kabobs and four cheese penne pasta were fresh. Our waiter was nice, but a little flighty.
I made a reservation for 6:30 on a Friday; at that time, it was still rather quiet, but an hour later, almost every table was occupied! Kudos to Raffi!

We came back for dinner and had the lamb and chicken kabob with rice pilaf, and the whitefish entrée. You can always get a reliable, decent meal here, and dining in the boiler room is comfortable, and quaint with the 40′ ceilings. Water service was very good, and service was attentive. Parking is also very convenient and it beats looking around for a space in DT Naperville, when you just want to go eat. Reservations suggested, as we were surprised and turned away once due to a large group outing.

Loved Raffi’s — and it is more Mediterranean, than Greek. The ambiance is lovely. WIDE open, you don’t hear anyone else around you… and lofty, set in an old furniture warehouse — this place is neat.
The smell of deliciousness hits you when you walk into the restaurant after you pass the cute lil bar (in the old boiler room) with a few high tables scattered about. The lamb was superb — from the chops, to the shish kabob to the Lula Kebab (Beef and lamb croquettes). Pilaf was perfect. Pasta with whole tomatoes in the light sauce, good fresh seafood, pork chops were excellent as well. The hottest bread is served with softened butter. Yum.
We had a wonderful family dinner here. For 7 dinners, 3 apps and 2 bottles of vino, it ran us around 330.00.

I went there with a group of coworkers based on a recommendation. Was not disappointed. Excellent food and atmosphere.
The group split appetizers of Grape Leaf Parcels, Triple Dip, and Sauteed Spinach. Appetizers came out and looked as good as they tasted.
I ordered the Soup of the Day, it was a Carrot soup with Goat Cheese. Had the consistency of split pea soup. Great flavor and was delighted by it.
I ordered the Lula Kebab, kind of a Lamb/​Ground Beef burger in a pita. It was excellent, great taste, excellently seasoned and prepared. I would definitely order it again.
The look of the restaurant is pretty neat. It’s located inside a larger building housing all sorts of businesses. The building used to be a factory. The interior of the restaurant had HUGE vaulted ceilings with cool exposed beams and exposed brick walls. One wall within the restaurant was the business end of what was once a giant boiler (Think of something like 5 steam locomotive engines) that had been painted white. Very impressive.
Service was excellent, however the kitchen was a bit slow with the entrees.

To classify Raffi’s as Greek is wrong. It is mediterranean cuisine at its finest and includes some fantastic American dishes like pork chops & steak.
The special appetizer last night was snails in tomato sauce — succulent. Also had clams in a spicy tomato sauce. My son had one of his favorite dishes — lamb chops with mashed potatoes & vegetables. I had the monk fish served on a bed of delicately cooked vegetables & lentils. A light grainy mustard sauce complimented the dish perfectly. No meal at Raffi’s would be complete without the tart & a cup of coffee. Last night it was lemon.
The ambiance & cuisine at Raffi’s never changes. It is warm, comfortable & satisfying. One of our favorite places for the past 10 years.

What a cool little place! The restaurant is located in an old warehouse that used to be a factory that supported the war effort during WWII (there was a plaque on the wall explaining this)
You walk in and the dining room is a large open room with huge vaulted ceilings. I was with a group of 4 and we each started off with a different cocktail which all of us enjoyed.
We got 2 different appetizers, the first was the Boereg which were two triangle pasta shells stuffed with cheese, crab meat and other goodness. These were delicious but alas, there were only two. We asked the server what she recommended for our second appetizer and it was the scallops. What a perfect suggestion, this dish was fantastic.
We were pretty spread out as far as the entrees go. One was the fettuccine alfredo with chicken, one was the Colorado lamb chops, one was the pork tenderloin, and mine was the lamb and chicken tango kabob. Everyone said their dish was cooked/​prepared to perfection, including mine.
Really, the only complaint about this place was the service. We went during dinner on a Sunday night and they only had one server covering the entire dining room. Luckily I was there to catch up with friends so we didn’t mind spending time there but I’m sure others would have gotten very annoyed.

Normally, you can find me in da club, bottle full of bub, but a few Saturdays ago, I could be found at Raffi’s on 5^th. Located in the old train station, the restaurant itself is very cool. Lots of old brick and tall ceilings. Inviting and nice without being intimidating. After a walk through the bar, we were quickly seated and served bread an water. This kick started one of the themes of the night– excellent service.
I had the fish special and my wife had lamb, both of which were excellent. I found the menu to offer good choices without being hopelessly expansive, and the 3 – 4 special added to the everyday offerings.
The whole evening was quite grand.

What a wonderful experience! It’s a beautifully rustic and open dining room with vaulted ceilings, floor-​to-​ceiling boiler room façade, and brick walls. Impressive and charming all at once!
Our friends generously took my husband and me here tonight and everything was perfect! Service was right on the mark– there when you need it, no hovering, friendly and knowledgeable. The wait staff spaced out our courses with impeccable timing, never rushed, nor wanting.
We first enjoyed flavorful soups, a dinner salad with fresh mint and a red wine vinegarette, and pita/​dip starter. The dips were a smooth, tangy hummus, an eggplant dip, and a cucumber and dill yogurt– all yummy, everyone had a fav! All portions were nicely sized, with the most generous «cup» of soup; can’t imagine how large the «bowl» was! Their complimentary bread basket was divine. Warm crusty bread that was soft on the inside. I could’ve devoured that basket myself.
Each in our party of four chose a different entrée: roasted chicken on a bed of polenta, shrimp kebabs with coconut curry sauce and rice pilaf, shrimp fettuccine Alfredo, and an inch and a half thick grilled pork chop with mash potatoes. All cooked perfectly, well seasoned and not a one of us disappointed!
It’s on the pricey side, but definitely not overpriced because, they definitely are talented chefs, again generous in portions and a variety from which to choose. Our friends picked up the tab with the aid of a gift certificate, so naturally that was easy on our wallets, but we would happily pay for a meal and dining experience of this caliber in the future. We couldn’t do it all the time, but now and again for a treat or for a special occasion. Loved it!
Side note: they have a loft space via stairs where a large birthday party was going on when we were there. Looked like a good sized space and offered privacy. Not sure if they had elevators for those who might need it. Also, it’s more like business casual to dressy.

I enjoyed our experience at Raffi’s. I’m not sure if it’s because we basically had the place to ourselves, the food, the ambiance, or the friends we spent the evening with. Perhaps all of it together.
It’s located behind the Naperville train station in a building I’d never seen before– which isn’t too surprising since we’re somewhat new to the area. Walking in, it was a bit awkward. You immediately reach a very small bar and then are brought into the awesome dining room. The ceilings are really high and it has a rustic feel with exposed brick. I love that.
We all ordered starters: endive salad (excellent), house salad (excellent), and two of their carrot soups of which I didn’t try but our friends enjoyed.
We ordered a variety of entrees, too. Salmon, another fish, lamb/​chicken, and pasta. We were all pleased with our entrees. I ordered the pasta and it was enormous. I mean for two people enormous.
They brought bread to the table and the service was nice.
I think I liked the ambiance most of all and would enjoy bringing a business client. There is so much to choose from on the menu and everyone would be pleased since they cater to Mediterranean, Greek, French, and Italian palates. You’re bound to find something you like.
Was it cheap? I wouldn’t say so… but it was a nice dinner out. They offer a $ 25 gift cert on
, but you have to buy 4 entrees. It’s not much of a discount in the long run, but worth the purchase/​print.

The venue is definitely interesting — wide open space, extremely tall ceiling, exposed brick, and an upstairs loft. I feel like it could have been a little prettier, but at least it was unique.
Service was wonderful and our waiter was very nice.
Food-​wise, there are some pretty good choices on the menu. The bread basket is warm and toasted, although nothing particularly good. Definitely not one of those freshly baked loaves with a fluffy interior and naturally crispy crust.
I enjoyed the goat cheese fondue with asparagus, but I do think the name sort of mis-​represented the dish, as it was actually thick, juicy stalks of asparagus covered with a cream sauce with a hint of goat cheese flavor, and two slices of bread. Relatively simple, quite tasty, but I expected more actual goat cheese.
Their signature lamb kebab wasn’t bad; I liked that the meat was tender and that it wasn’t too gamey, but there wasn’t anything particularly spectacular about the flavors of the sauce. Personally, I prefer the flavor of the kebabs at Naf Naf, although I know the two places are quite different.
Their fish was perfectly cooked, with a nice crispy outside and medium rare interior. Taste-​wise it was good but not very memorable.
Overall very solid.

My boyfriend has been putting up with my crap for three years now, and it seemed like something to celebrate. Enter Raffi’s on Fifth! Because it’s stealthily located within the old Fifth Avenue Station near downtown Naperville, it can be easily overlooked when planning a nice dinner out — but really, it should be at the top of your list!
We had difficulty settling on one appetizer, since everything sounded good, but we ended up getting that night’s special: smoked salmon rolled up with crab salad and served over greens. It was light and delicious, a perfect way to start our meal.
For my entrée, I couldn’t not get lamb. Come on, you’re in a Mediterranean restaurant, you HAVE to get lamb. I chose the lamb kebobs, and… sd;alfkjsd;lfads;kjdsdf;alsdkf;dlksfkja
What? Oh, sorry, that was just my fingers spasming from the memory of those tender, juicy, flavorful, medium-​rare lamb kebobs, marinated in red wine and tomatoes, and delicately flavored with mint. They were accompanied by rice pilaf and roasted onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. This dish was incredible, and I can’t recommend it enough.
My boyfriend ordered the fettuccine alfredo with shrimp. This classic pasta dish didn’t offer any surprises — I mean, you know what you’re getting with fettuccine alfredo — but it was also probably the best fettuccine alfredo I’ve ever tasted in a restaurant. The sauce was creamy and rich (but not too heavy), and the shrimp were very plump and had kind of a smoky flavor. Very good… although my boyfriend conceded that my lamb kebobs were superior. Nothing beats delicious, well-​prepared lamb. That’s just the way it is.
The service was attentive and polite, although our waiter was definitely a Seinfeldian «low talker»…I half-​expected him to try and sell me a puffy shirt for my upcoming appearance on «The Today Show.» The ambiance is semi-​fine dining — the décor is lovely, but not so posh or stuffy that an impoverished grad student like myself would feel uncomfortable. It’s perfect for a fancy anniversary dinner or just a nice evening out with friends. To use a sartorial analogy, Raffi’s is like a cute blazer, in that you can dress it up or down depending on the occasion.
Chic, versatile, and delicious! Rah rah for Raffi’s!

My husband and I went here for our anniversary. I had been to Raffi’s years ago and my husband has never been.
The ambiance is fairly casual with exposed brick and a very high ceiling (loft-​like). The restaurant is located inside an old industrial building, but they have done a nice job with the place.
We started out with the Boereg appetizer. It was amazing! Very delicious! For a salad, I had the tabouleh salad — very fresh and quite good. For my entrée, I had the ribeye steak, medium rare (cooked to perfection) with pureed sweet potatoes (phenomenal tasting) and steamed vegetables with a shitake mushroom sauce over the steak (heaven). That was all way too much for me, but WAY yummy!
My husband started with the artichoke soup — very tasty! He had the fish of the day for his entrée — walleye. He loved it! He was pleasantly surprised how good it was. He says next time we go, he is going to try the lamb!
Our waiter, Steve, was super helpful, very professional and so kind! We will definitely ask for him next time!
We can’t wait to go back!