food: the gyro and everything else was good and tasted authentic. portion size is also good service: nice staff and food came fast. cash only establishment ambiance: sat outside and the weather was perfect read more

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Sadly I found this place right before I move. This place is cash only so make sure to come prepared - I do think there's an atm at the bar next door if you do forget. We tried the skirt steak and chicken. The steak is OUTSTANDING. I'm not sure what secret spice blend they use in the kitchen but it's delicious. We always make sure to order a side of pita and Tzatziki to make our own gyros. The chicken is also a great choice, but the steak remains #1. The service here is always quick. We've never had to wait for a table, but if we did the bar connected next door is a great place to hang out in the meantime. read more

Athenian Room - Steak - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I love rotisserie/roasted chicken so much because it is the world's food. It is the same basic chicken, with all different cultures and regions of the world bringing their own unique twist to it. The Peruvians prepare it drastically different than the Chinese who prepare it drastically different than the French, and so on. It's beautiful if you really think about it. All this to say I was beyond excited when Athenian Room, a no frills cash only Greek restaurant, was the most recommended rotisserie chicken spot in Chicago. I couldn't even remember the last time I had a bird from a Greek spot, so I was ready to see what the Greeks had to bring to Chicken Wars. I walked into the dimly lit tavern-like ambiance and sheepishly asked "Table for 1..?" I got seated at a 4 top which I felt terrible about, but told the server I'd be quick. I ordered their iconic Chicken Kalamata ($16) - which is a boiled and grilled crisp-skinned half chicken over an ample amount of thick cut Greek fries drenched in olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and lemon. I was slightly perturbed as I awaited my chicken, as this place was so mellow and calm that I knew filming myself dogging this chicken with my ring light would bring way too much attention. This is by FAR my least favorite part of the job. I'm a people pleaser by nature and I just know everyone in the restaurant hates me, which is totally fair and valid. I opted to not touch the bright ring light, and just use the flash on my phone. I didn't even want to do that, but the quality of the video is just 10x better with some sort of light. I wish I could just write and never have to film myself, but you gotta play the game to change the game. The Chicken Kalamata came, it looked like what I imagine a chicken would look like if that's what they gave you upon arrival into heaven. A tight, crispy, golden brown skin with visible seasoning over a bed of thick cut fries. Does it get any better? When you rip it apart, you can literally hear the crunch of the skin as it breaks and steam escapes into the atmosphere. I've never seen anything like it. It genuinely makes me wonder if it is flash fried or something. This turned out to be some of the best chicken skin, flavor, and dark meat I've had, but in a tale as old as time, the breast was pretty dry. Dipping it in the olive oil at the bottom of the plate solved that, but I always judge a bird without sauce or additions. It's still easily worth the $16 I paid and I'd recommend this to anyone when in Chicago, but a truly elite bird needs to have a tender breast. Fries were touched by Zeus though. Thick cut with a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior... some of the best fries I've had this year. As I was wrapping up, the sweet server came over and said "Are you like a food influencer or something!?" I looked down and shook my head in embarrassment, and gave her the spiel. The word "influencer" or "content creator" gives me the ick, even though it is exactly what I'm doing. It just sounds so self serving and yucky. I do truly enjoy writing, telling stories, editing videos, and highlighting good businesses. Anyways, shoutout to the Athenian Room. SOLID bird here, but even better vibes. I'll 100% be back when I'm in Chicago again. IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo read more

Athenian Room - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Old school Greek restaurant located in the heart of Lincoln Park on Webster. Definitely an old school vibe, and is cash only which figures. Limited menu to just the basics, but what they have is good. It's basically just gyros, chicken and pork kabobs, or chicken served whole, burgers, and a few other items. I got the gyro dinner, the meat was very good and juicy, and a good portion. There's not a whole lot of seating in the dining room, maybe not ideal for huge groups, though my group had 7, and were able to get seated for lunch but we got there right at 12. It's attached to a bar and they share a bathroom with them just FYI. Glad I got to check it out, my sister lives nearby and she'd recommended it for her husband's birthday. There's some street parking available, but they also do valet. Or the Fullerton L stop isn't far from it. read more

Athenian Room - Gyro dinner - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

From the moment you walk in, it's clear that Athenian Room holds a beloved place in the Lincoln Park community! It's a mom-and-pops shop through and through- you'll see homely decor, a simple but well done menu, and people from all walks of life coming together over delicious food. The staff was warm and attentive throughout the meal and brought out delicious complimentary french bread. It's pretty cool that although the restaurant doesn't serve alcohol, staff from the adjacent bar came around every so often and took orders. For appetizers, we started with the feta and olive appetizers. They were good, but I'd probably order something a little more unique next time. I opted for the chicken kalamata dinner for the main event, which came with more french bread and a salad. The salad came out first, and it was pretty simple with minimal dressing. I wished there had been more variety in produce and something besides iceberg lettuce for greens. I'd recommend getting some feta on the side to add some flavor. The chicken, however, was absolutely outstanding. It was super tender, seasoned beautifully with za'atar, and brined in vinegar (I think). The za'atar seasoned french fries underneath were extra crispy and perfectly soaked up the extra sauce from the chicken. For the price, this place is a steal- you really can't beat the quantity and quality of food that you get. Overall, a great experience- I definitely recommend making a stop if you're in the area! read more

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There's a reason why the half chicken dish is Tina Fey's fave. It's this Tina's fave now as well! The chicken came out perfectly crisp and tender. The oils n herbs it comes with is so flavorful - the fries soak up the juices very very nicely. I can't get over how good of a deal this is for $16 as well! You not only get a half chicken and fries but also a Greek salad and a baguette! The salad was very fresh (get the feta & an order of olives!) and the baguette was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Def enough food for 2 meals. This is unheard of for metro Chicago! The ambiance is warm & intimate - perfect for a date. Service was prompt as well. We were quoted a 20-min wait but probably only waited maybe 10 mins. read more

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For a decade I lived 4 blocks from this place, but never tried Athenian Room. I moved out of the neighborhood a decade ago and only today finally made it in. My husband's go to suggestion when he's feeling guilty about eating poorly is always Mediterranean. I don't think we really ate very healthy, but it got us in the door. Tonight I also learned that you can bring food and drink between Athenian Room and Glascott's (a place I visited only twice while living so close). Husband started with a cup of lemon rice soup and ordered the skirt steak as his main. I ordered the shrimp dinner. They give you a lot for the price. Each of our meals came with a salad, bread, and Greek fries. The salad was fine, not my favorite. The bread was delicious, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The fries were really tasty, a little feta with them would make them next level. Husband said the skirt steak was really good. I enjoyed my shrimp although the cocktail sauce needed to have more horseradish in it. Overall, we enjoyed our meal and would return. Note: they are cash only read more

Found this gem on a whim. We parked nearby to eat somewhere else, but the smells coming from this building lured us in. We were able to a get a quaint table. We were celebrating my husband's birthday and this place made it fun. They sent over a bartender from the adjoining restaurant. We were able to order cocktails from them. Prices were reasonable and my Pinot Gris paired nice with my meal. For appetizers we got the Taramosalata. This referred to as Greek caviar. It definitely is not what we were expecting but we enjoyed it thoroughly. The Taramasalata is a creamy, salty Greek fish roe dip or spread with a whipped bread base. We ate this was a soft warm pita. For entrees, I got the chicken kabobs and my hubby for the gyro plate. Both came with pita, tzatziki and Greek fries. Greek fries were authentic and not traditional American version. We enjoyed our food. I would say the only downside was there was some juice soaking my plate so it made my pita soggy. We were able to take some leftovers home and we enjoyed some complimentary baklava. Overall this was a very tasty birthday dinner. The service here was friendly and not pretentious. We had nice night and would come back again to dine. Tip: cash only and get the Greek caviar. read more

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Amazing food with great flavor! Ordered the skirt steak and the chicken entrees. I would recommend the steak over the chicken as the chicken was a bit too dry. I love that it comes with fries, salad and bread too. Also make sure to bring cash! read more

Athenian Room is great! But not if you're gluten free. The gluten free options were some of the meats and the salad. No potatoes, rice, GF bread, etc. However, the food is very tasty, the service is quick, and it is reasonably priced! A true Lincoln Park gem. read more

Athenian Room - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been to this restaurant twice. Once in April and once in May. These were two different experiences. I got the Gyro plate both times , so I believe that I can make a good comparison. In April, portions of the gyro plate were large. It was cooked to perfection, and the fries were amazing. Service was fast and very attentive. My second time visiting, which was in the month of May was a little different. The Gyro portion was about 3/4 of what it was the last time I visited the restaurant. The portion of the fries was a lot less and they seem to have been drowning in a Greek sauce that tasted like Italian dressing. Service was a little slower this time, and they seem to be just as busy as they were during our previous visit. Because of how good the food was during my first visit, I will try this restaurant one more time. But because of the differences in quality, I can only give it three stars. read more

Athenian Room - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been eating here for over 20 years, and tonight I had the worst meal and the worst service I've ever had there. Is there new ownership? No one took our order, food arrived cold, the waitress mixed up half of the orders. There were about 15 people waiting, and five empty tables that just weren't being bussed. Please, do better. I miss the old days. read more

YES YES YES! Hands down a phenomenal place! Amazing food amazing prices great little vibe inside! One note, it is cash only so just keep that in mind, but they do have an ATM! read more

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It's great when you eat in, but I just ordered take out. The skirt steak portion was 1/2 the size of normal and the fries were tasteless and not fully cooked. Not a great meal for 60 bucks. read more

First went when I was 12 and I'm still going at 28 years later. Love Athenian Room. Cheers!

We've always loved going to Athenian room. Consistently good Greek food. They're super fast, cash only, authentic meals. Almost like upscale diner vibe is how I'd describe it. read more

Cash only Greek spot serving up large portions quickly. My friend who lives in the area said this was one of her favorite restaurants in the city and told us how Tina Fey apparently raves about this spot, so we were excited to give it a try. Menu had a lot of the staples you'd expect to see at a Greek/Mediterranean restaurant, but felt a little limited compared to others I've been to. My boyfriend and I ordered the Gyros plate and Chicken Kalamata style to share and it was more than enough food. We ended up sending our leftovers home with a friend who was able to make a whole extra meal out of it. We probably could've gotten away with sharing one entree if we got an appetizer. Surprisingly the gyro was my favorite of the two. I typically lean chicken, and did enjoy this dish, but the gyro had a bit more flavor. The place was super crowded on a Tuesday evening, the outside seating was full and only a handful of table were left inside. Compared to a lot of other Greek restaurants I've been to it wasn't too expensive, which was great since it is cash only. read more

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i'm a lifelong chicagoan... and it took me til my late non-20's (haha) to finally dine here. i've always been distracted by glascott's lol. speaking of which - a bartender from neighboring glascott's bar will come and take your drink order and run a separate tab. GENIUS. the greek salad is pretty perfect - dressed just right and a generous slab of feta. my boys of course indulged in gyros/tenderloin skewers and basically cleared their plates. learned that "orphana" means orphan in greek and in relation to their menu means "without the carbs = fries and pita". add this to the list for a true chicago experience. read more

The plan was to celebrate my birthday with my bestie. The food is simply outstanding. It reminded me of my trip to Greece. It reminded her of her recent trip as well. The food is authentic and prepared fresh. My charburger with a slab of feta was perfectly cooked. I savored every bite. The homemade tzatziki was creamy and refreshing. My friend loved her gyro plate. I can't wait to go back! The charburger is a favorite of mine! We were told that the next table would be available in 55 minutes but I received a call after ten minutes saying that our table was ready! Honestly that meal would be worth a 55 minute wait!! Thank you for a lovely evening! Pro tip it's cash only nearest ATM is next door at the bar or at Liquor Expo read more

Athenian Room - Bunless Charburger and Feta on a bed of Greek fries - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Oh rats, the legendary Kalamata Chicken was high on my bucket list to try for years. Tina Fey gave it a certain cachet by naming it her favorite meal in Chicago, and David Letterman seemed to concur when he interviewed blues legend Buddy Guy over the same dish. I convinced Jamie W. to hop on the Red Line to Lincoln Park to have our first Windy City dinner. It was raining the night we went, and predictably there was a 45-minute wait for a table in their old-style dining room. We waited across the street nursing lattes at Starbucks and pleasantly got called after just a half-hour. We looked at the menu for about a minute and both ordered the $15.50 Chicken Kalamata Style Dinner which started with the Tossed Salad. It was already mixed in oil & vinegar, and I requested the $4 side of Feta Cheese to turn it into a Greek salad (photo: https://yelp.to/B84laSoDxJ). That was a delicious start along with the soft French Bread Roll and Butter (photo: https://yelp.to/1vN2uzVjsj). Our chicken plates arrived, and they were doozies - a full half-chicken broiled and grilled on top of a bed of Greek fries in a pool of their own au jus (photo: https://yelp.to/36q70Fr7Tr). Here's my verdict: The crispy skin was awesome, and the dark meat was juicy. The white meat was a bit dried out but still quite edible. The fries were holding up well from the au jus and chicken juice. The spoiler was the au jus. It consisted of olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and lemon, and the resulting flavor was just too puckery sour to enjoy. Damn. FOOD - 3 stars...the kalamata chicken hamstrung by the au jus AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...a traditional space with brick walls and tables crowded together SERVICE - 3.5 stars...nice enough local college kids TOTAL - 3 stars...don't tell Tina I dissed her favorite spot RELATED - Exploring Chicago? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/44c4CZO read more

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Loved Athenian Room!!!! Pretty causal on the inside & super affordable food that did not disappoint! It's a cash only place, but they do have an atm at the bar next door. They don't take reservations, but our wait was only about 30 minutes, which was shorter than they originally told us. I loved everything we got, but the pita bread and tzatziki were my favorite. Both of them tasted homemade and sooo fresh. The greek fries had a strong lemon flavor and were generally seasoned. The greek salad was great too & came with a huge block of feta and giant tomatoes & cucumbers. Highly recommend Athenian Room!!!! read more

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Food was great. The steak and fries were amazing. No condiments needed. The salad is just a salad. Not a big salad guy. The food came out very quick. My buddies and I were super hungry. You have to come a lot earlier to get any seating. We waited for 1hr and 35 minutes to get a table. My only critique is there is an opportunity to get a virtual waitlist so customers know where they are in the line. Managing expectations is important because we were told it would be a 1 hr wait. read more

Athenian Room - Skirt steak - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food here is absolutely delicious! The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy inside-perfect!!! The gyro meat has so much flavor, the spices everything about was pleasurable!! Salad was good and the bread was so soft! Can't wait to go back! read more

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Their steak was better than some I've had at steakhouses. It was so tender and flavorful, plus super affordable. Everything was so fresh and cooked well. We had to wait about 30 minutes on a Saturday evening but well worth the wait. The ambiance is very cozy and the service was incredible. Reminder that they're cash only! read more

Athenian Room - Greek salad - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Lovely experience at Athenian room! The second I walked in, I loved the cozy atmosphere. It feels casual yet warm and well designed. The service was SO good. Food came out so quickly. The restaurant is cash only, but they do have an atm in the connected bar. We started with the spanakopita and pita with tzatziki. The pita was warm and everything tasted so fresh. For my meal, i got the chicken kebab. The Greek fries with the tzatziki was delicious and the chicken was so flavorful! Absolutely would get this again, but I can't wait to come back and try more on the menu! read more

Athenian Room - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is super famous for its Greek cuisine! I had heard all the rave online about this place and finally decided to check it out with my friends! What we ordered: Gyro dinner: I definitely recommend it. It's super good, and the tzatziki sauce pairs so well with the gyro. Exactly what I liked. Greek salad: You cannot go wrong with a Greek salad. The olive oil, spices, and feta cheese make it very refreshing and not too heavy. Chicken kabob dinner: It was good, but I thought the chicken could've been a bit more tender. The flavors were great. Chicken Kalamata Style: My friend said this tasted okay, the chicken was a bit dry, but the presentation is beautiful. I would come again but might try their other meat selections and order something besides chicken. read more

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Honestly it's just "OK". Some people I know rave about it. For what it is - a no frills, neighborhood Greek joint - the selection is limited - no seafood - all of the chicken dishes I have tried are dry, gyros is nothing spectacular. I'd go with the burgers. The one outstanding item on the menu is the skirt steak. Cash only. No liquor - the bar is next store - must get yourself. And some think the 45 year old decor is charming - it is not. If they put all the money into the food instead of redecorating then maybe. But they don't. I'll go back. For the skirt steak. read more

The chicken is still great and the Greek fries are the best anywhere. But that CASH ONLY policy has got to stop in this day and age. Also not loving that they are no longer open for lunch. read more

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Super casual neighborhood Greek restaurant. The Kalamata chicken dinner is my favorite dish. Greek chicken is roasted to crispy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside. Chicken dinner is served atop Greek fries. Meal comes with a simple side salad. Add feta for a taste treat. My husband swears they serve the best gyros in the city. Portions are large, service is always good and attentive. Couple of things to note: No alcohol served in the restaurant but customers encouraged to purchase drinks at connecting bar (Glascott's) and bring them to the table. ALSO, this is a cash only restaurant. Fortunately meals are reasonably priced. Great option for a delicious homemade meal. read more

Athenian Room - Kalamata Chicken - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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By far some of the best Mediterranean food I've tried in the neighborhood. They are no frills and the portion sizes are generous! Both times I have gone in the service has been great, we were checked on frequently and the food came out quickly. The place itself is tucked away just off of Halsted and feels cozy and comforting the second that you walk in. I highly recommend their gyros and Greek fries. Don't let the long wait fool you, go grab a drink at the bar next door, definitely worth the wait! read more

Talk about VALUE! Can't remember the last time time I got such a solid dinner for 2 at this price. My Mom and I got an appetizer to split, each got an entree, and a dessert, and the bill came out to just under $42... We left very full too. The staff is super friendly and I loved the atmosphere inside the restaurant. I went to Greece around 10 years ago and I agree with a lot of the sentiment of my fellow helpers - kind of felt like I was back in Greece. Quick tip to everyone, it is a cash only restaurant so come prepared! On to the food! Chicken Kalamata - 4/5 Quite literally just a half chicken served on top of a bed of "Greek Fries". Not really sure what makes the fries Greek other than the fact that they soaked up the sauces from the chicken and had a ton of flavor. They were pretty delicious although they did get pretty soggy. The chicken itself was also super flavorful, though admittedly a bit on the dry side. I got a side of the Tzatziki sauce which was delicious and dipped the chicken (and fries) in it which overall saved the dish. Again though, I will stress VALUE here in my rating. A half chicken, a plateful of fries, a whole salad, and 4-5 slices of bread for 15.50 is a pretty absurd deal especially in Lincoln Park. Large Salad with Gyros - Mom gives it a 5/5 "it was everything they said it would be" was the quote from Mama when I asked what her review was. Well seasoned LARGE salad with a load of thinly sliced Gyro meat on top. Also came with a whole pita, and a side of the Tzatziki (again, this is SOO good). I had a couple of bites of the Gyro meat and, yea, it was delicious. She was super full afterwards and again said "I can't believe how cheap this was" Overall, an awesome experience at Athenian room. Shoutout to the staff as well as they were very friendly and the food came out really quick. I think the only thing that is keeping this from a 5 star for me was the dryness of the chicken. Don't get me wrong it was still delicious and I was a clean plate RANGER, but it could have been cooked a little bit better. till, feel like I have been a bit picky in my reviews lately so 4/5 is an amazing score. 100% will be back here soon read more

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Simply put their skirt steak dinner is the best deal in the USA and beyond! You get a nice size steak, large salad and Greek Fries. Dip those fries in the steak juice and you are in steak heaven. The steak flavor is heavenly! At $29, how can you go wrong! The chicken kalamata is amazing too! Chicago's best kept secret! read more

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Honestly, glad to see a few poor reviews on here. If you have taste buds developed past that of an 8-year-old child, you know there are two things you order here. You don't go to the Louvre and ask if they have the game on, do you? If you don't know... I pity you, for you have missed out, and you will never know what it is like to truly live. Don't come here if you want to make a food vlog for your 35 followers or if you are asking about brunch options. This place isn't for you. Best Greek you can get for your buck -- the kind of place that makes you want to be a good person in this world, for there are folks across the world who aren't as lucky as yourself to have enjoyed this fine establishment's offerings. read more

From the friendly quick service to the generous portion sizes and beautiful patio seating, this place is a gem! We brought my friend's new pup here and sat in the patio (yes they are pet friendly!). The patio seating is so nice! the tables are clean and big, there is a small umbrella covering for the tables to help keep us cool from the blazing chicago summer sun. The concept is very cool - they serve greek food here and next door is an irish pub that you can order drinks from. We got the gyro salad, spanakopita, and chicken kalamata style. everything tasted so fresh and clean. The salad was super crispy and had a great light dressing on it which was a the perfect compliment to the juicy chicken with the yummiest crunchiest skin! My favorite out of the three was hands down the gyro salad. the meat was so flavorful and they were not stingy about the amount of meat they placed on the salad. The spanakopita was delicious as well- great crunchy pastry exterior with a nice thick cheesy filling. I would order all three again! For dessert we got the baklava which was also very delicious and absolutely s t u f f e d with sweet nutty filling. perfect ending to a wonderful meal. As many other reviews indicate, this place is cash only! the bill was only $50 + tip which we were surprised by given how well we ate! will definitely be returning. read more

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The skirt steak was pretty good, cool place with a fun ambiance. Didn't try anything else. Greek salad was OK. Easy valet parking right in front. read more

Fair prices decent food close to Halsted and Armitage where everything else is overpriced with outdoor seating. I'll take it. read more

Athenian Room - Gyro plate - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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11/10. Great place in Chicago. For the price AND quality of food, Athenian Room is fantastic!! Note, it is CASH ONLY so make sure you bring cash!! Drinks can be ordered at Glasscotts Nextdoor. Cute inside, also great outdoor seating when it's nice out. read more

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Great experience dining at Athenian Room. Loved to see how busy the restaurant was- that's always a great sign. Try to call in before to see what wait times are. Luckily they had a spot outside, but said it would be an hour wait to dine inside. The tzatziki was addicting. Prices are great for all the food that you get. It is a cash only restaurant, but they have an ATM inside. This is a good spot for a casual dinner with a friend or a group of friends. Options for inside and outside dining depending on the time of the year. read more

Athenian Room - Large salad with chicken shish kebab. Pita and tzatziki. - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Miss when they used to be byob. You can still get drinks at the bar next door and bring them in.

Neighborhood institution! Athenian room is one of my favorite restaurants in Lincoln Park and truly the city as a whole. Highly highly HIGHLY recommend the skirt steak over the bed of Greek fries. Flavor is incredible and the marinate they use gives the perfect amount of acidity so balance the savoryness of the meat itself. In terms of flavor alone for the price I would put that steak up against some of the best cuts of beef in the city. It comes with a side salad (get a side of feta for the salad as well) that is just enough to get you going for the main course. Other recommendations being the half chicken (incredible - and mentioned by some picky eater friends as being the best chicken they've ever had), and the gyro of course, even if that's a cop out and deemed boring to some. Staff is amazing and friendly and I believe predominantly family and friends of the owners. Always attentive and smiling and just a joy overall. Main seating area is beautiful and very traditional, but if you want more of a lively experience you can sit at glascotts through the connecting door and still have the same incredible dining experience in the bar if you so choose. Next time you're in the neighborhood bring some cash (cash only) and make sure you stop by and have some of the best Greek food around! read more