Restaurant is has been dying for years but whatever changes they've made more recently is a joke. The place is just going down hill and has been for years. Service sucks and the food has gotten worse. Too many Greek restaurants in the area to go to and this one is not a contender. read more

Terrible. Food is reasonably good but the restaurant is so hungry for business that it allowed a large noisy party to take over its outside dining area. The party did not even sit down. They remained standing, drinking and eventually shouting to each other in order to be heard. Of course none were masked, raising the level of Covid risk even higher. Conversation at other tables was impossible. A number of diners actually moved, halfway through their dinners, to an inside table. Before you go, call and make sure they don't plan to turn the outdoor dining area into a loud, noisy party area. read more

This place is a hidden gem in Winnetka, tucked away in a brick and mortar complex with a gorgeous outdoor patio in the summer. As a vegetarian, the menu options are limited but what did have was filling. The saganaki was delicious! It was well seasons and perfectly toasted to a crisp and juicy treat. We also ordered the pita crisps and tzaki sauce. My family loved the potatoes and tomato fritters. The artichokes were also delicious. The staff and management team was very friendly. This would be a great space for a private event or large party with many spacious party rooms and spaces for intimate gatherings. read more

Avli Estiatorio - The delicious yogurt-mousse with fig can't be missed!!! By far the most unique and delicious dessert item! - Greek Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

Unfortunately, I had a terrible experience. The qualify of food was poor, the service was slow despite the restaurant being nearly empty, and I found a hair in one of my entrees. The overall 4.5/5 star ranking on this restaurant is not an accurate reflection of its current state. You are better off eating at McDonald's if you're hungry. read more

Just fair. Food had no flavor , I will never go back. Our table of six were also underwhelmed. Felt rushed. The wine was the best of the whole night. Deserts also fair. What Greek restaurant doesn't have baklava? read more

Um, the best freaking Greek restaurant ever is in Winnetka? Really? Believe it, kids. Avli is the real deal. I drove up to the north suburbs to visit a friend, and she recommended we try Avli. (Apparently the good folks over on LTH Forum are all abuzz over it.) So, off we went. Avli is a bit hard to find - it's in the back of the Laundry building in downtown Winnetka. There is no signage out front - just walk in the door marked "566" and head towards the back. But man, it was worth it to find it. Upon being seated, we were offered a sample of one of their cold dips. I don't remember what it was (maybe red peper?), but it was phenomenal. So much so that we were compelled to order the dip sampler. We tried the tzatziki (yogurt and cucumber), melizantosalata (eggplant), and skordalia (garlic). Seriously phenomenal. The garlic was super-garlicy. Tangy, even. The eggplant was delicious - smooth and seasoned and just yum. I'm not usually a big fan of yogurt/cucumber dip, but I really enjoyed the offering here. We also shared the zucchini chips as another appetizer. SO GOOD. The zucchini is sliced into thin little slices, battered, and fried. It sounds heavy, but they weren't at all - they were light and crisp and delicious. We used them to sop up the rest of the dip that we hadn't finished. ;) For entrees, we split the Poseidon plate (grilled octopus, calamari, shrimp, and onions) and the papoutsakia (stuffed eggplant). The seafood was done perfectly - you could taste a hint of smokiness in it which made me think they grilled it over some nicely flavored cedar chips or something. Grilled calamari is so easy to mess up and make into a rubbery mess, but it was done perfectly here. The eggplant was also really well done - it was grilled and stuffed with onions, feta, and spices. It is served in a red sauce. For dessert, we split the chocolate baklava. OH MY WORD. Light, flaky pastry with layers of cocoa-y chocolate? Sign me up. I grew up with a Greek best friend, so I know good baklava. This is amazing baklava. Service was helpful and unobtrusive. The space is really warm and inviting. Hell, why are you still reading this? GO! You won't be sorry. (Did I mention it's only a couple of blocks from the metra stop in Winnetka? Jelena, you would be nuts to not schedule a suburban event here, by the way ;D). read more

My wife and I stopped in for a quick dinner before a movie. I had high hopes for the place based on previous Yelp reviews, and I was not disappointed. It really is a great neighborhood restaurant with a strong sense of character. The Greek personality is evident in every aspect of the restaurant, down to the warm shoulder hug that the restaurant's manager gave me as he asked if we were enjoying our meal. We most certainly were. My wife had a large African prawn that was as delicious as it looked on the menu. There was nothing small about this prawn. It clearly had a well-fed life prior to ending up on my wife's dinner plate. It tasted delicious too, stuffed with cheese and herbs that made the mouth melt. I had the beef kapama dish, a short rib cooked in a tomato (and cinammon) sauce that sits on top of a plate of pasta. The ratio of short rib to pasta was just right. Sometimes after eating short rib, I feel weighed down, but I didn't after eating this lovely dish. My only complaint about the dish was that I would have liked a little more sauce with it. The flavor was delicious and I wanted more of it! We started our meal with a beautiful plate of fried zucchini. It was a pretty big plate and when they delivered it to our table, I thought there was no way we'd get through the entire thing. Of course, after realizing how crisp and delicious they were, we devoured all of them. Even though it was fried, I didn't feel all greasy afterward. They know how to apply a light touch at this restaurant. The servers and the entire staff were extremely friendly and much more welcoming than the average north shore franchise. We're coming back! read more

Smallest cup of egg lemon soup for $7.00 is a total joke! Tastes like dish water! Don't ever eat here! I will never again! Customer service was just plain rude! Zero stars for you read more

Avli in Winnetka has such a friendly and welcoming staff. You can tell each staff member greatly values every single customer that walks into the restaurant. Aside from the amazing staff, the food is incredible. Growing up in a Greek family, I've had my share of authentic Greek food. Honestly I couldn't tell the difference between Avli's food and my Greek grandmothers food. Such an incredible restaurant! read more

I'm reluctant giving this review. I intend to try the restaurant again since it is walking distance from my home. We went for dinner. I had the Gyro platter. VERY SALTY!! I hope the owners read the reviews and they lighten up a little bit. One can always add more salt when you are served if it does not have enough for your taste. Us that are trying to eat less sodium, truly can not enjoy their Gyros. read more

Fantastic Food, great service and very homey atmosphere. Started off with Zucchini slices and garlic dip. Lemon soup then the Lake Superior Whitefish with Choclava with Vanilla bean Ice cream.. read more

Avli Estiatorio - My dear friends The Silbermans..best hosts in the Midwest. - Greek Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

It was double date night and we wanted to try something different, so we ventured East. Avli is located in a funky little Mall called the laundry and after we figured out parking, we walked in and were seated right away. The ambiance was both casual and elegant--the place was packed and it looked like we had picked the right place. The drinks and apps went sans hitch and then it was time to order the entrees. Due to three other orders, they were out of white fish. Yes, three other orders. Really? A regular menu item selling out by 7pm on a Saturday? Our party ended up enjoying above average beef kabobs, seafood risotto, shrimp kabobs, and scallops pasta. Our server, a really nice AARP type, tried to be helpful but the din and an accent made it tough. Oh, and those entrees? They took a loong time to show up and one of the orders was wrong--" we have a new cook and he made pork instead of scallops" was the excuse. I guess he couldn't understand our server either because pork sounds just like scallops with any twang. The sides were room temp and we enjoyed each other's company. As for Avli? Head West young man. read more

Tucked away in a converted brick loft commercial building in downtown Winnetka, this charming friendly Greek restaurant serves both classic and updated Greek cuisine, all of which is fresh and tasty. Indoor space has exposed brick, high timber loft ceilings and big windows looking to a lovely outdoor garden/seating area. The staff are excellent, professional and you get the sense that the servers and kitchen are tight, coordinated and rarely miss a beat. Nice selection of reasonably priced wines to accompany the meal. Nice menu with interesting appetizers [grilled balsamic octopus, artichoke with capers and lemon zest, cod row with onions and spices], nice selection of fresh meats and fish as well as a limited selection of their slow cooked lamb and other specials. Suggest you call in advance and find out what the specials are and pre-order if you can as they do go fast. Having received numerous accolades over the years, Avli is a tasty casual gem in the north burbs. Easy parking. read more

Amazing patio. Amazing food. And always amazing service. The best gyros around and always go above and beyond to accommodate our 3 year old. read more

Avli Estiatorio - The Sebastien special! Perfect meal for a 3 year old. - Greek Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

Best moussaka I've had outside Greece itself? Yes, I think so. Top rate service, too. read more

A friend and I grabbed a late dinner on their beautiful patio on a warm summer evening. The ambiance was beyond perfect with the delicate lighting, subtle breeze, and light aroma of food and wine. Our server was quick to bring our beverages and offer recommendations before we ordered. They're not the most conventional choices, but we ordered zucchini chips to share, stuffed chicken breast, and lobster pasta. Although there were glaring complaints about the food, there was also nothing to write home about. The chips were a little too oily, the chicken a little too dry, the pasta a little too basic; perhaps my taste buds have just been spoiled by Chicago's Greektown. Regardless, Avli Estiatorio provided a perfect venue at which to slow down and catch up on our increasingly fast paced lives. The location itself is a little tricky to find. It's tucked away in the back of the Laundry building. Look for "566" and walk all the way to the back. read more

Truly a 3.5 for me--this is an unexpectedly nice place--perfect for a casual Sunday night dinner--but went w/ the fam on a Saturday night at 6:30 and it was packed! I'm thrilled that the Avli is doing well--we're lived in Winnetka for almost 20 years and I think we've seen 5ish (give or take a couple) restaurants go in and out in this location, so I'm hoping that the general enthusiasm bodes well for its longevity. We started w/ the flaming cheese (spelling not attempted!), which was nice and crispy--of course presented tableside and with an "Opa!", the lentil salad, the greek salad, and the tzatziki. The salads were perfectly pleasant--light--although I would have liked a bit more lemon in my Greek dressing, it was still nice and well sized, though I wouldn't plan on having it as an entree. Oh, forgot--excellent grilled octopus--great balance of char and flavor, if that makes sense. The tzatkizi was some of the best I've ever had--really garlicy, thick, and perfect. For mains we got the salmon "en papillote" which came on a nice bed of fennel and other veggies--salmon had great texture and was piping hot after coming out of the sac. Madre got the "Poseidon platter" which was a melange of grilled seafood and onion--well sized and she seemd to enjoy. Dad went for the grilled chicken--perhaps none of of has the most authentic Greek meal (sea gods aside), but it was all well prepared and I left hoping that it makes it! I'm sure that we'll be back, it's a nice change from O'Neil's! Oh the wine list is all Greek, make of that what you will? No one in our party complained, but we aren't expert vinologists. read more

Favorite dishes: Pastitio, Papoutsakia, makaronatha, burger Well pretty much everything! read more

I have been to this place maybe 3 times, hoping that the closest Greek restaurant to my house would improve. I was there a few weeks ago, and sadly it has not. I find it to be consistently over-priced and under-quality. Service is inconsistent too. When I see the positive reviews people have written here, it makes me wonder if those people know their Greek food. Periyales and Mykonos are much better choices in the northern burbs. Demitri's in Deerfield even. Or Greek Islands in the city. I sincerely hope that this place improves but I am dubious. read more

Avli is a hidden gem in this area (seriously, its tucked in the back of a shopping mall, you wouldn't know about it unless someone recommended it to you). The outdoor seating area is gorgeous in the summer, I absolutely love the decor. Waiters are super friendly and on point with the wine suggestions every time. The grilled octopus appetizer and sakanaki are fantastic, I get them every time. Mousakka is great, the portion is HUUUGE though. You can definitely share between 2 people if you are also getting appetizers. Need to come back here and try the choclova or the yogurt mousse! I tell myself I'm going to save room for dessert before I go every time but of course I end up eating too much and getting full :p read more

I like this place but it could be so much better. It used to be better, actually, now that I think about it. Attractive place with a nice outdoor patio. Some of the food is very good. Other items just make me wonder what they were thinking. I have been there for both dinners and lunches. I try to avoid it for lunch because they have such a limited lunch menu, unless you want something heavy. I was surprised that Buon Giorno, in the same block, was mobbed at lunchtime but Avli was empty, until I saw the Avli lunch menu. They really need many more salads, and more interesting ones. I ended up ordering the lentil salad and it was literally a huge pile of not particularly flavorful lentils on top of some lettuce. Nothing else, not even dressing. I know this is a Greek place, but for lunch in the 'burbs, it's pretty much the "ladies who lunch" places that are successful, and everyone needs some real salads, IMO. Service is very nice but very slow, which was odd because it was pretty empty. I like the owner and staff really want them to succeed. read more

We dined at Avli for the first time prior to a recent performance at Writer's Theatre. It was not the finest example of Greek dining, but was OK. There's a broad menu of Greek favorites and a good Greek wine selection. VIBE: We chose to eat indoors due to hot weather, but the outdoor patio looked inviting. Indoors was homey though a bit sparsely decorated compared to other Greek restaurants I've dined at. SERVICE: Our server was very enthusiastic, animated and affirming - our choices seemed to order all of his favorite things . As the dining room filled up, his visits became less frequent, but his buoyance never flagged. GOOD: Seafood orzo was tasty, with great salmon, good scallops, but chewy squid. Choclava dessert was fabulous! NOT SO GOOD: Greek coffee was insipid. I wouldn't go out of my way to dine here, but I would return for a pre-theater dinner again. read more

Simply the best Greek food I have had. Priced fairly and very good service. Been there for lunch and dinner and never disappointed. read more

First, props to our waiter Angel. What a sweetheart who knows his stuff. This is the best Greek restaurant I have ever been to and I have been to a lot of them. Starters: Saganaki and octopus, we are not in Greek Town anymore Toto!!! Yummy Braised lamb for the hubby and seafood pasta dish for me. Can't begin to tell you how fresh and wonderful everything was. We will be back soon. Almost forgot, dessert. Chocolate Baklava: oh my goodness, shut the front door!!! read more

Prompt (well, we were the first to get seated at 5pm!) and friendly service. Lemon soup was creamy and they gave you extra lemon slices which I added to the soup. Loved the lamb shank dish served with beans as it was flavorful but not TOO salty. The grilled octopus was moist but too blackened for me. The outer parts were bitter. Aside from that, I'd be back for sure and try additional dishes. Very children friendly, especially with the outdoor seating. read more

Had a great meal with the family on the patio. Very nice outdoor seating area and the wait staff was very attentive. Kids loved the flaming Saganaki - to see and eat. The spicy feta spread with pitas was a great appetizer. The Diane's salad with arugula, pears, grilled Manouri cheese, nuts with a honey vinaigrette was a great choice. To make it a meal I tried some chicken breast on top which was well seasoned but a bit dry. Would order again but with a Chicken skewer which looked more tender. Seafood orzo was flavorful with lots of seafood and tomato sauce on the orzo which gave the pasta a delightful creamy texture. Pastchio was good - crunchy cheese on top with a thick layer of sauce and long tube noodles and ground beef. The multi textures were great . While it was pretty good it seemed to lack some complexity of flavor that I've had in other versions. Yogurt Mousse was wonderful - light, creamy and flavorful without the tang you'd expect in a yogurt. Perfect on a warm day. Choclava - chocolate lava cake was good - cherries on side were a bit sticky syrupy but good if you ate them with a bit of the cake. Will go again - maybe we'll try the Meze (tapas) next time and sample a number of things that looked really good at other tables. read more

Ambience is very nice here, great spot for date night. Our server was very nice. Started with the meatballs which were good, fried zucchini chips which I loved but wouldn't get again bc it had it with our entree and was $10 alone, yikes! Also tried the grilled octopus which was good and not chewy. Overall all the appetizers were good but they just had too much oil in them. For the entree we split the lamb burger which was good, but the bread wasn't too soft, so was having to bite down harder. For dessert had the mini dessert sampler which was okay. I'd probably just come back here for drinks since it's a nice spot. read more

Avli Estiatorio - Mini dessert sampler: cheesecake and choclava - Greek Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

This is the fourth or fifth time I've eaten at Avli and I was not disappointed. From the wine to all the food it was a bit of heaven. We started with grilled artichoke hearts which were tender, flavored lightly with lemon and olive oil and grilled to perfection. I had my standard; Poseidon Plate which is a grilled octopus, calamari, shrimp plate with a taste that is utterly fantastic. My mouth waters just thinking about it. My friend has the salmon in parchment paper with leeks and she was thrilled with the selection since she also loves the Poseidon Plate. Apollo was our server and he was delightful My only teeny tiny issue was he seemed to disappear for long stretches of time but when he showed up he was responsive and very helpful. I strongly recommend Avli for the relaxed pace of dinner, great selection of greek wines and outstanding food that goes beyond the typical Greek meal. You won't be disappointed. read more

I booked a birthday dinner for 12 here, based on a rec from a friend, and could not have been happier with the food, ambience and service! To begin with, we got a private room (at no extra expense) that was just perfect for our party. The service was excellent. Even though we were in a private room, we were checked on many times throughout our dinner. The food came at a great pace, and when we were finished with our meal, the waiters and servers did not rush us out. Instead, they let us hang out and chat, and didn't bother us at all. The food was excellent. The salmon "in paper" was incredible - and a huge portion! I brought home leftovers that I couldn't wait to enjoy the next day. Appetizers were all great - loved the hummus, potatoes, and green bean sides. Note: Parking/entrance was a little confusing for me, but I quickly figured it out, following the signs on the building. I can't wait to try the cute patio/outdoor area in the summer! read more

Truly a hidden gem behind the Starbucks of all places. Greek owned and operated. Excellent and consistent food. Reasonable pricing especially considering the location. Food is authentic and delectable and you really feel like you are having dinner on a patio at a restaurant on a Greek island. Love the fried zucchini and the tzatziki is amazing. This place just became part of our regular rotation. Kalo Fagito! Love me some Avli. read more

We have been looking for a replacement for a favorite Greek restaurant that closed,Opa's. The food was very good but have had better Pastitsio,Spanakopita and gyros were ok but not great. The hummus,saganoki and chicken were excellent. The service was not great. It took three tries to get a glass of seltzer and the waiter never came back to check on us after we ordered. He brought a desert menu but then brought check and never asked us if we wanted anything. We will go back for our next fix of Greek food because it is the best we have has the the suburbs. read more

Very friendly staff , but food is not that great. Appetizers: octopus - was ok , rubbery swimming in fat flatbread was not bad arugula salad just ok - leaves were wilted as if sat at room temperature for a while and could use a bit more flavor or feta cheese (had exactly 3 cubes of cheese on a large plate ) Entrée: we all had gyros - very dry, and not hot - as if sat out for awhile before served and no taste to it whatsoever. Desert: we decided not to after having not such a good experience with other food read more

Wish I could give negative stars. This might be one of the worst restaurants on the North Shore. Not only was the service so slow, the server knocked over the olive oil and vinegar onto my wifes' jacket and tried to clean it up with a dirty dish rag. No apology or table stop over by a manager. Food was dry and lacked flavor. Server was kind, that is the only nice thing that can be said. read more

This authentic Greek restaurant is a sprawling collection of rooms and outdoor spaces located on the rear side of The Laundry complex. There is a very extensive list of Greek wines, plus all the Greek appetizers and entrees you'd expect. We particularly enjoyed the salads and the lamb burger. read more

Yet another Yelp Mobile App find! Thanks Yelp! The patio was packed and the prices were reasonable considering the real estate. The service was friendly, pleasant and professional. The beer prices for the 16oz were not out of line. The two entrees we tried were good, not great, but good. Not sure what the stand outs here are, but it's affordable enough with enough swank that we'll probably be back for more to explore. Bonus, within walking to downtown drag and close to home. read more

Food continues to be excellent but I am only giving it three stars due to horrible service. Our waiter was MIA most of the evening, food came out wrong (waiter claimed he didnt hear, even though I specified twice the way I wanted food cooked, husband's sides were wrong, salad was forgotten and it goes on). Dinner took forever, and we almost felt like leaving. At this point I probably wont go out of my way to go back-I was just too frustrated with the service tonight. read more

My husband and I went today for the first time because he wanted a Gyro and we both ordered the Gyro sandwiches with fries. Totally disappointing. The meat was so dry it was halfway to jerky. I assume that it was shaved this morning and kept in an oven. The fries were tepid. Service was passable but when you have to ask for water refills on a hot summer day, it gets a failing mark. To be fair the outdoor patio was delightful but I won't go back. read more

Traditional and Authentic? I'm not Greek, so I don't know. All I can say is that Anthony Bourdain once said: "...your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride." I don't know if it's because I have a heightened sense of superiority of what good food is because of: A) my asian heritage B) world travels C) or my Platinum Preferred Cable package which includes the Travel Channel with Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern in HD. But this isn't it, as hard I as I want it to be so good, so I don't have to commute to Greek enclaves in various neighborhoods of Chicago; Avli just didn't meet my expectations on its first round. I really wanted the Zucchini crisps to be fresh and light appetizers. Instead, I received sliced zucchini with a side order of deep fryer oil on a bed of lettuce. The grilled octopus was good, chewy as it should be, but again, a smidge oily. Finally, the preparation of the lamb burger was good. I'll give marks to the ciabatta and the feta dressing. But since lamb has such as strong flavor to it, the dressing and accompanying sides (more zucchini crisps) could not do anything to overcome such a strong aroma. I won't overstep and say I'll never come here again, every place deserves a second chance. Hopefully, once that update comes, I can update this review with something that doesn't - "What's the opposite of suck? Un-suck?" read more

Wonderful, brand new restaurant in Winnetka - a very needed addition to the NorthShore food scene! We've been there several times now and haven't been disappointed with anything. The mezes, salads, main dishes, seafood, wine list - it's all top notch. It's not expensive, either, which means we can take the kids (chicken skewers for $5, can't beat that!), sit on the patio, and enjoy without feeling guilty about it. I especially love the bread salad, lentil salad, fried zucchini chips, pork skewers, saganaki, gigantes, pastichio, flatbreads, and sea bass... yes, we've sampled a lot! Great Greek wines starting at $5.50 a glass, too! read more

One star for the nice kid who answered the phone and took our takeout order. The gyros was ultra dry and tasteless. The tomato was a single end piece. Also a few shards of onion. Gross. The salmon was also dry with an abundance of onions. Also gross. We called to express our quality concerns. Never got a call back. read more