Excellent, authentic Greek food recommended by a fellow Greek! The dining environment is relaxing and service has always been outstanding!

After a lovely visit to the Chicago Botanic Garden we decided to try this place for some outdoor dining. It's been hard to write restaurant reviews during this crazy time because - aside from mostly staying at home - there have been a lot of "corona quality" experiences. That said, our experience here at Avli rates as awesome, even during the best of times. First, the patio was beautiful, and at 3:30pm on a Saturday we had it all to ourselves. Furthermore, the service was attentive and hospitable. We came for lunch (which lasts until 4pm) and we were impressed with the selection. One thing to notice right away is that Avli is more of a modern Greek restaurant, as opposed to oldies-classic Chicago Greek. That means you will discover a number of novel and tempting menu items that set it apart from many other Greek restaurants you may have been to. Nevertheless, I did notice saganaki on the menu, in case that is what you are craving. We started our meal with the three spread sampler to share. Our choice of spreads were the tirokafteri (spicy feta), taramosolata (classic fish roe spread), and skodalia (sort of like a thinner garlic mashed potato). These were a hit with our table. I think the spicy feta might have been the most popular, but all were well-loved and well-eaten. While the spread sampler plate came with a few slices of pita, we also received a bread basket, which helped us to clean away any traces of spread that remained. For our lunch entrees we tried the gyros, the lamb burger, the solomos (smoked salmon sandwich), and pulled chicken sandwich. Everything was super good! I had the village salad as a side with my sandwich, and while I liked it well enough, I didn't necessarily love its mustard vinaigrette dressing - it's just not the flavor of dressing I crave with a Greek salad. My husband got feta fries and fried zucchini for sides with his burger, and both were a joy to pilfer from his plate. I will say that after stealing a bite of his lamb burger, it wasn't quite as tender as other lamb burgers I've had. I like my meat more rare. Otherwise, our friends really enjoyed their gyros and chicken sandwich, with nothing to critique about them. One final note is that Avli Restaurant is contained within a sort of mini-mall called "The Laundry." From the street we approached we could not tell the restaurant was inside The Laundry, and we just happened to park out front incidentally. You can reach the restaurant by entering the front door of The Laundry and walking down the hallway. Otherwise the primary entrance for the restaurant is on the other side of the building, accessible by walking through a sort of industrial-looking back lot. read more

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I have gotten take out here many times. The front staff so nice and friendly. I get the mousaka and the spanakopita. The spanakopita is the best that I have had ever had! It melts in my mouth. The mousaka is good too. I would give this place an 9 out of 10. It's my favorite Greek restaurant in the suburbs. read more

Super cute place! Staff was great. We came in with a large party and they were very accommodating. We ordered the following appetizers that were really good: -beets appetizer -flaming cheese (forgot the real name) -artichokes -cod dip For my entree I got a Greek salad with gyro meat and it was good as well. Would return. read more

Had SUCH a terrible experience it's actually baffling to me and the group I dined with. Service was so terrible I felt like I was actually being pranked no joke! Waiter never wrote down what we ordered, which was a problem because he had to revisit our table multiple times to ask us again?? AND STILL FORGOT STUFF AFTER Never was apologetic for his numerous mistakes, and was extremely incompetent..yikes, sorry to even have to say that. Food was alright. Nothing special. Go if you want, but only at your own risk. Can't even imagine anything they could possibly do to redeem themselves. Obviously will never be returning. read more

I have been to this restaurant many times over the years but I have to say I probably will never go back. First, we asked the waiter for separate checks for us two retired couples and he refused. Secondly, the food quality is not anything like the past. Third, when we asked for the lady to refill our water glasses she acted like we had asked for the world. read more

We went on a Sunday around 7pm and the restaurant was dead. The appetizers were okay. The entrees not so much. The gyro meat was like beef jerky. They gave you a lot of meat but only one tomatoes slice and pita. The Seafood medley with tomato orzo had no tomato or orzo. read more

We really enjoyed our dinner experience at Avli. They have a lovely patio tucked into the Laundry Mall, nice secluded, quiet and shaded. We had drinks and small plates. First was a trio of spreads: Hummus, Garlic and Spicy Feta. Served with warm pita, all 3 were delicious. Next we had Spanakopita and (3) mini chicken skewers. We finished with cheese cake. Everything was excellent, it was a perfect evening. Service was very good. Our waiter helped with wine suggestions, and recommended our selection of spreads. The location is a little hidden. They are inside the Laundry Mall. Google maps will take you to the building, you may not see a sign immediately for the restaurant. Go inside and you'll find it. read more

Nice little place to go for dinner. Tucked inside of the Laundry in Winnetka, you won't be sorry if you start with one of the traditional appetisers..Also, the tomato and cucumber salad with olives and feta is a nice starter before the main course. Had the chicken kabob with rice and potatoes. The chicken with the veggies in the red sauce was cooked perfectly, the potatoes too, liked the texture with the crust on them. Nice atmosphere but it did get a little hard to talk to our friends when the room filled up with other diners. Like the food and service and will be back next time in town. read more

This was a wonderful spot for lunch. Great and patient waitstaff. The menu is extensive and it took some time to choose what to eat. Food was great. Even the manager was friendly and stopped by our table to say hello. read more

While the food here was delicious I got the sense that I was being rushed out. They were apparrantly out of cocktails and the waiter also said they didn't serve any coffee. Dessert was also not offered. I was slightly disappointed in my experience here in comparison to the location in the city. My kalamarakia and beef souvlakia were delicious, though. I wouldn't recommend sitting close to the lights in the outside area--otherwise you will have mosquitoes buzzing around you the whole time. read more

Love going here for lunch during summer on the patio. It's the only time I'll go. Solid Greek food for the area. Bottle of assyrtiko is a must with some shellfish or branzino. The branzino here is not the best but I still order it because it's kinda good everywhere. Good spot, glad it's here read more

I had my rehearsal dinner at Avli Saturday night, and we were so thrilled with everything. We were 60 people and fit snugly but cozily in the main dining room. The food was absolutely delicious and the waitstaff was wonderful. We especially loved the beet salad, chicken kebabs, and the gyros. I will definitely return and highly recommend it for a private party or regular dinner. read more

Very good food and service in The Laundry in Winnetka. Had lunch there after a meeting and was pleased as usual. Delicious stuffed eggplant with Greek potatoes, and then two desert "bites." Was most satisfied. read more

Avli is amazing! The dishes were delicious, the chicken is grilled to Perfection with all the lovely spices. My friend had the lamb chops, we shared also the shrimps. I felt like I was in Athens! Great place, outside patio is very cozy with a retractable. The staff is very friendly. They are super busy, so bring some time, or get there early! read more

I love Avli, I really do. We order delivery from here a lot, and my family and I have gone there in person a few times as well. Unfortunately the last two times that I have ordered delivery (July 4th, and tonight) my flatbread has arrived completely ruined. The first time it was completely sideways in the bag. I asked the driver, and he claimed the restaurant handed it to him that way. I made a big deal about how that couldn't be possible, but then my food arrived today and the flatbread box was put in the bag completely upside down. I'm not sure who is packaging the delivery orders or where the disconnect is, but to say I'm disappointed that my favorite dish arriving like this twice in a row would be an understatement. I hope this is an issue that can be resolved soon. read more

Avli Estiatorio - July 4, flat bread box arrived sideways in the bag :( - Greek Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

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Milton is in charge!! He will make your experience at Avli all that you hope for. We hosted a bridal shower there in the garden room. Working with him was a pleasure. He listened and responded. The afternoon was glorious. If you're looking for a special venue for an important occasion, be sure to put this on your list. Ro read more

Avli Estiatorio - Garden room at Avli. - Greek Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

This place was great but hard to find. It is actually inside The Laundry Mall. There is no storefront. Food was wonderful and staff was friendly. Will def go back. read more

Stopped in for Brunch! We've never had brunch here until today and we are glad to add it to our list of Go To places. I had a mimosa and my husband had some cocktail that had a funny name (maybe Greek Man in Mexico?) and both were good. I had the Greek French toast which was soaked in milk, eggs, and I think honey. Delicious! My husband went for a lunch dish with gyros and fries. He had a Greek coffee and the choclava dessert which came with a scoop of ice cream. Food here is always better than other Greek restaurants. The decor is classy and understated. Service was very good and our meal was leisurely. Cost per person with tax and tip was $45. We will be back! read more

Pre covid we ate at Avli regularly and were always pleased with the food and the service. Since I don't eat out anymore Avli is one of our favorite carry-out meals. The food is consistently delicious and the staff is always helpful when ordering and picking up. I must also say that I just read Nick A.'s review and I am shocked, disappointed and saddened that Nick wrote such a negative review as he was the person who refused to wear a mask when asked to at the restaurant. Hey Nick; stop being such a selfish, disrespectful and inconsiderate person! News flash: there's a pandemic going on! Get your act together. Wear a mask or stay home! read more

While visiting friends in Chicago, we all stopped for lunch here. I'm Greek American, so I have eaten Greek cuisine a lot. And I can say they put their own spin on traditional and new inspired dishes. The moussaka had more béchamel and meat, for a richer experience that I usually find in that dish. The lemon potatoes were delicious. And the Horta (dandelion greens) tasted super fresh. The interior is spacious and quite pretty. The service is very good. Avli Estiatorio is a nice experience. read more

Avli Estiatorio - Greek Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

Fantastic staff and customer service. A memorable moment was being serenaded in Italian a capella. Always wonderful food and ultra considerate service. Our waiter even teased giving grandma the empty black folder that holds the check - a great laugh because of course she wasn't going to pay for her own birthday dinner yet was acknowledged as the matriarch and head of the party. We had a lot of fun and can't wait to visit again. Gma has been reserving the private room here for a long time! I presume we will be coming back for years to come! read more

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Tiana & Juan were the most amazing hosts to us tonight! We went for 1st time with our 4.5 year old, not realizing it was fancier than we expected & she was the only child there. Tiana came over and instantly bonded with her making her feel so special. Service was impeccable start to finish, with a complimentary desert, too! I had the shrimp skewers which were ok, but not very small slices of bell pepper & onion and only one half of a small greek potato, I'd try something different next time. The saganaki was amazing! We will definitely be returning to see Tiana & Juan again! The atmosphere & patio is wonderful! Thank you! read more

We had the octopus appetizer, olives and feta(The feta has a very mild flavor and soft texture, which makes it seem not authentic) lamb burger(which was too small... Should be 30 to 50% bigger for the price.) and gyros. Had a nice bottle moschfelero. Services always great. read more

Great hidden gem Really good place to visit and enjoy great food. People is nice and the menu has a great variety of options including fresh seafood Don't forget the dessert read more

Usually consistently good. Dinner was awful. Gyros we're terrible. Seemed like we got left over meet. It was chopped small and overcook. Gross. Paid a lot of money for yogurt desert bc that's all I ate. Even the bread was stale read more

This is the worst place eat at. The food is tasteless. The best item was their olive oil. The chicken lemon soup had a super creamy soup taste. It was gross. The fish was undercooked. They do not card if your entree is missing! Horrible for such an expensive place. Better food at Red Lobster! read more

My brother: "Can I get some more water?" (All of us at the table have empty water glasses) Alvi Employee: "Sure" (Fills my brother's glass, walks away) The sangria was terrible--just some bad red wine over ice. Not a piece of fruit or hint of cinnamon in sight. At lunch time, they have a soup or salad + sandwich special for $12. I got the lemon/chicken/rice soup, and there was no chicken, just a little bit of rice that barely looked like rice, and it was rather watery. The sandwich--I just had the chicken on pita--wasn't bad, but the tzatziki sauce on it was unconventionally spicy. It was an unpleasant surprise, and I would up scraping it off. The service was sloppy--water and ice getting sloshed onto the table and not cleaned up when glasses were initially filled. Unfortunately, for me and my family, this place was a resounding NO. read more

Avli Estiatorio - Chicken pita lunch special - Greek Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

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A bit noisy at peak times, but the food is great. Shrimp skewers were delicious. Can't wait to go again.

This place was amazing. My mom is a big Greek food...foodie haha and she was very impressed!! The restaurant was beautiful, cute and quaint. We shared saganaki, always a great choice. Our server suggested a white Greek wine that paired very well with our meal. We split Pisatacchio (my FAVORITE Greek dish) and Seafood Orzo, presentation was excellent and the food was delicious. Service was so nice - efficient, quick but took our time, so nice and helpful. Two glasses of wine, an appetizer, and two entrees our bill was $107, I believe - we had plenty of leftovers, too! All around WONDERFUL experience and we cannot wait to go back or try the other locations. read more

Avli Estiatorio - Greek Near Me - Winnetka, Illinois

We had a tremendous experience at Avli! They had amazing signature cocktails, and we really liked the baked chicken, seafood medley, and appetizers. Our waiter Panagiotis was an absolute joy--they really made us feel welcome, gave great recommendations, and went above and beyond to make sure we had a good dining experience l. 10/10 will be going back! read more

totally love this place -love the flaming cheese but my tummy doesn't -just ask my girlfriens family after I hit the bathroom.

Picked up lunch here today and the food was amazing. Best Greek I've had yet, especially for the north shore! Highly recommend.

Really big fan of avli. Very solid Greek food in a really nice ambiance. The entrees are good portions and can be shared. The spreads are really good and of course they have feta stuffed olives for martinis! read more

Came here for lunch and everything was just okay. My wife got the gyro sandwich and I got the bbq lamb sandwich. Fries that came with them were undercooked and lacking major flavor. The bbq lamb was pretty tasty but the gyro meat my wife had was mediocre at best. Have definitely had better gyros from fast food type places. read more

What happened to Avli?? It used to be so good. The last two times have been disappointing. Most recently we had reservations for a Friday night. Not sure if someone called in sick, but the wait staff was a surly woman who seemed put out before we even placed our order. Besides her curt delivery , her appearance was not commensurate with Avli's prices.There were four of us and two of the meals weren't good. The papoutsakia was bland and tasteless (two words I would never use to describe Greek food). Also, Avli may not be responsible for the building it's located in but the Laundry Room Mall floor was dirty with scraps and bits on the rugs. A poor first impression and nothing a carpet sweeper couldn't mitigate. For a Friday night it was relatively empty so maybe others have had similar experiences there lately. Instead of opa! it was more like oh no! read more

This was our second time at the restaurant and I'm not sure which was worse, the food or the service. We sat for 20 minutes before our server even acknowledged us. We ordered two martinis and they must have sat at the bar because by the time they got to us they weren't cold and our appetizer came 10 minutes earlier. The server never once checked on us or asked if we wanted another cocktail. I have never felt so ignored at a restaurant. The Greek lemon soup had no flavor, the Greek salad was loaded with tomatoes and cucumbers but limited olives, feta or red onion but nothing will compare to our entrees. I had the seafood Medley and everything was over cooked to the point that the octopus was beyond rubber and so hard you couldn't chew it. My husband had the shrimp skewers which also was over cooked, We did complain about our food and the manager removed our entrees from the bill which was very nice but honestly, we would have preferred a good meal with quality service and pay for it, We won't be going back. read more

Average. Greek village salad was just okay. Veggies, crisp, but dressing was bland. Tomatoes not ripe. Chicken kabobs looked really good, but no flavor. Potato (odd flavor) and rice just okay. Kalamari and bread were good. Odd lunch selections (forced creations). Nice outdoor patio, but will not return. Service was good in spite of a large bridal shower in the next room. read more

The food was sub par and I got a stomach ache after! I was really looking forward to the beef kabob lame!

This is a fun, trendy place. I highly recommend the gyro omelette for brunch. I highly recommended!