I've been to Avli River North twice, both times with a large group from work. The first time, the service was excellent; the second time, it was noticeably slower, although the food was still good. Some dishes can be a little hit or miss, but the ones that are good are really good. The atmosphere is nice and works well for a group dinner--not overly trendy or fancy, but still a good ambiance and an enjoyable place to spend the evening. For our group of around 12 people, the total was about $1,200 including food and drinks, so it can get pricey with a larger group. Overall, a good spot for a work dinner or group gathering. read more

Avli River North - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great spot for a work dinner, date, friends gathering. Food is really good. So are the drinks. We tired a bunch of apps, ofc Saganaki is a must hehe I had a Pork Gyro for dinner - super yummy. And then the fries... mmmmmm really good! Highly recommend this spot! read more

Avli River North - Pork Gyro - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time here. It was a walking distance from an event we attended. We were seated upstairs as we had a large number of people in our party. They do have elevators for those who cannot walk up the flight of stairs. A cozy Greek restaurant with a warm, neutral-toned ambience that made the dining experience feel relaxed. Service was welcoming, and our waiter was genuinely friendly and attentive throughout the meal. The Greek salad was so delicious!! Crispy, tangy, balanced perfectly with a block of Feta cheese that was not overly salty. I could have eaten the whole bowl!! The pork gyros were definitely a highlight that was served with crispy and flavorful French fries. The moussaka had good texture and comfort-food appeal, though it could have used a bit more salt to really bring out the flavors. Overall, a lovely spot for authentic Greek dishes and warm hospitality. read more

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Right in the heart of River North, this spot has such a cute aesthetic with the pink bougainvillea and fun patio energy. It's loud and casual, perfect for happy hour or a group dinner. Service was great and super friendly. We got the trio dip for appetizer. The spicy feta was easily my favorite, 9/10. The hummus was also really solid at 8.5/10. The eggplant dip was okay, around 6.5/10. The lamb was fine, nothing crazy, 7/10. The gyro was fine 6/10, but I did love the tzatziki sauce. Overall, a cool casual Greek spot in River North. They also have other locations in Lincoln Park, Lakeshore East, Milwaukee, and Winnetka. read more

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Went for Happy Hour and got amazing deals. We had 1L white wine and it was really good and refreshing. For appetizers, we had, Zucchini chips, Hummus, Smoked Salmon Tarama, and Tzatziki which were very flavored, and accompanied by a burrata and shrimp. All really good. Server was friendly, quick, and very helpful on questions. Place it great for an outside dinner during the summer, but also has inside seats. read more

Avli River North - Hummus. Smoked Salmon Tarama. Tzatziki. Zucchini Chips. - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had an amazing experience at Avli! I have walked by numerous times and saw the very nice patio for a couple of years and was like what is this place. Came by recently to celebrate a friends bday and the place exceeded expectations by a mile. We of course grabbed a seat on the covered part of the patio and was lucky enough to get an amazing server by the name of Jelena. She was fantastic and was so good at letting us know what the best dishes were and was quite attentive. We started out with the Octapodi which was deicious! Came accompanied oregano vinaigrette..yum! We then got the Flaming Saganaki which was literally fire! Best I've had at any Greek restaurant. Main course, I went with the Taverna Lamb Chops which comes with tasty charred vegetables. Added a side of roasted potatoes recommended by Jelena...outstanding! My friend got the Lavraki aka Branzino which she said was pretty good. Baklava ice cream was woooooo! Loved it! One of the best meals I've had in 2025! Washed this all down with some great cocktails. Dionysus Drank This was verymuch on point. A tequila cocktail that includes lime, mint, watermelon and tripe orange liqueur. Great restaurant with amazing service, delicious cuisine and terrific ambience. Love this place! Great for dates. read more

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WOW! I'm still dreaming about our experience at Avli. The food was fantastic, the service was great, the atmosphere was beautiful. They were also not only able to accommodate my friend's food allergies, but they went above and beyond with recommendations and different modifications for her! We ordered several mezze dishes to share among the group. The Soutzoukakia, flaming saganaki, spanakopita, and the lamb filo boukia. All of it was delicious, but the lamb filo was my favorite! I ordered the amanites pasta and it was so good. Great flavor, lots of different textures with the pasta, mushrooms and some crunch! I tried the teach me how to dance and the every seven years cocktails and absolutely loved both of them. I tried a sip of the a-gouri cocktail and that was delish too! We ended the night with the chocolate mosaic and the caldera, both absolutely amazing. What a great time! A great experience and not horribly priced for what you get either! read more

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Great outdoor seating for brunch when the weather is nice, even for large groups. However, be prepared for long wait times without a reservation and slow service. Some members of my group of 8 ordered bottomless mimosas, and the staff left bottles of champagne at our tables to speed up the wait. The food here is decent, but nothing special. I ordered the Chicken Gyros, but the chicken was dry/would have been better with a sauce. This is an aesthetic brunch restaurant, so come for the vibes! read more

Very cute lively Mediterranean spot. Service was kind and attentive. Food came out super quickly as well. I had the chicken souvlaki which was pretty good. My only issue was that the chicken was both tender and dry? I really enjoyed the rice and salsa that came with the chicken though. The sauce was light and refreshing and was the perfect accompaniment to the chicken. The restaurant also serves table bread which was fine. Soft and pillowy which I like. Overall this place was fine! Okay prices and good vibes c: read more

Avli River North - Chicken Souvlaki. - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I just moved to Chicago and have already become a repeat customer at Avli! Went there first on a date which the restaurant was perfect for -- it's cozy, romantic and the food is well timed course by course. The first visit we had the hummus & pita which was flavorful (and the pita was warm) and then I had the chicken souvlaki which was a huge portion and left me plenty to take home. The tomato salsa on the souvlaki was delicious as well. The second time I went was just for drinks & dessert and we tried the Baklava Ice Cream which was insanely good. They have a great wine selection as well, and it's not too pricey. Both visits the service was top notch -- we actually got stuck in a massive storm the first night and the restaurant manager told us we could stay as late as we needed to wait it out. Our waitress the second time also gave great recommendations! Will absolutely be back. read more

Avli River North - Baklava Ice Cream - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything is absolutely delicious and fresh They have an outdoor area thats great when its nice Amazing drinks and food Service was soo great too!!! Definitely will be back! happy hour is stunning too read more

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My second time dining at Avli--first was at their Lincoln Park spot. Tonight was River North, and it felt like dining on a Greek island...minus the ocean view. The patio was perfect on a warm Chicago evening, and the service team made it even better. GM Christina stopped by with a warm welcome, and our server handled our group of seven with ease, keeping the evening relaxed and fun. Food highlights: * Pikilia - A trio of house spreads (tzatziki, hummus, and spicy feta) with warm pita. Great way to start. * Zucchini & Eggplant Chips - Paper-thin, lightly fried, and perfectly crisp. * Flaming Saganaki - Opa! Pan-fried cheese, theatrically lit and perfectly gooey inside with a crispy edge. * Watermelon Salad - Refreshing and vibrant, with feta and mint adding contrast. A summer standout. * Chicken Souvlaki - Tender skewers, simply seasoned and perfectly grilled. * Taverna Lamb Chops - Cooked just right, juicy inside with that char-grilled flavor. * Solomon's (Roasted Salmon) - Beautifully flaky, paired with sauces that brightened every bite. And then came dessert--truly the grand finale. We ordered nearly the entire lineup: * Baklava Ice Cream - My personal favorite. Layers of honey, nuts, and flaky pastry spun into creamy perfection. Could have gone back for seconds. * Chocolate Mosaic - Rich and decadent, a hit with the chocolate lovers. * Orange Olive Oil Cake - Light, fragrant, and not too sweet. * Ekmek - Custardy, layered, and indulgent. Honestly, the desserts may have been the highlight of the night. Small note: On a warm evening, a couple more fans on the patio and ice in the water refills would have been welcome. Overall, Avli River North nails the trifecta--atmosphere, hospitality, and food that leaves you planning your return before you've even left. read more

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(G)o or no go - GO! Might be my new favorite Chicago restaurant (W)ow - beautiful flowery open patio (A)mbiance - quick service, fancy (M)enu - Hands down amazing kataifi shrimp, so crunchy and juicy with a savory bed of sauce. Runner up is the branzino, not at all fishy, light and lemony. Honorable mentions to the hummus spread (three types, great deal) and the phyllo feta. read more

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Always great service and even better food! Greek-style plates are delicious and very filling. Drinks are also unique and tasty. I love coming here in the summer and sitting on the patio. They're dog friendly, which is a plus! The interior and exterior are both beautiful and makes for a great dinner out with friends or a nice date night! read more

Avli River North - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I enjoyed a mini happy hour with my 2 pups today at Avli River North.. They've been here many times. We sit outside under umbrellas on the sidewalk with ample room. Cocktails and food for happy hour are tastes of their larger plates. The drink I always go for is "Teach me to dance," vodka, tea, honey and lime. It's very mellow and tasty. The dogs love to people watch. I ordered 2 shrimp wrapped with filo, crispy on the outside but nice and juicy inside, surrounded by sauce. My last drink was the Athenian spritz. The syrup was slightly tangy and light, with everything balanced well. Service is always amazing, especially if Niko is helping you! read more

Avli River North - Outdoor dining dog friendly - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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So I ordered delivery from here by mistake, but the food was so good that I kept coming back. Really high-quality preparation and presentation. Arrived in a timely fashion, thoughtfully packaged. As an added benefit, Avli has more vegan options than your average Greek restaurant. So nice to look at the menu and see more than a garden salad as an option. read more

I will be first person to admit that I'm the type of guy who needs to escape into a mid-week happy hour when work gets stressful. Not only is Avli my favorite neighborhood happy hour spot, but also a traditional Greek establishment that feels like home to me. Personally, I have only come in for the happy hour specials, but the experience does not disappoint and has kept me coming back. As an Eastern European food connoisseur new to the Chicago area, I have carefully constructed a rating system that reflects my personal thoughts, feelings, and experience. Food 9/10 The regular menu has many offering that look incredible, but I typically just order from their happy hour menu, which offers amazing, small dishes for a great price. Below is a typical experience: Spreads (Trio: Hummus, Tzatziki, Tirokafteri): The spread come with seemingly unlimited pita triangles which are soft and perfect for dipping. If you get the trio, they let you enjoy three out of their five spreads. Their hummus offers a rich and garlicky complex with sudden hints of citrus. I wouldn't say this is a typical hummus.... It's taken to a more professional level. Their tzatziki sauce is sharp, tangy, and refreshing with a prominent cucumber complex. Everything about the tzatziki sauce is phenomenal. The tirokafteri spread is the most unique to me. Its rich and sharp notes come together in harmony through the bell pepper and the feta cheese. Greek Graviera Fries: Some of the best things in life are thin, long, and crispy... including these fries. These fries have a shape and texture that I crave but are also taken to the next level with their Greek seasoning and creamy, mayo based dipping sauce. These are perfect to snack on. Kataifi Shrimp: If you are getting 4 of these, it is cheaper to order them from their main menu (professional tip offered by our wonderful waiter). Between my fiancé and I, this is our favorite thing on the menu. The shrimp is tender and cooked to perfection, but what really makes these little devils delicious is the shredded filo on top of each shrimp. Each bite is crunchy, yet tender. When paired with the spicy mayo dipping sauce, you might be ordering a second plate. Drinks 8/10 All the happy hour cocktails are delicious and refreshing. The cocktails all are Greek inspired and extremely good for the price. I am a beer drinker, and they only offer one lager on the happy hour menu (but hey its only 5 dollars). It would be nice to see them add one stronger beer on their happy hour menu, but for the price its really difficult to complain. Atmosphere 10/10: The restaurant has a white and vibrant theme that makes you feel like you are in Greece. When the weather allows for it, they have outdoor, sidewalk seating that always looks extremely full and vibrant. The establishment looks incredible, especially for what a deal their happy hour is. Likelihood of Return 10/10: For the price, this is the best value happy hour we have found in the area. The service is great and so are the food and drinks. We are so happy to have this spot in our neighborhood. Thank you all, George Clydesdale read more

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The food is always sooooo good here and they have some great and fun drink options!! We live close to here and we love popping over for dinner or apps. Their summer Happy Hour on the patio is unmatched vibes. read more

Avli River North - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic service, super friendly, explained everything, and phenomenal portion sizes. The food tasted great. Highly recommend the roasted cauliflower. I ordered the pork gyros with fries. It wasn't too loud, and the vibes are perfect for a night out. Highly recommend if you're a fan of Greek food. read more

Avli River North - Pork gyros with fries - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loved this place! What a fabulous vibe. Bright and airy with flowers about. Just beautiful. Started off with some great drinks and had some chicken, and some skewers. The service was very friendly albeit a little slow for lunch but nothing to ruin the lunch. Will return. read more

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Came for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. A lovely bar inside, and lots of outdoor seating as well. Solid Mediterranean food. Plan to share and try our different items. read more

We've been looking for a good Greek restaurant since we got back from our first trip to Greece this spring. Avli in River North had good reviews so we decided to try, so glad we did. We had the Greek salad and the moussaka, we split it and it was enough for two. We asked for bread and they brought out some good Italian bread. I had a white crisp wine. My husband had a glass of red wine. Vicki was her Server. She was very personable and quite knowledgeable. She was from Greece, enjoyed talking to her. We will definitely try this again with friends. It also coincided with The Taste River North so we were near the band. It was quite lively. We loved it. read more

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Visited this Greek restaurant for a big group family brunch. The upstairs has plenty of space to accommodate large groups and the Mediterranean decor creates a nice ambiance. Portions were decently sized and food was decent but not too many standouts. Watermelon Salad (4.5/5) - Fresh and light with perfect feta balance Saganaki (3.5/5) - Fried cheese was tasty but bit too salty for my taste Trio of Spreads (3.5/5) - All decent, liked the spicy tirokafteri the best Spanakopita (3/5) - Flaky phyllo and seasoned filling, was fine p Service was quick and prompt even with our large group order (Note: The other notable Mediterranean restaurants, like Ema, in Chicago are unable to accommodate groups above ~6 people so this place came in clutch!) read more

Avli River North - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had just arrived to Chicago and wanted dinner after a day of travel. This spot delivers to my hotel and had excellent reviews. I made the right choice. The food arrived via Grubhub in 35-40 minutes and the food was excellent. The burger is very substantial to the degree I couldn't finish it all and saved half for the following day. I love how crispy the fries are. The herb-seasoned rice was good all on it's own, and I love the hint of orange and the pistachio garnish on the Olive Oil Cake which was all so, so good. I may order again before I leave CHI but I'm glad they offered delivery because I just wanted to eat dinner and chill before a day of meeting the next day. read more

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They have a great happy hour and the bartenders are lovely. Just the old timers are so rude. I walked out in the patio entrance and one of the waiters was like "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" - abrupt and like I was trying to steal something. I said, "uhmmm food" and he didn't even look at me and pointed at the other door and was like "you need to go through that door... " all mean. If the patio door being used is such a problem perhaps they should put a sign on the door because it really bothers this dude. I haven't been back since. read more

Beautiful place with beautiful and delicious food! This is a great restaurant to visit when the weather is nice! Their patio is great and has really good ambiance that makes you forget you're right next to a street. They do have indoor seating but it is smaller than the outdoor patio seating. Our waitress was incredibly nice and very helpful in explaining the dishes to help us make our decision for what we wanted because there was so many different options. The food came out fast and was incredibly delicious. The egg for the omelet was fluffy but the inside was gooey with cheese. The French toast was thick but still fluffy and didn't even need syrup to be flavorful. We cleaned our plates and felt quite content after it and not like we were bursting with food. This is the perfect place to come for a nice brunch on a warm weather day! read more

I came here for lunch after getting a workout in on Friday. There was plenty of seating inside and outside, and since most patrons were seated outdoors, I joined them on the patio. The weather was perfect for enjoying an outdoor meal. They have a great lunch special where you can get three courses for $25. I ordered the roasted pepper feta dip, sweet potato salad, and the mushroom bowl with added shrimp for an extra $9. The food arrived quickly, and everything was delicious. My favorite was the sweet potato salad--it had the perfect mix of sweet and savory with almonds and figs. The dip was also fantastic, and by the time my mushroom bowl arrived, I was surprised by how generous the portion was for a lunch special. It was very filling, and the shrimp skewers were great. I ended up eating one skewer and a few bites of the bowl, with plenty of leftovers to take home. My waitress was friendly and accommodating, offering helpful suggestions for the menu. The only downside was that it took a little while for her to return when I wanted to ask for the check, but once I let her know I was in a rush, she quickly helped me pay with a tap-to-pay option. I'll definitely be back to try more items on the menu! read more

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Had a good experience! The food was excellent, and the service was very good. The cocktails were yummy too! read more

Came to Avli for a friend's birthday, ambiance in the heated patio was amazing. Really cute decor! Waiter was attentive to our orders and drinks, refilled as necessary. Loved the zucchini chips and pistachio cake, they stood out at the end of the night read more

Avli River North - Baklava Ice cream & Pistachio Cake - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm so sad, this place used to have one of my favorite happy hours, if not my favorite happy hour, in the city! I'm writing the review based on my previous experience, but FYI they've taken many of the things off the happy hour menu and increased the price. There's sooo many good options they've got a pretty extensive menu for happy hour and they're very well priced! One of my favorites is the fried zucchini it's delicious! And love the saganaki too (flaming cheese). The ambiance is super nice in the summer with light coming through everywhere it's such a cute vibe. Service is pretty good too they check up on your before happy hour ends to make sure you get your last order in :) read more

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The hospitality here is unmatched! I went on a Saturday night with no reservation but was still able to eat at the bar and the attentiveness of the staff was equal to what I would have received at a table. Also the food was very good, highly recommend! read more

The kataifi shrimp at Avli is absolutely divine and it has to be one of my favorite restaurant dishes in Chicago. The shrimp is soft and tender, and the kataifi coating is perfectly crunchy and light. It is one of those plates that stays on your mind long after you leave!! read more

Avli River North - Kataifi Shrimp - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We ordered from avli via uber eats, and the food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. The order, however, was confusing. We ordered a salad and the ordering system online basically took all the ingredients of the salad away and it was just a bowl of lettuce. The rest of the dishes were mediocre,nothing really memorable for the price (potatoes weren't crispy, watermelon salad was waterlogged and pesto was flavorless, octopus salad was way too chewy). Will likely not order from Avli again read more

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Love the patio here! It is a great spot for drinks and dinner in the summer. All the cocktails are great. Highly recommend the trio of spread, SO GOOD. read more

I'm a huge fan of Greek food and this place was chefs kiss! We ordered a variety, for starters we had the pikilia and zucchini/ eggplant chips & for shareable entrees the monastiraki gyros, chicken souvlaki, spanakopita and octapodi. Everything was so delicious it was fresh, flavorful, savory, juicy! All the dips were so good. Service was attentive and the outdoor seating area was nicely decorated! Highly recommend read more

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I am a frequent customer (delivery) of Avli, love their food and selection. My orders are almost always the same, so I can see and tastes the changes for my orders. Hummus: their hummus is absolutely amazing, it is not salty at all and goes great with the pita bread. They did not warm the pita bread for my first few orders, so I was kind of disappointed because TRUST ME, you don't want to try a cold hard pita bread (no spreads can save the taste and texture of cold pita bread). Recently, I noticed they started warming the pita bread up for delivery, I'm really glad and hope they will continue to do so. It makes a big difference! Spreads: I tried 3 of their spreads( hummus, eggplant, and fish roe), my favorite is still the hummus one. Sweet potatoes salad: this is definitely one of my favorite salad. The roasted sweet potatoes and dried figs add a great combination of sweetness to the salad. I love pairing this with the hummus spread too. However, sometimes the roasted sweet potatoes can be overly oily. Grilled Salmon: the portion of the salmon is getting smaller and smaller. The tastes is still the same. Mushroom gyros: my favorite gyros so far! The veggies (arugula and onions) adds a great crunch to the gyros. And the tomatoes match perfectly with everything else. The hummus spread makes this wrap tastier. HOWEVER! It can be VERY SALTY sometimes. All depends on luck I guess. Overall, Avli is a great place to hit for Mediterranean food. However, since I only had delivery I can't say much about the service or vibe. I do notice the taste and food quality vary drastically. There was also one time that they forgot to include my grilled salmon, but they offered me a gift card. Yet, this gift card can only be used in store.......So, I really hope that Avli can improve their management and food quality even if it's for their online orders. I think all customers deserve the same quality and treatment. And I hope I will have the opportunity to dine-in to have a better experience/feel of the restaurant. read more

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Food is amazing! Modern Greek with very fresh ingredients that you can taste. I have gone to 2-4 different avli and their food quality is consistently good each time! A bit pricey but adequate for being river north. Great place to reunite with friends, great service as well. Loved the ambience as well. read more

Avli River North - Pantzaria Salad + grilled Chicken Souvlaki - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Starting with the ambiance, the space is very nice. Very welcoming and has fun house music playing. Very fitting for the concept of the restaurant. We went during restaurant week and so we got the tasting menu. Appetizers of prawns and meatballs. Both were exceptional. The prawns had a crispy filo coating and was served with a delicious sauce. I had the lamb shoulder for the main course and it was phenomenal. It's slow cooked (and done very well) so it fell apart very easily. Seated on top of a bed of mashed potatoes made for a great meal. One thing I really appreciate is the portion size. I've heard for restaurant week, portions are cut down or only cheaper dishes served. That was definitely not the case here. Dessert was their orange cake which I might need to go back for another piece. Drinks: old fashion and another smoked cocktail which I can't remember the name of. Delicious dining experience. Pro tip though: make sure your date didn't have a pet lamb before you order it for dinner..... read more

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We stumbled across this spot as we were craving some greek food and were delightfully surprised on our amazing experience here! Staff was warm and accommodating as we had requested to dine inside after noticing how packed and loud the outside patio was. Our server was excellent in providing recommendations, engaging in conversations, and checking on us throughout. Complimentary bread with their pungent evoo (extra virgin olive oil) & kalamata olives was a delightful start before the rest of our order- -Greek Muled Wine ($13): warmed, star anise & cinnamon spiced wine -Spread Sampler ($18): chose hummus, melitzanosalata (charred eggplant, herbs, garlic, roasted red pepper), and tirokafteri (spicy feta & roasted red pepper base, greek yogurt, chili). option of pita bread or veggies -Chicken Riganati ($27): tender half roasted chicken seasoned with lemon, mustard, garlic & oregano served with flavorful roasted potatoes  -Beef Yiouvetsi ($28): braised beef in hearty, well-seasoned tomato sauce with orzo and sun dried tomato & mizithra cheese -Baklava Ice Cream ($10): vanilla ice cream topped with spiced nuts, honey, crumbled baklava, and caramelized phyllo  Our favorites were the unique, tasty spread sampler and rich beef yiouvetsi entree! Would recommend this intimate, lovely spot with stellar service and delicious greek- inspired foods! read more

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We loved our dinner at Avli! Such great Greek food and great service. We didn't have a reservation but luckily it was nice out so they could seat us on the patio. We ordered the saganaki and it was good, I haven't had it with fig so that was a nice touch. I ordered the pork souvlaki and greek fries, the souvlaki was sooo good and made me miss my time in Greece. My friend ordered the egg soup and Moussaka and enjoyed both. For dessert, I had to get the Portokalopita and it did not disappoint, amazing. And my friend got the chocolate and cherries which was also really good. I would definitely recommend if a friend was looking for good Greek food in Chicago. read more

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