I had been wanting to come here for a long time. I'd heard great things about the food and this seems to be a generally popular restaurant with younger people in Chicago. The food did not disappoint! I devoured the prawns with spicy mayo-- would definitely order this again. Another highlight for me was a citrus cake we had. It was moist, flavorful, and not overly sweet. The reason I'm giving Avli four stars instead of five is because of the service. The host and busters were great but i thought our waitress was pretty bad. It was a busy night and I totally understand that as I've worked in food service before but our waitress was completely inattentive and abrasive. She took 20+ minutes to bring us two glasses of wine and our water glasses and carafe were often empty. She brought us the check minutes after bringing us our appetizers (we had not asked for it). It seemed as though she was try to get rid of us mid meal. read more

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Decent food that's way overpriced and so so service is a great way to describe Avli!! I don't know why but I definitely thought it would be better!! From the " we have no tables but all of a sudden we do attitude" to the let me ignore you and make you chase down my check this place was a big disappointment.. there's too many good places to try to give this a second chance I definitely will not be back.. read more

This place is phenomenal! Everything was delicious and fresh. It's beautiful perfect for a date! Very elegant and classy. A lot of birthday celebrations and business meetings. Everything in the menu is not disappointing. I'm glad I came back. Drinks were amazing. The waiter was not helpful and had a hard time communicating. read more

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Wow the food here is so good! I definitely recommend the saganaki, gyro, and any of the spreads. I also had a great drink with vodka, tea and honey. It's really good and not too sweet! The desserts are great as well, definitely try to baklava ice cream. Overall this place rocks and id definitely come back! read more

One of my favorite restaurants in the city! I've been here a handful of times by now and every single time it was a hit. Avli is a Greek restaurant with a modern touch with various locations around the Chicagoland area. I've only been to the river north location but would love to check out Avli on the park! The service here is great. Everyone is so hospitable and polite. The location is relatively small on the inside but there's a good amount of space on their outdoor patio that's perfecttttt for summer and spring. It's located on a corner as well so it's very easy to spot. The food...... DANG. Obviously the food is what keeps me coming back for more. I've never gotten something here that I didn't like. The entrees, shared plates, cocktails, etc., are all a 10/10. My favorite is their chicken souvlaki and Greek salad. The menu has slightly changed over the years but still holds that true Greek authenticity despite adding modern touches (which are still delicious). I highly recommend the Blue Collada cocktail and watermelon mint margarita. This is the perfect spot for a nice dinner with family, friends, or your significant other. Love Avli! read more

I came here on a Tuesday evening expecting there to be availability, but they didn't have any indoor seating avail. It looked like it was going to rain so I passed on patio seating. I did ask if the patio seating had ac as some restaurants have some type of cool air within the patio seating. The way the staff responded like I was crazy and then I overheard her talking to another staff and his response was also not great. This rubbed me the wrong way. I sure wouldn't of handled a situation this way if i were on staff. I would have wanted to give this place a try but definitely not anymore with that kind of staff .... Thankfully I was able to get seated at Avec and the staff there were more than accommodating from the start! read more

I really enjoyed this dinner, but I have a few notes. The first thing was, since it was fairly busy, the room was so warm, I'm typically cold everywhere I go, and I was sweating here, also, because it's not a large area it gets so incredibly loud, I couldn't hear my husband across the table from me. That being said the food and service was AMAZING. We started with a cocktail, I got "The Oracle" which was a tequila cocktail and it was honestly one of the best cocktails I've ever had. We also got two appetizers, I don't want to butcher the spelling for the names so I'll post pictures but one of as a spicy feta dip, and the other a honey and fig fried cheese, both which were to die for. Next we ordered the entrees which was the gyro and the chicken skewers. The gyro was tender and crispy but the fries weren't anything to write home about, but the skewers were flavorful and tender with a rice blend that was surprisingly delicious as well! Since we didn't mind the noise or the temp for that matter, this place was easily a 5 out of 5. Highly recommend! read more

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Great overall experience. Met up with friends and was looking for good food but casual since it was mid week and we were all grabbing a late dinner. The service was great! Our waiter gave really good recommendations. We started with the watermelon salad and the Kataifi shrimp. Both were amazing. Then we did the chicken souvlaki, biftekia, and the pork gyro. We also did a side of the roasted potatoes which literally melt in your mouth. So good. We also had a variety of drinks: ambrosia, smoky trellis, Athenian spritz. Overall great experience. Will go back! read more

Great gyros! the food is fresh and always hits the spot. I really enjoy the rice soup and trip of dips. The service sizes for everything is great as well. Typical city restaurant it will be crowded and loud, but the food will always be great! read more

The food was okay. Felt rushed to eat and get out here. They do not have many options but the happy hour menu is good. read more

Avli River North - 3 dip platter - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Authentic, fresh, flavorful and incredibly delicious Greek food. The staff could not have been more accommodating and the food was absolutely amazing. An aperol spritz was also an delicious drink to have with this meal. read more

Avli River North - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Always a treat dining with Avli! The food is fresh and really hits the spot when a craving for Greek food strikes. The interior is absolutely gorgeous- don't miss the chance to sit on the patio, which is adorned with hundreds of flowers! Avli has one of the best happy hours in Chicago with half price appetizers, spreads, and cocktails. We couldn't resist trying the spread trio and cheese hand pies paired with some of the specialty drinks. All were fantastic! The smoked eggplant and honey truffle drizzle on the hand pies really stood out. We also really enjoyed their chicken gyro, greek salad, and greek lemon potatoes. All were tasty and seasoned very well. Staff is friendly, professional, and very attentive. I highly recommend giving Avli a visit and will be back soon! read more

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I love dining here on the patio. The food is wonderful and the service has always been top notch.

We ordered chicken gyros to go. They were terrible. The chicken was dry and tasted like it had been sitting around for hours. I was very surprised since a friend highly recommended this restaurant. Never again read more

Food is good. Service is outstanding. Highly recommend. Gyros is awesome. Simple Greek style interior. Quite neighborhood. read more

Avli River North - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Note: there's road construction out front now so the sight from the patio isn't ideal during the day. Still, this food was incredible! I got a chicken bowl for lunch, expecting the typical, but I was blown away by the flavor of the chicken and the quality of rice underneath. The service was great and I would definitely come back again to taste the rest of the menu. Hint: USE THE LEMON. It ups the flavor of everything! -AT read more

Avli River North - Chicken Bowl - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I actually really like this cute spot. It really captures the vibe of being in Greece very airy and bright. The service is amazing and attentive. The good is fresh and cooked to order. I had the octopus and a cucumber martini, my friend had a Greek salad. I loved the cucumber martini with a swirl of fresh cucumber, very refreshing and delicious. The octopus was delicious I just really wish it contained more octopus and less tomatoes and onions. The dishes are pricey so I expected the portions would be a bit larger. Other than that everything was great and I would happily return! read more

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lovely drinks & very aesthetic restaurant! we got a few appetizers for happy hour and they were all delicious! i particularly enjoyed their tirokafteri dip and the passion fruit drink their calamari was also delicious and i didn't get a chance to take pics of it because we ate it so quickly! great stop for happy hour with the girls :) recommend ordering the Mastixa shots for the real Greek experience. read more

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My cousin suggested this place and it did not disappoint. There was no wait at all and the service was quick + welcoming. We ordered the lamb chop and man, it was everything and more, the mashed potatoes were just as good as the lamb and thats telling! We also tried the dessert with their in house ice cream and that was also delicious (and my fav flavor is chocolate btw). I had to ask for the ingredients bc this ice cream truly had its own flavor - check it out! When I'm back in Chicago I'm definitely stopping by again. Oh! And beautiful cozy atmosphere. read more

Avli River North - Taverna Style Lamb Chops - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I passed this place so many times before coming, always so packed. My boyfriend and I went on a weekday afternoon was it was pretty dead, which was nice. They had frozen cocktails, always 10/10 and the spreads sampler was a great start. For the mains, the portions are insane! I could barely finish one gyro, but I wanted to keep eating sooo bad. Fries were super good too, nice and crispy on the outside and so smooth on the inside. I really take love fries, so i greatly appreciated that, I'd order those for take out any night. All n all, super worth it! read more

Avli River North - pork gyros - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I finally had the opportunity to try Avli last night. It was Monday night and walking up you could see that there wasn't an empty table or bar seat to be found. Upon entry I was immediately greeted by two Greek Hostesses. While awaiting my guest I was also able to meet The GM Stefano who gave me a brief rundown on their brand. We had an assortment of drinks, enjoyed all four of their homemade spreads, the Pork Gyro and The Braised Lamb Shank. All were delish! The patio, which is West of Wells is nice and fairly tranquil given its location away from heavy traffic. The Greek Hospitality was omnipresent. I know I'll be back again soon. read more

I have been here multiple times. Never disappoints. Great plates to share and a lovely indoor outdoor area. read more

Avli River North - Enclosed patio - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here on a Friday with a reservation and didn't have to wait. We sat in their patio area and it was super cute and well insulated. The trio dip was delicious and the pita breads have some sort of flavor on them. For my main, I got the moussaka which came out piping hot. This was my first time having this dish, but it's sort of like a Greek shepherds pie or lasagna. It was very yummy and I loved all the layers to it. read more

Love their dips, especially the baba ganoush. The interior is very pretty. They have an underrated happy hour of drinks and bites.

This place has fast service, a lively ambiance, and delicious food! I really enjoyed the Cretan kaltsounia especially. The food was good, but it does get quite pricy--I'd say expect to pay about $50 per person, but other than that, it's great food and vibes! read more

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Delicious food!!! So cheap too for what you get-- we were shocked at how reasonably priced everything was. Went here for a girls night and we all had a lovely time. read more

I was here for a large group dinner with a prefix menu. The food was fantastic. The spanakopita was crispy and flavorful. The various spreads were very tasty as well. The feta salad and meat salads were refreshing. The main courses included moussaka and shrimp skewers. The portions of moussaka were very generous and tasted of cinnamon. I wish the shrimp skewers had a bit more lemon and grilled flavor, but they were large and succulent shrimp. To finish off the meal, there was ice cream with deconstructed baklava, which was absolutely fabulous. This was a great meal! read more

I have been wanting to go to Avli ever since I tried their booth at the TimeOut Market in West Loop! This place does not disappoint!! They have really creative med inspired brunch items & I struggled to decide what to order! I ended up going with the margs room bowl. This had a farro & shallot base, with roasted mushroom/broccoli & I added feta. It also had some lemon aioli on the side. I can confidently say this is one of the most flavorful brunches I have had in the city. The veggies were roasted to perfection & it was filled with such complex flavors. My friends got bowls & an egg dish & everyone loved it. I would love to come back for lunch or dinner because the pita & hummus looks insane. We sat on the patio & it is beautiful with all of the flowers. It is also covered so we were able to sit in the rain. It definitely gets hot pretty quick though. Only complaint is that the service left something to be desired, but it was a busy Saturday afternoon so it is what it is. Overall, I will definitely return & try some of the dinner options & drinks! read more

Avli River North - Mushroom Bowl & Saganaki - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A good 1st impression! I remember passing by this place this summer and was delighted with pink flowers they had on the patio since it reminded me on Greece. When I made a reservation today and realized it is the same place, I was so happy! Nicely decorated restaurant, but I have to say it looks better when the patio is open. Food - classic Greek menu. The portions are huge, and there is no way you will leave hungry! It was tasty, ok, but nothing spectacular. We had soutzoukakia and combination of 3 spreads as an appetizer, and then for the main course 2 of us took monastiraki pork gyros, one friend of mine got greek salad with chicken gyros and the last was lamb shoulders. As I mentioned- everything was good and ok, but it didn't leave me without breath. I also read in reviews that cucumber martini is delicious! Have to agree with that! It was great! Service- fast and polite. 10/10 Would recommend this place! read more

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Just ordered delivery that included gluten free pita bread with my hummus. When it arrived there was bread instead of pita. I called to check on the bread since I was expecting pita. I was told it was not gluten free and not to eat. So not only could I have gotten really sick from what they sent me but I was only give 50% credit back for the item I couldn't eat. read more

Great atmosphere and delicious food. The Greek flavors were authentic and well balanced, and the service was attentive without being overbearing. read more

Icy cool water, delicious drinks and food that made everyone happy. Our party ordered the gyros, lamb chops, Arni Fournou, Beef Yiouvetsi, chicken souvlaki, and Astakomakaronada dishes as meals. Everythings was properly cooked and seasoned and served simultaneously. We had also starterd with small plates of tzatziki, hummus, saganaki, zucchini chips and calamari skaras. Everything was delicious! We had both pitas and vegetables for the dips. This was a diverse group from all over the country with wide ranging palates and everyone was happy! read more

So this little cutie place caught my eye only because it was warm, friendly, at the time had an outdoor deck and ambiance that brought me and a friend to come into. The food is Greek and I love soup so I ordered an extra lemon based soup to go. Pure Waiter was friendly and very very engaging. The next time I visit I wish to sit at the bar... The drinks that came to the table were yummy and we were taken care of. Thank you !! read more

Overall, I enjoyed my time here. I made a reservation for two on accident, instead of four, and they were easily able to accommodate the extra two people (also, very nice about it!). We ordered the spread sample with hummus, tzatziki, and tirokafteri. All good. We also split the pork souvlaki, calamari, spanakopita, and manitaria krasata (mushrooms). The souvlaki was better than expected, as many I have had in the past have been dry. The calamari was a tad soggy, but not bad. The spanakopita was yummy, although very hard to cut into, and the mushrooms were very flavorful! You can definitely taste the thyme in the mushrooms. To drink I had the greek pirate which was delicious! read more

Avli River North - The Greek Pirate - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food, especially the tirokafteri and shrimp souvlaki. The service was fast and accommodating to our impatient toddler.

One can never go wrong with Avli! This was our second stop for Chicago Restaurant Week. The Prix Fixe menu is one of the better ones I've experienced. There are three courses and are a total value. We've never been to this location, and so this was the perfect way to check it out. Each location has a bit of a different twist or flair to Greek food. I started off with the frappe martini which was oh so yummy. We also got the sampler spread to start. For dinner, I got the meatballs (very good) and the chicken riganati. The chicken was cooked perfectly and was juicy! It was huge!! It was a whole half of chicken -- I ate the breast and wings and saved the thigh and drumstick for home. The chicken was served with lemon baked potatoes. So good! My hubby got the Greek village salad and the lamb shank, which he loved. We ended dinner by selecting one of each of the desserts. I loved the rice pudding but not so much the orange cake. Overall dinner was a great experience. There was a decent crowd and our server was on top of getting to everyone. read more

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I loved the entrees at Avli but didn't quite enjoy anything else. The service was beyond slow (45+ minutes even for entrees) and the ambiance was quite awful in the covered patio. The music was so loud and did not make for an enjoyable environment. I would have to try their main dining room perhaps on a less busy evening, but I was overall unimpressed by the dishes and hardly see myself thinking of Avli for a great Mediterranean meal. read more

A cute trendy Greek restaurant that's fun for a night out. The food was very good and everything was very fresh. The service was good and our waiter was very attentive. We were able to get seated quickly even though we didn't have a reservation, but the restaurant was packed, so it was nice to be treated so well. Will be back again. read more

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One of my favorite places ive been in the city. We got the trip of dips to start and I could have just eaten that it was so good. Also got a variety of meat skewers that were equally as good. Drinks on point too. Will come back here any time and it's all reasonably priced read more

BEST GREEK SALAD I'VE EATEN OUTSIDE OF GREECE. THAT'S IT. THAT'S THE REVIEW. YOU'VE GOT ME AS A FAN FOREVER. ...And the ambiance is SUPER cute. The staff is quick and attentive, even to the outdoor diners. My water was never empty and my iced tea was promptly refilled. (So yes, order the iced tea and the portokalopita dessert, in addition to your Greek salad). read more