the food here is worth the hype. everything was delicious, staff knowledgeable and kind, portion size is good to share. feel like it's a city restaurant in the suburbs. must try! read more

My friends and I made plans to dine at Kouklas Greek Eatery, the modern Greek restaurant by chefs Jimmy Bannos and Kevin Stack. Knowing how popular this new place was, we still showed up without a reservation at 5pm on a weeknight. Guess what? There were no tables available. Luckily, there was room at the large, room-spanning bar. The menu lists shareable appetizers, Mezze plates and contemporary twists on Greek dishes. My friend and I shared some dishes while our other friends had chicken souvlaki. We started with the flaming saganaki which is always fun. We also had tirokafteri -- spicy whipped feta; dolmades with wagyu beef and avgolemono foam and dill pollen; and maroulosalata - romaine, Brussels sprouts, dill, radish and kasseri cheese. And we devoured many baskets of Greek sesame sourdough. The food was fantastic. Not the traditional Greek dishes you know but familiar enough but with innovative touches as you might expect from a James Beard award-winning chef. The parking lot is valet. I came a little early and they let me wait in my car until the restaurant opened at 5. In retrospect this was brilliant because the lot filled up fast and I could easily drive out. So many dishes I'd come back to try. But I'll make a reservation. read more

See all

We 3 dined 04/22, 5: pm RSVP Excellent service & cuisine. OPA! We requested a few times to please lower the music or find another table where its quieter. Yes...hostesses lowered. Our # 1 complaint referencing dining out, is MUSIC TOO LOUD! We're not there for a concert...there to enjoy ourselves/conversation and the FOOD. Missed hearing Greek music! Continued success...Jimmy & crew! David read more

Kouklas - Greek Near Me - Niles, Illinois

I love the energy in this place. It's bustling, fun, and lively. The gigantes salad and brick chicken were delicious. The Village Salad wasn't my favorite. Too much cheese and oil, not enough veggies and needed lemon juice (which they brought). Dina, our waitress, and Audrey, the manager, are complete dolls. They greeted us with genuine smiles, were extremely attentive, and genuinely wanted us to have a great experience. All the staff are very nice and competent. We'll be back again soon. read more

See all

This place has been a pretty highly anticipated around here. It certainly didn't disappoint; the food was great. Even on a Tuesday night the place was filling up fast. I was here with my book club so there was a wide variety of items ordered. I chose the chicken souvlaki and it was delicious! Tangy and accompanied by some delicious potatoes. One of the others bought an appetizer or two for the table; I especially liked the tirokafteri, a spicy feta dish. With the thick, olive-oil soaked grilled bread it was so good. But then I'd eat the bread alone too. I tried the skordalia as well, a garlic and mashed potato dip. Mashed potato dip?! Thank you! This had plenty of my favorite spice, dill, too. It was garnished with crispy chicken skin on the top. Drinks were great; I chose the Sparkling Persephone and it was striking as well as lip-smacking good. I don't usually spend that much on a drink but I don't regret doing so this time. The restaurant is really tight. Tables are pretty close and when our group was leaving, we had to wait for another large party to pass and leave single file. They also have complimentary valet parking, and it is not optional, so if you don't like valet or only have your key on your phone you may want to pick another place. read more

See all

Worth the wait for a reservation! The food is exceptional, service impeccable and ambiance vibrant and energetic. Sharing plates was fun and portions were generous. We enjoyed the showmanship that came along with the flaming saganaki. The pork belly, souvlaki chicken skewers and moussaka were standouts as were the desserts. read more

See all

We have been wanting to try Kouklas since before it opened. I went to make a Saturday reservation a couple weeks ago, and nothing was available until after 8:15 PM, same with the next Saturday, so we reserved two weeks in advance and went this past Saturday. It was worth the wait! I had read in some other reviews here that there was often a backup with the valet parking and at the door to be seated at 5 PM, so I specifically made the reservation for 5:15 PM to try to miss the crowd. That worked perfectly. By the time we pulled in we were only the second car in the valet line, and we walked in and were seated immediately. We were originally going to be seated to the far right from the entrance, beyond the bar. But when I looked that way and saw there was already a large group table set up in that smaller area, and I didn't want the two of us to be stuck dealing with that situation on our first visit there, I asked if we could instead be seated to the left, in the main dining room. There were still several tables still open there, so no problem. I'm really glad I asked! We had already checked out the menu and knew that much of it is tapas style, served as it's prepared, and we love that format, so this was perfect for us. We ordered cocktails - the Nyx's Mix (a Manhattan, made with Four Roses Single Barrel) and Aegean Mist (with Milagro Blanco tequila and Cointreau) - and two starter options - the Skordalia spread and the Flaming Saganaki (which is a bit hidden on the menu, in the middle of The Greek Kitchen section, but I eventually found it there). The cocktails and starters were all excellent. The Skordalia, a cold mashed potato base seasoned with dill and topped with crispy chicken skin pieces, was especially delicious. The bread that was served with both starters was also fresh and flavorful, with a crisp, sesame-laden crust and a lightly toasted yet soft interior, just how I like it. For our entrées I ordered the Beef Tenderloin Souvlaki (it comes with two skewers), and my husband had the Pastitsio. I really wanted to try two different souvlaki skewers, because they also have Pork Tenderloin and Chicken Breast. I asked our server Panos (who did a superb job) if it was possible to mix and match, and although he said that question has been asked often, it wasn't (yet) an option. Hopefully it will be by the time we go back again! I always order my steak medium rare, and I had read in an earlier review that any souvlaki cooked more than this wouldn't be satisfactory, so I made sure that's what I ordered, and it was very good. Each skewer was lightly charred, with four large pieces of meat on it. I ended up eating one skewer, giving my husband a piece from the other, and bringing the other three pieces home to enjoy later. The souvlaki came sitting in a bed of Tzatziki, which was perfectly seasoned, with fried smashed potatoes. I wasn't crazy about the potatoes, but I'm not a big potato eater anyway, so I tasted a little of one piece, gave my husband one, and left the rest uneaten. I think next time I order souvlaki I will have them hold the potatoes. My husband's Pastitsio came in a sliced brick from a loaf, similar to a large piece of meatloaf. He said it was good, but not great. I think next time he'll probably try something else. He did enjoy my beef tenderloin chunk that I shared with him. I noticed that there were no salt and pepper shakers on the table, but every dish we ordered came with a sauce, with the exception of the saganaki (which we were grateful to see was flamed tableside, as it always should be, but which some restaurants have stopped doing). The sauces were all the seasoning we needed for each of our dishes. Each was well crafted and flavorful. I was especially excited to see that they had Loukomades on the menu for dessert. These have long been a favorite of ours from the Greek festival we used to attend annually in Indianapolis, where they were made fresh while we waited, and served hot. I was curious to see how they would be at a restaurant, and they did not disappoint! They also were hot, fresh, and with a large enough portion for us to share. The only thing missing was the extra squirt of honey on the inside that we sometimes got when they were deep-fried in front of us, but they were honey-soaked and very tasty. The price of everything, including the two starters, the two entrées, two drinks each, and the shared dessert, came to about $185 after tax and before tip. So it's probably not somewhere we'll eat every weekend, but we'll definitely be back periodically, because everything was absolutely delicious, the ambience was bustling and friendly, the valet parking and car retrieval were easy and efficient, and it was a fun, upbeat place to be. Well done, Kouklas, and thank you! read more

See all

We had a reservation for 7:30pm and drove up about 7:10pm. They have a parking lot, but it is valet only. There is a neighborhood street, so if you can find parking there, I guess you can park yourself. However, I have no idea if it is permit parking, so just go with the valet. It's complimentary (you should still tip, though). Here's my issue with the valet: they haven't worked the kinks out yet. There were four or five guys working. To get the most tips (I assume they haven't decided to split tips yet), they have to get the most cars. So they take your ticket, grab your keys from the valet box, and then sprint to your car and then drive as if they're in a Formula One race to bring your car. The problem is that there is no rhyme or reason to how they bring the cars. Instead of everyone leaves one way and pulls in the opposite way, they just bring up your car and another valet may block you in with another car - which we had happen to us when we were leaving. That was annoying. We entered and gave our name and were told that a couple tables were about to vacate and we could wait at the bar. We ordered a couple drinks and looked at the menu sitting there. After about 10 minutes, we were escorted to our table. We asked if we should bring the menu and the hostess said to leave it as she would bring us menus. She did not. We sat there looking at each other for about 10 more minutes as waiters and bussers kept zipping back and forth behind us. Finally I spoke up to one of the servers who made eye contact and I asked for a couple menus. He seemed confused that we hadn't had them yet and brought us two menus. Clearly we hadn't ordered yet as that server was our waiter. We looked over the menu and finally placed our orders. We both started out with breads and spreads. I got the Skordalia and my wife ordered the Tirokafteri. I'm not a feta guy, but she said it was delicious. Mine was equally delicious, although a bit heavy on the garlic. We both ordered the avgolemeno soup. It was a thick soup, probably the best I've had yet. For our main dishes, she ordered a Greek salad with a chicken skewer on the side to get some protein. They would not add it to the salad, so it was on the side. I was torn between the chicken skewers and the half brick chicken with the Greek potatoes. The waiter suggested the brick chicken as it is one of the most ordered dishes. I went with his suggestions and he was right. It was delicious. It is served on a large plate with a half inch edge (wall) around the plate. And it has to be as all the au jus and lemon would spill everywhere unless it was served in a bowl. The chicken was off the bone and sliced, grilled, and then rested atop the au jus with three round Greek potatoes. By the time we were done, we were full and brought half our meals home. It was delicious the next day as well. They sent me home with a cup for the au jus. It's a nice place that has two dining rooms separated by a long bar in the middle. I had three issues with the place: 1) It was really loud. It was hard to hear conversation at our own table. 2) The hostess is not trained all that well. She just led us to our table and never came back with menus and I guess didn't mention to the servers or bussers that we needed menus. It was weird. 3) The valet is poorly run. Just create a plan for cars entering and leaving the parking lot and you'll be good to go. Other than these three things, the server was great, the food was spectacular, and everyone was so friendly. The atmosphere (ambience) was electric. We're definitely coming back with more people. read more

Kouklas has been trending on social media since the chef is a James Beard winner and I have been itching to try it out. They only open for dinner and all of the early (before 7 PM) reservations were gone for the day we wanted to go (Tuesday) so I tried to call in a takeout order. However, they said that they can only receive takeout orders in person at the bar. Once we arrived we were surprised to find that there is a parking lot available but it is (free) valet parking only. I was looked at the menu online and was prepared to order what I thought was on their menu only to find that their menu changes regularly but wasn't updated online. It took about 20 minutes to place our order at the bar and then get our food. We had the following: -Whipped feta (cucumber, Greek oregano) -Dolmades (wagyu beef, avgolemono foam, dill pollen) -Stuffed calamari-basturma, breadcrumb, florina pepper, squid ink, fava bean, green chermoula -Greek sausage-xinomavro braised lentils I had expected the appetizers to be small but portions to be decent for the main dishes but all of the dishes were small. There were 4 pieces of dolmades and stuffed calamari and maybe 5-6 pieces of sausage. The whipped feta was my favorite part of the meal. The dolmades was good but the stuffed calamari was a miss for me. I don't really care for sausage at baseline but the Greek sausage was decent/okay. Overall, there were some kinks that need to be straightened out but many of the dishes seem overpriced. read more

Can't believe this fantastic restaurant is in Niles! The place was jam packed Friday night but staff were all super friendly and none had an attitude. Now that's great training! We sat at the bar while we waited for our 8:15 res and we were seated 8:20, that's excellent. The bartenders were efficient, actually made eye contact with you and said they'd be right with you, and we're all super friendly once again. We got seated in the left side of the restaurant (there are two dining areas with the long bar in the middle) We got Nieve or was it Eve as our server (sorry forgot) but she was really really good! The food was imo some of the best food I've had outside of Greece! YOU NEED TO GO! read more

See all

For context, foodie here but not intimately familiar with Greek food. Favorite restaurants in no particular order: Alinea (out of town guests), Gibson's (steak), Adalina (Italian), Pro SsamGyupsal in Chicago, Cote in NYC (Korean), sushi (Sasabune in LA, Sushi of Gari in NYC). We got here early 5:15pm on Saturday evening (which I would highly recommend as it gets hectic quickly). Service was prompt, although our waitress was relatively new as she had to review the menu several times and got a bit flustered when we mentioned food allergies. We ordered the Cornbread with honey and feta, mussels, flaming saganaki (how can you not at a Greek restaurant), pork belly, and the brick chicken. All came out individually but rather rapidly which was great as the format was family style. All excellent. Everything was fresh and hot. We ordered the vodka pasta with lamb toward the end, and again, very quickly processed. We ordered the donuts and the ice cream for dessert. Again, both excellent. Can't speak to the authenticity but the food taste quality was excellent. The staff are well trained and experienced, dishes were cleared rapidly with very thoughtful service. As mentioned in other reviews it is a bit loud (but not overly, I think many people are not used to a city restaurant vibe because it's in Niles). Valet only. We left around 7pm and it was packed at the front (felt a little bad for people dining at the bar). I think this will smooth out either in quicker turns or fewer time slots. This is a good one. Highly recommend. read more

The food is amazing and the service was even better! So excited to have another great restaurant in the area.

Very loud restaurant... I had a headache by the time I left High prices with small portions They don't even put bread on the table you ...have to pay for that The food itself was tasty... We had saganaki flaming cheese, stuffed grape leaves, Chicken souvlaki with smashed potatoes, and lamb chops It was fine to check out being a new neighborhood Greek restaurant... But I won't be going there on a regular basis there's some other Greek restaurants that are delicious as well and are more affordable read more

I cannot say enough good things about my recent visit to Koukla's in Niles. This wasn't just a dinner; it was a total dining experience from start to finish. The Service From the moment we sat down, the hospitality was unmatched. A huge shoutout to Yohan and T, who were absolutely phenomenal. They were super friendly, incredibly attentive without being hovering, and truly made us feel like family. Their warmth set the tone for the entire evening. The menu here is spectacular, but a few things really stole the show. For starters, you must try the house marinated anchovies--they were fresh and flavorful. The taramosalata spread was creamy and perfectly seasoned, and the grilled oysters were absolutely first class. As for the mains, the lamb chops had mind-blowing flavor (perfectly char-grilled), and the Lamb Hilopites pasta were rich, warm, and delicious. The absolute best end to the meal, however, was the incredible hospitality shown by the culinary team. We were offered a chance to visit the kitchen to say thank you, which was a special treat. It was an honor to meet Chef Jimmy Bannos Jr., Chef Kevin Stack (AKA Chef Bigbird), and the grill master, Chef Eric Camargo. Seeing the passion these guys have for their craft explains why the food tastes so good. If you are in Niles and want incredible Greek food with a team that treats you like their own, run to Koukla's! We will definitely be back. read more

See all

It's noisy, but we sat at the bar so we could hear each other easily. The bartender was great; full of friendly suggestions. We ordered a lot of food, but at it all! It's quite the hot spot; you need reservations. We'll be going back. read more

Lives up to the hype! Everything we ordered came out fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Portions are generous and meant to be shared, and you can tell they don't cut corners on ingredients. Service was just as impressive. Friendly, attentive, and quick without ever feeling rushed. Prices are more than fair for what you're getting, especially considering the quality and consistency. Bottom line, this is one of those places you keep coming back to. Niles is lucky to have a place like this- can't wait for the patio season! read more

The only reason I am not giving Fivestars is the price and portions. I'm just concerned it might be a little high for a neighborhood restaurant vs downtown. The food and service were outstanding Whitefish in grape leaves a standout as well as the flaming cheese which sadly wasn't flaming - loved the Pastichio very different take on the dish read more

My husband and I went with another couple on a Tuesday night. It was busy and the service was not good. We are all Greek and know good Greek food, however, this was not it. It was not good. I will say the one good thing was the beet salad. The village salad was terrible. We asked for the feta on the side and didn't get it until our meals came by that time we had finished the salad. Had to ask for bread, which should've came at the beginning. A couple of the main dishes were just ok, and we got 2 sides that were not good. Unfortunately, we did not have a good experience. We will not be going back. read more

Came here for my mother's birthday and was not disappointed. We as a group decided to try a few dishes and get shared plates of the saganaki, salad, rice risotto, baked feta, and brick chicken. All in all excellent food and quality service. Cocktails were refreshing (the gin cocktail was superb) and the service was hospitable. I didn't realize they were a newer restaurant but on a Tuesday these guys were packed and seemed to have no issue handling the influx of customers. We will return looking to try new dishes, especially off the pasta menu. read more

Fantastic food . Several us shared beet salad, numerous spreads - skordalia with fried chicken skin bits - was a standout. Fantastic grilled bread. Grilled oysters. Lamb chops, brick chicken were amazingly. Soft serve yogurt with black sea salt and olive oil was unique and wonderful. Donut holes (warm with honey) mmmm. The space is beautiful. The service fantastic. Can't wait to go back. read more

All in all probably closer to the 3.5 current average rating Everything we had was Ok The Lamb chops were three smaller chops were OK but nothing special , the $45 price may have clouded my opinion , just weren't worth it The taramasalata was ok but rather bland the toast they served with it was good but it's strong flavor kind of overwhelmed the dip Bone marrow probably equaled a tablespoon worth $24 (?) The skordalia was probably The best thing we have Th half brick chicken was also very good Octopus seemed a little mushy but was tasty The #1 problem and probably enough to keep me from returning was the noise level , I couldn't hear the person across my table , much more like a very crowded bar noise level read more

I couldn't wait to try Kouklas! I made a reservation Open Table, and was called to confirm my reservation by the restaurant. We had a great waiter that let us know that everything comes out one at a time and spaced out, they are also to be shared and are more than enough for two people. Only drawback it was a little loud, but it was at the dinner rush time, so it was to be expected. We shared everything, and couldn't have been happier with our experience and the food! Everything was delicious!! It was authentic and was seasoned perfectly! We honestly can't wait to go back and try other items! Highly recommend! read more

See all

This was my second visit and just like the first time it was AMAZING! We had taramasolata , saganaki , pastichio, lamb chops, branzino, snapper, Greek potatoes, chicken kabob and the greens . This was on 2 separate occasions and it was delicious. The food comes out as it's prepared so you may not get your entrees together so just plan on sharing. We ordered as we ate. My husbands entree came out I ate it with him and same when mine came out. The fish portions are huge. Whole fish , deboned, excellent. It's a busy restaurant but I love that . We sat at the bar both times and each time the bartenders couldn't have been nicer and knowledgeable to guide you through the menu. Definitely a plus to our area and can't wait until summer to dine on their outside area. read more

See all

Excellent dishes at this place. Whipped feta was creamy and delicious, and the lamb chops were cooked to perfection. We also had the dolmades with egg lemon sauce. This is no run of the mill Greek joint, it felt like we were at a Greek Charlie Trotters. read more

We had received rave reviews about going to Kouklas. The reviews were vastly overstated. I will say the food, what there was of it, was very good. The portions were very small, much less than you would expect at a good quality Greek restaurant like Plateia or Psistaria. Parking was valet, the restaurant was crowded and noisy, the service only fair, and they charged for everything- all you received was plain bread. Refills on soda were not complimentary. Even with the good food, we left hungry. We would not go back. read more

The food was mediocre at best. The atmosphere is loud and crowded. Service was cramped and hurried .Overall a big disappointment read more

The whipped feta, the baked feta, the flaming saganaki, the octopus, the beef tenderloin, the Greek fries, the pasta options, the vibes, and I could go on and on. Wonderful first time dining at Kouklas. Incredible addition to the northwest side. We had a great time and will definitely be back! read more

The food here is really good. Greek dishes with added innovation which makes it more interesting. They still traditional things like flaming cheese and pastichio. If it's crowded it's very noisy. Tables are small and close together. read more

The flavors of every dish is amazing! Jimmy Bannos Jr. is a perfectionist and puts all of his heart into the food! Every bite is mouth-watering! And every person that works here is so kind and you just feel the love here! It's a MUST to dine here! read more

Honestly I can't think of a Greek restaurant that I have been to that is better. Amazing food great service (ask for Roula) reasonably priced. Btw I'm Greek. Call Audrey for reservations read more

Overall experience was good. Did not have a reservation on a Sunday night and did not have to wait. The entire staff from the hostess to the server to anyone passing by were very friendly and always checked on us. The food was all very flavorful. Had the taramosalata, octopus salad and grilled octopus for apps and the pork chops as the entree, all very delicious. Will come back and try more of the menu which did have a great selection. read more

We went with a party of four. We had the spicey, whipped feta app, fried calamari, and beet salad to begin. Everything was magnificent. Calamari was crispy and perfectly seasoned. The beats with oranges and pistachios was so beautiful to look at and sweet and savory. The whipped feta was so good we were scraping the plate. More bread would have been great but more to come on that point. Main dishes were grilled octopus, pork belly and the half brick chicken (which is half a chicken not half a brick). All of these were delicious. I have never had such a tender grilled octopus with such tasty lentils. Perfectly cooked! The pork belly was rich and savory with an Asian flavor. So wonderful, but I don't see it on the online menu (already updating things). Finally, the brick chicken. This was salty, crispy with a lovely lemony evo on the plate and potatoes. Absolute heaven! Our group of 4 was completely full by the end of the small plates. Dessert was the honey-cinnamon donuts and the pistachio panna cotta. The donuts were soaked in a light honey that just oozed flavor on the crisp warm donuts. The panna cotta was light, chilled, and sweet with the pistachios stacked high. And drinks?! Mix Nix hello! This is a manhattan with four rose single barrel bourbon and Greek bourbon cherry and orange bitters. Unreal it was so tasty. I had to have two. Hera's kiss and Athenian lemon drop were a gin and vodka drink respectively and both were mix exquisitely! Lastly, we have 6 pm reservations, we show up 15 minutes early to an absolutely packed parking lot and bar area. The valets are super friendly and helpful. We are seated immediately and we order apps first and then 25 minutes into the apps, we order the main courses. Dina, our main server is friendly, provides helpful recommendations, and tells us we only missed the daily made pasta (a reason to return!) on our culinary adventure. We did not leave until 8 pm, no rush and no one stopped poring water for us the entire time. For us, no hiccups in service as noted in some other reviews. The team was coordinated and organized, not to mention it actually looked like they were having fun! The whole team was helpful and friendly and Jimmy Bannos (not Jr) came to our table, brought extra bread as we ate the brick chicken and asked us how everything tasted. So great to meet him and chat. The whole experience was like a home meal with lovely hosts, and a fun owner. We can't wait to return for a pasta dish, summer wine under the pergola and I hope they are still serving the grilled octopus. read more

We have been eagerly anticipating the opening of this place for a while as we live nearby. Sadly, the overall experience wasn't wanting us to return for seconds. To summarize our opinion, the food was very mediocre. We ordered the avgolemono (very small portion and there was next to no orzo in the soup), saganaki, tirokafteri, pasticio, lamb steak and the greek fries. As a Greek, the only dish I would recommend was the pasticio and that is solely because the chef's take on it was unique (not like traditional ones that most restaurants serve) and quite tasty. All the other food besides the pasticio left us dissatisfied. For the same money, take Milwaukee Road a few miles further north and go to Plateia, that place never misses. Service was fine. Our waitress had the typical Greek attitude which reminded me of home so that was quite authentic! The ambiance was nice. Clean aesthetic. Only comment is there were too many tables in there, felt crammed. read more

First off. I'm so sorry it's didn't take pictures. That would have really highlighted my review of this place. Trust me, this is where you wanna go for the ultimate Greek dining experience. To start, the ambiance is that of a banquet hall. Very spacious & the accommodations make you feel like you're at a wedding reception. Then the service. I thought the wait staff was going to give me the rushed treatment because my reservation was thirty minutes before closing, but I was totally wrong. My waiter/host John was the utmost accommodating. He ran through his favorites on the menu & was more than generous in answering any questions I had. His recommendation of the orecchiette was magnificently SPOT ON. & my date did the chicken souvlaki plate, which you can never go wrong with. But above all else, the price was soooo reasonable. You'd think with this type of atmosphere you'd have to break the bank to get good off this quality. I'm already planning my next trip back. Sorry no pics. I wanted to just dive in that I forgot to snap a few. read more

My dad treated us to dinner for our anniversary. We waited a month to get a reservation that worked for our party of five and left so disappointed. The soup was fantastic but I didn't know until later that it was $9 per cup. That's ridiculous. The bread was bizarre and smelled like hotdogs. They grilled it and it was overdone. It had a bizarre flavor that didn't mesh well with the two dips we tried. The brick chicken was gross with a fish-like texture and the 3 small potato rounds I got ($30 dish) were so lemony that I couldn't eat them. Most awkward was the horrific service. The servers were incredibly nice but totally inefficient. Our party of five was served one dish at a time, 5 - 8 minutes apart. I've never had that happen before. My dad's food was cold because he waited for us to get our chicken. Also, we'd tell one server our needs and he'd disappear. Then another one would appear and ask again. My daughter waited so long for a fork that my dad just stole one from another open table. It was so awkward. Also, I hate being forced to used valet. It was an early reservation on a Thursday night and there were a ton of spots. Very unnecessary. Let me also mention that it is super loud in there. No noise blocking whatsoever. read more

Traditional Greek with a twist served as Small plates. Everything we had was so tasty. The chicken souvlaki was tender and flavorful and was served with yummy smashed potatoes. My favorite was the homemade hilopitas with lamb shank. Dishes came out as they were ready. Service was attentive and coordinated well. The family was there supporting operations. Get the panna cotta for dessert-light and refreshing. We will be back. Make reservations in advance! read more

Doubt if I'll return. Extremely loud. In the background a boom boom disco beat,for dinner? Hard to converse. Shrimp a salt bomb. Greek Village salad not balanced tomatoes and about 3 slices of cucumber with feta. More greens please! Taramosalata, where was the roe? Octopus mushy. For Pasta-Butternut squash gnocchi certainly not like pillows. Lobster was good and the sauce tasty- The dipping bread was very good. Saganaki good. Opa! Potatoes good. Chicken skewers tasty. The desert limited. It was my daughter's birthday, no extra treat for the birthday girl. Overall, I would give it a 2 but because it just opened, we'll give it a 3. Owners attentive. Decor boring. Dead plant above my head. Service good. read more

This is a new restaurant in Niles, Illinois! The owner, a well known Chicago Restauranteur, opened this place few weeks ago! It seems it needs a lot of tweaking! My wife and I went there a few days ago! We found this place to be very busy! The best thing we ate was the bread! The beets were not very good as was the whipped feta or the octopus! The food needs a major revision! We will not be back soon! read more

Simply fantastic! Made a 5:30 reservation was seated right away but they were already pretty crowded. Wine we ordered was pretty good. The bread that came with our whipped feta was simply the best bread I've ever had. Whipped feta was a great accompaniment to it. The saganaki actually made me smile on the first bite. I ordered the butternut squash gnocchi with Maine lobster and it was fantastic. My wife had the grilled shrimp with lemon orzo. I felt the orzo was maybe a touch strong on the lemony side but the shrimp was simply put the best shrimp I've ever had and I've had shrimp from the gulf, from the east coast and in Greece. This beat them all. The service was great and with as busy as it was I never felt unattended but never like I was being intruded upon. I look forward to going again and again. read more

See all

Tried Koukals Greek Eatery, newly opened in Niles, and it's a great addition to the neighborhood. The spreads were fresh and well done, the lamb chops were perfectly cooked, and the pastas and chicken dishes were flavorful and satisfying. The Greek fries are a must-order. Don't skip dessert--the doughnuts with olive oil Greek yogurt were excellent. Bobby the bartender was fantastic and added to the experience. Overall, a high-quality restaurant that Niles will be lucky to have. read more