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

All of the food we tried was amazing. The staff was friendly and the decor looked great. Definitely will be going back

They're still working out the kinks! EXTREMELY LOUD in there. That explains why the order was wrong. They're still so new, we have to give them a break! read more

Food was top notch and after a small hiccup with table size, they took care of us with nice spreads and attentive service... whole table explored the menu and shared everything... every dish was authentic and delicious... made my birthday dinner very special with my close friends.. thank you! read more

Left before ordering because of noise. Nice looking interior and staff was friendly and attentive. We would try again one day if we knew it was quieter. read more

TOO SALTY!!! Overly EXPENSIVE for a plate of SALT! Just yuck. Obnoxious management. This place is a just giant overpriced tavern. Food is just, meh, if that. Stay home and order a pizza, instead. Too much attitude with the staff, also. Too loud, not comfortable, not cozy. Yeah, take this place ELSEWHERE, far away, to another location. read more

Had an excellent NYE dinner with a group of 8. This was only day 2 of opening but food and service were still good. I could have gotten every dip on the menu. The group also really enjoyed the cocktails as well! Most of our group has worked in the industry so we can understand when a place is new and can be a little chaotic in the beginning. I feel like most negative reviewers don't understand this and is pretty rude to hurt a new business working things out. read more

Food was amazing! We had calamari, whipped feta, braised lamb pasta, beef skewers and lamb skewers. Loved all the food. Our server was a nice gentleman who recommended the dishes and the wine to go with. I personally loved the ambiance and did not find it too noisy. We will definitely be back and are so happy this gem is close to our house! read more

Not great. Ate there last night. Food was nothing special. Portions were very small. Grilled shrimp was literally 4 grilled shrimp with a little scoop of orzo with feta for $27 which is honestly ridiculous. The plate was too big for the tiny portion. Either add some food to the order or just skip it. Eggplant dip was tasty but had a strange texture. The accompanying toasted bread was oily and also not plentiful. Service was just ok, place was very busy and as our time there went on the music got louder and louder and shifted from something somewhat sedate to very, very percussive Euro-style disco music. I asked the server why it was so loud and he laughed and asked me "you think it is too loud?" That was obnoxious. By the time we were leaving we could no longer have conversation at the table. The place was packed. The portions are very small. It's a terrible place to enjoy dinner conversation and I didn't see a dance floor so I'm not really sure why the music was so dancehall and so loud. And to cap it off the valet, why thy need one I don't know, was yelling at the young guy who pulled up our car screaming at him "you are driving too fast, slow down!" All in all not a great experience... read more

You should know before going that this is not a traditional restaurant. It's more of a bar with some food - the liquor "menu" is four times the size of the food menu. All plates are meant to be shared and come out of the kitchen at random times, so nobody gets their own "meal". As for the food, there is too much oil and too much salt. The sesame bread and pita are drenched in oil through and through. When salt provides the dominant flavor that overpowers the main ingredients, there is something wrong. The Tirokefteri spread with bread was pedestrian - I've had better from Whole Foods . The Maroulosalata would have been better if they didn't completely cover the salad with a mountain of shredded Kasseri cheese. The butternut squash gnocchi were very dense and gummy, though the lobster was well cooked. The octopus was well cooked, but too salty. And the Greek potatoes swam in oil and salt. Service is a bit intrusive. After each dish, plates and utensils are replaced. It's a bit much to go through five sets of plates, knives and forks - without even having dessert. The noise level, between the background music and bad acoustics, makes conversation across even a small table very difficult. It's also pretty pricey with everything à la carte. The $160 price tag for 2 people included 2 drinks (a whiskey and soda was $18), 1 appetizer, 1 salad, 2 "mains" and 1 side, no dessert or coffee. This one is a one-and-done for me. I wish them well, but will not be going back. read more

Been there twice since it has opened. Had a wonderful experience both times from the way we were greeted by the hostesses to the servers and the food. Plenty of smiles and a great vibe. Dont go in there expecting your mothers pastichio or moussaka. It's greek nouvelle or cutting edge. It is the finest of modern Greek cuisine, the basics with a twist and rethinking of thise dishes using all true Greek ingredients from Greece. This is taken right from all of the newest restaurants opening in Greece, . We are lucky to have our 1st James Bread Chef here in Niles. read more

Gorgeous decor, warm hospitality, excellent cocktails and wine list, and thoughtfully prepared delicious food. Do not miss the maroulosalata, spicy whipped feta, avgolemono soup, mussels and lamb chops! read more

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Started our experience with being turned away at the door at 4:00PM, although the website said they open at 3:00. Came back at 4:50 and although we saw people entering and seated at the bar, the door was locked behind them and we waited until exactly 5:00 to be let in. Did not have a reservation (again, we intended to dine at 3), website did not mention that reservations were recommended. We WERE accomodated, and were seated promptly. The menu was much abbreviated from what we had seen online, and the prices were higher. The food was fair but overpriced for the serving size. I have never been in a Greek restaurant that did not serve bread, this was not received well at my table. I ordered a soup to go that was $9.00, and could not have been a measuring cup of liquid, again, with not even a piece of bread or cracker. Will definitely NOT be returning. read more

Even though we didn't have a reservation, we were able to have full service at the bar which was surprisingly comfortable and also accommodated everything we wanted! Ambiance was very inviting as well. We had a couple of appetizers & chicken souvlaki which was great! Very happy with our first experience on a very crowded night! We'll definitely be back! read more

We tried Kouklas for the first time this weekend and left feeling a bit mixed. For the amount of time it took to open, the decor was underwhelming. The large bar is nice, but the space is very plain and white. I can tell they are leaning into the minimalist trend, but it offers poor sound absorption, which made the atmosphere quite loud. As a Greek-American, I was also disappointed that no bread and oil were brought to the table. This is a staple in Greek dining and really sets the tone for the meal. We started with the **melitzanosalata (eggplant dip)**. It was light and refreshing -- a creative take on the classic -- but again, not enough bread was provided for dipping. The **grilled octopus** was the standout appetizer of the night. It was a delicious and creative twist on a traditional dish. We then ordered the **winter salad**, which is their seasonal take on a Greek salad. It featured pickled vegetables and a very large block of feta. The cheese-to-vegetable ratio was overwhelming, and without bread to balance it out (as Greeks typically do when eating feta), it felt heavy. For mains, we split three dishes: * **Chicken souvlaki** was a safe choice with tzatziki and fried potatoes, but it should have been served with pita and some fresh vegetables to balance the richness. Unfortunately, halfway through eating, we noticed some of the chicken was undercooked, which was disappointing. * I brought home a **pork souvlaki** for my husband, and his reaction was simply, "That's it?" The portion felt small for the price. * The **lamb chops** had interesting, creative flavors, but the lamb was a bit gamey and again lacked something -- like bread or a starch -- to soak up the flavors. The **hilopites** was by far the best entrée. It had great flavor, but I wish it had more lamb, and serving it with a full shank would have made the dish more interactive and visually appealing. For dessert, we ordered the **loukoumades**, and they were excellent -- crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and drizzled with high-quality honey. Some of the best I've had outside of Greece. Overall, Kouklas definitely shows potential, and I would return once they work out some of the kinks. I hope the team reads reviews like this and takes the feedback constructively -- the Chicago suburbs could really use a strong Greek restaurant. read more

If you're Greek you'll eat here once and then go back to Psistaria or Mykonos where they have traditional Greek food. This place is a "fancy Greek restaurant" which will fool many Non-Greeks. (And if you don't like salt don't eat here). read more

Service was excellent, calamari appetizer was fantastic. The rest left something to be desired. It is a family style eatery meant to be shared. We ordered and the portions were quite small. The crispy pork belly was ok, the golf shrimp I ordered was burnt and there were 4 pieces. The orzo it was on was watery and overly tasted of dill. My daughter ordered the Greek macaroni and that was really tasty. read more

I made a reservation on Open Table on December 29th for 7 people at 4:30 pm on January 17th. On January 15th I received an email from Open Table that my reservation changed, knowing I didn't make any changes as we plans after dinner, I looked and saw it was changed to 5 pm by the restaurant. While only 30 mins, we did have plans and no one called to confirm or ask, they just changed it. So, we arrive at 4:54pm, it is valet only, and prompted to get out, so we get out, open the first door and see about 8 people standing in a SMALL vestibule who were not happy and now 2 more people (us) were going to be standing in there too, but as it was snowing, windy and cold, I was not going to stand outside and could not sit in my car. Everyone waiting in there was complaining and kept looking at their phones to see the time. Then the valet kept heaving the door open and hitting anyone in the way to get to the key cabinet, never saying excuse me or apologize. IF I knew they did not open until 5pm, we would have timed our arrival better as we are only a few minutes away. Then my "a-ha" moment hit, that was why the reservation changed. We on earth do they have reservations times open on a reservation app when you are not open??!! In this few minutes of waiting families with kids are arriving and trying to squeeze into the vestibule, with all the waitstaff looking on, one couple even had a stroller, when I tried to explain they were not open yet she yelled I have a baby and not waiting outside with her. I was going to let her take my spot and go outside when they opened the door, hence it was a stampede into the restaurant. We sat in the far back corner, one of our friends hit his head on a light fixture they hang so low. The larger tables are secured to the floor and they are a solid base, so good luck trying to cross your leash, even at the ankles. If you're tall or stocky, good luck as well. The waiter came over and literally dropped all the menus on the table, and asked if we wanted drinks, we hadn't even looked to see what our options were so we asked for a few minutes. When the girl came to fill the water glasses, she said it it tapas style and not everything would be brought out at the same time but "rolling" in as it was ready. The food was "meh", the appetizers were okay, we ordered 4, not enough bread for the whipped feta, or for 7 people and charged for more. The meats had with a very smoky flavor, and arrived very random, considering these were main courses that was not the best as some were done as some were just being served. Everyone kept trying to take plates one the table, some still with food which we had to ask them to leave it, but once done it was taken away immediately, which made us feel like we were being rushed. The prices are a bit high for the portions and presentation and did not have one of the menu items that was ordered (pork chops I believe). As we saw the tables fill up, we were wondering how we were going to get out as the tables are VERY close, we obviously managed but trying to get to the door was just as challenging as the bar was on one side, tables on the other and the path is also very narrow, not to mention it was also filled with people waiting g to be seated. Our experience had more negatives from the start than positives and unfortunately will unlikely return. read more

We've been here twice now and really enjoyed the vibe, the food, the service. Menu items I recommend: Lamb chops (I normally don't eat lamb either!), octopus, oysters, branzino, feta dip, shrimp and orzo, village salad (this is incredible!), greek fries, and any of their desserts, but particularly their donuts and greek yogurt with Black Sea salt. It's a great date night spot, family friendly restaurant, and for a group dinner. There is really something for everyone and we're thrilled it's in our neighborhood! read more

This restaurant recently opened. We waited around 10 minutes for anyone to even come to the table. We ordered 4 entrees not realizing it's basically ordering à la carte style. The food was basic Greek food very mediocre. We had higher aspirations as to the food prior to coming in. The service was decent. Can't complain about that. The price point is a little high for this restaurant not being downtown. We will be passing next time there are better options Greek options in the area. The ambience was OK a little too much light inside for dinner. read more

Food was excellent! A different twist on some Greek favorites. We were told as soon as the waitress Roula( who was great) came to our table that the menu is set up as "plates meant to share", so if you ordered say Souflaki, it is two skewers and might come out before a fish dish or lamb chops. We ordered several appetizers, Winter Village salad, Spicy feta dip which all came out at different times so we could ENJOY each one with rushing to eat it. The 2 dessert options which we ordered 1 of each were both delicious. The dehydrated mandarin orange on the orange cake just burst with flavor. I have never had anything like it. Definitely worth the wait for this gem to open. It's not your typical Greek restaurant. If you are looking for something different and not the same old options....Kouklas is for you. Know before you go! read more

New Greek restaurant which is outstanding. The owner is a Beard award winner! This restaurant is worth checking out!

Whoever the manager is, she is absolutely awful. There were 3 of us and their 2 entrees came and mine came 30 min later. I specifically asked how long my chicken would take they said 10 min When the manager came to table with my chicken said they are all shared plates and I needed to understand that My hand tapped her arm and she yelled at me and said don't touch me I have never had someone speak to me that way I will never go back read more

Excellent tasting food with prompt, courteous, and efficient service. The Flaming bone marrow was rich and flavorful, the Metaxa gave it a hint of subtle extravagance. The Beef Tenderloin skewers were tender and juicy . The Avgolemeno was velvety with just the right amount of tang. Dina our server was courteous and attentive and helped make for an enjoyable evening. read more

We went on opening night today. We sat at the bar and Bobby was great with welcoming us and guiding us thru the menu. we had cocktails to start ( Kokino , think negroni; Persephone , think raspberry martini and a Greek dirty martini , think of jumping into the Aegean and all the salinity). we started with skordalia ( chicken skins on point), baked feta ( nice touch with the fig leave). then we had a cup of soup ( love the dill, Rosa marina and chicken skins) amd finished with a melt in your mouth beef kebab and Greek potatoes. great ambience, nice vibe and just a great experience , a nice change of pace from your everyday Greek restaurant. we look forward to coming back! hit the bar for a cocktail with Bobby cheers Opa! read more

Great Ambiance, Food and service were great. Jimmy Jr hasn't missed a beat from the great dishes that he created at the Purple Pig to the new creations at Kouklas. FANTASTIC!!! read more

Simply amazing! Great service, very attentive ! Delicious food , soup was avgolemono with orzo sooo good! Loukoumades , best I've ever had . They also gave us a complementary octopus dish !! The spreads with the grilled bread so tasty ! Can't wait for the patio to open in the summer! Great addition to the neighborhood ! read more

Very disappointing. Flaming saganaki didn't light but instead of getting it right we were served cold cheese. Prawns were terrible! Mealy, chalky, inedible. Waitress wasn't to be found. Noisy, overcrowded, waited 20 minutes to be seated despite having reservation. This was the worst dining experience I've ever had. Manager couldn't care less. read more

I was hesitant to come here due to the reviews but after going I'd say some of the complaints are warranted and others not...the interior is nice and pretty impressive given how dreary the place was when it was amici. The service was quite fast when I went so not sure if other just went at more peak time. The staff was a bit wet behind the ears but overall the food as good. The feta spread was really good along with some of the other appetizers. We didnt really get many main dishes because we were full after some of the apps. Overall nice interior will be back to check it out when the weather is nicer to see what they do with the outside area. Overall the people complaining about the pricing need to realize that they're paying $15+ for a McDonald's meal but are complaining about a fresh dish with quality ingredients for just a little more. Not knock your socks off which I was expecting when I heard about it opening but a decent neighborhood joint that definitely blows its previous tenants out of the water. read more

Kouklas - Anchovy appetizer unfortunately didn't really take any other pictures of the food - Greek Near Me - Niles, Illinois

Food was very good but timing of delivery could be better. Also, as others stated, please turn the music down. People like to hear each other while conversing at dinner. read more

We walked in on New Year's Eve and sat at the bar. We heard this place just opened a day before. We were not acknowledge right away by the bartenders. They seemed so lost, we got it they just opened, but I guess they were not prepared for the service. The food was just OK, nothing exciting about. Mediocre Greek food just like others. The ambiance felt rush, space is tight, lights are too bright and the managers are nowhere to be found. I'm hoping they will do something to improve. read more

All i can say is this is one classy place. From the food to the staff. 5 stars. I would highly recommend.

We went on New Year's Eve and sat at the bar, which we typically do. Realizing they just opened, I have to say we were dissatisfied. My Brussel spout kebab included extremely small pieces. Spreads come with bread, which was good but I love pita. My husband's chicken kabab was fine. We felt their main course options were limited. The lightning needed to be turned down. It was very bright in the bar area, which doesn't result in good atmosphere. Don't sit near the door or you'll have to keep your coat on. Sorry but true. read more

We eagerly awaited the opening of Koukla's, as it's in walking distance for us. Our party of 4 went on a Tuesday night to celebrate a special birthday. The white interior is nice, with clean lines and a long bar upon entering. The tables, as we were soon to find, were very crowded in such a small space. While a few of our dishes were good (nice touch of the crispy chicken skin bits on the Skordalia) and the whipped Feta for appetizers, there wasn't nearly enough bread on the platters for 4 people. The staff kept trying to clear away the half-eaten appetizers while we waited for more bread to arrive. We each ordered an entree. There was a 15 minute wait between the first two entrees hitting the table. Another 15 minutes went by until the third came out, followed shortly by the fourth one. The first guest finished her meal before the last person was even served. When questioned why all 4 entrees didn't come out together, staff explained that the restaurant embraces communal sharing of the dishes. That didn't explain the gap in time and our server's disappearance from view. The portion sizes of the entrees we had (gulf shrimp, chicken souvlaki, thin sliced pork chops) were quite small relative to cost (our favorite Greek restaurants in the area: Plateia and Psistaria have plentiful portions) and would not have been enough to "share". The only entree large enough was the brick chicken. Between the inflated cost, ridiculous wait time, and skimpy portions, we won't be back. read more

We had a delicious dinner at Koukla's on a Saturday night. They were completely booked for reservations so my husband and I sat at the bar, which was pretty open when we arrived just before 6pm but quickly filled up. We had the spicy whipped feta and crispy chicken skin spreads, grilled oysters, and the pork belly. Everything was outstanding! The meal was perfectly paced and we never felt rushed, even though the restaurant was packed wall to wall. Atmosphere was lively and upbeat. We will definitely be back! read more

so so -price versus portion size is not what I expected for a restaurant at Howard and Milwaukee, maybe downtown people will accept that. what you did get was good. No pita , tomatos , zuccini for a Greek Eatary? read more

Really enjoyed it! Especially loved the brick chicken (we swapped our Greek potatoes for fries!), the pita bread and the prawns. Cocktails were also great. Can't wait to go back! read more

I had looked forward to dining here. Overall mediocre. Menu was limited for a Greek Restaurant. No greek soup, gyros, moussaka etc. Tried the lamb chops and they were extremely fatty. My food came out 10 mins before my partner. The other dish was chicken kabobs and they were fatty and slimy. Service was good. Not on par with Greek town or Mykonos. read more

First time here and will not return. Food is average n over seasoned. Saganaki horrible. Service n ambiance were fine.

Online reservations allows reservations up to 4 people. So I called and left two polite and seperate detailed messages to get a group reservation for 10 for my friend's birthday for 1/28. No response. Called again, the girl took my information and said "someone" would get back to me. I asked when - she said "probably today". That was 3 days ago..... read more