We love this place. Used to come here more often but the past few years maybe once or twice a year…read more Still a go to spot when we have guests from out of town for some of the best Greek food in Chicago.. All high-quality ingredients across the board, the dolmas are superb. Always quick friendly service always busy with a full restaurant whether we come at lunch or dinner. I've never seen this place slow. They no longer torch the flaming saganaki in the dining area in front of you like so many Chicago Greek restaurants have over the past number of decades. That was a show & highlight every time. I believe now they torch in kitchen and bring to your table. I miss that experience, perhaps a thing of the past. I can only speculate a plate of flaming saganaki met a litigious human at some point along the line in the Greek food world, ending an era. Alas, I Look forward to returning.

Visiting my Cypriot friend in Chicago of course meant many and many Greek dinner, Greek bars, Greek…read morecafes and Greek lunches. I had no complaints at all and wished out loud with each new space that New Jersey had such a wonderfully condensed representation of my favorite cuisine in one area. We came to Athena's for lunch, sat inside under their covered and enclosed space that felt like a patio because it was all windows and had an incredible meal. We started with two frappe because there is no other way, and decided to order a bunch of the appetizers for a little bit of a lunch mezze. Delicious! We got the: -trio of dips. The taramasalata was my favorite. -a horiatiki salad, basically a greek salad with no lettuce. -octopus and the kolokithia (zucchini chips) A perfect lunch. We left full but not weighed down like so many of our other meals that week, and had left overs to nosh on that night. The space is lovely, the service was fast and friendly and it was so great that they had free valet. Would highly recommend and I am sure I will be back the next time I am in town.

The atmosphere was great for our 6 person group for brunch! Service was fantastic…read more A very nice ambiance that wasn't too loud for a brunch at 11am where we could all hear each other, sat at a round table so we could see each other. That part was lovely because often I find that with larger groups it's hard to ensure everyone is able to interact (especially since I was taking my parents) Lamb shakshuka was a winner in my book!! So flavorful and perfect hearty brunch. The skewers my parents got were wonderfully cooked. Others got a more standard scrambled egg breakfast that they said was nothing special. Definitely opt for a Mediterranean breakfast if you're at a Mediterranean spot imo.

I was really disappointed with my experience at Ema. The portions were much smaller than expected,…read moreespecially considering the prices. The biggest issue was that our drink glasses had a terrible odor, as if they hadn't been washed properly. We mentioned it to the manager, who promptly replaced the glasses, and the new ones did not have the smell, which confirmed there was an issue with the original ones. I ordered the short ribs, which cost $35 and the portion was extremely small. One of the pieces was also mostly fat, leaving very little actual meat. For the price, I expected a much better-quality dish and a more satisfying portion. Overall, the experience did not live up to the restaurant's reputation or pricing. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

Stylish Fulton Market Brunch with Great Food and Service…read more Booked brunch for two on OpenTable at Aba in Fulton Market, and it's easy to see why this spot is so popular. The space is beautiful--open, bright, full of natural light, and stylish without feeling overdone. We ordered the Short Rib Shakshuka, which was flavorful with just a hint of spice and a generous portion size. The warm, soft pita served alongside was perfect for dipping. The Steak and Eggs was also excellent--the steak and eggs were cooked perfectly, and the fried potatoes were a standout: crispy on the outside while still moist and tender inside. Portion sizes were just right. We also tried both of the recommended brunch cocktails, and they were strong, flavorful, and well balanced. Service from Mike was great--friendly, efficient, and attentive throughout the meal. Overall, Aba delivered a polished and enjoyable brunch experience. Highly recommend, and based on what we tasted, I'd absolutely come back to try dinner.

We came in from out of town and on short notice was able to grab a table at 3:30pm for a late…read morelunch. The place is beautiful with a lively terrace on nice days but also a very open and bright interior with modern decor. We were seated right away at a table off to the side of the bar area. We must have waited like 15-20 minutes before anyone even realized that we were there. It seemed as though none of the servers running around serving other tables around us had our table to service. Eventually we caught the attention of who I can only imagine was a manager or supervisor who finally came over to take our orders. We ordered the Smokey garlic hummus which fresh pita bread and this was very good. We also ordered the crispy potatoes and the Brussel sprouts as a side. These were also nice and crispy and the brussel sprouts had a tasty kick with the harissa honey. For our main we had the chicken kebab which was perfectly cooked and tender, braised short rib (not as good), and the shawarma skirt steak frite. We quite enjoyed our meal and everything very fast which more than made up for the initial delay in service. For dessert we decided to share a frozen Greek yogurt with Olive Oil and sea salt. This had an interesting taste with a tanginess at the end. I'm not sure I would order this again but you could tell the Greek yogurt was of very good quality. All in all we enjoyed our meal at Aba and would definitely come back if in town.

My new favorite restaurant! the food is DELICIOUS and the staff was incredible. I don't give…read morereviews much but just loved it here so I had to :)

This place had a line that went out of the door during the multiple times I've crossed the…read moreMagnificent Mile bridge in Chicago. Made last minute reservations for brunch next day after the infamous architecture tour. It was quiet as we've put in an early morning. All the more better to savor all intricate dishes from start to finish. Like the name, The Purple Pig, their specialty is pork dishes so majority of our orders were this. Daily special of the bone marrow bacon jam toast - glazed, slippery off the bone, savory and sweet. Always love a good bone marrow dish to get the sweetness off it. This was so good that there were bits of the marrow and jam left stuck to the bone, I took a piece of the toast and scooped the bone dry. Nothing left for anyone to attack this. Non pork dishes were the Mushroom 3 ways and Spanish octopus. Mushroom dish was savory with all the coated sauces elevating this. Spanish octopus was kicked lightly and easily can bite in to enjoy the tender and charred portions. But the award went to my main course - the braised pork shoulder with saffron, apricots and Swiss chard. Aside from the rippable pork meat when dining on it, the sauces fused together on this dish elevated it and had everyone coming back for more. I needed an official Chicago culinary experience and found it at The Purple Pig without a doubt.

Had the absolute best time here w a friend. We came at an odd hour, at 330pm, and walked in without…read morea rez. The interior is inviting and warm. Our server, Katie, was excellent. She was so friendly and knowledgeable, she explained all the different dishes so well and came around right at the exact times we needed her. OThe food was amazing. We started out w the mezze collection, we chose tzatziki, spicy whipped feta, and the skordalia w octopus, it came w 2 wood fired pitas. You guys, this mezze collection was straight fire. It was divine. It also was quite filling and we prob didn't need a whole fish after, but I was not mad about the fish bc the fish was incredible as well. We got the wild lavraki, which was explained to us as the cousin of branzino. It was deboned for us at our table and he sprinkled flaky salt, squeezed lemon, and added some delicious flavored oils on top. Prob the freshest fish I've had in the city. We also had a couple cocktails, I had a spritz that was lovely. The total bill was a bit shocking, cant lie, but I also believe it was worth it for the quality of service and food that we received. I will mos def be back! Parking over here is rough, plan ahead and give yourself some time to find parking if you're driving!

We were in the area and decided to give this place a try. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, but…read moreI do wish they had more menu options to choose from. I ordered the Georgie's gyro, and it was actually pretty good. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the "few fries" that normally come with it due to my shellfish allergy, and I wasn't offered a replacement option. Since the entrées are a bit on the pricier side, I would have appreciated having a substitute or a more substantial side included. The quality of the gyro itself was good, though, and the ambiance was a highlight. I loved that you could see the wood-fired oven from the dining area -- it added a nice touch to the experience. They also have a great variety of drink options, making it a nice spot for a meal and drinks.

food: the gyro and everything else was good and tasted authentic. portion size is also good…read more service: nice staff and food came fast. cash only establishment ambiance: sat outside and the weather was perfect

From the moment you walk in, it's clear that Athenian Room holds a beloved place in the Lincoln…read morePark community! It's a mom-and-pops shop through and through- you'll see homely decor, a simple but well done menu, and people from all walks of life coming together over delicious food. The staff was warm and attentive throughout the meal and brought out delicious complimentary french bread. It's pretty cool that although the restaurant doesn't serve alcohol, staff from the adjacent bar came around every so often and took orders. For appetizers, we started with the feta and olive appetizers. They were good, but I'd probably order something a little more unique next time. I opted for the chicken kalamata dinner for the main event, which came with more french bread and a salad. The salad came out first, and it was pretty simple with minimal dressing. I wished there had been more variety in produce and something besides iceberg lettuce for greens. I'd recommend getting some feta on the side to add some flavor. The chicken, however, was absolutely outstanding. It was super tender, seasoned beautifully with za'atar, and brined in vinegar (I think). The za'atar seasoned french fries underneath were extra crispy and perfectly soaked up the extra sauce from the chicken. For the price, this place is a steal- you really can't beat the quantity and quality of food that you get. Overall, a great experience- I definitely recommend making a stop if you're in the area!

I've been to Lyra twice now and have been absolutely blown away each time with their service, and…read moretheir food. As for service each time I have visited their service has been extremely attentive, and knowledgeable. I appreciate this attention to detail and overall care to ensure of a nice and hospitable dining experience. PS i do recommend a reservation as it does get pretty busy. Their food is absolutely incredible. Fresh and quality food and ingredients, great flavors, and decent portions. My highlights include their spicy feta (trust me on that one) Their Lamb Kebob served over crispy potatoes (nice tender lamb, and the potatoes are truly amazing) and their Branzino was GREAT light, flavorful, and they even do table side scaling/deboning. They have an intimate dining room with modern decorations or a nice airy patio if you prefer outdoors like I do. It's the perfect date night, dinner with friends, or a solo night out. I also must shout out their golden hour (their version of happy hour) It's until 6:30p on weekdays and all day Sunday they offer discounted bites and drinks and a perfect way to get an intro to their menu, get some tasty bites or just catch up with drinks without breaking the bank. I love it here and cannot wait to get back!

Excellent food - good service and great vibe…read more Minus one star because difficult to grab a waiter when sitting outside. The dips we got were so good - loved the whipped feta. The pita bread is excellent here. The dirty LÝRA martini is awesome. Did not try dessert but would definitely go back.

We had this catered for our office lunch, and everything was delicious! The food was fresh,…read moreflavorful, and very well packaged, which made serving easy and convenient. It was my first time trying Greek food, and I think it might become one of my favorite cuisines! Great experience--I would definitely order from them again.

I've been in once and have had delivery too. The food here is great and the portions are pretty…read morebig. I thought the service at the bar was nice and attentive. It's got a decent amount of seating and some TVs scattered throughout the restaurant. The inside is nice but seems a little older for sure. When I was there I tried the Philly which came a a big seeded roll, was piping hot and fresh also came with my choice of potato which I got Greek style (it was huge and amazing). For delivery I got a gyro plate which was a nice amount of food as well (also very good) came with a Greek salad and typical platter sides, tzatziki sauces. I'll be back and probably would order delivery from here again. The menu is huge and there's a lot of options to try.