It's a cute Greek diner. I'd never been to a Greek diner. Are there diners for other ethnicities in this world? I had grilled cheese and a hibiscus drink. It wasn't tea and it wasn't juice... or was it? Whatever. It was yummy! We went late on a Sunday morning and we were pleased that they were able to seat us right away. read more

I'm disappointed with what Salonica has become. There was a new owner a few years ago. For a while, nothing obvious changed, but now it's a completely different restaurant and not in a good way. They used to serve a bread basket with amazing bread. Now just plain white with a crunchy crust. There was delicious olive oil on every table for dipping. Gone. The Greek Spaghetti used to be one of my favorite meals. Last visit, it was lacking the details that made it good. Pasta was not sautéed, no garlic that I could discern, very bland and boring. Sadly, one more place I used to love that I won't go out of my way to visit again. read more

We came here when I won a $60 gift certificate in a silent auction for a fundraiser. I was happy that they chose to support a cause, but I was told I had to use it by 7/1/26. I received it in late May, and do not know the story behind that but it was fine, they have late weekend hours. We arrived and saw the chalkboard at the entrance. I stopped to look at the specials and it was dated for St. Patrick's Day! It was June. I did not mention it to someone there. Most people use phones to study menus anyway. We were told to have a seat at a booth. Water and menus were brought over. I got diet Coke. We ordered a full size salad to split, souvlaki with soup, and moussaka with soup. I went to wash my hands for the bread/crackers, and was not too happy to find out the women's bathroom is RIGHT off the kitchen! They can't help this, but it was really jarring, I get iffy when a bathroom is right off the kitchen. It was clean and decorated with postcards and quippy sayings. The soups was soo good, I love lemon in soup. I was tasted the minestrone from my party, didn't care for it. The salad was good too. The soup arrived at the same time as the entrees. It seemed efficient but it meant that the entrees became lukewarm by the time we started eating. The veggies and pork pieces were very good, moist and nicely seasoned. The moussaka I sampled from my party was good too. Couple of issues: the place is family owned, I saw a young girl and boy hanging out behind the counter, being helpful and quiet, which is nice to see. My party ordered fruit juice and horchata from the dispenser. I saw the young boy use a glass to sample the horchata a couple of times. Dispensers that press the glass against the handle are considered unsanitary (we were given straws with our cups). Then when we left to pay up, we had to use cash to pay the difference. I had to run to a nearby atm so I could cover the tip. That was on me, I should have presented the certificate when I came in. we did not get dessert; I liked the food and the experience but I may do carryout or breakfast next time. read more

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This is a GREAT Hyde Park neighborhood Greek restaurant with delicious food, great service and a vibrant atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoy having brunch here. Tried something different today--Salonica Omelette with spinach added. Feta, gyro meat, o IIs & green peppers. Highly recommended read more

Salonica - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Honestly, I wanted to like this place--because who doesn't love a good old-school diner? But this experience was very disappointing. First, it's good to note that if your entire party isn't present, they won't let you sit down. That was a little annoying, but okay--rules are rules. Once we were finally seated, the overall atmosphere didn't feel very welcoming. I didn't feel uncomfortable, just not particularly invited either. For this to be a Greek restaurant, the menu felt very Americanized, which I wasn't expecting. I found myself conflicted about what to order. I ended up getting a variety of dishes since I was there to film a video about the restaurant. I tried the homemade chili and their Greek lemon egg soup. The chili was served hot, but overall it was very bland and definitely needed more seasoning--at least for my taste. The lemon egg soup was interesting, but not my cup of tea. My friend ordered the patty melt, which was basically a burger on toasted buns. She said it was okay but, once again, needed seasoning. The turkey club was probably the best thing we tried, though it was a bit dry for my liking. The second-best item was the shredded lamb sandwich--the lamb was tender, the pickled onions were good, and the chimichurri added nice flavor, but even that dish could have used more seasoning. We also ordered the chicken pesto wrap, which surprisingly came with a side of Mexican rice and beans--an odd combination. Unfortunately, that too was greasy and bland. The biggest disappointment for me was the eggplant Parmesan. I love eggplant Parmesan, but I had a gut feeling I shouldn't have ordered it--and I should've listened. The eggplant slices were way too thick, and the spaghetti underneath was overcooked. When I finally cut into the eggplant and took a bite, it was the worst eggplant I've ever had. It tasted like water, oil, and bland tomato sauce. I've made eggplant parmesan before and you gave to extract the water from the eggplant before frying otherwise it's so nasty. This place has obviously been around for a long time and clearly has a loyal customer base. But honestly, those customers must really enjoy bland food. There seemed to be a certain crowd that typically doesn't season their food much, so I suppose it makes sense. As for me, I just know I won't be back. read more

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Although the food is ok, the service is terrible. Our orders had to be sent back twice and still weren't right when they arrived. Service was very slow and staff inattentive. The place is old and not so clean. They also do not split checks. College student place only in my opinion. read more

I wish I could rate this place higher. Consistent with other reviews this place is a cute neighborhood diner. But I ate here and told the waitress several times that I had a dairy and soy allergy and I'm fairly certain they fed me something with soy and possibly dairy. I had the gyro plate and chicken gumbo. My gyro plate came out with some kind of dairy item (sour cream, tzatziki?), no biggie I just didn't eat it. The soup tasted like it had butter but the waitress said there was no dairy in it. I didn't think about the gyros but afterwards both dairy and soy allergy reactions were severely triggered. I looked it up later and it looks like commercial gyro meat is made with soybean oil and soybean protein. This place definitely does not look like a place that makes its own gyro meat. TLDR: don't come here if you have a food allergy. read more

It was my first time ever going into this restaurant. The place was very welcoming, clean and smell pleasant. People were friendly and welcoming. The service was not great; the poor young man. I almost got up to help him take orders. We waited 20 min for him to come to our table. We went for a good breakfast well that was nothing to brag about. The bacon was like rubber. It was so bad so don't order bacon. One of my friends ordered a bacon sandwich, that was so dry and nasty. We didn't complain we paid and will never go back! I can't say anything about lunch or dinner but breakfast was gross. read more

a sweet little old diner in hyde park! the interior design and service are nothing to call home about, but that's the type of no frills diner that can be expected. pretty packed here on a weekend lunch. souvlaki sandwich was excellent, very hearty! the breakfast omelette with hash browns was only alright, pretty bland read more

Salonica - Souvlaki Sandwich - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I grew up in Hyde Park and I used to frequent Salonica quite a bit. I haven't been there in 30's years so I decided to take my kids down memory lane. The ambiance is still the same so that made me smile. Cozy, old school restaurant. Not a lot of seating. The service was nice. Nothing to brag about. The disappointing part is the food. I had the corned beef hash breakfast. I posted a before and after photo. I couldn't finish my meal. I don't think my food was cooked thoroughly, especially the hash browns. The corned beef hash was mushy and I don't know what to say about the eggs, just horrible. The food was bland. I tried to power through because I was hungry but I couldn't. My kids said the pancakes were a 5 out of 10 and the french toast a 7 out of 10. Needless to say we will not be returning. read more

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I go here at least three times a month either for lunch or for breakfast. They have a great Gyro. The service is always quick and I love the booth by the window. You get the sun on your face. read more

Salonica - Dining room - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Salonica rocks!! Come here nearly weekly for delicious breakfast tacos, pancakes, and saganaki. Amazing staff, seriously a joy to be here. Best breakfast in Hyde park read more

The chicken pita wrap was pretty good! This diner is located pretty close to the museum of science and industry and the uchicago campus, so would recommend if you're planning on exploring the surrounding area as well. Service was quick and establishment itself was very homey and well kept read more

Been coming here for many years I always enjoy the food... I have been wanting pancakes for 3 months and finally chose to come here! The only downside was the bacon was cold cold made for a weird aftertaste. Overall food and service was great! read more

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I love Salonica! It feels like such cozy family friendly restaurant. It's an old school, no frills type of place, but it is perfectly nestled within Hyde Park. The menu has a lot of variety to choose from and the items are fairly priced. The food is also very good! I've gone several times and haven't been disappointed yet! Each time I've gone in I've had the same waitress and see the same staff each time and they do a great job taking care of their customers. I would recommend this place to anyone, but be mindful of big groups. It's not large on the inside so groups of more than 4 might struggle. read more

Salonica - 8 oz. Sirloin Burger Deluxe - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have only come in here for takeout, but the staff is super nice and they are super quick. The soup is great and all of the prices are very affordable. You can see why this is a neighborhood gem. If you're looking for a solid breakfast or lunch place, with options for everyone, this is it! read more

I've dined there for decades. Before they dropped dinner hours I had a semi-regular patty melt after work. (Their business, their choice, I won't complain.) I walked in, the co-owner directed me to a table. I waited ten minutes. Waitstaff were mostly out of sight, or back turned for guests getting service. I gathered my belongings and headed for the door, past the cashier/partner. Nobody said a word. (Should I have tried to catch someone's attention? I wasn't in a mood to raise my voice and flag the back of someone 10 feet away.) read more

We love Salonica! A fantastic place for an easy, fast breakfast service. The people have always been lovely and fantastic. It's a small, family business. They recognize us there and have always been extremely lovely. Diner coffee, pancakes, and it's all easy and quick. I'm flummoxed by any bad reviews, because I have been going here since 2013 on a regular basis and have been in love the entire time. It's a hearty, good breakfast for cheap (in these tough times) and it comes out quickly. The people take care of you there and I've never had a bad experience. Salonica feels like home! read more

Food and service is immaculate! Also, the portions are so big for the price! The side of hash browns was massive and definitely good for multiple people to share. The French toast was also very filling and I couldn't finish it. The wrap was great too and we added avocados which elevated the dish even more! Overall, this place has great breakfast food for a great price. Only downside is that the place itself is very hot as there isn't any air conditioning and it also isn't very fancy. It's a tier below diner style. There's seating, but nothing more and nothing less. A bit of a homely ambiance, but it does feel a bit hot in there. Other than that, food wise it's great! read more

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Terrible service. Our waiter was Paul and he is short tempered and combative. He left his station to fight a person on the sidewalk.

It's pretty middling in terms of food. It's kinda greasy, and not super flavorful like you'd want Greek food to be. I'm big on value for money when I go to a place so I'm normally not bothered if the price reflects the fact that yeah it's not the tastiest food ever but it's cheap. This place is neither cheap nor flavorful so I personally think it's disappointing. You do get a huge portion though. I do really like the set up of the place. It's a cozy diner feel. Service is okay. read more

Have been going here for years. The food is great! Not good it's great. Have taken many people here to eat. What surprises me is they have all gone back multiple times. read more

It was my 1st time ever dining in Salonica Restaurant. This restaurant is nestled in the well known area of Hyde Park in Chicago. It's quaint and it's clean. Closed on Monday, the restaurant offers daily specials of Greek eats and American comfort food. I was there for lunch and enjoyed the Gyros plate with a salad. read more

Salonica - Salad - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food came out cold and we were confused as to how we were supposed to seat ourselves. Other than that, the service was good and the hot chocolate was very delicious. Standard flavors. read more

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TONS of food for the price and the service was quick. The bread and soup were really good, and the gyro was stuffed to the gills. The fries were super good, but my club was a little dry. Just needed some more mayo. read more

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Ratings are relative to the expectations. Meaning you don't walk into an old neighborhood diner expecting the same experience you'd have at Bavette's. As far as neighborhood diners go, Salonica is really good. As usual, you can expect a really good breakfast, but lunch is good too. As you may have guessed, the owners are Greek, so they often have Greek foods on the menu: egg lemon soup, moussaka, etc. When I worked midnights and lived in Hyde Park, I'd get off the train Saturday morning and stop in here for breakfast. I loved that they had a counter with stools and they even had those mini cereal boxes. I don't order cereal at restaurants like Jerry Seinfeld or a 5-year-old, but it's nice to see places like this still exist. Just seeing those boxes is oddly calming and lets you know everything will be ok. Pancakes, waffles, eggs, sausage, toast... that's more my speed and you can't go wrong ordering those here. Sit at the counter and eavesdrop on the conversations around you and you'll feel like a real Chicagoan for sure. read more

This quaint corner diner celebrated 40 years in 2019. It's been our ritual go-to feeding stop on the way to or from the Museum of Science & Industry, and we always manage to find parking nearby on side streets. BTW, Salonica is named for the second-largest city in Greece, more commonly spelled Thessalonica or Thessaloniki. Happily, Salonica's food is in better taste than their Jimmy Carter-era Formica® decor. The menu is loaded with familiar Greek-American diner classics plus some Mexican faves, and yes, you can order breakfast for dinner. On our most recent visit, we enjoyed chicken gumbo soup, a turkey club sandwich, Greek chicken, and tender beef short ribs. Entrees include a choice of soup or salad, potato, and veggies. Their coffee always tastes freshly brewed, even when the restaurant isn't busy. It may not be a blip on James Beard's radar, but we always enjoy the friendly staff and generous portions of fresh, tasty food for a small price. read more

Salonica - Turkey club (I asked them to hold the tomatoes) - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend and I stopped by Salonica because we were desperately hungry and it was close by and we thought we'd check it out. The inside of the restaurant has a mix of mediterranean and American diner vibes. We were seated right away and the booths were super comfortable. The waitstaff was really attentive and kind as well! I ordered the 8oz sirloin basic burger and fries. The burger itself was kind of dry and the fries came unsalted. However, at each table are a myriad of sauces, condiments, salt, pepper and even olive oil. While the food was not too impressive, I did enjoy the quiet and friendly atmosphere. All in all, our two burgers and a coke came out to $30. read more

Salonica - 8 oz. Sirloin Burger - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Walked in here on the coldest day of the year, limited sort of expensive menu. The food came out fast and I can see why. Bacon was old looks freezer burned, toast was old and cold, looks like it went through the toaster yesterday. No flavored creamer for the coffee, the food looked white, simply put I sent everything back. I also didn't like that a worker was heavily blowing his nose, wiping his hands on counters after, then hand sanitizing. If he's doing that in public, what are you doing in the back, things I can't see. Thereafter, he wasn't my server but here he comes dropping off my food, that's a recipe for disease; no thanks Go Home, close down. Plus they don't speak English. This venue is bad for business, not sure they even had heat, it was freezing in here, everybody bundled up, ugh. Do Not Come Here!!! read more

Salonica - Bad raisin toast - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Disappointing Salonica experience a while back. Ate there frequently. Never fussy. Tipped generously. The staff knew me well enough. My usual breakfast order was simple: steak & eggs. Time went on. And the portion of steak became inconsistent. It was a roll of the dice whether the plate would arrive with the 'adult' portion or the 'kid size'. This was troubling. First two times, I let it slide. The next three times became too much. What Am I Paying For? Who's Cutting The Meat In The Kitchen? Do They Need Glasses? So many questions in regards to a simple steak & egg breakfast. I wanted an answer - Why Me? I asked the server, an older female, why my portions of steak were consistently inconsistent? I asked with a smile. I asked knowing I'd always been a good tipper. I asked because I believed she would address the issue as it was clearly an oversight that NEVER should of happened. I asked expecting an apology. I got none of that. What I got was this response - I Can't Do Nothing About That. She then turned on her heels and walked away. I was left sitting stunned and silent. My stomach turned to stone. The plate went cold. Appetite gone. I left something resembling a tip and never returned. I swallowed my hurt feelings. And I started cooking at home. And made the same breakfast for a 1/3 of the price at the portion I desired. Life was good. The waitress did me a favor. Yes, ma'am, you chose not to 'do nothing about that'. But I did. Salonica chose not to treat me and my money with the respect they deserved. I chose to do something about that. I walked out. My money came with me. I left Salonica in my rear view mirror. And I never looked back. Life's never been better. *Moving on...** read more

I've had mostly breakfast food at Salonica and can't recommend it enough. It's relatively affordable, compared to most food in Hyde Park. We've never had to wait for a table; there's usually always seating. Food doesn't take long to come out and service is generally attentive. For breakfast, I'd recommend one of the breakfast specials. I always get the one with french toast, eggs, and coffee. I've also gotten pancakes, and those are really good too. They do have chocolate pancakes, which are oddly not on the menu, but you can ask for them. read more

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Tried Gyros Plate, a very typical Greek dish. The meat loaves are a great match with yoghurt sauce. The potato soup is thick and creamy. The environment is cozy and casual, suitable for grabbing a bite of brunch and sandwiches while working, yet the dinner is also good. read more

Salonica - Potato Soup - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Mother Nature often times dictates where Rosa J.'s "Foodie on Foot" venture will be. It happened to be a very pleasant Sunday, and of course, as expected, many restaurants were hopping. Salonica" was a Plan B since we saw a huge inside the popular diner destination on E. 53rd. Well, all I wanted to say was, "this place would always be an alternative option." The reason why I still rendered a four (4)-star rating was just to round it up from a 3.5. "Salonica" is a neighborhood, vintage diner in close proximity to the University of Chicago campus. Honestly, I felt I was back in college, enjoyed my Sunday brunch/lunch with friends, and then headed to a coffeeshop or one of the libraries to finish up a term paper or a lab report. Both hubby and I ordered from their Greek speciality menu. We were told that each entree came with either salad or soup (minestrone or lemon egg for Sundays). However, the soups were average at best. Hubby commented that there was hardly any beans in his minestrone soup; the taste of lemon wasn't really detectable or identified in any shape or form. The entrees appeared quite inspiring, but the chicken from "Kalamata" was over-cooked. I tasted a good many dry spots, and they did require some extra chews before swallowing them. "Pastitsio" is a Greek-version of lasagna, with ground beef and eggplants layered in between pasta. Hubby thought it was an interesting changeup from a known Italian lasagna most of us were familiar with, yet I knew he wasn't at all obsessed with the flavor of this dish. Unfortunately, we didn't think we would be returning here. We liked the friendly service, comfortable atmosphere, and reasonable prices, but the food here was definitely the weakest link. read more

Salonica - Egg lemon - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you want the typical diner food, this is the place to go in the Hyde Park area. It has the diner feel and environment inside with the booths and classic stools at the bar place. The prices are decent and affordable. The employees there are nice too. I ordered the chicken on the pita sandwich deluxe with fries on the side. It comes with a very small container of salsa. The pita sandwich is wrapped in foil which I thought was weird. The chicken was very dry so I needed the salsa to go with it. I asked for another container of salsa and they charged me an extra 50 cents without telling me. I was not happy with that and it's a rip off. The fries were okay, but very oily. The whole meal cost about $11.50 with tax and tip. It's not worth it. Save your money and go somewhere else better. read more

Salonica - Chicken on the pita deluxe with fries on the side that comes with a container of salsa - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is great! I don't know why some of the ratings were bad. I almost didn't come because of that but I'm so glad I did! I love the variety on the menu. all day breakfast is also a huge plus for me. The food was really good. It's nothing special but that's to be expected from a small diner. The prices align with the quality. Great portion sizes too. Really loved it here. Definitely worth a try if you haven't been. read more

The friendly service is part of the reason I return to Salonica. This is a small, family neighborhood restaurant that's on the tired side with decor but always comes up with solid comfort food. Greek entrees anchor the menu but this diner has a variety of American sandwiches, salads, soups, sides and other entrees. And, all day breakfast standards. Today, I went light with s bowl of delicious lentil soup and slices of their freshly baked bread. A companion also enjoyed the soup, plus a greens salad topped with salmon. read more

We had decided to meet up here with family for lunch since we were exploring the museum of science and industry. The staff was so friendly and accommodating to our group of 9. Even with the diner pretty full we were seated immediately. Now this place had a huge variety from your basic soups and sandwiches to breakfast and a whole side dedicated to Greek food. Within our group we tried a little of everything. The pancakes were good- fell apart as you picked them up, the gyros meat had amazing flavor- really close to the gyros meat I grew up on and their blt was simple but good with home fries to accompany them. This is a true diner! Simple comfort foods, huge portions and cheap prices. read more

I guess I can't rely on others for their reviews because this selection was not a good 1. I am in Hyde Park and wanted to try a new spot so this place fit the bill. Hmmmm... the exterior seemed nice. Specials visible on board. Upon entering a lady from way at the bar greeted me & said to sit at booth at window. Kinda far to greet someone. That was the 1st error. 3 minutes later an elderly lady appeared with menus and a thick Mexican accent. I had to ask her several times to repeat herself. She took drink order. The place had no music and i heard everyone's conversation. The server came back with drinks. I ordered food for me & husband. I ordered the Thursday special but had a question about what 2 ingredients can u add and she didn't understand me so she pointed at another omelette option. Of course confused by how long this was taking my husband finally understood her...she was pointing at the options on another omelette. What?? Instead of saying green peppers, onions, tomatoes she pointed, error 2. The place seemed clean, contemporary. The food arrived 8 minutes later. Something i could have done at home & wayyyyyyyyy better. Frozen then thawed then fried turkey sausage links, semi-lukewarm flavorless hash browns(O'Brien's frozen seasoned potatoes taste better), coffee was good though no flavored creamer. I saved the pancakes for take out. $30 for below average food & a server who didn't come back to refill my coffee or asked if hubby wanted more orange juice....I lost count of the errors by this point. We paid with owner at station and she didn't say hello, how was food, how are u, I hate u came in and wasted your $$$, nothing. U guess how many errors is that. Will I return??? Every restaurant in Chicago would have to close before I return. read more

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Love the owners and the chicken gumbo. A little place hubby and I like to frequent. Friendly and family oriented.

Nothing fancy but the dishes that are good are delicious. Rueben was delicious and fries just as good! Turkey club was yummy. Chicken Caesar wrap was an oil base dressing. Tasty but not what I was expecting. So much dressing challenging to eat. Staff was great and service was quick! read more

Salonica - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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