Went there for dinner tonight with two family members. All the food at Salonica's is usually in the range of okay to good...never extraordinary, but not horrible either. Reasonable quality for the price; good for a quick stop. The punch line...the comfort food and breakfast items seem okay, but stay away (far away) from the meat entree dinner items. I ordered one of the specials, the 1/2 Greek chicken. What I got was closer to 1/4 chicken. Leg with thigh, wing, small chunk of neck. No chicken breast. Not even close to a half chicken and the pieces that were there had almost no meat on them -- very scrawny chicken. (I don't eat dark meat for health reasons so all I got was two bites of neck meat.) So how did the restaurant deal with it when I complained? Did they make it right, or even offer to make it right? No. The waitress said she would talk to the kitchen, then came out and said she would take a glass of ice tea off the tab because of the problem with the chicken (really -- how 'bout taking the chicken off because of the problem with the chicken...or at least half, or maybe the shake?) A glass of tea that costs the restaurant 10 cents to make doesn't seem like a fair exchange for an inedible $12 chicken meal. When I told the fellow at the cash register, he said so sorry about that and I think he thought that was enough! He offered no refund or discount and I left. The message was...you threw your money away, that's your problem! My feeling about restaurants is that if the food you ordered isn't actually delivered to you as described on the menu and in good condition, the situation needs to be remedied on the spot, either with a replacement, or when that's not possible, by removing the offensive item from the bill. Period. read more

Today, my wife and I went out for breakfast this morning to our neighborhood diner, Salonica. This is a restaurant we frequent fairly often it occurred to me that I have never reviewed it for Yelp. Simply put, it is a solid neighborhood diner that serves standard dishes, with high quality food. It is not fancy and it is not a destination restaurant, but if you live in Hyde Park or happen to find yourself in the neighborhood and are hungry it is a wonderful place to go to. When we go to Salonica we normally order breakfast, which is available all day long. Today, I ordered the corn beef hash which comes with a healthy portion of hash browns, two eggs, and toast. Eggs are made to order, though they were unable to do poached today. And if you have frequented my other reviews you know that I could not go without ordering some bacon, which was just crisp enough without being dried out. For a drink I ordered orange juice, which was freshly squeezed. My wife ordered french toast, scrambled eggs, hash browns, and coffee. The french toast was light, puffy, and golden brown. The eggs, like the french toast were light and puffy and fully cooked. Nothing runny, like some diners serve. The hash browns were brown and crispy and her coffee cup never constantly filled. The service and staff are efficient, polite, and prompt. From the time you sit to when they take your order to when you are served is only minutes. They are never intrusive and yet they make sure that you are happy with what your meal and experience. The only reason, I gave Salonica 4 stars instead of 5 is because there it isn't a destination restaurant and I would hate to mislead people and have them travel across town and miss the many other great diner experiences Chicago has. Also, there is a practical reason for the 4 stars and the only drawback to the restaurant, it is cash only. Other than that those two reasons it is great restaurant which contributes positively to the character and feel of Hyde Park. Salonica is a great diner experience and I am completely happy that it is my neighborhood go-to diner. read more

My brother's family loves this place, but the food is just ok. Typical diner food. Food: Veggie omellette 3, hash browns 2 burnt, chicken noodle soup 4 Service: 4 Ambience: 3 Cleanliness: 3 read more

The best thing I can say about this place is the customer service and the hash browns...(far fetched I know) and maybe the location. The place wasn't overly crowded and the décor was nice but the menu, granted its a Greek themed establishment, left me wanting more. I ordered a skirt steak with eggs and toast. The steak was more than charred and the eggs tasted....idk how to describe the taste actually it was just very.. eh. The hash browns were great though but from the reviews, I wouldn't had guessed side orders were the main attraction. read more

Salonica - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is a hidden gem in Hyde park. Everything on the menu is delicious. Food is health and fresh, the service is quality & fast. I love this place for breakfast! read more

Kind of disappointed. I have been coming here for years but haven't been in a while. I could have sworn omelettes come with cheese. I order a Denver, and there was no cheese. Ask the server if no cheese was to come with it she says no. Well.......shouldn't you ask if the person wants cheese in there fricking omelette, otherwise, its an egg scramble!! Heads up, if you order an omelette, be sure to ask for cheese! read more

The food itself was decent. You get what you expect to get and given the price I was satisfied. But the service was subpar. The waitress was helpful and friendly but the host was not. I guess her friendliness was only reserved for regulars cause I saw her greet a (supposed) regular with a big wide smile while she didn't even say thank you when I paid my bill and walked out. I might go there again since except for the service it is a solid breakfast option in the neighborhood and I want to give the host some benefit of doubt, say she was feeling under today or something. read more

Food was good. The thing I was not happy with was that: I arrived 5 minutes earlier than my friend, and the waiter asked me how many, and I said 2. Then, he insisted that I waited until my friend arrived to get us a table, even if nobody was there in a line, ie. nobody was waiting for a table, and there were at least 5 two-person tables available at that time. I felt uncomfortable, and be offended. read more

Tried and true! Great food, great service, lovely atmosphere. One of my fav places to get breakfast in Hyde Park!

the. french. toast. I probably got this over 50 times when I was an undergrad at UChicago. Anyway, brunch/breakfast is great here. The classic menu. I was not really a fan of anything else on the menu: salads and sandwiches were bland. At the same time, though, they were filling. Quick service. read more

I just had a nice Sunday breakfast here. It was pretty crowded, but they seemed to be turning tables over really efficiently, probably because the service was mad fast. I mean, I don't think we waited more then 10 min. for our food, and it was hot and freshly whipped up. They apparently have a system in the kitchen that is working quite well. My breakfast was delicious. Nothing fancy and not to big. It was everything breakfast should be. It was 4 pieces of french toast, 2 eggs, and bacon for $7.50. I can't wait to try it again. FYI it is cash only, which can be a pain in the arse if your uninformed or unprepared. read more

My gramps and I go here everytime i come to visit him in Hyde Park. It is just a classic breakfast joint which has been there for years. Friendly staff and reasonable pricing. I always get the salonica omelette which is consistent and delicious. Perfect example of what gives hyde park that classic charm. read more

A hidden gem in Hyde Park. Old, family/friendly atmosphere. Food is delicious. The turkey and mash gives your stomach a hug! You will not be disappointed. For the amount of food you receive, the price is perfect! read more

Tried to call in an order for pick-up but was placed on a hold for over 7 minutes. I hung up & my husband went to the restaurant to place the order for carry-out. The man at the front door bypassed my husband to help another customer (as they were doing a pick-up order, which is what we wanted to do initially) and told my husband to wait on the side to place an order. The man was not occupied and could have taken the order or taken the paper with the order already written and given it to the kitchen staff. We usually have a decent experience with this restaurant, however, the last couple experiences have gone from ok to bad to worse. This visit was the straw that broke the camel's back! read more

Salonica is a typical in two aspects... One, it's the type of place you would expect near a college campus, and two, it's the typical decent-breakfast-but-fail-at-transitioning-to-lunch/dinner type of restaurant. The pros... the breakfast is usually pretty good, but then again, it's not that difficult to mess up breakfast. The best part is that Salonica is really cheap, including all of the non-breakfast items. Pretty much everything is under $10, so it's a great place to hit up if you're a college student on a budget. The cons... The place is pretty small, but more importantly, it feels small. It's hard not to feel like everyone is sitting on top of each other, which is pretty annoying. Also annoying is the fact that it's cash only. I mean, this isn't the 80s anymore... most people, especially college students, rely on plastic to pay for everything. Salonica also has a very "traditional" feel to it, and by that, I mean it's clearly an old establishment. I don't think this a bad thing as long as other elements of the decor try and accentuate the history behind the place. Here, I think the plastic cups and cheap plates kind of drag the place down, and make it feel more dumpy than anything. But the real disappointment is the food. Don't get me wrong, the breakfast is good. But the rest of the menu is Greek, which I think is exciting for Hyde Park, but the food just disappoints. Take the lamb chops for instance... 3 chops plus sides for under $10 dollars? Sounded great, until I tried the lamb. Well, actually the disappointment came when I found out the lamb couldn't be cooked to order... does that imply it's pre-cooked and just reheated? Then I saw the lamb... I would guess these animals died from malnourishment, not because they were slaughtered for their prime meat. Finally, I tried the lamb, which only reinforced the preceeding. So yeah, stick to breakfast. read more

It's a solid neighborhood diner in Hyde Park. The GF and I had been walking around the University of Chicago campus and utilized the ever-helpful Yelp mobile to find this place. It seems like there's at least one of these near every college campus (around Hyde Park, it seems like there's ten). We picked Salonica since we were jonesing for a little Greek influence. The patronage seemed clearly local, and the hostess did give us a bit of a cocked eye when we entered. However, service was friendly, if a little slow. I was sold with the following words: Gyro. Omelette. With a love of all things gyro and all things wrapped in egg, I was sold. One minor quibble: the dish could have used a side of tzatziki sauce. Other than that, the combination was delectable. The girlfriend ordered Athenian chicken, which takes 20 minutes to prepare. We were both hungry, and luckily, the chef got it out in 15. The plate is not for the faint of heart, as it's a half-chicken with a generous side helping of rice and vegetables. All in all, It's a solid value place for the quantity and quality of food. As a reminder, cash only. read more

This cozy diner not only has classic breakfast favorites but also traditional Greek dishes. The place is a bit small, so there will usually be a wait at peak times (think weekend brunch). However, there is a second room, so don't give up soon if you think you'll never get seated. Breakfast is served all day. They have your standard pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, etc. Get a combo for a pretty good deal. I've also tried their moussaka and spanakopita, which are also pretty decent. I really enjoy the lemon egg soup. It sounds weird but is very flavorful! read more

Nice little diner on 57th Street, sort of in the middle of nowhere inside Hyde Park. We went at lunchtime, but had breakfast, and it was perfect. Service is terrific. My lunch companion went to school at University of Chicago some 25 years ago when she could only afford coffee here at Salonica's. Times have changed. Very cool. read more

It's an almost diner styled place that we like to hit for breakfast on those days when we are just too lazy to cook oatmeal for ourselves. The staff is always friendly and the food is always freshly prepared and it's exactly what I want when I want simple breakfast food all day. They served other things but the best experiences we have had are eating breakfast food. The food isn't going to move your soul but it's in no way bad. It's literally just simple. Highlights for me are the turkey sausage and the hash browns. read more

Salonica - The breakfast combo #3 with turkey sausage - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We tried this place for lunch. The egg lemon soup was thick like they added lots of corn starch. The souvlaki was cut into little pieces, overcooked and fatty. The egg plant parmigiana was bad, like they didnt know how to prepare it, served on top of super soft overcooked pasta like they used to serve in my high school cafeteria. They serve breakfast all day and it smelled like a breakfast place. Maybe their breakfast is better? read more

Stumbled on this place when looking for a place to grab breakfast before heading to the museum of science and industry. It was a very cute little place. We ended up eating outside, which was perfect given the weather and they have a great patio on a relaxing street. I ordered eggs over easy and hash browns, and the eggs were cooked runny the way I like them, and the potatoes were pretty delicious too. It came with coffee, which was nice. The prices were extremely reasonable (our total bill was under $20 for two people) and the servers were nice and fairly attentive. However, I think it was the atmosphere that really sold it for me. I keep seeing rave reviews for the egg lemon soup, so I'd like to come back at lunch or dinnertime and try that. read more

Salonika is the REAL Greek cooks next the Greek Town in down town Chicago. I love the Athens Chicken Dinner. I HIGHLY recommend this Restaurant to order either eat in or pick up! You will not regret it! Sincerely, Dr Katrina Sanders read more

It's a diner, nothing more, but there is something to be said about consistent eggs, bacon and hashbrowns. Caffe Florian, right down the street, attempts a brunch on the weekends but it's neither diner quality nor upscale cafe quality, so Salonica wins. Parking can be a big pain, but if you're from Hyde Park, where else in the area isn't? read more

Salonica is a Hyde Park staple due to its proximity to the UChicago campus and the rest of the 57th Street area. I've only been here for breakfast and lunch and have always been completely satisfied. I usually order some sort of omelette and am always satsified. I always mean to try the pancakes but eggs always win out. But the food doesn't just make the restaurant - it's also the employees. When I went for breakfast with a group of 5, they made sure to keep all our coffee cups full. Constant attention and great food makes for a great experience. read more

I have been going to Salonica for many years. One of my favorite things about them has always been their hash-browns -- they were lovely: warm and buttery (mm good). Today I went, though, and I found the experience to be somewhat lacking. This included, gasp, the hash-browns.... It is true that it is a greasy spoon and one can normally only expect so much from one of those, but my hash-browns were lukewarm and not so flavorful. It was really disappointing. I also had the Athenian omelet and it was so-so. To be fair, I should report that my eating companion had a Belgian waffle with strawberries and whip cream and she really enjoyed her food. SO, maybe it was just what I ordered or the time of day (not early or late enough to be busier when maybe things would have been a little fresher), but I felt like Salonica was not at its peak of fabulousness. What is good about it then? Their prices. And the whole diner food thing -- it is so satisfying sometimes, even when it's not spectacular. Also, the reason we ended up there was because we were in Hyde Park and (I couldn't believe this but...) the Medici wasn't open for breakfast (more on that some other time), so this is the only place that I know of now that you can get breakfast in Hyde Park (of the egg and hash-brown variety). So sad.... read more

I literally can't count the number of times I've eaten here...breakfast, lunch, dinner...you name it. As far as I'm concerned, Salonica is integral to Hyde Park, and you can't really get by without it. Usually, that's a good thing. Their breakfasts are consistently filling and reliable, especially the steak and eggs or the spinach and feta omelet. I like their hash browns, although they could just be a tiny bit more crispy on the outside, but that's just my taste in things. As for the rest of the menu, they do a great BLT, and the gyros and most other Greek specialties are solid (I did have a lamb dish there once that didn't do much for me, but that's all I can remember). Regular dinner items are strictly diner fare and nothing special, but pretty affordable. You get your standard basket of bread, soup or salad, etc. This place hasn't changed much in years, and I'm happy that's the case. read more

I love it here! I've actually been disappointed by my food (two for two), but maybe I'm simply a sucker for diners. It's on the corner of Blackstone and 57th. Lots of people from the community were there when I visited for breakfast - young families, college crowds, pairs, singles, etc. It's a good ol' fashioned diner with quick service. I love it. I noticed there's lots of people who come in for carryout, which speaks for the value. I was hoping my corned hash was actually corned beef with real chunks of potato, but it was simply fried up cheap canned stuff. Then, I had 8 oz sirloin with eggs and it turned out to be essentially a hamburger patty - ground up beef cake next to my eggs. Disappointing. I'll definitely be back to try the gyros and chicken dishes. read more

I was there on a Saturday evening for diner with a friend. The place was not too crowded so we were able to get a table outside immediately. The waitress was very nice to us and helped us making our choice. We ordered a Greek chicken and another chicken on the menu but I don't remember the name... Anyway, the food came rapidly, and is was so good! Flavors perfectly matched, this meal was a great pleasure. Portions were perfect size, so I regret I was not hungry anymore after that to try some samples of their breakfast menu... Also this place is really cheap. Delicious and cheap. read more

Don't go to Salonica if you're looking for fine dining. That's not the point. Here, you go for the generous portions of soup and free bread. A place to squeeze your entire friend group in a small table and have a great time and sometimes above average meal. That said, you CAN get really great food here. The best is the souvlaki wrap (with grilled onions, not raw), with any of the soup of the days. read more

3.5 stars! This place was a surprising find! bread+soup/salad+dinner+ baklava/rice pudding=10 bucks! This place is like a mom and pop diner style greek restaurant with a lot of breakfast fare as well. I had the cream of potato soup, greek salad topped with gyros, and rice pudding. The salad was really delicious, topped with olives, feta, tomatoes, and a vinaigrette dressing. The gyro meat was super flavorful and tasty. I would definitely go back with friends if I needed to eat in Hyde Park. read more

We fell upon this place while walking around my old neighborhood (where I was born) in Hyde Park, Illinois. And we were hungry and cold (January). We were happy to find this place and especially pleased to find all the great Greek specials. I had the Greek Sausage with rice and veggies. My fiancee had the Mousakka. The greek sausage was excellent but the rice was boring (plain white par-boiled rice) and frozed boiled veggies. The Mousakka was also excellent. It came with no sides. We also got some wings which were the typical out of a box pre-breaded wings, so nothing special there either. There strongest point was their homemade lentil soup and they don't skimp on the portion sizes. We were suffed warm and happy. I do wish they would do more with their side dishes, but overall we were happily fed. read more

When I think of a great neighborhood restaurant. I think of Salonica Restaurant. They serve tasty, cheap breakfasts that make IHOP seem sad, low quality and excessive. On the other end of the spectrum in my mind, their savory Greek cuisine is among the best I've had. Gyros sandwich to go kept me sane in my first year of grad school. REMEMBER!! Cash only. That's the one downside. read more

I love that you get the #2 breakfast special with coffee and scrambled eggs and bacon and wheat toast, and I get the Athenian omelette with coffee and wheat toast, and it costs $19.45, every time. It feels reassuring, like when I drop off my stuff in your room in Philly and go up to the bathroom to find that my extra toothbrush is still there waiting for me. The small comfort of a shared home base -- split between two cities. I love when Pepe comes to take our order and says, "Where have you been? It's been so long!" Me too, Pepe. Me too. read more

Just happened to find myself in Hyde Park and saw that Salonica was still open. I haven't been here since I worked at University of Chicago in 2000. Meal was average, arrived quickly and was tasty. I have Celiac Disease so eating at diners is always risky for me since everything is cooked on the same cooktop. I am happy to say I did not get sick (that's a big thing for anyone who has Celiac, trust me). I had the huevos rancheros. Wasn't bad, but just barely enough salsa to tint the eggs pink. I expected enough to give the eggs some flavor; yeah, not so much. Our server was kind. Nothing special, but reasonably priced. read more

Salonica - Entrance on 57th St. - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's better than average hangover food, but it's still a place whose appeal is slightly hard to explain. I always went for breakfast.

I was impressed with the service. Great food, Great service...this is my first time here...won't be my last time..I recommend that you try the waffles with strawberries. read more

A good place for breakfast and brunch. A bit pricey though. Very good steak and eggs.

This is my ex-boyfriend's favorite restaurant in the world. I like it, but not that much! It's best for breakfast - the portion are normal sized (as opposed to any other brunch place) and the prices reflect it, though they have gone up a bit. The omelets are good. For dinner, I really like the spinach pie (spanekopita). The service is great. But be warned: cash only! read more

The gyros omelet was always a favorite of mine when I lived in Hyde Park. On a recent trip, I decided to stop in for old time's sake and the omelet was just as yummy as I remembered. Late breakfasts are pretty relaxed in the front room. A handful of the booths will be occupied, so it's not very busy and there's sure to be a heated discussion taking place between UChicago students and/or faculty. read more

My sister suggested this place and I'm glad she did. A hidden gem, on the corner of 57th and Blackstone, that is inexpensive, filling, and taste good! The setting is basically a diner but they also specialize in Greek cuisine. I had the corned beef hash meal and it was really good. Eggs prepared perfectly, corned beef hash cooked through, and coffee was flavorful! My mom and niece has pancakes (which I had to taste) and they were melt in your mouth yummy. Service was good -nothing spectacular. I will definitely return! read more