On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Bakeries, Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Near West Side, West Loop, GreektownUIC-Halsted (Blue)
"Il Giardino Del Dolce came through for me yet again! I needed a cake to feed 50..and it had to be The Nightmare before Christmas themed.…" read more »
Loading...
After my roommate and I set anchor at Parthenon Hostel, we jaunted next door to grab a bite and devise a plan for our first day in Chicago. Turns out, Artopolis was the nicest place we visited dring our entire stay in Greektown!
My cousin's wife recommended Artopolis, insisting it was her favorite restaurant in the city, and I can see why. The cuisine was delicious (and easily the healthiest meal we had all week), the staff courteous, and the ambiance was both relaxing and invigorating. The space in Artopolis is almost a spectacle unto itself...large ceiling, wooden walkways, and an inviting bar to cozy up to (we skipped the drinks, but enjoyed the elderly Greek gentlemen who were soaking up their lunch adjacent to our table). The servers and bussers were friendly and prompt with their service, made us feel right at home.
Onto the food. Our recommendation had claimed that the food was excellent but more affordable than some of the other sit-down Greek restaurants on the block. I am certainly inclined to agree. A relative stranger to Greek cuisine, I played it safe with a chicken and mozarella artopita and a Mediterranean salad. Both were delicious! My phillistine taste buds compared the artopita to "the world's fanciest hot pocket": tender, flaky crust and warm insides mingling on the peak of Mt. Olympus. The salad was excellent, as well: greens, tomatoes, cucumber slives and olives with generous dabs of oil and just enough feta on top. A very tasty way to start the day. My friend opted for a sandwich and pasta, which I was envying from across the table, even while I savored my own lunch...the pasta looked divine! Both of us were able to enjoy a wholly satisfying lunch for $10 each: definitely a bargain.
We didn't take advantage of Artopolis' bakery, although after reading the reviews here--and remembering the lovely smells in the restaurant--I really wish we had. Sounds like we missed out by not doing so. Something to go back to next time!
Seems we can never think of anywhere else for dessert. Artopolis has a big selection of pastries and really good Greek desserts. The loukamades and baklava are wonderful. The best baklava I've had in a long time.
A nice selection of after dinner drinks and coffee too. The atmosphere is ok. I'd prefer more of a loungey feel for dessert, but the cafe seating and vibe at Artopolis works well enough. When weather permits the windows are open onto the street both at ground level and the upper seating area.
You've got to try the loukamades. Fried dough dripping in a honey sauce with cinnamon and chopped nuts. Mmmmm.
I really do love this place. We decided to grab a frappe and some appetizers for dinner. While our food is coming out, I smelled the augolemono soup, yum! It's egg lemon chicken rice soup. Bring out one of those too please. So delish. Saved room for dessert, had the hazelnut cake. Very decadent. We also had to take home desserts from the bakery section. The prices are a little on the higher side for the specialty items but well worth it since they take pride in their desserts and bakery items. Yum again.
Service is always with a smile and very prompt and attentive. Overall, great place to hang and have a nice meal, and conversation with a single friend or a whole gang of them.
Ena metrio Frappe me gala please! That's an iced coffee drink, with medium amount of sugar with… Read more »
I went to artopolis with my girl friend for some coffee and desserts. First of all, our server was too busy doing whatever he was doing. We had to order from a different server because he was missing for 10-15minutes.
But the desserts and the coffe was excellent. Desserts were sweet enough to satisfy our late night sugar cravings, but not too sweet. Although we didn't like our server, we love this place. Great atmosphere and food.
It is hard to find bakeries with such variety of cakes, cookies Everything is delicious. I love their coffees, especially the Frappuccino in the summers. My favorite are the almond cookies also like the strawberry shortcake. I've been going there for a lunches and sometimes I come with friends on the weekends. I love their food: spanakopitas, artopitas, salads, and moussakas
I really like how their is an upstairs eating space area. Parking is never really issue for this restaurant. During the day, I am always warmly greeted at the door. My absolute favorite item here is the tequilla pollo chicken sandwich, which is accompanied by a cold, garlic potato salad. I am normally not a fan of potato salads, but theirs makes you think differently. I absolutely love their small, chewy almond cookies! Their collection of desserts is always cut to the right size. I have tried several of their fruit mousse cakes, which are priced reasonably and not too sweet.
I should preface this that this is based solely on the "service" and not on their food because sadly we did not make it that far. I had heard this is a cute cafe that has both Greek and some good Non-Greek items (a perfect combo from my sister who did not want it too Greek). We went to check it out a few weekends ago. It certainly has the cute cafe decor.
Here is the timeline: (Pretty accurate since I was compulsively checking my watch.)
12:30 We arrive. It was busy but there were a few tables open.
12:33 Waitress says that she will seat us shortly.
12:36 Slightly annoyed waiter seats us.
12:45 Still no waiter, menu, or water in sight.
12:50 Brought water; politely asked for a waiter (rude response).
12:55 We got up and left. No one asked or seemed to be the wiser.
Boy did this test my patience! In almost half and hour, nothing. I don't think that this had ever happened before. It was busy, but there were a few tables open so I'm not sure if this was a fluke or an understaffing issue. The combo of the wait plus the poor attitude makes it unlikely that I'd want to come back to sit in the cafe. However, I did see carry-out. I've heard such good things about the food that I'd be willing to try carry-out someday so I could actually rate the food.
Sitting directly in the heart of Greektown, Artopolis puts out beautiful decadent desserts. They also happen to have one of the best eclairs I have ever had. Artopolis, though I have never tried it, seems like a great lunch spot. The interior characterizes the atmosphere of Greece. If you are in the neighborhood, do not miss Artopolis Bakery!
This is one of the nicest cafes, bakery, desert place you will find in this area! If you are a desert person, you will LOVE their cakes! I am not even going to recommend any, they are ALL delicious!
Plus, it is a beautiful decor, you can go anytime of the day, if you just want a coffee and a desert it is the great place to go and relax! The place has a very European feeling.
Also, you can grab a bite to eat, they have a good menu, even though I haven't tried their food in a while! I am addicted with their deserts, so anytime I want to splurge I go there!
The potato salad is like CRACK. Totally, completely addictive.
I mean, $8 for a sandwich is completely unreasonable. Sure, it comes in a fancy plastic box and a nice paper carrying bag, but the only reason I do it is the potato salad. I don't even like the sandwiches!
Today I learned that I could order a side of potato salad and forego the sandwich. It's only $3.25, and I'm thankful for this. It also has a piece of lettuce under it, which is like the vegetable/good-for-you portion of the potato salad meal, which we all need. Right?
So, in short. Prices: high. Potato Salad: Priceless.
Wow, I'm in love! I had a lamb craving and my boyfriend wanted some baklava so we headed over here. My boyfriend had the chicken sandwich with tequila lime mayonnaise and it was really good. My lamb sandwich with mint on rosemary bread was exactly what I had been hoping it would be. The potato salad that came with it was extremely good. Since I finished my salad I had no room for the second half of my sandwich but it was even better when I heated it up and devoured it about three hours ago! We had a lemon tart that was really yummy and I was too stuffed to try the baklava but my boyfriend was raving about it and he finished it in about two seconds.
I love the interior of this place. It really feels like you've left Chicago and it's just so cute! I loved that we could sit on the second floor and look out the windows to the street while eating and also look out over the cafe at all the goodies. I will be back very soon!
As a somewhat good meeting point between my work in the South Loop and my boyfriend at UIC Artopolis seamed like a perfect lunch option for a quick date. It's covered open air patio was beautiful and I felt as if I has stepped into a different world for the duration of the meal.
The restaurant itself has three different stations, a wine/coffee bar, a sandwich/food counter and a pastry/dessert counter. Additionally they sell some Greek grocery items in the back corner. While you order cafeteria style at the food counter the service and quality of food is very far from that. I loved my made to order "farmer salad" of fresh tomatoes, olives, feta, onions, oregano and vinaigrette (it came with cukes too but I opted not to have them). My boyfriend had a chicken salad sandwich which came with a side of pasta salad. The chicken salad has some great Mediterranean flavors- very different and tasty. We split a savory pastry of ham and a gooey cheese- it was heaven! While I did not get to sample the desserts or wine, I will be back. Prices were quite reasonable as well- this is a a great alternative the more pricey restaurants in the area.
Street parking was very difficult.
Artopolis is adorable. I love the storied seating and how the doors and windows are all open to historic Halsted on a nice day. Most of the seating seems set for two, and why not - the atmosphere is pretty romantic for a brunch or lunch date. Even so, I've gone with larger groups, and they are very accommodating. There's a very laid-back, European feel to the service and set-up.
The desserts are amazing and artful. I've gotten a bunch to go and brought them to parties. They are always a hit!
The coffee and espresso drinks are great. The lattes are gorgeous - with the frothy milk poured on top of the espresso - not mixed - so the glass is full of swirls as they combine.
The portions are pretty large. I suppose most Greek food gets served in sweet excess, but even the sandwiches come stacked with sides that could serve 2-3. And it's all so delicious, you might forget to stop eating. But don't forget to save room for dessert!
I am a lover of Greek food and any sort of dessert that's not too sweet, so after trying out a friend's birthday cake from Artopolis, I had to make a trip to the actual cafe! Luckily, my boyfriend lives right by Greek town and it was our first date spot!
While I do have a sweet tooth, I tend to steer towards light desserts that aren't too heavy or sweet. So my first choice was definitely the yogurt mousse cakes! They are my absolute favorite - light and fluffy with just the right amount of tart and sweet for the various fruit flavors! Other dessert selections I've tried that I would recommend include the Royal White Chocolate (for a sweeter option), fruit tart and pear tart!
Oh, and did I forget to mention the Greek coffees? The Ice Frappe is one of my absolute favorites and a must have everytime I stop by! The atmosphere is great for a casual date, hanging out with friends or just to stop by for some food and drinks! I love the service and always have a great time!
I've been here numerous times in the last few years but only now left a review.
What can I say that everyone else hasn't?? Everything about this place screams "delicious food!" The decor and setup to the restaurant immediately let you know you are in for a relaxing time. I had the Inferno pizza and a Jamon Fume sandwich which were both excellent. In a world of butter soaked pizza crusts(ie- Lou's, etc), it's nice to have a pizza crust that is a bit plain and not soaked in grease. Deserts are tasty way to give into your sweettooth at the end of a meal.
a good place on Greektown to grab a bite or just a dessert. Good coffee and some really good pastries. they have booze too. Service is slow, but then they seem to be of Greek time, so sit back and chill.
Okay, I cannot judge their great looking pastries, but Artopolis serves some seriously bad food. We tried the Inferno and Olympian pizzas. It was pretty obvious that they were not freshly made, because the crust tasted a bit stale. Besides, they were seriously lacking in flavor.
My friend had strongly suggested that we try their almond cookies, which honestly I did not think were that great.
At least their pastries make for some great food photos. Perhaps I will give their desserts a try next time, but I am definitely avoiding dinner.
This place is great. The atmosphere is so chill and let's you also check out others while dining either sitting at the bar or even on the street. I love how the windows open up to Halsted.
The food here is good. I usually get the half sandwich and soup or salad special. And I am always left happy. Don't even get me started on the desserts, I have to keep myself away, they all looks super tasty!
I love bringing groups here. Especially if they are from out of town, they are usually blown away by Artopolis and they often speak about going back!
Awesome awesome food and GREAT outdoor seating! I've never seen an outside seating area so big and comfortable. The inside is nice, but when the weather is nice too, there is no one inside...allll outside. There is a nice little pond, too.
The menu here is quite extensive, much better than my lincoln park fave, Athenian Room. There is just soooo much more to choose from! Hot and cold apps up the wazoo and seafood options are must as well.
The service is great and the prices aren't too shabby either. The wine is nicely priced too. Will come here again, such a beautiful area.
Artopolis provides a fun, casual yet tasty lunch location. I love having their Spinach and Feta artopita for lunch, with pasta salad- for $7.50 it is incredibly yummy, filling and made quickly-therefore perfect for that mid-day office get away. I was fortunate enough to taste their Mango moose cake, at a birthday party, which was light, not to sweet, but flavorful. .
After 2pm there is full waiter service, which is fine, it is hardly busy at that time of the day. I am eager to return to try some other things on the menu.
A very casual, cutesy Greek cafe/bakery where seating is up to the patrons, and the menus are easily inviting for anyone looking for good, quality food at a reasonable, everyday price.
The stuffed puff pastries (pie-looking things --- artopilos?) are quite delicious and come with fruits. Their salads are OK - perhaps a bit drenched in dressing. I'm a fan of their foamy lattes and desserts (the Valroha chocolate mousse!!).
A great place to sit by the windows and people-watch in the warm months. Definitely a solid option in Chicago's Greektown.
Wow, what a unique place! I had the Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts for a midnight snack with one of my girlfriends. She ordered the bread pudding, which was heaven on earth. Sure my Greek yogurt was probably something I could have made on my own at home, but the atmosphere at Artopolis is worth the trip. The selection of specialty desserts was awesome, but I try not to eat super sugary stuff. A sweets lover would be in heaven. I can't wait to bring my boy here and share some sweets! I will be back!!!
If you know me, you know I love Greektown. And I really like the look of Artopolis, and I like being able to sit on the upper balcony and look down on the street with the windows open when it's nice out. But in general, this place is pretty lame.
I got a chicken sandwich with avocado, which was just okay, and we tried the hummus, baba ganouj, chickpea app, which was also very much just okay.
The service was pretty bad. Our waitress was borderline surly from the get-go, barely paid attention to the upper-balcony area at all, never asked how our food was, and did not know the answers to any of the questions we asked about the menu when ordering, nor did she make any attempt to ask another employee for us.
This was the first time I had been to Artopolis in years, but I seem to remember similar experiences in the past with the service. In an area with such amazing restaurants, I see no reason to ever go back here.
Came here for a quick bite to eat before a 5-hour Memorial Weekend drive and was pleasantly surprised. Decor looks very authentic and they sell so many delicious things, it's almost like a Whole Foods. Their pastries looked really really good, too.
I had a Spinach Leaf salad, which is "Fresh spinach leaves, pinenuts, Florina roasted peppers, Sesame goat cheese, reduction of balsamic vinaigrette." (Had it sans cheese, b/c lactose intolerance + 5 hour drive = bad idea.) It was delicious and a good portion. The addition of pine nuts really upped the ante and I couldn't get enough.
Friend had the Tequila Pollo, which is "Wood-roasted chicken breast, Roma tomato, arugula, avocado, tequila lime mayonnaise, on Sour Dough Boulé." From what I could pick off her plate, the chicken was a bit dry, but everything else was pretty tasty. Big portion, though!
I just really liked the atmosphere of fine dining at deli prices, and eating with real silverware and stemware. The indoor/outdoor seating was nice for people watching, as well.
I'll have to stop by Greektown more often and not just for greasy gyro plates. K, let's be honest, in addition to gyro plates. =)
If you can't decide what to order, get the mango yogurt mousse. It's got the texture of a mousse with the flavor of a mango lassi.
If you like chocolate, the Valrhona is good.
If you like cinnamon, the walnut baklava roll is very cinnamon-y, very sweet, and very nutty.
The American doppio (espresso and water) is pretty good, too. It's light and less acidic than drip coffee.
This is currently my favorite place to get dessert in Chicago. Not that I have a lot of places to compare to, but it was so good I couldn't wait to write a review. The pastries are not that pretty or neatly made, but the flavors and textures are great. I will definitely be back!
For the record, I want to come back here. For the record, I want to go on a date here!
I only came to Artopolis for dessert (see my Athena review as to why) and was pleased. I was with a group of friends and we all decided to get different desserts and rank them from best to worst.
The winner was the pear tart, second place was the lemon tart (which I ordered, because it had a big "L" on it!), third place was the white chocolate mousse with raspberry glaze, fourth was (I think) the bread pudding, and fifth was the chocolate mousse. This was, by the way, an extremely difficult ranking to decide. Artopolis offers such a beautiful display of pastries, mini cakes, tarts, etc. that it's almost a shame to even pick one dessert over the other! They also have artopitas, sandwiches, soups and salads that sound enticing as well.
I also love the layout of the place. It looks so inviting from the outside and the split level inside reminds me of an ice cream parlor I went to in San Diego.
A friend once confided in me that she and her pals would make frequent visits to Artopolis to admire the young Greek waiters. No offense to the wait staff but what has me salivating at this cafe is the food. The Briammi Kefte, with oven-baked ground lamb and beef seasoned with an assortment of spices, sports a rich flavor. The chicken Tequila Pollo with avocado and the roasted lamb Mediterraneo also make savory lunch treats.
Artopolis also boasts a large selection of desserts. If your choice is between the Chocolate Raspberry, a dark chocolate mousse layered cake with raspberry preserve, and the Chocolate Mousse Cup; pick the chocolate raspberry. I can't believe that I, a confessed chocoholic, am saying this, but the chocolate mousse cup was a little too chocolaty. Oh, and as for the waiters at Artopolis, I'll let you make your own judgments.
Artopolis is such a great Greektown gem...delicious food and friendly staff. There is seating upstairs, downstairs on street level and in the main dining area near the coffee bar. Its great people watching and seeing the older Greek men drink their coffee and chat as they watch the Greek news.
The lunch specials are all under $10 and a great deal for a large side salad and soup, sandwich or artopita (nothing like a pita, no idea why they call it that because its a delicious flaked crust filled with cheese and meat, mushrooms or spinach).
I would stay away from ordering the hot meals like the salmon. They're ok but not really what the cafe is known for.
This cafe has a great atmosphere and is the perfect place to come and spend some time eating and… Read more »
I LOVE THIS PLACE! My fiancé and I randomly came across this place when we had a craving for Greek food and wanted to sit outside. Well, we didn't get to sit outside, per se, but who cares when the place is that cool?!?! That was a long time ago, and I've been hooked ever since. The baked goods are to die for and the food is incredible. I love taking people here when the weather is great and watching them fall in love with the city. I think that this is one of the places that epitomizes what is great about Chicago. Great international food, well-developed recipes, and an incredible atmosphere. Go there for a meal or just to sit on the terrace-y area and enjoy a real Greek tea or coffee.
I get the Mediterranean Salad, Spanakopita, Tiropita, or Manitaropita with any of their desserts. I highly recommend their lemon or seasonal tarts, they're awesome in the summer with strawberries! Also, you can never go wrong with my very favorite Greek delicacy, the ice cram with sour cherries. Talk about rock star.... Hmm... I think I need to go for a walk over to Greek Town now... Yelp, I'll be back.
I adore this place! Super-friendly staff, great European ambiance, and the BEST food in Greektown! When I lived in Chicago, I'd order the Chicken Caesar Salad and Lemon Rice Soup almost nightly. I always loved how they'd send me off with some toasty-hot bread and butter in my "to go" bag, to boot -- so nice!
Expect a charming, European cafe/bar vibe if you plan to eat-in...and fresh, made-on-the-spot food if you're in the mood for take-out. Artopolis is always my first food-stop whenever I'm back in town...take advantage of it while you live nearby!
This is one of my favorite lunch places in the area. My favorite is the Artopitas, which are puff pastries that are filled with all sorts of delicious things - they change from day to day, but my favorite is the mozzarella and chicken. With your artopita, you also get a salad and a bread basket so you don't leave hungry.
It has great atmosphere and when it is warm they have a patio that has big windows that open to the sidewalk - so it is great for people watching. The desserts and coffee also look great, but I haven't tried those..next time.
Best cafe in Chicago for coffee and desserts! Food is not great though, try 9 Muses for the entree and come here for dessert and coffee! It's a perfect date place or to come here with a small group.
I'm not big on their lunch special because I really don't like the food, but I'd definitely recommend their pizza if you're in the mood. It's my second favorite in all of Chicago (right behind DiMaggio's in Harwood Heights).
I usually come here for lunch with a few co-workers. Their sandwiches, artopitas and seafood salad are all really good. They also have some good soups.
It can get very busy in here, so make sure you have plenty of time in order to sit after you get your food. The only thing I don't like is that it is a tad too expensive to do lunch here all of the time. I may make it here once a month, but it is always good when I'm there.
Yes I am a fan of this place, well I am a fan of the deserts! Cute neighborhood, the owner is very nice and you can usually see him talking to the patrons, (I like that).
Artopolis was awesome!!! My girlfriends and I were going to have dinner at Pegasus, but the rooftop dining didn't open until 4:00pm so we had a bit of time to kill. We stumbled onto this place and...cha-ching! Charming, quaint, and amazing desserts! We looked at the menu and couldn't resist...one signature and one traditional: killer chocolate mousse and finger-licking-good baklava! No Joke! This place rocks...you must go!!! :)
I give them 4 stars, since they really have a good pastries and also good coffee! Their pastries just so beautiful and taste very good! Very nice European style interior of the cafe, maybe next time I should go there for lunch or dinner!
I discovered Artopolis through this summer's Taste of Greece festival. I bought one of their bougatsas for dessert on my way out, and it was one of the best non-chocolate pastries I've ever had. It's a flaky shell filled with lemon custard, topped with honey and cinnamon. The flavors are all understated but add up to a fantastic whole. I went to the cafe once around 8 pm on a weekday, and they were out of bougatsa. Saturday I was there around 12:30 and they only had seven left. (Moral--get there early for bougatsa!) I bought four to take down to St Louis for a host gift and one for myself to eat in the car. (These things are huge and the delicate, flaky crust makes a terrific mess if one is not careful.) Only $3.25 apiece.
Their regular food is hit-or-miss. I've eaten in and taken out, and they really stiff you on the side dish for takeout. We're talking a generous portion taking up one-third of your plate vs a three-ounce plastic cup. And speaking of side dishes, skip the pasta salad, which is the blandest thing on earth, and get the potato salad instead.
The jambon fume sandwich is solid with a good balance of ingredients, but the prosciutto is too dry. The mushroom artopita needs more savory and less creamy ingredients.
Besides being a Greek bakery and agora, they purport to be a traditional European-style cafe. I ate lunch there on Saturday on my way out of town, and can confirm their success on two points: 1. Indifferent service; and 2. Bringing a tiny bottle of Diet Coke instead of serving a fountain version. Although, the bottle was cold, and they gave me ice in the glass, which of course never happens in Europe.
But also, they had a nice sedate atmosphere despite the soccer game playing on the TVs. There were plenty of seats but most of the patrons seemed Hellenic or at least Eastern European, so that should give some confidence about the authenticity here.
The seasonal soup right now is a potato-garlic puree, which is very tasty if rather straightforward; they serve it with a small basket of soft, aromatic bread of some unidentifiable kind (there are poppy seeds and other dark specks in it). The Turkey Melinzana sandwich was excellent. Turkey, provolone, tomato, lettuce, and the two key ingredients--a great kalamata olive bread (and I don't even like olives) and garlic eggplant spread. This sandwich had perfectly proportioned ingredients. Damn, damn good.
If you are just picking up an order, they have a reserved space in front of the store--ten minutes only.
Great spinach pie and white bean soup. Amazing atmosphere and staff. I can't wait to go back and try some of the pastries!
We went for Sunday brunch, and it was very crowded. The service was really slow, but it was a really busy time. The music (Greek pop) seemed to get louder the longer we were there too. The bakery is stellar. The food was great, the atmosphere is delightful, and it was an all-around great brunch. My one real issue was that the soft drinks (charged a typical $1.25 or similar) were tiny and had no free refills. I know it's trivial, but being on a budget, it really caught me by surprise.
We didn't sit down for a meal here, but just ordered some pastries to-go: specifically the almond and walnut baklava (can't have too much baklava) as well as some cookies (can't remember the name but they had raspberry filling, one end was dipped in chocolate then in sprinkles). Everything was delicious and the baklava was sweeter than any I'd had before. The cookies were great, especially dipped in tea. This cafe is so cute, I'm definitely planning on making another visit. Hopefully over my lunch break since it's pretty close to work!
Mon 1/2 off bottled wine &…
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Food specials Mon.-Thurs.
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Greek
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Greek
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Greek
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, each with it's…
Second City. Paris on the Prairie. Hog Butcher for…
When the sun goes down, you'll find me here. When…
These locations have some unbelievable desserts!…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Here is where I like to go for a great Greek meal.…
A list of strictly dessert places and restaurants…
I get a raging sweet tooth after a meal. These…
