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Greek Islands Restaurant

4 star rating
based on 275 reviews

Categories: Greek, Mediterranean  [Edit]

Neighborhoods: Near West Side, West Loop, Greektown
200 S Halsted St
(between Adams St & Quincy St)
Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 782-9855
Nearest Transit:

UIC-Halsted (Blue)

Good for Groups:
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Valet
Attire:
Casual
Price Range:
$$
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar

275 reviews for Greek Islands Restaurant

Review Highlights   

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"And what's not to love about the free valet parking." (in 44 reviews)
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"Try the saganaki - great taste and awesome presentation." (in 74 reviews)
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"I love the flaming cheese and the tomato salad." (in 32 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of J L.

 

0

36

J L.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
11/3/2009

Went here last night for my birthday.  Place was excellent.  

Got the family style dinner for 2 and there was enough food to feed 4 people.  Started with eggplant dip, feta cheese & olive oil, gyros, saganaki.  Main course was mousaka, pastichio, spanakotyropita, and baked chicken with herbs, served with rice & roasted potatoes.  Dessert was coffee with orange and lemon phyllo custard & baklava.  

Everything was top-notch, except for the spanakotyropita, something about it had a off-putting flavor (too much lemon juice maybe), it was edible, but I wouldnt order it again.

$21/pp for the meal, and there was enough for my kids to share.  Free bread with the meal was excellent.  Free valet parking...you cant beat it.

We will def. come back!!!

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Photo of Jason H.

 

4

54

Jason H.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
11/26/2009

I was rather offended by the menu describing their greek salad as being authentic.  Authentic greek salads consist entirely of feta, tomato, cucumber, olives, and onion, topped with olive oil and spices.  Note: lettuce is not an ingredient in a greek salad.  

The greek salad at Greek Islands is almost entirely lettuce.  It came with one slice of tomato, one cucumber, a tiny square of feta cheese, and two olives.  This is pretty typical for an american greek salad.  There is no way it can be called authentic.  

The other dishes I had were so-so.

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Photo of Aimee M.

Elite '09

11

55

Aimee M.

Addison, IL

5 star rating
10/31/2009

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Greek Islands. The food was wonderful and very filling.  We started off with the Saganaki--yummy! (it was fun seeing little bursts of flames occurring throughout the restaurant).  
Then we had the gyros and mousaka. Both dishes were delicious. For me, the tzatski was the best I've ever tasted.  And ok, I'm going to sound a little weird but the potato that the served with the mousaka--heaven.  Yes, I'm getting excited about a potato.  Great portions of food--had leftovers for home (yay!)

The service was wonderful.  Very friendly and most especially very attentive.  They seemed to anticipate what we needed.   Free valet is a plus--and those guys hustle.  It was raining pretty hard but the guys did a great job getting everyone's car back in a very timely manner.

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Photo of Jennifer P.

 

7

21

Jennifer P.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/12/2009

GYROS! I loved this place. Went there last night to fulfill last minute greek food cravings. My boyfriend and I both ordered the gyro platter with the feta cheese appetizer. It was DELICIOUS! The feta was sooo, so good words cannot express. I'm rather a cheese connoisseur and thought the drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and savory black olives were a great touch to make a simple starter even better.
If you do order the gyros, it's a large serving. Honestly, we should have just ordered one and shared, but it makes for good leftovers!

This place seems great for groups (make reservations and dress nice) and to order many things to share!

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Photo of HungryChicago M.

 

37

56

HungryChicago M.

Evanston, IL

3 star rating
11/27/2009

Very family-oriented restaurant with great service.

The food was not that impressive. The Pork Souvlaki was really really dry. When I mean "really really" dry, it was cracking dry and my jaw got sore right away. Could not finish eating it.  The dessert was average, too. We both have been to Greece and know that it was not on the delicious side in terms of food quality, but overall it was acceptable considering the location and price. We walked away paying about $17/pp.

A good place for family and senior citizens, but not a hip romantic place. Pretty decent for a late night dinner.

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Photo of Mary B.

 

11

61

Mary B.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/23/2009

Well run, service was great, food was out fast, they pay attention to detail.

Had the avgolemono for the first time-so I have no reference point, but it was lemon heaven. Loved it.

Gyro platter appetizer was plenty for dinner and excellent.

Can't wait to go back and try more off the menu, but knowing me I wont be able to steer clear of the soup and gyro.

Free valet-but be kind and tip!

Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

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Photo of Shilpi D.

 

13

98

Shilpi D.

Fremont, CA

3 star rating
10/24/2009

Good ambiance. Perfect for groups.
Went there with a few of my friends
Good service
Definitely try their fried cheese
Lamb was good, but a little too fatty for me. Next time, I'll try the fish.
Stick to the usuals: gyros, chicken
Their fish is very fresh, so highly recommended

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Photo of Jennifer I.

 

12

21

Jennifer I.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
10/26/2009

I really like this restaurant. Extremely consistent with food AND service. I have never been disappointed with any of my food choices, and I wish I got here more often. Love the saganaki, mousaka, and the dolmades especially.

My sister is a big fan of the sea bass and gets that every time. A friend of mine said the lamb chops were the best she has ever had, anywhere.

Free valet is a bonus. I am always sure to tip.

Sometimes the service may seem a little brusk...as in, I am still taking off my jacket and the waiter asks for my drink order...but I don't think they are rushing anyone, they are just trying to give good service. As long as they are just as quick bringing out my food, the check, my change, etc...I am not going to complain.

I would recommend Greek Islands to anyone.

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Photo of Zoe H.

Elite '09

8

53

Zoe H.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
10/16/2009 1 photo

More like 3 1/2..

I was told that this was the best Greek restaurant in Greek Town.. by my Greek friend. Anyway, this place was super busy. Guess that means they're doing something right :)

I got the spinach cheese(feta) pie and the cold spread sampler. Both were pretty good, but nothing amazing. Everyone else thought the food was pretty good. They kind of rushed us out .. I guess it's cause there were so many people waiting.

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Photo of Raymond M.

 

0

12

Raymond M.

DeKalb, IL

4 star rating
10/27/2009

Oopah!! I love the flaming cheese and the tomato salad! I would say this is the best Greek restaurant in Chi-town. Never been disappointed and always been happy with their service.

The desserts are simple but very delicious. Kinda on the sweet end but simply just irresistible.

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Photo of Colleen B.

Elite '09

85

61

Colleen B.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
11/5/2009

This is the restaurant I go to when I'm in Greektown.  The saganaki is flavorful and every dish I've had there has been delicious.  The service is great too. I'd stop in if I were you... try this place out before you venture to another Greek restaurant in the area.

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Photo of Z Z.

 

0

22

Z Z.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/23/2009

You have to love Greek Town! This restaurant is very homey and warm, the staff are very attentive and they know all the regulars, and they really take care of you - including removing the crumbs from your table and refilling water often.

Their menu has so many options you really can't go wrong with anything you order, from gyro, to the juicy chicken, tender vegetables and perfectly prepared seafood, they deliver great tasty food and large portions at reasonable prices. They also have an abundance of great appetizers including dips/spreads which you can eat with the french bread they put on the table.

This place is great for large groups and sharing food here is a must!
I love that they valet park for free, and there is always an abundance of people, so it great for people watching.

Make sure you make reservations because it can get crowded and we all hate waiting...I personally get VERY cranky.

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Photo of Tabitha G.

Elite '09

23

64

Tabitha G.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/7/2009

Greek Islands has become our go to place when we want greek food.  Especially when we have guests in town.  I'll say that we do have an extensive Greek Town in this city and that we've tried a handful of restaurants off of Halsted, but something keeps us coming back to Greek Islands despite the long wait that can happen during busy hours.

It's a combination of their great food, amazing service and reasonable prices that will keep me coming back to this place.  There's never been a time that I've had a horrible experience and this is one place that I can always go to that will always be consistent.

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Photo of Fabrizio C.

 

0

17

Fabrizio C.

Oakland, CA

3 star rating
10/18/2009

I like Greek islands for what it is: conventional Greek food for a swarm of people. I have great memories of eating their oven baked lamb on my first trip to Chicago, so I'm sorta fond of the place.

My last time here I tried a bunch of great appetizers--fried cheese and an eggplant dip being the standouts--but my keftedes(meatballs) were just plain.

A plus: they remove the crumbs from your table fairly often which is unusual in this price category.

Minus: the wait can be a drag.

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Photo of Tony B.

 

3

40

Tony B.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
11/16/2009

This is the best restaurant on the planet.

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Photo of ALK k.

 

2

133

ALK k.

Fairfax, VA

4 star rating
10/6/2009

came here for a pre birthday celeb for one of my friends.
They got  complimentary valet which is a huge help. place was packed for a weekday so the food must be fabulous. we were seated and after 3-5 minutes our waiter came to get our orders for refreshments. the menu is extensive made up mostly of lamb,chicken,beef, fish. They have a daily special depends on the day.
I ordered the grilled octopus which is seasoned just right. it wasnt rubbery which im happy about. a good way to start out if you are tasting greek food for the 1st time.

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Photo of Ashley M.

 

5

24

Ashley M.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
11/10/2009

AMAZING!  We came here on a saturday around 7:30 and the place was packed, the wait was about 25 min, not to bad for not having a reservation on a sat.  Plus they have a bar located right by the waiting area that you can hang out in while you wait for your table.  Once we got seated the waiter brought out our saganaki very quickly.  It was delicious maybe the best saganaki i've ever had.  The rest of our food came out impressively fast.  Everything was delicious,  the spinach pie slices were huge.   The service was great to,  our waiter was very observant and polite,  he never let our waters get down past half full.  The food is very reasonably priced for the quality and quantity.

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Photo of Jay B.

 

789

71

Jay B.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
8/17/2009

Get your authentic Greek-style luv'n here!  Hey I'm talking food here not drilling for oil in the wrong hole.  So with that said, clean up your act and lets talk about cheap eats with a huge quantity of food.  We didn't have plans on going to any particular Greek restaurant in Greek Town, so strolled up and down Halsted street and chose the place that had the most people waiting and being serviced.  This place was rockin' and they must have a waiter staff of 50 people or more.  You'll find both family-style and individual catered plates.  Tons of appetizers and main course selections.

For $5.50 you get a huge slab of flaming Saganaki.  What a deal to get your flame on.  Their Avgolemeno soup was thick 'n creamy - texture-wise, just the way I like it, however it was quite bland and not full of the explosive lemon flavor I'm use to.  The Gyros was a plate-full.  I've gotten use to the more Middle Eastern (Swarma-style spices) flavors - so the meat was kinda-bland, but that's what is to expected for Gyros.  Still, it was freshly cut off the rotisserie skewer and tender and juicy.  The Loukanico (Sausage flavored with orange rind) was quite tasty, and the slices of Roast leg of Lamb were pretty moist.  

So if you want to get caught up in all the hussle and bussle of frantic Greeks running around screaming Opah!  Opah!  Opah!, this is your spot.

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Photo of Cassie D.

Elite '09

59

136

Cassie D.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
9/2/2009

This is a tough one.  My food was delicious, but I left with major questions about the restaurant.

For background: we were a party of 7, celebrating 2 birthdays.  One person in our party was vegan - not a big deal - she's used to eating out and she doesn't mind what anyone else at the table eats.  

Food was tasty.  We got a bunch of appetizers, including saganaki (how can you go wrong??), tiramosalata, tzatziki, garlic potatoes and beets.  I didn't try the beets but the rest were delicious.  For my entree, I did a "make your own combination" with 2 half orders - dolmades and spanikopitira.  Both were delicious.

Service was spotty at best.  They couldn't get much right.  Brought thigns we didn't order and didn't bring things we did order.  The vegan in our party was told by the server that nothing on the menu could be altered or modified at all (seriously, they can't just leave a sauce off a dish??) so she ended up eating veggie sides for dinner, which was ok but also a bit ridiculous.  Also, while the food came out quickly, the waiters were slow to do anythign else.  

And that's where my question lies: food came out very quickly, almost too quickly.  And dishes that can't be modified even just to take off the sauce??  Sounds to me like pre-made meals sitting under a hot lamp waiting to be served.  Maybe they're just really that fast, but I doubt it.  And that knocks them down in my book.  Way better places to go that actually make your food fresh.  Especially for the price.

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Photo of Anna S.

 

1

6

Anna S.

Evanston, IL

5 star rating
11/6/2009

This place is great!  The food is delicious and they make their own wine which tastes great!  This place is good for groups.  I ordered lamb, it was tender and cooked to perfection which made me very happy for about 2 months.

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Photo of Jessica C.

 

1

20

Jessica C.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
11/1/2009

WOW! My boss took me here to celebrate my birthday. I've never had greek before, but I absoutely loved it! We were greeted by a older gentleman, he may have owned or managed the place? So friendly and reminded me of my father. I had several spreads with pita bread and some cheese spread. For my entre, I order a combination plate since I wasn't familier with greek food. For dessert, I had the rice pudding. The whole meal was delcious! I will definitley be back here! For anyone who works downtown like I do, it's a short walk over to this place..and it's well worth it!

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Photo of Bridget G.

 

1

22

Bridget G.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
9/19/2009

Has been 10 years since I've been to Greek Town; and Greek Islands did not disappoint.  Saganaki is WONDERFUL!  As a vegetarian, there are many good options.  No one was disappointed.  Free valet parking- and no wait for a party of 5 at 6pm.  

Great food.  Did I mention that I love the saganaki so much I want to take it out behind the middle school and get it pregnant?  Thumbs up!

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Photo of Matthew E.

Elite '09

23

170

Matthew E.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
8/25/2009

I love greek if you dont believe me check my review of Barba Yianni Grecian Taverna in Lincoln Square. This place underperforms in soooo many ways that I'm disappointed in my first experience in Greek Town. The tzatiki and saganaki were small and not very flavorful. To get any bread there we basically had to beg making it near difficult to eat our appetizers.

Their chicken lemonato and moussaka was lacking in pizzaz and was the sauce was runny. Their wasn't greek rice or anything with it. And we were almost rushed through the dinner. Before we were even done eating we were asked what we wanted for dessert with me having to ask the waiter to leave my dish alone as he tried to clear the table.

Not the experience I was hoping for and I can't say I'm looking forward to a return trip to Greek Town one day. I'l head to Lincoln Square for my Greek food.

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Photo of Linda V.

 

7

2

Linda V.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
8/14/2009

It was a beautiful Thursday evening. My boyfriend and I were looking for three things: Greek Food, Outdoor Seating, Someplace we'd never been.

Greek Islands definitely fit the bill. Great Saganaki. I had the stuffed Chicken Special (delicious) and he had the Gyros (also good). It was tons of food - definitely more than we could fit in our bellies.

The service was VERY prompt (almost too prompt where I kinda felt they were hovering).

All in all - I like the atmosphere at Santorini better, but this was a good inexpensive dinner for sure!

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Photo of Chris H.

Elite '09

99

299

Chris H.

New York, NY

2 star rating
7/9/2009

A case of egregiously confused restaurateurs, the food is forgettable.  I believe the owners intended for this place to be an upscale Greek eatery, but it's more like street cart food meets Greek diner.  There's valet parking, and the waiters don matching vests and ties, but most of the food is prepped in advance, left on a steam table, and slopped out cafeteria style for each order.  A perplexing faux fine dining experience.

A starter of donner kebab, garlic dip and pita would more appropriately be served out of a street cart rather than a white table cloth restaurant.  Saganiki is decent, but salty to a cringing level.  

A chicken 'riganti' was so boring it hurt.  It pains me that it's near the price point of really great Greek restaurants in New York, such as Pylos or Kefi.  It was just a dried out, boring, completely forgettable bit of bird.  An order of roast lamb loin was similarly disappointing.  Just a hair above street meat.    

Thankfully, the food is not outrageously expensive, but this is certainly a restaurant that can be missed.

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Photo of Irena A.

 

9

67

Irena A.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
7/20/2009

I love the greek islands!! I went here with a friend that has never tried Greek food. She ended up loving it! First of all, I love that parking is complementary. It was a nice surprise to see that our waiter spoke Spanish.

We had different dishes.. My friend had the makaranoda me kima(ground beef greek pasta) she loved it. We then proceeded to make this a tapas event. We ordered Bamje(okra), Greek potatoes(which are to die for) and fried zuchini and shared them amongst us. And of course saganaki! Having been a waitress in  a greek restaurant, I love watching them light it on fire!! even though I almost burned my hair the first time I tried it.. oh well

Bottom line, it's a wonderful place. Service rocks and the rice pudding was grrreat!! Go there

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Photo of Jessica Y.

Elite '09

29

66

Jessica Y.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
8/11/2009

I've dined in and taken out multiple times from Greek Islands and each time have been thoroughly satisfied! I'm a lover of Greek food and grew up with many Greek friends, so I'm quite picky about Greek food.

While I have been to cheaper restaurants, the atmosphere is great and service is wonderful. Although the restaurant gets busy, there is always someone to help and you're never left waiting for a long time.

My personal favorite is the spanakotiropita! For a healthier option, I would highly recommend the stuffed bell peppers. At some restaurants, peppers can come out soggy, but not at Greek Islands! Pair it with a salad and you're good to go!

If you have friends or family coming into town, this is a great restaurant for Greek food!

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Photo of Jenna H.

 

20

75

Jenna H.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/15/2009

Greek food isn't typically my first choice dining out... nothing against Greeks :-) I love homemade spanakopita or stuffed gyro with tzatziki as much as the next Nia Vardalos or Maria Menounos, but the handful of times I've been to Greek restaurants I haven't been impressed. Generally I just find the food to heavy/greasy and bland.

But Greek Islands is a pleasant change! It was my first trip and there was a lot I liked:
1.  Service. Outstanding. A+. I volunteer with a mentoring program & I took my mentee here for an early surprise birthday dinner. I've learned that when you dine out with a middle-schooler at an hour commonly reserved for early-bird specials, you can get some quizzical looks and spotty service, but not the case here. So good that our dinner was almost two months ago and I can still remember our server's name, Bill. My mentee spent over 5 minutes filling out a comment card :-)
2. Atmosphere--we enjoyed the decor, just enough without being over done. We sat a table "at the top of the mountain" which was really fun since you can look over the most of the restaurant.
3. Prices: 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 dessert, & "drinks" (soda) for under $35. Good stuff. Plus I took a peek at the wine list when my mentee was in the bathroom & it was super cheap! A bunch of options for just under $5/glass. I see myself coming back here with the girls.
4. Food! Most of it was very good, particularly the two things Bill recommended; I was skeptical of both but they turned out to be our favorite's of the evening:
i. Fried calamari. Based on my bias against Greek restaurants being too greasy, and Bill deviating from the two appetizers we asked about & instead suggesting something fried, this is the last thing I would have gone for. Fortunately my mentee happens to love calamari so I agreed, & was proven wrong, was great! Light, crispy, perfect.
ii. Ambrosia. So it comes time for dessert & again we name two choices & ask Bill which is better, & again Bill suggests another option entirely. But this time we're both really skeptical & it takes some convincing on Bill's end to persuade us. Yowza! Deeeeelicious! A dense blanket of shredded filo dough and walnuts topped with ice cream & caramel... nothing terribly crafty or couture, but 100% sweet-tooth satisfying.

My mentee got the chicken riganati which was very tasty, HUGE serving (definitely enough for lunch or dinner the next day). The potatoes baked with lemon, oil & oregano are also delightful.

I got the combo plate, which I'd recommend for anyone going here for the first time. I chose  spinach cheese pie (at Bill's suggestion) and the pastichio. The pastichio was the only miss of the evening. I was expecting it to be on the heavy side, but akin to a greek lasagna. It was more like a giant block of baked macaroni with meat, it wasn't very flavorful and was a little overcooked.  But I loved the spinach cheese pie. It was everything I could want, which was a tower of spinach and cheese, not too dry, not soggy, topped with a flaky crust.

All in all, a very solid 4 stars! Will definitely be back. Especially for the gyros and that cheap wine list :-)

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Photo of Tracy G.

Elite '09

3

111

Tracy G.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
7/6/2009

First impression...super friendly staff. Every single person working at Greek Islands greeted us as we came in.  But then I got that sinking feeling as I saw the table of tourists seated next to us taking a picture of the flaming cheese with their waiter. Did I just fall into a tourist trap in my own city!? Sure, they make a production of the corny flaming cheese, but Greek Islands felt like an authentic Greek family restaurant to me after a few minutes.

You can never eat enough cheese, so we ordered the saganaki, and the feta with kalamata olives for appetizers. I normally don't like feta cheese, but it was delicious. It didn't have that bitey after taste and it tasted fresh, cut right off the block. :)

For dinner we had the gyros and a combination plate of mousava and spinach pie. Food came out hot, which is always important and we were grateful for the hearty portion sizes. Everything was delicious. Our waiter was very attentive.

No major complaints. My only two very small gripes are: 1) I wish they had served us more than 4 olives with the feta, and 2) I much prefer fountain pop to baby glass bottles of pop. We are in America people! I need my fountain diet coke. Regardless, I will make a trip back here.

The restaurant is HUGE, so this is a good place for big groups and families.

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Photo of Shradha A.

Elite '09

83

464

Shradha A.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
Updated - 7/19/2009

Visit #2 - still very good, still very satisfying, pardon me if my grammar is wrong or words are misspelt - I'm in intense food coma from eating dinner here tonight...

My best friend took me here on the eve of my birthday and we went all out ordering appetizers, entree combos and dessert!!! I pity her because she has to drive all the way to Evanston, drunk on moussaka and high on filo...

They are very vegetarian-friendly and have quite a few items for us. I love their combo option where you can order any 2 things for the same price as you would one whole... I had the vegetarian moussaka and the spinach-cheese pie.

We also ordered Ambrosia for dessert - a baklava-like dessert, which was too big and sweet even if 4 were sharing! It comes with a scoop of ice cream...

Their service is extremely friendly, warm, attentive, quick and nice!

To add to it all, free valet parking!! Who can beat that!

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    8/3/2007

    I think overall the dinner was really good! I was very satisfied with my experience at Greek Islands… Read more »

Photo of Cate M.

Elite '09

24

108

Cate M.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
Updated - 7/16/2009

Greek Islands is fast becoming a favorite date place for my boyfriend and I. Now that we live in the West Loop very close to Greektown, I'm sure it will become our most frequented restaurant. We love it there. The food is always delicious, the waiters are friendly, and the staff is helpful.

We nearly always order the same thing: Chicken Shishkabob for my boyfriend, Avgolemono soup for me (it's my favorite), and of course a Saganaki appetizer. Their Saganaki is the best I've ever had and always makes my mouth happy. My Avgolemono soup is always delicious, hot, and made fresh. We both enjoy the Chicken Shishkabob-I eat a lot of the veggies, and he eats the chicken. Both are done very well-we both love the taste of grilled veggies, and they're fantastic here. Never over or under cooked, and always the right amount of char. I also love their rice pudding, which is, to date, the only dessert I've ever had there because it's so good. Next time, I'm going to try the Baklava, another favorite of mine.

We love the date like atmosphere here. The lighting is lower than most places, but not so low that you can't see your food (I have had that happen before). Even when they are full of louder people, we can easily hold a conversation and focus on each other, which is important for a date. I love the decor as well. It's perfect for the restaurant and the atmosphere. Greek Islands has been around for a long time (my mom ate there 30 years ago when she lived in Evanston and came to the city) and I imagine it will be around for a lot longer. We always look forward to dining there.

You can dress however you like here, which I appreciate. I have gone in jeans and a t-shirt, but also in a LBD and heels. I've seen large family gatherings here, work dinners, and even a few wedding receptions.  Free valet parking is a wonderful thing that they have. While we can now walk there, it allows our visitors to drive if they wish and not have to worry about parking, which is always a concern in the city. 5 stars all around for Greek Islands.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    5/14/2008

    I went to this restaurant for the first time tonight with my boyfriend who'd been there before. I… Read more »

Photo of John F.

Elite '09

16

59

John F.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
7/10/2009

This is far and away one of my top 10 restaurants in Chicago.

Once you make it past the upfront bar and walk inside the main restaurant, it looks like something directly from Greece. There is a 4-5 level terrace seating area built on stones, almost makes you think you're eating by the ruins. You can see the kitchen and the massive roasting meats from almost any seat in the house. Wait staff is very friendly and actually started teaching us how to speak Greek. They had some amazing recommendations for food.

The group of us four decided to order a bunch of food and split it. The lamb was delicious (certainly a staple of Greek food, make sure you order this). But for the rest of the menu I would advise you take the waiter's recommendations. We had two appetizers, octopus and zucchini, both recommended by the waiter and both were amazing. Then ordered a wide variety of main dishes and went through a few bottles of wine. And of course, make sure you finish your night off with a shot or two of Ouzo (greek hard liquor).

I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant to anyone, no matter if you are a big fan of Greek food or not. I wasn't a big Greek food fan before I came here, and now I can't stay away--I'm going back tonight in fact. See you there!

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Elite '09

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907

Caroline A.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
6/1/2009

What?!? You no eat meat??

????... Ok... I make lamb.

_____________________________

Get the lamb... super delicious! YUM.

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1

5

Santi M.

Cook, IL

5 star rating
11/19/2009

Greek Islands has the best Mediterranean Sea Bass anywhere in the city.  It is very similar to the fresh sea bass I would get in the small towns in Spain.  Nice light white fish with lemon, olive oil, oregano and salt.  Simple and delicious.  I've heard they fly in the sea bass directly from Greece twice a week and are able to do so because of the volume they sell.  Whatever the case may be, it's great.  The grilled octopus and cold plate are great also.  That's pretty much everything I have had there.  This place is a can't miss.  It's always great.  If you like seafood, check it out.

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8

M. P.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
8/9/2009

The food awesome! We loved the Saganaki! The food was great. No doubt about it. The desserts were amazing.

Presentation - awesome! Especially the Saganaki - really cool!!

Service - don't stand in my face!!! I think though it was our waiter. The rest of the service was good - we got our seating in 5 minutes on a friday packed night, every one was smiling etc.

Our waiter was like rushing us through our food - we went with another couple friend and were at the table for 2-3 minutes and the waiter kept asking us every one minute if we knew what we were having. Then after we ordered he took away my husband's and my girl friend's plate filled with food that they wanted to box. He did not even ask them! Then when the bill came we just kept our CC in and he assumed that we were done with our coffees and picked them up and cleaned our table! It was not like there were people waiting to get in or something but he was like in a rush and wanted us to get lost!!!!

I gave this place 3 stars as the food was great and you may not get this particular waiter. So try your luck :-)

BTW - They have free valet (and so do most Greek restaurants in the neighborhood).

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17

Janice S.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
7/20/2009

I thought this place was decent, I had the mousaka and chicken which was quite tasty. Grilled octopus for appetizers, but the octopus wasn't very fresh and the balsalmic/olive olive sauce was very greasy.

It was a nice decor, but our waiter was frazzled and kept bumping into the back of my chair when he was trying to serve the table behind me, and that was really irritating. He didn't even apologize, he actually told me to scoot my chair in, even though the space was tight and I couldn't move in anymore. It was really uncomfortable. He also overcharged us an extra mousaka, which we caught and had corrected.

I liked my actual dishes, but the rest of the dining experience made my rating okay.

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Elite '09

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Christopher F.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
9/14/2009

This is the best Greek restaurant I have had in the city.  The food was excellent, from the gyros to the stuff peppers/tomatoes to the lamb chops.   Will definitely return and not just because it is my g/f's favorite Greek restaurant ;-)

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Ivan M.

Chandler, AZ

3 star rating
5/1/2009

The food is pretty good.  The ambiance is pretty awesome.  I felt like I was going to go into a quaint little restaurant and ended up in the Harry Potter tent mansion.  

The food while pretty good, wasn't memorable.  I'll definitely give it another go around because I suspect the family style meal I ordered didn't do the place justice.

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Elite '09

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139

Rafael C.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
3/16/2009

Perhaps I'm shortsighted or just stubborn but Greek Islands is the only restaurant I go to in Greek town. To be slightly fair, I did try another place but quickly went back to where it just feels right.

Free valet is a good start as I don't have to worry about that at all whenever I want to make a visit. I also don't end up waiting more than 20 mins or so to get a table too.

There are many great dishes to choose from but I always have to start with Saganaki, lots of pita bread and tahini sauce just for good measure. I also go for the combos as I can mix and match a bit to try different things every so often. Their baklava is very good and perfect to finish off a meal.

The service has been consistently great as they are very attentive and friendly. Even when the place is busy, I have no problem with the wait staff.

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7

Cristina G.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
7/19/2009

I absolutely love this place! I'm very picky about Mediterranean food being that I'm Armenian and grew up eating the best home cooked Greek/Armenian food ever!! The owners of this place gotta be Greek or Armenian because they have authentic recipes and the flat bread there is amazing! My guy takes me here when I just don't feel like cooking and he knows I'll leave there a happy girl! They also have free valet!

-C.L.G.

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