Athena Greek Restaurant Reviews

Visiting Chicago for the first time and staying on Halsted Street we were pleasantly surprised to find a selection of Greek restaurants nearby. Having strolled along the street, we noted that the Athena seemed busier than most which I take as a good sign. We entered (around 7.00 pm on a Friday) to find a small line but we were quickly directed to the bar area as no tables were available. By the time I got a couple of drinks at the bar, we were called to our table. I appreciate that the fact I can not remember what we actually ate does not help people reading this review, but I do remember we thoroughly enjoyed whatever it was and found the staff to be very friendly and pleasant in a restaurant that was absolutely buzzing. Surely they (and we) can not all be wrong ??? Should we ever visit Chicago again I would not hesitate on returning here.

The place was so European looking. The lady was so nice and made us feel so welcome and sat us in a nice area. We ordered our food. I looked around and saw it was dirty. Our food came, it looked TERRIBLE!! We did eat some because we were hungry. We were on vacation. The rice was so watery and had a smell, the chicken was good, the veggies were burnt, we all got a potato that was broken. Then the next day I got diarrhea. Not very nice!! It was their terrible food. Greece wouldn't be proud! :( :(

We traveled to Chicago this past weekend with 3 other couples by train. One of the couples suggested Greek Town. We got reservations and arrived a little early. Not much to look at in Greek Town. Went back to the restaurant and decided to get a drink at the bar while we waited. They got our table ready very quickly. We were taken to our seats. A big room with beautiful decorations. Sunroof so it was nice and well lit room. Our waiter was very knowledgeable although he wasn't Greek. We ordered wine. He was able to make recommendations for us. He explained the menu very well. Each couple ordered an appetizer. the fried cheese was amazing. They set it on fire when they bring it out to you. We got the Calamari which i loved. One couple got the Spanakopita, it is a baked spinach and feta cheese pie in little triangles. One couple got the shrimp served with veggies sorry can't remember the name of it. Fried cheese was the other one. It was good, a very strong tasting cheese. For our main course we each ordered something different so we could try each dish. I got the Pastitsio, it's like greek lasagna with a twist. I loved it. Layer of noodles with seasonings in it layer of meat then a layer with bechamel sauce over the top baked. The sauce had a sweet taste to it. Dessert was a chocolate cake very rich. Some got the baklava which they said was very good. I don't like walnuts so passed on that. The portions were huge. This was at eleven. We had planned on going to a pizza place for a slice before 6:00 but we were still too full. Oh yes to top it of our friend bought ouzo shots. Tastes like anise. Boy, did I make a face. Highly recommend this place.

Amazing Greek food. Service is wonderful. Atmosphere is fun and friendly. Much better Greek dishes than available anywhere else in Chicago!

I found a Chicago restaurant guide that listed the Athena as the #2 rated Greek restaurant in Chicago. If this is number two, I can only imagine how wonderful number one is, because the Athena was AMAZING to my taste. World class service and my food was prepared to perfection. The restaurant is very large, and I arrived around 8p to find the place packed, but they got me right in and seated. My server gave me immediate attention, made excellent recommendations, and had my drinks served immediately. Seconds later my plate arrived, and it was EVERYthing I had been craving. I ordered the combination (sampler) plate and each item was exactly as I would like my Greek meal to taste. Going above and beyond is the Moussaka, and I'd go back for that, over and over and over again. The next time I'm in Chicago's ''Greek Town,'' I'll be back.

We recently held a Prenuptial Dinner at Athena. There were twenty four guests from around the US, each with varying familiarity with Greek food. The front of the house staff greeted us upon our arrival as if we were regulars. The open air portion of the restaurant is so attractive and comfortable, it seems to give a European vibe. The inside portion made it easier for our less mobile guests to be comfortable. Under the guidance of a terrific and experienced waiter, we ordered a variety of appetizers to be shared by all. Likewise, a number of various entrees were served to show off the variety of Greek foods served. Unfortunately, everyone was so full that no one could be persuaded to have dessert. All we heard from our guest for the remainder of the weekend were great comments and a desire to return to Athena.

I dined there last night and got fish poisoning. I ordered the whitefish then told later they don't have any. My friend ordered the Lamb special and was told the same...they don't have it. I was asked if orange roughy was ok instead so I agreed. My fish was rubbery and bland. Today, I had cramps all day, and a large amount of orange oily substance was passed through my system. I looked up what it could be, and apparently the fish I ate was not Orange Roughy, but Escolar, which contains a large amount of indigestible waxy fat that causes my symptoms, known as fish poisoning. It is sometimes sold by shoddy vendors as Orange Roughy or another fish. I gave the restaurant the benefit of the doubt and called them to inform them of this. The manager was rude and said if the FDA approved it, then there is nothing they can do. It seems to me that they are not serving high quality food they get from vendors. Also the service was awful and we kept having to hail our waiter to even take our order.

Birthday dinner for 6 on a Sunday night! The restaurant was was packed at 7:00pm! So while you may get lucky, always have a reservation!! We started with the flaming cheese and then tried the gyro plate, whitefish, salmon, and swordfish. Everything was fabulous! They even brought a piece of Baklava with a lit candle! It was a great birthday and a very fun restaurant!

Beautiful outdoor setting on a nice day. The wait staff was as nice and helpful as they could be. Gyros was a bit disappointing but the rest was very good.

Wonderful experience, service was excellent, and the food came in a timely manner and was very good. We had a group of 5, everyone had something different, and everyone was satisfied. We had the Gyros platter, the chicken kebob, the combo platter, the Chicken, and the salmon. Of course we had the combo 3 spreads. Price was in line with experience. Make a reservation, and be sure to specify you want the garden, not one of the rooms.

Delicious seafood and lamb. Beautiful open daylight dining room. Perfect service by a very good professional waiter. No rush great view through the glass ceiling.

We had lunch here for the first time. The patio was really nice! The feeling of being outdoors without being cold. We enjoyed shishkabob and greek salad. We made many last minute requests and the server responded very quickly and always with a nice smile. I will return here for dinner soon.

Outstanding ambience , great service and very good food. We didn’t have to wait for our table. The wait between courses was not rushed. Really perfect.

Kabobs and gyros were fantastic. Atmosphere is spectacular, and eating in the open air was great. Eco Hilo was not a hit, almost like an overwhelming cinnamon flavor, but everything else was worth going here.

This is a very traditional feeling Greek restaurant - with a lovely outdoor setting that has an open roof that can be closed in poor weather. We ordered traditional dishes to share - spanakopita and moussaka - both excellent. Service was superb and just a very nice, comfortable vibe. And when you see Greek patrons as well - makes you feel this must be the real thing!

Athena has been my family's favorite Greektown restaurant for the past several years and we have dined there frequently. We are Greeks who love to cook the dishes of our homeland and we know how quality Greek dishes should be prepared. Unfortunately, our dining experience on the evening of May 11, 2019 was so horrible that we will not return. Athena is under new management and the many changes we observed are not positive. Our phone experience to make our reservation was not handled well. Upon our arrival, it was immediately apparent that the hostess did not know to handle seating efficiently and the two gentlemen who were previously there to ensure smooth operations were conspicuously absent. The man who appeared to be directing operations was anything but friendly and he appeared clueless to the chaos around him. But worst of all, the food quality was simply AWFUL. We ate one of the worst meals at any Greek restaurant we have ever patronized. The appetizers were the only decent part of our meal, but even they were not all up to par. Thought the fried zucchini and flaming saganaki were good, the Greek Village Salad was mediocre. Instead of a slab of feta cheese, our Greek Village Salad was topped with crumbled feta cheese suggesting an unacceptable cost-cutting measure that no other Greektown restaurant employs. The salad was almost brown from the overuse of balsamic vinegar. The grilled octopus was mushy, cut into pieces (heavy on thin, rubbery slices from the head), and served on a bed of greens which is never done in an authentic Greek restaurant. The taramosalata (fish roe spread) was just "OK." and had too much potato in the blend. Of the six entrees we ordered, only the spit lamb was acceptable. I was served the worst pastitsio ever made. The meat sauce in it was dry, the bechamel topping contained too much flour, and the piece served to me was covered in a tomato sauce that looked and tasted like it was poured directly from a can just before my plate was sent out of the kitchen. I sent it back for a piece of moussaka which wasn't much better. It was served to me sitting in and covered with the same "just out of the can" tomato sauce. The beef souvlaki and chicken souvlaki were overcooked. The only desserts available were baklava and ice cream because the restaurant was out of ekmek and galactobouriko (a baked custard in phyllo dough soaked in a sugar syrup). Running out of a restaurant's two signature desserts on a Saturday night is poor kitchen management. Our waiter (Riley) and the valet parking attendants were great. The bus staff rough around the edges. We will be dining at the Greek Islands next door for our future Greektown meals. We are sad that the new management at this once great restaurant has destroyed what was a fine establishment. Hopefully, the owner will read this and other negative reviews before it's too late.

Great service Great food 4 out of 4 dinners perfect Jumbo portions loaded with Greek flavors Clean kitchen Clean restroom’s

They can open almost the entire space when the weather is nice. Tasteful decor, with none of the dusty stuff of some of the other restaurants in Greektown. The food was all very good, with large portions and bright flavors. We all agreed that a bunch of mezze to share would have made the best sense, instead of trying to get individual dishes. Great cocktail list too.

The last time I was there I was slightly disappointed in the food, but much to my surprise the Service from our waiter Sam, AND THE FOOD, were both excellent! I could not indulge the dessert, but my family thoroughly enjoyed them. This was a much better performance!

Perhaps by happy accident, my group had booked the joint next door on the exact Sunday that the Hospitality Show wrapped. Being told our table for 20 would be honored "at least 40min late", we slid next door. Got to wonder if the owners are related, since the menus were identical down to the prices. However, we were treated to immaculate service, rather than the surly brush-off next door! Yes, my friend's leg of lamb looked a little bland; my baked whitefish also. However, the cook was perfect; my side of horta and mixed baked veggies (THEY were surprisingly spicy), were spot-on. I tried a slice of lamb sausage, which was both pungently aromatic and NOT overcooked. Nicely done! The best surprise came last, when my yogurt desert arrived with a portion of dark Greek honey, dried figs, and apricots. Maybe could have used a few more nuts, but Wow!

Having been to Psistaria in Lincolnwood just three days before, and having an excellent experience, we were looking forward to "real Greek Town" dining. Athena was certainly OK, but it fell short on most dishes. The restaurant has chosen to make its version of taramasalata with a base of mashed potatoes instead of the traditional soaked bread. Perhaps out of difference to glutin sensitive diners. It was gummy and just didn't taste and feel right in the mouth. The Greek roast chicken also felt "off." Our assessment was that it was pre-cooked much earlier, and then crisped up under the broiler before serving. The meat was moist, but not marinade-flavorful, and the crisp skin also seemed under seasoned. My pastitsio was good, and the chocolate torte we all shared was excellent. The physical space of Athena is very attractive, and tables were comfortably separated.

Athena is our favorite restaurant in Greektown. The food is excellent, the service is great, and the atmosphere is lovely. In the winter, we like to sit in the fireplace room. In the summer, we like to sit in their atrium outdoor space. We love the lemon soup, I love the sword fish, and my spouse loves the chicken and gyros. Prices are reasonable, and there’s plenty of seating, so we never freely rushed to leave to turn over the table. There is valet parking. This is a restaurant worth trying.

What a nice place for lunch! We had been out most of the morning and were starving so drove over to Greek Town on Halsted and found this restaurant. The service is unbelievable. We walked in and were immediately seated. Waiter's were swarming about filling drink glasses, giving you free bread and making sure the empty plates were taken away immediately. The waiter asked if we had been there before and when he found out we had not he took the time to explain the menu and then gave us plenty of time to choose our meals. We started with the Spanakopitakia as an appetizer then I had the combination plate which consisted of Mousakas, pastitsio, dolmades, leg of lamb, rice, potato and vegetables. My daughter had Chicken Breast Lemonati which she enjoyed. All the food was cooked well. the chicken was moist and both meals were very flavorful. One reason I didn't go with 5 stars is where we were seated. They have an outdoor garden area which is where we were immediately seated. Only problem was it was mid 90's that day and humid so it was a little uncomfortable environment to eat in. Had I known of the air conditioned dining area in the back I would have requested it. Not a big deal but when we go back we'll watch that a little closer. We ended up eating half of our food because of the generous portions and brought the rest home for supper that night. Pricing is somewhat reasonable. Our meals were on the less expensive side but I'm not sure why I would spend twice the amount for a different plate of food when this one was sufficient. They do have valet parking as well.

The overall experience of this restaurant was sensory. The decor, the indoor/outdoor feel and the weather on our evening could not have been better. The retractable roof was rolled back and we were sitting in an open air restaurant with a waterfall in the middle of Chicago! How amazing was that?! The food was delicious, our waiter was an absolute hoot! We had the best time and will be back next month for another customer experience. Thank you Athena!

We came after a CSO concert to try a new to us Greek restaurant. The inside is light and airy. Since the doors were open to the outside, the city of Chicago does not allow the restaurant to flame our saganaki tableside. The texture of the saganaki was excellent. We also had gyros which were great. They provided us with a small container of tzatziki sauce when we took some of our gyros home. Our desert was Ek Mek which we had for the first time and were impressed by its taste. This is a desert to order again. The recommended rose wine was as described, semi-dry and full bodied. On our next trip here, we will bring our daughter, son-in-law, and the two young grandsons.

What a true Greek experience! Wonderful choices and the tastes were absolutely on spot. Staff helpful and friendly. Highly recommend!

From the Ouzo and mezedes to start through the perfectly prepared lamb chops, Athena does not disappoint. Octopus and gyros were also excellent. Definitely worth the cab ride and great Greek town atmosphere in the neighborhood. Loved it.

OK, so the patio is beautiful. we really enjoyed the beautiful day and the weather. But then the food and wine came. Wine pours were average -- at best -- but that's OK because not one of the 4 types of wines (including the ones for $13/glass) were deemed good. The $13/glass one was deemed "decent" while the others were deemed "quaffable" at best. The food was just as mediocre as the wine. The grilled octopus was not chewy (yeah!) but also was just not good (boo!). The combination spread app had one spread that was so bitter none of us could eat it. The rest of the spreads were OK to good. My companions ordered the combination platter and i ordered the tenderloin kabob. All of us said our entrees had absolutely no seasoning on them. My companion also ordered a sidse of green beans with tomato and same thing: no salt or seasoning. Bland bland bland. No thanks. Thress stars for atmosphere and a good server. The rest was completely forgettable. I can cook way better than this at home. Big thumbs down for food and wine.

If you want a great meal in a fun family atmosphere this is the place. Authentic Greek food served by PROFESSIONALS. The ceiling opens up and you’re eating outside without bugs or wind. The neighborhood is safe. The valet parking is awesome. Don’t miss this place.

There are 5 of us on a conference trip. We had amazing service and the food came out quickly, was delicious and plentiful. I couldn't finish my dinner!

The food here was excellent though tended toward the pricier side. I recommend avoiding being seated in the “party room” unless you’re looking for really noisy atmosphere!

Lied to us party of two that it would be a thirty minute wait was over an hour never got served! Don’t go here!

We ate at the Athena Greek Restaurant in Greek town in Chicago on the 29th of July. The location, service, and ambiance were perfect. Our water, Tony, was superb and very engaging. My wife and I had the spinach stuffed chicken breast and found it to be delicious! I had the baklava for desert and thought it was as good as any I had while visiting Greece. We would highly recommend Athena Greek Restaurant to anyone visiting Chicago.

I knew it may be a long wait on Sunday, which I had no problem with. I informed the hostess there were 12 of us, and she said it would be a 15 minute wait. Twenty minutes later, the hostess called my name, but for a table for two. I informed her that I said 12, but she began arguing with me that I told her two. When I asked how long would it be for the 12 of us, I was told a long time. I walked in the restaurant with more than two people. I did not confuse 12 with two. Instead of attempting to accommodate me, the hostess began to argue. I wish I could give them a zero rating. I will NEVER go to Athena again.

I love this place! The food is always good but the atmosphere is even better. I just love the decor - everywhere you look you see something beautiful. Go there on a nice day and enjoy their awesome patio. It's my favorite restaurant in Greektown. (Okay, I haven't actually tried them all, but I doubt there's a better one!) However, this time our server was just so-so. He was kind of grumpy and it took him a long time to bring the things we asked for (e.g., another beverage). Also, they let us stay for a long time after we ate just drinking & visiting with our friends, & didn't rush us to leave, which was nice.

First time visit and we sat in the beautiful inner courtyard with the open roof. The food was very good. Perfectly blackened fresh salmon, wonderful saganiki, and the best, most tender/flavorful octopus I have ever had. Parking lot is across the street. Very attentive, friendly service.

there are smaller rooms in this restaurant for more intimacy. We ate in the large dining area which was full but still had a nice dinner. The souvlakis(kebobs) are excellent and the seafood was really good as well.the food was served very quickly after we ordered and the prices were reasonable. very busy place but fun to eat here.

We decided to have dinner in Greektown for Mother’s Day and chose the amazing Athena restaurant. Jim greeted us warmly as we entered the restaurant and gave us a great table in the main dining room. Unfortunately, it was too cold to have the roof open, but the natural light still helped us feel as if we were dining outside. Thassos was our server and he was great! And the food was delicious, from the flaming saganaki to the octopus salad to the veggie kabobs and skordalia dip. Can’t wait to go back when it’s finally warmer here in Chicago and dine outside on their beautiful patio, one of the best in city!

I absolutely love this restaurant! It's a gem and I hope it stays open forever. If I lived in the neighborhood I would be a regular. They've done such a beautiful job with the indoor and outdoor space it's amazing. Of course they serve traditional Greek food. We had spanakopita and Greek chicken and both were delicious. Our Greek waiter was a delight (I'm sorry that I don't recall his name). He engaged us in a very nice friendly conversation and checked back with us often to see if we needed anything. He also helped me select a wine based on my preferences. I will visit every time I'm in Chicago, and I have to apologize to all the other Greektown restaurants because this is probably the only one I'll ever go to!

The atmosphere was nice, waiters were slow and not necessarily the nicest. Gyro was good as well was the Greek salad.

During the holiday season, we met friends and family @ Athena. We used their valet parking option and enjoyed a beverage @ the bar before the remainder of our party arrived. We were a group of 15 and were seated in a semi-private room. We dined on flaming cheese, greek salad (served family style), beef kabobs, chicken kabobs, fish kabobs and sea bass. Our servers were well skilled @ managing a large party. It was great food and great service. We look forward to returning.

This is hands-down our favorite Greek restaurant. You cannot beat the beautiful outdoor terrace in the summer. The food is always delicious and the setting continues to draws us back! It’s the perfect spot for a family party or a pregame meal.

I Brough a few family members to this restaurant for 4th of July with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the enthusiasm we all arrived with slowly began to dissipate throughout the evening. Let me begin to say that this restaurant is overpriced, even by the standard of a downtown restaurant. We ordered a large greek salad and were charged $22 for what was tantamount to basic lettuce, half a tomato, and two small pieces of Feta cheese. A bottle of greek wine that goes for $7 from a liquor store is charged as $32 before taxes. $16 for a Gyros that can be purchased at almost anywhere else for half the price is simply highway robbery. This restaurant is a tourist trap w/ tourist trap prices. There really isn't any ambiance or dining experience to brag about considering that most other diners spent their dinners glued to their cell phones, and not raving over the food or experience. The only upside was the free valet parking. We have no plan on returning to this restaurant.

I spent 11 nights in Chicago for a bridge tournament. Even though I had to take a taxi, I ate here three of the nights. This restaurant has no weakness. The food is fantastic, the wine list excellent, the expansive outdoor dining is comfortable, and the price is right.

Excellent Greek tavern with a wide variety of dishes of all types. We had octopus salad, souvlaki, saganaki, shrimps salad, roast lamb leg and yogurt. Big dishes and delicious. Waiters speak Greek.

Fantastic food, and best ambiance of all the Greek restaurants in Greek Town - indoor, atrium, and outdoor seating next to a waterfall !!! Highly recommend it!

The ambience of this restaurant is great. They have great food and wine selection. This place is good for couples as well as business get togethers. They open the roof during summer months which makes it even better. Highly recommend this place for greek food.

This is a late review. My SO and I went to Athena Valentines Day. We would gladly repeat the experience. The food and service were both excellent, And they served the wine, Mavrodaphne, that we both love. The valet parking was much appreciated. We went at about 5 PM, after going to an afternoon theater production, and Athena was just getting going. By the time we left there was a long line waiting for tables.

Authentic greek food in the heart of Greektown Chicago. Starting with Saganaki and ending with Backlavah it was a great meal. Loved the octopus and lamb, standards of greek food, but prepared excellently

To start I called at 3 and then again at 7 to see if there would be any wait for two. Twice I was told it is a holiday weekend so no reservation or name was needed. When we got there it was very crowded with a waiting list. Told gentleman up from I talked to him an hour ago and he told me to come in , no problem. Said we would be next table for two. Well a half hour later we got seated. Ordered drinks which had very little alcohol in them. Didn't see a waiter for a while and then we asked him for a set up and never got it. Had to ask another waiter. I received,what I was told,the last lamb special they had left. Probably true because it was very fatty. The salmon salad had good salmon but just lettuce. Very little olives ,feta or dill. The waiter hardly came to our table and seemed indifferent at best. He asked me if I wanted coffee and a dessert menu and I replied yes. Only brought the coffee. Drove in from northern suburbs just to eat here. Been here many times but this was a big disappointment. Will try again and hope for an improvement.

Decided to visit on a suggestion from a friend. The better half and I walked in and was asked if we had a reservation. We said no. Was informed it was going to be a 20 minute wait. 35 minutes later we were seated. Our waiter wasn't very attentive to us one bit. He watched the table next to us kid knock a glass full of ice water onto the floor. Water, ice and broken glass went everywhere. Waiter didn't even attempt to get s bus boy to clean it up. Minutes later we watched another waiter slip and fall. We got our food. Food was good at a decent price. Waiter didn't have much knowledge on the wines they offer. Hoping our next time is a bit more pleasurable. And yes, we will try it again

The thing with these popular restaurants in city neighborhoods is that some things are excellent (which is why they are popular) but others are just meh and could be so much better. The food at Athena was very good but didn't blow my socks off as "The #2 Greek restaurant in all Chicago" should have, and the service was very pleasant but very slow. Having said that, portions were very nice and the seating area was spacious, so I will definitely give this place another try on my next visit to the area.

In the heart of Greek Town. I love the Spinach Pie (Spanakopitakia). The spinach and feta cheese had lots of flavor. The Mousakas was perfect. the combination of eggplant, zucchini, potato, ground beef and cheese, topped with bechamel sauce was perfect. it melted in your mouth. The Saganaki was good, but is like all of the Saganaki i have had. The Skordalia (Garlic/Potato spread) was very good. The only disappointment was the Tarmosalata (Fish Roe). it had no flavor. There is some street parking, but Valet parking is free. The open air sections are nice if it is not to hot out.

From our first experience, which was an immediate appearance by the valet parking attendants, to our departure, and a short 2 minute wait for the car, the service and food were great. The staff was welcoming and the restaurant was light and had an upbeat vibe. There were some larger parties seated near us, yet our service did not suffer. We ordered saganaki, a bottle of Greek wine, and braised lamb. Food was delicious. I asked for and received vegetables with the lamb and my companion had the traditional rice and potato side. There was ample bread, a bottle of olive oil, and butter for the bread. Socrates was our friendly and responsive waiter. This would be a very good family choice.

1. book or reserve in advance, likely to be busy, during Lunch hrs/Evenings and Very Busy Weekends! 2. Decor is Just about it, with a Motif of Greek panels, in the main hall 3. Very simple seating, Main hall is rather tight with tables, prefer the smaller hall connected thru 4 stairs 4. Outdoor sitting is there, but check on phone if open or Not. 5. Drinks -- Ok, nothing so special, good for a Office Lunch... ask them to have less Ice. 6. Starters :: Order the Cheese starter, they light it up before up, a small slab of Greek Cheese, but unique and nice experience. Meat ball starters, Prawns starters are good. Quantity 2 starters for 3 diners is best! Starters taste : Semi Authentic Greek, Mild to Medium spicy, more authentic available in Chicago..... 7. Entrees: All are good, experience them over a few visits. Cooked generally Mild to Medium. Quantity : above average, better to have 2 for 3 diners, else you will need ToGo packs. 8. Service /Cleanliness : IN spite of packed restaurant, Service is FAst, and with courtesy ( the wait time for the 1st service visit is very less compared to other restaurant's in Fulton Area. After order preparation time:: Quite fast ( to me it looked like , the similar dishes are ordered, and may be the Kitchen prepares the basic or core items in bulk) 9. Not a place to while your time, more or less, Diners around you will be leaving table in about an hour.

We arrived mid afternoon to a welcome greeting from valet and the hostess and were given a great seat in the airy atrium where Socrates the waiter took great care of us. After ordering a bottle of Roditis (Rose) we each had a great lamb dinner and Saganacki, the flaming cheese. They don't squeeze you in here like they did at Parthenon and their afternoon menu was actually the dinner menu and it did not matter that it was only 3pm. We thought this place ably replaced Parthenon and the free valet (except tip) and friendly service and great braised lamb made it a joyous Orthodox Easter Eve. We will definitely return for another date Saturday. Only drawback was I had a 4:30pm Open Table reservation but arrived 3pm and did not get credit for an Open Table stay but they considered it a cancellation. (??)

The sitting outside is lovely. The two very young girls at the entrance needs to be more friendly...!!! The food was delicious ...especially the Horiatiki, Spanakopitakia Arni Aginarato Mousakas was good but normally in Greece the Moudsakas is with Lamb more tasty than beef Excellent dessert ... BaklavaLayers of honey and walnuts in light crisp filo dough Ek MekThree-layered pastry of shredded kadaifi, custard and cream. GalaktobourikoA light lemon flavored custard in honey dipped filo dough Top notch Service by Vassilios ..!!! Do not hesitate GO ...

Bright, light, airy, pretty. They have large indoor and outdoor covered patio seating. Food was excellent. A good choice for a good Greek restaurant.

We love greek food but unfortunately this is not very authentic and has clearly been adapted for the US. The service was disappointing which is something you don't expect from a greek restaurant. Ambience was good when we went on a Wednesday night but that is because we are ok with a noisy atmosphere...if you want somewhere quiet this isn't for you. The food we had was clearly quantity rather than quality and was luke warm...so much so we had to leave a lot of what we had ordered. Needless to say that in our stay in wonderful Chicago we didn't return and we won't be going there in the future.

This is truly authentic food, not fake or wanna be at all. The salad was amazing along with there bread

I like to eat good food in super cute places and this place is very high on the cuteness scale. Chicago has incredible Greek food and this is one of many great Greek restaurants in the city. We go here because of the patio - it is great year round. In the winter they close the glass ceiling and turn on the heaters and in nice weather they open everything up and let the sun and breezes flow. The patio has a fountain that operates in the summer. The have tons of seating so you rarely have to wait unless it is the first few warm weekends in spring. They have FREE valet parking. We usually tip from 3-5 bucks depending on the weather (crummy weather gets the 5). We eat here a lot because we are not huge Sunday brunch fans and thank heavens they do not have brunch. Why pay $25 for eggs and toast. There are a ton of vegetarian options on the menu. We usually order 3 different veggies and one entrée and take enough home for another meal. What to order: Calamari (fried); Octopus (grilled); Greek salad (with or without the anchovy - I suggest with); Ortikia (quail - get 2-3 birds per order); any of their lamb dishes but the lamb with artichokes is the best; Gigandes (huge lima beans in tomato sauce); Spanakopita (spinach and feta baked in a phyllo dough) Briami (roasted veggies). They will let you substitute any of their veggies for rice if you order a dinner. Wines by the glass or bottle are reasonably priced - try some of the greek wines they are delicious (whites and roses are better than the reds). Here are two whites I really like: Roditis pronounced (ro-dee-tis): is light and elegant Moscofilero pronounced (mos-ko-fi-ler-oh): Is a Peloponnesian white, with tangerine and blossom scents.

The food was excellent! The service, well it was overall disappointingly quite average. 1) Three people, two menus and one cocktail menu. It took FIFTEEN of the 90 minutes allotted for the meal to get a third menu!!!! (YES they now put a 90 minute limit on turning their tables). 2) No bread was ever offered—no olive oil, no parmigiana, not until our entree’s came and I asked. (Strike two). 3) $280.00, which included a 22% tip, for three without a bottle of vino at a rather pedestrian Greek restaurant seemed ridiculously overpriced. $31 for a beef kebob really? I will unfortunately be passing on this establishment despite the tasty food. Mediocre experience at best.

Greek chicken was good. Other two dinners were so bad we couldnt eat them. Lamb loin and whitefish were terrible. Dont know if we ever want to return to this restaurant.

From one of the “premier” Greek restaurants I guess I expected more, but then again Greek food is not one of my favorites. Down from WI visiting family and my brother is a big fan of the restaurant. He ordered a plethora of appetizers including the famous “Greek” salad. The salad was nothing special and was mostly head lettuce with very few extras like olives or cheese. The cheese appetizer came out in a flurry of flame but looked better than it tasted. Had the Gyros plate for dinner. Gyros meat was fresh and flavorful and the pita was tasty. Tzatchki (sp?) sauce was weak on the seasonings. Have to give kudos for wonderful service and free valet parking. These services bumped up my rating to 4 stars. Worth the trip from the Chicago area but not from WI.

Great place on a pleasant day and it has good Greek food. The roof retracts letting the sun and air shine in. This is a great place to celebrate. I go here with 10-12 friends and we always have a great time. The Greek staff know how to treat people... service is excellent. We order a lots of plates and share. Small plate dining but we get full orders for our large group.

First the place is light and airy. The food is Greek great and the wine goes down well with the entire menu. Seasoned wait staff (in most cases) make it a delightful way to spend a long lunch or dinner. Try the feta app. Enough for not just you, but a big table. So too the gyros and the lamb chops made my mouth water as I was grazing on the octopus. No complaints from anyone at the table!!

Open air, great service, great braised lamb. It was a fun nite out with a fun atmosphere with great friends and a surprise birthday cake.

Inside or outside, at Athena the food is the real star. Delicious Greek appetizers (including the tangiest tzatziki I've had), generous portions, and wholesome food all around. My moussaka was even better than I expected, and roasted chicken came out nicely seasoned and sooooo juicy. The best Greek meal I've had in quite a while. Worth the 15 minute bus ride from the loop.

Stopped here with friends on their recommendation and couldn’t have been better. I had a Mediterranean Sea Bass which was wonderful. Wife had a ribeye which she said was the best steak she had ever had. I tasted and can verify that. Baklava for dessert was amazing.

Made reservations in advance, I was glad because it was busy. And was able to sit out under the open roof on a perfect night and enjoyed every bit of the meal. The place is full of energy and a little loud but it was a lot of fun. Service and food were very good and I would suggest if you can get reservations to give it a try. I am no authority on Greek food but I found everything very good.

Went for lunch and fully enjoyed the open air covered seating. Our waiter was professional and personable. Let us enjoy slowly, as they do in Greece. Had our favorite Greek wine, Sigalis. We ordered a variety of small bites to share, they were delicious and really not small.

Terrible service! They couldn't be less interested in taking care of their customers. It was difficult to even get another glass of wine or a piece of bread. It was like we were invisible!

I had an opportunity to dine here with friends during a recent trip to Chicago and was very impressed with the food. Greek food is oftentimes hit or miss and is almost always better homemade, but here at Athena you will get as close to that “authentic” taste as you can. Most items we sampled were delicious, and the drinks (including the Ouzo they stock) were high quality. But what really sets this place apart is the ambiance, particularly late at night. The outdoor seating was tremendous, in front of a waterfall (in the middle of Chicago no less!). The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars was that the pricing was a little high in my opinion. I know that’s to be expected in Chicago perhaps but for a tab over 200 dollars for three people I would have wanted a little more “refinement”. That being said, it was still a great experience and the food really is worth the trip, even if it’s just an “every so often” dining experience.

Lovely outdoor courtyard patio and the most delicious salad with perfectly grilled salmon. Love the bread. Close to downtown known as Greektown and also West-town. You'll feel like you're in Greece! Can't wait to go again!

This is a popular restaurant and it has free valet parking like other main Greek places along this strip. I think the food compares well with the competition, though it does not measure up to what you will find in Greece. I find the room to be superior to any other in Greek Town during beautiful summer days and summer evenings. The staff is usually Greek and when I have been here with Greek speaking friends the service is a notch better. I often opt for this place when someone places Greek Town as the destination. I prefer it to its competition down the block. Like most Greek places the cocktails are a bit lacking, but their bar is better than their competition. I've enjoyed their appetizers and fish more than their lamb.

I had a very enjoyable time here. The food was okay, but the setting amazing. Our service was fair at best, but other tables seemed to have timely service.

My wife and I love this place for a) the atrium seating b) family friendly service and c) good greek classics

I must say I picked up the place because of the nice outdoor space, perfect for a summer evening. The food was ok but lacked the fragrance of real greek cooking. Unfortunately this is thecae of most Greek Town restaurants. However, my main complain was that appetizers and main courses arrived together. When we complained to the waiter he told us it's because they had a large group of 40 people to attend and didn't want us to wait.... So by the time we were ready to eat the moussaka and the beef tenderloin, they were not warm anymore.

Menu has changed. only 2 pages plus specials. Of our party of eight, one meal was excellent, two were so, so and five were terrible. A side of rice looked like it had been yesterday rice. Appetizers were good. Didn't stay for desert. Rally too bad because it was our favorite restaurant.

We visited Athena on a busy Christmas-season Saturday evening. There were 14 of us; 9 adults and 5 kids who eat like adults. We were celebrating an anniversary and a college graduation. We have been going to Greektown for more than 50 years, almost exclusively to the Parthenon, which, sadly, closed in 2016. Since then, we have discovered Athena, and have enjoyed the food on several occasions. This time, all the staff, from the hostess to the waiter to the parking attendant, were warm and friendly and efficient. The food was good, but not as good as some of our past meals at the Parthenon. They did do a good job of getting all the food out at the same time, which can be a problem with a big party. I had exohiko, which is lamb, feta, and spinach in phyllo, basically spanakopita with lamb. The phyllo was nice and crisp, and the filling was flavorful. A few other Tripadvisor reviewers thought Athena is overpriced. We go out to eat often, and know that the price of restaurant meals everywhere is maybe 25% more than it was before the pandemic. This is definitely true at Athena, but for the most part, entree prices are in line with downtown Chicago. My exohiko was $23, which was acceptable to me. However, their markup on wine is excessive. We went through several bottles of Apelia roditis, which is a nice, quaffable wine to have with Greek food. But this is a $9 wine online, and Athena charges $46, which is insane. Because I was driving, I just had a single glass of Skouras St. George, perhaps my favorite Greek wine. A bottle costs $12.99 at my local store, but my modest pour was $15 at Athena. To be fair, their prices for beer and cocktails are in line with other nice Chicago restaurants. Athena has a beautiful facility, even better in the summer when they open the roof. The valet parking is a blessing in a crowded neighborhood, and decent, reasonably priced Greek restaurants are starting to get scarce. All those are reasons to recommend Athena, but I wish they would rethink their 500% wine markup.

I knew I was going to have a wonderful Greek meal when I entered the restaurant and saw the elderly Greek restaurant owner scurrying around the floor, directing his waitstaff, welcoming patrons and generally acting exactly like a proud, restaurant-owning Greek gentleman would act. We were seated quickly and waited upon attentively. My lunch partners and I ordered from the far reaches of the menu: some had fish filet on bed of Greek salad. Another, ka-bobs. A third, gyro plate. I saw three other dishes that looked great, but didn't know what they were called. I had the spanokopita. My dish was light and flakey with a great feta cheese and spinach taste. The side of rice was baptized with a ladlefull of something -- not marinara, but a lighter red sauce -- and was perfect. (Forgive me, I don't eat Greek food very often, and I just don't know my Greek foods by name!). My co-worker inhaled his beef ka-bobs. They were gargantuan chunks of beautiful beef escorted by potatoes, peppers, and a side of rice. My other lunchmates ate without complaint, and we all left full and satisfied. The restaurant is clean, bright and spacious. Portions are generous, prices are quite fair, and the food is excellent! If you're looking for an authentic Greek meal, you'll find it here!

Athena offers as good Greek food as you will find in Chicago. The traditional dishes with accompanying sides are flavorful and filling at reasonable prices. On a recent visit, one of us had a swordfish kabob that had many pieces of fish with vegetables. Another who loves moussaka had Athena's version which she found excellent. Others in our group ordered lamb and grilled fish dishes that were very satisfying. The restaurant is in a modern building with a retractable roof for nice weather. It does not look like many other Greek restaurants, although it uses blue and white colors and some Greek oriented art work to give the ambience of a Greek restaurant. Like its neighbor, Greek Islands, Athena offers complimentary valet parking in a congested neighborhood. Well worth a visit just west of the Chicago Loop.

The ambiance and food was excellent. The gyro plate was tasty and plentiful. The service from our waiter Anastasios made the meal perfect! Even the valet parkers were friendly and cheery. All round great dinner!

This was a fantastic dining experience on a Saturday evening! The service was incredible, with attentive waitstaff but no sense of urgency or rushing between courses. The waiter offered helpful recommendations. We had saganaki, cocktails, entrees, wine, dessert, and a digestif, and everything was delicious. I would highly recommend Athena and will try to return any time I go to Chicago.

The restaurant is beautiful and very popular. Make a reservation. The staff is excellent and attentive and made our visit feel like visiting a friend;s home. The hummus was very good as was the spankopita. The restaurant has a light, airy feel. I would recommend visiting after the evening temps are higher than 70 because the restaurant has an outdoor dining area which will be open. The space, not open during our visit, looked outstanding. We want to return to Chicago just to eat in that space.

My wife and I first tried Athena a couple years ago on a short trip to Chicago. Now it is an essential stop when we make it to the Windy City! The food is incredible, served largely by Greek immigrants. This time, we started with tzatziki, hummus, and taramosalata dips, as well as saganaki. All were outstanding. Then we enjoyed an order of braised lamb and Athenian chicken. The cocktails we ordered were also tasty, and our waiter recommended an outstanding glass of wine to go with the lamb. Would HIGHLY recommend Athena.

Greektown Chicago has a lot of great places to eat. If you want to eat tasty fine Greek food and want to eat outdoors, there patio experience with a beautiful water feature is quite the experience.

We catered from this place for 25 and the food was great. When we went to pick up the food, the place looks great. Can not wait to go back and eat in the restaurant. When the weather is nice they open the ceiling and wall panels.

4 of us plus an infant, Saturday night, less than 15 minute wait. The flaming cheese and grilled octopus we're both excellent appetizers. Thanks salad came out quick. The traditional gyros were excellent. Two of us split the grilled rack of lamb. It was outstanding. We had a nice bottle if Greek wine and also very nice sides of okra, artichoke, and hummus. Very reasonably priced and outstanding service. The free valet parking is a great touch in downtown Chicago.

Such a bloody experience never again. Those who say this is the best Greec restaurant for sure have never been in Greece. What a noise level. Amazing! No option to have a normal conversation with your spouse. Time to invest in baffles guys. The waiter was rude, No attention at all. The plates got served and dropped on the table. No attention for another glss of wine, etc The bill probably arrived as a crash on the runway. The food was good but not nicely presented . Coarse cutted. Sorry , No tips. A lot to learn here.

On a recent trip, we asked for recommendations for a good Greek meal, and Athena was mentioned frequently. We spent a very satisfying evening at this open air restaurant. The food was wonderful. Flaming goat cheese, lamb falling off the bone, artichokes, and moussaka. Dessert was my favorite---rice pudding with lots of cinnamon. Others had spumoni ice cream. The whole meal was affordable and delicious. I would go back there any time.

Fresh salads, good salmon and pizza, interesting light wine. Big and different rooms, for family dinning, friends or big groups.

The servers were very good at this authentic Greek restaurant. Large outside seating area or inside dining room.

The atmosphere at this restaurant is what makes it! I love the veranda area, the waterfall, and even the wall that looks like a wave. The colors inside are fantastic! The food of course is great! The saganaki, gyro, chicken, moussaka, bakalava....I would totally recommend!

I have nothing bad to say about this place. The outdoor seating area and the glass roof really give the place a lot of light. The food was excellent. We tried dolmades, calamari, and assorted spreads with pita bread for appetizers. The main dishes were delicious. The shrimp agora with rice and vegetables was excellent. My family tried some of the more traditional Greek dishes and really enjoyed them. I would go again.

Had the lamb chops...menu said 4 but they brought 5! They were cooked and prepared to be full of flavor. The greek salad and potatoes with broccoli were also very good. Will be back soon....highly recommend. Also there is a picturesque water feature which provided a nice atmosphere.

Being a fellow Malaka, I will tell you that this is some of the best greek food that I have had (besides my yiayai). Great design, outdoor seating, some of the best service I have had in a while. If you are in Chicago and are a fan of Greek cuisine, this place is a must!

We had often visited Chicago Greektown (and Greece) over the years and find Athena Greek Restaurant to be authentic and excellent. We started with the spanakopitakia appetizer and vegetables with tzatziki.For the main course, we order souvlaki Thalassinon with swordfish, salmon, shrimp, and vegetables. All were superb. The August night at sunset/after dark was perfect for sitting outside on the patio. Service was attentive, and helpful.

Always great restaurants in Chicago's Greektown. This is one of my favorites. Portions are hefty and delicious. I had the calamari, which was cooked perfectly, and a Greek salad. Others had the Athenian or stuffed chicken, which was very good. Accommodating staff and sitting outside on the patio made you feel like you were in Greece.

Beautiful restaurant, excellent service, but very average, if not below, food. I ordered the pork chops/rice/potato dinner and the pork was so so dry and the rice had maybe a teaspoon of sauce on it, no more. My two guests ordered the combo plate and braised beef and found it to be average. Prices were reasonable, but Yia Mas in Wheaton or Molos is far superior.

Having grown up in a Greek community, I’m usually disappointed at Greek restaurants, but this place was delicious. We had a big party and everyone loved their food and drinks. I got the veggie kabobs due to food allergies/intolerances and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. The rice was incredible. But our whole party agreed the best part of the meal was the potatoes. I have no idea what they do to them but they are amazing. The only reason this place gets a 4 instead of a 5 is because the waiters couldn’t or wouldn’t say what was in the dishes, saying it was the chef’s secret. As someone with severe food allergies I need to know. Even after I was concerned there was something in the rice I had eaten that I was allergic to, they wouldn’t tell me. It was so stressful. Thankfully I had no problems after, but restaurants have to be able to say what ingredients they use.

We usually go to Greek Isles and this time tried Athena. We only ordered salads and Av. Soup. My salad had dressing that came out a little off and I mentioned it to one of the owners and he immediately brought me another one. It was perfect! We loved the outside environment as it seemed very Greek-like. The service was great and we will be back to try more items. As it was our anniversary, the waiter gave us a complimentary piece of HF chocolate cake and it was more of a creamy cake that was fantastic!! Thanks very much for that and now we know there is another great Greek place to eat in Greek town.

We had dinner this evening at Athena for the first time. Food was amazing and our waiter Chris was wonderful. Definitely recommend and we will be back. Thank you.

10 of us loved the meal at Athena. Luckily, they take reservations through OpenTable, which I highly advise. We got several great appetizers — lightly breaded zucchini, lightly breaded eggplant, flaming cheese, dolmades, and grilled octopus. The entrees ranged from the Greek salad to lamb to moussaka to fish and more. All were excellent. We had a leisurely meal, spending just over 2 hours eating and drinking. A great time was had by all.

Very good food! The food and wine was amazing. We will return! We had the spinakopita, very, very good...

Absolutely fantastic. We were here at midafternoon for a very late lunch. The food is wonderful, reasonably priced, fantastic service. Thanks Sebastian! We started with the flaming cheese. Shared a Greek salad and had a wonderful main course. Many authentic dishes. And the desserts! Wow. If you don’t know if you like Greek food, start here. We sat in the semi outdoor seating and it was great.

We had not been to this venue in years and certainly not before its recent modern renovation. We had service and a pretty smile from Melody at the bar, while waiting for our table. Luckily we were seated in the dining room to the left, as the noise level is not as disturbing as to the room on the right and one can carry on a conversation. Great service with a smile and humor from Seterios , while dining on saganaki, tormosalata, tsasiki, and tiko kafteri. The whitefish was good and the gyros salads were also enjoyed. Put this restaurant on your destination list and you too will have s good meal in a very fun relaxed atmosphere.

We were a party of six and service was prompt. Waiters were quite personable. Appetizers like Peasant Salad, Grilled Octopus, Eggplant were very good. Humus a little less so...but its not a Greek dish so maybe OK. Mains were all excellent (fish and meat dishes). Overall a very pleasant experience.

Horrible service. Worst I've ever had in Greektown and I've been going there for over 30 years. Waited 15 minutes just for water. They messed up the Dinner order - twice. Asked for more water & bread and waiter (Leo?) just kept walking by. Never checked on anything, much less brought as simple a request as bread & water. The food was bland, not fresh, average quality at best and clearly bulk produced. To top it off, they brought us the check from a separate table! Host / Asst. Mgr. didn't even bother to look before he delivered it, much less apologize. Too bad. This used to be a good spot but I now put them in the same tourist category as Rainforest Café, Rock N' Roll McDonalds, etc. Don't even get me started on how much they unjustifiably jacked up the menu prices......

We are "ladies of a certain age," and like many of you have been anxious to get back into the dining scene. We have visited Athena many times in the past and have always been treated like old friends. We were able to introduce Athena to a new friend with the last visit. We started with a delicious cocktail before lunch. We always have a variety of appetizers that we share. Our lamb chops, chicken and whitefish choices were all quite delicious. Sharing a dessert or two is also never off the table. We love this restaurant! Valet parking is a great bonus, too.

I am a traveler spent time on the Greek Isles and have many Greek friends here in the US. The food is ok to bad. We had fried cheese that came burnt and very salty our waiter Francisco said it's supposed to be that way.....

Not bad!!!! We went to this restaurant, a 10 minute drive from the center of Chicago, practically in the city's Greek community. The food was decent but not top-notch! The place looks a little older than what is reported on the website. The service is too fast... it almost makes you think that everything is pre-cooked and reheated... Friendly and very attentive staff but I don't think we will return. Average price.

They roll back the roof and you are dining on a fabulous patio! The food is spectacular. Service great. It’s the BEST Greek food in Greektown!

This restaurant in Greektown is so pretty, especially when the weather is nice. There’s an open air atrium with a floor to ceiling stone wall fountain. And the ceiling of the connected room rolls open to make the room breezy and fresh but still protected and private. The food is always very good here too. And the service is excellent. Our waiter this time, Nivek, was very attentive and eager to please us. This is a great restaurant choice in Greektown.

We had a lovely family dinner at Athena. The food was OK but reasonable. The drinks were good. The server was charming. The decor was lovely and it gets a very attractive clientele. The location is in Greektown on Halsted. They have free valet parking.

Party of 9 for an family Holiday dining experience. Excellent service ensured items served timely & wine glasses always full. Not a clinker in the range of appetizers - saganaki, taramosalata, tsatsiki, etc. Entrees ran the gamut - mousakka, gyros, fried cod, lamb shank, sea bass. All excellent. Large restaurant. Nicely decorated. Boisterous. Good place for a party.

Every bite is good was incredible. Pardon my Greek as I describe this to you. We had flaming cheese, it was the size of a slice of bread and they light it on fire on a fajita type skillet at your table. This was good, but salty to me. Also we had whipped feta. For dinner I had the combination plate since I’m new to this flare. It was great. Everything on it, and my goodness, the plate was a huge portion. For dessert we had a shot if their signature liquor. It is like black licorice flavored. Not my favorite, but had to try it.

I have been going to Athena restaurant for a few years and several times during the year, taking family, friends, and colleagues. The service has been amazing! The manager, Nazzi, has always come through for us even when I bring a large group of guests, and sometimes even when I call last minute! She has gone far and above what is expected to make sure our family and guests have a great experience. The food is always good. Since I’m Greek myself, I have a strong opinion on Greek food and I have my favorites… The grilled octopus is the best in Greek Town! The fresh fish, sea bass or red snapper (when available) is cooked to perfection. This is the only restaurant our kids will eat fish! Appetizers (saganaki, fried zucchini, shrimp), salads (especially the Athenian salad) are out of this world! We have not had a bad meal, yet and there is something for everyone to eat regardless of their diet or how picky eaters they are! Sokratis, an excellent waiter, who has been there for a long time is amazing, and we always talk about and update each other on our families. Going to Athena is not just about a meal, it is like visiting family. From the guys who park your car (yes, they have valet…) to the people who will make your reservation, to the waiters and managers, they are a class act! They will go out of their way to make sure you have a great experience, not just a good meal! In the summer Athena has the biggest outdoor space in Greektown. They have a retractable-roof system. I don’t usually take the time to write reviews, however, after so many good experiences I felt that I had to do so! Have a good time and a great meal! Καλη Ορεξη (Bon Appetit).

JUST WOW!! I was visiting friends in Chicago and they took me here. I didn't know what a treat I was in for. Everything was delicious from the wine, appetizers, lamb loin chops, dolmades, baklava and OH MY-the Greek Yogurt was so delicious. I wouldn't have chosen greek yogurt, because you can get this at the grocery. You can't get THIS free yogurt in the store. I'm dreaming of my return to Athena. Thank you!

We shared a plate of Tzatziki (yogurt, garlic, dill and cucumber spread), Spicy Feta and Skordalia (creamy garlic and potato spread). I had a Greek salad with a large slice of Feta. My spouse had a lamb dish served with a slice of potato, Dolmades Greek stuffed grape leaves, and Spanakopita Mac and Cheese. An excellent dinner for two.

My husband and I ate here and found the food to be average at best. Tiromousalata, one of the classic staples, was bland. The gyro plate also. Underwhelming despite high hopes. Greek Islands, down the street, does a far superior job and we will be going there from now on.

Waiter unable to pair wine with food. Although some good flavors, the presentation on plate was poor. Food was dry and looked like it had been sitting under heating lamps. Disappointed. Baby rack of lamb was delicious.

They offer open air seating and valet service. Food was delicious and portions were of good size. Service was friendly. Prices are on higher side

Enjoyed the ambiance of this restaurant. We were looking for good Mediterranean food while visiting Chicago and are glad we found this place. Very attentive waitstaff with valet parking.

First off, ask for Lambros, he's the best. Every dish we ordered was delicious. The rack of lamb was perfect. I recommend medium to medium rare so you don't have the "burnt" complaint I read below. The wine selection is excellent and don't be afraid to ask for a recommendation if you're not sure. Make your outing memorable by getting the most authentic items. The desserts were the best I've had in any Greek restaurant on the street...and on the house, I'll say no more. They know how to treat people.

Very nice service! The atmosphere is relaxed and even though there were large parties, the noise level never bothered us. We enjoyed delicious saganaki. My avgolemno soup was a little too salty. Greek salad was nice and flavorful, dolmades pretty good, and the spanakopita was very good. I would try souvlaki next time.

Chicago's Greektown neighborhood is awesome! It's just West of the loop - easy to get to. The National Hellenic Museum is there. And, as you walk down Halstead St, all the monuments there show just how strong Hellenic pride is in Chicago. Visitors should DEFINITELY sample the food while visiting Greektown. But I suggest you get it anyplace except this restaurant. I'm unsure why the waiter was aggressively and assertively rude. I genuinely don't know! But he really, really did NOT want us there. - There were just two of us. - The restaurant wasn't busy - 1:30pm on a Tuesday (late lunch) - We ordered from the menu without substitutions or special requests. The food at the restaurant was excellent. The béchamel in my moussaka was fragrant with nutmeg. My husband loved his plate of dolmades - maybe the biggest/fullest that he's ever eaten. But the server's determination to show us that we were NOT welcome made the experience a bad one. We genuinely don't know why. - Maybe he dislikes tourists? If so, then tourists can easily enjoy Greek food nearby. For example, at the nearby GREEK ISLANDS restaurant or at the ARTOPOLIS BAKERY & CAFE. - Maybe he dislikes older adults like us? Hope not! Because even Hellenes get old. - Maybe he dislikes gay couples like us? Hope not? Because even Hellenes can be gay. Hellenic culture is one of my travel passions. Do you have memories from visiting Athens and Santorini? Do you have memories from viewing the Elgin Marbles at the British Museum? Do you have memories from visiting the full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Nashville TN? Don't ruin them by visiting this restaurant. You are NOT welcome here.

The open, huge patio makes this restaurant spectacular on a beautiful summer night. We were here on 25 July with a party of 3 people. There are not many restaurants that serve swordfish, and Athena is one of the very BEST. Their Taramosalata is excellent and not fishy tasting. One person ordered salmon which was prepared perfectly. Even if you do not like lima beans, their Gigandes will make you a convert. Ending the meal with fantastic Baklava (not heavy with honey), capped off a perfect evening. Everything was washed down with an ice-cold bottle of top-shelf Rhoditis. And the service was excellent.

This place almost has it all. Great decor, fun crowd, the hostess was wonderful, & hunky waiters! Then they seated the 4 of us at a 4 top table that had been converted to a round 6 top. There was no table cloth and the table looked like it could use a good scrubbing. We asked if they would make it a square which they did with a bit of attitude. We ordered the flaming cheese because, why not? We split the Greek salads which were very tasty. My husband ordered the beef baked with tomato over orzo and said it was the best dish he ever tasted. My chicken was good not great the rice was just barely passable. Our friend was celebrating his birthday and I had requested a birthday desert for him. They came out with a cup of tapioca with an unlit candle wobbling in it?!? Tapioca? Oh well we had a laugh anyway!

Athena is a stylish restaurant with a really pretty outdoor space. Unfortunately, the food was not great and the poor server was running flat out. I had a vegetarian moussaka that was overdone. My husband had a Greek salad that was good but nothing special. We won’t try it again.

I stopped here for dinner during my visit to Chicago as this restaurant was within walking distance from my hotel. I had the mousakas and it was wonderful. It came with one side. I had the okra and stewed tomatoes. The service was excellent as well.

This restaurant is all about the food.The owners are a little rude....thank goodness the front staff and the waiters are very nice. Try the grilled Octopus.

To much oregano on baked chicken. Horrible after taste. But with that said. Other dishes looked amazing and I enjoyed fix beer. I also loved the ambiance. A+ A++ Never seen a place with cleanliness and beautiful decorations and retractable roof. LOVED IT ALL THE WAY will return but will try another dish. Thank great wait staff.

This is our favorite restaurant in Greektown on Halsted. Athena is very attractive with an atrium for outdoor seating (weather permitting) and a nice fireplace room for the winter. The food is generally very good - with lots to choose from. And the service is generally great. We especially appreciated the service by Valeria (Val) who made us feel like we were her most important customers (although she probably makes everyone feel that way). We are headed back tomorrow night for a birthday.

I have eaten here many times (about 20 times). The food has always been excellent. My favorites are all the shrimp dishes. The Greek salads, lamb, chicken, spinach-cheese pies, pastitsio are always good. I always bring someone with me, and even though my enthusiastic description of the meals sets a high expectation with my friends, they have never been disappointed. The wall relief has an owl which is used as a symbol of the goddess of wisdom, Athena. This ancient Greek idea is perhaps the earliest association of an owl with wisdom. Athena is also the goddess of military victory, crafts, diplomacy and many other causes.

As you walked in the door of this restaurant, the first surprise was how large it is. There was a retractable glass ceiling that was open the evening we were there, allowing al fresco dining, with tables on the periphery at were still outside but had a ceiling over them. Then there were tables that were totally inside. There were 12 of us at the table and we ordered several different items. The wine list was varied and very good and there is a full service bar. Hummus and pita was very good and the portion was large. The Saganaki was delicious, but they will not flame it tableside if you're sitting outside. We put the hot cheese on bread that they had brought to the table. It was one piece of cheese about 5x5 and we easily cut it in to several small pieces. The spanakopitakia, spinach pockets in filo was delicious and there were about 8 pieces in the order. The melitzanes, eggplant that was breaded and fried and served with tomatoes and cheese was deemed delicious. and kotosouvlakia, chicken on skewers, was also given a thumbs up. The village salad was excellent, with large pieces of tomato, onions and cucumber with a vinagrette, and those that got a green salad said they were good as well. The portions were large, and we were offered a family style salad for the table, but declined to some could have the village salad. Several of us had the gyros platter for our entree. The meat was in shaved pieces and was tender and very flavorful. It was served on a bed of sliced onions with pita and tzatziki and was delicious. The dolmades dish was declared fantastic as was the mousakas. We were too full for dessert, so didn't see the menu. The wait staff was excellent and they were attentive without being overbearing. The only negative comment about this restaurant was that it was LOUD! The noise level at times was overwhelming and it made it difficult to talk with our dinner companions and the only reason I didn't give this restaurant 5 Circles.

We were visiting Chicago for the weekend and wanted to have Greek food as I am greek. We went to Greek town and Tony took great care of us. We started with Fried Marithes(smelts) ,spanakopeta (spinach pie)then a greek salad and chiboura ( sea bass) with greek potatoes rice. Finished it off with pice of Baklava and a few glasses of wine. Thanks Tony great time yiasou!!!

Very nice ambiance. The Saganaki(green beans), Fasolakia(flamed cheese) and Souflakia(skewered pork) were all very good. I recommend this restaurant.

We were hungry for some authentic Greek food and since we were going to be in Chicago and staying downtown we decided on Athena, which was a great choice.

If I could give this place a zero rating, I would. From the moment we set foot in this place, the experience was abysmal. First, it was the hostess that stood at her perch ignoring us (nobody else was waiting), then it was the server who couldn't seem to stop long enough to answer a few questions. But the worst, was the food! They should have labeled the Tzatziki "greek yogurt" because there were literally no other flavors involved. no cucumber, no garlic, no flavor! The combination plate was a horrific mess, and the food was bland, dry, and unappetizing. Dolmades were dry, and the cut up lemon chicken looked like something from a second rate street vendor. It was run like a second rate cafeteria, and the atmosphere pretty much resembled the same. Seriously. Most disappointing meal I've ever had.

Free valet parking, attentive service, good food and lots of it. A local brought us out of towners with a big build up. I'm not convinced that this is the best greek food in Chicago, a real foodie town, as I have had better in other cities. The saganaki and Athenian chicken were outstanding.

Shocking food at extortionate prices for what you get. Bland, overcooked and disappointing. Definitely regret picking this restaurant.

We stopped in Friday night for cocktails and we were not disappointed. The atmosphere was beautiful and the bartender was so sweet. She had great suggestions as to where to go to next. Perfect spot for drinks with your girlfriends.

The food was outstanding, but I felt like we weren't given the attention a table of 6 deserved. I noticed other servers paying attention to unfilled water glasses, empty bread baskets etc., while we had to ask for bread and water. I would go back for the food, but I would hope to have a different server.

Open air seating inside, very comfortable very pleasant The food was very good, had fried zucchini with garlic sauce ( could have a been a little more garlicky) but very good Combo plate with lamb, pastichio(Greek lasagna) stuffed grape leaves and rice. Very good, service a little slow but tolerable

Good Greek food. There were (4) of us. We got (2) saganaki’s and we all got the same entreé. Fournou which is leg of lamb. It was tasty but mine was fatty. My son did not recommend the gyros, he said the meat slices are very thin. We also got bread. We got soft drinks. Bill came to $140.00 before the tip. The atmosphere was bright and airy with a glass ceiling. I would return. Service was good.

My wife and I visited the Athena for the first time to dine with old friends living in the Chicago area. It was surprisingly bright and modern in appearance. The service was professional and attentive. Wines were so-so, but the food was quite good and not over-priced. Most of us had a lamb-based meal, and all were excellent.

I still think this place is horrible. They can delete my feedback anytime they want... I will not suggest this place to anyone!

A Greektown staple, this attractive restaurant has a large outdoor patio with a waterfall and a covered extension where you can be sheltered from the weather. We had a recent Sunday lunch here with three friends. The meal started with an order of tzatziki and flatbread. (I would have liked more of the bread.) After that, I had a chopped salad with beets and chickpeas—okay but not great. Then my friend and I shared a combo platter with several Greek favorites—roast lamb, dolmades, pastitsio, mousakas, rice and a sautéed piece of potato. All of it was good except the lamb, which was surprisingly bland. My husband liked his huge serving of pastitsio which, for some reason, came with cooked peas. For dessert, my husband and I split a large piece of very tasty baklava. Our friends split an ek mek, shredded kadaifi with custard and whipped cream. They loved it. The iced tea was very good. The service was friendly and efficient. The free valet parking was much appreciated.

We love the looks of this restaurant which has an outdoor atrium in nice weather. The redecorating was a major improvement, and this is now our favorite among many Chicago Greektown restaurants. The food is very good, as is the service. Prices are reasonable. Portions are very large. We always have leftovers to take home.

We came her for Greek Easter and had a great meal. The food was wonderful and the atmosphere was authentic. They had Greek cookies and red Easter eggs to break. We enjoyed it so much that we're talking about going back next year.

Lunch in the summer on their huge outdoor patio was lovely! The food was all spectacular, but the tzatziki sauce was the best I've ever had.

My son likes this place. The ambiance is really nice. One section is open to the outside. The service is really good. The problem is the food, it is just ok at best. I’ve been there twice and I didn’t care for each meal. I’m done.

This place was a good option for a family reunion dinner for 6, 3 of whom are diabetic. There are reasonable meat choices, and there was no problem substituting veggies for potatoes or rice. And when we requested, we were able to move to a slightly quieter table in the back seating area. Prices are a little lower than most downtown spots. I got the lamb chops, even though the waiter tried to talk me into the more expensive braised lamb as having “more meat”. My brother in law got that, but I think he regretted not getting my choice. My little chops were grilled perfectly, tasted divine, and I even took two home for lunch the next day! Wine list is not too expansive, but we were happy with our reasonably priced choice.

The restaurant's owner (who we've never met), is to be commended for investing in the business/property. The 'atrium' dining room is without peer in the city - bright, airy and feels 'al fresco' even in winter. This was a bold investment in the face of Greektown's precipitous decline of the last two decades. He seemed to have called it right. Maybe, while kudos are deserved on the space, he (the owner) has screwed up badly on the operation of the restaurant. We were there for the first time in a few months this past weekend (mid-snow storm). The newest changes the owner has wrought with the revolving management door he installed are palpable and not for the better. We learned about Athena's newest iteration (though we thought as much since we saw no familiar faces when we arrived) when our waiter told us the new menus he gave us were only about a month or two old and 'created' by the new management. We were shocked (except for the familiar valets who greeted us when we arrived) to see all these new faces in management, behind the bar, at the hostess station and among the wait staff. None of the 'old guard' we relied on before are there any more. This is the third major management/staff change in the last 8 or 9 years. The turn over at the top has not been good to the customers (or the owner or the place). We have been regular visitors to Athena since Greektown's Costa's burned down in 2010. Christos Demos (Costa's owner) and Costa's staff Peter (the principal bartender) and Ari (an assistant manager) suggested we try Athena to replace Costa's as our 'go to' place for Greek dining. We had been fans of Christos Demos and his brother Louie since we started having lunch at their restaurant Maxim's downtown (one of their other places, now closed), in Chicago in the early 1980's. They never disappointed. After Costa's burned Demos, Peter and Ari suggested we try Athena. It was a pretty good replacement. We were grateful for their advice since we did Greek 2 or 3 times per month. The 1st manager we met at Athena in 2010, his brother and their father seemed to do a good job for the owner (they ran Athena at the time, apparently, however, not to the owner's liking). Quickly they were gone and a new regime was in. There was no discernible change in the quality of the menu, the production from the kitchen or with the second set of new managers the owner put in charge. Much of the wait staff remained (including a few Costa's veterans). They always made us feel at home. They were solicitous when we dined there and while they made us feel welcome we never felt that we were treated with any privileges (we did not eat there often enough to gain that status and did not expect that level of attention). We just expected - and received - friendly and welcoming service - and great food. This past Saturday it was entering alien territory when we arrived. Every employee (other than the valets) were new. While he was nice, our 20 something waiter did not speak fluent Greek and he screwed up what we ordered (my bad for not making sure understood our order). He delivered a similar dish that we did not order instead of what we did order. He apologized and he, and the kitchen, fixed it immediately. My wife's 'combo' plate, her go to dish at Athena, was awful. The lamb slices were cold, tough and fatty. The pastitsio (a sort of lasagna made with elbow macaroni, sauce, potatoes and ground meat) was truly disgusting. The pastitio slab on her plate was dried out and unpalatable. My wife left it, barely touched, and our waiter did not even notice it was barely tasted. In the old days this would have been a red flag that would have led to a visit from the management and staff to ask what was wrong (even though they should have known something was wrong and should never have served her the dried out sauceless crap they did). My patzaria (beets) were OK but despite their strong garlic (OK with me) and oil, lacked the same flavor and texture that real Greek baked beets should deliver with this dish (and was not the preparation what we had received on prior visits to Athena). The 'Greek' bread we were served was obviously there from the day before. It had dried out and was unpleasant. This all smacked of cost cutting corners by the new management and staff. Yuck. The new rose wine ('Rodity's) they served was heavy and over powering. It should have been light and refreshing. We did not like it at all. We used to love the Cambas Rodity's they had on the menu but this new 'house label' was terrible (I guess it was cheaper and, had I known, I would not have expected the same level of quality I had always received). If you insist on going there order Rodity's by the bottle. So I will say that one thing was still really good. The octopus salad ($18) on the appetizer menu was excellent. It was tender and tasty. In the old days they served you a small bowl with lemon wedges to enhance your dining when it suited you (so you could squeeze lemon on whatever you wanted). The 'new' octopus came with a pretty measly slice of lemon and though it was tender and flavorful I would have enjoyed adding a little more astringent to my appetizer. We were so disgusted we left without any sweets (my wife loves baklava) but was not willing to take a chance and order it. So, next visit to Greektown, it will be the Greek Islands (next door). Hopefully that will not disappoint. It could not possibly be worse than Athena. So, also, at this time, for real, authentic and awesome Greek cuisine you now have to travel north to Touhy Ave. and the Edens and dine at Psisteria in Lincolnwood. We have been there multiple times and it is even better than Costa's ever was (sorry Christos). Athena is now a shell of what it used to be. It is cheap, cuts corner and no longer worth visiting. If you are looking for real Greek food and the experience, head north to Psisteria. It is the beacon of Greek cuisine. Tom PS I am giving Athena 2 stars solely because of the staff (our waiter was very responsive after we told him he screwed up our order) and because the space is awesome (the all glasss enclosure is tough to beat in Chicago despite the type of cuisine). If it was not for the staff's responsiveness and the atmosphere, Athena would now rate ZERO stars.

Lamb... let’s just said out of this world. Never has anything so well cook to perfection. Like they with with my lamb leg. Completely and fully recommended it for anybody who is willing to enjoy a real Greek food. So pleased.

I have not been to Greek Town in years. We met friends for dinner. Be Careful when using the Valet as people will plow into you. This is the only negative of this place. The place is beautiful and the food was Wonderful. It was such a nice night so it was good to get outside to dine out. A must when eating in Greek Town. Remember to make reservations or you will wait. Thankfully we made them.

Our group of 9 all had great meals and enjoyed our surroundings and service. I am looking forward to visiting in warmer weather when I can dine alone fresco!

The Moussaka was a good size portion, came hot, and had excellent flavor. The baked lamb with a lemon butter sauce was good. The Fix beer is worth a try. The outdoor seating was nice. Service good and efficient

Sunday afternoon dining is always a pleasure here. Great place to go after mass at Old St Pat's. We always find good food and service here. If you ask for an adjustment to a menu item, they are always willing to accommodate (leave the green peppers off the kebob; put the gyros in the salad)

Amazing!! Start to finish, it was one of the best meals I have ever had at a restaurant. And it was my first time visiting a Greek restaurant!! If that doesn’t say a lot, I don’t know what will. I definitely recommend not going solo necessarily, but I’m a ‘try as much on the menu as we can’ kind of person, so I like groups that we share everything we order. Also great for a semi-casual date location.

The restaurant is big and bright full of guests, the food is ok. The portion is big and filling but I've had better in other Greek restaurants. The service is good and our server constantly checks on us and they brought the food fast. Not too expensive and great for big crowd. They also have a separate area for private parties

We came back to Chicago for this yummy food! Saganaki, lemon rice soup, Greek coffee, and FREE VALET parking!

Great indoor/outdoor layout. (Props for the retractable roof!) Busy place with prompt and sincere service. We just had “the basics”- gyro plate and spankanopita. But it was perfectly done and washed down with a nice bottle of Greek wine. What more do you need?

Took a 20 minute Uber to eat here. Arrived 5 min before 8:00 pm. This website says they close at 11 and Their website says 9. As we walked in they were seating 4 people. Told us kitchen closed and cannot seat us. No apology or care in their words I told them their website says open until 9pm. They said it’s their summer hours. Good news. Greek isles is just 100 feet away and has great service and food!!!!