My husband and I were looking at Italian places to eat, and stumbled upon Avli. My husband being Greek immediately said were going here. I was able to secure a reservation online and we were seated promptly. The place exudes cyclades vibe and reminded me of when I was in Paros. The place was a bit cramped, especially since we were there during prime time. The food was very good and well cooked. Very large portions. We loved that they had a watermelon feta dish, which my husband says is not commonly offered at greek restaurants. We had a good time here and were definitely satisfied with the food. We will be back. read more

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Our dinner here was great!! When you first sit down you get some free bread with olives - we felt a little weird with no butter or olive oil to spread but maybe it's a Greek thing! I ordered the Greek chicken which is a half chicken with potatoes - it was very good!! It was super lemony though so it might not be for everyone. My boyfriend ordered the chicken souvlaki which was also very yummy. We then finished with the rice pudding which was delicious and a light dessert. The interior is definitely reminiscent of Mykonos with the pink flowers and white walls. Would dine here again! read more

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Very cute restaurant, the patio is the best place to sit. Our waiter was very nice and service was great. We got the three dips, the eggplant was a standout for me. Followed with the Saganaki and the zucchini fritters. The saganaki was fantastic. Unfortunately I was very disappointed by the zucchini fritters, not much flavor, very thinly sliced so mostly tasted of batter and the dip was very underwhelming...maybe we got unlucky. The chicken skewers finally were fantastic, the rice was very well paired with lemon, red onion and other toppings it was delicious! Over all very good, only thing that brought it down was the fritters. read more

I was very skeptical after reading reviews, but went Friday night with my daughter and her friend. It was a two and a half hour amazing dining experience. Not only was the food amazing (garides kataifi - shrimp wrapped in threads of phyllo dough and cooked perfectly), but the service was incredibly attentive but not intrusive. We were well cared for. Luckily the three of us love to share, so we got to try many of the dishes and sampling all the spreads with warm pita was a great start to the meal. We were lucky enough to get a booth which was so comfortable and allowed us to view the beautiful restaurant. read more

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Overall: Avli is a fantastic spot for brunch. The food and portions were good, and the price was fantastic for the vibes. CHICAGO RESTAURANT WEEK REVIEW Food: Hummus: Good standard hummus, nothing to write home about but nothing wrong with either. Haloumi Avocado: I'm not usually a fan of sweet and savory dishes, but this was an exception. It was well balanced in flavor and felt both light and creamy. Chicken Bowl: Although it had nothing beyond a normal Greek chicken bowl, it was well made. The chicken had a nice smokey char, and the rice was very flavorful. My only wish is that it came with other vegetables beyond just onions and bell peppers. This makes 2 meals if you don't eat a lot (me) or 1 very satisfying meal for a normal person. Halva Dessert was toasted semolina halva, orange segments, orange cream, and chocolate soil. This was probably my least favorite part of the meal. The dessert was light and bland and had very little textural balance. It was just soft on soft on soft. I think this was only offered during restaurant week, so hopefully their normal desserts are tastier. Service: 5 The wait staff was very kind and helped reseat us from the patio to indoors when we found it unbearably hot outside. The food came out at a good pace, and they are very prompt with getting plates taken away as soon as you are done so there isn't clutter. Ambiance: 5 Avli has seating both indoors and outdoors under a covered patio, which seems to be heated to the temperature of a sauna (it was really warm even in 50 degree weather!) Perfect spot for an Insta-worthy brunch. read more

Upscale Greek that was stellar for happy hour and a nice outdoor patio. Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: no but on Tock Return worthiness: yes Highlights: - Happy hour with half off small plates and some drink specials - Shrimp phyllo: huge shrimp wrapped in a nesty type of phyllo. Super good. 4.5 stars - Bread and pita were both solid: my son gobbled them both up and we asked for a refill. 4 stars - Saganaki: standard big triangle of gooey cheese. 4 stars - Chicken souvlaki: hearty skewers my kid gobbled down. 4 stars - Eggplant dip: huge portion of fresh bright purple eggplant and garlic. 3.5 stars - Cucumber martini: refreshing and not too sweet - Greek wines by glass: fun to try something different - Staff: nice to put sauces and garnishes on the side for my 12 year old. - Large outdoor patio: on a cooler day or evening would be great to hang out there Midlights: - Inside is pretty small if it's a extra hot day: has a bar area with a few high tables and some low tables Lowlights: - We were there at the beginning of September so some of the drinks on the menu for HH were no longer available as it was the end of summer Nice stop for a quality late afternoon snack and drink. read more

Came hear after hearing a ton of great reviews and it did not disappoint! The inside was all decorated for the holidays and it looked beautiful. The food was well priced and massive portions! We got the zucchini chips, a gyro, and the moussaka and couldn't even come close to finishing. Everything was delicious. We will be back next time we're in Chicago! read more

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Came here for restaurant week with a friend and wow! Their dinner menu is only $39 which they easily could have done $55. The portions were very generous and everything I tried (we shared it all) was delicious. Not pictured: Pantzaria Salad which was flavorful and the Tiropitakia Me Meli which is a must. Basically tried one of everything off the RW menu (less the Imam baildi) and would go back. read more

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It's always lovely surrounded by good company and eating good quality good. Avli- River North provided us with a great dining experience for a party of 10. We loved the outdoors sitting provided, although it got really warm as the day progressed. After speaking all day eating, we decided to go for a light dinner with the Chicken Souvlaki, which was delish. The yogurt marinated chicken was tender and seasoned well. I really liked the basmatic rice. I sampled their Arni Fournou, which one of our friends got. The lamb shoulder was chef's kiss. Tender, seasoned, and juicy. For drinks, I stuck with their raspberry martini, which I enjoyed greatly. Their hummus was nicely done, smooth with any graininess. The only reason they got a 4 star was that our waiter wasn't attentive, he couldn't split the bill, and we had to constantly search for him. Overall, the food was great. read more

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Nice location in river north. Has more outdoor seating than indoors. We were a large group so we were seated outdoors. Because my bestie and I had a long day of eating in chinatown we were very full for dinner at avli. The table got hummus and baby that bread was soft and succulent blended with the rich and creamy hummus. I liked the roasted chickpea in the hummus, added a nice twist. For the main course we decided to share the chicken souvlaki which was rice and chicken skewers that were marinated in yogurt. The rice had a lemon type sauce on it which I thought was good (ladolemeno). Someone one next to me got the lamb and I paired the potatoes from that with some of my rice and chicken, phew that was a nice flavor. Drink of choice: blue collado. The drink itself was tasty, more on the sweet side and creamy( rum chata). I will say I did not like the coconut flakes on the rim. read more

Avli River North - Hummus - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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When I have a few days to spend eating my way around Chicago Avli -River North location is a must stop. They have a nice deck to dine el fresco. A must get for sure is the spicy feta with pita. Soooooo good. The chicken gyros had a nice flavor and the chicken wasn't dried out. Can't wait for my next visit. read more

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We came for a Saturday morning brunch and it was fantastic! We made a reservation for three at 10, right when they opened. It wasn't crowded at all, but I have heard some days can get pretty busy at this brunch. We got to sit in the heated outdoor space. It was very airy, spacious, and beautiful with the pink flowers. We each got a mimosa and various omelettes that were delicious. Staff was kind and accommodating. The omelettes and side salads were appropriately portioned and tasty! It wasn't as pricey as we expected. The bottomless mimosa deal seems like a great deal. read more

Avli River North - Egg white omelette - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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LOVE the food here! It's always packed when I walk by, which makes sense -- the food is delish, reasonably priced, and the portions are massive. The chicken gyro is SOO yummy, flavors are so fresh and tasty. Make sure to squeeze the lemon on yours! Makes the flavors POP. Chicken sovlaki is also really good too. Service is pretty fast and the ambiance is absolutely adorable. It's one of my favorite restaurants in rive north now! Excited to come back and bring others to try. read more

Avli River North - Chicken Gyro Sandwich - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here with a big group for my birthday. Great spot to try a bunch of small plates, we basically got one of everything (though I forgot to take pics!!). Highly recommend the cretan kataifi-- that truffle honey is to die for. Zucchini chips were a hit as always. But, I was kind of disappointed they didn't offer a dessert menu at the end or being out something sweet. read more

Avli River North - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sorry for my half eaten meal pics but the food looked so good and I couldn't wait to taste it before taking a photo! Food was so good! I got the tasting plate with eggplant, spicy feta and hummus with pita. I also tried the Greek salad with chicken gyro. Yummy!! I saw the watermelon salad that someone had ordered and it looked scrumptious too! Sat at the bar and the bartender was super friendly and made recommendations. Crowded for a Wednesday a bit noisy but nice white walls and more natural decor. Definitely would recommend if you're in the river north neighborhood and looking for some good Greek food. read more

Avli River North - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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One of the best places in the city to get Happy Hour. My favorites are the dip trio, zucchini chips and chicken souvlaki. Not to mention, their rice on the side of the chicken souvlaki is incredible- perfectly seasoned and a good amount of olive oil on top. Highly recommend coming here with your friends or family! read more

Avli River North - Carrots, Zucchini Chips, Chicken Souvlaki - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm surprised over the last few years that I have not written a review of Avli yet. Shame on me! The restaurant with the covered patio is beautiful and the setting is just lovely to sit in on a warm day or even a cold day. We've been many times over the years and just enjoy the atmosphere so much. We've gotten different items over the years and several of our faves are: Greek salad; Octopus; shrimps in phyllo dough We get these pretty much each time we're there. So delicious. The uniqueness of the shrimp dish with the spicy sauce is really out of this world! This last time, we also tried the meatballs, but the other three small plates are ones to rave home about. The only dish I have not really liked is the gyro - as there was fat/grissle in the chicken pieces and left a bad experience. So disappointing too b/c I love gyros. For drinks - we've tried several cocktails and wine. This last time, I got the Raspberry Martini - and it had a foam bubble on top that a few tables were looking at when I popped. Great presentation! Definitely a great find and addition to our neighborhood. read more

Love Avli Atmosphere inside and out so inviting and service has always been spot on The avogolemo soup is the best I've ever had. There are some interesting wines on the menu as well. I like to have a bit of everything while not eating too much and their menu delivers. read more

Avli makes a great gyro. The tomato, red onion, and sauce were fresh and delicious. They provided a healthy serving meat that was flavorful and seasoned well. My favorite thing about the meat was that it was a little crunchy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside. I won't drop any names, but some of these gyro spots out here have dry and flavorless meat. The breading was soft and not too chewy which is a plus in my book. The fries were good, and I highly recommend the iced frappe coffee. Over all they weren't bad. Price is not surprising consider location. This review is for the Time Out Market location, and not the location in River North. Service was quick and pleasant. Ambience was Time Out Market. read more

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Perfect for drinks and small bites. Loved their outdoor seating options, so nice for warm weather. We got the sampler spread with hummus, taramosalata, and tzatziki. Also split the greek salad. All were excellent and perfect for a warm Saturday night vibe. Will be back! read more

Avli River North - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Spread sampler- loved the Tzatziki, hummus, tirokafteri. (5/5) did not like the melitzanosalata 1/5 Saganaki- 5/5 (delicious) Spanakopita-5/5(delicious) Zucchini chips -5/5 (really good) Monastiraki Gyros-3/5 (decent) Chicken souvlaki-5/5(really good) The Greek Pirate-4/5(slightly sweet) The oracle- 3/5(not sweet at all) Mykonos mule-3.5/5(nice) Blue colada -4/5 read more

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The gyros are to die for. I was conflicted. The tzaziki was extremely fresh, but the gyros didn't need it. The fries that came with--likewise--needed no condiments. It was just perfection. And then...the smoky trellis: Bourbon, Metaxa, [tequilla]. I won't spoil it, but it sure tasted smokey (and sweet) and I could have had ten more. read more

Came here on a Monday night, best choice ever. The on at the park is close on Monday. But the this location is amazing. It's always bright and lively. Great Spot on any night, yes you do need to make a reservation. The drinks are amazing and fantastic. The food portion is very big. Great to share food with friends. The service is fantastic, very nice and generous. Everyone was super nice and friendly, no attitude or anything. Are waiter, don't remember his name but he work as a bartender at the park location. He is the most friendly, jolly, and wonderful personality. I would definitely come back her on a Monday for that particular waiter. There is vegetarian and a few vegan options too. read more

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Sooor cute the decor really makes me feel like I'm in Mykonos in Greece lmao the service was top notch but the food was even better! We ordered a lot of what we preferred, along with some recommendations of the waiter. All in all, good deals on excellent food quality -- will be backkk read more

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Love the ambiance here! The outside patio was so nice for an early dinner. The chicken gyro pita was really tasty and portions were HUGE. Only complaint was that the chicken was a little dry, but the fries were actually phenomenal. Definitely share the entree especially if you get appetizers! For apps, I would recommend the spicy feta dip with the pita! The pantzaria salad was also really delicious and refreshing to eat with the heavier food. Overall, enjoyed Avli definitely bang for your buck in terms of the portions and the taste! read more

Avli River North - Pantzaria Salad - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Honestly, would not recommend coming. The service is shotty and the food is overpriced. The other locations may be worth the visit, but this is a hard pass. We had a reservation and went for HH - waiter could not care less. We got our first round in easily, but he did not come back or check on us until a minute before the HH was over. This place has so much potential, and maybe going on a less busy night would help... Overall pricing and thoughts: $20 for a Meze board - not groundbreaking. $10 glasses of sangria - goes down like water. read more

Love this place, the overall restaurant decor, the ambiance, the quick service, the place is definitively good, and you get your money's worth here. Definitely try the sampler, as you get a good mix of dips perfect for veggies and pita. I ended up ordering the chicken gyro sandwich and it was super filling and tasty. I usually don't find much differences in Greek/Mediterranean food, but this place definitely tasted better than your average establishment. read more

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This place has great vibes outdoors. I enjoyed my lamb burger with fries and the humus plate. The salad and lamb gyro were good too. This restaurant is located in the sweet neighborhood of river north. read more

Avli River North - Lamb; salad - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We stopped by for brunch and the food is absolutely delicious and the service is great. You get a great view of the park. We had a chicken skewer and fries which was great. Also, the salad with the goat cheese and fruit was phenomenal. Great job guys. read more

We made a reservation for lunch and were asked to go in to get our temps checked none of which happened. The outdoor seating on the sidewalk was not what we were looking for but it was ok since we had the heater next to our table. Hubby ordered the famous zucchini chips which were good, the Kataifi Prawns were disappointing. Our server didn't bring us the free bread and olives another meh. Our main course was chicken, lamb burger, gyro and short ribs with pasta. All of the food was subpar. I Don't think we will go back anytime soon!! read more

Avli River North - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

loveddd this place during my river north days! chicken souvlaki is my go-to. i was wondering about the espresso martini the gal next to me had but avli's version apparently doesn't have espresso? it was still amaze and tasted like espresso read more

Avli River North - Chicken Souvlaki - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered carry out today - chicken souvlaki and the pasta with the lobster on it. Pasta presentation was not like the pics but whatever. It tasted OK. The rice served with the kabobs were drenched in oil - def not olive. Made me sick. Tasted like low quality Greek food that is found at a mall food court. read more

I love Mediterranean food so I was excited to try this restaurant. I went for lunch on a Sunday with reservation, which is always easy to get online. We ordered two dishes, the quantity is good taking account the price. However, the food is not as flavorful as we expected. We asked for a sauce to make it more flavorful but they don't really have any options. Without a doubt the restaurant is beautiful and the ambiance and service was pleasant. Unfortunately I won't be going back. read more

Avli River North - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been to this location and Avli on the Park and both are AMAZING. Came here with a friend for lunch and we ordered the chicken gyros and chicken souvlaki. The aforementioned friend happens to be Greek, and she was very impressed with the with souvlaki especially. We also got the sampler of Tirokafteri (a little spicy), Tzatziki, and Taramas-- all phenomenal. If you can, try to sit on the patio because it has GORGEOUS pink flowers that make it seemlike you are in Greece. read more

Avli River North - Chicken Souvlaki, Chicken Gyro Sandwich - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Recently got to try Avli for the first time- I've walked by the River North storefront so many times, and I was so happy to find that this place is more than just a pretty exterior! We stopped by for a Saturday brunch (no trouble getting a reservation around 2 days in advance) and were informed by our waiters that they were serving everything off the menu (lunch and dinner, in addition to brunch). I would highly recommend checking out the lunch and dinner menus, if you are slightly underwhelmed by the brunch offerings as I was. For my entree, I chose the Monastiraki Gyros with chicken. The plate came with 2 delicious gyros and the crispiest fries! I found the gyros to be super well-balanced, with the spices of the chicken being mellowed out by the creaminess and tanginess of the tzatziki. You can also ask for a side dish of tzatziki for an extra $3 (you will want more tzatziki) although I didn't see an option for it on the menu. Another plus: I was pleasantly surprised by the portion size of the gyros, as I feel like so many similar River North / West Loop restaurants that market themselves as serving tapas-style plates see me leaving many dollars poorer or still hungry. For dessert, I shared shared the Ice Cream Baklava with two friends. That was a mistake because I could have eaten 3 plates of it on my own. I am still dreaming about those spiced nuts. read more

Avli River North - Ice Cream Baklava - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had been meaning to try this place at their Lincoln Park location, but never made it. When I saw it was participating in Restaurant Week I made it a priority. They have a wonderful covered, but vented patio deck as well as some tables uncovered down at sidewalk level. It was a cool evening so we waited and were seated in the upper area. They don't take reservations for these specifically, but I called ahead and they said they can usually accommodate. Initially they didn't bring us the RW menus, but did so happily when we asked. Across the board food was very good and service was outstanding. I loved it that they asked if we wanted to take a short pause before the mains to visit and enjoy our drinks-really thoughtful. We ordered a few bottles of wine and while we didn't recognize any of the selections, they were very good and prices better than fair. Portions on the food were also generous. We also added dessert for the table and the staff brought us complimentary shots to enjoy. It seems a rare night where things feel "normal" and we had this with the safe and clean restaurant, amazingly hospitable staff and really great food. I will definitely be back! read more

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I order my lunch from here at least once (sometimes twice) a week but they recently changed the way they prepare the rice and it totally ruined the dish. Changed the entire flavor and presentation (no more crispy onions and instead the overwhelming and off putting addition of dill). Please bring back the original preparation of the side of rice so I can order my favorite, healthy, delicious lunch again. read more

Oh my gosh, this was the most delicious brunch. I came for restaurant week and it was all amazing. Some of the food is on their dinner menu so I'll definitely have to come back for dinner. The avgolemono soup was delicious and perfect for a cold winter's day. For my second, I got the Cretan Kaltsouni and they were so delicious. It's been a week and I'm still thinking about them. They were the most delightful cheese empanada-like dish. For the third I got the chicken souvlaki and it was equally amazing. Service was great. Overall, wonderful experience and I can't wait to go back. read more

The only reason why I wouldn't give a 5 is the level of noise. But the food and service was great so I gave a full 5 stars ***** We ordered 8 dishes for 5 people to share, sweet potato salad, artichoke small plate, branzino, spanikopita, mousaka, side of broccoli and side of roasted potatoes, + a bottle of wine. I'd say the artichoke was the weakest link. For me the highlight was the salad, but everyone else loved the fish and the mousaka. We had a very enjoyable evening. Well done! read more

A friend made a reservation here for a ladies night and on arrival the patio seating was nicely decorated with white curtains making you feel as though you were walking up to a cafe in Greece instead of Chicago and also had many heat lamps, which was appreciated since it was a bit cool out. The laminated menus were handed to us (hopefully sanitized between tables) and a waiter was prompt to greet us and take drink orders. The wine list was mostly Greek which made it fun to select something outside of the norm. I wish they had a few more "by the glass" options but I was happy with my pick. We decided on a few dishes to share and each tasty, but my favorite was the Hortopita - Vegetarian Wild Green Filo Puff recommended by the waiter. I was a little sad the cheese appetizer didn't come out flaming as is typical of a Grecian baked cheese, and really wish they served it with warm pitas instead of flat bread but still we all enjoyed it. The seafood platter was lovely in presentation but I wasn't overly impressed with how dry the seafood was - perhaps overcooked. We did not feel rushed but the waiter did alert us half way through the meal of the 90-min table limit which was helpful - time escapes us easily over good conversation:) All said, Avli will do well in the River North neighborhood - good vibes, Greek music DJ, rightly priced and overall just something new and different to enjoy until we can jet to Greece! read more

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