Hostess was very rude - finally sat down inside only for no one to serve us for 30 minutes. Food is very mid at best. Take your business elsewhere read more

Ordered through Grubhub. Super expensive for not that great of food. Got the lamb gyro asked for onions on side. Received no onions. Maybe 2 small chopped tomatoes on it. Very little tzatziki sauce. Ordered an extra side and it was like a tiny cup not even half full. Greek salad was $17 and it was the size of a side salad. $8 should be the price. Lemon soup had no flavor or seasoning. Pita bread was stale. We were so excited to get med food today what a letdown. read more

Loved this spot! Went here for happy hour a couple months ago and then for date night again a few weeks later. Such a light and airy vibe wifi the decor. I loved our server when we sat for dinner--so friendly and accommodating. The food is delicious - I LOVE the assorted dips and bread. Such a great happy hour spot. read more

Mediocre at best. I ordered their Medusa's tears martini which was not well balanced. I also got the veggie gyro which had so little sauce I had to double check it was actually there. The vegetables were watery and mushy and cut all different sizes which was sloppy. "Greek fries" were just ok steak fries with a dollop of feta on top and nothing else. Underwhelming all around. read more

I was really excited to eat at Avli during a long weekend visit to Chicago this past weekend, but I was little frustrated by the experience. We were staying in Lincoln Park and walked over. We had a reservation for 8. We were seated as soon as we walked in, but I immediately noticed that the restaurant was waaaaaaaaaaaay too loud. I will say that there was one woman in particular who was shouting and whose voice carried a lot, and the restaurant did get quieter after she and her party left. But, overall, the restaurant was extremely loud to the point that it was hard to enjoy the experience at Avli. Two of us ordered some wine from Crete, which was very good. We started with the tirokafteri (spicy feta dip), which was good, but not great. Next, we shared the grilled artichokes with onion, capers, lemon zest, and olive oil, which almost everyone enjoyed (my brother is a caper hater and claimed that the taste of capers pervaded the dish). Those of us that eat meat (3/4) then shared two entrees: moussaka tselementes ("The OG") and the Berkshire pork BBQ. I loved the moussaka (casserole of lamb, bechamel, eggplant, potatoes), and I thought the Berkshire pork was okay (extremely fatty to the point that I didn't find it pleasant to eat). But the other two meat eaters loved the pork and liked the moussaka, so we were split on which entree was best! My mom is vegan. One of the reasons we picked Avli for a dinner during our visit to Chicago is their very vegan-friendly menu. The menu has vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free items marked on their menu. She had the papoutsakia (grille eggplant stuffed with tomatoes, onions, and peppers), which she liked very much. The other thing that didn't impress much was the service. Our waiter didn't stop by once after the food was brought to our table (luckily, we didn't want more wine or we would have had to wave someone down). When we finished eating, we sat and waited for him to come by. It took a while before he came by to ask how we were doing, but by then we had been ready to ask for the check for at least 10-20 minutes. I thought most of the food was very good. Definitely not a bad meal just based on the food alone. But between the slightly absent service and how loud the restaurant was, I didn't enjoy the experience and I wouldn't be rushing back if I lived in Chicago. read more

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I've wanted to so much like this place. Has potential being in a fantastic neighborhood location in Lincoln Park. The staff seems to be rushed and generally lacking warmth and hospitality. I used the InKind app to pay for my lunch on a Sunday and was almost tackled by the hostess when she rushed over abruptly..."Sir....are using InKind....to which I replied yes I am. I was caught off guard that she would rush over to tell me they will discontinue using it. She made me feel bad that I was using it. I tipped 20% on the app and cashed in $26 so the tip was 20%. She went on to tell me most waiters or waitresses get shorted on it because they tip off 20% discount. So I gave an extra $7 cash to avoid harming anyone. Total tip was 27%. I recommended the staff to bring a more positive and pleasant attitude. Everyone is in this together. People that live in the area work hard as well and when going out want to enjoy a nice time out. Practice gratitude for your customers and learn to smile. As I said before I want to enjoy this spot but it's a cold and unwelcome atmosphere with little joy or happiness throughout. read more

Food was absolutely delicious and our waiter, Renee made us feel so welcome and was particularly kind to my young niece, who is 3. Absolutely love this restaurant and can't wait to come back! read more

Greek restaurant summer vibes with a DJ. That's right a DJ! Eat your food fast! really delicious food though. One issue I had was with the service where we got full cocktails instead of shots. But she gave us the shots on the house. So very nice. read more

Avli Taverna - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great atmosphere food was fresh drinks were wonderful. Will come here again. Service was slow, but the waitress warned us that it would be.

This place was amazing! I have never had a staff be so attentive and helpful before! I wish I could remember our waiters name to give him a shoutout but he was really the best. The food was also great. I def recommend the dip sampler. We got the hummus, taziki , and spicy feta. They were all so good! I also got the gyro and baklava and would happily get both again read more

Great evening and meal with friends outdoors. We ordered the saganaki with rendered figs and honey. It was a surprising hit. The eggplant salad and pita was a great second to the saganaki. For main courses, we had the New Zealand lamb chops and chicken shish kabobs with grilled broccoli and cauliflower. Very selections! The main meals came super fast. Unfortunately the server forgot the salads. Wanted to try the watermelon salad...will come back again and try it then. read more

Avli Taverna - Chicken Shish Kabob - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I don't know. I wasn't a fan. The drinks were good, and the place is super cute! It was also pretty crowded on a Friday night. But the food didn't do it for me. I got the lasagna and basically it was a huge piece of lasagna on my plate. It was stuffed with so much meat - I wasn't impressed. But again - great drinks if you only want to drink! read more

Date-night or girls' night out in Lincoln Park - this is the place. Fun creative cocktails. Yummy food that has something for everyone. Friendly staff. Sit outside if you can:-)! read more

I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. The food was decent but nothing to remember. The atmosphere is really what you're going for. It's a good place to have drinks and catch up with your friends/family but I wouldn't say the food is the authentic Greek meal you might be craving. read more

Avli is going downhill. I've been to Avli before and have had good experiences, but I recently went back and it was not good. I've ordered the dark & kinky before and loved it, this time it was not drinkable!! It was not well balanced and the cayenne severely overpowered everything else. Additionally, I noticed their menu changed and it was not for the better. The burger was not as good as it was before, believe they changed the toppings and sauce and it was just mediocre. Our service was just ok. Our server was a bit aloof and disinterested. We had to flag him down for just about everything. Food came out quickly though. Not worth the visit when there are so many other better Greek spots in Chicago. read more

Always like place but tonight I ordered Lamb Chops and receive three (3) small chops for $44.00. WHAT? Crazy.

So Good! Christina was an awesome hostess! She was friendly and very attentive. The food was amazing! Drinks were FAB! Atmosphere was great! I definitely am looking forward to going back when it's warmer out to enjoy this neighborhood spot! read more

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Pleasant food, other than overcooked pork souvlaki. Warm ambiance , though like most places these days a little loud for my personal taste.

Food was great, service was fast, and the restaurant itself is nice! The Taramasalata is a must, so is the Saganaki. Overall, food, service, and atmosphere is great! (Follow me on Instagram! @foodbyaliise ) read more

The food is always outstanding, but I want to specifically shout out our waiter Rene. He was one of the best servers I've had in a long time. He made our dinner so much fun and pleasant. Definitely keep him around!! read more

Delicious food, detailed and timely service, and a very upbeat and relaxed ambiance. I came here with my boyfriend for our anniversary, and I definitely recommend for any occasion! read more

Avli Taverna - Ouzo Salmon - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had a nice time at Avli! The food there was pretty good but not the best greek food I've ever had. Pros: nice service! Our waiter was very helpful! We had a few dips to start. The gyro was pretty great! Cons: they charged extra for pita that comes with the dip. The egg lemon soup was nothing to write home about. read more

Raw meats, poor attempt at babaghanoush and fresh pita, obnoxiously loud music, subpar food. So, I have been here before, and would always avoid returning here because I know what the food is. However, it is on my way home (east LP) from the grocer, and one late evening my son was hungry and I didn't have enough in me to get home, unload, and begin cooking (7pm). Out of desperation and proximity to home, we stopped here to eat a quick bite before returning home. Tables were available on a Friday evening. The noise playing was deafening, but I think they are aiming for that nightclub vibe. We get seated and started with baba ghanoush with pita, Greek fries, Frappes, and octopus. I asked the waitress to bring the bread out as soon as possible so I can give my son something to nibble on. Baba ghanoush was flavorless (SKIP). The fries were home style fries with feta crumbles on top (SKIP). Octopus was OK. We were hungry, so we ate it... Beef Souvlaki- 2 skewers of raw meat. Now, I only usually eat medium-rare, and do not enjoy medium at all, but this was RARE... uncooked rare. I couldn't eat it, and didn't trust it to eat it. (SKIP) Papatouli eggplant entree- basically it was a failed attempt, again, at babaghanoush served with tiny triangular pita pieces. (SKIP) Frappes were terrible. (SKIP) The best part about Avli is the location in LP: pretty, tree-lined block of Wrightwood. $100+ for pita bread, about a tablespoon of mashed eggplant, and two skewers of raw beef. NO THANKS. Cedar Palace on Armitage is infinitely better. read more

I've had Avil before at the Timed Out Market, but this was my first time going to the restaurant itself and it did not disappoint. Cute, cozy restaurant with amazing food and service. We got the three spreads with pita which was a great starter to share. We also shared a Greek salad which was so refreshing. The star of the show was definitely the lamb gyro though! It was so good and the meat was thinly sliced which I appreciated and the pickled onions matched the dish so well. We also got a mezcal drink which I enjoyed, but there was a lot of pulp in the drink so I don't know if I would order it again. Overall, great ambiance with delicious food! read more

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So exciting to be able to get out and try a restaurant I've never been to. Ok so the vibe here was way more modern and trendy than I was expecting. But it was really cool. I will say that on a busy Saturday night the inside can be quite loud, so if you are looking for chiller vibes, grab a seat on the patio. I wanted to try an assortment of items off the menu, so we ordered the saganaki, tirokafteri plate, and avgolemeno soup to share. The saganaki and tirokafteri were excellent-I loved the addition of figs to the saganaki. The avgolemeno soup was good, but I wish it had more lemon in it. I also started off with the mastiha drink-I'd never had it before and I loved how sour it was. Very refreshing for me. For entrees we ordered the gyros sandwich (I chose the lamb) and the Avli lamb burger. Both came with the Greek fries. I got the Trellis for my second drink. All of this was great-the burger was overcooked past medium, but the seasoning and great char flavor made up for that. The gyros sandwich was great. We both thought the fries were good, too. Overall, we had a decent night out. Wouldn't mind trying this place again and maybe experiencing brunch here. read more

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This place is really good. It's Greek food, so everything has a fun twist to it. All there meat is seasoned cooked well. I enjoyed the lobster pasta the most. read more

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Can't say enough good things about the service, the drinks and the FOOD! I read on eater that the RiNo location was a hot spot this winter but LP was a lot more convenient. The space itself is beautiful and I can't wait to be back when the outdoor patio is open. I was seated promptly even though I was the first to arrive of my party of 2. The wait staff quickly made sure I had soft bread, black olives and a drink. I had the "teach me to dance" cocktail which was potent and flavorful. It wasn't super sweet which I made sure to ask about before ordering--the rosemary adds a nice kick. By the time the rest of my party arrived, the waiter made his recommendations and answered questions (as we had were some dietary restrictions). I was surprised to see how many GF and Veg options there were which I made a mental note of for my friends who stick to a strict diet. We ordered an assortment of salads (Greek, Thallasa), Greek fries with a side of tzaktziki, tomato fritters, and the moussaka (the star of the show in my opinion). Everything had it's unique taste (i.e the octopus salad had a strong citrus and dill flavor), but the moussaka was the perfect, hearty dish for my fill of lamb and eggplant. I had to take some home and it was surprisingly great the next day too! Excited to go back and try a few more of the lamb and octopus dishes. Wonderful service and even better food! read more

Avli Taverna - "Teach Me To Dance" - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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While the food was great the service was so so, so I went from giving 4 to 3 stars. Sat outside during the summer and the vibe was great. read more

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I was really looking forward to this dining experience. We were initially met with no music, which heightened everyone else's conversation around us. Our server didn't get our drink order correct, after multiple times of explaining. We ordered food as soon as we sat down, yet waited over 30 minutes for it. When I asked how much longer our food would take (salad and octopus), he asked what I ordered. After telling him, I then watched him walk over to the POS and ring in our food.....after 30 minutes. This place is clearly high volume, but incapable of handling it. Do not come here if you expect a personalized, fine dining experience. Major disappointment is an understatement. read more

I was so excited to go to this place because a friend told me about it. I went and I was sorely disappointed. I do have to say I just got back from Greece a couple weeks ago so I was really expecting an authentic experience. This did not happen. The Gyro was basically pulled pork on a pita and the tzatziki was a glob of Greek yogurt with no seasoning no dill no grated cucumber but an olive oil drizzle. the Greek fries were just fries with feta on top. They lacked that herbed vinegar/ lemon acid balance. Athenian room is kind of divey but defiantly more authentic and tastier Greek food. The food was just average. read more

All I have heard about this restaurant has been great things and my own experience trying brunch here out cemented that. From the food to the patio atmosphere, everything was fabulous. I was able to book a reservation for the patio very easily online so make sure you do this before going. The patio itself was quite large and spacious. Tables were spaced apart and due to the location of the restaurant being in a residential area, the outside wasn't loud or crowded. The brunch menu itself was more extensive than I expected and had everything from typical brunch items to large entrees, all cooked in a Greek style. I tried the Hortopita and eggs which was a nice and warm green (green veggies in delicious puff pastry) pie with perfectly cooked poached eggs on top and roasted potatoes on the side. It felt and tasted very healthy while still being delicious. I highly recommend this dish if you are getting brunch. I also tried the cherry bellini, a new and interesting flavor I haven't seen before. The food and drink were very unique and I highly recommend coming here to give it a try even if it's pickup. read more

Avli Taverna - Cherry Bellini - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

LOVE LOVE LOVE the meatball dish - randomly ordered it with a friend one day last summer and I order it regularly now. They do it slightly different here from the river north location and I like this version better. Everything I feel tried from here has been amazing except the zucchini patties which were just a bit boring. The food tastes so fresh too. read more

We loved the saginaki, tzaiki, and lamb meatballs. They have gluten free pita too! The Diana salad was good as well. We will definitely be back. read more

Late lunch yesterday. Food was great, but smaller plates so pictures seem a full plate...portions were a little smaller than I had hoped...it gives the place a classy look (we are in a great neighborhood here). Okay...it is pricey but clean good food. Very very very noisy....done of us could hear each other talk or able to hear what are are server was saying. I did not expect the noise of loud patrons and I was surprised the high heeled patrons stayed very long. Yes, many women really wore high heels for a Saturday lunch. It is fine ...but does give Avli ( in Greek means=Courtyard in Greek) a high class look to a nice small place. I have no problem....I like to see people well dressed. Even the children were dressed to the eights. No tennis white shorts, sweat pants or stretch pants in this place. Even the restaurant's classy bathrooms are European style which I have rarely seen in the US. One door opens to a room with sink for two people or more with a locked door....then another door to a patrons private toilet which also locks. We would have ate in the garden because of the noise, however it turned very windy and cold. Never eat inside because of the noise level. Try it and you will ask to seat in the garden patio within 9 minutes. It would be worth the wait. read more

Daydreaming about this brunch currently. We loved the French toast on brioche, spanakopita & eggs, saganaki (not pictured), spreads & bottomless mimosas for $25! read more

Wow just wow! We will definitely be coming back! We had the artichokes, grape leaves, hummus, meatballs, cheesecake and baklava. Everything was DELICIOUS. It was so good we forgot to take pictures bc we ate it so fast. Joselyn was a doll. Thank you, Avli! read more

Came here for brunch today with a big group. I've been wanting to try Avli for awhile and I really liked the space, indoors is nice and bright, and the patio outside is covered and thoughtful. The restaurant sits in a residential part of LP. I love Greek food, so I was really excited to try a lot of dishes. We started with a couple dip samplers. We tried them all, and my favorite was the feta. The pita it was served with was typical, and all of the dips were good not great. We also got the zucchini chips which were pretty good. For mains, I shared the Hotopita & Eggs, French Toast, Half Chicken, and Lamb Gyro plate. The Hotopita was probably my favorite. The pie was flakey and warm. The spinach mix inside was just ok, it didn't have a great flavor but it wasn't bad either. The eggs on top were poached perfectly. The half chicken was next in line. The breasts were a little dry, but the skin was tasty and thighs tasted good. The feta fries were decent as well. I wouldn't order the lamb or french toast. The lamb felt braised to me, I was expecting shaved, and the french toast was hard. I was expecting much softer, but the fruit on it was good. All in all, not the best showing for the food but definitely a good vibe and you can find some things to order that you won't be disappointed with. I would come back if a friend invited me and try some new dishes. The service was great BTW read more

Cool neighborhood kind place. The food is awesome but the prawns in particular are amazing! The service is great. They give you your space but sense when you need something. Shout out to Alex and Nicole for great service! read more

This is the perfect definition of a hidden gem and how spoiled we are in Chicago to have such a refined culinary experience nestled into a quiet neighborhood setting. The food is creative, presented nicely, but most importantly, delicious. The prawns in puff pastry were a perfect contrast of flavor and texture; the grilled octopus was cooked to perfection; and the Melitzanosalata is a great, cozy spread for this season in particular. Best of all? The Trellis cocktail and baklava ice cream cake will now be my guilty pleasure meal when I need a pick me up or just because. read more

Avli Taverna - Caramel Baklava Ice Cream Cake - Greek Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great place! I would say it's an upscale greek restaurant. Good portion sizes and delicious food. Very Authentic Greek! Atmosphere: Neighborhood Vibe Restaurant Price: Decent value a little higher on the $$ level My Favorites: The greek casserole and gyros! Have to try Spanakopita for app and Greek beer! Will be back. read more

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