We are so incredibly lucky to live near such a wonderful gem! We come here A LOT and have never ordered anything we didn't like. The Greek chicken is unreal. The skin is crispy and charred but the meat is tender and literally falling off the bone. The Greek fries are thickly cut steak fries drenched in a lemon garlic sauce that is addictive. Don't be put off by the name "egg-lemon," this soup is a creamy, lemony bowl of goodness. I crave it in the winter (particularly when I'm sick). It is great paired with the strips of gyro meat mounded on a pita. I can't say enough about how delicious this place is. If they catered, I would have had them cater my wedding. Seriously. It's that good. read more

I have been going to this place since it was first opened. The food, the staff, and the owner(who suddenly) past away, could not make me and my family made to feel more welcome. Know that the owners Daughter has taken over(She has done her dad proud), the same great food, service and staff still make us feel they same way. Come in try this place you would not be disappointed just bring cash- they don't accept Credit cards This Has never stopped me from going and never will... read more

Nostalgia! When I was younger , my mom and I used to come to cross rhodes to eat... I loved it. There has been something near a 20 year hiatus since I've been back. Well, it's still pretty tasty. I got the grilled chicken sandwich and a cup of egg lemon soup. I love greek flavors, and the soup did not dissapoint! The chicken sandwich was huge and heavy, causing me to have a stomach ache later, but that's more my own fault than theirs. The chicken was moist and delicious. Their pitas are also good, but quite greasy. My coworkers like to get the gyros and salad, which evidently are quite yummy ones. read more

I have been coming to Cross Rhodes since I worked in Evanston years ago. I had a pregnant boss who had heard that the white sauce induced labor. By the end of the third trimester, we were eating there several times a week. But I would've eaten there anyway. I recently returned and was happy to find that things are still the same. The service is friendly, and the gyros are tasty. I especially like that I can order a salad, top it with French fries, and still pat myself on the back for eating a "healthy" lunch. Best of both worlds! If you go, get your fries wet and your gyro extra saucy, even if you have no bun in the oven. read more

It was a dangerous day when my husband and I moved mere blocks from Cross Rhodes. I am particularly fond of the greek chicken and fries (the white wine sauce on the greek fries is to DIE for). I've also enjoyed their gyros and my husband says the burgers are great, too. You get a TON of food for the price and it's delicious. For example, the greek chicken is under $10 and you get a side salad, pita or french bread, greek fries or rice, and the chicken itself - more than enough food for 2+ meals for me. They can get really busy on weekends, so plan ahead. Service is always friendly. Make sure to bring cash! read more

After reading all of the positive reviews I couldn't wait to check out this place so I convinced my fiance to take me to a late lunch after we went to the movies. We ordered so much food it is a little embarassing. I started with the lemon egg soup which had a chowder like texture and a delicate flavor. Cliff started with the Greek Villagers Salad that had such goodies as olives and feta cheese. I had a small salad, Greek fries and the skirt steak, all of which I loved. The steak had a great flavor and the fries were lemony good. Cliff's gyro plate was huge and flavorful, with the gyro meat with just the right texture. Oh, and I tried the lemonade and it was homemade, a real treat. I highly recommend this place for a casual meal. And don't forget the lemonade. And the cash. read more

CASH ONLY! There is an Charter Bank ATM next door, if you don't mind their $3.50 ATM fee. Parking usually isn't a problem. A Greek friend hosted her birthday dinner here, and we had a total of 14 people in our group. That was difficult to manage, particularly since they don't take reservations, but the staff tried their best to accommodate us. We ended up being split into two tables. All the food we had (souvlaki, gyros, Greek-style chicken, mousaka, and pastitsio, Greek and Maria fries) was excellent. In addition, we had a bottle of retsina, an interesting wine made from pine sap. For the amount of food we got, the price was very reasonable. Highly recommended and Greek-approved! read more

I must have driven by this place a thousand times. Finally, I had a chance to stop in. For a small, family-style Greek restaurant, this place is wonderful. While I'm a vegetarian, Greek food has a lot of vegetable based dishes and the ones I tried here were delicious. The lemon soup and the yogurt dips were two of my faves. The staff here was super friendly too. read more

Been here a couple of times, always good food. The skirt steak is really good with the steak fries and French bread.

I've been here a few times now and everything I have tried on the menu has been delicious. Their gyros are so overstuffed I have to pull out meat and onion and pile it on a separate pita. Their lemon fries are divine - just the right crispiness, tart, but not overkill. My favorite so far is the feta burger. Something they did to that burger made the meat tender and juicy. Affordable, too - dinner usually runs ~$8/person. Staff have been very friendly also. read more

Good food pure and simple. This was the place that turned me on to french fries on a salad. Service is pretty good and I like that the owner is so trusting and caring of his staff that he makes sure they do not need to handle the cash transactions. Portions are wee bit too small but I think in e long run for my waste size that is a good thing. Can't say all dishes are the best of the best, but the food is good. Highly recommended! read more

If you are in the mood for a good steak, this is the place to go! They are cheap and the steak is cooked to perfection. I am not a steak person but the way cross-rhodes cooks the steak it is the best. I haven't really had any urge to try anything else on the menu since I tried the skirt steak. The fries, shrimp and chicken are just okay and thus the 4 stars. This place is unpretentious and good bang for the buck. Another downside though, you have to make sure you have enough cash to go here for they do nto take credit cards. read more

My folks are lucky enough to live directly across the street from here. We usually carry out but occasionally dine-in. This is an excellent restaurant and an Evanston treasure. When my folks moved in, they ordered for the first time and the owner said "you are going to eat here a lot". He was right. Their gyros is fresh, tasty and delicious. Try the Greek fries they are wonderful. The Avgelemino soup is always a favorite. Taramousalata is also very good. I like the Villager Salad. The wait staff and support staff are very good. This is CASH ONLY. Parking can be a challenge during peak hours as it is only street parking. BIG PEOPLE: Seats can be a bit rickety and uncomfortable. read more

I've been wanting to try this place for a while and have heard nothing but great things. And it's true, it's good! I was kind of boring and just got the vegetarian salad but I did add gyro meat to it that was good. They also had fries on it, odd but I do live fries so no complaints from me! They put their own lemon garlic sauce on the fries that is very good. Their hummus is great! Probably some of the best I've had. And nice warm pitas to go along, we even had to ask for more pita. The restaurant itself is very cute inside. And everyone working was very friendly with a smile. I only gave it 3 stars because I feel like i owe it to the restaurant to try something other than a salad there. I will definitely be going back for more!! read more

I always think of CrossRhodes as the place for the best burgers. However, something has changed. When I ordered a burger today, the bun was totally different - very thin, almost non existent and was slightly burnt. I also ordered the dry fries and it came with the wet fries instead. Very disappointed in today's meal there. Hopefully this was a fluke and it will be back to the best burger in Evanston next time! read more

My family's favorite Greek restaurant anywhere in the area! I love the atmosphere as well as the food. The lemon drop soup is incredible as is the Greek salad and dolmas. My family has tried a lot more than me (I like what I like) but it's just a great place. read more

seriously? best greek place ever. marina fries, greek chicken and of course, gyro. staff is usually very friendly too. only thing I wish is they would take credit card. who has cash in 2020 anyway? read more

Superb greek food Cheap wine. Descent food prices. Takes cash only. Opa! read more

I really enjoy Cross Rhodes. I needed to get thank you meals for some of the teachers at school that helped me out with a project - thus my reason for visiting Cross Rhodes. I've gone in the pass, for sit down and take-out and have always liked it. I'm surprised I never wrote a review. First, I called the night before, to place the order, because time was of the essence the next day; when the meals were needed. I spoke with a nice young man who assured me that all would be well. He said to call ten minutes before they opened to have the lunches ready about 15 minutes after they opened. And it was as he he said - even with a somewhat particular order. The food was great and the teachers were happy - one surprising herself that she ate the whole thing - it was so good. read more

I love this place. I wish there was one in San Diego. This place is all about those damn addictive Greek fries!!! I've never eaten fries that tasted so good! Service is fast and the people are always great =) read more

So I ended up at the Cross Rhodes restaurant last night. I was with a friend going to SPACE and we walked past here on our way to Trattoria DOC. The food is reasonably priced (cash only), the salad fresh and the fries are excellent! I had the egg lemon soup and pasticcio. Next time I'd try the chicken dinner or souvlaki. Overall I'm glad to have found myself at the Cross Rhodes. Now if I can only know where to go from here... read more

Great place! Very affordable food and a perfect place to have a no-frills, but exceptionally tasty meal. We have never had a bad meal there (and have tried pretty much everything on the menu). **Their baklava is FANTASTIC!** read more

I've been coming to this restaurant regularly for at least ten years and I wish I could give more than five stars. This neighborhood "Greek ish" restaurant never disappoints. Most items are under $10, and everything is fresh and delicious. The hamburgers are terrific, in particular the cross rhodes burger that has a pile of their delicious gyros on top of the burger is wonderful. Other favorites include the Greek chicken and the "Maria fries" which have crumbled feta on top of their delicious vinegary Greek fries. I don't think it's a "destination restaurant" that I would travel an hour to, however if you're nearby you can't beat it. read more

All of their meats are char grilled and seasoned PERFECTLY. I pick up from here multiple times a week and it's consistently good. I don't think I'll stop coming here as long as I'm in Evanston. The people who work there have great personalities too. Keep it up! read more

I love this spot. Their vinegar sauce is unbeatable. They make among the best mussaka I have ever had. Their chicken with the Greek vinegar sauce is amazing. So is their Greek salad, so rich and sharp. Staff super friendly and efficient. For sure the best Greek food I have had in the Chicago area. read more

Came to this place for the first time yesterday, and I'm back today! Great food, great portions, great people, and fast!! While eating here yesterday, a bumblebee made its way in through the door. The owner Maria trapped it in a cup and and freed it outside! Incredible read more

I still get a good laugh thinking about the first time I came here with a few friends. Cross-Rhodes is a nice Greek restaurant to go to in Evanston if you're sick of obtaining your gyros from some grease spoon and want to dine in a sit down restaurant. It is accessible by the Metra North Shore line and El Purple Line (both via the Main stops). When I entered Cross-Rhodes, I was immediately greeted by the friendly owner who you could tell was just a generally happy person who enjoyed life, and wanted you to smile too. The place was busy on a weekend night and you could tell that the people were there to just chat with friends and family, and have a reasonable sit down meal. I recall ordering the gyros, which came with steak fries. They were okay and you can't really lose with ordering them. However, dessert was pretty funny: my friend never had baklava before and we encouraged him to try it. Upon taking his first bite, he let out a loud "OOOOOH!", not realizing that the waitress was behind him! She checked to see if he was okay and we all got a good laugh out of our friend's first baklava experience. I also had a taste of the baklava. It was lovely. We left the restaurant saying goodbye to the friendly owner. read more

The best, the absolute best Greek chicken ever. Meat falls off the bone. Get one to eat in the restaurant and one to take home.

We've been going to this place forever, since back when the decor looked airy and fresh. I love the dressed fries and the gyros. That and the Greek salad are mostly what I get, over and over again. Didn't think the moussaka was anything to write home about--it needs to come with a vegetable or a little wad of skordalia, or be a little bigger or something. Engaging owner, even when that means having the guy harangue you into eating the tasteless, out-of-season hothouse tomato on your gyros just because they're costing him so much money! I'd be very sad if it were gone. read more

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending Custer's Last Stand, which has been held in Evanston every summer for 41 years. Typically, I adore festivals, because there is so much food to choose from! I went with my mom, who was there just because she wanted to spend some time with me. Win win for both of us. On her suggestion, we went to dinner at Cross Rhodes on Chicago Ave, and I loved it. Although the North Shore has so much amazing food to choose from and an abundance of restaurants to peruse, it can be hard to find a good Greek place unless you go into the city. Well, Cross Rhodes was a great experience. All the food is authentically made, the service is quick, and the atmosphere is casual, perfect for enjoying whatever entree you order. As a first time customer, the menu is easy to understand, and chock full of things to choose from. For an appetizer, we tried the Greek Caviar (Taramousalata), which came out with pita bread. Surprisingly, one thing I had never tried was caviar. It came out, and I was a little bit daunted because it was pink, but one of my mottos as a foodie is I will try anything once. I'm really glad I did because it was so good! Pita bread was the perfect thing to complement the flavor of the caviar. We couldn't get enough! Next up we ordered the classic Egg Lemon soup. On paper, it sounds weird, because it's an egg, lemon, and rice soup. Not to mention we ordered it on a hot summer day. But I knew it would be fantastic, as it is a staple at Greek restaurants. If you're at a "greek" place and this isn't on the menu, be concerned. It was the best Egg Lemon soup I've ever had. Lemon was just tart enough, rice and egg combined made the flavors explode in my mouth like fireworks. Finally we got to the main dishes, which were eagerly anticipated. My mom ordered the Mousaka which is a Greek casserole dish made up of eggplant, potato, beef, cheese, and egg custard topping. Although my mom would never associate as a "foodie" like I do, she is able to appreciate a good meal. My main entree was similar, a Greek Lasagna (Pastitsio) which had pasta, layered spiced beef, cheese, and an egg custard topping. Typically, when I go to a Greek restaurant, I order Spanakopita (spinach pie) but I wanted to try something new. It really was quite similar to Italian lasagna, though I highly enjoyed the egg custard topping. Something about it just brought all the flavors together for me! I cannot recommend Cross Rhodes enough. I can't believe I didn't know about it sooner! I fully intend on going back and trying lots of other delicious entrees, and I encourage anybody who loves great Greek food that won't break the bank, to do the same. read more

A favorite go to restaurant. The food is delicious and the service is good. Try the Maria fries as they are simply amazing. This place can get very busy, but I have never had to wait more than 20 minutes to be seated and the food is served quickly. read more

Stopped in today for lunch while I was waiting for my car to get serviced at the Autobarn. I have been coming to the Autobarn for a few years and never noticed Cross-Rhodes. It really doesn't look like a restaurant from the outside and only knew it was a restaurant seeing a big sign for "Greek Fries." I LOVE greek chicken and was only introduced to it when I moved to Chicago from NJ. So I try to order it anytime it is available. The Greek Chicken Dinner, which was $10.95 and selected pita bread, greek fries, and salad to be included. Chicken came out a little charred so I was worried that it would be dry. However, the chicken was super moist and juicy. It was not completely drenched in lemon and oil, but there was just enough to bring out the flavor. One of the better ones that I've had. Service was very friendly and food came out quick. Will definitely return to Cross-Rhodes for lunch the next time I get my car serviced. read more

If I had only gotten the Moussaka, I would give this place a 1.5 but alas, I love their gyros. If I had had nothing else on their menu except for their gyros, I would have rated this place closer to a 3.5, maybe a 4. So we'll have to compromise here and go with a three or somewhat under a 3. Now, their gyro plate is not really a gyro per say because there's SO much meat for your little pita but then I tell myself that this is America and portions always come this large. The gyro is honestly probably one of my favorites since coming back from Turkey and Greece. The gyro plate could have also used more onions. The portion is huge--I've never been able to finish it by myself or eve when I shared with my dad! The moussaka, on the other hand was pretty dry and I honestly don't know what I was eating. We didn't even finish a third and I couldn't bring myself to bring it home as I knew I wouldn't eat it. I was so disappointed as I have been craving moussaka for so long! Am still on the look out for a good place to get moussaka if anyone has any recommendations. Heh. HOWEVER, if you want gyros, I think that this place is a hidden gem in Evanston. read more

This place is awesome. I had the country gyro. One of the best gyros I've ever had. My partner had the Greek salad with chicken. It was huge (and also delicious). We shared the Greek fries (spring for the larger order because you won't be able to stop eating them). The best part of the place, though, was the service. I don't know his name, but he was the best. He did not miss a single thing. He was so personable and nice. read more

CASH ONLY First, the staff was really friendly and helpful. They seemed truly interesting and helping people understand and explore some Greek food. BUT... the food wasn't anything. I had the Lamb gyros and they were dry and lacking flavor. The fries???? What in the world is special about them? They are simple steak cut fries, blah. My wife had the Pastitsio, (it's not made in house our server told us) and it was not very good, small and obviously pre-made. We did start with the Taramousalata which was tasty, but can you really mess that up?? I'll be going back, it was cheap and I think I'll try something else. If the staff wasn't as nice I wouldn't bother though... read more

My coworkers and I came here afterwork on a Sunday evening. Thi place was busy but there was a table available for four. We were seated right now and realize this place only takes cash! The menu is small and affordable. I order the gyro dinner which was only $10. It came with a pita bread and rice or Greek fries. The portion was enormous and good. I didn't finish the plate and end up packing it up to go. The Greek fries was really good and the gyro was very flavorful. My bf always wanted to take me here but we never got a chance to but after this experience, I will Def come back with him next time. Good food Affordable price Good service. You just try if you like gryo read more

Ummmmm......can you say YUMMY?!! Talk about wonderful staff as well, my lady was so nice, and energetic, and made sure all was well! I recommend trying the Greek fries for sure, Greek salad ( duh! loooove feta cheese), and they have really good skirt steak. You will leave FULL and your wallet will not feel empty in the least, don't forget to tip well because the staff are great!!! read more

I've been coming to this restaurant since i graduated from college 20 years ago... its as good as it was then. I love the souvlaki ...pork, white sauce on top and Greek fries. Great food for a great price. You will not be disappointed read more

Coming here after a 8 year hiatus, nothing seemed to change and the food is just as good as it ever was. Greek chicken was grilled to charred perfection as I requested. Fries were smothered with that tart and tasty chicken au jus. Avalemono was a treat to come with the meal. My kids were treated to cheese and crackers (Kraft American & chili oyster type crackers) before the meals came. How cute! This place is getting to be one of those iconic comfort food places one yearns for as the years roll by... read more

+ Only place I know to get retsina outside Greek Town. + A place where the owner is behind the counter, and recognizes you. + Solid Greek food. Not the fancy, crap, just the good stuff. + Priced right. + Toys to keep the kids busy. + A local joint that has character. + Wish they took credit. I'd order more... read more