The service was excellent. We ate outside on the patio, the parking lot go really busy around 6:30. The server was informative and kept our drink glasses full. Different people brought the drinks and food to the table, not just the server. The food was good, portions seemed small, like a high end restaurant. Loved the table side flaming Saganaki and the dessert. The pork belly dish was my favorite along with the swirl Greek gelato. Looking forward to the lunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays. The inside of the restaurant was packed in and loud. read more

See all

Food was amazing!!! Definitely recommend the octopus salad! I was on a time crunch when I came and service was very fast! Wait staff and servers were amazing as well! read more

Kouklas was really really good!! I went at 8pm on a Saturday, had a reservation & were seated right away but it was very busy on the inside. The inside was super lively from all the people and had a resort feel to it. We sat on the patio & loved it out there!! My favorite thing we got was the soft serve dessert. My boyfriend loved the strawberry side and I loved the vanilla side with the olive oil and sea salt. So either way you can't go wrong! or get the swirl to try both! The Skordalia was also great and came with fresh toasted bread. The village salad was also great and went perfectly with pita bread. Great date night or special occasion spot!!!! read more

See all

As a fan of the Bannos family's restaurants since their Heaven on Seven days, I was eager to experience Koukla's. Observing the valet lot to be chaotic, even on a Sunday evening, we found street parking instead. Recalling the frumpy décor of Amici, the restaurant that previously occupied this location, we marveled at Koukla's lavish rehab of the space. As noted by other reviewers, the noise level in the main dining room (which was only half-filled) is ear-splitting and they really need to do something about it. Our meal began with skordalia ($17). Theirs is not at all garlicky; it's lemony. It was topped with shards of crispy chicken skin, which added more weirdness than uniqueness. Most Greek restaurants accompany skordalia with a generous basket of sesame-studded Greek bread. But here, all we got were a few dainty wedges of toasted, dried-out bread, not enough to sop up all of the spread. Our server made a point of proclaiming that everything on the menu HAD to be shared because dishes would arrive from the kitchen in random order. Trendy perhaps, but it doesn't work for everyone. The Missus and I threw him a curve ball by ordering the same entrée - the chicken gyro plate ($27 x 2). He appeared flustered, but the kitchen somehow did manage to trot out both platters together. Order a gyros dinner at a typical Greek fast-casual joint, and for around $16 you get a generous portion of gyros along with slices of onion and tomato plus a small ramekin of tzatziki, a pillowy pita, and an ample side dish. The chicken gyro at Kouklas was very good but the portion of chicken was maybe half as much as you'd get elsewhere. For $27, it came with the usual accompaniments plus 3 half-circles of unremarkable cracker-like pita and NO side dish. The centerpiece of the platter was an inexplicably generous bowl of tzatziki, Yeah, I know, the latter was meant to be shared but the excess went uneaten. We passed on desserts. Our total bill for the meager amount of decent-but-not-great food plus tax and tip came to just over $90. Such pricing might be acceptable for a 4- or 5-star chef-driven restaurant in Fulton Market, but surely not in Niles. Perhaps the chef (who won the James Beard award in 2014) assumed that his interpretation of modern Greek cuisine would take Niles by storm. But nearby are several long-established Greek eateries whose food is considerably better and more generously portioned ... and at less intimidating prices. Obviously we have no incentive to return to Koukla's. read more

See all

Went to Kulas in Niles expecting fresh Mediterranean -- especially after spending the last few weeks in Greece. Left disappointed on almost every plate. The spicy feta dip wasn't spicy at all. The pepper tasted like pimento, so what landed was basically pimento cheese spread. Not what we ordered. Greek sausage: five small pieces for $26, and that was the whole plate. Flavor was fine, nothing you'd remember -- you'd eat better grabbing sausage from Fresh Farms down the street. Chicken souvlaki was the high point, and only because the chicken was cooked right. Two skewers over crispy potatoes -- six little potatoes, portions weak again -- with tzatziki that was just OK. Green beans in tomato sauce with feta were swimming in oil. That was the theme of the night: everything oily, everything over-salted -- the opposite of light Mediterranean cooking. Service was slow but they were busy, so fair enough. The room was brutally loud though -- we sat inside and people were nearly shouting to be heard. For a spot with this reputation, a real letdown. Between the salt, the oil, the noise, and the price-to-portion math, the food ate like it came out of a fryer with a salt shaker taped to it. The chicken was good. The rest didn't earn a return trip -- and at this price, it should have. read more

Came here for the first time on a Friday night and luckily we did make reservations a few weeks ahead of time. As I was driving past the restaurant for the earliest reservation, there was already a line outside of people waiting for the doors to open. The entire parking lot is valet only or if you are patient enough you will look for a local street parking around and walk a block or two to get to the restaurant. luckily the local parking is free. There's a lot about this place that is eerily similar to purple pig, such as the family style sharing, the smaller portions, the menu having preferences for both Greek and Italian, while I'm sure descriptions would just simply call this Mediterranean and similar in the sense that I was surprised to see a bone marrow dish. when I saw it being delivered to the table next-door it looked similar to the bone marrow dish I had at the purple pig. But I'll have to order it next time. There is no set server for your table, so it is really nice that they come around very often asking if you're ready to order if you wanna order more. However, this also does create a little bit of confusion. The servers were all very nice and very patient. The food is cooked fresh so the timing is never really right meaning dishes come out as they are finished not as they are necessarily intended or maybe as you may have intended for them to arrive at the table. This is not an issue for me. it might be for other diners. While I recognize that this is not a taverna as a server did correct me. It also takes a little bit of getting used to as well. For example, the skordalia does not come with fried zucchini. The souvlaki also does not come with any pita bread. This is definitely a more modern take on Greek food. And I absolutely do welcome that. What I especially love is that they have lokoumades every day on the menu. Everything was cooked fresh and super tasty. No real complaints about any of the taste or quality. I would definitely come back here again and try other dishes on the menu. I will say that considering the Greek restaurant competition in the local area this place is a little bit more pricey. We did sit inside on this evening and what I did not like was that they opened up all the doors and all the windows and therefore all the humidity from the outside came inside. I would have preferred that the AC stay on for the inside where I could enjoy my meal and cool temperatures. The other reviews about how loud this place get are absolutely true. I do not think it is simply because it got totally full and filled with people, but there is something wrong with the acoustics in this place that it gets so incredibly loud. However, as a longtime fan of Jimmy Sr it's great to see his son being successful as well. read more

See all

OK... Greek guy here, second generation to be clear. My mother learned to cook from my grandmother and my sisters have kept it alive. We know good Greek food & I know restaurants. Visited last night on a busy Saturday and Koukla delivered the goods. Service from the busy bartenders was quick and hospitable. The front desk couldn't have been more accommodating for our party of six. Our server was smiling, pleasant and offered great recommendations to include portions sizes. The food was delicious ...appetizers, dinners, desserts all great. Shout out chicken souvlaki, meatballs, watermelon salad, and the soft-serve Ice Cream. Opa! Yassoo Jimmy! read more

I really want to like this restaurant. The design and decor is lovely, the food is good and the service was great! The portion sizes were satisfactory; we had 2 appetizers and 2 mains between 3 people and could not finish our food. The big problem I see is that it is way too loud. They need to sort out the acoustics. It's hard to enjoy the evening when you can't hear your party. read more

See all

As you walk in you are met with a nice bar area, then the tables are to the left and right of the bar. The bar is long and has lots of seating. We sat bar and ate there. The bartender/server was really attentive. The food was delicious. We had the whipped feta with toasted bread. So good! The bread was toasted perfectly. It had that nice grill taste. The whipped feta was delicious. Both were a perfect combination. The octopus salad was so fresh and tasty. The pork belly was tender and had a great taste The Greek yogurt had honey over it, it was really good. This would be so good on a hot day. It would definitely hit the spot. Overall great experience. Highly recommend. I will definitely be going back. read more

See all

My friends and I made plans to dine at Kouklas Greek Eatery, the modern Greek restaurant by chefs Jimmy Bannos and Kevin Stack. Knowing how popular this new place was, we still showed up without a reservation at 5pm on a weeknight. Guess what? There were no tables available. Luckily, there was room at the large, room-spanning bar. The menu lists shareable appetizers, Mezze plates and contemporary twists on Greek dishes. My friend and I shared some dishes while our other friends had chicken souvlaki. We started with the flaming saganaki which is always fun. We also had tirokafteri -- spicy whipped feta; dolmades with wagyu beef and avgolemono foam and dill pollen; and maroulosalata - romaine, Brussels sprouts, dill, radish and kasseri cheese. And we devoured many baskets of Greek sesame sourdough. The food was fantastic. Not the traditional Greek dishes you know but familiar enough but with innovative touches as you might expect from a James Beard award-winning chef. The parking lot is valet. I came a little early and they let me wait in my car until the restaurant opened at 5. In retrospect this was brilliant because the lot filled up fast and I could easily drive out. So many dishes I'd come back to try. But I'll make a reservation. read more

See all

I didn't know what to think of this place, but I was pretty much impressed. The food was actually pretty good and portioned to a good amount. Probably the biggest problem is that the place is too loud. I mean, screaming across the table loud. Based on the price and the vibe, you would think this was more of an upscale restaurant than it is. They need to soundproof the place! I started with a mocktail called Nectar of the Gods which was a fancy iced tea. Loved it. Our table got the whipped feta appetizer with bread which was excellent and the biggest hit. I tried the lemon rice soup which was presented beautifully, but a little thinner for my liking. We, of course, had to get the Saganaki which was very good, but did not come with any bread (or we weren't given any bread). I went with the beef gyros which was a pretty good size and had some really great flavor, but was overpriced by about $10. Still, I greatly enjoyed it so the overcharging didn't sting as much. We finished with the strawberry shortcake which was excellent as well. In all, the food here is very very good so I would recommend it for that. Its just very expensive and very loud inside. Maybe that will change in the future, but its nice to have restaurants back in Niles! read more

Food 0 Service 0 seating 0 Price way overpriced 0 Sitting on the patio and smelling car fumes 0 read more

This place has been a pretty highly anticipated around here. It certainly didn't disappoint; the food was great. Even on a Tuesday night the place was filling up fast. I was here with my book club so there was a wide variety of items ordered. I chose the chicken souvlaki and it was delicious! Tangy and accompanied by some delicious potatoes. One of the others bought an appetizer or two for the table; I especially liked the tirokafteri, a spicy feta dish. With the thick, olive-oil soaked grilled bread it was so good. But then I'd eat the bread alone too. I tried the skordalia as well, a garlic and mashed potato dip. Mashed potato dip?! Thank you! This had plenty of my favorite spice, dill, too. It was garnished with crispy chicken skin on the top. Drinks were great; I chose the Sparkling Persephone and it was striking as well as lip-smacking good. I don't usually spend that much on a drink but I don't regret doing so this time. The restaurant is really tight. Tables are pretty close and when our group was leaving, we had to wait for another large party to pass and leave single file. They also have complimentary valet parking, and it is not optional, so if you don't like valet or only have your key on your phone you may want to pick another place. read more

See all

Honestly, I did not have high hopes going in (I mean, I've had Greek food all over the city and suburbs and... it is what it is: Simple food) Went for a friend's BDay and was blown AWAY. You can taste the quality in the ingredients and the skillful preparation at first bite. Service was wonderful. Our server, Dina, was great at shepherding us through the menu and checking in with us. We splurged with desserts and all agreed that we were pleasantly surprised. read more

Kouklas - Loukamades, Rice Pudding Brûlée and Basque Cheesecake with a strawberry compote - Greek Near Me - Niles, Illinois

We have been wanting to try Kouklas since before it opened. I went to make a Saturday reservation a couple weeks ago, and nothing was available until after 8:15 PM, same with the next Saturday, so we reserved two weeks in advance and went this past Saturday. It was worth the wait! I had read in some other reviews here that there was often a backup with the valet parking and at the door to be seated at 5 PM, so I specifically made the reservation for 5:15 PM to try to miss the crowd. That worked perfectly. By the time we pulled in we were only the second car in the valet line, and we walked in and were seated immediately. We were originally going to be seated to the far right from the entrance, beyond the bar. But when I looked that way and saw there was already a large group table set up in that smaller area, and I didn't want the two of us to be stuck dealing with that situation on our first visit there, I asked if we could instead be seated to the left, in the main dining room. There were still several tables still open there, so no problem. I'm really glad I asked! We had already checked out the menu and knew that much of it is tapas style, served as it's prepared, and we love that format, so this was perfect for us. We ordered cocktails - the Nyx's Mix (a Manhattan, made with Four Roses Single Barrel) and Aegean Mist (with Milagro Blanco tequila and Cointreau) - and two starter options - the Skordalia spread and the Flaming Saganaki (which is a bit hidden on the menu, in the middle of The Greek Kitchen section, but I eventually found it there). The cocktails and starters were all excellent. The Skordalia, a cold mashed potato base seasoned with dill and topped with crispy chicken skin pieces, was especially delicious. The bread that was served with both starters was also fresh and flavorful, with a crisp, sesame-laden crust and a lightly toasted yet soft interior, just how I like it. For our entrées I ordered the Beef Tenderloin Souvlaki (it comes with two skewers), and my husband had the Pastitsio. I really wanted to try two different souvlaki skewers, because they also have Pork Tenderloin and Chicken Breast. I asked our server Panos (who did a superb job) if it was possible to mix and match, and although he said that question has been asked often, it wasn't (yet) an option. Hopefully it will be by the time we go back again! I always order my steak medium rare, and I had read in an earlier review that any souvlaki cooked more than this wouldn't be satisfactory, so I made sure that's what I ordered, and it was very good. Each skewer was lightly charred, with four large pieces of meat on it. I ended up eating one skewer, giving my husband a piece from the other, and bringing the other three pieces home to enjoy later. The souvlaki came sitting in a bed of Tzatziki, which was perfectly seasoned, with fried smashed potatoes. I wasn't crazy about the potatoes, but I'm not a big potato eater anyway, so I tasted a little of one piece, gave my husband one, and left the rest uneaten. I think next time I order souvlaki I will have them hold the potatoes. My husband's Pastitsio came in a sliced brick from a loaf, similar to a large piece of meatloaf. He said it was good, but not great. I think next time he'll probably try something else. He did enjoy my beef tenderloin chunk that I shared with him. I noticed that there were no salt and pepper shakers on the table, but every dish we ordered came with a sauce, with the exception of the saganaki (which we were grateful to see was flamed tableside, as it always should be, but which some restaurants have stopped doing). The sauces were all the seasoning we needed for each of our dishes. Each was well crafted and flavorful. I was especially excited to see that they had Loukomades on the menu for dessert. These have long been a favorite of ours from the Greek festival we used to attend annually in Indianapolis, where they were made fresh while we waited, and served hot. I was curious to see how they would be at a restaurant, and they did not disappoint! They also were hot, fresh, and with a large enough portion for us to share. The only thing missing was the extra squirt of honey on the inside that we sometimes got when they were deep-fried in front of us, but they were honey-soaked and very tasty. The price of everything, including the two starters, the two entrées, two drinks each, and the shared dessert, came to about $185 after tax and before tip. So it's probably not somewhere we'll eat every weekend, but we'll definitely be back periodically, because everything was absolutely delicious, the ambience was bustling and friendly, the valet parking and car retrieval were easy and efficient, and it was a fun, upbeat place to be. Well done, Kouklas, and thank you! read more

See all

I cannot say enough good things about my recent visit to Koukla's in Niles. This wasn't just a dinner; it was a total dining experience from start to finish. The Service From the moment we sat down, the hospitality was unmatched. A huge shoutout to Yohan and T, who were absolutely phenomenal. They were super friendly, incredibly attentive without being hovering, and truly made us feel like family. Their warmth set the tone for the entire evening. The menu here is spectacular, but a few things really stole the show. For starters, you must try the house marinated anchovies--they were fresh and flavorful. The taramosalata spread was creamy and perfectly seasoned, and the grilled oysters were absolutely first class. As for the mains, the lamb chops had mind-blowing flavor (perfectly char-grilled), and the Lamb Hilopites pasta were rich, warm, and delicious. The absolute best end to the meal, however, was the incredible hospitality shown by the culinary team. We were offered a chance to visit the kitchen to say thank you, which was a special treat. It was an honor to meet Chef Jimmy Bannos Jr., Chef Kevin Stack (AKA Chef Bigbird), and the grill master, Chef Eric Camargo. Seeing the passion these guys have for their craft explains why the food tastes so good. If you are in Niles and want incredible Greek food with a team that treats you like their own, run to Koukla's! We will definitely be back. read more

See all

Been wanting to try this place open as it's very close to my house. Was pretty crowded for a Wednesday night. Very cute inside. The only thing that drives me crazy is it's very loud inside. I can't even imagine when the place is fully packed. Don't expect to go there for quiet conversation. Anyway, service is great. I love the small plates. But we enjoyed it. We got the fried zucchini, the beet dish, pork belly, and the cornbread, which was amazing. Food of course I think a little pricey, but what isn't nowadays?. Definitely will go back. It's fun sharing food, but of course, if I had more than two people with me, we'd have to order a lot more.. read more

I love the energy in this place. It's bustling, fun, and lively. The gigantes salad and brick chicken were delicious. The Village Salad wasn't my favorite. Too much cheese and oil, not enough veggies and needed lemon juice (which they brought). Dina, our waitress, and Audrey, the manager, are complete dolls. They greeted us with genuine smiles, were extremely attentive, and genuinely wanted us to have a great experience. All the staff are very nice and competent. We'll be back again soon. read more

See all

Worth the wait for a reservation! The food is exceptional, service impeccable and ambiance vibrant and energetic. Sharing plates was fun and portions were generous. We enjoyed the showmanship that came along with the flaming saganaki. The pork belly, souvlaki chicken skewers and moussaka were standouts as were the desserts. read more

See all

We had a reservation for 7:30pm and drove up about 7:10pm. They have a parking lot, but it is valet only. There is a neighborhood street, so if you can find parking there, I guess you can park yourself. However, I have no idea if it is permit parking, so just go with the valet. It's complimentary (you should still tip, though). Here's my issue with the valet: they haven't worked the kinks out yet. There were four or five guys working. To get the most tips (I assume they haven't decided to split tips yet), they have to get the most cars. So they take your ticket, grab your keys from the valet box, and then sprint to your car and then drive as if they're in a Formula One race to bring your car. The problem is that there is no rhyme or reason to how they bring the cars. Instead of everyone leaves one way and pulls in the opposite way, they just bring up your car and another valet may block you in with another car - which we had happen to us when we were leaving. That was annoying. We entered and gave our name and were told that a couple tables were about to vacate and we could wait at the bar. We ordered a couple drinks and looked at the menu sitting there. After about 10 minutes, we were escorted to our table. We asked if we should bring the menu and the hostess said to leave it as she would bring us menus. She did not. We sat there looking at each other for about 10 more minutes as waiters and bussers kept zipping back and forth behind us. Finally I spoke up to one of the servers who made eye contact and I asked for a couple menus. He seemed confused that we hadn't had them yet and brought us two menus. Clearly we hadn't ordered yet as that server was our waiter. We looked over the menu and finally placed our orders. We both started out with breads and spreads. I got the Skordalia and my wife ordered the Tirokafteri. I'm not a feta guy, but she said it was delicious. Mine was equally delicious, although a bit heavy on the garlic. We both ordered the avgolemeno soup. It was a thick soup, probably the best I've had yet. For our main dishes, she ordered a Greek salad with a chicken skewer on the side to get some protein. They would not add it to the salad, so it was on the side. I was torn between the chicken skewers and the half brick chicken with the Greek potatoes. The waiter suggested the brick chicken as it is one of the most ordered dishes. I went with his suggestions and he was right. It was delicious. It is served on a large plate with a half inch edge (wall) around the plate. And it has to be as all the au jus and lemon would spill everywhere unless it was served in a bowl. The chicken was off the bone and sliced, grilled, and then rested atop the au jus with three round Greek potatoes. By the time we were done, we were full and brought half our meals home. It was delicious the next day as well. They sent me home with a cup for the au jus. It's a nice place that has two dining rooms separated by a long bar in the middle. I had three issues with the place: 1) It was really loud. It was hard to hear conversation at our own table. 2) The hostess is not trained all that well. She just led us to our table and never came back with menus and I guess didn't mention to the servers or bussers that we needed menus. It was weird. 3) The valet is poorly run. Just create a plan for cars entering and leaving the parking lot and you'll be good to go. Other than these three things, the server was great, the food was spectacular, and everyone was so friendly. The atmosphere (ambience) was electric. We're definitely coming back with more people. read more

Kouklas has been trending on social media since the chef is a James Beard winner and I have been itching to try it out. They only open for dinner and all of the early (before 7 PM) reservations were gone for the day we wanted to go (Tuesday) so I tried to call in a takeout order. However, they said that they can only receive takeout orders in person at the bar. Once we arrived we were surprised to find that there is a parking lot available but it is (free) valet parking only. I was looked at the menu online and was prepared to order what I thought was on their menu only to find that their menu changes regularly but wasn't updated online. It took about 20 minutes to place our order at the bar and then get our food. We had the following: -Whipped feta (cucumber, Greek oregano) -Dolmades (wagyu beef, avgolemono foam, dill pollen) -Stuffed calamari-basturma, breadcrumb, florina pepper, squid ink, fava bean, green chermoula -Greek sausage-xinomavro braised lentils I had expected the appetizers to be small but portions to be decent for the main dishes but all of the dishes were small. There were 4 pieces of dolmades and stuffed calamari and maybe 5-6 pieces of sausage. The whipped feta was my favorite part of the meal. The dolmades was good but the stuffed calamari was a miss for me. I don't really care for sausage at baseline but the Greek sausage was decent/okay. Overall, there were some kinks that need to be straightened out but many of the dishes seem overpriced. read more

Love this restaurant!!! The ambiance is very nice, the service terrific and the food very fresh and delicious. They go above and beyond to make you happy. When you walk into the restaurant it doesn't feel like you are in Niles Illinois - feels more like Greece or a downtown restaurant exactly what we need in the suburbs. We sat outside- they have plenty of outdoor seating- the only thing I would add, is they need more traditional greek items on the menu, without the trendy twist- for the Greeks that go there :) Try this place you won't be disappointed. The watermelon margarita is delicious! read more

Can't believe this fantastic restaurant is in Niles! The place was jam packed Friday night but staff were all super friendly and none had an attitude. Now that's great training! We sat at the bar while we waited for our 8:15 res and we were seated 8:20, that's excellent. The bartenders were efficient, actually made eye contact with you and said they'd be right with you, and we're all super friendly once again. We got seated in the left side of the restaurant (there are two dining areas with the long bar in the middle) We got Nieve or was it Eve as our server (sorry forgot) but she was really really good! The food was imo some of the best food I've had outside of Greece! YOU NEED TO GO! read more

See all

Server was wonderful. But they hand a bad night w the kitchen. The hostess informed us of some delays. And they even forgot one entire primary dish. Good is not totally Greek and w Italien twist. Will I return ?!?! Bill was over 170 $$ for 3 person. The place was packed and maybe not enough staff. It's trying to be gourmet but we are not in Manhattan nor Beverly Hills. Start w the basics. . Our waitress was nice and her Svc was great but the ancillary/busing was missing. read more

Kouklas - Loukoumadis - Greek Near Me - Niles, Illinois

Im glad there's a parking lot but you have to valet. Which simply means you'll feel obligated to at least spend on a tip for the free parking. You walk in and there's a large bar right at the entrance. There are tables on both sides of the restaurant. We were escorted toward the Northside with the view of a castle! (White Castle..haha). Service was nice and efficient. The waiter gave his recommendations which were appreciated. Once we ordered the food came out in less than 5 minutes...bam, bam, bam. The Pork belly took a little longer but that was expected. Loved the eggplant spread and the beet salad. The flaming saganaki was fun to watch and eat. The pork belly was flavorful. The creme brulee was also good. We just weren't fans of the drinks we ordered and for the price, we were hesitant to try a different one. Overall, it was a good experience and we're glad to have them near our neck of the woods. read more

See all

The food was delicious but the noise was unbearable. Would recommend outdoor seating when available.

We 3 dined 04/22, 5: pm RSVP Excellent service & cuisine. OPA! We requested a few times to please lower the music or find another table where its quieter. Yes...hostesses lowered. Our # 1 complaint referencing dining out, is MUSIC TOO LOUD! We're not there for a concert...there to enjoy ourselves/conversation and the FOOD. Missed hearing Greek music! Continued success...Jimmy & crew! David read more

Kouklas - Greek Near Me - Niles, Illinois

The only reason I am not giving Fivestars is the price and portions. I'm just concerned it might be a little high for a neighborhood restaurant vs downtown. The food and service were outstanding Whitefish in grape leaves a standout as well as the flaming cheese which sadly wasn't flaming - loved the Pastichio very different take on the dish read more

The food was really delicious especially the lamb chops. My husband got the plate of the thin sliced lamb chops and I got the thicker ones. Both were quite delicious. My son ordered the beef kabobs that were truly the best thing we ate. My DIL got pork kabobs and chicken kabobs which was everyone's least favorite dish. Both were dry and overcooked and there was no juice on the plate. My other son got the grilled octopus which was fantasticccc. They cut like butter and were incredibly tender. We ordered the green beans, which were perfect. We also got one order of the Greek potato. I felt they were mushy and did not taste good. The kabob dishes came with potatoes too and they were crispy and delicious. All in all the meal was quite good but very expensive. To have 6 people each order a dish and get a bill for over $400 is a lot of money! However the food was very good. The acoustics were not very good. The voices were very loud throughout the whole restaurant. read more

See all

I evaluate a restaurant on my desire to return. And I won't be going back to this place. The food was good but pricey. The service was just okay. Our waiter seemed to forget about us even though we were seated right by the entrance to the kitchen. The worst part was that the restaurant is extremely loud. It was awful. The best part of the experience was walking out. read more

My husband and I went to eat for the first time here, and I can honestly say, never again. First of all, horrendous customer service. The waiter was arrogant and very rude. I am celiac and gluten intolerant and when I informed my waiter of this food intolerance, he very arrogantly and rudely said, then you won't be able to eat anything here, because everything here is cooked on the same grill. He proceeded to inform us that there was a very limited menu, although we were there when they first opened at 4. We were fed up by all these protests, we simply got up and left. I would not recommend this restaurant by any means. Bad taste left and just all around disastrous. Very disappointing and very atrocious. read more

For context, foodie here but not intimately familiar with Greek food. Favorite restaurants in no particular order: Alinea (out of town guests), Gibson's (steak), Adalina (Italian), Pro SsamGyupsal in Chicago, Cote in NYC (Korean), sushi (Sasabune in LA, Sushi of Gari in NYC). We got here early 5:15pm on Saturday evening (which I would highly recommend as it gets hectic quickly). Service was prompt, although our waitress was relatively new as she had to review the menu several times and got a bit flustered when we mentioned food allergies. We ordered the Cornbread with honey and feta, mussels, flaming saganaki (how can you not at a Greek restaurant), pork belly, and the brick chicken. All came out individually but rather rapidly which was great as the format was family style. All excellent. Everything was fresh and hot. We ordered the vodka pasta with lamb toward the end, and again, very quickly processed. We ordered the donuts and the ice cream for dessert. Again, both excellent. Can't speak to the authenticity but the food taste quality was excellent. The staff are well trained and experienced, dishes were cleared rapidly with very thoughtful service. As mentioned in other reviews it is a bit loud (but not overly, I think many people are not used to a city restaurant vibe because it's in Niles). Valet only. We left around 7pm and it was packed at the front (felt a little bad for people dining at the bar). I think this will smooth out either in quicker turns or fewer time slots. This is a good one. Highly recommend. read more

First, the valet parking took 10 minutes. We had a large party w/reservations for outside. Everyone who ordered the $60 lamb chops was disappointed! Came with nothing All overdone Chicken and fish were fine. Won't be back. Pstaria much better! read more

All the Food was good but not great. I am Greek so I know how great Greek food tastes. The feta spread was great and so was the Greek chicken. The octopus and grilled were good. Service was attentive. The place is very very loud. The waitress was a little aggressive and forward. My suggestion is bring ear plugs. read more

Combative valet. Dirty glasses and plate. Fishy tasting water. Pretentious staff "I'm sorry we are purely by reservation". Prices that don't reflect the neighborhood. This place feels like it's trying hard to be glenview upscale and forgot where they are. Music too loud too which makes it difficult to hear your dinner companions. read more

The food is good but the portions are really small compared to other restaurants of the same type and, the prices were really high.

Late on a Sunday night, the service was outstanding and the food was exceptional. We were made to feel like royalty. Old school hospitality was so refreshing. Outdoor patio and fire adding an exceptional addition to our dining experience! Will be back again and again. read more

Everything was great - standouts were Grilled Sesame Sour Dough Bread, Loukamades, saganaki, Souvlaki with Smashed Potatoes and my favorite Glazed Maple Ginger Pork Belly. Service was also great - it's awesome to have a great restaurant like this in the burbs - already planning on going back to try more of the menu. read more

Bobby was our server last night and it was exceptional service! He was knowledgeable about the dishes and made great recommendations through to desert. The Sangria was excellent! Kudo's to Bobby and the staff at Kouklas!! read more

Food was so flavorful and fresh! Loved the pork skewers, the lemon rice soup and the branzino! Can't wait to come back and try more. The Greek gelato was also incredible. We will be coming back soon. Only negative things we noticed are that it's quite noisy and loud hard to have an actual conversation easily in the restaurant at least during the weekend when it's packed. Needs to be open for lunch, they would do well to have that as an option. read more

See all