It has been 10 years since my last review and we now live back in town. With the ability to now dine here when I want and not just when visiting relatives we have taken advantage of that by stopping in at least four times/ year. I believe in the last few years the business was taken over by the next generation and at that time they did a nice job of decorating the place - it feels brighter and more lively. The gyros are still top notch with soft moist pita and juicy meat unlike many gyro places around the country. The fries are also excellent. And of course there are plenty of onions on the gyros! The staff for the most part is very friendly and helpful. Still the best place I have found in the US for gyros. Thanks for still being here for us! read more

Where can you get the best gyros in Wisconsin? Parthenon Gyros on State Street in Madison Wisconsin! Why are they the best gyros? I had one of their gyros last week and I learned that they use lamb and beef with no fillers, no 50-letter chemicals added. Clean fresh real food. They use oregano from Greece. The yogurt sauce is fresh and the best I've ever had because they make it themselves and doesn't contain thickeners. It's easy to digest too! The dining area is clean, comfortable, and beautiful. read more

Solid and inexpensive gyros! I ordered the spicy gyro and the greek fries. The service was good and I liked the silly decor in the restaurant. It was a little hard to hear the order numbers though. I'm only removing a star because the spicy gyro was not spicy at all! read more

Parthenon Gyros - Greek Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Always the best gyro around the Madison area. Love love love this place! Fries are amazing too! Nothing but smiles from the crew working! Fun to visit love the garden rooftop! read more

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A Madison INSTITUTION! You have to come here for a delicious gyro and even more delicious Greek fries! Baklava is good too! They are super fast and friendly here! The seating upstairs is a beautiful and plays great music! It's a casual spot but filled with great vibes. read more

Parthenon Gyros - Spicy Gyro - Greek Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Unless that's a place's *entire* shtick, having big portions for the sake of big portions doesn't always work. I opted for an (almost) classic, and got a Spicy Gyro, with some Greek fries on the side. The fries were excellent! They were hot, fresh, and cooked perfectly. I enjoyed the herbaceous spices used, and the feta was of among the highest quality I've had. The gyro, meanwhile, was less great. Other than getting only acid from the peppers (which could be entirely my palate, the meat, tomato, onion, and tzatziki were a-ok. In execution, however, the dressing was very heavy handed, in turn overpowering the veggies. Now, while I normally wouldn't complain about a generous helping of ingredients, especially protein, in this case, it made what should have been a kind-of sandwich into a meat salad on a pita plate. In other words, a desire to show how they don't skimp on ingredients has upset the balance that makes food go from alright to great. Finally, I want to award some points for the friendly and quick service as well as for the lighthearted (and somewhat humorous) vibe (especially the art that blends creatures from Greek mythology with animals, e.g. "'Moo"dusa." With this. While Parthenon gets the job done, especially for the extra-hungry, if one seeks a truly terrific gyro, Parthenon is regrettably not it. read more

It was tasty. Not the best gyro I have ever had but the price was right! Their fries were good as well. Free water station to get your own available with indoor and rooftop seating. You order at the counter and they call your number. Fast and efficient! There weren't many people there when we were eating so we didn't have trouble finding a table. read more

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State Street staple that has been serving great gyro's and fries for something like 50 years! Been coming here for my Madison gyro fix for forever. Always been great. Also love their fries. Place was starting to show some age a few years ago, but it's really been fixed up lately. Love the outdoor rooftop dining (overlooking State Street) in the warm months. Staff is friendly and shouts out "Oppa" every time they get a tip! read more

Parthenon Gyros - Gods! (Men's Bathroom Door) - Greek Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We stopped by here on our way to the capitol and I'm so happy we did! We ordered lamb gyros with fries! The staff was nice and we got our food very quickly! The inside was very cool! I loved all the Greek decor! It had lots of seating as well as stairs to another seating area! Our gyros tasted very fresh and they put a lot of lamb in it which I appreciated! I do wish mine had a little bit more Tzatziki sauce on it but it was still delicious! I would definitely recommend eating here if you're in the area! It was a great portion that it kept me full for hours! read more

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The last two times I've been there the gyro meat was so salty I could not eat the gyro. I am going to give it one more try when the weather warms up. I'm going to tell them when I order that if it's too salty I'm going to want a refund this time. I'll update this review after my next visit. Such a bummer because their gyros used to be the very best! read more

Fast and friendly service. Clean eating area and bathrooms with delicious gyros and flaky baklava. A legendary favorite that stands the test of time! read more

We had lunch at Parthenon, and it was just so so. I had a Greek salad that was really mostly lettuce with a chicken kabob on top, which was a bit dry and not that flavorful. It was packed so tight in the container that it was impossible to stir. I've had much better Greek salads elsewhere. My husband had the gyro plate and said it was just okay. They had a lot of customers, so people seemed to like it, but for us, it was just okay. read more

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I have heard nothing but good things about their food so I was excited to try! Food was not good-the tzatziki was not at all like tradition texture nor taste. Would not recommend read more

Great food legendary spot at UW Madison. The boys behind the counter were great. The decor really shows the history of the food, the family, Madison, and their heritage. Can't wait to go back. Make sure you get the Greek Fries. read more

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A surprising food highlight during our visit from Chicago. Greek Chick - 5/5. Super flavorful chicken, solid standard veggie complements. House tzatziki provides zip. Pita dippers with hummus - 4/5. Good pitas, decent hummus. read more

WOW!!! This place is out of this world! Best gyros in Wisconsin for sure. I am new to WI and I miss my old Greek restaurant in Glendale California. This inspired me to look up Greek restaurants and lo and behold I found this gem which is located near my work. I had to give this place a shot and I am so very glad I did. Food I ordered the spicy gyro with cheese fries and both items were absolutely delicious. It was the perfect amount of spice in my gyro. The cheese fries were the perfect amount of crispy, I've never had such perfect tasting fries before. My husband ordered two sides which were pita dippers and Baklava. The sauces (humus and tzatziki) for the pita bread were amazing and the Baklava was perfectly cooked. We even got to try Greek beer which was awesome (had a hind of fruit in it). Where else in WI do you have the chance of having a Greek beer? We will definitely be coming back to try other stuff off the item menu. This place serves authentic Greek food and to describe how flavorful the gyros were would be an understatement, you would have to taste for yourself. My new favorite Greek restaurant, thanks guys! read more

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Ok, yes it's fast food, but I really enjoyed this place. To be fair I was walking around when most other places were closed so my options were limited. I did like the over the top decor, the little touches (like the QR codes that tell you the family history of the owners) and all of the space (tons of area to sit and enjoy your food). I tried some of the gyro and some chicken + fries! Everything was decent and price wasn't crazy either. Overall a good experience on State Street! Stay Cheerful read more

I usually always have a great experience with the Parthenon but this last one wasn't. The delivery by doordash was lace and the food was kind of cold. Also the meat seem to be just chopped up and not flavorful like it usually is. It made me wonder if they still are using the same meat or with a lamb in it or something else. I will give them one more try read more

I stopped by a quick dinner, on a Friday evening. The place has a good number of seats. One has to order in the counter, and when food is ready ones name will be called. There were plenty of seats available at the time. I went for a mega spicy gyro. It indeed was spicy and mega. It was a filling dinner. read more

Parthenon Gyros - Mega spicy gyro - Greek Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Once again cannot beat the gyros these folks are serving up. Always the freshest and best tasting gyro in the Midwest. Fast service and great food a must visit for Maddison read more

The Greek seasoned fries are life changing!! I also always get the greek salad. Amazing dressings, and some of the freshest tomatoes I've had. Wonderful! read more

Parthenon is an institution! It's part of what still makes State St special and the kinda spot that automatically makes you feel comfortable, happy and full of great food! read more

Gyros are great. The order ahead and they'll come out to your car part is awful. I texted I was there for pick up in a designated spot. Waited for 15 minutes for someone to come out with the food. Nope. I had to go in and pick up. The guy at the register said "yeah we got your text but we are too busy to bring it to your car". Great food crappy service. read more

Atmosphere was cool walking in, kind of a college vibe. Order at the counter, then listen for your number. Kind of a homemade bench style booth, wooden, and the back is vertical. Not the most comfortable, but oh well. I got the Greek freak platter which could serve two people. Chicken had a tangy flavor, but a little dry. The bread was ok. The star of the show was the gyro meat and the fries. Both delicious! I think next time I would just order that. read more

Parthenon Gyros - Freaky Greek platter plus drink price - Greek Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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We had Parthenon cater our graduation party and they did a fabulous job. Everything was fresh and delicious. Our guests were amazed that Parthenon catered. It was a nice change from the normal sandwiches and pizza. I was amazed by the customer service that I received from the management and the employees that assembled the order. I would strongly recommend them for catering and regular visits to the restaurant. read more

Madison classic and the best! Oppa! Wonderful service. Cool atmosphere for Gyros on rooftop.

Went there and ordered a chicken and a lamb-beef gyros and fries..fries were the best that ive ever had. Both gyros were good..but lamb-beef was better!!! Would go back again!!! read more

Parthenon Gyros - Lamb-beef gyros and chix gyros and fries - Greek Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Solid - what you see is what you get. I've had exact same gyro a hundred times in 10 different cities. Can't go wrong if that's what you want. Fresh veggies, good fries. Limited to Tapatio hot sauce. I'm accustomed to Sriracha or something similar. Place is clean. read more

Parthenon Gyros - Lamb gyro - Greek Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Was at your restaurant today for lunch. Ordered your basic Gyro. The gyro was totally cold through out. Hardly no meat in it, but lots of onions and sauce. Why don't you do your customers a favor and serve them a decent meal when they come in? I for one will not be back. There are too many great gyro places in Madison to waste my money in a place like yours. read more

A cute little place right downtown, it's a hard to miss restaurant with the Greek decorative columns at their storefront! We got their Chicken Caesar Gyros to eat. I would say it's slightly expensive for $9, but the price is understandable for a downtown location. The chicken was of quality meat pieces with no fat or tendons. It was perfectly cooked and well-seasoned too! The pita was soft and fluffy, the lettuce and tomatoes were fresh. We had them put the dressing on the side, so it didn't get soggy on the drive home either. The gyros were delicious!! No complaints about it! Some gyros at other places are a little greasy and heavy, but the Chicken Caesar gyros here were pretty light and refreshing. It's satisfying without the junky feeling! read more

Parthenon Gyros - Chicken Caesar Gyro - Greek Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

LOVE THIS PLACE! Food is always amazing. 10/10 recommend the Greek fries. Fries are always super crispy and the seasoning they put on the fries is so good! Everyone is always friendly and the ambiance and decor is cute read more

Madison classic. Great gyros. Wish they brought back their pork gyros. Sitting on the roof in the summer is fun read more

Parthenon Gyros - Freaky Greek Plate - Greek Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Very good food!! We had the chicken skewer and the gyro plate, portion just enough for three of us (two girls one man). The skewer were so tender and juicy, along with the veggies and the pita bread, just to die for. The gyro were also pretty delicious, paired with sour cream and gave it a refreshing feeling. Service is quick, you buy at the counter and pick up the food your own, even on Saturday noon which is busy, there is minimal wait. There are both outdoor and indoor seatings, the area is very big and nice for individuals or groups. 100 percent recommend!! read more

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The gyros are always fresh and tasty at Parthenon! Service is consistently fast and friendly. Cashier was patient helping me connect my new card to the rewards program. The rewards program is a must here. $5 off during your birthday month is a saving. Clearly the best gyros downtown. Clearly a concrete miracle! read more

Back in town and had to revisit my favorite Greek place. Gyro had the best flavor and the fries are always the best. Thanks again read more

The staff were all really nice. But the food was regrettably way too salty. The meat was salty, the fries too, and the sauce. I felt that my tongue was burning throughout the meal. The meal was a bit pricey. read more

Excellent lunch spot. The garden upstairs is really neat. Plus you can get Spotted Cow with your meal too. I had the spicy gyro with Wisco fries and diet Dew. (What's with all the places in Madison only serving Pepsi products? Eww). Interestingly enough what makes it "spicy" here is the giardiniera mix, which they give you plenty of. The fries are battered, so they've got extra crisp. It was such a filling lunch that I had a hard time having an appetite for my favorite dinner in Madison 6+ hours later. read more

Parthenon Gyros - Spicy Gyro combo with Small Wisco Fries - Greek Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I've walked by this place so many times and never actually went in but it always seemed so busy. Finally a friend and I came here for dinner on a weeknight. There was a short line inside but it moved quickly. We promptly received our food a couple minutes later. I got the gyro combo with fries and a drink. It was a bit pricier than I expected but the food was delicous. Fresh onions and tomatoes with well seasoned gyro meat. Plenty of tzatziki sauce which is a huge plus as most other places I've been to lack in their sauce. The fries were crispy and light *aka perfect*. Although they were plenty of tables to choose from inside, we opted to sit outside in the upstairs patio which was beautiful and larger than I thought! There were several tables for parties of all sizes and there were shade awnings to block out the sun. I would highly recommend the upstairs patio if available! Overall Parthenon Gyro is one of the best Greek places in town. It's a bit on the pricey side of the great atmosphere and quick service is well worth it! I will definitely be back soon :) read more

Parthenon Gyros - Upstairs patio - Greek Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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My college kid suggested I stop by here for a quick dinner. It did not disappoint! The portions were so generous! I got a gyro with fries and could easily have shared it with another person! This Mediterranean sandwich had a pile of meat plus onions and tomatoes on fresh pita bread. The fries were good. Sad I couldn't finish them. Definitely a great spot to grab lunch or dinner if you're near the capital area. read more

Parthenon Gyros - Cute place - Greek Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Visiting here was a trip down memory lane, as I've been enjoying their gyros since my college days many many years ago and whenever I get back to Madison. I appreciated that they offer the tzatziki sauce on the side for take out to keep things from getting soggy. Once reheated at home and reconstructed, this sandwich was as good as I remembered. The baklava was equally tasty, although one of the two slices I bought was noticeably smaller than the other. I had to make a tough decision whether to be a generous host or a selfish one. I'm not telling my choice but I was happy with it. On the down side, they no longer offer spanikopita which I was disappointed to see. I was looking forward to that as a companion to the gyro. Poof went one star for that. read more