Ken O.

Couple friends and I had stopped into Athena for a relaxing evening. Plus we were looking for a central location for all of us with an outdoor patio. I was greeted by the hostess and since my friends had not arrived, she asked me to let her know when they have arrived. I was able to find a seat at the bar and had a glass of the house Pinot Grigio. It wasn't to bad. Once everyone had arrived, we were seated on the patio. We were greeted shortly after being seated. We were fine with drinks so the server had went over the menu and the specials. After a few minutes of reviewing the menu, we were ready. For an appetizer, we had ordered the Saganaki, Feta Zesti and Hummus. For the main entree, I had ordered the Pork Chop which was highly recommended by one of my friends. Sorry, I don't remember what my friends had ordered. The appetizers were delivered within a few minutes then shortly after that, the main entrees were delivered. All of the food and service were fantastic. We had opted to skip dessert. The service went MIA after dropping of the check but luckily we were not really in a rush. Looking forward to go back to this fine restaurant.

John A.

Today Labor Day was my first time eating at Athena Restaurant and sadly will not return and I will tell you why.. I will start with the pros, the place itself has an impressive layout, beautiful to be fair. The food was good but not good enough to justify the mediocre service. I had the stuffed chicken breast and the prep time was fine, the chicken was juicy and tender, flavor was good. My girlfriend can't say the same for her Mousaka, though unless you like 'mush'. She only had one bite and left it all. Our server was not very courteous, welcoming, or friendly. No follow up asking us how our food was or even attempted to make eye contact despite seeing that we were done eating and just waiting for 20+ minutes for him. It was not a full house and he clearly had plenty if time to ask his other tables around us how everything was and even take them all soda refills. So, while I don't like to be unfair and judge a place based on ONE server, I decided to get up and ask for a manager which in turn was also a waste of time, not a single apology or even an attempt to fix the situation. With that being said, I am extremely dissatisfied and will never return. What a waste of $38, I would have gotten better service at McDonalds. Only reason they don't get a 1 star review is because the setting and food earned them the one star. Don't waste your time or money at this place.

Shannon N.

Came back (9 years after my first visit...) recently for dinner, and had a great meal. Started with the saganaki, which actually wasn't particularly great -- not enough of the alcohol burned off, oddly. But shared a bowl of the excellent egg lemon soup and that made things better. ;) I had one of the night's specials, a braised lamb dish that was different than their usual braised lamb dish, which another guest at the table ordered. I think mine had lemon in it, and it wasn't a thick tomato sauce like my friend's dish. I loved it. He liked his, so that's a win-win. ;) For my son, I ordered the appetizer Kotosouvlakia, chicken skewers, and it was a very generous portion of four big skewers cooked perfectly. Awesome! Another friend had the "Chicken Breast Lemonati" described in the menu as "Strips of chicken breast sautéed with vegetables in lemon sauce and served over rice". None of us liked this one - the chicken was meh, and it was just a big mess of veggies and some strips of chicken. Rice was buried in there. Definitely wouldn't order this one again. Service wasn't particularly great, but overall it was a great meal and I would return. Definitely more of an upscale experience compared to the neighboring Rodity's, but I think I give them the edge on the food overall.

Walter G.

Great place, great food and nice bar. I visit this place every time I'm in town. Everything from the Gyro to the Lamb leg and octopus is very good. And prices are very reasonable.

Erin M.

Athena has the most beautiful patio of any restaurant in Greek Town by far. The food was very good as well. The kalamata olives were amazing. Order a bunch of stuff to share, definitely the way to go.

Cri C.

When my friend and I visited Chicago recently we ended up staying in Greektown. Each day on our walk to downtown we passed Athena and admired the big, beautiful patio we could see through the window. Eventually we conceded that we must pay the restaurant a visit before the end of our trip. We made a reservation for Sunday night, and luckily so because the place was packed and we had to wait a little. Once we were seated our server was prompt in coming to introduce himself and bring water. We ended up ordering Greek wine wine upon his recommendation and dolmades to start. My friend then ordered the moussaka and I got the vegetarian moussaka. Everything was brought out very efficiently and was delicious. The moussaka itself was an extremely large portion and we each struggled to finish it. Overall the service was very solid and the restaurant seemed authentic with a majority of Greek staff. Having been to Santorini before I'd have to say that it really did give off a similar vibe. The white decor and patio brick wall with overgrown ivy and flowers really added to the ambiance.

Hollina U.

Food here is just alright. I had the char grilled octopus and the seafood kebab. The best part of the kebab was the grilled shrimp. The salmon and swordfish were bland. I do love the open air seating that they have here though, which is awesome on a summer evening. I wish we were seated closer to the water fountain/waterfall though. Service was pretty good, until the end of our meal when our server disappeared. Maybe he went on break or they swapped servers on us, but we waited a while to pay.

Nataliya A.

Came here for dinner with a friend because I live in the area and absolutely love seeing their patio. I was very impressed with food and service so I am not sure why all the negative reviews. We came in on a busy Wednesday night but got lucky and were seated right away. The server came by fairly quickly and spoke to us about food and wine options. After looking through the large menu we decided on the combination plate and saganaki to share. The food came out in good timing and the saganaki was spot on. Then the combination plate came out and we were almost shocked at the amount of food, it was a huge portion for the 2 of us. I am usually not a fan of the grape leaf rolls but they were absolutely delicious! What impressed me the most I think is the rice. So simple yet so delicious. There was a perfect balance of spices and moisture added with the peas, I could have some right now! The lamb was cooked to perfection, and the lasagna hit the spot. Our server was very friendly, the patio is gorgeous, and the bathrooms were clean. I can really see this place becoming our go to - "there is nothing in the fridge lets go out" place :)

Eli T.

First time I went to there, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The outside tables are awesome with great view, there food is great. So I decided to book a table for next weekend for my wife/s birthday we asked for the manager and the he promised us that they can seat us outside. I called the day of the reservation to make sure we have the table outside and I've been told by the manager that they can't sit us outside because it's beautiful day and they don't want to lose money. I don't understand why we can't sit outside even though we had a reservation... We are so disappointed. Shame

Marcia S.

It was 75 with low humidity, and I let my friend talk me into coming here again. After all, it's still the best open air restaurant in Greektown. It had been about four months since my last meal at Athena, and I had low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised to find the food had improved. My village salad was fresh and interesting, and my grilled salmon was super fresh and cooked perfectly. But the service was the same old, same old. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful when we asked for suggestions, but after we got our entrees, he had been assigned tables on the opposite side of the large room. So he was never around when we needed something, like another glass of wine. Not sure why this restaurant can't get the service end right. I'm giving it one more star for the vast improvement in food.

Casey F.

The patio alone is enough to keep me coming back to this restaurant. Maybe the best patio I've experienced in Chicago. My husband and I went for an early dinner (6:30) without a reservation got seated promptly to enjoy an alfresco meal. The service was so friendly and attentive. Our meals were superb. We got a bottle of wine, the gyros plate and pork sausage for apps which were amazing and ended up being so much food. Entrees we got a braised lamb shank and lamb with artichokes. I requested that my rice and potatoes be subbed out with green beans and I was pleasantly surprised that they not only obliged but they put together a veggie mix complete with green beans, peas, onions, peppers and tomatoes. Absolutely amazing. The lamb was so unbelievably tender it just fell off the bone. The prices are so reasonable especially considering how much food you get!! And that patio. Yes please.

John L.

Alright so i am Greek. No honestly a real Greek raised and born in Athens and i hate going to Greek restaurants abroad simply because most of the times they offer food thats not even greek or reminds you of something Greek. Well not this time Since this is my first time in Chicago my friends asked me to check out this restaurant to see how Greek is their food. I can tell you that its as Greek as it gets. Most of the dishes taste exactly as the ones you would have in a greek restaurant in Greece. Very good ingredients and a hige variety to choose from. Topping that is their wine list which surprised me with the variety of Greek wines they had. Keep in mid that Greece produces very good wine but in small batches which makes it very difficult to get wines outside the county. Add the amazing patio and the good service and there you have it

Stefanie A.

When the sun finally shines and the weather hits 70, the best place to enjoy dinner is outside. And when you're craving greek food and also want to dine al fresco- go no where else but Athena. We headed here last night and enjoyed another amazing dinner. Located in the heart of Greektown, Athena boast the largest and most beautiful outdoor dining area, complete with a gorgeous fountain. A retractable ceiling allows for dining in this part of the restaurant even if an the weather doesn't want to cooperate. For dinner we had the grilled octopus app, swordfish kebobs, roasted lamb, and a side of the greek vegetables. All delicious. Server recommended a great red wine, I believe it was called St. George. And for dessert, you can't beat their baklava. It's one of my favorite desserts and theirs is one of the best I've ever had.

Jessica M.

Six of us made 7:30pm reservations for Friday night. We promptly arrived but only to wait 40 minutes for our table. The host was apologetic whenever I asked how much longer it would take. To my frustration, he could not give an exact answer. First, he said our table will be ready once it is cleaned. But when I asked a second time, he stated there were four tables ahead of us. I was not pleased. The point in making a reservation is to skip a long wait. If they cannot handle the capacity, they should regulate the number of reservations to accept. We were eventually seated and we had no time to waste. For appetizers, we shared the saganaki and char-broiled octopus with lemon and olive oil. The octopus was light with a generous portion. Each piece was tender and succulent. The saganaki is the flaming cheese so do expect it to be a bit oily. It goes well with the complimentary bread or by itself. For us, one order was enough to go around. I think our waiter should have given us a heads up when it was brought out. Nobody in their right mind would want a flaming surprise within a few feet of their head full of hair. For entrees, we ordered six entrees: dolmades, mousakas, loukaniko, paidakia, vegetarian mousaka, and veggie kabob. The paidakia was the highlight of the meal. A plate came with five thin slabs of butterfly lamb chops. It was perfectly grilled with a heavy usage of Rosemary but it did not overpower the lamb's natural flavors. The meat was particularly tender and juicy. Along with the lamb chops were a side of rice and potatoes. The rest of the meal was average. The dolmades are rice and ground beef wrapped in grape vine leaves and drenched in an egg-lemon sauce. It comes with a side of green peas. If you are unfamiliar with the cuisine, the grape vine leaves are edible. We had the mousakas in two versions and their appearance is similar to lasagna. The ground beef mousaka came with eggplant, zucchini, potato, cheese, and bechamel sauce. The vegetarian version is the same but without the ground beef. Both came with a side of rice. The loukaniko is homemade Greek sausage served with a rice and potatoes. It has a slice spice and is great for sharing. The veggie kabob can be skipped. One plate came with two skewers of tomato, onion, eggplant, green pepper, and zucchini. The items were drenched in olive oil and flavors were extremely light. To end the meal, we shared three desserts. The baklava and galaktobouriko were delightful. The latter is a light vanilla flavored custard in honey dipped filo dough. Both were served in square pieces so it was rather easy to cut and divide among ourselves. The Greek yogurt was served with dried fruits and honey. It was highly recommended by our waiter but it fell short of our liking. The yogurt was very creamy and the fruits were exceptionally sour. For approximately $30 per person, we had more than enough food and we brought four boxes of leftovers home. It is a good deal for that price and the grilled lamb chops deserve a return. But I do not see us returning in the near future. We would not mind taking our exploratory cravings elsewhere with better management.

Stephanie L.

I love Athena!! By far my fav Greek restaurant in greektown. The servers crack me up here. Always cracking jokes. I love their new atrium area. It's beautiful & all seasons! Gyro platter is where it's at! The tzatziki sauce is yummy as well. You'll only smell like garlic for the next two days.

Alex K.

Have you ever really really wanted to like a restaurant but after you leave you end up being really disappointed? That is how I felt with Athena. After seeing the amazing looking outdoor patio when passing by on Halsted I wanted to give it a try. To be fair the patio is very impressive. Open air on a beautiful night with an ivy covered wall and views of the buildings in Greektown is definitely an experience. Unfortunately that's the highlight. This could possibly be unique to my table but the service left a lot to be desired. We didn't order drinks for 15 minutes and once we ordered our maybe we weren't checked on the rest of the meal. My party agreed we would have ordered at least another round of drinks if we had the opportunity. At least there were authentic Greek beers available. They tasted similar to polish and other European beers that many Chicagoans might be familiar with. The food was standard Greek fare. Saganaki was a must, just a warning if you're eating outside it doesn't get flamed at your table to avoid embarrassing situations in which your hair might catch fire. The calamari was ok, here you get the large rings but no tentacles if that's your thing. My party agreed the best dish was the lamb loin chops that were on special. They gave three nice sized chops grilled well. Everything else seemed kind of blah. The combo plate was just stuffed with food. I don't think any of it was particularly great but it was a lot. My wife got the moussaka and it just seemed like there was a big tray of it in a warmer and a square just gets plopped onto the plate. The only thing I'd have to recommend is the saganaki. It was rich and lemony and amazing. Athena was a bit of a let down for me. You get a great atmosphere but really average food. If bringing someone here to show off the city and wanting a cool ambiance is important to you, this is your place though. Just don't expect to be blown away by the food.

Tracy S.

After reviewing reviews on yelp I saw this place and photos and thought we would try it out. Looks like they just did a makeover, the decorations and ambience were very updated and very nice. FOOD: we started with the fried cheese, and it did not disappoint. The waiter came out and place the cheese on fire and it was quite a scene, in a good way. The gyro plate was a plenty. So much food!!! And the tZiki sauce was one of the best I've had. Dessert was great, we had a custard-like plate that was made w orange and cinnamon and flaky pastries on top. SERVICE: from the minute you walked in, you felt welcomed in the restaurant. The host was very friendly and the wait staff was extremely fun and friendly and you could tell that they enjoyed working there.

Adam K.

Just love Athena. The best Greek in the city. From the bread service to the baklava it's all fantastic. Get the saganaki (fire cheese). The experience will be memorable. Valet is free...in Chicago?! Eat outside, if you can.

Zaad T.

The food was OK. That's all I can say. I got the platter to get a sample of different dishes. Everything was dumped on a plate. The tastes were mixed. The sauce from one food was leaking to another. I end up not know what I actually ate! And what each was supposed to taste like. The staff were super nice though and the dessert was good. These two made it a 3 instead of a 2 star!

Jeff N.

We were there probably on their busiest day of the year. Greek Fest Sunday. They handled the crowds well and really delivered! Great wine list Both breads were delicious Saganaki was great Pork chops were thick and amazing The lamb was so tender!! We watched the street fair craziness from the outdoor seating with the waterfall and resort like seating. The server was busy but attentive. Nice work! Our new favorite Greek restaurant.

Lauren K.

Great service at the bar. Saganaki great. Feta cheese spread good. Pork chops awfully dry and overcooked. After I told the waiter that, he never came back to our table and had to hunt him down for the check. Guess he was mad I didn't like the pork chops? Won't be back but very cute outdoor area to say the least.

Bora A.

This is my fav Fish restaurant. Good sea bass, good okra as an appetizer,fresh salad,good Turkish coffee and baklava. Love it!

Gerardo V.

Dined there on a Saturday night. Seated quickly, ordered and the food arrived in about 5 minutes! I ordered the gyros plate, and discovered that the meat was not hot but warm to cool and so was cold before I finished it.

Jason H.

Didn't do a lot to make itself stand out from the crowd. The bread was very plain - both the sesame seed and regular. Saganaki was good, but when isn't it? I enjoyed my swordfish, very fresh...but the dominant taste was grill char which got bothersome after a while. The sauce served with the fish was pretty good. Veggies, rice and potato all very run-of-the-mill as well. It's Greektown, the options are endless...but I will say I love the decor and ambiance here.

Mark H.

We loved the indoor courtyard. A beautiful place to dine al fresco. All the food was excellent. We especially like the fried zucchini, bacalao, and arni fourno.

Maria R.

Food was awesome, we ordered appetizers they were good. Yougurt with cherries was the best part of it.

Alison Y.

I was looking for a place for lunch on a beautiful Sunday and this place caught my eye because of their amazing open patio complete with waterfalls and ocean blue umbrellas. I stepped into the restaurant feeling like I was on vacation in paradise. It was a perfect day and a perfect place to enjoy a nice sunny Sunday afternoon. The complimentary bread with the sesame was tasty. I tried the fried calamari appetizer which had gigantic pieces of calamari rings. While the portion and size were generous, the batter didn't cling to the calamari well and I wish they were smaller so it could be bite size. I felt like it was too big of a mouthful eating one whole piece but cutting it up meant the outter batter fell apart :( The entrees are also gigantic portion. I tried the combo plate and the beef kebab. The combo plate was a nice way to try a lot of their classic greek dishes. My favorite was the mousakas (layers of eggplant, zucchini, potato, ground beef and cheese, topped with bechamel sauce). The pastistos (like mac'n'cheese with ground beef) was interesting but probably not something I would get again, haha. I haven't had a ton of Greek food so this was a good option for me. The beef kebab was like the godzilla of kebabs! I don't think I got through more than 1/4 of it before calling it a day but the meat was tender and the veggies grilled well. The beef didn't seem like it was marinated; it was a pretty basic salt and pepper preparation so I wasn't overly impressed. Our experience was ruined a bit by all the bees that came around our table towards the end of our meal. Not sure why but it was enough to make me want to dine and dash despite loving the actual seating area. I would definitely come back for the ambiance especially on a nice summer night!

Carolina D.

What a beautiful setting tainted by terrible service. It's so gorgeous in there, I would rent it for a private event under the condition that I bring my own staff. We had such impersonal service by an older gentleman, that he made us feel like we were a fly in his food. The regulars that said hi to the employees, he made feel welcome and checked on them often. The food was just average at best, but the moussaka was inedible. I took a single bite and left the rest. For over 25 minutes, my food just sat there and at no point did he give us refills or even asked how the food was. We had to get up to get the check because it was time to go and no attention was given to us for well over half an hour at a half empty restaurant. The manager simply brought the check and said thank you. The hostess seemed to have more sympathy for us but she had no power to fix the situation. Anyway, in a nutshell, come to sit in their outdoorsy area for a simple snack and enjoy the scenery. Go have the actual meal elsewhere.

Allison J.

Awesome outdoor patio for the summer! Definitely one of the best!! Food is average. Saganaki was good but our main courses were nothing to come back for. The spanakopita was average.. Definitely come during the summer for a nice outdoor atmosphere.

Caroline F.

great service! It was such a great time to have lunch with mom here. This was my third visit to this restaurant~ another awesome experience!

Ryan K.

I cannot speak to the quality of the food, as we did not make it that far. It was 11:30 on a Monday morning, an early lunch. My co-worker and I were greeted promptly by a man in a jacket and tie and escorted to a table in a large, glass-enclosed dining room. There were three other parties seated at the time, lots of open tables, and enough waiters to fill a football team. We were brought bread and water shortly after being seated. No words, no eye contact, and no one ever came back. We stacked our menus and started looking around. No one took our drink order, no one looked at us. After 15 minutes we got up and approached a group of three waiters standing around. We asked them if someone could come by and take our order. They all looked at each other, said ok and then scattered in different directions like cockroaches. Still, no one came back. We got up and went down the street to Mr. Greek Gyros ( yelp.com/biz/mr-greek-gy… ) where they don't have a nice, bright dining room or waiters, but do acknowledge you and take your order. One star, because zero stars isn't an option. Hard pass.

Samantha F.

Octopus & leg of lamb was great! Love the patio! Bartender "Emilia" Shitty attitude and I would not come back based on her customer service.

Melissa B.

This place taught me to stick with my Greek town favorites from here on out. My girlfriend insisted we meet here as opposed to our usual (Greek Islands). I don't think she will make that mistake again. On a Friday night it never filled up. We were there from 5:15 to 8:30 and it never once got crowded. The atmosphere was almost like a funeral home. I felt like everyone there wanted a quiet boring dinner. It's just not what I'm used to. The food wasn't good enough to make up for it. The grilled octopus the waiter recommended was chewy. The saganaki was good (hard to mess that up). My chicken kabob was overpriced and bland. It was a very tiny portion for the price. They didn't even put enough peppers and tomatoes on it! Dessert and coffee were good. Service was great! I would consider drinks on the nice patio in the summer. Then I would head elsewhere for good food!

Rudy R.

I ordered pasta with my fish even though it wasn't an option and they allowed it. So beautiful!

Margarita F.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this restaraunt!!!! What do I love so much about it, you ask? Everything!!!! The food is delicious and has been kept at the same standard the last 4-5 years I have been coming here. The valet parking is a huge plus, knowing how hard it is to find parking in Greektown, The service is top of the line! Very warm people , who are happy to be there. Oh, and the patio is amazing! Rain or shine, it is open, although they close it down with an awesome glass structure, if necessary. Awesome place, would definitely recommend it, check it out and you will forever be hooked .

Bill S.

First time here. Left satisfied. They give you starter bread. But boring I was expecting pita or something more Greek. Water in the tables then they left a pitcher onwards. Started with flaming saganaki (?). Bit oily and they couldn't light it because we sat outside. Tasted "greekish" cheese. Not like feta cheese but more like fancy burned cheese dough. Ordered Greek salad. Bit disappointed as I ordered no dressing and olives. Came with both but the sever quickly changed it. Tasted plain can't say it's my favorite Greek salad because that's at Cheesecake Factory. Ordered rose wine. Bit bitter would only recommend it with snacks and not main course. I also ordered a Hillas beer. Quite refreshing with nice malts and hops comparable to blue moon meets a coors light.For dinner I ordered a gyros appetizer and my colleague what looked like a Greek version of lasagna. My gyro came with two pieces of pita bread. It was hard to eat because I was expecting a gyro type bread like for a sandwich. I tried some of the lasagna "moussaka?" It was quite tasty. We tried to order tiramisu for dessert but they were all out. Overall service lacked and I guess I wasn't sure what to expect because it was my first time. Server seemed rushed and didn't care to tell us about the menu.Food was decent but if I'm back I'll try different things. Nice patio with a waterfall and lively music in the background.

Cali G.

This restaurant is very beautiful. I would say that out of all the restaurants in Greektown, this is a bit more lively and perfect for the under 40 crowd + they employ a lot more eye candy waiters than most Greek restaurants. Sorry guys.. there is a shortage of woman waitresses. The restaurant has a section where it opens up in the summertime and gives you a small glimpse of how it's like to dine in Greece. Makes your dining experience that much nicer. The food is your typical Greek food. It's delish depending on what your taste buds are like. I can't say that they offer dishes that are more unique than other Greek restaurants, but it's very consistent time and time again. I have eaten here a ton, and I never had any issues.

Kiel S.

To be fair, I'm not a fan of greek food so I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this but the rest of my party wanted to try it so I gave it a shot. The dining room is really cool because the roof opens up to allow outside dining feel and they also have a huge patio on the back which is where we sat. The waiter was very helpful. I kept it simple and went with a piece of grilled chicken. It was a little spicy for my taste but I think I would have asked for less pepper. My meal also came with rice and some type of potato which I would have done without. The rest of the members in my party ordered the steak kabobs and they were excellent, the steak was seasoned with something which made them out of this world. I probably should have gotten that. The environment was very cool and seemed like a lot of locals go there because the waiters seemed to have really great interactions with some people. We did not order any drinks or desert so I cannot comment on that but for someone who isn't really a fan of greek food, I was happy with my meal.

Bibi L.

I'm a boring greek food eater. I always get the lamb chop lollipop also known as the baby rack of lamb. As I ordered it, I did feel a little guilty but it sure tasted great. Yeah, I'm going to hell for at least a year. It was perfectly cooked with a pink bloody center and seasoned to perfection. My partner enjoyed the Horta salad which is an acquired taste. I liked their signature saganaki cheese appetizer. Their outdoor space was lovely for a summer Chicago night out. It was the best in Greek town from what I can see. Cheers to becoming a big greek, or just big.

Steve M.

Great ambiance and great food. Really like the large outdoor eating space and the waterfall.

Mark C.

Not the worst place I've been to but the food was very mediocre to below average. Went here for an office outing. Had the Greek Salad... Small but satisfying although not much to it and slightly overdressed with vinegar ... Next I chose the Stuffed Chicken...it's stuffed with spinach and cheese. Comes with 2 starches - rice and potatoes so changed out the potatoes for Green Bean, which were fresh from the can. They looked like something from a Restaurant Impossible episode where Robert Irvine squeezed them and all this water squirted out .. Yuck. As for the main course, it was a bit bland and under-seasoned for my liking. I'd go again if someone really wanted to because perhaps I just ordered the wrong thing.

Barbara H.

One of my favorite patios In Chicago. The food is very authentic. We started with the patzaria (beets with potato garlic spread) and the roasted egg plant spread. Both were superb and came out quickly? The grilled pita served along with eggplant, was super fresh and warm. Entrees were as expected. The lamb was tasty and the whitefish was good. Service was quick until the restaurant filled up and we had an overlong wait for our check.

Devvora P.

Meh....A disappointment...I don't know how the restaurant survives with all that great competition around it! Service was good, welcoming guy was rather grim and rude. The food was at best average. Rather tasteless, expensive and non-distinct. We had the grilled chicken souvlaki with roasted potatoes (really, nothing great) and a moussaka (not great). We also had saganaki (that was good) and taramasalata (average). There are much better Greek restaurants in the area.

Ilya M.

Run from this place!!! Even though it looks pretty good and the atrium area is nice - the food is really bad and the service is EXTREMELY slow. I ordered a pork kebab (one of the specials from their lunch menu). You would expect pretty fast turnaround for a special - instead I waited 55 minutes. :--0 When the dish finally came in, one of the skewers turned out to be completely undercooked. Let me tell you - this is disgusting and insanely unsafe (I hope no food poisoning happens). Never again going to this place....

Alana D.

The place is well maintained and the outdoor seating area is beautiful. The waitnstaff is attentive and courteous. Its unfoftunate that the spanakopita isntmade with feta. This is a very strange fact. The feta was substituted with some kinda creamy cheese. The chicken and potatoes i had were delish and im definitely going back! The backlava was tasty as well.

Rachel E.

I came here with a group of people that do like this place, but I was not impressed. My husband is Greek, so I'm attuned to really deliciously authentic Greek food. This place reminded me of your average diner with a much nicer atmosphere...More of an American take on the food. A few things that were nice: The appetizer spread sampler. The lamb was good & it was moist. And, the potatoes that came with the lamb. I would not go back to this place again though.

A S.

It is a shame that the men at the front desk ruin the experience for customers the minute you ask for a table. Maybe its because were female. I don't but its enough to ruin your dinner and the atmosphere. The atrium is one of a kind and awesome and the food is definitely good. But the way they treat people men or women is truly shameful.

Jeph W.

This place is superb. Food, atmosphere, service! Although I am biased by already having a favorite Greek joint back home in Detroit - New Helles - this place is by far my favorite Greek outside Detroit! We sat outside in their courtyard, which slightly resembled ol' Trapper's Alley - a long gone gem of Detroit's Greektown that was my favorite Detroit attraction! Lastly, the service was unparalleled - my waiter and bussers were very attentive, and were even comfortable joking around - it felt like I was family :)

Bridget M.

The food here was amazing. I don't think I knew what GOOD Tzatziki sauce was until I had it from here. If you are a sauce person like me, then the Tzatziki sauce alone is reason enough to go here. Beautiful, open patio makes this place! Great place to sit in the sun next to the decorative rock waterfall with a cocktail in hand.

Linda G.

I came here on a cold winter night. The restaurant closes at 11 due to weather conditions. My friend and I didn't know since we used Yelp to find Athenas. The facility was so nice they let us stay for an extra hour! The food was amazing!!!!

Amy H.

Yum yum! Had the slow cooked lamb and potato special the other night and it was delish. Also a great value at $19. Had enough leftover for dinner the following night. Service is very good here and the restaurant is pretty and very clean. Saganaki was yummy and I enjoyed the Zoe White wine x 2! Will most likely be back!

Cheryl S.

We came here for lunch last week. We came to this restaurant because, while we are not Greek, our daughter's name is Athena. I wanted her to experience authentic Greek food. We sat in the outside patio. We had a fairly large group, and we all ordered different dishes. Our meal started with some tasty bread. I had the lunch combo plate. It had moussaka, pastitsio, potato and dolmades. It was a lot of food. I'm generally not a fan of dolmades, and this was no exception. The moussaka was excellent, as was the potato. I think I've had better pastitsio elsewhere, but it was still okay. All of the servings were large, and we had enough food leftover to take a couple of containers to my brother-in-law, who works downtown and couldn't get away to join us. I would go again, but would probably try some of the other restaurants nearby first.

Brant P.

Outdoor area was awesome and the apps are great. Full dinner portion was good but nothing great at all.

Richard R.

Food was fine. Service was atrocious. Took forever to get lunchtime service at each step - taking order, getting food, getting check, etc. However that was nothing compared to how they handled bringing us the wrong food. We ordered 3 hot appetizers for lunch - $30ish for 2 people. For 2 of them, the waiter brought us the entree size, even though we pointed at the appetizer location on the menu. We didn't realize it until we saw the check. When we pointed this out to him, initially he said he needed to charge us for the entree. After talking to his manager he said he could give us the lower price, and then quickly scooped up our boxed up leftovers without a word. It was really weird. When he returned we asked why he took the food. He said it was the portion we hadn't paid for, to which we asked how he knew what quantity was in the boxes and why would he simply throw out the food instead of letting us take it? Again his manager weighed in and they retrieved the food from the kitchen (hopefully not the garbage can!). Anyway, won't be returning.

Maricela A.

This place was amazing!the octopus salad was so delicious and everyone was no friendly and nice...beautiful atmosphere.

Josh C.

One of the mega restaurants in Greek Town that handles tourists with huge portions, quick service and good (not great) food. I went here with family because it was near their hotel. I've had better Greek food in the city but still glad we tried this joint since it is pretty well known. The outdoor patio area is amazing. The Greek Combo was hit or miss but I did really like the dolmades. If I come back I will order that. The saganaki was the best part of the meal. They don't bring pita bread unless you order an appetizer with it and what they brought was minimal and slightly burned on the bottom. Their regular bread that they bring looks like some pepperidge farm bread - nothing special. The Greek salad was good but unfortunately after two bites they brought the dinner. Zero spacing with courses. Felt like they want you out as quickly as possible to turn the table over. Beer list was also lacking. It had just one Greek beer on it and almost everything else were domestic macro brews like Miller Lite. This is Chicago, there are ton of great local craft beers. I understand importing Greek beer might be expensive but that was annoying.

Brett E.

This is a really cool place. They have a great outdoor seating area that's very pretty and cozy at night. Their prices aren't bad and you get a massive plate of food. Definitely good for another meal. I had the combination place which was very tasty. We also ordered saganaki and octopus, which was just okay. The service was friendly but very slow. Overall a fun evening that you won't leave with an empty stomach.

Jewel L.

Great food, lovely outside eating area. Friendly waiters, the complete "Chicago Greek Town experience!" Ooopa!

Tina G.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ATHENA'S! They have the best Greek food I have ever had near Chicagoland! The portions are pretty large, and the service was excellent. I had the gyros, I love gyros meat as long is it does not have an overwhelming lamb taste, and theirs was perfect. My boyfriend is a seafood junkie, so he tried their calamari. He says it is the best he has ever had, and it tastes very fresh. The scenery inside is gorgeous, they have such a natural Greece feel! Only downside is the price, but it is very worth it! Also, they have free valet parking, which is really nice for a downtown restaurant because parking is horrible. Will most definitely be returning! :)

Leslie C.

I absolutely loved this place. Service was great. Very friendly waiters. The saganaki was very delicious and traditional. I had the chicken breast lemonati and it was fantastic. Prices are very convenient. Loved the free valet parking. Didn't have to waste time searching. The environment is great! Not too packed, maybe at certain times, so i wasn't worried about being in a crowded place. I definitely recommend to have lunch here!

Suzanne B.

Such a lovely outdoor patio! Yesterday was my first time in Greek Town and I was absolutely charmed by this spot! Felt like a little getaway on a beautiful Chicago day. The food was also very good. Accompanying a bottle of dry Greek rose, I snacked on grilled octopus, fried eggplant and lamb meatballs, all of which were very very good! Would certainly return and dive deeper into the menu.

Chris C.

Simply put, great place. Retractable roof! So cool and bright due to natural lighting. I bet it's amazing at night!

AV G.

Very nice place, probably the nicest (and somewhat smaller) places in Greektown. Met a friend who wanted to take charge of the ordering but is not very sophisticated. We had excellent flaming cheese and very good calamari and probably the best bread in Greektown. We were pretty full by then, but my eathing partner wanted lamb--I suggested we split an entre. He told the water roasted leg of lamb and potatoes. The water proceeded to HUSTLE THE DAILY SPECIAL (which was $5 less than what we wanted) ASSURING US THAT THE LAMB WITH GREENS AND EGG LEMON SAUCE WAS THE DISH TO GET--this was a glurpy mess over a lamb shank that was mostly bone--place left a bad taste in my month.

Kelly R.

Great place! We have been here many times on the past, always great service and good food. It seems they have made a few changes and food is even better now. Plus, nice to be checked on by Mike the mgr to see how our overall experience was! No doubt this will remain our favorite Greek restaurant in Chicago!

Sol A.

Great ambience in the outdoor area. The food is good. The service is a bit slow. Free valet. All in all a wonderful experience. I have eaten here twice and have enjoyed myself. I will come here again.i would recommend it to my friends. You will not be disappointed.

Lauren D.

we stayed in greektown and passed this place a few times while walking around town and ended up coming for dinner. the atmosphere is awesome. great place for a date. however I found the food was overpriced for what it was. I got the shrimp athena and it was okay, but i felt i could make it myself. my boyfriend got the combination platter and the macaroni was great and so was the potato and the dish with the ground beef. However on his plate the rice seemed just like filler and the leg of lamb and beef dish wrapped in a leaf was just okay. They have a large wine selection but both of our glasses were nothing to write home about. All in all, service was fast but over $60 for dinner and a glass of wine for 2.

John A.

Dropped a couple stars. Stopped by a couple weekends ago to pick up soup to go. The soup was watery with nothing at all in it. The bread supplied was stale-old. They had to know the bread was old and noticed nothing of substance in the soup as they ladled it up. I have to wonder if it was an intentional choice given it was takeout and a small order. Been going here since it first opened. Have always been a fan. Sort if disillusioned now.

Sarah R.

I've had Greek food in multiple states and countries, but I've gotta say, this place was GREEK. The host was very professional, even though we were confused walking in...we must have been the first of the night. Our waiter was very sweet and there were several busboys walking around like hawks, making sure our waters never reached the bottom of our glasses and that everything was perfect. (Note, only men work here...interesting?) We asked a few questions about the menu and my question led to a free order of tzaziki- my absolute must have at a Greek place. My roommates, both non-fans of tzaziki thought it was delicious! The bread, though, the complimentary LOAVES of bread (two kinds) were, maybe, my favorite part. We even asked for a second basket. The freshest, best bread I've had all my (American) life and I'm German. That means a lot. Did I mention the decor? GORGEOUS. Huge. Seating everywhere and impeccable. Outdoor, indoor, waterfalls, granite counter tops. Top to bottom amazing. It was like being in a different world. 5 stars, no doubt.

Sopla R.

This is our second time here. First time last year during the Greek Fest. It rained that day and we loved that the roof retracted and we could watch the storm from outside-inside. This time, we shared the humus, grilled octopus and a Greek salad. All good. We've had their gyros platter here as well and it was quite good if I recall. I can't speak for the pricier menu items as we just never seem to want to go that route. Light fare for summer and nice patio are the best reasons to come here.

Mojo M.

Always a fun place! Our last visit was on December 26. We never got beyond appetizers: gyros, tzatziki, flaming saganaki (of course!), octopus, and a huge Greek salad. Our knowledgeable and friendly waiter treated us to desserts--baklava and something best described as Greek tiramisu. A good time was had by all!

Angela B.

Love this place! Beautiful glass room perfect lighting, decor and lively music. Definitely love the ambience and the service! Ordered drinks, appetizers, and stuffed chicken breast. Not a complaint one bit.

Yas K.

We (two couples) had a horrible experience with the food and service in this restaurant on Sat. 1/17/15. The food was surprising low quality and service was very bad. This is my second post on Yelp and I just had to warn potential customers about this place. We ordered the combination platter, it was supposed to come with Leg of Lamb but it was substituted by gyros without informing us. When we questioned the servicer about this, his response was simply, "we ran out of Leg of Lamb". Aside from this, the food was sub-standard and low quality. The only thing going for this restaurant is the spacious environment.

Michael G.

Athena Greek Restaurant was a wonderful faux-outside section. The all glass ceiling makes it feel like you are eating outside without worrying about rain and Chicago weather messing with your dinner. The food is ok, but it is not the best Greek option in the area.

Jody B.

I met a couple of my "lady friends" here on a wintery week night. When I got home, I told Hubby we MUST go there! But I think we can wait for better weather. They have this so cool patio that I am dying to sit in on a nice summer night, drink wine, and chow down on their yummy food. Our waiter was great. We weren't sure how to order to share everything, but he said, just tell me all the things you want, and I'll make sure they come out in order. The girls and I shared a platter of spreads. Each one was better than the next. We also shared a salad (I forget which one, but it had feta cheese in it). Again, it was great. Not overly dressed and I mixed it on the pita with the spreads. For our shared entrees, we had octopus, spinach pie, and the greek lemon chicken. Every dish was full of that wonderful greek flavor and spices. We didn't have room for dessert... but we sure had fun talking and catching up with our wine, apps, and entrees!

Cindy B.

Came here for dinner during Greek Fest. Great fast service for the grp. Highly recommend the Greek salad to start. I ordered the pastichio and it was so good!!! Highly recommend. It's like a lasagna except with a lighter sauce and a cheese type frittata top.

Julia K.

I've always passed by this restaurant when I walk around Greek town. There's an outside area where you can sit and it looks so fancy from the outside. It looks fancy on the inside and when I passed by it looked expensive to me. For a friend's birthday we finally went to try it there and when we walked in the atmosphere was family style, fancy, and what I saw from the outside. The server was very nice so it all the other employees. I usually don't eat greek food so I didn't really know what to get. I asked the server what he recommended and I believe he recommend kabobs. My friends order other variety of things, such as chicken, and lamb. When our food came out, it came with rice, potato, and our meals. I didn't really think my food was like SO delicious, I HAVE to come back again. It was just decent. We all got to try each others food and they were alright too. Mostly I just enjoyed the rice and the bread & butter. I ended up leaving kind of disappointed because it looked very good and fancy on the outside. I thought the place was a little bit pricey and the food was okay so I wouldn't come back again.

Robert P.

Athena is a very friendly, very tasty Greek restaurant. Ask for Bill or Sonje at the bar and they'll take great care of you

Ani M.

Once again everything was great. I ordered the stuffed chicken breast my daughter ordered the pork kabob. FREE VALET

Olga K.

Stolen jacket!! Be aware of this place. My boyfriend and I had dinner at this place a few days ago with friends. The food was ok the service was ok, no complains but nothing to write home about. When we were ready to leave though, turned out that my boyfriend's jacket was gone. The staff was absolutely ignorant of the fact as if it happens on a regular basis and pretended it was not a big deal at all. Never got a call back from them. Called myself in about a week and again very bad attitude, no help or any type of apology or input. Very frustrated and disappointed experience, won't be back!!

B.D. K.

Food was alright, but I may not be the biggest fan of Greek food. However, the service was pretty dam bad. After the meal my girlfriend complimented one of their dishes saying, "your Orzo was excellent." and the waiter said, "Good!" And turned around and went to another table. No thank you's at this restaurant, just short tempered and punchy wait staff.

eden s.

Saganaki, please! WOPPAHH! Love their greek salad with grilled chicken and the moussaka. Honestly though, I have been to many of the restaurants in Greektown like Parthenon, Greek Islands, Athena and I can't tell the difference among them ?? They are all really good. One stand out: Outdoor patio is terrific. And free parking is such a bonus.

karen p.

less than average food,bad service,rude wait staff.overpriced! i guess thats what you get for the free valet service.such a waste of large space and good location.

Barrett S.

I recently added the calamari here to the top of my list. In order for calamari to be really good, the chef must beat the living day lights out of the squid before preparing. oh, this chef must have beat this meat all night long; wow!!!

Mags F.

We have come here many times. I am not Greek, but it was recommended by a Greek friend. The food is very good, the price is reasonable, free valet, generous portions. We like to bring our out of town friends to try something new. I actually haven't eaten outside yet but the patio looks nice. Staff is always friendly and helpful in recommending items on the menu or wine.

Scott S.

Lamb dish with orso pasta was delicious, as was the beef kabob. Service was good, but not great, they forgot a soup and a drink (usually the service is excellent). They're very good at handling large parties. Atmosphere is simple and not well decorated. Very strong, tasty Manhattans at the bar while we waited for our group to arrive.

J. C.

I attended a professional function here last year. The food was good but could have been better - but the service was absolutely fabulous.

Rohit B.

Wow, I am shocked that this place isn't rated higher. C'mon... to say the food here seems like every other Greek restaurant in GREEK TOWN seems REDUNDANT. I mean c'mon! The food was awesome! I recommend the Gyro Plate... very filling... right price... and great taste. Unfortunately I didn't get to sit outdoors as it started to rain when I got there. I like the interior... it's not a place that you have to go too upscale for, and the environment seems very friendly and comforting. Light Greek music playing in the background... my kabob smelling delicious in front or me... what's to complain about!? Def going back... can't go wrong with Greek!

marisa s.

the patio is where it's at. it's huge and you prob can always get a table here. my greek salad was OK...made with balsamic i think (WTF?), the spinach pie was standard and the grilled feta with tomatoes was prob the best thing we ordered, oh and our waiter was not that friendly... i would do drinks here and then eat at pegasus or greek isles.

Ebru Y.

I just happened to pass in front of this restaurant while I was trying to go to another Greek restaurant more south on Halstead, but seeing the outdoor patio, we thought why not? They have a huge patio hence no crowding in the entrance, because really you are seated as you walk in to the restaurant. The food was okay but it wasn't anything special, I thought, sampling from others' plates, the food was missing that "Greek flavor". Service was fast but not too friendly, maybe it was because they were very busy. I personally find Greek Islands a much better Greek restaurant whether it's the food or the service. However they did have free valet parking, which is a plus!

Scott D.

This is the place to go with friends for fantastic Greek food and enjoy outdoor dining. Start with an order of Taramosalata. Then try their outstanding Saganaki and Chicken Riganati. For dessert there's nothing better than their Galaktobouriko. This place gets unbelievably crowded so patience is key. Highly recommended when you're in Chicago.

April W.

the food tastes homemade and fresh and to sit on the aptio on a summer night is a real treat

Ian A.

Enjoyed a late Saturday night at the bar. Bartender was fantastic and the owner was nice enough to pass out free shots on his own birthday. Only had a few appetizers which were good, not great. Very fun calm Saturday night experience.

Jonathan F.

It's no Greek Isles, but it's still pretty good and the patio in the summer is worth it. Great people watching...seriously...who's with me!?

Candice K.

Nothing was good. Everything tasted super bland or like it had just been dumped out of a can. I wouldn't have minded the insult to my taste buds if the waiters hadn't been so horribly rude. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone ever.

Bob S.

Everyone has their favorite spot on south Halsted street in Greek town. I've been heading to Athena for years, and it's not just for the amazing outdoor patio and dinning area when the weather is nice. Their food is outstanding year round. Being my fav greek town spot, I'm always eager to take new guests here, and they always walk away with a smile on their face. The food is great, the staff is friendly, the layout of the restaurant is great (not too crowded or congested), and you can't beat the outdoor patio. The food speaks for itself, everything from the Braised Lamb, to the combination dish to sample a few of Athena's favorites.

Dan B.

Went here for lunch with some co-workers. I had the EXOHIKO (BONELESS LAMB COOKED W/ VEGETABLES & FETA CHEESE, WRAPPED IN FILO DOUGH), which was a Friday special and very good. Colleagues had the Gyro plate, Saganaki and Egg-Lemon Soup, which were all decent. Pros: Large portions Spacious outdoor patio Good people watching Cons: Slow & spotty service If you are in no hurry and the weather is nice, it would be a great place to enjoy a meal and a drink.

Maria C.

We had a great experience here today. The weather was perfect, we sat outside and had a lovely lunch. I had the Spanakopita which was simply to die for. My husband had another dish made with ground beef, rice and grape leaves which was really good. When I tasted it, I closed my eyes and went straight back to Greece where we went for our honeymoon. The only reason why this place won't get 5 stars is because we couldn't get a single smile from the waiter. But that's totally fine. The food was worth it and the grumpy waiter made it that much more fun!

Lesley S.

I love the outdoor patio and have been dying to go back this summer. It is a really pleasant atmosphere and showcases it's great view of the city. The food was your standard Greek food. Nothing really sticks out in my head as being phenomenal, but it definitely wasn't bad. I had the moussaka which was quite filling. I finished the meal with the baklava which I love no matter where I get it. I would say that Athena is definitely a great choice in the summer if you're looking to get Greek. Otherwise, I favor the Parthenon.

Emily L.

great outdoor patio! love the decor and location! best gyros in town!

Kelly T.

This place has the BEST food and service was wonderful. It was money well worth spending! Thanks for a great evening out!

A.S. V.

There's a series of about a half dozen restaurants in Greek town that are all about equal in food quality and price (entrees range from $12-$20). I don't see how the food is of any lesser or greater quality than Greek Islands, Pegasus, Artopolis, Parthenon or Costa's.

Sue S.

I went here tonight with my family for Sunday dinner. We are Italian and I really liked seeing how Greeks and Italians are very much the same-we take our food and our family seriously! I really enjoyed this place. The food came quickly and it was all very good! We got an appetizer of flaming cheese (i'm not sure the correct greek term for it). We also ordered a greek salad for the whole table-it was huge, with lots of good stuff in it like olives, feta cheese, tomatoes, and pepperocinis. For dinner I had roasted chicken with lemon and oregano that came with some sort of pasta-I loved it. The only downside to this was the dessert we had. It was some sort of caramel custard. Grooosss...the texture was like eating chicken fat with amaretto poured on top. I DO NOT recommend it. Overall it was good food, good service, and an awesome outdoor patio. I'm a sucker for waterfalls so it really made the already nice night perfect.

Sarah-jayne M.

Let me start this by saying I am not the biggest fan of Greek food so I honestly can't tell you how authentic somehting tastes etc. However, I went to Athena last ight for dinner with about 10 other people and I thought the overall experience was great! We started with some Saganaki which was salty and golden - delish! Next up I ordered the vegartarian Mousakka (sp?) and split it with my friend who ordered shrimps over rice. Both were very tasty and flavorful, if anything a little on the rich side (is this normal for Greek?). I enjoyed some of my friends Kalamari, the pieces were huge and breaded lightly, seasoned well. I had a couple of dirty martini's which were good and only cost $8 - pretty low for a downtown resturant. Overall I think this place was great. The waiter was friendly and helpful, the service was quick and efficient. We decided to move on to another local bar for after dinner drinks and the valet guys gave us our keys back and said we could leave the cars in the lot! Thanks Valet guys!! I'll definately be back here!

Megan M.

Food is good, but the reason I keep coming back is for the huge outdoor patio. It is so nice to sit out there on a beautiful day and it has a great view of the city.

Georg S.

I've been going to Greektown with my family for about 30 years, and I can honestly say that Athena is the best! It's a great place to eat, and they have an amazing patio which is a pretty fun place to grab some appetizers and throw down a few drinks. The service is great, and again the food is great. Try the stuffed chicken breast, soutzoukakia (spicy meatballs) and of course the flaming saganaki.

Amanda P.

A little more upscale than the average Greektown joint, Athena offers more than extra ambience and more expensive prices. The appetizer menu (and aren't the appetizers the real reason to eat Greek food?) is much more varied, with fun things like Greek sausage and cold beets with skordalia, as well as the basics like tarama, eggplant salad, etc. Servers are positively charming.

Josh ..

Just one of the many places in Greektown. I'd say this one is good for its outdoor patio, its bar and its prices. Food is average, service is fine, but unmemorable.

Amanda A.

I love this place! I don't go out for greek food often but when I do - Athena's taramousalata has me coming back time and time again!

Erin C.

I mostly love the patio here. It is so lovely that it doesn't even matter what you end up eating. Everytime i've been here, i've been enticed by the specials which both times were absolutely lovely...and HUGE. The saganaki is excellent, but i don't really know how you could mess up fried cheese. Also, i am obsessed with rice pudding. Theirs is excellent. I might even come here just for that. With a side of saganaki and wine out on the patio please. Doesn't that just sound perfect?

Nenette Y.

Went here with a group of 8 and we all enjoyed ourselves... Fun/energetic atmosphere and friendly/attentive service. Food was delicious although I don't remember the prices because I wasn't the host that nite... I've heard they have a lovely patio area although we didn't have a chance to see it.

Krys J.

Athena is good, but I don't find it to be great. I have been here numerous times and have always enjoyed myself (partially due to my dining companions). While the patio is inviting in the summer, a table inside next to the fireplace is quite cozy in the winter as well. I have felt that occasionally the service while attentive, can also feel a bit rushed. The food is typical and the portions are large but nothing that I can rave about.

Sheila Y.

Went to Athena post celebrating Andersonville Midsommarfest. Athena is located in Greektown next to a dozen or more other Greek establishments. My family really likes this one and they know the management so there is never any other option (however I really want to try Santorini). This place has a fabulous patio set up but the food is sub-par. We ordered a Greek salad, calamari, lamb loin chops and moussaka. The salad was bland, the calamari was under-fried, the lamb loin was overcooked and my moussaka was just ok. I remember the stuffed chicken breast being better. The Greek coffee is decent and so was the baklava, so maybe save this place for late night patio relaxation with dessert.

Jessica C.

Athena has an excellent outdoor seating area and serves an awesome gyros platter--two things I love to find when I head to Greektown for a leisurely summer lunch. Other favorites: saganaki, taramosalata, skordalia, and my favorite tzatziki--rich, creamy and garlicky. Yum.

Lucas M.

I love Athena's too. For some reason whenever I go they don't have a long line to get in, but they should! I do have to admit that I usually go to Athena's only if the Greek Islands is too crowded to get a table. I don't know why, but it's always programmed in my head and my group that we must hit Greek Islands first. However the wait staff at Athena is much better in my opinion. The food is great too. But the big kid on the block is still Greek Islands, but I'll always enjoy Athena too.

Alan R.

Its been a few years since I have been here. Athena has without a doubt one of the best patios in Chicago. The food is as good as any of the other restaurants in Greektown and not noticeably better.

Lauren C.

This is probably not one of my favorite Greek restaurants in the city. However, it was decent, and the wait-staff is ever so attentive.

Katie D.

This was my first time in Greektown. I really liked Athena- especially the patio!! The food was good, however, both the appetizer and my meal came out wrong. We also had to wait for a table even though there were at least a dozen open. But I would come back- I loved the huge beautiful patio!

Erin B.

While others are not too keen on Athena, I had a great experience. I am not a huge fan of Greek food, but find this to be a good place to try new dishes. I came here for an end of the year meeting with my Itinerant group, and the owner was more than accommodating and made us all feel at home. Plus, the price wasn't too steep either! I also enjoy sitting out on their outdoor patio during the nice months that Chicago has to offer as the sun is abundant!

Tallulah J.

i am LIVID! after a bland appetizer of skordalia, i ordered a broiled octopus dish and was HORRIFIED to find an extremely sharp metal fish hook sticking out of one of the rubbery-textured chunks. our incompetent server swiped the hook out of my hand, left, and returned with the bartender(/manager?) who denied all responsibility of the kitchen staff to make sure the food did not contain SHARP METAL FISHHOOKS. he agreed to comp the octopus (probably the least he could do), but i was not satisfied with his apathetic and highly unprofessional behavior. I requested to speak with someone with a little more authority, only to be patronized by an old fat greek dude who was obviously scared to death that I would sue his ass. i wont be doing that, but i definitely will not be returning to athena and will surely spread the word. regardless, the food pretty much sucks anyway.

Joyce A.

Unfortunately for Athena, I have been to Athens, Greece (as well as other parts of Greece) and the food was just ok. That is not to say that my fried calamari was not good- a little too bready and almost no legs- mostly rings-or that the cold appetizer plate wasn't tasty (just tiny portions). But there is just too much other competition on the street to merit more stars. It was too hot and muggy to try the patio - otherwise I might have given another star just for the patio. I had the calamari as an entree- and I probably could have gotten by (at least in any other restarurant.....) with calamari as an appetizer- but the waiter more or less "encouraged" the entree portion- When we left, John characterized the cold appetizer portion as "skimpy" and thought the waiter was "pushy". At the end, I ordered the baklava-now maybe it was because there were three of us- and only one order- but the piece of baklava was both very good and more than big enough. However, there is an excellant Greek pastry shop righ on Halsted so- if their kitchen is smart they will just pick up there.....

Skylar C.

All my friends love it here, but I find the food to be gross. I've tried a few things on their menu and I'm not impressed.

Sara S.

I had very little appetite after my first sip of merlot left me with a fruit fly between my teeth. That pretty much sums it up. I'm not going back. Even if they start washing their glasses.

Amanda L.

This is my favorite Greek restaurant. I love to bring groups of people here and order a bunch of appetizers and a few entrees and wine. Everyone always loves it. It doesn't break the bank either. Great staff too. Oh and a beautiful patio with fountain and Halsted people watching in summer.

Julia B.

The food was nothing to write home about. I have had much better Greek food, especially in Chicago! The place is not that nice inside either and just did not impress me!

Doug p.

the food is decent.. i've eaten at better places in greektown but they are quick and the staff is very friendly

Pri P.

Well, I should start this review off with the caveat that I was a vegetarian for long time and still have trouble with "meaty" meats. That being said, the food was absolutely terrible. And no one, out of the 10 people at my table finished a single dish. The saganaki was good, as was the backlava/custard dessert, but that was about it. My boyfriend's favorite dish was the side of peas...that's really not saying much. The lamb was served lukewarm, and there were a couple of dishes that seemed like a layered lasagne type preperation...this looked appetizing, but in fact killed your appeitite almost immediately upon entering your mouth. We were there with a big group from my boyfriend's law firm, so I understand that serving such a group can be tough. But still, at times it was almost 20 minutes between courses. All this being said, the greek wine was quite good and the atmosphere was decent. But still, one of the worst meals I've ever had.

Ed R.

i gave 4 stars because it started just ok.,but after we're seated everything went great!Had some family from out of town over and started with apps octopus ,zucchini ,pepers florinas,skordalia,ouzos and beers, moving to gyros for the kids and paidakia and potatoes for us....... everything was great,but what made it better was the great service... our server Kostas G. was the best part of the nite he was there whenever we needed smth,and he's recommendations were the best we ended up ordering everything he suggested and loved it..... he made our nite.... my guests loved it .... the weather was great as well,so we enjoyed the whole patio experience as well as service. From there moved to the bar for some after dinner drinks ..... and back home Still sitting on the patio thinking of the great time we had thanks to Kostas(the server) and Kostas (the manager). Thank You!!!! We'll be back soon

Rasik M.

Went there today, it is pretty nice restaurant. They have both open and covered seating arrangements. Food was pretty good, lamb and chicken combo was pretty delicious. Service is a bit slow but then they were pretty full with a lot of people as well.... Would certainly go there the next time.

Mt P.

Last night the ladies from work went to Athena Greek Restaurant in greektown and had an amazing time! Their food is fabulous, similar to Greek Islands and Parthanon but their service is second to none. We were warmly greeted by the host, promptly seated even during the dinner rush but the best part was our waiter. 10 stars bar none. He never hovered but always knew exactly when someone at the table may have a need. From watching him filet a fish tableside for a nearby table with a gentle smile to shaking out and folding the napkins for the ladies who went to the restroom. This is a person who loves his job and genuinely cares to engage with his clientele to make their event memorable whether it's an intimate date to a larger group. Oopa Athena!

Christine E.

Amazing food and service. Try the saganaki, the skordalia and the Greek salad for sure. The salmon was fantastic, as well. Ask for wine recommendations, our red was perfect. The atmosphere is fantastic and beautifully lit. The servers were patient with our large group and attentive when we needed something. We come here once or twice a year and can't wait to come back!

Dex Y.

Came here for dinner because plan A fell through. Ordered leg of lamb. It was a simple dish, but was well done with a large serving size. My friend tried the combination plate but it looked like a mishmash. The dining area was nice, though. High ceiling, big screen, and tables were not too close to each other.

Heather P.

The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous! We sat in the covered patio area. The egg lemon soup was everything I expected it to be, however the chicken skewers were a little on the dry and unflavored side. The service was exceptional...shout out to Sokrates! I don't travel downtown often but I'd like to dine there again just for the soup and first class service.

Amber Z.

I love love love Athena. I've lost count of the number of visits I've made for business lunches, happy hours and dinner. Complimentary valet (that means you still tip your valet guy, cheapos), friendly and attentive service/bartenders and great food. The portions are large for the prices and you can't go wrong with any of their lamb dishes. Favorites: saganaki, egg lemon soup, the cold fish roe app, pork kabobs and the leg of lamb.

Chance L.

Great venue, tasty food, reasonably priced food, cheap wine, aweeeesome patio and quick friendly service. Well done Athena! This means you should definitely go....

Geri B.

It was a cold snowy day outside so my family was delighted to be in this open bright setting. One person in our party was running late because of the weather but although we were checked on to see if we wanted to start on appetizers or drinks we did not feel pushed to order. We all had variations of lamb, but of course started with saganaki. Everything was wonderful.

Joel G.

I enjoy going to Greektown for some fun and some Greek food every other month or so. I will state that it seems that these restaurants ebb and flow in quality. My favorite drops off and another takes it place. Lately I have been going to Athena which first attracted me in the some with the outdoor seating and solid food. I used to only hit Santorini however they seem to have slipped in quality as of late. Athena focuses more on the basics of Greekfood. Service is always excellent and I feel like I get good value for my money at Athena. Santorini is more seafood based, not sure what happened but I'm sad to see the decline over there. So this is my new go to for 2013 forward.

Dolores Z.

We went to Athena on a mild, early autumn Friday evening. The weather was perfect, so we chose the patio. I was surprised to be asked if we had a reservation! We did not, because before their remodeling, reservations were not accepted for outdoor seating! After a 10-15 minute wait we were seated. They certainly did a nice job with the remodeling. Service was good, little language issue with the waiter. Athena's food was OK. Saganaki is not aflame when served outside. They were out of Lima beans. Good fresh bread, and Boutari Kretikos white wine. Opaa! The grilled halibut was a very generous portion, perfectly cooked and seasoned, with a side of green beans. Chicken kabob also done right, served with rice and potato. Dessert of rice pudding, house made. Strong coffee. Complementary valet service is very prompt and friendly. All in all, it was an enjoyable evening. The ambience makes up for any minor shortcomings-and our next visit will include a reservation!

P G.

We went there to celebrate Mother's Day with a group of 8. Food was mediocre at best. Service was HORRIBLE. Plates for appetizers were dirty. Had to ask multiple times for drink refills. Waiter elbowed my wife in the face while clearing dishes. He dripped salad oil in my daughters hair. The last straw was when he slid food off the plate into my wife's hair and down her back. $300 check and no inkling to make things right. Never again Athena! Much better choices in Greek Town.

Chris T.

Solid Greek place in Chicago. I think this is their version of Greektown and since i live by the Danforth they had to be pretty good....they were pretty damn good. I noticed their patio area was huge in space. Love the decor too.

SouthernFoodie M.

I ate with three others.... I liked my meal. We went in on Halloween so it was pretty empty. Our wine.... Not my favorite. Wish they would have more reasonably priced decent wine. Saganaki was awesome... Calamari was meh. We also ran out of bread and it was never teplaced.... I had the grilled octopus and I loved it.... Although it was not hot.... Lemon potatoes rocked as a side. Husband said his lamb was dry.... So some dishes and wine were hit or miss....

Jessica Y.

12 of us had dinner here on Saturday with 7:30 reservations. The restaurant is close to the W Adams exit off 90 and there is complimentary valet parking which makes everything less stressful! One star just for this. The layout and décor reminds me of Abt electronics in Glenview + Navy Pier Crystal Gardens - open and spacious. Even with reservations the table was not ready until 8pm ish. We sat on the patio which minus the 80 degree humidity felt like we were on a pool deck on vacation and it was relaxing. The table shared Kalamari ($14.50), saganaki (goat cheese lightly breaded in flour and flamed in brandy) $7, skordalia (creamy garlic and potato spread) $7. Some of the entrees ordered: Shrimp Skordati, Greek Salad + Egg/lemon soup, Gyros plate (generous portion that can be shared by 2), Vegetable pasta, Braised lamb, Chicken Kebob ($5-19) Wine: 3 bottles of Tsantali Agioritiko ($41 each) + a bottle of Riesling ($30). The braised lamb in tomato sauce was very tender and the sauce tasted like spaghettiO's sauce. If you're iffy about lamb this may be a good first lamb dish. The sauce is sweeter and less herby than braised lamb I have had elsewhere. 3 hours + $400 dollars later everyone was happily full. Like what other reviewers said only come here if you have some time because aloof host + polite but slow and and at times inattentive service. 48 hours later what is still on my mind from this meal? Baklava Cheesecake dessert. It was SOO good! Usually Baklava is way too sweet for me but creamy, light, and airy cheesecake worked well with the slightly sweet Baklava crust/topping.

Carlos A.

From all Greek restaurants in Greek Town this one is my favorite. Atmosphere + Great Food makes this place my number one choice. Valet parking is included. Love the glass patio area.... The food is outstanding. Any Lamb plate here is my favorite. Thanks for another wonderful dinner experience.

Corrina K.

We went here because we liked the look of the atrium. It's nice sitting in the atrium since then you get to enjoy the daylight, but they need curtains or rugs or something to dampen the noise--it sounds like a cafeteria. We've been there twice now and don't plan to go back. The first time the food was fine but nothing special (although I really do like the meatless dolmades). Yesterday when we went the food just wasn't all that good. I got the Shrimp Athena which says its shrimp and vegetables cooked with vegetables and tomato sauce over rice. There aren't any vegetables, though, just Ragu type sauce, 5 shrimp, and white rice. It tasted OK but wasn't worth $19. My husband got a burger which was supposed to be medium but there wasn't a twinge of pink anywhere in it. The fries were mushy. He thought about sending it back, but it took well over 30 minutes to get our food when it wasn't busy in the first place and the volume of the restaurant was getting to be too much for me to bear, so we just ate and got out. Both times the servers have rotated in and out constantly; you never know who your server is and there's always a million different waiters and busboys stopping by your table. It's a little odd.

Michael H.

food was not good and the service sucked that is all.

Nancy C.

I came here back in 5th grade for a field trip when we were learning about Greek civilization and boy have they upgraded since 1998! There is this beautiful indoor fountain on the north end of the restaurant with skylights and windows everywhere, which makes it feel like you are sitting outdoors. The atmosphere was very casual and enjoyable. The food was good overall. They still have the flaming Saganaki, like we had ordered in 5th grade. Just as entertaining and as good as I had remembered it. The octopus appetizer is very good. I (unfortunately) won the award for worst dish of the party on our most recent visit, which were the intensely dry pork chops. Fortunately, I also halved my dish with my cousin who had the chicken, which was tender, delicious, and perfectly cooked. The braised lamb was fall-off-the bone, melt-in-your mouth tender. And the quail was great as well. Very reasonably priced, and portions were sizable.

Samar S.

Went here tonight for a family dinner, it was my first time there and I must say EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS. The dolmadas were perfect and the pasticio was to die for :) We will definitely be coming back. Also, our waiter George was so nice! He definitely knows how to make people feel special and made sure to check in with us frequently. Great place for authentic Greek food. Also, the restaurant is beautiful especially the waterfall outside. The only downfall was that it was freezing inside otherwise great food and great place :)

Steve F.

Classy place. Service excellent, atmosphere excellent (we sat in the sheltered outdoor area), food excellent including warm bread. We had lunch there. Busy but not packed (there's a LOT of seating). Sometimes you go to a restaurant and you can just tell after one meal that you can't go wrong there. This is one of those places.

Nick S.

Best greek restaurant!!! The food is awesome and so is their service. Also, their atmosphere is lovely.

Raphael R.

For our first meal in Chicago, it sure was overwhelming. There was no way we were going to have the same things we usually have back home, so we started looking around and were faced with parking issues, not expecting to find it so hard to park. While trying to find somewhere nice, my wife's attention was caught by Greektown and especially by the Athena Greek Restaurant. And for our first meal, it was a home run. Entering the restaurant, I did not understand why and how people were eating outside since it was freezing and we had kids who were tired and hungry and would not enjoy being seated outside. But while they were indeed sitting outside, it was a very nice covered outside patio. It was cold outside but it was a clear and sunny day which made it a real pleasure sitting in the patio. The food was really tasty and copious. Our waiter was really attentive to our needs and offered us complimentary drinks to celebrate my birthday. The only regret was being too full to even try to have dessert. But it was definitely a good value for our money and would definitely return here.

Jimmy J.

Closed on Sunday Jan 5 due to bad weather. We were headed to the Hawks game and wanted to give them business. So we went to Greek Isles who was bustling with customers wearing Hockey jerseys....had a great meal too.

Suzette M.

Great service and great food. Perfectly cooked lamb entree and beef tenderloin kabob. Water glass was never empty and very attentive waiter.

Jennifer B.

I usually go to Parthenon or Greek Island and I recently went here and found the food far superior to those two restaurants. We had gyros that were absolutely DELICIOUS and didn't have that little funky taste I found at the other restaurants. We also had chicken kabobs, saganaki and salads. Everything was so delicious. The service was superb. The valet guy was so sweet and kind. I highly recommend you trying this restaurant if you "think" the others are your favorite and you never venture out!

Moon P.

Ambiance!! Light ..sunny umbrellas & if needed closed top......fun times. Food we all shared appitizers......of course bread. Has a fountain & valet parking!!!

Steven M.

Came here for a meeting and had an enjoyable time. I had the Combo with two pastas, sliced lamb, sausage and potato's with rice. I would not get this again as it was pasta heavy. I did not know what everything was called on the menu, that is why I ordered it. I would go with more of a meat dish next time. Everything was very tasty though. The server got lost for 20 minutes when we were looking for the bill? I had to find him. They did open up the patio roof and front which was very cool to be sitting outside. Great atmosphere and view of the city.

Kelsey L.

My now fiancé took me here for dinner after he proposed. We sat on the patio which was absolutely beautiful. We got cute little individual bottles of champagne which was fun and the staff were great. I was a little disappointed in the food. There are better Greek restaurants in the area, but I would definitely still go back.

Greg R.

Pros - great patio. Although what brought us in was the huge screen with the monday night football game on. however, they did not have the sound on. I get that so not going to ding them on it. Cons - Service is slow....somewhat friendly but just took for ever to get anything. Food - awful. Cheap greek food. Very low quality. This is a large, high volume restaurant done up to give you the feel that you are at a quaint creek restaurant. What you are at is an olive garden / red lobster of greek restaurants.

Jason M.

What a great place! Stadious our server was very friendly. You must try the home made greek yogurt amazing. Well be back for sure

Jill A.

We went out to Athena yesterday night (Sunday). They were hosting a wedding on the lower part of their outdoor patio. That was fun to see. We met up with our uncle and aunt who live downtown and our cousins who were in town from New Jersey. They promptly had our table ready after checking in for our 530 reservation and they were able to get us a seat on the patio which was probably the highlight of my experience. It was beautiful. We ordered a round of drinks for the 12 of us and they were delivered in a reasonable time. The only problem is that was the only time our drinks were refiled within a reasonable time. My husband and I both had pepsi's and you bet we guzzled them down after the hour+ car ride on the way over. We waited 25 minutes for refills. NO JOKE. We timed it. In our 3.5 hours we spent at Athena my husband and I needed 4 refills after our initial drink. We waited about half hour between each one. There was water on the table, but I am paying for soda and I would like to drink that. I debated going to the bar to refill my own glass a few times but for the sake of our guests I did not want to complain or seem rude or ungrateful so I patiently waited. Our appetizers were actually phenomenal. We got the Gyros (Most refreshing tzatziki sauce I've ever had) the combo plate and extra hummus. The hummus was absolutely delicious. Dont be confused with it being anything more than hummus though; it was hummus well done but nothing more. Our meals took 30 minutes or so which was expected since someone at our table ordered the 25 minute Athena Chicken entree. Unfortunately neither my husband or myself enjoyed our meals. I know the rest of the table except one other enjoyed their meals so out of 12 guests only 9 were happy. I got their pasta dish with noodles, olive oil, garlic, cheese, artichoke hearts and carrots. Since I don't typically eat Greek food I stuck with this because I know I like all these items. I chose to add a chicken breast to my meal. I anticipated my chicken breast coming atop my pasta maybe cut into strips or maybe left whole so I could cut it up. It came chunky and tossed in my pasta. It was also skinless chicken that looked like it was boiled as a cooking method and it was dry, chewy, and I ended up picking it out. My artichokes came odd in the dish too. Maybe its my inexperience with Greek food however the artichokes tasted like they had been sitting in olive juice? I've had canned artichoke hearts before and fresh and Ive never eaten an artichoke that tasted this way. It was a huge turn off for me and I barely touched my food, though the sauce, noodles and broccoli that I didn't know was in the pasta was delicious. My husbands sword fish came out hard as a rock. We exchanged it for another Gyro. Lets talk about our waiter. He was playful and entertained my Grandfather when he would ask questions (my grandpa is 75, can't hear anything, and we love him to bits!) so when people take the time to talk to my grandfather when we are out to eat it sure goes a long way. He remembered our whole table of 12's order without writing anything down and only one side dish came out wrong. Which is actually pretty impressive for anyone who's been in the industry. He also had our party, another party of 10 next to us, a couple of 4 tops, 6 tops, needless to say he was SUPER busy. Just wish it didn't take so long for our drinks to be replaced, but I understand he was busy. I have always been a suburban girl. I love to visit the city and have fun then come home. I was truly disappointed this time, I expected more because you are in Chicago. I'd be willing to try this place again, but it would have to be under the same circumstances (someone else is hosting and chose the restaurant). I would not willingly return on my own.

Tamir G.

There are only two things that I would highly recommend in this join: 1. The side order of feta. It's the real deal. The I e provided in the Greek salad is really bad. 2. The roasted half chicken which is enough for two. Village salad sucks and spankopita is flavor less and greasy.

Mark L.

Athena is my go-to spot for great greek food in Chicago. My cousins are part Greek - and have had Athena cater all of their family parties. I frequent this spot for lunch when I am in the area, and never have a problem finding co-workers interested in tagging along. The lunch service is well-priced, great food and you can be in-and-out in a timely fashion. My favorite lunch item is the Gyros salad. The saganaki is a must for every meal, as EVERYONE loves it. The taramosalata is also a great appetizer choice. You can't go wrong with Athena. Highly reccomend.

Maria G.

This was my first Greek Town experience and was not let down! I first went a few months back and was able to sit in the front patio nearest the Halsted. The chairs and tables in that area are super nice and comfy. The reason I mention that is because they also have a patio behind this one that consists of lower quality tables and chairs. I had planned on eating elsewhere today but decided to go back here because of the pleasant experience I had the first time and plus I wanted a healthier option for lunch. When we arrived, we were led to the further back patio (the front one was not that packed mind you) where no one else was sitting, I was instantly put off. But...I really wanted to wait it out and see what would happen. More customers started arriving and they were all lead to the back patio. I understand they get busy at lunch time and were just trying to even things out but it definitely felt like we were being banished to a deserted island! It did make me feel better that they were seating people back there with us, though. Anyhoo, the food. We started with the fried calamari which is fresh, delicious and plentiful! Highly recommend if you dig calamari. I also ordered the Chicken Village Salad. It consisted of grilled chicken, green and red peppers, black olives, feta cheese and cucumbers. It was fresh and came with a great Greek salad dressing. The service was great but I really wish we would have been sat in the front area and not sent to the back.

Timothy W.

My friend and I wanted to explore Greektown since it's so close to campus and, with all of the restaurants in the area, we found ourselves hungry. We ended up going here because it stuck out to us the most. Once we came inside, we were not disappointed! There was very beautiful art and the room set up was very pretty. I ended up ordering the Chicken Riganati and we only waited about 15 minutes for our food to arrive. The food was extremely delicious and the plate was loaded with food. The restaurant was not too pricey either. Overall, I would be happy to come here again.

Rachel R.

Food is great! Service friendly and fast. Knowledgable staff something that I LOVE when I come to a resturant that I am unfamilier with. One thing that I love about this place is the friendly staff. I came by myself to relax and the staff always made sure I was ok. I had a few people ask how the food was and how I was since I was sitting alone. It's was a nice change of pace of being asked, than being ignored. The food was great. I had the sausage dish with rice and potato very good. Just the right amount of lemon on it. Perfect! The waiter helped me pair it up with a glass of red wine. I will be back.

Anne S.

I am a big fan of the Parthenon, so I don't normally go to other restaurants in Greek Town. Last night for dinner family friends wanted to go here, and I enjoyed it! We sat in the glassed in center. It looks so cool from the inside and the outside. I'm sure this space is absolutely amazing in the summer! The only problem with this space is that it is incredibly loud. We had a group of 5 people, and I couldn't hear anyone except the person sitting directly next to me. It was very hard to have a conversation. The food was good, the service was good, and the prices were reasonable.

Kimmie R.

I enjoyed the combination plate which consisted of Mousakas, pastitsio, dolmades, leg of lamb, rice, potato and vegetables. The leg of lamb was pre-sliced, bland, dry and cold, but the rest of the food was okay. My friend and I enjoyed the fried calamari, but that was probably because we were extremely hungry before our food arrived. The fried calamari was fresh, but it was not seasoned. The decor is lovely and they have street parking available free of charge you can't beat that in Chicago. The restaurant is clean, and the waiters are accommodating, but this is not a three or four star restaurant regardless if it's priced accordingly. I will give Athena another chance, but unfortunately it's located very close to its competitors which makes it very difficult for it to have "bad" day. In Greek town customers have so many choices for good Greek food that maybe Athena should have a chat with their chef's.

Vicki L.

Nice bright space with glass ceiling and cool outdoor patio. A great place to spend a cold sunny day!

Emily Z.

Gorgeous patio, though sadly if you sit on it you will not get your saganaki flaming, lame. If you go during peak time in the summer there will definitely be a wait for it but the bar area is large so we didn't mind hanging out for a while. Tried the sampler platter, not sure what I was supposed to do with the huge chunks of feta cheese but the fresh pita and tzatziki were delicious! Beware the pink one is a salmon dip if that's not your thing! Not a huge fan of Greek food but its worth a trip for the patio alone!

Michelle K.

This is one of those perfect 2.5 star situations. Alas, no half stars on Yelp, and I feel like being charitable today, so I'll round up. I came here with some coworkers for an extended weekday lunch. We were able to get a table out on the patio, which was really nicely laid out (we joked that we felt like we were on vacation). The patio is Athena's selling point, without a doubt. We started with a cold appetizer platter with pitas, tzatziki, melitzanosalata (eggplant and garlic spread that tastes a lot like hummus to me), taramosalata (fish roe mousse), tirokafteri (feta and pepper spread), dolmadakia, cheese, and a couple veggies. I love taramosalata, but this one wasn't as flavorful as I wanted. The tzatziki was good though, and everyone loved the tirokafteri. One weird thing: one of the veggies on the platter was a baby carrot that looked like it was dug out of the garbage. Like...really ugly. Truly the Clint Howard of baby carrots. Obviously, no one ate it, but why would you even put that on the plate? Blech. I ordered the combo plate, which came with moussaka, pastitsio, dolmades, and Greek potatoes. I liked the dolmades and the potatoes best, followed by the moussaka (which I liked even though it was different from the moussaka I'm used to), with the pastitsio coming in dead last (too much cinnamon for me). At $10.25, it wasn't a bad deal. Our server was friendly, although he did mess up a couple things: one coworker explicitly ordered saganaki and a side salad as her entree, and these were both brought out to her with our appetizer. (She was a good sport about it.) And he brought out the wrong meal for another one of my coworkers, but this mistake was quickly fixed. If it's a nice day and you're feeling like a pleasant al fresco experience, Athena isn't a bad bet. However, there's too many great restaurants in Greektown for this ever to be my first choice.

Baarb B.

TERRIBLE!! bad service & even worse food!! not sure how someone could get sick from a vegetable pita & hummus....but it definitely happened!! DISGUSTING!! will NEVER go back!! ewe!!

Meredith R.

I have been to Athena several times in the past eight years that I have lived in Chicago and there have been ups and downs in my experiences, but my most recent visit was definitely an up! Our group of six sat in the covered outdoor area, which is lovely, though it's too bad that there is no longer an unobstructed view of downtown. The service was excellent. Our appetizers and dinners were perfectly timed and our server was attentive and personable. We all enjoyed our generous portions of food and had plenty to take home. I am looking forward to returning to Athena!

Michael Z.

I have been going to Athena since the first day they opened. The food is great and the service is outstanding. In the summer I love the outdoor space while eating and drinking with family and friends late into the night.

Henry F.

Wife and I, downtown Chicago locals, have visited often, with or without guests, and have always enjoyed ourselves. The place was first-rate, the service was first-rate and the food was the same. We think that it's well better than others nearby. The last time, on Easter Sunday, we were parked for free and seated outside immediately, followed right away by a polite busboy who handed us nice Greek bread and butter. The patio area is very pretty and romantic despite the otherwise congested neighborhood. I requested olive oil for my bread and got it promptly. Our waiter, Dionysius, was equally polite and solicitous, unlike some rude ones we'd gotten used to long ago at The Parthenon, nearby. Many large, Greek families celebrating Easter at large tables were there, but we anticipated that and reserved for 6:00PM. I can't attempt to describe all the menu offerings as I've had many of them, here and elsewhere, but we skipped salad this time, split the fried calamari appetizer, wife (on Weight-Watchers) had a nice fish dish and I had the combination plate (incl. baked Easter lamb, of course) and everything, as usual, was great and served at the right time, consistency and temperature. Given the bread, the wine and then the calamari, we had some remaining entrees to take home and freeze, but tourists can skip that for obvious reasons. Both of us expect to return as this is our favorite Greektown restaurant.

Jennifer M.

Yesterday, it was by happenstance when we arrived during the Greek Independance Day parade. We were kept warm by the enclosure that gave us great views of the Loop and a low vantage point of the parade. A basket of bread and water were delivered almost immediately. We started with cheese by ordering the Saganaki (Goat cheese lightly breaded in flour and flamed in brandy) appetizer with Bloody Mary and Corona chasers. I ordered the Athenian Chicken. Half-chicken char-broiled with lemon and oregano. It came with steamed vegetables which was served in a garnish size portion. He ordered the Seafood Kebob. Salmon, swordfish and shrimp broiled on a skewer with tomatoes, onions and green peppers. Both were splendid. The entrees come with a side of rice and a peeled, steamed half potato with some tomato sauce concoction. I did not care for its taste. We finished with cheese by ordering the cheesecake for dessert.

Aislinn S.

My husband and I only spent 8 days in Chicago, but we made a point to visit Athena more than once. The food is FANTASTIC!! If we lived in Chicago, we'd be regulars!

Soula C.

This was my first time at Athena, happy to see Jimmy Alexander there. The food was delicious, and so was the service. Very nice open relaxing restaurant I would recommend.

Brittany M.

No idea why the ratings were so low- the food was delicious, our waiter attentive, and the outdoor patio dining area was superb. We were able to arrive and be seated immediately without reservation and there were quite a few affordable Sunday specials available. Our waiter was particularly accommodating and even brought additional bread & a side of vegetables for no additional charge. The food was great and authentic- lamb meat melted right off the bone (lamb lemonata). The outdoor seating can't be beat, as we got to watch the sun set among the skyline. Definitely an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Vina O.

I dined here with my husband and his parents on a Sunday evening for dinner. We decided to get the family-style meal, which includes saganaki (flaming cheese), taramosalata (fish roe and potato spread), gyros, lemon soup, salad, mousakas (eggplant dish w/ zucchini, potato, ground beef and cheese), pastitsio (baked macaroni mixed with seasoned ground beef and cheese), dolmades (rice and ground beef wrapped in grape vine leaves), leg of lamb, rice, potato and vegetables (sweet peas), coffee and choice of dessert. It's $24.95 per person, with a minimum order of 4. I will say that this is A LOT of food. You definitely get your money's worth as long as you take it home. Our server told us that no diner has ever finished the family style meal, so make sure you're extra hungry or can eat leftovers if you plan on ordering this. But honestly, none of the dishes really stood out to me except for the mousakas and dolmades. While the saganaki, gyros, and lemon soup were okay, the same dishes at Parthenon (a rival restaurant at Greektown) are far superior. The leg of lamb was very dry and the salad was something out of a plastic bag from the grocery. Luckily, they saved the best for last... dessert and coffee! For dessert, we all decided on the galaktobouriko, which is a light lemon flavored custard in honey dipped filo dough. That was probably one of the best I've tasted in Greek town, and I'd definitely order the dessert again! I also enjoyed their coffee very much, and I'm a bit of a coffee snob.

Jenn T.

Despite the fact that there are some silly bad yelp reviews my husband and I decided to give Athena a chance. I am so glad we did because it was fantastic! The atmosphere is worth 4 stars alone. LOVE LOVE the patio. The food we had was very good. We started with the cold appetizer plate which was delicious. I cant wait to order that again. Everyone at the table enjoyed their entrees, but my husband was the dinner winner with a braised lamb entree. WOW! I only wish we had room for dessert. The service was also very good. We were seated within a reasonable time and everyone was very attentive. Our waiter, Stellios aka Stanely, was outstanding. We will definitley be going back to eat again soon.

Chelsea G.

Amazing food. The waiter kept checking on us to make sure we're pleased with the food and well-hydrated with our drinks. I love the customer services here and definitely the authetic greek food here. Will come back soon!

Christina F.

Came here with my dad and BF, all three of us got the combination platter. I wanted to try a lot of things but didn't want all those calories so I used one of my favorite diet tips: get a to-go box with your meal! Stick half of it in there and then you know you're doing some portion control without having to think about it and can just enjoy your meal. Well, the waiter made a HUGE deal about it, then didn't bring it so I had to ask again...making me look like the witch with a B. Sorry but, thanks to grad school I've gained weight that I want to lose by graduation. Help me out here and just honor my request. Other than that, food was tasty. Combination plate was a great value and there wasn't anything I didn't like. But the service left a bad taste in my mouth. Since when did customer service become a bother and a chore? I've worked in the food business, just do it with a smile. I'm not asking for the world, just a box!

Rick T.

Excellent dinner; so-so dessert; and an eyebrow-raising answer to our question about an ingredient. Calamari: thick pieces of beautifully prepared squid. Possibly the best version I've had in Chicago. Chicken kabob was flavorful and generously portioned. My dining companion ordered the Spanakopita, which our server boasted is not nearly as good as a Greek grandmother would make. When we asked which spice was dominating the dish, the waiter returned from the kitchen with a strange response: nobody knows. The chef made it earlier and left. Uh. Okay....I guess? A few minutes later, we determined it to be nutmeg, but the meal would've been better had we not known that at least one of our entrees had been made 12 hours before. All in all, Athena is worth a visit.

Arnaud W.

Here are 2 stars for the atmosphere. The food was not good. Fast service because salads are made in advance. I ordered a chicken & lamb combo, without any taste. My GF ordered a Veggie Pita, same thing, no taste. A bit expensive to chew cardboards... Dont go there if you want more than a drink.

Laura P.

Went there today for lunch & really enjoyed eating in the outdoor area. The service was great even during a busy lunch hour. We had the gyro salad which was delicious! Definitely one restaurant to check out in Greektown!

Trixy D.

A little more expensive than the Greek Islands, but very nice atmosphere. The walls and roof appear to retract for good weather, but it was muggy out and raining so we were beneath it all, near a waterfall wall, when they lowered an enormous big screen so that the fans could enjoy the football game during their meal on a Thursday night. The drink glasses were a little small, but the plates of food were large and everything was delicious. Our waiter John was very attentive and had a great sense of humor. He recommended a grilled octopus appetizer, which is their specialty. We have had octopus before, several times, and pretty much the only way I enjoy it is as fried calamari....but this dish was fantastic. Loved it and would not have ordered it if not for the friend who was with us taking the waiters recommendation. We also had an appetizer plate of a variety of spreads that were pretty tasty..would have liked to have notes on what each was, while we were eating. We also ordered the fried goat cheese appetizer which is flambe'd tableside, which I love! :-) "Opa!" All of our meals were terrific, very buttery and flavorful with rice and vegetables on the sides. Shrimp and Lamb were delicious, and we shared Baclava for dessert, which is pretty much a necessity! Very festive atmosphere, not super loud where you couldn't hear, but lots of groups and couples really enjoying themselves. Would definitely go back.

Joey W.

Great food. Waited a little even with a reservation.

Anthony F.

Wanted a family night out with inlaws and 4 month old baby. Food was awesome and staff was very warm and friendly. Pulled up to valet and asked he he thought baby was going to be ok and he said this is family here no problem. The decor was very nice and sat us near the fireplace to keep the baby warm (their suggestion)

Marielle S.

I'm quite a fan of Greek food, so Greektown is always a draw for me. I hadn't been to Athena since I was a teenager and looked forward to bringing some friends from out of town for some great authentic Greek food. It was a nice evening so we sat out on the terrace/patio which was absolutely gorgeous. We were greeted promptly and the staff was friendly. I can honestly say that the food was wonderful. The thing I appreciate most about Greek food is how they nail the seasonings. The flavors are clean and uncomplicated, but every dish seems to have one dominant seasoning that just sings in a way that tells you this would be hard to duplicate without a lot of kitchen expertise. We had a bit of confusion with one of our party members' food not being right, but it was taken care of promptly. I had ordered the grilled pork chops, one of my friends ordered a combo plate and the other ordered a special lamb wrapped in filo dough. We did a little trading back and forth and all the dishes were amazing, though the lamb wrapped in filo dough was probably the best. The service was quite slow and as exhausted as we were I wish it'd have been a little bit quicker, but other than that, I think this is a solid choice. Food was comparable to other favorites like the Pegasus though the prices were higher, but service could use a step up.

Leanna S.

I went here with friends on our lunch break. It was a beautiful day and their outside seating area is really nice. I specifically wanted the tiropitakia as an appetizer. Obviously, I knew I would butcher the name if I tried to pronounce it, so I said to the waiter the 'feta cheese foldovers' and I pointed to it on the menu. I have no clue what he brought us, but it wasn't the tiropitakia. He was not around often, so it was hard to track him down. Once we did, I told him again that I ordered the feta cheese foldovers and he said 'Well you should have told me that.' Uh, guess what? I did. And I pointed to it on the menu. I would have given this place a much higher rating, but the server was an ass. He wouldn't do separate checks (there were only three of us) and he was not around much. It took us forever to get the check and then it took him forever to come back to take it. I bet this place would be awesome at night on that patio, but the service will probably keep me from returning.

Nicholas M.

Fantastic food! Excellent service! Do yourself a favor and sit outside by the waterfall. Then, let your waiter bring whatever food he recommends. We did and had lamb with dandelions and lamb with cinnamon, potatoes, and green beans. Delicious doesn't begin to describe it. This place is a must whenever you're in Chicago!

Alex M.

I love Athena. It's a beautiful Greek restaurant where one can get a choice of street food or higher-end cuisine. The patio though is king. They recently renovated it with a sliding roof, so even in the dead of winter you could dine al fresco...in a way. I've gone on numerous occasions and tried many dishes, and haven't had a complaint on any of them. Most memorable was when we had Ekmek Kataifi for dessert.

Robert R.

My friend and I had plans to take in a Sox game the other evening and decided that we'd grab a bite to eat for dinner before heading to the ballpark. Since she works near Greektown, we decided to take stroll down Halsted and pick whatever felt right at the time. For whatever reason, Athena stood out above the rest. We were both dressed well, but casual. After all, we WERE going to Comiskey in a little while. I guess it must've been quite a while since I'd been here because it seems so much more modern and formal than I'd remembered it. Beautiful, don't get me wrong, but lacking a bit in the "family" feel that I thought it boasted before. No big deal, really...just an observation. Not having a whole lot of time, we decided to skip the appetizers and head right for the main course. My friend had the Gyros plate (loved it, but could only eat about 1/3, there was so much) and I ordered off of the "Specials" Menu. Unfortunately, the name of my meal escapes me ("Exittos", or something like that), but it was basically lamb, mushrooms, apricots in a flaky crust pouch, served with rice. It was absolutely incredible. Too good, actually, because I had a tough time pushing myself away from the table since it, too, came in abundance on my plate. I left uncomfortably full. The only blemish I would mention was the somewhat lackluster relationship we had with our server. Maybe it was because of our limited food order or not having ordered anything from the bar, but we both had the feeling that he had better things to do than wait on us. Neither one of us would let that keep us from coming back, though, as the food was certainly worth another trip.

Nicole A.

OMG took my mom here for her birthday. saganaki is to die for. best I've ever had. owner was very friendly and attentive. food AND service was amazing and delicious. not one but 3 staff members came out and wished my mom happy birthday with a desert. lovely space and very very inviting. would recommend to anyone close to me.

Chuck D.

Making a reservation was great. Getting a table outdoors was great. Food was great. All five starts but our waiter mostly ignored us and we had to walk from the table to track him down on a couple of occasions. He was clearly having a bad day and gave us a lot of attitude. We even had to call the manager to the table to get the waiter to come back. On the bright side - he did NOT put an automatic tip on the bill for a table of 12.

Andrea R.

Athena isn't worth visiting in the winter since the inside of the restaurant isn't anything special and the food is pretty mediocre. However, this is THE place to dine on a warm summer night thanks to their fabulous patio. It had been storming earlier in the afternoon, but the weather gods cooperated just in time for our 5:30pm dinner. Yes, we now enjoy early bird specials thanks to our lil one. We ordered many menu items for party of 6 1/2 (the baby doesn't eat greek food quite yet). Our 1/2 a person felt right at home since there were many other babies dining here at the same time. Like past experiences at Athema I found most of the food to be eh (the calamari was especially gross), but they do make some very tasty gyros. I'd come back again for these gyros, but only on a lovely summer evening.

Melissa F.

I like to be one of those people who is fine with eating anywhere. I like all types of food! Go me! But I've never been a Greek food fan...at all. Yep, I am the only one I know who is like this - it's rather unfortunate. I decided to keep a somewhat open mind when my dad suggested it for dinner with some extended family members. I had an excellent experience here! Sitting outside on a perfect Chicago night enhanced the dining experience. The host and waiter were both incredibly friendly and both checked in on us often, providing us our choice of dessert on the house (just to be nice - not because of mess-ups or anything like that). The wine that they suggested - and we drank - was OK but a bit too acidic. Still, the service was incredible. I didn't try much of the cold sampler platter, since it didn't seem to match my tastes very well. Still, the pitas (which I think were whole wheat?) were fluffy and warm. Mmmm. I got the gyros platter, which was way too much for me to finish. They kindly left of the tzatziki, and the dish was still filled with fluffy pita, tender (almost crisp) lamb, onions, and juicy tomatoes. A little bit of gyros, a little bit of wine, and some greek yogurt and honey for dessert? Coupled with the relaxing outdoor setting, this was a wonderful night!

Warrior W.

I have nothing but nice things to say. We went on a Friday night and it was very busy by the time we left. The food and service were great and the bar was lively. The outdoor patio was closed in due to some rain but they opened up some of roof after awhile. Sitting on the patio is worth coming here alone. They have an outdoor section where they can remove the roof and another strictly outdoor area where there is a nice water fall coming down from a brick building. One of the best in the city for sure. There is a new apartment building across the street which blocks all city views but that only means Greektown will become even busier. Lastly, when we were checking out reviews where to eat Athena didn't score well in all honesty. However our friends said not to listen to them and try it out. We are glad we did!

Sam K.

The Greek soup is lemony and delicious. We also had the salmon cheese and fried cheese with bread, which is amazing. The main entree is pork kabob, which is a bit dry unfortunately. Overall, this is a nice restaurant with good atmosphere. Entrees can use some improvement, but overall food is also tasty.

Kristi B.

We ventured out to try Greek cuisine for the first time and we are very glad we visited Athena's. The food was delicious, the service was good, and the restaurant is absolutely beautiful. It has a gorgeous view of the Chicago skyline in a dome style dining room. Plus, we went on a cold rainy night, and the fireplace was appreciated. We are looking forward to going back to try different items on the menu and to share the experience with our friends and family. Please note, this is an enjoyable dining experience and cannot be rushed. Please plan to allow at least 90 minutes. The food is freshly prepared when you order. The bread is awesome to snack on until your appetizer arrives!

Hina Q.

My wife planned my surprise bday dinner at this restaurant. We have been in this area to eat many times and never did we have a bad experience...yet. So knowing that we both enjoy Greek food, she booked this restaurant. I walked in and was surprised at the set-up of this restaurant, first off. This restaurant is not like other ones that are crowded and you have to walk through chairs to get to your table. Even though it was packed and there was a wedding party going on in the private room, the set up is in such a way that you don't feel suffocated walking through tables and bumping people. Secondly, their service was great! Our server was friendly and so helpful. Whatever questions our guests asked, he answered promptly and with a smile. Sometimes the servers get annoyed or aren't very helpful, but this was different. The food was delicious! Again, another Greek restaurant in this area and another great experience. The taste, the texture, the portions were amazing. All of our guests loved the food and were satisfied to the fullest. One of our guests did not like the amount of oil on her entree (we all thought was normal) so she sent it back. The server did not ask a single question, with a smile picked up her plate and took it away while offering other choices. I mean, how many restaurants do that? She was picky with her food which is her personal choice, but the fact that the server did not even make any face or ask any question or put up an argument was what really showed me the quality of this restaurant. That probably put me over the top of liking this restaurant even more than I already did. DEFINITELY a great place for your next occasion!! A must try!!

Alexandra C.

Dined here last night because we sought the patio on the first Spring-like day of the year. Hosts were a little awkward, one went to set up our table, and as we waited, another one (perhaps a manager?) came over to us and asked what we needed. It was a bit strange. Anyway, our server was great, very friendly and funny. We started with the Saganaki- which we enjoyed very much, more so than the one at other nearby Greek places, and the Greek Salad-which had a great dressing and was a nice size. Entree wise, I ordered the Chicken Kebabs, which came nicely presented which charred veggies and side of rice + potatoes, and my boyfriend got the Pork Chops, which he loved and said were cooked perfectly. Really enjoyed the wine I tried, something red and greek, and the overall atmosphere out on the patio. Took away stars for the price-noticeable higher priced than similar places in Greek Town. I'd definitely return-if for the patio and Saganaki alone!

Warren C.

Surprisingly good. I don't eat Greek food that often, but this has to rank up there in my dining experiences. This place was recommended by one of my coworkers in Chicago, who is a regular here. I had the lamb and it was pretty good. Things are a little pricey, but it certainly felt more upscale than the other Greek restaurants I've been to in the past. Also, the lima beans were very tasty, and I never considered myself a person who liked lima beans. Weird how things change after you haven't had them in a long time. This is a good stop if you need a better place to eat in Greek town.

Courtney W.

My sorority had our semi formal here since it was Greek goddess themed. They set up quite a nice spread for us at a decent price. I was skeptical because they were setting up a tent for us in the middle of January but it actually was a space just outside the dining area that was actually quite warm due to space heaters and well put together. The Greek salad was outstanding as was the service at the bar where we were forced to order drinks. They didn't have many restrictions for us and everyone had a pretty decent time. The dining room looked warm but not super fancy. They provided us with vegetarian options as well that I had by mistake and were actually good (I'm not a huge fan of vegetarian cuisine that's for sure). I would come back here for dinner but our event was quite a success. I'm partial to the Parthenon but this place is also now on the list.

Michael G.

Much like we still do today, the Greeks used to honor their deities by naming things after them (though we do this with secular "gods" like politicians and sports figures). This was in hopes of giving the thing or person who shared the name the attributes of said higher being. Athena was the Greek goddess of war, civilization, wisdom, strength, strategy, crafts, justice, and skill. What any of these attributes have to do with this restaurant though, I'm not sure. So I think it might be misnamed. Being a helpful guy, I have a couple of suggestions for renaming it. For example, I think a far more appropriate name for this place would be Hermes. Hermes was the Greek god of speed. And this place is fast. Of all the places up-and-down the Greektown strip that I've been, this was by far the quickest service I've ever received. It was almost as if the waiter was telepathic (or perhaps assisted by the gods or subliminal thoughts from my boss). Only a few minutes after the order left my lips, the vegetarian moussaka was in front of me. This place actually understands the time crunch of a business lunch. Or maybe I would call this place Hades. The prices would definitely have pleased Hades (the Greek god of, ironically, both money and the underworld). And, therefore, they pleased me. In contrast to the places around it, most dishes here are under $10.00. And they have a large, vegetarian friendly, lunch special menu. Unfortunately, one thing I would not re-moniker this place to is Dionysus (the Greek god of food and wine). While the food was pretty good, it would by no means live up the exacting standards of the gods - at least the moussaka. It was sort of rich, but not the sort of taste sensation I'm used to from the dish. It seemed to rely on the mushrooms (ick) rather than the eggplant (or when I find myself lucky, potato). And if there's one thing you don't want to do, because legend says they're pretty liberal and vicious with the lightning bolts and all, it's piss off a Greek god with anything less than the best in their name. Though mentioning all those names, I guess Athena is one of the easiest on the tongue and the modern ear of the Greek gods. So maybe, just maybe, I understand the naming. The question is, does this restaurant's pantheon?

Cristal C.

Had dinner here a few weeks ago. It was my first time in greektown and I have to say I was very satisfied. I ordered the Greek salad with a chicken kabob. Very good! I also enjoyed the atmosphere of the place, Definitely coming back.

William S.

Service is friendly. Food is nothing special; it fills you up but it doesn't taste outstanding or great.

Mary C.

Good food, nice service. Felt authentic.

Ashley S.

I liked the atmosphere. The food is just terrible. None of our dishes would rate more than 3/5. Even the gyros were not appealing- maybe ask the customers if they want whole pitas or small triangles? Thanks for the free valet but I would need a lot more to return.

Gus D.

As a Greek, I have found the food in Greek Town ok nothing extraordinary. However I have actually avoided it the past couple of years because of my discovery of Mythos Greek Taverna on the North Side (it is worth the drive out ). So Sunday a few of us wanted to go eat Greek and of course our favorite was closed because of the holiday. So I recommended we go to Athenas since this was always my favorite restaurant in Greek Town. We arrive with no reservations and were greeted immediately by the friendly host. We were seated in the recently renovated patio which has a retractable roof. I must say this was a nice touch up they did. Although it was 97 degrees outside the patio had a nice breeze to it. Our server did greet us and took our drink order and appetizer order. For Appetizers we ordered the Loukaniko very tasty, the Grilled Octopus also very tasty and the Saganaki (which I must say they do not flame outside any longer). So far so good! So our food comes out, this is where things turned bad. My friend ordered the Chicken Reganate, very dry not at all flavorful. My other friend ordered the Stuffed Chicken with Spinach and cheese. This was also a very bland dish which looked very dry. I had the combination platter, the waiter was nice enough to substitute the mousaka with another slice of pastichio (Greek Lasagna). My dish was bad, the lamb was cold, the pastichio was dried out you could not even decipher if there was bechamel sauce on the top layer of the lasagna. My friend had the lamb with artichokes and cream sauce which turned out to be the only good dish of all. The portions have also gotten smaller than in the past. So what they do is server the entrees on smaller dishes to make it look as if you are getting more (however being a past dinner here I can tell you, this is not so). I think the most embarrassing part of the whole evening was at the end. One of the servers from a nearby table took a plate off histable and placed it on the tray which was on a stand from another neighboring waiter. So the other waiter not paying attention grabs the tray and the plate fell and broke right in front of our table. So no big deal right? Wrong the other servers came by and looked at us if we threw it and asked us what happened? You tell me what happened. Of course the owner or manager came by making a comment as if we were having too much fun eluding as if we broke it. No one ever apologized and still were thinking we threw it. Athenas you used to be my favorite, however whenever I have a taste for Greek Food, I do not think I will be coming back to you or Greek Town Mythos Greek Taverna it will be (and the sad thing is you are 5 minutes from my house) .

Victoria G.

Very nice service and amazing Greek food! Can Greek be bad? No! And this is another proof to it! :) Loved the outside area under the roof!

Melanie S.

This Athena is far from a Greek goddess. My former boss is Greek and Athena is his favorite place to eat in Greektown since the demise of Costa's. I liked Costa's a lot and was saddened by its closing. I am a big fan of Greek food and Keri H was in the mood for it last Thursday. We also wanted to eat outside and have full bellies before heading to the CYBG event. There's not too many places in G-town that offer up outdoor seating. I like Pegasus better, but they only serve appetizers on their rooftop patio, so Athena became our destination merely by default. It was a sweltering summer's eve, but we can take a lot of heat so sitting outside was no issue for us. The patio was nearly full, so obviously many people aren't bothered by the heat. We sat down, and in the interest of saving our alcohol consumption for strawberry-basil lemonade at Pour, we nixed drinking at Athena. I have to say, it was unnerving to see mojitos and margaritas on a drink menu at a Greek restaurant. Keri isn't too familiar with Greek food, so she let me take the reins once again. Since no meal in Greektown is complete without an order of saganaki, we ordered that, and added a Greek salad and fried zucchini to start. I chuckled to myself as I heard the table next to us order "Nagasaki" as I wasn't aware that a city in Japan could be served on a menu in a Greek restaurant. I digress. The saganaki arrived, but sadly, there were no exclamations of "Opaa" nor any flaming of the cheese. What was up with that? After tasting the cheese, it was apparent that no such flaming would have helped. It was salty and not good. I warned Keri that it was a strong cheese, but her tastebuds weren't sufficiently prepared. It was like eating a salt lick. The salad was your basic Greek salad. Moving along... Fried zucchini is good, especially with a generous squeeze of lemon, but there's not much one can fry and have it not taste good. We were still hungry so we ordered some gyros and a chicken kabob. Pretty safe things, or so I thought, until they arrived. The gyros were decent, but really, one can get better. Keri took one look and sniff at the kebob and proclaimed that it smelled like garbage. One bite and she said it tasted like vomit. Um....check please. We choked down a few more bites and got the heck outta dodge. Sigh. I miss Costa's. Side note: if you come here and sit outside, DO NOT sit next to one of trees on the patio. Little bugs kept falling on Keri and nipping her delicate, porcelain flesh.

Allyson C.

I always loved eating at Athena in the summer because of their awesome patio. Only just this weekend did I discover they've covered the patio so it can be awesome in the winter too! The covered patio gets tons of natural light so you feel warm and summery even when it's 20 degrees out. They splurged on some really comfy tables and chairs too. Good food, good service, but the patio is the year-round reason to choose Athena over other options on Halsted.

Lawrence Y.

I've only been to Greektown a couple of times to eat. But I was happy with the food at Athena. There was a tiny wait for a table on a Saturday night. We ultimately decided on ordering a few hot/cold appetizers and sharing: + Patzaria (beets) --- I don't know many people who like beets, but this was refreshing to the palette... + Melitzanes (breaded, sliced eggplant) --- love eggplant a lot and this had a good flavor to it + Spanakopitakia --- your standard spinach pies + Souvlakia --- pork tenderloin cubes, absolutely delicious and devoured quickly Service we had was so-so. I don't recall the server coming back too often but I guess that was okay...

Rob H.

Great service- free valet parking- great food with good portions! Friendly open atmosphere...

Trisha S.

I've walked by this place on my way to the grocery store several times. Part of my intrigue was their outdoor seating setup. With what seems to be a glasshouse setup right next to the brick and mortar building, it seems like the perfect place to enjoy a meal during the Chicago summers. Aside from the seating area, there really isn't much to get excited about. The wait staff took awhile to even acknowledge our presence. The plates on our table were less than clean and by the time our entrees got to us they were a little more than room temperature. If you're looking to enjoy the weather while eating something less than stellar, this may be the place for you. Otherwise, you may want to think about going somewhere else.

Garrett Y.

We were here for dinner Thursday night, which was a beautiful night to eat in their outdoor patio. From the patio, a diner will have a good view of the Willis (Sears) Tower as well as the Chicago downtown skyline. Athena is by far our most frequented restaurant in Greek town. It is very reliable, has decent prices, and the portions are sizable. We had the Greek Village Salad as a starter. The small portion is enough for two people. For dinner, I had the Chicken Riganati--it's half a roasted chicken with oregano, and was served with large chunks of oven roasted potatoes. I have also had the pastitsio and lamb dishes. I also like the combination plate, which consists of mousakas, pastitsio, dolmades, leg of lamb, rice, potato and vegetables. The combination plate is great if you want variety and are hungry. Athena, like most/all Greek town restaurants, offer free valet parking!

Angie M.

Let's play a game called "How Awesome is the Athenian Salad at Athena's?" Dude. I'm in love with this salad. It has basically all my favorite salad flavors IN ONE SALAD. Be still my beating heart! Savory, succulent grilled chicken breast? Check. Green onion? Oh yeah. Fresh dill? Yeppers. Oodles of fresh, creamy Feta cheese? Hell yeah, baby! Light, oregano-y Greek dressing? Cha-ching. All the kids get piled high atop a bed of chopped Romaine lettuce for total salad Nirvana. I'm head over heels for the Athenian salad. I'll be back to devour it again very, very soon.

Karen N.

Holy patio! If you like Greek food and want to eat outside on a nice day, this is the place. Very spacious and airy, view of Sears tower, tons of tables so no wait(or not for long). The food is the usual Greek suspects, they do a good job with grilled octopus, Athenian chicken, mousaka and lamb dishes. The service sometimes is a little off, but all the guys try hard, and I choose to overlook it because of the free valet.

Heather M.

Went in October so the patio was sealed up but this place was gorgeous! I've never been to a more beautiful restaurant. All the staff was welcoming and polite. Our waiter was tentative and answered the questions we had about the menu. Our food was amazing and the prices for the portions you receive is generous! Would definitely recommend

Bill M.

I recently attended a dinner function at the Athena in Greektown. I've never been to this restaurant, as there is quite a row of Greek establishments on Halsted that tend to overshadow this place. There were around 50 people at this function, so we were stationed in this dining area in the back with a video screen. It seemed that only a curtain separated our group from the rest of the dining area, but even so it seemed like we were in a VIP banquet hall. We were served a generous full meal, including fresh bread, Greek wine, meatball appetizers, flaming saganaki, a very large Greek salad, a choice of three entrees (braised lamb, stuffed chicken breast, fish), galaktobouriko (a custard pastry), and coffee. Everything was pretty good but not great. My lamb shank was very tender and served on a bed of rice, and the meat was not as blood-red as my neighbor's serving. Even though we were basically sponges at this dinner function, we were treated very pleasantly by the staff. When they light up about twelve plates of saganaki simultaneously, it does look like a re-enactment of the Olympic flame! I did get an accidental elbow in the head from one of the servers, but one laughs it off when the meal is not on your dime. It always seems a bit tacky to ask for leftovers when you are not paying for the meal, but the waiters had no problem dishing out the styrofoam cartons at evening's end (I ate almost all of my lamb though). I will keep Athena in mind for a Greektown dinner in the future.

Tru P.

LOVED it here...the patio was closed which was disappointing but the food was excellent and I really enjoyed the evening. The staff was very helpful and patient and they were eager to make suggestions and be helpful! LOVED the Saganaki as well as the char broiled calamari :)

Khadijah L.

One day I decided to stray away from my two go-to Greektown restaurants. ONE time. Big mistake. For reasons I don't know why but I've always gone to Greek Islands, Parthenon and Costa's (closed) and I never tried any other places. It was a nice day and Athena has a beautiful newly renovated patio. I said to my friends lets go there. The patio was nice and beautiful but the food was just lackluster. Actually the bread was hard and stale. We had the taramasolata and saganaki, they were just okay. Nothing to write home about. Neither was our entrees. I much prefer the aforementioned restaurants. The view was great. But server was quite inattentive. The host was nonchalant and not friendly at all. I wished all our tip had gone to the guy who refilled our glasses and cleared our plates. There's free valet. But same goes with the other restaurants.

Dave O.

Poked our heads in here because it was one of the first nice days and they had a huge outdoor seating area. That patio is pretty incredible, very open & airy with a view of downtown, and you're set back from the street so you're not choking on traffic fumes. Looks like they can enclose it too, if it starts to pour you don't have to do the mad dash inside. I'd go back to Athena just to hang there. The standards (sagnaki, braised lamb) were as good as we get from our usual place in Greektown, so no letdown there. Like this place a lot and will definitely go back.

Damian R.

My wife and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner here and our family still cannot stop talking about how fabulous it was. Nick and George went out of their way to make the occasion special. From the flawless service the staff delivered, to the beautiful atmosphere in their newly renovated restaurant, to the over the top delicious Greek food, this place is the crown jewel of Greektown and downtown Chicago dining. We have been dining on their beautiful patio for years, and will be for many years to come.

Paul G.

Four big stars for lunch at Athena. Started with a great table on the patio and some very comfortable chairs. The patio was bustling during a Friday lunch and the service was great - our waiter Ted was full of personality. Glasses were kept full, food was excellent, and the scene was outstanding. Had the swordfish and shrimp with vegetables over pasta and it was all very good. Good food, great patio!

bridget t.

I'd only come back for the patio and the baklava cheesecake. When the server finally asked how our food was, he didn't even wait for a response...almost like he knew the food was overpriced and really "meh. There are much better places in Greektown". I had been craving grilled octopus all day and was really disappointed. It wasn't very good...in fact, it almost tasted 'wrong' (but I haven't gotten sick...yet). Service was slow. Slow to get noticed, slow to get our drinks, slow to give us the desert menu, slow to bring us our check. Great if you are enjoying the patio and have a full drink in front of you....otherwise, frustrating. Especially when you are watching your drinks come out, but get taken all the way to the other side of the patio before finally getting to you!

Jamie H.

I came here with my family on Saturday night around 9, and it wasn't very busy at all. I was pleasantly surprised! We were celebrating my sister's graduation, so we started off with a bottle of wine and some Saganaki. It was very good, and the bread that was brought to our table immediately upon our arrival was great also! The food was pretty good. I got the Seafood Kebabs, pretty good. My mom got the mousakas, which I was excited to try. It was OK, nothing special though. My sister's pasta and shrimp was decent, the pasta was kind of bland. My brother got a Greek salad w/ chicken, but the waiter some how confused that and brought him the Greek salad early, with no chicken. He got the chicken later, but said it was pretty dry and didn't eat a lot of it. The baklava that my mom and sister were really excited to get, was not that great. Neither of them ate very much. The rice pudding my dad got, however, was pretty tasty. The service was good and it was a fun atmosphere. The food was fine, nothing special, though. Glad I went I had been wanting to try a Greek restaurant since I'd been to one in a while, but I would imagine there are better ones in the area.

DeWitt K.

My wife and I played hooky from work (ok not that daring... we both burned a 1/2 day of vacation time) and walked down to Greektown. Since the weather was decent, Athena, with its open air dining, looked like a good place to go. We were both very happy with the choice. The staff was great... Being 2ish on a Friday seating was not a problem. Our server was fantastic and there was no tangible "between lunch shift and dinner shift" flakiness. Lactose intolerance be dammed! We tried the saganaki... Although they cannot light it up outside, it was great. How could something some seeming simple be so good? Thank you goatmillk! Next we had the Lemon rice soup (cannot remember the true name) which was fantastic. Not too lemony. From there we shared a pretty simple chicken kabob which was quite good but not too filling as we had a lot more walking to do. I would highly recommend Athena on any nice hooky day. We plan to come back sometime soon. The Who said it best... Athena, I had no idea how much I'd need her In peaceful times I hold her close and I feed her My heart starts palpitating when I think my guess was wrong But I think I'll get along She's just a girl - she's a bomb She's just a girl - she's a bomb

Brooke M.

I thought the food was average, service was slow, but the servers were exceptionally nice - as was all of the staff. We sat on the patio and it was beautiful. The restrooms were also nice. The food was decent, but I got a typical gyro for lunch, so I cannot comment on the food too much. My boyfriend got chicken kabobs and said they were disgusting. He ate half of my gyro instead. Our Greek side salads that were $5 a piece with our meals were nothing more than packaged lettuces topped with a cube of feta and a side a dressing in a tacky plastic container. They do have free valet and the owner was very, very nice to us. I'd go back to sit on the patio and maybe have an appetizer and beer.

Ron S.

Waiter got soup mixed up. Lion chops were fatty. Nice decor but nothing special.

Tiff T.

Only have been here once for a friend's bday dinner & may go again just to get a second try. But the food was alright & the service was decent.

Jonathan S.

I wrote my review as a tip. Basically "Edible but inspired". Like eating at a Greek cafeteria. Better for lunch then on a busy weekend evening.

David B.

Very nice atmosphere. Great lamb dish. Bread not so great, but this definitely a place for lamb lovers. Good place for families.

Ashley C.

A solid 3.5 stars (seriously - why can't you give halfs?). A friend and I rolled over to Athena after some yoga in the west loop. I had been there before and remembered enjoying it quite a bit. We got seated right away and our waiter was very attentive - almost too attentive. He came over to ask for our order before we had even opened our menus - he comes back at least 3 times before we order. I do not like feeling rushed. The bread we got came right away and was very fresh - just what was needed to tide the stomach over until the main course arrived. I ordered the meditteranian pasta with chicken. It was okay, but nothing spectacular. I'm glad I got it with the chicken or it would have been a little bland. I would have liked a little less olive oil and more veggies. I'd probably go back to something different the next time I came here. It seems that my friend's food was pretty good. There was much less talking once the food had arrived. P.S. They have a huge outdoor patio which would be nice once this spring and summer weather come (and stay) around!

Shal V.

One of the best Greek restaurants I've been to. My girlfriend and I decided to dine here when exploring Greektown one night, primarily because Athena had a great outdoor dining area with a nice view of the Chicago skyline. We did not regret it. Besides enjoying the view and the cool evening breeze, the food was stellar! We ordered an appetizer of Soutzoukakia (Spicy meatballs made of ground lamb and beef, sautéed in tomato sauce) which got the dining experience off to a superb start. We had a Gyros Plate and a Leg of lamb, both of which were excellent!

Alan P.

The beautiful, naturally lit, covered dining room is the only reason they even get a star. Aside from the great environment, there was little to praise. The service was terrible. The host simply took us to a table, threw down the menus and left. The waiter got there promptly, but to our surprise, greeted our questions (as it was our first time at this restaurant and first time in greek town in a while) with annoyance. After our food came out, I will credit him with checking in on us once, soon after, but we were pretty much ignored for the next 45 minutes. The entire time, we did not get a single refill on water, though I needed one after 10 minutes. We finished our food, our plates were bussed, and we sat there for a good 20 minutes waiting for our check after we asked for it. The food was alright. It wasn't anything special. Would have been enjoyable had the service been better. The prices were a bit steep for the quality of food and service. Other tables got bread and oil, but we got cold, crusty bread with fake butter. I don't know if they didn't like us or what. We got the spanikopita, which was good. A little on the greasy side. Certainly wasn't worth 7 dollars for 5 - 1 inch triangles. I had the mousakas and my girlfriend had some pasta. The mousakas was good, tasted and looked like how I get it everywhere else. The pasta looked like something a busy, working parent would fix for their kid; the vegetables barely cooked (cooked baby carrots? Not my thing), bare pasta, barely any olive oil or cheese. We had some wine, no complaints there. Overall, I would say that if you only care about your environment, definitely go here. It is beautiful and you can sit at the bar. If you care at all about quality of service or food, choose another spot, because this was not even close to worth it.

Stephen W.

We found this place in Greektown on a trolley tour. We were hungry and had neglected to get off at Chinatown. The day was gorgeous so we decided to eat outside, which is one of the strong points of the restaurant since it has a spectacular view of the skyline. We started with hummus and it was just average, not really that flavorful. I got a gyro plate and the portion was enormous. I mean I could have shared with 3-4 other people and still gotten full. It was a ridiculous amount of food. Again, the flavor was lacking in the gyro meat. The wife got a combo and some of the things were delicious (lamb) and others just plain. The server was friendly and kidded around. The bill was a bit expensive for lunch, nearly $60 and we each had only 1 beer, so I am not sure I would return; or rather I should say I would prefer to try some of the other restaurants in Greektown first.

J W.

We liked it, Plato would be proud...I assume his name has something to do with a love of food but anyway this is a really nice place, the lay out is post modern with ample space between tables allowing every table a good veiw of the street traffic. Good lighting. The food is very, very good and I recommend the fish plates. Safe for a business meal also good for chldren.

Carol K.

We wanted to try a new place in Greektown. I've been to many of the locations before- but never to Athena so on a recent Saturday afternoon- we descended on this spot. Indoors or Outdoors? That was the question While the patio looked inviting with it's fountain and umbrella topped tables- it was pushing 90 degrees out so indoors won hands down. The interior is nice- fireplace, white linen topped tables, and a bar with the obligatory grape vines circling overhead. We ordered a range of food as I had my nephews with me who had never been to a Greek restaurant before and I wanted them to taste a range of flavors. The winners? The gyro plate, calamari, saganaki, and the pork cutlet special of the day served over spaghetti. The losers? The pastitsio which I love- was a little dry and lacked the bechamel sauce that usually makes it great. And the peas that were served with it were mushy and had an odd flavor. Service was spotty. Our server was missing through most of the meal and we had a hard time getting refills on the drinks or even on the water (which we desperately needed given the heat!) If you drive- there is a lot across the street that will run you $6 to park all day. Or you can have free valet parking for the time you are at the restaurant. All in all- there are places I like better in Greektown- who continue to impress me time and time again. Athena is good- but if you ask me where to eat in Greektown- I probably will send you to a couple of other places where I know you'll be impressed.

Leonardo B.

Not what I expected... Presentation was ackward and food looks like they prepared a lot of food in the morning and then they take a piece whenever they need it. This was my first time with greek food and I think I'm not going to repeat...

nicole h.

The outdoor seating area is easily one of the best in the city. Huge and beautiful...with flowers, a waterfall, and shade. That's the shining star of this establishment, hands down. The service is super friendly and efficient. The Athenian salad (with a bright dill flavor and an amazing dressing) was the highlight in terms of the food. The rest of the food was just...ok. The tzatziki was way too garlicky. I love garlic just as much as the next girl, but it was so powerful it kept me up at night. The lamb special was ok. The cold appetizer plate with a sampling of all of their spreads was just ok. The saganaki was basic...and ok too. If it's a beautiful day, I'll be back. But if we're dining inside, I'm going to hit up other restaurants in the area...

Dusty K.

The weather was beautiful this July 4th and there was no better way to spend it than eating Grecian cuisine on the outdoor patio at Athena. I don't often dine outdoors considering most restaurants believe outdoor seating is a mini stretch of 4 tables along a car exhaust filled road. But Athena was everything but...fountains with flowers, plenty of room away from the road, and a huge outdoor space to accommodate at least a hundred diners. This place was made for Chicago summers. If you are a fan of tzatziki, Athena is your place. Combined with the pita bread, I could have made a meal on that and hummus alone. The yogurt sauce seemed to be very light on cucumber and heavy on lemon which was a pleasant change. They were both outstanding. The saganaki was very lemon forward and summery. Sharing one order among 4 people wasn't easy. For dinner I went with the gyro plate. I was disappointed to learn they don't make the gyros in house. But I loved getting additional servings of tzatziki and pita bread for my entree. The gyros were served with plenty of onions as well and the portion sizes here are generous. Athena is a tremendous value. I've really gotten into Greek food lately and this place hit the spot. And on a warm summer day there's really no place I'd rather be than eating lunch on their patio. I will definitely be back.

Kate M.

I don't know why we keep trying Athena. Actually, I do know, it's the patio and the lure of eating good food while enjoying the nice weather. Sadly, Athena does not have good food. Instead of eating good Greek food while basking in the sun we end up choking down insanely thick and bland tzatziki (at least I think that's what that was supposed to be), using a knife to cut through tough grape leaves, and telling ourselves we will remember this next time. The food is probably the worst I've had in Greek town. Either the taste is lacking or the item is just hard to eat. The gyro plate is cut up pita with thick tomato slices, thinly sliced onions, ridiculously long pieces of gyro meat, and two little plastic cups of Greek yogurt. I don't understand how you're supposed to eat that as a sandwich. I will keep wishing there is more outdoor seating in Greek town. But until that happens, I won't go to Athena any more just to enjoy the weather. The patio is really nice. The patio alone would probably get 4 stars from me. If it wasn't bothered with the pesky food.

Marcy M.

I was dining with a large group (20 or so) and we were celebrating a birthday. I cannot say enough about the serving staff. They were nice, accommodating, professional, and quick. Since we were in such a large group we were seated inside, which was fine because the decor was great, the music--just right, and the patio looked uber crowded anyway. So why 2 stars? The food. First off, I am very understanding when it comes to the daily special being no longer available. I get it. It's good food, a reasonable price, and its always listed first. What really ticks me off though is when you are not made aware of it upfront--before ordering. 4 people of my group ordered a special only to find out that it was no longer available after about 15 mins. A few of us defaulted to a second special, which, to our unsuprise was also unavailable. Ok, so now I have to pick my third option for dinner? Whatever. What this means now is that a good chunk of our dinners are being made about 15 minutes after the rest of the group. 1 of 2 outcomes: 1. everyone gets their meal and then feels forced to wait until the rest of the group is served or 2. The servers keep the food back and serve all at once, inevitably making some dishes overdone or cold. Finally, the food comes. It is not great at all. The lamb, of course, was good but that is a matter of lamb being delicious and not of the skill of the chef. The rice was bland and the potato that came with it was just that; a potato. No seasonings, no sauce, no nothin' Overall, I would not go back. I would rather take my chances on any other restaurant in Greek town than return to this one.

Bridget G.

First time here, sat outside on the patio. That patio is worth its weight in gold- it is just a pleasant, peaceful place to meet friends on a nice day. Food was only OK. Saganaki was excellent, fried zucchini was good, vegetarian pasta left much to be desired. It was like spaghetti I would have made in high school with parmesan on top (and a bag of frozen vegetables mixed in). Nothing to write home about. Our service was extremely slow. I mean it took 33 minutes before we even got our drinks. Then, they were never refilled, not even the water. It took over an hour and a half for lunch total, and I actually was dying for our server to come back to give me the check because I was so parched I had to get out there to find a 7-11 to get a freaking big gulp. Maybe there was something going on behind the scenes, but no apologies or explanation was offered by our server. I'm extremely patient in such circumstances, but even for me it was ridiculous. I can't in good conscience give more than 2 stars given the very poor service, even though the outdoor area is beautiful and the saganaki is my equivalent of scooby snacks. I would run into a haunted house or face my worst fears for saganaki- I am that nutso about cheese on fire.

Miguel M.

Good Greek food, I am partial to the pork and chicken skewers.

Jayne B.

The outdoor seating here wins this place major points! I kind of felt like I was at a resort with the big, circular bar and the white, retractable ceiling (or at least it appeared retractable). The service was average and we found the appetizers to be better than our meal, but still a great place to go on a sunny afternoon. Not sure if I'd recommend it as a top Greektown option if you aren't able to sit outside, though. It was also weird that my husband's gyro plate didn't actually come as a wrap. I guess I assumed a gyro plate would be sliced lamb in a pita, with a side of rice or potatoes. Not the case; he got a heaping pile of sliced lamb and then little pita triangles, so he couldn't actually wrap it up.

Anthony M.

I haven't been to all the restaurants in Greek town, but I specifically visited here recently for a few reasons: 1. The patio. I haven't seen many other Greek joints on the strip that offer a shaded and pleasant outside dinning experience as Athena. 2. Their combination plate has a nice variety. 3. Good service. Above all the food is delicious and not the white-washed cuisine you would find at the Greek Islands next door.

Fuffie G.

It was a gorgeous night tonight and I was in the mood for Greek food and I really wanted to sit outside. It had been almost two years since I had sworn off going to Athena and I figured...okay, let's give it another try. Big mistake...big...HUGE!!!! The outdoor patio is still wonderful, but the food??? One word...inedible! How Greeks can pass this off as Greek food is beyond me. We ordered the cold spread sampler and except for the tzatziki sauce, everything else was just horrible. The taramosalata tasted like it was mixed with some kind of chemical, the eggplant spread was just so bad that I spit it out of my mouth...yes people, it was bad. I told the waiter and he just smiled and said "really"? Didn't take it away, didn't offer to take it off the bill, just smiled and said "really"? The Athenian salad had no taste, the gyros were cold, not bad though, but cold. My friend was so hungry and desperate that he ordered a burger. I mean, come on a Greek knows how to make a burger right??? WRONG! It tasted like a Burger King burger gone bad...and I've been known to like my Burger King. My last review I said I would not go back because of the horrible service. This time I say with 100% certainty, I will not being going back...this time though...the food did me in. Buh bye Athena.

Travis C.

Alright. Good wine selection. Lamb Lemonato was great. Atmosphere is great. Waiters are horrible!!! Really we wanted to pay and it was over a half an hour before he came by again so we just walked to the front and tried to pay. He was not pleasant or nice. I can see why people give the low scores but it really is just about the bad service. Still a great time though but more because of the people I was with. We wanted to pay for over thirty minutes and gave up on out waiter reappearing. Paid at the front. Probably the worst service I have experienced since moving here

Mary T.

I associate certain places with certain memories - good, bad, funny, weird, etc. and I can't help, but associate Athena with Tabasco Sauce. I know it seems like the last thing you'd associate with a Greek restaurant, but here's why: My old company came here for a celebration dinner a few years back. My old boss is a joker and all-around troublemaker; he challenged a co-worker to chug a bottle of Tabasco AND not get sick for 30 minutes afterward. So, we all watched in anticipation and horror as she sprinkled a 2/3 full bottle of Tabasco into her mouth, neighboring tables even began to cheer her on. She finished the bottle, but her downfall was the second half, the time portion, of the challenge. Win or lose, she's a champ in my book. That empty bottle now has a place of honor in old boss' office. I returned tonight for a quick bite with friends before catching a production of the Vagina Monologues. We started off with Saganaki, we're suckers for flaming cheese. It's good, but I don't really thing flaming cheese can be bad. Our table got: vegetable Moussaka, stuffed chicken breast, and Mediterranean pasta for me. I heard no complaints so I'll assume my friend's dishes were good. Mine was just OK, not stellar. The menu said the dish came with a light cream sauce, but I didn't really taste any cream sauce it actually was a bit on the dry side. The veggies were tasty, but I wished they used smaller carrots, they were full baby carrots and a bit undercooked making them hard to stab with my fork. Service was attentive and friendly and our meals were reasonably priced. I'd return again, just not for the pasta.

Jan E.

I like Athena. The setting - especially in the newish glass room - is lovely and the service is very good, very attentive. The food is pretty good but not amazing. I had the grilled tilapia and mixed vegetables. Previously I had a Greek salad which was - again - pretty good but not rocking my world.

Olivia D.

Went with a group last night and had a blast! The food was good, worth the price, and the staff was very friendly. It was the second time in my life I had ever said no to a bottle of wine, but we asked around the table and it seemed nobody would enjoy it, so we sent it back and they were very understanding about it. I was embarrassed, but we then got the bottle we wanted. The food came in great portions, I mean 3 whole quails for an entree is pretty large. The taramosolata was great, it's one of my favorites! Had a great time at this Greek Town spot!

F Eileen R.

Met a friend here for dinner last night because I had been here last summer for lunch with a friend and really enjoyed it. I was actually surprised that the patio was so comfortable considering the weather was frigid. That's the only reason for the one star. The dish I ordered, Lemonati Chicken, was horrible. Not only did it look like a dish made from leftovers and not at all appealing, it tasted like one! My husband and I don't dine out often because we both enjoy cooking, so going out to dinner is usually to places that have great food that we don't cook ourselves. I've made leftovers at home that were far more appealing both visually and taste-wise. I won't be back.

Cathie D.

I need to start off by saying that I am a great fan of Greek food -- street food, high end, Greek Church festival food, the whole ball of wax. Although I have had good and bad Greek food, I really have never left a Greek restaurant hungry. My first trip to Athena was this week and I was with a group of friends that I really enjoy. Over all our evening was great, and a considerable part of that was the location. This restaurant is a step above the over-crowded elbow to elbow environment that can happen in the neighborhood, and their glass walled atrium/patio is a wonderful feature. The server was efficient, if a little askance at some of my friends' questions, ie., Q: Do you have a cabernet? A: You will like the Greek wine - it is just the same; Q: Are there any pasta side dishes? A: Everyone gets rice with a potato; Q: Can I have the broiled lamb chops medium to rare? A: They are better medium . . . you get the idea. The thing that surprised me about the food, though, was that the specials of the day were very tasty but most of the traditional Greek dishes (which we shared as appetizers) left a lot to be desired. We had a selection of dips and spreads, and to my surprise the taramosalata, tzatziki. hummus and the skordalia all tasted very much the same! The dolmades were hard and dry and vaguely sour tasting and the saganaki was hard and somehow dry -- how can flamed cheese not be at least a little soft? But the fried zucchini was outstanding, and the Kalamari was good. The entrees really saved the day -- juicy broiled loin pork chops, baked fish, chicken riganati, kebobs -- every plate was empty. And, as I said, overall a good time was had by all. Would I go there for traditional Greek comfort food . . . maybe not, but I think I will be drawn back to that beautiful patio in good weather.

Rexcrisanto D.

Eating in the atrium on a cold winter day really added to our enjoyment. The Saganaki and Dolmas were very good. Fried calamari cooked just right and size if cut calamari were big. Gyro platter generous proportion. Pastas also very good. Service pretty good and friendly. All in all, I give it a smiling "oompa."

Jesse C.

I had the best lamb (the one with the artichoke sauce) at Athena! My girlfriend has several severe allergies, including epi-pen worthy allergies to all nuts & shellfish, so she's very particular about where she eats & needs to feel comfortable that the kitchen won't cross contaminate. Nick, the head chef, was very kind in coming out to make sure she felt at ease & worked with her on options for dinner. I also tried the baklava cheesecake... wow! What an excellent take on a time-honored desert. I can't wait to go back next time I'm in Chicago.

Amy H.

On a warm summer day, the patio has a wonderful atmosphere, however, the food is not good. The appetizers are ok, but the entrees were sort of blah. There isn't anything specific about the food that made me not like it. It was all just below average. I've had much better greek food at other places in Greektown.

Jacqueline K.

Beautiful patio, bad service, mediocre food for high prices. The prices are obviously inflated to pay for that patio. I swear I was served canned peas and the pastichio was bland. No olive oil on the tables? What's up with that? Go to Greek Islands, Pegasus, or Parthenon.

Renee L.

This might have gotten 4 stars ordinarily, but because of the wonderful outdoor patio, it gets an extra star. Seriously, it makes the experience. It makes it! Just sitting out there on a nice evening with a drink is amazing. Beautiful garden with the backdrop of a bit of the skyline! My favorite is to just do drinks and appetizers here, and I feel like I am at a wonderful patio in Greece.

Ammy F.

Athena is great restaurant. I am really really happy everything when I go there. Food is delicious . They have the best Lamb in the city. One of the cleanest restaurant in Greektown. I am not sure why they have low stars reviews. Go there and you will have a blast

Steven N.

Boy, we picked a really, really hot day to come here! Luckily, they were able to seat our party of 5 right under the patio's giant shade, so that made the whole experience much more enjoyable. In generaly, we thought their food was outstanding. Our group started with the taramousalata and the sarganaki, both were wonderfully delicious. I can never pass up sarganaki, so it'll taste good to me no matter what. The entrees we ordered were wonderfully executed as well. You can just taste how authenthic this place is. The combination of Mousakas, pastitsio, dolmades, leg of lamb, rice, potato and vegetables will give you a good tour of Greek food. My lunch partners ordered other favorites such as the shrimp argos, braised lamb, and a leg of lamb, and they were not disappointed. Service was friendly and quick, and I can say this is a place we would certainly repeat.

Jeffrey D.

Opa! One of most favorite places in Greek Town; not just for food but entire package. In summer the patio is the best there is in Greek Town and frankly among the best there is period. Winters the place also shines. Staff is pure Greek Town. Great story on last visit is waiter came up to me and said his name is George and said co-waiters nameis...George too. Typical deal there. All dishes good, and what you get up and down the street. Very good and fairly priced. All dishes very good. Among what makes the place really shine is the service. From the brothers that run the valet parking to the manager to the waiters all very old school and service terrific. Just like mama. Been there dozens of times and place does not get old. Try it and you won't be disappointed.

Aubrey T.

friendly service but food was disgusting. also they over charged me for my glass of wine. my coworkers and i had some of the more american items on the menu so maybe thats why the food was so gross? at first i ordered the spinach and rice dish but that was so gross i could not eat it, i could barely look at it and had to send it back to the kitchen. I am not sure how fresh the food is here. Spinach looked like canned or frozen food, later had the past which tasted like ragu. this place reminds me of cheap cafeteria food. Will not be going back.

Andrea M.

Meh. This is exactly how I felt after dinner Saturday night. My family and I always enjoy going here for our Greek fix, but I was a little disappointed with my most recent experience. Let it be known they don't take reservations for their AMAZING outdoor area. A shame, but understandable. I had made a reservation for 5 at 8 pm Saturday the week prior. When we stepped in the door we were greeted; I gave my name, reservation time, group number, etc. I was told it would be just a minute as he walked away for what I thought would be to arrange our table. Five minutes later, the guy had still not returned. A girl walked up later and we had to give the same information. We were then seated at a table that had been available the entire time we waited- not a huge deal but kind of a wtf moment. To start, we ordered the fried calamari, saganaki, and a greek salad to share. YUM. The calamari is always tender and delicious. Saganaki was very good, and the feta on the salad was soooo good. For dinner I ordered the shrimp athena. I have ordered it before and really enjoyed it. Everyone's came out together except mine which should have set off an alarm. Some of my party ordered lamb, beef, etc. and I ordered a shrimp meal that's supposed to consist of shrimp, rice, tomato sauce, and veggies (timing seems off, right?). I didn't mind that mine came a little later, but what I did mind was that it was not done properly AT ALL. It's supposed to be baked in a tomato sauce- there was absolute none. And the veggies were uncooked- almost raw (even the baby carrots). I'm assuming my dish was forgotten or someone just didn't know what they were doing. I'll go with the former since it came out later than everyone else's. I wish they would have told me the issue, and then prepared my dish properly. If they had, I would have been more forgiving in my review. The other's in my group enjoyed their meals. My sister had an amazing lamb special with artichoke that was almost like a stew- so good. We had the ek met for dessert which was also very good. The bill came out to about 65 bucks a person (including tip) for apps, drinks, 2 bottles of wine, main course, dessert, and coffee.... not too bad.

Farrah D.

Really wanted to go somewhere with a nice patio/al fresco dining. We asked to switch tables on the patio because we got put at a table near the street--which was very loud and busy. The wait staff was very accommodating and gave us great service. Overall, the food and experience was a meh--your standard Greek fare.

Johnny A.

A typical Greek restaurant with decent food and excellent service. Very friendly staff and and owners who were also there looking after our group. The Saganaki and Keftedakia (meat balls) were delicious, but the Tiropitakia wasn't as good. The lamp chops were my pretty good too. I would definitely give it another time next time I'm in Chicago especially during the summer time since they have a very nice patio.

Kate S.

Food and service are so-so. Patio is awesome. Go for drinks and then walk to Greek Islands or Santorini for dinner.

Jenny S.

Three stars for a beautiful large patio with a nice downtown view. I think I've had better food at Costas (just my opinion) but this food wasn't bad. I really enjoyed the gyro appetizer. I think my only gripe with the place was the service. Now I realize that when you sit outdoors you have to deal with good ol' nature. I know this. I am OK with this. For the most part. I was with a group of people and we were seated directly underneath a tree. A tree full of birds. A tree full of birds that loved to poop. Casualties included: a menu, my grandma's arm, my aunt's beer, my husband's water, the table and a chair rail. When the menu got hit a guy actually just came over to wipe it off and give it to her. Dude, at least pretend you're going to get a fresh menu. I mean for Christ's sake. There's POO ON THE MENU! When the poo persisted in falling like a spring thunderstorm our waiter came over. I expected maybe to be moved to a table not under a tree (there were open tables) or inside. Instead I got "Well, this is what happens when you decide to sit outside . . . birds. you know." Ummm, yes. I guess. Except I eat out a lot and I've never had THAT much poo falling from the skies during that meal. So that was a bit annoying. I would have appreciated a little more help in that sense. Other than that he was nice and the drinks were always refilled promptly. I just wish they'd tried a little harder to make us happy after being rained on by diuretic birds.

Keith B.

Went spontaneously on Saturday night - gravely dissapointed. The place looks great from the outside with two enormous glass / garden rooms. The fundamentals - food and service are terrible. The bread actually loosened one of the guest's crowns! It was underbaked and doughy and just became like caulk once you chewed it. The saganaki was likewise rubbery - almost inedible. We were with two, first-generation Greeks and they were embarrassed. The food - except pretty standard gyros - was a disaster. We had lamb (doused with flavorless orange bechamel) and a pot pie concoction that was gruesome - gray filling of unmentionables. The service was slow, rude and it took 20 minutes to get our check. Also - $95 for four people at this level of culinary failure is ridiculous.

Vilas P.

I didn't mind the food, but our service was very bad. After being overly aggressive in pouring our wine from the bottle into our glasses and after forgetting to bring out an appetizer we ordered, our server had the gall to come to our table, interrupt our conversation and ask why he didn't get a bigger tip. I'm usually on the side of the waitstaff as they work hard for what they get, but as the floor manager was not apologetic, I realized this must be a case of the restaurant seeing dollar signs instead of customers. Don't let the fun-times atmosphere fool you - this place is a factory.

Kali M.

Not impressed. After arriving to my friends birthday gathering (with 20 others), the waiter barked at me to order... "LADY." when I explained that I would need a moment, he didn't return for a long time. After about a 1/2 hour of waiting to order a drink, I finally decided to go to the bar, to get my own drink. George, the bartender, saved the place. The waiter clearly needs a different job, or a long vacation. Perhaps back to Greece? Food was just okay. If I ever go back (by force) I'll sit at the bar. I prefer Artopolis!

Rob B.

Had dinner with my family at Athena this evening. We sat out on the patio and it felt as though we were swept from the city and sitting in a quiet taverna somewhere in the hills of Crete. The atmosphere was good, our service was decent, valet parking was free. Unfortunately, I was just not enthralled with the experience. The food was adequate though two of us had dishes that came out just above tepid. I will say the lemon soup was very tasty. The Village salad used fresh vegetables but for whatever reason were not overly flavorful. It is possible that they were having an off night, but I came away feeling a bit wanting. Will come back and try it again, but for right now I can only give three stars.

Patsy D.

I have loved this restaurant for many years, especially on a beautiful summer night (the patio) or a chilly winter night near the fireplace. It's standard Greek food and is consistently done. The service can be great, or pretty not great. Folks shouldn't ever go to a Greek restaurant if they're in a big rush, but at times this place REALLY needs a floor manager that looks all around the room to ensure everyone is being cared for.

Jenny T.

Out of all the places I've tried in Greektown Athena Restaurant is my fav. The wait staff is super friendly, even if you're not Greek (unlike other Greektown restaurants), the food is really good & the portions are quite the large, and the outdoor seating during warmer months is absolutely to die for. The saganaki is yum-yum. Just enough lemon, brandy, and saltiness to make this girl keep coming back for more. The Athena salad is quite delicious, especially with the little bits of dill throughout the dish. The gyros platter is HUGE, yet I almost finish it each time I go. This is my go-to spot after 11:15 mass at Old St. Pat's if you wanna witness my version of man vs. food ;-)

Sam A.

Once I got the this place, I thought this could be the best Greek place I have ever been to. Wow, was I wrong. Not just for the poor quality of food and how pricey it was for such a little amount; but the service quality was poor too. Once I finished my water, I mean an ice glass, it took 15 minutes for the waiter to realize that I needed more water. By the time he was done pouring, it took me 4 sips to drink all of the water, leaving a glass full of ice. For dinner, I had lamb chops. 4 chops for 31 dollars. The only good thing about this place is the outdoor patio I would recommend going to a different Greek place in Greek-town.

Ermelinda C.

Fantastic patio - it is beyond me why anyone would anywhere else but the patio... The staff is nice and friendly, even when it is busy. I recommend the tzatziki, the cold combo platter, the octopus salad. The lamb was very tasty as well - cooked to perfection. Delicious home made yogurt with honey and walnuts.

Lisa H.

Fantastic service atmosphere. We went here before the Bulls game and we told them we needed to be out of there in 45 minutes - our server was great, they had us out in time. The food was pretty good. I can't wait to come back in the summer when they have the huge patio area open.

Lee D.

After a long day of walking around the city, the last thing we wanted was hot food. But being in Greek town, we decided to give Athena's a chance. The service was amazing and the food was tasty. If we lived in Chicago, we would definitely be back!

Orlando R.

I went here on a Saturday night (party of 4). There was FREE valet parking. Excellent. We were seated immediately without a reservation. Excellent. We had the following as appetizers : SAGANAKI (FRIED CHEESE) - It was hot and tasty but just a bit too salty if you are not a cheese lover. Good. SOUTZOUKAKIA (SPICY MEATBALLS) - They were not spicy at at all. However, they were very moist with a light sauce that adds to the flavor. Very Good. DOLMADAKIA (HERBS AND RICE WRAPPED IN GRAPE LEAVES)- Delicious and light. No after taste. Excellent. The main course consisted of : PAIDAKIA (FOUR LAMB CHOPS SERVED W/ RICE & POTATOES) - I ordered it medium rare. It was broiled a bit inconsistent but the cut was good. A bit fatty for my taste (yes, I know its lamb). Good. AGINARATO (FIVE THIN CUT LAMB CHOPS BROILED TO PERFECTION AND SERVED W/ RICE & POTATOES) - Tender and moist. Absolutely delicious. Excellent. LEMONATO (LAMB & ARTICHOKES BAKED IN EGG-LEMON SAUCE) - Same. Both the Aginarato and the Lemonato are Saturday specials. Excellent. The service was fast and very efficient. Our waiter (his name is George) was informative and very good. No complaints at all. The decor is very nice. Large dining area with a full service bar. Surprisingly, there is no dress code. The prices are very moderate considering that the location is very close to the downtown area. Overall, I would recommend this place.

Mary T.

I am a fan of Greek food but this place had me yearning for anything but that. The 2 stars are for the good service, saganaki, and the crema caramele that tasted very fresh. Everything else made me regret going there. The Pastichio was dry, the bread was dry, the stuffed chicken breast was over cooked, and the galaktobouriko was VERY thick in consistency.

Kate B.

The restaurant is divided very distinctly into an intimate, quiet, fabric-filled left side and a wide open, rustic-feeling and louder right side (there is also a bar near the middle). We chose the right. Our main courses were great and the portions were generous - we ate until our hearts' content and still had sizable portions for lunch the next day. Plus, we ordered Roditis and the waiter was kind enough to let us try it first to be sure we approved. The only two things I didn't like: First, the bread was less than authentic. It was our first impression of the food so we got a little fright about what would come next. All that it was served with was the little whipped butters. What about olive oil people? Cheese? Disappointing. Then, maybe this is just me being picky but the saganaki we ordered for our appetizer had so much flour it gave it a bit of a weird coating...it was a much different texture than what we're used to and prefer (ie Greek Islands, my favorite restaurant on Halsted). Glad I tried it. Would I go back? Probably. Would I order saganaki? No. Would I bring my own olive oil? ...Yes.

Lindsay O.

I'd never been to one of the sit down type restaurants in Greektown before, so I was looking forward to Athena. My aunt from Spokane was in town and it seemed like a good place to give her a bit of Chicago culture. I think what Athena really has going for it is the outdoor patio. We went on a pleasant summer evening and the shade and the fountain made for an excellent al fresco dining experience. Our waiter was a greek god of a man, which certainly made my aunt happy too! The food was ok...I had the spanakopita was ok (I thought it was a bit too much spinach and not enough feta) and the rice was very very good. For dessert I had the baklava (how could you not) and they gave you a nice big piece. Really, how can you go wrong with baklava? Perhaps my only real complaint was the service tended to be a bit scattered. It was a busy night and I'm not sure if they had a enough waitstaff to cover all the guests but it seemed like our greek god waiter was very distracted. When we asked for the dessert menu it took about 15 minutes after we had to remind him. Overall I was happy with the service and I would go back again.

Sonali K.

I don't know much about Greek food, nor did I ever think I'd find myself dining in a Greek restaurant since they aren't the most vegetarian friendly places, but I was more than surprised by Athena. I found myself there for a late lunch one afternoon with a friend who was visiting the neighborhood. We wanted something that was low-key, outdoor, and not far from the condo. After a half hour of walking around, we found ourselves at the beautiful outdoor patio at Athena. It was well past the lunch crowd so we had the place basically to ourselves and cozied down in the back near the shaded trees. I looked at the menu and was concered about what I would get to eat until I saw I could order the Cold Combo appetizer plate. I switched out the fish appetizer for hummus and they were very accomodating about it. Like I said earlier, I don't know much about Greek food, but the hummus and the tzatziki with the grilled pita, feta cheese, and pepperoncini pepper definitely hit the spot. I ended up going again there for dinner when my fiances parents came down to meet us. They loved it too. My fiances dad eats chicken and ordered a chicken dish and was very happy with it as well. We have ordered out from Athena several times since and have never been disappointed. The owners and the staff are super friendly and I love the ambience of the patio. Even though it's always busy, it's still always a good time. I wouldn't recommend going if you are in a rush to get somewhere else, but it's a great place to chill and relax with friends and family for lunch or dinner.

Lauren F.

Pretty standard Greektown fare but a great outdoor seating area-go here for dinner in the summer and sit on the patio....and always order saganaki!

Michael M.

My date and I went here and had a great time. I had the stuffed chicken breast. It was filled with spinach and feta, and came with a generous portion of rice. My date had the calamari. Bread and butter is served with your meal. The dining room is amazing. It has a greenhouse feel to it, and when it is dark out, you get an awesome view of the lit up buildings in the loop. Service was great and our waiter very friendly. Give this place a try. I am sure you will like it.

Samantha H.

My bias: I don't like Greek food That being said... Athena was fun. The atmosphere was kitschy, but from my walk down South Halsted it looked like Athena was on par with its peers. I can't really talk about the food (other than the flaming cheese which was tasty, entertaining, and probably clogged all of my arteries...) because I had pasta. Like I said, I don't like Greek food. My dining companions, all eight of them, raved about their food. However, the services was prompt (they forgot our flaming cheese, but apologized profusely and took the item off our bill), the restaurant was clean, and the servers fit the stereotype as you'd expect they would. A good experience for tourists and Chicagoans alike.

Cory A.

Athena Restaurant is probably one of the better places in the neighborhood, with good food, a friendly staff, and a gorgeous outdoor patio complete with a beautiful water feature. On the menu, you'll find all of the usually suspects, and although there certainly isn't anything major to complain about, there are some tweaks that's need to be done in the kitchen to fully produce the food they think they are serving. Among the dishes my table ordered were the pastitsio, a gyros plate, and of course, the saganaki. The pastitsio was well seasoned, however, the pasta was overcooked before it was even baked, so although the flavor was well developed, the texture was that of the spaghetti at the old country buffet. The gyros plate consisted of the meat in the usual preparation, sliced onion and tomatoes, but only only one, small pita cut into four pieces, overcharred on the bottom and edges. The meat could have used a touch more seasoning, as well as the tzatziki, which is something that just needs to be right. The saganaki was nicely cooked, albeit being overly salty and the absence of the "opah," was a little bit of a let down. All in all, the food was wasn't great, but much better than most fly by night restaurants who try to pass of what they are serving as Greek food. And among the friendly service, the price is also fair for dining out in Chicago. Tip: wait to be seated outside. Somehow, it just makes this place. You'll see why.

BeBe D.

It was a fantastic experience! My friend & I stopped in for a light dinner & had a sampler-like dish. It has a little bit of everything. The flavors worked well & the service was very attentive. Thank you ;)

Maralyn O.

I was involved in a cooking demo with Chef Kari from Athena at Kenmore Live Studio and she was AMAZING!!! She prepared an octopus salad that I loved and then whipped up what she called "Opa Sliders" made from lamb!! They were soooooo tasty. I can't wait to get back to Athena and try some more of her cooking. Their new rooftop deck has great views of the city too...it's OPEN!!!!

Viki N.

Bleh. I was here last night with a group of 5 people, and here's what I remember from the experience: 1) FRUIT FLIES. We were all constantly shooing away fruit flies to keep them from landing on our food. This happened with every course they brought out. It makes me wonder what the hell is going on in the back, and if the flies had their way with my tomato before it made it to my plate. Then I tried not to think about that. 2) VERY LOUD. It was so loud, I'm still typing in caps the next day. I think it's cuz they have no accoustic dampening materials on the walls, so if the place gets full on a Saturday night and you're sitting in a corner, it's like sitting in a giant echo chamber and you have to shout at each other. OTOH if you're looking for a loud party sort of atmosphere, then this may be what you're looking for. 3) The food. The food was ok. Not the best, not the worst. The triangle pastry things (spankopita?) were pretty good. Everything was *extremely* salty. Therefore this is a good place to go if you're PMS'ing. 4) The bathrooms were pretty clean, and they say that's a good way to tell if they're clean in the kitchen, right? Except for the fruit fly thing. *shudder* 5) The service was ok. The waiter seemed really busy and so we would go loooong stretches of time without seeing him, but he was a nice guy. And they were pretty good at re-filling water glasses, almost too good. Like they watch you drinking from your glass and stand there and wait for you to finish drinking so that they can refill that 2 inches of water you just depleted. "I'm on a mission to fill your glass! Get outta my way!"

L. S.

Went there with a group of girlfriends. It was so crowded outside and we didn't want to wait so we decided to get a table inside. The bread was good, but wished that it was served hot. The beers were cold, but a bit expensive just for beer. No one got appetizers and ordered the main course. I got the Combination plate with lamb, rice, potatoes, veggies, and two other things I am not quite sure what they were. (Not too familiar with Greek food). I was a little disappointed because the veggies were bland peas and rice was plain white rice. It said leg of lamb, but I just some some lamb chunks and pieces which were a bit on the rare side and dry. Whatever was in the grape leaves was cold and salty. The other two dishes- it looked like lasagna with layers (one with potatoes and one with elbow pasta) weren't that special and felt that it was the same thing except with different sauces. Other people loved their food, but the combination plate was not for me. Bad thing was they don't split checks. 10 girls all with separate checks. Thankfully most of us had cash and we just put it all one credit card and gave the cash to the other girl.

Nicole L.

The year of surprise! I have been quite the dare devil this year by trying new foods/dishes, adventures and all around lifestyle. So why not keep it going with new restaurant and cuisine? A friend of mine took me to Athena to try Greek food and yet again a new place to yelp about. Note: They do love the yelpers! A sticker is planted right on their front door yay! 1 pt. Well our server was full of spunk and energy which I enjoyed because he was interactive but not annoying and polite but not fake. Or he's a damn good actor. I tried the spinach pie which I love! and a Lamb with artichoke and lemon grass which was a bit to salty for my taste buds. All in all I enjoyed the experience and was pleased with my meal and first experience. I do suggest for newbies to ask their waiter/waitress for a recommendation.

Amanda G.

Let me preface this by saying I'm not the hugest fan of Greek food. There you go, you've been forewarned. I had some out of town guests visiting and we decided to go to Greektown. Greek Islands had been recommended to us but the wait there was something like an hour, so we went down the street to Athena Restaurant. In comparison, this restaurant was maybe half-full. I learned my lesson that night: if there is an hour wait at a similar restaurant down the street, don't go to the half-empty joint. The service was strange. Initially, our waiter basically ignored us/acted totally abrupt. He'd bring menus, hand them to us without making eye contact and nearly run away before one of us could request water, or a drink. With this abrupt service, it took us about a half hour to get drinks and waaaaaaaaay too long to finally order. Then, as the meal progressed, he became much more attentive and... nice? Concerned? It was like having Hyde and then Jekyll wait on us. Or as though, halfway through our meal, he realized his tip just might be based upon the actual service. Like, we already hated you dude. No chance of redemption. The food was okay. Like I said, I'm not a huge fan of Greek food, so maybe the sample platter type thing I ordered was a bad idea. I did enjoy a few of the items, but everything on the plate kind of tasted the same. I was not wowed. So that's part one of my Greektown experience. Part two, to come: I make it to Greek Islands.

Amanda D.

I haven't been to a restaurant in Greektown before but I wasn't impressed. The outdoor seating is cute but other than that I only gave it 2 stars. When we walked in the hostess was dressed cute but the attitude was ok. I would say the server was the worst. Didn't come around to our table until we were pretty much done with the introductory conversations and all looking at the waterfall or plants. I had to ASK for a other coke, had to ASK for the dessert menu, and lastly had to ASK for the check 10 minutes after our food was clear from our table. On top of it we were located few yards away from the computer where they put in your order. Please venture somewhere else.

Nektaria R.

Hey, I'm Greek and extremely picky when choosing a Greek restaurant. Athena definitely made the cut. We had mainly appetizers and a couple of main courses and everything was good. We had the calamari, very tender. The saganaki was very tasty, funny that the Greeks in Greece do not set it on fire. It's a Chicago tradition (the Parthenon to be exact). The fried zucchini was tasty and so was the skordalia (garlic dip). The taramosalata was typical and not too salty (I like that). The Greek salad had great dressing and good Kalamata olives. The marides (smelt) was superb! Crispy and seasoned perfectly for a two bite delight, heads and all! I will definitely be back. Yummy! or shall I say, Opa!

Laura M.

We went there because the outside patio looked so inviting. Little did we know, that would be the only inviting thing about this place. We were seated promptly but we had to wait a good 10 minutes for the waiter. One of the people in my party asked about the wine selection and the waiter didn't know anything about it. We told him we didn't know what we wanted, so could he come back. Ten minutes later he arrives, with a man who appeared to be the owner-asking our waiter if he was going to help us. The waiter came back with our drinks and had no idea who ordered what! We ordered our appetizer and he disappeared again. He had a real problem with us wanting separate checks, told us he had never experienced it before. Just seemed he couldn't figure it out. And it was a problem for the entire time we were there. He also never could get straight who ordered what. We were on a time schedule, as this guy was just taking too slow. We even asked the owner looking guy if we could get a new waiter since we were being neglected, he told us yes, then whispered in our waiters ear and continued with the same guy. Waiter didn't know the menu. OK, so he's new. Maybe he hasn't served before, maybe he was stoned. Can't rate a restaurant based on one employee's actions, right? Well, then we got our food. The same girl who asked about the wine ordered a dish that looked Asian. She complained it didn't have much flavor to it. My sister ordered Mediterranean pasta, which she liked, although it didn't have artichokes in it, which were advertised on the menu. The other girl in our party got some cheesy shrimp thing that she loved. I ordered Vegetarian Mousaka, which was the worst I've had, and I've ordered this many times in other restaurants. I certainly won't be coming back here.

Marfa B.

Considering today is a mother's day and we had an order for a delivery fro 60 people, it was a overall great experience. The manager was very attentive and deliver everything himself. The food was delicious and was gone in a heartbeat.

Martin H.

Nothing special here. The decorative outdoor seating attracts customers, but the food doesn't live up to its hype. I got the gyros plate dish and it was just average. They gave a good amount of meat but way too many onions and not enough bread! They did have enough cucumber sauce which is always great. The food is definitely not worth the prices. Its too plain and nothing delicious. It didn't help that when I was there some extremely obnoxious drunk people speaking/laughing as loud as possible. Our waitress was very nice and quick, thats why this review is getting 3 stars.

Natalia J.

Athena is newly renovated with some modern touch - looks amazing. The service is great and so is the food. One of the best Greek restaurants I've been to, especially since most are fairly outdated with terrible service. Definitely worth checking out!

Jessica K.

Came here for an intimate birthday dinner. Has a homely feel. Beautifully decorated and the servers are both helpful and funny. Menu consisted of typical Greek dishes and their portions were pretty large. We ordered family style and had a lot left over. Great place for big groups AND dates. Extensive and affordable wine list (try the chardonnay).

Trinidad F.

I came here with my friend about two summers ago and really can't remember what I ate. Last night I came here on a date and it was just bad. It wasn't too busy for a Friday night. The atmosphere is very warm and comfy. We were seated immediately. I didn't like where our table was because we sat next to the doors that stay open in the summer for the outdoor patio. There was a constant draft. Booo... They brought out water, bread and butter. I really didn't know what to get. There was a vegetarian section on the menu but it didn't seem like much. Our waiter was very quiet. He didn't speak much and he just had this look on his face like he didn't want to be there or deal with us. For appetizers we got feta zesti which is basically feta cheese with baked tomatoes and herbs. I adore feta cheese!! It arrived with more bread and it was so good. Yummy!!! I decided on a half order of spanakorizo. Its just spinach with rice. It was good. OK so here is why I left so upset and unsatisfied. I ordered the vegetable pasta. Just veggies with pasta in a light cream sauce. When it arrived I was excited because it was a nice, big serving with veggies. When I finally started eating I realized there was no flavor. The sauce was too light so there was no taste to it. Then I noticed that the veggies looked very familiar. I'm a huge fan of the Bird's Eye veggies that you simply pop in the microwave and is ready in minutes. It was all coming together. Lol. My pasta was basically a few noodles with tons of frozen veggies that were tossed in the microwave. BLAH!!!!! I was so upset I didn't finish it and just took the rest home. I don't think I'll be returning. I really think I can make better pasta at home with the Bird's Eye veggies!

Peter J.

The food here is really good and depending on how authentic you would like your good, the staff can accommodate. I read that Athena has the best outdoor seating in Chiacgo, they do. It is a great outdoor atmosphere, it feel very Mediterranean.

Mama D.

We went on our yearly trip to Chicago and were so excited to go to Athena. The staff were the friendliest, sincerest staff I have encountered in a restaurant in a very long time. The food was great, the ambiance fabulous and the sense of being in a family place was the perfect combination. We even went back for an after dinner drink on another night of our trip. We cannot wait to return! Wish we had something like that here in NJ! They now have a year round patio with a retractable roof! A real winner! Please keep the food good and pure!

Carri A.

I never had Greek food before and now I'm ready to sing about it from the rooftops after a single meal here. The service was very attentive, the decor and atmosphere was very nice (I felt under-dressed in my jeans but also didn't feel judged by the staff) and the food was amazing! I ordered the vegetarian mousaka and it was seriously too good for words. I'm seriously in love. My friend ordered a gyro and he said it was delicious. The prices are decent and the location is quite convenient. Go get some Greek food yall.

Nick S.

Athena serves average Greek food, mostly because the over salt everything. It's redeeming quality is the patio. Athena has one of the nicest patios in the city. This is a great place to eat on a nice, Chicago summer night, which is about two weeks out of the year. Greektown is easy in general. The wait isn't too long and there's free valet parking, which is nice.

Aaron B.

I went here for the first time on Valentines Day and really enjoyed it. We got here early (530) so avoided the typical rush and our reservation wasn't even necessary since this place is huge! It did fill up though later in the evening as we were here for a while nursing our great bottle of Chardonnay. They have an extensive wine list with some rather affordable options. We actually did eat food and it was sapid and moderately priced. Chicken for her, which was served with such a large portion we actually had the leftovers wrapped up and gave the rest to someone on the street (something everyone should do with leftover food), and the Spanikoptia for me also just as fantastic. Our waiter was also very cool. We stayed there way longer than we should have and he still didn't get mad and even kept on topping off our water as we nursed our wine; you have to stay hydrated! If you are looking for a good place to go in Greektown I would recommend Athena. They have all traditional Greek dishes on their menu, great Tzatziki, tons of seating, a wide selection of drinks and in the summer a great patio I hear - check it out.

Laura A.

I'm sort of glad I didn't read reviews of Athena here before I ever tried for myself. I probably would have skipped it. While I certainly have not eaten at every restaurant in Greektown, I've probably been to 3 others, and I have to say Athena is my favorite so far. It has been the least touristy in my experience as well. Nice bar to wait at. Good cocktail selection. Raspberry Mojitos are a bit small with an over abundance of ice for $9, but very tasty. Good food. Favorites are the Moussaka and the Combination Plate. The Saganaki is good as well. I have not experienced any of the service disasters that others mentioned. Took a little while to get the check at the end as they had become quite busy, but not a big deal to me. I have not eaten on the patio, but it looks lovely. Overall, I would recommend Athena.

Holly L.

Waiters were super nice and helpful. Food was not so good (except the saganaki which was GREAT!). Since food is the main reason I go out to eat, I'm going 2 stars. Much better choices of places to eat in Greektown.

Beth A.

omg i LOVE this place if ever some guy wanted to impress me...he should take me here...the outdoor patio is by far one of the most relaxing and romantic spots to enjoy a late nite summer dinner in the city the food and service are both very good but the atmosphere at athena just knocks this one outta the ballpark ***have dined inside as well and its more family/group oriented

erika s.

if you're looking to fall in love with greek cuisine you should keep walking. if you're looking to fall in love with a waiter that has more body hair than most monkeys, this might be your place. this place does one thing really well. it is one of the few greek restaurants that has a large outdoor patio that is visible from the street. so if you like to drink outside in the summer time with some hummus you won't be disappointed. i had in mind that i'd have a healthy meal here so i ordered vegetarian. i asked the waiter what he'd recommend and he said he didn't like vegetables. this should have been my first indication that maybe this wasn't the place to have veggie fare. we got 3 dips to start--skordalia, hummus and something else. they were strange but not awful. moving on to the main course i rescued my drowning vegetables from a pool of grease. i think astronauts have seen their vegetables look closer to real produce. not to judge entirely, i tasted them and they were anything but good. my didning companion got a whitefish. it too was greasy. our waiter let him know (kindly) that the fish had bones in it and offered to fillet it for him. while this sounds like a kind gesture, the entire time his hairy forearms were precariously hovering over the fish. i watched in horror waiting for one (or 30) to fall into the fish. in the end we did not finish our meal. we did not ask for our leftovers to be boxed. we didn't wish to revisit the experience the next day and i don't think we'll be visiting it again.

T K.

We went here on a Friday night for a friend's bday. The outdoor seating was very nice. Lots of breeze, no bugs, good lighting. We all ordered the family style dinner for $22 a person. It comes with Saganaki, soup, salad, gyros plate, and a combination platter. More than enough food for 1 person. Sad part is that the food wasn't all that great. Everything was very 'blah', stuff we could have gotten at the corner Greek diner for much cheaper. We constantly had to flag down our waiter for service and it took awhile for the food to come out. Outdoor seating - 5 stars Food - 2 stars Service - 2 stars

Aaron C.

A group of us went here to celebrate a family college graduation.The patio was wonderful - very nice and relaxing. The weather was perfect, contributing to a fantastic ambiance. This earns them a second star. We were seated quickly, although our service was horribly slow. Food was very mediocre. There were five of us, and out of the five, three of us got deathly ill from food poisoning - we were able to pinpoint the culprit as the tomatoes. Basic food washing should be second nature. Yuck. Nobody in our party will be returning.

Cheryl S.

I've been here a couple of times and both experiences were pleasant. The saganaki is awesome and the egg lemon soup is probably the best I've ever had. The grilled squid is also great for an appetizer. Friendly, prompt service and a fun, authentic-feeling atmosphere. If you're in Greek Town you should definitely give Athena a try!

Sarah S.

I don't understand how this place only has three stars. Maybe the other reviewers are too sensitive? The only bad thing I could say about this place is that the waiters are quite abrupt - but even that isn't enough for me to deduct a star from my rating. So far, I've been here twice, and both times I was seated outside (at my party's request). I haven't been inside yet, but the outside is gorgeous. Weather permitting (and we know it doesn't usually permit), I would recommend anyone sit outside. If you want to see your saganaki on fire, though, you should try sitting inside because typically they don't light the saganaki outside due to the wind. Both times I've been here, there was no wait. Both times the service was abrupt but fast. The abruptness honestly didn't bother me, because I've encountered that at Greek restaurants both here in Chicago and back home. I prefer my waiters to be speedy rather than friendly - but I guess that's just a personal preference. I'm a vegetarian, but I love Greek food, so typically I just wind up getting appetizers. Both times I've been to the Athena Restaurant, I've ordered two or three appetizers and shared them with whoever I was with. So far, I've had the skordalia, the saganaki (of course), the kolokithitakia, and the feta cheese (I'm a BIG fan of feta cheese, so I'll just eat it by itself sometimes). I would suggest any of these appetizers, but if you're going to get the skordalia by itself (the kolokithitakia comes with skordalia), I would suggest getting something to dip in it. Overall, great restaurant. The entrees are a little too expensive for my budget, but that's why I stick with the appetizers. I really don't understand how this restaurant only has 3 stars!

Rich K.

Huge tasty portions. The lamb shank was fantastic.

Valerie B.

I like this restaurant for three reasons. First the outdoor space is great, the best terrace in Greektown. Unfortunately, last time I was there I saw they were extending the restaurant into the courtyard so I don't know how much outdoor space will be left this summer. Reasons two and three are the two dishes I always choose from. The stuffed chicken listed in the char-broiled section is exceptional. It is stuffed with spinach and feta and then covered in melted kaseri cheese. It is a huge portion and you can easily take half home for another meal. Lamb with artichoke hearts in egg-lemon sauce is a special which seems to turn up most days. It is great and they are really generous with the artichoke hearts. If you like okra, the side dish of okra in tomato sauce is good too. I have to admit that the wait staff can be a little eccentric (as in trying to persuade us to remain seated outside as it started to pour with rain) and some verge on rudeness but weighing this against the chicken or lamb, I can put up with that.

Christine H.

Granted, I did come here for an end-of-the-year party my job was throwing, so I was stuck with the buffet. Upon looking at the menu online, I did see a couple things that I could have possibly eaten (vegetarian grape leaves and something else I can't recall). I told the woman organizing the party that I was Vegan and I thought she informed the restaurant so that they would put something out that I could eat. Heh heh, not so much. So when I talked to the waiter, he told me I could eat the garlic dressing/sauce, bread and the fried zucchini. They prepared a special salad for me, which was nice of them (the one in the buffet had feta). When I bit into the fried zucchini, the batter tasted like tempura batter I used to make, which included eggs :-/ So I ate mostly bread, garlic sauce and my salad. Thank God it was free. In fairness, I guess I should come back and try the stuff I can actually eat, but I probably won't. I know Greek cuisine uses a lot of meat and lamb, but because Greece is on the Mediterranean (and other food from that area is good for me) I was hoping for a better variety of vegetable-based dishes.

Kelsey K.

Okay, so it's a little cheese ball, but I really do enjoy this place. It is one of my favorite places to go when the weather's great and I need a patio. I highly recommend the Athena salad. That's pretty much my main reason for going there, but I haven't had BAD food there ever. Whatever you do, spare yourself from going there on a Friday or Saturday night because it just turns into a meat market for Greeks whose moms are harrassing them to get married. Go for lunch when the weather's great and you'll be glad you did!

Joscelyn M.

The cute outdoor garden gets a four, mind you! This is a cute spot that I definitely want to go back to. I loved the outdoor seating, but found the food to be just ok - forgettable, if you will. With so many other spectacular Greek places around, it's hard to settle for so-so.

Jess K.

Heard about Athena's from a friend. Not only was the food amazing but the patio in itself makes it worth the trek to Greektown- it's huge and has amazing city views. George definitely took care of us and made us feel like we were part of the family! We got the Saganaki (flaming cheese) but were so sad to hear that they didn't light it on fire out on the patio, so George let us come sit at the bar to watch him light the cheese! Then we split the Gyros plate, which was amazing and definitely plenty for two people. Can't wait to go back here.

Robert H.

Had the lamb on bone last night - so tender that the knife was merely a decoration. While everyone in the group sampled each other's choices, mine was definitely voted the favorite. We were seated quickly, and Carlos did a great job of taking care of us. He suggested the Skouras St. George wine to go with the lamb, which turned out to be the perfect complement. Price averaged about $30 per person, including 4 glasses of wine. Will definitely visit again on my next trip to Chicago.

Kate C.

I used to think that all restaurants in Greek town were pretty much the same thing. Well, I guess I found the dud in the bunch. I went to Athena on a Tuesday night with one friend. Yes, they did have free valet parking, but pretty much all the restaurants do. We walked in and they still had full on Christmas decorations (this was on 1/5, so slightly late). The restaurant was pretty empty, which should have been our first sign that we had made a mistake. I love all of the traditional Greek dishes (I studied abroad there for a semester) so I got a vegetarian platter than came with pastichio, dolmades, moussaka, vegetables, and potatoes. It sounded like the perfect dish, because I hate to have to choose. My friend ordered the gyros. Our food came out within about 5 minutes. It was clear that it had been around for a few hours (or days) and they just heated it up. And they didn't even do a good job heating it, as my dish was still cold. The moussaka looked burnt and was missing some of the key ingredients like the belchamal (sp?) sauce that is usually the best part on top. The pastichio was like a spanakopita with weird noodles baked in. Maybe I am just a Greek food snob since I lived there, but the rest of the restaurants in Greektown seem to know what's up. My friend's gyros were also pretty bad. The meat seemed really dried out an old too. There was also a fly flying around our table for the whole meal which was pretty unappetizing as well. So, not all restaurants in Greektown are created equal...stay away from Athena. Greek Islands always is good in my opinion, as are most of the others I have been to (Santorini, Venus, Pegasus, a few others I think)

Lesley A.

My friends and I ventured to Athena on a cold winter day because well, I guess for some reason we didn't want to try Parthenon! Or wait, no, it was so blisteringly cold that I think Athena was the first restaurant we saw as we ventured west, walking on the bridge. This was the first time that I was with a group of friends and none of us were really impressed with our food. The fact that I can't even remember what I ordered is baffling! (I have a GREAT memory for food in case you haven't noticed). I think I might have ordered the spinakopita (or a friend did) and it was expensive and definitely unsatisfying. We all had to go for dessert afterward to fill our stomachs (no complaints there!)

Jon C.

This is where we ended up when wanting to try a new place in Greek town. The food is good especially if you are sharing or trying a tapas approach. The outdoor seating and ambiance is great (fountains, lights, and music). Prices are a little high though.

Carolynne M.

Lovely interior, I wish it had been warm enough to sit outside on the even lovelier patio. Lovely waiter, so patient and professional even with 8 semi-drunk people all speaking at once. Lovely menu: I highly recommend the Skordalia (garlic and potato spread), the Saganaki (ours was piping hot and delightful), the Octapodi (I am not a calamari person but this char-broiled octopus was insanely good), and the stuffed chicken breast (very very flavourful spinach and feta stuffing). Also they make a mean vodka gimlet and are not shy with the liquor. Valet parking is offered, but we didnt use it as we were lucky enough to score a street spot. Athena - yay!

Adrienne M.

Had a really excellent lunch here with a friend while visiting Chicago recently. We were debating between this place and Santorini and ended up here because they had lunch specials, which we figured would allow us to try more stuff. Yes, it's touristy, but I'd never really had authentic Greek food, so I was looking forward to it and Athena definitely didn't disappoint. We shared the saganaki (goat cheese breaded, dipped in brandy, and set on fire - it arrives at your table in flames, much like a baked alaska) and the spanokapita appetizer. My friend had the gyro salad and I had a chicken breast stuffed with spinach and feta and served with pasta and mushroom cream sauce. It was excellent but WAY too much food for the two of us (I can't imagine what their dinner portions are like!) Our server was nice for the most part but a little condescending when we couldn't decide on wine (sorry, we're young and poor - we don't know anything about fine wine!) I ended up going with the house white, which was very "eh" - but as I said I know nothing about wine. I'd go back (to Athena, or to Greektown in general) any day of the week!

John B.

This is not my favorite restaurant in Greektown, but if it's yours, I can understand why. The food is good, the service is friendly, and the prices are cheap cheap almost free. I recently visited with a friend from the east coast, and he said that the cost of a similar meal where he lives (Vermont, not even New York) would be 30-50% more. The food is good, though nothing stands out for me. They did a great job on the octopus appetizer -- very tender and well seasoned -- and my entree was big enough that I took half of it home. (Granted, we started with 42 appetizers.) The avgolemono -- egg-lemon soup -- did not live up to my rather exacting standards. My entree was something new to me -- sauteed pork filets served with pasta and vegetables -- and was very good. The lamb dishes my friends ordered came out with the same tired rice and soggy potato you've seen a million times. How about some nice crispy roasted potatoes for a change? The real selling point of Athena is the patio, which is huge, with lots of greenery and a view of downtown Chicago. If it's one of the 10 days in Chicago when it's not too hot or too cold, definitely sit outside. Inside seating is nice, spacious, and comfortable. But after 100 orders of saganaki are served around you, the aroma gets a little overwhelming. I went here the other night with a friend who visits fairly regularly, and no one acknowledged him, which surprised me. I don't require this, but Greeks are so hospitable that I would expect a manager to recognize him and say hello. Not a big deal -- certainly not a deal breaker -- just a note. (Of course, maybe my friend is a big dick, and no one likes him there. I find this not impossible to believe.)

Jasmyn K.

There was just nothing great or special about this place? We came here around 9:30 on a Sat night, it was pretty dead but the employees at the bar were being very loud and annoying, the guy at the front had to shush them many times. Service was SLOW and there was hardly anyone in there. The dishes....I am no Greek expert...but spaghetti pasta with some swordfish and shrimp and a few veggies....nothing Greek or special about it? And the worst part, the reason for the 2 stars, the bathroom was DISGUSTING! No toilet paper, garbage was over flowing, a disgusting stall with God knows what all over the place....I held it in for the trip back to Arlington Hts.

Steph B.

I'm between a 2 and 3 on Athena. I have eaten at the majority of the Greektown restaurants and this was my least favorite :( Not that it was awful, but the food wasn't as good as I'd hoped. The waitstaff was friendly and the ambiance was just fine, but my less than par experience started from the beginning: my appetizer, a Greek salad as always, was bad! Again, I have been to MANY Greek restaurants in my day, and this just was not a Greek salad. The dressing tasted like Italian and it was orange in color. It simply was not appetizing and was nothing like a Greek salad. My main course, Keftedes, was just OK- not bad, not great. I prefer other Greektown restaurants like Greek Islands. The free valet is a plus! But it's pretty common over there.

Janet E.

The food here is only ok. Maybe I am biased and just really like Greek Island but we had a large catered party at Athena and the food was only ok. The service was not good at all. If you wanted water you had to go to the bar to get yourself a cup.

Chris P.

Was there with a friend on a warm summer Saturday for lunch. We decided to just get appetizers and share them. The waiter was great and told us "enough" when we ordered a few. He was right, the portions were large and there was quite enough food. The hummus was great and the olive plate and Keftedakia were fantastic. The Kalamari was done perfectly. The great service, the great food, the wonderful outside patio and the great people watching, I recommend this restaurant to anyone in Chicago or any one travelling there! I will be back next time.

Jason H.

Walking around in Greektown, I happened upon a beautiful courtyard area... great plants & a huge fountain that made an invitation I couldn't refuse. Well, I wish I would've followed my fellow yelpers' advice and gone somewhere else. I'm a person that believes in kharma, so I'm going to save the details, but as a dutiful yelper, I believe I should make my contribution by saying try another place if you're looking for good food & friendly service. If you're willing to trade great service & food for a really nice outdoor seating area, then this give this place a try.

julie p.

We were afraid that if we stuck around any longer they'd set our hair on fire and charge us for it. So on my boyfriend's birthday, we skipped dessert. On a 70 degree evening, a big patio is key, so without thinking we headed on in. The hostess slammed a pair of menus down on the table, turned away, and mumbled something under her breath. Then, we sat. And sat. And sat and sat and sat. Started staring down anyone working there, then staring and waving, then finally got a server. Ordered the full meal lest he disappear. The spicy feta wasn't. It should have come with pita, but it didn't, and we had to ask for it and wait about 5 minutes before it showed up. The dolmodakia still had the shape of the can they came from, which is puzzling, because even canned grape leaves rarely dry out that much. The boyfriend's combination plate was huge but the peas looked like remnants of a 70's TV dinner, brown color n' all, and the whole thing seemed a little more brown-orange in the spectrum than it should have. He couldn't eat it. Then the bill came and we were overcharged on two items. Never again.

Ccc C.

So we decided to come here tonight since Santorni lost power and decided that we will try Athena. They have a nice outdoor patio but that is about it. The waiter who looked experienced turned out to be a dumb ass. I ordered a greek salad for my entree and they brought me a spinach pie. Hellooo that is a big difference. I told the waiter I ordered a greek salad and he took away the spinach pie but never brought the greek salad and that was my entree. Basically I had bread and wine and my friend was nice enough to share his entree. I hate this place. The waiter should be fired. I told the hostess I will not be coming back here again! This place sucks, Please don't go. Go to Santorni or Pegasus or even Nine musus!

Kevin A.

GREEKTOWN: ROUND 1 This was my first foray in to Greektown so I'm being a little conservative with my review of Athena. The place seemed much less crowded than some of the other establishments we passed, but we figured it was worth a shot. First impression: Saganaki Flaming cheese? What's not to love? It was a bit salty for my taste, but it was delicious nevertheless...did I mention flaming cheese? Second Impression: Atmosphere There were a fair amount of people there, but it felt kind of dead in there. Not lively like a lot of other Greek places I've been to. For example, when they light the saganaki on fire they cry out OOPA!, or rather they kind of mutter it as if they can't believe they're saying it for the 10,000th time. Come on guys, give me some enthusiasm! Third Impression: Food I had the leg of lamb with avgolemono sauce which as the name suggests is an egg-lemon sauce. I really enjoyed this dish as the meat was fall-off-the-bone tender and the sauce was rich with just the right amount of lemon. My only complaints were how fatty the meat was and that it didn't come with any sides at all. Overall, I was pleased but I'm definitely looking forward to trying some other places in Greektown.

GusGus R.

Had the fried calamari, and it was FANTASTIC!

Brian M.

Nick and his team run a fantastic restaurant with the freshest of food cooked and served by some of the best folks Chicago has to offer! The wine list is expansive and features some fantastic Greek selections that you may or may not find at your local liquor store! The bartender was friendly, knowledgeable, and so gorgeous she could be Miss Greek America. The valets were prompt courteous and even said "God Bless You" when I tipped them. A plus for the city, valet parking is FREE! The restaurant is building a retractable patio for their outside dining area. This is going to be my new favorite place!

Alfredo P.

Wish I could of eat outdoor but the day we went there was cold even tho it was supposted to be warm ,anyways i had a good service,had to wait for 15mins or a little less because we had a party of 5 but once we got seated ,we ordered and we wait for a little bit for the food to come out but it was worth waiting ,i like the rice with the flavor they add to it :). i had fried calamari and the portion were big,i also tried the lamb, pasta they were prety good ,price is reasonable, Only thing weird was the bread it was hard, im not sure if it supposed to be like that.but definitely il try outdoor dinner next time.

Victor V.

you just put your name of the waiting list, and are being told, 15 minutes... After half an hour you are ushered in to a nice cosy patio. Suddenly, the host, who you barely noticed before, greets you with the air of intimacy you might expect from your cousin: Hey, Victor, how are you doing, nice seeing you...you are stunned, your female escort thinks you must have been there half a dozen times before, but it's your first visit. if you like stuff like that, the air of comraderie bordering on familiarity, then the Athena is right for you. If you expect a certain polite detachment from the staff, then it isn't. The food is okay, with a little emphasis on overcooking. The best features: the waitresses' cute uniforms; elderly Greek-looking couples who you desperately want to look like in 20 years, and nicely chilled inexpensive yet delicious greek wines. The verdict: definite Yes for the summer patio, No for the pedestrian indoor room in colder weather.

Chris S.

The outdoor patio, which is large and has a huge stone waterfall fountain, is a nice setting to grab some lunch or dinner. The service is good, and we were never in need of anything. The menu is full of fine Greek standards, but it's not the best food in the neighborhood. The prices really bring down the rating of this place. I went with a friend for lunch. We had a total of 3 appetizers and 4 beers, and our tab was $55. I'm not cheap, but I also know that in this neighborhood, you can do way better than that at a bunch of places.

Esther Y.

I know ppl always complain that every Greek restaurant on Halsted is the same, but this place is definitely not as good as the rest. For starters, we sat on the patio to enjoy the nice weather. I knew it was going to be busy, but it seemed like there was only one server for the entire patio! When we tried to order, the server wouldn't let us, and instead said he was going to run a credit card through and come back. I don't know how long it took, but it was long enough to get me annoyed. We started off with the saganaki, and it wasn't great. Usually it's really melty, but this wasn't. It was rubbery. Oh, don't get me wrong, I still ate it up, but it's b/c I love the saltiness of the cheese. Everything else we had was blah. A friend had the 15 dollar salad (ummm why is it 15) that was drowning in mediocre dressing, my other friend had an overpriced combo platter that was just oddly off, and I had the traditional Greek pasta. ( I know, totally lame, but I had a taste for it). All in all, the outdoor patio is nice, but there are other places in Greektown where you can eat outside AND get good food.

Julianna D.

This is HANDS DOWN the BEST Greek restaurant on that strip of Halsted St. The food is SO GOOD, the service is great, and the atmosphere is fun. The owner, Nick, is such a great guy and always makes sure that all of his patrons are being taken care of. I always leave this place in a good mood. I have tried some of the other Greek restaurants in Greektown, and none of them compare to Athena!

Ashley W.

Athena is definite my top choice of the Greek restaurant in Chicago. The baklava is out of this world and they have great outdoor dining. The atmosphere is pleasant and you never feel rushed.

kayte k.

Two words: Cock. Roach. I say two words because our waiter fulfilled the 'cock' role quite nicely on top of our many-legged visitor. I caught this fine gentleman literally making fun of more than a few of us under his breath after taking our order, bossing us around, interrupting frequently and performing alarming eyebrow-waggling. I really had high hopes for this place, squeezed snugly in between Roditys and the Parthenon (totally should have gone with the tried & true, sorry, Parthenon!), on Halsted in the heart of Greektown. I had done appetizers & drinks at Athena a few months ago and absolutely fell in love with the ambiance, the warmth of the room (everything was glowy and toasty yellow inside), and the cute little working fireplaces scattered throughout the dining area. I'd never tried taramosalata before and holy fajoley, it's dollops of heaven served in tiny white bowls. Whipped potato and fish eggs never tasted so good, served on warm lightly browned pita triangles. I plan on bathing in the stuff (you can order by the jar from Amazon, of course) and perhaps that will wash away the memories of my birthday dinner there on Friday. There were 19 in our party total and considering the place remained partially 3/4 full the rest of the night, I think our waiter really could have at least pretended to be pleased we were there- we would certainly be his biggest check the entire evening and at a little over $500, (not that high considering but still)- including entrees and multiple cocktails, when my friends were able to order & receive them in a timely manner, that is. We might as well have only ordered water with no ice and a plate of lemon, please for the quality of service we received. After being seated, Mr. Cockroach decided to show his shining brown face and flex his shapely legs before our water glasses had even been filled, in the middle of the table. My friend screamed, threw a plate over it, nobody paid us any mind, Mr. C the Waiter eventually sauntered over with a wadded up napkin in hand and a vaguely questioning/threatening look on his face. We point at the upended saucer. We really don't feel we should have to explain anything further. Mr. C peeks under the plate...hesitates. Finally puts his wadded up napkin to good use and then...saunters away! Not a single word or utterance of an apology passes his lips or even a blanch of mortification or consternation crosses this guy's face. We have to call after him and send a busboy to convince the waiter, that yes, we really do think the whole tablecloth ought to be changed, don't you? No apologies. No explanations. No managers. But with the size of my party, we decide to continue with the evening. Another friend of mine figured out that the bartender was very accommodating and willing to share a complimentary glass of wine with her since apparently, Mr. C the Waiter seemed kinda pissed because she couldn't make up her mind fast enough for him or something. So the bartender...he was cool. At the end of the evening, after subpar food (appetizers: still fantastic; most of us couldn't finish our entrees. My chicken breast lemonati was pretty underwhelming), again, my friends had to both ask to speak to the manager to discuss the cockroach situation and the charming 'service'. We got a whopping $35 off the bill in recompense. Boooo, hiss. The waiter got suuuper nice to us once he saw us talking to the Big Boss, funnily enough. Long long story short, maybe the outdoor patio here is indeed fantastic and romantic and all that in warm weather like others say but skip it altogether if you can. At least until they get their bug situation figured out. Taramosalata though? Amazon, here I come!

A. Renee B.

Great atmosphere! We sat in the indoor patio,great for a humid hot day. The patio's temperature was cool but not super cold, nice for people who do not like cold air. The waiter was helpful and the bus service was fantastic. I ordered the moussakas with rice; twas delicious. I will definitely be back at this establishment very soon.

Jim W.

Enjoyable setting (outside patio), slightly above average food. It's been awhile since I've been in Greektown. The food is underwhelming, but as long as you're just out for a good time and not specifically after excellent food it's fine. The one dish that WAS really good though were the Soutzoukakia, or spicy meatballs. Greek salad was a typical salad, and I did like something in the large combination plate, but being ignorant, I couldn't distinguish what was what besides the obvious rice and potatoes and lamb.

Michael M.

Tzatziki appetizer was excellent. Saganaki was a little salty but still tasty. Avoglemono soup was better than most I've tried. The Sunday special was Lemonato, roast lamb with potatoes and lemon sauce, which was really good. The lamb fell off the bone and the lemon sauce was great. The patio seating was comfortable with the umbrellas and wall fountain and the service was also good; it made for a nice get together with old friends.

Kacie M.

Four stars for having a great patio and being a truly enjoyable place to go eat. I had a lamb special and it was DELICIOUS. People say there's better spots on this block for authentic Greek, which I believe. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and would absolutely go back again.

Beki D.

absolutely the best greek restaurant in chicago-land area!

N P.

This place is horrible! The worst Greek restaurant on Halsted (and I am Greek, so I am somewhat of an expert). My husband and I went before a Cubs game and for two people we paid $65! It's a total rip-off for the food you get, which is tasteless and small portioned. And mind you for $65 we did not get any drinks. Greek Islands is much better - prices and food. Go there. I felt sick to my stomach after paying $75 w/tip at this dump.

betsy b.

When it comes to patios in Greektown Pegasus is my all time go to but last night I found myself at Athena. The patio is huge and great when the weather is nice. The food doesn't live up to the other restaurants nearby though. I ordered the chicken lemonati per the waiter telling me it was one of the most popular chicken dishes...um, it was pretty much chinese food....chicken, veggies, and rice. It didn't have any Greek flair to it whatsoever. Maybe I just ordered wrong and should have stuck with something I know.

Rachelle G.

Came here on a whim with a friend while in the area. Free valet parking is always a plus! Upon walking into the restaurant, you notice how big it is, including the giant patio that would be beautiful to sit in on sunny days. The menu is fairly simple and includes your basic Greek staples and then some. My friend and I went with the basics, saganaki, spanokapita and gyros. I wasn't wowed by anything but it wasn't bad. Service was fantastic. We had a bit of a problem with one of our entrees and upon notifying our server, he immediately rectified the situation and tried to compensate for their mistake.

Jackie S.

Honestly, just not good. I will start with a positive and say that I love the fact they have the Greek lima beans on their regular menu and they were very tasty but everything else was just not good. The spinach and rice dish had absolutely no flavor what so ever. The moussaka also had a mild dish water taste. The grilled veggies also blah. The saganaki was of course good. How can fried cheese be bad, but it was not as good as Greek Islands. The avgolemono was also kinda watered down. I wont be back. I may stop for an order of lima beans to go at the most. Also, I was annoyed that they didn't have a good vegetarian sampler plate. Every other place has this option...get on bored people.

Abby T.

Again, this was just.......OK. an extra star for the nice space for the outdoor seating. Wonderful on a summer day in the Chi. Very romantic....well, I suppose w/ the right company. I would return again for the atmosphere, but there are other, more preferable Greektown spots to hit up, imho.

I enjoy Athena: it's one of my two favorite Greek restaurants. (The other is Pegasus.) The restaurant is spacious, which means you usually don't have to wait too long to be seated. (Although one Saturday night the hostess forgot about our party of 6 while we waited in the bar. She thought we'd already been seated!) The food is dependable, although not the best Greek I've ever had, and the menu is extensive. Perhaps the best thing about Athena is the large outdoor patio in the summer. It's nicely shielded from the street and sidewalk with clear walls, making it extra pleasant to sit outside. (I don't understand people who are anxious to sit outside when the patio is literally at the curb!) Athena is definitely worth a visit the next time you want Greek food.

Wendy H.

I'm feeling generous, so 2 stars it is. 3 stars because a great outdoor space, some good dishes, and my family usually likes it. 1 star because the dolmades they served me tonight did not match the menu description at all: bechamel sauce given to me instead of the lemon sauce the menu promised; the supposed "ground beef" looked like something else --lamb?; the unknown meat was RARE, really rare, which is kind of scary, and the dolmades were FLOATING because there was so much bechamel sauce. YUK. 3 stars because they didn't charge me for the dolmades or for the side dish I subsequently ordered to replace the original catastrophe of an entree. 1 star to the waiter who either didn't know what was in my dish or lied. Not my favorite place.

Tomas P.

I recently joined a business associate here for dinner. My anticipation was heightened by reviews praising Athena's outdoor dining space. Alas, like a recent visit to Piccolo Sogno when too cold to dine out, the alfresco space was under construction! The restaurant is adding a retractable canopy to extend that outdoor dining experience reviewers praise from spring to fall. My companion is a Greek and ordered everything for us (though I am very familiar with Greek food). We started with taramosalata that had pronounced fish roe flavor with none of the overriding saltiness you frequently find in the preparation at other establishments. The skordalia was very garlicky, the way I like it - yummy. These appetizers followed with courses of grilled whole squid and grilled octopus. The calamari had a great tooth and worked well with the prominent lemon and vinegar flavor of the sauce. It was firm but not chewey. The octopus was truly spectacular. Large chunks, well seasoned, and so tender that they almost melted in your mouth. This is not easy feat to achieve with this cephalopod. The main course was souvlaki (kebabs) of shrimp and vegetables. Horta, a bitter green accompanyment of boiled dandelion greens, well sauced with olive oil, made for an excellent side dish. The soft and (in a good way) slimy (I tried to think of a better word) texture of the greens worked well with the grilled kebabs. Dinner ended with a plate of kaseteri cheese, a somewhat asiago like creation that is firm and salty and a special cheese cake that uses the elements of baklava for the crust and the topping. You have to ask for it as it is not on the menu. Unique and delicious. The white wine was a Moschofilero (Greek varietal) that my companion raved about and it did not disappoint. Sevice was comptent and attentive.

J B.

Great outdoor seating! But food and service was only fair.

Sarah L.

It was very ok. We chose to go there over greek isles because there was a long wait at greek isles and this place was empty, so we could get a clear view of the fireplace, which additionally drew us in on a cold night. Hilarious story of my spanikopita: It had a burned edge which the cook cleverly hid underneath my rice. I actually found it amusing, since there was so much effing spanikopita there was no way I needed to eat that edge. I expected about a third as much spanikopita as I got for the price. My friend and I had been walking around shopping all day, and we still could only each eat half of our entrees. I think I would try other places in greektown before going back to this one again.

Running B.

Definitely not the best food in G'Town, but on a summer afternoon, the patio is refreshing. I've had better meals elsewhere on the block, but Greek food is all Greek to me. When pops comes to town in the summertime, this is favorite spot for lunch and I'll gladly enjoy sunshine with a cold Greek beer. After trying a few things on the menu, my best bet is the stuffed chicken breast with rice and potato. With Greek flavors not being my forte, this is not my first choice, but a cold Hillas outside on a sunny afternoon usually hits the spot.

Gretchen V.

Though there are a myriad of Greek restaurants in Greektown, I am partial to Athena for a few reasons: 1) I had my rehearsal dinner there, and the staff was extremely accommodating, and we got our own space as well as a ton of good food and drinks for a very reasonable price. No curveballs whatsoever, which is especially important on the eve of one's wedding! 2) The outdoor patio is amazing, especially on a nice summer night with a bottle of wine. 3) The attitude is laid back, and I've had very good experiences with service in the handful of times I've dined there. The last time we visited, we tried the beet salad with the potato and garlic spread (cannot for the life of me remember what it's called), which will now be a staple for future visits. I was also quite happy when I asked the server for a recommendation for a bottle of Greek red wine, and he pointed me NOT to the most expensive bottle on the list (I hate when servers do that!), but rather to a reasonably-priced, smooth red that everyone at the table ended up liking. Extra points for that.

Joe S.

Actual rating: 3.5 Stars. In Chicago's greek town, each restaurant seems to try to separate itself from the other Greek restaurants by doing something a little different than its neighbors. Athena's strong points are: 1. The outdoor dining experience. There is not a better outdoor dining atmosphere in Greektown other than Athena. Try it on a beautiful evening and have an outdoor seat next to their waterfall and enjoy the ethnic music. You will not believe you are in Chicago. 2. The reliable and dependable food. I have dined here at least 10 times and every time the food is great; not blow-my-mind-out-of-this-world spectacular, but flavorful and dependable. You always know what you're going to get. Suggestion To Owners: Use ALL fresh and local produce items if and when available. For example, in the "chicken breast lemonate", get rid of those bagged baby carrots and bagged broccoli florets.... use freshly sliced carrots and freshly chopped broccoli. If I wanted bagged carrots and broccoli, I would have gone to trader joe's.

Albert L.

The Athena patio is perfect for those last days of summer...the tables are spaced nicely, the food is good, service excellent and the pace slow and relaxing. It's an ideal place to have a long leisurely lunch. The gyros plate (on a bed of onions and pita bread) and traditional pasta (with shrimp) were quite good and our neighbors' baklava looked delicious. Prices were reasonable as well: about $10.95-20/entree. Parking was also a breeze with a choice of valet or a parking lot across the street.

Alison H.

I enjoy Athena----it's one of my two "favorite" Greek restaurants. (The other is Pegasus.) The restaurant is spacious, which means you usually don't have to wait too long to be seated. (Although one Saturday night the hostess forgot about our party of 6 while we waited in the bar---she thought we'd already been seated!) The food is dependable, although not the best Greek I've ever had, and the menu is extensive. Perhaps the best thing about Athena is the large outdoor patio in the summer. It's nicely shielded from the street and sidewalk with clear walls, making it extra pleasant to sit outside. (I don't understand people who are anxious to sit outside when the patio is literally at the curb!) Athena is definitely worth a visit the next time you want Greek food.

Alex C.

Wow - all these raves are surprising. Their patio is, although spacious, fairly lame. That waterfall thing is sort of cheesy - as are the mismatched petunia baskets and plastic chairs and tables. The food was alright. We are vegs so we had the vegetable platter which was over-sauced and as a result every vegetable tasted the same. We also had the moussaka which was really pretty redeeming if not a little rich. We also had a lemon custard bar for dessert which wasn't my favorite either. That said, our waiter was so attentive and sweet. I've had better Greek and certainly seen al fresco done much nicer, but the service was really tops, as were the handicapped pigeons wandering beneath our table. Cute!

Kay Z.

Food was good waiter was rude at best. acted like I was a bother. Walked away while I was requesting more coffee. Took 10 mins to cash out. Service sucked so bad ruined the good food

Ingrid G.

The only thing this place has going for it is the outdoor patio. The food is icky. Yucky. Not good. If Parthenon is the Platonic ideal, Athena is Dante.

Ed J.

I love Athena! Its perfect for my best friends and I here, especially in the summetime...I love theoutdoor patio seating with the mini waterfall or waterpond whatever it is..I thought the service was great, the food was great, had the Octopus, some calamari, some eggplant app, basically ordered a bunch of apps for 3 ladies some wine, and the bill wasnt too bad. I thought I had a lovely experience here and couldnt wait to come back in the summertime again!

Amanda T.

Beautiful restaurant, but the owner was so rude and abrasive when I walked in that I walked back out. First impressions are important and having someone so rude when you walk in is such a turn off!

Natalie R.

I am torn. Athena, with your glorious patio, twinkling lights, free valet, clean tables, and excellent water service, I was prepared for a new love affair. A family tradition, even. "Going to Greektown?" "Oh yes, to the Athena. *We* always eat at the Athena when we go to Greektown." "Oh yes, the Athena, excellent choice." "Yes, we know. That's why we go there." But I don't think so. Perhaps my Detroit-Greektown background has just ruined me for Chicago-Greektown. I don't think so...maybe I just need a brief education in Chicago-Greektown traditions. The lamb was very tender and good - but, was the saganaki supposed to be cold? Was it supposed to taste and smell like baby spitup? Was my rice and potato supposed to be cold? I know the rice isn't served off a burner, but stone cold? Was the steamed broccoli supposed to be raw? If it was, then you did everything you were supposed to do. But I still haven't found *my* Greektown.

Barbie S.

hmm... I am really surprised to such stellar reviews about the service. It was GNO and we decided to eat here because of the outdoor patio which was fabulous! However... that is where the fabulous ended... We ordered Greek Salads, and ugh I forgot to ask for the dressing on the side - but that was my fault. But when our salads arrived, the lettuce was soggy & it was SWIMMING in balsamic vinegar. So the salad was the best part of the meal.... So bottom line, my friends ordered Kabobs and I ordered GRILLED Kalamari... the food came out, and the waiter puts a plate of FRIED Kalamari in front of me. So I ask him why it is not grilled, & he says 'You didn't order the GRILLED Kalamari..." I am thinking I am crazy... maybe i did make a mistake, but i never eat fried calamari so i KNEW i didn't order it.. And my friend speaks up confirming i ordered the grilled... well apparently the waiter didn't like that. He proceeds to raise his voice and actually argue with me, telling me it is too late i HAVE to take that - no apology mind you. And I don't have to TAKE anything... so I guess there is some new rule somewhere that says i HAVE to eat food I didn't order and don't like???? Since when? It is HIS mistake. He is like it is too late it will take 25 minutes for new order.... Needless to say, I was a little more than slightly perturbed by the whole situation, so i am not one to make a scene anywhere, but i shoved the plate and said take this I am not eating this, remove this from the table. What he is thinking he will leave it on the table and we will have to pay for something no one ordered or wanted??? So I was just gonna share my friends meals, we weren't gonna wait for new meal, and SURE enough... not even 5 minutes later, the waiter shows up... with my grilled kalamari... apparently he grabbed the wrong plate.... SO YOU THINK HE WOULD APOLOGIZE FOR HIS MISTAKE???? well again of course not... Lastly we all ordered the baklava cheesecake, and it wasn't anything special either. The whole meal, was average. Just average. Nothing special. The patio was great, service sucked, and the food mediocre. Would I go back? I have had better Greek food, and even with the patio, since when it is acceptable for a waiter to be arguing with customers, when it was his fault. (and even an apology?) hmph! A BIG THUMBS DOWN!!!

Justin W.

I didn't get to enjoy the patio area, due to the cold weather, but I really enjoyed the food! The saganaki came out perfect and actually better than other places I've had it. Our waiter seemed very attentive and helpful, but strangely distant. However, that won't deter me from visiting again. Great baklava and rice pudding! Thanks for not giving us gigantic portions!

Jessica M.

I was surprised this place had just three stars. My husband doesn't like this place, so I hadn't been, even though I live just three blocks away. However, my friend suggested it for lunch, so we went, on what seems to have been the last nice day of the year -- so we ate al fresco in late October, which seems insane. The patio is beautiful and my food (a cup of avgalemono and the Greek salad) was very good. I'll be back (but without my spouse... :))

Shannon F.

This place was just plain bad! I guess I should preface this by admitting to not being a huge fan of Greek food but this had nothing to do with cuisine type and everything to do with bad cooking. The saganaki was really, really gross - extremely salty with a chemical after taste! How can you mess up cheese?? My lamb dish was also bad and I generally like lamb any way it is prepared. I tried my friend's food which was also too salty. I thought the ambiance was bland and the waitstaff was ok but definitely not attentive. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place. I am not sure what in Greektown is better but I am sure better exists!

K. M.

The food was good. I ordered a greek salad- good. I also ordered the Lamb dish with rice and potatoes. It was ok, I wish the meat was seasoned better, tasted bland.

Aaron B.

Awesome greek food, good value. Entrees are around $12-$18 on average, and about as good as it gets. Service was excellent, and the patio is enchanting on a good weather day.

Kari S.

I really like Athena because it is low-key, the service is great, and the food is very good. I've mostly gone with groups- usually when parents are in town. I like to order a chicken dish or the stuffed peppers (one tomato, one green pepper, and my favorite, zucchini). In the summer the patio is awesome. It has a great view of the city, nice lighting, and again, a casual ambiance. When I came with a larger group we did the greek family dinner. We had so much food that there were definitely leftovers. It was a nice option in order to experience a taste of Greek food to figure out what you like. The best thing I've had here was one of the greek salads- it has feta, dill, kalamata olives, a great dressing and veggies. Its delicious. The dill gives it an added unique flavor. They also carry very good greek wines that will not break the bank. Ask your server for a recommedation. The yogurt dessert is a little odd, but its something interesting to try. I've given Athena four stars because it isn't the most absolute amazing Greek restaurant, but they do a good job of making me a very happy patron.

Kate B.

We went here for our NYE dinner and it was pretty good. We did make reservations, so there was no wait at all. From the time we ordered to the time we left I think it was under and hour, everything was cooked fast and it was tasty! Their portions are HUGE, so the next time I go here I think i would order and appetizer and split a main dish. The loss for one star is for our dessert, Im not sure what it was called, but it wasn't good at all, in fact the waiter kind of giggled when we ordered it.... I wish he would have steered us down the correct dessert path... Because what we had tasted like whipped cream covered hay.

Jennifer G.

Athena is what Greek Islands should be. The lemon rice soup is the best I have had and I have had a lot of lemon rice soups. The lamb was incredible, the greek potatoes were fresh and so lemony and the saganaki was awesome. Desert - not so much.

Stacy B.

Just tried this place and absolutely loved it! Started with the stuffed red peppers with feta (delicious), saganaki (fun and tasty) and their hummus. The pita was light and fluffy. We got a Greek Salad, which was great and the lamb chops, which were tender and flavorful. Our server was old-school and so funny--a great personality! We finished our meal with baklava, which was light and flakey and all goodness. This is my new spot in Greek Town and I can't wait to check out their patio in the summer, which looks amazing! Highly recommend for Greek in Chicago.

Stephen D.

If you're looking for good Greek food, this is the place. Spot-on service. Amazing calamari. It looks like a 'secret garden,' with ivy and hanging flowers all around their outdoor patio. Make sure you reserve, though, since it's often busy. Inside there's a nice bar with over 30 different beers. Now, let's talk about the food a bit. The seafood salad is a tasty treat, but be careful-- it's huge. Their Greek salads are excellent for a party of four or more. If you're looking for some good meat dishes, the kabobs are tasty-- but order side dishes too.

Aimee C.

2/23/2008 I've returned and it was just as I remembered... The Octopodi is fabulous.. Yay! _________________________________________ Athena has amazing food, but the ambiance has a little to desire. It's a little too cold right now for me to appreciate the outdoor patio, but soon, i'll update you all. The Octopus was enormous and grilled to perfection. Served on a huge platter with enough to feed a little army. I'd say the staff was not as fun as they could be and not as attentive as they should be, but this is chicago and i'm learning, you all are a little tougher than i expect. I'd definitely go back!

michelle p.

Saganaki is always good....you can't really mess that up! The veggie moussaka wasn't total caca but the service was. Oh and there was a critter crawling on the table. Oh -Pa...Pleease!

Angela K.

I really liked their outdoor seating area. The Saganaki (goat cheese) was very delicious. I also had the lunch special Gyros Salad and the Ek Mek (shredded wheat) for dessert. I thought that the Gyros Salad was a bit greesy but acceptable.

Jessica Y.

Overall I thought this place was decent: authentic servers, decent greek food.. Two things I think are worth mentioning are the HUGE outdoor patio, which filled up quickly over lunch hour on a warm spring weekday and the weekday lunch specials consisting of salad, fish, or other greek favorites ranging from $8-12 each. If you work downtown and want a sit outside for a decently priced, decently delicious lunch, I'd recommend you try Athena.

lana v.

The only reason I come here is because I love the outdoor patio. It is very cute and charming, with a small waterfall, flowers, etc. The food is not great, I have been several times and have tried many different items off of the menu and have yet to be impressed. I love Parthenon and the food here does not compare. The service has been good, and the wine selection is good.

Rebecca B.

We passed by Pegasus, Santorini and Greek Islands to have dinner at Athena because we were tempted by its patio. Unfortunately, the nice night and wonderful company wasn't enough to make up for the mediocre food and. My key gripes: -Saganaki came to the table cold--I know fire codes prevent the whole Opa! spectacle but cold? Come on... -Table clearer/busboy cleared half- full (half-empty?) plates without offering us the chance to wrap the leftovers up. Not that I wanted to, but considering the huge portions that remained on each of our plates it seemed rather wasteful. -Bad baklava. Soggy and over-sweet. 'Nu ff said. The patio redeems the place somewhat, and the fish chowder gets it the additional star from me, but otherwise--I'd stick w/ Pegasus or Greek Isles...

Trinidad F.

I came here with my friend about two summers ago and really can't remember what I ate. Last night I came here on a date and it was just bad. It wasn't too busy for a Friday night. The atmosphere is very warm and comfy. We were seated immediately. I didn't like where our table was because we sat next to the doors that stay open in the summer for the outdoor patio. There was a constant draft. Booo... They brought out water, bread and butter. I really didn't know what to get. There was a vegetarian section on the menu but it didn't seem like much. Our waiter was very quiet. He didn't speak much and he just had this look on his face like he didn't want to be there or deal with us. For appetizers we got feta zesti which is basically feta cheese with baked tomatoes and herbs. I adore feta cheese!! It arrived with more bread and it was so good. Yummy!!! I decided on a half order of spanakorizo. Its just spinach with rice. It was good. OK so here is why I left so upset and unsatisfied. I ordered the vegetable pasta. Just veggies with pasta in a light cream sauce. When it arrived I was excited because it was a nice, big serving with veggies. When I finally started eating I realized there was no flavor. The sauce was too light so there was no taste to it. Then I noticed that the veggies looked very familiar. I'm a huge fan of the Bird's Eye veggies that you simply pop in the microwave and is ready in minutes. It was all coming together. Lol. My pasta was basically a few noodles with tons of frozen veggies that were tossed in the microwave. BLAH!!!!! I was so upset I didn't finish it and just took the rest home. I don't think I'll be returning. I really think I can make better pasta at home with the Bird's Eye veggies!

Ken O.

Couple friends and I had stopped into Athena for a relaxing evening. Plus we were looking for a central location for all of us with an outdoor patio. I was greeted by the hostess and since my friends had not arrived, she asked me to let her know when they have arrived. I was able to find a seat at the bar and had a glass of the house Pinot Grigio. It wasn't to bad. Once everyone had arrived, we were seated on the patio. We were greeted shortly after being seated. We were fine with drinks so the server had went over the menu and the specials. After a few minutes of reviewing the menu, we were ready. For an appetizer, we had ordered the Saganaki, Feta Zesti and Hummus. For the main entree, I had ordered the Pork Chop which was highly recommended by one of my friends. Sorry, I don't remember what my friends had ordered. The appetizers were delivered within a few minutes then shortly after that, the main entrees were delivered. All of the food and service were fantastic. We had opted to skip dessert. The service went MIA after dropping of the check but luckily we were not really in a rush. Looking forward to go back to this fine restaurant.

John A.

Today Labor Day was my first time eating at Athena Restaurant and sadly will not return and I will tell you why.. I will start with the pros, the place itself has an impressive layout, beautiful to be fair. The food was good but not good enough to justify the mediocre service. I had the stuffed chicken breast and the prep time was fine, the chicken was juicy and tender, flavor was good. My girlfriend can't say the same for her Mousaka, though unless you like 'mush'. She only had one bite and left it all. Our server was not very courteous, welcoming, or friendly. No follow up asking us how our food was or even attempted to make eye contact despite seeing that we were done eating and just waiting for 20+ minutes for him. It was not a full house and he clearly had plenty if time to ask his other tables around us how everything was and even take them all soda refills. So, while I don't like to be unfair and judge a place based on ONE server, I decided to get up and ask for a manager which in turn was also a waste of time, not a single apology or even an attempt to fix the situation. With that being said, I am extremely dissatisfied and will never return. What a waste of $38, I would have gotten better service at McDonalds. Only reason they don't get a 1 star review is because the setting and food earned them the one star. Don't waste your time or money at this place.

Shannon N.

Came back (9 years after my first visit...) recently for dinner, and had a great meal. Started with the saganaki, which actually wasn't particularly great -- not enough of the alcohol burned off, oddly. But shared a bowl of the excellent egg lemon soup and that made things better. ;) I had one of the night's specials, a braised lamb dish that was different than their usual braised lamb dish, which another guest at the table ordered. I think mine had lemon in it, and it wasn't a thick tomato sauce like my friend's dish. I loved it. He liked his, so that's a win-win. ;) For my son, I ordered the appetizer Kotosouvlakia, chicken skewers, and it was a very generous portion of four big skewers cooked perfectly. Awesome! Another friend had the "Chicken Breast Lemonati" described in the menu as "Strips of chicken breast sautéed with vegetables in lemon sauce and served over rice". None of us liked this one - the chicken was meh, and it was just a big mess of veggies and some strips of chicken. Rice was buried in there. Definitely wouldn't order this one again. Service wasn't particularly great, but overall it was a great meal and I would return. Definitely more of an upscale experience compared to the neighboring Rodity's, but I think I give them the edge on the food overall.

Cri C.

When my friend and I visited Chicago recently we ended up staying in Greektown. Each day on our walk to downtown we passed Athena and admired the big, beautiful patio we could see through the window. Eventually we conceded that we must pay the restaurant a visit before the end of our trip. We made a reservation for Sunday night, and luckily so because the place was packed and we had to wait a little. Once we were seated our server was prompt in coming to introduce himself and bring water. We ended up ordering Greek wine wine upon his recommendation and dolmades to start. My friend then ordered the moussaka and I got the vegetarian moussaka. Everything was brought out very efficiently and was delicious. The moussaka itself was an extremely large portion and we each struggled to finish it. Overall the service was very solid and the restaurant seemed authentic with a majority of Greek staff. Having been to Santorini before I'd have to say that it really did give off a similar vibe. The white decor and patio brick wall with overgrown ivy and flowers really added to the ambiance.

Hollina U.

Food here is just alright. I had the char grilled octopus and the seafood kebab. The best part of the kebab was the grilled shrimp. The salmon and swordfish were bland. I do love the open air seating that they have here though, which is awesome on a summer evening. I wish we were seated closer to the water fountain/waterfall though. Service was pretty good, until the end of our meal when our server disappeared. Maybe he went on break or they swapped servers on us, but we waited a while to pay.

Nataliya A.

Came here for dinner with a friend because I live in the area and absolutely love seeing their patio. I was very impressed with food and service so I am not sure why all the negative reviews. We came in on a busy Wednesday night but got lucky and were seated right away. The server came by fairly quickly and spoke to us about food and wine options. After looking through the large menu we decided on the combination plate and saganaki to share. The food came out in good timing and the saganaki was spot on. Then the combination plate came out and we were almost shocked at the amount of food, it was a huge portion for the 2 of us. I am usually not a fan of the grape leaf rolls but they were absolutely delicious! What impressed me the most I think is the rice. So simple yet so delicious. There was a perfect balance of spices and moisture added with the peas, I could have some right now! The lamb was cooked to perfection, and the lasagna hit the spot. Our server was very friendly, the patio is gorgeous, and the bathrooms were clean. I can really see this place becoming our go to - "there is nothing in the fridge lets go out" place :)

Marcia S.

It was 75 with low humidity, and I let my friend talk me into coming here again. After all, it's still the best open air restaurant in Greektown. It had been about four months since my last meal at Athena, and I had low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised to find the food had improved. My village salad was fresh and interesting, and my grilled salmon was super fresh and cooked perfectly. But the service was the same old, same old. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful when we asked for suggestions, but after we got our entrees, he had been assigned tables on the opposite side of the large room. So he was never around when we needed something, like another glass of wine. Not sure why this restaurant can't get the service end right. I'm giving it one more star for the vast improvement in food.

Casey F.

The patio alone is enough to keep me coming back to this restaurant. Maybe the best patio I've experienced in Chicago. My husband and I went for an early dinner (6:30) without a reservation got seated promptly to enjoy an alfresco meal. The service was so friendly and attentive. Our meals were superb. We got a bottle of wine, the gyros plate and pork sausage for apps which were amazing and ended up being so much food. Entrees we got a braised lamb shank and lamb with artichokes. I requested that my rice and potatoes be subbed out with green beans and I was pleasantly surprised that they not only obliged but they put together a veggie mix complete with green beans, peas, onions, peppers and tomatoes. Absolutely amazing. The lamb was so unbelievably tender it just fell off the bone. The prices are so reasonable especially considering how much food you get!! And that patio. Yes please.

Jessica M.

Six of us made 7:30pm reservations for Friday night. We promptly arrived but only to wait 40 minutes for our table. The host was apologetic whenever I asked how much longer it would take. To my frustration, he could not give an exact answer. First, he said our table will be ready once it is cleaned. But when I asked a second time, he stated there were four tables ahead of us. I was not pleased. The point in making a reservation is to skip a long wait. If they cannot handle the capacity, they should regulate the number of reservations to accept. We were eventually seated and we had no time to waste. For appetizers, we shared the saganaki and char-broiled octopus with lemon and olive oil. The octopus was light with a generous portion. Each piece was tender and succulent. The saganaki is the flaming cheese so do expect it to be a bit oily. It goes well with the complimentary bread or by itself. For us, one order was enough to go around. I think our waiter should have given us a heads up when it was brought out. Nobody in their right mind would want a flaming surprise within a few feet of their head full of hair. For entrees, we ordered six entrees: dolmades, mousakas, loukaniko, paidakia, vegetarian mousaka, and veggie kabob. The paidakia was the highlight of the meal. A plate came with five thin slabs of butterfly lamb chops. It was perfectly grilled with a heavy usage of Rosemary but it did not overpower the lamb's natural flavors. The meat was particularly tender and juicy. Along with the lamb chops were a side of rice and potatoes. The rest of the meal was average. The dolmades are rice and ground beef wrapped in grape vine leaves and drenched in an egg-lemon sauce. It comes with a side of green peas. If you are unfamiliar with the cuisine, the grape vine leaves are edible. We had the mousakas in two versions and their appearance is similar to lasagna. The ground beef mousaka came with eggplant, zucchini, potato, cheese, and bechamel sauce. The vegetarian version is the same but without the ground beef. Both came with a side of rice. The loukaniko is homemade Greek sausage served with a rice and potatoes. It has a slice spice and is great for sharing. The veggie kabob can be skipped. One plate came with two skewers of tomato, onion, eggplant, green pepper, and zucchini. The items were drenched in olive oil and flavors were extremely light. To end the meal, we shared three desserts. The baklava and galaktobouriko were delightful. The latter is a light vanilla flavored custard in honey dipped filo dough. Both were served in square pieces so it was rather easy to cut and divide among ourselves. The Greek yogurt was served with dried fruits and honey. It was highly recommended by our waiter but it fell short of our liking. The yogurt was very creamy and the fruits were exceptionally sour. For approximately $30 per person, we had more than enough food and we brought four boxes of leftovers home. It is a good deal for that price and the grilled lamb chops deserve a return. But I do not see us returning in the near future. We would not mind taking our exploratory cravings elsewhere with better management.

Stephanie L.

I love Athena!! By far my fav Greek restaurant in greektown. The servers crack me up here. Always cracking jokes. I love their new atrium area. It's beautiful & all seasons! Gyro platter is where it's at! The tzatziki sauce is yummy as well. You'll only smell like garlic for the next two days.

Alex K.

Have you ever really really wanted to like a restaurant but after you leave you end up being really disappointed? That is how I felt with Athena. After seeing the amazing looking outdoor patio when passing by on Halsted I wanted to give it a try. To be fair the patio is very impressive. Open air on a beautiful night with an ivy covered wall and views of the buildings in Greektown is definitely an experience. Unfortunately that's the highlight. This could possibly be unique to my table but the service left a lot to be desired. We didn't order drinks for 15 minutes and once we ordered our maybe we weren't checked on the rest of the meal. My party agreed we would have ordered at least another round of drinks if we had the opportunity. At least there were authentic Greek beers available. They tasted similar to polish and other European beers that many Chicagoans might be familiar with. The food was standard Greek fare. Saganaki was a must, just a warning if you're eating outside it doesn't get flamed at your table to avoid embarrassing situations in which your hair might catch fire. The calamari was ok, here you get the large rings but no tentacles if that's your thing. My party agreed the best dish was the lamb loin chops that were on special. They gave three nice sized chops grilled well. Everything else seemed kind of blah. The combo plate was just stuffed with food. I don't think any of it was particularly great but it was a lot. My wife got the moussaka and it just seemed like there was a big tray of it in a warmer and a square just gets plopped onto the plate. The only thing I'd have to recommend is the saganaki. It was rich and lemony and amazing. Athena was a bit of a let down for me. You get a great atmosphere but really average food. If bringing someone here to show off the city and wanting a cool ambiance is important to you, this is your place though. Just don't expect to be blown away by the food.

Tracy S.

After reviewing reviews on yelp I saw this place and photos and thought we would try it out. Looks like they just did a makeover, the decorations and ambience were very updated and very nice. FOOD: we started with the fried cheese, and it did not disappoint. The waiter came out and place the cheese on fire and it was quite a scene, in a good way. The gyro plate was a plenty. So much food!!! And the tZiki sauce was one of the best I've had. Dessert was great, we had a custard-like plate that was made w orange and cinnamon and flaky pastries on top. SERVICE: from the minute you walked in, you felt welcomed in the restaurant. The host was very friendly and the wait staff was extremely fun and friendly and you could tell that they enjoyed working there.

Adam K.

Just love Athena. The best Greek in the city. From the bread service to the baklava it's all fantastic. Get the saganaki (fire cheese). The experience will be memorable. Valet is free...in Chicago?! Eat outside, if you can.

John L.

Alright so i am Greek. No honestly a real Greek raised and born in Athens and i hate going to Greek restaurants abroad simply because most of the times they offer food thats not even greek or reminds you of something Greek. Well not this time Since this is my first time in Chicago my friends asked me to check out this restaurant to see how Greek is their food. I can tell you that its as Greek as it gets. Most of the dishes taste exactly as the ones you would have in a greek restaurant in Greece. Very good ingredients and a hige variety to choose from. Topping that is their wine list which surprised me with the variety of Greek wines they had. Keep in mid that Greece produces very good wine but in small batches which makes it very difficult to get wines outside the county. Add the amazing patio and the good service and there you have it

Stefanie A.

When the sun finally shines and the weather hits 70, the best place to enjoy dinner is outside. And when you're craving greek food and also want to dine al fresco- go no where else but Athena. We headed here last night and enjoyed another amazing dinner. Located in the heart of Greektown, Athena boast the largest and most beautiful outdoor dining area, complete with a gorgeous fountain. A retractable ceiling allows for dining in this part of the restaurant even if an the weather doesn't want to cooperate. For dinner we had the grilled octopus app, swordfish kebobs, roasted lamb, and a side of the greek vegetables. All delicious. Server recommended a great red wine, I believe it was called St. George. And for dessert, you can't beat their baklava. It's one of my favorite desserts and theirs is one of the best I've ever had.

Walter G.

Great place, great food and nice bar. I visit this place every time I'm in town. Everything from the Gyro to the Lamb leg and octopus is very good. And prices are very reasonable.

Erin M.

Athena has the most beautiful patio of any restaurant in Greek Town by far. The food was very good as well. The kalamata olives were amazing. Order a bunch of stuff to share, definitely the way to go.

Eli T.

First time I went to there, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The outside tables are awesome with great view, there food is great. So I decided to book a table for next weekend for my wife/s birthday we asked for the manager and the he promised us that they can seat us outside. I called the day of the reservation to make sure we have the table outside and I've been told by the manager that they can't sit us outside because it's beautiful day and they don't want to lose money. I don't understand why we can't sit outside even though we had a reservation... We are so disappointed. Shame

Zaad T.

The food was OK. That's all I can say. I got the platter to get a sample of different dishes. Everything was dumped on a plate. The tastes were mixed. The sauce from one food was leaking to another. I end up not know what I actually ate! And what each was supposed to taste like. The staff were super nice though and the dessert was good. These two made it a 3 instead of a 2 star!

Jeff N.

We were there probably on their busiest day of the year. Greek Fest Sunday. They handled the crowds well and really delivered! Great wine list Both breads were delicious Saganaki was great Pork chops were thick and amazing The lamb was so tender!! We watched the street fair craziness from the outdoor seating with the waterfall and resort like seating. The server was busy but attentive. Nice work! Our new favorite Greek restaurant.

Lauren K.

Great service at the bar. Saganaki great. Feta cheese spread good. Pork chops awfully dry and overcooked. After I told the waiter that, he never came back to our table and had to hunt him down for the check. Guess he was mad I didn't like the pork chops? Won't be back but very cute outdoor area to say the least.

Bora A.

This is my fav Fish restaurant. Good sea bass, good okra as an appetizer,fresh salad,good Turkish coffee and baklava. Love it!

Gerardo V.

Dined there on a Saturday night. Seated quickly, ordered and the food arrived in about 5 minutes! I ordered the gyros plate, and discovered that the meat was not hot but warm to cool and so was cold before I finished it.

Alison Y.

I was looking for a place for lunch on a beautiful Sunday and this place caught my eye because of their amazing open patio complete with waterfalls and ocean blue umbrellas. I stepped into the restaurant feeling like I was on vacation in paradise. It was a perfect day and a perfect place to enjoy a nice sunny Sunday afternoon. The complimentary bread with the sesame was tasty. I tried the fried calamari appetizer which had gigantic pieces of calamari rings. While the portion and size were generous, the batter didn't cling to the calamari well and I wish they were smaller so it could be bite size. I felt like it was too big of a mouthful eating one whole piece but cutting it up meant the outter batter fell apart :( The entrees are also gigantic portion. I tried the combo plate and the beef kebab. The combo plate was a nice way to try a lot of their classic greek dishes. My favorite was the mousakas (layers of eggplant, zucchini, potato, ground beef and cheese, topped with bechamel sauce). The pastistos (like mac'n'cheese with ground beef) was interesting but probably not something I would get again, haha. I haven't had a ton of Greek food so this was a good option for me. The beef kebab was like the godzilla of kebabs! I don't think I got through more than 1/4 of it before calling it a day but the meat was tender and the veggies grilled well. The beef didn't seem like it was marinated; it was a pretty basic salt and pepper preparation so I wasn't overly impressed. Our experience was ruined a bit by all the bees that came around our table towards the end of our meal. Not sure why but it was enough to make me want to dine and dash despite loving the actual seating area. I would definitely come back for the ambiance especially on a nice summer night!

Carolina D.

What a beautiful setting tainted by terrible service. It's so gorgeous in there, I would rent it for a private event under the condition that I bring my own staff. We had such impersonal service by an older gentleman, that he made us feel like we were a fly in his food. The regulars that said hi to the employees, he made feel welcome and checked on them often. The food was just average at best, but the moussaka was inedible. I took a single bite and left the rest. For over 25 minutes, my food just sat there and at no point did he give us refills or even asked how the food was. We had to get up to get the check because it was time to go and no attention was given to us for well over half an hour at a half empty restaurant. The manager simply brought the check and said thank you. The hostess seemed to have more sympathy for us but she had no power to fix the situation. Anyway, in a nutshell, come to sit in their outdoorsy area for a simple snack and enjoy the scenery. Go have the actual meal elsewhere.

Allison J.

Awesome outdoor patio for the summer! Definitely one of the best!! Food is average. Saganaki was good but our main courses were nothing to come back for. The spanakopita was average.. Definitely come during the summer for a nice outdoor atmosphere.

Caroline F.

great service! It was such a great time to have lunch with mom here. This was my third visit to this restaurant~ another awesome experience!

Jason H.

Didn't do a lot to make itself stand out from the crowd. The bread was very plain - both the sesame seed and regular. Saganaki was good, but when isn't it? I enjoyed my swordfish, very fresh...but the dominant taste was grill char which got bothersome after a while. The sauce served with the fish was pretty good. Veggies, rice and potato all very run-of-the-mill as well. It's Greektown, the options are endless...but I will say I love the decor and ambiance here.

Mark H.

We loved the indoor courtyard. A beautiful place to dine al fresco. All the food was excellent. We especially like the fried zucchini, bacalao, and arni fourno.

Maria R.

Food was awesome, we ordered appetizers they were good. Yougurt with cherries was the best part of it.

Margarita F.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this restaraunt!!!! What do I love so much about it, you ask? Everything!!!! The food is delicious and has been kept at the same standard the last 4-5 years I have been coming here. The valet parking is a huge plus, knowing how hard it is to find parking in Greektown, The service is top of the line! Very warm people , who are happy to be there. Oh, and the patio is amazing! Rain or shine, it is open, although they close it down with an awesome glass structure, if necessary. Awesome place, would definitely recommend it, check it out and you will forever be hooked .

Ryan K.

I cannot speak to the quality of the food, as we did not make it that far. It was 11:30 on a Monday morning, an early lunch. My co-worker and I were greeted promptly by a man in a jacket and tie and escorted to a table in a large, glass-enclosed dining room. There were three other parties seated at the time, lots of open tables, and enough waiters to fill a football team. We were brought bread and water shortly after being seated. No words, no eye contact, and no one ever came back. We stacked our menus and started looking around. No one took our drink order, no one looked at us. After 15 minutes we got up and approached a group of three waiters standing around. We asked them if someone could come by and take our order. They all looked at each other, said ok and then scattered in different directions like cockroaches. Still, no one came back. We got up and went down the street to Mr. Greek Gyros ( yelp.com/biz/mr-greek-gy… ) where they don't have a nice, bright dining room or waiters, but do acknowledge you and take your order. One star, because zero stars isn't an option. Hard pass.

Samantha F.

Octopus & leg of lamb was great! Love the patio! Bartender "Emilia" Shitty attitude and I would not come back based on her customer service.

Melissa B.

This place taught me to stick with my Greek town favorites from here on out. My girlfriend insisted we meet here as opposed to our usual (Greek Islands). I don't think she will make that mistake again. On a Friday night it never filled up. We were there from 5:15 to 8:30 and it never once got crowded. The atmosphere was almost like a funeral home. I felt like everyone there wanted a quiet boring dinner. It's just not what I'm used to. The food wasn't good enough to make up for it. The grilled octopus the waiter recommended was chewy. The saganaki was good (hard to mess that up). My chicken kabob was overpriced and bland. It was a very tiny portion for the price. They didn't even put enough peppers and tomatoes on it! Dessert and coffee were good. Service was great! I would consider drinks on the nice patio in the summer. Then I would head elsewhere for good food!

Rudy R.

I ordered pasta with my fish even though it wasn't an option and they allowed it. So beautiful!

Bibi L.

I'm a boring greek food eater. I always get the lamb chop lollipop also known as the baby rack of lamb. As I ordered it, I did feel a little guilty but it sure tasted great. Yeah, I'm going to hell for at least a year. It was perfectly cooked with a pink bloody center and seasoned to perfection. My partner enjoyed the Horta salad which is an acquired taste. I liked their signature saganaki cheese appetizer. Their outdoor space was lovely for a summer Chicago night out. It was the best in Greek town from what I can see. Cheers to becoming a big greek, or just big.

Steve M.

Great ambiance and great food. Really like the large outdoor eating space and the waterfall.

Bill S.

First time here. Left satisfied. They give you starter bread. But boring I was expecting pita or something more Greek. Water in the tables then they left a pitcher onwards. Started with flaming saganaki (?). Bit oily and they couldn't light it because we sat outside. Tasted "greekish" cheese. Not like feta cheese but more like fancy burned cheese dough. Ordered Greek salad. Bit disappointed as I ordered no dressing and olives. Came with both but the sever quickly changed it. Tasted plain can't say it's my favorite Greek salad because that's at Cheesecake Factory. Ordered rose wine. Bit bitter would only recommend it with snacks and not main course. I also ordered a Hillas beer. Quite refreshing with nice malts and hops comparable to blue moon meets a coors light.For dinner I ordered a gyros appetizer and my colleague what looked like a Greek version of lasagna. My gyro came with two pieces of pita bread. It was hard to eat because I was expecting a gyro type bread like for a sandwich. I tried some of the lasagna "moussaka?" It was quite tasty. We tried to order tiramisu for dessert but they were all out. Overall service lacked and I guess I wasn't sure what to expect because it was my first time. Server seemed rushed and didn't care to tell us about the menu.Food was decent but if I'm back I'll try different things. Nice patio with a waterfall and lively music in the background.

Cali G.

This restaurant is very beautiful. I would say that out of all the restaurants in Greektown, this is a bit more lively and perfect for the under 40 crowd + they employ a lot more eye candy waiters than most Greek restaurants. Sorry guys.. there is a shortage of woman waitresses. The restaurant has a section where it opens up in the summertime and gives you a small glimpse of how it's like to dine in Greece. Makes your dining experience that much nicer. The food is your typical Greek food. It's delish depending on what your taste buds are like. I can't say that they offer dishes that are more unique than other Greek restaurants, but it's very consistent time and time again. I have eaten here a ton, and I never had any issues.

Kiel S.

To be fair, I'm not a fan of greek food so I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this but the rest of my party wanted to try it so I gave it a shot. The dining room is really cool because the roof opens up to allow outside dining feel and they also have a huge patio on the back which is where we sat. The waiter was very helpful. I kept it simple and went with a piece of grilled chicken. It was a little spicy for my taste but I think I would have asked for less pepper. My meal also came with rice and some type of potato which I would have done without. The rest of the members in my party ordered the steak kabobs and they were excellent, the steak was seasoned with something which made them out of this world. I probably should have gotten that. The environment was very cool and seemed like a lot of locals go there because the waiters seemed to have really great interactions with some people. We did not order any drinks or desert so I cannot comment on that but for someone who isn't really a fan of greek food, I was happy with my meal.

Jeph W.

This place is superb. Food, atmosphere, service! Although I am biased by already having a favorite Greek joint back home in Detroit - New Helles - this place is by far my favorite Greek outside Detroit! We sat outside in their courtyard, which slightly resembled ol' Trapper's Alley - a long gone gem of Detroit's Greektown that was my favorite Detroit attraction! Lastly, the service was unparalleled - my waiter and bussers were very attentive, and were even comfortable joking around - it felt like I was family :)

Bridget M.

The food here was amazing. I don't think I knew what GOOD Tzatziki sauce was until I had it from here. If you are a sauce person like me, then the Tzatziki sauce alone is reason enough to go here. Beautiful, open patio makes this place! Great place to sit in the sun next to the decorative rock waterfall with a cocktail in hand.

Linda G.

I came here on a cold winter night. The restaurant closes at 11 due to weather conditions. My friend and I didn't know since we used Yelp to find Athenas. The facility was so nice they let us stay for an extra hour! The food was amazing!!!!

Cheryl S.

We came here for lunch last week. We came to this restaurant because, while we are not Greek, our daughter's name is Athena. I wanted her to experience authentic Greek food. We sat in the outside patio. We had a fairly large group, and we all ordered different dishes. Our meal started with some tasty bread. I had the lunch combo plate. It had moussaka, pastitsio, potato and dolmades. It was a lot of food. I'm generally not a fan of dolmades, and this was no exception. The moussaka was excellent, as was the potato. I think I've had better pastitsio elsewhere, but it was still okay. All of the servings were large, and we had enough food leftover to take a couple of containers to my brother-in-law, who works downtown and couldn't get away to join us. I would go again, but would probably try some of the other restaurants nearby first.

Brant P.

Outdoor area was awesome and the apps are great. Full dinner portion was good but nothing great at all.

Richard R.

Food was fine. Service was atrocious. Took forever to get lunchtime service at each step - taking order, getting food, getting check, etc. However that was nothing compared to how they handled bringing us the wrong food. We ordered 3 hot appetizers for lunch - $30ish for 2 people. For 2 of them, the waiter brought us the entree size, even though we pointed at the appetizer location on the menu. We didn't realize it until we saw the check. When we pointed this out to him, initially he said he needed to charge us for the entree. After talking to his manager he said he could give us the lower price, and then quickly scooped up our boxed up leftovers without a word. It was really weird. When he returned we asked why he took the food. He said it was the portion we hadn't paid for, to which we asked how he knew what quantity was in the boxes and why would he simply throw out the food instead of letting us take it? Again his manager weighed in and they retrieved the food from the kitchen (hopefully not the garbage can!). Anyway, won't be returning.

Maricela A.

This place was amazing!the octopus salad was so delicious and everyone was no friendly and nice...beautiful atmosphere.

Josh C.

One of the mega restaurants in Greek Town that handles tourists with huge portions, quick service and good (not great) food. I went here with family because it was near their hotel. I've had better Greek food in the city but still glad we tried this joint since it is pretty well known. The outdoor patio area is amazing. The Greek Combo was hit or miss but I did really like the dolmades. If I come back I will order that. The saganaki was the best part of the meal. They don't bring pita bread unless you order an appetizer with it and what they brought was minimal and slightly burned on the bottom. Their regular bread that they bring looks like some pepperidge farm bread - nothing special. The Greek salad was good but unfortunately after two bites they brought the dinner. Zero spacing with courses. Felt like they want you out as quickly as possible to turn the table over. Beer list was also lacking. It had just one Greek beer on it and almost everything else were domestic macro brews like Miller Lite. This is Chicago, there are ton of great local craft beers. I understand importing Greek beer might be expensive but that was annoying.

Amy H.

Yum yum! Had the slow cooked lamb and potato special the other night and it was delish. Also a great value at $19. Had enough leftover for dinner the following night. Service is very good here and the restaurant is pretty and very clean. Saganaki was yummy and I enjoyed the Zoe White wine x 2! Will most likely be back!

Brett E.

This is a really cool place. They have a great outdoor seating area that's very pretty and cozy at night. Their prices aren't bad and you get a massive plate of food. Definitely good for another meal. I had the combination place which was very tasty. We also ordered saganaki and octopus, which was just okay. The service was friendly but very slow. Overall a fun evening that you won't leave with an empty stomach.

Jewel L.

Great food, lovely outside eating area. Friendly waiters, the complete "Chicago Greek Town experience!" Ooopa!

Tina G.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ATHENA'S! They have the best Greek food I have ever had near Chicagoland! The portions are pretty large, and the service was excellent. I had the gyros, I love gyros meat as long is it does not have an overwhelming lamb taste, and theirs was perfect. My boyfriend is a seafood junkie, so he tried their calamari. He says it is the best he has ever had, and it tastes very fresh. The scenery inside is gorgeous, they have such a natural Greece feel! Only downside is the price, but it is very worth it! Also, they have free valet parking, which is really nice for a downtown restaurant because parking is horrible. Will most definitely be returning! :)

Leslie C.

I absolutely loved this place. Service was great. Very friendly waiters. The saganaki was very delicious and traditional. I had the chicken breast lemonati and it was fantastic. Prices are very convenient. Loved the free valet parking. Didn't have to waste time searching. The environment is great! Not too packed, maybe at certain times, so i wasn't worried about being in a crowded place. I definitely recommend to have lunch here!

Suzanne B.

Such a lovely outdoor patio! Yesterday was my first time in Greek Town and I was absolutely charmed by this spot! Felt like a little getaway on a beautiful Chicago day. The food was also very good. Accompanying a bottle of dry Greek rose, I snacked on grilled octopus, fried eggplant and lamb meatballs, all of which were very very good! Would certainly return and dive deeper into the menu.

Chris C.

Simply put, great place. Retractable roof! So cool and bright due to natural lighting. I bet it's amazing at night!

AV G.

Very nice place, probably the nicest (and somewhat smaller) places in Greektown. Met a friend who wanted to take charge of the ordering but is not very sophisticated. We had excellent flaming cheese and very good calamari and probably the best bread in Greektown. We were pretty full by then, but my eathing partner wanted lamb--I suggested we split an entre. He told the water roasted leg of lamb and potatoes. The water proceeded to HUSTLE THE DAILY SPECIAL (which was $5 less than what we wanted) ASSURING US THAT THE LAMB WITH GREENS AND EGG LEMON SAUCE WAS THE DISH TO GET--this was a glurpy mess over a lamb shank that was mostly bone--place left a bad taste in my month.

Kelly R.

Great place! We have been here many times on the past, always great service and good food. It seems they have made a few changes and food is even better now. Plus, nice to be checked on by Mike the mgr to see how our overall experience was! No doubt this will remain our favorite Greek restaurant in Chicago!

Sol A.

Great ambience in the outdoor area. The food is good. The service is a bit slow. Free valet. All in all a wonderful experience. I have eaten here twice and have enjoyed myself. I will come here again.i would recommend it to my friends. You will not be disappointed.

Lauren D.

we stayed in greektown and passed this place a few times while walking around town and ended up coming for dinner. the atmosphere is awesome. great place for a date. however I found the food was overpriced for what it was. I got the shrimp athena and it was okay, but i felt i could make it myself. my boyfriend got the combination platter and the macaroni was great and so was the potato and the dish with the ground beef. However on his plate the rice seemed just like filler and the leg of lamb and beef dish wrapped in a leaf was just okay. They have a large wine selection but both of our glasses were nothing to write home about. All in all, service was fast but over $60 for dinner and a glass of wine for 2.

John A.

Dropped a couple stars. Stopped by a couple weekends ago to pick up soup to go. The soup was watery with nothing at all in it. The bread supplied was stale-old. They had to know the bread was old and noticed nothing of substance in the soup as they ladled it up. I have to wonder if it was an intentional choice given it was takeout and a small order. Been going here since it first opened. Have always been a fan. Sort if disillusioned now.

Sarah R.

I've had Greek food in multiple states and countries, but I've gotta say, this place was GREEK. The host was very professional, even though we were confused walking in...we must have been the first of the night. Our waiter was very sweet and there were several busboys walking around like hawks, making sure our waters never reached the bottom of our glasses and that everything was perfect. (Note, only men work here...interesting?) We asked a few questions about the menu and my question led to a free order of tzaziki- my absolute must have at a Greek place. My roommates, both non-fans of tzaziki thought it was delicious! The bread, though, the complimentary LOAVES of bread (two kinds) were, maybe, my favorite part. We even asked for a second basket. The freshest, best bread I've had all my (American) life and I'm German. That means a lot. Did I mention the decor? GORGEOUS. Huge. Seating everywhere and impeccable. Outdoor, indoor, waterfalls, granite counter tops. Top to bottom amazing. It was like being in a different world. 5 stars, no doubt.

Sopla R.

This is our second time here. First time last year during the Greek Fest. It rained that day and we loved that the roof retracted and we could watch the storm from outside-inside. This time, we shared the humus, grilled octopus and a Greek salad. All good. We've had their gyros platter here as well and it was quite good if I recall. I can't speak for the pricier menu items as we just never seem to want to go that route. Light fare for summer and nice patio are the best reasons to come here.

Mojo M.

Always a fun place! Our last visit was on December 26. We never got beyond appetizers: gyros, tzatziki, flaming saganaki (of course!), octopus, and a huge Greek salad. Our knowledgeable and friendly waiter treated us to desserts--baklava and something best described as Greek tiramisu. A good time was had by all!

Angela B.

Love this place! Beautiful glass room perfect lighting, decor and lively music. Definitely love the ambience and the service! Ordered drinks, appetizers, and stuffed chicken breast. Not a complaint one bit.

Yas K.

We (two couples) had a horrible experience with the food and service in this restaurant on Sat. 1/17/15. The food was surprising low quality and service was very bad. This is my second post on Yelp and I just had to warn potential customers about this place. We ordered the combination platter, it was supposed to come with Leg of Lamb but it was substituted by gyros without informing us. When we questioned the servicer about this, his response was simply, "we ran out of Leg of Lamb". Aside from this, the food was sub-standard and low quality. The only thing going for this restaurant is the spacious environment.

Michael G.

Athena Greek Restaurant was a wonderful faux-outside section. The all glass ceiling makes it feel like you are eating outside without worrying about rain and Chicago weather messing with your dinner. The food is ok, but it is not the best Greek option in the area.

Jody B.

I met a couple of my "lady friends" here on a wintery week night. When I got home, I told Hubby we MUST go there! But I think we can wait for better weather. They have this so cool patio that I am dying to sit in on a nice summer night, drink wine, and chow down on their yummy food. Our waiter was great. We weren't sure how to order to share everything, but he said, just tell me all the things you want, and I'll make sure they come out in order. The girls and I shared a platter of spreads. Each one was better than the next. We also shared a salad (I forget which one, but it had feta cheese in it). Again, it was great. Not overly dressed and I mixed it on the pita with the spreads. For our shared entrees, we had octopus, spinach pie, and the greek lemon chicken. Every dish was full of that wonderful greek flavor and spices. We didn't have room for dessert... but we sure had fun talking and catching up with our wine, apps, and entrees!

Cindy B.

Came here for dinner during Greek Fest. Great fast service for the grp. Highly recommend the Greek salad to start. I ordered the pastichio and it was so good!!! Highly recommend. It's like a lasagna except with a lighter sauce and a cheese type frittata top.

Rasik M.

Went there today, it is pretty nice restaurant. They have both open and covered seating arrangements. Food was pretty good, lamb and chicken combo was pretty delicious. Service is a bit slow but then they were pretty full with a lot of people as well.... Would certainly go there the next time.

Julia K.

I've always passed by this restaurant when I walk around Greek town. There's an outside area where you can sit and it looks so fancy from the outside. It looks fancy on the inside and when I passed by it looked expensive to me. For a friend's birthday we finally went to try it there and when we walked in the atmosphere was family style, fancy, and what I saw from the outside. The server was very nice so it all the other employees. I usually don't eat greek food so I didn't really know what to get. I asked the server what he recommended and I believe he recommend kabobs. My friends order other variety of things, such as chicken, and lamb. When our food came out, it came with rice, potato, and our meals. I didn't really think my food was like SO delicious, I HAVE to come back again. It was just decent. We all got to try each others food and they were alright too. Mostly I just enjoyed the rice and the bread & butter. I ended up leaving kind of disappointed because it looked very good and fancy on the outside. I thought the place was a little bit pricey and the food was okay so I wouldn't come back again.

Robert P.

Athena is a very friendly, very tasty Greek restaurant. Ask for Bill or Sonje at the bar and they'll take great care of you

Ani M.

Once again everything was great. I ordered the stuffed chicken breast my daughter ordered the pork kabob. FREE VALET

Olga K.

Stolen jacket!! Be aware of this place. My boyfriend and I had dinner at this place a few days ago with friends. The food was ok the service was ok, no complains but nothing to write home about. When we were ready to leave though, turned out that my boyfriend's jacket was gone. The staff was absolutely ignorant of the fact as if it happens on a regular basis and pretended it was not a big deal at all. Never got a call back from them. Called myself in about a week and again very bad attitude, no help or any type of apology or input. Very frustrated and disappointed experience, won't be back!!

Ed R.

i gave 4 stars because it started just ok.,but after we're seated everything went great!Had some family from out of town over and started with apps octopus ,zucchini ,pepers florinas,skordalia,ouzos and beers, moving to gyros for the kids and paidakia and potatoes for us....... everything was great,but what made it better was the great service... our server Kostas G. was the best part of the nite he was there whenever we needed smth,and he's recommendations were the best we ended up ordering everything he suggested and loved it..... he made our nite.... my guests loved it .... the weather was great as well,so we enjoyed the whole patio experience as well as service. From there moved to the bar for some after dinner drinks ..... and back home Still sitting on the patio thinking of the great time we had thanks to Kostas(the server) and Kostas (the manager). Thank You!!!! We'll be back soon

Mt P.

Last night the ladies from work went to Athena Greek Restaurant in greektown and had an amazing time! Their food is fabulous, similar to Greek Islands and Parthanon but their service is second to none. We were warmly greeted by the host, promptly seated even during the dinner rush but the best part was our waiter. 10 stars bar none. He never hovered but always knew exactly when someone at the table may have a need. From watching him filet a fish tableside for a nearby table with a gentle smile to shaking out and folding the napkins for the ladies who went to the restroom. This is a person who loves his job and genuinely cares to engage with his clientele to make their event memorable whether it's an intimate date to a larger group. Oopa Athena!

Christine E.

Amazing food and service. Try the saganaki, the skordalia and the Greek salad for sure. The salmon was fantastic, as well. Ask for wine recommendations, our red was perfect. The atmosphere is fantastic and beautifully lit. The servers were patient with our large group and attentive when we needed something. We come here once or twice a year and can't wait to come back!

Dex Y.

Came here for dinner because plan A fell through. Ordered leg of lamb. It was a simple dish, but was well done with a large serving size. My friend tried the combination plate but it looked like a mishmash. The dining area was nice, though. High ceiling, big screen, and tables were not too close to each other.

Heather P.

The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous! We sat in the covered patio area. The egg lemon soup was everything I expected it to be, however the chicken skewers were a little on the dry and unflavored side. The service was exceptional...shout out to Sokrates! I don't travel downtown often but I'd like to dine there again just for the soup and first class service.

Amber Z.

I love love love Athena. I've lost count of the number of visits I've made for business lunches, happy hours and dinner. Complimentary valet (that means you still tip your valet guy, cheapos), friendly and attentive service/bartenders and great food. The portions are large for the prices and you can't go wrong with any of their lamb dishes. Favorites: saganaki, egg lemon soup, the cold fish roe app, pork kabobs and the leg of lamb.

Chance L.

Great venue, tasty food, reasonably priced food, cheap wine, aweeeesome patio and quick friendly service. Well done Athena! This means you should definitely go....

Geri B.

It was a cold snowy day outside so my family was delighted to be in this open bright setting. One person in our party was running late because of the weather but although we were checked on to see if we wanted to start on appetizers or drinks we did not feel pushed to order. We all had variations of lamb, but of course started with saganaki. Everything was wonderful.

Joel G.

I enjoy going to Greektown for some fun and some Greek food every other month or so. I will state that it seems that these restaurants ebb and flow in quality. My favorite drops off and another takes it place. Lately I have been going to Athena which first attracted me in the some with the outdoor seating and solid food. I used to only hit Santorini however they seem to have slipped in quality as of late. Athena focuses more on the basics of Greekfood. Service is always excellent and I feel like I get good value for my money at Athena. Santorini is more seafood based, not sure what happened but I'm sad to see the decline over there. So this is my new go to for 2013 forward.

Dolores Z.

We went to Athena on a mild, early autumn Friday evening. The weather was perfect, so we chose the patio. I was surprised to be asked if we had a reservation! We did not, because before their remodeling, reservations were not accepted for outdoor seating! After a 10-15 minute wait we were seated. They certainly did a nice job with the remodeling. Service was good, little language issue with the waiter. Athena's food was OK. Saganaki is not aflame when served outside. They were out of Lima beans. Good fresh bread, and Boutari Kretikos white wine. Opaa! The grilled halibut was a very generous portion, perfectly cooked and seasoned, with a side of green beans. Chicken kabob also done right, served with rice and potato. Dessert of rice pudding, house made. Strong coffee. Complementary valet service is very prompt and friendly. All in all, it was an enjoyable evening. The ambience makes up for any minor shortcomings-and our next visit will include a reservation!

P G.

We went there to celebrate Mother's Day with a group of 8. Food was mediocre at best. Service was HORRIBLE. Plates for appetizers were dirty. Had to ask multiple times for drink refills. Waiter elbowed my wife in the face while clearing dishes. He dripped salad oil in my daughters hair. The last straw was when he slid food off the plate into my wife's hair and down her back. $300 check and no inkling to make things right. Never again Athena! Much better choices in Greek Town.

Chris T.

Solid Greek place in Chicago. I think this is their version of Greektown and since i live by the Danforth they had to be pretty good....they were pretty damn good. I noticed their patio area was huge in space. Love the decor too.

SouthernFoodie M.

I ate with three others.... I liked my meal. We went in on Halloween so it was pretty empty. Our wine.... Not my favorite. Wish they would have more reasonably priced decent wine. Saganaki was awesome... Calamari was meh. We also ran out of bread and it was never teplaced.... I had the grilled octopus and I loved it.... Although it was not hot.... Lemon potatoes rocked as a side. Husband said his lamb was dry.... So some dishes and wine were hit or miss....

Jessica Y.

12 of us had dinner here on Saturday with 7:30 reservations. The restaurant is close to the W Adams exit off 90 and there is complimentary valet parking which makes everything less stressful! One star just for this. The layout and décor reminds me of Abt electronics in Glenview + Navy Pier Crystal Gardens - open and spacious. Even with reservations the table was not ready until 8pm ish. We sat on the patio which minus the 80 degree humidity felt like we were on a pool deck on vacation and it was relaxing. The table shared Kalamari ($14.50), saganaki (goat cheese lightly breaded in flour and flamed in brandy) $7, skordalia (creamy garlic and potato spread) $7. Some of the entrees ordered: Shrimp Skordati, Greek Salad + Egg/lemon soup, Gyros plate (generous portion that can be shared by 2), Vegetable pasta, Braised lamb, Chicken Kebob ($5-19) Wine: 3 bottles of Tsantali Agioritiko ($41 each) + a bottle of Riesling ($30). The braised lamb in tomato sauce was very tender and the sauce tasted like spaghettiO's sauce. If you're iffy about lamb this may be a good first lamb dish. The sauce is sweeter and less herby than braised lamb I have had elsewhere. 3 hours + $400 dollars later everyone was happily full. Like what other reviewers said only come here if you have some time because aloof host + polite but slow and and at times inattentive service. 48 hours later what is still on my mind from this meal? Baklava Cheesecake dessert. It was SOO good! Usually Baklava is way too sweet for me but creamy, light, and airy cheesecake worked well with the slightly sweet Baklava crust/topping.

Carlos A.

From all Greek restaurants in Greek Town this one is my favorite. Atmosphere + Great Food makes this place my number one choice. Valet parking is included. Love the glass patio area.... The food is outstanding. Any Lamb plate here is my favorite. Thanks for another wonderful dinner experience.

Corrina K.

We went here because we liked the look of the atrium. It's nice sitting in the atrium since then you get to enjoy the daylight, but they need curtains or rugs or something to dampen the noise--it sounds like a cafeteria. We've been there twice now and don't plan to go back. The first time the food was fine but nothing special (although I really do like the meatless dolmades). Yesterday when we went the food just wasn't all that good. I got the Shrimp Athena which says its shrimp and vegetables cooked with vegetables and tomato sauce over rice. There aren't any vegetables, though, just Ragu type sauce, 5 shrimp, and white rice. It tasted OK but wasn't worth $19. My husband got a burger which was supposed to be medium but there wasn't a twinge of pink anywhere in it. The fries were mushy. He thought about sending it back, but it took well over 30 minutes to get our food when it wasn't busy in the first place and the volume of the restaurant was getting to be too much for me to bear, so we just ate and got out. Both times the servers have rotated in and out constantly; you never know who your server is and there's always a million different waiters and busboys stopping by your table. It's a little odd.

Michael H.

food was not good and the service sucked that is all.

Mark C.

Not the worst place I've been to but the food was very mediocre to below average. Went here for an office outing. Had the Greek Salad... Small but satisfying although not much to it and slightly overdressed with vinegar ... Next I chose the Stuffed Chicken...it's stuffed with spinach and cheese. Comes with 2 starches - rice and potatoes so changed out the potatoes for Green Bean, which were fresh from the can. They looked like something from a Restaurant Impossible episode where Robert Irvine squeezed them and all this water squirted out .. Yuck. As for the main course, it was a bit bland and under-seasoned for my liking. I'd go again if someone really wanted to because perhaps I just ordered the wrong thing.

Barbara H.

One of my favorite patios In Chicago. The food is very authentic. We started with the patzaria (beets with potato garlic spread) and the roasted egg plant spread. Both were superb and came out quickly? The grilled pita served along with eggplant, was super fresh and warm. Entrees were as expected. The lamb was tasty and the whitefish was good. Service was quick until the restaurant filled up and we had an overlong wait for our check.

Devvora P.

Meh....A disappointment...I don't know how the restaurant survives with all that great competition around it! Service was good, welcoming guy was rather grim and rude. The food was at best average. Rather tasteless, expensive and non-distinct. We had the grilled chicken souvlaki with roasted potatoes (really, nothing great) and a moussaka (not great). We also had saganaki (that was good) and taramasalata (average). There are much better Greek restaurants in the area.

Ilya M.

Run from this place!!! Even though it looks pretty good and the atrium area is nice - the food is really bad and the service is EXTREMELY slow. I ordered a pork kebab (one of the specials from their lunch menu). You would expect pretty fast turnaround for a special - instead I waited 55 minutes. :--0 When the dish finally came in, one of the skewers turned out to be completely undercooked. Let me tell you - this is disgusting and insanely unsafe (I hope no food poisoning happens). Never again going to this place....

Alana D.

The place is well maintained and the outdoor seating area is beautiful. The waitnstaff is attentive and courteous. Its unfoftunate that the spanakopita isntmade with feta. This is a very strange fact. The feta was substituted with some kinda creamy cheese. The chicken and potatoes i had were delish and im definitely going back! The backlava was tasty as well.

Rachel E.

I came here with a group of people that do like this place, but I was not impressed. My husband is Greek, so I'm attuned to really deliciously authentic Greek food. This place reminded me of your average diner with a much nicer atmosphere...More of an American take on the food. A few things that were nice: The appetizer spread sampler. The lamb was good & it was moist. And, the potatoes that came with the lamb. I would not go back to this place again though.

A S.

It is a shame that the men at the front desk ruin the experience for customers the minute you ask for a table. Maybe its because were female. I don't but its enough to ruin your dinner and the atmosphere. The atrium is one of a kind and awesome and the food is definitely good. But the way they treat people men or women is truly shameful.

Steven M.

Came here for a meeting and had an enjoyable time. I had the Combo with two pastas, sliced lamb, sausage and potato's with rice. I would not get this again as it was pasta heavy. I did not know what everything was called on the menu, that is why I ordered it. I would go with more of a meat dish next time. Everything was very tasty though. The server got lost for 20 minutes when we were looking for the bill? I had to find him. They did open up the patio roof and front which was very cool to be sitting outside. Great atmosphere and view of the city.

Kelsey L.

My now fiancé took me here for dinner after he proposed. We sat on the patio which was absolutely beautiful. We got cute little individual bottles of champagne which was fun and the staff were great. I was a little disappointed in the food. There are better Greek restaurants in the area, but I would definitely still go back.

Greg R.

Pros - great patio. Although what brought us in was the huge screen with the monday night football game on. however, they did not have the sound on. I get that so not going to ding them on it. Cons - Service is slow....somewhat friendly but just took for ever to get anything. Food - awful. Cheap greek food. Very low quality. This is a large, high volume restaurant done up to give you the feel that you are at a quaint creek restaurant. What you are at is an olive garden / red lobster of greek restaurants.

Jason M.

What a great place! Stadious our server was very friendly. You must try the home made greek yogurt amazing. Well be back for sure

Tamir G.

There are only two things that I would highly recommend in this join: 1. The side order of feta. It's the real deal. The I e provided in the Greek salad is really bad. 2. The roasted half chicken which is enough for two. Village salad sucks and spankopita is flavor less and greasy.

Mark L.

Athena is my go-to spot for great greek food in Chicago. My cousins are part Greek - and have had Athena cater all of their family parties. I frequent this spot for lunch when I am in the area, and never have a problem finding co-workers interested in tagging along. The lunch service is well-priced, great food and you can be in-and-out in a timely fashion. My favorite lunch item is the Gyros salad. The saganaki is a must for every meal, as EVERYONE loves it. The taramosalata is also a great appetizer choice. You can't go wrong with Athena. Highly reccomend.

Maria G.

This was my first Greek Town experience and was not let down! I first went a few months back and was able to sit in the front patio nearest the Halsted. The chairs and tables in that area are super nice and comfy. The reason I mention that is because they also have a patio behind this one that consists of lower quality tables and chairs. I had planned on eating elsewhere today but decided to go back here because of the pleasant experience I had the first time and plus I wanted a healthier option for lunch. When we arrived, we were led to the further back patio (the front one was not that packed mind you) where no one else was sitting, I was instantly put off. But...I really wanted to wait it out and see what would happen. More customers started arriving and they were all lead to the back patio. I understand they get busy at lunch time and were just trying to even things out but it definitely felt like we were being banished to a deserted island! It did make me feel better that they were seating people back there with us, though. Anyhoo, the food. We started with the fried calamari which is fresh, delicious and plentiful! Highly recommend if you dig calamari. I also ordered the Chicken Village Salad. It consisted of grilled chicken, green and red peppers, black olives, feta cheese and cucumbers. It was fresh and came with a great Greek salad dressing. The service was great but I really wish we would have been sat in the front area and not sent to the back.

Timothy W.

My friend and I wanted to explore Greektown since it's so close to campus and, with all of the restaurants in the area, we found ourselves hungry. We ended up going here because it stuck out to us the most. Once we came inside, we were not disappointed! There was very beautiful art and the room set up was very pretty. I ended up ordering the Chicken Riganati and we only waited about 15 minutes for our food to arrive. The food was extremely delicious and the plate was loaded with food. The restaurant was not too pricey either. Overall, I would be happy to come here again.

Rachel R.

Food is great! Service friendly and fast. Knowledgable staff something that I LOVE when I come to a resturant that I am unfamilier with. One thing that I love about this place is the friendly staff. I came by myself to relax and the staff always made sure I was ok. I had a few people ask how the food was and how I was since I was sitting alone. It's was a nice change of pace of being asked, than being ignored. The food was great. I had the sausage dish with rice and potato very good. Just the right amount of lemon on it. Perfect! The waiter helped me pair it up with a glass of red wine. I will be back.

Anne S.

I am a big fan of the Parthenon, so I don't normally go to other restaurants in Greek Town. Last night for dinner family friends wanted to go here, and I enjoyed it! We sat in the glassed in center. It looks so cool from the inside and the outside. I'm sure this space is absolutely amazing in the summer! The only problem with this space is that it is incredibly loud. We had a group of 5 people, and I couldn't hear anyone except the person sitting directly next to me. It was very hard to have a conversation. The food was good, the service was good, and the prices were reasonable.

Kimmie R.

I enjoyed the combination plate which consisted of Mousakas, pastitsio, dolmades, leg of lamb, rice, potato and vegetables. The leg of lamb was pre-sliced, bland, dry and cold, but the rest of the food was okay. My friend and I enjoyed the fried calamari, but that was probably because we were extremely hungry before our food arrived. The fried calamari was fresh, but it was not seasoned. The decor is lovely and they have street parking available free of charge you can't beat that in Chicago. The restaurant is clean, and the waiters are accommodating, but this is not a three or four star restaurant regardless if it's priced accordingly. I will give Athena another chance, but unfortunately it's located very close to its competitors which makes it very difficult for it to have "bad" day. In Greek town customers have so many choices for good Greek food that maybe Athena should have a chat with their chef's.

Vicki L.

Nice bright space with glass ceiling and cool outdoor patio. A great place to spend a cold sunny day!

Michelle K.

This is one of those perfect 2.5 star situations. Alas, no half stars on Yelp, and I feel like being charitable today, so I'll round up. I came here with some coworkers for an extended weekday lunch. We were able to get a table out on the patio, which was really nicely laid out (we joked that we felt like we were on vacation). The patio is Athena's selling point, without a doubt. We started with a cold appetizer platter with pitas, tzatziki, melitzanosalata (eggplant and garlic spread that tastes a lot like hummus to me), taramosalata (fish roe mousse), tirokafteri (feta and pepper spread), dolmadakia, cheese, and a couple veggies. I love taramosalata, but this one wasn't as flavorful as I wanted. The tzatziki was good though, and everyone loved the tirokafteri. One weird thing: one of the veggies on the platter was a baby carrot that looked like it was dug out of the garbage. Like...really ugly. Truly the Clint Howard of baby carrots. Obviously, no one ate it, but why would you even put that on the plate? Blech. I ordered the combo plate, which came with moussaka, pastitsio, dolmades, and Greek potatoes. I liked the dolmades and the potatoes best, followed by the moussaka (which I liked even though it was different from the moussaka I'm used to), with the pastitsio coming in dead last (too much cinnamon for me). At $10.25, it wasn't a bad deal. Our server was friendly, although he did mess up a couple things: one coworker explicitly ordered saganaki and a side salad as her entree, and these were both brought out to her with our appetizer. (She was a good sport about it.) And he brought out the wrong meal for another one of my coworkers, but this mistake was quickly fixed. If it's a nice day and you're feeling like a pleasant al fresco experience, Athena isn't a bad bet. However, there's too many great restaurants in Greektown for this ever to be my first choice.

Baarb B.

TERRIBLE!! bad service & even worse food!! not sure how someone could get sick from a vegetable pita & hummus....but it definitely happened!! DISGUSTING!! will NEVER go back!! ewe!!

Meredith R.

I have been to Athena several times in the past eight years that I have lived in Chicago and there have been ups and downs in my experiences, but my most recent visit was definitely an up! Our group of six sat in the covered outdoor area, which is lovely, though it's too bad that there is no longer an unobstructed view of downtown. The service was excellent. Our appetizers and dinners were perfectly timed and our server was attentive and personable. We all enjoyed our generous portions of food and had plenty to take home. I am looking forward to returning to Athena!

Michael Z.

I have been going to Athena since the first day they opened. The food is great and the service is outstanding. In the summer I love the outdoor space while eating and drinking with family and friends late into the night.

Emily Z.

Gorgeous patio, though sadly if you sit on it you will not get your saganaki flaming, lame. If you go during peak time in the summer there will definitely be a wait for it but the bar area is large so we didn't mind hanging out for a while. Tried the sampler platter, not sure what I was supposed to do with the huge chunks of feta cheese but the fresh pita and tzatziki were delicious! Beware the pink one is a salmon dip if that's not your thing! Not a huge fan of Greek food but its worth a trip for the patio alone!

Henry F.

Wife and I, downtown Chicago locals, have visited often, with or without guests, and have always enjoyed ourselves. The place was first-rate, the service was first-rate and the food was the same. We think that it's well better than others nearby. The last time, on Easter Sunday, we were parked for free and seated outside immediately, followed right away by a polite busboy who handed us nice Greek bread and butter. The patio area is very pretty and romantic despite the otherwise congested neighborhood. I requested olive oil for my bread and got it promptly. Our waiter, Dionysius, was equally polite and solicitous, unlike some rude ones we'd gotten used to long ago at The Parthenon, nearby. Many large, Greek families celebrating Easter at large tables were there, but we anticipated that and reserved for 6:00PM. I can't attempt to describe all the menu offerings as I've had many of them, here and elsewhere, but we skipped salad this time, split the fried calamari appetizer, wife (on Weight-Watchers) had a nice fish dish and I had the combination plate (incl. baked Easter lamb, of course) and everything, as usual, was great and served at the right time, consistency and temperature. Given the bread, the wine and then the calamari, we had some remaining entrees to take home and freeze, but tourists can skip that for obvious reasons. Both of us expect to return as this is our favorite Greektown restaurant.

Jennifer M.

Yesterday, it was by happenstance when we arrived during the Greek Independance Day parade. We were kept warm by the enclosure that gave us great views of the Loop and a low vantage point of the parade. A basket of bread and water were delivered almost immediately. We started with cheese by ordering the Saganaki (Goat cheese lightly breaded in flour and flamed in brandy) appetizer with Bloody Mary and Corona chasers. I ordered the Athenian Chicken. Half-chicken char-broiled with lemon and oregano. It came with steamed vegetables which was served in a garnish size portion. He ordered the Seafood Kebob. Salmon, swordfish and shrimp broiled on a skewer with tomatoes, onions and green peppers. Both were splendid. The entrees come with a side of rice and a peeled, steamed half potato with some tomato sauce concoction. I did not care for its taste. We finished with cheese by ordering the cheesecake for dessert.

Aislinn S.

My husband and I only spent 8 days in Chicago, but we made a point to visit Athena more than once. The food is FANTASTIC!! If we lived in Chicago, we'd be regulars!

Vina O.

I dined here with my husband and his parents on a Sunday evening for dinner. We decided to get the family-style meal, which includes saganaki (flaming cheese), taramosalata (fish roe and potato spread), gyros, lemon soup, salad, mousakas (eggplant dish w/ zucchini, potato, ground beef and cheese), pastitsio (baked macaroni mixed with seasoned ground beef and cheese), dolmades (rice and ground beef wrapped in grape vine leaves), leg of lamb, rice, potato and vegetables (sweet peas), coffee and choice of dessert. It's $24.95 per person, with a minimum order of 4. I will say that this is A LOT of food. You definitely get your money's worth as long as you take it home. Our server told us that no diner has ever finished the family style meal, so make sure you're extra hungry or can eat leftovers if you plan on ordering this. But honestly, none of the dishes really stood out to me except for the mousakas and dolmades. While the saganaki, gyros, and lemon soup were okay, the same dishes at Parthenon (a rival restaurant at Greektown) are far superior. The leg of lamb was very dry and the salad was something out of a plastic bag from the grocery. Luckily, they saved the best for last... dessert and coffee! For dessert, we all decided on the galaktobouriko, which is a light lemon flavored custard in honey dipped filo dough. That was probably one of the best I've tasted in Greek town, and I'd definitely order the dessert again! I also enjoyed their coffee very much, and I'm a bit of a coffee snob.

Jenn T.

Despite the fact that there are some silly bad yelp reviews my husband and I decided to give Athena a chance. I am so glad we did because it was fantastic! The atmosphere is worth 4 stars alone. LOVE LOVE the patio. The food we had was very good. We started with the cold appetizer plate which was delicious. I cant wait to order that again. Everyone at the table enjoyed their entrees, but my husband was the dinner winner with a braised lamb entree. WOW! I only wish we had room for dessert. The service was also very good. We were seated within a reasonable time and everyone was very attentive. Our waiter, Stellios aka Stanely, was outstanding. We will definitley be going back to eat again soon.

Chelsea G.

Amazing food. The waiter kept checking on us to make sure we're pleased with the food and well-hydrated with our drinks. I love the customer services here and definitely the authetic greek food here. Will come back soon!

Christina F.

Came here with my dad and BF, all three of us got the combination platter. I wanted to try a lot of things but didn't want all those calories so I used one of my favorite diet tips: get a to-go box with your meal! Stick half of it in there and then you know you're doing some portion control without having to think about it and can just enjoy your meal. Well, the waiter made a HUGE deal about it, then didn't bring it so I had to ask again...making me look like the witch with a B. Sorry but, thanks to grad school I've gained weight that I want to lose by graduation. Help me out here and just honor my request. Other than that, food was tasty. Combination plate was a great value and there wasn't anything I didn't like. But the service left a bad taste in my mouth. Since when did customer service become a bother and a chore? I've worked in the food business, just do it with a smile. I'm not asking for the world, just a box!

Rick T.

Excellent dinner; so-so dessert; and an eyebrow-raising answer to our question about an ingredient. Calamari: thick pieces of beautifully prepared squid. Possibly the best version I've had in Chicago. Chicken kabob was flavorful and generously portioned. My dining companion ordered the Spanakopita, which our server boasted is not nearly as good as a Greek grandmother would make. When we asked which spice was dominating the dish, the waiter returned from the kitchen with a strange response: nobody knows. The chef made it earlier and left. Uh. Okay....I guess? A few minutes later, we determined it to be nutmeg, but the meal would've been better had we not known that at least one of our entrees had been made 12 hours before. All in all, Athena is worth a visit.

Arnaud W.

Here are 2 stars for the atmosphere. The food was not good. Fast service because salads are made in advance. I ordered a chicken & lamb combo, without any taste. My GF ordered a Veggie Pita, same thing, no taste. A bit expensive to chew cardboards... Dont go there if you want more than a drink.

Laura P.

Went there today for lunch & really enjoyed eating in the outdoor area. The service was great even during a busy lunch hour. We had the gyro salad which was delicious! Definitely one restaurant to check out in Greektown!

Jimmy J.

Closed on Sunday Jan 5 due to bad weather. We were headed to the Hawks game and wanted to give them business. So we went to Greek Isles who was bustling with customers wearing Hockey jerseys....had a great meal too.

Suzette M.

Great service and great food. Perfectly cooked lamb entree and beef tenderloin kabob. Water glass was never empty and very attentive waiter.

Trixy D.

A little more expensive than the Greek Islands, but very nice atmosphere. The walls and roof appear to retract for good weather, but it was muggy out and raining so we were beneath it all, near a waterfall wall, when they lowered an enormous big screen so that the fans could enjoy the football game during their meal on a Thursday night. The drink glasses were a little small, but the plates of food were large and everything was delicious. Our waiter John was very attentive and had a great sense of humor. He recommended a grilled octopus appetizer, which is their specialty. We have had octopus before, several times, and pretty much the only way I enjoy it is as fried calamari....but this dish was fantastic. Loved it and would not have ordered it if not for the friend who was with us taking the waiters recommendation. We also had an appetizer plate of a variety of spreads that were pretty tasty..would have liked to have notes on what each was, while we were eating. We also ordered the fried goat cheese appetizer which is flambe'd tableside, which I love! :-) "Opa!" All of our meals were terrific, very buttery and flavorful with rice and vegetables on the sides. Shrimp and Lamb were delicious, and we shared Baclava for dessert, which is pretty much a necessity! Very festive atmosphere, not super loud where you couldn't hear, but lots of groups and couples really enjoying themselves. Would definitely go back.

Joey W.

Great food. Waited a little even with a reservation.

Anthony F.

Wanted a family night out with inlaws and 4 month old baby. Food was awesome and staff was very warm and friendly. Pulled up to valet and asked he he thought baby was going to be ok and he said this is family here no problem. The decor was very nice and sat us near the fireplace to keep the baby warm (their suggestion)

Soula C.

This was my first time at Athena, happy to see Jimmy Alexander there. The food was delicious, and so was the service. Very nice open relaxing restaurant I would recommend.

Brittany M.

No idea why the ratings were so low- the food was delicious, our waiter attentive, and the outdoor patio dining area was superb. We were able to arrive and be seated immediately without reservation and there were quite a few affordable Sunday specials available. Our waiter was particularly accommodating and even brought additional bread & a side of vegetables for no additional charge. The food was great and authentic- lamb meat melted right off the bone (lamb lemonata). The outdoor seating can't be beat, as we got to watch the sun set among the skyline. Definitely an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Marielle S.

I'm quite a fan of Greek food, so Greektown is always a draw for me. I hadn't been to Athena since I was a teenager and looked forward to bringing some friends from out of town for some great authentic Greek food. It was a nice evening so we sat out on the terrace/patio which was absolutely gorgeous. We were greeted promptly and the staff was friendly. I can honestly say that the food was wonderful. The thing I appreciate most about Greek food is how they nail the seasonings. The flavors are clean and uncomplicated, but every dish seems to have one dominant seasoning that just sings in a way that tells you this would be hard to duplicate without a lot of kitchen expertise. We had a bit of confusion with one of our party members' food not being right, but it was taken care of promptly. I had ordered the grilled pork chops, one of my friends ordered a combo plate and the other ordered a special lamb wrapped in filo dough. We did a little trading back and forth and all the dishes were amazing, though the lamb wrapped in filo dough was probably the best. The service was quite slow and as exhausted as we were I wish it'd have been a little bit quicker, but other than that, I think this is a solid choice. Food was comparable to other favorites like the Pegasus though the prices were higher, but service could use a step up.

Leanna S.

I went here with friends on our lunch break. It was a beautiful day and their outside seating area is really nice. I specifically wanted the tiropitakia as an appetizer. Obviously, I knew I would butcher the name if I tried to pronounce it, so I said to the waiter the 'feta cheese foldovers' and I pointed to it on the menu. I have no clue what he brought us, but it wasn't the tiropitakia. He was not around often, so it was hard to track him down. Once we did, I told him again that I ordered the feta cheese foldovers and he said 'Well you should have told me that.' Uh, guess what? I did. And I pointed to it on the menu. I would have given this place a much higher rating, but the server was an ass. He wouldn't do separate checks (there were only three of us) and he was not around much. It took us forever to get the check and then it took him forever to come back to take it. I bet this place would be awesome at night on that patio, but the service will probably keep me from returning.

Nicholas M.

Fantastic food! Excellent service! Do yourself a favor and sit outside by the waterfall. Then, let your waiter bring whatever food he recommends. We did and had lamb with dandelions and lamb with cinnamon, potatoes, and green beans. Delicious doesn't begin to describe it. This place is a must whenever you're in Chicago!

Alex M.

I love Athena. It's a beautiful Greek restaurant where one can get a choice of street food or higher-end cuisine. The patio though is king. They recently renovated it with a sliding roof, so even in the dead of winter you could dine al fresco...in a way. I've gone on numerous occasions and tried many dishes, and haven't had a complaint on any of them. Most memorable was when we had Ekmek Kataifi for dessert.

Robert R.

My friend and I had plans to take in a Sox game the other evening and decided that we'd grab a bite to eat for dinner before heading to the ballpark. Since she works near Greektown, we decided to take stroll down Halsted and pick whatever felt right at the time. For whatever reason, Athena stood out above the rest. We were both dressed well, but casual. After all, we WERE going to Comiskey in a little while. I guess it must've been quite a while since I'd been here because it seems so much more modern and formal than I'd remembered it. Beautiful, don't get me wrong, but lacking a bit in the "family" feel that I thought it boasted before. No big deal, really...just an observation. Not having a whole lot of time, we decided to skip the appetizers and head right for the main course. My friend had the Gyros plate (loved it, but could only eat about 1/3, there was so much) and I ordered off of the "Specials" Menu. Unfortunately, the name of my meal escapes me ("Exittos", or something like that), but it was basically lamb, mushrooms, apricots in a flaky crust pouch, served with rice. It was absolutely incredible. Too good, actually, because I had a tough time pushing myself away from the table since it, too, came in abundance on my plate. I left uncomfortably full. The only blemish I would mention was the somewhat lackluster relationship we had with our server. Maybe it was because of our limited food order or not having ordered anything from the bar, but we both had the feeling that he had better things to do than wait on us. Neither one of us would let that keep us from coming back, though, as the food was certainly worth another trip.

Nicole A.

OMG took my mom here for her birthday. saganaki is to die for. best I've ever had. owner was very friendly and attentive. food AND service was amazing and delicious. not one but 3 staff members came out and wished my mom happy birthday with a desert. lovely space and very very inviting. would recommend to anyone close to me.

Chuck D.

Making a reservation was great. Getting a table outdoors was great. Food was great. All five starts but our waiter mostly ignored us and we had to walk from the table to track him down on a couple of occasions. He was clearly having a bad day and gave us a lot of attitude. We even had to call the manager to the table to get the waiter to come back. On the bright side - he did NOT put an automatic tip on the bill for a table of 12.

Andrea R.

Athena isn't worth visiting in the winter since the inside of the restaurant isn't anything special and the food is pretty mediocre. However, this is THE place to dine on a warm summer night thanks to their fabulous patio. It had been storming earlier in the afternoon, but the weather gods cooperated just in time for our 5:30pm dinner. Yes, we now enjoy early bird specials thanks to our lil one. We ordered many menu items for party of 6 1/2 (the baby doesn't eat greek food quite yet). Our 1/2 a person felt right at home since there were many other babies dining here at the same time. Like past experiences at Athema I found most of the food to be eh (the calamari was especially gross), but they do make some very tasty gyros. I'd come back again for these gyros, but only on a lovely summer evening.

Melissa F.

I like to be one of those people who is fine with eating anywhere. I like all types of food! Go me! But I've never been a Greek food fan...at all. Yep, I am the only one I know who is like this - it's rather unfortunate. I decided to keep a somewhat open mind when my dad suggested it for dinner with some extended family members. I had an excellent experience here! Sitting outside on a perfect Chicago night enhanced the dining experience. The host and waiter were both incredibly friendly and both checked in on us often, providing us our choice of dessert on the house (just to be nice - not because of mess-ups or anything like that). The wine that they suggested - and we drank - was OK but a bit too acidic. Still, the service was incredible. I didn't try much of the cold sampler platter, since it didn't seem to match my tastes very well. Still, the pitas (which I think were whole wheat?) were fluffy and warm. Mmmm. I got the gyros platter, which was way too much for me to finish. They kindly left of the tzatziki, and the dish was still filled with fluffy pita, tender (almost crisp) lamb, onions, and juicy tomatoes. A little bit of gyros, a little bit of wine, and some greek yogurt and honey for dessert? Coupled with the relaxing outdoor setting, this was a wonderful night!

Warrior W.

I have nothing but nice things to say. We went on a Friday night and it was very busy by the time we left. The food and service were great and the bar was lively. The outdoor patio was closed in due to some rain but they opened up some of roof after awhile. Sitting on the patio is worth coming here alone. They have an outdoor section where they can remove the roof and another strictly outdoor area where there is a nice water fall coming down from a brick building. One of the best in the city for sure. There is a new apartment building across the street which blocks all city views but that only means Greektown will become even busier. Lastly, when we were checking out reviews where to eat Athena didn't score well in all honesty. However our friends said not to listen to them and try it out. We are glad we did!

Sam K.

The Greek soup is lemony and delicious. We also had the salmon cheese and fried cheese with bread, which is amazing. The main entree is pork kabob, which is a bit dry unfortunately. Overall, this is a nice restaurant with good atmosphere. Entrees can use some improvement, but overall food is also tasty.

Kristi B.

We ventured out to try Greek cuisine for the first time and we are very glad we visited Athena's. The food was delicious, the service was good, and the restaurant is absolutely beautiful. It has a gorgeous view of the Chicago skyline in a dome style dining room. Plus, we went on a cold rainy night, and the fireplace was appreciated. We are looking forward to going back to try different items on the menu and to share the experience with our friends and family. Please note, this is an enjoyable dining experience and cannot be rushed. Please plan to allow at least 90 minutes. The food is freshly prepared when you order. The bread is awesome to snack on until your appetizer arrives!

Hina Q.

My wife planned my surprise bday dinner at this restaurant. We have been in this area to eat many times and never did we have a bad experience...yet. So knowing that we both enjoy Greek food, she booked this restaurant. I walked in and was surprised at the set-up of this restaurant, first off. This restaurant is not like other ones that are crowded and you have to walk through chairs to get to your table. Even though it was packed and there was a wedding party going on in the private room, the set up is in such a way that you don't feel suffocated walking through tables and bumping people. Secondly, their service was great! Our server was friendly and so helpful. Whatever questions our guests asked, he answered promptly and with a smile. Sometimes the servers get annoyed or aren't very helpful, but this was different. The food was delicious! Again, another Greek restaurant in this area and another great experience. The taste, the texture, the portions were amazing. All of our guests loved the food and were satisfied to the fullest. One of our guests did not like the amount of oil on her entree (we all thought was normal) so she sent it back. The server did not ask a single question, with a smile picked up her plate and took it away while offering other choices. I mean, how many restaurants do that? She was picky with her food which is her personal choice, but the fact that the server did not even make any face or ask any question or put up an argument was what really showed me the quality of this restaurant. That probably put me over the top of liking this restaurant even more than I already did. DEFINITELY a great place for your next occasion!! A must try!!

Alexandra C.

Dined here last night because we sought the patio on the first Spring-like day of the year. Hosts were a little awkward, one went to set up our table, and as we waited, another one (perhaps a manager?) came over to us and asked what we needed. It was a bit strange. Anyway, our server was great, very friendly and funny. We started with the Saganaki- which we enjoyed very much, more so than the one at other nearby Greek places, and the Greek Salad-which had a great dressing and was a nice size. Entree wise, I ordered the Chicken Kebabs, which came nicely presented which charred veggies and side of rice + potatoes, and my boyfriend got the Pork Chops, which he loved and said were cooked perfectly. Really enjoyed the wine I tried, something red and greek, and the overall atmosphere out on the patio. Took away stars for the price-noticeable higher priced than similar places in Greek Town. I'd definitely return-if for the patio and Saganaki alone!

Warren C.

Surprisingly good. I don't eat Greek food that often, but this has to rank up there in my dining experiences. This place was recommended by one of my coworkers in Chicago, who is a regular here. I had the lamb and it was pretty good. Things are a little pricey, but it certainly felt more upscale than the other Greek restaurants I've been to in the past. Also, the lima beans were very tasty, and I never considered myself a person who liked lima beans. Weird how things change after you haven't had them in a long time. This is a good stop if you need a better place to eat in Greek town.

Courtney W.

My sorority had our semi formal here since it was Greek goddess themed. They set up quite a nice spread for us at a decent price. I was skeptical because they were setting up a tent for us in the middle of January but it actually was a space just outside the dining area that was actually quite warm due to space heaters and well put together. The Greek salad was outstanding as was the service at the bar where we were forced to order drinks. They didn't have many restrictions for us and everyone had a pretty decent time. The dining room looked warm but not super fancy. They provided us with vegetarian options as well that I had by mistake and were actually good (I'm not a huge fan of vegetarian cuisine that's for sure). I would come back here for dinner but our event was quite a success. I'm partial to the Parthenon but this place is also now on the list.

Michael G.

Much like we still do today, the Greeks used to honor their deities by naming things after them (though we do this with secular "gods" like politicians and sports figures). This was in hopes of giving the thing or person who shared the name the attributes of said higher being. Athena was the Greek goddess of war, civilization, wisdom, strength, strategy, crafts, justice, and skill. What any of these attributes have to do with this restaurant though, I'm not sure. So I think it might be misnamed. Being a helpful guy, I have a couple of suggestions for renaming it. For example, I think a far more appropriate name for this place would be Hermes. Hermes was the Greek god of speed. And this place is fast. Of all the places up-and-down the Greektown strip that I've been, this was by far the quickest service I've ever received. It was almost as if the waiter was telepathic (or perhaps assisted by the gods or subliminal thoughts from my boss). Only a few minutes after the order left my lips, the vegetarian moussaka was in front of me. This place actually understands the time crunch of a business lunch. Or maybe I would call this place Hades. The prices would definitely have pleased Hades (the Greek god of, ironically, both money and the underworld). And, therefore, they pleased me. In contrast to the places around it, most dishes here are under $10.00. And they have a large, vegetarian friendly, lunch special menu. Unfortunately, one thing I would not re-moniker this place to is Dionysus (the Greek god of food and wine). While the food was pretty good, it would by no means live up the exacting standards of the gods - at least the moussaka. It was sort of rich, but not the sort of taste sensation I'm used to from the dish. It seemed to rely on the mushrooms (ick) rather than the eggplant (or when I find myself lucky, potato). And if there's one thing you don't want to do, because legend says they're pretty liberal and vicious with the lightning bolts and all, it's piss off a Greek god with anything less than the best in their name. Though mentioning all those names, I guess Athena is one of the easiest on the tongue and the modern ear of the Greek gods. So maybe, just maybe, I understand the naming. The question is, does this restaurant's pantheon?

Cristal C.

Had dinner here a few weeks ago. It was my first time in greektown and I have to say I was very satisfied. I ordered the Greek salad with a chicken kabob. Very good! I also enjoyed the atmosphere of the place, Definitely coming back.

Nancy C.

I came here back in 5th grade for a field trip when we were learning about Greek civilization and boy have they upgraded since 1998! There is this beautiful indoor fountain on the north end of the restaurant with skylights and windows everywhere, which makes it feel like you are sitting outdoors. The atmosphere was very casual and enjoyable. The food was good overall. They still have the flaming Saganaki, like we had ordered in 5th grade. Just as entertaining and as good as I had remembered it. The octopus appetizer is very good. I (unfortunately) won the award for worst dish of the party on our most recent visit, which were the intensely dry pork chops. Fortunately, I also halved my dish with my cousin who had the chicken, which was tender, delicious, and perfectly cooked. The braised lamb was fall-off-the bone, melt-in-your mouth tender. And the quail was great as well. Very reasonably priced, and portions were sizable.

Samar S.

Went here tonight for a family dinner, it was my first time there and I must say EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS. The dolmadas were perfect and the pasticio was to die for :) We will definitely be coming back. Also, our waiter George was so nice! He definitely knows how to make people feel special and made sure to check in with us frequently. Great place for authentic Greek food. Also, the restaurant is beautiful especially the waterfall outside. The only downfall was that it was freezing inside otherwise great food and great place :)

Steve F.

Classy place. Service excellent, atmosphere excellent (we sat in the sheltered outdoor area), food excellent including warm bread. We had lunch there. Busy but not packed (there's a LOT of seating). Sometimes you go to a restaurant and you can just tell after one meal that you can't go wrong there. This is one of those places.

Nick S.

Best greek restaurant!!! The food is awesome and so is their service. Also, their atmosphere is lovely.

Raphael R.

For our first meal in Chicago, it sure was overwhelming. There was no way we were going to have the same things we usually have back home, so we started looking around and were faced with parking issues, not expecting to find it so hard to park. While trying to find somewhere nice, my wife's attention was caught by Greektown and especially by the Athena Greek Restaurant. And for our first meal, it was a home run. Entering the restaurant, I did not understand why and how people were eating outside since it was freezing and we had kids who were tired and hungry and would not enjoy being seated outside. But while they were indeed sitting outside, it was a very nice covered outside patio. It was cold outside but it was a clear and sunny day which made it a real pleasure sitting in the patio. The food was really tasty and copious. Our waiter was really attentive to our needs and offered us complimentary drinks to celebrate my birthday. The only regret was being too full to even try to have dessert. But it was definitely a good value for our money and would definitely return here.

Jennifer B.

I usually go to Parthenon or Greek Island and I recently went here and found the food far superior to those two restaurants. We had gyros that were absolutely DELICIOUS and didn't have that little funky taste I found at the other restaurants. We also had chicken kabobs, saganaki and salads. Everything was so delicious. The service was superb. The valet guy was so sweet and kind. I highly recommend you trying this restaurant if you "think" the others are your favorite and you never venture out!

Moon P.

Ambiance!! Light ..sunny umbrellas & if needed closed top......fun times. Food we all shared appitizers......of course bread. Has a fountain & valet parking!!!

Trisha S.

I've walked by this place on my way to the grocery store several times. Part of my intrigue was their outdoor seating setup. With what seems to be a glasshouse setup right next to the brick and mortar building, it seems like the perfect place to enjoy a meal during the Chicago summers. Aside from the seating area, there really isn't much to get excited about. The wait staff took awhile to even acknowledge our presence. The plates on our table were less than clean and by the time our entrees got to us they were a little more than room temperature. If you're looking to enjoy the weather while eating something less than stellar, this may be the place for you. Otherwise, you may want to think about going somewhere else.

Garrett Y.

We were here for dinner Thursday night, which was a beautiful night to eat in their outdoor patio. From the patio, a diner will have a good view of the Willis (Sears) Tower as well as the Chicago downtown skyline. Athena is by far our most frequented restaurant in Greek town. It is very reliable, has decent prices, and the portions are sizable. We had the Greek Village Salad as a starter. The small portion is enough for two people. For dinner, I had the Chicken Riganati--it's half a roasted chicken with oregano, and was served with large chunks of oven roasted potatoes. I have also had the pastitsio and lamb dishes. I also like the combination plate, which consists of mousakas, pastitsio, dolmades, leg of lamb, rice, potato and vegetables. The combination plate is great if you want variety and are hungry. Athena, like most/all Greek town restaurants, offer free valet parking!

Angie M.

Let's play a game called "How Awesome is the Athenian Salad at Athena's?" Dude. I'm in love with this salad. It has basically all my favorite salad flavors IN ONE SALAD. Be still my beating heart! Savory, succulent grilled chicken breast? Check. Green onion? Oh yeah. Fresh dill? Yeppers. Oodles of fresh, creamy Feta cheese? Hell yeah, baby! Light, oregano-y Greek dressing? Cha-ching. All the kids get piled high atop a bed of chopped Romaine lettuce for total salad Nirvana. I'm head over heels for the Athenian salad. I'll be back to devour it again very, very soon.

Jill A.

We went out to Athena yesterday night (Sunday). They were hosting a wedding on the lower part of their outdoor patio. That was fun to see. We met up with our uncle and aunt who live downtown and our cousins who were in town from New Jersey. They promptly had our table ready after checking in for our 530 reservation and they were able to get us a seat on the patio which was probably the highlight of my experience. It was beautiful. We ordered a round of drinks for the 12 of us and they were delivered in a reasonable time. The only problem is that was the only time our drinks were refiled within a reasonable time. My husband and I both had pepsi's and you bet we guzzled them down after the hour+ car ride on the way over. We waited 25 minutes for refills. NO JOKE. We timed it. In our 3.5 hours we spent at Athena my husband and I needed 4 refills after our initial drink. We waited about half hour between each one. There was water on the table, but I am paying for soda and I would like to drink that. I debated going to the bar to refill my own glass a few times but for the sake of our guests I did not want to complain or seem rude or ungrateful so I patiently waited. Our appetizers were actually phenomenal. We got the Gyros (Most refreshing tzatziki sauce I've ever had) the combo plate and extra hummus. The hummus was absolutely delicious. Dont be confused with it being anything more than hummus though; it was hummus well done but nothing more. Our meals took 30 minutes or so which was expected since someone at our table ordered the 25 minute Athena Chicken entree. Unfortunately neither my husband or myself enjoyed our meals. I know the rest of the table except one other enjoyed their meals so out of 12 guests only 9 were happy. I got their pasta dish with noodles, olive oil, garlic, cheese, artichoke hearts and carrots. Since I don't typically eat Greek food I stuck with this because I know I like all these items. I chose to add a chicken breast to my meal. I anticipated my chicken breast coming atop my pasta maybe cut into strips or maybe left whole so I could cut it up. It came chunky and tossed in my pasta. It was also skinless chicken that looked like it was boiled as a cooking method and it was dry, chewy, and I ended up picking it out. My artichokes came odd in the dish too. Maybe its my inexperience with Greek food however the artichokes tasted like they had been sitting in olive juice? I've had canned artichoke hearts before and fresh and Ive never eaten an artichoke that tasted this way. It was a huge turn off for me and I barely touched my food, though the sauce, noodles and broccoli that I didn't know was in the pasta was delicious. My husbands sword fish came out hard as a rock. We exchanged it for another Gyro. Lets talk about our waiter. He was playful and entertained my Grandfather when he would ask questions (my grandpa is 75, can't hear anything, and we love him to bits!) so when people take the time to talk to my grandfather when we are out to eat it sure goes a long way. He remembered our whole table of 12's order without writing anything down and only one side dish came out wrong. Which is actually pretty impressive for anyone who's been in the industry. He also had our party, another party of 10 next to us, a couple of 4 tops, 6 tops, needless to say he was SUPER busy. Just wish it didn't take so long for our drinks to be replaced, but I understand he was busy. I have always been a suburban girl. I love to visit the city and have fun then come home. I was truly disappointed this time, I expected more because you are in Chicago. I'd be willing to try this place again, but it would have to be under the same circumstances (someone else is hosting and chose the restaurant). I would not willingly return on my own.

Gus D.

As a Greek, I have found the food in Greek Town ok nothing extraordinary. However I have actually avoided it the past couple of years because of my discovery of Mythos Greek Taverna on the North Side (it is worth the drive out ). So Sunday a few of us wanted to go eat Greek and of course our favorite was closed because of the holiday. So I recommended we go to Athenas since this was always my favorite restaurant in Greek Town. We arrive with no reservations and were greeted immediately by the friendly host. We were seated in the recently renovated patio which has a retractable roof. I must say this was a nice touch up they did. Although it was 97 degrees outside the patio had a nice breeze to it. Our server did greet us and took our drink order and appetizer order. For Appetizers we ordered the Loukaniko very tasty, the Grilled Octopus also very tasty and the Saganaki (which I must say they do not flame outside any longer). So far so good! So our food comes out, this is where things turned bad. My friend ordered the Chicken Reganate, very dry not at all flavorful. My other friend ordered the Stuffed Chicken with Spinach and cheese. This was also a very bland dish which looked very dry. I had the combination platter, the waiter was nice enough to substitute the mousaka with another slice of pastichio (Greek Lasagna). My dish was bad, the lamb was cold, the pastichio was dried out you could not even decipher if there was bechamel sauce on the top layer of the lasagna. My friend had the lamb with artichokes and cream sauce which turned out to be the only good dish of all. The portions have also gotten smaller than in the past. So what they do is server the entrees on smaller dishes to make it look as if you are getting more (however being a past dinner here I can tell you, this is not so). I think the most embarrassing part of the whole evening was at the end. One of the servers from a nearby table took a plate off histable and placed it on the tray which was on a stand from another neighboring waiter. So the other waiter not paying attention grabs the tray and the plate fell and broke right in front of our table. So no big deal right? Wrong the other servers came by and looked at us if we threw it and asked us what happened? You tell me what happened. Of course the owner or manager came by making a comment as if we were having too much fun eluding as if we broke it. No one ever apologized and still were thinking we threw it. Athenas you used to be my favorite, however whenever I have a taste for Greek Food, I do not think I will be coming back to you or Greek Town Mythos Greek Taverna it will be (and the sad thing is you are 5 minutes from my house) .

Victoria G.

Very nice service and amazing Greek food! Can Greek be bad? No! And this is another proof to it! :) Loved the outside area under the roof!

Rob H.

Great service- free valet parking- great food with good portions! Friendly open atmosphere...

Melanie S.

This Athena is far from a Greek goddess. My former boss is Greek and Athena is his favorite place to eat in Greektown since the demise of Costa's. I liked Costa's a lot and was saddened by its closing. I am a big fan of Greek food and Keri H was in the mood for it last Thursday. We also wanted to eat outside and have full bellies before heading to the CYBG event. There's not too many places in G-town that offer up outdoor seating. I like Pegasus better, but they only serve appetizers on their rooftop patio, so Athena became our destination merely by default. It was a sweltering summer's eve, but we can take a lot of heat so sitting outside was no issue for us. The patio was nearly full, so obviously many people aren't bothered by the heat. We sat down, and in the interest of saving our alcohol consumption for strawberry-basil lemonade at Pour, we nixed drinking at Athena. I have to say, it was unnerving to see mojitos and margaritas on a drink menu at a Greek restaurant. Keri isn't too familiar with Greek food, so she let me take the reins once again. Since no meal in Greektown is complete without an order of saganaki, we ordered that, and added a Greek salad and fried zucchini to start. I chuckled to myself as I heard the table next to us order "Nagasaki" as I wasn't aware that a city in Japan could be served on a menu in a Greek restaurant. I digress. The saganaki arrived, but sadly, there were no exclamations of "Opaa" nor any flaming of the cheese. What was up with that? After tasting the cheese, it was apparent that no such flaming would have helped. It was salty and not good. I warned Keri that it was a strong cheese, but her tastebuds weren't sufficiently prepared. It was like eating a salt lick. The salad was your basic Greek salad. Moving along... Fried zucchini is good, especially with a generous squeeze of lemon, but there's not much one can fry and have it not taste good. We were still hungry so we ordered some gyros and a chicken kabob. Pretty safe things, or so I thought, until they arrived. The gyros were decent, but really, one can get better. Keri took one look and sniff at the kebob and proclaimed that it smelled like garbage. One bite and she said it tasted like vomit. Um....check please. We choked down a few more bites and got the heck outta dodge. Sigh. I miss Costa's. Side note: if you come here and sit outside, DO NOT sit next to one of trees on the patio. Little bugs kept falling on Keri and nipping her delicate, porcelain flesh.

Allyson C.

I always loved eating at Athena in the summer because of their awesome patio. Only just this weekend did I discover they've covered the patio so it can be awesome in the winter too! The covered patio gets tons of natural light so you feel warm and summery even when it's 20 degrees out. They splurged on some really comfy tables and chairs too. Good food, good service, but the patio is the year-round reason to choose Athena over other options on Halsted.

Lawrence Y.

I've only been to Greektown a couple of times to eat. But I was happy with the food at Athena. There was a tiny wait for a table on a Saturday night. We ultimately decided on ordering a few hot/cold appetizers and sharing: + Patzaria (beets) --- I don't know many people who like beets, but this was refreshing to the palette... + Melitzanes (breaded, sliced eggplant) --- love eggplant a lot and this had a good flavor to it + Spanakopitakia --- your standard spinach pies + Souvlakia --- pork tenderloin cubes, absolutely delicious and devoured quickly Service we had was so-so. I don't recall the server coming back too often but I guess that was okay...

Bill M.

I recently attended a dinner function at the Athena in Greektown. I've never been to this restaurant, as there is quite a row of Greek establishments on Halsted that tend to overshadow this place. There were around 50 people at this function, so we were stationed in this dining area in the back with a video screen. It seemed that only a curtain separated our group from the rest of the dining area, but even so it seemed like we were in a VIP banquet hall. We were served a generous full meal, including fresh bread, Greek wine, meatball appetizers, flaming saganaki, a very large Greek salad, a choice of three entrees (braised lamb, stuffed chicken breast, fish), galaktobouriko (a custard pastry), and coffee. Everything was pretty good but not great. My lamb shank was very tender and served on a bed of rice, and the meat was not as blood-red as my neighbor's serving. Even though we were basically sponges at this dinner function, we were treated very pleasantly by the staff. When they light up about twelve plates of saganaki simultaneously, it does look like a re-enactment of the Olympic flame! I did get an accidental elbow in the head from one of the servers, but one laughs it off when the meal is not on your dime. It always seems a bit tacky to ask for leftovers when you are not paying for the meal, but the waiters had no problem dishing out the styrofoam cartons at evening's end (I ate almost all of my lamb though). I will keep Athena in mind for a Greektown dinner in the future.

Tru P.

LOVED it here...the patio was closed which was disappointing but the food was excellent and I really enjoyed the evening. The staff was very helpful and patient and they were eager to make suggestions and be helpful! LOVED the Saganaki as well as the char broiled calamari :)

Khadijah L.

One day I decided to stray away from my two go-to Greektown restaurants. ONE time. Big mistake. For reasons I don't know why but I've always gone to Greek Islands, Parthenon and Costa's (closed) and I never tried any other places. It was a nice day and Athena has a beautiful newly renovated patio. I said to my friends lets go there. The patio was nice and beautiful but the food was just lackluster. Actually the bread was hard and stale. We had the taramasolata and saganaki, they were just okay. Nothing to write home about. Neither was our entrees. I much prefer the aforementioned restaurants. The view was great. But server was quite inattentive. The host was nonchalant and not friendly at all. I wished all our tip had gone to the guy who refilled our glasses and cleared our plates. There's free valet. But same goes with the other restaurants.

Dave O.

Poked our heads in here because it was one of the first nice days and they had a huge outdoor seating area. That patio is pretty incredible, very open & airy with a view of downtown, and you're set back from the street so you're not choking on traffic fumes. Looks like they can enclose it too, if it starts to pour you don't have to do the mad dash inside. I'd go back to Athena just to hang there. The standards (sagnaki, braised lamb) were as good as we get from our usual place in Greektown, so no letdown there. Like this place a lot and will definitely go back.

Karen N.

Holy patio! If you like Greek food and want to eat outside on a nice day, this is the place. Very spacious and airy, view of Sears tower, tons of tables so no wait(or not for long). The food is the usual Greek suspects, they do a good job with grilled octopus, Athenian chicken, mousaka and lamb dishes. The service sometimes is a little off, but all the guys try hard, and I choose to overlook it because of the free valet.

Heather M.

Went in October so the patio was sealed up but this place was gorgeous! I've never been to a more beautiful restaurant. All the staff was welcoming and polite. Our waiter was tentative and answered the questions we had about the menu. Our food was amazing and the prices for the portions you receive is generous! Would definitely recommend

Damian R.

My wife and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner here and our family still cannot stop talking about how fabulous it was. Nick and George went out of their way to make the occasion special. From the flawless service the staff delivered, to the beautiful atmosphere in their newly renovated restaurant, to the over the top delicious Greek food, this place is the crown jewel of Greektown and downtown Chicago dining. We have been dining on their beautiful patio for years, and will be for many years to come.

Paul G.

Four big stars for lunch at Athena. Started with a great table on the patio and some very comfortable chairs. The patio was bustling during a Friday lunch and the service was great - our waiter Ted was full of personality. Glasses were kept full, food was excellent, and the scene was outstanding. Had the swordfish and shrimp with vegetables over pasta and it was all very good. Good food, great patio!

bridget t.

I'd only come back for the patio and the baklava cheesecake. When the server finally asked how our food was, he didn't even wait for a response...almost like he knew the food was overpriced and really "meh. There are much better places in Greektown". I had been craving grilled octopus all day and was really disappointed. It wasn't very good...in fact, it almost tasted 'wrong' (but I haven't gotten sick...yet). Service was slow. Slow to get noticed, slow to get our drinks, slow to give us the desert menu, slow to bring us our check. Great if you are enjoying the patio and have a full drink in front of you....otherwise, frustrating. Especially when you are watching your drinks come out, but get taken all the way to the other side of the patio before finally getting to you!

Jonathan S.

I wrote my review as a tip. Basically "Edible but inspired". Like eating at a Greek cafeteria. Better for lunch then on a busy weekend evening.

Jamie H.

I came here with my family on Saturday night around 9, and it wasn't very busy at all. I was pleasantly surprised! We were celebrating my sister's graduation, so we started off with a bottle of wine and some Saganaki. It was very good, and the bread that was brought to our table immediately upon our arrival was great also! The food was pretty good. I got the Seafood Kebabs, pretty good. My mom got the mousakas, which I was excited to try. It was OK, nothing special though. My sister's pasta and shrimp was decent, the pasta was kind of bland. My brother got a Greek salad w/ chicken, but the waiter some how confused that and brought him the Greek salad early, with no chicken. He got the chicken later, but said it was pretty dry and didn't eat a lot of it. The baklava that my mom and sister were really excited to get, was not that great. Neither of them ate very much. The rice pudding my dad got, however, was pretty tasty. The service was good and it was a fun atmosphere. The food was fine, nothing special, though. Glad I went I had been wanting to try a Greek restaurant since I'd been to one in a while, but I would imagine there are better ones in the area.

DeWitt K.

My wife and I played hooky from work (ok not that daring... we both burned a 1/2 day of vacation time) and walked down to Greektown. Since the weather was decent, Athena, with its open air dining, looked like a good place to go. We were both very happy with the choice. The staff was great... Being 2ish on a Friday seating was not a problem. Our server was fantastic and there was no tangible "between lunch shift and dinner shift" flakiness. Lactose intolerance be dammed! We tried the saganaki... Although they cannot light it up outside, it was great. How could something some seeming simple be so good? Thank you goatmillk! Next we had the Lemon rice soup (cannot remember the true name) which was fantastic. Not too lemony. From there we shared a pretty simple chicken kabob which was quite good but not too filling as we had a lot more walking to do. I would highly recommend Athena on any nice hooky day. We plan to come back sometime soon. The Who said it best... Athena, I had no idea how much I'd need her In peaceful times I hold her close and I feed her My heart starts palpitating when I think my guess was wrong But I think I'll get along She's just a girl - she's a bomb She's just a girl - she's a bomb

Brooke M.

I thought the food was average, service was slow, but the servers were exceptionally nice - as was all of the staff. We sat on the patio and it was beautiful. The restrooms were also nice. The food was decent, but I got a typical gyro for lunch, so I cannot comment on the food too much. My boyfriend got chicken kabobs and said they were disgusting. He ate half of my gyro instead. Our Greek side salads that were $5 a piece with our meals were nothing more than packaged lettuces topped with a cube of feta and a side a dressing in a tacky plastic container. They do have free valet and the owner was very, very nice to us. I'd go back to sit on the patio and maybe have an appetizer and beer.